I couldn't let them get the better of me. Pushing the reflection, to the back of my mind. I turned around, facing them. As I did I cleared my thoughts, fully, leaving my mind blank. He walked closer. As I pulled my wand out, pointing it at him, causing him to stop walking.
"I'll be honest, I thought you'd be wise enough to show up with the, Potter boy." Quirrell stated, with an unreadable expression. I continued to look at him with narrowed eyes. When I didn't respond, he spoke again, "I suppose they are on there way now, I wonder whether they'll all make it here, or if it'll just be the Potter boy." He's referring to my friends, Hermione, Harry and Ron. "I presume they are still accusing the bat, ay?"
I replied with the Cruciatus curse. He didn't move out of the way in time, as he fell to the ground. He was crouched hugging himself. Walking forward, wanting to keep the connection, I was then thrown back, by a blue light, I presume the knock-back jinx was used. As I went, flying to the other side of the room, missing the mirror. My right shoulder hit the wall, it didn't hurt as badly as it once did, but it was enough pain for me to wince and hold it for a minute. I looked up seeing Quirrell walk closer, his wand now out, pointing at me. I quickly picked mine back up, getting to my feet. Just as he sent a red light from his want, as a white light left mine. We were both hit. I fell to the ground, feeling a familiar pain, the Cruciatus curse, breathing harshly, I held my stomach, feeling as if it was going to implode as the pain went on. I can ignore this. I need to! Now, get up! I slowly, managed to somehow stand back up, using the wall to prop me up. Still feeling the excruciating pain, as it rippled through me. Alright, good. On my feet. I need to stay that way.
"Yes master." Quirrell spoke, I looked to him, was he conversing with Him? It looked as if Quirrell had just gotten back onto his own to feet. I noticed the red brand like scorch mark that went from his neck and down under his shirt. I praised myself mentally, the stinging jinx hit him after all. Even burned him. Good, I hope it hurt. he then looked to me, "Impressive, girl." Quirrell chuckled, bringing me out of my thoughts, as he went on, "Once again, you must feel special, it's not often he's impressed." He then walked to the mirror, "I'd almost suggest joining us, you'd learn more, under my lords watchful eye, and quickly" He stated, observing the mirror.
I resumed my glare, "Special, sure. That's the word to describe it" I retorted, going on. "I'll pass on learning anything from him" I then flicked my wand, Quirrell forced away from the mirror, as his bats started flying from his nose. As the bat-bogey hex hit him. Once he was distracted, I pointed my wand, and a rope flew from the tip, wrapping around Quirrell, tangling around his arms, forcing his wand to drop. Distracted and caught up with the bat boogies and the rope, I thought I had the upper hand, as a yellow light escaped my wand, only for a blue one to hit me, breaking my concentration, my yellow light missing Quirrell as I went back into the wall. The bats that had flew around the room reverted back to being boogers, while the rope dropped.
"Tisk, tisk" Quirrell taunted, "I'm almost as disappointed, as am impressed by you girl. Surly, if that last one had landed you would've had me." He taunted walking, towards me, his wand up, "You seemed to have forgotten, I'm not alone, you're not a match for my lord, nor I." he paused as I chuckled.
Sitting up on my knees, I stared at him, "It'd seem I'm a match, for at least you, I presume without him, you'd be a true coward, kissing the bottom of my feet, I assume you'd do the same for him, if he had his own feet, yeah?" Before he could answer I went on, getting up, "Let my guess, you're only doing as he says out of fear? You're nothing more than a pathetic host, as he feeds off your fear, I bet you're no match for me alone"
"I'm not pathetic! You're no match for me." He growled, I struck a nerve.
Giving a light laugh, I spoke again, wanting to hit the nerve, harder, I wanted him to act alone, without influence. Perhaps if he's pushed, he'd would be acting alone, making him vulnerable, "It must be embarrassing. Tell me how many of his followers struggle with dueling an eleven year old, girl? Hm?"
"Fool, she's taunting you!" A loud familiar hiss came from the back of Quirrell, "She's playing mind games with you."
Quirrell, seemed to relax, once he was told this, he then held his wand up, making the fire hand movement, sending flames at me, I pushed myself from the wall going to the left side, then shot an icy blue light at Quirrell, the light turning into water. He got out of the way, I went behind a pillar in the room, thinking over what to do next. Coming to the realization, that my body was becoming exhausted. Not that I would stop dueling. Not that he knew. Not yet.
"Come on out Ravenclaw" He taunted, "Not feeling so superior now are you?"
With a roll of my eyes, I shot around the pillar, wand point exactly where Quirrell was, he was aiming at me as well, a red light left my wand, while a rope left his. He was going to try to bind me, I dropped to the ground, as the rope went over my head. When I dropped, my spell had missed Quirrell. Now On my knees, I saw the diary a ways in front of me. Quirrell was getting ready to cast another spell of ropes. I had to move. But I didn't want to leave the diary. I lunged for it, as ropes left Quirrells wand. The rope had me, as I landed on the diary. Unable to move currently. Looking around the area, for anything sharp.
Quirrell walked over, picking up my wand, placing it in his pocket, "Tell us, what did you see in the mirror, the stone?"
I looked up at him, feeling a familiar numb feeling in the back of my head, "Nope, I saw myself kicking your bloody Arse." I lied, then went thinking, how creepy the reflection was. My reflection, was standing with half of Voldemort
"My, how your lying has let you down." He responded, walking to the mirror, "I see myself presenting the stone to my master. But where is it?" He questioned.
It felt like it had been hours, of small talk. Well, Quirrell talking, to himself, while I trying to think of a scenario where I could get the upper hand. I assumed Voldemort was in my head, as if it were Quirrell I assume he'd question my thoughts, starting with details for what I had seen in the reflection. As well as every plan I thought of Quirrell would inform me how he would put it down. It was hard not to think, in this situation. I needed them to be distracted, long enough for me to get free and then continue attacking.
As if my wish was answered, the door to the room, opened. Harry running in, his wand up, and his face bitter looking. He didn't seem to notice me.
Harry let out a gasp of supprise, looking at Quirrell, "You?!" He breathed lightly.
"Me" Quirrell says coolly, "I wondered wheather you'd be here also Potter. Seems you're behind Ravenclaw, she was even ahead of me"
Harry then noticed me on the ground tied up, he looked back at Quirrell, "But I thought- Snape " He stuttered, sounding like Quirrell when he was playing the fearful, poor professor.
"Severus?" Quirrell laughed, turning around, looking at Harry, "Yes, Severus does seem the type doesn't he? So useful to have him swooping around like an overgrown bat. Next to him, who would ever suspect p-p-poor, st-stuttering Professor-or Quirrell" I wanted to snicker, I figured it out.
"But Snape tried to kill me!" Harry objected, being to stubborn to except what was in front of him. Snape was a good guy. They went on talking, the numb feeling had ended. I wasn't being looked at, or invaded. I took the time to look around me. Seeing back behind me, next to the pillar, the music box. It was a bit broken, with dent in the metal, protruding from it, looking sharp enough to cut these ropes.
"..But, here, not only suspected me, but knew all along. Didn't you?" Quirrell called, causing me to look back at him and Harry. Harry looking at me with incredulously, his mouth opened a bit, I rolled my eyes at his reaction, It's not like I could talk about it! Quirrell then went on, with a malicious laugh, "Then again she couldn't say a word, as she was under a spell to keep the secrets. I didn't get a good moment to kill her."
Then he snapped his fingers ropes then wrapped around Harry, panic washing over his face. They then went on talking, while I used my feet to remove my shoes, quietly. When Quirrell was back looking at the mirror, with my black shoes off, I began inching backwards. Like an inchworm might do. Till my toes felt the cool, music box, feeling the holes on it. My large toe brushing over the sharp part, where it was damaged, it poked the soft flesh. Now it was between my feet, being held on to, as i lifted it off the ground with my feet. Man, I hoped that no one could hear the soft, scratching sound coming from it as it moved. Dropping it on my back, the box rolled down into my hand, that was there. Good!
I looked back at Quirrell, whom was talking about how he met Voldemort, ".. A foolish young man I was then, full of ridiculous ideas about good and evil. Voldemort showed me how wrong I was. There is no good and evil. There's only power, and those to week to seek it..."As he talked I was thankful, for going unnoticed as I struggled to cut the rope, with one hand, without being able to see my progress. Quirrell shivered, I tuned back into his little speech, "He doesn't forgive mistakes easily. When I failed to steal the stone from Gringotts, he was most displeased. He punished me, decided he would have to keep a closer watch on me..." That's why he's on your head? But how'd he get there?
He then focused on the mirror, "I don't understand, is the stone inside the mirror? Should I break it?" Then I realized why he couldn't see the stone, his deepest desire was to present the stone to his master and be rewarded. Then why didn't it work for me? Why did it show myself and what must've been two halves of Voldemort? Did I not desire the stone enough? Or did I desire whatever I saw most? Whatever it is I saw.
I noticed Harry trying to get free also. I winced slightly, feeling that I'd cut myself, while cutting the rope. Then went back to cutting the rope.
"Use a child... Use a child" the voice of Voldemort, ordered, caused me to shiver and pay attention again.
"Yes! Potter come here!" Quirrell ordered, looking at Harry, with a clap of his hands Harrys bindings fell off, while i kept cutting. "Come here" Quirrell says again, "What do you see?"
Harry took a deep breath, gasping. He knows where it is. "I see myself, shaking hands with Dumbledore, I-I've won the cup for Gryffindor." Thankfully, Quirrell believed him, shoving Harry out of the way.
"Get out of my way!" He ordered, angry.
That's when I felt the ropes around me loose, I had cut myself free, sitting up I pulled my robes out of the way, my dress shirt and slytherin vest were discolored, pulling them both up, to look under my shirt gazing at my side, it was still bleeding, seemed to be nothing serious, as it didn't really hurt, it was just bleeding. Covering it back up, I stood up, putting the music box in a pocket, on the side where I was cut, thinking, if it were to jab me again, I'd rather the damage to be on that side, so I could fix it up all at once, when it got to that point. Picking up the diary I backed up, going behind the pillar, ignoring my shoes and socks on the ground. I seemed to go unnoticed. Good, it meant I could think.
"Potter get back here!" Quirrell shouted, "tell me the truth! What did you just see?!" Voldemort must've caught Harry, knew he was lying. Which meant I hadn't much time.
I then heard His voice, "Let me speak to him... Face to face..." I couldn't believe it, was he going to show himself to Harry?
"Master, you're not strong enough, if he tells" Quirrell objected.
"I have strength, enough for this." Voldemort hissed.
I looked around the pillar. Peaking my head out, as Quirrell started unwinding his turban. I saw Harry seemed unready, unerved about what was going on. He seemed to take a step back and gasp, in fear. When Quirrell's back of head showed, the face. Of the man with slits for nostrils and scarlet eyes.
"Harry Potter," Then he looked over in my direction, "Amber Rose Ravenclaw" He hissed our names, I stayed where I was as he spoke, "Mere shadow and vapor. I have form only when I can share another's body. But there have always been those willing to let me into their hearts and minds." I scoffed at the idea, admiting to being a pest, a virus. I'll pass. "Unicorn blood has strengthened me, these past weeks." He then looked back at me, "As you knew, you saw faithful Quirrell drinking for me, in the forest." Then he looked to Harry, "Once I have the Elixir of Life, I will be able to create a body of my own. Now. Why don't you give me that stone in your pocket?"
He knew where Harry had it? How did he get it? Why didn't the mirror show it to me?
Harry stumbled backwards.
"Don't be a fool, better save your own life and join me. Of you'll meet the same end as your parents." Voldemort growled, "They died begging me for mercy!" He taunted.
"LIAR!" Harry yells, trying to to gain control of his body to no avail. Quirrell started walking backwards.
I then whipped around, fully in front of the pillar, thinking of the water making spell, using it stopping him from getting any closer to Harry.
Voldemorts face then looked to me, "How touching" He hissed, "I always value bravery, and the skilled" He looked back at Harry, "Your parents were just brave enough. I killed your father first; and he put up a courageous fight. Ravenclaw here nearly matches him, I presume she'll be better eventually. Your mother, needn't have died. She was protecting you." He informed Harry, "Now give me that stone, unless you want her to have died in vain"
Harry backed up, yelling "Never!", he ran to the door that had flames in front of it now.
SEIZE HIM!" Voldemort screams, Quirrell grabbed Harry. I was about to send more water at him, only to hear not just Harry screaming, but also Quirrell. His hand was blistering where he'd grabbed Harry. What just happened? I then saw Voldemort looking at me, while Quirrell was focused on Harry.
His scarlet eyes were wider, and his mouth parted a bit, as if shocked, at what he was looking at. His eyes were going between my face and down. I followed his gaze, seeing the diary, in my hand. I looked back at him, only to see Quirrell was walking towards me, with his wand out. Sending out flames.
"NO! NOT THE GIRL!" Voldemort screamed, with a panicked tone, I jumped to the side, only to see the flames had turned into smoke, before they reached me, Quirrell seemed a bit in awe as I was. By Voldemorts tone. But Quirrell moved to advance on Harry, pouncing on him. Like an animal. Harry struggled. I then noticed, whenever Quirrell touched Harry's bare skin, he'd burn.
"Harry touch him!" I ordered, Harry seemed to hear me, as he touched Quirrells voice, while I used the knock-back jinx, running over to Harry, whom looked like he was about to pass out. I walked over him, standing over Quirrell, watching as he screamed, as his face, his body turned to dirt crumbling.
"Amber!" a familiar, kind voice yelled, as I collapsed laying on my back now. My head laying on a passed out Harry Potter. I smiled, tirdly as Dumbledore ran over, kneeling down. I got off Harry.
"Help him" I whispered finding it hard to breath all the sudden, as I leaned towards the dust and cloak of Quirrell, pulling my wand out of the pocket, along with the diary. As I leaned forward, I felt a sharp pain in my side, I saw dark scarlet droplets falling from me. I was bleeding, more. I ignored it. As Dumbledore placed an arm on my shoulder.
Everything zoomed past me, it made me dizzy, as I was now on my hands in knees, not over the dust of Quirrell, but on a clean floor. I felt tired, falling forward and I was back in darkness.
I was running down the corridor. I kept running for hours, only to suddenly be tripped, knocked down. Forced to collapse onto the ground. I had shut my eyes for what felt like ever, only to open them to see nothing, but a l landscape covered in grass, a bright blue sky, Hogwarts in the distance, the image was so pretty. I couldn't move. I was trapped. Then the layers of green began to slowly be ripped and thrown around, as if paper. Showing another picture.
It showed, people, standing above blood covered grass, with a dark sky to match. They were all fearful, as they were in front of me kneeling. I felt a hand on my shoulder, I looked over my shoulder, seeing people being hung from the Whooping Willow tree, it's limbs, bratches around them. I realized they were my family, as well as others, I didn't know. I wanted to scream in horror and run and help them.
"Traitor" Someone in the tree muttered.
Then my person, my body chuckled, sounding cold, amused by the sight, "Not truly, I've become this due to the affection I had gotten" My body then turned looking over the people bowing, "Now I get what I deserve, recognition, for my work. Praise, for doing something right. Being recognized as superior. A pity people had to die, but I couldn't handle how things once were, I needed to change somethings."
I then felt something touch my shoulder again, looking over my shoulder, I saw a hand. That belonged to a familiar pale face, of Voldemort, that was smiling down at me, sending shivers down my back. He then looked ahead. I couldn't move, It was like I wasn't in control of my body, my mouth, myself.
"Exactly, as I wanted" the smooth cold, his voice whispered, as He squeezed my shoulder softly. His hand was oddly colder than it should be. My person than turned fully looking at the Whooping tree. So, did He, I then took notice of the hair blowing past me, it wasn't the usual dark brown, that I had it. Instead it was silver, it seemed to almost glow. "Ready, my dear?" He asked. .NO! My person nodded. in that moment the vines around the necks of those people, began swinging around and around.
I blinked and sat up quickly, panting. I moved my hand seeing I could, thankful I was in control once again. I was panting and my heart felt as if it would burst out of my chest. I laid back down, once I realized I was in the hospital wing.
"You're alright " I sat back up, looking to my left, seeing Professor Dumbledore, Sitting in a chair next to me.
I stared at him, then memories cam back, Quirrell, the stone, Voldemort and Harry, Harry! "Is Harry alright?" I questioned, worried.
His eyes twinkled as he spoke, "No need to worry, he's alright. You aided in saving his life. If Quirrell had have held onto him any longer Harry would've died. Yet you knocked him off"
"Why did he start to break? Like sand?" I asked, curious about what had happened.
Dumbledore seemed, a bit caught off, then his eyes filled with worry "I'm not sure what happened, it is very peculiar, very much so. " He trails off them continues, straightening up, "With out a doubt you'll go searching for the answers you seek, with or without my approval. However, I do wish you to enjoy your time while you're young. Don't forget, you're only so young."
"The stone?" I questioned, going on, "Why did Harry see it and not me? I got there before either of them did, why didn't the mirror show me?"
His eyes went wary as did his tone, "The stone was destroyed. As for why you didn't see it. Perhaps you desire so much more than the stone"
I dropped my head, whispering, "I don't know what I desire. The reflection changed from before. I was standing with what I think are two sides of Voldemort. half of the person being what I assume to be him, before he became a monster"
"Describe that side to me" Dumbledore demanded, suddenly his tone went from a wary one to one of demand, as if I had done something wrong. "Did you recognize this other half?"
I looked at him, seeing his eyes were narrowed slightly, what did I do? Then I answered,, recalling to the image. Shaking as I did, "I didn't know it, I just assumed it was Voldemort. He was very handsome, he had very dark hair, even for being black hair it was dark, his eyes were dark also, his skin was pale, not as white ans sickly as the other half of him but pale" I looked to Dumbledore, he seemed deep in thought, "It is Voldemort, from before right? What was he known as when he came to school here?" I then paused, "He stopped Quirrell from attacking me." I informed him. Recalling to tone Voldemort had used. He was looking at me and the diary. I looked to the night stand next to me, seeing the diary sitting there.
"It was him. as for why he stopped attacking you, I'm unsure why. Even the wisest of us don't know what others are thinking. Although quite sure of his intentions, I'm still unsure of his plans. There is no way of telling till he acts." I looked back at the old man, "It's clear you've faced him before however, when you were brought here Snape informed me you were aware of Quirrell. I'll admit I didn't believe him at first, when he had first told me. Tell me how did you find out?"
I looked at him closely, "I tried to tell you, at least make you see what I saw, I wanted you to go through my mind, but you didn't see it" I whispered, not attempting to answer the question.
"Harry told me in the forest, you were close to him then. I presume there was another time... Perhaps, when Cedric saved you." He came to the ideas alone, I nodded. Why couldn't you figure this all out sooner? "A bright figuring it out alone, and burdened with the truth." He whispered, louder then I suppose he intended. He then chuckled, "The music box was fixed, I presume Lilly Moon will be expecting an apology. Soon." He then looked to the nightstand next to me where the diary was, "You may wish to put your name in it, so it's not lost. " He suggested. With a sigh he stood up, "I believe you'll be able to leave soon. You had a nasty cut on you, from the music box I presume. You may leave whenever you get permission to." With that he was gone. I then laid down thinking, rewinding the duel, what was said, reactions, my dream. Just everything.