The Forgotten Stone

Mara cried and babbled on and on in a strange language as James worked to calm her down and kept speaking back to her in the same language until she finally got a hold of herself and nodded to him in understanding. He kissed her forehead before placing the cloak into her arms.

James looked up at Angus to see him holding out his arm. Angus gave him a wink and smile. James returned the smile before he gave Mara one last look. "I'll send you an Owl every week. But, I'm going to working a lot. Tell your father I will see him soon to tell him my plans." James said before taking a firm hold on his father's arm with both hands.

The world fell away for James but he kept his focus on Angus' even as he felt his eyes being pulled forward and being pushed inside his body and then they were in another place. James blinked twice as vision cleared and looked around to see they were inside a restroom. Stalls were all were to his right and wash basins to his left with tall mirrors attacked to the walls.

James straightened up as Angus helped him to his feet. "You doing better son?" Angus asked him and helped James to steady himself while standing.

James nodded though his head was beginning to pound. He would have to get use to it. If he was going to be any help to his father in the hunt for the item the Count wanted. He frowned in thought. "Dad. What's the item the Count wanted returned back to him. Was it in the file he gave us?"

Angus nodded stiffly and a grim expression formed on his lips. "Yes. It was. Though I don't think he put it in the report he passed on to the Aurors about what the thieves stole from him yesterday. It was supposed to have been destroyed years ago. How the hell did he get it."

James frowned at him. "Is it something illegal position or magical artifact he isn't suppose to have?"

Angus shook his head putting a finger to his lips. He waved James to follow him to the back doors. He opened the door going out first and then holding the door open for James to go ahead.

They walked out into short hallway that led into an open area filled with paints and paints on the wall strange sculptures on top a podiums. There were only a few landscapes and but the majority of paints were of men and ladies in different periods of time.

Angus led the way looking for something among the painting. James was about to ask again what they were looking for when he stopped and saw a painting of himself. He blinked twice and then realize it was him.

Angus nodded to the painting. "That's my grandfather when he was around your age after the final battle with Riddle at Hogwarts."

James frowned. "Did he commission the painting? Shouldn't this belong to our family."

Angus shook his head. "Grandpa Harry didn't commission it. Some jackass took a photo him from he and became an Auror. He was sitting down with Uncle Ron and Aunty Hermiona at Diagaon Alley for a drink." He said and scowl of discuss was on his lips as he turned away from the painting.

James wondered about his father's reaction but kept himself from asking Angus the question. Angus was frustrated now and came to a stop when they neared the exit of the museum. "It's not here. We have this might take us a bit of time."

"Dad what is this place? A public magical museum? What are we looking for?" James asked.

Angus shook his head. "To many questions. We have to keep moving. Grab a hold." He said holding out his arm.

James took a breath and grabbed a hold of his father's arm. He blinked and they were outside on dirt road in the country somewhere. He looked around in confusion. He looked at his father took out a sandwich from his pack and took two bites as he started walking in a direction down the road. James was quick to follow. There was a strange quiet that followed that made James uneasy.

"Dad. What's wrong?"

Angus reached into his pack and removed a page they had gotten from Harmiona and handed to James. "Take a look that. Tell me what you think?"

James took the page looked over it.

The Counts gallery items thirty-six items:

Amber Rod of Sages 1

Honey Gold Love potions 10

Greek scepter 1

Carpet of flight 1

Gloves of ages 2

Mystic Stone of unknown properties 1

Paintings from the first wizard war era. 20

James frowned at the list and then he shook his head handing it back to Angus. "I don't get it."

"James do you remember the story about your grandpa Harry's first year at Hogwarts?"

James stopped and starred at his father who continued walking and James started to quickly catch up. "Yes. It was part of magical history and mother told me more details to make sure I memorized the event. Why? Tom Riddle is dead. Right?"

Angus nodded finishing his sandwich and taking out two more from his pack and handing one to James to eat. "Damn straight. But, some of his followers are still alive and he did accumulate a few worshipers along the way. But more importantly do you remember the bit of trouble with the stone?"

"Of Course. I don't see-" James paused and went silent. "Dumbledore told Grandpa Harry the stone was destroyed. Dad. Your not thinking that-"

Angus shrugged. "I don't know anything for sure but the item we're looking for is an uncommon ancient mystic stone."

James shook his head. "Dumbledore couldn't have lied about it. He couldn't have Grandpa Harry nearly died trying to keep Riddle from getting it."

Angus shook his head. "Who knows. I personally don't care either way. In any regard our job is just to keep an eye out for it and get it back to our client. Once that's done. Hopefully we never see this idiot again. One thing you need to keep in mind son as we're on this job."

"What's that?" James asked biting into his sandwich.

Angus looked at him. "The people that stole that damned rock will believe it's the philosopher's stone. In that regard they'll be doing a lot to kill anybody coming to take it away. So less questions from here on end and always have your wand out and ready from now on. One more thing I got to ask you. Did your girl teach you to speak snake tongue or did you learn it to get in her good graces?" He said with a grin.

James grinned back. "I found out she could speak and asked her to teach me so I could befriend her and get her to help me with my grades."

Angus snorted in laughter. "When did she figure out that was all an excuse to get with her?"

James' face flush. "It wasn't an excuse. I wanted to become her friend and I needed help with my grades all through school."

Angus shook her head. "Come on man. You can't fool your old man. I saw that girl all on you. I almost thought you had enchanted her or made her drink two bottles of love potion a day. Though I can't blame you son. Mara is a lovely young woman."

James' cheeks glowed with embarrassment. "It's not like that bro. I just wanted to be her friend. She just ended up kind ah in love with me."

Angus held up his hands. "Okay. Okay. I won't say anything more about it."

James stared at Angus. "I do like her. I love Mara a lot. She's my best friend. I was just afraid of introducing her to you and Mom because-"

Angus nodded turning serious. "I know son. I know. It won't be easy for her being connected to our family."