[The Midnight Duel, Chapter Four, reference pg. 143 - 162]
Jack had never thought he would hate anyone as much as he hated Snotlout. Luckily, the first year Gryffindors only had Potions with Slytherin, so he didn't have to put up with him much. Or least that was the case until a notice was posted in the Gryffindor common room that said that flying lessons would be starting on Friday - with the Slytherins.
With flying lessons starting, Snotlout wouldn't stop talking about how good he was a Quidditch and how unfair it was that a champion like him had to wait a whole year to play. And if it wasn't about Quidditch, it was stories about how he would escape Muggles in helicopters. Even Mérida, Hiccup, and Astrid told stories about how they tried broomstick riding when their parents weren't around, Hiccup's normally ending with something getting destroyed or him hitting a tree. Each story also earned a comment from Astrid about how Hiccup should have been kept as far away from brooms as possible, which internally, Jack had to agree with. Hiccup had enough accidents on the ground never mind in the air. But despite Astrid's previous experience on brooms, Jack had caught her reading every book on flying she could find in the library to prepare for the class.
Jack had tried to get a few pointers out of her and Mérida, and then asked Hiccup what not to do; he seemed like the right guy to ask. Jack's interrogation was interrupted by the arrival of the mail. Hiccup hadn't gotten a single letter since Gobber's note, if you could even call it that, something that Snotlout had been quick to notice. Snotlout's Eagle owl was always bringing him packages of sweets from home, which he opened up while gloating at the Slytherin table. A barn owl brought Wee a small package from his father. He opened it up excitedly and showed them a smoke white glass ball about the size of a large marble.
"It's a Remembrall!" He explained, "Pa knows ah forgit things - thes tells ye if there's somethin' yoo've forgotten tae dae. swatch, if ye hauld it techt an' it turns red - och..." the Remembrall turned scarlet. "...it means yoo've forgotten somethin',"
Wee was trying to remember what he'd forgotten when Snotlout passed the Hufflepuff table and snatched the Remembrall out of his hand.
Jack and Mérida jumped to their feet. They were hoping for a reason to fight Snotlout, but Professor North, who could spot trouble faster than anyone else in the school, was there in a flash.
"Vhat's going on?"
"Snotlout's got my Remembrall Professor,"
Scowling, Snotlout dropped the Remembrall back on the table.
"Just looking." he said, and then backed away with Ruffnut and Tuffnut right behind him.
At three thirty that afternoon, Jack, Mérida, Astrid, and the other Gryffindors hurried down the front steps onto the grounds for their first flying lesson. It was a clear, breezy day, and the grass rippled under their feet as they marched down the sloping lawns toward a smooth, flat lawn on the opposite side of the grounds to the forbidden forest, whose trees were swaying darkly in the distance.
The Slytherins were already there, and so were twenty broomsticks lying in neat lines on the ground. Gobber their teacher, arrived not soon after.
"What are you all waiting for?" he barked. "Everyone get by a broomstick. Come on, 'urry up."
Jack glanced down at his broom. It was old and some of the twigs stuck out at odd angles.
"'old out your right hand over your broom and say 'Up!'"
"UP!" everyone shouted.
Jack's broom jumped into his hand at once, but it was one of the few that did. Ruffnut's had simply rolled over on the ground, and Tuffnut's hadn't moved at all. Once everyone had managed to get their brooms to go up, Gobber then showed them how to mount their brooms without sliding off the end, and walked up and down the rows correcting their grips. Jack and Mérida were delighted when he told Snotlout he had been doing it wrong for years.
"Now when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground." said Gobber.
"Wait, aren't you going to teach us first?" asked Snotlout.
Not so high and mighty now. thought Jack.
"I believe in learning on the job. Now keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly. On my whistle - One - two - "
And the twins were off before the whistle had even touched moved.
"COME BACK YOU TWO!" he shouted, but they were rising straight up like a cork shot out of a bottle. Or at least they were until Ruffnut flew too far to the left and knocked Tuffnut and herself off their brooms. A thud and a nasty crack later and the twins were back on solid ground with their brooms headed off to the forbidden forest.
Gobber went over to check on the twins, "Broken wrist," he muttered looking at Tuffnut, "Probable concussion," he muttered looking at Ruffnut before turning to the rest of the class.
"No on' is going ta' move while I take these two to the hospital wing! You'll leave those broom where theya re if you know what's good for ya'!"
No sooner than they were out of earshot before Snotlout somehow pulled out Wee's Rememberall and said, "Now what to do with this?"
"Give it here Snotlout," Mérida commanded.
Completely ignoring Mérida he said, "I'll think I'll leave it somewhere for Dingwall to find- how bout up a tree?"
"Give it here!" Mérida shouted again, but Snotlout had leapt onto his broomstick and taken off. He hadn't been lying, he really could fly well. Hovering level with the tops of an oak tree he called, "Come get it Mérida!"
Mérida grabbed her broom.
"No!" shouted Astrid, catching her wrist. "Gobber said not to move - you'll get us all in trouble."
Looking back at Snotlout, Mérida said, "Ah think ye shood tell Jack,"
Jack had already mounted his broom and took off while the girls were fighting. Blood was pounding in his ears. He turned his broomstick sharply to face Snotlout in midair. Snotlout looked stunned. If Jack wasn't so mad right now, he'd he having the time of his life.
"Drop it," Jack called, "Or I'll knock you off that broom!"
"Oh yeah?" said Snotlout, sneering.
Jack knew what to do somehow. He leaned forward and tightly grasped the broom, and it shot towards Snotlout like a javelin. Snotlout only got of Jack's way in time to be hit with pebbles, courtesy of Mérida and Astrid, instead.
"No Ruffnut and Tuffnut to save your neck this time!" called Jack.
The same thought seemed to have struck Snotlout as one of Merida's pebbles hit the hand with the Remembrall in it, and it began to fall.
"Catch it if you can then!" He shouted, and Jack was off like a rocket.
He leaned forward slightly and pointed his broom handle down - and the next second he was gathering speed in a steep dive, racing after the ball - wind whistled in his ears, mingled with the screams of people watching - he stretched out his hand - a foot from the ground he caught it, just in time to pull his broom straight, and he toppled gently onto the grass with the Remembrall clutched safely in his fist.
"JACK PYRY!"
His heart sunk faster that he'd just dived. Professor North was running toward them.
"Never - in all my time at Hogvarts - "
Professor North was almost speechless with shock, and his glasses flashed furiously, "- how dare you - might have broken your neck-"
"It wasnae his faut Professor-."
"That's enough Miss. DunBroch,"
"But Snotlout - "
"That's enough, Miss. DunBroch. Now the three of you, follow me." Professor North said, gesturing to Astrid, Mérida, and Jack.
Jack caught sight of Snotlout's triumphant faces as he left. Professor North was sweeping along without even looking at them; they had to jog every few steps to keep up. Up the front steps, up the marble staircase, along the corridors, until they reached a classroom. He opened a door and poked his head inside.
"Excuse me Professor Mansnoozie, could I borrow Crood?"
Crood? thought Jack, What on earth is a Crood?
Crood turned out to be a person, a muscular fifth year girl who came out of Sandy's class looking confused.
"Follow me you four," said professor North, and they marched up the corridor.
They were led into a classroom that was empty except for Peeves, who was busy writing rude words on the chalkboard.
"OUT PEEVES!" he barked. Peeves threw the chalk into a bin, and swept out cursing. Once he left, North turned to the four confused students.
"Pyry, Hofferson, Dunbroch, this is Eep Crood. Crood, I've found you rest of Quidditch team."
Eep's expression changed from confusion to delight.
"Are you serious Professor?"
"Absolutely. The boy's natural. I've never seen anything like it, its as though he speaks with the wind. And the girls have impeccable aim." then, gesturing to the Remembrall still in Jack's hand he said, "He caught that thing in hand after fifty foot dive. One of the girls knocked it out of Slytherin's boy's hand from the ground."
Eep was now looking like all her dreams had come true at once.
"Ever seen a game of Quidditch?" she asked all three of them excitedly.
"Crood's the captain of the Gryffindor team," Professor North explained.
"He's just the build for a Seeker too, light speedy. And they've got enough muscle to knock anyone off their broomstick." Esp said, sizing them all up. "Do each of you have broomsticks at home?"
Astrid and Mérida nodded without a second thought. Jack on the other hand-
"We'll have to get you a decent broom then, a Nimbus Two Thousand or a Cleansweep Seven I'd say."
"I shall speak to Professor Lunar about changing first year rule. We need better team than last year. Flattened in that last match by Slytherin, I vouldn't look Bunny in face for weeks…"
Professor North peered sternly over his glasses at the three of them. "I vant to hear you're training hard, or I change mind about punishing you."
"You're joking,"
It was dinnertime. Jack and Mérida had just finished telling Hiccup what had happened with North.
"But first years never - you three must be the youngest players in about - "
" - a century." said Mérida, "Eep tauld me."
"We start training next week," said Jack. "Don't tell anyone. Eep wants to keep it a secret."
Hiccup just kept the same look of disbelief on his face.
"Sae anythin' excitin' happen tae ye.?" Mérida asked Hiccup.
"No, I'm just trying to figure out what was in the vault at Gringotts." said Hiccup. "Gobber brought us there before we got our books school. Said he had to get something for The Man in the Moon,"
"So you were there around the time of the break in. It doesn't mean -"
"Gobber emptied out the vault right before it got robbed. That's some coincidence."
Before either Jack or Mérida could respond, Snotlout came over.
"Having a last meal Jack?"
"You're a lot braver now that you're back on the ground." responded Jack coolly.
"I'd take you on anytime." stated Snotlout. "Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only - no contact. What's the matter? Never heard of a wizard's duel before?"
"Ay coorse he has," said Mérida, wheeling around. "I'm his second. Who's yoors?"
"Tuffnut. He just got out of the medical wing." he said. "Midnight alright? We'll meet in the trophy room; that's always unlocked."
When Snotlout had gone, Jack turned to Mérida and asked; "What is a Wizard's duel? And what do you mean you're my second?"
"Weel, a second's thaur tae tak' ower if ye die," said Mérida casually. Catching the look on Jack's face she added quickly, "But fowk only die in proper duels. Th' most ye an' Snotlout will be able tae dae is send sparks at each other."
"And what if I wave my wand and nothing happens?"
"Throw it awa' an' punch him," suggested Mérida.
"Excuse me,"
All three looked up. It was Astrid.
"Hey Astrid," Hiccup said nervously.
"Cannae a bodie eat in thes place in peace?" asked Mérida.
Astrid ignored her and spoke to Jack.
"I couldn't help overhearing what you and Snotlout were saying - "
"Ah bet yoo couldn't," muttered Mérida.
" - and you won't be wandering around the at night. You're going to get caught."
"An' nane ay yer business," retaliated Mérida.
"But - "
"Goodbye."
Leaning towards Hiccup, Jack whispered, "What's gotten into those two?"
Hiccup just shrugged.
It wasn't what Jack would call a perfect end to the day. There was a very good chance they were going to get caught by Weselton or Mrs. Norris. But Snotlout's sneering face kept looming up out of the darkness - and this was his chance to beat him face to face. He couldn't miss it.
At half past eleven, Jack met up with Mérida in the Gryffindor common room. They had almost reached the portrait hole when a voice spoke up from behind.
"I can't believe you're really going to do this."
It was Astrid, wearing a teal bathrobe and a frown.
"Yoo!" said Mérida furiously. "Go back tae bed!"
Mérida couldn't believe anyone could be so infuriating.
"Come on," she said to Jack. She pushed open the portrait of the Fat Lady and climbed through the hole.
Astrid wasn't about to give up that easily. she followed Jack and Mérida through the portrait, hissing like an angry goose.
"Don't you care about Gryffindor? I don't want Slytherin to win the house cup, and you'll lose all the points I got from Professor North for knowing about the switching spells!"
"Go awa'."
"Alright, but I warned you. You'll remember wat I said when you're on the train back home tomorrow. You're so -"
But they never go to find you what they were. Astrid had turned back to the portrait of the Fat Lady to get back inside and found she wasn't there. Mérida and Jack hadn't even reached the end of the hall before Astrid caught up to them.
"I'm coming with you,"
"No you're not." said Mérida.
"I'm not going to stay here and wait for Weselton to catch me? If he finds us I'll tell the truth, and you can back me up."
"Yoo've got some nerve-"
"Shut up!" Jack said sharply. "If we get caught I'll never rest until I learn that Curse of the Bogies Mor'du told us about and use it on you."
Astrid opened her mouth, but Jack hissed at her to be quiet and beckoned her and Mérida forward.
They made their way down corridors, and at every turn Jack expected them to run into Weselton or Mrs. Norris, but they were lucky. They sped up a staircase to the third floor and tiptoed toward the trophy room. Snotlout and Tuffnut weren't there yet. They edged along walls, keeping their eyes on the doors at either end of the room. Jack took out his wand in case Snotlout leapt in and stared at once.
"He's late, mebbe he chickened it," whispered Mérida.
Then a noise in the next room made them jump. Jack had only just raised his wand when he heard someone speak - and it wasn't Snotlout.
"Sniff around my sweet, they might be lurking in a corner."
It was Weselton talking to Mrs. Norris.
Jack waved madly at the other three to follow him out as quickly as possible; they scurried silently toward the door. Astrid's bathrobe had barely whipped around the corner when they hear Weselton enter the trophy room.
"They're in here somewhere," they heard him mutter, "probably hiding."
"This way!" Jack mouthed to the others, and they began to creep down a long hallway full of suits of armor. They could hear him getting closer and broke out into a full run for i, not bothering to look if Weselton was still following them. Eventually they ran through a hidden passageway and came out near the charms room.
"I think we lost him," Jack panted.
"I - told - you," Astrid gasped, "I told you."
"We've got tae get back tae th' tower," said Mérida.
"Snotlout tricked you," Astrid ranted, "He was never going to meet you - Weselton knew someone was going to be in the trophy room, Snotlout must have tipped him off."
"Och aye, och aye yoo're sae smart," quipped Mérida, "Can we just go?"
It wasn't going to be that simple. That hadn't even made it down the hall before a they ran into Peeves. He caught sight of them and gave a squeal of delight.
"Shut up Peeves - you'll get us thrown out."
He cackled.
"Wandering around at midnight, Ickle Firsties? Tut, tut, tut. Naughty, naughty, you'll get caughty."
"Not if you don't give us away,"
"Should tell Filch, I should," said Peeves in a saintly voice while his eyes told another story. "It's for your own good, you know."
"Get out of th' way," snapped Mérida, taking a swipe at Peeves.
"STUDENTS OUT OF BED!" Peeves bellowed, "STUDENTS OUT OF BED DOWN THE CHARMS CORRIDOR!"
Ducking under Peevees, they ran for their lives, right to the end of the corridor where they slammed into a door - and it was locked. They could hear footsteps, Weselton was running as fast as he could towards Peeve's direction.
"Move over," snarled Astrid, she pulled out her wand and whispered, "Alohomora!"
The locked clicked open and the three piled inside and shut it quickly and pressed their ears against it.
"Which way did they go Peeves?" they heard Weselton ask.
"Say 'please'."
"Don't mess with me Peeves. Where did they go?"
"Shan't say nothing if you don't say please."
"Alright - please."
"NOTHING! Ha ha! told you I wouldn't say nothing if you didn't say please." and they heard the sound of Peeves whooshing away and Weselton cursing in rage.
"He thinks the doors locked," Jack whispered, "but I think will be okay - get off Mérida!" she had been tugging Jack's sleeve for the last-minute. "What?"
Jack turned around - and saw quite clearly, what. For a moment he was sure he had walked into a nightmare. This was too much on top of everything else that happened so far.
They weren't in a room as he had supposed. They were in a corridor. The forbidden corridor on the third floor. And now they knew why it was forbidden.
They were looking straight into the eyes of a two-headed dragon that filled the whole space from the ceiling to the floor. It was standing still, all four eyes staring at them, and Jack knew the only reason they weren't already dead was that their sudden appearance had taken it by surprise, and it was quickly getting over that.
Jack groped for the doorknob - between Weselton and death, he'd take Weselton.
They fell backward - Jack slammed door shut, and they ran back on the corridor. Weselton must have hurried off to look for them somewhere else, because they see him anywhere. All they wanted to do was put as much space between them and that monster as possible. They didn't stop running until they reach the portrait Lady seventh floor.
"Where on earth have you all been?" she asked, looking at their bathrobes hanging off their shoulders and their flushed, sweaty facs.
"Nevermind that - Pig snout, pig snout." Mérida panted and the portrait swung forward. They scrambled into the common room and collapsed, trembling.
It was a while before any of them said anything.
"Whit dae they hink their daein', keepin' a hin' loch 'at locked up in a school?" Mérida said finally.
By now Astrid had gotten both her breath and temper back.
"You don't use your eyes do you?" she snapped. "Didn't you see what it was standing on?"
"The floor?" Jack suggested. "I wasn't looking at its feet. I was too busy with the heads."
"It was standing on a trapdoor. It's obviously guarding something."
She stood up, glaring at them.
"Now if you don't mind, I'm going back to bed."
Mérida stared after her, her mouth open.
"Nae we don't mind," she said,"Yoo'd think we dragged her along."
But Astrid had given Jack something else to think about. Hiccup had said that Gobber had emptied out the ribbed vault for The Man on the Moon. If whatever it was important enough to steal, maybe it was important enough to guard with a two-headed dragon.