Chapter 38: The Crystal Drop
"Miss Figg, can I have a moment with you after class??" The Defense Against Dark Arts professor told Arabella the moment when Lily, Arabella and Stefanie entered the classroom. They were the first three to enter the class, as it was ten more minutes before the lesson begin.
"Ok." Arabella replied, looking rather confused.
"What's going on??" Lily asked Arabella, concern all over her face. Arabella had never been the kind to be called up by a professor for no reason at all.
"I've no idea."
"Did you do something wrong??"
"I'm pretty sure I done nothing wrong in her class."
"I doubt you ever offend her either."
"I'm not even near the top student in DADA, it's Sirius."
"Maybe it got something to do with Sirius??"
"But why me??"
"We don't know."
"Weird things have been happening."
"I'm not too worried about meeting her privately like Porky."
"She's really nice and everything."
"But she always has a sad and lonely look when not in classes."
"I think she wears contact lens."
"Why did you say that??"
"Sirius said so. I overheard them talking about her eyes before."
"What about her eyes??"
"She has purple eyes, just like you."
"Oh my god!! Why didn't you tell me??"
"I don't think she wants the whole world to know. We didn't want you to let your imagination run wild."
"Like what?? She could be related to me??"
"Partly. I mean not many people have purple eyes. Usually only seers do."
"Well, I guess I might ask her about that later."
"Class, please settle down and turn to page eighty three of the textbook." The professor instructed after most of the students had entered the class.
"We talk later." Arabella said as she tried to concentrate on the lesson. I wonder why Professor Plain wants to see me. Hmm.. She does look old enough to be a mother for a fourteen-year-old. She would make a great mother too.
Bell!!
Huh?? Stef??
Don't let your imagination run wild!!
Okok. I try.
You better. We didn't want to tell you in the first place because of this.
Alright. I pay attention okay??
That's better.
"Professor Plain, what do you want to see me for??" Arabella went up to the professor after the lesson. Lily and Stefanie had gave her thumb-up signs and left with the rest of the class. They promised to be waiting for her in their dormitory and go for dinner together.
"Come with me to my office." Professor Plain said kindly, clearing the classroom magically before leaving. Professor Plain, a tall and slender lady in her thirties, was one of the nicest professors who award house points whenever possible and rarely deduct any house points. Being pretty and well liked by most of her students for her patient teachings and understanding, she had attracted several suitors in Hogwarts. One of them was none other than Professor Porky himself.
"Ok." Arabella said. Maybe I can try to read her mind.
Please don't read my mind.
Professor??
That's right, Arabella.
How did you know I'm a mind reader??
From your eyes.
You're a mind reader too??
Yes. I'm like you.
You mean both of us have similar powers??
Something like that.
Can't we talk here??
We can't. There's no privacy here. Let's head back to my office. With that, they stopped communicating telepathically. They walked towards Professor Plain's office in some sort of understanding silence.
"Come in please." Arabella walked into her office. It was filled with muggle paintings and scenic pictures. "Take a seat and make yourself comfortable." Professor Plain went to pour some chocolate from a container into a cute mug and gave it to Arabella.
"Thank you." Arabella said and took a sip. "It tastes great!!"
"My mum taught me how to make the nicest chocolate when I was younger." Professor Plain smiled and looked at Arabella, studying her closely.
"So, Professor Plain, what did you want to see me for??" Arabella asked, still confused at the sudden meeting. She was feeling at ease with Professor Plain for some reason or another. But then again, most students thought Professor Plain was rather motherly.
"I've something for you. Take out your hand." Professor Plain undone the glittering necklace on her neck and put in on Arabella's palm.
"Erm.. this is.." Arabella asked in confusion, looking at the shiny jewellery.
"This is known as the Crystal Drop. Look closely at the crystal, do you notice that it is lightly purple in colour." Arabella took a closer look at the pendant droplet. It glittered in the sunlight showing slight lavender shade.
"Yes. But why??"
"This Crystal Drop is meant for people with powers exclusively for people like you and me. I don't exactly know how to define people like us. But we're bound to lead a lonely life. It's our fate."
"What do you mean??"
"Both of us have the power of premonition and ability to read minds."
"Yes." Arabella still had a confused look on her, holding the crystal on her hand and admired the exquisite smoothness of the droplet.
"This is some sort of protector. It is passed down generations to generations. But I've no daughters or whatsoever, so I couldn't pass on. I had noticed your unusual power since the first day of school. This necklace was made for a purpose, which I've yet to discover. I had this premonition and I've to pass this to you before it's too late."
"What do you mean??"
"The rising Dark Lord, Voldemort, would gather people like you and those who are blessed with supernatural magical powers to his side. This necklace can protect you from all sorts of evil and curses. It might even reflect the curses at times, which I've no idea why it doesn't happen all the time. You'll be one of the most important people in the wizarding world someday and I know I've to give this to you soon. If not for the premonition, I'll only give this to you after your sixteenth birthday."
"What about you??"
"I don't need it anymore. One important
thing about this is that only the wearer can remove it. Never ever remove it,
do you understand??"
"Why would you give me such a priceless
treasure??"
"To save the wizarding world. This necklace is passed down to younger generation with this gift. That's why we meet and it was pre-destined that I would give this to you someday. I never expected that it would be so soon."
"Thank you very much!! I really appreciate it and I promise you that I'll never remove it unless it's for my daughter on her sixteenth birthday." Arabella said and she clasped the Crystal Drop onto her neck. A sense of warm and familiarity rushed through her calming her nerves down.
"There're several things I would like to talk to you about as well. Being a seer, a mind reader, with a gift of premonition and everything."
"Ok. This sounds serious."
"It is rather serious. Do you know why you're an orphan??"
"No."
"In order to let you develop the gift of premonition and ability to read minds, your mother, who has the same power, must leave you right after your birth. The two of you can only reunite after your turned sixteen when your powers are permanent by then."
"Oh. Are you my mother then??"
"No, dear. I'm not married, remember??"
"Oh, right."
"Your father must be a pure wizard as well. In order to develop and keep your powers, both of you can never meet before you turn sixteen. Otherwise your powers will not be focused and weaker than it should be."
"I see."
"So you understand why you're an orphan now??"
"Yes."
"I believe your biological parents will come and find you when the time comes."
"In the future, when you're married and give birth to a daughter, you must not keep her by your side. And both you and your husband has to be separated for the same time before you unite again."
"This is really sad." Arabella said. "I never thought that being born with a gift would result in the separation of my family. I rather I'm not blessed and have my parents by my side."
"I know. It all began with the curse that started a long time ago. Our ancestors were cursed and it had passed down till today. Remember, you're not alone. I only met my mother for the first time when I turned eighteen and my father at twenty."
"Oh my god!! Then who brought you up??"
"I was an orphan too, brought up by some close relatives."
"I see. So does that mean that we can curse people??"
"Yes. But never ever misuse your powers because a curse cannot be lifted just like that."
"How can you lift a curse??"
"Sacrifice."
"Sacrifice??"
"A human sacrifice is the only way to lift a normal curse. But in our case, I don't know either."
"Oh."
"Let me tell you a secret."
"I tried cursing the position of Defense Against Dark Arts position."
"How??"
"I cursed that if I ever leave this position unwillingly or with unfinished work, the following people who take up this place will only be allowed to be the DADA professor for one year." Both Professor Plains and Arabella giggled.
"Do you think it really work?? This sounds
really cool you know. What would happen to them then??"
"I don't know either. I mean I've been teaching here for over ten years. I cursed it more than five years ago. It was just like trial and error kind of thing."
"So next time this position is jinxed. What if I want to take up this position??"
"I already said that it would be cursed if only I've to leave this position unwillingly. The possibility is there but not that likely. Anyway I won't make an exception for that because I think by then you probably would have come up with a counter-curse if you want to take up this job." Professor Plain said, smiling at Arabella fondly.
"I think I might. DADA is one of my favorite lesson although I don't top the subject."
"Sirius is really talented in this field. He is a budding Auror. I can see it in him already. Both girls giggled again. The conversation was now light-hearted and rudely interrupted by a knock.
"Sarah, Albus would like to see you in his office now." Professor McGonagall said from the doorway.
"Thanks Minerva." Profesor Plain replied.
"So Arabella, I think I keep you here long enough. Remember what I told you.
I'll see you at the next DADA class then."
"Thank you, Professor." Arabella said politely as she left the office. Wow. Now I finally have some understanding. Should I go and trace my parents?? As much as I want, I know I can't. I'll meet them when the time comes. Arabella walked towards the Gryffindor tower, fiddling with the Crystal Drop hanging on her neck.
"Oh my god!!" Lily exclaimed after Arabella told both of them her conversation with Professor Plain.
"I can't believe it!!" Stefanie looked at Arabella, wide-eyed.
"This Crystal drop is really beautiful." Lily said wistfully, admiring the delicate design on both the pendant and the chain. "Both of you have gotten protector crystal necklaces. Even James, Sirius and Remus have them. I'm feeling really left out."
"Don't be. I'm sure someone will come and hand you a crystal necklace soon. Besides you've me and Stef with you all the time." Arabella said optimistically.
"I hope so. Otherwise I would be the first and only one to get hexed day in day out." Lily joked.
"Let's head down for dinner." Stefanie suggested when they started hearing noises from the empty stomach.
"Luckily DADA is the last lesson. Imagine we've Potions after that. Porky probably minus off fifty points for not attending."
"I don't doubt that at all." The three girls linked their hands and walked down towards the Great Hall.
"Hey Lils, Stef, Bell." A familiar girl voice called them from the back.
"Hey Jen, Eve, Shan, Von. What a coincidence." Lily replied, smiling at the four girls. The seven girls had clicked really well instantly. It was not amazing because many girls from Gryffindor and Ravenclaw were good friends.
"Let's have our dinner together. I can't wait for the Hogsmeade weekend again this Saturday." Jennifer said excitedly.
"Are we going together again??" Lily asked casually.
"Definitely. We don't want to go with anyone else but you three. But I was suggesting maybe the three of you and your dorm-mates can join with the Ravenclaw third-years for butterbeers this time. Something like a mass gathering. We would be meeting Jun, Eva, Mabel and Pepper in the late afternoon at the Three Broomsticks." Yvette said suggestively.
"No problem. Let's hurry before the growing up boys finish the food." Lily joked as they walked briskly towards the Great Hall, chattering excitedly about clothes and hairstyles.