AN: EARLY! YEAH! I'm so happy, this chapter is a decent length, and I'm posting it before eleven o'clock at night! I rule! Anyways, I'm so glad to hear that you guys enjoyed the last chapter because honestly, to me, it didn't feel that great. I'm glad to know that you all enjoyed it and thought it was good :)
NOTES: A Mind wants to Forget, but a Heart will always Remember.
REVIEWERS!
Arwen Eledel: I'm glad you enjoyed it and are enjoying Hiccup's characterization. All of the different theories about Hiccup are very interesting to hear, I enjoy them very much. And as for Hiccup and Emma, joking makes much more sense, but still. I can see where someone might think differently... Anyways, I'm happy that you're enjoying it all! :)
BrawlerGamer: I'm happy to hear that you're enjoying Cami and Thuggory's appearances, as well as the others! I'm glad you liked the reveal. I considered having a small bit from the others' perspective, but after rewriting the scene so many times I decided not to. Merida probably wouldn't have felt guilty over that comment, as there was nothing vicious or really that mean about it, but she probably did feel very guilty for never knowing, or thinking to ask, where Hiccup was from. Another excellent theory, but you'll have to wait for the answer!
Guest: Most definitely! :)
Elphaba818: Maybe, maybe not. Anyways, there will be plenty of Gobber and his teachings, just probably not what you think. All will be explained, eventually. As for shipping of any sort, I am still mostly undecided, so I guess there is a small possibility that there could be mention of it in the far, far future, but any and all ships are not going to be involved in this series until the last two books or so. And don't worry, Toothless and Hiccup will have plenty of adventures together!
TheBlueRing: Thank you! The cousin relationship between Hiccup and Snotlout will be brought up again and explored later in the series!
WeasleyWitchesForever: Thank you! No worries, Jack and Hiccup will have plenty of moments together!
99thProblem: Usual symptoms? I hope that doesn't mean you've read this sort of stuff a million times before. But your diagnosis is appreciated, doctor. ;)
C: I'm so happy that you liked it! I knew from the start that I wasn't going to make Hiccup's Viking reveal be a long-lasting thing with the others being angry at him and whatnot. Their friends, and they're all reasonable people, so there was really no reason to have any extra drama about it. I have taken a bit of creative liberty with Camicazi and Thuggory because they are now slightly older than Hiccup, and I have changed the dynamics of their relationships with each other. I'm glad to hear that you found the Dragon Training scene so fascinating, and that you liked my little bit of humor at the end! As for Emma? No worries! If a spoiler isn't important I will usually just say the answer to whatever question, but if it is important I try to keep it hush, hush. I really don't mind you asking at all, I just wanted to explain why I wasn't jumping at the chance to analyze a character like I usually do. Because you're right, I do have an analysis for Emma, a very long one, because she's practically an OC with how little we know of her/have seen of her. And I really, really wanna share it... But it would spoil a lot, and everything else wouldn't make much sense until you read the rest of the story... Anyways, Thank you for another lovely review, and never be afraid to ask questions about anything! :)
Chapter 6: Distractions
The following week was hard. Classes started just as they always do, and Dragon Training continued without mercy. The only time they weren't fighting the dragons in the arena was when they were practicing theoretical fights with dummies and dragon-shaped structures, but even then Gobber was using catapults to hurl stones at them or his wand to douse them with boiling water or anything else he could think of until they completed the objective.
The other classes at Hogwarts were generally easy for Hiccup, but that week had truly been a challenge. Not because of what they were doing in class, but because of how hard it was for him to stay focused. He supposed his lack of sleep and incessant migraines didn't help much, but it felt as though he was constantly getting distracted by flashes of bright green eyes and gummy smiles. His mind always seemed to be wandering off to a distant cove, or soaring gracefully up among the clouds. It seemed Hiccup was continuously having to roughly shake himself awake and firmly remind himself not to think of those things.
By the time Saturday had finally come, and the first week of classes had passed, Hiccup was exhausted. The only reason he got out of bed at all that morning was because Emma let Jack into the Ravenclaw dorms, and the Winter Sprite refused to let Hiccup sleep.
"Rise and shine, Hic! It's a beautiful day!" Jack had exclaimed with a disgustingly cheerful expression as he threw open the curtains of the window right next to Hiccup's bed.
Needless to say, Hiccup was all but dragged down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Apparently, Jack had not been alone in his schemes because Merida and Rapunzel were already there by the time they arrived, saving them seats at the Ravenclaw table. Despite feeling a bit ruffled from being forced out of bed, Hiccup's pounding headache did ease up just a bit as his friends pulled him into one of the open seats.
"Hey, Haddock!" Daren Fouls hissed from across the Slytherin table, his eyes glinting. "Is it true you landed flat on your face yesterday? In the first three minutes?" His smirk grew and some of the other students around him snickered.
"Shove off, Fouls!" Jack spat back, turning Hiccup away from the bully by his shoulder.
"Why do the gods hate me?" Hiccup sighed quietly to his friends and then dropped his forehead onto the table in front of him. Probably not the best idea considering it caused his migraine to give a painful throb.
"Oh, it's not that bad!" Rapunzel said, trying to be positive. "You were second in your first fight with that stone-eating dragon!"
"Right before he was cornered and nearly eaten." Cami jumped in, sliding into the seat next to Emma as Thuggory took the spot next to Rapunzel.
"So you've had a bit of a rough start! I'm sure you'll get the hang of it in no time!" Thuggory smiled, hopeful for his smaller friend.
"Thuggory's right! And, you know what, if you could use magic, you'd be the best dragon fighter in the whole school! You're the best wizard I know!" Merida nodded confidently, but Hiccup only huffed.
"Magic doesn't work on dragons, though. Sure, a talented witch or wizard makes a great healer, and magic helps with all of the chores, but fighting is essential on Berk, and I'm Hopeless!" Hiccup frowned, knowing that even if he could use his magic he wouldn't be able to kill a dragon.
"Well, that's what Dragon Training is for! To make you Not So Hopeless." Camicazi told him. "Dragon Training is supposed to teach you how to fight, and you've only just started learning. The others have experience from fighting and wrestling with each other. That Hofferson girl's been training with that axe for years! You may be as pathetic as a newborn yak right now -"
"As fluffy and sleepy as one, too!" Thuggory added with a bright smile.
Cami shoved him away by the face and then continued cheerfully. "-But give it time! You'll catch up with the others soon enough."
"Great. I'm a pathetic, fluffy yak." Hiccup grumbled and then dropped his head onto the table again. Ignoring the following flash of pain.
Before any of them could continue trying to cheer him up, the school bell announced the new hour. The air in the Great Hall shifted as students got up to leave or went back to eating and talking. Shortly after the bell Merida and Camicazi had to go to the Gryffindor Quidditch tryouts, Rapunzel had to run off to the infirmary because she promised Dr. Sweet she would help with gathering herbs, and Thuggory had to send a report to his Professors at Durmstrang, assuring that the exchange year was going smoothly so far.
With the others heading off to do their various chores, Hiccup, Jack, and Emma decided to go to the library to do what little homework they had from that first week. As they were just leaving the Great Hall, a familiar face came rushing down the corridor, calling out to them.
"Hey, Jack!" Mavis came to a stop right next to them, resting her hands on her knees for a moment as she caught her breath and then straightening to look at Jack. "There's been a change in the schedule, Slytherin Quidditch tryouts are today!"
"But we weren't suppose to have them until tomorrow." Jack replied, his eyes going wide in surprise and confusion.
"We got switched with Ravenclaw." Mavis explained, shaking her head. "Snotlout has Dragon Training tomorrow, and since Hiccup doesn't play Quidditch, Professor North agreed to switch it."
"But I..." Jack trailed off, glancing down at Emma.
"I'll look after Emma." Hiccup promised, and Jack's eyes shot up to meet his.
"Are you sure? I don't wanna ditch you." Jack scratched the back of his head uncertainly, and Hiccup just rolled his eyes.
"Don't worry about it, we'll catch up with you later. Besides, your sister is cooler than you." Hiccup smirked widely and ducked when Jack took a playful swipe at his head.
"Oh, HaHa, you're so funny." Jack quipped back, and then turned to his giggling little sister. "I'll see you guys later, okay? Stick close to Hiccup so you don't get lost."
"I will. Good luck at tryouts." Emma smiled.
"Ah, don't worry! Tryouts are only formalities. Continuing Quidditch members get priority." Jack mock-whispered to her, making the younger girl laugh again. Then he stood and started walking backwards to join Mavis. "Don't have too much fun without me!" Jack waved, and Hiccup snorted.
"Just try not to do anything stupid, Stupid." Hiccup replied, giving a small smile.
"Oh, you're one to talk! And don't think I'm above hitting you just because you're my best friend!" Jack grinned with a final wave, and then he and Mavis started off towards the Quidditch Pitch.
"So, you wanna go to the library? I can help you with whatever homework you've got." Hiccup offered, turning to Emma who looked up at him and nodded. So the two set off towards the library, falling into a comfortable silence as they walked through the castle.
"You know," Emma spoke up eventually. "I think you're doing pretty well in Dragon Training. You haven't gotten hurt, and you didn't throw up during your first class, so you're already doing a lot better than me in Flying."
"Come on, Emma! It wasn't that bad!" Hiccup told her, though he did cringe a little as he remembered watching the first years Flying just the day before. He and Jack happened to have that period free, so they went to watch Emma fly on a broom for the first time. Needless to say, Emma was not a natural flier like her brother.
"I was barely five feet off the ground and I had a panic attack which caused me to fall flat on my face in front of all of the other Ravenclaw first years, and the Gryffindor first years, and when Captain Amelia came over and helped me up, I threw up on her boots. How is that 'not that bad'?" Emma said with a completely flat expression as she looked up at him dryly.
"Uh, okay, it was -it was pretty bad, but being afraid of heights is nothing to be ashamed of." Hiccup assured her, trying a different approach to making the girl feel better.
"But all of the other first years are really good at it." Emma argued.
"So? Flying isn't a requirement for graduation, so it really doesn't matter if you pass or not. I never passed Flying." Hiccup confided to her.
"You didn't?" Emma looked up at him in shock.
"Nope. And I didn't even have a reason. I was just really bad at Flying. I couldn't get the broom to come up when I called it for two weeks, and it had a habit of hitting me in the face pretty often, too." Hiccup explained, and Emma tried to cover her giggles. "I never got more than five feet above the ground, just ask Jack, Merida, and Rapunzel. They all tried to help me, but nothing worked."
"I guess neither of us are going to be Quidditch Champions when we graduate." Emma gave an amused smirk, looking much better than she did before.
Hiccup chuckled lightly as they walked through the doors of the library. "Trust me, Emma. One day you'll find what you're meant to do. It'll be something that you're really good at and love more than anything else. I promise." Hiccup told her, trying to ignore the flash of memory that brought sunlight and bright green eyes, the feel of rushing air, and leather and warm scales beneath his fingertips.
Hiccup and Emma set their bags on the table that was usually occupied by Hiccup, Jack, Merida, and Rapunzel, and then sat down so they could pull out their books and homework assignments. As expected there wasn't much to do, but Hiccup wanted to make sure Emma was doing alright in all of her classes.
"So, where do you want to start?" Hiccup asked, taking a peek at some of the worksheets Emma had place on the table.
"Well, Professor Toothiana says that this first lesson is going to be important on our first test, so I figured I'd start there." Emma replied, handing him the piece of parchment.
"The Magic Pyramid. I remember this. It'll be on the first test, but Professor Toothiana always puts an emphasis on Sorcerers, so focus on those questions." Hiccup suggested, pointing to the bottom half of the page. "Here's a good one; what are the two primary characterizations of a Sorcerer or Sorceress?"
"Their physical form Changes permanently in some way, and they can use magic without a wand, other magical items, or incantations." Emma recited easily, and Hiccup nodded.
As the two Ravenclaws continued working at the table in the back of the library, and the afternoon came and went, the evening brought a heavy fog that settled over the school, promising a cold, damp night for everyone.
Late that night, long after curfew, when storm clouds had moved over the castle and rain poured from the sky, five boys could be found in the back of the library, laughing and joking. Candy and Butterbeer covered the table, a candle gave them enough light to see by, and the boys were reclined on the various seats in the small corner of the library.
Hiccup wasn't exactly sure how he, Jack, Flynn, Tadashi, and Jim ended up spending the night breaking curfew with an all-nighter in the library, but he knew that it had been some sort of joke going around at the after-party of the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin tryouts. Merida and Rapunzel, along with several others, had declined their invitations in favor of getting some sleep after the long day. Even Tadashi had declined, saying he had Prefect Patrol duties, but he was assigned to the library that night and ended up joining them anyway as the others made promises not to tell anyone and ruin his good-guy image.
"You're all lucky that I'm not turning you in to Professor North." Tadashi told them with a slight smile as Flynn handed him a bottle of Butterbeer.
"Yeah, yeah! Go ahead and play up the goodie-two-shoes act, Mister Prefect, no one here is buying it." Jim poked fun at the other Ravenclaw with a smirk before taking a drink of his own beverage.
"Okay, but it's still my turn." Jack reminded them with a devious grin. "Tadashi, since he's avoided all the other rounds till now."
"Not quite sure what we're doing, but sure. What is it?" Tadashi agreed with a sigh, sitting down at the table with them.
"Have you ever sneaked out of the castle?" Jack decided, and Jim snorted on his own laughter as Tadashi blushed slightly before glaring at his fellow Ravenclaw.
"Only once. Jim and I were first years, and he got dared by Camicazi to steal one of the brooms from the storage shed and take a joy ride to Hogsmeade and back. He had to bring back some Butterbeer to prove he actually went. Somehow he convinced me that I had to go with him, and we actually made it there and back without much trouble. As soon as we had the brooms put away, though, Captain Amelia busted us. She commented that our flying was decent, but if we wanted to steal brooms we should really check for magic alarms first. Then she took the Butterbeer and gave us a month of detention." Tadashi told them as they all laughed. Jim just smirked and took another sip of his drink.
"Alright, my turn! And speaking of Camicazi, I want to know more about our Mysterious Little Surprise-Viking Friend." Flynn said, looking over at Hiccup who groaned.
"Please stop calling me that." Hiccup begged, sinking lower in his chair and taking another sip from his bottle. He should have guessed they'd ask him about that. He knew that whatever he said wouldn't leave that table if he didn't want it to, so he had no excuse to not answer the other guys' questions, but he still felt guilty about not telling everyone sooner.
"Camicazi and that new guy seemed to know you and your dad pretty well. How did you say you guys met?" Tadashi questioned, and Hiccup sighed.
"I didn't. But there's a Viking tradition called Thor'sday Thursday. It happens once a year at the beginning of Summer. All of the tribes gather together to renew the peace treaty, discuss politics, and celebrate another year as allies. When I was younger, my dad used to take me with him. Since we were too young to participate in the Talks with the Chiefs and other grownups, Cami, Thug, and I would always play together. There was also Dagur, but he was always trying to kill me. I grew up with them until my dad stopped taking me along, and Thor'sday Thursday hasn't been held on Berk since before I stopped going, so we haven't seen each other in a while, but we're still friends." Hiccup explained and grabbed another Cauldron Cake. It was going to be a long night.
"Why'd your dad stop bringing you along?" Jim asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
"I think it had something to do with the time Cami, Thug, and I accidentally lit the guest huts on fire and everyone ended up sleeping in the Meathead's Great Hall, but it could also have something to do with the fact that I'm an utter embarrassment to the tribe being small, weak, and unable to fight and, or kill a dragon." Hiccup shrugged sarcastically.
"Are you sure? Maybe you should talk to him about it." Jack encouraged hopefully.
"Yeah, that's a lot easier said then done." Hiccup sighed heavily and took a bite from his Cauldron Cake. "Now I'm pretty sure it's my turn."
Hiccup could tell that the others were reluctant to leave the topic, but they slowly agreed to move passed it, much to Hiccup's relief. They continued with their games and laughter for most of the night, and Hiccup knew they would be completely exhausted and somewhat miserable tomorrow. He knew that Merida and Rapunzel would laugh and tell them 'we told you so'. He also knew that tomorrow he'd dread Dragon Training even more than he usually did, but he decided to ignore all that for the time being.
All he wanted to do was to drown his migraine with Butterbeer and ignore the black-scaled, green-eyed face that flashed in his vision every time he closed his eyes.