~The Big Five at Hogwarts~

Chapter 16

Hiccup

          Professor Longbottom leads me out of the library where Elsa, Jack and Merida are now. Pretty soon we end up in the cavernous entry hall all alone. Through the windows I can see that the sun has just started to set. I'm trying to look everywhere but Longbottom, but you can only study so many pillars. My first chance to prove myself and I blew it. Sure, I was investigating a possible threat to the school, but Longbottom didn't know that. I'd probably get fired and sent right back to Berk.                                  

"Now Hiccup, I'm pretty sure I don't need to tell you what you are and what you aren't supposed to do as a professor, right?" I nod. "Then you can't go letting whoever into the Headmaster's office for whatever reason."                                                                 "I didn't know that it was such an issue," I say.                           "It is," he responds. "Since this is your first offense, and you've been doing very well teaching your classes, I'll just give you the punishment of coming with me to repot some Venomous Tentacula." I am so relieved I'm not being fired that I don't care that I'm going to be planting a dangerous and carnivorous piece of vegetation. "But that means I don't want to see any more of this from you. You have responsibilities now." I nod silently as he starts to lead me outside to the greenhouses. An array of various plant smells greets us as we walk into the brightly sunlit building, along with two other things. One of them is a huge toothy green plant writhing around in a pot that is obviously too small for it.                                                                                                                                                                           The other is Astrid, doing her best to avoid the plant and holding a small empty jar. When we come in, I hear a shatter. She frantically tries to hide the broken pot, unsuccessfully. She chuckles when I walk up to say hi.                                                                                                                                              "You will work with Astrid here, who is also being punished, to move the Tentacula to that pot," he points to a much larger clay pot in a shadowed corner. "You do have permission to swear loudly if the plant tries to pick you up with its vines." My eyes widen, but Astrid looks perfectly calm.                  

"So what are you in for?" I ask her as we set to work trying to get to the base of the aggressive, toothy plant.                                  "I didn't feel like walking to class in a line, which apparently didn't go by well with 'Headmaster'" She stops to look at me, holding up a garbage pail lid to shield herself from the writhing tentacles.                                                                                                                      "What is it?" I ask.                                                                              "Nothing. I just haven't seen much of you lately."