Chapter 3
"Okay, what the fuck is going on?" Sirius exclaims as soon as we enter. I sigh and nudge him, causing Sirius to apologise for his swearing.
"You seven students have all received unheard elements," He began, and I took the opportunity of his yapping to glance at my peers. Sirius and Remus were behind me and Peter, they were holding hands, we were not. Regulus and Pandora were at the back, whispering, and Lily was trying to shove through to the front.
"Sir!" Lily exclaimed, we all turned to face her. "I read about this, just in case it would happen to somebody, is it true?" She swallowed, and Dumbledore nodded solemnly.
"Is this some kinda inside joke?" I asked, confused.
"You don't mean," Regulus started, quietly but not so quiet that it wasn't acknowledged by all.
"Okay, why does everyone know this?" Peter asked from next to me.
"Oh shut up the lot of you!" Lily snapped, and we all returned our undivided attention to her. "It's written in the elemental laws, stated by the Gods themselves. If someone is to receive an unknown or ancient element, they shall be sent on a life threatening quest to achieve the seven soul stones."
After a beat of silence, I felt it was important to ask, "I still don't get it."
"Oh, how stupid can you get?" Regulus piped up from the back, stepping forward and in front of me, inches away from my face. His breath smelt like mints. "The seven soul stones contain a powerful energy, so powerful that all combined can create and destroy dimensions. Right now, they're in there elemental plains, unobtainable to somebody normal. We each should have the ability to find our ways there. Lily, for example," he gestured to Lily, "Will somehow be able to enter the underworld. And Pandora should be able to connect to Mother Nature, or whatever." Regulus finally finished.
"Well, that's all and well," Dumbledore added, and both Lily and Regulus fell back again. "You'll be sent on your elemental quests as a group of seven, but there will be times when you will have to split up. I have assigned pairings or groups for moments like these." As Dumbledore said that, a gust of wind blew through the window, perfectly placing a piece of torn parchment into his hand. He cleared his throat before reading it, "Peter Pettigrew and Lily Evans, you are the only two who can create a warp into another dimension, stick together. Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, light and shadow may be very different, but you can't have one without the other, quite like you two. Regulus Black, James Potter," I heard Regulus groan at this, "and Pandora Rosier. You three have what is known as the main elements. Earth, water and fire. Some aid, some harm, I trust that you three will work in harmony. The universe depends on you." He finished.
"Sorry, Sir, but what's the significance of these soul stones?" Peter squeaked, timidly. The weight of this situation was finally setting on all of us.
"If you are in possession of the stone which links to your element, you will become a demigod, of sorts. Using these abilities, you can help the Gods assign these unobtainable powers, and hopefully heal this world of chaos, destruction, and hatred." Dumbledore answered, I swallowed, hard. "I feel obligated to mention that there will be others searching for these stones, they won't have the element yet they will crave the powers." Dumbledore finished.
"Please go back to your dorms for the night, and I'm afraid that you should only bring a backpack full of supplies. The van won't fit more than that. You will leave at ten in the morning tomorrow, anybody who is late shall be punished. I trust that you will sleep well, thank you." We all turned to leave, nobody speaking yet. "Mister Potter, a word?" I heard him call after us, everybody except for Regulus turned to look at me as I shamefully hurried back. I heard Sirius promise that he would wait for me.
Dumbledore slid me a card which had a fire symbol on it. "This is your dorm, you will be the only occupant. You may choose to sleep elsewhere, but that is your designated room." He said with a wink before sending me off. I nodded and turned to leave once again. "Oh, and Mister Potter," I didn't turn this time, I just stopped and listened, "Please inform everybody of their updated cards, and don't let Pettigrew near any fire." I could sense the smile.
"Okay sir." Was all I responded.
***
That night I couldn't sleep. I know I should've, but I get restless when I'm stressed, so I basically just spent that night on my phone. Sirius had given me his number so I was texting him for a few hours before he fell asleep at midnight. At four in the morning I started excersizing, preparing for whatever may come. Then at six, I got ready.
A red football jersey with gold inscriptions paired with black joggers were perfect for me. I didn't have to unpack, but I moved my necessities from the suitcase into my rucksack. Three pairs of trousers, two pairs of shorts, seven t-shirts and two jumpers.
I began heading downstairs at seven, eating my breakfast at the front of the table in front of the teachers, receiving nothing but death stares and whispers from peers in my wake. Dumbledore raised his glass at me and I waved back.
After about twenty minutes Remus and Sirius came down, Sirius had clearly just woken up. Peter arrived ten minutes after that and sat next to me. Lily came closely behind and sat near us but not directly with us. Regulus and Pandora had arrived before me but I didn't notice them until Pandora's rabbit jumped out of her lap and onto the table. At nine thirty the dining Hall began clearing out, and soon enough it was just us seven along with Dumbledore.
"What's the plan, then?" Remus asked, calmly.
"We'll depart at ten, the minivan is parked outside. Here are your designated seats." Dumbledore responded, sliding a piece of paper onto the table in front of us, we had all moved to sit together.
Lily was in the passenger seat, next to the driver who wasn't specified, although we all assumed that it would be Dumbledore. The middle three seats were Peter, Remus and Pandora. Then in the back it was Sirius, me and Regulus. It was a decent seating plan.
"Who's the driver?" Lily asked, probably curious as to who she would be sat next to for hours on end.
"I've asked for Frank Longbottom to be your personal driver, he'll be receiving a high pay for this, but he is still a prefect. Please respect him as such." Dumbledore responded, and as if planned, the doors swung open at that moment.
Frank Longbottom, a sixth year with brown curls walked inside, keys in his left hand. "I hope you don't mind, but let's head outside." Dumbledore nodded and we all, in unison, began to head outside. We stood in a single file line, in the order that we'd get in the car. Frank, Lily, Peter, Remus, Pandora, Sirius, me and Regulus.
Although I was excited, clearly not everybody was. Regulus' fists were clenched, his eyebrows scrunched and his eyes shut. Sirius was looking at him in concern and fear.
When the doors opened, I was shocked. There were crowds of thousands of students waiting and watching as we walked through. I smiled, waved and fist bumped as many as I could before we reached the car.
When we arrived, we all climbed in one by one, one after the other. All of us did our seatbelts up, excluding Sirius. I plugged in my airpods and tilted my head back, falling asleep before the car had even started.