Silver and Locke approached the back door of the house, which was surrounded by the familiar litter of old Wellington boots and rusty cauldrons. Silver could hear the soft clucking of sleepy Cuckys coming from a distant shed. Locke knocked three times and Silver saw sudden movement behind the kitchen window. He then heard a familiar voice "Who's there? Declare yourself!" Mari-An said nervously. Locke stepped forward "It is I, Locke, bringing Silver. My favourite jam flavour is Grape". The door opened at once. There stood Mari-An "Silver, dear! Gracious, Locke, you gave me a fright, you said not to expect you before morning!". Locke ushered Silver inside "We were lucky. Ellidy proved much more persuadable than I had expected. Silver's doing, of course. Ah, hello, Su". Julie-Su was sitting at the table with both her hands clasped around a mug of tea "Hello, Professor. Silver, it's good to see you again". Silver knew at once there was something wrong with her, she looked very pale, almost ill and there was something forced about her smile "Hi, Su". She quickly got to her feet "I better be off. Thanks for the tea and sympathy, Mari" "Please don't leave on my account, I cannot stay, I have urgent matters to discuss with Saline" Locke said courteously. Julie-Su shook her head and didn't meet Locke's eye "No, no, I need to get going. Night" "Dear, why not come to dinner at the weekend, Knuckles and Striker are coming?" "No, really, Mari. Thanks anyway. Good night, everyone". Julie-Su hurried past Locke and Silver into the yard; a few paces beyond the doorstep, she turned on the spot and vanished into thin air. Silver noticed that Mari-An looked troubled. Locke then shook his hand "I will see you at school, Silver. Mari, at your service". He bowed to Mari before following Julie-Su out and vanishing. Mari-An closed the door and then guided Silver into the light to examine him "Oh, you're like Razor. Both of you look as though you've had Stretching Jinxes put on you. I swear Razor's grown four inches since he came home. Are you hungry, Silver?".
For the first-time all-night Silver could actually pay attention to his rumbling stomach "Uh, yeah, thanks" "Sit down. I'll make something up". As Silver sat at the table a familiar Aquatic Chao leapt onto his knees "Is Coral here?" he asked as he petted Aquarius' head. Mari-An nodded "Oh yes, she arrived the day before yesterday. Everyone's in bed, of course, we didn't expect you for hours. Here you are". She brought over a bowl of soup and bread "So, you managed to persuade Dr Ellidy?". Silver was forced to nod because his mouth was full of food, "He taught Rob and me when we were at school. Did you like him?". Silver still didn't know how to answer that, so he simply shrugged. Mari-An nodded "I know what you mean. Of course, he can be charming when he wants to be, but Rob's never liked him much. The Ministry's littered with Ellidy's old favourites, he was always good at giving leg ups, but he never had much time for Rob, didn't seem to think he was enough of a highflier. Well, that just shows you, even Ellidy makes mistakes. I don't know whether Razor's told you in any of his letters, it's only just happened, but Rob's been promoted!". It could not have been clearer that Mari-An had been bursting to say this. Silver made himself swallow the boiling soup "Th-That's great" "You're very sweet. Saline, has set up several new offices in response to the present situation, and Rob's heading the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects. It's a big job, he's got ten people reporting to him now". Silver was happy to hear this "So, what exactly does he do?" "Well, you see, in all the panic about You-Know-Who, odd things have been cropping up for sale everywhere, things that are supposed to guard against You-Know-Who and the Nocturnus. You can imagine the kind of thing, so-called protective potions that are really gravy with a bit of pus added, or instructions for defensive jinxes that actually make your ears fall off. Well, in the main the perpetrators are just people like Farrel, who've never done an honest day's work in their lives and are taking advantage of how frightened everybody is, but every now and then something really nasty turns up. The other day Rob confiscated a box of cursed objects that were almost certainly planted by a Nocturnus. So, you see, it's a very important job, and I tell him it's just silly to miss dealing with spark plugs and toasters and all the rest of that Muggle rubbish. Anyway, he should be home soon".
She frowned and looked over to the clock at the wall, the one that described the state of her family members. All the hands were on Mortal Peril. She saw than Silver noticed and spoke in a forced casual voice "It's been like that for a while now. ever since You-Know-Who came back into the open. I suppose everybody's in mortal danger now. I don't think it can be just our family, but I don't know anyone else who's got a clock like this, so I can't check". There was a knock at the back door. Mari-An jumped "Rob, is that you?" "Yes, but I'd say that if I was a Nocturnus. Ask the question". Mari-An rolled her eyes "Really?" "Mari" "Oh, alright. What is your life's ambition" "To find out how airplanes stay up". Mari-An smiled and tried to open the door but Rob was apparently holding it from the other end "Mari, I've got to ask you one" "Rob, this is silly" "What do you like me to call you when we're alone?". Even in the dim light Silver could tell Mari-An was blushing. She whispered through the crack in the door sounding mortified "Maripie" "Correct. You can let me in now". She opened the door "I still don't see why we have to go through that every time you come home. I mean, a Nocturnus might have forced the answer out of you before impersonating you!" "I know, dear, but it's Ministry procedure, and I have to set an example. Something smells good". Rob turned hopefully in the direction of the table "Silver! We didn't expect you until morning!". He shook Silver's hand and sat down next to him to have some soup "Thanks, Mari. It's been a tough night. Disguise amulets that actually just turn you orange. Dark detectors that really give your tentacle warts. Backfiring Jinxes. Eldorado's got enough on their plate". Silver failed to hold in a yawn which Mari-An noticed "You should go to bed, dear. It's rather late. I've got Mighty and Ray's room already for you" "Are they not here?" "Oh, they got a little flat now above their shop".
She smiled very proudly "I must say, I had my doubts about that whole thing, but they do seem to have a bit of a flair for business! Come on, dear, your trunk's already up there". Silver got to his feet and followed her "Good night, Mr O'Hedge" "Night, Silver". Silver saw Mari-An glance at the clock in the washing basket as they left the kitchen. All the hands were once again at mortal peril. Mighty and Ray's bedroom was on the second floor. Mrs. O'Hedge pointed her wand at a lamp on the bedside table and it ignited at once, bathing the room in a pleasant golden glow. Though a large vase of flowers had been placed on a desk in front of the small window, their perfume could not disguise the lingering smell of what Silver thought was gunpowder. A considerable amount of floor space was devoted to a vast number of unmarked, sealed cardboard boxes, amongst which stood Silver's school trunk. The room looked as though it was being used as a temporary warehouse. Lily hooted happily at Silver from her perch on top of a large wardrobe, then took off through the window. Silver knew she had been waiting to see him before going hunting. Silver bade Mari-An good night, put on pyjamas, and got into one of the beds. There was something hard inside the pillowcase. He groped inside it and pulled out a sticky purple-and-orange sweet, which he recognized as a Puking Pastille. Smiling to himself, he rolled over and was instantly asleep.
Seconds later, or so it seemed to Silver, he was awakened by what sounded like cannon fire as the door burst open. Sitting bolt upright, he heard the rasp of the curtains being pulled back. The dazzling sunlight seemed to poke him hard in both eyes. Shielding them with one hand, "Wuzzgoinon?" "We didn't know you were here already!" said a loud and excited voice, and he received a sharp blow to the top of the head. "Razor, don't hit him!" said another, higher pitched voice. Silver's vision finally focused and saw Razor grinning at him "Alright, mate" "Yeah. You?" "Not bad. When did you get here? Mum just told us". Silver could barely remember last night "Uh, I think around one in the morning" "How were the Muggles? Did they treat you okay" "Same as usual". He noticed Coral perched on the end of his bed "You alight, Coral?" "Oh, I'm fine" she looked like she was treading lightly around Silver. He understood why and wanted to quickly avoid talking about it "Did I miss breakfast?" "Yeah, but mum's bringing a tray up for you. She reckons you look underfed. But don't change the subject. Mum told us you did something with Locke" "It wasn't that interesting. He just wanted me to help him persuade this old teacher to come out of retirement. His name's Dr Ellidy". Razor looked disappointed "Oh, we thought-". He noticed Coral give him a sharp look "Thought it would be something like that. So, uh, did Ellidy seem like a good teacher?" "Not sure but he can't be worse than Veruca, can he?" "I know someone who's worse" said a voice at the door. Blaze had just walked in "Hi, Silver" "Hi". Silver noticed she looked very annoyed "What's wrong?" "It's her! She's driving me mad" she looked at Coral knowingly. Coral rolled her eyes "What's she done now?" "The way she talks. You'd think I'm three" "I know. She's so full of herself". Silver was astonished to hear Coral talking about Mari-An like this and could not blame Razor for saying angrily "Can't you two lay off her for five seconds?". Blaze scoffed "Oh, that's right, defend her. We all know you can't get enough of her". Silver now really hoped he has misread this situation "Uh, who are you-". But his question was answered before he could finish it. The bedroom door flew open again and standing there was a beautiful yellow Mongoose holding a breakfast tray "Silver! Eet 'as been too long!". It was Mina Mongoose brought the tray over and Mari-An appeared at the door looking cross "I was just about to do that" "Eet was no trouble".
She put the tray down on Silver's legs and kissed him on the cheek. Silver blushed but thankfully no one noticed as Mina kept talking "I 'ave been longing to see you. You remember my seester, Melody? She never stops talking about Silver the Hedgehog. She will be delighted to see you again" "Oh, is she here too?" "No, no, silly boy. I mean next summer, when we…You do not know?". She looked surprised at Mari-An who awkwardly said "He just arrived last night. We didn't get a chance to tell him". Mina turned back to Silver "Ash and I are getting married" "Oh". Silver noticed Mari-An, Blaze and Coral avoiding each other's gaze "That's wonderful" "Ash is very busy at ze moment, working very 'ard, and I only work part-time at Nameless for my Eenglish, so he brought me 'ere for a few days to get to know 'is family properly. I was so pleased to 'ear you would be coming. Well, your breakfast". She kissed him on the cheek again and gracefully left the room closing the door behind her. Mari-An made an unintelligible noise that opted Blaze to explain "Mum hates her" "I do not!" Mari-An said in a loud whisper. She made sure Mina was downstairs "I just think they've hurried into this engagement, that's all!". Razor raised an eyebrow "They've been going out for almost a year" "Well, that's not very long! I know why it's happened, of course. It's all this uncertainty with You-Know-Who coming back, people think they might be dead tomorrow, so they're rushing all sorts of decisions they'd normally take time over. It was the same last time he was powerful, people eloping left, right, and centre" "Including you and Dad" Blaze said. Mari-An went red "Yes, well, your father and I were made for each other, what was the point in waiting? Whereas Ash and Mina…Well…What have they really got in common? He's a hardworking, down-to-Mobius sort of person, whereas she's…Um…" "A pompous airhead?" Blaze suggested. Mari-An hit her daughter's arm "Don't call her that. I better get back down. Silver make sure you eat your breakfast before it gets cold" she left as well. Blaze smirked at Silver "She may pretend otherwise but she's going to stop them if she can?" "How's she gonna manage that?" "She keeps trying to get Su round for dinner. I think she's hoping Ash will fall for her instead. I hope he does, I'd much rather have her in the family". Razor shook his head "No way. Su's good looking but no guy in their right might would choose her over Mina" "At least Su's got two brain cells to rub together" Blaze said. Silver thought that was a bit harsh "Mina's not stupid. She made it through the Emerald Championship" "Oh, God, you too?" Coral said.
Blaze laughed "I suppose you like the way she says 'Silver'" she said Silver in a fake accent. Silver wished he hadn't said anything "What was wrong with Su? I saw her last night" "Well, she hasn't been the same since…You know, the Ministry?". Silver's heart sank, how could he be so stupid, Elias. Elias was Julie-Su's cousin, of course she was upset. He quickly started eating the eggs on his plate to stop anyone dragging him into a conversation about Elias. Razor had no problem though "I don't get it. They barely knew each other. They only met properly last year" "It's not just that they're cousins, Razor. She thinks it's her fault he died. Fiona knocked her out of their fight which is what gave her that clean shot on Elias" Coral said. Blaze sighed "Knuckles has been around lately, trying to help her but it's not working. She's gotten so bad her shapeshifting has gone stunted". Mari-An then poked her head out from the door "Blaze, come down and help me with the lunch" "I'm talking to this lot" "Now!". Blaze rolled her eyes "She just doesn't want to be alone with Mina" she whispered to Silver. She then pretended to swing her hair in an mockery of Mina before walking to the door "You lot better be down soon". After she left Silver tried to eat the rest of his breakfast (Razor helped himself to his toast). Coral started looking through the box of Mighty and Ray's experiments "What's this?". She took out what looked like a small telescope. Razor looked worried "Don't know but if it's in here it might be one of their tests. Be careful" "Your Mum says their joke shops going well" Silver said. Razor looked back to him and nodded "That's an understatement. They're raking in the Gold Rings! I can't wait to see the place, we haven't been to Avalon yet, because Mum says Dad's got to be there for extra security and he's been really busy at work, but it sounds excellent" "And what about Hamlin? Is he talking to your mum and dad again?". Razor scowled "Nope" "What? But he has to know they were right about Finitevus" "Locke says people find it easier to forgive someone for being wrong than being right" Coral said.
Razor rolled his eyes "Sounds like something mental Locke would say". Silver then finally remembered "Locke's giving me private lessons this year". Razor choked on his toast "What? You didn't open with that?" "Sorry, I just remembered". Silver decided very quickly that now was as good a time as any to tell them "It's probably got something to do with the Prophecy". Coral and Razor both froze "But-But it got smashed. No one knows what it said" the latter said. Coral looked nervous "I don't know if you've been reading the Prophet, Silver, but it's saying-" "They're right" Silver said quickly. Both their eyes widened. Coral looked frightened; Razor looked amazed. After about ten seconds of them not saying anything, Silver thought he should elaborate "Well, half right. That glass ball that smashed wasn't the only record of the prophecy. I heard the whole thing in Locke's office, he was the one the prophecy was made to, so he could tell me. From what it said I have to kill Finitevus or Finitevus kills me. One or the other". Coral clutched the telescope in her hand very tightly "Oh, Silv-". There was a loud bang and Coral disappeared behind a cloud of black smoke "Coral!?" Silver and Razor both yelled. The smoke cleared, Coral was coughing and she was sporting a black eye "This thing punched me!" she held up the telescope which had a mall fist on a spring sticking out of it. Razor ran over and held Coral's head looking at her bad eye "Does it hurt?" "The punch did but it doesn't now" "I think it's just a spell then. Don't worry, Mum should be able to fix it up". Razor moved back to his spot and after a few seconds they both suddenly remembered what they were talking about "Oh, Silver! We wondered, after we got back from the Ministry. Obviously, we didn't want to say anything to you, but from what Clutch said about the prophecy, how it was about you and Finitevus, well, we thought it might be something like this. Are you scared?".
Silver shrugged "I was but…Now, I've just kind of accepted it now. I mean he's been after me for years. It was probably going to happen anyway". Razor laughed "And clearly Locke thinks you have a chance otherwise he wouldn't bother giving you lessons". Coral sighed in relief when he said that "He's got a point. Maybe he's teaching you really advanced Defensive Magic or counter jinxes or…". Silver did not really listen. A warmth was spreading through him that had nothing to do with the sunlight; a tight obstruction in his chest seemed to be dissolving. He knew that Razor and Coral were more shocked than they were letting on, but the mere fact that they were still there on either side of him, speaking bracing words of comfort, not shrinking from him as though he were contaminated or dangerous, was worth more than he could ever tell them. Coral was still going "…and evasive enchantments generally. Well, at least you know one lesson you'll be having this year, that's one more than Razor and me. I wonder when our G.E.M results will come?". Silver then remembered "Oh, Locke said they're coming today" "TODAY!?" Coral shrieked. She leapt to her feet "No! Why didn't you tell us!? Oh, God, I've got see if the Flickys have arrived" she ran out of the room.
But when Silver arrived downstairs ten minutes later carrying his empty breakfast tray, it was to find Coral sitting at the kitchen table in great agitation, while Mari-An tried to lessen her resemblance to half a panda. "It just won't budge" Mari-An was saying anxiously, standing over Coral with her staff in her hand and a copy of The Healer's Helpmate open at "Bruises, Cuts, and Abrasions" "This has always worked before, I just can't understand it". Blaze crossed her arms "It'll be Mighty and Ray's idea of a joke. That it can't come off" "But it's got to come off! I can't go around looking like this forever!" "Don't worry, dear, Mighty and Ray will have an antidote" Mari-An said. Now that nothing more could be done about the eye Coral was now feely able to worry about the G.E.M. She was now pacing really fast around the room "I know I messed up Ancient Runes. I definitely made at least one serious mistranslation. And the Defence Against the Dark Arts practical was no good at all. I thought Transfiguration went all right at the time but looking back...". Razor sighed in frustration "Coral, will you shut up! You're not the only one who's nervous! And when you've got your eleven Outstanding O.W.L.s-" "Don't, don't, don't! I know I've failed everything!". Silver finally started to get some nerves as well "What happens if we fail" "You discuss your next steps with your Head of House" Mari-An answered. Mina looked interested "You know, we 'ad a different way of doing things. I think eet was better. We sat our examinations after six years of study, not five, and then-" but she was drowned out by Coral screaming. She pointed at the window where three Flickys had just flown through. Coral grabbed Silver and Razor's elbows tightly as the Flickys landed in front of them. They all removed their letter from the Flicky, Coral's hands were shaking so much her Flicky looked very frightened. No one in the kitchen spoke. Silver opened his envelope and took out the paper inside.
GRAND EXAM MARK RESUTLS
Pass Grades- Outstanding (O) Exceeds Expectations (E) Acceptable (A) Failing Grades- Poor (P) Dreadful (D) Kraken (K)
Silver the Hedgehog has achieved:
Astronomy A
Care of Magical Creatures E
Charms E
Defense Against the Dark Arts O
Divination P
Herbology E
History of Magic D
Potions E
Transfiguration E
Silver read the parchment several times, his breathing becoming easier with each reading. It was all right. He had always known that he would fail Divination, and he had had no chance of passing History of Magic, given that he had collapsed halfway through the examination, but he had passed everything else! He ran his finger down the grades, he had passed well in Transfiguration and Herbology, he had even exceeded expectations at Potions. And best of all, he had achieved Outstanding at Defence Against the Dark Arts. He looked around. Coral had her back to him, and her head bent, but Razor was looking delighted "Only failed Divination and History of Magic, and who cares about them? Here, swap". Silver glanced down Razor's grades. There were no Outstandings there. "Knew you'd be top at Defence Against the Dark Arts" said Razor, punching Silver on the shoulder. He looked pleased "We've done all right, haven't we?" "Well done!" Mari-An said proudly. She hugged Razor "Seven G. , that's more than Mighty and Ray got together!". "How did you do, Coral?" Blaze asked cautiously. Coral slowly turned around "I…Not bad" "Oh, come on!" Razor said. He snatched the parchment out of her hands "Yep, nine 'Outstandings' and one 'Exceeds Expectations' at Defence Against the Dark Arts". He looked down at her, half-amused, half-exasperated "You're actually disappointed, aren't you?". Coral shook her head and Razor grinned "Well, we're S.H.A.R.D.S students now! Mum, are there any more sausages?". Silver looked back down at his results. They were as good as he could have hoped for. He felt just one tiny twinge of regret. This was the end of his ambition to become an Diamond Cutter. He had not secured the required Potions grade. He had known all along that he wouldn't, but he still felt a sinking in his stomach as he looked again at that small black E. It was odd, really, seeing that it had been a Nocturnus in disguise who had first told Silver he would make a good Diamond Cutter, but somehow the idea had taken hold of him, and he couldn't really think of anything else he would like to be. Moreover, it had seemed the right destiny for him since he had heard the prophecy a few weeks ago. Neither can live while the other survives. Wouldn't he be living up to the prophecy, and giving himself the best chance of survival, if he joined those highly trained wizards whose job it was to find and kill Finitevus?