Albus knew one thing only- he had to find out more about Sky Ellis's past as soon as possible. The day after the first task, Al would have a hour free period before he needed to go for Potions. Great!
So as nimble and agile as a cat, he raced to the library, only daring to stop as he reached the interior of the eerie, silent place that he'd always despised.
He shuffled forwards loudly, his breath seeming unnaturally loud in his ears, heart beating fiercely in his chest. That was why he didn't notice the wizard lurking behind a bookshelf, peering out from under cobwebs with quick hazel eyes.
"Who's that?" demanded the wizard. Albus jumped and whipped his wand out, pointing it at the wizard only to find that he was pointing it at his own brother, James Potter.
"Oh, it's you Albus," James muttered discontentedly. "I thought it was that French tart again. She's always knocking things down."
"I came in here to...er...look at the birth records," Albus replied.
"Under 's'. Over there, bro," James answered.
"Thanks. Hang on, why are you here?" demanded Albus. "Are you...dating that girl from Ravenclaw again?"
"Erm, no. I dumped her-"
"She dumped you last year, James. I saw it with me own eyes," said Albus. James turned on his heels and left the library. Now it was just Albus left to deal with the suitation ahead. He gently paced up and down bookshelf 128 and 129 before coming to a halt bext to 130.
"Scorpius Malfoy, Sirius Black, ahh, Sky Ellis! Found ya," Albus muttered under his breath, pulling out the folder, written in clear, loopy green writing. He pulled out the birth document and the family tree before seating himself down on the lumpy couches provided.
The birth document was faded and littered with burn holes; Al could see the words written a decade ago.
Name: Sky Romulus Ellis
Date: 1st August 2007 (12:00am)
Parents: Rhiannon (Lovett) Ellis and Rufus Ellis
Born: Ireland
Other Children: Oliver (Olly) P. Ellis
Date of birth: 22nd November 2005
No. of family members: 5 (two deceased and three currently alive)
"I hope you're not going to sit around all day, Albus," announced a familar voice. Sky stepped out from behind a bookshelf, arm folded aross his muscular chest and a grim expression on his face. Albus noted there was a hint of Irish in Sky's voice that he'd never noticed before.
"You're Irish, Sky," Albus said.
"Obviously,"Sky declared. Albus grinned and almost laughed.
"And you have a brother, too. Why didn't you tell me before?"demanded Albus. Sky swallowed.
"He's dead."
"What house was Oliver in?" asked Albus.
"Slytherin. Like our first year."
"You lied to me! You told me that your birthday was in July, but it's in August! Why, Sky?"
"I didn't lie. I was born at midnight. One minute. What's the difference?" Sky announced.
"Have you got another brother?" Al asked.
"A bloody cat. Named 'Androclus'."
"Is there any news?" Al demanded. Sky swallowed again. "Sky?"
"Your mum's pregnant. Six months gone."
"But-"'Albus said. "That's impossible. I saw her three months ago. She can't have- y'know. Is it a girl?" Al added hopefully. Sky laughed, shaking his head.
"Boy. And this time, you can name him, if you want. Harry said you could," Sky declared.
"I know what to name him. Oliver. Nah, what about...Remus?"asked Al.
"Taken. Oliver isn't. Your choice. And Ginny is predicting that the baby will be born on a Friday. The 13th of February, to be honest. I knew a kid who was born on a Friday 13th. And he pegged it out before he turned 20," Sky announced. Professor McGonagall suddenly burst in, almost crying.
"Potter!" she croaked. "Lily Potter is in the Hospital Wing. And your brother too. Almost died, both of them. You need to come!" Albus and Sky ran out of the library, throwing caution to the winds.
Only one thing was their minds. A question.
'What happened?'
When the two boys reached the Hospital Wing, the first thing that they saw was Lily Potter, lying on her bed, as motionless as a marble statue. Her eyes were not open and her chest rose painfully slow.
"What happened?" demanded Albus. "What happened?" Sky checked Lily's pulse.
"She's only just alive, Albus. She might not survive. I'd say, she was involved in a sort of duel and she and James were blasted backwards. Something's weird about this," Sky announced. Albus felt his ears turn red.
"What is so weird?" snarled Albus.
"Look at the marks on her arm. That isn't caused by a duel," Sky answered. "It's the mark of the Dark Riders. A Dark Rider is here and she must have fought them. We need to secure the castle. This Dark Rider is dangerous, whoever he is. We need to find out who it is and soon, Al."
But Albus's thoughts were not on the welfare of Hogwarts but of concern about Lily and James... Hadn't James been in the library earlier? Had James met someone? The questions churned up answers as unlikely as Voldemort becoming the next Minister for Magic-
The letter from the Minister! It must contain some of the answers Albus was looking for.
"I'll be right back, Sky," Albus declared finally before racing out of the Hospital Wing and eight floors down until he came to the Cellar. There were barely anyone here except for Scorp and Arthur.
"What's wrong?" demanded Scorpius, noticing Al's worried expression.
"Wait a minute. I'll be right back-" panted Albus and off he rushed to the boy's dorms. He rummaged around in his trunk for sometime before a letter came into his hand. He ripped open the envelope and began reading:
On the Dark Rider register of wizards at Hogwarts, there are currently four Dark Riders and all of them are in your year. I strongly recommend against duelling them four.
Minister Roberts
Albus sighed and sank to his bed in despair. All his hope had been riding on this letter, the one precious thing left of the his old life at the Burrow...
Maybe it was better like this.
To be broken over and over again without as much as a warning to alert Albus. He knew that Sky had limited time but he wanted to make sure that if Sky did really die, Albus would get his revenge eventually.
By just telling a story. Of the boy who lived twice.
Scorpius hurried to the dorm in which Al was in.
"Do you think he's alright?" Scorp asked Arthur. "I don't. Maybe he's y'know, found the truth."
"I doubt it, Scorpius. Check quickly." Arthur gestured to the dorms and Scorp peered in through the door. There was loud footsteps overhead and a Hufflepuff entered the Cellar, his face worried.
"Is Albus OK?" he asked Arthur. Arty shrugged, but at the same time taking in the stranger's features. He had silky brown hair which glimmered in the firelight. Deep blue eyes glanced at Arthur and flicked away.
Scorpius seemed to recognise this newcomer because his facial expressions filled with recognision and anger.
"You!" Scorp spat. "Famous Luka Lakasse! Aren't you the one that bullied Albus?!" Luka stumbled backwards, his face flushed with fear. He shook his head. 'No! You've got it all wrong!' Luka breathed.
"How?" snarled Scorp.
"I might be popular but I never bullied Al!" Luka declared before blasting open the dormitory door which had accidentally been locked during the argument. Albus was lying on his bed, motionless as his sister.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
"Luka Lakasse," Luka replied. "And, no, I didn't bully you!"
Then came the sound of rushing footsteps and Sky emerged in the doorway of the boy's dorm. Luka almost fell backwards onto the bed as Sky growled.
"YOU!" snarled Sky. "Stupefy!" A jet of red sparks hit Luka squarely in the chest and lifted him up into the air until he was thrown backwards into Al's trunk.
"Sky! What are you doing?" demanded Arthur.
"Albus! He's a Dark Rider! And you let your guard down! I warned you, Potter!" Sky spat, clearly infuriated, his wand pointed at Luka's head.
"Check his mark, Sky. If he's a Dark Rider or Light Brigadier, he'll have a mark on his arm, at the shoulders." The voice was Arthur's and his alone. Sky pulled off Luka robes and the ugly black tattoo seared into Luka's flesh showed, even when there was a Light Brigade wolf seared above the the tattoo.
"Have you got your crystal?" Sky asked. Albus felt for the birthday present that Sky had given him for his seventeenth birthday. The crystal. He tugged at it and the chain came loose and soon it was dangling in his Al's hand.
"Why are you here?" Sky asked Luka.
"To help. Only to help," replied Luka. The crystal stayed crystal clear. "To help whom?"
"A boy named Potter. The youngest male Potter. I was cast out of my army because I was Sorted into Hufflepuff. I joined the Light Brigade register three years ago and my mission was to keep a Potter safe until the danger had passed,"' Luka answered.
"He is telling the truth, Sky."
"Sorry, Lakasse. I had to be certain," Sky apologized.
"It would have happened even if I was careful. It isn't your fault," Luka declared.
"What danger, Luka?" Albus asked gently.
"The rise of the Dark Lord yet to come. No one knows except for us five."
"Seven, if you include Lily and James,"growled Sky.
"You're right."
So now it is the end of yet another chapter. Thank you , Drop of Grace, for suggesting Luka Lakasse. And yes, everyone is getting exited cos the Yule Ball's on soon. It is November after all. Who should Albus take to the Yule Ball?
And thank you for the few who have made five characters for me. I am going to make sure that all of them are included in the stories as possible. The third and final fanfiction has a name at last.
Dawn of the Badger. It is the third fiction in the Badger Tales. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Twenty four reviews already! Thanks guys.
SeekerDraconis23
Six wizards stood at the foot of Lily Potter's hospital bed. The one that towered above the other five was Harry Potter. His emerald green eyes surveyed Lily and turned on another wizard.
"How's the family?" asked Sky, who was trying to break up the bitter silence. Harry glared at Sky and rolled his eyes.
"Ginny is getting along reasonably well. Albus, have you got an idea for the baby's name yet?" Harry answered, before checking his watch.
"I was thinking, maybe, Oliver? Olly Sky Potter?" Albus wondered. Harry frowned and Sky nodded his head in approval. Lily moaned in her sleep and her eyes slowly opened. The huddle of wizards held their breath.
"S-S-S-Sky...are y-y-you there?" demanded Lily. Albus gasped loudly. Her eyes had changed colour. Once her eyes were dark, beautiful green; now they were hazel.
Sky stepped to Lily's side and held her ghostly white hand in his. He whisped in her ear and sang a gentle melody. A tear fell from Lily's eye.
"I'm here, Lily. I'll always be here, I promise you," Sky said when he'd finished his peaceful song.
"H-h-has he g-gone?" Lily asked, her voice sounding as if she'd lost it.
"The one who hurt you? Yes- and he won't hurt you again Lily. Because I'm here. I will always be here for you. I'll be guardian over you, even when I'm gone. You have my word upon it, Lily Potter," Sky announced.
"You p-p-promise?" asked Lily curiously.
"I do. I think it's time that you got your sleep. You need your energy for tomorrow. It's your birthday, remember?" Sky declared before murmuring a melodious song. He dug in his pockets and passed Lil a crystal phial, full of burnt sienna coloured liquid. "This is a sleep potion. Drink it, and it will help you recover more quickly. And it will prevent you from nightmares."
Lily pulled off the cork and poured the contents into her mouth before silently passing the phial back to Sky and closing her eyes. Soon after this, there was the gentle rise and fall of her chest.
"What was that for? We could have tried to find out who attacked her!" Albus demanded. Sky glanced at Al.
"Let her sleep, Albus," Sky muttered.
"He's right," Luka declared, the wizard who had just spoken up. His blue eyes gazed at Albus, eyes fixated on his green eyes. Arthur and Scorpius had stayed silent, probably to give Albus and Lily some privacy.
"Good gracious, is that the time?" Harry demanded. "You best go off to lessons now!"
Albus nodded and the five seventeen year olds traisped out of the Hospital Wing and down the seven staircases that led to the Great Hall. Today was the fourteenth of December and already, the twelve Christmas trees were littered with glittering baubles and real fairies that sparkled.
It was lunchtime so naturally the Great Hall was packed full with students eated lunch. Professor McGonagall was busily talking to Draco Malfoy, interested in the conversation between them.
"Wait, Albus!" called a familar voice. Rose Weasley.
"You go on, you four. I'll catch up in a minute," Albus declared. Scorpius, Arthur and Luka hurried away to find seats however Sky remained by Albus. Rose caught up with the pair rapidly.
"Heard about the Yule Ball, yet?" she asked. Albus shook his head and wondered what on earth Rose what was banging on about. Then he realised. His father had told him all about this. Albus felt stupid for not recognising the name.
"The ball on Chrstmas Eve?" Albus replied. "Are you going?"
"Actually, I was going to ask you, Albus. Wanna go to the ball with me?" Rose demanded.
"We're cousins, you know that. Why don't you ask Julius Rowan?" Albus demanded. "Or is he taken?"
"He asked me. Seeing as you didn't say yes, I'll go to the ball with him!" Rose snapped.
"Fine!" growled Albus. Rose made a face at him before handing him the Daily Prophet of today. He barely had time tonread th headlines before Peeves cackled behind him. Al swiped the newspaper at Peeves before properly reading it.
Notorious murderer Rufus Riddle sighted in Hogsmede, yesterday morning.
"Not that article, the one below it. See what Nina Skeeter's gone and done now, Albus," Rose declared jabbing out a headline in the corner with her wand. It read:
Interview on Nina Skeeter's new book: The Seventeen Years of Sky Ellis- article found on page 14
Albus noticed a picture of a much younger Sky Ellis, taken probably when Sky was around nine or ten. The unmistakable green eyes glinted gleefully and no sign of the worries that was yet to come. The same curly tawny gold hair was here too.
There was a headline across Sky's chest:
Sky aged nine, photograph taken by Victor Ellis on the day that the Wimbourne Wasps won the British Quidditch Cup. Sky Ellis had attended the match and had just showed off his Quidditch skills.
Albus had never known that Sky had attended that one Quidditch match. Al,himself had gone to that match, supporting the Wimbourne Wasps. The winners of the annual British Quidditch Cup would randomly choose a kid from the crowd to fly around the Quidditch pitch and try to score a goal. The winners had chosen Sky and he'd borrowed a Firebolt and even shot a goal past the undefeatable Keeper.
The crowd had gone wild and that famous picture had appeared in the papers after the match. That was all Albus remebered. He, then turned to page 14 and started to read the article:
I briefly interviewed Nina Skeeter about her recent publication, The Seventeen Years of Sky Sllis, as me and her had a wonderous evening together at her house in the suburbs of London. She isn't the ghastly reporter that her famous interviews paint her as, but a charming woman.
DP: Why did you decide to write a book on the fabled Sky Ellis?
NS: Because witches and wizards wanted to see the evidenceof Sky's deciet for themselves. There were many riots in the Ministry of Magic over the wizard himself, and I decided to try and find the truth behind all of this, to see that cunning Slytherin behind the Hufflepuff mask. I wanted to see for myself, to discover the life of Sky Ellis.
DP: What was your favourite part of the book so far?
NS: To find out the saucy bits of the book, your readers will have to read my book. My favourite part of the book was writing the four chapters on the Ellis-Potter relationship. The friendship between them was unhealthy and digusting. You will have to read the book.
Yep. Another cliffhanger. You got it right. OK. Twenty six reviews! Thanks guys. Keep on reviewing. Yes, it's the Yule Ball. It is coming up. Another ten days to go and Albus hasn't got a date yet. You'll find out who his date will be eventually. Tell me if you want me to do The Seventeen Years of Sky Ellis in the reviews. When I get fifteen reviews saying yes, I will do the book in a fanfiction. Not just clips of it but the whole thing. Yep? Be sure to check out BartimusCrotcherty2's amazing fanfiction named Breaking Free. It is hilarious if you find my fannfiction too serious. You'll be laughing your socks off after you've read it.
It is set twelve years after the Badger's Revoulution and is in the Point Of View of Rufus Riddle. The story is great and it's a quick read. No swearing either, apart from the occasional bloody or blasted. You will love it. I guarantee you that.
And, Drop of Grace, if you're reading, please check out Breaking Free by BartimusCrotcherty2, because you'll love it.
Currently, my review target is is 50 before I finish my fiction. The updates will be weekly or monthly. I'm really sorry for this but until next August, which is when I will update daily, maybe three times each day. That's my promise.
SeekerDraconis23