Chapter 10 - - - The Letter
"It will be soon," Voldemort hissed to Nagini. "This time there won't be any mess ups. I will have to go myself."
Wormtail was listening by the door. 'They won't stand a chance.' He thought to himself. 'They will soon pay, at the hands of my master.'
"There's just one thing I have to do first. Wormtail!"
"Yes Master."
Master and servant talked for a few moments. Wormtail left to do his Master's bidding.
There were two days left before the school would once again be bustling with students. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Michelle decided to go visit Hagrid. They knocked on his door. Hagrid answered a few moments later.
"Hey Hagrid," they all greeted their big friend.
"Harry, Ron, Hermione, Michelle," Hagrid addressed them all.
"Were you going somewhere Hagrid?" Hermione asked noticing a pack by the door.
"Well . . . I was just . . . er . . . I was just . . ." Hagrid mumbled.
"Were you going to see your brother?" Michelle asked.
Hagrid looked at Michelle, "Yeah."
"Don't worry Hagrid. They know who I am," Michelle told him.
"Good. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go see Grawp," Hagrid said as he walked out of his hut.
"That was odd. He didn't ask us to go with him," Ron said.
"Well I'm glad he didn't," Hermione told them.
"I wonder why though," Harry thought out loud.
"It's obvious," Hermione began. "Since the break in on Halloween, no one is taking any chances. They are keeping us out of danger."
"She's right. Daddy told the teachers not to take any extra risks, especially Hagrid. No students are going into the forest at all. No classes in there. No detentions in there. He's really worried. He almost made it where students would not be able to go home for Christmas because it would be dangerous, but in the end he thought it best for them to spend time with their families."
"What should we do now?" Ron asked.
"I don't know," Harry said.
"Well I think we should do some of the homework that we have put off to long already," Hermione told them.
Ron began to argue with her all the way up to the Common Room where they conceded and did their homework.
School was back in session. Teachers were piling on homework to keep the students occupied. Professor White gave them relaxation exercises that were not that bad. McGonagall gave them two feet on their current project. Snape gave them thirty inches on the properties of the Incendius potion, which will produce waterproof fire that will not burn anything. It only produces heat. The students were very busy and nothing interesting had happened, until one day when the mail came.
There was a rustling of paper and excited murmurs from the Slytherin table. Hermione took her copy of The Daily Prophet from the owl and paid it. She looked at the cover and gasped.
"What's wrong?" Ron asked.
Hermione said nothing. She handed the paper to him.
"Oh my God," Ron said.
His face went pale. Harry and Michelle looked at him. Michelle grabbed the paper from Ron.
"This isn't good," Michelle said reading the paper.
"Will someone please tell me what's going on?" Harry asked getting mad.
Michelle handed him the paper a bit reluctantly. He took it and began to read out loud.
"Death Eaters Escape Azkaban!" he looked around at the other three. "The Death Eaters that were caught last year in the Ministry of Magic escaped last night. However, the ones that were in Minister Fudge's office were not yet placed in Azkaban. These Death Eaters were being held in a containment room at the Ministry. They have since been moved. Their new location is not being disclosed."
Ron looked towards the Slytherins, causing his three friends to look that way. Malfoy was excitedly talking to Crabbe and Goyle.
"I wonder what they're talking about?" Hermione asked.
"Probably how best to help their dads," Ron replied.
"Or how to best get me expelled," Harry added.
"You're so negative," Michelle commented.
"Well how would you interpret this?" Harry began. "The breakout? The Slytherins?"
"Well first, Voldermort is gathering his followers. This means that he's probably planning something big, probably another attack. Second, the Slytherins most likely know this. This means they're most likely trying to come up with a way to not be around when it happens. No one is safe in an attack. They don't ask which side you're on, they just fire," Michelle explained.
"And that isn't negative," Ron said sarcastically.
Michelle shrugged and went back to reading her mail. Her face paled at the letter she was reading.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked.
"Tell McGonagall that I went to the hospital wing," Michelle said while slowly standing, the letter clenched in her hand.
"Would you like one of us to come with you?" Hermione asked.
"No. No. It's okay," Michelle began to walk, not towards the hospital, but towards her father's office.
She mumbled the password. Her father was sitting behind his desk. He looked up to see his daughter standing there whiter than a ghost.
"Are you all right?" he asked concern in his voice and eyes.
Michelle did not say anything she just handed him the letter. His eyes scanned the letter and he looked back to his daughter.
"What are you going to do?" he asked.
"I'm going to have to meet him," she replied tears forming in her eyes. "I'm scared Daddy."
"Shh. It's okay. You'll be all right," he comforted her.
Michelle stayed there for the rest of the day. Her dinner was even brought up for her. She did not know how to tell her friends of the letter and her decision. She feared Harry would try to come with her and the other two would try to dissuade her. Her father understood her decision and supported her. She sighed and began to walk towards Gryffindor Tower, crying the whole way.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting in the best chairs around the fire. It was late and they had not seen Michelle since the mail came.
"I wonder if she's okay?" Harry asked with a concern filled voice.
"She's fine. It's your move," Ron said gesturing towards the chessboard.
"Ron," Hermione muttered.
"What?" he responded.
"Never mind," she replied.
Just then the portrait door swung open and in stepped a disheveled Michelle.
"Are you all right?" Harry asked the first to notice her.
"Hmm?" Michelle whispered not paying attention.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked worried for her friend.
"Nothing," Michelle mumbled.
"Why don't you sit down," Ron offered.
Michelle went and sat with them. That was when they noticed Michelle's preoccupied state and tear stained cheeks.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked again.
"You can tell us," Harry said trying to comfort her.
Michelle said nothing for a while then looked up at her three friends. "I will be leaving you soon."
"What?" the three asked in unison.
"Why?" Harry asked.
Harry had felt a connection between himself and Michelle that he could not explain. Now she was going to leave him. It felt it would leave a whole in his life that would not be able to be refilled. He was confused at these feelings that seemed to come from out of nowhere.
"I have to. You can't talk me out of it and you can't come with," she told them.
"Where are you going?" Ron asked her.
Michelle turned away from them. This was what she was afraid of. She did not want to tell them, but they were her friends and she felt she had to. Tears threatened to fall, but she held them back.
"I received a letter today and I have to fulfill its request," Michelle said.
"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked.
"Please stop speaking in riddles," Harry begged.
Michelle turned back to face them, "He called a meeting or a duel or something, but I have to meet him alone."
"Who?" Ron asked.
"Voldemort," she replied turning away once more. "Like I said my mind is made up. You cannot make me stay and I will go alone."
"It could be a trap," Hermione warned.
"I have no choice," Michelle told them.
"Are you sure?" Harry asked.
Michelle was deliberately avoiding Harry's gaze. She knew in her heart that he was the only one with the power to change her mind. She cared for him in a way she has not cared for others in a long time. It was a strange feeling for her after so long of an isolation. She would not allow him to change her mind. She was after all doing this to protect him.
"I have to choice," Michelle repeated.
They sat there in silence for a long time. No one dared to speak. They were contemplating Michelle's decision. They were trying to figure a way to change Michelle's mind. They had to. They just could not let her walk into a trap of Voldemort. That what friends do. And that is what they considered Michelle, a friend.
AN: Sorry about the long wait. I had half of this written a while ago, but I wasn't home to finish it until now. Please review and tell me what you think. Thanks to all who reviewed so far. Keep reading and reviewing.
KrystalFox
Fellow
Mistyqueen
Blonde-with-her-moments
Griffin14
LovelyLil
Shadowphoniexstar
The Mystical Elf
Jamie
I hope I didn't forget anyone.
Love ya all, KoKo Belle
"It will be soon," Voldemort hissed to Nagini. "This time there won't be any mess ups. I will have to go myself."
Wormtail was listening by the door. 'They won't stand a chance.' He thought to himself. 'They will soon pay, at the hands of my master.'
"There's just one thing I have to do first. Wormtail!"
"Yes Master."
Master and servant talked for a few moments. Wormtail left to do his Master's bidding.
There were two days left before the school would once again be bustling with students. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Michelle decided to go visit Hagrid. They knocked on his door. Hagrid answered a few moments later.
"Hey Hagrid," they all greeted their big friend.
"Harry, Ron, Hermione, Michelle," Hagrid addressed them all.
"Were you going somewhere Hagrid?" Hermione asked noticing a pack by the door.
"Well . . . I was just . . . er . . . I was just . . ." Hagrid mumbled.
"Were you going to see your brother?" Michelle asked.
Hagrid looked at Michelle, "Yeah."
"Don't worry Hagrid. They know who I am," Michelle told him.
"Good. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go see Grawp," Hagrid said as he walked out of his hut.
"That was odd. He didn't ask us to go with him," Ron said.
"Well I'm glad he didn't," Hermione told them.
"I wonder why though," Harry thought out loud.
"It's obvious," Hermione began. "Since the break in on Halloween, no one is taking any chances. They are keeping us out of danger."
"She's right. Daddy told the teachers not to take any extra risks, especially Hagrid. No students are going into the forest at all. No classes in there. No detentions in there. He's really worried. He almost made it where students would not be able to go home for Christmas because it would be dangerous, but in the end he thought it best for them to spend time with their families."
"What should we do now?" Ron asked.
"I don't know," Harry said.
"Well I think we should do some of the homework that we have put off to long already," Hermione told them.
Ron began to argue with her all the way up to the Common Room where they conceded and did their homework.
School was back in session. Teachers were piling on homework to keep the students occupied. Professor White gave them relaxation exercises that were not that bad. McGonagall gave them two feet on their current project. Snape gave them thirty inches on the properties of the Incendius potion, which will produce waterproof fire that will not burn anything. It only produces heat. The students were very busy and nothing interesting had happened, until one day when the mail came.
There was a rustling of paper and excited murmurs from the Slytherin table. Hermione took her copy of The Daily Prophet from the owl and paid it. She looked at the cover and gasped.
"What's wrong?" Ron asked.
Hermione said nothing. She handed the paper to him.
"Oh my God," Ron said.
His face went pale. Harry and Michelle looked at him. Michelle grabbed the paper from Ron.
"This isn't good," Michelle said reading the paper.
"Will someone please tell me what's going on?" Harry asked getting mad.
Michelle handed him the paper a bit reluctantly. He took it and began to read out loud.
"Death Eaters Escape Azkaban!" he looked around at the other three. "The Death Eaters that were caught last year in the Ministry of Magic escaped last night. However, the ones that were in Minister Fudge's office were not yet placed in Azkaban. These Death Eaters were being held in a containment room at the Ministry. They have since been moved. Their new location is not being disclosed."
Ron looked towards the Slytherins, causing his three friends to look that way. Malfoy was excitedly talking to Crabbe and Goyle.
"I wonder what they're talking about?" Hermione asked.
"Probably how best to help their dads," Ron replied.
"Or how to best get me expelled," Harry added.
"You're so negative," Michelle commented.
"Well how would you interpret this?" Harry began. "The breakout? The Slytherins?"
"Well first, Voldermort is gathering his followers. This means that he's probably planning something big, probably another attack. Second, the Slytherins most likely know this. This means they're most likely trying to come up with a way to not be around when it happens. No one is safe in an attack. They don't ask which side you're on, they just fire," Michelle explained.
"And that isn't negative," Ron said sarcastically.
Michelle shrugged and went back to reading her mail. Her face paled at the letter she was reading.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked.
"Tell McGonagall that I went to the hospital wing," Michelle said while slowly standing, the letter clenched in her hand.
"Would you like one of us to come with you?" Hermione asked.
"No. No. It's okay," Michelle began to walk, not towards the hospital, but towards her father's office.
She mumbled the password. Her father was sitting behind his desk. He looked up to see his daughter standing there whiter than a ghost.
"Are you all right?" he asked concern in his voice and eyes.
Michelle did not say anything she just handed him the letter. His eyes scanned the letter and he looked back to his daughter.
"What are you going to do?" he asked.
"I'm going to have to meet him," she replied tears forming in her eyes. "I'm scared Daddy."
"Shh. It's okay. You'll be all right," he comforted her.
Michelle stayed there for the rest of the day. Her dinner was even brought up for her. She did not know how to tell her friends of the letter and her decision. She feared Harry would try to come with her and the other two would try to dissuade her. Her father understood her decision and supported her. She sighed and began to walk towards Gryffindor Tower, crying the whole way.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting in the best chairs around the fire. It was late and they had not seen Michelle since the mail came.
"I wonder if she's okay?" Harry asked with a concern filled voice.
"She's fine. It's your move," Ron said gesturing towards the chessboard.
"Ron," Hermione muttered.
"What?" he responded.
"Never mind," she replied.
Just then the portrait door swung open and in stepped a disheveled Michelle.
"Are you all right?" Harry asked the first to notice her.
"Hmm?" Michelle whispered not paying attention.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked worried for her friend.
"Nothing," Michelle mumbled.
"Why don't you sit down," Ron offered.
Michelle went and sat with them. That was when they noticed Michelle's preoccupied state and tear stained cheeks.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked again.
"You can tell us," Harry said trying to comfort her.
Michelle said nothing for a while then looked up at her three friends. "I will be leaving you soon."
"What?" the three asked in unison.
"Why?" Harry asked.
Harry had felt a connection between himself and Michelle that he could not explain. Now she was going to leave him. It felt it would leave a whole in his life that would not be able to be refilled. He was confused at these feelings that seemed to come from out of nowhere.
"I have to. You can't talk me out of it and you can't come with," she told them.
"Where are you going?" Ron asked her.
Michelle turned away from them. This was what she was afraid of. She did not want to tell them, but they were her friends and she felt she had to. Tears threatened to fall, but she held them back.
"I received a letter today and I have to fulfill its request," Michelle said.
"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked.
"Please stop speaking in riddles," Harry begged.
Michelle turned back to face them, "He called a meeting or a duel or something, but I have to meet him alone."
"Who?" Ron asked.
"Voldemort," she replied turning away once more. "Like I said my mind is made up. You cannot make me stay and I will go alone."
"It could be a trap," Hermione warned.
"I have no choice," Michelle told them.
"Are you sure?" Harry asked.
Michelle was deliberately avoiding Harry's gaze. She knew in her heart that he was the only one with the power to change her mind. She cared for him in a way she has not cared for others in a long time. It was a strange feeling for her after so long of an isolation. She would not allow him to change her mind. She was after all doing this to protect him.
"I have to choice," Michelle repeated.
They sat there in silence for a long time. No one dared to speak. They were contemplating Michelle's decision. They were trying to figure a way to change Michelle's mind. They had to. They just could not let her walk into a trap of Voldemort. That what friends do. And that is what they considered Michelle, a friend.
AN: Sorry about the long wait. I had half of this written a while ago, but I wasn't home to finish it until now. Please review and tell me what you think. Thanks to all who reviewed so far. Keep reading and reviewing.
KrystalFox
Fellow
Mistyqueen
Blonde-with-her-moments
Griffin14
LovelyLil
Shadowphoniexstar
The Mystical Elf
Jamie
I hope I didn't forget anyone.
Love ya all, KoKo Belle