❝ It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything. ❞

   Even if a random kid came running towards me and smacked me right in the face at that moment, it wouldn't be half as unexpected as what Mike just told me.

   My eyes goggled in pure astonishment and I opened my mouth to say something but no words came out, so I closed it again. It took a minute or two for the news to actually sink in.

   Sibi was a werewolf. Sibi was a werewolf. Sibi was . . .

   "That's impossible. It—it can't be true," I exclaimed.

   Mike simply nodded and looked away, not uttering a word. Then somehow, the conversation I'd overheard that morning between Mike and Sibi when I first arrived at his house came back to my mind.

   I recalled how Sibi was distressed about having a Dolphinus at home and how dangerous it possibly could be. I recalled that she's said something about how our blood was different from theirs.

   'Is yours any different, Sibi?', Mike had snapped back at her.

   Although I didn't have a clue what those words meant at that time, it didn't matter much to me after everything I'd found out about myself and my father from their conversation. But now they were making perfect sense.

   'You know what happens to people like her,' Sibi had said in a worried tone. 'And there's a reason why they're treated that way. Because they're dangerous.'

   'Well, no offense or anything but . . . you'd probably be treated similarly if they found out you're—'

   A werewolf. If the Ministry of Magic found out there was a werewolf studying at Hogwarts, ready to attack harmless students at any moment, they'd definitely do something about it. Maybe not imprison Sibi, and definitely not execute her, seeing as there were now so many organizations for werewolves' rights and the wolfsbane potion existed to keep them under control. But they would clearly take measures, whatever those could be.

Now I understood what Mike meant through his words. Werewolves, though according to the Ministry not as menacing, were definitely as undesirable as Dolphinuses in the wizarding world.

   'After people get to know your personality, little does your appearance or financial position matter. But what about me, Mike? I still remember it clearly what I did to you—'

   'For goodness' sake, Sibi! That happened ages ago. Besides, you weren't even on your right mind that day.'

   Sibi hadn't been on her right mind once and had somehow attacked Mike. It was all too confusing and impossible to grasp when I first heard it that morning months ago, but now all the pieces were falling together. How on earth didn't I even suspect that something like this was going on?

   It wasn't the first time Sibi had acted strange.

   One night, while Mike and I were sitting in the common room and preparing the Draught of Living Death for Potions' class, Sibi was refusing to come down from the girls' dorm.

I had gone upstairs to check on her and noticed Sibi knelt down by the windowsill, staring out into the darkness of the night. She had a weird look on her face, like something was deeply troubling her. Like a demonic spirit had possessed her and she was fighting hard to break free from it.

Her hands were balled into fists and she was gritting her teeth tightly. She'd seemed on the verge of tears, but another part of her looked like she'd implode any minute.

"Sibi . . . Is anything wrong?" I'd asked her cautiously.

"Go away," she'd snapped.

"Sibi, tell me what's wrong. You are acting very strange."

"I said go away! Now!"

Her voice had been low but it had sounded like it took her all she had not to scream at my face.

The next morning at breakfast, she acted casually, as if none of the events of the previous night had happened at all. Even when I tried to ask her what was going on, she tried to change the topic, though I had noticed how she and Mike had exchanged a pointed look. 

"Mike, you should have told me about this!" I suddenly snapped at him.

Maybe it was the wrong time to feel this way, but I was pissed at all the secrecy.  Why on earth hadn't they told me this? Did they seriously think I'd tell on her or something?

They already knew my secret — which was much worse than Sibi's — and still didn't judge me. Even more, they agreed to help me recruit people for an anarchistic organization to bring down the Ministry's regime. Yet they didn't even tell me such a small detail about Sibi?

"I'm sorry, Polly. I really am," Mike sighed, a guilty look visible on his face. "I know we should have already told you about this . . . A long time ago, actually."

"Don't you—don't you guys trust me?" My voice cracked as I realized just how much that statement hurt. "I thought we were best friends."

"We are," Mike responded quickly. "Of course we are, and we do trust you, Polly. It's just—it—" He stopped, rubbing his face with his hands as he breathed out another sigh. "Okay, I admit we were in the wrong. We must have told you, Polly, really. I'm sorry."

I exhaled deeply and closed my eyes for a moment. But I knew that holding grudges wouldn't benefit either of us. After all, they were my friends and I had to forgive them. Most importantly, Sibi was now out there in the forest acting like a vicious creature, and that's all that mattered right now.

   "It's alright, never mind this," I said. "What are we gonna do about Sibi?"

   Mike sighed. "Nothing."

   "What do you mean, nothing? We can't just let her wander around the Forbidden Forest at night all alone!"

   "She's not herself right now, Polly, you need to understand this," Mike explained. "For the moment, there's nothing we can do. We just have to wait for the transformation to come to an end. Tomorrow we have to go get Sibi in the forest — that place is less dangerous in the morning."

   "What?!" I snapped, my jaw dropping. "We're waiting till morning? Are you insane? Until then she could—"

   I closed me eyes and shook my head vigorously in denial. I didn't want to finish that sentence.

   "Look, it's—it's the only choice we've got," Mike said bitterly. "We can't risk going in there now and getting killed ourselves. Let's just . . . let's just pray she won't get too deep into the forest."

   "Yeah, okay," I agreed, my voice trembling with uncertainty. I knew that the very fact we could do nothing but wait until the following day would keep me awake all night. "Let's go to professor Rasp's dungeon and take another doze of wolfsbane potion for Sibi."

   Mike nodded in agreement. We started walking towards our Potions' teacher's dungeon with hands tucked in our pockets. Neither of us spoke a word the whole way there.

▼

   That night, sleep was the last thing I could imagine myself doing. I tossed and turned all night long, the anxiety of what Sibi could be doing and where she was stirring like a badly brewed potion inside my stomach.

   Every now and then I'd glance out of the window and into the Forbidden Forest, although all I could see was a thick curtain of darkness. I hoped, with a trembling heart, that she was still alive and safe.

   That's when it hit me that the reason Sibi had decided to trust me and support me on my initiative in the first place was probably because she knew all too well what it was like to be on my shoes. Even though my situation was worse than hers.

   Suddenly, I remembered the book Breeze had given to me on the second week of school. Seeing that there was no way I'd fall asleep that night, I got out of bed and opened the first drawer of my night table, trying to make as little noise as possible. I pulled out the thick book and then reached for my wand from under my pillow.

   "Lumos," I whispered. A ball of bright light was produced at the tip of the wand, illuminating the silver letters printed on the cover.

   The Darkest Secrets of The Ministry of Magic, I read. My palms trembled as I hesitated to open it, my heartbeats increasing from a sudden rush of adrenaline.

   I wondered what the Ministry's reaction would be if they found out that this book was now in the hands of a fifteen-year-old schoolgirl instead of locked up in a room of high security in the Department of Mysteries. I couldn't imagine how Breeze had managed to get it without being caught.

   Opening it, I started going through the pages. The parchment wasn't yellowish and crinkly at the ends, although the book appeared ancient. Instead, it emitted the scent of new parchment and still hadn't lost its original beige color.

   While flipping through the pages, I froze upon spotting the word Dolphinus on one of them. The page I found it on appeared to be some sort opinion article, ripped from an anonymous newspaper and magically attached to the book. I stopped to read the whole article.

   What is the Ministry of Magic?

   An institution which is responsible for the governance of the magical world? Or perhaps an ominous and highly secretive place which — as the phrase goes — won't let the cat out of the bag?

   Perhaps people think that the Ministry of Magic is the most trusting and rational institution in the wizarding world. But is that really, a hundred percent true?

   The wizarding community has been involved in several different wars when You-Know-Who (also known as Lord Voldemort) was in power. Since 1998, when he was once and for all defeated during the battle of Hogwarts by Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, the wizarding community has fortunately lived in peace and harmony. No conflicts have arisen that have brought about the need for participation in any other war from that day onward.

   But what if the wizarding world faced another downhill battle? What if the anarchists weren't the Death Eaters, Voldemort's followers, but a group of dangerous, power-hungry people — the so-called Dolphinuses?

   Firstly, let's think of the reason why these people are considered to be "dangerous". It's known that the dolphin is considered a bad omen, and overall symbol of misfortune among witches and wizards. As a result of this belief, people whose Patronus or Animagus takes form of a dolphin aren't very well-respected, and people go as far as to claim they're intimidated by them.

   But should these individuals be locked away in prison cells or executed just because of this unfounded belief? Is there a sure reason to panic, or is the Ministry merely being too superstitious?

   The wizarding community has always been told that the Ministry was doing what they were for the greater good and for everyone's own safety, because people would certainly not prefer another war to start soon.

   But if in wars, people die for their country, fighting patriotically for what they believe in against those who threaten their peace and safety, why should the Ministry off Dolphinuses without a particular reason? Seeing as casualties are occurring regardless, whether it's because of vicious wars or plain superstitions . . . doesn't that technically make the Ministry an enemy too?

   Now, for such an argumentative and reasonable law-making institution like the Ministry of Magic, wouldn't it be absurd and completely unwarrantable to kill specific individuals off just because of what some legend said?

   Or is there truly a reason more?

   Let's go back in 1789 when Unctuous Osbert was in post. Osbert was excessively power-hungry, and widely seen as too much influenced by pure-bloods of wealth and status. He tried to take over the Ministry but was killed by an Auror in 1798.

   In 1849, the Minister for Magic, Evangeline Orpington was a good friend of muggle Queen Victoria's, who never realized she was actually a witch. Orpington was believed to have intervened illegally in the muggle Crimean War, which ultimately resulted in her political downfall.

   In both cases, similarities can be found. Osbert, led by his lust for power, wanted to take over the Ministry, which would possibly result in a war hadn't it been for the Auror who killed him. Whereas Orpington participated in a muggle war by using her magical abilities, which almost immediately led to her being fired.

   Still not spotting the similarity?

   Well, why would the Ministry fire their Minister, only because she took part in a muggle war, when they could have simply warned her about the consequences and erased Queen Victoria's memory?

   As for Osbert, why would they send an Auror straight away to execute him, just because he wanted to take over the Ministry, when he was an only person against many, and therefore could never possibly succeed on his plan?

   The blame for both cases has been placed on a mere coincidence: the fact that both of their Patronus' animals took form of a dolphin, which explained — according to the Ministry, at least — why these people were considered a threat to the community.

   From that day on, the Ministry has kept believing in this superstition blindly until they finally developed it into a theory: Everyone whose Patronus took form of a dolphin was a threat to society, and the only outcome would be either incarceration or execution.

   Foolish much? Perhaps now that you have read this article, you have come to the conclusion that the Ministry is frightened. They understand how expensive a war is — both financially speaking and at what cost it comes regarding the casualties.

   They aren't brave! Now, of course, no one would fancy being hit on the chest with a Killing Curse by accident one beautiful morning while walking to the store, but on the other hand, would anyone want to be killed just because of what their Patronus took form of? Would anyone want their children to be taken away from them and executed, because of something not even in their hands in the first place?

   So instead of resorting to such extreme "solutions", why doesn't the Ministry remain prepared for an approaching war whatsoever and keep a closer eye on the real murderers?

   Why doesn't the Ministry pay more attention to the killers who are on the loose and skulking among others disguised as normal civilians, instead of being intent on starving thirteen-year-old kids to death in Azkaban cells with Dementors as guardians, when they are supposed to be finishing their education like other children their age?

   So now that you've read this article and (hopefully) know more about this topic that has never properly been discussed, give it another thought. Is the Ministry of Magic truly the most trustworthy institution in the wizarding community? Are their intentions really artless and just?

   My fingers froze on the page as I finished reading the article. Suddenly I was overcome by an urge to smack myself right in the face. Why hadn't I opened this book before?

So the reason why the Ministry started the genocide on Dolphinuses was because they needed to find an excuse to eliminate all the problematic people that could potentially be a threat to the wizarding community. Just like the article had mentioned, the Ministry people had benefited from the superstition that the dolphin was a bad omen, as well as the coincidence that two of the previous Ministers for Magic who had caused havoc both had their Patronuses take from of a dolphin, so they had made it into a stupid theory.

Their theory was that, based on events of the past, every individual whose Patronus' animal took form of a dolphin was considered a threat to the community and should therefore be sentenced to prison, or executed immediately.

"This is idiotic," I muttered to myself. "This is the biggest bunch of bullcrap I've ever read."

"Hey. I suppose you aren't talking in your sleep, are you?"

I barely kept myself from jumping up in shock at the sound of the female voice. Instinctively, I glanced over to Sibi's bed and I felt a fist clutch my heart when I saw it empty.

"Can't even recognize my voice, stupid? It is me, Polly. Christine."

My neck snapped to my right, my eyes falling upon the short brunette girl. She was laying on her bed so that she faced me, propped to the side on one elbow, chuckling weakly.

Her face was dappled with pale moonlight, her pixie hair appearing dark in the barely illuminated room.

"Oh, it's you, Christine," I said, carefully closing the book so that I didn't draw too much attention to it. The last thing I needed was her too get all suspicious about it. "Why are you up this late?"

"Had a bad dream," she replied with a sigh, letting her head fall on the bed, her eyes glued to the ceiling. "These bloody nightmares won't let me rest even for a night. They used to come once a week but recently it's only gotten worse. Every night, same story."

"Maybe you should tell Breeze about it," I suggested, feeling stupid as soon as the words left my mouth. I'd never been the best at giving advice.

"Professor McBon? No way. She has more important things to worry about than what one of her students fucking dreams of." She paused for a minute, still not looking at me but her eyes appeared lighter, like they'd be filled with tears any moment now. It felt shocking to see a tough and loud girl like Christine being so vulnerable all of a sudden. "Besides, stopping the nightmares won't stop my fears. It's the things I dread most that are always in my head — and not only when I close my eyes at night."

   "I'm sorry," I said sympathetically.  "Do you. . . do you maybe wanna talk about it?"

Christine let out a small laugh, but her voice was laced with a hint of pain. She sniffled, her hand wiping at the corners of her eyes. Although we weren't really close to one-another, seeing Christine like this made my heart sink a little. Christine was always that confident, sarcastic girl who was always determined to win every Quidditch match and couldn't accept defeat. Yet now she held a look of despair so uncharacteristic, and was admitting that her strongest fears had formed into nightmares that kept her awake at night.

   "I know what you are," Christine suddenly spoke, her voice solemn.

   My eyes goggled, my heart skipping a beat.

   "What do you mean?!" I blurted out in shock, unintentionally speaking more loudly than I intended. "You know— what do you know?"

   Immediately, I clasped a hand over my mouth and looked anxiously over at our other roommate, Rosalinda. I was relieved to see that she was fast asleep, her soft breathing audible in the noiselessness of the dormitory.

   "My little sister, Stella. She's one of them too," Christine whispered, her voice so low I was barely able to make out what she'd just said. But after it sunk it, my jaw fell open in bewilderment.

Christine's sister was a Dolphinus?!

"But—"

I hadn't thought for a minute that there'd be another Dolphinus at Hogwarts apart from me. And that this Dolphinus would be Christine's sister was the last thing imaginable.

"How old is she?" I asked.

Sheer pain flashed over Christine's face at the question. She lowered her eyes and clenched her jaw.

"Hasn't turned thirteen yet," she mumbled. Her voice was strained; it sounded like she was trying her hardest not to break down.

Her answer made my heart pang in a way I didn't think anything else ever would. I didn't know Christine's sister; hadn't spoken to her anytime before; I hadn't ever even seen her. But merely the thought of the innocent face of a thirteen-year-older behind the rusty bars of Azkaban made me hate the Ministry even more.

How could they do something so ruthless to children?

"Christine," I said, looking at her straight in the eye despite the darkness that consumed the biggest part of the dorm. "I won't let your sister get taken away. I won't let anything happen to her. I've made a promise to protect my friends till the end and now I'm making this promise to you as well. Your sister will be fine."

Christine gave a bitter laugh, as though she did not believe a word I had just said.

"Polly, you're just two years older than her. You aren't a bleeding adult. Besides, this is your first year at Hogwarts. What can you possibly do about this fucked up mess?"

"More than you think," I whispered, glancing out of the large window.

A wolf howled somewhere in the distance and although I shivered in fear, I couldn't help but feel a tad of relief at the same time. It was Sibi, I knew it, and the fact that she was still alive and unharmed—well, as unharmed as someone could be in the Forbidden Forest—made me feel like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

"What do you mean?" Christine suddenly exclaimed, sitting up in an instant and turning to me all ears. "Are you up to something? Because if you are, I'm gonna help. I'll do anything to protect Stella."

I breathed out a sigh, chewing on my lower lip. The words had unintentionally slipped out of my mouth and now I knew I had to explain everything to Christine.

Of course more supporters was what we needed, but our friendship wasn't that strong enough yet to make me trust her without thinking twice. Nevertheless, she was a nice girl and since her own sister was one of us, it was senseless to think that she'd ever betray us.

"Breeze told me to form an organization with trustworthy people who will help me do something against this injustice of the Ministry," I started explaining. "The aim is to raise awareness so that we can change what people have been wrongly taught about Dolphinuses, and eventually end this genocide for good. Right now, I'm still gathering people.

"We're seven at the time being. I, Sibi, Mike, Alex, Rena and Ralph Richards from Ravenclaw, and their cousin, Melvin from Slytherin. If you and your sister join, that'll make us nine."

"This is awesome!" Christine exclaimed, and I immediately hissed at her to hush. She glanced over at Rosalinda's bed and lowered her voice. "Of course Stella and I will join. What's the plan? What are we doing next?"

"We have to find a way to gather more people. We have to be quick but at the same time need to have faith in the people we're accepting. This isn't just a social group. Our intentions are serious and dangerous too.

"Breeze will help us with as much as she can. Right now she's trying to convince the Minister, Zico Peterson, to send out his monitors after the winter holidays so that we can gain more time." 

"And then?" Christine asked. "What happens when the group is formed?"

"We have to find a way to make people believe in us. We have to raise awareness and let people know we're standing up for justice."

"I get it," Christine cut me off, sort of impatiently. "But how do we do that?"

"We're thinking of creating a magazine," I replied. "Professor McBon said she will help us with the publication of it because she has connections outside of Hogwarts. It's the best way to raise awareness because we can spread information in a way that's both convincing but also persuasive."

I took a deep breath and looked at the ceiling. "Anyway, it's the organization we need to worry about right now. One step at a time. Walking at a fast pace doesn't mean doing things nonchalantly. The last thing we need is to accept some freaking backstabber in our group who will get us all imprisoned by telling us off to the Ministry. That's why we should be careful and very picky about the people we accept in this organization."

"You're right," Christine sighed. "Sorry, I just. . . I got ahead of myself a bit. I can't believe you actually took up something this big. You're one brave soul."

I gave a rueful smile. "I'm just doing what's right. I mean, I'm only human. All I want is to have a normal life."

"You will, soon," Christine said softly, flashing me a sympathetic smile. It was the first time I'd ever heard that tone of voice on her. "Hopefully, one day, we all will."