Chapter nine: Will You Stop Talking in Riddles!

"Aw Miss Tsukino how are you feeling, today?" Usagi opened her eyes to find Madam Pomfrey looming over her, and removing the washcloth from her forehead.

She hadn't remembered falling asleep after her talk with Luna, but by judging the light through the window she had.

She yawned, feeling completely relaxed, and exhilarated. "I'm feeling much better, artigato Madam Pomfrey." She sat up, and stretched her arms up over her head, and yawned again. It felt great to really move.

Glancing over at the bed next to hers, she found it empty. As if sensing her question, Madam Pomfrey answered, before she could even ask it, "Mr. Potter was feeling better yesterday, and went to his classes this morning."

Usagi nodded, but she asked suddenly, "Can I get out of bed today?"

The short woman looked the blonde girl over carefully, as if assessing her. "I guess, but you're not going to your classes until tomorrow." Usagi nodded, "Okay, but can I go down to the great hall?"

Madam Pomfrey shook her head; "I'd rather you didn't, at least not without someone with you."

The blonde swung her legs over the edge of the bed, and the nurse stepped back to give her room. "Now take it easy. You need to let your legs adjust."

Usagi nodded, sliding from the bed, and planted her feet firmly on the floor. She wiggled her toes, and put her weight on both her legs.

She had been in bed for a week, and already her legs felt mushy, and useless. "I'll be careful, please, I'm really hungry, and I want to get better quickly."

She looked up at the nurse pleadingly. Madam Pomfrey relented, "All right Miss. Tsukino, but I want you to take it easy, you hear me."

Usagi nodded, and staggered forward. She felt like she had just gotten off a ride at a carnival. The room slightly spun, and it took everything she had to stay on her feet. She reached the door, taking small steps, one at a time.

"Miss. Tsukino, I'd rather have someone accompany you down to the Great Hall." Usagi waved her hand, and replied steadily, "I'm all right, Madam Pomfrey. I can do it."

The nurse shook her head, as the blonde haired girl slipped from the room. Usagi started down the hallway, letting it lead her down to the great hall.

It was around noon now, and students had already taken their seat at their assigned tables. Usagi stiffly made her way into the vast room. With the doors shutting behind her, Usagi was greeted with silence, as the whole room went quiet.

The blonde flushed, unsure what she should do.

Professor Dumbledore, upon seeing her arrival, stood, pushing his chair back. "Welcome back Miss Tsukino. Why don't you take a seat, so that we may begin to eat?" Usagi looked at him, and nodded quickly.

She hurried to the Slytherin table, and took a seat near the end. It wasn't until she had sat down, did the voices begin to stir, and whispering began.

She flushed, overhearing two Slytherin girls whispering to each other about her. When she had jumped from the Slytherin box, she hadn't thought of the consequences, and here she was paying for her stupidity.

Usagi was pulled from her thoughts, when two figures dropped onto the bench, one on each side of her. Her eyes widen, when she recognized Crabbe and Goyle. What could she have done now?

She lifted her eyes to the person sitting across from her. Usually she had the end of the table to herself, and had enough room to pile books around her, to do her homework. But not today.

"Draco san?"

The white haired boy gruffly nodded, as he spooned a spoon full of noodles onto his plate. "Eat up first year, we have a lot of work to catch up on." Usagi gapped at him, "You still want to be my tutor?"

Draco stared at her strangely, "Why not?" His eyes looked her up and down, "You have a problem with that, first year?"

Both Crabbe and Goyle nudged her in the side, as if daring her to say yes. Usagi shook her head, "iie Draco san. I just figured you wouldn't want to be around me." she trailed off, letting her voice drift off into the mingle of conversations around her.

Draco turned his gaze to his plate, and he replied, "Well its not like I have a choice. Professor Snape asked me to tutor you, so I'm going to tutor you. End of discussion."

Usagi frowned, suddenly not hungry anymore. So he only hung out with her, because he was obligated to. She sighed, and pushed her plate away, "I think I lost my appetite. I'll meet you in the library Malfoy san."

She stood, leaving the Slytherin table behind her. She didn't look back, not once, not even after she left the Great Hall.

Usagi moved down the hallway, heading back to the infirmary, suddenly remembering, she had to get back, before Madam Pomfrey had a hippogriff, or whatever that was.

She paused outside a doorway, when she heard hushed voices inside the small office. She would have walked on, if she hadn't happened to overhear the two teacher's conversation.

"Severus, we may not see eye to eye, but this is important. More important than some Quidditch match."

The second person hissed, "I'm not worried, I'm sure they will show up sooner or later. Probably some prank they're pulling."

The first voice, which Usagi realized after taking a look into the office, was Professor McGonagall. The witch replied, "Severus, three students have gone missing! This is not some prank. First Miss Parkinson, then Miss Abbott from Hufflepuff. Miss Parkinson was of your house, a fifth year too, and you don't seem to be the slightest worried."

Usagi peered in through the door. Severus Snape? Usagi couldn't help but think the name suited the mean potion teacher.

Professor McGonagall sighed irritably, "Miss Parkinson was taken in September, a month later, Miss Abbots went missing. Both held a sign of struggle in their common rooms. And during the Quidditch game, one of the first years from Ravenclaw went missing. The one with blonde hair."

The old witch sighed, as if trying to picture a girl with blonde hair in her mind, and place a name with the face. Snape replied, "Miss Gilbert?"

Professor McGonagall nodded, "Yes, yes, her. She stayed in her room during the game. And when the other first years went to bed after the hassle with Tsukino, they found their common room destroyed." She sighed; her age slowly seemed to settle in her brittle bones. "It's almost like it was when the Chamber of Secrets had been opened three years ago. But, but this time."

Snape shook his head, and began to pace. "Have you talked to Dumbledore about this?" McGonagall nodded, "Yes. He's supposed to put the students on alert at lunch."

The greasy haired man shook his head, "No, there something we've missed." Her interest caught, the old woman asked, "What is that Severus? What could we have missed; students are disappearing without a trace. Those three students haven't been seen since their disappearance."

Snape looked at McGonagall, and answered in an utterly calm voice, "Yes, but only the female students have been being attacked. Those three girls have certain attributes in common."

Professor McGonagall frowned, "What do you mean?"

Snape sighed, his patients wearing thin. "Don't tell me, none of you considered the pattern. When the Chamber of Secrets was open, muggle born wizards were attacked." He paused, his eyes suddenly moving to the doorway. The black orbs narrowed, as he saw a flash of blonde hair.

He continued, "This time, only witches are being attacked. Its not a certain year, or a particular house, but the gender."

McGonagall frowned, "But why?"

Professor Snape answered, "There has to be more of a connection between the girls. If we find it, then we might find out why they were attacked."

Usagi pulled back from the doorway slightly, her heart pounding. Students were being kidnapped?

As she turned to leave for the infirmary, she heard McGonagall's hysterical voice bounce off the walls behind her. "But we don't have time! From Parkinson to Abbots was over a month. But it was only weeks between Abbots and Gilbert."

?????

Usagi couldn't shake off the feeling of dread, which had settled into her heart after hearing Snape and McGonagall's conversation. Students were being kidnapped, and not only that, but girls.

She sucked in a deep breath, and held it in for a long time. Why were girls being kidnapped? And what was this about the Chamber of Secrets? Needing to breath, she let the air tumble over her lips, leaving her breathless.

"Hey Usagi."

Usagi looked over to see Harry slip into the room with Ron. "Hey Harry san, Ron san." The dread faded slightly, but it was still there, waiting to send her back into a panic attack.

Harry glanced around the infirmary, before he stated quickly, "Ron and I came by to see how you were doing. Also, we wanted to tell you to be careful. Professor Dumbledore wants all of us to be on alert, of someone kidnapping students."

Ron nodded, his red hair flopping about his face, "Yea. Quite scary eh Harry?" The brown haired boy nodded, "Yea."

Usagi looked from one to the other, as Ron nudged Harry playfully. Harry smirked, a crooked smile playing on his face, as he dropped his eyes to the floor. Usagi felt the fear in her heart leap to her throat, and she wanted to blurt out what she had overheard. She opened her mouth; ready to spill the beans.

Before she could utter a word, she clamped her mouth shut, her teeth clinking together. How could she tell them? How could she tell them how dangerous Hogwarts had really become?

But they had a right to know, to be on guard. If they knew, they could help her prevent it from happening again.

Harry and Ron looked at Usagi, as she imitated a fish out of water. Her mouth opened, as if she was going to say something, but then she would shut it, as if stopping herself from telling them something.

Worried, Harry asked, "Are you okay Usagi?"

The blonde flushed, and she blurted out, "I'm fine, feeling much better now. Madam Pomfrey says I can go back to school tomorrow. I almost can't wait." She plastered on a smile, that neither Harry, nor Ron, noticed the falseness of it.

Harry chuckled, shaking his head. "Well we have to go to Divinations. See you tomorrow then. Bye Usagi."

Usagi flashed him a grin, "Ja ne Harry san." Ron followed his friend, and mocked a salute to the blonde, before he left the room in a hurry.

When they left, Usagi cursed herself for not telling them. She ducked her head, as she lifted herself up onto the bed. "I guess I should tell Luna. Maybe she would know what to do." She caught her bottom lip between her teeth, and narrowed her eyes, as she stared at her feet.

"Poor, poor first year. Troubled, Troubled first year."

Usagi's head snapped up, and she gasped, her eyes widening. The poltergeist insane laughter filled the empty room. Where was Madam Pomfrey when you needed her most?

"Poor, poor first year. Troubled, Troubled first year."

She stumbled back, and fell onto the bed. Her eyes frantically searched the infirmary room, for the floating Peeves, but there was no sign of him. Wrinkling her face, she hissed, "Where are you Peeves?"

The same laughter was her reply. She really hated his laugh; it sent chills down her spine. "Poor, poor first year."

Usagi scowled, even though her heart was pumping like a frightened rabbit caught by a fox. Blood rushed to her ears, and she could barely make out his taunting voice over the roar.

She saw something move in the corner of her eyes. She jerked her head in that direction, and watched as a cupboard opened. A box of medical supplies was pulled out.

"Peeves what are you doing?" A cold icy grip grabbed her by the neck, and squeezed. He was going to get her into trouble.

"Peeves please, don't. What do you want?" Tears pooled into her eyes. All she wanted was to get through school, to pass all her classes, and make it to the next year, without fault.

"Troubled, troubled first year."

She sniffled, as the tears fell from her eyes, without her noticing. She was such a baby, crying over something so stupid.

"They're coming for you."

The change in his tone, made the blonde look up. Peeves floated in front of her, and held the box of medical supplies in his hands.

"Nani?"

Peeves grinned, his face twisted into a horrendous sneer. He then chanted in a singsong voice "Poor, poor first year. You shall take the blame. Troubled, troubled first year. They are all the same."

Usagi stood, on wobbly legs, "What do you mean?"

The poltergeist scowled, and rolled his eyes at her. "Shame, shame, you don't pay attention."

Usagi sighed, anger seizing her suddenly, "Will you stop talking in riddles!" She yelped in surprise, as the poltergeist seized her by the front of her robes, and raised her in the air.

"Poor, poor first year, you shall take the blame." Usagi paled, as Peeve's sneer darkened his face. He stared into her eyes, with a dangerous hint of hatred towards her.

"Troubled, troubled first year, they are all the same." He crackled with glee, as he brought her face inches from his. She gasped, her eyes widening in fear.

"Because it is you, is why they came." Usagi felt all the blood drain from her body. They? The ones Luna told her about?

"PEEVES!!!!"

The poltergeist frowned, his eyes narrowing for a brief second. He shook his head, as laughter erupted from deep within his throat. He threw her foreword, and she let out a yell of surprise.

She landed on the bed with a bounce, and was propelled over the edge, hitting the floor roughly. She gasped, the pain spreading though her body like a wild fire. She jerked back, hitting her head against the floor, as Peeves dropped down on her.

She inhaled sharply, as he leaned down, and whispered, "They're coming for you." He burst into laughter, his body slowly fading.

His laughter echoed through the infirmary, as the poltergeist hightailed it out of there.

Someone came around the bed, and knelt down next to her. "Did he hurt you?"

She looked over to find Draco hovering over her. His face was twisted into a scowl of annoyance. "I didn't see you in the common room, or the library. So I came here." He sounded as if he needed to explain himself for being there.

He grabbed her arm, and helped her to her feet. "The common room? Why would I be there? Madam Pomfrey wanted me to come back to the infirmary after I ate." She turned to look at him, and shook off his arm. "You told me to meet you in the library, why would I have been in the common room?"

The pale face boy frowned slightly, as he pulled back from her. "You left the Great Hall in a pissed-off mood. So I figured you wouldn't go to the library. I didn't think of the infirmary till I checked both the common room, and the library."

Usagi dusted off her robes, and fell onto the bed with relief. "Artigato."

Draco shrugged it off, as he scanned the room, "Why was Peeves harassing you? I've never seen him do that to a student before."

Usagi shuddered, as she recollected the hatred in his eyes. "I don't think he likes me too well." She hugged her arms over her chest. "He kept talking in riddles."

Draco glanced at her, a frown darkening his face. "Do you remember what he said?" Usagi thought over it for a second. Even though she could remember most of it, she answered, "Iie, I cant."

She ducked her head, to better mask her lying eyes. She had been told, that her eyes were the windows of her soul, and she was afraid to let Draco see them now.

Draco nodded, as he stalked towards the door. "You're way behind in your classes. Expect that tomorrow we will be working extra hard to get you caught up." He glanced over his shoulder briefly, as he left the room.

Usagi sighed long and deep. Was Peeves trying to warn her about something, or was he trying to threaten her? 'Because it is you, is why they came.'

"But who are they?"

'They're coming for you.'

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All right, another chapter done. I was able to do it while I was off on the road trip, so be happy I brought my computer along with me. Hehe. I hope you enjoyed it, cause I know I did. I sure did make Peeves into a jackass huh. Oh well, time will tell why he is such a.ahem jerk.

Anyway, just want to say, thank you for all the reviews I received. And here are the polls.

Harry/Usagi: 47

Draco/Usagi: 60

Well I think that is all I have to say. Except that, the next story I'm writing, Bunny Moon, and the Philosopher Stone, well which ever guy wins in this one, I will put Bunny/Usagi with the other guy in the other story.

If you want to know what Bunny Moon and the Philosopher Stone is about, just ask, and I'll be happy to give you an early summery.

Well tata for now. Ttyl. LP