Secrets at the Black Lake

[hohum]

Lucinda ran through the thick layer of snow that blanketed the ground. She bent her head against a gust of wind that sent her winter cloak billowing. She didn’t care where she was going, as long as she was away from the castle. It was a chilly afternoon, where everyone preferred to remain indoors instead of out in the snow. There were a few groups Lucinda had passed on her way out that were outside having a magic snowball fight. Lucinda didn’t join them though, and continued to head outward. The people became scarce the farther she headed away from the castle and eventually there was no one in sight.

Lucinda lifted her head as the gust of wind ceased and saw that she had traveled out to the Black Lake. The water was frozen solid and Lucinda sought shelter under a loan oak that stood some distance from the lake itself. She brushed the snow off of a protruding root and settled herself down. Removing her scarlet gloves, she dug into the pocket of her robes and pulled out a letter she received from her father. The envelope of the letter was written in her father’s elegant script that told her to read the letter in private. This was the reason for her escape out into the snow.

I have finally accepted the invitation to join the Order again. I have gotten a lot of calls from old friends and they have finally convinced me. I’m heading out to Headquarters next weekend to visit before I announce it officially. I thought I would take you along with me, considering that you wish to join the Order and become an Auror. Now pay close attention. This is the address for the Headquarters at the bottom. Say our secret spell and it will appear. Read it, memorize it, and immediately burn this paper.

Lucinda pulled out her wand, now excited to know something top secret. She loosed her scarlet and gold scarf so that it wasn’t choking her, and said their secret spell. Her father had created a secret spell that he only shared with Lucinda. Whenever they wanted to share secrets or any that they didn’t wish others to know, the information or object would only appear upon using this spell. Lucinda had learned to say spells in her head so that no one could hear and give it away. This was one of the difficult lessons her father had taught her over the summer, along with Occlumency so that no one could read her mind.

She pointed her wand towards the paper, saying the spell in her head, and in tiny script that was nearly illegible read, NUMBER 12 GRIMMAULD PLACE. Lucinda said that over and over in her head until she memorized it completely. Actually, she could remember it after the first read through, but she just wanted to make sure. Then she did as her father said and pointed her wand, once again, upon the parchment and it exploded into fire. The warm air the emanated from it felt nice against her cold cheeks.

Standing up, Lucinda brushed the snow off of herself, satisfied by the letter and began to head back to the castle when another gust of wind took away her scarf, sending it soaring towards the Black Lake. Cursing under her breath, Lucinda raced against the wind in order to catch her runaway scarf. She was slower than usual due to the wind, but increased in speed as the wind ceased to a light breeze. She looked around for her Gryffindor scarf and found it sliding around with the breeze upon the surface of the Black Lake. She walked slowly down the slope that led to the shore and slipped down. She went tumbling in the snow all the way to the shore.[/size]

[Professor Zoe Black]

Zoe had been walking in the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest for some time now. Even though on the lawns it was bitter cold and windy, it was somewhat sheltered by the trees.
Zoe decided she had better get back to the castle.
As she walked out of the Forest, a cold wind whipped across her face.
She winced as the ice cold air hit her.
She looked up ahead and saw a silhouette sat against one of the old oak trees. She started to walk over to the person when they stood up and started walking away.
Zoe looked puzzled and started to walk towards the castle.
She was near level with the oak tree now, although she was quite a way away from it.
She continued to walk, and saw a flash of movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned and saw the figure chasing after what appeared to be a scarf.
She started running over to help, when she saw the figure disappear down the bank of the Lake.
She jogged towards the Lake and saw that it was Lucinda Chaplin, one of the first year Gryffindors.
Zoe slid down towards Lucinda.
"Lucinda, what're you doing?" She asked as she halted when she reached the shore.

[hohum]

Lucinda lay still in the cold for a minute, the snow drizzling onto her face and melting away into warm drops of water. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to laugh or cry at this moment, but the sound of footsteps crunching the snowy ground pulled her out of her thoughts. Lucinda opened her eyes, shielding them from the falling snow, and witnessed the Dragonology teacher, Professor Zoe Black, peering curiously down onto Lucinda’s mangled heap of robes and snow. She slid down the slope and stood besides Lucinda.

Professor Black inquired as to what Lucinda was doing, and this time Lucinda couldn’t help but to laugh. Sitting up, Lucinda dusted the snow off her long, light brown hair and down her shirt front. She felt comfortable around Professor Black - whether it was because she was part of the Gryffindor Staff or if it was just her personality, Lucinda couldn’t tell you - but the safe air that this particular professor held was enough to make Lucinda feel comfy.

“Nothing of consequence, Professor,” Lucinda answered as her laughter died. She slowly rose to her feet and dusted herself to rid her robes of the cold, wet snow. “My scarf, actually. It flew away.” As she said this, she looked around for said scarf. She saw a glimpse of scarlet in the distance and immediately whipped out her wand so fast that it was all a blur. “Accio Scarf!” she yelled, directing her wand in the direction of her runaway scarf. It came zooming into her hand faster than thought possible. Lucinda smiled at herself and wrapped the scarf around her neck again.[/size]

[Professor Zoe Black]

Zoe looked down at Lucinda as she started to laugh. She tilted her head slightly at this unexpected outburst of laughter.
Zoe watched Lucinda stand up.
She was about to get her wand out to fetch Lucindas' scarf back from the Lake, but she was too slow, as Lucinda had already done it.
This girl has knowledge way beyond that of a first year, she thought.
"How did you learn that?" Zoe questioned, "you don't normally learn that until you are in forth year."
She looked at the girl, puzzled.
She has talent, she found herself drawn into her thoughts again, there's no doubt of that.

[hohum]

Lucinda looked at Professor Black’s expression at the performance. Lucinda was a bit puzzled by this reaction, but when she heard the question form from the teacher’s mouth, she understood why now. Adjusting her scarf, Lucinda answered with a smile.

“My dad taught me,” she answered. “Kade Chaplin.” She wondered briefly if that would stir some sort of recollection. Everyone she knew was well aware of who her father was, at least when she said it. They didn’t look much alike, Kade and herself, so looking at first glance wouldn’t click in some minds. After she said his name, they usually remembered him from particularly his Auror days. Some knew him from the Department of Mysteries. “He’s been teaching me magic since I was really little. I’m going to become an Auror someday,” she declared proudly. She watched as thoughts seem to zoom in her teacher’s mind.

Another gust of wind billowed by, but Lucinda immediately took a firm hold of her scarf so it would not escape again. She wondered briefly if Professor Black was a part of the Order. Her dad never spoke of her when he told Lucinda about the members, but maybe she was new? She didn't want to spill anything from her father's letter, and so kept her mouth shut.[/size]

[Professor Zoe Black]

Zoe looked at Lucinda after she had mentioned Kade Chaplin.
Of course! Chaplin! That's why she had recognized the name.
She studied Lucinda for a moment.
"Your father is a very talented Auror," she said, "if you have inherited his abilities, the Death Eaters have no chance of winning."
She smiled at Lucinda.
"Your father has taught you well."

[hohum]

Recollection seemed to show on Professor Black's face at the mention of Lucinda's father. She knew him them, like everyone else. Lucinda didn't know if she should be happy about this or upset. His fame had led to many mishaps but other times they had been beneficial. Lucinda just smiled proudly at Professor Black's comments.

"Thank you," she said, and laughed at the statement about the Death Eaters. "My dad has drilled a lot into me before Hogwarts. He says that I must learn if I want to become part of the Order." Lucinda kicked a small patch of snow that was sticking up out of the ground, the question of Professor Black’s admission in the Order was still floating around in her head.

The sound of crushing ice was audible through the whistling wind, and Lucinda looked curiously out onto the Black Lake. Something seemed to be attempting an escape - something big, at that. Instinctively, Lucinda gripped her wand in front of her. What large creature would live in a lake, Lucinda wondered. She looked at Professor Black’s reaction.[/size]

[Professor Zoe Black]

Zoe was shocked that Lucinda was talking about the Order. Her father had been in it, but she had not yet heard news of him accepting their invitation to join again.
"You must be careful, Miss Chaplin," Zoe said, looking around her, "we cannot risk you been overheard, not when," she looked around her again, "Lucius Malfoy is in the school."
She heard the sound of ice breaking and looked around towards the Lake.
She turned back around and found Lucinda with her wand out, ready to face what was coming. She smiled.
"It will just be the Giant Squid," she said, " it'll be wanting to breathe. I expect stuck under that ice for a season would be quite annoying."

[hohum]

Professor Black's reaction was unsettling when Lucinda mentioned the Order, and Lucinda wanted to kick herself for mentioning it at all. Professor Black warned that Lucinda ought to be careful when talking about the Order, especially with Lucius Malfoy roaming about the school. Instinctively, Lucinda looked around them, but thankfully saw no one else around except themselves.

"Sorry, Professor," Lucinda muttered. "That was pretty stupid of me." She looked down and shuffled her ffeet a bit in the snow. Her father would be dissappointed if he found out she had just blurted out about the Order.

The thick ice that layered the Black Lake had not yet broken, but they could both hear that something was trying to poke out. Professor Black smiled as she explained that it must be the Giant Squid attempting to get some air. Lucinda's wand arm relaxed, but she felt a little bad for the Giant Squid. She pointed her wand toward the ice and muttered, "Diffindo", causing the ice to finish breaking. A large and thankful tentacle shot up from the surface of the cold water, happy to be free. This made Lucinda smile.[/size]

[Professor Zoe Black]

Zoe's expression changed as Lucinda spoke.
"Do not be hard on yourself, it's just, the Order will be in danger if they are found out. Don't punish yourself for a simple sentence."
Zoe watched as Lucinda broke the ice and a tentacle appeared.
She smiled.
"You are a kind girl, Lucinda."

[hohum]

Professor Black told Lucinda not to be too hard on herself after her exposure of the Order. Lucinda shrugged, still a bit ashamed. She knew that she could be hard on herself sometimes, but she still couldn’t just get over it.

“I know,” she sighed, looking down at the snowy ground. “But one simple sentence is enough to cause anything to happen, for the good and the bad. If my father heard me mentioning my ambitions to a stranger…” she trailed off, then shot her head back up at the realization of what she had just said. “Not that you are bad - or a stranger, well you were but you’re a teacher - ugh.” Lucinda smacked her hand against her head in frustration. “I can’t say anything right anymore.” She sighed and looked down at the ground again.

Professor Black commented on Lucinda’s kindness, and Lucinda smiled weakly in response, thanking her for the compliment. It was silent for a few moments after that. The wind blew sharp and icy, spilling stray snow upon the ground from the trees.

“Have you heard about the disappearances, Professor?” Lucinda asked curiously. She didn’t look up when she said this, but decided it might be a good conversation starter. Besides, Lucinda was truly interested. She was hoping that there was perhaps someone else in the school besides herself that read the Daily Prophet as if it were essential for existence.[/size]

[Professor Zoe Black]

"It's okay, you're just getting yourself muddled," Zoe said in reply to Lucinda's waffling.
"Yes, I have heard about the disappearances, I read about them at breakfast, this morning, the Auror and his wife? How terrible. John was a friend of mine, too," she said, sadly, "I hope they find him alive, or at least find is body, so he can at least have a funeral."
She looked at the Lake, the Giant Squid had gone back int the water.

((Sorry for the short reply, but I don't have much time. )

[hohum]

Lucinda simply nodded, and felt her heart sink when Professor Black did notice the disappearances. She said that the most recent one was an Auror, and a personal friend of her's.

"I'm sorry," Lucinda said. Her father was out there right now, trying to find them. Not only them, but all of those who have vanished. She sighed heavily as she thought about this. She continued to stare out to the scene beyond. Never had she felt this way before.

"I don't understand why there must be such evil creeps out there," Lucinda said, suddenly angry. It was their fault that the world was so corrupt. This was why she was going to join the Order someday. To rid the innocent of them.[/size]

[Professor Zoe Black]

Lucinda gave her condolences as she heard one of the Aurors was Zoe's friend.
"It's quite alright, I have faith in him that he didn't go without a fight, that's if he didn't manage to survive. I know John, and I know his determinations and ambitions," she smiled at the memory.
Lucinda was suddenly angered by the thought of the Death Eaters out there.
"The world wouldn't be balanced without both good and evil inside it. There will always be good and evil, nothing can ever change that," she paused and thought about what Harry Potter had told her, when she was younger, "everyone has good and bad sides to them, but it's what the person chooses that matters. If people want to be good, they will be, and the same for the evil, and besides," she said, with a reckless glint in her eye, "where's the fun when all the world is good?"
She laughed at her own words, although it was sometimes life threatening, she did enjoy a duel. After all, she was only nineteen, she's hardly grown up, not yet, anyway.

[hohum]

Professor Black did not expose any regretful or feelings of remorse. Lucinda figured that was because she was a teacher, attempting to reassure a student. Things like this leave open wounds that slowly heal, leaving an eventual scar.

Professor Black then spoke of the significance of having good and evil characters in a world. There were going to be Death Eaters and evil in the world, and Lucinda knew this. Professor Black said that everyone had some good and bad in them, and it was only what one chose to do with those powers that defined them. Lucinda smiled at that, for her dad told her.

"I know," Lucinda said, shrugging. "But where's the fun in loosing the people you love or are close to because of that evil? People should learn to chose the right path." Lucinda noticed Professor Black's grin, and Lucinda could tell that she liked to duel. This was something Lucinda could relate to.

"I love to duel," she stated absently. "But I would rather duel for fun than for my life. Anyway, I'm going to be an Auror and kick all of their -" she cut herself off, remembering that she was in the presence of a teacher.[/size]