Chapter 13

A month went by and by going to my special lessons every Friday, my control grew steadily better (I still hadn't realized what was so special about the room though). Others began to stop teasing me. Stella and Nicole became my friends also, although Sorina was always my best friend. I, Ashley Doyles, finally became a normal a witch as I possibly could be.

I advanced through my first month at Hogwarts with almost no more problems. The work was hard, but with Sorina's help we were both able to finish every assignment on time. I practiced the few spells we had already learned until I could do them without even thinking. I never really got any better at potions. Sorina always had to read Liatrix's handwriting. As long as I didn't call any attention to myself in that class, life was great!

As I entered the room that had been laid aside for my "special magic" lessons, I saw Professor Potter looking thoughtfully at some parchment he was holding, his eyebrows furrowed. He had a quill in his hand and was waving it as if he were trying to think.

"Hello." I greeted brightly.

Potter glanced up and then looked back down. "Hello Ashley." he sighed and put down the parchment and quill. "Have you seen Emma lately?" He asked.

I shook my head. "Not since last week's lesson." Usually I would bump into her in the hall once or twice. This week I hadn't.

"Hmmm." he said, obviously distracted.

"Why?" I asked.

He looked back up. "Oh, no reason. I think Dumbledore said she was sick. I wasn't sure if she had gotten better. Ready to start?"

I shrugged. "I guess."

"Good." He strode over as I sat down at a desk. "You've been practicing clearing your mind every night. It shows. You haven't lost control at all lately."

I grinned at his almost compliment. Although I still thought he was cute, I was no longer crazy about him. It's hard to be in love with your teacher.

"Now it is time to take the next step," he continued. "I want you to actually make a portal. No, not yet. Start when I say 'begin'. First I want to tell you how to control it and not be…magnetized."

I winced. I hadn't had any problems with the three evil wizards since the first time I had my first lesson with Potter.

"I want you to imagine there is a brick wall guarding your mind. See it if you can." I tried this. "I would have suggested trying to completely clear your mind, but you use your powers by thinking of another place, right?"

I nodded, answering, "I have to see the place in my mind's eye to be there. But it might be hard to imagine the wall and the place."

He looked thoughtful at this. "Maybe…never mind. How about you try to imagine the place behind the wall? Would that work?"

I closed my eyes, then immediately opened them. "I would try, but I don't want to go anywhere. What if it doesn't work though? Somehow They could catch me again!"

Potter put his hand on my shoulder. "There's only one way to find out."

I took a deep breath.

"Okay." I closed my eyes, imagining the Gryffindor common room. Quickly, I made myself see a transparent brick wall between the room and me.

Suddenly, I was there. But somehow, it wasn't the same as the other times. I looked down and gasped. My feet were floating 4 feet off the floor. I took a deep breath and raised my hand. It was nearly transparent. Feeling faint, I tried to sit down on my bed. Without control, I slid through it. I choked back a scream. I was sitting through my bed. Half of my body was above, and half was below. I breathed deeply again and stood up. I slid up with no problems. I waved my hand through some books that Stella had left sitting on her desk. My hand went through them. "Whoa." I whispered, hoping that I could always get back to my original state of body.

The door slammed open. Stella and Nicole walked in, chatting about a cute Ravenclaw boy named Michael. I waited for them to see me and begin shrieking. Somehow though, neither of them saw me. In fact, Stella was staring right through me. She reached for her books that were behind me. I rushed to move to the side, but I was just not quick enough. My hand came into contact with Stella's. She yelped and pulled back. Her eyes were wide and searching. She couldn't see me? Her hand had gone right through mine and she couldn't even see me.

Nicole gave her an odd look. "What?" She asked.

Stella stared at her books, and then shook her head. Never mind. Just a chill." She gave me one last look and took her books. The two raced from the room, chatting about Michael again.

I took a deep breath and imagined myself in Potter's room again, again behind a brick wall. But this time I added my body to the image I was seeing.

In a flash, I was back in Potter's room and I was solid again. Excitedly, I told Professor Potter what had happened.

When I was finished, he told me, "Your body had stayed here. I tried to wake you, but nothing happened."

I was jumping with pleasure now. "This is so neat!" I cried.

Potter gave me a stern look. "Ashley, you have to be careful. Don't misuse you powers in any way. Understand?"

I shrugged, put down a little bit. It would've been fun to spy on Stella and Nicole; maybe even my parents. "I won't. Can I go now?"

He rolled his eyes. "Go ahead. We've gotten far enough for one day. But please me mature, Ashley. Be responsible."

I giggled. "With great power comes great responsibility." I said, quoting Spiderman.

He looked me in the eye. "Exactly."

I laughed and left, knowing that the Boy-Who-Lived was solemnly sitting behind me, hoping I wouldn't get myself into trouble.