When we were on our way from the Library to the Common Room, we bumped into Max and Dominic. They''d just finished detention in the Castle Kitchens. Dominic pushed past us aggressively, and went off in a hurry. Max was looking awkward.


    "How did it go?"I asked.


    "How you would expect,"Max answered,"I''m glad it''s over."


    "So, I''m guessing you didn''t get along?"I asked, laughing.


    "You can say that again,"Max responded, with an awkward grin,"I even took advantage of the rare opportunity to apologise for everything terrible thing I''ve ever done to him, but that just made him more angry!"


    "That sounds like an expected reaction from him,"I replied,"but at least you survived."


    I looked around, and noticed Antonius had gone. He must have continued on to the Common Room.


    "I''d better go,"I said.


    "Before you go,"Max said,"you know that House-Elf friend of yours?"


    "Hoppy?"I asked.


    "So that''s his name, I keep forgetting it, yeah, him,"Max answered,"well, he seemed very upset about something, you might want to go and see him."


    "Do you know why he was upset?"I asked.


    "I don''t,"Max responded,"he wouldn''t tell me."


    I stood, thinking. It was getting late, but I still had time.


    "Anyway, see you when I see you,"Max added, as he went off up the Grand Staircase.


    When I found Hoppy, he was still upset, and holding a dead, potted plant.


    "What''s the matter?"I asked.


    "My Lady Cathy,"he answered, holding out the plant to me,"it is a sign, a bad sign."


    "Your plant died?"I asked, taking the plant from him.


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    "It is a sign that there is Dark Magic about,"Hoppy answered,"very old, very powerful Dark Magic."


    "Oh?"I asked, feeling suddenly nervous.


    "Hoppy keeps these plants for protection,"Hoppy said,"in the Castle Kitchen Gardens where Hoppy keeps the Sivrils safe, Hoppy has these plants there, but today they all died. These are strong plants, powerful plants. They shouldn''t die like that."


    "Do you think... maybe a bad Sivril... did a bad Sivril do that?"I asked, hoping it wasn''t because of the Green Sivril I had found.


    "Hoppy doesn''t know,"Hoppy responded, looking gloomy.


    "Have you told the other Sivrils Seekers?"I asked.


    "Hoppy told the Lady Anita,"Hoppy replied,"and she asked the Sivril, and the Sivril said it was because of Dark Magic. Very old, very powerful Dark Magic."


    "I''m sure it''ll be alright,"I said to reassure Hoppy.


    I didn''t feel reassured myself. Surely it can''t be the Green Sivril? Maybe it''s something Silas is doing. Yes, it has to be something Silas is up to!


    Beginning of December:


    I still haven''t told anyone about the Sivril. We''ll be going home for the Christmas Holidays this month, and I''ve decided it''s too risky to bring it home with me. So I''m going to use it again now. I''ll write here what happened.


    Later:


    The Sivril was the same as I remembered it, but this time I was less in awe, because I had experienced it before. Now, I was just more curious and less frightened.


    I walked along the hall, sometimes looking down at the stars, or ahead of me to catch a glimpse of where it lead, but it just went on and on. I stopped walking and looked behind. The same back there. It didn''t matter which direction I chose.


    I examined the edges where it fell off into space, wondering what would happen if I stepped off the edge of the path. The eerie, soft wind swished around me, but this time it whispered no words.


    I looked over the edge again. Stars and stars and a twilight void. Then, up above me there was a grey void, the pillars stretching up so far that I couldn''t see the tops of them, or what they might be holding up.


    "How can I stop Silas Warren''s plan?"I asked.


    "There will come a time soon, when he will be at his weakest,"the wind whispered,"and you will be able to put an end to all of his activities without any negative consequences for yourself."


    "How can you know that?"I asked.


    "From observation,"the eerie voice went on,"he has a fatal flaw in his plan that will become his own undoing. It is only a matter of time. Your opportunity will present itself. You will know when you see it. Do not miss it, or he may be the undoing of you."


    "And what about Dominic?"I asked.


    "In this matter, both of their destinies are intertwined,"the Sivril responded,"the same opportunity to take down one, will take down the other."


    "How?"I asked.


    "You will see,"the Sivril responded,"you will know when it happens."


    "So, it''s just going to happen anyway?"I asked.


    "You are the one to decide what happens,"the Sivril answered,"you will choose whether or not to take the power when it presents itself to you, or whether you wish not to participate, and allow things to continue as they are."


    The Sivril wouldn''t elaborate any more, and just gave vague responses. However, I do feel less worried now. Maybe there''s something I can do. Maybe soon.