AN/ VERY IMPORTANT CHAPTER!
Chapter 12: The Wielder of Power
"And so I'd like to wish you all a very happy Halloween," Professor Longbottom announced as I walked into the Great Hall late that afternoon fresh from my stay at St. Mungo's.
The entire Great Hall turned to stare at me as I slowly walked towards my seat at the Gryffindor table. Not a word was uttered, which led me to believe that Professor Longbottom had already told of my 'adventure'. Perhaps it was that 'adventure' that allowed me to forget that it was, in fact, Halloween.
Although I was disappointed to see that the Great Hall wasn't as decorated as it normally would have been, I was more disappointed to note that all of the snow that Professor Longbottom had mentioned earlier seemed to have been cleared up. I still managed an extremely weak smile in the general direction of Wood as I passed him. (We remained civil to one another for the benefit of the general public,)
The relentlessly staring eyes made me wish I could move faster, but my injuries would simply not allow it. So I was forced to meander slowly between the tables with the eyes of every single occupant of that rather large dining hall upon me.
I finally slid onto the bench between Logan and Greg. As soon as I had sat Professor Longbottom sat down and began to eat, the rest of the Hall following his example, so that soon the Hall was full of talk and laughter and empty of most of the open stares.
I ate very little and talked and laughed even less. Celeste quickly covered up, or at least made a valiant attempt to cover up, my strange behavior. All in all the conversation was slightly strained and there were little holes unknowingly left in the conversation where I would have made my snide little remarks.
When the feast had ended I left the table and headed in the opposite direction from everyone else. My friends stopped, turned and watched me amble slowly and casually (and quite painfully) up to Professor Longbottom.
"I was thinking about what you said earlier Professor and I have a question," I spoke softly almost as if it would hurt to speak loudly.
"Yes, Riley, what is it?"
"If there's evil in the Wielder of the Power to destroy evil, would it destroy the wielder too?"
Professor Longbottom looked at me for a long moment, "Riley I have told you far too much to lie to you now, but yes. Yes, the power could destroy the wielder too. I have told you that you must make the decision of taking the path which is right of the path which is easy, that decision is now within your hands."
I nodded solemnly and turned walking down the stairs from the staff table and down the aisle way between the tables. I bit my lip as I came upon my friends and then walked right past them, ignoring their questioning gazes. I had made my decision in the blink of an eye, for me I could choose no easy choice; I would choose what was right, even if it meant destroying myself in the process.
AN/ It's a little shorter than normal but that's okay, right?
And the plot thickens, bum bum bum, well maybe it doesn't but I've always wanted to say that!
Next chapter is going to be funny, so I hope you like funny! It needs a little comic-relief, don't you think?
Love From,
MotherCrumpet
