Chapter two ~ hidden passages

I was ignorant to what was going on in the class, I was to busy controlling my pent up emotions that I had left. Professor Snape wrote rapidly on the board in the front of the room. The magical quill made no cringing streaks on the board. His voice went on and on about the effects of magical creatures and the prospect of potions. Looking at Harry's table once again, I saw Harry taking notes as he bet over a piece of parchment, Ron whispering in his ear and earning a glare from his girl friend, Hermione, and Draco sniggering to himself. Draco paused though when he caught me looking at them.

The other's, noting Draco sudden stop, looked over at me. We held each other's gazes before Draco turn back around with a frown, Ron glared, and he took Hermione by the arm facing her to the front of the room. Harry kept looking at me though.

"You will have four days to write a 5 feet essay on goblin and their effect on potions, and their relationship."

Looking back to the front of the room, I smirked. Goblins were by far my favorite mythical being. I knew everything one could know from litature to the stubble facts. Many things by goblins were given to the concept of potions this was widely known, to some at least. The class let out a groan at having to do work so close to the holidays coming up. They were let off easy in other class or at least I heard, seeing, as I didn't bother with presenting my self in class.

Mmm, holidays, this would be the first Christmas I have had since that night and the first one alone…

"Can we work together, professor?" asked a girl when it came apparent class wasn't going to settle down making Snape tick.

The class held their breath; Severus Snape was not one for group work, albeit he only let that happen once in a full, blue moon. Evidently, it must have been one of those moons as he agreed. The bell rang and the class shuffled out the door, but I took my time not fancying greeting any of my classmates outside. Harry and the others walked by my table finally, surprisingly Harry gave me a small smile, his black, long hair feathering his face. The other's just gave me a passing glance their eyes holding something I couldn't make out.

When they made it through the door, I picked up my satchel, books, and stood. A pen scratching on the surface was all that remained in the room's sound. I looked up and severs was bent over his paper. Doing as he did to me, I turned and walked out. My back being the only thing he saw.

Walking past the potions room, I took a right and went down an abandon hall. It was cracked and full of anything but dust, save a line of armored statues at the end of the hall. They were lined up side to side and had black crystal amour, their swords gleamed in no light but their power. I reached into my pocket and grabbed my wand out. It was a holly, fire wand made out of a feather and lose embers of fire. I was the only one with it's kind. Taking it, I tapped the middle statue and the line slide apart and pushed against the wall. Leaving the wall opened to reveal a portrait of a creature. It was hideous to say in the least, with it's gothic symbolism, and man-beast guardian with a crown of ivy thorns.

The painting shook and in a second it came alive. The beast man shook it's head and fixed it's beady eyes upon me. He was naked save a belted sash that hung down past his groin hiding anything form view.

"So the damsel comes back once again, but this time is alone."

The beast talked and his horns on his head jutted against the painting's face as if they were going to come out but didn't. I paid no mind to his words but asked for entrance. Weakness got you know where, that I've learned.

"so you do," he roared upon my request. His voice was like leather. "Tell me, daughter of light, have you spoken the truth to them or are you still wallowing in self despair? All is gone from the light in your breast. But the question is: will you tell them, and will you tell him what you hold with in your heart?"

Damn beast! As the door opened, I stepped inside into no more then a narrow crawl space that I was hardly able to walk through. Before I set out to travel the hidden path to the restricted section of the library, I said to it, "sometimes it's best to live a lie that people set up then to admit the truth. The truth could be just a bad as the lie if not worse. I am willing to live how it is because they failed to believe me. Maybe it's for the better it showed my things, made me think. Yet I care little for the treatment they show me."

The best man just laughed as if it was a big joke and he slammed his door shut. I was left in nothing but blackness I brought my wand up in a swish and whispered, "Lumous." Soft golden light filled the way and I began my walk to the library.