Charms and Curses

Chapter 1

The wind howled around me as I apparated just outside the boundary, blowing my robes around me with ferocity.

It whipped at my hair and nipped at my face.

I stood before the castle, that even in this almost ruined state, looked hauntingly glorious.

The tall towers shooting up into the heavens, the wide doors that beckons you to come in, the vast greenery surrounding the magnificence.

The ancient magic is still there, within the walls, in every nook and cranny, in every crevice.

It is embedded so deep within the foundation by the four founders that nothing can take away that magical aura.

The place where magic is taught is magic itself.

I smiled to myself as I walked towards the castle, remembering my first day.

Being a muggleborn, I hardly took anything here for granted. I had admired the grand staircase, the shining suits of armor, the beautiful strokes of each moving painting and even the little house elves.

I studied everything about the world that was so different from the one I was born in with much enthusiasm and curiosity.

I read every book and satisfied the thirst I have to know and understand everything about the beautiful place that was the Wizarding Word because I was scared that it will all be gone by tomorrow.

There were people who accepted us Muggleborns, but there were those who treated us like scum. Mudblood, they called us.

It was because of people like them that I lived in fear that I will be banished from this magical world.

That this fairytale like life of mine will be snatched from my hands.

That the magic and beauty will be taken away.

I stopped as I reached the tall doors of the castle. I took a deep breath and pushed open the doors.

At first glance, everything still looked liked the school that had been my second home for seven years.

But upon closer inspection, I noticed little things that marred the grandeur of the castle.

Now, the grand staircase had black patterns on the steps that could only have been caused by dark magic. Ancient Dark magic that leaves permanent scars.

The suits of armors, were missing a few pieces. A head, an arm, a few legs. A lucky little knight was missing only its feather.

The paintings were askew. They weren't alive with gossip anymore, they sat on their frames with sullen and anguished expressions.

As for the house-elves, I don't know. They were probably still cooking for the hundred or so students that were here. Those poor little elves were probably injured after assisting us in the battle.

The battle.

Curses being thrown.

Voldemort.

Fire.

Blood.

Bellatrix.

Death.

The explosion.

Fred.

Lots of blood.

Lupin.

Tonks.

Pain.

Harry.

More blood.

Oh god.