It was some time before Eric got the nerve to attempt to raid Professor Lockhart's office again. However, Halloween seemed ideal, since all the professors and students would be in the main hall enjoying the festivities.
Gilderoy's locked door was quick enough work. Apparently he didn't know how to secure his office any better than he knew how to stop pixies. Eric waited in the dark room until his eyes adjusted to the dim light the window provided, then he looked about. Figuring that what he needed wouldn't be on the bookshelves, he examined the desk, it's drawers, and the cabinet behind it. Most of them were full of publicity photos and letters praising his work. The only thing on his desk that was the least bit interesting was his ledger, which indicated a fairly substantial portfolio. Not only was he famous, Gilderoy Lockhart was filthy rich, though this was hardly surprising for the best published wizard in the world.
Eric was about to call the effort a waste when he noted a small cedar chest in the corner of the room. Unlike the office, this lock didn't yield to Eric's gentle persuasions. It was time for another option. Reaching into his cloak, he pulled out a small netted bag in which, sleeping at the moment, was the pixie. "Hey, Blue, wake up!" The small figure blinked his eyes and smiled up at Eric. "It's the moment you've waited for. Open this trunk, and I'll let you go."
The little figure stared at the lock for a moment before pointing at it. A jet of blue sparks sprung from his finger into the keyhole, and the clasp slapped open. True to his word, Eric moved to the window and opened the shudders slightly. Moonlight glistened on the lake, bathing the evening in a pearl haze. "Do you see that outcropping of trees? Willy tells me there's a pixie colony there. It's the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where nobody goes into without expecting trouble. If you go there, you'll be free and safe with others like yourself. Good luck." Beaming a smile to his little friend, Eric patted him out the window and on his way.
Closing the window and turning back to the cedar chest, Eric examined the contents. The chest seemed to be filled with memorabilia from a variety of sources. Letters, invitations, and souvenirs cluttered the box. His examination of these items found nothing unusual, but there was one item, a blue book, who's purpose was unknown, but promised inspiration.
It was a simple notebook, unenchanted an unremarkable in every way except it's fine appearance. However, there weren't any real notes in it. Rather, the pages held names, columns and columns of names. The page headers were only slightly more helpful: Dublin, Belfast, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Cornwall, Paris, Belgrade, Bucharest, Strasbourg, Bhutan, Katmandu. Further pages were without names, but were titled Stockholm, Helsinki, Oslo, and Norvik. Eric wasn't sure, but based on the Norse sounding names, it looked like Gilderoy's next book was going to be on giants.
Well, it was no secret that Professor Lockhart was well traveled. However, the names were most likely witches and wizards he met along the way. Perhaps they would be willing to provide some insight to Gilderoy Lockhart's doings. Eric found some plain paper and ink, copying down the names as legibly as he could.
Putting everything away in the chest as closely to what he found as he could remember, Eric closed the lock, gave a sigh of gratitude that the pixie's magic didn't foul the mechanism, and turned to leave. That's when he heard it again. "… rip … tear … kill …" It was back – the voice he had heard before, and it was no dream.
"… soo hungry … for so long …" The voice seemed to be coming from everywhere. He couldn't find a source, but he was sure of one thing – it was inside the school. Whatever was speaking could come from around any corner or darkened hallway and he wouldn't be able to avoid it for certain. Even the back corridors he had relied on for so long had to be considered suspect.
" … kill … time to kill …" He couldn't escape through any of the doors. The only chance he had was to get out through the window. Eric frantically shoved the pane upwards, resulting in a small gash in his hand. The pain was hardly a barrier, as fear of whatever was speaking was far more motivating.
" … I smell blood … I SMELL BLOOD!" Eric frantically shut the window from the outside and moved along the ledge away from the window. He was sure that the thing was ready to burst through the wall, devouring him with a single snap of savage jaws, or perhaps rip him apart with six-inch talons. No thought that he had was a pleasant one, and now he was trapped on an outside ledge with no way back into the building.
He couldn't say how long he had stood in the cold autumn wind, but after what seemed an eternity, there was no sign of any death-dealing monster. Taking stock of his situation, he found that he had accidentally put himself in grave danger. There wasn't much ground in front of the school from this angle. A steep cliff swept down to the lake from here. He might be able to climb down, but he also might fall to his death. However, a safer plan was available.
Eric drew out a small whistle and blew on it. Within seconds he was joined by Midget and Widget, his two burrow owls. His trusted assistants were not slow to show what concern they could for his predicament, and were most enthusiastic to assist. "Find Fred and George Weasley. Lead them back here." That was all that they needed, and they were off like a shot.
Eric settled in against the ledge. It was wide enough for him to sit comfortably, and if his two messengers failed to bring the only help Eric could trust for whatever reason, it would be best to face the coming challenge well rested. Looking about, he saw three figures in an opposing hallway staring at something by the window. Eric desperately hoped they didn't see him.
The sound of the finished feast resonated through the school. The confusion that typically followed the Halloween feast meant that he'd be able to slip back into the crowd if Fred and George didn't take too long. The group, however, didn't break to the dorms as was usual. Rather, the students crowded into the hall and began staring at the window. Eric's spirits sank; he knew he'd been caught.
No one opened any windows, or called out to him, even to jeer at him. Rather, several of the teachers arrived and appeared to be having a heated discussion dealing with something between the windows. Eric strained as best he could, but could not make out any voices. It was some time before he heard anything discernable.
"Eric – up here!" Looking above him, his mood brightened considerably upon seeing the faces of the Weasley twins. "I see you're in a bit of a fix. Just sit tight, and we'll get you down." Eric could tell that they were in deep discussion over how to smuggle a rope into Professor McGonagall's office so that it could be lowered down. Other plans seemed to involve owls and parapets, or a levitation spell that George was reasonably sure would work on a person. As time passed, Eric's plight seemed to be taking a downward turn, until a shadow passed and blocked the moon.
"Good evening. Would you like some help?" Naomi was floating in front of him, riding one of the school's practice brooms. A hooded cloak obscured her features, but her voice was unmistakable.
"How did you know I was here?"
It was impossible to see her expression, but her tone seemed to be one of distinct disapproval. "You were missing from the evening feast. Before everyone left, two owls flew in low and unobtrusively, landing in front of the Weasley twins. Their response of 'Eric must be in trouble', told me enough. Rather than following them, though, I looked out the window the owls came in through and saw you sitting here. Now, do you wish to remain up here, or can I offer you a ride down?"
Eric called back up to the window. "Um, guys? I've got a ride now." The twins were a bit surprised to see someone else dealing with the matter, but gave a friendly wave as he climbed upon the broom and rode it down to solid ground.
Looking over to his rescuer, Eric's gratitude was stifling. "Naomi? I didn't know you'd miss me at the feast, and I really appreciate the help. Thanks, and I'm sorry."
"You're welcome." Her hood was still facing away, so Eric couldn't tell how she looked, though he could imagine her impassive face drawing in everything she saw. "You should know, something's happened in the corridor outside the main hall. I don't know what it is, but everyone was gathering there."
"Yes, I could see it from where I was. Hopefully, it wasn't me."
It turned out that it wasn't. As Naomi and Eric returned to the Ravenclaw common room, they found out that Filtch's cat had been petrified, and that there was a warning regarding the Chamber of Secrets. One mystery had to be set aside, as another had taken it's place.