o b l i v i a t e

t h r e e

"Something so familiar, yet she couldn't remember why."
•

The next thing Marie knew, she was being tossed into a cell-like concrete pit in the ground with bars across the top serving as a door, a padlock securing it shut. The only furnishing was a metal chair in the corner.

There was crusted blood on her jeans, and a dull ache in her skull from the little voice in her head. She curled into a ball, choking back a sob. Tears ran down her cheeks, and she shakily sighed, closing her eyes, and wrapping her arms tightly around her knees, rocking herself to sleep.

She was sitting in a classroom. A woman walks into the room, and begins instructing the class about something called a "charm."

"Ravenclaws, today we are learning about year one charms, lumos and nox. To begin, merely say the incantation, Lumos." she twirled her wand in a tight circle, revealing a glowing light on the tip. "And to remove it, simply flick your wand and say Nox."
As the woman did this the light went out.
"Now it's your turn."

Marie held up her wand, and said the incantation. That's what the wood was! It was a wand.

She shot awake, shivering due to the sweat on her back, yet she felt like she was on fire. Adrenaline was coursing through her veins, and her heart thudded against her ribs in her chest, and she drew in a shaky breath, trying to calm herself.

She looked around. It was dark, only moonlight shining through the bars. She felt herself steady, heartbeat becoming regular again. She didn't know why that dream stuck. But what if it wasn't a dream? She thought. She fingered the wand tucked in her jeans. She pulled it loose, taking it in her hand gingerly and feeling the energy course through her in surges.

She took a deep breath. "Lumos."

And there was light.