Chapter 32 - Power of the Stone
"Ottomaya!" Barney shouted as he and Tabitha ran over to her.
She was barely breathing and unable to keep her eyes open as Barney lifted her head up. Tabitha was about to go and see if she could find any help when Thomas and Viola came running down the corridor.
"What happened?!" Thomas cried out as he knelt down beside Ottomaya and took her hand before looking around and seeing the other Ottomaya lying there dead.
"She killed her," Tabitha said, her eyes beginning to well up.
"But that means..." Thomas began to say but couldn't finish his sentence as he knew the two forms of a Hydemantris were unable to live without the other for too long. With Ottomaya's other half dead, she would surely not last long herself. "There's got to be something we can do?" Thomas pleaded as he began to cry.
"We managed to contact the Ministry, help is on the way," Viola said but they all knew this would come too late to help Ottomaya.
Barney didn't want to admit this to his friend, but there seemed nothing they could do to help Ottomaya. He sat on the floor next to her and took his bag off his shoulder and placed it beside him. He heard the clink as the stone inside it hit the floor. He thought back to when he first found Nevermore's notebook and now wished he'd never found it. Maybe it was true and the stone was cursed. As he thought about the stone more he considered the last entry in the journal that he had deciphered and two lines stuck in his mind - 'I can use the stone to give her the life that she wants' and 'I'm sure I can keep her safe'.
"I think there might be a way to help her," Barney said, still trying to figure it all out in his head.
"How?" Thomas said, as he wiped tears away from his eyes.
Barney reached into his bag and pulled out the stone. "I think I know how it works now. When I had the vision of seeing myself winning the Quidditch match it wasn't a vision, it was a sort of an alternate reality."
"What do you mean?" Tabitha said looking bemused.
"In my vision I saw Eleanor Nevermore. I think that's what happened to her. Her husband put her in the stone in an alternate reality. One where she hadn't experienced Samuel killing himself. One where she could be happy."
"But how will that help Ottomaya?" Thomas asked.
"It doesn't work like the real world. When I saw Eleanor she hadn't aged. She must have been in there for over a hundred years but she still looked like she was in her thirties. If we can get Ottomaya into the stone I think she'll be able to live without her other half."
"But she'll be living in a fake world," Tabitha noted.
"True but at least she'll be alive," Barney said, thinking they had no other options.
"So how do we get into the stone?" Thomas asked, ready to try anything to save the girl he had feelings for.
"We just need to concentrate really hard," Barney said and then it struck him. "That's it, that's how I did it last time. I had taken the concentrating potion Slughorn gave us. Has anyone not used theirs yet?"
"Mine's still in my dorm," Viola said and without needing to be told she ran off to get it.
"Stay with us Ottomaya, you're going to be alright," Thomas said as he stroked her hand.
By now she was barely breathing and Barney checked her pulse and it was very slow. "Ottomaya when Viola gets back I need you to think really hard about getting better OK?" Barney said, hoping she could still hear and understand him.
They waited for what seemed like ages for Viola to return and as soon as she did she passed the vial to Barney.
"So what do we do now?" Viola asked.
"I don't think there's enough for all of us. I'll go with Ottomaya, I've been in the stone before," Barney replied.
"I'm coming with you," Thomas said and Barney didn't dare argue with his friend.
Barney and Thomas each took a small sip of the potion before Thomas held Ottomaya's head back and opened her mouth slightly and Barney poured the rest of the potion in. They all sighed with relief as Ottomaya swallowed, hopefully she knew what was going on even if she wasn't being very responsive.
"Ottomaya, Ottomaya can you hear me" Barney said really loudly and hoping for some reaction to know she was listening. Ottomaya's eyes blinked. Barney didn't know if they was on purpose or just a natural reaction but they had no time to lose. "Ottomaya I need you to think about everything being OK."
Barney looked to Thomas as if signalling for him to do the same as Viola and Tabitha took a step back to give them some space. Barney opened up Ottomaya's right hand and placed the Endeavour Stone in it and then placed his hand on top of it. Thomas did the same as Barney then closed his eyes and began to think back to last time he was inside the stone. He thought about being in the Great Hall surrounded by students and he imagined Thomas and Ottomaya with him.
Barney opened to see they were still in the corridor and Ottomaya still laid dying on the cold floor. He closed his eyes again and thought harder, trying to block everything that was happening in the real world out.
The stone began to feel warm under his fingers and Barney began to feel dizzy. He tried to keep his eyes closed for as long as possible but he thought he was about to pass out so he opened them. He was no longer in the second floor corridor. He was in the corridor outside the Great Hall and there were numerous students walking around as if nothing was up. He looked around and saw Thomas across the corridor who looked equally surprised by their surroundings. But Ottomaya was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is she?" Thomas said as he ran over to Barney. "Did she not make it?"
Barney didn't know the answer as he scanned the corridor looking for her. "She might be here somewhere. Lets look around."
They headed straight into the Great Hall to find it buzzing with students arriving for their evening meal. They looked around but there were so many people it would be hard to spot Ottomaya if she was in there.
"I don't recognise anyone," Thomas sound, sounding confused.
"I think that's because these are all images of people from Nevermore's time. This world was created for Eleanor to live in so it's filled with people she would be familiar with."
"Right. I'm going to check the Ravenclaw table."
Barney stood there as Thomas headed off and kept looking around.
"Are you OK? You look a little lost," a gentle voice said beside him.
Barney turned and instantly recognised Eleanor Nevermore from her portrait.
"Oh... er... I'm looking for my friend," he stuttered, not sure what to say.
"I've seen you before haven't I? At the Quidditch match? But I've not seen you since. And your friend, he's new too?" she said referring to Thomas.
"Erm yes sort of. It's hard to explain. We're sort of... exchange students. My friend, the one I'm looking for, is thinking of transfer here permanently."
"It's a bit odd for new students to be turning up mid term," Eleanor said sounding sceptical.
"Yeah it was... all sort of sudden," Barney replied as he suddenly spotted Thomas who had found Ottomaya at the Ravenclaw table. Thomas was giving her a big hug and Ottomaya seemed to be taken by surprise and had no idea what was going on. "She doesn't remember what happened," he said to himself but Eleanor heard.
"Pardon, what did you say?"
"Oh nothing. My friend has found my other friend," he said pointing to the pair of them.
"This isn't real is it?" Eleanor said and took Barney by surprise.
"What?" he said in confusion.
"This place, it isn't real is it? That's why you've suddenly turned up out of the blue."
"Ermm..." Barney didn't know how to answer.
"It's OK, I've had a feeling for a while, something just never seemed right. And this place at times just seems too perfect. No badly behaved students. Everyone is always happy. It just never seemed completely real."
Barney tried to avoid eye contact with her even though she was staring directly at him.
"So what is this place?" she asked.
Barney debated what to do. He didn't want to shatter her allusion of her world, this place was meant to be protecting her. But if she already suspected it wasn't real maybe she had a right to know the truth.
"See the thing is your husband put you inside this thing called the Endeavour Stone."
"My husband?... Oh my yes, Vitorious, now I remember him. Where is he?" she said with a sadness in her eyes.
"Well I'm not sure how to tell you this ... but he's dead, He's been dead for over a hundred years."
"I've been in here that long?" Eleanor said in shock.
"Yes. He did it to protect you. You weren't in a good place. You were unhappy."
"Samuel! Now I remember," she said as her eyes lit up. "So why are you here?"
"My friend, she's dying. She won't survive in the real world but we're hoping she can live here and be alright."
"Yes I'm sure she will be. I'm not an expert on the stone like my husband was but I think she'll be just fine her," Eleanor said as she looked over at Barney's friends amongst all the other students in the Great Hall.
"Will you keep an eye on her for me?"
"I'm afraid I can't do that."
"Why not?" Barney said, taken aback by her comment.
"I think it's time for me to go. Like you've said I've been in here for over a hundred years. I've had my time. Besides if I leave it means this place will become whatever your friend needs it to be. It will be filled with people she knows and loves."
"But what will happen to you if you leave?" he asked, genuinely concerned for her even though he'd only just met her.
"I'm not sure but I'll probably die. I'd be a very old woman back in the real world."
"And you're OK with that?"
"It's my time," she replied with a faint smile as if she'd already made peace with the fact.
"Samuel is still at Hogwarts, well his ghost I mean."
"He is?" she said and Barney could see a tear beginning to form in her eye.
"I think he always hoped one day you'd come back to him."
"I think then it's time I did."
"Will she be OK here?" Barney asked.
"I'm sure she'll be fine."
"But what about when we leave?" he said as he looked how happy Ottomaya seemed as she chatted with Thomas.
"I don't think you'll leave. Not for her." Eleanor replied. "Once I go she'll start to fill this place with her memories and people she wants around. So there will be a version of you and your other friend with her always."
"And will she know what's going on? Will she know this place isn't real?"
"She might sense something is off but she probably won't question it. Don't worry she'll be happy here," Eleanor said and put her hand on Barney's shoulder to comfort him.
"Well I'd better go and get my friend and tell him the good news."
Barney left Eleanor standing there as she looked around the Great Hall with a different perspective on things as if she was seeing it for the very first time.
"Hey Barney I found her," Thomas said joyfully as Barney approached.
"Hi Barney," Ottomaya said as Barney looked around at all the faces he didn't recognise.
"Who was that you were talking to?" Thomas asked.
"That was Eleanor Nevermore."
"Oh right. and?"
"And everything is going to be OK. She's going to come back with us."
"Are you going somewhere?" Ottomaya asked as she looked at both Barney and Thomas in turn.
"Just a short trip, you won't even notice we're gone," Barney said and Ottomaya seemed reassured by this. "Thomas you should probably say goodbye now."
But Thomas wasn't ready too. He didn't want to leave Ottomaya on her own but he knew he had too. He couldn't stay it that world with her. He had his own life and family in the real world. And he knew Ottomaya had grown up in an orphanage, she didn't have any real family waiting for her.
"So me and Barney need to go now," Thomas said trying to hold back his tears.
"OK but you'll be back soon right?" she asked, not sure why Thomas seemed to be getting so upset when he was meant to just be going on a short trip.
Thomas looked to Barney for reassurance.
"Yes we'll be back with you soon," Barney said.
"Well have fun boys," she said and was about to turn back and start chatting with the rest of the people at her table when Thomas leaned in and gave her a big hug. "Thomas what's got into you?" she said as he gripped her tightly round the shoulders.
"Nothing, just you're amazing you know that?"
"Thanks, you're pretty special too," she replied and Thomas finally let go of her.
"Come on lets go before this gets any harder," Thomas muttered to Barney and they started to walk away. Thomas didn't dare look back as he knew he wouldn't be able to contain his tears.
Barney and Thomas walked out into the corridor where Eleanor was waiting for them.
"Are you both ready?" she asked and they nodded in reply. "So how do we leave then?"
"I'm not sure," Barney replied. "Last time it just sort of happened. I guess something happened that made me realise it wasn't real."
"Well we all know this isn't real this time," Thomas noted. "So what are we supposed to do? Please don't tell me we're stuck here?"
Barney wasn't sure. He hadn't consider how they would get out again. "Lets just think about being back in the real world."
Barney closed his eyes and Thomas followed with Eleanor doing the same. Barney thought really hard about all his friends back in the real Hogwarts. He thought about Tabitha and Viola waiting for them in the corridor and he thought about all his other friends who were still frozen in the Great Hall and needed their help. He started to feel dizzy like he was almost going to faint. He reached out his hand and touched a cold stone wall and steadied himself.
"Barney! Thomas!" a familiar voice shouted out and Barney opened his eyes to see Tabitha running towards him and gave him a hug. "We were so worried. You all just sort of disappeared," she said as she moved next to hug Thomas. "And Ottomaya? Is she OK?"
"Yes she's going to be fine," Barney said, his mind still foggy as he slowly got his bearings back and he started to look around and realised Eleanor wasn't with them.
"What's wrong?" Tabitha asked, noticing the concern on his face.
"Eleanor's not with us."
"Who?"
Before Barney could answer he happened to look up and there, floating in the air was the spectral form of Eleanor Nevermore. She drifted down to them.
"Are you OK?" Barney asked as Eleanor looked around, taking everything in.
"Yes I think I'm going to be fine. I just need to find Samuel."
"I would try the Clock Tower, I think you'll find him waiting for you there," Barney said and Eleanor smiled at him and glided off to be reunited with the man she loved.
"What was that all about?" Tabitha asked as she watched the ghost of Eleanor fly off down the corridor.
"I think it's an indication that nothing can get in the way of true love."
Barney went over to Thomas to check he was alright. He had tears running down his cheeks but he knew what they had done was for the best. The four of them headed out to the courtyard to wait for help from the Ministry to arrive. And as the waited Barney looked up to the clear night sky and in front of the clock tower he saw two ghosts dancing in an embrace under the light of the moon.
