A/N: Whoa, check it out! It's early! Thank God for three day weekends and a clear, creative mind. And while this chapter may be shorter than the others, there is definate "lightness" to it. Honestly, though, this series is and will continue to be, dark. But don't fret, there is comic relief, or at least I hope so. I'm quite satisfied with this chapter, more so than I expected to be, so please give me your insight and review! It's YOUR thoughts that count. OK then, read on, and don't forget to review!
Chapter Five: Jeff Finds a Way
Getting back into the routine of school is always hard the first day. While Timothy welcomed the distraction from all of his troubles, Darian couldn't contain his feelings at all for the entire morning:
"I'm tired."
"I'm hungry."
"My feet hurt."
"Homework? On the first day? I don't want to!"
The complaints went on and on. Timothy eventually tuned him out, only now he was annoyed by John's complete silence and the constant kicking by Jeff in his pocket under his robes. At one point in charms, Professor Slimak noticed Timothy telling his pocket to shut up.
"Timothy? Why are you talking to your pants?" she inquired suspiciously from the front of the classroom, so that the whole class could hear.
He immediately went a bright shade of red as he tried desperately to come up with an excuse; everyone began to giggle.
"Er… uh… ermm, well I was…"
"No more talking, Mr. Potter, and that includes your pants too." She shook her wand at him, while the entire class erupted into gales of laughter. Timothy could feel himself sinking into a puddle in his chair, all while John hid the first smile visible since over the summer behind his hands and Darian looked about ready to implode from containing his own guffaws. Timothy glared at them while giving his pocket a concealed whack.
"Hey!" shouted Jeff from inside. It was a good thing people were still laughing, otherwise he would have been heard.
When lunch finally arrived, Timothy grabbed his food and decided that he should eat outside. John, however, left immediately for Professor Peacecraft's office, saying that he needed to speak with her. Darian was reluctant at first, but agreed at last to join Timothy outside to eat. They settled near a tree by the lake and Timothy pulled Jeff out of his pocket.
"It's about time! Who knows how much lint I've swallowed!" the shrunken yellow dragon began to cough, sending sparks and smoke across the grass.
"Careful Jeff, you could set all the grass on fire!" Timothy chided, putting his sandwich together.
Jeff upturned his nose at him.
"And what's the big idea for slapping me all the time?"
Timothy persisted to take a large bite of his sandwich and closed his eyes. Darian poked at finger at Jeff with a snort.
"For bringing attention to poor Timothy's pants, that's why!" he stuck a pickle in his mouth.
"If you're gonna come to classes with me, Jeff, you're gonna have to stay as quiet and still as possible." Timothy swallowed, looking at him sternly.
"It's not so easy when you're stuffed in a pocket!" Jeff jumped on all four claws.
"Hey, you wanted to come along," Timothy shrugged, taking another bite of his sandwich. "Thaasst da onwy way."
Darian flinched as bits of food sprayed on his face as Timothy spoke. He glared at him as he wiped bits of sandwich off his nose, while Timothy blushed and smiled stupidly. Sighing, Darian rolled over on his back in the grass, glancing a moment at the castle. He sat up on his elbows suddenly and blinked in the light at the big oak front doors.
"Hey, isn't that Luna Dine?"
Timothy stopped in mid-chew and stood up so quickly he nearly stepped on Jeff.
"Hey! Abuse! Abuse, that's all I get!" Jeff bellowed, scurrying to a nearby rock.
"Sorry Jeff," he muttered absentmindedly, straining his eyes to see where the small figure was going. "I think that's her!"
Darian stood up with him and followed his gaze.
"Yeah, so what?"
"Her parents were killed over the summer, you know." Timothy's voice was flat.
"I kinda figured that. But why are you so interested?" Darian put his hands on his hips.
Timothy turned to him and shrugged.
"I just want to apologize, that's all. Problem?"
"No, I guess not." Darian shrugged back.
Still keeping Luna in his sight, Timothy ran off to catch up with her. Darian hesitated, but found himself running after him as well. This left Jeff, his mouth gaping wide open, on the rock.
"HEY! What about me?! HEY! I can't believe this! They've ditched me without even a glance! I really don't know why I stay with these people!" Jeff stomped on the rock angrily, sending out flames and smoke. He continued to whirl around in his discontent when his gaze fell upon a distant and familiar hut in the distance by the woods. Slowly, very slowly, he got a disturbing- yet brilliant- idea. With a last look at the retreating forms of Timothy and Darian, Jeff took off for the last place he'd thought he'd ever want to go. Echolocata Whisper's hut.
Panting and sweating despite the early cool breeze of autumn, Timothy stopped halfway around the castle with Darian nearly collapsing at his side.
"Man, that girl walks fast." He gasped, doubling over.
Timothy kept his eye on Luna, who had stopped behind a huge oak tree and disappeared in the shade. From behind them, the bell signaling the end of lunch rang. Both of them looked at each other, then back at the spot where Luna still was.
"We better go, Timothy." Darian warned, standing up straight.
Timothy still stared at where Luna was hiding.
"I still want to talk with her,"
"You can talk to her another time, we have all year." Darian pulled at his arm, turning around to leave.
"No," Timothy pulled his arm back. "She looks like she could use someone to talk to now… I can't explain why I want to talk to her, really. I feel… bad… almost responsible,"
"Responsible? C'mon, Timothy! Of course it's not your fault her parents died. We're gonna be late for class." Darian pulled at him again impatiently.
Timothy pulled free and began to walk toward the tree.
"You go on ahead… I've got the cloak; I'll sneak in somehow." He called over his shoulder.
"Are you sure you want to show Luna your cloak?" Darian hesitated.
"I can trust her that much." Timothy turned to him.
"Can you?" Darian wasn't convinced.
Timothy shrugged and shooed him off, beginning to walk to the tree again. Darian let out a large sigh before running off back inside the castle. As he got closer, Timothy began to really question why he was so insistent on talking to this girl. But like he said to Darian, he had an odd feeling of guilt towards her, and he felt it was right to apologize.
Nothing but the breeze blowing through the branches and leaves of the large tree could be heard. That was until Timothy reached the trunk and began to hear silent sobs. He peeked around and saw the huddled figure of Luna, knees drawn up to her body and her head resting on them. Her shoulder length brown hair was strewn all over the place, blowing across her back in the wind. Timothy hesitated before clearing his throat. Luna jumped at the sound and looked up at him, her face wet with tears and her eyes all red.
"Er… sorry to bother you," he whispered loudly, feeling suddenly embarrassed. "I just wanted to say hi."
Luna turned her head away, and her voice was surprisingly bitter.
"You're late for class."
Timothy winced at her tone, shuffling his feet.
"Well…"
She got to her feet suddenly, wiping her eyes, and began to walk off. Timothy caught her by the elbow.
"Wait… I just wanted to say… to say… to say I'm sorry."
Luna turned to him, her eyes were narrowed and sad.
"Sorry for what? You've done nothing wrong."
"For your parents." Timothy hesitated to whisper.
Her eyes welled with tears again, and she looked away, wrenching her elbow free… but not leaving.
"You didn't kill them… but I as good as did." She whispered.
"It's not your fault either." Timothy wasn't sure how to comfort her.
"I wasn't there!" she yelled suddenly. "I didn't do anything! If I had come home a minute earlier… I would have been dead along with them. But no… no… I walked in the house just as I saw my aunt's brother yell the killing curse. He tortured them first… then killed them. When I screamed… he turned to kill me. But he stopped… he didn't yell the curse. All he did was mutter, 'I'm sorry', then disapparated. My parents didn't deserve to die… I did."
Timothy looked at her in shock. He wasn't prepared to hear her explain all that had happened. When she began to sob again, he nearly panicked. He wasn't sure what to do… he could give her a hug like his father would do, or stroke her hair like his mother would… but he didn't know her well enough that that would seem imposing. All he could do was feel awkward as the girl continued to sob.
"At least you're alive… and no, you do not deserve to die." He finally managed to say.
Luna shook her head.
"What would you know? You have the perfect life! Now I have to live with my grandmother who hates me! She thinks I should have died too! She blames me for the death of my parents; she's hated me ever since last spring. Convinced that I'm the 'bad apple', I had to hear it everyday since they died. You don't have to hear that…"
Timothy grimaced at her.
"My life isn't as perfect as it seems. You should know, you saw Malfoy's plot against me. I have to live knowing that someone wants to kill my family and me very badly. To live with the fact that only I can save the world. Looks can be deceiving." He turned away himself.
They didn't say anything a while, before Luna whispered:
"At least you still have your parents."
Timothy looked over his shoulder at her, but she was looking the other way. He sighed, not knowing how to reply, when he saw something move out of the corner of his eye.
"Oh no! Peters!"
The school janitor, Mr. Peters, was patrolling the grounds. Timothy grabbed Luna by the shoulders and pulled her back behind the tree.
"Hey! What are you doing?" she yelped.
"Mr. Peters is right behind the tree by the castle." He whispered, twisting in his spot to see around the tree. The lanky looking old man was peering around the grounds like a watchdog.
"He'll see us!" Luna cried.
"Stay quiet!" Timothy commanded, fingering his pockets for the invisibility cloak his father had given him.
"What're we going to do?" she whispered.
"If you promise never to tell anyone, I have a way."
Two minutes later, Timothy and Luna were huddling under his invisibility cloak and tiptoeing over the grounds toward the castle. Keeping as quiet as possible, they slipped past Peters who had stopped to look in a bush. Just when he straightened up to look behind him, they had turned the corner, putting the front oak doors in their view. They both broke into a run, and entered the castle as indiscreetly as possible. That was until the bell rang.
"The bell! Class is over already?!" Timothy shouted.
"I've never skipped a class before." Luna muttered.
"Neither have I." Timothy looked about as the corridor began to fill with students.
"Suggestions now?" Luna turned to him.
"Into this alcove here, then we'll come out."
They managed to worm their way into the alcove without touching anyone, and Timothy pulled the cloak off. When he had it safely tucked inside his pocket, they walked out together. He let out a sigh of relief, thinking that they had successfully gotten away with not being in class and no one noticing… when someone did.
"Look! There's Timothy!" shouted a Gryffindor.
"Hey, there's Luna!" shouted a Hufflepuff.
All eyes turned on them. Timothy suddenly felt two inches tall.
A simultaneous "oooooooooo" rang out in the hall, and people began to giggle.
"Timothy and Luna were skipping!"
"Together!"
"Uh oh," Timothy moaned. He had a sick sense he knew where this was going. Luna had already turned a bright shade of red.
People began to crowd and giggle at them… boys slapping his back or just laughing… girls pointing and looking jealous at Luna. Timothy began to panic.
"Look, we weren't doing anything. I just…"
"Did you guys kiss?" asked a Ravenclaw.
"No!"
"Going to get married, are you?" snickered a Slytherin.
"NO!" Timothy stomped his foot, but the crowd only giggled more.
"OK, OK, move aside! Coming through! Hey, watch it there, that's my butt! Move, people, move! Make way, c'mon!" Darian suddenly appeared at Timothy's side and began to pull him away.
"Oh, thank God you're here!" Timothy let out a sigh of relief.
"You didn't tell me you were going to flirt with her!" Darian called over his shoulder.
Timothy moaned.
"Oh, not you too!"
"Nah, just kidding with ya." He laughed at him. Timothy looked back to see Luna, but she was already gone. He was pulled up the stairs and toward their next class, where Darian shoved his school bag into his hands.
"Saved your stuff."
"Thanks."
"So how does it feel to have skipped a class for the first time?" Darian walked with him down the hall.
"Well, I won't be getting a medal for it, that's for sure." Timothy muttered.
Despite Timothy's fears, nobody inquired after that on where he was. While he knew that Professor Miller would ask him the following day, Timothy knew that if he told him he felt ill, that that would work. It was a relief that he wasn't teased during Professor Lupin's class, next, for that would have been even more embarrassing… since he was in close contact with his parents.
That day, they were continuing the study of the largest of dark creatures. Lupin taught "Defense Against Dark Creatures", and it was Timothy's favorite class for more than one reason. When everyone was settled, Lupin addressed the class.
"Today, we'll be covering dragons."
Timothy felt his heart stop.
"Dragons?! Oh no! Jeff!" Timothy stood up suddenly in his seat.
Lupin stared at him, first in surprise, then in mild suspicion. The entire class turned to him again as Timothy cursed himself silently. Darian however, realized what was wrong.
"I haven't seen him!" he hissed up to him. It took a moment more for John to figure out the problem. After all, he had been with Professor Peacecraft during lunch. He looked at the both in turn with worry.
"Timothy, is there a problem?" Lupin called up to him kindly. The look in his eyes, on the other hand, told Timothy he already knew the answer. It never occurred to him that his parents might have told Lupin that Jeff was joining him at school. But there was no time to ponder, if Jeff was lost on school grounds, who knew what would happen if he was found and caught in the wrong hands.
"Er… I need to use the bathroom, Professor!" Timothy said in a small, squeaky voice. When Lupin nodded, it was hard for him to stop himself from running out of the classroom. Just as he reached the door, he heard Darian's chair slide out abruptly.
"Professor! I left my textbook in my trunk! No worries, I'll run up and get it real quick! No need to halt your instructions just for me, you just keep on teaching! I'll just be going now, but I'll be back!" he called out quickly, not waiting for an answer and scuttled past desks with surprised students and joined Timothy at the door. He gave him a broad grin and a wink, and as they left, Timothy could see John shake his head helplessly and Lupin containing a smile.
They practically fell into the corridor, slamming the classroom door shut behind them.
"How could we let this happen?!" Timothy shrieked, tearing off down the corridor as silently as he could.
"I was with you, so don't blame me!" Darian pointed to himself defensively.
"What if Peters found him? Oh, I can only imagine!" Timothy moaned, jumping the staircase steps two at a time.
"Let's not." Darian said morosely.
"Maybe Dumbledore found him… perhaps we could convince him not to tell anyone." Timothy thought out loud.
"If you don't get in trouble for having him in the first place." Darian pointed out.
They made sure to slow down past classroom door windows, speed up silently down corridors and staircases, and carefully slipped out of the castle without anyone noticing. They stood on the stone steps and stared around wildly at the vast grassy grounds that seemed to go on forever around the school.
"He could be anywhere!" Timothy groaned.
"Well, let's start where we last saw him. He could still be there, for all we know!" Darian started off toward the lake, Timothy following close behind.
When they reached the tree where they had eaten lunch, there was no sign of the shrunken yellow Jefforagon. Timothy sank to his knees in the grass, shaking his head.
"Oh, my mum's going to be so upset if she hears I've lost him!"
"Well, at least your dad won't be upset." Darian considered, hiding a smile.
Timothy thought a moment.
"Yeah, but mum is just plain scary when she's mad… I don't think even dad could hold her back."
Darian sat on the grass with him and looked around, the breeze blowing their black hair around restlessly. Timothy continued to moan, and Darian grew steadily annoyed.
"Stop that, will you? You sound like a dying cow."
Timothy rolled his eyes with exasperation.
"If your best friend was lost and most likely captured to be sold as someone's pet, you'd be moaning like a cow too! Not to mention the thought of your own mother hexing you!"
Darian raised his eyebrows.
"But isn't Jeff sorta like your pet?"
Timothy opened his mouth to answer sharply, but stopped himself. In a way, Jeff was the family pet. They certainly treated him like one a lot. With this realization, a pit of guilt built up in his stomach, and he moaned louder.
"Well, he's gotta be around her somewhere," Darian stood up, brushing pieces of grass off his pants and looking around. "Maybe he's in the Forbidden Forest, like he was last year."
Timothy nodded and got to his own feet, following Darian off toward the woods where students were forbidden to go. They scanned the edge of the tree line, but unlike the previous year, Jeff was no where to be seen or heard.
"Let's face it, Darian, he's not here." Timothy sighed.
"Unless he's deeper in the woods." Darian muttered.
Timothy groaned yet again.
"Well, we can't go in there."
"We'll just have to let him find his own way back, if that's where he's gone."
"Yeah, let's go. Professor Lupin will begin to worry and we'll get in trouble." Timothy shoved his hands in his pockets and began to leave, when Echolocata Whisper's hut caught his eye. Darian followed his gaze and they exchanged dubious looks.
"You don't think…?"
"That would be the last place…"
"Maybe she found him…"
"Worth a shot to ask."
Uncertainly, they started off toward the extraordinarily large hut. Both of them shook their heads as they got closer, doubting that Jeff was inside. Together, they reached up and knocked on the huge door. After a moment of scuffling, it opened, and in the doorframe was the towering Timberlan.
"Oh! What a most pleasant surprise! I didn't think you'd visit me at all! Come in, dears, come in!"
With absolutely no effort, she swept them inside with her massive hands. Her hut was unchanged since the last time they were in there. Overly large furniture sparsely dotted the one-roomed building. The fireplace crackled in a corner, and smiling broadly, Whisper sat down in one of the huge chairs.
"I bet you're looking for your little friend, hmm Mr. Potter?"
Timothy continued to sweep the hut with his eyes, replying with his most polite voice.
"Yes, ma'am. Have you seen him?"
Darian nodded silently at his side.
All of Whisper's shiny white teeth broke out on her face, and she slowly turned in her seat to look at something both boys hadn't noticed. A tall perch stood behind her, and perched on top was…
"You don't mean…?" Timothy blurted out, flabbergasted.
"Oh my gosh!" Darian put a hand over his mouth.
It was a yellow owl, and it was laughing so hard that it nearly toppled over and fell.
"JEFF!" Timothy turned to Whisper, his eyes narrowed. "You turned my friend into an OWL!"
Whisper only looked slightly hurt, more embarrassed than anything else. She played with a large teacup on the table, averting her eyes.
"He asked me to! But I'm afraid Timberlans aren't that good at exact magic and while he asked to be turned into some form where he could travel easily, I could only change his form- not his color."
"He asked you to?" Both Timothy and Darian gasped. Meanwhile, Jeff, as a yellow owl, continued to laugh in a combination of hoots and guffaws. Timothy crossed his arms and scowled at him; Jeff soon quieted.
"It's the best disguise!" he fluttered up to perch on Timothy's shoulder. He still continued to scowl, but Jeff just preened his feathers like there was no problem. "Now I can stay at Hogwarts with you, and not have to stay in that stuffy pocket!"
"Did it not occur to you, Jeff," Darian stated, "That you are yellow? In case you didn't know, there are no such things as yellow owls. Don't you think you'll be slightly conspicuous hanging in the owlry as the only yellow owl there? And let's not think about what others would think when they see a yellow owl hanging out with Timothy, especially when he already has an owl!"
Jeff cocked his owl head in consideration. Timothy was too flustered to say anything. Echolocata Whisper simply poured herself some tea.
"Alright, maybe I overlooked that part. But I'll just stay in Timothy's room… but as an owl I'll be free to fly about."
Timothy just couldn't think of anything to say. One thing was for sure, this would not be going in his letter home to his parents. His mother wouldn't be too keen on Jeff being turned into an owl just as much as losing him. All he could manage was,
"We'll figure this out later. In the meantime, Jeff, you fly up to our dorm and stay there. We have to get back to class before Professor Lupin gets mad. No doubt he'll want to hear about this, and I'm not sure how to lie about Jeff being an owl."
He turned to Whisper and gave a courteous nod.
"Thank you for keeping Jeff safe, and not telling anyone."
"Oh, no problem, my dear. I'm only sorry I changed him without your permission, but he was so insistent! He only wanted a better way to be with you here at school without your worry." She smiled at them kindly.
Jeff flashed Timothy the most innocent eyes an owl could muster, and Timothy groaned.
"Well, at least no one will know he's a dragon."
"That is, until he tries to breathe fire." Darian muttered.
"Hey, I'll behave. As long as you no longer ditch me without a thought, anymore." Jeff said indignantly.
"Yeah, right." Both boys said, waving goodbye to Whisper, and left the hut. After an insistent push from Timothy, Jeff took off somewhat shakily on his new wings and headed for Gryffindor Tower. Timothy and Darian hurried back to class without a problem, only an interested glance from Lupin and an intense gaze from John as they sat down, panting.
"I'll tell you later." Timothy whispered to John, copying his notes.
"Why do I have a feeling it's bad and I don't really need to be told." John smiled.
"With you being who you are, you're right." Darian muttered.
Sure enough, when the bell rang, Lupin called Timothy and Darian over to have them explain themselves. John waited outside the door as both boys poured out the details. Timothy cringed as he got to the part about Jeff becoming a yellow owl.
"Don't tell mum, please!" he begged. "She'll hex me!"
Lupin, to his surprise, laughed.
"Oh, I'm not so sure about that! Believe me, she knows Jeff. It's not surprising the little scaled idiot would go off and do this. If he has to be here, and he's here because he cares for you, then being an owl is the best way to go."
"But he's yellow," Darian said. "People are not going to overlook him."
"You're creative," Lupin said to them both with a smile. "I'm sure you can come up with a convincing explanation.
"He can still talk," Timothy pointed out grimly.
"Well, you'll just have to convince him to keep his now beaked mouth shut." Lupin sighed. He sat at his desk and shuffled papers, signaling the conversation now over. Darian began to leave, but Timothy hesitated.
"So… are you going to write my parents about this?" he asked meekly.
Lupin cocked his head at him and sighed again, giving him another of his warm smiles.
"I'm not a tattle-tale who runs off to your parents to rattle on you. I believe you can handle this situation perfectly on your own, and there's no need for me to intervene. If you want your parents to know about this, than you can tell them yourself. They won't hear it from me, first."
"Thank you, Unc- I mean, Professor Lupin." Timothy smiled back, following Darian out. Lupin beamed at him as he left, then went back to his papers with yet another sigh.
"Jeff did what?" John gasped.
The three of them were in the Gryffindor common room that evening. Timothy and Darian explained in turn about what had happened since lunch. John listened intently to them both, his air of distance and mysterious forlorn temporarily unseen. Jeff was still up in their dorm room, but Timothy had magically locked the door to keep people out until he explained about the new "yellow owl". He told all of the other second year Gryffindor boys who shared the room at dinner, and while they were pleasantly skeptical, they believed him. On a whim, Timothy said that the new owl was Darian's, much to his surprise.
"Looks like I get an owl after all!" Darian had said.
Now comfortably in front of the common room fire, Timothy explained everything to John. It was at that time that he decided to tell both of his friends about what had happened to Luna.
"I knew about her parents," John said, his voice solemn. "And the feeling I got from her from the only time I've seen her so far was intensely disturbed, but I had no idea it was that bad."
"Well, what else did you expect?" Darian said, crossing his arms and sitting back in the armchair he was sitting in. "Her parents are murdered right in front of her eyes by one of the henchmen of the current most evil wizard in the world. I'd say I would be disturbed."
John shrugged.
"And now," Timothy continued quietly. "Now the whole school thinks that Luna and I are… are a…"
"Couple?" John smiled.
"We are not!" Timothy snapped a little too loudly, making heads turn all around them. He blushed and sank into his chair.
"She would be the last person Timothy would date, I'm sure." Darian told John. "After what she did last year… plus, she's so small and… and… and… she's so small!"
Timothy opened his mouth to argue that it wasn't Luna's fault for what she did to him the previous year, that in fact she saved him, but thought it best not to. John apparently, got the hint.
"Girls are a waste of time, anyway." Darian added. "You can't understand them, and I have no reason to bother to."
All three of them nodded and fell silent a moment.
"John, what was it that you and Professor Peacecraft did?" Timothy broke the silence.
John looked around the room until he was sure no one was listening in, and he leaned forward in his chair to whisper. Timothy and Darian inched closer.
"We did another lesson, that's all."
Darian seemed satisfied with the statement, and leaned back into his chair. Timothy, however, could see something in John's eyes that told him that there was something more. But when he started to inquire, John shook his head quickly.
"I'm tired," he said suddenly. "I'm heading upstairs to bed. How 'bout you guys?"
Darian let out a stifled yawn.
"Yeah, let's go." Timothy got up.
When they got into the dorm, Ben, Bran, and Bobby (the other Gryffindor second years) were already in bed and fast asleep. Timothy was the slowest to get into his pajamas, Darian couldn't get into bed sooner, and John didn't look at either of them as he climbed behind the curtains of his four-poster.
It wasn't long until the only sounds in the dorm were the quiet snores of Bobby and the occasional snort from Darian. Timothy, however, could not sleep. So many thoughts bounced around in his mind that he couldn't decipher which thought was which anymore. The family crest, Summerray, the family crest, Luna, and the family crest nagged him continuously until an hour later he sat up straight in bed. He was wide-awake with his troubled thoughts, but now that he was at school, he couldn't go to his parents to make him hot milk and make him feel better. What he wanted most at that moment was to talk to someone who would understand, to not hold anything back and tell everything. But everyone was asleep… he couldn't write his parents because he just couldn't tell them… and if he could get Jeff to make him feel better, it would mean he would have to talk and blow his cover to Ben, Bran, and Bobby.
He laid back down and closed his eyes, forcing himself to go to sleep, but sleep just wouldn't come. Finally, he caught one idea in his head and sat up again.
My uncle's diary! He thought to himself, scrambling as quietly as he could to his trunk where he had put the diary when he had gotten to school. Taking up his wand as well, he whispered "Lumos" and threw the bed sheets over his head to muffle the light. He flipped a couple of pages and started to read.
Hello diary,
Today at school we got our book report subjects. I have to do my report on the trolls of Europe. Normally that would be OK, but we have to have partners for this project. Mrs. Stanley wouldn't let us pick our partners, and I got stuck with a girl. She's really annoying and her name is Lauren. When we went to the library to start our research, a giant book called the Giants of the World fell on her head and she began to cry. I helped her up and gave her a tissue, and now the whole class thinks we're "boyfriend-girlfriend". Ewww! No! I can't change partners, so I'm stuck with her. Now I have to be teased all day long and Lauren persists to flirt with me. Why me?
Timothy Springs
Age 12
Timothy couldn't help but laugh silently. How ironic for his uncle to have faced a similar situation with a girl! As amusing as it was, nothing in this entry helped him as to what to do. He figured that he would just have to let the thing with Luna blow over. For a few more minutes, Timothy read some more of the diary, before he finally felt a yawn coming on. Soon, he fell asleep with the diary still open across his chest and the light of his wand eventually went out.
Much to his despair, the school wasn't about to forget about him and Luna for a while. The next three weeks of school was torture as he went down hallways and ate meals. Timothy only saw Luna from time to time, and it must have been just as bad for her, for now she scowled at him angrily from a long distance. He found it just as well; no need for her to have actual feelings for him. The less he saw her the better.
Darian and John were as supportive as best friends could be. However, John was spending more time with Professor Peacecraft for lessons. So it was Darian who became Timothy's bodyguard. It worked out for a while, but Timothy soon became annoyed by his loud and affronted manner echoing down corridors.
"Really, Darian, there's no need to yell down the corridors." He chided him quietly as Darian ordered two third year Ravenclaws to mind their own business.
"It's the only way, Timothy, the only way!" Darian shook his head.
Soon, however, things quieted down. Much to his surprise, Timothy and Darian weren't pressed as to why there was now a mysterious yellow owl living in the boys' dorms. He wrote to his parents often, and they wrote back; nothing much was happening and his parents were finally getting some rest. Although, when Timothy would quietly relay this information to Darian and John, John would only look solemn.
"What is it that you do during these lessons with Peacecraft, anyway?" Timothy asked him at dinner.
John stared at his plate, shoving food around with his fork.
"Just… control over… over my abilities." He whispered.
"Quidditch starts in October, Timothy, there are two new positions!" Darian said suddenly, looking over at a bulletin board where crowds of students were huddling over.
Timothy followed his gaze with interest. His place on the team was as good as guaranteed that year. Taku Smith was the only reason he didn't make it the year before. Now he was serving a life sentence in Azkaban, and was expelled from school. His position as beater was open. Keanu Nole, the seventh year seeker from the previous year and Gryffindor captain, graduated so his position was open as well. Timothy was curious as to who was elected team captain that year.
When the crowd thinned both Timothy and Darian got up to read the poster.
QUIDDITCH TRY-OUTS
September the 29th
The following house teams have openings:
GRYFFINDOR
SLYTHERIN
RAVENCLAW
Those interested in playing for their house need to report to their team's captain before the 29th:
SEAMORE WALTERS (6th year)- GRYFFINDOR
TILLIKUM DREW (6th year)- SLYTHERIN
ROWENA STONE (5th year)- RAVENCLAW
Quidditch season starts in October. Good luck!
"We've got it this year!" Darian said happily.
Timothy felt his chest rise with excitement as well. Maybe Quidditch could help keep his mind off of everything better.
"We've got to find Walters." He said, looking back at the Gryffindor table. Most of the other students had already gone, and while he remembered the beater from the previous year's try-outs, Timothy wasn't so sure he could pick him out of a crowd. "Do you remember what he looks like?"
"We'll wait 'till later, in the common room. All the older kids hang out together, so we're bound to find him then." Darian suggested, going back to sit with John.
"Still think joining Quidditch will impair our studies, huh John?" he poked jokingly at him.
Timothy gave Darian a reproving glare, but John didn't even seem to have heard the remark. Instead, he got up without looking at them and brushed food crumbs off of his robes.
"I gotta talk to Peacecraft 'bout something, I'll meet you up in the dorm later. See ya." He left the hall without a backward glance, almost in a hurry.
"I swear, Timothy, I don't know why we hang with the guy anymore. He's even more estranged than last year!" Darian sighed, finishing his dinner.
Timothy looked at the vacant spot where John was sitting with an intense stare, almost as if he expected the answer to John's behavior to pop out at him. Certainly it couldn't be the vision he had seen of Timothy. Of all people for that to bother, it would be him! And it had been, but not nearly as much as John, apparently. There was something more to it, and it seemed to bother John so much that the only one he could obviously confide in was Professor Peacecraft. This was understandable, but if it concerned him, Timothy would much rather have John just tell him than to keep it secret.
"It's just the way he is. Leave him alone, OK? He's got it bad at home and Hogwarts is the only place he gets slack. He doesn't need us all over him like bullies. It's his business and we have no right to butt in. C'mon, let's go up and find Walters." Timothy stood up and began to leave without waiting. His cover for John seemed to satisfy Darian, and he soon followed. However, there was one thing Timothy said that he wasn't sure of. His business. If his business had anything to do with him… he had a right to know about it. Yet, as they walked up to Gryffindor Tower, Darian distracted his mind with thoughts of Quidditch glory, and worry about John was soon forgotten.
"Hey there, Timothy! 'Ello, Darian." Greeted the portrait of Hagrid, who guarded the entrance to Gryffindor Tower.
"Hello Hagrid, everything well?" Timothy inquired politely.
"Oh sure, sure. How 'bout yeh parents? Heard from them lately?"
"Their fine. Things have quieted down, so they are home more often with Kalina." Timothy answered. Darian fidgeted impatiently.
"Ah, 'dats good to know. But yeh parents wouldn't let their guard down, no sir. We're in safe hands as long as yeh parents are around, mark my words." Hagrid said intensely. "Password?"
"Dragon's bane." Both Timothy and Darian answered. With a last broad smile, Hagrid swung open and they both climbed in.
The common room was hot with chatter and the rich fire in the fireplace. Clusters of students, keeping to their grades, filled each corner with the latest gossip and news. Timothy and Darian got a wave and some nods from Bran, Bobby, and Ben, who were playing Exploding Snap on the floor. They walked on, looking for the group of sixth years where Walters would be. Sure enough, at a large table, Seamore Walters was laughing heartily with two other sixth years and some girls in the same grade. When Timothy and Darian approached, Walters took notice and waved them over.
"Thought I'd see you soon," he said immediately to Timothy. "Your friend, too."
Timothy took a glance at Darian, who looked slightly put out by the second rate greeting he got in Timothy's wake.
"With your family history, Potter, and your performance last year, try-outs will be no problem. Got yourself some competition, though." Walters continued with the attitude only a captain could bear.
"Well, I'll try not to be too hard on him." Darian joked, trying to grab attention.
Walters merely smirked in response.
"Not just you, but the other two second years, one first year, and three fifth years. And that's just so far. With your luck, come the 29th, the whole house could be trying out!"
Darian turned a dark maroon and seemed to visibly shrink a few inches. Timothy tried to give him confidence.
"Well, my bud here can give me a hard time when he really wants to. I'm sure he'll do just fine."
Walters kept his smirk and turned to his friends.
"Everyone will have their chance. What's your name again? Hall? I'll see the two of you out at the pitch on the 29th."
Darian steamed at him, fingering his wand, but Timothy grabbed his arm and pulled him away.
"I'm not sure if I want to be under orders of such a conceited priss if he acts that way to all his teammates." He scowled angrily back at the table.
"Don't worry about it, he's just adding to the fire, you know? He's doing it on purpose so that you'll give it all you got out at the pitch." Timothy reassured him, but he knew that because of his name, yet again, he was getting the good treatment. Poor Darian would only his shadow.
"I don't need to be smirked at or mocked to give it all I got!" Darian nearly shouted over Timothy's shoulder.
"Quiet! Just let it go, OK? Don't worry about it 'till the 29th. C'mon, let's go check on Jeff." Timothy led the way up the stairs, Darian continuing to scowl behind his back as they ascended. However, suddenly, Timothy stopped dead.
"You hear that?"
"No, I only hear that jerk laughing like a pompous idiot." Darian answered bitterly.
"No! I heard… a scream!" Timothy leapt up the stairs.
"A what?" Darian ran up after him.
Timothy charged at the door labeled "Second Years" and threw it open, the screaming inside a combination of hoots and angry cries. He stood in the doorway, whipping out his wand furiously to face whomever it was, and searched the room. Darian nearly toppled into his back, panting.
"What happened?"
"Jeff?" Timothy called out carefully, masking his worry. Yellow feathers began to drift from above him, and both boys craned to look over their heads. While the dorm room was dark, they could still make out a shivering yellow mass perched atop John's four-poster. "Jeff?"
"Stupid… stupid! Out for revenge! That's what! Stupid…" It was Jeff all right, stuttering and shaking off feathers everywhere. Timothy motioned for Darian to close the door as he lit some candles then pocketed his wand. They searched the room, top to bottom. While there were some nightstands upturned and bed covers ruffled, there was no sign of an intruder anymore. Somewhat satisfied, Timothy tried to coax his friend down.
"Whatever, or whomever it was is gone now, Jeff. Come down!"
After shaking off what was left of his fear, Jeff flew down to perch on Timothy's shoulder. It took a minute for Timothy to get used to the fact that his dragon friend was now an owl perched on him, but he cleared his mind quickly and demanded answers.
"What happened, Jeff?"
"Who would of thought… thought they were as dumb as doornails…" Jeff panted.
"Who attacked you?"
"Out to get me, obviously… revenge for last summer…"
"WHO. WAS. IT?" Timothy demanded, worry giving way to impatience.
Jeff flinched as Darian watched the two silently from his bed.
"Well, I never got a name, if that's what you're asking for so rudely!" Jeff finally gathered himself, hotly. "I just get attacked by a murderous snake and you go off on me like a murder suspect!"
Timothy's eyes widened, then narrowed suspiciously.
"Snake. You had said something about snakes just after we got back from Florida this summer, didn't you?"
Jeff blinked at him intensely with his new large owl eyes.
"Yes, but all of you were too busy with your own problems so you just said the heck with explanations and turned me into a goat!"
Timothy let out a controlled breath in exasperation.
"First off, it was innocent oversight, then it was dad who turned you into a goat, not me! But anyway, I need to know about this snake. Was the snake you saw just now the same snake you saw then?"
Jeff cocked his head in thought, considering a moment.
"Yes," he said slowly. "But both times I've seen it, it had been dark. Both times the snake was black, but like I said, it was dark. Very long and menacing it was."
Timothy felt a shiver go down his spine, sweat beaded on his forehead. Jeff didn't seem to notice, and continued.
"And what made it more odd that his snake is after me, it seems, is that it doesn't speak."
"You speak parseltounge too?" Darian asked, speaking up for the first time.
"I'm a talented dragon. Timothy's dad and I have had many conversations with garden snakes in the backyard. But getting back to what I was saying, all snakes speak, and I mean all. You can't get them to shut up. Not this one though, no, this one's a mute. A mute that has me on it's hit list and I don't know why."
Timothy's knees began to wobble, and he sat down on his bed across from Darian. The sweat began to bead down his face and it took him a moment to realize he was shaking.
"Timothy, you OK?" Darian asked with concern.
"It's not you who should be worried, Wild One, it should be me!" Jeff's voice came light as to reassure him, and he nuzzled his feathered head into Timothy's neck, but the comfort didn't work.
Oh, but it is me who should be worried. John's vision is truly real. The black snake that frightens him so is following me. Only poor Jeff's been getting in the way. Timothy thought.
"Timothy, you look pale. Do you need to see my mom?" Darian looked at him close with worry.
"No… no, I need to see… I need to see… John." Timothy got up quickly and put Jeff hastily back on his perch.
"Why John?" Darian asked.
"What's wrong?"
John had opened the door, and while he asked a question, his tone told he already knew the answer. Timothy turned to him fearfully.
"I think we need to let Darian in on something," he whispered.
John nodded grimly, his arms folded.
"There's something more I need to let you in on too."
Darian looked at them both in turn with a suspicious look.
"What's going on? Let me in on what?"
"Perhaps it's time I told both of you what I was told not to tell, as well." Timothy sighed.
"Alright! What's going on? Enough with the mysterious cryptic statements, I want answers, right now!" Darian demanded.
Timothy and John exchanged long, intense looks.
"We better get our pajamas on," Timothy whispered. "We're in for a long night."
A/N: Short, yet intriguing, I feel. What happens next I want to have it's own chapter for... and there's still much, much more yet to come in the story that it has to get rolling along. So, Timothy's being chased by a snake that can only seem to get it's scales on poor Jeff. Jeff decided to go avian; it will be amusing to see how this works out. John's holding something more back that as this chapter closes, he apparently is going to let loose. Timothy apparently is going to finally tell them about the crest- even though he won't tell his family. And poor Darian get's the cold shoulder and seems to be the last to know everything so far. What does the future hold? I assure you, it's my best yet! God bless creativity and my willpower to ignore school to bring this all to you. Do me a grand and gracious favor by reviewing! It helps fuel the fire! Chapter six- by 2/26/01.
I'll answer your Q's and statements from your reviews at my site! Check it out daily at:
HTTP://WWW.THEWORLDOFRENEEPOTTER.DISNEYFANSITES.COM
See you soon!
~OrcaPotter
Chapter Five: Jeff Finds a Way
Getting back into the routine of school is always hard the first day. While Timothy welcomed the distraction from all of his troubles, Darian couldn't contain his feelings at all for the entire morning:
"I'm tired."
"I'm hungry."
"My feet hurt."
"Homework? On the first day? I don't want to!"
The complaints went on and on. Timothy eventually tuned him out, only now he was annoyed by John's complete silence and the constant kicking by Jeff in his pocket under his robes. At one point in charms, Professor Slimak noticed Timothy telling his pocket to shut up.
"Timothy? Why are you talking to your pants?" she inquired suspiciously from the front of the classroom, so that the whole class could hear.
He immediately went a bright shade of red as he tried desperately to come up with an excuse; everyone began to giggle.
"Er… uh… ermm, well I was…"
"No more talking, Mr. Potter, and that includes your pants too." She shook her wand at him, while the entire class erupted into gales of laughter. Timothy could feel himself sinking into a puddle in his chair, all while John hid the first smile visible since over the summer behind his hands and Darian looked about ready to implode from containing his own guffaws. Timothy glared at them while giving his pocket a concealed whack.
"Hey!" shouted Jeff from inside. It was a good thing people were still laughing, otherwise he would have been heard.
When lunch finally arrived, Timothy grabbed his food and decided that he should eat outside. John, however, left immediately for Professor Peacecraft's office, saying that he needed to speak with her. Darian was reluctant at first, but agreed at last to join Timothy outside to eat. They settled near a tree by the lake and Timothy pulled Jeff out of his pocket.
"It's about time! Who knows how much lint I've swallowed!" the shrunken yellow dragon began to cough, sending sparks and smoke across the grass.
"Careful Jeff, you could set all the grass on fire!" Timothy chided, putting his sandwich together.
Jeff upturned his nose at him.
"And what's the big idea for slapping me all the time?"
Timothy persisted to take a large bite of his sandwich and closed his eyes. Darian poked at finger at Jeff with a snort.
"For bringing attention to poor Timothy's pants, that's why!" he stuck a pickle in his mouth.
"If you're gonna come to classes with me, Jeff, you're gonna have to stay as quiet and still as possible." Timothy swallowed, looking at him sternly.
"It's not so easy when you're stuffed in a pocket!" Jeff jumped on all four claws.
"Hey, you wanted to come along," Timothy shrugged, taking another bite of his sandwich. "Thaasst da onwy way."
Darian flinched as bits of food sprayed on his face as Timothy spoke. He glared at him as he wiped bits of sandwich off his nose, while Timothy blushed and smiled stupidly. Sighing, Darian rolled over on his back in the grass, glancing a moment at the castle. He sat up on his elbows suddenly and blinked in the light at the big oak front doors.
"Hey, isn't that Luna Dine?"
Timothy stopped in mid-chew and stood up so quickly he nearly stepped on Jeff.
"Hey! Abuse! Abuse, that's all I get!" Jeff bellowed, scurrying to a nearby rock.
"Sorry Jeff," he muttered absentmindedly, straining his eyes to see where the small figure was going. "I think that's her!"
Darian stood up with him and followed his gaze.
"Yeah, so what?"
"Her parents were killed over the summer, you know." Timothy's voice was flat.
"I kinda figured that. But why are you so interested?" Darian put his hands on his hips.
Timothy turned to him and shrugged.
"I just want to apologize, that's all. Problem?"
"No, I guess not." Darian shrugged back.
Still keeping Luna in his sight, Timothy ran off to catch up with her. Darian hesitated, but found himself running after him as well. This left Jeff, his mouth gaping wide open, on the rock.
"HEY! What about me?! HEY! I can't believe this! They've ditched me without even a glance! I really don't know why I stay with these people!" Jeff stomped on the rock angrily, sending out flames and smoke. He continued to whirl around in his discontent when his gaze fell upon a distant and familiar hut in the distance by the woods. Slowly, very slowly, he got a disturbing- yet brilliant- idea. With a last look at the retreating forms of Timothy and Darian, Jeff took off for the last place he'd thought he'd ever want to go. Echolocata Whisper's hut.
Panting and sweating despite the early cool breeze of autumn, Timothy stopped halfway around the castle with Darian nearly collapsing at his side.
"Man, that girl walks fast." He gasped, doubling over.
Timothy kept his eye on Luna, who had stopped behind a huge oak tree and disappeared in the shade. From behind them, the bell signaling the end of lunch rang. Both of them looked at each other, then back at the spot where Luna still was.
"We better go, Timothy." Darian warned, standing up straight.
Timothy still stared at where Luna was hiding.
"I still want to talk with her,"
"You can talk to her another time, we have all year." Darian pulled at his arm, turning around to leave.
"No," Timothy pulled his arm back. "She looks like she could use someone to talk to now… I can't explain why I want to talk to her, really. I feel… bad… almost responsible,"
"Responsible? C'mon, Timothy! Of course it's not your fault her parents died. We're gonna be late for class." Darian pulled at him again impatiently.
Timothy pulled free and began to walk toward the tree.
"You go on ahead… I've got the cloak; I'll sneak in somehow." He called over his shoulder.
"Are you sure you want to show Luna your cloak?" Darian hesitated.
"I can trust her that much." Timothy turned to him.
"Can you?" Darian wasn't convinced.
Timothy shrugged and shooed him off, beginning to walk to the tree again. Darian let out a large sigh before running off back inside the castle. As he got closer, Timothy began to really question why he was so insistent on talking to this girl. But like he said to Darian, he had an odd feeling of guilt towards her, and he felt it was right to apologize.
Nothing but the breeze blowing through the branches and leaves of the large tree could be heard. That was until Timothy reached the trunk and began to hear silent sobs. He peeked around and saw the huddled figure of Luna, knees drawn up to her body and her head resting on them. Her shoulder length brown hair was strewn all over the place, blowing across her back in the wind. Timothy hesitated before clearing his throat. Luna jumped at the sound and looked up at him, her face wet with tears and her eyes all red.
"Er… sorry to bother you," he whispered loudly, feeling suddenly embarrassed. "I just wanted to say hi."
Luna turned her head away, and her voice was surprisingly bitter.
"You're late for class."
Timothy winced at her tone, shuffling his feet.
"Well…"
She got to her feet suddenly, wiping her eyes, and began to walk off. Timothy caught her by the elbow.
"Wait… I just wanted to say… to say… to say I'm sorry."
Luna turned to him, her eyes were narrowed and sad.
"Sorry for what? You've done nothing wrong."
"For your parents." Timothy hesitated to whisper.
Her eyes welled with tears again, and she looked away, wrenching her elbow free… but not leaving.
"You didn't kill them… but I as good as did." She whispered.
"It's not your fault either." Timothy wasn't sure how to comfort her.
"I wasn't there!" she yelled suddenly. "I didn't do anything! If I had come home a minute earlier… I would have been dead along with them. But no… no… I walked in the house just as I saw my aunt's brother yell the killing curse. He tortured them first… then killed them. When I screamed… he turned to kill me. But he stopped… he didn't yell the curse. All he did was mutter, 'I'm sorry', then disapparated. My parents didn't deserve to die… I did."
Timothy looked at her in shock. He wasn't prepared to hear her explain all that had happened. When she began to sob again, he nearly panicked. He wasn't sure what to do… he could give her a hug like his father would do, or stroke her hair like his mother would… but he didn't know her well enough that that would seem imposing. All he could do was feel awkward as the girl continued to sob.
"At least you're alive… and no, you do not deserve to die." He finally managed to say.
Luna shook her head.
"What would you know? You have the perfect life! Now I have to live with my grandmother who hates me! She thinks I should have died too! She blames me for the death of my parents; she's hated me ever since last spring. Convinced that I'm the 'bad apple', I had to hear it everyday since they died. You don't have to hear that…"
Timothy grimaced at her.
"My life isn't as perfect as it seems. You should know, you saw Malfoy's plot against me. I have to live knowing that someone wants to kill my family and me very badly. To live with the fact that only I can save the world. Looks can be deceiving." He turned away himself.
They didn't say anything a while, before Luna whispered:
"At least you still have your parents."
Timothy looked over his shoulder at her, but she was looking the other way. He sighed, not knowing how to reply, when he saw something move out of the corner of his eye.
"Oh no! Peters!"
The school janitor, Mr. Peters, was patrolling the grounds. Timothy grabbed Luna by the shoulders and pulled her back behind the tree.
"Hey! What are you doing?" she yelped.
"Mr. Peters is right behind the tree by the castle." He whispered, twisting in his spot to see around the tree. The lanky looking old man was peering around the grounds like a watchdog.
"He'll see us!" Luna cried.
"Stay quiet!" Timothy commanded, fingering his pockets for the invisibility cloak his father had given him.
"What're we going to do?" she whispered.
"If you promise never to tell anyone, I have a way."
Two minutes later, Timothy and Luna were huddling under his invisibility cloak and tiptoeing over the grounds toward the castle. Keeping as quiet as possible, they slipped past Peters who had stopped to look in a bush. Just when he straightened up to look behind him, they had turned the corner, putting the front oak doors in their view. They both broke into a run, and entered the castle as indiscreetly as possible. That was until the bell rang.
"The bell! Class is over already?!" Timothy shouted.
"I've never skipped a class before." Luna muttered.
"Neither have I." Timothy looked about as the corridor began to fill with students.
"Suggestions now?" Luna turned to him.
"Into this alcove here, then we'll come out."
They managed to worm their way into the alcove without touching anyone, and Timothy pulled the cloak off. When he had it safely tucked inside his pocket, they walked out together. He let out a sigh of relief, thinking that they had successfully gotten away with not being in class and no one noticing… when someone did.
"Look! There's Timothy!" shouted a Gryffindor.
"Hey, there's Luna!" shouted a Hufflepuff.
All eyes turned on them. Timothy suddenly felt two inches tall.
A simultaneous "oooooooooo" rang out in the hall, and people began to giggle.
"Timothy and Luna were skipping!"
"Together!"
"Uh oh," Timothy moaned. He had a sick sense he knew where this was going. Luna had already turned a bright shade of red.
People began to crowd and giggle at them… boys slapping his back or just laughing… girls pointing and looking jealous at Luna. Timothy began to panic.
"Look, we weren't doing anything. I just…"
"Did you guys kiss?" asked a Ravenclaw.
"No!"
"Going to get married, are you?" snickered a Slytherin.
"NO!" Timothy stomped his foot, but the crowd only giggled more.
"OK, OK, move aside! Coming through! Hey, watch it there, that's my butt! Move, people, move! Make way, c'mon!" Darian suddenly appeared at Timothy's side and began to pull him away.
"Oh, thank God you're here!" Timothy let out a sigh of relief.
"You didn't tell me you were going to flirt with her!" Darian called over his shoulder.
Timothy moaned.
"Oh, not you too!"
"Nah, just kidding with ya." He laughed at him. Timothy looked back to see Luna, but she was already gone. He was pulled up the stairs and toward their next class, where Darian shoved his school bag into his hands.
"Saved your stuff."
"Thanks."
"So how does it feel to have skipped a class for the first time?" Darian walked with him down the hall.
"Well, I won't be getting a medal for it, that's for sure." Timothy muttered.
Despite Timothy's fears, nobody inquired after that on where he was. While he knew that Professor Miller would ask him the following day, Timothy knew that if he told him he felt ill, that that would work. It was a relief that he wasn't teased during Professor Lupin's class, next, for that would have been even more embarrassing… since he was in close contact with his parents.
That day, they were continuing the study of the largest of dark creatures. Lupin taught "Defense Against Dark Creatures", and it was Timothy's favorite class for more than one reason. When everyone was settled, Lupin addressed the class.
"Today, we'll be covering dragons."
Timothy felt his heart stop.
"Dragons?! Oh no! Jeff!" Timothy stood up suddenly in his seat.
Lupin stared at him, first in surprise, then in mild suspicion. The entire class turned to him again as Timothy cursed himself silently. Darian however, realized what was wrong.
"I haven't seen him!" he hissed up to him. It took a moment more for John to figure out the problem. After all, he had been with Professor Peacecraft during lunch. He looked at the both in turn with worry.
"Timothy, is there a problem?" Lupin called up to him kindly. The look in his eyes, on the other hand, told Timothy he already knew the answer. It never occurred to him that his parents might have told Lupin that Jeff was joining him at school. But there was no time to ponder, if Jeff was lost on school grounds, who knew what would happen if he was found and caught in the wrong hands.
"Er… I need to use the bathroom, Professor!" Timothy said in a small, squeaky voice. When Lupin nodded, it was hard for him to stop himself from running out of the classroom. Just as he reached the door, he heard Darian's chair slide out abruptly.
"Professor! I left my textbook in my trunk! No worries, I'll run up and get it real quick! No need to halt your instructions just for me, you just keep on teaching! I'll just be going now, but I'll be back!" he called out quickly, not waiting for an answer and scuttled past desks with surprised students and joined Timothy at the door. He gave him a broad grin and a wink, and as they left, Timothy could see John shake his head helplessly and Lupin containing a smile.
They practically fell into the corridor, slamming the classroom door shut behind them.
"How could we let this happen?!" Timothy shrieked, tearing off down the corridor as silently as he could.
"I was with you, so don't blame me!" Darian pointed to himself defensively.
"What if Peters found him? Oh, I can only imagine!" Timothy moaned, jumping the staircase steps two at a time.
"Let's not." Darian said morosely.
"Maybe Dumbledore found him… perhaps we could convince him not to tell anyone." Timothy thought out loud.
"If you don't get in trouble for having him in the first place." Darian pointed out.
They made sure to slow down past classroom door windows, speed up silently down corridors and staircases, and carefully slipped out of the castle without anyone noticing. They stood on the stone steps and stared around wildly at the vast grassy grounds that seemed to go on forever around the school.
"He could be anywhere!" Timothy groaned.
"Well, let's start where we last saw him. He could still be there, for all we know!" Darian started off toward the lake, Timothy following close behind.
When they reached the tree where they had eaten lunch, there was no sign of the shrunken yellow Jefforagon. Timothy sank to his knees in the grass, shaking his head.
"Oh, my mum's going to be so upset if she hears I've lost him!"
"Well, at least your dad won't be upset." Darian considered, hiding a smile.
Timothy thought a moment.
"Yeah, but mum is just plain scary when she's mad… I don't think even dad could hold her back."
Darian sat on the grass with him and looked around, the breeze blowing their black hair around restlessly. Timothy continued to moan, and Darian grew steadily annoyed.
"Stop that, will you? You sound like a dying cow."
Timothy rolled his eyes with exasperation.
"If your best friend was lost and most likely captured to be sold as someone's pet, you'd be moaning like a cow too! Not to mention the thought of your own mother hexing you!"
Darian raised his eyebrows.
"But isn't Jeff sorta like your pet?"
Timothy opened his mouth to answer sharply, but stopped himself. In a way, Jeff was the family pet. They certainly treated him like one a lot. With this realization, a pit of guilt built up in his stomach, and he moaned louder.
"Well, he's gotta be around her somewhere," Darian stood up, brushing pieces of grass off his pants and looking around. "Maybe he's in the Forbidden Forest, like he was last year."
Timothy nodded and got to his own feet, following Darian off toward the woods where students were forbidden to go. They scanned the edge of the tree line, but unlike the previous year, Jeff was no where to be seen or heard.
"Let's face it, Darian, he's not here." Timothy sighed.
"Unless he's deeper in the woods." Darian muttered.
Timothy groaned yet again.
"Well, we can't go in there."
"We'll just have to let him find his own way back, if that's where he's gone."
"Yeah, let's go. Professor Lupin will begin to worry and we'll get in trouble." Timothy shoved his hands in his pockets and began to leave, when Echolocata Whisper's hut caught his eye. Darian followed his gaze and they exchanged dubious looks.
"You don't think…?"
"That would be the last place…"
"Maybe she found him…"
"Worth a shot to ask."
Uncertainly, they started off toward the extraordinarily large hut. Both of them shook their heads as they got closer, doubting that Jeff was inside. Together, they reached up and knocked on the huge door. After a moment of scuffling, it opened, and in the doorframe was the towering Timberlan.
"Oh! What a most pleasant surprise! I didn't think you'd visit me at all! Come in, dears, come in!"
With absolutely no effort, she swept them inside with her massive hands. Her hut was unchanged since the last time they were in there. Overly large furniture sparsely dotted the one-roomed building. The fireplace crackled in a corner, and smiling broadly, Whisper sat down in one of the huge chairs.
"I bet you're looking for your little friend, hmm Mr. Potter?"
Timothy continued to sweep the hut with his eyes, replying with his most polite voice.
"Yes, ma'am. Have you seen him?"
Darian nodded silently at his side.
All of Whisper's shiny white teeth broke out on her face, and she slowly turned in her seat to look at something both boys hadn't noticed. A tall perch stood behind her, and perched on top was…
"You don't mean…?" Timothy blurted out, flabbergasted.
"Oh my gosh!" Darian put a hand over his mouth.
It was a yellow owl, and it was laughing so hard that it nearly toppled over and fell.
"JEFF!" Timothy turned to Whisper, his eyes narrowed. "You turned my friend into an OWL!"
Whisper only looked slightly hurt, more embarrassed than anything else. She played with a large teacup on the table, averting her eyes.
"He asked me to! But I'm afraid Timberlans aren't that good at exact magic and while he asked to be turned into some form where he could travel easily, I could only change his form- not his color."
"He asked you to?" Both Timothy and Darian gasped. Meanwhile, Jeff, as a yellow owl, continued to laugh in a combination of hoots and guffaws. Timothy crossed his arms and scowled at him; Jeff soon quieted.
"It's the best disguise!" he fluttered up to perch on Timothy's shoulder. He still continued to scowl, but Jeff just preened his feathers like there was no problem. "Now I can stay at Hogwarts with you, and not have to stay in that stuffy pocket!"
"Did it not occur to you, Jeff," Darian stated, "That you are yellow? In case you didn't know, there are no such things as yellow owls. Don't you think you'll be slightly conspicuous hanging in the owlry as the only yellow owl there? And let's not think about what others would think when they see a yellow owl hanging out with Timothy, especially when he already has an owl!"
Jeff cocked his owl head in consideration. Timothy was too flustered to say anything. Echolocata Whisper simply poured herself some tea.
"Alright, maybe I overlooked that part. But I'll just stay in Timothy's room… but as an owl I'll be free to fly about."
Timothy just couldn't think of anything to say. One thing was for sure, this would not be going in his letter home to his parents. His mother wouldn't be too keen on Jeff being turned into an owl just as much as losing him. All he could manage was,
"We'll figure this out later. In the meantime, Jeff, you fly up to our dorm and stay there. We have to get back to class before Professor Lupin gets mad. No doubt he'll want to hear about this, and I'm not sure how to lie about Jeff being an owl."
He turned to Whisper and gave a courteous nod.
"Thank you for keeping Jeff safe, and not telling anyone."
"Oh, no problem, my dear. I'm only sorry I changed him without your permission, but he was so insistent! He only wanted a better way to be with you here at school without your worry." She smiled at them kindly.
Jeff flashed Timothy the most innocent eyes an owl could muster, and Timothy groaned.
"Well, at least no one will know he's a dragon."
"That is, until he tries to breathe fire." Darian muttered.
"Hey, I'll behave. As long as you no longer ditch me without a thought, anymore." Jeff said indignantly.
"Yeah, right." Both boys said, waving goodbye to Whisper, and left the hut. After an insistent push from Timothy, Jeff took off somewhat shakily on his new wings and headed for Gryffindor Tower. Timothy and Darian hurried back to class without a problem, only an interested glance from Lupin and an intense gaze from John as they sat down, panting.
"I'll tell you later." Timothy whispered to John, copying his notes.
"Why do I have a feeling it's bad and I don't really need to be told." John smiled.
"With you being who you are, you're right." Darian muttered.
Sure enough, when the bell rang, Lupin called Timothy and Darian over to have them explain themselves. John waited outside the door as both boys poured out the details. Timothy cringed as he got to the part about Jeff becoming a yellow owl.
"Don't tell mum, please!" he begged. "She'll hex me!"
Lupin, to his surprise, laughed.
"Oh, I'm not so sure about that! Believe me, she knows Jeff. It's not surprising the little scaled idiot would go off and do this. If he has to be here, and he's here because he cares for you, then being an owl is the best way to go."
"But he's yellow," Darian said. "People are not going to overlook him."
"You're creative," Lupin said to them both with a smile. "I'm sure you can come up with a convincing explanation.
"He can still talk," Timothy pointed out grimly.
"Well, you'll just have to convince him to keep his now beaked mouth shut." Lupin sighed. He sat at his desk and shuffled papers, signaling the conversation now over. Darian began to leave, but Timothy hesitated.
"So… are you going to write my parents about this?" he asked meekly.
Lupin cocked his head at him and sighed again, giving him another of his warm smiles.
"I'm not a tattle-tale who runs off to your parents to rattle on you. I believe you can handle this situation perfectly on your own, and there's no need for me to intervene. If you want your parents to know about this, than you can tell them yourself. They won't hear it from me, first."
"Thank you, Unc- I mean, Professor Lupin." Timothy smiled back, following Darian out. Lupin beamed at him as he left, then went back to his papers with yet another sigh.
"Jeff did what?" John gasped.
The three of them were in the Gryffindor common room that evening. Timothy and Darian explained in turn about what had happened since lunch. John listened intently to them both, his air of distance and mysterious forlorn temporarily unseen. Jeff was still up in their dorm room, but Timothy had magically locked the door to keep people out until he explained about the new "yellow owl". He told all of the other second year Gryffindor boys who shared the room at dinner, and while they were pleasantly skeptical, they believed him. On a whim, Timothy said that the new owl was Darian's, much to his surprise.
"Looks like I get an owl after all!" Darian had said.
Now comfortably in front of the common room fire, Timothy explained everything to John. It was at that time that he decided to tell both of his friends about what had happened to Luna.
"I knew about her parents," John said, his voice solemn. "And the feeling I got from her from the only time I've seen her so far was intensely disturbed, but I had no idea it was that bad."
"Well, what else did you expect?" Darian said, crossing his arms and sitting back in the armchair he was sitting in. "Her parents are murdered right in front of her eyes by one of the henchmen of the current most evil wizard in the world. I'd say I would be disturbed."
John shrugged.
"And now," Timothy continued quietly. "Now the whole school thinks that Luna and I are… are a…"
"Couple?" John smiled.
"We are not!" Timothy snapped a little too loudly, making heads turn all around them. He blushed and sank into his chair.
"She would be the last person Timothy would date, I'm sure." Darian told John. "After what she did last year… plus, she's so small and… and… and… she's so small!"
Timothy opened his mouth to argue that it wasn't Luna's fault for what she did to him the previous year, that in fact she saved him, but thought it best not to. John apparently, got the hint.
"Girls are a waste of time, anyway." Darian added. "You can't understand them, and I have no reason to bother to."
All three of them nodded and fell silent a moment.
"John, what was it that you and Professor Peacecraft did?" Timothy broke the silence.
John looked around the room until he was sure no one was listening in, and he leaned forward in his chair to whisper. Timothy and Darian inched closer.
"We did another lesson, that's all."
Darian seemed satisfied with the statement, and leaned back into his chair. Timothy, however, could see something in John's eyes that told him that there was something more. But when he started to inquire, John shook his head quickly.
"I'm tired," he said suddenly. "I'm heading upstairs to bed. How 'bout you guys?"
Darian let out a stifled yawn.
"Yeah, let's go." Timothy got up.
When they got into the dorm, Ben, Bran, and Bobby (the other Gryffindor second years) were already in bed and fast asleep. Timothy was the slowest to get into his pajamas, Darian couldn't get into bed sooner, and John didn't look at either of them as he climbed behind the curtains of his four-poster.
It wasn't long until the only sounds in the dorm were the quiet snores of Bobby and the occasional snort from Darian. Timothy, however, could not sleep. So many thoughts bounced around in his mind that he couldn't decipher which thought was which anymore. The family crest, Summerray, the family crest, Luna, and the family crest nagged him continuously until an hour later he sat up straight in bed. He was wide-awake with his troubled thoughts, but now that he was at school, he couldn't go to his parents to make him hot milk and make him feel better. What he wanted most at that moment was to talk to someone who would understand, to not hold anything back and tell everything. But everyone was asleep… he couldn't write his parents because he just couldn't tell them… and if he could get Jeff to make him feel better, it would mean he would have to talk and blow his cover to Ben, Bran, and Bobby.
He laid back down and closed his eyes, forcing himself to go to sleep, but sleep just wouldn't come. Finally, he caught one idea in his head and sat up again.
My uncle's diary! He thought to himself, scrambling as quietly as he could to his trunk where he had put the diary when he had gotten to school. Taking up his wand as well, he whispered "Lumos" and threw the bed sheets over his head to muffle the light. He flipped a couple of pages and started to read.
Hello diary,
Today at school we got our book report subjects. I have to do my report on the trolls of Europe. Normally that would be OK, but we have to have partners for this project. Mrs. Stanley wouldn't let us pick our partners, and I got stuck with a girl. She's really annoying and her name is Lauren. When we went to the library to start our research, a giant book called the Giants of the World fell on her head and she began to cry. I helped her up and gave her a tissue, and now the whole class thinks we're "boyfriend-girlfriend". Ewww! No! I can't change partners, so I'm stuck with her. Now I have to be teased all day long and Lauren persists to flirt with me. Why me?
Timothy Springs
Age 12
Timothy couldn't help but laugh silently. How ironic for his uncle to have faced a similar situation with a girl! As amusing as it was, nothing in this entry helped him as to what to do. He figured that he would just have to let the thing with Luna blow over. For a few more minutes, Timothy read some more of the diary, before he finally felt a yawn coming on. Soon, he fell asleep with the diary still open across his chest and the light of his wand eventually went out.
Much to his despair, the school wasn't about to forget about him and Luna for a while. The next three weeks of school was torture as he went down hallways and ate meals. Timothy only saw Luna from time to time, and it must have been just as bad for her, for now she scowled at him angrily from a long distance. He found it just as well; no need for her to have actual feelings for him. The less he saw her the better.
Darian and John were as supportive as best friends could be. However, John was spending more time with Professor Peacecraft for lessons. So it was Darian who became Timothy's bodyguard. It worked out for a while, but Timothy soon became annoyed by his loud and affronted manner echoing down corridors.
"Really, Darian, there's no need to yell down the corridors." He chided him quietly as Darian ordered two third year Ravenclaws to mind their own business.
"It's the only way, Timothy, the only way!" Darian shook his head.
Soon, however, things quieted down. Much to his surprise, Timothy and Darian weren't pressed as to why there was now a mysterious yellow owl living in the boys' dorms. He wrote to his parents often, and they wrote back; nothing much was happening and his parents were finally getting some rest. Although, when Timothy would quietly relay this information to Darian and John, John would only look solemn.
"What is it that you do during these lessons with Peacecraft, anyway?" Timothy asked him at dinner.
John stared at his plate, shoving food around with his fork.
"Just… control over… over my abilities." He whispered.
"Quidditch starts in October, Timothy, there are two new positions!" Darian said suddenly, looking over at a bulletin board where crowds of students were huddling over.
Timothy followed his gaze with interest. His place on the team was as good as guaranteed that year. Taku Smith was the only reason he didn't make it the year before. Now he was serving a life sentence in Azkaban, and was expelled from school. His position as beater was open. Keanu Nole, the seventh year seeker from the previous year and Gryffindor captain, graduated so his position was open as well. Timothy was curious as to who was elected team captain that year.
When the crowd thinned both Timothy and Darian got up to read the poster.
QUIDDITCH TRY-OUTS
September the 29th
The following house teams have openings:
GRYFFINDOR
SLYTHERIN
RAVENCLAW
Those interested in playing for their house need to report to their team's captain before the 29th:
SEAMORE WALTERS (6th year)- GRYFFINDOR
TILLIKUM DREW (6th year)- SLYTHERIN
ROWENA STONE (5th year)- RAVENCLAW
Quidditch season starts in October. Good luck!
"We've got it this year!" Darian said happily.
Timothy felt his chest rise with excitement as well. Maybe Quidditch could help keep his mind off of everything better.
"We've got to find Walters." He said, looking back at the Gryffindor table. Most of the other students had already gone, and while he remembered the beater from the previous year's try-outs, Timothy wasn't so sure he could pick him out of a crowd. "Do you remember what he looks like?"
"We'll wait 'till later, in the common room. All the older kids hang out together, so we're bound to find him then." Darian suggested, going back to sit with John.
"Still think joining Quidditch will impair our studies, huh John?" he poked jokingly at him.
Timothy gave Darian a reproving glare, but John didn't even seem to have heard the remark. Instead, he got up without looking at them and brushed food crumbs off of his robes.
"I gotta talk to Peacecraft 'bout something, I'll meet you up in the dorm later. See ya." He left the hall without a backward glance, almost in a hurry.
"I swear, Timothy, I don't know why we hang with the guy anymore. He's even more estranged than last year!" Darian sighed, finishing his dinner.
Timothy looked at the vacant spot where John was sitting with an intense stare, almost as if he expected the answer to John's behavior to pop out at him. Certainly it couldn't be the vision he had seen of Timothy. Of all people for that to bother, it would be him! And it had been, but not nearly as much as John, apparently. There was something more to it, and it seemed to bother John so much that the only one he could obviously confide in was Professor Peacecraft. This was understandable, but if it concerned him, Timothy would much rather have John just tell him than to keep it secret.
"It's just the way he is. Leave him alone, OK? He's got it bad at home and Hogwarts is the only place he gets slack. He doesn't need us all over him like bullies. It's his business and we have no right to butt in. C'mon, let's go up and find Walters." Timothy stood up and began to leave without waiting. His cover for John seemed to satisfy Darian, and he soon followed. However, there was one thing Timothy said that he wasn't sure of. His business. If his business had anything to do with him… he had a right to know about it. Yet, as they walked up to Gryffindor Tower, Darian distracted his mind with thoughts of Quidditch glory, and worry about John was soon forgotten.
"Hey there, Timothy! 'Ello, Darian." Greeted the portrait of Hagrid, who guarded the entrance to Gryffindor Tower.
"Hello Hagrid, everything well?" Timothy inquired politely.
"Oh sure, sure. How 'bout yeh parents? Heard from them lately?"
"Their fine. Things have quieted down, so they are home more often with Kalina." Timothy answered. Darian fidgeted impatiently.
"Ah, 'dats good to know. But yeh parents wouldn't let their guard down, no sir. We're in safe hands as long as yeh parents are around, mark my words." Hagrid said intensely. "Password?"
"Dragon's bane." Both Timothy and Darian answered. With a last broad smile, Hagrid swung open and they both climbed in.
The common room was hot with chatter and the rich fire in the fireplace. Clusters of students, keeping to their grades, filled each corner with the latest gossip and news. Timothy and Darian got a wave and some nods from Bran, Bobby, and Ben, who were playing Exploding Snap on the floor. They walked on, looking for the group of sixth years where Walters would be. Sure enough, at a large table, Seamore Walters was laughing heartily with two other sixth years and some girls in the same grade. When Timothy and Darian approached, Walters took notice and waved them over.
"Thought I'd see you soon," he said immediately to Timothy. "Your friend, too."
Timothy took a glance at Darian, who looked slightly put out by the second rate greeting he got in Timothy's wake.
"With your family history, Potter, and your performance last year, try-outs will be no problem. Got yourself some competition, though." Walters continued with the attitude only a captain could bear.
"Well, I'll try not to be too hard on him." Darian joked, trying to grab attention.
Walters merely smirked in response.
"Not just you, but the other two second years, one first year, and three fifth years. And that's just so far. With your luck, come the 29th, the whole house could be trying out!"
Darian turned a dark maroon and seemed to visibly shrink a few inches. Timothy tried to give him confidence.
"Well, my bud here can give me a hard time when he really wants to. I'm sure he'll do just fine."
Walters kept his smirk and turned to his friends.
"Everyone will have their chance. What's your name again? Hall? I'll see the two of you out at the pitch on the 29th."
Darian steamed at him, fingering his wand, but Timothy grabbed his arm and pulled him away.
"I'm not sure if I want to be under orders of such a conceited priss if he acts that way to all his teammates." He scowled angrily back at the table.
"Don't worry about it, he's just adding to the fire, you know? He's doing it on purpose so that you'll give it all you got out at the pitch." Timothy reassured him, but he knew that because of his name, yet again, he was getting the good treatment. Poor Darian would only his shadow.
"I don't need to be smirked at or mocked to give it all I got!" Darian nearly shouted over Timothy's shoulder.
"Quiet! Just let it go, OK? Don't worry about it 'till the 29th. C'mon, let's go check on Jeff." Timothy led the way up the stairs, Darian continuing to scowl behind his back as they ascended. However, suddenly, Timothy stopped dead.
"You hear that?"
"No, I only hear that jerk laughing like a pompous idiot." Darian answered bitterly.
"No! I heard… a scream!" Timothy leapt up the stairs.
"A what?" Darian ran up after him.
Timothy charged at the door labeled "Second Years" and threw it open, the screaming inside a combination of hoots and angry cries. He stood in the doorway, whipping out his wand furiously to face whomever it was, and searched the room. Darian nearly toppled into his back, panting.
"What happened?"
"Jeff?" Timothy called out carefully, masking his worry. Yellow feathers began to drift from above him, and both boys craned to look over their heads. While the dorm room was dark, they could still make out a shivering yellow mass perched atop John's four-poster. "Jeff?"
"Stupid… stupid! Out for revenge! That's what! Stupid…" It was Jeff all right, stuttering and shaking off feathers everywhere. Timothy motioned for Darian to close the door as he lit some candles then pocketed his wand. They searched the room, top to bottom. While there were some nightstands upturned and bed covers ruffled, there was no sign of an intruder anymore. Somewhat satisfied, Timothy tried to coax his friend down.
"Whatever, or whomever it was is gone now, Jeff. Come down!"
After shaking off what was left of his fear, Jeff flew down to perch on Timothy's shoulder. It took a minute for Timothy to get used to the fact that his dragon friend was now an owl perched on him, but he cleared his mind quickly and demanded answers.
"What happened, Jeff?"
"Who would of thought… thought they were as dumb as doornails…" Jeff panted.
"Who attacked you?"
"Out to get me, obviously… revenge for last summer…"
"WHO. WAS. IT?" Timothy demanded, worry giving way to impatience.
Jeff flinched as Darian watched the two silently from his bed.
"Well, I never got a name, if that's what you're asking for so rudely!" Jeff finally gathered himself, hotly. "I just get attacked by a murderous snake and you go off on me like a murder suspect!"
Timothy's eyes widened, then narrowed suspiciously.
"Snake. You had said something about snakes just after we got back from Florida this summer, didn't you?"
Jeff blinked at him intensely with his new large owl eyes.
"Yes, but all of you were too busy with your own problems so you just said the heck with explanations and turned me into a goat!"
Timothy let out a controlled breath in exasperation.
"First off, it was innocent oversight, then it was dad who turned you into a goat, not me! But anyway, I need to know about this snake. Was the snake you saw just now the same snake you saw then?"
Jeff cocked his head in thought, considering a moment.
"Yes," he said slowly. "But both times I've seen it, it had been dark. Both times the snake was black, but like I said, it was dark. Very long and menacing it was."
Timothy felt a shiver go down his spine, sweat beaded on his forehead. Jeff didn't seem to notice, and continued.
"And what made it more odd that his snake is after me, it seems, is that it doesn't speak."
"You speak parseltounge too?" Darian asked, speaking up for the first time.
"I'm a talented dragon. Timothy's dad and I have had many conversations with garden snakes in the backyard. But getting back to what I was saying, all snakes speak, and I mean all. You can't get them to shut up. Not this one though, no, this one's a mute. A mute that has me on it's hit list and I don't know why."
Timothy's knees began to wobble, and he sat down on his bed across from Darian. The sweat began to bead down his face and it took him a moment to realize he was shaking.
"Timothy, you OK?" Darian asked with concern.
"It's not you who should be worried, Wild One, it should be me!" Jeff's voice came light as to reassure him, and he nuzzled his feathered head into Timothy's neck, but the comfort didn't work.
Oh, but it is me who should be worried. John's vision is truly real. The black snake that frightens him so is following me. Only poor Jeff's been getting in the way. Timothy thought.
"Timothy, you look pale. Do you need to see my mom?" Darian looked at him close with worry.
"No… no, I need to see… I need to see… John." Timothy got up quickly and put Jeff hastily back on his perch.
"Why John?" Darian asked.
"What's wrong?"
John had opened the door, and while he asked a question, his tone told he already knew the answer. Timothy turned to him fearfully.
"I think we need to let Darian in on something," he whispered.
John nodded grimly, his arms folded.
"There's something more I need to let you in on too."
Darian looked at them both in turn with a suspicious look.
"What's going on? Let me in on what?"
"Perhaps it's time I told both of you what I was told not to tell, as well." Timothy sighed.
"Alright! What's going on? Enough with the mysterious cryptic statements, I want answers, right now!" Darian demanded.
Timothy and John exchanged long, intense looks.
"We better get our pajamas on," Timothy whispered. "We're in for a long night."
A/N: Short, yet intriguing, I feel. What happens next I want to have it's own chapter for... and there's still much, much more yet to come in the story that it has to get rolling along. So, Timothy's being chased by a snake that can only seem to get it's scales on poor Jeff. Jeff decided to go avian; it will be amusing to see how this works out. John's holding something more back that as this chapter closes, he apparently is going to let loose. Timothy apparently is going to finally tell them about the crest- even though he won't tell his family. And poor Darian get's the cold shoulder and seems to be the last to know everything so far. What does the future hold? I assure you, it's my best yet! God bless creativity and my willpower to ignore school to bring this all to you. Do me a grand and gracious favor by reviewing! It helps fuel the fire! Chapter six- by 2/26/01.
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~OrcaPotter