However, these rooms were built by the four founders, the most powerful wizards and witches of the ages. The rooms didn't so much as challenge any newcomers as try to deny them with any means possible, even to the point of death.
Harry looked around. A fantastic study drenched in the colours of Gryffindor with everything he could desire. He let out a small sigh as he slowly looked upon the perfection of the large room with a welcoming open fire, a luxurious copy of the Gryffindor common room that he and his friends like so much.
Perfection? His brain started to speed up. He hadn't ordered the room to look like this. He needed to put up his mental shield, but what was going on? He half turned around and caught a glimpse of bushy hair before,
CRUCIO! she shouted without a wand, just with her pointed crooked finger.
Harry's entire body went into agonising muscle spasm, his teeth bit into his tongue as his head shook violently as he tasted that familiar coppery taste. He looked up at the girl with bushy hair. It couldn't be her. It wasn't possible that she was here. FIGHT HARRY! What if it is her?
Stupefy, he said halfheartedly without being able to raise a finger and she through it off without trying. She walked up to where he was still shaking on his knees. She hit him so hard in the mouth he thought his head would snap off. He didn't know what had hit him, or whether the blood in his mouth was from her hitting him or him biting his tongue with the force of the Crucio.
His physical pain was nothing compared to the mindless screaming of every emotion in his mind.
"Why?.." he mumbled feeling his jaw broken, his mind in meltdown, his soul wounded beyond repair. He sob broke free.
She pulled him back up and hit him again with such force that he was thrown to the ground in a heap. He didn't move.
"Because you're pathetic, you're nothing, not worthy of my love, not worthy of my thoughts or affection, you're a self righteous loser and we would all be better without you.. Just. Die."
His eyes rolled up in his head and darkness took him, not before his mind shattered into a thousand broken pieces.
Ginny & Luna had both given Hermione a little time, but came running when they heard her scream out in pain.
"Hermione?" said Ginny softly, with Luna right behind her trying to see.
"go.. away.." she managed to hiccup between loud wails of crying.
"Are you hurt? Physically I mean?" Ginny said a bit confused at the level of hysteria Hermione was showing weeping on her bed. All she got was a renewed wail and more sobbing as Hermione was curled into a foetal position on her bed.
"Something's not quite right.. Hermione?" Luna questioned softly.
Ginny was a bit shocked when Luna approached Hermione and sat softly beside her with a thoughtful look on her face. When she placed a hand on her, she withdrew it violently like it had just been burned badly, and stood bolt upright.
"Oh Merlin!"
"Luna?" Ginny said loudly, shaking Luna from her non responsive state.
"Its.. pain.. she's feeling emotional.. Harry.. pain" Ginny had to catch Luna as she passed out.
Ginny ran to the door and nearly pulled it off its hinges and screamed into the common room below,
"GET DUMBLEDORE NOW! ITS AN EMERGENCY.."
Timmins and Ron were standing discussing something that didn't really matter when they saw the look on Ginny's face. Shock. Anger. Determination. They took a brief look at her disappear from where she came without even stopping to think, and realisation hit them.
Timmins bolted out the portrait door, Ron not far behind him, sending two forth years flying as he took three steps at a time sprinting down the staircase without any thought but Dumbledore. The big Gryffindor beater jumped from staircase to staircase, Ron not able to follow, cursing. Students waiting on various staircases just looked on in horror, admiration and shock seeing him throw himself with agility to the right staircase to get to Dumbledore's study and sprint up to the door which he pounded on with his fists.
"PROFESSOR! GINNY NEEDS HELP!" Timmins knelt down at the door exhausted.
Albus heard from inside and apparated straight into the Gryffindor Girl's Dorms. He took in the scene of Ginny trying to make an unconscious Luna comfortable and Hermione crying in pain on her bed.
He went to Hermione's side,
"Ginevra, what happened?"
"Luna said something about her feeling emotional pain at something and touched her, then she passed out."
Albus prepared himself then moved his palm next to Hermione's shoulder careful not to touch her. Waves of physical and emotional pain radiated off her. He wondered what the connection was. Come on Albus! Think!
"Vestigium Dolor!" he said firmly at Hermione, trying to trace the source of what was attacking her.
Explosions and thunder could be heard around the castle. Deep foundation shaking booms rocked Hogwarts. Everyone wondering if it was Voldemort or something equally as bad. Everyone in the common room below looked out of windows to try and locate what was going on.
Think Albus!
Minerva ran into the room,
"Albus, its the Tower.." she said with her wand drawn
"HARRY!" he exclaimed as realisation hit him like a bludger, "Oh Merlin, no!"
"What should we do Albus?" Minerva said with concern chiseled into her face, now looking at Hermione writhing on the bed.
"We have to help Hermione mentally.. I think Harry is reaching out for help.. I will take the brunt of it, but you must order him to apparate to the infirmary."
Albus made contact with Hermione's shoulder a second before Minerva, and stiffened with the power that ran into him. The sheer scale of the pain, chaos and violence that ran into him was too much and he knew it. Just a moment longer!
Harry get out of there! Minerva shouted into the mental maolstrom.
Albus collapsed on the bed, while Minerva broke contact with what was left of her strength and reeled, her head swimming.
Severus had been interrupted brewing his latest masterpiece and rounded on the door of his dungeon,
"What the hell is going on!" he shouted at the nearest Slytherin, which happened to be Malfoy.
"Something in the.. tower? sir." Draco looked nonplussed as he looked for a reaction.
"Come with me." Severus barked, Draco fell in line behind him.
They didn't make it up to the tower seeing the chaos of frightened students. People were talking about the infirmary, as Draco grabbed one of them.
"Whats in the infirmary?" he questioned as he held onto their robes by the collar
"Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore! I think something happened in the old Tower to Harry."
"Potty has done it again." Draco smarmed setting the student flying once he had his information.
Severus rounded on him. Crack. Draco had never looked so shocked in his life. His hand went to his blistering red handprint that now adorned the right side of his face.
"Listen to me very carefully Draco. This is one of those times when you can make a choice. A choice to lead. Or a choice to follow. I'm not sure whats going on, but you must bring order to the chaos. Do you here me?" Severus looked deeply into Malfoys eyes with a burning desire to imprint his mistakes on the boy, and he just hoped Draco would see the errors of his ways. Snape apparated to the infirmary leaving Draco standing there.
His choice was made.
"You!" he shouted and pointed to one boy from Hufflepuff who was trying to calm down a young group of Ravenclaws. The boy looked at Draco blankly.
"Get these students into the Great Hall now! And all the others that you come across." the student looked at him in shock
"MOVE!" the student, a young Tommy Downs from Hufflepuff, didn't need telling twice and all he heard as he ushered this group was Malfoys commanding loud voice ordering students to the Great Hall, bringing some order to the chaos.