A Hogwarts Tale: Decedents of the Sun
I'm still not over the awesomeness that is HTTYD 2. It was a spectacular movie and I will definitely be pre-ordering that movie on blu-ray and shit. Not to mention I have bought a mini dragon of Toothless—along with the Vinyl Pop version of him and Hiccup—and I have a mini Skrill on the way :D and did I mention I also managed to snag a mini coin purse/doll of Toothless that now sits on my dashboard of my car? Yeah, I'm a bit obsessed so sue me.
And while I would love to continue talking about HTTYD some more, I think a little bit of silence is in order for the best comedian/actor/entertainer this world has ever seen. Robin Williams. He was a large part of my childhood and knowing that I will never hear his jokes or his amazing voice acting/acting saddens me. He will be missed and I hope wherever he is, he is happy.
'Oh captain my captain….you will be missed.'
-Dead Poets Society
Thanks for reviewing:
Guest: Yes another HTTYD fan! Hahahaha we will be rise together and make HTTYD 2 the best animated movie of the year! But to answer your question, each of the character's movies will play a part in each year (so at least five movie based years) of course they won't be the exact same, but there will be similar elements. And thank you, very much for the compliment, it means a lot to me. ^^ I will try to continue updating as fast as possible!
Queen Sound: Ha, you think I would leave her out so soon? No my dear reader, she still has a part to play in this story xD Not much right now, but she is still an important character. And thank you, the letter part was a bit hard to write out but I'm glad you like it. And as for positions…you'll find out in this chapter hehe. And yes, I know, sadly spell check doesn't know that Berk is real and spelled it as bark. OTL I will fix that but thank you for pointing it out.
Guest #2: Don't worry; I'm here with an update! :D
rowan1025: Yes, there are similarities but they will have their own little twists don't worry. And yeah, spell check doesn't know that Berk is real so its being a dumbass and letting it be spelt as bark OTL. But I will fix it.
Speaking: "Hello there."
Thoughts: What the blazes—
Spells: Lumos!
Disclaimer: I do not own Rise of the Guardians, How to Train Your Dragon, Brave, or Tangled. They belong to Dreamworks and Pixar/Disney. The only character that belongs to me is my OC Stephanie.
Last time
"We're late! Come on Hic! You and I have Charms next and Professor Lee said she wasn't going to let us in if we're late again!" Jack shouted, putting a piece of toast into his mouth before grabbing his bags and pulled on Hiccup's hand as they ran out of the Great hall, trying to get to class on the second floor.
"We hav history don' we?" Merida sighed as Rapunzel quickly packed her things and quickly pushed a reluctant Merida out of the Great Hall to their only Ghost Professor.
"Merida come on!" Rapunzel shouted out, before chuckling to herself at the surprise turn of events. If everything went well enough, perhaps she would gain more family members and have a bigger gathering at Christmas this year. It would be a nice thought. However, the other member of the Gothel family wasn't as thrilled when she found out that her daughter might have found a member of the Himmel family. Especially when she could not do anything to stop her daughter from further investigating. Or could she?
"Do you think it's really a good idea to visit Jack when he's at practice?" Hiccup whispered to Rapunzel as the two of them walked towards the Quidditch pitch once their class was over. They offered Merida to come but she decided against it, not really wanting to get Jack into trouble with his team. He was already on eggshells so to speak and it was only by Professor's Black instance that the team tolerated him. And according to Jack, his skills on his broom was slowly getting mutual respect from his pureblood teammates. So Merida respectfully declined Rapunzel's offer and Hiccup was the lucky—or unlucky in Hiccup's perspective—friend to enter the snake den.
"Why shouldn't we?" Rapunzel smiled as she pulled Hiccup along, ignoring the shocked stares of other students as they realized where they were heading and what houses they belonged in. "Jack's our friend and we should support him."
"Yeah, I get that but….I don't think they'll be happy that we're going to see him…"
"Don't be silly." Rapunzel smiled, as they finally reached the Quidditch pitch. "We're not going to bother them so they won't mind."
"I highly doubt that." Hiccup muttered to himself before bumping into Rapunzel as she suddenly stopped. "What's wrong—"
"Look how fast they're going!" Rapunzel giggled happily before pulling Hiccup further into the pitch. As Hiccup looked up, he immediately ducked as several Quidditch players flew just above them, laughing as they nearly knocked them down. "And they're so skilled! They didn't even hit us!"
"I'm pretty sure they were trying to…." Hiccup mumbled before smiling as he saw Pascal's face frown at the other Slytherins. At least someone agreed with him even if it was a reptile.
"Look it's Jack!" Rapunzel laughed before waving to a speeding figure above. "HI JACK!"
"How can you even tell it's him?" Hiccup asked, squinting his eyes at the figure Rapunzel pointed out. The figure paused for a moment, waving what he thought was a hand before zooming off to his teammates.
"He's the smallest one out there." Rapunzel chuckled as Hiccup turned red at the obvious size difference between Jack and the other Quidditch players.
"I—I knew that."
"Come on! Let's get some better seats to cheer on Jack." Rapunzel smiled as she nodded towards the bleachers. However, before any of them could take a step, a red bolt of light shot right in front of Rapunzel, causing her jump back in fright. A familiar sneer caused them to turn around and Hiccup could only wince as they just happened to run into the one person that really hated them.
"Aren't you two a bit lost? This is a Slytherin's practice. No outsiders allowed." Crabbe sneered. Rapunzel gulped nervously as she stepped behind Hiccup who wasn't faring much better.
"T-there's no rule saying that we can't observe Quidditch practices. I'm sure your team does it all the time." Hiccup answered growing bolder, "I mean, from what I hear your team probably needs it—I just said that aloud didn't I?" Hiccup gulped as he saw Crabbe glare angrily. He could feel Rapunzel's grip on his shoulder tighten as Crabbe took several steps towards them.
"Think your funny don't you."
"Actually I hear humor isn't my strong point—"
"Hiccup, I don't think it's such a good idea to rile him up." Rapunzel whispered into Hiccup's ear as Crabbe took out his wand and pointed it threateningly at the two friends. Looking around, Rapunzel frowned as the other Slytherins chuckled at the scene before them, not making a move to even help them.
What are we going to do? Merida isn't here, Jack's practicing, and both Hiccup and I don't really know that much spells. Oh mother, what should I do?
"You know, I think a good hex will shut you up for good!" Crabbe snared pointing his wand threateningly at them. "A rat tail should fit you nice, or would you like a dragon's tail savage?" He laughed as well as the other Slytherins in the area. Gulping heavily, Hiccup, shakily took out his wand causing even more laughter from the snake wizards.
"And what exactly do you plan on doing with that? You can't even perform a Lumos!" Crabbe laughed before smirking. "Well, this just makes it easier for me."
"No don't!" Rapunzel cried, taking out her own wand, and pointed it towards Crabbe just as he fired off his spell towards Hiccup. Rapunzel, thought of the first spell she learned and before she knew it, Crabbe was floating in the air, and Hiccup was surprisingly unharmed. However, a cry from above caught the attention of everyone on the ground and as they looked up, they saw a small figure falling off his broom.
"Jack!" Hiccup cried as he recognized his friend's figure falling too fast for any of the players to catch. Not to mention, Wingardium Leviosa wouldn't be able to stop Jack fast enough to break his fall.
"No Jack!" Rapunzel screamed as they all stared in horror as they would witness the first death in Quidditch practice in over a century. However, before Jack could crash land on the ground, a sudden snow pile appeared right below him, cushioning his fall.
"Oof!" Jack grunted as he sat up from the snow pile, dusting the snow off his hair. Looking around, Jack noticed a platinum haired girl with her hands outstretched towards him and gave a relived look as she noticed he was ok. However, as soon as Jack gave the mysterious girl his attention, the others began to notice her presence as well.
"Look, it's her."
"The ice witch"
"What's she doing here?"
"I bet she's going to freeze another student."
"Oh Jack you're alright!" Rapunzel cried as she hurried towards Jack, hugging him after she inspected him to make sure that he was alright. "I thought you were going to die!"
"Oh mighty Thor, Jack please don't scare us like that. By the way where did you learn how to make snow like that?" Hiccup asked helping Jack up and dusted off the snow off
"I—I didn't." Jack muttered still locking eyes with the Platinum haired girl as she began to move back, shrinking in on herself as the whisperings got louder. Her once relieved icy blue eyes turned fearful and unsecured before she turned around and ran away from the pitch. Rapunzel and Hiccup turned around to look where Jack was staring at and only saw the brief glance of the girl before she disappeared. "She saved me…."
"Who was she?" Rapunzel asked as the rest of the Slytherin team finally reached them and began asking if Jack was ok surprising the young Slytherin. But he guessed that it was because he was the only decent seeker on the team and they would need him if they wanted to win any match.
"I don't know…I don't know…"
"So did ya find out who tha lass is?" Merida asked Jack at dinner several days later which the Slytherin shook his head.
It had been several days since Jack's near death incident but he wasn't upset at Rapunzel or Hiccup when they told them that it was their fault that he nearly died. After all, he was a bit glad that they stood up to Crabbe and his lackeys for once. Although he had a feeling that the both of them would be targeted more after that day. Merida was more upset that she didn't come and help kick Crabbe's arse.
However, they were more baffled that none of them could find the girl who saved Jack. In fact, whenever they asked an older student about the girl, they quickly go wide eyed before hurrying away, muttering about being better off not knowing her. It was even stranger since the girl was from Slytherin but Jack never really heard about her.
"But she's in your house." Hiccup argued, "How hard can it be to find a girl with white—"
"Platinum." Rapunzel interjected, "It was platinum blonde. No one has pure white hair."
"Fine," Hiccup muttered, "How hard is it to find a girl with Platinum blond hair? Not to mention the rumors surrounding the girl."
"Rumors?" Jack asked, gathering the attention of the other two girls, "What rumors?"
"You know, how she is apparently the snow queen? Who freezes her enemies in a block of ice?" Hiccup provided. "I asked one of the older students in my house who wasn't afraid to talk about her." Hiccup sighed as his friends gave him surprised looks. "You do realize that these are just rumors right? There's no possible way a student like her is capable of doing powerful wandless magic like that."
"But still….is that why students are so scared of her?"Jack asked as he looked back at his table in hopes of getting at least a glimpse of the girl but to no avail. "But she seemed so…"
"Nice?" Rapunzel offered causing Jack to nod.
"Well, 'ccordin ta ma mum, witches or wizards capable of powerful wandless magic at a youn' age, ar considered the next dark Lord." Merida muttered, "They say it's a sign of dark magic."
"But that's crazy!" Jack grumbled. "How can snow be dark magic? It's fun! Me and Steph had the best memories in the winter when we were playing in the snow."
"It's jus…." Merida sighed heavily to her friend before continuing, "Too many Dark wizards star'ed out like tha…." The four of them stayed silent for a while before Jack abruptly stood up, surprising not only his friends but also the other Hufflepuffs at the table.
"Well, I don't care about that! She saved my life and I really want to thank her and—"
"Are you talking about my sister?" Anna asked, spooking Jack as she appeared right behind him.
"Gah!" Jack cried out as he clutched his chest. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
"Nope! Well, I hope not, not that I was trying to. I mean you're too cute…wait what?" Anna rambled, blushing deep red at the end. Rapunzel chuckled before giving a hug to her fellow house mate.
"Hey Anna! Nice you see you, right Pascal?" Rapunzel asked her reptile friend who squeaked happily.
"Aww! I wish I had a pet like him. My sister never lets me get anything." Anna pouted, catching Rapunzel's attention as she remembered Anna's words when she scared Jack.
"Wait you said sister when you scared Jack, does that mean…"
"The "ice queen" as everyone puts it," Anna sighed as she quoted ice queen with her fingers. "Just because she has a natural talent with ice base spells does not mean she's going to the dark side. She can't stay mad at anyone really….trust me….she keeps away from everyone…"Anna muttered softly, her eyes loosing it's vibrant color as she muttered something else softly before going back to her usual self. "So why were you talking about my sister?"
"Cuz Jack here wants ta thank yer sistar." Merida answered Anna before Jack could utter a word. Jack narrowed his eyes at Merida causing Merida to chuckle. "Whot? If yer had ta tell her ta story, it'd take all dinner!"
"But I wanted to tell her!"
"When the next girl ya fancy asks yer somethin' I'll let ya talk ok?" Merida laughed as Jack's face turned bright red causing Hiccup to chuckle lightly into his drink. Even Pascal, Anna, and Rapunzel joined in on the laughter.
"Shut up Merida!" Jack grumbled as Anna's chuckles died down.
"Well if you're in the same house as my sister, shouldn't you see her like every day?" Anna asked as Jack grumbled incoherently.
"Yeah but she keeps to herself literally…."
"Yeah….she does that…..a lot…" Anna muttered looking sheepishly embarrassed. "But have no fear! I know a place where you can talk to her without her running away!"
"Really?!" Jack smiled, standing up abruptly, "Can you tell me! Please! All I want to do is thank her honestly." Anna giggled at Jack's enthusiasm.
"Sure. But you're going to laugh when you realize how easy it could have been to find her."
"It's cant have been that simple…." Hiccup muttered as Anna giggled even louder.
"Oh it is."
"Why didn't you think of that place Hiccup! You practically live there when it's the weekend! You should have seen her somewhere!" Jack scolded his tinier male friend who looked a bit embarrassed.
"Don't scold him. It's not his fault that you don't like that the library!" Rapunzel chastised him before giggling. "Besides you always avoid the library like the plague."
"Shut up." Jack grumbled while Merida slapped his back playfully.
"Well, whats done is done." Merida snickered, "So ya gonna go an talk ta her?"
"Well," Jack shrugged as he and his friends slowly made their way towards the library. After Anna had told them that her sister always went to the library to study and usually wasn't bothered by anyone there, Jack immediately dragged his friends towards the library. He wanted to talk to his fellow Slytherin as soon as possible since its been days since the incident. "I do want to thank her and see if she can teach me that cool ice magic." Jack said, giving her a 'what else do you think I was going to do look.'
"How do you even know she will be willing to teach you that?" Hiccup asked, muttering an apology as he accidently ran into a student. "I mean if she didn't even want to be found then why would she even bother to teach you that spell?"
"I'm sure if I can appeal to her better nature then she might change her mind." Jack smiled while Hiccup gave him a deadpan look.
"But how are you going to appeal to her better nature?" Rapunzel whispered as they finally entered the library. "Not to mention, where is she?"
"Probably in the back, maybe even in the restricted area." Hiccup muttered as he looked into the study areas, getting weird looks from the older students.
"Ugh, it's going to take forever to find her." Jack groaned, taking a seat on a nearby chair.
"Don't worry, I'm sure ya find the lass soon enough." Merida smiled before frowning at a text book on potions opened on a nearby table.
"How? This library is pretty big." Rapunzel whispered quietly.
"Maybe we'll run into her?" Jack asked looking hopeful while Hiccup snorted.
"Yeah, like she's just going appear right in front of you." Hiccup muttered, rolling his eyes walking away before bumping into a taller figure. "Omp."
"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—" Looking up, Jack gasped as he saw it was the girl—well Anna's sister—he was looking for.
"Well whatcha know, the lass did run inta us." Merida chuckled as Jack immediately stood up, causing the Slytherin girl to back up nervously.
"It's you!"
"Yes, it's me and I think it would be best if you don't ever try to find me again." She whispered as she tried to turn around only to be intercepted by Jack.
"Wait please! Just five minutes. That's all I ask." Jack pleaded to the older student. "And then after that, you don't ever have to see me again." The two of them stood still for about a minute, not daring to make the first move causing Rapunzel, Hiccup and Merida to nervously glance between them. Even though Anna told them that her sister wasn't dangerous, it was still hard to place aside the rumors surrounding the mysterious Arendelle sister.
"Very well, I'll give you two minutes and then don't ever seek me out again." The platinum blond haired girl muttered, standing up straighter but Rapunzel could notice the nervousness in her posture. It looked like she was using all of her strength to appear calm and collected.
"Alright I can work with that. Ok um….what's your name?" Jack asked, getting a surprised and confused look from the Slytherin.
"You came all this way to just to ask for my name? Really?"
"Well, it would be impolite to talk to you without really knowing your name." Jack reasoned. "And because my mom taught me manners. So I'm Jack, Jackson Overland and you probably already know I'm a first year Slytherin. It's nice to meet you." The Slytherin smiled giving his hand out for the girl to take.
"Elsa Arendelle." She answered, taking Jack's hand and gave it a shake. It was then that the four friends noticed that she wore silk green gloves. It wasn't even close to winter yet and it wasn't that cold in Hogwarts.
"That's a pretty name," Jack blushed, scratching the back of his head while Rapunzel and Merida tried to cover their giggles. "So Elsa, I um….damn, this sounded so much easier in my head." Jack muttered looking away, not catching Elsa's annoyed look.
"Look Jack, if that's all—"
"No really! I um really just wanted to say….thank you for saving my life back at the Quidditch pitch. Without you, I um wouldn't be coming home for Christmas intact." Jack chuckled nervously while Elsa gave a surprised look.
"Well….you're welcome." Elsa muttered after a couple of seconds of silent shock. "Now if that's all—"
"And I was wondering…..ifyoucanteachmethatmagicspell?" Jack quickly asked, closing his eyes and placed his hands in front of him in a pleading manner. He waited for several seconds before deciding to open his eyes. Instead of the annoyed look he was suspecting to get, he got a rather terrified look. She began to step back fearfully, causing very confused looked from the four friends.
"I…I'm…I can't." She finally gasped out, "I'm sorry but please, don't ever try to look for me again."
"But why?" Jack asked, "It's not really that dangerous—" He stopped in mid sentence as Elsa gave him a harsh glare.
"You don't understand! This power I have….it hurts people. And I'm not going to teach it to a first year like yourself."
"But I just want to have fun with your spell." Jack pouted, "I mean a spell that creates snow? It's like a dream come true!"
"Jack, I don't think that's going to make her change her mind." Hiccup whispered to his friend as he tried to pull him back as snowflakes began to descend from the ceiling. The young Ravenclaw had a feeling that most of Elsa's powers came from her emotions so the more emotionally unstable she was…."
"Fun? Snow fun?" Elsa choked out before she began to shake as she noticed the snowflakes as well. "You don't know how dangerous ice can be—"
"I do." Jack interrupted, pushing Hiccup aside. "Just last year, my neighbors and sister decided to go ice skating on a frozen lake nearby our houses. For some reason it wasn't as thick as it was a year ago and I fell in trying to save my sister." Jack muttered, feeling the stares from his friends. "If it wasn't for my neighbor Stephanie, I wouldn't probably be here. After the accident, I was scared of the ice, of being forever trapped in that icy lake to never come out. But…." Looking up he gave a small smile to the older Slytherin girl.
"You can't let one incident ruin all the fun times you had." For a while no one said anything, letting Jack's words sink in. The amount of snowflakes lessened causing Jack to smile, thinking that he had somehow made an impact on the girl. "So can you please teach me that spell?" Before the four of them knew it, the snowflakes came back in full force with a bit of wind to accompany it this time.
"No…I can't, I—I can't control it enough to teach it to you." She muttered, closing her before turning around. "Now please, if you know what's best…don't ever try to seek me out again." And without giving Jack anytime to respond, Elsa left the library, taking the snowflakes with her.
"Well, I don't think you appealed to her better nature." Rapunzel muttered, trying to warm up Pascal as he still shivered from the cold effects of that miniature snow storm they witnessed.
"So ya got a plan B or are ya gonna leave it be?" Merida asked Jack who just stood in the same spot even though Elsa was long gone.
"Wait please don't tell me your going to keep asking her to teach you that spell? Even after she turned you down?" Hiccup asked as Jack turned around and gave them a foxy smile.
"I said I wouldn't seek her out, that didn't mean I can't ask you guys to ask Elsa to teach me that spell." Hiccup sighed heavily.
"Why did I get the feeling that that's exactly what you were going to say?"
For the next couple of weeks, Jack asked for the help of his friends to continuously ask Elsa for the lessons. Rapunzel was up for helping Jack, Merida took a little convincing and Hiccup had to be persuaded with promises of Jack's share of deserts. The three of them would take turns trying to ask Elsa to teach Jack but each time they would be turned down. Elsa even began to change her usual "hiding" spot making it harder for the three friends to even talk to her. However, a quick talk with Anna quickly gave away Elsa's next hiding spot. Eventually Jack began asking her himself after Hiccup complained of being used like an Owl. Although Jack had to admit that asking Elsa personally was actually rewarding. He got to see her finally loose her calm demeanor over the several times he asked her to teach him.
"I'm sorry but no"
"Please understand I can't"
"Jack, please stop asking."
"Jack, I said no."
"Stop asking already Jack."
"Don't you have anything else to do Jack?" However, he had to say his favorite one was the last one.
"For the love of Merlin! No means no Jack!" Elsa nearly screamed in frustration as Jack cornered her again after her class.
"Aww come on, don't be like that." Jack pouted crossing his arms. "And it doesn't even have to be the same spell you used to save me. I just want to learn how to create snow that's all." He said as he quickly jogged after Elsa as she tried to evade him.
"How about we make a deal then?" Elsa said, turning around abruptly. "If I win, you never bother me again and never ask my sister where I hang out."
"Oh you knew about that huh." Jack chuckled nervously before shutting up as Elsa glared angrily.
"Yes, I knew that. And if you win, I'll teach you that spell. Deal?" Jack pondered for a moment before smiling.
"I guess that's fair. So what are we betting?" At this, Elsa finally smirked.
"If Slytherin wins the first Quidditch match against Gryffindor, I'll teach you. And if not, then you have to agree to my terms."
"That's all really?" Jack laughed. "Fine I agree! Just you wait, Slytherin's going to kick Gryffindor's butt in the match and you'll be teaching me that spell in no time!"
"I wouldn't be so sure of that." Elsa chuckled as Jack walked away, smiling happily as if he had won the daily Wizarding Lotto.
"Well you're screwed." Hiccup answered as Jack retold his friends the deal he had managed to make with Elsa. "She totally took advantage of your first year status and lack of house knowledge."
"What do you mean by that and stop laughing Merida!" Jack grumbled as the red head Gryffindor chortled uncontrollably.
"Whot tha fishbon is trying ta tell ya is that ever since Harry Potter made ta team, Gryffindor never lost a single match ta Slytherin. They've been winning fer 'bout twenty five years." Jack's mouth dropped open in shock as Merida continued to laugh—with Hiccup joining in silently.
"What? No why. I mean Slytherin had to had win one game against them right?"
"I believe during Harry Potter's second year, and fourth year the Quidditch cup was cancelled, but the year during the Battle of Hogwarts they won but no one considers that a win since the school was basically in control by the Dark Lord." Hiccup answered before taking one of Jack's deserts. "Thank you."
"Did it have to be this week, it was chocolate cake…" Jack grumbled as Hiccup smiled heavenly at the taste of chocolate. This was probably going to be the one thing he will miss dearly once he goes back to Berk for Snoggletog. Sadly Berkians weren't big fans of chocolate. "And so! That doesn't mean Gryffindor will win this year! We'll beat you this upcoming game Merida." Jack smirked crossing his arms.
"Ay don't think so Jack." Merida smirked right back, "We got tha best players and now tha best chaser as well."
"You're forgetting that Slytherin has the best seeker ever!" Jack boasted causing the two to continue bicker amongst each other.
"And to think they would have opposite roles considering Merida was seen catching a small object while Jack—"
"Caught you." Rapunzel giggled causing Hiccup to blush deep red.
"Please don't say it like that, it makes me sound like a girl."
"Well at least you don't look too much like a girl." Flynn commented, surprising Hiccup and causing Rapunzel to raise her eyebrow in suspicion. "And nice to see those two acting like actual Gryffindor and Slytherins."
"Flynn, what brings you to our table….again?" Rapunzel asked as Pascal squeaked angrily at the Slytherin as he squeezed in between the two.
"What? Can't a Slytherin sit with his fellow housemate and his friends during dinner?" Flynn asked, sounding genuinely hurt gaining deadpan stares from Rapunzel and Hiccup.
"Last time you sat with us, you warned us of Crabbe's duel and betted on Jack's answer." Rapunzel answered earning a small wince from the young snake. However, he quickly shook it off and decided to take a piece of Hiccup's desert before he spoke again.
"Well, that was last time. This time I'm here just to enjoy the sweet company of my friend…" Flynn quickly ducked as a piece of cake was thrown towards his face. "actually acting like a Slytherin for once."
"Is tha the best ya can do Jack? Why Slytherin will be defeated by Gryffindor before ta game even starts!" Merida shouted, smiling as she crushed a carton of milk in her hand before dodging a well aimed apple.
"Ha! That's what you think! Mark my words Merida! Slytherin will win the match and the Quidditch cup! And we will be victorious!"
"Oh Jack by the way, I'm on your side on the bet you made with the snow queen!" Flynn smiled finally catching their attention.
"Wait what?" Jack asked, lowering his weapon of choice—a turkey leg. "Never mind, how did you even know that I even made a bet with Elsa?"
"Oh that's her name….huh" Flynn muttered before shrugging. "The better question is who doesn't? The team heard about your little bet and let's just say…you're probably going to be pushed a lot at practice."
"Well that's perfectly fine with me. That means we'll be prepared to take down Gryffindor and win the Quidditch cup this year!" Jack smiled pumping his fist into the air.
"Dream on Jack! We're gonna be tha ones ta win!"
"No you won't!"
"Yes we will!"
"So who will win this round of "I will, no I will?' Tune in next time to find out." Hiccup muttered causing Rapunzel to giggle and a smirk to appear on Flynn's face.
"HEY!"
Several more days passed and while the four friends continued their studies—and trying their best not to blow up their potions and fail that class—but Rapunzel still couldn't help but think back to the letter she had sent to her mother once Stephanie had told her about the picture and the possibility of being related. Her mother had yet to respond causing the blonde witch to worry. Not to mention they weren't having much success in asking the Ghosts of Hogwarts about the woman in the picture. In fact many left them once they began to mention the Battle of Hogwarts. One even told them that they had no business to talk about such a dark history in the school and quickly disappeared. Needless to say, Rapunzel was at a dead end to the mysterious relative.
"Hey Jack….any more information from Stephanie yet?" Rapunzel asked Jack as she watched Jack struggle transforming his black button into a beetle. So far he managed to make the button into the shape of a beetle but that's as far as he managed. Hiccup barely managed to transformed button into a different shape causing him to mouth profanities at his own wand.
"Nothing much really. She says unless she goes to Germany to search about the family, she really can't really get any more in depth information. The family is just that secretive." Jack answered before frowning at Rapunzel's beetle. "How did you get your button to even move just a little?"
"Luck?" Rapunzel shrugged causing Jack to pout. "Don't worry you'll get it soon."
"Still….but hey now that you mentioned letters, has your mom told you anything about the long lost sibling thing we found out?" At this Rapunzel placed her wand down and sighed heavily.
"No not really, mother never takes this long to reply I wonder what happened….did I do something wrong or was it something I wrote that offended her….it's just…."
"Hey, hey calm down Punzie!" Jack quickly hurried to calm his friend down. "There's like no way you could have offended your mother! Besides she's the one who told you to tell her everything you saw. You just did what she told you to do." Jack reasoned causing Rapunzel to smile softly. "Besides, it takes a while for written mail to travel. I mean if wizards invented some kind of phone, you could have texted or even called your mother and had this problem done and over with." Jack smiled as Rapunzel giggled at his small rant. However, his smile turned into a frown causing Rapunzel to look at him in worry.
"What's wrong Jack?" Rapunzel asked as Jack began to twitch and try to reach something behind his back.
"I don't—gah—know. But something—ugh—is crawling up my shirt—got it!" Jack cried out as he grabbed whatever was crawling up his shirt only to see a black beetle transforming into the same buttons they were given at the beginning of class.
"I'm sorry, but it seems that my button got away as I had my attention elsewhere." Professor Lee, muttered behind Jack. Wincing slightly, Jack slowly turned around and gave her a sheepish smile.
"Well….um…..what can I say…..I finished?" Raising an eyebrow, Professor Lee took another look at Jack's beetle and sighed heavily. "Five points will be taken away for not doing your work. Please pay more attention and don't slack off."
"Yes Professor Lee…." Jack sighed as several other students giggled at him before returning to their work as the Professor gave them a stern look. "Shut up, Hiccup." Jack growled as he flicked his badly transformed beetle to the unsuspecting Ravenclaw.
"Mr. Overland!"
"You know besides the occasional last minute runs to the library to finish homework, outsmarting Crabbe on other days, or trying to reason with ghosts to talk to us, not much has really happened." Jack muttered, poking his sausage. "For a school of magic, it's really just like a normal school back in London…"
"Ya fergot near death experiences on Quidditch practice." Merida snickered causing Jack to nod.
"Oh right….completely forgot about that."
"Forgot about that?!" Hiccup sputtered, "How could you forget about that?! Rapunzel and I had near heart attacks when we saw you falling. We thought you were going to die"
"But I didn't!" Jack smiled before frowning as Hiccup pinched him. "Ow! Hic! You're acting like Steph now." He pouted as the two witches giggled while Hiccup smirked.
"Well someone has to keep you in check. Besides, I don't think you would want her to find about that flying incident now would you?"
"You wouldn't." Jack gasped mockingly causing the Ravenclaw to roll his eyes. "Resorting to black mail now Hic? What happened to the two goody shoes Ravenclaw that we all know and love?"
"He's grown accustomed to your teasing." Hiccup muttered as Rapunzel laughed aloud.
"Gee now you have Punzie against me too Hic."
"Not against you Jack. I'm just agreeing with Hiccup." Rapunzel smiled as she pattered Jack's shoulder. "I'll agree with you….one day."
"Punzie!"
"Ah look! Mail's here." Merida smiled as the dozen of owls quickly flew over the students and dropped their mail before flying back to the owlery. "Hopefully ma mum changed her mind 'bout tha broomstick."
"Steph's probably gonna rant to me about the Quidditch practice or something. What about you Hic? I haven't seen you get any mail since school started. Doesn't your dad send you something at least?"
"It's….it's complicated." Hiccup sighed as Merida's and Jack's owls dropped envelops to their owners. "I rather not talk about it." For the first time, the three friends honestly didn't know what to say to their Viking wizard friend. He never really talked about his family or friends back home—actually, Jack was the only one who really had a another friend that wasn't attending Hogwarts—and didn't really seem to be keen on sharing any time soon.
"Well….if you do ever want to talk, we'll be here for you." Rapunzel smiled as she gently placed her hand on his shoulder before Merida gasped out.
"Oi, Rapunzel, isn't tha yer owl?" She said pointing out in the crowd of owls flying above them. As Rapunzel squinted, she gasped in shock as she saw her brown feathered friend flying towards her with a white envelope.
"Mother finally wrote back!" Rapunzel squealed as she grabbed the envelope and stared at her mother's handwriting. "She wrote back. She wrote back…." Her smile suddenly turned into a frown as she stared at the writing longer.
"Well whacha waiting for? Read it." Merida smiled as she looked over Rapunzel's shoulder eager to see what the blonde witch's mother had to say. "We want ta know whot ya mother wanted."
"Um well…" Rapunzel began as Hiccup scooted closer as well.
"What's wrong, you wanted to know what your mother wrote right?" Hiccup asked, waiting for Rapunzel to open her letter as well.
"I do but….."
"Hey, let Punzie breath a little." Jack interrupted as he gently pushed his friends away from the blonde witch to give her some space. "Let her…read the letter to herself and if she wants to tell us about it, then she'll tell us about it." Jack said, giving Rapunzel a wink. Rapunzel sighed heavily at the bullet she just dodged. Not that she wanted to keep anything from her friends, but she just had a feeling that this letter was more personal than the other ones she shared. Perhaps it was the fact that it took longer than usual for her mother to contact her that gave her this feeling.
"I'll tell you guys about it tomorrow ok." She smiled softly as she tickled Pascal's chin affectionately. "I'll….I'll read it later." Quickly she stuffed the letter into her inner robes and quickly downed the pumpkin juice before grabbing her bag. "Come on, we can't be late for potions. Professor Black promised to take away fifty point from each of us if we are late again."
"Five from Jack." Hiccup muttered as he grabbed his book bag—each day growing heavier and heavier. "Remember, he's Slytherin's head house so he's bias."
"Stupid professor." Merida growled at the mention of the potions professor. "Always, gettin' me bad marks."
"Probably because you always blow up your potions?" Jack smiled as he quickly dodged a piece of toast Merida threw at him.
"I swear I'll have ya head Overland!"
"And they're back to fighting. Come on, I don't particularly fancy seeing Professor Black blowing a fuse around us." Hiccup muttered to Rapunzel as they quickly rushed towards the dungeons abandoning their friends as they continued to argue.
"Oi! Don't just leave us here!"
"You can do this Rapunzel, you can do it." Rapunzel repeated to herself as she stared at the slightly crumpled letter in her hand. "I mean…what's the worst she could say?" Rapunzel still made no move to open the letter and she sighed heavily at her weak resolve. She had promised herself she would read it during one of her free periods but she came up with excuses about doing homework or getting ahead in her classes whenever she looked at the letter. Now that the day was over, her homework done and finished, she really had no reason to NOT read the letter. However, the fear of having offending her mother stood in her way of reading that letter. Rapunzel was lost deep in her thought that she never head the thumping on the dormitory until a familiar voice spoke up.
"Who could say what?" Anna asked as she poked her head into the girl's dormitory, scaring Rapunzel and Pascal at her sudden appearance. "Sorry, but you've been talking to yourself quite loudly."
"Oh I'm sorry," Anna shook her head.
"Don't be, I mean I was kinda just standing out the door. It's a habit of mine." She chuckled nervously before deciding to sit on her bed that was next to Rapunzel's. "So what's got you worried?" Rapunzel sighed heavily as she nervously began playing with her hair.
"Well…it's my mother. Usually she writes back to me within a couple of days but this time…she took a nearly a week." Rapunzel muttered. "Now that I have her letter…I'm worried that it might something serious…"
"Well…not that I experience with late letters from mothers, but I don't think you should worry too much about it." Anna smiled softly as she took Rapunzel's hair and began braiding it. "Your mom probably got caught up with work or something and didn't have time to write. You have to relax and not always think about the negative. Think about the positive!" Anna smiled brightly. "Maybe she had so much to tell you that it took her longer to reply!"
"Really?" Rapunzel asked as Anna enthusiastically.
"Yup! As I always say, hang in there Joan!" Rapunzel raised her eyebrow at the unfamiliar saying before noticing the braid Anna had just done.
"Wow, you're really good at braiding hair." She smiled as she took the piece of braid that Anna had just did in their small talk.
"Thanks, my mother taught it to me when I was younger and I never really bothered to try another hair style." She smiled softly. "My sister and I would braid each other's hair to relax ourselves."
"I feel very relaxed." Rapunzel smiled at the pureblood witch. "Thank you, for the talk. And the braiding. It really helped." Shaking her head Anna jumped off her bed and grabbed several pieces of clothing.
"Nah it was nothing. I'll give you some time alone to read that letter. The other girls are still doing their homework so they won't be bothering you for a while." Anna smiled as she danced out of the dormitory. "Night Rapunzel!"
"Night Anna." Rapunzel smiled as the door closed, leaving Rapunzel alone with the letter in her hand along with her trusted reptile friend. "Alright Pascal. Let's see what mother had to say." With Pascal squeaking in support, Rapunzel shakily and carefully peeled open the envelope before taking out the slightly wrinkled white printer paper her mother had written on. Or rather typed on since she wasn't keen on handwriting.
My dear sweet golden flower,
I'm terribly sorry for not replying sooner but when I received your last letter well, it brought some skeletons out of the closet that I hoped wouldn't have to show themselves until you were older.
"So….I was right?" Rapunzel asked Pascal as she finished reading the first part of the letter. "We have other family members that are witches and wizards? But why didn't mother tell me?" Looking back to the letter, Rapunzel continued to read the rest of the content.
I wish I could tell you this in person but I cannot take you out of school without a family emergency or when the holidays arrive. And with the holidays about two to three months away, I figured a letter would be the best way to tell you. First of all, I want you to stop looking for more information about the woman in the picture you saw. Not because I know you won't find any answers, but because the answers you might find will sadden you. I…what I mean to say is that….that person is most likely your relative but they will not want you back.
"What do you mean mother?" Rapunzel whispered as she gripped the paper tightly, her face scrunched up in worry.
There is no easy way to tell you this, but you were adopted. I had found you years ago in Munich Germany when I went on a research trip with my colleges. One night, I had decided to take a scroll in the city to see the sights as a tourist instead of a researcher when I heard the wailing of a baby. Looking around, I found you thrown in a dumpster without anything but your diaper and a badly torn up blanket.
Looking pale as a piece of paper and frail as twig it seemed that you were thrown in the dumpster for some time and would not last much longer. I quickly took you out of the dumpster and into my coat before rushing off to the nearest hospital and once you were healed I would take you to the orphanage. I was in my early twenties and had no ideas about raising a child and the thought of taking you to the nearest orphanage seemed reasonable before your hair began to glow.
You immediately began to gain color and you nearly lifeless body began to squirm back into life. Once your golden hair reverted back to normal, you seemed like a normal baby that hadn't been thrown in the dumpster just hours ago. I knew that wizards and witches existed—the great war they had years ago wasn't covered up that well—so I knew you were one of them as you turned part of my shirt into a different color. However, I never knew of a witch or wizard powerful enough to heal themselves as a babe. You were different from the rest of them. And that's when I realized the horrible truth. You were abandoned by your family that was most likely from the wizarding community. Your ability with your hair must have frightened them even more causing them to drop you off at the nearest dumpster and hoping that nature would take its course and finish you off.
After that, I knew I couldn't take you to the orphanage. People would see you as a freak and experiment on you until you would die and that's when I decided to take you in and adopt you as my own.
I'm terribly sorry you had to find out this way my Golden Flower but I did not want you to get hurt further. The family you are looking for did not want you Rapunzel. They abandoned you. Why would you go looking for the family that did not want you? Please Rapunzel, stop the search and be happy with the family that DID want you.
With Love,
Mother
Taking a deep breath, Rapunzel shakily dropped the letter on her bed before tears began pooling in her eyes.
"Pascal….I…my real family? This….my real family did not want me?" She gasped out as her tears finally escaped and ran down her cheeks, staining them. Pascal cooed softly as he climbed onto her shoulder and affectionately rubbed against her cheeks, not caring that he was getting wet at all. Rapunzel couldn't form another word as she silently wept to herself, finally getting the answers she wanted to hear about her possible relative. If she had known that the truth was this painful, then she wouldn't have even ask Jack to ask Steph to help. Rapunzel continued to cry to herself until she could no longer hold onto consciousness and for the first time ever, she dreamt in black.
"Are you sure nothing's wrong Rapunzel?" Hiccup asked Rapunzel for the fifth time that day as she unconsciously began levitating several objects around her. "You nearly spilled ink on your homework again. And usually you're careful about this." Startled, Rapunzel looked at Hiccup's worried face before nervously chuckling.
"It's fine. Honestly Hiccup. I'm just….worried about the midterms coming up before Winter Break. I never taken a test like that before and I want to do the best I can." Rapunzel quickly answered before going back to her writing. Hiccup wanted to say more but a quick nudge from Rapunzel and her nodding towards Professor Black looking at them quickly shut the two up. It was study hall and normally the two of them would be sitting with Merida and Jack but due to many um….conversations, they were separated for today for this session.
Turning around, Hiccup caught Jack's stare and silently sighed as Jack mouthed 'keep asking'. Not that didn't agree with the Slytherin, he was concern about Rapunzel since she was acting a bit off, but asking her directly wasn't helping. Ever since Rapunzel had gotten her letter, she had been acting different than usual and the three of them took notice. Of course she told them that she was fine and that the letter was nothing serious, but despite that it was obvious that something was wrong.
"Can we talk later?" Hiccup whispered as he scribbled his answer down on his parchment so the Professor wouldn't suspect him. "Jack and Merida wanted to talk to us about something. I have a feeling it's kind of important."
"Sure. Dinner?" Rapunzel whispered back while Hiccup nodded.
"My table. I'll see you there. I have some books to borrow before the library closes. I don't want another moving stair encounter." Hiccup answered smiling a bit Rapunzel chuckled, remembering their first incident.
As Hiccup left Rapunzel alone, she couldn't help but sigh as the thoughts about her mother's letter came back to her in full force. What could she say? And to who? It's not any of them had experiences about being adopted and being abandoned by their family for something they couldn't control. What if her hair was something that the wizarding world considered dark? She didn't know the culture that much and if she told her friends about the letter, she would have to mention the hair and if it was dark, what if they decided not to be her friends anymore? Would she be out-casted and marked as the next Dark Lord err Mistress? She didn't want that, but what could she do?
"If you're just going to daydream this entire Study Hall, then perhaps a detention would help you have a clearer mind." Professor Black's voice echoed throughout the silent class. Looking up, Rapunzel chuckled nervously as she closed her books and gathered her pieces of parchment.
"I'm good, Professor Black. I um just finished and I was just wondering about dinner….?" She muttered weakly as the professor took her Homework to see if she had indeed finished it. To Rapunzel's relief he merely tossed it back onto the table and muttered a small dismissed to her. Without waiting for another word, Rapunzel quickly ran out of the class grateful that dinner was just a couple minutes away.
"Sheesh, what's taking them so long?" Hiccup muttered to Rapunzel as they sat at the Ravenclaw table, waiting for Jack and Merida to meet up with them. "They told me that it was important and now they're the ones who are late?"
"Maybe Professor Black decided to keep after?" Rapunzel asked while Hiccup chuckled. "They do cause trouble when we're not there to keep them in line."
"You got that right. Well, their loss." Hiccup muttered before he choked as a hand slapped his back.
"So 'iccup. Quidditch match is commin' up. I suppose ya rooting fer me right?" Merida smiled cheekily as Hiccup tried to get air back into his lungs.
"Merida, you made it." Rapunzel smiled as she gestured for the red head to sit next to her. "What is it that you want to talk to us about?"
"Quidditch match support, tha whot." Merida smiled bright as she turned onto Rapunzel. "Yer rooting fer me right?"
"Um…."
"Oi Merida, I see you already starting to recruit our friends to the dark side." Jack said as he finally reached the three of them. "Of course they're not going to fall for any of your Jedi mind tricks because they're going to root for my team right Hiccup?" Jack smiled as he ruffled Hiccup's hair.
"Well…."
"Dark side? Ha, the only dark side is yer team and yer can't trick them with ya muggle terms." Merida playfully growled. "Besides Hiccup and Rapunzel said they be rooting fer ma team." Merida smirked as both Rapunzel and Hiccup gave each other confused looks.
"Um actually—"
"Hiccup how could you!" Jack playfully mocked. "I never pegged you as a traitor! I mean understand Punzie siding with Merida, but you Hiccup? This can only mean one thing." Smiling mischievously Jack continued. "You like—"
"Jack!" Hiccup nearly shouted at his friend, glowing red in the face. "Say another word and you're a dead man!"
"Really? How when you're in my choke hold?" Jack laughed at Hiccup's confused look.
"What choke—gah!" Hiccup gasped as Jack quickly grabbed Hiccup and held him in a noogie.
"Hahahah now you're at my mercy Haddock! Say you'll root for me and I'll let you go with a minor bad hair day."
"Jack—"
"Oh no ya don't!" Merida growled out, standing right in front of Jack, smirking as well. "He'll be rootin' fer me! He'll never give in."
"Guys—"
"No he'll be rooting for my team."
"Guys?" Rapunzel tried to catch the attention of the two friends arguing but it seeming nothing was working and Hiccup was still having a hard time to get out of Jack's grip.
"Ah house rivalry. Gotta love it." Flynn muttered causing Rapunzel to gasp out in surprise and reach the nearest weapon near her—a fork. "Oh easy Blondie! You're going to poke someone's eye out." He said as he stared at the fork in fear—it was about an inch from his eye.
"Flynn? What are you doing here?" Rapunzel asked as she lowered her weapon of choice down and stared at the relaxing Slytherin. "You usually don't visit us unless they're something in it for you…."
"Well, besides seeing normal house rivalry, and Hiccup turning into his actual house color I just wanted to see how this works out." Flynn muttered nonchalantly causing Rapunzel to turn around to see Hiccup. Just as Flynn mentioned, Hiccup was slowly turning into the color blue and his hits to Jack and Merida wasn't getting their attention. "Oi Princess, Jackie! You might want to loosen your hold on dear little Hiccup unless you want him to go to the hospital wing."
"What do you mean?" Jack and Merida asked before they finally felt the frantic hits from Hiccup. "Oh geez Hic, sorry about that. Why didn't you say anything sooner?" Jack apologized as he let go of Hiccup who took the time to gasp in large amounts of air back into his lungs.
"Without much air, it was hard to say anything…" Hiccup glared at Jack and Merida. Both of them chuckled nervously before finally taking notice of Flynn.
"Oi whatcha doin' here this time Flynn. Another bet ya got yer money on?" Merida asked raising an eyebrow.
"Is that all you guys think of my visits?" Flynn asked getting more deadpan stares. "Wow, I can feel the love. Anyways, contrary to what you guys think, I actually want to know what teams these two are going to root for." Flynn said pointing to Hiccup and Rapunzel. "Most of the school roots for Gryffindor when it's not their house playing and since this first match is a Slytherin and Gryffindor match, I curious to see where your loyalty lies." Flynn chuckled.
"We both can root for one team this match and then the other team the next match. Gryffindor does play Slytherin two times right?" Hiccup reasoned. "It's not like we like one house more than the other."
"But it's their first game. They both deserve to get rooted for." Rapunzel reasoned before Jack or Merida could argue which house they should root first. "Why doesn't one of us cheer for Jack and the other cheer for Merida. And then next match we switch?"
"That sounds good—"
"I call Rapunzel!" Merida shouted as she pointed at the blonde witch. "And then next match I'll take 'iccup where we'll smash ya snakes again!"
"Ha as if! If anything, Hiccup will be the first Ravenclaw to be rooting for the winning team—Slytherin and then Punzie!" Jack smirked as he placed his arm around Hiccup's shoulder. "Don't forget to wear something Slytherin colored on game day alright? I think some traditional green and silver lines on the cheek is in order."
"I really don't fancy painting anything on my face." Hiccup muttered with a deadpan stare. "I'll just wear your scarf and maybe wave a flag."
"You're no fun. You could show a bit more spirit for my team you know." Jack whined as Merida laughed.
"Ya, like the Loovegoods. Apparently tha kids hav a tradition of wearin' a lion head durin' Quidditch matches when Gryffindor isn't playin' their house." Merida explained.
"Oh I heard rumors about them." Hiccup muttered remembering several conversations about the Loovegoods. They were several years above him but they were very strong supporters of Gryffindor and good friends with the Potters and basically the heroes of the last Wizarding War. "I think I heard them talking about using those heads again this year since I think James Potter's on the team this year?"
"Ya, that lad's a chaser like me. Was surprised tha I made tha team but the lad's ok." Merida said shrugging her shoulder.
"Wait they make heads for the matches?" Rapunzel asked, her eyes glowing in excitement causing Pascal to squeak in worry. "You know what Hiccup, I'll make heads for us to wear whenever Jack and Merida have a game. We can switch on and off! I can make a lion head and a snake head!"
"Actually, wearing face paint might not be a bad idea now—" Hiccup began to argue but Rapunzel quickly drowned him out as she stood up with a determined face.
"I need to get started on it right away if I want to finish the heads by the first match. Oh Merida could I go to your dormitory to see how the Gryffindor Lion looks like. I want to get an accurate image for the head."
"Er sure why not." Merida smiled as she grabbed Rapunzel's arm. "Come on. Let's get goin' before curfew hits." As the two witches left the boys, Hiccup sighed heavily before hitting his head on the table.
"I'm going to be wearing a snake head. A snake head."
"Cheer up, Hic." Jack smiled as he patted his shoulder. "You may suffer from embarrassment for a couple of days but hey, at least Rapunzel isn't that down anymore."
"Wait a minute." Flynn muttered wide eye. "Are you telling me that this whole little argument and competition was to get little Blondie here happy? To get her mind off whatever was making her gloomy?!"
"Oh so you did notice too huh." Jack smiled mischievously. "And here I thought you didn't really care for anyone outside your house." Turning his face around, Flynn scoffed and crossed his arms.
"I don't care! It's just easy to see that something was bothering little Blondie that's all."
"Uh huh, sure it was. It's ok, we won't tell anyone that the great Flynn Rider has a heart." Jack laughed as the young snake gave him a glare.
"Shut up Overland." Flynn muttered taking one last look where Rapunzel and Merida left before taking off. "I'm hitting the hay. See you later Overland, Little Berkian."
"I'm not that little!"
"You know, I never really pegged you as an artist." Flynn muttered as he watched Rapunzel quickly sketch out his house mascot. They had decided to sit outside of the Slytherin house—he couldn't take her inside no matter how nice she was—where the Slytherin mascot, the Basilisk, snarled it's teeth at outsiders.
"It's something I picked up when I was at home." Rapunzel muttered, sticking out her tongue in concentration as she sketched the face. "I had plenty of time to myself so I became a craft type person."
"Yeah I can kind of see that." Flynn muttered as he took notice of her bag. Unlike many of the students of Hogwarts, Rapunzel had a very colorful purple with golden flowers bag. And on the weekends where dress code wasn't required she wore bright purple shoes that she painted stars on. "You basically shout out, 'arts and craft' with your bag and shoes and anything else you wear on the weekends. Not to mention you prefer doing things with your hands rather than your wand."
"It feels more personal." Rapunzel smiled as she finally put away her pencil and stared at the drawing for any imperfections or missed details. "And it helps me get some things off my mind…." Flynn mentally sighed as Rapunzel's mood dropped noticeably and despite what he had told Jack about a week earlier, he did actually care if she was sad or not. Not because he had feelings for her of course! It was just the group needed someone who was always happy that's it.
"And now you think you're part of the group." Flynn muttered to himself as he slapped his forehead. "Rider, you need a head check…."
"What was that?" Rapunzel asked, tilting her head in genuine curiosity. Flynn opened his mouth to say that it was nothing when an idea came to his mind causing him to smirk.
"Well, I was going to say that if there was anything that bothered you, you could talk to me you know. I don't know you that much so I can't really judge you and you don't hear from me so I could be like that open book diary you need to vent out of. It's a win-win situation if you think about it." Flynn smiled as he crossed him arms. Immediately Rapunzel tensed up and looked away.
"I don't want to talk to you about it." Expecting the answer, Flynn feigned a heart broken look before sighing heavily.
"It's because I'm a Slytherin isn't it? You know just because everyone says we're cold hearted doesn't mean we don't want to talk to others like real friends. I want to have a heartfelt conversation with someone who won't judge me….but I guess that won't happen…"
"No, no it's not because you're Slytherin!" Rapunzel quickly replied shock evident in her eyes and Flynn couldn't help but smile. It seemed like his plan was working, now if he could get her to talk about— "It's just….that you're….fine I'll tell you." ….him. Ok reverse psychology just backfired on him.
"Wait, what—" Before Flynn knew it, Rapunzel was pulling him out the dungeons and into the library before taking a seat into one of the corners of the library. Flynn tried to look for a way out of the conversation—hell he was lying about really wanting a heartfelt conversation—but before he could come up with anything Rapunzel began talking.
"You see, my mother…." And for the rest of the hour, Flynn reluctantly listened to the worries Rapunzel had ever since she received her mother's letter and to say he was shocked was a bit of an understatement. Sure he had hear stories about students finding out about their parents just like Rapunzel but most of them didn't really started out because they were different. ….ok probably thirty percent of the cases were because they had magic but it was at least something he had experience in.
"So if I'm getting this right." Flynn sighed as he rubbed his head tiredly, "You feel conflicted about finding more information about this supposed relative because you and your mother think that they abandoned you because of your magic? And that your whole life has been a lie and know you don't know what to think of it?"
"That kinda sums it up." Rapunzel mumbled placing her arms on the table tiredly before resting her head on the,. "I mean, all this time I thought I was an only child and that my powers were something that made me different but in a special way and now….now I find out I actually had more family out there but they didn't want me because well…of what I thought made me special. I really want to find more information about my family but…"
"You don't want to confirm the fears of them actually hating you for something you have no control over huh." Flynn muttered as he sighed heavily before closing his eyes. "You know, we're not that different when it come to that department…."
"Really? Well…what do you suggest?" Rapunzel asked wondering what kind of past Flynn had before he gave her a small smirk.
"If it's really bugging you, I say go and see what can you find out about that extended family of yours. Sure maybe finding the truth may hurt but if you never tried…I think that'll haunt you more than anything."
"Really?" Rapunzel asked, playing with her braid in nervousness. "I mean, mother told me not to look for—"
"Look here Rapunzel, you're bound to disobey your mother no matter what you say. Besides, a little rebellion is healthy! Trust me." Flynn chuckled before he took notice of the time. "Damn, I got to go Blondie, I have bets to collect…I mean some friends…..to…..borrow…..money back from. See ya around." Flynn muttered, giving her a wave before he exited the library.
"Well, Pascal I might be wrong about him." Rapunzel smiled to her reptile friend. "He's not that cold hearted and he does give decent advice once in awhile."
"Oh Blondie!" Flynn called out catching Rapunzel's and nearly everyone else's attention. Looking back up, Flynn's head was just behind a bookcase but she could easily see the smile on his face that screamed he was up to something. She didn't know what just yet but he had something planned that's for sure. "Just some advice for tomorrow. Carry a shield of some sorts alright. Don't question just do it." Flynn smirked before he truly left the building causing Rapunzel to tilt her head in wonder.
"What's so special about tomorrow that I'll need a shield?" She wondered aloud before shrugging to herself. "Oh well, nothing to worry about right now. Let's see if I can get started on the head now…." Throwing herself into her project, she didn't notice the small planner she carried fall out of her bag and land on the precise date tomorrow would be. October 31. It was only the shouts and screams of students during the next day that would make her finally realize what Flynn meant about using a shield.
Merida smiled as she slowly got out of bed sighing contently as she felt the magic around the castle more potent than ever. Of course that was expected considering how powerful Halloween was, or in some cases Samhain, to witches and wizards. Merida couldn't quite explain it but it seemed she was more in tune with her magic than at any other time of the year. The history ghost probably explained it during their lecture—and she had a feeling it had to do with Merlin and his nemesis Morgana—but she didn't remember anything. It was amazing she wasn't getting a Troll in that class.
"Well, nothin' can go wrong taday." Merida smiled as she quickly grabbed a change of clothes eager to spend most of her morning with her friends before going to class. However, as soon as she was climbed down the spiral stair cases, she took notice of the large number of students muttering to themselves.
"It's a trick obviously."
"I bet you it was from those slimy snakes."
"Tch you think they would come up with something better than a rubber snake though…."
"Whot's goin' on?" Merida asked Albus with his cousin Rose muttering amongst themselves. Taking notice of their house mate, they quickly brought her to the side and explained the situation.
"Well, there's a snake at the exit and most of the first years don't want to touch it because they think it's a prank." Albus muttered looking to his cousin Rose.
"And it doesn't help that the older students had a similar incident with a rubber snake making them cautious about this prank." She huffed before adding. "If you ask me, this is all childish."
"Oh look they're gonna banish it." Sammy Finnegan said catching their attention as one of the perfects made his way to the front and pointed his wand out.
"Reducto." He muttered; however, at the last minute the rubber snake came to life and dodged it before slithering towards the students.
"Um…is it supposed to get bigger?" Albus wondered aloud as the snake began to grow in size, hissing menacingly at the students.
"No…but it looks a lot like a Basilisk…"Rose squeaked as it's yellow eyes met hers. "Thankfully, it's just harmless prank I mean what else can a giant rubber snake do?"
"Explode?" Sammy wondered aloud causing Merida to look up at the snake in confusion. Yes it was scaring a lot of first years and several older students but it wasn't doing anything else besides bubbling—oh.
"Hit ta deck!" Merida shouted as she grabbed Albus and Rose before pulling them behind a couch as the snake blew up sending several pieces of furniture and students flying along with….white powder? "Whot tha heck is this?" Merida wondered as she inspected the powder before noticing Albus and Rose's skin.
"What? Is there something on my face?" Albus asked as Merida began to chortle.
"Ya—hahaha—skin—hahahaha—It's green!" She laughed as the two cousins looked at each other and saw that indeed their skin was green.
"Well, yours is too!" Albus retorted pausing Merida in mid laugh. Quickly she grabbed a small mirror Rose handed to her and gasped at the coloration of her skin.
"Whot! How did this happen?!"
"It must have been the powder, it probably turned people skin green." Albus sighed as Rose took out her wand and began muttering counter spells to get rid of the color. "And it seemed the more it's agitated, the more greener it becomes."
"So we haft a go out like this?" Merida groaned along with several other students who heard. "This day jus' got better."
"Um….what's going on?" Hiccup asked his roommate, Hiro as he took notice of several older Ravenclaw students grumbling amongst themselves. Normally at this early hour, the older students and some of the over achievers would have already cleared the common room leaving enough space for the first years and other students but it seemed to be packed and it was nearly breakfast.
"Someone replaced the eagle outside our dormitory with a makeshift bald eagle that won't let us out unless we answer it's riddle." Hiro answered before an older student bravely made it towards the eagle and stood in front of it, not wavering as it came to life.
"What comes first, chicken or egg?" A horribly strong southern accent came from the eagle causing some of the students to mumble amongst themselves.
"What's so bad about this?" Hiccup asked as the student answered the eagle's riddle, "It seemed pretty simple—"
"Well….it would be if we knew what it considers a right answer." Hiro chuckled nervously as the student was hit by the bald eagle and thrown out of the common room.
"Chicken! Haven't you heard of a dictionary!" The eagle screeched out before returning to its post, guarding the exit of the common room.
"That's the tenth student to try."
"So we only get knocked out of the room?" Hiccup muttered, with a deadpan stare. "Why are they so worked about it then? A little kicking never hurts anyone and not to mention I rather be outside eating food than being stuck in here with a bunch of people who think they're know it alls." Hiccup sighed as he tightened his hold on his book bag and squeezed his way through the front of the eagle.
"Good luck Hiccup!" Hiccup could barely hear the encouraging words from Hiro as he finally made it to the eagle causing the mutterings stop.
"What do you think he's going to do?"
"He's a first year, so probably not much."
"Not to mention he comes from Berk so he's probably not the brightest…"
"But then again, he's probably smarter than his whole village combined."
Ignoring all the insults, Hiccup stood still as the eagle turned its attention towards the Berkian wizard before tilting it's head.
"I do want to go and eat breakfast before it gets cold." Hiccup muttered, growing a bit impatient. "So give me the damn riddle so you can kick me out already." Screeching in either excitement to torment another victim or insulted that Hiccup didn't care, the Eagle opened its mouth to deliver it's riddle.
"A truck driver is going opposite of traffic. A police officer sees him but doesn't stop him. Why?" Sighing heavily, Hiccup knew he was going to get it wrong—after all he really didn't know exactly what truck drivers were—but he was hungry and getting your pride hurt a bit wasn't so bad. After all, it's only fun if you get a scar out of it.
"Because he was walking, I don't know. I just want to have breakfast alright?" He told the eagle as it merely stared at him. For a couple seconds, the eagle said nothing before I screeched loudly and quickly dove towards Hiccup.
"And here come the pain." Hiccup sighed as the force of the eagle on his forehead—why the forehead—before he found himself flying outside the common room. "Ok," Hiccup groaned as he pushed himself up. "The landing could have been better…"
"Well, at least your insult isn't as bad as mine…"Someone grumbled causing Hiccup to turn around. He noticed that it was the older student that went before him and that he was rubbing his forehead with his wand, trying to get something off.
"Wait what insult?" Hiccup asked before the student threw him a small compact mirror.
"Look at your forehead." Giving the student a strange look, Hiccup warily looked at the mirror before sighing at the lettering on his forehead.
"Brainiac. Great. And it doesn't come off?" Hiccup asked as he tried to cover his forehead with his bangs—never had he been glad for having longer than normal hair among the male students—before giving the mirror back.
"No, none of the spells I used are working. Hopefully the medical wing can do something about it." He sighed as he left towards the hospital wing leaving Hiccup alone in the empty corridor. The young Ravenclaw debated about joining his fellow housemate to see if he could get the words off his forehead but the shouts and screams coming from the other tower made him believe that it was going to be a busy day at the hospital wing and that breakfast was a bit more important at the moment.
"I wonder who did this though?" Hiccup wondered aloud not noticing the quiet screams of the students coming from below.
"What's wrong with the food?!" Anna shouted as she, Kristoff, and Rapunzel ran down the corridors trying their best to evade the flying food that had somehow started to chase them once they left the safety of their dormitory. "And why couldn't it be dessert?! Why is it leftovers?!"
"Less talking more running!" Kristoff shouted before he skidded, "Duck!"
"Got it!" Rapunzel shouted as she lifted the frying pan and slammed the canned food towards the opposite direction where it found other students to chase. "I'm going to keep this frying pan." Rapunzel smiled while Anna and Kristoff merely gasped trying to catch their breath.
Who would have thought that this morning would start off this hectic for the poor students in the Hufflepuff house. They didn't have time to warn their fellow students before havoc came upon them. Rapunzel, Anna, and Kristoff barely took a couple steps outside their dormitory before the screaming of other students alerted them that something was wrong.
It was only when Anna and Kristoff were hit with ketchup packets did they realize that food was chasing them and without much knowledge about offensive spells they were left with the only option many first and second years were displaying….running. Thankfully, Rapunzel was smart enough to grab a frying pan before they ran, and helped detour the food before they were covered head to toe in food.
"Where did you even get it?!"
"Found it when we were first getting chased by the food in the morning. It was next to the vinegar barrels." Rapunzel shrugged.
"This screams Slytherin. One of them probably enchanted the food to chase us." Anna grumbled before her eyes widen. "Oh crud, more are coming."
"To the Great Hall!" Rapunzel cried as she pushed Kristoff towards the other direction. "We can barricade ourselves behind the teachers!"
"Don't need to be told twice!" Kristoff shouted as the three of them ran towards the Great Hall where they hoped they would be safe. "Make way!" The blonde wizard shouted as he saw Hiccup standing in the middle of the hallway, gasping as he saw the flying food.
"What happened?!" Hiccup shouted as he ran with the three Hufflepuffs, using his bag as a shield as Rapunzel slammed away the food projectiles. "Why are there food chasing us?! And why are the Gryffindors green?!"
"Green?! What do you mean green?!" Anna cried before they ran into several Gryffindors sending them to. "Oh that's what you mean."
"Ya ya, laugh it up." Merida grumbled, rubbing her green skin unconsciously. "We can't get this off no matter how hard we try."
"It greener if we try to get rid of it." Rose grumbled as she crossed her arms. "And the hospital wing is brimming with other students from different houses."
"It dosen' look like ya got caught in any pranks 'iccup." Merida frowned. "Lucky bastard."
"Actually, I did," Hiccup sighed as he parted his bangs revealing the imprinted words. "Mine's just a little easier to hide."
"So basically every house got pranked then?" Rapunzel asked.
"Except Slytherin huh." Anna pouted angrily. "I knew they were behind it!"
"Actually there were several Slytherin in the hospital wing as well." Albus said, surprising the four non-Gryffindor students. "They were covered in soot and were itching all over."
"Some even had their hair changing colors." Lily snickered. "Crabbed looked specially dashing with bright neon pink hair."
"Now that's something you don't see every day." Hiccup chuckled before he gulped in fear. "But I think we should get going if we don't want to smell like leftover food…." Looking towards the direction Hiccup had pointed, they gulped in fear as a large amount of food—varying from canned food, to leftover chicken, canned drinks, and some unfortunate students—spiraling towards them.
"I don't think your frying pan can defend us all from that." Rose gulped while her cousin took out his wand.
"Stupefy!" The spell only took out a small portion of the whirlwind of food and didn't even slow it down for a bit.
"Run! Run!" Rapunzel shouted as the seven students quickly sped towards the opposite direction of the food hurricane. However, it became apparent that they would soon join the unfortunate students if they do not make it to the safety of the Great Hall.
"We'll never make it!" Hiccup shouted as Albus continued to shoot out spells along with Rose trying to slow down the vortex of food. "It's getting faster and the Great Hall is several halls from here!"
"We know of a short cut." Rose shouted as she made an unexpected turn to the right. "Come on, we still have a chance!"
"How do you even know this is will take us to the Great Hall?!" Kristoff shouted. "I thought there were only like three ways?"
"Don't worry, it will. And let's say….Dad left me and James a little parting gift before we entered Hogwarts." Albus smiled as they made another sharp turn at a small nearly unnoticeable hallway.
"Well, ya gift better be good cuz tha food hurricane is gettin' closer!" Merida shouted as they took another turn at a corner. While the sharp turns did help slow down the food a bit, it was still gaining speed and if they didn't find the Great Hall soon, they would be just as colorful as the students trapped in the food storm.
"There! Just turn over at that corner and we'll be home free!" Rose smiled before it turned into a screamed as she got caught in the flying food.
"Rose!" Anna shouted before she also joined the female Gryffindor in the swirling tunnel of food but not before grabbing a hold of Kristoff.
"Why me?!" He screamed as he was lifted into the air and accidently grabbed a hold of Albus as well.
"We're not going to make it, we're not going to make it, we're not going to make." Hiccup chanted breathlessly as he Rapunzel and Merida struggled to stay ahead but without a door in sight it didn't seem like it would end well for the three of them. They made another sharp turn and all three of them gasped at the sight.
"Shut up! We'll make it!" Merida shouted as the doors to the great hall appeared dead ahead. "Why ar they closed taday!" Somehow, luck was shining down on the students as two familiar faces appeared at the entrance of the Great Hall.
"Open it open it!" Rapunzel screamed as she saw Jack and Flynn walking calmly before freezing at the sight before them.
"Open it!" Hiccup screamed once more snapping the boys out of their frozen state and quickly rushed to pull open the great wooden doors. However, before they could fully open the door, the remaining friends quickly got caught in the whirlwind and burst through the doors, surprising the students and professor that had yet witness the food storm.
"Ahhhhhh!" The students cried as they tried to get out of the way of the vortex before headmaster North stood up and pointed his wand towards the speeding food. With a flick of his wrist, the food tornado dispersed freeing the students trapped and sending the food back to the kitchens or wherever leftovers went.
"I'm goin' to kill whoever did this." Merida grumbled as she and the other recently freed students floated in the air, courteous of Professor Snoozieman.
"I'm with you on that princess." Flynn grumbled crossing his arm in frustration. "Worst way to start Halloween….ever."
"Um….what happened to you?" Anna asked as she finally took in Flynn's appearance. He had red splotches all over his face and his fair was slick back with some sort of goo. Jack was in a similar state except his hair was pure white and pink spots decorated his uniform.
"Letters….they're weren't friendly." Jack grumbled, looking away as the rest of the chuckled at his childish pouting However, Rapunzel managed to catch Flynn's eyes and before they were placed down on the .ground, he gave her a wink and an all too knowing smirk before they were surrounded by the professors and peers.
"They did it…" Rapunzel whispered to Pascal, "They were the ones to prank every single house…." Pascal's mouth opened comically, staring wide eye at the two Slytherin's as they played the part of the victim well.
For the first time in Hogwarts history, or rather since the reign of the Weasley twins, every single house in Hogwarts had gotten a taste of the new prankers, Flynn and Jack. Of course they didn't reveal it was them during their first couple years, preferring to watch the confused faces of students as they tried to figure out who was responsible. Some even claimed that they were the ones who played the prank but no one really believed them. Jack and Flynn even laughed at the outrageous theories about how it was the ghosts who did it, but it was only Rapunzel who knew the entire truth. And as much as she wanted to tell Hiccup and Merida—both had their own silly theories as well—she thought that it would be better and let the truth slowly unravel around them. After all, this would probably be only time that Gryffindors and Slytherins could actually agree on getting revenge on the people who pranked them.
Until they realized that the upcoming Quidditch match against each other was just a couple days away.
Wow, this chapter was more than I had intended but I wanted the next chapter to start with the Quidditch match and so yeah. And I actually got the idea of the food hurricane from the anime RWBY season 2 episode one. Perhaps I'll make a small one shot of a food fight that epic xD. And sorry for any mistakes but 32 pages is a lot to filter through on your own. But please, tell me what you guys think—reviews are very welcomed—and I hope you guys continue to read the story ^^
-UntilTheMorningComes
