Chapter 5

Mystery again

Hermione looked up to where Harry had been gazing before - out of the window, up into the never ending sky. She could see nothing of importance at all. Nothing.

There was a small rim around the circular window, both on the inside and out. There was a circle of white in the centre and eight spokes travelling out of its circumference. Beyond the window there was nothing.

Hermione continued to stare. Her eyes were comfortable looking up at the clouds. The wild, free, ever-moving clouds. And then something stirred.

Hermione wasn't sure of what she was seeing. It was like a flicking tail. A quick darting movement - moving out of sight. Hermione was brought back down to earth by the dismissal of all the students from the Lecture Hall. She quickly made her way back to Harry and Ron's apartment.

On arrival, she found they were not there. Nobody answered the door. They had not gone back home.

* * *

Harry was still unaware that he was being followed. According to him, Hermione and Ron were still sitting at their places in the Lecture Room, probably discussing his disgusting behaviour. Harry was sick of their moaning about their petty lives when his was in danger every second. He was weary of their watchful eyes always peering at him, never leaving him for barely a second. Just like everyone else, they were always watching his every move. Every direction he took, every decision he made, every word he spoke, was taken into account.

Little did he know just how closely he was being watched now.

Ron was careful to wait until Harry had turned the corner on the bottom of every corridor before descending down the long corridor himself. Then he would peer around the edge of the wall, to see which turning Harry would take next. He had no idea where Harry was leading him to. No idea what Harry was doing or why.

Harry finally ventured into one of the classrooms on the right. Ron waited a short while before making his move, just to be sure that he wouldn't be spotted or that Harry would come out of the room straight away. The whole school was still, it seemed. The whole world was waiting for this moment. Ron began to feel dizzy. He held his head as he wandered down the corridor and sank below the window of the door.

He finally released his head and lifted himself up so that he could just see what was inside the room. At first all that was apparent was darkness, but his eyes soon grew used to it and shapes began to appear like figures in the mist.

Ron heard Harry's voice slice through the darkness. He saw his outline quiver as Harry drew forward at something. Ron couldn't decipher what words Harry was speaking. They seemed familiar, yet bizarre. Strange words. Ron realised Harry was speaking in Parseltongue.

The room was long but not very wide. There were long benches with cauldrons settled at equal distances along them. The far wall was also home to more benches but with sinks and taps formed. There were no lights, just blackness and tiny slivers of sharp light cutting through areas of the uneven blinds.

Harry was almost screeching now. Screeching words that Ron couldn't understand.

"What do you want? Why me?" Harry yelled.

"Because you are the Boy Who Lived."

"Why? Why did I live? What is the point in my being alive? Why couldn't I just have died and had it over with?"

"Fate would not allow you."

"Why is fate giving me all this wretched pain and torture? I just want to be normal."

"But a normal life would leave you hungry. You'd only wish that you were famous. Like everyone else does. Like your friend Ron."

"Ron?"



Ron heard his name mentioned in between bouts of Parseltongue. His head was spinning all the more wildly, but he tried to keep his focus.



"He's been jealous of your fortune since he met you."

"I - I know. I had a feeling he was."

"Then there is a simple solution which you have not yet contemplated."

"What's that?"

"You already know the answer. It crossed your mind many times before. At Hogwart's. At your faithful old school."

"Stop reading my thoughts! I don't like it! It's driving me crazy!"

"I can't stop myself. It's natural. Without thought-reading how would I be able to help you?"

"Help me? How can a filthy serpent like you help me?"

"Oh, there are ways. People like you have too many secrets. When they are revealed everything slips gently into place, simple solutions are found."

"What are you talking about?"

"There is that one answer that you have not considered yet."

"What? What is it?"

"Oh, it's quite simple really. You have fame. You don't want it. But your friend DOES."

"You want me to pass on my fame to Ron? How is that possible? It doesn't work. It can't happen . . . can it?"

"It is Harry. You wished it would happen. I thought it was my duty to fulfil your wish."

"WHAT! What are you doing? You're making my mind twist! You're burning my head with your stare every time to read my mind. You'll end up killing me!"

"But that's what you want, isn't it?"

"Yes. I mean no! No it isn't!"

"Ah, so you finally admit you were wrong about yourself. I'm afraid it's too late about the boy. Your fame has already left you. I was only doing what you wanted. It IS what you want, Harry, isn't it?"



Ron could hardly stand up any longer. His head was throbbing and he felt choked. He could hardly keep his eyes open. His eyelids were so heavy. Before he knew it, he had swirled into the land of unconsciousness . . .

AN: Do you think I've gone overboard? Never mind. I wanted it to stand out. R/R please! Before I go completely mad!