Title: The Greater Evil
Chapter Two: Off the Boat
After-Hogwarts
Morning, the sun just reached over the crest of a distant hill, as it shone its brilliants, reflection off the river just in front of Hogwarts. The river, which not had turned a putrid shade of green, and was far to murky to see any living thing in it, including your reflection, trashed, and slammed into a small ferry boat that was taking its time to cross.
Boatmen: "We'll be hitting the other side, in o' five minutes or so…
(The boatmen shouted, as he stood over his deck, staring at the sky, as if wishing to see something; there was nothing to look at)
"Good day to be out, but if you don't mind me asking; why would you want to come here, of all places?"
(He said as he turned, and faced an elderly man, who was carrying a sack on his back, and a quill in his ear)
Professor: "Got a group here of youngsters that are a little wet behind the ears when it comes to agrological digs, so I decided to bring them here."
(Removing a pair of misty old glasses from his face, and cleaned them on his shirt as he spoke)
Boatmen: "I'm sure there are a lot more interesting places then this dump."
(His voice exposed his interest in the conversation)
Professor: "This is true, there probably are, but I have to say I'm a bit more interested in this place then my students."
(Looking at the distance)
Boatmen: "And why?"
(The boatmen questioned, staring in the same direction)
Professor: Oh, old memories, that's all, nothing much."
(He turned and walked towards his students who were at the back of the ferry)
Boatmen: "Old memories… ha… no one been to these ruins in over a thousand years."
(He said to himself, as a cold shiver came down his spine)
The ferry rocked, and danced on the waters surface, as it moved slow, but steadily across the river, trying to makes its way to its destination. On board, four young, eager, college apprentices talked eagerly to themselves. As their Professor approached them, they silenced in there conversation, and pay attention to there action.
Professor: We should be reaching the waters edge quite shortly; it seems this boat is having a bit of a problem flowing up stream.
(He said, patting his hand on the hardwood floor of the ferry)
Susan: "Question?"
(Susan had long black hair, which she always had tied in chopsticks, and always a quill in her mouth; or light brown eyes were shaded by her large glasses, which she always balanced on the tip of her nose; she stood up promptly as she asked her question)
"The history books say that this river, was once a lake, but never explained into detail why or how it changed?"
Professor: "Good observation, yes, I'm sure there will tons of question asked just like that one in the coming days."
(He then turned around and started to walk away)
Susan: Mister F, you didn't answer my question."
(She raised her voice, as if annoyed that she wasn't quite being listened to)
Professor: "Oh, I didn't sorry, old age is coming to me."
(He turns towards her, and looks down through his glasses)
"It isn't in your books because we rather not remember that moment in history. This once was a lake, and as far as what ever photos that still remain of this place does survey a beautiful one at that. But, during the Last Great War, we boiled the lake dry; noting the stupidity of our actions, we then placed his river here as well."
Susan: Boiled… how, WHY?"
(Here eyes showed the familiar face of eagerness to learn, and understand that reminded Professor of his past, he couldn't help but to look away)
Professor: "In all good time, we learn as the day comes, just know, WE destroyed this place, and now WE return to study our own art."
Adam: "WE? I don't remember being here during the Last Great War… then again I wasn't even born!"
(Adam was a short, but energetic brown haired man, who gave the appearance that he took no time in the morning to dress him; his hair was in knots, his clothe always in mats, and his overall look was one of messiness)
Steve: "He didn't mean we, he meant our people, you know."
(Steve was Adams opposite, cleaned pressed clothing, combed back hair, and always a look in his eyes that he was thinking of something)
Adam: "No, I don't know, please explain?"
(He said sarcastically)
Steve: "You know non-magic folk, and such."
(His arms no in the air, as if trying to slat invisible flies)
Sam: "hmmm, hum, hammma, mmmah"
(Sam by far was the smallest of the four, but could always be hind with a snack food, if any in her hands, or her mouth)
Professor: "Honey, please don't talk with food in your mouth, its not lady like"
(He spoke in a simple, but relaxed tone; she knotted her head to him, as if saying 'ok')
"I'm going lay down until we reach the waters edge, I'll leave you all to your own devises, and I'll be back within an hour"
(And he walked off towards the closest door leading into the ferry)
For moment the four apprentices sat in total silence, staring in all direction, only Susan looking over the ferry at the river, as its waters splashed onto her face. Adam tried to hide his burst of laugher as he stared at Susan, as she rinsed out her hair, dark liquids falling to the ferry floor.
Susan: "This water is filthy; I don't think it's very safe to drink."
(She whispered, presented her dirt covered hands over Sam, who made a expression of extreme disgust)
"It smells like the back sewers of Diagon Alley."
(Putting her hands to her nose, and sniffing it with
Steve: "I was hoping to visit the Alley before here, but unfortunate I didn't get the permission to enter it; sad though I was looking forwards to it.
(He said rocking his head back and forth, as he stared at the sky)
Adam: "Permission, I always thought we were given access to it."
(His confusion, expressed in his face)
Steve: "Most of the magically world is placed under martial law; it's a miracle that we could even get access to his place.
(Pointing at Hogwarts in the distance)
"I have no idea how the old man made it so that we can stay there for the next week."
Susan: "So did you like, try to enter the Alley?"
Steve: "Yes, but the MPs stepped in front of me, and like always, and presented promptly, and with the lack of humility that we are often used to, there weapons, and pushed me away."
(His sarcastic voice shaking as he spoke)
Adam: "If you don't mind me asking, but I'm sure you do, but what the hell are MPs doing there?"
Steve: "You should really read the news once and a while, last week Martial Law started in most magical areas, the MPs are there to 'hold the piece'."
(Rolling his eyes)
"There just afraid of an uprising by wizards… I don't think it's possible; but men of power and paranoia go to there quite well."
Sam: "I'll drink to that."
(She said looking at the murky water under her seat)
"Just not that."
(She looked around, as if specious, and pulled out of a bag she was caring a bottle of butter bear)
"But this is something else."
Adam: "Were did you get one of those, aren't they illegal, it's almost impossible to get your hands on one?"
(He said in otter shock)
Sam: "You'll be surprised how easy it is to get your hands on certain foods, just because it's illegal to make it doesn't mean people will stop."
(She offers the bottle to Adam who shakes his head away from it)
Adam: "No thanks; I'll stick to good old 'Muggle' food; or what ever were called."
(Rolling his eyes as he said muggle)
Steve: "No that's why they call us."
(He said never lifting his head off the ground)
Adam: Doesn't it have a racist feel to it."
Susan: "Oh here we go again."
(She sighed loudly in annoyance)
Adam: "Just think about it, muggle is a racial term for us, it seems so rude that they use it so freely, and in front of us, like we don't notice."
(Anger played in his voice)
Susan: "AS FAR AS I CAN CARE THEY SHOULD, have you seen what we did to them… there entire world is destroyed, it would never be the same again."
(She covered her face as she spoke)
Adam: "Wizard Lover!"
(He said, attempting to seem as insulting as possible)
Susan: "WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?"
(She shouted rising to her to her feet)
Professor: "Now, now, calm down, I'm sure he didn't or did mean it, doesn't matter… really it doesn't."
(He whispered into Susan's ear, as she leaned over and placed his hands on her shoulder)
Steve: "Did anyone see him approach us…"
(He whispered at Sam, with confusion in his face)
Silence covered the group as Susan slowly sat down, and Professor walked in front of Adam. His face expressed one of worriment, but still there was a layer of anger in his brown eyes.
Professor: "You continue like that, and I'll throw you into the river, and make you swim the rest of the way upstream. Understood?"
(Adam simply nodded at him)
The boatmen could be heard from across the ferry.
Boatmen: "We will be approaching the destination in a few moments."
(His voice was faded)
Professor along with his apprentices walked to the front of the ferry, and stared as the castle came into full voice. As they looked in awe, the apprentices gave the expression of shock.
Where once stood a brilliant castle now stood ruins. Towers were tipped over, windows smashed, bricks pulled apart. Very few portions of the castle still stood, and still they didn't seem very safe to stand upon. The ruins were old, plants, along with many different animals, had made it there home.
Vines and moss covered the entire structure; trees grew where ever there were openings. Where there was once an open field now was swamp, most of the castle was covered by the shadow of the tree tops. In the shadows the motion of animals could be seen; some small, large, and some that defined the logic of the human mind.
As the ferry came to a stop along the shore of the castle, the apprentices waited for there professor to give the next command.
Professor: "Here we are, isn't it beautiful, or at least it was supposed to be."
(He said, as if he was attempting to sell it)
Susan: "It looks nothing of how it once looked, at least what it looked in the books, what happened here?"
(Sadness crosses her voice)
Professor: "What ever happened to everything in this world, it came to an end."
(He said, no emotion on his face)
Susan: "But, how?"
(She said, her voice seemed rushed, she wasn't able to take her eyes off the ruins)
Professor: "War, Susan, war came this place, and like all we learned in history, were war goes, nothing survives, not even this palace."
