Chapter 4 - The Experiment

Some say that Merlin watches over us from Heaven and sends us on all sorts of adventures to help us grow. Well, Merlin is definitely having a laughing f teams. Unfortunately, she walked in just as I was mixing some extra wartroot with the Memory potion and when she snuck up on me, I accidentally dropped in too much wartroot which resulted in a loud explosion. I'm still trying to get the ugly purple goo off the walls.

Luke is now dating Philip London, a sixth year Crup. Luke hasn't had much luck with his boyfriends but I've always been there for him.

Anyway, I tried one of my experiments on Jenny. She's a ghost that drifts around in the dungeons sometimes. The experiment worked on her but I'm not so sure if it will work oell. They reacted badly to the quicksilver.

I was only interrupted once during the whole time I was in there. Kayla had come by to get my opinion on her latest picture of the Quidditch teams. Unfortunately, she walked in just as I was mixing some extra wartroot with the Memory potion and when she snuck up on me, I accidentally dropped in too much wartroot which resulted in a loud explosion. I'm still trying to get the ugly purple goo off the walls.

Luke is now dating Philip London, a sixth year Crup. Luke hasn't had much luck with his boyfriends but I've always been there for him.

Anyway, I tried one of my experiments on Jenny. She's a ghost that drifts around in the dungeons sometimes. The experiment worked on her but I'm not so sure if it will work on what it is supposed to work on. I only hope this theory is better than the last one. The last one landed me in the infirmary for two weeks!

Sam and Luke are the only people that are still my friends. Everyone else has totally turned on me. I have tried owling my parents but neither one answers back so the mystery thickens even more. Although I'm sure they're just busy and don't have time to owl me back. Even though I was a little frustrated when dad didn't owl me back I'm okay about it.

I had that weird feeling again. The one I had a few nights ago when it felt like something had changed yet everything was a-okay. But this time it felt stronger. It felt like someone was trying to warn me about danger or something else. It's starting to really freak me out but I haven't told Luke or Sam. I don't want them to worry about me.

"Miss Connor!"

My professors have been acting out of sync as well. Professor Norman was giving me looks yesterday during class. Of course, it might have been because of that fight between me and Zach. He deserved to be told off! Oh, almost forgot to tell you. My detention with Professor Cook went fine. Needless to say, Zach didn't get off so easy. He ended up going into the Haunted Forest. Almost makes you feel sorry for him. NOT!

"MISS CONNOR!"

Katie nearly jumped out of her skin. She craned her neck around to see a fuming Professor Williams standing in the doorway.

"Sorry, professor. I guess I was just daydreaming. What can I do for you?" asked Katie.

"What you can do is get ready. The Aurors just came by to escort you to Azkana where its waiting for you," informed Professor Williams.

"Eep!"

Katie jumped off her bed, launching herself into her potions lab. She grabbed a vial and small pouch off of the table. Then she rushed out and grabbed her wand off her bed.

"I am sooo sorry, professor. I didn't realize today was the day. I hope I haven't kept them waiting long," said Katie.

"Do not worry, Miss Connor. They only arrived a few minutes ago. The headmaster asked me to come get you and tell you they were here to get you," explained Professor Williams.

"Thanks. Later!" exclaimed Katie as she ran out of the dorm.

She raced down the stairs at a fast but careful pace. Finally, she arrived in the entrance hall where two Aurors were waiting. After having traveled to Azkana many times, she had gotten to know the two Aurors very well.

"Hi, Mr. Lionel. Hello, Mrs. Page. I'm all ready to go," said Katie.

"That's good to hear. We better get going before it decides it wants to 'feed'," spoke up Auror Lionel.

"Okay."

The two escorted Katie off the Salem Witch grounds.

"Let's hope today your experiment will work," said Auror Page.

"I'm quite sure that the effects of the polyjuice with some Ashwinder eggs and powdered bicorn horn will result in the way we want it to. Are you following me?" inquired Katie.

"Just barely," replied Auror Page.

"Merlin, they should have just agreed to let you drop school and become a scientist for the Ministry. Would make our lives a lot easier," exclaimed Auror Lionel.

"I agree, But my parents want me to finish school and so does Minister Cain. He understands that I will stay in school until I graduate and then I'll come to work for the Ministry. I heard he already made me my own private room," chuckled Katie.

The three talked until they got to the apparation point. Both Aurors put a hand on one shoulder and then they all aparated. They reappeared on an island where a large, run down looking building stood.

"I'll go get it."

Auror Lionel walked away from them and disappeared inside the building. Katie opened the pouch and carefully poured some of the potion into the bag. She watched as the potion merged into the quicksilver and all that remained was the quicksilver. The potion had dissolved into the quicksilver, therefore combining its elements with that of the powder.

All the sudden, everything around her became cold. Auror Page took a few steps back away from her. Flowers began dying and the grass turned a dark color. Slowly gliding towards her was a dementor. Katie put some of the quicksilver into her hand and got ready.

Soon the dementor was close enough that she felt a strong, cold feeling overcome her. Katie pulled her hand back and threw the quicksilver at the dementor. The quicksilver burnt into the dementor and stuck to it but otherwise the creature kept coming at her.

"Dang. I was so close," hissed Katie as she quickly scrambled for her wand.

Pointing it at the dementor, Katie thought of a wonderful memory. It was of the time when her father gave her Smokey as a birthday present. That had been one of the happiest moments of her life.

"Expecto Patronum!"

A pure white form of a phoenix appeared out of her wand. It screeched loudly and swooped down on the dementor. The dementor dodged it but still managed to get hit by the patronus. The dementor backed off and glided back into the building. Soon Auror Lionel walked out of the building and over to them just as Katie was dismissing her patronus.

"That was a good try, Katie," reported Auror Lionel.

"Good is not enough. The quicksilver already makes a small sting on the dementor but they don't seem to notice it. I need to combine some potion ingredients and potions together with the quicksilver just right so that the combined chemical will literally burn the dementor upon impact," mumbled Katie.

"Come on, Miss Connor. I'll take you back to school. Tomorrow's a school day and I'm sure you want to get back to work," Auror Page told her.

Auror Page placed an arm around her shoulders and apparated them both. Katie walked up to the Phoenix dorms with ideas about the potions running through her head and didn't see the seventh year Crup running down the stairs until they collided. The seventh year landed on his butt while Katie was sent sprawling down the stairs where she landed at a heap on the fifth floor.

"Ow. That really hurts," groaned Katie as she clutched her bleeding shoulder.

She glanced up at the seventh year and frowned. The boy's eyes were glazed over and he looked as though he was in a trance. She looked down and gasped. Her necklace had somehow made itself to the outside of her shirt. Katie quickly hid her necklace and noticed the boy snap out of it.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going. I was doing some homework with a friend when I realized that I'm late for my date with Camellia. Did I hurt you?" asked the boy.

"Yes. My shoulder's bleeding from the side. Could you help me up?" questioned Katie.

He helped her stand up and roll her sleeve up to take a look at her shoulder. There was a deep cut in her shoulder where the stairs had somehow cut her. The boy who introduced himself as Danny Winkler used a handy spell that temporarily stopped the bleeding.

"You need to go see Madame Forest. She'll patch that shoulder up real quick. I'll go with you," said Danny.

"But I thought you were late for a date," replied Katie.

"It's okay. Camellia will understand," explained Danny.

He walked with her the whole way to the infirmary. As they entered the infirmary, Katie pondered on why Danny had stared at her necklace in such a way. She sat down in a chair while Danny went to fetch the medi-witch. She looked around the room. There were a few paintings and a couple of students sitting on beds. One kid appeared to have the Wizard's Flu and another had caught the muggle chicken pox.

"Hello, Mr. Connor. I wish we were meeting under better circumstances," said Madame Forest.

"Me too, mam," replied Katie.

"Mr. Winkler already informed me of what happened. Roll up your sleeve so I can see how bad it is," commanded Madame Forest.

Katie did as she was told. It only took a few moments and a wound-cleaning potion to take care of her shoulder.

"There you go, Miss Connor. Now you watch where you're going, Mr. Winkler, and this may not happen again," said Madame Forest.

"Yes, mam. I'll be more careful from now on," promised Danny.

"Good. I don't like to see frequent visitors in my infirmary and Miss Connor is here at least twice each year. I would have liked to have gone a year without seeing her in here," playfully scolded Madame Forest.

"I'll take better care of myself, Madame Forest," spoke up Katie.

"See that you do."

Madame Forest left to attend a patient that had been scratched by a creature in Care of Magical Creatures the other day. Danny smiled sheepishly at Katie.

"I know I said I'm sorry but I was wondering if I could make it up to you. Maybe buy you a drink or something. Are you going on the trip to Fantasma tomorrow? I could buy you a drink at The Three Bludgers," offered Danny.

"Sure. How about we meet in the entrance hall at ten? The group leaves at ten-fifteen so we'll be a little early," said Katie.

"No problem. I can make it. I guess it's a date then," replied Danny.

"A date, huh?" said a voice that made Danny make a very distressed face.

"Girlfriend?" asked Katie.

"Girlfriend," said Danny.

He turned around to face a tall girl with curly light red hair in wizarding robes and was tapping her foot on the ground with her arms crossed over her chest.

"I am soooooo sorry, Camellia. I was running down the stairs when I saw the time and I accidentally ran into this girl. She cut her shoulder on the stairs so I walked with her here. I was just offering to buy her drink tomorrow at Fantasma. It's not a date!" exclaimed Danny.

"It's okay, D. I understand. Besides this is the great Katie Connor who I've wanted to meet for sometime. I'm the report for 'Who's that Witch?' and I was wondering if you would you mind doing an interview with me? It seems like everytime I go to ask you for one you've always disappeared off somewhere," said the girl as she stepped over to Katie who had stood up during the girl's whole speech.

"Sure. As soon as you tell me your name. I may read the Salem Witch Report but I don't pay attention to who writes the articles," confessed Katie.

"Oh! I'm so sorry. I should have introduced myself. I'm Camellia Trudge, seventh year Kneazle," explained Camellia.

"It's nice to meet you. Danny talked about you on our way here."

"Oh really?" Camellia looked at Danny over her shoulder.

"I may have said one or two things," awkwardly grinned Danny.

"So when can we do the interview?" asked Camellia.

"You can come to the Phoenix dorms with me and interview me there. I just got back from Azkana and I'm anxious to start some theories before classes tomorrow."

"That would be great! Get to know the real Katie Connor as she's working. This is going to be absolutely wonderful!"

Who's that Witch?

This week on 'Who's that Witch?' we've finally caught up with the

famous Phoenix scientist, Katherine Connor. Katherine who prefers

to be called Katie is in her sixth year of wizarding school and has been

an official scientist since her third year at Salem Witch. I was finally

able to catch up with her and ask for an interview which she agreed

to do.

Question:I understand that you have a little brother at home.

What is he like?

Katie: My baby brother, Eddie, is adorable and plain evil. One

minute he's happy, the next he's reminding us quite loudly

that he has a good set of lungs.

Question: So what was it like when you took the test at the

Ministry of Magic to certify yourself as a wizarding

scientist?

Katie: It felt really weird. There were other people in the room

taking the test but they were all quite older than me. I admit

that I felt rather nervous but I had studied hard and gotten

extra tutoring from Professor Norman that I also felt

confident. I nearly fainted when I was told I had passed

the test.

Question: I've heard that you are working on some type of

experiment that takes you to Azkana once a month.

What is that all about?

Katie: It's sort of a little experiment I'm working on. I am

trying to mix just the right type of potions with ingredients

and add them into quicksilver. It's supposed to be a type of

chemically combined source in the quicksilver to scare a

dementor away which is why I travel to Azkana.

Question: Why do you use quicksilver?

Katie: In an earlier study of mine, I discovered that

quicksilver is a low effective type of acid to the dementor.

It stings them like fire would to us but they barely feel it

so something must be added to it to make the sting worse.

Question: Now what are your favorite classes at Salem

Witch?

Katie: I'd have to say Charms, Music and Potions. Those

are my best subjects and I just love the many things we do in

each class.

Question: Rumor has it that you are so gifted in Charms that

you are able to perform most charms without your wand.

Can you really perform charms with wandless magic?

Katie: I'm going to not answer that one and let people think what

they want to think.

Katie sighed as she lay the Salem Witch Report down on here bed. The interview had been a success. The article went on a little bit longer but she didn't feel like reading the remainder of it. Truth be told, the rumor about her being able to perform wandless magic was true. She had practiced harder than ever with her charms that she had learned how to cast them without her wand.

Needless to say it had come as quite a shock to her when she realized she had cast a charm when her wand wasn't even in her hand. She was gifted mainly in her three favorite classes but she still had a few flaws in each. She would mostly get a charm perfected about the tenth or so time she tried it and she would squeak whenever she warmed up in Music class. Katie also had a bad habit of forgetting to put something in her potion so that it would not turn up right.

Katie stood up with her backpack in hand and headed out of the Phoenix dorms. She had come up to the dorm to be alone for lunch and was ready to attend class now. But instead of heading down the stairs to Transfiguration she took a right off of the staircases and headed down the hallway until she stopped the statue of a dragon.

"Boggart."

The dragon came to life and moved aside to reveal a hidden behind it. Katie stepped forward and rapped on the door.

"Come in."

Katie opened the door and entered. It was a large circular room, full of interesting things. Desks and chairs were scattered around the room. Light poured in through the many windows in the room. There was also a small desk assembled by only Merlin knows what where an elderly woman sat behind. She had long silvery hair that flowed down her back and bright eyes that reminded Katie of the sky.

"Hello, Katie. I had a feeling I would be seeing you soon," greeted the kindly woman.

"I knew you would, Professor Rankin," replied Katie as she sat down in a chair in front of the desk.

A large dog, specifically a St. Brenard, appeared out of nowhere and plopped his heavy down in Katie's lap. She petted the top of its head with a smile.

"Hey Zeke. How are you doing, boy?" said Katie.

The large animal barked and licked her face before laying down at her feet. Katie then stared up at the woman before her.

"Something troubles you, child. What is wrong?" inquired Professor Rankin.

"Everything, headmistress. Most of my friends have turned against me, my family doesn't write to me and one of my professors snapped at me the other day. I have no idea what is going on," explained Katie.

"Life has its many problems and discoveries. Give it some time, Katie. It is only the first month of school after all. I'm sure that whatever is happening with you that it will be solved soon," softly spoke the headmistress.

"Thank you for talking with me, professor. You've made me feel much better," said Katie as she stood up.

"I'm happy to hear that. I'll let Professor Carson know you were with me so that he doesn't take points off."

Katie smiled at the headmistress before leaving. All the sudden, she came to an abrupt halt. She had the startling feeling that someone was watching her. Katie cast a glance over her shoulder but saw no one. Only the portraits who were all quietly snoozing. She shrugged it off as nerves and walked on to Transfiguration.

End of Chapter 4