(Author's notes: Yes, I apologize for the previous short chapter. I had a lovely visit from my dear old friend Writer's Block who is now officially an imaginary friend who looks like a snarky Jack Frost wearing untidy casual Hogwarts uniform. And also, this is a pretty busy week.
I just finished making my PAINFUL presentation for Political Science, and still have a handful of exams to prepare for yet here I am, writing another chapter for you guys. Not to mention my works were slammed by my Writing professor. You better feel special! Now cheer up from whatever imagined slight you're having today and crack up a smile for me, lovely! Smile because I certainly can't for the moment being.
UNTIL I SAW THE TEASER FOR HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2! HICCUP, YOU'RE HOT!
Though my days may be bleak, I hope this chappy makes yours brighter wherever you are in the world! Enjoy!)
"…Slytherin won against Ravenclaw already," Al continued as the Gryffindor team gathered in the dressing room after another hectic practice. The winter's snows had been melted away by the rains that visited the castle on almost a daily basis.
The field had turned muddy; and flying in the rain proved to be a challenge with the furious gusts of wind whipping at them.
Merida rubbed a towel over her water-clogged mop of red hair, hanging limply about her face.
Another storm had come and now pattered on the wooden stands up above, the pattering sounds muffled from inside the lockers. Whatever dim light the sky had provided were clouded over, and now the lanterns lit themselves up, lighting the room as Al continued on with his diagrams on the chalkboard.
"…and since Hufflepuff won against Ravenclaw in the last match, that means we have one less house to worry about," he said, tugging his goggles of his damp jet-black hair.
The other members sat about, still in soaked uniforms. The scarlet shade of Gryffindor now looked more like bloody red. Lily muffled a sneeze, pulling a towel tighter about her.
"So Ravenclaw's out o' the Tournament?" Merida piped up.
"Yes," Al nodded to her, taking off his leather gauntlets, not looking glad about it, at all.
"…and Slytherin didn't even let them score a single goal," Hugo mumbled, hunched over, looking around at them, "They're stronger than last year, we have to win this next one against them!"
"Even if we lose, we're still gonna get a second shot," Rose reassured, leaning on the wall with arms crossed, "Chances are, Slytherin's going to get to the championship."
"Don't be Grims, people!" Al cut in, beaming, "We've been training harder than any of them! We've got the best players in the school—the most dedicated group of people I've ever seen!"
Merida looked at him as he spoke. Somehow, the team's morale had been sapped by the rains.
Why, no one knew.
"We're at the same platform as Slytherin!" Al pointed out, "They won—we did, as well!"
"Aye!" Lily squeaked, getting up and imploring them all, face fierce despite being red from the cold, "Who says they're better than us!?"
"Aye!" Rose echoed.
"Aye!" Hugo added, jumping up to his feet.
The rest of the team rose up and echoed the call, smiles crawling up to their faces, hearts feeling stronger.
"AYE!" Merida chortled, punching her fist in the air.
Al smiled at their raised spirits, "So, it's decided then? Are we going to win tomorrow?!"
"AYE!"
Thunder rumbled in the skies, lightning flashing within the dark clouds that had overtaken the skies, plunging the world in an early darkness. The trees in the Forbidden Forest swayed in the blowing wind, birds fluttering off for shelter. Messenger owls hurried to the Owlery, some screeching as the wind swiped them off course. The dark waters of the Black Lake could be seen through the windows of the Gryffindor Tower, the surface glimmering silver in the dim light of the grey skies as small waves began to rise in the surface. The pale shape of the Giant Squid swam lazily underneath, unaffected by the ominous storm.
The fires danced in the hearth, embers fluttering about the coals.
The common room was warm and homely, as always. Bright banners hung cheerfully on the walls, ready for the game the following day. Everyone was down in the Great Hall, enjoying the indoor comfort the storm created, probably doing another pre-game debate, tossing wagers and boasting about their house.
For everyone was head over heels about the Quidditch Season…except for one.
Rapunzel sat at the foot of the sofa, her knees folded up as she pored through the weathered leather bound journal.
"…I wonder…" she mumbled, running a hand across the empty pages.
Pascal squeaked on her shoulder quizzically.
"I don't know, Pascal," she shrugged, "This always seemed to be full of his scribbles and drawings…I wonder what happened."
Flipping the book close, she checked the stamped name on the brown cover, just to make sure it was the same journal she always saw.
Property of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock.
"It's his journal, alright," she glanced at Pascal, a dismayed look on her face.
Hiccup had always carried it around. Somehow, he had left it behind.
Still, every time she saw the inside of the book (peeped in without him knowing, more like), it was full of notes and his many sketches of people and animals.
"What did he do, wipe it all out!?" she muttered, getting frustrated.
The pages were empty. From front to back. There was no mark, not a single scribble.
But she knew it was the same diary.
"Oh, well…" Rapunzel sighed, tossing her thick golden braid over her shoulder, the lengthy plait pooling on the carpeted floor beside her. Taking up a quill, she dipped it in the ink bottle she had set down on the coffee table and sat there, hanging the tip over the parchment.
"My name is Rapunzel Gothel…" she mumbled under her breath as she scribbled down the very same words.
Pascal skittered away, looking for a snack. It seemed like Rapunzel strayed off to her own thoughts, again.
"Hm," she shrugged, appraising her handwriting.
Then it happened.
She let out a gasp, dropping the quill, her face frozen in shock. Words appeared on the mottled page just below her own writing, ink bleeding into the parchment to form thoughts as if someone was writing from the inside of it.
"Hello Rapunzel Gothel, my name is Hiccup."
"HICCUP!" she screeched, bolting forward and slamming the journal down on the coffeetable, snatching her dropped quill (which left a rather nasty inkspot on her dress). The firelight illuminated the surface, setting it a shade of pale amber.
"Hiccup, where are you?" she wrote down, the words slipping her lips.
"I am but the thoughts he left behind."
"Ah…" Rapunzel's heart sank. It was nothing more than one of his charms. For a moment, she thought she had found a way to contact him. He was probably already somewhere far away, hiding with Toothless where no owl could reach them.
She snapped up, thinking of an idea.
"But do you know where he's heading?"
Rapunzel sat there, waiting for a reply, heart hammering in her chest as no ink bled through. Until…
"Yes."
Beaming, she dipped her quill in ink again and wrote in excitement.
"Can you tell me?"
Again, she waited. Was it just her head or did the messages take longer and longer to respond?
"No."
Letting out a breath of dismay, she sat back on the floor, slouching. Rapunzel felt hollow again.. Just as she thought she was getting somewhere…
They have been regretting the fact that Hiccup had to leave. Though Merida denied it and busied herself with her sport. Rapunzel, however, did all she could to cover up for him, clearing all his things as soon as she could to make it look like he had packed up.
At first, the teachers seemed surprised at the sudden disappearance. All except Professor Pitch Black. Rapunzel wondered why there were no following inquiries. Perhaps Hiccup's letter had done its job well. Whatever excuse he had written down was working.
Rapunzel was about to get up and wash out the inkspot from her dress when movement caught her eyes. Something was being written.
"…but I can show you."
She held up the journal as a light broke through the middle, right where the pages met.
The glow spread, like tendrils trying to break free. There was a sudden explosion of blinding light.
Rapunzel wasn't in the common room anymore.
Pascal returned, having just snatched away a clump of grapes to find her nowhere. He gaped, letting out a panicked squeak. Gone again.
Merida walked along the hallways, still in her soaked Quidditch clothes. The scarlet cloth of Gryffindor hung dripping about her form, as soggy and forlorn as her hair, a tad bit mud-splattered, as well, but looks were the last thing on the lass' mind.
People stared after her as she walked after Professor Bunnymund, dragging along her Firebolt. She and her broom left water stains on the stone floor, though no one even noticed for most of them hanging about were wet from the rain, as well.
Raindrops battered on the windows, as if demanding to be let in. The clouds were no more cheerful than they were—rumbling with thunder and flashing with lightning. It was quite a surprise to have the Care for Magical Creatures professor knocking on the Gryffindor's team dressing room, asking for Merida DunBroch.
"But sir—we're about to have another go at the field, the game's tommorrow—!" Al began to protest.
"Sorry, fellas, ya lot'll have to go one without her for now. Headmaster's orders." The pooka replied, holding up a paw.
"What? Professor we can't play without a keeper!" Hugo stepped in.
"Nah, it's arigh'," Merida clapped him on the back, "I'll be back in a bit…"
But why did Headmaster Nicholas St. North want to speak with her?
Merida pondered on it as she walked the deathly silent procession.
Ominous.
Professor Bunnymund's silence was adding to her dread. What was this about? Certainly not to say "good luck" in the match against Slytherin.
"Why did the 'eadmaster call fer me, sir?" she plucked up the courage to ask.
Bunnymund glanced down at her, his face not betraying anything.
"Ye'll know soon enough, kid," he replied.
The paintings chattered on amongst themselves in their frames as the two climbed up the moving staircase towards the headmaster's office. As always, when the outside was not fit for anything (except Quidditch, which is played in any weather), the castle becomes lively.
All the lanterns, fireplaces and floating candles were lit, setting a warm glow upon the usually gray castle. The Great hall was festive, packed with most of the student body. Sound fills the air; laughter and cheerful talk. The tapestries and banners ripple brightly upon the walls as ghosts float along, pearly-white as the lightning outside.
Merida slung her broom over her shoulder just as a coat of armor tried to salute; the squeak of rusty metal piercing the air, making Merida flinched and clap her hands over her ears.
They arrived at the Stone Eagle gargoyle at the seventh floor, the giant aquiline statue splaying its wings in front of it within its receded confine in the wall.
"Fruitcake," Bunnymund huffed, crossing his arms.
In response, the eagle began to twist upon its base, a spiral staircase rising with it as it disappeared up the ceiling of the hollowed archway.
"Come on…" said the gamekeeper and hopped inside, disappearing up the steps in the blink of an eye. Merida followed behind Bunnymund reluctantly.
She didn't flunk her subjects, now, did she?
"Oh, I 'ope not…" Merida mumbled, flicking her damp hair from her face.
She could only imagine the throngs of Howlers her Mum would send.
Merida found Professor Bunnymund at the top of the stairs, holding the door of the headmaster's office open for her. Warm air wafted from the inside, along with the scent of…pastry and peppermint.
Such was the usual aura of the office. Merida remembered going there more than a few times, and mostly on bad occasions. Hoping against hope, she walked inside, casting a quick uncertain glance at Professor Bunnymund as she passed through the doorway, clutching her broom protectively as if they would snatch it away.
From there, she heard a fragment of a sentence.
"…we couldn't find Gothel anywhere…maybe she went to Hogsmeade, sir…"
"Ah, there you are, 'Meri!" came Headmaster St. North's booming voice.
Merida nodded, lips pursed as the door was closed behind her.
The round office was bright as always; fire crackled at the hearth, the previous headmasters shifting within their golden frames up in the walls, sweets and platters of food lined one end as bookcases lined the other. The place was jolly and welcoming despite the hellish flashes of lightning outside. Though the sight it held made her blue eyes widen.
Professors Toothiana and ManSnoozie was there, as well, giving her smiles, though they seemed…pitiful, if that was ever possible. The dragon keepers were there, as well. Scarred and rather intimidating, as usual. Even the Potters' and the Weasleys' family friend, the young Ministry official they called "Teddy" was there, his hair now sporting a bright purplish tint. They all stood about silently as if broken from previous conversations, eyeing her without expression.
Professor North stood by the fireplace, wearing his casual clothes, tattooed arms folded behind his back regally, beard illuminated like snow. Beside him was a man, wearing dark colors and a leather coat over it that reminded Merida of a professional Quidditch uniform. His jet-black hair looked terribly rumpled like he had just went flying all across Britain, round spectacles glinting over his bright green eyes.
The strange man gave a small acknowledging smile.
"Yes, sir...?" Merida's eyebrows furrowed, turning to the headmaster.
Her voice came out confused more than scared, which she initially was. Why were they all there? What did they want with her? Merida could only speculate so much. She had done nothing in the past days…except for train, that is.
"Please, take a seat, sweetie…"
Professor Tooth's gentle touch nearly made Merida flinch as she fluttered from behind, ushering the young Gryffindor to the cushioned seat in front of the headmaster's desk.
"Did—Did I do somethin' wrong, Profess'ur Tooth?" Merida stammered as she sank down on the chair, looking around uncertainly.
"No, don't worry," the Head-of-House replied with a smile, shaking her feathered head gently, "We just have a few questions for you, that's all."
"Abou' wha?"
Her voice rose in a panic, holding her broom in front of her as she turned from one face in the room to the other. Professor Tooth fluttered aside as the headmaster walked behind the desk.
"Training for tomorrow, I 'azzume?" North chuckled with interest, blue eyes bright and cheerful, "How iz your team doing?"
The casual question took her by surprise. Merida sat there for a moment before mumbling a reply.
"…grand, profess'ur."
"Ah, as always!" he clapped his hands together, seemingly impressed as he sat down behind the desk, "Anyways, dear girl…you are not in trouble, I promise."
Merida's eyes strayed off to the other people in the room, eyeing the dragon-keepers, Teddy and the dark-haired man suspiciously.
This wasn't about Hiccup, was it…?
"This is Mr. Potter, an Auror of the Ministry," North said, motioning to the man, noticing Merida's apprehension. She glanced to him with wide eyes. Did she hear that right?
On cue, the Auror stepped forward and held out a hand to her, beaming.
"Harry Potter" he introduced, "Glad to finally meet you, Ms. DunBroch—may I call you Merida?"
Gaping, Merida shook his hand blankly. She couldn't help but glance up at his forehead. If she looked closely enough…she could see it there…the faint lightning shaped scar behind his locks of dark hair.
"Holy cricket—yer Harry Potter!" she wheezed, oblivious to his question.
Mr. Potter simply smiled as he drew away, settling himself on the seat across her in front of the desk, "That's a nice broom you have."
"It's a Firebolt…" she mumbled.
"Interesting," Harry smiled, "I used to have one…amazing craftsmanship it has."
The other people in the room watched on as North nodded to the famed Auror.
"Merida…" Potter began slowly, hoping to reach out to her, somehow, sounding fatherly more than anything, "I assume you are probably aware of the dragon on the loose in the school grounds."
For a moment, Merida went deaf to all except the single echoing thump of her heart.
"Y-Yes, sir…"
"What do you know?"
"W-Well…" she stuttered, "It…n'arly burned down the Quidditch pitch."
"And what about the people in the school?"
Merida pursed her lips, a chill running down her spine, shooting glance at her teachers.
All three of them, Professors Tooth, Sandy and Bunny nearly got killed during the rampages protecting the students. Merida's small movement was enough answer for Harry.
"Your friend…Hiccup, wasn't it?"
Merida snapped up. All eyes were on her. She did not even notice.
"I heard he had left nearly a week ago?"
Nodding stiffly, Merida didn't say anything.
"Why?"
"I dunno."
"Do you know where he is?"
Merida clenched her jaw, "Didn' it say in 'is letter?" she said sharply. It wasn't a question, "What's Hiccup got ter do with the dragon!?"
"That's why we called you here," Potter replied gently as Teddy stepped forward and handed his godfather a folder. The Auror opened it and handed it to her.
"…we were hoping you could tell us."
Merida too the folder in her hands, setting her Firebolt aside. There were files upon files, a candid picture clipped over them. As with wizard photographs, the monochrome image moved within its borders.
Her eyes widened in realization.
It was Hiccup with Toothless.
"The Night Fury causing damage in Hogwarts and endangering the people in it was under the responsibility of your friend," Harry continued as she pored through the parchment pages. Professor North only watched on and stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"Yeh're after Hiccup!?" Merida outraged, looking up to Harry and then to the others in the room, "Yeh can't blame 'im fer this!"
"Merida…" Professor Tooth began, fluttering forwards, "We're not trying to—"
"Yes yeh are!" Merida snapped slamming the folder on the desk, pages flying. The headmaster simply cleared his throat. Merida turned to him, face contorted in distress, "Profess'ur! Hiccup's one o' the best students yeh have! Yeh know 'e won't hurt anyone!"
"I know," Professor North nodded understandingly, getting to his feet, "'Zhat is why we need to understand 'vhat is going on, Merida…"
"His letter says only so much," said Potter, pressing further, "Do you know where he is, Merida?"
She knew it. In his tone of voice, in his eyes. It was all the same with grown-ups. With everyone in the room. They suspected Hiccup escaped with Toothless.
"No." she replied curtly, "We didn' even know 'e left until 'e was gone."
"…the tracks lead South, headmaster," piped up Teddy Lupin.
Everyone turned to him in astonishment.
"Ya haven't reported this, Lupin," Bunnymund said almost gruffly, arms crossed.
Teddy looked around, checking their reactions before glancing at the dragon keepers who nodded towards him approvingly. Clearing his throat slightly, he turned back to the rest.
"…we found human footprints, as well."
Her heart skipping a beat, Merida sat still, frozen, "…wha are yeh doin' laddie…?" she hissed under her breath.
"It iz probably Hiccup with him," North mused, arms crossed.
"We can't simply assume that one of my Gryffindors was behind this, headmaster!" Professor Tooth cut in. Sandy said something, pictograms whiffling over his head in a scuffle of shifting sand.
"Can you follow it?" Harry asked, getting to his feet as all attention shifted from Merida to Lupin.
"Yes," he nodded, "This time, we're prepared. We'll have entrapments ready—maiming curses if need be."
"And what of the boy?"
"…our priority is the Night Fury."
"DON' HURT HIM!"
Merida rose to her feet, stomping her boot to the floor, "Toothless is innocent!"
They looked at her with mixed expressions. Though her teachers looked aghast at her outburst and outright admittance of knowing of the subject.
"Merida…" Professor Tooth clapped her hands over her mouth, "What did you…?"
Professor ManSnoozie looked at her in confusion, just as Bunnymund stepped forward for an answer.
"Wha' are ya talking about, DunBroch?" he asked firmly.
"He didn't mean ter do it!" Merida screeched frantically, red hair flying, "Toothless didn' attack anyone on pa'rpose! Something was chasin' 'im! He's innocent!"
"You've been hiding him?" North asked, eyebrows furrowed as he planted his large hands on the table, "After all 'zhat happened, you were covering up for the dragon?"
Merida's lip quivered as her face heated up, turning to the headmaster fearfully. Not because she was scared, but because she was ashamed. They all just wanted to protect the school.
"…yes, profess'ur."
Silence fell on the room. Merida wanted to run out of there—fly out of the window. The headmaster turned away, holding up a troubled hand to his forehead. Merida didn't dare look at anyone.
"Do you realize you've endangered each and everyone in this castle!?" Teddy gaped in disbelief, "All to protect a murderous reptile!?"
"Ted," Harry said sharply, turning back to Merida as his godson drew back quietly. Unlike the young Ministry official, he did not look angry, despite the fact that his own children were endangered in the fires.
"I know what you were trying to do," he said calmly, "I would know that more than anyone, believe me…"
Out of the corner of her eye, Merida noticed Professor Dumbledore nod in his portrait.
"…but it's the word of a couple of fifteen year old wizards against the whole school," he said. Merida slowly looked up, pursing her lips, "I'm afraid these are not baseless accusations…a lot of people nearly died even before the Night Fury reached the school."
She knew that. Hiccup told her so, himself. Nearly all of his village burnt down…perhaps Hiccup, himself, was attacked, but never said anything of it. Btu her resolve was clear. She saw the shadows. It attacked them more than a few times. It tried to get at Toothless that day in the forest.
The shadows got Toothless to attack and in the cover of his rampage, they, themselves, would assault unsuspecting students. Unsuspecting student like Lysander Lovegood Scamander who was found half-dead in the Charms corridor…
Something clicked in her mind and suddenly it all made sense.
But as she looked around desperately, she knew she had no way of proving it.
All was lost.
"…I'm afraid I'm going to have to step in, Mr. Potter."
There, standing by the doorway, was Jack Frost. He strode into the office much to the surprise of everyone there, his Hogwarts robes rippling as he walked, frosted crook at his side.
"And you are?" Teddy Lupin asked, raising an eyebrow.
Merida stared at him in disbelief. Jack, however, didn't seem to see her there or pretended not to.
"My name is Jack Frost," he said, tone serious—business-like—without its usual mirth, glancing at Teddy, then to Potter, "Glad to see you again, Harry."
"What…?" Merida blinked as jack held out his hand to the Auror.
To her surprise, Harry Potter shook the boy's hand with an astonished look on his face. As taken aback in meeting Jack as Merida had been in meeting the Boy Who Lived. She did not know why, however, but it certainly seemed that the Auror had heard much of the lad.
"Well this certainly is a surprise…" Potter said, "I'm glad to finally meet you, Jack."
"Harry, who is this kid?" asked Teddy.
"Someone who's gonna put an end to all this," Jack replied with a smirk, turning to everyone in the room.
"Jack…wha' are yeh…?" Merida gaped. He just glanced at her and winked discreetly.
"This is something that should be between the Ministry and the Order," he continued, glancing from North to Harry, "I have quite a lot of explaining to do, and I don't think having an O.W.L. student here would be proper."
Jack tilted his staff towards Merida. North had a look of consideration on his face before nodding in agreement.
"Thank you," Jack grinned and looked at Merida with a smile, "Well? Take your broom,"
Merida blinked before snatching up her Firebolt hesitantly. Jack put a gentle hand on her shoulder and ushered her to the door as everyone looked on rather suspiciously.
"Wha' do yeht hink ye're doing…?" Merida hissed under her breath as they crossed the room.
"I told you I'd make this right," he replied simply, the door opening on its own as they neared.
Merida could not take in what was happening even as she stepped out of the office and turned to him fearfully. What would they do to him?
"Jack…" she breathed, gripping her broom tightly.
"You win for Gryffindor, alright?" he smiled, pretending not to hear her, closing the door.
"Jack, wait!" Merida bolted forwards, planting a hand on the doorway, "Yeh can't do this—you didn't do anythin', laddie!"
"I'll be okay," he chuckled, pinching her reddened nose playfully.
"But—"
"Don't worry about this—go have fun, instead."
With that, the door was closed and the warmth of the office dissipated, replaced by the cold of the storm. Lightning flashed upon the window as water pattered on madly, thunder gurgling in the clouds.
"Boys," Merida seethed as tears stung her eyes.
Why did they have to be so damn selfless?