The damage was yet to be seen by Jack himself as he only saw the scrapes on his palms. Hiccup was also with Jack in the hospital wing, beginning to add pressure to his left foot as he walked. Hiccup stumbled a few times, which encouraged Jack to scare his friend, saying his foot could've broken off with a little pressure.

"Very funny, Jack. A foot doesn't just 'break off'," said Hiccup, grabbing on to the chair Jack sat on. He wasn't allowing his friends to help him. He wanted to show that he could do things independently.

He took a few more steps before letting go of the furniture surrounding him. It wasn't painful for Hiccup anymore. It now felt awkward after not walking for an entire day. When Jack and Merida had Flying last period, Hiccup was catching up with the Potions homework Merida sent to him earlier.

"Hiccup, you said you'd explain to us what really happened in your flying lesson. Is now a good time while you walk?" asked Merida.

Hiccup slowly paced while talking about his Flying class. Jack and Merida were listening while Rapunzel did her homework for Transfiguration.


While the day was bright, and the sun was almost setting in a couple of hours, half of the first years had assembled on the Hogwarts grounds for their Flying class.

Hiccup stood with his house while the Ravenclaws also stood in a parallel line facing them. On the ground were broomsticks, one for each student. Their instructor was Mr Frondman, Nod's current guardian according to Jack. Ronin Frondman had short and almost greying hair. He was tall and had a wide jaw, as if he had swallowed a brick.

When Nod was young, his father had left for a mission while his mother was already out of the picture. After the mission, Ronin Frondman, Nod's father's friend, took care of Nod ever since. As Nod matured, he found out why Ronin never spoke about his father, accepting that his father died in the mission involving a breach of dark creatures.

When Mr Frondman taught the students how to summon the broomsticks to their grip, they were ready to fly.

"Okay class, you may ascend only a few feet above the ground," said Frondman as if this was the one-millionth time he repeated it throughout his years of teaching.

The sound of Frondman's whistle disrupted the serene whispers of the chilling wind. Hiccup levitated off the ground as he maintained perfect form. Rapunzel slowly got to him before flying above Hiccup to join with Anna, who obviously had practice.

Hiccup was motivated to challenge his limits. When Frondman told them they could go higher, Hiccup went for it. The soothing wind flowed past his hair, similar to when Merida rode her horse while practicing her archery skills. Hiccup looked to the ground and saw that he was considerably higher than most students, including Anna and Rapunzel. He scanned the skies and saw that John and Macintosh were competing to be higher than the rest. Hiccup should've been scared of the height, but for some reason he wasn't afraid anymore.

He was able to capture the view of the giant lake he crossed on his first day at Hogwarts. The Black Lake was large enough to fit all the buildings from Berk. From what he had overheard from other students in his house, there were colonies of merpeople, intelligent aquatic beings. There was also a giant squid dwelling in the depths. Though, he wasn't sure if that part of the rumour was true.

Fishlegs and another Ravenclaw were reaching Hiccup's altitude and Hiccup overheard them.

"It's similar to flying a dragon, right?"

"I don't know if I can agree with you yet. We don't ride dragons until we're fourteen-years-old," said Fishlegs. The other rider was Oliver, who apparently lived with dragons according to the conversation. The two went higher than Hiccup and he began feeling a shift between his courage of flight.

It became difficult to move as Hiccup tried to lower himself in case the danger escalated. It was already too late for Hiccup, as people had already noticed that he was having trouble in the air. The shouts of their voices echoed in the wind as he felt the atmosphere gradually dropping before him.

Hiccup tried his best to descend, but after many tries, the broomstick made a sharp dive towards the ground. The world was coming to him.

Hiccup sealed his eyes as he could feel the tears almost escaping. The screams of the students became more audible and close. He wasn't on his broomstick anymore; he was falling. But he didn't feel the ground. Hiccup opened his eyes and saw John flying towards him, ramming himself into Hiccup before hitting the ground. The two rolled over on the ground as Frondman approached the two, advising Hiccup to be more careful.

"What you did was reckless, Mr Wan." John looked up and was confused.

"It was reckless?" asked John, confused because he just saved Hiccup from potential death.

"If you hadn't interfered, then I would've been able to cast a charm on Mr Haddock to stop his fall. At least none of you are injured. Are you?"

John shook his head despite having a scrape on his wrist, but Hiccup was clutching onto his left ankle.

"I see. Take Mr Haddock to the hospital wing and make sure you wash that wound on your wrist. Do you understand?" asked Frondman, showing his emotionless face.

John nodded and helped Hiccup to the school infirmary, putting Hiccup's arm around his shoulders while Frondman left to teach the class.

"You okay?" John asked.

"Maybe." Hiccup was wincing when he tried to add pressure on his injured foot. "Thanks anyway, for helping me."

"Nah, it's all good. I didn't know what I was thinking to be honest. You would've been walking on your own if I didn't crash into you. But you did look like you needed help. The first second you were fine, but the next second you were like a hunted duck," said John.

When Hiccup was lying on a bed, the conversation between the two continued on. John was ready to use this opportunity to skip class too.

"Maybe I should keep a Violet Dusk Crystal in my pocket for next time I go flying." Hiccup said.

"Why? So it will break your fall?" Hiccup nodded, surprised that John knew about Dusk.

"Too bad a lot of people here hate it," said Hiccup.

"Anna told me that. She said something about it having a bad reputation."

"I bet if Dagur bullies Anna for it, nobody will help, not even Xander."

"You really think so?" asked John.

"Probably."

John was silent for a few seconds and left his seat, telling Hiccup that he just remembered something he had to do.

After hours with Maudie and an icepack on his foot, Rapunzel, Merida, Jack, Kristoff, and Fishlegs came to visit Hiccup. Unfortunately a lot of people knew about the story. Perhaps Dagur and some new bullies might make fun of him for this.


A third year student entered the hospital wing, stopping Hiccup from his story. The Gryffindor girl apparently was in an accident at Care of Magical Creatures, an elective course Gobber taught that was available for third years.

The four saw Maudie set the girl on a bed and treated the wounds.

"Injured in the first week. That's the usual since Gobber tries to show off to the new students by presenting the most dangerous creatures he owns," said Maudie. "Most likely a dragon."

Merida got Hiccup's attention and encouraged him to continue.

"So that's it? Fishlegs and Oliver flew above you and your confidence just left?" asked Merida.

"It's not that they flew higher. It was what they said, about dragons. I know I'm the son of Stoick, the Chief of Berk, but my concern isn't my house placement. That was just another factor of it." Hiccup continued. "I have a fear with dragons." Hiccup closed his eyes, hands back on Jack's chair, expecting his friends to laugh or think he was pathetic.

"I'm guessing by your face that it's unusual to be scared of dragons at Berk." Merida said.

"Sorry that you're insecure about that, Hiccup. But did you really think we were that shallow?" asked Jack. "Fear isn't something to be ashamed of. It's something that keeps us alive."

"But dragons don't attack us. They help us and become our pets."

"Didn't you say that a group of people also use dragons when they attack Berk? Maybe that's where your fears derive from," said Merida.

"Besides, Hiccup, if you were in that girl's class then you would've been safe from the dragon that attacked her." Jack looked at the Gryffindor who was getting bandages wrapped around her arms and waist. Hiccup knew Jack was right about fear, but Jack didn't know the reason Hiccup feared dragons. Only the people on Berk knew.

"Ms Gothel. While I'm busy, could you please tend the boy's wounds for me?" Jack still had scabs on his face and palms.

"Why can't I do it, Maudie?" asked Merida.

"I—I thought you were busy, Your Highness," answered Maudie. Merida already knew that Maudie didn't want to order the princess around. But Merida didn't want her friends to see her as a princess who never wanted to get her hands dirty.

Rapunzel had the medicines that would heal Jack's wounds. Normally the scabs would heal, but the remedy accelerated the healing and prevented scars. She poured the solution into a cloth and stared at Jack's palms, hesitating.

"I know what this potion does. The pharmacists of Corona created it, so this might hurt a lot," warned Rapunzel.

"How do you know that it will—" Rapunzel quickly pressed the cloth on Jack's hands and he was clenching his teeth together. His skin was on fire. The burning stopped and Rapunzel continued as she gently cleaned the wound with a new cloth soaked in tepid water. The scabs were now coming off like dirt.

"Mother always used that potion on my wounds when she—" Rapunzel paused, thinking of what to say next. "When I fall over."

"You 'fall' over a lot?" asked Merida.

"Yes—I mean—sometimes." Rapunzel did the same to Jack's left cheek, regretting her choice of not starting with Jack's face, the most painful spot. She knew that from experience.

"So I'm never going to be able to see the injury on my face?" asked Jack, trying to endure the pain. A teardrop escaped from Jack's left eye after all the stinging stopped.

"Of course not," said Rapunzel, laughing quietly, glad that the topic had changed. It was too personal to talk about her life at the cottage.

Jack thought about Rapunzel spying on Lily for them. They had already spoken about it during breakfast and it went along the lines like:

Just some strange potions she made as well as this book, where she recorded the ones she had already made.

Jack looked back at Rapunzel because he forgot to tell her something.

"So you're not wondering where Pascal is?" Jack asked while Rapunzel was cleaning the scab off his cheek.

"He leaves every now and then, usually coming back the next day. Why? Is he with you now?"

"Yeah, probably still in my dormitory along with your History of Magic books."

Rapunzel completely forgot about her books. She had left them at the Great Hall when she went to see Lily at the dungeons.

Stupid girl! Stupid girl! Stupid girl!

Rapunzel tried to block out her mother's voice. Her mother didn't matter now that she wasn't here. It was Rapunzel's turn to be the judge of her mistakes.

"You're really good at this, Ms Gothel. Maybe you should come by to the infirmary to help out when there are a lot of students," said Maudie.

"I can?"

"Of course." Maudie continued tending the girl's wounds.

Hiccup was now walking normally and Jack's wounds had disappeared as if they were never there.

"Since I said my story, I think you should share with us by talking about your accident, Jack." Hiccup smiled.


Jack was already in the air with Merida, obviously savouring this moment because it was his first time flying. He then wondered if his parents could buy him a broomstick, or if North was able to do that for them.

"Hey Princess! Check this out!" Jack was flying faster and then looping in the air. Merida was scoffing at his confidence and she started letting go of her broom.

"Bet you cannot do this, Overland." Jack was laughing and impressed with what a princess could do. He then shocked her by standing on his broomstick, obviously hoping Frondman wouldn't see or else penalties would apply.

"Neat. But I wouldn't suggest—" The wind rushed past Jack and purposefully rocked him back and forth. Jack quickly jumped down to land on his broomstick, trying to regain balance. Jack was now descending slowly before he regained control over the broomstick.

"Fried ogre!"

"Hairy goblin!"

Jack and Merida turned to see the Thorston Twins bickering with each other as usual. But the twins did not take notice of the other two and collided with Jack.

The three were falling and all broomsticks were out of reach. Jack wasn't worried; he knew from Hiccup that the instructor would stop their fall.

Frondman got out his wand and casted a charm one by one. Jack was the last affected by the spell, but there wasn't enough height for him to slow down. Jack landed on the ground near the gravel, receiving scrapes on both hands and his left cheek. If Jack got slowed earlier, he would've avoided the injuries. If he had slowed later on the other hand, he would've met Death.

Frondman was ready to send the twins to detention. If it weren't for them, Jack would've still been on the broomstick.

"As for you, Mr Overland, find someone to take you to the hospital wing."

Merida was flying near Jack, in range of his voice.

"Having fun up there are you, Merida?"

"Don't you dare," warned Merida.


"Thank goodness it's over. I actually preferred Xander's magic over that potion."

Rapunzel tilted her head in confusion. "Xander?"

"When I went to see North about that whole incident with Xander and Dagur, I actually bumped into him, Xander. He found a wound on my head and healed it with magic, painful, but not as much as the potion."

"Without the incantation right?" Jack nodded to Hiccup's question.

About the time the four were ready to leave the hospital wing, three students entered to see Hiccup and Jack's wounds. The three students were in Hufflepuff, and Jack only recognised one of them. The three were sons of clan leaders who were all led by Dunbroch.

The first was Macintosh, skinny and taller than Jack. He had long, wavy black hair, blue eyes, and a large nose. He acted like the leader as he confidently approached Hiccup.

The second was MacGuffin, whom Jack had already met. The third was Dingwall. His ears were large and he had spiky blonde hair. Dingwall stared into the ceiling as if his head was still in the clouds.

"Heard you got injured, Hiccup," said Macintosh.

"Well you missed it by one day. But you know, close. Did you ditch class on purpose?" Hiccup didn't even need to ask. Macintosh had most likely flown a broomstick at least once in his life. It was like riding a bicycle for a Muggle.

Macintosh turned to Merida and smiled in an unsettling way. He approached her while she was sitting on the bed.

"It's a pleasure to me meeting you, Your Highness." Again with the titles, Merida was just almost feeling liberated from her role as a princess, until Maudie and this guy had to open their mouths.

"Do I know you?" Merida lied. She knew exactly who they were by counting them, and by the way he spoke to her.

"You certainly offend me, Your Highness. Perhaps we should find a day where we can get acquainted and… 'personal'. That way we can prepare for when our parents approve?"

They heard the groaning of MacGuffin. He placed his hand onto his face to hide the embarrassment. Dingwall on the contrary wasn't paying attention. They weren't sure if he was even listening.

"Approve of what?" Merida asked, with more aggravation.

"Our marriage of course. My father told me that our three clans have to compete in the future for the hand of Merida Dunbroch." Merida was not impressed. Jack, Rapunzel, and Hiccup were confused, not knowing that arranged marriages were still occurring.

"Of course, out of the three clans, which of us is more attractive and wealthier to be able to benefit Dunbroch? Me, that's who." He stepped forward and she leaned back slowly.

"That isn't true. If something like that were to happen then my mum would have talked to me about it."

"So when should we start getting to know each other—better yet, where are we going to get to know each other?" Macintosh was not taking no for an answer, as he was directly in front of her now.

"Merida said no. Leave or else," threatened Jack.

Macintosh turned to Jack and was about to say something, until a large arm wrapped around Macintosh's neck. MacGuffin was holding him in a lock and began dragging him out the infirmary.

"Sorry about that guys—I didn't know he'd talk about that." MacGuffin finally got Macintosh out of the room but Dingwall was still there. He finally got back into his senses and ran outside to look for his friends.

Macintosh's voice was heard from outside. "You're lucky you've got someone to protect you, Jackson!" They weren't sure whom he was talking about then, but it didn't matter now he was gone.

"What a weird bunch…" said Merida. "I've never actually met them before, but I know of them."

"At least MacGuffin was there to expunge the conflict," said Hiccup.


Lily watched the four hourglasses in the Entrance Hall. They were all different in their own way. She focussed on the hourglass with the eagle statue. There were small gems inside of it like the other hourglasses.

Five stones then dropped down from the top half, joining with the other blue gems. It meant that Ravenclaw just gained 5 house points.

Lily didn't care about the Gryffindor hourglass, even though it was in the lead. She was fixated to the blue gems. It provided a familiar glow.

"You lost?"

Lily was startled and saw John Wan behind her. He was covering his face for some reason. He was embarrassed to have scared her.

"John?" said Lily.

"So you know who I am?" asked John.

"We're in the same Potions class, yes?"

"Oh, right! Don't mind me… just looking around to see who's winning. What's confused me is a Gryffindor staring at a Ravenclaw hourglass," said John.

Lily stared at him and decided to answer—not that she was the type to ignore all questions. "The glowing of these gemstones just seem… familiar."

"Really? Maybe it's because it glows like Indigo Dusk Crystals." John replied. He went closer to the hourglass and looked up, seeing his reflection on the top half. "What accent is that?"

"French. Isn't indigo a purple colour?" asked Lily.

"Not really. It's in between. Technically Blue Dusk Crystals come in many shades. There are actually six main colours in the Dusk Spectrum. A lot of people seem to split the blues and indigos, so now it became the norm. Anyway, Blue and Indigo Dusk belong in the same group: Blue."

"Then why do they have different effects?" Five sapphires floated up into the top half. Ravenclaw lost 5 house points.

"Ice and water? Think about it… aren't they essentially the same thing? If water is cooled down, then it becomes a solid. If it's heated, it becomes steam. And what colour goes after indigo?"

"Violet," answered Lily. She then remembered where she saw the blue glow of the sapphires. The cabinet next to hers in the dungeons were identical. John also seemed knowledgeable towards Dusk Technology. She then came to a sudden realisation. "You're the one who used the Potions classroom."

"How did you know?!"

"A lucky guess. I'm also using that room."

"Oh! So it's only you?" asked John. She nodded.

They had only met now because John only entered that room once, to hide his equipment. He was always busy studying about Dusk with Anna since he didn't want to ruin the Dusk Weapon.


Jack and Rapunzel were headed to Gryffindor Tower to fetch for her books and Pascal. They made it through the Grand Staircase and at the eighth-floor (seventh according to Rapunzel). Jack hesitated to say the password to enter his common room.

"It's okay, Jack. It's not like I'm some kind of spy who's collecting information for the enemies of magic." Jack tried to understand what she meant.

"Enemies of magic?"

"I'm not sure myself too. During Year X, there were bad people who wanted to eliminate magic," explained Rapunzel.

"I knew Year X was the cause of that. But I thought it was some kind of civil war between wizards, which had a price to be payed."

"You should've asked earlier. I assumed you knew about it," said Rapunzel. "So as you know, magic was possible all over the world—when I say magic, I mean casting spells. So potions, broomsticks, and Floo powder do work outside of the United Kingdom. An evil group of people battled wizards and nearly won. When they faced the strongest source of magic—which was Hogwarts—they proved no match and fled. These people killed millions of wizards and only had wizards from the UK to deal with. They are also in trouble now because wizards are appearing in Muggle families all over the world. Rumour has it that students outside of Europe are kidnapped by the evil group."

"Who are these evil people? Why aren't people scared?" asked Jack.

"I don't really know. Mother always told me about these people, maybe to just scare me. I now know it's false because you and John aren't from Europe. And don't worry, it's been almost one hundred years since that war."

Jack said the password in front of Rapunzel as she waited for him. He returned with the books and Pascal, who was eager to see her.

"So what are you going to do this weekend? Gonna accept Merida's offer to hang near the Black Lake?" asked Jack.

"I don't even know what to do other than study. So I guess I have no choice, Jack."

"Same."