The Battle Of The Basilisk

-8-

Even though Raghavi wasn't looking at them, she could feel their eyes on her, in particular Ayano's. She inhaled.

"We grew up together in London. He'd been able to do it ever since he was a child, except it wasn't as potent then, and we had no clue what he was actually doing. Sometimes he froze moving objects. Sometimes he stopped the flow of water from a tap. Once he'd gotten the hang of his powers, we understood what was going on. He's- Well, simply put, he's someone who can do anything. He can't fix the past and he can't exactly meddle with the present. But he can change the future. Whatever happens as a result of his powers changes either the near future, or the far future."

Raghavi finally looked up. She'd expected everyone to be still staring. Instead, she found Will and Jane looking at each other, as though there was a telepathic conversation going on between them. It probably made sense than she thought.

Ayano spoke up. "How many others know about this?"

"Only Dumbledore and McGonagall."

There was a long silence. Nobody quite knew what to say, or what to do. Pranaty was shuffling nervously. Will and Jane were still having their telepathic conversation. Ayano was staring at Raghavi and Charles, her face completely devoid of expression.

Will glanced quickly at Ayano, and strode up to Raghavi, his black locks catching the dim light in the room and making them shine ever so slightly. "When will he wake up?"

Raghavi was about to answer when she felt Charles shift a little. His eyes slowly opened.

"Charlie!!" Raghavi breathed in relief. Well, at least he hadn't gotten himself knocked out for more than half an hour. "Here, I'll help you up."

But Charles just groaned and mumbled"It's melting."

"What?"

Charles' eyes rolled up, and he slumped back on the ground just as Raghavi turned to see the half-melted Fake Dumbledore statue freeze once again. Merely looking at it sent chills running up her spine.

"We need to go." Pranaty put in. Ayano looked bewildered.

"Run me by that again?"

"We need to leave this place." Pranaty repeated. "Now."

"But-"

"Ayano, we came in the hopes of finding Hydra here, remember?" Will said. Raghavi felt her body tense up- Will was pushing his luck. That wouldn't end well. "Hydra and Jane. We also came to see Raghavi, because you clearly wanted to. So-"

"So you're saying we should run off and leave Raghavi alone in here with a creepy ice statue and an unconscious Chinese future-changer?" Ayano looked as though she were ready to throw aside her wand and strangle him with her bare hands. Hopefully she wouldn't.

"I'm here too." Jane piped up, looking very hurt.

"Whatever." Ayano snapped. "We're not leaving them here alone."

"Can you at least let me finish?" Will looked annoyed. "Pranaty is right. And we're not leaving them alone , we're taking them. We can levitate Charles along the way. We have to keep looking for Hydra. After what I just saw..........I-I don't think we're going to find her safe and sound."

Ayano didn't say anything. Maybe she could finally sense the truth in his words.

"Do it."

Will blinked. "Sorry?"

"LEVITATE THE CHINESE BOY, YOU LOUSY PIECE OF SCUM!!!"

*

Lucy Underhill's eyes flew open. What was going on?

She tried to get up, but her whole body felt strangely heavy. Maybe it's the medicine Madam Pomfrey gave me, she thought.

She managed to turn her head and have a look at her fellow  Ravenclaw first-years, all in deep sleep. They all looked so calm, so..... At peace. She was probably the only one to feel so wired up.

"Have no fear, Underhill dear." Said the softest of soft voices.

Lucy panicked, she tried to scream, but her lips seemed to be sealed shut.She couldn't move. She could only watch in terror as a shadow formed in front of her- A shadow of a man.

"Your friends will sleep in peace." The voice crooned. "And so will you."

Lucy tried to heave herself up, but something held her back- Some kind of magic.

"Do not struggle, my dear." Said the voice. "They are not dead. And you shall not die either. You will merely serve me........Subconsciously."

WAKE UP, LUCY, WAKE UP!!!!!!!!! THERE'S A MAN TRYING TO KILL YOU!!! She thought.

"And you will do it," The voice whispered. "Of your own free will."

A shadowy hand passed over her face, and the world turned dark.

*

Will had a thing for charms.

Pranaty watched as he carefully guided a floating Charles along the hallway, not letting anything break his concentration, not even Jane, who was rapidly explaining the Moerder to everyone, and telling them Hydra had run away in fright.

"Hydra ran away because of a poem?" Ayano seemed somewhat nonplussed.

"It's not just a poem." Jane replied nonchalantly. "It's a prophecy. And it's starting."

Suddenly, a familiar girl's voice echoed through the corridor. "LUCY!!!!!! MARIA!!!!"

There was a loud thud as Charles fell to the ground, and Raghavi and Ayano rushed to him. Will, however, looked very pale.

"NAYAH!!!! LU-" She stopped.

And Pranaty knew exactly what had happened to Will's focus.

Cereza Aether- That horrible scumbag- Was standing at the end of the hallway, her dark hair uncombed and loose, giving her the impression of a mad woman.

"Will!" She breathed. "Will, the Ravenclaw first-years are missing."

"What?" Snapped Will.

"Yes. They're all gone."