Marriage is Murder

Steven sat looking into his cup " we haven't spoken " he said softly" hes different now Robert more confrontational " he looked at Robert and frowned I hope he doesn't get himself in to anything he can't handle" it was then he heard a crash an he stood up moving to the cloak room opening the door he saw John sat among the coats .

" Hi dad, sorry don't think I'll get use to aperating" he said and stood up he looked to Robert " Mr Lupin, um.." he stopped as he looked to his dad " sorry for not giving you warning but had no time, kinda got behind on my studies so I came straight here , hope that was ok " he said looking at Robert then his eyes lit up at the sight of all the food " wow" was all he said.

Robert looked at the scene not saying much at first. Then he looked at John.

"Tell me, Son," Robert said casually. "As a third year, you should not have been trained yet even in apparating, much less porting by yourself. Your magic should not be developed enough to use those skills by yourself. You cannot apparate from England here--its too far a distance. It requires porting to travel halfway around the globe, far above a third year's skills. So tell me--how exactly did you manage to get here?"

Robert did not see it possible from a third year on his own. Robert figured he would have had to have someone bring him, albeit someone not very skilled, and if so, he wanted to know who John had brought into a safehouse without permission. And, if he were trying to learn to do this by himself, he was entirely too young. If he had done this by himself, then John was risking his life to do something that was designed for 6th and 7th year students.

Jack looked at John and then to Steven who closed the door after helping John out of the pile of coats. " I did it on my own...sir" he said " I know I'm not in the right year to learn it officially, but I did it on my own" he said and sat down facing Robert. Steven sat with John and frowned .

" I'll talk to him Robert " Steven said and sighed " this is what I mean he won't understand that he has to do things in the right order and at the right time" he said " I know , I know kids do these sort of things but that John.." he turned to look at him" was stupid you could have spliced yourself " he said John rolled his eyes at him and Steven gave a low growl.

" hey, my bit mate" Jack said and chuckled softly.

"Steven," Robert said quietly, getting to his feet, "do make sure you explain to him how much of a violation of law it is for him to use underage magic. If he tries this again, I will prosecute him to the fullest extent of the wizarding law to protect him from himself. And that does mean that it could result in my stripping him of his magic permanently. Remember Hagrid, if you think that's not possible. As an auror, you know that. Now, I do not intend to deal with this any further on Christmas Eve."

He looked at John seriously. "You are very welcome to spend Christmas with us in our home, but if you're going to be here, you will not break the law, and you will treat others with respect. If you are not willing to do that, then I suggest you have your father return you to Hogwarts before any more winter storms set in because you wont' be staying if you can't follow those two simple rules."

He looked up at the rest of the table. "I shall be in my quarters for the rest of the evening. I'll see you all in the morning. Goodnight." He turned and left. Michael and Angus didn't say a word. Robert wasnt' about to take adolescent snark from anyone and had left the room to avoid getting truly nasty with John and was going to spend the rest of Christmas Eve alone to manage to hold his tongue with the boy. Clearly John had forgotten who he was dealing with.

Steven looked at John and nodded " I know and will speak to him about it" he said John just stayed sat in his chair with his arms folded across his chest his face like thunder as he watched Robert leave the room. Steven looked at Michael and Angus worried that John was rebelling because he'd not spent that much time with him Jess smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder.

" it'll be alright" she said and smiled Steven looked at John and sighed deeply.

" hes done it this time though its serious using magic of that type with out permission and on school grounds too.

"That's not your biggest problem, Mate," Michael said. "He did it right in front of the Minister of Magic. Robert doesn't have a choice. John openly broke the law. If Robert lets it slide, he's breaking the law to hide John's offense. Robert would probably be willing to be lenient, but if John continues to have an attitude, he's only going to make things worse. I mean, be real about it for one moment. How far do you think a muggle kid would get if he behaved like some little snot to the Queen? My guess is it would not fly very well."

"You are very lucky, John," Angus said. "Because you ported from one country to another, you've also broken international wizarding law. And that takes on a whole new level of seriousness. Robert does have a right, if he chooses to arrest you and have you held in one of the juvenile jails here. And yes, they do exist, and yes, Robert's counterpart here would not hesitate to arrest you." Angus knew that if Lee was made aware of John's missteps, John would be spending Christmas behind bars in an American juvenile prison and there would be nothing Steven could do about it.

Michael looked at Steven. "I suggest John try losing his sarcastic attitude and then apologize, sincerely, to Robert. Or...if you like, I can talk to him about finding some sort of alternative way for John to learn why the rules are the rules." Michael did have an idea about exactly how to provide John with an experience he would never forget that would help get him back on the right track. But that would depend on whether or not Steven would trust him.

Steven looked at Angus then at John " could you talk to Robert I don't think hes going to apologies any time soon" he said and looked at the stone faced John who ignored every word Angus had said. Steven looked at Angus and Michael and sighed deeply wondering just where he had gone wrong with John. Cassidy looked at Angus then at John.

"Is that true?" she asked Angus " if I'm to be his mother I should be there when hes punished. John glared at her and stood up to face cassidy.

" your NOT my mother and never will be , got that!! "he said and stormed off down to the gym.

Michael went upstairs and spoke with Robert. Robert decided to not cut John any slack. He sent an owl to Lee. He asked Brian to join him. He did not want steven to have to witness this. Not on Christmas Eve. But John was not giving Robert a choice. Brian and Robert went to the main office in the house, which was now the main office of the organization. Robert was now no longer functioning as John's neighbor. He was now functioning as the Minister of Magic.

Lee arrived with an auror with him. He apparated into the Great Hall and went directly to the office to meet Robert.

"Robert?" Lee asked. "What's going on?"

"How about a 13 year old porting from England to Colorado unassisted?"

"Bullcrap he was unassisted," Lee scowled. "That's not possible."

"I know."

"Does he know how much trouble he's in?"

"He thinks he does. He's being an arrogant little prat."

"Well, he's in my jurisdiction now. You sure you want to do this?" Lee asked.

"At least until morning, yes," Robert said. "I have no choice."

"Then lets do this," Lee said. Robert and Brian went downstairs, and staff told them that John had had a tantrum and had gone to the gym. Robert sent Brian into the dining room on their way down. Brian went to Steven.

"Lee is here," he told Steven quietly. "I know this is hard, but I'd leave this in Robert's hands for now. He's not going to throw him to the dogs but he is going to teach him a lesson. I'm going to go try to be a somewhat neutral figure in this. John has no real idea what he's done, and we know that. But we can't let it get worse. we need to have as few people there right now as possible. Cassidy, if I were you, I'd stay out of this tonight. There will be time for you to try to deal with your relationship with John later. Tonight is not the time. He's out of control. You won't get anywhere."

Robert and Lee and Lee's auror arrived in the gym, and Brian was only a moment behind. Lee flicked his wand and sealed the room so that John could not leave--not by magic or by muggle means either one.

"John," Brian ordered in a serious tone, "you need to go with Lee. Right now."

"John Lucas Walker," Lee spoke in an official tone, "you are charged with the breaking of international wizarding law by using underage magic to travel by means of portkey to a foreign country. You are under arrest, and everything you've brought here is hereby confiscated until we recover your portkey and any other contraband. Your magic will be bound until the matter is resolved. You will need to come with us tonight."

Jack looked at Steven and Cassidy who now stood with each other as John walked with Lee out of the room he glared at Steven as he passed him by but Steven knew it was for the best that John learn now rather than later hearing Michael and Angus's words Cassidy nodded that she would not interfere with anything that was going on. John followed Lee and stopped listening to him he folded his arms across his chest. he stood with his mouth open when he was told his magic would be bound and he glared looking at Lee as he looked at him " fine but I can as I am." was all john said looking at Lee.

"He wants your portkey, John," Brian said quietly, not wanting John to believe he was John's enemy. "Your wand, and any other magical artifact you have with you. If I were you, I would simply give him everything you have on you, in your pockets and such. He'll return anything nonmagical to you, I'm sure. You are entitled to a supporter if you want one. A representative. If you like, I'll do that for you. I've done it for others."

"I would listen to him if I were you," Lee said to John calmly. "Brian's service record is exemplary, and he is well thought of in our country. Right now you need all the help you can get. Brian, is Khaat any closer to having her memory back?"

"I cannot allow her to serve as the representative," Robert said, "In case John ends up on trial in front of the Wizengamot when the matter is disposed of here in America."

"Ah, true. Well, then," Lee said. "You should choose a person who is not related to you by blood that you trust, John." He watched his auror bind John's magic. "Your representative can go with you until we get your settled into your cell. Then they can visit for a few moments before they are required to leave. Or you can choose to go with us alone. Its your choice."