Stella's Request

"Whoosh—!!!"

Wade suddenly tore himself free from the Pensieve like a drowning man breaking the surface. His violent movement made him stagger a step, and his hands instinctively braced against the edge of the sink before he quickly let go.

He gasped violently, cold sweat soaking his fringe. The face in the mirror was deathly pale, utterly bloodless.

Wade's gaze fell on the seemingly unremarkable Pensieve.

The silvery memory had vanished as though it had evaporated. The Stone Basin was completely empty, its ancient rim devoid of any extra decoration. It was not even particularly round, looking as if primitive humans had chiselled it out with stones.

Yet at the sight of the magic flowing across it, Wade instinctively stepped back half a pace. His fingertips curled slightly, and for a moment, he did not dare reach out and touch the seemingly harmless vessel.

After the brief daze and shock, Wade took a deep breath and forced himself to look away. He blinked rapidly, brushed aside his damp hair, and cast off the chaotic speculations that still buzzed in his mind.

He still remembered where he was and what he had come here for.

Wade closed his eyes. After taking several deep breaths, he raised his head to look at himself in the mirror again, his gaze once more sharp and focused.

He drew his Wand and tapped the Glass Vial that had held the memory. It turned to powder and fell into the toilet.

He reached out and pressed the flush button. When his Wand tip pointed at the Pensieve again, he could not help but pause.

He instinctively resisted touching the thing. He did not even want his Wand to come into contact with it.

Then Wade tapped the rim of the Stone Basin with his Wand. A