· · ─ ·☾☽· ─ · ·

FATHER GOLDSTEIN dismounted his scooter at the foot of a grand wooden staircase, just before the giant oak doors of the famous, or rather infamous wizard's school. From the opening of those great doors came two students; both first years from the looks of it, and one of them was wearing an inordinate amount of furs (perhaps she was cold).

"Father Goldstein, you came!" Layla greeted all but jumped down the steps of the stairs despite her thick garments. Her red hair was a little covered in snowflakes, and she looked a little less rosier than the last time he'd seen her.

"Little Layla, ha-ha-ha!", he greeted, spinning the girl around; "I suppose you're not so little anymore. How has Hogwarts been?"

Layla's smile faltered slightly, and dragged the priest up the stairs.

"Not well. Anthony and I found the book, but he got quite the scare while taking it from the library."

Father Goldstein raised a brow: "You sent me a book a few months ago, and I can thank you for that. Come, let's discuss the findings."

"Oi Romulus, not so fast laddie.", boomed a man's voice. He appeared taller and older than the priest - aside from that, they looked pretty similar; both had the same graying hair (though the priest's was shorter), both had dark eyes that had a tenderness to them and both wore robes with contrasting colors; white and gold for Anthony's father, black and purple for the priest's.

"Fitzgerald ", he acknowledged; "Didn't expect you to ride in my scooter too."

"And you, the summons. Tell me brother, what has my son got to do with this?"

While the two brothers walked by each other's side, Anthony and Layla led the way, finding the four of them the abandoned classroom near the Great Hall. The group entered and Mr. Goldstein conjured up four plush chairs for everyone to sit on - the tables and wooden chairs had previously been moved aside so that everything lined as close to the wall as possible.

"I merely wished to help Layla with her thing." Anthony replied, subtly asking Layla to show the book.

"No one's dared touch that case since the sixteenth century, you two." Mr. Goldstein pointed out.

"Not until Layla picked this up from her wandering. I myself disapproved of how she got it -", added Father Goldstein "- but this serves as a lead to the true culprit of the ordeal."

"A journal?" Anthony asked as he peered into the contacts of the book. The latter was still blurry, like something was obscuring pieces of information.

"No good. I had the same problem when I viewed this book with... Layla earlier.".

He had taken his find at the library from his classmate, and had the unreasoning fear of giving it to the priest. Layla herself was physically there, but her eyes - oh, those eyes had become something else.

"You don't want to hand that thing to him.", she warned.

Anthony gasped; since when did Layla's throat do tricks like that!?

"W-who are you?" Father Goldstein demanded, raising his medallion
Layla faltered, trembling as she tried to reach for her own necklace.

"I am Layla.", she said, though her voice sounded hollow. "But I am the side of her that you haven't seen... yet."

Maybe because she actually doesn't have a side that lets her have two voices at once?

"Anthony, the book.", said Father Goldstein, extending a hand. Anthony looked from his uncle to Layla, who had quite the scary expression on her face, then back again. This went on for a while, until Mr. Goldstein grabbed the book and opened the first page.

"It's blank."

Anthony bristled. Blank? Blank!? He was sure there were letters in there, and pictures too - how could the book be blank now!?

"What?"

Anthony peered at the book; it was indeed blank. He then took it from his father's grasp and casually handed it to the priest.

"I know it may sound silly, but only you can make those letters clear again. This book is valuable to the culprit, and if we get some leads on the..."

He happened to see Layla move her hand slightly and watch the girl leave the classroom. He did not like Layla's vibe today, and he was hoping that he wasn't the only one who saw that.

Father Goldstein raised a brow and closed the blank book.

" Show me around Anthony, we might find clues there"

· · ─ ·☾☽· ─ · ·

While most of the students were packing for their trips home for the Christmas break, Anthony was walking tirelessly up the school stairs, showing the priest around. Father Goldstein proved himself a legend in note-taking, because his paper was soon filled with details enough to complete an exorcist movie's storyboard.

"...and this is the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.", whispered Anthony, who decided to open the door just enough for the priest to take a peak.

They could see Professor Quirrell adjusting his turban and for a silver of a second, the purple fabric came off the back of the teacher's head, revealing another face - a man's face that conspicuously lacked a proper nose; it did have scarlet eyes that if it glowed, could look just like the eyes of Sauron.

Anthony carefully closed the door, looking shaken. He suddenly had a thought that Layla had another face at the back of her head; the thing with intense, blue eyes that's probably out causing trouble somewhere in the school. He pushed that thought aside as he led the priest away from Professor Quirrell's classroom.

"That is... one strange teacher alright.", whispered the priest.

"Since when does a professor literally have two faces?"

"Since never. He must be possessed."

They quickly hid behind a pillar as they watched Professor Snape pass by. In another world, Father Goldstein could have mistaken the teacher for another exorcist priest like himself.

"He looks like the hateful type."

"He loathes Harry Potter, and is a teeny bit kinder to Jasmine." Anthony whispered as they continued walking. Eventually, they reached the almost desolate hallway that had a mysterious silver lever on the floor. The medallion began to release puffs of smoke and the floor was suddenly covered in glitter.

"Someone was here before, preferably a medallion holder."

"What would Layla do here?"

"Research."

The duo stepped into the entrance made of bricks and listened as the walls closed in behind them. Anthony started to tremble and quickly clutched his medallion, which somehow gave enough warmth for this cold, December afternoon.

"Lumos.", he whispered and waved his wand. Then, he fully entered the desolate corridor.

The wall had seen much of damage over the past centuries, not from war or spells gone wrong, but from claw marks, sketches that looked disturbingly real and strange, black ink mimicking the shape of nightmares - there was even a Nazghül, added fairly recently. Looking up, they found ornate portraits of men in black, wearing similar purple scarves and a detail that wouldn't have been seen when someone explored the hall at three in the morning, is how the men held crosses, but only one of them had their medallion tucked out.

"What the...!?"

"The Exorcists' Hall." Father Goldstein whispered. "Your father told me about this, many years ago."

"Really? No one in Hogwarts ever mentions it, not even the seniors."

"That's because they are wise enough to fear the demons."

For reasons Father Goldstein could not explain, he felt like someone was watching him, perhaps two pairs of eyes. He did not know if he should fear or hope, and he was more inclined to hope.

Finally, the two reached the edge of the hall, where a suit of armour stood. Anthony shivered; he did not like the feeling of being too close to this thing.

The wall behind the suit of armour was covered in thick soot, akin to a blank canvas made perhaps because of all the wood burnt by the presence. Father Goldstein, who hadn't unpacked his things since his arrival, put down his bag and rummaged through his things until he found a hammer.

"What are you doing?" Anthony asked, a little nervous.

"Just watch."

He slammed the hammer into the wall, the sound echoing throughout the hall. A brief flash of light - then the unmistakable form of a Nazghül and tentacles behind then - gone as quickly as they appeared, before the wall crumbled to reveal a long hallway filled with nothing but tombs, names, the stone floor and a spiral staircase that led to unseen depths.

"Catacombs?"

Father Goldstein modded and borrowed Anthony's wand. "Let's see how far down this goes."

· · ─ ·☾☽· ─ · ·

Somewhere in the Common Room, Layla suddenly stopped reading whatever book has kept her occupied that time, dropping it on the floor as she suddenly felt colder. Jasmine turned abruptly, worried for her friend.

"What's wrong...?"

Layla merely stared at her with those malevolent eyes. Jasmine swore she's seen this lookalike of her classmate before, but time had blurred her memory of the encounter. The intense blue quickly gave way to a gentler shade, then Layla stirred, her hands trembling.

"I don't feel so well, Jas. I'm going to bed."

She stood up, returned the book to the shelf and walked away, leaving Jasmine to ponder what in the Duat was going on.

"Her spirit is tired, Jasmine.", Anubis warned. "It is only a matter of time before the priest must show his quality."

"Layla has been acting a little weird lately, especially with those eyes."

"Which is why she should never look into ornate mirrors, for in the cover of night stands two shadows. Layla is too close to the heart of the problem, and should she succumb to the blade of the enemy, Hogwarts will have one less beacon of light against the coming troubles."

Jasmine blinked; ornate mirrors? She'd only seen the ones at the shower and even that wasn't as ornate as the ones she'd seen in a few period dramas that her Aunt Petunia made her watch in secret (Pride and Prejudice is still her favourite). Still, she felt a sense of foreboding from Anubis's words.

What harm could a mirror do?

She did not dwell on that thought for long, for her attention was drawn towards the nearby window. She strode closer to it and looked down just to admire the greenery below. It was a rare occurrence for her these days, having to cope with being a student, a friend of a god and the unwanted attention that came with being the Girl Who Lived.

She watched as a speck of red and white darted past the nearby forest. From her view, it looked like an ant carrying a massive slice of black forest cake, but she knew that it wasn't really an ant; it was a person.

"Should one priest fail, another shall take the field. In the fight against the darkness, it is wise to always have someone to turn to, lest the darkness close in forever."

Jasmine turned away from the window; she should really ask Anthony about having two priests at school, but the question came to her; where was he?

· · ─ ·☾☽· ─ · ·

Dumbledore looked suspiciously at the newly arrived priest, eyeing the second automobile that had been safely parked under a tree. The man himself didn't look too striking; he had greying, black hair, wrinkles upon his face, a pair of reading glasses that made his dark eyes slightly larger than they actually were, and a simple necklace on his neck; that medallion he had often seen around Miss Campbell's and Mister Goldstein's necks.

"Greetings, Father...?"

"Featherington, Headmaster.", introduced the priest. "I have been sent as Father Goldstein's assistant, should the darkness take him."

Jasmine stood a few paces behind the headmaster, eying the new priest and uncertain how to approach him. In her eleven years of living, she'd never seen much of Catholics in her neighborhood.

So this is what Anubis is talking about, she mused. Father Featherington bowed to Dumbledore just a little, and approached Jasmine while passing through the pillar where she was standing close.

"Hello Miss, do you have any idea where Romulus went?"

"No. Anthony was touring him around the school and I have no clue where they are."

Just then, Daphne Greengrass ran from a side door and made a beeline for a startled Jasmine. The platinum blonde girl herself looked frantic; behind her were a ghost-faced Anthony and an especially worried Father Goldstein.

"Jas, Jas! You won't believe what I just discovered today."

"What? Another Nazghül? I thought there were only eight left."

"You got me there.", added Anthony, who notably held his medallion like a lifeline. "Hogwarts has a tower's worth of dead bodies!"

The girls looked at each other, terrified.

"Catacombs." Father Goldstein clarified. "He only meant the catacombs, but you are right to fear."

"Does it have something to do with Layla's behaviour over the past few months?"

"I'm afraid so. However, the matter of Layla's behaviour is best discussed over refreshments, no matter how strange that may sound. We're quite weary from the tour."

Jasmine, Daphne and Father Featherington looked at each other and nodded. The two nervous girls followed the priests and Anthony to the abandoned classroom, still having those plush chairs from Fitzgerald's work, with Daphne pulling up one of the wooden chairs (there were only four plush chairs available).

A random House Elf brought treats and five goblets of apple juice to the table, then disappeared just as quickly as they appeared.

"How exactly did you find the catacombs?" asked Jasmine.

"I broke down the wall." Father Goldstein explained simply.

"And saw a group of Nazghül and a couple of tentacles while he was at it."

"A demonic presence.", muttered Father Featherington, more to himself than to anyone else.

"Why would those spirits look like... Naz-ghouls?" Daphne added.

"Because I'm scared of those, despite them being fictional creatures." Anthony responded. "They're worse than Dementors, especially if they're off flying on-"

"Anthony, don't give them ideas!" Father Goldstein hissed.

"What would those things want with Layla though? She's just a student." Daphne remarked.

"Maybe they want her gone because she saw something that she wasn't supposed to."

"Like what, a kraken?"

Jasmine simply looked at Anthony with her sympathy, and prayed to any god that would listen, that no Nazghül or anything worse than that would target her classmate.

Once the holidays had started, Anthony was having too good a time to think much about the Nazghül and the kraken. He had the (male's) dormitory to himself and the common room was far emptier than usual, so he, Jasmine and Layla were able to get the good armchairs by the fire. They sat by the hour eating anything they could spear on a toasting fork - bread, English muffins, marshmallows - but Jasmine noticed a weariness to her almost mirror image of a friend, and she could not help but recall the warning Anubis told her when the second priest arrived.

Anthony also started teaching Layla wizard chess. This was exactly like Muggle chess except that the figures were alive, which made it a lot like directing troops in battle. Anthony's set was brand-new, gifted to him by a relative of his mother's from Norway. It was a special thing, for it was decorated with gold leaf He had an extra set, similar to his own but the pieces were decorated with silver. Naturally, he gave that one to an overjoyed Layla, who for once, was being herself.

Layla played with Jasmine, who was still learning, and may it be talent or a fluke, won on first try. Harry and Ron had been invited over to watch the little match, and Ron kept giving Jasmine unsolicited advice (which annoyed Harry enough to book him on his head).

The two priests had special accommodations at the spare rooms in the Ravenclaw Tower, for they had specifically been assigned to keep watch over Layla.

If they were not joining the three remaining Ravenclaws in their consumption of anything and everything on a toasting fork, or playing wizard's chess using Layla's set, then they would choose seats by the fire and read those books only priests would know. For one afternoon, while Father Goldstein was out exploring the campus, Father Featherington spent a good portion of a few hours reading prayers by the fire. Between the two priests, he was the quiet one and from the looks of it, he was the elder Goldstein's junior and assistant.

"Is Layla still practicing those songs?", asked Jasmine on the third day of the holidays. Father Goldstein looked at her with concern. He'd never truly had time to ask Layla about her music ministry given his workload.

"That, I do not know. Why don't you ask her?"

"Something tells me that it's not a good idea. Not with those weird blue eyes that creep me out watching my every move."

If Jasmine Potter's reputation was to be believed, according to certain correspondences, she was more than the twin of Harry Potter - if she truly had a connection to a god (not the uppercase "G" God), then he would just leave her be.

After all, he could always go to a music room and watch her practice, right?

"She who oft plays the melodies of the priesthood should not go forth by night, for the creatures of the Enemy love the cover of darkness. If she attempts to escape, have the servants of Emmanuel summoned; they are her only hope."

Jasmine could only nod as she felt Anubis's presence leave her mind, maybe to guide yet another soul into the halls of Ma'at.

Melodies of the priesthood? Whatever could that mean?

"Father Goldstein?"

"Yes, Miss Potter?"

"What congregation are you from?"

"The Society of the Divine Word. Why did you ask?"

"Just curious."

· · ─ ·☾☽· ─ · ·

The music room was a place rarely anyone would visit unless they had even the tiniest bit of interest in music. There were several instruments inside, mostly the ones made by Muggles that hsd been collected over the centuries. Amongst the instruments was a grand piano, which occupied a little space in the room. Layla was sitting on the chair, her fingers softly pressing the keyboard to the chords of a congratulation's song. A few paces behind her, Anthony sang, his voice amplified by the small microphone which had been there since the 1970s.

"♪ Called by the Father
His word to see
hear and feel

♪ His word to hear and share
In openness
to the guiding Spirit

♪ To do the will of God
to be disciples
chaste, poor and obedient
Immersed in the light
of the Trinity

♪ Called like Saint Arnold
just like the Word
made flesh in self-giving

♪ To follow Jesus Christ through
cross and resurrection
in suffering and joy.

♪ Sent by Jesus we live
Together as brothers
from many cultures

♪ We passover to be with others
offering and receiving Good News

♪ With respect
Understanding
Compassion
and love

♪ Led by the Spirit, we enter
joyfully, full of hope
We serve, we shsre
become one with all people
With the frontiers
of our faith and
the margin of our society

♪ Sent by Jesus we live
Together as brothers
from many cultures

♪ We passover to be with others
offering and receiving Good News

♪ With respect
Understanding
Compassion
and love

♪ And so we witness and help
to build a loving communion
of all humanity

♪ And a communion of humanity
With the Triune God
who loves us

♪ Sent by Jesus we live
Together as brothers
from many cultures

♪ We passover to be with others
offering and receiving Good News

♪ With respect
Understanding
Compassion
and love

♪ With respect
Understanding
Compassion
and love

♪ Ooh... ooh...
Ooh... ooh..."

Dumbledore passed by, humming a merry tune. He certainly wasn't expecting the music room to be used today, and even less for someone to sing along. Behind him, McGonagall smiled.

"Such talents, Albus. Miss Campbell may have a career as a musician."

Dumbledore remained silent and opened the door just slightly. He could spot Layla turning the page of her songbook while Anthony pressed a button on the microphone. The two were clearly having a good time, but from the subtle nudge on his shoulder and the meaningful look in McGonagall's eyes, he could infer that he wouldn't hear Layla play the piano for quite a while.

· · ─ ·☾☽· ─ · ·

On Christmas Eve, Layla went to bed looking forward to the next day for the food and the fun, but not expecting the day to end so well. She had a feeling that whoever had been disturbing her lately, was hiding in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

She knelt before the altar and prayed silently. "... may this darkness fade from Hogwarts, and may my little sister, Nahida find freedom from her pursuer. All this, I ask in Jesus's name, Amen."

When she woke early in the morning, the first thing she saw was a small pile of packages at the foot of her bed.

"Merry Christmas," she greeted Jasmine sleepily as the other redhead scrambled out of bed and pulled on her bathrobe.

"You, too," said Jasmine. "Will you look at this? I've got some presents!"

"That's great!", she replied, joyfully examining her own pile, which was a lot bigger than Jasmine's.

She picked up the top parcel wrapped in white scented paper with a ribbon resembling leaves used for the four Advent wreaths and almost cried; it was from Nahida. Inside were books by famous scholars and philosophers, among which was a Latin work by Saint Thomas Aquinas.

"Oh Nahie!", she smiled, holding up the book; "Summa Theologia? In Latin? Oh, this is even better than the English translation I've always wanted!"

Jasmine smiled, eyeing the book. In comparison to Layla's, her presents included, among other things, a fifty-pence piece and a note from her uncle.

"What's that, Jas?" Layla asked, pointing at another parcel. Jasmine opened it to reveal a beautiful, black velvet box. Inside were all sorts of jewelry; mostly sapphires and diamonds set in silver and a few golden bracelets and necklaces with rubies for charms.

These used to belong to your mother. When she married your father, she entrusted these to me for safekeeping. These are yours nki. Harry has his own box too.

Merry Christmas, Jasmine. I know your mother is watching somewhere and is proud of you.

-your aunt Petunia

Jasmine looked very perplexed indeed; her mother's jewelry as a Christmas present? Now that was a pleasant surprise.

Layla continued to open her presents after placing her new books. From her parents, she received a box of her favourite Muggle dessert; Hershey's chocolates. From her great-grandfather was an antique headband encrusted with actual aquamarines set in gold. Her grandmother gifted her a photo album of her late mother, and taped into the cover was a note written in mint green scented paper (no doubt taken from Nahida's supplies).

Nahie's doing alright, just so you know. That strange man who likes to admire her long curls from across the street is absent today, so I'm taking her for a splurge in the mall. She needs her hair done, it's gotten too frizzy for her usual maintenance. I hope you're doing well out there. Prometheus is quite saddened that you'd chosen to stay there for the holidays, but If your almost twin is there too, send her our regards. Lucretia also has a present for the girls, which comes with yours.; a saffron coloured silken shawl, embroidered by Nahie.

-your grandmother, Emmaline

Under the album was indeed a scarf with embroidered hieroglyphics in golden thread. "Jas, my sister got you a gift!", she called out, catching the other redhead's attention. Jasmine walled over to the bed and lifted the scarf from the gift box.

"Oh my, it's beautiful! I've never seen such embroidery in real life, only those period movies."

"It's a prayer for the wearer's protection.", an invisible Anubis added once Jasmine spread the shawl all the way.

"Protection from what?"

"From a certain unmentionable serpent who's been stalking the girl for years."

Jasmine nodded and put on the shawl. It was a beautiful piece and surprisingly warm and lightweight, almost like liquid fire intermixed with gold. She had an inkling that this shawl was somehow enchanted, but she didn't dwell on the thought for long. Besides, she considered it a Christmas present from the entire Salaxar-Campbell family (Nahida, as it turned out, did not change her surname to Campbell).

The last two presents came from the priests; from Father Goldstein, Layla received a copy for next year's Ordo and Roman Missal, and from Father Featherington was a rosary with an extra medallion of the Virgin Mary alongside the silvery cross. She smiled and packed away all of her gifts except for the chocolates.

"Want some? I have way too many to eat in one day.", she offered, handing Jasmine a pack.

"Thanks.", replied Jasmine, opened it and popped a small, teardrop shaped chocolate into her mouth after disposing of the green foil that wrapped it.

It wasn't just Layla who got presents that morning; even the priests got theirs delivered from their church. Father Goldstein had received a new incense burner and high-quality incense raisin from a parishioner (he'd always preferred raisin to sticks because they lasted longer). As for Father Featherington, he received a mild scented perfume from his relatives and of all things, a small recorder containing audio of thousands of Eucharistic songs.

They did not have anything remotely priestly to do that day, so they had all the time to enjoy themselves. Everyone had breakfast at the Great Hall and went their separate ways, the two leisurely strolling beside the lake until something cold hit Father Goldstein's glasses.

"Oops, didn't see you there!"

It was a pair of ginger haired twins, both alike in appearance and the grins on their faces. The two older men glanced at each other, smiled and picked up a rather large handful of snow off the ground.

"Game on.", said Father Featherington, and launched his snowball at George.

Long story short, the Weasley twins had to yield after a couple of rounds of the ensuing snowball fight. Shivering, they returned to the castle, followed by the two laughing priests.

"Never thought you had it in you!", Fred huffed and puffed more from exhaustion than annoyance.

"We used to do that at the formation house way back." explained Father Goldstein. "Gave the formator quite the laughs after we seminarians returned from a whole day of winter sports."

"Except for that one time Guerrero had a skiing accident, but that's besides the point." added Father Featherington.

The twins' smiles vanished. Now they knew never to underestimate the two older men who looked like they'd never seen anything outside of their church services.

Layla spent her Christmas at the library, but never at the Restricted Section. She was in mo mood for heavy reading today, so she settled on borrowing a novel donated by a Muggle-born wizard during the 1950s.

"Really Layla? The Hobbit?", Anthony remarked once he spotted the cover.

"Yup. I've never read it, but my grandmother used to read The Lord of the Rings to me when I was little. Now I need to understand the prequel."

"And your sister?"

"Still finishing The Republic, I believe."

Anthony grinned and continued to read gospel in silence.

Layla had never in all his life had such a Christmas dinner. A hundred fat, roast turkeys; mountains of roast and boiled potatoes; platters of chipolatas; tureens of buttered peas, silver boats of thick, rich gravy and cranberry sauce - and stacks of wizard crackers every few feet
along the table. These fantastic party favors were nothing like the feeble Muggle ones her family usually bought, with their little plastic toys and their flimsy paper hats inside. Layla pulled a wizard cracker with Anthony and it didn't just bang, it went off with a blast like a cannon and engulfed them all in a cloud of golden smoke, while from the inside exploded a prophet's staff and several small, live doves. Up at the High Table, Dumbledore had swapped his pointed wizard's hat for a flowered bonnet, and was chuckling merrily at a joke Professor Flitwick had
just read him.

Flaming Christmas puddings followed the turkey. Anthony nearly broke his teeth on a pearl embedded in his slice. Layla herself fared no better, finding a ring with strange script on hers.

"Are they really this unconcerned with safety?", she whispered to Father Goldstein, who at this point, reduced his pudding to mush in an attempt to find any food contraband. Thankfully, his slice had none, though it was Father Featherington's which had not one, but two, small pearly white brooches concealed in his.

When Layla finally left the table, she was laden down with a stack of things out of the crackers, including a deck of tarot cards with an iridescent touch, a Regency Era girl's wear guidebook, and her own copies of Tolkien's The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and the fairly recently published The Silmarillion. The white doves had disappeared and Layla had a good guess they were going to flock towards the Handmade chapel.

It had been Layla's best Christmas day ever. Yet something had been nagging at the back of her mind all day. Not until she climbed into bed was she free to think about it: what music to play next on the piano.

Jasmine, sensing that something could be wrong despite how full she was of turkey and cake, sprang to her feet.

"Layla no!", she exclaimed, and rushed to block the other redhead's way.

"What? Is something wrong?"

"Even on Christmas, we have curfew. The hour is late, Layla. The piano can wait until tomorrow."

Layla looked to the side; "I'm sorry Jas, but it cannot wait until tomorrow, not this time."

When she stared back at Jasmine, her eyes were shifting colours.

"Why?"

"It just can't."

Jasmine wasn't going to give up; she held the other girl's hands, hoping to at least restrain her a little. "Layla, don't lose us House Points. You want us to win the House Cup, right?"

"No."

With an unexpected show of strength, Layla sent Jasmine literally flying across the room. Jasmine landed with a soft thud, and looked at her classmate in shock and terror. It. Was. Happening.

Layla rushed out of the room, Jasmine following her (albeit invisible, now that she'd gotten her cloak from an unknown source).

Layla looked back, waved her hand and sent her pursuer flying again. This time, Jasmine bumped her head against the door to the priests' rooms, creating such a noise that Father Goldstein quickly opened the door, just in time to see a blur of copper hair rush out of the door.

"What the-!?"

Jasmine unwrapped herself from the cloak, looking stricken. "Layla isn't herself!", she almost shouted. She spotted Father Featherington emerge from the room, his hair disheveled.

"What?" both priests responded.

"Layla's been acting strange lately and now she just sent me flying away from her - TWICE!"

"Did she say where she was going?", asked Father Featherington.

"No, only that she has an urge to play the piano."

Father Goldstein looked like he was about to weep. "Please Lord, no.", he whispered. The other priest lay a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him.

"If it is what you're really thinking, then we will find a way to get her back."

But first, the three needed to get to the music room!

· · ─ ·☾☽· ─ · ·

Layla ran as swiftly as the winds of a tornado, not even caring if she'd be spotted by Filch. As she hid behind a pillar, she found a group of strange figures walking by, or rather, gliding as they searched for something.

"They won't hurt you.", a deceptively soothing voice whispered. "They're friends. Ask with sentiment and they will help you."

Layla suddenly felt like she was resting on clouds, as if nothing else mattered. Emerging from behind the pillar, she approached the creatures, who immediately stood at attention.

"I want mo one following me to the music room.", she instructed and watched the shadows disperse.

Now that she was sure the pursuers were distracted, she went on her way to the music room, suddenly feeling guilty for even talking to those figures. In her heart she had felt that something was wrong, but she hadn't known what compelled her to even dare talk to those beings. She eventually found the music room, shut the door, tuned the piano and started playing and singing.

"♪ Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

"♪ Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb

"♪ Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

The door slowly creaked open, making Layla stop playing. Looking around, she found no one in front or behind her. Anything could happen at this school, so taking precaution, she switched off the piano, put back its cover, and stood from her seat.

"Peeves?"

The poltergeist could be anywhere, causing her an untold amount of problems and threatening to get her in trouble. He could just be hiding behind the violin - oh wait, he won't be; this presence was much too terrifying for a poltergeist. Perhaps Peeves finally evolved from a mere prankster to an outright malicious spirit.

"Peeves, I swear if you disturb me while I'm practicing -'

She was at the hallway by not, observing the various suits of armour on their pedestals. There was no sign of any poltergeist around, but the dread never left her. Walking a few paces away, she stumbled upon a random door that could lead to anywhere. She opened it, and went inside.

It looked like an unused classroom. The dark shapes of desks and chairs were piled against the walls, and there was an upturned wastepaper basket - but propped against the wall facing her was something that didn't look as if it belonged there, something that looked as if someone had just put it there to keep it out of the way.

It was a magnificent mirror, as high as the ceiling, with an ornate gold frame, standing on two clawed feet. There was an inscription carved around the top: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi. Her panic fading now that there was no sound of anyone following her, Layla moved nearer to the mirror, wanting to look at herself but see no reflection again. She stepped in front of it.

Here she was, reflected in it, white and scared-looking, and there, reflected behind him, were at least ten others. Layla looked over her shoulder - but still, no one was there. Or were they all invisible, too? Was she in fact in a room full of invisible people and this mirror's trick was that it reflected them, invisible or not?

She looked in the mirror again. A girl who looked just like her stood, reflected in the silica surface. Layla had never seen this person before, but it seemed like this part of herself had eyes too blue to be normal.

"Have I..." she paused, looking down at her medallion. The girl in the mirror appeared to be staring at it too. "Have I seen you before?"

The reflection surprisingly titled her head and nodded. Layla stepped back; girls in mirrors did not do that! Unless this mirror had a cursed spirit inside, it would never even respond to her question.

She was starting to feel even more fearful. First, the shadows and now this.

"I have always seen you, Miss Campbell.", a low, gravelly voice spoke to her, She gasped and turned her back on the mirror. The door opened and in the doorway stood Jasmine and the two priests, the silver cloak tucked safely under Jasmine's arms.

"Let's go to bed, Lei." Jasmine suggested, stepping into the room. "You can always play the piano tomorrow. You have all day."

The two priests followed Jasmine, both looking nervous and unprepared. Father Goldstein looked especially worried; he had a feeling that Layla had seen something truly terrifying when she first stepped into this building, which would explain her ashen face.

"Yeah." Layla agreed and turned back to the mirror. "Just let me fix my hair first."

She de-tangled some of the knots and noted how her reflection wasn't doing the same. Looking slightly to the left, she saw one of those shadows creeping into the mirror's view, its hand raised as it held something sharp and silver.

"Layla, look out!" exclaimed Jasmine.

Too late. The girl gasped as the shadow moved forward with unnatural speed, their silver blade stabbing her in the abdomen not once, but thrice in quick succession. She felt on the floor, in a bloodless heap, gasping for air as she felt a searing pain all over her body. Layla held out her hand, and when Jasmine was about to hold it, she pulled back just to hold her medallion's pendant as if it was her last hope.

"NO! LAYLA!"

Jasmine rushed towards her friend, uncaring if she was heard. The two priests looked like they were out of their depths, but Father Goldstein was quick to run from the scene.

"I'll go get the healer!"

Father Featherington cautiously approached the two girls, one trembling from fear, the other trembling from pain.

"I told you that the piano can wait.", Jasmine scolded but deep down, she was scared.

"Kraken.", Layla whispered. "It is known as the Watcher in the Water."

The remaining priest sniffed the air and made a disgusted face. "Sulfur.", he whispered. "Jasmine, we have to vacate!"

He scooped up Layla in his arms, only for him to nearly fall on his bottom. A Harsha wind had just blown from nowhere, rattling the windows and pushing several doors open. In the music room, a cover was blown to the floor and something invisible seemed to open the piano.

Then, it started playing.

AZARA SPEAKING:
a huge shout-out to Vanna1196 for helping me come up with what piano melody plays after Layla's true battle begins.

About the song Anthony sings, I'll admit I rarely hear it at my school but it's a beautiful piece. I'll just give you a little clue that the Fr. Goldstein belonging to a certain congregation will be a key detail BUT I am not promoting this congregation; I simply know this group of priests because I study at a school run by them.