Shadow of the Prophecy

Ch.4 - I Once Believed Love Would Be Black And White, But It's Golden

Helena Haggerty

October of her 4th year

It was ironic, really, that after all of Helena's attempts to catch the eye of Theodore Sallow, it would be her most dangerous action yet that would do the trick.

In the library that day, Theodore had led her to a table and pulled out various texts before setting about the task of teaching her spells to protect herself, as he had said he would. They had begun with Impedimenta , and then they had moved on to Expluso and Reducto. Their studying had become a bit derailed, however, when Helena had pointed out that Expulso and Reducto were not hexes, but curses , and their conversation had turned from learning the spells to a heated hour-long debate about semantics.

The conversation had been fun, though spirited, and had the unfortunate consequence of finally drawing Madame Scriber's attention when Helena had raised her voice a little too much on the tail-end of a particularly good point. She had scolded the two of them vigorously, and suggested that they take the study session they were embroiled in elsewhere. Helena was no stranger to drawing the librarian's ire and had been embarrassed, but Theodore had cowed to Scribner gracefully and apologized easily for their noise. He had taken Helena's hand in agreement with Scribner to leave the library, and though Helena had relished the contact after so long of searching for it, her heart had sunk at the thought that the little time they finally had together was drawing to a close.

She had been flabbergasted when instead of leading her in the direction of the grand staircase, he had tugged her along back to the Defense Against the Dark Arts tower, and then to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.

"It's for the best that she made us leave," Theodore had told her as he opened the door to the classroom. "The only good way to learn a spell is actual application, after all. If not for your pursuers, we might have come back sooner."

He had then set up the training dummies and demonstrated the spells for her, showing her the wand movements and waiting with perfect patience for her to copy.

Impedimenta had been easy enough; similar to Arresto Momentum but with slightly more flourish, and she had been pleased when she had gotten it on her first try. Expulso had been slightly more difficult, but also rudimentarily mastered after only a few tries.

Reducto had proved difficult.

"You have to put more force into it," Theo had told her. "The movement is sort of like a stab."

"A stab?" She had laughed. "I have never stabbed anything."

Theo had snorted. "Let me help you."

Her heart had leapt into her throat when he had stepped up to her, turning her slightly to the side before taking up residence in the space behind her; encouraging her to mirror his stance. She had desperately hoped that he could not feel her pulse through the grip he had held on her wrist to gently control her wand's movement.

"Step into it." He had said in her ear.

The effect of the spell on the dummy had been incredible. It had crumbled to pieces immediately on impact, leaving a pile of small wood chips and sawdust in its absence. She had wondered if Reducto was a curse that fed on tension, as she had certainly felt quite a bit of it with Theodore barely a hairsbreadth from pressing flush against her back.

"Excellent," he had murmured in praise, seemingly unaffected at the close contact, and Helena had tried very hard not to lean into the warmth of him before he had released her. "I recommend only using that one under great duress, however. The teachers will not thank you for blowing other students to pieces."