» The Great Escape, Private

[Rebecca Grey]

Consent, insofar as it could be granted, for her plan had been issued, and the preparations had been made. With luck, all would be ready to go on James’ end, though the sixteen year old had not dared give her brother any real specifics. The gall of their stepmother, to refuse to let him to go to Hogwarts, a school at which her own children were already comfortably situated! Even if she did fancy herself his owner, did not want to let him out of her sight for fear that his inheritance might go with him, surely The Evil Twins would be enough of an eye kept upon him—did she really hate the Greys so much as to deny them each other’s company?

Becky would have none of that nonsense.

Though she had originally wanted Antoinette to come along, at the last moment the Slytherin realized that might not be the best idea. After all, for Becky, it was returning home, but rules governing secrecy might apply differently to non-residents of the house in question. Besides, the sixth year-to-be was hesitant to risk the Ashmores believing her to have lead their child astray, particularly when they were so kindly putting her up for the summer months. No, Antoinette was told simply to allow her one hour before following, just in case things went awry.

But things would not go awry. She hoped.

With one last look at her friend to steady her nerves, the witch grabbed a handful of green powder from the mantelpiece, before stepping into the fireplace. Emptying her hand into the flames—that she was not burning utterly baffled the muggleborn—Becky said, clearly and precisely, the address of her family home. The travel was an experience like no other, and it took the girl a moment to reorient herself when she arrived in the familiar parlour which was, quite mercifully, empty.

Quietly, the girl stepped out from the fireplace, dusting the ash off of her shoulders as she did so. “James!” she whispered with some urgency, not wishing to alert anyone in the house to her presence. Unfortunately, her efforts seemed to be in vain as the high-pitched voice of her only sister reached her ears.

“Becky?” little Ellory piped in with surprise, poking her head in the doorway. This was not helpful. Though Bekcy was fond of her half-siblings, they, in turn, were equally as fond of their mother who, for all intents and purposes, was The Enemy. “Shhh, Ellory, be quiet!” Becky admonished the youngster, walking briskly over to her, half dragging her into the room, and closing the wooden door as softly as she was able. “Your mother mustn’t know that I am here!”

tag: james | words: 452 | notes: One of the twins, if home for a visit, or Antoinette may join later
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[James Grey]

While James had been certain that Becky's plan couldn't possibly work, he had packed anyways. His suitcase was sitting under his bed, masked by the blanket and a strategically-placed pile of socks. It was full of clothes - as many as he thought could go missing without his stepmother noticing - as much money as he had found in the bottom of his closet, and seven books he had picked off the shelves of the library.

Jamie had tried to appear as if he was in the middle of a very long tantrum rather than hopeful, shunning even the slightest bit of contact with Charity. It was very unlike him, being loud, but he had several years worth of anger built up in him at his step-mother and it was very easy to be mad. She was, after all, trying to keep him away from his sister. (Or get his inheritance - either one, really.)

He had nearly missed his name being called, but was luckily nearby, reading at the table. His ears had gotten fine-tuned in the fast few days, but he had heard false-arrivals a few times. Jamie sighed to himself and hopped down from a chair. He expected that he had imagined it - after all, wouldn't Becky have gone through the front door?

The door was closed. He pushed it open and grinned in surprise at Becky, closing it behind him automatically. "Jamie! Becky's here!" Ellory said, and it was all he could do to keep from shrieking her name and tackling her. He hadn't seen his elder sister in months, and he had missed her more than he had even noticed.

He entered the room and closed the door behind him. "I'm so glad to see you," he said, still slightly in awe of the fact that she was really there. He hadn't expected it at all, even though she had said she was coming. " 'Llory, where's your mother? And William?" The first one was most concerning, being the warden of this 'prison', but his half-brother was old enough to question Becky's instructions.

Ellory shrugged. "William's outside I think." That was good - but the wicked stepmother, the dragon in the castle, Charity Grey nee Chaucer, was unaccounted for.

[Rebecca Grey]

It was a mercy that Ellory did not seem inclined to give her away, instead looking plainly exhilarated to see her elder sister. Becky’s heart seemed to fall through the floor as she realized she might not see her younger sister or youngest brother again: she was here to ‘rescue’ James from the clutches of their stepmother, after all, and how could she bring herself to return to the house she so entirely hated now that her brother would be freed from it? If the youngest Greys had magic, that would be wonderful—in another three years, William might follow them to Hogwarts, and four would see Ellory there as well. True, Rebecca herself would be finished school by then, but James might get to attend Hogwarts with their half-siblings, and a shared magical lifestyle ensured they would remain connected into their adult years.

But what if they were not? After all, though the twins had proven to be witches, Charity’s eldest son Palamon had remained decidedly muggle. Would Becky have to face the decision of subjecting herself to Charity’s rule once more or never seeing the children again? It took all she had not to ask Ellory to fetch William to her—if this was truly to be her last time in the house, should she not say goodbye to her brother as well? But no, that might alert Charity to their presence, might risk Jamie as well.

Her plan, Becky realized with dismay, had not been thought through nearly enough.

Hoping no one noticed as she swiped a rogue tear from her left cheek, the Slytherin turned her attentions to the sibling for which she was there, and a smile formed and broadened in spite of her newfound misgivings. She would have run to him, hugged him tightly, in her excitement, had Ellory not wrapped her small arms firmly about her middle. “I’ve missed you,” she offered her brother instead, simply. There would be time for hugs, for reminiscing, later, when the pair returned to the Ashmore residence. For now, however, they had to get there.

Becky looked the boy over, still not quite believing that this was happening. One thing, however, was blatantly obvious to her. “James, where are you things?” the Slytherin demanded in as hushed a tone as she could muster. “How can we leave—” she gestured at the fireplace “—if you’ve no clothes? Father’s watch? Anything, for goodness sake?!”

tag: james | words: 407 | notes: One of the twins, if home for a visit, or Antoinette may join later
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[James Grey]

"I packed a suitcase," he said, staring as she gestured at the fireplace. They weren't going to crawl up it, were they? Because even if they did have magic, he wasn't going to be able to do that. How had Becky gotten in here, anyways? Jamie decided it was better not to ask about it. "There's books in it, and the watch, and my clothes. And socks! I almost forgot socks," he said, smiling a very small bit. William had quite unintentionally reminded him of them, mostly by throwing one at him. James had, of course, screamed 'oh!' and ran up the stairs. All perfectly normal behavior in the eyes of a child of eight.

"It's, um, it's upstairs," he said, "under the bed." He looked away from the baffling fireplace, smiled sheepishly at Becky. "I'm going to go get it?" His voice raised like he was asking, but it wasn't a question. He shook his head. "I'll be back down in a minute." He stepped backward for a moment, watching Ellory and Becky, before finally turning around and leaving the room. He closed the door tightly behind him, walked through the kitchen as calmly as he could manage, and then ran up the stairs.

Jamie knew that he shouldn't have run so fast, it made an awful lot of noise, but he hoped that the Charity-dragon would put it down to one of the children. He opened the door to his room, stepped in, and closed it behind him. Speed-walking across his room, he pulled the suitcase out from under his bed. The pile of extra socks fell over, and he was glad that he hadn't put books as he had originally intended. Books were loud.

He double-checked the latch of the case, picked it up. Wow, it was heavy. Jamie frowned and gripped the handle with both hands. He nudged the door open with his hips, went down the stairs slowly, and was sweating slightly by the time he was walking through the dining room again. He almost missed the form of his little brother, standing in the corner for whatever reason - perhaps, James reasoned, he was in a time-out.

"What're you doing, Jamie?" he called, focusing on the suitcase. At a loss for what to do with his half-brother, Jamie beckoned him into the room and held the door open for him. Perhaps the logic was that if all the kids were in the same place, it was less likely that Charity would find them.

[Rebecca Grey]

Socks. Jamie’s life was changing, and his concern was socks? Rebecca could learn to knit him some if it proved absolutely necessary; why did he suddenly think socks were of such great import? Boys. “Well yes, do!” the Slytherin urged impatiently as her brother suggested going to fetch his things. One hand moved to smooth Ellory’s curls as her brother left the room, wondering briefly if she couldn’t bring the girl back with her. No, muggles could not see Hogsmeade; though it was not a lesson she had learned in school, Becky could clearly recall many of her housemates bringing it up, particularly when she had first started at Hogwarts and the village was still rather new.

The two girls chattered in whispers as they awaited James’ return, speaking of nothing particularly heavy, but simply enjoying each other’s company. Before long, James made his return, seemingly out of breath—and with William in tow. “SHHHHH!” Becky and Ellory hushed in unison as the youngest lad squealed out her name in surprise. For a moment, the sixteen-year-old was torn: though thrilled to see her brother as well, it would only delay the elder Greys further, which, in turn, would risk bringing Charity down upon them. “James, we haven’t time for this!” she admonished quickly, quietly.

tag: james | words: 215 | notes: --
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[James Grey]

Jamie winced at the squeal, thinking that perhaps bringing William with him had been a mistake. Of course, he could not help but defend himself against Becky's admonishment. Jamie whispered back, "I couldn't just leave him for her to find." If they hadn't been sneaking about, he would have whined it, but that would have made even more noise than what William had done.

Something creaked upstairs. Jamie went pale - whether it was a house quote or Charity Chaucer was irrelevant, because he had just comprehended the severity of their situation. Charity wanted - needed, really - him to stick around because of the money, and he needed to get out or she'd never let them leave.

"How are we leaving?" he asked, eyes wide. Surely if their step-mother was upstairs, she would see them get out the front door and interfere. (He wondered again how Becky had gotten in. Perhaps, an errant thought suggested, she had taken a broomstick!)

[Rebecca Grey]

The floorboards creaked above them and, panicked, Becky wondered if their delay had brought Charity down upon them. “Through the fireplace,” she informed her brother, not caring how senseless the statement might have been. The trouble now lay in getting out before any more creaks came from on high, and disentangling from the half-siblings without upsetting them. The Slytherin was no longer certain which which would prove to be more difficult.

Bending over so that she could look both William and Ellory in the eyes, she offered, “Now, you know we shall not be home for Christmas—though I imagine the twins will be, so you shan’t be terribly alone—but Jamie and I will take great care to ensure that we come home next summer,” Becky began, hoping very much that the words were true. “It’s school, you see; education is important, and perhaps someday you will go to the same school as we do. But for now you must be very very good and not give us away, for Mother—” she winced at referring to Charity as such “—is rather silly, and thinks the world too dangerous for Jamie to get his education.” Hopefully they would not be too upset in offending their mother if it was for their brother’s lifelong benefit.

She gathered them to her, hugging both deeply but quickly, before rising and moving to the fireplace. “Do say your goodbyes, James,” she urged quickly, “And let us go!”

tag: james | words: 245 | notes: --
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[James Grey]

The fireplace? Was this some magical thing he was going to have to get used to? Jamie squinted at the fireplace as Becky explained things to their half-siblings, although he did nod emphatically every few moments. He had to go to school, Charity did not want him to for reasons he could not begin to fathom, and they would try to visit.

He suddenly felt very nostalgic, now that it was actually time to say goodbye. When Becky was gone, the younger Greys were Jamie's only real company in the house. They may have been related to the stepmother, but they were not all that bad. Now he was not going to see them very much, because he had to go have adventures and learn how to do magic and they had to stay with their mother.

He would miss them. Not as much as he usually missed Rebecca, but he would miss them.

"Goodbye William, Ellory," Jamie said, stepping forwards to hug each of them. "I'll see you next summer, okay? I promise." He did not know if he could keep said promise, but obviously he had to try anyways.

James detached himself from his youngest sister and nodded at Becky. "We can go now," he said, more confident of the weird fireplace transportation than he was of Charity Chaucer. If it had let Becky get there it had to be safe, right? Right.

[Rebecca Grey]

As her brother bid farewell to their half-siblings, Becky stooped—for it was not as large as the ones in Hogsmeade—into the fireplace, drawing a small handful of green dust from a satchel from her side before tossing the satchel—making very sure that it was closed—to her brother. This bit, the Slytherin knew to be crucial; if Jamie were to fumble with his words, or chicken out, she could very well never see him again. Slowly and clearly, she explained to the lad, “Do precisely as I do, and remember you are going to Bartonburg in Hogsmeade.” Hopefully that way, he would at least make it to the proper community, even if he were to fumble on the address.

With the precision necessary to avoid any mishaps, Becky called out, “Ashmore Residence, Bartonburg, Hogsmeade!” With urgency, she flung the powder in her hand onto the coals beneath her, and—with one last smile at the younger Greys—flew through the floo network to arrive at Antoinette’s once again. The sitting room was empty upon her arrival—that was strange; Antoinette had been supposed to be awaiting her return.

tag: james | words: 191 | notes: --
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[James Grey]

Bartonburg, Hogsmeade. Bartonburg, Hogsmeade. Ashmore Residence, Bartonburg, Hogsmeade. Jamie felt quite silly as he stepped in the fireplace after Becky, and even sillier as he took a handful of the silly powder out and threw it at his feet.

Now he just had to recite what it was - but now he could not remember it. Jamie stared ahead and settled with, "Residence, Bartonburg, Hogsmeade!" Maybe he'd be lucky. Maybe the magic would just get him to wherever Becky had gone.

He was still half-convinced that standing in a fireplace with magic powder would not get him anywhere when he started zooming through the fireplace.

Jamie popped out in a strange place, covered with soot. He pulled his suitcase from the fireplace with him and glanced around. "Becky?" he called hopefully. But he could not see his sister, and no one responded. Oops.

"Hello?"

Maybe they knew Becky.

Jamie brushed the soot from his pants. He had not expected his day to turn into an adventure, with fireplace travel and getting lost and everything! It was sort of exciting. Except he really needed to find his sister.

He took his suitcase with him, deeper into the house.

[Rebecca Grey]

JC DAY 31

She stepped rather awkwardly out of the fireplace and into the Ashmore’s parlour, always a little startled when the floo network managed to deliver her where she asked—not because she doubted the system but because, even after several years in the magical world, it still seemed ridiculous to her that a fireplace should be a method of transportation. Dusting the soot from her dress, she moved out of the way so that her brother might clamour out more easily on his own arrival.

The deep tick-tock of the grandfather clock droned on, but the fire did not roar back to life.

Sticking her head into the fireplace, Becky called out, “Jamie?” as if her brother might be able to hear her. How long had it been now, a quarter of an hour? He should have arrived by now! It should have happened!

tag: james | words: 143 | notes: --
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[Sybil Mallory]

Oh, it was all so dreadfully tedious! Here it was, such a lovely day, and yet Sybil had nothing more exciting to do than sit in the parlour and read. With her regular chaperon having taken ill—having been hospitalized, no less!—the former Gryffindor was having a difficult time doing anything she might consider to be fun, as her guardian was hardly inclined to accompany her out and about and Fortuna, who suffered the same loss of chaperon, was quite content to sit in the rear garden and do needlework. Where, by Merlin, was the excitement in that!?

Cabin fever had most certainly sunk in.

It was for this reason that Sibby wondered if she wasn’t hearing things when, from her seat, she heard the voice of a young male. It certainly was not Merritt’s—she would have recognized it in an instant, and it would not have sounded quite so uncertain—, nor was it deep enough to belong to Magnus. Intrigued, the young witch rose from where she sat and approached the door, peering out of it ever so slightly as if a detective on a stakeout; the comparison ended there when, rather loudly, she exclaimed, “Who on earth are you?!”

[James Grey]

Well.

She certainly wasn't Becky.

"I'm Becky's brother!" he exclaimed, far too startled to introduce himself properly. "She told me to follow her through the fireplace but I couldn't remember the name so I lost her!" This, Jamie thought, was why people did not travel by fireplace! He didn't know this girl, just that he had kind of broken into her house (if landing in the fireplace with no warning counted as breaking and entering) and that she probably did not know his sister.

"Please don't make me go to prison!" Jamie added as a bit of an afterthought. He did not think he knew anyone capable of breaking him out of prison, and if he really had lost Becky then he did not know anyone who would even try. Oh no. Why on earth had she sent him through the fireplace? Didn't witches have brooms?

[Sybil Mallory]

Sybil did not know a Becky, nor why a brother of this Becky would be in the Lockhart home unattended. Perhaps Becky was a friend of Fortuna’s—but then, Fortuna did not have any friends over, and so their siblings would have no business frolicking around the house. The story, however, quickly evolved into one that made much more sense, and Sibby could not help but laugh—rather loudly—when the boy begged not to go to prison. While her guardian might have had strong words about such a rude entrance to the house, hers was a much easier nature.

“And where did this Becky of yours intend for you to turn up?” Sybil asked. Clearly the boy was a novice on the Floo network, otherwise he would not have wound up so decidedly off-course.

[James Grey]

He wasn't going to prison! Unless the stranger was laughing because she was going to take him to prison, but Jamie didn't think so, and he was more than willing to assume he would not be arrested for accidentally breaking in.

"She said I was supposed to go to..." He tried to remember, and of course now that he was not panicking he could not "Ashmore residence, Bartonburg, Hogsmeade! But then there was green fire and I kind of forgot about the Ashmore part." Obviously.

"Bartonburg and Hogsmeade were most important though. I'm not that lost, right?" He supposed that he ought to check, even if he doubted that anywhere normal had fireplace travel.