A/N: As you read this chapter, you should keep the tune to Mother Knows Best from Tangled in your head, particularly when you get to Rapunzel's perspective (it's towards the end).
Jack's head pounded. Everything seemed fuzzy. After a minute, he became aware that he was lying on something hard and wet. He slowly opened his eyes and stared into blue. Blue? All of the rooms in Slytherin dungeons were decorated in green.
It took Jack another minute with the wind ruffling his hair before he realized he was outside. His brown eyes widened as he bolted up. He was lying in the woods, by the edge where he could still see the school, but in the woods, no less. Jack looked down at where he'd been sleeping, the ground was wet and cold, as though a large chunk of ice had melted there.
Jack looked up at the sky, the sun was barely up, it couldn't be more than six in the morning. He trudged back to the castle. His head hurt. What happened?
The last thing Jack remembered with any clarity was going down to detention…he vaguely recalled doing something after that…but he couldn't remember what had occurred, just feeling cold…and a girl…and a scream. The next thing he knew he was waking up in the woods.
Jack sneaked back to the Slytherin dungeon, hoping to catch a few minutes of shuteye before classes started. He had no clue how long he'd been asleep, but he didn't feel rested at all.
Jack collapsed on his bed, catching an hour or so of sleep before getting up and following his roommates down to breakfast. Jack half listened as Camicazi chatted, too tired to take in anything she said, before he got up and trudged down to the greenhouses.
He slowly looked around. No one else, not even the professor, was out here yet. In fact, the greenhouse was locked. Jack wandered around looking for anyone who could tell him where the rest of the class was.
After wandering among the plants that were outside the greenhouse for a while Jack became aware of a strange presence. He looked around but saw no one. Great, no memory, and now he was imagining that he was being followed.
"Here to make up?" Jack jumped at the sudden voice. Turning around, he met Professor Seraphina. He rubbed his head, he must be so tired he mistook her green dress and cloak for a bush.
"Where is everyone? Don't we have class?"
"Your class was yesterday. You weren't here. Today is Saturday." Jack's eyes widened. How could he have slept for over a day? That meant he missed History and Transfiguration, too. A small panic briefly took over Jack. He wasn't doing well enough in any class to be confident enough to skip.
Taking a deep breath, he slowly said, "I…I guess I overslept. Is there any way I can make it up?" Jack looked up at her hopefully but got only a frown in return.
"Do not miss class again." Jack's face fell and the teacher gave him a sympathetic look. "If you are serious about making amends…I'll see what I can do. Maybe you can assist me in tending the grounds. That's normally the groundskeeper's job, but we're a bit short staffed at the moment, so I've been handling it."
"Sure! I can do that!" Jack smiled. He often helped his mother tending their family garden in the Burgess. He wasn't a natural green thumb, but he could handle things like raking leaves and carrying firewood, and shoveling snow. It might even be fun as long as no one minded if he jumped in the pile of leaves.
"You may go now. I have plants to attend to. I advise you to find a classmate to share notes with. I will see you on Monday. And, Mr. Frost ...?"
"Yes?"
"I will expect you to stay a bit after class for your first assignment."
"Yes, ma'am," Jack said before dashing off. He knew just who to ask for notes…that is if Rapunzel actually showed up today. Jack made it halfway to the seventh floor club room when he stopped. Rapunzel's visits to the club room were so infrequent now he wasn't sure if she really would be there.
Rapunzel told them that her mother worked in the infirmary, maybe that's where Rapunzel kept disappearing to. Deciding that his notes were the most important thing, Jack turned towards the infirmary.
When Jack entered, he was met by the nurse who had worked there last year. Asking her for the whereabouts of Gothel and Rapunzel, the nurse pointed him to a room on the far end of the infirmary.
Jack softly approached the door. He intended to knock but stopped when he heard something on the other side. Rapunzel was singing. Jack looked at the door; a shaft of light came from the crack at the bottom. Jack recognized the light. It was the same soft golden glow Rapunzel's hair gave off during the battle with the sand horses. No one was supposed to know her hair glowed.
Jack intended to just leave, if Rapunzel was singing she probably wanted to be alone, but then he heard another voice coming from the room. Jack knelt down and peered through the keyhole.
Inside he saw Gothel brushing Rapunzel's hair, undone from its usual braid. As Jack watched, Gothel's grey hair turned black and her winkles and liver spots vanished. Jack gasped and backed away. He knew it could heal, but eternal youth? Anyone would want that. Rapunzel's hair was more valuable than the philosopher's stone.
"There, Rapunzel. Now let's get this all braided up again."
"Mother, can I please go study with my friends once my hair is braided?"
"Oh Rapunzel, I know you want to go, but we have too much to do, why don't you visit them tomorrow?"
"That's what you said yesterday."
"Well, maybe if you had worked harder, you might have managed to be finished in time to visit your friends."
"Yes, Mother."
Jack ran from the infirmary. He didn't want anyone to know he'd been spying on Rapunzel. It was her secret to tell, not his. And yet he couldn't help but think that maybe Hiccup was right and something was off with Gothel. It's not as though he wouldn't help his mom out with de-aging if he could, but the way Gothel looked at the hair as she brushed, it didn't seem like a mom getting a gift. Jack vowed to keep a closer eye on Rapunzel. If anything fishy was going on, maybe he could help.
Jack hurried up to the seventh floor classroom. He wouldn't tell Hiccup or Merida about this. If Rapunzel wanted them to know, she would have told them already.
Hiccup and Merida were hanging out in the club room when Jack marched in.
"Hey, we were wondering where you were."
"Yeah, so was I," Jack said. "Apparently, I overslept…like all day."
"Oh, come off it. You must be joking," Merida said. "I bet you were off playing."
"Believe me, Merida, if I were off playing, I would be bragging about getting away with it. I wasn't off playing. I really did sleep all day."
"Are you Ok?" Hiccup asked. "You think you were sick? Maybe you should visit the nurse?"
"No thanks, just been."
"Was anything wrong?" Hiccup asked.
"She didn't say anything." Jack stared at the door, running his fingers though his hair as he answered, "I doubt it was anything to worry about. So are you two gonna tell me what I missed in History of Magic and Transfiguration or what?"
Hiccup and Merida proceeded to share the previous day's events with Jack. Jack tried to copy Hiccup's notes, but couldn't because Hiccup had written them in Norse runes. Instead, Hiccup read out loud what he'd written and Jack copied it down. Merida wasn't much better at taking notes than Jack was, having far more doodles in proportion to actual words, but she managed to convey what they'd learned the day before. When Jack was all caught up, Merida told the boys what she'd overheard last night.
"…and the strange part is, her bed was covered in ice, with a fern-like pattern carved into it, just like the one you drew last year."
"Nice story Merida, but you'll have to do better to scare me," Jack said.
"It's not a story! I swear. She really did disappear."
"Yeah, right. If she's real, what's her name?"
"Hold on. I know they said it…Clara…Cassie, no Clarisse. That's it. Her name was Clarisse." Merida said confidently. Jack's eyes widened and he backed up against the door. He clutched his head.
"..no…how would I… it must be a coincidence."
"What is it?" Hiccup asked.
"I…I...it doesn't matter. Forget it." Jack suddenly looked very pale, "I have to go. I'll see you later."
Jack darted out of the room leaving Hiccup and Merida to stare after him.
"I wonder what that was about?" Hiccup finally said.
"He probably remembered a prank left unattended for too long." Merida shrugged. Hiccup didn't buy that, but decided to let it go. Jack never came back to the club room that day, and Rapunzel never came at all. By noon, Merida was completely bored with studying. Hiccup sat cross-legged in a chair with a book in one hand and a wand in the other while Merida lay on the floor listening to Hiccup read as she watched the clouds roll by.
"…And don't forget that the wand movement for the skurge charm is down," Hiccup read out loud from his book, making the motion with his left hand.
"I miss Jack," she said. Hiccup almost dropped his book as Merida continued, "He's the most annoying git in the entire school, but he does make everything fun - no need for you to tell him I said that, of course."
"I miss him too, but it could be worse. Back home, I'm not exactly mister popularity. Fishlegs was my best friend throughout childhood, but now that we go to different schools, it's just not the same. He's still my friend, but we aren't best friends anymore."
"My best friend at home is my horse, Angus. It's not that I'm not popular, but there aren't a lot of other kids living in Castle Dunbroch. And the few who are there, well, Mum never gives me time to play with them. Apparently, a princess isn't supposed to roughhouse, or mingle with the commoners. I'm so glad mum didn't follow me here. I bet she wouldn't let me hang out with you either, since you're a commoner."
"Not exactly," Hiccup said. "I may not be a prince, but my dad is chief of the tribe. According to Archipelago law, that counts as having royal blood. Of course, it's not such a big deal on Berk. The island is just too small, and the dragon attacks too frequent for that. We all have to band together to fight the dragons."
"Lucky. I wish I could fight dragons."
"So do I," Hiccup said softly. "Every time a dragon attacks, dad makes me stay inside. It's so humiliating."
"Just go out. Make your mark."
"It's not that easy…let's get back to our work," Hiccup said, turning to face away from Merida. Merida gave him an odd look before picking up her books and attempting to join in the study session.
Rapunzel flinched as Mother Gothel pulled her hair. Gothel didn't seem to notice and kept pulling on the hair.
"Ow. Mother, please, it hurts," Rapunzel whimpered.
"Nonsense, Rapunzel, if you don't like having your hair braided, you should have stayed in your tower."
"I know, Mother, but do you have to pull so hard?"
"Fine," Mother Gothel said with a warning tone of danger, throwing down Rapunzel's hair. "Go. Leave! Let the school see your hair! I was only looking out for you. I'm just your mother, what do I know? I only raised you."
"No," Rapunzel pleaded, a panic in her voice, "I'm sorry, Mother. I…I know it's for my own good. Please help me braid my hair."
"Of course, darling, I'll always help with your hair, so long as you stay with me where it's safe."
"Yes, Mother," Rapunzel said solemnly.
"So, dear, I heard there was quite a commotion in your dormitory last night. Are you positive you won't come live with me?"
"I don't think that's necessary, Mother. Toothiana told us Clarisse was just sick and had to leave suddenly."
"But how can you be sure, Rapunzel? Mumsy can't protect you from so far away. Aren't you worried you might be next?"
"I…I don't think so. Even if something did happen to Clarisse, the only thing we have in common is being girls in Ravenclaw. I didn't really know her."
"All the more reason to be afraid, Rapunzel dear. Feel free to come down here to the infirmary any time you feel scared."
"I will, Mother. I know I'm safe with you, I just…I guess I just…" Rapunzel murmured.
"Rapunzel! We've talked about the mumbling, dear."
"Sorry. I just think I'm safe with the Ravenclaws, too."
"I know dear, but if you feel safe in both places, why not come live with me?"
"We talked about this, Mother. I need to be there for my roommates; they like to study with me."
Gothel began to sing:
Why Rapunzel, look at you, a fragile little flower
A second year at Hogwarts, none the less
Yet you want to stay in Rav'nclaw Tower
"well, yes…" Rapunzel started, only for Gothel to cut her off.
Just because you like your housemates
Guess I should have known that this would happen
A year away from home, of course you'd be impressed
More will come soon
"When?" Rapunzel tried to interrupt. Gothel's finger to her lips quieted the girl.
When it's opportune
Mother knows best
Mother knows best
Please obey your mother
Have you truly thought this through
Mother knows best
I don't want to smother
But I can't stand to see you blue
Bullies, making friends,
Study groups, detention,
Finding time for homework, zits
"NO," Rapunzel said.
"Yes."
Also broken pens,
Noisy friends, suspension -
Stop, no more, it's just too much, dear
Mother is here
Mother can assist you
Listen to me, you'll pass the test
Don't go alone
Just stay home
Mother knows best
Go ahead, stay with your roommates
Go ahead, be a victim like Clarisse
Me, I'm just warning you what awaits
I'm only looking out for you, dear
Go ahead, desert me for your friends
Leave me here alone, I should have guessed
They'll start dating, leave you waiting
Mother knows best
Mother knows best
Take it from your mumsy
Last year might have been a fluke
Your friends can be a pest
Did they ever help you, No!
They make me want to puke
Friends will move on
Grow up and leave you
Can you really blame them now?
Soon they'll be gone
No one will remain true
I'm the only one who'll stay here
The school is in trouble
Only I can save you
Stay with me, you'll do just fine.
"Rapunzel?" Gothel said, speaking.
"Yes?"
"Please, until we find out what happened to that girl, promise me you'll stay with me?"
"Yes, Mother," Rapunzel sighed, bowing her head.
"I love you very much dear."
"I love you more."
"I love you most." Gothel kissed Rapunzel's hair, then finished her song:
Friends desert you
They'll just hurt you
Mother knows best
By this time, Gothel had finished braiding Rapunzel's hair so it only fell two feet behind her rather than the real length of forty-seven feet.
"There now, Rapunzel," Gothel said, patting her head. "Why don't you run up to your room and bring your belongings."
"Yes…Mother," Rapunzel said softly starting for her room. She knew it was only for her own good, but Rapunzel couldn't help feeling sad. She loved Mother Gothel, and wanted to make her happy, but was the freedom of being in a different part of the castle really too much to ask? Rapunzel cried as she packed her trunk and dragged it back down to the infirmary.
A/N: I was inspired to give Gothel a song because of a fan song called Silent Black, by 808mossmallow, which was taken from another Big Four fanfic, called Bonds Transcending Time. (I haven't actually read this fic, though it's on my to-read list).
