Chapter 4 - The Violent Intruder
Up at the owlry, Hedwig hooted happily as Harry arrived. Ron,
muttering under his breath, was hit in the face, several times, by a mad-axe
owl, fluttering everywhere. "He gets crazier and crazier each time I see
him!" Harry laughed, as Pig crashed into Ron's face again, before being
gripped tightly around the middle, hooting happily.
Both of the boys attached their notes, and watched as the two owls soared into
the moonlight. Pig, darting around an indignant Hedwig.
"I hope that snuffles isn't too far away." Harry said, hoping for
a swift reply.
Ron nodded, hoping too, for a swift reply.
Walking along the corridors, toward their next Divination class,
Ron and Harry walked past the Defence classroom, and overheard voices muttering
from within.
"don't be a fool. If Dumbledore wants you here, you should stay."
Said a gruff masculine voice.
"Severus, I cant simply ignore them. They're far too dangerous to ignore
these days. They're getting stronger. You know Fudge's attitude toward Dumbledore.
It wont make any difference." said a strange husky voice.
"They need me, regardless of their motives, I'm compelled to help them.",
the voice continued, "I wont be gone long. No longer than 3 days, they
assured me."
The first voice sounded unconvinced, "Since when has the
Ministry been that efficient? I'll send word to the Aurors; I believe this is
a trap, and you, my girl, are walking in blindly."
There was movement inside the room, indicating to Harry and Ron, that they should
move along.
While sitting in the warm clammy Divination Tower class room, Harry kept thinking
of what he'd overheard, evidently, so too was Ron.
"Harry, do you think that was Ellie in there with Snape?" Ron said
quietly, while Professor Wilma (cant remember correct name) spoke mysteriously
about Tarot Cards, and their place in the history of Muggles.
"I dunno, Ron." Harry said, as he started to shuffle
the old deck of cards that was placed in front of him. "Why would Snape
give a damn about her? She's only been here just over a week. Doesn't make sense"
Ron sat there, with a scowl on his face. "Damn! Out of 76 cards, I had
to pull out the "Fool"!", he said, showing a card that featured
a figure that resembled a court jester.
Harry looked at his own card, "The Hierophant" which pictured a centaur,
holding a stack of books and papers, and shrugged. "I hope this doesn't
mean I'll get extra homework!".
"At least we didn't' pull out Death, or something! She", he indicated
at Professor Wilma, "would have had a field day!"
Over the next few weeks, Professor Gordie continually left Hogwarts
mysteriously, and returned several days later, confirming their suspicions.
Snape was looking murderous, each time he had to take the defence class, and
gave the class endless essays on various disarming counter-curses, confirming
Harry's strange prediction. However, he was unsure weather Snape's foul temper
was due solely to having to take two classes. Harry had started to voice his
theories about Snape's link to Ellie, one night, when a nerve tingling scream,
and the sound of glass breaking broke through bustle of the noisy common room.
"Lavender, god, Harry, I think that was Lavender!" Hermione shouted
as she flew up the girls' staircases.
At the top of the stairs, they were greeted with a grim scene. Pillows had been
shredded, curtains slashed, and girls clothes strewn over the room. Shards of
glass were scattered all over the floor, as a cold wind blew in from the broken
window. There was a large quantity of blood splattered over the room, including
an obvious trail leading toward a note, attached to the wall with what looked
like a heavy handled dagger. "Lavender!" Hermione screamed, as she
flew across the room, to the shuddering body of Lavender Brown. Her shirt was
splashed with blood, and her forehead sported a large, red lump where she'd
fallen, and smacked her head. Her brown eyes staring off into nothingness, constantly
muttering under her breath. Professor McGongall, quickly alerted by the sounds
of screaming, came hurrying up to the girls tower, scolding curious students
as she bustled her way through the crowd, all eager to see the scene. She quickly
ripped down the bloody note, and started directing the students with a strange
edge to her voice.
"Hermione, go outside, and get the other students to meet in the Main Hall.
Potter, Weasely, take Miss Brown to the Hospital Wing immediately. On your way
back, summon the Head Master, and Professor Gordie. This is not acceptable."
Without further request, Harry and Ron picked up the unconscious
body between them, and awkwardly started to carry her out of the room. McGongall
took one look at them, scolded them for not using their brains, and showed them
a hovering spell that would help them carry Lavender.
Harry and Ron walked silently, guiding the unconscious body of the girl towards
the hospital wing. "Who" said a mystified Ron.
"How did they" grasped Harry at the same time, both trying to
comprehend how somebody could have broken in to the girls' tower.
When they got to the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey cried in shock, as she saw
the rigid form of Lavender Brown float through the door behind them.
Instantly she started to busy herself around the girl, issuing commands to the
two boys, who stood there, still reeling with the shock.
"Um, I'm sorry Miss, but I think we have to go and get Dumbledore and Professor
Gordie." Ron said, in a quiet monotonous voice. Harry stood there, feeling
very numb, vivid images of Cedric Diggory flashing in his mind. Diggory's eyes
had held the same blank, empty expression as he'd fallen, murdered by Voldemort.
Harry felt nauseous, and breathed heavily, fighting for fresh air.
"You coming, Harry?" Ron said, sounding a long way away.
"Hmmm, yeah. Coming." Harry mumbled, as he turned and followed his
friend.