"You're joking..."
It was dinner time and Jack and Harry had just finished telling Ron what happened after they left the group.
Ron's piece of steak and kidney pie halfway to his mouth forgotten.
"You're a Seeker?" he asked Harry not believing him "And you're a Chaser?" he asked Jack "But first-years never – you must but be the youngest house players in about..."
"A century," Harry said shoveling some pie into his mouth "Wood told me."
"I'm older than I look remember?" Jack said scooping some mashed potatoes onto his plate "So I'm not sure about me."
Ron was so amazed, he just sat there gaping at his friends.
"We start training next week," Harry said tucking into his dinner.
"Yeah, but don't tell anyone," Jack said his mouth full "Wood wants to keep it a secret. Although I'm not sure how long it will last."
Just then Fred and George Weasley came into the hall, spotted the three of them and hurried over.
"Well done," said George in a low voice "Wood just told us."
"Fred and George are on the team too, Beaters," Ron said.
"I tell ya, we're going to win that Quidditch Cup for sure this year," Fred said "We haven't won since Charlie left, but this year's team is going to be brilliant."
"You two must be good guys," George said "Wood was almost skipping when he told us."
"Well, I have been told by my friends and family that when I fly it looks like I'm friends with the wind." Jack said grinning.
"Awesome," the Twins said.
"Anyway, we better go. Lee Jordan recons he's found a new secret passageway out of the school."
"Bet it's that one behind the statue of Grgory Smarmy that we found in our first week. See you."
Fred and George had hardly disappeared, just as someone far less came over: Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.
"Having a last meal are you Potter? When are you getting the train back to the Muggles?"
"You're a lot braver now you're back on the ground and you got your little friends with you," Harry said calmly.
Jack looked over at Crabbe and Goyle he couldn't really see what was little about them. 'Maybe their brains...' he thought to himself seeing them scowling at them because the High Table was full of teachers.
"I can take you on any time on my own," Malfoy said "Tonight, if you like. Wizards duel? Wands only, no contact? What's the matter? Never heard of a wizard's duel?"
"Of course he has," Jack said getting up "I'm his second. Who's yours?"
Malfoy looked at Crabbe and Goyle, sizing them up.
"Crabbe," he said "Midnight all right? We'll meet you in the trophy room, that's always unlocked."
When Malfoy was gone Harry turned to Jack and Ron.
"What is a wizard's duel?" he asked "And what do you mean by 'you're my second'?" he asked looking to Jack.
"Well as far as I know in dueling and fights, a 'Second' is there in case you die," Jack said taking a calming bite out of his mash potatoes.
"But people only die in real duels," Ron said seeing Harry's fear-fulled face "You know, with real wizards. The best you and Malfoy can do is shoot sparks at each other. Jack on the hand, I'm not sure, but I also don't care. Bet he expected you to refuse anyway."
"And what if I wave my wand and nothing happens?"
"Throw it away and punch him on the nose," Ron said shrugging.
"Excuse me?"
"Oh here we go," Jack said rolling his eyes recognizing that voice as Hermione Granger's.
"Can't a guy eat in peace in this place?" Ron asked annoyed.
Hermione ignored both of them and turned her attention to Harry.
"I couldn't help but hear your conversation with Malfoy -"
"Bet you could," Jack and Ron said together.
"- and you mustn't go wondering around the school at night. Think of all the points you'll lose Gryffindor if you're caught, and you're bound to be. It's really selfish of you."
"And it's really none of your business," Jack muttered.
"Goodbye," Ron said.
That evening as Jack, Ron and Harry lay awake as Dean and Shamus fell asleep (Neville wasn't back from the hospital wing yet), Jack was going over the tips Ron gave Harry on dueling just in case he needed to take over.
Such as; 'If he tries to curse you, you'd better dodge that because I can't remember how to block them.'
There was also a very good chance of being caught by Filch or Mrs Norris, not to mention if Jack got Harry hurt he would be in a lot of trouble with the Guardians.
On the other hand, Jack would sure love to see that sneer wiped off of Malfoy's face.
If only Jack had his full powers, then he could freeze Malfoy solid, like he did with the last person he dueled (AN: See 'How Did Jack Frost Become The Spirit Of Winter').
"11:30, we better go," Ron's voice said as the three of them got up.
Quietly they headed down the stairs and down into the common room and towards the portrait hole.
They were almost there when a lamp flickered on and a chair span around revealing Hermione in a pink dressing gown and a frown.
"I cannot believe you're doing this Harry." she said, her arms crossed.
"Like it's any of your business what he does," Jack said firmly "Go back to bed."
The three boys carried on leaving.
"I almost told Percy," Hermione said following them "He's a Perfect. He'll deal with this."
"Go away..." Ron muttered just as annoyed about her as Jack was.
"Don't you care about Gryffindor?" Hermione asked as they stepped out of the portrait hole "Do you only care about yourselves and showing off who's better –"
Before Hermione could continue trying to convince them not to go when a large snowball hit her face, Ron and Harry turning to see a very ticked off Jack.
"Now listen here Brownie – Locks," Jack said coldly, the corridor seeming to drop a little too "You do not... say that I don't care about anyone other than myself." he said, hand in a fist. "You don't know anything about me. But I'll let you know, that if I did only care about myself, the world at this point in time, would be a whole lot darker, with no hope, wonder, or any good dreams or good memories. So next time you try to confront someone, either know their story first, or keep you big fat nose out of their business."
From his shoulder, Baby Tooth nodded, huffing at the brown haired girl.
"Come you two..." Jack said calming down a little before leaving.
"Fine," Hermione said coming around "But I warned you. You all just better remember this when you're on the train home tomorrow. You're so –"
But what they were, they didn't find out. Hermione had cut herself off as she turned to the portrait which was at this moment empty, meaning she was locked outside.
"Now what am I going to do?" she asked shrilly.
"That's your problem..." Jack and Ron said together.
"We got to go, or we'll be late," Harry said checking his watch.
They weren't even at the end of the corridor when they were joined by Hermione.
"And what do you think you're doing?" Jack asked raising an eyebrow.
"I'm coming with you."
"You are not!" Ron said firmly.
"You think I want to stick around out here out of bed where anyone can find me?" she asked "If we do come across anyone, I'll tell them the truth and you lot can back me up."
"You've got some nerve - " Ron said glaring at her.
"Besides they have to catch us first anyway, and when I don't want to be seen I never am," Jack said heading on down the corridor leaving Hermione behind.
"Jack wait..." Harry whispered stopping him and telling everyone to listen.
"Mrs Norris?" Ron asked squinting through the darkness.
"Don't think so," Jack replied "I think... Neville –"
It was indeed Neville and he was curled up into a tight ball on the floor asleep, Jack seeing specks of Sandy's dream sand on his face, but that vanished as he woke up.
"Thank goodness you found me," he said getting to his feet, yawning a little "I've been out here for ages, I couldn't remember the new password to get into bed."
"Keep your voice down Neville," Ron said quietly "The password's 'Pig snout' but it won't do you any good, the Fat Lady's gone off somewhere."
"How you feeling?" Jack asked.
"Better than I was," Neville said smiling.
"Good – Well we need to be somewhere, Neville, so we'll see you later," Ron said about to lead Harry and Jack to the Trophy Room when...
"Don't leave me!" said Neville, sounding afraid "I don't want to stay here alone, the Bloody Baron's passed by twice already."
Ron looked at his watch and then turned to Neville and Hermione furiously.
"If either of you guys make us late, or get us caught, I won't rest until I learn how to do that 'Curse of the Bogies' Quirrell told us about, and used them on you."
Hermione opened her mouth, probably to say how exactly how to do this curse, but Jack froze her lips together, and they set off.
Every time they passed a tall window, Jack looked outside at the moon wondering what Manny or the Guardians would think if they knew he was doing this, moreover, he was getting other kids involved in this.
After a while they made it to the trophy room, not once coming across Filch or Mrs Norris.
Crabbe and Malfoy weren't there yet, but even so, Harry and Jack got their wands out just in case they made a surprised arrival.
While they waited, Jack took a look at the cup and awards in the cases, not ever being in here before.
"Hey Harry, come here, I found something I think you'll like," he said after a bit.
Curious Harry, soon followed by everyone else came over and looked where Jack was pointing.
He was pointing at a shield naming an old Gryffindor Quidditch cup winning team.
1968 – James Potter – Chaser*
(AN: I read somewhere on the internet, that despite what the movie said, James Potter was a Chaser, not a Seeker)
"Harry," Ron said surprised "I didn't know your dad used to play on Quidditch team too..."
"I didn't know..." he said.
They were all brought out of their trance, when Baby Tooth started squeaking and pointing to the door leading to the next room.
"Sniff around my sweet, they may be lurking in a corner."
It was Filch, speaking to Mrs Norris.
Horror-struck, Jack looked around and waved to everyone, getting their attention and leading them towards and out of a different door, the last person only making it just as Filch and Mrs Norris came in.
"They're here somewhere," they heard Filch mutter "Probably hiding."
"This way!" Harry hissed quietly getting everyone to follow him creeping down the gallery full of armour.
They could hear Filch getting closer.
Scared, Neville lost his footing and crashed into a suit of armour.
"RUN!" Jack yelled, seeing no point in staying quiet now and grabbing Neville heaved him up and ran, making sure the others were with them not looking back.
All of them ran, Baby hanging on to Jack's pyjama's all the way to their Charms class room which was a few floors up from the trophy room.
"I think we lost him," Harry said panting, looking at the others.
Ron was holding a stitch in his side, Neville was bent over wheezing, Jack seemed fine, and Hermione looked furious.
"I told you... I told you!" she said gasping, holding a stitch as well.
Ignoring her Jack looked around.
"We've got to make it back to Gryffindor Tower," he said "As fast as we can."
"Malfoy tricked you," Hermione said to Harry thinking he'd be the more likely to listen "You realize that right? He was never going to show up. Filch knew there would be someone in there, I bet Malfoy tipped him off."
"Yes, thank you Madam Obvious, we know, now can you shut it and help us get out of here?" Jack said.
Just as they were about to start, a door knob somewhere ahead of them rattles and out shot Peeves.
"Now you've done it..." Jack hissed to Hermione "Bet he was brought here due to all of your whining."
"I don't whine – " Hermione said firmly.
"Wandering around the school at night ikkle firsties? Tut, tut, tut. Naughty Naughty you'll get caughty."
"Not if you don't give us away, Peeves, please." Harry said.
"Should tell Filch I should," Peeves almost sang "It's for your own good you know."
"Well that's too bad then," Jack said getting confused and surprised looks from everyone. "Because what with you a trouble maker and me a trouble maker, we would have done some really fun things together. But... *sniff* But if you want us to be kicked out... Just go ahead and call for that big-nosed old git and that fur ball."
Getting slightly where Jack was going Harry mirrored his drooping head and sad look, signalling the other to do the same too.
"Frost boy likes to have fun too?" Peeves asked shrinking to Baby Tooth's size and coming up to Jack's face inspecting him for lies.
"Of course I do. It's my center, it's what keeps me running, it's what I put into the world," Jack said beaming Baby giving nods and squeaks of agreement.
Peeves looked at Baby Tooth with a hard thinking look on his face, and then something seemed to click.
"Well, well, well, little Frosty the snowman, what are you doing here?" he whispered into Jack's ear so the others didn't hear.
"If you let us go, now, and perhaps distract Filch a little, I'll tell you tomorrow, but it has to be when me and Baby are alone."
Just then a noise from around the corner caught everyone's attention.
"Come on my sweet, they can't have gone far," they all hear Filch say to Mrs Norris.
"In there..." Peeves said pointing to the door on the right using his powers to unlock it for them.
Grinning Jack led everyone into it.
Just as the door was shut they heard Peeves screaming – "STUDENT'S OUT OF BED! STUDENT'S OUT OF BED DOWN THE TRANFIGURATION CORRIDOR!"
"Jack that was amazing!" Ron said finding his voice first. "I don't even think Fred or George ever got anything from Peeves before."
"Well I didn't get anything from him except a very steep I.O.U." Jack said knowing very well how debts worked in the Spirit world – if you owe someone a debt of any kind, it's for life until the debt is repaid.
"Er... Jack you might want to dock Peeves off a little bit..." Harry said getting their attention for them to see a large three headed dog who had all six of it's eyes on them, and each head was showing off yellow fangs and snarling at them.
"Quick, before he gets used to us being here..." Jack said opening the door for everyone to leave, telling Baby to hum a little to give them time, knowing his mythical creatures and that music sooths a Cerberus.
Outside Jack called to Baby who stopped and shot out, and then he closed the door.
Once that was done the six of them headed back to Griffindor Tower to meet a surprised looking Fat Lady.
"Where on earth have you all been?"
"Never mind that," Harry said panting a little (they ran all the way there just in case) "Pig snout... Pig snout..."
The portrait swung open and they all went inside.
It was a few minutes before anyone had anything to say.
"What do they think they're doing?" Ron asked "keeping a think like that locked up in a school..."
"Really?" Hermione asked getting her temper back "That dog is what you're questioning about, here?" she asked.
"What else is there to talk about?" Harry asked, Neville wasn't ready yet, and Jack ask playing with Baby Tooth as a form of thank you.
"Perhaps the strange speeches Jack has made this evening?" she asked "About how he made it sound like his versions of hope, wonder, dreams, and memories are real people? How he got Peeves to leave us alone because he said 'They thought they could have had 'fun'?"
"Hermione..." Harry said yawning "This is too much to deal with right now. Can we just focus on Ron's question?"
From where Jack was, he was asking Baby Tooth to see is she could makes those memories in Hermione's head vanish, the little fairy saying she'll try when the girl was asleep.
"Fine," Hermione said "But none of you use your eyes do you? Didn't you see what it was standing on?"
"Well I myself was a litt-le preoccupied with the fact that it had three heads," Jack said speaking up, getting a nod of agreement from Ron.
"It was standing on a trap door, which means it wasn't there by accident. It's guarding something."
"Guarding something?" Harry asked.
"That's right. Now If you boys don't mind. I'm going to bed before you have some other idea to get us killed, or worse expelled."
And with that she got up, went up the girls staircase, and slammed her door shut.
"No we don't mind..." Ron and Jack said together, Baby Tooth whizzing off after her.
But Hermione has given Jack something to think about as he got back into (or rather, on top of) his bed.
The dog was guarding something.
But what could possibly need as much protection as an almost full grown Cerberus?
(Sorry it took so long to put up, I was distracted this week)