Silvia and the Rising Moon [EDITING]

Room of the Unknown Soldier

It all started as a dream.
After dinner, the first years were sent to their new dorms. Silvia shared a room with Sienna, as well as two other first years. They all talked for a bit, getting to know each other. Silvia kept fairly silent, only speaking when one of the girls would ask her a question. It wasn't long until they were all completely and utterly drained, filled to the brim with exhaustion. One by one, the lights went out, the pillows were fluffed, and the sheets were adjusted. Silvia drifted to sleep.
Unconsciously, she heard a presence bury it's way into her mind. It slithered gently through her ear like a ghost, and manifested it's words through her brain.
"Please help me," the voice spoke. It was a man, pleading. "They've taken my leg. I can't find it. I can't move. Please help me. If I don't have my leg, I can't stop them from coming inside."
"What do I do?" Silvia asked out loud, despite being completely overwhelmed in sleep.
"I want you to visit me. I want you to know where I am, and how to find me in order to return my leg from those who stole it."
"Who stole your leg?"
"I don't know his name, but he took it to cripple me. Please, find it, or you and your friends will be in grave danger."
"Why should I believe you?"
"Because if you don't, the man who took my leg will show no mercy when he takes your brother. I understand that a werewolf would be a useful weapon when fighting a war."
"A war?"
"Yes, Silvia. The world around you is at war with itself. Purebloods and muggle-borns alike all fight for the belief in their own oppression. If I cannot defend the castle, there is nothing between the students of Hogwarts and the rising tides of war."
Silvia thought for a moment. "Where can I find you?" She asked.
"I'll help you," the voice replied. Silvia's body rose from her bed, as if lifted by strings. She walked, controlled like a puppet, down the common room stairs. She pushed open the fat lady without control of her arms and made her way down the corridor.
She finally became aware of her surroundings when here eyes popped open, revealing a room shrouded in blue light. The walls were like those of catacombs. Moonflowers sprung from the crevices. The floor was cold, smooth stone. Adjusting her eyes on the dim light, she recognized what appeared to be an open tomb. Upon the tomb rested a man that appeared to be a century old army uniform. His face was fresh, however, deep, premature edges had been carved under his eyes. Above his lip a thick brown mustache shimmered in blue. The man almost looked like a toy soldier to Silvia. He slept with his arms crossed and his legs straight out. A rifle surrounded in flowers lay next to him. Upon further inspection, Silvia could see that one leg was cutoff just below the knee.
"Hello?"
A ghostly figure rose from the body into a siting position. "Hello," it said. "It's nice to meet you."
She was all too cautious of the strange ghost. "Who are you?"
The ghost laughed, he was youthful and full of spirit. "I don't quite remember who I am. They call me the Unknown Soldier. I am the spiritual force that guards Hogwarts. I used to, at least. I can't quite move anymore, you see." He motioned to his missing leg.
Silvia looked at the soldier. "I don't have it, sir. I'm sorry."
The soldier chuckled. "Of course you don't. However, I know you can find it."
"Why me?" Silvia asked cautiously.
With a grin and a wink, the soldier explained. "You're determined to keep your brother safe. You're his protector, his guardian. Imagine his affliction being used as a weapon in the wrong hands.
"Who wants Remus as a weapon?"
"Dark wizards." The soldier shook his head grimly. "The same people who took my leg. They took it with the intent of letting Hogwarts security be as crippled as I am." He motioned to his missing leg once more. "Imagine how many muggle-borns a werewolf can take down."
Silvia shivered. That was the second time that the soldier had spoken of Remus's affliction. "How do you know about that?"
"The man who took my leg was accompanied by another, of whom I couldn't see. They spoke of 'Remus Lupin, the werewolf.' Of course, being a Hogwarts guardian, well, previously being a Hogwarts guardian-" he motioned to his missing leg for a third time "-I felt that it would be best to notify you on this situation."
"Why not a teacher?" Silvia asked with obvious suspicion.
"I've alerted all of Hogwarts staff that my leg has been stolen and that I won't be able to perform my duties. However, for the sake of secrecy, I decided not to include the part about your brother. It's obvious that the entire school is in great enough danger for the staff to be on edge. Imagine if they knew they had a student who's a werewolf as well?" The soldier laughed nervously.
She thought for a moment. "I suppose you're right, but how would I even find your leg?"
"Ah, yes, of course," the soldier stumbled to think of his next sentence. "Well, you see, I feel a very strong connection to my leg. Ghosts are very connected to their most important possessions. My wooden leg provided loads of support for me for years prior to my, well, untimely death. Nonetheless, I sense it. The dark wizard didn't do a very nice job of hiding it, considering it's still in the castle. The staff has done an awful job of finding it. They claimed they've searched everywhere." He shook his head, visibly upset. "Maybe there's a secret room that they don't know about. Maybe it's in the Chamber of Secrets. Nobody knows where that is, but it's real."
"I'll find it for you, I promise," Silvia declared. "I need you to protect Remus. I need you. I'll find your leg."
"Oh, bless you, Silvia Lupin. Bless your youthful soul," the soldier sobbed.
"I must go now, the sun will be rising soon."
With that said, Silvia slipped out of the room. The Unknown Soldier's ghost slipped back into its physical being, suppressing joyful sobs.
Silvia made her way down the corridor. It didn't take her long to realize that she had practically no clue as to which way was the right way toward Gryffindor Tower. She tried retracing her steps before realizing her attempts were completely worthless considering she was unconscious when she had made them in the first place.
There suddenly appeared a bright light accompanied by an unknown figure. "Lumos maxima," it muttered. The light grew brighter, revealing a somewhat familiar face.
"Oh, hello," Silvia said nonchalantly, despite the fact that we're heart raced faster than a wild horse.
"Hello?" The man was dumbfounded. "What do you think you're doing roaming the corridors this late at night?"
"Oh, um, I sleepwalk, sir."
"What's your name?"
"Silvia Lupin."
"Well, Miss Lupin, I suppose I can start you off with a warning since its your first night. I don't care if you use a hex to glue yourself to your bed or place a prinklypoof gnome in your cabin to guard the door, there will be no leaving your common rooms during the night. The castle's guard is down, we can't risk somebody getting hurt."
"Yes, sir." Silvia looked to the ground, upset to have been reprimanded.
The man looked dejected. "There, there. I'll walk you back to Gryffindor Tower."
As they walked, Silvia began to ask questions.
"Sir?"
"Professor Slughorn is what my students call me, Miss Lupin."
"Well, Professor Slughorn, I was hoping you could tell me something about the Unknown Soldier."
Slughorn stopped in his tracks, baffled. "What do you want to know about him for?"
"Um, I heard some boys on the train talking about him. I've been curious all day. Who was he?"
The continued walking. "That's just the thing. We don't know. Born and raised in the Ukraine by English parents. He fought in the Crimean war, where he lost his leg. His memory was also modified by the Russian Ministry of Magic. He came to Hogwarts claiming that his mother had attended, however, he forgot her name. Also, when asked for his name, he told staff that he is called 'Merlin Beard.' Of course, no one believed that for a second." Slughorn laughed. "Then, one day, he caught pneumonia and died. As a ghost, he promised he would defend the castle, since it's one of the only things that he remembers how to do. He defends the castle with one wooden leg."
"But, the leg has been stolen."
Slughorn's eyes widened. "How'd you know that?"
Silvia shrugged. "Lucky guess?"
"Well, a very lucky guess, indeed." They stopped before the fat lady. "Claire de Lune," Slughorn called out. The fat lady snored.
"Claire de Lune," Slughorn said louder.
The fat lady jumped awake. "Good heavens! Go on, go in. Can't you see I'm trying to sleep here?" The doorway opened up for Silvia's entrance.
"Thank you, Professor," Silvia said before stepping through the painting.
"My pleasure... and no more sleep walking!" He declared once more before the fat lady closed her door.