a magical shield, which expands ever outwards, blooming over the castle grounds, while far below the statues mark the length of the viaduct and take their positions, along the perimeter.
controlled chaos as scores of students and staff sweep over the staircase, preparing for battle. Harry and i move quickly, followed by Ron and Hermione. they speak with urgency.
"Harry, Vanessa..Hermione and i have been thinking. it doesnt really matter if we find the Horcrux." Ron says
"what do you mean?" i ask stopping dead in my tracks
"unless we can destroy it." Hermione says
"so we were thinking-" Ron begins
"you were thinking. its Ron's idea. and its brilliant." Hermione interrupts
"Harry, you destroyed Tom Riddle's Diary with a Basilisk Fang, right? well, we know where we might find one, don't we?" Ron says
"okay. but take this. that way you can find us when you get back." Harry says handing Ron and Hermione the Marauder's Map
"where are you two going?" Hermione asks
"Ravenclaw Common Room." Harry answers
"have to start somewhere." i say
Hermione nods, slips the Marauder's Map in her beaded bag and she and Ron head off.
"Harry! wait! Vanessa! i need to talk to you!" Luna shouts after the two of us, who are racing against the crowd
"we're a bit preoccupied right now, Luna!" Harry shouts
"but you won't find anything where you're going. you're wasting your time." Luna says
Harry frowns, annoyed. i decided to take over the conversation.
"we'll talk later, Luna." i say
"but-" Luna says
i turn back and glare "later!"
Luna stops, stunned.
"YOU TWO LISTEN TO ME RIGHT NOW!" Luna yells
we stop, shocked.
"do you remember what Cho said about Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem: there's not a person alive who's seen it." Luna says, collecting herself
"so?" Harry asks
"its obvious, isn't it? we have to talk to someone who's dead." Luna says
i stare at her oddly when suddenly i become aware of the disturbance in the air around us. i look out the window towards the the shield above, then at the tiny figure of Flitwick standing with McGonagall and Sprout.
"he's very impressive, isn't he?" Luna says
Harry starts to respond when he winces, clutches his scar.
explosions sound. Harry blinks, looking upward at the sky ablaze with lights and smoking tendrils plummet towards the castle. as fire fills the sky, Fred and George come running.
"nice night for it!" Fred yells
Harry turns to Luna.
"okay, Luna. who've you got in mind?"
"if you're going to find her, you'll find her down there." Luna says pointing down a dark corridor
"aren't you coming?" i ask turning to Luna
"no. i think its best if you two talk to her alone. she's very shy." Luna replies
downward, as shadows, streaking across the walls of the corridor Harry and i walk. up ahead, a gauzy shadow plays eerily in the corner, undulating like the fins of a goldfish. as we turn the corner, we find a beautiful ghost floating before a veined mirror, her reflecting eyes distant and sad.
"its you.." Harry says. the Grey Lady drifts eerily, staring at Harry. "you're the Grey Lady, the ghost of Ravenclaw Tower."
"i do not answer to that name." the Grey Lady says
"I'm sorry. its Helena, isn't it? Helena Ravenclaw. Rowena's daughter. Luna told me." Harry corrects himself
"are you a friend of Luna's?" Helena asks
"yes." i answer "she thought you might be able to help us."
"you seek my mother's diadem!" Helena says
"yes! that's right-" Harry says a little stunned
"Luna is kind, unlike so many others, but she was wrong. i cannot help you." Helena says drifting away.
"wait! please!" Harry says desperately
"many have sought my mother's diadem. its powers are legendary.." Helena says
"but i don't care about its powers! honestly.." Harry pleads "i don't seek it for myself! you have to believe me!"
"we want to destroy it!" i yell, desperately
she stops. turns.
"that's what you want, isn't it, Helena? you want it destroyed." i say
"she thought i took it to hurt her. but i only wanted to be more like her, clever and wise. she wore it so beautifully, but on me..i grew to hate it..the pain i felt...the pain i even feel now." Helena says
"we'll end your pain, Helena." Harry says "tell me where it is and i'll destroy it, i swear, on my mother's memory-"
"another swore to destroy it, many years ago, a strange boy with a stranger name.." Helena says
"Tom Riddle.." Harry says
"but he lied." Helena says
"he's lied to many people." Harry says
suddenly, her eyes blaze with anger, her face contorting horribly and we can't help but take a step back.
"i know what he's done! i know who he is! he defiled it! with Dark Magic!" Helena yells
"yes. that's right. but i can undo that, Helena. i can destroy it once and for all. but only if you tell me where he hid it. you know where he hid it, don't you, Helena? you just have to tell us. please." Harry says
she looks at us, standing so closely now, only inches away, lost in Harry's eyes for a moment.
"strange...you remind me of him a bit..." she says
Harry stares at her, stung, suddenly a little lost as well. explosions sound again.
"its here. its in the castle. in the place where everything is hidden." Helena says with only a whisper
"if you have to ask, you'll never know. if you know, you need only ask.." Helena resites
"thank you." i say smiling as we turn to only begin running again.
YOU ARE READING
True Love Conquers All (sequel to Loving You)
Fanfictionsequel to Loving You the last installment of the Draco Malfoy Love Story Series the one thing that i will always remember about my father is the story he would tell me every night before bed of a forbidden love between two people. a man and a woman...
