91 The Grey Lady

With the incident at Halloween firmly behind me, I decided I would take some time and take Athena down to meet with Professor Kettleburn.

He had been asking to see her and had promised to help us explore how our bond worked. Earlier this year, he had mentioned that he knew a wizard in Africa who was bonded to a Lamassu, and I was eager to learn more about our bond.

Finding Professor Kettleburn's office proved to be slightly challenging. I knew his office was supposed to be near his classroom, but the problem was we haven't had one class inside.

I would love to get my hands on the marauder's map. It sure would have come in handy during my little Halloween adventure.

Currently, Fred and George had it and were using it to cause untold amounts of mischief, which I knew would please the map's creators to no end.

I knew the map would eventually make its way into Harry's hands, but recently I had an idea of getting my own version of the map and still making sure Fred and George could give Harry the original.

It would take me some time before I was ready. The charm I had in mind was a NEWT level spell. I should finish my fifth-year books by Christmas at my current pace, and then I will finally move on to NEWT level spells.

When I finally found Professor Kettleburn's office, it was dark and clearly empty. Frustrated, I looked down at Athena, who was closely following me in her magical disguise.

"You think you can track down Professor Kettleburn?"

Athena shot me a wronged look as if she were offended that I had any doubt.

As I followed her through the castle, I couldn't help but notice that she seemed to know exactly where she was going.

She even expertly hopped over the traps on the staircase.

"You seem to know a lot of the castle tricks," I suspiciously remarked. "Have you been going out on your own during the day?"

Athena turned and shot me a smug look. At that moment, I felt like I understood what my friends were talking about. Seeing such a smug face directed at you was a little irritating. I quietly resolved to control my facial expressions, so that at least when I was feeling smug, I could do so without being called on it.

As Athena led me through the castle, we arrived on the third floor. I had no idea how she was tracking down Professor Kettleburn, but she seemed confident that we were going in the right direction.

Just as I was about to say something, Athena froze, bared her teeth, and let out a low yowl that filled the air.

Retreating, Athena climbed up my body and found her favorite perch on my shoulder. After letting out a loud hiss that reverberated through the air, she wrapped her tail around my throat protectively.

It immediately dawned on me that this was the third floor, and just around the corner was Professor Quirrell's office.

Had I been younger and less mature, I might have chosen to ignore Athena's warning. However, the slowly disappearing scar on my right shoulder was a potent reminder to pay attention and not take things for granted.

I hadn't considered the possibility of Quirrell and Athena meeting. Although I'm not exactly sure what would happen if they did, the rumbling deep within Athena's body promised a violent confrontation.

After a split second, I decided to retreat. I knew I needed to keep Athena away from Quirrell at all costs. There were far too many unknown variables. Who knows how fast events could spin out of control if they met. Besides, Quirrell was Harry's responsibility, all I needed to do was keep out of their way, and Quirrell would be toast.

Turning, I quickly left the way I came. Once I got some distance between Professor Quirrell's office, Athena quickly calmed down.

"It's ok," I soothed while rubbing her head.

I could feel Athena start to shake, as if she were coming off an adrenaline high and couldn't fully control her limbs. I pulled her off my shoulder and hugged her tightly to my chest which seemed to help her calm down.

I shot a pissed off glare in the direction I came from, and it wasn't directed at Professor Quirrell. As talented as he is, I knew it wasn't him that scared Athena. It was the powerful dark wizard who was currently residing in the back of his head.

"Let's go outside by the lake," I murmured. "We can go to your favorite spot."

Athena made a noise of agreement. Soon, we arrived at her favorite spot, a large tree on the lake's far side. The large tree had dozens of branches, some of which hung low over the lake. I was just happy her favorite tree wasn't the infamous Whomping Willow. That tree would attack any who neared it. I knew there was a spot on the tree that would paralyze it. But, I didn't care to try and find it. As far as magical plants are concerned, they leave me alone, and I leave them alone.

Athena didn't seem ready to leave my arms, so I sat beneath the shade, content to hold her in my arms.

"Such a brave girl, aren't you?" I praised her while giving her a belly rub.

Athena happily nodded, content to be praised.

Once I felt she was back to normal, I turned her head slightly so that we were looking eye to eye. "I want you to promise me not to seek out that thing you saw. If you ever see it coming, and I'm not there. I want you to run and hide."

She reached up and gently touched my cheek with her paw. I could almost hear her unspoken question, what about you?

I snorted, "I'll be fine. He isn't here for me. All I need to do is be careful and act like I don't know who he is."

Athena reluctantly nodded her assent and chuffed her displeasure. She benevolently decided I could make the whole thing up to her with another belly rub.

A few days later, I received a letter from Dad explaining that everything was going well with the Firebolt. He expected to have it finished by Christmas, and once everything was ready, we could move on to phase 2.

Phase two involved obtaining a new location where we could ramp up production before we released the Firebolt. In that regard, Clan Sharpclaw, the goblin clan we've gone into business with, are secretly scouting the best locations. We decided it would be best to set up deep in the countryside and keep what we were doing a secret as long as possible.

Considering the fire that had destroyed most of my grandfather's work, Dad was taking no chances. I completely agreed with his paranoia. We were planning to take down a global business. Not only would it involve the shady Whithorns, but they had investors who wouldn't take too kindly to us dethroning them, namely goblins.

According to the intelligence that was brought in by Clan Sharpclaw, Clan Golddust owned part of the Nimbus, and we could expect them to try and do anything to keep the company afloat and keep the gold pouring into their coffers.

Dad also was looking into hiring people to help him in the production of Firebolts. There was no way he could do everything himself as he does at the store. Even if he spent every hour of the day enchanting, it wouldn't be enough.

Recruiting help shouldn't be too difficult. Dad was a gold-level enchanter in the Charm-Crafting Guild. Many enchanters never become skilled enough to open and run their own shop, and it's not uncommon for them to seek employment with others. The only real challenge would be to keep everything a secret for as long as possible. Although, I'm sure Dad can get a lawyer from Lancaster Commodities that can help draft a magical contract that will ensure their silence. Barbara Lancaster shouldn't mind. She is going to be an investor in the company as well.

All of this news upped the pressure on me to finish my spell. I needed to get it done quickly and get it to Dad if I wanted it to be used. Dad would need time with the new spell. It wasn't like he could slap my spell onto the existing framework. He would have to figure out the best way to fit the spell onto the Firebolt.

So, whenever I had spare time, I worked on my spell. Of the three possible incantations, I had already discarded one, which left me with two other possibilities.

From what I have learned, merging an incantation into a new spell sort of reminded me of my old attempts with wandless magic. You have to be in a specific frame of mind. Connecting with raw magic is primal. It's a hard feeling to describe. For me, it's like reaching for a warm ball of energy in the dark, you can't actually see anything, but the feeling is inescapable. But, the whole thing is a balancing act, the slightest distraction, and the feeling is gone, and I have to start all over.

So far, meditating is the best way I have discovered to put myself in the correct frame of mind. Thankfully, my younger attempts with wandless magic and my previous attempts to create a spell have let me connect faster. It should be just a matter of time before I succeed.

During a cold evening in the beginning of November, I found myself back in the inner sanctum of the Ravenclaw tower, working on my spell. Thankfully, the Eagle seemed to have taken my previous threat of transfiguration seriously and gave me some peace and quiet when I worked on my spell.

I closed my eyes and tried to find the feeling of a warm ball of energy I had started to associate with magic. "Nihil Sentire Aeris."

Even though I didn't feel anything, I preserved and tried to focus on how I wanted my spell to function. Eventually, I called it a night and decided to pick up the following evening. I didn't care if it took me forever. I would figure this out, one way or another.

The following night, I didn't give up on the incantation, and I decided I would try using different combinations to see if that would work.

Sentire Aerisnihil.

Aeris Nihil Sentire.

Nihilaeris Sentire.

Nihilsentire Aeris.

The following week, I went through every combination of that incantation that I could think of, but nothing worked. Disheartened, I decided that no matter what I did, this particular incantation wasn't going to work, so I moved on to my last possible incantation.

I closed my eyes and tried to shut out everything. I sought the ever increasingly familiar feeling of connecting with magic and tried to create my spell.

Nulla Resistentia Aeris.

My heart sank when I didn't feel any spark of life in the spell. I tried not to put too much negative thought into it. I knew there were still many different ways to put the incantation together. But, part of me was beginning to think that I had taken a wrong step somewhere in my design.

A cold, proud voice shook me from my next attempt, "So… There is a new heir to the Ravenclaw library."

My eyes opened in shock. There wasn't supposed to be anyone else in the Ravenclaw sanctum. The first thing I saw was the Bronze Eagle's face bunched up in anger and glaring at someone over my shoulder.

"What are you doing in here?" The Statue thundered angrily.

Turning, my eyes widened when I saw a pale, dark-haired ghost at the entryway. It was the Grey Lady, the Ravenclaw House ghost. She had long flowing hair that reached her waist and was dressed in a cloak that reached the floor. Although she was beautiful, she seemed to radiate a cold and arrogant attitude.

I guess I shouldn't be too surprised that the Ravenclaw house ghost could find me in here, but I was puzzled by the look of distaste she had on her face as she eyed the surroundings.

"You know about the Ravenclaw heirs?" I asked.

"Of course I do," She proudly remarked. "I'm aware of everything that happens in this tower."

The Eagle snarled, "If you know so much, then you know you aren't welcome here."

I shot a puzzled look at the Eagle, "Why not? She's the Ravenclaw ghost."

The Bronze Statue snorted, "But, she doesn't deserve to be. She betrayed Master."

As the Grey Lady and the Statue glared at one another, I couldn't help but feel like I was intruding on a family affair.

I stiffened in surprise. "You knew Rowena Ravenclaw?"

"Know her," the Eagle snorted. "You're looking at her daughter, Helena."

The look on the Grey Lady's face confirmed the Eagle's statement.

"Really?" I asked curiously. "How come no one in Ravenclaw knows you're Rowena's daughter?"

"Because I am my own person," Helena proudly said. "All my life, I was always referred to as Rowena's daughter. It didn't matter that I had my own accomplishments; there was no way for me to step out of my mother's shadow."

A bitter look appeared on her face, "Ironically, it was only in death that I was able to step out of her shadow."

"She gave you everything," the Eagle accused.

A flash of regret briefly appeared on Helena's face before it faded away.

"Everything?" she coolly rebutted. "You say she gave me everything. What she gave me was nothing more than a burden I was forced to bear. Everyone expected me to succeed her, and follow in her footsteps. I had massive expectations put on me all my life, when I met them, it wasn't because I was talented or worked hard. No, it was because I was Rowena's daughter. And if I failed to meet expectations, well then, it was because I wasn't as gifted, or I was just too lazy and was squandering my education."

Helena sneered and waved her arm around the room, "And then there's this place."

She turned her transparent head in my direction. "Did you know she set this place up before I left her? I was her only daughter, and I wasn't good enough for her. It didn't matter that I had dedicated most of my life to trying to learn everything she had to teach. No, as talented as I was, I wasn't good enough to be her heir. Everyone always holds up Rowena as a shining example of a great witch. But, the truth is she could be cold and neglectful, nothing I ever did was ever good enough ."

"So you betrayed her," the Eagle unforgivingly interjected.

All the anger seemed to drain from Helena, leaving only sadness behind.

"I… I just wanted to outgrow her. For her and the world to acknowledge me, to leave my own mark on the world, just as she did."

Shaking her head in disappointment, "We never saw each other again."

Having said all she was going to say, Helena sadly drifted away. As I watched her float away, a feeling of pity welled up inside. It was somewhat sad, Helena was stuck here. She wouldn't ever get to move on, to make peace with her mother in whatever afterlife there was in this universe.

Right then, I promised myself that no matter what happened in the future, I wouldn't ever allow my family to split apart. I couldn't imagine existing for a thousand years and having such unresolved issues.

A brief thought occurred to me, and I called out to Helena, "If you ever want to go through any of the stuff in Rowena's library, just let me know."

Helena paused, and for a moment, I thought she would leave without saying anything.

"Perhaps, one day," A faint voice floated through the air as Helena disappeared through a wall.

As I turned, I saw the Statue glaring at me. "How dare you offer her the chance to peruse Rowena's library."

I rolled my eyes, "She's Rowena's daughter. I don't think it's a big deal for her daughter to see the library."

"That's because you don't know what she did."

"Oh, I don't suppose you would be interested in telling me what she did."

The Bronze Statue refused to meet my eyes. "That's Master's secret, and I swore I would never reveal it. If you want to know so bad, you can ask her."

I rolled my eyes, "Well, as the heir apparent. I say she is welcome anytime she wants."

The Eagle sniffed, "Fine. But don't expect me to stick around if she shows up again."

My eyes widened in surprise. "Wait a minute. If she's here, you'll leave?"

Turning to the wall that the Grey Lady went through, I half-jokingly called out, "Helena, wait, come back."

Annoyed with my plea, the Bronze Statue left the sanctum. I shrugged in response. At least now I can work on this spell in peace.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and began to concentrate on creating my spell. I reached out with my senses and tried to connect with the feeling of magic. Once I finally felt the energy, I got started.

"Nullaresistentia."

For the first time, I felt something connect. It was like before I was trying to force a square peg through a round hole. But now, I had finally found the square hole. It just felt right, like the feeling I got when I first connected with my wand.

I finally understood why the books said you would know when you had found the correct incantation. It was a hard feeling to quantify. It was something you had to feel for yourself.

I opened my eyes in glee. I had done it. I had finally found and merged an incantation with my spell.

I repeated the incantation several times. Each time I felt a stirring, a spark of life. Of course, nothing happened. I still needed to find the perfect wand movement that would release the spell. But, I was close, so close I could almost taste it.

Now, I would need to find old brooms to experiment on, and I knew just where I could find some. Eager to move on to the final step, I got up and rushed to the room that would provide me with everything I needed to get started—the Room of Requirement.