You've got to think about the meaning of life. You've got to think about others. You've got to be sad at least three times a day.
How do they know where to go?
I liked myself a bit too much. As I was sitting there on the murky ground I made a discovery. I was melancholy. I yearned for something close by.
If I sat here all year would they notice I'm gone? I wish they didn't.
I walked for miles to reach the end of the tunnel. I climbed some stairs and opened a trap. I was in a strange, unfamiliar house.
My eyes widened. Where was I? I was no longer at Hogwarts.
I darted towards the window and saw a grey field, full of white specks. It had started snowing. There was a wiry fence and…nobody else. Then forest and trees…and was that the Forbidden Forest? I couldn't know, could I?
'Hello? Anybody here?' I called.
There was little to no furniture. I crouched on the floor since I thought I saw a bug. It was running fervently towards another door and it went under it.
I wish I could do the same. I pushed the door open and found a kitchen.
There was a great, big stove. I imagined Hansel and Gretel were stowed away there. Then I saw a stuffed chicken on the table. There were some unwashed glasses in the sink. I picked one up. It was full of a purple liquid.
This meant someone did live here. There was no dust around, someone must be cleaning or using cleaning spells either way.
I opened another door and found a drawing room with a fireplace. There were books in a corner and candles in another. There was also one small sofa.
And on the sofa…I saw a boy.
I approached him quietly, afraid I'd scare him off. He was a young boy, with brown hair and unkempt clothes. I saw he had left his school robes on a chair nearby. I wondered who he was.
I sat down next to him and watched him sleep. He seemed exhausted. He was holding a book in his left hand. I took it from him gently.
Infamous Potions was the title. I beamed with joy. That was the very book I was reading! I didn't understand much of it, but I liked it anyway.
What was he doing here reading? Was he studying? Thinking back on the dirty glasses he might be experimenting.
I accidentally dropped the book and his eyes fluttered open. At first he had no reaction. He had green deep eyes that scared me.
'Who are you?' he mumbled trying to get up. I jumped out of my seat, trying to form an explanation.
'What are you doing here? Are you spying on me?' he asked calmly.
'No, no. I just came for a walk,' I said bowing my head.
'A walk? How did you get past the willow?'
'It wasn't easy.'
'Well, now you must leave. I have work to do,' he said brushing his hand in the air.
'But – aren't you afraid I might tell someone?'
'I wouldn't care,' he replied and picked up the book from the floor. 'Goodbye.'
He disappeared in another room before I could say anything.
I thought maybe it had been a vision and I was mad. I tried to follow him but the door was locked.
'Can you let me in?' I asked. There came no answer.
'Please let me in,' I tried. 'I'll stay here until you let me in.'
So I knelt on the floor and waited. After what seemed like ages he finally unlocked the door and let me in.
I saw a cauldron in the middle of the room and some smoke effusing from it.
'Alright, I only let you in because you might be of use,' he said. 'Come here.'
I sat down next to him and he poured a cup filled with the potion.
'Drink.'
'What is it?'
'It won't harm you. I'm not that stupid.'
I didn't trust him but I had nothing to lose, so I spilt the content down my throat.
At first there was nothing but then I felt this burning sensation in my fingers and toes.
My arms were growing, so were my feet and soon they reached the windows, broke them, and hung pathetically on the sill like used rags.
'Damn, it does not work properly yet. You were supposed to grow entirely, not just arms and legs. But it's fine.'
He then rolled my arms and legs into a bundle on the floor and handed me a vial.
'Now drink this.'
I obeyed and waited for my arms and legs to get back to their normal size but nothing happened.
'Oh…darn, what isn't working? It's supposed to make you go back as you were.'
'Well, obviously it isn't a good antidote,' I said calmly. I rather liked the dramatic situation and relished in being a tragic heroine.
'Well don't be scared…I'll fix it.'
'I'm not scared,' I smiled.
'Wait here…'
He ran out of the room. I could hear his soft steps in the other rooms. But then there was nothing.
I looked about the room, picturing it fuzzy and red, with lots of carpets and lights. It had started snowing with a fury. I dragged myself to the window to see better.
In my precarious state I even saw young ladies made out of snow dancing on the grey field.
One of them flew up to my window and invited me to come. As the window was broken I could get my head outside. She pulled my hair as I followed her in the cold.
She unfolded one arm, then another and I was almost entirely out when a voice screamed.
'What the bloody…!'
Someone was pulling me back inside. He held me by the legs while the lady was pulling my hands.
She had black, terrifying teeth and I squirmed from her.
At length, I felt her power growing weak as Albus managed to pull me more and more inside.
When I finally collapsed on the floor my arms and legs were back to their original size.
'I guess we don't need an antidote now…' he mumbled, panting. 'What were you thinking?'
'Nothing! I just saw her and she...came to me…'
'You know what she is? She is a Veela! A very dangerous creature that can snare humans with her appearance.'
'But what was she doing here?'
'I don't know…' he said frowning.
'There were many,' I told him. 'And they were dancing.'
'Veelas never come in winter…what would they do here?'
'Oh, now that you've mentioned it, where are we?'
'We're in Hogsmeade,' he said surprised. 'You didn't know?'
'Hogsmeade! That's close to Hogwarts.'
'Well of course…this is the Shrieking Shack.'
'The Shrieking Shack? Fitful name,' I said rubbing my hands and feet.
'Yes. It's very old. It used to be a secret of my grandfather and his friends,' he said proudly. 'They'd come here like me, but I doubt that they came for scholastic purposes.'
'Well, how come some don't know about it?'
'Not many dare to approach the Whomping Willow. She's a fierce one.'
My mind was reeling with new information.
'Should we tell anyone about the Veelas?' I asked.
'I suppose we should…' he said going towards the window. 'I think they're gone. We ought to leave now, in case they come back.'
I nodded. He took the book and my hand and left the room, locking it behind.
When we arrived in the kitchen, something was changed.
'Albus.'
'Ssst,' he hushed me as he looked around. There was fog everywhere, a very soft, indiscernible fog.
I went to see if the glasses were in the sink but he pulled me to his side.
'Don't touch anything,' he whispered.
Albus mumbled Incendio as a flame burst from his wand. We both saw a strange creature flying around the room.
It looked very familiar; its shape, its colour, its substance. And then I remembered this picture and this small book I had read.
'It looks like a Patronus!'
'Indeed…' he agreed. 'We didn't cast it so…'
'Maybe the Veelas did.'
'But there is no Dementor around here. Why would they cast a Patronus?'
'Maybe they're looking for someone, maybe they can't get in,' I offered.
'Maybe...Anyway we have to get out of here.'
We both ducked as the Patronus flew over our heads. It was a delicate mermaid, with long hair and sharp nails.
We crawled on the floor and pushed open the other door. The Patronus followed us.
She placed herself right on the trapdoor. We looked at each other frightened.
'What do you want?' I asked shyly.
The Patronus took out a trident and grinned.
'Ok, now that we know she means trouble…' he said sweating, 'we'll act accordingly.'
'How?'
He pointed his wand at her. 'Expecto Patronum,' he yelled closing his eyes.
A stag came out of his wand. The mermaid withdrew angrily as the stag went for her.
'Come on!' he shouted grabbing my waist and throwing me in the trapdoor. 'Go! Go!' he said following me.
We ran desperately through the tunnel, feeling rather relieved to know the willow was at the other end.
We were thrown back on the grass by the willow.
'Albus…'
'Yes?'
'You alright.'
'Fairly…you?'
'Quite.'
He looked at me curiously. 'Who are you anyway?'
'Lucy.'
'Haven't I seen you before? I'm sure I've seen you somewhere.'
'Maybe you know my father, Percy Weasley?'
'Weasley! You're his daughter?'
'Yes.'
'Oh…well…' he muttered, apparently not knowing what to say.
'We should go inside, it's very cold,' I said as snowflakes fell on us.
'Yeah…'
As we entered the castle I saw he was going to the dungeons.
'I'm in Slytherin,' he said shrugging his shoulders.
'I'm in Ravenclaw,' I answered.
'Well, thanks for…helping me,' he said raising a hand. I shook it, but I felt something scratch my skin.
When I pulled my hand away I noticed I had a ring on my finger.
'I'll write to my father and tell him what happened. Then I'll tell my Head of House,' he said gravely.
'Okay.'
'I'll see you then…' he mumbled and left.
I looked at the blue ring on my finger. The Veela had probably given it to me.
I walked up to my tower feeling very tired but somehow happy to have met him.
