Each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.
-Anais Nin
"Ugh," Jack muttered and allowed the back of his head hit the wall of the closet he was given to sleep in. Oh wait, no the guy that owed his mother a favor called this a "room". Yeah, Mr. Johnson was a guy in his early forties that had his rear saved by Jack's mom. It had something to do with a stormy night at sea and him falling overboard. Anyway, the guy now worked on this really fancy cruise liner as a janitor. When Mom called, Mr. Johnson jumped on the chance to pay her back… with only one problem. Even between the two of them, they still didn't have enough for a ticket. The liner he was on was booked and it was heading to the exact spot Jack wanted to be. So they snuck him on and now he was sleeping in the closet.
It had a lumpy cot crammed in between the narrow space of the two shelves lined with cleaning supplies. At least Jack wouldn't run out of toilet paper or towels. It was so convenient according to Mr. Johnson.
Why wasn't Jack using something really convenient like Floo powder? They didn't have any magical connections in America. Actually, since Jack's dad passed away the family's only connection was Dumbledore and he hadn't left Jack a way to get to Europe when he visited all those years ago. Heck, Jack didn't even know where to get an owl to send to Dumbledore! Nothing of his dad's was any help either, though Jack did bring one of Jonathon's journals from his days back in school.
Oh, Jack didn't stay in the room and read, oh no, he explored. His first day was wandering around the decks and shows that he could sneak into. He pretended to be with a family and just walk right past the sailors. They were all idiots. He had swum in the pool, watched a circus-like show, a theatre drama, and had banquets his first couple of days. Lobster was amazing.
It was a great, but it got boring fast. He couldn't get too close to the guests because they would ask about his parents and what room he was in and blah blah blah. He had already had to lie himself out of three of those situations. Then he couldn't help himself but pull a few pranks after he had done everything that didn't involve him paying up front. They weren't anything too big. Make the shrimp line up to look like a hand and scare an overweight woman in a floral dress. Add just a touch of ice to the slide so that at the end, kids shot another three feet in the air before landing in the pool. And, of course, he left bottles of sea water here and there.
And he knew it was stupid, but after he got yelled at by some of the kitchen staff (what? It smelled good) he turned his pranks on them. Kitchen utensils frozen to the tables, buckets of sea water or sea weed over doors and one amazing prank that made one of the fish that was about to be cooked for dinner look like it could talk. It scared the burly assistant cook into shrieking like a girl when Jack had it start singing. He had been playing a game of hide-and-seek all around the boat with the sailors after those.
That was when Mr. Johnson had run into him on one of his great escapes. He suffered a long, "you should be more responsible, yap-yap, you're lucky you weren't brought to the captain. Yada-yada, they would have you arrested if they found out you were a stowaway." Long argument, in short, he was grounded in this closet until they reached the port. This would be anytime now, which was also why he hadn't fought back to his imprisonment with the mop. Just as Jack was thinking about sneaking out one more time the announcement was made. Jack smiled in relief and packed his small backpack. Land was in sight. He was about to finally meet another witch or wizard that would understand him better than anyone on this floating tub.
He turned to the locked door as the knob rattled. Mr. Johnson opened the door and waved at Jack. "Right, it's time for you to get going. We'll need to get you off this ship and to that friend your mother was talking about." Jack gave his cocky half smile and followed the janitor. Johnson continued to glance back a Jack in a curious way. Jack kept his smirk and made eye contact each time he did. The man seemed a little jittery and Jack ignored it. He didn't know if he liked Mr. Johnson after the week he spent under his "care". The man was clearly a spineless coward, but he had a good heart. He allowed Jack a lot of freedom but also didn't help Jack with meals or out of his tricky problems when he was nearly caught right in front of him. Instead he waited for Jack to get out of his situation before he started his speech hours later. Now he kept looking at Jack with what…fear? Worry? Curiosity…? Whatever it was, Jack was getting annoyed even as they got closer to one of the exits.
It seemed the man decided to voice his concern, "Jack, do you know the friend that your mother was talking about? What they look like, their name?" Jack raised an eyebrow. So he was worried.
Jack looked straight ahead, "Yeah I know who I'm meeting. You get me off this tub and you'll never have to worry about me again." Jack lied smoothly. Mr. Johnson hesitated a moment before he nodded, the worry still in his eyes. Finally Jack felt cool sea air brush his face. He stretched his arms up and enjoyed the feeling of being outside again. The bustling of people making their way to the docks pushed him and Mr. Johnson along. Jack stared at the buildings and the people, the grey clouds, and the other ships. There he was, in England, where his dad grew up…where his dad met his mom. Jack slipped in and out of groups, trying to make his way to the shore and then the city.
"Wait Jack!" Mr. Johnson barked behind him. Jack glanced over his shoulder to Mr. Johnson. The smirk slid off his face the moment he looked over Mr. Johnson's shoulder. The man's call got the attention of others. One was one of the sailors that Jack had escaped from. He was tall, in his thirties with a dark tan and brown hair cut short.
"And what is going on here?" he asked clamping a hand on Mr. Johnson's shoulder. Both he and Jack stiffened. Mr. Johnson turned to see who had him.
"C-Chief Mate Jones sir!" Mr. Johnson gasped. Jack made a half step back. The man's eyes traveled between the janitor's eyes to the boy coldly.
"What are you doing with this trouble maker Johnson?" the man demanded.
Mr. Johnson stared at the tall man for a long awkward moment. "The boy lost his family and asked me to help locate them," Mr. Johnson stammered out. Jack fought the urge to roll his eyes and point out that he was old enough to find his "family" alone.
"Is that so," he asked. Jack didn't like the look in the man's eyes. "Well Jack, how about we find them? I think I remember telling you I needed to talk to them," he smirked, "while you were running away."
Jack smiled sheepishly. Mr. Johnson tried to intervene, "Oh no sir! You don't have to waste-"
"It's no problem. I insist," Jones interrupted him. Mr. Johnson gave Jack a look that practically said "He's not going to give up kid. Now what? Jack shrugged and pulled his sheepish smile into a cocky half grin trying to convey "I don't know but I can handle it".
"Alright, my family should be around the docks by now," Jack tried to act as cool as possible. Jack turned around and smoothly made his way off the ship and on onto the docks. He didn't know who would be waiting for him or if they were even here, but he hoped he could lose this guy in the crowd and find them before anything loud happened. He knew Dumbledore had something set up for him. Dumbledore was always ready for anything if his Dad's journals could account for anything. He just had to find his guide.
The adults matched pace with him on either side. Jack looked around the place. It was packed with people. Tourists crossing this way and that, workmen flitting around to whatever their jobs demanded. They crowded and pushed, creating a flow that was hard to fight against. The buildings towered over them. Grey and brown bricks shadowed the masses. The tall buildings hid the winding streets and paths into the city. The grey clouds hung low, the scent of rain joined the smell of docks, fish, and waters. The wind was going from cool to chill.
Jack worked his way to the center of the crowd. He planned to lose both adults since neither of them would understand that the stranger in robes that was picking him up was a trusted figure. Jack glanced at Mr. Johnson, deciding last minute that the guy, coward or not, at least deserved a thank you. Jack was a little unfair; it wasn't like the cruise was a nightmare. He did have fun, he was just impatient.
"Mr. Johnson," the man glanced down at the boy, "I just wanted to say thanks for all the help. My family and I appreciate it….really." He grinned. The janitor gave him a slightly confused look and opened his mouth to respond but it was too late. Jack dashed to the side.
"Hey kid!" Jones lunged to grab him and missed. Jack weaved and pushed his way through the people. Some making noises of protest and surprise. The Chief Mate shouted for crew members and cursed Jack has he tried to follow after the juvenile. Jack ran, dodging and weaving through people and luggage, but the stubborn man wouldn't let up. Jack ducked behind a wheezing guy that was carrying a heavy box. He gasped for breathe and peaked behind him. Jones came around a couple, his eyes still focused on Jack.
"Oh come on!" Jack huffed, fleeing again. "What does it take to lose this guy?" Jack tried several tricks to lose the Chief. Blending in, doubling back, crisscrossing, and trying to trip up the guy with the luggage around them. Jack jumped up a railing and dove over baggage that had a little kid gasp in wonder. Sadly, Jones jumped right after him. "What is he, an Olympic athlete? Doesn't he have something better to do than chase a kid?" Jack hid behind the corner of a stack of crates gasping for air and sweating in the cool air. He checked and now the guy had some of his crew with him looking. Oh man, this was not going according to plan. Where was the person from the school? If he got caught now they would find out he didn't really have a family with him, that he didn't even have a ticket or I.D.
A hand clamped onto his shoulder making Jack jump.
"Got ya."
Merida started the day in a less than good mood. Of course, most people would understand why she was in this mood. The demon bear had attacked them, tried to kill them, knocked her out, and attacked her friend! She woke up confused and hurting. The dull pain that echo in her bandaged leg was dwarfed by the horrible pounding headache she had. She was able to get her eyes to focus enough to find she was in a white room. She was lying on top of the sheets of a white bed. A strange light came from the ceiling making her head hurt even worse. She groaned and shut her eyes to the bright light.
"Oh, you're awake," a woman's voice said. Merida had to force her eyes open again. She couldn't really make out the fuzzy person.
"Here drink this. It'll help your head and leg," Merida felt the edge of a cup against her lips. She opened her mouth and nearly gagged. The liquid that was poured onto her tongue was one of the worst flavors she ever had tasted. She couldn't even think of anything to compare it to, maybe mold and a slug from a bog. She coughed and sputtered. The cup disappeared and was replaced with a cloth.
The woman tittered with laughter, "What were you expecting? Pumpkin juice?" she joked. Merida groaned again and placed an arm over her eyes. She didn't know how long she laid there as a tingling sensation crept to her leg and head. Slowly the pounding headache eased. Quick feet came up to the side of her bed. She moved her arm to look at the visitor.
"Merida?" A familiar voice asked. Her eyes took a moment to adjust to the light. Finally she could see the worried little Viking standing next to her bed. A couple of scraps littered his face. His clothes were strange, a bizarre white vest under an open green coat with a pair of blue pants and lace up shoes.
"Wat the h'ck are ye wearin'?" Merida slurred.
Hiccup smiled, "nice to see you too. These are Muggle clothes." His hand clutched the sleeve edge, "It takes a little getting used to. They're uncomfortable yet comfortable at the same time." Merida gave him a confused look. He shrugged, "you'll see soon enough."
"How long have I been out?" Merida asked and tried to seat up. Hiccup started to stop her but her glare stopped him. The room spun for a moment before coming back to focus. The other beds were empty at the moment. Hiccup was the only one in the overly white room.
"About a day and a half. You hit your head," Hiccup shifted on his feet nervously, "how are you feeling?"
"Like I fell out o' a bleeding tree!" she barked with a chuckle. Hiccup grinned; if she could joke then she would be fine.
"Wat about Hagrid?" Merida's smile suddenly disappeared. Did he make it?
"He's fine…crazy, definitely crazy, but fine. He was only knocked out by the bear. He woke up in time to save me, help you, and then get us out of the forest for some real medical help." Hiccup didn't look her in the eye.
"Mordu? He saved ya from Mordu?!" Merida slowly shifted off her bed to stand. Hiccup avoided answering and helped steady her. The spinning stopped and the headache was leaving. She felt much better. Even the dull pain in her leg went down to a minor throb.
"Are you sure you should be standing?" Hiccup asked the worry back on his face.
"Aye! Nothin' worse fer wear. Stop dottin' on me. Wat are ye, a mother hen?" Merida shooed him away from her. She stood tall and determined as ever.
"So how did-"Merida was cut off though, by the entrance of their enormous guardian.
"Jumping gargoyles! What do you think yer doing!" Hagrid bellowed. The man quickly marched over to the girl and tried to get her back in the bed.
"I'm fine! Stop!" Merida fought back. Hagrid hesitated.
"I donae want tae stay here! I feel a little banged up but I'm fine now!" Merida defended herself. She walked away from the bed and around the pair with little problem. "See?"
Hagrid looked to Hiccup for help. Hiccup raised his arms, "Don't look at me! When she gets like this only her mom can stop her." Merida kept her determined walk out the room, down the hall and to a room that held the exit.
There were other people in the room to. A woman sat behind a desk. People sat and stood around the room too. They all seemed surprised to see her.
"Miss?" the lady behind the desk stood up, "You shouldn't be-"
"Seems we'll be leavin' now," Hagrid caught up to the hotheaded girl.
"Merida!" Hiccup caught her, "you want to change before you go out?" Merida froze and looked down at herself. She hadn't noticed she was wearing a short white gown. Her legs were exposed, her feet bare, her back showing to all these people that were gawking at her. Merida's face quickly turned as red as her hair. Hiccup looked embarrassed for her too.
She would never usually do this, but the young girl had been through a lot and her pride had run short after her march up to the front of the building. Merida step behind Hiccup and hid from all the eyes, "yea, ye brought anythin'?" Merida whispered.
Hiccup couldn't help the small blush on his face either, but nodded. He held up a bag to Merida and had one of the workers there lead her to an empty room to change. To her surprise it was Muggle clothes and not one of her dresses. There was a pink skirt and a light green top. The lace shoes that was similar to Hiccup's shoes. As quickly as she could she put on the Muggle clothes. The skirt was too loose. It had a gap in it that had two rigged sides and a clasp at the end. Not knowing what to do she pulled on the clasp and watched as the two edges fussed together. Curious how this happened she played with it a little before she heard a knock at the door.
"You ready yet Merida?" Hiccup asked. Merida kneeled and tied the laces.
"Aya! Let's go!" Merida shoved the door open and hit Hiccup. "Ops, sorry…"
Hiccup rubbed his now sore nose as the pair quickly caught up with Hagrid at the front desk to leave.
"I still don't think it's wise for her to leave yet," the lady behind the desk said.
Merida snorted, "Shows how much ye know. I'm good." Merida marched past and out the door her friend and her escort right behind her.
"Usually I'd want ya to stay like the Healer said, but we're going to be late getting a student if we don't hurry," Hagrid said leading the pair to an alley way.
"We're picking someone else up?" Hiccup asked. Merida barely heard him. She was too busy gawking at everything around them. The carts that ran without horses, the black stone paths, and the tall poles that held what looked like torches in glass. Where the heck did she wake up? Hiccup had a day to wander around, ask questions, and adjust to this place whereas Merida had not.
"Yep, the boy is sailing in from America today. If Dumbledore's information is right, and it rarely is ever wrong!" Hagrid smiled. Both Hiccup and Merida paused at this and stared at Hagrid with large eyes. The mythical land across the oceans…
"America!" Hiccup cried out, "It exists! You don't fall off the edge of the world?" Hagrid was surprised by their reaction though he shouldn't be.
"Oi, wat nonsense is that? Fallin' off?" Merida shook her head at Hiccup who blushed lightly. Merida turned her attention back to Hagrid, "Is it really full o' dragons and fairies and all sorts o' wild creatures?"
Hagrid blinked at both of them. Sure they were in some sense time travelers from the past but he didn't realize how small their worlds really were. Hiccup seemed more embarrassed then anything now.
"America in some sense is very different from here, "Hagrid said carefully, "but they are still much like most folk. Muggle or not, I'm not exactly sure how we're different to be honest 'sides what we like to drink and how we talk that is."
Some of the curious wonder died in Merida's eyes to be replaced with disappointment.
"So this new student is American?" Hiccup seemed to refocus himself on the topic of the new boy.
"Aya! He can tell us all about his home!" Merida crowed, "Wat are we waitin' for? Let's hurry!" Merida started marching ahead in her usual fashion when Hagrid stopped her. He smiled a little sheepish and gestured to the opposite direction they were going.
"Had to check the street sign," he pointed to the pole that stuck out at the corner they had come to, "the docks are actually this way. Best be sticking close too. It's easy to get lost in places here if ya don't know what you're looking for."
Merida only lifted her chin at her mistake and tried to continue after the Master of Keys with as much dignity as she could with Hiccup smirking at her.
"Wat?" she glared.
"The world isn't flat and you walk straight forward in a place completely foreign to you. Even when we have a guide to tell which way to go! Some things are world changing but you are just the same right?" Hiccup smiled. She narrowed her eyes at the boy knowing he was making fun her.
"At least I knew it existed," she hissed back.
"What do you think he'll be like?" Hiccup suddenly changed subject. He was more curious about their next traveling companion then getting in an argument with Merida.
"How should I know?" she huffed, "He's a boy so at least we know he's as ridiculous as ya."
Hiccup rolled his eyes, "No I mean-You know what? Never mind. Why would you know anyway? When you first thought of me I was supposed to be a big brute of a pig like my cousin."
"I-"
"And I sure proved you right!"
"Okay! I get it! Shut yer trap!" Merida growled, "You're the one who asked!"
The pair continued to argue beside Hagrid as the gentle giant tried to find the quickest paths to the dock. The group stepped forward and backward until Merida caught the scent of the ocean. The sky, which hadn't really been clear, was growing darker with a coming storm.
"We best hurry now 'fore that storm hits. Looks like a nasty one," Merida muttered. Hagrid peered up to the heavens to see she was correct. Hiccup gave her an odd look.
"Don't all storms look like that?" he asked.
"How bad is it up there in the Northern Isles if that," Merida pointed up, "is normal?" Hiccup blinked at her then did is best to shrug.
"Ah-well, you see-," he struggled to explain his homeland.
"There it is!" Hagrid's booming voice cut off the boy and brought the children's attention to the sight before them. Both kids gasped at the sight of modern ships and more strange machines. Huge tall towers with long reaching arms were stretched over some of the largest ships the child had ever seen. Swinging ropes hung down to the ships to lift gigantic metal boxes. The boxes were bigger than some of the villagers' houses back in DunBroch!
"Woah," Hiccup said in awe.
Merida nodded in agreement, "Aye." A crowd of tourists pushed into the group of three, separating them. Loud chatter and excitement came from the crowd.
"I finally caught you!" Merida heard over the group. A large couple moved and she could see a brawny man in some sort of uniform grabbing Hiccups' arm.
"Hey! What are you-"
"That's enough out of you kid. You are in a lot of trouble for running like that," the guy growled.
"What are you talking about?!" Hiccup tried to pull his arm free.
"Oi! Wat are ye trying to pull with ma friend?" Merida tried to push her way to them. She nearly got run over by a man with a huge bag. The uniformed man was starting to drag the still protesting Hiccup away and Merida couldn't get to them.
"What's all this then?" Hagrid appeared in front of Merida. He had spotted Hiccup and easily forced his way forward. People gave him one glance and quickly moved. Merida stuck close behind him. The man took notice of Hagrid and froze. Hiccup quickly slipped out of his weakened grasp and backed away.
"Is everything okay?" Hagrid asked Hiccup. Hiccup rubbed his arm but nodded.
"What was that about?" he asked the stranger. The burly man seemed taken aback.
"A-are you the family that was on our cruise?" He stammered. Hagrid and Hiccup gave him confused looks.
Merida glared, "Are ye daft? We have niver been on any o' yer fancy ships. We just walked here!" The man reddened with shame.
"M-my mistake little miss. The crew is looking for a juvy that was on our ship. He ran and is around here somewhere," he gestured to Hiccup, "he is about that kids' age with brown hair. It was a mistake. Sorry."
"Ya bet it was a mistake!" Merida snapped.
"Wait," Hagrid place a huge hand on Merida's slim shoulder, "ye said he was about this age? Brown hair? What's his name?" Merida looked up at the wizard curiously.
"N-name? Er…it was either Jake or Jack," Hagrid's hand tightened on Merida's shoulder ever so slightly. Not enough to hurt the girl but enough for her to notice.
"Right, I wish ya luck on yer hunt, but leave these kids to me," Hagrid grinned. The man nodded nervously and quickly left.
"Hagrid?" Merida looked up to the man who was moving toward a large multi-story ship that had the people pouring from it. Hagrid was muttering to himself.
"Hagrid wat's wrong?" Merida tried again.
Hagrid glanced down to the kids that were following him closely. "It's that boy. His name is Jack and I am willing ta bet my umbrella that he is the boy we are here ta get! He's being just like his father, already causing trouble and mischief."
"The American boy?" Merida asked.
Hagrid nodded, "Keep an eye out fer him."
"You knew his dad?" Hiccup asked a little out of breath from trying to keep up.
"Why o' course! Him and James Potter and all those boys when they went to Hogwarts," Hagrid chuckled.
"Who's James Potter?" Merida gave him a confused look. Hagrid made a surprised 'oh' face.
"That's right! Ye wouldn't know anything about them," Hagrid shook his head, "which means ye don't know about Harry! Prattling pixies do I have some explaining to do!" Hagrid huffed. Merida and Hiccup shared a look of confusion, "but first we better find Jack 'fore these Muggles do."
For ten minutes the trio wondered around the docks looking for a boy that was similar to Hiccup. Every once in a while they would spot a sailor still hunting for Jack.
"There he is!" Merida tried to follow his line of sight but people still blocked it. Hagrid pushed his way to some crates. Merida finally saw the boy gasping, his back was to them. He was a little taller than Hiccup but just a thin.
Hagrid put an arm on his shoulder, "Got ya." The boy spun around and jerked away. His brown eyes were huge with alarm. Hagrid lift his hands in a calming gesture like Merida would with a frightened horse.
"Easy now… you're Jack Overland?" Hagrid asked. The boys' tension and fear left. He almost sagged with obvious relief.
"You're from…Hogwarts?" Jack huffed. A shin of sweat glistened on his brow, even in this chilly wind.
"Aye, my name is Rubeus Hagrid. I'm the Keeper of Keys at Hogwarts," Hagrid said. A grin nearly split the boy's face. Then the angry shout of a man had him glancing over his shoulder.
"Okay great, can we get out of here?" he asked in a hurry. Hagrid glanced up as well and nodded. The group quickly walked in the opposite direction and made their way further into the city.
"So you guys are students too uh?" Jack asked eyeing them in curiosity.
"Aye, I'm Merida and this here is Hiccup," she said. Jack raised an eyebrow at Hiccup, which of course he noticed.
"Yeah, it's a weird name and no it's not the worst where I come from," Hiccup said quickly.
"What's the worst?" Jack smirked.
"Oh you shouda seen his cousin. He was a burt an' his name was Snotlout. He was big and hairy, and had the face o' a pig, I kid ye not!" Merida shook her head mournfully, "when they first came up I feared he was ta boy that was the comin' with me! Lucky for us he wosn't." Jack snickered.
"Snotlout really?"
"Hey you!" the group turned to see a tall man rushing towards them.
"Oh man. That guy really doesn't give up, does he?" Jack grimaced.
"Friend of yours?" Hiccup asked. Jack snorted and scowled.
"You lot stay close now," Hagrid turned to the back of one of the warehouses. The children raced after him with the pursuing sailor still calling out to them.
Hagrid walked behind a few dumpsters. He pulled out his umbrella and began tapping the brick wall. In no time the bricks began to separate into an arch. Merida and Hiccup gasped. Jack hurried forward into the now open street on the other side of the wall.
"How did you?" Hiccup began.
"No time," Hagrid said and gently pushed the other two through following right behind them. The man came around the corner certain he finally caught the trouble maker but he only found an empty alley. He growled in frustration and ran through.
"Hagrid where are we?" Merida asked. The street had a few people walking around. They weren't like the Muggles, they wore long robes, and some of them had pointed hats. The cobblestone street twisted this way and that before disappearing around a corner.
"Ah well, we're near Diagon Alley. That's all that's real important. Here let's slip in here and have us a little break shall we?" Hagrid pointed out a spot that looked a bit like a restaurant. The group came in to a somewhat dark pub like entrance. They stone floors had straw and dirt scattered around. The tables and chairs were old and scarred. The whole building seemed to creak and groan. Hagrid lead them to a table by a fireplace. The children took their sits while Hagrid went to get drinks.
The place smelled of cooking meat, sweat, and dust. The fire gave off a golden glow and warmth in the slight gloom. The flames threw shadows this way and that over the visitors.
"Are you really from America?" Hiccup asked.
"Yeah, I have been there for as long as I can remember." Jack shrugged.
"So that's yer accent then? American?" Merida asked. "Wat's it like over there?"
Jack put his hands in his pocket, "well I would imagine it isn't much different from here, but I grew up around a bunch of, well," Jack looked a little uncomfortable, "A bunch of Muggles, so I don't know any wizard families."
"Oh, so ye don't know anythin' about magic or 'ogwarts," Merida stated. That wasn't what she was asking about but she would have eventually.
"I do!" Jack nearly snapped. He must have heard the disappointment in her voice. "My dad was a wizard, my mom isn't. My dad even went to Hogwarts! He was born here. I know plenty about the magical world."
I must o' hit a nerve, Merida thought. Hiccup didn't care; he was just excited he finally found another person his age that knew what they were getting into.
Before he could said anything Merida asked, "So wat's 'ogwarts goin' to be like? Wat kind o' magic are we goin' to learn?"
"Whoa, wait up. What about you guys? Where are you from?" Jack asked lifting his hands in a motion to stop her. Merida blushed.
"I'm from a small isle called Berk. It's twelve days north of hopeless, and a few degrees south of freezing to death," Jack snickered. Merida gave Hiccup an amused look, "It's located on the meridian of misery."
"Sounds like a vacation," Jack laughed.
"My village in a word, sturdy. It's been around for seven generations, but every single building is new. We have fishing, hunting, and a charming view of the sunsets. The only problems are the pests." Hiccup said dramatically.
"Sounds too nice ta be a village fer yer kind o' people Hiccup," Merida jabbed before Jack could ask about the pests or why all the buildings were new.
"Hey I didn't say they weren't tasteless," Hiccup gave her a half smile.
"And you must be from Scotland," Jack said looking at Merida. She raised her head proudly.
"Aye, I come from the kingdom of DunBroch; where the forests are green and ancient…where the cliffs, tall and majestic." She said.
"Where the fog is on and off annoying, and the animals are crazy, big and smelly," Hiccup said, "and the people even more so."
"Oi!" Merida glared at Hiccup. Jack was again laughing.
"Well those places sound pretty cool. I come from a small house in a small grey town. It's old, boring, and dual." Jack shrugged. "The forest around it has some fun places but not much."
"No dragons or mysteries?" Hiccup asked.
Jack shook his head. "At least not the place I live in."
"Ye said yer dad was a wizard," Merida said.
"Yeah he was, he taught me a few things about the magical world," Jack said. "What about you guys? Are your parents witches and wizards?"
"Nay, me mum knew a girl that was a witch though," Merida said.
"My dad isn't and I don't know about my mom," Hiccup said. Jack and Merida gave him confused looks. "She died when I was a baby. If she was a witch she never told my dad." Hiccup clarified simply.
"So you guys are Muggleborn for all you know," Jack stated.
"Wat's Muggleborn?" Merida asked.
"It's a magic folk that is from a Muggle family," Hagrid answered, reminding them that their guardian was still there. He had been walking back to them and listening in. He set three Butterbeers in front of them. He took a swig of his own drink before continuing.
"Jack would be called a Halfblood 'cause he has a wizard father and a Muggle mother," Hagrid added.
"Why is that important?" Hiccup asked. Jack gave him a startled look.
"Well in wizard society there are families that like to call themselves Pureblood. They think they're above others because they don't have any Muggles in their families. Actually it ties into the story I want you and Merida to hear because we'll be picking up Harry next."
Jack's eyes lit up, "Harry Potter?"
"Aye that's him," Hagrid grinned across the table to the boy, "I bet you and he have a lot in common. Yer dads went to school together after all."
Jack's grinned practically glowed.
"Tie in how Hagrid? What story?" Hiccup gave Jack and Hagrid a curious look.
Hagrid leaned forward, his chair groaning loudly under him. His face became soft and cautious, like he was sharing a dark secret.
"A few years back a dark wizard began getting followers. They believed that wizards should be above Muggles. They attacked Muggles and Muggleborns and all sorts of people. They were dark, horrible people," Hagrid said gravely. "Anyone that stood against them was killed…all except little Harry."
The three children were engrossed by Hagrid's story. They stared at him with wide transfixed eyes. The dance fire added to the dark tale as it painted Hagrid's face in half shadows.
"He is known as the Boy-Who-Lived."
After Class Speech
The curtains drew back. The crowd hummed with excitement. Finally it seemed their author was doing something. In a whirl of shadows the cloaked man appeared. He stood behind his podium and stared at the crowd. "Where did all of you come from?! I disappear for a while and now I come back to double the people here." He shook his head. "Well welcome to my story new readers, and it's good to see you others that returned." The Critic shifted uncomfortably, "It's been a while since I updated, that thing called life showed up and smacked me in the face, threw me down some stairs, drove a car over me, then took my lunch and walked away laughing." He shrugged. "But hey, I lived."
"Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this, I was typing this chapter when a thought suddenly hit me. It was one of those, 'what the hell are you doing? Do you realize how big this story is really going to be?" thoughts. I looked at the seven books stacked up laughing at me and dropped me head on my desk." the Critic smirked. "But man is it going to be an adventure to me and you!"
A hand waved in the middle of the audience, "Yes?"
"Is Hiccup going to meet Toothless and lose his leg?"
"Oh well, um-" the Critic cleared his throat.
Someone else called out, "Is Toothless going to be the dragon Harry faces in the Triwizard Tournament?"
"You guys-"
"What's going to happen next?" Another in the back called. They crowd began murmuring.
"Wait! Wait!" They fell silent, "Wow, okay. I have something planned for the Triwizard Tournament, no one has done this before so it should be fun. Events that took place in the individual movies will still happen, but like the Harry Potter series some things will be changed. I refuse to give away everything. As for the future, well you will just have to keep reading won't you?"
"Anything else? hmm," the Critic scratched his chin, "Right! If you are worried or curious about how my stories are coming along just go to me bio. Near the bottom I have a list for Updates so you know where I am at for the next chapter. Otherwise-"
"CRITIC!" A familiar female voice shrieked. The Critic turned to look off stage.
"Uh oh, looks like she escaped from the study void to get revenge on me," he snickered, "well I will have to do something about that." He turned back to the crowd. "Thanks for all the follows and reviews! Hope to see ya guys next time! Bye!" The cloaked figure stepped back a disappeared in the shadows. The curtains closed just as a furious woman stepped into view.
"I'll get you TAC! You are dead!" she shouted just as the show ended.