Chapter 21: The Nine Wands of the Black Bayou
Miles opened his eyes and saw everything was spinning around him. He let out a small squeal before landing face first in the snow. He slowly sat up on his knees and looked around. Somehow, he was now in the school courtyard. "Never apparated before young man?" a scratchy old voice said.
Miles looked around and saw an old and gray looking Pukwudgie walking around in the snow. "Who are you," Miles asked in a confused voice. The Pukwudgie continued walking in the large circle around Miles as he looked up at the falling snow. "Willam," the Pukwudgie said,"senior Pukwidgie and head groundskeeper."
"Why did you bring me here," Miles asked, "how did you bring me here?" William finally stopped his walking and perched himself on a snow covered bench. "Apparation," William answered, "the best but most dangerous form of magical transport. It takes years to master." Miles slowly stood and then hesitantly sat down beside William. Ever since he first arrived at Ilvermorny, Miles had been curious about the leather skinned, big eared, foul mouthed creatures, but at this moment his fascination had hit a high. William did not strike him like the other Pukwudgies as so far he had not cursed and cast any spells that tried to bring him harm.
William took in a big sigh and then looked at Miles. "I brought you here, because you need to know the truth," William said. Miles took in a deep breath and then looked back down at William. "I knew when you were chosen by all of the houses, you'd be in danger. That we all were in trouble. You are the one, the last one."
"The last one of what," Miles asked. William began to look away from Miles and twist and wring his small hands together. "You're the ninth and final one needed to conjure the absolute, the most incredible source of infinite power," William explained, "Have you never heard of the story of the Nine Wands of the Black Bayou?"
"Nine wands of what," Miles asked. William looked at him with a shocked look on his face. "It is more of rumor actually, but many of us wholeheartedly believe it," said William. Miles stood from the bench and started to pace around. "What are you talking about?" Miles snapped. William stood from the bench and walked over to a part of the courtyard that was covered in thick untouched snow. He waved his hand and the snow started to part and form wand shaped figures.
Miles slowly walked over to William who was still shaping the snow. "The Nine Wands of the Black Bayou, were a set of wands made out of pure ebony wood, with diamond horn unicorn hair cores, all bound together with the strongest magic and solid gold bands." Miles' eyes opened wide as he heard the story and saw the wand shaped snow figures form a circle. "The maker of these wands was a powerful witch from Lousiana. She made them to only be used to bring unity between the warring magical groups."
"Warring magical groups," Miles said, " Does this have to do with the European magic taking over the Native American magic and African American magic at Ilvermorny?" William moved his hands and the wand shaped snow figures lined up in a single file formation. "This goes far beyond Ilvermorny," William said, "This was across America. The way the Black Bayou Witch saw it, the holders of the wands could be the only one to bring back an America that had been torn between magic and nonmagical, black and white, powerful and powerless."
The first wand in the line rose up above the others. " According to legend, the first wand was to give its user the power of the heart. To make anyone and anything be empathetic to each other." The second wand rose. "The next wand was created gave it's user the power of the mind. To be more brilliant than any other witch or wizard alive. The information would just stick to the holder." William explained that the third wand gave it's user the power of healing, the fourth gave the power of infinite strength, the fifth gave the use legilimency, or the power of interpreting people's thoughts and maybe control them, the sixth gave the power of earth or be able to control and manipulate land forms.
The seventh wand rose and William took a moment to look over at Miles. "The seventh, wand gives the use the power of navigation. The user will always know where to find what he or she needs, even if they aren't looking for it." Miles looked hard that seventh floating wand. "That's my wand," Miles said, "But I don't have it anymore. Why can I still feel the navigation?" William laughed and turned to face Miles.
"Because it is still yours." William stated, "You still have its power and until you lose it in battle or... die, you will always have its power." Miles shook his head at what he had just heard. " The last two Black Bayou wands are the most powerful. The eighth gives the power of light and the ninth gives the power of darkness," said William. Miles watched as the wands all turn back into snow. William started back to walk around and Miles quickly followed behind.
"Why are they the most powerful? What do they do?" Miles asked. William stopped his walk and turned to face Miles. "One gives life and the other takes it away," said William, "If one group possesses both those wands have the ability to kill the holders of the other wands, collect them and the unleash the absolute. Whoever is control of the absolute, is in control of the magical world."
Miles took a moment to digest everything he has just heard. He walked away and William watched him for a moment. "So everything that has happened to me this year has been someone trying to kill me to get my wand," Miles asked. William slowly nodded "Where are the other wands?" Miles asked. William sighed and took a moment before answering.
"Six of them are with their owners, somewhere in the world. One is missing. One belongs to you and the other was found earlier this year and brought here to the castle for safe keeping," William said. Miles, more confused than ever, looked around and said,"the scourers, they want the wand that's here as well as the one that belongs to me." William nodded. "What do I need to do," Miles added.
William laughed a little and then made his way towards Miles. "You're are an eleven-year-old boy. You can't do anything," William said. Miles felt himself getting angry. "Miles, is it? I brought you here to tell you the truth. So that you can prepare yourself. Prepare yourself for death. The people who want your wand are far too powerful, young man. It is better to not even get involved."
Miles listened to William's words for a moment and then stormed out of the courtyard. He was furious and he stomped all the way back through the castle. When he made it back to the first year boys dormitory hall, he saw two men guarding the door to his room. He quickly turned and ran in the other direction. The sun began to rise as he ran through the castle. Every corridor seemed to be filled with the suit-wearing wizards and witches.
Miles took a second to think and he realized the name Drew had given them, Aurors. Miles dodged the aurors best he could until he found himself going up the large tower in which Professor Oxendine's class was held. What William predicted must be happening sooner than he thought. The other groups must be close to the castle. He reached the door of Professor Oxendine's classroom to see the door open.
Miles slowly walked in and saw one of the Aurors and Professor Oxendine arguing. "I don't know anything about him," Professor Oxendine shouted, "No more than any other student. Why are you interrogating me?" Professor Oxendine stormed away from the auror and walked behind her desk. She plopped down in the chair and looked forward. She blinked a few times as the auror began to explain himself because she thought for a second she saw Miles.
"Professor," the auror said in his monotone voice, "we are interviewing all of the boy's teachers. We need to find him and take him to MACUSA headquarters immediately." Miles listened closely to the auror's words from under the desk he was now hiding under. "The same MACUSA headquarters where President Wollerwick was kidnapped from? I don't think so," Professor Oxendine snapped at the auror, "he's safer here."
The auror bit his tongue and stormed out of the classroom and then slammed the door behind him. "Miles," Professor Oxendine said softly. Miles awaited a moment and then crawled out from under the desk. Professor Oxendine lept up from the desk and ran towards him. "The entire school is looking for you," she shouted, "where have you been?" Miles stepped away as Professor Oxendine tried to approach him.
"I have been trying to find out what's going on?" said Miles, "Are you going to tell me?" Professor Oxendine stepped away from Miles and then began to walk towards her desk. "Why are the aurors here?" Miles asked. "They are here to find you before the Scourers or anyone else who has something to gain does," Professor Oxendine answered, "But I fear, their intentions are not good. You are very powerful and very valuable Miles. Whoever you pledge your allegiance to, will greatly benefit."
"I have to pick a side?" Miles asked. Professor Oxendine crossed her arms, looked down Miles and said,"Or you can form your own side." She then walked over to one of the large windows in her classroom. Miles watched her for a moment and slowly walked over to her. "That's what I did," Professor Oxendine said in a huffy voice, " Many people tried to pull me to their sides, but I held my allegiance to myself. It eventually led to my family turning their backs on me."
Professor Oxendine turned around to face Miles. He was looking up at her with his eyes full of confusion. She just turned and walked away from him and back over to her desk. "What did you do then?" Miles asked as he followed her over to the desk. "I went out into the world and I tried to turn my back on everything. But then I realized, I could do more good here than there," Professor Oxendine answered.
"I think I know what I'm going to do," Miles said after a moment of thinking about Professor Oxendine's words. Miles then turned to run out of the classroom before Professor Oxendine could answer. She sat at the desk thinking for a few moments and then got up and ran to the secret door that hid her private quarters. Once inside the quarters, Professor Oxendine began shifting through her things until she found a small box. She quickly tucked the box under her robes and ran out of the room.
In the Horned Serpent common room, Pent gave all the students in the house the messages sent from MACUSA to their parents: "We are on high alert. The Scourers are planning to attack the grounds of the Ilvermorny School with the next couple fo days. Arrangements are being made to have all students removed from the school as their safety is the number one goal of the Magical Congress. You were sent this letter to prepare for your student's arrival." As Pent finished reading the notice, there was an eruption from the students all who did not want to leave the school year months before it was over.
Drew stood to voice his comments as well but he noticed a flicker of light coming from the balcony level of the common room. He made his way through the crowd and up to the balcony. Once he got to the top of the balcony he saw Miles, Javi and Lillian. Miles was flashing a light from his wand to get Drew's attention.
"Miles what are you doing here, there are aurors everywhere looking for you?" said Drew, "And why are they here? They can't be in our common room." Miles put his wand away and grabbed Drew by the shoulders. "We came to get you because we need your help," said Miles, "We're going to fight back." Drew pushed Miles'hands off his shoulders and stepped back. "Fight back? Against who? MACUSA? The Scourers? The Collective people?" Drew snapped.
"Against all of them," said Lillian, "We're standing up for ourselves and the school!" Drew looked shocked and began to pace around. "We're going to get killed!" said Drew. Miles stopped Drew from pacing and looked him in the eye. "Since when do you care about the consequences of things?" Miles asked. Drew looked around for a moment and then said "Since this got real. It was fun sneaking around the castle at night and stuff but we could we could really get hurt. We could really die."
"Or we could be come legends," Javi said softly. Miles, Lilliand and Drew all turned and looked at him. "I've always wanted to become someone. I've always wanted have something that I was proud of. This my chance. This is our chance, " Javi continued, "When we met on the train, you told us that everyone thought your family were traitors to the wizarding world. This your chance to turn that around. Make the Mason name mean something. Come with us Drew."
Drew looked at Javi and then at Miles and Lillian. "Oh God," Drew moaned, "I guess I'm in." Miles and Lillian clapped and high fived Javi. "What's the plan?" Drew asked, "I heard the trains are coming at midnight to take everyone home. Won't they look for us on the train" Miles and Lillian exchanged a smirk. "Don't worry we have that already taken care of," said Miles.
Nettie shoved past a pair of Aurors and made her way into her father's office. Professor Exeter looked from his desk and then waved his hand at the aurors to give them the signal to leave his office. Nettie waited for the aurors to leave before she sat down. "Dad, what are you doing?" Nettie asked suspiciously.
Professor Exeter held up the documents he was working on and explained to Nettie, "They are the master rosters for the train tonight. I have to make sure every student's name is on here before I pass them off to Big Tex. Why do you ask?" Nettie just shrugged her shoulders and looked away. Professor Exeter put the papers down and attempted to start back working before he looked up again.
"What do you want young lady?" asked Professor Exeter in a stern tone. Nettie continued to look confused. "You are my daughter. I know you better than you know yourself. Now what do you want?" Professor Exeter asked again. "I want to stay at school. There's nothing to do at home in Beverly Hills. Plus mom is there and you know she'll try to make go to those stupid parties and charity events," Nettie shouted.
Professor Exeter put down his pen and the papers and walked around his desk and over to his daughter. " The school is too dangerous right now. Hopefully we can get all the sorted out and have the school reopned for next year, " Professor Exeter said as Nettie rolled her eyes, "And give your mother a break. She's the only witch her entire family. They don't understand us or our world, so she tries to live in their world...so she doesn't feel so lonely while we both are here. You understand?"
Nettie slowly nods at her father's words. "Now how about I go get you a fudgy willikins before the pukwudgies clean the kitchen, will that make you feel better?" Professor Exeter asked to which Nettie happily nodded. "I'll be right back princess," Professor Exeter said as he left the office. Once Professor Exeter left the room, Nettie quickly ran around the desk and began looking over the rosters.
She ran her fingers up and down the pages until she found Drew, Lillian and Javi's name. She marked them as present on the list. She flipped through the pages for Miles name, but he wasn't on the list. She thought for a moment and then the thought popped into her mind. She quickly marked one more name on the pages and then put them back as her father had left them.
"Here is your fudgy willikins, "Professor Exeter said as he walked into the office, "with extra slug salt." Nettie quickly ran past him and out into the corridor. "Thanks, dad," she shouted, " I'm going to go pack for the trip." Professor Exeter stood there a little dumbfounded at first but then he just took a big spoonful of the creamy confection and went back to his desk.
Nettie ran through the castle and up the stairs towards the library. Once near the library she stayed out of sight of the aurors and carefully ran towards the side entrance. Inside the library, she weaved through the stacks of books until she got to the small corner in which Miles in his friends had frequently met during the semester.
Nettie shook her head with anger once she got to the corner and discovered that Lillian and Drew were the only ones there. "What are you doing here?" Drew asked, "Everyone is gathering in the sorting hall to board the carriages for the train." Lillian stood up to face Nettie once she realized she ignored the question was still shaking her head. "Nettie what's going on," Lillian asked, "Just tell me."
"Miles's name wasn't on the list," said Nettie. Drew stood to his feet and tried to process what Nettie had said. "That means..." Drew started. "It means MACUSA is leaving him here for bait for the Scourers," Lillian shouted. "We have to warn him, " Nettie asked, "We have to warn him." Drew and Lillian exchanged looks and then looked at Nettie.
"He went back to his room to get the history book," Lillian said, "He said it would be useful." Nettie heard Lillian's words and took off running out of the library. "Where are you going?" Drew shouted. "To warn him," Nettie shouted as she kept running. Drew and Lillian exchanged a look and then took off running as well.
Miles and Javi walked down the hallway of the first year boy's hall. Everyone was gone and the entire hall was dead silent. Miles looked into the emptied out rooms as the past by them. It seemed as if everyone had packed in a hurry and had no plans to return. "I'm glad you thought about the book," Miles said to Javi. "It has been helpful so far. We wouldn't even know about the lost witch or any of that stuff without it," Javi replied.
"I just don't know how everything is connected," Miles said as he Javi approached their room, " What do the wands have to do the lost witch?" Javi simply shrugged his shoulders as they reached their room. The boys entered the dark room. The windows were open and the white curtains fanned back and forth as the night breeze blew through them. Miles looked around for a moment and began searching for his book while Javi walked over to one of the windows.
Nettie, Drew and Lillian ran through the castle towards the first year boy's hall. "You still haven't told us why you're still here," Drew asked as they made a sharp left and then kept running. "I marked myself present on the list like I did yours," Nettie answered as they ran up the last of the stair before the boy's hall, "I wanted to be a hero too." The trio reached the entrance of the boys' hall to see the stone wall had been blown open.
"What or who did this," Lillian asked looking at the crumpled rock. Drew shakingly tapped her on the shoulder and pointed ahead. Lillian and Nettie looked up to see three scourers stomping down the hallway. "They're heading towards Miles' room," Drew squeaked. Nettie quickly took off down the hallway. "Are you crazy!?" Drew yelled.
Nettie pulled out her wand and yelled, "Satis est!" A bright white stream of energy flew out of the and struck the ceiling above the Scourers. Rock began to fall and two of the scourers jumped out the way in enough but once was crushed under the rubble. The other scourers began sending bolts of energy towards Nettie. She dodged the blasts of rock as she continued to battle the scourers.
Lillian pulled out her wand and ran towards Nettie. "What are you doing?" Drew sshouted. "Helping my friend!" Lillian shoted back as he ran down the hallway. Drew wiped the small tears of fear from his eyes and then pulled out his wand. "Why do I do this to myself," he said and then ran down the hallway. The three children kept battling the scourers while trying to devise a plan.
"How are we going to get to Miles," Nettie shouted after ducking a bolt of energy from one of the scourers. "Can we save him after we save ourselves," Drew cried as he jumped out of the way of a blast of rock. The battle raged on in the hallway as Miles tried to figure out how to help from inside his room.
"Javi we have to do something," Miles shouted as he military style crawled across the floor, "Javi? Javi?" Miles looked around the room and saw that Javi was gone. But where could he have went? Miles stood to his feet and ran over to the windows. He looked around for a second and then he saw several witches and wizards on brooms flying towards his window. He quickly ran and took cover and then BOOM! The entire wall blasted open.
Out in the hallway, the scourers and the children all fell to the ground from the vibrations. Nettie looked up and around and said, "They're here." Drew and Lillian exchanged scared looks and then looked back at Nettie. The three of them jumped to their feet and then took off down the hallway. They jumped over the scourers and then ran down the rest of the hallway until they reached Miles' room.
Inside of Miles' room were five scourers. One of them was carrying Miles' limp body. Nettie, Drew and Lillian were all stunned long enough by this that it gave the scourers a chance to grab them. One of the scourers to turned around to face them and the red mask on his face was glowing red, had smoking black eyes and the lettter "A," was roughly carved into the mask.
"What do we have here, " the glowing scourer said in his scratchy echoing tone, "the child of Mason and Exeter. If the boy was not enough, MACUSA will sure cave in now." The glowing one let out a roar of laughter and then motioned for the scourers to follow him and then said ,"Now that we have what we need... we must go to the tomb of the lost witch"