I updated faster this time; hopefully, it will be just as fast next time.
*****'
All Hallows Eve. Halloween. The night when, traditionally, the border between the dead and the living was erased. The Bloody Baron had been almost cheerful for days before the holiday, even gracing us with a greeting when we came down the stairs. The Common Rooms were decorated with the most gaudy and tasteless colours and ornaments we could find, and the previously so green and silver Slytherin Den was a vision in purple, black and vomit yellow. Not the most festive of colours, but we didn't care. Halloween was, it was agreed among us, the most tasteless holiday of the season, so of course there had to be tasteless colours.
Only rarely did I have as much fun as I did when we do the Halloween- decorating of our Common Room. It was a tradition started when we were second years, in an attempt from the prefects to cheer us up. Of course, back then it had been much more traditional with enchanted bats and pumpkin heads, but Slytherins never were quite like other Houses, so as the years went by, we put our own twist on it. While festive dolls in various colours, entitled vomit yellow, snot green and such delightful names, nailed up by their heads and dubbed with the names of our most hated enemies might not be everyone's idea of holiday decorations, it had become a sport among us to come up with the most tasteless decoration ever. So far, Marcus Flint and his infamous Guillotine of Terror were the champions.
Of course, everyone was excited about the Halloween Feast as well. Visions of heaps of chocolate, pumpkin pasties and cauldron cakes was enough to make anyone's mouth water, and we were no exceptions. I couldn't concentrate on anything from the moment I woke up. I didn't even retaliate when Cain threw moth-balls at me. I would get the little rascal later though. Maybe I'd dunk him in the lake a few times when we sneaked out to Hogsmeade on our annual drinking binge. Not that we'd let him drink; not even in the Hog's Head did they serve alcoholic drinks to an eleven-year- old. They might try their luck with a sixteen-year-old, though, and I hoped I would be able to fool Madame Rosmerta to get me something less innocent than Butterbeer. One could always hope.
"Blaise, the real world is calling you, and has been for the last five minutes!" Draco slapped my shoulder, and broke me out of my decoration- contemplations, "What're you thinking about? Girls? Please tell me it's girls."
"Oh yes, I'm sitting here on Halloween and contemplating my love-life. In fact, I was just planning the next rendezvous in my steamy love-affair with Granger," I replied dryly, wrinkling my nose. "No, I was thinking of whether to dunk Cain in the lake before or after raiding the Three Broomsticks. The little brat threw moth-balls at me."
"Ye gods, for a moment I thought you were serious," Draco looked nauseated, "Imagine anyone snogging Granger. Bleargh! Anyway, we were leaving now, and wondered if you wanted to come back to this planet for a second or two and come with us."
"Lessee.... Stay here, and stare at the walls," I cocked my head to one side, as if weighing my options, "Or go to the Halloween Feast and stuff myself sick on candy. Hmm, that's a hard choice."
"Shut up," Draco suggested as we exited the gaudy Common Room.
"Ah, stupidity, thy name is Draco," I chuckled.
"Shut up!" Draco suggested with a little more force.
I just winked at him. I hadn't felt this light-hearted in weeks, and I wasn't going to let Draco shut me up.
******'
Feasts at Hogwarts had always been good, and this year was no different. The gaudy, tasteless decorations, set up as a prank by Slytherins and a few Ravenclaws during the night adorned the Great Hall as well, and I could see Dumbledore delighting at them. That man never did have any sense. We Slytherins arrived fashionably late, and settled down amid the whispers and looks of the other Houses. We all silenced as Dumbledore stood up, preparing for his pre-Feast speech.
"Welcome, everyone, to yet another wonderful feast!" He sounded just as mad as I remembered him always sounded at occasions like that, "As a personal favour to all the students this evening, and because Slytherin and Ravenclaw decided to cheer up the Great Hall with their festive decorations, I have extended the curfew tonight; by midnight you will have to be sleeping, I'm afraid. Twenty points to Slytherin and Ravenclaw for their wonderful decoration-skills."
Slytherin's table erupted in wild cheers, and I had my back thumped by Malcolm Baddock, whom I barely knew and didn't like in the least. The Headmaster had give us, the total brats and scum of the school, points for a prank. It was unbelievable. Completely and utterly unbelievable – not only that, it was completely unheard of. After the celebratory throwing of hats and sneering at other people was over with, we settled in to listen again. His speech was far from over.
"Yes, yes, well done Slytherin, well done Slytherin," He smiled at us. "I had hoped that we would be able to have a dance later on in the evening, but in light of recent events, that is, I'm afraid, impossible. Now, tuck in everyone!"
In light of what recent events exactly? There hadn't been any attacks since last term and the Department of Mysteries. Deciding to puzzle over the mystery of the disappearing dance later, I grabbed the closest plate and piled chocolate onto the table in front of me. No need for proper table- manners; this was all about the chocolate. Next to coffee, chocolate is the best thing on the planet. When I'd downed most of a pitcher of pumpkin juice on my own, as well as a rather large plate of assorted candy, I looked around the Hall.
Not everyone seemed to have the same good feast as I was. Potter looked as if he was going to throw up at any moment, and Granger was patting his back and trying to make him feel better. Weasley was stuffing his face as usual, but every now and then he'd say something to Potter and look just as worried as Granger. Something was definitely up with the three of them. It wasn't as if I could have missed it when we were trying to do something about our Defence project in the library. Granger had been jumpy and nervous, and kept looking at my wrist for some reason, when she thought no one was looking. Foolish Gryffindors never learn, do they? It was so bleeding obvious that it was impossible to miss. And I still hadn't figured out what exactly was the reason for her frequent flights from anywhere near me.
She seemed almost afraid when she was alone in the same room as me. It was somewhat insulting. Not that I didn't enjoy having a Gryffindor scared of me, oh no, but I would have felt better if I knew the reason. Easier to exploit it that way. I was just figuring out a way to find out when Millicent chucked a Cockroach Cluster at me. It bounced off my ear and I turned my head. Hopefully, she hadn't seen me studying the Unholy Trinity. She could get so many ideas that one.
"What?" I mumbled, still a bit distracted.
"I said, when do we leave for Hogsmeade?" She looked annoyed with me.
"I don't know. As soon as we can get out of here without being too obvious." I looked around, "Who's coming anyway?"
"Well, you and me, obviously, then there's Draco, and Pansy. Daphne and Tracy said something about coming, but I don't think they will; they've been making eyes at the Ravenclaws all night. Crabbe and Goyle, well, they'll be doing what Crabbe and Goyle do best; follow Draco's orders. Which means they'll stay in the Common Room. They don't like sneaking out anyway. Baddock might be coming, I know Theo will, and Agnes. Anyone you want to add?" Millicent leaned back in her chair, having ticked them all off on her fingers.
"Who's Agnes? I didn't know we had an Agnes." I pointed out, going through the list in my head.
"Well, no one talks to Agnes, so that's no surprise. She's a third year," She nodded down towards the end of the table. A thin, sullen looking girl with long black hair and brown eyes was pushing some cauldron cakes around on her plate, and not talking to anyone. I remembered seeing her before, but never bothered to learn her name.
"Is it a good idea to bring a third year?" I questioned, completely disregarding that I had thought to bring a first year.
"Could be," Millicent shrugged, "She won't make a fuss. You can be sure of that. And she won't pass out under the tables; Lestranges are famous for their ability to hold their drink."
"Lestrange?" Now I was impressed. I must have been asleep during the Sorting ceremony of our second year. Oh, wait. I was. I remembered Millicent poking me in the ribs to keep me awake. I must have missed Agnes. "Interesting. She been in any strange business yet?"
"Nope," Millicent replied, putting some more pumpkin pasties on her plate, "She's odd really. Hasn't said much, or done much, just keeps to herself and does what she's told. Quiet type. Could be dangerous, but just as well be innocent and angelic."
"No Slytherin is angelic, Millie," I grinned, "It's what makes us Slytherins."
"Mmh. Anyone else you want to bring?"
"I was thinking Cain, actually," I said, nodding towards the little boy. "He's lonely. Besides, I want an opportunity to dunk him in the lake."
"A first year? Blaise, you're crazy. Agnes at least has permission to go to Hogsmeade; Cain doesn't have permission to go to the bathroom by himself." Millicent stared at me doubtfully.
"Bah," I waved it away, "If push comes to shove, I can hide him under my cloak. He's small enough."
"Hmmph." Millicent snorted and shook her head.
Word was spread about the Hogsmeade visit among those who were going, and soon everyone on the rather short list knew. The only additions were a disgruntled Gaspar Montague and oddly enough Sarah Moon, who usually kept to herself. The listed Slytherins hung around the Great Hall for a little while longer, keeping up the appearances of enjoying the feast. As the younger Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors began to drop off and leave, a few of us rose as well and left quietly. The rest followed, in ones and twos, until we were all gathered in the Slytherin Common Room. Loitering in the halls was not a good idea with teachers patrolling them. At times like these, even Snape would assign detention to Slytherins if they showed up breaking rules. It was something of a principle.
The actual breaking out of the castle was easy; all you had to do was go into the sixth year boys dormitory, and knock on the correct painting. The hidden exit surfaced just on the other side of the lake, not far from Hogsmeade, and not visible from the castle. Perfect for our excursion. In an effort to be less suspicious, we had changed from our customary robes to something less formal. I ended up in my father's soot-stained old shirt and a pair of black trousers I found in Draco's wardrobe. I almost had a seizure when I saw the rest. Their idea of casual clothing was in some cases hideous, in some cases outright laughable. But, it wasn't as if Madame Rosmerta wouldn't recognise us. It was just that if we wore something else than our robes, she could blame it on that if she ever got accused with serving alcohol to minors. Weird system, but it worked.
Our group occupied two tables in the Three Broomsticks, but weren't the loudest by far. It was someone's birthday, or bachelor-part or whatever, and they were all in the Three Broomsticks, celebrating. After about half an hour, they began walking around among the other patrons, being obnoxious. Someone threw clothes at our table, and was just about to invade our personal space when Millicent hissed at them, snarling like an enraged animal. I unburied myself from the pile of clothing I'd received, mostly thrown over my head, and glared at the drunks. A black top hat had managed to land just over my glass, and I wasn't in a happy mood. Ignoring the requests to get the clothing back, I put the hat on my head.
"Finders keepers," I told Millicent when she raised her eyebrow. "If those idiots find it fit to throw hats at me, then I'll keep them. If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. If life gives you hats, make an impersonation of Jack the Ripper."
"It suits you, in a mad-aristocrat kind of way." Pansy grinned, "Makes you look handsome even."
"Mhm, right," I mumbled, "A top hat and enough drinks and I'm handsome. Maybe I'll try that next time I try to pick up a girl."
"You do that," Draco snickered. He was getting plastered on the firewhiskey he'd managed to charm off Madam Rosmerta, and would laugh at anything.
"And the sarcasm just went way over your head and out the window, didn't it?" I questioned and I looked around for Cain. He should be around somewhere, and I wanted to make sure no one had spiked his drink. Somehow I felt responsible for the kid, and didn't want to see him with a massive hangover courtesy of his not-so-friendly classmates.
I could see Theo and Agnes talking quietly to each other, and Cain was asleep on the table next to them, but it didn't look like anything else than plain exhaustion. Gaspar was sitting next to Millicent, still so oblivious it made me want to strangle him. How could he not see the obvious devotion in Millicent's eyes? One day, I would have to talk to that boy. Draco and Pansy seemed to get along better when plastered, and didn't fight at all. Baddock had stayed back at Hogwarts, too scared of his good reputation with the teachers to risk a trip to Hogsmeade. Who else was there? Oh yes, Moon. She wasn't at the tables.
There was commotion outside, and some shouting, and I got to my feet and headed out to investigate. Most of the group followed me, wondering what was going on. It wasn't often that there were brawls outside the Three Broomsticks. The Hog's Head, yes, but not the Three Broomsticks. I pushed the door open, wondering if it was Moon getting trouble from the local drunks, and froze. Millie pushed me outside, and I stumbled through the doorway, still stunned. I could hear gasps and whispered oaths behind me, but I just couldn't take my eyes off the scene in front of me.
A horrible greenish glow rested over the street. The commotion and shouting was gone, and the horrible silence it left behind was somehow worse. The street was bathed in the greenish glow, and in it I could see every detail. Footsteps in the mud, a necklace ripped to pieces. And in the air, the Dark Mark, hovering like a carrion-bird over a battlefield. An all too familiar scene for most adults, and a scene I in my futile hopes wished that I never would have to get used to. Death Eater attacks.
"Oh Merlin, that's Sarah's necklace." Someone whispered behind me. I felt nauseous.
People were moving behind me, talking to each other loudly and in whispers, repeating themselves. I heard someone mention Hogwarts and Dumbledore, and then Millicent's voice insisting they tell Snape immediately. Someone choking back tears, afraid to let them out in front of others. My legs had given way under me, and I was kneeling in the mud, Moon's necklace in my hands. I didn't remember picking it up, but my mind was so hazy that I wasn't surprised.
I raced through the events of the evening, trying to remember when Moon had gone out of the Three Broomsticks. All I could remember was a clear voice saying that she would go and drop by Honeydukes before we left. I hadn't noticed then, because I had been busy glaring that the party-goers. No one had stopped her. We all thought Hogsmeade was safe, even at night. It was too close to Hogwarts, too close to home. And it frightened me. It frightened me that they could snatch someone so close to us, this close to what we believed was safety. It frightened me that it had been Moon, who only half an hour or so previously had been sitting at the same table as me, drinking Butterbeer and laughing. It frightened me that I hadn't been able to see it coming.
The war had claimed its first victim.
I clutched the necklace in my hand and stood up slowly. I was covered in mud from the waist down, as well as the sleeves of my shirt, I was more than a bit tipsy, eyes red from the late hour and the alcoholic drinks, and my recently acquired hat was still on my head. I was as far from the picture of an immaculate Slytherin as you could get, standing there with the necklace in my hand, staring at it as if it was a life-line. Detachedly, I realised I was furious. But it was not the right time to act on it, and I turned back to my friends.
"We need to get back. Tell Snape about this," I said, and everyone silenced. I hadn't even raise my voice, "We shouldn't have come here."
The glass beads of Moon's necklace were cutting into my hand, and if I didn't let go soon I would be bleeding. Ignoring the pain, I looked around at my friends, to see if they were reacting at all to what I had said. Millicent looked devastated, and Gaspar was holding a hand on her shoulder. Pansy and Draco were standing next to each other, staring at the ground. Theo was shaking, looking pale even in the ghastly green light. Agnes was clinging to his hand and staring at the Dark Mark, no expression on her face. The only thing that betrayed her feelings was the white knuckles on her hand and the slight shaking of her shoulders. Cain, once more awake, was shaking like a leaf in a storm. Only eleven years old, and witness to the leavings of a Death Eater raid. I pitied him.
Some of the villagers were dispatched to follow us back to the school safely and inform the Headmaster of what had transpired. I walked in the front of the group, holding onto Cain's hand. He was still shaking, and looking much younger than he really was. I was still in a daze, just putting one foot in front of the other, holding together solely because of long habit and routine. Moon's disappearance had shocked us all, and it would take a while for us to function like normal again.
I didn't even dwell on the repercussions of our rule-breaking trip. I was much too shaken, and I could feel my self-control falling apart. Not even Snape would punish us for something like this. We would get a severe tongue- lashing for endangering students and being the cause of Moon's disappearance, but no detentions would be assigned, and no points taken. Not for something like this. The teachers had seen too many friends and family lost to Voldemort already for them to punish us for it. There was a war brewing. We had known, intellectually that this would eventually happen. But knowing and experiencing were two different things, and none of us, especially not me, had expected it to be like this. Not this close to home, not this personal.
*****'
McGonagall met us in the Entrance Hall, looking furious. She opened her mouth to deliver a scolding as soon as we stepped inside, but one look at us silenced her. We must have looked horrible. Hopeless, angry, broken, desperate, that was how I felt and from the looks of the others and the shaking of Cain's hand, they weren't much better. The Head of Gryffindor cleared her throat and opened her mouth once more to yell at us, but I got ahead of her.
"Where's Snape?" I could hear my own voice, sounding so different than a few hours ago when Millicent and I were discussing Agnes Lestrange. Now, it was broken and harsh.
"Mr Zabini, may I remind you that you have all broken curfew by several hours?" McGonagall ignored my question.
"Where is Snape?" I hadn't raised my voice, but somehow the whip-crack of anger must have gotten through to her. "Bring him here now."
McGonagall didn't like it, I could tell, but she turned on her heels and walked off to find Snape. The villagers looked nervous, even though most of them must have attended Hogwarts at some time in their life. I still hadn't let go of Cain's hand, though he didn't seem to mind all that much. Snape showed up after a few minutes of tense silence, took one look at our faces, and sent the villages running. Making a gesture for us to follow, he led us down to our Common Room. No one dared to breathe a word in his presence. Gathered in the various armchairs and couches in front of the fireplace, Snape finally looked at us again. It was clear that he was disappointed that we had let ourselves be caught, and by McGonagall of all people, but he knew better than to rant at us. Something had happened, and he wanted to know what it was.
"Well, speak up! Why did McGonagall come and wake me up in the middle of the night?" He prodded, getting impatient.
I threw Moon's necklace, now stained with some of my blood, on the table. It clattered loudly in the ensuing silence. I was tired, my headache was worse than normal, I was drunk, and the image of the Dark Mark floating in the sky was still burned into the inside of my eyelids. I would remember it till the day I died, of that I was sure. Opening my eyes again and fixing my gaze somewhere above everyone's heads, I began to talk.
"We sneak out to Hogsmeade every year on Halloween, and this year was no different. We usually go to the Three Broomsticks. We leave after the Feast, only a few of us, to avoid being noticed. We'd dress in casual clothing to ease our way into the crowd." I kept my voice carefully monotone, and Snape nodded as I talked, "This year, it was Millie, Gaspar, Theo, Draco, Pansy, Agnes, Cain, Moon and myself. We'd been drinking for a few hours, and Cain had fallen asleep, when I noticed Moon wasn't there. At the same time, there was shouting from outside, and sounds of fighting. We went to investigate. All we found was Moon's necklace."
Silence fell like a thick blanket over the group. Snape stared at the necklace silently, before picking it up and turning it over in his hands. He gestured for me to continue, knowing fully well that what I'd said wasn't everything. I cleared my throat, and after a few attempts, I managed to speak again. It was difficult to speak, my throat kept closing up, but somehow, I kept talking.
"Sir, we saw the Dark Mark." My voice was dead. "She'd only been out there for a few minutes, and when we came out, all we found was her necklace and the Mark. How did they do it sir? Why this close to Hogwarts? How could they? This place is supposed to be the safest place in England; how did they get her?"
Snape didn't answer, but behind his eyes, I could see the anger, the same anger I felt. The same anger all of us felt. Even though Millicent was sobbing on Gaspar's shoulder, and Cain was still shaking like mad, I knew all of us would tear the Death Eaters limb from limb given the chance. I was gripping my new hat so hard my fingers hurt, and I stared hopelessly at Snape. If anyone could explain to us, help us, make it right again, it was him. We trusted him completely, all of us. But it seemed even he was stumped. But then he looked up and surveyed us, Moon's necklace still in his hands. I could visibly see him making a decision. It might not have been a conscious one, but it was there.
"I don't know," He answered my query, "I don't know how it happened, or who it was, but I do know why. The Dark Lord is rising, and as the last time, his rise will be marked with death and the disappearance of people. I saw this the last time. Once, near the end, he even took his victim right in here, in the Slytherin Common Room." He gestured to the fireplace, "Those abducted never came back, not in such shape that they were recognisable. They only ever found bits of Boulstridge. I didn't think it would come to this again, hoped it wouldn't. But it has, and I will not stand back and let my students be taken right out of my hands. You are no longer allowed to leave the castle without permission. If I find you outside the walls again, I will chain you up in the dungeons."
He looked down on the necklace again, his knuckles turning white as he gripped it tightly.
"One victim is one too many."
*****'
Ending Notes; this is what turns up on the page when you write and read the Durmstrang Chronicles at the same time. So far, I think it's one of the best chapters.
*****'
All Hallows Eve. Halloween. The night when, traditionally, the border between the dead and the living was erased. The Bloody Baron had been almost cheerful for days before the holiday, even gracing us with a greeting when we came down the stairs. The Common Rooms were decorated with the most gaudy and tasteless colours and ornaments we could find, and the previously so green and silver Slytherin Den was a vision in purple, black and vomit yellow. Not the most festive of colours, but we didn't care. Halloween was, it was agreed among us, the most tasteless holiday of the season, so of course there had to be tasteless colours.
Only rarely did I have as much fun as I did when we do the Halloween- decorating of our Common Room. It was a tradition started when we were second years, in an attempt from the prefects to cheer us up. Of course, back then it had been much more traditional with enchanted bats and pumpkin heads, but Slytherins never were quite like other Houses, so as the years went by, we put our own twist on it. While festive dolls in various colours, entitled vomit yellow, snot green and such delightful names, nailed up by their heads and dubbed with the names of our most hated enemies might not be everyone's idea of holiday decorations, it had become a sport among us to come up with the most tasteless decoration ever. So far, Marcus Flint and his infamous Guillotine of Terror were the champions.
Of course, everyone was excited about the Halloween Feast as well. Visions of heaps of chocolate, pumpkin pasties and cauldron cakes was enough to make anyone's mouth water, and we were no exceptions. I couldn't concentrate on anything from the moment I woke up. I didn't even retaliate when Cain threw moth-balls at me. I would get the little rascal later though. Maybe I'd dunk him in the lake a few times when we sneaked out to Hogsmeade on our annual drinking binge. Not that we'd let him drink; not even in the Hog's Head did they serve alcoholic drinks to an eleven-year- old. They might try their luck with a sixteen-year-old, though, and I hoped I would be able to fool Madame Rosmerta to get me something less innocent than Butterbeer. One could always hope.
"Blaise, the real world is calling you, and has been for the last five minutes!" Draco slapped my shoulder, and broke me out of my decoration- contemplations, "What're you thinking about? Girls? Please tell me it's girls."
"Oh yes, I'm sitting here on Halloween and contemplating my love-life. In fact, I was just planning the next rendezvous in my steamy love-affair with Granger," I replied dryly, wrinkling my nose. "No, I was thinking of whether to dunk Cain in the lake before or after raiding the Three Broomsticks. The little brat threw moth-balls at me."
"Ye gods, for a moment I thought you were serious," Draco looked nauseated, "Imagine anyone snogging Granger. Bleargh! Anyway, we were leaving now, and wondered if you wanted to come back to this planet for a second or two and come with us."
"Lessee.... Stay here, and stare at the walls," I cocked my head to one side, as if weighing my options, "Or go to the Halloween Feast and stuff myself sick on candy. Hmm, that's a hard choice."
"Shut up," Draco suggested as we exited the gaudy Common Room.
"Ah, stupidity, thy name is Draco," I chuckled.
"Shut up!" Draco suggested with a little more force.
I just winked at him. I hadn't felt this light-hearted in weeks, and I wasn't going to let Draco shut me up.
******'
Feasts at Hogwarts had always been good, and this year was no different. The gaudy, tasteless decorations, set up as a prank by Slytherins and a few Ravenclaws during the night adorned the Great Hall as well, and I could see Dumbledore delighting at them. That man never did have any sense. We Slytherins arrived fashionably late, and settled down amid the whispers and looks of the other Houses. We all silenced as Dumbledore stood up, preparing for his pre-Feast speech.
"Welcome, everyone, to yet another wonderful feast!" He sounded just as mad as I remembered him always sounded at occasions like that, "As a personal favour to all the students this evening, and because Slytherin and Ravenclaw decided to cheer up the Great Hall with their festive decorations, I have extended the curfew tonight; by midnight you will have to be sleeping, I'm afraid. Twenty points to Slytherin and Ravenclaw for their wonderful decoration-skills."
Slytherin's table erupted in wild cheers, and I had my back thumped by Malcolm Baddock, whom I barely knew and didn't like in the least. The Headmaster had give us, the total brats and scum of the school, points for a prank. It was unbelievable. Completely and utterly unbelievable – not only that, it was completely unheard of. After the celebratory throwing of hats and sneering at other people was over with, we settled in to listen again. His speech was far from over.
"Yes, yes, well done Slytherin, well done Slytherin," He smiled at us. "I had hoped that we would be able to have a dance later on in the evening, but in light of recent events, that is, I'm afraid, impossible. Now, tuck in everyone!"
In light of what recent events exactly? There hadn't been any attacks since last term and the Department of Mysteries. Deciding to puzzle over the mystery of the disappearing dance later, I grabbed the closest plate and piled chocolate onto the table in front of me. No need for proper table- manners; this was all about the chocolate. Next to coffee, chocolate is the best thing on the planet. When I'd downed most of a pitcher of pumpkin juice on my own, as well as a rather large plate of assorted candy, I looked around the Hall.
Not everyone seemed to have the same good feast as I was. Potter looked as if he was going to throw up at any moment, and Granger was patting his back and trying to make him feel better. Weasley was stuffing his face as usual, but every now and then he'd say something to Potter and look just as worried as Granger. Something was definitely up with the three of them. It wasn't as if I could have missed it when we were trying to do something about our Defence project in the library. Granger had been jumpy and nervous, and kept looking at my wrist for some reason, when she thought no one was looking. Foolish Gryffindors never learn, do they? It was so bleeding obvious that it was impossible to miss. And I still hadn't figured out what exactly was the reason for her frequent flights from anywhere near me.
She seemed almost afraid when she was alone in the same room as me. It was somewhat insulting. Not that I didn't enjoy having a Gryffindor scared of me, oh no, but I would have felt better if I knew the reason. Easier to exploit it that way. I was just figuring out a way to find out when Millicent chucked a Cockroach Cluster at me. It bounced off my ear and I turned my head. Hopefully, she hadn't seen me studying the Unholy Trinity. She could get so many ideas that one.
"What?" I mumbled, still a bit distracted.
"I said, when do we leave for Hogsmeade?" She looked annoyed with me.
"I don't know. As soon as we can get out of here without being too obvious." I looked around, "Who's coming anyway?"
"Well, you and me, obviously, then there's Draco, and Pansy. Daphne and Tracy said something about coming, but I don't think they will; they've been making eyes at the Ravenclaws all night. Crabbe and Goyle, well, they'll be doing what Crabbe and Goyle do best; follow Draco's orders. Which means they'll stay in the Common Room. They don't like sneaking out anyway. Baddock might be coming, I know Theo will, and Agnes. Anyone you want to add?" Millicent leaned back in her chair, having ticked them all off on her fingers.
"Who's Agnes? I didn't know we had an Agnes." I pointed out, going through the list in my head.
"Well, no one talks to Agnes, so that's no surprise. She's a third year," She nodded down towards the end of the table. A thin, sullen looking girl with long black hair and brown eyes was pushing some cauldron cakes around on her plate, and not talking to anyone. I remembered seeing her before, but never bothered to learn her name.
"Is it a good idea to bring a third year?" I questioned, completely disregarding that I had thought to bring a first year.
"Could be," Millicent shrugged, "She won't make a fuss. You can be sure of that. And she won't pass out under the tables; Lestranges are famous for their ability to hold their drink."
"Lestrange?" Now I was impressed. I must have been asleep during the Sorting ceremony of our second year. Oh, wait. I was. I remembered Millicent poking me in the ribs to keep me awake. I must have missed Agnes. "Interesting. She been in any strange business yet?"
"Nope," Millicent replied, putting some more pumpkin pasties on her plate, "She's odd really. Hasn't said much, or done much, just keeps to herself and does what she's told. Quiet type. Could be dangerous, but just as well be innocent and angelic."
"No Slytherin is angelic, Millie," I grinned, "It's what makes us Slytherins."
"Mmh. Anyone else you want to bring?"
"I was thinking Cain, actually," I said, nodding towards the little boy. "He's lonely. Besides, I want an opportunity to dunk him in the lake."
"A first year? Blaise, you're crazy. Agnes at least has permission to go to Hogsmeade; Cain doesn't have permission to go to the bathroom by himself." Millicent stared at me doubtfully.
"Bah," I waved it away, "If push comes to shove, I can hide him under my cloak. He's small enough."
"Hmmph." Millicent snorted and shook her head.
Word was spread about the Hogsmeade visit among those who were going, and soon everyone on the rather short list knew. The only additions were a disgruntled Gaspar Montague and oddly enough Sarah Moon, who usually kept to herself. The listed Slytherins hung around the Great Hall for a little while longer, keeping up the appearances of enjoying the feast. As the younger Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors began to drop off and leave, a few of us rose as well and left quietly. The rest followed, in ones and twos, until we were all gathered in the Slytherin Common Room. Loitering in the halls was not a good idea with teachers patrolling them. At times like these, even Snape would assign detention to Slytherins if they showed up breaking rules. It was something of a principle.
The actual breaking out of the castle was easy; all you had to do was go into the sixth year boys dormitory, and knock on the correct painting. The hidden exit surfaced just on the other side of the lake, not far from Hogsmeade, and not visible from the castle. Perfect for our excursion. In an effort to be less suspicious, we had changed from our customary robes to something less formal. I ended up in my father's soot-stained old shirt and a pair of black trousers I found in Draco's wardrobe. I almost had a seizure when I saw the rest. Their idea of casual clothing was in some cases hideous, in some cases outright laughable. But, it wasn't as if Madame Rosmerta wouldn't recognise us. It was just that if we wore something else than our robes, she could blame it on that if she ever got accused with serving alcohol to minors. Weird system, but it worked.
Our group occupied two tables in the Three Broomsticks, but weren't the loudest by far. It was someone's birthday, or bachelor-part or whatever, and they were all in the Three Broomsticks, celebrating. After about half an hour, they began walking around among the other patrons, being obnoxious. Someone threw clothes at our table, and was just about to invade our personal space when Millicent hissed at them, snarling like an enraged animal. I unburied myself from the pile of clothing I'd received, mostly thrown over my head, and glared at the drunks. A black top hat had managed to land just over my glass, and I wasn't in a happy mood. Ignoring the requests to get the clothing back, I put the hat on my head.
"Finders keepers," I told Millicent when she raised her eyebrow. "If those idiots find it fit to throw hats at me, then I'll keep them. If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. If life gives you hats, make an impersonation of Jack the Ripper."
"It suits you, in a mad-aristocrat kind of way." Pansy grinned, "Makes you look handsome even."
"Mhm, right," I mumbled, "A top hat and enough drinks and I'm handsome. Maybe I'll try that next time I try to pick up a girl."
"You do that," Draco snickered. He was getting plastered on the firewhiskey he'd managed to charm off Madam Rosmerta, and would laugh at anything.
"And the sarcasm just went way over your head and out the window, didn't it?" I questioned and I looked around for Cain. He should be around somewhere, and I wanted to make sure no one had spiked his drink. Somehow I felt responsible for the kid, and didn't want to see him with a massive hangover courtesy of his not-so-friendly classmates.
I could see Theo and Agnes talking quietly to each other, and Cain was asleep on the table next to them, but it didn't look like anything else than plain exhaustion. Gaspar was sitting next to Millicent, still so oblivious it made me want to strangle him. How could he not see the obvious devotion in Millicent's eyes? One day, I would have to talk to that boy. Draco and Pansy seemed to get along better when plastered, and didn't fight at all. Baddock had stayed back at Hogwarts, too scared of his good reputation with the teachers to risk a trip to Hogsmeade. Who else was there? Oh yes, Moon. She wasn't at the tables.
There was commotion outside, and some shouting, and I got to my feet and headed out to investigate. Most of the group followed me, wondering what was going on. It wasn't often that there were brawls outside the Three Broomsticks. The Hog's Head, yes, but not the Three Broomsticks. I pushed the door open, wondering if it was Moon getting trouble from the local drunks, and froze. Millie pushed me outside, and I stumbled through the doorway, still stunned. I could hear gasps and whispered oaths behind me, but I just couldn't take my eyes off the scene in front of me.
A horrible greenish glow rested over the street. The commotion and shouting was gone, and the horrible silence it left behind was somehow worse. The street was bathed in the greenish glow, and in it I could see every detail. Footsteps in the mud, a necklace ripped to pieces. And in the air, the Dark Mark, hovering like a carrion-bird over a battlefield. An all too familiar scene for most adults, and a scene I in my futile hopes wished that I never would have to get used to. Death Eater attacks.
"Oh Merlin, that's Sarah's necklace." Someone whispered behind me. I felt nauseous.
People were moving behind me, talking to each other loudly and in whispers, repeating themselves. I heard someone mention Hogwarts and Dumbledore, and then Millicent's voice insisting they tell Snape immediately. Someone choking back tears, afraid to let them out in front of others. My legs had given way under me, and I was kneeling in the mud, Moon's necklace in my hands. I didn't remember picking it up, but my mind was so hazy that I wasn't surprised.
I raced through the events of the evening, trying to remember when Moon had gone out of the Three Broomsticks. All I could remember was a clear voice saying that she would go and drop by Honeydukes before we left. I hadn't noticed then, because I had been busy glaring that the party-goers. No one had stopped her. We all thought Hogsmeade was safe, even at night. It was too close to Hogwarts, too close to home. And it frightened me. It frightened me that they could snatch someone so close to us, this close to what we believed was safety. It frightened me that it had been Moon, who only half an hour or so previously had been sitting at the same table as me, drinking Butterbeer and laughing. It frightened me that I hadn't been able to see it coming.
The war had claimed its first victim.
I clutched the necklace in my hand and stood up slowly. I was covered in mud from the waist down, as well as the sleeves of my shirt, I was more than a bit tipsy, eyes red from the late hour and the alcoholic drinks, and my recently acquired hat was still on my head. I was as far from the picture of an immaculate Slytherin as you could get, standing there with the necklace in my hand, staring at it as if it was a life-line. Detachedly, I realised I was furious. But it was not the right time to act on it, and I turned back to my friends.
"We need to get back. Tell Snape about this," I said, and everyone silenced. I hadn't even raise my voice, "We shouldn't have come here."
The glass beads of Moon's necklace were cutting into my hand, and if I didn't let go soon I would be bleeding. Ignoring the pain, I looked around at my friends, to see if they were reacting at all to what I had said. Millicent looked devastated, and Gaspar was holding a hand on her shoulder. Pansy and Draco were standing next to each other, staring at the ground. Theo was shaking, looking pale even in the ghastly green light. Agnes was clinging to his hand and staring at the Dark Mark, no expression on her face. The only thing that betrayed her feelings was the white knuckles on her hand and the slight shaking of her shoulders. Cain, once more awake, was shaking like a leaf in a storm. Only eleven years old, and witness to the leavings of a Death Eater raid. I pitied him.
Some of the villagers were dispatched to follow us back to the school safely and inform the Headmaster of what had transpired. I walked in the front of the group, holding onto Cain's hand. He was still shaking, and looking much younger than he really was. I was still in a daze, just putting one foot in front of the other, holding together solely because of long habit and routine. Moon's disappearance had shocked us all, and it would take a while for us to function like normal again.
I didn't even dwell on the repercussions of our rule-breaking trip. I was much too shaken, and I could feel my self-control falling apart. Not even Snape would punish us for something like this. We would get a severe tongue- lashing for endangering students and being the cause of Moon's disappearance, but no detentions would be assigned, and no points taken. Not for something like this. The teachers had seen too many friends and family lost to Voldemort already for them to punish us for it. There was a war brewing. We had known, intellectually that this would eventually happen. But knowing and experiencing were two different things, and none of us, especially not me, had expected it to be like this. Not this close to home, not this personal.
*****'
McGonagall met us in the Entrance Hall, looking furious. She opened her mouth to deliver a scolding as soon as we stepped inside, but one look at us silenced her. We must have looked horrible. Hopeless, angry, broken, desperate, that was how I felt and from the looks of the others and the shaking of Cain's hand, they weren't much better. The Head of Gryffindor cleared her throat and opened her mouth once more to yell at us, but I got ahead of her.
"Where's Snape?" I could hear my own voice, sounding so different than a few hours ago when Millicent and I were discussing Agnes Lestrange. Now, it was broken and harsh.
"Mr Zabini, may I remind you that you have all broken curfew by several hours?" McGonagall ignored my question.
"Where is Snape?" I hadn't raised my voice, but somehow the whip-crack of anger must have gotten through to her. "Bring him here now."
McGonagall didn't like it, I could tell, but she turned on her heels and walked off to find Snape. The villagers looked nervous, even though most of them must have attended Hogwarts at some time in their life. I still hadn't let go of Cain's hand, though he didn't seem to mind all that much. Snape showed up after a few minutes of tense silence, took one look at our faces, and sent the villages running. Making a gesture for us to follow, he led us down to our Common Room. No one dared to breathe a word in his presence. Gathered in the various armchairs and couches in front of the fireplace, Snape finally looked at us again. It was clear that he was disappointed that we had let ourselves be caught, and by McGonagall of all people, but he knew better than to rant at us. Something had happened, and he wanted to know what it was.
"Well, speak up! Why did McGonagall come and wake me up in the middle of the night?" He prodded, getting impatient.
I threw Moon's necklace, now stained with some of my blood, on the table. It clattered loudly in the ensuing silence. I was tired, my headache was worse than normal, I was drunk, and the image of the Dark Mark floating in the sky was still burned into the inside of my eyelids. I would remember it till the day I died, of that I was sure. Opening my eyes again and fixing my gaze somewhere above everyone's heads, I began to talk.
"We sneak out to Hogsmeade every year on Halloween, and this year was no different. We usually go to the Three Broomsticks. We leave after the Feast, only a few of us, to avoid being noticed. We'd dress in casual clothing to ease our way into the crowd." I kept my voice carefully monotone, and Snape nodded as I talked, "This year, it was Millie, Gaspar, Theo, Draco, Pansy, Agnes, Cain, Moon and myself. We'd been drinking for a few hours, and Cain had fallen asleep, when I noticed Moon wasn't there. At the same time, there was shouting from outside, and sounds of fighting. We went to investigate. All we found was Moon's necklace."
Silence fell like a thick blanket over the group. Snape stared at the necklace silently, before picking it up and turning it over in his hands. He gestured for me to continue, knowing fully well that what I'd said wasn't everything. I cleared my throat, and after a few attempts, I managed to speak again. It was difficult to speak, my throat kept closing up, but somehow, I kept talking.
"Sir, we saw the Dark Mark." My voice was dead. "She'd only been out there for a few minutes, and when we came out, all we found was her necklace and the Mark. How did they do it sir? Why this close to Hogwarts? How could they? This place is supposed to be the safest place in England; how did they get her?"
Snape didn't answer, but behind his eyes, I could see the anger, the same anger I felt. The same anger all of us felt. Even though Millicent was sobbing on Gaspar's shoulder, and Cain was still shaking like mad, I knew all of us would tear the Death Eaters limb from limb given the chance. I was gripping my new hat so hard my fingers hurt, and I stared hopelessly at Snape. If anyone could explain to us, help us, make it right again, it was him. We trusted him completely, all of us. But it seemed even he was stumped. But then he looked up and surveyed us, Moon's necklace still in his hands. I could visibly see him making a decision. It might not have been a conscious one, but it was there.
"I don't know," He answered my query, "I don't know how it happened, or who it was, but I do know why. The Dark Lord is rising, and as the last time, his rise will be marked with death and the disappearance of people. I saw this the last time. Once, near the end, he even took his victim right in here, in the Slytherin Common Room." He gestured to the fireplace, "Those abducted never came back, not in such shape that they were recognisable. They only ever found bits of Boulstridge. I didn't think it would come to this again, hoped it wouldn't. But it has, and I will not stand back and let my students be taken right out of my hands. You are no longer allowed to leave the castle without permission. If I find you outside the walls again, I will chain you up in the dungeons."
He looked down on the necklace again, his knuckles turning white as he gripped it tightly.
"One victim is one too many."
*****'
Ending Notes; this is what turns up on the page when you write and read the Durmstrang Chronicles at the same time. So far, I think it's one of the best chapters.