Halley Wolffer

Chapter 8

Halley could not stop screaming as she accelerated to fly faster and faster with utter disbelief, the great black castle far behind her as her brand new broomstick, gaining not only speed but elevation as well, took her above the savage waters of Lake of the Hallows.

The wind was blowing against her with great force, but the broomstick would still accelerate following every command of Halley's mind like it was an extension of her body... Halley was protected from the cold wind by a black Hog's Wart cloak, her long and blue scarf rippling in the wind.

Lake of the Hallows looked almost like an icy ocean, and then, two other students riding broomsticks came from a higher elevation to fly beside the wolf girl.

"I am dreaming!" Halley screamed to Looney, looking to her left- "This cannot be for real!"

"Welcome to our world, Halley!" Looney screamed back, their voices barely audible to each other because of the speed- "Let's see you try this!"

Looney began to swirl in a counter clock-wise fashion like she was a fighter jet, then performing a very sharp, sudden dive that took her to almost come into contact with the water far below them. Donald beamed at Halley to encourage her, and then he performed the same maneuver as Looney but diving in the opposite direction.

"You can do it!" he screamed from far below, his voice a mere whisper in the high speed wind.

Halley decided to gain a little more elevation first, and after that, deciding that she could trust her life to her friends and her magical instincts, she took a sharp dive to the right as she was swirling like an arrow. The feeling was of such a power, agility and freedom that Halley was totally unable to believe it, feeling like she was in a wonderful dream.

Halley, Looney and Donald were flying in a triangular formation a few yards above the water, increasing their speed even farther as they turned around on their travel back to the island... Halley could not help herself to stop cheering and screaming, the three of them swirling once again as they flew so fast between the high towers of the castle.

"I... love... Magic!"

Halley led her friends to fly between the snowy trees of the forest and then far above the lake once again, the sky was cold and white and Halley, at last, came to realize that her past life in the Mugall world was just a distant nightmare.

She was free and happy in her true world, feeling that everything was perfect...

30-

Halley remained flying and flying all of that day, all night and also the following day, finally crashing into the freezing waters of the lake after she fell asleep while still riding on her broomstick. Isabella and other first years rescued her by means of the only boat that had escaped from the Hallower's wrath, and Halley spent the night at the hospital wing after that.

The castle was still in the cleanup process after the party to celebrate Ireland's victory in the war, very soon all of the injured fighters traveled back home and life was returning to normal at the academy...

Lilac Stewart remained at Hog's Wart because she turned out to have a job there, sometimes taking her daughter to ride across the cold and creepy forests of the island... and Halley, happy and excited, could not stop thinking about her future as a War Witch.

One day, two mysterious carriages landed on the castle grounds at morning. They were very large and pulled by winged horses like the Irish Army carriages, but instead of white, orange and green, one of these was purple while the other, all white, featured a drawing of the characteristic red dragon of the Welsh flag...