As I sat in the hospital bed, Huginn swooped into the room and landed on the windowsill. Huginn was carrying a letter with the familiar seal of my family. I recognized my father's handwriting immediately.
I tore open the envelope and read the contents of the letter. My father had written to congratulate me on my quick thinking and bravery in saving Mikkel Madsen. It was probably the warmest compliment I had ever received from him.
The letter also stated that I was to stay at Hogwarts and accept whatever punishment the school deemed necessary for breaking the rules. My father promised to take care of any repercussions to ensure that I would not be expelled.
I couldn't help but feel relieved that my father had my back. It was a rare moment of support from him, but I knew it was only because I had done what was expected of me as a Nielsen.
"Thank you Huginn," I said with gratitude.
"Anytime," Huginn replied in Wingwhisper, which to anyone listening would naturally sound like "caw caw"
----
Finally, a letter arrived bearing the Madsen family seal.
Mikkel's hands trembled as he broke the seal and unfolded the parchment. His eyes scanned the elegant handwriting, and he felt a sense of relief wash over him as he read his parents' words.
"My dear son Mikkel,
We are overjoyed to hear that you are safe. Your mother and I have been worried sick since we received news of your disappearance. You have no idea how relieved we are to know that you are alright.
We command you to stay in Hogwarts, Mikkel. It is the safest place for you right now, even with everything that is happening. We have faith in the school's protection and in your ability to stay out of trouble.
We look forward to seeing you soon, my son.
P.S. Mikkel, on the next full moon, I want you to venture to the new place we have built that can hold you in place without breaking. It is imperative for your safety that you do not attempt to transform without proper restraint. Remember to destroy this letter after reading it. Stay safe.
With love,
Your father"
As Mikkel finished reading his letter, he walked over to a nearby candle and held the letter above the flame. The paper began to slowly catch fire, and he watched as the words written by his father turned to cinders.
Once the letter was fully burned, he blew out the flame on the candle and carefully disposed of the ashes. He opened the window and watched as the wind carried away ashes. He knew that it was important to follow his father's orders and destroy the evidence, so no one could trace their correspondence.
----
After a few days had passed, Mikkel found himself standing in front of Charles with a mischievous grin spread across his features. In his outstretched hand, he presented a wand, the same wand he had lost in the Forbidden Forest.
"Look what I got!" he exclaimed, his eyes dancing with mischief.
Charles' smile grew wide as he observed the wand. "Well, I'll be. It seems that the forest has returned your lost wand to you, Mikkel."
Mikkel chuckled. "Seems that way, doesn't it? I got someone to fetch for me."
Charles then spoke up, his voice brimming with excitement. "Speaking of wands, Mikkel, I have some news. Flitwick has granted me permission to visit Ollivanders today. Wish me luck!"
Mikkel and Charles have formed a strong bond through their shared experiences, bringing them even closer as friends.
----
I stood outside Ollivanders, feeling the excitement coursing through me. After my previous wand had been destroyed by dark wizards, I was eager to get a new one.
As I stepped inside the dimly lit shop, Mr. Ollivander appeared from behind a stack of boxes, his sharp eyes immediately fixing upon me.
"Mr. Nielsen, back so soon?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.
I chuckled nervously, feeling slightly self-conscious about my haste. "Yes, I'm afraid my last wand met an unfortunate end. I'm in dire need of a new one."
Mr. Ollivander nodded understandingly before disappearing into the depths of the shop. After a few moments, he returned with a long, slender box, its surface adorned with intricate runes.
"Dragon heartstring, thirteen and a half inches, sturdy," he announced, handing the box to me.
I felt a surge of excitement as I opened the box, eager to see my new wand. However, as I held it in my hand, I couldn't help but feel that something was off. Despite the similarities to my previous wand, it didn't seem to be a perfect match.
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Mr. Ollivander looked just as perplexed as I did. "Curious," he muttered under his breath. "This wand should have been a match, but it seems that fate has other plans."
I breathed a sigh of relief as Mr. Ollivander returned with a new wand. "Eleven inches, made of holly and dragon heartstring," he said, with a glint in his eye. "Let's see how this one feels, shall we?"
As I grasped the wand, I immediately felt a sense of connection. The holly wood boasted a rich, mahogany-like color, with subtle swirls of darker tones running throughout the length of the wand. The wand had a unique and cool shape, with the handle carved in a spiral pattern that provided a secure grip. The spiral design continued down the length of the wand, creating a mesmerizing pattern.
A shower of sparks erupted from the tip as I gave the wand a flick, illuminating the intricate details of the wand's design. The dragon heartstring core was clearly a powerful one, imbuing the wand with raw energy and strength.
"Excellent choice, Mr. Charles," Ollivander said, beaming with pride. "I believe this wand will serve you well."
----
After days of investigating, I received a summons from Dumbledore to join him in his office, with Mikkel by my side. As we entered the room, I could feel the weight of the situation on my shoulders. I was nervous, and my palms were sweaty.
Dumbledore greeted us with a kind smile and gestured for us to take a seat. "Gentlemen, we have found evidence that supports your story about the dark wizards attacking you in the forest. Them talking about a basilisk residing in the school is another issue though. I will put my faith in the two of you, and believe your story."
I breathed a sigh of relief, the tension in my body slowly dissipated as I expressed my gratitude. "Thank you, sir," I said, feeling a weight lifted off my shoulders.
Dumbledore's expression turned serious. "Can you tell me everything you overheard about the basilisk?"
Mikkel shifted in his seat uncomfortably, avoiding Dumbledore's gaze. I took a deep breath and began to recount what I knew about the movie, being careful not to reveal too much. Dumbledore listened attentively, nodding his head every once in a while, clearly interested in what I had to say.
Dumbledore nodded. "I understand, Charles. And you have done well in bringing this matter to our attention. The safety of our students is of utmost importance."
Mikkel spoke up. "What happens now, Professor?"
"We will need to take precautions to ensure the safety of our students," Dumbledore replied, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses. "However, your actions have not gone unpunished. You will both be serving detention for the remainder of the term, and you will be helping Professor Pomona Sprout, the Herbology teacher, in her efforts to brew a potion to heal those who have been petrified. The potion requires the Mandrake plant, but they must be matured before they can be used. This process will take most of the year, and it will be your responsibility to assist in its care and growth."
"Yes sir," we said in accidental unison.
Dumbledore nodded in approval. "You may begin working with Professor Sprout tomorrow.
----
As the school year progressed, Charles and Mikkel found themselves spending more and more time in the Hogwarts greenhouse, tending to the Mandrakes that would be used to make the potion to heal the petrified students.
At first, they found the work tedious and mundane, but soon they began to take pride in the fact that they were helping their fellow students. They carefully tended to the Mandrakes, making sure they were watered and fertilized, and gently moving them into larger pots as they grew.
Meanwhile, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were shocked to discover that the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets was in the girls' bathroom where the first attack had occurred. Without hesitation, the trio made their way down into the depths of Hogwarts, prepared to confront the basilisk that lay waiting for them.
As they descended into the Chamber, Charles and Mikkel continued their work in the greenhouse. They carefully tended to the Mandrakes, forced to talk to them in soothing voices and playing them music to help them grow.
The battle between Harry and the basilisk had reached its climax, with Harry fighting valiantly but struggling to hold his own against the giant serpent. Just as things were looking grim for Harry, Fawkes, Dumbledore's pet phoenix, swooped in to help. With a burst of flame, Fawkes blinded the basilisk, giving Harry the opening he needed to strike the killing blow.
But as the chaos subsided and Harry emerged victorious, the school slowly began to return to normal. And finally, after months of hard work, the Mandrakes were ready to be used in the healing potion. Charles and Mikkel worked alongside Professor Pomona Sprout, carefully preparing the potion and administering it to the petrified students.
As for Harry, Ron, and Hermione, they had saved the school from certain doom and exposed the true culprit behind the attacks. Tom Riddle, the former student who had been possessing Ginny Weasley through a diary, was defeated once and for all.
----
As Mikkel and I were strolling through the halls of Hogwarts one day, we were suddenly greeted by my younger sister, Emma. She rushed towards us, grinning ear to ear before enveloping me in a tight embrace.
"Charles! Mikkel! I heard about what you two did! You discovered the truth about the basilisk and saved the school!" Emma exclaimed, beaming with pride.
I couldn't help but feel a bit bashful, while Mikkel appeared puzzled by the whole situation as a whole. "Well, we simply did what needed to be done, Emma," I replied, running my hand through her hair.
"So, how did your exams go? Did you ace them?" she asked.
"They went well, Emma," Mikkel replied with a smile. "We studied hard and were well-prepared."
----
The Great Hall was decorated with green and silver banners as well as red and gold ones. The students were dressed in their finest robes, eagerly anticipating the announcement of the winner of the house cup. Charles and Emma found their seats on the Hufflepuff table while the trio settled down at their usual spot on the Gryffindor table. Mikkel, on the other hand, sat among his acquaintances at the Slytherin table.
As the feast ended, Dumbledore stood up to address the students. "Another year has passed, and I am proud of each and every one of you for your hard work and dedication," he said, his voice carrying throughout the hall. "Before we announce the winner of the house cup, I would like to say a few words."
The hall fell silent as Dumbledore continued. "This year, we faced great challenges, challenges that tested our courage and our strength. But in the face of danger, we saw acts of bravery and selflessness. I am proud of all of you for helping one another."
The students burst into applause, cheering loudly for their headmaster. Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling with pride. "And now, the moment you have all been waiting for. The winner of the house cup for this year is...Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor table erupted in cheers and applause, as the other tables joined in. Harry, Ron, and Hermione hugged each other tightly, overjoyed with the victory.
As the evening wound down, the students made their way back to their dormitories, feeling tired but happy. Charles and Mikkel made a manly handshake to each other, feeling grateful for the experiences they had shared together.
"I can't believe it's over," Mikkel said, his voice wistful.
Charles nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it went by so fast," he replied, his voice filled with nostalgia.
Mikkel smiled, his eyes shining with happiness. "That's true."