Polaris Black

Chapter 23

1976, 14 May- Thursday.

"What?" Polaris asked Nathaniel, seeing the shocked look on his face as he was looking at the map. Nathaniel looked up, staring at Polaris, then sighed. His finger tapped a particular spot on the map, "Here, you see the name here?" Nathaniel asked Polaris.

Polaris leaned over, looking at the name, "Yeah, that's... Willow Smyth? So? What is she doing out there in the forest and so far in?"

"Well, that was one of the reasons we were arguing. We found some type of cave... it was weird. It was like a whole maze with so many different turns and twists. At some point, we got attacked by some bats? Well, I think they were bats. They look like it- well, look, the cave is practically asking for death. Either starving from starvation from getting lost or getting eaten alive or something. There are definitely more creatures there... well, I think? I don't really know." Nathaniel answered, his eyes on the map.

Polaris was lost for words, not really knowing how to respond to that. "Um..." was the best he could do, "well, that... sucks?" Polaris again responded.

Nathaniel's gaze snapped to him, his lips twitching before he forcefully blew air from his nose, quickly looking away before he just started snickering. "I thought your friend was in a life-threatening situation or something... why are you laughing?" Polaris asked him, completely baffled.

Nathaniel turned to him again. He looked stunned, "Exactly! A life-threatening situation, and you say that! How can I not laugh? What a dumb response... and I just couldn't see you actually using to word 'sucks' where did you hear that from?"

"Oh, right. I think I got it from Amelia... is that a muggle thing too?" Polaris raised a brow as he spoke. Nathaniel shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know, but I know the muggle-borns say it a lot- Forget about that. I need to go after Willow!" Nathaniel rushed towards the door before a hand stopped him.

"Right, I don't think I heard you correctly... did you say you were going after the... mu- um, Smyth?" Polaris asked, his tone showing confusion that he hid from his face.

"Of course I am! We might be having a fight right now, but that doesn't mean I'll let her fend for herself!" Nathaniel snapped, throwing his shoulder back to get Polaris' hand off.

Polaris rolled his eyes, "I'm not saying to leave her to die" well, he also wasn't saying that wouldn't be a bad idea... "It's just... that it's a stupid idea? I mean, you said it yourself that you both nearly died when you went, and all that rubbish about it being dangerous- why not just tell one of the professors, who isn't a daft Gryffindor first year."

"I'm going myself. I have to. Perhaps this will fix our friendship! Besides, we promised each other that we wouldn't tell anyone about it, and I keep my promises!" Nathaniel told him.

Polaris snorted, which received a glare from Nathaniel, "What? Sorry!" Polaris said, seeing the look Nathaniel had given him, before continuing to prove a point.

"I just found it amusing that you're scared for her life... you could just get a responsible and wand-experienced professor to help, yet your more worried about keeping a 'promise'... when she dies, I really don't think that promise is going to matter much" Polaris drawled, his arms crossed. It was subtle how he was trying to stop Nathaniel.

Polaris watched the frown appear on Nathaniel's face and silently patted himself on the back. It would seem Nathaniel was finally seeing sense and not trying to get himself killed.

"I'm going," Nathaniel said with such determination. Polaris felt like just stunning him... but didn't. There he had thought his friend was seeing sense, but that wasn't the case.