Chapter 21: The Shadow of a Man
"Oh my gosh! I was thinking the same thing!" Debbie said when Matt pulled her aside and told her his suspicions, her hair still up in her two HufflePuffs and gold and black sparkles covering her eyelids. "I mean the Dark Mark is always in the sky."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I did an entire piece on it for the Junior Prophet - that's my 'Zine." She rooted around in her pocket and pulled out a small cheap-looking booklet that had clearly been hand-stapled together. The cover featured a picture of Gringotts with a dragon perched on top and the headline: After the Break-in: Ways Gringotts can bring their Security System into the 21st Century. "It's short for magazine, except their handmade so you don't have editors telling you what you can and can't write. They're all the rage with the muggles right now. Anyway, the dark mark is only cast in the sky. They used to say it was only after someone had been killed, but we know that's not true. There have been at least two instances where it was used without there first being a murder. The only other place you might see one is on the left arm of a Death Eater."
"How is it cast?"
"That's the other weird part, no one knows except the Death Eaters and they won't tell anybody."
"So, the Dark Mark, that no one knows how to cast but a Death Eater, is cast in the snow? Do you think it might have been drawn?"
"I don't know," Debbie answered. "Maybe. But wouldn't they have said that?"
"I guess the only way to know would be to see it. But we'd have to be in one of the towers to and we're confined to our houses."
"There could be a way..." Debbie said. "Wait a minute." She ran back to her dorm room.
Donnie and Shoshanna came up to Matt, holding hands. "Shame about the match. What are you and Debbie talking about?" Donnie asked. "New strategy? I'm sure her sister Angelina must've taught her something."
Debbie came rushing back, pulling a piece of rolled up parchment taught in front of Matt. "My sister gave this to me, said she and her boyfriend used to use these secret passageways to elude Filch. She said he'd want me to have them, but I think it was just hard for her to see it, him dying in the battle and all. Anyway, these ones with the X's are ones that disappeared after the battle. But these other ones are still good."
"Wait a minute, you two are planning to go see the dark mark, aren't you? You can't," Shoshanna said.
"That's right, McGonagal said-" Donnie started.
"Donnie, I wasn't finished. You can't go without me."
"What?!" Donnie said in astonishment.
"Well, I can't very well let them go rushing off when there might be Death Eaters about. Matt's clever but he's not much help in a duel."
"No. Absolutely not! I won't allow it."
"And what will you do, Donald? Lock us away in our rooms?" she had a wicked, challenging expression.
"I will if I have to."
"What is it we're not doing?" Tip asked, popping up behind Donnie.
"Nothing." Donnie said.
"We're going up to Gryffindor tower," Debbie said, enthusiastically. "Matt will get us in, he knows the password."
"You are not."
"I know a shortcut," Tip said.
"Is anybody listening to me? You're all going to get yourselves killed."
"Now if we go down this corridor there's a hidden door behind the knight, near Slughorn's storage room," Tip said, pointing to the map.
"I guess not."
"Why don't you come with us Donnie. If we get caught you can say you were rounding us up and bringing us back to the common room. I mean it was a rather sudden announcement, who knows where we were?" Matt suggested. The others looked at Donnie expectantly.
"Fine," he finally relented with an exasperated sigh. "But if we all get killed by death eaters I'll never forgive you."
They followed Tip down through the kitchens, picking up half a dozen pastries from the house elves along the way. He led them to a stone and, with a flick of his wand, it moved out of the way, revealing a tunnel down into the dungeons. And a familiar face staring in bewilderment on the other side. Tip, Debbie, and Donnie yelped, leaping back, wands at the ready.
"Ceelee!" Matt cried. "Relax guys. She's not going to hex you." He sighed deeply, knowing she would be mad at him for saying it. "She's my friend."
"Her?" Debbie asked. "You have got to be kidding me."
"'Fraid not."
They slowly lowered their wands but Tip still eyed her warily. "What are you doing here?"
She pulled herself out of the hole, dusting off the loose stones and dirt from her robes. "I was hoping to get a cold chicken sandwich with pickles. I didn't get the chance to have any lunch. Some victory party, everything was eaten before I even got back." A house Elf appeared and handed her a sandwich. "Thanks. Now, what even happened anyway?"
"You don't know?" Donnie was incredulous.
"No. We had just gotten back from the pitch when Filch sounded the alarm. I mean obviously we weren't trying to be out of our rooms or we wouldn't have used the front door. No one told us anything. The Slug's been questioning me for the past twenty minutes, even cast priori incantatem on my wand and he wouldn't tell me why. He's on Flint now. Flint seemed pretty nervous that Slughorn might use veritas serum on him. I don't know why." She took a massive bite of the sandwich.
Matt grimaced. He could think of one reason.
"Someone cast the Dark Mark in the snow by the Forbidden Forest," Shoshanna supplied.
Ceelee exchanged a knowing glance with Matt, neither of them had forgotten their experience in the forest. "You said in the snow?"
That's what Prof. Sinestra said," Matt said.
"The real Dark Mark?" she asked, voice muffled by chewing. "Green glowing thing? Gigantic?"
"Don't know. We're going up to Gryffindor tower to see for ourselves. You're welcome to join us."
"Oh yeah McLaggen'll like that," Tip said.
"McLaggen can suck an elf for all I care. I'll come with you. I mean you'll need someone who's actually seen the thing before," Ceelee said. Matt had a good idea this was not her real reason for going at all, but he wasn't going to stop her. Of the group she was the only one who knew that Death Eaters had penetrated the Forbidden Forest and she was probably just as concerned as he was that they might be back, especially given who they were to her. She slid back into the hole. "Well, come on. Don't want to wait too long." She shoved the rest of the sandwich in her mouth, carrying it like an animal. "Follow me."
The quintet clambered in after her, with Tip, never one to not venture headlong into danger, even if it meant following directly behind Ceelee Carrow going first and Donnie in the rear, his broad body getting stuck several times in the narrow tunnel. Ceelee took them through the dungeon and past Slughorn's storehouse of potions materials. "All of my sloth brains are gone, Minerva! Each and every one of them." They could hear Slughorn lamenting as they crawled past the room. Tip tapped the knee of the knight's suit of armor three times and it hopped aside, revealing a secret passageway. They climbed their way up to the floor just below Gryffindor tower.
"Is the coast clear?" Matt asked from behind Ceelee and Tip.
"Yes. No wait. It's Mrs. Norris."
"I'll take care of her," Tip smirked, pulling out his jerboa. "Go on, you know what to do." The jumping mouse hopped halfway across the corridor where it stood, observing Mrs. Norris. She caught sight of it, her eyes glowing brightly. The jerboa tipped its head to the side, rabbit-like ears twitching curiously. Mrs. Norris gave a little chirrup and readied to pounce. She shot forward but the jerboa was too fast and easily jumped away from her grasp and down the hall, with Mrs. Norris giving chase.
"Aren't you worried she'll catch him?" Ceelee asked.
"Nah. If she does she deserves to eat him. Let's go."
They made their way up to the portrait of the fat lady and Matt gave the password. The portal swung open to reveal a number of Gryffindors lounging about the common room, but most were huddled around a window, looking out into the snowy expanse. McLaggen was reclined in a big squashy chair with his boots upon a table. At the appearance of Matt, he smiled. "Hey Boot, what are you doing here? You'll get in trouble if they catch you out of your house."
"Is Prof. Jones here?"
"No. Are you looking for her?"
"No. Just wanted to know if it was safe to come in." Matt climbed through the hole in the wall. "We wanted to see the mark."
"We?"
"Yeah, we," Tip said, falling through the hole. He was followed by Debbie, Donnie, and Shoshanna.
"Merlin's beard! Did you bring all of Hufflepuff with you?" There was a gasp from the watching Gryffindors. His eyes narrowed. "What's she doing here?"
"Stuff it, McLaggen," Ceelee said.
"Get her out of here," he ordered, pointing to the door. "For all we know you cast that thing."
"You know I didn't."
"And how do I know that?"
She leaned in closely to him and hissed, "Have you forgotten the woods?" McLaggen stiffened. "Do you know of a place where we can have a look at it, just you, me, and Matt?"
McLaggen was stubborn but not stupid. "Jerry, Byron, show these Hufflepuffs the mark." The two boys led Debbie, Shoshanna, Tip, and Donnie to the window, where they struggled to see the thing in the snow. Liam held Matt back by the wrist. "There's a better view from Prof. Jones's room. Come on." He led Matt, followed closely by Ceelee to the room and used his wand to unlock the door.
They slipped into the room, sparsely furnished as it was. It appeared Prof. Jones had made no attempt to make this place her home beyond a few plaid flannel blankets and an overstuffed worn leather couch facing the desk. A cold cup of coffee sat in a pile of cup ring stains upon her desk. They walked to the window from which green light was glowing. Looking out they could see it in all its glory, glowing brightly despite the late noon sun, the green skull with a serpent slithering in and out of the mouth, embedded in the snow.
"Well, there's no question about that," Ceelee said.
"No," Liam agreed. "But if it wasn't you, who could have cast it?"
"I think the better question is: why?"
"Why?" Matt said.
"Yeah, why was it put in the snow? Why here? Why now? What is he doing?"
"So you do know who it was!" Liam rounded on her.
"It doesn't really matter which one of them it was, but we can be pretty sure it was... him." She turned away, her tone conveying her disgust. She didn't need to say the name of Rodolphus Lestrange for Matt to know who she meant. "But why cast it in the snow? And when did they do it? I mean that Walker kid and I were up in the sky searching for the snitch, one of us should have seen it."
"The green sparks," Matt said with dawning realization.
"What green sparks?" Ceelee and Liam asked together.
"When Slytherin won green sparks flew up in the sky. I thought it came from the stands, but now that you mention it, it seemed to come from somewhere behind them. But I wouldn't have thought twice about it."
"Did you see anything else?" Ceelee asked.
"No. Nothing but... well, now that you mention it, we did run into Holly near the whomping willow and she didn't seem to know what she was doing out there or how long she had been out. I have no idea how long it was, but she was almost blue."
"Hmmm, could be a memory charm."
"Or the Imperius Curse," Liam added, darkly. "It would explain her."
"You think she may have been under the imperius curse?" Matt said.
"It would make sense, she acts really strange," Ceelee said.
"Yeah, but when?"
"Could have been the whole year." Liam answered.
"No..." Matt said, reviewing her behavior the whole year. "No, the Imperius curse gives its victims a sense of well-being, and, well, I don't think that's how I'd describe her."
"Long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs would be more like it," Liam joked grimly. "Yeah, you're right. Hard not to notice a girl that jumpy, and I've never seen her smile except when she's with you, Matt."
"She is really weird, though, with that dead mouse she talks to." Ceelee said.
"You're one to talk."
"Shut up, McLaggen."
"I don't think it's dead," Matt said, "I mean she's had it since the beginning of the year and it still looks the same."
"Look, we're getting off the subject," Liam said. "If it's not the imperius curse than that means it was a memory charm. Which means whoever it was who set the Mark was the one who cursed her. She's lucky they didn't kill her."
"Rodolphus wouldn't. He'd want there to be doubt about who set the Mark. If they killed her it would be obvious."
"But why on the ground. The only way you could see it would be from... above," Liam said.
"The thestrals!" They all said together.
"Someone on the ground was signalling them for some reason. Probably Uncle Magnus, he's the only one who wouldn't mind staying in the Forbidden Forest."
"But why?" Matt asked.
"I don't know. Maybe they're going to have another meeting in the woods."
"We should go. We can sneak out after dark. You could steal some Slytherin robes for me and Matt-" Liam started.
"Are you crazy? And get ourselves killed?"
"They wouldn't kill you."
"Yeah, they wouldn't kill me, but I don't want you dying."
"You don't?" Liam looked genuinely surprised, and touched.
Ceelee's cheeks pinked a bit as she realized what she had said, she quickly regained her usual appearance. "Yeah, you or Matt. They'd blame me for it and I'd probably get expelled just for going with you. You're not worth it, Liam McLaggen."
"That's what I thought." He turned to the window again, bit a slight smile fought the corner of his mouth up.
They rejoined the others at the Gryffindor window, except Ceelee who hung back at the entrance. "What do you think, Debbie?" Matt asked.
"There aren't any footprints. Whoever cast it must've been careful to erase their tracks, or was flying. Since it's by the Forbidden Forest they probably are hiding in there." She shuddered. "It's scary to think Death Eaters could be on the grounds."
"Tell me about it," Cass Weasley said. "I mean they killed my cousin and almost killed my uncle."
"They'd be no match for you, though," Tip said.
She looked down at the diminutive Hufflepuff whose head didn't even reach her shoulder. "You really think so?"
"Yeah, they'd never see it coming. It'd be like Ginny Weasley twice over with a wicked right hook. Oh, that reminds me," he dug into his pocket and pulled out the roaring jeweled lion pin, "I found your broach."
She smiled widely. "Where did you find it?"
"It was in the owlery."
"It must've fallen off." She noticed Wycliffe eyeing her possessively. "You know what? Keep it."
"Really?" his eyes shone with pure glee.
She folded his fingers around it with her own. "Yeah. You found it, you should get to keep it. I hear it's worth a lot of money." She said this last part while staring Wycliffe directly in the eyes, daring him to try to object.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you. Maybe it'll give me good luck for the next match."
"Maybe it will," Cass said, still not looking at him.
"What is going on in here?" Prof. Jones declared, causing all of the students to turn around. "Why are there Hufflepuffs in here. And a Slytherin?" She stared in astonishment at Ceelee. "What are you doing here Miss Carrow? I might be able to understand Mr. Boot, I've seen him here often enough, but you?"
Liam stepped forward. "I'm sorry professor, it was my fault. They were out in the hall when the announcement was made to go to our houses and seeing as it was the Dark Mark, I decided it was safer if they stayed with us. I mean, it's a long walk to the dungeons and you know, if there were a death eater around, or a troll, or a werewolf - I mean you never know what they might let into the castle."
"That was very noble of you Mr. McLaggen. Ten points to Gryffindor. Now then, I am here to tell you we will be holding supper in the common rooms. We are searching the Forest and the Castle for any signs of a breach. And, as a final note, if any of you has taken Prof. Slughorn's sloth brains you are asked to return them to his storeroom immediately and there will be no questions asked. But if we discover they have been used in the perpetration of a prank you will be doing double detentions with Mr. Filch for the remainder of the school term. Now then, I will take you back to your proper houses."
The teachers never found any trace of death eaters on the grounds, at least none that they revealed. Though one student swore he had seen evidence of a fire in the forest, but he could not say whether or not it was fresh. The winter snows melted into spring and May was soon upon them and the final quidditch matches of the season. Ravenclaw flattened Slytherin, making up in one game for their two losses and leaving the finals wide open for Hufflepuff to possibly take the cup so long as they won their final match.
Prof. Slughorn never did recover his sloth brains. It was suspected that whoever had them probably dumped them in the lake rather than face double detentions with Filch for the remainder of the year. There was a rumor that Prof. Slughorn was putting Veritas serum in the water as, during class he would often be teaching and suddenly turn to a student and ask, "Did you steal my sloth brains?" but he had yet to discover the culprit. Cass Weasley had taken to actually speaking to Tip on occasion, though still mostly in front of Wycliffe and rarely beyond a greeting. Still, Tip was on cloud nine each time, no matter how often Shoshanna tried to talk sense into him. There was no breaking through that thick shield of optimism and confidence that allowed him to believe the most beautiful girl in the school was interested in him.
Ceelee and Liam were back to fighting as usual, though it did not seem to have the hatred it once did. Perhaps familiarity had finally led to an understanding between them, though Matt was not crazy enough to believe they would ever be friends.
The older students sat their OWLS and NEWTS. It now felt like summer was finally at hand. There was only one more match left for the year. Most of the students had grown restless in their classes and were already discussing their plans for the summer.
There was only one thing that left Matt feeling troubled. Holly had begun to fully deteriorate. She spoke to her pet mouse constantly and eschewed all contact with her friends. Bridget told him Filch often brought her back to the tower late at night, having found her wandering the halls. But he never had her do any detention for it. Even Argus Filch took pity on the poor girl who had clearly lost her mind, though Madam Pomfrey could not find the cause. Once, when Matt accidentally broke his finger after a bad bludger hit, he arrived at the infirmary to find Holly leaving. She just glanced at him and walked hurriedly away.
"Well, there must be something wrong with her!" McGonagal said, not noticing Matt had just entered.
"I've performed every test I could. I even considered possession by a dark wizard, but there's nothing. I can't find what's wrong with her." Madam Pomfrey said as she shook out the bedsheets of a bed Holly had likely just vacated.
"Eleven year olds don't just lose their minds for no reason, Poppy."
"It might be that she is failing to adjust to being away from home. What was her home life like?"
"She was adopted by an older couple, a witch and wizard from a nice little village outside of Newcastle."
"She was adopted? Do we know anything about her biological parents?"
"No. It seems she was abandoned as an infant. You have to believe that was the very first question I asked, given her behavior."
"Have you written the parents?"
"Of course I have, but they have put it down to what they call, growing pains."
"They aren't concerned?"
"The mother said she was confident we would be able to handle it and that it was probably just a phase."
"Do you think they might be cruel to her?"
"I don't know. But I will admit, the thought of sending her home gives me pause. But, then, the longer she has been away the more she has become attached to that mouse, so perhaps it is some form of homesickness."
"I thought that mouse was dead when I first saw it. But I examined it and it is very much alive." Madam Pomfrey looked up from the bed she was making. "Oh hello, Mr. Boot. I didn't hear you come in. Please have a seat."
"I'll leave you to it, Poppy," Prof. McGonagal said, leaving the room.
A few days later Matt and Donnie joined Shoshanna at breakfast. "Hey, Matty," Shoshanna said from behind the Daily Prophet. "Did you see the news? The dementors have been spotted heading North back to Scotland."
"It's about time," Donnie said. "Do they say what caused it?"
"No."
"Of course not. It's the Prophet. That means it's probably Death Eaters."
"Maybe they just don't know," Midge interjected. "Little is known about dementors. They could just have a natural one hundred year migration pattern or something."
"How come it's never been recorded, then?" Shoshanna challenged.
"Maybe one thousand years then," Midge said. "Studies on them as a magical creature have never been done. The ministry just saw a way to use them and did. But that will change when I graduate."
"You're going to study dementors?" Shoshanna lowered her paper and regarded Midge incredulously.
"Among other things, yes. Can you think of a better way to make a name for myself?"
"Yes, several. And none of them involve getting your soul sucked out of your body."
"Shows what you know. Magizoology is a competitive field. Every year there are hundreds of books and papers submitted. To stand out you have to do something really unique. Something no one else has done before."
"You mean dangerous, don't you?"
"Dementors are only dangerous because we don't understand them. I'm sure once we know more about them we'll realize they really weren't that bad after all. We just need to change how we think of them."
"You mean as terrifying soul sucking monsters?"
"Exactly. See, I made a stuffed one." She pulled out a grey stuffed creature in a black cloak that, despite how strange it looked, Matt had to agree was pretty cute. There was a bit of a commotion as Hagrid entered the hall with Rolf Scamander behind him. "Oh good, it's Mr. Scamander. I'll tell him my idea. I'm sure he'll agree with me." She ran off to join them as they walked down to the teacher's table, showing Rolf the doll she had made. He took it and smiled.
"Dementors, not dangerous. Maybe if you want to spend your days binging on chocolates," Shoshanna scoffed. "Looks like we have another special lesson with Hagrid," she said, shuffling her paper and going back to reading.
"Good mornin' class," Hagrid greeted them warmly. "I imagine most of ye noticed Mr. Scamander was with me this mornin' and prolly think he's goin' ta be doin' the lesson today. Well, not ta disappoint ya, but he's just here to check up on my Hippogriff herd. Seems his granddad wants ta borrow one for a trip," Hagrid beamed proudly. "Ta think, Newt Scamander wants ta use one o' my Hippogriffs. Well, they are the best in the world, if I do say so myself. But Ah've got a special treat for yah. Yer gonna love this. We just have ta go fer a little walk. They don't like being out in the open." Hagrid led the students a few meters into the Forbidden Forest. "Now where are they?"
Something large and white seemed to leap from one tree branch to another. "Ah there they are."
Matt and the others looked up to see a flock of large white creatures. They had the head and body of a deer, the hind legs, tail, and wings of an eagle. Midge gasped. "Perytons!" she cried rapturously.
"Yes, that is what they like to be called. They think its sounds regal," a voice said vaguely from behind them. They turned around to see a young woman, not much older than twenty, if that, with protuberant eyes, pale blonde hair, and an distant expression. "Well, come on. They won't hurt you." Matt wasn't sure whether she was talking to them or the perytons. A few of perytons flew down, four stags and three does. They pawed at the ground and tossed their heads back, the stags shaking large racks of antlers. One of the does yawned, exposing a mouth full of sharp fangs.
"Are they dangerous?" Aloysius Selwyn whimpered from behind Andy Greengrass.
"Oh no. They're very gentle. See." She reached out a hand and stroked the nearest stag on the nose. Matt was quite sure that he had read they were rated as one of the most dangerous magical beasts. "You can pet them if you like."
An offer Midge Owens was happy to accept, letting one of the does sniff her hand and then stroking its cheek. "They're so soft!" she squealed. A number of the other students came forward nervously to pet the large creatures.
"Yes, I met this flock when I was searching for the Crumple-horned snorkack in Greece. They are very fond of chips. There are twelve of them altogether, but they only speak ancient Greek so they won't understand you."
One of the perytons bounded overhead, perching on a branch to watch. Hungrily, Matt thought. He kept an eye on it. It cast a shadow over a few of the students. Matt wasn't certain, but it looked strange. As the students moved he saw it clearly, it looked like the shadow of a man, not a stag. He looked at the others, each had the shadow of a deer. He back up toward Hagrid, never taking his eyes off of the stag in the tree.
"Hagrid?" he said, tugging on his giant sleeve.
"Yeh?"
"How many perytons did she say there were?"
"Twelve."
"And how many do you see?"
Hagrid counted quietly for a moment. "Thirteen. Must've miscounted. Lemme try again."
"Hagrid, look at that one's shadow." He pointed to the one in the tree who seemed to have focused on him.
"Whaddaya mean?" Hagrid looked. "Oh dear." The peryton shrieked, knowing he had been discovered and swooped down at the students. "Get down!" Hagrid shouted. "Protego!" he pointed his umbrella at the students and a barrier flashed over them, just long enough to block the creature, who shrieked angrily.
"Protego!" the instructor said, flicking her wand. A shield formed over them. The peryton flew at it, enraged, it's hooves and antlers bouncing off as the students cowered beneath.
"We gotta stop this thing before he realizes there are other students out here," Hagrid shouted.
"Oh, yes, that wouldn't be good. Stupify!" the shield dropped and a red flash hit the peryton which simply seemed taken aback. He shook it off and flew at them again. "This is troublesome." The peryton flew straight at her.
"Protego! Impedimenta!" a voice shouted from behind them. Rolf Scamander had appeared from the direction of the hut. The hit caused the peryton stag to shake once more and circle around.
"Stupify!"
"Stupify!"
"Stupify!"
Most of the students had their wands out and were casting stunning spells at the animal, though almost none were able to do so with any effect for they would not learn stunning spells in class for another year yet. Matt pulled Ceelee and Debbie close and whispered something to them.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" They both shouted in unison, one aiming for the creature's tail and the other its front hoof. It flipped over in the air, unable to control its flight it thrashed about.
"Petrificus Totalus," Rolf said. The peryton dropped like a stone from the air.
The blond woman waved her wand and the peryton's descent slowed.
"Accio suitcase," Scamander grabbed his suitcase, flipped the clasps up and tossed it so that it slid right under where the peryton was about to land. The creature fell into the suitcase. Rolf walked over and shut it, locking the clasps. "Looks like I've got a new friend. Thank you for your help controlling the fall Miss..."
"Lovegood." She smiled vaguely.
"Like Xenophilius Lovegood?"
"Yes, he's my father. He's quite brilliant."
"Well, his ideas certainly are interesting. He mentioned something about a creature called a crumple horned snorkack, would you happen to know much about it?"
She smiled brightly.
The morning of the final match came. "Don't expect me to go easy on you because we're friends," Liam said as he passed Matt at breakfast.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Matt answered.
Though the morning had begun rainy, by the time the match rolled around it was as fine a day as a person could ask for. The stands were packed. Cass and Boots were stirring up the crowd. Andie Greathouse assumed her position at the announcer's desk next to the headmistress. She threw a salute at Sean who returned it with a wink before saddling his broom. A warm breeze wafted through the stadium. Matt took a deep whiff.
"Hey Matt, snitches or stitches," Tip said, raising his broom.
"Snitches or stitches," Matt returned.
Madam Hooch blew the whistle and Matt shimmied up the pole. "And McLaggen has the quaffle!" Andie announced. "McLaggen to Wycliffe, Wycliffe to Card, Card back to Wycliffe, drop pass to McLaggen and goal! Gryffindor with an early lead."
Matt glared at the red robe tails as they flew away. He'd have to be more careful.
"And O'Connor with the quaffle, he's taking it in, and oh! Bludger to the shoulder by Cass Weasley, and he drops it. Show the boys how it's done Cass!" Matt expected to hear Prof. McGonagal object but when he glanced over she was sitting with a tight-lipped smile playing on her thin lips. "Card with the quaffle, to Wycliffe, Wycliffe throws and... blocked by Boot." Matt saw Linnea Aspera wide open and threw the quaffle towards her. "Well now there's a move you don't see every day. Boots Luna just hit the bludger into the path of the quaffle. It's bounced off and away from Aspera! And McLaggen's waiting. McLaggen has it and... he puts it in the lowest hoop! Twenty points Gryffindor. And there go the seekers!"
Creevey and Tip were flying neck and neck, weaving through the chasers. Tip ducked a bludger and leaned into his broom turning sharply into the Gryffindor goal area. He and Dennis flew in and out of the posts before taking a lap around the pitch. But no. They slowed. Their circles widening, rising. Tip took another two laps around the pitch before rising back up into the sky.
"And O'Connor scores! Putting Hufflepuff on the board twenty to ten." Matt stretched his arms and tossed his head from side to side, readying his shoulders. He dove for the lowest hoop blocking the quaffle and sending it flying to Polly who was promptly struck on her side by a bludger from Cass, followed two seconds later by one to her upper back from Boots Luna. The quaffle dropped and Liam recovered it just as it was about to hit the ground, Sean Brady nailed him in the chest with a bludger, but, though the quaffle popped up from his hands Wycliffe was there to grab it. The strength of Gryffindor was their beaters and their chasers, Declan had said, and they were proving it today. Matt dropped to block another attempt, pounding it with his fist. Fifty points to thirty with Gryffindor in the lead. Seventy to fifty with no change in leader.
"And it's ninety to ninety at one hour and twenty minutes into the game," Andie Greathouse announced. "Card with the quaffle and he passes to McLaggen but what's this? Intercepted by MacHeath!" Polly had flown straight up between Jerry Card and Liam and snatched the quaffle out of midair. "And she's dodged a bludger by Weasley, and there's one by Luna to her arm but she holds on. Is she going to pass it? No, I think she's going for it!" Polly flew straight for the goals. As she approached she drew her legs up into a crouch, quaffle tucked in, she knelt on her broom. "Oh no, it she going to? Yes she is! The Chelmondiston Charge!" Polly stood just as she approached the goals and leapt, thrusting the quaffle toward the second highest goalpost while the keeper waited at the tallest where her broom had been pointed. She grasped at the air as she fell, and then her wrist was caught and Declan hoisted her up onto his broom. The crowd, that had held its breath, exploded in applause. Linnea swooped by and tossed Polly her abandoned broom. "And Hufflepuff pulls into the lead with one hundred points in what was easily the maddest play I have ever seen!"
The game continued on. For each goal from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff matched it. It was two hours in and Matt's arms were becoming sore. The math was clear, whichever team got the snitch would win the cup. But after a few false starts, the snitch had remained elusive. And then... What was that? A golden glint was hovering at almost the center of the field. He looked up to see Dennis and Tip diving toward it.
"And the seekers have seen the snitch! They're diving! But which will get there first?"
Both were almost flat against their brooms, Matt could hear the wind screaming around them even at this distance. They were neck and neck, both at the tips of their brooms, reaching out. The snitch flitted down. It was only a few meters off the ground. At this speed they would not be able to pull up in time if they continued. Matt could see the realization in Dennis Creevey's eyes. Still he refused to pull up. They were approaching the point of no return. If they didn't pull up now and fly around for a horizontal approach they would crash into the ground. Dennis glanced over at Tip, then at the snitch, then at Tip again. Matt saw his expression slacken as he pulled up.
"Pull up, Walker!" Declan shouted.
"Pull up!" cries from Linnea and Polly echoed.
"He's going to crash!" Andie shouted. "Pull up, Walker!"
Matt saw what looked like a set of robes fly up into the air. It was Tip! Time seemed to slow down as Matt watched. Tip had let go of the broom and for a moment seemed to float as he closed his hand upon where the snitch had been. Matt could see a smile upon his face. Then all at once Tip's broom hit the pitch, burying its front end almost a foot into the soft dirt. Tip slammed into the ground a moment later, unmoving.
"Tip!" a woman screamed from somewhere. Matt couldn't tell who it was. He couldn't think. All he could see was the pile of yellow robes on the pitch.
"Tip!" He shouted, sliding down the pole. Around him the others had landed and were dismounting their brooms.
"Walker's down!" Andie's voice was heard booming around them.
Matt thought he saw the limp pile of robes shift. Then rise. Tip got to his feet, a little shakily and thrust his hand up, snitch flitting helplessly as he held it aloft, grinning, a gap where his front tooth had been. A cheer rose from the crowd as Declan, Matt, and the rest of the team ran to him. Declan was the first to him, "That was the most reckless, most dangerous, stupidest..." he lifted him into the air in a great bear hug, "Don't do that to me!" he scolded, almost in tears from joy or relief Matt could not tell.
"Hey, snitches or stitches," Tip said when Declan put him down, whistling through his lost tooth on the last syllable. The rest of the team gathered round him, patting him on the back, hugging him.
"Nevermind what I said before; that was the maddest play I have ever seen," Andie said. "And Walker's done it. Final score two hundred eighty to one hundred twenty. Hufflepuff has won the cup! And here comes Gryffindor."
Cass Weasley marched up to Tip looking like she might hit him with her beater bat. "Hey Cass," He smiled.
"Don't 'Hey Cass' me," she said, throwing down her bat she picked Tip up by the front of his robes and kissed him. Hoots and hollers surrounded them from the stands.
"I can tell you I wasn't expecting that," Andie said.
Dennis Creevey shook hands with Declan and then Tip, once he had been released, though he was a little dazed. Liam clapped Matt on the back and said, "Good game."
"You too," Matt returned.
The festivities of Hufflepuff house lasted well into the night. The next week passed lazily. Matt, Shoshanna, and Bridget often studied outside in the shade of the trees overlooking the lake. All that was left was to pass their finals and then they would be able to enjoy the summer. This should've been a happy time for Matt, afterall, they had just won the quidditch cup and he was anxious to see his parents and Terry again. But it wasn't. He had glimpsed Holly the other day. Her eyes were sunken, with dark circles around them. She looked as though she hadn't slept in weeks. Or eaten. Always thin, she was almost skeletal. He had asked Bridget what was going on with her.
"I don't know," Bridget had replied. "I've tried talking to her dozens of times. She just walks on by me talkin' to that mouse."
He resolved the next time he saw her he would talk to her, make her tell him what was going on. He found his chance as he, Debbie, Midge, and Andy were walking from the library after a long evening of studying for their third finals. For the Hufflepuffs that meant potions, for Andy, transfiguration. Madam Pince had been none to pleased when he had transfigured a History of Hogwarts into a hedgehog.
"What are three uses for Mandrakes?" he asked.
"Mandrake restorative draught, Wiggenweld potion, and..." Debbie looked up to the ceiling.
"Petrify your enemies," Andy added.
"Andy! That's the kind of answer only a Slytherin would give." She elbowed him lightly. "Now you've made me lose my train of thought."
"Mandrake uses..." Matt suggested.
"Oh, I can't remember! Oh yeah, Memory Potion! Stewed mandrakes are an ingredient in memory potions. My turn. What are the ingredients to a Deflating Draught?"
"The Deflating Draught contains-" Suddenly Matt saw Holly flash by an archway in the corridor. "I'm sorry, I just remembered something. I'll catch up with you later," Matt said.
He chased after Holly. "Hey Holly! Wait up." He knew she could hear him but she kept on walking. "Holly!" he said, grabbing her shoulder. She turned. He drew back at the sight of her face drawn from stress, eyes flashing with terror. "Holly, are you ok?" They hadn't been the words he had meant to say, but they came rushing from his lips. She looked away from him. "Holly, what is it? If you're in trouble we can help you."
"Nobody can help," she muttered to the stone floor.
"Yes, we can. Just tell me what the problem is."
She looked up at him. Her big blue eyes locking with his own. "It's Artemis."
"What about him?" Had he finally died?
"He's telling me to do things. But I don't want to do them."
"What kind of things?"
She glanced away from him. "Bad things." she said in a small voice.
Matt felt a thrill of terror shoot through him and settle in his stomach. "What sort of bad things?"
"He-" she stopped short. "I can't tell you."
"Why not?"
"I can't!" she cried out. "He won't let me!"
"Artemis?"
She just stood there, dissolving into tears, her body shaking, lips sucked in. As though her body were refusing to let her speak any further.
"What's going on here?" Tip interrupted, swinging across Matt's shoulder.
"Tip!" Matt exclaimed, irritated.
Holly shook her head, turned and ran off.
"Is she ok?" Tip asked, watching her. "Must be the stress of finals, you know how it is for first years. I mean most of them have never even been to a proper school. Hey Matt, look what Shoshanna gave me." He produced a golden coin. "See, its got a protean charm, like the ones the DA uses. I tricked her into making one for me. Now you can give me the answers to the final exams."
"And why would I do that?"
"Well, cause we're mates."
"If you needed help, you should have joined our study group."
"Yeah, but I don't like study groups. Besides, I've been busy."
"You could have studied with her."
"Nah, she's brilliant, she doesn't have to study."
"Then it's your own fault you're in this mess, isn't it?"
"Come on, just this once."
"Look, even if I wanted to help you, which I don't, I can't. A protean charm requires magic, remember?"
Tip's eyes grew wide with realization, then narrowed. "She tricked me! I'll get her back for this."
"Good luck with that. I'm pretty sure she'll be expecting it. Besides, you deserved it for trying to cheat. But if you want, I'll help you study."
"Fine. If I have to."
Helping Tip to study turned out to be an all night affair. Matt barely got two hours of sleep before the test. He wanted, more than anything to go to sleep that night, but he had promised Bridget he would help her with Defense Against the Dark Arts, that night. Plus he needed to tell her what Holly had said. Maybe she could watch over her. As they were leaving the library they gazed out the window onto the grounds. The lake shined silver in the moonlight.
"It's strange to think in two weeks everyone will be gone."
"What will you do?"
"There's a couple I stay with. They're old friends of Prof. Dumbledore. And I'll visit Uncle Aberforth."
"Uncle Aberforth?"
"He's not really my uncle, but he looks in on me from time to time. When I was little I used to help him tend his goats. He owns The Hog's Head pub. I think he's related to Dumbledore, but I really don't know. He doesn't like to talk about him much. What will you do?"
"I'll go home, I guess. Terry said he wanted to take us all to Gibraltar so we might do that. Don't know exactly besides that. I guess play quidditch with Izzy. She wants to be seeker next year with Creevey graduating. She'll probably make me play day and night."
"Sounds like fun. I would have loved to have a little sister or brother."
"It's not as much fun as it sounds, but- Hey! That's Holly!"
"Where?"
"Down there! See, by the boathouse." Sure enough it was Holly, she could have almost been mistaken for a ghost in her white nightgown, her braids undone and white hair flowing down her shoulders. "We have to go get her!" Bridget nodded and off they ran, right into Ceelee Carrow who was enjoying a donut while lying on the thick rail of the main stone staircase.
"Hey, what are you two doing out so late?" she asked, finishing the final bite and hopping down.
"Nothing," Bridget answered.
Matt shook his head. Now was not the time to pretend everything was fine. If Lestrange had done anything to Holly, they'd probably need Ceelee. They were no match for a trio of Death Eaters on their own. "It's Holly. We just saw her by the boathouse in her night gown. I don't think she's ok. There was something wrong."
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go then."
They had just made it out the main doorway when a hand caught the door and a familiar voice spoke, "Well, well, well, what have we here?"
"Sod off, McLaggen," Ceelee said. "We don't need you bothering us."
"Get back in here. As a prefect it is my job to make sure all students are in their houses."
"Listen McLaggen-"
"Look Liam, we wouldn't be going out if we didn't need to. It's an emergency," Matt explained.
"If it's an emergency you need to tell a professor and let them handle it. I don't know if you missed it, but someone cast the dark mark on the grounds and we still don't know who. Not to mention those Death Eaters just roaming about."
Ceelee was incredulous. "Since when did you become the type to not dive into danger headfirst?"
"Since it involved people I cared about getting hurt."
"And we're trying to help someone we care about."
"Then get a professor. Get Filch."
"Filch?"
"The point is let an adult handle it."
"There's no time," Matt said.
"Well, I'm going." Ceelee reached for the door.
Liam pulled his wand. "Try it."
Ceelee's hand dangled dangerously near her wand pocket. "Don't make me curse you," she warned.
"You aren't that fast on the draw, Carrow."
"I guess we'll find out."
"There she goes!" Bridget cried. The trio's heads snapped to look where she was pointing just in time to see Holly walk into the room from the hall that led to the Hufflepuff common room, swaying slightly from side to side as she slowly walked. Her blue eyes were completely unfocused. She walked silently on bare feet, still coated with grass from the grounds, passing them without so much as a hint of recognition, or that she had seen them at all. It were as though she was in a daze, her gait unsteady, as though she were not even aware she was walking but was being moved by some force.
"Holly!" Matt cried. She made no response, only turned and began padding up the main staircase.
"Holly!" Bridget cried. Still no response.
"She's in a trance," Ceelee said, pulling out her wand. "We need to follow her." Liam nodded.
She walked as though she knew exactly her path though she never appeared to consciously acknowledge it. They followed a short distance behind, up staircases and through corridors until they reached the Headmistress's Office. Holly stood before the gargoyle and it jumped aside.
"What-?" Ceelee said.
"Come on, we've got to hurry," Liam rushed to the portal with the others close behind, diving in just before the gargoyle jumped back. They piled onto each other at the base of the stairs, which began to move them upwards like an escalator, making it hard for them to untangle from each other. As they approached the top Matt watched Holly step off, avoiding a goblet that lay half spilled on the floor, and turn to face them. Rodolphus Lestrange stepped up from behind her, his hands upon her shoulders. "How nice, you brought visitors," he said, in his oily tone.
"He doesn't want them killed. Not yet," Holly spoke, staring at them.
"Very well."
Matt saw a bright flash of red and then nothing.