Year Three at Hogwarts
(---)
Chapter 6: News and People's Business
The following day approached with hesitation from all. Everyone in the castle, the student population anyway, dreaded to begin the first day of classes. Tyler got up and gave a big yawn and stretch before he went to get himself ready.
'Time to get started.'
(---)
Jacke moved out of his bed and made his way to his trunk so that he could get his school robes and get himself ready. He let out a yawn and stretch when he got to the boys' dorm bathroom.
'Time to get started.'
(---)
Reggie got out of bed and went to his trunk where his clothes were already folded and picked out and for his bag that he had readied last night. He had himself completely ready for the new sets of classes he was going to take.
'Time to get started.'
(---)
Brad headed over to a couch in the common room so that he could organize his books into his bag so that he wouldn't make himself look messy and that he would be able to be ready when classes started. He finished getting cleaned up and headed to the Great Hall for breakfast.
'Time to get started.'
(---)
Tyler started eating his scrambled eggs and bacon when the morning post arrived. He looked up to see that Pandy had arrived with the morning mail. He landed in front of Tyler with the new issue of the Daily Prophet.
'I don't remember making an inscription to the Daily Prophet,' he thought. He shrugged his shoulders and took it. He unfolded it and almost spit out his food when he say the headlines.
DEATH EATERS SLAY APPROX. 100 MUGGLESLast night, at around midnight, there was a serious attack on a muggle town in Norway. When Ministry personnel arrived on the scene, they were greeted with a blaze of burning homes muggle bodies and the sign of You Know Who known as the Dark Mark. Eyewitness reports from survivors have made it clear that the Dark Lord's servants or Death Eaters were involved in the attack. Fallen muggle residents were found with traces of the killing curse performed on them. This attack on the area is suspected to be a random bit of muggle-baiting for whatever reason that has yet to be discovered. The head of the Department of Law Enforcement Bartemius Crouch, has stated that he has told the entire Auror Department to be completely ready to go at any word of an attack from He-who-must-not-be-named. As you are reading this issue, The Minister of Magic, the entire Wizengatmot and Auror Department heads are debating on the best course of actions to be done with dealing with the Death Eater menace.
"I assure you that we will come up with methods for stopping this madness of dark activity. We will not stand by and allow You-Know-Who and his followers to get away with what they've done," quoted Bartemius Crouch before he turned down any further questions.
Tyler didn't feel like eating anymore as he pushed his plate of unfinished eggs away from him. He glanced at the rest of the great hall and saw a few people who did have a copy whispering or shell-shocked of the picture of the Dark Mark hanging over houses in the village. He immediately had the ashamed feeling like after he just did something to really upset somebody.
'NOT AGAIN,' he thought with irritation. 'Can't my cousin get a clue?'
He got up and headed to the Greenhouses early since he lost his appetite. This class was with the Slytherins and the Ravenclaws so Reggie would be here with him. Reggie would understand why he was feeling low but he decided not to let Reggie put up with his guilty feelings since he didn't deserve that especially on their first day of classes for the term. Tyler decided to try and avoid conversations even closely related about what the Prophet printed out all together and just get through the first day.
'Yeah, just stay silent during those talks and I'll be fine.'
(---)
Jacke entered the Great Hall with Brad next to him since they met up along the way. They sat at their tables and started to eat when the mail came. His family owl Knave delivered a letter from home to him and he treated him with letting him share his orange juice. After eating a little, he looked up to see Tyler leaving the Great Hall looking stressed out and having a dead look in his eyes.
'That's strange. Usually, Tyler doesn't leave the Great Hall without Regulus, Stellers or Carroway in the mornings. Something must be up.'
Then Brad came up to Jacke and slammed his paper next to him. Then he sat at his other side.
"Jacke? Did you see Tyler leave just now?"
"Yeah, I saw him, he looked really upset on something."
"I think that this is the answer why."
Brad moved the paper over so that they could read it together. Jacke opened his eyes at the photograph of the Dark Mark, which resembled a human skull with a snake slithering from its mouth.
"Well...now we know why Tyler left. This must make him sick to his stomach."
"Naturally," Brad said sarcastically to Jacke but trying to keep his voice down so no one would overhear. "His cousin needs psychological help. I mean, killing innocent muggles just for no reason. Also, it looks like the picture of the Dark Mark may have also hit him hard. Remember what he said about how he and his family are when Voldemort disgraces their race like this?"
"Yeah I know," he said remembering how Tyler never really liked talking about that but was conveniently saved by changes in the subject.
Reggie joined them at that moment with a half eaten piece of toast in his hands. He too also had an issue of the paper under his shoulder and then joined in on the conversation.
"I think that the thing that really bothers him is the fact that his cousin uses a snake as part of his symbol and helps in giving them even more bad reputations," Reggie said.
"Yeah, and snakes aren't that bad especially in the muggle world. I've never seen the Dark Mark before but now that I see it, I can't say that Tyler doesn't deserve to be upset when there are some that are very harmless."
"What do you mean by that Brad?" asked Jacke.
"Well, in the muggle world, a lot of people buy snakes as pets to have. Most of them are practically harmless and most of the time, people buy them and cats so that they have a way to get rid of mice. I remember that my mother wanted a cat to eat the mice and she turned down a rat eating snake because the guy said that it would take about a week for them to digest them and she didn't feel like seeing a lump in it's figure from it's hunts," Brad said smiling at the memory of his shaken mom.
"Well, I haven't grown up in the muggle world Brad. In the wizarding world, we were taught one thing from our birth. Watch out for snakes especially those controlled by parselmouths because they are deadly and it could mean our lives. Now, we're all being told to beware of Voldemort.
"Well, Tyler deserves someone to be with him during these times. I had better go, after all, I have my next class with him at the Greenhouses. He probably left early to have time alone there, I'll go join him."
"But classes aren't for another 15 minutes," Jacke said.
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't head there fast to avoid being late."
"Alright, bye Reggie," Brad said drinking the last of the juice from his goblet.
"See you later mate," Jacke added.
"Will do," Reggie replied before leaving.
Over on the other side at the Slytherin table, Carroway, Stellers and Regulus got up. Carroway got up and left the Great Hall but Stellers and Regulus went over to Brad and Jacke. They looked up at them and it was Morgan Stellers who spoke first.
"Er...Jacke Walker and Brad Carter right?"
"Yeah," said Brad.
"Hey Regulus," Jacke said.
"Hey guys. Listen, do you know where Tyler is?" he asked.
"Oh, he just went over to the Greenhouses early today. He...felt like having a good morning of fresh air so he left. Reggie went to join him a little while ago."
"So Matt was right. He got you there Morgan," Regulus said with a little humor.
"Oh sod off Regulus. I'll see you later."
Regulus left but Morgan stayed behind.
"Was Tyler okay? I noticed you took a little while to answer," she said narrowing her eyes at Jacke.
Jacke was a little taken back at her analysis but quickly answered out of nervousness.
"Oh, I'm just feeling a little warm, that's it."
"Oh, okay then. Bye."
When she left, Brad nudged Jacke at the shoulder. "Girl trouble?"
"No," he said glumly.
"It's okay, personally, I think she's really good looking."
"Well...she's okay, I guess. Tyler does hang around with her so I guess she has a great personality."
"Yeah, I seem to notice that you seem a little into her."
"What? No. It's just that...she was the first girl I fought with. Remember, she was one of my opponents in the tournament?"
"Oh right, sorry Jacke."
"You'd better be. I don't fancy her okay. To be honest, I kind of already have...never mind."
"Come on, tell me."
"You were acting stupid thinking I like Morgan Stellers, do you really think I'm going to tell you a girl that I sort of fancy?"
"Good point, it is your business but I'll find out eventually."
"You're taking too much out of Reggie Brad."
"Well, judging how you and Tyler are, I'll take that as a compliment."
"Good," 'since it was meant to be one' he added in his thoughts. He then cast a look at a certain blonde haired girl further down the table when he was sure that Brad wasn't looking. Then they both took off so they could go to their Arithmancy class together.
(---)
Tyler's mood eased as the day went on. Sure there were nervous talks about what happened in the paper but Tyler got distracted by all that thanks to his friends. Reggie had spoken to him that if he was feeling okay by what he read this morning when he caught up to him in the greenhouses. Tyler appreciated how he talked about the paper sensitively and it made him feel better when Reggie said that Tyler shouldn't be beating himself up because of his loopy cousin. Matt and Morgan also kept Tyler's mind off the news with playing word games and having fun conversations with him during Herbology when they had to cut swamptrine roots, which were plants with magical roots, which were often used in blood replenishing potions.
They had their first Care of Magical Creatures class after Charms with the Gryffindors. Their teacher was a beat up looking man that seemed to have been beat up over the years by creatures of many types since there were scratch, teeth and gash marks of his hands, feet and parts of his face. They started off by learning about creatures called gargoyles. They looked like imps except they have scaly wings, large teeth feet claws.
According to their teacher, gargoyles are creatures that rarely show themselves at will to humans. When they do, it is because they can sense serious disease coming from them, which they feed off of. He said that long ago, muggles made statues of gargoyles to protect themselves from horrible plagues. They spent the lesson feeding chunks of meat to the gargoyles, which were only about 1 ½ high each.
Tyler was with Morgan since she asked him to be her partner before Jacke could but then he went to work with a long, curly, blonde haired girl by the name of Jennifer Gardner. Tyler did a double take on her. He remembered her from their previous classes with Gryffindor but he remembered her looking differently then before. Before she looked like any average girl but now she looked very...cute. She had a little bit of makeup on but it was enough to be appealing. She had nice eyes and a charming air around her that Tyler was entranced in. He didn't know why she had his attention especially since he knew a lot of other girls that were more beautiful then she was but he couldn't stop looking at her for some reason.
He was snapped back into reality when Morgan got his shoulder.
"Tyler, hello."
"Hmm, what?"
"I asked whether you wanted to throw this gargoyle the next piece of meat. Is that new cool hairstyle blocking the air to your head?" she asked both annoyingly and humor.
"Oh, no, I think I've had enough with throwing meat to these guys. They're kind of creepy to the spine."
"Don't be a baby."
"I'm not."
"Yes, you are."
"Not."
"Are."
"Whatever," Tyler said sealing away the argument. "You feed it the next piece of meat. I've had enough."
"Okay, Tyler, are you okay?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
"You seem...distracted. You were focused until a little while ago. What caught your attention?"
"Er...nothing. Don't worry about me. Everyone seems to be doing that a lot lately. I mean, you, Regulus, Jacke, Reggie, Brad but especially you. I'm okay you know."
"Sorry, just asking." She turned away a little annoyed at his antics and Tyler smirked at his victory for ending the argument as the victor.
When Morgan went to drop in another piece of meat to the gargoyle, Tyler thoughts went to Basil back in the underground chamber. 'Maybe I should visit him again before dinner. But I better be careful that no one sees.'
Meanwhile, Jacke was working with Jennifer Gardner on the gargoyle and meat. They were talking about their classes and why they took them.
"So, you chose Ancient Runes because you're interested in ancient languages?" Jacke asked.
"Yeah, I like mystery. Let's say that my curiosity is very powerful. You know," she said suddenly. "You're not so bad."
"What?" he said surprisingly.
"You're always hanging out with the guy that plays seeker on the slytherin team. You may not know this since it gets said when you're not around but they sometimes think he has you bewitched because he plays the same position that you do for the opposite team and you guys are always together."
"Well, he's my best friend. No more to it."
"Still, it's a little strange. But you don't seem strange at all. You're a really great guy."
"Thanks," Jacke said rubbing the back of his head and coughing. "But, honestly, Tyler's my friend and he really is the best friend anyone can have in my opinion. He's right there by Morgan Stellers."
He pointed over to where Tyler and Morgan were sharing the attention of a gargoyle. She looked over there and opened her eyes wide at the sight of him. "Well...he does seem nice and I can't remember him giving any of us a hard time."
"Trust me, he's great."
"Well Jacke Walker, you surprise me."
"I do?" he asked a little too quickly. "Er...well maybe we could hang out more often."
"I'd like that," Jennifer said with a sparkle to her eyes that Jacke insides churned in response to.
The class ended and Tyler headed off so he could finish his dinner quickly so that he could have more time chatting with Basil.
(---)
Reggie and Brad were at their first Arithmancy class while the other two seekers were at Care of Magical Creatures. Their classroom had desks big enough for two and they were stations in three columns. Brad and Reggie sat next to each other but they didn't have to wait any amount of time for their teacher to walk in. Their teacher was a middle-aged woman who started to show signs of age with a few gray hairs, wore rim glasses leveled on the top of the frames and had a calculating type face.
"Hello third years. I am Professor Vector. Welcome to Arithmancy. I will tell you the basics of this class as soon as I take the roll call."
As she went through the names of everyone in the classroom, Brad and Reggie went into talking.
"I can't wait to get started on this class. Can you believe it? Learning the techniques in creating magic and also how the process is for creating spells."
"Easy Reggie. I'm excited too. You really got me, Jacke and Tyler interested when you told us about these last year. Don't worry, it'll start."
"Speaking about Tyler, he seems very distracted lately."
"Well Reggie, I can't really blame him. The news this morning would have him quiet."
"No, I mean before that."
"What?"
"Well, Regulus came to me after Herbology today and pulled me aside for a talk. He wanted to know if Tyler had improved after class because he said that late last night he was looking like his mind was completely somewhere else. He said that while Tyler was playing games with him, Carroway and Stellers, Tyler was always zoning out during the games and he lost every time very badly."
"Wow, since last night? He seemed fine until we left during the afternoon."
"That, I'm not even sure of. I ran into him a few minutes before I joined you and Jacke at the tree."
They had to stop there because Professor Vector had finished the roll call and went into the explanations on what to expect in the class. She then started writing notes and charts for them to copy which Brad and Reggie did and resumed their conversation while doing it.
"You saw him acting weird?" Brad whispered to Reggie.
"Yeah, he seemed to be looking for or avoiding something. I was just leaving Professor Flitwick's office were I was with the other remaining members of the house team listening to him about a person that he thought had great keeper potential and telling us that Jasper Sagat made captain when I spotted him and he jumped when he saw me. I also noticed he had a piece of parchment in his hands but he folded it up quickly when we bumped into each other."
"A piece of parchment. It just could've been some work he was doing alone." Reggie gave Brad a look that plainly asked "Are you kidding?" "Okay, I know, Tyler doesn't like independent study unless..." Then Brad stopped copying the notes and went into shocking thought. "Unless it was one of our little adventure stunts," he said shockingly quiet even though he lost thought on being quiet.
"Yeah, I didn't think too much of the parchment thing until Regulus had also asked me if anything happened while he hung with us. I knew then and there that Tyler is...hiding something, something even from us."
"Whoa. It's gotta be big if he didn't even tell us."
"Yeah, maybe we should find out what it is."
"Are you sure Reggie? Tyler knows that he can trust us. Besides, it is his own business and I don't want him to think we're spying on him because we think he's up to no good. Ever heard the phrase "Mind your own business?""
"Silly, we're just going to watch him to see if he's okay. I'll tell Jacke and I'm sure he'll agree to this. We aren't doing this because we're spying, we're doing it because we're curious and concerned."
"You're going to use a loophole? Pretty smart."
"Hello, what house am I in?"
'Perfect...Seems Jacke isn't the only ones that Tyler is affecting,' Brad thought amusingly. "Okay but don't you forget what house I'm in. We Hufflepuffs try not to lie at all. If Tyler accuses us of spying then I'll tell him who really thought it up and being a hufflepuff gives me an automatic reliability."
They both made good smirks like Tyler usually did when he accomplished something with satisfying results. Then they went back to finish taking their notes.
When they left after the bell sounded, Brad put his hand on Reggie's shoulder to draw his attention.
"You know Reggie, sometimes you're a little too curious, and observant for your own good."
"And you're too concerning and trusting for your own good too."
(---)
Tyler had the parchment in his bag and took it out and placed it in his robe pockets and headed out for dinner when he put away his bag. Tyler still didn't have the passing words memorized so he kept the parchment. He went to dinner and tried to eat quickly but not too quickly to make it look like he was hiding something.
Little did he know that three sets of eyes were on him looking on as he sped through his meal and left his slytherin pals to go off on his own. They also left their tables and went in close pursuit. They went quietly and saw that Tyler kept looking around him to see if anyone was around and sometimes ducked back to make double sure.
"Whoa, he's being a bit paranoid," Jacke said surprised.
"For good reason," said Brad.
"Enough, quiet," Reggie said silencing them. "Look...I think he's heading over to that bathroom."
They saw Tyler take one more observation and then he went in. His fellow seekers charged right in after him.
(---)
End of Chapter 6Well, this chapter went a little into a bit of fluff but I thought it was the appropriate time for it. Bad luck for Tyler starting the first day of classes with the news of his cousin's antics huh? Well, he'd better get used to it because we all know that his cousin led a good reign of terror before he lost his powers thanks to Harry. The next chapter will be a good bit of explaining coming from Tyler and a good bit of discovery down in the chamber. Though I haven't come up with a name for the chapter yet.