Chapter 7
The end of the term tests weren't as difficult as Ewan thought. For Charms he had to make a pineapple dance across his desk. Ewan thought it would be funny to do different kinds of dances, Professor Flitwick scored him high for making the pineapple do the Macarena. Then in Transfiguration, they had to turn a mouse into a snuff box. Again he was scored high for making the box extra girly for Professor McGonagall, she was so happy she insisted on keeping it that way. Professor Snape was a little harder. He made them properly brew a Forgetfulness Potion, which wasn't necessarily hard, except the Professor kept looking over his shoulder. His History of Magic exam took the longest, because it didn't have a practical exam. He sat at his desk filling in answers or who built the self-stirring Cauldron, and other wizards who invented different things.
The year had seemed to fly by faster than you can say quidditch. Unfortunately, Slytherin had won both house cup and quidditch cup. Ravenclaw was in a close second for both. The end of term feast had been delicious. Everyone was excited to be going home for summer vacation. Ewan was looking forward to a whole summer full of footie and muggle friends.
The only thing that Ewan was upset about was that students weren't allowed to do magic at home, at least until they were seventeen. Thankfully, his Mum and Dad said he could go over Fred and George's house during the summer, so it wouldn't be too bad. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley used magic every day, and even though Mr. Weasley loved all things muggle, he still used magical means to do basic things, like cleaning and cooking.
After putting his truck under his seat in his compartment, we waved out to Hagrid, who was seeing the students off. Moments later, the Weasley boys, except Percy, toppled into the compartment. Bill, who just graduated, had told them how he was hoping to get a job at Gringotts, the wizard bank, as a curse breaker.
Later, the boys changed into their muggle clothes as the train came to a stop. People started filing out immediately. Ewan separated from the crowd and found Jon and Lara, who were standing with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and their two youngest, Ronald and Ginny. After promising to write and maybe come over later in the summer, Ewan and his parents went on their way.
The summer had passed quickly for Ewan, with summer homework finished and new term supplies bought, he had a lot of time to spend with his muggle friends. Like the saying goes: 'Time flies when you're having fun.' thought Ewan has he pushed his trunk under his seat on the Hogwarts express.
Charlie Weasley, Captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team, Prefect, Seventh-year, and Fred and George's second oldest brother, came into the compartment followed by Fred and George.
"Hey guys" said Ewan.
"Hey short-stuff, what's up?" said Charlie, who thought of Ewan like another younger brother.
"Nothing much, excited about quidditch, I'm going to be full-time chaser this year, replacing Carlson. You?" replied Ewan.
"Oh nothing, hoping to get an internship next year in Romania… working with Dragons!" Charlie loved Magical Creatures, especially dragons. It was no wonder, he could be found always talking to Hagrid and always getting an 'O' in Care of Magical Creatures.
"What about you two?" Ewan asked the twins.
"Oh we're not Fred and George anymore, mate." replied George. Ewan scrunched his face in confusion.
"Not this again" complained Charlie, "seriously; it's getting old you two."
"Wait, who are you then?" asked Ewan, not sure if he wanted to know the answer.
"Messer's. Gred and Forge." answered George/Fred.
Charlie looked down, shaking his head. Ewan grinned. Second year was looking to be an excellent year.
Ewan wasn't really being attention to the sorting. Only a few names stood out. "Carmichael, Eddie", "Chang, Cho", and "Edgecombe, Marietta". All Ravenclaw's, even though it looked to be about ten new Ravenclaw's total
Ewan had eaten his filling and he was getting tired and wanted to go to bed. So as soon as Dumbledore dismissed them he rushed to the common room hoping to beat the new first years.
"It occurs once in every minute, Twice in every moment, And yet never in one hundred thousand years. What is it?" said the bronze, eagle-shaped knocker.
Ewan stood in surprise. The questions and riddles get harder as you progress in Hogwarts. He looked around, no one was there. He wanted to answer before the first years came. Thinking the riddle in his head, 'It occurs once in every minute, Twice in every moment, And yet never in one hundred thousand years'. Finally, as if a light bulb had turned on in his head, Ewan knew the answer. "The letter 'm'." he answered.
Thankfully, the door opened.
Not much had changed at Hogwarts except for a new defense teacher and new muggle studies teacher. Apparently, Professor Quirrell was taking a year off to gain experience dealing with Dark Arts.
The teachers expected more of the new second years now that they have mastered the basics. Which was okay with Ewan, he never had to work hard for good grades. The one thing he wasn't expecting was quidditch practice to start so suddenly, it wasn't even the first Saturday of the new term when the Ravenclaw quidditch captain woke him up at the break of dawn.
Quidditch practices were always an intense affair. Most of the time, the players would get so dirty and wet, or plain tired that they would mostly end up in trouble with Filch. Of course, like last year, when Ewan got in trouble, Snape was always the one he would have to report too. This year was no exception. So one night, after a very long and tiring quidditch practice, Ewan had to report to Professor Snape for his first detention of the year.
Ewan never minded the detentions with Snape, due to always learning new things about potions, no other person in his class knew, however, Snape always seemed to give him an interrogation. If it were about his classes, his friends, or even quidditch, he would have no trouble asking. But all the man asked about was his history. History, Ewan hardly remembered, and the man never got the hint that Ewan didn't want to talk about it.
"I want two hundred lines, Mr. Tyler. 'I will not track my filthy body through a clean castle.' And it better be done in two hours." said the Potions Master.
"Yes, sir." Said Ewan, pulling out parchment and a quill.
"How was your summer?" asked the Potions Master.
"Good, sir." Answered Ewan.
"Didn't get into any trouble, I hope."
"Oh, no, sir. I hung out with my muggle friends. Play footie, you know…"
"Footie?" asked Professor Snape.
"It's a muggle sport, like quidditch but on the ground and only one ball and one goal post, and instead of throwing the ball, you kick it… with your foot."
The Potion master lifted and eyebrow.
After finishing his two hundred lines, he was dismissed. When he arrived back to the dorms, everyone else was already asleep. Exhusted, he laid his head down on his pillow. He closed his eyes, hoping sleep claimed him quickly.
FLASHBACK
"Mummy, I'm bored." said three year-old Ewan.
"I know honey, why don't you go read?" Said Lily while feeding her youngest, Harry.
"I don't wanna read…" complained the child.
"Go color." suggested Lily.
"I don't wanna color…"
"Go play outside then, just stay in the wards" said Lily.
"I don't wanna go outside…"
"Ewan, I'm sorry but those are my suggestions" said Lily taking a look at the three year-old.
"Fine…" said Ewan going to his room.
END OF FLASHBACK
The next morning he had practice again. Then, his schedule would start all over again. Second year schedule was harder and faster.
By the time Halloween arrived, Ewan had grown accustomed to his second year at Hogwarts. The feast contained all sorts of sweets, paving the way for sugar high's all night. There were hundreds of live bats flying around, one even pooped on a Slytherin sixth year.
After the feast, the Ravenclaws all headed towards the Ravenclaw tower, where the beds of many students were calling to them.
After Halloween, the first quidditch match of the season arrived. Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. Gryffindor won with a brilliant display of skill on the Gryffindor team including Charlie, the Gryffindor Seeker, and Fred and George, the new Gryffindor beaters.
Followed weeks later with Ravenclaws first match against Hufflepuff. The Ravenclaw quidditch team rivaled that of Gryffindor and Slytherin, however never won the cup. Far better than Hufflepuff who only had one good player Cedric Diggory. Ravenclaw beat Hufflepuff spectacularly with a win of 210- 30 Ravenclaw.
As the weeks passed and the season's changed, Ewan found himself remembering more of his life before Jon and Lara, he also discovered more of the man he was supposed to become, and received even more questions.
As he sat outside of the school over looking Hagrid's hut, while the snow of early winter fell down around him, he pondered. It was unnatural to find a child let alone and pre-teen, sitting quietly on a calm winters snow fall. However, Ewan wasn't like most boys.
Soon life would change again for this young man as it has done many times in his life. Soon he would come in contact with the Boy-Who-Lived, the Chosen One, and his little brother. But for now and for a little while he wanted to hold on to the idea that he was just Ewan Tyler.
A snowball out of no where broke him out of his reverie, followed by another one a minute later. Turning around Ewan spotted Fred and George running towards the castle. He grinned, and then followed in suit.
Christmas had quickly approached. Ewan had decided to stay at the castle. Though he wasn't alone, the Weasley's were staying as well as two young Ravenclaw first years.
Waking up Ewan quickly noticed the small pile of presents at the foot of his bed. Opening the first gift he notice it was from Mrs. Weasley it was a Navy blue sweater, also in the box was a tin of fudge. From Fred, George, and Charlie he received a large box of Chocolate Frogs, from Jon and Lara he received, a tin of his favorite double chocolate chip with peanut butter cookies, clothes, and his own wizard chess set. Putting everything away, he noticed how famished he was.
Walking into the great hall on Christmas day surprised Ewan. Rather than the four house tables there was only one. There wasn't even a staff table. The Great Hall was decorated with twelve large Christmas trees brought in by Hagrid and decorated by Professors McGonagall and Flitwick. Sitting down Ewan helped himself to some ham and eggs.
The Weasley's walked in a while later, all wearing sweater's with their initials on it. Including the Weasley's there weren't many students who stayed behind. There was: Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, and Sprout and Also Filch, Ewan, Fred, George, Charlie, Percy and four other students, the two Ravenclaw's, a Hufflepuff 4th year and a Slytherin 3rd year.
After Lunch, Fred, George, Charlie, and Ewan had a snowball fight, played two-on-two quidditch, and then snuck down to the kitchens for hot cocoa. Supper that night were fat, roast turkeys, mountains of roast and boiled potatoes, platters of fat chipolatas, tureens of buttered peas, silver boats of thick, rich gravy and cranberry sauce. Ewan even helped himself to some wizard's crackers. That went off with a blast like a cannon and engulfed them all in a cloud of blue smoke, while from the inside exploded out a wizard's hat, a dozen mice and a new deck of exploding snap. Later, when Ewan went to bed he decided that he should stay at Hogwarts for every Christmas. Surely this was a Christmas he would never forget.
