Miss Piratess: Thanks :) and it's not only you, just wait and see :) winks
The Lord Of pencil: Thanks! He's wonderful! And a couple of days and he'll be back!!
Chapter 17 - The Spell Begins
Voldemort entered the small cottage, Wormtail following him closely.
"M-master, a-are you sure t-this is the place?" Wormtail asked.
"Yes Wormtail." Voldemort hissed. "She's in the basement. Wait here."
"Yes master." Wormtail bowed.
Voldemort opened the doors that led to the basement of the cottage. It was a small place; covered with thick cobwebs and the walls have turned green during years. A black old coffin lay in the middle of the room. In it lay a skeleton of a woman, which was also covered with dust and cobwebs.
"Voldemort." The skeleton hissed. "Come to me my friend."
"Hello Isabel." Voldemort said and stepped closer to the coffin. "It's been a long time since the last time we met."
"Forty years only, but it seems like four hundred."
"Yes. How have you been?" Voldemort asked.
"Lying here helpless after that stupid Christine failed to assist me."
"Yes, I heard about her. Now, why did you call me?"
"I have new plans for taking over the kingdoms and I need your help."
"Anything for the sake of evil." Voldemort hissed.
"I want to get rid of the House of White. And of course, their supporters. Mainly, a girl named Virginia. She was the reason why Christine failed."
"I will find her. Don't worry. And as a symbol of our friendship, I will brew a potion to bring you back to life."
"I have been waiting for that Voldemort."
"Don't worry Isabel. It might take a while, but I will make it for you. I will go now to plan my next step."
"Beware of the witch." The skeleton of the Swamp witch hissed and silence fell in the room.
Voldemort looked at her and then he went back upstairs.
"H-how did it go Master?" Wormtail said as he jumped to his feet at the sight of Voldemort.
"Everything is fine. Our time shall come sooner than we expect." He laughed loudly.
O o O o O
Lia woke up early in the morning. She took a shower and got dressed, then she sat near her desk and did some of her homework. Suddenly, a brown owl came inside her room and dropped a letter in front of her.
Lia opened the parchment. It was from Dumbledore.
----------------------------
Dear Miss Jones,
Please come to my office after breakfast.
Albus Dumbledore
----------------------------
"I wonder what he wants." Lia said to herself. She folded the parchment and put it in one of the drawers.
Another owl came. This one was black. It had a parchment attached to its leg. It landed on Lia's desk and waited for her to take the parchment.
"Where did you come from?" She asked the owl and took the parchment. The owl flew out of the window.
Lia opened the parchment. It had stains of ink on it, and it seemed that the writer's hand was shaking while writing the letter.
----------------------------
Dear Lia,
Please meet me near the lake tonight at ten o'clock. I really need to see you. I have something to give you from your mother.
P.S.: Please don't tell anyone about this, especially the headmaster.
Sincerely,
An admirer
----------------------------
Lia felt her heart sink, and her scar chose that moment to sting. Lia didn't know what to think about this letter.
"Why shouldn't I tell anyone about this? Why not Dumbledore? Who is this admirer? Oh shit!" her heart started to hurt again and she couldn't breath. She threw the parchment on the table and went to lie on her bed. Her breathing got heavier until she felt the room spin around her. She closed her eyes and tried to think about something that she really hates.
Two images came into her mind. One was a black hooded man with a skully chin appearing under the hood, and the other was a werewolf. The one that she saw on the full moon night.
Eventually, her breathing was back to normal, but her scar kept stinging. She curled in her bed and tried to go back to sleep. She decided that she wouldn't go anywhere today.
She waved her hand at the door and it locked itself. She didn't want to see anyone. She needed time to think about the last letter. If the person who sent it was someone she or her mother knew, why didn't he introduce himself?
O o O o O
Everyone was at the Great Hall having breakfast. Harry looked at the door every time it was opened to see if it was Lia. But, she didn't come to breakfast.
"Harry, have you seen Lia this morning?" Virginia asked.
"No. I thought she might come, but it seems that something is wrong." Harry replied.
"Did anyone check her room?"
"Maybe she's still asleep." Remus said.
"She never slept this long." Harry said.
"Well, maybe she's tired from last night." Virginia said.
"Huff-puff! If I was her I would definitely be tired! She danced all night!" Wolf said.
"Why aren't we tired then?" Virginia asked.
"Honey, she has a sick heart, remember?" Wolf said.
"She doesn't have a sick heart. It's just her scar that's giving her problems." Harry said.
"I'll go and see if she's in her room." Remus said and got up.
He went straight to Lia's room and knocked the door.
"Lia? Are you in there?" he asked and knocked again, but there was no answer. "Lia, it's me Remus, if you're awake, please open the door or say something."
"I'm fine, I just need to be alone." Lia replied from inside.
Remus could hear a strange tone in her voice. She was concerned… or scared. He couldn't tell. He just knew that something was wrong.
"Lia, will you please open the door?" he asked again.
"Remus, I really need to be alone. Please!" she replied.
Remus sighed and walked away. He went back to the Great Hall.
"She's there, but she wouldn't open the door." Remus said as he sat back in his seat.
"But why?" Virginia asked.
"I don't know. Her voice felt different though."
"Maybe I should go and check on her. Maybe I could smell something there." Wolf said.
"That's a good idea." Virginia said.
"I don't think this is a good time. She never spoke that way before. She seemed concerned about something. I think it would be better to leave her alone for a while." Remus said. " Besides, she has potions at ten. I don't think she'll miss that one. Snape would hex her if she did."
"Tell me about it!" Harry said.
"Alright then. Let's wait until she comes out. After that I'll go and talk to her." Wolf said.
Everyone nodded in agreement and continued their breakfast.
Harry went to his dormitory after finishing breakfast. As soon as he entered his room he heard a sound from the window. He turned to see Pig flying hysterically right outside it. Harry opened the window and let Pig in. The little owl flew in and landed on Harry's desk with a parchment tied to its leg.
"Hi Pig!" Harry said and took the parchment. It was a letter from Ron.
----------------------------
Hi mate!
I'm so excited about coming to Hogwarts! I'll be there tonight as soon as dad comes back from work. He is going to bring me there.
Say hello to everyone!
Ron
----------------------------
Harry folded the parchment and put it aside. Thankfully, he won't be alone in his room anymore, he thought.
Pig shook itself and flew out of the window again.
Harry was excited about Ron coming to Hogwarts. He could never imagine life in school without his best friends, especially without Ron. He was the only one whom Harry trusted most since his first year at Hogwarts.
"I have to tell Hagrid!" he said to himself, but when he was about to leave, he changed his mind. "No. I'll leave it to be a surprise."
Since he didn't know what to do, he decided to go to the library to check on some books about Defense Against the Dark Arts.
O o O o O
Voldemort and Wormtail got out of the cottage and walked through the deadly swamp. The place was covered with trees that seemed to reach the skies. The light was dim and it gave a green shadow to the surroundings.
"Where are we going now Master?" Wormtail asked.
"To the Fourth Kingdom. It is the biggest and strongest kingdom, and it's bordered with all the other kingdoms. I can start my plans from there and no one would be able to stop me." Voldemort hissed.
Wormtail followed silently. After a while, they reached a small hill covered with mushrooms. Wormtail started to hear a strange song.
We skipped the light fandango
turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
I was feeling kinda seasick
but the crowd called out for more
The room was humming harder
as the ceiling flew away
When we called out for another drink
the waiter brought a tray
And so it was that later
as the miller told his tale
that her face, at first just ghostly,
turned a whiter shade of pale
"M-master, do you hear a song?" Wormtail asked nervously.
"This isn't a time for songs Wormtail, we have to get you out of this place before you lose your mind."
She said, 'There is no reason
and the truth is plain to see.'
But I wandered through my playing cards
and would not let her be
one of sixteen vestal virgins
who were leaving for the coast
and although my eyes were open
they might have just as well've been closed
"B-but m-master… I hear a song." Wormtail said and noticed something strange on the hill. The mushrooms had eyes and little mouths, and they were singing the same song that Wormtail heard. "Master! Look at these mushrooms!" Wormtail said suddenly.
She said, 'I'm home on shore leave,'
though in truth we were at sea
so I took her by the looking glass
and forced her to agree
saying, 'You must be the mermaid
who took Neptune for a ride.'
But she smiled at me so sadly
that my anger straightway died
If music be the food of love
then laughter is its queen
and likewise if behind is in front
then dirt in truth is clean
My mouth by then like cardboard
seemed to slip straight through my head
So we crash-dived straightway quickly
and attacked the ocean bed
Voldemort looked at the mushrooms in total disgust and pointed his wand at them. "Silencio!" he called and the mushrooms lost their voices. "Annoying little brats." He muttered.
Wormtail stopped hearing the song. "That's better. Thank you master."
"Those mushrooms are so tricky. They can control the weak people so quickly before you can say Accio." Voldemort hissed. "I think it would be better if we apparate. Take out your wand."
"Yes master." Wormtail said and took out his wand.
They disaparated from the swamp and found themselves in the Disenchanted Forest.
"Ah! The Thousand Miles Forest." Voldemort said. "Always a good place to start my plans."
"Why is it called The Thousand Miles Forest master?" Wormtail asked.
"Because it is a thousand mile long. And it is also known as the Disenchanted Forest." Voldemort replied. "Enough questions Wormtail. We have work to do. Give me your hand."
Wormtail extended his left arm and Voldemort pulled up the robe sleeve and pressed on the dark mark with his hand. The mark turned into deep black and it started to sting. Wormtail kept his mouth shut while Voldemort waited for his followers to come.
"How are they going to come master?"
"Only Bella will come. The others are in Azkaban. They will know that I'm calling them, and they might try to get out. But Bella would be here sooner than they would, and we will have the time to prepare." Voldemort hissed.
They waited for a while and then Bellatrix Lestrange appeared next to them. She bowed and kissed the hem of Voldemort's robe.
"You called master?" she asked.
"Yes Bella. I'm glad you're here." He said and a smile formed on his skully face.
"It was a brilliant idea to leave a note about how to reach this place. I have never traveled by a mirror."
"Yes. That mirror has been made centuries ago and no body knows about its existence. It isn't mentioned in any books and that makes our task easier." Voldemort said. "Wormtail, go and gather some wood. I need you to light a fire so we would start our spell."
"Yes master." Wormtail said and ran through the forest to gather some wood as he was told.
Voldemort stared at Bellatrix for a while without saying a word. She looked back at him and tilted her head.
"Is there something wrong master?" she asked.
"Yes. You reminded me of someone." He hissed and looked away.
Silence fell between them again. Bellatrix didn't know whom she reminded him, but from the look on his face, it wasn't a happy memory.
"What are we going to do master?" she asked, breaking the silence.
"We are going to cast a sleeping spell on all the kingdoms. Everyone will fall a sleep except for the rulers. When they notice that everyone is asleep they will call for a meeting, and we are invited to be there." Voldemort replied.
"Brilliant!" Lestrange said.
Wormtail came back with some wood. He put them on the ground and started to light the fire.
"Stand around it." Voldemort told them.
Each one of them stood on one side of the fire and they all raised their wands to the air.
Voldemort was muttering something that Bellatrix and Wormtail couldn't understand. Then Voldemort pointed his wand at the fire and they did the same. At that moment pink sparks started to appear in the fire until it turned into pink flames.
"We are to send this flame to cover all the kingdoms. No one would be able to see it, but they will feel it." he smiled. "Wingardium Leviosa!"
Wormtail and Bellatrix did the same and the flame separated itself from the ashes and woods. It floated in the air.
"Wave your wands three times clockwise and then send the flame to a kingdom. Wormtail, you take the first, second and third kingdoms. Bella, you can take the seventh, eighth and ninth. I will take the fourth, fifth and sixth."
Bellatrix and Wormtail nodded their heads and followed Voldemort's movement. They waved their wands clockwise and after three times each one of them called the name of the specified kingdom. The pink flame was divided into nine pieces and on the call of each kingdom it flew away.
O o O o O
Harry was walking through the corridors when he saw professor Dumbledore walking to his direction.
"Harry! How nice to see you! I have good news!" Dumbledore said.
"What is it Sir?" Harry asked, a little bit confused by Dumbledore's behavior. He has never seen his headmaster act this way.
"Harry, I was at the ministry early in the morning. I was working on clearing Sirius' name although the Minister of Magic didn't like the idea. We had a meeting this morning with the members of the International Confederation of Wizards, who were assigned to study Sirius' case, and Harry, " Dumbledore took a deep breath. "I am happy to announce that all charges were withdrawn from Sirius Black. His name is clear again." Dumbledore smiled as he noticed tears form in Harry's eyes.
"Professor, are you serious?" Harry asked.
"Did I ever joke with you Harry?"
"No Sir, but it seems unbelievable. After all these years…" Harry smiled, but soon his smile faded. "If only Sirius was alive to witness this."
"He will know Harry. Don't worry about it. He will know." Dumbledore patted Harry's shoulder. "Now, I think it would be nice of you tell Remus about this. But don't tell anyone else."
"Yes professor." Harry turned to go, but he stopped and turned back to Dumbledore. "Professor?"
"Yes Harry?"
"Thank you for everything." Harry said with a smile.
"You're welcome Harry, although you don't need to thank me." Dumbledore smiled and went to his office.
Harry quickly ran to Remus' office to tell him the news. He was so happy that nothing could ruin his mood.
O o O o O
Although his name was cleared, but his new position held more troubles than he thought he would have.
Sirius was having breakfast when he felt that his servants were acting strange. They were trembling and yawning. Sirius stared at them and was shocked when he saw one of the servants fall to the ground and start to snore.
"What the…" Sirius couldn't complete what he wanted to say because he heard another servant falling to the ground.
He got up from the table and went out to the corridors. Everyone was sleeping except for him.
"What's going on here?!" He asked, but no one replied. He walked to one of the servants and knelt next to him. Sirius put his head on the servant's chest to make sure if he was alive. When he could hear the heart beating he shook the servant, but still no luck.
"This is weird. Something is just not right here." He walked to the Thrown room and saw Lord Rupert and Queen Cinderella lying on the ground too.
"Bloody hell! Everyone is asleep! This seems to be some kind of a spell. But why isn't it effecting me?" Sirius asked himself. "SNOW WHITE! WHERE ARE YOU?!"