Chapter twenty-five: Looking Into Corners

The castle was silent as Lemo flashed her candle into corners,

"Where the fuck is he...?" Lemo had yet again lost Winston and it was getting out of hand, she knew if she asked Barry again he would blow up and she had no idea where Andy had disappeared to...She snuck out of the girls dorm at around midnight. Lemo was a little scared about walking around in the dark alone, but she knew that since she was pure blood the heir wouldn't attack her. Would they? Well it was a risk she had to take, Winston was alone and she had to find him.

'Winnie!" Lemo cried in triumphant when she spotted him, she picked up the quivering little weasel, "What's the matter baby? Mummy's here!" she clutched him closer, "Winston?" Suddenly Lemo saw something in Winston's eyes, something more than fear. A reflection. A reflection of large glowing eyes. Then all went black.

"Saucepan! Rose! Watson!" Professor McGonagall called over the morning rush. Barry, Andy and Andrew spun around. Barry meet McGonagall's gaze and realized Lemo hadn't just gone to have a shower early...

"I sorry to have to tell you this so soon after Miss Parker and Miss Ranger, but Miss Roberts has also been petrified-"

"What!" Andy began crying, she had spent most of last night trying to keep Andrew safe and then Lemo goes and get herself petrified. This was fucking fantastic, then something popped into Andy's head, "But professor! Leah was pure blood! Doesn't the heir only target the pure bloods?"

McGonagall shook her head,

"The person must have something personal held against her...Oh and I have more grave news for you. When we found Miss Roberts, she was clutching a dead weasel...I'm assuming this was a pet?" McGonagall pulled out a stiff Winston.

"YES! The bugger died!" Barry exclaimed.

McGonagall looked at Barry with a mixture of shock and anger,

"Now, Saucepan-"

"Sorry, Professor..."

"Lemo's going to be heartbroken!" Andrew said gently poking the stiff animal.

"Mr. Watson, please stop that we're sure the animal is dead!"

"I know that...It's just all squishy..."

"Drew!" Andy was disgusted, "Let it be! Now, as for Lemo...If we get her another weasel she'll probably not even notice the difference!"

Barry shook his head,

"That'd be lying!"

"Yes, Saucepan is right. Now children, one of you take the weasel and I'll alert Miss. Roberts parents..."

Andy, Andrew and Barry nodded glumly and Barry took Winston. As soon as McGonagall was out of earshot, Barry spoke,

"You know what we have to do now, don't you?"

"Bury Winston?" Andy suggested.

"That too...But we have to find out where the entrance to the Chamber is!"

"Wh-"

"Mr. Watson."

They all turned around once more, to see Dumbledore looking down his crooked nose at them,

"Mr. Watson, your parents have requested to take you from the school. I'm sorry you won't be returning to the Hogwarts unless the heir is caught. Your parents are waiting in the entrance hall for you now." The usual twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes seemed to have gone out, while Andy burst into a fresh lot of tears.