Chapter 11

The Curse of Walpurgis Night

The next few months were pretty quiet, but tough. With the exams coming up this year, the teachers gave them more homework then ever, and Snape had been the worst. After New Year, he went back to "Sodding Snape" (as Ron called him) and had given them revision notes, essays and practical work to do all in one week. They were all slumped over books when something caught Ron's eye.

"Walpurgis Night – 30th April, that's next week." Ron shouted out.

"Well, read what it says now you have our attention." Hermione said interested and desperate for a little distraction from revision of the History of Magic.

"Walpurgis Night, April 30. This is an old pagan festival, which borrowed its name from Saint Walburga whose feast occurs on May Day. On this night witches are believed to ride on broomsticks and he-goats to places of old pagan sacrifices in the Harz Mountains, especially to Brocken, the highest point in the mountains. It is here in Goethe's Faust that the witches come on Walpurgis Night and sing:

Now to the Brocken the witches ride;

The stubble is gold and the corn is green;

There is the carnival crew to be seen,

And Squire Uranus will come to preside.

So over the valleys our company floats,

With witches a-farting on stinking old goats.

Over the last 200 years the tradition has gone out of fashion and no longer do Muggles light bonfires to warn off witches. The most recent believer in the power of Walpurgis Night, was Lord Voldermort who had his biggest massacre on Walpurgis Night 1948, when he killed fifty Muggles in the night,"Ron stopped reading it out and looked at Harry. "We haven't got anything to worry about next week do we? I mean, he's not here, is he?" Ron had become scared.

"Don't be stupid Ron," Hermione's calming voice said. "There's no way he's going to get past Dumbledore's defences. I heard Dumbledore once say that the defences only work on people who are mortal, and now You-Know-Who is now mortal there is no way he could get in."

"And how do you explain the missing students? Are they all on a long holiday?" Harry didn't mean to shout at her but it was a subject very much on his mind at the moment, but it was too late, the damage was done. Her eyes filled up with tears, and she was obviously upset.

"Well, I was just trying to make help, can't see you coming up with anything either." And she ran up to her dormitory. Harry tried to go after her, but Ginny stopped him.

"Better not if I were you." And she went after her. Harry couldn't believe he had done that. He cared more for Hermione than anyone else in the world and he had just shot her down like that. Harry put his head in his hands, annoyed at himself.

"Don't worry Harry, she'll forgive you later." Ron said trying to comfort him, but he didn't understand. Harry wanted to change the subject, before he blurted out about him and Hermione.

"So, how are things with you and Cho?" Harry knew that this was Ron favourite subject of the month.

"Great! She's great. She's funny, smart and not to mention beautiful. I really like her. Harry I've been meaning to ask you about something." Harry didn't like the sound of this. Has Cho told him about when Harry asked her to the Ball, or had he seen him and Hermione together?

"Would you mind if I spent the day at Hogsmeades with Cho?" Harry was suddenly relieved, and then confused.

"What Hogsmeade trip?"

"This weekend, remember McGonagall came in the common room a couple of days ago to remind us about it." Harry had to admit that he was far to "busy" with Hermione to pay attention to what McGonagall had said.

"Must have missed that one, sorry. Sure, its fine, you spend the day with Cho." Harry would have normally minded but that meant that he and Hermione could spend the day together.

It suddenly occurred to Harry that he still didn't have permission to go to Hogsmeade. He raced down the stairs to Professor McGonagall's room, knocking over several vases on the way. He knocked in the door and patiently waited for her to answer. After two seconds he knocked again, but harder and Professor McGonagall finally answered the door a little annoyed.

"Yes?" she said.

"Professor about the Hogsmeade Trip…" Harry started.

"Harry, if this is about your permission slip, you Godfather has already sent a letter of permission for you," she explained, much to the delight of Harry.

"Oh right, sorry to disturb you," Harry politely said and left her and returned to the common room.

Harry and the gang were waiting outside the front doors of the school awaiting the carriages to take them on their fun day out to Hogsmeade.

"I'm surprised they are letting us go after all these security regulations," Ron commented.

"I know, a whole day without teachers following you around, "Harry agreed with Ron.

"Well, the first thing I'm going to buy is a Daily Prophet. I've felt so cut off from the world without some news. I still don't understand why Dumbledore has banned it," Hermione said.

"It's not like there's anything in there we shouldn't know about," Cho answered. They saw Professor Grimalkin come out of the main doors and raise her hand, which generally meant she wished to speak. Everyone settled down instantly and turned to listen to her. She had trained them well or at least put the fear of god into them so none would anger her, including the Slytherins.

"I have been instructed to inform you that pupils are not allowed to wander around Hogsmeade without a teacher supervising." There were groans from most pupils. "SILENCE!" she screamed. "You will now be sorted into groups of fifteen per teacher."

They couldn't believe it! The one day they thought they could spend on their own was now change to them being babysat by the teachers.

"This is so unfair!" Harry exclaimed.

"Tell me about it. I wanted to spend time alone with Cho, and now what chance have I got?" Ron whispered. Harry's chances of spending time with Hermione were already slim; now they were non-existent.

"Lets just hope we get a good teacher. I'll feel sorry for the group that get Professor Grimalkin," Cho said.

"Or Snape at that matter," Harry added. They heard Evi's voice and turned round to see her coming out of the main doors with Professor McGonagall, and she seemed annoyed about something.

"Minerva, I don't see why I have to go," she said running to keep up with McGonagall.

"All teachers are needed to look after all of the students," McGonagall argued.

"But, can't I stay and look after the ones who aren't going?" Evi pleaded.

"Miss Dementia, you cannot stay. You are needed in Hogsmeade."

"It's not like I'll be welcome, especially after what happened the last time I was there."

"Evelyn, I'm sure the villagers of Hogsmeade have completely forgotten about that little incident," McGonagall assured her.

"Minerva, I blew up the Three Broomsticks!"

"And it has now been rebuilt," McGonagall argued. Harry could tell that Evi was just not going to win this argument.

"That's not the point. The people of Hogsmeade have long memories." McGonagall shook her head and continued walking at her fast pace hoping to loose Evi not doubt.

"It's so unfair! How come I have to go and Severus gets out of it?" Evi screamed clearly at the end of her tether.

"Miss Dementia, Professor Snape has NOT got out of it, as you put it. He is meeting his group at Hogsmeade. He claimed his has some business to attend to this morning and will meet us there."

"Oh," Evi said looking confused. Harry sensed that Snape had not told her about this 'business' and was hurt that he had not. "I'm not going to win this am I?" Evi said as the realisation came over her. McGonagall shook her head. "Didn't think so," and Evi stormed off.

The students waited for their names to be called out and know which teacher they would be assigned to. As the group became smaller and smaller, Harry, Hermione, Ron and Cho had still not been chosen and there were only two teachers left: Professor Grimalkin and Evi.

"Just watch our luck. We'll get Grimalkin," Ron whispered to Harry. Harry was fearful of that too. This was the only day he was really looking forward to and she would make sure she ruined it for him. Professor Grimalkin then stood up and read her list out.

Terry Boot – Ravenclaw

Kevin Entwhistle – Ravenclaw

Lisa Turpin – Ravenclaw

Morag MacDougall – Ravenclaw

Ernie Mc Millian – Hufflepuff

Hannah Abbott – Hufflepuff

Susan Bones – Hufflepuff

Anthony Goldstien – Hufflepuff

Stacy Davis – Slytherin

Millicent Bulstide – Slytherin

Draco Malfoy – Slytherin

Gregory Goyle – Slytherin

Lavender Brown – Gryffindor

Colin Creevy – Gryffindor

Parvatti Patil – Gryffindor

When she got to the end of her list, Harry released the breath he didn't realise he had been holding.

"OK, I guess the rest of you come with me," Evi said obviously still annoyed she was going in the first place. When they finally arrived at Hogsmeade, Evi gathered her group together.

"Listen up! As you can gather, I'm not particularly thrilled about babysitting you lot all day, but I will have to suffer. That doesn't necessarily mean I'm going to ruin your day so here's what I propose, if there are any shops people really want to go in, let me know now, or forever hold your peace," Evi suggested. Hermione instantly raised her hand into the air.

"Hermione, you don't have to raise your hand. Where would you like to go?" Evi asked.

"Florish and Blotts book store, please miss."

"Wow, they've finally joined the modern Starbucks world and become a chain. Cool!"

"So we can go in?" Hermione pressed.

"Sure. Usually I can spend hours in a book store, but magical books just do not interest me. I mean, why can't you people read good classic books like Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Emily Bronte's Jane Ayre, Lord of the Rings," she listed.

"You consider Lord of the Rings a classic?" Cho asked.

"Sure, why not? It's better than any book you can get in Florish and Blotts."

"It's pure Science Fiction and crap," Cho argued.

"It's not!" Evi defended. "Admittedly the language is hard to get round, but the basic storyline is good."

"Whatever," Cho said not convinced.

"Anyway, where else do people want to go?" People then started shouting shop names out until virtually ever shop in Hogsmeade was mentioned at least twice.

"Maybe it would have been easier to ask which shops you DON'T want to go in," Evi commented. "We'll go in the Three Broomsticks last."

Soon after that they set off from the north end of the main street. First they visited Billy Ranchos. It was a shop full of interesting bits and bobs for the house, including self-cleaning dishes, the creaseless clothing range and indestructible sunglasses ("Now those are useful!" Evi commented). As they came out, the foursome walked beside Evi and talked to her.

"Evi, how did you blow up the Three Broomsticks?" Cho asked curious.

"Shouldn't leave a third year alone with Erumpent fluid and wolfsbane. I didn't realise their explosive potential. I thought it would be like a banger; big noise, no damage. It was completely trashed. It was a miracle that no-one was injured or killed. I got into so much trouble when I got back to school. Sev was the worst. He couldn't; believe that his brightest student didn't know what those ingredients would do. Dumbledore believed me when I explained it was an accident and I was lucky that I wasn't expelled then. Later I learned that one of the ingredients had been switched so increasing the destructive power by tenfold. I never thought I'd be back here again," Evi recalled.

"It wasn't your fault," Hermione sympathised.

"No, it wasn't. But I should have noticed the ingredients had been switched. I'll never forget how disappointed Severus looked. Anyways, where's next?" she said changing the subject. "Quagga Quiddich Supplies. Whoopee!" she said sarcastically.

Harry and Ron were genuinely excited about the Quidditch shop, and they both could spend week in there without getting bored. However, not everyone was a Quidditch fan, including Evi. So they couldn't stay long.

But there was so much to look at; the books on tactic (although Harry had quite a few of them), scarves and flags of all the Quidditch teams, and the new broomstick – the Obliterator. It was the fastest broom yet, reaching speeds faster than Harry's Firebolt. Harry sighed thinking that Draco Malfoy would have one for the Gryffindor-Slytherin match coming up. But Harry was content with his Firebolt. It was still one of the fastest brooms around.

After drooling over the broom for a lot longer than was necessary, they reluctantly left the shop and returned to the group.

They had been in Hogsmeade about an hour at this point, and Evi was showing, not only her boredom, but also her anxiety.

"Do you really want to go in the Three Broomsticks?" she asked, hoping that they would just walk straight past it.

"But they have the tastiest Butterbeer in all of the wizarding world!" one of the fourth years wined.

"Looking for a job as the head of their PR?" Evi said sarcastically. She sighed and turned to continue down the street. She noticed Snape across the street. He was standing leaning against the frame of the shop doorway with his hands in his trouser pockets, clearly bored and annoyed. Evi left her group to go and talk to him. Harry watched them closely. There was something seriously odd about those two, he thought to himself. She was the first person any of them had seen Snape be pleasant to. Actually, he was more than pleasant, if their encounter was anything to go by. She was actually glad to see him, and they were just standing talking to each other, probably moaning about the pupils they are supervising, but their body language was saying much more. Harry wasn't a psychologist, but he could see how relaxed they were in each others company. Snape had removed his hands from his pockets and Evi was leaning against the other side of the door frame, chattering away.

"Hermione?" Harry whispered to her. "What do you make of Evi and Snape?"

"I don't know what to make of it. It's clear they know each other well, and what I take from her earlier conversation, she was his brightest student. Maybe that's. He had hopes in her to do well. But we may never know. He may have been different when she was at school."

"Snape had never changed," Ron butted in. "He is a pain in the butt now, and was a pain in the butt back then."

They all wandered into Madam Puddifoot's Café after signing to Evi their plan and sat with an ice-cream each. Harry insisted that he pay for all the ice-creams and everyone seemed content on watching the world walk past the window and happily chatting among themselves. Finally Evi, came in to the Café and sat down next to Harry.

"So, where's mine them?" she said looking at Harry.

"I… er… well I mean I… er…" Harry stuttered.

"Relax Harry, I'm only kidding!" she laughed.

Seeing Snape had clearly cheered her up, Harry thought to himself. She had already got up and was over at the counter ordering her ice-cream.

"Wonder if Evi will let us go into Zonkos?" Cho asked.

"Evi is going to let you do what the hell you like," Evi said appearing with her strawberry coloured ice-cream with chunks of dark red and blue in it.

"Miss?" Ron asked confused.

"I've decided that I can't be bothered to babysit you all day and instead I'll meet you in the Three Broomsticks at half three," she informed them.

"Really?" Ron said, hoping that his ears had not been deceiving him.

"Really," Evi said mocking him.

"But I thought you wouldn't go in there because of… your little accident last time," Hermione reminded her, taking care to pick her words carefully.

"True, but now I have an incentive."

"What?" Cho enquired.

"Sev's buying!" she said with a huge grin on her face and with that she wandered off to inform the rest of her group about the change of plans.

When they had finished their ice-creams, Hermione and Cho wandered off to the toilets, which gave Ron and Harry a chance to talk.

"So Harry… What do you think of Cho now?" Ron nervously asked.

"She's great Ron. You two make the perfect couple," Harry said, knowing that is what he really wanted to hear.

"Would you mind if and Cho and I wandered off on our own? It's just. We don't often get the opportunity to be alone these days."

"Of course I don't mind. I'm sure Hermione will keep me company," Harry said trying his best not to grin at the prospect of spending the rest of the day with Hermione.

When the girls came back, he guys informed the girls of the change of plan, and Ron and Cho wandered out hand in hand out of the Café. Harry and Hermione sat silent for a moment, unsure what they were going to do next.

"So?" Harry said breaking the silence.

"So," Hermione repeated.

"Are there still places you wanna go?" Harry asked her.

"Actually yes. I really need to find a Daily Prophet. The Owl Post Office should have a copy."

"Let's go now, before they reach the afternoon rush hour." They walked out of the shop, but unlike Ron and Cho they couldn't hold hands, even though both of them really wanted to.

The Post Office building was always impressive to Harry. It looked similar to Gringrotts Bank, but on a much smaller scale, and seemingly a lot younger. If you looked up at the tower, there was a constant stream of owls flying in and out with letters, parcels and howlers in their talons. They opened the huge door that lead into the main office, and it was bustling with people and owls, although it was relatively quiet compared to what sort of mayhem comes at rush hour.

Hermione stepped up to the available counter and asked for a Daily Prophet, and was surprised by the answer.

"What do you mean you cannot sell me a copy? You're in customer services, it's what you do," Hermione quipped.

"Professor Dumbledore has instructed that all Hogwarts students are not permitted to buy a copy of the Daily Prophet from anywhere. I am so sorry. Who's next?" the old woman behind the counter told Hermione. However, Hermione was not satisfied.

"Excuse me, but I insist on having a copy. Or I'll take this to your supervisor," Hermione threatened.

"Look little girl, the order came from him. But go ahead and waste your breathe and ask him. He'll tell you exactly the same," and the woman ignored Hermione's attempt to get any more information out of her. Finally giving up, Hermione left the Post Office with Harry in a foul mood.

"What did you want to do now?" Harry asked smiling at her hoping to cheer her up.

"You would think Dumbledore was trying to hide something," Hermione said not listening to him.

"You're not the first person to think that," Harry said as an off comment, but Hermione wanted to know more.

"What do you mean? Who?" Hermione pressed.

"Oh it was just something Evi once said to me. She always believed the school and Dumbledore had something to hide," he said recalling his conversation with Evi a while back.

"I'll have to talk to her about it."

"But not now. Now you are here in Hogsmeade alone with me," Harry said trying to coax Hermione to forget about the Daily Prophet and concentrate on them.

"Very true," Hermione said smiling. They wandered toward a secluded part of Hogsmeade, which had a small park with trees and a small and shallow lake in the middle. They sat together in a little cove surrounded by trees as not to be seen, and lay down on the grass.

They started chatting about everything and anything. They spent a lot of time laughing and simply enjoying each other's company. They hardly moved for their secret spot for the rest of the day. However, there was one topic both avoided: Voldermort. Neither wanted to spoil the day, so it was an unspoken agreement between them, not to mention it.

Ron and Cho were also enjoying their day. They were in Zonkos and Ron was buying some tricks to play on Fred and George when he got back home. The more outrageous the better. They still owed him new Quidditch posters, for the ones the destroyed. Ron looked down this tube, and was annoyed that he couldn't see anything and when he looked back to Cho, she burst into laughter. He had a black rim round his eye. She got her wand out and said "disappeareo" and the mark was gone. She cuddled him as they both laughed at the trick.

"I've got to get me one of these!" Ron said picking one up and taking it to the counter.

"It's nearly half three Ron, we better make our way back to the Three Broomsticks," Cho announced when he was finished buying his items.

"Sure, but I want to stop by Honeydukes before we finish," Ron said and they walked back down the main street. Inside, Ron bought lots of sweets, and a special something for Cho. It was a candy heart that would say a recorded message to whoever opens it. Ron recorded his special message to Cho, and bought it along with the rest of his sweets. It was a surprise that was meant for later.

They walked into the Three Broomsticks, and found Harry and Hermione deep in conversation. They were sitting near the corner table surrounded by ferns that decorated the seating area. Harry and Hermione had specifically chosen it so they could still hold hands without anyone noticing. Once Ron and Cho came back, they instantly released from each other and greeted Cho and Ron with smiles. Harry enquired to Ron what he bought, and Ron brought out everything and put it on the table to see. Hermione and Cho were sitting together chatting quietly so the boys didn't hear.

They ordered the drinks of Butterbeer, and Ron insisted on paying this time. "Such gentlemen," Cho noted. They all saw Evi come into the Three Broomsticks, and instantly head towards the bar. She stood there, and although they couldn't hear what was being said, they could tell by her nervous body language that she was trying to apologise. Madam Rosmerta was on the other side of the bar, and gave Evi a hug which seemed to signify that she was forgiven. Evi was nearly in tears, and she ordered a butterbeer and sat on the table in the corner, beside the group.

They thought that she had seen them, but it wasn't like Evi to ignore them, so maybe she didn't. Anyways, Ron still had much more to show Harry and Hermione. Harry was sitting closest to Evi and he heard Snape arrive and sit next to Evi, seemingly annoyed.

"What's up with you? You're not your usual cheery self." Evi said taking a sip of something blue and smoking from her mug.

"I'm pissed off, that's what's wrong with me." Snape answered

"Aww, poor you, long day?" Evi laughed.

"Evi, this is not funny." Snape snapped.

"Has this got anything to do with your bit of 'business' this morning?" Evi enquired.

"Cornelius Fudge still refuses to believe Tom is back. I went to see him this morning, and he threw me out of his office for trying to tell him that something has to be done."

"Come on, I'm impressed Hogwarts acknowledges that he's back. Don't expect too much."

"Yeah, well I thought I'd earned enough respect working at Hogwarts for them to believe me." He said slamming the morning muggle paper down on the table. Harry tried to read the headline, but that would give away his position.

"You mean he actually threw you out?" Evi said surprised.

"Yep," Snape said.

"You know what they are like. They have to have conclusive proof before they even think of coming up with a plan of action," Evi said cynically.

"Don't suppose you've had the chance to read your muggle paper this morning?" he asked her.

"Not since someone stole it!" Evi said accusingly.

"Something caught my eye," Snape said not apologising.

"What? The page three girl?" Evi quipped.

'No! The headline," Snape said holding up the paper. Harry could see he headline clearly now. It said "Hundreds Die in Midnight Massacre by Hooded Villain."

"Well if that ain't a loaded headline," Evi said sarcastically.

"Evi I'm serious!" Snape said slamming the paper back down the table, nearly knocking over her drink. "They are letting Tom do this."

Harry knew who Tom was. Tom Riddle AKA Lord Voldermort. But Tom was such a casual term for him and was not one that he had ever heard anyone call him before. But then again, Snape was an ex-deatheater. He knew Voldermort better than most.

"Come on Severus, you know what the Ministry, and school for the matter, are like. They are just like the Government; don't see that it's a problem till it's the size of the millennium dome." Evi laughed at this but Snape did not find it funny.

"They won't see this as a problem till at least 6 students have gone missing and there are only three so far."

"That's the problem Evi, there aren't three missing Hogwarts students; there are eight."

"How can there possibly be eight missing students without anyone knowing it?"

"Evi, 'people' do know about it. Dumbledore for one. Don't look at me like I'm demented (no offence) it's possible. Three went missing as you already know, but three didn't get off the train on the first day."

"That's not uncommon for students not to turn up, I mean I nearly didn't get the train on the first day. It's just nerves." Evi suggested.

"That's very true, but it's uncommon for them to get on the train yet not step off it." Evi looked at him in amazement. "Evi, it's possible. Apparently the train stopped, because of technical difficulties, for five minutes. In those five minutes, three students were taken off the train, by whom we could only guess at being Tom himself."

"Ok, but that makes six missing. You said there were eight."

"Two went missing in the first week, we told people they just left Hogwarts, thought it wasn't right for them, or whatever excuse they could come up with. Most have been first years, and ones with houses have all been in any house other than Slytherin. It's too much of a coincident, that Tom's back and that young Muggle born wizards are being kidnapped from the school. It has to be him. Unless, he's using someone else."

"Dollars to donuts it's Golliard!" Evi said, but that was exactly what Ron and Harry were thinking.

"You said WE a lot, who else knows?" Evi asked after a rather awkward silence.

"Well, most of the teachers…in fact all of them." He said sheepishly.

"Why wasn't I told this?" Evi said rising out of her seat. Snape put his hand on her shoulder and she sat down again, and calmed down slightly.

"Some teachers felt that you are too close to some of the students and you would let it slip. I may add, I didn't think you would." Evi gave this look that said I hate you for this, but I'll forgive you later.

"But why attack Hogwarts?" Evi asked.

"Hogwarts' Governors are very powerful and influential wizards and witches. If Hogwarts is destroyed or forced to close, the Governors are ruined, and they leave a very big gap in the line of power. That's a good a reason as any. But I think there's more to it. Tom wants to destroy this school and all the people in it. They are all potential enemies. Tom knows this. But he wants to ruin the school very slowing, making it more and more painful for all who attend. I don't think the students taken are still alive, and if they are, they probably wish they weren't."

Harry turned his attention back to the table and noticed that the rest of the group had also overheard the conversation and their conversation had ceased. Harry signed to them to remain silent. Last thing he wanted was to have Snape know that they had heard what he had been saying.

"What do we do?" Evi asked.

"There is nothing we can do. If Cornelius Fudge refuses to believe me, then why would he believe anyone else?"

"Who do you think the next target is?" Evi asked concerned.

"I honestly don't know. It could be anyone."

"My bet's on Harry Potter," Evi said. Everyone on the table looked at Harry but he urged them to remain silent.

"I don't think so. Tom wants him to suffer above all. And what's the worst thing for Harry to see?" Snape said.

"Everything he holds dear falling apart in front of very eyes," Evi said realizing the horror of Tom's plan.

"So we all know who is next. It's gotta be…" Snape said just about to reveal whom he thinks is next when Madam Rosmerta came over to the table.

"Everything alright?" she asked.

"Fine thank you," Evi said.

"I'm glad you are alright Evi. I still can't believe you thought we would be mad at you for that little accident." Evi nervously laughed.

"Yeah, who would have thought that wanted to change the décor but never had the reason to till I came along. How ironic," She said. Snape remained silent, emptying his glass.

"Hope to see you in here again," Madam Rosmerta said moving away from the table.

"Thank you, you will," Evi said to her.

"We'll talk about this later," Snape whispered to Evi. "Aren't you supposed to be meeting your students in here?" he said changing the subject.

"I thought so too. Maybe they are waiting for us outside," Evi added. They got up and walked out of the shop.

"Oh Harry!" Cho said. "Who could it be?"

"No time to ponder that now, we have to get outside without them seeing us," Harry said, not really wanting to relive that conversation again at the moment. He needed to think about what was said

They got up and looked through the glass in the door till they were sure that Evi and Snape couldn't see and dashed outside. They rejoined the group as inconspicuously as possible and they walked back to Hogwarts.

The walk home was not a pleasant one for Harry who kept going over and over in his head what Snape had said. Voldermort wanted to take over the school slowly and that someone, muggle born, close to him is the possible next victim. That doesn't narrow it down a lot. Although Hermione would be the obvious choice, Harry didn't think Voldermort would try anything with her. There were others as well as Hermione that were muggle borns who were close to him. And who says it was just muggle borns. Harry would very doubt that Voldermort would leave anyone alive, so it could be absolutely anyone.

They all got into the Great Hall that night and sat together at one end of the table, by themselves. Cho joined them and none of them really wanted to start this happy conversation, so Cho started it.

"Do you really think You-Know-Who is doing this? She asked in a hushed voice so no-one could hear.

"I don't think so," Harry answered. "There are too many barriers that he can't physically cross. This school is protected. I don't think it's him."

"Then, who do you think is doing this?" Cho asked.

"Don't know, but it has to be someone who not only dislikes Muggles, but knows how to get in and out of Hogwarts, without being seen." Ron suggested.

"Or they are already inside the school." Hermione added. Harry was just sitting there thinking. "It has to be Professor Grimalkin, she was the only one who openly disliked Muggles and she was already in the school."

"But as Snape said, what could we do? Who would believe us? I mean after the last time, Cornelius Fudge doesn't believe me anymore," Harry said. Hermione and Ron looked at him. Cho didn't know about that and right now, they supposed she didn't want to know about Voldermort being brought back to life. But she didn't enquire about it either so they just let it lie.

"We don't have proof it's Grimalkin, so we can't just accuse her. But how it is possible that eight have been taken and why has Dumbledore hushed the whole thing up?" Hermione asked.

"The Governors. You heard Snape, they have a lot of power and if they really knew how many were taken, the school would have to close." Ron answered.

"Snape obviously doesn't think that they still alive. That would mean that eight are…" Harry didn't want to finish the sentence.

"Well after seeing the Death Mark on the wall I'm not really surprised." Hermione said. They all looked at her in shock. It was highly unlike Hermione to be so unfeeling. "The Death Mark is a sign of a death eater killing a muggle." Hermione said with a sad voice.

"Snape must know something if he went to Minister of Magic, maybe we could…" Cho started to suggest but Ron finished her sentence.

"…go and see him. That would be pleasant visit. He's not the most inviting guy, and neither is Evi at the moment." That was true, after what she had heard, she remained very quiet and hardly spoke to anyone after they met her in Hogsmeade.

"We don't know who's behind these attacks so we can't do anything. All we can do is keep watch for anything or anyone suspicious." Harry said and they tried to finish their evening meal, but they all had lost their appetites since lunch time.

Ron walked Cho to her common room, and returned to a boisterous Gryffindor common room, where Dungbombs were being tossed around and the older students had given Hiccup sweets to the first years, and a group of ten were hiccupping like mad. Harry, Ron and Hermione weren't really in the mood and sat in their usual corner and talked into the depth of the night.