Chapter 14

Forward dictated by

Barnabas Fellowfeather

While the White Witch is considered by most to be nothing more than fantasy and legend she is nonetheless very real. In my travels to and from the colonies I have witnessed a number of unusual events; most coinciding with prophesied events and major convergences of the planets and stars. However none of my vast experiences had prepared me for the last few years in the company of the White Witch. The following accounts are a history of her deeds, spells, incantations, and potion makings.

The most notable oddity of the White Witch is the absence of a wand. While we in the community are aware of magics being performed through the presence of strong emotion or moments of high stress it is also understood that these magics are uncontrollable and regarded as being dangerous and wholly unreliable.

Please do not attempt to recreate any magics contained herein as I have, to my never-ending regret.

End forward.

I looked up at the Professor after finishing the first page. "You think I'm this White Witch?"

A small smile crept up on his lips. "I do not think you are the White Witch regarded in this account. However I do not think it out of the realm of possibility that you are either related by blood or the magic that you say was contained in the scythe, that you mentioned, was of the same nature.

I started to flip through the pages but he stopped me.

"I would like to bring your attention to page 437."

I looked up at him and back down to the book. After thumbing through the back of the book I arrived at the page he noted.

"A boundary protection spell against all mystical and mental projection?"

He nodded, "Indeed."

"You want me to protect something for you?"

He nodded once again. "Yes, you see Hogwarts is protected by a number of ancient and numerous spells. These magics exist to protect the students as well as the staff and the grounds from harm." He pushed away from his desk and walked to the only window in the room, peering outside with a weight on his shoulders. "But it has not been enough."

"Someone's been hurting your students?" I asked.

"Yes, or more to the point a certain student. I believe you had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Potter?"

I smiled, "Harry? Sure."

He turned back to me but stayed in his place at the window. "Willow, a dark presence has returned after many years. He is vastly skilled in the dark arts and though a magical anomaly has a connection with our young Harry."

That took me aback. "Harry's not ..."

He shook his head. "No, Mr. Potter is many things, but evil is not one of them. It is more of a magical-psychic connection. However, Lord Voldemort has learned of this tie and has taken full advantage of it, to my horror."

The silence sat in-between us for a long moment. I didn't want to ask what happened for fear he might actually tell me. Then he continued.

"For this reason I would like you to study from this book and tell me whether or not you think you are capable of performing this particular spell."

I followed the long list of requirements and incantations that needed to be performed. It really didn't seem to be that difficult. Time consuming and intricate, but then again I've been doing the hard stuff for a while now so I knew it wasn't impossible.

"I can do the spell, Professor. The question I have, if you don't mind, is why can't you?"

He closed his eyes and nodded gently. "A fair question." he stood thoughtfully for a moment. "In answering I will ask you a question in turn."

"Okay."

"Where do you derive your power from?"

I knew this answer from my time spent in England two years ago.

"From the earth. Everything is connected. From the buildings to the trees, to the soil and back up again. The air we breathe and the rays of the sun that we feel are all connected."

He held his hands steepled together. "This is where we differ, Willow. A wizard or witch's power in this world stems from ourselves. We do not possess the ability to gather energy from the world around us for we are the energy. This is, I assume, how you and this White Witch are able to control the magic in the way you do, without a wand."

I closed the book and stood. "I'll do what I can for you and Harry."

He smiled and stood forward. "Of course the full use of our library is at your disposal should you need it. And please tell me, when you can, of your needs regarding spell components. I will have our potions master contact you at your convenience. He has a vast supply of very rare items that might be of some use."

I took my cue to leave and headed back out the way I came. I was almost too eager to get a look at what was in the book. The thing about white magic is there isn't much in the way of offensive spells. Everything is either defensive, creation, or binding. So there's not a lot I can do in the middle of a fight anymore. That was what got me delving into the dark side of things for a while there.

From the shear size of the book I knew there had to be some good goodness stuff that would be really useful. Well it would have to be, right. I mean they wouldn't write a book about how a White Witch ran back and forth across the world making crops grow faster now would they?