All comments, suggestions and flames are welcomed.
Disclaimer – JK Rowling and various publishers own the world of Harry Potter.
Book 2: The Heir of Slytherin
Chapter 21
Blood and Terror
Severus Snape's inability to locate Harry Potter got Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore worried. All three of them began immediate search of the grounds. They searched all day but found nothing. It was like young Harry had vanished. Dumbledore suspected Harry was hiding somewhere with the cloak on and given what he knew of the cloak there was not even a remote chance to locate him unless they possessed a magical eye. Unfortunately, the one that could have helped in the search was on a secret assignment by the Ministry for Magic so they had to give up the search and call it a night hoping that Harry was safe for now.
Dumbledore however went to ask the centaurs to look for the boy in the forest. It was possible Harry could be there. He asked Hagrid too to search for him and Hagrid did – all night with no luck.
The next day, the search continued but with the same sad results. However, the teachers were not the only ones looking for him. The twenty five hooded figures were also seeking the boy. They had noticed that the boy had snuck out as the teachers were searching the grounds for him. The hooded ones had assembled on a glare in the forest. Their leader came last.
"They have still not located the boy." – He said.
"Wizards!" – A hooded one said with disdain.
"The good news is that he is not in the castle however the bad is that he is not in the surroundings either."
"So where the heck is he?" – Another one asked. "Can't we sniff him out?"
"No, he has managed to elude 'the sniffing'. I doubt he's done this on purpose since he doesn't know who we are. But we might need to resort to other tactics. We have to find a way to flush him out." – The leader said.
"Why not use some of his friends as baits?"
"In principle, it is a good idea but his friends are related to the Ministry and we don't want to involve them."
"I have an idea." – Another hooded spoke.
"I'm all ears."
"Terror!"
The leader pushed back slightly his hood revealing his blood red eyes that were quite scary.
"Excellent." – He hissed. "Get to it but proceed cautiously nonetheless. We don't want to attract too much attention."
"Understood." – The group of hooded ones replied in unison and then spread in different directions.
Meanwhile in Black Shire, Thant was in the library on his desk. He was doing some research. He stood up and moved the upper shelves to look for a book but the book was not there. He frowned. 'Where is it', he thought. He looked through all the shelves but found nothing. He frowned more.
"Caper," – He called into the air but the house elf did not appear. "Casper," He repeated louder but still nothing. "Where is this darn elf when you need him?" He said under breath. "Ah, well, Kaiser!" But Kaiser did not show up either. He called for another half an hour both but there was only silence.
Thant frowned this time with concern. It was highly unusual for the elves not to obey their master's call unless something had happened to them. They were so reckless at times.
An hour later however, they still did not show up. Thant was now very concerned.
"Saptienna, dear, have you seen lately Casper or Kaiser?" – He asked as he came into the kitchen.
"No, I haven't. Why?" – She asked.
"I have been calling for over an hour." – Thant replied.
"They could be with the girls." – Saptienna suggested.
"No, even then they would have come." – Thant shook his head. "You don't think they could be…"
"Oh, dear!" – Saptienna exclaimed. "Don't go there. There has to be another explanation."
"I hope so." – Thant said. "By the way have you seen anywhere the book of Advanced Off and Def?"
"No, why?"
"I can't find it anywhere."
"Did you look in the attic?"
"I have – everywhere and nothing."
"But where could it be then?"
"I don't know but I do get the feeling the missing might know."
"Oh, they wouldn't dare." – Saptienna said.
"Unless, our two resident mischievers…"
"Oh, dear, I don't think that girls would do such a thing."
"I guess there is only one way to know for sure." – Thant said.
"Wait dear," – Saptienna said. "Princess!"
A loud crack was heard and Princess appeared.
"You called, Mistress." – Princess said.
"Would you please go to Hogwarts and ask Cassie or Xsi if they have made Casper or Kaiser, take the book of Advanced Offensive and Defensive spells for some reason? Tell them that we're not mad we just want to know."
"Of course, Mistress." – Princess answered though the moment she heard Saptienna's request she flinched slightly. This did not go unnoticed by Thant.
"Wait!" – He commanded. "You have seen them take the book haven't you?"
Princess swallowed. "Yes, master."
"Why didn't you say something?"
"I thought you have asked for it, master."
"Then why did you flinch?"
"Kaiser, he…did not look quite himself."
Thant frowned on the spot. "What do you mean – not quite him?"
Princess lowered her eyes. "He appeared terrified, Master."
"Terrified?" – Thant exclaimed shocked.
"Maybe, he was." – Saptienna said. Thant looked at her. "Well, he knows that taking this book would certainly anger you."
"Tell me everything you remember, Princess." – Thant said. He was still not fully convinced. And Princess obeyed but something was still not making much sense.
Saptienna also frowned. Something was definitely not right. "Princess," – She said. "With your permission, I would like Thant to look inside your thoughts and see for himself."
"Of course, mistress.
"Be gentle, dear." – She turned to Thant who nodded.
Thant took his wand and said. "Leglili mens."
He quickly located the memory but what he saw terrified him as well. Kaiser was displaying symptoms of total terror something he would not associate with the normal dread of simply taking without permission that book.
"Saptienna, you should take a look too." – Thant said gravely. Saptienna took her wand and had a peek. She emerged with a concerned look.
"This is not the usual behavior of Kaiser." – She observed.
"No," – Thant nodded in agreement. "Kaiser is under a spell."
"Under a spell?" – Princess exclaimed involuntarily.
"Yes, Princess, but it is not only just a spell – it is the vowing spell. These are the usual side effects." – Thant said.
"But dear, even if he is under that spell, he would still obey your command." – Saptienna pointed out.
"Unless, he is obeying a Solmyr."
"Cassie and Xsi will never make him or use such a spell." – Saptienna vividly disagreed.
"Well, someone is." – Thant said. "Princess, take me to Hogwarts."
"Yes, Master." – Princess grabbed Thant by the arm, turned on the spot and vanished.
They both appeared in the atrium of Hogwarts. Thant headed straight for Dumbledore's office. But there was no one there. Thant turned to a portrait.
"Master Dipit, where is Professor Dumbledore?"
"Professor Dumbledore is out." – The framed headmaster replied.
"I noticed but where? I need to speak with him."
"He did not tell us where."
"I guess I'll try the teacher's room." – Thant said though more to himself than to the frame.
He left the office and headed to the teacher's room. There he found Professor Sinistra.
"Professor,"
"Can I help you?"
"Yes, my name is Thant Solmyr. I'm looking for Professor Dumbledore."
"Lord Solmyr?" – Sinistra stepped back. "Ah, the headmaster was about to contact you anyway."
"Why?"
"Harry Potter is missing already two days. The rest of the teachers are looking for him."
"WHAT?" – Thant exclaimed visibly shocked.
"Ah, Lord Solmyr," – Someone called. Thant turned and came face to face with McGonagall. "Please, come with me."
"Where is Harry?" – Thant asked.
"We are still looking for him. But there is something I would like to discuss with you in my office."
"Of course."
They reached McGonagall's office where the Professor told him of Harry's recent inexplicable behavior. She also told him of the way Ron and he had arrived to Hogwarts.
"Why haven't you told about this?" – Thant asked.
"I wrote you a letter explaining." – McGonagall said. "But seeing you now it seems you haven't read it."
"No, I haven't." – Thant said. "Probably, my wife omitted this. Did the Pegasus Riders depict any kind of symbol?"
"No, I don't think so, no." – McGonagall shook head.
Thant looked quite grave and very concerned.
"There is also something else." – The professor continued and told him of Cassie's performance and her reasons behind it. Thant managed to smile for a second.
"Thank you, Professor McGonagall. Would be so kind to get Cassie and Xsi here?"
"Of course," – McGonagall said and exited.
Thant remained thoughtful. The news he just learnt were highly disturbing. What has prompted Harry to take off like that was beyond him but he needed all details before jumping to conclusions.
Cassie and Xsi were in the Great Hall when Professor McGonagall came to collect them. Hermione, Alamar and Ron were there too. For some reason, McGonagall decided to take them also. They all arrived before the professor's office but only Cassie and Xsi entered.
"Dad?" – Xsi exclaimed surprised.
"Professor McGonagall, do you mind leaving me alone with my daughters?" – Thant asked.
"Not at all," – McGonagall replied. "Miss Granger, Misters Weasley and Darkstone are outside as well."
Thant nodded. He understood her hint. "Thank you!" McGonagall left. Thant turned his attention to the girls.
"Would the two of you explain to me what you needed the book of Advanced Offensive and Defensive Spells for? And most importantly why Casper and Kaiser are not responding to my calls?"
The reaction of the girls however displayed sheer surprise and utter shock. There was no mistake. Thant clearly saw it.
"Casper and Kaiser?" – Xsi stuttered as she came out of the shock.
"The book of Advanced Spells? Your book…?" – Cassie stammered.
"But Dad, we would never…we would never ask Casper or Kaiser to do such a thing." – Xsi protested.
"Yeah, we can do it on our own." – Cassie added.
"Then why these two do not obey my command? Have you been using for something at school? For pranks perhaps?"
Cassie and Xsi looked guiltily at each other for the truth was that they have been using them for exactly such a purpose.
"Well?" – Thant looked expectantly.
"Yeah, we have but the pranks are harmless…more or less." – Cassie replied.
"It's nothing serious." – Xsi added.
"But we have never commanded to disobey you or anything." – Cassie explained.
"Yo sis," – Xsi exclaimed suddenly.
"What?"
"You don't think that…"
"No, how could it be?"
"Well, it's been strange."
"So?"
"I don't know. Hermione's been telling him how weird he's been acting."
"Yeah but that's no reason to abandon reason, is it?"
Thant watched silently this little banter exchange. "Ah, excuse me, you haven't forgotten about me?" – He reminded of his presence.
"Ah, sorry, Dad." – Xsi said diplomatically.
"Care to let me in?"
"Ah, it's about Nimbus, Dad." – Xsi replied. "He's been acting a bit odd this week."
"Yeah, ever since he and Ron came to school with that flying car."
"What flying car?" – Thant's eyes jumped out of orbit.
"Well, I guess Ron can explain it better. He's been with Nimbus all that time."
"Well, get him in then." – Thant concluded.
Xsi exited and then returned with Ron and the others. They greeted and Thant asked Ron to recount everything. And Ron started with King Cross, and then the flight. He was telling how they were getting close to the school when these, whoever they were attacked again. This time however Ron was telling the story with all of its details and it sounded far scarier than the abbreviated version and lastly, the near crash into the water, the Pegasus Riders, and then the attack just outside Greenhouse Three.
At this point, it made everyone in the room shiver. Hermione, Cassie, Xsi and Alamar could not believe their ears.
"Why didn't you say something?" – Alamar exclaimed.
"How could you keep this from us?" – Xsi asked shocked.
"You should have told a teacher about it! Ron, how could you?" – Hermione exclaimed outraged.
"Harry did not want to throw anyone in panic." – Ron defended himself.
"Into panic, are you kidding?" – Xsi ranted.
"Enough!" – Thant's thunderous voice put an end to the bickering.
Silence befell the office. Thant looked extremely concerned. He now had a pretty good idea of how grave things were. Something sinister was going on around here. Something was not adding up. Ron's story depicted these hooded figures but sadly they did not sound like the lackeys of a dark wizard. And it was plainly clear that they were after Harry. Ron was simply at the wrong place, at the wrong time but then again Ron's actions in the car have saved Harry's life.
The strangest thing in the story was the Pegasus Riders. The Riders would not have come out to help an ordinary wizard unless they were summoned or picked up on dark threads. And speaking of such, Thant remembered last year's ordeal and frowned even more. This was making no sense to him.
The question now was what has prompted Harry to act so defensively. Ron indicated that he was having slight sensations acting like an early warning system. But this would be true only if he had increased natural ability or the necromancer's senses. However, Harry was not a necromancer by birth so his senses should not be that heightened. But given what Thant just heard it seemed like Harry had gone overboard. The behavioral change Hermione spoke of was totally unlike Harry. It could have been more appropriate for a boy of fourteen or sixteen but not that of twelve or even a Slytherin but not him.
There was something more Thant was sensing – Kaiser. The elf's behavior seemed to be connected to Harry's. It occurred to him that Harry could have commanded the two elves not obey anyone but Harry. But the question remained – why?
Whatever the situation was Thant knew only this he had to find Harry and inform Dumbledore of the new threat in the castle's surroundings. If these figures have managed to penetrate Hogwart's defenses then all students were in danger.
"Come, we have to find Professor Dumbledore." – Thant said after a while and they all exited McGonagall's office.
While the hooded ones and the teachers were searching the grounds and the castle for Harry, Harry was flying on his broom slightly above the castle itself. No one has been able to see him for he was under the cloak. With one hand he was controlling his broom and with the other he was holding the book of spells. He figured that during the day he has to be in orbit of the castle and at night he could land back in the Forbidden Forest to rest and continue his training. Kaiser and Casper were coming from time to time to bring him food and drinks.
Harry was thinking of the features about cops on a stakeout for he was doing something similar. His reading has helped in solving part of the mystery of the hooded ones. He found out that wizards have not been using the chasing 'net' and that particular 'brick wall' spells for over two centuries, actually since 1680. This was five years before the Ministry for Magic was created. The books he found in the library suggested of a monumental event that united all the wizards on the British Isle and thus they created this official body to govern them. Unfortunately, there was no information onto what this event was but it did suggest a possible battle between good and evil, wizards and other magical races though nothing in details just a reference.
Day and night, Harry continued his training but he had nowhere to practice for he did not want to attract attention. The tingling sensation had subdued and for a time had gone completely. He was thinking about returning to the castle despite what consequences he was to face but his gut feeling was against it.
And then one day just before nightfall Harry was flying near the West Tower when he almost fell of the broom. He heard a voice. But this voice was chill to bone narrow, a voice of breathtaking, ice-cold venom.
"Come…come to me…Let me rip you…Let me tear you…Let me kill you…"
The voice dissipated soon after but it left chills and jeepers out of Harry. He had never heard such coldness emanate from anyone or anything but then again he was not familiar with every surprise lurking in the wizard world.
Harry was wondering whether to go down and warn someone but his usual problem returned as well. This time however he did see the source – hooded figures. They had surrounded the castle and a few more headed back to the forest.
This time Harry was determined to find out who they were so he followed those but shortly after he lost them as though they had sunken into the ground. He returned to the castle only to find all the hooded ones gone too. Harry shook head – did he imagine them just a few minutes ago – no, he clearly saw them. But then where were they?
Nightfall came and Harry returned to his usual spot in the dark forest. He slept under the cloak, perched on a branch just in case. The cloak could hide him but it did not prevent anyone from walking into him, he was not a ghost. Of course, sleeping on a branch was not even remotely close to sleeping in his comfortable bed in Gryffindor Tower but after some time one kind of gets used to it.
He slept until late morning. Casper appeared with breakfast. Harry jumped down to eat thanking the faithful elf.
"Master Nimbus," – Casper said.
"Yes, Casper?" – Harry looked at him.
"Master Thant is here. They are all looking for you."
Harry swallowed. 'Thant was here.' He must have noticed his book missing and the fact that the elves were no longer obeying his calls or the girls'. Harry swallowed hard again. Maybe he could have asked Thant about this lurking threat but it was possible Thant knew nothing about it. 'No', the voice in Harry's head said. He will find the answer out on his own. He did not want to involve anyone into this. But then they were all looking for him. He had got them all worried. What to do?
"Casper," – Harry said finally decided. "Take this note to Alamar." Harry quickly wrote it down and gave it to Casper. "Tell him I'll wait for him at the Astronomy tower at midnight."
Casper bowed and vanished. Harry stayed still for a moment wondering what he was going to tell his friend. He was wondering with all the pressure would his friend come without all the school staff behind him – bah, he was going to come. Alamar enjoyed an adventure even behind everyone's backs.
Midnight came. Harry was already in place waiting for his friend and Alamar did not disappoint. However, Alamar could not find Harry for he was still under the cloak. Harry was waiting another minute or two just to be sure.
"Harry, are you here?" – Alamar whispered. "Harry?"
"Boo." – Harry had moved behind Alamar. At the sound of Harry's voice Alamar jumped off. "Gees, Harry."
"Sorry, Alamar," – Harry laughed. "Had to make sure we were alone."
"Sure, by scaring the jeepers out of me." – Alamar said.
"Yeah, well, come on! Climb on."
"On what?"
"The broom of course, we can't stay here." – Harry said revealing himself from the under the cloak.
"Oh, so this is how you did it?" – Alamar exclaimed.
"Come on!" – Harry urged.
Alamar climbed behind him while Harry covered them both with the cloak and took off. He headed back to the forest but to another spot. He trusted Alamar but Dumbledore and Thant had their ways of learning things without anyone telling them anything so he did not want to risk his true hideout.
"Here, we are." – Harry said as he landed and de-cloaked them.
"Harry, what's going on?" – Alamar said as he dismounted the broom.
"I wish I knew,"
"Everyone's worried sick, not to mention Thant."
"I know."
"Well?"
"Well, someone is chasing me."
"Who?"
"Did I not say someone?"
"The teachers can guard us. They have done so for centuries in this school." – Alamar argued.
"Yeah, like when they let Voldemort in Quirrell last year roam free in Hogwarts or those that attacked me in the forest, yeah right – great protection – no doubt." – Harry countered.
"And what you think you can do better?"
"Have someone found me so far?"
"Ha, very funny!" – Alamar exclaimed. "Sooner or later they are going to find you."
"Wait!"- Harry said. "Yesterday, I almost fell off the broom and…"
"Oh, that's very commendable…"
"Would you let me finish?" – Harry interrupted him. "I heard a voice."
"Voice? What voice?"
And Harry told him. Alamar looked at him bemused. "When?" Harry recalled the time.
"Hmm, that's strange." – Alamar remarked. "I don't recall such a thing."
"Maybe, you did not hear it. It would have been quite a coincidence for you to have been there at the same time."
"Well, I was. The West tower belongs to Ravenclaw but I was there nonetheless."
"How?"
"Well," – Alamar stuttered turning red.
"Aha," – Harry smiled.
"Harry, look hearing voices even in the wizard world is not a good sign." – Alamar said.
"Maybe, you did not hear it but someone else might have."
"Well, it is possible." – Alamar agreed. "But you have to come back."
"No, I have to find the identities of those chasing me."
"You can spend the entire duration of the year looking for it." – Alamar said. "Not to mention, you will probably get the longest detention in history."
"Very funny," – Harry said. "Ok, if I don't find anything by the end of the weekend I'll come back."
"You promise?"
"I promise but you must promise you'll tell no one of…"
"I promise. They'll have my head for that probably but I promise."
Harry returned Alamar to Hogwarts and then they parted ways. Harry came back to sleep.
The weekend came quickly. Harry was once again hovering above the castle with the book in hand. The night came and Harry returned to his usual spot.
He had just closed his eyes when his senses kicked in. This time it appears he was not careful enough. He noticed the hooded ones coming from shadows. And then he noticed that he had been so tired he had not put the cloak over him. Instead it was lying near the tree trunk and there was no time to retrieve it or his broom.
This time he had messed it up. He clearly noticed wands. 'So this was it, hugh,' Harry thought. Well, it had to be over one way or another. Harry jumped down and took out his wand. The first red beam missed him only by an inch. He saw once again nets forming but before they were complete he obliterated them.
"Surrender young wizard," – A deep hissing voice echoed throughout the glade. "You are surrounded and you're no match for us."
"Us being who?" – Harry wanted to know.
"You will find out soon enough."
"Not soon enough, I want to know now." – Harry bellowed.
Instead of an answer, all hooded ones opened fire. Harry had to duck. The bark of the tree exploded.
It appeared the time for his spell practice had come. Harry raised his wand and concentrated as much as it was possible. "Seriem Sulfuris" But it did not work. Harry ducked again, unfortunately not quickly enough. He was hit in the left shoulder. Hot pain ran through it. He screeched but stood up and the anger that followed for being hit produced the spell he was trying to conjure the first time.
The effect was immediate and unforeseen. All parties on the field were struck by lightening. Harry redressed himself up raising his wand against the one that had spoken and muttered. "Tonitros Vectis"
A lightening bolt struck and shot the target backwards with thundering strength. Another jet however grazed Harry and he flinched with pain. He turned to the source, "Radius Ignis." A blood red jet flew off Harry's wand. The target ducked but the spell hit him anyway.
Harry used the distraction to mount his broom, take his cloak and shot off to the skies. But his getaway lasted mere seconds. Several jets pierced the sky hitting him – one touched his shoulder, another straight at his back and the other in his hip. Harry lost his balance and fell from five meters straight into a tree. He heard something crack and a second later realized it was hit left arm.
The hooded ones found him quickly. Harry reacted instinctively directing his wand. "Ignis globus" A ball of fire jumped off his wand forcing his pursuers to find cover. Another jet hit and something hot covered his shirt. Harry touched the place and his hand was covered in his own blood.
The pursuers continued to fire and inflicted more wounds on Harry though he was fighting back. In the next few minutes however, they made the mistake of being gathered together. Harry's efforts were coming to an end. His vision had become blurry but he did notice their mistake. He mastered whatever strength he had left and bellowed. "Vortex Anima." The sheer strength of this last effort produced a whirlwind that shot his pursuers high and far in the heavens. Then Harry felt himself slip and fall onto the ground. He tried to push himself up but his muscles did not hold. His vision became blurrier and he lost consciousness.
"Nimbus! Nimbus!" – Thant was calling as one can imagine that the battle in the glade had not gone unnoticed.
That reached the glade. At one end, even through the trees, he saw Harry's cloak and the book but no Harry. He hurried there and slipped onto something lost balance and kissed the ground hard. Redressing himself up, he realized the something was blood. He followed the trail. Near a massive tree just ten meters ahead, he saw a foot. He increased his pace, reached the tree and looked behind it where he froze on the spot terrified.
The sight was not pretty. In a pool of dark blood laid Harry. He had so many wounds on him one can easily confuse him with Swiss cheese. He knelt down, touched Harry's neck hoping it has not come to the worst. He sensed a very faint pulse, relaxing slightly, he took out his wand and started applying healing spells on his wounds to stop the bleeding.
Most of the wounds closed but unfortunately some remained open. Thant had recognized some of the spells used on him. They were of a dark nature and could be healed but it would take time. He placed as much counters as he knew of to protect Harry from the side effects of some of the spells that spread evil effects. Harry needed immediately to be moved and placed under healer's care.
Thant shot a spell into the air and soon the very worried Dumbledore appeared. Seeing Harry, the headmaster also froze.
"We need to move him quickly." – Thant urged. "But carefully nonetheless, he's very weak and fragile."
"Of course," – Albus nodded.
Both managed to lift Harry and carry him to the castle as gently as possible. Madam Pomfrey hurried to help them put him on a bed.
"What has happened?" – She asked.
"He's gravely wounded, Pomona." – Albus explained.
"We need to contact St. Mungo's. They have to send a healer here for moving him there is out of the question." – Thant said.
"I agree." – Albus said.
"I'll get right to it, headmaster." – Pomona said.
"Professor Dumbledore, we need to talk." – Thant said as they exited the hospital wing.
"In my office," – Albus led the way.
When they entered, Albus turned to Thant.
"Headmaster," – Thant began but stopped at once. He looked at Dumbledore then at the portraits.
"Dear colleagues, would you please excuse us." – Albus said to the portraits that weren't very happy but obeyed. "Now, we are alone."
Thant recounted the events as he had learnt them. "Something had prompted Harry to act defensively and completely unlike his usual self. These hooded figures unfortunately do not strike me as the usual lackeys of a dark wizard."
"So much, I agree with." – Albus nodded.
"They could be something sin…" – Thant's voice trailed off. He wasn't sure how to proceed. He had no desire of revealing to Dumbledore who he really is. There was also another problem. His thoughts were dwelling in the general area of the Necromancers' oldest enemies and that was not a very comforting thought. Unfortunately, the wizards knew almost nothing of their existence. Well, they did know about few of them but they were harmless in comparison to the others.
Albus was about to ask about it but a headmaster in the uniform of Slytherin returned to his frame.
"Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall wants to see you at once."
"Thank you!" – Albus said frowning. Both proceeded out the office.
While Thant and Dumbledore were getting to Harry, Hermione and Ron, after dinner, had been heading to Gryffindor tower by an alternate route. They were on the second floor near the girl's bathroom.
"Oh, no, let's not pass by here." – Hermione said as she saw where they were.
"Why?" – Ron asked intrigued.
"This is the bathroom where Myrtle hangs." – Hermione replied.
"Oh," – Ron exclaimed. "Ok."
They turned around the corner and both froze. They had heard something banging against the window from the outside. They looked at each other. Fear had crawled in theirs eyes. The banging continued but they dared not open the window. It was quite creepy.
"Maybe," – Ron whispered. "It's a tree branch."
"Yeah, a tree branch," – Hermione agreed trying to calm herself down.
"We should get going." – Ron suggested with growing confidence.
"Yeah," – Hermione nodded.
They just made a few paths when Ron slipped and fell to the ground. He got up swearing.
"Where is this water coming from?" – He continued cursing.
"Myrtle's bathroom." – Hermione replied. "She has probably flooded the bathroom."
"Crazy ghost!" – Ron observed angrily still assessing the damage from the fall.
"Well, she does have her tantrums but this is pushing it." – Hermione noticed.
"As I said, crazy ghost." – Ron said.
They were to leave the floor when they both heard a chant that was all too familiar.
"Peeves!" – Ron exclaimed. "It would be best to avoid him."
"I agree but then we'll have to go back and find another way." – Hermione pointed out.
"We have little choice unless you want an encounter with another nut case."
They turned back although they would have wished they had continued and faced Peeves anyways. It would have spared them a lot.
Reaching the bathroom, however, their stomachs lurched at the sight. Down the passage something was gleaming at the wall. Foot-high words had been daubed on the wall between two windows. The words, as they saw, were written in something that resembled blood and were saying, 'The Chamber of Secret has been opened. Enemies of the Heir, beware."
"What's that thing hanging underneath?" – Ron said a slight quiver in his voice.
They edged near it but jumped backwards at once as they saw what it was – Mrs. Norris. The caretaker's cat was hanging by her tail, stiff as a board, her eyes wide and staring. For some seconds, they did not move.
"We really need to get out of here." – Ron said.
The wind outside however had increased speed and pushed open one of the windows nearby. Hermione turned in the direction of the window and the scream that should have ensued was stuck in her throat. The sight outside paralyzed her completely.
"Let's go!" – Ron urged but Hermione did not budge even one millimeter. "What's wrong?"
Hermione was unable to answer as she was, per say, just as petrified as the hanging upside down caretaker's cat. Ron turned around and came face to face with the sight out the window becoming as frozen as Hermione.
Outside, perched on a tree branch upside down was a small corpse. It looked like a small girl, a first year. Her eyes were lifeless, blank. Her face was covered in blood.
Hermione managed to avert her eyes, leaning onto Ron who patted her clumsily.
The floor was suddenly filled with the happy voices of students coming form the Great Hall but everyone stopped as soon as they saw Mrs. Norris hanging by her tail, and silence fell. Ron, Hermione and Harry stood alone in the middle of the corridor covering instinctively the window.
Then someone shouted. "Enemies of the Heir, beware. You're next, Mudbloods."
It was Draco Malfoy. He had pushed to the front of the crowd, his cold eyes alive, as he grinned at the sight of the immobile cat.
"What' that noise? What's going on?" – Filtch shouted attracted no doubt by Malfoy's shout. But then he froze as he saw Mrs. Norris falling backwards, clutching his face in horror.
"My Cat, Mrs. Norris, what happened to you?" – He shrieked his eyes threatening to jump off their usual place. "You did this…" He pointed fingers at Ron and Hermione. He appeared completely mad.
"What is this commotion?" – Professor McGonagall asked as she made her way through the crowd. She froze in her steps as she noticed the hanging upside down cat. Her look then fell at the writing on the wall.
Snape appeared shortly after pushing students aside. His eyes narrowed at the sight too. Filtch was drooling mad and pointing helpless fingers at Ron and Hermione. He quickly assessed the situation.
"Severus!" – McGonagall called. "Stay here. I'll go to fetch Professor Dumbledore." Then she turned to the huddled masses and said. "Alright, go back to your dormitories. Come on, go on! Prefects, take them away."
"You killed my cat." – Filtch screeched.
Ron would usually respond but he was too petrified but the sight outside that no one has noticed yet. Professor Dumbledore came shortly after alongside McGonagall and Thant.
"Oh," – He exclaimed and headed to the cat. He detached her. "Follow me!" – He said to Filtch, "You too, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger."
"We can't." – Ron managed to squeeze the words somehow.
Dumbledore stopped and looked bemusedly at him. "What? Why not?"
"Professor,…" – Hermione tried to explain but her voice was trembling, her heart racing.
"Yes, Miss Granger?" – Dumbledore looked expectedly at her.
"Professor," – Ron mastered his courage as much as he could. "I think you should…you should…" But he couldn't say it too.
Thant, fortunately, uncovered the reason pretty quickly. His eyes had found the reason and his eyes narrowed at the sight. He took out his wand at once and took defensive stand.
"Dumbledore," – He called. "Come closer." He gestured him to approach the window.
Dumbledore approached and jumped off his feet but regained his composure quickly.
"Severus," – Albus called. Snape reached his position and quickly understood. "Help me get her off."
Both of them, with their wands, brought the girl off the tree. Some teachers came hurriedly just at the time Snape and Dumbledore were getting the girl in.
"Oh, my God," – Professor Sprout exclaimed sobbing.
"Let's take her to the nearest office." – Dumbledore said. "And send for Madam Pomfrey."
"My office is the nearest, headmaster." – Lockhart proposed looking all too important. "Just upstairs – feel free."
"Thank you, Gilderoy."
All proceeded there except Thant. He was still standing in defensive position. As he calmed down, he quickly put the pieces together and understood Harry's behavior. Everything now made perfect sense though he still had to determine which clan they represented.
Thant did not follow the teachers. He had no time for trivial talk. He ventured outside, raised his wand and conjured his patronus, adding – "Send trackers and hunters to Hogwarts at once!"
The teachers entered Lockhart's darkened office and saw for a second portraits dodging off sight with rollers in their hair. The real Lockhart lit the candles on his desk. Dumbledore and Snape lay the girl's body on the polished surface. The sight was pretty ugly. Snape cleaned the blood as much as he could. As it cleaned they noticed the neck was torn possibly by claws but to what animal they belonged Ron and Hermione had no idea. Hermione, actually, turned her face away. She couldn't watch.
Professor Dumbledore started examining the body. It was clear he was quite tense and really concerned.
"She was killed though I can't determine by what." – Dumbledore said. "We'll wait for Madam Pomfrey. In the meantime, Gilderoy put Mrs. Norris over there."
They laid the Filtch's cat on a desk where Lockhart placed immediately some candles. Dumbledore's long, crooked nose was just a few inches off Mrs. Norris's fur. He was looking at her closely, running his fingers gently on her while pocking and prodding.
Professor McGonagall came shortly after along with Madam Pomfrey. Dumbledore turned to her.
"Pomona, dear, examine the girl."
Madam Pomfrey looked at girl with a mixture of sadness and compassion. She started examining her. She ran her wand around her muttering some words while Dumbledore continued his examination of the cat.
"It is obvious the cat's killed by the Transmogrifian Torture. Tut, a bad curse, too bad I wasn't there, I knew the exact counter-curse that would have saved her…"
Lockhart's comments were punctuated by Filtch's dry, rocking sobs. He was slumped in a chair near the desk unable to look at Mrs. Norris. Dumbledore was muttering strange words while tapping Mrs. Norris with his wand but nothing happened. Lockhart, of course, was continuing to babble while his portraits were nodding in rhythm.
At last Dumbledore straightened up.
"She's not dead, Argus." – He said softly.
Lockhart stopped abruptly in the middle of his numerous ways of murders he had prevented. Argus Filtch looked up with hope.
"She's not? But why is she so all stiff and frozen?"
"She has been petrified." – Dumbledore said. "But how I do not know…"
"Ask them, they know." – Argus suddenly turned around pointing at Ron and Hermione. "They did it…"
"Argus, no second year student can do this." – Dumbledore argued. "It would take advance Dark Magic to do this…"
"They did it" – Flitch spat. "You saw what they wrote on the wall…"
"Give it a rest, Flitch." – Snape intervened. Ron and Hermione looked at each other apprehensively. It was not in Snape's usual stance to be so charitable. "Mr. Weasley and Ms Granger might have been simply at the wrong, at the wrong time."
Ron and Hermione became definitely apprehensive though it was still hard to believe.
"But the circumstances are suspicious." – He continued, which the gang understood was his initial intention. "Why were they upstairs in the corridor at all?"
"Well, we…" – Ron trailed off.
"We – what?"
"We were returning to Gryffindor Tower," – Hermione took the word. "Using a different route when we noticed large quantities of water…"
"Yes, they were coming from the girl's bathroom," – Ron joined in. "Where Moaning Myrtle presides and wanted to leave the floor as quickly as possible but…"
"We were about to run into Peeves so we turned back." – Hermione continued. "When we reached the bathroom again, we saw Mrs. Norris hanging. We were about to leave when…" – Hermione could not continue.
"When – what?" – Snape insisted.
"Well," – Ron mastered as much as he could his voice. "I told Hermione that we should not dwell there but go and get help when the wind flung open a window. I wanted to go but Hermione was not budging. She was frozen stiff just as Mrs. Norris so I inquired what was the reason but when I turned around I quickly saw the reason though I wish I didn't." Ron's voice trembled here and completely vanished.
Hermione at this time found the closest bucket and threw up. Recalling again this horrifying moment brought back very visibly the sight and she could not stand it.
Professor McGonagall hurried to Hermione and embraced her so when she turned around her eyes would not fall on the girl lying on the table. This experience was not pleasant one not to mention that they had not told them yet of Harry.
Professor Dumbledore fixed his gaze on the three as they felt like being scanned with a ray. Then the Professor turned to Madam Pomfrey.
"Pomona?"
"Professor," – Madam Pomfrey swallowed. "Her blood has been drained."
This statement shocked everyone.
"What?" – Professor McGonagall exclaimed, clutching hands at her heart.
"She was attacked by something I do not know what though. I'll need more time to determine. The attacker has torn her arteries and then drained her blood. She died almost instantly, not more than an hour ago, which will coincide with the time they heard the scream." – Madam Pomfrey finished.
Dumbledore looked alerted and very tense. Something was bothering him a lot. The girl was a first year – Slytherin girl coming from a good, pure blood family. Her name was Melinda Becklefeast. He had the sad duty of informing her parents though he was not sure what to tell them. He knew of some animals that could do what had happened to her but they had no prove or idea, yet.
"Thank you, Pomona."
"I'll transfer her to the hospital wing and then…"
"Of course," – Dumbledore nodded. "Severus, please help Pomona with the girl."
"As you wish, Headmaster." – Snape said. "What about Granger and Weasley?"
"I do not believe they did anything this night. They were as you said in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"But my cat has been petrified." – Filtch cut in. "I want someone to be punished…"
"Argus, we will be able to revive Mrs. Norris. I understand Madam Sprout is having healthy Mandrakes. When they mature we will stew them and make the restoration potion."
"I will make it." – Lockhart said quickly. "I could whip a Mandrake Restorative potion in my sleep."
"Excuse me," – Snape said icily. "But I believe I'm the Potions master at this school."
There was an awkward pause.
"Minerva, take Ms Granger and Mr. Weasley back to Gryffindor tower," – Albus said then turned to Ron. "Do not breathe a word as to what has happened to Ms. Becklefeast to anyone."
"Yes, Professor." – Ron said following Hermione and Professor McGonagall out.
Minerva returned them to Gryffindor Tower then went back to Gilderoy's office. Pomona had already moved away the girl and was just returning to take Mrs. Norris. Dumbledore was just exiting the office as Snape returned with a brisk walk.
"Professor Dumbledore, we have intruders on the grounds." – Snape reported.
"What?" – Dumbledore exclaimed visibly shocked.
"I saw at least fifteen unknowns. They had gathered just outside the forest." – Snape continued.
"Severus, gather all the teachers," – Albus ordered. "Minerva, send a message for help to the Ministry Auror's office."
"Of course," – Minerva said and hurried out.
Severus returned with the rest of the teachers and they proceeded to the grounds.
Snape was right there outsiders near the forest. They numbered fifteen. They were spread out along the forest line but as Dumbledore noticed with great surprise there were also house elves between them.
"Headmaster, look." – Snape pointed to the sky.
Dumbledore looked up and his jaw fell. There were winged horses with riders on them hovering above the forest. The riders seemed somewhat familiar and when he caught a glimpse of gold he understood that they were the Pegasus Riders. How had they managed to enter the premises of Hogwarts however was beyond him.
All teachers were hit by a sudden wave of fear and terror. And at this very moment, all fifteen unknowns took out their wands. Before the teachers understood what was going on, the entire line of the forest exploded in jets of light signifying that a battle has begun.
To be continued…
And don't forget to review. It only takes a couple of minutes. Thank you!
Lordheaven