Chapter 7 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
The HBK scare had died down during the month of December. It was Christmas time, and everyone was in high spirits… all but Hunter that is. He was still enraged from what he learned of HBK. Stephoine told him "Don't do anything stupid!" But Hunter was determined to take down HBK himself. The Christmas spirit didn't lift many spirits this year, especially Showgrid. He learned Wingspan wasn't doing so well in trial. Hunter and the others visited trying to cheer him up. But Showgrid wanted nothing to do with them; he hasn't eaten or slept in days. Chris suggested they looked up past trials and see if Wingspan had a chance in court. Many were stunned by Chris… he actually wanted to do some research! Well the library was full of trials of mythical beasts… the extreme very few one their trials. "Man, how come the dragons win?" Chris asked.
"Because Dragons can talk you know! So they can represent themselves well" Stephoine shot back. Hunter threw the book in frustration nearly hitting one of the other students that was reading across from them. He nearly struck John Cena, who shouted.
"HEY! THE YOU CAN'T SEE ME IS JUST AN EXPRESSION!" he yelled from across the room, but was quickly shushed by the librarian.
Hunter smirked momentarily from the moment, yet his smile quickly vanished. "This is ridiculous! Wingspan shouldn't be put on trial… he didn't DO anything! I mean come on, half of us wanted to kick Rando's ass. He had the guts to throw him, he could have done a lot worst" Hunter explained.
They stopped looking through books wondering what they could do now for Wingspan. Unfortunately there wasn't a single idea that could help them. Stephoine decided to go upstairs and get ready for Christmas, this year she was staying at school with Chris and Hunter. Her parents were taking a trip of Dragon hill in England. She talked about it during their walk back to the room. "They say there is a spot where no grass grows, many assumed it was where a dragon died!" she explained, overhearing their conversation. Kane walked in right behind them.
"You don't say? I know about that place, but it's not what you think. No dragon has died there I know!" he smirked. They all turned and looked at him.
"Really? Then want is it?" Questioned Chris, a smirk came across Kane's face.
"You really wanna know?" he asked. They nodded.
Kane smirked at their curious faces. "Well spit it out!" Potter ordered.
Kane kept smiling, as if saying 'I know something you don't' look. "Well the thing is… I can't tell you!" Kane replied in a haunting whisper to the three. Steph was spooked by the smile he had on his face.
Hunter rolled his eyes. "Then why the hell say you know what it is and not tell us!" he demanded.
Kane started laughing as he walked away from them; the students kept staring at Kane oddly wondering what was so funny. Chris sighed. "That's the thing with him. If it makes us confused or scared, he laughs"
Christmas day
Hunter was woke up on Christmas day… this time it was his dragon Helmsley that awoke him. Jumping on his head and chirping, he was excited about something. Helmsley ran in circles on Hunter in every which way. Hunter slowly opened his eye and got up. Helmsley went around and tugged the sheets off the bed. "Ok, ok I'm up!" Hunter shot back. Helmsley began to run in circle, Hunter opened the door seeing Chris outside ready to burst into his room and jump him.
Chris was stunned to see Hunter up and quickly pretended he was going to do something else.
"Oh… hey!" Chris grinned.
Hunter rolled his eyes. "Look you don't need to get me up every Christmas" Hunter stated. Chris shrugged; they went down to the main Christmas tree to see their gifts. Hunter spotted on right away. There was a long gift, wrapped up quite nicely. Hunter slid down the banister and to the tree. Stephoine was there waiting for them. She didn't even blink when Hunter had already torn into the gifts. The first one was something Hunter never thought he would get. "Dude…." Chris whispered. It was the Lightning bolt flying sledgehammer. A grin plastered on Hunter's face.
"I got it… I got it!" he cheered. "It's MINE!" Stephoine looked unsure about it, she feared it was sent my HBK. But that didn't stop her at the moment from opening her gifts. She got new books, supplies, clothing and treats from her parents and friends of the family. Chris got home made stuff as usual and some new clothing from the store.
"Sweet! Sparkling jackets!" he grinned. Hunter saw his dragon Helmsley digging though the wrapping paper, finding something from himself in the mess. He pulled it up and ripped it open. Inside was a little harness, very light weight and fit him like a glove.
"What do you have there?" Hunter asked him. He lifted it up and grinned at what was there. A letter harness, to make flying trips much easier for him, he saw the card. It was from Kane.
"I should have known." Hunter smirked. Helmsley got some treats, squeaking house elf toys and even a sweater from Chris' mother. Everyone had a good Christmas; Hunter kept staring at his new Hammer. "Can you imagine how much ass I can kick with this thing?" he asked his friends.
Stephoine was unsure. "Hunter you don't know who sent it. All we know if could be cursed by HBK!" she stated. Hunter smirked.
"COULD… but it doesn't mean he did" he shot back. It wasn't long before Hunter knocked on every door in Griffengree showing off the Lightning bolt to everyone. Kane in particular was pleased. Hunter yelled out. "For a free demo! Go to the main hall and watch me fly!" he would call. Everyone followed Hunter to see the new Lightning Bolt in action. Everyone but Stephoine, she knew very well Hunter could be in real danger.
When Stephoine couldn't keep quite about it anymore; she went to the head Fidget coach of the team Professor Jim Ross. He is just as passionate about the game as Hunter was. Stephoine knocked on the door. "Professor Ross?" she called. Opening the door she found him watching old videos. He turned around to face her.
"Why Miss Stephoine, what are you doing here?" he questioned her.
Stephoine swallowed her pride knowing Hunter and Chris would be upset with her. "Professor Ross, Hunter got a new flying hammer today… the Lighting bolt. There was no name on it, and no card. I'm worried it came from HBK and it could be cursed," she explained. Professor Ross was stunned.
"Cursed you say? Well then, I have no other choice… where is Mr. Potter now?" he asked her. Stephoine told him he was in the main all showing off the new hammer. He left immediately. Stephoine quickly followed him to the main hall. Hunter just got onto the hammer.
"I heard that thing goes really fast. And one time a crook tried to steal one, peel the flesh from his bones!" Kane grinned as he told the tale.
"EW!" came Stevie Richards. "You like that kind of stuff do you?"
Kane shrugged. "I'm exposed to it often, it just become natural. And yes, I do like that kind of stuff" Hunter was about to take off when Professor Ross blew his whistle.
"HOLD IT!" he called out.
"Damn" Hunter hissed.
Professor Ross approached Hunter. "Get off now. I am confiscating it until farther notice" he ordered. The room was outraged.
"But this is our chance to win the cup! We have a game next week! Potter needs something to ride damn it! And I need a cerebral assassin!" Kane yelled back.
Professor Ross looked at Kane. "Do you know where it came from? If so tell me and he can keep it" Kane went silent, however he was still pissed off. Hunter got off, and reluctantly handed over the hammer. He saw Stephoine look towards him, she knew by the look in his eyes that she went and told Professor Ross. When Professor Ross left the room, out of pent up frustration Kane slammed his fist through the table breaking it in 2 instantly. The others were stunned, but Hunter wasn't. He saw the ash marks on the table and from where he stood. Kane was pissed.
"Our one chance… ONE CHANCE…." Kane growled. He took deep breaths to calm himself down. When he regained himself Kane looked to the others. "We have a week… one damn week to get it back… I will talk to Professor Ross about this" he told his teammates. They all nodded as Kane left to catch up. Hunter left the room without speaking a word to Stephoine.
Classes started back up a few days later. Kane had kept Hunter posted on trying to get back the Lighting Bolt. So far all attempts have failed miserably. Hunter over heard Adam talk to Rob Van Damson about Kane flying off the handle. "He did that one time, and set Professor Ross on fire!" Adam stated.
Rob smirked and nodded. "I remembered that! Man that was funny. Didn't he lose a bet when Mr. Stevely was around? You know win, or shave your head? But dude… a teacher getting roasted. I don't think we can have another fire drill like that." Hunter stopped as he turned to see Adam and Rob going down another hall as they talked about Kane's temper. Hunter sighed hoping Kane won't fly off the handle this time… if he did. He knew he would never get his new hammer back. Hunter had been staying after class as of late with Professor Nash, who was teaching him how to ward off the Tormentors.
"Well… we concluded the charms don't work to well for you, therefore we need a spell," He explained.
Hunter was confused. "A spell?"
Professor Nash nodded. "Yes, a spell. Now here's what we do. I will use the fear sphere. It will change into a Tormentor and then you will battle it. Think of your proudest achievements, and then shout out Expecto Begonus." Nash stated.
Hunter looked unsure. "Are you sure this will work? I feel like a total idiot," he asked.
Professor Nash through about it. "No" he replied honestly. "But it's worth a shot" He unleashed the sphere and it took shape of a Tormentor.
Hunter thought of his proudest moments. Winning the Fidget cup, catching the snatch, being called a cerebral assassin, it began to flood his mind. However he heard the slight sound of his parents screaming as they were being killed in the back of his mind. He drowned them out with the cheers from his fellow students. "EXPECTO BEGONUS" Hunter called out. A strong light emitted from his wand, he nearly did it. However the tormentor was too strong and overpowered his blast. It tried to attack Hunter. But a bight light destroyed the sphere's illusion. Professor Nash saw the necklace he wore glow.
"My, those dragon teeth do get more powerful with age" he stated. He handed Hunter a bottle of water and set him on his way. "We will try again tomorrow," he stated. Hunter simply nodded, feeling drained from the experience.
"Before I go…" Hunter called. Professor Nash turned around. "What's under the Tormentor's cloak? I got to settle a bet with one of the other guys" he questioned.
Professor Nash smirked. "You think there's a chick under there waiting for you to look up her dress? Hunter. No one knows but the one who they take. The Tormentors will take off their cloaks when they administer the death kiss. That will happen to HBK if they find him. The Ministry of Magic has said so." With that Professor Nash left. Hunter walked out of the room, only to run into Professor Ross.
"Potter, I was looking all over for you!" he called out. Much to Hunter's shock, he got his broom back! Hunter grinned at Professor Ross. "Win us that game tomorrow" he nodded to him. Hunter smiled back.
"Oh I will. I'm going to be that damn good once again!" he laughed. When Professor Ross left, Hunter saw Stephoine in the hall with a nose in a book. She walked up to him.
"Uh… hi" she whispered.
"Hey…. So… You're the one that squealed huh?" he asked her. Stephoine simply nodded. "Steph… I understand why you did it. Ok, I'm not mad at you anymore" Stephoine lowered her book. She smiled.
"No one ever calls me Steph" she grinned. They were about to talk some more. But Chris stormed into the hall.
"STEPHOINE!" He roared. She turned and noticed his pissed off look. "I can't find Nibbles," he explained.
"I'll help you. Why so pissed?" she asked. Chris took hold of her arm and led her to their room. He went to his bed and pulled back the sheets, there was drops of blood and cat hair all over his bed. Hunter tried to hold back a laugh.
"That cat ate nibbles!" he smirked.
Chris wasn't laughing. "Stop being an assclown Hunter! Yes her damn cat ate my pet!" he shot back. Steph felt really bad for what happened. She just got Hunter talking to her again… Now Chris won't speak to her.
