Chapter Ten: The Invisible Woman
Harry tapped the battered piece of parchment with his wand and muttered under his breath, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." I watched in amazement as the whole of Hogwarts appeared as a map on the parchment. Squinting as we walked, Harry scanned the map for Snape's storage room.
"Oh!" Harry whispered as we made our way down a set of stairs. I bent closer, spotting the place where Harry was looking. There was someone already inside Snape's office, but it wasn't the Potions master. A label with the name Bartemius Crouch was stamped, unmoving, on the office outline.
"What is he doing here?" Harry whispered. Then, "Oof!"
I felt my leg go past where the next stair should have been. Harry was clearly experiencing the same sensation, because a moment later we found ourselves twisting and flailing ridiculously. I somehow found myself facing the way we had come, flinging my arms out to keep from falling. Harry did the same, and with the handrails out of reach, we found ourselves gripping each other in a desperate endeavor to stay upright.
The egg and the map weren't quite as lucky. The egg bounced heavily down the stairs, bursting open and wailing ceaselessly to the empty corridor. The map fluttered down several stairs, just outside arms length. Harry pulled the Invisibility Cloak more securely over us as I made to draw my wand to summon them back.
A fierce cry sounded from around the corner. "PEEVES!"
Harry and I froze as Filch came limping furiously toward us.
Filch ranted and raved loudly about having Peeves expelled from the castle before noticing the egg. I twisted silently on the spot to see Filch at the bottom of the stairs as he lifted and shut the egg. The wailing ceased, and I could feel Harry stop breathing; his heart was hammering against our firmly-pressed chests.
Sick with apprehension and utter helplessness, Harry and I stood there, gripping each other tightly as Filch climbed the staircase in search of a nonexistent poltergeist.
"Filch? What's going on?" Snape appeared from around the corner looking furious.
I bit back a groan, hanging my head with defeat as Snape climbed the staircase to join the caretaker just a few steps below where Harry and I were hiding. My breathing was uneven as I listened to them speaking simultaneously about the situation. I stiffened as Snape mentioned that he noticed his office had been broken into. I glanced up at Harry, who had shut his eyes tightly, clearly wishing he were somewhere, anywhere else.
When I looked back around at the two arguing men, Snape was staring straight at us, saying they ought to search for intruders. My mouth went dry as I stared into those dark eyes that seemed to see straight through the Invisibility Cloak. But a moment later, Snape had moved his gaze to the corridor below where the measured rhythm of a wooden leg was now emanating.
Snape stopped talking very abruptly as Moody limped into sight.
"Pajama party, is it?" he growled.
His magical eye traveled over Snape and Filch to where Harry and I stood, wrapped in a ridiculous embrace. Moody's jaw dropped in surprise for a brief moment as our eyes connected, and I realized with a jolt that his magical eye could see through the cloak. I thought the charade was through, but Moody swiftly sobered himself and addressed Snape's concern about his office; I heaved a silent sigh of relief.
Snape rattled on about students stealing Potions ingredients from his private stores—Harry and I glanced guiltily at each other—and Moody did little but irritate Snape with subtle accusations. I frowned, glancing at Snape, who looked as though he were using immeasurable amounts of self-control.
I was pulled out of the conversation and back into reality when Harry suddenly lifted and waved his arms frantically, mouthing something. I turned back around to see an expression of comprehension dawning on the Potion master's face.
"Accio Parchment!" Moody cried, and I felt Harry relax. I saw the map soaring past Snape's hands and into Moody's. "My mistake. It's mine."
But Snape wasn't buying it. "Potter," he said quietly.
I snapped my gaze back to Harry, mouthing "What did you do?" Harry had a look of pain mixed with resignation on his face as he shook his head at me.
I turned back around to find Snape staring back at us yet again as though he could suddenly see us properly. I felt my breath catch in my throat as he stretched out his arms and began moving up the stairs. He was so close now. Too close…
I wrapped an arm around Harry's waist and bent him backward. He put a hand down on the stair behind him, and together we leaned as far away as we could from Snape's outstretched fingers.
"There's nothing there, Snape! But I'll be happy to tell the headmaster how quickly your mind jumped to Harry Potter!"
Snape turned to look at Moody, his hand so close to the small of my back that I thought he would surely feel the Invisibility Cloak. The moment lingered in the air as Harry and I gripped each other, waiting hopelessly for the moment that was sure to follow.
But then, just when I thought the end had come, Snape lowered his hands.
I felt myself flood with relief as Snape swept down the stairs, still exchanging angered words with Moody. But I wasn't listening. The next thing I knew Snape and Filch had disappeared, and Moody had climbed the stairs to meet us, golden egg and map in hand.
"Close shave, Potter. Evans," he muttered. I would have laughed if we weren't still in the presence of a professor.
I righted myself, pulling Harry with me, and reached out to grip the distant handrail. I heaved myself out of the trick stair with a mighty pull, the Invisibility Cloak sliding off of me. I reached again, feeling Harry's invisible hand grasp my own, and I yanked him free. He slid out from under the Cloak and gazed hesitantly at Moody.
"What is this thing?" Moody asked, holding up the map.
"Map of Hogwarts," Harry said honestly as Moody's magical eye scanned the parchment excitedly.
"Did you happen to see who broke into Snape's office?"
"It was Mr. Crouch," I replied, stretching my leg, which had stiffened considerably during its time in the trick stair. Moody's eye was whizzing frantically over the map in surprise. "Seems odd that he hasn't been around for the Tournament, but managed to get up here in the middle of the night to sneak around some professor's private stores." I grimaced as my leg twitched involuntarily.
"Well, Barty Crouch was the best at catching Dark wizards," Moody said, sounding distracted by his intense concentration on the map.
"That's nice, but that doesn't explain why he was in Snape's office," I said, testing to see if my leg would hold my weight.
"Professor Moody?" Harry interrupted gently. "Do you think this could have anything to do with what's been happening?"
"Like what?" Moody snapped.
"Er—I don't know. Odd stuff's been happening though, don't you think? Like at the World Cup—"
"The Dark Mark and the Death Eaters," I interjected smoothly. Harry nodded fervently.
Both of Moody's eyes widened. "You're sharp, the two of you." He paused, considering, then added, speaking as though only to himself, "If there's one thing I hate, it's a Death Eater who walked free."
Harry and I stared at him. But before I could properly consider Moody's unspoken accusation, Moody spoke, holding up the map.
"Can I borrow this?"
"Oh!" Harry exclaimed. "Yeah, ok."
"Good boy." And with that Moody handed Harry his golden egg and escorted us to the top of the staircase. It was there that he turned to face us again.
"Have either of you considered a career as an Auror?"
Harry and I glanced at each other, taken aback.
"Something to consider. Good night, you two." And he disappeared in the opposite direction from where we were headed.
Harry and I flung the Invisibility Cloak over us once again, and we set off to Ravenclaw Tower in silence.
"We'll have to snatch some gillyweed another time," I said as we neared the entrance to the tower.
"Yeah," Harry said, sounding distracted.
"It sounds like Snape has an eye on you. Maybe it would be better if I went and got it so you don't get in trouble. No, I insist," I added, seeing the dismissive look on Harry's face.
"Well, take the Cloak at least. Tomorrow at breakfast. You can shove it in your bag."
"Sounds good. Well, good night, Harry," I said, stepping out from underneath the Cloak.
"Good night, Sam. Sorry for almost getting you in trouble. And thank you so much for everything."
I grinned. "Always a pleasure." And Harry disappeared.
Harry surreptitiously slipped his Invisibility Cloak into my bag the next morning when I feigned a conversation with Hermione over the Banishment Charm we were learning in class. Ron looked thoroughly confused, but sobered up when Hermione stamped discreetly on his foot. Harry grinned and mouthed a thank you as I moved back to the Ravenclaw table. Hermione immediately leaned forward to ask Harry what was going on.
When lunch rolled around, I ate quickly, checking to make sure that both Professors Moody and Snape were at the staff table, and that the former was definitely not scanning Harry's map of Hogwarts. I slipped out of the Great Hall, ducked into an empty corridor to dawn the Cloak, and strode purposefully to the dungeons. They were entirely empty of students, so I easily navigated my way through the dungeons to Snape's private storage room. With a whispered Alohamora, I stepped inside.
"Whoa," I whispered, staring around at the wide variety of Potions ingredients at my disposal. I shut the door and found myself immediately immersed in reading the labels closest to me. I ran one finger against a shelf as I walked the length of the storage room, quivering in excitement.
Dad had always been dreadful at Potions, and so my mother had stepped in to teach me what she called "a subtle science and exact art." The only time my mother and I every spoke was over a bubbling cauldron. She never involved herself with my education aside from that, except to test me ruthlessly on what I had learned.
I had accepted her lessons grudgingly at first, but found myself undeniably intrigued by the subject. Talent at Potions was perhaps the only thing I had inherited from my mother.
I scanned the shelves, forcing myself to focus on the plant I had come here for. Pleased when I finally figured out the organizational system Snape was using, I plucked a small container of gillyweed from its spot in the room and turned to exit.
"You know what it means as well as I do, Severus!" a terrified voice cried as the door to the storage room flung open to reveal a shaking Karkaroff and a statue-like Snape.
I ducked automatically behind the ladder next to me as Snape brushed closely past to return one of his Potions ingredients to its rightful spot. Karkaroff followed, standing uncomfortably close to Snape as he pressed his point. I slid out to the other side of the ladder, not wanting either one of them to accidentally bump into me.
"Look at it! It's worse now!" Karkaroff hissed, pulling his left sleeve up violently.
I couldn't help myself; instead of dashing for the door as I ought to have, I doubled back to see what Karkaroff was showing the Potions master.
Etched on the skin of his left forearm was a faded, but still moving tattoo of…I jolted in shock: it was the Dark Mark.
"You can't pretend you haven't noticed yours," Karkaroff said, sounding hysterical. I inhaled suddenly in surprise. Karkaroff didn't appear to notice, but Snape's eyes swept the storeroom at the sound. I hurried out the open door, not daring to look back.
I collapsed against a column in an empty corridor, pulling the Cloak off me and shoving it unceremoniously into my bag. The school bell rang, and I could hear students moving to their next classes. I straightened, striding away from the dungeons, trying to forget what I had seen.
"Dumbledore trusts him," I whispered to myself. "There has to be a reason."
I found Harry in the library the day before the Second Task and handed him the gillyweed and his Cloak wordlessly. He grinned, looking relieved.
"Hey, Evans! Flitwick wants you," said a boy with flaming red hair who had appeared from behind a bookshelf. "And Hermione, McGonagall's looking for you," said the boy he was with. They were identical twins and clearly related to Ron Weasley. I wondered just how many siblings the boy had…
Hermione glanced at me curiously. I shrugged.
"Must be some sort of smart-kids-only thing," Ron muttered, shutting his library book with a snap and settling back into the chair.
"Good luck tomorrow, Harry," I said with a wink, and Hermione and I left the library.
"Do you know what this is about?" Hermione asked, hitching her bag up on her shoulder.
"No idea."
"Miss Granger, Miss Evans," said a stern voice as we stepped into the corridor. We turned to find Professors McGonagall and Flitwick waiting for us. "This way, please."
"Thanks for helping Harry out with that—er—assignment," Hermione said as we walked. I flashed her a grin, catching onto her line of thought.
"You're welcome," I said sincerely. She smiled back.
"Miss Evans," Flitwick squeaked in interruption. "I was wondering whether you and your fellow band members might consider performing at the third task."
I suppressed the urge to shout a triumphant, "Yes!" and instead responded with, "We'd love to!"
"Much of the third task won't be able to be viewed by the audience, so I'd like to have The Four Houses perform during that time. Would that work?"
"Absolutely," I replied, nodding excitedly. "I'll call the boys together to start up rehearsals again as soon as possible."
"Wonderful!" squeaked Flitwick as we came up on the entrance to Dumbledore's office. We knocked on the door at the top of the stairs and were invited inside.
"Cho!" I called when the door swung open to reveal the expansive office. Cho was sitting in one of four chairs in front of Dumbledore's desk. Another of the chairs was filled by a young girl who, judging by her appearance, looked to be related to Fleur Delacour.
"Hey!" she replied, twisting around in her seat as Hermione and I entered. We seated ourselves in the remaining two seats and looked up at Dumbledore expectantly.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice," Dumbledore said kindly. "Now, please listen carefully, as I am about to tell you about the tournament's second task."
"But sir, why tell us? Won't we just see it tomorrow?" Cho asked abruptly. Dumbledore smiled pleasantly in response.
"I'm afraid you won't. You see, tomorrow, the four champions will have to reclaim that which means the most to them from the bottom of the Black Lake."
"Oh," I breathed, catching on. Dumbledore nodded encouragingly at me, and I spoke up. "It's us. We're going to be at the bottom of the lake."
"What?" Cho said, staring around at all of us.
"Each one of you is to be put in a bewitched sleep until your respective champion comes to rescue you."
"Oh my," Hermione said, blushing furiously as she glanced around at the four of us and deducted to whom each of us belonged. I followed her gaze.
The girl I didn't know must be Fleur's, of course. Cho had to be Cedric's, seeing as they had been dating since the Yule Ball. I had assumed Hermione would be Harry's, but when I realized I had no connection to Viktor Krum, the last champion, and Hermione had gone to the Yule Ball with him, Hermione must be Krum's to rescue.
Understanding now why Hermione was turning violent shades of red, I shifted in my seat and ducked my head. I couldn't seem to suppress the smile that made its way across my face. I was what Harry Potter would sorely miss.
I looked back up at Dumbledore, who was smiling gently at us as he raised his wand. "You won't feel a thing," he promised. And everything went black.
I gasped as my head broke the surface. I blinked rapidly, treading water instinctively as I registered where I was.
"Sam, help me with her!" Harry's voice sounded close. I twisted to find Harry struggling with the girl from Dumbledore's office who clearly couldn't swim. I swam around to the girl's other side, and Harry and I each lifted one of her arms around our respective shoulders, kicking for the shoreline.
The crowd was cheering loudly as Harry and I found our feet on solid ground. Hermione and Ron began attacking Harry with towels, and Fleur scooped up who I soon discovered to be her little sister and held her close. I reached for a towel and took a hesitant step away from the people surrounding me.
"Oh, no you don't!" Ron cried, grabbing my arm. I immediately thought that he would be upset that it hadn't been him at the bottom of the lake, seeing as he was Harry's best friend. I mentally prepared myself.
"Oh, you, uh—" I said through chattering teeth, intending to argue that I had no control over being what Harry would miss the most, when I found myself being tightly embraced.
Ron released me after a long moment, but not before I had shaken off my surprise. I stared wide-eyed at him as he grinned back at me.
"Welcome to the group," he said sincerely, and I couldn't help but return his infectious smile.
Hermione hugged me as well before being pulled off to the side by Viktor Krum. Harry stepped forward next, looking both surprised and content. We embraced each other for a long time, dissolving into a fit of giggles by the end. It didn't make sense: we were just happy to be alive.