Lizzie was mostly aware of the bruise on her cheek. And although she wished her mother could have come up to the school and had some of the lovely breakfast, it was a good thing she wasn’t there to ask difficult questions. As it was, Professor Flitwick had given her a funny look as she sat down at the table with the others.

 She was tired and achy, and grumpy. Hazel didn’t look any better, though Hagrid’s balm seemed to have cleared up all but the worst scratches on her hands and face. Och, least said; soonest mended. Lizzie tucked into her baguette and apricot jam and sipped her tea. The milky coffee looked interesting, but there were some things she just was not going to change. Tea for breakfast was one of them.

Then it was everybody up for dowsing and they were headed outside. Which was when Lizzie’s good humor was restored. They were going out of the school. Into the country side. Into her territory.

She listened carefully as Professor Canches gave them their instructions and then gathered with the others to learn the new charm from Flitters. It was really pretty simple when you had the teacher right there to show you. It only took Lizzie three tries to get a good strong red mark on the grass. As the group broke up to start the next stage of things, Lizzie whispered to Hazel, “Looks like we’re in the clear. I just hope that stick of your was worth all the trouble!”

Eyes down for finding chains. Or at least, eyes half closed. Lizzie stood quietly holding her dowsing stick loosely in her hands, breathing slowly and listening to the quiet countryside sounds. There was a blackbird trilling away somewhere in the trees, and the gentle rustling of the leaves in the morning breeze. This was her country, and it should speak clearest to her. One step, two steps, three… turn right… step…

Just there. She sighed and traced the length of the pull. It curved slightly which was interesting, and one end felt a bit stronger than the other. Right. Better mark it and move on. She was getting the hang of this.

The next chain practically yanked the stick out of her hands.

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Not Getting Any Younger