Chapter#12- Mr. Potter's Class and the Blank Card
"Welcome. Today we will be studying the history of the dark arts. Please open your books to page seven and we can begin." The teacher announced. Obeying, everyone pulled out their text books and flipped to the appropriate page. "Please read pages seven through twenty. I will be coming around to check on your notes." Mr. Potter finished, than settling himself at his desk, he began to mark.
"Alright, I better get this done." Eric sighed as he opened his text book and began to read. Chapter one was extremely interesting and before he knew it, Eric had three double-sided pages of notes regarding history alone. He also had two on the different modes of Azkaban punishment and one written in protest about how Dementors should not be allowed to destroy someone's soul even if they are a dark wizard.
"Please hand in your notes to the front desk; we will be studying Cornish Pixies next class." The teacher announced. Everyone gave a small groaning noise at the news, but managed to smile as they gave in their papers. "Mr. Dolus... I'm impressed, but six pages of notes is not exactly what I intended. What on earth did you find so interesting?" Potter questioned as he stared white-faced at Eric's report.
"I found the history and modes of punishment extremely fascinating, but I didn't like how the Dementors dealt with those entrusted to them. How does anyone expect to get out of Azkaban if every happy thought and memory is sucked out of them!? Wouldn't they just get worse?" Eric questioned, than hushed himself as he spotted Argen gazing wide-eyed in the corner.
"Hmm, very interesting views... but those in Azkaban belong there; I assure you." Potter paused. "However, you pose an interesting argument... one I am sure the Head Master will find very intriguing." He finished. Eric gave a small bow, than headed out the door.
"Azkaban... I've heard it is a horrible place!" Argen greeted with a cheesy grin.
"I'm sure you would know that, now wouldn't you, Malfoy. After all, I'm sure your family has been in there loads of times." Eric replied twisting his lips into a sarcastic smirk. Argen's face turned livid red and he proceeded to say something so vulgar that half the Hufflepuffs ran screaming from the halls. "Malfoy, there's no need for potty-mouth here." Eric tutted, than grinned as Argen raced into the dungeons; he was probably going to go and cry or something. Eric laughed again at this, but had to stop because the bell had just rung and although he did not have any classes this period; he couldn't be out wandering the halls.
Deciding it was best that he spent his free time studying; Eric made his way down into the dungeons. The place was dimly lit and furnished with comfy leather sofas; all of which were black. Eric was getting used to the lavish decor of the Slytherin common room and it sort of reminded him a little bit of his old home. However, instead of dull wooden floors, the commons had highly polished deep red ones. Eric sighed, than stretched as he settled himself upon the deep green carpet next to the fire-place.
"Alright, I think I should study ahead for Transfigurations since I've got that class next." Eric planned as he pulled out his Transfigurations text book. Remembering he would need a wand for this he dug into his pocket and instead of pulling out his wand he grasped the small black card he had found in Arithmancy class. "This is Black's.... I should give it to him when he arrives." He said to no one in particular. "Than again..." Eric mused and deciding against returning the card to its owner, he set it in front of him. "Reveal yourself!" He shouted, but the card remained blank.
"Damn thing! Reveal yourself!" He cursed, but still nothing happened. Annoyed, Eric pulled out his wand. "Reveal yourself!" He shouted as he pointed his wand at the card; still nothing. "In the name of Merlin I command you to appear!" He ordered, but still the card did not change. Eric cringed, than hissed something vulgar in parseltongue.
"What wasss that?!" Eric's snake hissed grimly.
"Oh, sorry... I didn't know you were here." Eric excused, than continued to fiddle with the card.
"Massster, what are you doing?" Saevus asked as he slithered closer.
"I found this in Arithmancy, but I can't seem to make it work. The place where there should be an image is completely blank." Eric explained, than tapped the card with his wand. "Show yourself!" He bellowed, but still nothing came of it.
"Have you tried sssaying that in parssseltongue?" The snake questioned.
"I swore at it, does that count?" Eric grinned, but seeing his pet did not have a sense of humor at the moment, he stopped. "Alright" Eric hissed, than directed his attention back to the card. "Reveal yourself!" He commanded, but this time all he heard was a series of confusing hisses. Suddenly the card flinched. What was once a pure black surface began to swirl into shades of green, red and silver, which than fixed into two shimmering green words; Avada Kedavra. Eric cringed, but continued to watch as the words slowly vanished.
"Massster... that isss the killing curssse." Saevus blurted from over Eric's shoulder.
"Shhh!" Eric commanded; his eyes still focused on the card which was now swirling again. Saevus obeyed and slithered closer, but remained silent. By this time an image began to appear. It was a tall gaunt figure with a pale white face and long spidery fingers. The figure wore a bright green amulet with a small silver serpent entwined around it and was clothed in a midnight black cloak which covered most of its face. In the being's left hand he held a wand of deep red and in his right an ivory mask. "What's the mask for Saevus?" Eric questioned, his eyes not leaving the card.
"I cannot sssay massster. It isss forbidden" the snake replied, than continued its silence. Eric ignored his pet's remark. The image was now removing its hood and pointing its wand directly at Eric; he was shivering slightly but managed to keep a steady gaze. The creature's face was marble white with slits for a nose and two bright red eyes which never seemed to blink. Slowly, it began to grin. Eric did not notice because he was clinching his eyes in horror.
"Massster!" Saevus ordered, than slapped Eric painfully on the cheek with his tail. Eric understood and focused his eyes back on the image. The being, which was once grinning, began to laugh; its bright eyes glimmering with menace. Eric shuttered but went stiff immediately as two more green words spread themselves over the bottom. Not Time. The card filched again, than went back to its impassive blackness. Eric grimaced, than stuffed the card back into his pocket as he heard someone coming.
"Studying Dementors?" A nasty little voice questioned, but than seeing it was the slick blond haired Argen Malfoy, Eric flinched.
"No... I was studying how to turn a Malfoy into a slug. Want to see?" Eric asked with an evil grin.
"Ha! Ha! Ha!" Argen faked a laugh. "How very amusing... I was wondering the same thing, but I couldn't remember your last name. What was it again?" He sneered. Eric spoke something in Parseltongue, than grinned as Argen began to back away as something suspiciously like a snake began to slither up to him.
"Oh... I forgot, my pet doesn't like visitors.... but I think he likes the taste of a Malfoy. How about we find out... Argen?" Eric snickered, but gave his serpent a warning look as it continued to advance. He wasn't serious about letting it harm Malfoy, but seeing the little git terrified gave Eric a rush of pleasure.
"No... I think I'll be going. Enjoy your Dementors." Argen commented, than left as the bell sounded for next period. Eric scowled. The next period was Potions with Professor Malfoy and he was sure it would be a complete disaster; they were sharing with the second years and Argen was sure to be there.
"Welcome. Today we will be studying the history of the dark arts. Please open your books to page seven and we can begin." The teacher announced. Obeying, everyone pulled out their text books and flipped to the appropriate page. "Please read pages seven through twenty. I will be coming around to check on your notes." Mr. Potter finished, than settling himself at his desk, he began to mark.
"Alright, I better get this done." Eric sighed as he opened his text book and began to read. Chapter one was extremely interesting and before he knew it, Eric had three double-sided pages of notes regarding history alone. He also had two on the different modes of Azkaban punishment and one written in protest about how Dementors should not be allowed to destroy someone's soul even if they are a dark wizard.
"Please hand in your notes to the front desk; we will be studying Cornish Pixies next class." The teacher announced. Everyone gave a small groaning noise at the news, but managed to smile as they gave in their papers. "Mr. Dolus... I'm impressed, but six pages of notes is not exactly what I intended. What on earth did you find so interesting?" Potter questioned as he stared white-faced at Eric's report.
"I found the history and modes of punishment extremely fascinating, but I didn't like how the Dementors dealt with those entrusted to them. How does anyone expect to get out of Azkaban if every happy thought and memory is sucked out of them!? Wouldn't they just get worse?" Eric questioned, than hushed himself as he spotted Argen gazing wide-eyed in the corner.
"Hmm, very interesting views... but those in Azkaban belong there; I assure you." Potter paused. "However, you pose an interesting argument... one I am sure the Head Master will find very intriguing." He finished. Eric gave a small bow, than headed out the door.
"Azkaban... I've heard it is a horrible place!" Argen greeted with a cheesy grin.
"I'm sure you would know that, now wouldn't you, Malfoy. After all, I'm sure your family has been in there loads of times." Eric replied twisting his lips into a sarcastic smirk. Argen's face turned livid red and he proceeded to say something so vulgar that half the Hufflepuffs ran screaming from the halls. "Malfoy, there's no need for potty-mouth here." Eric tutted, than grinned as Argen raced into the dungeons; he was probably going to go and cry or something. Eric laughed again at this, but had to stop because the bell had just rung and although he did not have any classes this period; he couldn't be out wandering the halls.
Deciding it was best that he spent his free time studying; Eric made his way down into the dungeons. The place was dimly lit and furnished with comfy leather sofas; all of which were black. Eric was getting used to the lavish decor of the Slytherin common room and it sort of reminded him a little bit of his old home. However, instead of dull wooden floors, the commons had highly polished deep red ones. Eric sighed, than stretched as he settled himself upon the deep green carpet next to the fire-place.
"Alright, I think I should study ahead for Transfigurations since I've got that class next." Eric planned as he pulled out his Transfigurations text book. Remembering he would need a wand for this he dug into his pocket and instead of pulling out his wand he grasped the small black card he had found in Arithmancy class. "This is Black's.... I should give it to him when he arrives." He said to no one in particular. "Than again..." Eric mused and deciding against returning the card to its owner, he set it in front of him. "Reveal yourself!" He shouted, but the card remained blank.
"Damn thing! Reveal yourself!" He cursed, but still nothing happened. Annoyed, Eric pulled out his wand. "Reveal yourself!" He shouted as he pointed his wand at the card; still nothing. "In the name of Merlin I command you to appear!" He ordered, but still the card did not change. Eric cringed, than hissed something vulgar in parseltongue.
"What wasss that?!" Eric's snake hissed grimly.
"Oh, sorry... I didn't know you were here." Eric excused, than continued to fiddle with the card.
"Massster, what are you doing?" Saevus asked as he slithered closer.
"I found this in Arithmancy, but I can't seem to make it work. The place where there should be an image is completely blank." Eric explained, than tapped the card with his wand. "Show yourself!" He bellowed, but still nothing came of it.
"Have you tried sssaying that in parssseltongue?" The snake questioned.
"I swore at it, does that count?" Eric grinned, but seeing his pet did not have a sense of humor at the moment, he stopped. "Alright" Eric hissed, than directed his attention back to the card. "Reveal yourself!" He commanded, but this time all he heard was a series of confusing hisses. Suddenly the card flinched. What was once a pure black surface began to swirl into shades of green, red and silver, which than fixed into two shimmering green words; Avada Kedavra. Eric cringed, but continued to watch as the words slowly vanished.
"Massster... that isss the killing curssse." Saevus blurted from over Eric's shoulder.
"Shhh!" Eric commanded; his eyes still focused on the card which was now swirling again. Saevus obeyed and slithered closer, but remained silent. By this time an image began to appear. It was a tall gaunt figure with a pale white face and long spidery fingers. The figure wore a bright green amulet with a small silver serpent entwined around it and was clothed in a midnight black cloak which covered most of its face. In the being's left hand he held a wand of deep red and in his right an ivory mask. "What's the mask for Saevus?" Eric questioned, his eyes not leaving the card.
"I cannot sssay massster. It isss forbidden" the snake replied, than continued its silence. Eric ignored his pet's remark. The image was now removing its hood and pointing its wand directly at Eric; he was shivering slightly but managed to keep a steady gaze. The creature's face was marble white with slits for a nose and two bright red eyes which never seemed to blink. Slowly, it began to grin. Eric did not notice because he was clinching his eyes in horror.
"Massster!" Saevus ordered, than slapped Eric painfully on the cheek with his tail. Eric understood and focused his eyes back on the image. The being, which was once grinning, began to laugh; its bright eyes glimmering with menace. Eric shuttered but went stiff immediately as two more green words spread themselves over the bottom. Not Time. The card filched again, than went back to its impassive blackness. Eric grimaced, than stuffed the card back into his pocket as he heard someone coming.
"Studying Dementors?" A nasty little voice questioned, but than seeing it was the slick blond haired Argen Malfoy, Eric flinched.
"No... I was studying how to turn a Malfoy into a slug. Want to see?" Eric asked with an evil grin.
"Ha! Ha! Ha!" Argen faked a laugh. "How very amusing... I was wondering the same thing, but I couldn't remember your last name. What was it again?" He sneered. Eric spoke something in Parseltongue, than grinned as Argen began to back away as something suspiciously like a snake began to slither up to him.
"Oh... I forgot, my pet doesn't like visitors.... but I think he likes the taste of a Malfoy. How about we find out... Argen?" Eric snickered, but gave his serpent a warning look as it continued to advance. He wasn't serious about letting it harm Malfoy, but seeing the little git terrified gave Eric a rush of pleasure.
"No... I think I'll be going. Enjoy your Dementors." Argen commented, than left as the bell sounded for next period. Eric scowled. The next period was Potions with Professor Malfoy and he was sure it would be a complete disaster; they were sharing with the second years and Argen was sure to be there.
