[50] Drowning Lessons

Hall needed a test subject for the Harry doll. He'd planned to use the twins. But a better candidate appeared.

"Hall. When are you going to stop being angry?"

Percy stood before him, pale, lips pressed tight. "I was hasty. If you hadn't kept it from us, none of it would have happened."

If not for what he was holding, I'd have left.

"I won't hold it against you. Forgive what I said." Percy pushed his offering forward. His face reddened. "It's all my savings. Maybe too little for you, but it's everything."

Thirteen Galleons, seven Sickles, three Knuts.

Hall noticed Percy's worn shoes and patched robe. He took the money. Percy wouldn't spend it anyway. Money needed to circulate. Like how George and Fred burned through materials on the Split Dolls.

Percy flinched when Hall took it. But he knew — if Hall refused, it would mean the end of their relationship. The holidays were coming. He didn't want to bring school conflicts home. What Bill and Charlie could do, he could do better.

"We're reconciled?" Percy asked.

"No."

Percy froze. "What?"

"Do me a favour first."

"But you took my money!"

"You brought it to me. Why wouldn't I take it?"

Percy's face reddened again. "You — you —"

"If you don't help, I'll find George and Fred."

"I'll help!"

Percy couldn't let them look down on him. Besides, Hall wasn't like the twins. His experiments wouldn't involve anything strange. Right?

Percy followed Hall to the Black Lake. Hall produced a featureless doll and taught Percy how to activate it.

Percy followed the instructions. As he finished the last stroke, white smoke rose from the doll.

"Put it down."

Percy placed it on the grass. The smoke cleared. Nothing happened.

"Is it broken?"

Hall watched. When Harry activated it, thick smoke poured out, almost like fire. Percy's activation was quiet. Interesting.

"Pick it up."

The doll now had Percy's face. Every detail. Percy checked under the clothes — even the birthmark. A secret only known to Mum and Dad.

"This is..."

Hall snatched the doll. "Repeat after me. 'How much does the wand cost?'"

"Seven Galleons?"

"Percy. Repeat after me."

"Okay. How much does the wand cost?"

"Nine pounds and fifteen pence."

Percy looked confused. Hall glared. "Repeat."

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"Nine pounds and fifteen pence."

The doll's eyes opened. But Percy didn't see — he was staring at a giant Hall.

"How did you get so big?"

Hall smiled. He lifted Percy — the doll — and dropped it into the Black Lake.

Glub glub glub — Hall — glub —

Percy sank. He couldn't move. The surface retreated.

Hall sighed. "Control your magic. Just a little."

He slapped Percy — the real Percy, standing beside him.

"That wasn't you."

Percy guided the doll through the water, following Hall's instructions with unexpected precision.

Percy guided the doll through the water, following Hall's instructions. A new world opened in his mind. He was standing on the shore, but also swimming in the Black Lake.

"The Bubble-Head Charm is almost up. Ready?"

Percy didn't understand. Then the barrier shattered. Water rushed in. He fell to the grass, gasping, the cold sensation flooding his real body.

"Percy. Fly here."

Hall cast a Summoning Charm. The tiny Percy doll shot out of the lake.

"Sink or swim."

Hall spoke the dispelling word. The doll's connection broke.

Percy lay on the lawn, panting. Hall was trying to kill him.

Hall studied the doll. The reverse effect worked. But if someone harmed the doll, would the original body be harmed too? He needed defence mechanisms. A back-end control system. He'd branded a steel mark into every doll — if they were controlled or misused, Hall could override.

He thought of Quirrell. The fragment was still in the infirmary. Looking for Helena. Helena was sleeping next to Ron every night.

The fragment was a threat. Killing it would attract Dumbledore's attention. But Hall needed knowledge from it — about Slytherin.

Hall clutched the doll and smiled coldly.

"Hall. Are you satisfied now?" Percy pushed himself up, soaked in sweat.

Hall tossed him the doll. Useless now. Just for self-defence.

"What do you mean?"

"Keep it. You know the activation and deactivation words. It costs a thousand Galleons."

Percy shouted after him. Hall ignored him. The experiment was a success. Time to make money. The big spender was waiting.

Before Hall could celebrate, a furious Sirius appeared and dragged him aside.

Hall was calm. The room was clean, swept daily. He pulled a Galleon from his pocket, Transfigured it into a comfortable armchair, and sat down.

Sirius was livid. "Is this how you do business?"

He'd been a Black before leaving the family. He'd been served by the best wizards. Respect. Deference. Never this.

"If this is your attitude, the deal's off."

Hall rested his chin on his hand. Sirius had changed in three months. Short hair, fuller cheeks, younger. Like a wealthy man.

"Professor Black. Let's sit and talk."

He conjured a simple chair for Sirius. "You're right. It was two-fifty Galleons. For customisation. But the doll itself costs a thousand."

Sirius's eyes widened. "A rag doll for a thousand Galleons? Do you know how much that is?"

"Anyone who's done business with me at Hogwarts knows I'm trustworthy. I guarantee value for money."

Hall held up the Harry doll. The miniature was perfect. Lightning scar. Round glasses. A tiny smile.

"Tell me yourself. Is this worth two-fifty?"

Sirius's heart melted.

"Buy, buy, buy!"

He handed over the Galleons. By the time he realised what happened, he was already playing with the doll.

"Ahem." He stuffed it in his pocket. "Evil Slytherin."

He strode out. The door opened. Three people tumbled in.

"Hall! Are you okay?" Ron rushed forward.

"Sirius — Hall —" Harry checked both.

"Professor Black — Hall —" Hermione looked embarrassed.

"Did Professor Black bully you?" Ron asked, worried.

Hall conjured the chairs back. "He was very friendly. Pleasant conversation."

Ron stared. Sirius, friendly to Hall? That was Snape giving Gryffindor points. Impossible.

Outside, Sirius snorted at Hall. Then he saw Harry and his face lit up. He grabbed Harry, shouting, "I've got something to show you!"

Harry had already seen the doll — he'd helped Hall activate it. But Sirius was too excited.

Harry waved helplessly at Hall as Sirius dragged him away.

Hermione watched them go. "Don't you have a teaching assistant class?"

"Sirius can teach Defence on his own now. Professor Snape doesn't need me as much except for materials." Hall shook his hand in disgust. Slugs.

"Exams are over, right?" Hall looked at the books Hermione and Ron were carrying.

"Returning them to the library." Ron was thrilled to be free of textbooks.

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