Chap 18

After a few more seconds of tension, they relaxed and ignored each other since Drake asked them.

They talked a little more and let Star and Fluffy do the farewells while they also, gave the farewell to Hagrid. He also checked if the burn marks were almost invisible and then he went back to the school followed by the girls and the cats.

He told them that he was going to talk with Peeves about the cursed vaults and also about the portraits surrounding the portrait vault.

They arrived at school around dinner time and Drake went to put his beasts in their respective places, while the ladies went to the Great Hall. After he put Greenie and Star, it was Jade time and he started to talk with her on the volcanic crater.

"Come here girl," said Drake to Jade while she went to him.

"You know that you need to behave well especially in front of Scarlett. You need to ignore her for now, at least until I bring her here."

Before he could continue talking, Jade hearing that she would come here, started trying to bite Drake. He could see that she was mad at him and afraid that he would trade her or abandon her in exchange for Scarlett.

"Don't worry, I won't trade or abandon you even if you would slaughter entire villages…you will always be my Jade. And Scarlett won't change that and you two need to solve your things for real, it would only be good for all and no one knows what Scarlett is…and you two could learn a lot from each other."

Jade stared at him for a long time as if it was thinking how to reply to him, he was her savior when hunters killed their family and he and the other uncle saved her from their clutches. She nodded her head but send a thought to him saying that they will solve their things in their own way.

"Yeah, I know and I'm trying to find a way for you two to stay here alone…I just hope that the defense protection can hold you two Dragonesses.

After a few more moments of playing with Jade, Greenie, Star and Z, he went out of the suitcase and to the Great Hall to have dinner with the three girls.

As he was walking, he bumped into Mr. Peeves.

"Hey, Peeves! How are you?" asked Drake.

"Oh! Drake, ma boy! Are you up to no good…walking alone…hehehehehe!

"Not today Peeves, but I need to talk with you about somethings and if you answer to the questions that I'm about to ask you, I can give you a few new toys to play with hehehe!"

"Oh! Oh! I smell some business and It seems someone wants to know some naughty things…I may or may not answer…it all depends on the subject or the price…so shoot it young Drake!"

"Okey! What do you know about the cursed vaults? And what do you know about the portrait vault and if you know some portraits or ghosts who may know something about it?"

Suddenly the air around them started to get cold and Peeves looked at Drake with a very serious, all around them got very quiet as if all noise stopped.

"Well, well Drake…you are asking about very serious things…and for what I understand, you already know about the recent events. My advice to you is to drop that matter… but I know you. And not only me but this school seems to trust you and you are only doing this for your curiosity. But I don't know if you after hearing what I have to say…you may change your mind. I will warn you that if I or the school fill any wrong thought coming from your head…we will make everything to get rid of you."

"Hey! Chill out Peeves…it's only for my curiosity and to have a good adventure…nothing more, nothing less. Also, you speak as if the Hogwarts school as a mind of her own and you and she are connected…how can that be possible!?…" said Drake.

"Well…you are almost right and piece of advice…if the founders could give a sentence to a hat…why wouldn't they have the power to give it to a school? You still have a lot to learn young Drake and I hope that you make the right decisions…if you don't…well, let's say that your Dad can't save you."

"That's a very interesting point you have there…so the school it's a Her!? And I couldn't agree more with you. Don't worry I believe in my families and what they taught me" replied Drake.

"Heheheheh! That's good to hear and it seems that she trusts you. So, let me tell you a story about a boy who lived many years ago. In 990 ac, Hogwarts school was founded by the four founders, and with the school came a lot of children's, most of them orphan since a young age. Most of the orphans were from half-blood wizard families or muggle and a small part from purebloods. Their families were sacrificed or slaughtered by warlocks and Dark wizards…Voldemort was just baby comparing to those guys from that time. The four founders were the greatest, wizards of that time, they fought and slaughtered countless warlock and Dark wizards and with two or three evil gods. After they founded the school a lot of children went there but something was missing about them…the children would only study and live in fear so, one boy decided to change that. He was a genius and liked to make other children laugh by pranking them or doing some idiot things. Unfortunately, in 993 ac in one of the many excursions made with Godric Gryffindor…they were raided by a group of dark wizards which only one person died saving a group of students."

"Damn…that's bad…" said Drake, when Peeves stopped talking and with a vacant look, he started to talk again.

"After that day, he woke up as a ghost…he wandered through the corridors of Hogwarts school without a purpose…without nothing…until he found one of the founders of the school found him and…he knew the student ghost so he made an offer…to be permanently connected to Her and his mission was to bring laughs to the children during those dark ages. He also had another purpose you see; the founders knew that they wouldn't be here, and they give him a mission. To control and protect Her secrets and if someday someone with bad intentions would come he could fight them. So, they gave him some perks which made him different from the normal ghosts."

"So…that's how you appeared right?! I know it's you…and I'm sorry."

"Oh please.! Thousand years have passed since then, I already had all the time in the world to get sad about it…now I can do what I want, whenever I want hehehehe! We are getting out of track here so let's keep going. One of the things he was tasked to protect was the cursed vaults which I had forgot about them…and some problems rose from that…but nothing too serious…I guess and only when the school is in great peril he may intervene hehehehe!

"Okay…that's a very good story and I would like to know more…principally about you and Her…but, you know that only four vaults were opened and the fifth is still missing…so if you could give me some info about them…I would appreciate that" said Drake getting a little impatient.

"Well, …you are right…but unfortunately, I can't say anything to you about them…only to look for the clues and retrace all the steps until the portrait vault. But one more time I should remind you that she will be observing you and depending on how you and your friend handle the situation, she will judge you hehehehehehe! I will get going then, don't forget about the material you promised to give me" said Peeve to Drake before he disappears.

"Hey! Wait up! You didn't tell me anything about them! Why should I give you the materials?! It's not fair!" complained Drake but with no avail.

After complaining a few more moments, Drake resumed his walk to the Great Hall, where he found Scarlett, Katie, and Cho talking together but they weren't alone and one student of Hufflepuff was with them.

Drake went to the table where the ladies were and with very thoughtful look sat beside them.

"Hey Drake, you took your time," said Scarlett with a little bit worry in her tone since she knew that he probably talked with Jade.

"Yeah! You took a very long time" replied Katie.

"Huh…Drake…I hope you didn't mind but…I invited Cedric to sit with us…" said Cho a little bit hesitant about his reaction.

"Oh! Sorry, I was talking with Peeves about that and lost the track of time and I already talked to Jade about it" said Drake looking at Katie and Scarlett. The final of the sentence received a little frown from Katie and Cho but probably was about the things between Jade and Scarlett.

Then he looked and Cho and then to Cedric.

"Don't worry about it, by the away my name is Drake and its pleasure to meet you, Cedric…I heard a little about you" continued Drake after looking at Cho and extending his hand to Cedric.

"Oh, thanks! My name is Cedric and nice to meet you too...and I hope you don't mind me to sit here…and…"

"Don't worry Cedric its good, you can dine with us too if you want?" said Drake interrupting Cedric rambling.