C H A P T E R F I V E
DARK MARK
Marclay made her way up the stairs to Ravenclaw (and of course down some
more). Carrie was with her, for the two had ate breakfast together, because
Marclay refused to sit with Blake when he had asked it of her. So now,
naturally, the two of them were joined at the hip, for that was how it
seemed to be when he had been rejected.
The two of them went into the commons room and studied together on History of Magic, although neither of them were in the same year. Then Carrie decided she needed to go upstairs to study a few things with Anna.
The two of them separated and Marclay stayed down in the commons room and teamed up with Cho to play a game of Wizard's Chess. Finally, as Marclay broke the Queen, she won the game, leaving a few watching Ravenclaws in awe.
Never, in Ravenclaw's history of House Wizarding Chess, had someone actually destroyed a Queen in their tenth move. It seemed to be very rare to do so when it was so early in a game. Cho congratulated her and then the two of them went up to find Carrie and Anna to tell them the good news.
Marclay opened the door and froze almost on impact. She looked over at Cho with wide eyes. Cho was frozen to her spot, her mouth gaped wide open. Marclay shot her head back and pointed her finger at what lay before her.
The two stared in an awkward silence as they looked down upon their house- mate, laying on the floor, the Dark Mark upon her forehead. "C-Carrie, she was in here. Didn't she come u-up h-h-here?" Cho finally managed.
Unable to answer, Marclay walked over to Anna Jasc-Ravenclaw's Prefect! Her bright blue eyes were gaped open, staring blankly towards the ceiling, it was almost as though she saw something there. Marclay suddenly looked up, not sure what she would see.
Nothing was there.
As she forced herself to look back down at Anna a tear started to drip from her eye. She backed up against the nearby wall and let more tears flow from her eyes. Now she knew exactly what Fred had meant the prior night. She didn't even have a second thought about it when he had started telling her about how it was, but now it all seemed all too clear.
Her body fell limp to the floor. She pulled her knees into her chest and knew she wasn't going to be able to move an inch. She heard Cho's sobs coming from in the doorway, but nothing else. It was as though the entire population of Hogwarts was oblivious to anything that ever happened. Silence was the only thing the cared.
It felt like hours before anyone ever came up. By then Anna's glazed eyes had taken their toll on both of the girls. The stiff, cold body that had once been there friend seemed to be the only thing they could look at. To Marclay, she knew that whenever she closed her eyes Anna would be there, Cho knew she would never be able to forget this.
Whoever had done this had been planning it out. First Ginny Weasley, a Gryffindor, now a Ravenclaw. Marclay could only think of which house would be cursed next. The person had watched carefully, and then struck. Whomever had gotten into Hogwarts was evil and nothing would stop them from achieving their greatest goal.
The person who had done this probably thought it was funny.
It was not funny in the least bit. It was horrible. It was wrong. They would suffer a hard, terrible death if they were ever caught.
It was going to be another long, dark night.
"What's wrong? What's goi-" it was Blake, he had come to check on everyone to make sure nothing was going on. "Oh no!"
He was gone. Just like that. She felt suddenly alone once more. Cho didn't even cease to exist. She was too withdrawn to herself, just as Marclay was. Suddenly students were crowding around their room, THEIR dormitory, wanting to get a glimpse of death itself.
"Oh dear, what has happened? This isn't suppose to happen in Hogwarts."
The Grey Lady was now there. She had come up through the floor to see what all of the noise was about. She looked down on the girl, afraid that she wasn't going to be able to do anything.
"Please go down straight to the Dining Hall. Professor Dumbledore will be there to discuss what is going on and what will be done to control it. Please, everyone now!" Professor Flitwick said, coming into the room followed by Professor Sprout and Blake. Professor Flitwick bent down and looked at Bellina while Professor Sprout went over to Cho and Marclay.
"Did either of you see anything?" the older witch said. She bent down to help Marclay from her spot, but was refused the glory.
Marclay let her hands separate and search behind her for the wall and floor. She then pushed herself up off of the ground and looked at the short gray haired woman. "She's dead, isn't she?" she asked, her voice shaking. She slowly edged her way over to the door.
"Yes, she is. It appears some more Death Eaters have broken into the castle. Here, Blake, come here, help these girls to the dining hall. We must leave the girl alone." said Professor Sprout, she took Blake's arm and forced him out of the dormitory room. "Come Professor Flitwick. We must get down to talk with Dumbledore, we must decide what will be happening."
"That we must do." Professor Flitwick squeaked, hurrying over to Professor Sprout.
The two Professors followed the three of them down the stairs of the west tower and then apparated to the first floor.
Blake had taken Marclay's hint earlier on in the day and felt no need to comfort her. He walked ahead of the two and lead them out of the common's room and down to the dining hall, where they were sure they would end up having to stay for the next day or more.
"Here we are." Blake said, walking into the dining hall. He almost instantly separated from the two of them and went straight towards the seventh years.
Marclay and Cho looked around, surprised almost all of the students were already in the dining hall. Slytherins sat mumbling amongst themselves. A few were crying and among those chosen few was Kellie. Marclay caught her eye and waved, trying to offer comfort when it was exactly what she needed. A few Hufflepuffs sat crying, also, in fact, at every table students were crying. The two of them quickly made their way to the back of the Ravenclaw table and sat staring into obscurity.
Finally after the last bit of Hogwarts students filed into the hall, Dumbledore stood up in front of everyone. "There has been a horrifying event that has taken place here at Hogwarts these last few days. First poor Ginny Weasley disappeared when two of our students were knocked out to forget all that had happened. Then, just yesterday, the Dark Mark appeared nearby in the Forbidden Forest. Now, just minutes prior to when all of you were ordered in here, the worst thing that has ever happened inside the Hogwarts grounds happened.
"Four of our students have been murdered. There is going to be a search of our grounds and more Wizards and Witches will be arriving shortly from the Ministry of Magic." Dumbledore said. He stopped momentarily as his voice cracked, and cleared his throat. "I would like to take a moment from all of you and have one single minute of silence to remember Bree Johnson of the Slytherin House, Angelina Johnson, her elder sister of the Gryffindor House," a single tear rolled down his wrinkled cheek as he went to continue on with the names. "Brian Finnigan of the Hufflepuff House," Tears were streaming down his cheeks as he forced himself to say the last name, the name he feared most. "And Anna Jasc of the Ravenclaw House."
"WHAT?" Kellie had stood up. Her face was hurt more then ever. She looked down on all of the students at her table and then the ones at the Ravenclaw.
"Sit down, I'm sure everything will be explained momentarily. That was just a minute detail." Draco said, looking up at her with the same smirk upon his face. She sat back down beside him and looked over at him. The two were now the center of attention.
Her chin started quivering and she slapped him. "How can you say that was minute? My sister is dead. I hate you!" she screamed. She stood from her seat and went running up to the front of the Slytherin table. Her sister, her only sister, was dead and he thought it was minute? She was about to take another step towards Dumbledore, but suddenly fell to the floor.
Everyone at the Slytherin table stood up, trying to see her and what had happened. Dumbledore rushed from his spot to her. Madam Pomfrey followed. The two huddled over her as Professor McGonagall came walking over. Dumbledore stood up and whispered something into her ear and she went to the front of the room. Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey then carried Kellie out of the room.
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and looked out over the students. "We will have all classes canceled for the following week. Quidditch is now postponed until further notice. We will begin the moment of silence now."
Everyone's heads went down into a bowed position. Marclay kept her head in the same position it had been the last ten minutes. Another minute wouldn't be anything to either of them. And, as it seemed, as quick as Professor McGonagall had called the moment of silence, she excused it.
"You will be staying in here until further notice. The tables will be removed and chairs, sleeping bags, games, and other such things will replace them. House Prefects, along with heads of houses and another teacher will lead you up to your dormitories and there you will grab all of the things you will be needing. This includes books, one change of work robes, quills, rolls of parchment, and personal belongings you cannot live without. You have thirty minutes to return and do not, I repeat DO NOT return without a student. These are very serious matters and I will not allow anything else to happen. You are excused now."
Everyone suddenly stood up. Professors Flitwick and Trelawney lead the Ravenclaws up to their tower. In the commons room, they were all excused to go up to their dormitories. Both Cho and Marclay went up to there room together, too scared that if they were to be separated for too long that one would end up dead.
They went into their room, and only left each others' side while they grabbed their belongings. Marclay made sure to grab her new Firebolt (that she had received for Christmas the prior year when they had gone on sell). Cho did the same, for her parents had snagged the same deal along with the other Ravenclaw students Quidditch team.
She then opened her trunk and tried deciding what she would need. After looking through it five times, and knowing she would soon be out of time, she took the entire trunk. This of course didn't include two sets of robes, a couple books she would be able to live without for a few days, her case with Quidditch balls in it, and various other odds and ends. Cho had done the same, leaving only few things she knew she wouldn't need.
The two then left the room, where Bellina, Nelly, and Allieka were still deciding on which robes would be best to leave behind and which ones would be best to bring.
Cho and Marclay found themselves among the rest of the Ravenclaw House, which most had decided to bring their trunks along with them. After a few more minutes, Blake stood up on top of his trunk and carefully counted every student in the room-five times. Then finally sure that he had every student, Professor Flitwick started leading everyone back to the dining hall.
It took less then five minutes for them to reach the main floor. When they walked inside the dining hall, they found all of the tables had been removed and it was entirely bare, except for the Gryffindor house decorations and the teachers table. And then they all went and set up their trunks around the hall in odd assortments. Slytherin was already inside along with Gryffindor, yet Hufflepuff had not arrived.
"Always knew they were slow." Carrie said, walking over and placing her trunk beside Cho's. "They probably had to stop and ask for directions on how to get here."
"You know that's not funny." Nelly said, placing her trunk beside Marclay's. "And don't you even think about laughing Carrie."
The two of them burst out laughing at the same time. Then suddenly they noticed the withdrawn looks upon their friends faces. "What is it?" Carrie asked, nudging Cho.
"You know, you could at least care. You were suppose to be in there with her, and you weren't. Now she's dead." Marclay said, her chin quivering.
"I was not suppose to be in there. I went up to find she wasn't even inside the room, so I went back down to the common's room. I was talking to Lisa about the upcoming Quidditch season." Carrie said, defending herself. "I cannot help it if she's dead."
"You know, you are the one who kept saying how everyone needed to be cheery even though that girl had disappeared and the Dark Mark appeared. Well, we are still trying." Nelly stated. "Just because we aren't sobbing over Anna doesn't mean a thing."
"We are sad though. I doubt I will be able to sleep very well in that room. I just can't believe it happened to her." said Carrie. She leaned over and sat upon her trunk. "So don't you try saying we have no sympathy for her. I've been her room-mate for six years."
"I'm sorry you had to be the ones that found her." Nelly said, looking down at the ground. "When Blake came bounding down the stairs talking to himself about someone being dead I didn't think anything of it. I figured it was that stupid newt of his. But then everyone went running up the stairs. I chose to stay where I was."
"I wasn't about to go investigate." Carrie said.
"I kept my butt planted right in that chair." Nelly declared, "Then Flitwick came trotting in with Sprout on his tale. Blake came scurrying in after them two seconds later."
"I don't care." Cho angrily said. "I don't want to hear the details, I saw enough of it. Now leave us alone. We don't need to hear your stupid gossip about what happened."
"Fine then." Nelly said, glaring. She walked off towards with Bellina and Allieka with Carrie. Both of them had their heads stuck up high in the air as they did so.
"I can't believe they had the nerve of saying all that." Cho said. "Sometimes they don't even know what they're saying."
"Does anyone ever know what they're saying?" Marclay asked, frowning at Cho. "I just don't want to talk. Everything's just going wrong lately. It isn't how it's suppose to be."
"Tell me about it." Cho said, looking over at a few Hufflepuffs as they walked into the room. She watched them place their trunks down in three rows, just as everyone else had done. "They really are slow. I cannot believe we're compared to them."
"Yes, well can you believe Gryffindor is compared to Slytherin?" Marclay asked, sitting down upon her trunk.
She then blocked out everything else anyone said in the room, even if it was directed towards her. She tried as hard as she possibly could to get Anna's picture out of her head. When it had been demonstrated to her the year before in her Defense Against the Dark Arts class, she thought of it only as information. But now it was real life. It wasn't something people spoke of. This was something that would never be forgotten by Hogwarts students for centuries.
It wasn't until lunchtime that anyone even thought or spoke of anything that didn't concern the four students who had died. Then everyone began discussing how hungry they were or how hungry they weren't. That was when Dumbledore returned. Kellie wasn't with him and neither was Madam Pomfrey. Everyone seemed to assume they had been left in the hospital wing.
Dumbledore waved his wand and everything disappeared to be replaced by the house tables and food covering them. Everyone scattered to their seats and began eating vigorously. Very few of the students stared blankly at their plates, not feeling any hunger pangs or need for food.
Marclay was one who had placed food on her plate, but immediately regretted it. Cho had filled her plate, not wanting to let her energy slip. Halfway through the meal, Cho nudged her in the stomach. "You should eat. Even if it is just a few bites, I'm sure it would be for the best. You must keep up on your energy."
"All right." Marclay said, taking a bite of the turkey sandwich that lay in front of her.
She finished half of it and then ate part of an orange. After wards, everyone stood up from the tables and went to spots they knew they wouldn't end up on things when all of the students stuff reappeared. Due to their effort, few students were on top of trunks after Dumbledore waved his wand. Yet, most were safe on the floor where they stood.
Marclay went over to her trunk and unrolled the sleeping bag beside it. Dumbledore had also taken the liberty of preparing the students with pillows and sleeping bags for the night ahead. She then sat down upon it and curled her legs up against her body and held them tightly to her chest. It seemed as though minutes later Blake was sitting in front of her with a frown upon his face.
"Look, I'm sorry about everything. I have no reason to be the was I'm being." he said, taking her chin in his hand and forcing her to look at him. "If you want to, I allow you to go ahead and do whatever you want to me."
"I don't want to do anything to you." Marclay said, looking past him at Fred. She almost broke a smile, seeing he was talking to an older version of himself. "I just don't want to be a second thought anymore."
"Well my first thoughts cannot be you all of the time." he cleared, knowing she knew that was the truth.
"So, this means we aren't together anymore?"
"Not if you don't want it to be." he said.
"Not now." she said, focusing in on him. "I don't want it to end now. I guess that I can stand being a stupid second thought. But you can't tell me who I can and cannot talk to. Comforting someone is not betraying you. And I know that was what you were thinking."
"I'm sorry I thought that. It was dumb and ill-mannered of me." Blake said.
"I'm glad I didn't have to tell you that." Marclay chuckled.
Blake leaned over and kissed her nose and started telling her about what exactly was going on inside Hogwarts and how the Ministry was working it's hardest to get certain people there to protect the grounds. He then told her of what Dumbledore was planning on doing about everything that was associated with the Dark Mark and the students deaths. At that moment, most were trying to determine why it had been those four students and not others. Everyone knew they had one thing in common and it wasn't their backgrounds.
After wards, the two of them sat and talked about oddball things that had nothing to do with anything in particular. They just talked, particularly because they knew everything between them would soon be over and there wasn't a thing either could do about it.
Kellie Jasc sat in the hospital wing all along, knees hugged tightly to her chest. Tears fell down her face, but she did nothing to stop them. Lord Voldemort himself killed her only sister probably and now she was all alone. Draco was being insensitive and at the moment, she wanted nothing to do with him.
Madam Pomfrey had given Kellie a bit of something to drink that she said would help calm her nerves, but she didn't feel any calmer. She, in fact, felt worse. There had to be a connection in these killings. Bree and her sister, Angelina, were dead. Kellie's sister, Anna, had been killed, off too. What if she was next? What if she never woke up tomorrow and she was dead? This was just too much for her to handle.
"Madam Pomfrey?" Kellie began in a shaky voice. "May I please go back down to the Great Hall?"
"Well, if you think you're ready. I'll escort you. Do you need to get your things from you room?" she asked.
Kellie nodded and hopped off the bed. Her legs felt like jelly underneath her.
Madam Pomfrey and Kellie made their way along the corridor and Kellie walked inside the Slytherin common room. She tossed things into her trunk and made sure she remembered her broom, a Nimbus 2001, and her wand. She latched it shut and drug it behind her, feeling weaker and weaker by the moment.
"Are you sure you're alright dear?" Madam Pomfrey asked, noticing her struggling with her heavy trunk.
"Yes, I'm fine," Kellie replied.
As Kellie entered the Great Hall, Madam Pomfrey went straight to Dumbledore. Kellie drug her trunk over to the Slytherins and sat on it. She brought her knees to her chest and stared at the ground. She was in no mood for talking, but didn't have anyone to talk to so in a way, it was ok.
She glanced around the room and observed everyone. Ron, Harry, and Hermione were sitting in a close group, whispering about something. Every once in a while Harry would look over at Kellie. She still had tears coming from her eyes and her face was ghostly pale. Her hair had been pulled back into a ponytail to keep it off her face and neck. She was a wreck. Full of fright, she began to wonder if anyone was safe at Hogwarts ever again.
"Mind if I join you?" a voice said.
Kellie looked up and saw George Weasley standing above her. He looked just as pale as Kellie.
"I guess so," she finally replied as she scooted over to give George a place to sit. "Are you sure you want to be seen with a Slytherin?"
"I don't think this is the time to start rivalries between the houses. We're all in this together and we have to stay strong," George replied.
"But we're not safe here! What are we going to do?" Kellie asked frantically.
"Well, I'm not sure but at the moment, you need to eat," George suggested as he handed Kellie a sandwich and a chocolate frog.
Kellie eyed him suspiciously.
"Don't worry. I didn't do anything to it. Honest!" George said.
"Thanks, George," Kellie said as she lay the sandwich down next to her on her trunk.
"Anytime. Why don't you come over and sit with me, Fred, Lee, Harry and his gang?" George suggested.
"Are you sure that's ok? I'm not really liked by Gryffindors seeing as I'm a Slytherin," Kellie said.
"Why not? Just come on over. You look like you could use some company."
Kellie agreed and walked over to the group of Slytherins with George. As she neared closer she heard Ron say, "What's SHE doing here?"
"Guys, I asked Kellie to join us for a bit. Play nice, kids!" George said as he walked over to Fred and Lee, leaving Kellie standing there feeling out of place.
"Well, sit down then," Harry told her.
Kellie sat down and an awkward silence fell between them.
"Ron, I'm sorry for anything I've done to you. You've always seemed to hate me and well, I'm sorry," Kellie said, keeping her eyes to the ground.
"Yeah, I am too," Ron said.
Another awkward silence fell between them.
"I think I'll just head back over to the Slytherins. I need to discuss a few things with Draco," Kellie said before getting up and walking away.
She marched straight over to the Slytherins and tapped Draco on the shoulder.
"We need to talk," was all Kellie said.
"Ok, talk," Draco replied.
"Look, what you said earlier really hurt me. You're supposed to be my boyfriend and in times like this you're supposed to be supportive! But you haven't been acting like that at all! What is wrong with you?" Kellie started, anger building up inside her but she tried to stay calm.
"Nothing is wrong with me. Get a new attitude and maybe I'd talk to you more!" Draco said with a sneer.
"My attitude is bad? Trust me, Malfoy, you haven't seen anything yet. My sister is dead and you don't even care!" Kellie was now shouting and people were looking over at them.
"She was just a Ravenclaw!"
"Just a Ravenclaw, eh? Well how would you feel if your only sister died? You're so selfish Draco! I don't even know why I ever liked you!" Kellie yelled.
"Well then maybe we should rethink this relationship!" Draco shouted back.
"Yes, maybe we should!" Kellie said before storming off and sitting back down on her trunk, crying once again.
It had been a few hours since her fight with Draco. She had calmed down a bit and stopped crying. She looked over to her side and remembered she still had the sandwich and chocolate frog from George. Feeling hungry and knowing they still had a while to go before dinner, Kellie unwrapped the sandwich and took a bite.
She watched everyone sitting in close groups, not talking very much. She looked up at the ceiling and saw a dark, cloudy gray sky. It soon started to rain and thunder soon came booming, sending most people jumping into the air whenever they heard it.
Kellie was beginning to feel a bit better when Professor Snape came running into the Great Hall, screaming. All students had their eyes on him and Dumbledore stood up in his chair.
"What is it, Servus?" he asked.
"T-The Dark M-Mark, Sir. It's r-right above t-the school!" he managed to say before fainting right in the middle of the hall.
The students sat wide-eyed and in shock at the news. Dumbledore looked highly alarmed.
"Madam Pomfrey, please take Professor Snape here to the hospital wing. He will need his rest. Students, please do not panic, we are safe inside the school," Dumbledore said, trying to reassure everyone.
It wasn't working very well for most people were in too much shock to even question what Dumbledore was doing.
Kellie sat on her trunk, still in shock of what happened so far this year. Soon, it was dinnertime and plates had appeared in front of everyone. Kellie didn't feel much like eating, but forced herself to anyways, knowing she'd need her strength.
The Weasley twins were still looking quite glum, and Ron still seemed pale. Harry was staring at his plate and Hermione was trying to get him to eat. The Ravenclaws still seemed to be in shock about Anna, as did the Hufflepuffs about Brian. The Slytherins didn't seem to be that upset, but Kellie was. Draco, on the other hand, was talking and laughing to Crabbe and Goyle, as if nothing had happened and this was a big party. 'Insensitive jerk!' Kellie thought to heself.
Why was this happening? Why was the Dark Mark above the school? What was going to happen to the students? There were too many questions in Kellie's head and she knew that most of the other students were thinking the same thing. This wasn't normal. Four students didn't just get killed in one day for no reason. Something fishy was going on and Kellie wanted to know what it was.
Dinner was soon over with and Kellie still sat on her trunk, silent and looking pale like most people. Dumbledore waved his wand and sleeping bags were soon scattered across the floor. Kellie chose one close to her trunk and lay down. Many other students did the same as most were exhausted.
Kellie saw Draco walking towards her so she rolled over so she didn't have to face him.
"Kellie? Look, this isn't easy for me to do but, I'm sorry," he said.
"Well Draco, some things you just can't be forgiven for," Kellie replied, still mad at him and wishing he would leave her alone.
Draco sighed, turned, and walked away.
Kellie felt hurt, like nothing was going right this year. She wondered how her parents were taking the news of her sister's death and wondered if they would come to Hogwarts. It was a troubled time for almost everyone and no one knew what to say or do anymore. Many people were afraid to talk to loud for fear that Voldemort would hear them and take them away.
Most students, like Kellie, were afraid to close their eyes and sleep. It all came down to the fact that no one felt safe at Hogwarts. Kellie had stayed up almost two nights in a row so she needed her sleep.
She took one last look at the stormy ceiling and tried to sleep. It was no use because the louder thunder was keeping everyone awake. Kellie stared at the ceiling for a while before getting bored and feeling very tired.
What if something happened to them at night? What if Voldemort decided to come back and kill off the whole school? Why was this all happening in a place that was supposed to be good? Too many questions were left unanswered and Kellie feared that these questions would be answered in a horrible way. When? She didn't know for sure, but she could tell that something wasn't right.
No matter how much she tried to shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen, she couldn't. So she lay there on her sleeping bag, full of worry for almost the whole night.
Kellie opened her trunk and pulled out "Quidditch Through the Ages" and started reading. She had read this book before, but it was still her favorite. She was just starting to try to think of new moves for Quidditch to take her mind off everything that had happened, but fell asleep in the process.
Most students tried to sleep and many succeeded, knowing that if they stayed awake they would just be more miserable the next morning.
So, the students fell into a dreamless sleep, leaving behind all doubt and worry for the time being and casting an eerie silence over the castle of Hogwarts, knowing that when they would awaken the next morning, they would have much to discuss and talk about. Hoping that everything was alright, they slept peacefully through the night.
The two of them went into the commons room and studied together on History of Magic, although neither of them were in the same year. Then Carrie decided she needed to go upstairs to study a few things with Anna.
The two of them separated and Marclay stayed down in the commons room and teamed up with Cho to play a game of Wizard's Chess. Finally, as Marclay broke the Queen, she won the game, leaving a few watching Ravenclaws in awe.
Never, in Ravenclaw's history of House Wizarding Chess, had someone actually destroyed a Queen in their tenth move. It seemed to be very rare to do so when it was so early in a game. Cho congratulated her and then the two of them went up to find Carrie and Anna to tell them the good news.
Marclay opened the door and froze almost on impact. She looked over at Cho with wide eyes. Cho was frozen to her spot, her mouth gaped wide open. Marclay shot her head back and pointed her finger at what lay before her.
The two stared in an awkward silence as they looked down upon their house- mate, laying on the floor, the Dark Mark upon her forehead. "C-Carrie, she was in here. Didn't she come u-up h-h-here?" Cho finally managed.
Unable to answer, Marclay walked over to Anna Jasc-Ravenclaw's Prefect! Her bright blue eyes were gaped open, staring blankly towards the ceiling, it was almost as though she saw something there. Marclay suddenly looked up, not sure what she would see.
Nothing was there.
As she forced herself to look back down at Anna a tear started to drip from her eye. She backed up against the nearby wall and let more tears flow from her eyes. Now she knew exactly what Fred had meant the prior night. She didn't even have a second thought about it when he had started telling her about how it was, but now it all seemed all too clear.
Her body fell limp to the floor. She pulled her knees into her chest and knew she wasn't going to be able to move an inch. She heard Cho's sobs coming from in the doorway, but nothing else. It was as though the entire population of Hogwarts was oblivious to anything that ever happened. Silence was the only thing the cared.
It felt like hours before anyone ever came up. By then Anna's glazed eyes had taken their toll on both of the girls. The stiff, cold body that had once been there friend seemed to be the only thing they could look at. To Marclay, she knew that whenever she closed her eyes Anna would be there, Cho knew she would never be able to forget this.
Whoever had done this had been planning it out. First Ginny Weasley, a Gryffindor, now a Ravenclaw. Marclay could only think of which house would be cursed next. The person had watched carefully, and then struck. Whomever had gotten into Hogwarts was evil and nothing would stop them from achieving their greatest goal.
The person who had done this probably thought it was funny.
It was not funny in the least bit. It was horrible. It was wrong. They would suffer a hard, terrible death if they were ever caught.
It was going to be another long, dark night.
"What's wrong? What's goi-" it was Blake, he had come to check on everyone to make sure nothing was going on. "Oh no!"
He was gone. Just like that. She felt suddenly alone once more. Cho didn't even cease to exist. She was too withdrawn to herself, just as Marclay was. Suddenly students were crowding around their room, THEIR dormitory, wanting to get a glimpse of death itself.
"Oh dear, what has happened? This isn't suppose to happen in Hogwarts."
The Grey Lady was now there. She had come up through the floor to see what all of the noise was about. She looked down on the girl, afraid that she wasn't going to be able to do anything.
"Please go down straight to the Dining Hall. Professor Dumbledore will be there to discuss what is going on and what will be done to control it. Please, everyone now!" Professor Flitwick said, coming into the room followed by Professor Sprout and Blake. Professor Flitwick bent down and looked at Bellina while Professor Sprout went over to Cho and Marclay.
"Did either of you see anything?" the older witch said. She bent down to help Marclay from her spot, but was refused the glory.
Marclay let her hands separate and search behind her for the wall and floor. She then pushed herself up off of the ground and looked at the short gray haired woman. "She's dead, isn't she?" she asked, her voice shaking. She slowly edged her way over to the door.
"Yes, she is. It appears some more Death Eaters have broken into the castle. Here, Blake, come here, help these girls to the dining hall. We must leave the girl alone." said Professor Sprout, she took Blake's arm and forced him out of the dormitory room. "Come Professor Flitwick. We must get down to talk with Dumbledore, we must decide what will be happening."
"That we must do." Professor Flitwick squeaked, hurrying over to Professor Sprout.
The two Professors followed the three of them down the stairs of the west tower and then apparated to the first floor.
Blake had taken Marclay's hint earlier on in the day and felt no need to comfort her. He walked ahead of the two and lead them out of the common's room and down to the dining hall, where they were sure they would end up having to stay for the next day or more.
"Here we are." Blake said, walking into the dining hall. He almost instantly separated from the two of them and went straight towards the seventh years.
Marclay and Cho looked around, surprised almost all of the students were already in the dining hall. Slytherins sat mumbling amongst themselves. A few were crying and among those chosen few was Kellie. Marclay caught her eye and waved, trying to offer comfort when it was exactly what she needed. A few Hufflepuffs sat crying, also, in fact, at every table students were crying. The two of them quickly made their way to the back of the Ravenclaw table and sat staring into obscurity.
Finally after the last bit of Hogwarts students filed into the hall, Dumbledore stood up in front of everyone. "There has been a horrifying event that has taken place here at Hogwarts these last few days. First poor Ginny Weasley disappeared when two of our students were knocked out to forget all that had happened. Then, just yesterday, the Dark Mark appeared nearby in the Forbidden Forest. Now, just minutes prior to when all of you were ordered in here, the worst thing that has ever happened inside the Hogwarts grounds happened.
"Four of our students have been murdered. There is going to be a search of our grounds and more Wizards and Witches will be arriving shortly from the Ministry of Magic." Dumbledore said. He stopped momentarily as his voice cracked, and cleared his throat. "I would like to take a moment from all of you and have one single minute of silence to remember Bree Johnson of the Slytherin House, Angelina Johnson, her elder sister of the Gryffindor House," a single tear rolled down his wrinkled cheek as he went to continue on with the names. "Brian Finnigan of the Hufflepuff House," Tears were streaming down his cheeks as he forced himself to say the last name, the name he feared most. "And Anna Jasc of the Ravenclaw House."
"WHAT?" Kellie had stood up. Her face was hurt more then ever. She looked down on all of the students at her table and then the ones at the Ravenclaw.
"Sit down, I'm sure everything will be explained momentarily. That was just a minute detail." Draco said, looking up at her with the same smirk upon his face. She sat back down beside him and looked over at him. The two were now the center of attention.
Her chin started quivering and she slapped him. "How can you say that was minute? My sister is dead. I hate you!" she screamed. She stood from her seat and went running up to the front of the Slytherin table. Her sister, her only sister, was dead and he thought it was minute? She was about to take another step towards Dumbledore, but suddenly fell to the floor.
Everyone at the Slytherin table stood up, trying to see her and what had happened. Dumbledore rushed from his spot to her. Madam Pomfrey followed. The two huddled over her as Professor McGonagall came walking over. Dumbledore stood up and whispered something into her ear and she went to the front of the room. Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey then carried Kellie out of the room.
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and looked out over the students. "We will have all classes canceled for the following week. Quidditch is now postponed until further notice. We will begin the moment of silence now."
Everyone's heads went down into a bowed position. Marclay kept her head in the same position it had been the last ten minutes. Another minute wouldn't be anything to either of them. And, as it seemed, as quick as Professor McGonagall had called the moment of silence, she excused it.
"You will be staying in here until further notice. The tables will be removed and chairs, sleeping bags, games, and other such things will replace them. House Prefects, along with heads of houses and another teacher will lead you up to your dormitories and there you will grab all of the things you will be needing. This includes books, one change of work robes, quills, rolls of parchment, and personal belongings you cannot live without. You have thirty minutes to return and do not, I repeat DO NOT return without a student. These are very serious matters and I will not allow anything else to happen. You are excused now."
Everyone suddenly stood up. Professors Flitwick and Trelawney lead the Ravenclaws up to their tower. In the commons room, they were all excused to go up to their dormitories. Both Cho and Marclay went up to there room together, too scared that if they were to be separated for too long that one would end up dead.
They went into their room, and only left each others' side while they grabbed their belongings. Marclay made sure to grab her new Firebolt (that she had received for Christmas the prior year when they had gone on sell). Cho did the same, for her parents had snagged the same deal along with the other Ravenclaw students Quidditch team.
She then opened her trunk and tried deciding what she would need. After looking through it five times, and knowing she would soon be out of time, she took the entire trunk. This of course didn't include two sets of robes, a couple books she would be able to live without for a few days, her case with Quidditch balls in it, and various other odds and ends. Cho had done the same, leaving only few things she knew she wouldn't need.
The two then left the room, where Bellina, Nelly, and Allieka were still deciding on which robes would be best to leave behind and which ones would be best to bring.
Cho and Marclay found themselves among the rest of the Ravenclaw House, which most had decided to bring their trunks along with them. After a few more minutes, Blake stood up on top of his trunk and carefully counted every student in the room-five times. Then finally sure that he had every student, Professor Flitwick started leading everyone back to the dining hall.
It took less then five minutes for them to reach the main floor. When they walked inside the dining hall, they found all of the tables had been removed and it was entirely bare, except for the Gryffindor house decorations and the teachers table. And then they all went and set up their trunks around the hall in odd assortments. Slytherin was already inside along with Gryffindor, yet Hufflepuff had not arrived.
"Always knew they were slow." Carrie said, walking over and placing her trunk beside Cho's. "They probably had to stop and ask for directions on how to get here."
"You know that's not funny." Nelly said, placing her trunk beside Marclay's. "And don't you even think about laughing Carrie."
The two of them burst out laughing at the same time. Then suddenly they noticed the withdrawn looks upon their friends faces. "What is it?" Carrie asked, nudging Cho.
"You know, you could at least care. You were suppose to be in there with her, and you weren't. Now she's dead." Marclay said, her chin quivering.
"I was not suppose to be in there. I went up to find she wasn't even inside the room, so I went back down to the common's room. I was talking to Lisa about the upcoming Quidditch season." Carrie said, defending herself. "I cannot help it if she's dead."
"You know, you are the one who kept saying how everyone needed to be cheery even though that girl had disappeared and the Dark Mark appeared. Well, we are still trying." Nelly stated. "Just because we aren't sobbing over Anna doesn't mean a thing."
"We are sad though. I doubt I will be able to sleep very well in that room. I just can't believe it happened to her." said Carrie. She leaned over and sat upon her trunk. "So don't you try saying we have no sympathy for her. I've been her room-mate for six years."
"I'm sorry you had to be the ones that found her." Nelly said, looking down at the ground. "When Blake came bounding down the stairs talking to himself about someone being dead I didn't think anything of it. I figured it was that stupid newt of his. But then everyone went running up the stairs. I chose to stay where I was."
"I wasn't about to go investigate." Carrie said.
"I kept my butt planted right in that chair." Nelly declared, "Then Flitwick came trotting in with Sprout on his tale. Blake came scurrying in after them two seconds later."
"I don't care." Cho angrily said. "I don't want to hear the details, I saw enough of it. Now leave us alone. We don't need to hear your stupid gossip about what happened."
"Fine then." Nelly said, glaring. She walked off towards with Bellina and Allieka with Carrie. Both of them had their heads stuck up high in the air as they did so.
"I can't believe they had the nerve of saying all that." Cho said. "Sometimes they don't even know what they're saying."
"Does anyone ever know what they're saying?" Marclay asked, frowning at Cho. "I just don't want to talk. Everything's just going wrong lately. It isn't how it's suppose to be."
"Tell me about it." Cho said, looking over at a few Hufflepuffs as they walked into the room. She watched them place their trunks down in three rows, just as everyone else had done. "They really are slow. I cannot believe we're compared to them."
"Yes, well can you believe Gryffindor is compared to Slytherin?" Marclay asked, sitting down upon her trunk.
She then blocked out everything else anyone said in the room, even if it was directed towards her. She tried as hard as she possibly could to get Anna's picture out of her head. When it had been demonstrated to her the year before in her Defense Against the Dark Arts class, she thought of it only as information. But now it was real life. It wasn't something people spoke of. This was something that would never be forgotten by Hogwarts students for centuries.
It wasn't until lunchtime that anyone even thought or spoke of anything that didn't concern the four students who had died. Then everyone began discussing how hungry they were or how hungry they weren't. That was when Dumbledore returned. Kellie wasn't with him and neither was Madam Pomfrey. Everyone seemed to assume they had been left in the hospital wing.
Dumbledore waved his wand and everything disappeared to be replaced by the house tables and food covering them. Everyone scattered to their seats and began eating vigorously. Very few of the students stared blankly at their plates, not feeling any hunger pangs or need for food.
Marclay was one who had placed food on her plate, but immediately regretted it. Cho had filled her plate, not wanting to let her energy slip. Halfway through the meal, Cho nudged her in the stomach. "You should eat. Even if it is just a few bites, I'm sure it would be for the best. You must keep up on your energy."
"All right." Marclay said, taking a bite of the turkey sandwich that lay in front of her.
She finished half of it and then ate part of an orange. After wards, everyone stood up from the tables and went to spots they knew they wouldn't end up on things when all of the students stuff reappeared. Due to their effort, few students were on top of trunks after Dumbledore waved his wand. Yet, most were safe on the floor where they stood.
Marclay went over to her trunk and unrolled the sleeping bag beside it. Dumbledore had also taken the liberty of preparing the students with pillows and sleeping bags for the night ahead. She then sat down upon it and curled her legs up against her body and held them tightly to her chest. It seemed as though minutes later Blake was sitting in front of her with a frown upon his face.
"Look, I'm sorry about everything. I have no reason to be the was I'm being." he said, taking her chin in his hand and forcing her to look at him. "If you want to, I allow you to go ahead and do whatever you want to me."
"I don't want to do anything to you." Marclay said, looking past him at Fred. She almost broke a smile, seeing he was talking to an older version of himself. "I just don't want to be a second thought anymore."
"Well my first thoughts cannot be you all of the time." he cleared, knowing she knew that was the truth.
"So, this means we aren't together anymore?"
"Not if you don't want it to be." he said.
"Not now." she said, focusing in on him. "I don't want it to end now. I guess that I can stand being a stupid second thought. But you can't tell me who I can and cannot talk to. Comforting someone is not betraying you. And I know that was what you were thinking."
"I'm sorry I thought that. It was dumb and ill-mannered of me." Blake said.
"I'm glad I didn't have to tell you that." Marclay chuckled.
Blake leaned over and kissed her nose and started telling her about what exactly was going on inside Hogwarts and how the Ministry was working it's hardest to get certain people there to protect the grounds. He then told her of what Dumbledore was planning on doing about everything that was associated with the Dark Mark and the students deaths. At that moment, most were trying to determine why it had been those four students and not others. Everyone knew they had one thing in common and it wasn't their backgrounds.
After wards, the two of them sat and talked about oddball things that had nothing to do with anything in particular. They just talked, particularly because they knew everything between them would soon be over and there wasn't a thing either could do about it.
Kellie Jasc sat in the hospital wing all along, knees hugged tightly to her chest. Tears fell down her face, but she did nothing to stop them. Lord Voldemort himself killed her only sister probably and now she was all alone. Draco was being insensitive and at the moment, she wanted nothing to do with him.
Madam Pomfrey had given Kellie a bit of something to drink that she said would help calm her nerves, but she didn't feel any calmer. She, in fact, felt worse. There had to be a connection in these killings. Bree and her sister, Angelina, were dead. Kellie's sister, Anna, had been killed, off too. What if she was next? What if she never woke up tomorrow and she was dead? This was just too much for her to handle.
"Madam Pomfrey?" Kellie began in a shaky voice. "May I please go back down to the Great Hall?"
"Well, if you think you're ready. I'll escort you. Do you need to get your things from you room?" she asked.
Kellie nodded and hopped off the bed. Her legs felt like jelly underneath her.
Madam Pomfrey and Kellie made their way along the corridor and Kellie walked inside the Slytherin common room. She tossed things into her trunk and made sure she remembered her broom, a Nimbus 2001, and her wand. She latched it shut and drug it behind her, feeling weaker and weaker by the moment.
"Are you sure you're alright dear?" Madam Pomfrey asked, noticing her struggling with her heavy trunk.
"Yes, I'm fine," Kellie replied.
As Kellie entered the Great Hall, Madam Pomfrey went straight to Dumbledore. Kellie drug her trunk over to the Slytherins and sat on it. She brought her knees to her chest and stared at the ground. She was in no mood for talking, but didn't have anyone to talk to so in a way, it was ok.
She glanced around the room and observed everyone. Ron, Harry, and Hermione were sitting in a close group, whispering about something. Every once in a while Harry would look over at Kellie. She still had tears coming from her eyes and her face was ghostly pale. Her hair had been pulled back into a ponytail to keep it off her face and neck. She was a wreck. Full of fright, she began to wonder if anyone was safe at Hogwarts ever again.
"Mind if I join you?" a voice said.
Kellie looked up and saw George Weasley standing above her. He looked just as pale as Kellie.
"I guess so," she finally replied as she scooted over to give George a place to sit. "Are you sure you want to be seen with a Slytherin?"
"I don't think this is the time to start rivalries between the houses. We're all in this together and we have to stay strong," George replied.
"But we're not safe here! What are we going to do?" Kellie asked frantically.
"Well, I'm not sure but at the moment, you need to eat," George suggested as he handed Kellie a sandwich and a chocolate frog.
Kellie eyed him suspiciously.
"Don't worry. I didn't do anything to it. Honest!" George said.
"Thanks, George," Kellie said as she lay the sandwich down next to her on her trunk.
"Anytime. Why don't you come over and sit with me, Fred, Lee, Harry and his gang?" George suggested.
"Are you sure that's ok? I'm not really liked by Gryffindors seeing as I'm a Slytherin," Kellie said.
"Why not? Just come on over. You look like you could use some company."
Kellie agreed and walked over to the group of Slytherins with George. As she neared closer she heard Ron say, "What's SHE doing here?"
"Guys, I asked Kellie to join us for a bit. Play nice, kids!" George said as he walked over to Fred and Lee, leaving Kellie standing there feeling out of place.
"Well, sit down then," Harry told her.
Kellie sat down and an awkward silence fell between them.
"Ron, I'm sorry for anything I've done to you. You've always seemed to hate me and well, I'm sorry," Kellie said, keeping her eyes to the ground.
"Yeah, I am too," Ron said.
Another awkward silence fell between them.
"I think I'll just head back over to the Slytherins. I need to discuss a few things with Draco," Kellie said before getting up and walking away.
She marched straight over to the Slytherins and tapped Draco on the shoulder.
"We need to talk," was all Kellie said.
"Ok, talk," Draco replied.
"Look, what you said earlier really hurt me. You're supposed to be my boyfriend and in times like this you're supposed to be supportive! But you haven't been acting like that at all! What is wrong with you?" Kellie started, anger building up inside her but she tried to stay calm.
"Nothing is wrong with me. Get a new attitude and maybe I'd talk to you more!" Draco said with a sneer.
"My attitude is bad? Trust me, Malfoy, you haven't seen anything yet. My sister is dead and you don't even care!" Kellie was now shouting and people were looking over at them.
"She was just a Ravenclaw!"
"Just a Ravenclaw, eh? Well how would you feel if your only sister died? You're so selfish Draco! I don't even know why I ever liked you!" Kellie yelled.
"Well then maybe we should rethink this relationship!" Draco shouted back.
"Yes, maybe we should!" Kellie said before storming off and sitting back down on her trunk, crying once again.
It had been a few hours since her fight with Draco. She had calmed down a bit and stopped crying. She looked over to her side and remembered she still had the sandwich and chocolate frog from George. Feeling hungry and knowing they still had a while to go before dinner, Kellie unwrapped the sandwich and took a bite.
She watched everyone sitting in close groups, not talking very much. She looked up at the ceiling and saw a dark, cloudy gray sky. It soon started to rain and thunder soon came booming, sending most people jumping into the air whenever they heard it.
Kellie was beginning to feel a bit better when Professor Snape came running into the Great Hall, screaming. All students had their eyes on him and Dumbledore stood up in his chair.
"What is it, Servus?" he asked.
"T-The Dark M-Mark, Sir. It's r-right above t-the school!" he managed to say before fainting right in the middle of the hall.
The students sat wide-eyed and in shock at the news. Dumbledore looked highly alarmed.
"Madam Pomfrey, please take Professor Snape here to the hospital wing. He will need his rest. Students, please do not panic, we are safe inside the school," Dumbledore said, trying to reassure everyone.
It wasn't working very well for most people were in too much shock to even question what Dumbledore was doing.
Kellie sat on her trunk, still in shock of what happened so far this year. Soon, it was dinnertime and plates had appeared in front of everyone. Kellie didn't feel much like eating, but forced herself to anyways, knowing she'd need her strength.
The Weasley twins were still looking quite glum, and Ron still seemed pale. Harry was staring at his plate and Hermione was trying to get him to eat. The Ravenclaws still seemed to be in shock about Anna, as did the Hufflepuffs about Brian. The Slytherins didn't seem to be that upset, but Kellie was. Draco, on the other hand, was talking and laughing to Crabbe and Goyle, as if nothing had happened and this was a big party. 'Insensitive jerk!' Kellie thought to heself.
Why was this happening? Why was the Dark Mark above the school? What was going to happen to the students? There were too many questions in Kellie's head and she knew that most of the other students were thinking the same thing. This wasn't normal. Four students didn't just get killed in one day for no reason. Something fishy was going on and Kellie wanted to know what it was.
Dinner was soon over with and Kellie still sat on her trunk, silent and looking pale like most people. Dumbledore waved his wand and sleeping bags were soon scattered across the floor. Kellie chose one close to her trunk and lay down. Many other students did the same as most were exhausted.
Kellie saw Draco walking towards her so she rolled over so she didn't have to face him.
"Kellie? Look, this isn't easy for me to do but, I'm sorry," he said.
"Well Draco, some things you just can't be forgiven for," Kellie replied, still mad at him and wishing he would leave her alone.
Draco sighed, turned, and walked away.
Kellie felt hurt, like nothing was going right this year. She wondered how her parents were taking the news of her sister's death and wondered if they would come to Hogwarts. It was a troubled time for almost everyone and no one knew what to say or do anymore. Many people were afraid to talk to loud for fear that Voldemort would hear them and take them away.
Most students, like Kellie, were afraid to close their eyes and sleep. It all came down to the fact that no one felt safe at Hogwarts. Kellie had stayed up almost two nights in a row so she needed her sleep.
She took one last look at the stormy ceiling and tried to sleep. It was no use because the louder thunder was keeping everyone awake. Kellie stared at the ceiling for a while before getting bored and feeling very tired.
What if something happened to them at night? What if Voldemort decided to come back and kill off the whole school? Why was this all happening in a place that was supposed to be good? Too many questions were left unanswered and Kellie feared that these questions would be answered in a horrible way. When? She didn't know for sure, but she could tell that something wasn't right.
No matter how much she tried to shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen, she couldn't. So she lay there on her sleeping bag, full of worry for almost the whole night.
Kellie opened her trunk and pulled out "Quidditch Through the Ages" and started reading. She had read this book before, but it was still her favorite. She was just starting to try to think of new moves for Quidditch to take her mind off everything that had happened, but fell asleep in the process.
Most students tried to sleep and many succeeded, knowing that if they stayed awake they would just be more miserable the next morning.
So, the students fell into a dreamless sleep, leaving behind all doubt and worry for the time being and casting an eerie silence over the castle of Hogwarts, knowing that when they would awaken the next morning, they would have much to discuss and talk about. Hoping that everything was alright, they slept peacefully through the night.