She was back at the Black Lake. Now that she was an elderly, Beverly seemed to be soothed by relaxing sounds or images - like waves or ripples or the sound of water. That was one of the reasons she was here. Except, there were chunks of ice in the lake and it made it look like an obstacle course rather than a relaxing place. With growing irritation, she sighed and at sat at the base of a tree.

Her second reason for being here was to practice a favorite Charm. It was sort of fitting with the climate and all. Beverly drew her wand out. She should practice this on the water, it was half frozen after all.

Getting back up, placing a hand on the trunk for leverage, Beverly longed for a cane. It would make life easier. When she stood a few inches from the water the third year pointed her wand at the shore. "Glaci--ACHOO!"

BAH! Curse everything!

Beverly wiped her nose with a handkerchief. Her head-cold seemed to be getting worse. Sniff, sniff. She pointed her wand at the water again - since the wand movement for the Freezing Charm was a simple point - and repeated the incantation.

"Glacius!" There was a spluttering sound at the end of her wand. It was as if the water was being hit by puffs of ice. It didn't last long. A small patch of water froze in thin ice. Her magic was failing with this aging stuff.

THAT WAS IT. TOTALLY IT.

She was going to write a letter. A strongly worded letter. To someone. Something had to be done about this. BAH!

Determined, Beverly tucked her wand away and walked back into the castle. People were going to hear her. She didn't want to be old anymore. If it was the water system around here causing it, her dad was going to sue. And her grandmother and her brother and her great grandfather and uncle and her aunt and her cousin and HER.