adiaphoron | d.m

FOUR

➸ GOBLET OF FIRE

GLOOMY SPECKS OF GRAY slowly started to color the sky and a crisp coolness started to settle across the air as the end of October began to vastly approach. Her classes were going extremely well, but Moody's Defense Against the Dark Arts was about to take a dark and unsettling turn. The professor's announcement sent a collective shiver down the spines of his students. "I'm going to use the Imperius Curse on you all," he declared. "It's time you learned the true power of this curse and whether or not you can resist its effects."

As the words sank in, the room fell silent, except for the soft rustling of papers and the creaking of wooden chairs. Many students exchanged uneasy glances, their faces pale and worried. Cecilia's own eyes remained fixed on Moody, her mind struggling to comprehend the gravity of the situation. Why would he do such a thing? What did he hope to achieve by putting his students through this ordeal?

As Hermione Granger protested, her voice laced with uncertainty, Professor Moody's expression remained impassive. With a flick of his wand, the desks were swiftly cleared away, creating a bare space in the center of the classroom. Cecilia felt a sense of unease as Moody's words hung in the air, their implications like a dark cloud.

"But...but you said it's illegal," Hermione repeated, her voice rising in alarm.

Moody's gaze locked onto hers, his one good eye glinting with a cold light. "Dumbledore wants you taught what it feels like," he said, his tone devoid of emotion. "If you'd rather learn the hard way – when someone's putting it on you so they can control you completely – fine by me. You're excused. Off you go."

Cecilia watched as Granger muttered something unhappily, her eyes fixed on the Professor's unyielding face. As she glanced around the room, her gaze fell upon Potter and Weasley, who were sharing a conspiratorial grin. They seemed to be sharing a private joke, one that only they understood. Ahh. So that's what Weasley looked like when not consumed by animosity. Interesting.

Despite her unease, Granger didn't budge, her eyes flashing with determination as she stood her ground. She never missed a class, and it was clear that she wasn't about to start now. Moody's attempt to intimidate her had clearly fallen flat.

As the students took turns participating in Moody's strange less, Cecilia watched in fascination. She saw her classmates mimic the movements of squirrels, sing off-key, and stumble about as if possessed. No one seemed immune to the spell's effects, until Moody deliberately ceased it.

The minutes ticked by at a glacial pace as Moody called on student after student. Finally, her turn arrived. Moody beckoned her to the front of the room, and she hesitated, unsure of what to expect.

As she entered the empty space, Moody raised his wand and pointed it at her. The air seemed to thicken with anticipation as he uttered the single word: "Imperio!"

The world around her dissolved like mist in the sun, leaving only a faint awareness of distant voices and a sense of disconnection. The room became a dark tunnel, with no guiding light to lead her out. She was alone, trapped in a vortex of nothingness, with only the sound of her own ragged breathing echoing through her mind. She only heard a single voice.

Jump three times.

Cecilia's ears tuned in to the voice, and suddenly she felt a sense of clarity wash over her. The voice grew louder, leading her to another soft whisper floating in the sky, which uttered one word: "Why?"

The whisper seemed to fade away as quickly as it appeared, leaving Cecilia questioning whether she'd really heard it at all. But before she could doubt her senses, a strange sensation washed over her. It started with a tingling in her toes, spreading up her body like a slow-moving wave. Her weight lifted, and she felt herself rising off the ground, floating on a breeze that didn't seem to be there.And then, just as suddenly, everything snapped back into focus.