Chapter Fourteen
Vriginia is lying in the armchair beside the fire. She is holding a letter in her hand, but it looks like she has already fallen asleep.
The letter was from Viginia's parents. It contains mainly details of their daily lives, such as how Aunt Annie misses Virginia, and certainly she doesn't know anything about the magic school. Daddy's investment with Ancle James is prosperous, and Mom has learnt a few new dishes…. And they have decided to follow Virginia's advice and travel to Hawaii! At the end of the letter, Mom wrote in rather small characters, about how much they miss Virginia, but they assured her that they are quite alright and told her not to worry about them.
After reading the letter, Virginia seemed pulled by an invisible power back to the normal world. Magic seems to be so far away that it is inaccessible….
Virginia began to reflect about herself. All the time she thought of keeping herself away from this, but now she comes to think about that, she felt that's not nearly enough. Like last time, if Severus Snape hadn't been summoned by Lor Voldemort, he might have used Legilimency on her; these are all unknowable. In front of those more powerful than her, Virginia hasn't the slightest ability for self-defense and protection.
This fact makes her feel angry but she cannot help with it. She feels helpless and is angry about her weakness. She knows the fate of others, but she doesn't know her own fate. She has always been extra-careful, wishing everything to develop along the same line as her memory tells, avoiding any possible differences. She always thought if she doesn't participate, she won't be in danger. She tried to act as a dispassionate bystander.
This isn't a story anymore; this is her real life, the world of which is just the same as that in Harry Potter series, but seems to be completely different at the same time. Same people, same matters, but they are true. True things, true people, true feelings.
After interacting with all those people, they are not just characters inside the book, never are they simple names anymore. They influence her, infect her emotions, impress her decisions, and makes everything much more difficult.
For everything that is true, it must be complex. The true world isn't a story wrote for children. It has a much stronger impact.
Virginia holded on the little angle on her necklace. This was a present from Dad and she has been wearing it since three years old. She holds it tightly and thought, she can't be going on like this anymore!
Virginia is always an actor after determining on something. She doesn't keep herself away from the Restrict Section out of scrupulousness now. She finds it rather easy to obtain a permission for Restrict Section from her Head House, and because of her quietness, Madam Prinse always allowed her in without a word.
And during Potions, she doesn't avoid those disgusting ingredients anymore. She is highly occupied and has made many satisfying Potions.
And she doesn't give herself the Neglecting Charm all the time now. She only does so in the Carrows classes or when she encounters them. Olivia Hill begins to notice her again, and she apologized to the prior neglection of her and tells her to ask for help anytime she needs it. Virginia is truly grateful to her. She knows that this third-year student indeed cares about her.
But she is still a quiet maverick and at specific times a spectator, such as during conflicts between Gryffindor and Slytherin, or when the Carrows are punishing students. She stays away and keeps herself from doing things she cannot do.
Maybe, the goddess of life always favors her, for Severus Snape hasn't called her during this month. When she meets him in the corridor, she does not avoid him anymore or give herself a Neglecting Charm. He seems to have let her off. In fact, Severus Snape finds herself much busier when he no longer has to teach. He hasn't any time to notice this Ravenclaw student. Stupis Gryffindors! They try to steal the Sword of Gryffindor from his office, that fake one. He doesn't understand why Dumbledore did so, but he knows he has to make everyone believe this is the genuine Sword of Gryffindor. Ginny Weasley has apparently inherited her brothers' recklessness and brainlessness. He caught them. Those students really lack brains! He had to throw them to the half-giant in case they die under the Carrows' Cruciatus Curse.
Just two days before the Ministry of Magic was broken in. The intruders were indeed silly and released a lot of Muggle-borns. Oh who might that be! Surely it is none other than our Chosen Boy Harry Potter. He felt ironic. Those Ministry idiots, watching Potter break into their territory and than fleet away. It is said that they only discovered because Moody's Magic Eye on Unbridge's door was found lost. Silly, brainless Potter!
As for the other two, he was quite sure they are the red-haired Weasley and the know-it-all Granger. The Weasley's boy has been ill and cannot attent school? He never ever believes it!
The Dark Lord is now in Germany. No one knows what he is doing, but this information surely makes him angry. Nevertheless, he still decides to finish with his dealings first.
Severus Snape's expression becomes inponderable.
Many witches and wizards are now on the run. Virginia, however doesn't understand how lucky she was, for she is not paying attention to the surroundings. She has already asked Professor Slughorn what that Potion was. She wrote the name on a paper and said she came across it in her reading and was curious about what that was.
Horace Slughorn was interested in the student. He seems to have noticed her only then, and he tells her generously that this is a rather strong antidote for poison and is from Germany. He said its effect is impressive and it's really ancient and rare now. Then with Virginia's temptation, he told her about the detailed characteristic of it and its effects.
At last he told her if she has any problem later, she is free to come to him for help.
Virginia went back to her dorm and took out the donkey-skin sack she purchased several days before by mail. That thing was really very expensive and hard to find. She came across it in a book and discovered where to purchase it in an accidentally heard conversation.
She puts everything important, including that strong antidote, inside the sack. These may come in handy or even save her life later.
It is still very early. She has no class in the afternoon, so she stayed in the library all afternoon.
Virginia found herself intrigued by the Dark Magic. Admittedly the Dark Magic is the most appealing to everyone who seeks power. But even in the Restrict Section there're virtually few books about this topic. Through the few books, however, she still finds her passion. It is powerful, dark energy. Wizards make Dark Arts into a taboo because it is evil. It has powerful curses that can ruin everything.
But if you see it from another perspective, you will find it is ubiquitous. For example, the power of contract belongs to Dark Magic. The power comes from a kind of dark magic. To make a contract, you have to sacrifice a part of yourself, either the blood, the flesh, or the soul.
Hogwarts itself has this type of contract. The powerful thousands-year-old contract stays on the spectacular castle. So nothing should be completely casted aside; at least she can understand why there are people who are entranched entirely by Dark Magic. It is mysterous, profound and powerful. It makes those seeking for power curious and resonates through their hearts.
As for the White Magic, she has also found something interesting about it. For example, today's wizards' power is much weaker than ancient wizards. In the era of Merlin, White Magic is very powerful indeed. Many a powerful wizard can dominate some elements, such as water, fire, or wind. That kind of domination is different from today's control of water inside the cup. They rely on their power to extract from thin air. It is quite unimaginable.
This is also why wizards pay attention to ancestry and blood lineage. Blood transports power; it is undeniable by anyone. So those wizards who mix blood are perceived as sinners. Most people believe these people are most responsible for wizard's decline over the thousands of years.
Virginia is immersed in books and even forgets time. Not until Madam Prinse comes to remind her did she go away unwillingly.
At the headmaster's office –
"Yes, that boy sounds quite OK," Phineas Nigellus says, "They covered my eyes and I don't know where they are."
"Well then if they summon you again, you go there and take care of him, Nigellus." Severus Snape is looking elsewhere; he sounds calm and cold.
"Oh I'm not a house-elf," he cursed under his breath but didn't make objections nevertheless.