The Girl who Vanished

Chapter 40

Ravenclaw Common Room

Lara was busy reviewing the color change charm Colovaria and other O.W.L material with her fellow claws when she receives a letter from Poppy, she claims to have found the cave the centaur Dorran mentioned near Irondale. Lara excuses herself and goes to rendezvous with her Hufflepuff friend.

Irondale Cave entrance

Lara flies around Irondale for a few minutes before she spots Poppy waving to her from a small mossy clearing.

Lara: "I take it this means you had some luck at the library?"

Poppy: "It took a few hours and some eye-watering maps, but I think this might be the cave Dorran told us about."

Lara: "Impressive. Especially with how little information he gave us."

Poppy: "Well, I'm still not sure this is the cave, but it did seem the most promising. I stumbled across some folklore about a cave in the area that people avoid. Seemed the perfect place to hide something of value. It's a bit of a leap, I confess. But might a mysterious item such as a special moonstone be hidden in an equally mysterious cave? I think I'm desperate for anything at this point."

Lara: "Don't worry Poppy I'm sure this is the cave we're looking for. Shall we have a look."

They make their way through the cave blasting open old metal doors that are rusted shut, as they enter a grassy overgrown area Lara feels her hair suddenly stand up and pushes Poppy back and dives forward. A second later a corrupted Dugbog leaps between them.

Poppy: "It's another aggressive one!"

Lara waits for the Dugbog to stick out its tongue before levitating it off the ground then casts a severing charm which slices off its tongue, killing it instantly.

"Ew!"

"How does cutting off its tongue kill it?"

Poppy: "What is going on with them?"

Lara: "They've been infected with Dark Magic, the same kind the poachers used on the dragon collars."

Poppy: "Merlin."

They continue further into the tunnels at one point two magenta Fwoopers fly overhead, Poppy claims that must be where the rumours of people being driven mad started because of the Fwooper's song. They encounter a few doors that require them to lure some magical bronze moths into special sockets. A few minutes later and after a brief swim they emerge into a beautiful oasis, several trees and plants with various birds including Fwoopers flying around the room.

"Wow."

Poppy: "Merlin! It's even more beautiful close up."

Lara: "It sure is."

Poppy: "It's got to be here. I just know it."

As they make their way up to the clearing ahead they can't help but bask in the nature around them, Lara especially.

Lara: "(Exhales happily) I always feel so at peace when surrounded by nature like this."

Poppy: "Me too. When I was little my Gran would read me stories about the Elves and how they could apparently feel and manipulate the ambient magic in nature."

"Fascinating." Dumbledore, Hermione, and a few others respond.

Hmm, perhaps I should research the Elven race some time.