Roasted Quail

The next morning, the wind had died and the snow had stopped. After Allen returned to Hogwarts, he went to the Great Hall for breakfast. The whole Great Hall was buzzing with the news that Katie had been cursed. Apart from the few people directly involved, no one knew the specific details—that the Opal Necklace's actual target had not been Katie herself. The school had asked the Gryffindors involved not to discuss the matter with anyone else.

After asking Hermione a few brief questions, Allen swallowed the last piece of potato on his plate, fried in duck fat, and left the Great Hall. He instructed the Auror guard beside him, "Pope, have someone bring me that Opal Necklace."

The Aurors moved very quickly. Allen had only just returned to his own staff office when there was a knock at the door. Pope came in wearing dragon-hide gloves, holding a box in his hands.

"Sir, there wasn't much of a delay. Someone from our team happened to be at the Ministry of Magic, so I had him come through by Floo," Pope reported respectfully, with a trace of delight in his voice. Allen lifted his chin toward the box. Pope gently opened the lid, and the Opal Necklace gave off a faint, eerie green glow.

Through Lucius's report, Allen knew that the person carrying out the assassination mission had changed from Draco in the original plot to Pansy, but he did not know exactly when the other side would act. Yesterday, he had personally spoken with Madam Rosmerta, who should originally have been controlled by the Imperius Curse, but had found no signs that she was under control. Somewhat curious, he said, "Tell me what you found."

"We discovered that a waitress at the Three Broomsticks Pub, Cheryl, had been put