Chapter 3

Sectumsempra

"Snap out of it!" Hagrid started. "You have a detention now with Professor Snape. I suggest you get to it. I don't want you in even more trouble, especially on your first day back"

Daniel snapped open his eyes. "Detention? But I…"

"No buts Daniel. Go quickly. I am sorry this happened."

Daniel jumped out of bed and almost fell over. Emma offered her assistance but Daniel simply pushed her off and ran for dear life down the long deserted stairs. Professor Snape stood, waiting at the bottom with his hand firmly resting on top of Malfoy's shoulder. "Radcliffe… so glad you could join us. You shall both be serving detention by cleaning out the desk in my office. On second thought… make that my whole office. Well don't just stand there, hop to it!"

Malfoy pushed through Professor Snape followed by Daniel who simply bowed. "Thanks Radcliffe, now we have detention from Snape. Well DONE" Malfoy said when they were out of ear shot.

Daniel just sneered and continued up the grand staircase. Professor Snape's office was filled with torn up papers, smashed glasses and strange ornaments lying motionless on the rubbish covered floor. The oak desk that was situated at the back of the office was covered in scratches, marks and burns and a few of the drawer knobs were missing. 'This is great' Daniel thought to himself.

Malfoy immediately began to clean the book shelf which was standing next to the desk. He threw the books on the floor and backed off as a wolf spider crawled out of a hole at the back. "You scared of a little spider Malfoy?" Daniel asked sarcastically.

"Oh shutup Radcliffe" Malfoy replied, now thrashing the books onto the floor making them splay out everywhere.

Daniel decided to clean a glass case which was next to the office door. It contained weird ornaments, such as skulls and statues of witches and wizards who seemed to be in pain. He opened the glass doors and dust flew everywhere. Malfoy coughed his lungs out. "What do you think you are doing Radcliffe?"

"Cleaning MALFOY, I am sorry for the dust, but I didn't realise your little lungs could inhale so much"

Malfoy glared at Daniel for a few short moments then went back to cleaning the book case. Daniel carefully took out the objects and placed them on a table next to him. One statue slipped his hand and landed hard on the glass shelf. The cabinet shook and a skull resting on top of the top shelf fell. Daniel caught it before it hit the floor and looked to the engravings on the front. 'This is the skull of James Potter'.

Daniel dropped the skull in shock and backed himself against the wall. He felt his stomach turn over at the thought that, that was his father. Malfoy stopped what he was doing at the shock of the skull smashing into pieces on the floor. He turned to Daniel whose skin was now almost a pale green. "What's wrong you with Radcliffe? Looks like you seen a ghost or something" said Malfoy grinning to himself.

Daniel had his arms folded onto his stomach. He pushed off against the wall and burst out the office door. Malfoy shrugged then went back to work.

Daniel ran downstairs and bumped into Ron and Emma who seemed to be looking for him. "Oh Daniel, are you okay? You look like you seen a ghost or something." Said Emma.

Daniel ignored her and pushed through them both. He continued rushing down the stairs and burst into the boys bathroom. Neville was there looking at the mirror and combing his hair back. "Hey Daniel. How are you?"

Daniel gulped and soon replied, "Oh fine, really. What's the… special occasion?"

"Oh. I met this girl called Lavender. She is like a dove…"

Daniel giggled at the thought of Neville going out with someone. "Are you alright Daniel? You look like…"

"I've seen a ghost?" Daniel quickly replied. "Yeah I know. That's what everyone said. No, I haven't seen a ghost, except for nearly headless Nick"

Neville smiled then left the bathroom so see his dream 'dove'. Ron later entered seeing Daniel splash water over his face. "Hey Dan, what did you see in that office?" Ron asked.

Daniel wiped his face with a near by towel and stared at Ron with astonishment. "What I saw?" Before he told Ron, Daniel made sure no one was listening. "I was cleaning this glass cabinet and this skull fell from the top, but on the skull there were engravings… It said… it said…" Daniel couldn't finish the sentence. He turned pale then fainted… Rupert just stared down at him then ran out the bathroom to find Emma. "Emma! Emma!"

Emma was walking down the corridor talking to a new girl named Crystal. Rupert bumped into them both. "Emma! Daniel fainted in the bathroom. I need your help to take him to the hospital wing…"

Emma looked to Crystal, nodded at Rupert and ran straight for the boy's bathroom. "Hang on! I cannot go into the boy's bathroom! You drag him out first."

"Fine!" Rupert replied.

Rupert went into the boys' bathroom and saw Daniel still lying motionlessly on the floor. He picked up his arms and dragged him out the door with some difficulty. "I think he is going to have more problems when YOU bring him up to the hospital wing. You already hit his head against the door; why not throw him off the grand staircase? That'll give you some results." Said Emma, examining the bump that now appeared on the tip of Daniel's forehead.

Rupert rolled his eyes. Emma took Daniel's legs and pushed him against Rupert so they could move on to the Hospital Wing. The grand staircase was now filled with people coming from the Great Hall, all who were looking curiously at Daniel.

The hospital wing already had occupants lying in bed, one of which was Malfoy. Rupert laughed as Malfoy was whimpering and saying the same sentence over and over, 'It's killed me. It's killed me."

Emma and Rupert carefully laid Daniel on one of the free beds and waited for the nurse to come round. "Hello Ms Watson" the nurse said calmly. "How may I help you? Oh Daniel… Hmmm… seems like he is just in shock. Don't worry now. Daniel will be up and out of here in no time."

Emma and Rupert sat on a few empty chairs next to Daniels bed and waited patiently. Rupert kept giggling at the site of Malfoy. The poor nurse tried to inject him with antidote but all Malfoy did was scream and refuse to have it. Daniel however, was showing signs of recovery already, after he had taken a small injection in his right arm. He started to open his eyes slightly. "Emma? Rupert? Is that you?"

Emma beamed as Daniel slowly sat up and rubbed his lightning bolt scar. Dumbledore later entered carrying what seemed to be a small gold box. The Hospital Wing was immediately cleared. The moaning Malfoy was sent back to the Slytherin Common Room and the other patients were sent off to their dormitory. "Ms Watson, Mr. Grint" Dumbledore started. "Will you please wait outside for a few moments? I need to speak with Daniel for a minute"

Emma and Rupert nodded then quickly left the room. Emma shut the door and pressed her ear to the key hole. Rupert pulled Emma away "What are yo…?

"Be quiet Ron… I mean Rupert." Emma said quickly. "I am trying to hear what Dumbledore has to say"

Emma once again pressed her eye against the hole and listened in.

"Now Daniel" Dumbledore started. "I have something here I want to give you… but first…"

Dumbledore held out his wand to the key hole on the door and waved it once. Immediately the hole was sound proof and no one not even Emma could hear through it. "Okay… I wanted to give you this Daniel."

Dumbledore handed Daniel a gold plated box with peculiar markings engraved on the front. Daniel opened it and took out a small gold necklace. A small resemblance of the golden snitch hung gently on the chain.

"A snitch?" Daniel asked, raising one of his eyebrows.

"Yes Daniel, but this is no ordinary Snitch. This snitch will warn you when Dementors, Death Eaters or even Lord Voldemort is near. It will warn you by… well… it will make your scar burn… if that is an easier way of explaining it you. It will also give off a bright blue glow"

"I would rather not to have to endure the pain of my scar sir." Daniel said hastily.

Dumbledore smiled. "I would think you would rather live. I know your scar will already burn when Voldemort is near… but it won't when there are death eaters or Dementors so use it wisely. I suggest you wear it all the time you can. Oh and one more thing… don't tell anyone about it, not even Ms Watson or Grint."

"Why?" Daniel asked looking very interested in the snitch.

"Because… This snitch has powers. It will draw anyone who looks at it. You are special so it will not affect you. Luckily I have a spell on myself so it will not affect me either."

Dumbledore nodded a farewell then left the Hospital Wing to Daniel, Emma and Rupert. Daniel quickly slipped on the necklace and tucked it under his shirt. Emma rushed in and sat next to Daniel.

"What did Dumbledore give you?" she said immediately.

Daniel quickly tried to think of something to say. "Oh just something that will help me recover faster…"

Emma gave Daniel a sarcastic look. "Then how come we were not allowed in?"

Daniel gulped then started to sweat. He could not think of anything to say.

"Daniel I fear that there is something you're not telling us" Emma started. "Your hiding something aren't you?"

Daniel looked from left to right. He quickly thought of an excuse to leave. "I… I forgot I had to meet Hagrid now."

He leapt out of his bed and stumbled. Emma and Rupert looked strangely at Daniel as he left the Hospital Wing and made his way back to the Common Room. On the way down the stairs he bumped into Malfoy who still looked pale. "Radcliffe… heard you fainted. I mean, you ACTUALLY fainted?"

One of Malfoy's stalkers imitated fainting and fell over himself. Daniel ignored them and pushed past to the common room. A large figure came running up the grand staircase towards Daniel. Hagrid was holding a large piece of raw meet in his right hand and a rusty old key in the other. He ran up to Daniel and was struggling to breath. "Daniel… Professor McGonagall… wanted me to give this to…you" He said still puffing for breath. He handed Daniel a scrunched up piece of parchment from his pocket. Daniel took the parchment and immediately unfolded it to reveal messed up handwriting which he took to be Dumbledore's.

Daniel,

You have been chosen as the new Gryffindor Quidditch

Captain. Congratulations. I wish you all the best. The

Quidditch game against Slytherin is being held on:

4th July at precisely 1:00pm

Yours Sincerely

Professor Dumbledore

Inside the scrunched up parchment was a small badge with the Gryffindor lion situated in the middle. Daniel took the badge and pined it to the top of his shirt. He nodded to Hagrid then left for the common room once again. Hagrid stood in front of Daniel, not allowing him to pass.

"Daniel, I still have one more thing to tell you. You and Malfoy are serving Detention with me, after you suddenly escaped from your last detention." Daniel turned a shade of green while Hagrid continued on. "Meet me and Malfoy just outside the Forbidden Forest, and… are you feeling okay Daniel?"

Daniel shook his head. He ran straight for the bathroom on level 3. He knew it was always deserted. Hagrid shrugged and took his key and meat back to his little hut outside the forbidden forest.

Meanwhile Daniel ran downstairs rubbing his stomach irritably. He burst open the bathroom door and threw up in one of the cubicles. Moaning Myrtle floated out of the toilet next to Daniel's

"Tut…tut…tut" she started. "I don't like watching people being sick. It's so sad."

Daniel swung around wiping his face with his shirt.

"Myrtle? You're supposed to be in the deserted bathroom near the dungeons."

"I can move around the castle if I like" She replied quickly.

"Well, then can you leave me alone for a minute? Please?"

Daniel walked out of the cubicle slowly and leaned over the grimy sink. He looked up at the mirror and could see Malfoy standing by the door giggling to himself. Daniel swung around grasping his wand. Malfoy had done the same. Daniel threw his jinx but missed and it broke against the toilet. Water was now flowing throughout the bathroom fast. Daniel slipped and landed flat on his back. Before Malfoy had a chance to jinx, Daniel shouted the incantation, "SECTUMSEMPRA!"

Blood poured from Malfoy's chest and face as if he'd been slashed by an invisible sword. "No… I didn't mean…" Daniel murmured.

Myrtle darted around with shock shouting, "MURDER! MURDER IN THE BATHROOM!"

Malfoy dropped his wand and fell backwards landing on the water filled floor. Daniel struggled to reach Malfoy but succeed with many slips. His hands and face were now covered in the blood spilt by Malfoy. He leaned over Malfoy who now lay motionless, his eyes wide open staring at the bright lights which lit the bathroom. Tears rolled down Daniel's blood stained face as the thought of killing Malfoy haunted him.

Professor Snape who heard the screams of Myrtle burst through the bathroom door and quickly knelt beside Malfoy. He scanned his wand over him. The blood immediately stopped flowing and the slashes carefully healed. Malfoy slowly started to blink and sat up rubbing head.

"C'mon we will take you to the hospital wing. As for you Radcliffe… you will immediately serve detention with Hagrid at the forbidden forest… NOW!"

Tears kept rolling down Daniel's face as he took the order to leave.

"Oh stop your crying Radcliffe, and get down there. Malfoy is fine, no thanks to you."

Daniel left the bathroom and walked miserably down to the entrance hall; his feet scraping the tiles along the way. Students passing looked at Daniel and whispered to the nearest person.

The Entrance hall was almost deserted except for two students looking angry and concerned. Daniel bowed his head low and walked on, not making eye contact with the two students.

"Daniel… what happened…?" Emma said firmly.

Daniel looked up to see Emma stamping her foot on the ground and Rupert raising his eyebrow. Tears still rolled down his blood stained face as he spoke, "I… didn't mean to… It was an accident, honest. Now if you don't mind, I have to meet Hagrid for detention…"

Daniel pushed past them and walked glumly out of the castle and down to the small hut which Hagrid lived in. It was getting dark, so Daniel quickened the pace. The wolves living in the Forbidden forest howled at the full moon resting upon the mountains.

Hagrid stood outside the forbidden forest still clutching his piece of raw meat. Surprisingly Malfoy was also standing next to Hagrid. His wounds were healed and he was smirking at Daniel.

"'About time Harry. Blimey what happened to ye' face?"

Daniel rubbed off some of the blood spilt by Malfoy. He pointed his eyes to Malfoy then back to Hagrid. Hagrid nodded.

"Alright, let's serve 'ye Detention. I need 'ye both to find something for me."

"What exactly do we need to find?" Malfoy asked, glaring at the piece of meat in Hagrid's hand.

Hagrid grinned slightly. "I'll tell 'ye when we get there."

"Err… Hagrid, why are you holding that piece of meat?" Daniel asked, hesitating a little when he spoke.

"You'll find out soon enough" He replied… "Soon enough…"

Okay, this chapter was a little bit weird. It just sprung in my mind.

P.S. Thanks Amy for the idea of the snitch! BF!