Chapter 11

I was currently rolling around in bed, attempting to get to sleep. I knew it was futile but I kept trying. After everything that happened today it was just impossible to relax. I lost my powers, Dare got away and to top it all off, I've been shut out of the Ravenclaw Library. I don't think I've ever felt so miserable. I was trying my best not to pity myself but I can't help it. I'll probably have to go back to the muggle world now. Not even being the heir of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff can help me now.

HUFFLEPUFF! I shot out of my bed and ran as quietly as I could out of my dorm. Why did I not think of this before! Surly the Room of Requirement can help me. I was in too much of a hurry to stop and wake my friends as I ran out of the gryffindor tower and to the Come and Go Room as fast as my legs would carry me.

I wasted no time in pacing hurriedly in front of the wall as soon as I got there. I crossed my fingers and to my great delight a door appeared. The excitement was overwhelming me as I opened the door and stepped through it.

I was now in a small office-like room. All that was in there was a desk, a chair and a book. I sat down at the desk and looked at the book. It was open to a page titled, 'The test of wills'. I started reading.

'The test of wills is a ancient spell developed in the middle ages to see if wizarding warriors were worthy of knighting. If someone wanted to become a knight they had to consent to first being tested. One of the current knights would cast this spell on them and it would bind their powers. The only way to get their powers back is to defeat (this does not necessarily mean kill) the one who cast the spell without the use of their magic.

'The test was later scrapped after to many knights in training lost their magic and some got their's back by killing the ones who cast it. Many good people were lost and the spell was forbidden to ever be cast again.'

I shut the book it amazement. So the spell was used to see if wizards were smart and strong enough to go without their magic. So now I have to find and defeat Dare. Whatever that means... My friends would never let me try this by myself. Hattie would say it was way too dangerous but I'm pretty sure to get my magic back I need to do it alone.

But without my magic, how am I going to do it?...The sword of Gryffindor! I'm going to need it. I have to try and pull it out of the sorting hat. But even with the sword, Dare is so powerful. I have to out wit him somehow. I'll also have to find him.

Where would he be? Think, Annie! He's looking for the potion the founders made but he doesn't know where it is. If I was him I'd probably assume it was in Hogwarts. That's probably why he was teaching here in the first place; to look for it. That means he probably isn't too far from Hogwarts because he still thinks the potion is here. So where is somewhere close to or in Hogwarts that he could be hiding?...The Forbidden Forest! He must be in there! I know what I have to do.

A piece of parchment and a quill appeared in front of me and I scribbled a quick note to my friends so they wouldn't worry...too much. I asked the room to deliver it for me and it disappeared. After that was done, a door appeared and I went through the passage the Room had made for me.

The passage ended in the headmasters office. I went over to the shelf, grabbed the Sorting Hat and placed it on my head. "Joanne. Lovely to see you again." The hat said in my head.

"Sorry, but I'm not here for a chat." I thought to him.

"Yes, you want you're powers back. Are you sure you want to do this though; Dare is very deep in the forest."

"How do you know that?"

"I have always been connected to the castle. Nothing happens at Hogwarts that I do not know about."

"I have to do this. Can I try and get the sword?"

"Sure, have a go? May you succeed in your tasks. Hogwarts will be with you."

I took the hat off my head and reached inside. My fingers closed around something cold and smooth. I pulled it out and admired the sword of Gryffindor. "Thank you!" I told the hat before putting it back on it's shelf and leaving.

...

Soon I was standing at the beginning of the Forbidden Forest. I knew that if I went in, Dare wouldn't be the only thing I'd have to watch out for. But this is something I have to do. I clutched the sword tighter as I stepped amongst the trees and started walking.

The forest was dark and creepy at night. The trees were looming over me as I walked and the wind made them sway eerily. At least it wasn't a full moon. I can cross werewolves of the list of things I had to watch out for although, there were very few that managed to escape taking the cure. Almost all of the fanatical werewolves had been captured.

It got scarier the deeper into the forest I ventured. I had past a trail of spiders heading in the opposite direction and I took comfort in the knowledge that I was heading away from the acromantulas.

Suddenly there was a snap of a twig and a terrible growling noise to my right. I swung to face it and lifted the sword in front of myself. I could just make out the huge wolf in the light of the crescent moon. It was the size of a horse. The thing pulled back it's lips and showed me it's long, yellow, pointy teeth.

I knew from 'Hogwarts: A History' that in the 1940s, they had seventh year transfiguration outside so that they could drive any mistakes that were made into the forest. I think it was safe to assume that this was one of those mistakes. I noticed that it had a large cut on it's shoulder that looked relatively fresh. Dare must have been through here!

The joy in knowing I was right about him being here expired as the huge creature lunged at me. I rolled out of the way and to my feet. Then I quickly slashed at it's side with the sword. That only seemed to make it angry. It leapt around and I stumbled back when it snapped at me. I backed away and tripped on a root, falling on my but and dropping the sword in the process.

I reached for the sword as it lunged again and grabbed it just in time to plunge the blade into the beast's neck. I tugged the sword out and it fell to the ground, unmoving. I know it had been attacking me but I couldn't help but feel quite guilty that I had killed it. I sighed and cleared my head before continuing on.

...

It was starting to get much lighter out when I reached my next problem. Blocking my way was a huge river with a strong looking current. I knew I couldn't get across it so I started walking along it in the hope that I would find a bridge. Apparently I was in luck as there was a fallen tree the stretched from one side to the other, acting as a makeshift bridge.

I carefully stepped onto it and started walking across. A roar suddenly cut through the noisy silence that always hung over the forest and a troll emerged from the trees. He was smaller than the mountain troll the Golden Trio and I had faced in first year but still quite fierce looking.

"My bridge!" He roared possessively. My mind wandered to the tale of the 'Three Billy Goats Gruff'. I also remembered reading about Trolls being very territorial while studying for a Care of Magical Creatures exam. He had a bump on his head so Dare must have been through here a while ago.

I didn't really want to get into another fight because I was already tired from all the walking and the scuffle with the giant wolf so I started backing away. "Sorry," I said gently. "I didn't know it belonged to you." I finally stepped off the bridge and the troll seemed satisfied.

I kept walking along the river, hoping to find another way. The troll bridge was soon out of site so I stopped. I didn't want to go too far otherwise it would be harder to find Dare. I also didn't think I'd find another bridge anytime soon.

If I had my magic I could just part the water or transfigure a bridge...but I didn't have my magic so I was going to have to do it the hard way. I picked one of the larger trees that was on the edge of the river and walked over.

I decided to follow the troll's example and started chopping away at the trunk with the Sword of Gryffindor. It was hard work and I was making very little progress. The sword clearly wasn't made to be used as an axe but I didn't have much of a choice.

...

After hacking at the tree for what seemed like hours, it finally started to tip over. I hurried out of the way and the tree fell right over the river, making another bridge. I let out a very week, tired cheer and walked carefully across.

I was now completely exhausted so I decided that I should rest. Judging by how light it was, I assumed it was about six AM. Everyone would be waking up soon. I climbed up a tree so no predators would get me and lay on a branch. It had lots of smaller branches growing off it so I hoped those would stop me from falling out of the tree. I place the sword beside me and closed my eyes to sleep.

...

Hello readers! I hope you liked that. Originally, I was going to drag out this plot arch for a bit longer but a lot of you didn't seem to like Joanne losing her powers so I decided to just skip ahead a bit. She'll be facing Dare in the next chapter.

Also, see if you can figure out the loophole for the curse on the school. The curse is that no teacher, student or former student can tell anyone who doesn't already know what's going on. Writing it down doesn't work. If someone guesses correctly, I'll have the next chapter posted by the end of next week. If not then you'll all have to wait the regular two weeks. Good luck!

Review replies:

LordNemesis: Sorry that you didn't like it but I was trying to give Joanne a bit of a challenge and I felt that recently she had been relying on her magic too much. Thank you for reviewing!

SkyDragonRyu: Lol, thanks for reviewing!

sabrina-luna-potter: Poor Joanne indeed. Thank you for the review!

Irishdanceringrulz1776: She would have had to wait a very long time to get her magic back if she did it by having a kid and getting the kid to open the library for her. Unfortunately, asking Snape never crossed her mind. She is too used to not relying on adults. Thanks for your review!

Sydpaigebow (Guest): Well, I can try to update more often but school's been getting in the way. Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad you like my story!