Eve: Hiya readers. Welcome to the condensed and re-written version of the story.
Mike: Hey!
Eve: Mike's here, duh, and at the end of the chapter we got some cool bumper stickers for you to read.
Mike: So, without further ado-
Eve: If you guyz want something cool/dark to read, try Never Again by Skippy1
Mike: Stop it, okay. Just stop. You're supposed to want people to read your story not someone else's.
Eve: Hey, I read stories and if I like them, I tell my readers. Maybe the authors of the other story will do the same for me.
Mike: You've got HIGH hopes there Evee.
Eve: On with the fic!
"Does not, because the kid needs to know how to throw and a catapult is going to make him have a weak throwing arm," Cota pointed out.
Sirius didn't have an answer for that and was trying to make a comeback when he heard Remus.
"Hello?" Remus called out after hearing Cota's voice, but not seeing anyone.
"Ah, Remus, come help me. I'm loosing the argument," Sirius called down.
"Asking for help now are we?" Cota grinned, now enjoying the fact that he was winning.
"Well, what are you arguing about?" Remus asked as he and Dumbledore stepped closer.
"Catapult or no catapult. I say yeah but the kid here says no."
"Kid? I'm not the one that needs help winning, am I?" Cota laughed boldly.
"Hush! I didn't ask you," Sirius snapped. To used to censoring himself around Albus.
"Well, the catapult will teach physics and help him learn Quidditch, we can launch the snitch," Remus called up to Sirius. There was a pause and no one spoke.
"Fine, but I pity the first visitor to come along when the child starts launching bombs," Cota gave in.
"Hear that Remus? Victory is ours!" Sirius cheered.
He slid down the ladder and greeted Remus and Dumbledore. Cota slid down after him.
"Hmm, now do we add a different entrance? Wouldn't want the kid to get hurt," Cota pondered in an effort to strike up an argument that he could win.
"...Good idea..." Sirius gave in.
Dumbledore smiled, he thought Cota was a great match for James. Guildsmen depended a great deal on their Lords and needed to fit in because they would be living with them until they completed enough training to go on. Then they would live at the academy, but still serve their lords. Dumbledore had only met Cota once, but had heard many stories about him; He looked over toward the stable.
It wasn't everyday that someone got to see a Rider's horse and Dumbledore always enjoyed the beauty of the creatures. When he saw a horse other then Gyriph he watched for a while and then decided to interrupt the entrance argument and ask about the horse.
"Whose horse is that?" Dumbledore asked.
"Oh, he's mine," Cota answered, following Albus's gaze.
"I didn't know your horse was already trained enough to come live with you and not be at the Zagan stable," Dumbledore continued.
"Oh, he's well trained alright. Listens to his master no matter what. Even when the master's Lord doesn't agree to it, huh Cota?" Sirius sneered, liking the idea of 'black' mail.
"Yeah...err... I mean, h-he is well trained...Here, I'll call him over," Cota said in an effort to change the subject off his earlier adventure. He walked forward a few steps and whistled. "Pat!" He called. Patrick quickly lifted his head up, he was getting excited. He tossed his head playfully and reared up slightly a few times in excitement as he whinnied. "Calm down, lad. I want you to meet someone," Cota rolled his eyes, very accustom to Patrick's energetic personality.
Pat tossed his head again and did a hopping trot over to Cota. He was an orange horse with a black mane, green eyes and a small four-leaf clover looking thing on its forehead, the clover was golden colored.
"What did you say his name is?" Dumbledore asked.
"It's Patrick...Pat for short", Cota answered.
"And tell them why you decided on Pat instead of something like clover," Sirius grinned, knowing the story.
Both Remus and Dumbledore looked at Cota for an answer. Cota blushed slightly in embarrassment. "Well, he seemed to like that name and he likes to be petted so I figured it was perfect," Cota admitted.
"Ah, Pat the horse," Remus laughed as he understood why Sirius found the name so amusing.
Pat, upon hearing his name, whinnied and waited to be patted. When no one moved he stomped his foot and looked crushed.
"You said it now you must do it," Cota explained with his arms crossed.
Remus and Sirius both laughed, Pat didn't like that he wasn't being petted and bit Remus on the arm.
"Yow!" Remus yelped and backed away from the horse. Dumbledore smiled and patted Patrick.
"Cota," Lilly greeted as she joined everyone outside.
"Yes, Mrs. Lilly?" Cota replied giving Lilly a slight bow.
"Hello, Professor Dumbledore, Hello Remus," Lilly greeted warmly. "Patrick, stop biting people. Oh, and Cota. James asked me to give you this. He would like you to deliver it to Clef," Lilly explained and handed Cota a letter.
Cota took the letter and held it up to Patrick, who nodded his head that he wanted to go for a ride.
"And if on your way back you could see if you can borrow a snitch from Hagrid, I would appreciate it," Lilly smiled, but her tone showed she knew Cota would do whatever he was asked to.
Cota mounted Pat, quickly throwing a blanket saddle on. Pat shuffled around impatiently and let himself be prepared for the ride.
"Oh, and if you stop by my house and pick up my broom that would be great," Sirius grinned. Cota nodded reluctantly.
"Oh, mine to...it must have slipped my mind," Added Remus. Cota nodded even more reluctantly.
"Go Pat!" He yelled and urged the horse forward before someone else could need something.
"Remus, your house is on the other side of town and it's surrounded by a thick forest," Dumbledore reminded him; he knew they were just enjoying making Cota run errands for them.
"It's nice having Cota here, he runs errands for me and helps out a lot," Lilly stated as they entered the house.
"You got yourself a personal servant, what wouldn't be nice about it?" Remus asked.
"Cota isn't a servant. I usually only ask him to get something when it is to far away for me to go, I'm busy at work so much. And running errands for James is his job. He helps out around here because he lives here," Lilly said in an effort to defend Cota.
The doorbell rang and when Lilly answered it, Derek was standing in the doorway.
"Well, I'd come in, but with all the Cota bashing I thought I'd just ask where you sent him and go find him so he's not out in the storm by himself," Derek explained in an annoyed voice that was dripping with disdain.
"What storm?" Remus asked.
"Have you not been listening to the news?" Derek asked and handed Lilly a storm warning notice.
Lilly read the notice. "It says there is a snow storm coming in fast. It shows no warning until it is upon your area. All witches and wizards are advised to put a protecting spell on their houses and not to go out until it is past- oh no!" Lilly read with a look of horror on her face.
Both Remus and Sirius looked at the ground, ashamed at their actions.
"Well, they'll tell him when he gets to the academy," Dumbledore said hopefully.
"No, they are all closed up. Cota will have to drop off his message and head back; they have strict rules, and won't let him seek shelter there because he didn't arrive before the storm. I know he can't because it takes an hour to get there," Derek said and headed back to his horse.
"Wait, I'll go get James," Lilly called out after Derek. She quickly ran into the study and down the stairs into the basement.
"I told you I'd be up soon. I just really need to work on this," James told her as she entered the room. He was bent over the desk, chewing on a Muggle pen, which he found easier than quills.
"James, there is a massive storm warning and the academy has been closed. This storm might kill anyone out in it!" Lilly explained urgently.
"I still need to get this done," James replied and looked at his watch.
"Cota is out there!" Lilly cried.
James dropped his pen. His hand jerked as he turned around and looked over at her.
"Did he go to the academy?" He asked.
"I think he might have gone to get a few things that I asked him to get first," Lilly replied in an ashamed voice.
"He's a smart kid, he'll be fine," James replied.
"Is it true that your work has made you so cold that you no longer care? Cota is like a best friend to you! He's almost like a son to us both!" Lilly cried, tears coming to her eyes.
James got up and kissed her on the forehead. "I'm sorry, I'll go and try to find him," James smiled and headed up the stairs.
"Derek!!" Sirius yelled from up stairs at Derek who had mounted his horse and was preparing to leave. Sirius growled and ran out the door after Derek. Remus and Dumbledore both hid so the surprise of them being there would not be ruined. James entered the room and read the warning. "Don't make me hurt you!" Sirius barked; making Remus cast him a warning look as he closed the door. Sirius received the look, but charged out the door anyway.
"They'll close the academy...We've got to learn to listen to the news more often," James said in an effort to calm Lilly.
"Derek is out side, he refuses to come in until I apologize to Cota," Sirius announced as he came in the front door. "He also says he's not waiting anymore."
"Such a patient lad" James sighed and opened the door. He ran over to Derek as the wind kicked up. "Derek, come inside. It would be suicide to go now," he informed the young student.
"What about Cota?" Derek yelled; he had to yell so his voice would carry over the increasingly loud sound of the approaching storm.
"He's smart he'll go somewhere and wait it out," James explained.
Derek shook his head; what if there was no shelter? He wasn't ready to just sit it out when his friend could be hurt. Derek pulled away from James and turned his horse in the direction Cota had left in.
"Come inside, Cota can see the cloud. He'll see it and find cover," James insisted.
The wind had picked up greatly and the cloud was nearly upon them. The storm raged like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum. The wind roared and let out a high pitched shrieking as it surrounded them. Snow and hail began to fall, one hit Derek on the arm and he started bleeding. James pulled Derek off the horse and instructed it to go to the barn.
"No Orion! Be still!" Derek said in an effort to get free and back onto his horse so he could go and find his best friend.
The horse was already scared by the storm and not as tame as Pat, so it ran into the barn heedless of what its owner said. James used his wand to close the barn door and lock it after Gyriph got in. Derek knew that there was no way to find Cota now.
"What about Cota!" He demanded.
"Hurry!" James called and pushed Derek toward the house. "We couldn't have beaten the storm. I'll send word to the academy that Cota is coming."
"What's going on? I though he was going to go find Cota?" Sirius asked as he peered out the window.
Lilly looked at the floor, she remembered how strange James had been acting lately; his job was beginning to affect him greatly. Sirius looked at her; he had also noticed the change. James seemed to have given up on their being any good left in the world. Voldermort had been at large almost 9 years now and the riders were always working. It was becoming hard on them all and that was why so many had turned so cold.
(part 2)
Cota was racing through the field when he felt the sudden cold burst of wind.
"Halt Pat," he instructed.
Pat stopped at the top of a hill and Cota scanned the horizon. He could feel the storm coming. The golden blond hair on the back of his neck pricked up and he got Goosebumps on his arms.
"It's alright, Pat. The storm shouldn't reach us for a while. Let's hurry to Remus's house," Cota instructed Pat.
They sped along the field and into a forest. Cota had this horrible feeling that something was wrong. He found the path in the forest and told Pat to keep his speed up. The path had been used recently and though the sudden weather alarmed Cota, he dismissed the feeling as just pent up energy. He thought about how great it was that Remus was willing to travel this far for his friend.
Cota had heard James talking about his days at Hogwarts many times and he loved every story. Remus, Peter, and Sirius had been planning the December meeting for a long time and Cota wasn't going to ruin it. He just needed to get two brooms a snitch and deliver a letter.
"Good thing I learned that shrinking spell. It will be easy to get the brooms and hide them from James," Cota told Pat, who snorted in agreement.
Cota was going as fast as he could, but the uneasy feeling of danger would not leave him. He made it through the forest and onto the mountain. Cota looked back and was astonished to see that the storm was now where they had been standing only forty minutes ago. He shook it off as nothing and continued on. Cota and Pat raced along the mountain path and reached the other side in about an hour. Cota saw the forest that lead to Remus's house and smiled.
"Not long now Pat," He promised. They slowed slightly and came to the forest. Cota saw strange marks on the trees; they looked like werewolf claw marks.
"It's alright Pat, the full moon has already passes. Thank God it's not October." Cota said and lead Pat past them.
Cota and Pat made it out of the forest, they were both thirsty and wishing they had stopped for a rest when they had the chance. Cota saw Remus's house, Pat, and him pushed themselves forward. When they arrived, Pat went and laid down in the shed; Cota shut the door to it so that Pat would stay warm. Cota then entered Remus's house and began the search for the broom. He stopped after ten minutes and filled a bucket with water; he went to the shed to give Pat the water.
Then he went back inside and fell onto the couch in exhaustion. It had been a long ride and he had been up since five thirty that the morning with early morning drills. As his eyelids became heavy, Cota gave in rested. His sleep was uneasy as the wing howled outside, but at allowed him the strength he needed to continue looking for the broom. He found some old books that were from Hogwarts, some smoke bombs, lemon drops that made the eater into a lemon for a few minutes, and a box titled Pandora.
Cota missed the friends he had known so well at his school. The teachers sometimes were not very good, but it taught the students to unite and they all learned skills that most schools didn't teach. He missed the days were he could just be a kid, playing games and joking. Now that he was a rider, he worried that he too might become cold just like some of the older ones.
Cota wanted to become a full-fledged Zagan Rider, but did not know if Lisa and Derek would still be his friends. Lisa wanted to be a professional healer and Derek wanted to be a hired Rider. Cota also wondered if they would become too busy for each other and grow apart; he hated the very idea of having to be alone. Cota saw that Remus was doing some reading on Defense against the Dark Arts. He had not gotten very far in the book and was also reading another called 'Unusual Creatures and How to defend against them" what was with all this?
Cota found a note it read: If you're reading this and I don't know you get out of my house thief! If I know you, then welcome. I'm not here, of course, I went over to James and Lilly's house, but don't tell James that. If you are a thief then I thank you for coming, but you'll have to leave because you are being watched. Don't believe me? Go ahead, take something. I dare you.
Cota closed the letter and placed it back where he had found it.
"Remus, you never stop amusing me. Now where is your broom that you told me to get." Cota asked as he walked into the basement.
He looked on a workbench and saw a picture of Remus, Peter, Sirius, and James. He had seen the picture at Sirius's house before and James had one too. He took the photo out of the frame and read the familiar signing that was on the back: The unknown pranksters and quartet for life. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs.
Cota put the Picture back in its frame and continued his search. He finally found the broom and went to go get Pat. He opened the shed, shrunk the broom, and mounted Pat. Together they raced across the field on fresh energy and a new mission. Cota thought about what to add to the tree house as they jumped onto the path in the forest.
Lily and James weren't planning on having a baby yet, but the tree house was made so well that anyone could use it. It wasn't a playhouse, it was a real house. Cota had always loved building things. When he heard that Lilly wanted to add another room to the house, he and James set out to make a secret room. The room would be made in the open space between the upstairs and the down stairs floors.
There was a wall that you could see while coming down the stairs, Lilly had simply put a drapery over it, but now Cota had torn down the wall and saw that there was a lot of room behind it. It was a perfect space and James though they could turn it into another office; Cota pointed out that they already had three so the secret room became a guest room.
There was now a couch, a desk and a bed in the room. Lilly had decorated it with a Victorian theme and it made a great guest room. Cota had finished repairing the wall and you couldn't even tell that there was a room there. He also made it so that if a person climbed up onto the arch that connected the living room and front entranceway, they could enter a small hallway with windows.
The hallway wasn't completely covered and you could easily see someone who was in it from the living room and guest room so Cota made it into a balcony like thing. He was the only one that was able to climb the arch up to it so he made a small foot ramp up to it.
James thought it was great and Lilly loved the castle affect it gave off. Cota was proud of it and then moved all his building activities outside because, even though they did not say anything, James and Lilly were a bit annoyed with having to maneuver around his tools in order to get from one room to the next. James had prompted the idea of a tree house and Cota jumped at the opportunity. He was tired of just upgrading the stable. Cota had started building things when Lilly had told him that she thought the front path to the house was dull.
He suggested redoing the path and adding little things along the way like a pond and fountain or a garden. She told him that she'd love both, but didn't like the idea of someone she didn't know working on her house. When he told her that he would do it she told him that it wasn't his job and not to worry about it. Cota simply explained that he used to build stuff at his parents home all the time and enjoyed doing it.
Together they made a great entrance path complete with a fountain, pond, garden and three steps leading to the door. The steps were made of stone and even had a small wall for a railing. Cota made it through the forest and on to Hogwarts. He got it there after half an hour going as fast as he could, and taking a portal. Hagrid ran out to meet him. Hagrid loved the horses and though of them as human beings.
"Hello, Cota is it?" Hagrid asked.
Cota smiled. "I see you've talked to James lately."
"A few months ago. At the meetin'," Hagrid smiled and gave Pat some food he'd had waiting incase James stopped by.
"I came to ask you if you had a golden snitch," Cota explained.
"Ah, yes, let me get it," Hagrid said in a deep but friendly voice.
He went into the school after putting Pat in his house and getting Cota some tea. Hagrid new that if anyone at the school saw Cota they'd be all over him with questions and want to go for rides on his horse and want to hear storied about battle and his job. No one seemed to understand how hard it is to be a Rider. It's a lonely life and he still thought that they took the students at too young an age. He knew that most Riders became mean because there job was hard emotionally and physically.
Once someone became a full fledged Rider they had to go on extremely dangerous missions and were hardly ever seen because they were hired by top authority figures and were also defending everyone from the dangers that most of the population didn't even know about.
Hagrid felt sorry for Cota, if he became a full fledged Rider he would have to be alone a lot. Hagrid was glad that Dumbledore had taken him in to work at the school, he hoped that if Cota ever began to grow cold and mean that someone would be there to help him. Hagrid saw the seeker for the Hufflepuff team.
"'ello," Hagrid greeted.
"Oh, hey Hagrid. What can I do for you?" The seeker asked.
"Yeh, got a snitch I can borrow?" Hagrid asked.
"Sure, I'll go and get one"
Hagrid sat down and waited for the student to return. When he did Hagrid thanked him and told him he'd give it back in a few days.
"Nah, take it. It's to fast. One of my friends tweaked it," the student replied.
"Shouldn't be a problem for James," Hagrid smiled and went down to the kitchen to get Cota some of the food that they were preparing for dinner.
Hagrid brought some food to Cota, after apologizing for not having anything ready himself.
"Oh, thank you. I had forgotten that I hadn't even had lunch," Cota said gratefully.
Hagrid told Cota all about his new pet and Cota nodded enthusiastically through the entire story. Hagrid like being able to talk to someone and not have them exchange glances behind his back or give fake smiles. Cota remained polite no matter what and didn't even begin to falter once. Hagrid received an owl warning him of the storm as Cota prepared to leave.
"Wait lad," Hagrid called out after him as Cota mounted Pat. "I get this letter sayin' that a bad storm's a coming. Maybe you should wait," He warned.
"I can't. Remus, Sirius, Peter and Dumbledore are waiting to surprise Lord James back at the house. I'll take the mountain path and make it through the plains toward the academy then I'll head home," Cota promised Hagid and set out at a gallop.
The wind was howling loudly and it began to snow before long. Cota and Pat trudged forward through the haunted forest and then towards the mountain he needed to cross.
"Quick Pat lets get to the academy!" Cota yelled over the horrible sound of the storm.
Pat charged up to the mountain path and quickly they were lost. The path was covered in three feet of snow. Cota got off Pat and felt through the snow for the path. He couldn't feel it. He tried to push aside his fear and trudge on. The trees groaned as they were being pulled and pushed by the wind. Crackling could be heard loudly as the trees fell. Cota lead Pat and walked along side him.
The wind tore at the pair and Cota had to put all his weight forward in order to move. It seemed that whatever direction he headed towards, the wind moved to push him back. Cota knew the horse would be better off heading back to Remus's house. He saw a cave big enough for him to get into and turned to Pat.
"Patrick! Listen to me. You have to go back to Remus's house! Don't worry about me alright? Just go there and take cover from the storm. I'm going to stay here until I can continue on. Go to the academy as soon as the storm clears alright!" Cota instructed Pat, yelling to be heard over the wind.
Pat neighed in protest; he didn't want to leave his master. "Go!" Cota ordered. Pat followed his order reluctantly and headed for Remus's house.
Cota shivered in the back of the cave as the storm reeked its havoc. He waited in the cold for hours praying it would be over soon. The storm let up and Cota took the opportunity to go. He ran up what he thought was the path and found that he was deeply lost. He stared up at the sky.
"No," he whispered in a horrified gasp.
'I'm a fool' Cota thought. 'This is the silence before the storm' his mind screamed at him. He no longer had any shelter and this storm would kill him for sure. He looked back at the sky. 'I have to get to the academy, this letter is very important to James and I'm not going to ruin his surprise!' Cota said to himself and began to run again.
He ran a mile when a wall of snow, hail and fierce winds rammed him. He couldn't breath as it beat him to the ground and he struggled to keep moving. He had Sirius's broom and Remus's and the snitch now all he had to do was get to the academy then home.
Cota dragged himself through the snow and finally pushed himself up and walked against the wind. It was torture and he was freezing. He got hit by a tree as it flew past him and fell to the ground. He was lost and freezing and now he was bleeding. Cota stood up again and trudged on, he did this for an hour then he couldn't go on anymore. He felt himself fall forward. 'This is it. I'm going to die' Cota thought as the world went black and he fell, but something stopped his fall, he felt someone grab him.
The person began hauling him forward; they trudged through the snow until both of them were exhausted. Cota heard a familiar neigh and the other person reached out and grabbed Pat's saddle. The horse fought against the storm and four foot high snow, toward a mansion, pulling the two people along.
When they arrived Cota and the other person collapsed. Someone came out of the house and called two other people. The first man grabbed the person who had rescued Cota and the second grabbed Cota; the third person grabbed Pat and brought him to a barn where he could rest.
Eve: Now for the bumper stickers!
Mike: We're not going to do commentary about the story?
Eve: ... it's pretty straight forward.
Mike: 'Lright, Bumper stickers.
A Day Without Sunshine Is Like, You Know, Night
A fool and his money are a girl's best friend.
A nuclear war can ruin your whole day.
A Waist Is a Terrible Thing to Mind
According to my best recollection, I don't remember.
Alcohol and calculus don't mix. Never drink and derive.
All my drinking buddies have a racing problem.
All those who believe in psychokinesis raise my hand.
Eve: As Long As There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer In Public Schools.
Be nice, society already sucks.
Beam me up Jesus.
Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder...
Beer: The Reason I Get Up Each Afternoon
Believe in Darwin; cancer cures smoking.
Boldly Going Nowhere
Bill Clinton 89% Fact Free
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Can't Feed 'Em! Don't Breed Em'!
CAUTION! I drive like you do!
Caution: I brake for no apparent reason.
Cole's Law: Thinly Sliced Cabbage
Confidence is the feeling you have before you understand the situation.
Mike: They're alphabetical.
Eve: Yep!
Mike: They'll know we're reading scripts.
Eve: No really? I thought they'd think we thought of ALLLLLLLLLLLLL these by ourselves.
Mike:... shut up.
Cover Me I'm Changing Lanes
Don't drink to drown your sorrow. Sorrow knows how to swim.
Earth Is The Insane Asylum For The Universe
Sarah: I'm here too!
Eve: Then say something! Put on a microphone, don't just stare at me.
Sarah: Ah!
Mike: What... oh.... This is Mike's head set.
Eve: ...So, switch.
Mike: There we go.
Sarah: Gimmi a script.
Editing Is A Rewording Activity
Energizer Bunny Arrested; Charged With Battery
ESCHEW OBFUSCATION. (means avoid confusion/overcomplication)
Faster than a speeding ticket.
Few women admit their age, few men act it
Forget about World Peace...Visualize Using Your Turn Signal!
God gave man a brain and a penis and only enough blood to operate one at a time.
Graduate quickly, millions on welfare depend on you.
Eve: I think that's enough for now. Reviewers Review.
