บท 47: Fluffy Snow
Dim moonlight tinds the dark hallways blue as the direct beams of white stand unimpeded in the empty halls. A chill wind carries silence with it as it travels through the halls. At times like these, I'm almost glad I don't make any sound. My dragon leather boots smack soundlessly on the stone as I sneak through the halls.
Crouching behind a suit of armor, I feel around the sac for my emergency blood. A moment of hesitation strikes me as I take the vile out of my bag. Do I really want to do this? It is pretty risky. But I wouldn't be doing this if Astronomy wasn't so late in the day. If I don't do it today then it'll be another week until I have time to try again. It's not like Snape will approve of this and even if I ask him he might not even say yes. If that happens then I'll be doing something both recluse and against Snape's wishes.
Taking a deep breath, I fixate on the blood swishing around the vial and enter the caged part of my mind. Feel the hunger, focus on that thrust for blood. Stepping into the cell, my teeth begin to itch as tingles vibrate through my entire body. Color drains from the area as I use everything to prevent the mental beast from swallowing me whole.
Slight disappointment sticks on me as I continue my slow prowl through Hogwarts. Did it work? I should just be using my new Mana sight thing. It might not work on Argus Filch considering he's probably a squib but it wouldn't be as dangerous as poking the beast! What will happen if I actually meet-
My mental debate silences as a mixture of heat and veins form the red silhouette of a cat. It's as if the walls become glass between me and the cat. It's heading my way. Doubling back, I take a few turns to circumnavigate my way around the cat.
I continue to keep the vial in my hand as I creep through the halls. It's not exactly like seeing with Mana. With Mana sight, it layers a whole new world over this one. Complex equations and colors fly through the air. With this, it detaches me more. It brings out and focuses a weight on my heart. It forces me to allow the side of myself I keep trapped in a cage.
My mind can't help but wander back to his words, "A vampire's most valuable tool is their senses. Their hearing, sight, and nose are all fine-tuned for killing. Reports from survivors say that it was as though they could see through walls. The vampire's red eyes still hunt them to this day."
I try to shake the memory of today's DADA lesson out of my mind. I could have sworn he kept looking at me. Is he trying to out me as a half-breed? What did I do to him? It felt like the entire lesson was just him hinting at me being a vampire and me asking questions to disprove him.
Rounding my final turn, the black silhouette greets me around the corner. I quickly stumble back and slide behind a small pillar. Fear and surprise distract me as the beast tries to overwhelm me. The void of light dashes past me. Its mischievous laughter echoes off the halls.
I recenter myself as I take deep breaths. How did I forget about the ghosts? Of course, I wouldn't be able to see ghosts! Mentally beating myself, I poke my head out.
Leaving my hiding place, I grimace at the thought of the cold waiting for me beyond the door. Locking the cage, I put all my effort into shoving the darkness down. Color returns as I push open the door. The small amount of snow that made it past the overhang barely hinders the door as I step out into the cold.
A slight breeze kicks some snow up as it flaps my wool-lined cloak. Knowing the bitter nip of cold would be after me, I came prepared with my warmest mask, a tank top under a shirt, under a sweater, and leggings under jeans. What sort of fool would come out here without layers?
Snow piled over the once green fields to the point where the steps off the porch area became unneeded. I take a moment, shielded by the slow falling flakes of snow, to bask in my favorite season. Oh, what the hell. I pull down my mask and let the numbing wind fully hit my face.
Thoughts on the lesson today threaten to intrude on my happy moment. Trying to prevent my mind from wandering back to DADA, I slowly step into the foot of snow; Trying to savor every moment of that sink into the floor.
I close my eyes as my foot hits the snow, and my foot hits the ground. Eyebrows raised, I open my eyes to find comfortable footing on the snow. It must be really iced over if it's able to support my weight. Retreating, I kneel and stick my hand into the snow. Expecting my gloved hand to meet ice, more confusion hits as it meets no resident falling in.
Taking a few more steps out, I look back to see no footsteps following me. The boots! Joy rises in me as I look down at Zach's Christmas present. Getting used to the lack of traction, I almost fall as I make my way down a hill.
Making my way through the field, my objective starts to become visible; the Whomping Willow. Professor Babbling's mention of magical creatures having a lot of Mana got me thinking. During that time, a question went through my head; is the Whomping Willow a magic creature or a plant? It's a plant of course but it surprised me to find that, while looking for the answer, no part of it is used as a potion ingredient.
Nearing the tree, I make sure to keep my distance. Opening Mana sight, earthy green Mana emanates out of the fearsome tree. It certainly has a lot of Mana, but I can't make out much of its information from here.
Wait a minute, what is that? Looking closely, the mass of Mana is tinted purple in certain areas. The second Mana intertwined itself in the green but isn't moving the same, its flow is different. Tracing the Mana, I look to see it converging in a small ball within the roots of the tree.
What spell is that? Whatever it is, it must be powerful enough to be suppressing that much Mana. Suppressing… That's it! They must use that knot to pacify the Whomping Willow when it needs to be healed or when they need to get something from it. But that's all just theory. I shouldn't assume that I'm right and just keep with the plan of pacifying all of its branches.
Unholstering my wand, I take the other hand's glove off and slip it into my pocket. My bracelets make a clicking noise as I drain the Mana out of five beads. Overflowing with Mana, I keep my wand ready and charge forward.
The cracking of the branches seems almost angry as one comes down to slam down on top of me while another moves to swipe sideways at me. Casting Protego, I add a small arch to the wand movement as the branch meets the shield. Connecting, the branch curves sideways and smashes into the other branch. Snow and splinters fly at the collision as more branches come at me. Rolling to dodge another sweeping branch, I point my wand back at it as it smashes into the snow.
Glacius! Icy heat leaps out of the point of my wand and lands on the branch, encapsulating it in ice. Oh, s h i t! A branch flies at me from the side and barely misses me. As I get out of my roll, searing heat cuts along my right arm.
I can't keep this up. Panting, my eyes dart to the knot after parrying another branch with a shield charm. Ducking under another branch, I point my wand behind me. Flipendo! With an explosion of snow, the spell purposely misfires as I'm rocketed forward. Making sure my boots don't touch the ground, I tuck into a fall as I near the knot; Crashing into the knot and a pile of fluffy snow.
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Clueless59
Clueless59 Just a clarification, when she uses the freezing spell she's still casting it nonverbally. I am fully back! Expect updates every week during the beginning or end of it. Thank you all so much for the support!
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