Begin Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven: The Attack

  Harry was standing in a vast forest. It was beautiful and sunny. He couldn't see anyone in sight, save for a few unicorns. Then, all of a sudden, he saw a nymph. Her dark hair flowed as she ran through the field. She wore a crown of flowers on her head and a sheer dress that trailed behind her. She was humming a song with a beautiful voice that made Harry feel safe and warm. The sound was intoxicating. Entranced, Harry began to run after her. He needed to catch up with her. He wanted to see who this nymph was. But no matter how fast he ran, he couldn't seem to catch up with her. She only ran faster as he caught glimpses of her through the trees.

"Please stop! I need to see you," Harry called, but she only giggled in response. He thought he'd never catch up to her when suddenly, the forest opened to reveal a river with a waterfall. The nymph was standing looking over the edge sadly into the roaring darkness below. He stopped right next to her and stopped to catch his breath.

"Finally," he breathed. "Now show me who you are, I need to see you." When the nymph turned her face to look at him, he gasped. It was Ava. As she turned to look at him, she smiled sadly as a tear ran down her cheek. " I have to go, Harry."

"No, don't go!" Harry pleaded but she just took another step closer to the ledge. She leaned in close to him.

"I love you, Harry." Her lips pressed ever so gently against his. He felt her warm breath against his lips. He knew what this was. It was a good-bye kiss. "I'm so sorry." And without a word, before he could stop her, she threw herself into the tumultuous and dark water below.

"No!" Harry woke up with a start. He reached for Ava, only to find that she wasn't there. He got up quickly and looked around. The sun was just beginning to rise and it cast pink rays into the Common Room. She seemed to have gone up to her room, which would be the only logical explanation. But that was odd, seeing as she fell asleep with him. Why did that dream feel so…real, he thought as he sat down. He noticed that his palms were sweaty and that he was shaking. That last part felt so real that he could feel Ava's lips against his and he still could taste the sweetness of her mouth on his. He even heard those last words spoken in his ears. His stomach lurched. She wouldn't turn her back on Harry and on their relationship. It was all a bad dream, he started convincing himself. Christmas was only three days away now. He'd get to give her that ring and the healing had already started. And he was sure he'd see her today anyway. He broke through her tough exterior and saw her vulnerability. It was new but it wasn't at all unwelcome. She opened up to him and that had to mean she felt the same way. Didn't it? He slumped down on the couch and instantly, something dug into his back. He yelped in surprise and pulled out a rolled up newspaper from behind him. He immediately recognized it as the paper Sirius was reading the morning before. He unfurled it and looked at the cover page in shock. He was looking at the face of Ava's father on the cover.

Daily Prophet

Esteemed Professor Goes Missing

Something to do with the Dark Arts?

By: Claire Fuddleton

The highly esteemed and worldly acclaimed Professor Edward Richardson has turned up missing. He was to show up at an important ceremony where he would receive the Order of Merlin, First Class. But he never showed. Confounded and puzzled, the Minister of Magic sent out a search party only to turn up extremely empty-handed.

"There seems to have been no sign of a struggle," said Chief Auror, Sirius Black. "His room was fully intact. The only thing we can rule out, as of now, is that he has went into hiding."

Professor Richardson, as we all know, got his start by none other than Albus Dumbledore. He served as Dumbledore's apprentice when he worked with the late Nicholas Flamel. But he is most famous for his creation of the Avidina spell, a spell that can drive out any evil, and ultimately kill it. The simple brilliance of this spell, named after his two daughters Ava and Dinah, helped us drive out He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. But now, You-Know-Who has targeted Professor Richardson and his family. His sudden and mysterious disappearance has made some Ministry workers nervous.

"Me, I won't leave my house until he's found," said an anonymous worker. "You don't know what will happen." She ran out soon after our interview was concluded. Our hearts go out to Professor Richardson's daughters. Let us hope that the incomparable Professor Richardson is found unharmed. And with the worldwide search for him, we are sure that is how he will be found.

  Harry was nonplussed. Harry read it over again, slowly. He was perplexed by one part of the article in particular.

"What does it mean by 'ultimately kill'?" Harry's thought it was a top-secret spell. He wanted to speak to Ava and have her explain this to him. He made a mental note to talk to Ava as soon as he saw her. Harry was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard thumping footsteps on the stairs. Ron's long, skinny feet were the first thing Harry saw. Ron came down the stairs, rubbing his eyes sleepily. He saw that Harry was up so he came over and sat down in the seat across from him. He grinned.

"So, I saw that you decided not to come up to your bed," he said slyly. Harry's ears turned red, but he said nothing. Ron pressed on. "I came downstairs to ask you how you were going to work things out with Ava, but it seemed you already did."

"No. We're not together, I was just comforting her." Ron coughed to cover up a snigger.

"Yeah. Comforting. You two looked very comfortable on that couch." Even Harry had to laugh a bit at that comment. But there was more on his mind.

"Take a look at this," Harry said, tossing Ron the paper. Ron looked at Harry quizzically, then down at the paper and began to read. He raised his eyebrows as he neared the end of the article. There was a moment of silence after he was done.

"Whoa. Definitely dodgy." Harry nodded fervently.

"What gets me is where it says the Avidina spell ultimately kills Voldemort. What does that mean? Why is it even in the paper?" Ron shrugged.

"I have no idea. I don't know how the spell is supposed to work. Dad said that it's supposed to be top secret so I don't understand why it's out in the paper. Someone has to be leaking information," Ron said quietly.

"We have to ask Ava about this right away," Harry said quickly. "We have to find out who would be leaking information to the Daily Prophet and how the spell works."

"Yeah. We'll see her soon. Breakfast starts in a few minutes," Ron said, looking at the clock. Sure enough, some people started arriving, groggy looking, in the Gryffindor Common Room. Some sat down in the couches while others started heading down for breakfast. Hermione, clad in a robe and fuzzy slippers came downstairs. She spotted Harry and Ron and smiled. She walked over and plopped herself next to Ron.

"Morning," she said.

"Hermione, is Ava upstairs?" Harry needed to ask her right away. Hermione looked at Harry strangely.

"No. She was down here with you last night." Harry felt his stomach clench.

"She left sometime in the night. She wasn't here when I woke up." Hermione's eyes widened and Ron looked shocked. "I mean, the only place she would've gone is to her bed right?" Harry felt his palms go sweaty. "Hermione go check upstairs again, please." She nodded and ran upstairs. Harry got up and stuffed the newspaper in his pocket. He hoped that Ava would be in the bathroom when Hermione went up there. But Hermione came down rather quickly. Her face was flushed.

"Harry, her things are gone." Before Harry had a time to react, the portrait hole burst open. Professor McGonagall strode in. She looked rather nervous. "Potter, Weasley, Granger, follow me now." They ran out of the Common Room. She led them to the Hospital Wing. She paused at the door, her hand on the doorknob. "Potter, you'll come in first. I think you need to be the first to see her." Harry's heart dropped and he ceased breathing. She opened the door and led Harry inside, closing the door on Ron and Hermione's terrified faces. She walked up to a bed that was surrounded by a white curtain. She pulled it open and Harry gasped. Ava was lying there pale, as if she was…Oh God no, Harry thought, feeling his heart sink to his feet.

End Chapter Eleven