Chapter Eleven:
Another Unexpected Misfortune
James's shirt finally broke, and he hurtled backwards. He fell three stories when suddenly he came to a sudden stop. He began to levitate back up. Krupp was doing it. He brought back up to the top of the tower, and set him on his feet.
James, utterly shocked by this action, forgot to stand and fell on his back. Krupp walked over to him, placing the end of his staff next to James's head. He seemed to offer it to James. James lay there for a while.
"Get up, Potter." Krupp said. Hesitantly, James reached up and gripped the staff. He lifted himself to his feet, then quickly backed away. In the dark he could not see Krupp's face, but he could feel his stare.
"Potter." He said. James gulped. "You're out after curfew. Thirty points from Gryffindor. Let's go." James nearly fell back again. What was going on? At the very least, he expected Krupp to give him detention and take every point Gryffindor had away from him.
James was afraid to even ask Krupp about the dragon, making for a long walk in silence down the staircases. They finally came to a large statue, which James remembered as the entrance to Professor Dumbeldore's office. He was standing there, with Professors Scuro and Marus, as well Nero Lestrange.
"Potter." Said Professor Marus as soon as they stood in front of him.
"I have given him his punishment, Professor Marus." Said Krupp. Marus looked at Krupp. At first, it seemed like Marus hated Krupp for having upstaged him, doing what was his job. But then, he seemed to realize what Krupp must have done, to one of his most hated students. His expression softened slightly, and he nodded.
"I think," began Dumbledore, "that Mister Potter's incredible bravery merits some points for Gryffindor house as well. Surely he did all he could with only the safety of his friends and himself in mind." Marus and Krupp murmured in quiet agreement. Scuro approved a little more loudly.
How does Dumbledore know what happened? Thought James. And yet he never came to our aid?
"But I shall worry about that later. Step into my office." Dumbledore turned around and spoke the password. The statue moved aside to reveal the staircase to his office. They all went up. Dumbledore sat at his desk. James and Lestrange sat in the chairs facing his desk. Scuro, Marus, and Krupp stood behind them.
"Now James. Why don't you tell me what happened tonight?" James nodded. He started the story after the Quidditch match. He said Remus and Sirius had gone for a fly around the grounds, and he was going to catch up when he encountered Lestrange. He said he challenged him to a broomstick race, from the top of the tower and back.
James glanced at Lestrange. He got a strange look back; it was angry, yet thankful. James continued. He said that when they got to the top Lestrange fell off his broom onto the roof of the tower, and the broom fell back to the ground. He said that he went to get it for Lestrange. But when he got to the ground his friends came rushing to him to say Sirius was in the Forest, in trouble. He said he forgot about Lestrange in the heat of the moment. He was truthful from then on.
"James," began Dumbledore, "do you know why Firmus Constance and Sirius Black were in the forest in the first place?" James shook his head. Dumbledore turned to Krupp.
"Professor Krupp...did you not say that you would be taking Firmus into the Forest for a lesson?" Krupp nodded.
"Yes, sir, I took him into the forest briefly, but escorted him the entire time. I made sure he got back to the greenhouse safely. That was just after the Quidditch match." Dumbledore nodded.
"Perhaps Sirius would know." Said James. Dumbledore nodded.
"Professor Marus, send for Sirius Black." Marus nodded, turned, and shot a silvery message from his wand. It raced through the door and on towards the hospital wing where Sirius was resting.
"Continue, James." James nodded.
"I...er, got onto my broomstick to follow the dragon out of the forest. But it knocked me off and broke my broom. I ran into the building for help. I came across a professor I didn't know and asked him for help, and he ran to get someone. Is that how you knew to come, Professor Krupp?" Professor Dumbledore's eyes narrowed.
"What professor?" He asked.
"I...er...don't know. I-I-"
"Describe him." Said Dumbledore quickly, pulling out his wand.
"W-why?" Asked James. "Isn't he the one that alerted you?"
"Remus Lupin came to me, telling about a dragon. He was quite wet." James thought fast. He nodded.
"Yeah, yeah, Remus was knocked off, too...over the lake."
"I sent a message to Professor Krupp who I knew to be in the tower just then. Describe the professor." James sank back.
"He was..." James went pale. "He was...fair skinned. And blonde. He had g-green eyes, and dark green robes on...w-w-why?"
"Professor Velemonde." Said Krupp quickly. "The Runes teacher."
"He was hired just this year." Said Dumbledore. He suddenly rose.
"Quickly!" He said. "Block all exits to the castle. Have it searched. Alert all the teachers as well as the Ministry of Magic!" Suddenly, Marus, Krupp, Scuro, and Dumbledore ran out as swiftly as he had ever seen any of them move. The door slammed closed behind them. James and Lestrange were left alone.
James quickly got up from his chair and moved away from Lestrange. Lestrange then slowly got up, and moved away as well. He looked at James.
James slowly reached into his pocket, and pulled out Lestrange's wand. At first, he reacted as if James were about to curse him, but quickly realized it was his own wand. He crossed the room quickly.
"Give me my wand, Pudder!" Spat Lestrange. James held it up. "Come on!" He yelled. James moved away. "You're being unfair!" He screamed.
"What?" Replied James. "You're the only one that can be unfair? Maybe I should just snap this in half!" Lestrange lunged at James. He continued to hold Lestrange's up and out of Lestrange's reach. Lestrange grabbed James around the chest and brought him to the ground. Putting his hand still gripping the wand to the ground, he pushed Lestrange up, quickly getting to his knees. Lestrange threw a fist and James put up his forearm to block it.
Before the fight could continue, however,
CRASH. The door to the office was flung open. It was Professor Velemonde.
"You!" He said immediately, pointing his wand. Lestrange lunged for James again, but James leapt to his feet and spun away. Trying to keep the wand out of anyone's reach, James threw the wand onto the top of a tall bookcase. He dove behind the desk, pulling his own wand.
"Do you think you can escape?" Roared Velemonde. James peeked over the desk.
"Sirius?" He said, his voice cracking in surprise. Velemonde smiled.
"Ah, so you know him." Velemonde chuckled. Sirius magically in tow, his arms wrapped around himself and his feet floating off the ground. James noticed his wand in Velemonde's pocket. Velemonde turned to Lestrange.
Suddenly, under a hateful stare, Lestrange shrunk down and backed into a bookcase, curled up as tightly as possible. Velemonde turned to James.
"Avadra kedavra!" He yelled. James suddenly leapt back from directly behind the desk. It was obliterated. James at first held up his arms from the blast, but quickly realized this to be his chance. He pointed his wand and uttered the most powerful spell he knew.
"Circumpulso!" He yelled. Suddenly, a much more advanced version of the Ferius Spell was issued from James's wand. He was blasted back into a bookcase, and a huge pulse of energy was sent forward. Velemonde was knocked straight backwards, landing on his back.
James, however, was nearly unconscious. As it was, he was exhausted from the night's activities. The advanced spell nearly wasted him. Velemonde quickly returned to his feet. He pointed his wand at James once again.
"I will not be bested by a child!" He yelled. "Avadr-" But before Velemonde could finish, a great rush of red swooped from the top of the bookcase. It struck his arm, redirecting the blast. With a powerful claw it dug into his hand and lifted him from the ground.
"A phoenix!" Said Sirius uncontrollably.
"Agh!" Yelled Velemonde in pain. James could see the blood dripping down his arm. It was exposed because the phoenix lifted him straight into the air, and the sleeve fell down to his shoulder.
"What is that?" Yelled Sirius. He recoiled from the ugliness of it. A great skull with a snake issuing from its mouth was tattooed onto Velemonde's arm.
"Fawkes!" Sirius tried to turn but could not. Behind him stood Dumbledore. He quickly walked past Sirius and Velemonde as if they were not there, and to James.
"James! Are you alright?" He asked. James tried to get to his feet.
"Remain as you are. I will send for a nurse." Dumbledore returned to his full height and turned around. Scuro and Marus were there, wands pointed.
"Fawkes, release Professor Velemonde." Fawkes the Phoenix dropped Velemonde. He kept Velemonde's wand. Dumbledore remained with his hands folded.
"Liberato." Said Scuro. Sirius was released from his magical bond. He fell to the floor. He put his hand to his head and winced. Suddenly his eyes became very wide.
"Where's Krupp!?" He asked, spinning wildly around to face the door.
"Professor Krupp is inspecting the perimeter, as are the other members of the faculty and the Ministry of Magic." Said Dumbledore. "Byron, alert the Ministry that the culprit is in my office." Scuro nodded, and sent another silvery message. Dumbledore approached Velemonde.
"I regret having trusted you." Said Dumbledore. There was something cold in his eyes. They moved up his arm to where the evil mark would be shown if not for his sleeve. Velemonde chuckled.
"It does not matter. My purpose has been achieved. Poison has already nearly destroyed the heir. You cannot stop it now." Dumbledore's eyes widened.
"The hospital wing! NOW!" Again, the teachers quickly rushed for the door. Scuro sent another silvery message flying to the hospital wing and ran down the stairs, Marus right behind. Dumbledore swiftly moved across as well. Before he left, however, he muttered something and pointed his wand at Velemonde. Suddenly, Velemonde was petrified and thrown violently against the wall, and could not move.
Sirius turned to James.
"Firmus?" James leapt up and made for the door halfway there, however, he became woozy and fell into Sirius's arms.
"You're not well!" He said. James just shook his head and leapt through the doorway. Sirius followed. As Dumbledore and the others made there way towards the hospital wing, James and Sirius took a left.
"We can make it there, with the wall, then Godrolic the Grand." Sirius nodded. James ran full out. The attributes of the stag began to return again. He extended, and began to run faster than he ever could without magic. Behind him, Sirius leapt onto all fours and began to catch up to James.
They came up to the window, broken from when James shattered it looking for help. The both leapt through and onto the hidden ladder the scaled the castle. James, then Sirius, slid down it until they had reached the floor on which the hospital wing lay. They ran again down a hall, across a staircase, and to the statue of Godrolic the Grand.
"Dissendium!" James yelled, and the round belly of the 7th Century wizard opened up. James leapt head-first into it, followed by Sirius. The two slid down a slick brick tunnel, then leveled out, and came to a staircase. They ran up as quick as possible, and came out down the hall from the hospital wing.
"There it is!" Yelled Sirius, and the two bolted towards it. James burst in ahead of Sirius.
"Firmus!" Yelled James. Madam Pomfrey, the new head nurse, looked shocked.
"Mister Potter, please! Mister Constance is resting-" James pushed her aside and ran to Firmus's bedside. He grabbed his hand- it was cold. Firmus's eyes were glazed.
"Firmus! Firmus!" Sirius entered.
"Is he alright?" Sirius asked.
"He's been poisoned!" Yelled James. Madame Pomfrey shrieked.
"Poisoned?" James nodded.
"Get the antidote!" He yelled. She rushed forward and pointed her wand at Firmus. She mumbled something he didn't catch, and a light red line came from his arm to her wand. It hit the tip and sparked bright green.
"Oh dear!" She said, and turned to the medicine cabinet. It swung open and she grabbed the antidote. Scuro and Marus arrived. They didn't bother to ask how James and Sirius got to the wing before them, but strode straight toward Firmus and checked him.
Madame Pomfrey brought the antidote forward. Scuro had done the blood test as well, and quickly grabbed the bottle Pomfrey was about to administer.
"This won't do." He said. "It will require Star of Juno. Do you have any on hand?" He asked rapidly. She shook her head.
"That is far more advanced than-" Scuro swept passed her and to the doorway. Yet another silver message shot from his wand. James wondered just then why Madame Pomfrey had not received his previous one.
"Star of Juno?" Sirius asked. Scuro nodded. Sirius reached into Firmus's pocket and pulled out a bright red plant he had collected in the forest.
"This?" He said. Scuro's eyes suddenly widened and he reached forward and took it. He grabbed the antidote Madame Pomfrey had prepared and summoned a bowl out of mid-air. He poured the antidote in, and tore up the plant. He mixed them rapidly, and the green liquid became murky brown. He quickly brought it to Firmus.
"Drink up quickly now, Firmus." Firmus lethargically put his mouth forward, and Scuro tipped the bowl forward, allowing the potion to slip down his throat. Once the bowl was emptied, Scuro retracted it and stood up.
"We can only hope, now." He said. For a moment there was silence. Then, Dumbledore entered, with Ministry of Magic officials just behind. They quickly surrounded the bed, and began administering tests, and questioning everyone.
"I gave him the Medicorserum. With Star of Juno." The officials nodded in agreement. As Scuro had said, they could only wait. After a few minutes of tense anticipation, Firmus began to speak.
"Get...get my...brother...." Quickly, Marus ran from the room. After yet a few more minutes in which Firmus began breathing heavily and sweating, Professor Marus returned with Firmus's brother, Marius Constance. Marius quickly ran to the bed at which Firmus lay.
Firmus turned to Marius.
"Marius..." He said, with difficulty. "You...have to carry it on..." He coughed loudly. "I am...I was the heir...the heir to Hufflepuff. But...I'm going to die." Marius shook his head and began to cry.
"Please, Firmus, don't..." Firmus shook his head.
"You must, Marius...you must carry on. When I am gone, you can become the Heir of Hufflepuff. You have to...bad things are coming, Marius. You have to be there...to help stop them..." Firmus fell back onto his bed and closed his eyes. Marius knelt down and broke down completely. James and Sirius began to cry also, silently. James turned to his left. There floated the silvery specter of Friar Arus. He looked at James. Then suddenly, he seemed to fade slightly, become less bright. His very exterior seemed grimmer and more morbid. Firmus was dead.