In the Shadow of Seventh year

Chapter 2: Gravity of Grief

Below the headline were two pictures: one of the orphanage before it was burnt down and one with what you assumed were the remains after the fire. There was only a base of the foundation left, totally blackened. Nothing more than a black rectangular shape on the ground. Everything had gone up in ashes.
   Your eyes filled with tears as they settled on the former picture. Though it wasn't a big picture, you instantly recognized the old looking building, the front doors with a big knocker on it and a small window so they could see who would be knocking before opening the door.
   Seeing there was nothing left and the headline informing you there were no survivors, made you think about Madam Price. A tough, heavy woman with her brown hair always in a bun that always became messy whenever she had to chase after one of the younger children. She had been firm, but kind and even though you never really saw her as a mother – there were just too many children under her care to give you much attention – you had learned to appreciate how she took care of the orphans.
   Now she was gone. Along with all the other children like Thomas, the boy that had been in different orphanage before and Emma, the girl who was picked on a lot by some of the other kids.

The call of your name finally snapped you out of your sad thoughts. Looking at Sebastian, the one who had called out to you, you were met with his brown eyes full of worry.
"Are you alright? What is it?" It caused Poppy and Ominis to stop whatever they were doing and look over at you too.
   You swallowed, trying to will the tears away. "That's...I, uhm- that orphanage..." You couldn't get yourself to actually finish that sentence, but thankfully they caught on. Poppy had been looking at the paper that was still in Sebastian's hands and gasped.
"That was your orphanage!?" She asked not too quietly, causing a few other students to look over at you curiously. They looked away again when Sebastian glared at them.

"I can't believe it burned down." You said softly. Ominis made a small noise and you realized your words finally made him catch on to what was going on.
   "It says they highly suspect it was caused by Fiendfyre as the Muggles weren't able to get it under control and the Ministry had to get involved to extinguish it with magic." Sebastian said as he read the article.
"What is Fiendfyre?" Poppy asked.
"It's a curse that unleashes an almost sentient and deathly inferno." Ominis answered her. "The flames would spew from the casters wand and are very hard to control, even by the caster. Anyone can cast that spell, but only a highly skilled witch or wizard would be able to control it. It's very Dark Magic."
   "If it's that hard to control, how could they put it out?" Sebastian asked this time.
"Water in any form doesn't help, but there is a counter curse. I do not know what it is, but I know there is one." Ominis concluded and no one asked how he knew. The Gaunts were heavily involved in the Dark Arts, so it wasn't a surprise he had knowledge most students didn't.

"That leaves the question; why would anyone destroy a Muggle orphanage like that?" Poppy frowned.
"That's what the Ministry is trying to find out." Sebastian said, reading further. "Though as there is nothing left of the building and there are no survivors, I'd say it will be a hard job for them."

You had only been half-listening to them, the news of the place you lived in for fifteen years burning down left you in a bit of a daze.
   The faces of Madam Price, Thomas, Emma and some of the other children that you forgot the names of were flashing before your eyes.
Was this why you felt something was off? Was that the cause of that queasy feeling in your stomach? It seemed to be gone now, replaced by a new feeling of sadness.

"When did it happen?" You asked softly. Sebastian tried to meet your eyes, but you kept them on the fruit in front of you. He looked back at the article.
   "It seemed that the fire started last night. It only took minutes for the whole building to collapse and mere moments after that before it was all gone. The Ministry was alerted and they instantly arrived. It didn't take them long to recognize it for what it was and with the counter curse they extinguished it in seconds. It took hours to make sure every Muggle-witness' memory had been obliviated after that."