Chapter 8

Allen climbed downstairs slowly, mulling over the scene between the boy Malfoy and the greasy-haired teacher Snape. What was Malfoy hiding? How much did Snape know about it, and why was he protecting him? Didn't teachers, you know, put a stop to suspicious things?

At least Allen figured they were supposed to. Cross had certainly been quick to catch Allen if he was up to anything…like conking his master on the head to avoid another night of bar-hopping.

Just to name a random example.

Mana had taught him the basics (reading, writing, simple math, their own secret alphabet) but Cross made him a whiz at math—you had to be to count cards. Allen had learned to think on his feet, to trust his instincts. He couldn't imagine sitting in a building for the express purpose of learning…and he couldn't imagine any teacher allowing a student to do as they pleased, either.

He was back on the fourth floor and figured he might as well do a second search. He hobbled down the hall, opening doors to empty classrooms, calling for Tim, the heels of his crutches clicking against the stone.

Soon, however, thoughts of his weird encounter were forgotten as Allen opened what he thought was an unused classroom and was hit full in the face with a flash of bright yellow light.

The door swung open and hit the wall with a bang, and Allen stared at the face of a tall white boy with bad teeth, holding a wand and cringing as he saw where his wayward spell had hit.

"Hoooonk—" Allen began, but then stopped as the squawking of a goose sounded. He cleared his throat and tried again. "HOOONK—!" and then stopped. "Honk," he tried, and even as he cleared his throat and tried to talk, to ask what was going on, a goose sounded back.

"What on earth is going on over there?" called a stern Scottish voice, and the boy with bad teeth looked back and then gestured at Allen to come in.

"Sorry 'bout that," he said sheepishly, but Allen was staring at the large classroom, full of students in green and red ties staring at him, some laughing at the goose noises he'd been making.

Allen started to say, "It's alright," but stopped as the honking recommenced, to the amusement of all.

"Mr. Walker, what are you doing out of bed?" Professor McGonagall said as she came over, and Allen realized where he recognized that voice. She waved her wand with a quick incantation and said, "Try talking now."

Allen hesitated, then cleared his throat and tried out, "Um, testing…okay. Thank you," he said to McGonagall, who nodded sharply.

"Now tell me, Mr. Walker, what are you doing walking around?"

Allen sighed, very tired of answering this question. "I was looking for my golem, Timcanpy. Have you seen him? Yellow thing with wings and a funny tail."

"What's a golem?" called a thick Irish voice, and Allen glanced over to see a shorter, sandy-haired boy, his taller black friend nodding beside him.

"A golem's an automaton, generally made of clay, animated as a tool for wizards and witches to use," said a girl with bushy brown hair, two boys standing nearby.

"Thank you, Miss Granger," McGonagall said stiffly, turning back to Allen expectantly.

"So, have you anything seen like that, ma'am?" Allen asked, very politely.

McGonagall frowned, but Allen didn't think it was at him. "Was it that yellow thing that was protecting you the night you came in?"

Allen nodded.

McGonagall shook her head. "Then I'm sorry, I haven't seen him since then."

Allen nodded sadly, and then looked around the class. "Have any of you seen something like that?" They all shook their heads.

"Maybe if you had a picture, it would help?" the girl called Granger suggested.

Allen nodded. "I can't really draw, though…"

"Dean can," the Irish boy Seamus said, pulling his friend forward. "Just give a description."

"My class has already been interrupted enough for one afternoon," McGonagall called, and some of the hubbub died down. McGonagall turned back to Allen and said sternly, "I will have Miss Granger escort you back to your room, where you will remain until dinner." Allen was tempted to argue, but her stern tone and severe expression did not welcome debate, and so he simply nodded.

"Good."

Just then the bell rang and students went over to retrieve their things, a low hum of conversation filling the air. The students glanced curiously at Allen as they left, until it was just him, the bushy haired girl and her two friends.

The girl came over and held out a hand. "I'm Hermione Granger. These are Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter," she added, gesturing first to the tall redheaded boy and then to a slightly shorter black-haired one.

Allen nodded at them. "Nice to meet you. I'm Allen Walker."

Hermione nodded once, her expression stiff and her teeth nibbling nervously on her lower lip. "Shall we get going, then?"

"Sure," Allen said, and the four of them headed out of the room.

Hermione asked where Allen was staying and he gave her the location, and so for a few feet they were silent, Allen lagging behind due to the crutches and the crowd jostling him around. After another few feet Hermione slowed her pace to match Allen's, Harry and Ron just ahead.

They entered a hallway with fewer students and Ron turned around, walking backwards. "So, Allen, where'd you get that scar?"

"Ronald!" Hermione scolded, but Ron shrugged and said, "You were curious about it, don't deny it."

Hermione puffed up and snapped, "Do you not have any tact?"

"It's fine," Allen said, glancing at the two before meeting Ron's eyes, the boy waiting expectantly. "Accident when I was little."

"How about that hair? You dye it or something?"

Allen smiled despite himself and shook his head. "Nope, it's natural."

"No kidding? You know, we know a lady who's a Metamorphmagus, can change her appearance however much she likes."

"Is that so?" Allen said.

"Yeah," Ron piped up, clearly glad to be talking. "Wicked, innit it? So what's up with you, you part Veela or something?"

Allen wasn't sure how to respond but he was saved when the other boy, Harry, spoke up. "I don't think he wants to hear about transforming wizards when Neville almost turned him into a goose." Ron snorted and Hermione managed a smile next to Allen. He shook his head, a smile gracing his own features.

"I've seen some weird things, but that was a first," he admitted.

"What were you looking for, anyway?" Hermione said. "You called it a golem, but wizards don't use those much anymore."

Allen sighed, wishing he had that picture that the Irish boy volunteered his friend to draw. "Timcanpy, a little golden—"

"Wait, that thing that was with you when…" Ron said, and then shut his mouth, looking suddenly uneasy.

Allen glanced at the three of them. Keeping his voice bright he asked, "What?"

No one answered immediately. They reached the stairs and Allen fell behind again as he carefully maneuvered the crutches. The three friends were ahead, heads bent together and whispering furiously. Allen only caught a few words here and there, but was more focused on staying upright.

They hit the bottom of the steps and Harry was the one to speak first. "Well, um, Allen...see, this isn't actually the first time we met. We were there, when you got cursed…" He left the statement hanging, watching Allen's reaction carefully. Ron and Hermione stood beside him, expressions a mingling of concern and curiosity.

"Oh. I see." He watched their anxious looks, unconsciously tensing.

"Allen," Hermione ventured, "Perhaps you could tell us what happened. Can you remember anything at all?" Glancing back at Harry and Ron she added nervously, "You see, the other one who was cursed, Katie, she's a classmate of ours and…"

Allen's shoulders loosened, his body slumping onto his supports as he nodded, understanding and relief filling him. They were just concerned for their friend. They weren't after his secrets; they just wanted to know if this Katie girl would be alright.

"I don't want to talk about it, but I'm sure Katie is fine," he said with a smile. "See, look at me, I'm already walking around and everything."

Hermione glanced at her friends and took a step forward. "That's just it, we haven't heard anything about her waking up at all. We were wondering…well…" Allen saw the unspoken question in her eyes. Why him? Why was he moving, walking, eating, and awake?

If he was in their situation, he'd wonder the same thing.

He smiled sadly. "I don't know. But I'm grateful. I don't know how your friend is doing, but I know she'll be alright. I have a good feeling about it." He glanced at the hall and finished, "I think I can find my way from here. Thanks for walking me back."

With that, he turned and went off, leaving the trio behind without a glance.

xox

Harry, Ron and Hermione stared at the boy's back as he walked away, not saying a word until he was gone from sight.

"Well that was weird," Ron said simply. Harry nodded, but Hermione's brow was furrowed in thought. Together they headed upstairs and back to Gryffindor tower.

"It just doesn't make any sense," Hermione said after a few minutes. "There's just no way someone could recover from a curse that powerful so quickly."

"Maybe he had some kind of protective amulet or something," Harry offered.

Hermione seemed to think it over. "Maybe."

Ron glanced at her. "What are you thinking?"

She shook head, readjusting her bag on her shoulder. "I just don't think it's possible. Madame Pomfrey's good, but she had to send Katie to St. Mungo's while Allen stayed here…which means he woke up before Katie was moved."

"The same day he was cursed, you mean?" Harry added. Hermione nodded.

Ron threw over his shoulder, "Remember hearing about the damages to the hospital wing? Wonder if he has anything to do with it."

"Oh, those must have been done by some animal, something Hagrid brought up," Hermione said dismissively.

"But why would Hagrid take anything to Madame Pomfrey?" Harry said, musing on the idea. "He could probably take care of it himself."

Hermione didn't have an answer for that, and so the mystery of the white-haired stranger remained for another day.

A/N:I just realized Ron calling Allen part Veela meant he thought he was attractive. ...welp.

Learnin' time: Golems are Jewish in origin and are actually defined as an 'animated anthromorphic being' made of unfinished material; essentially a golem is an unfinished product to create animate life. According to the Wikipedia summary of the Talmud, Adam, the first man, was an animated golem created from mud, and that any golem created by someone other than God could imitate the creation of life but never quite achieve it. Interesting stuff all around. The definition given by Hermione as golems being wizard tools, however, works in this context.

Well, everybody's met, so that's good at least.