Vendettas

On the magic hill, Josh left to find Penny and Lance met up with his best friend, Parker.

"Lance! Over here!" yelled Parker. "Check this out!"

There on top of Parker's luggage cart was a beautiful specimen. An owl like no other.

"His name is Cooper," said Parker. "I got him for my birthday. He's a toucan-owl hybrid, so that's why you can see all the colors on his beak. Pretty cool, Yeah?"

"Yeah, awesome!" responded Lance. "But we should get on the top of the hill so we appear closer to the castle.

"Agreed."

As the friends made their way up to the top of the hill, Lance and Parker came across Josh arguing with someone.

"I told you already, Malios, I didn't have anything to do with my father's article! If what you're saying is true, your mother should get her job back soon! Barely anyone believes my dad's articles!"

You better hope you're right, Corkshire. Because until then, I have a vendetta with you and your family."

Josh was fuming. "As soon as we get to Hogwarts, I'm sending dad a Howler," Josh said to Lance shakily. "Dad just put the biggest bully in the school on our case over some stupid job? Ugh! He is SO dead!"

"Calm down Josh, it's just Malios. With professor supervision, what can he really do?" Parker reasoned.

"Not a lot to you guys, you're probably the most skilled wizards in this entire school! But to me, he can do all sorts of things! He can hang me by my underwear! He can multiply the size of my tongue! He can…" but Josh was cut off by Lance who said, "Relax, Parker and I will back you up. If Malios messes with you, we'll have your back, got it?"

Josh was put at ease after hearing that Lance explained that he had his brother's back, but talk of Malios's threat came to pass when the quidditch mom's came with the trolleys.

"Anything off the trolley dears?" one of them asked Lance and Parker "Yes! I'll take some beans and some frogs if you've got Ms. Raven. And I won't say no to a pumpkin pastie!" recited Lance excitedly "Of course," Ms. Raven said with an air of annoyance in her voice. Parker then spoke, "And may I please have a pumpkin pastie Ms. Raven? I'm starving…"

"Of course Parker dear. Always so kind, unlike your friend here…" "I'm terribly sorry for my friend's over-eager personality. It won't happen again."

Parker and Lance were then given their snacks, and the trolley witch walked away saying to the next group of kids, "Anything off the trolley dears?"

"Why is she so friendly to you but not to anybody else?" inquired Lance.

Parker replied, "I don't know! I guess I'm just irresistible like that." They both laughed hysterically as the sun passed by the Horizon "You know, I've never fully appreciated the beauty of the sunset," said Parker.

"Yeah, I guess we're usually more focused on what's happening inside magic mountain, rather than outside," replied Lance. "This just goes to show how much we miss when we're focused on something else."

"I guess so. Do you want to play exploding snap? Parker asked. "Yeah, sure just don't let me win, alright? I need to prove myself." responded Lance.

An excited Parker said, "Game on!"

Several heated games later, with Parker emerging victorious every single time, Lance finally gave up. After cleaning up, the two friends took naps until the portkeys started shaking. Lance, Parker, and the rest of the school's students grabbed onto portkeys, and disappeared into thin air.

When Lance woke Parker landed, they both saw the beauty of the dimly lit castle from where they arrived.

"Woah!" Lance and Parker said in unison.

"I know we were here all of last year, but this castle never gets old!" Lance exclaimed.

"Agreed," replied Parker, nodding his head as he spoke.

When Parker and Lance got off of the train and walked over to the castle gates, their trunks and their animals on their carts, and once they were inspected for dark artifacts, Parker and Lance walked towards the horse-drawn carriages and were carried up to the schools. Along the way, Lance spotted his and Parker's housemates in the carriage behind them, chatting away next to a kid they didn't recognize. Or was it a kid? Lance questioned Parker as much as he could about this rising matter.

Parker started by saying "Do you think they're from Beauxbatons? What about Durmstrang? What about…"

"I DON'T KNOW! Please stop pestering me. I know just as much as you do. Nothing. So please stop bombarding me with questions that I don't know how to answer," Lance responded.

"Jeez sorry. I didn't know you were that frustrated," continued Parker "It's fine. I just need a little time, that's all." The two of them stayed silent for a majority of the rest of the ride, but towards the end, they started talking and laughing again. As they got off the carriages and walked into the great hall, They heard their Headmaster speak.

"I don't want the custard pies, you measly elves, I want custard cannolis, understand?

"Yes Headmaster Viridian!" said the squeaky voice of a house elf as it scurried back to the basement kitchens.

"Professor Viridian! Good to see you!" chimed Lance.

Mr. Corkshire! Mr. Acker! Good to see you too! How were your summers?" responded Professor Viridian.

"Pretty good," replied Lance with Parker nodding his head in agreement.

"I went to Arizona in America and saw a bunch of Thunderbirds!" exclaimed Parker.

"And I saw the UK quidditch finals!" said Lance "Jonah Klepski is really talented.

"That's great gentlemen," interjected Professor Viridian, "But I must be going, and so should you! Lots to tend to before the feast. It was great talking to you though!

"Bye Professor" Parker and Lance yelled in unison. On their way through the great hall, they passed by the Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and

Gryffindor tables to get to their Ravenclaw Table, where they sat down to watch the first years get sorted.