Wit Beyond Measure
written by Lizzie Scamander
Will her Ravenclaw wit keep her where she belongs? It is the year 1962 at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and Tom Riddle is back wanting to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts. Will Professor Dippet permit this future Lord Voldemort to have the place, or will Cecelia Blackwood convince him otherwise? Little does she know that this is not just a career argument, but the beginning of a dangerous and magical adventure.
Last Updated
05/31/21
Chapters
6
Reads
679
The Life-Saving Stumble
Chapter 5
My boots crunched on the thin ice cover on the snow as I strode down the main Hogsmeade street. Students hurried past this way and that, for it was a weekend trip to Hogwarts's local magical village. I rubbed my gloved hands together and sighed. My breath appeared as a puff of mist on the cold air that drifted into nothingness as I continued on my way. Yet I didn't notice any of this, I was too preoccupied.
Dumbledore had just met me in the Three Broomsticks and informed me that Professor Dippet had declined Riddle the job of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, yet mysteriously warned me to be careful, and that the argument wasn't over yet. This perplexed me, and also made me quite uneasy - what did Dumbledore expect? What would Riddle do? Another thing was, Dumbledore had hurried off back up to the castle as soon as he had told me all this. I presumed it was because Riddle had stayed the night at the school. Professor Dippet had insisted that he stay and not leave yet. I frowned. Why was Professor Dippet so oblivious to Riddle's cold attitude toward Dumbledore and I? And why did he trust him so much? Surely he must become a bit suspicious toward Riddle's doings over the last few years. He had gone to work at Borgin & Burkes - it was general knowledge that that was a shifty place, and then he had -
I halted abruptly. I had been heading down a deserted alley - a shortcut to the road back to Hogwarts, but I was certain that I had just heard footsteps behind me. People seldom used this way, and hardly anyone knew about it anyway. I turned. There was no one behind me. I told myself that it had just been my imagination, and turned to continue. Yet only a minute after I heard the footsteps again. I whirled around. No one there. I blinked hard. Still no one. As if blinking would make a difference, I thought sarcastically. I pressed on.
Yet only shortly after I heard the footsteps again. My suspicions were aroused. If there was someone behind me, what reason did they have to hide? Unless they didn't want to be seen, I thought darkly. Except whose here who wants to avoid me? The answer struck me immediately and forcefully, yet I pushed it away.
Don't be stupid, I reprimanded myself sternly. Of course he wouldn't -
BANG! A jet of red light had whizzed past me and collided with the brick wall to my left. I gasped and pressed myself to the snowy ground - just in time. A whisp of orange light came this time, and I immediately recognised it as the Imperius Curse. I felt frozen with shock and fear, but I knew I could not lie here. I jumped to my feet and whirled around. Yet my attacker was nowhere to be seen. I looked wildly around.
"Helium Revelio!" I yelled.
A figure was momentarily revealed some feet away from me. I didn't hesitate for a second. "Impedimenta!" I shouted.
My spell hit a slightly glowing barrier where the figure had momentarily been revealed. I knew they had performed a Shielding Charm and deflected the jinx. It was at the same time that I realised this that I realised they had on a Disillusionment Charm. I grit my teeth. Raising my wand I shouted the countercurse.
The charm was lifted, and a hooded man stood before me. "Crucio!" He barked, striding forward, pointing his wand at me. I ducked.
"Stupefy!" I yelled.
My spell hit a garbage bin behind the man. I saw his sneer under his hood.
"I see the little teacher has tricks up her sleeve," he said maliciously. "I'll just have to -"
"Expelliarmus!" I shouted.
The man deflected the spell.
"Who are you?" I gasped. "What do you want with me?"
"That is, unfortunately, none of your business," the man said, with a menacing laugh. "Crucio!"
I dived to the side to avoid the unforgivable curse. "That'll last you a lifetime stay in Azkaban," I said, struggling for breath.
The man cackled. "Like those Ministry officials will catch me," he said. "For now, missy, I'll just dispose of you." He raised his wand.
I could not stay here forever. I decided to take a leaf out of this attacker's book. I tapped my wand on my head, trying to focus hard around my fear. To my relief, I felt as if water was running down my spine - the Disillusionment Charm had worked.
The man cursed furiously. "Trying to confuse me?" He snapped. "Crucio! Stupefy!"
The jets of light hissed past me. I resisted the urge to perform a spell back - that would just give away where I stood camouflaged. I began to edge backward. If only I could get out into the open, then I could escape...
"Imperio! Expulso!"
I turned and began to run.
"Confringo! Crucio!"
A stitch pierced my side as I ran faster. Faster, faster, faster...
"Avada Kedavra!"
I tripped and fell. The deadly jet of green light hissed over my head. I had missed death by inches. That stumble had saved my life.
Yet at the same moment I heard my attacker yell, "Stupefy!" and the jet of red light must have hit me, for next moment everything was going black...
