Chapter Seventeen:
Curse
"Not even a month before the holidays an' they will still make us study?" Complained Aster one afternoon, as he and Astrid were heading down the grounds after the potions class.
"If you didn't comment on it perhaps it'd feel less irritating." Astrid retorted, hitting his elbow with her shoulder. "I wonder how exactly you made it to this school." She said, and Aster gave her a strangely amused look.
"If you want me to leave, then I will try not to take it personal." Both teens smiled, and again Astrid bumped into his arm.
"I didn't mean it like that, it's just that I thought Australia had its own wizarding school."
"An' they do," Aster replied. "Happens that my dad is an English man, and he married my mom in Hertfordshire."
"I thought you were from the Gold Coast!" Astrid said, smiling at the taller boy. "Like, with the accent and all…"
Aster laughed. "My mom lives there, an' I was basically raised there, but I was officially born here." He explained simply. "I wish you guys could say better with flaps, though." He spoke, faking the English accent, which made the girl widen her eyes in amusement. "This T thing sounds exhaustive."
"Try using glottal stops then." She said, smirking.
"Then welcome to Bris'tol." Both friends laughed.
There was a strange gathering forming near the edge of the forest, as most students gathered for their class of Care of Magical Creatures. Most students dreaded that class, and were truly just waiting for the next year when they would hopefully no longer need to attend it.
Hiccup was already there, this time by his own when he noticed his other two friends approaching. He waved at them before stepping closer to them.
"What are they all waitin' for?" Aster asked.
"I think it's the new teacher." Hiccup answered drily, remembering how Hagrid had been fired from his position – and nearly kicked out of the grounds afterwards.
They were expecting perhaps a known magizoologist, or even a Ministry employee, or perhaps a centaur, which Hiccup found fascinating. But once the brown robes of Agatha White were distinguishable among the snowy grounds, a collective aw of unhappiness rose. The witch climbed down the irregular grounds, trying to keep her steps firm but it got clear that she was not used to such a strange terrain. Eventually she reached the students.
"You've got to be messin' with me…" Aster said, rolling his eyes.
The witch forced the brightest smile she could pull, desperately trying to look excited – which gave her a terribly strange appearance, as if she could take someone's head off with her own hands when she announced:
"Welcome, class! How refreshing is it to have such an interesting class for this… singular discipline." By her voice alone she could have strangled a whole bunch of little kids for breakfast. "I hope that we can, together, form your heads in preparation for the adequate – Ministry approved – methods of dealing and treating with these creatures."
There was one thing Hiccup quickly noticed about Agatha White: she was by far the most unprepared teacher to deal with A - magical creatures; and B – students. As soon as she opened the gates to the enclosure of the Fire Crabs, she kept on waiting for the students to go ahead of her rather than simply getting in herself. Then the lecture came, and it turned obvious that the woman had absolutely no idea which level that class actually was – since she kept bringing back lessons outdated from fourth year.
"Professor, I think you're doing it wrong." A girl from Hufflepuff finally said after the teacher started to retreat the creature with her wand, pushing it against the fence. "You're not supposed to hex them with magic."
Hiccup, who was already skilled with his lot, actually paid attention to what the girl was referring to. The teacher casted a shield spell against the turtle-like creature, which managed nothing more than to get it angry, and small spirals of smoke were forming from its tail.
"I believe your instructions are outdated, Miss Cattermole." White said, her voice somewhere between trying to keep her posture and panic. "We have to teach these creatures that they're here for our taking. And I'll make sure to teach you how to properly claim them."
Hiccup stared at the teacher, incredulous. Aster and Astrid joined, the girl's mouth gape open as the teacher turned her back. "Observe." She said, and the entire class stopped to watch in horror.
"Locomoto Mortis!" She muttered with a sickening malice. The creature contorted itself as its legs joined beneath it, making it fall to the ground with a strong thump. Fire erupted from the creature's tail. "Reducto!" She ordered again, and with a bright blue flash, the creature's tail exploded, earning screeches of pain that set the entire enclosure in shock.
"Stop it!" Hiccup screamed, running towards the creature that now found itself rolling over its tied legs and chunked tail, its mouth screaming and turning into a fearful glare at every living soul there present. "What are you doing?! You're hurting him!" He screamed again.
"I'm afraid that is the point." The professor said, and as the creature ran away from Hiccup's hand, a twisted smile displayed on White's face.
"You're meant to take care of the creatures, not scare them!" He yelled, pointing his own wand at the chunk of what was left of the Fire Crab. The beast still stepped away from him, screeching in terror.
"And you're meant to be learning, not lessoning me on my own class!" The professor nearly shouted. "Ten points from Ravenclaw!"
The look of utter disbelief on Hiccup's face was enough to make Aster and Astrid raise their voices. "You're torturing the creature!" Astrid pleaded.
"This is not fair!" Aster spoke up, and soon a whole choir of voices rose up, and the trembling lip on White's face gave it away before she snapped.
"ENOUGH!" The way she contorted itself resembled much of a curse for Hiccup, but the instability of that moment was enough to make everyone retreat at least three specks back.
Her eyes locked right on Hiccup's, who was still bent near the hurting creature, finally calmer after he was able to place his hand on it's crystallised shell.
"From every single creature on this planet, we must understand the privilege that it is to be us!" The sick smile returned, and so did the twisted excitement. "The most advanced, intelligent and powerful creatures. It's all about us! Wizards!" She clapped her hands, but in reality nobody seemed to cheer. "That's is why you're having detention with me, Mister Haddock. Tonight, on my office. I am sure you will find it particularly enlightening."
#
Jack's chest was a tight muscle throughout that day. He had forgotten how hard it was to walk around Hogwarts halls without Hiccup. Indeed that was one of the few times on the week that the boy had to be kept apart from his friends. These moments were rare, but they were painful. He felt it in his chest, he felt it screaming and hurting. Loneliness used to be an ally before. But now that he actually cared for his friends, it was a weakness.
"Hey, handsome." He heard the voices. "Finally alone now, huh?"
The same girls that would call him out. In any other day he would just ignore. "Not today." He grunted, speeding up as he passed by them, making sure to step far from their position. The girls giggled. "Oh, he's shy, girls." They said, hiding little chuckles with their hands.
Jack sped up, sprinting his way out of the corridor and down to the Great Hall for lunch.
Hiccup and the others were sitting together on the Ravenclaw table, which Jack found unusual, since it was much easier for the smaller boy to join the others on the Gryffindor's table, however as he came closer to them, he listened.
"…bloody woman is just messin' with you, Hiccup." Aster reminded Jack of a protective bird with the wings hovering over Said boy had a deadly scowl screwing his face, his eyebrows nearly joining into one.
"She wants revenge because everyone cheered for you, that's what she wants." Astrid had her hand gripping on her cup, her fingers so white that Jack feared the cup might break. But what really had his attention was Hiccup, staring down at his plate as if he wanted to set it in fire.
Even a Ravenclaw prefect seemed to near the group. "Nobody's blaming you for those points, Hiccup." He commented, and Jack's confusion grew larger.
"Did something happen?" Jack asked, staring blankly at his friends. Astrid only looked back at him, apparently unsure of how to explain to him everything they had just witnessed. That is when new voices formed from outside the hall.
"What are you insinuating, Minerva? Trying to lecture me about my own class!"
"If I was heard correctly, you have greatly dishonoured the primary teachings for your lesson!"
Every student in the Great Hall rushed to the entrance. Minerva McGonagall and Agatha White were climbing up the marble ladders, arguing heatedly.
"I must inform you, Minerva, that the Ministry is now deeming new ways of dealing with creatures that stand beneath our might, and-"
"By torturing them in front of the students?!" McGonagall's voice rose, horrified. "If these are the new doctrines of the Ministry, we should really reconsider where our loyalty is directed to-"
"Ah! But I knew this is where it would lead now, wasn't it?!" There was a triumphant air on White's expression. "Trying to marginalise the Minister in order to perform your… flawed practices! It really is no wonder why half the Ministry in under surveillance."
"You are completely out of your mind!" The tallest witch exclaimed.
"Oh, Minerva, we shall see soon enough." She then looked straight at every student gathered in front of her. "Hogwarts good costumes are far more lost than I've ever imagined! If we don't cut our decadent standards now," It seemed like most of the school was crowding the hall. "Then the Ministry must intervene drastically."
#
"She can't torture these creatures, she won't." Jack said later that day. "I mean, the Ministry is dealing with much more than just students, most of their employees have children in Hogwarts."
"You think they care about what anyone thinks of them by now?" Astrid retorted. They were sitting on the clock tower courtyard, the four teens near the fountain of the mermaids. "Everything on the Prophet is being twisted and nobody knows about what is going on in here."
"Someone must have told their parents, Astrid." Aster pointed.
"We can't know for sure. The mails are also under watch."
"I can't believe she actually just tortured that Fire Crab." Hiccup said, holding the small dragon on his finger as Toothless tail curled around it. "So far we already know she's prejudiced and cruel."
"Hic, don't you have detention to attend?" Astrid suddenly remembered, and Hiccup's face paled as he jumped to his feet, cursing.
"Goddammit, I forgot…" He said, stuffing Toothless back over his shoulder. Jack widened his eyes in shock, "I'm going there now."
"Wait!" The white haired boy nearly shouted. "I-I'm going with you."
Hiccup gave a puzzled expression before allowing the other boy to join him. "Good luck!" Aster shouted over to them, before looking ahead again and meeting Astrid's amused face, deviously cheering at the two boys.
Jack walked next to Hiccup, shoulder by shoulder – nearly – as they made their way to White's office. "The Labyrinth showed she's on the third floor."
"Wait, you checked the Labyrinth?" Jack asked. Hiccup only looked away. "You didn't forget a thing."
Hiccup shrugged. "Not really. I mean, I wanted to avoid going there as much as I could, but I was hoping Astrid wouldn't make it so subtle." He mocked the last words, stating clear sarcasm. "Thanks for coming with me."
"You're welcome." Jack replied. "I can't say I'm not worried about this though." He added once they were on her corridor. The smaller boy gave a funny look.
"Afraid that she is going to mug me or something?" He joked, but it was clear he was nervous.
"No… I'm actually worried about you." Jack said, a bit too fast, but it was understandable enough for the other boy. Hiccup looked down for a little.
"I'm gonna be fine." He said, gathering as much confidence as he could. "If anything, she'll ask me to write some lines…"
"Yeah, we know how well that went last time." Jack said without thinking, and Hiccup's grin disappeared. He then met the green eyes, and his expression turned into a sorrow.
"I'm gonna be fine." Hiccup said, giving a cheerful look before taking Toothless from his shoulder. "You better take care of him for me." The small creature gave a weak grunt before resting on Jack's hands, already used to the taller boy. And with that, Hiccup turned on his heels and walked on to White's office.
As he knocked on the door twice, he held his breath, and there was a short moment before a weak "come in" reached his ears.
White's office was a strange place. Deep brown colours covered the room, which had this strange feeling to it, that made Hiccup dizzy the moment he stepped in. A frame of the Minister hanged on the wall, and there was a strange smell that reminded Hiccup of rotten food. Agatha White was sitting behind her desk, seemingly busy as she ran her fingers through piles of parchment, scattered over her desk in an absolute mess.
"Good evening, mister Haddock." She said, still not looking up from him. "Please, sit."
Hiccup took the most careful steps towards the table, as if he was stepping on egg shells. He felt disgusted of that woman.
"I am going to ask you to see some of these, Mister Haddock." The witch tapped her wand on some pieces of parchment, and they floated through the air until they landed on Hiccup's lap. "Read them, obverse and ponder. And then you must agree."
Hiccup only looked at the parchment. "What if this come to a conclusion I don't agree?"
White looked out the window, somewhat thoughtful. "Just read it enough for the meaning to penetrate."
The green eyes lowered to the writings. This could be worse, he thought. And then he started to read:
Good costumes and wizarding standards on danger: The risks non-conventional life styles could bring.
The inacceptable behaviour from those members of our community which support formally or unspoken any mix, integration or variation of ancient magical blood might bring great harm to the present status we have rightfully claimed as the most advanced species in the planet.
In the past hundred years, many wizards have become prominent through history despite their natural disadvantages. Muggle-borns wizards and witches, despite their obvious fight have clearly made their struggle, but one cannot, for as good as their intentions might be, break the natural order of the Survival of the Strongest.
"Are you serious about this?" Hiccup asked, incredulous. "What is this, a shaming on the muggle-borns?"
"Just read it for now." White replied without as much as raising her eyes to him. "Everything will be explained soon."
Wizards have been supportive and tolerant of foul behaviours, regarding not only the pro muggles actions but as well as countless of other mistakes, for wizards may not love wizards and witches may not love witches.
Hiccup's stomach sank.
Reparative wizarding for such cases have been an option ever since its inception in 1719, when Spencer Oaks, the famous alchemist, started his own form of resolving the repulsive tendencies of his son, Kimball Oaks. After discovering the perverse relationship of his son with a muggle farmer's son, Spencer developed his own way of coping with the tragedy.
With support from the former Minister of his time, Spencer was allowed to perform the cruciatus curse on his son, using the connection between pain and desire to covert into repulse. Although his son's mental state after the treatment was controversial, the results were satisfying enough – he no longer had any desire towards wizards of his same gender. Even today there is a special memorial at St. Mungus regarding Kimball's suicide, completely due to the remorse he felt for his horrific behaviour while not in good standings, before his treatment...
"This is madness!" Hiccup said, falling back on his chair. "What am I supposed to do, explain why the boy killed himself?"
"On the contrary, mister Haddock." White gave a sick giggle, stepping near the boy. "I want you to write down Oaks bravery on assisting his father on such a painful treatment."
Hiccup could have jumped on that woman right there, and he fought back every single muscle on his body to prevent himself from doing so.
"He wasn't brave, he was tortured to madness!" He exclaimed. "He killed himself for what his father did to him."
"You are incorrect, Haddock." The woman said again, now walking back to behind her desk. "His father did it for him." The boy had his mouth gaped open. "Knowing of the pain his son would endure, but a small price for what would certainly be a great advance!"
Hiccup only stared at the woman, hating every single inch of her.
"I'm not doing this." He said, and his voice was strangely strong.
"I beg your pardon?!" The witch's voice got so high pitched that soon enough only the bats could hear her.
"I said I'm not doing this." He stated. "This is wrong. This is dooming people for something they have no guilt of, whatsoever!"
"So you refuse to comply with your detention?!" The woman was horrified, leaning back on her chair in absolute disgust. "For as far as you are concerned, you little insolent, to fail detention is to deem yourself worthy of expulsion."
Hiccup got quiet, staring at the woman, and then at the paper still on his hands. "School regulation states that this is a safe space for all students." He said, trying to remain calm. "My best friend is a muggle born, my mother," he gulped, and he saw White's upper eyelid twitch. "…was a muggle born, and I am not sure if you've known, she was killed for it."
It was White's time to quiet down. "And I am sorry for your lost. This is exactly why this is so important. Poor woman should not have joined a community so beyond her capacities."
Hiccup was not simply silent then, he was mortified. Beyond disgust creeped on him, and he did not hear the door open, or the steps run into the office.
"What are you doing here, Minerva?" White exclaimed, and hearing her words, Hiccup looked back, finding Professor McGonagall standing behind him, a deadly expression on her face as it looked like she was about to spit fire on Agatha's table.
"I happen to be the Headmistress of the school, if rules weren't changed yet. Now, what do you think you are doing?!" She was one volume beneath screaming. "Pushing medieval beliefs on my students?!"
White got to her feet, her mouth open in shock. "Oh, I must warn you, Minerva-"
"For you it is Professor McGonagall." The Headmistress said, and Hiccup never felt bigger respect for his professor than he did now. "I still happen to be the greater authority here."
"As High Inquisitor I must warn you that…"
"No, you must be warned that your job is only meant to sign up those bloody reports to the minister, which is clearly unprepared to rule anyways. Haddock boy, you get out of here, we'll finish this in my room."
"You dare to intervene on my own detentions?"
"I am the Headmistress." Minerva stated, and it seemed like her word would be final. She looked as fierce as a lion, and a chill ran through Hiccup's spine as he stepped away from White, gathering his backpack as he left.
"For now." He heard White mutter.
