Chapter Ten: Ransom

I ran as fast as I could to the Headmaster's office. Professor Snape spotted me on the way.

"STOP RUNNING! Ten points from Gryffindor!" He shouted. I didn't care. I ran right past him. I got to the statue that would lead up to his office. I shouted the password, out of breath. I had been in his office once before, but then because I was in trouble for going in the Forbidden Forest. I had never been asked there with important news.

"Professor? Professor Dumbledore?" I asked, out of breath, as I entered his large office. I didn't see him.

"Ah, yes. Krystal Montague." He said. I turned to him and he didn't look happy. Oh, no... "We've gotten news." He told me.

"We?" I asked, unsure of what he meant. Then he pointed towards his desk and a man who I hadn't noticed before was standing there. It was Sirius Black. "Oh! Hello." He didn't say anything. He was just as scary as he seemed when I first met him. Somewhat... cold. "What's the important news? Good, I hope..."

"I'm afraid... not." My heart sank to my feet.

"What? What's happened?" I asked frantically.

"We've... received a letter. Do you recognize this handwriting?" He showed me the letter. He didn't hold it out long enough for me to read it but the first line I saw: To Whom it May Concern: in very nice script. I had to admit, the writing looked familiar. When they asked me who it belonged to, only one person came to mind.

"That's Harry's handwriting." I told them.

"What?!" Sirius jumped. Dumbledore looked interested.

"I'd never miss it. I have letters of his... if you'd like to see."

"Please."

"They're in my dormitory. Accio box!" I summoned the box. It flew into my hands about a minute later. I dug through it looking for the least embarrassing letter. I found a note he wrote me telling me to meet him after class. After Dumbledore and Sirius did a few checking spells, it was confirmed. The handwriting was Harry's.

"I think you should take this letter. A copy will be made and sent to your dormitory. We'll need the original to look at for a while longer. That's all... you can get back to class now."

"Professor, can't I just read it now?"

"I think it would be better if you went to class."

"Yes, professor." I went to Transfiguration with a pass from the headmaster. He must have written something to Professor McGonagall in the note because she let out a small gasp while reading. I sat down in my usual seat next to Roxeanne.

"What's going on? What did Professor Dumbledore want?" She whispered.

"Miss Keinath! Would you be so kind as to tell us the proper spell for changing a pen into a snake? And, perhaps, save your socializing for after class?" The professor said, noticing that the two of us were talking. Roxeanne turned a bright pink.

"I'm not really... sure."

"Yes, well, perhaps you would be sure if you were paying attention."

"Yes ma'am." Then she turned to me. "You have to tell me... later." I nodded in agreement. I had almost forgotten that she didn't know that Harry was missing. Then I realized, Hermione probably doesn't know yet either! I bet Ron knows... or he at least saw that Harry wasn't in bed this morning. He can't be that thick, can he?

"Class dismissed!" Professor McGonagall called after forty minutes passed.

Finally, I thought. I ran back up to the Gryffindor tower and went in the common room. I found the letter, as promised. I opened it up and began to read. I noticed Harry's handwriting again.

To whom it may concern:

Looking for someone? I thought as much... if you ever want to see Harry Potter again, go to the Slytherin corridor - the Montague girl will know - at ten o'clock this night. I'm sure you'll be, at least, interested by what you see...

It wasn't signed. I felt a lump in the back of my throat. I knew which corridor this person was talking about... what confused me was that this was in Harry's handwriting... why? Well, Harry would be there, obviously... and I knew I had to go. Ten o'clock. I'd have to go being I was the only one who knew where it was.