Chapter One
A Stranger
Running my fingers through my hair I looked at the blank piece of parchment with aggravation. How could a simple summary of Star Beams be so hard? Professor Trelawney had explained them in class millions of times. Searching through my Divination book I saw a black cloaked figure running towards Hagrid's hut.
Obviously it was Harry or another of his friends, who was that girl who went with Krum? Harriet Graham or something . oh ya, Hermione Granger who could forget a person like that. There was also one more . the red head who had bashed into the Whomping Willow Tree a couple of years ago . Ron Weasley. A shiver ran down my spine, it was like a snake curling its cold body on my back. I could never forgive Fred (or was it George, I can never tell) who had slipped an exploding ice block in my drink on my second year at Hogwarts.
Nevertheless, my curiosity had the better of me and I walked up to the tall windows to see what he was doing. The person had already knocked on Hagrid's door, I just caught my eye on a moving curtain but the person had started taking out his wand. I gasped as he sent out a golden beam through the lock and the door swung open, I had to tell anyone, this man was obviously not allowed on the school grounds.
But then I realized, it was Christmas Holidays and I was the only one left in the Ravenclaw common room - except perhaps - I didn't stop to think, racing down the stairs I saw her. As usual she was sitting by herself in the corner scribbling in that grubby diary of hers. When she caught me staring at her she quickly shoved it into her bag and turned towards me.
She was worse than usual, her pink blotchy nose was evidence that she had been crying. She was a second year, but being the only girl in the room I had no choice. Rushing forwards I put my hands on her shoulders and looked her directly in the eye to make sure she took me seriously.
"Please help," I began knowing it sounded desperate. "I saw a man going to Hagrid's Hut and he cast a spell on the door, please come with me!"
"B-but," the girl stammered pushing her glasses further up her pink nose and giving out a loud sniff.
"Please," I said softly. "I'll owe you one." I had already made my way half way to the door and my neck was becoming cramped of looking over my shoulder.
She sighed and picked up her wand that was lying freely on the table. Reluctantly, she followed me, occasionally stumbling on her cloak we made our way across the fields until we were a few feet from the hut. I heard the door unlatch and with a swift movement I had pulled both of us behind a bush.
"You do what I say you Giant!" snarled the hooded man. "You do it or else!" He struck the bush beside us and the leaves flew in the air. I heard the girl beside me gulp and gave her a harsh nudge. Striding away the hooded man disappeared inches from the Forbidden Forest.
Checking that he wasn't going to come back I ran to Hagrid's Hut, pushing a million questions out of my head. Hagrid looked surprised to see me and with a suspicious look led us both in.
"If its abou' ya homework Cho then I'm a bi' busy now," Hagrid said gruffly poking the coal with a fire-poker.
"What was that about?" demanded the second-year girl curtly.
"Don't know what ya're talkin' about Michelle," Hagrid lied waving the fire- poker in front of them. Sparks flew from the poker to my cloak smoldering the ends of my dress, I bit back a sting that had started to burn and gave an ironic look at Hagrid.
"You're great with the ground Hagrid," I said scornfully. "But when it comes to telling a lie you're terrible." Seeing that we would go no where I led a stubborn Michelle back to the Common room. Biting my bottom lip to stop myself from screaming I lay on my bed and closed my eyes.
Running my fingers through my hair I looked at the blank piece of parchment with aggravation. How could a simple summary of Star Beams be so hard? Professor Trelawney had explained them in class millions of times. Searching through my Divination book I saw a black cloaked figure running towards Hagrid's hut.
Obviously it was Harry or another of his friends, who was that girl who went with Krum? Harriet Graham or something . oh ya, Hermione Granger who could forget a person like that. There was also one more . the red head who had bashed into the Whomping Willow Tree a couple of years ago . Ron Weasley. A shiver ran down my spine, it was like a snake curling its cold body on my back. I could never forgive Fred (or was it George, I can never tell) who had slipped an exploding ice block in my drink on my second year at Hogwarts.
Nevertheless, my curiosity had the better of me and I walked up to the tall windows to see what he was doing. The person had already knocked on Hagrid's door, I just caught my eye on a moving curtain but the person had started taking out his wand. I gasped as he sent out a golden beam through the lock and the door swung open, I had to tell anyone, this man was obviously not allowed on the school grounds.
But then I realized, it was Christmas Holidays and I was the only one left in the Ravenclaw common room - except perhaps - I didn't stop to think, racing down the stairs I saw her. As usual she was sitting by herself in the corner scribbling in that grubby diary of hers. When she caught me staring at her she quickly shoved it into her bag and turned towards me.
She was worse than usual, her pink blotchy nose was evidence that she had been crying. She was a second year, but being the only girl in the room I had no choice. Rushing forwards I put my hands on her shoulders and looked her directly in the eye to make sure she took me seriously.
"Please help," I began knowing it sounded desperate. "I saw a man going to Hagrid's Hut and he cast a spell on the door, please come with me!"
"B-but," the girl stammered pushing her glasses further up her pink nose and giving out a loud sniff.
"Please," I said softly. "I'll owe you one." I had already made my way half way to the door and my neck was becoming cramped of looking over my shoulder.
She sighed and picked up her wand that was lying freely on the table. Reluctantly, she followed me, occasionally stumbling on her cloak we made our way across the fields until we were a few feet from the hut. I heard the door unlatch and with a swift movement I had pulled both of us behind a bush.
"You do what I say you Giant!" snarled the hooded man. "You do it or else!" He struck the bush beside us and the leaves flew in the air. I heard the girl beside me gulp and gave her a harsh nudge. Striding away the hooded man disappeared inches from the Forbidden Forest.
Checking that he wasn't going to come back I ran to Hagrid's Hut, pushing a million questions out of my head. Hagrid looked surprised to see me and with a suspicious look led us both in.
"If its abou' ya homework Cho then I'm a bi' busy now," Hagrid said gruffly poking the coal with a fire-poker.
"What was that about?" demanded the second-year girl curtly.
"Don't know what ya're talkin' about Michelle," Hagrid lied waving the fire- poker in front of them. Sparks flew from the poker to my cloak smoldering the ends of my dress, I bit back a sting that had started to burn and gave an ironic look at Hagrid.
"You're great with the ground Hagrid," I said scornfully. "But when it comes to telling a lie you're terrible." Seeing that we would go no where I led a stubborn Michelle back to the Common room. Biting my bottom lip to stop myself from screaming I lay on my bed and closed my eyes.