Love In Translation

LOVE IN TRANSLATION

The day was nearly ending with the sunset, and the orange clouds over the sky of Paris were turning into a light pink. This magnificent view would have easily been the right start for a pleasant conversation between two normal passengers sitting on the same flight, but I definitely wasn't in the right mood, and I definitely wasn't a normal passenger.

I was sitting on my own, with my forehead leaning against the window, looking absent-mindedly at the view; to any curious neighbour, I would have looked like any other English tourist, waiting to land in one of the most romantic cities in the world, but it wasn't exactly like that.

At that time, I didn't know that the trip I was starting would have brought me to one of the most incredible adventures of my life. Actually, I must say, that I have been through many other weird adventures in the past. It's inevitable, when you are the best friend of one of the most famous wizards in the world, a young man called Harry Potter.

That day had began like any other day: I woke up very early, and as usual, I was getting ready to go to my office; I work at the Ministry of Magic, in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, the section for the Help and Support of Magical Creatures in need: it's a new section, just created by the new Minister of Magic, Mr Arthur Weasley; I must say that it's the perfect job for me, and every day, I am receiving more and more cases of magical creatures in need, examples being werewolves, centaurs and house-elves. I think it's great to be able to help them through the Ministry.

Well, back to that morning. I was quietly sipping my tea, while reading a copy of the Daily Prophet, when Crookshanks jumps down from my knees and claws the window, meowing like mad. A little bit upset from the interruption, I got up to check what had caught his attention. When I came closer to the window, I was shocked by what I saw: leaning on the windowsill, half senseless and with a bleeding wing, was Hedwig, Harry's owl.

I opened the window with my heart beating faster and faster, and I took the poor creature in my arms; she didn't even have the strength to raise her head, and when I put her on the table, I was surprised to find a little piece of parchment tied to her leg; I got even more surprised to read, that it was addressed to Albus Dumbledore, Hogwarts.

A suddenly realization hit me: Hedwig was wounded almost to death, and she was carrying an urgent message for Albus Dumbledore. This could only possibly mean that Harry was in danger, and that someone had attacked his owl and intercepted the message. I didn't think over it much longer, and I opened the parchment with trembling hands.

The message said:

"Bad news, we have been uncovered. Your help is vital for us now. We must absolutely meet on February 20^th, at 12 o'clock, at the mountain of martyrs. It's a life or death matter. Harry."

Naturally, I don't need to tell you that after reading this message, I wasn't able to stand any more and I collapsed on the sofa. What was the meaning of that? Was Harry in danger? And if Hedwig had come to me, maybe Dumbledore hadn't received the owl yet?

I bit my lips in anger, thinking to that day two years ago, when after having brightly passed the last examination at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry had proudly announced to all of us, that he had been admitted to the training for becoming an Auror at the Ministry of Magic.

I still remember hiding all my fear and all my apprehension from him, and celebrating with Ron and all our friends. It wasn't that I didn't trust him, because I knew what Harry could do with magic. The fact was that the Dark Lord was still a real and constant threat for him and for the world.

I could have told him about that, but it wouldn't have helped much, since Harry would have never changed his mind anyway. From that day on, we met just a few other times: a couple of birthday parties, one or two Christmas Dinners with the Weasleys, and a few owls, just to let me know that he was still alive.

I never tried to tell him how much I cared. I knew that his personal fight with the Dark Side had always kept him far away from love, and also, I have always been too shy to open my heart to the one I loved more than myself.

Anyway, when I recovered from the shock of the message, I tried immediately to contact Dumbledore using the Floo Network: after all, tomorrow was February 20^th and I absolutely had to do something to help Harry. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find Dumbledore at Hogwarts: Professor McGonagall just told me that the Head Master was on a business trip far away from school.

Do you think that I would have remained at home, waiting for the worst? Not at all! Firstly, I gave Hedwig to my neighbour, who was a very good healer a the St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries in London; then I sent an urgent owl to my chief, informing him that I was going to take all the holidays I have always missed.

I put a few things in my suitcase; let Crookshanks in his cage and I ran away like a bolt. In order not to be noticed, I decided to travel like a muggle, so I reached the airport by taxi. But the most important thing was to find out the meeting place Harry was talking about.

I read his message several times, until I got a headache, but I couldn't understand yet, what the mountain of martyrs was.

When I arrived at the airport, I was still confused and clueless. I reached the ticket office, and when the old lady asked the question "Where do you need a ticket to?" I remained in silence, just like an idiot, because I didn't know what to answer.

Then I started to look around me, and my eyes fell to some posters on the walls: there were pictures of the most famous holiday places in the world, like the Caribbean's, Egypt, America, and in the last one there was a picture of a wonderful cathedral, all made in white marble, and underneath, it was written "Cathedral of Mont Martyr, Paris, France."

Suddenly I realized, that I had found the meeting place.

"A ticket for Paris, one way, please" I asked to the old lady, who was starting to gaze impatiently at me.

And now here I am, sitting on a flight headed to Paris, without knowing what to expect from the future... the only thing I certainly know is that I'll do my best to find Harry and help him, even if I have to fight against Voldemort in the process.

***O***

"It's everything ready?" a cold and sharp voice asked.

"Yes, my Lord... the meeting is set for tomorrow... at 12 o'clock..." a hooded figure replied.

"Very well... catch them and bring them to me... but be careful, I won't admit any mistake from you this time..."

"Please trust us, my Lord.... we won't disappoint you..."

Those words were followed by a terrifying laughter, with the ability to make you shiver.

"Then go... don't lose precious time..." The Dark Lord raised his pale hand toward the door, and his loyal servant bowed deeply to him, before leaving.

"This time Harry Potter won't have a chance..." Again the Dark Lord laughed devilishly, foretasting his revenge.