Chapter 9
Twin Disappearances
"It'ssss a beautiful night." Al hissed as Harry walked into the dormitory.
"Yeah sure." Harry mumbled. He was very concerned about Ron. The encounter with his Boggart seemed to totally disorient him, and he had cut all his classes and was remaining under his covers.
"Definitely." Al continued, looking skyward. "Magic issss in the air tonight."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry snapped.
"Why, Mr. Potter, do you ssssuspect me of something?"
Harry was silent.
"It'ssss late. Perhaps you should get sssome rest." Al suggested.
"Not tired." Harry muttered, getting a book out.
"Oh but you are. Look at me." Al soothed.
Annoyed, Harry raised his eyes to the snake, which was starting to sway back and forth slowly.
"That'ssss a good boy, Potter. Watch me carefully."
Harry felt increasingly drowsy as he watched, and soon collapsed into a deep slumber.
"That'sss a good boy."
A scream woke Harry… a bloodcurdling scream from the girls' dormitory. Thinking it might be Jane, he threw his glasses on and rushed into the common room.
"What's going on?" Ron asked as he emerged from the dormitory.
The scream was coming from Hermione, who dashed out, screaming at the top of her lungs.
"Hermione!" Ron ran to her and seized her shoulders. "Calm the fuck down already!"
Her scream died down a bit as he held her. "Your…stupid…snake!!! It came, and it… AAAAHHH!" she started screaming all over again.
Harry ran into the girls' dormitory, and gasped. Jane was missing.
"Where's Jane?" he cried, rushing back.
"That's what I'm fucking tellling you!" Hermione shrieked. "Your snake took her! He came and made me sleep then I woke up and she was fucking gone! She was fucking GONE!!!"
"Language, language." Said an elderly voice as Professor Hulk stepped through the portrait hole. "What's the trouble?"
"The snake…" Hermione gasped. "The snake!!! Jane!!! The snake!"
"Jane has disappeared as well?" Hulk asked.
"What do you mean as well?" Ron snapped.
"Easy, boy. I heard a woman had entered Hogwarts several days ago… apparently, she never left."
"And you think it was the snake?" Harry asked.
"Most likely."
Without a second thought, Harry rushed through the portrait hole.
"Ah, off to save the day!" crowed Sir Cardogan, who had been having midnight tea with the Fat Lady. "Go get them, boy! Give them one for me too!"
Harry had no idea where he was going, and was running on instinct alone. He dashed outside of the school and across the Quidditch field. It was pitch black out, and he couldn't see in front of him. It was as a result of this that he slammed into a tall figure in the shadows. After reeling, the figure seized Harry's neck.
"Not another step." A voice whispered.