59 ch 59. Halloween Aftermath
Nov. 1, 1991, Friday, Great Hall 6:40 am
- Marshall's POV-
"Haaa..." Sighing deeply, I'm having a quiet breakfast without talking to anybody.
My three pets are eating nearby, but they're keeping silent. They know not to talk to me when I'm upset.
""Good morning, Marshall,"" The Susan and the girls sat near me.
Noticing I'm in a bad mood, Susan asked, "What's wrong? Shouldn't you be celebrating your victory against the trolls?"
I snorted, "Ha! Celebrate? Everyone was in danger last night? What's there to celebrate?"
Megan frowned and thought back about last night, "Well yeah, but everyone was safe thanks to you."
Staring at their innocent faces, I'm realizing they were a bit lacking in common sense. I turned to Naomi and asked her, "Naomi, back in America, if someone with a gun was able to enter in school. How will people react?"
Naomi got surprised by the sudden question, but still answered, "I remember there was news about such incidents.... It was a pretty big deal as there were people who got hurt and some died...."
When she said that, the girls became quiet and started thinking about it.
I then turned to Susan, "Susan, how will your aunt reacts when she learned about last night?"
Susan became wide-eyed, "She will go to school and demand an explanation? Someone will probably get fired, or worse arrested. Uhm... should I write her a letter?"
"Yeah. It's better for her to hear from you so you could reassure her you're safe. She'll most likely be disappointed if she finds out from somewhere else," I just gave my honest advice.
She just gave me a nod.
Returning to eating my breakfast, I laughed internally, 'Let's see how Dumbledore like to have a meeting with head of the D.M.L.E.'
I finished my meal and stood up. My pets perched on me. Seeing this, Adeline asked, "What's your plan for today? "
When I looked back, Dumbledore just entered the hall from the side door. It further ruined my mood more. I just said, "I'll go for a swim in the lake to clear my head. Later, girls."
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Great Hall, Teacher's table
-Dumbledore's POV-
As I enter the hall through the side door, I saw young Witcherly standing with a frown and quickly walked out with his pets.
He seemed upset about what happened last night. I have a feeling that he didn't like my suggestion about setting the troll free.
I find his decisiveness on the matter quite odd and surprisingfor his age. It goes against my impression of him being more like Newt, who try to protect all kind of magical creatures.
On the corner of my eye, Hagrid and Silvanus were talking about how to present magical creatures to students.
"Silvanus, Hagrid..." I called out to them, and they turned around to face me, so I asked, "What's your reaction regarding Mr. Witcherly's plan about the trolls he took?"
Hagrid immediately said, "I think it's a bit cruel to kill them and harvest their parts."
Silvanus on the other hand, played with his mustache for a bit, looking to be in deep thought, before saying,"He is not wrong. Trolls, though dumb, can still hold a grudge and retaliate."
"But Professor, isn't it a bit cruel?" asked Hagrid.
Silvanus frowned and looked at the half-giant, "My, my... Hagrid, you don't see Marshall's point and concerns regarding the safety of the students? I might have to reevaluate your qualifications for succeeding me at my job."
Hagrid got a panicked expression and wanted to explain himself.
"What do you mean, Silvanus?" I asked.
*Ehem* Kettleburn leaned on the table and raised his mechanical arm in front of his face, "Magical creatures has some degree of intelligence, even a troll. Like people, they can get angry and can be vengeful. They can cause harm to people, intentionally or accidentally. "
"Like how the Ministry keeps a lookout on murderer and criminals, it too keeps the magical creatures in check.
"Marshall's plan for the troll might appear brutal, but it beats the alternative of having a mad troll loose and seeking revenge on humans.
"Haha..." Silvanus let out a soft laugh and put his mechanical arm down and looked me in the eyes, "... At first, I thought Marshall got his XXX license for keeping magical creatures using his background. But it appears he knows the responsibility that goes with it."
"This explains why he isn't taming creatures wantonly. He would rather not collect something he can't control and might endanger the people around him."
Silvanus leaned back on his chair and looked at Hagrid straight in the eyes as he stands up, "You might want to learn from Marshall in that regard, Hagrid."
Kettleburn gave me a nod before leaving the table and exiting the hall.
I contemplate what Silvanus said, 'Hmmm... So Marshall's decisiveness stems from his concern about other people's safety...'
'Should I ask Nick on how to approach Marshall?' Seeing that I might have angered a kid who came from a background that the Flamels treat with high regards, I decided to ask my friend for advice.
I have a feeling that if Marshall became mad, he might do something that put my plan for Harry in jeopardy.
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9:30 am Black Lake
- Marshall's POV-
*Splash!!*💦🌊🌊
I emerged from the water surface and just remain laying on my back as I float away. Looking at the clear sky, I just let my self calm down, not thinking of what happened last night.
*SPLASH!!!*🌊💦🌊🌊
"MmmmMmmMmmm!" The Giant Squid appeared besides me and said hello. It asked where are my pets as it became fond of playing with the three.
I sighed, "They're still in the castle. I'm just swimming to clear my head."
"Mmm?.. MmmmMmmmm!" The squid asked if it should leave.
"Nah, stay. I rather have you around than that annoying kelpie that always pester me," That kelpie never missed trying attacking me whenever I'm in the water.
"Mm..MmmmmMmmmm?.." It began asking what's my problem.
With a sigh, I told it what happened last night. I even told it the dangerous individual that the faculty allowed to roam around.
I remember the flimsy excuse the Headmaster gave the student body last night, 'A stray group that followed a herd of deer into the castle.' And everyone just accepted it without a peep.
Recalling everything, I got frustrated again.
As if following my mood, the area above me started to darken and clouds gathered. This surprised me because it never happened before when I'm upset.
Intrigued, I let my emotions flow, and it started to drizzle and a muffled rumbling of thunder can be heard from the cloud.
"Mm!!....Mm?Mmmm..." The squid asked if I'm that one causing the change of weather.
I moved my head a bit and found that the dark sky is just around the area above and centered at me. Clear sky can still be seen elsewhere.
"Yeah, I think it's me."
Like finding a new toy, I just allowed myself to feel and let out all the anger and frustration I'm bottling up.
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9:30 am, Viaduct Courtyard
"I'm telling you two, Marshall likes to be alone when he's upset," said Ron. He remembers grandma Dora's said that Marshall always likes to be alone when upset. Like when one of Marshall's old muggle grandpa friends passed away.
Harry insisted, "I just want to explain why we were fighting the troll last night. Snape was aiming for what the three-headed dog was guarding."
Hermione frowned, "Are you even sure? He might just be checking if it remained close."
"But don't you find it odd that he escape the Great Hall all when all the students are in danger?" argued Harry.
Hermione didn't want to annoy the two, so she just remained quiet. The two boys took her silence as her agreement with their hunch about Snape.
The three were going down to the boathouse to check on Marshall.
"Look, that beast boy is swimming with the Giant Squid again!" They heard an older student yelling out.
A crowd stated to look over and the three followed. They were really amazed at how Marshall gets to swim in the lake and play with the squid.
Harry and the other two were going to proceed down the boathouse when a rumbling noise was heard from a distance.
They looked back at the lake and saw dark clouds started to form right above Marshall. What's odd was that the dark clouds never expanded further from where Marshall was.
*BOOm!**BOOm!*BOOm!*
The thunder became louder, and the wind stated to pick up. Hermione looked over the horizon and the sky above her. It was still sunny. It was like the weather change was centered around Marshall.
⚡⚡*BOOm!*⚡⚡*BOOm!*BOOm!*⚡⚡⚡
Now lightning can be seen in the dark cloud.
Hermione asked, "Uhm… is that normal?" No one answered her.
Ron got scared and mumbled, "He's mad…"
""What?"" Harry and Hermione asked.
"Marshall is upset, and the sky turned like that." Ron said with a stupid weird face.😟😦😧😨😱
Harry got scared, "Ah… I think.... Let's just give Marshall his space for now…"
Hermione added, "And don't tell him anything that might upset him in the future, like suspecting Snape or that we came close to being attacked by that three-headed dog.
The two boys looked at each other and agreed.
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10:05 am
The students in the courtyard were not the only one who saw the weather phenomenon at the lake that lasted for more than half an hour.
Almost everyone saw it, even some teachers. In no time, the news that Marshall was by the lake when it happened spread around.
At the Headmaster's office…
"Albus..."McGonagall entered the office with Sprout, Snape and Flitwick. They saw the Headmaster looking out the window and in deep thought.
"I guess Mr. Witcherly is really mad…" He said while rubbing his forehead. He made his way to the waiting room and motioned the four to take a seat.
Furthermore, he looked at McGonagall and asked, "Minerva, were you able to asked Percy about Marshall?"
"Yes, Percy said that Marshall is easy to get along with and very caring…" she replied while taking her seat and trying to recall what Percy told her, "... He is also very protective and doesn't tolerate things that endanger his friends. Percy told me how Witcherly beat up the Weasley twins when they tried to trick Ronald into making an unbreakable vow."
Silence ~
Dumbledore sighs as he strokes his beard. He's worrying... If this is how Marshall reacts when his friends are in danger.
What will the boy's do if he finds out their plan, or when Quirrell does something they are not prepared for and harm a student?
🔥🔥"Kwiaaaak!!"🔥🔥
His phoenix, Fawkes, suddenly appeared in the room from a burst of flame. It flew above them and drop 2 letters. One white and another red one.
When the letters fell on the table, Flitwick recognized the red one, "Hmmm? Isn't that a howler?"
The four house heads were surprised.
Under their stare, Dumbledore picks up the white one that has a blue wax seal with Nicholas Flamel's emblem, a flask in a transmutation circle.
Snape recognized the emblem and said, "Flamel?"
"Yes, I sent Fawkes over to inquire with Nick on how best to approach or handle Marshall..."said Dumbledore while he opens the letter.
The letter read,
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Dear Albus,
Marshall rarely gets angry. In the rare instances that boy is upset were when some of the old folks he is friends with passed away. Or when his friends are put in harms way.
Just let him brood for a while until he calm down and ensure that everyone is safe.
Your friend,
NICHOLAS
P.S.
My lovely wife sent the howler. Do open it when you're alone, as she might have used a myriad of colorful words that she wish you to hear.
She also enchanted it to make sure you will read it three minute after you open my letter.
😌🤗😝
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Dumbledore panicked and said, "Nick said to just let Marshall brood over for a bit. All four of you, keep an eye on Quirrell so we don't get blindsided like last night. You can leave now."
The four house heads got surprised by the Headmaster's sudden panicked expression. They quickly leave the room as instructed.
On their way down the stairs, they heard a crisp shout of a woman addressing the Headmaster in his full name.
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10:45 am
Somewhere in the castle…
Quirrell was looking at the weather phenomenon in the lake through a window. He got scared, and his already weak body began to tremble.
"Whoo iis thaat boyyyh?" A voice behind him asked.
"Marshall Witcherly, My Lord... Hufflepuff... same year as Potter." Quirrell tries to recall any information he can remember, "Dumbledore allowed him to keep his three pets, each magical.... From what I heard, he has an international license to keep them…"
The owner voice paused and thought hard if he knew anyone with a last name Witcherly.
"Ugh...!.." Quirrell felt a sudden pain in his chest, and like a wave it traveled to every part of his body. He asked, "M.m.My Lord! My body!.... What's happening!?"
"Yoou're weeak.... Wwe neeed the STONEe!" The voice spoke, prompting Quirrell to panic.
"But My Lord, the others are already done setting their obstacles. At this rate, it's not only that damn dog we need to take care of...Ugh!... My body, can't last for long..." He points out that they could not even get past the three-headed dog, more so now that the others are finishing up on their respective obstacles.
The owner of the voice assessed their situation and said, "Hmm...Wee nneed moore time...There's a wway to bbuy ssomee timee..."
Quirrell quickly asked, "What do I need to do?!"
After a long silence, the voice just said, "Unicorn bblood.. "
~end chapter ~
Next chapter will be on Feb 5.
