hunting unicorns

[metamorphmaga]

As spring approaches and the snow begins to melt, Jenny and Emma take to spending their free afternoons outside, practicing flying or doing homework on the lawn or just generally enjoying the sunshine. Their spot of choice is not, as such things go, all that far from the forest, and for Jenny it becomes something of a game: see if you can spot a unicorn. She never does, but she never gives up hope. Someday.

After about a month of this, Emma decides to leave the lawn early- she's finished her letter to her parents, and wants to drop it at the Owlery- so Jenny is left to her own devices. Bored, she examines the forest. It's only supposed to be unsafe at night, right? It won't hurt to go wander around a little in search of unicorns. She won't go very far.

And if she's lucky- unicorns.

---

Half an hour later, Jenny is deeply regretting her idea. She is completely lost, and the forest has gotten much darker and gloomier. She would go back, if she had any idea where to go. She's taken to making little piles of rocks, to attempt to mark her way; unfortunately, so far all this has told her is that she is definitely going in a circle.

The next time she re-encounters a pile, she branches out to the left instead. She's pretty sure she came from that direction, so maybe-




Cold.

Jenny is friends with Miranda. Miranda has been compulsively researching Dementors all year; she knows what it means, this cold, the screaming terror. But it's so much worse than anything ever, ever said it would be. She's frozen to the spot, unable to move, brain screaming in terror.

And then the Dementor appears. Slowly but visibly, it approaches her. Is it bigger than the books said they should be? She thinks it is. It's already looming and it's not even close.

Frantically, crazy with fear, Jenny does the only thing she can think of- she shifts away her mouth.

The Dementor stops, seeming to hover in place. Jenny stays frozen in place. The Dementor doesn't seem to be planning to Kiss her... but it's not moving, either, and she's still stuck.

Oh, God. Now what?

Comments

[wyrdsister]

The next morning, Professor Reed can be found awaiting Miranda in her classroom. It is, as promised, immediately after breakfast.

[chanuphis]

Miranda appears on time.

[wyrdsister]

"Good morning, Miss Swan." She proffers a piece of parchment. Her handwriting is somewhat on the fancy side, but still reasonably legible. "These are the tests I'd like to get through." She eyes Miranda wryly. "I had a feeling you might like to look it over before we begin."

[chanuphis]

"Yes, thank you." Peeeeeer.

[wyrdsister]

It's not actually that long a list. There's a few spells for Dark Magic detection, with notes like "for use when wand is casting" and "for use when wand is idle" and "use when casting specific spells". One involves dipping the wand into a potion, which is probably contained in the jar on her desk; the note next to that line specifies how much needs to be immersed (not much), how long it needs to be immersed (a few minutes) and risk to the wand (one ingredient will react rather spectacularly if the core turns out to be any part of a red cap, but this is unlikely.)

"You are welcome to cast almost all of the spells," Professor Reed tells her, "and in fact in most cases that would actually be quite helpful, as I'd like to analyze the wand while you cast. However, I do insist on casting Morsmordre myself."

[chanuphis]

"Okay. You just need to borrow it, not win it, right? To do that?"

[wyrdsister]

"I do not need to win your wand to cast Morsmordre," she confirms. "I... believe that was part of its original design, that it could be used to cast suspicion upon others." She grimaces.

[chanuphis]

"Okay. Um, most things I can do with this wand are pretty dramatic and might wreck the furniture or something, but the Patronus is safe, should I just use that when you need me to be casting nonspecific things?"

[wyrdsister]

"Hmm. Tentatively yes, unless I need to see a lower power spell for some reason? For which I believe I can supply you with feather as necessary; even dramatic feathers should be reasonably safe," she says with a smile.

[chanuphis]

"Okay. They might stick to the ceiling though."

[wyrdsister]

"I believe the ceiling can withstand such a fate," she laughs. "If you're ready, then?"

[chanuphis]

Miranda nods and starts down the list.

[wyrdsister]

Professor Reed is unable to conclusively determine what, in fact, the core of the wand is. This seems to annoy her. Everything she tries is consistent with chimaera hair, and one test suggests it, but definite proof is elusive.

She cheers back up when faced with the Patronus, though. Patronuses aren't precisely common in America, and she sheepishly admits to taking a couple seconds just to admire the spell before actually analyzing it.

Except for a minor incident with a chair leg, everything else goes seamlessly. She Repairs the chair with her own wand and returns the hazel wand to Miranda. "Well, there you have it, Miss Swan. Not unstable, not Dark. As far as I can tell, it's simply very powerful." She stares at it uneasily. "Would you object to a tutor? I think one-on-one training would be safer for everyone involved."

[chanuphis]

"I wouldn't mind trying it," says Miranda, sticking her wand back in her hair. "What do you want me tutored in?"

[wyrdsister]

"That's not quite my concern. Your wand may not be unstable but it's hardly predictable. If things go awry- if you sent a person shooting at the ceiling instead of a feather, for instance- best not to be in a classroom when it happens. Or worse, alone, or far from help."

[chanuphis]

"I've been using my other one in classes," says Miranda. "I tried the hazel for the Patronus because at that point overdoing it couldn't really hurt."

[wyrdsister]

"We're all very grateful for your quick thinking, of course. Your heroism saved a number of lives. By no means do I intend to rush you; you're doing just fine in your classes as it is. But down the line, whenever you wish to practice with this wand more regularly- consider a tutor my suggestion."

[chanuphis]

"I've been trying things a little bit, carefully," says Miranda. "Who would tutor me?"

[wyrdsister]

"That's likely to depend on what you wish to practice. I'm sure the Headmistress would have suggestions, if you need them."

[chanuphis]

"But I mean - another student, or a professor, or...?"

[wyrdsister]

"Anyone who's passed their- drat, what's the test name here- O.W.L.s should be more than competent enough. After that, it would depend on who has free time, I'm sure."

[chanuphis]

"Okay. I'll ask some older Ravenclaws maybe."

[wyrdsister]

"Sensible of you," she approves.

[chanuphis]

"Is that all, Professor?"

[wyrdsister]

"That's all, Miss Swan. At least until class, of course."