Chapter 2: The Cracker Switch

It was 12:00 noon exactly when Harry looked up at the clock then down at his friends. When Harry realized that neither Ron nor Hermione had collected themselves and started yelling at each other for pulling to hard then letting go, he realized, as well that something must have gone wrong.

Harry got down and pulled both of them to one side and tried to revive them. He tried giving them a drink and slapping them around a few times, but it didn't work.

It was then through observation that Harry noticed that neither of their chests were moving. They were perfectly still. That was not supposed to be. Harry checked for a pulse and found them, but slightly weak. They were in some kind of trans. Quickly, Harry ran the long of Gryffindor table to find Professor Dumbledore or McGonagall or anyone with stronger powers then he for that matter.

"Professor! Ron and Hermione are unconscious! They fell backwards after opening their cracker!" Harry panted once he reached the head table.

All teachers followed Harry to the point where they had been pulled after they fell. Dumbledore looked around for the remains of the cracker. Upon inspection, one of the teachers gasped.

"Dumbledore, look!" cried McGonagall. As she pointed, Harry's eyes fell to where she was pointing. Just below her fingertip was a skull with a snake coming out of his mouth. The Dark Mark!

Something flooded over Harry. Absolute pleasure. He must have been feeling Voldemort's feelings and thought again. Harry, rather than stop, went in further. He sensed around to discover that Voldemort had indeed sent the cracker. His thoughts also revealed something about Gangryk Gas.

Someone was shaking Harry by his shoulders. He opened his eyes to see McGonagall.

"Professor! It's Gangryk Gas. I just had a sense of Vol--- You-Know- Who! He sent the cracker. It had Gangryk Gas!" cried Harry as he came to.

All the teachers ran to the library. They began to pour through book after book, shelf after shelf. After 4 hours of searching, they found it.

"Gangryk Gas is a substance that knocks out all those who come in contact with it. After absorbtion, the afflected one has but 48 hours to live until he falls into eternal sleep. The only solution is Vaise Kendra Serum."

Harry looked at the book. It had alreadt been 4 hours. It was, of course, 4:00 p.m. Harry was absolutely terrified. He looked at the different teachers. Dumbledore looked around and flew to the restricted section. He went and retrieved Moste Potente Potions.

He turned through all the pages. Then he found it! Vaise Kendra Serum!