22 Saturday

Noelle sat in Queenie's living room, the two of them looking out the window at passerby folk on their way to and from work and shops. Noelle had her wand out at the ready, waiting for Queenie's signal.

"Wait for someone to stop honey and then focus on them."

When she'd arrived for the day, her instructor had told her the plan was to practice her legilimens on muggles. Supposedly it was easier than with a witch or a wizard where, when using a spell, she was more likely to be caught and blocked.

"It'll get to the point where you don't need the spell honey, and by then? People won't know you're reading their mind unless you tell them as such." She'd said.

Across the street, a man and woman paused to speak outside a bakery cart. They were smiling and exchanging greetings. Queenie nudged her.

Pointing her wand at the woman, Noelle tried to focus all her energy into the ability. "...Legilimens." Though she felt something stirr inside her at the word, nothing happened. "Legilimens!" Still there was nothing. She groaned in frustration. This was her third attempt and she was getting annoyed. "I can't do it!" She threw her hands up.

Queenie sighed. "You're giving up too quick honey! The ability is inherent to you. You can do it." She looked at her strangely. "But then, there's more on your mind than just that huh? Do you want to talk about it?"

Noelle could understand why other wizards would be put off by someone having the ability to read their mind. Even having the ability herself, it was unnerving. "Just… There have been things happening at school for years now, and it all adds up to this great evil coming, but half the population believes it and won't do anything about it, and the other half refuses to believe it. And yes-" She answered as Queenie opened her mouth to ask a question. "I do have boy troubles as well. But that is far less important than what I just said."

Queenie closed her mouth, smiling as Noelle continued. "Yesterday, some things happened at the Hogwart's lake. Creatures attacked us while we were swimming. Most would put it off as we were just in their territory and they were defending themselves, or maybe we just were being stupid and angered them somehow. But I thought it weird, and even Ms. McGonagall thought to herself that it was strange that all the magical creatures were acting up."

"So then you read her mind?"

Noelle nodded. "Only for a moment when I was worried she was disappointed in me." She looked down.

Queenie put a hand on her shoulder. "So, let's put those emotions that run strong in you to work then honey. Let them drive your legilimens." It wasn't necessary for Noelle to read her mind to know that, Queenie couldn't solve her problems, and maybe she didn't even know what to say to the younger girl, but she would help her channel those feelings and pull her mind away from what was bothering her.

She sighed and turned back to the window. "Alright, we'll try again." She looked out at ttwo women now who were chattering away, one holding her little girl by the hand. She focused on the little girl. "Legilimens."

It was as though a connection snapped into place, a cord between herself and the girl. "I wish mommy would let us go home… She's always stopping to talk… Maybe she'll let us stop and get hot cocoa on the way home!" As Noelle listened to her thoughts, the girls emotions showed on her face, and with her last thought, she began tugging on her mother's arm. "Mommy! Mommy! Can we stop for hot chocolate?"

Noelle looked at Queenie. "I-I did it! On purpose!"

Queenie smiled back. "Well done! Now, we're going to keep practicing, and then next week, we'll have you try it on some wizards. And after today, you may see some improvement in your ability to read minds just by accident even."

This was meant to be encouraging Noelle knew, but it worried her. What would her friends think? How would other students treat her if they knew? But that was just it, it was up to her whether they ever knew.