The sounds of gagging hit me as I searched through my trunk for the feeder.
"Ah." Black let out an exaggerated cough as he placed the baggy back on my bed, "What in Merlin's name is that?"
"Death Mix?" Lupin read off the resealable packet.
I do not like the evolution of our inhabitants, they used to leave me to my devices and I return I wouldn't give anyone a heads up when they went all prank-happy, but now, for whatever reason they seem to be making an effort in talking to me.
"It's a synthetic mix of meats for carnivore creatures." Lupin gave me a questioning look before taking a tentative sniff, his face didn't recoil like Black's did nor did he salivate like some magical creature.
"This one helps promote growth for young creatures."
"I've never known something like this existed," Lupin said as he smoothed out the corner of the bag.
"I doubt you would have, the people who usually buy them work in reverse or creature sanctuaries."
"Geur." Lupin pointed at the corner of the bag.
I shrugged my shoulders, "Gramps designed it. He was a potion and herbology wiz." The irony of the title I gave gramps went on ignored barring the smirk on Black's face.
"For your uncle?" Lupin questioned.
I nodded, "The original version was made to help keep werewolves fed but as I'm sure you know the stagnant of the wizarding world is complete horseshit, and the product was a no-go, but when gramps realised he could pan it other carnivores creatures the products started to make a killing when he sold batches to creature sanctuaries." I said in one beat.
Lupin shuffled in place as he glared down at the bag in his hand, "I don't feel comfortable feeding it." He tried to keep the anger out of his voice as he regarded me, referring to his other furry form.
I shrugged my shoulders, "It's your choice, but the more you starve the beast, the wilder it becomes."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Black asked without his usual bull-headed aggressive approach as he leaned against my bedpost.
"Werewolves are creatures of base instincts, the more you abuse it, the more you provoke it." I turned to Lupin, "You already tried to kill it with chocolate, but all you really did was put it pain, pain makes werewolves more ferocious." Lupin turned away from me with an angry expression on his face.
I took a deep breath and mustered up pride, "I'm sorry, I don't mean to lecture," My left hand went to the back of my neck, "I guess I picked up more of my mother's nagging to my uncle than I expected."
He gave me a nod of acceptance, "It's alright," He cleared his throat, "it's good to learn these things. I usually stick my head in the sand."
Black snorted, "And books, and your arse, and-"
"Shut up, Sirius," Lupin said in a flat voice.
"Anyway," I reached for the death mix from Lupin's hands, "where's Potter and Pettigrew? Setting up a prank or something?"
Lupin looked suddenly uncomfortable, "Yeah, yeah, haha, something like that." Black elbowed the now nervous boy.
Great looks like Potter has a bone to pick with me, and like the mature man he is, he's going to try and prank me. Sixth sense don't fail me now.
"Anyway, I'm off." I move towards the door still holding the death mix and feeder.
"Where are you going? Curfews up." Black's curious gaze turned into a teasing one as he wagged his eyebrows, "Are you going to perchance meet a fair maiden and court her with your devilish woes?"
I gave him a flat look, "Yeah, that's why I'm taking a mix of fake creature meat."
Black raised his hands to surrender as he put on a fake aghast expression, "Oh forgive me oh so dashing knight."
I turned towards Lupin, "What's the matter with him?"
"He's a twat." Lupin shrugged with indifference.
The gasp this time seemed more genuine as it left Black, he turned my way and pointed a finger at me, "You're a bad influence, corrupting innocent Remus."
"I'm going to the Forbidden Forest," I said as I backed towards the door ignoring Black's dramatics.
"Wait up, we'll go with you," Black said as he scrambled towards me as I let out a long sigh.
I stared at him for a couple of seconds before nodding without another word, it's better to let things go with Black than to fight him on said things.
As we approached the staircase heading down towards the common room, I spotted a familiar head of orange blazed hair, "Alton, Remus" Lily greeted the both of us with a kind smile before scowling at the dog star, "Black."
Black grasped his heart, "I've been downgraded to my last name," He sucked in some air turning back to me, "it's you, you're the only one who calls me Black."
"Yep." I popped out before turning to Lily.
"Where are you going, and why with him?" She uttered out as she gave Black a dry look out of the corner of her eyes.
"Forbidden Forest, and he keeps following me around. I think I must smell like Potter that's why he keeps nipping at my heels."
Both Lily and Lupin let out a chuckle as Black sends his friend a betrayed look, "Hate you. Hate you all." Black huffed.
Lily puffed out a little bit of air through her nose and gave me a small smile, "Seriously where are you going, curfew is about to start."
My brow arched, "I told you already, I'm going to the Forbidden Forest."
Not a fraction of a second later Lily smacked my arm, "Alton." She hissed, "You can't go to the Forbidden Forest, especially at this time of night."
"Why not? I usually go around about now." I say as if it's the simplest thing.
"What do you mean?" She growled, "How can you be so stupid? I thought better of you."
I shrugged my shoulders, "I don't know why you thought that." I walked past her, "See'ya."
"God damn it, Alton." Lily cursed as she threw her school bag at the feet of her dorm doors, "I'm coming with you, to make you don't get yourself killed." Black cleared his throat and Lily looked sheepish, "Oh, and Remus."
Black once again cleared his throat, this time Lily gave him a bored look, "Maybe drinking something will clear your throat, Black."
Black pouts unbefitting for someone of his status, "So mean."
Quest Unlocked: Frolicking in the Forbidden Forest with friends – Four unsupervised students in the Forbidden Forest is a recipe for disaster; survive the trouble you're all bound to find.
Optional Objective: Defeat your opponent
Reward: 5,000 EXP
Reputation boost with Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and Lily Evans
100 Galleons
Optional Reward: Trinket
Fuck. That is a big boost in experience points, what the fuck is coming my way? Maybe I should just head back into my room, but I haven't had a chance to visit Melinoë in a while.
May the gods damn me and my weakness to hapless, innocent creatures.
Sneaking through the halls and corridors at night proved to be easier than I initially expected with the group. Turns out Lily was a lot sneakier than any of us expected, hell she managed to trick Mrs Norris, the freaky cat of the new squib caretaker, making the cat take a diverted route and away from us, with a simple baiting spell.
However, the moment when we got out of the castle and ended up on the grounds of Hogwarts, the trio stopped being subtle and started to complain as I led them towards deeper into the forest.
"How much longer, Alton?" Black huffed as rolled his wand arm lowering the lumos to our feet.
I continued to keep my gaze up at the star-filled gaze admiring the night sky and only when did I spot a black blur fly through the air did I turn back to them, "We're here."
"Alright, we're here, Alton. What now?" Lily puffed with a hit of annoyance clear in her voice.
"I feed the foal," I said as I placed the feeder on the ground, pouring a small portion of death mix on it.
"Foal? What foal?" Lily looked around the darkened forest searching for a baby horse of some kind.
Ignoring her wasn't intentional as I pointed my wand at the tray, "Aguamenti." I filled it to the brim.
"Alton?"
I let out a low whistle as I wrapped my knuckles against the tray, "Come on, sweetheart." My eyes zeroed in on a little body hidden in the shadows, it slowly inched towards us however instead of greeting me with its usual zeal it hesitated back further into the shadows.
"Oh," I turned back to the group and motioned for them to crouch down, "get down guys."
"Alton, what are we doing here?" Lily let out in thinly veiled frustration.
"Just, please do as I say." Her jaw moved as if she was chewing on something before copying Lupin and Black who had already crouched down like me.
A small footsteps approached with tiny and careful steps, "Hello, Melinoë." I spoke with a soft voice as I brushed my fingers against the leathery and bony skin of the thestral. The name came to me without a thought when I first encountered this gorgeous girl, and she only ever responded to it since then.
"Um, either we don't know Alton well enough or he's gone insane." Black not so subtly whispered to Lupin.
"Alton, what are you doing?" Lily asked in a worried voice.
A sigh escaped me, and I reached for Lily's dainty wrist, "Um, Alton?" I used my thumb to unclench her hand moving her hand to gently stroke Melinoë coarse skin.
"What-t is this?" She stumbled on her words as she used her digits to feel around the thestral's back.
"Lily? Alton?" Lupin's voice conveyed his confusion.
My hand went up in the air as I motioned for him to wait as I pointed down at the feeder, the feeder where Melinoë started to eat the mix.
"Woah."
Lily's green eyes almost glowed in the darkened forest as they peered at me, "What is this?"
"A thestral, they're the creatures that pull the carriages."
"Huh? I always thought it was an enchantment or something." Black said in disbelief.
"Nope, adult thestral pull them," I stated.
Lily cleared her throat and gave a small nod to my hand, still on top of hers, I avoided her gaze as I pulled away, "Sorry."
She gave me a small smile as she pulled away from Melinoë, "How come we can't see them but you can?"
"Because no of you have seen someone die. These beautiful creatures get such a bad rap, some wizards theorise that when a magical person loses their innocence you see the world a bit clearer hence them." I said simply without a hint of emotion but the air around us all became tense and sombre.
Lily's face turns to sorrow, "Alton, I'm sorry." She said in a soft voice.
I cleared my throat and gave her a small nod of acceptance, the funny thing is I could always see thestral before I ever saw death, mum claimed it was something to do with our family and bloodlines and all the pure blood propaganda shit, but knowing that she lied about my heritage and father, I can't help but question everything she has ever told me.
"Who did you…" Lily caught herself and bit her lip, "Sorry, Al."
"It's alright." I shake my head, "My grandfather died when I was six. He was a hard man to love. Stern and unyielding like a rock, but…" I let out a deep breath, "I rather not talk about this right now."
"So this is what you do when you sneak into the forest, but what do you when you-" Lupin gave Black a light jab in his stomach.
"What do I do when I what?" I questioned the now squirming boy.
Danger
A low siren hit my ears causing me to jump in up in place. "Nox." I raised my now unlit wand up.
"Guys something is coming," I said in a low voice as the trio got onto their feet, wands still alit, with no hint of panic.
"Alton, are you worried, here I thought you were this nature boy, braving all kinds of danger." Black teased which got an elbow to the gut curtsy of Lily.
"I swear I'm going to be black and blue because of you all." Even as he whined he still emphasised black.
"Alton, what's wrong?" Lupin asked as his eyes searched out to the rest of the forest.
"Something is coming," I warned them as Melinoë raised her head and she looked around the area before kneading her head into my legs trying to force me towards where we came from.
"Little one, you need to leave," I said as I still searched around the area, but without looking I could still feel her presence beside me.
As I looked down to shoo her away I heard the sounds of loud heavy footsteps, crushing the ground underneath whatever it was.
"What the fuck is that?" There was a tremble in his voice as he stared at the large silhouette creeping towards us. Black and Lupin raised their wands up showering the beast in light.
"Alton, what the fuck is that?" Black once again grilled as he directed the question to me.
'Observe.'
Name: Runt
Level: 20
Age: 8
Species: Chimera
Reputation: -80 [Hate for your kind] - Kill.
A chimaera, a fucking chimaera. A chimaera that is eight years old and is a relatively low level, I mean compared to the others, to me I'm pretty sure it could breathe on me and I'll die. Its name is Runt.
It can't be the chimaera of legend.
"A chimera." I said my wand at the beast, "Stupefy."
MP: 750/850
Combat Initiated
"Bullshit." Black said as he raised his blackened wand and sent out his own stupefy, "The chimaera is a monster of legend, plus wouldn't it have a snake on its tail."
Its HP gauge simmered ever so slightly from the two spells hitting it.
Lily and Lupin backed away from the sheer size of the beast.
"I said a chimaera, a, as in not the one of legend. I think this one is a bastard or a runt of a litter." It let out a deep angry growl as the words left my mouth.
"I think you pissed it off," Black whispered to me as the forest became deathly silent as the chimaera prowled towards me.
Before I could react the beast geared back ready to punch on top of me, thankfully Lily was ready, and with a bombarda, she launched the beast back.
Remus rushed forward and lurched a cutting curse, causing blood to spew out of the beast goat head, causing a second health point gauge to appear over it, overlapping with the lion head one.
"That's it." I exclaimed, "Spread out, make sure it doesn't get close to any one of us, keep moving, and aim for the goat head."
Persuasion Check Pass
EXP: 325/800
"You got it, you mad bastard," Black exclaimed with a gleam in his eyes.
As the beast struggled to get back onto its four feet with the awkward weight of the giant goat head, it allowed us to spread out keeping a massive distance between us and it, Melinoë safely tucked behind my legs.
"Defodio." I nailed the goat in the face, hitting its right eye. The head let out a pained shriek as the lion's body leaped at me. Lupin nailed it with a bombarda threw the beast off balance as it sailed through the air.
MP: 800/850
I shuffled backwards away from the chimaera as Black let loose a series of stunning hexes, as Lily came forward with a defodio primed for the ready, nailing the wound on the right eye I caused, tearing through the goat skull in a shower of blood.
As the goat flopped down dead with a gaping hole in its head, the weight of the caress downed the scaled lion.
The lion let out a furious roar as it failed to get back onto its feet, "Close in." I commanded the three.
They shuffled over shooting all manner of spells at the lion, slowly the health point gauge lowered down to the endpoint as the beast managed to get back on its feet.
As the beast opened its mouth to roar I raised my wand, "Defodio." I lurched the stone-cutting spell tearing the chimera's jaw off with a gruesome amount of blood.
Combat Ended
Quest Completed: Frolicking in the Forbidden Forest with friends – Four unsupervised students in the Forbidden Forest is a recipe for disaster; survive the trouble you're all bound to find.
Optional Completed: Defeat your opponent
Reward: 5,000 EXP
Reputation boost with Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and Lily Evans
100 Galleons
Optional Reward: Trinket
Levelled Up
Level 14
EXP: 325/1400
Holy fuck I levelled six times, it should not have been possible for me to kill the chimaera on my own, though luckily I had three higher levelled people with me, carrying me on their shoulders as they did the brunt of the work.
"Holy crap," Sirius collapsed to his knees as he let out a bark of laughter, he turned my way and gave me a huge grin, "You're bonkers, mate, absolutely bonkers."
Lily calmly walked over to me no expression on her face, "Everything okay, Lils?"
She nodded before raising a fist, as I flinched away she grabbed my upper arm and proceeded to pummel it, "You bloody daft bastard. Is this the kind of rubbish you do every night?"
"No!" I exclaimed and flinched as the image of Iflora came into mind, "Well mostly no."
The word mostly inflamed her rage as she slugged me in the same spot with all of her might, "Idiot." She breathed out as she fell to the ground dragging me alongside her.
Remus walked over and unceremoniously dropped to the ground laying on the flat of his back, "And here I thought the worst trouble you get into was being caught past curfew."
I search around the area for Melinoë only to see her tail end disappear into a shrub, at the very least she is safe and sound.
A snort escaped me as I turned back to the small, "I know I should be offended that you're all blaming me for this, but I can't deny it, this feels like it's on me."
It's solely on me, it has to be. I put them at risk and they pulled my arse out of the fire, I owe them so much, I don't know how I'll ever pay them back, still even though they almost got killed by a mythical monster because of following me they even seem the slightest bit mad at me.
'Observer reputation.'
Sirius Black – 50 (A new good friend) - Bonkers.
Remus Lupin – 55 (A lending hand) What the hell is going on?
Lily Evans – 65 (Unbelievable… but in a good way) - Fool. Cute fool.
The corners of my lips quirk as a funny feeling flutters in my stomach, ok maybe it's not so bad having more friends than Pandora.
"No one is going to believe us," I said as I stared at the chimaera.
Lily nodded as she let out a long yawn, "No one will think we killed the beast."
"What!?" Sirius waved at the chimaera, "They would have to believe us. The body is proof enough."
As if the universe hates Sirius the body of the chimera started to shimmer before disappearing in a breeze of gold dust.
Remus looked over to Sirius, "I hate you." He mumbled.
"What the hell was that? How did it just disappear?" Sirius clambered onto his feet as he chased after the dust disappearing in the wind, "Guys?" He turned around waiting for us to react.
Lily looks like she's about to collapse into a deep slumber and Remus… I think all of the adrenaline has left him as he's actually lightly snoring on the ground.
"Magical exhaustion." I intoned, that and adrenaline peacing out.
"Ah fuck." Sirius groaned watching Remus sleep away on the forest ground.
"What?" I questioned as Lily tiredly rubbed her eyes.
Sirius walked over to Remus and started to shake him to no avail, "He's a heavy sleeper." Sirius turned towards me, "I'm going to need your help."
"Couldn't we move him around with magic?"
Sirius rolled his eyes, "We could if we have the luxury of not sneaking around."
"Bullocks." I cursed.