IT TAKES ANOTHER
By: Xanarific
CHAPTER SIX: Task Upon Arrival
It was around eleven in the morning when Carly woke up again at last. When she opened her eyes, she was decieved by the fact that no light shone through the windows. She looked at Eva who was already awake, fiddling with her GPS again.
"What time is it," she asked.
"Later that it should be," said Eva, telling her the time. "I'm glad you're finally awake, I thought I was going to have to wake you myself once we got to school."
"It still seems dark out," said Carly annoyed.
"Yeah... It's storming out right now. Apparently it snowed last night, according to some people I overheard in the compartment next door. That just doesn't seem very likely."
"It's true," confirmed Carly. "I saw it."
"Hmm... Well, you know you left the window open last night. I woke up this morning shivering like crazy. Just WHAT did you do THAT for?"
"Oh, I couldn't close it. Ice froze over it, making it really hard to shut. I can tell that it since thawed."
"Yeah, I woke up and shut it immediately. I've never awaken so cold in my life!"
"Sorry, Eva."
The train sped on still without flaw. The whistle sounded loudly in the front, like an alarm set to wake everybody aboard up. This caused Carly to jump in horror until she realized what it was, by which time her face went red.
"They've been doing that all morning," she said. "I awoke on the first whistle. You are a really heavy sleeper, apparently."
"Yeah, apparently."
The second day aboard the train seemed to rush by faster than the first. Carly introduced Eva to Adrian, (whose friends still haven't returned yet) and the three of them rode out the trip playing a new game which Adrian had introduced to them called Roaring Thunder. According to him, it was a game that was traditionally played in stormy weather.
Before long, an announcement sounded throughout the train telling everybody to get changed into their robes, for they would make their arrival in only fifteen minutes. Adrian left the two of them alone then, and Eva and Carly stood, confused not knowing what to do.
"Robes? But we haven't got any?"
"I know... Why did the professor not tell us to get some?"
"Well... It's his problem, not ours, am I correct?"
But a knock on the compartment door solved this issue immediately.
"Carly and Eva, you have a delivery from the head of the Adder house."
"From Marco?"
"Yes. He meant to give these to you before, but it slipped his mind."
They both took their packages and opened them to reveal two brand new robes, colored in a dark silverish blue color, containing each of their names. Eva promptly gave the deliverer a thank you, they changed, and then joined the others from their car in the isle.
"Here goes nothing," said Eva to Carly. "I don't know about you, but I'm feeling a little worried right now."
"Yeah," said Carly in reply. "I guess this is the moment of truth, isn't it."
The two of them stood quietly after this, for the line started to move. When it was their turn to depart, Eva and Carly did so rather scared, afraid of what would lie ahead. But, they were surprised when they stepped out to nothing but a barrier of trees.
"Hmm... I expected something more," said Carly. "Wheres the school at?"
"Somewhere within the trees, I think," replied Eva. "Or back behind the wall of storm somewhere. I'm not all that sure."
"Oh," said a second year, approaching them from what seemed like nowhere. "We're supposed to arrive at the school at seven," he said. "Might one of you tell me what time it is now?"
Carly took a look at her phone again and thought for a moment.
"4:30," she said at last.
"That it is precisely," he replied. "That means that we still have two and a half hours until our expected arrival."
"Okay... Why are we so early, then," she asked curiously.
"Ha! Early? No, we're actually running late!"
The two girls shot him an odd glance before he gestured toward a large mountain on the opposite side of the train. Atop it, they saw what looked like a large castle-like figure. Suddenly worried, Carly and Eva looked at each other in disbelief.
"You mean we have to climb that?"
"That is correct. Don't worry, it's not so bad. Theres the start of term feast to look forward to. But, you won't be able to enjoy that without achy legs and arms. Best of luck on the hike!"
The two girls could not believe what they were in for. They listened as the other first years saw and groaned. It appeared that no one would want to take the hike up the mountain in such a state, and many became sore just at the sight of it.
"Do we at least get umbrellas?"
"Nope, I'm afraid to say not. It's okay, the train took you this far up the mountain. I think you can manage the rest of the way..."
No sooner did he say these words did two cries come, beckoning students to follow in their direction. One was for the seventh years, at which only a small percentage of the crowds followed. The other was for all first years, and it was hard for the girls to listen to the voice amongst all the jibbering first year students.
"SILENCE," said a voice at once. All fell silent at this command.
Adrian then joined Eva and Carly from behind, and he proceeded to listen to the woman at front speak with them.
"My name is Amy Marshall Smitherspoon, and I am the headmistress here at Griffinbridge. Now, ahead of you is a hike, a rather long hike through the forbidden forest. This will be your first task as students at our school."
Talk amongst the students told Smitherspoon that there was some confusion amongst her new students. Quite expectant of this reaction, she looked among them but said nothing, yet still retaining the stern features that stood out on her face. When everything had calmed down again, she began to speak.
"Now, a path has been provided for you to reach the school, but I must inform you that it doesn't make the journey any easier. This is your first test, a test of wit and endurance. It is required that all first year students take this test. If you don't, we will easily know and those students will be sent home immediately... And, I already know that at least five students have disobeyed this order already, and have proceeded to board the boats with years two through six. I've seen it so many times, but no matter. Now..."
The headmistress pointed amongst the trees at a wooden staircase that led into the trees. The stairs moved with the mountain that it was built upon, making it much harder to see ahead that it would be on flatter ground.
"That path will branch into many different seperate paths, all leading eventually to the school. It is up to you and you alone which path you take. Now, I must tell you that each path will have it's own unique challenge about it, and I will guarentee you that you will encounter at least three of these challenges on your journey to the castle. But I warn you... Choose your path carefully, for it will determine your fate at Griffinbridge. Can anybody tell me why that is?"
Many of the students, including Adrian raised their hands. Eva and Carly didn't quite grasp yet what was fully going on, but it was the same for a good number of other first years.
"You sir in the front, tell us."
"Well," said the student, "it has been said that the paths you choose will determine which house you will fall into at the school."
"That is correct, and why is the house important?"
"The house you are in will determine which kind of witch or wizard you will become when you finish out your years at Griffinbridge."
"Nicely put, young man. I will award a head start of thirty points to your house whenever it is chosen."
Chatter arose once more among the first years. This time, Smitherspoon stopped the noise immediately by putting her fist up. Even the muggle born students at this time knew that to disrespect the authority of the headmistress would put them into trouble later.
"Now," she continued. "I will explain more about the houses after the feast, but now we must proceed. But first I must tell you... Do NOT, and I repeat DO NOT try and rechoose a path after you have already chosen it. Those who do decide to do so will have to restart the test, a move which nobody will want to make. Now... There are a total of four houses. I won't go into much detail now, but I will say the names. And they are: Adderlore, Trollton, Spiritlore, and Wolfcore. I wish you all best of luck, and choose carefully. See you at dinner."
The headmistress said no more. Suddenly, there was a loud POP as if someone had fired a rifle into their direction, and Smitherspoon dissapeared into the night, leaving all the first year students alone to begin their journey.
Many of the more eager students ran onto the path, starting quickly. Eva and Carly stepped on together, ready to take whatever would lie ahead.
"I must admit, I was not expecting to start off the year like this," said Eva, climbing up the wooden steps, Carly following close behind. "Though, it is a fairly clever system."
Carly said nothing. She was cold, for the snow was soaking her from head to toe once more. Thunder still roared high in the sky, and winds pounded through the trees causing many of the leaves to break off the trees and whirl above their heads. The stairs were slippery with ice, but no matter, the destination ahead was all that the two girls needed.
For a long time, the path continued as a wooded deck spanning many fast flowing rivers, many dark, tree coated areas, but not for a long while did it finally split, allowing the girls to make their first choice. There, many of the first years stood, trying to ponder the same thing that Eva and Carly were. Adrian, who had run ahead early on, was seen walking down the right hand path, but a majority of the students tended to walk down the left.
"Hmm... Let's take a good look at this," said Carly. "Most people aren't putting much thought into this, are they? I am sure that the different landscapes here must mean something, right?"
"Yes... The left leads into more trees, I see. The right, well..."
"What's the difference?"
"Hmm... I see that there are mushrooms growing on the railings to the path," said Eva.
"Yes, there are. It's a break from the normal pines that we see otherwise. If it makes any difference at all, we should go right."
So, onward they continued down the right path, and to another fork where the same thing happened with little alteration. This went on for a little while, and every time, the girls would choose the path that had a difference amongst the pines, whether that be a rock placed in a very obvious place, or a tree branch completely out of line from the rest of the trees. But, there came a time, the fifth time, where they could not see any difference at all. Instead, there stood a post with an arrow which spun with the wind, whichever way that might be. It was pointing backward when they arrived, but as soon as Carly stepped foot within five feet of it's boundary, it pointed down the left path automatically...
"Strange," she pointed out. "What do you suppose that could mean?"
"Hmm... Well, we were told of challenges that we would encounter, right? Well, look here. This arrow is trying to lead us someplace. Our first challenge would probably be to decided whether we trust the arrow or not..."
Carly looked at the arrow herself and watched it waver in the wind. What could it mean if she followed it? But what would it mean if she didn't?
There was a few moments of pure silence as the two girls looked at the paths. Few other first years who happened to wander down the same path they did took no time in the decision, but just went on ahead down whichever they chose, but this didn't affect the decision which Carly and Eva made in the end.
"I say that we follow the arrow," she said at last. "I mean, think of it this way... One of the things that we will need most in this school is obedience, right? If we fail, we could wind up in more trouble than we started in..."
"That is true... But something doesn't quite seem right. I don't think it would be as simple as that."
"It's all I can think of at the moment. I know it sounds a little corny, but if this is a test to determine or house, then it's probably going for our personalities... In other words, whether we are to follow directions or not. So, we're making something literal out of a figurative situation."
"Now that you mention it, you are absolutely right. So, left it is then?"
"Left it is..."
As the "test" went on, the decisions to make only grew tougher. But, Eva and Carly together thought of a reasonable solution for them all, and it came to a point where, just fifteen minutes left in this test according to the time the feast would begin, three paths would stand, this time with written words on them. At the foot of the first one, it said "truth". At the foot of the second one, it read "dare". Then, at last, at the foot of the third one, it read "I don't care". Eva had to laugh.
"We're playing old-school now," she said. "I'm very much hoping that this is the last one, and I am more tired than ever. I'm ready to take my fate, no matter what that may be, I'm not going to worry about anything anymore."
"I like that plan," said Carly. "Thats good enough to anwser this one."
The two of them then proceeded down the third path labeled "I don't care", and within minutes, they joined the other buch of first years at the end of the path. Eva let out a sigh of relief as she stood looking at the crowd standing at the front of the gate to the Griffinbridge castles, and then proceeded to take a seat on the railings.
"We've reached the end," said Carly. "But I just don't understand... That felt just like any nature walk to me... How can anyone tell by that our personality just by which road we happen to walk down? It doesn't make much sense to me."
"Hmm... Me neither. I'm just glad the storm has let up," replied Eva. "It's only snowing, now."
Adrian was the final student to show up, more tired and out of breath than the rest of the first years. As soon as he stepped onto the perimeter of the gate, it opened, for the clock atop a tower directly in front struck seven. Then, without another word, all the first years crowded onto the grounds of the massive castle, and were then greeted by the headmistress once more who stood at the foot of the clock tower.
"Welcome," she said with a smile. "I am very glad that you all made it in one piece, I am sure that much struggle was required in order for you to complete the challenge.
Many students, to the surprise of Eva and Carly nodded, but some shook her head, like herself, wondering what it was she was talking about.
"Hmm... Different reactions, I see. I must tell you that there is a reason for this, and you will see why shortly. Now, I will only say this once. In a few moments you will join your fellow classmates in the Great Hall of the castle, located just down the corridor inside. I expect all of you to follow behind me quietly until we reach the front of the hall where I will take a seat in the head chair before presenting all of you individualy to your new houses. But, before I do so, I will give my beginning of the year speech which will introduce the houses and tell you the qualities of them each. Then, finally once all is said and done, you will be able to sit down amongst your new classmates and feast."
Much chatter rose again amongst the group of exhausted first year students, but it was silenced very shortly after. Smitherspoon then took a moment to walk inside the main entrance located behind the clocktower, and the silence that had lasted for about a second with the students was broken once more.
In the meantime, Carly could not keep her eyes off the castle. There it stood in person, several massive towers pointing upward at the sky atop the mountain, all flowing together perfectly next to the massive body of the castle, containing many different cooridors and halls linking the network together into one. Detached stood a number of greenhouses as well as many different huts, docks, and smaller buildings out at the foot of the forbidden forest. A massive lake stood next door to the castle, surronded by an overgrowth of pines, and in the middle of it was yet another building, looking a little out of place next to the mountainous landscapes surronding.
"Eva, what do you suppose thats there for?" asked Carly, pointing out the little island building.
"Hmm... I couldn't anwser that. It may have to do with some sort of class involving swimming out into the... Oh, I'm thinking too hard on this one, arent I?"
Carly chuckled. Some things, she thought, just didn't need to be anwsered just yet...
The headmistress returned to her new arrivals with a smile on her face. "Come," she said. "It is time..."
Without another word, all the first years did as instructed, and followed her inside the foyer of the school. Carly marvelled at the sight: Four stone pillars stood at the foot of the great stairs which, upon her assumption, led into the great hall where the rest of the school would be sitting there, waiting for the first years to arrive. Atop the pillars were four animals, one being a snake, one being a troll, one being a wolf, and the final one, which was unrecognizable to any of the new arrivals. But Smitherspoon took no time explaining them just now, for she hurried along up the staircase and into the even larger great hallway.
As instructed, the students didn't say a word as they were led past the four long house tables and to the front of the room. Four glowing banners shone in the front of the room, one directly above it's corresponding house. In the middle was a greatly illuminated chandelier containing more lights than any simple one which Carly had seen beforehand.
"ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS," yelled Smitherspoon joyously. "I WOULD LIKE TO FIRSTLY WELCOME YOU ALL BACK FOR ANOTHER YEAR AT GRIFFINBRIDGE!"
Her voice was surprisingly strong and powerful, not something that you would expect a fifty year old woman to have. Many of the students cheered in joy with her, and some even waved signifying a warm welcome to the new attendees. After moments of this, the headmistress waved her hands once more for silence, and all the cheering stopped.
"Now," she said, still retaining her smile. "It has been my honor within the past twenty years to be here at Griffinbridge. Each of these twenty years has been unique, not two similar. We have together encountered many different obstacles, overcome many different challenges, and still stood at top among all else. I think I can speak for the entire school as I say that we deserve something special this year, something which will really show up as we look back into the history of Griffinbridge. That is why, it is my privelage, to introduce to you three new, exciting classes that are to be held this year. And they are: Practical Charms, Elementals, and Herbology."
"Herbology? What is that? The study of plants?"
"In accordance to our new classes, we've had to hire a number of new staff members to assist us. Not to say, of course that these members are limited to that of these three classes, I must inform you that my dear friend Charles Barkley had to retire at the end of last trimester for family matters. But, in anwser to my request for hire, Professor Anna Keaton has decided to take over our Divination class. And, for his absence, I must inform you that Professor Josh Grumbily has taken over Potions for the first trimester because Randall James has some Ministry matters to attend to. And now, allow me to introduce to you, our last three new staff members who will be taking our new classes this year."
Smitherspoon cleared her throat as she beckoned for the new staff members to stand.
"Firstly, Professor Davids, in charge of Practical Charms!"
A light applause sounded throughout the room. The new professor, as if he were some comedian on stage, bowed gracefully to his clappers and took his seat again with a smile on his face.
"Next, Professor Heartlos, in charge of our Elementals class, which I must recommend to you by the way, it will really be worth your while."
The young lady only smiled as she took her applause as well. Carly had her eyes at front awhile when something hit her on the back. It fell to the ground, a crumpled up sheet of paper containing three words on it. She picked it up and read to herself: NO BLONDE ZONE. Immediately, this infuriated her as she looked around to see who the culprit was, but she found no one.
"And at last," continued the headmistress, "I would like to introduce to you Professor Jerry Trees, our herbology teacher. Please give him a round of applause as well."
The students did so, but half heartedly. Most of them, however, just had food on their mind.
"At this time, I think it's only right that we reveal the housing of our new first years," she said, looking in their way at last. "Now, as tradition, these first years had to take the very same test that you had to your first year at Griffinbridge. Now, this test, as you all well know by now, determines what house you are to be placed in for your stay here at Griffinbridge. And allow me to take some time to explain some of the qualities of these four houses, or rather, allow our new Heads of the houses to explain it instead. We'll start with Adderlore, so allow me to introduce to you the youngest Head Boy in Griffinbridge History, Mr. Marcos Meldini."
Turning the stage over to him, Smitherspoon stepped aside and allowed Marcos to take position. He did so rather nervously, and many, including Carly and Eva, cheered as he took his spot.
"Good evening, and welcome back," he said confidently. "I am Marcos Meldini, the 'Adderhead', if you will. If you have not by now caught the humor in this joke, allow me to explain to you that an adderhead is actually a snake, not so much a leader of a house here at Griffinbridge. But no matter. I must persist on by saying that members of the Adderlore house have always been expected to provided the absolute best they can bring in whatever they do. The qualities might include direct support in Quidditch tournaments as well as excelling in class and topping it all when it comes to your seventh year. I would like to welcome all of you beforehand to my house, and remember that I will help you whenever you need me. Thank you."
The entire room erupted in cheering, but the most thunderous applause came from the Adderlore house table. Many stood and cheered as Marcos took his bow and sat down at the head amongst his peers.
"Thank you, Marcos," said the headmistress, taking the stand again. "Next up, I'll personally be a representative of the Trollton House because of the fact that, unfournately, the head boy of the Trollton House is presently not avalible. No matter, the Trollton House is one devoted to those wishing to persue a career in darker magics. Not to say that those in the house are dark witches and wizards, but they generally posess the qualities as such in order to sustain success in the career choice they are aiming for. I must commend this house, for there are very few among them who do NOT make it to their seventh year here at Griffinbridge. And now, Mrs. Alexa Corshawhe, our head girl of the Spirtlore House!"
Alexa, a fifth year well spirted lady, stood up then and adressed the crowd with a smile that would get the attention of anyone. Then, looking at the faces of the first year students, she graicously took a bow to them before making her speech.
"Welcome," she said in a cool, very angelic voice. "As our headmistress just adresses so warmly, I am Alexa Corshawhe, the head of the Spiritlore House. Spiritlore has always been devoted to the free minds of the peers within it's house. We generally persue careers for the need of others, and we always use our hearts as our guide in order to make whatever goal we have in mind possible. But, I must admit that because of the lightheartedness of this house, many of it's members quit only after their sixth year. But, for the new students expecially, know that it does not damage the fact that we are among the top two most successful houses at our school!"
Cheering arose once more as she took a second bow and sat again at her table. The Spiritlore House, which did indeed seem significantly smaller than the other three, cheered at this, some giving Alexa a bow themselves as she made her return. The Trollton house looked sideways at them with pure disguest.
"I sense rivalry," said Eva. "Severe rivalry..."
"And last, but certainly not least, I would like to introduce to you the Wolfcore house, headed by Shana Mayheit."
The girl stood and took her turn at the front, wasting no time to introduce herself or the house.
"Here, we are all about pushing you to the limit! We do work hard, I do admit it myself, so be prepared for whatever is to come to those who join my house. I know that those who made it here did so not by accident, just as I have not, for in the Wolfcore house, there are no accidents. Mistakes, yes, accidents no. Even so, we are devoted to teaching you the strenth and power contained in the Woldcore house, and I am willing to take every step I need to get my house at top!"
One final time, cheering arose from the room, much louder this time than the times before it. When all had calmed at last, Smitherspoon stood at the foot of the students with her smile and made gesture to the first years.
"It is time," she said. "First years, prepare. I will read you off alphabetically and place you in your corresponding home based on the results that you have scored on your test. Now, let us waste no more time. First up in Arthur Aaronston. Please step up here.
The student did so, stepping onto a small podium located at the very front of the room.
"Congratulations sir, WOLFCORE!"
The Wolfcore table welcomed him in with so much noise that he could have gone deaf. Despite this, he walked over to their table with satisfaction written all over his face.
"Next, Christopher Albastrot. I will happily admit you into Trollton!"
And on the list proceeded. After a good number of names, Eva was called up to the podium.
"Eva Ilperson... You have been gracefully accepted into... the SPIRITLORE HOUSE!"
Her new house, the smallest house abrupted in cheering for her, and Alexa made a bow to her and shook her hand as she proceeded to take her seat. Carly hoped desperately that she would also be admitted into the same house... As she and Eva had proposed so many times before, the two of them were in it as a team.
Anxiety welled up inside her as name after name was called. Adrian was called up next, and the Wolfcore house enjoyed another loud welcome to their new friend.
Name after name, time grabbed hold of her, making it all the harder on her. At last, she was called up to the podium. Nervewracked as she had been, she faced the crowd and looked head on into the depths of the Great Hall. Whatever was said next was a decision that she would have to stay with, whether it be with Eva or not. And, like the paths in the test earlier that evening, there was no turning back once she was in...
"Carly Meghanston... The results are in... I shall call upon the SPIRITLORE HOUSE and tell them that they have a NEW MEMBER!"
Again with the cheering, but she ignored it this time, for all feeling was replaced with pure relief. She was so scared only moments ago, that by the time the word "Spiritlore" was said, she had run off the podium and toward Eva, taking a seat sheepishly next to her.
"You've made it," she said. "I was afraid that we'd be on our own for this one..."
"You know, so was I Eva, so was I. But, here we are... No worries anymore, we are away from Castaway, away from that dreaded place at least for now. And we've made this decision together..."
"That we did. I have no regrets about it... The fact is that this is real, and we shall stick together to expirence it all to the end..."