The Magic of Belief
A delicate hand pressed against the window. And passed through it.
Green eyes watched with resignation as his hand flickered slightly. It had been happening more and more often, these flashes of invisibility, intangibility.
Before his hand could solidify completely the boy pulled back. He didn't want to get his hand melted into his unbreakable window. He smiled bitterly. Of course that would be easy enough to fix. He would just have to wait until his next flicker.
And they kept coming with shorter intervals each time.
His lips wobbled, and then tightened again in determination. No crying. Ever.
He looked through the glass at the courtyard. A woman with red hair, a man with a messy, black mop, a boy with beautiful auburn curls.
Happy.
The green eyes flickered, losing a bit of colour before regaining their bright green hue.
With a sigh the boy turned back to his book. Potions. He grimaced in distaste. He didn't enjoy this part of the magical world, but….perhaps this would provide the answer.
Desperate eyes scanned page after page. Somewhere there had to be an answer. Somebody must have written down how to stop this. Before….
The black hair flickered, turning grey before going back to being black. Nearly as black as before.
The boy glanced outside again. Another blackhaired man had joined…no wait, it was a blackfurred dog.
He bit his lip. And flickered.
000
"James, I think something is wrong with our son."
James blinked. "What?"
"Don't you see? He's been so listless lately. And did you see him yesterday? He spent three hours searching the grounds for something. And then he told me he had lost something, but couldn't remember what." The woman worried.
James chuckled. "Looks like he's starting to act like little Neville. Did you know Augusta bought him a remembral? It hasn't stopped turning red since he got it."
The woman reddened. "That's not funny, James. I wan…"
James shushed her. "I'll go and help him find whatever he needs. Don't worry, Lily. Everything'll be fine."
Lily nodded reluctantly.
000
James searched his home with increasing worry. His son was missing.
Finally he reached a part of the west wing he hadn't been to in a long time. For a moment he wondered why he hadn't… but then he walked on. Determined.
Relieved as he saw that bright mop of hair.
"Son, don't scare me like that!"
The boy turned around slowly, his eyes bright with tears as he held a crumpled piece of paper in his hand.
James frowned worriedly. "What's the matter?"
Silently he was handed the paper, and a book.
"POTION CURES FOR THE HOPELESS"
'I almost can't hold my pen anymore, my hand keeps passing through it. I've tried, can't find a cure. I'm dissolving. Can't believe it still. I knew Magic of Belief was strong, especially here on the Ley-line, but didn't expect this. They've forgotten me. They believe I don't exist, so now magic is adhering to their belief. I'm disappearing. I'm scared. Even potions can't help me anym…'
James blinked. "Wha?"
His son nodded despondently at a picture on the table. It showed a happy family. Mother, father, and twin baby boys. Before the lightningbolt was cursed on the head of the redheaded boy.
The scene flickered slightly, and before James' eyes the blackhaired baby became transparent. Disappeared. None of the others in the picture reacted at all.
He gasped. And looked at his son.
ONE of his sons.
He screamed in disbelief when the boy nodded. And flickered ever so slightly.
"He's my twin. We are bonded. I looked for him. Couldn't find him here anymore. I'll follow." He gave a wan smile. "About time I took an interest in him, wouldn't you say, Dad?"
James backed away. No. No. Nononononononono.
His son's blue eyes briefly turned grey.
"Do you even remember his name, Dad?"
"Will you remember mine?"