disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, just Arabella and her story. Hope you all like it!
The Dueling Club
It was Sunday morning and Arabella found herself in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom with Hermione and Ron. There was another attack – Colin Creevey. Even though he was a little annoying at times, he was a sweet natured boy with a fascination with the wizarding world that was understandable. It was hard to imagine Colin getting attacked, but making the potion now was more necessary than ever. They could not let this happen to anyone else.
"You've made this before," said Hermione, "are you ready to do it again?"
Arabella nodded as Hermione opened the book. She needed to make this perfectly or else someone else was going to get attacked.
"Ready?" asked Hermione as Arabella lit a fire.
"Ready as I'll ever be," muttered Arabella.
And Hermione began instructing her with what to do with the fluxweed and knotgrass, and Arabella felt as though Hermione should be their potion's professor.
"Enlighten me, will you," interrupted Ron. "We're brewing this potion in the middle of the girl's lavatory and in broad daylight. Why? Don't you think we'll get caught?"
Arabella snorted. "Ron, we're in Myrtle's bathroom. No one comes in here because of her."
"Can't be that bad, can she?" asked Ron.
"Yes," said Hermione.
"She can," added Arabella.
"Oh, I can, can I?" shrieked Myrtle. She was floating above them. "No one comes in here because of her! You're just like Olive Hornby! Just mean girls that like to come in here and poke fun at sulking Myrtle! Poor Myrtle! Moaning Myrtle! Miserable, ugly, moping Myrtle!"
She then let out a high-pitched scream and dived head-first into a toilet, splashing water everywhere.
"Well," whispered Arabella, getting back to the potion.
It was certainly better than some of the other times Arabella has witnessed. It was certainly better than Myrtle splashing toilet water purposely on a poor couple last year that just wanted some privacy.
Hermione went back to instructing Arabella as Ron kept poking his head out the stall, keeping watch. Within an hour, Harry found them and squeezed into the stall with them.
"We'd've come to meet you," said Ron, "but we decided to get started on the Polyjuice Potion. We've decided this is the safest place to hide it, what with Moaning Myrtle here and all."
"That's fine, but listen, someone else got attacked last night –"
"We already know," interrupted Hermione. "We heard Professor McGonagall telling Professor Flitwick this morning. That's why we decided we'd better get going –"
"The sooner we get a confession out of Malfoy, the better," snarled Ron. "D'you know what I think? He was in such a foul temper after the Quidditch match, he took it out on Colin."
"There's something else," said Harry, watching Arabella tear up bundle of knotgrass, "Dobby came to visit me in the middle of the night."
They looked up at him in amazement. Harry told them about Dobby's rogue Bludger at the Quidditch match and the other little piece of interesting information.
"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened before?" said Hermione.
"This settles it," said Ron is a triumphant voice. "Lucius Malfoy must've opened the Chamber when he was at school here and now he's told dear old Draco how to do it. It's obvious. Wish Dobby'd told you what kind of monster's in there, though. I want to know how come nobody's noticed it sneaking around the school."
"Maybe it can turn itself invisible," said Arabella, prodding leeches to the bottom of the cauldron.
"Or maybe it can disguise itself – pretend to be a suit of armor or something – I've read about Chameleon Ghouls –"said Hermione.
"You read too much, Hermione," said Ron, looking back at Harry. "So Dobby stopped us from getting on the train and broke your arm… You know what, Harry? If he doesn't stop trying to save your life he's going to kill you."
It was getting harder and harder to deny Malfoy being the Heir of Slytherin when there was no proof pointing otherwise. But Arabella needed to hear it from his mouth herself. She couldn't go on based on rumors and speculations anymore. She needed to hear it from the heir himself. And if she did, she will have to find out if she was related to Slytherin as well.
Anybody else in her position would be proud to be related to one of the most famous wizards in the world, but she was not. Salazar Slytherin's views on Muggles and Muggle-borns were disgusting and she hated the glorification of someone who hated a group of people simply for being alive. Arabella looked at Hermione as they finished cleaning up. Who in their right minds would hate someone as loyal as her best friend?
The news about Colin spread through the entire school by Monday morning and everyone was no suspicious of each other with various rumors running around the school. The first years were now moving around the castle in tight-knit groups, as though they were about to be attacked if they took a step further. Ginny sat by Colin in Charms and seemed to be taking it quite hard. Fred and George did not seem to help matters. They could cover themselves up with fur or boils and jump out behind her, trying to lighten her up. But that only made matters worse. They only stopped when Percy threatened to write back to Mrs. Weasley about their antics.
Meanwhile, there seemed to be a growth in the Hogwarts's black-market with an increase in talismans, amulets, and other protective devices sweeping the school. Neville brought a large, evil-smelling green onion, a pointed purple crystal, and a rotting newt tail.
"You're a pureblood, Neville," said Arabella. "I doubt that the Heir of Slytherin – a pureblood manic – and his creature will attack you."
"They went for Filch first," replied Neville, fearful, "and everyone knows I'm almost a Squib."
When December came, they all signed up for staying over Christmas. Arabella was spending another Christmas without Remus and even though it made her sad thinking about not seeing the looking of Christmas joy on his face, this was more important. Malfoy was staying over the holiday as well and it was the perfect time to use the Polyjuice Potion to get a confession out of him.
But, unfortunately, the potion was only half finished. They still needed the bicorn horn and the boomslang skin, and they only place they could possible get them was from Snape's private stores. They needed a diversion so that one of them could sneak into Snape's office and take what was needed.
Fortunately for them, Arabella received a package that morning from Remus. She clapped her hands together in glee and they left the Great Hall, looking for an empty classroom. She placed the simple light brown box in front of them and opened the lid, searching for what was needed.
"What's going on?" asked Ron. "What's this box? What are you looking for?"
"This box contains all my little pranks, knick knacks and whatnots," said Arabella. "It might look like a small box, but it has an expanding charm so you can put as much as you want in here. We've filled it with many things we've come across over the years and some of our own, though there are not many that we've made – Aha! Here we go!"
In front of them, she placed a small, rectangular shaped object that had a pink and yellow striped wrapper around it. She smiled brightly and expected them to have the same reaction.
"What?" Harry, Ron and Hermione said together.
Arabella rolled her eyes and sighed. "It's a firecracker. It may look small, but it's very effective. Once you set it off, it will not go away for about five minutes, unless you put it in something like a potion. Then it will make a huge explosion, splashing it on every surface. This will certainly give us enough time to go into Snape's office and take what we need."
"Impressive," said Harry. "Did you make this?"
"No," said Arabella, shaking her head. "Me and Remus found this up North. The business was going out of business and we managed to get the last of them."
"Still," said Harry. "Seems like a good plan."
Arabella smiled at him. She could feel her hands fidgeting and told herself it was only because of the plan, not because Harry smiled at her in wonderment or excitement. It was because of the plan and only the plan.
"So, who's going to do the actual stealing?" asked Ron.
"I think I'd better do it," said Hermione in a matter-of-fact tone. "You three will be expelled if you get into any more trouble and let us hope we don't get caught with this firecracker. Snape will surely make sure you're expelled if he finds out it's you," she told Arabella. "I've got a clean record. You just needed to keep Snape busy for a while and I'll get what we need. I'll give you the signal and you set it off."
Potions lesson took place on Thursday afternoons with twenty cauldrons steaming on wooden desks. Snape lurked between all of them, commenting on the Gryffindors' works. Arabella was barely working on her potion, there were more important things on her mind. She was waiting for Hermione's signal and did not pay attention to Snape sneering at her Swelling Solution. When Snape turned and walked off to bully Neville, Hermione caught Arabella's eye and nodded.
Arabella yawned and stretched her eyes, 'accidently' knocking her book on the ground. She ducked under the wooden table and pulled out the firecracker from her pocket. She gave it two taps with her wand and it began to fizz and splutter. She got up from under the table and threw it across the chamber right into Goyle's cauldron.
Goyle's potion exploded, showering the whole class. People shrieked as splashes of the solution hit them. Malfoy got a faceful and his nose began to swell. Pansy Parkinson's cheeks began to grow four times its size. Goyle stumbled around, his hands over his eyes, which had expanded to the size of saucers. Shape was trying to restore calm and find out what had happened. Through the confusion, Hermione slipped quietly into Snape's office.
"Silence! SILENCE!" roared Snape. "Anyone who had been splashed, come here for a Deflating Draught – when I find out who did this –"
Arabella smiled as Parkinson and Malfoy rushed forward, almost drooping with the weight of their faces. As half the class came forward to Snape's desk, Hermione slide back into the dungeon, the front of her robes bulging. When everyone had taken a swing of the antidote and various swellings had been subsided, Snape swept over Goyle's cauldron and scooped out the remains of the firecracker.
There was a hush and everyone stared at Snape.
"If I ever find out who threw this," whispered Snape, "I shall make sure that person is expelled."
Arabella steadied her face and made it look as though she was puzzled by the firecracker remains. She was able to keep a straight face, but Snape was looking right at her and the bell rang ten minutes later.
"He knew it was you," Harry told Arabella. The four of them were rushing as they made their way back to Myrtle's bathroom. "I could tell. It was obvious."
Arabella shrugged her shoulders. "He did not see me throw it in and he's got no proof that the firecracker ever belonged to me."
"Snape can't prove it was you," said Ron. "What can he do?"
"Knowing Snape, said Harry, "something foul."
Arabella pursed her lips and said nothing. She did not deny Harry's statement, but they had the potion to worry about. Snape could wait.
Once they reached the stall, they threw the ingredients into the cauldron and stirred quickly. It began to foam and bubble.
"I'd say about two weeks," mumbled Arabella. "Hermione?"
"It will be done by then," said Hermione happily.
A week later, Arabella, Hermione, Harry and Ron were walking across the Entrance Hall when they saw a small cluster of people gathered around the notice board, reading a piece of parchment that just had been pinned up. Seamus and Dean beckoned them over, looking excited.
"They're starting a Dueling Club!" said Seamus. "First meeting tonight! I wouldn't mind dueling lessons, they might come in handy one of these days…."
"What, you reckon Slytherin's monster can duel?" said Ron, but he looked interested as well. "Could be useful," he added as they went to dinner. "Shall we go?"
Arabella was certainly all for it, and so was Harry and Hermione. So at eight o'clock that evening, they hurried back to the Great Hall. They long dining tables were gone and a golden stage appeared along on wall, lit by thousands of candles floating overhead. It seemed as though most of the school was here, all carrying their wands and looking excited.
"I wonder who'll be teaching us?" said Hermione as they edged into the crowd. "Someone told me Flitwick was a dueling champion when he was young – maybe it'll be him."
"As long as it's not –"began Harry.
But then Lockhart walked onto the stage and Arabella groaned. He waved his arm for silence and called, "Gather round, gather round! Can everyone see me? Can you all hear me? Excellent! Now, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little dueling club, to train you all in case you ever need to defend yourselves as I myself have done on countless occasions – for full details, see my published works. Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape. He tells me he knows a tiny little bit about dueling himself and has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration before we begin. Now, I don't want any of you youngsters to worry – you'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him, never fear!"
"Wouldn't it be good if they finished each other off?" Ron muttered.
Arabella smiled at his words as Lockhart and Snape faced each other and bowed. Then they raised their wands like swords in front of them.
"As you see, we are holding our wands in the accepted combative position," Lockhart told the crowd. "On the count of three, we will cast our first spells. Neither of us will be aiming to kill, of course."
"Darn," murmured Arabella.
"One – two – three –"
Both of them swung their wands above their heads and pointed them at their opponent. Snape cried, "Expelliarmus!" There was a flash of scarlet light and Lockhart was blasted off his feet. He flew backward off the stage, smashed into the wall, and slid down it to sprawl on the floor.
Some of the Slytherins cheered. Hermione was on her tiptoes. "Do you think he's all right?" she squealed.
"Who cares?" said Arabella, Ron and Harry together.
Lockhart was getting to his feet unsteadily. "Well, there you have it!" He was walked back onto the platform. "That was a Disarming Charm – as you see, I've lost my wand – ah, thank you, Miss Brown – yes, an excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape, but if you don't mind my saying so, it was very obvious what you were about to do. If I had wanted to stop you it would have been only too easy – however, I felt it would be instructive to let them see…."
Snape looked murderous.
"Enough demonstrating!" called Lockhart. "I'm going to come amongst you now and put you all into pairs. Professor Snape, if you'd help me –"
They moved through the crowd, matching up partners and Snape reached them first.
"Time to split up the dream team, I think," he sneered. "Weasley, you can partner Finnigan, Potter with Mr. Malfoy – let us see what you make of the famous Potter – Miss Granger, you can partner with Miss Bulstrode, and Black, you'll be with Miss Parkinson."
Malfoy strutted over, smirking, with two Slytherin girls behind him. Bulstrode was large and square and her jaw heavy. Parkinson, pug-faced, smirked at Arabella.
"Black," snarled Parkinson.
"Parkinson," spat out Arabella.
"Face your partners!" called Lockhart, back on the platform. "And bow!"
Arabella and Parkinson did not bow, but kept glaring at each other.
"Wands at the ready!" shouted Lockhart. "When I could to three, cast your charms to disarm your opponents – only to disarm them – we don't want any accidents – one… two… three –"
"Expelliarmus!" cried Arabella, pointing her wand at Pansy.
Pansy's wand flew out of her hand and she skidded back a few paces. Arabella smiled, clearly proud of herself.
"How dare you, Black!" snapped Parkinson. Within a minute, she was on top of Arabella, grabbing two fist-full of her hair. Arabella grabbed onto the front of Parkinson's robes and dug her nails into her neck. They rolled around on the ground for a bit until Arabella was finally on top, trying to squash Parkinson's face on the floor. In the corner of her eye, she could see Hermione in Bulstrode's headlock and Hermione was whimpering in pain.
Arabella got off Parkinson, crept up behind Bulstrode and threw her body on her back. She hoped that Bulstrode would be shocked into releasing Hermione, but that failed. Bulstrode kept her hold on Hermione, no matter how hard Arabella was squeezing her neck. Parkinson regained some of her energy and came to Bulstrode's aid. She was now trying to pull Arabella off Bulstrode's back and somehow managed to put Arabella in a headlock. They were all on the floor in a mess.
"Stop! Stop!" screamed Lockhart. He was rushing towards them in horror and they all let go of each other quickly. Arabella glared at the pair of Slytherin girls and moved away from them, picking up her wand. The crowd then formed in the middle of the hall with Harry and Malfoy in the middle. It seemed as though they were about to demonstrate how to block a spell.
Arabella stood between Hermione and Ron. Hermione was rubbing her neck and frowned.
"Bulstrode's got a grip," she muttered. "Thanks by the way."
"Don't mention it," said Arabella. "Can't have you dying on us now, can we?"
"You two all right?" asked Ron.
Arabella looked at Hermione and shrugged. "Fine, I suppose. How's Seamus?"
Ron looked guilty. "Dunno. He'll survive, I suppose, but I doubt he'll be my partner in anything after this."
They then turned their attention to Harry and Malfoy. They were facing each other with Lockhart and Snape behind them, respectively.
"Three – two – one – go!" shouted Lockhart.
Malfoy raised his wand quickly and bellowed, "Serpensortia!"
The end of his wand exploded and a long black snake shot out of it, falling on the floor between the two boys. It raised itself to strike and everyone screamed and shifted away. Arabella flung her arms out towards Hermione and Ron, backing them away. She looked from the Snape to Harry. He was standing motionless and staring at the snake eye to eye.
Snape and Lockhart both offered to get rid of it, Lockhart clearly wanting to show off, however, he just made the snake angrier. The snake flew into the air and fell back to the floor with a loud bang. It slithered angrily towards Justin Finch-Fletchley and raised itself again, fangs exposed, about to strike.
Then Harry hissed at the snake and Arabella's blood went cold. He was speaking Parseltongue. The snake slumped to the floor, its eyes on Harry. Harry then looked at Justin, who was clearly angry and scared.
"What do you think you're playing at?" he shouted. He then turned and stormed out of the hall.
Snape then stepped forward and made the snake disappear. He was also looking at Harry in a sharp and calculated way. Everyone around him was muttering and pointing. Arabella and Ron tugged on his robes and pulled him out of the hall with Hermione beside them. As they went through the doors, the people drew away, as though frightened to catch some sort of disease. They dragged Harry all the way up to the empty Gryffindor common room and Ron pushed Harry into an armchair.
"You're a Parselmouth," he said. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"I'm a what?" said Harry.
"A Parselmouth!" said Ron. "You can talk to snakes!"
"I know," said Harry. "I mean, that's only the second time I've ever done it. I accidently set a boa constrictor on my cousin Dudley at the zoo once – long story – but it was telling me it had never seen Brazil and I sort of set it free without meaning to – that was before I knew I was a wizard –"
"A boa constrictor told you it had never seen Brazil?" repeated Ron faintly.
"So?" said Harry. "I bet loads of people here can do it."
"No, Harry, they can't," said Arabella. "It's not common for people to speak to snakes. This is really bad, Harry."
"What's bad?" said Harry, starting to become really angry. "What's wrong with everyone? Listen, if I hadn't told that snake not to attack Justin –"
"Is that what you said?"
"What do you mean? You were there – you heard me –"
"I heard you speaking Parseltongue," said Ron. "Snake language. You could have been saying anything – no wonder Justin panicked, you sounded like you were egging the snake on or something – it was creepy, you know –"
Harry gaped at him.
"I spoke a different language? But I didn't realize – how can I speak a language without knowing I can speak it?"
"I don't know, Harry," said Arabella, sighing. "This is bad –"
"What's wrong with stopping a massive snake from biting off Justin's head? What does it matter how I did it as long as Justin does not have to join the Headless Hunt?"
Arabella continued on, "Because talking to snakes was what Salazar Slytherin was famous for. He used to speak to snakes and that's why the Slytherin symbol is a serpent."
Harry's mouth fell open.
"Exactly," said Ron. "And now the school's going to think you're his great-great-great-great-grandson or something –"
"But I'm not," said Harry with panic in his voice.
"You'll find that hard to prove," said Hermione, finally speaking in a hushed voice. "He lived about a thousand years ago; for all we know, you could be."
By the next morning, snow began to fall and it soon turned into a blizzard so thick that Herbology was canceled. Harry was fretting next to the fire in the Gryffindor common room as Hermione and Ron played a game of wizard chess and Arabella was reading her Transfiguration textbook.
"For heaven's sake, Harry," said Hermione, irritated as one of Ron's bishops wrestled her knight off his horse and dragged him off the board. "Go and find Justin if it's so important to you."
"I'll come," said Arabella as Harry got up. She left her book on the couch and followed him through the portrait hole. "You need someone on your side if you're going to face Justin and his friends."
Harry gave her a look, but he then sighed. They walked towards the library in silence. Arabella did not know what to say to him at all that would help. She barely could wrap her head around what was going on and there was nothing she could say that would comfort him.
As they entered the library, they saw a group of Hufflepuffs sitting in the back of the library. Harry edged close to them to hear what they were saying while Arabella looked around the library to see if Madam Pince was lurking around as well. She looked through the shelves to see Pince glaring at a group of students in the Restricted Section. When she returned, she saw Harry standing in front of the Hufflepuffs already in the middle of a conversation.
"– speaking Parseltongue and chasing the snake toward Justin –"
"What's going on here?" she asked.
"I didn't chase it at him!" said Harry, his voice shaking with anger. "It didn't even touch him!"
"It was a very near miss," said Ernie. "And in case you get any ideas, I might tell you that you can trace my family back through nine generations of witches and warlocks and my blood's as pure as anyone's, so –"
"I don't care what sort of blood you've got!" said Harry fiercely. "Why would I want to attack Muggle-borns?"
"I've heard you hate those Muggles you live with," said Ernie swiftly.
"It's not possible to live with the Dursleys and not hate them," said Harry. "I'd like to see you try it."
Arabella hear footsteps behind them and quickly grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him out of the library. Once they were at a good distance from the library, Arabella let go of his arm.
"What was that all about?" Arabella asked.
"Ernie thought I was looking for Justin so that I could attack him," said Harry briefly. "Then he got all defensive and went all about how he was a pureblood and how I was going to attack Justin with the snake."
"You know snapping at him is not going to help," said Arabella. Harry gave her a sharp look. "I'm right, you know. Yelling at everyone you come across is not going to help people stop from thinking you're Slytherin's heir. It just helps fuel up the rumors and make them think they're your next targets."
"I am not the Heir!" shouted Harry.
"I know, Harry, I know, but shouting this at me is not helping your cause."
"Harry, Arabella," said a gruff voice ahead of them. Harry and Arabella looked to see Hagrid standing a few feet in front of them.
"Hello, Hagrid," said Harry.
"All righ', there?" said Hagrid with a dead rooster hanging from one of his hands. "Why aren't the two of yeh in class?"
"Canceled," said Harry. "What're you doing here?"
"And with a dead rooster," added Arabella.
Hagrid held it up. "Second on killed this term. It's either foxes or a Blood-Suckin' Bugbear, an' I need the headmaster's permission ter put a charm around the hen coop." Hagrid then peered more closely at Harry. "Yeh sure yeh're all righ'? Yeh look all hot an' bothered –"
"It's nothing," said Harry. "We'd better get going, Hagrid, it's Transfiguration next and we've got to pick up our books."
They walked off and Arabella waved at Hagrid. Harry stamped up the stairs and turned the corner. Arabella quickly grabbed his arm and made Harry look at her.
"I know you're not a Dark Wizard," she said. "I know this, and so does Hermione and Ron and everyone else. It's just hard because so many people have been attacked and everyone's trying to find some sort of reason as to why –"
"And they're blaming me," said Harry.
Arabella pursed her lips. "Unfortunately, yes, they are. They need some sort of explanation as to why this is all happening and no one wants to go to bed feeling uneasy and no one to blame it on."
"But blaming everything on me is not helping anyone," snapped Harry. "It's just stupid."
Harry then stalked the dark corridor and Arabella followed after him. The torches was gone from some icy draft and Harry tripped over something lying on the floor. Arabella helped him and turned to see what it was.
Justin was lying on the floor, rigid and cold with a look of shock frozen on his face. His eyes were staring blankly at the ceiling and there was another figure next to him. It was Nearly Headless Nick, black and smoky, floating immobile, six inches off the floor. His face was half off and his expression was the same as Justin's.
Beside her, Harry was breathing heavily and Arabella could feel her heart beating fast against her ribs. It seemed almost abnormal and she placed her hand over her shirt and messaged her chest. Spiders were scuttling from the body and there were voices of teachers from either side of the hall through the doors.
"We have to get out of here," whispered Harry.
A door right next to them opened with a bang and Peeves came shooting out. "Why, it's potty wee Potter and colour me shock Black!" cackled Peeve. "What's Potter up to? Why's Potter lurking with his –"Peeves stopped halfway through his somersault and spotted Justin and Nick. He flipped the right side up and filled his lungs. Before Arabella or Harry could stop him, he screamed, "ATTACK! ATTACK! NO MORTAL OR GHOST IS SAFE! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! ATTAAAACK!"
The doors flew open along the corridor and people flooded out. For several minutes, there was a scene of confusion as everyone stared at Nick and moved away from squashing Justin. Harry was then pinned to the wall as Professor McGonagall shouted for silence. She set off a loud bang and ordered everyone back into their classes. No sooner had the scene cleared, Ernie came panting to the scene.
"Caught in the act!" he yelled, his face white, pointing his finger directly at Harry.
"That will do, Macmillan!" said McGonagall sharply.
Peeves then broke out into a song.
Oh, Potter, you rotter, oh, what have you done,
You're killing off students, you think it's good fun –
"That's enough, Peeves!" barked McGonagall, and Peeves zoomed away, his tongue out at Harry.
Justin was carried up to the hospital wing by Professor Flitwick and Professor Sinistra. McGonagall conjured a large fan and made Ernie waft Nick up the stairs. This left Harry, Arabella and McGonagall alone together.
"Miss Black, I suggest you go back to the common room and get ready for Transfiguration," said McGonagall. "Potter, this way."
"Professor," said Harry at once, "I swear I didn't –"
"This is out of my hands, Potter," said McGonagall curtly.
"Please, professor, I can come," said Arabella. "I can help back up Harry's story –"
"That will do, Miss Black," said McGonagall. "Get ready for class. Now."
Arabella sighed, watching Harry and McGonagall walk away. She then turned and sprinted towards the common room, grabbed her textbook and bag, and towards her next lesson. When she got there, she leaned against the wall and rubbed her chest once more. Her heart was really racing and it did not seem to want to stop.
"Arabella, what's going on?" asked Ron, anxious. "I thought Harry was with you."
"He was," whispered Arabella. She then glanced at the other students. "There was another attack –"
Hermione gasped.
"– and Harry was caught at the scene of the crime. McGonagall's taken him somewhere. Probably to Dumbledore."
"Who got attacked?" asked Hermione.
"Justin and Nearly Headless Nick."
"A ghost?" asked Ron. "No one's safe now."
Thank you all for reading! Hope you liked it!