Chapter 29 Fighting in the corridors

Harry felt like he was floating through a sea of welcoming darkness. He wasn't sure where he was or how long he had been there, but at the moment, he felt like he would be happy to stay here for the rest of his life. Suddenly he realised he was cold, and groaned in frustration.

He heard a rustling of robes beside him and felt a cool hand against his forehead.

"Wake up sleepy head" came a soft voice. He felt his eyes flicker open and blinked a few times to clear his vision. Everything was still dark, but there was the light of the moon shining in through the window. He realised suddenly that he was back in the dormitory, but he couldn't remember getting back here.

He looked around to find whoever it was that had woken him up, and saw Megan staring down at him, looking worried.

"What happened?" He asked, getting up slowly, then feeling a wave of dizziness that sent him back down to the mattress. A look of relief passed over Megan's face, but she hesitated before answering.

"You passed out while we were up in the astronomy tower. I had to bring you back here" she said finally.

"How did I pass out?" Harry asked, looking confused.

Megan pursed her lips a little.

"The crystals I showed you. They're really powerful. They can enhance any spells that you cast" she said, looking away again.

Harry's eyes widened as he remembered hearing her mutter spells while they were there.

"What did you do?" he demanded.

"It was only a calming spell" she said quickly. I don't know why the spell was so strong. It's never been that strong when I tried it before"

At that moment, Harry's stomach grumbled loudly. Megan's eyes widened.

"Oh!" she exclaimed. "I should have brought you something to eat! I'm sorry"

"What?" Harry asked, confused once again.

"You've been asleep for so long, of course you'd be hungry" she muttered to herself as she picked up a cloak that was sitting on the edge of his bed and pulled it over her.

It suddenly occurred to Harry that though it was obviously night-time, the other boys in weren't in the dorm.

"Asleep for how long?" Harry asked, growing concerned. "What time is it?"

Megan bit her lip.

"It's dinner time" she said. "The others are already in the Great Hall. They tried to wake you, but I guess either the spell was too strong, or you really needed the sleep. Come on, they only left just before you woke up. If we leave now then we can make it"

Harry followed silently, questions racing through his head too quickly for him to process, and making him even more confused. After they reached the Great Hall, he pushed them aside, deciding that he would figure things out another time. At present, the smell of food was too overpowering for him to be able to think straight anyway.

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After the initial hubbub from his mysterious absence and reappearance had died down, Harry's life went back to normal. The days drew on without incident, as most of the students were more interested in discussing the upcoming quidditch match.

Ron was taking his role as team captain very seriously, and even though Harry had barely any time to speak with Megan again because most of his free time had been spent on the quidditch pitch, and when he got back to the common room at night, she was no where to be found.

Before he knew it, Friday had come. Harry, Ron and Hermione walked out of the transfiguration classroom and were on their way to lunch. The hallways were full of students speculating about the upcoming match between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. To avoid the crowds, they decided to walk a different way, and ended up in a deserted corridor.

After a few minutes, Hermione looked around in confusion.

"This can't be right" she said. "We should be passing the charms classroom, but it's nowhere in sight. I don't think I've ever been here before"

Harry and Ron looked around and realised that she was right. They couldn't remember seeing this corridor before either.

"I think we should go back" Ron said suddenly, turning and walking swiftly the opposite way. Hermione and Harry followed closely behind, but they ended up at a dead end. They looked around in confusion trying to find where they were, but there was nothing but stone walls around them.

They were just about to start panicking when they heard a voice behind them.

"Well if isn't Potty and the Mudblood" Malfoy drawled. "What are you doing down here? Oh, don't tell me, you're taking your pet weasel out for a walk are you?"

The three of them spun around and saw Draco leaning against the wall with Crabbe and Goyle standing a little behind him.

Harry and Hermione had to hold back Ron, who was red in the face and struggling to get to Malfoy.

"Shove off Malfoy" Harry hissed.

Malfoy smirked and walked closer, so that he and Harry were inches apart.

"Are you going to make me Potter?" He jeered. "Or are you too chicken to do anything while your girlfriend isn't around to save your neck"

Harry flushed red at this, and his grip loosened on Ron. Ron barged forwards towards Malfoy, but was intercepted by Goyle, who grabbed him in a vice grip. At a nod from Malfoy, Crabbe stood forward and grabbed Hermione, who struggled to get away.

"Come on Potter" Draco said, pulling out his wand. "Let's go. Just you and me"

Draco threw a curse, which Harry managed to dodge as he reached for his wand. He pointed it at Malfoy and was about to use the leg-locker charm when he heard a loud voice from down the corridor yell "expelliarmus". Both Harry's and Malfoy's wands flew through the air in the direction that the voice had come from, and both boys spun around to see who the owner was.

Both boys quickly turned white as they stared into the angry eyes of Professor Helsing.

"What is the meaning of this?" She yelled.

"My friends and I were lost and I asked Potter for directions" Malfoy said quickly. "He and his friends tried to hex me, so we fought back"

Professor Helsing narrowed her eyes as Malfoy explained, but quickly nodded afterwards. Harry was outraged.

"That's not true!" He exclaimed.

"Silence Mr Potter" she replied. "I have heard enough. Go straight to my office please"

Harry's jaw dropped. Hermione cut in at that point.

"Please Professor, it wasn't Harry's fault. It was..."

"I've heard enough from you Miss Granger" Professor Helsing said, putting a hand to her face for a moment.

"15 points from each of you for fighting in the corridors. Mr Potter, please go straight to my office and wait for me there. The rest of you can go straight to the Great Hall, except for Mr Malfoy. You shall accompany me to the headmaster to inform him of this event" She said quietly, then quickly walked further down the hall.

Hermione and Ron gave Harry a sympathetic look before they walked after Professor Helsing, who was quickly striding towards the brick wall, then disappeared straight though it. Crabbe and Goyle followed, with Malfoy going last. As he walked out through the wall, he smirked at Harry.

Harry felt the anger rising up inside him. He stormed towards Helsing's office, the air crackling around him with the unharnessed magic he was releasing. He entered Professor Helsing's office and flung himself down into a chair.