Sara's adventure Part V

I lay down on the bed placed in the middle of the room that was allotted to me and closed my eyes. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes again in the fear that the room would disappear and I would be seeing only my bedroom again. HA! The room did not disappear! So, it’s all true. All that happened from the morning are real happenings of my day. The most memorable and exciting event of my life. I could not believe my luck. When there are thousands of fans of Harry potter all over the world why was I selected? When there are hundreds who are crazy enough to memorize the spells, passionate enough to wait all night outside the book shop to lay their hands on the first edition on the day of release of Harry potter books, why was I chosen? Am I mad at Harry more than anybody else in this world? And well, how much Daniel Radcliffe resembles the real Harry! If Daniel and Harry are made to stand beside each other, they could very well pass out as brothers. Aw… Ron! When I thought of Ron, hot tears ran down my cheeks. I wondered how Harry and Hermoine would have felt seeing Ron killed before their very eyes. And Fred? What about Fred? Was he really killed during the Battle of Hogwarts or was that only a border line to JKR’s writing? JKR. Rowling! She is a witch! Incredible! I wondered what would happen if I were to make this information public. Would people believe me? Probably, I would be called a lunatic. Is she aware of this doomsday charm? Is she part of the war that’s going on to save this world? First of all, would I share all that is happening now with anybody? Mom? Dad? They would laugh out on me. Deepika? Gayathri? They would believe me. I could portray how their faces would look when I tell them all this. I laughed out aloud and got up from the bed.

I walked towards the big window in the center of the room and moved the curtains that had covered the window. Sun rays fell on me and I felt fresh air. Straight before my eyes the dark cover resembling dark clouds were moving towards the direction of the tower we were in. Though Alisis had assured that we have got two days before the dark cover would reach the tower, a shiver ran down my body on seeing the dark cover. Will I be able to save the entire wizarding community from this so called doomsday charm? Am I really capable of it? Do I love the wizarding community so much that I could shed tears and save them all? Will just my tears make this dark charm inactive? A cloud of uncertainty and fear filled my thoughts and I moved away from the window. I sat on the arm chair beside the window and pulled the curtains down. I let out a sigh and closed my eyes. What if I fail? What if all the wizards and witches are enslaved? Killed? What if he conquers the world? Poor muggles would never understand what is going on. What can I do without the wizards’ help? A sudden thought occurred to me. Will I be alive if they are killed? I remembered Hermoine’s words. She had said that I would be the target. I stood up from the chair suddenly and started walking around the room. I started feeling restless and hopeless. What can a poor muggle like me do? All is going to go wrong. He is going to kill everybody and conquer the world.

I stood still. I am not supposed to be afraid like this. I am not supposed to lose confidence and behave like a coward. When Great wizards like Harry, Hermoine and Alisis are beside me to help me and protect me, why should I be afraid? Why should I be scared? Is it not my duty to save my own world, if not this wizarding world from falling into the hands of the evil? Did I not fall in love with Harry’s character for his bravery and selfless love towards the magical community? Today, I have got an opportunity to prove myself and let me grab it.

I took in a deep breath, relaxed myself and sat on the couch. I took an apple kept in the bowl before the couch in my hand and played with it for some time. My stomach started grumbling. Maybe, I should find out where Rosy and Pinkie are.

I stood up and walked towards the door, when the door opened before I could open it. Albus walked in. I was breathless again.

He smiled at me. “Miss! Aren’t you hungry? May I call Rosie to bring you some food?”

I simply nodded my head, staring right at him.

He smiled again and left the room.

Why? Why am I becoming breathless every time I see Albus? Why does my heart pump so fast when ever he is beside me? Why do I gape at him like I have never seen a guy? I shook my head violently to clear off the mist that had formed in my mind. The mist that covers my mind every time Al appears before me. “Sara! Come on, behave yourself! Don’t give him a chance to think you are an uncivilized moron!” I told myself.

I walked back to the window and peeped out. I could hear Rosie walking in. I turned around to smile at her. She carried a tray full of food.  Breads, butter, cheese, salad, biscuits, bananas, oranges, apples and milk. My stomach grumbled more loudly. I walked to sit on the table. Rosie smiled at me and laid the plate and filled it with bread and butter.

“Thank you, Rosie”

“You are welcome, Madam. Please let me know if you need anything more. Madam Hermoine told me that you are a vegetarian. We didn’t know what else you would like.”

“No, thanks, Rosie. I am not sure if I would be able to finish all of these”. I managed to say, with my mouth full.

I could hear some body else walking in, but I kept my eyes on my plate. Albus sat opposite to my chair. He had his face on his hands and started looking at me. I tried to ignore him and concentrated on my food. Rosie walked out, leaving us alone. I raised my eyes once to look at him casually and I saw that he was staring at me with a smile on his face. I looked down to my plate and continued. I did the same after a few minutes and I still found him in the same posture. I started coughing as I gulped down the milk in a hurry. He hurried beside me to offer me the glass of water. I received the glass from him and mumbled a thanks. After ten more minutes, when I found my plate empty, I still found him sitting opposite to me, with his eyes never leaving my face.

“Ahem..!” I stirred uncomfortably on my seat and he stood up suddenly and came beside me. He bowed a little.

“Miss! Is there anything I could get for you?”

“Sara! Call me Sara! No, No thanks”

He smiled. “Please feel at home, Sara. Let me know if there is anything I could do” His voice was soft and soothing. His face reflected the sincerity with which he spoke those words.

“Nah! I I m fine.. No, no thanks” I stuttered.

“Please, take rest, Sara, before we start our journey towards the Little Mount in another hour.”

I loved it when he called my name.

“You are, hmm, you are coming with us?” I questioned him hesitantly.

“Of course!” He smiled. “You are my responsibility. You will never go anywhere without me. My eyes will watch over you all the time. Twenty four hours. My eyes will be on lookout for anything and everything that happens around you. So, do not be afraid of anything, Sara.”

I could feel that he meant them when he said them. “So, was that why your eyes never left my face when I was having food?” I winked.

He laughed out aloud. “Sorry! I must have scared you”

“Nope! You just made me uncomfortable. Nothing else!”

“Oh! Sorry! But why would you feel uncomfortable?”

“This is the first time that a wizard stares at me like this. That is why!”

He laughed again. His laughter was like ringing of bells. I felt warm inside.

“What are you doing?”

“Talking with you…”

It was my turn to laugh.

“Nah! I meant about your job, I mean profession, I mean, have you finished your schooling?”

“Sara…! Do I look like a school boy to you?” He kidded.

“Of course not. “ I denied quickly. “What I meant was…”

“I understand.” He interjected. “I am an auror with the ministry of Magic.” I remembered Alisis saying that he was an auror when he introduced me to him. But I remembered that I had paid little attention to the fact that he was an auror, as I was bemused looking at him.

“Oh, Wow! Auror? That must be a prestigious job, isn’t it? Following your dad?”

“Yep! Though I can never match him”. He smiled modestly.

“Of course, no one can. Hmm… What’s your brother doing? James!”

“He works with the department for Control of Accidental magic. Senior secretary”

“Oh, nice! And Lily?”

“She is in her last year of Hogwarts”

“And your mother?”

“She played for Royal Centurions for a few years. Then she started being with Aunt Hermoine. Anything Aunt is into, mom would be to help her. She loves spending time with Aunt. You see, after after… hmm.. Uncle Ron’s demise, Aunt feels very lonely. So Mom is always with her.”

“Oh!” I felt a lump on my throat. I cleared it before I could speak again.

“So… What do you think are my chances?”

“What?? What the… Oh! What are you talking about? We are winning this war. I am very confident. You could do this.”

“Thanks, Sev.”

He looked up when I called him Sev. His face showed a number of reactions at the same time that I could hardly make out anything out of it. “Sorry! I…”

“No. Why do you apologize?”

“I thought you didn’t like me calling you Sev”

“Why wouldn’t I? No one calls me so except dad. I was surprised when you called me so.”

“Hmmm.. I.. umm. I like Lily, I mean, your grandma calling Professor Snape as Sev. That is why…”

“Yes, I understand”

The room went silent.

I kept meddling with the glass looking down at his reflection on the table. I could see him staring at my face again. I wondered what he was thinking at the moment. My eyes examined every feature of him. His fair complexion, his green eyes, pointed nose, curved pink lips, one hand resting on the table, the other holding his wand tight.

He moved his hand resting on the table and touched my fingers meddling with the glass. A wave of shock and tremor passed through my fingers and I jerked my hands free from his fingers. Nevertheless, I still had my hand near the glass. His hand lengthened again and caught hold of my fingers. Though I struggled to free my fingers from his grasp, I knew my effort was not objective. I could feel my heart thumping faster, blood running down my veins faster than it should. I looked up at him. His green eyes sunk into my black ones and I lost my memory. Nothing but his green eyes was before me and I could feel nothing but his cool fingers on mine. I lost track of time.

He withdrew his eyes from mine suddenly and turned towards the window. I followed him and found a wave of green light flowing towards me with lightning speed. In the next second, a white hand pulled my shoulders and I found myself below the table under Al’s cloak and the chair in which I had been before a moment blasted into pieces. Shards of glasses and wood showered on us, but not even one fell on me, as Al was upon me fully. He moved to the floor in the next moment, pushed me onto the safety of the pillar behind the table, took out his wand and shot out spells one after another. Red sparks came out of his wand and met the green ones half way. One green spark missed him and hit the floor beside me. Hot waves emanated from the place where it hit the floor and flowed towards my right leg. I shuddered and ran out of its reach. Now, I was out of the safety of the pillar and another green spark missed me. I turned to the direction of the green sparks and I found two huge black cloaks outside the window hanging on their broomsticks. I could not see their faces as I was blinded by another green shot, and this time Al jumped on me, pushed me to the ground, rolled with me and took me behind the couch. “Stay!” He ordered and went to fight again. Two black cloaks appeared near the doorway and they joined Al in the fight. I recognized them as Toby and Winnace. Yellow and orange sparks joined Al’s red and the green sparks began to fade.

“Aaa….hhhh!” One fellow fell from the broomstick and the other was stunned. Toby and Winnace ran to the window. Winnace brought thick ropes from nowhere and tied the stunned fellow. He was captured and taken away by Winnace. Toby turned towards Al and both of them walked towards the couch. Al offered his hand to me. I caught his hand and stood up.

“Are you alright?” Toby asked.

“Yes.” I mumbled, my eyes never leaving Al’s.

Toby went to the window, cast some spell and the next moment the windows were shut and secured. He came to us, tapped Al’s shoulder and said, “The tower is being attacked. We got to leave. Get ready.” He walked away giving me a nod.

I turned back to Al, as I realized why the tower was being attacked. “It’s me, isn’t it?”

He turned his face away from me.

“It’s because of me the tower is being attacked, isn’t it? They want me, don’t they?” I whispered.

Al turned to look at me. His face was like a stone.

“Get ready, Sara! I’ll be back in a few minutes to take you to a place more safer.” Al spoke, his voice cold.

He tapped my shoulders and left the room.

I heard the door shut. The room was empty just as my heart was.