chosen - harry potter

Chapter 12 - Double Attack

Hermione stayed in the hospital wing for the remainder of the break and for several weeks after. There was much rumor about her disappearance, and most assumed that she had been attacked.

"Is your friend okay?" Will asked worriedly one morning at breakfast.

"She's fine," Cassia said, trying not to laugh. 

"Not uh...dead? Petrified?"

"Will! No!"

"Just asking."

Harry, Ron, and Cassia visited her every evening, bringing her each day's homework once term started.

One evening, though, Cassia was unable to visit due to an extra lesson with Snape. It was the first in a while, but she wasn't looking forward to it at all. 

Her knuckles rapped on the door, and she sighed deeply.

"You may enter."

She stepped through the door and waved at the melancholy professor.

"Good evening," he said. "It's been a bit since you've been here, yes? I hope you've continued practicing."

"I have."

"Up until today, you've learned how to do simple spells without an incantation, correct?"

Cassia nodded slowly.

"You must start learning how to do more complex spells without an incantation, and how to do those simple spells without a wand."

"Wait- what? I didn't even know that was possible."

"For many witches and wizards, wandless magic warrants uncontrolled magic. However, I believe that with practice, you will be able to utilize it."

"Professor, I don't understand. Why would I be able to utilize it when other people can't?"

Snape contorted his face, pressing his lips into a line annoyedly. "Miss Bright, you are a powerful witch. I have explained that to you before."

"I know that, but why?"

"I can't tell you why because I don't know why," Snape snapped. "Now, we need to get to work."

They practiced doing very small tasks without her wand. Snape spilled a small amount of water onto his desk, and he placed a small glass vial next to it.

"Concentrate on lifting the water," Snape said. "Use your hand to concentrate the magic."

She tried, focusing on the water as much as she could. The water didn't move at all.

"Focus!" 

Her head began to hurt, her hands shaking. She fell backward into the chair behind her, breathing heavily.

"Perhaps we should wait until your magic is more developed for this skill," Snape said, clearly disappointed. "You're dismissed."

He waved her away, a frown evident on his face.

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

Hermione had returned from the hospital wing the next evening, and Harry revealed to her and Cassia a diary with "T.M. Riddle" on the first page. He and Ron had found it in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, where someone had apparently tried to flush it. 

"Oooh, it might have hidden powers," Hermione said enthusiastically, taking the diary. 

"If it has, it's hiding them very well," Ron said. "Maybe it's shy. I don't know why you don't chuck it, Harry."

"I wish I knew why someone did try to chuck it," Harry said. "I wouldn't mind knowing how Riddle got an award for special services to Hogwarts either."