When the trio headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast the first thing they saw was Rutan entertaining a group of Raiju with an impression of someone passing out "Ignore him" Coral said. Silver sat down next to Ray who handed them paper "Echo already handed out the timetables. What's up with you, Silver?". Ray then spotted Rutan doing his impression "Little git. He wasn't so cocky last night when the Prelates were down at our end of the train. Came running into our compartment, didn't he, Mighty?" "Nearly wet himself" "Don't beat yourself up, Silver. No one deals with them well. They're horrible things". Silver just shrugged "You didn't pass out" "Forget it. Dad had to go out to Prison Island one time, remember, Mighty? And he said it was the worst place he'd ever been, he came back all weak and shaking. They suck the happiness out of a place, Prelates. Most of the prisoners go mad in there". Mighty nodded "Besides, we'll see how happy Rutan looks after our first Sky Chase match. Shinobi vs Raiju, first game of the season, remember?". This managed to cheer Silver up and he finally dug into his breakfast. Coral checked her schedule "Ooh, good, we're starting some new subjects today". Razor looked over her shoulder "Coral, they've messed up your timetable. You've got ten subjects a day" "I'll manage. I've worked it all out with Echo". Razor took her timetable "But look. You've got three classes at nine o'clock. How're you supposed to be in three classes at once" "Don't be silly, Razor. Of course I won't be in three classes at once. Pass the marmalade" "But how're you-".
Coral snatched her timetable back "Oh, Razor, what's it to you if my timetable is a bit full. I've told you, I've worked it all out with Professor Echo". Just then Big entered the Great Hall and greeted them "Alright. Yer in my firs ever lesson. Right after lunch. Bin up since five getting it ready. Hope it's okay. Me bein a teacher an all". He headed to the staff table as students started to leave. Razor checked his timetable "We better get going. First lesson is Divination in the North Tower. It'll take us ten minutes to get up there". They hastily finished their breakfast and headed off. Two years at Soleanna didn't teach them everything about the castle. They had never been up the north tower before so finding the entrance was difficult. After several long staircases and an unfamiliar landing Razor was close to giving up "There's… Got… To… Be… A… Faster… Way". Coral looked around "I think it's this way" "No, that's south. Look, you can see the lake out the window" "Aha! What villains are these that trespass on my private lands!". The three turned to a painting of a gold and black armoured knight "Come to scorn at my fall, perchance? Draw, you knaves, you dogs!" he drew his sword but his swing was so wide that it threw him off balance and he fell on his face. Silver moved closer "Are you okay?" "Get back, you scurvy braggart! Back, you rogue!". The Knight tried to get back up using his sword as a support but the blade sunk into the ground. He tried to pull it back out but couldn't and he fell backwards. Silver held up his hands unthreateningly "Listen, we're looking for the North Tower. You don't know the way, do you?".
The Knight's rage seemed to vanish instantly "A quest? Come follow me, dear friends, and we shall find our goal, or else shall perish bravely in the charge!". He tried to get on his horse but it was too small and he fell of "On foot then good sirs and lady" he disappeared out the side of the painting. The trio ran after him listening for the sound of his clanking armour. Occasionally they saw him whiz past from different paintings "Be of stout heart, the worst is yet to come!". Puffing loudly, they ran up a spiral staircase getting very dizzy but finally they heard the murmurs from a classroom. The Knight appeared in a painting with some angry looking monks "Farewell, my comrades-in-arms! If ever you have need of noble heart and steely sinew, call upon King Arthur" he ran off again. Razor rolled his eyes "Yeah, we'll call you… If we ever want someone mental". They climbed the last few steps and emerged onto a tiny landing, where most of the class was already assembled. There were no doors off this landing, but Razor nudged Silver and pointed at the ceiling, where there was a circular trapdoor with a brass plaque on it "Pyjamas the Sheepdog" "How're we supposed to get up?". As if hearing them the trapdoor opened and a silver ladder slid down at their feet. He emerged into the strangest-looking classroom he had ever seen. In fact, it didn't look like a classroom at all, more like a cross between someone's attic and an old-fashioned tea shop. At least twenty small, circular tables were crammed inside it, all surrounded by chintz armchairs and fat little poufs. Everything was lit with a dim, crimson light; the curtains at the windows were all closed, and the many lamps were draped with dark red scarves. it was stiflingly warm, and the fire that was burning under the crowded mantelpiece was giving off a heavy, sickly sort of perfume as it heated a large copper kettle.
The shelves running around the circular walls were crammed with dusty-looking feathers, stubs of candles, many packs of tattered playing cards, countless silvery crystal balls, and a huge array of teacups. They took their seats at one of the tables and then "Welcome". They all turned to one of the doors where there stood a female sheepdog. She wore a pink shirt and yellow trousers. She had white hair which covered her eyes to the point that Silver wondered if she could see. She stepped forward and raised her hands dramatically "Welcome. I'm glad to meet you all in the physical world at last". She sat down in a winged armchair near the fire "Today we will be starting the journey into the mysterious magic of Divination. My name is professor Pyjamas. You may not have seen me before. I find that descending too often into the hustle and bustle of the main school clouds my Inner Eye". She then got back to her feet and moved around the room "I must warn your it is the most difficult of magical arts. If you do not possess the inner eye there is little I can do for you. Books can take you only so far in this field". Silver and Razor grinned at the sight of Coral getting startled by this news. Pyjamas continued "Many witches and wizards, talented though they are in the area of loud bangs and smells and sudden disappearances, are yet unable to penetrate the veiled mysteries of the future. You boy!". She suddenly pointed at the scared Antione "Is your grandmother well?" "I think so" "I wouldn't be so sure if I were you, dear". Antione gulped as Pyjamas swept across the room to the other students "We will be covering the basic methods of Divination this year. The first term will be devoted to reading the Tarot Cards. Next term we shall progress to palmistry. By the way, my dear". She pointed at Lyco "Beware the shark man". Lyco gave a startled look at Razor behind her and edged her chair away from him.
Pyjamas went on "In the second term we shall progress to the crystal ball, if we have finished with fire omens, that is. Unfortunately, classes will be disrupted in February by a nasty bout of flu. I myself will lose my voice. And around Easter, one of our number will leave us forever". There was tense silence at this announcement but Pyjamas didn't seem to notice "I wonder, dear…". She looked at Undina who tensed up "If you could pass me the silver tea pot". Undina gave a sigh of relief and handed it to her "Thank you, dear. Incidentally, the thing you worry about, it'll happen on Friday the sixteenth of October". Undina trembled as Pyjamas poured herself some tea "Now I want everyone to divide into pairs and take a deck of tarot cards from the shelf. Shuffle and place two cards down in front of you. Then have your partner read your cards and try to interpret what they might mean. Also, you, boy…". She pointed at Antione again "After you damage your first deck could you please take one of the older ones in the cupboard. I'm rather attached to the new ones". Sure enough when Antione took his deck he tripped and dropped it in the fire "That cupboard over there, dear" Pyjamas said pointing at one. Silver and Razor started shuffling their cards "You tried this before?" the latter asked. Silver shrugged "One of Menniker's friends brought some over once. Uncle Menthor wasn't happy. Are wizard Tarot Cards the same?" "Mostly. We've got a few more symbols than Muggle ones". Silver opened his book that told the meaning of the cards and then looked at Razor's cards "Okay, you have an upright heart with three swords through it. That means suffering. Sorry about that". He checked the other card "Hang on, you've got an upright on three woman holding cups. That's happiness. So… You're going to suffer but you're going to be happy about it" "You need your inner eye tested if you ask me" Razor stifled a laugh as Pyjamas gazed in their direction. "My turn" Razor checked Silver's cards "You have an upright sun with an eye in it. Success. Be sure to loan me some money if that happens. And this…" "Let me see that, dear" Pyjamas said suddenly being behind Razor. Pyjamas took one look at the card, gasped and backed away. She sank into a chair horrified "My dear, boy… No, best not to say" "What is it, Professor?" Marcos asked. Students started to surround their table and read Silver's cup. Finally Pyjamas spoke "My poor boy… You have the Grim" "The what?" Silver asked.
He wasn't the only one, Marcos and a few others looked confused as well but a lot of the class gasped. Pyjamas looked distraught "The Grim. A giant spectral lizard. It is an omen of death". Silver looked at the card and his stomach gave a lurch, on the card was an image of a red dinosaur like lizard. Everyone tried to get a good look at the card and started muttering to each other "When you've all decided if I'm going to die!" Silver said. Pyjamas rose to her feet and spoke in a misty voice "I think we'll leave the lesson here for today. Please pack up your things. Oh and dear…". She pointed at Antione "You'll be late next lesson so be sure to do extra work to catch up". Silver, Razor and Coral descended Professor Pyjamas' ladder and the winding staircase in silence, then set off for Professor Echo's Transfiguration lesson. They weren't used to getting their from the north tower so it took them a while to remember the right way to go. They only just made it on time. Silver sat at the back of the classroom due to the growing amount of glances the other students were giving him. He barely heard Echo telling them about Shifters (Wizards who could turn into other creatures at will). He wasn't even listening when she transformers into her Chao form and then back "Really, what has got into you all today? Not that it matters, but that's the first time my transformation's not gotten an applause from a class". Coral raised her hand "Please, Professor, we've just had our first Divination class, and we were reading Tarot Cards-" "Ah, I see". Echo was suddenly frowning "There's no need to say any more, Miss Coral. Which one of you will be dying this year?". Silver sighed at the sudden attention and raised his hand "Me" "I see. Then you should know, Silver, that Professor Pyjamas has predicted the death of one student a year since she arrived at this school. None of them have died yet. Seeing death omens is her favourite way of greeting a new class. If it were not for the fact that I never speak ill of my colleagues…".
She broke off and then continued more calmly "Divination is one of the most imprecise branches of magic. I shall not conceal from you that I have very little patience with it. True Seers are very rare, and Professor Pyjamas…". She stopped herself again and then said in a matter of fact tone ""You look in excellent health to me, Silver, so you will excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in", Coral laughed. Silver felt a bit better, it was hard to take the cards as seriously when Pyjamas wasn't there with her theatrics. Razor wasn't convinced, nor was most of the class as they all pointed out she was right about Antione burning his cards. Even after class and they were down in the Great Hall eating lunch Razor still looked worried "Silver… You haven't seen a red lizard anywhere, have you?" "Uh… Yeah, I saw one the night I ran away". Razor dropped his knife but Coral rolled her eyes "It was just a stray pet or something" "Coral, he saw the Grim. This is bad. I had an uncle who saw it once and he died 24 hours later" "Coincidence". Razor was horrified "You don't know what you're talking about. The Grim is one of the darkest omens in the wizarding worlds" "Oh, come on. Silver's not stupid enough to let this get to him" "You're just mad that this is a subject you're not very good at". This touched a nerve, she got to her feet "If being good at Divination means I have to pretend to see death omens in paper cards, I'm not sure I'll be studying it much longer! That lesson was absolute rubbish compared with my Arithmancy class!" she stormed off. Razor looked back at Silver "What's she talking about. She hasn't had Arithmancy yet".
Silver was pleased to get out of the castle after lunch. Yesterday's rain had cleared; the sky was a clear, pale grey, and the grass was springy and damp underfoot as they set off for their first ever Care of Magical Creatures class. Razor and Coral weren't speaking to each other. Silver walked beside them in silence as they went down the sloping lawns to Big's hut on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. It was only when he spotted three all too familiar backs ahead of them that he realized they must be having these lessons with the Raiju's. Rutan was talking animatedly to Rough and Tumble, who were chortling. Silver was quite sure he knew what they were talking about. Big was waiting by his hut "C'mon, now, get a move on. Got a real treat for yah today. Great lesson comin' up! Everyone here? Right, follow me!". For a horrible moment Silver thought they were going into the Deep Woods but instead they went around the edge of the forest until they found a large paddock "Everyone gather 'round the fence here!" he called. "That's it, make sure yeh can see - now, firs' thing yeh'll want ter do is open yer books". "And how do we do that?" Rutan said taking out his copy which was forced shut by a belt. In fact all the students had their books shut by different objects "Hasn' anyone bin able ter open their books? Yah just stroke the spine of course". He took Coral's and tore off all the tape. The book tried to bite but Big ran a finger down it's spine, it shivered and fell open. Rutan sneered "Oh, how silly of us. "We should have stroked them! why didn't we guess!" "Shut up, Rutan!" Silver said. Big clapped his hands trying to get back on track "Right then. So- So yeh've got yer books an'- an'- now yeh need the Magical Creatures. Yeah. So I'll go an' get 'em. Hang on...".
He left to get whatever it was they were to look at. Rutan then started talking very loudly "God, this place has gone to the dirt. That oaf teaching classes, my father'll have a fit when I tell him" "Shut up, Rutan!" Silver told him again. It looked like one of them was about to throw a punch but then "Ooooh". Big had returned and was being followed by creatures with thing black bodies and wide wings. Big tethered each of them to parts of the fence and approached the class "Black Hawks. Beau'iful, aren' they?". Silver could see what they meat, their appearance was somewhat unusual but there was something almost majestic about them. Big continued "Now, firs' thing yeh gotta know abou' hippogriffs is, they're proud. Easily offended, Black Hawks are. Don't never insult one, 'cause it might be the last thing yeh do". Rutan wasn't listening, he was whispering to Rough and Tumble making Silver worried he was plotting to disrupt the class. "Yeh always wait fer the hippogriff ter make the firs' mov. It's polite, see? Yeh walk toward him, and yeh bow, an' yeh wait. If he bows back, yeh're allowed ter touch him. If he doesn' bow, then get away from him sharpish, 'cause those spiked wings hurt. Right, who wants ter go first?". No one stepped forward, the hawks were tossing their heads from side to side apparently not liking being tethered "Well, done, Silver". Silver turned around and realised the rest of the class had backed away. Undina looked worried "Don't do it, Silver. The cards". Silver ignored her and moved forward towards the paddock "Yeah, I'll do it" "Right, let's see how yeh get on with Volt". Big led him to one of the Hawks, this one wore golden armour "Easy now, Silver. Yeh've got eye contact, now try not ter blink. Black Hawks don' trust yeh if yeh blink too much". Silver's eyes immediately started to water bit he didn't shut them. He was happy that his back was to the class, he was so nervous that his eyes had turned gold. He approached Volt who noticed and started hovering above the ground flapping his wings "Alright, Silver. Now, bow". Silver didn't feel like exposing the back of his neck to a dangerous animal but he did giving a low bow and then looking up. Volt didn't move which concerned Big "Ah. Right, back away, now, Silver, easy does it". But then to Silver's amazement Volt landed, lowered his head in a bow and spread out his wings respectfully. Big was ecstatic "Well, done, Silver. Well done! Now go try an pet him".
Silver slowly approached Volt and held out his hand. He let Volt approach and then Silver petted his head. Silver smiled at Volt closed his eyes seemingly enjoying the attention. The class broke into applause all except Rutan, Rough and Tumble who looked disappointed. Big marched up to Silver "Right then, Silver. I reckon he might' let yeh ride him!" "What?". Before Silver could protest Big picked him up and dropped him on Volt's back. Silver didn't know what to hold onto but he didn't have time to figure it out as Big undid the tether and slapped Volt's behind making him take off "WOW!". Silver definitely preferred his board, an actual animal was a lot more bumpy, he flung his arms around Volt's neck. Finally Silver opened his eyes, he was over the castle. He had never been allowed to go over the castle on his board. Then Volt dived down towards the lake and flew just above the surface, his wings gently hit the water. Silver slowly released his arms from around Volt and sat up straight. He held out his arms on either side and started to laugh "Woo-Hoo! WOO-HOO!". Then with a quick turn Volt rose up again forcing Silver to retake his original position. Volt flew him back to the paddock and with an uncomfortable thud landed in his original position. Another applause, Big's was the biggest "Well done, Silver. Well done. Okay, who else wants to go". Emboldened by Silver's success, the rest of the class climbed cautiously into the paddock. Big untied the Black Hawks one by one, and soon people were bowing nervously, all over the paddock. Antione ran repeatedly backward from his, which didn't seem to want to bend its knees. Razor and Coral both practiced on another, while Silver watched. Rutan and his cronies had taken over Volt. He had bowed to Rutan, who was now patting his beak, looking disdainful. He spoke loud enough for Silver to hear him "This is easy. I knew it must have been, if Silver could do it. I bet you're not dangerous at all, are you? Are you, you great ugly brute?". It happened in an instant. Volts swung one of his spiked wings and slashed at Rutan's arm. He screamed as Big charged forward and wrestled Volt back. Rutan fell on the grass with blood blossoming from his arm "Oh, it's killed me! It's killed me" "Yer not dyin!". Big picked him up easily and made his way back up to the castle. The shaken class followed "They should fire him straight away" Cassia said. Marcos got angry "It's not Big's fault Rutan was an idiot!". Once the Shinobi got back to their common room Coral sighed "Do you think he'll be alright?" "Of course. Madam Vanilla can heal anything". Razor looked very angry "Something like this on Big's first day. Leave it to Rutan to mess things up".
They went down to the Great Hall for dinner but Big wasn't there. Coral got worried "You don't think they've fired him, do you?" "They better not". Silver noticed Rough and Tumble as the ring leaders in a conversation Silver had no doubt they were cooking up their own version of how Rutan got hurt. Silver turned back to the others "We should go down and see him" "Oh, Silver, I don't know" "I'm allowed on the grounds. Elias Acorn hasn't gotten past the Prelates yet". Silver was half right, he was never told that he couldn't explore the grounds of Soleanna but since it was getting late he wasn't sure he was allowed. They managed to avoid being stopped on their way down. They made it to the hut and knocked on the door "C'min". Big was sitting gloomily on a chair with a bottle in front of him and Froggy on his lap "Spect it's a record. Don' reckon they've ever had a teacher who lasted on'y a day before" "You haven't been fired, Big" "Not yet. But's only a matter o' time, i'n't it". They sat down next to him "How is Rutan?" "Oh, Madam Vanilla fixed him best she could but he's sayin' it's still agony". Silver hit his fist against the table "He's faking it! Madam Vanilla can mend anything. She regrew half my bones last year. Trust Rutan to milk it for all it's worth".
Big took a gulp of his drink "School gov'nors have bin told, o' course. They reckon I started too big. Shoulda left Black Hawks fer later. Done Koco's or summat... Jus' thought itd make a good firs' lessons all my fault". Coral moved over next to him "It's Rutan's fault, Big. We're witnesses. We'll tell Locke what happened". Silver and Razor both nodded "Yeah, you told us not to insult them" "We'll back you up". Big suddenly jumped to his feet and pulled them all into a bone breaking hug "I… think you've had enough, Big" Coral said. Big released them "Yer right" he went outside "Where's he going?". They poked their heads out, Big dropped his head into a barrel of water. He came back inside soaking wet "That's better. Listen, it was good of yeh ter come an' see me, I really…". He stopped dead and stared at Silver as if only just realising he's there "WHAT D'YEH THINK YOU'RE DOIN', EH? YEH'RE NOT TO GO WANDERIN' AROUND AFTER DARK, Silver! AN, YOU TWO! LETTIN' HIM!". The yelling was so sudden that the three of them jumped a foot in the air. Big stomped forward and grabbed Silver's arm "C'mon. I'm takin' yer all back up ter school, an' don' let me catch yeh walkin' down ter see me after dark again. I'm not worth that!".