Authors note: As always I don't own anything but Brooke!
I've changed the rating because this chapter has bits that are PG rated but it doesn't really change anything.
Hunted. So it begins.
"What did Dumbledore say?" Hermione whispered as the class started to disembowel a bowl full of slugs.
"Just what Mcgonagal told me, Harry's still with Dumbledoore , I bet he got more answers." Brooke replied viciously, pulling the intestine out of a particularly pussy slug.
"Hmm, well I'm sure he'll tell you everything" She replied thoughtfully, dropping her perfect slugs into the steaming cauldron.
They continued to make their camouflage potions until the classroom started to reek of slug innards. Harry still hadn't come back when the bell rang.
At lunch in the great hall, Brooke slammed her plate threateningly on the table as she waited for the food to appear. No sooner had her antics finished did the food materialize on her golden plate.
"About bloody time!" She hissed between gritted teeth.
Hermione shot her a worried look.
"Was-up wif use?" Ron asked through a mouthful of mashed potato.
"It's about Harry, she's jealous" Hermione jumped in before Brooke could even get her mouth open.
"I am not jealous!" She spat, clearly annoyed at Hermione's butting in.
"I'm just pissed at Dumbledoore and his pathetic excuse for sending me to the death eaters" She continued defensively.
They all left her to eat in peace, everyone too scared to say anything to her as she was in a lethal foul mood.
"Give it!" she shot at a nervous looking first year, who immediately handed over the tomato sauce bottle.
"Boo!"
"Shit!" Brooke screamed as she squirted sauce all over her white shirt. She turned around angrily; ready to lay down her wrath on the troublemaker.
"Harry?!" He looked very startled by her outburst, and rather humorous sauce covering.
"I'm..umm..sorry!" He replied trying to hold back a laugh.
"Don't worry about it, I needed a shower anyway"
He then to her great surprise, attempted to wipe the sauce off her chest.
"Argh! No it's fine Harry honestly!" She protested.
He looked quite distressed now, running a sauce-covered hand through his hair. A small crowd had gathered around to see what all the commotion was all about as Brooke burst out laughing. Thick red sauce was now running down his forehead and along his nose.
He grinned shyly and wiped some off.
People started to laugh at the scene, tomato sauce all over Brooke and Harry; she had to admit it must have looked a little amusing.
"I have to go wash this off, I'll see you later!" She said laughing, pushing her way through the crowd, wiping sauce over them as she passed.
Then as if in slow motion she tripped over someone's leg falling clumsily, she could see herself crashing to the floor, until a pair of strong firm arms caught her and held her up. It was Draco.He moved her out of the hall and into the entranceway. Still holding her tightly, he was starring at her with a worried expression on his face. She gasped slightly as she realized with frustrated horror who had caught her.
"Are you okay" He asked quietly, his eyes darting behind her, as though he was making sure no one could see them.
"Aha..umm..thankyou" She replied uneasily, still a little annoyed at what had happened earlier.
They starred at each other for a while longer while Brooke got her breath back. He still hadn't let go. She couldn't complain, after she'd settled down a bit, it had actually started to feel, and she hated to say it, but it felt nice. He was warm and strong he made her feel safe. The day's events had been long, confusing and hectic. This was just what she needed to calm herself down.
"I'm sorry about before"
"Don't be" She blurted out, damn she thought, that came out a little to fast.
"What really?" why is she being so nice, does she...?
"Yea, it's fine really" he looks so good today, smells nice too.
She smiled at him. Was she for real? His heart skipped a beat, maybe she did like him. He thought hopefully.
"you..like..me?" He stammered, completely giving away the fact that he liked her. Shit, I shouldn't have said that! He thought regretfully. She flashed him a cute little smile, leant forward, gave him a peck on the cheek, and then whispered in his ear;
"Of course not". She gave him a mischievous smile then spun on her heel and hurried up the stairs to her common room. He starred after her, completely dumbstruck. He was sure there was a double meaning behind her actions. It was like she had shaken her head and said yes.
"What are you doing here Dracie?" A sickly sweet voice from behind him chided.
He turned slowly, a dazed look on his face. It was pansy.
"Nothing" He grunted, his mind was still miles away dreaming of Brooke.
"Why are you covered in sauce" She inquired, fixing him with a cold penetrating stare.
She didn't wait for an answer.
"That stupid French slut was covered in sauce too wasn't she?"
"She's not a slut!" He burst out, his eyes widened as he realized what he had said.
"She's not? ...Interesting" She pursed her lips, then gave him a menacing smile, looked up towards the Gryffindor common rooms then glided away towards the dungeons.
"Pansy wait!" He had once last hopeful look in the common rooms direction then ran after his girlfriend.
"You..like..me?" He was blushing and his normal air of coolness was gone.
Yes. Brooke thought. But you don't like me; you've got a girlfriend. She smiled as she watched his face turn a shade redder. She was still tight in his arms. He was so strong and good looking, why did he have to be so irresistible? Without thinking over the consequences she leant forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek. She was about to whisper 'yes' until she caught sight of pansy a fair way off. Fleeting thoughts of dread filled her up like a hot air balloon.
"Of course not" She said hurriedly. In the process of turning and running away she took one last look at him. He looked slightly confused as though he was about to ask her a question. His deep blue eyes drew her in; his scent intoxicated her, she felt like she could have spent her whole life just starring at his handsome face. She smiled slightly and turned and walked away. Struggling with her legs as she tried to get up the stairs. She felt heavy and sad as she flopped onto her bed. Dark thoughts of her grandparents filled her dreams.
Horrible blood curdling screams.
"Help me! Help me!" Her grandmother called.
"I'm coming, grandma! Please hold on!" tears streamed down her face.
"Help. Please" She gasped and fell into a pool of blood.
"Nooo!" Brooke screamed, trying to run to save her. But her legs wouldn't work, she seemed to be struggling so hard and wasn't going anywhere. The helpless old woman lay on the cold ground while her grandfather tried desperately to fight off a cloaked murderer.
"Avada Kadavara" A cruel cold voice hissed.
"Grandpa!" Crying hysterically, trying desperately to reach her dead grandparents. A surge of rage and loathing ran through her body as she strained to move. She finally reached them; two blood stained clumps of clothes. Their bodies gone. Brooke threw herself down on the wet heap. Blood seeping all over her.
The murderer was standing over her now. Laughing at her in a cold low voice, he sounded remotely familiar. He came closer to her, raised his wand and in the same bone chilling voice whispered;
"Avada kadavara"
A flash of green light. She feel back, dead, but still watched the cloaked figure. He wasn't laughing he was fighting off another cloaked person. Suddenly a loud scream erupted from the room the two figure cloaks fell off, another burst of green light and the room fell into darkness. She screamed and tried to move. She had seen their hoods fall off. Two men, one younger than the other. Both white blonde hair.
"Brooke!" Hermione called. Behind her stood lavender and pravati. Both looking very pale and worried.
She was breathing very fast, she felt very wet, like they had thrown a bucket of water over her.
"W-hat?" She gasped clutching her heart.
"You were screaming, and you've been attacked" Pravati whispered fearfully, her eyes open very wide.
"Attacked?! By who?" She replied, very worried.
"We don't know, but look" Lavender said handing her a mirror.
She gasped. Her robes were ripped, she was covered in blood and sauce, her neck, arms and face were covered in scratches.
"How-did-this-happen?" She stammered. Her brain was racing, could her dream have been real? Who were those people, they were strangely familiar. She felt like her brain had turned into a sieve and her dream was like tiny grains of sand falling through it. She felt emotionally drained. Her wounds were beginning to hurt now; the past day had taken its toll. It was dark outside, which meant she'd missed two classes. She fell back onto her bed and shut her eyes.
"Brooke?" Hermione whispered carefully.
"Mmm" She replied.
"It's time for dinner, and everyone was really worried about you when you didn't come to class, I think you should see Dumbledoore"
"No, I want to sleep" And never wake up again, she thought bitterly.
The girls left, leaving Brooke all alone, feeling very sad and alone. She missed her mother. She began to get choked up as she tried not to let herself cry. How could someone have attacked her? Why were her grandparent's dead? Who killed them? A hot tear ran down her cheek. She curled up tightly into a ball; a window was open in the bedroom letting in a cold breeze. It sent uneasy shivers along her back.
Her eyes snapped open as she heard something just outside the window. Probably just Nienna back from hunting. Cautiously she got up; there was a horrible scratching noise coming from the tree just below the window. She shuddered as a chill ran down her spine, someone was out there. She almost screamed when she saw two tiny red slits, like snake eyes. She stood rooted to the floor, fear taking over every cell in her body. She wanted to shut her eyes, open them again and see that it was all over. The person was moving, climbing the tree, climbing into the window. She saw his face. A middle aged man, with an evil scarred face and cold cruel eyes, the kind you would expect a murderer to have. He grinned maliciously at her as he hauled himself into the bedroom, only meters away. He slipped a hand into his robes – he was searching for his wand. It's now or never Brooke, She told herself. He started to advance on her, walking slowly, fixing her with a burning stare. She was completely stunned. Her mind refused to work. She turned and headed for the door. More tears streamed down her face as her dream came into reality, her legs wouldn't move fast enough. He started to laugh at her, nearing ever closer. Turning her head hysterically from one side to the other she desperately called for help.
"Help! Help me please!"
Her panicked screams, which made her voice hoarse, were made in vain. No one could hear her. They wouldn't have been able to help her anyway. She shut her eyes and thought of her grandparents, dead and lifeless, like the wet clumps of their clothes. A surge of hatred flashed through her. She screamed at the man, who gave her a venomous smile in return.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" she yelled, and with her remaining energy she ran to the door. Her legs seemed to be working again, though they were still distressingly stiff. With all her might she fled down the stairs. The man was close behind her, shooting curses down the staircase. Hurry or he'll get you. She leaped down the remaining stairs and raced across the room.
"AVADA KADAVARA!" he bellowed from behind her. It bouced of a metal object and rebounded onto her leg.
"AGHH!" she groaned. It felt like her calf had split in two. He was drawing closer.
"Keep going" She whispered. Trying desperately to ignore the unbearable pain.
"Don't stop" She ran, limped and dripped blood all the way to the portrait. Pushing past it she fell out the hole and down a few stairs. Feeling, as though she might die right there without even being cursed by the man. She heaved her aching, terrified body up and ran down the stairs, ignoring the screaming pain. She looked behind her and saw him one flight of stairs away from her. He was making up the distance fast, she looked down the stairs desperately she was almost at the entrance all, the great hall was close. With all the willpower she could muster, she forced herself to keep going down towards Dumbledoore. He would save her. She jumped down ten stairs and crashed hard to the ground, she screamed with pain, as she broke the already mutilated leg. She dragged her useless leg across the entrance hall hopping and limping and falling.
The closed hall doors were emitting a golden red light. It shone out in a bright beam she felt delirious as though a thousand angels had suddenly started signing, that salvation was near. She turned and saw the evil man running flat out towards her about fifty meters away.
"Help! Help me!" She screamed hoarsely
"HELP!" she tried louder, the noise in the hall died down as if they had heard her.
"HELP, HELP ME!!" she cried desperately. She tripped, he was closing in. Her leg wouldn't let her stand up. She desperately crawled and pulled herself towards the door. Crying and screaming for help. She could hear people running towards the doors.
"HELP ME!" she screamed again more frantic this time.
He was right behind her. The doors slammed open blinding her with the bright light. Dumbledoore and McGonagal spotted her. All the students ran to the doors to see what was going on.
"Got you!" He hissed savagely in her ear, picking her up from under the arms, dragging her across the floor.
"Dumbledoore!" McGonagal screamed as the whole school watched.
He pointed his wand at the man who froze.
"Stay back or ill kill her." He said calmly dropping her; she hit her head hard on the marble floor. She felt so helpless her whole body was aching.
"Accio broomstick!" He yelled pointing his wand towards the entrance doors.
He sneered at the crowd, and paused to smile at someone. Then caught a black firebolt in his black leather gloved hand.
He looked at her. She knew he had killed her grandparents.
With a huge effort she sat up and spat in his face. She heard some gasps from the students.
"Leave her now" Dumbledoore spoke coolly but with a hint of warning in his voice.
"Crucio!" The man yelled pointing his wand at Brooke.
It felt like nothing she had ever experienced before. She felt like boiling hot lava had been poured over her, bricks dropped on her head and knives stabbed into her heart. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head as she tried to remain conscious. The last thing she remembered was the cloaked man zooming out the entrance doors on his broomstick.
She fell back on to the ground completely exhausted. There was a lot of screaming after that, people yelling and running past her out the entrance doors.
"BROOKE!" Harry, Ron and Hermione yelled as they raced to her.
"Take her to the hospital wing" Someone told them.
They lifted her up gently, but it hurt so much.
"Ah" She groaned. Everything turned black, white and blurry.
The crowd parted to let her through. They were all starring at her and looking terrified. She lost consciousness before they even reached the hospital wing. Drifting uneasily into dark dreams about her grandparents, and two cloaked figures.
There you go! Thankyou so much: ashleyneo31 ,ThouandI and crystaldreams611 (again!lol)
Your all the best! if i havent reviewed your story yet I will soon it's just i've been really busy! Thanks again!
