Coral pulled Silver's arm "We have to go! We've got ten minutes". They ran down the stairs of the tower and headed to the Hospital Wing but heard voices. They hid behind a pillar and heard Infinite and Max "We can only hope Locke won't make things difficult. When will the Kiss be performed" "Once Tundra returns with the prelates. This whole affair has been highly embarrassing. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to informing the Daily Prophet that we've got him at last. I daresay they'll want to interview you, Infinite and once young Silver's back in his right mind, I expect he'll want to tell the Prophet exactly how you saved him". Silver clenched his teeth to keep himself from shouting anything. They heard them walk away and after their footsteps could no longer be heard they set off in a run. They saw the Hospital Wing Doors with Locke looking inside "I'm going to lock you in. It is five minutes to midnight, Ms Coral. Three turns should do it. Good luck". He closed the door and turned to find Silver and Coral grinning at him "Well, hello" "We did it, sir. He's free". Locke beamed "Excellent. And I think… Yes, you've just left. Quickly, I'll lock you in". Silver and Coral ran inside and fell onto their beds as Locke closed the door behind them. Vanilla then came back in "Has the Headmaster gone? Am I allowed to look after my patients now?". She wasn't in a good mood, she stood over them making sure they ate all their chocolate which was difficult as their nerves were jangling in wait. Then it happened, a furious roar from outside which made Vanilla jump "What was that?". They started to make out the voices "Must have used Chaos Control, Infinite. We should have left someone in the room with him" "NO! YOU CAN'T USE CHAOS CONTROL OUT OR INTO THIS CASTLE! THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE HEDGEHOG!" "Infinite, be reasonable!".

The door burst open revealing Infinite, Locke and Max. Locke was the only one who was calm, he looked to be enjoying himself. Max looked angry but he was nothing compared to Infinite "OUT WITH IT, HEDGEHOG! WHAT DID YOU DO!?". Vanilla was shocked "Infinite, calm yourself". Max looked equally taken a back by his behaviour "Infinite, be reasonable. This door has been locked since we left" "THEY HELPED HIM! I KNOW IT. YOU DON'T KNOW THAT HEDGEHOG". Locke stepped forward remaining calm "That will do, Infinite. Think about what you are saying. This door has been locked since I left the ward ten minutes ago. Madam Vanilla, have these students left their beds?" "Of course not" "Well, there you have it, Infinite. Now, these children require rest so I see no need to brother them further". Infinite stood for a few moments before finally storming out of the wing. Max shook his head in disbelief "Fellow seems unbalanced. I'd watch out for him if I were you, Locke" "Oh, he's not unbalanced. He's just suffered a great disappointment" "He's not the only one. The Daily Prophet's going to have a field day! We had Elias cornered and he slipped through our fingers yet again! All it needs now is for the story of that Black Hawk's escape to get out, and I'll be a laughingstock! Well... I'd better go and notify the Ministry". Locke smiled "And the Prelates? They'll be removed?" "Oh, of course. Never dreamed they'd attempt to administer the Kiss on an innocent boy. Completely out of control. No, I'll have them packed off back to Prison Island tonight... Perhaps we should think about dragons at the school entrance" "I think Big would like that". Locke then gave Silver and Coral a knowing look before leaving with Max. About an hour later Razor suddenly shot up awake "Silver! Where's Elias!? Mordred? What happened?". Silver looked at Coral "You explain" he fell back onto his bed as Coral told Razor everything.

The next day most of the third years were taking advantage of their last visit to Spiral Hill but Razor and Coral didn't feel like going. Instead they enjoyed some time with Silver on the grounds. They kept wondering where Elias and Volt were now. Part way through Big joined them still beaming "Know I shouldn' feel happy, after wha' happened las' night. I mean, Elias escapin' again, an, everythin'. But guess what?". The three of them pretended to look curious "What?" "Volt. He escaped. He's free. Bin celebratin' all night!" "That's wonderful" Coral said before elbowing Razor who looked close to laughing. Big nodded "I was worried this mornin', mind... thought he mighta met Professor Knuckles on the grounds, but he says he never ate anythin' las' night" "What?" "Blimey, haven' yeh heard? Thought everyone'd know by now". He leaned down and lowered his voice "Knuckles' a Zilla. He's packin' now, o' course" "Packing? Why?" Silver asked. Big was surprised he didn't understand "Leavin', isn' he? Resigned firs' thing this mornin'. Says he can't risk it happenin again". Silver scrambled to his feet "What!? I'm gonna go see him".

Silver ran into Knuckles' office, everything was already packed, the tank with the Gilman was gone. Knuckles stood there, looking quite ill and seemingly waiting for him "I saw you coming" he pointed at the Chaotix Map on his desk. Silver couldn't believe it "Big said you were leaving" "I'm afraid I am" "Why? The Ministry of Magic don't think you were helping Elias, do they?". Knuckles quickly closed the door to his office "No. Professor Locke was able to convince Max I was trying to save you. That was the final straw for Infinite. I think the loss of the Order of Forelock hit him hard. So he, er, accidentally let slip that I am a Zilla this morning at breakfast" "You're leaving just because of that". Knuckles smiled at his naivety "This time tomorrow, the letters will start arriving from parents. They will not want a… Well, someone like me teaching their children. My kind… Let's just say I'm used to it by now" he finished packing his case. Silver couldn't accept it "Don't leave. You're the best Defence teacher we've ever had". Knuckles simply shook his head. After a few minutes of silence he finally said "From what Locke told me you saved many lives last night. If I'm proud of anything it's how much you've learned this year… Tell, what was your Patronus?". Silver was surprised "How did you know?" "What else could have driven the Prelates back". Silver then explained the story. Once finished Knuckles smiled "A Nightmare. That's what Shadow transformed into. That's why we called him Terios. We liked to joke it was just his reflection" he laughed. He then opened a drawer "I took this back from Terror Hall this morning" he handed it to Silver the Chaos Emerald "And…". He took the Chaotix Map and gave it to Silver "I am no longer your teacher, so I don't feel guilty about giving you back this as well. It's no use to me, and I daresay you, Razor, and Coral will find uses for it. Your father would approve as well. He'd be very disappointed if his son didn't sneak out of the castle at least once a month", Silver grinned.

They heard a knock and Silver quickly hid the map. Locke entered "Your carriage is at the gates, Knuckles" "Thank you, Headmaster". Knuckles shook Silver's hand "Goodbye, Silver. It has been a real pleasure teaching you. I feel sure we'll meet again sometime. Headmaster, there is no need to see me to the gates, I can manage" he sounded like he wanted to leave as quickly as possible. Silver sat down by the window and stared out. Locke closed the door again "Why so miserable, Silver? You did a great thing last night" "It didn't make a difference. Mordred got away" "Didn't make a difference? It made all the difference in the world, Silver. You helped uncover the truth. You saved an innocent man from a terrible fate". At the word fate Silver remembered what Pyjamas had told him "Professor Locke, yesterday, when I was having my Divination exam, Professor Pyjamas went very… strange" "I assume you mean stranger than usual?" "Yes, her voice went all deep and her eyes rolled and she said ... she said Finitevus servant was going to set out to return to him before midnight... She said the servant would help him come back to power. And then she sort of became normal again, and she couldn't remember anything she'd said. Was it… Was she making a real prediction?". Locke looked impressed "You know, Silver, I believe she was. Who'd have thought it? That brings her total of real predictions up to two. I should offer her a pay raise".

Silver was surprised by his calmness "But I stopped them killing Mordred. What if he helps bring Finitevus back to power. It'll be my fault" "It will not. Silver, has your experience with the Time Sign taught you nothing? The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed. Professor Pyjamas, bless her, is living proof of that. You did a very noble thing, in saving Mordred's life. He owes you his life. When one wizard saves another wizard's life, it creates a certain bond between them and I'm much mistaken if Finitevus wants his servant in the debt of Silver the Hedgehog". This didn't make him feel better "I don't want a connection to Mordred" "Trust me, Silver. There will be a day where you will be very glad you saved Mordred's life". Silver couldn't think what could possibly happen that day. Locke put a hand on his shoulder "I knew your father very well, both at Soleanna and later. He would have saved Mordred too, I am sure of it. You're probably tired of hearing this but you're extraordinary like him even down to your Patronus being a Nightmare" "How did you…" "I saw it charge Rutan during the Gossamer match". Silver never knew, no one told him his Patronus took shape during the match. Locke patted his back "You found your father inside yourself last night, Silver. Terios rode again".

Since no one else knew how Elias escaped many theories spread through out the castle, none of which were close to the truth. Rutan meanwhile was furious about Volt. He was convinced that Big had somehow smuggled him out, he couldn't believe he and his father were outwitted by a game keeper. Hamlin meanwhile had much to say on Elias' escape "If I manage to get into the Ministry, I'll have a lot of proposals to make about Magical Law Enforcement!" he would say to anyone who would listen which consisted of his girlfriend Gold and no one else. Though the weather was perfect, though the atmosphere was so cheerful, though he knew they had achieved the near impossible in helping Elias to freedom, Silver had never approached the end of a school year in worse spirits. While a fair few students were happy that "The Zilla" as they called him was gone, many other were sad to see Knuckles leave. But the worst part was the thing Silver tried not to accept until the last day of school. He would have to go back to his Aunt and Uncle, a small part of him seemed to be in denial, kept trying to say he would still be living with Elias, but that was impossible now. The exam results came out that morning. Silver, Razor, and Coral had passed every subject. Silver was amazed that he had got through Potions. He had a shrewd suspicion that Locke might have stepped in to stop Infinite failing him on purpose. Infinite's behaviour toward Silver over the past week had been quite alarming. Silver wouldn't have thought it possible that Infinite's dislike for him could increase, but it certainly had. A muscle twitched unpleasantly at the corner of Infinite's thin mouth every time he looked at Silver, and he was constantly flexing his fingers, as though itching to place them around Silver's throat. Hamlin had passed all his SHARDS (Scaringly High Assessments Requiring Drastic Studying). Mighty and Ray just managed to scrape a few GEMs each. Shinobi, thanks to winning the Sky Chase Cup, had won the House Cup by a significant margin. This made it the third time in a row, a fact that angered Rutan greatly. Even Silver was able to cheer up as he celebrated over the feast.

The trio were now on the Soleanna Express on the way home "I went to see Professor Echo, this morning. I have decided to drop Muggle Studies" Coral said. Razor was surprised "But you passed" "I know, but I can't stand another year like this one. That Time Sign, it was driving me mad. I've handed it in. Without Muggle Studies and Divination, I'll be able to have a normal schedule again". Razor crossed his arms "I still can't believe you didn't tell us about it. We're your friends" "I promised not to tell anyone". She looked to Silver for defence but he was staring out the window at Soleanna, it'd be two months until he saw it again. Razor hit his arm "Oh, cheer up, Silver" "I'm just thinking about the holidays". Razor grinned "Yeah, so have I. I think you should both come round to mine this summer" "Why?" Coral asked. Razor looked very smug "Dad might be getting tickets to the Sky Chase Cup this year. It'll be in Mercia". Silver's spirits went up "Yeah, that'd be great. And Menthor would be happy to get rid of me after what I did to Thunderbolt".

A few hours later something hit the window, it was a small black flying Chao holding with a mischievous grin and a letter in its hand. Silver opened the window and let it in. It dropped the letter on Silver's lap and then flew around the compartment happy that it completed its task. Lily clicked her beak in dignified disapproval. Silver opened the letter "It's from Elias" "What? What does it say?".

Dear Silver,

I hope this finds you before you reach your aunt and uncle. I don't know whether they're used to our post. Volt and I are in hiding. I won't tell you where, in case this Chao falls into the wrong hands. I have some doubt about his reliability, but he is the best I could find, and he did seem eager for the job. I believe the Prelates are still searching for me, but they haven't a hope of finding me here. I am planning to allow some Muggles to glimpse me soon, a long way from Soleanna, so that the security on the castle will be lifted. There is something I never got around to telling you during our brief meeting. It was I who sent you the Psychic Wave.

Coral let out a triumphant "HA! I knew it" "It wasn't jinxed though" Razor was quick to remind her as Silver continued to read the letter.

Aquarius took the order to the Post Office for me. I used your name but told them to take the gold from my own Nameless vault. Please consider it as thirteen birthdays' worth of presents from your godfather.

I would also like to apologize for the fright I think I gave you that night last year when you left your uncle's house. I had only hoped to get a glimpse of you before starting my journey north, but I think the sight of me alarmed you. I am enclosing something else for you, which I think will make your next year at Soleanna more enjoyable. If ever you need me, send word. Your Flicky will find me.

I'll write again soon.

Elias

Silver checked the envelope and found another piece of parchment that had one thing written on it. He read it over twice and he suddenly felt very warm inside.

I, Elias Acorn, Silver the Hedgehog's godfather, hereby give him permission to visit Spiral Hill on weekends

Silver showed the others "I think that'll be good enough for Locke". He then read the P.S on the first letter "Oh, Razor, he says you can keep the Chao. He says he owed you one since it was his fault you lost the last one". Razor was surprised as the Chao landed on his leg. Razor narrowed his eyes, picked up the Chao and to Coral's surprise he held it out to Aquarius so she could sniff it "What do you reckon? Definitely a Chao?". Aquarius nodded "That's good enough for me".

They left the train and met Rob and Mari-An who hugged Silver before saying goodbye. Silver then found his Uncle Menthor who spotted the letter in his hand "If that's another thing you want me to sign you can forget about it" "It's not. It's a letter from my Godfather". Menthor was taken a back "Godfather? You don't have a Godfather" "He was my mum and dad's best friend. He's a convicted murderer, but he's broken out of wizard prison and he's on the run. He likes to keep in touch with me, though... Keep up with my news... Check if I'm happy". He grinned as he passed the horrified Menthor and headed for the car knowing he was going to have a far better summer than the last.