OOO

Those damn spiders. Theodore Nott's teeth ground together as his body lay in the darkness. The spiders had been more troublesome than anticipated. A good number of them had been killed, of course, but not the leader or his mate – and not before they had been able to attack and pierce the basilisk. The snake was stronger than that, of course, but it would take a while for it to heal. It would likely be weeks before the beast was fit enough to hunt again.

Topping that was the frustration from the girls getting away, at least in a manner of speaking. The blond had frustrated him, but at least she and her little friend had been petrified. She, along with the Malfoy boy, had been another danger, a person capable of recognizing what he was doing before his plans came to fruition. Of course, it was a loss to have the primary suspect, and a good diverter of attention, taken away. But there were ways to compensate for that.

The bed next to him rustled. Potter was back. He heard his own curtains being drawn aside and felt the boy's hands on his shoulder, shaking him.

"Theo," he whispered. "Theo, get up. I've got some bad news."

Yawning, he made a show of rubbing his eyes. "What's the matter? How did it go?"

"Badly." Harry swallowed. "Theo… Ginny and Luna are… Ginny and Luna got petrified."

"What?" He tried to sound affected.

"We found a bunch of spiders in the woods who told us that the beast was their enemy, but we didn't get to learn much before being attacked by the monster itself. Everybody ran but I think Luna stumbled and fell behind. She and Ginny didn't make it back to the castle with us. We went back out to look for them and found them by the Lake, frozen like all the others." Harry's voice sounded like he was verging on tears as he described what had happened.

"Well what did you do?" Theo's body sat up. "Did you tell Dumbledore?"

"We weren't supposed to be out. So Millicent agreed to take the heat for all of us. Make up some story about going after the beast with Ginny and Luna on their own after getting attacked earlier today. She figured it would be better for only one of us to get detention so that the others can keep working on it."

"I see." Theo nodded. "But you're alright?"

"As much as I can be." Harry took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "It's really weird because my scar hasn't been acting up at all. But it's like… It feels like something Voldemort would do."

"What?" He feigned laughter.

"The whole Heir of Slytherin business – I mean, if there was ever a Slytherin alive who would want to clean out all the Muggle-borns, it's him, isn't it? And it feels like…" Harry gulped. "It feels like he's picking off my friends, one by one. Like he's trying to make me hurt."

"Harry, don't be ridiculous." He yawned. "Voldemort was nothing but vapor when you last left him."

"Well maybe that's how he's sneaking around!" Harry retorted with vehemence. "I mean, it could be, couldn't it?"

"Possible, I guess. But you don't think Dumbledore would notice Voldemort wandering around the school setting some manner of creature loose?"

"Didn't notice about Peter, did he?" Harry replied coldly. "Or Quirrell. At least not so much that he did anything about it. Maybe he's not so observant or maybe… I don't know."

"What? You think he's doing that on purpose? Letting Voldemort get close? Harry, why would he do that?"

"I dunno. Test, maybe? There are just things that don't make sense, especially if Dumbledore is as talented as people say." He shrugged. "Anyway, what I wanted to tell you was… be careful Theo. It started at random but Draco, now Ginny and Luna… it's hitting all the people I'm closest to. I'm worried you'll be next. So watch your back, alright?"

"I'll be more cautious with a full night of sleep," he replied with a wry smile. "But I will watch out." He paused. "And Ginny and Luna… you're sure they'll be okay?" He allowed concern to creep into his voice again.

"As okay as anybody, I suppose," Harry responded, crawling into his own four-poster. "They're not dead, I don't think. But beyond that, we'll have to wait for Sprout and her potion."

"Indeed," came the whisper as the curtains were once more pulled shut.

OOO

"Well done Millicent!" Pansy clapped from further down the table at breakfast the next morning. "Knocking off a couple of swotty little Ravenclaws like you did. You've finally done something to make your House proud. Not that I think you're the heir – half-blood and all that – but we can all do our part, can't we?" She crowed.

A table away, George saw Millicent's jaw clench and touch his brother's elbow, pointing. The girl stood and for a moment it looked as if she would simply walk away. But then she spun around, stalked over to Pansy, grabbed her by the hair and shoved her face-down into her own bowl of porridge. Then she turned and landed a roundhouse on Ron who made to attack her, only to be jumped by Crabbed and Goyle, the sounds of Pansy's wails filling the background.

George jumped over the table, spilling a carafe of orange juice in the process, and grabbed Goyle by his collar as a full-fledged fight broke loose. Grunts and screams filled the air but, despite their assistance, the Weasleys didn't get to actually talk to Millicent until they were all on their way back from Dumbledore's office.

"Milli, you're going to be spending half the semester in detention," George pointed out.

"Never bothered you," she replied stonily. "Besides, I already had three weeks worth. What's another couple of weeks to add to the pile?"

"You really can't let Pansy get to you." He looked at her. "Milli, we've all been hearing a lot of rumors…"

"Well maybe they're just that," she sniffed.

"You could tell us, you know," he pointed out. "I mean, it was our little sister hurt in that attack. Mum's going out of her mind fretting. Don't we deserve to know what really happened?"

"Yeah," Fred chimed in. "I mean, not that I don't believe you lot had enough nerve in you to go after the creature yourself. But is that really what happened?" He quirked an eyebrow. "The whole story?"

She scoffed. "What does it matter?"

"It matters because if you guys are up to something, maybe we could help."

"Help." She snorted and shook her head. "No way. Look where Ginny and Luna got when we tried to help. I mean, not that I don't think you guys would be useful or anything…"

"So who else was with you?" George interrupted. "I'm assuming Harry was. I'm sure he doesn't want to let this business with Draco slide unnoticed. Anybody else?"

For a moment she was silent, but then shrugged, relenting. "A few Hufflepuffs. Susan, Ernie, Hannah… you know. Draco's friends."

"Hufflepuffs?" Fred laughed. "You're okay with them coming along but not Gryffindors? Come on, Milli!"

"They were the ones who came up with the plan to begin with. We got pulled in and then Harry of course… And at first it's almost fun, you know? Like a game, sneaking out, making sure not to get caught, acting like we were going to solve some great mystery. But now Ginny and Luna are Petrified like all the others and the only reason I took the rap is because… well, Harry and the rest have already gone down that path, haven't they? And somebody has to do something, not like the school is doing anything…" She sighed in frustration.

"Nothing but kick out Hagrid," Fred pointed out bitterly.

"That's what I mean." She shook her head. "The stuff we saw in those woods will probably give me nightmares for weeks. And I'm sure that's not even half of what's coming."

"Can't hurt to have more help, though, can it?" George suggested.

"It does if that help gets hurt." Millicent bit her lip. "But you're right too. You should probably talk to Harry if you want to know more. If you do get involved, though – be careful. You promise?"

"When are we not?" George laughed.

"Good. Because I'll punch your Petrified faces in if anything happens to you chasing after that… that whatever it is."

"Maybe we can placate it by feeding Ron to it," Fred suggested – and despite everything, Millicent smiled.

OOO

Narcissa stirred from beneath the blanket that Dobby had draped over her the moment she heard her husband come home. Giving her son's forehead a quick kiss, she went out into the hallway to greet Lucius.

"Did you find anything?" She asked immediately upon seeing him, though the look on his face made her heart plummet.

"No, love," he murmured. "I am sorry. The mandrakes that are being grown are nowhere close to being mature. It's a rare plant irregardless and winter is not the season for their harvesting, traditionally…"

"Well what are you going to do?" Her voice rose.

"I will go further east, as I promised. I came home only to rest and make preparations for the trip."

"How long do you think this will take?"

"I cannot say, no more than I could when I left the first time." His voice sounded weary and strained. "How is he? I assume there is no movement, no change in his condition?"

"None at all," she whispered.

"And what of Hogwarts? Have you heard anymore news from there?" He shed his cloak and slumped by the fire, snapping his fingers for Dobby to bring him tea. "Have any other attacks occurred?" Dobby dutifully handed him a steaming cup which he sipped.

"One attack with two more gone." She looked at him uncertainly. "The Weasley and Lovegood girls."

Lucius' face darkened. "I do not like this, Narcissa. It does not feel random."

"What I don't understand is how it is happening at all!" She paced. "He was the only one who ever claimed to be the Heir – how could there be another? Who could claim the same right?" Lucius looked down into his tea. "Lucius?" She strode over to him. "Is there something you know that you aren't telling me?"

He set the tea aside with a clatter. "I need to check on something my love. I will return in a moment."

He ran out into the hall, but Narcissa followed on his heels. "Tell me Lucius!" She pleaded. "If this is about our son, I deserve to know! Did he find something of ours? Did he get into something?" She stopped when she reached the study and found him kneeling over a compartment in the floor. "Is it my fault?"

"Damn!" He pounded the floor next to him. "But how could he have…" He stood up, his crow furrowed and furious. "Narcissa? You have Draco's things from school, correct?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Look through them. See if you can find a small black book. If you do, take it and sequester it. Do not touch it more than necessary and I will deal with it when I return."

"Alright. You will leave tomorrow, then?"

"Yes. As soon as I can." He looked over, standing up and still frowning. "And do we have any dreamless sleep potion on hand? I should like to take some, I think."

"Of course, darling," she murmured, backing out of the room, though frustrated at not knowing anything more, and leaving Lucius to his own troubled thoughts.

OOO

So tell me little Dragon – did you find the hound or did the hound find you?

The voice echoed in the darkness, in the ears of one who was not sure if he slept or woke.

OOO

After the girls had been attacked, Harry kept waiting nervously for the other shoe to fall and for Theo or the Weasleys or Hannah or Susan or himself to get ambushed. But days passed and then weeks without any sign of an attack. The fresh wave of frenzy that had come over the school after the girls had been attacked gradually subsided. Nobody forgot that there was a supposed beast meandering the hallways, but the worst of the panic faded and people began to more about their business more normally.

It still unsettled Harry, however, and he said as much to Nott while they were working in Potions one day.

"It feels like I'm waiting for something," he told his friend. "Like this is the calm before the storm or whatever."

"But you still haven't come any closer to figuring out what it might be?"

"Not really." Harry shrugged. "There's not a lot of info out there on Acromantulas; I mean, it took me forever to even figure out that was the name for those creepy oversized spiders. And I'm supposed to be studying in between all of this!" He sighed. "Maybe I should take a lesson from you and get my homework done before worrying about anything else."

"Pity that Hagrid's not here," Theo murmured. "You could have asked him; he would probably know."

"Hagrid or Draco or Luna or even Hermione… it's like everybody who could help is being taken out of the picture!"

"Shhh!" Theo hushed him. "Snape!"

The boys bent their heads over the cauldron, each refusing to look up at the Potions Master as he passed and ignoring the snide remarks he made on his way towards the next table.

"You could ask other people, perhaps," Theo suggested.

"And have to explain to them how I encountered an Acromantula? No way. I could count on Hagrid to keep mum but anybody else – even Dumbledore – would probably end up giving me detention."

"Then I suppose you will have to figure it out on your own."

"If I live that long." Harry sighed and peered down into the cauldron of Swelling Solution. "It's too thin, isn't it?" He grumbled.

"Were it anybody but Snape, it would probably be adequate. Being as it is Snape…" He shrugged. "It isn't as though anything we'll ever do will impress him."

"I know, I know," Harry sighed as he filled a flask. "So are you staying for the holidays?"

"I have to, don't I?" Theo stuffed books into his sack. "Not as though I can go home. And I very much doubt that either the Malfoys or the Weasleys will be up to having company over, not with matters as they stand."

Harry nodded. "I wish I could see Draco. I mean, I know they probably can't hear me or anything, but it's still a bit reassuring to go up there and check on Ginny and Cedric and the rest. It would be nice to see Draco too." He left the carefully labeled flask on the desk with the others. "In fact, maybe I'll send an owl to Mrs. Malfoy. I mean, what's the worst that could happen?"

"Indeed."

OOO

Harry was in the midst of reading Narcissa Malfoy's reply, assuring him that Draco was fine and that Lucius was attempting to gather materials for the cure, when he practically walked into a large crowd of people in the entrance. They all seemed to be gathered around a piece of paper and he strained to read the words.

"What's this all about?" He turned and asked Ernie who was close at hand, flanked by Susan and Hannah.

"I think I heard something about a dueling club."

"It is!" Dean Thomas confirmed with a grin. "They're starting it tonight!"

"Does it say who's teaching it?" Harry asked, still unable to see the posting.

"Not exactly; but I'm sure they've got somebody good, right?" Dean grinned.

"You know, I heard Flitwick used to duel," Susan mentioned conversationally. "Maybe they got him to do it."

"Maybe. But if he was so keen on it, why start now? He's been here ages, hasn't he?" Harry pointed out.

"Well self-defense is a little more important now, isn't it?" Hannah said tersely; she hadn't been quite herself after they'd ventured into the forest.

"Yeah, I guess," Harry admitted. "Say, guys? I got a letter from Draco's mum." He held out the parchment. "I wrote to ask how he was and all that. You can read it if you like."

Without warning, Hannah suddenly burst into tears and ran off down the hallway. Ernie shot Harry a look before following in hot pursuit.

"Sorry," Susan whispered, taking the proffered letter. "She's been like that since…"

"I know," Harry murmured. "It's not her fault. Things just… it went wrong, that's all. Not her fault."

"I've told her that," Susan sighed as she scanned the contents of the letter. "I think she's been having nightmares."

Harry nodded. "And I doubt she's the only one. Have you seen the bags under Millicent's eyes? I wonder if she's been sleeping at all. She nearly fell into her cauldron during Potions the other day."

"And I know it sounds strange, but I think the worst of it is nothing happening," Susan whispered. "It feels like I'm waiting for an axe to fall."

"Agreed," Harry said with another nod. "So are you going to show up tonight?"

"I suppose." She shrugged. "Nothing better to do, really. I'm well ahead in all of my classes. And who knows? It might actually be useful." She handed him back the letter. "And thanks for that. I've been worried about him – though he might be in better shape than the rest if his father manages to get his hands on any mandrakes."

"It might be better for everybody. If Draco wakes up he should be able to tell us what kind of monster it is," Harry pointed out. "We might not know where the chamber is but if we ever have to look, it would help to know what we're up against."

OOO

The moment Narcissa sent off their owl, she wished she could call it back – not because she wanted to recall the letter, but rather because she thought it said too little. Her husband might not agree with her decision, she reflected. But what little she knew, she wondered if she ought not share, if it might not keep her son – and his friends, many of whom she had to admit she was somewhat fond of – safer once he awoke.

Not to mention there were questions she needed to ask herself.

The moment the owl returned, she resolved to send a second letter. In the meanwhile, she set out fresh flowers atop her son's nightstand and waited for Lucius to return.

OOO