The problem with travelling alone is not so much becoming homesick, rather the want a friendly face.
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If there was a beautiful sunrise, Maddy never saw it. Having a very flexible schedule, and a room to herself allowed her to take as much time as she wanted to actually open her eyes. She still ended up getting out of bed fairly early.
She arrived at the ferry with plenty of time. Sitting down in the waiting room, Maddy tried to sort through all the thoughts going through her mind. Accomplishing nothing, she decided that schoolwork would help get her to focus, and so pulled out her laptop and finished the essay that would be due on her return to the States.
The essay took much longer than she expected, and the ferry journey was about halfway over when she was satisfied. Finding her thoughts were not swirling about in her head, Maddy decided to take the time to read a bit more of Capiendum et Transformandum. She wished that the text had some grain of truth, and that she could try out some of the exercises it put forth.
~When one has mastered transfiguring animals into objects and objects into animals, then it is time for the next step. Once the following step is mastered, preparation can be made to learn to transfigure oneself. Again it is best to start small, turning a butterfly to a moth, a mouse into a rat. Subtle changes, but the best to start with...~
Maddy glanced up from her reading. The TV in the front of the section was showing the BBC's tribute to Elvis. *Transfiguring oneself huh? I wonder if that's like becoming an animagus.* She would not be finding out on this ferry journey as announcements were made for passengers to prepare to leave.
It was still fairly early in the day, and if she got off quickly, she could grab the earlier train back to London from Holyhead. If she missed that one, it would be a two hour wait before the long train ride back. That train's main purpose it seemed was to pick the people up off the ferry and so she had no worry finding a seat to herself.
Nearing London, Maddy read a passage that had her staring out the window wishing the magic were truly real. ~Having mastered those techniques, it is time to start working on transfiguring yourself. A few words to the wise, NEVER try to transfigure yourself into an object, and it's strongly advised you have someone there who can help counter any mishaps that may happen. Now many think that a person had no control over the animal they can transfigure into, and that such form is the only form one can take as this is supposed to reveal one's personality. This is not true. If one is well trained, and has skill, patience, and intellect, one can transfigure themselves into any animal they choose. In fact it is wiser to choose an animal to transfigure into than to let the shape come by chance.~
She didn't get the chance to continue reading as the train had arrived in London, and she could see Severus on the platform. How he knew when she would be back, and what train she would be on was a mystery. She didn't think twice though. She had been travelling alone for awhile, and a friendly and familiar face was welcome. Eager to get off the train she didn't bother packing away the book and rushed off to greet Severus.
They went to have dinner at Jonathon's. After being seated and given menus, Maddy made to put up the book, but Severus caught sight of it first.
"So I see you've been reading despite being out of class. Quite studious, aren't you? What is this?" He had a hand on the book, and apparently wanted to see it for himself. Maddy was reluctant to let it go, but did.
"It's nothing really, just something I picked up at a bookstore in Cambridge."
Severus had opened the book somewhere past where she had been reading and looked up at her. He seemed somewhat startled, "You can read Latin?" Not watching her for a response he went back to the book, appearing to be able to read it as well.
Maddy wasn't sure what to expect, but somehow that wasn't it, nodding and then realising he didn't see her, "Yes, I did spend a number of years studying it. Can you?" He nodded in response, and then was forced to put the book up as their food arrived. he choose to continue the conversation as they ate.
"You say you found the book in Cambridge?" Having a mouth full of food Maddy nodded. "How much longer are you do you have before you return home?"
"A little over a week, why?"
"I have a few friends I would like you to meet. They take interest in the sort of things this book discusses. If you're interested, we would need to travel to Scotland where they currently are."
Maddy nearly choked with surprise. *People who take interest in transfiguring and charms, most likely in a way outside of the world Rowling created with Harry Potter. That would be interesting. Do I trust this man that much though to take a trip with him and meet his friends? Yes, yes I do.* She realised that he seemed to be waiting for a response, "Could we? I mean if you don't mind introducing me..." *And now I can't talk, I've become a babbling idiot*
He nodded and looked a bit distant for a moment, "Of course, we can leave tomorrow in fact. We could leave tonight, but I would rather not spend all night on a train. And I would suggest bringing all your luggage with you in case you decide to stay until just before your departure."
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Morning couldn't come soon enough for Maddy, she was getting a chance to travel with a friend, or at least she was hoping she could consider Severus a friend. They agreed to meet in front of platform 4 before boarding they're train. Maddy had indeed brought all her luggage with her, a suitcase of books, a medium sized box of books, and her knapsack that contained actual clothes.
King's Cross was insanely crowded at that time in the morning. Severus seemed to appear out of nowhere looking a bit rushed. "We're not taking the train at platform four, but we need to hurry to catch our train." And at that he tugged at her to follow and they moved so quickly in and out of crowds, Maddy lost track of which platform they were at and was grateful to be ushered into a train and allowed to sit down.
Severus had stepped out of their compartment to check on something, and had left Maddy alone. Having carried Capiendum et Transformandum with her, rather than packing it, she opened it to continue reading about methods of transfiguring oneself into an animal. She was deeply immersed in her reading and was seriously considering trying some of the steps that seemed feasible without magic when the train started to move and Severus returned sliding the door shut behind him.
*Wait a minute, door? I haven't been on a train once this summer that had individual compartments now that I think about it. What train is this? It doesn't look like a Virgin or GNER train...*
Severus's voice cut through her thoughts before they could travel far, "I suggest you relax and get some rest, it's a rather long train ride, when we near our destination I'll have a few things that I'll need to explain to you." Maddy merely nodded and made to return to reading her book when Severus moved next to her and place a hand on the book, "Why don't we set the book aside for now? Surely we can come up with something to occupy our time together. For instance, what is in your luggage? It certainly didn't feel like clothes."
Allowing him to take the book from her, she gave a sheepish smile, "The books I bought while I was here."
Severus seemed startled that someone could and would willingly buy that many books of their own free will in that short of a time. He said as much and they continued conversing. After about two hours, Maddy began to doze off, and two and half hours into the train ride found her resting against Severus taking a nap.
Three hours into the trip, the train came to a sudden jolting stop, waking Maddy and causing her to grab at Severus to keep from falling off her seat. She caught an amused look on his face before they were plunged into a sudden darkness.
"Se..Severus, wha-"
"Shhh..." For a moment there was complete silence, then "Stay here, I'm-" Before he could complete the door to their compartment opened on it's own, and then Maddy was assaulted by horrendous memories that she had hoped she had pushed from her mind. Memories that she had recently confronted with both professional help and the support of her friends.
Letting go of Severus, Maddy curled into a ball and began to whimper. *Why now? WHY? Things were going so well. I thought it was supposed to be a gradual decline into depression, not a sudden drop. What was it they told me? I would know when I was going to hit a low point, it would still be overwhelming, but I had to remember that it won't last. It won't last. But god, I just want to die. These memories, I feel so worthless, so pointless. I'm a waste of space and air.*
She didn't notice Severus stepping over her to confront the dementor that she couldn't see.
*I'm a pathetic excuse for a human being. I should just die...I can't, Aunt Edith would be distraught to lose more family members. Aunt Edith. That's right. I can do this, I can fight depression. I have more friends now. Friends like Shannon and the crew back at home* Without realising that she was actually doing what she was mentally trying to do, Maddy gritted her teeth and stood up, fighting the ever increasing wave of depression, and shouted, "NO, I HAVE FRIENDS, I HAVE PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR ME," Severus was startled, he had never seen a muggle stand up to a dementor's effects before, and turned to look at her, forgetting for a moment that he was the one who would have to chase it away. "I HAVE A REASON TO LIVE, I WANT TO LIVE, AND I'M GOING TO LIVE!!!"
Maddy shouted those last few lines with clenched fists and slammed a fist through the air, in doing so a cloud of silver shot from her through the air and encased the dementor. It was then that Maddy realised she had actually said and done what she thought was a mental battle and Severus was looking at her in shock. Turning pink she muttered, "Oh, um, I'm, um..." At that moment there was a bright flash and both Severus and Maddy looked at the door, and both saw a robe in a small pile at the door. Severus turned back to Maddy just in time to see her faint and catch her.
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Sorry it's taken so long to update. But I've had my own dementors to battle...a long hard battle that has been won with professional help and much support. I have a vague idea of what I want to do with this, but I'm not sure if I'll ever get it to where I want it. I will bring it full circle before completely leaving everyone hanging. I also promise that I'll do my best to not make Maddy a Mary Sue character. Real life is a bitch.
Thank you for the reviews. There are some Order of the Phoenix influences, but nothing I think is noticeable.
