Nathan just walked in to his dorm after finishing his bath he heard a commotion coming from one side. He came face to face with an annoyed Artemis and frustrated Eddie, Marcus seemed to be standing between them meditating the situation.
" Hey, what happened here? Why are you guys making a ruckus ? Do you want to get detention? " Nathan asked sarcastically, unlike other houses the ravenclaws too much of a book worm wouldn't like it when there is too much noise.
They remembered few days ago seventh year prefect come and scolded them for being too rowdy. Nathan didn't expect his dorm mates dare to provoke the seventh years once again.
He could tell from the way they were arguing they didn't seemed to notice Nathan come out of bathroom. 'Mmm, it doesn't really bother me like I have expected it would be...well that's good. Maybe I developed a resistance in the whole month sharing a room.'
Nathan carelessly thought as he took out his wand from bedside and gently tapped it on his head. cool air come out of it drying his hair in few seconds; it was a nifty trick taught by a third year ravenclaw in study hall other day.
This nifty tricks were sure handy, for example there was a hot air version besides he can use it to other things only his creativity limiting him. So he naturally learned handful of everyday magic.
Nathan turned his attention to them once again they too seem to noticed him. But what he didn't expect was the only the awkward boy Ralph greeted him instead of his three friends.
' Was he here all this time? I didn't notice him! ' he mused to himself.
It was very rare for him to overlook someone he sizes up the boy and reassess the situation.
' He doesn't have much of a presence, very intriguing indeed ' Nathan glanced away from the meek boy to his friends. Nathan could tell something was off about the situation from the way they were looking.
Eddie come to him, " Mate, did you call her over here? She said you told her to come up here?" Eddie asked with a frown.
'When did I ever told her that? Are they trying to prank me or something?' the first thought come to him was they were trying to pull his leg. ' Nah, Eddie wasn't good at keeping his expression. Besides I could feel the annoyance and embarrassment practically woozing from him'
"What's the matter with you? Tell us already, don't tell me you were really did? " Nathan frowned at Marcus's impatience.
He also felt while Eddie asking him the questions sounded like he was blaming Nathan for something. He neither confirm nor deny instead probed "Why did any of this have to do anything with me?"
" Nathan she literally barged into our dormitory while he was changing his clothes " Marcus explained, he pointed at the embarrassed face of Eddie.
Marcus acted like he was trying to be helpful while stiffling his laughter. His tone had a tinge of amusement. Nathan froze for a second seeing Eddie was about get angry he coughed to hide his slip.
" Now, Eddie got little upset because of this. Not only him, but the other two had more or less furious seeing a girl barge silver scold him before going down " Marcus elaborated.
Nathan blinked and turned to look at Eddie blankly "Did she saw everything? " despite his poker face one could only need to see the mischievous in his eyes and know he was making fun of Eddie.
" Of course not! Do I look like having such a hobby? " Eddie, burst into fury shouted at Nathan and Marcus for making fun of him. Nathan though look surprised hearing strange Choice of words didn't continue to provoke Eddie.
He turned to Marcus as if he was clarifying something. Marcus nodded pouring cold water to the bubbling mirth in his chest.
"I'm not furious nor did I scolded Eddie or anything like that. Don't drag me into this" Ralph interjected in flustered manner refuting Marcus before addressing Nathan " In fact it was Eddie and Marcus who seemed to most upset by this matter "
" Are you saying you were okay with this? " Eddie hotly asked.
" Quite jumping to conclusions, " Ralph get up closing the book in his hands " I too said it was inappropriate for a girl to come to our dorm like that " with one last greeting he went down to common room.
Nathan's unnatural expression slowly eased out after understanding this, he turned to Artemis " When did I say, anything about you could barge into our dormitory? Are you trying to make them hate me or something?"
Artemis become anxious seeing Nathan was angry. " Look, I already apologized to the four of you didn't I? Can't we guys let go off this matter? " Artemis annoyedly asked Eddie " I admit I didn't think something like that would happen"
Eddie doesn't like her tone at all, no one apologize in such a manner. But before he could angrily say Nathan cut in " Oh, then pray tell us what make you come all the way up to boys' dorm?" Nathan didn't further comment on the matter, Instead asked this question in genuine curiosity.
"Oh, did you forget it already? Well... You promise to accompany me somewhere this Saturday " Artemis said with a slight frown. " I told you about this matter while we were having lunch two days ago "
"Oh! " Nathan did indeed remember such a thing and he naturally agreed to it but at that time he thought everyone was going. But from the way she was phrasing it doesn't seem to be the case.
" What about them? " Nathan expression didn't show his thoughts, he gestured to his two friends asked with a frown on his own.
" What about them? " she asked back, look unconcerned. It's evident she didn't think much of his question; But Nathan know no one like to be left out, if he agreed to it they too would resent him.
" I see....thrn you can go there yourself, it's not sound fun. I'm not interested in anything plain and boring " Nathan flippantly told her he wasn't interested in going to this place with her.
'Well this complicated things...what should I do in the morning?' he felt that he have to change his plans for the day. 'Well....I might as well ask the boys what are they planning' he hope they might have some idea for the morning.
" But you promised- " Artemis raised her voice an octave. Nathan cut her off with an annoyed face.
"If I remember correctly, you didn't specify the boys wouldn't be coming. I thought we four would be going to this place " Nathan wasn't falling for that. If she expect to guilt trip him then she was too naive.
" If you want to do some girly girly stuff then can't you just ask your dorm mates? " Nathan said after scrutinizing her, he had no idea why the hell he have to go with her. ' Did she think I'm a girl?'
" It's not a girly stuff " Artemis refuted with gritted teeth and took a deep breath "Nathan, you might really like it, please trust me " Artemis for some reason trying to convince him.
Nathan wasn't someone easy to convince. In the end still decid to ask at least this " What is it? Where exactly are we going?" she can't possibly expecting him to go with her wherever the hell she was planning to go.
Nathan suddenly had a abnormal thought and felt chills. He couldn't help but scrutinize the girl closely; for some reason a serial killer movie come to his mind.
' What if she trying to lure me somewhere and secretly kill me? ' an absurd thought appeared on his mind. As idiotic as it may sounds he knows none of the members from the of infamous 'Black' family could be said normal.
In fact the word 'Normal' completely alien to this family even more so than Dursley family or witches and wizards in normal. If he not remember wrongly he heard rumors about the woman's in This family suffer some kind of mental illness.
Nathan gulped, his leg trembled ever so slightly. Even though he had confidence in his strength and believe he could over power a little girl like Artemis he felt fearful deep down.
Although he lower his guard after a month into school if someone expecting him to trust a suspicious person who are not a cannon characters then you would get a sure No.
Even if they are canon characters Nathan might not necessarily believe them blindly because the books told someone. Nathan was a paranoid to begin with, like how he tested Dumbles and Snape he would test everyone.
"You can still do it with one of your dorm mates right?" Nathan know was being blunt and cold here ' if you want me to come somewhere at least you have to tell me where we are going shouldn't you?'
There is no way in hell, he was going to go somewhere with this girl. Artemis and other three boys could naturally felt his resolve More than that they completely bewildered by what was happening here.
They couldn't understand why such a thing happened here. " Yeah why are you not letting us in? Are we not your friends " Eddie asked there was a tinge of jealousy. But to be honest he too felt Artemis being unreasonable here.
If they have something fun to do, they naturally would have told their friends and invited them. Why all this secrecy aren't they her friends too, of course they would feel jealous and angry for left out of something.
Artemis look down on the floor, Nathan felt a myriad of emotions "I have my reasons to only invite Nathan as for what it was I can't tell you " She spoke in emotionless tone.
" If you don't want to come with me than its fine, I can go on my own " she turned towards the door " Just so you know....I'm not that close to the girls in my dorm"
The dorm plunged into silence, she said ' See you guys later ' and ran out of the dorm. Even after that the three of them didn't spoke a awkward silence extended.
Nathan was most affected by this, he could tell his two friends feeling guilty, he too felt he was being little harsh on her. When she talk about her dorm mates he felt the hurt and sadness this all made him feel like a jerk.
Nathan walked away from them in irritation " I can't believe her....did you hear that, see can't tell where she was going?" Eddie exclaimed half heartedly, even without turning back Nathan could almost picture the uncomfortable expression on his face.
" Yeah, I can tell she didn't even want to invite us in the first place " Marcus grunted, he try to shake off his guilt with anger while miserably failing init.
They once again fell into silence, Nathan wasn't planning to exposing them and make them feel miserable. He focused his attention on selecting a comfortable clothes for the day.
"Nathan....you know? You don't have to be that harsh?" Marcus mumbled in mosquito like thin voice. Nathan froze once again he turned so sudden he stumbled a step "The hell did you say?"
His eyes were Sharp daring to say that once more " You did said that didn't you? That was horrible thing to say.... She look like she would cry " Eddie jumped not scared by Nathan's glare.
"Who the hell was shouting at her all this time? " Nathan asked in chilly voice.
"I did, w-what She did was wrong" Eddie stuttered "Look! Nathan I'm not blaming it all on you or something"
"Yes, that's what you were doing" Nathan coldly said.
" I'm not... I did scold her early and I do the same with you...I'm just stating the fact-"
"Oh! Become saint have you?" Nathan sneered "Should you except we address you as saint 'Eddie'? "
Nathan rolled his pajama sleeves, took out his wand from his pocket "Y-you what are you doing?" Marcus step away looking alarmed.
Nathan already felt awful earlier when these two jerks try to put blame on him for some reason he thought of hot headed Ronald Weasley. What annoying him most was Ron was his least favorite character in the entire canon.
Eddie and Marcus backed away then they looked at one another as if they silently communicating something then at the same time they both rushed to their bedside take out their wands with triumph and somewhat gleefull look.
Nathan watched this with calm expression, he wasn't least bit bothered by the fact they had their wands in their hand. Nathan know they had worst hand eye coordination and lack of arsenal so he wasn't wary.
"So you guys are ready for duel?" Nathan grinned humorlessly "Here I thought, what to do all morning...yo think you two come up with such a entertaining idea tsk tsk"
"Nathan have you gone nuts? Why are you getting this worked up?" Eddie tried to reason with him.
"Seriously Nathan you are going to get us just because we said something?" Marcus voice trembled "What's with his scary eyes? It's freaking me out " Marcus whispered the later part to Eddie who was a bed away.
*Chuckle*
" I'll let you know why my cousin gave little devil moniker to me. Kukukukukukuku it will be fun" Nathan brandished his wand.
"Nathan you prick, stop with this nonsense " Eddie shouted in panic, he quickly jumped aside hide behind his fourposter.
Marcus wasn't so lucky though "Ictus" Nathan whispered in quick series, "Aaarrrgggghh" about dozen stinging hex accurately fell on Marcus.
Seeing Marcus tearfull face Eddie became even more agitated. People say 'Sometimes witnessing someone suffering in pain more terrifying than experiencing the pain personally ' this is was happening here.
Eddie was after all, still a eleven year old despite his witty mouth and stubbornness. "N-nathan, can't we *gulp* talk things through?"
*Swosh*
"Flagellum" Nathan whispered a small black light twisted on his wand tip as if it was alive accurately hit Eddie's back accurately.
Eddie didn't notice how he sneak up behind him, then the pain flared up "Arrrghhh" it was little pit more powerful than normal stinging hex. Despite this Nathan still hexed him few more times who asked this fellow to have sharp tongue but weak strength.
*** ***
"Ouch, ouch"
"Be quite Mr Reed, I'll finish it in a minute " said the School Matron Pomfrey " it's getting harder and harder to discipline the kids " she muttered to herself.
Nathan ignore her with scowl "Ouch" Nathan yelped " Madam Pomfrey, can you stop pinching my face....I don't hit on my face" Nathan angrily exclaimed.
"What did you say Mr Reed, I'm sorry I can't hear you clearly " she pinched him little harder when Nathan turn to glare at her Pomfrey had a subtle smile but her hands on his ears Nathan felt chill looking at the amiable face.
"I-Its nothing" Nathan stuttered, he has no doubt she might really twist his ears. The amiable smile scared him more than ever, 'Gosh! What a scary witch' Nathan schooled his face Poppy went back to muttering something under her breath.
Nathan glance at his two familiar face appeared in his sight. Both Marcus and Eddie was sitting In one of the beds watching him suffer at madam pomfrey's hand.
'These two gits... Wait till...nah I'm better stick with some embarrassing pranks..' Nathan darkly thought to himself. He didn't expect this two kids to jump on him ' They weren't acting like wizards at all '
Nathan forced to enter slug fest after a mere half an hour 'Fun' the hot headed punk Eddie almost broke Nathan's precious wand in two. Nathan throw a glare at them
*Snort*
*Snort*
Both of them coldly snorted at him but didn't dare to open their mouths saying anything fearing Madam Pomfrey. They were in much worse state than Nathan, Poppy threatened him that she would report to Flitwick if they once again done anything like this.
" Alright Mr Reed you are free to go now. Here, take this potion after you ate your lunch today " Madam Pomfrey get up from her chair.
'Finally!' Nathan spiringed up from the wooden stool. " I'll see you later, you two " Nathan menacingly said to his two friends and ran away from the hospital wing.
Although he was stronger than those two he let them land hits. It's not like he wasn't beaten up before, Lizzy was quite ruthless. She can't pull pranks on him so resort to violence for all his little pranks.
Marcus and Eddie completely furious with him, look like they wouldn't talk to him any time soon. On the other hand Nathan felt refreshed, the stress and guilt he felt forced out of his body and heart.
*Hmmmhmm* he hummed a song in his native tongue and skipped away from the hospital floor. Even though his plan for that day got ruined he didn't care too much.
He had something to do for now anyway so he wouldn't be bored. 'Where did she says that place again?' Nathan asked himself, obviously she didn't say anything so he could only find her on his own.
He spread his psychic senses tried to find the mental fluctuation he identified as Artemis. ' well I guess it might take some time' he mused.
His psychic powers impressive for someone his age. He could do most of what 'That baldy' could do albeit in smaller scale after all magic is essentially different from what Charles Xavier powers.
So Nathan would call himself as a Pseudo Telepath rather than a legit one. But he believe he can develop his powers in different way and in time exceed Dr Xavier to a certain extent.
He doesn't notice how he come up to second floor; he heard an footstep ahead but didn't bother to take a look but what he didn't expect was the other person notice him and know him. " Mr Reed, what are you doing here?"
"Professor Mcgonagall!?" in front of him, Minerva Mcgonagall in her usual attire with some files in her hand imperiously looking at him.