Chapter Fifteen

Virginia is deeply immersed in the Restriction Section in the library now. She stays there all day except during classes or having meals or sleeping. She reads from the rise of wizardry several thousand years ago to later when the witch burning took place. She watches as witches were burnt, hanged, or wizards beheaded, and sorcerers got into hiding gradually, not revealing their magic power. Magic, then, became a taboo.

And then came Merlin, who empowered magic and led sorcerers to a new path. She went through many books but still couldn't find detailed information. All were filled with a sense of fairy tales and mystery, like Mose's split of ocean.

In the long river of wizarding history, Virginia gradually discovers a problem, which can only be discovered by an unbiased perspective like hers.

What is magic?

She has different understandings from other sorcerers. Maybe it's because she doesn't perceive herself as a witch in essence, like when she cleans her bedroom by hand, or learns only defensive magics instead of those charms that make lives convenient.

Looking through all these books, Virginia discovers that magic is psyche in essence, powerful psyche and firm will, these are the true nature of magic. The inner magical power is only a path, such as the wand, which helps you realize your magic. A good or powerful wand can destroy you if there's not an equally powerful psyche and will.

Powerful witches and wizards have either powerful psyche or firm will and determined spirit, or both. There's no exception.

As for spells, they are a manifestation of psyche. When your will is strong enough, you can utilize language to realize your magic power through your wand. The magical power is similar to the water in a cup, and your psyche helps you master your strength when you pour it out.

She begins to think about how spells were created at first. Strong thirst is the only explanation, and then fluent language is needed to show it.

This quirky idea has entangled her, and Virginia starts her experimentation as though possessed by it. She often remains in her dorm and mutters strange words while holding her wand. She looks up the dictionary yo find words that demonstrate certain meanings, and then she trys them out, but still she hasn't ever succeeded.

She calmed down gradually and realized her ignorance of trying to reach something far beyond her grasp.

This kind of thing touches on the essence of magic, so how can it be mastered by someone like her who has only known magic for a short while. This is like the difference between using a computer and inventing one on your own.

So she finally becomes calm and returns to her daily ritual of study, although in a hidden corner in her heart she still harbors her exotic idea.

Compared to the surrounding environment of Hogwarts, Virginia seems to be living in her own world. She never gets as nervous as the other people, for she always carefully avoids getting entangled into this chaos. She trys to skip all the potential troubles.

So when Virginia becomes more involved in the students, she finds out many things she failed to notice before. For instance, some people even believe that Harry Potter killed Albus Dumbledore. This is so ridiculus, though most people do not believe in it, and Gryffindors, in particular, always refutes it fiercely. Virginia also noticed that quirky senior schoolmate of her Ravenclaw, Luna Lovegood. Blond bushy hair looks strange indeed, and she speaks strangely as well, but it sounds reasonable somehow each time.

And there's the fantastic radio station which broadcasts only occasionally in specific periods at night. There's always a crowd in Ravenclaw's Common Room who sits beside it. These are mostly upperclassmen, and there are a few students from first and second years as well.

Virginia has never listened to it. That "Potterwatch", she heard, was formed by people from the Order of the Phoenix. Well, the name is rather heroic.

Today she finished battling with the door hook and came in.

"Virginia, you are back so early today. Have you finished with your dinner?" Olivia's soft voice comes right into her ears.

"Yes, I have already finished my dinner." Virginia replied with a smile. She is still a bit nervous, for she really hopes the others won't invite her to listen to the radio.

"December is coming. Are you going home for Christmas?" Olivia asks her. Virginia thought she was very lovely.

Nevertheless, she was still shocked by the question. She forgot about Christmas completely, for it is still a month away. She suddenly discovers that she is already in Hogwarts for three months. Busy she had been, with intense workload and careful precaution, these are her entire life.

Would she go home for Christmas?... Thinking about this question, her heart thumped rather fast. She could see her parents, could eat the biscuits made by Mum, could hear Dad call her "little princess", all these are much too appealing for her. But she knows she can't; she just can't go home yet.

"Virginia?" Olivia's voice dragged her out of her deliberation.

Virginia wore a confused expression and said, "I don't know. I haven't thought of it yet. It's still very early."

"Oh, I want to ask you… Maybe you could come to my home for Christmas if you do not go home." She sounds a bit awkward, "I know this is a bit sudden, but I always see you alone…. So I thought it would be more excited if there are more people."

Virginia smiled truly. She says apologetically, "Thanks very much for your invitation. Though I still haven't decided where to go at Christmas, I'm afraid I cannot go with you. I'm really sorry. Maybe next year I can have the honor."

That was a formal and polite refuse. Olivia looks a little regretful, "Alright, I just thought you might agree if I talk to you early."

At this time the radio suddenly sounds, and a voice comes, "Welcome to Potterwatch. I am host River." In the Common Room many people are attracted to the voice, but Virginia went out of the Common Room, for she has more important things to do.

Ever since she came to Hogwarts she was trying to make a Portkey. Just now in the Restrict Section she felt she was nearly successful. It's just there might be a minor problem.

She kept pondering during dinner. She felt it's not because of the lack of magical power. She must have failed because of a detail in the process. She recalled Professor Flitwick's words that she has to locate the destination very clearly and accurately in her mind.

Maybe she has to pin the destination in more complexed details in her mind. For example, she might have to locate the destination in her bedroom beside the window instead of just within the house in Spain.

Holding the angel tightly in a grip, she felt it vibrate slightly. She looked at it and saw it emit bluish light. This was an unimaginable feeling. She suddenly realized why she always failed before. It was because of the ownership of the house.

Professor Flitwick once said that if you locate the destination in others' house, you have to ask for the owner's permission at first. She failed before because she located the destination at her London's house. She was not the owner of the house, and she obviously hasn't asked for her parents' permission. As for her house in Spain, it was bought in her name, so the owner is her. She does not need to ask for the owner's permission and so succeeded at once.

She stared at the angel briefly and then put it back to her chest. She understands that it must be strange that next time she touch the angel she will land in Spain. She laughed to herself and thought of illegal migration.

It seems that now that her safety is guaranteed she has more confidence. She is still very scrupulous but is bolder than previously.

Christmas is coming, and the castle finally has some well-hidden pleasure. The Carrows, however, are more brutal than before. They persecuted not only Muggle-borns but also some half-bloods. Two first-year Gryffindors beared the Cruciatus Curse. Virginia thought if it wasn't for Professor McGonagall's furious defense, the two young wizards can never endure through the Cruciatus Curse and come out alive.

McGonagall points out clearly the origin of the two wizards' wazarding blood, but the Carrows weren't restrained. Only when Severus Snape was there would they pay attention. It seems that they do not want to offend the favor of the Dark Lord.

Virginia felt more dangerous than before. Finally in a Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson her name was noticed on the register roll despite of the Neglecting Charm she gave to herself.

Now it's near the end of the class. Virginia felt so unlucky. Amycus Carrow stared at her fixedly. Virginia raised her head but still looked at her feet.

"Your surname is Winchester," she seems to be enjoying herself as though a cat taunting the mouse, but still she is a bit confused, "It's so strange. This seems to be the first time I notice you. Where were you hiding before?" Her melicious voice makes Virginia rather nervous, but she still kept herself calm, "I am always here, professor."

"Oh, Ms. Winchester, you are not a pure blood, I believe. I have never heard the surname Winchester. Who are your parents?"

"My mum is a Germany, and dad a British. They moved to England later. As for wizarding blood, I never asked before I came to Hogwarts. In fact, my mum's family has several wizards…." Virginia recited her lies in composure.

"Lier!" A spell was coming from her wand suddenly. Virginia didn't attempt to escape, and the spell hit the wall behind her, scraping her face. The students in the classroom all exclaimed.

"I didn't, professor! My mum's surname is Auerbach. If you doubt that, you are insulting my mum's family!" Virginia sounds rather furious. This kind of fury is very real, but the reason is different from her performance.

Amycus Carrow seemed to have shrinked from her defense of her blood lineage. "I will investigate about that. It doesn't require a long time to know whether you're speaking the truth." Amycus's voice still sounds evil. "If I know you are lying, Ms. Winchester…." She didn't go on but went out of the classroom.