Teenage Detective

Mystery of the Dark Snow Village

Chapter 3

Cherry Blossom, Snow and Time Capsule

"The darts… their taken… but how?" said the baffled clueless priest as he gazed upon Elisa's body. Swiftly he went to the ropes and rung the bell.


"Wow, for a skinny boy, you sure do eat a lot," said Alin, amazed as Harry took a second plate of servings. They were eating in the motel's kitchen.

"Oh you haven't seen him when our friend's mother cooked especially for her dear Harry," teased Hermione, smiling glowingly at Harry, who was uncharacteristically eating away like Ron.

Harry ignored the girl's comment and ate away. "Sorry Ms. Lavigne, I came to this town and disturbing you just to fulfil my appetite," he said shamelessly, he couldn't help it if Alin's mother was a great cook.

"It's alright dear, you're always welcome in this lovely town," said Mrs. Lavigne brightly. Alin watched Harry eating in odd amazement while her mother chatted away, washing the dishes. "Since the hew port was built in the neighbouring town, a lot of people went there for work, and because of that, a lot of my rooms are empty," she said sadly.

Harry and Hermione looked at her with pity. Then Harry remembered something. "Oh, where's Mr. Lavigne? I haven't seen him since I arrived?" he said.

"He's busy with the preparation for the festival," she replied. "When you came with those incredibly awful relatives of yours, I remember it was the Snow Festival," she said happily reminiscence.

"Yeah I remember too," Harry replied while drinking his cup of tea.

Then Hermione curiously asked away, "What is the 'Snow Festival?"

The older woman happily answered. "The cherry blossoms that are full of blooming leaves, covered nicely with thin layers of snow. Every year, it happens like magic, the last week before Christmas, at exactly six in the morning, snow will fall and after an hour, snow turns to rain and it continues like this for seven day straight. Generally, this phenomenon has happened for hundreds of years."

Harry and Hermione were astonished, living as wizards and witches, this kind of thing did not happen in their world. It was clearly…

"Magic," both of them whispered in unison.

"That's right, ever since then, this village held the 'Snow Festival' every year," said Alin enthusiastically.


After breakfast, Harry, Hermione and Alin went out in their winter clothing, to meet their friends. Hermione was still interested in the 'Snow Festival'.

"If that's the case, tomorrow morning would be the first day of the snow falling," she said logically. Harry's eyes were on the book Alin was carrying.

"Of course the snow will fall, for hundreds of years it has been like that," Alin said surely.

"Hey Alin, what are you reading?" he asked out of the blue.

"Oh this," she pointed to the book in her hand. " 'The Red Letter' by Elary Quinn," she replied proudly, handing the book to Harry for him to examined.

"A mystery novel, is it good?" Hermione asked, sharing a look at the book with Harry.

Alin nodded. "Truthfully, I wanted to be a writer one day, that's my ultimate dream," said the wavy haired girl determinedly.

Harry was surprised to hear this piece of information. "You, a writer?" he asked puzzled and almost mocking.

Alin pouted her lips, hands on her hips and glared sternly at the raven haired boy. "Do not underestimate me, Harry Potter, my writing is great and I have read tons of books," she stated with sternness that almost reminded Harry of McGonagall.

Harry grinned at her. "What writing, your diary in second grade was all about boring stuffs like waking up and brushing your teeth," he said playfully and Alin snatched her book back and swatted at Harry but missed.

"Ah, you read my diary!" she cried flushingly. Hermione just giggled form the side.


They arrived at the Grand Cold Road, where the festival will be held. The road was the widest in the town and had a large playground, suitable to hold an event.

"Harry! Alin! Hermione! Over here," called Darren by the ladder with Kevin, setting up lights by the fences. Harry saw them and ran to them with Hermione and Alin following closely.

"Hey guys, St. Edwards' Battery Pair busy preparing the festival?" he said, as meant as a tease but Kevin and Darren were quiet. "The Football Club trains daily but for the festival, they would rest a bit?" said Harry again. Then he noticed the uneasy exchanged of loon between the two crew-cut haired boys and he was puzzled.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Darren nodded to Kevin. "Harry… actually, Darren and I are no longer members of the Football Club," the tall boy informed Harry, and the raven haired opened his mouth in shocked.

"What! The best striker Laporte backed off from football… why?" Harry asked confusingly.

"It's not like that," replied Kevin quickly. "The number of members was too low and it wasn't enough to keep it alive," he said sadly. Harry then turned to Darren.

Darren nodded, flushing pink. "Yes, the football club disbanded a year ago," he said.

"But if the club still existed, I can't even participate in it," said Kevin regretfully, letting out a sigh. Harry was even more shocked to hear what Kevin just said. The boy just changed the subject.

"Hey, do you still remember the time capsule we buried nine years ago?" Kevin asked.

Harry face changed into one of joyfulness. "Of course, we buried it in the school field right before I went to London," he said, looking at the sky.

'That morning the snow covered the cherry blossom leaves'

"I just talked about it with Darren and how about if we gather everyone tomorrow morning and dug that time capsule out," suggested Kevin excitedly.

Alin nodded in agreement. "Even though it's not what we promised but Elisa wouldn't mind it if we dug it early," she said cheerily. They all smiled at her.

"Yes you're right," said Harry in fierce agreement.


"Oh all of you are here," said an arrogant voice. The five of them turned around and found two girls in their age, but one of them caught their eyes, dressed in a beautiful light blue gown called the 'Snow Queen's dress'.

"Amy! Farah!" Alin yelled, happy to see them as the girls approached. Harry quickly went over to Amy, while Hermione eyed him.

"Hey Amy, why is Farah dressed like that?" he asked curiously. He could help but compare Farah to a girl back in fourth year in Hogwarts and a certain night at the Yule Ball.

Amy turned her head to him. "Farah has been chosen as the 'Snow Queen', she'll be handling the praying job at the church," informed Amy, though nervously. "Not only that, she'll be meeting the townsfolk, the neighbouring town and other matters."

Farah blushed. "It's only a small matter, only a ceremony in a small town, just act as you should and everything will be alright," she said confidently.

"In other words she's a salesgirl," Darren joked, earning him a murderous glare from Farah.

The long haired girl turned to Harry. "When will you be going home to London, Harry?" she asked.

"What…um, maybe after Christmas," he answered calmly.

Then she stood closely to Harry, too close for Hermione's liking.

"After school, I would love to visit London, and I'd like you to be my tour guide there," she suggested seductively. Harry was flabbergasted with the suggestion. Then she backed off and her face beamed of arrogance. "After finishing school, I want to stay in London to take up some acting classes. If I stay in this town, it's just a waste of time for me. Ever since the new harbour was built, this place became more and more quiet day by day, shops closing one by one. Staying in the down-spirited town, anyone can feel sunk," she told Harry, but no one liked what she was saying, especially Alin, who quickly protested.

"But this place has its advantages; people like Harry and Hermione from the busy city come to this place for peace and relaxation. The town is in harmony with nature, the fresh air, fishes caught freshly, what more do you think less of this place," Alin said but Farah just rolled her eyes at her.

"That's village talk, perfect for a hag like you," Farah shot scathingly, and Alin felt the sting.

Alin's blood boiled and her cheerfulness complexion fell from her face. "Who you're calling a hag, you she-devil, who poked her eyebrows till you look like one," she yelled in Farah's face, letting out her anger.

"What did you say? A girl like you is not qualify to mock me," Farah shot back.

"Piss off," Alin countered and everyone gasped, shocked to hear it. Kevin could not take it.

"Both of you stop fighting!" he yelled, and the girls stopped their bickering. "It was hard to invite Harry back here and you two go on fighting in front of him and Hermione," he said glaring at the both of them. Both of them looked shamelessly from each other. "Elisa wouldn't like to see both of you like this, right Harry?" but the boy he was asking was preoccupied with something else.

"Hmmm," he was checking something out. "I always thought priestesses are honest, but you are not," he said while checking out Farah's exposed leg, showing from the side of the gown.

Farah screamed and swatted at Harry but he quickly moved, thus avoiding Farah's blow. "What are you doing?" he asked cheekily but he received a slap on the face by Hermione. He touched his burn cheeks and winced at the pain. He was shocked and cried to Hermione.

"Ouch why you do that for?" he asked, rubbing his aching cheek.

"We were about to ask you the same thing!" cried both Farah and Hermione, glaring menacingly at Harry and he backed off. Everybody else laughed mirthfully at him. Alin sighed in relief as the tension was ebbed away thanks to Harry, who laughed along with the others.

"Harry is too much," said Kevin in his laughter. Alin nodded in agreement.

"His sure change a lot now," said Amy, her smiled widen while her bestfriend snorted.

Darren whispered closely to Harry's ears. "Why do you think Farah isn't honest?" he asked eagerly. Harry would have gladly answered back but got cut off as he avoided another swat form Farah.


Corbin came five minutes later with food form the bakery and the eight walked to the nearby playground to eat. They picked a spot near the benches and a few boxes for them to sit on. They chatted as they ate and Corbin delivered very grave news.

"What? The darts in Elisa's coffin are missing?" said Kevin in shocked.

"Is it true, Corbin?" Alin asked anxiously, as they all turn to the blonde.

He let out an irate huff. "Yeah, just this morning when I was sending some fishes to the church, I eavesdropped on the priest's conversation and heard all about the missing darts!" said Corbin, enraged. "Who would do such a thing?"

"But why would anyone steal the darts?" Kevin asked, concernedly.

Darren put his hand to his chin to think. "There are a lot of boys, who are over obsessed with Elisa, maybe they stole the darts for keepsake," he said suggestively.

"That's rubbish!" Farah quickly protested harshly.

Alin then turned serious. "This is like one of those mystery…" she was cut off by Corbin.

"That's enough, you're reports about novels are long and boring," said Corbin annoyingly. Alin glared at him huffed.

"Amy! Why didn't you eat your bread?" Hermione asked, noticing the red head had not eaten like the rest of them.

Amy blushed. "Oh, I'm not hungry," she answered like it was something to be embarrass about.


As they chatted, Harry observed everyone while eating. When he arrived in the village, he did not expect everyone to change. He changed a lot and so did this people, so what was the difference?

Kevin and Darren backed out of the Football Club. Farah turned from normal to out of the ordinary gorgeous. Corbin almost quit guitar. Alin wanted to be a writer. Amy was not as active as she used to be. Each of them was not the same as none years ago, the ones who dreamt and changed.

'In later days maybe…' he thought.

But at that time, Harry did not notice the big change about to happen, the shadow looming between all of them.


The next morning was the time all of them promised to meet and dug up the time capsule. Harry was waiting patiently outside the motel for Alin and Hermione, when it happened.

"Girls, why do they take so long to dress," he mumbled to himself. "Oi, we're late right now, come down already!" he yelled as his patient was wearing thin. Then he noticed in front of his face a speckle of white dust falling from the sky. "Oh snow!" he said surprised, and gazed up to the sky. "Like nine years ago…"

"We're coming down," yelled Alin from the window. The girls came down and greeted Harry and they marched out to meet the others at Kevin's house.

"Hey, Harry, Alin, Hermione, over here!" Darren called out to them, with a shovel by his hips. Kevin and Amy were at his side and Kevin had a shovel too.

"You guys are late you know that, it's almost six and Corbin and Farah still aren't here yet," said Kevin checking his watch. "What to do? Another minute now and the snow will be in heap," he told Darren.

Darren nodded. "Yeah, everyone already agreed if there is anyone who is late, no need to wait," he said blankly.

"If that so then let's go," Kevin told them with enthusiasm. They marched off to the school field without Corbin and Farah, unknown of what lies ahead of them.

The sight of snow and the blooming cherry blossom trees was an incredibly beautiful sight. Harry and Hermione were utterly awed by the scene they were watching. The other four were already used to it, but none the less never got tired of it.

"Snow flakes floating above the cherry blossom," said Harry.

"It's beautiful," Hermione said delightedly as the snow brushed her cheeks and made her blush.

They reached the school field and everyone was relieved that the snow was not piling heavily and that they could dig out the time capsule easily.

Just before they stepped beyond the school gate that connected to the field, someone called out to them from behind. "Hey sorry I'm late!" Corbin yelled apologetically from a quarter of a mile away.

"Corbin what were you doing?" Alin asked irritatingly and interrogatively.

The blonde boy stopped in front of them and laughed while scratching his head. "Sorry mates, I had something important to do," he told them his excuse.

"You slept late, didn't cha?" Darren asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

While Corbin was attacked by a barrage of questions form his friends, Harry noticed something visible on the snow covered field.

"Footprints," he said, puzzled. Everyone turned around from Corbin, after hearing Harry's voice.

"Must be Farah's!" Amy said swiftly, feeling utterly surprised. Farah never went anywhere alone without her.

"Looks like she came earlier than all of us," said Alin.

Then Kevin noticed from afar. "Oh is that…" he said, focusing his eyes on a body lying in the middle of the field. "There's someone lying over there," he added casually.

"Ah, that white coat!" again Amy quickly said. "Could it be?"

Then time rushed by quickly as all seven teenagers ran swiftly across the field to…

"Farah!" all of them shouted in panic.

Farah was lying on her front, she was motionless and the footprints from the gates connected all the way to her feet.

Harry quickly knelt down by Farah and picked her up from the side onto his lap. "It's really her," he said and began to shake the lifeless girl. "Wake up Farah!" he cried. Then his eyes went wide as he noticed a dark stuck in the back of Farah's neck.

Everyone was shaking in fear.

"That dart… it's one of the darts that has been stolen form Elisa' coffin," said Corbin stutteringly.

Amy screamed shrilly and began to sob as Hermione and Alin quickly gathered the red haired girl in a hug.

Harry too like the others was shaking in fear, but his focus was on his surroundings. In the field there were only Farah's footprints that were left. Plus the dart was used mainly for decoration and could not be shot from afar.

Did Farah kill herself or is it the work of an impossible criminal?


A/N: I'm doing this chapter because i got reviews from a lot more than here so hopefully if you truly want me to add another chapter, please review, i need reviews to encourage myself to write.