Currents of Shadow
The early sunlight spilled across the grounds of Star Academy, glinting off the crystal towers, but inside the training wing, Hazel and Evervine moved with intent, practicing delicate transfiguration exercises. Evervine shaped a silver chalice from a block of crystal, her hands steady but her brow furrowed. Hazel mirrored her movements across the room, turning a rough stone block into a small, perfect cube with the clarity of the finest diamond and a shade of blue like a tranquil lake.
Evervine's movements faltered slightly. "Hazel," she said quietly, lowering the chalice, "there's… something strange happening in Sof House. There are new residents that no one knows. They just seem to appear out of no where and they have odd faces like they never really learned how to express themselves. It are about six or seven of the, now."
Hazel paused mid-spell, letting the cube in her hand dissolve into a mist of sparks. Her mind shifted instantly to the threads of magic that shimmered invisibly through the Academy. The fate lines did have a different aura the closer they got to Sof house. This probably meant that this was originating from within. She frowned. "Perhaps I should do a divination, look into it." Her lips pressed together. "Wait—Professor Sing is over Sof House. I should speak to her first."
Evervine nodded, her focus back on her work. Suddenly her chalice warped, melted, then disappeared in magical sparks. "Why are inanimate things so difficult for me?" She sighed dramatically and looked to her friend and said, in all seriousness.
"I wish I had a mother who was a transfiguration professor."
Hazel rolled her eyes. "Transform into a butterfly to reset your transfiguration motivations and try something smaller."
Evervine sighed again. She seamlessly turned into a large beautiful purple and blue butterfly, fluttered a bit, and then seamlessly changed back into herself and returned to work. This time she formed a small delicate tea cup.
Hazel rolled her eyes and thought. 'She always chooses complicated things.' She shook her head but said nothing.
---
Later that morning Hazel entered in the Divination classroom. Crystal balls were aligned neatly, incense smoldered at each corner, and students whispered nervously. Through the subtle telekinesis link she had been learning to use, Professor Sara Sing reached Hazel's mind directly, the words forming as a gentle hum.
'Hazel, I need you. Today, for the crystal ball exercises. But… there is something more. Sof House. Its fate lines—something twists them, I cannot see clearly. Do you have a spell or ritual that could reveal the problem or stabilize them?'
Hazel's mind brightened at the challenge. 'I just spoke with Evervine—she saw oddities too. This confirms it. 'Not really, Professor Sing. I've already considered a divination to track it. I can help with the lesson, and then focus on Sof House after. But I need to determine origins before we can really set things right.'
The telekinetic connection vibrated faintly with Sing's approval. 'Good. We must act quickly before these threads tangle further. We will work on this together.'
---
As the lesson began, Hazel's presence dominated the room. She moved from student to student, guiding hand movements, adjusting focus, coaxing the energy in crystal balls to reveal subtle currents. Rosa Ambrose watched, her jaw tightening each time Hazel demonstrated a slightly more refined technique.
"It's just a fancier crystal ball," Rosa muttered under her breath when Hazel crystal ball appeared. It had evolved once again, keeping pace with Hazel's innate talent and growing power. The crystal had a plethora of sides, each a different dazzling color or unique shade. It rested on a tall thin pedestal and was cupped by Delicate star bird feathers. Hazel's fingers danced across its surface, drawing light through the crystal, revealing the faint currents of magical influence that pulsed within.
Hazel handed an identical crystal ball to Rosa. "Try it," she said, her voice calm but firm. Rosa's fingers pressed to the faceted surface, lips pursed, as she mimicked Hazel's motions. The sphere glimmered faintly, but the energy did not shift, did not respond as Hazel's did.
Across the room, representatives from the Clarkton, Wist, and Swap families had observed quietly, noting Hazel's technique, her control, the subtle authority in her hands. Rosa's irritation was palpable.
"Unfair," she muttered.
Of course Elsbeth, divination ally, chimed in agreement. "exactly. How are we supposed to be the same as her in skill level. She should be in a different class."
The Divination families whispered and nodded but said nothing aloud.
"Talent rarely plays fair," Hazel replied, eyes flicking toward the family representatives, a slight edge to her voice.
Rosa sucked her teeth. "Are you saying I have no talent?! Have you forgotten that I came in second just behind you? You and I are almost equally yoked."
There were a few scoffs around the room, Rosa particularly cringed when she realized at least two come from the divination families.
Rosa gritted her teeth. "I have to agree with Elsbeth. You do not belong in this class. You should be in a higher year class."
She immediately regretted her words when she saw the Divination family member nodding in agreement.
---
That night, directly after dinner, she found herself on the Dreamscape, preparing for counter-curse training. Dueling Grounds shimmered into existence beneath their feet, stone glowing faintly underfoot. Walls of shifting energy braced to respond to every incantation. Hazel surveyed her companions: Harry, Hermione, Ron, Fred, George, Evervine, and Marcel.
"Today," Hazel announced, "we will practice Mens Fortis, a protective counter-curse against Cruciatus and Imperius. It fortifies the mind, shields the caster, and strengthens resolve. This will be essential for any combat where these curses appear. So when we encounter death eaters again we will be better prepared."
Shadows coalesced into solid forms, mimicking attackers, some humanoid, some twisted amalgamations of nightmare and shadow. Hazel's aura shimmered as she gestured. "Anticipate intent, not just action. Feel the pressure, the malice, the strain, and respond with strength of mind."
Hermione's precision was impeccable, her every motion measured. Ron and Harry exchanged cautious glances, adapting quickly. Fred and George grinned as they threw distractions into the fight, minor illusions and sparks, testing each other and the team. Marcel mixed small smoke bombs from vials, adding chaotic layers. Evervine moved like a shadow herself, anticipating every strike, responding faster than her opponents.
Hazel adjusted her stance, letting Shylah soar above, feathers glowing with inner starlight. The star bird's presence anchored the magical currents, amplifying Hazel's protective aura. "Good—but not enough," Hazel said. "We must travel further, perhaps beyond even the seven known dimensions. Only then can we discover rare incantations to help us fully strengthen ourselves against these Unforgivable Curses."
The team nodded, wiping sweat from their foreheads, focus never breaking. Every counter-spell, every corrected stance, every protective field reinforced not only their skill but the threads of teamwork and magical intuition that bound them.
---
After, when all the others had gone, candles flickered in a hall, shadows twisting unnaturally. Hazel prepared the divination ritual and Professor Sing entered as if she had just been walking down a hall in Star Academy. Her bright blue robes flowed around her like dense pools of water. As she moved to Hazal a magica light moved in a circle around crystal balls, mirrors, and softly burning incense forming a strong magic in which to perform the ritual. Shylah hovered above, observing and ever vigilant. Hazel was still important to the star bird and she would protect her even if Hazel did not want protection.
Professor Sing nodded to Hazel in acknowledgement, sat in her position and closed her eyes. Hazel closed her eyes, letting the currents of fate pulse through her mind and then around through Professor Sing.
The pale figures whispered faintly, shifting as if reacting to the ritual, smoothing slightly under Hazel's focus. Threads of Sof House magic tangled and strained, but slowly began to straighten, align, flow in harmony. Sing's voice was calm, a frown creasing her face. "None of this is right. I can tell it is Sof House but it is so twisted it is like it is a completely different place.
Hazel felt the star bird's energy infuse the ritual, pulsing through her fingers and into the threads. With each subtle shift, the hall seemed lighter, the currents more fluid. She did not understand why Shylah wanted to help but she did not argue and accepted.
They read the lines of fate for some time. Images rolling smoothly to the surface, making themselves known then bursting and dispersing into nothing.
And that was what they found, nothing. All they could tell for certain was it was all originating below Sof House.
The ritual reached its natural conclusion and the two witches sat there quier for a long moment.
"We need to look deeper" they had spoken in unison and were now nodding agreement to each other.
They would look deeper and discover the truth.
---
Later, preparing for bed, Hazel's mind refused to settle. Flashes of movement and shadow drew her attention—an unbidden vision. The Emotion Doll, once turned away, slowly lifted its head. Its eyes, sewn shut, remained motionless, but the slight turn of its head toward her made Hazel's heart race. Its stitched mouth remained closed, but she could almost feel its scrutiny, deliberate and calculated. She tore herself away from the vision, pulse hammering, aware that it had chosen to notice her.
From her perch Shylah stirred and slew up into the aìr.
"What was that?!"
Her song was sweet yet soul piercing. Hazel, as usually, understood all of it.
"It was that cursed doll. I think it has finally recognized me."
"Then we are going to Sala. We have to find the place of its origins and set that child free."
Hazel nodded. She looked out of her window, her hair brush still in her hand. She wasn't sure if that doll even remembered it was a child before or if there even was a before for it.