So yeah, remember when I said the next chapter would be up until Tuesday well I kinda forgot that I would actually be coming home this morning so I've been able to write this chapter haha I had a great holiday, finally got to try archery, turns out I'm pretty good. My dad said he'd buy me my own bow so I could take it up properly, yay :D Some one asked me on last chapter why Jack was in Slytherin. My answer to this is because of how mischievous and playful he is, pulling pranks etc, he just seems very cunning and ambitious to me, also everyone else seems to put him in Slytherin and it feels right :) Thanks for all the amazing support and for being so patient :) love you guys xx:)
Chapter 16 – Professor Bunnymund?
"That was Pitch Black, also known as the boogie man." I put my hands in my pockets and kicked the dirt under my feet lightly.
"The boogie man? Is that why you asked us if we believed in him?" I nodded in response to Hiccups question.
"So why did he attack me? And where did he go?" So many questions.
"I don't know where he went, probably crawled back into the shadows, I don't know why he attacked you either, Punzie, maybe to get back at me, I just don't know." I was completely clueless as to why Pitch had attacked us but now he knew I was here, which wasn't good.
"Which brings us back to the question, how does he know you?" Merida pointed a finger at my chest, squinting her eyes at me.
"He hurt someone I love, so I went after him, he wasn't exactly happy about it." It wasn't a complete lie, he had hurt Sandy, and Jamie.
"I'm guessing you have one of those relationships with a really long history that nobody really wants to listen to?" Merida nodded to herself as she said it, like she already knew the answer.
"You could say that." Hiccup then stepped forward, rubbing the side of his face with his hand.
"I recall him saying something like "Since when where you a wizard?", care to explain?" Oh god, they really weren't going to drop this where they?
"Erm..I used to live with muggles before I came here, I didn't know I was a wizard when we first met."
"My parents where muggles!" Rapunzel seemed to be very proud of this as she jumped up with her hand raised, like a child.
"I thought your mother was Professor Gothel?" Hiccup and Merida didn't seemed to be phased by this at all, they obviously knew something I didn't.
"She's not my real mother, I was adopted by her when I was very young. Or at least that what she tells me." Rapunzel's eyes held a touch of doubt as she fiddled with random strands of her hair.
"Oh...sorry." I felt kind of guilty about asking her, it didn't look like a topic she enjoyed talking about.
"No, no, she's a wonderful mother, it would just be nice to know my real parents, to know where I came from, yanno?" Her eyes looked hopeful, wishing that I understood what she meant, and I did.
"Yeah...I know." I smiled gently at her, reassuring her that I knew where she was coming from. She smiled back as she lifted her head, hair dropping around her shoulders as she did. I looked up at the sky, which was now black, to see the moon shining down on the school, reflecting off the lake.
"Come on, its getting really dark, we should get back." I looked back at the others, looking for agreement. They obviously wanted to ask more questions but shrugged it off and started climbing back through the trees and over grown shrubs until we reached the edge of the lake. I noticed large ripples in the water as a giant tentacle swam past us. That thing still creeped me out. We sneaked back inside the castle and tip toed back to our dorms. I would have usually just flew straight up to the window but obviously I couldn't do that in front of Hiccup, Merida and Rapunzel.
The next day started pretty normally, I went to breakfast with the rest of my house then started walking to my first lesson of the day with Rapunzel. Luckily no one had mentioned the previous day and what had happened with the Boggart, yet.
Slytherins and Hufflepuffs had Care of Magical Creatures together and we had all heard that there was a new professor. Me and Rapunzel where walking towards the group of students crowded around at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, discussing what weird creature we might be learning about today when I noticed the new professor standing in the middle of the students. He was very tall, in between 6 and 7 foot and looked quite young. He head shortish grey hair with dark streaks, which was unusual for a man of his age. Ask we got closer I could hear him talking to the students, he had a very thick Australian accent and bright green eyes. He reminded me of Bunny.
"That's the new professor?" I whispered to Rapunzel as we joined the group.
"Yeah, now sshhh, he's talking." He started by introducing himself to us, his dark green robes blew around him with the wind.
"Alright class, I'm Professor Jackman, your new Care of Magical Creatures teacher. Now, can anyone tell me what a Thestral is?" Someone at the front of the group put their hand up.
"Yeah, you." The professor gestured to the Hufflepuff student, allowing her to speak.
"A Thestral is a rare breed of winged horse that can only be seen by those who have witnessed death."
"Good. Now, I'm going to bring one out, just stay calm and don't scream if you can see it." The professor took a couple of steps back and used his fingers to whistle. He stepped back as large skeleton-like creature emerged from the trees. Its body was the shape of a horse but its skin was black and leathery. Huge bat-like wings sprouted from its back, flapping gently in the wind. Everything about it looked evil and it reminded me too much of Pitch's nightmares. It shook its head and snorted, mist rising from its nostrils The rest of the class seemed very calm, not even noticing the monster in front of them. Even Rapunzel was standing quietly beside me, unphased.
"So who here can see it?" I was the only one who raised my hand in the whole class. Everyone turned and looked at me with judgmental eyes. When you've been around for over 300 years, you witness a lot of things but I'd never watched someone die. Was it my own death that let me see it? Was it Sandy's? I didn't know but I didn't like how everyone was looking at me. The professor started talking again, snapping everyone's attention back to him.
"What does it look like?" Rapunzel whispered to me, staring at the spot where the Thestral was supposed to be.
"Like a nightmare." I replied in a breath. Professor Jackman continued talking for the rest of the lesson, telling us about the history of these creatures, how they can be tamed and how rare they are. Something about the professor seemed off to me but I couldn't figure out what it was. As the lesson came to a close, he lead the Thestral back into the forest then came back to the group to dismiss us. Me and Rapunzel started walking back with the rest of the the students when Professor Jackman called out to me.
"A minute, Mr Frost?" I looked behind me where the professor was waiting then turned back to Rapunzel.
"I'll see you at lunch, okay?" She nodded with a cute smile as I kissed her gently on the forehead, waving at her as she walked away. I grinned to my self as I walked back to Professor Jackman.
"I see you've got yourself a girlfriend, Frost." He said it so casually that it actually shocked me.
"Excuse me Professor but that was rather inappropriate." I folded my arms and stood in front of him.
"Jack, it's me." He gestured to himself as he laughed. I just raised my eyebrow and looked at him. He stared back at me, waiting for me to respond. I was about to just walk away but then something clicked as I looked at his eyes. Bright green. Grey hair. Australian accent.
"Bunny?" I hadn't realized before but everything just came together.
"Took ya long enough." He said with a chuckle.
"But..you're human.."
"Yup." He seemed very proud about this as he put on a smug grin.
"But..how?"
"The same way people are able to see you."
"The man in the moon?" He really could do a lot more than I thought.
"Yup." I stood back and inspected Bunny's new form.
"Well Cottontails, I must say it suits you." I nodded approvingly as he laughed sarcastically, not appreciating the nickname.
"Whats with the name anyway? Professor Jackman?"
"Well I couldn't exactly use my real name, could I mate?"
"True, true. So, whats the deal, why are you disguising as a teacher?"
"North wanted me to check up on you, considering that Babytooth is helping at the tooth palace this week. You found anything?"
"Well, there's been two attacks in the school and one on the Quidditch field, nothing serious until last night in the forest." I gestured to the trees behind us.
"The forest?"
"Yeah, he attacked us."
"What do you mean "us"?"
"Me and three other students." I didn't mention the whole deal with Rapunzel nearly dying, I promised to keep her hair a secret and I keep my promises.
"Jack! What where you doing in there with three other students? We promised the headteacher that we wouldn't put any of his students in harms way!"
"It doesn't matter why! What matters is that he knows I'm here now! He's gonna speed up his plans if he's knows that we're on to him!" We where practically shouting at each other now. Bunny stopped and started pacing in front of me.
"I'll send a letter to North, we'll form a plan. For now, you need to get as much information as possible out of the students and teachers." He said it very seriously. I nodded in agreement as he stopped pacing.
"I should probably get to my next class." He nodded but I could clearly tell he wasn't paying attention anymore so I slowly started to walk away. I'd only been walking for about a minute when Bunny shouted my name.
"JACK! Don't get too serious with that girl! It wont work!" I looked back but didn't reply. What did he mean that it wouldn't work? Rapunzel was perfect, but that's when I realized I was immortal and she was not. She'd grow old and die whereas I would stay young forever. Bunny was right but I couldn't bare the idea, it would hurt to much to say goodbye.