Chapter Five: The Strangling Sycamore
The summer had been more fun than Henry could have imagined. It almost made him sad to see it come and go so quickly. The excitement for another year at Harnocks was creeping up on him like a welcomed surprise but his month at The Sha was some of the best moments in his entire life. In a way, Henry felt the waves of envy ebb and flow when he thought of his place of stay on Oak Alcove. He also idly thought from time to time what sort of welcome he would receive from the Dooflys once his second year came to a close?
When the last evening arrived, Mrs. Parsley whipped up a stupendous supper that consisted of all of Henry's favorite things. The closing course consisted of Henry's absolute favorite caster cuisine he had discovered the previous year.
"How is the alabaster butter tart, Henry?" Mrs. Parsley asked hopefully.
Henry could only hum his satisfaction in subdued elation.
When everyone was full and warm, Matt and Jac capped off the night with a display of sparklers, fireworks, and firecrackers all the while Jack rowdily played some jigs on her fiddle. Henry had no idea she could play like that. But in time, Jon's last whine for one more mug of hot chocolate was declined and the children were rounded up for bed. Henry wasn't sure if he was going to get a wink of sleep but he would try.
No matter the giddiness Henry felt, the next morning was a struggle. Summer vacation always felt like being woken up from a very long nap and back into a routine. Especially with a summer like the one he had had. Up as the sun rose, everyone in the lopsided pagoda had something to be doing.
Mrs. Parsley was a bit grumpy and bristley. She fussed over extra quills and mismatched socks from the laundry line all the while bumping into her children and looking disheveled and stressed. Mr. Parsley nearly had a serious injury as he tripped over a wayward shoe on the steps leading to the garage. Whinnie's trunk was in his hands and lugging it into the car was a chore in itself.
Henry puzzled over how all of the Parsley family plus him, along with the trunks, and the familiars were going to fit in the tiny car. When he questioned it, Mr. Parsley showed him exactly how and which spells he used to magically enhance the capacity elements of the space all the while keeping within the constraints of the car's original frame. It boggled his young mind and it seemed more like he was listening to an advanced quantum physics lecture. With polite intentions, Henry just nodded and smiled along as Mr. Parsley got more animated with his excitement.
Once Henry, Jon, Matt, Jack, and Perry were all in the backseat and with a small smile, Henry could really tell the enchantments Mr. Parsley had spoken of being put into practice. It was like sitting on an oversized park bench. Whinnie was up front with Mrs. Parsley and Mr. Parsley was at the wheel. He started the engine and the car rumbled out of the yard. With one last look at The Sha, Henry wondered when he'd see it again.
"Wait!" Matt exclaimed and the brakes squealed.
Five minutes later Matt was back with the leftover fireworks.
"You'd forget your head if it wasn't attached, Matthew Alacontra Parsley," Mrs. Parsley chastised while Matt blushed. "You have thirty seconds to convince me those fireworks are for school purposes and school purposes only."
"CRAP! That reminds me! Mrs. Parsley! I forgot…" In answer, Mrs. Parsley used her left pinky to point at her right ear, her chin, her forehead, down to her nose, then to her left ear. It was quick and in utter agitation and Henry recognized it as a thing strict Jacobans do. Henry didn't know Jon's family was religious. Even still, Jack ran in and passed Matt as he came back to the car with the small baggie of fireworks.
Then, the family was nearly on the highway when Whinnie screamed that she forgot her postcard.
"WHY do you need a postcard?" Mrs. Parsley was having none of it. Mr. Parsley looked nervous. He didn't know if he should turn around or keep going.
"It's my first year and I…" Whinnie's voice got really small, "I was afraid I'd get nervous at school and wanted to write you." Her eyes fell and it was like cold water was splashed on Mrs. Parsley. Her whole demeanor softened and Henry could tell from the side mirror the mother was consoling her child.
"Oh, baby, shhh...I'm sorry. You're right. I shouldn't have snapped. Could we not get you a postcard at a Muggle shop on the way to the station?"
"But mom this postcard is really cool! It's from this place…"
"How'd you get a postcard?" Jon asked, very annoyed.
"It came free with my cauldron but as I was saying it…"
"What's the place?" Perry wanted to know.
"Well I was getting to that…" Whinnie took a breath to continue.
"I guess I'll be turning around then?" Mr. Parsley interrupted.
And so with that added detour, Whinnie clamored back into the car with the postcard tucked into her Untamed Magic textbook by Don Lothario. Tensions were so high and tempers were flaring at the lateness of the group the postcard was completely put from everyone's minds. The clock on the center console of the car read a very concerning time.
"Darling I could…"
"Not a chance, Sean…"
"I promise it will not be seen. The button right here I installed a booster that renders invisibility as well as this concealed lever here," Mr. Parsley pointed to air and Henry realized that must be enchanted to be invisible too, "controlled the flight installations. We'd easily shave off ten minutes of time.
"I helped install the hot air expansion ports…" Matt was cut off by an exasperated gasp from his mother.
"You had our minor son help perform an illegal modification on our vehicle?"
Mr. and Mrs. Parsley began to squabble.
"I think you're majorly cute," Jack whispered to Matt. Perry and Jon rolled their eyes in almost the exact same way with complete disgust. In answer, Jack playfully patted Jon's knees with a goofy grin. "Still got a kid's life state mindset eh, bucko?" She laughed.
"I'd say the same for you," Perry looked down his nose at her.
"What's the point of being a teen if you can't have a little fun?"
"Maturity and poise is not something to repel so deeply, Jaclyn." Perry was staring daggers at her. "Adulthood is creeping up quickly and you might as well dive in."
"I'll make sure to pack my swimming goggles," Jack flared her nostrils and put her head on Matt's shoulder, ending the conversation as Perry sat fuming.
"I can't handle the lovey dovey teen stuff," Jon moaned. "Is there any kind of life state in between kid and teen?"
"You'd think…" Jac stared off in some random direction.
The family reached Ravendancer Station at eleven fifteen. Mrs. Parsley had won out on the no usage of Mr. Parsley's modifications. In a rush, the children were lugging their belongings onto the station carts and rushed past Normies and other late bug casters. Now that Henry had been immersed into the realm, it was easier to note who were Normies and who were not. At Ravendancer Station, it was the casters that looked lost or out of place. Caster mothers and fathers looked stressed and tense while Normie sims just looked in their element or almost bored.
It's tricky to get onto the Harnocks Express. You have to reach Platform Three and One Half. It's invisible to anyone (mainly Normies) and you have to walk straight through a support wall between Platform Three and Platform Four. It doesn't hurt a bit, but it had to be done quickly and covertly so Normies don't notice. From their perspective, it looks like someone vanishing right from thin air.
"Perry first, quickly, quickly," Mrs. Parsley hissed in trepidation as her eyes darted wildly from the clock to Normies passing by. They only had five minutes to all disappear casually through the platform barrier. Easily, Perry strode quickly and quietly. He vanished followed by Mr. Parsley. Then Matt and Jack went through.
"I am going to hold Whinnie's hand. Follow on our heels okay boys?" In a blink, Mrs. Parsley and Whinnie were gone and Jon was readying to follow. Henry made sure that Magus' cage was bared down securely and his trunk was centered so it didn't wobble and fall along the passage.
"Let's go together, we don't have much time," Jon suggested.
Henry was confident. This was way better than MHING powder by far.
Together, Henry and Jon stepped forward and in an instance, Henry's eyes were flooded with the scene of a platform with trolley tracks and wizards of every kind milling about with their children.
"Attention wizards, witches, warlocks, and casters. The time now is ten till eleven. The Harnocks Express will be ascending in ten minutes. Please board immediately on the trolley of your choosing hastily. Mind the gap between the trolley and the platform. Have a wonderful term Harnocks students!"
"Oh! Whinnie, dear this is not how I wanted your first go around to go! All rushed and hurried...here, here. Let's make sure you have everything you need…" Mrs. Parsley was fussing over Whinnie something awful. The younger girl could only squint and scrunch her nose as her mother poked and prodded her.
"Oy! Shake those summer cobwebs out of your noggins and get in here or you'll be left behind!" Henry and Jon looked up and saw a familiar face with messy, bobbed hair. Esmani Ghadjer was leaning out of the blue trolley's window and waving to them. Henry felt his grin light up his face and looked over to see Jon smiling very odd like. Almost like a grimace but his ears were a bit pink.
'Well?" Henry heaved his cart towards the trolley. Jon nodded.
"Jonathan Parsley, you look after your sister! She's going on your trolley you hear? I've given her your sandwich, Henry's, your brothers', and Jack's. Have a wonderful term!" Mrs. Parsley was shouting and Whinnie looked like she wanted to cry from mortification as she clenched her eyes the whole way up to the trolley door. "Yours is ham this time, Jon." She smiled warmly and had to drag Mr. Parsley away from a random Normie couple that was seeing their caster child off to Harnocks. The couple looked relieved and awkwardly followed other parents towards the exit towards Ravendancer Station.
"Okay mom, alright," Jon waved to her and turned his back to jimmie his carriage full of belongings up onto the trolley. Henry followed suit. An excited Esmani exited her compartment to greet them in the hall. She waved jovially and quirked her eyebrow when she noticed Jon's embarrassment. "Not a word, Ghadjer," he grumbled and Esmani began to giggle.
"Come on guys, I got a good compartment, this year!" Esmani led her friends to her compartment as the trunks were lifted onto the compartment shelving. The luggage carts magically disappeared (literally) .and all were seated. She began to speak again. "So! Did we all have a good summer, yes?" And as if they had answered her, she turned to a very forlorn Whinnie. "Are you excited, Whinnie? Do you think you know what House you will be sorted into?" Whinnie only had time to crane her neck to look at Esmani. "When I was in your shoes, I was most certain I'd be an Owlenmoon. I'm quite clever and all of that, but then lo and behold I'm an Alpaggard. Your whole family are Alpaggards. Perhaps you will be one too."
"Take a breath, Ghadjer, for pity's sake!"
"Hey oh, that's no way to talk to a bodacious babe like her," Jack and Matt slid easily into Henry's compartment and Jack plopped right between Esmani and Whinnie taking both girls by the shoulders and into her sides. Jon was given the sternest look from Jack for his comment and he actually slumped a bit. Emsani and Whinnie giggled for a bit while Matt just hung back and watched the scene with a smile playing upon his lips. "Don't forget for a second that you're queens, ladies. Don't ever shut up for nobody and…"
"Alright, alright, settle down she-goddess," Matt playfully mocked. "We really came in to hunt for mom's sandwiches. As you can see, Jack becomes a bit preachy when she's hangry."
"I prefer motivational," Jack grumbled. Whinnie rummaged through her bag and proclaimed Jack's peanut butter and jelly and Matt's roast beef.
"Preesh'" Jack said through a mouth full of peanut butter. When she swallowed, she appraised the compartment of underclassmen and playfully patted the girls' knees next to her. "Okie dokie artichokey. I'm gonna bounce like a basketball because we have uh…"
"Yep...that thing." Matt said with alarm. He made way as his clumsy girlfriend nearly tripped as she exited. Henry leaned against the window with a smile. He was taking all of this in and watched as parents and younger siblings spoke to each other from the trolley windows. He watched Mrs. Parsley pull Mr. Parsley from another Normie couple. This time he was asking their toddler child if he knew what a computer was.
"Attention wizards, witches, warlocks, and casters. The time now is five minutes till eleven. The Harnocks Express will be ascending in five minutes. You should now very well be in your seats ready to travel. Mind the gap between the trolley and the platform. Have a wonderful term Harnocks students!"
"It is very good to see you, Esmani," Henry finally spoke and Jon nodded.
"I have to say, Henry Puffer I'm very glad to hear from you. I want to know all about your summer with those ghastly Dooflys." His friend crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows. Whinnie looked very worried about what Henry was about to tell. In all honesty, Henry felt that once upon the trolley to his Harnocks home, the Doofly's house was nothing more than a nightmare he was glad to wake up from. After he told his friend this, she simply nodded.
"That makes sense," she said. "I just hope…" Esmani didn't finish and instead looked upon Whinnie with a bit of trepidation. "I'm sorry Jon, I know she's your sister but...is it okay if I talk about what happened last year?"
"I can handle things!" Whinnie blurted out.
"She's good," Jon waved his hands dismissively.
"Well," Esmani straightened up. "I was just going to say I sincerely hope this year is not filled with mystery and mayhem like last year. This Professor Don Lothario better know his stuff because if you ask me I'm feeling utterly cheated on my wizarding education. Our professor last year was possessed!"
"You know we didn't actively look for trouble, right?" Henry smirked and Esmani rolled her eyes. When Henry thought about it, it would seem that the trio really did seek out all of the horrid but wonderful things that had happened last year. "Well I wouldn't have had it any other way with you lot," he had to include and Esmani looked completely elated while Jon just simply blushed.
"Morning, guys," four heads turned to see the compartment door opening to find Taryn Goodfellow entering with her toad, Fenton in her hand. "I have some toffees to share."
"Now you're talking!" Jon clapped and rubbed his hands together while Taryn gently sat down next to Whinnie and handed each kid two of the toffees.
"Did you have a good summer, Taryn?" Henry wanted to know as the delicious toffee stuck to his teeth and the roof of his mouth exceptionally.
"Pretty good," Taryn shrugged. "Nan was made of a bit of sterner stuff. Found out about my scores. Thinks I could have done better. Maybe this year, eh?"
TOOT! TOOT!
The trolley began to vibrate and shake.
Henry watched as the platform and the Parsleys became smaller and smaller as the trolley rose into the air. It didn't seem long until Newcrest was far behind them. Bridgeport came and went into view as well as the bustling city skyline melted away into rolling green hills, rolling meadows, villages with teeny cars and dollhouse looking buildings.
"Anything off the cart, loves?" The familiar, plump witch asked as soon as the trolley was stable. Henry was glad for it. The toffees had made him very thirsty and he longed for a cold pint of pumpkin juice. Feeling that familiar way, he dug out the proper amount and bought all of his compartment company a round of pumpkin juice. Esmani purchased some assorted candies and Whinnie wanted a lollywand which Henry surprised her with. With a dramatic, playful, and wonton "CHEERS!" The kids clinked their glasses and let the sweet and refreshing liquid fill their tummies. Henry liked the way Whinnie's smile lit up her face when he handed her the wand.
"Thank you Hen…" She didn't get to finish.
The compartment door flew open and a voice that made Henry's skin crawl began to speak.
"Well, well, looks like we found the loser compartment," Kimmi Slymer chuckled along with her friends Lobby and O'Doyle. Lobby looked five inches taller while O'Doyle looked five inches wider.
"So you admit you were looking for me?" Henry blurted out and watched as Kimmi's mouth fell open for a split second before her eyebrows arched and she huffed.
"Didn't you nearly die last year?" She changed the subject. "Why are you even back when even the school doesn't want you there?" Henry was desperate not to look affected by her words. It was true, the Untamed magic professor last year was actually possessed and living alongside the Unmentionable One inside of her. The darkest wizard of the modern age. Lord Mormobius. He was also the murderer of Henry's parents and almost his murderer. However for reasons unknown the killing curse Mormobius tried to implement on Henry backfired and now, he is a ghost that has to make due with possession. Did Kimmi know that he had succeeded last year in drinking the Elixir of Life and was now an adult ghost capable of something maybe more? Simbledore didn't seem to be too fazed by it all but Henry had his doubts. In fact, it was seeing Kimmi right here and now bringing all of these uncomfortable thoughts back and clouding the good feelings of seeing his friends and the prospect of another magical year at Hancocks.
"Nope. Still alive and well," Henry stated easily. "I think we had very different memories of last year because as I recall, they wanted me a first year to be on the Grilled Cheese Dueling team which broke a schoolwide tradition going back hm…" Henry pretended to think, "centuries." Kimmi went beet red. "Seems like I'm kinda wanted there." He finished. Whinnie giggled and Kimmi's fiery eyes fell to her.
"Ugh, another Parsley. Is that all your parents do is breed?" Kimmi was obviously faltering and looking for any other way to get the high ground. Henry was having none of it.
"What of it, Slymer? Jealous that Jon and Whinnie's mom and dad actually love their children?"
Esmani, Taryn, Jon, and Whinnie all gasped.
Kimmi looked as if ice cold water had been splashed onto her face.
She made a very weird sound and Henry barely was able to register her face; she began to turn away very quickly.
"Piss off, Puffer!" She exclaimed and Henry smirked.
"Lobby! O'Doyle! Let's go!"
Then she was gone.
Jon's lanky arm was around Henry in an instant and Henry was being pulled down merrily.
"Puffer you are brilliant!"
"She's so nasty...oh Henry, you're amazing," Whinnie murmured.
"I hate to be the damp rag but you know she will be twice as bad this year now, right?" Esmani had her arms crossed again and was staring towards the empty compartment entrance where Kimmi had been standing merely seconds ago. Henry could only shrug.
"Bring it. She's nothing more than an insecure bully."
"Don't you think you're stooping to her level, though?"
"Oh quit with the sunshine and rainbows crap, Esmani," Jon playfully nudged her. "She shouldn't dish it if she can't take it. You can't tell me at your Normie elementary school there wasn't one meanie kid that you wouldn't have liked to knock down a peg or two?"
"Well…"
"Exactly!" Jon sat back impressed with his own logic.
"WHERE ARE THEY?"
Perry was barreling into the compartment completely drenched and reeling like a feral cat. The underclassman looked confused.
"JACK AND MATT! They were behind this, I KNOW it," Perry continued on. "Up! All of you! As Alpaggard Lead Boy I order you to."
"...but...I'm an Owlenmoon," Taryn raised her hand timidly.
"OUT!" Perry shouted.
Like an angry border collie, Perry flanked the children towards the back of the trolley.
"You better think of the red trolley. They've got to be on that one. It's the last one I haven't looked in."
"Why are we being punished for whatever stupid prank Matt and Jack did?" Jon whined but in an instant, the whole group materialized to the front of the red trolley. Passing the driver with a nod, Henry looked from side to side to see different students lounging and talking. Many were dressed in their robes. Well shoot. It was probably nearing that time and now this was going to be a set back.
Coming to a closed compartment, Perry nearly punched it.
"Oy! You two better be decent. Not under an inch from each other let alone snogging when I open this door!" Henry watched him pull the door open to see Matt and Jack playing a Normie word game that comes in a pouch that looks like a banana.
"Cripes you nematode!" Jack held her chest. "What in the world are you doing shouting, banging, and yelling and…" her eyes raked over Perry. "Why are you drenched?"
"You very well know! And I've got the rest of your pose too," Perry gestures towards Henry, Jon, Esmani, and Taryn.
"Perry, you've gone absolutely mental. Me and Matt's scheme is not until after we land. THANKS for that spoil you...spoil sport," Jack waved her hands towards Henry and his friends. "Quit bothering them for Pete's sake. Your power hungry ego trip is ruining your sister's first Harnock's trolley ride!"
Perry actually had the decency to look ashamed.
"But it was very much so your caliber. One minute I'm smooth talking Patty Bartley and the next moment, I'm covered in," he pulled his robes, "wetness."
Matt reached out and inspected his brother's shirt sleeve.
"I'm offended," Matt said plainly. "This is water, bro. From a novice level water charm. A baby could do this charm. Jack and I pride ourselves in...dare I say more sophisticated types of buffoonery," dramatically, Matt kisses his fingers like a chef and then pulls his hand back so Jack can give him a low five. "Bartley, eh? Smooth as sandpaper, I'd reckon."
"You all are an embarrassment! Go back to your compartment. I better dry off before the feast," Perry pinched the bridge of his nose under his glasses with one hand and pointed with his index finger towards the front of the trolley with his other. Henry, Esmani, Jon, Whinnie, and Taryn all thought of the blue trolley and situated back to their previous compartment.
"That was really weird," Esmani noted.
For a long while, the friends puzzled over that strange occurrence until it was too dumb and boring to discuss anymore. The girls left and came back dressed in their robes while Henry and Jon were too busy finishing off their candies.
"Attention students, we are beginning our descent and will hit the railways in five minutes. Please leave all of your luggage on the train. It will be taken to the school separately. Do be sure to be in your robes looking neat at this time. Thank you."
"Oh shoot!" Henry moaned. "Hey girls? Can you give Jon and me a moment?" Jon looked down at his own street clothes and whined. Esmani rolled her eyes but led Taryn and Whinnie out with the door sliding shut behind them.
Jon stood on the bench seat on one side and pulled his trunk down while Henry did the same on the other. Side by side, they had their trunks on the ground. Henry sank to his knees and Jon mirrored him. The two boys unlatched their trunks and began to rummage.
"That's odd…" Henry said.
"What in the heck…" Jon said.
They dug further in their respective trunks.
Realization dawned on them at the same time and they looked at each other with horror in their eyes.
"Jon?" Henry whispered.
"Henry?"
"Are all of your robes gone?"
"Yes. Yours?"
"Yep."
They looked down in utter defeat at the desecrated trunks. Contents spilling everywhere.
"Hey Jon? I think I know who did the water charm on Perry...and stole our robes…"
Quickly, Henry and Jon got off of the trolley with a hot tempered Esmani.
"See what I mean? She's going to be twice as bad because of what you said and…"
"Don't follow, Esmani," Jon put a hand up. Henry's eyes scanned the crowd wildly for fiery red hair and a sniveling giggle. He had to ignore the stares of fellow classmates. Their comments on his state of dress rolling off of him like water on a duck.
"Jon! There she is!" Henry exclaimed and pointed. "She's got a bundle in her hands!"
"Esmani!" Jon was interrupting the protests of their friend. "Please just go and make sure Whinnie gets on the boats alright?"
"First years! First years, here!" The familiar voice of Hagish sounded in the distance.
"Esmani please. Matt will be disappointed, Jack will call me out, and Perry will tell mom if Whinnie gets lost or hurt or in trouble."
"Jon I'm right here," Whinnie rolled her eyes.
"Jon," Henry whined. "I'm losing her!"
"Esmani," Jon mimicked Henry's tone.
"Alright, FINE!" Esmani linked her arm with Whinnie's. "Let this be a lesson to you both, will you?" She then turned on her heel with Whinnie at her side.
"Yes, yes, we will, we will...Henry! Go...go, go, GO!" Jon was pushing Henry and the boys took off into a sprint.
"Oooh they're going to get it."
"Nothing good happens if Garspatuon sees you out of uniform on the platform."
Those were just some of the comments made by other students as Henry and Jon ran in the opposite direction of where second years on up were supposed to meet. Henry could see Kimmi holding a pile of fabric in her hands along with Lobby and O'Doyle.
"Nasty twit is heading for the forest!" Henry shouted and forced his legs to move faster.
Henry watched as Kimmi had the gaul to look back. Once she noticed that Henry and Jon were gaining on her, she let out a guffaw and ran faster.
"GIVE US OUR ROBES BACK, SLYMER!" Henry yelled. She just laughed harder.
The chatter of students was getting fainter and fainter as well as Hagish's voice was no longer able to be heard. Henry realized there was no longer stone on the Harnocks platform but instead a beaten dirt path along overgrown grass. Henry realized too late he should have been making mental notes on direction and landmarks. If his mind wasn't burning to keep his legs moving he would be kicking himself at the very real scenario of not finding his way back to the castle.
"This girl is driving me up the WALL!" Jon shouted ahead of Henry, for his legs were a lot longer and his strides were more lengthy. Not breaking his stride, Jon reached up and grabbed a low hanging branch from a random tree. It snapped off and Jon threw it towards the back of the retreating girl. Kimmi screamed as she went down and Lobby and O'Doyle halted to flank her sides and help her up. It was just enough time for Henry and Jon to gain purchase on her.
Five red and panting second years appraised one another.
Kimmi was on her feet with the robes in her hands. She had enough energy to sneer. Her black tights under her skirt were torn and her knees were bloody where she had fallen. It didn't seem like she minded.
"You want your robes, Puffer?" She taunted. Henry took one step closer and she made a move to throw them...upwards.
Henry looked up and saw an enormous Sycamore tree with gnarled branches and twisting roots. It looked a hundred years old. If Kimmi were to throw them up there, they'd be stuck. There was not a low enough hanging branch for Henry to even begin contemplating to climb. Next to him, Jon brandished his wand. Lobby and O'Doyle did the same in reflex.
"Comehereify Robes!" Jon yelled and red sparks flew from his wand. In true fashion, Jon's charm must not have taken because the robes did not come to Jon. What happened instead was his sparks hit the tree and bounced off which made Kimmi startle and she dropped the robes. Just as she was about to stoop down to pick them up a horrendous moaning sound rumbled the ground around them and caused each child to look up in terror.
The tree was moving.
Like a rhythmic dancer the limbs swayed back and forth. Kimmi and her entourage began to back up when like a whip, a branch shot out and encased Lobby's ankles.
"AH!" She screamed and Henry watched as the branch snaked around higher and higher snaring the girl up to her knees. "HELP ME!" She cried to her friends but O'Doyle was already hobbling as fast as his stumpy legs could carry him. Kimmi was shell shocked and trembling. The robes fell from her hands when she ducked to miss a branch that was heading for her. The branch that had Lobby was now in the air holding her upside down. Her shrieks were piercing.
"Letgoicous!" Henry cried and pointed it at the tree branch. A loud rumble that could only signal that the tree was angry shook the leaves and Lobby was dropped. She scampered away and thrashed at Kimmi to follow her. Kimmi was still stone cold and watched for one second more as the same branch that had had Lobby turned and grabbed Henry around the waist. Robes forgotten on the ground, Kimmi turned along with Lobby and darted towards the castle with one more wayward glance back to look at Henry struggling.
"JON! It's tightening!" Henry hissed through clenched teeth.
"LETGOICOUS! HOCUS POCUS! QUIT CRUSHING MY FRIEND YOU OVERGROWN HUNK OF FIREWOOD!" Jon decided to just grab onto the branch that had Henry and hold on. Both boys were tossed and thrown but Jon held steadfast and peeled up bark one by one until the tree screamed in such a low register it rattled Henry's bones. They boys were dropped and then a flash of yellow light emitted followed by loud, stern words from a familiar voice.
Oh no.
The tree went rigid and Henry rolled onto his bottom with Jon next to him to look up into the eyes of Professor Sylvia Snabes. The last person he would want to see right now next to Kimmi Slymer.
"Well, well, well," she said in almost a bored tone. "Arriving on the trolley is just not flashy enough for the famous Mr. Puffer? Have to go and battle this poor defenseless Strangling Sycamore for a tale around the dinner table, hm?"
"Something with Strangling in the name can be considered defenseless?" Jon wheezed, clutching his stomach.
"Silence, Parsley," Snabes sneered. Her flowing ebony robes billowed from her body like ominous bat wings and the darkening sky made her pearlescent skin look ghoulish. Her hair was pulled tight and had an unbecoming sheen of grease amongst the locks. "What's more," she continued languish, "you are out of uniform upon arrival. Tsk, tsk."
"Ma'am! You've got to understand Kimmi Slymer…"
"I am tired already of your qualms with Ms. Slymer and it is but hour one of the new term," she put up a hand to silence him. "You will follow me to my office." Henry and Jon could only look at each other. "Now." Snabes said and the boys clamored to their feet sore and beaten.
Through a door Henry didn't know existed they were pulled by their shirt collars by Professor Snabes. They passed the doors to the Great Hall just as Henry heard the Classifying Cap yell.
"Whinnie Parsley...ALPAGGARD!"
Henry actually was able to muster a smile when he looked at Jon. Jon returned it.
"Sylvia! What in blazes are you doing with my students?" The familiar commanding voice of Professor Garspatuon met Henry's ears as the Great Hall doors opened. "And what…?" He appraised their appearance. "Why are they not in uniform?"
"Precisely why they are coming with me. I caught these menaces on the forest outskirts with the Strangling Sycamore. Out of dress and causing mischief no doubt. To my office they are going to go."
"These are my Alpaggard students. My House. My responsibility. And," he looked down at Henry and Jon. It was hard to say a cold glare from Garspatuon was any better than a sharp scowl from Snabes. "They need to be fed before bed. Gentleman." He looked upon the disheveled boys with their muddied robes in their hands. With a flick of his wand, Garspatuon transfigured the robes onto the bodies of the boys. They were cleaned and pressed and smelled like vanilla. Way cool. Briefly, Henry wanted to laugh how much he felt like Cinderella at that moment. He filed it away to tell Jon but then quickly realized Jon perhaps didn't know that story.
"I don't appreciate being undermined in my consequences, Mono," Professor Snabes asserted. Professor Garspatuon easily nodded.
"I understand that, Slyvia, I do," he nodded and arched that deadly eyebrow in Henry's direction. "They shall eat. They shall sleep. And after classes tomorrow they shall serve detention in your office, yes?" Henry's jaw dropped. Detention on the first day? Kimmi Slymer was going to get it next time he saw her.
"I...very well, Mr. Garspatuon," Professor Snabes thrusted the boys out of her hands. She turned towards the stairs that she had been previously leading Henry and Jon towards.
"Are you not joining us to feast?" Professor Garspatuon called to her but she was already up the stairs. He turned towards Henry and Jon. "What are you standing around for? In you go! I must return to my Head Table." Henry and Jon started towards the doors. "Do you two have no decorum? Headmaster Simbledore is about to make her speech. Go through that side door, the nerve of you two! I have half a mind to take Alpaggard House credits right here and now, my word!" Blushing, the students stumbled over each other to head towards the door Professor Garspatuon told them to.
It led them right by the Alpaggard table and the second it took for Henry to collapse his height to sit, he was able to lock eyes with Kimmi Slymer. Her jaw dropped in indignation. Henry couldn't help but wiggle his fingers as he sat. Esmani was already sputtering at Jon and Whinnie was showing off the inside of her trainers cap. Shining bright with the Alpaggard color.
The feast was just as remarkable as Henry remembered and soon, he was in the dormitories marked SECOND YEARS. His school friends Paddy O'Rourke and Jeremy Tucker stayed up with Henry and Jon as they recounted what had happened.
"You surely know how to start a school year, Puffer," Paddy remarked.
In retrospect, maybe it wasn't going to be all that bad Henry thought with a grin pulling at his lips as he slumped back in the comfiest four poster bed in the world. He was home at Harnocks and nothing was going to dampen his spirits, full belly, and one uppence of Kimmi Slymer and Professor Snabes.