~ One ~
September 4th, 1976
It was the dead of the night. Silence had settled like dust upon Hogwarts Castle, and there was an cold stillness in the air. Children and their teachers lay sleeping in their warm beds, unaware of the sinister occurrences already happening not far away in the school grounds.
Tossing and turning in one of the four-poster beds of the sixth-year girls dormitory was young Arabella Figg. Long, rich curls of dark hair framed her pale, porcelain-like face which was crinkled in a troubled frown. She shifted and shivered in her sleep, whimpering softly. She awoke with a gasp. Startled, on-edge, her heart pounded inside her chest. The young girl had been terrified into consciousness by a vivid, violent nightmare. She struggled to remember what had frightened her so much, but to no avail.
Arabella, or simply 'Bell' to her friends, felt strangely alert and awake. Every part of her body seemed to be tingling with foreboding; the darkness seemed to be closing in on her and crushing her. Bell clumsily wrapped herself in her dressing gown and stumbled to her feet. She had the dreadful feeling that she was being watched… by someone, or something. She was unnerved, and was ready to wake up one of the other girls to see if they felt this strange presence too.
She tiptoed to the window, where there was a view of the Forbidden Forest and the Whomping Willow. There was a strange red mist floating across the ground, lit by the full moon. Bell thought she was imagining it at first, but it was definitely there. Was that a stag galloping across the grounds in the direction of the trees? It was a beautiful creature, with twisting antlers like the branches of an oak tree and sleek fur like silk. Bell smiled; there was something reassuring and familiar about the noble animal, although Bell couldn't recall ever seeing deer in the grounds before…
The stag disappeared in the red haze that appeared to be emanating from the forest. Dread crept through Bell once more. What was that blood-coloured fog? It was unlike any weather form she had ever seen, and mere weather conditions didn't usually make you feel so icy and empty inside…
For a brief, wild moment Bell considered the idea of creeping down to the grounds. Perhaps she would be able to see where the clouds were emanating form, or to catch another glimpse of that magnificent stag… but the notion was ridiculous. That action would break school rules. Arabella Figg did not break rules. Being caught roaming outside at night would have dire consequences which made Bell cringe. The disappointed and angry expressions on her teachers' faces… the mortal embarrassment of getting her first detention… the shame of losing points for Gryffindor… the other Prefects would never look her in the eye again. All hopes of becoming Head Girl next year would be turned to dust. Arabella Figg did not break rules.
Well, not yet.
She climbed back into bed and leafed through her copy of Your Guide To Becoming An Auror by Agatha Moody until she drifted back to sleep. Still naïve Arabella, now dreaming nice, safe dreams, had no idea of the incredible year she had ahead of her. She would face great jeopardy and challenges. She would feel anxiety, distress and pain. She would fall in love and have the time of her life. And yes, break a few rules too.
