CHAPTER 24: OTHER FRIENDS
Beckett leaned against the back corner of the rearmost cart students could access. He had scoured the whole train, but no sign of that mystery toad.
Did I just imagine hearing it croak? Beckett wondered despairingly. No, Myles heard it, too. "It wasn't you, girl, was it?" he asked Seraphina, who poked her face out from his jean pocket.
"Croak," she said. Her sound was totally different from the deeper one he remembered hearing.
"Excuse me…" a round-faced boy approached him, his face a tear-stained mess. "Have you seen a toad?" he inquired quietly.
"Other than my Seraphina, no," Beckett admitted. Seeing the boy's face twist in despair, he quickly added "but I heard one earlier!"
"You…you did?" The boy looked hopeful.
"Neville," a girl called from a booth nearby. "Have you found your toad yet? Oh…" she noticed the boy's expression, "it appears you haven't. You there," she marched over to meet them both, "have you seen a toad anywhere?"
"No, but I heard one earlier," Beckett repeated himself. "I've been looking for it ever since."
"In that case, I will join you," her voice reminded Beckett of Minerva, except British. "My name is Hermione Granger." Her hair was a mess of brown hair, and she had intelligent eyes.
"Beckett Fowl," the children shook hands. "Nice to meet you, Hermione. You're Neville, right?"
"N-Neville Longbottom…" Neville wiped his face. "You're really helping me find Trevor?"
"Of course!" Beckett promised. "Right, Seraphina?"
"Croak," went Seraphina.
Hermione immediately took the lead, unabashedly opening booth doors and asking people if they had seen Neville's toad. It wasn't long before they reached the booth Myles chose. When she slid the door open, Beckett noticed with concern Mr. Hooty and their luggage were there, but Myles wasn't.
"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one," she said.
"We've already told him we haven't seen it," said a freckled boy with red hair. He held a wand in his hand.
"What were you about to do with that?" Beckett asked him. "Oh, and hi, Harry."
"Hi," Harry said.
"I was about to try and turn my rat yellow," Freckles answered the question.
"Well, let's see it, then," Hermione sat down boldly across from the boys.
"Oh…" Freckles seemed thrown off-guard. "Okay, then…" he cleared his throat. "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, turn this stupid, fat rat yellow."
Nothing happened.
"Fascinating," Beckett deadpanned, earning a glare from Hermione.
"Are you sure that's a real spell?" Hermione started talking. Before the freckled boy could even breathe a response, she continued, "Well, it's not very good, is it? I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school—"
"Wait a minute," Beckett interrupted before she could keep speed-talking, "you say nobody in your family is magical? How is that even possible?"
"Oh, I thought Muggle-borns weren't that uncommon anymore, I've heard. Oh, but of course I've read all about the different types of wizards, it was all in The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Modern Magical History. I got a few extra books for background reading. I've learned all our course books, by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough—"
"I think my brother Myles would like to hear this," Beckett decided to cut her off again. Does she ever pause to breathe? He wondered. "He really loves reading and learning new things. I'll go look for—"
"Beck! There you are!" Myles exclaimed behind him.
And there goes my escape plan, Beckett thought remorsefully, stepping completely into the booth to make way.
"Who are your new friends?" Myles asked.
"Neville Longbottom," Neville mumbled, still in distress over his lost pet.
"I'm Hermione Granger, who are you?" There she went with that fast-paced speech again.
Could she be anxious or something? She didn't seem in such a hurry to cram words into space when she was focused on finding Neville's toad.
"Myles Fowl," Myles smiled at her. "I heard you talking about—"
"I'm Ron Weasley" the freckled boy saved them all from another speed-lecture about Hermione's academic preparations.
"Harry Potter," Harry introduced himself.
"Are you really?" said Hermione. "I know all about you, of course—you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."
"Am I?"
"Goodness, didn't you know, I'd have found out everything I could if it was me. Do either of you know what House you'll be in? I've been asking around, and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best; I hear Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad…Anyway, we'd better go and look for Neville's toad. Everyone had better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon." Hermione herded Neville and Beckett out the door when Myles blocked their path. Beckett noticed his twin had one hand behind his back. "Excuse me, but we need to get going."
"Actually," Myles proudly revealed what he was hiding—a big, brown toad.
"Croak," went the toad.
"Trevor!" Neville scooped the amphibian up happily. "Thank you so much! He's always getting away from me…"
"Oh, it's wonderful you found him," Hermione said. "Now, Neville, don't let him get away again."
"Tell that to Trevor…He's the one always escaping."
"In any case, you were right about arriving soon," Myles said. "Beck, you 'n' I ought to change into our robes."
Wait…a longer chapter? At last, I managed it! I'm sorry the chapter lengths are inconsistent—I always try to end them at a logical point without really paying attention to length. I usually figured two pages on a document should be enough for a minimum.
(Edit: Never mind. It wasn't long at all T-T)
TITLE: A reference to the television series "Steven Universe", specifically a villain song in the movie taking place after the series finale but before "Steven Universe Future".
DIALOGUE: Some of the dialogue is quoted from the book; however, I also modified it around the boys' involvement.
WHO THEY MET FIRST: I could not decide whether to introduce the Fowl twins to Ron first, or to Hermione and Neville first. So, I went with all of them at once by splitting them up momentarily! Why else have more than one protagonist, amirite?
MYLES AND HERMIONE: I figured Myles would get along more naturally with Hermione than with the others on an individual level. Having not interacted with that many people his own age, especially devout intellectuals his own age, I noticed his dynamic could be a little awkward at first with others unless Beckett was there as a bridge. Hermione probably didn't fit in that well with Muggle children growing up, so she's doing her best to fit in with the wizard kids by filling up on as much knowledge as possible. Her knowledge-oriented character would naturally click with a knowledge-lover like Myles, but they are also opposites in that Hermione is extremely by-the-book while Myles would sooner write his own book. I look forward to seeing how their character relationship turns out!
BECKETT AND HERMIONE: He sees her and thinks "British Minerva" XD Despite growing up around intellectuals like his brothers and Mademoiselle Paradiso, he is simply not the kind to sit around and talk about books and school all day. He does, however, see she's a kind person at heart. If there is one thing Beckett knows how to do, it's live with and appreciate people very different from himself!
NEVILLE: Timid and easily frightened, he is the perfect way to show Beckett's kindness and calming force, a stark contrast to Artemis and something Myles admires in him.
BROTHERLY BOND: Myles went off in search of him earlier and was happy to see he was alright. Beckett worried when he was gone and nearly ran out of patience when he usually just saw the fun in interpersonal reactions. These twins are so cute, dontcha think so?
I own neither Harry Potter nor Artemis Fowl.
