Year Three at Hogwarts
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Chapter 8: Déjà vu?
As usual, Jacke was able to break the silence. "Wow, that's a really wicked story."
Reggie then found his voice. "I – I can't believe it. That's how Hogwarts was first created? Unreal, I thought that they built it by hand or simple magic or something but who would've thought this? Pouring a potion on the earth and letting it shape it from your thoughts and imagination."
"I know," Brad said. "In Hogwarts, A History it never said exactly how they built it, just that they did."
"Well of course," Tyler said. "My ancestor did write that he and the other three founders didn't want the potion that they used to create the school and shape the grounds to be found by the unworthy. I guess that meant that they didn't want it falling into the wrong hands."
"Of course, didn't you listen to your own ancestor's words?" Reggie said in a tone that Tyler read as "are you deaf?" "This Potion of Fecundity has the power to create and shape land and reality to however you want. Imagine if someone like your cousin got a hold of that kind of power. He would make a stronghold unlike anything to launch his attacks from with too many obstacles to worry about intruders."
"Reggie, I'll say it again for me, Brad and Jacke. You think too much."
Reggie rolled his eyes while Brad and Jacke nodded in agreement with amused smiles.
"Fine whatever."
"Tyler," said Jacke. "Could we see the map that your ancestor left to this potion?"
"Hold on," Reggie said. "I know what you're about to suggest Jacke. I don't think that us hunting down that kind of power is a good idea."
"Why not?" Tyler asked.
"Well for starters, how do we know that this potion still exists?"
"We don't which I think is worth finding out," Jacke countered. "Speaking of which, where does the map say the potion is hidden?"
Tyler pulled out the map and unfolded it to discover that it was a very long piece of parchment. The other three stood behind him and read it with him. Tyler scanned where the marker for the potion's location was and he found it in a place that he couldn't believe was it.
"It says that my ancestor hid it at the near edge of the Forbidden Forest."
"That marker," Brad said pointing to where the indicator was on the map, which looked like a door shaped grouping of trees. "I've seen that kind of formation before. I see it from the windows at the west side of the castle all the time when you gaze into the forest. There are a group of trees with vines completely surrounding it that look just like that. I think that that's a portal."
"Wow, a portal?" Jacke said impressed and excited. "Slytherin really was tricky. Hiding the potion in a portal at the Dark Forest disguising it."
"No Jacke, I just think he disguised it," Tyler said. "Remember, he wrote that he hid it where they originally found it. That portal must be where they originally found the potion and he made it blend in completely with the forest."
"Now that I think about it, according to Hogwarts a History, the forest has always been off limits. I guess that the founders made that rule so no one would accidentally find it."
"I did hear that there are a lot of dangerous creatures in that forest Brad," Jacke said.
"Well, I guess they must've brought creatures or let creatures inhabit the forest so it would make a good cover."
"Good guess Brad," Tyler said slapping his shoulder. "If the founders did go through all this like you guess then that must mean that the potion really does exist there," he finished with his eyes pointing over at Reggie.
"Even if this does exist, you could bet it isn't easy to get. Didn't you listen to the reading? It sounded like even the founders had a hard time getting it and almost didn't succeed. There must be obstacles after the portal. How would we stand a chance if the founders barely could?" Reggie resumed.
"Come on Reggie. Have a bit more faith in us would you. We've done so much already together like mastering our powers and even stopping Arnold. We are the seekers. Don't forget our motto, "We always find a way." So we'll find the way now, we always do." Brad countered really inspired Jacke and Tyler even more.
"Ok, but even if we succeed in getting this Potion of Fecundity, what do we do with it?" Reggie asked in a tired victorious voice.
All four of them bowed their heads down in thought. Reggie really did bring up a very good point that they couldn't ignore or counter. What would they do with it? A powerful magic potion that would let them create and shape the land. How would that help them?
Brad looked at each of them. He saw they were having a real hard time with this. He had an idea but he was scared that they might think it was a waste of the potion to try it.
Jacke didn't have a clue on what they should do. What would they use a power this strong to do?
Reggie wasn't really thinking on what to do with this kind of power. More like if it was right for using this power. They were going to mess with the laws of nature and reality and he doubted that they could handle that like the founders did.
Tyler also wasn't thinking on what exactly do they create. He was thinking that there was a reason why they found this.
'This cannot be a coincidence. A thousand years ago, my ancestor and the other three of the Hogwarts Four found and used this potion and now a millennium later a slytherin, gryffindor, hufflepuff and ravenclaw find it. I'm sure if they were here now they would have a serious feeling of dejavu.'
"You know what mates," Tyler said suddenly. "Let's leave it off for now. We don't have to decide right here and now. Let's leave this alone for about a month. That'll give us plenty of time to think this through. What do you say? Agreed?"
"I guess that's the most logical thing to do," Reggie said.
"Sounds good to me," Brad said.
"Great, and you Jacke?"
"Er...alright, I can barely think straight as it is," he said with unfocused eyes.
At Jacke's words, Reggie immediately went to his watch. "Oh no, we really lost track of time coming down here. It's already a quarter to midnight."
"What?!" they all shouted.
"Yeah, wow time sure does fly when you're having an adventure."
'Yep, I think Reggie is starting to lighten up,' Tyler thought proudly. 'He would've immediately said something about the rules instead of making the joke.'
"Now why don't we get going? We don't want the prefects catching us out after curfew or we'll get detention."
'Well, it's a start'
They left the secret storerooms and Tyler went to seal Basil up before they left the chamber, which Tyler also sealed. They ran over to the rope leading back to the second floor bathroom.
"How do we work this rope again?" Brad asked as he was the first to get to it.
"Pull three times," Tyler answered bringing up the rear.
Brad pulled on the rope three times and he was tugged straight up the pipe and landed back at the second floor bathroom. He threw the rope back down and Reggie, Jacke and Tyler had the repeated experience of landing on the bathroom floor.
"I think I'm going to have to think of a new way of coming up here," Tyler said picking himself up. He turned to the sinks and muttered, "Close" in parseltongue sealing up the entrance.
Reggie peeked out through the door checking for any prefects or teachers on patrol.
"We're in luck, there isn't anyone around. Good night."
He waved them a farewell and then ran down the hall for the Ravenclaw common room. Brad went next and headed for the first floor for the Hufflepuff common room. Tyler and Jacke went together since the path to their common rooms was the same up to the main staircase.
"Tyler," Jacke said quietly down the corridor as they stepped cautiously as not to make a loud sound. "Why were you so scared about showing us the chamber? You know that we know who you are so why did you panic?"
"Jacke," he said turning to him. "I wasn't scared. It's just that I felt like it was a little personal thing that I had to take care of. It was family business."
"Oh...sorry for jumping into it."
"No, no, I'm actually glad that you guys are with me on this. You see, when I went there yesterday, I had to face up to everything alone. I mean going alone to a secret chamber; my dark ancestor built was a little lonely and hard. Not to mention a tad bit scary. I was a little angry that you stuck your noses in my business but I'm glad that I have helping in finding answers."
"Answers?"
"Yeah, but that's a little too private in my family to tell you." Tyler said referring to his family prophecy of himself. He wanted to know exactly what he was supposed to do. He knew that people who were destined to accomplish things in old and mystical prophecies often resented it but this was actually something he wanted to do. He wanted to end all the hiding his people had to do. He had experienced it every second of his life and he didn't want any of his future descendents
Jacke looked at his best friend going into his usual silent thinking stance. Jacke decided to cheer Tyler up. "It's okay, I won't push, we've done too much of that. That chamber needs to be cleaned up," Jacke said lightening up the solemn mood.
"Should be. I mean no one has gone to it for a thousand years except 35 years ago except us," Tyler said jokingly.
"Thirty five years ago? Did your dad open it or something?"
"Oh," he said slapping his head for his slip. "No...err might as well tell you. Basil told me that my cousin opened it. Tom Riddle."
"Oh," he said with realization coming across his face. "Voldemort huh?"
"Yeah. He misused the basilisk. Basil told me that my ancestor commanded him to completely obey those of his bloodline no matter what so Basil had no choice but to do what he wanted. My cousin used him to go around and attack the muggleborns that were in the school at that time just like in that story Brad read to us."
Jacke sensing his best friend going into his solemn depression stage put his hand on his shoulder the way a friend would. Tyler then turned and looked straight at him, which Jacke used as a signal to speak.
"Honestly, Tyler, you've got to stop blaming yourself for what your cousin does. This isn't any of your fault mate. This happened even before you were born. Come on."
"Thanks," was all Tyler managed to say at Jacke's words. They were simple but powerful. He was right. How could he expect to control what happened years before he was born? 'It seems like I do keep blaming myself for everything. I guess it's all because of the prophecy. Maybe I see why people in prophecies wish they weren't.'
They soon got to the staircase where they had to separate. Tyler had to go down to the Slytherin dungeons while Jacke went up to Gryffindor Tower.
(---)
The time after the discovery of the creation of Hogwarts went by very uneventfully. Tyler didn't give the Potion of Fecundity another thought during the rest of the week. The only thing that Tyler was interested in was the very first class with Professor Squall since he was curious about how he would teach them and what he would teach them.
The Slytherins were all seated in the Defense classroom waiting for Professor Squall to arrive. Tyler was sitting with Matt and Morgan on either side, in the center of the classroom to see where would be the best place to not have a hard time with the teacher depending on how he was. They were all talking about random subjects until the doors opened and Professor Squall stepped in.
"Hello, third years. I am Professor Squall. Just sit quietly while I take the roll call."
He picked up the sheet of parchment and began calling out names and get a good look at everyone right after he called a name so he could fix their faces in his mind, obviously. Then Tyler thought the strangest thing happened when Squall got to his name.
"Tyler...Solemn?"
"Right here," he said raising his arm half-heartingly.
Professor Squall looked at Tyler like he was someone he hadn't seen for years before he seemed to remember he had a roll call to finish.
'What was that about?' Tyler thought. 'He's acting just like Arnold did when he was trying to remember where he'd seen my face before,' he reminisced bitterly at the memory although he also noticed that Squall didn't give off the same creepy feeling in his stomach as Arnold's behavior had done. 'Maybe I'm becoming too paranoid with how I always have to be alert and secretive.'
"Okay," Squall said after he was done. "Now, to tell you a little of myself before we get on with the first lesson today. I happen to be an auror at the Ministry of Magic."
This caused some eye raising at the skills this wizard teacher would be able to show them. However, Tyler went into a dark, cold feeling of dejavu.
'Great, another wizard hunter type teacher.'
"I'm taking a year's leave of absence for teaching you all and then I'm back off to my work."
"Why did you leave for a year?" asked Matt.
"Oh, I owed the Headmaster a favor for introducing me to my training mentor whose helped me in many ways. There weren't any applicants so I came to fulfill the position until next term."
"It's the curse I tell ya," Matt mumbled to Morgan and himself which made them both smile in amusement.
"I studied over what you did last term and saw that you learned basic dueling spells. This term, you will learn about magical creatures that you should know how to defend yourself against. Okay, I'm sure you all want to get started and not listen to a teacher talk about himself all day so let's go," Squall said making smiles appear all over the room. "All right, the first thing I want to ask you all is how many of you know what a Sphinx is?"
There were about four hands in the air, which were those of Matt, Alex Nott, Selma Rowens, and Anita Oarlock. Tyler never heard of these creatures before.
"Hmm...four huh?" continued Arnold. "Well...Mr. Carroway, could you please tell us a fact about sphinxes for the rest of the class please?"
"Well, a sphinx looks like a lion with a human type face and has wings. They like to ask riddles to anybody who comes in their path."
"Excellent, five points to Slytherin. Now I'm going to give you a riddle, which is very like one that a sphinx would give you. You have the rest of the class to come up with the answer. For a bonus, anyone who can come up with an answer won't have homework tonight. You can work alone or with one or more people if you wish. I will be available for questions, if you have any then please don't hesitate to raise your hand."
Professor Squall handed out parchments with the same riddle for everyone to solve. Immediately everyone went into talking on solving the riddle or just regular passing conversation.
Before Tyler could look at the riddle on his parchment, Matt tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey Tyler, Professor Squall seems like he'll be a great teacher, huh?"
"Yeah, I kind of like his laid back sort of thing," he answered. 'Also, he doesn't give me a creepy feeling like Arnold did last year,' he thought relieved. "Morgan, what do you think of him so far?"
"I like his style too. He seems to really know how to keep our attention. I think he'll be an even greater teacher than Arnold was."
Tyler didn't want to comment on that because he bitterly knew that she was right. Arnold might have been a power and glory hunting loony git but he did teach some pretty decent stuff to them last year.
"Yeah, well, obviously that's not a matter we have to deal with now. As Matt said, there's a curse."
Matt did a spooky wind sound, which caused Tyler to smirk and Morgan to shake her head but Tyler was sure she rolled her eyes under her closed eyelids. Tyler looked to his parchment to see the riddle for the very first time.
What is the at the beginning of every end,
at the end of time and space,
at the beginning of eternity,
and the end of every place?
"Wow, this sure is a tough riddle," Tyler said after he finished reading it.
"Yeah, I can't think of anything that can be all over time," Morgan said putting her hands to her temple thinking."
"I think I have an idea." Matt announced proudly to them.
"You do?" asked Morgan and Tyler. "What?"
"Not telling."
This made them both suck their teeth at Matt's refusal to share.
"No sharing huh?" came a voice in back of them which made Tyler throw his arms on the table and swing around. Professor Squall was behind them with his arms behind him looking down at them with a neutral face. "Having trouble trying to solve the riddle?"
"Yeah, a little."
"Don't worry. Some can be a little tricky. I'm sure that you slytherins can appreciate that right? You'll get there," he said with a knowing smile.
"Yeah, I guess."
He nodded his head and walked off to the other students. Tyler kept his eyes on Squall. He really seemed like a friendly guy and sociable guy.
'He's a good change from Professor Arnold and Professor Gellman were,' he thought proudly.
Tyler noticed a little shiver jolt coming from his hand and looked to see that when Squall surprised them, he had put his hand over Morgan's.
"Oh sorry Morgan."
"Er...yeah."
Tyler saw that she was a little red in the face. "Did I hurt you or something?"
"Oh no, you didn't, don't worry about it," she said a little too quickly for Tyler to barely get all of it.
Before he could think more of Morgan's behavior, Professor Squall readdressed the class.
"Okay, did anyone have any luck solving the riddle?"
Tyler saw that Matt's hand went up and so did the hand of a girl who he remembered was called Estelle Barrett. Professor Squall collected both their parchments and looked over them.
"Well, it seems that both Ms. Barrett and Mr. Carroway are correct. I give twenty points to Slytherin. As a reward for correctly solving the riddle, you two won't have to do this meeting's homework. Would any of you two like to tell the answer to the class?"
Matt raised his hand and narrowed his eyes at Tyler as if to say, "Listen and Learn," which Tyler rolled his eyes at his friend's pompous attitude.
"It was the letter E."
"Yes Mr. Carroway. E is at the beginning of the word end, the end letter of time and space, the beginning of the word eternity and the end of place. Very good. Five more points to Slytherin."
The rest of the class including Morgan and Tyler shook their heads at the simple yet tricky answer and laughed at how it was literally written out for them.
"The homework for the rest of you is to look in your textbook and read the chapter about sphinxes. Then you must draw me a picture of one, one that is not traced over. We'll go over what to do when you come across one in our next meeting. Class dismissed."
Tyler took off with Morgan and Matt for Potions with smiles on their faces.
Professor Squall's taught them for one day and he's already their best teacher yet.
Just as Tyler thought that, pretty much everyone in their entire year thought that he was the best yet including Jacke, Reggie and Brad.
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End of Chapter 8Author Notes:
Well, what do you guys think of Professor Squall. His personality and popularity was inspired by a college professor of mine who everyone likes.
Also, I would like to say that I've noticed that my updates are getting wider than normal. That would be because I'm trying to get my work for college through so please forgive. Don't worry because I won't ever forget about updating when I get the chance since I know how too long updates can get on people's nerves.
Review.