Author's Note: Chapter 2, this chapter most things will be explained and hopefully so many won't be confused, this takes place in the present where all the characters are now 16 unless stated other wise.
(Spoiler: The James Cove in this chapter is actually based on Fraser Valley, Vancouver, BC).
Tales from Hogwarts
Chapter Two: Death in Light
The Present
Summer was coming to an end soon, the days were slowly getting shorter and leaves were beginning to fall, thunder storms were now less common and the sun began to hide behind the clouds.
Matthew lay on his bed thinking about the past, he was lucky to survive that attack from Fenir, but at a cost, Remus was a cripple now and Matthew felt it was all his fault. He examined a picture on his dresser he'd taken at Hogsmeade with various friends, it was in Year 3, they were young but he'd kept the picture ever since, it began to move as if it were a video in a picture frame. He sighed deeply.
Perhaps he was going through some crises in life? Probably not, 16 really didn't seem old enough to be classified as 'old'. He hated it here, recently he'd moved across the country, and to make matters worse, he lived beside a crazy neighbor.
A rock hit the window and bounced off, it was his neighbor, again. "I know you're in there! I saw a flash a couple of minutes ago!" exclaimed Quentin, Matthew then knew it was clear that he shouldn't practice a Lumos Maxima when Quentin is home.
Matthew decided to ignore the crazy 11 year old and went to the phone on his dresser, he didn't dial a number not because it didn't have numbers to dial but because the phone was special, it was something his father had picked up on his travels, something he picked up from a leprechaun one afternoon. The phone was powered by the user's magical energy, using thought rather than words, it was private and amazing.
"Hello?" said Matthew in his head, he was hoping Joshua would pick up, then it hit him, were there long distance calls on this thing? Luckily Joshua picked up, "yes?" he replied in thought. "I'm guessing you're busy?" asked Matthew, he chuckled a thought.
"Nope, I'm all free" replied Joshua, suddenly a large stone hit Matthew's window, he was startled, this kid was really starting to get him mad. It was time to scare the little guy. "I'll be right back" said Matthew into the phone, he put the phone in his back pocket and opened the window. A part of him said no, the human part that is. Ever since he'd been scratched by Fenir he felt freer, wild, he didn't want to wear socks, and couldn't stand ties or cutting his nails, he let them grow, he'd also recently acquired a red eye, he didn't mind.
He jumped out the window and landed on the grass, Quentin was amazed, he stumbled on the ground, he was so fearful he didn't bother taking a picture. "Stay still…magical creature…" said Quentin, he hesitated to grab his camera, Matthew began picking at his teeth. "What are you doing?" he asked, fearful that it was magic of some kind.
Matthew laughed. "I'm picking food out of my teeth, what else?", "don't you idiotic human's do that too?" he replied. Quentin shook his head. "But you're a human too aren't you?" asked Quentin. Matthew grinned showing a large tooth in the back of his mouth.
"Actually, I'm not, I like to chew my food really well and just taste all the blood, savor it actually. Then I keep some of the body in the side of my mouth if I ever want something to chew on" said Matthew, the 11 year old began running now. "It's actually pretty good if you put some stake sauce!" he shouted after him.
"I heard the whole thing" said Joshua. "Yep, he won't be coming back for a while" said Matthew, he took the piece of gum he had passed on as a raw meat into his hand. "I think I have an idea" said Matthew as he watched a squirrel run past, Matthew glared at it he began to walk after it slowly.
"What?" asked Joshua, Matthew crawling on the floor after the squirrel now, he couldn't tell why. "How about we get the whole group back together?" asked Matthew, he pounced on the squirrel.
"How?" asked Joshua, Matthew's eyes filled with glee as he almost squeezed the little squirrel. "I say, we go on a roadtrip" he replied as he brought the squirrel closer to his mouth.
"Sure, um, I'll tell the others but I have to go right now, see you later?" said Joshua, he hung up. Suddenly Matthew realized how inhuman he was acting, he was about to eat a squirrel! He dropped the squirrel as it ran off, he wondered. What was becoming of him?
Megan threw a rock at the large lake, she wondered, what was across from them?
"So, when are you expecting to run out of rocks?" asked Brittany, the rocks on the beach were almost all gone, it would soon look like a barren wasteland. "Sometime between now and never" replied Megan, she reached for another rock, it was true, she's thrown all the rocks into the lake.
"We should be heading back soon" called Samantha from behind the trees. She examined her watch. "It's almost 4 o'clock" she continued, Brittany laughed, she'd managed to find a rock. "Yah, 4 o'clock in 1 hour" she said, she threw the rock across the water, it skipped and disappeared into the greenish glaze of the water.
James Cove was one of the few places tourists didn't exploit during the summer, it wasn't all that popular around residents either, the place was littered with garbage, radio-activity and all sorts of things that would make it unappealing.
Or so it seemed, at the beginning of summer several years ago, the girls had stumbled upon this spot, they'd wanted to keep it too them selves, so they put a charm on the place, to muggles; James Cove looked like a wasteland but if walked into at the right spot, James Cove will be seen for what it really is, a small beach.
"What are you doing?" asked Samantha as she began to clear off their picnic table. "Swimming to the other end of the cove, it's too far to walk around anyways" replied Lola taking off her shoes and tucking her socks in them.
"Why?" asked Samantha, Lola laughed. "Come on, don't tell me you haven't wondered what's on the other side?" she asked, Samantha didn't know what to say, she replied with an "I guess…".
"So you coming or not? I persuaded Brittany into it" said Megan, Brittany shrugged, summer was almost over, they needed somewhat of an adventure.
"Fine" said Samantha.
They began to swim towards the other end, occasionally one of them would fall behind but eventually catch up but it was a good long swim, Lola stopped halfway, she stared at the tallest tree in on the other side. "Was that tree there before?" she asked, everyone shrugged.
"Weird…" she added, and continued to swim across.
Christopher wasn't like most in a sense, he would rather read than play most sports, he was a scientific guy, science was power. He decided to spend this week in the library researching parallel dimensions and such, he had a theory but he needed the right leverage.
"Excuse me" said Christopher politely, the tall man at the counter turned around. "Yes?" he asked.
"Do you have any books on some magnetism, polarity, or anything of the sort?" asked Christopher, the man was puzzled, Christopher could tell the man hadn't heard of those subjects.
The man nodded. "Of course…I'll get right on it…" said the man, he began to type on the computer, Christopher shook his head, he stood eye level with the man. "Actually, I'd rather find the books myself. I recommend that you read up on those subjects" said Christopher and he was off. The man was puzzled, he'd been told off by a 16 year old?
Christopher found the needed books within minutes, he grabbed an empty table and sat down, immersing himself in the large heavy books, he could've been reading for hours upon hours, if only there weren't any distractions.
A girl had sat down beside him, she also had a large book in her hand, she began to read humming Beethoven's Symphony No.9, well that's what Christopher thought she was humming. She began to edge closer and closer into him, causing him to almost drop the book several times. She noticed him and began to speak. "Is that-" she began, Christopher slammed the book down, science waited for no man, let alone a girl. "Another time" he said, and ran off.
"Give it back!" shouted Matthew as Alex had used his wand to jinx Matthew's radio. The radio was now running amuck around the house, the power cord running after it.
"Gotcha" said Matthew, he supposedly grabbed the radio, if not the power cord slapped him across the face. It left a deep cut that had disappeared within seconds. Weird thought Matthew, since when did that happen?
He then returned to reality, the radio was on the windowsill, ready to jump off.
Matthew ran towards it as the radio edged closer to the open with each footstep.
"One more step Matt and your radio is gone" said Alex, he laughed. Matthew glared at his brother, the stare spoke louder than words. Don't do it Alex, you'll regret it. Said the stare. Alex smiled back. That's what you think. Replied Alex's stare, and with the flick of a wand, the radio jumped and came crashing to the backyard.
Alex laughed, he laughed so hard he was rolling on the floor, Matthew didn't, he clenched his fists.
"That was the last straw" said Matthew, it was in a voice that didn't sound like his, it was-demonic. Alex stopped laughing, he just stared awkwardly. "Calm down Matt, you can fix the radio with Reparo, it was a crappy radio anyways" suggested Alex.
The hairs on Matthew's back stood up, he sprouted hair and his nails grew longer, the soon he had a red eye and a yellow eye, both capable of looking in any direction individually. He had longer ears, his teeth became longer and more profound.
"What are you doing…? Is this some kind of charm?" asked Alex, he was about to run upstairs, if Matthew hadn't jumped on him. It was clear now, Matthew was a werewolf. It was his first transformation and he was attacking his brother. He pounced once as Alex screamed from the pain, his shoulder had just been dislocated, maybe a few other things were broken in the process, Matthew's new ears twitched.
He had a better hearing than before, he could hear things he could never hear, even with magic. He heard the pop of Alex's bone, he heard the gasp Alex gave before passing out from the pain. Matthew turned back to normal, he had only one red eye like before now, he stared at the palm of his right hand, the scratch he'd gotten from Fenir, it was larger.
Matthew then knew he couldn't stay anymore, he'd have to go to the only person that could help him. He pulled on an old baseball hat and some clothes, he packed his stuff and the money he had. He wrapped Alex's arm up and lay him to rest. He left a note that his mom would hopefully find.
He vowed, not to come back, until he'd found a cure for the monster he'd become.
He walked onto the sidewalk dragging his baggage behind him, he took one last look at his house, he knew what he was going to do, first he'd find Remus and ask him how he was cured, but at the same time hunt down Fenir. Of course, he'd never be able to do all this by himself, he'd have to finish his sixth year at Hogwarts at the same time. He sighed, nothing was ever that easy these days.
Joshua was getting pretty annoyed, he hated it when he had to wait, he'd been standing here for almost 30 minutes now. If he wasn't doing this for Matthew he would've left already. And to make matters worse, it was raining. He rang the doorbell once again. No reply.
Everyone (excluding the boys) was supposed to be at Megan's house, no one was there! He was angry, until he had an idea. He crept to the back, opening the fence door. They're probably laughing in the back of the house, thought Joshua paranoid. They're probably thinking I'll stay here all night. That's when he noticed, on the back door their was a note.
Dear Joshua, or anyone whom this may concern, we've left to go to James Cove for the day, we will not be back until about 4:30 pm. Try calling one of our cells if you honestly can't wait until we get back. Don't cry too much ok?
It was a cruel and sick joke thought Joshua, cruel and sick. But something was strange, he knew about the incantation on the Cove but wasn't it closed off for dangerous landscape last time he checked?
He brought out his cell phone to warn them and searched a couple of numbers on it. He called Megan's cell phone, he didn't know what he would do if she didn't pick up. The phone rang, someone answered, but it wasn't exactly Megan. "Hello?" asked Joshua.
Earlier that afternoon, the girls had finished swimming across, Brittany was the first to climb onto land, she cherished the moment. As Lola climbed up, she left to examine the tree in the east of the forest. "Go on" she told the rest, they shrugged and left.
"Maybe she's right about the tree thing?" asked Samantha, they walked down a rocky part of the forest, it was cramped to the brim with trees. Brittany gasped in disgust, she'd stepped in something watery, it was transparent, but she was certain it wasn't water.
"Why did you have to bring me along?" she complained. Megan shrugged, until there was a shudder in the trees, she stopped in her path, "what was that?" she asked. No one knew, they all just stared and looked around at the trees. Megan screamed, she had tripped over a rock and was tumbling backwards, it was a long way down.
"Megan? You alright?" shouted Samantha down the hill, no reply, and it was becoming too dark to look down. "See, this is why I said to leave early" said Samantha, Brittany was about to reply with something, "Well…" she began, then she thought, she took the initiative and didn't argue.
"Well, I say we go down there and look for her" said Brittany, Samantha's eyes opened wide. "How? We have no flashlights, nothing" she replied, Brittany smiled. She pulled out her wand. "Lumos" she said, a light emitted from her wand, it illuminated the night.
Samantha's mouth dropped open. "How did you by pass the rules, no magic under 17 outside Hogwarts" she enforced, Brittany didn't realize, she stared at the light. "Your right…" she said as she ventured downwards, they'd be unstoppable with magic, right?
Meanwhile Megan had fainted from the fall, blood trickled down her forehead, a shadowy figure stood above her as her cell phone eventually vibrated it's way out of her pocket. The figure picked it up, crushed it between its hands and howled.
Matthew walked down the sidewalk, half expecting the antidote to pop up right on the sidewalk, meanwhile the streetlamps began to flicker the closer he got to the end of the street, cars began to pass faster and faster. Time was passing around him at a speed he couldn't comprehend, meanwhile he was stuck in the same time zone, or so it seemed. A violet covered-slim triple Decker bus flew past cars and stopped right next to him, wind blew against him causing him to stumble onto the ground.
Stan Shunpike, the conductor of the infamous Knight Bus stuck his head out of the window. Matthew began to empty his pockets at the site of him. "Sorry Stan" he began. "I have no money" he said, he pulled his pockets inside out. Stan waved away his pockets and walked out of the bus starring him in the face, they were equally tall. "Don't worry mate, you got a friend here who says it's an emergency" mused Stan, Matthew's face lit up. Who could it be?
Daniel revealed his face, his long ears twittered rapidly. "D, is that you? You're back from Ireland? What's it been, 3 months?" asked Matthew. Daniel shook his head but gave a smile. "That's not the point, we have to go, something bad is brewing" said Daniel, he was puffing loudly, panicking almost. Matthew didn't hesitate at all, he climbed in and Ernie drove them off.
Christopher decided to read at home, it was safer and quieter. But he was starting to notice a pattern, something strange. He was reading some Norse Mythology, maybe it would take his mind off of everything.
He got to a chapter on The End of the World dubbed Ragnarok. It talked about Jormungandr, Hel, and to his surprise, Fenir and their parents, Loki and Angerboda. Funny though, one of the preludes to Ragnarok was Loki being binded, it reminded him of how Megan had brought down that troll the same way. The third and last prelude was 3 horrible winters, it reminded him of the ice at Bill and Fleur's wedding.
Wait a minute, he thought. Could he be on to something? Were all 3 preludes happening? He began to read further. The wolf Skoll and his brother Hati supposedly devour Sol and her brother Mani.
It was a theory, but he was almost sure it would happen, he'd have to wait for this winter to find out, then another thought, what if Fenir wasn't there at the wedding? What if it was Skoll? He wondered, Fenir never actually referred to himself as Fenir. Or maybe, possibly, there could've been a switch when a possible real Fenir hit the tree.
He read on, according to the text, Sol was in a chariot pulled by two horses, the flaming chariot he thought, it could be possible, then he dared read on. Hati…Hati could possibly be Matthew he thought, maybe Fenir if that is he turned him into his own brother…but then he came to one of his last and final passages in the book; Fenir is supposedly trapped, which defeats the purpose of Fenir ever being at the wedding a year ago meaning, Fenir Greyback has been Skoll all this time! The thought rung in his head like a fire alarm, ding-dong went his humorous side. I have to do something said his scientific side.
He put the book in his backpack, he had zipped the bag when he heard a faint muffling. He brought out the book again only for it to speak. "Thank heavens you released me from that prison, what's your name kind sir?" said the book, it had a face it was covered in words and had a 15th century accent.
Christopher starred at the book, wide eyed and drop mouthed.
"What are you starring at me for? You have to get to Iceland!" said the book, Christopher was puzzled. "Why Iceland?" he asked. The book was about to reply if Joshua hadn't barged through the door. Why don't I keep that closed? He thought.
"Chris man! We have to go quick, I think Megan and the others are in trouble!" he shouted from downstairs, Christopher slammed the book shut as the face in the book gave a loud "ouch!", he stuffed it in his backpack and ran downstairs, he pocketed his wand and they were both off.
Christopher decided not to tell Joshua about Ragnarok, not yet, he didn't want too until he was absolutely sure that it was happening, besides, they'd find out one way or another if this hell of a book didn't shut up, it squirmed in his backpack muttering, after a while it gave up.
The Knight Bus stopped in front of James Cove and dropped off both Daniel and Matthew, they had ran up just in time to see the burst of light from Brittany's wand. It illuminated the night, the girls screamed.
Matthew and Daniel almost rushed in until Joshua stopped them. "Look, we're never going to live through this if you go in without backup! Bring out your wands and-" Joshua couldn't finish instructing, Brittany's light went out and she screamed again.
"And we're losing time" finished Matthew, he ran into the dark abyss.