Chapter 35: Trio Reunited
Olivia folded her arms. "Was that the vault after the Forest one?"
"Yes," Jacob answered.
"Did you go to the Buried Vault by yourself?"
"Rakepick took me. And she abandoned me there."
"Doesn't surprise me. She messed with my memories when I confronted her over Duncan's death, and I only recently found out thanks to your sister."
"Maybe that wouldn't have happened if you hadn't stormed off."
"How could you say that?" Olivia snapped. "Duncan died and I wanted nothing to do with you!"
"Guys! Stop fighting," Claire urged. "Jacob wanted to reconcile with you, Olivia, not hurt your feelings. But I'm not sure why you're rubbing salt into the wounds, Jacob."
"Sorry," Jacob apologized. "I guess this whole reconciliation isn't going to be easy."
"I just want to know if you were the one who pushed Duncan to brew the extra powerful Erumpent Potion or not," Olivia said on the verge of tears.
"'R' pushed him, not me," Jacob stated. "They were threatening all of our loved ones' lives if we didn't do what they told us to do. So they instructed me and Duncan to go to the Forest Vault and while I stole an arrowhead from the Centaur herd in the area, Duncan brewed the Erumpent Potion to deal with the Acromantula guarding the vault."
"What about Duncan?" Olivia asked Claire. "How did he feel after he died?"
"He hated Jacob for taking the blame on 'R''s crimes and joining them after he was expelled," Claire said.
Olivia then looked guilty. "I've been spending all these years blaming Jacob for what happened, but he was really trying to protect everyone he loved. Oh, I feel so rotten!"
As Olivia covered her eyes to hide her tears, Jacob parted her hands away. "You didn't know, Liv! So don't go blaming yourself. If we had stuck together like we always did, none of this would've happened."
Shaking her head, Olivia said, "We can't dwell on the past now. All we can do is look towards the future, and try to become better people."
Nodding in agreement, Jacob let go of Olivia's hands. "So…I guess we'll talk to Duncan now."
"Right," Claire said. "I'll go get him."
In the Prefect's Bathroom, Claire met with Charlie who agreed to help her get Duncan.
"Let's make this quick," Charlie said. "Barnaby got released from the Hospital Wing, and Liz wants to cheer him up by having lunch with the Kneazels. I agreed to bring snacks."
"Then let's get this over with," Claire responded and cupped her hands. "DUNCAN!"
An apparition of a dark-haired boy appeared, and he ran over to Claire looking upset.
"You didn't need to shout," Duncan said. "I may be dead, but I'm not that dead!"
"I'm sorry, Duncan," Charlie apologized. "We thought maybe you floated away."
"I would never leave the only place where no one would disturb me," Duncan replied. "But ever since you two showed up, I've been thinking of relocating. Now what do you want with me?"
"Jacob and Olivia are by the Lakeshore, and they want to talk with you," Claire said.
Duncan frowned. "Why do they want to talk today?"
"They want to make amends for their past mistakes. It might help you too."
"But I'm the victim here! Olivia didn't do anything to save me, and your brother caused me to die horribly!"
"That's not fair to either of them! People make mistakes, Duncan, and if you truly value your past friendship with them then it's not worth holding a grudge against them."
"Okay, then why didn't Olivia see me before she graduated from Hogwarts?"
"She probably didn't know your ghost resided here. And she wasn't a Prefect as far as I know."
"No, she wasn't. Maybe I avoided her because…who would ever befriend a ghost?"
"I think Olivia would have, and Jacob if he didn't get trapped in the Buried Vault portrait."
After pacing on air, Duncan finally said, "I guess I'll speak with Olivia and Jacob, but only because I'd like to give them a piece of my undead mind!"
Nodding in agreement, Claire left the Prefect's Bathroom with Duncan floating behind her. She reached the Lakeshore in no time where Olivia and Jacob were conversing among themselves. But when she looked back, Duncan was nowhere to be seen.
"Um, where's Duncan?" Jacob asked Claire.
"He was with me just a moment ago," Claire said. "I swear!"
"Always late, Duncan was," Olivia remarked.
"Yet he still managed to get good marks, even when he skipped classes," Jacob added.
"But he did always keep his promises, like the time he promised to eat a slug if I did better on that Charms exam," Olivia pointed out.
It was at that moment that Duncan appeared right next to Claire holding up an accusatory finger. "You only beat me by half a point, Olivia! And that's because you talked the professor into agreeing with you!"
"Why didn't you show yourself, Duncan?" Claire demanded.
"I wanted to hear what everyone said about me before I showed up," Duncan said.
A moment of silence followed as Olivia, Jacob, and Duncan looked at each other.
"You look great, Jacob," Duncan remarked.
Jacob was surprised. "Oh, thank — "
"For not being dead, even though you should be," Duncan finished.
"Okay, that was a bad start to the conversation," Olivia said. "I can't even think of a joke to break the ice. Claire, help me out!"
Claire thought for a moment and then said, "Did you know that Leucrottas can jump higher than the average house?"
"Really?" Olivia's eyes widened.
"Because the average house can't jump," Claire said, adding the punchline to her joke.
As Olivia laughed, Duncan and Jacob joined in.
"Thanks, Pip," Jacob said to Claire as he dried his eyes. "I needed that."
"Yeah, but will someone please tell me why I'm here?" Duncan insisted. "This is the first time I've been out of the castle since I've died, so this had better be worth it!"
To be continued…
