What a cliffhanger, ne?

My fault entirely. E.g, I couldn't be bothered to make any more up, and I ran out of time.

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Chapter 2 – The Speed Demon

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"What the…." Ron groaned, lifting his head off the floor. "What happened?"

"Those…people…Where did Harley and Quinn go?" Hermione asked, rubbing her elbow where she had hit it.

Harry was speechless. Who were those people who had just entered the carriage and left just as unexpectedly? Where had Harley and Quinn apparated? And why didn't the boy want anyone to know about them?

"Harry?" asked Hermione tentatively. "Are you ok?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah….I'm ok, thanks….It's just…..When those people came in….I swear my scar itched really bad. Who were they?" Harry was confused.

"What people? Who?" demanded Ron. "And why didn't you wake us up?"

"You were both out cold." Explained Harry. "I couldn't have woken you if I'd tried."

"Ron, has there been any funny goings on in the wizarding world over the summer? You know the Dursleys won't let me let Hedwig get me a paper."

"Actually, come to think of it… Hang on." Ron rustled around in his trunk, and found what he was looking for. "Here it is," he said. "The Daily Prophet. Take a look at that."

Ron opened the paper and turned a few pages. He pointed to an article that was titled, "WHO IS THE SPEED DEMON?"

Harry read aloud: "Who is the mysterious figure that has been spotted wreaking havoc around the country?

Named by local villagers in Moray, Scotland, where the figure was first spotted as the 'Speed Demon', he flies around on a black broomstick, described to have a red lightning streak on the end.

Curiously, the Speed Demon first appeared the morning after a terrible fire in a warehouse in Moray.

The caretaker, one Alasdair Carmichael, is believed to have been killed by the fire.

His cousin, Cain McBride, is recovering from smoke inhalation in St. Mungo's hospital for Magical Maladies, and is anxiously waited upon for news of the fire, and whether he knows if Carmichael lives.

The Ministry of Magic questioned Alasdair Carmichael's brother, Griffin Carmichael, yesterday.

He said little, but his statement was, "Alasdair woke up early and came downstairs to tell me that the lights in the warehouse were on. I reminded him the warehouse did not have lights, and he said that's why he was going to check.

My cousin, Cain, went with him while I stayed to look after the Inn. He must have been feeling a bit strange, because he told me to give any customers the Seaview Room."

When asked what was wrong about the Seaview room, Griffin did not reply, but instead shook his head and said he had no more to say. He will be questioned again tomorrow."

Next to the article, a picture of a man on a broom flying through trees in a hazy blur was printed in black and white. Like all pictures in the wizarding world, it was animated, and the man repeatedly flew past the frame of the picture, over and over again, stuck on a loophole.

"Wow…" murmured Hermione. "I didn't get the Daily Prophet yesterday, so I didn't know…That's actually quite scary…"

"When's the next Hogsmeade weekend, Hermione?" Harry suddenly asked.

"The second week into school…Why?" Hermione looked confused as she watched the plan forming in Harry's mind. "Why, Harry?"

"I'm going to go and visit Cain in St. Mungo's." Harry decided. "And you're all going to come with me."

"You what?!" Ron's mouth dropped open. "How do you expect to get from Hogsmeade to St. Mungo's?!"

"By train…" murmured Hermione. "Aren't you Harry?"

"Yep. I want to talk to him about the whole thing…" Harry's mind flooded with possible questions. He had to know about those people on the train and he had a feeling that Cain might have something to do with it.

But before he could further his conversation, the train journey ended, and they got off into the light rain and waited for the carriages to arrive.

He shouted 'Hello' to Hagrid who was coaxing the first years into the boats across the lake.

"Wotcher, 'Arry! Y'alright? 'Ad a nice summer?" Hagrid bellowed across the rushing crowd.

"Not much!" Harry shouted back. "It's not possible when Dudley's around!"

They both laughed, and went their separate ways to the castle.

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Meheh.

Thankies for the reviews, and the 'little ants' was intended as 'Read on to be March on,' cuz they have that song? You know? The ants came marching one by one hurrah, hurrah, the ants came marching one by one hurrah, hurrah…

Anways, R&R like crazy bees, peeps!

Luv you all

CB xx