Harvey expected the reaction when the headmaster gave him the master list of third years taking dragon training. Three of them were people he didn't know, the others were from high school. When Harvey saw Courtney's name on the list, he felt nothing but the betrayal and heartbreak return to him. Two years might have passed but that didn't make the pain any easier to accept or deal with. None of the mattered anymore, they were his students and he was the teacher the would listen to him or get in trouble with the headmaster. Still, this was going to suck to get through and Harvey knew it would take time for them to adjust to him being their teacher. Harvey could handle it, this wouldn't bother him. Being so close to Courtney every day would, and he also expected her to try and talk to him, yet, he would refuse and he told himself that after seeing the student list.
Courtney, Ashlyn, Tyler, Ford, Dominic, Rylee and Syrus just stood there in shock still. Harvey disappeared almost four years ago and here he was before them as their dragon trainer for the next two years until college graduation. Who was this woman with him? Where had Harvey been all this time? Why did he have a Night Fury? How did he get one?! Nothing made sense! Six of then didn't understand a damn thing, only Courtney knew the truth and she would dare tell to protect her own image of her friends not thinking she was a horrible person even though it wasn't a lie. Courtney abandoned Harvey and Karina two years ago, she walked away because she thought she wanted her old life back and being in it once more, she realized she already had the perfect life then threw it away.
"That is quite enough time wasted. Line up, arm length apart," Harvey told them. Not having much choice, the ten students did as they were ordered and faced him as well as the woman standing next to him. "Right then. Let's get started," he crossed his arms over his chest. "I know some of you know me, for those of you who don't, I'm Harvey Haddock. You can call me Mr. H or Mr. Haddock. Standing beside me is my assistant, Heather Lanvik and you can call her her whatever she says you can,"
"Miss. Lanvik will suffice, thank you, Harvey." Heather replied.
Harvey gave the nod to her, "As you might have noticed, I have a Night Fury, and his name is Toothless. Heather's dragon is a Razorwhip, female, who goes by the name of Windshear. Any questions so far?" Harvey glanced at then ten students before him. Several put their hands up, and he sighed.
"That aren't about Harvey or where he's been all this time?" Heather specified as six of them put their hands down, Ellie's remained up as Heather motioned for her to continue.
"Forgive my curiosity, what happened to your dragon's tail?" Ellie looked at Harvey now.
"Toothless was injured, and the left tailfin couldn't be saved in surgery. The gear he wears allows me to control the prosthetic tailfin," Harvey said and then saw their confused faces, "It means that I am the only person who can fly him," he informed.
"Oh, that seems complicated," Andrew mentioned.
"It was in the beginning when I was seventeen," Harvey shrugged.
"Is that when you bonded with him?" Sydney inquired.
"Certainly is. Toothless resided at Dreki Souls Sanctuary when I started working there, he refused to be trained or bonded to. Mainly because no one else gave their full trust and he sensed that I did so he bonded with me and we've been best friends ever since. I was the Strike-class trainer at DSS. I worked with Triple Strykes and Skrills on a daily basis," Harvey answered with a nod.
"And you disappeared for no reason why?" Ashlyn huffed.
"Why do you care, Ashlyn? It's not like we used to be friends," Harvey retorted which caught her off guard. Harvey never used to be so cold, sure he was quiet and minded his own business, but he was never mean.
"Geeze, what happened to you?" Rylee frowned.
"Yeah, you've changed a lot," Tyler gave a look that matched his twin sisters.
"Things change, and so do people," Harvey remarked, "It doesn't matter who I used to be, what is important is who I became and am now. This is me. If you don't like it, you can leave the class but I'm the only dragon trainer on this campus so good luck getting in somewhere else. If you can deal with it, then be quiet and stop interrupting my class," he added coldly.
"Tyler and I were your friends, and you vanished, Harvey. What did we do to deserve not being told?" Ford interjected now.
"You wouldn't understand my choices at the time. I had my reasons for leaving, and that's all you need to know," Harvey stated.
"Try us," Tyler asked.
Heather stepped forward while narrowing her eyes, "It's no longer matter who or what you were to Mr. Haddock. That was then; this is now. Be quiet," she demanded firmly.
"Thank you, Heather. Now. Rules in this class are as follows," Harvey continued, "You will assemble as you are now with your dragons every class. The dragons are to be behind you and sitting calmly. You will raise your hand to talk. All cell phone use is forbidden and they will be put in put in this basket for every class. You are here to learn and I won't have them being a distraction. So, on with it. Phones off and give them up," Heather now walked around as everyone put their phones in the basket. Ellie didn't hand hers over right away. "Is there a problem with following the rules?" Harvey asked her.
"N-No, Mr. Haddock. I just have a son in the dayca-" Elli began, but Harvey put his hand up to stop her.
"No need to say anything further. I'll excuse it, just put the phone on vibrate, and if you require taking a call then step off to the side, so you don't disrupt the others," Harvey stated.
"Thank you, Mr. Haddock. If it weren't for his medical conditions, I wouldn't worry so much but..." Ellie said.
"I understand. It's fine with me," Harvey informed.
"Well, that's unfair," Dominic retorted.
"Shut it," Harvey warned it, "She has a child with medical conditions, I'm not going to deny access to the line of communication between the daycare and herself," he added. "Moving on, I won't tolerate any disrespect or disobedience. I have the authority to write you up or give detention. Two strikes a day and if you blow them, I assign detention. After three write ups, you will be suspended from the class and on stable duty for however long I assign. Mess up after that and your eligible to be removed from the class completely. Be aware that if you get removed from this class, you will not receive your permit to train for those of you going out to be trainers, or the permit to fly. You will be able to try again next year,"
"Wait, if we get removed from this class we can't take it again until next year?" Courtney asked.
"Correct," Harvey replied.
"These rules weren't in the dragon training packet," Sydney pointed out.
"The rules listed in that packet were for Mr. Crawford who is no longer here. Headmaster Trechdon let me set me own rules since this is my class. You will receive a copy before the end of class. Oh, and one more rule and perhaps the biggest so pay attention. If you attempt to ride your dragon before we get to riding lessons or you fly without myself or Heather present after lessons start, there will be no strikes and no write ups. You will be immediately removed from dragon training, and face the authorities as it is against the law for an unlicensed rider to fly. Understand? This is no game, aside from being removed from my class, you might also face being thrown out of the school as well," Harvey informed firmly.
The others gasped and bit back a little; they could be removed from the class and kicked out of the school while facing the cops. "And you might lose your bonded dragon if voted by the board of Dragon Affairs, which if you don't remember, is the group of people who issue your permits and licenses to own, train, race, and ride a dragon. If they decide you cannot be responsible with a dragon and follow the laws set, you will lose your dragon and privilege to ever bond again," Heather added.
"As I said, this isn't a game. You mess up, and you could lose you dragon, schooling, and ability to ever work with them," Harvey stated. "That's it for rules, let's get started with class. When I call your name, I want you to tell me your bonded dragon's name and gender, and after I get it down, you are free to get your dragon from the stable and sit tight until the rest are done. Is that clear?" he added.
"Crystal, Mr. Haddock," the ten students replied. Before he could say another word, Toothless looked up and growled a bit.
"What is it, Toothless?" Harvey asked looking up to see two familiar dragons flying overhead and knew who they belonged to. His parents. Because he needed this right now. Not. "Great," he sighed as his parents landed in the field close by and dismounted to hurry over.
"Shall I take the students while you talk to them?" Heather offered.
"No, it won't be necessary. This will only take a moment," Harvey replied as he faced his parents who came to an abrupt stop before him.
"Harvey..." the two panted.
"Mother. Father." Harvey greeted, "What brings you to Berktown University?" he asked calmly.
"Mr. DeRange came over after receiving a text from his son to inform us where you were. Is there where you have been for nearly four years?!" Stuart asked quickly.
"Stuart, enough. You promised me on the ride over that you would not start drilling him instantly." Veronica glared at her husband; she looked at Harvey before wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace while trying to hold back tears. "Do you have any idea how worried we've been about you, Harvey?" she whispered in a cracking tone.
"I knew how worried you would be from the moment I decided to leave. I have been safe, I assure you. Now while I'm thrilled to see the both of you again, I have a class to teach, and this reunion will have to wait until later," Harvey informed as his mother pulled back in shock of his words.
"Harvey, we want to know what happened!" Stuart demanded.
"And I will tell you in due course. But right now, the school isn't paying me to stand around and tell you about the last three years and eight months of my life since I left Berk. As I told Mom, I have been safe and sound." Harvey stated.
"But-" Stuart began as Veronica put her hand up to stop him.
"I'd like to know as well, Stuart, but Harvey is right. We came right here and bypassed check-in to see him. Our actions can get him in trouble; it's best that we leave. For now, it is enough we know where he is and that he is all right." Veronica told Stuart as the man sighed heavily, finally agreeing with his wife.
"Very well, we will go. Harvey, we want some explanation about all this." Stuart insisted.
"My day ends at 5 pm, and then dinner at 6. If you leave now, I will come to the house afterward and explain everything," Harvey assured with a nod of his head.
"Come by? Don't you mean to come home, son?" Veronica inquired a bit stunned at the response.
"Sorry. I reside here on campus; I'm not far from you, and with Toothless it will be a quick flight." Harvey motioned to his Night Fury besides him who gave a gummy smile to his rider's parents.
"You bonded with a Night Fury?" Veronica's eyes widened.
"Yes, and it is part of the explanation you will receive later. Now, please go before you get me in trouble. I have students to teach. I promise to come by tonight, and you know I don't break my promises," Harvey told them.
"And what about the rest of us?!" Ashlyn remarked.
"I do not owe you an explanation for my choices and actions. I don't owe anyone anything; it is my choice to tell my parents. You have no business in knowing," Harvey remarked coldly to her as she bit back a little. "And you, Mr. DeRange earned strike one," he added.
"What did I do?" Dominic asked quickly.
"You meddled in my affairs by messaging your father to tell my parents where I was. I intended on telling them myself once I was settled here. Meddling is disrespectful and disrespecting me is against my rules. Pursuing this matter is disobedience and will earn you a second strike. I implore you to choose your next set of words carefully," Harvey crossed his arms over his chest.
"My apologies, Mr. Haddock. I won't disrespect you again," Dominic muttered with his head down.
"All right, Harvey. We will go and expect to see you tonight please," Veronica asked.
"It will be a bit after 6:45 pm, but yes, I will be there," Harvey told them. Recieving a nod from both, they mounted their dragons and took to the sky to leave. Harvey sighed slowly facing the group again, "I do hope that is the last of the interupptions. I call your name, give me your dragon's name and gender. Heather, you will make sure things go smoothly in the stables,"
"Of course, Harvey," Heather nodded to him as she moved with Windshear to the stable entrance, they were sectioned out according to what year the student was in. Third and fourth years were the only two that took dragon training, but there were stables to house the first and second year student's dragons.
"Ellie Agoarsen?" Harvey said.
"Silverwing. Female Razorwhip," Ellie responded. Harvey nodded and motioned for her to get her dragon.
"Courtney Bogsven..." Harvey forced himself to say calmly and saw her get nervous.
"Mirage. Female Changewing," Courtney replied.
"Get your dragon. Dominic DeRange," Harvey continued.
"Shattermaster, male Gronckle," Dominic answered calmly. Harvey sent for him to go next.
"Ashlyn Hofferson," Harvey stated.
"Stormfly. Female Deadly Nadder," Ashlyn informed.
"Go," she rushed off at Harvey's command, "Ford Ingerman?"
"Meatlug. Male Gronckle," Ford replied quietly and went to the stable when Harvey nodded to him.
"Syrus Jorgenson," Harvey said next.
"Hookfang. Male Monstrous Nightmare," Syrus mumbled.
"Don't catch a tude with me. Move it, Andrew Kingston." Harvey ordered.
"Phoenix. Male Monstrous Nightmare, sir." Andrew replied calmly.
"Get your dragon. Sydney Ostbarg?" Harvey went on.
"Flarestrike. Female Nadder," Sydney responded firmly.
"Very good. Carry on. Lastly, Rylee and Tyler Thorston," Harvey said.
"Barf and Belch. Male Zippleback. I have the left head; Ty has the right." Rylee replied for her and Tyler.
"Get going. I want you all out here in ten minutes!" Harvey called out then sighed heavily leaning against Toothless. "Such a headache," he groaned with closed eyes. First day on the job and dealing with all this, what a fun year it would be having to train them with their dragons.
(Hour & Thirty Minutes Later)
The entirety of the class was spent with Harvey drilling them on what they knew from previous years also that he inspected their dragons to check for any health issues. When two hours finally came to an end, he had them put away their dragons in the stable for third years, and told them he would see them tomorrow at the same time and to be ready to get some work done. With only a nod or responding with yes, the students began heading off the field except for Courtney who was last out of the stable to see Heather and Harvey talking. When Heather saw Courtney coming over, she stepped forward with her hands over her chest.
"I wouldn't if I were you," Heather warned coldly.
"Please, I just want to talk to him for a second," Courtney tried.
"There is nothing left to talk about, Courtney. You said it all in your letter," Harvey replied lowly.
"Harvey, please, just let me explain?" Courtney pleaded.
"Explain what?!" Harvey snapped while turning to face her. "That you walked out on Karina and me? That you wanted your old life back? There is nothing to explain, Courtney. You made your choice. My choice is to take care of my life. Karina. Because she is my life. Now if you don't mind, I have another class to prepare for, and you will be late for yours," Harvey and Toothless walked away.
"Don't pretend to come around caring now. You threw that right the day you left him a single father and broke his heart because he did love you. You aren't the only one who gave everything up to have that child, Courtney. You have hurt him enough, so just leave him alone. Whether he shows it or not, the pain from that day still bothers him," Heather told her before walking away with Windshear. Courtney lowered her head and walked in the opposite direction.
(Later That Night)
Harvey was dreading this, facing his parents after almost four years and telling them the truth about running away with Courtney and having Karina. Harvey arrived outside his parent's house on Toothless with Karina sitting in front of him.
"Where we, Dada?" Karina asked looking up at him.
"Daddy's old house where he used to live. There's two people I want you to meet," Harvey admitted while climbing off Toothless and carrying Karina to the front door, he took a deep breath and knocked then stepped back to wait. After a minute, the door opening revealing Stuart and Veronica and then their eyes fell on Karina and widened. "I'll explain inside," he sighed. Nodding, his parents let him inside as he sat on the couch in the living room with Karina in his lap and then his parents sat across from him, still in shock. "This is a long story but it's all to do with her,"
"All right son, just please don't leave anything out," Stuart asked.
"I won't, but I need you to promise me something. Everything I tell you, don't tell anyone else?" Harvey inquired.
"We promise," Veronica said as Stuart nodded to him in agreement.
Harvey took a deep breath, "First off, this is Karina Haddock, and she is my daughter," Harvey began and then proceeded to tell them everything starting with the block party during October of Junior year in high school. The explanation took close to an hour to get through, and that wasn't including all the questions from Stuart and Veronica when they were confused. All in all, it was close to 8:20 pm when it finished, "That's everything from start to finish," he ended while staring at his parent's shocked faces.
"What I don't understand why you didn't come to us, Harvey. Something could have been worked out. You didn't need to runaway from Berk, struggle in a trailer park for three years, and everything else. Why didn't you come back after Courtney left?" Stuart asked.
"I don't know, Dad. I was hurt and didn't think anyone would understand, plus I didn't want to run into Courtney or have anyone else knowing. Call it protecting her or whatever, but I guess part of me still cares for her," Harvey sighed.
"You still could have kept in contact, Harvey. We looked everywhere for you, and you were hiding under a fake name. Courtney lied to us, we asked here if she saw you and she only said the last place she saw you was Arc City," Veronica mentioned.
"Look, I'm sorry for not coming to you or keeping in contact. I panicked and only worried about the child that Courtney was carrying. I was scared, I didn't want to lose the baby. Kari...is my life. The only reason I'm not still in the city is because I got offered the job at BU and wanted to give her a better life," Harvey looked down. "I'm sorry. I truly am,"
Stuart and Veronica got up now and moved beside him on the couch, both hugging their son. "Well, we're not happy you took off and were afraid to come to us or that you didn't keep in contact. But we are proud of you that you took responsibility for what happened. It's all in the past now, you're home even if you don't live here anymore. We're glad you are all right," Stuart informed as Harvey looked at him, then Veronica kissed his forehead.
"And never be afraid to come to us for anything. We're your parents, and just like you'd do anything for Karina here, we would do the same for you, Harvey." Veronica smiled lightly.
"Thank you, and I'm sorry again. So, would you like to meet your granddaughter?" Harvey asked with a small smile.
"Please?" Stuart and Veronica said together. Harvey then hung out there until 9:30 pm when Karina fell asleep on his chest after meeting her Nana and Papa, the names Stuart and Veronica said that Karina could call them. Harvey promised to visit more as he left with Toothless and Karina back to the university, he got Toothless put away with some fish and water, and then he went to his dorm to get Karina in bed. Harvey pulled out the bed from the couch as he laid in it comfortably with a smile. Today had certainly been interesting; now he couldn't wait to see what the rest of the year would hold.
