CHAPTER 14.
THE SECRETS OF GHOSTS
"Martin?" Harry croaked aloud. The ghost smiled slightly and nodded. "But, you're, you're,"
Dead? Yeah, that's why I'm called a ghost. Get it?
Harry smiled faintly at the boy, but continued to stare at him in amazement. "Can't you talk normally? Your voice sounds, weird." Harry said hesitantly. The boy's voice did sound odd. It bounced eerily off the close walls with an unusual echo that sent shivers skittering frantically down Harry's spine. That, combined with the smoky figure of the Slytherin boy, didn't make Harry feel comfortable in the least. Martin frowned and cocked his head.
Whaddya mean? It sounds weird? Oh! Sorry. I can do all sorts of things with my voice I couldn't do before. You know, throw it so it bounces off walls, make it echo, those kinds of things. Hold on.
A moment later, Martin's voice was projected into the hall, only without the echo.
"How's that? Better?" He asked, his voice newly embodied.
"Yeah, I guess. What are you doing here? Where's, well," Harry stopped, embarrassed. Martin eyed him keenly, a smile playing upon his white lips.
"You mean Cedric? Oh don't worry, Potter. No hard feelings mistaking me for Ced. Cedric's here. Don't doubt that. But he's runnin' his own patrol of things." Martin said with a shrug.
"Was that him I saw with Professor Flutterae the night before the Yule Ball?" Harry asked tentatively. Martin nodded thoughtfully.
"Yeah. He likes to hang around her. He usually does all the time. She doesn't notice, or if she does, she doesn't let on. She's got a lot of secrets that one." Martin said knowingly.
"How do you know?" Harry demanded, forgetting his fear for a moment. Martin drew himself up proudly.
"I'm a ghost! I can see through minds!" He said with a self-satisfied air.
Yeah right. Harry's mind muttered before he could stop it. Martin frowned and stared hard at him.
"You don't believe me? Hmm? Really? Well good. Because I'm lying." Martin said cheerily. Harry breathed a sigh of relief before hesitating, then continuing in a grave tone of voice.
"Something's happened to Fred and George." Harry said slowly. Martin's cheery face immediately became grave.
"I know. I saw it. He saw me too. Glad he told you where to find me. I sure had a hard time convincing him to let you in on it." He said.
"What was all that rubbish though? All that stuff he said?" Harry asked, eager to discover what Fred had meant, just so he could help him and George.
"Like what?" Martin asked, stepping forward from the statue.
"Well all that stuff about the 'twin effect' and 'lives in the balance' and all that stuff." Harry said. Martin gave a little nod of understanding.
"Yeah well, thats all kinda complicated. See, Fred's mind isn't his own anymore." Martin said casually.
"WHAT?" Harry yelled. The ghost frowned and put his finger to his lips.
"Don't yell, kid. You don't want Snape coming back do you?" Martin chided. Harry shook his head silently. "Alright then, quiet down." Martin said, slipping his hands on his hips and beginning to pace the hall. "Well see, the 'twin effect' is something Snape came up with after Fred and George got hit by the Lucrum Insperatum. Both of them had identical marks, identical behavior. When one of them would shake, the other one would shake. When one was thirsty, the other one was thirsty. The twin effect. Their minds are conjoined." Martin explained. Harry nodded slowly in understanding.
"But what about the Lucrum Insperatum? What is that?" Harry asked. Martin shook his head gravely and let loose a low breath.
"That's bad business. Did you ask Sirius?" He asked. Harry took a step back in surprise.
"How do you know Sirius?" He asked. Martin snorted and then chuckled.
"I'm not stupid. I was in Hogwarts you know. Everyone knew about Sirius Black, especially after he escaped from Azkaban. And after it was all over, a few people figured he was either related to you or was just connected to you, seeing as you were all caught up in that whole affair. Well, a select few anyway. Besides," Martin said, drawing himself up from his slightly embarrassed slouch and pointing a finger accusingly at Harry. "I saw you writing a letter to him one night. You shouldn't do that. He told you not to." Martin said warningly. Harry shook his head in disbelief, remembering the one night when he had sat in the Common Room, feeling so horrible about what was happening, feeling so helpless. He had just wanted to tell Sirius everything, everything that had been happening, although he knew he shouldn't. He'd written every little worry and fear down on a piece of parchment, but didn't send it. Instead he carried it up with him to his room and tossed it in his trunk, Sirius' warning irking him whenever he looked at it.
"I didn't send it." Harry pointed out, blushing hotly.
"No, but someone could find it. You wouldn't want that to happen, would you?" Martin demanded.
"No. What were you doing in my room anyway?" Harry demanded. Martin threw his hands in the air with exasperation.
"Do I have to explain all the stuff I do?" He asked.
"No."
"Well good. Anyway, I was just keeping an eye on you. Your, ah, well, someone told me to." Martin stuttered. Harry eyed the ghost boy carefully.
"Who asked you to watch me?" Harry asked. Martin smiled with an embarrassed air and shrugged.
"I really can't say yet. But, just know, Harry, that the people you love are closer than you think." Martin said quietly, his expression slipping back into a sober position. Seeing that he wasn't going to get anywhere with Martin on that subject, Harry proceeded to another thought.
"But tell me what a Lucrum Insperatum is." Harry said impatiently.
"Hold your horses, Potter! A Lucrum Insperatum is exactly what you experienced, a mass force of evil all combined together into a monstrous swelling of power. There was a really huge one back in the 1800's, but that was the last time it was used. Don't you read history?" Martin demanded.
"That's more up my friend Hermione's alley." Harry said, blushing. Martin smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, Hermione. She's an interesting character. Anyway, look that up if you want to know more about it. I'm not a dictionary." Martin said, crossing his arms.
"Well what about the 'lives in the balance' thing?" Harry asked. Martin sobered and shook his head.
"Sorry, kid. Thats for you to find out. Let me give you a hint though. You've been getting hints this whole entire time you've been here, and even before you came here. What have you been seeing?" Martin inquired quietly.
"Eyes." Harry said uneasily.
"Well there you are. I've been trying to send you some hints myself, and Cedric is trying his best to get it through to you, but when you mistake me for him, it kinda wrecks things, you know? It doesn't help that both of us have gray eyes and most of the time ghosts are shades of gray or dull color to begin with." Martin said with a chuckle. "So anyway, look over what you've seen, what you've heard. Think about it. You're a smart kid, Harry. You've gotten through so many things that most kids would never have survived. And you've gotta figure this out, otherwise Voldemort's power will come back in full." Martin said, an almost pleading note in his voice. Harry's blood froze as he heard the name of the man, the thing, who was so eager to kill him.
"But he's real though! He's back! I thought he already had his power." Harry said fearfully. Martin shook his head seriously and scoffed.
"Oh, he's real alright, but that doesn't mean that he's all-powerful yet. He's moving slowly, by degrees. The Lucrum Insperatum was the first strike on this place. But otherwise, he's been trying to get rid of powerful witches and wizards all over, and some that are just in the way. I'm proof of that." Martin said with a sad smile.
"But how is it happening?" Harry pleaded. Martin shook his head.
"You've gotta figure it out, Harry. I can't spell it out for you." He insisted.
"But what does this mean: 'Mirrors, eyes, murder, one. Only a little time left before it's gone.'" Harry recited desperately. Martin gave a wry smile.
"Again Harry, you've gotta figure it out. But Fred basically spelled it out for you. He's a smart kid. Managed to get it out before his mind was conjoined. He gave you a massive clue. You've got to work with it, Harry. Work with it, otherwise tons of kids will end up like me and believe me, you don't want that to happen." Martin said, his voice slowly dissipating and the glow that was his body began to fade.
"Wait! Martin! I don't know what to do! Why can't you tell me?" Harry yelled. There was now nothing left of the ghostly body. Only his voice remained.
"Ghosts aren't allowed to interfere in the big scheme of things. Some kind of cardinal rule, I expect. A stupid one, but smart in some ways.You have to figure it out, Harry. Fred and George could die if you don't. But don't worry. I'll be here. I've been with you the whole time. I'm certainly not gonna skip out on you now." Martin said softly, his voice fading faster as the moments passed.
"Martin! Martin!" Harry cried out desperately.
But there was silence in the hall. Martin was gone.
Harry sighed and stepped out of the hallway dismally, the cat Malificent beside him. He'd almost forgotten that she was there. She trotted blissfully at his side, purring loudly, but he didn't think about her. He felt even more lost than before. Here he was, supposed to save two lives, as well as the lives of the entire school, and he didn't even know where to start.
Lives hanging in the balance.
Harry shook his head as he stepped up a staircase. Halfway up, he frowned and stopped, whirling about. Standing in the shadows of the hallway he'd just left, Harry made out the figures of Draco Malfoy and Artemis Thornshadow, their blonde hair shimmering in the dim light. They stood in front of the statue speaking quietly.
"Artemis, no." Harry whispered frantically.
Almost as if he'd heard him, Draco whirled about to face the staircase. His sharp eyes stared hard at the staircase, probing the very cracks in the stone. Harry pressed himself up harder against the staircase, praying that Draco didn't follow his instincts and come searching him out.
Draco stepped closer to the stairs, one dark eyebrow raised high. He could sense a presence. It had been built into his very intellect to scent out those who interfered in his plans. He halted, then placed one foot on the step. He gave a wry half-smile. If anyone was up there, they would soon be routed out and would wish that they'd never tangled with him. He stepped onto the second step, then stopped as a female voice called softly to him.
He gave one last glance up the staircase, then stepped down, walking back to Artemis. Harry squeezed his eyes shut and breathed a sigh of relief. He waited a few moments before he hesitantly peered around the curved staircase. The hallway was now deserted. Artemis and Draco had disappeared. No footsteps had sounded in the echoing hallways. They had simply disappeared. But Harry did not dare to step down to the hallway. Instead, he rushed upstairs to the Gryffindor Common Room, but not before noticing that Malificent had disappeared. When he reached the landing he yelled the password to the Fat Lady ("Fizzing Whizzbees"), and threw himself through the portrait hole. There in the Common Room, he found a large crowd of sober Gryffindors all either sitting or standing with each other, saying nothing and looking thoroughly grave.
When he stepped across the threshold, panting for breath, they all looked up at him as one. Then they dropped their heads. The Quidditch team, minus Fred, George and Artemis, were there, all looking more saddened than the others.
"Alicia, where's Hermione?" Harry panted. Alicia Spinnet barely looked up as she pointed towards the staircase to the Girls' Rooms.
"Thanks." Harry gasped between breaths as he rushed up the stairs.
"What'd you do that for?" Angelina demanded half-heartedly. Alicia shrugged dismally.
"It doesn't matter anyway. I think everybody's so out of it they won't even notice him." She said quietly. Angelina sighed and nodded in agreement, dropping her head into her hands.
Harry threw open the door and stepped inside. It was completely deserted, save for one girl on a bed, furiously scanning a book.
"Hermione?" Harry asked, stepping up to the bed. Hermione started as she heard his voice. Then her eyes widened in alarm.
"HARRY! What are you doing in here?" She demanded, blushing furiously as she attempted to toss a spare robe and skirt that were lying on the floor into her open trunk.
"Alicia said I could come in, well sorta. Listen, I need to ask you something." Harry said. Hermione waved her hand impatiently.
"Some other time, Harry. I'm researching Lucrum Insperatums. Come back later." She said, her eyes never leaving her book.
"But Hermione, that's what I wanted to ASK you about!" Harry insisted. Hermione looked up and her face brightened.
"OH! Well, that's a different matter then." Hermione said matter-of-factly, beckoning him to her. "So far, I've learned that the last Lucrum Insperatum used was in the 1800's."
"Was that done by Voldemort's followers too?" Harry asked settling down on the bed beside Hermione. Hermione chuckled gently.
"Heavens no, Harry! You-Know-Who wasn't even BORN yet. No, this was done by several rogue wizards who wanted to prove something to those of us good wizards and witches left. It destroyed many Muggles in the process though." She said, continuing to scan the pages of the book.
"So wizards and witches can't be destroyed by Lucrum Insperatums?" Harry asked, cocking his head to eye the pages.
"Well, not in the way Muggles are destroyed. We don't die. Our energy, our life force is sucked from us. Some it leaves basic idiots, others it simply drains their energy. It depends on how strong they are." Hermione said sadly.
"Do you think that's what's happening to Fred and George?" Harry asked. Hermione nodded quickly.
"Oh, absolutely! All indications and deductions point to it. You see I talked to several people who were there after the storm. Apparently," Hermione leaned forward for effect. "Neither Fred nor George went to get help right after they brought Ron in. They stayed on their feet as long as they could. They should have gotten the hollyhock potion that Professor Snape and Professor Flutterae were administering right away. But they didn't." She said quietly.
"So now their bodies are," Harry stopped, unsure of how to voice his thoughts.
"Weakened. Greatly now it seems. The potion may have come too late." Hermione said wearily, casting her hand over her face.
"But you said that no wizard or witch has ever died." Harry protested.
"Not when the actual storm happened, no. But several wizards and witches died later. Their life energy was simply sapped away." Hermione explained.
"Is there any cure?" Harry asked. Hermione slowly shook her head.
"Not that I know of. Not for someone who's waited that long. But I think I read somewhere that if they are but a little bit away from death's door, there is a chance." Hermione said.
"Thanks, Hermione." He stopped hesitantly and glanced down at Hermione. "Have you told Ron any of this?" Hermione shook her head wearily.
"I just found it out and he won't come down to the Common Room. I even went up to his room and knocked on the door. Neville told me that he won't move. He's just sitting in his bed with the curtains drawn." Harry shook his head, thinking of his friend and what he must be going through.
"Keep trying, okay?" Harry asked. Hermione nodded.
"Of course. He must be so," Hermione suddenly ceased to speak, a blush rising on her cheeks. "Where did you go when Snape told us to go upstairs?" Hermione asked abruptly. Harry stopped as he began to stand, then lowered himself back onto the bed.
"I, I can't really say."
"You can tell me, Harry. Honestly, after ALL we've been through." Hermione said sharply. Harry let loose a nervous chuckle.
"Yeah, well. It's just kinda complicated." He said, an almost sarcastic tinge in his voice. If only she knew how complicated. He thought wryly.
"I've got time." Hermione insisted.
"But I don't. I can't tell you all of it now, but," Harry stopped as he stood again, looking down at the girl who eyed him expectantly.
"Hermione, was there ever a mirror created by Merlin to show the thoughts of who looked in it?" He asked hesitantly. Hermione paused, frowning. Then she paged through the large book she held in her hands.
"I thought I read about something along those lines. Not anything about the thoughts, more along the lines of the heart. Here we are!" Hermione said, stabbing her finger at a certain page. "Merlin supposedly created a mirror out of pity for the human race, but it was destroyed a long time ago." She insisted.
"What if it wasn't? Could somebody make a copy?" Harry asked breathlessly. Hermione cocked her eyebrow as she stared at Harry.
"Well, certainly. It's quite a popular legend in the wizarding world. Some people have tried to make copies, but they never came out as powerful as they intended."
"But if someone did make a copy, a very powerful copy, would it be dangerous?" Harry asked tentatively. Hermione's large brown eyes widened.
"Well, I suppose it would depend on whose hands it got into." Hermione faltered.
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Because, well in other past copies, the owner's intentions were imprinted on the mirror, so that it would do only its owner's bidding." She said quietly.
"So when Merlin had the mirror, it only did its work for good, because he wanted it only to do good." Harry murmured thoughtfully. Hermione nodded slowly.
"That's right." She answered. Harry nodded, moved towards the door, then turned.
"Hermione, could a mirror like that, well, hurt anyone?" He asked. Hermione blanched as she stared at Harry, her brown eyes standing out from her pale face.
"Possibly." She said, her voice almost a whisper.
"Thanks, Hermione." Harry said simply, exiting the room.
He walked through the Common Room, then down the staircase. He eyed the empty hallway, then walked towards it. The statue's blank eyes stared unnervingly at the wall in front of it. Harry eyed the mirror in its hands. He stretched out one finger to touch the shimmering surface, then retracted it suddenly as a loud scream echoed through the entire school.
No, two screams. He thought. Two screams as, His heart rose in his throat as the realization came to him. Two screams as ONE.
Harry took off, running down the hallway, trying to make his way to the hospital wing. But before he could reach it, the walls of Hogwarts seemed to crumble inwardly, shaking violently. Harry fell to the floor as a black mist flew violently into his face.
He tasted blood as he sat up with a groan. The black mist was all around him, reeking of evil. He limped to the wall, which amazingly was still standing, and looked out the cracked window. It was without a doubt another Lucrum Insperatum, only this one was more violent and horrifying than the last. Out on the lawn, Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and the other professors stood still, their wands raised as they attempted to ward off the storm. Only two professors were missing: Snape and Flutterae.
Harry tore himself away from the window. There was not much time left. Hogwarts was in chaos. There were students running everywhere in a panicked frenzy. Several students fell to the ground as debris pounded around them, their screams doubled by the large halls. Some were struck by the falling bricks of the school, others were struck by the pure evil that seeped through the broken walls of Hogwarts. Harry choked violently as he ran through the halls and the massive crowds, breathing the dust exuded by Hogwarts' dying walls. By some miracle, he made his way to Professor Flutterae's classroom.
"Professor! Professor Flutterae!" Harry screamed, pushing himself through the falling debris. The room was almost completely destroyed. Papers and books lay on the floor and desks were turned over. Dust littered the ground and rocks came pounding down from the crumbling walls. It was all this and more, but it was also empty. "PROFESSOR!" Harry screamed.
He quickly dodged a mountain of stones that fell from the ceiling, just barely missing him. Harry fell to the ground as another rumble jerked the school. As he lay prostrate on the ground, he cast his eyes across his ring. The ring was now aglow, the flamed eye looking as though it would explode through the black jewel that held it captive. Harry jerked his eyes away and slid his hands through the papers as he attempted to stand. Then he ceased to raise himself and instead stared closely at the papers below him. In the jumble of papers beneath Harry's fingers, one paper stuck out. Written and drawn on it were an eye, wreathed in flame, a mirror, two glassy eyes, and the phrase, 'Mirrors, eyes, murder, one. Only a little time left before it's gone'.
Harry stared at it in disbelief, then cringed as the castle shook once more. He rushed to the window and stared out it. All the Professors were still standing, but weariness exuded from their strong figures. Then a frantic feeling shot through his body as he saw several shadowy figures proceeding across the lawn towards the weary professors. Dementors. So many of them. But the Professors did not back down. Harry stepped back from the window, feeling the cold fear and dread that inhabited him whenever he even spoke the name of the creatures coming towards this haven, this haven he'd made his home. As the walls crumbled around him, Harry shoved the paper in his pocket and dashed out of the classroom as the bricks toppled from the ceiling above him. He ran through the screaming masses and began to push himself towards the hospital wing.
The hospital wing door was covered in fallen debris, but Harry managed to push enough debris away to get through. He ran through the door, his frantic eyes searching for the red headed twins. At the far right corner, he found them. Their eyes were both closed, their right arms crossed across their chests. Identical positions. Harry gulped, then poked Fred.
"Fred. Please wake up." He whispered frantically. Both twins jolted, then opened their eyes slowly. They both frowned, then relaxed slightly.
"Oh! Hullo, Harry." Harry shuddered at the horrible sound. It was a dual voice, two voices speaking the same words, both faces staring eerily at him with identical expressions.
"Not much time left, Harry. Gotta stop it." Fred/George said.
"I know! But you've gotta tell me HOW!" Harry yelled, shielding his head as debris was showered on him. Both twins frowned and shook their heads.
"Did you talk to the ghost? Martin?" They asked.
"Yes, yes! He didn't tell me much! I don't know what to do!" Harry yelled.
"You're panicking. That's not going to get you anywhere." Fred/George said disapprovingly.
"I don't CARE! Everthing is falling apart! I need to know what to DO!" Harry screamed.
Suddenly, the ring began to glow brightly. After Harry had left Professor Flutterae's classroom, the ring's flame had died down. But now it was revived. Fred\George's eyes fluttered wearily and their eyes rolled back in their heads.
"Fred. FRED!" Harry hissed. Fred and George's eyes suddenly snapped open, frightening Harry.
"Password. Password." They murmured quietly.
"What?" Harry whispered.
"Follow the trail of the dragon and the huntress. Follow. Password." They murmured quietly, closing their eyes.
"Fred, George?"
It was no use. The twins were out. Their eyes opened no more. As the walls shook around him, Harry shook his head and ran out, shielding himself with his arms as he did so.
"The dragon and the huntress. The dragon and the huntress. Dragon," Harry whispered as he ran through the halls.
"Harry." A soft disembodied voice whispered in his ear as he ran through the hall. Harry skidded to a stop as a ghostly figure appeared in front of him.
"Oh no," Harry ejaculated softly. Cedric stood in front of him, his hand up.
"Cedric," Harry started, but the ghost shook his head violently.
"No time, Harry. You can't go back to Gryffindor Tower." Harry frowned, his former fear being taken over by aggravation at all the obstacles that stood in his way.
"Why not? I've got to! I've gotta ask Hermione something!"
Cedric shook his head with a determined air.
"You can't, Harry. The Gryffindor Tower is collapsing. Hermione was hit on the head. She won't be of any use to you." Cedric said firmly.
"Then I've got to go to her!" Harry said, trying to get past the ghost. But Cedric put one cold hand on his shoulder, shocking Harry with it's icy touch.
"I'll handle it. She'll be fine. You must do what Fred and George told you to do." He said.
"But I don't KNOW! What do dragons and huntresses have to do with passwords and stuff?! I don't understand!" Harry screamed desperately. Cedric's gray eyes flashed violently.
"Well you bloody well better find out. The Dementors have crossed the line. They're in Hogwarts." Harry took a step back while Cedric took a step forward. "You must use the information you have gained. The ring is trying to help you. Listen to it, listen to your heart, use your wits. Otherwise you might not live through Voldemort's attacks this time." Cedric said, beginning to fade out.
"Just tell me one thing! Where do I go?!" Harry yelled frantically.
"The statue." The ghostly voice was almost a whisper, but it was enough. Harry ran through the dusty halls. It was almost impossible to find his way through the disasterous halls. As he ran, he couldn't help but wish that he'd had the sense to get the Marauder's Map from his trunk while he was upstairs. It would certainly be helpful about now. He got lost several times, but finally found the hallway. The statue and the hallway was untouched by the falling debris. He skidded to a stop at the entrance of the hall.
"The trail of the dragon and the huntress." Harry stopped suddenly. He had remembered something, something Professor Binns had taught them in History of Magic. Something about a goddess, a goddess of the moon who was also, "The dragon and the huntress! Draco and Artemis!" Harry whispered breathlessly as he ran to the statue.
As he finally reached the statue, a fierce burning on his finger caused him to yelp in pain. His ring was glowing brightly, the eye almost jumping from its restraints. He threw it to the ground as it began to burn his finger and the ring turned around as it fell to the floor. The ring sat upright, a shot of light flying towards the statue. The light fell upon the glassy eyes of the statue and rested there persistantly. Harry frowned and shook his head frantically, then drew out the paper he'd found in Rhiannon's classroom. Written and drawn on it were an eye, wreathed in flame, a mirror, two glassy eyes, and the phrase, 'Mirrors, eyes, murder, one. Only a little time left before it's gone'. Then Harry remembered the strange reaction when he'd looked into the eyes of the statue.
He stood on tiptoes and stared into the glassy eyes of the statue. His own eyes reflected in the glassy gaze. A fierce glow erupted about him as the eyes burst into light. Harry stepped back tentatively. The eyes continued to glow wildly. It's waiting for something. He looked back at the note, then at the statue before yelling at the top of his lungs,
"MIRRORS, EYES, MURDER, ONE! ONLY A LITTLE TIME LEFT BEFORE IT'S GONE!"
The statue slid from the wall, revealing a dark doorway. On the ground, the black ring glowed red, cutting a path through the darkness. Harry picked it up and slipped it back on his finger, pointing it into the darkness as he stepped inside the doorway. The statue slowly slid back into place, the eyes once more glassy and unseeing, leaving Harry alone in the darkness with only the bright glow of the ring to light his way.
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Author's Note: Heh-heh. *runs from ticked off reviewers as they read MASSIVE cliffy* I know, I know! It's terrible! AWFUL! But I had to end it here. Trust me guys, the chapter after this, is one of the most emotional, goosebumpy chapters yet. Lots of things will be explained and Harry will confront.........well, you'll just have to see won't you? :-) *stares unblinkingly at number of reviews* OH. MY. GOSH. You guys! Bloody hell! I mean, goodness gracious. ;-) I seriously never believed that I would get up to, or over one hundred reviews for this story! The most reviews I've gotten for any of my stories was 85 for my Lord of the Rings story, pretty good, as competition and updatings are really big there too, almost as bad as it is in the HP section. Thank you guys SO much! I am so surprise and thrilled with your comments and your critiques and I can't thank you enough for them! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! *sigh* I'll hold off on that for a minute. I SAW HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS!! GAK! Have you guys seen it yet? Ahhh, it was great. So much better than the first one. The kids were great. I loved Ron the best, of course. He's my favorite character in the books anyway, and Rupert Grint only heightens my love of him. Fantastic, fantastic. Actually, I've now seen it twice and I've loved it both times, even when our bloody film projector broke down in the theater. *grumbles* It was down for like fifteen minutes, maybe twenty, rather a humorous incident actually. It was just like in those parody films, like Mystery Science Theaters, if any of you have ever seen them. We were watching Hermione talking seriously about the Chamber of Secrets, and all of a sudden the voices went, "Whhheeennnnooonnnnmmmmpppppppp" and the film started to bubble and it completely fried! Like I said, rather surprising, but terribly humorous. It also gave me more inspiration, so I've been working non-stop on this story's sequel. It's coming along famously and I can't wait for you guys to read it. *sigh* Okay, I'll quit jabbering now and will get on to the personal thank you's. :-)
Curly29: Thanks for reviewing! I love the twins too! Torturing them is really hard to do, but.........necessary. Will they die? Hmmmmm, we'll see. :-) Thanks for reviewing!
Talentedwithapen: Thanks so much for taking time to review! *blushes* I'm really flattered by your comments! Thanks so much! I'm really glad that you enjoy the story so much! :-) Thanks!
Skahducky: *blushes* Thank you so much! I'm honored by your comments! I'm really glad you enjoy the story! Keep reading! It gets better. ;-)
ElVeNdEsTiNy: HEY!! *hugs* How are you?? I haven't heard or talked to you in a while! How are ya? I already said that. Sorry. Just was really excited and really surprised to get reviews from you! :-) Thanks for taking the time to do so! I really enjoyed your comments. Wow! Thank you so much for your praises! I'm the best writer you've read on ff.net??? WOW! Thank you so much! I'm so honored to be held in such high opinion! That is so cool, you know? I'm so glad! I *do* hope to write a book. I'm in the process of doing so. You guys can be sure that if it actually does get published, I'll be sure to tell you all! :-) Yes, I've got an LOTR story. Rather abstract, actually. It's kinda on hold, but I'm waiting for inspiration. Writer's block. Ick. I hate it. I hope it gets done soon so you can read it! :-) I'm so glad you like Artemis! I really am! I was afraid that I would write her as a Mary-Sue, but I was assured by others that that wasn't so, and I'm glad you guys don't think so. It really means alot. Doesn't Artemis (the goddess) rock? I love her and I love the name, and it's rather appropriate for THIS Artemis as well, but that comes later. ;-) Thank you so much for ALL your praise! I only hope I deserve them. I remember when I first started posting this story and I didn't think I'd ever get tons of reviews like several of my friends' HP stories. But now..........thank you so much! I can't say that enough! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! ;-)
Quiet One: AAHHH!! One of my fab new reviewers!! Thanks so much!! I was so thrilled to read your comments and critiques! Ahh, a friend of Hollie's, eh? THANK YOU HOLLIE!!!! :-) Seriously though, I'm really glad you found this and actually enjoy it! Thats mainly why I write, just to give out something for people to enjoy. I'm so glad I'm not working in vain. :-) You know, I think the reason why we girls like Malfoy is the bad boy image. It just gets us every time. Cute and a bad boy. Just a daring combination. I'm with you! :-) Ah! A cookie!! *eats happily while reading Quiet One's reviews* I agree with you. Hermione DOES need to get a life other than her schooling, which Ron tries desperately to get her to do. *sigh* She'll learn eventually.......I hope. :-) Heh-heh, I like to talk to stories too. I do that a little too much in my reviews. I'm just like, "GAH! NO! Don't do that you prat! What are you THINKING?" and I'm SURE that the authors are like, 'ooooohhhh what's this person on?'. *grins* But I can't help it. It's a habit. "A stink bomb especially for divination, I'm sure Trelawny feels special. I'm sure that made a great combination with that scented smoke she always has." LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!! I laughed SO hard when I read that! Really good point! *grins and begins to laugh again at the thought, or rather, the smell.* Yes, Quidditch games are really hard to write. I found that out with this story. This was my first HP story and I was like, 'okay, this'll be easy'....................no comment. But seriously, you've got to consider all the players, their actions, movements, everything. Very tiring. My GOODNESS, you're sharp! I'm not going to say why, or to what comment that you made, but you are on to many things. Keep your eyes open. The greatest compliment I've received here, not only from you, but from other people, is that when they're reading this story, it's almost like they're reading the books. That is such an amazing compliment and it just makes me so exceedingly happy that I can't put it into words. Thank you SO much! I am so glad that everyone loves this story so much! It just makes me so happy! Welcome to the story! Hope you enjoyed the chapter, er, despite the cruddy ending. :-) Thanks for all your comments!!
Silver Elf: (love your name by the way, don't think I've told you that. Don't mind me, I've got a fetish for author names! *wink*) Thank you so much! I try to space the updates till everybody who usually reviews gets a chance to read it so they won't get behind. I know what THAT'S like to get behind in a story. :-) *grins* Here! I'll take one of those badges!! *pins on the badge for the 'Society for the protection of Fred and George Weasley'* Thanks! Okay! Lets go save Fred n' George! :-) I love them too. They're two of my favorites, and the actors who portray them are just sweet as can be. LOL! I loved it when you bapped Draco over the head. :-) Not that he didn't deserve it. *grins* Thanks so much for your comments. I really enjoy reading your reviews! You're so funny, sweet and enthusiastic! It puts a smile on my face any day. :-) Yep, I thought I was particularly evil with the cliffhangar for the last chapter, and I'm pretty sure that I'm gonna have to hide from the reviewers because of the cliffy in THIS chapter. *locks self in protective bunker* But I'm trying to keep true to the books and J.K.'s style, so I pretty much had to end it here. Thanks for all your comments! Luv ya!
Balizabeth: Hullo, luv! Thanks so much for your praise! (I grin every time I read your reviews, 'My Muse'. I'm just so thrilled to be such a talented writer's muse!! *grin*) Thanks for your comments! I personally believe that though Fred and George are goofy, fun-loving and cheerful, I think they're smarter than they let on. Their haggling and persistance in "Goblet of Fire" rather gave us a hint of that. *shivers* That part was pretty scary. I had goosebumps when I was writing it and I was hating myself for doing it to them, but it had to be done. Oooh! You believe in Neville too?? Cool! I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that he will be more than he seems in the coming books. When I read her books, I've come to realize that she tends to use the smallest characters to use in her plot twists, the most unexpected. I try to build upon that and use it to my advantage in this story and my next story. Yeah, the teaching of the Unforgiveables was *pretty* freaky. But something I anticipated would happen soon. Next year, (or rather in this story's sequel) there will be alot more involvement with these curses. *blushes BRIGHT red* Thanks so much! No, I don't usually write poetry, but I thought that the poem in this story was the best I've ever written. Thanks! I'm really glad you liked it so much! I did read your update! It was phenomenal! I will probably get around to reviewing it, maybe sometime in the evening over the next few days. Not sure when. My schedule is pretty ratty, so who knows? But I promise that I *will* review it! It was marvelous! Thanks so much!
Nitwit, Blubber, Oddment, Tweak: Yeah! You're back! I was wondering where you got off to! Yes, the chapters have been getting MUCH creepier, and will continue to do so in later chapters. :-) The second poem was actually part of the play, "As You Like It", by William Shakespeare. Act 3, Scene 5, if you're curious. :-) It just fit in so well that I had to use it, and *eventually* makes way for chilling discoveries. It actually does have great significance in the plot of this story........but you've got to figure it out for yourself. *grins* I AM evil, aren't I? OH! You are SO lucky! Seeing the film on premiere day?? *pouts* Bugger. Oh well, I did get to see it! Wasn't it fab? Just amazing? I loved it! I was crouched in my seat, watching the basilisk scene through my fingers. Fabulous! The special effects were amazing and the kids were great! Especially Rupert Grint. :-) My one qualm was that they gave most of Ron's dialogue about the wizarding world to Hermione, in Hagrid's hut, you remember? That was my only problem. RON IS SMART PEOPLE! HE DOES KNOW SOMETHING!! HE WAS BORN AND RAISED A WIZARD!! GAHHH!! :-) Okay, I'm done. :-) But all and all, fab. Loved Christian Coulson's (Tom Riddle) performance as well. Just chilling, that one. I'm totally with you on Richard Harris. It was so unexpected. *sigh* He'll be missed, that's for sure. Such an interesting guy. Ahh, getting kicked of my *cough* sisters *cough* That sounds familiar!! :-) Thank you so much! Your comments are so helpful to me!!
Torrential Zephyr: Buddy!! *gives T.Z. a gargantuan hug* Glad to see you! Or rather, hear from you. :-) Thats okay about your delay. I love movie fests! and I can also understand how they can be rather, er, time consuming, shall we say. *grins* Thats how I feel that Harry will react to Ron and Hermione if they become a couple. I mean, they're all friends, but he'll be only slightly jealous, not terribly, but slightly, just because he's somewhat left out of the loop. Glad you liked it. Thanks! Glad you liked my poetry. It was worth all those revisions for as well as it came out! I was so relieved everyone liked it! :-) Can I just not get little things past you, or what??? :-) Your comment about Athena is quite good. Keep that little fact, the fact about Artemis purchasing her, in mind. It's quite an important fact, which might not be revealed in this story, but in its sequel. *shakes head* Well spotted, you little clever person you! :-) I'm really glad you enjoyed reading the D.A.D.A. class! I rather enjoyed writing it and this class also is important to future events in the story. I enjoyed reading it when I was reviewing my stuff, making sure I got every little mess-up (which I obviously didn't. *grins*). Oh you're not the only one who got goosebumps. Fred and George, those Weasleys. They were giving me a horrendous case of the goosebumps when I was *writing* this chapter. *shudder* It freaks me out frankly. Pretty sad, when my own works freak me out. :-) Nope! You're not the only person who talks to the characters! I do TOO! *pulls out a badge reading N.S.O.F.T.* National Society of Fan Talkers, want one? :-) I admit, I get a little mad when I'm reviewing. :-) Nope. Harry and Cho, not for me. No way. Just wanted to give Harry a little relief, a little bit of a fulfilling for his crush. But no, I don't think they'll go anywhere. *sigh* You are one sharp, clever fan. You, you, well, you are. Stick to your reviews and look over the stuff that you noticed. You might discover some things. And if you do, I'll be shocked. :-) Thanks so much! Luv ya!
Sarah Minks: Hey! How are ya? Haven't heard from you in a while! But then again if you've got a hard schedule, I know how that is! :-) Hope things are going well. I'm really glad you enjoy the story! Martin Wothes was the boy referred to in the very beginning of the story. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred and George met him in Diagon Alley after he was tricked by one of Fred and George's numerous joke contraptions. After Bill apparated into the Weasley home, he informed Mrs. Weasley that it had been reported that a Slytherin, Martin Wothes, was killed. Just to kinda refresh your memory a bit. ;-) Glad you like the story! Thanks for reviewing!
Kora: Hey! Yep, Merlin rocks my socks. Had to use him in the story. He's just too cool in myth and legend not to use. I didn't mean to characterize Christopher Lee actually. I do have great respect for him as an actor because you're right, he IS amazing! A fabulous actor! But those are the only films I can recall *clearly* having seen him in, so that's all I remember. So in my funky little mind, I just compare Dumbledore/Richard Harris and Christopher Lee and (inevitably) Saruman. Just the funky way my mind works. :-) I'd love Ian McKellan though. Don't know. Really glad you enjoyed the chapter! :-)
Hollie: Oh don't worry about being sidetracked! I've had that happen to ME too recently! I totally understand! It's completely alright! :-) Just glad you made it! Oooohhh!! 4,000 words?? I can't wait to read your update! I can tell it's gonna kick well, erm, *whispers* arse. :-) I can't wait to read it! KEEP WRITING!!! Oh yez, there IS a reason for Rhiannon teaching them the Unforgiveables. A reason to come all too soon. Okay, I'll say this: THE SITUATION WITH THE EYES *WILL* BE CLEARED UP IN THE NEXT CHAPTER! PROMISE, CROSS MY HEART, HOPE TO DIE, OTHERWISE I'LL LET FRED N' GEORGE THROW WATER BOMBS IN MY EYE. *chuckle* I promise. :-) It will be cleared up. *grins and rubs hands* Can't wait to see what you guys think of it. I am terribly cruel, aren't I? Just fiendish. And this cliffy ain't much better. In fact, in some ways, I think it's worse!! Evil, just evil. :-) I LOVED THE MOVIE!! IT ROCKED!!! KICKED LOTS OF BOOTAY! :-) Oh, I most certainly agree. Tom Felton, that little bum, is one of the cutest little buggers on screen. *sigh* Along with the others, Fred (James), George (Oliver Phelps), Oliver Wood (Sean Biggerstaff), Dan and Rupert, but they're cute in a different way. Tom is cute in a, well, *dangerous* way. :-) Don't give me this crap about him not being a heartthrob because he's growing up. If anything, it'll make him even more of a heartthrob! :-) But I'm glad you couldn't steal him from the film screen! Otherwise *I* wouldn't have been able to see him!
Draco: Why are you wearing glasses?
Goyle(Harry): Oh, um, reading.
Draco: Didn't know you could read. Huh.
CLASSIC! I was laughing so hard in that part! So great! But it was only accentuated by his facial expressions! *sigh* Great job, kids, great job. *chuckles* I'd give J.K. a run for her money, huh? I'd certainly love a share in that money. :-) Thanks so much though! Your comments make me blush as red as Ron. :-) And you know that's bad. Yeah, who knows. I could see Ian McKellan as Dumbledore. He's British anyways. Or at least somewhere in that spectrum of the country. But he could be an unknown too. Who knows? Ahhh, don't get me started on Orlando Bloom. *sighs dreamily* Now HE could be in the HP films and I wouldn't cry. ;-) Now, who could he play???? Hmmm................I KNOW!! BILL! HE COULD PLAY BILL! He'd just have to dye his hair red and keep it long. Well a wig, whatever. I dunno. Could I see that? I'm trying. Who knows, maybe the film people will read my mind and do it anyways! :-) That would rock my socks. *sigh* I can't wait for your new chapter. Ooh good! More about Adele! I knew from the beginning, there was just.....something. Something odd. Can't wait to figure it out! Alright! Cool! More to Kelly, the issues get more complicated. *evil cackling* I love it when things get complicated! Makes this a lot more interesting!! :-) Ginny is an interesting character to write. She's in the sequel to this more, and she's already proving interesting. AAHHH! Can't wait till you guys can read the sequel, although there's TONS to go. This next one's plot is so complex. Really involved. *sigh* I'll just have to be patient. Being patient builds character. :-) I never get bored reading your reviews! I love reading about them! Don't worry about rambling! I find them very interesting. Now you probably think I'm really *odd* but I do. :-) I love reading about what my reviewers think and stuff. Makes my day. Thank you so much for all your comments! I love them and hold them in VERY high esteem! Thanks again!!
Thanks you guys! You're all amazing! Remember: IN THE NEXT CHAPTER, MOST OF THE THINGS BROUGHT UP IN THIS STORY WILL BE REVEALED AND PUT INTO THE LIGHT. heh-heh. Can't wait to hear what you think about it. :-) Thanks again!
Yours,
T.H.