Teotihuacan

Chapter Six-Fire!

Ron and I sat outside on the grounds. It was a beautiful night out. The stars twinkled in the midnight sky and the full moon hung casting a silvery glow over the grounds.

"It's really beautiful out here," I said, staring up at the sky.

"Yeah, it is," Ron agreed nervously coughing.

We sat on a stone bench just outside the Great Hall. Ron was sitting beside me.

"So, what do you want to talk about?" I asked, clasping my hands on my lap.

"Um," Ron began.

I could see he was really nervous.

"I-I really like you," Ron began. "I think you're really pretty."

I felt touched and flattered.

"Oh…thank you. I really like you too," I said, softly.

I had just realized that I liked Ron more than Harry. My heart was telling me to go with Ron. Plus, I didn't want to hurt Hermione.

Ron's ears blushed bright pink.

We sat for a while before Ron leaned close and kissed me. I kissed him back just as softly and gently. He was embarrassed.

"That was nice," I said, smiling.

"Yeah," Ron said, softly.

"Let's go back into the Great Hall. Harry and Hermione are probably wondering where we are," I suggested.

He nodded and took my hand as we headed back into the Hall.

Over the past few weeks, Ron and I grew close. Our first class today was the Care of Magical Creatures. I haven't been able to be introduced to the teacher who teaches that course.

The Gryffindor's and Slytherin's headed outside onto the grounds.

Hagrid was standing in front of a paddock. Ron hesitated.

"I hope do dear God he's not showing us those Blast Ended Skrewts again," Ron said, slowly.

I looked at him.

"Why?"

Hermione launched into the whole story. When she was done, I grinned and understood why they weren't too happy about the prospect of meeting the Blast Ended Skrewts again. There were paddocks set up.

"I don't think so," Harry said, as he stood on his toes to peer over the paddock railing.

"Can you see what they are?" I asked.

"Hmm…just the top of them…they look purple," Harry said.

"Purple?" Ron asked, tilting his head.

"Well, why don't we go over and get a closer look?" Hermione suggested trying not to roll her eyes.

"What a good idea!" Harry said, mockingly.

This time Hermione did roll her eyes and we walked over to the paddock. Hagrid beamed when he spied us.

"'Arry! 'Ermione! Ron! And this is the new lass?" Hagrid asked pleasantly.

I nodded.

 "Yes…Hagrid? This is Katie O'Malley," Harry said, brightly.

"Hello Katie. So, what do yeh think of 'Ogwarts?" Hagrid asked.

"I love it. It's amazing! So much bigger than my school back in Ireland," I said, beaming.

Hagrid smiled.

"I'm glad yeh like it here. These three are the best friends anyone could ask for,"

Don't I know it…they have no idea about the fire that's going to happen tonight, but I'm not going to let it happen again and risk losing them.

"What are we learning about today, Hagrid?" Harry asked, peering over the railing cautiously.

"Gorgrenad's," Hagrid said brightly.

Gorgrenad's were about the size of cats with purple fur and bright white eyes. One scratch from them though can cause the person to be disoriented for about 1 hour. They resembled cats but had that color fur and eyes.

That's why you don't really get them annoyed at you or they'll swipe at you.

"Are they…friendly at all?" Hermione asked.

"Oh definitely! Just don' get 'em mad or they'll give yeh a nasty swipe," Hagrid said.

Hermione and I put our arm over the railing. Two of the Gorgrenad's came over and rubbed our hands with their heads.

Malfoy then leaned over the railing. The Gorgrenad just looked at him and arched its back.

"Eh, Malfoy? I think yeh'd best back away," Hagrid said, warily as his eyes were locked on the Gorgrenad.

"Why? He isn't going to attack me or anything…he's just arching his back," Malfoy protested sneering.

"It means he's mad," I said.

"Shut up, piggy," Malfoy spat.

Ron glared at Malfoy.

"Don't call her an 'piggy' you self-indulged prat!" Ron snarled.

Malfoy pulled out his wand and aimed it at Ron. Ron pulled his wand out also and aimed it at Malfoy. Harry and Hermione stood beside Ron with theirs out as well.

"You're going to stand up for this pig?" Malfoy asked, looking at Katie with disgust.

"She's not a pig," Harry spat.

"You're something else, Potter. You love Mudbloods and Pigs," Malfoy said, sneering.

Crabbe and Goyle snickered beside Malfoy.

The rest of the Gryffindor's were watching intently. I knew what was going to happen. This is when I was hit with the Brealort spell.

"Malfoy, I think yeh'd best be quiet," Hagrid said, quietly.

Malfoy ignored him.

"Why don't I teach you a lesson?" Malfoy said as he moved the wand onto Harry. "Brealort!"

A thin jet of white shot out from the tip of Malfoy's wand.

"NO!" I cried.

HERMIONE.

She jumped in front of Harry. The spell hit her right in the chest and she fell backwards. She was lying on her back with her wrists lying near her ears and her head was turned to the left. She wasn't moving.

"You bastard!" Ron growled as he went to curse Malfoy, but Harry had beaten him to it.

"Forenser!"

Malfoy dodged the jet of purple and the spell kept going into the Forbidden Forest.

"ENOUGH!" Hagrid bellowed.

Everyone jumped.

"Malfoy, I'm talking to Professor Snape. You started this! Harry, Ron and Hermione? You take Katie up to the hospital wing," Hagrid snapped.

I tucked my wand back into my robe and crouched down beside Katie. Harry did the same. With his help, we managed to carry Katie and we walked back toward the castle. Ron kept throwing Malfoy violent glared and he was seething.

"I can't believe he did that!" Ron snarled.

"I know…right now we've got to get Katie back to her old self," I replied.

We reached the hospital wing and laid Katie down on one of the cots. Madam Pomfrey came over.

"What's wrong?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

"She was hit with a Brealort spell," I replied.

"She'll be okay…won't she?" Ron squeaked.

"Of course. It'll wear off in about a half an hour," Madam Pomfrey said.

Ron, Harry and I breathed a sigh of relief.

An hour later, Katie moaned and opened Her eyes. I felt totally relieved. She saw Ron, Harry and I sitting beside her on the bed.

"Hey, what happened?" she asked.

Her voice came out watery and strained.

Ron's face lit up like a Christmas tree. Harry and I were beaming.

"Hey! How do you feel?" Harry asked, gently.

"Like I did a belly flop in the water," Katie moaned.

"You were hit with a Brealort spell," I said.

"Who hit me with that?"

"Malfoy,"

"Why?"

"Because you corrected him," Ron muttered bitterly. "Stupid prat."

"But don't worry. We're going to get back at him," Harry added viciously.

"No, we're not. He'll get his if Hagrid speaks to Snape," I scolded glaring at him.

"That'll never work! You know how Snape is! He loves his students! God forbid one of them gets into trouble!" Ron snorted.

"We'll still let Hagrid handle this," I said, firmly.

Ron muttered something, but I couldn't hear him.

"When can I leave?" Katie asked.

Just then, Madam Pomfrey entered the hospital wing again. She had stepped out for a moment.

"Madam Pomfrey? When can Katie leave?" Ron asked.

Madam Pomfrey checked Katie over.

"Well, it' been a half an hour. If she feels okay she can leave now," Madam Pomfrey said.

"I feel okay," she said, smiling. "I feel like a million bucks."

"Okay then…off you go,"

Ron and Harry helped me off the cot and back to the Gryffindor common room.

A fire had been lit and it crackled gently.

"I hate Malfoy even more," Harry muttered.

"I know…but I have a feeling that he'll get paid back for everything he's done to us and to others," I said.

KATIE.

I checked my watch. 11:10. In a matter of fifty minutes, the fire would begin. I decided to tell them what happened.

I took a deep breath.

"Listen you guys…I have something very important to tell you," I said, slowly.

All three were listening intently.

"What is it?" Harry asked, intrigued.

"There's going to be a fire at midnight," I said.

They didn't blink nor budge.

I went on.

"Everyone inside Gryffindor tower will die when it collapses," I continued.

"How do you know this?" Hermione asked.

I took another deep breath.

"You see, this is the second time I reliving this. I relived the entire week to try and stop the fire from happening. I don't know how, but it was like I was sent back in time," I said.

Harry and Ron looked at each other.

"Please…I'm telling you the truth! We've got to get everyone out of the tower!" I said urgently.

All three of them exchanged looks.

"Now you know how I know you three already!" I cried. "Please believe me!"

Hermione looked at me.

"I believe her. I don't think she's lying," Hermione said, slowly.

"Who starts the fire?" Harry asked.

"I don't know…I never found out," I said.

Harry and Ron were silent. Finally, Harry spoke.

"Okay. Things are starting to add up. I believe you. How do we go about getting everyone out?"

"I don't know…just tell them that there's a meeting down in the Great Hall," I said.

Harry winked.

"Let's go to the boy's dorm,"

He and Ron got up and headed into the boy's dorm. Hermione and I took the girl's.

They reluctantly believed us but headed down to the Great Hall. Everyone was out of the tower.

Just as we were about to leave, Malfoy appeared at the Gryffindor's common room's entrance.

"What are you doing here?" Harry demanded.

"You got me into trouble," Malfoy snarled.

"Because you deserved it!" Ron growled at him.

"Well, I've got a little surprise for you," Malfoy snapped.

He pulled out his wand and aimed it at the floor of the common room.

"Fireductus!" he shouted.

A jet of orange shot out from the tip of his wand and hit the floor. A wall of fire erupted and circled us.

"Bye now," Malfoy smirked.

"OOH THAT PRAT!" Ron yelled angrily.

"My God…he started the fire," I said, quietly as I felt my body shaking.

The fire was crackling loudly and it was starting to get hot and thick gray smoke began rising to the ceiling.

"Hermione? Do you know a spell to freeze the fire?" I asked, as I began choking.

"Just one! It will only freeze it for a few seconds!" Hermione coughed, pressing her face into the sleeve of her robe.

"Do it!" Harry said.

Hermione pulled out her wand and aimed it at the fire.

"Iciclieus!" Hermione shouted.

A jet of blue shot out and hit the fire. Immediately, it was frozen like ice.

"GO!" Hermione cried.

Hermione, Ron and Harry jumped over the wall. But then, it unfroze, trapping me.

HERMIONE.

Katie was trapped behind the wall. Harry threw his hands up over his face to shield himself from the flames.

"Do it again!" Harry commanded.

"I can't! It has to reset itself after 30 seconds! The spell won't work until 30 seconds pass!" I protested.

"She's trapped!" Ron cried.

"I know!" I cried.

"Isn't there another spell?" Ron demanded.

"No!" I said, as I began coughing.

"Dammit!" Ron yelled.

"RON! Go get Professor Dumbledore!" Harry said.

Ron took off running.

Katie was trapped and I could see her through the flames coughing and sinking to her knees.

"The smoke will be too much for her!" I cried,

"I can't believe that git," Harry hissed.

"Right now, we've got to worry about Katie!" I cried.

"I know!" Harry said.

A few moments later, Ron returned with Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape.

"Good Lord!" Professor McGonagall cried.

We saw Katie collapse.

"KATIE!" Ron yelled.

He went to lunge into the fire, but Harry and I held him back.

"You three, go down stairs now!" Professor Dumbledore said.

With much protesting, we dragged Ron downstairs and watched out of one of the Great Hall's windows. The entire Gryffindor house was watching as well.

Then, there was a groaning and the Gryffindor tower…collapsed.