-1THE SECOND VICTIM

Minerva McGonagall sat in her office. The dim candlelight cast long dancing shadows along the panelled walls. She sat, alone, marking first year test papers. They hadn't done too badly.

The office was cold, and she pulled her cardigan tightly around her. How she hated the long cold winters at Hogwarts. A mouse ran along the bookcase and knocked a book off. The book sounded like a canon as it hit the floor, echoing around the silent walls.

Minerva jumped and knocked the candle over. It went out and she was plunged into darkness. She cursed as she felt around for her wand to re-light the dead candle. Before she could pick it up. She felt a prickling sensation on the back of her neck. Her cat senses felt something in the air. She shivered and hurriedly lit the candle.

A warm welcoming glow lit the room, and she decided to light the fire to ward away the cold. It crackled and blazed orange, red, and yellow. The feeling was warm and calm. Nothing possibly could happen that was in any way evil.

She learned back into her chair and began to gradually fall into a light sleep. Her dreams were tormented by the images of one month previously. Seeing Cho Chang's mutilated body lying on the Quidditch field, having to inform her parents. Dumbledore had told the school an animal had done it, but they all knew that no animal, of this earth, could have done that.

A soft knock brought her back from her terrifying thoughts. She shook the sleep of herself and called briskly.

"Come in." the door creaked open, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine.

"Hello." A soft voice said.

"Oh, hello, come in." the person walked in. "Sit down. What can I do for you?"

"Oh nothing. I couldn't sleep, I needed to talk to someone."

"Oh…about what?"

"Anything." The person's head snapped up and it grinned horribly at her.

"Wait…." Minerva was beginning to get scared.

"I know you are scared. Let me take away your fear." Its voice was a deadly calm. Like an ocean that held in it great wonders, yet great dangers.

"Er…no…I'm perfectly fine." Minerva stammered.

"Oh let me. You will feel better, you will feel like a new woman."

"Oh…if you think so." Minerva was tired and scared, and the suggestion the person was suggesting sounded plausible.

"Don't worry. Come to me." The figure stood up; somehow, Minerva felt compelled to walk to the figure, something about its voice. It put its hands, cold hands, on her shoulders and began to massage them.

"Oh, that's good." She said all her tension and fear started to melt away. She didn't see the figure move its hand and take a shining, glistening, bloodstained knife from its pocket.

The figure looked at the knife joyfully then plunged it into Minerva's throat. She tried to scream or cry out, but the blood caused her to gag and choke. She saw it smile as she fell to the floor, blood pounding her ears.

"No." she whispered as her life slipped from within her grasp. A second murder had been committed.

xxxx

"Malfoy!" Minerva McGonagall shouted.

"Yeah?" He replied cockily.

"Stop talking and get on with your work."

"Nah why should I?"

"Because, young man it's what you've been told to do." She replied in the same cold tone that he had used.

"But I don't want to do the work."

"10 points from Slytherin."

"Why?"

"For answering back! Now get on with your work before I take any more of you!"

"You wouldn't dare." Malfoy dared.

"Wouldn't I? 50 points from Slytherin." Minerva was beginning to get frustrated. Draco was only doing this to show off.

"Scaredy cat." He murmured.

"That's it! 100 points from Slytherin and you, young man will have a detention! I shall speak to Professor Snape about you."

"So?"

"160 points!" someone gasped. "Yes abd it will be more if you don't get on with your work!"

She thinks she can outwit me does she? Draco thought madly to himself. Well I'll show her.

xxxx

"Professor." Severus Snape began as they sat in the Staff Room.

"Yes, Severus?" she enquired looking up.

"I'm curious. Why did you take 160 points from Slytherin this morning?"

"That little Malfoy was giving me cheek." She replied.

"Er…yes but don't you think 160 is a bit much?"

"SEVERUS! It's my lesson you don't know what went on!" she shouted. Some of the staff shook their heads. They were fighting again.

"Yes." He replied through clenched teeth. "I still say that 160 is way to much to take off."

"It's just right for the little creep." Snape's eyes shot an angry colour of red.

"The Malfoy's are not creeps."

"You're just to afraid to even say what you think, coward."

"Look, there is no need for that!"

"Severus, stop being such a child!" Minerva snapped. "I took points of Slytherin, you don't need to kick up a fuss! Now I want you to take the detention."

"Why me?" but Minerva gave him such a terrifying look he thought it best to give in. "Okay, okay!" he held up his hands as a sign of defeat.

Bitch he thought angrily she will have to pay for this, no one insults the Malfoy's and gets away with it. Nevertheless, he couldn't help thinking that perhaps she was right he was being childish or perhaps a coward.

xxxx

"Miss Granger!" McGonagall shouted. The whole class drooped what they were doing and turned to look in Hermione's direction. It was the first time that they had heard Hermione get shouted at.

"Yes miss?" Hermione asked.

"You do not, I repeat do not get that potion anywhere near to the animal!" McGonagall was shocked, Hermione? Getting something wrong? Oh dear Lord.

"I'm sorry miss." Hermione could feel tears building up inside her.

"Stupid girl! 20 points from Gryffindor for not listening." Hermione's blood boiled and she tried to fight back tears.

How dare she take points off me! She thought bitterly to herself. The whole class had gone silent and was now staring at her.

xxxx

Draco Malfoy sat in the dungeons. He was on detention with professor Snape, but he hadn't shown up yet.

xxxx

Severus Snape hummed the tune to "Forever Autumn" as he walked along to the bathroom. He was about to open the old wooden door when Professor McGonagall put a hand on his shoulder. He jumped and turned around.

"What are you doing here?" she asked him cruelly.

"Going to the loo." He replied as he was explaining that one and one made two.

"I can see that, why aren't you in the dungeons with Draco Malfoy?"

"Because I need to go for a wee."

"No you don't." She took him by the ear. "You are going to go and sit and watch Draco Malfoy for forty five minutes."

"Wait! Ow! I need the loo!"

"Get down to those dungeons!" Snape gave in, there was no point trying to argue. She will pay! he said bitterly to himself.

"Minerva." The soft voice of Albus Dumbledore called her name.

"Yes Albus?" she replied rather stiffly.

"That was rather mean. All the poor lad needed was to empty his bladder."

"He's been acting childish all day." She replied.

"Yes, well I think you are both being childish." Minerva was starting to feel like a child who was being told off. Dumbledore shook his head. "Dear me. I don't know what's worse! You and Severus or the kids!"

xxxx

"Sorry Draco." Snape murmured as he swept into the dungeons.

"It's okay sir." Draco replied with a sickly smile.

"Good. Er… can I leave you alone for a few minutes?"

"Sure. Why?"

"None of your business. I'll only be a few minutes." Snape left the dungeons leaving Draco behind. Was that a good idea? He wondered.

xxxx

Snape relieved himself in the bathroom near the dungeons. He felt guilty at having betrayed McGonagall, and for leaving Draco unattended. Perhaps I ought to apologise to her he thought as he washed his hands. No…I'll leave it until later.

xxxx

The detention went fine for Draco, although he did note that Snape seemed more relaxed that usual.

xxxx

Snape looked up and met the eyes of Draco; his cold black ones against Draco's equally cold grey ones. There was something of triumph in Draco's eyes, but why would that be there?

xxxx

It was now ten minutes past nine; Snape had got rid of Draco five minutes before he needed to actually go he hoped Minerva didn't find out.

xxxx

He was on his way to speak to her, to say he was sorry. There was something about the air, he could feel…something in it. He tried to shake of the feeling and continued on his way to McGonagall's office.

He knocked. No answer. He knocked again. Still no answer. He began to worry.

"Professor?" he called. No reply. He made up his mind to enter, with a bit of luck she would be out of her office and somewhere else. Slowly, ever so slowly he pushed open the door.

"Professor, I wanted to…" he stopped and looked around at the blood splattered along the walls.

"Oh god." He whispered to himself. He moved his reluctant eyes down to the floor, not wanting to see what lay before him.

Minerva McGonagall lay on the blood stained floor, her throat savagely cut, blood still oozing out onto the floor. Her body had been mutilated and several of her organs from her abdomen had been removed and thrown about the room.

Snape tried to suppress his overwhelming urge to vomit.

"HELP!" he shouted. "HELP!" Professor Sinsitra, who was walking near by heard his calls and ran to him.

"Severus…" Sinsitra looked in the office. "Christ." She conjured up a giant alarm that rang through the school to signal that another terrible event had taken place.

Severus could take no more; he clasped his hand to his mouth and ran. He knew what he had felt now. Death.