My classes are so tediously boring today. I nearly fell asleep during History of Magic, even though most do anyways. It's Professor Binns who teaches it. He's a ghost, and could ramble on all day about the Goblin Rebellion if you let him. For the first time in ages, I was bored to death in class.
Sometimes I wonder why I wasn't sorted into Ravenclaw. I'm smart, right? I get good grades, I don't space out in class, I study and do my homework. That's what all those Ravenclaws do. Maybe I had too much normalcy to cover it up.
Anyways, back to History of Magic class. This is so tiring that I can actually feel the last of my brain cells slipping away as I slowly fall asleep. Suddenly, the bell rings, and everyone jumps awake. I'd ask someone to copy their notes, but I doubt anyone was awake. Plus, I don't fancy talking to anyone in general.
I look at my watch and rejoice. It's lunch! I celebrate by eating in the kitchen, where Minnie gladly hands over a peanut butter sandwich and offers me a rather small seat. While I eat I have a lovely conversation with Minnie, who tells me about her old masters, the Gaunts.
"My master was a terrible man," Minnie squeaks, shuddering, "he wasn't very nice to Minnie and berated Minnie badly when she didn't do a task properly." Minnie says, her large ears drooping in sadness. "But then Headmaster Nigellus offered Minnie a place here! He isn't very pleasant, but alteast he does not come to the kitchens to bother we house-elves." Minnie concludes happily. I think she is glad she has someone to listen to her.
"But what about you, Miss Ariana? What of your home?" Minnie asks me. I panic. What shall I say? I could never tell anyone about my secret troubles at home. It would be good to get it off my chest, but not now, not today. I glance down at my watch.
"Oh, dear! It is almost time for afternoon classes. I had better go." Minnie nods and begins to clean up my tray. "Thanks for the sandwich and the lovely story!" I call over my shoulder as I walk out. It wasn't exactly a 'lovely' story, I must admit, but, what else could I say? Thanks for the sad story? Not exactly a compliment. Minnie deserves compliments. She is a good house-elf.
Glancing at my watch, I realize that it is indeed time for classes, so I run to the Hufflepuff common room to grab my books and head for Transfiguration. Professor Angletroph glances at me with an unreadable expression.
"We are learning the cheering charm today," she says. "It is a charm that makes a person happy, cheerful and bubbly." Then she shows us the proper incantation and wand movement and we get to work.
As usual, I have no partner, and not just because there is an odd number of students in my class. Professor Angletroph usually allows me to practice the charm on her as there is no one else. I master the spell almost immediately. Professor Angletroph gives me big thumbs up and a cheery smile. Even without the thumbs up, I can tell I did it properly. Professor Angletroph usually doesn't smile. Then she cheerfully assigns us an essay on the counter-charm of the cheering charm for tomorrow. The class groans in unison, but I am perfectly happy with this. Charms is my favorite subject and the homework is always easy.
I exit the Charms classroom hidden among the throng of students and make my way towards the front gates where I will then go to Herbology.
Herbology may not be my favorite subject, but it is rather soothing to get my hands in the dirt. This class we are learning how to harvest a Puffapod, which is a great pink puff ball that bursts into flowers seeds when dropped. Just as I pick up the Puffapod, someone from Ravenclaw shouts out that he succeeded and it startles me so badly that I drop the Puffapod and now I have flower seeds all over my school robe. The Herbology teacher allows me to go to my dormitory to change.
Herbology is the last class of the day, so I don't bother going back outside. I stay in my dormitory until the bell rings, and then I head down to the Great Hall for dinner.
After a quiet but scrumptious dinner, I work in the library as usual. I do have quite a bit to do - an essay from each of the classes I had today. I start with the History of Magic essay, as I would like to get it over with. Then I proceed to do Herbology, then Potions. Those took a while too, and by the time I finish the three essays, I have been in the library for well over an hour and a half. Now I do Charms. I flip through my Charms textbook in search of the Cheering Charm's counter-charm, but it is not there. I sigh, then push back my chair and head straight for the Charms section of the library.
This section is extremely large, and there are too many books to choose from. I roam from shelf to shelf in search of the right book, but I cannot find it. I use my skill of pulling out a random book in hope that I will find the right one.
The book I pull out is very old and tattered, and the edges of the pages were frayed. This is obviously not the right book I am looking for. I am about to put the ancient book back in its' rightful place when I catch a glimpse of the title;
'Elemental Magic by Christopher Firedwell'
I stare at the cover for a few moments. Elemental Magic? What rubbish is this? It is a legend, everyone knows that. I shake my head. This is most probably just a book about the legend of elemental magic and such. Nothing all that useful for cheering charms, so I continue down the aisle.
Eventually, I find the right book and I finish up my last essay of the day. It is already 9 o'clock, and I have only a half hour left till curfew, so I head back to the shelves in search of a good book to read before bed.
After a good few minutes of searching, I find myself back in the Charms section, in an aisle that I didn't pass through while searching for a book for my essay. I pick a random book from the shelf nearest me and walk back to my seat without even glancing at the book.
I throw myself onto my chair and lay the book on the desk. The back is the side facing up so I do not see the title. I flip the book over and stare.
Elemental Magic by Christopher Firedwell?!
Have I gone mad? I'm positive I have never been in that aisle. I let my fingers slide across the old and withered cover then I open the book to the first page. I skip the title page and the publication page. After that is the introduction. I skip that too, as it is obviously of no importance. I have read many books in the past, and all of them had rather dull introductions. The next page is blank except for a single quote that reads;
Thou hast as chiding a nativity
As fire, air, water, earth, and heaven can make,
To herald the from the womb
The next page is the first chapter, entitled "Elements for Beginners," which I begin to read.
"Elemental Magic is a branch of study that is extremely complicated and advanced. It is used to bring forwards the four major forms of nature; Fire, Water, Earth and Air. Each of these four types of Element represent nature is such a way that the elemental witch or wizard (more commonly known as Elemental Sorcerer or Elemental Magician) will achieve the power to control them. This power comes from our Center, where all magical power is found. The level of magic stored there is called the Aether, or in some cultures Akasha. In the majority of the population of Wizards and Muggles included, the level of Aether is very low."
Suddenly I hear a little cough. I look up to see the librarian, Ms. Othello, standing in front of my desk.
"The library is closing now, Ms. Dumbledore." She said sternly. I look at my watch. She's right.
"I'm so sorry, I lost track of time. Could you hang on, I'd like to take this book out." I reply as I hastily put away my essays into my bag and close the book. I follow Ms. Othello up to the front desk, where I hand over the book for her to take out for me.
The librarian looks at the book and her eyebrows crease with deliberate slowness. I look at her curiously as she runs her hands longingly across the cover. I shift my bag from one shoulder to the other, which seems to attract the attention of the distracted librarian. She clears her throat distractedly, shakes her head quickly and proceeds to check out the book for me. When she finishes, she hands in back to me reluctantly.
"Just out of curiosity, where did you find this book? I have never seen it before." She says with an odd catch in her voice.
"In the Charms section." I reply, tilting my head quizzically. Ms. Othello has been working her for over 10 years. How could she have never seen it? Hasn't anyone ever taken it out before?
"Ah, right." She replies uncertainly. I bid her goodnight and walk slowly out of the library, deep in thought.
Author's Note: See, this is where the good stuff begins. We uncover something new- the book. Speaking of which, that quote there is obviously not mine, I found it on Wikipedia after searching up the four elements. I forgot to save the page but it did say under the quote:
PERICLES, from Pericles Prince of Tyre.
I have no idea what that is, but who cares. : )
Anyways, please leave me a review, preferable with lots of feedback, I love it! Especially if you be honest. Because if you're not, then I'll be a little too confident of myself and think my work is perfect when it's really not.
Only the plot and the unrecognizable characters are mine…