Disclaimer: You know the song, "If I Had A Million Dollars"? Well, my version would be "If I Owned Harry Potter", and the first line would be, 'If I owned Harry Potter, Fred wouldn't have died.'
Chapter Twelve
Sadness Accompanied by Bullying
Lizzie's POV
April 17th, 1993
Quidditch match
Today's match is Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff. Rhiannon and I were in the stands, waiting for Ginny to join us. The teams walked onto the pitch to applause. Oliver Wood took off for a warm-up flight. Madam Hooch released the Bludgers and the Snitch. The Hufflepuff team, who played in canary yellow, were in a huddle having a last minute discussion.
Harry was just mounting his broom when McGonagall came half-marching, half running across the pitch, carrying an enormous purple megaphone.
"This match has been cancelled," McGonagall called through the megaphone. Rhiannon and I groaned, and added to the boos. Wood landed, and towards McGonagall without getting off his broom. He shouted at her, but she ignored him, and continued speaking through the megaphone. "All students are to make their way back to the house common rooms, where their Heads of Houses will give them further information. As quickly as you can, please!"
Grumbling, groaning, and complaining, we slowly made our way out of the stadium. Once back in the school, Rhiannon spoke.
"You don't think something's happened?"
"What? Another attack?" She nodded. "Well, we'll find out soon enough."
We headed up to Gryffindor Tower, and gave the password and entered the crowded common room. Twenty minutes passed before the portrait hole opened again. It was Harry and Ron, followed by McGonagall.
"In light of recent events, certain safety precautions have taken effect," McGonagall said, unrolling a scroll of parchment. "They are as followed:
"All students will return to their house common room by six o'clock in the evening. No student is to leave the dormitories after that time. You will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No student is to use the bathroom unaccompanied by a teacher. All further Quidditch training and matches are to be postponed. There will be no more evening activities."
We listened to McGonagall in silence. She rolled up the parchment, and said in a choked voice, "I need hardly add that I have rarely been so distressed. It is likely that the school will be closed unless the culprit behind these attacks is caught. I would urge anyone who thinks they might know anything about them to come forward."
She climbed awkwardly out of the portrait hole, and talking immediately began.
"That's three Gryffindors down, not counting a Gryffindor ghost and Professor Potter, one Ravenclaw, and one Hufflepuff," Lee Jordan said, counting his fingers. "Haven't any of the teachers noticed that the Slytherins are all safe? Isn't it obvious all this stuff's coming from Slytherin? The Heir of Slytherin, the monster of Slytherin– why don't they just chuck all the Slytherins out?" he roared, to nods and scattered applause.
I had asked Harry where he went with McGonagall, and he told me Hermione and a Ravenclaw Prefect had been attacked.
So, that's six attacks on Muggle-borns. How many more before the school's closed? How many more before the culprit's attacked?
Lizzie's POV
April 18th, 1993
Breakfast
In the past, I didn't mind the Ministry. Sure, some stuff they did, didn't make any sense at all, but you know, in general, they were all right. Up until now.
Early this morning, Harry informed me that Hagrid had been arrested by the Minister for Magic, and taken to Azkaban. Something about his records being against him. Right, because Hagrid would attack my mum and Hermione.
And that's not all, oh no. Also, Lucius Malfoy came to the school last night looking for Dumbledore. Mr. Malfoy's one of the school governors. He came to the school last night with an Order of Suspension for Dumbledore. He had Dumbledore suspended. Things aren't looking to well for us. We'll be lucky if the next attack doesn't kill. But I'm sure Mr. Malfoy had Dumbledore removed so the Heir of Slytherin could have free rein. Now the school is just emitting fear with every breath inhaled and exhaled.
Author's Note: I know this is really, really short –only 656 words (excluding chapter title, and the A/N)– but the next chapter will be longer, and more interesting. Wow, two more chapters and I'm done with COS. Should I make the GOF a separate story? Titled, A Different Story, But The Same: GOF? Let me know what you think. There might one or two other chapters I hadn't planned on writing if I can't wrap the end up in one chapter.
