Chapter VII: Spies and Lies
Gryffindor Tower was swarmed with hives of students chattering. Some thought that there was another serpent loose. Others believed that Chad had died. But it was clear that something was terribly wrong. Hermione desperately tried to get the children in order, but it was quite hard. Similar problems occurred with Ron who could barely get a "be quiet" in without a student talking over him.
Harry soon arrived with a few other Gryffindors who immediately ran over to siblings crying in the crowd. A loud clank alerted the Prefects and students that the doors were being locked by spells so that no one could leave. Although this would make them safe, it also made them paranoid that something was out there that could harm them.
"Ron, is it true about, well," Harry said and then whispered, "Chad's death."
In response, Ron shook his head, "Don't think so, mate, but not entirely sure. Oh, Ginny, don't cry!"
The youngest Weasley, although not young at all, started to streak tears down her reddened cheeks. She brushed aside her very long red hair that now had blonde tips added to the ends of them. Ineffectively she tried to hold in her tears, knowing Harry was watching her in this emotional wreck.
As Ron hurried over to her side, Harry strolled off toward the window that he had looked through earlier. No one was outside this time though. All Harry could hear were the whines, wails and woes of the Gryffindors crowding the common room. Hermione and Ron had started separating the older students from the younger and assigning students to watch over others.
However, one student in particular was not a part of the crowd. Kimberly Hooch approached Harry silently and grinned a devilish look. She had recently put on make-up, perhaps to impress Harry or someone else. Thick blue eye shadow crackled her lids and pearly gloss shined over her lips. A few swirls of rosy pink smeared across her round cheeks as a few strands of her now curled hair spiraled down top of it.
"Hello," she said in a much sweeter voice than before. "See any invisible things again?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Is there something I can do for you?"
"Yes," she giggled. "And it involves invisible things."
Intrigued, Harry leaned forward as Kimberly started to whisper into his ears. "I'm going to sneak out of here."
"That's funny. The doors are locked."
"I have a master ball," she began, "that can open them. It's my mother's. I take it from time to time. But, I need your invisibility cloak that I've heard so much about. You can come with me if you want."
"Where would you go?"
"Anywhere but here. Is there a place you want to go?"
For a second, Harry thought she was coming on to him. But, this was also his chance to see what was really going on with that Marcus fellow. Quickly, he nodded his head and ran off into the boys' dorm rooms. The chest containing his cloak was locked underneath his bed. It took him a few tries to open it, and when he finally did, his beautiful cloak shined through.
He grabbed it and tucked it under his robe so that others wouldn't see it and get suspicious. Slowly, he tiptoed down the stairs and approached Kimberly once again who hadn't moved one inch from her spot. Harry winked at her, signaling her to go to the corner with him and get under the cloak.
"Do you have that master ball of yours with you?"
She nodded and took out an orange ball, no bigger than a marble, from her pocket. After seeing it, Harry nodded and pulled out his cloak. Quickly, he and Kimberly hid underneath it and crept toward the door. It was much more difficult than they expected. Students were everywhere, and if just one of them stepped on the cloak, they would be seen.
After a good ten minutes, they reached the main doorway. Harry watched as Kimberly rubbed the master ball and gently placed it on the door. For a second, the exits cracked open and immediately shut again.
"That's never happened before," she whispered and tried it again. But, the doors slammed shut just as they did before.
"Maybe it's because you have the cloak in between. Extend your hand out a little. Just a little."
Kimberly agreed and pushed through her thumb and index finger. After pressing it on the exit, she waited. Suddenly, the doors swung from both sides, and they quickly ran through them. After about five seconds, the doors closed by themselves.
"That's some little marble," Harry whispered and smiled. Surprisingly, Kimberly leaned forward with puckered lips. Harry rapidly turned away. "I think we should go to Marcus Malfoy's office right near Slytherin House."
"Why?"
"I need to see something. You don't have to come with me."
Kimberly thought to herself then responded, "You'll need me to open his office door."
Harry smiled, quite cheerful that she was on his side. They waited a few seconds to make sure the coast was clear before walking over toward the Slytherin House. Luckily, everyone was already in their Towers so no one was on the stairs. For some odd reason, the moving stairs were no longer moving at all.
It didn't matter though since the path to the Slytherin House was clear. They started to pick up their pace, knowing that it would only be a matter of time until the doors were unlocked if they ever would be.
"It's on the right," Kimberly whispered.
"How do you know where his office is?"
"Mother has all the updated maps of Hogwarts. I have one hanging over my bed. You can go look at it when we go back to the Gryffindor Tower."
"Um… We'll see. Shush, his door is open."
Harry and Kimberly slowly approached Marcus Malfoy's office to spot a large oak door completely unhinged from the sides. Holding their breaths, they entered through the doorway to spot two unmasked wizards standing in front of a globe of the ancient world. Immediately, Harry recognized the two men. One was of course Marcus Malfoy, and the other… Lucius Malfoy.
"You fool!" Lucius yelled, banging his fist into the air as if to hit something. "You dare use the name Malfoy."
"Mistaken once again, dear brother."
"Half-brother, Marcus. Mother tended to have fresh meat in the bed each day, that whore."
"Wretched liar. Why do you think and say such things? Have you no respect?"
"Respect? I'll tell you about respect!" Lucius grabbed Marcus by the throat and growled in an enraged voice, "When I was eight years old, I walked into our parents' bedroom. Instead of finding father, I found a stranger with our mother in bed. Knowing fully well what was happening, I cursed her and that man she dared bring into our pure-blood home."
"Lucius, I had no idea. I—"
"Shut up! He was your father, Marcus! An unpure blood raised you and perhaps fathered you! That is why you can never go where you think you are going. Give up now.."
"I don't understand. What do you know about what I have you been up to? Do you know whose responsible for these young wizards' illnesses? Please tell me no."
"No. I have no part in that, I promise you. But, I'm afraid that something stains the Malfoy name."
"What?"
"You are so naïve. Do you think that the consul would let me get out of Azkaban? I know someone let me out, but for what purpose? There are several of us just waiting for a chance to—"
"Achoo," Kimberly sneezed.
"Bless you," Lucius said to Marcus.
"I didn't sneeze."
"Then who… Shush, we're being watched."
Just then, Kimberly and Harry ran toward the door at once, no longer worried about not making noise. Lucius followed them quickly and grabbed into the air, hoping to catch someone. Unfortunately, he did grab something.
"Ow!" Kimberly screeched as her hair was being yanked backwards. She tumbled from the invisibility cloak and onto the ground. Lucius smiled, grabbed her and swung her over his shoulder as he carried her back to Marcus's office.
There was no time to rescue her. Instead, Harry ran to the nearest bathroom and threw off the cloak. Running some water, he splashed his red face with cold wetness and regained his breath.
"What am I going to do now," Harry said to himself. He then gulped a few times before realizing that Kimberly had the master ball. There was no way he could get back into the Gryffindor Tower. Alone and wet, Harry stared at himself in the mirror.
An old face peered back at him. A scar faded on his forehead and long hair that needed cutting badly waved around his head. Very thin-framed glasses shielded his eyes, now covered in water. His features were blurred to him.
"If only I could get through those doors. Or perhaps… That's it!"
Harry grabbed his invisibility cloak and wrapped it around him tightly. He then headed out of the bathroom and down the unshifting stairs. Luckily, the windows to the outside of Hogwarts were open and easily able to fit a person through them. Carefully, Harry moved his body through the window, creating a tear in his cloak.
"Damnit," he said, but tried not to worry about it.
Then, Harry ran toward Hagrid's hut and hoped that he was home. Wet dew squished beneath his sore feet as hundreds of thoughts piled through Harry's mind. What would happen to Kimberly? What was that whole thing with the Malfoys? What conspiracy was occurring? Who were these threats coming from?
KNOCK KNOCK. Harry's fist banged on the door fiercely, making sure that anyone inside could hear him. After a second, the door swung open, and a huge man carrying a pitchfork stood confused.
"Harry? What brings ya here at a time like dis? Ya should be inside Hogwarts!"
"I'll try to explain quickly," Harry said as he rushed into Hagrid's hut.
It took about fifteen minutes for Harry to spit out everything he knew from all the threats occurring, McGonagall's behavior, the school being locked down and Marcus Malfoy. The details were a little fuzzy and out of order, but the gist of it was clear; there was trouble at Hogwarts.