𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖛𝖊𝖓𝖘 𝖔𝖓 𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖊

27

It's dark, so dark. The only sources of light are the wooden torches hung from the walls, which flicker as robed men pass by. Circe walks down the narrow corridors as quiet as she can, not wanting to alert anyone that she here. When she finally reaches the end of the path, the brunette finds herself in a large hall.

A woman is at the front of the large room, kneeling down in front of an altar. Her whispers echo against the stone walls but she can't quite make out what they are saying. As the hushed words continue, Circe can't help but think that the voice sounds familiar- like she's heard it somewhere before. The whispers! The ones she hears when she approaches Damocles Belby, the ones that are try to tell her something.

Circe is certain that this is a vision, but she has never felt so aware during one before. Nor have they ever felt so real, like she is actually there. She can only wonder why she is here- what this has to do with her. Her steps remain silent as she creeps closer to the woman by the altar but it seems that she is already away that she is here.

The woman's head snaps around to look at her, her eyes completely white as they pierce Circe's entire being. "Know thyself." Her raspy voice hisses.

"You've told me that before and I've been trying. What does it mean?" The brunette asks her desperately and surprisingly the woman can hear her despite the fact that her mouth never actually moves as she speaks.

The woman's expression softens. "You're almost there. Trust yourself and your instincts."

"You're her aren't you? You're Phemonoe." Circe questions the woman, but she gets no reply. A queasy feeling blankets her stomach as she is pulled out of the vision and starts falling through a black void.

-

Although she misses Remus, Circe is definitely glad to be back home for the winter. She loves Hogwarts but the school's food can never even compare to her mother's cooking. It feels weird being in her own room again, missing Addy being in the bed right across from hers.

The sun is already high in the sky, suggesting that she has slept in until noon, which is unusual for her- especially after a vision. The girl is surprised when she realises that she is lacking that sickly feeling she usually gets after a vision, but this one was definitely different than any of the others that she has ever had before.

Three voices travel up the stairs from the kitchen, two of them belonging to her parents. It takes her for a few moments to recognise the third, but as soon as the thick Irish accent becomes clear she realises that her grandmother is here. She jumps out of bed and slips on a hoodie before heading down the stairs to greet her grandmother. "Grandma!"

"Milseán." The elderly woman replies with a cheerful smile, pulling the girl into a tight hug. "It's been so long." (Sweetheart)

"Are you staying for Christmas?" Circe asks her excitedly.