The Phantom of Hogwarts
(The True Story)
Chapter Three: Where the Magic Meets the Night
The following two days both flew and crept by. One moment, Hermione could feel the excitement coursing through her veins, merged with an overwhelming desire, at the thought of seeing her "Phantom" again. The next moment, her mind would fill with fear at the thought of what he might have in store for her.
During the previous five years of his tutelage, he had never taken her anywhere in the castle other than a secret room on the seventh floor, known as the Room of Requirement. He had introduced her to it during her first year at Hogwarts. The room always provided everything they needed for her studies. Therefore, she found it quite frightening the sheer idea that the castle held a place more secret.
Hermione reached the first-floor classroom at about a quarter till midnight and waited inside for the Phantom to come. As she stood there she reflected back on all the lessons that he had taught her. So many things that she would have never learned without him.
"Please hurry," she whispered.
"I am at your command."
Hermione turned to see her Master of Magic sweep her a low bow.
"I've come, as you requested," she stammered.
"You sound nervous, my Angel." He glided over to where she stood and scooped her right hand into his. "Have I frightened you?"
Hermione felt her heart flutter. "No, my Master. It's just that this will be the first time you have taken me anywhere besides the Room of Requirement."
"You weren't ready, until now. Soon, the whole world will know of your magnificence. Before that happens, I must prepare you. Are you ready to take the next step in your education?"
"I'm ready for whatever you have for me."
He smiled. "Not yet, but you will be, my Angel. Now, let us descend into where the magic and the night are one."
Without waiting for an answer, he guided her across the classroom to the fireplace. She would have expected anyone else to pull out a bag of floo powder, but this was her Master. With a wave of his free hand, the fireplace sank into the floor to reveal a descending staircase. The moment she stepped foot on the stairs, it began to move. She held tight to his hand as the staircase spiraled down deeper into the castle.
When the staircase came to a halt, Hermione beheld a dock leading out beside an underground channel. A single boat floated in the moving waters, as though waiting for them.
"We must be a thousand meters below the castle," she breathed.
"Do you wish to go back?"
"No, Master. I must see what you have to show me."
"Then come with me."
He grasped her hand then led her down the dock and helped her into the boat. The moment that he stepped inside, the boat began to move. Torches that lined the channel burst into flame as they approached. Hermione could see the channel winding ahead of them as the boat soared over the waters.
"Close your eyes, my Angel," her Master called, as though from far away. "Reach out with your magic."
She closed her eyes and began to focus her magic as he had taught her. Inside her mind, the channel began to take form. She could see the torches that lined the walls.
"Yes. Yes. You're doing it. Focus your magic, my Angel, and behold our destination."
His words of encouragement burned within her. She focused on his words and could feel her magic surging. The vision of a vast room flooded her mind. Its towering ceilings arched higher than the Great Hall. Tapestries and banners of the four houses of Hogwarts lined walls of emerald green. The same emerald green of her Master's eyes.
"Open your eyes, my Angel."
Hermione opened her eyes to find the boat resting against a stone landing. He had already emerged from the boat and stood before her with his hand outstretched. She accepted his offer and stepped out onto the landing. Looking past her Master she could see the vision that had flooded her mind.
"Is this where you live?" she breathed.
"All of Hogwarts is where I live. This is my inner sanctum, below the castle, and far away from all the noise."
"How long have you been … here?"
"Before I answer that, I must apologize, for I'm sorely undressed to be receiving company. In my haste to fetch you, I completely forgot my manners."
Before she could say a word, he had snapped his fingers and changed into formal apparel, complete with cloak and cane. Even his mask looked regal.
"You look quite handsome."
He swept her a bow. "Thank you. You look magnificent as well, my Angel."
Hermione gasped as she realized that she now wore an elegant red dress and heels.
"Shall we?" He asked, extending the hook of his arm.
Hermione sighed as she accepted his arm. "I'm yours."
Together, they entered the majestic chamber. She wanted to scan the room with her eyes. To take in every millimeter of its space and beauty. However, she couldn't remove her eyes from him.
"Look up."
She lifted her eyes to behold beauty beyond comprehension.
"The Professors of Hogwarts are content with an enchanted sky in the Great Hall. I prefer to view the beauties of the universe. The colors beyond the atmosphere that remain hidden from sight even at night."
"It's beautiful."
They continued walking down the center walkway and up a set of stairs that led to a lifted stage above the rest of the chamber. When they crested the top, she gasped.
"This stage. It looks exactly like the Gryffindor common room."
"I have enchanted this stage to take the form of any place within Hogwarts. When I commanded you to reach with your magic, the stage responded. It obeyed your subconscious request. You were excited, yet nervous. You wished for comfort, and the chamber fulfilled your desire."
"Those stairs." She pointed to a set of stairs that rose from the corner. "What would I find at the top? A copy of my dorm room?"
"If you walk up those stairs, my Angel, you shall be in your dorm room. However, when you come back down you shall be in the real Gryffindor common room."
Hermione swallowed. "Have you ever used those stairs?"
"I told you before. I never enter the sacred spaces of Hogwarts unless I'm invited inside." He stepped away, then turned to face her. "Turn around and behold the majesty of this chamber."
Hermione turned, then lost herself in a wave of magic. She closed her eyes and spread her arms wide as a weightless sensation swept over her.
"This is where magic swells, my Angel. Down here. Away from all the chaos above. Here, our magic becomes one with the night. Focus upon my voice and open your eyes."
Hermione obeyed. Focusing on his voice, she opened her eyes. She could feel the magic swirling about her. She looked down, then gasped at the sight before her.
"I'm not touching the floor!"
"Focus on my voice, my Angel," her Master commanded.
Too late. Before she could refocus, she felt the floor beneath her heel one more. She hesitated to meet his gaze.
"Could you feel the magic surrounding you? Flowing through your being?"
"Yes, my Master. I could feel it wash over me. Then —"
"Then, you opened your eyes," he sighed. "Fear. Doubt. These are the enemies of true magic."
"I have disappointed you."
A hand touched her chin as it lifted her face until her gaze met his.
"Others have, but you have never disappointed me, my Angel. You should never hang your head for anyone."
Her breathing quickened under his gaze. "Is this my next great lesson? To learn to fly?"
"No. Not to fly. To soar, my Angel. To soar without leaving the ground. The ability to fly without a broom or thestral is but a small feat compared to what I shall teach you."
She licked her lips, then bit her tongue as she stared into his eyes.
"I can see your questions, and I promise that all shall be answered in time. However, for now, you need to focus. To let me teach you. To guide you on this journey into realms of magic long since forgotten by the magical world."
Her lips quivered. "I'll do whatever you ask of me."
"Then close your eyes once more and focus. Let your magic soar! Soar for me, my Angel!"
~~~Phantom~~~
"Hermione! Wake up!"
Hermione awoke to find herself laying one of the sofas in the Gryffindor common room.
"Lavender?"
"Hurry up, Hermione. You're going to be late for breakfast. Were you down here all night?"
Hermione shook her head. "I'm not sure."
"Well, you'd better get upstairs and freshen up. Don't wanna wear the same clothes two days in a row again."
"Been up studying all night?"
Hermione turned to see Neville standing behind the sofa.
"Bloody hell, Hermione. No need for that. OWLs were last year and NEWTs aren't til next."
"You know me, Nev. When I get lost in something."
Neville smiled. "Yeah, I know. Guess that's why you're the best."
"No, Nev. I'm not even close."
Neville shook his head as she darted up to the girl's dorm. She splashed her face then looked in the mirror as she tried to recall all that had happened the night before.
"Was it all a dream?" She muttered softly.
Wiping her face with a towel, she walked over to her closet and opened it to find the red dress her Master had given her hanging inside the door. She ran a finger down the soft material. Then, she found a note pinned to the sleeve.
My Angel,
Wear this next Thursday when we meet again.
Until then,
Your Master of Magic
Hermione gripped the note with both hands and pressed it to her chest. "A note from him," she whispered. Her heart soared as the memories from the night before flooded her mind. She tucked the note into her trunk, then hurried down to breakfast in the same clothes as the day before.
A/N: Back again! I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please review and let me know what you think! Thanks to all those that have responded and special thanks to AA (my Dad) for being my beta!
He's letting me fly a little loose with this one. I had to get this story out of my head before I could focus on finishing our other unfinished adventures with Harry and the gang! (For all you Ace fans, part II is almost done and we have part III mapped out).
Anyway, thanks to all my readers! The best part (in my opinion) of this story is yet to come!
JB