Arguments

As the wave crashes against the shield, I can feel the strain of the spell struggling to hold back the Mana as I'm forced to feed more Mana from the beads into the spell; to maintain it.

Slowly but surely, the Mana that once chased me like a raging wave starts to calm and settle. The clear, almost liquid, Mana tints the once dark room in purple light as I slowly walk forward. Wand in both hands, It's as if I'm walking against a strong wind as I strain to keep the Shield Charm active. As I get closer to the shield I push it forward, walking the shield, and the Mana, back into the room.

Making sure to keep my wand pointed at the shield, I quickly slam the door shut and dash to hide in one of the empty rooms. Smashing the door closed, my adrenaline runs empty, and can no longer hold back the exhaustion from sinking into my system.

Sliding down the door, I focus all my remaining energy not to have an episode and take a moment to just calm down and catch my breath.

I could have just looked around the room. Why didn't I just look around? I probably would have known what it was when I saw it, and it's not like I wouldn't be able to tell if I encountered a curse or hex. But no~ I just had to commit to the most dangerous idea possible and waste all of the Mana beads I have!

Now that I'm not on the verge of a mental breakdown and rightfully angry at myself, I get up. Going through the once again dark halls, I put my bracelets back on and hope that all of this was worth it.

Right as I'm about to grab the handle, a thought occurs to me. Following one thought to another, I think long and hard; reaching out around me.

*Are you going to come out now?* I sign the air, conflicted on if I want an answer or not. Just as I'm about to give up on my hunch, a certain old wizard materializes in my peripherals.

"I suppose I was pushing it a little; expecting you to not notice my Mana when you've been using your talents so liberally," Dumbledore says with his sly smile and twinkle in his eye.

*And how "presumptuous" of you to assume I found you though Mana detection means,* I roll my eyes as a cool simmer motivates my words.

"Oh, then can you tell me what gave me away?" Dumbledore asks, eyebrows raised at both my reaction and false conclusion.

*Only a fool wouldn't be suspicious of an old magical item sitting in a room without any protection.*

"You're smarter than you appear to be," The sparkle of amusement in his eyes only served to clench my fist.

*From there I figured that you must have used a method of protection that doesn't leave a Mana trace or a spell hidden within the normal magical properties of Hogwarts. I then saw an empty portrait and remembered what I've read about your office.*

"From there you thought that, and correctly I must add, that one of the portraits of the old headmasters was here to keep an eye on this hall. Very good Miss Olivander but pray tell, why does this make you angry?"

His words remind me of the man I am dealing with and force me to look inward. Focusing, I reform my simmering anger to cool rage.

*I'm not done yet. I then started to think, why would such a capable wizard such as Dumbledore not put any protections around such a powerful item? He would only do so if leaving the item vulnerable would do more good. You left it here, unprotected, as a trap for me. The only reason why someone would know of this place is either because you told them, or they found it on their own. That lingering Mana was there on purpose, wasn't it?*

After a slight delay in translating from BSL to English, shock, and confusion swept across his face, "I assure you Miss Olivander, I had no intention nor anything to gain in doing so."

*So that's how you're playing this, ok. I'll be heading back to my dorm now,* I start to turn on my heels only to be stopped by his words.

"But aren't you curious at all about what's in that room?" At his question, I sigh. Looking back, the Mana didn't feel dangerous because it was dark or evil. It felt akin to the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, dangerous not for what it is, but where it can lead.

*You would love that, wouldn't you?* With that, I promptly stormed out of the hall. I need to find another way around my Mana need; I can't risk being indebted to him much longer. I will not be someone's weapon.

**Sheda**

"How was your lesson with Catlyn?" I ask after, trying to, casually enter Snape's office.

"Good evening to you too," he responds with his ever-prescient snide, slowly dipping his quill back into his ink holder and setting down the paper he was working on, "If you have to know, it was as terrible as I expected."

"How bad did she do?" I shrink back into my seat slightly as I wait for the damage report.

"That nitwit decided to abandon the notion of blocking my Bombarda Maxima and instead decided to test a hair-brained theory and used their disgusting Mana syphoning to take it instead," he scoffs in annoyance at Catlyn's attempts to save her life as his words boil my blood.

"You did what!" I erupt with anger, causing Snape to jump slightly at my yell.

"What do you think I did wrong now?" He growls.

"I don't know, how about how you used an extremely deadly spell at a first-year when you were supposed to be teaching them how to silently cast the Shield Charm!"

"You don't get to come in here and critique how I teach."

"So that's what you call it?"

"Would you care to tell me how you would define me giving an important lesson to a student?"

His calm demeanor pisses me off even more, "Bloody torture, that's what that was! I tried to tell Dumbledore, but he wouldn't listen. I knew you wouldn't plan anything and whip up some half-baked idea."

"My idea was a perfectly reasonable way of teaching her how to chantlessly cast magic and I've been a little preoccupied."

"With what?" My anger dulls slightly as he gets out of his chair, becoming defensive.

"Quirrell. I know he's up to something. He's been off ever since coming back," I can't help but sigh as he wags his finger.

"Quirrell this and Quirrell that! When are you going to push aside your obsession with him and, I don't know, actually do your job instead of following another teacher around like a loon with no evidence?" My anger melts at this point to tired annoyance.

"I'm not crazy, there is something wrong with him."

"I'll believe it when I see it," tired of the same conversation, I leave the room, only to meet the person our conversation was about.

*I want to apologize and I need your help.*

**Snape**

What does she know anyway? I'm not wrong! And I'm doing a favor for every wizard and muggle alive, not teaching her as well as I can. I think, combing my hand through my hair and trying to get back to work.

"Did it work? Did we catch them?" I bounce out of my chair as Dumbeldore enters my office.

"No, they didn't seem to take the bait. It was close though."