Chapter 14
Down at the lake, Aurora was thinking about the whole Ball affair, and also wondering where Nitrotic was. She hadn't seen him since the ballroom and didn't even get a glimpse of him at classes. In fact, some of his friends were even asking her where he was. "Ack, my head hurts. I wish you were here with me, Nitrotic." Aurora moaned. Just then, Haer'Dalis walked up, a pensive look on his face. "Greetings, my Eagle" Haer said solemnly. Aurora looked up and responded. "Oh hi. Say, have you seen Nitrotic?" "Alas, no. The raven, it would seem, has flown the coup" Haer'Dalis sighed. "Ah. I had hoped he might had at least told you, but. Say, if I tell you something, will you promise to keep it a secret?" Aurora questioned. "Rampaging Balrons could not force my lips. Please, talk" "Well, let's just say Nitrotic was acting weird last night. But that wasn't it." Aurora proceeded to tell Haer'Dalis the whole thing, taking at least 20 minutes to get it all out. "... And just like that, he just flew off! I saw the same person that was part of. What did he say again? The Shifer Shadows?" "The Shadow Shifters?" Haer'Dalis asked curiously. Aurora looked up quickly.
"You've heard of them? Please tell me! What if they did something to do with Nitrotic?" Aurora pleaded. Haer'Dalis put his hands on her shoulders and attempted to calm Aurora. "They wouldn't have. They're a council of elite pranksters. If you'll remember the great Purple Hippogriff illusions last year, they were responsible for that. Those illusions made a lot of people laugh, and that's really what they're about." Haer'Dalis explained. "So, they're just harmless? But why did they ransack Beth and my belongings and steal my ruby?" Aurora inquired, sensing there was more to this. Haer'Dalis answered after giving it a moment's thought. "I honestly don't know. If it was indeed them, then they must have their reasons" Aurora then continued her talking. "And there's Nitrotic. I hope he's okay." Aurora looked at the ground, troubled. "As for Nitrotic, I have a vague idea where he might be" Haer'Dalis said, and was bowled over by Aurora. "WHERE?!" Aurora demanded. "Well, he could be on the mountain over there. He goes there a lot. I just didn't think he needed me looking in on him, or even knowing about his little secret. I've known for a while." Aurora however, ignored him as soon as he said Nitrotic's possible location. She jumped to her feet. "And how would I get there?" She ordered. "Fly. It's almost impossible to climb by hand." Haer'Dalis told her, matter-of-factly. "Not easy, but possible." This set Aurora thinking. "Fly, hmmm? Now, let me think. I know! The Levitation Potion!" Aurora exclaimed. "Still need to put in some work to get anywhere, though. But I could use that! Even if Nitrotic wasn't there, I could still float to the bottom and be back here in no time!" "I'll guide you. You won't make it otherwise. It is colder than anything in else in existence." Haer'Dalis inserted. "You like Beth, don't you? You know, she's in madly in love with you." Aurora giggled.
"My feelings on the matter are not entirely sure yet. She may not love me when she knows I am a Tiefling, and what that means. And why are we talking about this?" Haer'Dalis demanded. Aurora became more serious. "Anyway... If we want to prepare for the trip, we better stock up on the stuff. I have all I need for my potions, By the way, she knows you're a Tiefling. She likes you anyway. Hehehehe." Aurora giggled again. "Go prepare." Haer'Dalis ordered. Aurora nodded, and ran off. Haer'Dalis took three steps in a running motion, and vanished. In a few minutes, when Aurora was brewing the potion, Haer'Dalis opened the door to the toilet. "Is it ready?" Haer'Dalis asked. "It's turning out a bit runny, did you put in enough Lacewing flies?" The potion turned lavender, and Aurora exclaimed in glee. "Ahh, there it goes. It's all good and ready now. This has got to be the best float potion I've made." "I can climb it, I've done it before. I was considered an expert mountaineer where I come from. Just be sure to rug up with every bit of warm clothing you own. I'll be fine, I only feel magical temperatures." Haer'Dalis quickly spat out, then grabbed a loop of rope, and ran from the room. "Enough idle chit-chat lets go!" Aurora filled four vials with the lavender potion, and put them in the pockets of her trench coat, then ran after Haer'Dalis.
"Are you sure your potion will be strong enough?" Haer'Dalis asked, standing at the base of the mountain. "Yes. We better get moving." Aurora said, confidently. "Okay, here I go!" Aurora gulped down one of her potions, and started floating. "That tastes so nasty!!" She made a face. Haer'Dalis punched handholds into the icy mountain, and started climbing, after tying the rope to Aurora and himself. "What'd I tell you? My potions are pretty strong!" She boasted as she floated above Haer'Dalis. After this statement, the pair climbed the mountain in relative silence. They narrowly avoided several of the inhabitants of the mountain, and a few gusts of wind nearly blowing Haer'Dalis from the mountain. Aurora never had to lift him though, but eventually, as they reached the top, Haer'Dalis sat on a plateau, and started shivering badly. Aurora noticed this only when she stopped rising, and looked down to see the Tiefling turning blue.
"Are you okay?" Aurora asked. "This cold... Is unnatural. It must be magical, in all the times I have been here, it has never gotten this cold!" Haer'Dalis rubbed his arms for warmth. "Really? Maybe somebody is casting spells to keep us away?" Aurora suggested. "Perhaps. It's so cold..." Haer'Dalis started drifting off. "Nitrotic will be at the very peak. So cold, so very, very cold..." Haer'Dalis's eyes start to close. Aurora cried out in panic. "Haer'Dalis! Oh my god, he's going into shock!" Aurora quickly duplicated her coat, and threw it over him. "Incendio!" She cast, creating a fire in front of the freezing Haer'Dalis. "It's so cold... But, I feel warm" Haer'Dalis mumbled.
"Haer'Dalis!!" Aurora shouted. "Yes, mother?" Haer'Dalis giggled. "I've got to get you back. But, Nitrotic." Aurora was torn between her two friends. Haer'Dalis shook his head, and weakly whispered. "You must get Nitrotic! I can last here, your coat should keep me alive until you return." Haer'Dalis coughed. He utilised his aching fingers and untied Aurora from him. "I hope you'll be okay, but here, take this." Aurora tossed him one of the four Levitation Potions. "This should get you down safely if you have problems." Aurora assured him. With that, Aurora continued to rise. As Aurora rose, the winds got much stronger. They ripped and tore at the mountain, they clawed through Auroras clothes, chilling her to the bone. "I'm drifting away" Aurora cursed, as she threw the rope onto a rope at the peak of the mountain. Aurora started pulling herself in, and then she saw Nitrotic, sitting at the top, facing away from Aurora. She called out to him, but the winds stole the words from her mouth, and he didn't hear. Desperately, Aurora reeled herself in quicker, and finally put her feet on the ground. Ice was ripped from the mountain, and swirled around the mountain. "Ow! Damn it, why did you have to hide in such a cold place like this?" Aurora demanded, causing Nitrotic to jump. She noticed he was still in his Halloween costume and suffering no ill affects. "By the gods below!" Nitrotic cursed. "Aurora, how did you get here? More to the point, why are you here?" "Where have you been? I was worried sick about you! Next time, don't scare me, and hide in a more accessible place!" Aurora cried, leaning on Nitrotic now. "I'm worried about you, that's all." She held Nitrotic tightly as he did the same to her. "I know there's a lot of things you've not told me about yourself.. and you don't have to tell me them all even though I'm confused right now... just tell me when you feel like it okay?" Tears started to form in Aurora's eyes. "But the next time you feel like pulling a disappearing act, please tell me!" Suddenly, a mental image of Haer'Dalis frozen solid sprung to Aurora's mind. "We need to get back to Haer'Dalis!! He's down below us, he's cold, almost frozen!" Aurora pleaded. "Haer'Dalis? Cold? This must be bad!" Nitrotic puzzled. "Yeah, he said the cold was unnatural, whatever that means. I think he seriously needs help!" Aurora said. Nitrotic grabbed Aurora in one arm, and Aurora held on tightly as Nitrotic leapt from the plateau, slowly circling the mountain, searching for Haer'Dalis. Eventually they spotted him, and they came in for a landing. "Haer, I'm back with Nitrotic!" Aurora exclaimed. Haer'Dalis looked at the pair lazily. "But the play wasn't on until next week!" He protested. "He's delirious, poor thing." Aurora pitied. "It's shock" Nitrotic corrected. "Aurora, can you make it down on your own? If Haer was freezing, I'm surprised you're still alive" "Yes." Aurora replied, leaping from his arms, much to his surprise. "I have my floating potions, I'll float down.." You're my girlfriend, but he's my best friend. I hope you understand. See you at Hogwarts!" Nitrotic picked up the now unmoving Haer'Dalis, and cursed. "Don't you dare die on me, Haer'Dalis!" Nitrotic again threw himself off the edge, spreading his wings wide, and gliding in the direction of Hogwarts. Aurora floated down slowly, pacing it faster and faster as she 'fell', but not so much that it was uncontrollable. Sunlight began to shine through the clouds and they started evaporating before her very eyes. "I'm happy that Nitrotic was okay.. But why did Haer'Dalis seem to be the only one frozen and not me?" Aurora said, expressing her habit of talking to herself once more. "I don't like this at all... Too many strange things happening at once! The clouds are moving way too fast, as well!" Aurora then looked down, and went pale. At the bottom of the mountain, Dumbledore stood, looking up at Aurora expectantly. He waited for her to land. When she did, Aurora was a hive of questions. "What are you doing here sir?" Aurora asked in a panic. "I think the more important question, was what you're doing here?" Dumbledore asked, a twinkle in his eyes. "errr." Mentally, Aurora went through thousands of excuses, before deciding to tell the truth. "I was worried about Nitrotic, and he hadn't been at Hogwarts all week, then a friend of his told me that he came to the mountains. So it was the last place I had to look for him. Um, that's it." Aurora finished lamely. "Then I suppose you had best get back yourself, before you catch a cold" Dumbledore grinned merrily. Aurora smiled and sighed in relief. "I expect you should check the Hospital ward however. That is, if Madam Pomfrey will allow you in. You'll find your missing students there." "Okay! So I'm not in trouble for straying away from Hogwarts, am I?" Aurora asked. "You are in no trouble, so long as you hurry back. Oh, and take 20 points for Hufflepuff" Dumbledore warned. "Okay..." Aurora walked back to the castle, sighing as she still floated from time to time.
Down at the lake, Aurora was thinking about the whole Ball affair, and also wondering where Nitrotic was. She hadn't seen him since the ballroom and didn't even get a glimpse of him at classes. In fact, some of his friends were even asking her where he was. "Ack, my head hurts. I wish you were here with me, Nitrotic." Aurora moaned. Just then, Haer'Dalis walked up, a pensive look on his face. "Greetings, my Eagle" Haer said solemnly. Aurora looked up and responded. "Oh hi. Say, have you seen Nitrotic?" "Alas, no. The raven, it would seem, has flown the coup" Haer'Dalis sighed. "Ah. I had hoped he might had at least told you, but. Say, if I tell you something, will you promise to keep it a secret?" Aurora questioned. "Rampaging Balrons could not force my lips. Please, talk" "Well, let's just say Nitrotic was acting weird last night. But that wasn't it." Aurora proceeded to tell Haer'Dalis the whole thing, taking at least 20 minutes to get it all out. "... And just like that, he just flew off! I saw the same person that was part of. What did he say again? The Shifer Shadows?" "The Shadow Shifters?" Haer'Dalis asked curiously. Aurora looked up quickly.
"You've heard of them? Please tell me! What if they did something to do with Nitrotic?" Aurora pleaded. Haer'Dalis put his hands on her shoulders and attempted to calm Aurora. "They wouldn't have. They're a council of elite pranksters. If you'll remember the great Purple Hippogriff illusions last year, they were responsible for that. Those illusions made a lot of people laugh, and that's really what they're about." Haer'Dalis explained. "So, they're just harmless? But why did they ransack Beth and my belongings and steal my ruby?" Aurora inquired, sensing there was more to this. Haer'Dalis answered after giving it a moment's thought. "I honestly don't know. If it was indeed them, then they must have their reasons" Aurora then continued her talking. "And there's Nitrotic. I hope he's okay." Aurora looked at the ground, troubled. "As for Nitrotic, I have a vague idea where he might be" Haer'Dalis said, and was bowled over by Aurora. "WHERE?!" Aurora demanded. "Well, he could be on the mountain over there. He goes there a lot. I just didn't think he needed me looking in on him, or even knowing about his little secret. I've known for a while." Aurora however, ignored him as soon as he said Nitrotic's possible location. She jumped to her feet. "And how would I get there?" She ordered. "Fly. It's almost impossible to climb by hand." Haer'Dalis told her, matter-of-factly. "Not easy, but possible." This set Aurora thinking. "Fly, hmmm? Now, let me think. I know! The Levitation Potion!" Aurora exclaimed. "Still need to put in some work to get anywhere, though. But I could use that! Even if Nitrotic wasn't there, I could still float to the bottom and be back here in no time!" "I'll guide you. You won't make it otherwise. It is colder than anything in else in existence." Haer'Dalis inserted. "You like Beth, don't you? You know, she's in madly in love with you." Aurora giggled.
"My feelings on the matter are not entirely sure yet. She may not love me when she knows I am a Tiefling, and what that means. And why are we talking about this?" Haer'Dalis demanded. Aurora became more serious. "Anyway... If we want to prepare for the trip, we better stock up on the stuff. I have all I need for my potions, By the way, she knows you're a Tiefling. She likes you anyway. Hehehehe." Aurora giggled again. "Go prepare." Haer'Dalis ordered. Aurora nodded, and ran off. Haer'Dalis took three steps in a running motion, and vanished. In a few minutes, when Aurora was brewing the potion, Haer'Dalis opened the door to the toilet. "Is it ready?" Haer'Dalis asked. "It's turning out a bit runny, did you put in enough Lacewing flies?" The potion turned lavender, and Aurora exclaimed in glee. "Ahh, there it goes. It's all good and ready now. This has got to be the best float potion I've made." "I can climb it, I've done it before. I was considered an expert mountaineer where I come from. Just be sure to rug up with every bit of warm clothing you own. I'll be fine, I only feel magical temperatures." Haer'Dalis quickly spat out, then grabbed a loop of rope, and ran from the room. "Enough idle chit-chat lets go!" Aurora filled four vials with the lavender potion, and put them in the pockets of her trench coat, then ran after Haer'Dalis.
"Are you sure your potion will be strong enough?" Haer'Dalis asked, standing at the base of the mountain. "Yes. We better get moving." Aurora said, confidently. "Okay, here I go!" Aurora gulped down one of her potions, and started floating. "That tastes so nasty!!" She made a face. Haer'Dalis punched handholds into the icy mountain, and started climbing, after tying the rope to Aurora and himself. "What'd I tell you? My potions are pretty strong!" She boasted as she floated above Haer'Dalis. After this statement, the pair climbed the mountain in relative silence. They narrowly avoided several of the inhabitants of the mountain, and a few gusts of wind nearly blowing Haer'Dalis from the mountain. Aurora never had to lift him though, but eventually, as they reached the top, Haer'Dalis sat on a plateau, and started shivering badly. Aurora noticed this only when she stopped rising, and looked down to see the Tiefling turning blue.
"Are you okay?" Aurora asked. "This cold... Is unnatural. It must be magical, in all the times I have been here, it has never gotten this cold!" Haer'Dalis rubbed his arms for warmth. "Really? Maybe somebody is casting spells to keep us away?" Aurora suggested. "Perhaps. It's so cold..." Haer'Dalis started drifting off. "Nitrotic will be at the very peak. So cold, so very, very cold..." Haer'Dalis's eyes start to close. Aurora cried out in panic. "Haer'Dalis! Oh my god, he's going into shock!" Aurora quickly duplicated her coat, and threw it over him. "Incendio!" She cast, creating a fire in front of the freezing Haer'Dalis. "It's so cold... But, I feel warm" Haer'Dalis mumbled.
"Haer'Dalis!!" Aurora shouted. "Yes, mother?" Haer'Dalis giggled. "I've got to get you back. But, Nitrotic." Aurora was torn between her two friends. Haer'Dalis shook his head, and weakly whispered. "You must get Nitrotic! I can last here, your coat should keep me alive until you return." Haer'Dalis coughed. He utilised his aching fingers and untied Aurora from him. "I hope you'll be okay, but here, take this." Aurora tossed him one of the four Levitation Potions. "This should get you down safely if you have problems." Aurora assured him. With that, Aurora continued to rise. As Aurora rose, the winds got much stronger. They ripped and tore at the mountain, they clawed through Auroras clothes, chilling her to the bone. "I'm drifting away" Aurora cursed, as she threw the rope onto a rope at the peak of the mountain. Aurora started pulling herself in, and then she saw Nitrotic, sitting at the top, facing away from Aurora. She called out to him, but the winds stole the words from her mouth, and he didn't hear. Desperately, Aurora reeled herself in quicker, and finally put her feet on the ground. Ice was ripped from the mountain, and swirled around the mountain. "Ow! Damn it, why did you have to hide in such a cold place like this?" Aurora demanded, causing Nitrotic to jump. She noticed he was still in his Halloween costume and suffering no ill affects. "By the gods below!" Nitrotic cursed. "Aurora, how did you get here? More to the point, why are you here?" "Where have you been? I was worried sick about you! Next time, don't scare me, and hide in a more accessible place!" Aurora cried, leaning on Nitrotic now. "I'm worried about you, that's all." She held Nitrotic tightly as he did the same to her. "I know there's a lot of things you've not told me about yourself.. and you don't have to tell me them all even though I'm confused right now... just tell me when you feel like it okay?" Tears started to form in Aurora's eyes. "But the next time you feel like pulling a disappearing act, please tell me!" Suddenly, a mental image of Haer'Dalis frozen solid sprung to Aurora's mind. "We need to get back to Haer'Dalis!! He's down below us, he's cold, almost frozen!" Aurora pleaded. "Haer'Dalis? Cold? This must be bad!" Nitrotic puzzled. "Yeah, he said the cold was unnatural, whatever that means. I think he seriously needs help!" Aurora said. Nitrotic grabbed Aurora in one arm, and Aurora held on tightly as Nitrotic leapt from the plateau, slowly circling the mountain, searching for Haer'Dalis. Eventually they spotted him, and they came in for a landing. "Haer, I'm back with Nitrotic!" Aurora exclaimed. Haer'Dalis looked at the pair lazily. "But the play wasn't on until next week!" He protested. "He's delirious, poor thing." Aurora pitied. "It's shock" Nitrotic corrected. "Aurora, can you make it down on your own? If Haer was freezing, I'm surprised you're still alive" "Yes." Aurora replied, leaping from his arms, much to his surprise. "I have my floating potions, I'll float down.." You're my girlfriend, but he's my best friend. I hope you understand. See you at Hogwarts!" Nitrotic picked up the now unmoving Haer'Dalis, and cursed. "Don't you dare die on me, Haer'Dalis!" Nitrotic again threw himself off the edge, spreading his wings wide, and gliding in the direction of Hogwarts. Aurora floated down slowly, pacing it faster and faster as she 'fell', but not so much that it was uncontrollable. Sunlight began to shine through the clouds and they started evaporating before her very eyes. "I'm happy that Nitrotic was okay.. But why did Haer'Dalis seem to be the only one frozen and not me?" Aurora said, expressing her habit of talking to herself once more. "I don't like this at all... Too many strange things happening at once! The clouds are moving way too fast, as well!" Aurora then looked down, and went pale. At the bottom of the mountain, Dumbledore stood, looking up at Aurora expectantly. He waited for her to land. When she did, Aurora was a hive of questions. "What are you doing here sir?" Aurora asked in a panic. "I think the more important question, was what you're doing here?" Dumbledore asked, a twinkle in his eyes. "errr." Mentally, Aurora went through thousands of excuses, before deciding to tell the truth. "I was worried about Nitrotic, and he hadn't been at Hogwarts all week, then a friend of his told me that he came to the mountains. So it was the last place I had to look for him. Um, that's it." Aurora finished lamely. "Then I suppose you had best get back yourself, before you catch a cold" Dumbledore grinned merrily. Aurora smiled and sighed in relief. "I expect you should check the Hospital ward however. That is, if Madam Pomfrey will allow you in. You'll find your missing students there." "Okay! So I'm not in trouble for straying away from Hogwarts, am I?" Aurora asked. "You are in no trouble, so long as you hurry back. Oh, and take 20 points for Hufflepuff" Dumbledore warned. "Okay..." Aurora walked back to the castle, sighing as she still floated from time to time.
