The Muggle Who Did Something: A marauders era fanfiction

Chapter 16: The Snow Globe

The small tent stood in between the men, energy wafting off it as it took shape. Several large white chains encircled the tent, much like the cup still in Cynthia's hand. These however seemed stronger, more unyielding. Each link was at least the size of a small dog. There was no sign of an end or beginning to the chain, as if it was a continuous loop. The chain almost breathed as glowing white energy moved through it, working its way the entire length before coming back round again. The energy made several passes around, finding its own natural rhythm to follow.

Glowing particles fell down coating the area around the tent. Cynthia thought it might have been snowing for a moment, but no snow fell on her or the surrounding area. The small glowing flakes of energy landed on an invisible dome that had surrounded the clearing before her. She watched in fascination as the energy flakes were absorbed into the dome one after another.

Cynthia couldn't help but think how similar the scene was to a large snow globe, especially the way the interior was distorted. The distortion became stronger and stronger as more particles gathered. It was almost like the men inside were growing further away somehow, as if they were now just beyond her reach. She watched as they actually began fading into the background, soon becoming nothing more than misty figures in the distance. The particles stopped falling almost instantly, leaving nothing more than the very same empty clearing she had seen upon arriving.

No tent. No people. Just an empty clearing.

The forest stilled, as if there had never been anyone there in the first place.

A flash of fear rushed through the girl's body. Had she imagined the entire interaction? Surely not. Her aunt had often said her imagination was going to run wild if she didn't keep it in check, but this all felt like too much for her to just dream up. Cynthia clenched her hands, another nervous habit she'd picked up somehow.

She fully expected the feeling of the calluses on her fingertips, they were a testament to the many hours she'd spent pouring over projects. The girl wasn't surprised by the dryness of her dirty hand, nor the sticky sap that still clung to the crevices of her skin. That all made sense.

What she hadn't expected was the feeling of the wooden cup Peter gave. It was still held in her hand, energy pulsing against her skin. She looked down at it, watching as it still vibrated against the white chains binding it. She held it tighter, using its presence to remind herself that she was still here. This was real. None of this was her imagination.

The chains around the cup flickered slightly in response, a small glow wafting off it like smoke. It brushed past her, absorbing into her skin. Cynthia felt the energy soak into her hands, easing the pain she didn't realize was there. She felt a little stronger, letting her hold on the cup slacken a bit. As soon as she did, the chain stopped flickering, though her attention had already shifted.

Taking a deep breath the girl looked back up to the clearing. The feeling was unsettling. People don't just vanish into thin air... Well, they don't without making a popping sound, apparently. Cynthia knew they were there though, tent and all, yet all she only saw the empty clearing.

The girl closed her eyes, feeling the area around her. Sometimes seeing was too much, it was just easier to feel things around her. Eyes can be tricked, any decent magician could fool someone with a little sleight of hand. Sure enough, she could sense it. A large glowing dome of energy was standing in the clearing. It pulsed, much like the energy around the cup. The sensation reminded her of a heartbeat thumping away.

The young woman opened her eyes again. She could still feel the dome pulsing in front of her, but saw nothing. Cynthia squinted at the area suspiciously. She caught just the slightest glimmer where she knew the tent should be. It didn't matter if it was a trick of the light or not, It was enough to make her act.