"It's happened again!"
"Have you heard? There's been another attack - same as that Hufflepuff before Christmas!"
The news flew up and down the corridors of Hogwarts as the students left their classrooms at lunchtime on a cold, snowy day in late January. Another student had been found petrified in the Charms Corridor; this time it was a seventh-year Gryffindor boy.
Stepping out of Transfiguration, her book bag over her shoulder, Cosima felt an icy vice close tightly around her heart as she heard the other's talking. Helios… All thoughts of lunch and then a trip to the library completely abandoned, she took to her heels and ran down the Transfiguration corridor as though a giant acromantula was on her heels, only dimly aware that Merlin was following on behind her. Her blood thundered in her ears. What if the thing, the shadowy creature of her nightmares - whatever it was - had got her cousin? Why hadn't she and Merlin figured out what it was yet? She'd never forgive herself if Helios was hurt!
She pelted down the main staircase so quickly, she almost fell head first down the last few steps. Stumbling, she regained her balance, and then sprinted for the Charms corridor, uncaring of the odd looks she was attracting. She was charging along so fast that when someone stepped in front of her at the head of the Charms corridor, she crashed headlong right into them. Whoever they were, they were significantly bigger than she was and the collision sent her staggering back; falling heavily back on her behind, her book bag clattering to the floor.
"Hey, what do you think you're playing at? Watch where…titch? What are you doing down here?"
"Helios!" Cosima felt her whole body go wobbly with relief. Helios Scamander was not the second victim; he was standing right in front of her, hands on his hips, looking uncommonly serious but very much alive and well. Only now did she realise she was out of breath, panting desperately for air after sprinting across half the school. "They said… a seventh year… Griffyndor boy… had been attacked…and I thought…"
"Ah," said Helios understandingly, face softening as he helped her up. He gave her a quick, reassuring hug. "They didn't tell you it was George Seymour. Poor bugger had forgotten his textbook. He went back to the tower to get it and never came back to class. We found him when the bell rang – no idea how long he'd been lying there. The rest of the teachers are on their way down now, so you'd best head off again."
Just as Merlin came skidding to a halt at her side, panting, Cosima peered around Helios's sturdy frame. Lying lifelessly upon the corridor floor, his feet in a large puddle of water for some reason, was a tall red-haired boy in Gryffindor robes. His body was frozen in an unusual position; it was clear that he had been kneeling down when it happened, and one hand was thrown up across his face as though to defend himself. Like Gwion, he was chalk white and still as a statue, an expression of horror contorting his face. Cosima's stomach lurched unpleasantly at the memories it brought back.
The spell book Seymour had so obviously gone to retrieve was lying open, cover-upwards, on the floor where it had evidently fallen from his grasp. Had he dropped it and been kneeling to pick it up? Professor Fisher and a number of Seventh Year Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students were gathered around him, talking in hushed, anxious whispers. One of the Hufflepuff girls was crying.
Rather bizarrely, also on the floor nearby was an old wooden bucket; after a couple of second's confusion, Cosima recognised it as the one Peeves liked to use to dump water on unsuspecting students between classes. That would explain where the water on the floor had come from at least. She looked back at Seymour's frozen form and shivered.
"Go on," Helios prompted firmly, nodding in the direction they had just come from. "You get back to the Great Hall now; you two don't need to see any more of this. I don't want you having more nightmares, titch."
"But…did anyone see what did it?" Merlin asked urgently. "Maybe Peeves did…?" He trailed off as Dippet, Dumbledore and Merrythought came hurrying down the corridor towards them, all looking exceptionally serious.
"Never you mind," Helios said sternly, shooing them both away again. "Back to the Great Hall with you."
With the arrival of so many members of staff, Cosima and Merlin really had no option but to do as they were told. Slowly, they made their way back up to the Great Hall, which was abuzz with students anxiously trying to figure out what had happened and who it was specifically who had been petrified. The bloody Halloween message was much discussed again. Professors Beery and Slughorn were the only staff members present and they resolutely refused to answer any questions.
Neither Cosima nor Merlin had much of an appetite for lunch anymore and sat picking thoughtfully at their food while the other Ravenclaws at the table discussed what had happened. They'd been through over three dozen books since coming back after the Christmas holidays and had found absolutely nothing that could be a possible lead. How was it possible that whatever this was had evaded the notice of all wizardkind?!
They still had to cover the main library, but whatever they might find, it would be too late for George Seymour! And given that whatever had frozen he and Gwion was obviously still in the school, how long was everyone else safe?
None of the seventh year Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs nor any of the other teachers appeared during the rest of lunch, and so Beery and Slughorn sent them off to their afternoon classes as normal.
Luckily for the first year Ravenclaws, their class was History of Magic; the only subject in which the studious youngsters did not pay avid attention. Professor Binns droned on and on, his flat, monotonous voice making their eyes glaze and their attention wander and so the class was able to keep discussing the newest attack unhindered amongst themselves without him even pausing for breath.
Sat at the back of the class, Cosima and Merlin whispered together anxiously, digging out the piles of notes they had been making on their research thus far. They'd managed to eliminate dozens of creatures as potential culprits but none of that was getting them any further in managing to pin down what it was.
"It's impossible to get to the Charms corridor without going through the Entrance Hall or the courtyard," Merlin hissed bewilderedly. "There's only a bathroom at the far end. How could no one have seen anything? Unless someone apparated…"
"You can't apparate inside Hogwarts, remember?" Cosima whispered back. "The wards prevent it. It can't have been someone from outside. Something is happening inside the school! But if it's something that's evading Dumbledore, Kettleburn and Merrythought, then what in Parcelsus are we dealing with? And what chance do you and I have of finding out what it is?"
"We're going to need to start on the main library," Merlin sighed tiredly. "It's all we have left."
They'd spent every moment of their free time reading since returning, and on top of their heavier homework load, the both Ravenclaws were nigh on exhausted. They were also beginning to grow disheartened at their lack of success. It felt too much like they were failing Gwion.
"We'd best go dig some books out after dinner then, and make a start tonight," Cosima agreed with a grimace, raising a hand to rub weary eyes. "And if we spend most of the weekend working through them, maybe we could make some good progress?"
By the time the students retreated to their various common rooms that evening, the full details of the mornings attack had done the rounds about the school. Seymour had been taken to the hospital wing and was now residing in the bed next to Gwion. Just like the first attack, no one had seen anything suspicious once again. Even Peeves had nothing to add. After much interrogation by the staff, and the eventual threat to summon the Bloody Baron, the poltergeist eventually confessed that he'd dropped the water on Seymour and then flown off to find another student to torment. None of the Gryffindors or Hufflepuffs who were in Charms class had heard anything at all to indicate that something had been going on outside in the corridor. They'd just gone to leave the class when the bell rung and found him lying in the corridor.
In the Ravenclaw common room, someone mentioned that Seymour was a muggle-born – and hadn't the first year Hufflepuff boy said his mother was muggle-born? Maybe it really was a monster that preyed on muggle-borns?! Then who could be controlling – and what did they have to gain by terrorising the pupils from non-wizarding families?
"Maybe there really is a Chamber of Secrets?" Myrtle Warren wondered out loud to the room at large. She and Olive Hornby for once seemed focussed on something besides sniping at each other.
"Whatever's going on, you can bet that none of the Slytherins will be harmed!" said one of the fourth years darkly. "It's going to be something to do with all of that pureblood tosh!"
"I'm still betting Lestrange has something to do with it!" James Shacklebolt stated. And it was true, the Trolls did seem to be the only pupils in the school who found the situation funny.
With the entire house gathered to mull over the details of the attack and swap opinions on the most likely culprit, for once the Ravenclaw common room was not an ideal environment for studying. Cosima and Merlin – who'd retrieved an enormous stack of books from the main library after dinner that evening – finally realised around ten o'clock that they were going to have to head to their dormitories if they actually wanted to take in what they were reading.
They gathered up their study materials and began to climb the circular staircase that lead to the various dormitories in the tower. About a third of the way up, Merlin came to a complete halt, staring out of one of the windows in confused surprise.
"What's wrong?" Cosima asked curiously, having nearly walked into him.
"It's…it's Uncle Percy!" Merlin said, flabbergasted, pointing out of the window in utter disbelief. "Just coming up to the main doors of the castle there, look!"
"And that's my uncle too!" Cosima exclaimed, peering out of the window and recognising the tall, fair-haired form of Theseus Scamander, who was walking at Percival Pendragon's side. In the glow of the flaming torches of the castle entrance, their dark cloaks stood out against the snowy grounds. "What are they doing here?"
"Dippet must have called them in," Merlin mused. "Maybe he wants them to investigate the attack?"
"They must suspect something really serious is going on if they're calling in the aurors," Cosima said quietly. "And the top two aurors in Britain at that! Or else the Ministry has heard and sent them here. I wonder what they think is to blame…"
"We could try to find out, I suppose," Merlin suggested. "Everyone's so caught up with talking about Seymour, I'm pretty sure we could sneak out of the common room without the prefects spotting us."
"If we get caught…" Cosima shivered, thinking of Apolyon Pringle's cane, made from the tail spike of a Hungarian Horntail, and the horror stories she'd heard from people who'd been on the receiving end of it. But then she thought of Gwion's frozen face again and her stomach twisted. They owed it to their friend to take a bit of a risk. And what was the threat of a caning compared to potentially helping prevent any more students from being petrified? "All right, let's go."
They hurriedly dumped their books in their respective dormitories, wrenching their bed curtains shut in the event anyone went up to look for them. Then they crept down the stairs and inched their way out of the common room, trying to remain as unobtrusive as possible, and making it look as though they were actually going into the small house library. Luckily, everyone else was too caught up in debating the mysterious attacks on students to spot them or to ask where they were going.
They slid out of the door to Ravenclaw Tower, finding the corridor before them dark, eerie and totally silent. They exchanged a tense, worried look – every sound they made would be magnified a hundredfold!
"How's your silencing spell?" Merlin whispered, and in the silence of the deserted hall it was almost as though he'd shouted. It was not a spell they would learn for some time in Charms class yet – but the majority of the Ravenclaws studied enough to be somewhat ahead of the other three houses in their year.
"Passable, I hope!" Cosima returned fervently. "Otherwise we are going to be in so much trouble!"
"Silencio!" They whispered together, pointing their wands at themselves, and then set off, creeping down along the corridors towards the entrance hall, making sure to keep to the shadows.
"You ought to be in bed!" hissed a portrait of an elderly witch disapprovingly as they passed her, ignoring Cosima's pleading signals for her to be quiet. Thankfully, she seemed to be content with scolding them herself though, and made no move to raise an alarm.
They slipped along the corridors as quickly as they dared; their spell hiding their footsteps and over-quick breathing. Cosima felt goosebumps break out all down her arms – the castle was horribly spooky when it was dark and everyone else was in bed. They were navigating some corridors without any light at all; being unable to risk a Lumos spell and having to rely on touch alone; holding their hands out as they walked. She desperately hoped that they wouldn't run into whatever it was that had petrified Gwion and Seymour.
Thankfully, they made it to the Entrance Hall with no major problems and crouched behind one of the marble bannisters lining the stair case to survey the room. It was better lit than the corridors they'd been through so far, so their chances of being caught had multiplied significantly. Merlin raised his hand and pointed silently – in the corridor to the left, they could hear familiar voices, moving further away. Evidently Percival and Theseus were now in the school and were on their way somewhere; most likely to Dippet's office.
The hurriedly dashed down the stairs and into the corridor after them, taking care to remain at a respectable distance behind their uncles to avoid being heard.
"…always thought it was impossible, but do you think he maybe has figured out a way through the wards?" Theseus was saying, his voice much more serious than the jovial tone Cosima was used to hearing.
"I think we can't afford to dismiss the possibility," Percival replied, his voice grim and his shoulders tense. "We need to strengthen and add to every ward in the castle. He's like no other dark wizard out there – we can't take chances with the students' safety; and that's two unexplained petrifications now. The bastard has already taken too many members of my family. I couldn't save Gwaine..but I'll die before I let him lay a hand on Merlin."
"We'll get him Percy," Theseus vowed. "I promise you: we'll get him. With Dumbledore helping us now, his days are numbered."
Cosima looked over at Merlin anxiously. Even in the dim light, she could see that he'd gone very white at the mention of his father. He managed a tight smile in response to her concerned look and nodded to signal that they should keep following their uncles, who were disappearing around a corner, discussing the auror department's current attempt to infiltrate Grindelwald's inner circle.
Cosima and Merlin quickened their pace so as not to lose them. They hurried around the corner and only just swallowed yelps of surprise when they found themselves suddenly at the wandpoints of two extremely grim-looking aurors. Evidently, they hadn't been quite as good at silencing spells as they thought they were!
"I would advise you," Percival Pendragon said sternly, lowering his wand. "To make the explanation you are about to give phenomenally good!"
"Um…" Cosima began.
"I was under the impression there was still a curfew in place for students at Hogwarts," said Theseus Scamander, also sounding distinctly unimpressed. Cosima was reminded of the time he'd caught she, Helios and Cassian broom-surfing and the epic scolding that had followed. She winced inwardly. "Was I misinformed?"
"No there is…" Merlin stammered hurriedly.
"Then what on earth possessed the two of you to go traipsing around the school in the dark unsupervised on the very day there's been another attack?" demanded Percival angrily.
"We saw you in the grounds, from Ravenclaw Tower," Cosima began, anxiety making her words tumble out too fast.
"And we thought that you must be here to investigate what happened to the Gryffindor boy," Merlin continued, swallowing hard under his uncle's furious glare. "No one has any idea what's behind it all."
"So we thought maybe if we came down to see what you were doing," Cosima offered weakly.
"Then maybe we could find out what has been going on. We've been through so many books and we've found nothing capable of producing that kind of effect," Merlin finished.
Percival and Theseus exchanged a very angry look, and Cosima and Merlin unconsciously took a step closer together, well aware they were in a lot of trouble.
"Now you listen to me," said Theseus, his voice steely with anger. "I know Newt told you at Christmas time, but it's evidently gone in one ear and out the other. You are eleven year old children. Whatever has happened to those two students, it is not your responsibility to investigate, do you understand?"
"If the teachers can't find an answer, then we will," said Percival, his eyes flashing furiously. "That's our job. We've been trained to fight dark magic. All you two need to focus on it turning up to class and doing your homework; not putting yourself in danger by running about the school at night. There had better be no more nocturnal escapades, is that clear? If I find out there have been, you'll be for it, Merlin!"
"And so will you!" Theseus promised Cosima. The two first years wilted under the onslaught of their uncles' anger.
"Now, the two of you are going to return to Ravenclaw Tower at once," Percival told them, his voice a degree warmer. "And you are going to go to bed. What's more, you are going to stay there!"
"All right," said Merlin meekly. He and Cosima turned away to head back to the tower and were surprised when the pair of aurors fell into step beside them.
"Like we said, it's not safe for first years to be roaming the school alone," said Theseus firmly in answer to Cosima's questioning look. "We may both have been Gryffindors, but we're quite aware of where Ravenclaw Tower is. We'll come with you, just in case anything else should pique your curiosity on your way back."
Thoroughly chastened, Cosima and Merlin were quietly led back to Ravenclaw Tower. Thankfully though, they did not run into Pringle on the way: it was the only way that night could possibly get any worse!
"Do you really think it could be Grindlewald, Uncle Percy?" asked Merlin quietly, just as they made it to the door to the tower.
"We don't know yet," Percival replied, his voice gentle now. "If it is, then I won't rest until he's in Azkaban where he can't hurt another soul. But I need you to stay safe, Merlin, you understand? You're all I have. Promise me you won't do anything else to put yourself in danger."
"I promise," Merlin said obediently, shoulders relaxing as he was pulled into a quick hug.
"Good boy," Percival squeezed him affectionately then let him go. "Right, both of you, straight up to bed now. No more exploring, no more investigating and no more looking for trouble!"
The two first years bid both their uncles goodnight, and slipped back into Ravenclaw Tower, their evening's adventure very much at an end.
"There's nothing much we can do now," said Cosima dolefully, as they climbed the stairs to the dormitory. "Not after we promised them to stop."
"We promised not to go exploring at night and not to go looking for danger," Merlin said, with an odd gleam in his eye. "That doesn't mean we have to stop researching. Something is attacking students, and we need to figure it out. And if it is Grindelwald behind it, then I want him to know it was Gwaine Pendragon's son that helped stop him! I'm not giving up now, Cosima. I can't."
Merlin's ringing determination seemed to boost Cosima's flagging spirits and revive a little of her courage. Her friend was right. They couldn't stop now. They could keep their promise to their uncles easily enough, but going through books in the library was hardly courting danger. Maybe they could find something that might actually help the aurors.
There had to be an answer somewhere!
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