Chapter 6

Narrelle leant against the wall at the foot of the silver ladder. Desperately she tried to catch her breath from running head long across the grounds and tearing up the stairs.

At the sound of her gasps Professor Opal's head appeared at the open trap door.

"Why Miss Taylor," she exclaimed, "I don't have your class until tomorrow! What can I do for you?"

"I need…to talk…to you" Narrelle wheezed between breaths.

"Well why don't I come down to you. I don't think you could manage the ladder, do you?" she chuckled, disappearing momentarily before climbing down the ladder to the landing with a glass of water.

Narrelle smiled weakly and stood up straight to ease her chest and took the glass gratefully. When she finally recovered she explained everything to her teacher.

"My goodness Narrelle, you have been blessed!" she glanced around quickly, "I think we should continue this conversation up-stairs." Narrelle scrambled after her. "Do you have any idea what you could achieve young lady?" Narrelle shook her head; she had never seen Opal so worked up.

"You could do all the things I've dreamed of and more." She sat down suddenly and beckoned for Narrelle to do the same. She pulled over a stool and sat opposite her teacher.

"As you know, I don't have the power I teach about. It was all I wanted for years and years. My parents wanted so desperately for me to grow into it but I never did, it was the one thing they thought was destined for me. There hasn't been a seer in my family for so long, not since my great grandmother. They could not even find out if I were from someone else, as seers don't like to be recognized for their gifts. My brother didn't have any of this to deal with as the gift rarely shows in males, I dealt with all the pressure. I did what I could and they are satisfied with just my teaching but it was so hard to get where I am now." Narrelle felt sorry for Opal as she sat and told her story. She seemed very small all of a sudden and more of a girl than a teacher.

"Well I'm glad you are here Professor," she smiled in reassurance and Eva smiled back, "I don't know who else I could have told my secrets to."

"As I said, I know all there is to know about this subject. It was all I could do to appease my parents. They were so disappointed when it never happened for me. Still, at least now I can put my knowledge to some good use." She stood and took Narrelle's hand. Pulling her to her feet she guided her to the trap door.

"Now, we must start lessons as soon as possible. Is there no way you can fit them in before Christmas?"

"No I really don't think so. My lessons at the moment are so packed with homework I barely have time to eat and sleep," she giggled.

"Sounds about right," Opal jested, "We work you all hard here. Don't go neglecting the homework I've set now, will you? I can't treat you any different from the rest in that respect."

"No of course not Professor!" Narrelle laughed as she climbed down the ladder.

"Right, well I think you should start trying to focus your mind while you're away. Try to meditate, listen to calm music that sort of thing. I shall see you tomorrow Miss Taylor. Don't forget to revise, you're end of term exams are coming up fast!"

Narrelle nodded and disappeared from view. Eva smiled to herself and shook her head. That girl was going to be someone very special, she could tell.

The last week of exams flew by after the long dragging hours of revision. Lessons returned to normal for the last few days. Narrelle had had no more visions to guide her though and she was exhausted from the effort she had put in. The cold had increased and a thick carpet of snow blanketed the grounds and the castle.

Looking at her watch as she dawdled down the hundred or so steps to the third floor Narrelle realized she was going to be late for astronomy. "Oh not again," she cursed as she quickened her pace and ran full pelt down the third floor corridor, her green and white scarf flying out behind her. Taking the corner at a run, she slipped on an icy flagstone and fell heavily on her side, her books flying in all directions. Groaning in pain, she pulled herself onto her knees and quickly shoved her hand into her pocket. She sighed in relief as she felt the two phials filled with Putrus Bean fluid undamaged. She had meant to take them out weeks ago but after her first exam with them still at her side, she figured maybe they would bring her luck! They hadn't been lucky for her just then! She began stuffing her books back into her bag. The first thing she would do when she got back to her room would be to put them somewhere safe. "Damn this cold weather," she winced, and hobbled the rest of the way to classroom 3A4.

By the time the hour lesson was over her right hip was positively burning with pain. Not only had she been late but also she had left her homework in her room despite having completed it on time. Professor Sinistra had taken yet another ten points from Slytherin. At this rate Slytherin would end up with no points at all.

Without any notice a hand slipped around her waist taking some of her weight off the injured hip. Swiveling in the person's grip she saw Tom's face right next to hers. Her worries and complaints evaporated.

"What did you do to yourself this time?" he said in mock agitation.

"Slipped on this damn floor again," she sighed, "why does it have to get cold this time of year?"

Tom couldn't help but laugh "Nature I'm afraid my love. We best get you to the hospital wing."

"No Tom don't you dare," Narrelle protested "I'm perfectly fine." She attempted to twist out of his grip and banged her bad hip against someone. Her face screwed up in pain but she made no sound at all.

Tom frowned at her, "You're just too stubborn Narrelle, You're going to see Madam Hern and I won't hear another word about it. Pulling her closer to him he took as much of her weight as he could without carrying her.

Madam Hern huffed and puffed about students running in the corridors and being irresponsible. She scowled the whole time she gave Narrelle a small potion and gave her no sympathy at all. If Tom had not been there holding her and keeping control of her temper she was sure she would have lashed out at the old bat.

"Now get back to your common room and stay in bed. No lessons for the rest of today and certainly not until you can walk without any pain. That potion is only strong enough to heal the fracture you gave yourself, the bruising will take a while to go down. Now get out of my sight, I'm a very busy woman."

Narrelle was about to say something rude at her turned back but Tom put a hand over her mouth and gave her a warning look. "Come on, let's get you back to your bed."

This time he did carry her part of the way. They were almost at the secret door to the Slytherin common room when she became so dozy with whatever was in the potion she could barely stand. He lifted her easily into his arms and she subconsciously wrapped her arms about his neck. He staggered only slightly on the few stairs to the common room lounge chairs and lowered her gently into a long green sofa. As he did so he heard a slight chink of glass from inside her robes. He couldn't leave glass in her robes, what if it broke and she cut herself? Having justified his curiosity he slid his hand into her pocket and removed the two phials from her Herbology class.

"Well well Narrelle, what are you doing with these?" he muttered to himself, amazed they had not broken when she fell. If they had not then, they would not now. He gently slipped them back and stroked a strand of hair from her face. He smiled at her beauty before silently taking a seat near by to watch over her. Up in the dormitory Algernon and Folgrum where wide-awake and waiting for their Lord's return.

"Narrelle."

Narrelle stirred in her sleep at the call of her name. "Wake up girl, this is important." Evelyn was stood over her shaking her shoulder and virtually jumping up and down on the spot.

"Humph?" Narrelle uttered, slowly sitting up and yawning.

"There's been another attack Narrelle!"

Narrelle's eyes shot open and met the wide brown ones of Evelyn "What?"

"Yes that's right, another attack. This time a first year from Gryffindor. She was found in the girls bathroom on the second floor, you know the one I mean?"

Narrelle nodded speechless.

"She was just like that Ravenclaw boy you saw, all frozen, just standing there in front of the mirror"

"You didn't find…," Narrelle started.

"Oh, Good heavens no! I wouldn't have known what to do. No, you'll never guess who did find her though, Moaning Myrtle!" She finished before Narrelle could even hazard a guess.

"Really? Is she ok?" She couldn't help but worry about her; after all, she knew what it was like to find someone in that state.

"Oh I don't know, but that's not important," rambled Evelyn. "No, the important bit is we have no lessons for the next few days! How great is that? The teachers figure we won't be able to concentrate and it's only two days until the end of term anyway". She beamed at Narrelle but she seemed not to have heard her. "Narrelle isn't that great?"

"What? Oh yes, of course," she said distractedly. "But hang on," giving her full attention to Evelyn at last, "Aren't you staying here for Christmas?"

"Well, yes, but only because my parents think its safer for me to stay here during the war than at my aunts." Narrelle nodded again and threw the covers aside. Evelyn wagged her finger at her, "you're to stay in bed remember?"

"I know, but I have to talk to this Myrtle girl, she could be really upset by it all."

"You can't anyway, no one can find her. She disappeared after talking to Professor Dippit. Oh, and you might be a little upset by this Narrelle." Narrelle eyed Evelyn suspiciously. "Well, Frink, the librarian, well, she died last night. Passed away in her sleep they say."

Narrelle felt sorry for Madam Frink, she had liked the friendly librarian and felt even worse for tricking her.

"Evey how do you know all this?" Narrelle said sadly as she slid back under the covers.

She smiled at Narrelle and tapped her nose. "Right I have to shoot off again, I'll let you know of any developments," she called as she disappeared out the door.

It turned out Evelyn had been right. The holidays were due to start the following day and in the excitement of going home and seeing family most people forgot about the Gryffindor girl completely.

Narrelle woke from her light nap to find a piece of parchment slotted in between her alarm clock girl and the clock face. Puzzled, she lifted it out and read the message written in neat handwriting.

Meet me by the lake at nine

Tom.

"How on earth did he get that there?" She asked her self silently knowing full well that boys could not enter the girl's dormitories. "Valetta must have snuck in again!" She could never work out how Valetta did that. "Or maybe it was Elladora". Shrugging she got out of bed, realizing as she did so that she felt completely renewed without any aches at all. Thinking over the note again, she checked the time, half eight! Dressing in a hurry, she rushed out to the grounds.

In a few hours the coaches would leave to take the students back to their homes for Christmas and the New Year.

Tom was one of the many who would be staying and Narrelle was over-joyed that he had arranged to meet her before she left. She sighed as she thought of him and his past. It was no wonder he'd rather stay here than go back to the orphanage for Christmas. Here at least he could enjoy the day with the odd student and the teachers, not forgetting the many ghosts.

"Hey Narrelle"

She turned at the call of her name just in time to catch the ball of snow hurtling toward her face. It disintegrated in her hands showering her with light flakes.

"Nicely caught," Tom shouted from where he stood thirty feet away. Flicking his wand as he uttered a spell, another snowball lifted into the air and then came flying her way. This time she ducked just in time.

"Just you wait Tom," she threatened gathering snow together in her hands. "Winguardium Leviosa." She flicked her wand in the same way and her ball lifted out of her hand, shooting off towards Tom. He was so busy laughing she caught him in the chest.

"Right, this is war Missy," he laughed raising each of his pre made snowballs into the air and hurling them at her one after the other in quick succession.

"Ah," she cried, covering her head, as the bombardment hit her accurately, until she fell to the ground and was covered in glittering white. "Ok, I surrender," she spluttered.

Tom trotted over to her and helped her shake the snow out of her hair and off her robes.

"Sorry Narrelle, I didn't mean to bury you alive," he smiled.

"That's alright," pulling the snowball out from behind her and rubbing it into his thick dark hair, "I can always pay you back." Laughing she ran from him along the bank of the lake knowing he'd catch her in the blink of an eye.

Faking his outrage he took after her, grabbing at her sleeve as they both slipped and tumbled on top of each other.

"Tom you're heavy, get off me," she giggled.

Scrambling to his feet he held out his hand for Narrelle, pulling her up after him. "I'm really going to miss you, you know."

Narrelle blushed, "Well I'll miss you too. I'll miss everything here. At home it's all so boring." They turned and walked slowly back to the castle in silence, neither wanted to spoil the quiet and beauty of Hogwarts in winter. The walk to the front doors took less time than usual, despite their dawdling.

"I have to get my stuff ready and say good bye to everyone". She took a step towards the door but Tom kept hold of her hand. "Come on Tom, let me go now, ok?" Narrelle smiled at him and slid out of his grasp. She looked back once before trotting down the stairs in the main hall towards her room.

Algernon slid out from his hiding place behind the great wooden doors and raised his eyebrows at Tom.

Tom glared at him for his intrusion "Don't you dare say a word about her" He hissed. Algernon put his hands up and shrugged.

"I wasn't going to say anything My Lord!" He held out a piece of parchment and Tom snatched it from him in a flash.

"What's this about," he snapped!

"It's what you asked me to get, remember?"

Tom folded it quickly and shoved it into his pocket, "Our room now, get everyone." He strode off into the hall leaving Algernon smirking to himself in the doorway.

Narrelle checked everything in her room and double-checked on Nightsong. Her owl was asleep in her cage, her head tucked under her wing. No one else was around and all but Evelyn's and Heather's things were packed in trunks and bags. Almost all the muggleborn students were staying, Hogwarts was the safest place to be in comparison to evacuation homes while the muggle war raged.

Narrelle took a last look around the room before shutting the door after her. Entering the common room she saw Heather and Evelyn along with Olive, Ellouise and Alianora sat by the fire.

"Hello you lot, looking forward to going home?"

Heather ignored her and looked the other way. The others looked uncomfortable and Evelyn smiled sympathetically.

"Oh please stop this Heather! I've said I'm sorry over and over, what more can I do? Let's not go away like this!"

Heather glanced at Narrelle with a look of disdain, which faded from her pretty features to be replaced by a smile. She sighed suddenly and got up. "Oh ok, you're forgiven," she went up to Narrelle and hugged her. "Have a good holiday, it won't be long before you're back here."

Narrelle smiled back and turned to Evelyn. "I'm going to miss you. Take care ok? I hope you don't get too bored," she threw her arms round her.

"I'll be fine. Now go get to the coaches before they fill up and you get separated from the others". She hugged them all and waved them off.

"Don't forget to write," Narrelle called back as they dashed from the common room towards the main hall and waited outside by the large gates. Before long they were on their way home, chatting happily about what they hoped to get for Christmas and how glad they would be to see their parents.

Narrelle wasn't overjoyed to be going home but she wasn't unhappy either. Christmas was one of the few times her family actually spoke to each other. Rubbing her sleeve on the misty window she peered out for a last look at Hogwarts, as it was lost behind them in a fresh blanket of falling snow.

Tom waited for Narrelle and her friends to leave the common room. Algernon had gone to find the others, but Tom wanted Nell to be gone and on her way before the meeting took place. Once the echoes of footsteps had receded he stepped out from the closet he had hidden in.

"Nightshade", he said and the door swung open to let him in. He strode into the common room glancing at Evelyn and Heather sat in front of the fire. Paying them no attention at all he headed for the dormitories to await the others. Sitting on his bed he studied the parchment he had taken from Algernon. Running his finger down the list of names his anger grew.

It wasn't long before Algernon, Folgrum and Valetta burst into the room, they all stopped dead at the cold glare he sent them. Elladora held her head high as she stepped confidently past them nodded her head to Tom and sat down keeping up the impassive aura. The others quickly followed her example. Each finding a space on the bed they sat quietly waiting for him to erupt at them. Valetta glanced nervously at Folgrum, biting her lip. He tried to give her a reassuring smile but it came out as a grimace. Algernon looked positively ill. His skin had turned very pale and he had his hands clasped tightly in his lap.

Tom stared at the parchment for what seemed like an age, as he stood suddenly, they all jumped in response. Valetta rose slowly at the encouragement of Folgrum and took Tom's arm. Smiling as confidently as she could, she caught Tom's cold eyes in her questioning, light brown ones and spoke in a calm tone. "Tom what is it? Why have you called this meeting?"

"Because now is the best time for us to really start acting. Surely you have the intelligence to know that without question." He shook her off his arm and she sank back to the bed, her smile gone and replaced by growing concern and fear. Elladora stared up at him in admiration. He paced for a moment before rounding on Algernon.

"Stand up, you miserable excuse for a servant" He bellowed. Algernon struggled to his feet and bowed his head to Tom. "You cannot even get a simple list right," Algernon's head snapped up and his puzzled eyes met Tom's enraged grey-green ones. Tom waggled the parchment under his nose; "This isn't even half the number of students staying here for Christmas! Did you not even think to consider those mudbloods who would not be able to return home due to this war?" Algernon shrank from his words and, to Valetta, he seemed to decrease in size before her eyes. The room darkened and a chill breeze whistled under the door from nowhere.

"I…I," Algernon stuttered. "I didn't think My Lord, I apologize for my stupidity and my lack of resource, please forgive me." He sank to his knees, enforcing the illusion of his diminishing size.

Tom did not even give an answer he whirled on the spot to face Folgrum and Valetta. "You two, I want you to watch these students carefully. I want to know which ones have a social group still here and which are on their own. I want to know where they go and which rooms are theirs, when they eat and sleep. Do you understand?" he barked.

Valetta nodded quickly and Folgrum took the parchment from his outstretched hand. There were about fifteen names scrawled on the list. Tom returned his attention the Algernon who was still cowering on the floor. "You will get the names of all those you have missed. Your failure has disappointed me. You even missed off the most important student! Evelyn Wroxam is still here. I thought even you could not fail to notice that! Narrelle has mentioned it right in front of you for heaven sake," he spat. "Get out of my sight and do as I have bidden." He gestured towards the door and continued to scowl as Algernon scrambled to his feet once more and shot out the door.

Elladora waited expectantly as Tom turned to her.

"You Ella," he addressed her, his anger disappearing and replaced with cool confidence, "Will do me the greatest favour."

"Anything My Lord," she sat literally on the very edge of the bed in anticipation.

Toms charming smile widened. He knew he could count on Ella. "I need someone to go to the kitchens this evening just after the feast. It's important that I know everything there is to know about Hogwarts. Everything, things that don't always show up on maps and blue prints, understand?"

Elladora was no longer looking pleased. At first when he had turned to her she had been overjoyed to be the one trusted with this instead of Miss Priss Val. Now, however, she knew what was coming and she did not like it one little bit. Dejectedly she answered.

"House elves Sir."

"Now don't look so down Ella, they might need a little persuading, a little torture never hurt anyone," he smirked as her head snapped up and her bright eyes met his gaze. "But, and it's a big 'but', no visible marks must be left, no getting carried away. We can't have dead elves now can we? And most definitely no use of the Cruciatus curse." He gave Ella a stern stare as she opened her mouth to object. "Even elves know how illegal it is and no matter what you put them through they will go to Dippit. Only resort to torture if bribes aren't working and don't over step the rules I have set, do I make myself clear?"

Elladora nodded sternly, knowing he was right.

"I have spent these last five years searching through documents and books and still I'm sure there is more I do not know. It is essential for my plans to work and I will not tolerate them being spoilt by others slipping up."

"I understand completely My Lord. I shall find exactly what you need, I will not fail you." She stood and lowered her head.

"Good, because I will know if you lie and I hope, for your sake, that this will be a success," he touched the back of her head and she took it as a dismissal.

Tom watched her go, his previous anger burst forgotten. He had high hopes pinned on Ella.