Chapter 26 - Can you play? (1/2)

Arth sat down at the Ravenclaw table with a nasty expression. He had an entire day of exams in a large, sweltering hot classroom where the students did their written papers with AntiCheating quills. The practical exams were somewhat better. Professor Flitwick called them one by one into his class to see if they could make a pineapple tapdance across a desk. Professor McGonagall watched them turn a mouse into a snuffbox. Professor Snape made them make a Forgetfulness potion.

Of course, this was not the reason for Arth's annoyance. No. His annoyance and anger stemmed from a black book that now sat warmly at the bottom of his trash can bin back at his room.

Last night, Arth had experienced what it felt like to have a bunch of arrows stuck inside him. And he had to say. It was very painful. He didn't know whether or not the archers were bad at shooting, or if they missed on purpose but the arrows seemed to miss his vitals. He only died after one of the swordsmen cut off his head.

A standard execution.

Of course, Arth had no physical injures other than the fact that his entire body was sore and that his mind felt like ripping apart from weariness.

Arth quickly finished his plate before heading off to his last exam. His very last exam was History of Magic. When the ghost of Professor Binns told them to put down their quills and roll up their parchment, Arth frowned as cheering erupted around his classroom. His head already hurt enough to put up with the screaming.

”FREEDOM!”

”LESS GO!”

Arth collected his stuff and prepared to walk away when Daphne came near him. She seemed to be relieved and happy as she gave Arth a slight nudge. ”Exams are finally over but it seems like someone isn't happy.”

Arth rolled his eyes. ”It's only a slight headache. It'll go away if I don't do anything to make it worse tonight.”

”Like what?” Replied Daphne with a smirk, ”staying up late reading books? I reckon that you will have a stronger headache by tomorrow.”

”I've had enough of books today. Especially books with black covers,” said Arth with a snarl.

”A black book? What kind of book is it?”

”Nothing important. The contents are only slightly confusing and sadistic. I'm planning on having a good nights sleep today.”

Daphne let out a frown. ”Sadistic? You must be going insane. Make sure to really sleep tonight. If you stay awake to read books, Corvus will tell me.”

Arth scoffed. ”Corvus would never betray me.”

However, once Daphne went out of earshot reach, Arth grabbed Corvus off his head causing Corvus to let out a surprised peep.

*peep?

”If you ever betray me, I'm going to disown you.”

*Peep!?

Placing the terrified and confused little bird back on his head, Arth made his way down to Hagrid's.

When he arrived, he noticed that Hermione, Harry, and Ron were already there talking to Hagrid. Making sure not to disturb them, Arth quietly closed the door.

”-What did you talk to him about, Hagrid? Did you mention Hogwarts at all?”

”Mighta come up, Yeah... he asked what I did, an' I told him I was gamekeeper here.... He asked a bit about the sorta creatures I took after... so I told him... an' I said what I'd always really wanted was a dragon... an' then... I can' remember too well, 'cause he kept buyin' me drinks.... Let's see... yeah, then he said he had the dragon egg an' we could play cards fer it if I wanted... but he had ter be sure I could handle it, he didn' want it ter go ter any old home.... So I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy...”