Chapter Three: Death is not the End
In no time at all, Harry, Ron and Hermione fell asleep in the sleeping bags that were given to them. They slept in the common room after each drinking a dreamless potion. They did not wake until it was time for the start-of- term banquet to begin.
They made their way down to the Great hall. As they entered the already packed room, which was smelling so nice that all of their stomachs grumbled with hunger, they made their way down to the Gryffindor table. It was not so suprising to see that people were standing to look up at them. No one said anything until his or her plates were cleared. Dumbledore stood up and there was a sudden silence that filled the room.
"Welcome, welcome, welcome! Welcome once again to another year at Hogwarts. Hopefully your stomachs are full and all content. I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices. I must stress once again that the dark forest is strictly forbidden. No magic is to be used between classes and in the corridors. And a new rule has been implemented this year: no student is allowed to be wandering the corridors to see teachers or any other reason after dinner." At this he looked directly at Harry, Hermione and Ron. "On a lighter note, Quidditch tryouts are resuming this year and tryouts are in the second week of the term. Anyone wanting to try out please see Madam Hooch. On the matter of teachers, I would like to introduce the new teaching staff…" Harry just noticed that Hermione was wearing her new prefect badge. He grinned at her and noticed that the new Defense against the Arts teacher was a nice, young woman. "…Professor Delacour is our new Defence against…"
Harry had just finally realized that his number one fan, Colin Creevey was not at the table. Was it because of Dennis' worried looks or the pain in his scar, he couldn't tell. He noted this and told Hermione and Ron. They shifted uncomfortably, than nodded. They silently got up and left the great hall with a swarm of curious whispers circulating the room. Harry bent down to Dennis as he passed and promised to find him. Dennis nodded half- heartedly. The last thing he saw before shutting the doors behind them was as Dumbledore continued talking, he glanced up at Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape. They got up to follow them.
"Where do we go first?" Ron fidgeted nervously.
But Harry wasn't paying attention. For some reason, he knew where to go. They took out their wands and headed back towards the Gryffindor tower. But as they approached the fat lady, they all heard a muffled cry from the floor above. They took off, up the next staircase, skipping three steps at a time. But by the time they reached the floor it was too late. They heard a scream, a blinding green light and then silence. Harry rushed over, just in time to see a dark hooded figure fly out of a window on a broomstick, laughing into the night.
"COLIN!" Hermione gasped. They all stared at the dead body lying on the ground.
"There's a letter addressed to you, Harry." Ron whispered. But before he could even place the thought into his head, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape came rushing up the stairs.
"What are you three…"McGonagall stopped dead in her tracks.
"It's too late. He was killed." Hermione whispered. Harry still stood there, trying to sink what had just happened into his mind.
Snape placed his wand under his throat, muttered "Sonorus' and magically magnified his voice. "All students are to remain in the great hall until further notice. Can Headmaster Dumbledore, please come up to the fourth floor at the West End immediately." He than muttered 'Quietus' and they waited. No one moved or spoke until Dumbledore reached where they all stood, looked at the lifeless body of Colin Creevy, then at the rest of them.
"Explain please." Ron and Hermione recounted the past events leading up to Colin's death. But Harry just stood there. He knew this would happen all along. But who was that figure? Who killed Colin? What happened before he arrived? Why had he not stopped the figure before he escaped?
But as Ron and Hermione finished their version of the story, the thought had finally sunk in. there was a letter for him. Everyone seemed to be silent again. Harry picked up the letter, which was on parchment, which was addressed simply, as-Harry.
"Harry, I think I should…" But Harry ignored Dumbledore and read the parchment.
So, the famous Harry Potter has escaped me for the fourth time.
The boy seemed to love the famous Harry Potter
So much, even under the Cruciatus Curse, he would not tell me
What I needed to know about you.
He died because of you.
It is your fault. Just like the other boy who you brought last year.
Give yourself up, Harry Potter
And everyone will be safe.
Defend yourself and people
Will pay!
Harry stood there looking at the letter. He just kept standing there even when Dumbledore gently took the letter and read it. But before the teachers could finish reading it, Harry ran to the window, summoned his broomstick and took off. He heard Dumbledore to leave him to cool down.
What seemed like hours later, he landed behind the Quidditch stadium. He laid down rocking back and forth. He just couldn't think. And for the very first time, he realized he could barely breathe. The cold breeze made him shiver. He just stayed in that rocking motion looking at the deep blue starry sky. He watched the sun rise. He tried to get up, be he could not move. His muscles had tightened up really badly. He lay down. The day was getting warmer with each passing hour, but now he could barely see. And he was still shaking - he could feel it pass up and down his body. It wasn't until about well into the afternoon, but the last thing he heard before he blacked out was the familiar rushing of footsteps and Dumbledore shouting out, "I've found him."
In no time at all, Harry, Ron and Hermione fell asleep in the sleeping bags that were given to them. They slept in the common room after each drinking a dreamless potion. They did not wake until it was time for the start-of- term banquet to begin.
They made their way down to the Great hall. As they entered the already packed room, which was smelling so nice that all of their stomachs grumbled with hunger, they made their way down to the Gryffindor table. It was not so suprising to see that people were standing to look up at them. No one said anything until his or her plates were cleared. Dumbledore stood up and there was a sudden silence that filled the room.
"Welcome, welcome, welcome! Welcome once again to another year at Hogwarts. Hopefully your stomachs are full and all content. I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices. I must stress once again that the dark forest is strictly forbidden. No magic is to be used between classes and in the corridors. And a new rule has been implemented this year: no student is allowed to be wandering the corridors to see teachers or any other reason after dinner." At this he looked directly at Harry, Hermione and Ron. "On a lighter note, Quidditch tryouts are resuming this year and tryouts are in the second week of the term. Anyone wanting to try out please see Madam Hooch. On the matter of teachers, I would like to introduce the new teaching staff…" Harry just noticed that Hermione was wearing her new prefect badge. He grinned at her and noticed that the new Defense against the Arts teacher was a nice, young woman. "…Professor Delacour is our new Defence against…"
Harry had just finally realized that his number one fan, Colin Creevey was not at the table. Was it because of Dennis' worried looks or the pain in his scar, he couldn't tell. He noted this and told Hermione and Ron. They shifted uncomfortably, than nodded. They silently got up and left the great hall with a swarm of curious whispers circulating the room. Harry bent down to Dennis as he passed and promised to find him. Dennis nodded half- heartedly. The last thing he saw before shutting the doors behind them was as Dumbledore continued talking, he glanced up at Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape. They got up to follow them.
"Where do we go first?" Ron fidgeted nervously.
But Harry wasn't paying attention. For some reason, he knew where to go. They took out their wands and headed back towards the Gryffindor tower. But as they approached the fat lady, they all heard a muffled cry from the floor above. They took off, up the next staircase, skipping three steps at a time. But by the time they reached the floor it was too late. They heard a scream, a blinding green light and then silence. Harry rushed over, just in time to see a dark hooded figure fly out of a window on a broomstick, laughing into the night.
"COLIN!" Hermione gasped. They all stared at the dead body lying on the ground.
"There's a letter addressed to you, Harry." Ron whispered. But before he could even place the thought into his head, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape came rushing up the stairs.
"What are you three…"McGonagall stopped dead in her tracks.
"It's too late. He was killed." Hermione whispered. Harry still stood there, trying to sink what had just happened into his mind.
Snape placed his wand under his throat, muttered "Sonorus' and magically magnified his voice. "All students are to remain in the great hall until further notice. Can Headmaster Dumbledore, please come up to the fourth floor at the West End immediately." He than muttered 'Quietus' and they waited. No one moved or spoke until Dumbledore reached where they all stood, looked at the lifeless body of Colin Creevy, then at the rest of them.
"Explain please." Ron and Hermione recounted the past events leading up to Colin's death. But Harry just stood there. He knew this would happen all along. But who was that figure? Who killed Colin? What happened before he arrived? Why had he not stopped the figure before he escaped?
But as Ron and Hermione finished their version of the story, the thought had finally sunk in. there was a letter for him. Everyone seemed to be silent again. Harry picked up the letter, which was on parchment, which was addressed simply, as-Harry.
"Harry, I think I should…" But Harry ignored Dumbledore and read the parchment.
So, the famous Harry Potter has escaped me for the fourth time.
The boy seemed to love the famous Harry Potter
So much, even under the Cruciatus Curse, he would not tell me
What I needed to know about you.
He died because of you.
It is your fault. Just like the other boy who you brought last year.
Give yourself up, Harry Potter
And everyone will be safe.
Defend yourself and people
Will pay!
Harry stood there looking at the letter. He just kept standing there even when Dumbledore gently took the letter and read it. But before the teachers could finish reading it, Harry ran to the window, summoned his broomstick and took off. He heard Dumbledore to leave him to cool down.
What seemed like hours later, he landed behind the Quidditch stadium. He laid down rocking back and forth. He just couldn't think. And for the very first time, he realized he could barely breathe. The cold breeze made him shiver. He just stayed in that rocking motion looking at the deep blue starry sky. He watched the sun rise. He tried to get up, be he could not move. His muscles had tightened up really badly. He lay down. The day was getting warmer with each passing hour, but now he could barely see. And he was still shaking - he could feel it pass up and down his body. It wasn't until about well into the afternoon, but the last thing he heard before he blacked out was the familiar rushing of footsteps and Dumbledore shouting out, "I've found him."
