Lara-Su was sent to Eldorado the next day by which time the news of her attack had spread through out the school although as usual the story had changed and morphed by the end. Coral and Razor now had a new policy of feigning deafness whenever Silver mentioned his Rutan is a Nocturnus theory. Locke still hadn't made an appearance so Silver wasn't sure if on Monday night he was wasting his time heading to his office. Luckily when Silver knocked on the door he was told to come in. Locke looked very tired sitting at his desk but he smiled at Silver and gestured to the seat at the other side of his desk. Silver sat down and noticed the Phantom Gem was already out. Locke sat back in his chair "You've been busy when I've been gone, Silver. I believe you witnessed Lara-Su's accident" "Yes, sir. How is she?" "Still very unwell, although she was relatively lucky. She appears to have brushed the necklace with the smallest possible amount of skin. There was a tiny hole in her glove. Had she even held it in her ungloved hand, she would have died, perhaps instantly. Luckily Professor Infinite was able to do enough to prevent a rapid spread of the curse". Silver narrowed his eyes "Why him? Why not Madam Vanilla?" "Impertinent!". The voice came from Silvanus on the wall "I would not have permitted a student to question the way Soleanna operated in my day" "Yes, thank you, Silvanus. Professor Infinite knows much more about the Dark Arts than Madam Vanilla, Silver. Anyway, the Eldorado staff are sending me hourly reports, and I am hopeful that Lara will make a full recovery in time". Silver knew he probably won't get the answer he wants but "Where were you over the weekend?" "I'd rather not say right now. However, I shall tell you in due course". Silver was surprised "Really?" "Of course".
Silver watched Locke uncorked a new vial of memories "Sir, I met Farrel down at Spiral Hill" "Ah yes, I am already aware that Farrel has been treating your inheritance with light-fingered contempt. He has gone to ground since you accosted him outside the Piston Pit; I rather think he dreads facing me. However, rest assured that he will not be making away with any more of Elias' old possessions". Silvanus heard this "That mangy bastard has been stealing Acorn heirlooms!?". He then disappeared clearly checking his other portred at Haven. After an awkward silence Silver said "Sir, did Professor Echo tell you what I told her. About Rutan" "Yes, she told me your suspicions. Rest assured, I shall take all appropriate measures to investigate anyone who might have had a hand in Lara's accident. But what concerns me now, Silver, is our lesson". Silver felt a little resentful at this. If their lessons were so very important, why had there been such a long gap between the first and second? However, he said no more about Rutan but watched as Locke poured the fresh memories onto the Phantom Gem "You will remember, I am sure, our last adventure into someone's memories. Where we left off Sam Tund returned to Badgervill leaving Hershey alone in Knothole, expecting the baby who would one day become Finitevus" "How do you know she was in Knothole, sir?" "Because of Mr Prank". Silver narrowed his eyes "Prank?" "Yes, one of the owners of the very shop that sceptre was purchased at". Locke tapped the Gem and out of it formed the cloudy shape of a old, green man with orange hair "Yes, we acquired it in curious circumstances. It was brought in by a young witch just before Christmas, oh, many years ago now. She said she needed the gold badly, well, that much was obvious. Covered in rags and pretty far along. Going to have a baby, see. She said the locket had been Raiju's. Well, we hear that sort of story all the time, 'Oh, this was Forelock's favourite teapot,' but when I looked at it, it had his mark all right, and a few simple spells were enough to tell me the truth. Of course, that made it near enough priceless. She didn't seem to have any idea how much it was worth. Happy to get ten Gold Rings for it. Best bargain we ever made!".
Silver watched the memory of Prank disappear "He only gave her ten Gold Rings?" "Prank was not known for his generosity. So we know that, near the end of her pregnancy, Hershey was alone in Knothole and in desperate need of gold, desperate enough to sell her one and only valuable possession, the locket that was one of Fajar's treasured family heirlooms. I also assume that Hershey didn't want to stay in the Wizarding World. The abuse she faced by her family had probably sapped her of her power. I think this because from what evidence I've gathered she spent the remainder of her life in Muggle Knothole. Even refusing to use magic to save her own life". Silver's eyes widened "Not even for her son?" "Are you possibly feeling sorry for Finitevus?" "No" Silver said quickly. Locke nodded and stood up so Silver did the same "Who's memory are we going into now, sir" "Mine. I think you will find it both rich in detail and satisfyingly accurate. After you". Silver touched the Phantom Ruby and the room changed. he and Locke were standing in a bustling, old fashioned Knothole street. "There I am" said Locke brightly, pointing ahead of them to a tall figure crossing the road. The younger Locke's wore the same white robe he wore in Sam Tund's memory four years ago. Having reached their side of the street, he strode off along the pavement "Nice suit, sir" said Silver, before he could stop himself. Locke merely chuckled as they followed his younger self a short distance, finally passing through a set of iron gates into a bare courtyard that fronted a rather grim, square building surrounded by high railings. He mounted the few steps leading to the front door and knocked once. After a moment or two, the door was opened by a scruffy Ocelot girl wearing an apron "Good afternoon. I have an appointment with a Julayla, who, I believe, is the matron here?" "Oh, okay. Come in" said the bewildered-looking girl, taking in Locke's eccentric appearance. Locke stepped through the door into the hall.
A door at the top of the stairs and a harassed-looking Chipmunk woman came scurrying toward them. She had a sharp-featured face that appeared more anxious than unkind, and she was talking over her shoulder to another aproned helper as she walked toward Locke "And take the iodine upstairs to Martha, Billy Stubbs has been picking his scabs and Eric Whalley's oozing all over his sheets. Chicken pox on top of everything else" she said to nobody in particular, and then her eyes fell upon Locke and she stopped dead in her tracks. She looked astonished. Locke held out his hand "Good afternoon. My name is Locke the Echidna. I sent you a letter requesting an appointment and you very kindly invited me here today". Julayla blinked, apparently deciding that Locke was not a hallucination, she said feebly "Oh yes. Well-Well then, you'd better come into my room. Yes". She led Locke into a small room that seemed part sitting room, part office. It was as shabby as the hallway and the furniture was old and mismatched. She invited Locke to sit on a rickety chair and seated herself behind a cluttered desk, eyeing him nervously "I am here, as I told you in my letter, to discuss Sam Tund and arrangements for his future" said Locke. Julayla shivered at Sam's name the same way a wizard might shiver at Finitevus "Are you family?" "No, I am a teacher, I have come to offer Sam a place at my school" "What school's this, then?". Silver wondered how much young Locke was allowed to say but to his surprise Locke said "It is called Soleanna" "And how come you're interested in Tom?" "Well, his name has been down for our school since birth" "Who registered him? His parents?". There was no doubt that Julayla was an inconveniently sharp woman. Apparently, Locke thought so too, for Silver now saw him pick up a piece of perfectly blank paper from Mrs. Cole's desktop "Here". As he handed her the paper he waved his free hand "I think this will make everything clear".
Julayla's eyes slid out of focus and back again as she gazed intently at the blank paper for a moment "That seems perfectly in order" she said placidly, handing it back. Then her eyes fell upon a bottle of gin and two glasses that had certainly not been present a few seconds before "May I offer you a glass of gin?" she said in an extra refined voice. Locke beamed "Thank you very much". It soon became clear that Julayla was no novice when it came to gin drinking. Pouring both of them a generous measure, she drained her own glass in one gulp. Smacking her lips frankly, she smiled at Locke for the first time, and he didn't hesitate to press his advantage "I was wondering whether you could tell me anything of Sam Tund's history? I think he was born here in the orphanage?" "That's right". She helped herself to more gin "I remember it clear as anything, because I'd just started here myself. New Year's Eve and bitter cold, snowing, you know. Nasty night. And this girl, not much older than I was myself at the time, came staggering up the front steps. Well, she wasn't the first. We took her in, and she had the baby within the hour. And she was dead in another hour". Julayla nodded impressively and took another generous gulp of gin. Locke listened curiously "Did she say anything before she died? Anything about the boy's father, for instance?" "Not much. I remember when she found out the child was an Echidna she said to me 'I hope he looks like his papa and then she told me he was to be named Sam, for his father, and Florev, for her family name and she said the boy's surname was to be Tund. And she died soon after that without another word. It seemed so important to the poor girl, but no Sam nor Florev nor any kind of Tund ever came looking for him, nor any family at all, so he stayed in the orphanage and he's been here ever since". Julayla helped herself, almost absentmindedly, to another healthy measure of gin. Two pink spots had appeared high on her cheekbones. Then she said "He's a funny boy" "Yes, I thought he might be" "He was a funny baby too. He hardly ever cried; you know. And then, when he got a little older, he was…Odd".
Locke looked sympathetic "Odd in what way?" "Well, he…". But Julayla pulled up short, and there was nothing blurry or vague about the inquisitorial glance she shot Locke over her gin glass "He's definitely got a place at your school, you say?" "Definitely" "And nothing I say can change that?". Locke shook his head "Nothing". She squinted at him as though deciding whether or not to trust him. Apparently, she decided she could, because she said in a sudden rush "He scares the other children" "You mean he is a bully?" "I think he must be but it's very hard to catch him at it. There have been incidents. Nasty things". Locke did not press her, though Silver could tell that he was interested. She took yet another gulp of gin and her rosy cheeks grew rosier still "Billy Stubbs's Pocky. Well, Sam said he didn't do it and I don't see how he could have done, but even so, it didn't hang itself from the rafters, did it?" "I shouldn't think so, no" "But I'm jiggered if I know how he got up there to do it. All I know is he and Billy had argued the day before. And then…". Julayla took another swig of gin, slopping a little over her chin this time "On the summer outing. We take them out, you know, once a year, to the countryside or to the seaside. Well, Amy Benson and Dennis Bishop were never quite right afterwards, and all we ever got out of them was that they'd gone into a cave with Sam. He swore they'd just gone exploring, but something happened in there, I'm sure of it. And, well, there have been a lot of things, funny things". She looked around at Locke again, and though her cheeks were flushed, her gaze was steady "I don't think many people will be sorry to see the back of him" "You understand, I'm sure, that we will not be keeping him permanently? He will have to return here, at the very least, every summer" "Oh, well, that's better than nothing". She got to her feet, and Silver was impressed to see that she was quite steady, even though two-thirds of the gin was now gone "I suppose you'd like to see him?" "Very much" said Locke, rising too. She led him out of her office and up the stone stairs, calling out instructions and admonitions to helpers and children as she passed. The orphans, Silver saw, were all wearing the same kind of greyish tunic.
They looked reasonably well-cared for, but there was no denying that this was a grim place in which to grow up. "Here we are" said Julayla, as they turned off the second landing and stopped outside the first door in a long corridor. She knocked twice and entered "Sam? You've got a visitor. This is Professor Locke. He's come to tell you…Well, it'll be better if you explain". Silver and the two Lockes entered the room and Julayla closed the door as she left. It was a small bare room with nothing in it except an old wardrobe, a wooden chair, and an iron bedstead. A boy was sitting on top of the grey blankets, his legs stretched out in front of him, holding a book. Hershey had gotten her wish, he looked exactly like a smaller version of the Muggle, Sam Tund. Despite his age there was an undeniable cunning behind his eyes. He stared at Locke but didn't say anything. Locke smiled and held out his hand "How do you do, Sam". Sam paused but then shook his hand. Locke pulled a chair and sat next to Sam's bed "My name is Professor Locke" "Professor?". He resentfully look at the door "Like a Doctor? She sent you to look at me, didn't she?". Locke pleasantly shook his head "No, I am not here on Mrs Julayla's request" "I don't believe you! Tell me the truth!". Sam said this with a ringing force that was almost shocking. It was a command and it was clear he has done it before. Locke just continued to smile pleasantly at him. Sam's eyes widened and he now looked scared "Who are you?" "I have told you. My name is Professor Locke and I work at a school called Soleanna. I have come to offer you a place at my school". Sam jumped of his bed and furiously backed away from Locke. Silver got the impression of a cornered animal "No! I won't go! You're from the asylum aren't you!? I never did anything to Amy or Dennis, and you can ask them, they'll tell you!". Locke patiently shook his head "I am not from an asylum. I am a teacher and, if you will sit down calmly, I shall tell you about Soleanna. Of course, if you would rather not come to the school, nobody will force you" "I'd like to see them try". Locke spoke as if he didn't hear that "Soleanna is a school for people with special abilities" "I'm not mad!" "I don't think your mad. Soleanna is not a school for mad people. It is a school of magic". There was a long silence. Sam slowly leaned forward and whispered "Magic? That's what I can do?" "That's right. What can you do exactly".
Sam's whole attitude shifted at once in fact he somewhat reminded Silver of Coral whenever she wanted to impress "All sorts. I can make things move without touching them. I can make animals do what I want them to do, without training them. I can make bad things happen to people who annoy me. I can make them hurt if I want to". He sat back down on his bed and clasped his hands together as if he was praying "I always knew I was different. Special". Locke's smile vanished and he now watched Sam with great curiosity "Well, you were quite right". Sam looked up at him and for the first time he smile "Are you a wizard too?" "I am" "Prove it" Sam demanded. Locke raised an eyebrow "Am I to take it you will accept a place at Soleanna?" "Of course I accept" "Then you will address me as Professor or Sir". Sam's expression hardened for the most fleeting moment before he said, in an unrecognizably polite voice "I'm sorry, sir. I meant…Please, Professor, could you show me". Silver was sure that Locke was going to refuse, that he would tell Sam there would be plenty of time for practical demonstrations at Soleanna, that they were currently in a building full of Muggles and must therefore be cautious. To his great surprise, however, Locked raised his hand and pointed it at the shabby wardrobe in the corner, and gave the wand a casual flick. The wardrobe burst into flames. Sam jumped to his feet. Silver could hardly blame him for howling in shock and rage; all his worldly possessions must be in there. But even as Sam rounded on Locke, the flames vanished, leaving the wardrobe completely undamaged. Sam stared from the wardrobe to Locke; his expression greedy "How do I do that?" "All in good time. I think there is something trying to get out of your wardrobe". And sure enough, a faint rattling could be heard from inside it. Again Sam looked frightened but Locke wasn't showing any sympathy this time "Open the door".
Sam crossed the room and threw open the wardrobe door. On the topmost shelf, above a rail of threadbare clothes, a small cardboard box was shaking and rattling as though there were several frantic mice trapped inside it. Sam, looking very unnerved, removed the box and put it down on his bed. Locke stared at it "Is there anything in there you ought not to have" "I suppose so, sir" "Open it", Sam did so. Silver expected something much more exciting but instead a mess of small, everyday objects: a yo-yo, a silver thimble, and a tarnished mouth organ among them. Once free of the box, they stopped quivering and lay quite still upon the thin blankets "You will return them to their owners with your apologies. I shall know whether it has been done. And be warned, thieving is not tolerated at Soleanna". Sam didn't look remotely abashed. He was looking back at Locke appraisingly "Yes, sir" "At Soleanna we teach you not only to use magic, but to control it. You have, inadvertently, I am sure, been using your powers in a way that is neither taught nor tolerated at our school. You are not the first, nor will you be the last, to allow your magic to run away with you. But you should know that Soleanna can expel students, and the Ministry of Magic, yes, there is a Ministry, will punish lawbreakers still more severely. All new wizards must accept that, in entering our world, they abide by our laws" "Yes, sir" "I'm afraid you will also have to return here at least over the Summer which means I expect your behaviour to improve here as well". Sam's eyes shifted slightly when he heard he would have to come back to the orphanage "Yes, sir". After a pause he then turned to Locke and said "I haven't got any money" "That is easily remedied". Locke removed a bag from his robes. From the sound was full of rings "There is a fund at Soleanna for those who require assistance to buy books and robes. You might have to buy some of your spell books and so on second-hand, I'm afraid".
Sam took the bag and gazed at the strange money inside. He then spoke in his overly polite voice again "Thank you, sir. Where do I get spell books?" "At Avalon. It's a secret Wizarding Street here in Knothole. I have a list of your supplies here. I can help you get them if you like". Sam looked him up and down "I don't need help. I'm used to doing things for myself, I go round Knothole on my own all the time. How do you get to this Avalon, sir?". Silver was sure that young Locke would insist on accompanying Sam to Avalon but Locke seemed to have a good reading on Sam. He handed him the list and told him how to find the Groovy Train "You will be able to see it even if the Muggles, Non-Magical people that is, will not. Ask for Sam the Panda. Easy enough to remember as he shares your name". Sam's face twitched which Locke noticed "You dislike the name Sam?" "There's a lot of Sams. My father was called Sam" "I'm aware". Then Sam spoke as if he couldn't hold the question in anymore "Was he a wizard?" "I'm afraid I don't know" Locke said gently. Sam looked disappointed "My mother can't have been magic, or she wouldn't have died". He seemed to be talking to himself more than Locke "It must've been him. So, when I've got all my stuff when do I come to this Soleanna?" "All the details are on the second piece of parchment in your envelope. You will leave from Radical Train Station on the first of September. There is a train ticket in there too". Locke shook his hand again and turned to leave when "I can talk to snakes. Mobani snakes. I found out when we've been to the country on trips. They find me, they whisper to me. Is that normal for a wizard?". Silver could tell he kept that till last to impress. Locke didn't look at him, for the first time he looked slightly unnerved "It is unusual but not unheard of". But when he looked back at Sam there was nothing but compassion "Goodbye, Sam. I look forward to seeing you at Soleanna" "I think that will do".
The room dissolved and Silver returned to Locke's office "He believed it much quicker than I did. I mean, when you told him he was a wizard. I didn't believe Big at first, when he told me" "I think Sam was perfectly ready to believe he was, to use his own words, special" "Did you know then?". Locke frowned "Did I know I just met the most dangerous dark wizard of all time? No, I had no idea that he was to grow up to be what he is. All I saw was a lost child who needed guidance. I returned to Soleanna intending to keep an eye upon him, something I should have done in any case, given that he was alone and friendless, but which, already, I felt I ought to do for others' sake as much as his. His powers, as you heard, were surprisingly well-developed for such a young wizard and most interestingly and ominously of all he had already discovered that he had some measure of control over them". Silver felt slightly unclean thinking about "And he was a Parseltongue" "Yes, a surprise, but we both know you can find them in good and bad people". Locke then looked out the window and sighed "Oh, it appears time is making a full of us. But before we part, I want to draw your attention to a feature of the scene we have just witnessed, for it will have a great bearing on the matters we shall be discussing in future meetings. I hope you are not too sleepy to pay attention to this, Silver, the young Sam Tund liked to collect trophies. You saw the box of stolen articles he had hidden in his room. These were taken from victims of his bullying behaviour, souvenirs, if you will, of particularly unpleasant bits of magic. Bear in mind this for it will be important later. And now, it really is time for bed". Silver got up to leave and on his way out he noticed the Florev ring was gone from the table. He didn't stop to ask though, he knew by now if Locke wanted to tell him he would.