Double Dog Dare! -- Episode 11
Hecate, 12 January 2002

Arthur looked at the McCarthys, whom, he considered, might be in danger of spontaneously combusting had they only believed such a thing to be possible. Laying a hand on Jason's arm, he said "Thank you, Severus and you , too, Viviane, for bringing Jason back. But I think a trip to Hogwarts might be a bit overwhelming for our friends, here." Given that the senior McCarthys seemed to be having a contest to determine which could reach the most unnatural skin tone the fastest (Vera, going for olive green, appeared to be winning), Severus conceded that Arthur had a point.

"I'll get Albus," Viviane interjected, scanning the Weasleys' mantel for Floo powder. "I need to change, anyway."

"What a good idea," said Molly, all the while trying not to think about why Viviane was wearing what looked to be a spare set of Snape's robes.

~*~*~

Viviane went straight to her own rooms to trade Severus' black robe for something both more becoming and more comfortable before presenting herself at the gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's door.

"Acid pop," she said aloud, feeling foolish, but the gargoyle jumped aside and admitted her to the moving staircase.

The Headmaster had been dozing in his chair before a low fire, a small, leather bound book about to drop from his long fingers, when his guardian alerted him to Viviane's arrival.

"Good morning, Viviane," he said, rising to meet her. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Viviane doubted her appearance, no matter how good she looked, was as pleasurable as all that, but she was pleased to have made it this far without being rebuffed. "I'm afraid, Albus, that Severus and I have stumbled upon a small problem. Or perhaps I should say, a problem stumbled upon us." She quickly outlined the Jason McCarthy situation. "And since these people are having conniptions just standing in Molly's living room, we thought it best not to bring them to Hogwarts. Poppy's quite skilled, but cardiac arrest might be beyond her ministrations."

"Oh my," said Dumbledore, heading for the fire. "Shall we?"

~*~*~

Back in the Burrow, the McCarthys had refused all further offers of tea and were beginning to resemble prisoners awaiting interrogation featuring ethically questionable techniques when Viviane and Dumbledore appeared out of the fire.

"Arthur, Molly, Severus, how nice to see you all. Please introduce me to your friends," Dumbledore said, indicating the Muggles cowering on the sofa.

"Vera, Michael, this is Albus Dumbledore. He's the Headmaster of our children's school," Molly explained tentatively, "and he's going to help us to figure out what happened to Jason."

"So pleased to make your acquaintance," said Dumbldore, gathering up the folds of his jade and maroon robes so that he could join the McCarthys on the couch. "Now, I understand that your son found his way to Professor Snape's storage room by way of Fidelis, am I right?"

"That's right, Headmaster," Snape interjected. "But the spell he stumbled upon only works for wizards. If it transported him all the way to Hogwarts, it stands to reason that he must be one, even if he doesn't know it."

"Tell me, Jason," said Dumbledore, turning to the red haired American boy, "are you the sort of person to whom odd things happen?"

Jason thought about this for a moment before he said, "Yes, sir. All the time."

Vera McCarthy groaned and covered her face with her hands.

"Like what?" Dumbledore asked.

"Well, when I was eight and had my birthday at Chuck E. Cheese, all the balls in the ball pit went flying around the whole restaurant and they made us all go outside while they called the police. And I once got my dirt bike stuck on top of the town water tower-"

"And he's much better at basketball than he has any right to be," interrupted Jeremy, who was doing a very bad job at containing his jealousy toward his brother who always seemed to have more fun.

"And streetlights are always popping out when I walk under them," Jason added.

"I see," said Dumbledore, seriously. "Tell me, Mrs. McCarthy. Where in America do you live?"

"Chelsea, Massachusetts. It's outside of Boston."

"Oh, excellent!" Dumbledore replied, beaming. "You're so very close to just the person who can help you. As I assume," he added, "you would prefer that Jason return to America with you."

"Of course we would!" Mr. McCarthy exclaimed.

"As would any parent," Dumbledore reassured him. "I will send word to Etheline Lowell, who is the principal of the Salem Witches' Institute, to come and see you when your holiday is over. She will be able to help." He turned to Jason to ask "How old are you, my boy?"

"Fourteen," Jason answered. "In three weeks, that is."

"Very well. A bit late to start, but that's not an insurmountable obstacle."

"To start what?" asked Vera McCarthy, whose skin tone had gone from green to a whiter shade of pale.

"His wizarding education, madam. It is very important that he learn how not to endanger himself or those around him. Once he has learned those things and a few others, he will be able to decide whether he wants to spend his life in our world or in yours or, if he chooses, between the two."

"Others?" asked Jason.

"Others, indeed. I gather that you will be a talented flyer, Mr. McCarthy. All of the Weasleys are. Now," said Dumbledore, picking up Fidelis and collecting the room with his twinkly gaze, "there are two other questions that we must answer as quickly as possible. Where is Fidelis' collar tag? And where is Sirius Black?"