18. Gobstone magic

The gobstone witches were allowed to study in a special room where no one was allowed to speak to them. Hermione and Jade were completely on their own reading the Grimoire and keep their own thoughts to themselves.

Hermione had many questions but Jade had made it clear she didn't want to talk. The book was more important to her while Hermione was a no one to her. No student of Salem she was just an ordinary witch to the other who pushed the book away from her and sighed. "This book doesn't help at all. Astoria could have died because you were stupid and jealous your boyfriend dumped you"

"No, it's not like that" Hermione tried to defend herself but again Jade wasn't listening at all. Her own opinion was the only one that mattered to her. Astoria was safe and still her friend while Scabior's soul belonged to Hermione from now on. "You kept my servant... and almost killed both"

"Servant? Why do you call him your servant?" The word made Hermione angry but she didn't even try to discuss humanity and freedom with the stubborn other. "We should rather talk about this book and how we stop the muggles from attacking us"

"This is your fault too" Jade's words hurt Hermione and she wanted to cry but no tear left her eyes instead her stone was glowing in her pocket. While she was still looking at the bright colour Jade was already grinning. "You can't control your emotions anymore. This happens if you use gobstone magic. You lose control of yourself which you shouldn't"

"Yes, yes, because it's all my fault" Hermione grabbed the small black book herself and started reading while she hoped she wouldn't have to talk to Jade any longer.

Ron and Draco were walking inside the school building. No one was allowed to go out. Only teachers, gobstone witches and Astoria had a gobstone while every other student had to give back every single one they got during their school years. Wands were taken away as well to make sure no student was breaking the rules.

For their own protection every wizard had to stay inside. They spent their days quiet while Astoria and Scabior slowly recovered. Astoria was the first to leave and return to Ron and Draco who welcomed the young girl. "How do you feel?"

"It was a strange feeling. I didn't feel like myself anymore. I had so many thoughts in my mind and... I have to talk to Jade. Do you know where she is?" Astoria looked around but couldn't see her friend. For a moment she was upset but hoped Ron and Draco could help her until the two of them brought her down again. "We're sorry but no one is allowed to see them. The teachers try to keep us quiet but I think they are worried about what's going on outside the school"

"Muggles are on patrol every day. They are armed and they don't look like they want to make friends" Draco looked scared and held Ron's hand while Astoria shook her head. "They can never win"

No witches in Salem!
Free us from magic!
We don't want you!

Jade stood by the window and saw some of the banners of the muggles. They had never learned the story of what had happened because they didn't want to believe the truth. It must be written in the Grimoire but reading it was difficult.

Maybe the bright witch could read it and tell Jade what she wanted to know. She didn't like or trusted Hermione but when the younger witch looked up from the book Jade had no other choice. "What? Are the muggles distracting you?"

"No, I... I was expecting something different. There is no spell to undo the gobstone magic but some of the pages have this shimmer on them. What is this? I've never seen an old book looking like that. Could it be a spell?" Hermione showed Jade the pages who took one of her gobstones and moved it over the pages. The words changed and let the witches see more spells for gobstone magic.
Jade sat down with the book once more and kept to herself like a treasure while Hermione waited. Both of them stayed quiet until Jade leaned forward and moved the book over the table. "That's the undoing spell. Do you want to use it for Scabior or do you want him to be yours?"

"I don't want to own anyone. Jade... just tell me if Ron's soul is in one piece. It's because of him I did this spell in the first place. He is my best friend and now... it doesn't feel right he is with Draco" Hermione didn't touch the Grimoire and watched Jade grinning. "I'm not the right person to ask. I don't believe in love or anything. To love someone you have to trust the other completely and you can never trust anyone like that"

"That's not true" Hermione disagreed with Jade and finally touched the book again reading how to let Scabior go.

It was already evening when it got loud outside. The crowd of muggles seem to be larger than days before. They walked the streets and lighted fire which worried some of the students trying to see what was going on outside. None of them saw much but heard and saw the expression on their teachers' faces.

"What is going on outside?" Astoria wanted to know why the school was suddenly getting loud too. Draco and Ron followed her and found Kendra getting closer to the front door. "Kendra, why is everyone excited?"

"I think all are worried. One teacher said we should get ready and prepared to be sent home earlier this year. They are scared the muggles burn down all houses connected to the Salem trials. A fire could break the spell and bring down our school" Kendra was shaking and Ron put a hand on her shoulder. "We will be safe. The muggles can't do this"

"But muggles are stupid" Astoria and Draco both didn't trust muggles and made Ron sigh. "You don't even know about muggles. You just believe what your parents told you and we all know you can't trust what your parents told you"

Astoria and Draco both stayed silent when a scream broke their silence. Light was coming from the front door and teachers forced students to move back to the hall. Ron only saw a glimpse of the fire but pulled Draco backwards. "Let's find Hermione... and Jade"

"You have to..." Jade was interrupted when voices came from outside and someone knocked on the door. It was annoying until Hermione grabbed her arm and showed her the shine of fire climbing the walls. "We should go somewhere safe. Where could we go to?"

Hermione didn't know the school as well was Jade and let her lead the way. Outside the room they were joined by Ron, Draco, Astoria and Kendra running towards the hospital floor to get to Scabior the fastest way before starting to worry about what was going on.