Thomas had managed to make one mouse size chair and table, by the time Bernard started to stir awake. He was happy with the results of his work. The pale wood was light, and easy to work with. Thomas even managed to make the legs of the table into a spindled design. Pulling off those tiny ball like indents wasn't easy, but he hoped Pipa and Squeakers would like it.
Making them had given him some other ideas, he decided to leave those for Christmas. For the first time, Thomas had people to exchange gifts with, and he wanted to go all out. When they went out today he was going to see what kind of wood was out and about on the grounds. He's supply was ruining low, and who knew what kind of new wood was waiting for him out there?
"Good morning Thomas. How was your night?" Bernard greeted him with a yawn. Stretchering his arms out to the fullest.
"Good, I don't need to ask how you slept." Thomas said with a grin. Bernard always knocked out as soon as his head hit the pillow. He was no night owl — that was for sure.
"I can sleep anywhere." Bernard said with another yawn.
"What did you make last night?" Thomas climbed out of bed. He had gotten changed doing the night, and was using his bed as a desk slash lounger. Shaking bits of wood shavings off his green robes. It was the weekend. The school let the student wear what they wanted to, within reason. Thomas wore the robes that Aunt Merry, Lars's mother had made for him. He showed Bernard the table and chair he had made last night.
"A rocking chair?" Bernard said tipping the little chair back and forth in his hand. "You made a rocking chair for a mouse in one night?" Bernard shook his head and rocked the little chair in his hand again.
"I only hope it's sturdy enough. I've never made one for someone to sit in before." Thomas said taking the offered chair back and placing it in his ring to surprise Pipa with later.
"I'm sure Squeakers will love it." Bernard said crawling out of bed. Thomas gave him privacy to change, Bernard always wore a simple black robe on the weekends. Thomas didn't see the difference between that and his school robe, but it made Bernard happy.
They headed out of the boy's dorm. They're one of the first to leave, the others were sleeping in, it was Saturday, and if Thomas slept too. He could get the appeal. Dreaming always sounded interesting to Thomas. It was like a movie your mind played for you, by what he all heard, who would want to leave half-way through their show?
"Do you think Pipa's up yet?" Thomas said looking to the stairs to the girl's form. No boy could get up there. Not that he had ever tried, so they couldn't go up there and check up on her.
"If I know Pipa. She was up before dawn and planning out our day." Bernard said with a smile. "She worried about you." Bernard looked at Thomas. "I worried about you, Thomas. You are always so silent about your problems. I should know. I am too." Bernard shrugged his not to make a big deal out of it.
"Families legacies are tough. I know that as well." Bernard looked at his fingernails, and looked up at Thomas. "I'm here, if you ever need a midnight chat. I am no Lars..." Bernard paused and his mouth turned flat and downwards, into a torn grimace. "What I'm trying to say." Bernard dropped his hands. "I am here for you too." Bernard looked up the stairs of the girl's dorm.
"Thanks Bernard." Thomas left it at that. His offer meant as much as Pipa's words last night. He had some great friends at his side. He only needed to remember that, and tell them too. Looking at Bernard's profile, he was about to speak up. His words were cut off by a high-pitched scream. Bernard colour drain right out of his face, and if Thomas could see his own face. He was sure he would look no better. The scream had come from the girl's dorm.
"Pipa!" Bernard said, looking towards the round at the door to the girls' dormitories.
"Let's go," Thomas said. He bounded forwards, pulled open the door and set off up the spiral staircase. Bernard was behind him, close on his heels. He knew he wasn't allowed up here, but surly since this was an emergency — it would be fine. He was on the sixth stair when there was a loud, wailing, sound came from under their feet. It sounded like the stone steps beneath them were screaming in protest.
The steps themselves melted together to make a long, smooth stone slid. For a brief moment Thomas and Bernard tried to keep running. Legs running like crazy, Bernard even tried grabbing the sides of the walls. Despite to get to Pipa. That was before the stairs toppled them over backwards. Shooting them down the newly created slide, coming to rest on his back with Thomas on top of him.
"This is ridiculous!" Bernard said, another high pitch scream came from up the stairs. Pulling Thomas back onto his feet.
"Pipa!" Bernard shouted hoping to be heard. "Are you okay! What's going on?!"
"Out of the way!" An older student with long black hair shouted. Sliding down the stairs which seemed determined to stay a slide. As long as Thomas and Bernard stood there.
"What happened?" Thomas asked, his mind as messy as his robes.
"It's your friend." She paused, her face grimacing. "She's like the Potter girl. I'm sorry I need to get help." She patted Thomas shoulder when she took off.
"Like the Potter girl." Bernard repeated, his steps retreating back until his back hits the wall. "No, she can't be right." Bernard shook his head, deny her words. Thomas shook his head too. He couldn't believe it. Wouldn't believe it. Thomas looked at the slid like stairs. Could he make it, if he had a running start?
"Don't try it." A deep, but calm voice appeared out of nowhere. Making Thomas jump almost his entire height in the air. His hand to his chest. He turned to see the blue strike hair of Professor Barlow.
"Professor!" Thomas's shoulder shagged in relieve. He didn't have Professor Barlow for any other class than flying. A class Thomas would rather avoid, he like him the best out of all his Professor's.
"It can't be true?" Thomas asked him, "Can it?" "I need to go see." Professor Barlow said putting a hand on Thomas's shoulder.
"Go check on Bernard over there." Professor Barlow looked behind Thomas. Before flying up the stairs, his kilt and robe trailing behind him. Bernard was slumped against the wall, his thin frame mostly on the floor.
"Bernard!" Thomas dropped to his knees to Bernard's side. Bernard was shaking.
"It can't be Pipa, please Thomas, tell me it can't be Pipa." Bernard pupil spun in his eyes.
"I'm sure she's okay." Thomas said, the pain in his gut threaten to knock him out. Thomas gritted his teeth through the pain. Not a lie, but not the truth. A grey area that cause Thomas quite a bit of pain. Avoided an answer wouldn't work here. Bernard needed to hear something good, even if it was white lie.
"That hurt you to say." Bernard eyes stopped their spinning to look at Thomas. "Sorry." Bernard tried to stand, but his legs gave way under him. Thomas grabbed him and helped him stand up, and regain his footing. "I can do this."
"We can." Thomas said, "We're friends, remember?" Thomas gave Bernard a forced smile. Trying to be brave, when he felt far from it.
"Yes, we are." Bernard said quietly. The stairs beside them shook, and groaned and screamed once again. Reforming into the stones steps they once were. Professor Barlow was walking down them. With a pale looking girl in his arms, and if the twin pigtails didn't give her away. The small white mouse, that looked like it too slept, curled up on her chest. Did.
"Goddess, no." Thomas whispered, pulling a page out of Lars's vocabulary.
"Get Lars." Professor Barlow said, his mouth pull tight. "And meet me at the hospital wing."
"I need to stay with her." Bernard reached out and touched the Pipa's arm.
"You go with the Professor Bernard." Thomas said, he looked up at the Professor. "I'll get Lars"
"Try not to run." Professor Barlow said his voice gentle. Thomas nodded, but out of Professor Barlow's sight. He flew down the corridor's to the Slytherin's dorm. How did he know where it was? Lars had told him of course, he couldn't get in, but surly someone would get Lars for him. Thinking like mad on the way. Thomas vowed that he would claw his way through the entrance if he had too. Lucky for the Slytherin's entrance he didn't have too.
"Lars!" Thomas called out on sight of an orange wizard robe, and rail of a long purple scarf. A combination only worn by Lars, on that Thomas was sure.
"Thomas -" Lars started his eyes wide with surprise. Thomas cut him off.
"It's Pipa! We have to get to the hospital wing." Thomas said grabbing Lars by the hand he started to run. Lars said nothing he only gripped Thomas's hand tight, and they ran all the way there together.
"Bernard!" Lars called, as they stormed the hospital wings doors together. Bernard was sitting chair-side. Where Pipa laid in bed, to all appearances she looked like she was in a gentle sleep. With her hands folded over her stomach, and a small white mouse sleeping on her chest. "Are you okay?"
Bernard shook his head. "It took Pipa." Bernard said, his serious face broken with tears steaming down his face. "She is so bright and bubbly — so different from everyone else — so kind." Bernard looked at Pipa, his hands shaking on his lap. "Why is this happening?" Bernard's voice shook, and Thomas's heart broke off into another piece.
"We will find out." A short elderly-man with a short grey and black beard spoke up from behind them. His eyes were brown and looked kind. Thomas didn't recognize the man dressed in the simple grey and blue robes. With Professor Barlow at his side, he knew he had to be a Professor too.
"He's Professor Longbottom." Bernard said, drying his eyes and face with a handkerchief from Lars.
"Yes, I am. I am the Headmaster here at Hogwarts Thomas. Though. I believe you were to terrified at the time I made my introductions at the beginning of the year." He gave Thomas a smile that hid behind his beard, but he could see it move upwards.
"Sorry," Thomas said rubbing his palms on his robes.
"No need to apologize Thomas." Professor Longbottom raised one hand. "What I need from you, is to know what you all were doing last night. Before you saw young Miss Jones to her dorm."
"We were at the Library." Bernard said, "Researching."
"Researching what?" Professor Longbottom asked with a quiver of his bushy brows.
"Harry Potter." Bernard said truthfully.
"I know nothing about him, and asked them to look him up for me. While Lars and I were at my night class." Thomas spoke up. Shifting his stance to stand a little in front of Bernard. Having kind eyes, did not mean he could pick on his upset friend.
"He's not in trouble. You are not in trouble." Professor Longbottom said waving his hand in front of his face. "We are trying to find out the cause behind these odd circumstances."
"Does this have anything to do with that troll?" Lars asked standing by Thomas, and successfully blocking Bernard from the Professor's line of sight.
"Nothing you first years have to worry about." Professor Longbottom said tucking his hands into his robe sleeves. "You have enough to worry about." Thomas grimaced at the solid truth of his words. Lars wasn't done with him yet though.
"What about Pipa?" Lars demanded, "Or the other girl — who you still haven't woken up. They are blaming Thomas for it." Lars took a step forward. Standing right in front of the Headmaster of the school, a knight in orange and purple robes.
"How can we, first years, not worry, when our friend is taking the blame?" Lars looked at him, his face stern demanded answers.
"Lars, he is our Headmaster." Professor Barlow stepped in. Getting Lars to stare him down instead.
"Your midnight talk didn't help things." Lars said his voice curt, staring down the Professor without a flinch in his steady gaze. The Professor's took it in their stride as well, not showing any reaction to Lars's words. Thomas couldn't tell if this was because they knew Lars was right, or because they knew Lars was upset.
"Can't you tell us what happened to Pipa?" Thomas stepped in, hoping to stop Lars before he acted on his words. "I don't mind taking the blame, if we know the truth." Lars looked at Thomas.
"You shouldn't have too." Lars said his hands shaking at his side.
"People we blame me one way or another. I need to learn to deal with that." Thomas said.
"Your friend, like Miss Potter had her soul sealed." Professor Longbottom said, taking a hand out to stroke his beard. "Be it your vampire or siren bloodline. They could not do that."
"Her soul... her soul was stolen." Bernard whispered from behind them. Thomas and Lars exchanged wide-eyed looks. Sealed Thomas mouthed the words unable to repeat them.
"It is not gone, but sealed away." Professor Longbottom said. "We are working on bringing them back, but are unable to find a trigger for it yet."
"What are you doing then!" Bernard stood up and demanded, pushing past Thomas and Lars.
"And does this effect Squeakers too?" Pointed his finger at the sleeping mouse.
"We believe he is the one protecting her soul." Professor Barlow said calmly. "A guardian that is stopping, whatever it is, from finishing what they want."
"What is that?" Thomas asked, his heart pounding a mile a minute in his chest.
"We do not know, and I am telling you this. Not because you demanded it, but to let you know. If you see anything -" Professor Longbottom stared straight at Lars. "That you come to either me, Professor Barlow or your own head of House Professor Walker, and not act on your own." Professor Longbottom turned and look at Bernard and Thomas too. "All three of you. Need to promise me you won't act carelessly."
"I won't act on my own." Lars said his eyes flickering at Thomas.
"I promise not to act on my own either." Thomas said, getting what Lars was hinting at. Thomas couldn't lie, but there was no way he was doing this alone.
"Neither will I." Bernard said standing back to stand beside them both. Professor Longbottom sighed and shook his head.
"That will have to do." Professor Barlow said with his own sigh.
"Remember what I said." Professor Longbottom said. "All the Professor's at Hogwarts are here for you three. You only have to reach out, and ask for help." Professor Longbottom turned and walked away. Professor Barlow at his side. Only when they reached the door, and they were only. Did they start to talk.
"Squeakers protected Pipa." Thomas said walking over to stroke the little mouses head. "We need to help them both."
"We need to figure out what protected Emma." Lars said, Thomas mind drew a blank.
"Potter's sister." Bernard said, coming up and stroking a stray hair away from Pipa's face. "I'll doubt he'll tell us anything."
"Then we'll ask the cards." Lars said, his blond hair flying around him, and his eyes gave off a faint glow.
"Those cards." Thomas whispered even though it was only them there. Bernard eyes narrowed, but he didn't say a word.
"Yes, we can't do it here." Lars looked around. "The nurses might interrupt, and I'll need something of Pipa's, and Emma's." Lars's gaze went behind Pipa's bed they were standing at. To the curtain of section to the back of the wing.
"I'll get that. You guys get something of Pipa." Lars strode off, and darted behind the curtain. Presumably where Emma Potter was resting.
"What would be best?" Bernard looked to Thomas is eyes distant, sounding lost. Thomas took a deep breath. Steadying himself — for Bernard's shake. Thomas knew he like Pipa — a lot, This had to be hard on him.
"What about I get one of her hair ribbons, and you go help Lars?" Thomas said, Bernard nodded and walked over to Lars. "We'll figure this out Pipa." Thomas whispered to Pipa. Pulling the small ribbon thingy that kept her braids together. "Be strong. Give us time."
"I can be brave." Thomas's heard the wobble in his voice, it was hard, so hard, but he would find that bravely that Pipa saw in him. He would find it and use it to bring her back to them. For all their shakes. Wiping his arm across his eyes. Thomas dried the forming tears before he joined Lars and Bernard. Together they walked out into the yard. Looking to a safe place to see what the future or past could tell them.