Chronicles Of Arth: Prince Of Shadows

The eagle door knocker let out its usual cool female voice.

"Is there a difference between living and existing?"

"Existence goes far beyond the extent of one lifetime."

"Well reasoned."

Arth entered the familiar Ravenclaw Common room. In one of the arm chairs sat a blonde haired girl with an upside down Quibbler magazine in her hands.

Arth gave a smile.

"Hey Luna, you ready to set out?"

"Oh?"

"Well hello Arth, is it that time already?"

"Yes it is."

"Well, shall we venture forth to seek new wonders that may be presentable in this school?"

Arth and Luna left the Ravenclaw common room side to side. Some of the older Ravenclaws whistled.

Art raised an eyebrow.

"Now why do they think that is necessary?"

"Oh don't mind it, they've been teasing me about it ever since you first came to the tower."

"Ooh, was it rough?"

"Actually, it was quite pleasing. People would actually try to talk to me you see. Although the teases were getting a bit annoying, it was fun."

"Hope you are enjoying life."

"What about you? Are you enjoying life."

"I'm doing fine."

"Ok."

The two of them walked around the school in silence. However, both of them were wearing bright smiles on their faces.

It was only a matter of time before they started to converse with each other once more.

"Ooh, Arth, I never saw that room before! Do you think it might be something special?"

"Ah it's nothing Luna, it's a fake wall pretending to be a room. It comes to this location a couple times during the day to trick students."

"Fascinating. How about that one?"

"That's a closet. It's where Filch keeps his mops."

"Do you see that wall over their?"

"Yes, what about it?"

"It's actually a fake wall. In reality, it is a big door large enough to be a wall."

"Amazing. Where does it lead to?"

"It's a shortcut to the Great hall. Quite useful when you don't want to be stuck with the crowd."

"I'll remember it."

"Oh right, another place to go to is behind the mirror on the fourth floor. It leads out of school into hogsmead, but I like to go their to read sometimes. The room is pretty spacious and has a nice quiet atmosphere. The room was falling apart so I did some renovation on it though."

"You should take me there sometime."

"Ok, I will."

Hagrid's face was entirely hidden by a woolly, snow-covered balaclava, but it couldn't possibly be anyone else, as he filled most of the corridor in his moleskin overcoat. A dead rooster was hanging from one of his massive, gloved hands.

"Hello Arth?" he said, pulling up the balaclava so he could speak. "Why aren't yeh in class?"

"Canceled," said Arth, getting up. "What're you doing in here?"

Hagrid held up the limp rooster.

"Second one killed this term," he explained. "It's either foxes or a Blood-Suckin Bugbear, an' I need the Headmaster's permission ter put a charm around the hen coop."

He peered more closely behind Arth from under his thick, snowflecked eyebrows.

"May I ask who that girl behind yeh is?"

Luna stepped forward and introduced herself.

"Hello, I'm Luna Lovegood. P.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to meet you."

"P.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to meet yer too. Are you a Gryffindor?"

"No, I'm actually a Ravenclaw."

"Hmm, surprising, people don't usually associate with others from different houses. Well it's Arth so what can I expect."

"Are you saying I'm weird?"

"I'm saying your a special one.l

Arth gave a wry smile before glancing at the dangling Rooster.

"You probably want to hide that before Lockhart's sees it. He'll probably offer to cast a protective charm around the rooster pen and end up killing the chickens instead."

"Yer probably right."

"When he comes, it's going to be hard to shake him off. Better hurry Hagrid."

Hagrid started to look around nervously.

"Yer right on that one Arth, reckon I should hurry along now. See yer later. And keep that girl some good company."

As unbelievable as you would seem to find it, Hagrid managed to run off quicker than a quidditch player on a broom.

Arthur glanced at the clock.

"Oh, it seems as though it's almost time for my classes. I guess I should go get my books-"

Arth froze. His eyes were fixated on a spot a few meters away from him. Luna shook Arth several times to catch his attention.

"What is it Arth? Why did you stop speaking? Did the magglebys get your tongue?"

Luna followed Arth's gaze and also froze when her sight reached the point where Arth was staring at.

Justin Finch-Fletchley was lying on the floor, rigid and cold, a look of shock frozen on his face, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. And that wasn't all. Next to him was another figure.

It was Peeves, no longer pearly-white and transparent, but black and smoky, floating immobile and horizontal, six inches off the floor. His usually mischievous face wore an expression of shock identical to Justin's.

"...f.u.c.k."

Arth couldn't help but spit out a vulgar word.