Thank you all for reviewing! I feel so warm inside again. I think the reviews are filling up this cold, empty void inside of me that comes from too many years of neglecting my duties for the sake of reading books and such.

Please note that Ani is a prefix that means spirit. Also note that when I say Anis, I mean Ani+s, making it plural to mean spirits. Not Anis to mean 'the combining form used in chemistry to denote derivation from anise or anisic acid'.

ZACHARIAS SMITH

I would have cried if I didn't know how things operated. From the moment I got the Earth Ani, I've been feeling lower than usual. Before the Earth Ani, suicide was a constant thought that I welcomed with open arms. But I think that Hogwarts' charms and stuff prevent students from dying by their own hands because every time I try, I find myself somewhere totally different after having blacked out—and I don't drink. With the Earth Ani, it's like having this annoying therapist in your head 24/7. The same little voice that tells me how to use the Ani when I don't know how also serves as a therapist—isn't that great?

I mean, if you were forced to keep your nose up at those around you because you were raised to believe you were better, then something is wrong. I've just recently learned how misguided I was all my life. The money that once made me feel so alive and natural now just made me feel like I was an evil tyrant. I felt dirty. But this isn't about me—well, yes it is, but I'm just getting uncomfortable talking about it. Let's skip to the point after Zabini and Ronald managed to find the portal and get us out.

No time had past from the time we went in until the time we came out in the real world. After getting back to the castle, we managed to get to our clubroom. By The Spot time, we were there for hours. By our world standards, we were there for less than a second. That place was amazing. Despite the little falling-out that Anthony and I had, it all went well. Besides, I made amends with him and we're going to meet up next Hogsmead's weekend. What I did to make amends… Well, I'm just glad Zabini and Weasley were out somewhere else.

Anyway, the funniest that happened was during dinner. It was about a week since our first visit to The Spot. For Anthony (and only for him) I stopped showing off so much. I always knew I was being obnoxious. But I couldn't stop myself. It was like being deep inside yourself and so very far away from your conscious mind and bodily actions. Now, I fought that feeling. For Anthony. But anyway, back to the funny thing.

Weasley and Zabini were at their house tables, as usual. Weasley was talking to an excited-looking duo (Potter and Granger) and Zabini was talking to no one. Although I hadn't really thought of him too much, his mannerisms say that he's a loner. Anyway, Zabini is staring dead at Weasley. Obviously, he notices because he begins to talk to them but with less attention—he's putting most of it into his staring match with Zabini.

So they're just staring and staring and staring. Soon Weasley isn't even talking anymore (Granger is). They were staring and right near the Hufflepuff table, something began to smoke. It's steamy-like, but to me, Smoke is smoke. Then the room began to brighten. I looked at the floating candles and see the flames growing higher and higher. They then seemed to flicker around. A drop of liquid fell on me. I thought it was wax. When I realized that it wasn't burning, I dismissed that idea. Another and another and another drop fell on or around me. Then it dawned upon me—the Enchanted ceiling!

I looked up to see it was cloudy and dark. For the first time, it precipitated! It was weird. It began to pour. Professor McGonagall was livid. She and Professor Flitwick were casting spell after spell after spell upward, but to no avail. As it poured harder, I noticed that the only two unaffected were Zabini and Weasley—they were still staring. Obviously, the headmistress noticed as well, because she flicked her wand twice in two directions.

Following the jets of red light, I saw them as they hit the two. Both looked as though they could shake off the spell with their staring, but, within the next second, they succumbed to the power of the Stunning spell. I hadn't noticed, but one also came at me. When I looked, it was too late. I was hit.

"You boys have a responsibility to uphold," said Professor McGonagall as she got us upstairs to her office. It looked a lot like Professor Dumbledore's old office (except it was subtly Gryffindor-oriented). The circular walls were red and there were gold swords pointing downward, shimmering. I think the swords were enchanted because the candle lights didn't flicker in the pattern they glistened. There was a perch where Dumbledore's old phoenix used to sit. The old bird didn't like me much. But this time, there was a new phoenix—it was more golden than red with a tail that seemed as long as a train. Every time I looked at it, it always did something to divert my attention back to the headmistress.

Zabini, Weasley, Anthony, and I sat in front of her. Anthony and I were out of the trouble-zone, as we had nothing to do with it, however, we were still being lectured.

"You are harboring the creating elements. You must keep your emotions in check or go to Limbo—for goodness sake, you can stay there for as long as you desire and no time will pass! Ahem," she stood and would have towered over us had it not been for the desk that stood between us. "Perhaps I should outline the rules of Limbo and your ability to interact with it." She sat back down and pulled a pensive from under a draw in her desk. She closed her eyes and stirred it around, as though hoping to catch a fish.

A moment later, a lump rose out of it and formed into a silvery man with equally silvery hair and thick glasses. It was a miniature (and still alive—as alive as you can be in a pensive) Professor Binns. He began to talk and, as usual, I felt it my cue to get my full sleep. But I stayed awake, despite the conditioning that seven years of listening to his voice and wanting to sleep because of it played.

"The elements are forces of the universe. In fact, if it wasn't for them, there'd be no universe." The guy didn't even have the decency to stress that point with vocal inflection! "When the elements take refuge inside of people, unlike possession, the people live longer. The elements allow their wielders to exhibit enormous prowess and great ability in other things. For example, those who harbor the Earth Ani are able to go around the ground soundlessly while they are also able to possess strength greater than that of Hercules.

"Emotions play a big part in controlling each Ani. Many a flashfloods have been tracked to those harboring the Water Ani as well as—" Professor McGonagall flicked her wand at the miniature Professor Binns and he spoke increasingly more loudly "—many downpours from questionable fantasies. Aether has—" She stopped it right there.

I gained a whole new respect for Zabini. He didn't even flinch. He only scowled defiantly with his arms crossed. "I have a right to allow my mind to wander, don't I?" he asked no one in particular. Professor McGonagall leered before deciding better of whatever she was going to do. She merely closed her eyes and sighed before nodding.

"You do indeed. However, raging hormones or not, you've got to keep your mind in check. With great power comes great responsibility," she nodded as though making a note to use that again. Anthony stifled a chuckle (he later informed me that the phrase she used was from a muggle film—which he later informed me was moving pictures seen on a screen).

"And also with great responsibility comes great advantages. Like—and please tell me you're above using this—being able to lay off studying until the last minute where you'll have all eternity. Since You-Know-Who is long gone thanks to our own Harry Potter (and right before school restarted, bless his soul), I'll let you in on a little secret. Back in my day, the last time the Element Anis were released, Tom Riddle (You-Know-Who in his younger years) and I were… dating. It was a cold relationship…Cold indeed." She suddenly looked cryptic. "Erm… never you mind. The point is, use Limbo wisely."

"But Professor," said Weasley suddenly, "What happened? I mean, Vol-Voldemort is dead. For good. So can't you tell us?"

"Yeah," I chimed in for some reason, really wanting to know. "It could help us use it responsibly."

She scowled at me. "It's always been an inside joke between Fillius (Professor Flitwick to you) and me that you were a closet Slytherin and were only in Hufflepuff because of relations. Now I'm beginning to think that seriously…

"Anyway, back in those days, I wanted to be a Potions Mistress. I harbored the Fire Ani and I took full advantage of Limbo. Tom," she spat his name with venom, "also took advantage of it. We would both be there, studying hard. Everyday for six years—we'd gotten our Anis in first year—we were in Limbo for days every visit. As we got older, we stayed for weeks on end. During lunch breaks, after school, breakfast… All the time, every time.

"During our sixth year, Tom began to get more romantic and charming. We began to combine our studies together. However, Tom wasn't as honest as I thought he'd be. He hid his real motives and used me only for my potion brewing skills. I'm not going into all of the details, but the point is, that if Tom—Voldemort can find out how to live forever in the equivalent of six earth years, you all can do great things. Now, I bid thee adieu."

She sent us to our dorms. I don't quite understand why we got that lecture, but it must have been for a good reason. I walked Anthony to the West Tower and took myself to the cellars and to bed.

MINERVA MCGONAGALL

I turned in my chair to the portrait of Albus Dumbledore. My best friend for years. So right now, I had the right to be angry with him. He asked me to do some things that I didn't find very appealing.

"Albus," I started calmly, "why did you have me do that?" He gave me a pensive look and spoke slowly.

"Because, dear Minerva, our foe is not at all gone. And it is our job to prepare the most powerful forces to deal with him should he return."

"You know how dangerous the Anis are! Look at me! After having the Fire Ani for so long I'm down to only eighty percent of my full magical powers! Out of those four boys, the only one who has the best chance of getting out unscathed is Anthony Goldstein—he's so centered that none of his magical or physical prowess will be lost. But the other promising boys are at risk!"

"Minerva, this is war. Sacrifices must be taken to ensure victory and—"

"Sacrifices nothing! You've done quite enough as it is in The First War! You sacrificed the Potters! Poor Harry hasn't even gotten to meet any of his family! You had his grandparents and cousins killed and led Voldemort straight to Harry!"

He at least had the decency to look upset. "Sacrifices must be made..."

"You know what Albus? I've had enough of this!" I pointed my wand at his portrait and made scarlet curtains appear over him. He makes me so angry sometimes! But for some odd reason, after I think about our conversations sometime later, I realize that he has points. I hate it.