Words Without AN: 5,346. Words With AN 5,397

=Hiccup=

When we arrived back to Hogwarts that third year I didn't expect anything to have been this way two years ago. Walking with a group of friends mix-matched from different houses. I thought I would have one, maybe two friends and be invisible to most people. But I was glad for the friends I did have, Merida and her always eager and determined attitude. Jack and his pranks, Rapunzel whom I had grown quite close too. Elsa, who I liked a lot and enjoyed her company. As well as Anna her sister who would occasionally join us during breaks in our classroom. And then Astrid who I no longer had a crush on, then after the first few weeks a two boy's named Kristoff and Hans Oken who both had taken to Anna though she hadn't noticed. That started the year rolling.

As September passed and October approached we planned a surprise party for Jack who's birthday would be coming up on the tenth. The day was spent pretending to be ignorant of the fact that it was his birthday then after dinner heading to our room and spending the evening enjoying ourselves with party games, cake and watching Jack open his presents.

Merida and Rapunzel had pulled together some money and gotten him a blue sweatshirt, enchanted to always fit him and that had snowflakes floating down it, literally. Anna had given him some candy from the sweets shop in Hogsmade while Elsa's present was a charm bracelet he happily slipped on for her. Astrid had brought a staff that she gave to him and he seemed to enjoy quite a lot, the carved wood was clearly Viking made and it curled at the top. "Hiccup?" Rapunzel sat next to me as it was my turn to give him his present, I pulled out my sketchbook, one of the larger ones and slid out a drawing I had been working on for him.

"Haven't finished it yet," I said sheepishly, and everyone gathered around to look at the charcoal drawing of us all together. Jack took it from me and looked at it more carefully.

"What else do you need to do with it?" He wondered. I glanced away, "it looks perfect just as it is." The truth is that I wanted to color it, like I've done with most of my other pictures but each time I tried I faltered. I mumbled something about colors and Jack grinned at me. "Thanks Hic," he put the picture with the rest of his presents and the party continued. I spent most of the time talking with Jack, Merida and Rapunzel because he always came first to us when wanting to talk and could feel the envy of his girlfriend radiating off of her when Jack ignored her.

This is when I first noticed the divide between us, it was small, but noticeable more and more as we approached the winter holiday. Jack would spend more of his time with Elsa, which we couldn't blame him for, they were dating. Then, when the sports season started back up Merida started back up she would spend more time with her team, leaving me and Rapunzel alone more often than not. Then the holiday arrived, I found myself sitting on the train with Jack, Merida and Elsa while Rapunzel had stayed at Hogwarts again. I felt bad for leaving her by herself this year, but my father wanted me home. It was a silent ride for the most part, Elsa had fallen asleep and was leaning on Jack's shoulder while Merida was resting her head against the window and drifting in and out of consciousness herself. I was drawing like I did every day and listening to the bickering in my head, Pitch had lightened up on his assaults after realizing that he wasn't going to breach through Autumn's defense so long as we're in his season, where he was stronger. But the two had been constantly arguing.

"Hiccup," I looked up at Jack. "Can I visit you over break?" He wondered.

"Of course," I nodded and he smiled. After parting I found myself back home and spending Christmas with my dad. He had given me a memento from my mother, a helmet that had been a breast plate. I had given him a book I thought he'd enjoy about war and people killing each other. He was happy to accept it and I caught him reading it in his spare time. Afterwords Jack showed up and we spent the next few days hanging out around the house, the weather too fierce for us to go out in until finally, a day before we departed back to Hogwarts.

"Let's go ice skating!" Jack dragged me outside, and I wondered if he knew where the lake was.

"Slow down you'll trip on ice," I laughed but let him tug me out to the woods then down to the small frozen lake. I looked wearily at the ice.

"Oh common Hiccup," Jack laughed pushing me towards it. "You're not going to die." He teased.

"I have a prosthetic Jack, Ice plus that normally ends badly." I reminded him of my missing leg but he just shrugged it off and pushed me onto the ice. I skidded several feet before stopping. "Jack if I get hurt I'm blaming everything on you."

"Quit being such a baby and live a little." He teased, skating over to me expertly.

"I ride dragons, how am I a baby?" I asked watching him circle around me.

"You don't take risks with things you aren't familiar with." He shrugged. "If I remember correctly it took you a while before you could ride Toothles." He smirked and dashed off.

"Show off," I rolled my eyes, following at a slower pace. It took me several minutes to reach him, with much stumbling and cursing at the laughing boy in front of me. Then I heard the ice crack. "Jack...?"

"We have to get back to the snow!" He started towards the nearest plot of land and I wobbled after him. I was too slow, I knew that the ice would break under me before I could reach safety and when Jack had turned. "Hiccup!" He reached out for me and I grabbed his hand, he pulled me forwards throwing me into the snow and the sound of ice breaking filled my ears. I turned quickly and saw nothing.

"Jack?!" I called, crawling towards the broken patch of ice. "No..."

Hiccup, you need to call for Winter! Autumn's voice filled my head and I tried to concentrate on his words.

"I-I..." my voice drifted.

Hiccup now! He ordered me and I tried to do as he said.

"I-It's not working!" I told him. There was a moment's pause.

Give me control, He told me, and I nodded. I felt a warm hand pulling me inside myself as Autumn took over my body. I vaguely noticed what was around me as I watched Autumn seemingly pull Jack out of the water.

He's not breathing! I panicked, Autumn tried to ignore my thoughts as he worked, calling forth the winter spirit and I watched as he bound them together. Jack who had been unmoving started changing, his hair turning white and his skin looking like snow itself. Autumn's hands ran over his cloths, drying them so he wouldn't die again.

This is all I can do... Autumn told me and I felt his grip around me again. Pushing me back into my own body.

I don't think so. The voice hissed as both Autumn and I were pushed further into my mind. Pitch rising to the surface.

No! I tried to get passed him but black walls surrounded me.

"Hiccup?" Jack asked, his voice cracking. There was a moments pause before I realized what Pitch was doing.

Pitch! Autumn shot out, wrestling Pitch out of control and forcing me back into my own body. I quickly backed away from Jack, whom Pitch had been trying to strangle. Fear, pane and a million other emotions running through my mind and I ran. Leaving him alone at the lake.

I stayed with Astrid that night, thanking Thor that she didn't question me and I avoided Jack the entire trip back to Platform 9 ¾. The only thing on my mind was that I needed to find Elsa. She was waiting for us both. "Hiccup? Where's Jack?" She asked, slightly worried before I grabbed her hand and dragged her onto the train. I took her to an emptied compartment.

"Elsa I'm sorry," I said, tears now falling down my cheeks. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for anything to happen." I explained to her what had happened, making sure she knew that he was alive and probably looking for her right now. Elsa was patient while I told her the events of yesterday, she even made the compartment private by draping curtains over the windows leading to the hall.

"Your arm," she held out her hand and I gave to her my gray one. She pulled up the sleeve and gasped, the gray had extended long past her boundary line, almost reaching my shoulder. "How long had he been in control?" She asked.

"A few seconds?" I wasn't sure, everything seemed to happen so quickly. She was quiet.

"You need to see North about this." She decided, pulling the sleeve back down. "I can't heal that, I don't think anybody can. But he should be able to contain it, or slow it. Hiccup..." she bit her lip for a moment. "I don't think it's avoidable now. Him completely taking over." I buried my face in my hands.

"How long?" I asked quietly.

"Four, five years? Depends on how strong a fight Autumn puts up." She responded, "depends on how long you can keep this away from your heart." She noted to my poisoned arm.

"I ruined everything." I said.

"No," she tried to protest.

"Yes, Jack's going to hate me now. I didn't stay to explain what had happened, I ran away." I looked at her, "Elsa, I can't fix this."

"You will fix it." She told me. "You're one of the seasonal spirits. They're forever bound, there is a way to fix it."

"How can I when I can't face him?" I demanded of her.

Pathetic, Pitch's voice entered my head.

"What am I supposed to do?" I buried my face in my hands again. Silence followed my question then, I felt her pull me into a hug.

So weak,

"I'll look after him. If he's mad I'll try to calm him and talk to him." She told me pulling away. "Just, it will need time to heal." She said, I nodded.

"Could you... if Pitch gains control... Could you protect him?" I asked. She was silent for a moment.

"Hiccup, you like Jack don't you? You like him more than a friend." I didn't look at her.

"I'm sorry." I said. There was another pause.

"I'll keep him safe." She promised. "Do you want me to send Merida to be with you?" She asked, I shook my head. "Alright." She got up and left without another word. The next few weeks were the hardest. The ice had finally broken between us all. I avoided Jack as much as I could. Sitting as far from him as I could in classes, and most of the time skipping the lesson's we had together. Though I made them all up. I spent every Thursday evening with Professor North who had taken over my private training as well as binding the poison in my arm as best he could.

"It is not permanent." He told me grimly, "It will spread, though much slower than if you had not seen me." He said, I nodded and started to wear a glove now that I had grown long enough to have my hands show outside my robes.

Merida who was mad at Jack for being mad at me, started spending more time with me and Rapunzel. And we found a new place to hangout considering the room was known by Jack and I really didn't want to face him.

Such a coward Hiccup, Pitch cooed in my ear, as he had been doing for the last month now. As I hadn't heard anything from my protector since the accident. He had started to question everything I do, every thought I had.

"Dammit Autumn!" I yelled into the forest, I had come here alone just so I could do this. "Why haven't you been responding to me?!" The spirit appeared in front of me while I raged, he had a look of pain in his eyes but let me yell at him until I couldn't think of anything else to say. When finally I just glared at him he reached out. Pulling me into a hug that could only mean I'm sorry. "Why aren't you saying anything?" I asked him. All the anger and resentment out of my system.

Because he hate's you. Pitch told me, which I tried not to believe. Anger flared in Autumn's eyes after hearing the thought and the leaves around us started dying and were pulled into a tornado that surrounded us. Autumn held out a hand and the leaves started to form figures, one of Pitch and one of himself, while they battled in my mind. Pitch had Autumn pinned and his hand pulled something from Autumn's mouth.

"He... took your voice?" I asked and the spirit nodded. That would explain the silence. He mouthed something to me, which I tried to intemperate but I was never good at it. After a minute of looking at him confused the leaves picked themselves up, spelling out the words. 'I'm sorry Hiccup.' "It's not your fault." I said to him and he gave me a sad smile. "We'll just find a different way to talk." I said to him, he nodded then an image appeared in front of me. A sketchbook and pen. I nodded, understanding what he was suggesting and now, instead of hearing his voice he wrote to me. Much more entertaining that passing notes to someone.

The end of the year came quickly and summer rolled in, I spent most of it with Rapunzel who stayed with me in Berk. We had the occasional visit from Merida but for the most part it was just the two of us. "Why are you wearing long sleeves?" Rapunzel asked me as we sat at the small beach we had. I glanced at my gloved hand where the black met with the green sleeve of my shirt.

"Well it's only barely warm." I responded, Merida had asked me about the glove last year but I shrugged it off saying that it wasn't important, but I'm sure she knew exactly what it was for. "I'm surprised you're managing to be in that dress." I told her, she smiled and it lit up her entire face.

"Well, you know." She shrugged. "Spring." She brushed her hand along the sand and flowers started growing in her wake. I watched as the life was brought into the small blue petals that weren't native here. She picked one and admired it and I had to appreciate her. She was extremely beautiful, her green eyes shinning and always looking for something new to explore, her long blond hair that was currently braided from the top of her head down to the ground.

"Must be nice to be surrounded by living things all the time." I teased as she brushed the flower against her lips. I picked up one of the flowers with my not gloved hand and watched as it slowly wilted.

"You're never going to become a gardener are you?" She teased, leaning over to stroke a dying petal on the flower. At once it bounced back to life and started dying all over again.

"No," I agreed, looking at the fourteen year old girl. I handed her the flower and it sprang back to life with her touch. "I'm lucky I don't kill all the plants I touch in herbology. But I think I have you to thank for that." She gave me a sheepish smile.

"Can't have you failing on me." She responded and I chuckled. She carefully wound the flowers into her hair and we spent the next few hours growing and picking flowers to put in her braid. "It's going to take ages to get these all out." She commented and I laughed.

"Well, at least they'll never die." I teased. She leaned her head against my shoulder and I hesitated before relaxing into the touch. We stayed like this for a while, just watching the sun set over the ocean and sitting in the sand, then finally Toothless ran over to us and we got up to return to the village.

When school started up again, I found myself spending more and more time with the blond beauty. Merida often leaving us to hang out with her other friends, or to play Quiddich, or just because she couldn't stand the silence while we worked on homework.

"Hiccup!" The redhead called me and I turned away from my book to look at her. She was giddy with excitement as she ran over to me in the hall. I had been leaning against a wall just reading and trying to ignore the crowd around me. "Common!" She linked arms with me and pulled me down the hall back the way she had come from.

"What is it Merida?" I asked her, trying not to laugh at her eagerness to move forwards. She pushed through several groups of people calling apologies to the complaints before we finally arrived at our destination.

Rapunzel was waiting for us, bouncing on the heels of her feet before we arrived and her face broke out into a large smile when she saw me. I could swear that my heart skipped a beat. "Finally," she said, linking her arm with my other arm and they both took me outside to find the surprise. It was quite entertaining to watch to sat the least. Snotlout was following a girl around like a love sick puppy and the best part? That girl was Astrid. I couldn't stop myself from laughing as Astrid would repetitively get up and move as my cousin followed her, then finally she snapped. I winced as I heard the slap from across the grass and Astrid yelled at him.

"Should we save him?" Merida wondered.

"I think Astrid needs to be saved more than Snotlout." I noted, "he doesn't take hints even if they hit him in the face." I explained then quickly added, "literally," after he started following her again.

"Astrid!" Rapunzel called to the Quiddich chaser and she gladly joined us.

"Thank Oden you're here." She hugged the three of us. "I just wanted to finish my homework in the last nice day of the year but Snotlout won't stop following me!"

"Don't worry," I said to her trying not to laugh as Snotlout scowled and stalked away. "We'll keep you safe from unwanted attention." We did keep Snotlout away at least, but not some of her other admirer's who asked to date her or other things. But she could handle those one's by herself. "Are you trying out for the Quiddich team this year Hiccup?" She asked after a particularly cold fall day in which the tryout list's had been posted.

"I'm not sure," I responded honestly, Quiddich was something that someone I was avoiding played, being apart of the team would make not seeing him harder. "I guess I could try, for dad at least." Merida and Astrid smiled.

"What position?" They asked together and I shrugged. "Keeper," they both said, then laughed.

"I think you'd make a good Keeper." Rapunzel, whom we all thought had fallen asleep said. She looked at us with tired eyes and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, I'm not really interested in Quiddich but I know you both love it. I have to agree, Hiccup would make a good Keeper though."

"And he'd be cute in the uniform." Merida added getting the blond to blush but nod in agreement and Astrid and Merida laughed again. And that's how I found myself at my second ever Quidduch try outs. I watched from above as there was a practice game while me and the other competitor for the Keeper position tried to block as many ball's as possible. The captain, a seventh year named Keven Knock watching the game carefully. To be completely honest I was extremely nervous but I did good. Blocking every ball, two more than my competitor had and getting myself a place on the team.

"I didn't expect that." Astrid said honestly as I joined the girls in the stands to watch the remaning teams tryouts. "You did it, you actually got on the team."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence Astrid." I rolled my eyes and sat next to Rapunzel. "It's a big shot at my ego." I felt the wind wrap around me and smiled a little. Thanking Autumn for training me so well. I noticed Rapunzel glancing at me, and when I caught her she blushed and looked down at her hands.

"You were great." She told me sheepishly and I smiled.

"Thanks Punzy," she blushed more at the nickname and Merida groaned. I looked at her then saw the team that had just walked onto the pitch.

"How did he get captain?" She asked, glaring at the white haired boy who was standing before the rest of the team. "He's only a fourth year!" She complained and I frowned.

He's better than you, Pitch told me, trying to get me angry at him. Always has been, always will be. How does that make you feel Hiccup? Want to make him regret it? I felt pain in my left arm and bit back a swear, the poison was trying to advance. I rubbed it absently, trying to sooth the pain. An angry wind brushed passed all of us, and the girls covered their faces.

"What was that?" Asrtid asked when it calmed, though the few people on their brooms were trying to stabilize themselves again. "It's not supposed to be windy today." No one answered her because the girls were as clueless as she as was.

Weeks passed then a month before the first game I was in arrived, Ravenclaw against Huffelpuff. We won 170 to 10 which was impressive, managing to block all but one attempt to score before our seeker caught the snitch winning the game indefinitely. The party after was amazing. Normally Rapunzel and I avoided the party's but being apart of the team, I wasn't aloud to ditch out like normal. Though, our next game would be against Gryffindor which I wasn't looking forwards too. As much as I liked my team, my friends came first and Merida had been my friend for ages. But that wasn't until after the holiday. For now all we had to worry about was keeping Snotlout away from Astrid, which was becoming more and more entertaining.

When the holiday arrived I was glad, but I had told my dad that I would be staying at school this year, not wanting an accidental repeat of last year and not wanting to leave Rapunzel alone. "Are you sure about this?" She asked me as we wandered around the nearly emptied school. "Staying just for me?"

"I'm sure," I smiled at her, she blushed and glanced at her feet. "It's not like my father minds much, we don't do much and he has work." I added, she nodded and we continued down the hall. Just walking to walk.

"Elsa what's this about?" The voice sent a shiver down my spine and pain shot through my arm again. I gripped onto it, hoping that Rapunzel wouldn't notice. The couple rounded the corner and froze when seeing us.

"I have a meeting with North," I said to Rapunzel, true I did but it wasn't until later. "I'll catch up with you later." She looked at me, then nodded and I walked passed the two, acting as if I hadn't noticed them. When I was far enough away I slipped into a side hall and hissed in pain.

You can't fight this Hiccup. Pitch told me, I gritted my teeth biting back some rather rude comments I had for him. My poison is spreading, that little charm North has on it won't stop it.

"Burn in hell." I spat at him, "get out of my head. I don't need your bullshit right now." I gripped my arm tighter as the pain increased.

Just look at it Hiccup, when was the last time you saw it? He mused. It's almost there. Then you'll be mine to control.

"I said get out!" I snarled.

"I'm sorry was I interrupting something?" The voice snapped me out of the conversation I was in, I turned to see Elsa standing at the edge of the hall.

"Sorry, talking to myself." I told her, letting go of my arm and pushing away from the wall I hadn't realized I was leaning against.

"Talking to Pitch." She corrected moving towards me.

"Do you need something?" I asked, turning the conversation away from me.

"I was just making sure that you were okay." She commented. I studied her, "Jack was worried." I raised my eyebrow at this.

"Jack? Was worried about me? He's not mad anymore?" I wondered.

"No, he's still mad that you're ignoring him." She responded. "But he's realized that you're not going to talk to him directly."

"So he sent you." I concluded.

He thinks he's above you.

"No, I came by myself. Rapunzel is talking with him." She responded.

Thinks he can take the girl you like.

"Well, I'm sure they have a lot to catch up on." I noted, crossing my arms.

Take what's yours.

"Are you mad at me?" She asked, "because you just seem to be getting madder and madder for no reason."

Now she think she knows you better than yourself.

"Shut up Pitch!" I growled startling the girl in front of me. The spirit only chuckled.

Not until you break. He told me before sending a flash of memories in my eyes, I clutched onto my head and stumbled back into the wall.

"Stop," I tried to force it to stop, pain shooting up my arm and into my chest. "Get-Get out..."

"Hiccup!" I heard Elsa call before black swallowed my mind.

I spent Christmas in the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey fussing over me and shirtless the entire time. Rapunzel was only allowed to see me after lunch. "Oh gods Hiccup," she set a box down on a table before sitting next to me and looking at my gray skin. "What happened?" She asked gently touching it, the touch felt relieving, the pain that had remained constant fading away.

"It's poisoned," I told her. "Well, not technically but it's the only term we could come up for it." I said nervously. "Pitch... a few years ago when Merida was here and I was explaining about spiritual power, I showed her a sample of Pitch's magic. Well, it wasn't supposed to be harmful but he had other plans. It formed into a stake and was going to harm her so I grabbed onto it. The shadow's never left my anatomy after that." I looked at my hand. "It's been spreading fast..." I sighed. "North and Elsa have done what they can for it, but..."

"Why didn't you tell us? I could've healed it. Hiccup, I'm a healer." She scolded me

"I..." I blushed as her hand traced my shoulder to where the gray currently ended. "I'm sorry." She sighed in frustration and I felt hair drift onto my skin. "What..." I looked up to see her wrapping some of her hair around my arm.

"Trust me, okay?" She didn't look up. "And don't freak, this is completely weird." She said, moments before starting to sing. I watched in amazement as her hair started to glow. Slowly the gray started to recede until it was level with my elbow. After the glowing faded I untangled my arm and looked at it in amazement.

What?! Pitch's anger raged through my mind and I could feel Autumn laughing.

"How...?" I looked at her and she was staring at her hands, running her hands through her hair nervously.

"When my mother was pregnant with me, she got sick and almost died." She said sheepishly. "My father searched far and wide for a cure, and after following an old legend found this flower called the Sundrop. It was a glowing yellow flower that can heal anything. He used it to heal my mother and when I was born, I had adapted it's power. Just... in my hair." She tugged at it a little bit. "It's why I'm such a strong healer, that and being Spring..." She lifted her gaze to look at me.

"Rapunzel you're amazing." I told her, and her face lit up red.

"No I..." She tried to reply, I felt bad for not telling her anything. So for the rest of the day we exchanged stories and I told her everything. Everything that I had been keeping in and secret and she didn't push away or look at me with disgust. She just nodded and supported me the entire time. When we finished, she picked up the box she had brought with her and gave it to me. I opened it and found a small red rose, I looked up at her. "But... I'll wilt it." I said. She just shook her head.

"It's enchanted, it'll take years to wilt, as long as you are Hiccup, it'll stay alive." She told me. I smiled at her, then closed the box.

"Then I want you to have it." I told her, she looked hurt. "Because I want you to be the first person to know if I'm no longer Hiccup." I said softly, "It's safe with you right?" I asked.

"Yeah," she nodded, a small smile on her lips as she took the box back. "But now I'm going to need something else to give you." She commented.

"Be my model," I said and she blushed. I picked up my small sketchbook and opened it to the first blank page. I took the rose out of the box and slid it into her hair, it bloomed with the touch and there was a blush permanently settled on her cheeks. She closed her eyes and a small smile came to her lips and I started sketching her, occasionally lifting her chin or brushing some stray hair out of her face. "I must say," I said as I labeled the drawing, several hours later. "It's much different drawing someone when they're modeling for you." She laughed and I turned the book to her so she could see it.

Raunzel Corona, Christmas, 4th year. Beautiful as a Rose.

Okay just so everyone is clear, I've mentioned this earlier, there is Rapunzel X Hiccup. This is the first chapter with it, and I personally loved how it turned out. But what matters is if you liked it. Well, later~