Penny Dredfule

Penny Dredfule Chapter Nine
Temple Gifts

Christmas morning came amongst bright sunshine which seeped through the windows. Harry woke to find the usual pile of presents at the foot of his bed.

Ron and Hermione entered into the room giggling happily, smiles on their partially awake faces. "Oi! Presents!" Ron shouted, dumping his pile of presents on the floor and settling in to open them.

Harry went to his small pile and unwrapped the usual Weasley jumper, blue this time with a star on the front. His next package was from Hermione. Harry opened a box covered in pictures of Ron, Hermione and himself. Inside the box was a small Gryffindor Lion on the end of a silver chain. He looked up at Hermione with awe.

"Wow " He said, "Thanks Hermione. It's beautiful."

"I made it myself. I hoped you would like it."

"When did you have time to make it?" Ron asked, "You've been studying for so long, I thought that perhaps you might pass away from starvation. It really is nice, Hermione. It's beautiful, just like you."

Hermione blushed. "Thanks, Ron."

Harry, trying to suppress the urge to gag, continued opening presents. When he was done he had a box of mince pies, a small carving of an owl from Hagrid, a Nifflier training book from Ron, a safety pin from the Dursleys, a tea cozy from Dobby and a book of hexes and charms from Sirius. There was one small package left, however.

It was a thin box covered in blue velvet. When Harry opened the box, he nearly dropped it. Instead, he simply put it down and backed away from it.

"Harry?" Hermione asked. "What is it? What's in the box?" When Harry didn't say anything, she went over to the box and looked inside it.

Amongst more blue velvet was a ring. It was small and delicate, made from silver and gold. It was a Celtic band formed into two snakes that were biting each other's tails. One silver snake and one gold snake. It was a beautiful ring.

"Harry?" Hermione said, "What's wrong? Why are you afraid of this ring?"

* * * * *

Penny woke to find a small pile of presents at the bottom of her bed. Sure beats a tree, she thought. There was a package of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans from Albus, a book on Muggle magic from Hagrid, a book of love poetry from Minerva and a home made set of candle holders from Ron, Harry and Hermione.

There was one last package which appeared to be a book.

Inside the packaging Penny did, indeed, find a book, covered in black leather. On the front in gold letters were the words "Keef Quirrell". A note was attached. It read:

THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE NEEDING THIS. HAPPY CHRISTMAS. KEEF.

Penny sat there staring at the book. She then went to her desk where she had put the "How I love Severus Snape" and "Cats of Isis" books. They were all connected. She was sure they were. She just wasn't sure how.

Penny figured the only way to determine their relationship to each other was to read them. She settled down with Keef's Memory Book and began to read.

After some time she was roused from her reading by a man's voice outside her chambers.

* * * * *

"How do you know the ring was your mother's?" Hermione asked, "There's no way you could know that!"

"It's one of the things I remember." Harry replied. "I remember her wearing it"

"But you were one year old!" Ron said.

"It's one of the things I remember about her. She was always wearing that ring. I think my Dad gave it to her."

"Well then, who do you think gave it to you?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know, but it is my mother's." Harry plucked the ring out of the box and made to put it on.

"Are you sure you should be doing that?" Ron asked. "You've had a history of strange gifts. The invisibility cloak in your first year, the Firebolt in your third year; are you sure you should be trying it on?"

"It's my mother's." He said simply.

* * * * *

Penny picked up the three books and hid them in her desk. She went to the door and opened it to find Peeves standing there. Well, floating really. It wasn't possible for ghosts to stand.

"Peeves. . . . Hi!" she said, "What can I do for you?"

"Well, um, ah, um " he stammered.

"Did you want to come in?"

"I'd, um, love to."

Peeves floated in and settled into Penny's chair.

"So, what's on your mind?"

"Well, um," Peeves stammered, "I've been feeling very inadequate as a man lately."

"Oh." Penny replied. What is this? Poltergeist psychology? "Really?"

"Yes. It seems I don't have 'what it takes' any more. I seem to be losing touch with what I was."

Penny sighed. It was going to be a long day. "So, what does your manhood have to do with anything? Is there something bothering you specifically?"

"Funny you should ask that " Peeves replied, "You see, well, um, there's really no other way to say this "

"Say what, Peeves?"

"I'minlovewithyouandyoudon'tnoticeme!" he said all in one rush of breath.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Penny asked. "What are you trying to say, Peeves?" Penny had the feeling that she really did not want to hear his answer.

"I'm. In. Love. With. You. And. You. Don't. Notice. Me." Peeves replied, an even breath between each word.

Penny thought for a moment before speaking. "But how can a poltergeist and a Muggle have a relationship, Peeves?"

"I don't know, but it has to be possible! I think of you every waking day and night! I think of nothing else but you!"

Peeves rushed to hug Penny and passed right though her.

There was a tense moment of silence when neither spoke nor moved. Then Penny heard Peeves sobbing.

"I'm suh-sorry, P-Professor D-Dredfule!" he wailed, "I'll be going now .Happy Christmas." He left something on her desk and glided out the door.

Penny sat there, torn between going after him or letting him be. She then looked at what he had left on her desk.

It was a rose in a vase, all made out of the same smoky substance as Peeves. The flower turned, the sunlight piercing its gray and white tones.

* * * * *

Harry slipped the ring on his finger. Nothing happened.

All of them waited a few more minutes. Still, nothing happened.

"Well," said Hermione, "that's a new one. No catastrophe seems to be heading our way and nothing's exploded, no one's inflated, and no one's died. Odd."

* * * * *

Penny had put Peeves out of her mind for now. She was thinking about more important things. She had the three books gathered in her arms and was heading towards Albus Dumbledore's study. She had attempted to find Sheryll, but she was out again. An Enchantress had a life, too, she supposed.

Penny had been wandering for what seemed a long time, twisting this way and that way. One of the things she had found out about Hogwarts was that sometimes the school did what it could to help you lose your way.

Penny turned a corner to find a stairwell that she had never seen before. There were wall torches lighting her way, the fire from the torches different shades of purple and amber.

She shrugged her shoulders and began the trek downwards.

The stairwell seemed to lead a long ways beneath the castle. There appeared to be no end to the stairs. She walked on for about another ten minutes, finally reaching the bottom

In front of her was a large door made out of hematite. There was a plaque on the front of the door, which read:

ENTER HERE
THE CAT WHICH SITS
WITHIN YOUR MIND
WORDS OF CAT
WILL LET YOU ENTER
IN THIS PLACE.

Penny stared at the door for a few more moments. Words of cat? What do they mean? She paced the small area in front of the door trying to think of an answer to the riddle. Then she felt her hand throb.

She looked down to find her left hand glowing amber and purple, a soft humming coming from the door in response.

Of course! Penny thought, looking at the books in her hand. Words of cat! She flipped open the "Cats of Isis" book to the poem she had seen before. She read aloud:

"Green eyes, yellow, golden hue
Pierce your heart, see you are true.
Soul exposed before their look
Heart is open like a book.
Evaluating right or wrong
No place to hide, they are too strong."

The doors answered the words with a louder humming, and the colours of Penny's hand intensified. She heard a click and the doors opened before her.

Penny peered into the dim room. She walked to the doorway to get a better look.

It was a large room, with high ceilings and gables. Everywhere she looked she saw cats. Cats made out of wood, out of sand, out of glass, out of clay. Everything was lit by amber light coming from the left and purple light from the right.

In the centre of the room was a woman. She was petite, with shoulder length black hair and a warm smile.

"Welcome, Sister," the woman said. "My name is Dinah and I am the living Goddess. Welcome to the Temple of Isis." THE CAT WHICH SITS
WITHIN YOUR MIND
WORDS OF CAT
WILL LET YOU ENTER
IN THIS PLACE.

Penny stared at the door for a few more moments. Words of cat? What do they mean? She paced the small area in front of the door trying to think of an answer to the riddle. Then she felt her hand throb.

She looked down to find her left hand glowing amber and purple, a soft humming coming from the door in response.

Of course! Penny thought, looking at the books in her hand. Words of cat! She flipped open the "Cats of Isis" book to the poem she had seen before. She read aloud:

"Green eyes, yellow, golden hue
Pierce your heart, see you are true.
Soul exposed before their look

Thanx to Wanda, Dinah and Sheryll for keeping me sane somewhat. Now, read on!

Penny Dredfule Chapter Ten
Temples and Drag Queens

Penny stood at the threshold of the great temple for a while, taking in the whole scene. The Living Goddess, Dinah, approached her with graceful steps.

"Welcome Sister, at last we meet. Your journey has brought you far, father than I think you would have imagined, yes?" Dinah asked.

"It would appear to be that way." Penny replied. "Why am I here?"

"It is you who should answer that question, Sister, for you have found it on your own."

"But what am I doing here? How could I find this place if I didn't know it existed?"

"I see you are full of questions. Questions are good. They lead you on the right path, the path to Feline grace and the beauty of understanding the mysteries. Do you now know what you are, Sister?"
"I'm an Enchantress."

"Do you not know which kind? Surely you must know which kind of Enchantress you are?"

"I didn't know there was more than one kind." Penny said meekly.

Dinah laughed. "I see you have much to learn. Come, Sister, we will sit and talk. I see it is necessary to cleanse your soul, young one."

Dinah led Penny to the altar where a couple bean bag chairs and pillows awaited. Sitting down, Penny was at last able to study her hostess.

The Living Goddess was a beautiful woman. Light radiated from her, producing a soft glow of amber and purple. She smiled again and her eyes shone with magic and power. But there was still that Feline grace that implied a beauty of the soul. Penny was awestruck.

"I am the Living Goddess," Dinah began, "The Living Isis. I am holder of her power, and servant to her beauty. And you are one of my Sisters."

"You keep saying that. What does that mean?"

"I am getting ahead of myself." She smiled again. "Isis is Goddess of Cats, and I am the Patron of Cats. Just as you are an Enchantress of Isis."

"But I don't know anything about Isis!"

"Ah, but she knows about you. Do you have a star somewhere on your body?"

Penny showed Dinah the five-pointed star on her left hand.

"A powerful mark, Sister. Make no mistake about that. Each Enchantress of Isis has a star somewhere on their body. Their fate is decided for them at birth, I'm afraid. But fate has a way of playing out events in The Goddess's favour. There are two of you here."

"You mean..?"

"I believe you call her Sheryll? Yes, she is the high Enchantress, the Ki-Sheh-Soon. She is the guardian of all Enchantresses."

"So, all Enchantresses have an affinity with cats?"

Dinah smiled. "Not necessarily, Sister. Each Enchanter or Enchantress has an affinity with a specific animal. It just so happens that you and Sheryll have an affinity with animals of the Feline species. "

Penny sat and relaxed for a bit. This place seemed to soothe the stress right out of her. She pondered on all that she had heard so far and it all seemed to make sense to her. It was as if she had already known the answers, but just needed them repeated to her for clarification.

"I still have one more question. Why is this Temple here? Surely it doesn't belong to Hogwarts?"

"There are many mysteries at Hogwarts that even I, The Living Goddess, cannot comprehend." She smiled. "But the answer to your question is simple. The temple goes where Sheryll goes."

"Isn't that a little too simple? What does Sheryll need with her own temple?"

"Sheryll is the Ki-Sheh-Soon, the High Enchantress. She needs a place to pray, Sister."

"Oh!" Penny said, wondering if she could have her own temple someday. She fantasized about taking her friends home and saying something like: 'I just got my new Temple put in! It has wall to wall carpeting to die for!' Penny sighed. The chances of that happening were pretty slim.

"What about the different colours? Purple and Amber? Do those mean anything?" she asked.

"In fact they do." Dinah replied. "Isis is the Goddess of Protection, Magic, Cats and Children. Whereas Amber is known for protection, so is Amethyst. They are both protective stones and will warn you of danger. For while you are a Sister of Isis, she will always protect you." She smiled again, filling the room with warmth.

"Now, Sister," Dinah said, "I suggest that you go and meditate for a while in the comfort of your own rooms. This might still be a shock to you, finding the Temple and all that you have learned."

"It's better than a kick in the head." Said Penny.

"Pardon?"

"Nothing, no worries. Thank you, Dinah."

* * * * *

When Penny reached her rooms, there was a note pinned to her door. It read:

Please come see me in my quarters. Albus.

* * * * *

When Penny entered Albus's rooms, she found Albus and Sheryll enjoying a cup of tea and a plate of cookies.

"Ah, Penny!" Sheryll said, "You're here, good."

"Sit down Penny." Albus said, "I have much to tell you."

A high back chair much like the other two appeared, and Penny took a seat gratefully. "What is all this about? I must warn you, my brain is still a little riled up about the Temple of Isis thing. Both of you knew about it, am I right?"

Both Sheryll and Albus nodded. "We thought it best if you found it on your own." Sheryll said.

"Fine." Penny replied, "Now, what's this about?"

Albus put down his cup of tea, his face grim. "I have found out some information that may be privy to what is happening here. You need to hear it because you are involved."

The serious tone that Albus was using riveted Penny to the spot. She had no choice but to listen. His voice commanded her to.

"Through my sources," Albus began, "I have determined that Keef Quirrell is actually a relative of our late professor here. Turns out the Quirrell family is quite large and prone to practising dark Magic."

"What kind of a relative is Keef?" Penny asked.

"Keef is our late Professor's brother." Albus replied. There was stunned silence. Dumbledore continued. "Keef was an Enchanter for the Ministry of Magic. He is no longer an Enchanter, as he was stripped of his powers."

"What happened? Aren't you born an Enchanter or Enchantress?"

"Yes," replied Albus, "which implies he must have done something pretty dire to have his powers stripped. He still retains his origiinal magic, but none quite so powerful than the magic of an Enchanter."

"Can you find out how he lost his powers?" Sheryll asked.

"I can't." He replied, "But Penny can." Sheryll and Dumbledore looked at her.

"What?" Penny said, "How can I find out how he lost his powers? I don't know the first thing about being an Enchantress!"

"You seem to be doing very will thus far." Dumbledore chuckled, "But no matter. I believe you received his Memory Book as a little Christmas present?"

Penny blanched. "Yes. I did."

"Then the answer lies in that book. You must read it to find the answers, as I am unable to help you."

"But I can't read it!" Penny burst out.

"And why not?" Sheryll asked.

"Because," Penny paused, "because, I can't bare the evil that seems to ooze out of it. It hurts to even touch it. I can't read that book. You can't ask me to read that book, Albus. I'll do anything else, anything but read that book."

There was silence in the air for a while after that. Albus seemed to be weighing what Penny had said with what he thought was the right course of action. At last he spoke:

"No one can force you to read it, Penny. I want you to understand that. But you must read it. Not now, when you are ready, of course. It holds answers that only you can give us."

"Why can't you read it?"

"It is a magical book. It can only be read to the person it was gifted to. I ask you to think well on this Penny. You must read it, but only when you are ready."

* * * * *

The weeks rolled by at a fast pace. Penny did the best she could to keep her thoughts grounded, especially during classes, but her mind was always thinking on the book.

At last, Valentine's Day arrived. Penny woke on that morning and almost died in her bed. She couldn't believe her eyes. She rubbed them and looked again. Oh my goodness, thought Penny.

Her room was decorated in red and white flowers, pink and white sparkles fell from the ceiling and hundreds of candles glowed a rosy colour.

Standing in the centre of it all was Snape. He was wearing a large wig, with the hair shaped to form a beehive style. It had been dyed purple and clashed horribly with the rest of his outfit.

He was wearing a set of large red and orange robes, and a green hat on top of the beehive hairdo. He was wearing enough make-up for twenty women. His eyes were painted in red and purple, which clashed with his pink blush and his blue lipstick. He had put on fake nails, several inches long, painted with stars and moons in bright florescent colours. Penny couldn't be sure, but she was positive he had breasts too, one slightly lower than the other.

"Happy Valentine's Day Penny!!" Snape crooned in a high falsetto voice.

Penny thought her spleen had ruptured.

"I have something for you," Snape continued. He presented her with the box. Penny thought her stomach was going to shut down any minute. She also thought her eyes would go blind from holding in the tears.

Snape opened the box which began to play its song and Penny couldn't hold it in anymore.

She laughed so hard and with so much force, Snape backed up and tripped over her chair. He landed on his back with his dress up around his knees, and Penny laughed harder. Snape tried to get up, tripped over his robes, and his left breast fell out and rolled across the floor.

* * * * *

When Penny had calmed down, she put the box on the desk and chuckled to herself. When she touched the desk, her left hand glowed amber and purple. "The Book", thought Penny.

Sighing with resolution, she opened the desk drawer, pulled out Keef's Memory Book and began to read. THE CAT WHICH SITS
WITHIN YOUR MIND
WORDS OF CAT
WILL LET YOU ENTER
IN THIS PLACE.

Penny stared at the door for a few more moments. Words of cat? What do they mean? She paced the small area in front of the door trying to think of an answer to the riddle. Then she felt her hand throb.

She looked down to find her left hand glowing amber and purple, a soft humming coming from the door in response.

Of course! Penny thought, looking at the books in her hand. Words of cat! She flipped open the "Cats of Isis" book to the poem she had seen before. She read aloud:

"Green eyes, yellow, golden hue
Pierce your heart, see you are true.
Soul exposed before their look

Thanx to Wanda, Dinah and Sheryll for keeping me sane somewhat. Now, read on!

Penny Dredfule Chapter Ten
Temples and Drag Queens

Penny stood at the threshold of the great temple for a while, taking in the whole scene. The Living Goddess, Dinah, approached her with graceful steps.

"Welcome Sister, at last we meet. Your journey has brought you far, father than I think you would have imagined, yes?" Dinah asked.

"It would appear to be that way." Penny replied. "Why am I here?"

"It is you who should answer that question, Sister, for you have found it on your own."

"But what am I doing here? How could I find this place if I didn't know it existed?"

"I see you are full of questions. Questions are good. They lead you on the right path, the path to Feline grace and the beauty of understanding the mysteries. Do you now know what you are, Sister?"
"I'm an Enchantress."

"Do you not know which kind? Surely you must know which kind of Enchantress you are?"

Penny Dredfule Chapter Eleven
Dark Reading

"Kee'fs life," the book read, "had been horrific. A devastating life for a child, actually. Therefore, it is no surprise that he ended up where he did.

As a child, Keef would often slide towards the darker side of thing,, preferring more the cover of night than the light of day. He was a child with a kind heart that had been stamped on too often.

He believed that one everyone deserved fair chances at life, even if they came from the gutter families of the wizarding world, although that opinion would change.

Keef's Mother, Gunwalda Alshomees, was an enchantress of notable talent. It was naturally assumed, and quite rightly so, that Keef would inherit her talents.

Keef's Father, one Lanshire Quirrell, was a mere wizard. This caused considerable stress in the marriage and Keef often suffered the brunt of both his parents anger.

His older brother didn't suffer, though. Duncan Quirrell was off in France studying Magical Defense. Alistair was spared his parent's anger and constant battles for power in the house. Kee'fs older brother had freedom.

The turning point in Keef's life came on the eve of his twentieth birthday. By this time he had established himself as a formidable Enchanter, capable of powerful magic.

Keef came home from working at the Ministry to find his parents in the middle of what would be their final argument. There had been arguments and fights before, but none as heated as this one.

His parents didn't notice his arrival, so intent they were on insulting each other. Keef hid behind the door to the kitchen and as he listened a cold settled in him. It chilled him to his bones. He felt he would never be warm again.

"Useless man!" His mother screamed, "All you think about is power and status! You can't deal with the fact that I hold more power than you!"

"Damn fucking right!" His father screamed back. Keef paled. He had never heard his parents swear. "All the time, its 'I'm the Enchantress, I'll decide'! You can't stand the fact that I might be right and you might be wrong!"

"But I have experience in these matters! Voldemort is coming to power and we have to stop him!"

"Why don't you just shut the fuck up!" Keef's father bellowed and struck his mother across the face.

A cold rage burst in Keef like a tidal wave. He rushed into the kitchen and began beating his father, fists flying, legs kicking, totally unaware of what he was doing. One thought kept repeating itself over and over in his head: 'No one hits my mother'.

He stopped suddenly when he heard screaming. He thought it was his own, but when his head cleared he discovered it was his Mother's.

Keef came back to an awareness that hurt. His father's dead body lay on the kitchen floor, blood soaking the tiles. Keef stared at his hands, dimly aware that he had just killed his father.

His mother was sobbing, clutching her robes to her bosom. He went towards her hands outstretched .

"Mom," He said, "Mom, it's okay, it's going to be okay "

"Murderer!!" She screamed at him, "Killer, you are not my son!"

"Mom?" He replied. Tears were streaming down his cheeks.

"Killer!!" She screamed at him, "I reject you, I denounce you! You killed the only person I have ever loved!"

The floodgates opened inside Keef. His rage was pouring over him in torrents; so much so, that twenty minutes later his mother's dead form was beside his father's, her neck broken.

Keef went outside at that point and fell to his knees in the grass. He screamed as loudly as he could, thinking it to be someone else.

* * * * *

The Ministry ruled in the favour of murder. They were certain that Voldemort's Death Eaters were behind the killings, one more example of his growing power. To kill such a powerful Enchantress and a wizard was a testament to great power. Keef was never put in the light of blame.

A month after the incident at his home, Keef was approached by a man. Keef was sitting on his front porch, thinking, when he saw the gentleman approach.

Keef stood, unsure of why, but this man seemed to demand courtesy. As the man approached, Keef thought: 'And it starts'. He was not quite sure why he had that thought, but it turned out to be far more accurate than he could have imagined.

"Let us go inside." The man said, and Keef obeyed. The man seemed to know his way, and led Keef to the kitchen where he had killed his mother and father.

"This is where you did it." The man said.

"I didn't do anything." Keef replied.

The man laughed a high, cold, cruel laugh. "Oh, come now, we both know that isn't the case. I know your darkest secrets, Keef."

Keef swallowed. "Who are you?" He asked.

"I am many things." Said the man. "They used to call me Tom Riddle, but I have not used that name in many years. They now call me VOLDEMORT."

Keef stared in awe. Here was the answer, he thought. A man into whom he could pour all the dark feelings. A man who wouldn't flinch at the fact that he had murdered the very people who had given him life.

* * * * *

Keef began to use his affinity with cats to Lord Voldemort's advantage. The cats would answer Keef's call, for he was an Enchanter with a connection to the feline species.

He used his powers to spy on those who would not follow Lord Voldemort's ways. It was the perfect revenge, thought Keef, on a world where no one seemed to care for him, where no one noticed him.

He was well liked, which only helped to mask his involvement in the deaths of several prominent wizards and witches. Keef knew this was a serious offense, but he didn't care. His soul had been eaten away by hate.

He wasn't smart enough, however. One of Lord Voldemort'srank, one Severus Snape, suspected something. Unknown to Keef, Snape was a spy for the revolution against Lord Voldemort. Keef's undoing came four years after he began his term with the dark side.

Snape found Keef in his house on that fateful evening. Keef wouldn't leave the home where his parents had perished.

Snape watched Keef from his vantage point in the bushes in front of Keef's house, his decoy ready to step into action.

His decoy, one Minerva McGonagall, was a registered animagus able to turn herself into a cat. The perfect cheese for the proverbial mousetrap. When Snape heard Keefs (Keef's) call to the felines, he sent Minerva in cat form to the front stoop of Keef's house.

Minutes passed while Snape watched the transference of information. When Minerva came back to the bushes and told what had transpired, he then alerted the Ministry of Magic.

The trial was quick. Keef was sentenced to life in the prison of Azkaban. He was also stripped of his Enchanter powers. To abuse your powers as an Enchanter was serious business. Keef would never have the power he once had.

Keef knew, of course, that Snape was behind his capture. When he was carried away by the Dementors, Snape saw his eyes.

* * * * *

Keef, of course, escaped Azkaban. Death was easy enough to fake. The Dementors never knew the difference between his body and another's. He was free. After twenty years in Azkaban, he was free.

* * * * *

Penny blinked and reached for her mug of tea. She felt dirty all over and wasn't sure if she would ever be clean again. What she had read had changed her, made her more aware of an evil presence around the castle. She shuddered and looked down at the book.

There wasn't much left to read. She had to keep going, had to find out the rest of the story. How did Keef get here? How did he gain the power to enter her head and into her Memory Library? Without his powers he was not able to achieve such feats.

There was a knock at the door. She looked up and Sheryll entered the room. "How're you doing?"

"Almost done, but I think I need to speak to Professor Dumbledore right away."

"You won't be able to do that. He received an owl from the Ministry of Magic. Someone there has information on Keef, he went right away."

"He's not here? Why didn't he wait for me to read the book?"

"He couldn't be sure of when you would read it, Penny. Any information, any leads he could find, are few and far between. He had to answer this owl. It may save our lives."

Penny nodded. Her mind felt all dark and gloomy.

At last, Sheryll spoke. "I won't keep you. I just wanted to see how you were holding up. I believe I might have a little lie down. Come and get me when you're finished reading. Then we'll see what we can do."

"Right. Thank you, Sheryll."

Sheryll smiled and let herself out.

* * * * *

Purple and amber light began to glow around Dinah. She was centering her chakras, trying to get all of seven of them in line. This required a lot of concentration. That being said, she was doubly frightened when she was jolted out of her meditative state by a cruel, cold laugh.

"Hello?" Dinah said. "Isis greets you! Show yourself!"

"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" Screamed a man's voice.

Dinah felt her entire body go rigid, her arms were stuck at her sides. She couldn't move her legs as they were stuck where they were. Dinah had become a human statue of the Living Goddess and the Living Goddess was deeply frightened.

A man approached her from the shadows of the temple. He was a tall, thin man with long blonde hair and hazel eyes. His lips were pouty, even while smiling, and he looked very sure of himself.

"Hello, Dinah". Said Keef.