{DEFENCE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS:} -Chapter One- “Shadowin.”
A Shadowin.
These creatures of darkness were once the biggest threat to muggles, witches and wizards alike. Thankfully, they are no longer a threat. They are forever trapped in enchanted glacier caves, thanks to Merlin himself.
But these nasty creatures are a warning, to anyone who decides to do a moronic act and enter one of their caves with the warmth of light. Just the slightest indication that the flicker of such a flame is nearby, you are most definitely doomed. If you are unfortunate to stumble across them in your lifetime, having the knowledge to stay safe around them is vital.
What is a Shadowin?
A Shadowin is a creature of the shadows. They live on hard, solid surfaces. Take walls for example, they can only move on them. For example, if a Shadowin was on the kitchen wall, it would need to move along the walls until it reached another room to enter that room. Now they are trapped inside Enchanted Glacier Caves, they can only move along the icy cave floor and walls.
Around here I wanted to go deeper into the staircase that happens to be inside the mountain. Where about it is and all that. But apparently I'm stepping on Cory’s, I mean. Professor Matthews lesson he has wrote about the “Basic History of Staffs and Merlin.” So all you need to know is that, the glacier caves are at the very bottom of the mountain in question, and that the mountains come in twos. The one you’re looking for is the one towards the right to stumble across a Shadowin.Â
Why is A Shadowin Dangerous?
I could sugar coat this, but as your defence against the dark arts teacher my job is to prepare you to protect yourselves, not shield you. A Shadowin lives on hard surfaces. House walls, street walls, cave walls, floors, hills. With any surface they are able to move from one to another with great ease to get to their destination. A Shadowin is not able to leave them. They are not able to be anything other than a shadow.
Until they see a source of light.
Under no circumstances can you use “Lumos” Or have a Shadowin be around any type of fire.Â
A Shadowin’s dark matter is drawn to both fire and the lumos charm alike. Once simple shadows, are now freed from the hard surface they are trapped in. And they will lunge after the twinkling light they see before them. It’s their saviour. Their hero that has freed them from their imprisonment inside the walls.
But Light and Darkness cannot live together. Once they hold the flame in their hands, it will be blown out in an instant. Once they snatch your wand from you and gaze at the illumination charm you have created, your wand, not being your wand anymore, as it’s allegiance now belongs to another. Yet not being able to obey the Shadowin Creature, as it cannot preform magic, the charm stops working.
For a few seconds the creature becomes distressed. It’s guardian has left it. A shadowin will then frantically search for the nearest source of light. And it’ll find comfort in the way your eyes sparkle. Before you can attempt to run, you’ll be on the floor, looking up at a creature no person with us today can describe.
It’ll pluck one of your eyes out. Painful? Most likely. But the thudding of your heart against your ribcage as the creature examines your eyeball, might just be enough to drown out the pain. And if that didn’t do it, the terrifying way it stares at you next will do.
You killed its saviour. It was you who put the light in your lantern out. It was you who turned off the illumination charm your wand had.
It’s you who killed its hero, so that it’ll have to soon return to the wall. The surfaces of it’s imprisonment. You did this.
And the last thing you will see is a look of betrayal from a creature that has no face to give such a look from before it drags you into the walls to join them.
As you can see, nasty bunch of creatures, with a one track mind. You can see why Merlin trapped them inside Glacier caves with an unbreakable sealing spell so they could never escape. Thankfully, you’ll never have to see one of these or even deal with them. However, if you choose to become an Auror, you’ll need to know what do when in a presence with them.
Above you’ll see a diagram of a Shadowin’s movement abilities. With an open door they are able to move across the hallway walls, go said room and move across their walls until they end up on the other side of the open door. For a quicker way, they may also wish to simply merge into the floor. A shadowin’s form can change. From big thin, small to tall. The creatures are dark ones in whichever form they take.Â
How to deal with A Shadowin.
Well firstly, the best way to deal with one is to not. Unless you are in a job that requires you to see such creatures, you shouldn’t be looking for trouble by travelling there.
Secondly, you’ll still need a source of light.
You’ll never know where you’re going in the dark, and chances are if you bump into a wall in the darkness, the Shadowins will be able to drag you into the cave wall with them just because they feel like you don’t belong walking freely.
What you’ll need is an illumination spell that is not Lumos, but instead one that’s just as icy cold to touch as the walls they are trapped in now themselves. They will not be interested in going anywhere near it. They’ll even fear it slightly. They won’t bother you.
The spell itself:
You’re going to need to first know how to pronounce the spell before you cast it.
The spell itself is called “Frigus-lux” Which simply translates to “Cold Light, in Latin.
It is nowhere near as simple as it seems though, the word itself is pronounced far more different then it looks. Let’s tackle the spell.
For starters the beginning part, “Fri” is pronounced “Free.” Which I always say is very ironic, since by preforming the spell you’re very content in keeping them trapped. Moving on, and I have always found this funny, but the second half of the first word is pronounced “Goosea” exactly like the word “Goose.” With an “A” flowing directly from it on the end. The “Lux” Is simple enough, sounds like “Looks” once again with an “A” flowing on the end of it, making it “Looksa”
“Free-Goosea-Looksa” A very funny looking spell for something that might just save your life. However, the spell itself must be said quite fast, all together as one word. There is no pause in the middle, and when saying it as it should be said, the spell itself sounds quite regal.
Oddly, the spell itself is quite odd too. It has to come in contact with warmth before it can become cold.
1.   Put your wand on your arm. Skin contact. Say “Free” Â
2.    Point the wand directly to your chest, (the heart) as you say “Goosea”
3.  Hold the wand up completely straight in your hand, like you would a torch, as you say “Looksa”
The spell changes if you wish to free one of your friends. I hope you never have to do it, but if you’re ever unfortunate enough to have one of your friends stolen by a Shadowin, then you’ll point the wand directly at the shadow form of your friend, instead of up straight like a torch. You’d have twenty-four hours to find your friend and free them. Up until this point, they’ll be able to speak and tell you where they are. (Most likely where the shadow has dragged them to.) After that, your friend, family, loved one, whoever they are… Well they will no longer be the one you knew. You’ll never see, hear or speak to them ever again.
After you have cast the spell, your wand will be lit by then. As you would already know by then, the light flowing from it is rather cold, but that’s exactly how you need it to be should you want it. I recommend wrapping up warmly if you ever wish to use this spell.
The rules of a Shadowin.
Once you have the spell all worked out, it’s time you knew the rules of a Shadowin. You must follow them, or face the consequences.
You can’t eat or drink while inside the glacier prison. Not even a drop to wet your parched lips. Some people say that Shadowin’s are all people who used to be humans, dragged deep within the walls, who are now angry as they have not eaten or drank in centuries. Not being able to leave the wall to get some. (If you have followed the illumination instructions above) They will begin to rock and shake within the walls of ice, causing it to eventually shatter. They will be then able to drag you into the surface of the floor with them.
A Shadowin is a creature without features or expressions. Many of the greatest minds have pondered, just why does it seem like they’re holding hands inside the glaicer cave before they start shaking and jumping as one? But mind you, only ten people in the wizarding world have been known to see this, and live to tell their “Sighting of the Shadow Circle.”
Number three, is very simple. They like quiet. Creatures of the dark like silence. Whispering is good enough. But anything louder than a simple whisper, and you are doomed. Not being able to speak, you are mocking them with the fact that you can. They will once again drag you into the floor.
In a twisted way, these creatures now demand respect more than anything else. You have come into their home, which is a prison, and so you must obey the rules of their home while you stay a while.
A quick recap of what we have learnt today.
One: Do not use a candle, lantern or Illumination spell unless it’s the one you’ve just read about in this lesson.
Two: Do not eat or drink while among them. They have not eaten or drank in centuries. They will do anything to try and get yours, even if that means dragging you down with them.
Three: Do not speak any louder than a whisper. They can’t speak, at least not anymore. By speaking any louder than a whisper you are mocking them, and they do not like that. Â
Four: No one has been stupid enough to mock, or say bad things directly to a Shadowin, and since they demand respect, I strongly urge you not ever do that. Who knows what they may do.
Before you go, May I suggest that you tap your wand here. You’ll find a letter from merlin himself, that’s been locked away deep in Gringotts “Locked History” records.Â
Have fun casting and learning in my class, and may you never have to see a Shadowin in your life.