21 Chapter 3 - Purple Hyacinth (1/2)
Professor Sprout was out watering her plants in the morning when she noticed something odd in the distance. She noticed a figure running around the castle and raised an eyebrow.
”Hm, which teacher would be doing such a thing so early?” She thought, ”Professor McGonagall? Flitwick? No, Flitwick is too short to run at such speeds and Minerva running is out of the question.”
She continued watering. Ten minutes later she noticed the figure make another lap.
”There is no way someone can move that fast!” She thought setting down her watering can, ”To make a lap around this castle in that time is insane! You'd have to be constantly sprinting!”
This time, she moved closer to the castle and waited for the figure to show themselves. Half an hour later, she noticed the figure making another round.
”Now what kind of teacher can—” she turned blank-faced from pure shock when she managed to identify the person, ”P-Professor Snape?!”
Yes, there was Snape sprinting around the school grounds looking as red as a tomato. He was breathing extremely heavily and looked like he was going to collapse at any second. Unlike his black robes, he was wearing a black long sleeved shirt and black pants, all soaked with sweat.
”My word,” Professor Sprout ran out to stop the mad professor running, ”Stop, STOP!”
Snape took a look and slowed down into a jog before stopping in front of Professor Sprout, breathing heavily. He reached into a pocket before drawing out a light green potion and downed it. Instantly, his breathing slowed down back to normal and his skin receded from it's bright red colour.
”Professor Sprout,” Snape greeted curtly narrowing his eyes at the squat teacher, ”and to what do I owe this pleasure. You have interrupted an experiment that I've been working on.”
”W-What are you doing?!” Professor Sprout spluttered, ”To me, it looked like you were going to die. Did you sprint nonstop around the castle?”
Snape widely choose not to tell her he ran around the black lake as well.
”So what if I have?”
”At least tell me what's the point of this suicide exercise is?!”
They both glared at each other before Snape took out another light green potion.
”This is a basic healing potion, I'm sure that even you know what that is?” Snape said with a teasing tone. Ignoring the annoyed look on Professor Sprouts face he continued, ”You could say those ideas that a certain student of mine had influenced me. Exercising is an extremely tedious task that strengthens the body, but at some point you'd have to stop. That's where I discovered the true strength of these basic healing potions.”
”Easy to make, they may only heal small wounds, but I discovered that it can rejuvenate a person's stamina and speed up the process of muscles being repaired. This means that as long as I have enough I could potentially exercise forever.”
”Now if that was all, then this potion wouldn't hold much interest for me. My apprentice has made the perfect item to compliment this training. The comfort water can increase how much one is strengthened during exercise. Theoretically, with these two items, a human can be as strong as a giant given time.”
”But we're witches and wizards,” Professor Sprout interjected, ”What use is our physical strength?”
”It just adds another option to what we could use in daily lives and battle,” Snape said not realising how immersed he was getting into the conversation, ”imagine, a wizard having the strength of a giant. He could fight with bare hands and magic.”
Snape smirked before placing the potion away, ”I didn't think I would talk for this long, excuse me.”
Profess Sprout watched as Snape walked away and couldn't help but notice how muscled Snape appeared without the cloak.
”When that brat comes back this year he'll be in for a surprise,” Snape thought smirking.
...
”Just a singular thug tonight,” Arnya commented as they entered the house. Vincent sat on his bed, ”Vince?”
Vincent just sat there looking at a worn out calendar, ”I think I should go tomorrow.”
It's been a good two weeks since the night with the Minister. Since then, Vincent had hung out with Harry every now and then. Arnya followed as well. Harry was pretty stunned over all the stuff Vincent has been through, but, considering everything he's been through, was able to accept although he had an odd look everytime he looked at Arnya.
”Vince!” Vincent snapped out of his thoughts when he noticed Arnya right in his face, ”Are you ok?”
”Yeah,” Vincent looked away, leaving an awkward silence between them, ”Arnya, can you perhaps spend tomorrow with Sister An and Nim?”
Arnya tilted her head in confusion, ”I'm supposed to observe you.”
”So you'll go with me regardless?”
Arnya thought for a bit before shaking her head. She wheeled her chair away from the bed and took a look at a sleeping Nyx and Blimp, ”I can't read emotions that well, but this seems to be something you want to do alone. I expect you to tell me what happened later on alright?”
”Thank you.”
...
”Hmm?” Sister An opened her door to see three teenagers standing there, ”Who are—Wait let me guess. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger?”
”How'd you know?” Harry asked surprised.
”You look exactly like your father, but you have Lily—your mothers eyes,” Sister An smiles before looking at the other two, ”and from what Vincent tells me, you three stick together.”
”We're here to look for Vince,” Hermione said looking around the orphanage, ”is he around?”
Sister An looked apologetic for a moment before gesturing them to come inside. However, when she glanced at Ron, she noticed a Rat poking its head out of Ron's pocket. When they made eye contact, they both froze. Something about those beady eyes seemed far too familiar to her, as if—
She shook her head out of her thoughts before following them. They made their way to a living room. Harry was taken back when he saw Arnya playing chess with a small black-haired girl.
”Sister An!” She complained, ”Arnya keeps beating me, it's not fair!”
She then noticed the newcomers and looked at Sister An for an explanation.
”Nim, these are Vincent's schoolmates, their here to see Vincent.”
Nim looked surprised before going up to them, ”So you guys are from Brother Vince's school? What's it like? Are you guys his friends? Is he doing ok there?”
”Yes, it's good, yes and a definite yes,” Ron answered before looking around, ”blimey, she sure fires questions fast!”
Sister An chuckles, ”Nim, I need to speak with these people.”
Nim nodded before exiting the room. They could all hear her shouting at the other children to stay away.
”Arnya, you're not with Vince today?” Harry asked. Everyones attention, especially Hermione's was pulled to the black haired vampire.
”He told me he wanted to do something alone today,” she said.
”Really?” Harry looked confused.
They were interrupted by a loud clap from Sister An, ”The reason I brought you three here was to talk about Vincent. Since you're his closest friends, then you people need to know something about him.”
”Is it related to the reason he's not here?” Hermione asked as they all sat down.
”I'll let Vincent talk about to you guys when he's ready, Arnya, this isn't a particular secret so you can listen in as well,” Sister An took a seat down as well, ”now that we're all seated, let's begin.”
...
”A bouquet of purple hyacinth,” An old lady smiled sadly at Vincent who received it, ”on the house.”
”Thank you,” the old lady watched as Vincent walked away. She sighed as she thought about the boys order.
Hyacinths, and purple too. She shook her head out of those thoughts as she went back to her business.
Vincent footsteps were soft and barely audible. If anyone were to see him they would be surprised to find that his whole personality seemed to have flipped. Instead of looking like someone approachable, he now looked like a person without a soul. He soon found his destination, an old demolished building that was fenced off.
”Seems that there are plans to rebuild this place,” Vincent thought as he looked at a memorial plate in front of the building. It read:
IN MEMORY OF THE CHILDREN AND CARETAKERS OF THE TOBIAS ORPHANAGE
1960–1985
He placed part of the bouquet of flowers there before moving on. It took a good while before he reached an unspectacular river. He sat on the bank of it for a long time, looking at the scenery.
”Do I deserve this?” He muttered before tossing the rest of the flowers into the river.
”Oi kid,” Vincent froze a bit before looking over his shoulder coldly, ”been a while hasn't it?”
”Axel,” Vincent answered as his hands reached for pouch that held his rods before dropping, ”I'm not in the mood to fight.”
”Not what I came here for,” Axel shrugged. He was wearing a casual white shirt and brown trousers. He took a look at the flowers floating away and raised an eyebrow, ”purple hyacinth? I'm not well versed in flower language, but don't those represent guil—?”
”What are you here for Axel?” Vincent cut him off.
”Your personality has gone through one hell of a change since last time,” Axel then grinned, ”or is this the real you?”
Vincent merely got up and started walking away.
”Hey kid!” Axel called, but Vincent didn't stop making him panic slightly, ”Ok, ok! Fine, I'll tell you why I'm here!”
Vincent finally stopped and turned to face Axel. Axel shifted his feet around a bit during this awkward silence while Vincent silently waited for Axel to speak. Finally Axel bowed down, surprising Vincent.
”Please don't hate my sister!” he said loudly, ”Please, you're the first friend she has ever had. No matter what she says or does in the future, please don't hate her!”
Vincent stared wide eyed at the vampire that lowered his head. Axel stayed like this for a good while before lifting his head to see the dull gaze on the boy regain its light and the familiar smile that made people feel that everything was going to be alright.
”Man, who would have thought that you're the same vampire that put a hole in my chest,” Vincent laughed, ”sure I promise, but you have to lift your head up.”
”Thank you, I knew you were a kind—?!” Axel lifted his head only to see Vincent rush up to him with his leg drawn back.
CRACK!
The next moment Axel lost all signs of feeling within his lower body as he crouched down with trembling legs and tears flowing down his cheeks in pain.
”That was for the hole you made in my chest,” Vincent said happily as he walked off, ”I heard vampires heal fast so I didn't hold back. And don't worry, I promise I'll never hate her.”
”As if I could anyway,” Vincent thought.
”SCREW YOU!!” Axel bellowed as he tried to get up only to tumble to the side in pain, ”you #### I'll #### and ####—”
The following content was not child friendly. Vincent had to block his ears as he walked off, smiling to himself.
...
”Vince!” A blur of brown hair tackled him the moment he entered the orphanage.
”Hermione?” Vincent raises an eyebrow while looking behind her, ”Ron too? Feels like ages, what are you guys doing here?”
”It's the last day of the holidays so we decided that we'll hang out together,” Ron explained. Vincent noticed that he seemed to have gotten taller, ”we wanted to invite you but you were out.”
”Sorry guys,” Vincent scratched his head, ”I wanted to be alone for a bit.”
”Done't worry about it, also mum wants to meet you,” Ron said with a sigh, ”she's been going on and on about wanting to thank you.”
”Guess I shouldn't keep her waiting then,” Vincent chuckled before waving to Sister An who appeared from behind, ”Well, I'm heading off.”
”See you Vince,” Sister An said as she waved them off. She noticed Arnya looking hesitant to go and smiled, ”he won't forget you, don't worry.”
”So those are his friends?” Arnya thought.
”Arnya, you coming?” She was shaken out of her thoughts by Vincent who beckoned to her at the gate. She merely nodded before saying wheeling off after them.
Sister An smiled as she looked at the lot of them. Her smile turned into a frown when her eyes made contact with the rat in Ron's pocket where it too was looking back. She couldn't help but feel that it wasn't a rat, but—
Sister An didn't continue that train of thought.
...
”So your Vincent!” Mrs Weasley wrapped Vincent in a tight hug, ”I never truly got to thank you!”
”Ah,” Vincent awkwardly pat the mothers back, ”it's all fine, all fine. She's my friend, of course I'd help. I also really liked the sweater you made last year.”
”Oh such a wonderful young man,” she pinched his cheeks which made caused everyone to chuckle. Fred and George Weasley were imitating the pinched cheeks earning a glare from Vincent, ”and who's this young girl?”
”My name is Arnya Tepes,” Arnya shook the woman's hand, ”pleasure to meet you.”
”Tepes?” Mrs Weasley paused, ”Tepes, where have I heard that name from?”
”My fath—”
”Oh hey Percy!” Vincent said a little loudly, covering up Arnya's mouth with his hand. She looked up annoyed until Vincent put a finger to his mouth, telling her to stay silent.
”How wonderful it is to see you again Vincent,” Percy Weasley said in a voice so professional that Vincent had to hold back a laugh, ”I hope you're doing well.”
”Thanks Percy,” Vincent then noticed a badge on Percy's shirt with a large HB on it, ”congratulations on becoming a prefect.”
”Thank you,” Percy puffed out his chest a little earning a wry smile from Vincent, ”becoming Head Boy was no easy feat might I say—
”Now Vincent,” Fred said wisely pushing Percy to the side, ”you might be mistaken in thinking that HB means Head Boy.”
”If you do you're mistaken,” George said standing next to Fred, ”what it actually means is Humongous Bighead.”
Everyone except Mrs Weasley and Percy had to stifle a snort.
”Hey Vince,” Vincent saw a girl with red hair poke come towards him and smiled.
”Hey Ginny, you doing ok?” Vincent smiled.
”Yeah, I'm doing alright!” Ginny grinned as she gave him a quick hug. Unlike last year where she was a nervous mess, she could now talk to others without feeling like she was going die of embarrassment. Although she did have a bit of pink on her cheeks when talking with Vincent, probably because Vincent saved her last year.
”Now what are you lot all gathered here for?” a slightly big red haired man come down from the upper level of the Leaky Cauldron and joined the group, ”Now, we need to talk about our transport to the—? Why hello there, I don't believe we've met. Arthur Weasley.”
”Vincent Wong,” Mr Weasley's eyes widened.
”Great scott, you're Vincent Wong?” Mr Weasley said excitedly, ”As a muggle, what exactly is your thoughts on the use of rubber duckys?”
”...” Vincent took a moment to process what he hear, ”excuse me?”
”Not now Arthur,” Mrs Weasley scolded, ”about our transport?”
”Oh yes, we'll resume our conversation at a later date,” Vincent didn't know whether or not to look forward to a conversation about rubber duckies.
”SCABBERS NO!” Ron yelled as an orange blur shot straight towards him.
”CHROOKSHANKS!” Hermione grabbed the creature which turned out to be just a cat.
Vincent looked at the mangly cat and couldn't help but move towards it.
”Vincent?” Hermione looked confused as Vincent picked the cat up. It meowed as it looked at Vincent who stared at it.
”It's so fluffy,” Vincent carried the cat in his arms and started petting it, ”Crookshanks right? He's adorable.”
”That 'adorable' cat attacked poor old Scabbers here, he's sick” Ron said annoyed, ”it's a menace Hermione, can't believe you brought the bloody thing.”
”It is not!” Hermione started arguing with Ron while Vincent and Harry stood by and watched.
”So the Ministry will send us vehicles to escort us to the station,” Vincent overheard Mr and Mrs Weasley and frowned before turning to them.
”Why are the Ministry providing cars, Father?” Percy asked again, in a dignified voice.