Chapter Three: Roderick Seed

The ceiling of the Great Hall was a dull blue colour at breakfast time. Markus looked up at it and groped his bag full of school books.

'See you in class' he said to Denver and Cherier, interrupting their conversation about the new Whiskey 500 broomstick model. They were both staring at a page of Flying High, a flying related magazine.

Markus was leaving breakfast unusually early. He was feeling rather limp and wasn't quite up for socialising. He reached into his robe pocket as he left the huge doors of the hall, and pulled out a crumpled piece of parchment.

'History of Magic, Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts and Care of Magical Creatures…' he muttered to himself. He studied his new timetable, reading over it more than three times. He turned left, which was the direction of the History of Magic classroom that Professor Binns, the only ghost teacher in Hogwarts, taught.

He didn't understand what had gotten into him. He really didn't want to go to this lesson, more so than usual, being his least favourite lesson of all.

He arrived at the classroom door and leant against the wooden archway which bordered it, let out a sigh and opened his History of Magic textbook which was in his bag and began to read the introduction.

Several moments later, the bell rang. Students arrived in small batches every few seconds, one of the batches happened to contain Denver and Cherier. With them were two Hufflepuffs; Parry Harvestner, a stubby boy who disliked all teachers, except Flitwick, and his friend Darby Cling, who was overly tall and lanky.

Markus assumed they had the History of Magic class with the Hufflepuffs this year, last year it was with Gryffindor.

'Hullo' Markus said to the four, nodding his head at them. They all smiled and waved at him.

'Hello Mark' Darby Cling said in his low goofy voice.

A small beam of light shone through the window above them for a moment, slightly illuminating Markus's pale skin, and disappeared instantly. They all looked out of the window.

'Odd weather today, isn't it?' Cherier said vacantly, looking away from Markus. She almost seemed to be avoiding him.

The large classroom door creaked open by itself and the students moved into the cold and empty room.

They seated themselves and Professor Binns appeared, soaring into the classroom via the chalkboard.

The desks were fit for two people each, so Markus walked over to Cherier and pulled the chair out.

'Denver's sitting there.' she said to him before he could even lay a finger on the chair.

He was silently annoyed by this and walked off, not saying a word. He looked over at Parry Harvestner, in hope that he was alone, but, alas, Darby Cling was seated next to him.

Markus wasn't too bothered by this, as he wasn't aiming to converse with anyone during this morning's lesson and sat alone at the one remaining seat left, which was near the front of the classroom on the far left-hand side.

Professor Binns cleared his throat and began to speak, 'Good morning class. Please open your textbooks and open to page one-hundred-and-thirteen and read section 1.C. titled "Cantelope Credane's Early Discovery".'

Everybody took their books from their bags and opened them, causing a clutter of ruffling noises, and began reading.

Markus, on the other hand, was fiddling with the pages of his book and staring at the ceiling. He was thinking again. Thinking about the two Wizard's deaths. He couldn't help but care. He never really cared much about significances such as these, well not as deeply as he was now. He thought; if his father wasn't involved at all, then maybe he wouldn't care as much. He continued contemplating, but the sudden noise of chalk scratching alerted him.

He opened his book to the right page, but as soon as he saw that the section was at least 5 pages long, he closed the book and let the thoughts flood into his mind once again like leaves in a flowing river.

He raised his hand, wanting to ask Professor Binns about Serba Teahorn and Topher Bloodgood, he was suddenly completely uninterested in schoolwork for a change.

Ahem.

He cleared his throat to get Binns' attention.

The transparent Professor turned around and noticed Markus's hand high in the air.

'Yes, Markus, what is it?'

'Sir' Markus said loudly enough that his voiced echoed through the bare classroom, 'Could you… could you please tell me about… about Serba Teahorn and Topher Bloodgood, sir?'

'Can it wait, Mr. Starr? You have work to do.'

'Well, no. I'd like to know now… Please.'

'What exactly is it you'd like to know about them?' Binns raised one of his grey eyebrows.

Markus looked around the room. 'Anything. Just anything, sir.'

There was along silence until the Professor spoke again and all the students were now looking up at him rather than their books.

'Very well then, but bare in mind; I am only telling you this because I think you should be know more about their background.' He hovered towards his desk, put the chalk down and continued to talk. 'Mr. Teahorn and Mr. Bloodgood were, as you all should know, headmasters of the East District Wizarding University, and ex-aurors. They had been in charge of the academy for the better part of eleven years, and were very successful in their jobs as headmasters. Being both aged only 38 years, their sudden demise is a terrible tragedy. They taught well and lead many students to extremely great occupations and lifestyles.

They both shared the same area of expertise; Imbercelum magic, dark magic only taught to extremely powerful Aurors that allows the user to control weather. This kind of magic is only taught in the city of Barcelona, and is highly forbidden to teach in any regular schools or universities.

Their career had always been envied by many Witches and Wizards, as the East District is one of the greatest and most successful universities in the wizarding world, but nobody has ever managed to overtake them. The East District was founded in 1834 by Sir Marshop Columbia, who remained headmaster for over forty years. He was murdered by a clan of Dark Wizards who used the killing curse against him. The clan were caught and sent to Azkaban and sentenced to death almost immediately.'

Dark Wizards, Markus thought. Perhaps not every member of the clan were caught and that they are back to kill Teahorn and Bloodgood. Perhaps they wanted their jobs or maybe there was something in the hands of the headmasters at the East District that they wanted. Who knows?

Professor Binns continued, 'A few months after the clan's execution, Serba and Topher began their careers. They both earned their jobs by studying at Fowler's University of Magic, which closed down four years ago due to the shortage of students they had, which clearly shows how magnificent the two wizards were, everybody wanted to be educated in the hands of their glory.

All I can say, class, is that their deaths is a entire tragedy and that they will be dearly missed by many' Binns ended, 'now, everyone, back to page one-hundred-and-thirteen, we don't have much time now.'

Markus was satisfied and began to read section 1.C., now in a much better mood. He'd now learned that they weren't only powerful, but important. They knew a special kind of magic which not many witches or wizards were qualified to perform.

The bell had rang at the end of a double lesson of Markus's second favourite class; Potions. He handed up a phial of Muffling Draught to Professor Snape, the Potions Master, who Markus wasn't at all too keen on.

'I want a 15 inch report on the Muffling Draught, its uses and the importance of each ingredient first thing on Thursday morning's lesson.' Snape sternly ordered.

It was break time now and Markus had decided to walk out to the school Greenhouses to quickly look for some Pitcherus Sprouts, an essential ingredient of the Muffling Draught that Markus did not know anything about, so he could study them for Snape's homework, then return to the Greens Court where all of his friends sat each break.

He picked some of the sprouts and headed back inside the school corridors on his way to his friends. Just as he reached the first corridor, he noticed a boy sitting alone under a tree. He walked towards him and realized it was a fourth-year by the name of Roderick Seed. He was in Ravenclaw and only had one friend; Beo Sherhansen, a clumsy, shy boy in the same year as Roderick.

'Hello Roderick' he said as he approached the bespectacled boy.

Roderick gazed up at him with magnified squinting eyes through a pair of giant golden glasses. 'Oh… Hullo.'

Markus respected Roderick seed because he was one of the smartest students in all of Hogwarts, even smarter than the average seventh-year.

'What are you doing all alone? Where's Beo?'

'Oh. He is in the hospital wing. He got stung by a Jeeherzy in Herbology.'

He had a vague, airy voice that seemed to creep right into your ears, sort of hauntingly.

Markus rolled his eyes and giggled, 'Typical of Beo. I'll sit with you.'

Markus seated himself beneath the large tree with him. 'So, what are you reading?' he asked Roderick, who had a large thick, ragged book in his lap.

'It's just a Quidditch book… "Colours of Quidditch", I borrowed it from the school library, it's quite a good read.' Roderick was always seen here reading books with Beo, he was obsessed with learning.

'Hmm, I might have to borrow that after you. Speaking of Quidditch, I wonder who is going to win the Quidditch cup this year. Ravenclaw I hope. I will not let Slytherin win again.'

He looked at Markus blankly and put his book into his bag. There were long, awkward silences between everything they said to each other. Markus fumbled for a subject in his mind to start a conversation, but had no luck.

All of a sudden, the sky darkened even more than it already was. The clouds were a gloomy grey colour, rolling along like huge boulders.

'It's going to rain' said Roderick, 'and it will continue for days.'

Markus raised one eyebrow, wondering why Roderick had just said that since it was currently the beginning of Fall. 'Why do you say that?' he questioned.

'Err… What lesson do you have next?'

Markus was confused by Roderick's sudden change of subject. '… Dark Arts, you?'

'Transfiguration. Apparently McGonagall isn't in the best mood today, so I'm not looking forward to her class…'

'No need to worry, she'

Markus was interrupted by the soft spitting of rain. 'We better get indoors. Quickly.'

The two stood up, grasped their schoolbags and quickly walked into the nearest corridor and just as they got there, the rain began to pour heavily.

'That was lucky.' Markus said, flicking water off of his robes.

They traipsed to the common room for the remaining time left in the break. By the time they got there, Cherier, Denver, Parry and Darby were already there, sitting at their favourite table.

'Where were you?' Denver said to Markus and looked at Roderick with a fake smile.

'Roderick was alone, so I kept him company for a while. Mind if he sits with us?'

They all nodded, but Roderick insisted he'd sit by himself for the rest of the break and read.

Cherier rolled her eyes as he walked off, 'What a loner.'

Markus sat down on the soft corner seat and told them what Roderick said about the rain.

'He seems a bit loony if you ask me…' Parry said, 'I've always thought so.'

'Don't be so harsh, he's a genius' Markus spat.

'Stay away from him Markus, he's going to end up brainwashing you with mental thoughts' Cherier joked and the group laughed, all but Markus.

He grimaced sternly, which told Cherier that he did not find it remotely funny. She stopped laughing, along with the rest of them.

'Look, Markus, relax. You've been so tense and it's only day two.'

'Well if your father had been attacked right after his two bosses went missing, then perhaps you'd be a little tense too. Yeah? Something shifty is happening. I know it, and if you all disagree with me, then fine, but leave me well alone if you do.'

Cherier had broken through the barrier which had been protecting Markus's anger since he got the letter from his mother.

The group traded frightened looks with each other as Markus stood up and left his seat. They had never seen Markus so enraged.

He stormed out into the castle and headed to the first floor where his Defence Against the Dark Arts class was held.

He awaited the school bell to ring as he stood outside of the classroom. That was unfair of me, he thought. I need to control myself.

Dinnertime had come and Markus decided to join Cherier who was sitting with Tim at the Ravenclaw table in the Great Hall.

'Good evening' he greeted the two, trying to act somewhat happy. He had not said a word to Cherier in Defence Against the Dark arts, nor Care of Magical Creatures.

'Look, Markus, I'm sorry about before… I guess I did go a little overboard.' Cherier felt no need to apologise, as Markus had fired up like this on numerous occasions in the past, but she knew this time it truly hurt him.

'It's OK. I shouldn't have reacted the way I did.'

Cherier sighed in relief. 'I have something to tell you, something serious. Tim, go away, I want to speak to Markus in private.'

He did not budge.

'You're not even meant to be on the Ravenclaw table - go!' she ordered. He groaned and left the seat to join Hufflepuff.

'Since you're so worried about the wizard's disappearance, then'

'I never said I was so worried' Markus snapped.

'No, well… You know what I mean… Anyway,'

He rolled his eyes and let her continue.

'I was walking back to Snape's classroom in the dungeons after Care of Magical Creatures to ask him about the assignment he set us' she was whispering, her face close to Markus's, 'and I noticed a shiny blue coloured bird near the forbidden passage door, so I went to shoo it off and the door opened. The bird walked in and pointed it's beak into the dark corridor, so I followed it.'

Markus shook his head, 'Cherier, how could you? It's forbi'

'Shh! I know… The bird kept walking and stopped to wait for me. I used Lumos so I could see where I was going. I walked and walked, with the bird at my side, and reached the end of the corridor. It was just a blank wall with a huge mouth-like whole in the centre of it. I went to touch it, but the bird flew off and the door at the other end started closing, so I ran for the door and got through just before it finished closing… thank goodness… but there's definitely something strange about that corridor, with a bird leading me into it and all…'

'Strange indeed Cherier, but what's this got to do with my dad's bosses? It's just a passageway…' Markus said, slightly befuddled.

'Nothing that I know of, I just thought you might be interested. After all, Dumbledore had been brought into the whole incident somehow, what makes you think the murder doesn't have something to do with Hogwarts?'

Markus pondered what she had just said, and found himself in deep thought once again.

She may be right.