Sorry I haven't updated for a while. This whole week has been nothing but due dates! I finally had some free time, so I decided to write a few chapters. Enjoy! (Don't forget to review! I love hearing from you readers.)

I sat down beside Merida in our usual desk, a long, polished dark oak table with wobbly stools to match. I leaned back in my seat and turned to talk to Merida.

"So, you seem pretty excited for this Flying Tournament." I said.

Merida nodded. "It's my favourite. I haven't gotten chosen for any teams since last year, and it was the best two games I've ever played."

"Only two?" I asked. "Punzie said there were 11 games."

"Yeah. We got eliminated after facing Tooth's team. I was on Prof. Sandy's and he tends to get the brunt of all the choices." Merida sighed.

I smiled. "Who won last year?"

"Prof. North's team. You should have seen it! They had barely been playing for a minute when suddenly, in swoops the Chief catches the snitch right off the bat! I still can't believe it." Merida shook her head in disbelief. "You've gotta hand it to him, Hiccup's more useful than he looks."

"I heard that." Hiccup called from his table.

"I know you did." Merida said. "Eavesdropping Viking." She muttered under breath.

"Heard that too!"

Suddenly, the class became much darker, and all students turned to face the looming figure that stood in the doorway.

Pitch had arrived.

"Hello, class. Open textbooks to page 117." He ordered. "Today we will be brewing the liquid shadow potion." Pitch smiled an evil grin, causing some of the nearest students to shrink back in fright.

I swear, this man got kicks out of making children cry.

"I expect a finished potion by the end of class. Go!" He barked the last word, causing several people to flinch in their seats.

I grabbed the textbook from Merida and flipped to page 117. This potion looked particularly difficult, made with very finicky ingredients.

I groaned. "There is no way we are passing this one."

"Och. Pitch is raving mad if he expects anyone to master this." Merida said.

"Time is up!" Pitch called out. Many students began standing up, ready to turn in their finished potions.

"Sit down." Pitch snarled at them. "Now, I need a volunteer."

The class remained silent, not a single person moved.

"No Gyffindors?" He asked mockingly. "I thought you were the house of the brave and daring, no?" He walked down the aisle, searching through the students for his next victim. "Fine then. Better be Ravenclaw."

Several kids on the Ravenclaw side of the room stiffened, none of them wanting to be Pitch's unlucky volunteer.

"Haddock, why don't you come stand up here." He declared, seeming to find joy in picking on the kid with the worst luck in his class.

"The gods must hate me." I heard Hiccup mutter. He strode hesitantly to the front of the class, with Pitch following behind him like a wraith. I watched closely, my hand gripping my wand tightly. There was just something about Pitch...

"Corona." Pitch snapped. "Bring up your potion."

Rapunzel swallowed heavily, carrying the black cauldron to Pitch's desk with both hands. With a final, worried glance at Hiccup, she sat back down in her spot, her hands shaking slightly.

"Now, Haddock, I want you to test this potion." Pitch snarled. "Take a vial of it, and pour it on the ground. If the potion turns the stone into nothing but shadow, you pass." He raised a slim finger. "However, if it does not, detention. For both you and Corona." He nearly sung.

Hiccup took a vial off of Pitch's desk and held it in his left hand, shaking slightly.

"Uh, Professor. How am I supposed to, uh, put the potion into the vial?" He asked, his voice wavering slightly.

"Simply scoop it. Surely, that can't be too hard." Pitch grinned that terrifying smile again. "Ravenclaw is the house of the smart and the wise."

"But sir, if I touch it-"

"Do it, Haddock!" Pitch snapped.

The whole class held their breath, including Merida and I.

Hiccup stood a little straighter and held the vial at the ready. He reached down and held the vial close to the surface of the potion. A pin could have dropped and it would have sounded like a bomb had gone off.

In one motion, Hiccup swiftly dunked his hand into the potion, and brought it out, his hand completely black like a shadow. The class gasped at such daring, but Hiccup simply poured the potion onto the floor.

Then, instead of Hiccup's hand staying black, it did something. His skin seemed to suck in the darkness. It was like watching a sponge absorb water. We all watched, in awe as Hiccup stood completely stoic, his skin returning to it's normal colour.

Pitch didn't speak, and no one seemed able to manage to make any sound. The stone floor stayed black, as dark as Pitch's robes. Hiccup stood at the front of the class, still staring at the vial clasped in his hand.

"Class is dismissed." Pitch muttered. His eyes seemed to dance with malice and unknown glee. I glared at him. If Pitch weren't a teacher, he would be my number one suspect. Heck, he still was.

Hiccup met me halfway down the aisle. He scooped up his satchel from his spot at his desk and walked beside me as we exited the class. As soon as we reached the first floor, Merida broke the silence hanging in the air.

"What the bloody hell was that, Hiccup?" She asked. She looked slightly dazed, as did the rest of us.

"I-I don't know." Hiccup said. He appeared lost in deep thought, battling with his own mind. "I'm just going to- I have to go. I'll see you guys at lunch." He muttered, brushing past me.

"Hiccup-" Merida said. I placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Merida, just let him think for a minute. He needs it." I told her.

Rapunzel hadn't uttered single word since we had left the classroom.

"Rapunzel?" I asked. "You alright?"

"He wasn't supposed to be able to do that." She muttered. "The darkness should have spread, turning him into a shadow. But it didn't. His skin absorbed it. It doesn't make sense." She said.

"Maybe it was your potion?" Merida said, though she sounded unsure.

Rapunzel shook her head. "No...it turned the stone into shadow, it should have done the same to him."

We stayed silent for a moment, the silence hanging over us as dark as the shadow potion we had all just made.

"I think we should go now. We're going to be late to DADA with Bunny." I said, trying to make light of the situation. "Can't have the kangaroo mad at us again."

Rapunzel nodded mutely while Merida kept staring in the direction Hiccup had left, a slight frown creasing her forehead. I frowned as well. I had a reason to call a Guardian's meeting tonight; I needed to report something.