The Big Four and The Prophecy (Book 1)

5 - The Girl with Ice Powers

The Girl with Ice Powers

JACK

"As you already know, this is the Great Hall. It's where we eat, where the headmaster makes announcements, and apparently where the Sorting occurs – which happens every year."

Jack and Hiccup spent the first half of the day roaming the whole castle. Hiccup showed him all sorts around here; the Slytherin dungeon, Hufflepuff basement, Ravenclaw tower and Gryffindor tower. As well as where all the classes are, and the professors' offices. Who knew that the paintings in the Grand Staircase were alive!

What bothered Jack though, was the constant staring of students – from all four houses. Some girls were blushing as he passed by, while some boys looked at him in either suspicion or admiration. He became famous after just one night.

"It's still early to have lunch, want to check the outside?"

"You had to ask?" Jack said, delighted.

They both stepped out the castle and into the wide space with walls covering two sides; the far end of it extended into a long bridge.

"This is the Entrance Courtyard. We also spend our free time here," Jack followed Hiccup to the center of the courtyard. He couldn't focus on one thing as he continuously turned his head every now and then to explore with his eyes. There wasn't much to see, but seeing the other students simply fascinated him. There was a group of Ravenclaw students with books on their laps, they must be studying. Snotlout, Ruffnut and Tuffnut were doing something who-knows-what in a corner.

A group of Hufflepuff students then started marching past them, wearing a different type of uniform from theirs and each holding various types of broomsticks. Judging by the shin and arm guards, Jack guessed they were athletes of some sort.

"Why are they wearing a different uniform?" Jack asked Hiccup.

"Oh, they're Quidditch players. I guess they just finished practicing on the Quidditch pitch."

"Quidditch, is that right?"

"Yup."

"How does it work?"

"Well, it has 7 players. 3 chasers, 2 beaters, 1 keeper and 1 seeker."

"So what does each player do?"

"The chasers tend to throw the quaffle through the hoops to gain 10 points. Then the beaters...well they're a different story. The keeper defends the hoops from the opponent. Then the seeker seeks for the snitch. And when the seeker catches it, the game ends and the house team wins. And that sneaky little thing costs 150 house points. See the one in front of them? That's Tadashi Hamada, sixth year, he's the Hufflepuff Quidditch captain," Hiccup pointed at the tall Hufflepuff at the front, he has short jet black hair fixed neatly on his head. Jack recognized him from Olivander's Wand shop.

"What if you don't catch the snitch?"

"I'm afraid you have to. The game won't end until the snitch is caught. The longest Quidditch ever yet was three months."

"What are the broomsticks for?"

"For flying! Of course," said a voice from afar. It was Tuffnut who said it, and he was followed by Snotlout and Ruffnut as they approached them.

Snotlout looked over at Hiccup, "It must be a shame that you don't share the same dormitory, eh?"

"Not now, Snotlout," Hiccup sighed.

"We're not a –" but Snotlout has cut Jack off.

"Don't worry, Frost boy! We've got all sorts around here. Jasmine and Megara are star-crossed lovers of Slytherin," The black-haired said to the white-haired.