c h a p t e r   f o u r

j a c k

            It had been about a week and a half since Jack had entered his name into the Goblet of Fire. They still had a few more days until the Champions would be announced, and honestly, Jack was a little scared. It brought his mind to what Mavis had said; if he did move on to the challenges, he could possibly die. And he definitely didn't like the sound of that. But he reminded himself that he would win and hold ultimate glory over his fellow Seventh Years, and that seemed to cheer him up a bit.

            Breakfast had been uneventful, Jack hadn't talked to anyone. Mavis was on the other end of the table, and a lot of the other Slytherins were fairly cruel. And he didn't feel like socializing with any of the Durmstrang students. Astrid ended up finding him again, asking him questions like 'why are you was so pale?' and 'why do you have white hair?' and more. Jack ignored her, not liking her asking so many questions.

            After breakfast, Jack had double Advanced Potions, since it wasn't Monday. He didn't have any of his best friends in the class, but Mavis was there, so it wasn't overly horrible. Advanced Potions was taught by Mavis' dad, Count Dracula. Drac was also the Head of Slytherin House, but that didn't make Jack like him any more.

            He walked alongside Mavis towards the dungeons to where Advanced Potions was held. It was the same room as Potions, which Dracula also taught. Mavis and Jack followed a few other Seventh Years into the dungeoned classroom. The room was dark, as it always was. With very few candlesticks hanging around the room. If Jack wasn't being forced to take some kind of potions class, he wouldn't be in there. Jack was pretty horrid with potions. He always seemed to somehow add an extra of something, and make the whole thing blow up in his face.

            He wasn't exactly an expert.

            Jack sat towards the back of the class, and Mavis walked past him to her normal seat in the front of the class. Jack rested his head on his hand, waiting for class to begin, and waiting for it to be over. Jack's 'seat buddy' sat next to him, and she looked like she couldn't wait for class to be over either.

            "Hey, Kitty," he grumbled.

            Kitty Softpaws was her name, as strange as it sounded. She was a Gryffindor, even though she would have been perfect for Slytherin. She had a tendency to steal things from people right under the noses.

            "Frost," she grumbled back, resting her head on hands, too, her black hair falling in front of her face, "I hope Professor Drac doesn't give us anything too difficult today."

            "Yeah," Jack groaned internally, why did Hogwarts students still have to go to school why the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons lot got to lounge around? Extremely unfair.

            The candles in the room dimmed to a pale glow. Professor Dracula appeared out of the shadows like he normally did. He thought it made him 'cool, as the kids would say.' Jack found it ironic, since he was cooler than everyone at Hogwarts, temperature and reputation-wise.

            The class grew quiet, probably from the lack of warmth from the candles.

            "Today," Professor Dracula began, his accent making Jack smirk, "You vill be brewving the potion Draught of Living Death." He exaggerated the name of the potion more than he needed to, but Jack didn't comment on it. The class was boring him already. "Turn to page Three-Hundred and Ninety-Vour."

            Jack and everyone around him, flipped to page 394 in their potions book, and Jack groaned at the long list of instructions. Stupid double Advanced Potions. This potion was going to take the most of class, and he knew that somehow it would end up blowing up in his face.

            Everyone around Jack, including Kitty, had began on their Draughts, and Jack didn't want to begin his, but he did. Jack wasn't all to fond of Dracula when he was mad, and he didn't feel like being yelled at. He looked down at the recipe, which followed:

1.    Cut up the Sopophorous bean

2.    Pour in 250 fl.oz. of water and add 5 oz. of African sea salt to the beaker. Set the beaker aside after all the water has been added. Be very careful not to shake or move the beaker now.

3.    Leave the water and salt to rest for five minutes.

4.    Slowly pour all the water into the cauldron.

5.    With your left hand use the graduated cylinder to obtain 40 fl.oz. of essence of wormwood.

6.    With your right hand hold the cauldron at a slight angle and pour ten drops (20 fl.oz.) of essence of wormwood.

7.    Now with your left hand hold the cauldron at a slightly different angle and pour another ten drops of wormwood essence.

8.    Chop three Valerian roots into small squared pieces. After cutting place it in a beaker with water. Leave it to settle for five minutes. Your potion should now be resembling a smooth black currant-colored liquid.

9.    Carefully pour the Sopophorous bean's juice into the cauldron

10.  Add seven drops of the reduced liquid from the beaker; make sure there are no traces or fragments of Valerian root.

11.  Stir the potion ten times clockwise; your potion should now be turning a light shade of lilac.

12.  With your right hand stir the potion counterclockwise until the potion turns as clear as water; every stir should take approximately two and a half seconds.

13.  Slowly put in seven square pieces of Valerian root.

14.  Stir the potion ten times counterclockwise.

15.  Add 150 fl.oz. of powdered root of asphodel.

16.  Hold the cauldron with your right hand; with your left hand gently stir the potion ten times counterclockwise and eight times clockwise.

17.  Leave the potion to settle for two and a half minutes.

18.  Add one small piece of Valerian root.

19.  Your potion should turn to a pale pink color; the preparation is now complete.

            He followed the directions and it's pictures as best as he could. And by the time he added the last piece of Valerian root, he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. The potion turned a pale pink, just like the instructions read. Jack smiled to himself, but as he watched the potion, it turned to a deep shade of red, and Jack's eyes grew in horror. "Uh, Professor...?"

            "Vhat is it now, Frost?" Dracula said, turning his head towards Jack and his potion. His eyes widened more than Jack's as he watched the potion bubble in a deep crimson color. "EVREYONE DOWN!"

            Everyone ducked under their tables, and when Jack ducked under the table, Kitty rolled her eyes, and spoke in her Spanish accent. "How is it your potions always explode?"

            Jack shrugged; he thought he followed the recipe perfectly. The bubbling of the potion increased, and Jack could hear it. He curled up more than he did before, waiting for the Draught to either explode or bubble over. Either way, he didn't want to fall into a long, deep sleep.

            The potion did both. It made a hissing sound, and there was a pop. Jack saw the contents of the potion on the other side of the room, and he watched it drip down the ledge of the table he had been standing at. He pulled his foot in further to not be covered in the potion.

            "It is save now," came Professor Dracula's voice. Jack crawled out from under the table, eye level to the edge of the table. "Is evreyone alvright?" Nods and 'yeses' came from the room, and Dracula turned towards Jack's table, and he sighed. "Jack..."

            Jack slowly stood up, like he nearly did everyday when these things happened. "Detention?"

            Professor Dracula sighed again, and shook his head. "Not today, Slythervin faces Gryffindor tomorrvow, and you need practice."

            Everyone snickered except Jack and Dracula.

            "Vut," Dracula began, and everyone quieted down, "Vor the vrest of class, you have clean-up duty."

            Everyone started laughing again, and Jack sighed and rolled his eyes. He went to the front of the classroom and grabbed the broomstick that he normally had to clean with. He also grabbed a rag and polish.

            For the next hour, Jack cleaned. He cleaned until Dracula said it was good enough. It was the last few minutes of class when Jack finished. Kitty smirked at him, and Mavis gave him a doubtful smile. The bell from the clock tower chimed, signaling the end of class. When everyone started towards the door and to their next class, Professor Dracula called out: "Tomorrvow you vill begin the Felix Felicis potion. Come prevared!"

            Jack walked out the class, his satchel hanging off his shoulder. He stuffed his Advanced Potions book into the bag, and pulled out his Transfiguration book. He made his way out of the dungeons and towards the Middle Courtyard. After a while, when he actually reached the courtyard, he saw Rapunzel. "Hey! Punzie!" he said, running up to her.

            She smiled her usual bright smile in greeting. "Hi, Jack!"

            The two walked to Transfiguration together, talking about many things, like the first Quidditch game of the season began the next day, and it was going to be a Jack versus Merida face-off. The pair walked into the large, sunlight Transfiguration room. Many people were already in their seats, waiting and talking before class began. The two sat down next to each other, at their normal desk.

            "Hey, Punzie," Jack began, Rapunzel turned towards him, "Who do ya reckon'll be the chosen champions?"

            Rapunzel tapped her chin in thought, "Oh, I dunno know. Maybe one of us? And maybe Elsa? Then some Durmstrang student, of course."

            The two didn't have much more time to talk about the matter, since Professor Tooth had entered the room, and class had begun. Professor Tooth was different than most of the teachers at Hogwarts. She was bubbly and happy, but also serious. She was also a Metamorphmagus, able to change her appearance at will. There was also the obsession she had with teeth– not to mention her name had 'tooth' right in it. Her full name was Toothiana Faery, but she preferred 'Tooth' instead. No one knew why, but Jack had a hunch that it involved her obsession with teeth. Being a Metamorphmagus, Professor Tooth liked to keep this human-bird hybrid kind of look. The first time he ever saw her, Jack was confused, intrigued, and a tad bit terrified.

            Professor Bunnymund was also a Metamorphmagus, and a registered Animagus. He had this thing with bunnies, which everyone suspected was because his name spelled out 'Easter Bunny.'

            From what it seemed at Hogwarts, Metamorphmagus were supposed to be extremely rare, but two of those extremely rare people were his teachers.

            On the note of changing forms, or transfiguration, Jack found out towards the beginning of the year that Mavis was now a registered Animagus. Just like her dad. They both were able to turn into bats, which was kind of weird in Jack's mind, since Animagus forms were based on your inner-traits. Jack always thought he would a fox or something. Since he was so mischievous, but he didn't have an actual clue what he would actually be.

            Class passed by quickly with Jack having his head in the clouds, thinking. He didn't even realize the bell had chimed until Rapunzel tapped on his shoulder. He drug himself out of his thoughts, and looked at her. "Class is over," she said, "We don't have any homework tonight, just so you know. I know you were zoned out the entire time."

            Jack chuckled and scratched the back of his neck in guilt. "Um... Oops?"

            Rapunzel rolled her eyes while she smiled, "C'mon, we've gotta go, we don't have much time until next classes start."

            "Right." Jack replied, grabbing his unopened Transfiguration book off his desk, stuffing it into his satchel.

            He waved Rapunzel goodbye as he made his way to the moving staircases. Defense Against the Dark Arts was on the third floor, taught by Professor Sandman. Or Professor Sandy as he liked to be called. He was mute, which made teaching a bit strange. He wrote on the chalkboard, which was somehow linked with his thoughts through magic.

            Jack stood on the second set of moving stairs, waiting for it to change to the third floor. When the moving staircase stopped at the third floor, Jack went on in to the classroom. He saw Hiccup sitting towards the front of the class, and Jack went to go join him. Defense Against the Dark Arts was Jack and Hiccup's favorite class; and not just because they had it together. They both had dreams of becoming Aurorers, so Jack made sure he paid close attention in the class. He passed his O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s with flying colors, that all his teachers, including Headmaster North, were impressed. Professor Bunnymund had a suspicion that Jack had cheated on both tests, but Professor Sandy had defended him, saying it was his favorite class.

            "Hey, Hic," Jack said, sitting down beside the viking-born.

            Hiccup looked up from the book he was reading, "Didn't see ya, Jack. Sorry."

            "Nah, s'okay. What're we doing in here today?"

            Hiccup pointed towards the chalkboard, which already had the agenda on it.

            Jack smirked, "Dueling, eh?"

            "Yeah."

            Jack held out his hand, "Partners?"

            Hiccup smirked and took hold of Jack's hand, shaking hands. "Partners."

            Jack smirked once more, and looked around the room. "You are so going to lose, Haddock."

            "We'll see about that, Frost."

            Professor Sandy came into the room, his golden aurora lighting up the room. The sound of chalk writing came from the front of the room, and Jack turned his head towards it.

            Please gather at the sides of the room.

            Everyone, including Jack, made their way to either side of the room. Jack watched Professor Sandy raise his wand, magically moving all the desks to the center of the room. The desks formed a long table, like the ones in the Great Hall. The Professor brought out a large cloth, and fashioned it on the desks using his wand. It looked exactly like it usually did when they dueled in class. Jack guessed since it was Triwizard Tournament season, classes for him and his fellow Seventh Years were going to be easier than they were before. And perfecting their dueling skills would be beneficial to whoever was going to represent Hogwarts in the Tournament.

            Sounds of chalk on board came again, and everyone turned their heads to the large chalkboard. Pair up, and I will choose who duels first.

            Jack leaned on Hiccup, resting his arm on Hiccup's shoulder, waiting for Professor Sandy to usher them up to duel.

            It wasn't until half the class had gone up and dueled each other, that Hiccup and Jack were ushered up to duel. Jack pulled out his snowflake-carved wand as he climbed on to the desks. Hiccup did the same as he climbed onto the other end of the desks.

            "Duelers at the ready! In position!" A guy named Tadashi called out, he had been doing so since the first duelers began.

            Jack raised his wand to his face, stepping closer to Hiccup, who was doing the same. "Ready to lose, Haddock?"

            Hiccup smirked, "Not today, Frost."

            "Duelers!" Tadashi called out, "Begin!"

            Not even a split-second later, Hiccup threw out his first spell. Since they were all Seventh Years, they used non-verbal magic. And it also surprised your opponent, so there was that, too. Jack threw up his wand, barely blocking the spell. Jack smirked, and casted out an ice spell. One he may or may not have come up with.

            Hiccup dodged out of the way, but barely just. A shard of the ice from Jack's wand scraped his wand arm. Hiccup threw out the ever-famous Expelliarmus. Jack could tell by the light, he threw his wand up once more, blocking the spell. Jack thought he was a pretty good dueler, and he didn't plan on losing this duel.

            Jack used Everte Statum, a spell they learned back in Second Year, so Jack hoped it was a surprise. Hiccup noticed it, and easily blocked the spell. Hiccup smirked, which made Jack frown.

            In turn, Hiccup casted out another spell, and Jack had hardly enough time to react. He dodged out of the way in time, not having a chance to cast a defensive spell. Jack threw out his ice spell, one after another. Hiccup slowly blocking each one, Jack continued to cast one after another, not letting Hiccup throw in a spell of his own.

            Each time Jack threw out a spell, it was faster than the one before. Hiccup didn't have much time to react to each one individually. His fellow classmates had to occasionally duck and dodge out of the way from the ice shards bouncing off of Hiccup's blocking charms.

            When Jack noticed Hiccup genuinely struggling to keep up his blocking, Jack slowed his casting. Out of the corner of his eye, Jack saw Tadashi looking down at Professor Sandy, telling or asking him something. He watched Professor Sandy nod, and Tadashi look up at Hiccup and Jack dueling.

            "Okay! Duelers, cease fire!" Tadashi called out, making Jack and Hiccup stop in the tracks. The two did the traditional bow to each other before climbing off the desks, and coming towards each other. Jack having a proud smirk on his face.

            Hiccup rolled his eyes, "Wipe that annoying smirk off your face; I get it, you won, I lost."

            "Way to be a sore loser, Hic." Jack said, his smirk growing.

            Hiccup looked at him, "Where'd you learn that ice charm anyways? Bunnymund's never taught us that, nor has Sandman."

            Jack's smirk grew into a grin, "I may or may not have come up with it myself."

            "You? Come up with a spell? Wow, I am honestly surprised, no seriously, I am."

            "You have such faith in me, Hiccup. Honestly, I'm hurt." Jack said dramatically, placing a hand over his heart.

            The other half of the class dueled their duels with each other, and when the bell chimed for lunch, Jack was the first one out the door. He loved Defense Against the Dark Arts, but he loved food even more. There was all his friends at lunch, too, so that made him happy as well. Jack made his way out of the third floor corridor and onto the moving staircase. He tapped his foot impatiently, as the staircase moved towards his desired staircase. He quickly moved off the previous staircase, onto the next on, and onto the first staircase, pushing past a couple of students trying to go up the stairs.

            He practically ran to the Great Hall, running to his normal seat. Jack was still waiting for the day that everyone could sit at whichever table they liked. Then he would be able to sit with his friends, instead of just communicating through eye-contact. Which they had been doing for seven years. He loaded his plate, considering he hadn't eaten much that morning. Hogwarts food was better than any other food he had ever had, and having three meals a day of the delicious food made Hogwarts all the better. Jack looked up to the bewitched ceiling, noting that it was of a clear blue sky. Considerably nicer than he had thought it was going to be.

            He looked around the room, trying to find his friends. His eyes landed over at the Ravenclaw table, where a certain Beauxbatons student was eating. Jack smiled to himself.

            It was then that Jack realized he hadn't given Elsa a second thought that whole day, or a first thought for that matter. I suppose that happens when your potion explodes, you don't pay attention in class, and you duel and win against your best friend, said one part of his brain. Or it's just because you've been kept busy all day, said the other part of his brain. Jack decided to go with the less harsh version of his conscious, and just let it slide. He'd talk to her after lunch; it was his free hour anyways.

            Roughly a half an hour later, lunch hour had ended, and Jack's free hour began. Usually he spent the time catching up on sleep or spending time with his friends. But today he felt like talking to Elsa. He watched her get up from the Ravenclaw table with her sister Anna, and watched them go towards the doors that led out of the Great Hall. Jack grabbed his satchel, slinging it over his shoulder, got up from his part of the bench and ran after Elsa.

            "Hey! Elsa!"

A/N

Whew, I am so sorry. Lots of stuff going on, and finals are coming up, so... yet, I'm hoping to get the next chapter out somewhat soon. What to expect: Jack & Elsa talking, bits of Apparition class, Astronomy class (taught by Buzz Lightyear!), Merida Jack showdown during Quidditch, and the Choosing Ceremony!

Yeah I gave you guys a pretty boring chapter this time, oops. c:

I'm also working on a new story, but it won't come out until I'm pretty far into this one. I'm thinking about posting a teaser of it soon.

Sorry for the long wait and this long Author's Note! -frosted