Lost, Found, Maybe

Lost, Found, Maybe
(OOC: Combined threads from the previous site)

STARLING MACSTONE
At the opening ceremonies, Starling had been very surprised not to see Professor Brightway. After asking a few questions, she had discovered the Professor had been missing since the close of last term. Professor Spellman had looked nice, but Starling was not comfortable with the idea of just showing up at his office. After thinking over the problem she had decided it was the only way. She needed her things from the office.

Three days before the last term ended, Starling had visited Professor Brightway’s office. She had finally completed the special report on three artifacts the professor had given her to study and find out what she could. The first item had been a carved statue of a bird sitting on a cats head and dated around the time Hogwarts was founded, over a thousand years ago. The second item was a round metal disc with ancient Gaelic notations on both sides (Professor Brightway loved the Gaelic language; she would often do her notes on the several white boards she had in the office in Gaelic) Starling had started to study the language and was getting reasonably proficient at reading it. Saying the words was a whole different thing though. Her tongue had a hard time forming the necessary movements.

The third item was the most fun to check out. It was the actual words on the very old scroll the professor had locked away in a secret compartment in her desk. Starling had had a chance to use some of Professor Tarik’s extensive library and had actually been able to pick out a few words. It was fascinating, because if you could get a few of the words, some of the others would almost translate themselves. She had been very excited to put the information into the report, and had been looking forward to discussing the information when she returned this term.

Starling also was hoping to find her Gaelic dictionary. She had purchased another one over the term break, but the one she had lost had extra notes written in it. Some of the notes were written in Professor Brightway’s own hand, in Gaelic. The notes would have been important to her because they would have started in her extra studies where they had left off.

Starling climbed the stairs to the History of Magic professor’s office, while trying to think of what to say. As she reached the door she took a deep breath and knocked.

MARCO SPELLMAN
This was a unique experience for Marco. He had loved History of Magic when he had attended Hogwarts as a student. With all the deaths that had happened since he had left Hogwarts, Marco wondered if they were connected. He thought back to the owl he had received from his old roommate Anthony. He had wrote about an opening for a History of Magic Professor. Then he had mentioned that he was worried about young Tia. Marco had remembered hearing his nephew Troy also having concerns about the girl that he had considered like a young sister.

Marco had not only gotten the History of Magic position but also became the Head of his old house, Slytherin. He watched the Slytherin Table and spotted young Tia almost immediately. Marco had been a little shocked when Anthony had given Tia a detention. They would talk later about it.

After being in his new office for about twenty minutes, he heard a knock at the door. Marco smiled as he said, "Enter. It is not locked."

(OCC: Anthony and Tia are two of my many characters.)

STAR


Her knock was answered almost immediately. Starling had been hoping a little bit the Professor was not in his office, while hoping he was there. Her mother called the feeling mixed emotions. No matter what you called it, the feeling made Starling feel strange. Taking another deep breath and letting it out, she pushed the familiar door open and entered the office which held a lot of nice memories.

“Hello, Professor Spellman, my name is Starling MacStone, 3rd year Gryffindor.” Making her way slowly to stand in front of the desk, she continued. “Last term, Professor Brightway, the previous History of Magic teacher, was giving me some special tutoring in a behind the scenes study of archeology as it pertained to the class.”

Starling looked toward the four white dry eraser boards to make sure there was still writing on them. Pointing to the boards, she explained, “Those are her notes. Some of them are ones she was using to teach me. They are in Gaelic, which she used. Although I am not very good I have been studying the language also.” Starling knew she should stop talking, and with great effort she did. “I stopped by to see if I could maybe make a copy of the information, and see if you would consider continuing my tutoring where we left off.”

Putting her hands behind her back and crossing her fingers, Starling waited for the professor to say yea or nay. She had so much more she needed to find out.

MARCO


Marco smiled at the young Gryffindor as he heard her introduce herself. He remembered what the letter from Anthony had told him about a group that was extremely protective of his nephew's adopted sister Tia. These Allies were so protective that even those that like his friend Tony,who were assigned to protect the girl had not even been able to get near her. Marco knew how dangerous that could become. He would need to figure a way around then and help his friend protect Tia.

Nodding he said calmly, "Hello Ms. MacStone. How may I help you?"



Marco was impressed with her knowledge and allowed it to show. Gaelic was not an easy language to learn. He decided to test her by writing in Gaelic a very old riddle. Then he said, "Could you please answer this riddle for me?" The riddle was an easy one:

“What goes on four legs in the morning, on two legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening? “



He smiled and said, "If you can give me the answer, then I see no reason not to continue the lessons, Ms. MacStone. As for making a copy of the information on the board, I could use help in putting all this in their proper places. So what is your answer?"

(OCC: Preplanned)

STAR


Starling had convinced herself the new professor was going to tell her to leave, that he could not be bothered. When he asked his question she just stood there for a moment, realizing he was giving her a chance to stay and learn more. She realized at the same time he could write Gaelic so those studies could be continued also. It was going to be a good year, if she could figure out the answer. Her grandfather had loved riddles so she tried to remember if he had every asked something similar before.

Repeating the riddle to herself she slowly remembered the answer. “If a life was compressed into one day, a baby would walk on four legs (at least 2 hands and two knees), an adult would walk on two legs, and an older person, like my grandfather would walk on three legs, because he uses a cane, when his war injury is bothering him.” Starling asked excitedly, “Am I right Professor?” Starling stood in front of the dest almost afraid to move because it would be a wonderful to help with the things in the office; there was so much to still discover.

MARCO


Marco watched her and she tackled the riddle. She seemed to have no problem with reading Gaelic which most of the old History of Magic Professor's notes were written in. Those above everything else he really needed to tackle as they might help in figuring out why the woman had disappeared. This girl might very well be the assistant he needed. Plus the bonus would be that just maybe she would trust him enough to explain why her and the rest of the core thought they could protect Tia better than those hand picked to do that job. His own nephew Seth had picked Tony to protect Tia and these Allies for some reason were making his job almost impossible. That had to stop or they would never catch the tormentor and that person Marco and his family had plans for that had nothing to do with Azkaban.

“If a life was compressed into one day, a baby would walk on four legs (at least 2 hands and two knees), an adult would walk on two legs, and an older person, like my grandfather would walk on three legs, because he uses a cane, when his war injury is bothering him.”

Marco smiled as he heard her answer.



He nodded as he said, "Excellent Ms. MacStone. I advise that you study up on riddles because Sphinxes love using them and you never know when you will run across one." In fact that was how he had learned the old riddle. Looking around the room he wondered if he should pick what they tackled first or let her. She had gotten the riddle and in record time. He decided to reward her.



Facing her, he said smiling, "So Assistant, before lessons can begin this place needs major organizing. What should we tackle first?"

STAR
He nodded as he said, "Excellent Ms. MacStone. I advise that you study up on riddles because Sphinxes love using them and you never know when you will run across one." In fact that was how he had learned the old riddle. Looking around the room he wondered if he should pick what they tackled first or let her. She had gotten the riddle and in record time. He decided to reward her.

The smile on Starlings face had become bigger. She still hoped he would continue giving her lessons. She wanted to be an archeologist someday and possibly teach the History of Magic at Hogwarts. With the age restriction though, a professorship would be farther in the future than she cared to think about. She thought of asking Tarik if he could find an assistant job to one of the teachers, she could use to get experience, when she got older.
Facing her, he said smiling, "So Assistant, before lessons can begin this place needs major organizing. What should we tackle first?"

Starling had followed Professor Spellman’s eyes around the room. She wondered what he was looking for, in the dust covered office. Concentrating so hard on trying to figure out what she might be able to help him find, and show him she was willing to help, his next statement took a few moments to register on her mind.

Her eyes snapped back to Professor Spellman’s face and realized he was smiling, “Assistant, me, your assistant….oh yes please Professor….I promise I will help every day after classes and on the weekends too if you need me…I might even be able to talk my parents into letting me stay during part of term break…” Starling was ecstatic. An assistant’s job and she was only a third year. Wait until she told Luke.

Finally her mind focused in on the second part of the statement. There were so many things she wanted to do and see again after the term. “No,” she thought to herself, “I have to do this right. If I offer to help clean and straighten, then my report will turn up if it is here. As far as I know it is locked away in the secret drawer with the old fancy scroll.” Starling walked over to the table sitting in the sun. “We need to get these items out of the sun Professor; they can be ruined by sunshine. Then I think we need to clean the office. If it is alright with you, I would like to copy the information on the four white boards before you erase them though.”

Starling was jumping for joy inside and it was making her feel light. She was going to be an assistant to one of the teachers. It was hard to resist the erg to hug herself and twirl around the room, but she would try and act grown up, at least until she got somewhere a bit more private. Oh life was good.

MARCO


Marco smiled as he said, "Yes, Ms. MacStone. Though the first time it effects your studies, I will stop both the job and extra studies. Do I make myself clear?" Marco was interested in what was around her neck. He would ask about it later as Tia had a similar necklace. Marco still needed to find time to have a heart to heart with Tia as he had began to worry about her.

She had been having nightmares again and he prayed that it wasn't her blaming herself again. His nephew Troy had said that she had been blaming herself for her brother Marcus' death. Now that Troy had been murdered, Marco was going to make sure that the girl knew that it was not her fault. The brothers had known for a while that Troy had seen his father's killer. Marco shook his head as he wished the boy had confined in them.

Tia had to understand that only one person was responsible and Marco as well as his brothers planned on making the man pay. Though that could only happen if the girl would stop fighting those sworn to protect her. She needed to start trusting them because he had a feeling that man was far from done.



Being snapped out of his thoughts, Marco smiled as best he could as he said, "Why don't you handle the boards while I tackle that table? That way we hit two things at the same time." Marco would find time to check out the Medjai as well. The man had a major dislike for Anthony. Since Tia trusted the Medjai, Marco needed to see why the man distrusted the caretaker. Did Tarik not understand that he made the Auror's job harder as Tia was influenced by those she trusted.

Sasha trusting the Medjai did speak volumes for the man's character. Marco figured that both his friend and the Medjai just both was overprotective of Tia. He did understand that Tarik had reasons not to trust wizards as they had betray that trust long ago. He would see if he could find out what Anthony had done or said that got Tarik to be alarmed. Most likely it had to do with something said as Anthony had a bad habit of speaking his mind and not caring who was listening. Now that Marco was here, things would be different. Starting with the fact that Tia was going to stop her running off every time she got spooked.

He would speak to her tonight as he hoped that Troy had hinted something to her about that meeting he had the night of his death. Neo had been trying his hardest to remember the man that had been with Troy. All four of them had showed up when Neo realized that Troy had lied about the man. He had heard the shot that had killed their nephew but had not seen the killer. He wondered if Franco had as he was the first to get to the alley. If his baby brother had, Franco had not said anything.

STAR


“Yes Sir,” Starling said with a very large smile on her face. “Professor, could you call me Starling or Star please? I kept my grades up when studying with Professor Brightway, because she was like you, she would not teach me extra unless I had good grades. There is no problem there because I hope to be an archeologist someday and maybe even teach History of Magic here at Hogwarts. I need to learn everything I can.”



As Starling headed toward the first board she continued, “My favorite uncle, Theo Ferguson, is an explorer of sorts and has taken me to a real digsite. Someone told me once he was famous, but he said he was just lucky. I want to be like him.” Starling looked at the first board. She levitated her messenger bag to the floor near her and took out a quill and parchment. Setting the writing materials on a small nearby table she started to very quietly read the board out loud in a whisper.. The quill started to write the words she was speaking on the parchment. Starling realized she would have to go back later and recopy the information, correcting, words she knew she was not pronouncing correctly. Several of the words caught her attention enough to have her stop talking, and having to start again. This was going to be fun.

Telling the quill to stop momentarily she looked toward where the Professor was starting to clean, Starling asked, “Professor Spellman, when you are straightening the desk, could you please keep an eye out for my Gaelic dictionary. It is getting a bit dilapidated, but is has some special notes in it from Professor Brightway. Also, I did a report before the end of last term, on the three objects sitting on the table, and I never received it back from the Professor. I am hoping she had time to grade it before she,“ Starling stopped for a moment, it made her very sad Professor Brightway had disappeared, she had become a friend as well as a teacher, but continuing she finished her sentence, “disappeared.”

Starling looked back at the board and continued her whispering, trying not to stop, because otherwise it was going to take more than the time she had now. She still had not turned over the first board to get the information on the back. Casually she put her hand on her medallion. It always made her feel better when she wore it.

MARCO


Marco smiled as he said, "Only if you stop calling me Sir and call me Marco or Marc, deal Starling?"



Again Marc smiled as he had heard of Theodore Ferguson from his brother Franco. If he remembered correctly the man was more than an explorer. Theo had a habit of finding or hiding things that needed to be and luck had nothing to do with his talent. Marco thought that maybe one day this girl would learn the truth about the man she called grandfather. Thinking of Theo made Marco remember another that belonged to the same group, Richard Greene. He had thought he saw him also here, which meant that Sasha was calling in all her favors. That made Marco nervous as it took a lot to get Sasha McChey to ask for help. The woman had a bad habit of thinking she had to handle things herself and make amends for the wrongs done by those of her house.

Turning to Starling, Marco said, "Theo never could take a compliment. If you want, I know of two wizards that could tell you a lot more about him?"



Marco listened as he was working on the table. Two things made him stop. The first was that the scrolls that were in the sun, Brightway would have never allowed herself to make such a mistake. Setting a shield to save them from more damage, he stopped. The second was what the young girl said. He had seen the dictionary but there was only a few pages left in it. When she mentioned the objects on the table, Marco spoke up. As he didn't want to alarm her, he asked, "Star, tell me more about this report."

As she was telling him, Marco started examining the objects and didn't like at all what he discovered. At least two of them were fakes and he had a feeling that the third would be as well. Marco knew want must be done.



Marco said as calmly as he could, "Star, I need you to do a few things. Very Important things, while I am gone. First, finish copying all the boards. When you are done, put the copy in your pocket. The second is I need you to write two more copies of your report and anything you believe might have been notes that Brightway put in your dictionary. Can you do that? And then not touch anything else?"

After getting her answer, Marco left the room to find Anthony. His office had just became a crime scene and Brightway's disappearance was no accident. Sasha had been right when she had said this school had rats. He might have to bring Richard in as well. Looking back at his office, Marco hoped that he hadn't scared the girl but they might have already destroyed clues that could lead to the thief.

STAR


Starling thought some of the things at the school were really strange, especially how Professors wanted you to call them by their first names. Before she had come to the school, she never would have even thought of calling an adult by their first name, at least not without very special permission from her parents or grandparents. Now she had two professors who were requesting to be on a first name basis. Blushing a little she answered, “Yes sir, I mean Marco. It’s a deal”

Turning to Starling, Marco said, "Theo never could take a compliment. If you want, I know of two wizards that could tell you a lot more about him?"


It was really surprising that Professor Spellman (no Starling had to get used to thinking of him as Marco) knew her Uncle Ted. She knew he had done a lot of exploring for both Magical and Muggle items, and he had shown her some articles he had written for a couple magazines, both Wizardry and Muggle, but she did not think he was generally known. “Marco you know my Uncle Ted? Wow, that is really neat. I would love to learn more about him. We talk a lot during term breaks, and he tells me all kinds of stories. I even have been able to handle and see many of his treasures.”



“The report? Professor Brightway said she had a puzzle for me. The first thing I had to do to solve the puzzle was to find out everything I could about the three objects on the table, over there,” Starling said as she gestured toward the table. “When I had done that she would give me the second part of the puzzle. She said it was a treasure hunt. I used the information I found in the books in the library, and Professor Brightway even was able to get me some time in the locked rooms. The desk I like to sit is in the little alcove right next to the gate leading into the archives.”

“I could not find out too much about the bird other than it was supposed to represent a Ravenclaw controlling a Gryffindor somehow. It is old and dates to the founding of the school. It is hand carved and was said to hold ‘a secret everyone knew’. That riddle I never did figure out. The second item is part of a necklace which was worn to ceremonies of great importants to the Gaelic people. I was able to translate only a couple of the words, because it is an older dialic than book tell about. The words I picked out were,” Starling tried to think, “Man…. travel…. distance…. obedience….faith. I am not sure that is the right order though.”

“The third item was some words, on the old scroll of Thule which Professor Brightway has locked in her desk.” Starling had seen the scroll just for a moment once when she had come for a lesson. “It’s really old; you have to wear gloves even to touch it. The Allies get to use the books in Tarik’s office when ever it is open. We can not remove them but we can read them if we want. I used some of those books to translate about half the words she gave me from the scroll. I will have to look in my notes though to get the correct wording. Sure wish I had my dictionary. Professor Brightway put some old words not used anymore in the margins.”



Marco had become very serious. Starling knew the tone of voice meant, what she had to do was important beyond just “very important”. Her Uncle had told her it was very important to keep a secret about a statue he had, and he told her why. Starling had never told anyone about it. “I can do all of that Marco. Should I wait here for you or lock up?”


Marco turned, monetarily, from heading out the door to say, “When you get done, stay here until I return Starling. If Professor Greene or the Caretaker Anthony show up before I get back, let me fill them in on what I told you to do, ok? Now get to work, I will not be long,” He said with a smile. With this Marco left the office and Starling started work.

She finished making the copy of the information on the boards writing exactly what was there; it would take time to translate the Gaelic and Starling did not want to take that time now. Placing the papers in her pocket, she took out some parchment and started to write the rest of the information Marco needed. Before she had written too many words the door to the office opened.

(OCC: Had permission from Marco to tell what he did)