As always, I Do not own any of the HP universe.
"abc" - normal speech
abc - thoughts/speaking through mind arts/flashbacks
"abc" - speaking a different language
As A Result Of Other People's Actions
Chapter 7
26th November 1991
Arkyn stood to the side of Neville's bed making sure to give as much space to Madam Pomfrey as possible. Today was the day Neville would be unbound from the spell keeping him asleep. Madam Pomfrey had said that his magical core had finally stabilised itself enough so that it wouldn't go on another wild rampage on its own.
"You are off to a bad start, boy. Your job is prevent such things from happening to my grandson." Madam Longbottom speaks up from where she is seated by Neville's side. "Although, I do appreciate and commend the way you decided to take retribution."
"He'll probably receive even more of a cold shoulder when he gets back to the dorms. The Weasley Twins are well known within the castle and quite popular in their own."
"I trust that you will take care any issues that may make themselves known." says Madam Longbottom as she sends a glare Arkyn's way.
"I'll do what I can," he says with a shrug, "but at some point Neville will have to make a stand himself. Things will only escalate for him from here on out. I won't let him del with it on his own but I refuse to babysit him. I have my own shit to do."
"Have care with how you speak, boy. Do not forget that you are under contract and protection of my House." she says as Arkyn straightens up at the implied threat. "My sponsorship can just as easily be taken away from you."
"While your sponsorship is no doubt a valuable resource, do not make the mistake of thinking that I need it to accomplish my goals." Arkyn responds with a bit of venom in his voice. "Neville is my friend. Contract or no contract, I will stand by him no matter who he decides to fight. However, I won't fight his battles for him."
The conversation ends as Madam Pomfrey waves her wand above Neville's chest while quietly chanting under her breath. The rise and fall of his chest becomes more pronounced as his eyes begin to flutter themselves open, blinking at the harsh sunlight streaming in through the window.
Arkyn steps forward towards the table next to the bed and pours water into a glass for Neville. Gently sliding his hand behind the back of his friend's neck, he slowly lifts up Neville's head and tilts the glass towards his lips. Neville gulps down the water greedily as his eyes look around to take in his surroundings.
"You're in the Hospital Wing, mate." Arkyn says as Madams Pomfrey and Longbottom look on. "You've have been out of it for a couple weeks. Do you remember what happened?"
Neville's eyes shut themselves as his faces pulls into a grimace before he jerkily nods his head. Madam Longbottom and Arkyn share a look before looking back at Neville.
"Ronald went to the Twins to complain about what happened during Halloween. They decided that I would be the perfect test dummy for their prank sweets." Neville says without a stutter, earning a look of surprise from his grandmother. "I don't know what sweet they gave me but I felt sick as soon as I swallowed it. The last thing I remember is them laughing while walking away."
"Madam Pomfrey says that your magic reacted badly with the sweet," Arkyn says as he glances at the Healer out the corner of his eye before looking back at Neville, "but I think it was something else. You remembered something, didn't you?"
"What are you talking about?" Madam Longbottom speaks up when Neville turns his head away from everyone to gaze off in the distance.
Arkyn sends Madam Pomfrey a polite smile as he tilts his head in the direction of her Office. Sending a nod in return, Madam Pomfrey quietly leaves the vicinity while drawing the curtains closed to give them some privacy. Madam Longbottom takes out her wand and waves it around the area before conjuring herself a comfortable armchair and settling herself in.
"Out with it, Neville." she says impatiently as she fixes her grandson with a stern stare. "What is the boy talking about?"
Neville turns fearful eyes towards Arkyn who can do nothing but shrug and sends him an encouraging smile.
"She should know, mate. She'll understand everything better if she hears it from you."
"Okay." Neville gives in with a weary sigh before turning to look at his grandmother. Arkyn makes his way back over to the wall where he has a clear view of the doors leading out of the infirmary. "I remember parts of the night mum and dad were attacked."
Arkyn doesn't need to turn around to know that Madam Longbottom has frozen in place, he can tell by the stillness in the air. He reaches into his robe pocket and brings out the now familiar piece of string and begins to fiddle with it as he keeps vigil of the entrance.
"Mum tried to hide me away before they got to us but Bellatrix Lestrange found us before she could. She used a sticking charm to hold me against the wall and then I had to watch the first Crutiatus Curse Lestrange gave mum." Neville's fists clench themselves in the white sheets as the pale visage of Madam Longbottom looks at her grandson with tear brimmed eyes. "I remember screaming for her to stop but she just kept laughing as she held mum under the spell. She would use the cutting curse to-"
Arkyn pushes away from the wall and walks out in the aisle of the infirmary when he sees Professor McGonagall walk into the Hospital Wing followed by a gaggle of Weasleys and Harry Potter. A feeling of satisfaction swells up in Arkyn's chest as he takes note of the bandage still wrapped around the head of one of the twins.
"Just how many of you are there?" Arkyn asks with irritation clear in his stance as he takes note of an older redhead with a prefect's badge pinned on his chest. "So far I have counted the red haired idiot, the dumb and dumber twins, and now there's one more who seems to have some power in this school."
The family of redheads bristle at the insults hurled their way while Potter nervously shuffles in place from behind the group.
"Watch your tone Mr Ivarsson!" says a stern Professor McGonagall.
"A mate of mine just comes out of magically induced coma and you just happened to bring the culprits here?" Arkyn calls out angrily as he releases his wand into his hand. "I'll watch my fucking tone when you tell me just what the hell you're doing bringing that family here!"
Professor McGonagall opens her mouth to speak but is unable to come up with a reply to the accusations. The eldest red head, seeing the situation begin to spiral out of control, slowly steps forward as he raises his hands in a show of submission.
"We are not here to cause any more discomfort. My name is Percival Weasley, 5th year prefect of Gryffindor House and currently the oldest Weasley sibling at Hogwarts." Percival says in a calming voice as he keeps his hands out in front of him. "It was I that requested for Professor McGonagall to bring us here as soon as she got word of Heir Longbottom waking up."
"Why?" questions Arkyn as he angles his body so that they have a smaller target to aim for if it comes down to a fight. "What makes you think I'll trust you when all my interactions with your family so far have been nothing but unpleasant?"
"I," starts of Percival as he sends a glare behind him towards his siblings, "am not like my siblings who just rush into things without finding out all the facts. After your attack on our quidditch team I chose to look into the matter and asked a few questions that the twins neglected to ask."
"Oh?" Arkyn raises an unimpressed eyebrow. "And just what were the answers you received, Mr Prefect?"
"That Ron was lying and/or over exaggerating about what happened in the Headmaster's Office. That the twins, unknowing of what really happened, decided to use the opportunity to taste out one of their latest pranks on an innocent victim, and that all three of my siblings are complete imbeciles for picking a fight with a first year who managed to defeat a fully grown mountain troll."
The quick fire response eases some of Arkyn's agitation as he lowers his wand but keeps it steady at his side. Running his gaze of the rest of the group he takes note of how the rest of the twins lower their head in genuine remorse while Ron turns his head away in a look of embarrassed defiance. Ignoring Professor McGonagall entirely, Arkyn finally focuses his gaze back on the eldest sibling and gives him a nod.
"Why are you here?"
"On behalf of my Head of House, Arthur Weasley, I am tasked with ensuring my siblings apologise to and repay the debt they have caused by harming the Heir to an Ancient and Most Noble House."
"That doesn't answer my question, Mr Prefect." Arkyn says as he receives an inquisitive look from Percival. "I asked why you are here."
A gleam of the eyes and a smirk adorns the face of the eldest Weasley sibling, as he comprehends what Arkyn is asking of him. He finally lowers his hands and clasps them in front of him as his body loses the rigid stance and relaxes just a bit.
"You are very perceptive for a first year, Mr Ivarsson." Percival says, earning a smirk in return from Arkyn. "I have political aspirations for after my time at Hogwarts. My family incurring the wrath of such a powerful political family would only by detrimental to my aspirations. My goal in coming here was to ensure that the ire of House Longbttom be lessened or at the very least, non of it be placed on myself." Percival says in all seriousness.
Arkyn watches Percival for any signs of deceit while McGonagall sends her prefect a look of mild disappointment. The twins and Ron send their brother looks of disbelief and anger.
The magic from the silencing spell that Madam Longbottom erected earlier drops as Neville calls out from behind the curtain in a clear strong voice.
"Arkyn, please let Percy through. My grandmother and I would like to speak to him."
The group in front of Arkyn all watch him carefully for his next move. Sending the group a nasty smile, Arkyn raises his wand back up in front of his as he steps to the side to allow Percival through. As soon as the Gryffindor prefect steps through the curtain another magical bubble is erected around the area, stopping all noise from coming through.
"Is that all you are?" Ron cannot help himself as he Arkyn a sneer. "A guard dog for the squib?"
"Mr Weasley!"
"Oi, Ron!"
A chastised Ron shrinks away from the shouting and once again looks away with a look of annoyance on his face.
"And yet you still insist on pissing me off even after I have proven that my bite is just as bad as my bark." Arkyn says cheerily as he fixes Ron with a death stare. "You need to be more careful, Weasley. It really doesn't take much for a guard dog to turn into an attack dog."
19th December 1991
Arkyn slowly makes his way through he corridors of the castle dungeons while trying his best to draw a map of this particular part of the castle. So far he managed to map out the area and floor around the Ravenclaw common room.
Hogwarts was noticeably emptier of students due to the Yuletide holidays. Only a few individuals chose to stay behind during the festive holiday, most choosing to go home and spend time with family. Neville's grandmother all but demanded that her grandson be home for the holiday after the chaotic term he had. Roger had left the castle with a promise of reading the training and strategy notebook Arkyn had gifted him as an early Christmas present. Hermione was still skirting around him even months after the brutal payback he gave to the Weasley twins, and Gryffindor quidditch team by association.
Even though Neville had happily offered Arkyn a place to stay for the holidays, Arkyn had instead chosen to stay and explore the castle during the holidays. Having almost no students around made it far easier to navigate the massive building without any unwanted eyes watching his every move.
"Should probably ask Nev to begin mapping out the upper floors. If he gets Hermione to help him, all the better for me I guess." Arkyn murmurs to himself as he makes sure to jot down the different portraits and paintings around. "I'm going to need help figuring out all the different secret passageways in the place. There are just way too many hiding around."
"I once had a friend who spoke to himself. One of the more remarkable individuals I had a pleasure of befriending within my lifetime."
Arkyn whips his head around to find the source of the voice, wand already in his hand to defend himself if need be.
"Who's there?" he calls out in a tense voice as he looks up and down the corridor, unable to see anyone.
"I dare say, can you actually hear me young man?"
"Come out here!" Arkyn shouts out as his heart begins to beat frantically in his chest. Reaching into his pocket he quickly brings out his hunting knife he began carrying around with him after the incident with the Weasley family. "I won't ask again."
"I very much doubt you'll be able to don much with that knife, little Viking." A shiver makes it way down Arkyn's spine as the voice continues to speak. "You look so much like a King I once knew. Step further down the corridor, boy. Let me get a proper look at you."
Deciding to listen to the voice for now Arkyn heads further down the corridor, noticing the lack of light the further he goes. Soon he takes note of the walls on either side of him becoming more and more bare of any decorative accessories.
"Remarkable." Arkyn hears as he comes to the end of the corridor and upon a massive portrait hanging on the wall. "Well then, it truly has been a while old friend."
The portrait was of a King sitting himself in a large rectangular seat meant for two. On the King's head sat a bronze dented crown that had clearly seen better days. The intelligent eyes of the King watched on closely as he allowed Arkyn the time to study him, mouth twitching in an attempt to contain the smile threatening to surface.
"Sorry to be the bearer of bad news," Arkyn starts of slowly as he looks behind him to check for any persons wanting to sneak up on him, "but I believe I might be just a little bit too young to be the friend you speak of."
"You are quite right, my boy. However, the friend I speak of is hidden up there." The King says as he points a ringed finger at Arkyn head. "I see right through you, Arkyn Ivarsson. Your eyes cannot hide a history such as yours."
"How the hell do you know my name?" says a now intrigued Arkyn as he puts the hunting knife back into his robe. "The sorting hat also alluded to my history."
"Do you not know it?" the King clicks his teeth in disgust when Arkyn shakes his head. "Your ancestors are probably rolling in the ground at the moment. Tell me boy, have your parents not seen fit to educate you?"
"Wouldn't really know." Arkyn says with a shrug. "My family was killed a few years back and I'm guessing I was too young to be taught any of it."
"Ah, I see. That explains the why your magic feels so caged at the moment." says the King as he runs a hand through his beard. "I can tell you easily enough that you are a descendant from one of the five sons my friend had in his life. As to which one it is, I'm afraid you'll need to seek your answers elsewhere."
"Why does it matter?" asks a petulant Arkyn, only to straighten up as he feels the full weight of the stern gaze placed upon him by the King.
"Take very careful heed, young Viking. The five sons were all very different but very dangerous. Each had his own set of flaws and strengths. Each carried with him a piece of the dream their father held. Knowing your history means knowing who you are. Understanding your history means comprehending your actions and the path you have chosen to take. Embracing your history means accepting power others will seek you out to utilise." The King lectures as Arkyn sits on the ground before him. "Your eyes narrow down the selection. Only three sons had to the spirit and courage to make use of the frightening intelligence their father gifted them. Each of them was able to carve out their own lasting path upon this world. Each managed to bend their foes at the knees. Each more dangerous than the other yet unable to defeat one another."
"Who are you?" Arkyn asks with narrowed eyes. "How are you able to speak my language so well?"
"A monk turned warrior turned monk taught me." The King responds with a devious smirk on his face before standing up from his seat and clasping his hands in front of him, looking like the embodiment of British royalty. "You are currently speaking to man who defeated the Kingdom of Mercia, joined the southern Kingdoms of England, and who's descendants sit on the throne of what you now know as the modern day England." The King finishes with a bow. "King Ecbert of Wessex."
Arkyn's eyes widen in recognition as his mind quickly recalls everything he learnt of the almost otherworldly King standing before him in the portrait.
"You are a legend." says Arkyn with awe and admiration. "You defeated Mercia at the height of its power while simultaneously ruling of Wessex and ensuring that the rest of the southern Kingdoms stayed under your reign. You are the main reason why my people had such a hard time conquering England. You raised and taught Alfred the Great."
King Ecbert laughs uproariously in delight as Arkyn continue to praise his past deeds. He sits back on his throne and watches as the young boy fawns over him.
"Old friend," he murmurs quietly to himself as looks upon the boy before him with a calculated gaze, "I swear I will guide your descendant so that he may regale you of his tales of triumph once he reaches Valhalla."
19th January 1992
"This isn't a good idea." says a weary Neville as he follows Arkyn into the library. "This isn't going to go the way you expect it to."
Arkyn spins around to face Neville and points a finger directly between his eyes.
"Enough with the negativity Heir Longbottom." He says in a mock imitation of Madam Longbottom before sending Neville a beaming smile. "I have a secret weapon up my sleeve."
Arkyn quickly makes his way further into the library before Neville has a chance to give a retort. Sending a wave and innocent smile towards Madam Pince behind her desk, he makes his way between the aisles until he finally finds his target sitting at a table piled with books.
"Good morning, Prefect Weasley." Arkyn says jovially as he slides into an empty chair opposite Percy. "Busy being productive I see."
"Mr Ivarrson." Percy greets with a nod of his head while keeping his eyes on the tome opened in front of him. "Please do not be so familiar with me. We are not friends. I tolerate you at best."
"Do you have a girlfriend, Weasley?" asks Arkyn with a smile.
"Go away, Ivarsson. I'm busy."
"Let's go Nev. We got things to do." says a happy Arkyn as he gets up from the chair and continues on further into the library.
"What was the about, mate?" questions a confused Neville as he looks over his shoulder at Percy. "Hate to break it to you but I don't think you got what you wanted."
"Patience is a virtue, my friend." Arkyn says as he stands on his toes in order to get a better view of everyone in the library. "The game hasn't even started yet. First we need to find the pieces we need."
Finding his target sitting at one of the tables closest to the windows, Arkyn nimbly makes his way through the tables between him and his target. Spying Hermione sitting at a table by herself, he neatly snatches a piece of parchment off of a table and crumples it up before lobbing it through the air. Hermione jumps up in fright when the parchment hits her head, scribbling a long line through the essay she was busy writing. Arkyn chuckles at the glare she sends his way and childishly sticks out his tongue at her.
"The two of you make my life difficult." Neville says with a sigh as he watches the antics of his friends. "Why can't you just make up?"
"We will once she accepts that my moral compass is vastly different to hers." Arkyn replies with a carefree shrug as he finally reaches his destination. "Good morning Penny."
Penelope Clearwater looks up from the light novel she had been quietly reading to find her favourite first year standing in front of her. Bookmarking the page she was just reading, she gesture to the open seats in front of her.
"Good morning, Archie." The casual use of Arkyn's nickname catches the attention of Neville as he looks between the two in surprise. "Not up to any trouble again, are you?"
"No ma'am, taking a break from trouble on this fine day. But its only morning so I'm keeping an open mind." Arkyn says as he takes a book out from his bag and slides it across the table. "Thanks for the An introduction to Runes. Any idea where I can find a book introducing my to Norse Runes? Madam Pince won't allow me to check any out."
"I would be surprised if she did." Says Penny as she puts the book into her bag. "Norse Runes, along with Egyptian and Aztec Runes, are only taught in 6th year because of how dangerous some of the combinations can be. Even learning them is a hassle for most witches and wizards. Its why Curse-breakers are so sort after. You need to have such a wide knowledge base of the different Runes from around the world and also be powerful enough to power them."
"I'm sure I'll manage. My family has a history with anything Norse related." Arkyn answers back vaguely with an easy going smile on his face. "Besides, I plan on putting most of my attention on the Norse Runes. I think I may be able to use them more effectively than most Curse-breakers."
"Do I want to know what you plan on doing?" asks Penny as she sends Arkyn a beautiful smile of excitement, causing Arkyn and Neville to both blush at the pretty 5th year prefect sitting opposite them.
"I wouldn't want to bother you with the details just yet." Replies Arkyn with a nervous chuckle.
"That's okay. I'm sure you'll tell me eventually."
Penny sends Arkyn a flirtatious smile as she elegantly slides out of her seat while grabbing her bag and walking off. Neville and Arkyn both stare at the sway of her hips as she walks away from them.
"She called you Archie." Neville speaks up without taking his eyes off of Penny.
"Nev, when an older lady looks that hot and decides she wants to use your nickname, don't you ever fight it." Arkyn says with a glazed look in his eyes. "Ladies always reserve the best hugs for boys they find cute."
"I live for the wisdom you impart upon me." says Neville with a dreamy smile on his face.
"You boys are pigs." Hermione says as she walks past the pair.
"Oink oink, my dear Bugsy." Replies an unrepentant Arkyn.
5th April 1992
"Archie, we need your help."
Arkyn looks up from his conversation with Roger and the rest of the quidditch team to find Neville stand in front of him with Hermione, Ron, and Harry behind him. Students were trickling in and out of the Great Hall for dinner before going off to do their own thing until curfew.
"Don't involve me." He says with a dismissive wave of his hand as he turns back to the quidditch team. "I'm busy planning Slytherin's defeat. We win by 240 points and the Quidditch Cup is as good as ours."
"Arkyn this is important." says an urgent Hermione as she sends a nervous smile at the older students.
"Not interested. You four look like you're up to no good."
"Really?" questions an amused Roger. "You, of all people, are saying that about someone else?"
"They will get caught." Arkyn points a finger at the four Gryffindor first years. "I may not contribute points to our House but that doesn't mean I'm going to go out of my way to make life difficult, which is exactly what they are planning on doing."
"Go make friends." Cho says as she pushes him away from the Ravenclaw table towards the Gryffindors. "And don't forget to be nice."
"I'm always nice." he replies as he rolls his eyes at her before walking past the waiting first years. "Let's get this over with."
Walking out of the Great Hall Arkyn takes a sharp left and quickly ascends a small set of stairs hidden behind one of the many suits of amours perched around the castle. Walking out from behind another set, he allows a smirk to spread across his face at the astonished looks on the faces of the following Gryffindors.
"Secret passages are all over the place if you take the time to look for them." Arkyn says with an air of arrogance as he walks through the doors of the library.
"So this is what you spend your time doing when you don't have any work to do." Neville says in realisation.
"Its an ancient magical castle, Neville." Arkyn says slowly as if he were talking to a toddler. Chuckling as he dodges the swipe aimed at his head, he walks towards one of the emptier areas of the library before taking a seat at one of the tables. "So what can I do for you guys today? And why have you brought those two with you."
Ron's face reddens in anger but before he can make a retort Potter steps in front of him and holds his hand out.
"Hi. I don't think we have been properly introduced yet. I'm Harry Potter."
"Arkyn Ivarsson." He easily replies as he shakes the offered hand. "What do you want?"
The boys all look to Hermione to take the lead, which she does with an annoyed eye-roll.
"We need information on someone named Nicholas Flamel." She says, earning a raised brow from Arkyn. "I looked through dozen of history books but none of them mention anything relevant about him other than him being near immortal and one of the few Alchemists around."
Arkyn places one of his hands on the table and begins to rhythmically tap his fingers on the surface. He stares at Hermione for a good few moments as he takes the time to think about his next step.
"Before anything else," he begins as he looks between Hermione and Neville, "I advise against whatever it is you seem to be planning. If this has something to do with the mountain troll incident I think its better to just leave it all alone."
"We can't do that!" Ron hisses out in anger. "We have to protect the school."
"You pissed yourself just looking at the best of a troll." Arkyn says with a sneer before looking back at Hermione. "Lovely friend you seemed to have made. Do his homework for him as well?"
Hermione looks away in shame as Potter shuffles uncomfortably in his seat. Neville just sighs and shakes his head at Arkyn's antics.
"That's none of your bloody business!" explodes Ron at Arkyn. "Gryffindors look out for each other unlike you Ravenclaws. Do you even have any friends in your House?"
"Why, yes I do." Arkyn says with a predatory smile. "Fortunately none of them are attention seeking brats who expect everything to be handed to them on silver platter. They also do not need anyone to do their work for them just so they aren't at risk of failing."
The Gryffindors gasp in shock as Ron whirls upon Hermione.
"You told him!" he accuses her with venom.
"Actually Weasley," Arkyn speaks up in a bored tone, "I looked at the rankings for our year. Anyone can see them if they go and ask their Head of House. If you must know: you are currently barely passing, Potter isn't faring much better than you, Neville is currently 14th out of our whole year, and Hermione is 3rd."
"Hermione isn't first?" questions a surprised Potter a he looks the shocked visage of Hermione.
"Who beat me?!" she practically screeches at Arkyn.
"Well there's a Blaise Zabini in Slytherin who is currently in second place. Don't ask me what he looks like," he says with a shrug, "I tend not to pay attention to unimportant faces."
"And you hold the top spot." says Neville unsurprisingly.
"I like reading. The class moves to slow for me so there's nothing to do but read in class or practice casting with my off hand." Arkyn says unapologetically at the betrayed look on Hermione's face. "But we're getting off topic. I can tell you about Nicholas Flamel but only under one condition."
"What's the condition?" Potter asks cautiously.
"I want you to map out the entirety of the 5th, 6th, and 7th floors of the castle. As in I want to know about every painting, portrait, suit of armour, statue, whatever. Basically, if its there I want you to make a note of it." Arkyn says as he stops tapping his fingers to fold his hands on the table in front of him."
"Why?" asks Ron.
"Wasn't talking to you, Weasel. Quiet while the big kids are talking." Arkyn sends Ron a glare while releasing some of his magic into the air around the table. He turns back and stares directly at Hermione. "I want you and Neville specifically to map out the floor for me. Neville already knows what to look out for and I know you will go above and beyond what I asked."
Hermione shares a glance with Neville and Potter for a moment before looking at Arkyn and nodding her head in acceptance.
"Wonderful." Arkyn beams at her as he reigns in his magic. "Nicholas Flamel is not immortal but he has probably come the closest to achieving it. The reason why you won't find out a lot of information on his is because he is classified as one of the Darkest Wizards to ever walk the planet. That doesn't mean," Arkyn raises his voice when Hermione opens her mouth to speak, "he was evil. Yes, he killed thousands of people in his life but it was only to further his research. If he went around to every village back then, kidnapping and sacrificing babies, I'd lean more toward agreeing with you about him being evil."
"You are defending a killer." Hermione says quietly.
"A lot of famous world leaders have their hands soaked in blood Hermione. Just because they didn't physically pull the trigger does not mean that they won't the cause of lives lost. Humans, magical or not, have been killing each other for as long as we have walked this planet. I'm not saying that him killing thousands of people is not a bad thing. All I'm saying is that it doesn't necessarily make him evil." Arkyn finishes with a sad look at Hermione. "Flamel's greatest creation was the Philosopher's Stone. It is said that it can turn any metal into gold as well as creating an artificial elixir of life. It is the only one of its kind as only Flamel has the knowledge of how to making a working model. No one truly knows how old Flamel is but its rumoured that he has been walking the earth since the height of the Greek nations."
"It has to be the Philosopher's Stone." Potter says in a hushed voiced.
"So Snape must be going after it then." Ron says with wide eyes.
"Well," Arkyn interrupts the pair before they can catch any momentum, "yes and no. I agree with you that its probably the Philosopher's Stone hidden on the 3rd floor but I highly doubt that Professor Snape is the one after it."
"You know about the 3rd floor traps?" asks an astonished Hermione.
"Not until you mentioned them, no." replies a deadpanned Arkyn. "But it makes sense as to why the Headmaster would warn the students not to go to the 3rd floor. My best guess is that Snape is part of the side trying to protect the Stone."
"Snape is evil." Spits out Ron as if that is reason enough to blame the man.
"He is also a potions prodigy with the full confidence of the staff and Headmaster of this school. Believe me, Snape doesn't need the Stone and getting it would just seem like too much trouble for him to go through if he already has the skills to make himself a valuable asset to anyone needing a potions Master on hand." Arkyn says with Neville reluctantly agreeing with him. "Don't get me wrong, he's a massive twat. But that doesn't take away from the fact that he is one of the most sort after potion masters in the world."
"What do you suggest we do?" Hermione asks Arkyn much to the protests of Ron and Potter.
"Leave it alone." He answers back with a shrug. "Let the teachers handle it. whoever is trying to get the Stone would have to be someone with immense skill and/or power to have not be caught by the great Albus Dumbledore for so long."
"You are a cowardly bookworm." Says Ron as he gets up from the table. "Don't expect us to give a coward like you any credit once we save the school."
Potter sends the rest of them an apologetic smile before rushing off after his friend. Hermione sits quietly in her seat as Arkyn continues to watch her with Neville looking nervously between the two.
"Please listen to me Hermione." Arkyn says in a soft voice. "It isn't worth risking your life over. They aren't worth the risk."
"They are my friends." She answers back in a timid tone.
Arkyn releases a sigh before pushing his chair away from the table and standing up, stretching his arms above his head to ease the tension in his back. Sending a nod towards Neville, he quietly walks past Hermione and placesa hand on her shoulder.
"No, I don't think they are."
New chapter for you guys. Let me know what you think