Author's Notes: someone tries to kill Karen in this chapter and at the same time, Laura gets some interesting news and something else gets on her mind as well. Enjoy…
Chapter 11: The Betrayal of a Child.
Laura sat outside the castle watch Gryffindor practice their pitch for their next game. Many of the Gryffindor students asked Laura where she got the necklace from, but Laura blushed lightly and said it was from a friend. Hermione, Ron, and Harry felt guilty for spying on Laura and Drake three nights ago when they shared their first kiss, but they at least got something from that night, the trio was now animaguses like the twins and Zack.
Laura felt more alive at that night. But Drake couldn't show he's love to her after that night because he went back to his mission and began to called her Half-blood once again. Laura didn't mind it now, she knew he loved her, and she knew five animaguses knows about Drake's feelings towards her.
Laura decided to walk around the edge of the Forbidden Forest when she heard a light whispers within the forest. Laura looked into the forest, "Zack?" she said as she walked towards the forest. The whispers continued. Laura knew Drake or even Zack won't try to talk to her during the day. Laura took one step into the forest when she felt she try to enter her mind.
No…get out of my MIND! Laura fought back really hard when Harry, Ron, and Hermione saw Laura fall to her knees. "Laura, Are you okay?" Harry asked, as Laura grabs her own head in pain. The Trio helped Laura to her feet and began to walk her up to the hospital wing.
"Well, Dear, Nothing seems wrong with you…" Madame Pomfrey said to Laura as she continues rubs her head. "What happen?" She then asked Laura
"I don't know, I was just walking by the edge of the forest then I felt this shape pain in my head, after that…It's just a blank." Laura said in shame. Karen came charging into the Hospital wing, "What happened!" Karen demanded
"It's nothing, mom." Laura said as she still rubbed her head. Karen looked down at her daughter, knowing she was hiding something from her. "Laura, I want to help you…" She said to her, Laura nodded her head lightly.
"I know…I just don't know what happened yet." Laura said again with shame.
Karen sat in her office trying to figure out what Laura was hiding from her today. The last time this type of attacked happen to her, it was her fourth year at Salem, and then after that Laura fought back against any one who attempted to attack her. Karen began to pace around her office, Laura does know occlumency, and I know she rarely puts down her guard, Karen thought, Heck, she never lets her guard down for me.
"So I did teach her well?" A woman's voice said from behind. Karen quickly turns around and sees a tall, young man in his late teens looking at a book from Karen's shelf, and a large woman in her early twenties sitting behind Karen's desk.
"Elizabeth Welshans and Alexander Lose, you two muggle-borns are still sneaking behind me." Karen said to the witch and wizards who were now laughing.
"We couldn't resist, Karen, you're the easiest person to sneak around." Alex said lightly. Karen hugged the teen lightly and the witch shook her head with a smile on her face, "I'm not a hugging person, Karen."
"So what are you two doing here," Karen asked them, and then the smiles faded from them. "Karen, Salem was under attack on Monday, Paul and the students made it out ok, but the school is in ruins." Elizabeth said with sadness in her voice.
"Falco, Liz, and I came over to help protect the school with the other aurors here." Alex followed his cousin. Karen looked at Elizabeth and sighed, "Was any information about my daughter or Drake taken?"
"Her whole file is gone, Karen, the only thing on her we have is something only Paul and her know about, and Paul wouldn't give it to us." Elizabeth said calmly
"And what's that?" Karen asked as calmly as she could. Elizabeth took a deep breathe, "Its Laura's animagus information, Paul wouldn't let any of us have it or even see it, and he has hidden it somewhere where no one would find it."
Karen growled lightly, then Alex and Elizabeth stood up, prepare for Karen's wrath. Karen took a deep breathe, "I know Paul, he's hidden that information in the safest place he know it would be, but I'm not worried about that. Right now I'm worried about one thing, and that's the information they might have on her now."
Karen then looked at Elizabeth, "Elizabeth, I want you to stay here with me I'll need you help with something," Elizabeth's head nodded when Karen's eyes fixed to Alex, "Alex, I want you to find Falco, and then I want him to fly above the castle, and I want you to watch the grounds and the forest, have Falco report to me to every two hours." Karen said and Alex quickly hid under an invisibility cloak and disappeared before their eyes.
"Karen, why don't you want me in the forest," Elizabeth said, "My form could be…" Karen looked at Elizabeth, "Because, Alex is watching the forest already, plus you're a teacher, you didn't want to sign-up for the Defense League remember…"
Elizabeth sighed lightly, "Because I didn't sign-up, doesn't mean I can't fight, Karen, you know my duties as a teacher at Salem."
"I do, but I need you more here…"
Laura sat in the dormitories trying to figure out what happened to her, she lightly sighed when a falcon flew in from the opened window. Laura kept her eyes to the ground, before the falcon landed on the ground where she was looking. "Hey, Falco…" Laura said with a deep sigh. The falcon changed into a man who was sitting in front of her. "Hey, Kiddo, why are you down in the dumps for?" The man said lightly to her.
"It nothing, it's just I can't figure out what's wrong with me. The first thing wrong that happens to me, and I'm out for two weeks, then this thing by the edge of the forbidden forest, what next…" Laura cried lightly as some tears fell to the ground.
Falco lightly hugged her, "Don't worry, Kiddo, I'm here, and so is Alex and Professor Welshans." Laura looked at Falco, "Professor Welshans is here? But how…" Then Falco put his finger to his lips, "Its best if she told you, Kiddo, not me."
Then the horse neighed and Falco turned to the window, "I need to go, you know how to get a hold of me." Then Falco changed back into a falcon and took off toward a black stallion that stood on the grounds and then both of them disappear into the forest.
The next day, no one could help but notice the black stallion walking around the school's grounds. Some of the girls came up and pat the stallion on his head, and some of the younger students gave him carrots from the great hall. Laura just laughed lightly, "I always thought he hated carrots."
Then a falcon flew down and landed on Laura's shoulders, Laura shook her head and smiled, "You should be watching the air, you know." She whisper to the falcon, the falcon squawk and flew off again. Then a few students start to climb up on the stallion and the horse walked around with students laughing on his back.
Karen looked down from the window and shook her head as she went back to work. A young black wolf looked up Karen and barked lightly at her. "It's nothing, Dark, Knight is just giving rides to the students." Karen lightly laughed. The wolf whimpered lightly, "You know better, Dark, beside your job is better since you love kids." She said.
Then Harry and Ron pushed Hermione towards the stallion, "Come on, Hermione, he won't bite you." Ron said, and then Hermione began to whimper, "You two know I hate horses."
Laura followed them, "This is going to be good." Harry and Ron finally got her to the horse and he lightly neighed at Hermione. Laura looked at Hermione and sighed as Hermione lightly whimpered. Laura then patted the horse lightly on the head, "Hey, Knight, how's it been." Laura said.
The Horse nodded his head to Laura and kneeled down to let the three students who were on him off. "I'm sorry I don't have any sugar cubes for you, Knight, maybe tomorrow though." The horse neighed happily, and ran off around the corner.
The trio looked at Laura as the students disappeared, Laura sighed lightly, "I swear, sometimes you would never know he's a human."
"Another Animagus?" Ron said and Laura nodded her head, "Yeah, that's Knight, and if you see a falcon flying around the castle, that's Falco, and I think Dark is here too, but I've haven't seen her yet."
"How do you know them?" Hermione said
"Dark is my charms Professor at Salem. Knight and Falco are both aurors from America, but Knight as you can saw like kids, and Falco can be protective when he thinks some is wrong." Then the falcon swooped down at Ron and Harry, but Laura looked at the falcon, "Falco, its okay." She said to the falcon.
The Falcon cried and flew back in the air again, "See what I mean." Laura lightly as they all walked back to the school.
The students slowly enter the room. They were scared of the black wolf sitting in front of Karen's desk, staring at them. "It okay, she will not bite you." Karen said to the student as everyone took their sits. Draco and Drake lightly laughed as Laura, Harry, and Hermione took their seats. "Good morning, Class, I saw you've enjoyed the black stallion walking around the school grounds this morning." Karen said to the students, which many of the girls nodded their heads.
The wolf stood up when Karen moved from behind her desk to the front. The wolf walked beside her as Karen taught her lesson. Then a student raised his hand, "Yes, Blaise." The young Slytherin cleared his voice, "Professor, May we ask what that thing is." The wolf growled lightly at the Slytherin, Karen nodded her head to the wolf and the Wolf jumped on the desk and stood still for the class. Laura couldn't help but chuckle lightly.
"Now, who can guess what Dark is?"
Laura shook her head to Hermione who raised her hand, but then she quick placed it back down. "I want to see what everyone else says first." Laura whisper to her, and Hermione nodded her head.
Dean raised his hand, "Okay, Dean, take a guess."
"A Grim?"
Karen Lightly laughed, "No, she's not a Grim" Then Blaise raised his hand, "Yes, Blaise"
"A Werewolf?"
The wolf growled again at Blaise and Karen shook her head, "No, but you're getting closer." Then Hermione raised her hand, she couldn't stand it anymore. "Okay, Hermione, take a swing at it."
"She's not a werewolf, because it daylight and the full moon pass eight days ago." Hermione began to said, "So the only other thing she would be is an Animagus."
The Wolf jumped behind the desk and a witch appeared from behind the desk, "Good job, young lady, I'm surprised my animagus form didn't fool you." The Witch said to Hermione.
Karen laughed at the shocked faces, "Well done, ten point to Gryffindor, this animagus is my friend, her name is Professor Welshans from Salem's School for witches and wizards, and she has come to help me with a few of my lessons since she's been giving a vacation to come here to help me."
"You may call me Professor Welshans or Miss. Welshans if you wish, but when I'm in my animagus form it is Dark, understood." The witch looked at the students who all of the nodded their head. "Okay, that is today's lesson. Tonight I want you to write about golems and how to stop one if you run into one." Karen said
The Class disappear expect for four students. "Is that Laura?" Elizabeth said as Laura ran up to her and hugged her. "It's good to see you again, Professor Welshans." Laura said and the trio looked at both of them. "Well, then who are you three?" Elizabeth asked
"These are my friends, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger." Laura said and all of them shook the young witch's hand. "It's nice to meet all of you." Elizabeth said.
"Professor Welshans, Why did you leave Salem? Is Kate, John, Blake, Jordan, and Sam okay?" Laura asked. Elizabeth sighed lightly, "Everyone is fine, but the school isn't, there was an attack on the school and the other three schools took many of the students but I think those five students you asked about are coming to Hogwarts." Laura's jaw dropped and so did the trio, "They're coming here?"
"Yes, Their parents thought it would be safer here then any of the other schools because I'm here and they trust Professor Dumbledore." Karen said showing her the letter from Dumbledore. "They'll be here in a month."
"First we get four Americans and five more are coming over in a month." Harry said to Laura, but she was still in shock, Ron then waved his hand in first of Laura's face. "Hello, anyone home?"
Laura then felt a sharp pain in head, and she fell to her knee crying out in pain. The trio gathered around her, "Laura!" Then Elizabeth, who was exploring the castle before the next class, ran up to her, "Laura, are you ok!" She said, but Laura balled up and whimpered "Stay out of my mind," over and over again, tears were running down her face. Elizabeth looked at the trio, "Where's your Hospital Wing!" And the trio help Elizabeth take the now fighting Laura there.
"If her mind was protected who doing this to her and how are they getting by the occlumency!" Karen shouted at Elizabeth who was puzzled by this. "Karen, calm down, Laura is fine now, Madame Pomfrey gave her some Dreamless Sleep Potion and she's resting for now." Falco said lightly to Karen who began to pace across the classroom.
"It's a rarely thing, Karen, there might be someone stronger then her occlumency attacking her mind, and it's hurting her every time she fights back." Elizabeth said when Alex came in to the room. "How is she, Alex?" Karen asked calmly.
"She's asleep still, but the strange thing is I didn't see anyone near the castle when I heard her scream." Alex said as he placed his wand on the desk, Falco sighed "I didn't see anyone either, but it's making me think if You-know-who is attacking her." Then Karen glared at Falco dangerously.
"Falco, first off his name is Voldemort, and second how would he know she can…" Then Karen stopped herself and looked at Elizabeth, "Please don't tell me you had records of your private lessons with Laura." Elizabeth glared at her, "I had too. Any private lessons given to student outside of class must be recorded. You know that!"
Karen then punches hard into a desk, making a large mark where her fist landed, "Damn it! That mean he knows every spell you've taught her when Beck wouldn't."
"Repairo" Elizabeth said and the desk went back to its old state. "Karen, calm down, Laura still can fight. She's got the will and the strength to fight." Alex said.
"Yeah, but will she if she knows her enemies know everything she can and can't do." Karen said to them as sat down at closest chair she could find.
Laura woke up with her head in pain from the latest attack done to her by the mind. She lightly cried and kept thinking to herself, why am I weak? Laura slowing looked around the room thinking she was put in a padded room but instead she in the hospital wing at Hogwarts. It was night and she lay back down and sighed. "Maybe who ever is attacking me won't anymore," She lightly said to herself and fell back to sleep without drinking any of the dreamless sleep potion.
Raise, child. A voice called in her mind and her body obeyed. No I won't, you can't make me! Her mind shouted back as she fought back. It's too late, Child, now you will obey me!
You can't make me! Laura began to slowly open her eyes but for some reason, her eyes didn't have the soulful innocence they've always had but were replaced with a pure evil.
Time for a trip to the forbidden forest, Child, Laura obeys the voice in her mind and disappears from the hospital wing, and began her way to the Forbidden Forest. When she stopped at the edge of the forest, the voice returned, now you will wait till your mother comes out and you will torture her till she dies.
NO! I WON'T KILL MY MOM! Laura was now fallen to her knees and the voice won the battle again, you will. Karen came running down from the school when she notice Laura disappeared from the hospital wing. Karen ran into the Forbidden Forest and stood where Laura was now hiding with her wand at the ready. "Laura, Where are you!" Karen shouted in the forest.
Then Laura stood up with her wand aim at her mother. "Laura, you're okay!" Karen said with sighed when Laura looked at her mother with dangerous eyes. Karen had fear in her eye when she noticed some was different about daughter, something that wasn't right, "Laura, what's wrong with you?"
"CRUNIO!" Laura yelled as a green light came from her wand and Karen screamed, but it sounds more like a howl. The spell was on her for five minutes while Karen's screaming slowly dies. That was when Falco swoops down and forced Laura's wand from her hand. Laura finally snapped out of the spell and looked at what she done.
Laura fall back against a tree in shocked and was crying when Alex and Elizabeth came running with Falco in front of them. Laura was now balled up crying and shaking, "It wasn't my fault, someone made me…" Karen was barely breathing and wasn't moving when Alex and Falco carry Karen up to the school. Elizabeth tried to help Laura up, but Laura won't move, she continued to cry and she was shaken up from what she was force to do. Falco came back down from the castle when Hagrid and Dumbledore joined Elizabeth who was still trying to calm Laura down.
"Laura, we know it not your fault, we want to help you," Elizabeth said trying to calm her down. Falco saw Laura's eyes before he knocked her wand out of her hand, a pure evil force took control of her and he knew who ever took control knew Laura's fear, the fear of her or someone else bring harm to someone she cares about.
End notes: Yup, Laura is the one who tried to kill Karen, and she's now scarred with that for the rest of her life. The next chapter is going to be hardest for everyone when Laura does someone no one would think she would do. Stay tune.