A.N. SORRY I TOOK SO LONG! Durn writer's block…Okay, I know that there have been some questions about the last few chapters. Okay, first of all, I never said that Little Hangleton was near Hogwarts. The train just crashed on the WAY to Hogwarts. No one knows how you get there, and the train could just go by some woods that also lead to Little Hangleton. *shrugs * anyhoo… thank you for reviewing!!!!!
Mal
P.S. DEFINE NORMAL FINALLY UPLOADED CHAPTER 4 OF HARRY POTTER & THE TORCH OF DARKNESS! *durn computer probs… *
The snake went unnoticed as they thanked they collected the few items that they had with them and thanked the bartender. It slithered into the shadows under one of the nearby tables, being careful not to rub up against any of the feet. It slithered from table to table until it was under the table nearest to them.
Harry took one final look at the picture of the former residents of the Riddle House and then turned back toward Mr. Weasley.
"We'd better get going. Everyone is worried sick about all of you…." Mr. Weasley trailed off as he turned to look back at the door.
Harry had started toward the door when he heard something that no one else seemed to hear.
"I'm going to get you…"
Harry looked around to see where the voice was coming from. He instantly knew who it was. Nagini. If only he knew where she was…
Something moved in the corner of his eye, and he spun around. Hermione had started to come up beside him.
"Hermione! Look out!" He was too late.
~*~
There was a loud pounding noise at the door of the Hogwarts hospital wing. There were twenty or so other children in there, all healing from injuries that they had received in the train attack.
"MADAME POMFREY OPEN THE DOOR!" Ron bellowed. "HURRY! IT'S AN EMERGENCY!"
Madame Pomfrey rushed from the bedside of a first year and went to unlock the door.
The minute she opened it several people came dashing in. She recognized them to be Ron and Arthur Weasley, Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom, and Hermione Granger. However, this time it wasn't the Potter boy who was injured, it was Granger. Arthur was holding her in her arms, as she twitched and shuddered. Her eyes were rolled up into the back of her head, and she was making gagging sounds.
"Good Merlin," Madame Pomfrey exclaimed, rushing over and quickly taking Hermione's pulse. It was going way too fast to be normal. "Put her down on that bed."
Arthur darted over to the bed she pointed to and gently put Hermione down on it. She started twitching worse than ever. The other students in the beds sat up, trying to get a better look of what was going on. Madame Pomfrey hastily drew the curtains around the bed tight as she began to examine the girl.
"Will she be okay?" Madame Pomfrey heard Ron ask his father.
"Potter! Weasley! Longbottom! Go to the headmaster's office!" She shouted.
"But-"
"You're not injured, are you? GO!"
Ron muttered something under his breath and they all left the hospital wing.
Draco and Seamus were sitting outside on one of the waiting chairs.
"We're going to Dumbledore," Harry muttered. "Neville, I suppose you can stay if you want…"
Neville gave them a grateful look and plopped down beside Seamus.
"See you in a bit," Ron said. "Bye Dad."
Arthur gave them a sad smile and ruffled his son's hair. "Keep out of trouble."
Ron snorted. "I'll try."
Harry had already started down the corridor, and Ron had to jog to catch up with him.
"Harry, what's wrong?"
"Hermione," Harry muttered.
"She's going to be fine. I'm sure of it," Ron said, although he sounded a bit unsure himself.
"That wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for me…" Harry said it so softly that he wasn't sure if Ron had heard him. Ron didn't reply, and they walked the rest of the way in silence.
~*~
"Oh shit. He's ticked off… I know someone's going to die tonight."
Voldemort was pacing around the circle not staring at any Death Eater in particular, just staring at what seemed to be empty space. He had a sort of grimace on his face, and he looked absolutely livid.
"Someone's going to die tonight…" Snape closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. He was almost certain that his life had almost reached an end. "Oh good lord… is he humming?"
Yes, a humming sound was coming from Voldemort. It made them all shift uneasily. They could tell he was horribly mad, and yet he was humming? Something wasn't right.
The song he was humming was getting faster and faster. Ice seemed to fill Snape's veins and he shivered. The song was picking up more speed. Snape didn't want to know what would happen next.
Faster… faster….
The song was so fast that Snape could no longer distinguish one note from the one before it. Then, without warning, the song stopped. There was a huge flash of green light, and the man standing next to Snape fell to the ground.
"Potter has been found…" Was all that the Dark Lord said.
~*~
Professor Flitwick was standing by the gargoyle that let to Professor Dumbledore's office.
He gave a loud squeak when Ron and Harry approached.
"Thank Merlin you boys are all right!" He squealed. Ron gave him a smile, but Harry just asked, "We need to speak to Professor Dumbledore. Can you tell us the password?"
"Of course! It's Chocolate Frog." Right on cue, the Gargoyle stepped aside and let them through. They went up the moving stairs until they reached Dumbledore's office doors.
After Harry had knocked, Dumbledore pulled open the doors, a surprised look on his face.
"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley! Did Arthur find you?"
"Yes, yes he did, Professor," Harry said quietly.
"Where are the other's?" Dumbledore looked behind them as if he thought that they were with them.
"They're by the Hospital Wing," Ron said. "Most of them are fine…"
"Most?"
Harry didn't answer, and Dumbledore didn't question. "Do come in."
There was a fire crackling merrily in the fireplace, and Fawkes was sitting on his perch. Sitting in a chair in front of Dumbledore's desk was-
"Hello Remus," Harry said.
"Are you okay?" Remus asked, getting out of his seat and dashing over to Harry.
"Yeah, yeah, were okay," Harry said, avoiding looking into Remus' eyes.
"Will you two please sit down?" Dumbledore asking, conjuring up extra chairs for Ron and Harry to sit in.
"Now, you must tell me of the things that occurred while you were journeying through the forest," Dumbledore said, sitting behind his desk and staring at the two boys.
"Um… It started off when the Death Eaters attacked…" Harry said. "While we, Ron, Hermione and I, were escaping from the train we ran into Seamus. And a few Death Eaters. They shouted spells at us, but none of us were hit…"
Harry continued to tell them about their misadventures in the woods. After Harry's voice started getting tired Ron took over.
"And we heard this sound beside us, and all of a sudden this huge snake came out of the bushes-"
"Nagini."
"Er… yeah. Anyway, we ran for our lives, and that snake kept chasing us. Finally we were so far ahead of that snake that we were sure we had lost it. And then Harry heard voices. He looked through the trees and there were Death Eaters! There must've been hundreds of them!"
Dumbledore and Remus both turned to look at Harry, who avoided both of their eyes.
"Anyway, then the snake came back and I guess You-Know-Who heard him and the next thing we knew, Death Eaters were chasing us through the woods…"
Harry turned and looked at Fawkes, who had started to fly around the room in odd designs.
"And then we ran into the bar Dad found us in… Hermione and I called my mum and then we went back out to wait. Then Dad arrived…"
Harry looked up at Ron, noticing that he had not mentioned the conversation they had had about the Riddles.
"Harry, do you want to tell the rest?"
Harry slowly nodded, even though he didn't want to at all.
"He must've left the door open, because while we were getting ready to leave I heard a voice. No one else heard it, so I knew it had to be a snake. I looked around and saw Nagini under one of the tables, ready to strike. Just then Hermione moved in front of me, and before I could do anything, the snake bit her. She's in the hospital wing now…" Harry trailed off. He could feel the two adults staring at him again.
"Is she okay?" Remus asked quietly. Harry shrugged.
"Thank you very much for your services, Ron," Dumbledore said. "If you would be so kind, will you go down to see Professor McGonnagal and tell her that you are all right. Then you can go to Gryffindor tower to rest. I must speak with Harry."
Ron nodded, said goodbye to Harry and Remus and left.
"Well, you pulled through once again, Harry," Dumbledore said, getting out of his chair. Harry watched as he opened a door that was hidden behind a painting, and Sirius came running out.
"Thank god you're all right!" Sirius said, pulling Harry into a hug. Harry numbly hugged him back. "We were looking all over for you!"
Harry didn't say anything, and just sat back down.
"I'll leave you three alone," Dumbledore said, smiling and departing out of his door.
"I'm sorry," Harry said, staring at the floor.
"For what?" Sirius asked.
"Being so much trouble."
"You aren't that much trouble," Sirius said, sitting down too.
"Did anyone die in the train attack?" Harry asked softly. Sirius exchanged glances with Remus.
"Look Harry, if you're going to blame yourself for this disaster, let me give you some advice. Don't."
Harry shook his head.
"Voldemort was after me. I know it. You can't tell me otherwise and expect me to believe it."
"Harry-"
"Did anyone die in the crash?"
There was a pause. "No. No students died."
Harry noticed that Sirius had created a loophole, but didn't comment.
"But there's good news! I finally got my house." Sirius said happily.
"Where?'
"Right over there in Hogsmeade! Of course, I'll have to wear a disguise most of the time, but other than that…"
"That's really great, Sirius," Harry said, forcing a smile. He yawned and said, "I should probably get to sleep. I haven't slept much for the last few days, y'know, with Malfoy's snoring."
Remus and Sirius laughed, and before another word could be said, Harry got up and left Dumbledore's office.
