Chapter Twenty: Announcement

Author Notes: This chapter is very serious and deals majorly with the plot. Oooooh juicy stuff here! Sorry I haven't updated any stories in some while. I was studying for a BIG math test (I got 97 percent! yay!), but now that it is done, I will update more often! Enjoy the story!

"Ouch! Who are you! Let go of me you great big bastard!"

Tom laughed emotionlessly as he grabbed the child of the girl he loved ever so much.

"Are you sure you want to know who I am?" he hissed.

Cho froze and stared at the hooded figure with horror.

"No...no, no, no, no, no! This can't be happening to me! You are...you-know-who!"

"No. My name is Tom Riddle and I have come here to take you away and keep you as my bride. You look ever so much like Li!"

Cho stopped and gasped. "What have you done to my mother? Leave her alone! What did we ever do to you!"

"Li abandoned me at my time of need. I asked her to be my bride, and together we would have ruled...but she ran away from me and married a common wizard. I hated her spitefully for her mistake, but I can always have her daughter who will be my slave in the day, and at night...oh how much fun we would have!"

Cho spitted on him angrily. This brought anger to the Dark Lord.

"You foolish little girl! I will show you pain!"

Voldemort dragged the girl by her hair and portkeyed himself back to his lair.

Dumbledore stared gravely at the letter. It was addressed by the Lord, Dumbledore could tell. It read:

I have the girl. She will be my toy for several days. I will play with her, get bored of her and dispose of her. If you want her back in one piece, surrender to me...

"Minerva," he said sternly to the elderly professor standing by the door. "Please call all the students to the Great Hall for an emergency meeting. I have a very grave announcement to make."

"Of course Professor," she obeyed. She left the room, leaving Dumbledore in his office with tear drops slowly fluttering down his pale and wrinkled cheeks.

Professor McGonagall went to each of the common rooms and notified all the students of the meeting. The students looked slightly surprised because an emergency meeting never occurred before in the history of Hogwarts. Slowly, the students proceeded to the Great Hall. There was still chatter among them, but one by one the noise died down when Dumbledore coughed slightly. When all the students were quiet, Dumbledore spoke.

"As many of you know, your classmate Cho Chang went missing since yesterday morning. This has all been the doing of an evil sorcerer by the name of Lord Voldemort. I have received a letter stating that Ms. Chang was kidnapped by Voldemort himself. The purpose of this meeting was to warn you against the dangers of the evil world. I encourage all of you, in this excellent year to keep yourself safe and stay inside at all times. Care of Magical Creatures and Herbology will be held inside the castle for the time being..."

There was a great groan in the audience. Dumbledore continued," Please understand that this is a precaution that we have to take. You will all be dealing with indoor beings only, for some while. Also, it is my great regret to inform you that all Quidditch practices and games are canceled until we are perfectly sure that we are safe."

Harry looked at Ron open-mouthed.

"Can you believe him?" Harry exclaimed to Ron. "They are canceling Quidditch, just so we can be safe! We need fresh air! We need to go outside too! We can't live indoors forever!"

"I doubt the Dark Lord is going to come bounding to Care of Magical Creatures and go Hey Haggers! I am just going to kill Draco off before one of your animals do! By the way, I think the beard looks rather sexy on you!" Malfoy called. Several people sniggered, and Hagrid blushed. Hermione scowled at Malfoy and looked back at Dumbledore. Dumbledore just stood there looking at the angry students. When the students hushed up, he spoke again.

"We are looking everywhere for our beloved Ms. Chang. I express the deepest sympathy to those students who were close to her," he said glancing at Marietta Edgecombe who was now sobbing harder than ever on another girl's shoulder.

Dumbledore could feel tears coming out of him now, so he quickly mumbled, "Dismissed..."

He wiped his tears and was just about to leave, when Professor McGonagall stopped him.

"Albus," she said softly. "There is still hope for Cho. Don't get grieved for one student's loss."

"Minerva...it's about to become several students' loss..."

End of Chapter Twenty