Chapter 7: Muddling Mysteries
Harry awoke that morning, hoping that Nina will return that day. " What has Voldemort got to do with her? Why does she not tell us? Is it why she doesn't mix with anyone? But she wanted my help . . . and I shall help her . . . only if she told us . . ." several thoughts ran through Harry's head. Whichever way he looked at them, his questions didn't seem to make any sense to him.
"All this would never have come about if I hadn't looked into those eyes . . . oh, wait. Maybe it still would have happened . . . she wanted to tell me about it in any case . . ." Harry was lost in his muddling thoughts, which to him made no sense. He snapped back to reality soon as he knew that he had to go down for breakfast. Harry wondered about the day ahead of him. Double potions for last lesson . . .he groaned. He knew he would able to stand potions if he had something interesting to look forward to after lessons today, but there was nothing. Wondering whether they should visit Hagrid later and tell him about Nina "Mystery" Holland ( mystery's her middle name . . . getit?), Harry headed to the Great Hall.
* * *
The Gryffindor table was rather quiet that morning, Ron noticed. The three of them were down for breakfast. Ron had a weird suspicion that it was to do with the two empty seats at their table. They were one of the very few who were chattering. Actually, Harry wasn't exactly chattering either, but never mind. He thought about the empty seats. One was obviously Nina's. But the other one? Who else wasn't here?
Ron gave a sweeping glance around. All of a sudden, he noticed that it wasn't only the Gryffindor table that had empty seats. There was the Hufflepuff table with much more vacant seats then the Gryffindor table. " Was I so blind to not have noticed it before?" Ron wondered.
* * *
Hermione looked at Ron and stared in the direction he was staring- at the other house tables. She had noticed it too. There were several empty seats . . . had the number increased since two days ago, the day Nina left? There seemed to be so many now . . .
Hermione felt a sense of foreboding. She looked around to Harry to see whether he had noticed the unusual atmosphere around them. Obviously not . . . he was staring straight at Dumbledore.
* * *
Harry stared straight at Dumbledore. He did not know why, but he just wanted Dumbledore to say something to them . . . something . . . anything at all . . . he was completely oblivious to everything except the strange sense of foreboding in him. He stared blankly at the two empty seats at the Gryffindor table. His eyes refused to focus on them. Somehow, his brain wasn't really absorbing anything that morning.
Of a sudden instinct, he looked over to the Ravenclaw table. He came to a somewhat dim realization that there was something amiss there. Quickly focusing his attention on the Ravenclaw table, Harry wondered. What was it now? . . . WAIT . . . where was she? Where was Cho Chang? She was gone . . .
Harry realized that he hadn't really looked around the Great Hall for a number of days. He had been too preoccupied . . . "No wonder I didn't notice she was gone . . ." Harry said softly to himself. Now why didn't that bother him?
* * *
Dumbledore stood up. For once the noise level didn't have much difference. Why? Because hardly anyone was making much noise in the first place. Dumbledore noticed it. Well, who wouldn't? It was all too obvious. Dumbledore didn't wonder why . . . he knew the reason. That was way too obvious too. At least, it was to him.
He looked around through his half moon spectacles. Slytherin . . . no change . . . those same grim, carefree faces, no vacant seats. " Sigh . . ." Dumbledore thought to himself. Hufflepuff . . . so many empty seats . . . long faces, silence. Ravenclaw . . . just one empty seat . . . silence and long faces all the same. Finally, Gryffindor . . . two empty seats . . . heads down . . . silence again. He sighed again and started.
" Everyone, please listen very carefully to what I have to say. I express great displeasure in giving you all some very unpleasant news this morning. Due to safety reasons, all Hogsmede trips shall be cancelled henceforth. So shall all Quidditch matches." There was a loud shout of protest from some students.
"You must understand," Dumbledore interrupted them, "That anything can happen up in the air!" Silence. "Let me also make it extremely clear that no one is to be seen on the grounds after sunset without adult company. That would be from about 7p.m. No one is to approach the Forbidden Forest for any reason. Anything to be done out side the castle should be done before 7p.m. If you have to leave the castle after that, you would have to get a Hogwarts teacher, Mr.Filch or myself to accompany you. Is that very clear?"
Some people nodded. Some were silent. Dumbledore looked around. His eyes stopped on Harry. He looked pale and . . . troubled . . . yes, that was the right word. "Now what has gotten into that boy?" Dumbledore wondered in silence.
* * *
Harry felt Dumbledore piercing stare on him. He couldn't look back into his eyes . . . no, he couldn't. Voldemort again . . . yes, it was him . . . the empty seats . . . Nina's and Cho's strange disappearances . . . it was him . . . Harry knew it was . . . but what had he done this time?
Voldemort, Nina, two empty seats at the Gryffindor table . . . something gnawed at the back of his head . . . he couldn't recall what.
* * *CHANGE OF SCENE, SETTING, ETC.* * *
" YOU FOOLS! YOU IMBECILES! YOU USELESS, PATHETIC . . . DARE TO CALL YOURSELVES LORD VOLDEMORT'S SUPPORTERS??? DARE TO CALL YOURSELVES DEATH EATERS WHEN YOU DIDN'T LIVE UP TO THAT NAME? THIS SHOULD TEACH ALL OF YOU A LESSON!"
"Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo . . . Master! Have mercy! Forgive me! Forgive us all!" a Death Eater fell at Voldemort's feet.
Voldemort laughed . . . a cold, mirthless laugh. "Mercy? You ask me for mercy? I don't want your fake emotions here, Avery . . . CRUCIO!" The night air was shattered by Avery's agonized yells. Voldemort lifted the curse and laughed once again as the tortured Death Eater fell limply to his knees." MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA . . ."
Lucius Malfoy stepped forward "It will not be repeated, my Lord. We will set out tonight to accomplish the mission."
"That will not be necessary Lucius . . . I have better plans . . . anyway, you can only repeat this sort of idiocy if you are given a chance to do so . . . isn't that right now? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA . . . it is good, however, that you finished off everyone who was there . . . that leaves our path half clear . . . (thinking to himself) The new plan is going to take more time . . . but this time . . . I'll do the finishing off! HAHAHAHA . . .!"
The air is filled with the sound of merciless laughter . . .
* * *BACK TO HOGWARTS* * *
Has Harry figured out why Nina is gone?
Why doesn't Cho's disappearance bother him?
What is this thing that's "gnawing at the back of Harry's head" but he can't recall?
What is the blunder that the Death Eaters made? What orders had they been given in the first place?
What is Voldemort's new plan?
Who is going to be "finished off " ?
Find out as you read on. PLSPLSPLS R&R. thanx sooooooo much!!
Author's note: OK . . . first things first. This is the first time I'm putting in more POVs and it's the first time I'm really bringing in Voldemort . . . How's it going so far? PLS tell me if any of my chapters need any sort of improvement. You can send your suggestions through e-mail even. Just mail to: shane_filan_rulez@hotmail.com. Thanx soooooo much. I'll be adding in more suspense as I go on . . . I know the so-called "suspense" is a bit obvious . . . really sorry . . . if you have any suggestions to improve it then pls contact me . . . either put it in the reviews or e-mail me. It's also going to get darker . . .(I HOPE) . . .and there's going to be a bit of comedy and well as sentiments . . . (I HOPE) So . . . I am seriously depending on your responses. I want an honest response . . . so if honesty means to FLAME me . . . then go ahead! Thanx again! - Nutti =)
Harry awoke that morning, hoping that Nina will return that day. " What has Voldemort got to do with her? Why does she not tell us? Is it why she doesn't mix with anyone? But she wanted my help . . . and I shall help her . . . only if she told us . . ." several thoughts ran through Harry's head. Whichever way he looked at them, his questions didn't seem to make any sense to him.
"All this would never have come about if I hadn't looked into those eyes . . . oh, wait. Maybe it still would have happened . . . she wanted to tell me about it in any case . . ." Harry was lost in his muddling thoughts, which to him made no sense. He snapped back to reality soon as he knew that he had to go down for breakfast. Harry wondered about the day ahead of him. Double potions for last lesson . . .he groaned. He knew he would able to stand potions if he had something interesting to look forward to after lessons today, but there was nothing. Wondering whether they should visit Hagrid later and tell him about Nina "Mystery" Holland ( mystery's her middle name . . . getit?), Harry headed to the Great Hall.
* * *
The Gryffindor table was rather quiet that morning, Ron noticed. The three of them were down for breakfast. Ron had a weird suspicion that it was to do with the two empty seats at their table. They were one of the very few who were chattering. Actually, Harry wasn't exactly chattering either, but never mind. He thought about the empty seats. One was obviously Nina's. But the other one? Who else wasn't here?
Ron gave a sweeping glance around. All of a sudden, he noticed that it wasn't only the Gryffindor table that had empty seats. There was the Hufflepuff table with much more vacant seats then the Gryffindor table. " Was I so blind to not have noticed it before?" Ron wondered.
* * *
Hermione looked at Ron and stared in the direction he was staring- at the other house tables. She had noticed it too. There were several empty seats . . . had the number increased since two days ago, the day Nina left? There seemed to be so many now . . .
Hermione felt a sense of foreboding. She looked around to Harry to see whether he had noticed the unusual atmosphere around them. Obviously not . . . he was staring straight at Dumbledore.
* * *
Harry stared straight at Dumbledore. He did not know why, but he just wanted Dumbledore to say something to them . . . something . . . anything at all . . . he was completely oblivious to everything except the strange sense of foreboding in him. He stared blankly at the two empty seats at the Gryffindor table. His eyes refused to focus on them. Somehow, his brain wasn't really absorbing anything that morning.
Of a sudden instinct, he looked over to the Ravenclaw table. He came to a somewhat dim realization that there was something amiss there. Quickly focusing his attention on the Ravenclaw table, Harry wondered. What was it now? . . . WAIT . . . where was she? Where was Cho Chang? She was gone . . .
Harry realized that he hadn't really looked around the Great Hall for a number of days. He had been too preoccupied . . . "No wonder I didn't notice she was gone . . ." Harry said softly to himself. Now why didn't that bother him?
* * *
Dumbledore stood up. For once the noise level didn't have much difference. Why? Because hardly anyone was making much noise in the first place. Dumbledore noticed it. Well, who wouldn't? It was all too obvious. Dumbledore didn't wonder why . . . he knew the reason. That was way too obvious too. At least, it was to him.
He looked around through his half moon spectacles. Slytherin . . . no change . . . those same grim, carefree faces, no vacant seats. " Sigh . . ." Dumbledore thought to himself. Hufflepuff . . . so many empty seats . . . long faces, silence. Ravenclaw . . . just one empty seat . . . silence and long faces all the same. Finally, Gryffindor . . . two empty seats . . . heads down . . . silence again. He sighed again and started.
" Everyone, please listen very carefully to what I have to say. I express great displeasure in giving you all some very unpleasant news this morning. Due to safety reasons, all Hogsmede trips shall be cancelled henceforth. So shall all Quidditch matches." There was a loud shout of protest from some students.
"You must understand," Dumbledore interrupted them, "That anything can happen up in the air!" Silence. "Let me also make it extremely clear that no one is to be seen on the grounds after sunset without adult company. That would be from about 7p.m. No one is to approach the Forbidden Forest for any reason. Anything to be done out side the castle should be done before 7p.m. If you have to leave the castle after that, you would have to get a Hogwarts teacher, Mr.Filch or myself to accompany you. Is that very clear?"
Some people nodded. Some were silent. Dumbledore looked around. His eyes stopped on Harry. He looked pale and . . . troubled . . . yes, that was the right word. "Now what has gotten into that boy?" Dumbledore wondered in silence.
* * *
Harry felt Dumbledore piercing stare on him. He couldn't look back into his eyes . . . no, he couldn't. Voldemort again . . . yes, it was him . . . the empty seats . . . Nina's and Cho's strange disappearances . . . it was him . . . Harry knew it was . . . but what had he done this time?
Voldemort, Nina, two empty seats at the Gryffindor table . . . something gnawed at the back of his head . . . he couldn't recall what.
* * *CHANGE OF SCENE, SETTING, ETC.* * *
" YOU FOOLS! YOU IMBECILES! YOU USELESS, PATHETIC . . . DARE TO CALL YOURSELVES LORD VOLDEMORT'S SUPPORTERS??? DARE TO CALL YOURSELVES DEATH EATERS WHEN YOU DIDN'T LIVE UP TO THAT NAME? THIS SHOULD TEACH ALL OF YOU A LESSON!"
"Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo . . . Master! Have mercy! Forgive me! Forgive us all!" a Death Eater fell at Voldemort's feet.
Voldemort laughed . . . a cold, mirthless laugh. "Mercy? You ask me for mercy? I don't want your fake emotions here, Avery . . . CRUCIO!" The night air was shattered by Avery's agonized yells. Voldemort lifted the curse and laughed once again as the tortured Death Eater fell limply to his knees." MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA . . ."
Lucius Malfoy stepped forward "It will not be repeated, my Lord. We will set out tonight to accomplish the mission."
"That will not be necessary Lucius . . . I have better plans . . . anyway, you can only repeat this sort of idiocy if you are given a chance to do so . . . isn't that right now? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA . . . it is good, however, that you finished off everyone who was there . . . that leaves our path half clear . . . (thinking to himself) The new plan is going to take more time . . . but this time . . . I'll do the finishing off! HAHAHAHA . . .!"
The air is filled with the sound of merciless laughter . . .
* * *BACK TO HOGWARTS* * *
Has Harry figured out why Nina is gone?
Why doesn't Cho's disappearance bother him?
What is this thing that's "gnawing at the back of Harry's head" but he can't recall?
What is the blunder that the Death Eaters made? What orders had they been given in the first place?
What is Voldemort's new plan?
Who is going to be "finished off " ?
Find out as you read on. PLSPLSPLS R&R. thanx sooooooo much!!
Author's note: OK . . . first things first. This is the first time I'm putting in more POVs and it's the first time I'm really bringing in Voldemort . . . How's it going so far? PLS tell me if any of my chapters need any sort of improvement. You can send your suggestions through e-mail even. Just mail to: shane_filan_rulez@hotmail.com. Thanx soooooo much. I'll be adding in more suspense as I go on . . . I know the so-called "suspense" is a bit obvious . . . really sorry . . . if you have any suggestions to improve it then pls contact me . . . either put it in the reviews or e-mail me. It's also going to get darker . . .(I HOPE) . . .and there's going to be a bit of comedy and well as sentiments . . . (I HOPE) So . . . I am seriously depending on your responses. I want an honest response . . . so if honesty means to FLAME me . . . then go ahead! Thanx again! - Nutti =)