Freaks: Year Two

A Problem

"Alabaster...do you know where my brother is?"

The Slytherin looked nervous, but he nodded.

Jasper sighed with relief. At least someone knew where he was. That way Toby could be located and the two brothers could finally have a chance to talk. He was still puzzled about why Alabaster looked so anxious. Had something happened to Toby?

"Well, where is he?" Jasper asked.

"He's...he's..."

"Alabaster?" Harry prompted.

The Slytherin looked tense when he heard Harry's voice. He finally focused his gaze on Jasper and said, "He is in the Hufflepuff common room."

"Oh. Good," Jasper said, glad that his brother was in a safe location that they knew about. It didn't explain why Alabaster was acting so strange, but maybe it was normal. "Erm, well I will see you around then..."

"It was really nice to get to know you both," Alabaster said suddenly.

Both Jasper and Harry looked back to Alabaster, confused by that comment. "Er, it was nice to get to know you too," Harry said. "We will see you tomorrow, okay?"

"You both are very nice people," continued Alabaster. "I am very happy I met you both."

"Is...is there anything going on?" Jasper asked because even though he had many conversations with him about how nice they were and how they were good people, this just seemed really sudden.

Alabaster just shook his head. "I just wanted you both to know that...and I also hope you can become friends again with your brother."

Jasper awkwardly chuckled. "Thanks..."

Alabaster looked at each of them in turn and then he sighed. "Goodbye." and he disappeared down the dark corridor.

The two Hufflepuffs stared after him. "Well...that was weird," commented Jasper as he did the password, finally opening the common room door.

Harry slowly nodded. "It was..."

The two of them entered the common room, and Jasper said, "Well...I need to find my brother, he should be somewhere in here...hopefully no one has taken a notice..."

Harry watched as Jasper started up the stairs to his dormitory. He was going to follow, but he was stopped by Jordan Miller waving him over from where she was at one of the tables and chairs with Andy Scott, Willow Barlowe, Wendy Brighton, and Ozzy. He approached them and took a seat in the other empty chair. "What's up, you lot?"

"We were wondering if you could help us with studying for our exams?" Andy asked as Ozzy interpreted the question for Jordan. "We heard that you're like super smart and good at studying."

"Plus you have been helping us with homework all year," Willow added.

"It has been helpful!" Wendy put in.

"Sure," Harry said and he raised his fist and made it nod. "We could have study sessions twice a week if you girls would like? You can invite the other first years too."

Andy nodded. "Okay, we will mention it to them."

"Okay, so what do you four need help with?" Harry asked and just as Willow was about to answer there was a bang from one of the dormitories and Harry suppressed a sigh. More interruptions and he had a feeling it had to do with his best friend and brother. He gave a false smile and said, "Sorry, can you give me one minute?" He signed it for Jordan and quickly left the sofa and headed upstairs.

He opened the dormitory door, and saw Jasper on the floor in front of his desk, Toby right by one of the beds, looking frustrated. Harry was relieved it was only the two of them and not that one of the twins had found a stranger in their dormitory, but he also was getting sick of the two brothers' fight. "Okay, what is going on now? You do know the prefects could come up at any time and find this? What would they say?"