Chapter 9

Year 2, part 5

Meetings in the dark

To say that Harry had returned to Hogwarts after the Christmas holidays filled with enthusiasm and the desire to solve the mystery of who was attacking his fellow students, would have been a lie. After the Christmas party, Harry realised that no matter what plan he and his friends were putting together, the search for answers had become more complicated. Upon their return, Harry and his friends had gone to the hospital wing to visit Lavender and Dean. The petrification potion that was to be administered by Professor Sprout and Madam Pomfrey, had not been completed yet, so they were forced to stand around their friend, who were still frozen like statues and simply feel helpless. The sight of them had done nothing to spur Harry on, his lack of enthusiasm in his mission showing to one person.

"I've known you a very long time Harry," Neville had said to him during their Herbology class one morning, "You're not yourself mate, I can see it,"

"I can't explain it, it just feels like it's pointless trying to do all of this," He said, while wrestling with a teenage mandrake, who was trying to peer-pressure Harry into smoking.

"We'll get there, the you know what is almost finished," Neville said brightly, "Once we get it, you'll be able to get some answers,"

But Harry wasn't sure how many answers he was likely to get from breaking into the Slytherin common room now. By the end of January, 3 more students had been found in various states of horror, petrified beneath a fresh new message from the Heir of Slytherin. There were no clues as to why these people were attacked, and with every passing day the Ministry was getting more and more impatient with the lack of progress.

"They're either going to shut the school down or try and take over," Draco had said, he was sitting on the floor of the girl's toilet, slowly stirring a cauldron full of green sludge, that was in fact the Polyjuice potion. The four were taking advantage of the fact that for Valentines weekend, all classes had been cancelled for the day.

"Do we knew who the new victim is yet?" Hermione asked, she was sitting near the sinks, watching Harry closely, like she had been doing ever since they came back to school.

"Colin Creevey," Neville said in a glum tone, he had become quite fond of Colin, and the news of the attack had made him even more determined to help.

"There is still no pattern," Harry frowned, "Dean, Lavender, A girl named Cho Chang, Colin and Cedric," Harry had winced a little over the last one, it had been even more a crushing blow to Harry, when he learned that his Duelling idol had been found near the girls' toilets, petrified.

"It does throw the Heir of Slytherin theory out of stride a little," Draco said fairly, "I mean, there weren't even witnesses to the attacks,"

"Which is ironic, considering the first one happened in here," Neville huffed, "You'd think someone would have paid better attention or at least noticed someone being attacked in here,"

"OH SURE, BLAME MYRTLE!"

The four of them had gotten so used to the scrams of Moaning Myrtle, an over emotional ghost who haunted the girl's toilets. She'd been a bit of a problem for the first few days according to Draco, mostly because she kept telling him to, "GO, AWAY!" but had eventually fallen to his charms. Harry felt that Myrtle had a crush on Draco, which was helping them get the privacy they needed, because any time someone would come near the toilet itself, Myrtle would chase them away.

"No one is blaming you, specs," Draco said in a charming voice, instantly making Myrtle's anger soften, "We're just concerned that you didn't notice, because you're so bright and alert, unlike most girls,"

"Oh, oh Draco," She replied in a buttery voice, "I am sorry I didn't see, sometimes I just get so lost in the U-bend thinking about death," She sighed, "And you,"

"Either way there is still no pattern," Harry interrupted, "How long before this potion is ready?" He asked impatiently.

"Actually, I'd say we were ready to go tonight," Draco replied, smiling at the keen look on Harry's face, "Just need the last ingredients, which I have a plan for,"

"What is it you need?" Hermione asked curiously, her tone a little more cheerful when Harry had started to show more interest.

"The Hair of Ron Weasley, and either Crabb or Goyle," Draco said.

"Why not all three?" Neville asked curiously.

"Because only two of us are going in," Draco explained, "the other two are going to provide back-up, just in case the potion fails and the two inside need to leave in a hurry,"

"Draco, if this potion fails, the last thing we'll need to worry about is a bunch of angry Slytherins," Hermione told him sternly.

"What if it fails in front of her?" Neville asked.

The term "Her" had become the universal meaning for Ginny Weasley, who had somehow managed to become even stranger since Christmas. The first thing that Harry noticed when he came back from the holidays, was how well behaved the Slytherin students were. They were excelling in their classes, had gained enough house points to be way ahead in the house-cup, their Quidditch, Duelling and chess teams were top in every league in the school, and on top of that they were hailing The Weasley family as the saviours of Slytherin. Once again, no teacher could (or would) speak against Ron, Ginny or Percy, because they were excelling the most. Ron surprised even Harry in Defence Against the Dark-Arts, when he'd recited nearly the entire passage of Lockhart's chapter on giants and the threats they posed, word for word without the books help. Ginny herself had been very keen on trying to see Harry as much as possible between classes, popping up at random times to ask how his day was going. Harry knew that the conversations were innocent enough, but he always got the feeling that Ginny was getting something more out of it, than a normal person would. Each time she spoke to him he would feel less and less enthusiastic about trying to investigate Slytherin or the attacks.

"Then we're doomed," Draco sighed, "Seamus said that at no time, is Ginny ever without a group of students around her, unless she's talking to Harry,"

"Yeah, I've seen them," Harry said, "It's like they," He frowned.

"Worship her?" Hermione suggested.

"Yeah," He sighed.

Ever since the Christmas party, Hermione had become Harry's closest confidant in a strange way. He'd always been able to speak to her, but lately he felt like every time she was there, he could focus, that he had the strength to keep trying to fight what was happening in the school. The only time they were never together these days, was at night when they were sleeping.

"I've been trying to find a pattern with the attacks," Hermione told him, ignoring the curious stares from Draco and Neville, "and I think I might have found one,"

"Really?" Harry said, his sudden excitement taking even him by surprise.

"It's a bit of a long shot, but," Hermione frowned, not even sure if she should speak.

"Go on," Harry said gently, giving her an encouraging nudge, making her smile.

"Well, it's actually not finished yet," She said, smiling shyly, "I just wanted to see you smile,"

Harry's mouth fell open in surprise, then despite himself he smiled for her, taking a moment to enjoy the feeling.

"Look, you three can handle this right?" She indicated the Polyjuice potion.

"Should be able to," Draco said, amused by the interaction between Harry and Hermione, "I was thinking Harry and I go in, and you two play look-out, but Neville will do,"

"Why you and Harry?" Neville asked curiously.

"Because we're better at fighting," Draco told him, "I know you want to help, but Duelling really isn't your strong point,"

"Right," Neville frowned.

"Good, I need to do some research, and I think it's going to take a bit of time," She said gently, "but I promise it can help,"

"Do what you need to," Harry told her, "We've got this covered," He promised her.

"Alright, I'll meet you all tonight in the common room," She said, giving Harry a warm look before she left them to it.

"So, how are things going with Remus and Tonks?" Neville asked Draco, when the toilet door had shut again.

"Driving Ted up the wall, he's still angry," Draco said with a grin.

"It's been a month and half," Harry said amused, "how could he still be angry?"

"Wouldn't you be?" Draco chuckled.

It was on Christmas morning that Remus and Tonks had been found together in Tonks' room, by Ted Tonks who at the time, was dressed like Father Christmas and carrying a large sack of presents. The argument that Harry had woken up to, had managed to shake the whole of Malfoy Manor awake. It had been a slightly awkward Christmas dinner, when they all sat down with Remus, who was awkwardly trying to make conversation, with a giant angry Santa Clause glaring at him, something that Harry and Draco found very amusing. Christmas day had been exceptionally full of surprises, he recalled laughing at his mother, when he'd discovered her asleep in the same bed as Hestia Jones. Hermione had said something about him being too naïve again, but he was too busy laughing at how drunk his mother had gotten the night before, that he failed to see it as anything more than two innocent friends passing out together. There were plenty of embarrassed adults that day, and Harry felt that if he were a vindictive child, he would have been likely to put all the new information he had on them to good use, but blackmail was never really his style.

"Remus' job won't be affected though, will it?" Neville asked. Ted had been threatening to fire both Remus and Tonks for what was going on between them.

"Nah, Andromeda said if he did, she'd close his whole department, then re-open it with Remus in charge," Draco chuckled, "She's a little shocked about it, what with Remus being older than Tonks is, but I think she realised that Tonks could probably do worse,"

"Still didn't stop Tonks from having to sleep on my couch over the holidays," Harry chuckled, "Dobby got such a fright when he discovered she sleeps nude,"

"I know how he feels," Draco grimaced, "She sleep walks sometimes, I can still see that house-elf tattoo on her butt winking at me,"

Harry and Neville were still laughing when they left the girls toilet, even Draco was chuckling as he used magic to lock the door behind them. They were laughing so loudly, that they hadn't noticed the person watching them, each of them all jumping with fright when they saw Ginny standing there with her bright smile in place.

"What's the joke?" She asked, eager to be let in on the fun.

"Erm," Draco said.

"Well," Neville stuttered.

"Erm, well," Harry said, then being reminded of the muggle Christmas crackers that Ted Tonks had purchased, quickly said, "Who did the wizard marry?" then quickly added, "A long-time Ghoul-friend,"

There was a moment of awkward silence, with Draco and Neville watching Harry like he'd gone insane and Ginny staring at him with her wide inquisitive yes.

"Ha, Ha-ha!" Ginny burst out loudly, giggling happily for a second, then stopping instantly, "You're very funny Harry,"

"Em, we'll see you in a bit Harry, for the, thing," Draco said, "We'll take care of the other thing then come get you," He winked, then grabbed Neville who was just grinning like an idiot and dragged him off.

"What thing?" Ginny asked, who was very delighted to find herself alone with Harry.

"Hm, oh, duelling stuff," Harry chuckled nervously, "We're planning something big to help with the last tournament, can't let you know, what with Percy and all,"

"Oh, I would never tell," Ginny promised him, "I would like your team to win, you seem so down lately,"

"Do I?" Harry frowned.

"Yes, I think you're angry that the wrong people are getting hurt," She said in a strangely thoughtful tone.

"Wrong people?" Harry frowned, almost worried about what she meant by that.

"Yes, I think you need better motivation," She said happily, "but, until then, I wanted to give you this," She said

Harry felt the urge to reach for his wand when Ginny reached into her bag, he was close to doing it before she held out a decorated card and presented it to him.

"Happy Valentine's day!" She said cutely, "Percy said I should pick someone special to give this to, so I thought of you,"

"Oh, right," Harry chuckled nervously, "I didn't even think," He said taking the card gingerly, fearing that it might blow up and kill him.

"Read it," She said, making it sound like the happiest order in the history of orders given.

"Um, sure," He said nervously, peeling it open and seeing a drawing that he supposed was him, holding hands with Ginny, "He's brave and kind, never leaves a friend behind, he's the best boy I know, and he's my best friend, forever,"

"And I put kisses on it, Pansy said you had to put kisses on them, so that the boy knows you like them," Ginny said, not looking remotely shy about stepping forward and pointing to the little X's on the card.

"I didn't think to get you anything," Harry said, trying to act as though he was embarrassed by this, in truth he'd given Hermione a card and a box of her favourite muggle sweets, which then reminded him, and he put his hand into his bag, thought of the sweets and offered Ginny a handful for herself, "Call it my signature gift," He chuckled.

"Oh, you don't have to," Ginny giggled, "I spoke to Daddy about making you an Auror when you left Hogwarts, he said anything for me, so you'll get to be one the second you finish your 7th year,"

"Oh, right, wow," Harry chuckled.

"No need to thank me," She giggled cutely.

"Hey Harry, saw the sweets you gave Hermione, well done lover boy," Parvati said with a giggle, as she walked by with her twin sister.

Ginny looked down at the handful of sweets that Harry was holding out to her, and instantly recoiled as if they offended her. This time, Harry felt the very real urge to reach for his wand, when Ginny's smile turned into that dark look of anger.

"Ginny?" Harry asked, his fingers curling around his wand while trying to make it look like he wasn't going for it.

"Hermione Granger," Ginny said, saying the name with the same disgust that Ron would have for Hermione, "You like her," Ginny nodded.

"She's my friend," Harry said, failing to hide the protective edge his words took.

"Right," Ginny nodded, staring into space.

This went on for quite a while, Harry being able to see the struggle going on in Ginny's eyes as she processed this. He was inches away from casting a stun on her and running, when her faced clear and her bright smile appeared.

"That's alright," She said robotically, "Those are your sweets, I'm sure they're good, enjoy your card,"

Then as quickly as she had come, she turned and walked away, heading down the corridor and turning off to disappear. Storing the card in his bag, Harry rushed to catch up to Draco and Neville, feeling that it was suddenly a bad idea to be alone right now. He wondered for a moment how Draco and Neville were going to get the hair they needed, that answer coming rather quickly, when he skidded round a corner, to find Draco and Neville, carrying Ron Weasley, Crabb and Goyle into a broom cupboard.

"Give us a hand Harry," Draco said, huffing as he struggled to pull Crabb into the cupboard.

"What did you both do?" Harry asked, quickly running to help.

"It was pretty cool actually," Neville said cheerfully, "Draco had walked up to Ron and asked if they could bury the hatchet and offered them a few cupcakes,"

"You laced them with sleeping potion?" Harry guessed.

"Nope, the second they started eating, I whipped out my wand and stunned all 3 of them," Draco said, grinning at Harry's reaction, "Sleeping potion will only knock them out for an hour, least this way they won't wake up until tomorrow morning,"

"I thought only two of us were going in?" Harry asked, choosing to ignore the fact that in a time when students were constantly being attacked, Draco felt the need to do the same.

"Well, I could hardly stun two and just let one walk away, could I?!"

"True, alright, but Neville is going to have to change," Harry said, closing the cupboard door and taking Ron's robe from him.

"Why?" Neville asked, suddenly having to change as well.

"Because, if Crabb or Goyle don't show up, they're either going to think he's been attacked, or something is going on," Harry explained.

"Right," Neville nodded, taking Crabb's robes.

Once they had the robes and a few locks of their victims' hairs, the three boys had rushed back to the girl's toilet, just as night was beginning to cover the school. It was in the dark that the 3 of them had changed into the Slytherin robes, with Draco and Neville barely able to fit theirs.

"This stuff is going to taste awful," Draco said, "Just fair warning," He added, while spooning a few drops into three separate tumblers, and handing them to Harry and Neville.

"Now what?" Harry asked curiously.

"We add the hairs and then poof, our I.Q drops about 50%" Draco grinned.

Without a doubt, Polyjuice potion had to have been the worst thing that Harry had ever tasted in his whole life. Both Draco and Neville had felt the urge to be sick and had rushed quickly into the toilets for dear life. Meanwhile, Harry stumbled drunkenly towards the sinks, looking at his reflection and marvelling at the strange change that happened before his very eyes. He had grown an inch, his hair shortened and turned bright red, millions of freckles began to appear all over his face, which got thinner and sallower, his eyes changed colour and before he knew it, Ron Weasley was staring back at him, with a look of shock on his stupid face.

"This, does now look good on me," He heard Crabb, who was really Draco say, and turned around to see Crabb looking back at him, "I was gorgeous, my hair, it was beautiful,"

"This is weird," Neville said, appearing and looking like an exact copy of Goyle, "Still, I've always wanted big muscles," He chuckled stupidly.

"Right, how long does this last?" Harry asked, thinking he should have done earlier.

"We have exactly one hour before we turn back into ourselves," Draco said confidently, then when he saw the angry looks on Harry and Neville's face, asked, "What?"

"Come on!"

With the entire length of the school to run, they had reached the dungeon with less than 45 minutes to spare. It was only occurring to them now, that no one thought to check where the Slytherin common room was but was saved looking when he heard a pompous voice calling out for Ron, which he remembered was him.

"Ronald, where have you been?!" Percy snapped, approaching Harry and hitting him hard across the back of the head, "The meeting is starting in a few minutes!"

"Meeting, right, sorry," Harry said, trying to sound as pompous as he could.

"You two may as well come along, Mcnair and Flint are being held by Flitwick, they were stupid enough to get caught fighting," Percy sneered, "If I catch any of you losing it, I'll Crucio you both where you stand, is that understood?"

"Yes," Draco said in a slow voice.

"Huh?" Neville replied stupidly.

"Yes, Percy," Harry said, nursing the ache on the back of his head.

"Good, follow me," Percy sneered, "Father was going to visit the common room, but he's been forced to go down an old road, for fear that Zabini's mother, might be leaking information, and couldn't risk Blaze over hearing,"

"Zabini?" Harry asked, then recoiled when Percy looked at him as if going to hit him again.

"Yes, you weren't told about their involvement because father wasn't sure about them," Percy said, seeming to weigh out how much he wanted to tell Ron/Harry, "The idea was that he would use the seductress to gain information from Fudge, it worked to an extent, Dumbledore was removed from the school moments ago, now only Snape stands in our way,"

"WHAT!" Harry, Draco and Neville all gasped, "Dumbledore's gone?!"

"The best news all year wouldn't you say little brother?" Percy responded without looking at them, "That hack Lockhart, let slip that Creevey was attacked, Father's threat to the governors worked and the blood traitor Tonks, was overruled,"

Harry frowned, looked back at Draco and Neville, who both were looking as angry as Harry felt right now. He knew that without Dumbledore, the attacks were going to increase, that they didn't stand a chance against the heir now.

"Round here," Percy finally said, heading towards a secret passage, that sounded like it was filled with water. They stepped through a large painting of a vampire who had bid them good evening, then turned into a bat and flew out the side of the painting. Percy then led the boys down into a deeper part of the dungeon that opened into a wide room, above them, was a glass ceiling, which showed that they were beneath the black lake.

"Wow," Neville said, not helping himself.

"Glad to see something actually registers in that head of yours Gregory," Percy said, walking further and stopping outside a door to face them, "You and Crabb wait out here, Ron, you know what to do if this goes badly, remember, you only have to mean it for the Cruciatus curse to work,"

Harry didn't know what to do if this went badly, he only feared that what he might have to do, will require magic that he didn't know. Still, he took one last look at Draco and Neville, who instantly took out their wands and nodded a silent promise to come if needed. He then followed Percy into a dark room, jumping when Percy shut the door behind them, and looking out at the 4 people who were standing there. Each of them was wearing black robes and wore masks over their faces. He couldn't tell who they were, but he knew they were adults, and he knew who one of them was, when he spoke.

"Percy, my son," Arthur Weasley said, "What took you so long?"

"Was held up by Snape, he's been on high-alert since Dumbledore was removed," Percy told him.

"And your excuse Ronald?" Arthur asked him with disgust.

"With me father," Percy spoke for him, "It's getting more and more dangerous for all of us, Ginny has taken to hiding in the common room,"

"Soon it will not matter," Arthur said, removing his mask and taking a seat, the second he did the room shone with bright light, revealing a highly decorated library and study room. The walls were packed with bookcases, that Harry could only assume had books filled with dark magic, this based on the titles alone. The wide circular table in the middle of the room, had 12 chairs around it, with the biggest chair being empty. The other masked people moved and sat in the chairs that were spaced very far apart, only one of them removing their masks. "Percy, Ronald, you remember Yaxley," Arthur said.

"Yes, Hello Mister Yaxley," Percy said politely.

"Hello Mister Yaxley," Harry said, when they all stared at him.

"Boys," Yaxley nodded.

"For the purpose of this meeting, our other two guests will remain faceless and nameless to you both, for obvious reasons," Arthur told them, "Percy, sit by me, Ronald, busy yourself with a book,"

"Yes, father," Harry managed to say in time with Percy.

Harry wasn't sure what on earth he was going to pretend to read, but he was very aware of the clock ticking away on the wall, realising he only had half-an-hour left. So, he quickly went to the bookcase that was nearest the door and opened the glass door that protected the books inside, and grabbed the first book he could find, opening it up. He was disgusted to see that the book itself, was on how to make Inferi – the magical equivalent to zombies, it had details on how to make them and even the spell required to do it. Lucky for Harry, the meeting started quickly.

"Dumbledore is gone from the school and I've directed my Aurors to investigate Rubeus Hagrid, the disgusting giant was the one framed from my sister's death, when he brought an acromantula into the school, with any luck he'll be in Azkaban tonight," Arthur said, sounding pleased with himself.

"And what of Snape?" One of the masked wizards asked, his voice a little soft.

"It won't be long before he walks down the wrong corridor," Arthur replied, his voice dangerously happy, "we've targeted Lockhart as well, as useless as he is, he claims that he knows where the Chamber is, this is a lie, but we can't risk him stumbling on it,"

"I could take care of him, would love to kill someone famous," The soft-spoken wizard said.

"No," A female voice told him, "That would draw far too much attention to us, that's why there haven't been any deaths yet, I say yet because it seems like Ginny is losing control,"

"Careful how you speak woman," Arthur said dangerously, "My daughter has done fantastically, rallying the students as she has done,"

"It's amazing progress," Yaxley agreed, "The Dark Lord himself will be proud to know of her abilities,"

"He already does," Arthur said proudly.

"How is this possible?" The woman asked, "We have not heard one word, there hasn't been any sign of him since Quirrell failed us,"

"I am not at liberty to say," Arthur said secretly, "But know this, he will return very soon, this I promise,"

"You promised last time Arthur, yet here we are, skulking in the dark like rats," The woman said.

"Speaking of, how is your spy getting on?" Yaxley asked her.

"Refuses to speak to me, his position has changed again, though I fear there is nothing to worry about now, they're not yet aware of us," The woman responded.

"And what of your progress on Black?" Yaxley asked.

"The plan is proceeding nicely, if we can keep The Order distracted long enough, he will join us soon," She replied.

"Good," Arthur said approvingly, "Once he is with us, we can search for the other, once that is done, our Lord will join us, Ginny is almost ready, she only needs more time and we can buy her this,"

"You seem so sure that he will come back," Yaxley said, "I still don't understand how the…"

At the exact moment, Harry had dropped his book and could feel the eyes of the others on his back. He stayed very still, watching his reflection against a glass cabinet begin to change. His heart racing when he heard Yaxley ask, "Your boy a metamorph?"

"Indeed, he is not!" Arthur snapped.

Harry looked at the door, but he felt how quickly the other wizards stood up, he could see the reflection of the wands pointing at his back, and the angry face of Arthur Weasley bearing down on him.

"Who are you?!" Arthur demanded, "Where is my son?!"

Before Harry could try to run for the door, the lights went out and he felt something grab his hand. He was pulled forward he and felt his body being pushed through a small hole, appearing instantly on the other-side of the door, in front of Draco and Neville. Both were slowly turning back into themselves, while Harry reached into the robes and put on his glasses, looking down at the one who had saved him.

"Wispy?" Harry asked, confused by the elf's sudden appearance, he was holding his hands in the air, a strange wave of energy flowing from his palms to the door.

"Are you alright?!" Draco said quickly, hearing the commotion coming from inside the room.

"You must go, now, I can only hold the door for a moment!" Wispy said urgently, the sounds of spells hitting the door.

"Why did you save me?" Harry asked quickly.

"Because, because, you is good to house-elves sir," Wispy said, his arms shaking with the force of the magic now attacking the door, beating back the elf's magic.

"Harry come on!" Draco said urgently.

"Get through this door, I want to know who they are!" Roared Arthur Weasley's voice.

"Thank you, thank you Wispy," Harry said, watching the elf struggling to keep Arthur Weasley at bay. He turned and ran with Draco and Neville who were leading the way, up the stairs they ran, reaching the portrait of the vampire, they were almost through when Harry heard the door smash open.

"YOU!" Harry heard Arthur roar.

Harry stopped with the urge to go back, but when the corridor filled with green light, he knew there was nothing to save.

The run back to the broom closet had been a swift one, they stopped for nothing and even manged to avoid being caught by a few prefects along the way. They'd hurried through, changing back into their school robes, making sure that Ron, Crabb and Goyle would wake as they had been stunned. They were in the girl's bathroom cleaning up as quickly as they could, when they heard Professor McGonagall's voice echoing through the corridors.

"All students report to their house dormitories immediately, teachers to the 3rd floor corridor at once!"

It had almost become a nasty habit that Harry would carry his invisibility cloak around with him. He learned that the bag given to him by Remus, wouldn't carry the cloak like it did with the rest of his items, so when he got his bag back from the cubicle in the girl's toilet, he instantly searched for it, struggling to pull it free from the bag's depths.

"What are you doing?" Neville asked quickly.

"I've got a bad feeling," Harry said, pulling the cloak around himself, "Just, both of you go back to the common room, I'll tell you everything once I'm back, I promise,"

"Harry what's wrong, what is it?" Draco asked him urgently, but Harry shook his head and pushed passed Draco, "Harry!"

"I, I can't explain," Harry said, "Just be careful,"

And without another word, with his bag over him, his cloak hiding him and his wand ready, he rushed from the toilet and headed to where the teachers were meeting. He wanted to be wrong, more than anything in his life he wanted to be very wrong about this. But it was too much of a coincidence to ignore. Mr Weasley had said it himself, "It won't be long before he walks down the wrong corridor," Those same words repeating in his mind repeatedly. Even the thought of poor Wispy, who was very likely dead now, couldn't pull Harry away from the gut-retching feeling that was plaguing him right now.

Upon reaching the 3rd floor corridor, Harry had come at it at such speeds, that he almost barged into Gilderoy Lockhart. Along with Professors Mcgonagall, Sprout and Flitwick, Harry looked up at the wall to see a fresh new message, spread across the stone in blood.

"The protectors are gone, soon the Heir will rise again," Lockhart read, his voice quivering in fear.

"What does this mean Minerva?" Flitwick asked.

"It means, that we can no longer protect our students," She replied, her voice empty and hollow, as she turned to look at something with horror in her eyes.

Harry had been in such a hurry that he must have ran passed him, been in too much of a hurry to save him from harm, that he never realised it was too late. For when Harry turned, he could not speak, gasp, move or even breath. For the sight of Severus Snape floating in the air, his wand laying on the ground and a look of calm determination on his petrified face, was too much for Harry to bear.