THE SHADOW PATH ⎯ james potter

[010]

chapter ten: friday night detention

Ellie stirred, her eyes fluttering open as the pale morning light seeped into the infirmary. The soft rustle of fabric caught her attention, and when her vision cleared, she found herself staring into the calm, wise gaze of Professor Dumbledore. He sat by her bedside, his half-moon spectacles perched on his nose and his hands folded neatly in his lap.

"Good morning, Miss Lupin," Dumbledore said softly, his voice gentle yet commanding all at once.

Ellie's heart raced. She hadn't expected to see him here—no one had told her he would come. She sat up slowly, feeling the stiffness in her body from the night before. The memories of the Shadow Path were fresh in her mind, especially the girl's cries for help, and the conversation with Madame Pomfrey afterward echoed in her head.

"Professor," she greeted hesitantly, glancing toward the door as if expecting someone else to burst in.

Dumbledore smiled softly but didn't break eye contact. "Madame Pomfrey has informed me of what occured last night," he began, his voice steady. "And I understand that your recent encounters with the Shadow Path have become more concerning."

Ellie swallowed hard, her fingers gripping the edge of the blanket. "I didn't mean for it to happen," she said quickly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But there's a girl, Professor. She's trapped in the shadows, and I keep seeing her every time I go in. She's asking for help."

Dumbledore's expression grew more serious, though there was no trace of alarm. Instead, his eyes seemed to fill with deep thought, and he nodded slowly. "Tell me about this girl," he urged gently. "What does she look like? What does she say to you?"

Ellie hesitated for a moment before recounting her experiences in the Shadow Path—the pale, trembling girl, her desperate cries for help, the way the shadows dragged her away each time Ellie tried to reach her. As she spoke, Dumbledore listened intently, never interrupting, though his brow furrowed slightly as he considered her words.

When she finished, there was a long pause. Dumbledore's gaze was faraway, as though lost in deep thought. Then he turned back to her, his eyes kind yet stern.

"You must not enter the Shadow Path again—at least not on your own," he said firmly.

Ellie blinked, startled by the suddenness of his command. "But Professor, I have to help her," she protested, her voice desperate. "I can't just leave her there."

Dumbledore raised a hand to gently stop her. "I understand your desire to help, Ellie," he said, his tone softer now. "But the Shadow Path is a dangerous place. If you continue to venture in there without control, you risk losing yourself to it—and we cannot afford that risk."

Ellie's heart sank. She didn't want to lose the girl. She couldn't just abandon her. "But what if I can save her?" she asked quietly, her voice trembling. "What if she's trapped because of something I'm supposed to do?"

Dumbledore's gaze softened with sympathy, but his resolve didn't waver. "If we are to help her, it must be done carefully, and with a great deal of preparation," he explained. "I will not allow you to put yourself in further danger until I can devise a way for you to explore the Shadow Path under supervision—under my watch. Only then can we safely uncover what lies within and, perhaps, free this girl from her prison."

Ellie's heart pounded in her chest. She didn't want to wait. She didn't want to leave the girl in the darkness any longer. But Dumbledore's voice held such authority and care that she knew she had no choice. Reluctantly, she nodded.