A.R.I.S.E and the Snake Society

Chapter Eight: Introductions

Albus almost lost sight of the boy. He would dash behind a tree or around a corner, and Albus would have to wait a few seconds before seeing him again.

Albus reached into his pocket for his wand, out of habit. We found it was actually there, he gasped. This was just a projection of himself, right? So why did the wand feel so real?

He knew that making noise probably the best thing he could've done. He pressed himself against and old oak, not even daring to breathe. He clutched his wand, just in case a fight erupted.

The blonde boy merely glanced behind his shoulder, then, seeing nothing, continued walking.

Albus let out his breath and continued walking after him. But the boy was more cautious now, glancing back every few seconds. Albus ran from tree to tree, hoping the plants would keep him from sight.

The boy stopped next to a giant maple. Had he found out Albus was following him? Was he stopping so they could duel?

He ran a pale hand over the tree. Then he was gone, and Albus groaned. How had he been able to Disapparate? You had to be trained, to take the class. And what about the Ministry? They track the under-aged wizards to see if they're doing magic. How could he do that without them knowing? He was younger than Albus.
Albus stumbled toward the maple, not sure if he wanted to check that the boy was really gone, or find a trapdoor or something. There was nothing.

And then pain exploded behind his eyelids, and he felt blood trickle from his ears and mouth. He fell to the ground, but was desperate to not black out. He spun around, ready to face his culprit, when another hit slammed against his skull. He didn't know if it was a spell or simply a heavy object, but it didn't matter. He was getting dizzy with pain.

He tried to stand up, and there was more pain. This time he fell to his knees and puked up a combination of blood and bile. His chest heaving, he tried to stand up once again.

"Ooh, a fighter," someone hissed from behind the darkness. His hearing was suddenly poor, and he remembered the blood that was coming from his ears before. He could still make out the words, and focused on their direction.

Before Albus could get hit once again, he whipped out his wand and said, "Stupefy!"

Instead of a thud, he heard the small counter curse, "Ennervate,"

Albus wasn't ready to give up, even though he was swaying on his feet. The pain hadn't faded in the slightest. But he'd promised his friends he wouldn't die, and he meant it. "Lumos," he whispered, but that didn't help. The darkness was in his mind.

He focused on where the counter curse had come from, and pointed his wand. "Expelliarmus!"

Another burst of pain, and this time he couldn't help but collapse. He didn't want to. He fought his droopy eyes, even though his body begged him to let them close. Right before the darkness consumed him completely, he caught a glimpse of a man.

The darkness danced just behind his eyelids for a while. He didn't know if he was dead. Part of him wished it. If he was dead, then the pain would. And oh, did he want the pain to stop.

It'd gone from in his skull to his whole body. His blood was replaced with fire, his bones and skin melting from the heat.

He didn't scream. He didn't move. He felt that if any part of him moved even an inch, the pain would be so much worse. So he kept completely still.

When the darkness slowly faded, and the pain lessened, he didn't open his eyes. He was afraid of what he would see. He heard people talking. Girls' voices, most of them.

"Oh, God," someone said. Ever, he recognized.

He wasn't abducted. He was safe. He was with Ever. His eyes flicked open.

His mum, his dad, Professor McGonagall, Ever, Indigo, Scorpius, Rose, Lily, and James were all there. How long had he been out? Must have been long if his parents were there already.

"Albus," Indigo breathed, throwing her arms around him.

"Ow," he complained as she squeezed him tightly.

"Sorry," she laughed, pulling back. He noticed her eyes were shiny, though.

"Wow, mate," said Scorpius, sitting next to him. "That was frightening."

Then ever was there, hugging him more gently then Indigo had. "I was so scared." She said. Albus knew she was thinking about her vision. They probably all had been.

Rose hugged him, then Lily. James patted him on the shoulder and said, "Glad you're not dead."

Albus frowned and said dryly, "Thanks. Me, too."

His mum was nearly in tears. "You had your father and I nearly worried to death."

His dad gave him a hug, not saying a word. His mum kissed his cheek.

"I'm glad you're not seriously injured, Albus," McGonagall sighed. "But can you tell me what happened to you?"

"Can you tell me what happened to me?" Was he found in the forest? Why was he injured if just his projection got hurt?

She nodded. "You were found in your bed, in a puddle of blood. There was blood coming from your ears and mouth. You wouldn't wake up. So, your friend," she pointed at Scorpius, "and a few other boys helped carry you down here. The whole school's in a frenzy. Can you tell me how you got like that? Madam Pomfrey said it looked like you'd suffered a pain curse."

His dad froze. "The Cruciatus Curse?" he asked quietly.

"No," McGonagall assured him. "She said it was one she'd never seen before. A new one, perhaps, or an old one that's not commonly used today."

"I don't know." He whispered, and it was true. He knew he'd been attacked in the woods by a man, which was not much to go on.

"Are you sure?"

He nodded.

"Alright," McGonagall breathed. "I'll be in to check on you later."

His mum gave him a swift pat on the head. "Your father and I are going to talk to Madam Pomfrey. We'll be back, okay?"

Then they left.

James said, "I love you and all that, but I gotta go,"

Albus nodded in his direction, and James took off. Lily gave Albus a kiss on the cheek and left, too.

He looked at his friends.

"How long was I out?" he whispered.

No one answered.

"How long?" he demanded.

"Three days," Ever whispered.

He leaned back, groaning. "Three days," he repeated. Then looking at Rose with a slight smile, he said, "Did you at least take notes in History of Magic?"

They laughed. The sound felt strange on his cracked lips.

"So," said Scorpius, "are you going to tell us what happened?"

So he did. He told them about how he accidentally Projected himself to the forest, and he followed the kids who'd been looking at them. And then some man attacked him. He was sure it wasn't the blonde kid; this guy was fully grown.

"Do you think he was from the Snake Society?" Indigo whispered.

"What else?" Albus asked. Then, backtracking, added, "Maybe it was just something that lived in the Forbidden Forest and didn't want me in there."

His words carried no wait. It seemed that they all knew his guess was incorrect.

"Then why didn't they attack before?" Rose asked.

"Because they didn't see me?" Albus offered.

"Maybe," said Ever insincerely.

There was silence for a while.

Then Ever asked, "We need something to call ourselves."

"What?" Indigo asked, her brow furrowing as she bit her lip.

"Well, if we're going to solve this mystery like it seems we have to, a feel a group name is in order." She explained. "Any suggestions?"

"The Mouseketeers," Indigo blurted, and everyone laughed. "What?" she said with a smirk. "Mice are the opposite of snakes."

"Snakes eat mice," Ever told her with a smile. "Not exactly the message we want to be sending."

"GOP," Rose said, and everyone was already shaking their heads. "Why not?" she defended. "It stands for 'Group of Opposing Peoples'."

"Gop?" Ever managed between giggles. "That sounds like the name of iffy slime you'd find in the lou."

Rose folded her arms.

"What about, 'Scorpius and the Scorpions?'" Scorpius grinned wildly at his suggestion.

"Just . . . no," said Ever.

Then Albus spoke. "Arise."

Everyone looked at him, stopping their giggles.

"It's a combination of all the suggestions. You were looking for opposites, Indigo, and the opposite of being oppressed, which is what they want to do to Muggle-borns, is arising. And it's an abbreviation, like Rose's. And our names are in it, Scorpius. Albus, Rose, Indigo, Scorpius, Ever. ARISE."

Ever beamed at him.

"Anyone objections to 'ARISE?'"

There was head shaking.

"All right," she said, grinning again. "We are ARISE."

"And I'd like to see anyone try and mess with us," Scorpius added.

Albus didn't find any happiness or humor in this. After the attack, Ever's vision of his death became more real. He was starting to think that this would kill him.

All he knew is, if he was going to die, he'd bring the people who are torturing Ever with him.