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by M V Stevens This story contains Charactors and places which were created by J.K.Rowling and is Fan Fiction. Chapter 5 Tobius the Jinn? When Sam returned to the common room she looked for Toby, but he was not to be found. Orion and Tie went up to the dorm and returned quickly to tell her that Toby's things were gone and so were Sheba and the other kittens. Sam kept watch for Toby until dinner time then she went straight to the head table and asked Dumbledore, "what happened to Toby. His things are gone and so are Sheba and the kittens, except for Weezer and Max." Dumbledore looked troubled as he answered her. "Toby is sick. He has gone home early for the holidays. I'm sorry he wasn't given a chance to say good-by but it was best that he go home quickly, where his mother can take care of him." Sam was worried now. "What's wrong with him Sir? He didn't seem all that bad in class today, just cold and then hot." "Yes I know Sam, but in his case we felt it best to send him home just to be on the safe side. I'm sure he will be just fine and he will be back next year after the holidays. Run along Sam and don't worry. Have fun on the Holidays." Dumbledore dismissed her abruptly. Sam had Owled home and had permission to bring Weezer home with her so the next morning she and her brother and all their friends left on the Express for home and a very Merry Christmas. Sam worried often about Toby but there was nothing she could do. None of her Owls were returned, and she had no idea what had happened to Toby. Finally the day came to go back to school. She packed up everything, including Toby's Christmas present. Weezer didn't want to go into his travel cage, but she told him he'd be seeing Sheba and the other kittens soon, so he co operated and off they went. The Express was steaming merrily when she and her trunk passed through the barrier and with her brother's help she got her trunk stored in a compartment with Orion, Guy and Tie. "Have any of you heard from Toby." She asked them quickly. "No. We had hoped you would have." Tie answered. "I haven't either." She told them. "Now I'm worried. I was going to chew him out for not answering my owls, but now I scared for him. I had the strangest dreams about him at home. It seemed as if he were trying to talk to me in my dreams. Isn't that weird?" "Nope." Guy answered for the rest. "We were talking just before you got here, and we all had the same dreams too. Toby has been trying to talk to us. I'm sure of it now. What can be wrong with him?" They all discussed their dreams with each other then. It turned out that they had each been flying in their dreams and Toby had flown up to each of them and tried to tell them something. None of them had any idea what he had tried to tell them but it was clear that he had been excited about what ever it was. They arrived at Hogwarts and climbed into one of the coaches that were waiting for the students. The coaches had no driver and no horses pulled them. But as soon as they were inside it lurched forward and followed the one in front of it down the snow covered road towards the brightly lit school. As soon as they were through the front doors they all ran as fast as they could to the Hofflepuff common room and Sam waited down stairs while the boys ran upstairs to see if Toby was there. They came back quickly and told Sam, "No Toby. None of his stuff is in our room. I guess we had better get to the Great Hall, and get our supper, and see if someone know what's happened." Tie decided. Again off they ran. Everyone was in a festive mood from the holidays, and there was a lot of talking and joking as the settled down for there meal. No one knew anything about Toby however and Sam was beginning to get worried. When finally the meal was done she could stand it no more and she ran up to the head table and started to ask Dumbledore where Toby was. Dumbledore had seen her and smiled at her. "Have no fear Sam. Toby is getting better every day. I checked with his mother today and she said if you like you may come and visit him on Tuesday afternoon. Now will you be able to smile as you normally do? I noticed how you've been scowling so at the table tonight." "Your sure he's doing all right then?" Sam asked eager to be reassured. "His mother assured me that he is young lady so off you go tell Tuesday afternoon. I believe Sheba will open a portal for you in the Hofflepuff common room so make sure your there on time." Dumbledore finished, smiling at her kindly over his half glasses. "Thank you Sir, thank you very much and I'll be there on time." Sam hurriedly answered and ran off to tell the boys what she had found out. Dumbledore watched Sam running off and out the big doors of the Great Hall. He turned and bumped into Professor Mcgonagall. She also had watched. "Toby is very lucky to have such a good friend as Sam." She sighed. "My dear it's what we do here at Hogwarts. Only half of our job is to teach them their subjects. The most important thing we accomplish here is to help them grow as persons, and to help them find friendships that will last them the rest of their lives. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are one good example of our shining successes. I believe Sam, Toby, and the other boys that share his room will be another example to look back on one day and feel good about." As soon as Sam reached the common room she was pounced on by the boys, and she quickly filled them in on what Dumbledore had told her. "You get to go visit." Orion complained. "Do ya think we might get to also?" "I don't see why not." Sam assured them. "Sheba is going to open a portal here to the common room so as soon as I go through I'll ask if you three can come too." That made them all feel better. They settled down and went over their transfigureation and potions chapters for the next day. It always seems to take forever for a special day you are waiting for to arrive. Much like the old adage about a watched pot never boiling. But Tuesday afternoon finally did arrive. As promised a portal appeared and Sam crawled through it and disappeared. Everyone else in the common room sat waiting to hear from Sam. The whole school of course knew about the event. You couldn't keep a secret in a school like Hogwarts no matter how hard you tried. For one thing there were entirely too many student that were good at divination to expect to keep a secret, some were even known before they became secrets. Sam stepped out into the beautiful living room of Toby's home. Arabella was waiting for her as she stepped out into her home. Sheba was waiting just as expectantly to see her kittens, as well as Sam. Both Weezer and Max had come along. While Sheba and her kittens greeted each other Arabella hugged Sam and told her. "Toby has asked about you every day Sam." "Can I see him now? Oh, and the boys that share his room want to know if they can come too?" "In a bit I will let them come through to see Toby, but first I have to prepare you for the change that Toby is going through. He is still the same boy you knew last year before Christmas, but he has changed quite a bit in his appearance. I don't think it will be permanent. At lest not all the changes, but please don't upset him by overreacting to his changed appearance." "I don't care if he looks sick or anything, Mrs. Wright. Toby's my friend." Sam assured her. "It's not just that although he has been very sick. He almost died. But the worst is over now." "Died!" Sam said in shock. "I thought he just had a cold or flu or something like that." "No Sam it's nothing like that at all. Toby couldn't catch a cold if he tried. This is quite different. All boys go through changes when they go through puberty. But for Toby it has been catastrophic . So promise me you won't make a fuss. Ok Sam?" Sam couldn't imagine anything that could make her overreact to seeing Toby, but she promised anyway. "Yes mamma I promise." She followed Toby's mother down a hallway and into large darkened bedroom. It was well that she had promised not to make a fuss. Nothing could have prepared her for the sight of Toby laying in his bed. Nothing... In stead of the shorter than average eleven year old boy with brown hair and lavender eyes, and average appearance there lay on the bed a golden creature, shinning like a search light. No hair, and his face was round and chubby. The rest of his body was the same all golden and shiny. Only his eyes remained the same, but now they glowed with an inner light. True to her word she didn't make a fuss or even catch her breath. She stopped at the door for a moment then said in as calm a voice as she could muster, "Toby, they finally let me come to visit you." The creature on the bed stirred and it's eyes focused on her. Then she knew it was Toby. "Sam? Is that you? I can't see very well, but mother says that I will see just fine in a few more days. I really missed you Sam." It was Toby all right, but his voice had changed like the rest of him. Now it was distorted and very metallic. Sam walked over and sat on the bed edge and took Toby's hand. It was almost too hot to hold. But she did it anyway because she didn't want him to think she thought anything was wrong. "Sam your hand is cold." Toby told her sincerely. "It'll warm up quick enough." She responded. "How are ya feeling Toby. I brought some of your home work with me just in case you feel like doing it. Latter that is not now." "Thanks Sam I knew I could count on you to make sure I didn't get too far behind. How's Weezer doing did you bring him to see Sheba?" Toby asked almost smiling. "Sure I did, and Max, Stella's kitten came too. The cats must have some way to talk to each other cus Max was waiting in our common room with Weezer when the Portal opened up." "Cool, I bet the other kittens were glad to see them." "Oh ya they were rubbing noses and all that cat stuff." "Did the others get to come?" Toby asked almost plaintively . "They're waiting in the common room to see if it's ok for them to come." "I think they're going to have to wait Sam, I don't feel so good again, and I'm getting sleepy. Will you come back again?" "Sure Toby as often as they'll let me. I'll be back." But Toby was already asleep. Sam pulled her hand out of Toby's and turned to Arabella. She nodded and lead her out of the room, closing the door behind her. Sam knew she would have to soak her hand in ice water when she got back. When they got to the front room Arabella took her hand and rubbed a salve on it. Instantly the pain and the redness disappeared. "Thank you Mrs. Wright. It did hurt." "No. Thank you Sam. You have no idea how important it was to Toby for you to come today. He really missies you and the others at Hogwarts. When I first agreed with Dumbledore to send him to Hogwarts I really didn't think it would work out. But you and the others being his friends has made all the difference to him. I think he is still alive because of your friendship." Arabella told her looking her in the eye. Then she hugged Sam tightly. "Sam I was so afraid I was going to lose him, the change was disrupting his human biology so severely that I thought he would die. Then I would hear him talking to you or one of the others in his dreams and he would grow stronger. Thank you Sam and the others as well for my babies life." Arabella almost sobbed as she finished. Sam was crying too, and told Arabella, "Did you know he really was talking to us. All of us had the same dreams over and over again. We would be flying and then there would be Toby flying with us, and we would shout and laugh at each other. None of us ever knew what he was saying but it always seemed so right to be flying with him. I'm glad it helped him. It helped me too." Everyone one was waiting when she climbed back through the Portal. "All I can tell you right now is I talked to him, he is getting better, but he was very weak. He fell asleep right in the middle of talking to me. He said he didn't feel good. So no more visits today. Mrs. Wright said we can try again on Thursday, so don't lose hope everyone, you will get to see him." His three dorm mates were visibly disappointed, and grumbled a bit, but they didn't want Toby to get sicker on their account. One of the older students came in through the closet and spotted Sam. "Professor Snape and Stella are waiting out side to talk to you Sam." Sam ran out through the back side of the closet and sure enough their were Professor Snape and Stella. Max came out with Sam and jumped up into Stella's arms. "He just had to go to see his mother didn't he?" Sam nodded and looked at Professor Snape. "The boy is all right? I mean he will live won't he?" Sam told him. "Yes sir but Mrs. Wright said he nearly died. And he looks so different." "That's was one of the risks she and her husband took back then. They knew if he was a boy the chances were not good. Arabella? She's all right as well?" There was a strange note to Snape's voice as he asked. "She looked very tired and she was crying when I left. So no I don't think she's all right." Sam admitted. Snape looked concerned as well, "I'll have to owl her right away. I had to be very hard on her to watch her son go through this, and not be able to help him. One more question and you can return to your common room. What color is he? Could you tell?" Stella was looking back and forth between Snape and Sam as the conversation developed and she mouthed 'color?' silently as a question. Sam had no idea how Professor Snape could have known about Toby's color change, but since he did she told him. "He was all metallic and golden sir. His face is all round and his head is bald, but he is definitely golden." To Sam's and Stella absolute astonishment Snape broke into a huge grin and did a dance around in a circle. "He's a gold, he's a gold. Oh how proud Arabella and LaRaina must be. Come along Stella I must tell Dumbledore about this miracle. The first Gold in over four thousand years! This is just too good of news." Sam stood and watched them disappear down the hall. Stella turned back and waved once, but Snape hurried her along, and they quickly disappeared. Shrugging to herself she returned to the common room to answer more questions. Thursday afternoon came and again the Portal appeared. This time Toby's mom climbed out and greeted them. "Toby is feeling much better today so if the four of you want, you can come now and visit Toby." To a choirs of "Thank yous" they all head through the Portal. Weezer and Max waited their turn and then they too jumped through to visit their mom and siblings. Toby was still in his bed, but he was at lest setting up this time. There was a choirs of "Hi Toby" then it was Orion who broke the ice. "Wicked! Toby you turned yourself all golden. This is one of your best tricks yet. Can you show me how to do it? Can ya?" "I don't think you'd want to if I could tell you how. It's what's made me so sick the last few weeks." Toby told his friend smiling. "You mean you made yourself sick turning yourself golden color? Orion asked naïvely . "Actually I am Gold." Toby told him. "Touch me and see." They all had to touch Toby and feel for them selves how he did feel like gold. "Wicked! Toby you must be worth millions, all gold and all. How did ya do it. I mean think about it we could turn all kinds of things into gold and be rich. Not ourselves of course since it makes you so sick to do it, but wow Toby we could all be rich." Orion when on without thinking. "Orion it's not that kind of spell. It's, well.... It's sort of like this is my anamagus form. Soon I'll be able to turn form one form to the other just like Professor McGonagall changes into a cat when she wants." Toby explained it as best he could. "Oh....Well ok but it would have been more fun to be able to turn other things into gold than just you. Are you like invulnerable or have special powers when your all golden?" Orion asked hopefully. He seemed to think there had to be something special that came from being all gold color. "I don't know yet." Toby told him, "but I think I will have special powers and all that kind of stuff. Jinni are supposed to have all kinds of powers and a Golden Jinn is the most powerful of all." "Wow! This is too cool." Tie exclaimed. "Your a Jinn Toby? That is sooooo wicked. I never knew a Jinn before, but I read about them when I was a kid. But Toby aren't Jinni supposed to be evil? All the ones I read about were." "Naw, that's all fairy stories. Jinni are just like everyone else, they can be good or bad. Mother is a Jinn and she's not bad and Grandmother is a Jinn and she's really nice. Mother says that there have been some bad Jinni but not many. The ones you have to watch out for are the Bo-Jinns, they are really evil and mean." Toby told them assuredly. Then it was Toby's turn to ask questions. He wanted to know all about what was happening at Hogwarts. Sam told him all about Hagrid bringing a Monitor for the class to talk to, and another time they had gotten to go to the lake and talk to the Squid that lived in the lake. "And the Squid even remembered you Toby he asked Hagrid where Toby was since he had promised to come talk to him." "What did Hagrid tell him? I remember I did promise him I'd come but they won't let us go over to the lake by ourselves anymore." "Hagrid told him the truth. That you were sick and you had to have a teacher to bring you to the lake because of all the trouble with Lord Voltemort. Then he told the Squid that he would bring you over to see him when you got well, so it should be ok one of these days." Sam reassured Toby. "How are things going in Professor Snape's class? He was here last nigh with Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall and Professor Longbottom. He even came in and said hello to me. If you can believe it he was nice to me." "No way!" Guy exclaimed. "You should have seen him in class yesterday. Charr Gillmore didn't pay attention when he told us to add our fly wings after the salamander tails, and to keep the heat very low so it wouldn't catch on fire and blow up. All of us had to go to the School nurse to have the boils removed from out faces and hands. Those boils hurt cus they kept spouting fire and lava out of um. Oh Snape was so mad. So were the rest of us too come to think about it. I guess he should have been mad. Those Ravenclaws think their so smart, and they're no better that the rest of us. They're so busy going on and on about stuff that they forget to listen to even simple instructions." Toby's mom brought them some cookies and milk then stood at the door listening to them chatter away with a smile on her face. None of the bad things she had been afraid of had happened. But then kids were that way they were blind to differences. They were friends and that was that. What would happen when the adults found out? Sure Dumbledore and Severus thought it was great, but they were educated and smart. Not everyone would feel that way, she was fairly well certain. As evening approached Sam and the boys had to return to Hogwarts. They all promised to return on Saturday to visit again. Sam had some homework for Toby to do so he would be busy as well. Toby said his good-byes then they all left through the Portal. He fell asleep happy that he had gotten to see and talk to his friends. Hogwarts carried on as it always did, however one thing had changed. Students and teachers had stopped casting the 'Revel Hidden' spell. Too busy and too preoccupied with day to day affairs they soon forgot to be cautious. No one noticed the return of the invisible presence. Not at first that is. When the cauldron blew up in Potions class that should have been a warning, but it went unheeded. Friday during Divination class a girl suddenly screamed, ran to the trap door, flung it open, and leaped down the opening screaming that they were all doomed. The students were shocked to say the lest and the girl latter could not even remember that she had done it. Again no one paid any attention. After all Divination was a spooky class anyway and it had probably just unnerved her, or so everyone thought. Saturday Morning, was a big Quiditch game between Gryfindor and Slytherin. The game was close, and violent. Suddenly the Slytherin Keeper stood up on his broom, and leaped through the center goal hoop, and did a swan dive straight into the ground. No he didn't die, but it scared everyone half to death. The game was stopped and everyone was sent back inside the castle. Dumbledore called a teachers meeting, clearly something was going on. "We have a problem, there have been three near disasters in less than a weeks time. I for one am certain that these events are not just random happenings. I don't know what is causing them or how they are being caused, but I am sure that they are not random events. Do any of you have any ideas? Right now I am ready to entertain almost any ideas if they will help us solve this problem." Professor Flitwick was sitting on a high stool spoke up. "Toby." Dumbledore raised his bushy eyebrows. "You think Toby had something to do with this?" Professor Flitwick almost feel off his stool as he shook his whole body to deny that meaning. "Oh! Heavens no! I mean Toby drove something out of the Hofflepuff common room. He said it had not be watching him but someone else, that it seemed disappointed that something hadn't happened yet. Perhaps this visitor has returned and it's making things happen now with out Toby to sense when it is around." Dumbledore beamed with satisfaction. "Yes! That does fit all the facts doesn't it. Oh my when we need him most he is gone. If everyone is in agreement I will go talk to Arabella and see when we can get him back. I doubt that we have see the last of this creatures efforts. If this is that creature then I suggest that everyone goes back to casting the 'Revel Hidden' spell again when you enter a room and any other time you feel like it. We let our gaurd down and look what it has gotten us." Saturday afternoon the Portal opened as expected and along with the kids Dumbledore climbed through the portal into Arabella's living room. While Toby's guests went back to see him, Dumbledore explained why he was their. "My dear Arabella we have another problem at Hogwarts." He began only to be put off by Arabella manners. "Dear Albus, come sit down and I will get us some tea. Then you may tell me what you need my Tobius for." She guided him to a comfortable chair and had him sit down. Then she left and quickly returned with a tea service on a tray. She poured out for both of them and after giving him some cookies she allowed him to continue. "We have had three disasters in four days time. Back in September just after we had returned to the School Toby detected something in the Hofflepuff common room. He cast his now famous 'Revel Hidden' spell, but instead of being reveled the creature resisted the spell and disappeared. At the time he told us that the creature had been watching someone waiting for something to happen, which never happened because Toby interfered with it. Now it appears to have returned and it nearly killed one of the students today during the Quiditch match between Gryfindor and Slytherin. We have been unable to detect the thing ourselves but we know Toby can. My Dear how soon can he return to Hogwarts he is needed badly?" Arabella considered his request for several minutes. "Albus I am not certain Toby will be up to anything like spook hunting for several weeks. It doesn't sound like Toby would be able to handle this one even if he did find it for you." Albus looked concerned. "Then we are at it's mercy dear lady. We have been unable to affect it at all." "Perhaps. Never the less Toby isn't the one you want. My Mother is just the person to handle this chore for you." "Arabella... I can't impose on her any more than I have already she has given up so much of her life and time to keeping Harry safe that I would be ashamed to ask more of her." Dumbledore sighed. "Oh dear Albus, Mother doesn't mind. She is so pleased that you trusted her with Harry that she feels as if she is in your debt, but just wait, I'll call her, and then we'll let her decide for herself, which is always best when dealing with Mother. She is after all one of the most strong will people I know of." Dumbledore smiled weakly, and sat back to wait for LaRaina's appearance. It was several minutes latter that Toby's Grandmother stepped through her own portal into her daughters living room. Dumbledore rose quickly to greet her and was thrilled to be hugged by her instead of just a hand shake. LaRaina might be over three hundred years old, but she was one of the most vibrant and beautiful women he had ever met. He didn't like to admit it but he had been deeply in love with her at one time. She took him to task immediately. "Now Albus what is this nonsense my daughter tell me about you not wanting to ask me for help?" She looked sad and downcast just to accent her words. "Are you trying to hurt my feeling?" Dumbledore knew she was actually teasing him, and thoroughly enjoying his discomfort. "The vary last thing in this world I would ever do dear LaRaina is anything that would hurt you. But I have asked so much of you, and have nothing to give you in return." "Oh don't be too sure about that Albus dear. I may have a very great proposition for you one of these days. Seeing my grandson make it through the change and learning so much in the process as both my daughter and l have... well it has made me think about having another child and a husband of course." She smiled at him coquettishly , looking like a cat about to eat the cannery. "Oh dear..." was about all Dumbledore could manage just at that moment. "Come over here and sit with me on the couch. Arabella do be a dear and pour out for me too, and freshen up Albus's as well. I think he may need a drink or two while he tells me all about this trouble." Arabella was all but doubled over laughing to see the look on Albus Dumbledore's face as her mother so cleverly managed him. In the end it was LaRaina Figg who figured out what it was that they were up against. After listening to Dumbledore she went in to talk to Toby. All the kids were glad to see her again, and ate the cookies and milk Arabella brought them as Toby told his Grandmother everything he could remember about his first experience with the creature. She asked him to tell her what his fleeting impressions were of the creature, and what it was doing. Then she told them. "If we are dealing with what I now think we are, there is much work to do if we are going to keep any more of the children from being attacked." "What is it then Mother?" Arabella asked concerned. "A Dowwer and a very powerful one at that." "A Dowwer?" Dumbledore questioned. "I thought they only existed in Eastern Europe. There haven't been any of those thing in Scotland for centuries. "There's one now." She told him dead serious. LaRaina and Dumbledore returned through the Portal to Hogwarts so she could began her efforts to exorcise the Dowwer spirit. Latter when Sam and the boys returned to Hogwart they found the other Hofflepuffs studying runes that had been scribed at various places on walls and floor and even up on the ceiling. Latter as they settled down after dinner to do some studying LaRaina returned and told then, "I want you boys to rearrange the tables so that there is a large circular opening here in the middle of the room." With much scraping and jostling about they finally had the furniture arranged to suit her. Then she took out her wand and after shaking it several times she drew a large circle on the floor. Then inside of the circle she scribed a pentagram, and inside of that a five pointed star. At the points of the star she scribed small runes. Stepping carefully around the circle she finished her work by inscribing a large rune in the center of the star. "Now listen very carefully. When I activate this circle of power, DO ... NOT ... STEP ... ANYWHERE ... NEAR ... IT...! Is that clear to all of you?" They all nodded 'yes' then watched totally enthralled as she raised her wand and pointing at each of the runes on the walls and ceiling she spoke words that none of them understood and each began to glow. Then she stepped back form the center circle and in a loud voice she spoke more words and it began to glow plusatingly. There was even a low throbbing sound that matched the pulsations. "Let me repeat. This is a very special trap. It is extremely powerful so stay away from it. If something should be trapped in it do not get close to it, you are all to leave the area and stay away until I or Albus Dumbledore arrive to deal with what is caught in it. If any of you are caught inside this trap it will mean a black mark against your record for the rest of your time at Hogwarts. Is that clear to all of you?" Again they all agreed that they understood, and satisfied she left to do the same in the other common rooms. They all went to bed that night wondering what the next day would bring. Next morning nothing had happened, but when they got to the Great Hall Professor McGonagall greeted them at the door and directed them up the side isles and away from the center isle because there was now a large trap in the center of the Great Hall. Breakfast was somewhat subdued as they were all keenly aware of the low thrumming sound and the pulsating light coming from the large trap in the center of the room. Monday came and went with no results. Tuesday dawned bright and sunny and everyone was in a much better mood. As the students were filling in for breakfast Neville Longbottom entered the Great Hall in his usual inattentive manner. Little did he know that Draco Malfoy and his friends Crabbe and Goyle had a little surprise waiting for him. Just as he entered Goyle shoved him down the center isle while Crabbe and Draco threw hands full of round candies onto the floor. Neville let a scream heard throughout the entire school. He stumbled and slid straight towards the glowing trap. Malfoy and Crabbe we standing just in front of the trap throwing more candies onto the floor, and as Neville came spinning by he managed to grab Crabbe and pull him onto the candy covered isle. Crabbe of course grabbed Draco and all three of them went spinning out of control. Goyle seeing his friends in trouble rushed unthinkingly out into the candy covered isle and crashed out of control into Crabbe who happened at that precise moment to be spinning by and their combined momentum carried the three of them straight into the waiting trap. Neville on the other hand spun away from the trap, and slid out of sight under the Hufflepuff table were he emerged moments latter looking as if he had no idea what had happened. By the time the teachers arrived to survey the seen Neville had sat down at his normal place and was looking for something to eat. But suspended in the air inside the glowing circle were three boys. Draco, Crabbe and Goyle. They were spread eagle their arms and legs straight out from their bodies, and it was obvious that they could not move a muscle, because they were all turning blue from lack of air. LaRaina came hurrying in and almost fell as she ran into the candies. Dumbledore and Snape fortunately caught her and steadied her as professor McGonagall used her wand to sweep all the candies together into a pile to the side of the isle. LaRaina walked up to the suspended trio and pulled out her wand. She looked at Dumbledore. "Shall we see how much bluer they can get or shall I let them lose?" Dumbledore looked up at the bright blue boys and grinned impishly. "As much as I do like the color of blue I think it best you set them free." "I was afraid you'd feel that way, very well." She raised her wand and traced several runes in the air. Tuddd....Plop.....Crraaakkk! The tree suspended boys hit the ground and lay there their chest heaving as they tried to get enough air into themselves. As they struggled to get up dozens of candies spilled out of all three boys pockets. All the evidence anyone needed to see who was responsible for this mess. "It was Neville Longbottom." all three boy tried to say as they got their air back. "It was him who pushed us into the trap." Witnesses all agreed Neville had slipped under the Hufflepuff table, but no had seen anyone but Draco, Crabbe and Goyle near the trap. And since Neville had no candies in his pockets and was sitting two tables away from the seen of the crime, no one not even Snape believed them. "The evidence clearly shows that you three carried out this stupid act all on your own. Trying to involve someone else, much less blame someone else for what a dozen witnesses have clearly indicated that you three acted alone to enter the trap, although why you would be so stupid is beyond me, is pointless." Snape snarled at them. Dumbledore looked sad and told them, "go to your seats and eat your breakfast. After everyone else leaves remain in your seats. We will discuss with you then what is to be done with you." What was done with them was that they got to scrub every floor and hall in the school on their hands and knees, except the other Houses common rooms and dorms. They were to be supervised the entire time and if any floor didn't meet the requirement of their supervisor they had to do it all over again. It took them a month to complete their punishment, and they still had to attend classes and do homework. Meanwhile the school waited for the traps to be sprung by the Dowwer. It was a week latter to the day when the Dowwer made it's biggest mistake of it's existence. After the fact it was clear that it was trying to get a Gryffendor student to do something. No one knew which student, but in the process of concentrating on the hapless student the Dowwer crossed in front of one of the runes scribed on the walls in the Gryffendor common room. Wammmmm! Clang! Clang! Clang! went the klaxon. Students screamed and shouted. Teachers came running from all over the school just in case their help was need. First they emptied the common room of students just to be on the safe side. Then LaRaina arrived with Dumbledore and the fun began. "Well, well what have we here?" LaRaina taunted it. What ever it was it was now a shapeless black cloud held ridged inside the Trap. It's evil eyes glowed with malevolent light as it watched LaRaina as she slowly walked around it. "Went and got your self caught did ya now?" She continued as she slowly circled the glowing eyes never leaving hers. "Question is how'd ya get here and who made it possible for you to be here. Some one opened a way for you and I intend to know who that someone is." She continued around the trapped creature. She made a gesture with her wand and the creature howled with laughter. "I will never tell you anything witch. Never." I said in a deep reverberating voice. "Oh really? We'll see about that." Then she made the sphere that contained the creature shrink to half it's size. "Isn't that comfy?" Now the creature struggled to break free, but to no avail. "Can't get lose? Ah too bad because I'm going to continue to shrink the sphere until there is nothing left unless you tell me what I want to know." True to her word she shrunk the sphere again to half it's size. "No, stop, stop. It was Lord Voltemort who brought me to this place. I don't know who let me in except that it was a student here in the school who did it." "Who was it? Tell me!" With that she made the sphere grow smaller again. "Aheeeeee. I don't know I tell you. All of you look alike to me I can't tell one from another." The creature wailed. "Male or Female?" Demanded LaRaina and she began to make the sphere smaller yet. "Female, she was a female." It agonized. "Older or younger?" "Older or at lest bigger than the others." Ahhhhheeeeeeeeeee............ The creature suddenly jerked and snapped several times then it was still. Somehow it had died. "Blast it all!" LaRaina shouted as she whirled around looking at everyone suspiciously . "One of you killed it. Who was it?" Everyone looked around but no one had seen anyone do anything out of the ordinary. No one was found and no students were in the room, at lest none that could be seen. By the time someone thought to cast the 'Revel Hidden' spell it was too late. Whoever had done it had gotten away.
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