Harry Potter and the Eclipsed Staircase

Yeah, sure, Madyson Lawrence's life could have been perfect if she lived in the right (do you mean the real world? maybe you could say a different world?) world. Of course, the right world was a bit of a dream considering it was based on her own fantasy. She didn't care though, as she spent most of her day pretending that she was in her 'perfect' world. Perhaps she would be more 'popular' if she wasn't so shy and tried to make friends with real people, not just the fictional characters she read about in books. Then again she hadn't been 'popular' since grade three so why would she try now. She preferred being herself, the quiet reserved type who was completely in love with fine arts, though she seemed a little ditzy. Sure, she was pretty, but her reputation seemed to drag her down. It had bothered her more when she first started high school "and at the beginning of grade nine" (the part in quotes seems a bit superfluous, you don't really need it), but now she just carried on with her life, living it as it came. Though she was still shy and quiet, she was starting a whole new year. Maybe something would change.

"Madyson let's go, we're going to be late," came the voice of her best friend, Riley Campbell, who was one of the most out going girls Madyson knew. How they became friends Madyson never knew.

"I'm coming Riles, keep your pants on," Madyson called out as she ran down the stairs tugging at a comb stuck in her tangled mane of crimson curls. Riley laughed hysterically at the sight of her best friend frantically trying to get ready for the first day of grade ten.

"Shut it!" Madyson snapped

"Madyson, watch what you say, that's not very nice." Madyson's mom, Terri, wearing a look of disapproval on her face had now entered the room.

"Sorry mum, we were just getting ready for school."

"Ha, more like you were getting ready for school," laughed Riley.

"Whatever, mum where's my lunch?"

"On the counter dear, and you might want to hurry up a little bit, the bus leaves in ten minutes." At the sound of those words Madyson grabbed her lunch, stormed back upstairs, came back down with her back pack and one shoe. She pulled on her shoe as she was stuffing her lunch into her bag, as well as pushing her other shoe on her other foot. Just like most mornings Madyson's hair had caused trouble and she was forced to be late, or she had ended up have the world's biggest crisis which usually wasn't big at all. It was usually small and easily fixable, but to her everything was a huge deal.

"Ok, ready?" asked Riley, tapping her foot impatiently on the floor.

"Yes, I'm ready, I think. Yeah, I'm ready." Madyson kissed her mum while putting her hair up into a ponytail and ran out the door, Riley right behind her.

"So what happened this morning, Maddy?" asked Riley amused at the sight of her friend bustling around looking for her bus pass.

"Uh, yeah, it's my stupid hair. I don't understand! Neither one of my parents has red hair, so why did I get cursed with it? Even my sister Adelynn doesn't have red hair."

"Oh well, Maddy, you're adorable the way you are. You should have seen yourself this morning." She broke off laughing, and then tried to start again although she kept having to choke back incoming fits of giggles.

"Well, I'm glad you thought it was so amazingly funny. You know you have a best friend when she stands there laughing at you as you're getting ready for school," Madyson screeched in her recognizable 'I'm about to get hyper voice' as she waved her hands around in the air giggling with Riley.

"OH NO!!!!!!!" screamed Madyson

"What!?" asked Riley, who had jumped about five feet in the air from Madyson's sudden outburst.

"There's the bus! Oh wait never mind that's not a bus, sorry, got mixed up with that huge truck over there." Riley brought her hands up and cupped her face.

"You know what; you are so stupid sometimes it's funny, but, umm, I think the bus will be here in a minute. Race you to the bus stop, Maddy!"

"YOU'RE ON!!"

"Well, here it is, once again Maddy, the torture chamber from hell." Riley said looking up at the three-story high school by the name of Westsyde Secondary School.

"Oh man, this is just peachy isn't it?"

"Relax we'll be fine, just hope we're in the same homeroom."

"Well, why don't we just go find out?" Madyson said. She gripped onto Riley's wrist and pulled her across the lawn towards the front doors of the school.

"Aw, nuts! I have Mr. Moore. Who do you have?" said Madyson

"Same as you, someone told me he was horrible, but at least we're together."

"Alright Riles let's go, ready for another year? Maybe I'll actually get some attention from people, or not."

"Don't worry about it Maddy, you'll be fine. Now let's go." Madyson and Riley each looked at their time tables and, as if they were both joined by best friend telepathy, walked straight to the lockers they had had since grade eight. Just as they were putting their things in their lockers the first bell rang signalling that they should be in class. It was a warning. Madyson was, of course, the last of the two to get organized. Now they would defiantly face detention. Unless Madyson hurried up a little so they could actually escape the hallways before the second bell. Luckily they made it.

"Yes!" Madyson whispered to Riley. "We have the two best seats in the class."

"Shh, Maddy, here comes Mr. Moore." Sure enough Mr. Moore entered the room right after Riley mentioned it. He was quite the odd looking man, short and plump with round glasses. He always had the same look about him, as if he hated the whole world, him and his overly polished shoes.

"Good morning class, I am your teacher for math this year. Now I would like you to raise your hand as I call out your name."

"Azura Skie." Madyson turned around to face the most popular girl in the school. She was strikingly beautiful. As she raised her hand her perfect straight blonde hair shone brightly in the sunlight.

"Yuck--I hate her, she's so pretty, and why do people even like her? She's a total bitch and a half," whispered Madyson.

"Yeah, I know, and what was that you just said? Bitch and a half-- that's funny."

"Riley Campbell, ah, well perhaps what you're telling Madyson might interest the class. Do you care to fill us in on what happens to be so funny?"

"No, sorry, sir," Riley said as her cheeks were glowing.

"Alright then, I advise then that you keep your rude immature comments to yourselves. Am I understood?"

"Yes Sir," chorused Madyson and Riley together.

"Oh my gosh, that guy is such an ass. He reminds me of this guy I know from a book. Professor Snape."

"Leave it up to you to refer everything to a book."

"Well Riles it's a good book, one of my favourites. It all started on my fourteenth birthday."

"Oh right, your mum bought you the whole set, and didn't you get that awesome diary too."

"Yep sure did its right here." Madyson said as she pushed her lunch aside and pulled a semi-large leather bound book out of her bag.

"Wow, I LOVE IT!, it's really old looking, almost antique." Riley's eyes glazed over as she looked at the captivating book. Madyson giggled as she looked at Riley who looked as if she were in somewhat of a trance. She snapped her fingers in front of Riley's face and instantly she jerked back into reality.

"You really like it? You can borrow it for a bit; just don't look at the beginning I've written in that part, I'll make a section for you ok."

"Ok sounds good, thanks Maddy."

"Oh don't thank me, it's no problem. The only problem here is this nasty cafeteria food. Like what is this?" Madyson said with a disgusted look on her face as she poked a slimy figure on her plate. Riley giggled.

"You know what, it kind of looks like Jell-O, I actually couldn't tell ya."

"Hmm well, I'll be sure not to get attacked by the EVIL GREEN JELL-O!!!" Madyson yelled the last little part making a horrible screaming noise as she stuck the Jell-O on her neck, pretending to be strangled by the mangled mush. Riley looked at her as if she was out of her mind, and went back to her meatloaf. As she was eating she noticed that Madyson had shut up, and wondered why the 'Master of all nasty cafeteria food jokes and grotesque mis-shaping' had suddenly become quiet. When she turned around, Madyson was in her face with a couple of hot dogs shoved up her nose and in her ears, along with the Jell-O crammed here and there.

"Madyson!!!! What-are-you-doing?" gasped Riley trying to hold a stitch in her side from laughing so hard.

"Hmm, what would you like?" Madyson turned around again and looked at Riley in a confused face, this time she had a ketchup moustache and a mustard goatee. Riley fell over in another fit of giggles. Just then Azura walked by with by with her group of popular girls. Madyson was still making funny faces at Riley with the food all over her face. Riley tried to signal that they were coming, but it was too late. They walked up behind Madyson as she was laughing; unaware of what she looked like, but as Madyson noticed that Riley wasn't laughing she turned around and was face to face with Azura. Azura started laughing hysterically which grabbed the whole cafeteria's attention.

"HEY, LOOK EVERYONE, I GUESS MADYSON WAS NEVER TAUGHT THE RULE NEVER PLAY WITH YOU'RE FOOD!!!" Azura yelled at the top of her lungs. The whole cafeteria erupted in waves of laughter.

"So Madyson, thought you would win yourself popularity with a stupid joke? Well, sorry, we don't except freaks or people as ugly as you." She started to walk away when she took a few steps back and faced her again. "Oh, and is it true that you have a secret crush on a character from a book? What's his name, Harry Potter? You're such a loser. Why can't you just be normal like everyone else?" she said it so loud that everyone stopped laughing just to stare at Madyson who was on the verge of crying tears. Azura just gave one last laugh as she left the cafeteria followed by her best friend, Alexis Belle. Madyson looked around and saw all the people staring at her. Tears were streaming down her face, but she made no noise. Riley tried to comfort her, but Madyson ran out of the cafeteria before Riley could say anything. Everyone then began to get back to what they were doing before the catastrophe happened. Shocked Riley got up and disposed her lunch in the nearest garbage can. Then, she went looking for Madyson.

"Maddy, are you in here?" Riley's voice echoed off the walls of the girl's toilets. There was no answer, but Riley knew she was there, because her famous bright red shoes were dangling in the stall at the end.

"Maddy, umm," Riley was lost for words, she wasn't exactly sure about what she should say.

"GO AWAY RILEY!!!! JUST GO! And take my diary, just take it."

"Madyson everything will be fine, just come out of there."

"Yeah right, everything will be just peachy fucking keen, won't it? I'll just walk out of here with no worries. And of course everything would be fine for you, you're so damn perfect. You always have been. You always got the guys and the looks, and-and everything. JUST GO AWAY!"

"Fine, you know what, every time I try and help you, you're always feeling sorry for yourself. Oh, and I don't want your stupid book. It's probably full of stupid crap I don't even want to look at. You and your stupid Harry potter friend disgust me." At that, Riley stomped away leaving Madyson to cry.

Madyson walked down the heavily leave littered sidewalk alone on the way home that day. The wind kept whipping past her face, causing her cheeks to burn, and her fingers were freezing cold, as she had left her mittens in her locker. All she could think about was her horrible day. Madyson tried hard not to cry, but it seemed as though that was all she could do. She was almost home but she didn't want to go there, she didn't want to show her mother that she was crying, so she kept walking right by her house until she came to a fence at the end of the road. She jumped over it and walked along the path. The breeze was getting cooler as she walked. The soft sound of water rushing faster and faster in the creek lingered in her ears. When she reached the sandy waters edge she sat down and began to cry despondently.

Madyson slowly walked down the freshly carpeted staircase, gazing up at the royal blue ceiling. She kept walking, almost in a trance, not knowing where she was going. At the bottom of the stairs a girl was seated quietly on an antique bench. Soft music was playing in the background, a flute melody. The girl got up and beckoned Madyson forwards, wanting her to follow. Madyson followed her into another royal blue room. She noticed a table with blankets spread upon it, pushed against the wall furthest to the left. She turned back to the little girl, but the girl was gone. Confused, Madyson walked over to the table, and without thinking she stationed herself underneath the structure. She was sure there was another person under the table with her, someone she didn't' know. This time the shadow-person wanted Madyson to follow him. Madyson watched with puzzlement as the vague picture of a boy opened a trapdoor on the wall underneath the table. To her surprise, a castle scenery was placed neatly on the other side. A dimly lit corridor stood in front of her. Madyson stepped through the opening in the wall and found herself looking down a tremendous hallway. A deep purple tapestry hung delicately on the wall nearest to her; the boy stood there making it obvious that she was supposed to walk through it. Madyson walked closer to the tapestry and lifted its light "body" (I'm not sure if this is the right word) upwards making a passage visible. In the passage stood two sets of armour suits stood on each wall. The walls had no windows, and the same tapestry as before was hanging on the walls between the two suits. At the end of the passage, there was a spiral staircase. Madyson almost broke into a run as she sped up her pace towards the stairs. She was just about to reach the steps when she burst into a fervent run. The flute melody was getting louder as she approached the stairs. Then suddenly, it felt as though two hands had firmly gripped her around the waist and were pulling her back. She stretched her hands out in front of her struggling to break free and run back to the stairs, a silent scream issuing from her mouth. Her eyes started leaking tears silently, and though Madyson made no effort to cry, the tears slid down her face. She then felt a cold burst of air being propelled forcefully at her body. The grip around her waist loosened, the stairs disappeared. She was now in another room, a chamber lit with torches; no suits of armour were in this room, only the torches burning brightly against the wall. Madyson turned around and around looking for a way out; there was nothing. She fell to her knees, cupped her face with her hands and began to cry despondently. Almost instantly, a new noise loomed in her ears--the sound of a woman's voice. The voice was calling her name.

"Madyson!"

"Madyson, wake up." Madyson jolted upwards, trying to discern where she was. The creek's soft murmur was gone, and she felt her warm bed beneath her. She knew she was in her room, her mother was standing over her with a confused look on her face. Madyson fell dejectedly onto her pillow, which was wet with tears. She rolled on to her side and avoided eye contact with her mother, knowing exactly how she looked, bewildered, shocked and scared.

"Madyson, are you feeling alright? Did you have a bad dream?" asked her mother in a shaky voice.

"I'm fine mum. It was just a dream. I'll be alright," replied Madyson, hoping her mother would take a hint and leave. She must have because Madyson heard her door close softly. Madyson rolled over; her blotchy red face staring at the ceiling. She thought for a minute and remembered that she had fallen asleep at the creek and wondered how she had gotten home.

"Oh right, Riley knows about that spot," Madyson thought aloud. She screwed up her face into an annoyed and frustrated look.

"AHHH, why does my life suck!" she said to herself. Then the dream brought itself into view. Madyson had no clue why she would cry over such a silly thing, although the tears could have been from her day before. She didn't understand why she would cry over a dream, she never used to cry over them. The dream had been a recurring one. She first learnt it at the age of six, although she remembered being happy when she awoke. She was now fifteen. Why would it affect her all of a sudden, especially since she hadn't had the dream years? It had always been the same sequence, although this time there was that flute melody, one that she had never heard. It was beautiful and mystic, something right out of a fantasy. Madyson smiled at the thought of the alluring song and got out of bed. She wiped her tear-stricken face with her hands and walked over to the door of her bedroom. When she stepped outside of her room, she smelled the usual smells of morning. Feeling hungry, Madyson made her way downstairs. Her mum was hovering over the stove making scrambled eggs, and her sister Adelynn was fidgeting in her chair. She would have usually seen her father sitting there, but he had left only a few months ago. Madyson hadn't really cared that much because he was horrible towards the family. Adelynn never really understood, because of her age. Being four and not knowing your father could be a traumatising experience.

Madyson sat down in the chair next to Adelynn, who clumsily spilt her orange juice on the floor. Adelynn clapped her hands excitedly and giggled. Her mother gave her a disapproving look and granted Madyson the job of cleaning the mess. No sooner had Adelynn spilt it had it been cleaned up, and plates of food were rested neatly on the table. Their mother picked up the paper as she was eating her toast and read rather quietly. Madyson was thinking about asking her mother something, but she wasn't sure what the answer would be.

Upstairs in her room, Madyson tried to untangle her knotted mess of hair. Curls of crimson were tossed in front of her face covering her brilliant green eyes. She had tried so many ways to keep it controlled but no matter what she did it stuck up everywhere. Finally giving any hopes of it being tamed she threw it into a ponytail. Madyson sighed as she threw herself onto her bed. She would have gone to see Riley, but well, she knew that Riley was mad at her, and she wasn't up to seeing her at the moment. That's why everyday after school or on the weekends; she would sit on her bed and pass her time with reading, drawing or writing. She had never really been interested in writing, until one day while skimming through sites on the internet she stumbled upon a site where people were discussing Harry Potter and showing off their amazing stories. Madyson loved to stay up all night and read the stories people had written. Most of them were about Harry Potter and his adventures with a wizard named Voldemort. Madyson had never really been interested in Harry Potter until the summer of grade seven, or was it grade eight, she couldn't really remember. She was thrilled to get the books for her birthday, though; she read each one over and over again, often wondering why she hadn't read them sooner. Her friend had first introduced it to her in grade seven at a book fair, but she had never paid any attention to it. It was when her cousins (all four of them) had brought the book camping with them the previous summer that she became interested. Although she was dying to read the book, they pointed out that she had to read the first three before she could start the fourth one. She had always thought about going to a public library and signing a copy out, but she knew she would probably loose it or want to keep it. That's when she decided to ask her mum for the series on her birthday. Sure enough she got them, and hadn't put them down since. She was absolutely in love with all the characters, but for some reason she had a crush on Draco and Harry, although she really liked Ron too. The twins sounded like they would be fun. She often would just lie on her bed and daydream about being at the castle with them. Hours at a time, just lying there thinking about how great that life would be. A lot better then what she was going through now. Plus, she had always wanted to live in London; it looked really pretty and she loved dark rainy days the best. The thought of London or a gloomy day reminded of Harry Potter and it overwhelmed her with joy, but as soon as reality kicked in she found herself in her boring Canadian room. She lived in a nice house, no doubt about that, a modern day house with earthy tones, and a beautiful interior. She loved her living room the best, a red room with beige accents. A fairly large fireplace sat against the wall separating the kitchen from the room. It was Madyson's favourite room, not only because it was the nicest but because there was a certain feel to the room. It always reminded her of Harry Potter, as did many songs.

Madyson let out another sigh thinking about everything that was going on in her life right now; she wished she could just get away from it all. She knew that would never happen though, not unless she had magic. Madyson drifted off to sleep as she thought of the possibilities of being born with the power to use enchantment.

"Madyson, dinner time sweetie," called her mother from downstairs. Madyson lifted her head up from the pillow and rested herself on her arms. She groaned at the sight of the luminous clock beside her bed. It read 8:30 pm. Madyson was too tired to eat but she did notice a rumbling sensation in her stomach signalling her hunger. So half-heartedly, Madyson got out of bed and climbed down the stairs.

"Hello, honey, I decided to let you sleep because you looked really tired and, well, I had found you at the creek. Riley told me you had a horrible day at school."

"Mum I don't want to talk about it," said Madyson shooting her mom an angry glare.

"Alright, well I just wanted to make sure you are okay, because by the way Riley was explaining it, your day seemed to pretty terrible. Oh, and Riley dropped off your diary for you."

"When was Riley here mum?"

"This morning, she was wondering whether or not you were coming to school. I told her that you might be staying at home."

"SHIT! I had school today."

"MADYSON ARLEY LAWRENCE! Don't you speak that way!" Madyson felt her cheeks burn.

"Sorry mum, but I've been having a bad week so far. I just want to eat. May I?"

"Yes, dear. I understand, but you have to be careful. Your sister looks up to you, and that word is something you shouldn't be saying." Her mother then passed her plate to her and sat down beside Adelynn, who was making a terrible mess with her food.

Madyson absentmindedly ate her chicken and mashed potatoes. She finished rather quickly.

"I'm going to bed now, mum. Good night."

"Good night dear, I hope you sleep well. And Madyson, if you don't want to go to school tomorrow, I can pick up your work for you." Her mother looked rather sad for her, and Madyson was grateful that her mother cared enough to let her stay home. There had always been something special about her mother. She had always given Madyson the choice to do whatever she wanted, and never really got mad at her.

Upstairs Madyson noticed her diary on top of her dresser.

"Hmmm, I think I'll write in it." She walked over to her dresser and pulled the heavy book off of its surface. It looked as if Riley hadn't taken it with her. Madyson opened up the book to where she last wrote in it, grabbed her pen, and began writing rapidly about her life and everything in it. She looked over her last entries as well; some of them were dark and gloomy. One of them had a poem she had written a while back. She decided to go over them all. She started with her very first one. She had only started when she came across a very disturbing one. It had been written in red ink, some of it looked like blood. The date on the page was July first 2002. Madyson began to read it, her eyes widening at every sentence.

Dearest Diary

Life sucks right now, everyone in it can die, and I want to die. I hate my life so much. This world has only brought pain in my life. I deal with problems everyday. Life had started off great. I had a father who loved me, until he left for another woman. Mum works super hard, but still something's missing. I've contemplated suicide many times, but there's that trickle of red and the dripping that bothers me. If I wasn't scared of blood I would be dead by now. I HATE MYSELF!!!!! Riley is being gay. She thinks I have an obsession with Harry Potter. So what if I do. I love him so much. He's my favourite person in this whole world. I LOVE HIM!!! I wish I could just hold him in my arms, but no cause I'm not god damn magic. No of course not. I'm a stupid muggle. Maybe I should just die and see what happens. Sometimes I feel that dying wouldn't change a thing. No one would care. Everyone would just carry on. I would rather be fighting Voldemort then living this cruel life. AHHHHHH I hate my life I hate it I hate it. I wish I could live in London and be in the Harry Potter movie. I wish I could write amazing stories like everyone else. I wish I could change my personality. I don't want to be shy and I wish the popular Robert Sharpe would notice me; no he just has to go out with hot girls. Well I'm hot aren't I? Well I don't know I could be but no one seems to notice. I feel so unwanted. I know how Ginny feels Harry not liking her. It's the same deal. Rob won't go out with me because he would rather go out with Jordan, but she lives in Alberta. Why can't I just be popular? I wish I could just be loved by everyone. I wish I could live in Harry Potter's world. IT WOULD BE SO COOL!! But not I live here. Screw the world.

The nights I fall asleep only cause of tears
Make me wish I was not afraid of my fears

I lie in bed face wet, all there is to do is cry
Find the reoccurring thought, I wish I would die

Only wish life didn't hurt so much
There are moments where I can almost feel death's touch

All the things I've dealt with, my twisted troubled mind
That leaves me here with so many answers to find

If only there was no such thing as pain
I'd leave the world with only my red stain

I've tried to fight it, there are times I've gone insane
Try to grasp my thoughts, find reality, regain

The accident that led to an obsession
A story not told by fiction

On the edge of holding on, could let go
The thought of living I can't swallow

An endless song of sorrow has been played
Lying on the floor in the mess that I've made

Tangled sheets, pillows tears have touched
Why do I carry on with a life untouched

Angst and complete despair
Hopelessness drenched in an ongoing nightmare
Nobody said life would be fair

Madyson looked down at the poem and the rest of the script. It was true, she did dislike her life a lot and she did wish she lived in London, and went to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She just wished. Madyson noticed that the writing was done in blood and tears were splattered all down the page. She felt a nauseous feeling rise in her tummy. Just thinking about it made her stomach sick. She closed her eyes and remembered the night she had written he entry. There she was in her room with a knife. She was cutting herself as though it was fun. Her wrists were bleeding and the room was lit with candles. She sat there writing with her blood in the diary. Her face was twisted in a hysterical smile, as though she was insane.

"Ah, what the hell is wrong with me?" Madyson gripped her hands against her forehead. A painful searing headache was forming inside her brain. She was shot out of the memory and was back in her room. Her wrists were perfectly fine and the candles that had been there had now disappeared. Madyson decided it would be best if she just put the diary back and went to sleep. She quietly tip-toed out of bed and placed the diary back in its place, then tucked herself back underneath the sheets. Madyson then fell asleep unaware of how drastically her life would change.

Life would take a turn for the better.