May 23, 2004
A/N: Hey, I just posted a new story, and you guys should take a look at it. I would really appreciate it if you guys would take a look at it. Anyways, yeah... I'm glad for all of your responses on the last chapter.
Reviewers:
Kaylaone and only: I'm not telling you who the killer is going to be. I was going to have it be Ron, but you know, everyone thinks it is going to be Ron, so I changed my mind.
DramaQueen007: Thank you...(Takes bow)
Smiles28: Yeah, we'll find out soon...
CozzaGirl16: Hey, I'm updating!!!!!!!! Go me!!!!!!!!
hprincess: That was a good idea, but I couldn't stand seeing Draco being framed for something he didn't do. I also couldn't stand seeing Draco and Hermione, apart...I'd be in too much pain...
OrangeJelloIsYummy: Okay, let's forget the brand names...no more brand names...got it...
crzyfeorlegolas: That was what I was going to do, but then everyone said it should be Ron, and I want the killer to be unexpected, so it probably won't be him.
Applescm: Thank you!!!!!
Disclaimer: Draco is mine...he he he...not really...but I can dream...
Chapter Twenty-three
The Great Hall was silent as Dumbledore announced the death of their fellow classmate.
"I'm sorry to announce, but Blaise Zambini was found dead this morning in the hospital wing. He was...Murdered..." His voice faded away, and the horrible memories from that morning came flooding back. Hermione hung her head, not bothering to wipe the tears away. Harry placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Hermione, I'm so sorry..."
"Save it," she said, an evil glare on her face. "You could be next." Her face suddenly softened, and she looked shocked. "Harry, I'm so sorry. I have no idea what compelled me to say that just now. I guess I'm just freaked out that the person who killed Blaise most likely goes here."
"What?" Harry asked, a questioning look on his face.
"Well, it couldn't have been Lucius, because he probably wouldn't have full power back yet, plus, Dumbledore has posted people on the lookout for him, and there is no possible way he could have gotten in unnoticed. Besides, it would be much easier for a student or a teacher to just say they were visiting someone in the hospital wing..."
"What do you mean, teacher?" asked Ginny.
"Well, you never know. Remember when Quirrel was here and he was helping out V...Vol...Vold...emort," Hermione stuttered, shuddering at the name. "Remember when Quirrel was helping You-Know-Who, how no one suspected him? Well, another teacher, or student, could be doing that right now. I don't know. I'm just trying to get ideas. It sounds kinda far-fetched, if you ask me." Hermione sighed.
"Actually, it makes perfect sense." Hermione looked to her right, and noticed that Ron was talking to her.
"What, I thought you weren't talking to me. What was wrong?" asked Hermione.
"Well, I guess you could say that I was a little jealous that everyone had someone except me, and I felt left out, and you knew I had a big crush on you. I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?" He turned a deep shade of maroon.
"Yes, I can forgive you, and no, I didn't know, Ron. You never told me, and I thought we were just friends. Anyways, continue what you were saying."
"Well, I was just thinking. A student, or teacher, which I highly doubt, could be helping Lucius kill people that you or Malfoy are close to. It makes perfect sense."
"Ron, I do believe I have finally created a miniature genius out of you," Hermione said, smiling.
"Thanks," he said, blushing even more. "Hey, what do you mean, miniature?"
"What's going on over here?" asked a slightly irritated Draco.
"Draco, we have to find Dumbledore immediately. It is urgent that we talk to him." Hermione said, standing up and grabbing at his elbow. "Come on! Move it!" She half dragged Draco up to the Teacher table, and noticing Dumbledore gone, Hermione addressed Professor McGonnagal. "Excuse me, Professor. Do you know where Dumbledore is? It is urgent that we speak with him."
"It is Professor Dumbledore to you, Miss Granger," commented Professor McGonnagal, giving Hermione a stern look. "What is it you two need to tell him that is of such importance?"
"We have information about Blaise's death that might be of help in finding who killed him." Hermione saw the look on McGonnagal's face, and knew she had struck gold.
"Follow me. And move quickly." Professor McGonnagal was walking very fast, and to Hermione and Malfoy, it was more like a run.
"Could she go any faster?" panted Malfoy as he was running to keep up with the teacher in front of him.
"Draco, this is big news to her. They have been trying to find out any information about the killing for so long now, and we have finally found something that might be of use."
"Well, if you put it that way..."
The trio stopped in front of a statue of a griffin.
"Skiving Snackboxes."
The griffin jumped to life, and started spiraling slowly upwards, and they all jumped on. When the stairs finally stopped, they got off the stairs, and Professor McGonnagal ushered them quickly into Dumbledore's office.
"Can I help you?" Dumbledore asked in his usual calm voice, not bothering to look up from the letter he was writing.
"Albus, they have something to tell you, concerning Blaise. It may be of some importance to us." Dumbledore looked up at the sound of the name Blaise, and immediately looked at Hermione.
"Miss Granger, if you have any news concerning Blaise's death, please tell me." Professor Dumbledore was acting kind of anxious.
"Well, you see, we were just thinking...this might be Lucius' doing, but since he really can't get inside the school, he might be having a loyal student, or teacher, do the dirty work for him." Hermione grew silent, and slowly reached for Draco's hand. She looked over at him, and he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
Dumbledore sat in silence for a couple seconds before he began talking again. "Well, I'm sure that could be a possibility. The question is, if Lucius Malfoy is behind this all, who is his henchman?"
"Well," piped in Draco. "If we are talking about my father, it would probably be someone he knows through the Dark Lord. It might be a death eater, or students who are related to death eaters."
"How would a death eater get into the school?" asked McGonnagal.
"Well, I'm sure Voldemort and Lucius have many ways of getting their accomplices around." All people in the room shuddered, including the portraits of previous headmasters, except for Dumbledore himself and Draco. "Besides, with all the security around the school, I hardly think a death eater could come into the grounds unnoticed."
"So do you think it could be a teacher?" asked Hermione.
"Nay. All the teachers have signed an oath promising loyalty to me. Besides, if anyone had lied after signing that oath, I would know immediately." Dumbledore grew quiet again.
McGonnagal stood playing with her hands, and then she asked the question Albus had been dreading. "You don't think it's a...a student...do you, Albus?"
He took in a deep breath. "You know, Minerva? I really don't know," he replied, sighing.
A/N: Well, I enjoyed writing this chapter, and I really hope you enjoyed reading it. Look for another update soon. I have big plans for the next one! Please review!!! Thanks!!!
Elven at Heart
A/N: Hey, I just posted a new story, and you guys should take a look at it. I would really appreciate it if you guys would take a look at it. Anyways, yeah... I'm glad for all of your responses on the last chapter.
Reviewers:
Kaylaone and only: I'm not telling you who the killer is going to be. I was going to have it be Ron, but you know, everyone thinks it is going to be Ron, so I changed my mind.
DramaQueen007: Thank you...(Takes bow)
Smiles28: Yeah, we'll find out soon...
CozzaGirl16: Hey, I'm updating!!!!!!!! Go me!!!!!!!!
hprincess: That was a good idea, but I couldn't stand seeing Draco being framed for something he didn't do. I also couldn't stand seeing Draco and Hermione, apart...I'd be in too much pain...
OrangeJelloIsYummy: Okay, let's forget the brand names...no more brand names...got it...
crzyfeorlegolas: That was what I was going to do, but then everyone said it should be Ron, and I want the killer to be unexpected, so it probably won't be him.
Applescm: Thank you!!!!!
Disclaimer: Draco is mine...he he he...not really...but I can dream...
Chapter Twenty-three
The Great Hall was silent as Dumbledore announced the death of their fellow classmate.
"I'm sorry to announce, but Blaise Zambini was found dead this morning in the hospital wing. He was...Murdered..." His voice faded away, and the horrible memories from that morning came flooding back. Hermione hung her head, not bothering to wipe the tears away. Harry placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Hermione, I'm so sorry..."
"Save it," she said, an evil glare on her face. "You could be next." Her face suddenly softened, and she looked shocked. "Harry, I'm so sorry. I have no idea what compelled me to say that just now. I guess I'm just freaked out that the person who killed Blaise most likely goes here."
"What?" Harry asked, a questioning look on his face.
"Well, it couldn't have been Lucius, because he probably wouldn't have full power back yet, plus, Dumbledore has posted people on the lookout for him, and there is no possible way he could have gotten in unnoticed. Besides, it would be much easier for a student or a teacher to just say they were visiting someone in the hospital wing..."
"What do you mean, teacher?" asked Ginny.
"Well, you never know. Remember when Quirrel was here and he was helping out V...Vol...Vold...emort," Hermione stuttered, shuddering at the name. "Remember when Quirrel was helping You-Know-Who, how no one suspected him? Well, another teacher, or student, could be doing that right now. I don't know. I'm just trying to get ideas. It sounds kinda far-fetched, if you ask me." Hermione sighed.
"Actually, it makes perfect sense." Hermione looked to her right, and noticed that Ron was talking to her.
"What, I thought you weren't talking to me. What was wrong?" asked Hermione.
"Well, I guess you could say that I was a little jealous that everyone had someone except me, and I felt left out, and you knew I had a big crush on you. I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?" He turned a deep shade of maroon.
"Yes, I can forgive you, and no, I didn't know, Ron. You never told me, and I thought we were just friends. Anyways, continue what you were saying."
"Well, I was just thinking. A student, or teacher, which I highly doubt, could be helping Lucius kill people that you or Malfoy are close to. It makes perfect sense."
"Ron, I do believe I have finally created a miniature genius out of you," Hermione said, smiling.
"Thanks," he said, blushing even more. "Hey, what do you mean, miniature?"
"What's going on over here?" asked a slightly irritated Draco.
"Draco, we have to find Dumbledore immediately. It is urgent that we talk to him." Hermione said, standing up and grabbing at his elbow. "Come on! Move it!" She half dragged Draco up to the Teacher table, and noticing Dumbledore gone, Hermione addressed Professor McGonnagal. "Excuse me, Professor. Do you know where Dumbledore is? It is urgent that we speak with him."
"It is Professor Dumbledore to you, Miss Granger," commented Professor McGonnagal, giving Hermione a stern look. "What is it you two need to tell him that is of such importance?"
"We have information about Blaise's death that might be of help in finding who killed him." Hermione saw the look on McGonnagal's face, and knew she had struck gold.
"Follow me. And move quickly." Professor McGonnagal was walking very fast, and to Hermione and Malfoy, it was more like a run.
"Could she go any faster?" panted Malfoy as he was running to keep up with the teacher in front of him.
"Draco, this is big news to her. They have been trying to find out any information about the killing for so long now, and we have finally found something that might be of use."
"Well, if you put it that way..."
The trio stopped in front of a statue of a griffin.
"Skiving Snackboxes."
The griffin jumped to life, and started spiraling slowly upwards, and they all jumped on. When the stairs finally stopped, they got off the stairs, and Professor McGonnagal ushered them quickly into Dumbledore's office.
"Can I help you?" Dumbledore asked in his usual calm voice, not bothering to look up from the letter he was writing.
"Albus, they have something to tell you, concerning Blaise. It may be of some importance to us." Dumbledore looked up at the sound of the name Blaise, and immediately looked at Hermione.
"Miss Granger, if you have any news concerning Blaise's death, please tell me." Professor Dumbledore was acting kind of anxious.
"Well, you see, we were just thinking...this might be Lucius' doing, but since he really can't get inside the school, he might be having a loyal student, or teacher, do the dirty work for him." Hermione grew silent, and slowly reached for Draco's hand. She looked over at him, and he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
Dumbledore sat in silence for a couple seconds before he began talking again. "Well, I'm sure that could be a possibility. The question is, if Lucius Malfoy is behind this all, who is his henchman?"
"Well," piped in Draco. "If we are talking about my father, it would probably be someone he knows through the Dark Lord. It might be a death eater, or students who are related to death eaters."
"How would a death eater get into the school?" asked McGonnagal.
"Well, I'm sure Voldemort and Lucius have many ways of getting their accomplices around." All people in the room shuddered, including the portraits of previous headmasters, except for Dumbledore himself and Draco. "Besides, with all the security around the school, I hardly think a death eater could come into the grounds unnoticed."
"So do you think it could be a teacher?" asked Hermione.
"Nay. All the teachers have signed an oath promising loyalty to me. Besides, if anyone had lied after signing that oath, I would know immediately." Dumbledore grew quiet again.
McGonnagal stood playing with her hands, and then she asked the question Albus had been dreading. "You don't think it's a...a student...do you, Albus?"
He took in a deep breath. "You know, Minerva? I really don't know," he replied, sighing.
A/N: Well, I enjoyed writing this chapter, and I really hope you enjoyed reading it. Look for another update soon. I have big plans for the next one! Please review!!! Thanks!!!
Elven at Heart