19 - When each clue brings more pain and confusion
"What?!"
Hermione and Megan both shushed Ron. Both he and Harry looked horrified. Megan glanced around her. She didn't think they'd been heard.
"Not so loud!" Megan said. "And yes... it's gone. We went through everything and it's the only thing I couldn't find."
"Blimey… who would do that?"
"I have no idea." Megan sighed.
They sat huddled in a corner of the room, apart from the rest of the room. Luckily, most people were more interested in the match than a group of second years.
"Who would want that diary...?" Harry wondered aloud.
Hermione was frowning thoughtfully. Megan could almost hear her mind whirring.
"It had to be someone who knew who it belongs to, or knows how it works or something that the average person doesn't. They wouldn't have taken it at random. I have much more valuable things in my trunk. My broom, my Invisibility cloak... "
Hermione had said nothing, still looking thoughtful. But not the reflective kind. The concerned type.
"What is it?" Ron asked.
"I hate to say this...but it could only be a Gryffindor..." she said heavily. "No one else could get in."
Megan nodded. But oddly enough, that didn't make her feel any better.
The next day, the sun shone brightly and a light breeze kept it from feeling too hot. The weather was very pleasant.
"Perfect flying conditions!" Wood said happily, as he loaded platters of food on the team's plates. "Megan, eat up! You're going to need it."
Megan nodded but her mind was elsewhere. She couldn't believe one of her fellow Gryffindors had stolen from her. She trusted them. She had a fairly strong idea of who hadn't done it, but there were many Gryffindors she didn't really know. Hermione told her to report the theft, but Megan objected that she would have to tell the whole story of the diary, which was not a good idea.
"Plus, we don't know how well known the reason for Hagrid's expulsion is," she added. "And I am not going to be the one who brings it up."
Hermione had to admit she had a point. As they left to get her things, Megan found another thing to add to her worry list.
"Let me rip... tear... kill..."
"No!" Megan gasped, stopping dead in her tracks.
The others jumped in alarm.
"What?" Harry asked.
"The voice..." Megan said. "I just heard it... didn't you...?"
Harry shook his head slowly. Hermione and Ron were looking worried. Then, Hermione's eyes widened.
"Of course...! That's it! It's got to be...!"
"What?"
"I have to go to the library!"
And away she hurried.
"What was that about...?" Ron asked.
"I don't know... but she'll probably tell us when we get back to the common room." Harry said. "Megan, it's almost eleven, you should get going."
She quickly got her broom and darted down to the grounds, but all the while, she couldn't get the cold, deadly voice out of her mind. She pulled her robes on, her only comfort being the knowledge of a clean match and that everyone would be at the game. Cedric was playing against her, so she knew he would be. The two teams stepped into the open under roars of applause. Wood and the Hufflepuff captain shook hands. Megan was just mounting her broom when McGonagall strode onto the pitch, a large megaphone in her hand. Megan felt fear flow through her like ice. And sure enough...
"The match has been cancelled," McGonagall announced.
Amid the boos and shouts, Wood and Megan exchanged a glance. Together they hurried towards her.
"But professor...!" Wood began.
"All students please proceed to their common rooms immediately. Heads of houses will give further information there."
Megan hurried to go find Cedric, who was heading towards her.
"What's going on?"
Megan ignored the voice in her mind saying he looked good in his game robes, and said:
"I don't know, but I like the sound of it about as much as I do Malfoy…"
Just then, McGonagall called her.
"Surely she didn't cancel the match just to talk to me…?" Megan said incredulously.
"Let's go find out," Cedric said.
They went together.
"Potter, I think you should come with me." she said in an undecipherable tone.
Harry and Ron joined them then.
"Yes, perhaps you boys should come too." she added.
Megan and the others exchanged confused glances but followed her through the either grumbling or worried crowd. They went up a staircase but not to anyone's office.
"What's going on, Professor?" Cedric asked.
"There's been another attack," McGonagall said gravely. "A double attack, this time."
While that was horrible news, what did they have to do with it? They soon found themselves at the hospital wing.
"This may be a shock," McGonagall said gently as they entered.
Madam Pomfrey was bending over a fifth-year girl with blond hair. And in the bed beside her...
"Hermione...!" Megan gasped.
This was too much. And along with the horror, a terrible guilt filled Megan. She had been worried about Cedric who was half Muggle Born, and she had completely forgotten Hermione was Muggle Born. Tears slid down her cheek. Cedric pulled her gently against his chest.
"Why...? Why is this happening...?" Megan asked.
"... I don't know." he said softly. "But she'll be okay. She'll be back in no time. She's just petrified. She's not dead."
Strangely, she didn't feel any better. It looked almost impossible to believe they could be cured… maybe it was because it was someone so close to her, it affected her differently…
"She was found in the library," McGonagall said. "Does this mean anything to you?"
She raised a small hand mirror. They shook their head, still thunderstruck.
"Mr Diggory, our caretaker will escort you to your house. You three, come with me. I need to speak to the Gryffindor students."
Megan turned and hugged Cedric hard.
"Be careful... I don't want to come back to see you here too."
They parted ways and followed McGonagall up the stairs.
"As of this moment, all students of all houses will return to their common rooms by six o'clock every evening, and no one will be permitted to leave the dormitories beyond that hour. Exceptions will not be tolerated. You will be escorted to all your lessons by the teacher of your previous class. No more Quidditch training or evening activities will be allowed until further notice."
There was absolute silence as McGonagall spoke. She heaved a sigh and rolled the parchment she had been reading from and looked up. Megan, sitting with Harry, who had his arm around her, had never seen her head of house look so affected.
"... Needless to say the entire student body is deeply concerned. And, I will be honest: the likelihood that the school will be closed unless the culprit is caught is, I'm sorry to say, quite high."
Megan bit her lip. A lifetime with the Dursleys. That was worse than facing Voldemort.
"And I strongly encourage anyone who has even the slightest information, however irrelevant it may seem, to come forwards. Thank you."
And she left. Talk began immediately.
"We'll get them," Harry said fiercely. "If it's the last thing I do."
"Don't," Megan said. "I can't take any more."
He softened. Ron was sitting on Harry's other side. Then, Megan looked a little past him.
"What's wrong with Percy, Ron?"
He was sitting pale faced and stunned. George, who had just sat down beside them with Fred, answered for him.
"The Ravenclaw girl that was found with Hermione was a Prefect," he explained in a low voice. "I think he never suspected a Prefect could be attacked. He always thought it was such a great thing to be."
Megan nodded, but didn't pay much more attention to the babbling. She just couldn't get the picture of Hermione out of her head. Her blank face, her wide eyes... and the idea of having to go back to the Dursleys was torture. They already hated her, they would never accept having her all year round, even if she did go to a Muggle school. And as comfortable as the Burrow was, she couldn't impose on the Weasleys... But even that wasn't the worst. Riddle had turned Hagrid in to avoid facing the school's closure. She knew how he felt, but Hagrid and Riddle hadn't been friends...
"What are we going to do...?" Ron asked in a low voice.
"... Honestly? I don't know..." Megan said heavily. "But we'll have to go and talk to Hagrid. I can't believe he did it this time, but if he did let the monster loose last time, he'll know how to get into the chamber, that'd be a start."
"But how? You heard McGonagall, we're not allowed out except for class," Harry reminded her.
Megan looked up at them.
"Well, I guess it's time to take my Dad's old cloak out again."
Megan had inherited several physical traits from her mother, such as her auburn hair and green eyes, as well as a beautiful silver bracelet, but only one thing from her father: an Invisibility Cloak. She had gotten it at Christmas the year before. And it was the only thing that would enable them to sneak out unnoticed.
"Why at night, though?" Ron asked when she explained her plan.
"We've no choice, we'll never be able to sneak out in the daytime," Megan said. "The teachers will be watching us. Not to mention every minute counts if we want to keep the school from closing… or worse, more attacks."
Megan half had a mind to get word to Cedric, remembering her promise to tell him what was going on. But she soon dismissed the idea. He didn't have an Invisibility Cloak, or any way of going unnoticed, and she didn't want to get in trouble or put him in danger. Who knew what would happen...? Maybe the beast would attack again tonight (thought given the recent strike, she doubted it, but refused to take the risk). So she preferred to know him safe in his bed. She could fill him in over breakfast the next day. And Harry and Ron ouldn't hear of her going alone. So, that night, when everyone was asleep, Megan got up and dressed quietly before pulling her cloak from under her pillow. Tying her hair up and glancing with a twinge of pain at Hermione's empty four poster, she bit her lip and walke out. Then, she crept down the stairs to the common room where Harry and Ron were waiting for her.
"Ready?" Harry asked.
She nodded. Then, they slid under the cloak.
The journey was not fun. Megan had wandered around the castle at night in the past, but never had she seen it so crowded. Prefects and teachers in pairs everywhere. The cloak didn't make them silent, and there was a very tricky moment when Ron swore after stubbing his toe when Snape was just a few feet from them. Luckily, he sneezed loudly at the same time. But they were very relieved when they finally reached the grounds. The grounds appeared empty, but Megan instructed them to keep the cloak on until they reached the hut. So, only when they were right outside the door did they remove it. Megan put it inside her robes while Harry knocked. And jumped back in front of her and Ron when Hagrid opened the door armed with a crossbow. Mira and Fang stood at his heel. When she saw Megan, Mira bounded forwards.
"Hey, Mira," Megan said.
"What're ye doing out here, it's dangerous!" Hagrid said.
"We need to talk to you. What's that for?" Megan asked, eyeing the crossbow.
"Oh... sorry, I... I was expectin'... never mind. C'mon in, quick."
He was nervous and shaky as they sat down.
"Hagrid, are you all right?" Megan asked.
"Did you hear about Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Oh yeah... heard about that all right..." he said, his voice cracking slightly.
He kept looking out the window. He was just talking about making tea when there was a knock on the door.
Megan and Harry quickly pulled Ron into a corner and threw the cloak over themselves. Hagrid glanced at them to check they were hidden and picked up his crossbow. Then, he opened the door.
"Good evening, Hagrid."
It was Dumbledore. He was looking extremely serious. Behind him was another smaller man, looking uncomfortable. He was slightly stout and wore a bowler hat which he removed as he entered.
"That's Dad's boss...!" Ron whispered. "Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic."
Megan elbowed him to be quiet. Hagrid looked pale and nervous.
"Ah, bad business, Hagrid, very bad..." Fudge said. "I had to come, the Ministry's got to act, and this has gone far enough."
"I didn't hurt no one," Hagrid said, turning to Dumbledore. "Professor, you know I never..."
"I want it known and understood, Cornelius," Dumbledore said in a chillier voice than Megan had ever heard him use, "that Hagrid has my full confidence."
"Dumbledore, Hagrid's records are against him, we can't just do nothing... the school governors have been in touch..."
"As I have said, Cornelius, taking Hagrid away will solve nothing."
"In that case he'll be released with a full apology," he said. "But look, I'm under a lot of pressure, I can't be seen doing nothing..."
So they were just going to accuse an innocent man to save appearances? Megan clenched her fists. Harry quickly put his hand on hers.
"I know," he said in her ear. "But we can't be caught."
Megan nodded. She knew he was right. But that didn't make it easier to accept.
"I have to take him," Cornelius went on.
"Take me? Take me where...?" He went even paler. "Not... Not Azkaban...?!"
"It's a necessary precaution, Hagrid. If you're proved innocent, you'll be released immediately."
Before Hagrid could say anything, there was another knock. Sharper. Dumbledore opened it. And it was Megan's turn to be nudged into silence.
"Already here, Fudge." Lucius Malfoy said. "Good."
Lucius Malfoy stepped haughtily inside, glancing disdainfully around.
"What are yeh doing here?" Hagrid growled. "Get out o' my house!"
"Trust me, I have no pleasure being here," Malfoy said. "I came to the school and was told the Headmaster was here."
"And what did you want to see me for, Lucius?" Dumbledore asked calmly.
"Ah, dreadful thing, Dumbledore." He said lazily, pulling out a roll of parchment. "But you see, the governors believe it is time for you to... step aside. I have here an order of suspension, on which you'll find all twelve signatures."
Megan, Harry and Ron exchanged horrified looks.
"I'm afraid we feel you've... shall we say, lost your touch. How many attacks have there been, again? Two more just today, was it not? Dear me, at this rate, there will be no more Muggle Borns in the school, and we all know what a terrible loss that would be..."
Given his haughty attitude in Diagon Alley, Megan was fairly sure it wouldn't be that terrible in his opinion.
"Oh, come now, Lucius," Fudge intervened, looking alarmed. "Dumbledore suspended... oh, no, that's the last thing we want. What would the people think?"
"The appointment, or suspension, as it is the case now," Lucius said, "of the teaching staff is a matter for the governors. And since Dumbledore has failed to stop the attacks over the past five months..."
"Lucius, if Dumbledore can't stop the attacks, who can?" Fudge said uncomfortably.
"That remains to be seen," Lucius said. "But all twelve of us have voted–"
"An' how many did yeh have to threaten to 'ave yer way, Malfoy?" Hagrid growled.
"Dear me, temper; temper," Malfoy said. "It will lead you to trouble, one of these days, Hagrid. And I wouldn't recommend shouting like that in Azkaban, the guards won't like that."
"Yeh can't take Dumbledore!" Hagrid shouted. "Take him, an' the Muggle Borns won't stand a chance! There'll be killin' next!"
"Calm yourself, Hagrid," Dumbeldore said. "If the governors require my removal, then I shall step aside."
Lucius gave Hagrid a triumphant sneer.
"However," he went on, still perfectly friendly and calm. "You will find that I will never be gone as long as those that remain are loyal to me. And you'll also find help is always given at Hogwarts, for those who ask for it.
His eyes went to the corner where Megan and the boys were hiding, and for a second, Megan was sure he could see them.
"Admirable words," Lucius said. "You will be missed. Let us hope your successor will be able to prevent any more attacks."
They went to the door. Hagrid stayed behind and said calmly.
"If anyone was looking fer some stuff, they'd just have to follow the spiders. Yep. Oh, an' someone'll have ter feed Fang 'n Mira."
And they left. Megan, Harry and Ron waited a few moments and got up.
"It couldn't be any worse..." Harry said. "Hagrid's right, without him around, there'll be an attack a day."
Fang pined and scratched at the door.
