Part 4 – Kat
'Actually, I was talking to him about our OWLs next year.' She replied.
'Why would you need to talk to Dumbledore about that? You just can't admit that you're in trouble.' I replied. That definitely sounded more likely. She had probably been creeping around the school at nighttime again… those three always seemed to be doing that.
'I WASN'T IN TROUBLE!' Hermione shouted as McGonagall turned round the corner. Oh great, I thought, she always takes Hermione's side in everything.
'What's going on here then?' She asked. I had a sudden urge to tell her it was none of her business, but I didn't want to have to go to Dumbledore myself.
'Malfoy doesn't believe that Hermione went to talk to Dumbledore about her OWLs next year.' Potter replied. Why did he always suck up to the teachers like that?
'Doesn't he?' McGonagall said, turning on me. 'Well let me tell you, Mr. Malfoy, that Miss Granger was talking to Dumbledore about her OWLs, she is telling the complete truth. I wouldn't be so quick to question her judgement next time.'
Surprise, surprise, McGonagall stuck up for the mudblood. I walked off with Crabbe and Goyle, not giving her the pleasure of an apology.
We went down to the dungeons, Crabbe and Goyle lagging behind slightly, and laughing stupidly about nothing in particular. I ignored them and carried on towards our common room. I stopped at the bare wall that concealed the entrance to the common room, and was about to speak the password when I saw Dumbledore appear out of a passageway by a stone gargoyle further down the corridor. The wall closed behind him, and he began to head towards us. He looked anxious and worried.
I pretended I hadn't noticed him, and spoke the password: "Veritaserum". The wall moved to reveal an archway that I walked through, Crabbe and Goyle behind me.
It was empty apart from a few first years, talking excitedly in a corner. I went up to my dormitory to get my books for Care of Magical Creatures and Herbology, which we had from next lesson until lunch.
I didn't want Albus to know, he had enough to worry about as it is, but I can't keep it from him:
He Who Must Not Be Named is rising, and fast. The mark on my arm is burning more than it has done since the last time he was "in power". He's calling her servants back to him, and he's calling me among them.
If I did go, I would go as a spy, of course, but Lucius, and several others know that I am a spy, and it wouldn't be safe to go. He Who Must Not Be Named could already know, and would kill me the second I appeared.
But if I don't appear, he will hunt me down and kill me. I cannot win – he is already beginning to haunt me. I cannot deny that He Who Must Not Be Named is a very powerful wizard, and he can make perfectly sane people go mad. He can get in your head, control your dreams, and this is what he's doing to me.
I need rest, that's what Albus and Poppy keep telling me, but if I go to sleep I am faced with He Who Must Not Be Named threatening me. He is using the most powerful emotion known to man – fear. He's tearing me apart…
I had to tell Albus how serious the situation was, and he promised me he'd inform Miss Granger. I never thought it would come to this, but if Miss Granger is my only hope. If she can't find out more about Quantum Potions, I will be killed, or will go insane with fear…