What is a Game?

Chapter 23 - Madness at the End of Term

It is again the end of the year - a few scant days before I go home for the summer. I just know I'll miss this place. The summer is a looming, dark presence. A trial I'm not sure I'm ready to face.

I'll never allow myself to be alone with my father. Otherwise, I'll act the same. My excuse will be preparing my brother, Adam, for Hogwarts. 'I want him to know what to expect when he gets there, and to have insights to the school and how it works I wish I had.'

I just hope it's good enough. I'll also insist on having a sleep-over with Sarah and Daphne at separate times. I'll set up different pass-phrases so if I get mind-wiped again, or father does some ritual stuff to hinder me / trick me, we can undo it. I'll just give them each the knowledge that I am Sindrie Amaglain. They don't need to know what that means, but if I'm confronted with that and don't remember telling them, then I'll know something is up.

Outside of planning to survive my soon-to-be homeward trip, I'm also preparing for the fiesta which is sure to happen in the school soon.

Namely, the thief will try to steal the stone sometime soon. They have scant days left, now.

I am presently heading back from a duelling session with Professor Flitwick - the final stage of dueling is getting harder to achieve. I was stuck at 88 in dueling, but after the breakthrough after the spring-ball and my meltdown post-Heather, I got to 92. Now it's slowly grinding up. I've barely squeaked out 2 points in the last couple months. Horribly slow. The difference in points, now, is as much as 10 points were, back around level 60, though.

Tonight, we were working through what he called a 'mental block.' Something that was stopping me from progressing because I didn't know it was possibile or didn't think what was actually achievable was, actually.

The Mental Block? The fact I had made Flitwick move from the circle, specifically, how I had done it. That's how I'd gotten to 94 - but I'd never been able to replicate it due to my mental block - and stark disbelief I'd actually done it.

I still think he was fibbing about my moving him, but that was the point, I guess.

As I pondered these thoughts I wandered past McGonagall's office as I do often, these days, since we moved down to the un-used dueling room on the first floor. This evening, there was conversation - unusual. Not unprecedented. The door was also cracked - Mcgonagal is speaking. "... the stone, but I can assure you it is perfectly well-protected. Now would you go back to your dormitories? Quietly, if you please." She asks, and my eyes widen as I hear Harry give a swift agreement. I duck behind a suit of armor to hide, casting every stealth spell I can think of to cover myself. A quest dings.

The Hogwarts Hall of Traps, Trouble and Trolls.

Objectives: Make sure the Philosopher's Stone Stays Safe!

Bonus Objectives:

Make sure no one (other than the potential thief) Dies!

Don't get caught out of bounds!

Do the first half with no help!

Do the second half with no help!

Recover the Stone before it can be taken!

Defeat Quirrell in single combat!

Secret Objective(s):

Discover Quirrell is the Thief before anyone else! (Complete!)

Convince people in power of his guilt beforehand! (1 success out of 55 possibile.)