A/N : Ok, so it's a little weird, but I had this idea from a dream, and I
thought it might be kinda interesting to sort of.write my own little short
5th book since the real one is taking FOREVER! I think you all know the
characters (what are you doing in the Harry Potter section if you don't?!)
and, no they don't belong to me. Besides the plot and new, minor
characters, I had nothing to do with the creation of the Harry Potter
character list or any of the settings. Yeah, yeah, J. K. Rowling owns
everything. With that out of the way, on to the rats! (I can tell you're
laughing.just shut-up and read.)
Prologue: The Coming of the Rats (and other evil things)
A sound rebounded down the long, dark hallway. A sound of something hard striking the marble floors. Somewhere in the darkness, a gasp could be heard.
His heartbeat quickened. What the heck was down there?! He had to get out of there, fast. He started to creep, ever so silently, back toward the painting.
Another sound. A grumble. His head snapped up as he recognized the sound of a voice somewhere in the darkness. His ears strained to make out the words. But he couldn't hear anything. All was silent. He started to make his way back toward the painting. Whoever it was down there.he couldn't be found. He couldn't.
Just as he was about to reach the opening behind the tapestry that would allow him to walk in secrecy, a scream ripped through the thick silence of the castle. He abandoned all attempts of escape, thinking only that whoever had screamed must be in trouble.
He raced down the hallway, frantically glancing this way and that, frantically trying to locate the person in distress. Where had the scream come from? Did the voices have anything to do with it? He continued to run, not even daring to turn and go back now.
A sharp, burning pain lanced through his forehead. It was so strong that he almost stopped in sudden surprise. His head never hurt like that. Unless.
His heartbeat quickened even more, and he positively raced down the hallway, nothing but a blur of white nightshirt and black hair to anyone just happening to be in a deserted classroom. He had to help her. For he was sure that it was a she.
Despite his speed, he was careful to keep his footsteps quiet. He still didn't want to get caught. Even if he was trying to rescue someone from.well he wasn't sure what.
When he reached the end of the hallway, he stopped abruptly. There wasn't a single trace of anyone. Where then had the scream come from? He was sure that it had been in the very same hallway he was now standing in.
He jumped suddenly as a classroom door to his right slammed shut with a loud bang. Quickly recovering from the shock, he silently creeped over to the door. He cracked it open just a tiny bit, and looked through. He could see two dark, shadowy forms, hovering over a third, larger form. All he could see was a bit of shining brown hair spilling over a fair-skinned arm, wrapped in a pink nightshirt sleeve.
Suddenly one of the smaller shadows hissed at the other. "That was great, Blunko, just let the entire castle know we're here!"
"Relax, Jubee," the other shadow hissed back. "They've become so snug in their security that they hardly suspect anything to break their peaceful little pacifier world! We haven't been here in ages, they won't even think we've been here."
"Harhar, yer right ye ole blockhead. It's good to be back in business!" Both shadows chuckled at this comment.
He strained his ears to hear more, but the two forms had stopped speaking and were busying themselves working magic over the unconscious female. He had to do something.he couldn't just stand there watching them hurt her.
But, if he left, where would they go? Surely they would leave as quickly and silently as they had come.maybe even taking the girl with them. He couldn't reach Dumbledore or even McGonnagall in time.
As he stood there debating his choices, a bright white smiling face erupted into his vision. It took all of his self-control to stifle the shout of surprise that had welled up into his throat. It was only Peeves. Only Peeves.
Peeves the Poltergeist loved pestering and scaring students, his favorite pastime being reeking havoc on the castle. He had the urge to be very, very annoyed with the ghost. As he was about to attempt to waft the ghost away, a plan formed in his mind.
He slowly and silently closed the crack he had created between the door and its jam, and motioned to Peeves to follow him. Peeves, for once, obeyed, sensing the seriousness in the situation.
"Peeves, there are two bad things in that room. They have a girl, and I think they are going to take her somewhere to their bad place. Go get Dumbledore and any teacher you can find. Tell them to come here right away. I'll wait here and make sure they don't go anywhere," he whispered softly and urgently.
"Peeves don't like bad stinky things, for once I hear and obey. Peeves go get Dumblydore!" With that, Peeves was off, racing down the hallway and through walls. He smiled. He knew that Peeves would get there much faster than Harry would have, and he didn't even need to know the password to get into Dumbledore's office, where the Headmaster would undoubtedly be.
He turned back to the classroom, ready to face the worst. He cracked the door ever so silently again. The two shadows were still huddled around the girl. But they were finishing their work fast.he had to stall for time. He couldn't let them get anywhere without Dumbledore being there first.
Leaving the door cracked, he silently walked to the other side of the hallway. Mustering all his courage in one deep breath, he kicked swiftly into the wall, and then ducked behind a huge statue.
"Hurr, Blunko, didjya hear that, matey?"
"Aiy, Jubee, I think thar's somethin' out thar."
He heard the door creak open all the way, and small footsteps on the marble floor told him that the shadows had come outside the classroom. He resisted the urge to look around the statue to see who the villains were. He didn't want them to find him. Not just yet. Facing them was his last resort.
The shadows glanced nervously and suspiciously around the hallway. They saw no one and nothing. Then one shadow said to the other, "Well, Jubee, me matey, it don't look like thar's anythin' out here, we might as well go back inside and finish the job."
"Aiy, Blunko, might as well."
The two shadows closed the classroom door, more quietly this time. He sighed with relief, stepping out from behind the statue. He immediately froze.
Staring straight into his emerald green eyes were the two shadows. He saw them closely in the moonlight streaming into the hallway from a high window. And what he saw amazed him so much; he completely forgot his fear and his mouth gaped open.
Standing before him were two animals. Yes, they were animals. In fact, they were rats. Two very large rats. They stood on two paws and wore clothing the likes of which he had never seen. They looked like pirates or something.
One rat drew a cutlass from his belt. He licked the blade menacingly, glaring at the boy before him. "Well, Jubee, looks like we got ourselves a little hero, eh matey?"
"Aiy, it certainly do, Blunko. A real hero. Say, boy, whatdidjya think you were gonna do? Stop us?"
Both rats threw their heads back and let out booming menacing laughs. If this had been a floor with a dormitory on it, they would have been heard and discovered in no time. And he would be rescued. But there was no dormitory on this floor. And the boy was left to fend for himself.
The two rats were still laughing their guts out. This was his chance. Thinking fast, the boy ran to the first rat. He kicked out swiftly with his leg, causing the big rat, still only knee-high to the boy, to fall backwards, completely incapable of a counter-attack due to his lack of air. The boy snatched the blade out of the rat's paw and whirled around to face the second rat, brandishing the knife defensively.
The second rat's face registered utter shock. Then, an evil grin snaked across his face. "Go ahead, matey, run me through," the rat prodded.
The boy stood facing the rat, unsure as to what he should do. He didn't really want to kill the rat. He had only hoped that the rat would be afraid enough to believe that he would. This plan obviously wasn't working.
"That's what me thought, ya little softie. Bin spendin' too much time at Hargwarts, don't got the guts to ram through a beast with a decent blade. You won't be foolin' me no more!" With that, the rat leaped forward onto the boy's shoulders, trying to wrestle him to the ground.
The menacing rat wouldn't have succeeded if the boy hadn't received a sharp tug on the ankle that sent him crashing to the ground, the knife flying through the air and clattering on the floor somewhere near the wall. The fallen rat had recovered. And now both of them were swarming him, pinning him to the ground.
"Well, matey, looks like it's gonna be a double job tonight!"
"Harhar, right you are matey, right you are!"
The boy thought furiously, going over everything in his mind, racing to think of a plan.how could he get himself out of this bind and yet stall the rats until Dumbledore arrived? Then, it came to him.
Tensing all the muscles in his arm, preparing for the move, he cried "WHAT IS THAT OUT THERE?! IS THAT A GIANT OWL TRYING TO BREAK THROUGH THE WINDOW?!"
The rats, despite their enlargened size, swiveled their heads in pure terror. They knew that an owl could probably take them out with ease, even if they were huge.
Taking advantage of the opening, the boy shot his hand into his nightshirt and pulled out his long, thin wand. This wand had never failed him. He hoped with all his might that it wouldn't break its winning streak now.
He threw the rats off his body and shot up onto his feet. He directed his wand at the rats. He grinned mischievously.
"I may not want to kill you with your knife, but this thing can do so much more than kill! I know how to use this and I am definitely not afraid to," the boy warned the oversized rats. They backed off promptly, believing the young wizard.
Suddenly one rat grew bold and lunged at the boy, attempting to knock the wand out of his hand. The boy dodged, aimed at the rat, and yelled "Freezoia Bindus!"
The rat let out a small yelp as he was completely encased in ice, disabling his movement. The other rat's eyes grew wide as he stared at his frozen solid companion.
Just then the three dueling forms heard footsteps and shouts along the corridor. The free rat gasped, grabbed his frozen partner, and raced back into the classroom before the boy could do anything to stop them.
Dumbledore suddenly appeared at the end of the hallway, breathing hard from running the entire way. Professor McGonnagall and Professor Snape were close behind. Dumbledore inspected the area. He didn't see any "bad things" about which Peeves had ranted. If this was another prank.
But then the Headmaster caught sight of the boy. This boy would not pull a prank like this. Suddenly the boy stirred from a sort of trance. "Professor, they went in there!" He pointed urgently to the deserted classroom.
The teachers immediately rushed into the classroom to inspect it. There were no rats anywhere. The girl they had captured lay on the floor, unconscious. She looked peaceful and unharmed. Nonetheless, Professor McGonnagall levitated the girl and began to float her to the infirmary.
Professor Dumbledore looked at the boy again. "Well, Harry, despite the fact that the culprits escaped, it looks to me like you did a rather good job of saving that girl. She's a Gryffindor, like you. She was just transferred from another magical school. I'm fairly sure that if you hadn't interrupted this little.well.whatever it was, she would have been taken from this castle. Good job, Mr. Potter!"
Harry smiled and thanked Dumbledore. "Now, Harry, you should really be getting some sleep. With the first day of school tomorrow I want all my pupils well rested! We'll talk about this tomorrow." With that, the Headmaster turned and strode out of the room, intent on returning to his nice warm bed and his odd dreams.
Just as Professor Snape was about to follow Dumbledore, he whirled around and glared at Harry. "You may be some sort of hero again Harry Potter, but I know that you didn't just happen to hear villains and struggles from your dormitory bed. Every other person in this school might be willing to overlook your misbehavior simply because you are the boy wonder, but you won't have the free-run of the castle while I have anything to do with it. I'm going to find out why you were here, Potter, you can be sure of that. I'm watching you like a hawk." Snape then turned on his heel and marched purposefully out the door.
Harry sighed. He was tired of Professor Snape targeting him out of jealously that went all the way back to the days of his father. Ever since Harry had started coming to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the greasy-haired, sallow-skinned almost evil Snape had been doing his best to make life miserable for Harry. And this was now his fifth year. Snape was the one plus to having only two years left at Hogwarts after this one.
Harry shook his thoughts out of his mind and started back up to his dormitory. There was no need to take secret passages now. He just went straight up the main staircase. Little did he know, a pair of sinister yellow eyes was watching him as he left the deserted, dangerous classroom.
Prologue: The Coming of the Rats (and other evil things)
A sound rebounded down the long, dark hallway. A sound of something hard striking the marble floors. Somewhere in the darkness, a gasp could be heard.
His heartbeat quickened. What the heck was down there?! He had to get out of there, fast. He started to creep, ever so silently, back toward the painting.
Another sound. A grumble. His head snapped up as he recognized the sound of a voice somewhere in the darkness. His ears strained to make out the words. But he couldn't hear anything. All was silent. He started to make his way back toward the painting. Whoever it was down there.he couldn't be found. He couldn't.
Just as he was about to reach the opening behind the tapestry that would allow him to walk in secrecy, a scream ripped through the thick silence of the castle. He abandoned all attempts of escape, thinking only that whoever had screamed must be in trouble.
He raced down the hallway, frantically glancing this way and that, frantically trying to locate the person in distress. Where had the scream come from? Did the voices have anything to do with it? He continued to run, not even daring to turn and go back now.
A sharp, burning pain lanced through his forehead. It was so strong that he almost stopped in sudden surprise. His head never hurt like that. Unless.
His heartbeat quickened even more, and he positively raced down the hallway, nothing but a blur of white nightshirt and black hair to anyone just happening to be in a deserted classroom. He had to help her. For he was sure that it was a she.
Despite his speed, he was careful to keep his footsteps quiet. He still didn't want to get caught. Even if he was trying to rescue someone from.well he wasn't sure what.
When he reached the end of the hallway, he stopped abruptly. There wasn't a single trace of anyone. Where then had the scream come from? He was sure that it had been in the very same hallway he was now standing in.
He jumped suddenly as a classroom door to his right slammed shut with a loud bang. Quickly recovering from the shock, he silently creeped over to the door. He cracked it open just a tiny bit, and looked through. He could see two dark, shadowy forms, hovering over a third, larger form. All he could see was a bit of shining brown hair spilling over a fair-skinned arm, wrapped in a pink nightshirt sleeve.
Suddenly one of the smaller shadows hissed at the other. "That was great, Blunko, just let the entire castle know we're here!"
"Relax, Jubee," the other shadow hissed back. "They've become so snug in their security that they hardly suspect anything to break their peaceful little pacifier world! We haven't been here in ages, they won't even think we've been here."
"Harhar, yer right ye ole blockhead. It's good to be back in business!" Both shadows chuckled at this comment.
He strained his ears to hear more, but the two forms had stopped speaking and were busying themselves working magic over the unconscious female. He had to do something.he couldn't just stand there watching them hurt her.
But, if he left, where would they go? Surely they would leave as quickly and silently as they had come.maybe even taking the girl with them. He couldn't reach Dumbledore or even McGonnagall in time.
As he stood there debating his choices, a bright white smiling face erupted into his vision. It took all of his self-control to stifle the shout of surprise that had welled up into his throat. It was only Peeves. Only Peeves.
Peeves the Poltergeist loved pestering and scaring students, his favorite pastime being reeking havoc on the castle. He had the urge to be very, very annoyed with the ghost. As he was about to attempt to waft the ghost away, a plan formed in his mind.
He slowly and silently closed the crack he had created between the door and its jam, and motioned to Peeves to follow him. Peeves, for once, obeyed, sensing the seriousness in the situation.
"Peeves, there are two bad things in that room. They have a girl, and I think they are going to take her somewhere to their bad place. Go get Dumbledore and any teacher you can find. Tell them to come here right away. I'll wait here and make sure they don't go anywhere," he whispered softly and urgently.
"Peeves don't like bad stinky things, for once I hear and obey. Peeves go get Dumblydore!" With that, Peeves was off, racing down the hallway and through walls. He smiled. He knew that Peeves would get there much faster than Harry would have, and he didn't even need to know the password to get into Dumbledore's office, where the Headmaster would undoubtedly be.
He turned back to the classroom, ready to face the worst. He cracked the door ever so silently again. The two shadows were still huddled around the girl. But they were finishing their work fast.he had to stall for time. He couldn't let them get anywhere without Dumbledore being there first.
Leaving the door cracked, he silently walked to the other side of the hallway. Mustering all his courage in one deep breath, he kicked swiftly into the wall, and then ducked behind a huge statue.
"Hurr, Blunko, didjya hear that, matey?"
"Aiy, Jubee, I think thar's somethin' out thar."
He heard the door creak open all the way, and small footsteps on the marble floor told him that the shadows had come outside the classroom. He resisted the urge to look around the statue to see who the villains were. He didn't want them to find him. Not just yet. Facing them was his last resort.
The shadows glanced nervously and suspiciously around the hallway. They saw no one and nothing. Then one shadow said to the other, "Well, Jubee, me matey, it don't look like thar's anythin' out here, we might as well go back inside and finish the job."
"Aiy, Blunko, might as well."
The two shadows closed the classroom door, more quietly this time. He sighed with relief, stepping out from behind the statue. He immediately froze.
Staring straight into his emerald green eyes were the two shadows. He saw them closely in the moonlight streaming into the hallway from a high window. And what he saw amazed him so much; he completely forgot his fear and his mouth gaped open.
Standing before him were two animals. Yes, they were animals. In fact, they were rats. Two very large rats. They stood on two paws and wore clothing the likes of which he had never seen. They looked like pirates or something.
One rat drew a cutlass from his belt. He licked the blade menacingly, glaring at the boy before him. "Well, Jubee, looks like we got ourselves a little hero, eh matey?"
"Aiy, it certainly do, Blunko. A real hero. Say, boy, whatdidjya think you were gonna do? Stop us?"
Both rats threw their heads back and let out booming menacing laughs. If this had been a floor with a dormitory on it, they would have been heard and discovered in no time. And he would be rescued. But there was no dormitory on this floor. And the boy was left to fend for himself.
The two rats were still laughing their guts out. This was his chance. Thinking fast, the boy ran to the first rat. He kicked out swiftly with his leg, causing the big rat, still only knee-high to the boy, to fall backwards, completely incapable of a counter-attack due to his lack of air. The boy snatched the blade out of the rat's paw and whirled around to face the second rat, brandishing the knife defensively.
The second rat's face registered utter shock. Then, an evil grin snaked across his face. "Go ahead, matey, run me through," the rat prodded.
The boy stood facing the rat, unsure as to what he should do. He didn't really want to kill the rat. He had only hoped that the rat would be afraid enough to believe that he would. This plan obviously wasn't working.
"That's what me thought, ya little softie. Bin spendin' too much time at Hargwarts, don't got the guts to ram through a beast with a decent blade. You won't be foolin' me no more!" With that, the rat leaped forward onto the boy's shoulders, trying to wrestle him to the ground.
The menacing rat wouldn't have succeeded if the boy hadn't received a sharp tug on the ankle that sent him crashing to the ground, the knife flying through the air and clattering on the floor somewhere near the wall. The fallen rat had recovered. And now both of them were swarming him, pinning him to the ground.
"Well, matey, looks like it's gonna be a double job tonight!"
"Harhar, right you are matey, right you are!"
The boy thought furiously, going over everything in his mind, racing to think of a plan.how could he get himself out of this bind and yet stall the rats until Dumbledore arrived? Then, it came to him.
Tensing all the muscles in his arm, preparing for the move, he cried "WHAT IS THAT OUT THERE?! IS THAT A GIANT OWL TRYING TO BREAK THROUGH THE WINDOW?!"
The rats, despite their enlargened size, swiveled their heads in pure terror. They knew that an owl could probably take them out with ease, even if they were huge.
Taking advantage of the opening, the boy shot his hand into his nightshirt and pulled out his long, thin wand. This wand had never failed him. He hoped with all his might that it wouldn't break its winning streak now.
He threw the rats off his body and shot up onto his feet. He directed his wand at the rats. He grinned mischievously.
"I may not want to kill you with your knife, but this thing can do so much more than kill! I know how to use this and I am definitely not afraid to," the boy warned the oversized rats. They backed off promptly, believing the young wizard.
Suddenly one rat grew bold and lunged at the boy, attempting to knock the wand out of his hand. The boy dodged, aimed at the rat, and yelled "Freezoia Bindus!"
The rat let out a small yelp as he was completely encased in ice, disabling his movement. The other rat's eyes grew wide as he stared at his frozen solid companion.
Just then the three dueling forms heard footsteps and shouts along the corridor. The free rat gasped, grabbed his frozen partner, and raced back into the classroom before the boy could do anything to stop them.
Dumbledore suddenly appeared at the end of the hallway, breathing hard from running the entire way. Professor McGonnagall and Professor Snape were close behind. Dumbledore inspected the area. He didn't see any "bad things" about which Peeves had ranted. If this was another prank.
But then the Headmaster caught sight of the boy. This boy would not pull a prank like this. Suddenly the boy stirred from a sort of trance. "Professor, they went in there!" He pointed urgently to the deserted classroom.
The teachers immediately rushed into the classroom to inspect it. There were no rats anywhere. The girl they had captured lay on the floor, unconscious. She looked peaceful and unharmed. Nonetheless, Professor McGonnagall levitated the girl and began to float her to the infirmary.
Professor Dumbledore looked at the boy again. "Well, Harry, despite the fact that the culprits escaped, it looks to me like you did a rather good job of saving that girl. She's a Gryffindor, like you. She was just transferred from another magical school. I'm fairly sure that if you hadn't interrupted this little.well.whatever it was, she would have been taken from this castle. Good job, Mr. Potter!"
Harry smiled and thanked Dumbledore. "Now, Harry, you should really be getting some sleep. With the first day of school tomorrow I want all my pupils well rested! We'll talk about this tomorrow." With that, the Headmaster turned and strode out of the room, intent on returning to his nice warm bed and his odd dreams.
Just as Professor Snape was about to follow Dumbledore, he whirled around and glared at Harry. "You may be some sort of hero again Harry Potter, but I know that you didn't just happen to hear villains and struggles from your dormitory bed. Every other person in this school might be willing to overlook your misbehavior simply because you are the boy wonder, but you won't have the free-run of the castle while I have anything to do with it. I'm going to find out why you were here, Potter, you can be sure of that. I'm watching you like a hawk." Snape then turned on his heel and marched purposefully out the door.
Harry sighed. He was tired of Professor Snape targeting him out of jealously that went all the way back to the days of his father. Ever since Harry had started coming to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the greasy-haired, sallow-skinned almost evil Snape had been doing his best to make life miserable for Harry. And this was now his fifth year. Snape was the one plus to having only two years left at Hogwarts after this one.
Harry shook his thoughts out of his mind and started back up to his dormitory. There was no need to take secret passages now. He just went straight up the main staircase. Little did he know, a pair of sinister yellow eyes was watching him as he left the deserted, dangerous classroom.