~ Sun Shines, Lake Chimes ~ Closed

It was early enough in the morning for all the Gryffindor boys and girls to be tucked in their beds, snoring softly and brewing lovely dreams. Not one single Gryffindor, besides a special someone, was in sight around the Lake. No Gryffindor, and very less students of other houses, even them far away from the Lake at this cool morning.

It was peaceful, the silence interrupted by the occasional sounds the Lake and birds made, or the dull laughter of students sitting with their friends far away. All the while, the soft August breeze blew, cooling the place down while the sun shined dully overhead.

At this bright, beautiful morning, sat a young girl near the Lake, propped against a very old oak tree that provided her with beautiful smells of greenery and soothing noises of nesting birds. Her dark hair were perfectly parted in the middle, going around to make a beautiful hairstyle - a work of magic, it was obvious by the perfection. She pursed her small lips together as she stared down at a copy of A History Of Magic, her first-year textbook, with her bright black eyes.

Dot sat perfectly still, staring at the book in her lap. The cover was dull, just like the content inside. Since she first bought her Hogwarts' textbooks, she'd been reading them all. Her favorite textbook was Magical Drafts & Potions by Arsenius Jiggers, though she didn't mind reading The Book of Spells by Miranda Goshawk in her free time, either. Even Hogwarts, A History seemed bearable. A History Of Magic, however. It was one book she always looked with disdain. Disdain, and pure boredom.

Dot had tried reading the first few pages of it. She had completed Introduction (a biography of the author and text related to writing and completing the book, along with some footnotes) and Chapter One (which answered the question 'why study history?'). After these two, Dot never opened the book again.

But she had to, now. There wasn't much time left in September first, when her lessons will begin. Who knows she might have to cope with History at the first day, first thing in the morning? She must have some background knowledge - by which she meant reading half the book at least twice - before walking in the class.

Besides, she had already read most of her other textbooks. She'd be doing okay - okay? She'd be earning pocketfuls of house points - on her first day of lessons. About History class, she wasn't all that sure. She was scared that she might even loose some house points, even.

Alright, alright - she has already read the first two chapters. She could be okay at the class (no promises here, remember). But what about other sessions, what about then? According to the second years, once the lessons start, you're very busy. You'd be getting loads and loads of homework, and by the time you get them all done, piles of fresh homework will be waiting on your desk. And with winters coming up, days will be shorter. Which meant, there won't be time to prestudy before classes.

Whatever she can do, she should do now.

Sighing, Dot wrapped her slender fingers around the cover of the book. She flipped it open, searched for the page number of the second chapter, flipped through the pages and took a deep breath. She eyed the heading. Magic's Beginnings. Not too inviting. Even so, she brought her attention to the text and began reading.

A HISTORY OF MAGIC
Chapter 3 of 24
Magic's Beginnings

Wizards can be traced back to the very beginnings of mankind, even during the time of the Neanderthals. Displays in the Australian museum of magic show rock paintings of people in loincloths brandishing one regular arm and one long, oddly-shaped arm. Australian wizards have studied their Aboriginal ancestors and their acquisition of what looks suspiciously like a wizard’s wand. Professor Milano Sundarian of the Australian Academy for Magic has always believed that magic was first born in the Australian outbacks, but was it really?

In the 17th century, up north in the mountains of the Himalayas, a team of European wizards set up a campsite, initially to observe the habitat of the Yeti, and discovered remains of an ancient tunnel that led deep into the mountain, where it is believed that Himalayan wizards had set up a community before abandoning it for unknown causes. The tunnels date back to the time of the Ice Age. What kind of wizards lived in these tunnels? Were they as advanced as their Australian counterparts?

...continued