Author's Note: I did not write Hagrid's vernacular. I tried several times and I couldn't get it right, so I give up. I plead artistic license!
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Chapter 12: A Symbol of Strength
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As ever, the students filed into the Great Hall Halloween morning eagerly anticipating that evening's Halloween Feast. The Great Hall had been decorated with orange and black fairies. Realistic looking skeletons adorned the walls, and occasionally, after getting bored, jumped down and started roaming around. Like always, Hagrid had donated his gargantuan pumpkins and as the kids admired the jack-o-lanterns, spirits rose.
Adrienne walked slowly into the crowded room, searching for Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Adrienne's eyes roamed the length of the Gryffindor table, and, at the far end, she saw a spark of red hair. She walked towards it, hoping that this was Ron and not some other Weasley. Ron, Harry, and Hermione were sitting, eating, in silence.
"Anything good this morning?" asked Adrienne, taking an empty seat next to Hermione.
At this, Ron's face fell; he looked as if he wished he had taken a seat that wasn't between Harry and the second year next to him.
"We have blueberry pancakes today," said Hermione, handing a plate of large cakes to Adrienne.
Adrienne took it and began filling her plate. "The house elves at Salem never make blueberry pancakes. They're way too lazy," replied Adrienne, reaching for the butter. "Well, maybe the word lazy isn't the best word after all. It's just, not many elves are suited for freedom. Most of them don't like it. Actually, a lot of them leave Salem and go and work for smaller families. They prefer enslavement."
"They do not!" exclaimed Hermione.
Harry and Ron exchanged impatient glances; they had just remarked the other night on how Hermione hadn't mentioned anything about house elves since the train ride.
Adrienne looked up surprised. "Honestly, I swear they do! I lived with them. The nice ones swallowed their pride and taught me some things. I can make chocolate chip cookies and apple pie. And, from spending time with them in the kitchens I've heard plenty of grumbling about how they wished they weren't free. They don't like it. They don't get pleasure from working for money. Their entire heritage has been providing services for a family. When you take that away from them they are only providing services for a paycheck, to them it isn't the same," said Adrienne, reaching across Hermione for a jug of orange juice.
Hermione glared at Adrienne. "How can you be so backwards, Adrienne? I thought you would be one to care about the rights about other magical creatures! Don't you want them to have a chance to succeed? Don't you want them to have a chance to enjoy freedom? The entire magical world is so backwards. I thought you'd be different considering you grew up in the Muggle world. Obviously America doesn't instill the right to freedom as much as other countries think she does."
At this Adrienne turned and faced Hermione. "Listen here, I care about the rights of other magical creatures just as much as you do! They have a right to follow their desires, their dreams. And if they want to be enslaved, if they enjoy it, if that is what they have their hearts set on doing - then let them! By all means, don't get in their way of happiness. And in America, Hermione, we are taught that everyone has a right to freedom. However, house elves don't live under the American culture, they live under a magical culture which has different social values and norms. And you think the magical world is backward Hermione? You think that? Then you try living in a society for ten years where you are looked down upon, where you are mistreated, neglected, abused, and scorned upon because you don't have a family. If persecuting a child for being an orphan isn't backwards, then I don't know what is! You sit here arguing over something that no one else thinks is a problem, even the subjects of your protest, when there are worse things going on in the world. Hermione, pick a fight worth fighting!" said Adrienne hotly.
She stood up, pushing her plate back from the table and without another word strode away from the table and out of the Great Hall, not looking back. "She just doesn't see how contradictory she is: 'I'm from America "the land of the free" where "all men are created equal" but I believe in the enslavement of magical creatures,'" shot Hermione, fuming.
* * * * *
"Have you been enjoying your dueling practices with Professor McGonagall?" asked Professor Lycé as she let Adrienne into the empty dueling classroom.
"She isn't my favorite, but she did make me captain with Harry," answered Adrienne dully, swinging her bag onto a nearby desk.
"I said you would be didn't I, or at least my grandfather said so. He seems to be quite interested in you. He always asks me questions. 'How is she getting along in her classes,' 'how does she do under pressure,' 'has she done anything out of the ordinary in your classroom?'" recited Professor Lycé, taking a seat next to Adrienne.
Adrienne rolled her eyes. "What is he expecting me to do ... go berserk and curse everyone into a million pieces?" she muttered, still angry about her fight with Hermione.
She didn't even really know what made her so angry; maybe it was the fact that Hermione seemed to always act better than her, superior to her. Just because Hermione was better in every class, except dueling, and she hadn't slimed a classroom or accidentally transfigured Professor McGonagall into a newt, didn't mean she could always act like a know-it-all.
"Well, I don't think Professor Dumbledore believes you to be murderous, but I don't know, you look pretty dangerous right now," said Professor Lycé, "Is something the matter?"
"I just had a fight with Hermione, that's all."
Professor Lycé tilted her head to look into Adrienne's face. "Obviously that would happen," started Professor Lycé.
"On no, it's not that, it's just, well, I don't know. She just makes me angry. She acts like because she can out study me in all but one of my classes she is superior than me. I could care less who is better, I just wish she wouldn't act like that. Plus, I don't think she's too thrilled about me. I mean, it used to be just her, Harry, and Ron and now there's me too. I think she misses the attention she used to have."
"You know what, Adrienne, she may be better than you in your subjects, which is something she prides herself in. But you two are on very different levels magically; you're a lot stronger than she is, and she is, well, I doubt there are few people more intelligent than she is. But Adrienne, don't let something as trivial as this get between you. Hermione is just used to being the best, and you, Adrienne, are used to being in control, excluding your Transfiguration and Muggle life. You're not as inept at magic as you think you are. There is always a reason behind mistakes, and eventually you'll find a way to figure out Transfiguration. You'll find a way to get a long better with Hermione," said Professor Lycé, much like Professor Hartel would have done when Adrienne needed a cheering up. Adrienne looked curiously at Professor Lycé. "We all have a purpose Adrienne, I think yours will present itself sooner than later."
* * * * *
Adrienne walked alone to Defense class; she had sped out of the classroom before Harry, Ron, or Hermione were even out of their seats. Professor Lycé had been right; she had gotten worked up over nothing. She had just been stressed from sleeping through her alarm and had taken it all out on Hermione. She did agree partly with Hermione, elves should have the right to freedom if they wanted it, but it was a fact that the house elves didn't want it. Somehow, in all of her research, Hermione had overlooked that.
The Defense classroom was empty and Adrienne walked in cautiously. She didn't particularly like this class. She preferred Professor Hartel's method of teaching to Professor Wallace's, but then again, she had to admit, Professor Wallace's odd sense of humor was quite entertaining. On the blackboard, in geometrical capitals was written: The beginning of Magical Bubble Simulations.
"Great," said Adrienne sinking down into her normal seat, vowing that she would apologize to Hermione for her rude behavior in the Great Hall.
"I agree," muttered a quiet voice.
Adrienne turned and Hermione, Ron, and Harry, walked through the door, Hermione in the lead, looking very awkward.
"I'm not looking forward to this bubble idea," answered Adrienne, a grim smile crossing her face, "But I bet Professor Wallace will love to watch us. What is with her, she acts like our lives are one large soap opera made exclusively for her viewing pleasure."
Harry smiled and sat down next to her. "If she says one more thing about what it must feel like to be on the hit-list of a mad man, I might scream!" he said, stretching his arms over his head.
Hermione sat down on the other side of Adrienne. Harry leaned back and cast Hermione a meaningful glance.
"Um, Adrienne, I . . ." she started but Adrienne interrupted her.
"I wanted to apologize, Hermione. I have had a lot on my mind lately, especially today and I took it all out on you. You are entitled to your beliefs and I'm sorry for acting like I did. Please don't apologize, if anyone was in the wrong, it was me," said Adrienne, her eye's staring into Hermione's with an intense concentration.
"Well, apology accepted but I honestly feel bad about what I said, I shouldn't have said. . ."
"You didn't say anything wrong, Hermi, I'm sorry for yelling at you. Please, could we just put it behind us, it's over now," said Adrienne, not wanting to hear Hermione apologize, for one reason, because she wasn't completely sorry: Yelling at Hermione had lifted the feeling of foreboding she had been carrying and even if Hermione was just the scapegoat, Adrienne felt it was good for someone to challenge her once in a while.
Hermione smiled awkwardly and opened her mouth, no doubt to try and apologize again, but the rest of the class had entered along with Professor Wallace in bright orange robes. Adrienne laughed; she looked like she had been dressed by Professor Glenn; remembering Professor Glenn's olive shirt, Adrienne laughed even harder, trying to stifle her giggles in her hand.
"Ah, welcome to the first day of our use of the Magical Simulation Bubble. I am quite sure you will all find today enjoyable and educational. Now, the MSB is something that is very simple to use. All you do is hold the bubble in your left hand." Professor Wallace demonstrated this, the sparkling bubble gleaming in her hand.
"Wouldn't you think that those stones on her rings would pop it?" asked Harry, leaning back so he could talk to Hermione, around Adrienne.
"Maybe she has an unbreakable charm on it. Too bad though, perhaps if she drops it..." said Ron wistfully, not at all thrilled to be beginning their bubble simulations.
"You place your right hand on top," Professor Wallace did not demonstrate this though, "and viola, you enter the bubble to begin your simulation. Now nothing can hurt you in the bubble, and to exit it you just snap your fingers, both hands though."
"Snap your fingers?" asked Ron, smirking slightly, "That sounds like something those witches on the Muggle movies we watched would do. Just snap you fingers and, what did she say? Viola!" said Ron, his voice getting louder as he spoke.
Professor Wallace cast a patronizing glance at him and Ron quickly looked down, pretending to be very interested in the top of the desk.
"So, entering and exiting is simple, and the simulation is simple. I just give you an assignment, you enter the bubble, meet the magical creature, complete the assignment, and exit. Who wants to go first?" she asked, setting the MSB on the desk and clapping her hands together excitedly.
Every student slouched in their desk, trying as hard as they could to become invisible.
"Come on now, anyone, it will be fun!" said Professor Wallace, her eyes scanning the classroom, searching for a student. Here eyes fell on Harry.
Harry groaned, and looked at Hermione. "Think of something, I don't want to go. She'll probably make me face a Death Eater or something like that so she can be entertained," pleaded Harry.
Hermione looked at Professor Wallace, who seemed to be contemplating exactly what she should make Harry face. Hermione cast a glance at Adrienne, "Any ideas?" she whispered.
Adrienne sat there for a second, first looking at Harry, who was now pale, obviously dreading what he would meet in the MSB if Professor Wallace chose him, and then looking at Professor Wallace, who at that moment had broken into a wide grin. Before the professor could say anything, Adrienne stood up.
"I'd like to go first, Professor," she said, pushing back her chair and sending a quick smile at Harry, who sighed with relief.
Professor Wallace's face fell. "Well, I had someone else in mind . . ."
"No really, Professor, I'm volunteering; why don't you just give me that little MSB thing and we'll get this show on the road," said Adrienne, walking towards her professor.
All the students stared at her. None of them wanted to try out the bubble; many of them were still making bets on what kind of evil creature Professor Wallace would turn out to be by the end of the year.
Professor Wallace looked at Adrienne disappointedly but picked up the MSB and held it out to the girl. Adrienne took it. It weighed barely anything and as she made sure her the bubble was securely in her left hand, the bubble began to change colors. No longer did it gleam and sparkle, but a dark color was invading it, like ink filling a bottle. Adrienne starred at the MSB, and took a deep breath.
"All I do is go in there, pull out my wand, and hope I know how to defeat the creature?" asked Adrienne, turning her gaze to her Professor.
"That's all you do, but I expect from your transfer grades Miss Miles, that whatever you face should be of no real difficulty," said Professor Wallace, clearly disappointed that she was going to be watching Miles instead of Potter: He always made things much more entertaining.
"And how do you know what is going on?" asked Adrienne, casting a nervous glance at the MSB, which was now completely jet-black.
"It will project onto the wall what is going on inside, so we all can see," said Professor Wallace, noticing for the first time the gold necklace that had surfaced from underneath Adrienne's robes.
Adrienne placed her right hand on top of the MSB, and all at once, a bolt of energy flew through her body and as soon as it started, it stopped, leaving Adrienne shaking slightly.
The MSB was no longer in Adrienne's hands. She looked up; all around her and above her was darkness. A small area was lit with an unearthly glow, this light fading into the dark unknown. Adrienne shuddered and reached for her wand. She drew out the long piece of wood, running her fingers over it, praying that she would know what to do, not wanting to make a fool of herself in front of her entire class, whom she knew would be watching intently.
A slight movement in a corner drew her attention. Adrienne turned, raising her wand in a defensive position. Out of the darkness walked a tall figure, robbed in black. The figure walked towards her, stopping several yards in front of her. Adrienne took a step backwards, wondering what was under the cloak. Two white hands reached up and pulled back the hood. A man with white hair and white eyes stood in front of her. His lips weren't red, but deathly pale. He looked at her, a cruel smile playing on his thin lips.
Adrienne swallowed hard, "A dark Accabadian," she whispered. She had heard of them from Professor Hartel; she had seen pictures of them; she had learned what they were capable of, but she had ever learned how to defeat them. They were thought to be extinct as none had been spotted for thousands of years. They were the original masters of the Ancient Dark Arts, the opposite of those who had practiced the Ancient Light Arts, the Accabaidan arts, those commonly known as Perfects. Why they had been called this, Adrienne didn't know, but she did know that Perfects were capable of the highest level of magic, and the dark Accabadians were capable of stealing magical powers.
The pale man raised a hand, his eyes boring into Adrienne's. A small red light was swirling in his palm. Adrienne pointed her wand and shouted, "Stupify."
A white light issued from her wand, heading straight towards the man, but he only lifted his other hand, deflecting it barehanded. Adrienne lowered her guard and watched as the red light grew brighter; she had no idea what he was doing, but the longer she stood there, staring at him, especially his hand and his eyes, she felt her defenses fall, her wand lower. The man smiled wickedly and opened his mouth to speak to her.
"Aren't you even going to fight?" he asked in a deep echoing voice.
Adrienne blinked, she felt extremely lightheaded and everything around her was beginning to spin.
"You think you are safe?" asked the man, the red light now swirling so large that it obstructed his arm.
Adrienne shook her head, something wasn't right. Professor Wallace had told them the first day of class that nothing bad would happen, that if she were to be attacked, she'd just feel a tingling sensation. Adrienne shook her head again; everything was spinning, all she could focus on was the red light that now was seeming to reach for her. Something in Adrienne's mind was screaming at her, "something's wrong!"
Adrienne couldn't stand, the red light was only feet away from her now. She sunk to her knees and reached for her necklace; Joe and Mia had told her it was a symbol of strength, and if anything, she needed that right now. Her right hand gripped it, and as it did, a searing pain shot through it. Adrienne screamed, her hand burning, her nerves on fire. She tried to let go, but she couldn't; her fingers wouldn't listen. The red light was closing in on her and she could barely see him; his eyes were now closed and he was chanting.
Adrienne screamed louder as her hand burned with pain, and suddenly with a tug she ripped her necklace off and it dropped out of her hand and to the floor. The red light was now encircling her, and she could feel it pulling at her. Adrienne reached for her wand, but she couldn't find it: She had dropped it, and now, in the blinding light she couldn't see it. Adrienne shook furiously, her entire body under siege, the light penetrating her, searching through her. As Adrienne slumped to the ground, her knees giving way, she did the only thing she could think of, and it made no sense at all: She raised her right hand towards the general direction of the man and yelled, "ENOUGH!"...
It was very bright; Adrienne sat up slowly and opened her eyes, squinting. She was alone, her wand lying a few feet away, her necklace in the other direction. The man was gone, the darkness now looming in, as menacing as before. Adrienne took a deep breath and stood up, completely confused about what had just happened.
Adrienne bent down to retrieve her wand and then walked over to her necklace. It looked strange; it was no longer a shiny golden color but the dull color of burnt wood. She bent down to pick it up, but as she touched it, it crumbled: it had been reduced to ash. Adrienne stood there staring at the ash outline of her beautiful necklace, her eyes wide in horror. She reached out again to touch it, hoping her mind was playing tricks on her. Her right hand lingered at the floor, finally picking up some ash. She pushed it around in her palm, unbelieving, and then, as she brushed it off, she saw it: the outline of a triangle, burned dead center, into the palm of her hand.
* * * * *
Professor Wallace stared at her, her eyes wide in anticipation as Adrienne emerged from the bubble.
"What happened, Miss Miles? We couldn't see anything: It was all red!" said Professor Wallace walking towards her, her hand out eagerly as if to congratulate her on providing such an odd show of red light.
"I, um, well, met a boggart," muttered Adrienne, not wanting to say she met an extinct dark Accabaidan who had tried to confiscate her powers, engulfed her in red light, and to top it off, in her defense Adrienne had somehow reduced her beautiful necklace to ash, not to mention the fact that she had burnt her hand, and the MSB hadn't worked as Professor Wallace had said, "I'm afraid of, um, fire, that's it."
Professor Wallace's face fell; she had obviously been hoping for a more exciting story. She glanced at the clock, realizing that the hour had flown by, and dismissed the class; however, for some odd reason, she could have sworn she smelt the faint smell of burnt flesh.
* * * * *
"So what was it like? You sure were in there a long time, Adrienne," asked Ron, as he pulled out a chair for her.
Adrienne sat down. Um, it was an experience," muttered Adrienne, glancing at her hand; the burn mark was still there.
Professor Dumbledore stood up to say a couple words before the Halloween Feast, but Adrienne didn't hear them, she was wondering why the Accabadian had affected her when Professor Wallace said nothing bad could happen while in the MSB. She leaned back in her chair, glancing around the room, everyone had began eating. She wasn't feeling very hungry and excused herself, mumbling something about a stomachache.