Author's Note
Reviews:
chelanfish1: Thank you for the review. It meant a lot.
Thank you all for favoring and following this story. Means a ton.
Um, okay, I just realized I messed up when these guys would take NEWTs. So, in the first chapter, ignore it being in sixth year. It's actually seventh. Whoops.
CHAPTER TWO
The Announcement & Meeting the New Professor
Merida sat with her house, eating the food vigorously. Here, she didn't have to follow rules about etiquette. She could stuff her face to her heart's content and join in burping contests. Her mum would be aghast at how Merida was behaving, and she reveled in it. If only she had her bow and arrows to place on the table, she'd be complete. But her weapons were packed away in her trunk, carefully hidden from her mum's watchful eye. A transfigured replica was placed where her bow and arrows usually were.
It had taken some convincing for Hiccup to at least help her understand how to do it, but she managed. Rapunzel had even helped in her own enthusiastic way, wand waving happily as she helped Merida practice. Jack had helped by providing snacks, saying Transfiguration wasn't his thing. And it wasn't if one looked at all his sorry attempts. Merida was strangely the best at it along with Defense. Hiccup was good at Potions, Ancient Runes, and Care of Magical Creatures. Jack was best at Charms with Rapunzel just a few points behind him on it, and he was a point behind Merida for Defense. But Rapunzel was best at Herbology, the plants lifting with her touch, and she was tied with Hiccup with Care of Magical Creatures.
As dinner wound down and people began to eat dessert, Merida looked across the Great Hall. Rapunzel was getting into an adamant conversation with one of her fellow fifth years. Merida thinks his name was Kristoff. Hiccup was talking to Fishlegs, faces serious. That confused Merida. Usually the two barely talked and when they did, it was about dragons because that was apparently all Fishlegs could talk about. Jack was being pestered by a second year with black hair decorated with various clips in strange colors. Merida wondered what that was about, though Jack didn't seem to mind as much and even ruffled the girl's hair at one time, causing what was more than likely an indignant squawk.
"Hey, Dunbroch, how was your summer?" someone asked. More than likely Merida's Quidditch Captain, Mulan. Merida was ready to respond when Headmaster Moon stood up, silencing the Hall with his presence.
"It's good to see you all again, and welcome to our new students," Moon said cheerfully, his short and rounded form nearly giving him the perfect name "Moon." He was mostly bald except for a swirl of silver hair curling up and down in one swoop. "Before I continue, I'd like for you to welcome our new professor: Professor North will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts." Merida peered at the tall man with a long, white beard. But despite the fact he looked old, there was a sense of childlike wonder and energy around him. "Now, Quidditch will be cancelled." Uproars were heard, Merida being one of them. She wanted to beat Frost this year at finding the Snitch first since she'd yet to be made a Chaser. "In place, we will be hosting the Triwizard Tournament."
The Hall fell into a hush. Merida already knew it was happening, but even she was shocked at hearing the words spoken instead of reading them on her da's desk when she went in there to find a book on jinxes. This confirmed it for her. Before, it was just a little rumor she could tell her friends. Now, it was the big deal. She wanted to be a part of this, but she knew only seventh years could. Which sucked.
"We will be hosting he schools Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and Durmstrang Institute. They will be arriving two days before Halloween and the following day, we will have the Goblet of Fire set up for students to place their names in," Moon continued as students began to whisper excitedly. "However, only students who are seventeen may enter their name to participate in the tournament. A champion will be chosen from each school to compete in three tasks."
Merida could hear the buzzing around her as her heart sank. She knew the rules already, but that didn't mean she couldn't dream and hope that maybe this year they'd be different. If she got her name in the Goblet, was chosen as Hogwarts' champion, and proved herself, maybe her mum wouldn't go through with those glaikit games.
Who was Merida fooling? Her mum wouldn't care. She'd say it wasn't proper for a young lady to be gallivanting through dangerous tasks. And it just, ugh! It annoyed Merida to no end.
How would she get her mum to understand she didn't want to be married? She wasn't ready and never would be, not until she found someone who could understand her. Not deal with her, but wholeheartedly try and understand what made Merida, well, Merida. So, they'd uncover why archery was something she loved more than magic, why Angus was her first ever friend, why she was protective, and everything else.
But her mum didn't listen. She kept going on and on about marrying Merida off to some Lord's son of the neighboring Clans.
Huffing, Merida got up when everyone else was leaving. She weaved through the masses and located Rapunzel. Maybe her friend could help her calm down.
"You okay, Merida?" Rapunzel asked instantly. Merida grinned. Trust Rapunzel to always know when she was upset unlike the lads. They could be dense sometimes.
"Ah will be fine," Merida answered with a nod.
"Everything alright?" Rapunzel asked, reaching over and placing her hand on Merida's shoulder. "Does it have something to do with your home? Your mother, maybe?"
Merida always wondered how Rapunzel seemed to guess what the source of her friends' discomforts were so perfectly.
"Mum is hosting these games for my hawn in marriage," Merida grumbled hotly, the anger that was burning her chest for so long unwinding at being able to talk to Rapunzel. She always listened and never walked away when Merida's anger lashed out at the nearest thing, most of the time it being the long-haired blonde. "And Ah hate it. Fir wye cannae Ah choose whae Ah want tae marry? And when Ah want tae marry?"
"I'm sorry," Rapunzel said, pulling Merida into a tight hug. The redhead smiled and hugged her friend back, out of control curls hiding both their faces. "You'll figure something out, I know it."
"Ah hope sae," Merida sighed, pulling away. "Thank ye, Punzie."
"No problem, Mer," Rapunzel smiled, green eyes sparkling.
"What'd we miss now?" Jack whined as he walked over. Merida glared slightly.
"What was holding you two up?" Rapunzel asked.
"Snotlout hit on Astrid while we were behind them," Hiccup explained.
"Did she give him a black een?" Merida asked, lips tilting into a sharp smile. There was one thing Merida could appreciate about Astrid Hofferson: she was downright fierce and didn't take shite from anyone. Of course, she was also mad at the blonde Viking for ignoring Hiccup and not acknowledging him for so many years.
"It was awesome," Jack intervened, looking hyper and ready to tell his story. "So, Snotlout's hitting on her. I think it was something about ax throwing or something."
"It was more on how he could be accurate with his hammer throwing," Hiccup corrected.
"Yeah, yeah," Jack said, nodding his agreement. "Well, we all know Astrid doesn't take kindly to that, so she punches him straight in the eye, kneed him in the gut, and elbows him in the back so he sprawled himself on the ground. But the best thing—"
"Jack," Hiccup warned pathetically.
Merida perked up at that while Rapunzel's eyes glittered.
"—was that she said she was taken and Snotlout knew exactly who that was," Jack crowed at the end, grinning cheekily while looking at Hiccup. "And before she left, she noticed Hiccup and blushed. Astrid Hofferson blushed when looking at our tough Viking."
"She did not," Hiccup snapped, his fair face taking on a hue of scarlet.
"Of, Hiccup, this is awesome!" Rapunzel squealed, dancing on her feet and spinning in a circle.
"She probably wasn't even talking about me," Hiccup argued flimsily.
"And Ah am a jake," Merida argued, placing her hands on her hips. "We aw ken Astrid does nae blush for naw reason."
"I, uh, well, I guess," Hiccup stumbled out before shaking his head. "I'm going to bed. Night. See you tomorrow."
Hiccup hurried out of the hall, face still red and steps hurried. Rapunzel started to giggle before the rest were laughing. As much as Merida didn't want Hiccup to be with Astrid without Merida determining Astrid had changed enough for her friend, she couldn't help but tease them. It was so easy!
"I'll see you girls tomorrow," Jack said, still chuckling as he left. "Night!"
"Night, Jack," the girls chorused together.
"Night, Punzie," Merida said.
"Night, Mer," Rapunzel said, hurrying off to her house's dorms. Merida made her way through the castle to the Gryffindor Tower. Just being back had her anger subside and her thoughts didn't become surrounded by the games.
Maybe, if Merida truly tried, she could convince her mum to let this go by the end of the school year with distance keeping them apart and letting Merida actually try and think what she was saying.
She could only hope.
She only truly woke up when she entered Defense Against the Dark Arts. Merida had never been a morning person unless it was that one day out of the week back home when she had it all for herself. Archery, horseback riding, exploring, climbing to the top of the Fire Falls, and all that.
But this wasn't home and this wasn't her special day and it was too early in the morning for this.
She looked around the classroom, spotting Jack in the back smirking at her. Merida could sit down next to him and risk an argument or find a different seat. But it was too early to deal with her fellow Gryffindors. But it was far too early to deal with Jack. Such a dilemma.
Merida sighed through her nose and made her way to Jack. It was probably the worst decision she could make, but she needed to be around a familiar face. Even if her rage had settled down last night thanks to Rapunzel, it still burned and quivered within her. Jack understood that she lashed out when severely angry and it was always her friends who got her backlash first. She had nearly scared Hiccup from being her friend back in first year because of the nasty habit. If it wasn't for her apologizing profusely, she probably would have lost the wee lad as a friend.
"How you doing this morning, princess?" Jack asked, grinning his signature, mischievous grin.
"First aff, dae nae call me princess," Merida snapped, her temper flaring and slowly awakening her. She'd thank Jack later for this. "Second, ye ken Ah hate mornings."
"So, you've said," Jack said with fake contemplation in his voice. Merida gave him a glare as the new teacher entered. North seemed bigger and more childlike up close. His blue eyes sparkling and his clothes having a distinctive Russian flare to them, the sleeves of his red plaid shirt rolled up to expose tattoos with the words "naughty" and "nice" on them. He was a big man, almost on par with Merida's own da, Fergus.
"Velcome," the man laughed and Merida perked up at his Russian accent layering his voice. Jack raised his eyebrows at that, exchanging a look with Merida. Guess she wasn't the only one that might be hard to understand. "Today, ve weel be learning about counter jinxes."
And the class went on. Merida was sucked into the great man's accent, excitement, and waving arms. It was easy to ignore whatever Jack was doing, which turned out to be nothing. He was just as absorbed in the lecture as Merida was and as most of the others in the class were. She could just make out Snotlout and the Thorston twins exchanging looks of boredom and offensive faces. Merida didn't really care.
When class ended, she was both awake and didn't want to leave. This man spoke to her in a way that the few DADA professors before him hadn't. It wasn't just lectures, it was how he delivered them. Her mum could learn from this man on how to do it.
Jack and Merida eventually left the room, both in stunned silence.
"That ... was the best class Ah've had in a long time," Merida stated.
"I can't wait for the next time!" Jack exclaimed loudly, leaping into the air. He seemed to be suspended longer than was humanly—or wizardly—possible before floating down. Jack looked around, ears turning red in embarrassment. Merida snorted. Trust Jack to forget not everyone knew the extent his magic had adapted. "Hehe, didn't mean to do that."
"Ye better be mair careful, Overland," Merida hissed, looking around, too. Jack was an enigma to Merida on his reasons for everything. He didn't want attention being the Chosen One would give him or his new abilities would, but he also didn't want to be invisible. And he wasn't, really. After all, he was the best prankster in the whole of Hogwarts and, if Merida had to guess, he had taken that little black-haired Slytherin under his wing almost. Merida wished Hogwarts luck if Jack had actually corrupted the small soul into his pranking ways. It was bad enough when he was able to drag Hiccup or Rapunzel into it. Merida, on the other hand, was always ready for a new prank. After her wee devils of younger brothers, Merida knew her way around pranks and how to do them. She was always ready to do one with Jack or do one to Jack because everyone else was afraid of his retaliation.
If they should fear anyone's, it was the Thorston twins'.
"Ah have tae gan tae Herbology," Merida sighed.
"At least you have Punzie," Jack countered, crossing his arms over his chest. "I usually get stuck with Hic, and let's go with I'm shocked he's the apprentice of a blacksmith in his tribe."
Merida cringed in acknowledgement. Hiccup was accident prone to put it lightly. The lad would trip over nothing and set something on fire. And it was always fire apparently. Everything in some way, shape, or form had involved fire when Hiccup would list his accidents. Even double checking with the other Viking kids confirmed it. Hiccup had said he never had accidental magic, but Merida was willing to bet her bow and arrows that some of his clumsy incidents had some magic to it because how does someone set fire to a person's metal helmet with only a hammer, arrowhead, and a wrongly setup catapult?
"Good luck," Merida stated before hurrying off to the greenhouses for Herbology.
Rapunzel was humming sweetly as she trimmed the plants carefully. Merida stood nearby, asking for pointers as she carefully handled the plant. How Rapunzel could find this relaxing, Merida hadn't a clue.
"Hey, Astrid," Rapunzel spoke and Merida froze, looking at the blonde Hufflepuff across from them.
"What?" Astrid grumbled nastily, glaring at her plant like it had personally offended her. And it probably had.
"Do you like Hiccup?" Rapunzel asked bluntly.
If Merida had been drinking anything, she would have done a perfectly executed spit-take. Rapunzel had hung around her and Jack enough to know that that wasn't the way to just ask someone something like that. Where had years of teaching her social etiquette of a typical teenager went to? Merida couldn't even imagine Hiccup making this mistake, but Hiccup would be too nervous to so much as form the question.
"Why do you ask?" Astrid asked carefully, looking at Rapunzel suspiciously.
"Oh, just something Jack mentioned," Rapunzel answered offhandedly. Merida was looking at her blonde friend like she was insane. What the fack was going on?
"Uh-huh," Astrid said with a short nod, eyes narrowing. "Anything else Overland said?"
"That you blushed when you realized Hiccup overheard you mention something to Snotlout," Rapunzel continued, a glint in her green eyes. Merida prayed she wasn't sentencing their white-haired friend to an early death. As much as Jack irritated Merida, he was still a good friend and excellent pranking buddy.
Merida witnessed the wonder of Astrid Hofferson blushing. It wasn't a deep scarlet like Hiccup, but a pale pink that glowed from her cheeks, spreading across all of her face and over her ears and down her neck. One could easily mistake it as flushing from the heat or over exertion if they didn't have the liberty of knowing the context of their conversation.
"Do you?" Rapunzel pressed.
"Why do you want to know?" Astrid snapped hotly, banging a fist on the table.
"I'm just curious," Rapunzel explained, backing down and lowering her head. Merida glared over at Astrid, expecting that cold ferocity but was shocked by guilt flickering across her face. What had happened this summer? Merida had noticed Hiccup was acting weird when the other Vikings were mentioned, Astrid was showing more emotions, Fishlegs had a little more confidence, Snotlout had some humbleness about him but not enough, and even the Thorston twins had lost some of the malicious mischievousness that clung to them.
"Things happened back home," Astrid began bluntly. "We all kinda learned some things about Hiccup and, I guess, we got to see the real him."
Merida perked up at that. Hiccup wasn't one to just let himself loose, even in their own group of friends, Merida had always felt like Hiccup was hiding himself when he didn't need to.
"That's nice," Rapunzel answered, forced cheer in her voice.
Astrid slightly cringed, biting the corner of her lip.
"It's not like that," Astrid began with a heavy sigh. "The others didn't really see it all. I don't think I did, either, but I saw most of it. Maybe ... maybe what I think is the new Hiccup is what you witness on a daily basis."
Merida nodded and Rapunzel hummed.
"Wit kind of things?" Merida asked, her own curiosity sparking within her. This was her friend after all. Sure, Hiccup told them stuff, but it took forever when they let him go at his own pace.
"Look the changes that happen are directly related to things we can't say outside of the tribe," Astrid replied, setting the tools she was using down. Her blue eyes were closed as she let out a heavy sigh.
"Are ye saying Hiccup's lying?" Merida snarled.
"I'm saying unless he sees fit, you probably won't know what happened," Astrid deadpanned, blue eyes snapping open and raging with a fierce fire. "Hiccup agreed with Chief Stoick that what happened mustn't leave Berk and it won't until Chief Stoick deems necessary or Hiccup can't hold it in any longer around you three. You just have to be patient."
Merida was never a patient person. She had always been an immediate answer kind of person. Unlike Hiccup who could search endlessly for one answer, Merida couldn't do that. She needed it now. Rapunzel was content to skim pages, reading sections when she saw necessary. Merida had never been patient enough to even do that. The only one of their small group who could relate to Merida's lack of patience for answers was Jack. But even then, when it came to their friends, he was more patient on letting them go at their own pace than Merida would ever be.
It'd be hard, but Merida would try.
She just couldn't guarantee it'll be pretty.
Merida went back to work on her plants as the professor walked around, helping the students out and giving out proper praise where it was deserved. Rapunzel had even received ten points for her house for her phenomenal work.
When lunch rolled around, Merida had dirt on her uniform, she smelled of fertilizer, and she was starving. She carelessly threw herself into a seat and began to eat hungrily as Rapunzel sat across from her, doing the same. There weren't any rules that houses couldn't intermingle during meals unless it was important feasts like the beginning of the school year, Halloween feast, the feast before Christmas break, and the fest at the end of the school year.
"Is it a good idea to be sitting at the Gryffindor table?" Rapunzel asked.
Merida stopped her eating for a second, realizing her blunder. Her house wasn't accepting of Jack as she was nor did they really believe Hiccup like she did. But she was already eating and the two would understand why she messed up.
"Ah did nae mean tae," Merida sighed loudly.
"We know, Dunbroch," Jack laughed as he hopped into the seat next to Rapunzel and Hiccup slid into the one by Merida. "How was Herbology?"
"It was wonderful," Rapunzel gushed as Merida continued to eat. "We even talked to Astrid."
Hiccup choked on the sip of pumpkin juice he was taking and Jack froze in loading up his plate.
"Why?" Hiccup asked hoarsely.
"I just wanted to talk to her," Rapunzel huffed. "She seems different this year."
"Yeah, well, we just kinda, you know, went through a lot of ... things," Hiccup elaborated vaguely, looking highly uncomfortable.
"Had to be something big," Jack said, eyes twinkling. "Especially if it got her liking you."
"You know what, I got, uh, Charms homework. Yep, Charms homework. See ya," Hiccup said, leaving the table as quickly as possible, grabbing a sandwich as he went and tripping three times to get to the doors.
"We didn't have Charms homework!" Jack yelled after him, looking back over at Merida and Rapunzel. "We didn't even have Charms today."
"Astrid did mention whatever happened we'd have to wait for Stoick to give the go ahead or wait for Hiccup to tell us," Rapunzel explained.
"Like his da will just let him tell us," Merida snorted.
"So, we just wait for Hiccup to tell us," Jack countered.
"He'd have already told us then," Merida snapped, slamming her fork on her empty plate, drawing attention of her fellow Gryffindors.
"Mer," Jack began once the attention was drawn off them, "you do remember how long it took us to realize Hiccup's mom was murdered by one of Pitch's followers, right?"
Merida opened her mouth but snapped it shut. It had taken long, as long as it had taken Jack to tell them he was the Chosen One and his parents were murdered by Pitch and his sister had drowned in an icy lake that Christmas break and that was why he looked so different they almost didn't recognize him on the train. Hiccup had let out his own sorry tale of his mom, how some high up supporter of Pitch had attacked the Haddock household because Stoick had renounced his tribe's support to Pitch. They killed his mom and tortured Stoick to the brink of insanity with the Cruciatus curse. Hiccup had almost become as orphaned as Jack had, the incidents only happening within months of each other.
"Fine," Merida sighed. For all she knew, what happened this summer was traumatizing for Hiccup or, whatever the crazy auburn-haired had done, would send any of Pitch's followers out to find him. Or the Ministry would do something terrible to his whole tribe.
"Now, Jack said, leaning forward and rubbing his hands together, "about our pranking schedule for the month."
