Chapter 20: Cowardly and Humble
Evan slept very soundly that night as he dreamed of various things.
He dreamed he was there at Godric's Hollow the night that Voldemort killed Harry's Parent, he wanted to help them, but he was powerless.
Afterwards, he dreamed about Ginny, the girl fell powerlessly in front of him, her body was as cold as a corpse, Tom Riddle stood beside her, Tom's face was full of arrogance, mocking his powerlessness in front of true strength.
Evan quickly pulled out his wand but in the next moment Evan was sent flying by Tom, and in the next second a green spell was fired at Evan, then he suddenly woke up from his dream and sat up.
When Evan woke up, Evan was drenched with sweat.
It was barely dawn outside, so he laid down again, he realized that he is too weak, he isn't Voldemort's opponent.
But luckily, he had time, and fortunately, they had Dumbledore, the only wizard Voldemort fears.
Evan knew he needed to improve his strength step by step, he couldn't learn advanced magic at the moment. But for now, he needs to figure out how to defeat the Basilisk and how to deal with the diary.
"I know the Basilisk is scared of crowing roosters."
When he was thinking about how to defeat the Basilisk, he heard something coming from the corner of the room."Lumos," said Evan, casting a spell and looking for anyone.
It was a creature with green eyes wearing a pillowcase, a house elf, and it was tidying up the room. The light from Evan's wand frightened the house elf, and it let out a suppressed scream and vanished into thin air.
Beside his bed was Colin's but through the whole ordeal, he slept like a log.
Evan couldn't sleep, so he decided to think about Voldemort, perhaps in Voldemort's eyes, he was as humble as a house elf.
This feeling was horrible, so Evan put on his robe and snuck out of bed.
This morning at Hogwarts was very quiet, the portraits were sleeping, and not even a shadow could be seen. Evan walked through the empty castle, wondering why he suddenly wanted to see the sunrise.
Evan walked up the staircase to the top of the castle, to where he had never been before.
By the time he climbed to the top floor, he saw one of the entrances to a house's common room it had elegant arched windows, surrounded by blue and bronze coloured silk and an eagle-shaped bronze knocker on the door.
It was the entrance to Ravenclaw's common room, Evan approached a balcony, and he could see the beautiful scenery outside the castle.
In the next moment, Evan noticed that someone came here earlier than himself.
As a light breeze blew, the sun slowly rose from the edge of the Forbidden Forest. With the sun shining Evan saw a beautiful golden hair girl sitting on the edge of the balcony. The girl had ethereal qualities that made one think of a fairy.
"Good morning, Evan!" said Luna calmly as turned towards Evan, as if she knew from the start he would appear here.
"Good morning, Luna!" sighed Evan as he sat down beside her, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm writing an article about finding a Horned Snorkack, and I'm going to contribute it to your newspaper," said Luna
Evan didn't know how to respond to her contributing something, he should be happy but when he thought about the content 'How to find a Horned Snorkack,' it let him feel happy and a little unhappy at the same time.
"In the morning it is often easier to become inspired!" said Luna as she put her parchment down and stared at Evan with bulging eyes, "Are you also looking for inspiration, no, you look like you have something on your mind."
"Well, yes!" said Evan hesitatingly, and continued, "I am just feeling how cruel reality is, the power of man is too small, even if one knows everything one cannot change anything."
Evan was vague, so he wasn't sure if Luna could understand him.
Two people watched the sunrise for a while, Luna said in a peculiar trance-like voice, "Power is never absolute, people who can face their own cowardice and remain humble, is a kind of courage, isn't it?"
"Yes," said Evan while nodding, courage is important.
"But I believe more in wisdom than strength or courage," said Luna in a singing tone, "Wit beyond measure is a man's greatest treasure."
This is Evan's second time hearing Luna say this sentence, he went back yesterday and checked the origin, this was one of Rowena Ravenclaw's last words.
Perhaps it is a famous saying, but Evan doesn't know how this sentence is able to help defeat Voldemort.
"My mother once told me before dying, it is important to choose your own direction, and then no matter how many people oppose you, you must stick to it and pursue your belief.
On the balcony, Luna's voice left Evan in a trance-like state.
"Direction!" said Evan and asked subconsciously "Your mother?"
"Yes!" said Luna, "She was an excellent witch and liked to do experiments but one day one of her spells backfired and died, I was nine years old."
"Sorry, Luna!"
"It's okay Evan!" said Luna, "I'm okay since I was loved while she was still alive, although I do feel depressed sometimes, at least I still have my father. What I want to say is no matter how difficult it is you will always have someone to help you through it."
"You're right, I will always have someone to help." Nodded Evan as he realized this.
Evan has had a profound sense of anxiety since he knew he had crossed into the wizarding world of Harry Potter, always putting himself on the opposite side of Voldemort while ignoring the existence of others.
When he listened to Luna, he remembered Harry, Ron, Hermione, and everyone else, who in the original story helped overcome Voldemort, even if it was at a high price, but still, in the end, they won.
Now that he is here, he must save the lives of those who were lost.
"Believe in your friends, it might not do anything earth-shaking but it will change many ordinary things but essential things." said Luna, "I think one of Helga Hufflepuffs quotes is the best, 'I'll teach the lot and treat them just the same', she seems to be the best of the founders."
"Thank you, Luna!" said Evan who was feeling much better.
"You're welcome to come with me to Ravenclaw's common room." said Luna, "We can read The Quibbler which is a magazine my father writes, it might give you some inspiration."
"No thank you, I'm a little hungry, I want to go downstairs and eat some pudding!" said Evan while shaking his head, although he was interested in Ravenclaw's common room he didn't want to read The Quibbler.