Saturday, September 3, 2011

To say Brian hated Thompson would be a gross overstatement. He was certainly annoyed by his antics, but he didn't hate him at all. Brian had spotted a notice on the Thunderbird notice board that made Brian worried. Flying lessons would be starting on Thursday, September 8 — and Wampus and Thunderbird would be learning in the first class, while Horned Serpent and Pukwudgie would be in the following class.

"Just what I needed," said Brian darkly. "To make a fool of myself."

He had been looking forward to learning to fly, but that didn't help his nerves.

"Hey, you don't know that you'll make a fool of yourself," said Merula reasonably. Some Thunderbirds from wizarding families began talking about their experiences on brooms, Quidditch, or Quodpot. Heck, Merula got into an argument with Barnaby Lee, another Thunderbird, about baseball. Merula couldn't see what was exciting about a game with only one ball where nobody was allowed to fly. Brian also caught Merula poking Barn's poster of the Boston Red Sox baseball team, trying to make the players move.

Brian had received a letter at breakfast from his mother and uncle Mike. This made him smile until he read the contents… at least until the end. It read:

Dear Brian,

First off, how's Ilvermorny so far? I hope you and the other students are getting along. I just got word that you selected Thunderbird as your house! Congrats!

Secondly, I've got some good news and I've got some bad news. The bad news is, Josephine tried to kidnap Alex to get her "fixed", as if Alex was cursed by a demon or something like that, never mind the fact that that's not how magic works.

The good news is, Josephine's plans were foiled when the No-Maj cops caught up to her and brought Alex home safely. Josephine has lost all visitation rights and Mike's getting a restraining order against her to keep Alex safe.

I hope you're doing well.

-Mom

P.S. I'm considering either moving to a magical neighborhood in Texas or staying in River City. Don't worry; you'll still be able to visit Uncle Mike and once Alex goes to Ilvermorny, you'll be with her.

Brian was relieved when he read that last part. He was glad that Josephine was finally out of his hair and that Alex was safe and sound.

For this weekend, Brian asked Rowan about the station in the mountain.

"Oh, that's Greylock Village Station," Rowan explained. "The village is located at the base of Mount Greylock, hence its name. Every weekend, some students, including first-years, go there to hang out."

"Wait, even first-years can go there?!"

"Well, sort of. All students need permission from their parents or guardians, except for sixth-years and seventh-years. They don't need permission."

"Ah. I'll have to get a permission slip then…"

"One might've been sent to your mom already."

Thursday, September 8, 2011

At breakfast on Thursday, Rowan was reading a library book called Quidditch Through the Ages. Ben was reading with him, hoping for anything that would help him hang on to his broomstick later. Sadly for Ben, his study session was interrupted by the arrival of the mail.

Merula's owl sometimes brought her sweets from home, which she shared with Brian, Rowan, Ben, and Barnaby.

A barn owl brought Barnaby a small package from his parents. He opened it excitedly and showed them a glass ball the size of either a tennis ball or a large marble, which seemed to be full of white smoke. Athena soon followed with a letter from Amelia. Brian looked in the envelope and saw a permission slip signed by his mother:

PERMISSION to VISIT GREYLOCK VILLAGE for

Brian Bank

This document hereby serves to state the aforementioned student of Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is permitted to visit Greylock Village at such a time that the school arranges, and with the signature of the undersigned parent or guardian.

The student shall abide by all such rules and regulations relevant to such expeditions and set by the school as per article 781 of the Ilvermorny code of conduct.

Print Name: Amelia Bank

Relation: Mother

Signature: Amelia Bank

"Hey Barnaby," said Brian, as he placed the slip in his pocket, intending on using it later, "what'd you get?"

"It's a Rememberall!" Barnaby explained. "Mama knows I forget things —this tells you if there's something you've forgotten to do. Look, you hold it tight like this and if it turns red —oh…" His face fell, because the Rememberall had suddenly glowed scarlet, "you've forgotten something…"

Barnaby was trying to remember what he'd forgotten when Thompson passed by and snatched the Remembrall out of his hand!

Brian and Merula glared daggers at Thompson, ready to demand that he return it, but Alastor Drake was there in a flash.

"What's going on?" Professor Drake asked calmly.

"Thompson's got my Remembrall, Professor!"

Scowling, Thompson quickly dropped the Remembrall back on the table.

"Just looking," he said, and he sloped away.

At 3:30 PM, Brian, Merula, and the other Thunderbirds hurried down the front steps onto the grounds for their first flying lesson. It was a clear, breezy day, and the glass rippled under their feet as they marched down the sloping lawns toward a smooth, flat lawn on the opposite side of the grounds to the forbidden forest, whose trees were swaying darkly in the distance.

The Wampus students were already there, and so were a lot of broomsticks lying in neat lines on the ground. Brian had heard Jacob complain about the school brooms, saying that some of them started to vibrate if you flew too high.

Their teacher, Mister Storms, arrived. He had short, yellow hair, and yellow eyes like a hawk.

"Welcome to your first flying lesson. Well, what are you waiting for?" he barked. "Everyone, step up to the left side of their broom."

Brian glanced down at his broom. It was old and some of the twigs stuck out at odd angles.

"Stick out your right hand over your broom," called Mister Storms at the front, "and say 'Up!'"

"UP!" everyone shouted.

Brian's broom jumped into his hand at once, but it was one of the few that did. Barnaby's had simply rolled over on the ground, and Ben's hadn't moved at all. Perhaps brooms, like horses, could tell when you were afraid, Brian figured; there was a quaver in Ben's voice that said only too clearly that he wanted to keep his feet on the ground.

Mr. Storms then showed them how to mount their brooms without sliding off the end, and walked up and down the rows correcting their grips.

"Alright. Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard," instructed Mr. Storms. "Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly. On my whistle —three —two—"

But Ben, nervous and jumpy and frightened of being left on the ground, pushed off hard before Mr. Storms could blow the whistle.

"Come back here!" he shouted, but Ben was rising straight up like a cork shot out of a bottle — twelve feet — twenty feet. Brian saw his scared white face look down at the ground falling away, saw him gasp, slip sideways off the broom and —

WHAM — a thud and a nasty crack and Ben lay face down on the grass in a heap. His broomstick was still rising and started to drift lazily toward the forbidden forest and out of sight.

Both Thunderbird and Wampus students wanted to rush to help him, but Mr. Storms told them to stay back. He bent over Ben, his face as white as his.

"Broken wrist," Brian heard him mutter. "Come on — it's alright, up you go."

He turned to the rest of the class.

"All of you are grounded while I take this boy to the hospital wing. You leave those brooms right where they are or you'll be out of Ilvermorny before you can say 'Quidditch'. Come on."

Ben, his face tear-streaked, clutching his wrist, hobbled off with Mr. Storms, who had his arm around him.

No sooner were they out of earshot than Thompson burst into laughter.

"Did you see his face?"

Surprising to him, the other Thunderbirds didn't join in.

"Why aren't you laughing?"

"Because it wasn't funny, Thompson!" Merula snapped.

"Yeah, leave the guy alone!" Another Thunderbird student barked at Thompson.

"Ah, whatever!" Thompson exclaimed. "I thought Thunderbird was for adventurers, not crybabies."

Merula rolled her eyes as she noticed something in the grass before she picked it up.

"Looks like Ben dropped it," Merula said. "Barnaby, why did he have this?"

"Oh, yeah! I forgot I let him borrow it," said Barnaby. The Remembrall glittered in the sun as she held it up before Thompson snatched it.

"Maybe if the fat lump had given this a squeeze, he'd remember to land on his fat ass!"

"Give that back, Thompson," said Brian quietly.

Thompson smiled nastily.

"No. I think I'll leave it somewhere for Lee to find it. How about on the roof?"

"Give it back!" Merula yelled, but Thompson had leapt onto his broomstick and taken off!

Hovering level with the topmost branches of an oak he called, "If you want it, then come and get it, Snyde!"

Merula grabbed her broom.

"Don't do it!" Brian warned Merula. "You'll get us all in trouble!"

"That punk's making all of us look bad, Brian!" Merula pointed out… Brian reluctantly hopped on his own broom and the two took off; air rushed through their air, and their robes whipped out behind them —and in a rush of fierce joy, Brian realized he'd found something he could do without being taught —this was easy, this was awesome!

They turned their broomsticks sharply to face Thompson in midair. Thompson looked stunned.

"Give it back and we'll pretend this didn't happen," Brian called. "Otherwise, we'll knock you off your broom!"

"Is that so?" said Thompson, trying to sneer, but looking worried.

"We're giving you ONE chance to cooperate!"

"Catch me if you can, then!" He shouted and threw the ball high into the air and flew away, but Merula flew towards him, managing to keep close!

"Brian, get the Remembrall!"

Brian saw, as though in slow motion, the ball rise up in the air and started to fall. He leaned forward and pointed his broom handle down — next second he was gathering speed in a steep dive, racing the ball — wind whistled in his ears, mingled with the screams of people watching — he stretched out his hand— a foot from the ground he caught it, just in time to pull his broom straight, and he toppled gently onto the grass with the Remembrall clutched safely in his fist!

"BRIAN BANK! MERULA SNYDE!"

His heart sank faster than he'd just dived. Professor Drake was running toward them. He got to his feet, trembling.

"Never — in all my time at Ilvermorny —"

Professor Drake was almost speechless with shock, "how could you — you might've broken your necks —"

"It wasn't their fault, Professor—"

"Be quiet, Mr. Baker—"

"But—"

"You two. Follow me, now." He ordered Brian and Merula.

Brian caught the sight of Thompson's triumphant face as they left, walking numbly in Professor Drake's wake as he strode through the castle. They were gonna be expelled, he just knew it. He wanted to say something to defend himself and Merula, but there seemed to be something wrong with his voice.

Up the front steps, up the marble staircase inside, and still Professor Drake said nothing to them. He wrenched doors open and marched along corridors with Brian and Merula trotting miserably behind him.

Professor Drake stopped outside the charms classroom, opened the door, and poked his head inside.

"Excuse me, Professor Triton, could I borrow Wick and Johnson for a moment?"

Wick and Johnson were two burly fifth-year boys who came out of the class looking confused.

"Follow me," said Professor Drake, and they marched on up the corridor.

"In here."

Professor Drake pointed them into an empty classroom.

"Bank, this is Nathan Wick. Synde, this is Xavier Johnson. Wick, Johnson — I've found you a Seeker and an Infiltrator, respectively."

Wick's expression changed from puzzlement to delight, while Johnson was a bit confused.

"Are you serious, Professor?"

"Absolutely," said Professor Drake. "They're naturals. Snyde was able to close in on Thompson with ease while Bank caught that thing in his hand after a fifty-foot dive. Didn't even scratch himself! Rebecca Snyde couldn't have done it. Was that your first time on a broom, Mr. Bank?"

The two fifth-years inspected Merula and Brian.

"They've got the perfect builds," said Wick. "Light —speedy —we'll have to get them decent brooms, Professor —a Nimbus 3000 or a Stormchaser or something like that."

"I'll talk to Professor Fontaine to see if we can't bend the first-year rule on broomsticks. We need better teams than last year."

Professor Drake peered sternly at Merula and Brian.

"I want to hear you're training hard, you two, or I may change my mind about punishing you."

Then he suddenly smiled.

"Your father would've been proud, Mr. Bank," he said. "He was quite the Quidditch player for Wampus House."

"You're joking."

It was dinnertime. Brian and Merula had just finished telling Rowan what happened when they left the grounds with Professor Drake.

"Seeker? Infiltrator?" he said. "But first-years rarely, if ever— you two must be the youngest House players in about —"

"— a century," said Brian, shoveling some pie into his mouth. He felt particularly hungry after the excitement that afternoon. "Wick told me."

Rowan was so amazed that he just sat there.

"We start training next week," said Merula. "Wick and Johnson wanna keep it a secret."

Jacob came into the hall, spotted Brian, and hurried over.

"Yo!" he said. "Wick told me. Beth and I on the team too —Beaters. We haven't won a game since Rebecca left! You must be good if Wick was that excited! Anyway, I gotta go. I think I found a new passageway!"

Jacob had hardly disappeared when someone far less welcome turned up: Thompson. And it looks like he brought company.

"Having a last meal, Bank? When are you getting the train back to the No-Majes?"

"You're a lot braver now that you're back on the ground and you've got some friends with you," said Brian coolly. Luckily, the High Table was full of teachers, so nobody could do anything.

"I'd take you on anytime on my own!" barked Thompson. "Tonight. Wizard's duel. Wands only. What, I thought you'd heard of a wizard's duel!"

"Fine," said Merula. "I'll be his second. You?"

"Her," he said, pointing to his female crony. "Midnight, trophy room. Be there."

When Thompson had gone, Brian and Merula looked at each other.

"What is a wizard's duel?" said Brian. "And what do you mean, you're my second."

"Well, a second's there if something happens to you," said Merula, but she noticed that Brian looked horrified, so she tried to calm him down. "People only die in real duels. The most you and Thompson will be able to do is send sparks at each other. I bet he expected you to refuse."

"And if I wave my wand and nothing happens?" Brian calmed down, but he was still a bit worried.

"...Throw it away and clock him?"

"Excuse me," said a voice.

They both looked and saw Rowan.

"I couldn't help but overhear that conversation, but we have curfew at night, so…"

"So," said Brian, realizing and hatching a plan, "we don't have to go. We can just let Thompson hang himself… metaphorically speaking, that is."

"He's right!" Merula pointed out. So the two decided to just… not go. So what if Thompson's ego would be inflated because his opponents didn't show? Brian would rather take that over a potential expulsion. He already had one close call; he didn't need another.

Friday, September 9, 2011 (12:00 AM)

All the same, it wasn't what you'd call the perfect end to the day, Brian thought, as he lay awake in his bed before he saw someone exit the dorm.

"That's my cue," Brian whispered as he followed him into the common room and managed to hide in the shadows with Merula.

"What an idiot!" Thompson laughed. "They're probably in the trophy room getting chewed out by a Professor! So long Snyde! Your pure-blood family will no longer darken these halls!"

"Is that so?" Brian asked, revealing himself and a rather annoyed Merula from the shadows by turning a floor lamp on.

"What the-?! Aren't you supposed to be in the trophy room?!"

"Aren't you? It seems that both of our plans worked exactly as planned. It's just that neither of us anticipated who would carry out their plan to trick the other. The result: both of us in the common room, safe and sound."

"S-so you tricked me?! How dare you?!"

"So it's okay if you trick me, but not the other way around? Sounds kinda hypocritical, if you ask me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to bed before you get us all killed —or worse, expelled." Brian went back up the elevator and tried to sleep in his bed, but had that same dream again…