Chapter 8
The group made their way to the Quidditch pitch for the duel. Blackcat took the lead. As they entered the pitch there wasn't a sound to be heard. The silence was creepy. Harry didn't see anyone else around. He figured they were all inside due to the lock down. Blackcat took her position and pulled out her wand. Hermione shuddered a bit nervously and looked at Harry and Ron.
"So this is it." She said nervously.
"Yes, Hermione call it off. We don't want to see you hurt. This is foolish." Said Ron.
"No. I have to prove I can do this." She answered Ron abruptly.
"No you don't Hermione. We know you're a great witch." Replied Harry.
"Oh, yeah right. Is that why you go all mushy and leave me when she comes around. If I were as great as her you wouldn't do that." She spat out.
"Hermione is that what this is all about. We are friends, we all ways will be. We have been thru so much not to be. You're my friend just like Blackcat is. Friends stick together. Please Hermione." Harry pleaded.
"No!" Hermione said as she slowly left them there and took her position on the pitch across from Blackcat.
Professor Lupin took his position as a sort of referee. Blackcat bowed to the professor and then to Hermione. Hermione didn't expect that. As Blackcat held her wand her friends could see her shaking slightly. Her knuckles were white as she griped the small instrument tightly. The others watched as the duel started.
Hermione rose her wand and with a quick swish and flick sent Blackcat flying a bit backwards. Blackcat chanted something and Hermione flew into the air and dropped to the ground with a thud. Ron and Harry looked away from the sight, but their curiosity got the best of them. Spells flew from each of the witches wands. Neither seemed to gain an upper hand until Hermione tried the full body bind.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Hermione called out.
Just as she did Blackcat saw it coming and yelled out, " Reflectious Incantatem!"
Suddenly Hermione felt herself going stiff. Her arms and legs went fully straight and she fell to the ground. Blackcat seemed to growl as she walked over. "Expelliramus." Blackcat said as she waved her wand. Hermione's wand flew from her hand. "Accio Hermione's wand." As she said this spell Hermione's wand flew to her own hand. Now she had both wands. Blackcat then waved her wand again and Hermione's stiff body floated into a standing position.
"I should hurt you right now Hermione. Your in no condition to even defend yourself." Blackcat seemed to growl. Her eyes flashed red and then back to normal. Hermione saw this and paniced. She couldn't move or speak, however she did see what just happened and tried to scream. Lei could sense something was wrong and so could the others. Lei walked over to Blackcat.
"Don't do it Cat. It's over. You won. Leave it at that." Lei said with a calm voice.
Blackcat seemed to shudder as Lei touched her.
"You ok Cat. I'll help you to your dorm. You don't look good at all."
"One moment Lei." Blackcat said. She looked at Hermione and bent down to whisper something in her ear.
"One word of what you saw and I won't let you live next time. I held back only because your friend Harry was here." She growled in a whisper to Hermione.
Blackcat gave Hermione's wand to Harry and looked at Lei. "Let's go." Blackcat said and smiled weakly.
"Lei, one moment. Take Blackcat to my quarters. I would like a quick word with her." Said Professor Lupin. His voice was deep and raspy.
"Are you sure sir. You don't look very well yourself." Replied Lei.
"Yes. Please." Replied the professor.
Just then Professor McGonagall came running from the castle. She hadn't seen Professor Lupin because he was standing in the shadows.
"What is the meaning of this. I saw everything. Are you two dueling?" The Professor asked as she looked to the now stiff Hermione.
Quickly Lil made up and excuse.
"No mam. Hermione had asked Blackcat to show her a spell and its effects. She was hoping to use it in the contest."
"And what spell would that be?" The Professor asked.
"Reflectious Incantatem." Replied Blackcat in a very raspy and weak voice.
"I see. Teaching a fifth year a seventh year spell. Not authorized practice. However Hermione isn't a usual fifth year so I will alow it and not take points off." Professor McGonagall said stiffly.
Professor Mcgonagall waved her wand and said the counter curse. Hermione soon was able to move again. "And as for you all being out without a professor's escort."
"Ahem." Professor Lupin coughed as he walked out of the shadows.
"Oh, Professor Lupin. I hadn't realized." Professor McGonagall said. She was taken aback a bit by her mistake.
"It's alright Professor McGonagall. Just a minor error." Professor Lupin said kindly.
"Alright all of you back to the castle. Nothing more to do out here. Ms. Blackcat does look ill. She should be taken to the hospital wing." Professor McGonagall said. Clearly she was trying to make up for her error.
"Yes Professor McGonagall." Lil said abruptly.
Harry and Ron helped Hermione up and Hermione picked up her wand and put it away. As the students walked to the castle Hermione pulled Harry and Ron aside.
"Some thing is wrong with Blackcat. Very wrong indeed."
"Oh get off it Hermione. She beat you fair and square." Said Ron.
"You guys I'm serious. This has nothing to do with the duel."
"Hermione, if it doesn't have to do with the duel then what is it?" Asked Harry sarcasticaly.
"Fine. I can tell you two don't believe me. I'm going to tell McGonagall then."
"Alright. See you in the common room." Replied Ron, "up for a game of wizards chess Harry?"
"Sure Ron." He said while still watching Hermione.
Hermione dropped back to ask Professor McGonagall for a meeting. As she dropped back she caught part of their conversation.
"This isn't like Blackcat at all. Do you suppose our worst fears are at hand Remus?"
"I would say yes Minerva. I've asked the prefect to bring Blackcat to my office. If I'm right she doens't have much time. She may undergo it sooner then myself. Which I hope isn't the case. I may be the only one who can stop her." Replied Professor Lupin. As he saw Hermione he went quiet. Hermione looked at the two professors and then fixed her eyes on Professor Mcgonagall.
"Mam, may I have a meeting with you? It's about Blackcat." "Yes. Meet me in my office in about an hour Ms. Granger."
"Alright professor." Hermione smiled and bounded off.
Lei helped Blackcat into the castle and to Professor Lupin's chambers. She sat with Blackcat and waited for the professor. Professor Lupin entered shortly after and asked Lei to leave. As she left he locked the door tightly. He took a seat across from Blackcat and looked at her.
"I've got something very important to tell you Blackcat. Something about the attack." Professor Lupin said seriously.
The group made their way to the Quidditch pitch for the duel. Blackcat took the lead. As they entered the pitch there wasn't a sound to be heard. The silence was creepy. Harry didn't see anyone else around. He figured they were all inside due to the lock down. Blackcat took her position and pulled out her wand. Hermione shuddered a bit nervously and looked at Harry and Ron.
"So this is it." She said nervously.
"Yes, Hermione call it off. We don't want to see you hurt. This is foolish." Said Ron.
"No. I have to prove I can do this." She answered Ron abruptly.
"No you don't Hermione. We know you're a great witch." Replied Harry.
"Oh, yeah right. Is that why you go all mushy and leave me when she comes around. If I were as great as her you wouldn't do that." She spat out.
"Hermione is that what this is all about. We are friends, we all ways will be. We have been thru so much not to be. You're my friend just like Blackcat is. Friends stick together. Please Hermione." Harry pleaded.
"No!" Hermione said as she slowly left them there and took her position on the pitch across from Blackcat.
Professor Lupin took his position as a sort of referee. Blackcat bowed to the professor and then to Hermione. Hermione didn't expect that. As Blackcat held her wand her friends could see her shaking slightly. Her knuckles were white as she griped the small instrument tightly. The others watched as the duel started.
Hermione rose her wand and with a quick swish and flick sent Blackcat flying a bit backwards. Blackcat chanted something and Hermione flew into the air and dropped to the ground with a thud. Ron and Harry looked away from the sight, but their curiosity got the best of them. Spells flew from each of the witches wands. Neither seemed to gain an upper hand until Hermione tried the full body bind.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Hermione called out.
Just as she did Blackcat saw it coming and yelled out, " Reflectious Incantatem!"
Suddenly Hermione felt herself going stiff. Her arms and legs went fully straight and she fell to the ground. Blackcat seemed to growl as she walked over. "Expelliramus." Blackcat said as she waved her wand. Hermione's wand flew from her hand. "Accio Hermione's wand." As she said this spell Hermione's wand flew to her own hand. Now she had both wands. Blackcat then waved her wand again and Hermione's stiff body floated into a standing position.
"I should hurt you right now Hermione. Your in no condition to even defend yourself." Blackcat seemed to growl. Her eyes flashed red and then back to normal. Hermione saw this and paniced. She couldn't move or speak, however she did see what just happened and tried to scream. Lei could sense something was wrong and so could the others. Lei walked over to Blackcat.
"Don't do it Cat. It's over. You won. Leave it at that." Lei said with a calm voice.
Blackcat seemed to shudder as Lei touched her.
"You ok Cat. I'll help you to your dorm. You don't look good at all."
"One moment Lei." Blackcat said. She looked at Hermione and bent down to whisper something in her ear.
"One word of what you saw and I won't let you live next time. I held back only because your friend Harry was here." She growled in a whisper to Hermione.
Blackcat gave Hermione's wand to Harry and looked at Lei. "Let's go." Blackcat said and smiled weakly.
"Lei, one moment. Take Blackcat to my quarters. I would like a quick word with her." Said Professor Lupin. His voice was deep and raspy.
"Are you sure sir. You don't look very well yourself." Replied Lei.
"Yes. Please." Replied the professor.
Just then Professor McGonagall came running from the castle. She hadn't seen Professor Lupin because he was standing in the shadows.
"What is the meaning of this. I saw everything. Are you two dueling?" The Professor asked as she looked to the now stiff Hermione.
Quickly Lil made up and excuse.
"No mam. Hermione had asked Blackcat to show her a spell and its effects. She was hoping to use it in the contest."
"And what spell would that be?" The Professor asked.
"Reflectious Incantatem." Replied Blackcat in a very raspy and weak voice.
"I see. Teaching a fifth year a seventh year spell. Not authorized practice. However Hermione isn't a usual fifth year so I will alow it and not take points off." Professor McGonagall said stiffly.
Professor Mcgonagall waved her wand and said the counter curse. Hermione soon was able to move again. "And as for you all being out without a professor's escort."
"Ahem." Professor Lupin coughed as he walked out of the shadows.
"Oh, Professor Lupin. I hadn't realized." Professor McGonagall said. She was taken aback a bit by her mistake.
"It's alright Professor McGonagall. Just a minor error." Professor Lupin said kindly.
"Alright all of you back to the castle. Nothing more to do out here. Ms. Blackcat does look ill. She should be taken to the hospital wing." Professor McGonagall said. Clearly she was trying to make up for her error.
"Yes Professor McGonagall." Lil said abruptly.
Harry and Ron helped Hermione up and Hermione picked up her wand and put it away. As the students walked to the castle Hermione pulled Harry and Ron aside.
"Some thing is wrong with Blackcat. Very wrong indeed."
"Oh get off it Hermione. She beat you fair and square." Said Ron.
"You guys I'm serious. This has nothing to do with the duel."
"Hermione, if it doesn't have to do with the duel then what is it?" Asked Harry sarcasticaly.
"Fine. I can tell you two don't believe me. I'm going to tell McGonagall then."
"Alright. See you in the common room." Replied Ron, "up for a game of wizards chess Harry?"
"Sure Ron." He said while still watching Hermione.
Hermione dropped back to ask Professor McGonagall for a meeting. As she dropped back she caught part of their conversation.
"This isn't like Blackcat at all. Do you suppose our worst fears are at hand Remus?"
"I would say yes Minerva. I've asked the prefect to bring Blackcat to my office. If I'm right she doens't have much time. She may undergo it sooner then myself. Which I hope isn't the case. I may be the only one who can stop her." Replied Professor Lupin. As he saw Hermione he went quiet. Hermione looked at the two professors and then fixed her eyes on Professor Mcgonagall.
"Mam, may I have a meeting with you? It's about Blackcat." "Yes. Meet me in my office in about an hour Ms. Granger."
"Alright professor." Hermione smiled and bounded off.
Lei helped Blackcat into the castle and to Professor Lupin's chambers. She sat with Blackcat and waited for the professor. Professor Lupin entered shortly after and asked Lei to leave. As she left he locked the door tightly. He took a seat across from Blackcat and looked at her.
"I've got something very important to tell you Blackcat. Something about the attack." Professor Lupin said seriously.
