Harry Potter & The Book Of Days
Chapter 2-A Dream?
Hillary hadn't slept all night as she was tossing and turning. Her exhaustion showed in the morning when she began dozing off at breakfast.
Her face was inches from her porridge when Ron reached out and put his arm across her stopping her.
She woke up abruptly.
"Huh? What?" she asked confused and groggily.
"Did you get any sleep last night?" Hermione asked worriedly and with concern.
Hillary blew a wisp of her hair out of her eye.
"No," she admitted yawning. "I was up all night. I could not fall asleep at all for nothing."
Harry looked at her sympathetically.
"The argument still bothering you huh?" he asked softly.
Hillary knew that he wasn't going to tell Ron and Hermione about her bad feeling, as Hermione would scoff it was her nerves and Ron…well Ron would actually believe her. Harry made a mental note to tell him later.
Hillary nodded.
"Why don't you just write to Professor Lupin then?" Hermione said exasperatedly. "This I going to eat at you until its resolved!"
"Hermione, don't force her to do it," Ron said irritably. "If she wants to write to him then she will."
"I'm only suggesting it because it's clearly bothering her!" Hermione retorted frostily.
They began arguing again. Harry exhaled loudly and moved his eyes onto Hillary. Just then, the owls began soaring in, delivering letters and whatnot to their owners. Hillary spied her owl, a large tawny owl named Ellie swoop down and gracefully land on the table. A letter was tied to her leg. Hillary quickly untied the letter and handed her a piece of bacon as 'thanks'. Ellie extended her wings and took flight again.
Harry leaned close to her, reading it over her arm. Hillary quickly unfolded the parchment and sighed in relief. It was from her father:
Dear Hillary,
I feel so horrible after our argument yesterday. Please understand that I do appreciate you looking out for me…honestly honey. I would do the same for you in a heart beat.
But I will be just fine…really. I promise.
Please tell Harry, Hermione and Ron that I send them my best okay?
Anyway, how's your first day going so far? Did you get all the classes you signed up for? How is the new Potions teacher?
Did that bad feeling you have intensify? Or is it the same as it was when you boarded the Hogwarts Express?
I hate us not talking. I really do. It eats away at me. Please respond to this letter as soon as you get it alright?
I love you so much,
Love, Dad
Hillary felt herself smiling at the letter. She reached into her bag and pulled out a piece of parchment, an ink bottle and her quill and began writing a letter back to her father.
Harry moved his eyes onto her face. She had a concentrated look on her face as she wrote. Hillary could feel Harry's warm gaze on her as she wrote and she struggled not to have the heat rise in her cheeks.
Hillary wrote back:
Dear Dad,
I'm fine really. The same feeling that I had on the Hogwarts Express is the same as it is now. I don't know what to make of it. Something really terrible is going to happen…I can feel it. It won't go away no matter how hard I try to shake it or relax. I can't help but worry about you because the bad feeling I'm having is not going away remember. Plus, I don't want anything bad to happen to you. I love you so much, Dad. I would be totally lost without you. I just want you to be safe…that's all. How have you been changing monthly? Are you having any problems? Everything going smoothly with that area? Remember, Dad, I love you so much and I don't want to lose you okay?
Love You Always,
Hillary
XXOXOX
After she wrote that, she stuck two fingers into her mouth and let out a whistle. Ellie knew when she whistled that she wanted her so within minutes, Ellie soared back into the Great Hall and landed on the table again. Hillary tied the letter back to Ellie's leg and Ellie once again extended her wings and took flight.
"I gather you're feeling a whole lot better now?" Hermione said as a matter-of-factly and smugly.
"Actually, I am," Hillary replied smirking back at her.
Today they had the day off so Hermione suggested going to the library. Sighing dejectedly and muttering protests, they all headed after her.
They entered the library and took a seat at the nearest table. Harry was sitting next to Hermione and Ron was sitting next to Hillary. Harry and Hermione were sitting across from Ron and Hillary. Hillary got up and wandered over to a section marked "Unknown Origins"
She cocked her head.
She began scanning the spines of the books until she came across one that had gold lettering along the spines and it read:
The Book of Days
Intrigued, Hillary took it off the shelf and headed back to the table. She sat down, still pondering over the book.
Her fingers just touched the edge and prepared to lift back the cover…
Back in London, Remus was lounging on the couch. He hoped Hillary received his letter. He really, really hated her being mad at him. He'd changed into a pair of grey sweat pants and a white tee shirt. His wheat colored hair fell neatly into place. He still had the thin mustache. His green eyes were fixed on the blank TV screen.
He wondered how Hillary, Ron, Hermione and Harry were doing during their first day back at Hogwarts. He knew Hillary would be upset because this was the last year they would have together, then it was out into the world. He knew Hillary would make a good Aurora as she had the determination and personality.
Harry seemed to have expressed interest in that as well. He knew Ron and Hermione had been dating since their 6th year and he also saw that Harry was in love with Hillary, but naturally he was too shy to say anything. He saw that in Hillary too.
He felt himself smiling.
Suddenly, the room before him changed before his eyes and he saw a bright flash of light engulf the entire living room. He shut his eyes against the bright light and it felt like he was being pulled using a portkey.
Hillary, Ron, Hermione and Harry all stared into the bright light that engulfed the book and expanded to the entire library. All of them felt as though they were using a portkey and felt that familiar tug at their navels.
The light got so blinding that they were sure they were going blind.
They landed on their hands and knees on soft grass. The blinding light had vanished. They blinked, trying to get the orbs of light that danced in front of their eyes to fade. Hillary was the first to get to her feet. She turned to the left and saw the castle, looming in the darkness. Oddly though, there were no lights on or anything.
They dusted themselves off as they stood up. Hillary turned to the right and saw someone lying face down on the grass.
"Oh my gosh," she said as she hurried over to the person. "I think he's hurt!"
Ron, Hermione and Harry hurried over and stood beside Hillary as she dropped to her knees beside the man. He was wearing a white tee shirt and grey sweat pants that they could make out from the moonlight of the half moon hanging in the midnight sky above them. Harry took out his wand.
"Lumos," he said and the tip of his wand lit up, surrounding them in a gentle white light so that they were able to see clearly.
"Oh shit," Hillary breathed. "It's Dad!"
Hillary gently extended her hand out and placed her hand on her fathers' shoulder and shook him.
After several minutes, her father let out a moan and slowly drew himself onto his hands and knees and finally, he stood up.
"Ron? Hermione? Harry? Hillary? What's going on? What am I doing here?" he asked confused.
"We don't know," Ron replied. "The last thing we remember was Hillary opening that book then there was a blinding light. We landed out side the castle on the grounds."
"What book?" Remus demanded.
Hillary headed back over to the spot where they'd landed and bent down, picking up the book. She grabbed the spine and picked it up off the grass. She headed back toward her father and handed him the book.
Remus took it and scanned it.
"I'm going to have to open it again," he said gravely. "Stand back."
They took a step back from him and he slowly opened the cover.
Nothing happened.
There was no blinding white light or anything. They remained where they were.
"Okay, that's weird," Harry admitted nervously.
He was spooked considering that the last time this happened Lord Voldemort killed Cedric right in front of him in the cemetery.
"Where did you get this book from?" Remus demanded looking at Hillary.
"From the library, sir," Hermione replied. "Hillary found it one of the bookshelves."
"We're going to return this book at once and alarm Professor McGonagall and Headmaster Ryans that there's a dangerous enchantment on it," he said firmly.
He gazed at Hillary, disappointed in her. She should've known not to pick up strange books, but then again it was in the library, so she figured that it was alright.
Hillary caught her father's disappointed gaze as they walked back to the castle.
"It was in the library, Dad," she said irritably. "I didn't think there was anything wrong with it."
"I've learned my lesson in the second year not to trust anything that you can't see where its brain is…that includes books," Harry replied casting a grim look toward Ron, whose sister, Ginny, had been the brunt of Lord Voldemort's plans during their second year. He'd used her through a diary. Something similar happened where Harry was transported back in time during Tom Riddle's time at Hogwarts. He was surprised he didn't realize it sooner.
"Books are not dangerous," Hermione said defensively. "It's the people who READ them sometimes. They put charms and jinxes on them."
"Naturally she'd stick up for a book," Ron muttered.
"Which is more than what I can say for you," Hermione retorted.
They were just about to start a second round of arguing but Remus stepped in.
"Enough you lot," he said firmly.
They quickly quieted down and were subdued.
"I know Hil," Remus said softly turning to Hillary. "Where was it though? Under what bookshelf?"
"Unknown Origins," Hillary muttered. "Excuse me for being stupid. God help me if I ever pick up another book again."
"Ooh," Ron said brightly trying to lighten things up. "You can join Harry and I's club then!"
"What club is that?" Hillary asked.
"The-Books-Are-Evil Club," Ron cracked. "Harry and I haven't touched a book since we began!"
They all burst out laughing at that because it was mostly true. Hermione just scowled.
Remus was worried about the book because if there had been a jinx or charm on it, it would've only affected Hermione, Ron, Harry and Hillary. But instead it affected him several miles away in a different location.
Someone with dark powers definitely put a charm on this book and he wanted the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall to be aware of it incase anyone else managed to get their hands on it.
They entered the castle. It was oddly desolate inside. They stepped into the Great Hall. The house tables were there, but there was no one sitting in them. Spider webs hugged each nook and cranny. There were also cobwebs and spider webs hanging from the torch handles on the wall.
"Mmkay," Ron said nervously. "This is really creepy."
His voice raised several pitches from fear.
"Let's check the common room," Remus said, also feeling uneasy about the whole situation.
They walked along the opened corridor where the archways were also opened giving them clear views of the grounds. The grass was brown and dead and the Whomping Willow loomed in the darkness. Its branches were barren and bare. There was no movement whatsoever on the grounds at all, not even from the Giant Squid in the lake.
They hit Gryffindor tower. They headed up the stairs that led to the Fat Lady. Her portrait was dusty and Remus put his hand against the canvas, palm down, and brushed aside some of the dirt.
She had been sleeping but woke up when she saw them.
"What are you lot doing here?" she whispered, her eyes wide with fear.
"What do you mean?" Remus asked slowly startled by her fear. "Where is everyone?"
"Everyone's gone," The Fat Lady replied, keeping her voice to a whisper. "Since the Devastation, no one's been here for over 20 years!"
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Hillary all looked at each other, terrified, confused and nervous.
"The Devastation?" Remus prodded. "What devastation?"
The Fat Lady nervously looked around at the other dust covered portraits. Some of them were either sleeping or their canvases' were destroyed by something sharp and strips of fabric hung off them.
"About 20 years ago, She joined forces with Him and together they brought terror on the magical community and the rest of London!" The Fat Lady whispered her eyes were still filling with fear. "They used her power against everyone, destroying London and Hogwarts, and then went global! There's nothing left of England now or the world! It's a ghost town!"
Now, they were really terrified and scared and their expressions drained of all color. Remus glanced back at them and looked into Hillary's fear ridden eyes before turning his eyes back onto the Fat Lady.
"Who joined forces with whom?" Remus asked. "Who are you talking about?"
The Fat Lady glanced around nervously again before she replied.
"The girl and Lord Voldemort," she finally squeaked out. "He saw her power and wanted to use her as a weapon!"
Again, Remus needed some more information.
"What was the girls' name? What did she look like?" he prodded gently and urgently.
"She had chocolate brown hair and hazel eyes," The Fat Lady replied as her voice shook with fear. "Her name is Michelle Matthews."
