The Secret of the Sivrils

September (7th Year):

I'm in a carriage of the Hogwarts Express, which is actually quite full, as this time it's not just occupied by my siblings and I. Antonius and Dominic are in here too. Oliver is as well, though he's hiding. I gave him a newt this morning before we set out. He hated the last train-journey, and he's in a particularly bad mood, even though the train hasn't even started moving yet.

Just as I was writing, Max Castellanos slid open the door of our compartment and asked if he could join us. Only Dominic objected. He doesn't like Max and that's not really surprising.

The train is just now leaving Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Max is sitting next to Antonius. Dominic has just left the carriage...

For a while, I just sat looking out of the window, watching the scenery as we passed through. The others were talking about things in the background, but then I couldn't help overhearing Jared talking about me and I started paying attention.

"Cathy, you don't really belong in Slytherin,"Jared said to me.

"And what do you mean by that?"I asked, suddenly feeling annoyed.

"Well, you used the Sword of Gryffindor, remember?"he continued.

"Lotty got it out of the Sorting Hat,"I answered, trying to hold back my irritation.

"Yes, but she didn't use it,"Jared said,"so technically she was just a proxy to get it to you - really the Sword of Gryffindor had to have presented itself to you, and it only ever does that for a True Gryffindor."

I angrily threw a paper bag at Jared and it splatted on his face.

"Now, that was un-called for!"Jared objected.

"Interesting theory,"Max joined in,"but you're wrong, Jared."

Jared flung the paper bag back at me,"I'm not wrong!"he said to Max.

"You're wrong about Lotty not using it,"Max said.

Now even Lotty looked puzzled.

"All she did was get it delivered,"Jared said.

"No, she used it, but not as a weapon,"Max started to explain,"she used it as a key!"

"A key?"Lotty asked, frowning.

"Lotty, if Patricia and Richard hadn't heard you'd pulled the Sword of Gryffindor out of the Sorting Hat, they never would have helped me to get out of the Common Room,"Max continued to explain,"I was being so closely guarded by APS that the house-elf, Poppy, whatever his name is, couldn't even deliver me a message! It was hearing about the sword that got not only Richard and Patricia to help us escape, but other members of our House too. Lotty used the sword as a beacon, a signal to to all true Gryffindors, that we were in a time of need! You don't get any more Gryffindor than that!"

Lotty was looking thoughtful,"I suppose,"she agreed.

"I'm in the house I belong in,"I said,"I know that."

"Or do you?"Jared went on,"you're the one saying Silas Warren doesn't really belong in Gryffindor."

"I know I belong in Slytherin!"I insisted.

"Why did Dominic go out?"Anita interrupted us.

"Probably because of me,"Max said.

"Maybe I should look for him?"Antonius suggested, getting up.

"You should see if he's alright,"Max agreed.

Antonius returned around five minutes later, looking less than happy.

"Did you find him?"I asked.

"He's with Regulus and some 6th Years,"Antonius replied,"told me to get out."

"Really?"I said.

"Yes!"Antonius answered,"said if I didn't leave the carriage, he'd kick me out himself."

"Which 6th Years?"Jared asked,"I might know them."

"Gerald, Elliot and Dennis,"Antonius replied.

"I know them - trouble-makers,"Jared answered,"I'm going to be keeping an eye on them this year!"

Max looked at Jared inquisitively.

"Jared's a Prefect now,"I said.

"Yep,"Jared said.

"You'd better not let it go to your head,"I said.

"You'd better not go breaking any rules,"Jared replied.

"I'm pretty sure you break rules all the time, Jared,"I responded.

"Well, now my rule-breaking days are over,"Jared answered,"what better Prefect than a Prefect that already knows how to break all the rules and catch all the rule-breakers..."

"I really want to talk about something important, but I can't!"Anita suddenly said.

"Why not?"I asked.

"Because,"Anita said, looking at Max.

Max noticed this,"alright,"he said,"I'll leave! Don't worry!"

"You can come back in ten minutes,"I said.

Anita glared at me.

"Maybe I'll go and annoy Dominic,"Max said,"like the good old days."

"I'll go with you,"said Antonius,"to make sure you don't,"he added.

I think he realised Anita only wanted siblings to be present.

"It's about the Sivril, isn't it?"I asked Anita.

Anita drew out the Golden Sivril.

"I've been thinking about all the opportunities we have with this,"she said,"and I haven't forgotten about the Locked Door that we still haven't found."

"Max sort of had heard of the Sivril already,"Lotty said.

Anita frowned,"I'd rather it was just the seven of us that knew,"she said,"did you know I asked the Sivril yesterday how many Sivrils there are hidden around Hogwarts? There are seven."

"Seven?"I said.

"Yep!"Anita said,"Seven Sivrils! That could be one for each of us!"

"Each of us?"Ed said, looking up from his book.

"Yes, including Emily and Jeffrey,"Anita explained.

"Oh, forgot about them,"Ed said, returning to his book.

"I found one, Lotty found one,"Anita went on,"I was thinking it would be great if each of us could find one. Then we could all be the Keepers of the Sivrils and use them to find adventures."

"I think I've had enough adventures for a while,"I said,"I'm hoping I get a chance to enjoy my last year at Hogwarts in peace."

"Well, you don't have to be the next one to find one,"Anita answered aggressively,"I asked the Golden Sivril if each one has different powers, and it said they're all different. We already know the Golden Sivril finds things and answers questions, and the Silver Sivril shows certain memories that happened in places."

"I was thinking it would be really useful to have of you were an Auror,"Lotty said,"when you go to a crime scene, all you have to do is roll the Silver Sivril around."

"Maybe I could borrow it off you when I discover crime scenes at Hogwarts?"Jared suggested.

"Why would you want to investigate 'crime scenes' at Hogwarts?"Lotty asked.

"Well,"Jared said,"Prefect, remember?"

I rolled my eyes, Anita did too, then she pointed at me and laughed.

"Twins!"she said.

"Partners in crime, you mean,"Jared corrected,"I'm going to b keeping an eye on you two because I know you're always up to no good!"

"Well,"Anita said,"let's get back to the subject before they come back. I was thinking, I haven't asked the Sivril any questions today. So why don't we all ask it one question each? Here on the train. Cathy can go first because she's the oldest."

I couldn't think of any questions on the spot,"why don't you ask it first, Anita? You found it. We'll do it youngest to oldest."

"Are there adventures waiting for us at Hogwarts this year?"Anita asked it.

The golden ball spat out a parchment,"yes,"was the response.

"Nice!"said Anita.

I wasn't so sure.

Next it was Lotty,"will we find the Locked Door?"

"That is for you to find out,"the Sivril responded.

"Wasted that one,"Anita said,"I'm sure I've already asked it that before. Go on - Ed!"

Ed took the Sivril, he looked at it for a moment, then asked,"how do you make a Sivril?"

Anita gasped. None of us had actually thought about that.

The golden ball rolled around and around on the floor for a while, making a strange humming sound.

"Looks like you've broken it, Ed,"Jared observed.

Just then, the golden ball spat out a small scroll of paper. Ed picked it up and unrolled it.

"What does it say?"I asked.

"It's provided instructions,"he said,"first of all, we need an alchemy laboratory. We need to choose a base metal; silver and gold are the most powerful. We need to infuse an element with strong intent for the purpose, a magical core (like a wand has). We also require the infusion of any other parts necessary, and a combination of spells sealed within the ball. Moonstone is an essential component..."

"It sounds complicated,"I said.

"But also really interesting,"Ed replied,"I think I might try making one of these in the future."

Now it was Jared's turn, but we didn't even pay any attention to the question he asked it, we were all too busy asking Ed to show us the scroll and discussing the sorts of Sivrils we could make.

"Cathy - you now,"Jared said, handing the Sivril to me.

"What did you ask it?"I asked, as I noticed him slipping a piece of parchment into his pocket.

"Ah - nothing important,"he responded,"nothing you need to know."

I looked at the Sivril and wondered what I was going to ask, but I didn't have any ideas.

"Go on!"Anita urged me,"the others are going to be back any minute!"

I decided to ask it the first thing I thought of,"where is Silas Warren?"

The others all gave me strange looks.

"I would never have thought of that,"Lotty said.

"How would it know?"Jared asked.

The Sivril rolled out of my hands, dropped to the floor, and spat out a parchment.

I realised when I went to pick it up, that my hand was shaking. Lotty had already seen what was written on it, and she was looking at me in a way that I didn't like.

"You will find him soon."

Then the door to the compartment slid open and Antonius and Max returned.

"You finished your family discussion yet?"Max asked,"or should I say - secret world domination plans?"

"We certainly have,"Jared answered,"you gave us enough time to come up with a solid action plan and two pristine back-up plans to boot."

"Yes, you are now welcome to return,"Anita informed them.

"Would you consider joining our secret taskforce?"Jared went on.

"What should we rename the capital of the world when our invasion has succeeded?"Anita joined in.

"Carrowlandia,"Jared suggested,"no, that will be what we rename the Earth!"