Immortal Magic (Book 1)

Chapter Forty-One

Allison's Point of View.

"So, what's this book Hermione mentioned?" Ron asked through a mouthful of food the second we sat down at the Gryffindor table. I rolled my eyes at his lack of manners before setting my fork down.

"It's a grimoire," I explained. "A really old one. It's full of spells and types of magic I've never even heard of before." Harry frowned immediately. "That sounds dangerous."

I shook my head quickly. "I've only used one spell from it, and that was today in Moody's class. Every spell has descriptions and drawings beside it explaining what it does."

Ron shrugged. "Honestly, I still don't get why everyone's acting like it's cursed." Harry looked at me seriously from across the table. "Because mysterious magical books turning up out of nowhere usually isn't a good sign."

I opened my mouth to argue, but Harry beat me to it. "Tom Riddle's diary looked harmless, too." That made me pause.

"The writing in the book was already there," I said after a moment. "I'm not writing back to it or talking to it or anything."

Harry still didn't look convinced. I sighed before meeting his eyes properly. "I promise that right after dinner I'll go straight to Dumbledore and tell him about it."

After a second, Harry finally nodded. The conversation drifted after that, mostly toward the boys complaining about Divination homework while Hermione and I picked at our food.

Still, I leaned slightly closer to Hermione after a few minutes. "Do you really think something's wrong with the book?" I asked quietly. "You saw it yourself. Nothing weird happened."

Hermione gave me a look over the rim of her goblet. "Allison, it literally appeared out of nowhere," she whispered back. "That's not normal."

I stared at her flatly. "Hermione, we go to a school with moving staircases, talking portraits, ghosts, and magic. A book appearing doesn't exactly seem impossible."

She opened her mouth to argue before stopping herself. "Okay, fair point," she admitted reluctantly. "But I still think there's something unusual about it."

"And that," I said while pointing my fork at her, "is why I'm going to Dumbledore after dinner." Hermione narrowed her eyes at me suddenly. "Where is the book?"

I avoided her gaze entirely and continued eating. "Allison." Slowly, I glanced toward my bag sitting beside me.

Hermione's eyes widened in disbelief. "You brought it down here?" I smiled sheepishly. She muttered something under her breath before announcing she was heading to the library after dinner.

Not long after, dinner ended, and Harry and Ron walked with me toward the staff table. The moment we approached, Dumbledore looked up at me over his half-moon glasses and smiled knowingly.

"Ah, Allison," he said pleasantly. "I was wondering when you would come speak to me." I exchanged a glance with Harry and Ron before looking back at him.

"If you would follow me," Dumbledore continued, rising from his chair, "we can discuss things properly in my office." He turned slightly toward Professor McGonagall.

"Minerva, you are welcome to join us as well." McGonagall inclined her head and stood. Dumbledore then looked toward Harry and Ron.

"I would invite the two of you also," he said lightly, "but I believe you both have homework waiting for you."

Ron looked deeply offended. Harry glanced toward me uncertainly. I smiled reassuringly at them. "I'll explain everything later while Hermione and I help you with your homework."