(Author's notes: I had originally planned for either Parvati Patil or Lavender Brown to be the Divination teacher (the latter being less likely since she may have died at the Battle of Hogwarts, though this is not certain in the book, however she was shown dead in the last movie) but instead, I went with good ol' Trelawney. My little sister was watching the Harry Potter movies for the first time and Trelawney's line simply held on to me,"…Hogwarts is my home!"
Thanks, guys, for the support! I'm really in bad times right now. In a few weeks, I start college in a big city a thousand miles away from home. Gah, I'm really nervous. And my friends aren't around for support. Well, let's say they're too busy with their own college transitions, as well…
Glad at least you guys are here, sorta.
Side note: one more chapter after this, then it's Christmas! That is, if I finally figure out what the heck's gonna happen to them. Believe me; I'm just as clueless as you guys.
Anyways, I'm really struggling of what to do with the Christmas Chapter. A lot of readers are wanting a "Snoggletogg" related Christmas for Hiccup, but, dunno, I think if I try that, I'll end up with a practically the same short story as the Dreamworks' "Gift of the Night Fury". Oh, well, gotta stumble, no?
I'll just make it up as I go along.
Moving on—brace yourselves, mates, though I'm not sure if I did well enough for this chapter for anyone to brace themselves. Enjoy.)
The journey to the North Tower was a long one. Five years in Hogwarts haven't really done much to make the students feel less exhausted walking up and down its lengthy passages and corridors daily, not to mention the underground trek to the dungeons, and the trips to the greenhouses at the back of the castle and then to the Groundskeeper's Hut on the other side across a whole field at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
They had been in the North Tower before, all except Jack. Though nearly everyone in the fifth year class have dropped the subject from their schedules as soon as they could following the year they first met Professor Trelawney in their third year.
"There's—got—to—be—a—shortcut," Hiccup panted as they climbed their seventh long staircase and emerged on an unfamiliar landing, where there was nothing but a large painting of bare stretch of grass hanging on the stone wall.
"Apparently in a magical school where rooms appear and disappear, there isn't one!" Rapunzel groaned bitterly, holding on to the cold stone railing. Her legs felt as heavy as lead, "I don't even remember where the classroom is anymore…"
"I think it's this way," said Merida, peering down the empty passage to the right.
"Can't be," said Hiccup, "That's south, look, you can see a bit of the lake out the window—well, actually, you can't, the frost's too thick for some reason…this winter's pretty weird…"
Jack was watching the painting. A fat, dapple-grey pony had just ambled onto the grass and was grazing nonchalantly. Jack had gotten used to the subjects of Hogwarts paintings moving around and leaving their frames to visit one another, but they never ceased to amuse him. A moment later, a short, squat knight in a suit of armor clanked into the picture after his pony. By the look of the grass stains on his metal knees, he had just fallen off.
"Aha!" he yelled, seeing the four of them, "What villains are these that trespass upon my private lands! Come to scorn my fall, perchance? Draw, you knaves, you dogs!"
They watched in astonishment as the little knight tugged his sword out of its scabbard and began brandishing it violently, hopping up and down in rage. But the sword was too long for him; a particularly wild swing threw him off balance and he landed face-down in the grass.
"Well, that was expected," Hiccup chuckled, "Come on, guys before Sir Cadogan could get up…"
"This place is ridiculous…" Jack muttered with a grin, following them up another flight of steps.
"He's mental, that one…" Merida added.
They climbed the last few stairs and emerged onto a tiny landing where most of the mixed-up class was assembled. There were no doors off the landing, much to Jack's befuddlement, but Rapunzel nudged him in the shoulder and pointed up the ceiling where there was a circular trapdoor with a brass plaque on it.
Sybill Trelawney, Divination teacher, it read.
"Profess'ur! We're all 'ere a'ready!" Merida called out impatiently.
As though in answer to her demand, the trapdoor suddenly opened and silvery ladder descended right at their feet.
"After you," Hiccup said to Merida, grinning.
"Oh, fer goodness' sakes…" Merida scoffed as no one in the landing seemed to be willing to go up. She took ahold of the ladder and started to climb. Jack followed after her, chuckling at the looks on everyone's faces. It seemed like they disliked the class more than he imagined.
He emerged into the strangest-looking classroom he had ever seen in the castle. In fact, it didn't look like a classroom, at all, more like a cross between someone's attic and an old-fashioned tea shop. At least twenty small, circular table were crammed inside it, all surrounded by chintz armchairs and fat little poufs. The windows were open though that didn't help lift the gloom from the place, the frosted windows cast a rather sad light in from the cloudy sky without a single patch of blue. It was stiflingly warm, even in that frigid day, and the fire was burning under the crowded mantelpiece was giving off a heavy, sickly sort of perfume as it heated a large copper kettle. The shelves running around the circular walls were crammed with dusty-looking feathers tubs of candles, may packs of tattered playing cards, countless silvery crystal balls, and a huge array of teacups.
Hiccup appeared over Jack's shoulder as the class assembled around them, all talking in whispers.
"You might wanna keep out of her sight…" he said, "A new face means new… well, you'll see."
"What?" Jack turned to him, but he just shrugged and headed off to a table in the corner beside the one Merida and Rapunzel ahd sat down in.
"Hey, where is she?" Rapunzel asked in a hush as they neared.
"Welcome…" came a soft, misty sort of voice, "How nice to see you in the physical world at last."
Jack fell down beside Hiccup unexpectedly as an old woman appeared in front of the class. His knees had given way in surprise, landing him on a pouf.
She was startling. His immediate impression was of a large, glittering insect. Professor Trelawney moved into the light, revealing her to be very thin; her glasses magnified her eyes to several times their natural size, and she was draped in a gauzy spangled shawl. Innumerable chains and beads hung around her spindly neck, her arms and hands encrusted with bangles and rings. Her rather poofy white hair was held back by a bandanna.
"Sit, my children, sit," she said. Everyone climbed awkwardly into armchairs or sank into poufs.
"Surprised, eh?" Merida said to Jack from the other table.
"No, not really…" said Jack, "Well, sort of…"
"She's not bad, but…" Hiccup mumbled under his breath, "Professor Trelawney's not exactly one of the most favored teachers in the school…"
"Thank you all for choosing the ancient and most noble art of Divination for your elective…" Professor Trelawney continued, looking around the room, "Although I could see that not even half of you here possess the Inner Eye…"
The class was composed of the Four Houses, students mixed up for the extra lessons. They had gotten used to Professor Trelawney's unsettling airy tone of voice and subtle disdain for those without the "second sight". Some were simply chatting in whispers among themselves or gawking at their classmates.
"…hey, look, that's Frost isn't it?"
"…never seen him in this class before…"
"…well, the other three are here, no surprise he is, as well…"
"I think…" Rapunzel said, leaning towards Merida, "They're talking about us."
"…really, to see the 'Big Four' in Divination…"
"What did they call us?" Hiccup furrowed his eyebrows. Jack just grinned as a couple of Hufflepuff girls turned away, giggling when he looked their direction.
"Ah—quite nice to see familiar faces," Professor Trelawney continued as she walked around the room, "It seems like those whom I have already warned of not having the Sight have continued to pursue the most difficult of all magical arts. There is very little I could teach you, especially if you did not show any talent in this ancient field earlier on…"
Nobody said anything to this extraordinary pronouncement.
"Is it just me or is she telling us to get out?" Jack sniggered. Rapunzel stifled her chuckle while Merida snorted, lowering their heads as not to attract any unwanted attention from the Divination teacher.
"May witches and wizards, talented though they are in the area of loud bangs and smells and sudden disappearings, are yet unable to penetrate the veiled mysteries of the future," Professor Trelawney went on, her enormous gleaming eyes moving from face to nervous face, "It is a Gift granted to few. You, girl!"
At her sudden exclamation, all turned to Rapunzel whom she was pointing to. She nearly toppled off her pouf.
"—is your mother quite well, my dear?" she asked.
Everyone watched on anxiously.
"I…I think so," Rapunzel gulped, her eyes shifting at all the starers.
"Oh…I wouldn't be so sure if I were you, dear," said Professor Trelawney, the firelight glinting on her long emerald earrings. Rapunzel's eyes widened, turning to Hiccup in alarm. He just crossed his arms and shook his head, unconvinced.
"We will be reviewing basic methods of Divination this year and also the advanced lessons in preparation for your O.W.L.s…" Professor Trelawney continued placidly, "For today we will be checking with tea leaves—by the way, my dear," she shot suddenly at Hiccup, "beware a red-haired woman."
At that, he gave a startled glance at Merida who scoffed at his suspicious look.
"Don' yeh dare," she muttered.
Turning back to the front of the class, Hiccup edged away from her, clasping his hands together. It was good advice, after that crazy dream dance…
"We shall be covering palmistry, tarot-reading, fire-omens and crystal gazing, though I believe we will not get on much since a bout of winter flu this week will send nearly everyone going home two days earlier for the holidays…I, myself will lose voice."
Everyone exchanged glances at another prediction.
"Bout of flu…?" Jack grinned, "Interesting."
"You, dear, what is your name!?"
Jack shot up, Professor Trelawney was suddenly in front of his and Hiccup's table, gigantic dragonfly-eyes staring at him almost accusingly.
"J-Jack Frost?" he said, raising an eyebrow at the eccentric teacher.
"Here we go…" Hiccup sighed with a grin, sitting back, amused.
"I see a dark terrible shadow in your future," she said, snatching up Jack's hands with her own pale wrinkled ones, "Best you find what you have been searching for as soon as possible to prevent a terrible event…!"
Jack remained silent, like he had a realization of something. Everyone looked on, wide-eyed.
"I 'ope this another misread…" Merida rolled her eyes.
"…oh, dear boy…my poor, dear boy…death is dancing behind you!" Professor Trelawney whimpered.
At that, even Hiccup sat frozen. Predictions of death were common around Professor Trelawney, but somehow everyone never got used to it. There would always be an unfortunate student in every year who would receive a deathly visit.
To their surprise, Jack suddenly snorted, lowering his head as he stifled his laughter.
"Of course, Professor…" he said, nodding rather solemnly with pursed lips.
"Seriously?" Rapunzel shook her head, smiling. Jack was itching to laugh.
"I'm glad you accept your fate," Professor Trelawney let his hands go, "Oh, Hiccup, my dear?"
Hiccup snapped, eyes wide, "Yes, ma'am?"
"Would you mind passing me that large silver teapot beside you?"
"Oh…" Hiccup heaved sigh of relief and stood up to retrieve the teapot, "Of course, ma'am."
Professor Trelawney took the teapot form his hands with a smile, "Thank you, dear. Incidentally, that thing you are dreading—it will happen this afternoon."
Hiccup's lung seemed to have shut down. He fell back on his seat, shaken. The professor turned away casually, saying instructions to the rest of the class.
"Hey, you okay?" Jack asked, giving Hiccup a pat on the shoulder. He didn't reply and sat there, eyes transfixed in the air.
"Hic?" Rapunzel asked, edging over to him, "Hiccup, what were you dreading?"
"Come on, yeh yerself said her predictions don't come true," said Merida, "She predicts a student's death every year and nothin' 'appens. Look, she just said Jack was goin' ter die!"
"Heh, like that's gonna happen…" said Jack confidently.
"I know, I know…" Hiccup stammered, "It's just…surprising, is all."
"…please collect a teacup from the shelf, come to me and I will fill it…" Professor Trelawney said.
"I'll get your cup of tea, Hic," she smiled and got up, a lump in her throat.
She had a cup for her and Hiccup filled in front of the class where Professor Trelawney sat on her winged armchair.
"…oh, my dear?" the old witch suddenly said as she turned to leave.
"Yes, professor?"
"I believe you need to take this class more seriously, you have an aura around you, I believe. A receptivity to the resonances of the future, undeveloped as they may be…" she smiled, "Though, I couldn't say the same for your redheaded friend there…"
Rapunzel nodded curtly and continued on her way.
"Oh, I hope not…" she mumbled.
If she had the Second sight, then that nagging feeling she had was not a good omen.
"WHAT DO OU MEAN 'UNTIL AFTER HOLIDAYS'!?" the headmaster outraged as the Commissioner's face in the flames shrank away at the sudden outburst. The circular headmaster's office nearly shook, the previous headmasters in their portraits flinched.
"Headmaster, calm down…" Professor Tooth reminded beside him.
"You cannot postpone 'zhis matter any longer!" North demanded on the clearly terrified ministry official across the flames.
"I—I'm very sorry, headmaster, but all of my available people will be on leave from tomorrow until the end of the holidays, even if we could come over to the school, we have no inkling as of yet what this dragon is…" the commissioner stammered.
North let out a sigh, touching his forehead, "Toothy, how is that going?"
"We're searching every source we can," she smiled apologetically.
"As are we, professor," the commissioner added, "But none of our data shows a match to your sketch by far…"
"What do you propose we do, then, sir?" Tooth asked the official, her bright robes glinting in the firelight.
"Keep the beast under surveillance, but not to be provoked. Keep to research and preparations and we will be able to capture it with the most minimal damage to school grounds…"
"Well?" Toothiana sighed, looking to North who was stroking his beard thoughtfully.
"It is best to wait until the end of the holidays. Even if we are able to catch the dragon, we cannot deal with it safely unless we have the cooperation of the Romanian Conservatory, which, at the moment are still processing our request…" said the commissioner in the fire.
"Unacceptable," North finally stated, "None of my students or teachers will be put in danger any longer."
"But, sir!" exclaimed the commissioner, "Nearly all your students and staff will be leaving the school this winter—and the dragon has had no recent attack. It would be wise to take precautionary measures and prepare. We would only be warning it by making a move. And also—if this specie is so hard to narrow down, then it must be of some value in the name of research and Draconian study…"
North turned his back on the commissioner.
"Fine," he said gruffly, "But if I find the beast slinking out of its hole…"
He suddenly turned to Bunny by the door who was leaning back on a pillar, an arm across his chest, the other, holding up a boomerang thoughtfully to his chin, a devious glimmer in his eyes.
"Yes, sir?" he smirked.
"…you know what to do."
"Use your 'innah eye' ter see the future! Ha!" Merida guffawed as they ran down the stairs, "All I saw was a brown glob in Rapunzel's teacup!"
"What was in your up, anyways?" said Jack, jumping three steps down.
"Er…bad luck, bad luck, then a sudden good turn of for'tune aroun' Christmas-time…" she shrugged.
Rapunzel shifted her books in her arms, eyeing Hiccup worriedly. He walked, head hung and eyes misty. He was still worried about that prediction…?
"Hey, Horrendous!" Jack called up to him in noticing his blank expression.
"Still anxious!?" Merida gaped, "Thought Trelawney was 'an ol' crackpot' like yeh said?"
He didn't say anything. Hiccup kept his eyes glued to his feet, steps deathly slow.
"He can't hear you…" Rapunzel sighed.
"Really?" Jack tilted his head, stopping in the middle of the stairs and swiped the crook of his staff at Hiccup's feet. Ice spread over the stone in the blink of an eye. As Hiccup took another step—he slipped and fell back, sliding down a few feet with a sudden yelp.
His bag flew off to one side, books scattered. There was even a suspicious smashing sound of an ink bottle.
"Ow! WHY would you do that!?" he shouted as he staggered to his feet.
"Yeh awake now?" Merida grinned, grabbing his arm and pulling him up.
"Don't start chasing eachother again, guys…" Rapunzel sighed as Hiccup shot Jack a glare. She stooped down to gather Hiccup's things.
"Okay, okay, sorry…" Jack snickered and grabbing his notebook lying open on the floor.
It was filled with drawings and sketches.
"Hey, what's this…?"
"Give that back!" Hiccup's arms shot out to snatch the notebook away.
Jumping aside agilely, Jack peered down its contents.
"Why, wha's in tha' notebook?" Merida asked, standing up with an armful of textbooks.
Hiccup gave her an alarmed look. There was no time to explain. That notebook was filled with drawings of dragons and…
"These look pretty good, actually," Jack suddenly said, looking up from the pages, "Never knew you liked dragons so much…"
Rapunzel skittered over to him and peered over his shoulder, looking for something…a sketch of agirls she could not recognize the last time…
"…darn, where is it…" she muttered.
"Where's wha'?" Merida asked.
"Oh, nothing!" Rapunzel beamed and dropped a couple of books into Hiccup's arms.
Jack's eyebrows furrowed and flipped through the pages. The drawings were detailed sketches, each one as life-like as they could get. Probably good enough for illustrations in the book Magical Creatures and Where to Find Them. Each was marked with names in Hiccup's nearly unreadable handwriting. Zippleback. Gronckle. Monstrous Nightmare. Even foreign ones like the Norwegian Ridgeback. Swedish Shortsnout. Welsh Green. Chinese Fireball . Hungarian Horntail.
"You're interested in dragons?" he smirked, "Never would have guessed…"
Hiccup's heart drummed. His breath shallowed. What if he found out…?
Then he came across a series of drawings of just one kind of dragon. Dark. Sleek. With large eyes, sturdy legs and a slender tail. It looked simpler than the other illustrations. It was unique.
And very easily recognized.
He had not seen this one in the Dragon Manual.
But he had seen it. It was the same one in Sandy's sketch.
"These are all…accurate, right?" Jack slowly said.
Hiccup gulped, "…yes."
Merida turned from one to the other, puzzled. There seemed to be something going on she was not seeing. Rapunzel looked to her only to receive a shrug.
Jack looked down to the corner of the page where he saw Hiccup's untidy scrawl.
Night Fury.
"I have to go," he suddenly said, tossing the notebook to Hiccup and heading back up the stairs in a hurry.
"Hey! Where are you going!?" Rapunzel called out.
"It's nothing!" he reassured, glancing over his shoulder, "You go on to lunch, I'll follow later!"
"Wha's the matter with tha' lad?" Merida pouted, "He looked like he had somethin' urgent…"
Hiccup's hands trembled as he slowly looked down to the notebook in his hands. He opened it to the page where his thumb was fitted, marking the part where Jack Frost was looking.
"Toothless…" he breathed, his dark green eyes wide with horror.
He went scampering down the stairs, pieces of parchment flying out of his bag. He had to get to him!
"Hiccup! Wait!" Rapunzel shouted after him as she and Merida trailed down the steps.
"Hiccup! Where are yeh goin'!?"
He had to find Toothless…
They were coming.
Scribbling down notes, the many leather-bound books lying open on the surface of his classroom desk turned their pages on their own. Sandy's amber eyes shifted from one marbled page to another, scanning the leaves for relevant sentences and illustrations.
The Charms classroom was empty, the four long tables cleared.
Professor ManSnoozie sat behind his desk, his chair piled up with books to level him with the tabletop.
"…it's got to be somewhere, right?" Jack sighed, leaning down beside him, watching the pages turn as if they were being blown by a gentle wind.
Sandy just shrugged. It had been a few moments since the wintry lad came bounding in while he was having tea with Toothiana, discussing the coming holiday break.
"I found it! I found it!" he was yelled breathlessly as he ran into the room.
"Found what?" Tooth asked, lowering her teacup as a question mark appeared over Sandy's hair.
Jack smiled and tapped the end of his staff on a copy of Sandy's dragon sketch half-hidden under a saucer.
"…Night Fury."
Faces lighting up, they hurriedly set off to work, Tooth zooming out the door in a blur of feathers to inform the Ministry.
"Is it that rare?" Jack let out a puff of air, grabbing the Dragon Manual off the table and (nearly dropping it from its weight) flipped through the pages.
Giving a curt nod, Sandy continued on his work, trying to find any and all there is to be said about the Night Fury, so far only coming up with a few notes of its infamy for being one of the first to set fire to villages when dragons attack in groups, and, strangely, to have the fewest sightings and whereabouts.
"…Bunny's not gonna stop stalking that things, huh?" he smirked as the blurry illustrations of the fire-breathing beasts whizzed between the leaves under his pale fingers.
Sandy beamed and shook his head.
Letting the book plop open as it neared its end pages, Jack found a strange page he had often overlooked when he was asked to scan the Manual.
Probably it was just an unprinted page, missed by its publishers or some other unfortunate mishap.
But as Jack held it in his hands, he noticed that the book was not so blank.
There were empty categories there, the same as other profiles of dragons. Only there was…less in it. There was not even an illustration.
The heading on the top of the page was short and simple.
"Night Fury," he breathed.
Something tugged at his gut. How could he have missed it all this time? Even though he didn't know the name at the time, he should have been looking more closely.
His brows furrowed as he read it. Though there was nothing much to read, in the first place.
"…speed unknown, size unknown," he muttered, "…the unholy offspring of lightning and death, itself."
Looking up from it, Jack had a quizzical look on his face. He glanced to Sandy who was not getting any further into his research and slowly turned back to the mostly empty page.
"…never engage this dragon," he continued, "…your only chance: hide and pray it does not find you."
He dropped the book on to the table with a small thud. Sandy looked to it and reviewed what few contents were written on it. Leaning over to grab the sketch, Jack dropped it over the empty middle of the book.
Sandy slid it over to himself, looking at it with a cryptic expression, especially at the blunt warning at the bottom.
"Well, Sandy," said he, pocketing his hands, "…I think you and Bunny are lucky to be alive."
"Toothless!" Hiccup called out, cupping his hands around his mouth.
"Hiccup, fer goodness' sakes, wha' is goin' on!?" Merida demanded as they trailed after him through the trees.
"It's awfully cold," Rapunzel shivered, hugging herself, her breath visible.
Snow fluttered from the tops of the trees, continuing their endless, though gentle fall, the cold seeping into their skin. The air was crisp and frigid, and the forest chattering with the noises of its inhabitants.
"I have to find him!" Hiccup told them desperately as he wheeled around.
His freckles showed on his face in the low temperature, green eyes filled with dread.
"Is this abou' wha' Trelawney told ya!?" Merida panted, stopping in front of him. Her face was flushed, nose pink from the cold, "Curse this…I should'a never signed yeh lot inter tha' class…"
"…this is about Jack, isn't it?" Rapunzel said in a low voice, walking towards them carefully.
Hiccup pursed his lips and turned away, heading off towards the secret hollow.
"Is tha' it!?" Merida scoffed, stomping through the snow behind him, "Yer really gettin' too paranoid fer yer own good…"
Hiccup didn't say anything or even glanced back.
"Merida…" Rapunzel said, grabbing a hold of her friend's arm and giving her a firm look.
"Just leave him be for now," she said, her gut feeling getting stronger.
"Look, we're in'the woods on a school day, usually I'd be all over tha', but I kno'w Pitch Black isn't goin' ter miss this chance to get our sorry bottoms…" Merida noted, "Yer gettin' too far on this paranoia abou' Jack…"
"Just go back!" Hiccup suddenly shouted, glancing over his shoulder.
Was that it? She trusts Jack more than him!?
"Wha' did you say ter me!?" Merida outraged, clenching her fists.
"I didn't ask you to follow!" Hiccup reminded, rather irritated as he turned to face them, "Just go back if you don't even believe me!"
Merida gritted her teeth and was about to run at him when Rapunzel yanked her back.
"Stop it, both of you!" she hissed, looking at one to the other fiercely. Her kind demeanor had shattered. If they weren't going to stop this, then she will.
"Now I have had enough with your trust issues, alright!?"
"She's the one with the problem…" Hiccup muttered.
"Shut up!" Rapunzel snapped, clapping her hands together, "Now the two of you, make-up!"
"It's not my fault! He just yelled-!"
"Now!"
Hiccup lowered his head and let out a sigh, "I'm sorry, alright?"
Merida crossed her arms and turned away. Rapunzel raised an eyebrow and suddenly slapped Merida's arm.
"Ow! Fine, I'm sorry!" she grumbled.
"Great. Now, Hic, we're coming with you to Toothless, okay?" Rapunzel let out a sigh, and patted his shoulder, "We're just gonna check things out, see if anything's wrong. Whatever Trelawney said, it's better to be safe than sorry…"
With an uneasy truce, the headed off to the hollow, pulling their robes about them, warmth seeping out with every breath.
Hiccup's heart thrummed as they slid between the hidden passage in the rocks to arrive in the untouched hollow. They called out for him to be replied with silence.
"…bud, where are you!?" Hiccup called, running towards Toothless' little hideaway in the stone.
A dark form suddenly leapt out and pounced on him, sending him falling back on the snow.
The girls let out shocked gasps but soon eased when they recognized him.
Hiccup laughed as Toothless nuzzled him with his snout, letting out happy little growls.
"Oh, bud…" he smiled as he sat up and hugged him, Toothless' black eyes widened as they always did.
Merida let out a breath and smiled in seeing the genuine relief on Hiccup's face. Was he that worried…?
"Are you okay, bud? Are you hungry? Did anyone see you?" Hiccup ranted on, planting both hands on either side of the dragon's head and fussing over him like a worried mother.
"He's fine!" Rapunzel chuckled, "See? Nothing to worry about!"
In seeing them other two, Toothless bounded for them and gave them a nudge hello.
"Hey, lit'tle lizard…" Merida grinned, patting him on the forehead.
"Hey, we missed you, you know that!?" Rapunzel cooed as Toothless sat up and tried to smile, an eye twitching.
"So…wha' now, Hiccup?" said Merida, shrugging her bag off her shoulder.
"We wait." He replied, looking around the hollow.
And wait they did.
They gathered branches and twigs as Toothless blew fire on the ground, melting away the snow and leaving the warmed earth.
"Incendio," Hiccup said, setting the pile of branches alight as the other three gathered around, Toothless lying down behind him, Merida and Rapunzel sitting on their bags.
"This bett'ar be worth skippin' Potions over…" Merida puffed, indian-sitting on the ground.
"Yeah, yeah…" Hiccup replied, sitting back, leaning on Toothless' side, "I'll do your homework."
"We'll see…" she smirked.
Rapunzel just smiled and shook her head at them.
Hours passed by and still there seemed to be nothing happening about. The silvery sun behind the wintry clouds sailed over quietly, the slow falling snowflakes kept coming. They talked, though there was nothing much to talk about, even among the three of them. The weather made them feel like they would rather sit still than start a conversation. Though they kept warm, it looked as if the three of them were ready to sneeze and come down with a cold.
"Poor Toothless…" said Rapunzel as Merida began to shake snowflakes out of her hair, "You're always this lonely here, huh?"
Toothless lifted up his head and turned to her, letting out a soft gurgle in reply.
"Sorry about that, bud," Hiccup said, tugging at his uniform's hood over his head.
"Yeh two know tha' we missed three classes a'ready, righ?" Merida sniffed, "And lunch…oh, sweet lunche'on…"
"Too bad the pond's frozen over," said Hiccup wistfully.
Rapunzel suddenly sneezed. Rubbing her nose with her sleeve. She looked red in the face.
"You okay?" Hiccup sat up.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm just—" she began, only to sneeze again, sounding like her lungs were yanked out.
"Ye're not well," Merida shook her head and stood up, "Let's get yeh some food in yer guts and tea…"
"But we have to watch Toothless…" Rapunzel insisted as Merida pulled her up.
"No, no, it's okay, I'll stay here," Hiccup said, shooting up to his feet.
Toothless tilted his head, inching towards them curiously.
"I'll…" Merida glanced to Hiccup, turning away as quickly as she did, "I'll be back later…"
He nodded. Toothless nudged on Rapunzel's hand. She smiled and hugged him.
"You be good, okay?" she sniffed, "I'll bring you back some fish…"
Hiccup watched them disappear through the passage in the rocks. He stood there for quite some time, standing beside Toothless quietly.
"I had a really bad class today, buddy…" he sighed, "…a teacher said something was going to happen."
Toothless looked up at him with his big black eyes.
"Nah, don't worry about it, I'm here to make sure nothing does!" he reassured.
"…ooah."
The faint whisper sent a chill down Hiccup's spine. They both looked up to the top of the hollow's rocky wall to see nothing there.
"What was that!?" Hiccup gulped, wand out, looking around alertly.
There definitely was something.
Toothless' ears perked up, turning at the slightest sound. His pupils shrank, sensing a presence in the air.
"…ooah."
There it was again. Like a small moan, a hooting wind.
Toothless suddenly crouched, growling as he looked up.
"What the…?" Hiccup murmured as he saw something glowing up the wall where the trees began. It was just floating there…a blue light.
Letting out a roar, Toothless bolted for it.
"Toothless, no!" Hiccup darted after him, jumping in time to grab hold of neck.
He let out a yell as Toothless scampered up the rocks, flapping his wings feverishly to propel him. Hiccup was shook around, but he held on, eyes closed, not even daring to peek as the dragon scrambled up the hollow's border.
"Toothless, stop!" he called out, but Toothless didn't seem to hear him, "We're gonna fall!"
With another roar, Toothless reached the top, digging his claws into the ground as he looked left and right for his prey.
"Bud, what has gotten into you?!" Hiccup groaned as Toothless stood still for that moment.
He let his legs settle along Toothless' sides. It was hard to ride him without a saddle.
"What was that, anyway…?" said Hiccup with a pant.
There was a rumbling inside Toothless, like he did when he found an enemy or simply something to pursue. A gleam caught Hiccup's attention. He turned to it to see the same thing as before. A floating…orb. No, more like a flame, rippling in midair. A wisp.
"No," Hiccup grimaced as Toothless slowly crouched to it, "No, bud—no…"
Then he leapt at it.
Holding on for dear life, Hiccup was tossed around, nearly falling off as his reptilian friend chased the wisp through the trees, bounding up and down as his flapping wings lifted him off the ground and dropped him once again. The wisp cut through the air, leaving faint blue flames in its wake.
"Stop chasing it!"
The wisp disappeared as Toothless jumped right on top of it, the puzzled dragon circling the ground, looking for it.
"Oh, thank goodness!" Hiccup sighed in relief, clutching his head. Everything seemed to be spinning…
Unfortunately, it popped up once more a few feet off, a bright glow against the snow.
"Oh, no…"
And so a wild goose chase began through the trees. Toothless sprinted across the snow wildly, the wisps forming a trail up ahead, disappearing one after another, as if leading them. Hiccup thought it wasn't a very good idea to follow lights in the Dark Forest, but there was nothing he could do hanging on to Toothless' back. Without a saddle, without reins. He was nothing more than a bag-tag flying in the wind.
Then, suddenly, the wisps disappeared altogether.
"Oh, Thor's beard…" Hiccup moaned, sliding off Toothless to fall face-first in the ground, "Thanks for nothing, you useless reptile…"
Toothless looked about, sniffing the air, eyes wide, frills and ears twitching.
"Now, what…?" Hiccup staggered to his feet.
They were in a clearing. The trees surrounded them ominously, framing the cloudy grey sky overhead with their dark foliage. The snow was thick underfoot, and they kept falling slowly. The trees were cloaked in shades and shadows, looking like labyrinths from all sides.
Then footsteps.
"Hide!" Hiccup warned, pushing Toothless by the side towards the trees.
But he would not budge and faced the other direction, crouching against the snow, a low rumbling from his chest.
"…step aside, Hiccup."
He froze. The fine hairs on the back of his neck bristled in fear, a shiver running down his spine.
Slowly turning around, his green eyes were wide as he faced someone he knew all too well.
"…you." Hiccup panted.
"Get back," Jack warned, standing there in the middle of the clearing, pointing his frosted staff at them readily.
Toothless' claws dug into the ground as he stretched his wings, growling aggressively.
"No, no, no, stop, please—please!" Hiccup stammered, jumping between them, taking a hold of Toothless' snout and pushing him back, trying to keep a fight at bay.
"It was you!" Jack yelled, "It was you all along—how could you!?"
"Please—I can explain!" he pleaded, "I-It wasn't his fault, I swear!"
Toothless darted past Hiccup and let out a hellish screech, deafening, a green mist forming in his wide-open mouth, ready to be set fire to. Jack raised his staff, ready to unleash and icy storm.
"Toothless, NO!" Hiccup yelled, "NO!"
Toothless retreated, the gas mist disappearing as he turned to Hiccup with wide black eyes, purring. Hiccup stood between him and Jack, arms spread, facing the other lad bravely.
Jack's eyes widened. It listened to him…
Hesitantly, he lowered his staff, eyeing the two; a breath escaping from his lips. Uncertainty crossed his face.
Hiccup turned to him, "Do anything you want—expel me from Hogwarts, just don't…"
His voice was desperate.
"…please just don't hurt Toothless."
Jack didn't say anything. He just stood there, blue eyes transfixed, thinking…
The snow fell silently from the sky, as nothing else seemed to move. Everything was still.
"…Jack! Where are ya, ya bloody show pony!?"
Hiccup let out a gasp as they turned to the far end of the clearing where crackling twigs resounded, being stepped on by someone.
Professor Bunnymund. He was tracking the woods again.
It was his chance.
"Toothless, go!" he urged on, steering Toothless towards the treeline, running alongside him. They scampered off as quickly as they could. Hiccup looked over his shoulder to see if Jack was following. To his surprise, he wasn't. He was only staring after them, an undecided expression on his face, gripping his staff in one hand as Bunnymund appeared.
They quickly disappeared through the labyrinth of trees, hidden by the blurry grey shadows of the forest.
"—here, over here!" Hiccup urged Toothless as he leapt behind a gigantic base of a tree, roots rising above the ground taller than both of them, forming an earthen wall, a sudden narrow cliff in the woods.
Hiccup stood there, pressed against the earthen wall, the cold seeping through the back of his robes. As Toothless crouched beside him, ears shifting. Even Hiccup could hear their voices far-off in the suddenly silent forest, echoing slightly.
"…what was it, did you see anything?" Bunnymund asked as he walked over to Jack with his boomerang in hand.
Jack looked to him, face empty of its usual grins and smirks.
"…only a thestral."
Hiccup's green eyes widened, exchanging glances with Toothless. Unbelievable.
Soon after, when the coast was clear, Hiccup had set off to return Toothless to the hollow, making sure that there weren't any wisps about to lead him off again unexpectedly. But even as he sat down beside his best friend, he could not imagine what had just happened in the clearing.
It was nearly four in the afternoon when Hiccup returned to the castle, feeling that everything was fine for the moment being…
The Great Hall was packed and noisy, the elves had sent up a hot soup and tea, to which everyone was more than happy to partake in, given the cold. He walked in to find Rapunzel sipping a cup of tea, laughing at a joke Merida had just said from across the table.
"Oh, hey, Hic!" Merida waved, cheerier than she was, all thoughts of the small quarrel forgotten.
Hiccup smiled as they beckoned him to have something to eat.
Jack stood by the doorway, leaning back on the stone arch, staff leaning on his shoulder. He watched Hiccup with an empty expression, blue eyes following him.
Hiccup stopped, head low. There was an awkward moment of silence until he spoke up.
"…thanks." he uttered, not really sure of what to do.
Jack just smirked, heading for the Gryffindor table. He chuckled, suddenly tapping the side of Hiccup's head with the crook of his staff as he passed by.
"Ow!" Hiccup grimaced, the stinging pain of brain-freeze shooting through his skull.
"Why would you do that!?"
But from that moment on, Jack Frost was his friend.
