Brooklyn was lounging outside on a beautiful sunny day by the Black Lake, waiting for Harry to finish his exams and practicing his magic. Thankfully, McGonagall had softened up enough to pardon him from his punishment, and he was free again.
It came with the upside of the other Gryffindors realizing how mean they were and apologized, all the more reason he wanted to get outside more often now that nobody was teasing them anymore.
He had come to enjoy the beauty of daytime even more while he was stuck in this strange time and world, especially with the sunrises and sunsets, plus the coming of spring. He also enjoyed the warm spring air that always blew softly in his face whenever he went on his walks.
Brooklyn knew he needed to enjoy this privilege of being in his true gargoyle flesh and blood form by day as much as he can, before one day he would return home, whenever that would be.
He still hated Puck for doing this to him, but deep down, he couldn't help but to remember to thank the trickster later for helping him be able to have fun with all of this and connect with a part of his life that he had been missing.
He pulled up grass casually as he stared out at the water while sitting against a tree, wondering what his clan was doing right at this moment, when the surface rippled.
Eyes widening, Brooklyn recognized the creature emerging from the water, the famous Giant Squid.
The creature didn't look like it wanted to attack as it watched Brooklyn with curious eyes, almost similar to a human's. He gave the squid a small smile, and it let out a strange noise, that almost sounded like it was purring.
The squid reached out with one of its tentacles, but not in a threatening way. It was almost a greeting.
"Hey, there, just enjoying this beautiful day," Brooklyn greeted in a gentle tone, mixed between happiness and a little bit of homesickness, too, as he gently took the squid's tentacle. It gave a gentle crooning sound as it waved and sank back into the lake.
Brooklyn blinked a few times. Was I really talking to a giant squid? He thought, laughing softly inside as he shrugged and laid down on the grass, shutting his eyes as the twittering of birds comforted his soul like a hug. He really needed this.
A while later, the school bell rang and Brooklyn made his way back to the castle, thankful for another peaceful afternoon since the Forbidden Forest nightmare.
He caught up with his friends, who just finished their final exams.
"So... how'd it go?" he asked. Hermione answered first.
"I thought that Hogwarts end of year exams were frightful! But I found them to be quite enjoyable!"
Ron rolled his eyes. "Speak for yourself! I thought I was going to pass out during Potions!"
Brooklyn laughed at their different perspectives, but then, he noticed Harry was holding his hand over his scar, which seemed to be hurting him.
"Harry? Are you okay?" he asked in concern. His brother was wincing in pain.
"It's my scar. It's been like this all day!" he grunted.
"Perhaps you should see the nurse?" Ron suggested. Harry shook his head.
"No, I think it's a warning."
Brooklyn narrowed his eyes. "Well, whoever wants to mess with you will have to get through me first!" he proclaimed bravely. Harry smiled.
As they ventured through the field near Hagrid's house, Harry halted in his tracks, a sudden thought hitting his brain.
"What?" Ron asked.
Harry then turned towards Hagrid's house. "Don't you think it's a bit odd that what Hagrid wants more than anything is a dragon, and a stranger just suddenly turns up with an egg?"
Brooklyn stared. "You're not actually suggesting—" But Harry continued his way to Hagrid, who was sitting outside and having a drink.
He looked up at them and smiled. "Hello! Care for a glass o' dandelion juice?"
Ron was about to accept but Harry interrupted. "Hagrid, who gave you that dragon egg? What did he look like?"
Hagrid frowned. "Dunno, kept his hood up."
"But he must've asked you questions," Brooklyn persisted.
"Well, he asked what sort of creatures I looked after. I told him that after Fluffy, a dragon would be no problem! Got a bit hazy after a while, thoug'. Kept buyin' me drinks."
Brooklyn shook his head. In his mind, getting drunk was no idea of fun for him.
"I did tell him that the trick with any beast, especially Fluffy, is how to calm them. Just play Fluffy music and he falls asleep righ' away!" Hagrid suddenly added, much to the friends' horror, as they looked at each other in disbelief. Hagrid had just given away his big secret on how to get past Fluffy!
Hagrid then realized his mistake. "I shouldn' have told yeh that!" Without wasting time, Brooklyn, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all turned on their heels and ran back to the castle, ignoring Hagrid calling out to them.
They reached McGonagall's classroom, out of breath.
"Please! We need to see Dumbledore right away!" Brooklyn gasped, panic in his voice for what Hagrid had revealed. If it was Voldemort that had made Hagrid talk…
She looked quite affronted. "I'm afraid you just missed him. He received an owl from the Ministry of Magic and left immediately for London."
Brooklyn felt horror grip him like cold hands. With Dumbledore gone, things can go bad!
"Are you SERIOUS?!" He bellowed. "This is important! Somebody's gonna try to steal the Sorcerer's Stone tonight!"
McGonagall's face was filled with shock at what Brooklyn had said. "How did you—"
"That doesn't matter! There's a thief on the loose! Dumbledore shouldn't be gone at a time like this!" Brooklyn spat, eyes narrowed in anger, trying to make her see reason. Harry and the others were quite impressed with how he spoke.
But she simply gazed at them with a cold look.
"I don't know how you four found out about the stone, but I assure you that it is in good hands. Now why don't you go back out and enjoy this nice day."
They all left, crestfallen, with the exception of Brooklyn, who was furious beyond words that she refused to help them, and even began to question his own moments when he defended Snape. Was he really the one after all? He didn't know what to believe anymore.
He was snapped out of his moment with Hermione's scared voice.
"With Dumbledore gone—" she started to say. Brooklyn had desperation nagging his heart. If he was gone, he couldn't help Brooklyn figure out Puck's spell and send him home! That's when footsteps sounded behind them.
"Good afternoon." It was Snape, standing right behind Ron, who looked scared.
He surveyed them all with a look that could kill. If that's even possible! The gargoyle thought, standing in front of his friends, and staring right back at the Potions Master with an equal expression.
"Now what would three young Gryffindors and their gargoyle friend be doing inside on a day like this?"
Brooklyn continued to stare hard at Snape, folding his arms. "Nothing, Sir," he responded in a bold voice. Snape then gave him a smile that didn't look normal.
"Be careful, Gargoyle. People might think you were up to something." He then strode off with a sweep of his cloak that made him look like a vampire or an oversized bat.
Brooklyn then noticed the look in Harry's eyes. The look of determination and heroism. He knew it all too well.
"Harry, I know what you're thinking, and it's a bad idea. You already got in trouble last time!" Brooklyn commented in a serious tone, but Harry wouldn't hear any of it.
"It's the only way to stop Voldemort, Brooklyn! If he gets the stone, we're all lost! That's why we're going down the trapdoor tonight!"
Brooklyn gave a groan of annoyance as they went back to the common room. Yippee, another near death experience for me! He thought, dreading what would lie ahead for them. But if it meant making sure that Harry wouldn't get hurt fighting the evil dark wizard, so be it!
