CHAPTER 2

by Dapperwulf

First Nights can be Overwhelming

“Has anyone seen my wand?” called 6andromeda9. “I swear, if that bloody Niffler has escaped again…. accio wand!”

“No, no, I saw him earlier in a pen down in the Professor’s office. Besides, they’re really only attracted to shiny objects like...oh! Over there!” RaeBeeBaby pointed towards the cupboard, whose doors were shaking as something from within banged against them, desperately trying to get free. She walked over and gingerly opened the doors. 6andromeda9’s wand flew out from underneath several sweaters, causing various shoes to spill out onto the floor, and to her hand.

“There you are!” She sighed, slumping down to sit on her bed and eyeing her valise with displeasure. Turning back to her friend, she asked, “Have you finished unpacking yet?”

RaeBeeBaby grumbled, kicking one obviously empty bag under the bed while hauling another up to begin on it. “No, late start. Heyllana and I stopped off at Professor Rbratt’s office to talk with her about this new class, and then Tahm42 stopped me in the hall because Quidditch tryouts are this week and we got to talking about that and then that Wampus ghost, PaulaKro, accidently came through the wall and went right through me, which caused me to drop my drink...” She pulled several thick sweaters out of the bag, tossing them on the bed. “Like I said, it was a complete accident and she was ever so apologetic, but, Merlin’s frilly knickers! Ghosts are cold when they go through you! Anyway, so no, still have all this to do.”

The door banged open as MaraOfNamaah bustled through, her arms laden with books and papers, a look of terror on her face. “Did either of you do the reading over the holiday?”

“Reading?!” Both girls cried out in unison. They looked worriedly at one another and then back at their housemate. “You mean there was assigned reading over the holiday?” panicked 6andromeda9.

MaraOfNamaah set her pile down on her bed with a loud thump, several of them sliding to the floor. “I don’t know!” she wailed in a near panic. “I don’t remember anything being said, but I heard Professor Dapperwulf talking to Arielluma about hoping that some of the students had done their reading over the holidays and I just know I’m going to be behind! And everyone’s going on and on about Quidditch and there’s more classes this term than there was before and all the Wampus and Thunderbirds are already starting to talk about Dueling Club and ……”

RaeBeeBaby grabbed her friend by the shoulders. “Stop. We all just need to stop. And breathe. It’s the first night. And it’s...overwhelming us.”

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Crouching Thunderbirds, Not-so-Hidden…..Dragons?

“Okay, so we have a free period right now and then Potions with the Horned Serpents next, right?” asked Sinnybri, rummaging through her satchel for her class schedule.

“Right. And then lunch, and then Charms after that.” Geminiswede ran her finger down her own copy of the schedule, double-checking. “So what would you like to do with our free time?”

Sinnybri pursed her lips thinking. “Responsible students that we are, we should probably go ahead and start on our DADA homework, but……”

Geminiswede grinned at her friend. “But….?”

“Have you checked out the new enclosures they’ve built in the back of the castle? For the Magical Creature Menagerie? They even have paddocks for the dragons now so that they’re not roaming the countryside unchecked.”

Geminiswede’s eyes grew wide. “Nooo! That is so cool! Can we go see them?”

Sinnybri laughed. “That’s exactly what I was thinking!”

Together, the two flung their satchels over their backs and raced down to the lower levels of the castle, robes whipping out behind them. The winter air was cool and crisp, but thankfully there was none of the bitter, biting, wind that there had been the day before and it was almost pleasant to be out-of-doors. As they made their way down to the dragon paddocks, they heard a trumpeting cry of something quite large. Sinnybri grabbed Geminiswede’s arm, holding her back. “That was ….loud.”

Laughing, Geminiswede nodded. “That’s probably Dante,” she shrugged, referring to the enormous Hebridean Black that had been adopted by Wampus House. “You know how he gets when he’s annoyed by something.”

Sinnybri laughed, a bit shakily. “Yeah. He’s always made me a bit nervous. It doesn’t take much to annoy him.”

“Puck. She annoys him,” grinned her friend. It was true that the little speckled Welsh Green of Pukwudgie House - they continued to insist she had been named for Shakespeare’s mischievous fae, rather than a shortened form of their House - seemed to take an inordinate amount of pleasure in taunting the larger Black. “And of course Touchstone is simply above it all.”

“Yeah, well, Professor Rbratt says he’s the oldest, so, more mature, I guess. Horned Serpent would get the Opaleye. He’s just so regal looking. And acting.”

“Aww, well, just give our little Magellan time. He’s still pretty much a baby.” The Thunderbird’s little Norwegian Ridgeback, had been just shy of seven feet when the school term had let out for holiday, still a stripling, and the Birds were mightily protective of him.

Turning the corner of the castle though, they were greeted with a sight that did not include a small, juvenile Ridgeback. Instead, the dragon was nearly twenty feet in length, his black scales and bronze horns glistened in the morning sunlight as he yanked again at the charmed tethers around his neck that Professor Dapperwulf was intensely concentrating on while Professor Rbratt spoke soothingly to him as she attempted to perform a physical.

“Umm, Professors? May we be of any assistance?” asked Sinnybri.

Rbratt looked up hopefully. “Yes! Definitely!” She let out a tired chuckle. “Your Magellan has grown quite a bit over the holiday. I was trying to give him a bit of a check-up, but he’d much rather be off romping in his paddock, I’d gather.”

Geminiswede stepped up, her eyes gleaming at the dragon as he gleamed and glistened in the light. He seemed to notice her attention and ceased his struggles in order to preen a bit. “He’s...beautiful!!”

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And on the menu this evening we have...

“Oui, he’s beautiful. And quite the handful, so, Professor, if you wouldn’t mind while his attention is currently elsewhere?” Dapperwulf, his voice slightly strained, gently prodded.

“Oh! Right!” Rbratt06 hurriedly went back to her examination. Magellan arched his neck so that the scales would catch just a bit more of the sunlight and flexed his wings so that the two Thunderbirds were better able to make appreciative noises, running their hands over the thin membrane with admiration.

The sounds of voices carried on the winter air, reaching them before Talhonjik and Westpancake came around the corner, large wooden tub filled with huge slabs of meat between them. “Hi guys!” Talhonjik called out, struggling to adjust her grip on the tub. “Did you come to see Magellan? He’s grown a lot, hasn’t he?!”

Geminiswede laughed. “That’s an understatement. He’s going to be big!”

Westpancake grinned before turning to the Professors as the two put the tub on the ground. “Sorry we took a while, Professors. I know you said he prefers beef, but all Grandmam had in the kitchens of enough quantity was mutton. She said the shipments are late, but that this should suffice.”

Rbratt glanced over at the tub. “Yes, as long as it’s a decent size beast, and plenty of it, he’ll eat it just fine.” She smiled up at the preening dragon, patting him on the shoulder. “He needs plenty of calories and protein to reach his adult size.”

“How big will he get, Professor?” asked Westpancake, grabbing Talhonjik’s arm and pulling her back away from the tub, which Magellan had just noticed.

The Pukwudgie Head of House thought for a moment, considering. “Given his current growth rate, he should reach the maximum of thirty-five feet in length when he’s fully mature, I’d say.”

“Wow,” murmured Sinnybri, just as Magellan plunged his snout into the slabs of mutton. He sniffed, rooting around for a moment and then threw his head into the air and roared, jets of flame shooting out of his mouth. Rearing up, he jerked hard against the bonds that held him.

Cursing vividly in several different languages as he was yanked forward, Dapperwulf focused harder on the charmed tethers. “I think the mutton is not to his liking.”

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FOLLOW THAT DRAGON!!

At the second burst of flame and eardrum-shattering roar, the windows to the Astronomy classroom flew open as Professor Arielluma and several students from her class leaned out of the tower to see what was going on. At that second, the tethers shattered. Professor Rbratt yanked Sinnybri and Geminiswede to the ground as Magellan’s wings snapped out and began to flap. Dapperwulf swiftly dodged as the dragon whirled around, the long tail with its rows of spikes sweeping out behind him, threatening to impale the wizard.

Westpancake and Talhonjik flattened themselves against the castle wall, trying their best to become one with the stone. Taking a few running steps, Magellan lept into the air, wings beating hard as he climbed into the sky. Dapperwulf stood back up and watched for a moment before turning and glancing up at the window.

Spying one of his Wampus in the class, he motioned. “Vatrilla13! The charm you learned this morning! Avifors! Set it to follow that damnable beast! We’ll be right behind!” Vatrilla nodded once, swiftly, and seconds later, a vivid blue light flashed and a sleek peregrine falcon shot from the classroom and took after the dragon’s retreating form.

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CHAPTER 4

by Dapperwulf

CLEAN ALL THE THINGS!!

Coop925 and Angelious strained as they worked together to lift the half-burnt tree off the road. Slowly, the tree lifted and, wobbly, floated to the side, clearing the wagon trail. Teams of students had been working all day, cleaning up the damage that Magellan had left in his wake. While they were fortunate that the young dragon hadn’t reached the town, he had still left quite the noticeable trail back to the school, one of burnt and tail-trimmed trees. “How much more do we have to do?” moaned Angelious.

Coop925 sat down heavily on a nearby stump and ran his hand through his beard, sighing. “At least another three or four miles, probably a dozen or more trees in all.”

Angelious groaned, slouching against a tree. “I’m exhausted. We’ve been at it forever. My muscles in my back are killing me. Who knew using magic would actually make your muscles hurt?!”

“Yeah, well, they’re not going to move themselves, so I guess we should get back at it. Sooner done and all that.” Coop dragged himself off the stump and stared off down the road, stretching his own back.

“Hey, I just remembered, one of the other Thunderbirds mentioned something about a potion she’d gotten from one of her cousins, that would ‘relax’ you. I think she tossed it in one of these bags.” Angelious pulled a knapsack off her shoulder and set it on the ground, rummaging through.

“Yeah?” Coop raised an eyebrow. “If it’ll relax us enough to make it through the rest of our work load, I’ll take a double.”

“Uh-oh.” Angelious lifted out a green bottle, the smiling label turned to grin at her friend. “Is that what I think it is?”

Coop’s eyes widened. “Gigglewater?!” he laughed. “Well, it would relax us! But, somehow, I doubt the professors would approve of us partaking on the job.”

Angelious looked worriedly at the bottle. “Will we get in trouble?”

“Not for having it.” he shook his head. “But for drinking while we’re supposed to be working? And while close to Deerfield? Yeah, that would get us in trouble.” He motioned to the side of the road. “Either put it up and save it til tonight or pour it out. Come on, let’s get this mess finished.”

Angelious nodded and considered the bottle. “It’s my first year here. I’m not taking any chances.” Taking the bottle, she threw it as hard as she could. The bottle arched through the air and landed with a ‘Splosh!’ into a nearby creek.

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Gigglewater

Violet smiled at the students as they downed the cool tumblers of water and pumpkin juice. It had been unusually hot that January day. Well, hot for January at least, but combined with the strenuous labor they were performing to try and clean up the wreckage, they were definitely hot, tired and very, very thirsty. Though they couldn’t remove the burnt and toppled trees near as quickly as the wizarding folk could, Violet had asked several of the townsfolk from Williamstown to join in the clean-up as well, and a small handful of children had jumped at the opportunity to assist her in carrying pitchers of drink and baskets of snacks for the workers.

Two small girls took the tumblers back from Holladaytime and lollipoplindz, packing them neatly into the basket. “You two run along now,” urged the older woman. “Tell your mother I’ll be by after a while. These creaky old bones don’t walk quite as fast as they used to.” They nodded and, hand-in-hand, ran back down the path towards the village. Violet smiled after them.

“Thank you for bringing us refreshments, Ms. Violet.” Holladay said. “I’ve never been around many Muggles, I mean, No-Maj before, but I must say, the people of Williamstown are much more relaxed around magic than I was led to believe.” lollipoplindz nodded in agreement.

Violet pursed her lips in thought. “Aye, but remember, dearies, Williamstown was founded by the families of wizarding folk. Even if some of us have no magic, we grew up around it. Pray don’t be getting it into your heads that all No-Maj are of the same mindset. The folk of Deerfield especially would not take so kindly to your wand-waving.” She looked sternly at the pair.

“Yes ma’am.” They chorused, slightly unnerved by the surprising seriousness her tone had taken.

“Right. Well, just stay with your schoolmates and listen to the professors. They’ll keep you safe enough.” She smiled warmly, giving Holladaytime a quick hug around the shoulders.

Picking up the pitcher at her feet, she made her way to the nearby stream. Kneeling to rinse it out, she paused, staring at something as it floated down stream. “What in Merlin’s name? Lollipoplindz! Do be a love and bring that bottle over here, will you? ” Lollipoplindz gave her wand a swish and a flick, proud to show off her charms skills and the bright green bottle lifted out of the stream to float to Violet’s waiting hand.

“Gigglewater? What is gigglewater?” mused Lollipoplindz.

Violet shook her head laughing. “Wizarding alcohol. Well, however it got in that stream, I dare say it doesn’t need to stay there.” She uncorked the bottle and poured it into the stream. “There. I’ll carry the bottle away with me to throw away later. Yes, dear?” She glanced up at Holladaytime, who had tapped her shoulder, staring wide-eyed across the short body of water.

Following her gaze, Violet spied the wide-eyed young woman standing just a bit down stream from them, her hands covering her mouth. The girl turned and fled into the woods, heading in the direction of Deerfield. Violet stood watching her go, her heart sinking with every step the girl took. “Go get the Headmistress for me. Quickly now.”

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Dragon Diaries, Part Deux

Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art
Not in lone splendour grazing on the hill this night,
And watching, with soft, brown eyes apart,
Like nature's patient sleepless eremite,
The moving grasses at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth's swollen hills,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors;
No yet still steadfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow'd upon my fair love's fluffy wool,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken baa,
And so live ever or else swoon to death.

“Merlin’s flea-infested knickers!! Someone shut that bloody dragon up!!” yelled Arielluma. Several Thunderbirds peered, bleary-eyed, out of their dorm rooms as their Head of House’s Patronus bounded down the hall, the bright blue kitten making it’s way speedily to find the Headmistress.

The keening wail of Magellan could be heard throughout the school. Students, faculty and Pukwudgie alike all buried their heads beneath their pillows in an attempt to block out the sound. A first year Horned Serpent had to be taken to the Medic’s chambers, her attempt at charming the cotton balls in her ears to block the sound having resulted in cotton plants to take root and begin sprouting from either side of her head.

The kitten Patronus skittered to a halt outside the dragon’s paddock, and delivered its message to Saeraphine and Rbratt before vanishing. “Well. That was …….colorful.” mused Saeraphine as she watched the kitten fade away.

“What, in Salazar’s name, is that damnable beast up to now?” growled a voice behind them. Dapperwulf and Yumesoraki came out through the carriage house door, the latter covering her ghostly ears against the frightful cacophony while the Dueling Master looked as though he was ready to commit murder. “They’ll be able to hear him all the way to Deerfield!”

“Or back in Scotland.” whimpered his apprentice.

Rbratt sighed. “I know. I’m not exactly sure what’s going on. He appears to be fine, and so does Sheep, but I just don’t know why he’s making that noise.”

Yume winced again. Then perked up. Listening intently, she floated towards the paddock fence. “Professors, did that….did that note just repeat?” The others frowned and listened closer.

“It did...and there it is again!” Saeraphine murmured.

Dapper stared at the dragon, his expression unreadable. “Do you mean to tell me, after chasing that bloody lizard across the countryside all bloody day, we now have to listen to him…...sing a love song to that feckin’ sheep all bloody night!!!??”

The ladies snickered as he threw up his hands and stalked back inside.

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Something Wicked This Way Comes

“Aye William, ‘tis fine. We’ll be sending the shipments your way as soon as the lads get them off the ship then.” The grizzled merchant smiled fondly at the young man, who returned it.

“My thanks, Robert. I just wish I knew why these rumors had started. Trade is important to the small towns in the west, something like this can really hurt us.”

“I know, I know. But no worries, lad. Some of these doomsayers would have us believe there’s a witch around every corner.” He laughed heartily, clapping William on the back. “I heard one group talking that there was a whole school of ‘em up your way in fact!”

William choked on his ale, covering it with strangled laugh of his own. “You don’t say? And who would be spreading that kind of nonsense?”

“Tosh,” Robert waved a hand dismissively. “Some bloke in here yesterday. Said there’d been some trouble up in Deerfield. That a witch had uprooted trees and whatnot. Claims a girl from that village saw her waving a stick and causing things to fly about and that she was student at some school from those parts. Oh! That’ll be him over there.” he gestured with his mug to a mountain of a man standing by the bar. “Said the town elders had sent for an official investigator from the governor to come check things out. He’s here to take care of it.”

William smiled. “Well, he’ll find a fairly quiet little countryside, I’m afraid. There’s a small finishing school of sorts, and of course the primaries for the wee ones. Everyone wants their children to have an education after all, but a school of witchcraft? Ha! You think they have potions class?”
The two men clapped one another on the back, laughing til there were tears in their eyes at the mere suggestion. As the conversation moved on, William glanced over his shoulder to signal the tavern girl for another pint and took in the man Robert had mentioned.

His heart sank. Ivan stood there. The same man who’d followed Brandifew to Williamstown with the intent to cause no small amount of harm. But how? He’d seen the Wampus students take him away in chains. He needed to get back to Williamstown so he could send a raven to the school. Now.

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CHAPTER 6

by Dapperwulf and Saeraphine

Circles

Dragon Diaries, Chapter Three

Everytime I think of you, I always catch my breath
And I'm still standing here, and you're miles away
And I'm wonderin' why you left
And there's a storm that's raging through my fiery heart tonight
I hear your name in certain paddocks, and it always makes me smile
I spend my time thinkin' about you, and it's almost driving me wild
And there's a heart that's breaking down this long distance line tonight
I ain't missing you at all since you've been gone away
I ain't missing you, no matter what I might say
There's a message on the wind, and I'm roaring you this signal tonight
You don't know how desperate I've become
And it looks like I'm losing this fight
In your world I think I have meaning, though I'm trying hard to understand why you’d leave
And it's my heart that's breaking down in this forest tonight
I ain't missing you at all since you've been gone away
I ain't missing you, no matter what the other dragons say
Ain't missing you, I ain't missing you
I ain't missing you, I ain't missing you
I ain't missing you, I ain't missing you, ain't missing you, oh no
No matter what Puck might say, I ain't missing you...

Magellan flew in ever increasing spirals around Ilvermorny, his head twisting and turning, looking everywhere for Sheep. Oh, what could have happened to her? He let out a moan, banking on the north wind to fly low over the forest. Could someone have grabbed her? Snatched her from the safety of the paddock in the dead of night and spirited her away? He roared his defiance at whoever would have dared, the jet of flame lighting up the night sky.

Who? Who would have had the audacity? The stick wavers….um, weezards, Touchstone called them, the elders knew the second a squirrel so much as crossed the borders they’d set up….they wouldn’t have allowed someone to sneak in and take his beautiful, sweet fluff.

A thought flashed through his mind. What...what if Sheep had left of her own accord? What if she wasn’t seeing someone else, what if she’d simply grown tired of him?! Oh the horror! Had he done something to drive her back to the pastures from whence she came?!

Moping, his head and his heart heavy, he started to fly in an arc, trying to search for his lost love. As he passed a large herd of deer bounding through the tall grass of a nearby meadow, he snatched two up, devouring them quickly, before snatching a third and eating it mindlessly as he flew.

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Be prepared!

The castle was a flurry of confused activity at the troublesome Magellan escaping yet again. No one having seen the direction Magellan took off in after leaving Dante’s paddock, the professors were making plans to take contingents of supporting students in the morning and split up, each leading a search in a different cardinal direction while the pukwudgies oversaw the castle. While the professors gathered those that would accompany them, quietly and quickly, Ejwilliams and Tmeadows recruited fellow students to help save Violet from the witch hunters that had stolen her away.

Bridie_Bird grabbed every map she could find in the Horned Serpent Sanctuary library that had anything about Salem and the surrounding areas. Her satchel was filled to brimming, but a prepared witch was a successful witch. Gawworthington at a portable desk nearby scoured the most recent editions of their wizarding paper, The Greylock Crow, for any mentions about the witch hunters and their movements, attempting to glean useful information that might aid in Violet’s retrieval.

Lollipoplindz and Mspeck910 stuffed their packs with any medical supplies that may be useful from the medical storeroom near Pukwudgie. Thinking of what Grandmam would say if she caught them, Mspeck910 cringed. Lollipoplindz was whispering promises to the vacant desk of the Mediwitch’s office to replace anything they used and apologizing profusely for the intrusion.

Over in the Thunderbird exploration closet, LavaDoll was doing some impressive wandwork, catching the items Lucidream9339 was flinging her way and packing them neatly in the packs they were creating for the group to brave the winter nights they may be facing. “Do you think we’ll need the self knotting ropes?” Lucidream asked as she tossed the broom-mounted compasses to LavaDoll. “Better to have and not need, I think,” LavaDoll said absently, directing one floating compass into each bag.

Patrolling the halls, keeping an eye out for the professors was Aprilsshowers81, doing her best to look like she was about normal business while Cpanus substituted their dulled practice weapons with those of a keen edge in the armory. Not all in their party were trained to wield them yet, but if nothing else, they could look menacing, right? Cpanus just hoped Professor Dapperwulf didn’t notice this infraction. He wasn’t exactly the most forgiving of the professors.

Among the chaos of the escaped dragon, their preparations complete, the group of students slipped out unnoticed, heading east, determined to intercept the hunters before they could take Violet all the way to Salem.

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An Unexpected Encounter

The next morning, looking surprisingly alert for having spent the night sleeping in the great outdoors during a northern winter (very much due to the excellent packing of LavaDoll and Lucidream9339), the group swiftly flying towards Salem, maps and broom compasses giving them the straightest route. “At this speed, we should be able to intercept them about right here.” Shouted Bridie_Bird over the wind, trying to point at the map to Tmeadows. The map flapped about, nearly covering her face as she struggled to hold it straight.

“Perfect.” Tmeadows shouted back. “If I remember correctly, that’s in the middle of a forest. The likelihood that we’ll be seen by anyone else if we have to engage them is …LOOK OUT!!” The group scattered as a snallygaster flew up from the trees, screeching it’s horrific cry.

LavaDoll rolled on her broom in a move that would have made Professor Rbratt beam with pride, as the beast swooped at her, it’s metallic beak snapping inches away from her hair. The snallygaster cried out again, gaining altitude before tucking it’s scaly wings and diving back towards the students. “We’ve got to get away from this thing!” shrieked Ejwilliams. “It’s costing us time!”

Cpanus angled her broom towards the creature as it flew past, taking a swipe at it with her sword. The thing dodged at the last moment, banging into Bridie_Bird, who in turn, banged into a nearby tree. Her satchel quickly became entangled in the branches and with the snallygaster turning back to dive straight at her, she pulled out the blade she’d been given and sliced through the straps. Taking off like a shot, she looked behind her to see the foul creature attacking the satchel with a vengeance. Unnerved, but at least rid of their opponent, the group hurried forward.

Some time later...

Professor Dapperwulf and his selected group flew in a broad V pattern, spread out and eyes sharp looking for ‘that Bordel lizard’. Spying something swinging on a nearby tree top, Holladaytime broke formation to check it out. A leather satchel, the Ilvermorny crest stitched in Madame Van Moorten’s neat handiwork, swung in tatters from the limbs. “Professor!” she yelled, catching the group’s attention as she pulled out one of the shredded parchments.

Seeing what she was holding, the group swung back around and slowed down. “What in the name of…. Holladaytime!! Behind you!!” Angelious screamed, as the snallygaster, having seen the new intruders, relaunched its attack. Holladaytime cried out in pain as the sharp, razor-like claws dug into her shoulder.

“Confringo!” shouted the Professor, making a distant note to teach this spell as soon as possible in his next class. A huge firelike blast shot from the tip of his wand , making contact with one of the the creature’s massive wings. The explosion knocked the snallygaster away from its victim and sent it spiraling down into the black forest below.

Quickly, Angelious swooped to Holladaytime’s side, wrapping an arm around her to support her. “She’s wounded pretty badly, professor.” She murmured, checking out the wound. “Those claws went in deep.”

Dapperwulf frowned, glancing down into the forest where the beast had fallen and then back at the satchel. “You three,” he said quietly, motioning to Rosetigger, Dharmangel and RedDragon09. “Take her back to the castle as quickly as you can. The rest of you, split into two groups, one to meet Arielluma and the other to the Headmistress. Tell them Magellan didn’t come this way. Join their search parties.”

“But how do we know?” asked Rosetigger.

“No snallygaster would have stayed in the area with a dragon on the loose. Quickly now, go.” The professor waited until the students went their separate ways, before turning back to the limp and torn bag. Picking it up, he examined the contents. Maps…..with Salem and another intersection on the route circled in red ink. “By Salazar’s magic…..” Throwing the bag down, he whirled his broom around and took off as fast as he could.

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Bargains and Carrots

As Dapperwulf sped through the forest towards the point marked on the map, he cursed himself for not having stopped to explain to Ejwilliams that the staff was not going to let Violet be tried as a witch. If the professors had made sure to reassure her that - after careful planning - they would act, then he wouldn’t be chasing down his students, nervous as to how he would find them.

He’d stopped and apparated as far as he comfortably could, and honestly pushed himself more than he should have, trying to lessen the head start the “rescue party” would have had after he realized he hadn’t seen certain students at the hurried breakfast the school had had before setting out. But covering such large distances was incredibly draining. Finally, he admitted to himself that not only was he not familiar enough with the surrounding forest to continue safely, but it would do no one any good if he showed up to the possible confrontation too weak to hold up his wand.

He thought he was getting close to his destination when he spotted two figures up ahead on the ground. Oh gods, he thought. Those are Ilvermorny robes… He landed at a run, and approached the students. One was propped against a tree with another kneeling over her. Without the wind whipping past his ears, he could hear the sounds of shouting up ahead.

Lucidream9339, wand drawn, whipped around upon hearing the noise of Dapperwulf’s feet crunching the snowy ground as he raced towards them. She visibly relaxed, relief clearly etched in her features at seeing the professor. “Thank Merlin,” she cried, lowering her wand.

Dapperwulf saw Mspeck910, laying limp against the bark. He dropped to the ground and grabbed for her wrist to feel for her pulse.

“She’s just knocked out!” Lucidream9339 quickly reassured him, realizing how this must have looked. “We should never have brought those No-Maj weapons without knowing how to use them properly!” She said vehemently.

“Tell me what happened.” Dapperwulf said bluntly, not having time to waste.

Lucidream’s head hung as she began to explain. “We were over confident. We surprised them, and most of the witch hunters fled onward, but one stayed to fight, so we split up too. He was able to wrench the sword away from Mspeck and knocked her out using the pommel, then fled. I couldn’t just leave her to chase him!”

Dapper sighed. He didn’t have time to assist either, not if there was fighting ahead. With a quick wave of his wand, he cast warming charms on them both. It was all he could do in the limited amount of time. “This will keep you both warm for at least 24 hours, possibly longer. Hopefully we’ll be back before then. If not, do your best to get back to the castle.” He didn’t even wait for her to reply, uncoiling into action and taking off towards the conflict.

He didn’t have to fly much longer before he found them. Students on brooms were clashing with mounted witch hunters. Some of the horses, obviously not meant to be warhorses, were rearing in panic, their eyes rolling while the hunters tried to stay in control. Dapperwulf immediately joined in the commotion, petrifying a hunter who had just managed to knock Ejwilliams off her broom.

“STOP!” A man yelled. The professor, trained in the fighting arts, wasn’t about to stop in a situation like this, just because someone yelled it. He flung a curse at another nearby hunter, then heard Ejwilliams whimper as the voice yelled again, “STOP! Stop now, or she dies.”

Turning, Dapperwulf saw EJ with a dagger to her throat, Ivan being the wielder and threat maker. “You?!” Ivan said in surprised delight. “Boys,” he said over his shoulder. “This is a real treat. We have here one of the head warlocks himself.”

Dapperwulf sneered at the derogatory term, but didn’t bother correcting Ivan. “Ivan, I thought you were enjoying the king’s hospitality for your crimes against Williamstown.”

“Oh, I was. But it seems need has arisen for a man with my… skillset,” Ivan replied, smirking. “Dark times, eh?”

“Indeed” replied Dapperwulf, eyes scanning, taking in the surroundings. There were wizardfolk against the No-Maj hunters all over, but all had frozen uneasily to watch the scene before them, ready to resume at any moment.

Ivan addressed his hunters again, still holding EJ hostage. “Now the old woman, we’ll get a decent price for bringing her in. The child, eh, we’ll see. But this one,” he nodded towards the professor. “We’ll eat like kings for quite awhile after turning him in.”
Dapperwulf finished his assessment. The students could probably end up overpowering the hunters eventually, but not before suffering possible devastating damage. Like what EJ faced right now. And all because the staff had failed to explain to their charge that they would not leave Violet to rot in a Salem cell. The safety of these students was on his head. Decision made, he readied his Slytherin trained tongue.

“Ivan,” he said almost casually, bored. “I think we have a deal to be made.”

Ivan chuckled. “Aye, that we do. Like you and all your little demons surrender to us now.”

The professor looked at him and raised his eyebrow. “Oh? What, so you can sell us all to be tried? Collect your finder’s fee? You don’t have enough men to take all of us all the way to Salem.”

Ivan, tilted his head, an evil grin crossing his face. “Then we’ll just have to thin out the numbers, won’t we?” He pressed the dagger closer to EJ’s throat and she inhaled sharply.

Dapperwulf tensed, gritting his teeth. He lowered his head and glared at Ivan. His voice was low and edged with unquestionable steel when he replied, “Do that, and I promise you, I will return the favor, starting with you.”

The two men stared at each other, both waiting for the other to make a move. When Dapperwulf saw Ivan swallow, he knew he’d gotten to him. “There is another way out of this,” Dapper offered. “Free the woman and the girl. Carry on your merry way.”

“Hmm,” Ivan said, pretending to consider it. “But then we came all this way for nothing. A man’s got to eat. You understand, right?”

The professor hadn’t expected this vile man before him to have agreed to his suggestion. But he’d already prepared himself for that. While he was willing to go to extremes to make them pay if they harmed one of his students, he was willing to do something drastic to make sure that didn’t happen in the first place. Time to dangle the carrot. “Then I propose a trade. Them. For me.”

One of the students behind him gasped, and Ivan looked surprised by his words as well. He considered it, then his eyes narrowed. “So you can bewitch us after they’ve all gotten away? No, I think not. Not both.” He raised his chin smugly. “I’ll make you a deal, but there will be no counter unless you want to resume negotiating in blood. I’ll release the girl, and let her friends leave with her, in exchange for your most well-behaved company. But to make sure it stays that way, we’ll keep the old woman. You misbehave, she’ll suffer the consequences. What say you, warlock?”

Dapperwulf breathed deeply and stared at Ivan. “Agreed,” he said. Slowly, not wanting to startle anyone into misguided action, he bowed with a flourish leaving his eyes on Ivan the whole time, placing his wand on the ground. Unbuckling his belt and laying that on the ground next to it, he relinquished the rest of his weapons. He waited, bowed, while watching for Ivan to release EJ. If Ivan chose not to follow through with the deal, he’d be able to quickly reach his wand.

Ivan’s hand with the dagger slowly pulled away, and he held it up, palm out in a gesture of cooperation. “Go on, girl.” EJ slowly walked away, shaking slightly from the fright. She looked as if she was about to say something to the professor as she passed him, but he shook his head at her tightlipped. Better not to let the chance of any information the hunters could use be said.

Standing again, Dapperwulf clasped his hands behind his head. “Go home, children” he said simply. With that, the hunters began edging forward to take him prisoner.

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CHAPTER 8

by Dapperwulf and Saeraphine

Discoveries and Paths

Previously, back at the castle…

As the other students made their way quietly into the Great Hall for luncheon, the pukwudgie elders stood in conference with the Headmistress and her staff. “Aye Ma’am,” Grandpap nodded to Saeraphine. “We’ve confirmed the missing students and the good professor hasn’t returned either.”

The Headmistress nodded and motioned for them to oversee the others in the hall, turning to stride purposefully to her office, Rbratt and Arielluma at her side. “We have to find them. There’s no telling the amount of trouble they could have gotten into confronting witch hunters.”

Rbratt stopped suddenly. “The brooms.” The other two looked at her questioningly. “The brooms,” she continued. “I put a tracking spell on all the brooms. Dapper had helped me design it. Just in case a player got blown off the field during Quidditch during a storm or something, so we could find them easily.” She motioned excitedly. “It’s tied to a map I have in my office! We can track their brooms and find out where they are!”

Filled with renewed hope, they raced to the professor’s chambers. Once there, she only needed a moment to select the correct scroll from her shelves, rolling it out flat on her desk. A flick of her wand later and the map sprang to life, showing a detailed rendering of the countryside..and ten brooms speeding into the clearing on the school grounds.

Not soon enough, after a grueling day and night, the faculty, together with a phalanx of the older students, tore through the darkening sky towards the spot where the students had last left Professor Dapperwulf and Violet. The Headmistress had been forced to threaten most of Wampus House not to follow, promising expulsion to those that didn’t obey as they argued fiercely their right to mount a rescue for the pair. The students finally, and sullenly, obeyed, retreating to their common room with the pukwudgies promising to maintain guard.

The party slowed as they reached the location of the fight, staying mounted on their brooms, wands lit as they spread out to fan the area. “That storm that came through didn’t help matters,” Arielluma mused. “But I think I can make out wagon tracks leading down the main road.”

Moving at a steady but slower pace than before, they followed the road before being forced to make camp. Over the course of the next couple of days, they found evidence of the hunters and their captives; small bits of evidence left from a campsite, a thrown horseshoe, a doused campfire and the like left near the roadside. Finally, on the third day, a cry went up and NInthnarnian shot forward, leaping off her broom before it had even come to a stop to rush forward and dive towards a pile of snow. The others hurried towards her as she knelt, sobbing, a tattered figure held gently in her arms. Softly, Rbratt pulled her away so that the other teachers could take the limp form of Violet up.

Saeraphine waved her wand over Violet’s figure, murmuring a spell. Perplexed, she frowned and ran the spell again. “Professor?” She glanced up at Rbratt who left the students to comfort one another to come to her side. “See what you make of this, if you please?”

The potions professor looked closer and smiled softly. “Dapperwulf, you Slytherin *kitten*, you.” She said softly. “Right. You three, Trkyvic0327, Supercatie80, and MaralynManson. Come with me and Arielluma. We’ll take Violet back to Ilvermorny with us, Headmistress.” With a nod, they mounted up, readying to assist.

“Um, Headmistress?” Saeraphine turned to see Zumbaforever holding the broken remnants of Dapperwulf’s wand in her hands.

Saeraphine’s eyes grew dark. “Where did you find that?” She asked tightly. The young Wampus pointed to an area just beyond the trees, where a knot of students gathered looking at the ground. They stood and backed off as she came up. Blood, frozen bright red still, was splattered across the ground. Slowly, the Headmistress stooped and picked up a handful of the red snow. “A lesson children, that our dear Wand Maester taught me one day while I had tea in his study as he was working. Chestnut wands are attuned to family lines. To the blood of their owners.” Taking the broken wand from Zumba, she laid it on top of the snow in her hand, and cast a complex incantation. The group backed up a step as the wand rose up, glowing with a dark reddish hue. “Lead us.” Saeraphine murmured, and the wand took off, following the main road. “Mount up!” she growled, wiping her hand on her cloak and unknowingly staining it. “Now we hunt the hunters.”

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Blackness

The jolting of the wagon over a rock woke Dapperwulf. Stifling a moan, he opened his eyes a sliver. His head felt as though all four dragons were doing a dance inside his cranium and the bright winter sun did little to relieve the pain. Rolling onto his back, he winced. Broken rib there, he thought as he forced his eyes open to take in his surroundings.

The upper stories and rooftops of several buildings could be seen, a few made of brick or stone. His view was suddenly blocked as Ivan rode alongside the wagon, leaning over his saddle to sneer at the professor. “Awake now are you, demon? Did you have a nice nap?” Dapperwulf kept silent, simply staring back at the man, staring at his newly bruised and misshapen nose with a small degree of satisfaction. Ivan chuckled. “Oh you can act all high and mighty for now. Don’t matter to me none. We’ll be turning you over to the Magistrates in just a bit. They’ll make you sing all about that bloody school of yours. Tell us where to find all the other little demons.” With a harsh bark of laughter, he spurred his horse forward, leaving the professor alone with his thoughts and a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach.

A very few minutes later, the wagon halted. New voices became audible, rising and falling, mixed with Ivan’s as they drew nearer to where he lay. “My men can all vouch for it, sir. He’s one of the leaders of them what’s been casting the spells that have plagued the good people of Deerfield.”

A sterner voice answered. “We shall be the judge of that.” There was a pause. “It would appear that he has met with violence on the road.”

Ivan’s voice gave another chuckle. “Aye, well, seems he didn’t want to come peacefully to answer the charges brought against him, now did he? He injured several of my men, myself as well as you can see.”

“Bring him inside. I’m afraid I cannot simply take your word for it you understand. He must be examined first.” Ivan grumbled something about money well-earned, but kept it quiet enough that the other man didn’t hear.

Dapperwulf felt someone grab his legs and yank him towards the rear of the wagon roughly. A set of callused hands grabbed either arm and he was half-carried, half-dragged into a small stone building set against a much larger structure. The inside was warmer and dimmer, both things a blessing in the professor’s mind. A hand, less rough this time cupped his chin, raising it. “Sir, do you understand the charges brought against you? They are serious crimes indeed.”

His voice rough, he whispered back. “The only crime I’m aware of is the murder of a gentle woman from our town, and that guilt lies with the men who brought me here. I have done nothing save try to protect others from ruffians and thugs who would intimidate and threaten old women and children.”

The man’s voice was gentle and polite. “I understand. Still, you do stand accused. You understand we must still examine you for the signs of evil-doing, yes? Can you open your eyes for me please?”

Dapperwulf did and the man holding his chin gasped, stepping away from him. “Eyes as black as the pits of Hades itself…” Confused, the professor glanced at a nearby mirror on the wall. His eyes were blue, not...black. Almost completely black. The pupils were so dilated that no trace of blue could be seen.

“Wait..” he started.

“Throw him in a cell. We need no further proof.” The tall man turned his back, deaf to the wizard’s arguments. In the opposite corner, Ivan grinned broadly.

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Hope

Rbratt and Arielluma instructed the students that had accompanied them to stand back as they used levicorpus to float in Violet’s body into the infirmary. The students didn’t know why they weren’t returning her directly to William, her next of kin, but suspected it had something to do possibly with the warming spell that was still placed upon her. If they returned her in a state like that, well, witchcraft had already caused enough problems for Williamstown.

The professors laid her form gently into the bed and Rbratt whispered to Maralyn, “Fetch me the blue vial on the second shelf to the right as soon as you enter the supply cabinet.”

Maralyn ran with haste to get what she asked. Picking it up, he saw a large open dragon’s eye drawn on the label. Curious, he headed back to the others. “Professor, isn’t this--”

“It is.” Rbratt said simply, taking it from his hands. As Arielluma held up Violet’s head, Rbratt removed the dropped and let one single drop fall into Violet’s slack mouth. Odd that she hadn’t gone rigid as corpses usually do by now…

The professors watched Violet intently, seeming to be waiting for some sort of reaction. Getting antsy, Supercatie80 asked hushedly, “What are you looking for?”

“We thought… maybe…” Arielluma sighed, sharing a look with Rbratt. She gently laid Violet down onto the pillow. Her voice straining with witheld emotion, she instructed the students, “We’re all rather tired and have had quite a week. We’ll return Violet to Williamstown in the morning. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind spending one night at Ilvermorny before...” but Arielluma’s voice failed her and she couldn’t finish the sentence.

A weak voice chimed in, “Well, as long as I get an extra blanket, and possibly a fluff for my pillow, I don’t see the harm in it. And I do hope we’ll set out after breakfast. I’m positively starving.”

With gasps, everyone had turned to the bed. Violet gave a very weak smile, looking back at them. In a flurry of activity, Violet was fetched extra blankets, tucked in tight, had her pillow fluffed, and had a hot broth brought posthaste. Although the hour was indeed late, and it had been a long day, those that had escorted Violet back to the castle gathered around with renewed energy and joyful tears. “But… but how?!” Trkyvic0327 asked incredulously.

Weak as she was, after taking many breaks to eat and drink and rest her voice, Violet had laid out the entire tale for them. How Dapperwulf had been taken prisoner, how he had talked to her subsequent nights, attempting to devise a plan for escape. And when the blizzard hit, he seized his chance, putting his best bet into motion.

The hunters had searched him for weapons, but they were No-Maj. They didn’t think to check for hidden pockets that might have a small secured vial contained in it. No they, had just felt for knives and such. They weren’t looking for the small amount of dragon sedative all the professors had left with on their quest to return Magellan to the castle. Dapperwulf had hoped to slip it into the hunter’s food, but as they neared Salem, that became less and less of a possibility.

And so, Dapperwulf had whispered urgently his plan to Violet as the foul weather eclipsed their party. Dapper would give Violet the sedative. It was meant to incapacitate a dragon. If he got the amount just right, a drop or two should slow Violet’s body down to where a quick examination would fool the unwise. This, Dapperwulf explained, was why he couldn’t try the trick for both of them. He would do his best to distract the hunters and keep their attention focused on their more valuable prisoner.

Within Ivan’s hearing, Violet was to lay the foundation for her “demise”, in an attempt to help make her passing go mostly unquestioned. She’d not been starving herself, but the hunters wouldn’t have cared to pay attention to the old lady they were figuratively marching to her death. She would moan and groan and act the part.

The whole plan though would have been for naught if they discarded Violet to freeze to death in her deep slumber. Which was why the warming spell was crucial. Dapperwulf didn’t even suggest this plan until he had the excuse of the weather to attempt to get his wand.

The only part left to chance was whether she would be found before the warming spell wore off. It was a calculated risk, but Dapperwulf posited, knowing the Headmistress’ almost sure flare of temper due to her protective nature regarding those of the school (she was originally Slytherin, after all, and Slytherin protect their own fiercely), that at least someone would be sent to investigate after the failed student rescuers returned with their news of his surrender. He reiterated to Violet that this was a plan that, if it went wrong, would go very wrong.

“But I told him, either way, that plan was hope. If it failed, I would have been none the wiser, after all. But if it succeeded, well… look what hope has wrought.” She finished, her shoulders relaxing as she finally finished the story. Then her relaxed look faded. “But poor Dapper…”

“We’ll get him back, don’t you worry about that,” Rbratt said fervently. “The Headmistress was already tracking him when we parted ways. She’ll send a student back when there’s anything to report. You just focus on healing up. You may be alive, but you are certainly not well. Rest now. For all of us.”

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Epilogue

The cloaked figure sidled out of the entrance of the stone building once the newest inmate was locked up. No one remarked on his presence or his silent exit, knowing who he worked for - the most zealous anti-witchcraft official in all of Salem. Setting off down the the cobblestone road, narrowly avoiding a bustling delivery boy who had his head down bearing a heavily laden sack against his shoulder, the cloaked man turned the corner and knocked on the first plain green door on the right.

A tidy manservant opened the door just wide enough to survey the stoop beyond with a suspicious eye. The cloaked man dropped his hood, and recognizing him immediately, the manservant allowed him entry into the home, with an “Ah, Henry.”

Shrugging off his cloak and handing it to the man, Henry straightened his waistcoat, asking, “The Master?”

“In the study,” the man replied, hanging the cloak. Henry proceeded down the bare hallway, obviously knowing his way around the home. Raising his hand to knock on the oak door, he waited patiently as the occupant inside called out “Wait” and then a few moments later “You may enter.”

Henry opened the door to reveal a room of curiosities. Vials of ingredients he’d never heard of before, books in languages he’d never seen, devices that seemed to be wonders of their modern age - meaning he had no idea how they functioned, but the Master, someone with a vast scientific knowledge, seemed to. Putting away a bottle filled with a silvery, highly viscous liquid, like that of blood, the Master spoke without looking at Henry, licking a drop of the liquid away with a tongue flick to the side. “You have something to report.” It wasn’t a question, knowing Henry wouldn’t have interrupted for another reason.

“Yes, Master. You had described one of the people you had been on the lookout for? A man with pale hair, pale skin, French? Well, Ivan just brought in a man matching that description for trial on charges of witchcraft. He was insisting he has blue eyes like what you mentioned, though all we saw was blackness, but he came from around Deerfield.”

The Master looked up sharply at this news, and asked insistently, “A name, man, did you get a name?!”

Henry swallowed, noting the manic look in the Master’s eyes. “Yes, when Ivan collected his fee, he named him as ‘Dapperwulf’.”

The Master stood up, a considerable effort considering the large amount of girth that required moving. Henry saw the Master wince, and knew the chest wound still hadn’t healed. “It’s him. It’s one of those damned wizards, finally captured outside of that castle.”

Henry inclined his head, seeking instruction. “What would you like us to do, Master Gaunt?”

Gaunt surveyed him with a greedy gaze, and rolled her shoulders. They still got stiff, even though the scars from the dragon’s claws had healed over. The poison from the pukwudgie arrow she took to her chest however, that was proving trickier to counteract, and only her daily dose of unicorn blood seemed to weaken its hold on her mortality. She smiled darkly, her thin lips revealing a multitude of teeth, as if she was about to bite. “Why, find him guilty, of course. Justice must prevail.”

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