This chapter is dedicated to Jason David Frank, aka, Tommy Oliver, aka, the greatest Power Ranger of all time. Rest in Power, Jason David Frank.
Chapter II
Tommy settled at the Thunderbird table the morning of the first day of classes. Students were scattered around, some devouring their breakfast and some conversing with friends. Tommy's hair shrouded his face as he joined the devouring breakfast group.
SLAM!
Tommy's head jerked up with a pancake hanging precariously from his mouth as a dozen books dropped on the table in front of him. Tommy cocked his head and began to read up the spines of the books. It read Elgar… and Elgar again… Elgar… and Elgar.
"Those are a lot of books about Professor Stallcup, Trini," he swallowed the pancake as the dark-haired girl poked her head around the stack.
"Who are you telling?" Zack interjected as he took a seat before Trini could speak. "Half of those books weren't even on our list." Trini's face went red as Billy came up from behind Zack, opening the book on top of the stack curiously.
Trini humphed. "I was just learning more about our professor," she said, shoving the stack aside and causing Billy to stumble into the bench. "Sorry, Billy. Anyways, you guys must not recall our last defense professor was You-Know-Who in disguise."
The guys glanced at each other sheepishly, realizing Trini did have a point. She rolled her eyes and changed the subject.
"Where's Jason?" She asked, looking pointedly at Tommy.
He shrugged. "Last I saw, he was still sleeping, and that was after throwing shoes at me because I tried to wake him."
"So that's why it felt like I got hit by a bludger this morning," Billy huffed, rubbing the side of his head. Tommy just grimaced apologetically as Trini patted Billy's shoulder.
"Yeah, I didn't say his aim was good half-asleep," Tommy said, and they laughed. Just then, Dulcea walked up to them with their schedules in hand.
"Here you are," the head of Thunderbird house passed them each their individual schedules. "Make sure you make your way to Professor Stallcup's class promptly."
"Yes!" Trini squealed with a jump as she received her schedule. All nearby eyes turned to look at her strangely. "Oh, it's just we have Defense Against the Dark Arts first, and, um, Double Potions as well."
It was obvious she added the last part as an afterthought, but it caused the boys to look at their schedules incredulously. Dulcea chuckled and walked away.
"Double Potions with Deker!" Zack whined. "What did we do to deserve this!"
Billy shuddered. "I'm already getting nightmares."
Tommy laughed as they overreacted, though he would admit that seeing a double with Deker did make his stomach twist in knots. Especially after they had wrongfully accused him of trying to steal the Electrica Coin the past year. Deker was bound to have some hard feelings about that, and Tommy feared he would receive the worst of the potion master's wrath.
Tommy pushed those thoughts away when he noticed Kimberly walk in the Great Hall with her friend with the braids. He learned her name was Aisha from his roommate, Rocky. Seeing them reminded Tommy that he still needed to congratulate Kim on getting into Thunderbird. He remembered how nervous she'd been about that from the other night.
Tommy thought it would be helpful to wish her luck before her first class at Ilvermorny, and as they neared him, he opened his mouth to get Kimberly's attention. But then, a grinning boy appeared in front of him, suddenly blocking his view.
"Gosh! You're Thomas Oliver!" The boy exclaimed. He was short with brown hair that hung past his ears. He was obviously a first year Horned Serpent, which Tommy could tell from the blue accents on his robes, and the fact he'd never seen him before. The boy exuberantly reached out and shook an unwilling Tommy's hand.
"It's just Tommy," Tommy said, furrowing his brow and gazing confusingly at the random boy. His chance to speak to Kim was gone as she and Aisha passed him. "Um, who are you?"
"I'm Justin, Justin Stewart, and you're Thomas Oliver!" Justin smiled, continuing to shake his hand fervently. "Gosh, I'm so sorry! I meant Tommy Oliver, sir. I'm such a big fan! Can I have your autograph?"
"Sure…" Tommy finally pulled his hand back with some struggle, feeling flustered as Justin talked at him a mile a minute. Tommy began to pat his pockets as his cheeks burned red, glancing at his friends pleadingly to end his embarrassment. They just sat and watched on amusedly. Tommy exhaled and stood up abruptly.
"Er, I don't seem to have any parchment and quill on me, Justin," he grabbed his shoulder bag with his school items. A quill fell out, and he quickly grabbed and stuffed it back into the bag. "Come see me after classes, and I'll see about that autograph, yeah?"
Justin opened his mouth to respond, but Tommy was already striding towards the exit. "See you around, Justin!" he called back, hurrying away before any other first years approached him.
~o0o~
Tommy felt bad leaving Justin Stewart hanging the way he did, but in the moment, he didn't really know what to do.
Last year, there was a period where he had to deal with fans, but eventually everyone had become used to him. Frankly, Tommy had even forgotten he was 'famous' for a while. Unfortunately, Justin Stewart had just given him the sore reminder that it was a new year with new students who had never met him.
An agitated Tommy entered Defense Against the Dark Arts for his first class of the day with Professor Elgar Stallcup. Immediately, he noticed how different it was from his first year. Professor Finster typically kept his class barren of decorations. Tommy figured that was probably because Zedd could care less about something simple like a color scheme. Professor Stallcup, on the other hand, had taken the liberty of designing to his heart's content.
The class was drowned in red and blue tones, and there were practically a million portraits of Elgar hanging from the walls. Portraits of Elgar making cute poses, smoldering poses, suggestive poses, and the like. There were also portraits of Elgar holding babies, throwing flowers, and riding bikes.
Tommy's eyes darted around in slight distaste as he found a seat. He pulled out his school books from his sack, face scrunching as he glanced down at Professor Stallcup pointing and winking up at him from the cover.
"Why does it look like a unicorn puked up cotton candy in here?" Jason slumped into the seat beside him. Tommy snorted at the vivid image as Jason crumpled his nose as if he could smell the aroma. "By the way, thanks for letting me sleep in, bro," Jason said sarcastically.
"Hey, I tried to wake you. Got the bruise to prove it." Tommy pulled down the shoulder of his robe to display the purpling bruise from Jason's shoe.
"Eeesh, my bad," Jason grimaced. Tommy shook his head and chuckled.
Around them, commotion filled the room as second years from all houses started to file in. Many stared around in wonder as they took their seats. Trini took a seat beside Tommy as Billy and Zack sat at the table in front of them. The three of them gave Tommy apologetic glances for what happened at breakfast. Tommy just shrugged it off and opened his mouth to ask what happened with Justin after he left. However, he didn't get a chance to finish his question when the lanterns around them suddenly dimmed, surrounding them in darkness.
"Ladies and gentlemen," everyone jolted as Professor Stallcup's voice sounded from the front of the classroom. But soon the room filled with confusion as the professor was nowhere to be found. "You have been graced with the presence of – Sir Elgar Stallcup!"
The lanterns flared bright as Professor Stallcup appeared standing on top of his desk with a woosh, a red cape flowing magically behind him. "Also known as Elgar the Magnificent! Tamer of wild beasts, Savior of helpless children, and Destroyer of dark wiz-AH!"
Elgar went to swish his cape and precariously twisted his leg into the fabric. Down hard from the desk he went as gasps filled the classroom. Everyone sat up to get a glance at Elgar Stallcup trapped and struggling out of his cape on the ground.
"Owie!" Professor Stallcup cried, "Get off me you stupid cape!" He unclasped it from his neck and threw it away with an exasperated huff. Elgar stood and brushed the dirt off his fancy robes. His frown swiftly flipped into a Cheshire grin as he turned to face them.
"Destroyer of Dark Wizards!" Elgar repeated, pompously thrusting his arms into the air. Trini squealed, and Tommy and Jason glanced at her as if she'd lost her marbles. "Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts!"
Raucous applause filled the room as Elgar bowed in a dramatic flair. Tommy clapped weakly just because he felt like he had to.
"Now, now!" Elgar laughed, actually having the gall to be sheepish from the praise. "Yes, I know many of you are excited to be in the presence of someone as illustrious and magnificent as I." Professor Stallcup raised his left hand in a quieting motion, and that's when Tommy noticed there was something extremely off about it.
Elgar's hand was not real.
Tommy squinted to get a better look, and he was indeed right. Where his wrist and hand should've been, instead the defense professor had a flesh-like prosthetic. Really, the only clue that it wasn't a typical hand was the metal piece in the middle of his palm.
"Professor?" Zack must have realized this as well. "What happened to your hand?"
All of the lagging applause died away. A brief look of embarrassment crossed Elgar's face, but he quickly replaced it with a triumphant grin.
"This, Mr.…?"
"Taylor, sir," Zack said. "Zack Taylor."
"Yes, well, Mr. Taylor, this is one of the many tokens received from my adventures," Elgar said, lifting his hand to his eyes. "I owe this one particularly to a very vicious Chimera. Does anyone know what a Chimera is?"
A few hands shot up from the other houses, but not as high and swift as Trini's. Elgar pointed at her with a grin.
"Yes, and you are?"
"Trini Kwan," the black-haired girl said eagerly. "A Chimera is a creature with a head of a lion, a body of a goat, and the tail of a serpent. We can read about your encounter with it in book–"
"Book three: Adventures in Anatolia," Elgar interjected, immensely pleased with her answer. "Extraordinary work, Miss Kwan. Ten points to Thunderbird."
Trini blushed profusely from his praise, as other students grumbled in envy.
"Now onto our first lesson," Elgar got straight to it. "I have something special planned for today." The defense professor walked up to his desk whilst retrieving his wand. He lifted what seemed to be a draped cage onto his desk and banished the cloth away with a wave of his wand. Gasps filled the room as Elgar unveiled a cage filled with what can only be described as abnormally large red ants. Tommy traded nervous glances with his friends as Elgar looked at them gleefully.
"These are Boule Foumi. Fire-breathing ants native to an isolated wizarding tribe in the West Indies. I was rewarded this colony after saving them from total annihilation," said Elgar. "Which we'll cover in our first book, and you'll truly see how magnificent I was."
"Humble much?" Jason snorted under his breath, and Tommy snickered. He let out a pained grunt as Trini subsequently elbowed him in the ribs. This had the unfortunate effect of drawing Professor Stallcup's attention towards them. Tommy murmured a curse as Elgar's beady eyes at once locked onto him.
"Thomas!" Tommy didn't think Elgar's grin could become any bigger, but alas it did as he strode toward the young Thunderbird. "Thomas Oliver!"
Tommy looked around embarrassingly as Elgar grabbed and began to shake his hand profusely. He could see some students, mostly from Wampus, giving him resentful glares, while others were just staring at him with pity.
"How wonderful to have someone almost as famous as me in my class this year," Elgar continued, clasping Tommy on the shoulder. "You must be thrilled to have me as your professor, am I right, Thomas?"
"Um… It's Tommy," Tommy said, glancing at Jason for help who just scooted his chair away inconspicuously. Trini was seemingly trying not to faint beside him from the close proximity of Elgar, so she wasn't any help either. Billy and Zack were too busy snickering at him behind Elgar's back. "Yes, pretty stoked, I guess," he said, removing his shoulder from Elgar's grasp.
"Fantastic!" Elgar clapped his hands together. "I tell you what, Tommy, how about you be my first volunteer of the year?"
"No, no…I couldn't…" Tommy begin to protest, preferring not to be fed to the proverbial wolves, or in this case, the fire-breathing ants that were clicking their pincers as puffs of fire left their mandibles.
"Nonsense!" Elgar all but dragged Tommy out of his chair and ushered him to the front of the room. "After all, wizards like you and I must show our prowess."
"Fat chance with the wimp," a voice that sounded distinctively like Terrance Mercer muttered from the area of Wampus students. Tommy flushed as they laughed, and if Professor Stallcup had heard the insult, he'd chosen to ignore it.
"Alright, Tommy," Elgar left him in front of the monster ants and placed a hand on the top of the cage. The Boule Foumi gathered anxiously at the front of the glass, clicking their pincers even faster before as they set their gazes on Tommy. "Wand at the ready."
Tommy's eyes widened as he realized Elgar had every intention of releasing the ants. "But, sir! You haven't taught me–"
"On three!" Elgar gripped the handle and began to remove the top. "One… two…"
Tommy hurriedly got his wand from his pocket, clenching it with fear as Elgar lifted the top higher and higher.
"Three!"
"Aguamenti!" Tommy thrust out his wand, saying the first spell that came to mind. A gust of water blasted from the end of his wand towards the opening of the ant cage. However, instead of the fire-breathing ants attacking him, they went after Elgar.
"Ahhh!" Elgar released a pitchy shriek as the Boule Foumi converged on him. It truly was utter chaos as the fire-breathing ants simultaneously bit at and burned Elgar who was swiping them away wildly. A particularly large one sent a big puff of fire toward Elgar's metal hand, and it began to spark and malfunction critically. Throughout this, Tommy was struggling to gain control over the geyser that was bursting out of his wand. In an attempt to help a screeching Elgar, he twisted his wand around, dousing the first row of students as he directed it towards the professor.
Screams filled the room as the pressure of the water flung many of the fire-breathing ants aside, and the ants went after the students. He kept the stream on Elgar until all of the ants had been blasted away from the professor. Tommy was surprised when the moment Elgar was free, he dropped his wand and ran away from the fire-breathing ants, jumping on top of a table in the back of the room, shouting "Leave me alone, you beasts!"
Tommy couldn't believe his eyes, and he was at a loss for what to do. Around him, many of the students had taken a page out of his book and employed the water-making spell which had turned the defense classroom into an indoor lake. Others instead had followed Elgar's lead and were huddling on tables, some using chairs to fend off the ants. This went on for several moments before finally Corcus and Dulcea burst into the room followed by a frantic Trini. She was seemingly the only one who had the presence of mind to go get help.
Corcus was quickly able to herd the ants back into their cages while Dulcea dealt with the overwrought students and the water that was flooding the room. Elgar attempted to help both professors, but he was rebutted and delegated to standing in the corner like a child while they cleaned up his mess. Tommy finally stopped the spell on his own and went to stand with his friends as they watched on, all thinking the same thing. Some first class of the year this was.
~o0o~
Tommy was relieved that the remaining of his classes that day weren't as eventful, or as mortifying, as Professor Stallcup's. Of course, Double Potions with Deker and the Wampuses were a living hell, but that was nothing less than he expected. Deker still hated him, and Terrance Mercer was still a pain in the you-know-what.
When Tommy got back to Thunderbird Tower after his last class, he was surprised to see a huge crowd gathered around a poster board.
"I wonder what's going on," he murmured to himself. He spied his friend, Rocky, struggling out of the crowd and got his attention. "Hey Rocko, what's going on?"
"Oh, hey, Tommy," Rocky grinned and gestured behind him. "A notice about the dueling club just got posted. First meeting at the end of the week."
Excitement lanced through Tommy at this, and he pushed through the crowd to see for himself. He shrugged off glares and elbows to get a glance at the posting and was happy to see Rocky was indeed right. The first and second years had their first dueling club meeting together on Saturday morning.
Tommy was pretty eager for the dueling club, he'd admit. Yes, it had Deker and Elgar as the teachers, two people who made him want to hide behind a statue for different reasons. He knew he could tough it out, though, to learn how to duel.
The rest of the week flew by painstakingly slowly with the anticipation of the first dueling club. When the day finally arrived, it was strange seeing Thunderbird house up and alive with excitement in the wee hours of the morning on a weekend. Tommy met up with his friends, and they chattered fervently as they made their way to the Great Hall.
The dining tables were all pushed to the side, and a vast platform stretched across the middle of the hall. First and second years from the other houses were already gathered around, some listening to a grinning Elgar who was no doubt bragging about himself. Professor Deker stood a few feet away from him with his normal sneer.
Tommy saw Mercer looking around arrogantly boastful with his Wampus goons, Squatt and Baboo. As if he had already declared himself the best duelist in their year. Jason rolled his eyes beside Tommy, muttering something about "showing that pompous jerk." Tommy only laughed, pushing him along to the platform with their friends.
"Welcome, young ones!" Elgar began, and the chatter quieted as they turned their attention to him. "Welcome to the first of many more meetings of Ilvermorny's first dueling club!"
He paused as everyone clapped excitedly. "I'm happy to teach you all my wondrous magic. Which of course has allowed me to become the greatest wizard alive."
Tommy snorted. "I'm pretty sure that's Zordon," he said, and his friends chuckled.
"I've been joined by Professor Deker," Elgar continued, gesturing to the potions master, who was glowering as if someone had shoved a spoiled apple up his nose.
"Professor Deker here has been so kind as to be my assistant for the club," Elgar laughed, charmingly sending a wink. Tommy shook his head when he saw Trini and a few others soaking it right up. He wondered how they could just ignore the obvious cone shape of Elgar's head, or the fact that he was probably a fraud, but Tommy guessed when you're rich and famous, looks and skill didn''t really matter.
Deker scowled and stepped forward. "How about a demonstration before we get started, Elgar?"
"Of course!" The twinkle in Elgar's eye dimmed slightly at this. He cleared his throat. "Of course. I think it'll be wonderful to show my mastery. Oh, and yours as well, I suppose." It was obvious Elgar added that last tidbit as an afterthought.
"Shall we?" He said, and Deker swept past him distastefully, his robes slapping Elgar in the face.
"Listen closely, brats," Deker addressed them. "A duel is a fight to the death between two wizards."
"But," he briskly added when they began to clamor nervously. "We have modified the rules so there will be no maiming or slaying today."
"Today?" Zack whispered.
"Mr. Taylor! Be quiet when your superiors are speaking," Deker scolded Zack who cowered back in surprise.
"As I was saying," Deker continued as Tommy patted Zack's shoulder. "To begin a duel, a wizard first must stand face to face with his opponent while brandishing his wand, and bow." Deker did so with Elgar.
"Next," Elgar took over. "Turn away from your opponent and take ten steps," The two of them stepped away from each other. "Turn..."
"And duel – Expelliarmus!" Elgar twisted around before Deker could take his last step and casted the disarming charm. Deker's wand flew out of his hand and into the metal one of Elgar's. Cheers went through the room as Deker stormed forward and snatched back his wand.
Deker sneered. "That's one of three ways to gain a point, and three points must be gained to win the match." Deker and Elgar faced each other again.
"You can disarm your opponent as Professor Stallcup just demonstrated." They bowed again and began to take their ten steps away. "The second way is to land a direct hit on your opponent."
On the ninth step, Elgar twisted early again, sending a jinx toward Deker.
"Protego!" The potions master waved his non-wand hand behind him, deflecting the jinx before using his wand to send the tickling charm the same moment he turned. Elgar fell down with giggles as Deker smirked amusedly.
"The third and final way," Deker canceled the hex and helped Elgar up. "Is to knock your opponent down and ensure they can't get back up."
Deker and Elgar bowed again and took their steps away. Predictably, Elgar shot first again on an early step, but this time instead of one spell, he sent a barrage of spells towards Deker. Deker raised his brows as he twisted and swiftly started to deflect and dodge the onslaught. It was all happening so quickly that it was hard for the students to keep up.
It seemed as if Elgar was winning just from the fast-flying colors alone. Through the blur, however, Tommy was just able to make out Deker deflecting every blast effortlessly. And with every deflection, Deker seemingly took an assertive step forward until he landed in front of a shocked Elgar.
"Surprise," Deker grabbed Elgar's human hand and used his palm to strike Elgar's wrist. A yellow blast left as he made contact, causing Elgar's arm to seize up and his wand to slip from his fingers. Deker tucked his wand as he released Elgar's wrist. He formed fists, striking Elgar in the chest one… two... three… four times, yellow blasts leaving his knuckles and slamming into Elgar with each punch. Deker then went into a flying kick, sending a blast mid-air that traveled through his leg as he struck the defense professor in the side. Elgar fell to the ground and held his hands up pleadingly as Deker went for a final blow.
"Yield!" Elgar cried. "I yield."
Below the platform, Tommy and Jason looked at each other with wide eyes, thinking the same thing. Deker knew karate, and not just regular karate, magic karate.
"Wicked…" Jason murmured, and Tommy had to agree. He knew he had to find a way to learn how to fight like that.
On the platform, Elgar was brushing off his robes. "Great demonstration, Professor Deker," he said, hands lingering at his chest where Deker had struck him. "Of course, I only let you win so as to not embarrass you in front of your students."
"Of course you did," Deker smirked. "Wouldn't think it would be for any other reason."
Elgar frowned slightly before shaking it off and addressing the students. "Alrighty, I think it's your turn, yes?" The students cheered as excitement filled each and every one of them.
"Shall we each pick a champion, professor?" Elgar asked Deker who nodded assuredly. Elgar grinned as his eyes began to dart through the crowd of eager students. His eyes landed on Tommy, and the young Thunderbird cursed under his breath. Why must it always be him?
"I think I'll choose…" Elgar rubbed his hands together. "Tommy Oliver! Get up here."
Tommy glanced at his friends nervously as he went around to climb onto the platform. He gulped as he met Professor Deker's cold stare. The potions master eyed him before fingering his chin.
"Intriguing choice, Elgar," Deker mused, finally looking away. His eyes predictably went to the group of Wampus students.
"Mercer," he called. Terrance Mercer grinned as Wampus cheered and pushed him to the platform. Tommy swore again under his breath. Mercer gave him a conniving smirk as he climbed and went to stand beside Deker.
"Alright boys, remember," said Elgar. "No maiming allowed."
"But do make it interesting," Deker added, directed more at Mercer. Tommy was pretty sure Deker was hoping Mercer did hurt him.
"Face each other…" Tommy brandished his wand and met Mercer's eyes. Mercer looked smug as if he'd already planned how he would celebrate his victory. Tommy took a deep breath, the nerves of his stomach rolling around in circles.
"Bow…" His eyes never left Mercer's as they leaned forward.
"Prepare to be fish meat, Oliver," Mercer whispered with a gleam in his eyes.
"You wish, Mercer," he said, trying not to let him get under his skin.
"Turn and take ten steps," said Deker. Tommy and Mercer twisted away and began to walk. Tommy tried to think of the perfect spell with each step. He knew he couldn't just wingardium leviosa Mercer into submission.
At his tenth step, he twisted and raised his wand. His lips began to form a spell but Mercer got his spell off first.
"Flipendo!" Mercer yelled, sending a blast that knocked Tommy back to the edge of the platform. Laughter rose from the Wampus house as he fell to the ground.
"Point, Mercer," Deker said with a satisfied smirk.
Tommy hastily pushed himself up and raised his wand. "Rictusempra!" he sent the tickling charm hurling towards Mercer – it being the only one he could think of at the moment. The charm struck Mercer who clutched his stomach and fell down with giggles.
"Got something to laugh about now, Smitty?" Tommy teased, and Mercer glared at him through the forced guffaws. He used his wand to cancel the charm and get to his feet.
"Point, Oliver," Elgar said gleefully. "The score is tied.
"I'll show you, Oliver. Diffindo!" Mercer shouted the severing charm. Tommy's eyes widened. He ducked as the spell flew over his head, taking a few strands of his hair with it.
"Hey now, I said no maiming!" Elgar called. Deker just watched on with an infuriating smirk on his lips.
Tommy set his jaw and raised his wand again. "Expelliarmus!" The spell hit Mercer, sending him and his wand flying through the air. The onlooking students oohed as Mercer landed precariously hard on his back.
"Point, Oliver," Deker muttered bitterly. The potions master grabbed Mercer by the nape of his neck and pulled him to his feet. He bent and whispered into Mercer's ear. Tommy glanced at his friends, and they sent him a thumbs up in encouragement. One more point and he would win.
"Let's reset," Deker said, shoving Mercer to the middle of the platform. They brandished their wands and bowed again.
"Looks like little Smitty's going to lose," Tommy taunted.
Mercer glared murderously at him. "We'll see about that, Oliver."
They turned and began to take their steps away. This time when they faced each other, neither shot off the first spell. Instead, the two second years surveyed each other. Mercer's eyes darted towards Deker, and Tommy thought he saw the potions master give Mercer an imperceptible nod.
"Serpensortia!" Mercer yelled, and everyone gasped as a huge colorful snake left his wand. It raised its head and focused on Tommy. Everyone held their breath as it began to slither towards him. Tommy backed away as he tried to desperately come up with a spell to fight off the snake. Over the snake, he could see Mercer and Deker both sporting similar smirks, and Elgar holding his wand as if preparing to step in.
"Diffindo!" He tried, but the severing charm didn't do any damage to the conjured creature. Instead, the snake recoiled and hissed at Tommy. It approached him more angrily.
"Flipendo!" Tommy shouted, pouring all of his power into the spell to blast the snake away. The spell sent its curling body flying straight off the platform and right into the crowd of students.
Tommy swore as it landed in front of a group of first-year Horned Serpents, and they immediately began to scream in terror. He saw the snake turn its head and lock onto a trembling Justin Stewart. Tommy quickly jumped off the platform as it began to stalk him.
Tommy knew he would hate himself if the snake attacked a defenseless Justin just because he blasted it that way. He shoved his way through the crowd, feeling a weird sensation of his wand burning in his hand as he made his way to Justin. He broke through the circle that had formed around the horror-stricken first-year and the snake just in the nick of time.
The snake snapped its fangs at Justin, and Tommy briskly dropped his burning wand to do the first thing that came to mind. He grabbed the snake around its neck, halting the creature mere inches from Justin's scrunched face. The snake let out an unnatural and guttural hiss as a bright light began to blast from Tommy's hands. The snake started to glow and burn and disintegrate right before their eyes.
"Out of the way!" Elgar's voice surfaced. He pushed his way into the circle. "Students, out of the way so I can save…" Elgar trailed off as he took notice of the situation.
Tommy stood in front of Justin, hands still outstretched with ashes slipping through his fingers. He peered at the white light dissipating from his palms baffled. His eyes met Justin's over his hands, and Tommy felt awful as he saw the boy terribly shaken up.
"Was t-this because I asked for your autograph?" Justin sniffed. "You-you wanted to hurt me!"
"No, no! I…" Tommy looked around the circle to see everyone staring at him as if he'd gained three heads.
As if he was a freak.
"I'm sorry," he said, before bolting through the crowd and out of the Great Hall.
Tommy ran up the grand staircase without a destination in mind. He just climbed and climbed wherever the stairs moved and took him, emotions running rampant, his heart palpitating in time with each step. When he finally ran out of stairs, Tommy collapsed against a wall in a deserted corridor, breathing heavily as he buried his head into his hands, his intrusive thoughts bombarding him.
"Why did I do that?" He thought.
"Is there something wrong with me? Am I evil?" Tommy clutched at his fallen hair.
"I'm evil! I almost hurt Justin!"
"Are you okay?" Tommy was startled as a voice interrupted his train of thought.
"Kimberly," he breathed. He noticed the wetness of his face and hastily reached up to wipe it away. "Oh, um…hey." Tommy stood, feeling awkward that she caught him in such a predicament. "I was just…"
"You don't have to explain anything," Kim interjected with a soft smile. "Unless you want to talk about it?"
"I …" Tommy trailed off, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm pretty sure you saw it for yourself." He slid and slumped back down against the wall. "I'm a horrible person."
Kimberly sighed and dropped her knapsack, taking a seat beside him. "I assume something happened at the dueling club?"
Tommy nodded before pausing and scrunching his brows. "Wait, you weren't there?"
Kim shook her head. "No, I had to…"
She paused and frowned as if trying to figure out exactly what she had to do. She shrugged. "I guess I just wanted to explore Ilvermorny more."
"That makes sense. It's a big castle," Tommy said with a sad quirk of his lip. "I've actually been meaning to catch up with you. You know, to see how your first week's going."
"Really?" Kimberly questioned, and a small blush stained her cheeks. "Why? Jason hasn't even talked to me since home."
"Well, you're my friend, and I remember how I felt my first week. So I wanted to help," Tommy said sheepishly. "Also, Jason's head is too big to think of anyone but himself, so not surprised there…"
Kimberly snorted, and they began to laugh. With each chuckle, Tommy could feel himself becoming more at ease, his jarring emotions slowly dissipating.
"You're not," Kimberly said when their laughter finally simmered away.
"Hmm?" Tommy asked.
Kimberly turned to him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You're not a horrible person, Tommy," she said with a small smile. "I know that for a fact, or you wouldn't have defended me this summer, or checked up on me just then. You wouldn't have saved Ilvermorny last year."
Kimberly used his shoulder to push to her feet and bent to grab her knapsack. "Remember that next time you feel this way, okay?" she said.
Tommy nodded, promising her he would. He peered up at her. "Where are you about to head to?" He asked. A part of him wanted Kimberly to stay, but he figured he couldn't hold her here with his problems any longer.
"I have to meet my friend, Aisha. We're going to the library for some studying," she said, another blush rose as she chewed her lip. "You can come if you want?"
Tommy strongly considered it, but ultimately he didn't think he was ready to face everyone yet after what he did to Justin.
"Maybe next time," he said, shaking his head. "I think I'll take some time to gather myself some more."
"Okay, well, if you wanna talk some more. Catch you on the flip side?" she asked, already walking towards the stairs. Tommy smiled as he remembered that was the same goodbye Kimberly gave him when they'd first met at the train station.
"I will, and Kim?" Tommy called. "Thanks."
The youngest Hart smiled and sent him a wave goodbye. As she turned and walked away, Tommy strangely thought he saw a glimmer of something pink flash in her eyes. He shrugged and jumped to his feet, chalking it up to a trick of the light.
It didn't occur to him at all that the last time he thought something was a trick of the light – it wasn't.
~o0o~
Tommy found himself wandering that one hall a long while after Kimberly left. He felt better, but he'd be lying if he said he still didn't feel terrible for almost hurting Justin. A part of him knew it was just an unfortunate circumstance that he'd blasted that snake at him, but another part of him wondered if it wasn't. What if a secret part of him wanted to hurt Justin because of the situation at breakfast earlier that week? What if it was the evil part of him? The part of him that the Sorting Hat wanted to put into Wampus? The part of him most like Lord Zedd?
In that moment, as Tommy paced to the end of the corridor, he wished Zordon had never told him about the guardians or his capacity to become a dark wizard.
Tommy felt like more than a freak.
He felt unnatural.
There wasn't much left that surprised him in the magical world, but the way his peers stared at him as snake ashes slipped through his fingers…Tommy knew that couldn't be normal.
Tommy sighed and rested his forehead on the cool wall in front of him. He placed his palm and heaved a deep breath. Not for the last time, he wished that he could just be ordinary. Why must he be the Only Survivor? Why must he have any parts with the secret society–group–clan–whatever the Guardians were? He just wanted to be a normal boy, a normal wizard.
He just wanted to be Tommy.
Tommy released another sigh and slowly pushed away from the wall. But, as he slid his hand away, a sudden warmth enveloped his fingertips. In the trail they left, tendrils of magic began to manifest, and the wall began to morph in front of his very eyes. Where at first there was a plain wall, now stood an arched wooden door with a shiny handle.
Tommy stepped back in surprise. His eyes darted around nervously, but he was the only occupant of the corridor still. Gingerly, he twisted the door handle and opened the door a smidge, enough to where he could peer through. It was dark inside, but at first glance, it seemed to be an interesting continuation of the corridor. There was only one way for him to know for sure.
Tommy glanced around again to assure himself he was alone before retrieving his wand from his pocket. Now, perhaps he shouldn't go into the dark secret corridor he knew nothing about alone, but if he wasn't meant to go inside, why did it open for him? Why did it materialize at his touch? It was with those reassurances that Tommy lit his wand and pushed his way inside.
It turns out the light of his wand was useless.
As soon as the wooden door closed behind him, lanterns began to light in time down the secret corridor in front of him. The lanterns were made in the image of serpents, with the burning fire that illuminated his path shining between the fangs of the heads that stretched towards the ceiling.
"Wow…" Tommy whispered, keeping his wand in front of him as he proceeded forward. The corridor seemed less a part of Ilvermorny and more of one that could only lead to something grand, something magnificent, with its long runner of carpet practically beckoning him to discover what may lie ahead. Just beyond the horizon, Tommy could make out what seemed to be the end of the corridor. He ambled towards it as his mind wondered about the many possibilities.
As Tommy neared the end, it became evident that the end of the corridor was not in fact, the end. Instead, he came across a diverging pathway. To his left, the corridor seemingly continued as is, but to his right…there was something different.
It was darker, colder, sinister. It was almost like staring into a black hole, as the serpent lanterns tapered off the further he tried to see. Tommy took a timid step in that direction, a burning curiosity urging him to find out what was hidden in its depths.
Then, a chill went down his spine as an ominous whisper began to reach his ears.
"Thomas…" it was calling him. "Thomas…"
Tommy jolted back as fright seeped into his bones. He didn't know what that path led to, but he knew it couldn't be anything good.
If this was a battle, a crossroads of sorts, between good and evil. Good is the side he wanted to be on. He wanted to be good.
Tommy headed down the path on his left.
This one appeared to be much tamer than the other, and Tommy was happy to see there was another door at the end. He opened this door less timid than the other, but immediately as a familiar man in uniform caught his eye, Tommy flung it shut. It was Lieutenant Stone, the no-nonsense librarian of Ilvermorny, which could only mean he had discovered a secret passageway to the library. Tommy wondered mindlessly just how he'd gotten from the top floor to the bottom, but he'd learned not to question magic anymore.
Tommy crept open the door a crack just to prove what he'd seen to be true. It was confirmed as he observed Lieutenant Stone barking at a group of Pukwudgie first years to be quiet or else he would do some things that Tommy didn't think he should repeat. A slight shudder went through him as he remembered all of his encounters with Lieutenant Stone during his first year. His friends and he had spent more than enough time in the library while they were researching the Electrica Coin, so they were well-versed with the librarian. So much that Lieutenant Stone had deemed Zack, Jason, and him as "insubordinate hooligans." Of course, it didn't help their case that Jason and Zack tended to roughhouse wherever they went, and Tommy normally went along for the ride.
Tommy recognized the section of the library the man stood menacingly in. It was the defensive magic section which he knew was directly parallel from…
"The restricted section…" Tommy breathed, cursing his luck as he realized his predicament. Even if he wanted to attempt sneaking out of the corridor into the restricted section, surely he'd be caught.
A stray thought occurred to him, and he facepalmed and pointed his wand at his wrist. "Finite Incantatem," Tommy whispered. With a woosh, the black gem of his invisibility morpher twinkled as it appeared. He turned the dial, and the familiar rush of magic overcame him as he became invisible.
Tommy held out his hands and was satisfied to see that they were no longer visible. He pushed the door gingerly as he snuck out. A grimace covered his face as the door – which turned out to be a cleverly hidden bookshelf – closed behind him with an uncharacteristically loud thump. Tommy tensed as Lieutenant Stone's head jolted over his way.
"Crap," he cursed under his breath as the librarian left the Pukwudgies to come investigate. Tommy's eyes darted around fervently for an escape route, but as the restricted section only had one entrance that also served as the exit, there weren't many options. He briefly considered going back into the secret corridor, but no doubt that would only draw attention to his position.
With Lieutenant Stone fastly approaching, Tommy decided to flatten himself against the bookshelf behind him, arms stretched as if a cross.
The librarian entered the restricted section, and as if sensing Tommy's presence, immediately headed his way. He came to a halt directly in front of the terrified second year, and Tommy held his breath tightly as fear began to twist through his stomach.
"Hmm," Lieutenant Stone's eyes searched around, seemingly scrutinizing every inch for anything out of place. Tommy stared up into the strict eyes of the librarian as they looked directly through him. His breath hitched on its own accord as Stone reached and pulled out the spine of a book right by Tommy's ear.
Out of the corner of his eye, Tommy could read the cover. Martial Magic: A Guide to Ninjetti by Dulcea Nathadian. Any other time, he would be amazed and curious about finding a book written by his transfiguration professor, especially one that was in the restricted section which meant it had to be good. But with the stern librarian mere inches from him, so close that Tommy could practically hear him breathing, he couldn't bring himself to feel anything other than fear. He hoped Lieutenant Stone couldn't hear his heart currently attempting to beat out of his chest.
Several charged moments passed as Lieutenant Stone fingered the book quietly and Tommy continued to hold his breath.
"I guess it was nothing," Lieutenant Stone finally said after what seemed like forever. The librarian nestled the book back into place before turning and stepping away.
Tommy released his breath with a gasp once Lieutenant Stone was well away from the restricted section. That was closer than he'd like.
Tommy remained invisible as he snuck out of the library, still reeling from his near encounter with trouble. Once out of the library, he dodged a few student stragglers and waited until he rounded the corner of an empty hall to deactivate his invisibility morpher.
But, he was so focused on hastily twisting the dial on his morpher before anyone could enter the hall with him, that he didn't notice the motionless body sprawled across the ground until he practically stumbled on top of it.
Tommy staggered back in shock as his eyes ran over the body, up to the hands frozen in the air, and finally to the blue eyes that stared up at the ceiling trapped in a state of fear.
"Justin!"
As I said at the beginning of the chapter, this chapter is dedicated to Jason David Frank. When I learned of his passing a week ago, I dove deep into writing this chapter as tribute to him. He really defined my childhood, and he will forever be missed. Everytime I write and read about Tommy, I will be doing so for him. RIP.
Thanks,
Gwynn J.
Ilvermorny Colors:
Thunderbird (Gryffindor) - Purple (Adventurers)
Wampus (Slytherin) - Orange (Warriors)
Horned Serpent (Ravenclaw) - Blue (Scholars)
Pukwudgie (Hufflepuff) - Green (Healers)