Breaking the shadows

Girl's night out.

1997

Wednesday March 5th

Crystal, Hermione, Ginny, and I are sitting at the three broomsticks just chatting, we've been here for hours and drank butterbeer, my roommate Crystal had joined us, she had a little bottle with her, she had hid it inside her ropes, and she poured the inside of her little bottle into her butterbeer, she said that it would make us feel something we've never felt before, Hermione was sceptic at first, but Crystal had enough for all four of us, she poured a little into each of our butter beers, it had a strong smell, kind of liquor, it smelled like when dad had come home after a night out with his friends, mom would always get mad when he came home like that, he could never walk straight. I took a sip of my butterbeer, I could taste a tiny difference, but the butterbeer was still sweet. When Hermione went to the bathroom, Crystal poured some more into all of our drinks again and said: "Just something a little stronger."

Ginny and I tasted it, and now I could really taste a difference, it was not bad, but I like the sweetness of the butterbeers.

When Hermione came back, she took a drink of her butterbeer and said: "Did you pour even more in here Crystal?"

Crystal: "Maybe, you like it right?"

Hermione: "I guess it's fine, but don't mess with our drinks even more, okay?"

Crystal: "Okay."

I had a wired feeling, it wasn't uncomfortable, but not usual either, I could feel every little detail, Hermione got up and she almost fell and said: "I think it's time to go home."
Ginny and I agreed but Crystal wanted to stay, we couldn't force her to come with us, so we left her at the three broomsticks, and went back to the castle. On the way home Ginny stopped, she went out to the grass beside the road and threw up, I felt nauseous too, but I kept walking, Crystal was right, I've never felt like this before, I don't think this is a feeling I could get used to. Ginny came back to us, and we continued to go back to the castle, suddenly Hermione turned around and said: "Am I going mad, or do you see that too?"

The wired feeling was gone as I turned around and saw three dark figures following us and I said:

"Not again."

Hermione: "What do you mean not again?"

"Doesn't matter, Ginny, get Hermione back to the castle I will handle this."

Ginny: "But I'm not leaving you."

"You have to, I've done this before, I can do it again."

As Ginny and Hermione started running, I thought back on the time where the shadows had found me in the forest, and I transformed into a lioness. This time I did the same, I found the biggest shadow, and went for the neck, only this time it didn't work. The shadow only grew stronger. And then it said something: "We're going to kill you; you aren't getting rid of us this easily."

I transformed back into my human form, I had no idea what I should do, I was all alone and then it hit me. When the dementors came, Harry used the patronus spell, these shadows, was kind of like the dementors, just walking instead of flying. So I took out my wand, thought of all the happy memories I had with Ginny and Hermione, and said firmly: "EXPECTO PATRONUM"

In front of me appears a Dolphin, and I was right, the patronus has the same effect on the shadows as the dementors. The shadows crumble away and the biggest one says just before he is gone: "You've won this battle, but you won't win the war."
Now that I have broken the shadows, I head back to the castle where Hermione and Ginny are witing for me. They both hug me and Hermione ask: "What that the shadows you told me about?"

"Yes, but they won't bother us anymore."

Ginny: "How come?"

"I cast the patronus spell, and they crumbled and disappeared."

Hermione: "So what is your patronus?"

"A dolphin."

Hermione: "That makes so much sense, and I'm glad it worked for you."
"Yeah me too, they said that I had won this battle but not the war. But I'm not scared, I know that I can handle them again."
Hermione: That's good, but we are late, curfew has started."
"Then let's hurry back to the common room before we get busted."
As we sneak into the common room, Professor McGonagall is waiting for us. She looks at us and says: "Do you girls know what time it is?"
Hermione: "Yes Professor."

Ginny: "Sorry Professor."

McGonagall: "Off to bed."

We all walk towards our rooms as McGonagall says: "Can I have a word with you Harlow?"

I walk back to McGonagall, and she says: "You have a lesson with six first years on Monday after lunch."

"Are you serious?"

McGonagall: "Yes Dumbledore agreed."

"Thank you so much. I have so much I want to teach them."

McGonagall: "That's great, just make me proud, okay?"

"I promise I will Professor."

McGonagall: "Now off to bed or I will take points from Gryffindor."

"Yes Professor."

I run back to my room where Hermione is waiting. Crystal isn't back yet, but I know she will be eventually, Hermione comes over to me and ask: "What did Professor McGonagall say to you?"

"Nothing much, just that I have to prepare myself for Monday, because I have to teach six first-years in art."

Hermione: "That's great, congratulations."

"Thank you. I'm so excited. "

Hermione: "Are we in a lot of trouble?"

"Not at all, she didn't take any points from us, only if she runs into Crystal on the way back to the teachers' lounge."

Hermione: "Okay, right Crystal isn't back."

"Yes, I am" it comes from Crystals bed, "I've been here the whole time."

"How did you do that? We left the three broomsticks before you."

Crystal: "I snuck behind you when McGonagall was talking with you three."

"Impressive."

I change into my pyjamas and go to bed with a million ideas how to start my lesson on Monday.

-------------------------

Puplished: 10-06-23