"What do you mean?" Archer asked confused as he wiped his sweat from all the practice he had been doing with his new wand, trying out several spells.
"As I said, the philosopher's stone is gone." Patricia said coming closer towards him, "I had one of my informants here in Gringotts check things out and this is all he came with."
Patricia said passing a note to Archer which read:
Nicolas Flamel isn't in the possession of the Philosopher stone anymore. We believe that due the recent attempt at robbing the stone has made Flamel cautious and has caused him to hide the Stone to someplace safe. Though the stone's currents whereabouts are unknown, we can guarantee that the stone is still within Europe.
"I am more surprised how there hasn't been an attempt at robbery every day for the damn thing." Archer said, "After all these years, why now?"
Patricia shrugged her shoulders, "But I have some good news as well."
"What is it?"
"Since the informant talked about safety, I realized that it had to be in Gringotts. I mean, where else would you keep the thing if you want it to be safe other than Gringotts." Patricia said with a smirk, "So to affirm my suspicions, I had a Goblin repay me a favor by having him check over it and as I thought it indeed was in Gringotts."
"Was?" Archer asked getting more and more intrigued about it.
"Yes." Patricia said, "Unlucky for you, the vault it was kept was just emptied out yesterday."
Archer almost cried wondering how bad his luck could be.
"That's not the end of it." Patricia continued, "What do you know, the same day the vault was cleared out was the same day someone tried to steal from it?"
"Are you thinking it's the same robber?"
"I am sure it is." Patricia said, "And it's more than just a simple attempted robbery, as it appears to be the work of a dark wizard or a witch."
Archer frowned cursing his luck again. Just when he needed the Philosopher's stone just so happened to be the same time a gutsy dark wizard took interest in it, "Do you know who the vault belonged to?"
"Albus Dumbledore."
"Wait, who?" Archer couldn't believe his ears as he asked again.
"Dumbledore. The Headmaster of Hogwarts."
"It seems plausible." Archer nodded coming back to his senses, "Since both of them seem to be friends. So when a dark wizard wants the stone who better to give the stone for safe-keeping other than the strongest white wizard of all time."
"Exactly my thoughts." Patricia said, "So what are you thinking of doing?"
"I need some time to think."
―==(oIo)==―
A week passed by normally. Since there wasn't any reason to get out, Archer stayed in Gringotts enjoying his life in the residential section. For someone who loves traveling, this place felt like a prison but since he was busy getting used to his wand and reading some books so he didn't mind it much this time around.
"Not that bad." Bill Weasley said deflecting a curse that was thrown at him, "You have to remember that defense is the first thing you need to learn in a duel. Some wizards, even the weakest ones have a trick or two up their sleeve so you have to be ready to block their attack any moment."
"I get what you mean but the shield charm is really hard." Archer complained, "I can do offense much more easily but the defense seems too hard to master."
"Because it requires patience." Bill commented, "You have a very active mind causing you to be good at the offense as you said but you lack the calmness for defense like the shield charm. But don't fret yourself over it. I mean usually, for someone your age its mostly due to immaturity and in fact you are already better than when I was your age so somethings can't be forced like time. And if it makes you feel any better my own brother who's the same age as you can't chant even a single spell till now."
Archer nodded noting his weakness down ignoring the talk about his brother. Just as they were about to continue their fifth round of the day, Patricia walked in the room as Bill bowed slightly to her.
"You wanted to speak to me?" She asked.
"Yes." Archer nodded, "I have made up my mind, I want to study in Hogwarts."'
The moment Archer said so, Bill felt the temperature drop in the room and now more than ever he wished he could just turn invisible or just run away from this place without attracting any attention.
"What do you mean?"
"As I said mom, I want to go to Hogwarts." Archer said not backing off from her gaze, "I thought a lot about it and I feel like that's the right choice for me."
"Just for that damn stone?" Patricia asked in her interrogating harsh tone.
"Not just that." Archer said, "As you said before mom, you raised me to be someone who is very like you. And the more I stay here in this place the crazier I feel like I am becoming. With MACUSA's Aurors around every corner and their list of rules and law bigger than the list of spells found all over the world. It's all too complicated for me."
Patricia didn't say much so Archer continued, "And that's not even the end of it all. I have traveled to different parts of the world with you and by far this is the only place in the world where I feel ashamed to even be a wizard. I mean, this a place that can make Goblins sick of treasures, so I don't think I will fit in this part of the world no matter how hard I try."
Patricia snorted and turned away not listening to Archer any further but before she reached the door Archer called her again, "Mom, I know your concerns but please trust me on this."
Patricia closed the door and walked out not saying anything leaving Bill and Archer alone.
"I think that's the end of today's training." Bills said awkwardly, "But I do standby your decision, Hogwarts, of course, is the best wizarding school in the world."
―==(oIo)==―
Two weeks passed after that, but Patricia hadn't really chatted with Archer all this time. Though he knew she was busy, he was also quite sure that she was upset as this was the first time ever that he had refused her decision. Almost all the time, Archer knew that Patricia was thinking of his well being so he didn't really have to interfere with those decisions and even the decision to attend Ilvemorny was for the sake of himself. Just so he could be near her and she could protect him but Archer felt it was time to let those things go and make a decision for himself.
As he had said, not only did he make this decision for the sake of the philosopher's stone but also for his freedom. Though with the wand he could do whatever he wanted but getting caught using magic outside of Wizarding area would bear unsufferable consequences. As he said before to Patricia, he felt ashamed to be a wizard for the first time in his life.
Though hiding from muggles or no-maj as they call it was a common thing in every part of the world but this was his first time facing so many restrictions being a wizard. Archer wasn't sure what MACUSA stand by, but he was at least sure that their driving force was just cowardice and fear. Fear of what happened centuries ago back at Salem's Trial and not wanting the same thing to happen again.
"Who is it?"
Archer was woken up by a series of knock on the door.
"It's me, open up." Patricia's voice came in through the door.
Archer opened the door to see Patricia looking at him. Not giving any warning, Archer hugged her as it had been two whole weeks since he last saw her. Patricia caressed his hair gently smiling at him.
"I apologize, that I haven't been able to see you." Patricia said, "I've been busy with some work related stuff."
"It's okay." Archer said leading her into the room, "This isn't the first time when I've been away from you and besides I had at least something to keep me occupied this time around."
Patricia sighed but maintained her smile, "You mean the time I went back to Hogwarts to teach?"
"Yeah, I thought you were there just as a consultant but then you went away and took the Defense against the Dark position." Archer said, "I mean, I don't mind but you should've at least left with some less boring people."
"You can't blame me for it, though." Patricia said shrugging her shoulders, "I just wanted to see how cursed the teacher position actually is, and what do you know even I couldn't stay there for more than a year. But unlike others, I left because of obligation not because I faced a tragedy or something. Now that I think about it, it still pisses me off that I am left unsure of the curse."
"Well we're both stubborn so I know how you feel." Archer said, "So did you need me for something?"
"Are you still serious about going to Hogwarts?"
"Yes." Archer nodded, "I want to."
Patricia stayed silent for a while as she pulled Archer's hand into hers, "I am sorry."
"What do you mean?"
"Archie, I know how you feel and what you want to do but I am afraid I can't allow you to go into Hogwarts, at least for now." Patricia put her other hand on his cheek, "Things here are not looking too bright for me to send you to Hogwarts, completely away from me."
"What is going on?" Archer's said with concern as this was the first time he was seeing his mother like that, "At least give me an answer as to why?"
Patricia took a deep sigh, "These past two weeks things have been very sensitive. Four of our men died in battle just three days ago."
"Haven't the Aurors done anything, yet?" Archer's eyes widened in shock.
"They have been involved but they suffered the same fate as ours." Patricia said in a begging tone, "So in these situations, I can't take the risk of sending you so far away. So please do me this one favor, and stay in Ilvermorny, for at least until the whole situation is solved. After that, I promise you that I'll send you back to Hogwarts no matter what it takes."
Archer didn't know what to do. He still stood by his opinion on this place but again, this was truly the first time his mother asked him for anything. Archer took a deep breath and finally gave in,
"I'll attend Ilvermorny for now but the first thing after this situation ends I am out of this place."
Patricia finally had a small smile on her face as she pulled him into a hug, "Thank you for understanding."
―==(oIo)==―
Days passed by and though Archer wasn't too happy with the decision of staying here, he couldn't help but understand what his mother's concerns were, as seven Aurors and two workers from Gringotts died just last week and with death tolls reaching over 15, things were much more serious than usual.
The fights that were occurring here and there has been causing a great deal of effort on the MACUSA side of things as these wizards gone rogue are trying their best job to ruin the secrecy that they have maintained over all these years. So even MACUSA has joined in full-force trying to maintain peace and capture the members of the alliance.
With all this happening, everyone had one simple question in their mind lingering for a long while, 'Why?'
All the wizards involved were sure to get a death penalty so why go so far as to not fear death and for what? Treasures? In the wizarding world for centuries there always have been different inventions now and then or some cruse-breaker finding something out of the ordinary but none have been driven to the point of going so far to do what they were doing.
"Are you ready?" Bill Weasley asked as he opened the car door waiting for Archer to get in.
"Yes." Archer said as he turned back towards Patricia, "I'll be back soon so stay safe."
"Sure will." Patricia hugged him goodbye as she kneeled on Archer's level and across from his chest pinned the ornamental eyes of Horus that belonged to her, "I'll keep my promise so at least you'll have that to look forward to."
Archer nodded as he entered the car waving her one last goodbye as the driver began to drive away followed by two other cars that were arranged for his safety.
"So Ilvermorny huh?" Bill tried to break the silence as he was seated next to him, "Though I don't know much it is still one of the good schools in the world considering it was inspired by Hogwarts..."
"I am not upset about that." Archer said, "Will you guys be fine? I mean these things happen now and then but I've never heard about wizards going so bat-shit crazy over a treasure where they don't care for themselves anymore."
"We should be." Bill said unsure of his own words, "But if its any consolation, An auror from MACUSA managed to capture one of the members of the Alliance alive last night and is interrogating them. Just don't tell your mother I told you that."
Archer nodded, "So is there any new information related to it?"
"I don't know." Bill shrugged, "That is a bit above my pay-grade."
Archer sighed, relieved that the investigation at least was moving forward, "Bill, I want you to do me a favor?"
"What is it?" He asked.
"Can you prepare me a document consisting of everything you know about Hogwarts, from the teachers to the staff?"
"Why?" Bill asked again, "I mean, why does it even matter now?"
"I would like to know," Archer said shrugging his shoulders, "And who knows I might be there sooner than expected."
―==(oIo)==―
Ilvermorny was completely different from how one would imagine a wizarding school to be. Considering it was a school that was built by a muggle, it was obviously one of the least elitist of all the great wizarding schools.
Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was basically a castle known as Ilvermorny Castle. The great North American school of magic was founded in the seventeenth century. It stands at the highest peak of Mount Greylock in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, where it is concealed from non-magic gaze by a variety of powerful enchantments, which sometimes manifest in a wreath of misty cloud.
After driving for god knows how long, they finally reached the outside of the school where similarly different cars were parked around along with many people standing outside of the school with their luggage in hand. The people around got curious wondering who the person was for them to bring such security just to travel to the school.
"Not so fancy, huh?" Bill said as he stepped out the car alongside Archer who looked at the mist covered place slightly curious as to what enchantments were placed in this school.
Paragraph comment
Paragraph comment feature is now on the Web! Move mouse over any paragraph and click the icon to add your comment.
Also, you can always turn it off/on in Settings.
GOT IT