C H A P T E R F O U R
SLEEPING ELIXIR Anna, Blake, Marclay, and Jeffrey Niblin, all Ravenclaws that were above the rest of their house, all had gone to rest near the door way where they would be able to watch most of the Ravenclaw students. Since last year, most of the Death Eaters revolts had become less and less often, but now no one knew what to expect from them.
The Ministry of Magic had sent in six other wizards to help with keeping Hogwarts grounds safe and find small Ginny Weasley. Since they had apparated six hours ago, many rumors had started. The Weasley's were at the center of most, but Slytherins were silently being accused of sending up the Dark Mark. With the whispers circulating around the dining hall, not many people could find the strength to sleep, especially the house prefects.
One of them would have to take their turn in getting up to silence a student who wouldn't hush their voice or got too excited. The Ravenclaw's seemed luckier then the others though, for most of the students in their house had either fallen off into a sleep, or they were silently studying. Hufflepuff sat mumbling in small groups, being their usual selves. Slytherins would shout at people if they tried to even accuse them of the smallest thing, or they would jump up waving their wand, only to be silenced by Mr. Filch or Professor Dumbledore (Whom had chosen to keep his stay with the students to protect them if anything of the bad sort happened). Gryffindor chose to keep silent. Most of them were asleep except a few of them who were gathered in a group comforting one of the Weasley boys.
This was one of Dumbledore's main attractions. He had to keep going over to tell the students various things. George kept crying out about how the Dark Mark only appeared when someone had been murdered. This meant, to him, Ginny was dead. This would then, in return, cause Ron to go hay-wire and start crying about how he should have been there to protect her. Fred would then slap both of them or stand up and start pacing. His mumbles filled the entire room and echoed off of the walls. The made it hard for anyone even slightly awake to sleep.
After a few times of this happening, Dumbledore sent Mr. Filch to find Professor Snape. Marclay stretched her ears, knowing that Dumbledore had something up his sleeve.
Blake lay in his sleeping bag with his arms folded upon it and looking up at the dark ceiling portraying the nights sky. As George started up again he looked over at Marclay. "Will he ever shut up? If I wasn't in my right mind I would send a curse to him."
"Don't speak of such things." Marclay said, browsing through the 'Beaters Bible' a book by Brutus Scrimgeour. "It might end up coming back at you and you'll have a curse to deal with. Right, Anna?"
"It's true. Trelawny told you about how you would have something dark played upon you in the next month." Anna replied, looking over at them from her gaze towards a group of huddled Hufflepuffs. "They're planning something. I can feel it in my bones."
"I can't. They're just being normal kids." Jeffery said.
"Well," Blake grumbled. "I don't care what anyone says. Trelawny's predicted I would be a Keeper in my first year. How she got that I have not a clue, but it has never happened."
"You would never touch a Quaffle." Marclay mumbled, knowing he wouldn't hear her or even care what she had said.
"Someone needs to hit the three of them with a tranquilizer." Anna declared, watching Fred jump to his feet and start pacing once more. "If they don't one of them will be killed."
"I don't get what Dumbledore is thinking letting the three of them carry on like that. Sooner or later everyone in here will be awake." Blake said, rolling over and covering his head with the sleeping bag.
Both Anna and Marclay shook their heads. "I think Dumbledore knows exactly what he is doing." Anna stated, watching Professor Snape come storming in. He went straight to Dumbledore and the two of them exchanged a few words. Then as quickly as he had entered, he was gone again.
"I'm going to go join in on the fun." Marclay said, her face lighting up.
"Oh no you are not!" Blake said, sitting up and pushing the sleeping bag off of him. "I will not allow someone from my house to go associate with those bag-heads."
"Whatever you say." Marclay said. She stood up and walked over to a small table that had been set up with drinks. She took two of the hot chocolates.
"What are you doing, Marclay?" Blake asked. He was on his feet and headed towards her. "If you're undermining my authority then I shall have to report you."
"No use in depriving a girl of her liquids." Jeffrey laughed, knowing she was trying to push Blake to his limits.
She took a sip out of one of the cups and grinned. "You know, you need to lighten up about this whole thing. The Mark may have appeared, but you've gone crazy. And if you ask me, that is much worse."
She walked past him and gave Anna a cup of the hot chocolate. "Thank you." Anna said, drinking some of it.
"Well, it's not like we're going to go to sleep any time soon. Might as well keep warm." Marclay smiled at Blake and patted his cheek. "I'm sorry. I just don't realize what being Head Boy is like. All of the responsibility. Why don't you try and sleep? I don't think that they'll be at it for much longer."
"I'm going to go chat with Bridgette and Kevin." Blake said, smiling at her and walking over to two other seventh year Ravenclaws.
"I'd watch it Mar, he's getting mad, and that's not a good thing." Jeffrey stated, pulling out a bag of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans.
That boy needs some serious help. He's worse then any other Head Boy before him. He will definitely drive someone mad." Anna stated, focusing in on the Hufflepuffs once more.
"Ew- Toe Jam!" Jeffrey exclaimed, spitting out a gray bean.
Marclay looked to the direction Anna was looking. She shook her head to see Benedict Lugwart, a seventh year that Anna secretly admired. "Go talk to the big oaf. Watching from afar won't get you anywhere."
"No, it won't. But it is safer this way." Anna replied, smiling to herself. "Plus, I believe I heard a rumor that he was going with Flora Neelar, that small fourth year."
"Yes, well that won't last long. The two of them are complete opposites." Marclay cleared, looking at the tiny girl. "I'm going to visit Gryffindor."
"Don't let Blake catch you. He might put a curse on you." Jeffrey laughed, looking up at her.
"If he did that he wouldn't be alive to see me cast it off." Marclay laughed, "Nor would he be able to understand what he had just ruined."
"At least we know he is busy for the time being." Anna said and focused back in on Benedict.
Marclay shook her head and walked past Anna towards the Gryffindor group. She took three hot chocolates off of the table and held them between her two hands carefully. She went and followed Fred as he paced towards the wall. As he turned he jumped back and his eyes went wide. A moment after he collected himself, his eyebrows raised up. "What do you want?"
"To poison you. Want some?" she asked, holding the cups towards him.
"After that little gesture, no." he said, walking past her.
"You know, I should be the one that's mad at you." Marclay declared. "You won't let half of us go to sleep with your nonsense. And here I come, offering you a drink to say that I accept the face that you're upset and you act this way. You're lucky I haven't cursed you."
"Cursed me?" he asked, turning on his heel and glaring at her. "You offered me a drink and said it was poisoned-"
"No, I said that I wanted to poison you. I never once said it was poisoned." she said. "Now take one of these before I pour them all over you."
"Fine." he said, taking the cup that was nearest to him. He looked up towards her, dark bags underneath his eyes. The prankster inside him seemed to have disappeared completely now, just like it had from George. And Ron, he was completely not himself.
Fred plopped himself down upon the ground and drank the hot chocolate.
"Just a minute." Marclay said, and brought the other two cups over to George and Ron. "You two look like you're about ready to die from exhaustion. Don't worry, she's not dead. Everything will be fine come morning."
"Thanks." Ron said, rubbing his red eyes. "Greatly appreciated."
"Yeah." George offered, taking the drink from her. He looked back down at the ground, trying to hide some of his pain.
"You're welcome, and keep your hopes up. No one ever survived when-"
"Thank you Miss Diggle." Dumbledore said, nodding at her with a warning of not to continue.
"Professor Dumbledore." Marclay said, smiling at the old bearded man. "Good to see you're keeping your watch up. Glad to know that someone here is watching what's going on."
"Yes, and I am glad to see a smile on someone's face." he said. "Now run along. I'm sure you'll be wanting some sleep so you won't be tired when tomorrow comes along."
"That I don't want." Marclay said. "I hope that everything goes well tonight."
She then turned and walked back to the slouching Fred. She sat down beside him and looked down at the spot he had placed his hot chocolate.
"You know, this whole business with Ginny will drive me mad." he said, looking up at her. "Mum and Dad are coming in the morning. They want to be here to help with the search and they don't want us to be so worried."
"I must say, no one wants you as worried as you are." Marclay said, looking up at him. "Blake says your driving him mad, but I think he's driving everybody else mad with his endless amount of complaints."
"Dumbledore's asked Snape to wipe him up a relaxation potion so we'll settle down. It's as though they've never experienced a family member that was kidnapped by the Dark Lord."
"They probably have. I know Snape has, I have, and even Dumbledore probably has. It just takes a matter of time in searching for people and looking for hopes most of all. Especially when you think they won't be found." she offered.
"It's amazing how you can look down on something and never realize it is really there. Then the moment it goes missing you are completely involved. You become drained until you find it." Fred described, meaning Ginny. "Right now I wish I could call up a summoning charm and she would be right in front of me. Like when I lose one of my wands or candies. I keep saying 'Accio!' and hoping she'll appear, but nothing happens.
"You don't think that she's really dead, do you? With all of the stuff George keeps saying you can't help but worry. The Dark Mark doesn't mean that she's dead-or does it? I mean, if she is don't you think they would have found her by now?"
"I really don't know if they would have. No one has gone to look in the forest for her yet, not since it appeared any ways. They're too scared that the Death Eaters will come out and kill them, I think. It was probably a lure to see how many students or Professors would run into the forest to see who had died." Marclay said, watching him turn the cup around and around on the floor.
All fell silent between the two as he focused most of his energy on the cups movement and she carefully watched him, not wanting to make a sound. After a few moments of this, she reached her hands out and held them on his. "Stop! That is driving me insane."
"Sorry." he said, jumping at her touch. He drew his hands into his lap and looked up at her. "Marclay?"
"What?" she asked, taking her own hands and placing them on her knees.
"I was wondering, is it true you and Snape are related?" he asked.
"Yes, he's my uncle." she answered, looking back down on the bricks.
"My mother was a Hufflepuff, but she is also Snape's sister. That's how she met my father."
"And Snape was a Death Eater, wasn't he?"
"Of course he was. Most of my family was in the beginning." she whispered. "When You-Know-Who started rising to power he also killed my Uncle Isolan, for he rebelled. That was when those who were followers left and went into hiding. At the time I wasn't even alive. It wasn't until I was seven that my parents told me about the entire incident. They all have the Dark Mark on their arms and they burn every so often, as though to be summoned by Him. I would never have thought it of my family."
"I would have never." Fred said. He looked at her with his eyes wide. "Do you think he'll try to come after you while you're here?"
"I highly doubt that. He probably doesn't even know I exist."
"If I were him I wouldn't be able not to know you exist." Fred said. Almost right after the words left his mouth, his face became shocked.
"I-er-I meant that-"
"It's okay. I know what you meant." Marclay laughed. Her cheeks were starting to blush as she nervously looked away from him.
"I'm sorry about that."
"Don't be. I needed a confidence boost."
"Why do you say that?"
"Just everything that has been going on lately. People have just been thinking entirely about nothing. Some have good reason to, but those who don't could ruin someone's life with their outrageous comments." she explained.
"You're talking about, George." Fred stated, looking over at his sulking twin. "He told me about it. Seemed slightly upset at himself."
Marclay looked at him, her eyes dull and wide. "Well not just him. I'm beginning to think Blake doesn't even think I exist. I'm just an after thought. At least when Quidditch starts up again I'll be able to forget about him for a change."
"Oh, yes, the wonderful, Prefect Blake. I forgot about him the moment he didn't talk to me, which would have been six years ago."
"Really? That long?"
"Probably longer. Other then when he catches me misbehaving. I'm a 'no good, trouble making brat, that doesn't know how to act my age' according to him." Fred explained, glaring past her towards the wall. Silence over took the two of them once more, but this time only momentarily. Dumbledore was suddenly standing over the two of them with Professor Snape at his side.
"Thank you Miss Diggle for taking Mister Weasley's mind off of things." Dumbledore said, smiling down at her. "Now, if you don't mind, I would like to take him from you."
"I'd rather not take it Professor. I'm fine now, really. I think I could go to sleep." Fred stated. "Or just stare at the ceiling until morning."
"Yes, but your brothers cannot. I suggest you take it. You might end up wired once more." Professor Snape said, looking down his nose at Fred. He had his black hair hanging slightly in his face like most days, and his black robes swept across the floor. "Plus, I am sure Miss Diggle has better things to do then entertain you."
"Please, Mister Weasley." Dumbledore said, putting his hand out for Fred to take. "The potion will wear off before morning."
"All right." Fred said, pushing himself up off of the ground.
Dumbledore took him off towards his brothers and Professor Snape looked down at Marclay.
"I'm ashamed of you, associating with those pranksters. I thought you were better then that." he sneered.
"Seriously Uncle, why must you always put down the Gryffindors? Slytherins are not as prefect as you think they are." she declared, standing up.
"I just don't want you associating with him. It means you might end up turning out like them." Professor Snape said, looking down at her.
"Exactly, I MIGHT end up. Not I will. Plus, I see no harm in trying to cheer them up. You aren't even taking a second glance at them." Marclay said, walking over to where Anna was laying down. "Don't doubt me. I know exactly what I am doing and I am sure nothing bad will come of it."
"Just don't make it a habit." he said, turning on his heel and walking over to Dumbledore.
"Just don't make it a habit, what a bloody fool!" she said to herself, stepping over a sleeping girl. "I'd never make it a habit."
"I don't understand why you like talking with them. It's just good you're on Dumbledore's good side." Blake said, walking over to her from where he had been. "I'll be sleeping over by Bridgette and Kevin. I'll see you in the morning."
She stood still, watching him go over and pick up his things off of the floor where he was going to sleep earlier. As he walked back by her he looked at her. "Close your mouth, you don't need to look like a stupid frog."
She had half a mind not to hit him right at that very moment. She held back the temptation and stomped over towards Anna. "I really can't believe him. If he doesn't start acting like a human then he can forget about coming over to my family's house for Christmas dinner."
"I think he can forget about more then that." Anna said, opening her eyes. She stretched out on the sleeping bag and then curled over into a ball.
She turned and looked over just in time to see Ron drinking out of a golden goblet and Dumbledore handing Fred and George matching goblets. The three of them looked extremely drowsy right after drinking the potion. George dropped the goblet he held as he slowly fell down onto his sleeping bag. Before Fred did the same, Professor Snape grabbed the goblet. Ron fell slowly to the floor, the cup staying in his hand.
"Sleeping elixir." Jeffrey mumbled, watching them all snuggle against the floor. "You learn it your seventh year, and it usually knocks the person out."
"I know." said Marclay. "I was taught it two years ago."
"Of course you were." Jeffrey replied.
"They'll be awake in six hours. That's as long as it usually lasts. Professor Snape wouldn't make it any stronger then that. If you do then the person could go into a deep sleep that you could never wake up from." Anna said. "Snape is good, but he's not that good. Not even Dumbledore could master it."
"I thought Fred told me it was a relaxing potion."
"That's probably what they told him so that he wouldn't get all upset over the whole thing." Jeffrey stated.
"Oh well, I don't really care much about it. They'll probably serve it to some of the other students that won't go to sleep. You'll be one of them if you don't lay down." Anna stated.
Just moments after she said this, Professor Snape and Dumbledore started going around and handing out some of it to the students that weren't giving in to an ounce of sleep. Marclay folded her arms and looked down at Anna. "I'd like to give some of that to Blake. Maybe then he would keep his big mouth shut."
"I don't think the two of you will last through the week. Not with how it is going right now." Anna mumbled, for sleep was starting to take her over.
"We won't last for two days." Marclay flared, sitting down and pulling the sleeping bag over her. She laid down and pulled the sleeping bag over her head. "URGGHH!" Anna started laughing and Marclay removed the blanket from over her head. "What?"
"I think you just woke about half of the room. That was really loud." Jeffrey snickered, looking over across everyone. "Good job though, you got Blake's attention. He's looking over here."
"I don't care. I'm not going to talk to him for a month!" Marclay declared, sinking deeper into the sleeping bag. "He can go get eaten by a dragon. I'm sure no one would really care."
"You don't mean that, do you?" Anna asked, trying to stifle a laugh.
"I mean every word of it." Marclay said, closing her eyes.
"Just as long as you aren't lying about it."
Marclay ignored Anna and turned onto her side, trying to block out everything. From what she could tell it was extremely late at night and in the next couple of hours her worries would only be being awake enough for class- if they had classes. For all she knew they would be stuck in this room for the next year.
She heard Anna mumbling beside her, but quickly closed her ears. She focused her mind on her History of Magic class, trying to determine if Professor Binns really knew what he was talking about.
Kellie Jasc sat full of worry on her sleeping bag against the wall. Now that Fred, George, and Ron Weasley were sleeping, there wasn't much to watch. She didn't feel like sleeping at the moment, but no one did. Many people were sitting in small groups, whispering about the events that had taken place. She glanced over at Draco, sleeping peacefully beside her, as if nothing had even happened. Bree was sleeping too, tossing and turning. She saw Harry, still up, sitting on top of his sleeping bag doing the exact same thing as Kellie- watching people.
Professor Snape was still walking about, giving a sleeping potion to those who needed it.
"Miss Jasc? Would you like some?" he asked when he reached her.
"No thank you, Sir. I think I'll just stay up for now," she refused.
Professor Snape left her alone with that and moved on to the other Slytherins around her. She saw Noah and Alexia, two heads of Slytherin talking to Dumbledore. They seemed to be very worried about something, talking fast and nodding every once in a while, but Kellie couldn't make out what they were saying. She longed to know what they were talking about, but knew that she should stay out of it.
Her eyes wandered around the room, pausing only to observe a few people. Her green eyes landed on Harry once more and as much as she wanted to turn away, she couldn't. His face looked pale and he had dark bags under his green eyes. Ron was his best friend and she knew that Ginny's disappearance was a both to Harry as much as it was to Ron and his brothers. No one seemed to be very happy at the moment.
Harry's eyes lifted from staring at the ground and looked straight into Kellie's green ones. 'Turn away. Don't stare!' Kellie scolded herself. But it was no use, her eyes were glued to his. He smiled at her for the first time in a long time, but Kellie just sat there, staring like a fool. She finally snapped out of it and looked back at the ground. She knew Harry liked, her but it would never work out. How could a Gryffindor and a Slytherin ever be friends, much less date? It just wasn't right. Harry frowned and continued to look around.
Gryffindors had never liked Slytherins for as long as Hogwarts has been around and everyone knew that. It was just common sense. Slytherins were mainly made of purebloods and thought they were much higher on the social status than Gryffindors. Kellie didn't think this was true. Many people also thought they were rude to others just because they had problems. Sure, she did have anger built up inside her, but she wasn't about to let it out on others like most people did. True, she did slap George, but it was only because he had really sent her over the edge with anger. And she did apologize for that, but still felt bad about it.
Kellie then saw shoes standing right in front of her. She lifted her head and saw none other than Harry Potter.
"What do you want, Potter?" she asked.
"I was wondering if I could join you? You look like you could use some company," he offered.
"If you want. I'm not much fun tonight just to warn you," Kellie warned, still hugging her knees to her chest as if it were a safety.
Harry sat down and looked around. Many people were already sleeping but the teachers were still alert and walking about, checking in on people every now and then.
"So, weird stuff isn't it?" Harry said, meaning the kidnapping and the Mark, trying to start a conversation.
"Yeah, it is. Do you think she's still alive? I mean, she's a smart girl; she knows how to handle herself."
Harry sighed. "I'm not sure. There is a chance but no one really knows for sure. I mean, half the teachers have been looking and the Ministry has already been drug into this."
"Yeah. I reckon Quidditch will be cancelled now for sure. Shame really. She was such a sweet kid. Why does this always happen to the good people? Why couldn't it of been me instead?" Kellie thought out loud.
Harry just stared at her. "Why do you wish it were you?"
"Because. Good people should have bad things happen to them. It should've been me."
"But you are a good person, Kellie," Harry said.
"No, I'm not."
"Why's that?" Harry asked.
"I slapped George today," Kellie said, now looking at the ground.
"You did?" Harry said in amazement.
Kellie only nodded. "I didn't mean to! He just made me so mad and I don't know what happened. I shouldn't have done it."
"We all get mad every once in a while. It's ok, really."
Kellie was silent for a while after that, thinking about Harry's words. He was right, of course. He was always right.
"Well, I guess we should get some sleep," Harry suggested after the awkward moment of silence.
"Yeah, I guess so."
"So, I'll, uh, see you later?" Harry asked hopefully as he got up from where he was sitting.
"Yeah, that sounds good," Kellie replied with a small smile.
"All right, good night then," Harry said as he turned and started to walk away.
"Harry!" Kellie yelled out, causing him to stop and turn back around.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Thanks for everything."
"No problem," Harry replied with a smile as he walked back towards his sleeping bag. Seconds later he lay down flat on top of it.
Kellie lay back down inside of hers and tried to sleep. Unfortunately, she couldn't. She stared at the ceiling that was now starting to show hints of daylight. There was no use of sleeping when it was almost morning anyways.
"Feeling troubled, Miss Jasc?" a voice asked.
Kellie's eyes flew upward and she saw the old face of Dumbledore, leaning down over her.
"Just a little bit," she replied, now sitting up to talk.
"I saw you talking with Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said, his eyes sparkling.
"Oh, that. It was nothing grandfather, really," she lied.
"Well, ok then. Do you want to talk about anything?"
Kellie thought for a moment about Draco, Harry, Ginny's disappearance, and everything that had been happening in her life. Her thoughts seemed to be jumbling around in her head, making her even more confused than she already was.
"Well, there are a few things," she started.
"Go on."
"Do you think Ginny's alive? I feel so horrible about what happened. The poor child must be so afraid. And what about her parents? How are they taking this?" Kellie started.
"As of right now, Kellie, I cannot be sure if she is alive or not. The Ministry workers are out looking for her this very moment and will not give up until they find her, dead or alive. As for her parents, they will be coming in tomorrow with Percy, Bill and Charlie," Dumbledore informed her. "Do you have any more questions?"
"Actually, there is one thing that has been bothering me lately."
"Just one?" Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Well, more than one but this one more than the others. Why am I even in Slytherin? Harry doesn't even talk to me hardly because of it and when he does it's really awkward. Everyone thinks Slytherins are so mean and I just don't get it!"
"I think perhaps you were put here because you belonged here, Miss Jasc. The Sorting Hat must have had a good reason to put you here, because obviously it thought you belonged here. Trust me, Miss Jasc, your relationship with the young Mr. Potter is not in danger from what I have noticed," Dumbledore said with a smile.
Kellie smiled and nodded as Dumbledore got up and walked away. Satisfied with this, Kellie lay back down and stared at the ceiling once more.
Morning came exceptionally fast and Kellie didn't sleep the entire night like most people. Many were afraid to close their eyes for fear that Voldemort would snatch them up in their sleep. The sleeping bags were gone and the four long tables were in their place. Kellie and the other Slytherins were seated at their table, waiting for breakfast to begin.
"Kellie? You ok?" Bree asked.
Unlike Kellie, Bree was wide-awake and much more perkier seeing as she slept most of last night.
"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine," Kellie replied, eyes droopy and dark circles showing under them.
"Did you ever sleep last night at all?" Bree asked.
"No, I was thinking and then talked to a few people."
"Well let's just hope that for your sake they cancel classes. You could use the sleep."
Before Kellie could answer, the food had appeared on the table in front of them, steaming warm and smelling good.
Kellie helped herself to some bacon, eggs, and toast and began eating. The food seemed to set everyone's mind at ease for the time being. People were digging in, talking, and actually laughing. The Weasley twins were still a little glum, but Kellie couldn't blame them. She would be depressed too if her little sister were stolen. That is, if she had a little sister.
She only had Anna, her older sister in Ravenclaw. She was a prefect and naturally good at everything she did. She was the sunshine in her parents life and was often treated better than Kellie, but when if came to visiting their grandfather, Dumbledore, he treated them both equally and that's what Kellie liked about him. He was fair to every one and always gave people chances to prove that they were worthy.
Kellie finished eating as Dumbledore stood up to make an announcement.
"I'm sure most of you did not sleep last night at all and I know a lot of you are very worried about what has been happening, therefore, I am hereby canceling all classes for the day to give you each time to finish homework and catch up on your rest. The Great Hall will be open for anyone who wishes to come down and chat with fellow students. I must ask though that all of you please stick together and try not to go wandering off on your own. It is much too dangerous for that. You are now dismissed."
Kellie looked at Bree and they both decided to get up and go back to the Slytherin dormitory. They grabbed their Transfiguration books, a few rolls of parchment, and some quills and headed off to the Great Hall.
As they entered the huge double doors that entered Great Hall, Bree shouted out.
"Oh drat! I've forgotten my quill! You haven't gotten an extra one have you?" she asked Kellie.
"No, sorry. Run upstairs and get one. I'll save you a seat!" Kellie suggested as Bree ran off down the corridor.
Kellie took her seat and opened her book to the page she needed.
Thirty minutes had passed and Bree still hadn't come back. Kellie began to worry and was about to go ask Dumbledore if he had seen her. Just as Kellie was about to get up out of her seat, Professor Snape came running in shouting.
Bree had been found dead in the Slytherin dormitory.
SLEEPING ELIXIR Anna, Blake, Marclay, and Jeffrey Niblin, all Ravenclaws that were above the rest of their house, all had gone to rest near the door way where they would be able to watch most of the Ravenclaw students. Since last year, most of the Death Eaters revolts had become less and less often, but now no one knew what to expect from them.
The Ministry of Magic had sent in six other wizards to help with keeping Hogwarts grounds safe and find small Ginny Weasley. Since they had apparated six hours ago, many rumors had started. The Weasley's were at the center of most, but Slytherins were silently being accused of sending up the Dark Mark. With the whispers circulating around the dining hall, not many people could find the strength to sleep, especially the house prefects.
One of them would have to take their turn in getting up to silence a student who wouldn't hush their voice or got too excited. The Ravenclaw's seemed luckier then the others though, for most of the students in their house had either fallen off into a sleep, or they were silently studying. Hufflepuff sat mumbling in small groups, being their usual selves. Slytherins would shout at people if they tried to even accuse them of the smallest thing, or they would jump up waving their wand, only to be silenced by Mr. Filch or Professor Dumbledore (Whom had chosen to keep his stay with the students to protect them if anything of the bad sort happened). Gryffindor chose to keep silent. Most of them were asleep except a few of them who were gathered in a group comforting one of the Weasley boys.
This was one of Dumbledore's main attractions. He had to keep going over to tell the students various things. George kept crying out about how the Dark Mark only appeared when someone had been murdered. This meant, to him, Ginny was dead. This would then, in return, cause Ron to go hay-wire and start crying about how he should have been there to protect her. Fred would then slap both of them or stand up and start pacing. His mumbles filled the entire room and echoed off of the walls. The made it hard for anyone even slightly awake to sleep.
After a few times of this happening, Dumbledore sent Mr. Filch to find Professor Snape. Marclay stretched her ears, knowing that Dumbledore had something up his sleeve.
Blake lay in his sleeping bag with his arms folded upon it and looking up at the dark ceiling portraying the nights sky. As George started up again he looked over at Marclay. "Will he ever shut up? If I wasn't in my right mind I would send a curse to him."
"Don't speak of such things." Marclay said, browsing through the 'Beaters Bible' a book by Brutus Scrimgeour. "It might end up coming back at you and you'll have a curse to deal with. Right, Anna?"
"It's true. Trelawny told you about how you would have something dark played upon you in the next month." Anna replied, looking over at them from her gaze towards a group of huddled Hufflepuffs. "They're planning something. I can feel it in my bones."
"I can't. They're just being normal kids." Jeffery said.
"Well," Blake grumbled. "I don't care what anyone says. Trelawny's predicted I would be a Keeper in my first year. How she got that I have not a clue, but it has never happened."
"You would never touch a Quaffle." Marclay mumbled, knowing he wouldn't hear her or even care what she had said.
"Someone needs to hit the three of them with a tranquilizer." Anna declared, watching Fred jump to his feet and start pacing once more. "If they don't one of them will be killed."
"I don't get what Dumbledore is thinking letting the three of them carry on like that. Sooner or later everyone in here will be awake." Blake said, rolling over and covering his head with the sleeping bag.
Both Anna and Marclay shook their heads. "I think Dumbledore knows exactly what he is doing." Anna stated, watching Professor Snape come storming in. He went straight to Dumbledore and the two of them exchanged a few words. Then as quickly as he had entered, he was gone again.
"I'm going to go join in on the fun." Marclay said, her face lighting up.
"Oh no you are not!" Blake said, sitting up and pushing the sleeping bag off of him. "I will not allow someone from my house to go associate with those bag-heads."
"Whatever you say." Marclay said. She stood up and walked over to a small table that had been set up with drinks. She took two of the hot chocolates.
"What are you doing, Marclay?" Blake asked. He was on his feet and headed towards her. "If you're undermining my authority then I shall have to report you."
"No use in depriving a girl of her liquids." Jeffrey laughed, knowing she was trying to push Blake to his limits.
She took a sip out of one of the cups and grinned. "You know, you need to lighten up about this whole thing. The Mark may have appeared, but you've gone crazy. And if you ask me, that is much worse."
She walked past him and gave Anna a cup of the hot chocolate. "Thank you." Anna said, drinking some of it.
"Well, it's not like we're going to go to sleep any time soon. Might as well keep warm." Marclay smiled at Blake and patted his cheek. "I'm sorry. I just don't realize what being Head Boy is like. All of the responsibility. Why don't you try and sleep? I don't think that they'll be at it for much longer."
"I'm going to go chat with Bridgette and Kevin." Blake said, smiling at her and walking over to two other seventh year Ravenclaws.
"I'd watch it Mar, he's getting mad, and that's not a good thing." Jeffrey stated, pulling out a bag of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans.
That boy needs some serious help. He's worse then any other Head Boy before him. He will definitely drive someone mad." Anna stated, focusing in on the Hufflepuffs once more.
"Ew- Toe Jam!" Jeffrey exclaimed, spitting out a gray bean.
Marclay looked to the direction Anna was looking. She shook her head to see Benedict Lugwart, a seventh year that Anna secretly admired. "Go talk to the big oaf. Watching from afar won't get you anywhere."
"No, it won't. But it is safer this way." Anna replied, smiling to herself. "Plus, I believe I heard a rumor that he was going with Flora Neelar, that small fourth year."
"Yes, well that won't last long. The two of them are complete opposites." Marclay cleared, looking at the tiny girl. "I'm going to visit Gryffindor."
"Don't let Blake catch you. He might put a curse on you." Jeffrey laughed, looking up at her.
"If he did that he wouldn't be alive to see me cast it off." Marclay laughed, "Nor would he be able to understand what he had just ruined."
"At least we know he is busy for the time being." Anna said and focused back in on Benedict.
Marclay shook her head and walked past Anna towards the Gryffindor group. She took three hot chocolates off of the table and held them between her two hands carefully. She went and followed Fred as he paced towards the wall. As he turned he jumped back and his eyes went wide. A moment after he collected himself, his eyebrows raised up. "What do you want?"
"To poison you. Want some?" she asked, holding the cups towards him.
"After that little gesture, no." he said, walking past her.
"You know, I should be the one that's mad at you." Marclay declared. "You won't let half of us go to sleep with your nonsense. And here I come, offering you a drink to say that I accept the face that you're upset and you act this way. You're lucky I haven't cursed you."
"Cursed me?" he asked, turning on his heel and glaring at her. "You offered me a drink and said it was poisoned-"
"No, I said that I wanted to poison you. I never once said it was poisoned." she said. "Now take one of these before I pour them all over you."
"Fine." he said, taking the cup that was nearest to him. He looked up towards her, dark bags underneath his eyes. The prankster inside him seemed to have disappeared completely now, just like it had from George. And Ron, he was completely not himself.
Fred plopped himself down upon the ground and drank the hot chocolate.
"Just a minute." Marclay said, and brought the other two cups over to George and Ron. "You two look like you're about ready to die from exhaustion. Don't worry, she's not dead. Everything will be fine come morning."
"Thanks." Ron said, rubbing his red eyes. "Greatly appreciated."
"Yeah." George offered, taking the drink from her. He looked back down at the ground, trying to hide some of his pain.
"You're welcome, and keep your hopes up. No one ever survived when-"
"Thank you Miss Diggle." Dumbledore said, nodding at her with a warning of not to continue.
"Professor Dumbledore." Marclay said, smiling at the old bearded man. "Good to see you're keeping your watch up. Glad to know that someone here is watching what's going on."
"Yes, and I am glad to see a smile on someone's face." he said. "Now run along. I'm sure you'll be wanting some sleep so you won't be tired when tomorrow comes along."
"That I don't want." Marclay said. "I hope that everything goes well tonight."
She then turned and walked back to the slouching Fred. She sat down beside him and looked down at the spot he had placed his hot chocolate.
"You know, this whole business with Ginny will drive me mad." he said, looking up at her. "Mum and Dad are coming in the morning. They want to be here to help with the search and they don't want us to be so worried."
"I must say, no one wants you as worried as you are." Marclay said, looking up at him. "Blake says your driving him mad, but I think he's driving everybody else mad with his endless amount of complaints."
"Dumbledore's asked Snape to wipe him up a relaxation potion so we'll settle down. It's as though they've never experienced a family member that was kidnapped by the Dark Lord."
"They probably have. I know Snape has, I have, and even Dumbledore probably has. It just takes a matter of time in searching for people and looking for hopes most of all. Especially when you think they won't be found." she offered.
"It's amazing how you can look down on something and never realize it is really there. Then the moment it goes missing you are completely involved. You become drained until you find it." Fred described, meaning Ginny. "Right now I wish I could call up a summoning charm and she would be right in front of me. Like when I lose one of my wands or candies. I keep saying 'Accio!' and hoping she'll appear, but nothing happens.
"You don't think that she's really dead, do you? With all of the stuff George keeps saying you can't help but worry. The Dark Mark doesn't mean that she's dead-or does it? I mean, if she is don't you think they would have found her by now?"
"I really don't know if they would have. No one has gone to look in the forest for her yet, not since it appeared any ways. They're too scared that the Death Eaters will come out and kill them, I think. It was probably a lure to see how many students or Professors would run into the forest to see who had died." Marclay said, watching him turn the cup around and around on the floor.
All fell silent between the two as he focused most of his energy on the cups movement and she carefully watched him, not wanting to make a sound. After a few moments of this, she reached her hands out and held them on his. "Stop! That is driving me insane."
"Sorry." he said, jumping at her touch. He drew his hands into his lap and looked up at her. "Marclay?"
"What?" she asked, taking her own hands and placing them on her knees.
"I was wondering, is it true you and Snape are related?" he asked.
"Yes, he's my uncle." she answered, looking back down on the bricks.
"My mother was a Hufflepuff, but she is also Snape's sister. That's how she met my father."
"And Snape was a Death Eater, wasn't he?"
"Of course he was. Most of my family was in the beginning." she whispered. "When You-Know-Who started rising to power he also killed my Uncle Isolan, for he rebelled. That was when those who were followers left and went into hiding. At the time I wasn't even alive. It wasn't until I was seven that my parents told me about the entire incident. They all have the Dark Mark on their arms and they burn every so often, as though to be summoned by Him. I would never have thought it of my family."
"I would have never." Fred said. He looked at her with his eyes wide. "Do you think he'll try to come after you while you're here?"
"I highly doubt that. He probably doesn't even know I exist."
"If I were him I wouldn't be able not to know you exist." Fred said. Almost right after the words left his mouth, his face became shocked.
"I-er-I meant that-"
"It's okay. I know what you meant." Marclay laughed. Her cheeks were starting to blush as she nervously looked away from him.
"I'm sorry about that."
"Don't be. I needed a confidence boost."
"Why do you say that?"
"Just everything that has been going on lately. People have just been thinking entirely about nothing. Some have good reason to, but those who don't could ruin someone's life with their outrageous comments." she explained.
"You're talking about, George." Fred stated, looking over at his sulking twin. "He told me about it. Seemed slightly upset at himself."
Marclay looked at him, her eyes dull and wide. "Well not just him. I'm beginning to think Blake doesn't even think I exist. I'm just an after thought. At least when Quidditch starts up again I'll be able to forget about him for a change."
"Oh, yes, the wonderful, Prefect Blake. I forgot about him the moment he didn't talk to me, which would have been six years ago."
"Really? That long?"
"Probably longer. Other then when he catches me misbehaving. I'm a 'no good, trouble making brat, that doesn't know how to act my age' according to him." Fred explained, glaring past her towards the wall. Silence over took the two of them once more, but this time only momentarily. Dumbledore was suddenly standing over the two of them with Professor Snape at his side.
"Thank you Miss Diggle for taking Mister Weasley's mind off of things." Dumbledore said, smiling down at her. "Now, if you don't mind, I would like to take him from you."
"I'd rather not take it Professor. I'm fine now, really. I think I could go to sleep." Fred stated. "Or just stare at the ceiling until morning."
"Yes, but your brothers cannot. I suggest you take it. You might end up wired once more." Professor Snape said, looking down his nose at Fred. He had his black hair hanging slightly in his face like most days, and his black robes swept across the floor. "Plus, I am sure Miss Diggle has better things to do then entertain you."
"Please, Mister Weasley." Dumbledore said, putting his hand out for Fred to take. "The potion will wear off before morning."
"All right." Fred said, pushing himself up off of the ground.
Dumbledore took him off towards his brothers and Professor Snape looked down at Marclay.
"I'm ashamed of you, associating with those pranksters. I thought you were better then that." he sneered.
"Seriously Uncle, why must you always put down the Gryffindors? Slytherins are not as prefect as you think they are." she declared, standing up.
"I just don't want you associating with him. It means you might end up turning out like them." Professor Snape said, looking down at her.
"Exactly, I MIGHT end up. Not I will. Plus, I see no harm in trying to cheer them up. You aren't even taking a second glance at them." Marclay said, walking over to where Anna was laying down. "Don't doubt me. I know exactly what I am doing and I am sure nothing bad will come of it."
"Just don't make it a habit." he said, turning on his heel and walking over to Dumbledore.
"Just don't make it a habit, what a bloody fool!" she said to herself, stepping over a sleeping girl. "I'd never make it a habit."
"I don't understand why you like talking with them. It's just good you're on Dumbledore's good side." Blake said, walking over to her from where he had been. "I'll be sleeping over by Bridgette and Kevin. I'll see you in the morning."
She stood still, watching him go over and pick up his things off of the floor where he was going to sleep earlier. As he walked back by her he looked at her. "Close your mouth, you don't need to look like a stupid frog."
She had half a mind not to hit him right at that very moment. She held back the temptation and stomped over towards Anna. "I really can't believe him. If he doesn't start acting like a human then he can forget about coming over to my family's house for Christmas dinner."
"I think he can forget about more then that." Anna said, opening her eyes. She stretched out on the sleeping bag and then curled over into a ball.
She turned and looked over just in time to see Ron drinking out of a golden goblet and Dumbledore handing Fred and George matching goblets. The three of them looked extremely drowsy right after drinking the potion. George dropped the goblet he held as he slowly fell down onto his sleeping bag. Before Fred did the same, Professor Snape grabbed the goblet. Ron fell slowly to the floor, the cup staying in his hand.
"Sleeping elixir." Jeffrey mumbled, watching them all snuggle against the floor. "You learn it your seventh year, and it usually knocks the person out."
"I know." said Marclay. "I was taught it two years ago."
"Of course you were." Jeffrey replied.
"They'll be awake in six hours. That's as long as it usually lasts. Professor Snape wouldn't make it any stronger then that. If you do then the person could go into a deep sleep that you could never wake up from." Anna said. "Snape is good, but he's not that good. Not even Dumbledore could master it."
"I thought Fred told me it was a relaxing potion."
"That's probably what they told him so that he wouldn't get all upset over the whole thing." Jeffrey stated.
"Oh well, I don't really care much about it. They'll probably serve it to some of the other students that won't go to sleep. You'll be one of them if you don't lay down." Anna stated.
Just moments after she said this, Professor Snape and Dumbledore started going around and handing out some of it to the students that weren't giving in to an ounce of sleep. Marclay folded her arms and looked down at Anna. "I'd like to give some of that to Blake. Maybe then he would keep his big mouth shut."
"I don't think the two of you will last through the week. Not with how it is going right now." Anna mumbled, for sleep was starting to take her over.
"We won't last for two days." Marclay flared, sitting down and pulling the sleeping bag over her. She laid down and pulled the sleeping bag over her head. "URGGHH!" Anna started laughing and Marclay removed the blanket from over her head. "What?"
"I think you just woke about half of the room. That was really loud." Jeffrey snickered, looking over across everyone. "Good job though, you got Blake's attention. He's looking over here."
"I don't care. I'm not going to talk to him for a month!" Marclay declared, sinking deeper into the sleeping bag. "He can go get eaten by a dragon. I'm sure no one would really care."
"You don't mean that, do you?" Anna asked, trying to stifle a laugh.
"I mean every word of it." Marclay said, closing her eyes.
"Just as long as you aren't lying about it."
Marclay ignored Anna and turned onto her side, trying to block out everything. From what she could tell it was extremely late at night and in the next couple of hours her worries would only be being awake enough for class- if they had classes. For all she knew they would be stuck in this room for the next year.
She heard Anna mumbling beside her, but quickly closed her ears. She focused her mind on her History of Magic class, trying to determine if Professor Binns really knew what he was talking about.
Kellie Jasc sat full of worry on her sleeping bag against the wall. Now that Fred, George, and Ron Weasley were sleeping, there wasn't much to watch. She didn't feel like sleeping at the moment, but no one did. Many people were sitting in small groups, whispering about the events that had taken place. She glanced over at Draco, sleeping peacefully beside her, as if nothing had even happened. Bree was sleeping too, tossing and turning. She saw Harry, still up, sitting on top of his sleeping bag doing the exact same thing as Kellie- watching people.
Professor Snape was still walking about, giving a sleeping potion to those who needed it.
"Miss Jasc? Would you like some?" he asked when he reached her.
"No thank you, Sir. I think I'll just stay up for now," she refused.
Professor Snape left her alone with that and moved on to the other Slytherins around her. She saw Noah and Alexia, two heads of Slytherin talking to Dumbledore. They seemed to be very worried about something, talking fast and nodding every once in a while, but Kellie couldn't make out what they were saying. She longed to know what they were talking about, but knew that she should stay out of it.
Her eyes wandered around the room, pausing only to observe a few people. Her green eyes landed on Harry once more and as much as she wanted to turn away, she couldn't. His face looked pale and he had dark bags under his green eyes. Ron was his best friend and she knew that Ginny's disappearance was a both to Harry as much as it was to Ron and his brothers. No one seemed to be very happy at the moment.
Harry's eyes lifted from staring at the ground and looked straight into Kellie's green ones. 'Turn away. Don't stare!' Kellie scolded herself. But it was no use, her eyes were glued to his. He smiled at her for the first time in a long time, but Kellie just sat there, staring like a fool. She finally snapped out of it and looked back at the ground. She knew Harry liked, her but it would never work out. How could a Gryffindor and a Slytherin ever be friends, much less date? It just wasn't right. Harry frowned and continued to look around.
Gryffindors had never liked Slytherins for as long as Hogwarts has been around and everyone knew that. It was just common sense. Slytherins were mainly made of purebloods and thought they were much higher on the social status than Gryffindors. Kellie didn't think this was true. Many people also thought they were rude to others just because they had problems. Sure, she did have anger built up inside her, but she wasn't about to let it out on others like most people did. True, she did slap George, but it was only because he had really sent her over the edge with anger. And she did apologize for that, but still felt bad about it.
Kellie then saw shoes standing right in front of her. She lifted her head and saw none other than Harry Potter.
"What do you want, Potter?" she asked.
"I was wondering if I could join you? You look like you could use some company," he offered.
"If you want. I'm not much fun tonight just to warn you," Kellie warned, still hugging her knees to her chest as if it were a safety.
Harry sat down and looked around. Many people were already sleeping but the teachers were still alert and walking about, checking in on people every now and then.
"So, weird stuff isn't it?" Harry said, meaning the kidnapping and the Mark, trying to start a conversation.
"Yeah, it is. Do you think she's still alive? I mean, she's a smart girl; she knows how to handle herself."
Harry sighed. "I'm not sure. There is a chance but no one really knows for sure. I mean, half the teachers have been looking and the Ministry has already been drug into this."
"Yeah. I reckon Quidditch will be cancelled now for sure. Shame really. She was such a sweet kid. Why does this always happen to the good people? Why couldn't it of been me instead?" Kellie thought out loud.
Harry just stared at her. "Why do you wish it were you?"
"Because. Good people should have bad things happen to them. It should've been me."
"But you are a good person, Kellie," Harry said.
"No, I'm not."
"Why's that?" Harry asked.
"I slapped George today," Kellie said, now looking at the ground.
"You did?" Harry said in amazement.
Kellie only nodded. "I didn't mean to! He just made me so mad and I don't know what happened. I shouldn't have done it."
"We all get mad every once in a while. It's ok, really."
Kellie was silent for a while after that, thinking about Harry's words. He was right, of course. He was always right.
"Well, I guess we should get some sleep," Harry suggested after the awkward moment of silence.
"Yeah, I guess so."
"So, I'll, uh, see you later?" Harry asked hopefully as he got up from where he was sitting.
"Yeah, that sounds good," Kellie replied with a small smile.
"All right, good night then," Harry said as he turned and started to walk away.
"Harry!" Kellie yelled out, causing him to stop and turn back around.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Thanks for everything."
"No problem," Harry replied with a smile as he walked back towards his sleeping bag. Seconds later he lay down flat on top of it.
Kellie lay back down inside of hers and tried to sleep. Unfortunately, she couldn't. She stared at the ceiling that was now starting to show hints of daylight. There was no use of sleeping when it was almost morning anyways.
"Feeling troubled, Miss Jasc?" a voice asked.
Kellie's eyes flew upward and she saw the old face of Dumbledore, leaning down over her.
"Just a little bit," she replied, now sitting up to talk.
"I saw you talking with Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said, his eyes sparkling.
"Oh, that. It was nothing grandfather, really," she lied.
"Well, ok then. Do you want to talk about anything?"
Kellie thought for a moment about Draco, Harry, Ginny's disappearance, and everything that had been happening in her life. Her thoughts seemed to be jumbling around in her head, making her even more confused than she already was.
"Well, there are a few things," she started.
"Go on."
"Do you think Ginny's alive? I feel so horrible about what happened. The poor child must be so afraid. And what about her parents? How are they taking this?" Kellie started.
"As of right now, Kellie, I cannot be sure if she is alive or not. The Ministry workers are out looking for her this very moment and will not give up until they find her, dead or alive. As for her parents, they will be coming in tomorrow with Percy, Bill and Charlie," Dumbledore informed her. "Do you have any more questions?"
"Actually, there is one thing that has been bothering me lately."
"Just one?" Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Well, more than one but this one more than the others. Why am I even in Slytherin? Harry doesn't even talk to me hardly because of it and when he does it's really awkward. Everyone thinks Slytherins are so mean and I just don't get it!"
"I think perhaps you were put here because you belonged here, Miss Jasc. The Sorting Hat must have had a good reason to put you here, because obviously it thought you belonged here. Trust me, Miss Jasc, your relationship with the young Mr. Potter is not in danger from what I have noticed," Dumbledore said with a smile.
Kellie smiled and nodded as Dumbledore got up and walked away. Satisfied with this, Kellie lay back down and stared at the ceiling once more.
Morning came exceptionally fast and Kellie didn't sleep the entire night like most people. Many were afraid to close their eyes for fear that Voldemort would snatch them up in their sleep. The sleeping bags were gone and the four long tables were in their place. Kellie and the other Slytherins were seated at their table, waiting for breakfast to begin.
"Kellie? You ok?" Bree asked.
Unlike Kellie, Bree was wide-awake and much more perkier seeing as she slept most of last night.
"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine," Kellie replied, eyes droopy and dark circles showing under them.
"Did you ever sleep last night at all?" Bree asked.
"No, I was thinking and then talked to a few people."
"Well let's just hope that for your sake they cancel classes. You could use the sleep."
Before Kellie could answer, the food had appeared on the table in front of them, steaming warm and smelling good.
Kellie helped herself to some bacon, eggs, and toast and began eating. The food seemed to set everyone's mind at ease for the time being. People were digging in, talking, and actually laughing. The Weasley twins were still a little glum, but Kellie couldn't blame them. She would be depressed too if her little sister were stolen. That is, if she had a little sister.
She only had Anna, her older sister in Ravenclaw. She was a prefect and naturally good at everything she did. She was the sunshine in her parents life and was often treated better than Kellie, but when if came to visiting their grandfather, Dumbledore, he treated them both equally and that's what Kellie liked about him. He was fair to every one and always gave people chances to prove that they were worthy.
Kellie finished eating as Dumbledore stood up to make an announcement.
"I'm sure most of you did not sleep last night at all and I know a lot of you are very worried about what has been happening, therefore, I am hereby canceling all classes for the day to give you each time to finish homework and catch up on your rest. The Great Hall will be open for anyone who wishes to come down and chat with fellow students. I must ask though that all of you please stick together and try not to go wandering off on your own. It is much too dangerous for that. You are now dismissed."
Kellie looked at Bree and they both decided to get up and go back to the Slytherin dormitory. They grabbed their Transfiguration books, a few rolls of parchment, and some quills and headed off to the Great Hall.
As they entered the huge double doors that entered Great Hall, Bree shouted out.
"Oh drat! I've forgotten my quill! You haven't gotten an extra one have you?" she asked Kellie.
"No, sorry. Run upstairs and get one. I'll save you a seat!" Kellie suggested as Bree ran off down the corridor.
Kellie took her seat and opened her book to the page she needed.
Thirty minutes had passed and Bree still hadn't come back. Kellie began to worry and was about to go ask Dumbledore if he had seen her. Just as Kellie was about to get up out of her seat, Professor Snape came running in shouting.
Bree had been found dead in the Slytherin dormitory.