Harry Potter Fanfic Number One: Malfoy's Mischief
"On your marks...get set...go!" Katie screamed.
Three students took off and soared towards the setting sun at the horizon. The three students rode anxiously on their broomsticks, the quidditch field at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry far behind them. The student in front was a young girl, Ginny Weasley. Her flaming red hair flowed behind her as she whizzed in front of her friends, determination written across her face. Although many people thought of Ginny as a shy and quiet student, Ginny was anything but. She was competitive and always full of determination, passion, and drama. However, she was a kindhearted and compassionate student as well.
The two students behind Ginny, Hermione Granger and Mandy Brocklehurst were neck and neck.
Hermione's chocolate curls flew in all directions, and she wore a smirk and a clever glint in her eye.. Hermione was easily the smartest witch attending Hogwarts and could probably outnumber most wizards as well.
Hermione's intelligence, cleverness, and spirit for adventure often intimidated many people, but not her friends, who had almost as much of an adventurous soul as she had.
Lastly, Mandy Brocklehurst was a fun and loving young girl and at the same time, she was a hard worker and could be a quiet at times. She often kept the peace between her friends.
"This is a toaster folks! A close race! Ginny Weasley, Gryffindor Chaser 06 pills in the lead Hermione Granger just behind her. Didn't see that coming." Katie Bell hollered, narrating the race.
"I can fly a broom!" Hermione yelled getting closer to Ginny, "Just because I'm not in quidditch doesn't mean I can't fly!"
Katie was practically a professional quidditch player and broom flyer, and had a phenomenal balance between being always up for competition and fun, but acting relaxed and laid back. While Katie modestly suggested her friends participate in a friendly competition with each other, but no matter who won, they could never beat Katie.
As Ginny confidently soared in front of her friends, right at the last second of the race, Mandy zoomed ahead above Ginny.
Mandy!" Hermione screamed anxiously.
"Oh no, you don't!" Ginny groaned.
But it was too late, Mandy was the first to land at Hagrid's Hut, the finish line. "I was so close!" Ginny complained.
"What a waste of time! I could have been studying." Hermione huffed.
"Honestly Hermione," Mandy grinned, brushing back her dirty blonde hair, "you are no fun at all!"
Hermione let a small smile slip.
Suddenly, three boys came running out of Hagrid's Hut.
"Ginny, you won, right?" Harry Potter asked, coming up behind the girls.
"No. It was Mandy." Ginny rolled her eyes playfully.
"Mandy?" Ron Weasley laughed behind Harry. Ron and another friend, Seamus Finnigan looked at each other in confusion.
"It's not that much of a surprise!" Mandy chuckled.
"Nice, Mandy! Never doubted you for a second!" Seamus said.
"When people lie it's pretty obvious and you Seamus, are a horrible liar." Katie warned as she flew down on her broomstick.
Seamus pulled his hands up as if to surrender. "What are you? A Mind reader? Omniscient?" he asked Katie.
Ron along with the rest of the group looked very confused at Seamus's remark..
Hermione placed her hands on her hips.
"Omniscient means having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things." Hermione replied.
"Seamus, I think you've been hanging around Hermione a little too much." Katie chuckled, wrapping her hand in his.
Suddenly, two more friends raced towards the group, Justin Finch-Fletchley and Fay Dunbar. Aside from Padma and Luna, Justin, and Fay completed the group. Fay was a dogmatic young brunette who was always involved in dramatic commotions. Justin was much more laid back, but was fun and had a good sense of humor as well. "Have you guys seen Padma?" Fay questioned, a worried expression pasted on her face.
Mandy eyed Fay and Justin suspiciously. "What were you two doing?"
"Nothing." Justin said quickly. "We were both in the library with Padma, and then we started talking with each other. We talked for just a minute and when we turned back around, she was gone! We searched the entire library, and snuck into the Ravenclaw common room to find her there, but she just vanished!"
"Luna was in the Ravenclaw common room, studying"-
"Lucky her." Hermione interrupted.
Fay glared at Hermione. "And Luna said she had seen Padma run by a couple minutes ago. But she had just assumed she was trying to find us."
"It's no big deal." Luna Lovegood said, trotting down to meet Justin and Fay. Her spectrespecs, or obnoxious glasses, tumbled down her long hair, proof that she had rushed to get to her friends.
"Padma runs around all the time."
"Yeah, give her a break. Just because she left the library a little early doesn't mean she's missing." Mandy said.
"Did she look like she was in trouble when she was running by?" Ginny questioned.
Luna didn't answer.
"Luna? Did she look in trouble?" Ginny repeated.
"Well…" Ginny could tell Luna was trying to keep her voice steady.
"She didn't look in trouble exactly, or even scared. She looked… the ring…" Luna shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut.
Suddenly, her voice changed. "She looked fine. Just, don't push it alright?"
"Luna…" Fay trailed off. "If Padma's in trouble, you need to tell us."
"I'm going to Hagrid's Hut, we'll talk about this later." Luna said quickly and ran into the little hut.
"I'll go join her!" Fay nodded and started to run after Luna, but Hermione stopped her. "Fay, we have to wait."
Fay crossed her arms impatiently. "Why?"
"Because"- Hermione jumped in. "She's doesn't want to talk right now. Tonight we'll confront her."
"I want to know now. Padma can be in real trouble for all we know." Fay cried.
"Or she could not." Mandy pointed out.
"Tonight," Katie nodded. "Mandy will sneak us into the Ravenclaw Common Room since it's her house anyway." Mandy nodded reluctantly, "Who will I be sneaking in?"
"Me! Definitely!" Ginny raised her hand, as if she was in class. "There's no other good drama anyways."
"I'll go." Hermione volunteered. "I have a Muggle Studies test but I've already memorized the entire textbook so I think I'm alright."
"I'm going, no question." Fay grinned. "And Katie too."
"What?" Seamus gasped. "It could be dangerous!"
Katie sighed annoyed at Seamus, "Ginny is going because she has an eye for anything suspicious and she would never back down on a good story. Hermione's intellectual skills could be helpful. Katie's athleticism could get us out of a tricky situation, and Mandy you can get us into the common room, and I don't want to miss out on this adventure.
"I just wish we could find out as soon as possible." Fay grumbled.
"I know, the sooner the better." Ginny agreed.
"Girls! Your dramatics better not spoil this." Hermione warned.
Fay and Ginny glared at her. "I'm going as well." Harry cut in.
"Me too." Ron piped up.
"I'm not sure if that's a good idea." Ginny admitted.
"What? It's Harry Potter." Ron yelled.
"And I love him," Ginny paused, "But Padma's our friend and I think it would be better if we just went."
Harry slumped. "Okay, it's understandable. C'mon, Ron, Seamus."
"I mean- you can still help us!" Hermione tried. The boys walked back up the hill to Hogwarts.
"Harry! Ron! Seamus!" Ginny, Hermione, and Katie yelled, but the boys didn't respond.
"Let it go, you can deal with them later." Fay shrugged.
Mandy looked at her friends. "I hope Padma is okay."
Hermione, Ginny, Fay, Katie, and Mandy snuck through the secret entrance door of the Ravenclaw Common Room and tumbled inside, the glow of the hearth casting shadows across the room. Luna sat curled in an armchair reading The Quibbler upside down.
"Hey Luna," Fay said casually.
"You best be careful," Luna said once again in her airy voice.
"What?"
"It's Tuesday. I have odd dreams on Tuesdays and I'm really tired right now. I might drift off and sleep walk right on top of you."
"O-kay. Thank you for that… warning." Fay fumbled.
"You're quite welcome." Luna smiled.
"Listen, Luna," Katie began, "Padma is a good friend of all of us. You seem to be hiding something and we want to know what. We won't give up that easily."
"Then you've come here for the wrong reason." Luna mumbled.
"LUNA! What is wrong with you? We're your friends. Why are you hiding this from us?" Hermione shouted, suddenly frustrated.
"Luna! Where is Padma. No one has seen her the whole day. We wouldn't be worried but it's not like her and you're obviously not telling us the full truth." Ginny sighed.
"Luna. Tell. Us." Mandy warned.
"Guys," Mandy shook her head, and sat down beside Luna in the armchair. "Luna, whatever you saw… Padma could be in trouble. If you tell us, we can help her. All of us. Me, you, Hermione, Ginny, Katie, Fay. If you don't, who knows what will happen to Padma."
Luna's pale blue eyes grew weary with silent tears. "I saw her run by. She was holding a black ring in her hand as if it was the most precious thing in the world. I asked her what it was and she turned to me…" Luna's voice shook.
"Her eyes were green. Her voice sounded like a monster's. She said- I'm not sure what… she said the Plague Ring was hers. She took me by my robes and threw me against a wall. Then she told me if I told anyone, if we took that ring our lives would become nightmares, we would suffer." Luna wiped tears from her eyes.
The girls stood there in shock. "We have to do something," Ginny cried.
"You can't!" Luna sobbed, standing up. "I think Padma's cursed. And we might all become like her if we try and help."
"We have to help her. We have to save her!" Hermione said.
"Luna are you going to help us help Padma or not?" Fay asked.
"Please," Mandy pleaded.
"I'll help, but"-Luna started, and suddenly turned as pale as stone and dropped to the floor.
"Luna! Luna! LUNA!" Ginny screamed shaking her friend.
Luna found herself in some blackened surrounding. The walls were a hint of green and there was fog everywhere.
"Luna." It was Padma, standing in her black robes which were now cut and soaked in blood. Her dark braid was messy and matted with what looked like mud. Her eyes were no longer green but their normal honey brown. Her cheeks were stained with tears.
"Padma? Is that you? Are you alright? What happened?" Luna gasped. She was standing in what she assumed to be the Forbidden Forest. Padma was huddled under a tree, shivering.
"I'm far from alright. We all are," Padma coughed. "I've tried to reach all of you but you were the first I came to contact with when I was put under the spell."
"Spell?" Luna asked.
Padma shook her head. "I have little time. I'm communicating to you through a dream, a charm we learned just a couple days ago. I'm sure it won't last long. But I need to tell you this. The other day I was in the library when I found a rusted black ring in the Restricted section, it was hidden under a book called A History of Greatness. When I touched it, I blacked out. I noticed the sudden words coming out of my mouth weren't mine. I dropped it immediately. Unfortunately, Malfoy happened to be in the Restricted Section as well. Probably to get the ring. When he saw me with it, he pulled out his wand. The next thing I knew I was consumed with hate, and misery, and evil, and fear. I vaguely remember talking to you but it's all run together. I know he cursed me and I need your help. I have a connection with the ring and… You have to brake my connection with the ring. You have to find the ring and enchant it to break it's enchantment off me. I've seen Malfoy trying, but he doesn't know the right spells. Hermione does. I need help. He's keeping me here…" Padma's figure started to fade.
"We'll help you. Padma!" Luna yelled.
"It's-" Padma's voice started to sound static. "Malfoy with the ring- and green- a monster- some sort of- HELP ME!"
Padma screamed violently and Luna heard a laugh on the other side before Padma figure completely faded.
As if she were born again, Padma emerged out of a cloud of fog. The tree was gone.
Padma's eyes turned to green once again and before she knew it Padma pounced on Luna. The world turned black and Luna heard screaming.
"LUNA! PLEASE!" It was Katie crying.
"What is it?" Luna's eyes opened with a start and the color crept back into her face. Her friends stared at her in shock.
"Luna, we all thought you had been enchanted like Padma. We were so worried!" Katie cried.
"I-I"- Luna struggled to speak.
"Here," Hermione pushed her friends out of the way and propped Luna's mouth open. "This should help," she said pouring a frothy liquid down Luna's throat.
Luna choked and gagged, but she felt her fear and anxiety begin to dissipate.
"It was a vision," Luna finally answered, "Padma connected to me through some sort of dream realm."
Mandy, Fay, Katie, Hermione, and Ginny exchanged glances.
"Are you sure?" Mandy whispered.
Luna nodded. "Positive. Padma was in the in this land of dark where there were green hints and lots and lots of fog. She was in a lot of pain. Malfoy's holding her hostage there."
"Hostage? Why? Just wait till Harry hears about this." Ginny fumed.
"Apparently she touched a mighty powerful object that Malfoy wanted to get his hands on. Now, that object, this ring, has an enchanted connection to Padma that consumes her with power. She's going crazy."
Luna shook her head trying to picture the place perfectly, "she was under a dying tree. I couldn't see. I don't know where she is, she didn't tell me."
Katie's eyes popped, "She must be in the forbidden forest!
Hermione nodded,"We need to break the enchantment."
"But, how? You can't just raise your wand and suddenly turn Padma back to normal!" Mandy threw her hands up in the air.
"Can you?" Fay asked curiously.
"We'll see about that," Hermione tapped her chin.
Ginny let out a yawn, "I think it would be a good idea for Hermione, Katie, and I to update the boys on this mess. Their probably dying with curiosity. Luna, you should get some sleep in case Padma tries to contact you again. Fay and Mandy, you two could stay with Luna and research all you can about how to break this enchantment. Katie, Hermione, and I will join you in about an hour. Sound good?"
Katie hoisted up her quidditch robes as she hurried up the cell. "Come on Ginny, Hermione. The sooner the better right?"
"Hey, Harry. We're back," Ginny entered the common room with Hermione and Katie.
Harry, Ron, Justin, Roger, and Seamus sat on the couch in front of the fireplace. Ron, Seamus, and Harry were able to get Justin and Roger Davies in the Gryffindor common room.
"What happened?" Ron jumped up and rushed into Hermione's arms. "Are you alright?" he pulled her into a warm hug.
"We're fine," Hermione smiled, softly kissing his cheek.
"I heard about Luna, is she ok?! What about Padma?! Will you rescue her?!" Roger Davies cried, who had just started dating Padma Patil. Roger was a sweet young man who had an amazing skill of being clever and crafty. Padma had been swept off her feet when meeting Roger.
"Calm down Roger we will rescue her, I promise." Ginny reassured him.
"Pavarti isn't dealing with the situation too well either, but we told her everything would be alright. She wanted to come but seeing her sister in such a state she would break down and delay the situation." Hermione shrugged.
"What do you mean 'rescue her' Padma's in danger?" Seamus asked, as Katie sat down beside him on the couch.
"Padma touched this mysterious ring the other day in the library. Apparently, a ring Malfoy was after." Katie jumped in.
"The ring put a powerful and evil enchantment over Padma turning her into a power hungry monster. Malfoy's holding her hostage in the forbidden forest until he can break the enchantment and the ring is his." Ginny finished.
"What?" Harry roared.
Seamus squeezed her hand, "Katie, that seems like powerful magic. I don't want you guys getting hurt."
Katie blushed. "No offense to your boyfriend Katie, but I don't think having his clumsiness would really help us anyway," Hermione admitted.
Seamus gave Hermione a look, "If this is Malfoy we are dealing with then yes, you will need all the help you can get."
"No, that's not right. This is Malfoy we're talking about. If anyone should be fighting him, it should be me!" Harry jumped up, his face red.
"Bloody hell, Harry. Calm down, will you mate?" Ron said.
"I don't want you going out there. Not you, not Hermione, no one. Just me." Harry told Ginny.
"We're not going into the forest to fight Malfoy," Ginny argued, "we're going in there to save Padma. Nothing more. We're not trying to start a war Harry!"
"You think you all know Malfoy, that you can outnumber him, but you can't! Malfoy won't just let you steal Padma and the ring. He's going to put up a fight."
"Harry, we have no intention of taking the ring from Malfoy." Hermione crossed her arms.
"We don't?" Katie asked. "In thought the plan was to swoop in on brooms and take Padma and the ring."
"You're going to let Malfoy become power hungry with that ring?!" Seamus gasped.
"Think about it! That ring, has anyone actually thought about it? By the way Luna described it, this ring could be the twin sister of the Ring of Gaunt! A ring destined only to Slytherins. No wonder Padma got enchanted by it, she's a Ravenclaw!"
"Umm- Hermione, one thing…" Ginny said. "Isn't the Ring of Gaunt destroyed?"
"It would have been pretty smart to create a twin of the same ring. I'm certain Malfoy has been waiting to prance around with this ring for ages until Padma got in his way. Lucius probably sent it to him." Hermione nodded.
"Hermione! That's… that's brilliant!" Ron cried.
Harry shook his head. "No, it's not, and you know it Ron. Stop trying to butter Hermione up. Malfoy wouldn't hold Padma hostage just so that he could get his hands on a family heirloom so he can prance around with it."
"Come to think of it, Harry, that sounds like the kind of thing Malfoy would do." Katie sighed.
"So, we find a spell that will break Padma's enchantment off the ring and take her back. Malofy won't even protest it because that's the same goal he wants as well." Ginny grinned.
"Exactly." Hermione nodded.
"You. Are. Not. Going. Without. Me." Harry growled.
"Yes. We. Are." Ginny crossed her arms.
"Well…" Seamus stood up, "I think Katie and I should start finding some spells to help Padma."
"We'll go to the Ravenclaw Common Room to help Mandy and Fay. It's a good thing Mandy was able to sneak Fay in." Katie agreed, lacing her hand in Seamus's.
As Seamus and Katie exited the common room, Harry glared at Ginny.
"And I'll escort Hermione to the library," Ron volunteered.
"That's a good idea," Hermione said, a shot Harry and Ginny a small smile, "I hope you two work it out."
As Ron followed Hermione up the stairs, he looked back at his best friend.
"Don't let your revenge get in the way of my sister, Harry." he whispered and turned away. Roger and Justin hurried after Hermione and Ron.
"Are you okay, Harry?" Justin asked.
"JUST FINE!" Harry shouted.
"You'll have to work wonders on him, Ginny," Justin rolled his eyes sarcastically and left the common room.
"Maybe you should listen to them," Ginny folded her arms, "and stop being selfish."
"I'm not being selfish!" Harry roared. "If anything I'm being selfless. Ginny, I don't want you or Hermione or anyone getting hurt. I don't know what I would do if you got enchanted like Padma."
Ginny put her hand on Harry's shoulder, "Harry, I-I really appreciate that, but you have to let me do things on my own. My whole life, I've never been on an adventure, saving the world, on my own. I've always been with you, and that's not a bad thing, I love you too. But sometimes, we just want a chance to be heroes by ourselves. Padma is a dear friend, and this time, I want to do this by myself. Us girls… we want a little chance to have our own taste of victory. You understand, don't you?"
"Hermione's the most independent person I know!" Harry argued.
Ginny rolled her eyes, "I asked if you understood."
Harry sighed. "I understand. And as much as I'm going to regret it, I guess I'll stay behind." Harry gave in.
Ginny chuckled, "Thank you, Harry."
Harry hugged her tightly, knowing he had made the right decision and hoping it wouldn't be the last time he did.
"You know what?" he whispered.
"What?"
"What if this year was your year? You and the girls, you dominate all the adventures this year. Ron, Seamus, and I will only step in if you want us too. And"-
"Thank you! I'll never forget this, Harry." Ginny cried and then running off to join her friends and tell them the good news.
Harry smiled. "I know,"
"Ready?" Hermione whispered, placing her wand in her cloak pocket. The sky was completely dark with a rare splash of stars twinkling above the girls, who were all wrapped tightly in cloaks and robes, fighting the cool night air.
"Definitely," Fay squealed, "I'm so excited."
"Me too. I'm so proud of Harry! Think of it, all our own missions this year!" Ginny clapped her hands.
"They still looked a little concerned when we said goodbye to them though," Katie pointed out, "but I guess that makes sense."
"How about we focus?" Fay suggested, crossing her arms.
"This isn't something to be excited about. Think of Padma." Hermione snapped.
"What if Padma tries to contact me again?" Luna worried, wrapping her legs in her cloak.
"At least we'll all be here with you," Mandy smiled.
"Okay, Hermione, you said you found a spell." Ginny said.
Hermione took a deep breath and nodded. "It's a highly advanced spell destined to break any enchantment off dark magic. But it's the most powerful and complicated thing anyone could imagine. And the side effects…" Hermione trailed off.
"The side effects?" Katie prompted, suddenly concerned for her friend.
"It could drain all the magic out of me." Hermione squeezed her eyes shut.
"What?" Luna whispered, unable to project her voice any louder.
"You could become a muggle?" Mandy breathed, her face pale and her eyes watery.
It was too much for Ginny, who lost control of her body and crumbled to the ground.
Katie stood there, speechless and in shock. "We can't save her." Fay sobbed. "One friend is already in danger but we can't risk two." Tears streamed down her face as Fay's body shook.
"Guys, snap out of it," Hermione yelled,"I've got this spell covered, and it will save Padma. I'll be okay too, I'm doing this."
"I won't let you do that Hermione, I'm sorry, but you're practically my sister." Ginny pulled out her wand.
Hermione's face was full of surprise as Ginny waved her wand and magically pulled Hermione into a net hanging from a nearby tree.
"We'll find another way to save Padma, but not that." Ginny promised.
Hermione chuckled and shook her head. "Ginny, nice try." she waved her wand and the net disappeared, dropping Hermione to the ground.
"I told you that I'm doing this. It's the only way. You have to trust me. " Hermione looked at her friends one by one.
"You have to trust me." she repeated.
"I-I trust you. I always will." Luna whispered.
"Me too." Mandy and Fay nodded.
"If you say you can do it, then you can." Katie smiled.
Hermione looked at Ginny, "You say we're sisters, but do you trust me?"
Ginny blinked back tears. "Of course, I just don't want you getting hurt."
Hermione smiled. "Do you not see the irony? You sound like Harry. Harry was so worried for you and cared about you so much, he almost didn't want you to do anything on your own. Now, you're doing the same thing. I can do this Ginny."
Ginny paused.
"I know," she said, finally.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Mandy breathed.
Luna, Katie, Ginny, Fay, Hermione, and Mandy descended into the forest, pulling out their wands, and looking around for anything suspicious. The girls walked on and on, edging deeper and deeper into the black of the forest. The air around them started getting cloudy, almost as if it was polluted. "I think we're in the right place." Katie whispered. "Didn't Luna say something about fog?"
"Yeah, she did." Mandy agreed. "Right Luna?" Mandy turned around to look at Luna. "Luna!" she gasped.
"Guys!" Luna cried as bits and pieces of visions entered her mind. "It's Padma." Luna's eyes became milky white and then blue again as Padma cut in and out of her brain.
"She's trying to contact Luna again!" Fay cried.
"I can feel your presence." Padma exclaimed. "Luna? Luna? What is she saying? Are you alright?" Hermione questioned. Padma's eyes began to glow. "I can feel you." her voice was that of a snake's. "I can feel your… power!" "The enchantment…" Luna tried. "The vision's almost static." "You will never free me! I am too powerful! I am consumed with it! And I am hungry for more…" "Is she still under the spell?" Katie asked. Padma's teeth turned to fangs, her eyes glowed even greener, her skin turned into a snake's, and her head morphed into a cobra's. "I shall make you suffer." Padma slithered towards Luna. "And it won't be just a vision for long! I WILL TRIUMPH!" "Make it stop!" Luna cried and fell to her knees. Almost on cue, the vision turned black and faded away, Luna's eyes returned to their normal blue.
"What happened?" Fay said, immediately.
"Padma's close, she's still under the enchantment, and she's getting stronger." Luna replied, flustered and terrified.
"We have to hurry." Hermione exclaimed.
The group quickly followed the thick fog; Their hearts were beating and teeth were chattering. Suddenly, Ginny noticed a tuft of blonde hair, behind a large oak tree a few feet in front of them. Ginny grabbed Hermione and started shaking her.
"It's Malfoy!" she gasped.
"Cut it out!" Malfoy roared, and the girls heard a agonistic scream.
"PADMA!" Katie yelled and ran to Malfoy. Padma's figure was almost transparent. Half of her looked like a snake, half of her looked like her normal self.
"Get away!" Malfoy screamed at the girls as he slashed Padma's arm with his wand. Padma screamed again.
"Stop it! I can help!" Hermione yelled.
Malfoy laughed with hatred.
"We want Padma to be freed too. And you can keep the bloody ring. Let Hermione help!" Fay growled.
Malfoy lowered his wand. "Hurry, then. And if you even think of taking the ring." Malfoy pointed his wand at a shrub and whispered, "Sectumsempra," the shrub immediately wilted and died.
Ginny rolled her eyes, "Honestly we won't take your bloody ring now can you just let us save Padma?"
"Fine." Malfoy said through clenched teeth.
Hermione pushed Malfoy out of the way and raised her wand. She took a deep breath as all her friends waited anxiously behind her.
A bead of sweat trickled down her face as Padma turned to look at her.
Padma slithered towards Hermione and hissed. In a couple seconds, Hermione's face was drenched with sweat, her eyes were whirlpools of fear. In any second, Hermione's dreams, goals, and magic in life could be stripped away.
"Hermione"- Luna tried.
Hermione squeezed her eyes shut and yelled "Finite Incantatem!"
There was a blinding flash of green light that wiped out trees and shrubs for miles. The rocky surroundings the students were surrounded by, crumbled into dust.
And best of all, once the light and dust had been cleared, Padma lay sprawled on the ground. The glowing light of her eyes had vanished and there were no traces of snake. "Padma!" Luna screeched and ran to pull her friend into a tight hug.
"Hermione," Ginny turned to her friend. "Hermione you did it!" Tears welled in her eyes. "Are you okay?"
Hermione bit her lip and raised her wand. "Lumos." she whispered.
For a second, nothing happened. All was silent and still.
Mandy started to cry when Hermione's wand lit up with a fantastic white light. "HERMIONE!" Katie laughed with pure joy and Ginny cried with happiness as both girls wrapped their arms around her.
"Am I free?" Padma stuttered.
"Yeah, you are." Malfoy sneered, picking up the forgotten ring on the ground, slipping it into his pocket.
"Padma, I've missed you." Fay smiled as all the girls hugged her and clapped her on the back.
"That was really smart of you to talk with Luna through those visions." Hermione admitted.
"Thanks," Padma tucked her matted hair behind her ear, when she noticed Malfoy slipping away.
"He's got the ring! He's getting away!" Padma pulled out her wand.
Ginny laughed, "Oh calm down. We're letting him leave with it. We realized that it was a copy of the Ring of Gaunt, a family heirloom to Malfoy, and no importance to us."
Padma's eyes widened.
"It did look exactly like the Ring of Gaunt now that I think about it." she shook her head, "I can't believe I was enchanted like that."
"I'm thankful we were able to to save you." Luna grinned and squeezed her hand.
"Let's go back to Hogwarts," Katie sighed in content, "a certain Roger has missed you," she winked at Padma.
Padma blushed. Mandy and The girls walked triumphantly back to their beloved school, happily reunited once again.