116

*****

The empty corridor of the castle was buried in darkness, only rare torchlights partially dispersed this darkness, but their strength was not enough to consecrate these ancient stone walls.

Today, a truly magical day and night, the darkness and shadows of the castle were much thicker and more ominous. It seemed that they did not just rule the magical castle, but rather "devoured" it, gradually dragging it into the depths of darkness. A careless traveler on this day who is unlucky enough to get lost can find a variety of "creatures" waiting around the corners. Living, dead, and not dead. Because of this, this castle on this day became even more mysterious than usual.

Silence reigned in its corridors, perfectly complementing the darkness. Nothing could encroach on her rule. However, in an instant her reign came to an end. A barely audible sound of footsteps was heard in one of the castle corridors. Gradually it grew and finally reached its climax. But there was one strange thing. The source of this sound could not be heard. It was as if he was invisible.

This is exactly the kind of picture that an outside observer could "observe" if only Luna and I walked next to him. Alas, he was not here. It's better for us.

Why are footsteps heard? As it turns out, my charms are not a panacea. If they are still hiding me, then here is the girl until the end. This is what creates this effect of an invisible presence. But Luna didn't know the charm. It's sad, but I don't stop monitoring the space around us, both with the help of magical sense and empathy. As it is not difficult to guess, we did not meet any strangers on our way. At least until a certain point.

As soon as we stepped onto the staircase "landing," I began to feel, here and there, the sources of many reasonable emotions. There were so many of them that it boggles the mind: how did all these "invisible things" not collide with each other? The probability of this event is much higher than zero. Woe "spies".

Going up to the library floor, I led Luna to my "secret" passage outside the castle. Why did you decide to show it? Yes, I already managed to find a couple more unused passages. If the Moon does not live up to the hopes placed on it, well, so be it.

Many people passed by us. Alone, in pairs or in a crowd. Some of them were hidden at a completely acceptable level, like for schoolchildren. Others seemed not to bother at all with such a concept as hidden, simply imposing a distraction. Hmmm, I'm once again convinced that all "secret" activities at school are carried out with the tacit consent of the director. If he had wanted it, the shop would have been closed at that very moment. I wonder how many intelligent people realize this? Or do they really think they are smarter than the director? I bet there are a lot of such people not only at school, but also outside of it.

Slowly, a secret passage opened before us. Having looked around and "noticing" the named guest, I moved on, pulling the Moon with me. As if by "magic," the "door" closed behind us a little later than usual, giving enough time for the uninvited guest to sneak through. Well, you have sealed your fate.

The minutes passed. The dark walls of the corridor gradually expanded until they brought us outside completely. Walk a little and now we are at the lake. Having gone around it, I headed towards the Forbidden Forest. There is an already established clearing there.

Ten minutes of fast walking and here we are.

Having lifted the spell from us, I turned to the Moon and said:

"Now I'll start preparing for the ritual." Don't leave my side, okay? — Waiting for a nod, I smiled encouragingly at the slightly lost girl and began preparing the ritual.

The first is preparing firewood for fires. One main one, in the center of the clearing, and several dozen smaller ones, located in a semicircle so as to form a "fiery" corridor that abutted directly into the dominant flame.

For several days in a row, I visited this clearing, preparing firewood, as well as gifts that lay lonely in a bag, under one of the trees, hidden by spells.

Approaching a huge pile of firewood, I lifted it entirely into the air with a wave of my hand. Turning to my companion's advice, I noticed the shock that adorned her face (in her performance, these are wider open eyes, as well as a slightly open mouth). Smiling softly, I put my index finger to my mouth (in a "gesture" of silence) and said:

— One more little secret, okay?

"Yeah," the girl nodded slightly, covering her mouth.

- That's good.

Squeezing her hand a little tighter, I walked towards the center of the clearing, but not immediately, but slightly laying the corner. A stream began to "flow out" from the common mountain of firewood, carefully placing the firewood on either side of me to form a future corridor.

Gradually, step by step, we approached the center of the clearing. The corridor gradually became larger and larger until it ended at the central fire pit. Having piled up the remaining, most of the firewood, in the center of the clearing, I picked up the bag with telekinesis and dragged it to me. Having opened it, I began to take out the plants that Luna and I grew in greenhouses. (Especially for her, I had to run to Professor Sprout and ask for a favor. Fortunately, she agreed).

Mint, wormwood, mandrake and poisonous tentacula. Looking at it, Luna immediately recognized her plant. Who would have thought that she would be the only one they wouldn't bite (and Neva and the professor, of course)? That's why she did them. Looking into her eyes and smiling reassuringly, I carefully folded everything I took out of my bag.

"Tempus," an illusory dial appeared in front of us. His arrows are frozen at the number eleven. Five minutes to midnight. Great.

Alas, this time there was no moon in the sky, nor, indeed, any stars. Heavy, leaden clouds blocked the sky. It is quite possible that it will start to rain. Well, okay, it won't play a big role.

Finally the hour has come. A wave of hands and the central fire pit cheerfully bursts into flames. Some of the flames intertwined with each other and, like streams, drooped to other, smaller fires, gradually lighting them.

The clearing was illuminated by the light of the fires. Streams of fire stretched from the main fire to smaller ones, connecting them into a single system, creating a kind of web. Beauty.

- Well, Luna, are you ready? - Looking at my ward, I ask her.

"Yes," she nodded immediately, still watching the lights. - Kol, here...

"Don't worry, everything is still ahead," I stopped and walked closer to the main fire.

Standing by the giant fire, Luna and I took our gifts in our hands and threw them into the fire. Before they even reached the flame, they became sparks that slowly swirled around the fire. After exchanging glances, we headed towards the beginning of the fiery corridor.

Having stepped at its beginning, we slowly walked towards the center of the clearing. As soon as we walked near a couple of fires, they flared up in pillars of flame. Some of them changed their color to a completely arbitrary one. I have no idea what this depends on.

With each milestone passed, the body was filled with lightness, and the soul was overwhelmed by various emotions, gradually clouding the mind. Somewhere halfway through the journey, Luna lost touch with reality, continuing to smile and look into the flames. Well, I couldn't afford this, it was too early.

As soon as we approached the giant fire again, it started to rain. Its drops slowly fell to the ground, gradually taking over it. A struggle has arisen between water and fire, where there will never be a winner. A sort of border has formed, where on one side there are fierce tongues of flame, and on the other there are calm raindrops. Beauty.

"Suddenly" a jolt of mana flew towards me, which should have knocked me over into the fire. Alas, nothing came of it for the named guest.

-You insulted Harry Potter! You must atone for your guilt! — to the sound of fire and water was added the evil voice of one house-elf who so carelessly decided to come out of invisibility. Looking in his direction, I saw his face, which was covered in scars, and one eye was missing. In its place a tongue of red mana danced.

"You shouldn't have shown up," I said, turning completely in his direction.

"Ha ha ha, you won't run away this time." I was able to overcome your magic. Now Dobby is free and I have been able to spot Harry Potter, but first I will destroy you. And this time I won't have to punish myself because I...

"One of the varieties of demons that the magicians completely subjugated, and then based on them they created loyal servants for themselves," I said without letting him finish.

The mental effort and body of the once house-elf glorified the vice. Lifting the cat off the ground, I pulled it towards me. Stop him in front of you and look into the only remaining eye and say:

"You shouldn't have decided to attack." Now you can't leave.

- Ha ha ha, you can't chain me up. After all, Dobby is free! I can leave at any time! — light waves of space magic engulfed the demon's figure, but nothing came of it. - What? How!? Dobby is free!!

- Alas, you are not the only one who owns the school of space.

- A-A-A-A! – the house-elf howled in a non-human voice, twitching in invisible bonds.

Without listening to him anymore, I placed his body directly above the flames of the main fire, right where the two elements touched. A mental message and a silver dagger comes off my belt. Having taken off into the air, he froze right above the house-elf's heart.

- Goodbye.

The dagger cut through the air with a whistle. A moment and he pierced the house-elf's chest. Symbolically, the weapon that was created to kill magicians killed the magician's most faithful servant.

With a squelch, I "snatched" the dagger from his chest using telekinesis. The already dead body of the house-elf began to slowly fall into the fire, flaring up like a "living" torch, but, like the gifts, it did not reach the ground, turning into sparks much earlier. Only small particles of ash almost reached the ground, but alas, they turned into sparks.

A dance of sparks shot up into the sky, straight to the clouds. Hovering in the sky, it rushed towards me in a swarm, enveloping my figure.

Time to celebrate.

And so one house-elf disappeared, becoming truly free for a while.

*****

As soon as the sparks dissipated, fog mysteriously appeared on the ground. As one of the symbols of this holiday, he covered the entire clearing, wrapping everyone in his arms.

In the foggy body, multi-colored torches of fires were visible, which shone like an oil lamp in the darkness. And in the center of the clearing, like the living heart of a huge creature, a giant flame beat, replacing the moon itself in the sky that day.

Gradually, the inhabitants of the forest began to come to this holiday. Thestrals, unicorns, fairies, magical beasts, werewolves, dryads and much more. They all passed through the fiery corridor, purifying their bodies and souls. The cleansing flame took everything into itself, leaving not a trace.

Streams of flame began to intertwine with each other, forming strange pictures. Gradually, streams of water formed from rain were added to them. Together they created masterpieces, it's a pity that no one remembers them. Maybe only the wind, but as we know, it won't tell anyone anything.

All magical creatures took part in the ritual dance. There was no hostility or understatement here. Everyone here were brothers and sisters in magic.

Maybe it was the wind, but for a brief moment this holiday was visited by the Sids, who had long gone to their plans. But perhaps he imagined it, and if not, he still won't tell anyone about it. Right?

In an instant, those who were not allowed to come here, namely acramantulas, wanted to come to this holiday. They definitely didn't come here with good intentions. Alas, the young magician managed to notice them much earlier. Therefore, upon arrival, an insurmountable ice barrier awaited us. After fighting their way through it for some time, they returned to their possessions. That's where they belong.

Gradually the holiday is coming to an end. All the guests of this sacrament left their hosts. The fog cleared, taking with it all traces of what was happening here. Only two remained in the clearing: a guy who once again realized something undoubtedly important, and a girl who was finally able to see her invisible friends live.

However, they did not stay here for long. A moment later they disappeared, leaving no trace.

And only the wind remained here, taking with it another secret. And as we know, he won't tell anyone anything.

*****