Quest of the Seekers: Animals Within
Year Two at Hogwarts
Chapter 19: School Year Dying, Friendship Living
The trip to the tree spot was uneventful. The four of them did give each other glances from time to time but other than that nothing happened though it was clear that they were still shaken, feeling slight pain and tired but happy.
Tyler was happy over the fact that Arnold was gone and that his friends came to save him, risking their lives.
Jacke was happy of the fact that Tyler was with them again and that he felt good to get all the guilty feelings that he was having out of his chest.
Reggie was happy that they were able to survive Professor Arnold's onslaught and reunite with Tyler.
Brad was happy that everyone was back together and everything was forgiven or at least that what it seemed but he didn't want to think about it. He just wanted to be happy with the sight. This was until Jacke let out a little scream when they were almost there.
"Jacke?"
"What is it?"
"My leg."
They put him by the tree and set him down on the ground. He lifted the hem of his to show that his right leg to show a long deep cut running down from the middle of his lower leg to his ankle.
"Wow, how did this happen?" asked Brad.
"I got hit with one of the rocks coming down from the cave in and hit a pointy rock on the way out in the exit."
"Wow, now what?"
"Okay, don't panic. I know, there are quords in Greenhouse One. We could use them to heal your cut. I'll just run over there and...oh wait, Professor Sprout locked it and I know that Alohamora won't work because she would've thought about that in case anyone thought of breaking in," said Reggie with depression.
"Well, then I guess that we have to take him to the hospital wing."
"Brad...I'll never be able to get all the way over there with this leg. It was a miracle that I was able to even get this far."
'What are we going to do? What are we going to do?' thought Tyler with high panic. He ran his hands through his hair in frustration and hit his chest in irritation and when he did he felt the solution.
"Wait," he said reaching into his robes. "This." He pulled out the pendant that Regulus had given him for Christmas back in his first year. "This pendant was a gift from Regulus. Inside is a potion that can heal up cuts and scraps."
"Well, don't keep me waiting," Jacke said through the pain.
"Alright, here you go." Tyler lifted the capping cork of and dipped the potion on Jacke's leg. The cut instantly closed up and Jacke let out a breath of relieved pain.
Reggie put his hand on his shoulder. "Jacke, try not to move yet, let's just rest here for a bit like we planned to do."
"I should really thank Regulus sometime for this pendant."
"You? I should be the one thanking Regulus mate. That guy sure is a life-saver."
Then the other three went to the other corners of the wide tree and put their backs to it looking at the sky. They just sat there for a while in silence catching their breaths from the exhausting event that just took place.
"Hey guys," said Tyler. "I'm really sorry you had to go through all that for me."
"Come on, we know you would've done the same for us...at least we hope so."
Jacke's statement made all of them stare at each other before they all bursted out laughing. It felt good to laugh together again and all of them were feeling that same thing. They haven't laughed together like this since before these things started happening to Tyler and that felt like years ago when it was only around a month.
"In a flick of a wand."
"Oh guys, I just remember," said Reggie with worry. "We lost our wands in the cave during the fight, how are we suppose to finish up the year without any wands."
"Don't worry Reggie, there's only two weeks left in the year anyway."
"That makes it sound simple but it's really not Jacke. How are we supposed to do any of the practical work without one?"
"Well...er"
"Why don't we just ask the teachers to borrow their wand when we have to do practical work until we can get replacements," Brad said backing Jacke up.
"Listen guys, it is my fault that you guys lost your wands. I mean, out of all of us, I still have mine and I feel very bad about it. Tell you what...how about I put the complete effort in getting new wands for all three of you, what do you say?"
"Tyler...you don't have to do that." Jacke looked Tyler said something ridiculous.
"Yeah, it was really our fault anyway. Besides, it was our decision that caused us to go down and help you. Missing wands is the least of what we could've lost. Don't worry."
"No Brad, it was because of me that you made the decision to go into the cave so it's my responsibility. Besides, I really want to pay you back for saving me from Arnold so I'm going to do it and you guys can't stop me."
The three of them gave up trying and openly accepted his hospitality.
"So...do you care to clue us in on what happened between you and Professor Arnold back at the cave?" Reggie said breaking up the silence.
"Oh, he was trying to turn me in so he could better his reputation with the Dark Force Defense League so he could get a spot on the council. Probably hoped he'd get a top Ministry job with my hide," he added bitterly.
"Come on Tyler, it's over. You don't have to try to not let it look like it doesn't bother you," said Brad. "We could tell that Arnold really shook you up before we got there. What happened?"
"I'm not sure I could tell you guys, it's a personal thing for me and my family."
"Talking about it helps," said Brad.
"You could tell us, it's not like we don't know about your family right?" said Jacke trying to push him on to vent his feelings.
'Should I tell them what I learned from Arnold? Well...they did help save my life and I owe them one AND they know already of my family...but...it is kind of personal and a family thing.'
"You don't have to tell us if you don't to Tyler. We're not going to force you if you don't really want to tell us."
"No...Reggie, it's okay, thanks. I guess I owe you an explanation for helping me out even after I doubted you guys and yelled at you all like I did. I still don't see why you helped me after I did that to you all."
"Tyler, don't be stupid. The answer to that is obvious," said Reggie.
"Honestly Tyler, you don't have to keep apologizing every two seconds, we get it," said Brad.
"Yeah, you're our best friend, nothing more to it." Jacke gave him an encouraging fist to the shoulder that made Tyler smile at his friends' actions.
"Okay...well, it turns out Arnold was the one who...hunted down a relative of mine."
"Which one?" asked Brad.
"He...got my great grandfather."
His friends let in and out intakes and outtakes of air that made it obvious that they were horrified and sorry for Tyler.
"Why?" stuttered Jacke. "Why did he bring in your grandfather? What did he do?"
"He did nothing. Okay, you guys aren't going to get the story unless I tell you something that happened to my father when he was a kid. This is part of the reason why it's very personal in my family. If I tell you then you have to promise me that you won't tell or say it out loud again."
"Tyler...have you learned nothing?" asked Reggie who seemed annoyed. "If we kept our promise about your deepest secret then don't you think that we could hold on to this one too?"
"Yeah...I guess it is stupid when you put it like that." Tyler then heard a friendly familiar and comforting hiss come by and saw that it was Chaos. He was slithering in the grass blending in quite nicely trying to get to his master and friend. "Hey mates, before I tell you the story...do you mind if I had one of my intimate friends here to help me through it?
"Intimate friend?" asked Reggie.
"Yeah...my small green one."
Jacke, Reggie and Brad got the message immediately. They pondered if it would be comfortable with Tyler having his snake named Chaos with them but each of them decided to go and give it a shot. After all, Tyler said Chaos was his friend and they did catch him bow to them at the train when Tyler first showed him to them.
"Okay," they all chanted.
"Chaos," he first said in English directing him to his lap before he hissed it so his friends wouldn't worry about what he had said.
His friends seemed to be a little nervous but seemed truly seemed okay with having Chaos around. Tyler cleared his throat and began to tell his father's emotional story with Chaos there for comfort.
"You see, my great grandfather, Balder Solemn Slytherin was a great and protective member of our family. He had a soft spot for helping people and had a strong belief in making progress with relations between parselmouths and the rest of the wizarding world. One day, the belief he had got him destroyed. You see, from what my dad and grandpa told me was that he accidentally spoke parseltongue next to a little girl and she screamed out for everyone that he was a parselmouth and then spells started to be thrown at him."
"My dad was with him for a little quality time and he ended up seeing his grandpa captured right in front of him before he got away. The one who had got him of course being Professor Arnold."
His friends just sat there in shock on hearing all about this. Tyler welcomed it because he felt that this was a time for quiet. Chaos was trying to snuggle next to him and comfort him like a dog or cat would to their owner but Tyler was feeling little of its effect. There they stayed until Brad got on his feet and stretched.
"Well guys, I say we've had a long day. Maybe we should turn in." It was then that they noticed that it was indeed very dark. The sun had long set hours ago. It appeared that their run in with Arnold took quite a long time and they made even more time pass hanging around on the grounds.
"I'm all for that," added Jacke.
"Me too, I've been through bloody hell today."
"Wait," said Reggie with his famous tone. "We all should head to the hospital wing."
"Why?" asked all three.
"Why?" he said in a tone like they just asked a very stupid question. "We are injured in case you haven't noticed."
It was then that Tyler really noticed the injuries that they were sporting. Reggie had a gash on his head and a corner of his cheek was slashed. Brad had a little blood coming from somewhere in his hair and his hands were contained gashes which were bleeding slowly. Jacke had a cut lip and now that Tyler noticed was still limping a little from the leg injury even though the injury was fixed the pain was still there and he also had blood running from a cut on his forehead. Tyler then realized that his hands were like Brad's, he had cuts on his shoulders and his cheeks were cut.
"How are we supposed explain all of this to Madam Pomfrey about how we got these injuries?" asked Brad.
"Easy," said Tyler. "We'll just say that we were dueling each other. I'm sure that excuse will go through without question." This made Jacke laugh. "What's funny Jacke?"
"Oh sorry, it's just that with all the trouble that being in different houses does to us that it's amazing that it's being useful to us for a change."
Then this made all four of them laugh until Reggie spoke on the situation again.
"Well, you three better get going."
"Hey, what about you? You're hurt too."
"Yeah I know Jacke but I have a few potions of my own in my kit for these kind of things. But I have only enough for one so you guys better go without me and watch for prefects."
Reggie went to his common room while Tyler and the others headed to the hospital wing helping each other and supporting each other up the steps. Reggie reached the Ravenclaw common room and immediately headed toward the bathroom.
On the steps leading to the hospital wing, Tyler spoke to his injured comrades. "I still can't believe you would come to my aid when I screamed at you guys on not being true friends."
"Tyler, true friends wouldn't go away just because of a little let out anger. We completely understand."
"Yeah, besides, it takes more than you shouting at us to get rid of us. We aren't going to go that easily. I guess we're all stuck with each other huh?"
"Yeah," said Tyler a little more to himself than to them. "I guess we are."
They made it to the hospital wing where Madam Pomfrey did buy their story of fighting each other without hesitation. She gave them all healing draughts and sent them off to their common rooms in a fit on disorderly fighting.
All four of the seekers hit the pillows with happiness on being together again and guilt since they were again responsible for eliminating another defense teacher even though it was in self defense...maybe not so much from Tyler though.
The next morning, Tyler woke up to a frantic Matt who he ran into on the way to breakfast.
"Tyler, you are never going to believe what I just happened to have heard."
"Matt, I couldn't seriously guess. You're very good at finding out stuff before they're even told to us." The truth was that he had a feeling of what was going to come out of Matt's mouth.
"I listened in on Reckler, Dumbledore and McGonagall and it turns out that Professor Arnold is missing."
"Missing?" he said trying to sound curiously surprised.
"Yeah, he's not in his office but all of his things are still there. They said it was like he just vanished without a trace."
"Unbelievable, I guess the curse got to him too huh?"
"Yeah, didn't I tell you?"
"You did, but I can't say I'm sad about it."
"Sad? Everyone's going to be depressed. Arnold was a good teacher and I've even heard you admit that even though he was a git to you."
"Well, yeah, okay I admit that but only that."
"Tyler, are you okay," he said looking worried. "You look like you collided with a running train."
"No, I just had a tiring night and an exhausting sleep."
"Funny since a sleep is supposed to be anything from that."
"Tell that to my body."
"Okay, it...was...supposed," He couldn't finish because Tyler covered his mouth with his hand.
"Not literally Matt mate."
When they got to the Great Hall, Tyler saw that Brad and Jacke were looking quite good from the injuries showing fainting results. Reggie was looking good as new with the scabs and marks completely gone.
'Wow, those potions of his must really have been good. Shame he didn't have more of the stuff.'
They headed to the slytherin table where Matt began to spread the news all over the slytherin table until Professor Dumbledore announced it himself.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have dire news. It seems that our own defense teacher Professor Kenrick Arnold has somewhat vanished without warning or trace. We may not know how but we urge you to remain calm and say that there should be no need for alarm. We will try to find a replacement but until that time, All Defense Lessons Are Cancelled."
Tyler shared a glance with Jacke, Reggie and Brad and they looked a little worried but were acting normally so to not arouse suspicion.
Over the last two weeks of the term, Tyler was finally being completely happy with everyone except just with his slytherin pals like before. Brad had even said that in a strange way that they should be thanking Arnold for this event because it had brought them a little closer. Tyler had commented that he wouldn't have gone that far.
Classes were going great and in the days of the final new lessons, Tyler always partnered with one of the seekers, (if they were in that class) and let them use his wand in turn. Also, with Defense classes being cancelled since there was no one to teach it anymore, that time was spent just lounging around with Chaos or hanging out with his two fellow slytherin second years Matt and Morgan.
Tyler spent his remaining days with either his fellow seekers or with his slytherin pals at all times. He was generally in the mood for being with his favorite people. Regulus had actually calmed down. His O.W.L's were finally over and he was in the mood for talking peacefully again and helping Matt, Morgan and himself with their studies for their final exams. The exams went off without much difficulty since the seekers felt like they had mountains of energy when they studied but Tyler secretly thought that his mood and confidence with the exams rubbed off on them. Reggie, Brad and Jacke had asked to use the Professors' wands for the practical work and they came up with the excuse that their wands were taken as a prank and snapped.
Tyler was so happy that he decided to write to Severus and tell him about how he was confident that he passed his exams and that he was right in his tip of watching out for Arnold. He smirked at what Severus had told him during the winter break and couldn't help but feel great with Severus' guidance in that matter overlapping the second part that had been in that letter.
The last night of their stay at Hogwarts was there. Tyler took a little while to pack since he had to wait until he was alone to convince Chaos to get into the trunk until tomorrow. This alone was a long time until Tyler threatened to tie a fluffy pink ribbon on Chaos and jinx it so it wouldn't come off convinced Chaos to listen.
The feast went off like it always did. People were happily chatting now that the results of the final exams were in and how they passed theirs. Tyler's grades were great except a little low in Potions even with Reggie's help but other than that they were great but was depressed he didn't have his top subject of DADA to help. Reggie got high marks on all of his, which didn't surprise any of the seekers. Brad got top marks in his Transfiguration exam and good grades in everything else except History of Magic, which was sort of his weak spot. Jacke had terrific Charms marks and then had marks similar to Tyler's with the exception of a higher Potions mark but barely any higher. Matt had the high grades too especially in History of Magic and Astronomy which keeps surprising Tyler seeing as how he could take good notes and get things down in his head with Binn's droning, boring voice lecturing. Morgan also got high marks. Regulus said that his marks would come in the post during the summer and he would owl them to tell of his progress.
At the end of the feast, Dumbledore announced the winner of the House Cup. Turns out that the winner was Ravenclaw. Dumbledore had said that news of dueling had gotten out a night about two weeks back which made the heads of Slytherin, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff lose points over. The seekers knew what that was about perfectly.
The train ride the following day felt very peaceful, quiet and friendly for The Seekers.
"Tyler," said Reggie. "What do you have planned for this summer?"
"I don't know. I guess I might work more on my parselmouth penmanship." He had shown them a few examples of his people's writing. "I might also practice my lightning power and my animagus form a bit more. What about you guys?"
"Well, I guess I might practice my form and firepower too," said Jacke. "Also, I'm hoping for my dad to get more season tickets in the quidditch league."
"If you do could you invite us? I especially want to see a professional match. I'm sure that it would be great from what you guys say about them."
"Don't worry Brad, if that's the case then I'll try. So, any plans for when you get back home Brad."
"I guess I'll continue with my martial arts lessons with my grandpa and go on with soccer for a bit more though I'm falling out of love with it. Quidditch seems to be taking it's place. Reggie, what about you? Let me try to guess...reading, reading and more reading."
"No!," he said a little too quickly making the rest of them bit their lips to keep from laughing. "I'm going to France for the next two weeks and I'll pick up my vacation there."
"Yeah, being reading king size books." Tyler had to move his body to dodge Reggie's attempt to hit him on the back of his head.
"It's really going to be lonely without you guys," he resumed. "You still have my guarantee for new wands. I'll get them at Diagon Alley the first chance that I get."
"Oh, we'll hold you up on that," said Brad.
"Tyler, I was just thinking, should we expect any surprises from you on the train ride back to Hogwarts in two months. It seems like we get one every time we head back there from you."
"Maybe Reggie, maybe."
They all laughed and they just sat there and played a few games of Exploding Snap and wizard chess until they arrived at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Tyler used his wand to levitate there things out of the train taking complete advantage of his last few moments to use magic before the summer restriction kicked in. Tyler's dad came to them when he caught sight of them.
"Tyler."
"Oh hey dad. Dad, you remember my friends Jacke, Reggie and Brad, right?"
"Yes, good to meet you all again." He went to shake all their hands in greeting.
"Hello."
"Hi Mr. Solemn."
"Great to see you again Mr. Solemn."
Jacke, Reggie and Brad went off to where their folks were and waved bye to Tyler.
"You have some great friends there son."
"Thanks dad."
"I hope you're being careful with your secret around them."
"Oh, you don't have to worry about that dad." 'Not at all' he added inside his head.
Tyler and his dad were about to go but he caught sight of Matt and Morgan coming from the train. "Matt, Morgan, I'll see you guys soon, okay?"
"You bet," said Matt.
"Don't worry, just be sure to keep in touch," Morgan said waving.
Tyler blushed a little by the attention that Morgan was giving to him next to his father fearing what he might say.
"Well, Tyler, I didn't know you were getting popular with the ladies like you were." His fears came true.
Tyler then gave his father a mock angry slap on the shoulder and just asked if they could go already. They took the portkey home with his dad still chuckling and were traveling like the wind to their home, the Slytherin Mansion.
End of Chapter 19SwollenFridge: I'm glad you loved the chapters that you missed.
Author Notes:
This chapter marks the end of my second story. The four seekers and Tyler's slytherin pals are not gone yet. There's still a lot more to go.
On a personal note, my birthday is on August 30th. The same birthday as Tyler. So, now you all now that his birthday is exactly my own. I did base him on myself more or like.
Coming Soon is my third story which will be released hopefully soon especially with the summer ending
Quest of the Seekers: A New HavenThe Seekers are back for their third year of Hogwarts. But, thanks to the actions of their former Defense teacher they've lost their secret place. However, they find a much better solution to their problem. There is something at Hogwarts that can help them. A power that was believed to be lost that it's tales and stories almost were. Tyler has the key to getting to it and he'll need his fellow seekers to help in getting the ultimate magical miracle.