The next course of weeks Harry continued to use the Half Blood Prince's book, sometimes coming across spells written in it like Sectumsempra, as Brooklyn also tried to figure out how he still had Parseltongue after being able to tell Harry the next morning once they were out of earshot of other students. They had both fallen asleep on the couch together the whole night.

"Harry? That thing I avoided telling you last night? Well, besides you, I could understand the Parseltongue while in the Pensive, too." He admitted.

Harry stared in surprise. How could Brooklyn still have that language inside him, even after stabbing the diary? Why did Voldemort even want Brooklyn to still have this ability?

"Well, at least you didn't keep it in for long," he said, but Brooklyn just looked away, not liking the idea of still having this inside him.

Eventually Harry reassured Brooklyn that they would eventually inform Dumbledore after their next couple lessons once it was the opportune time, and even mentioned that he was glad to not be the only one besides Voldemort being able to do this. Brooklyn's spirits lifted a little from his words.

And maybe because of this despite not wanting to before I could perhaps get a little more understanding about snakes, maybe, he thought for himself, stroking his chin in thought. That did seem rather intriguing and a little helpful.

Thankfully it didn't overshadow him into not wanting to have a good year at Hogwarts with his brother thanks to their talk. He learned that Katie was going to be at Quidditch tryouts and knew he definitely needed to be there since this was Harry's first time as Quidditch Captain, too.

In the Quidditch stands, he stood with Harry and Ginny, as Harry tried getting everybody to order, until Brooklyn called sharply to them to listen, which quieted everybody down.

Ron looked pretty nervous about trying out for Keeper, especially when it came to going up against somebody like a burly Gryffindor boy named Cormac McLaggen, a complete prat of a Gryffindor in Brooklyn's POV.

Katie went up to Brooklyn with her Cleansweep in her hands, face shining with excitement.

"I hope I remake the team this year! I just love Quidditch!" She exclaimed. Brooklyn smiled at her.

"You'll do great, Harry would love to have you back on as a Chaser," he told her honestly. Nodding in his direction, she went to play while Brooklyn went to sit in the seats with Hermione.

Most of the tryouts did well, especially with Katie and Ginny, who both easily won spots on the team, Brooklyn cheering when Katie had made three spectacular shots. Then came the two Beaters, Ritchie Cootes and Jimmy Peakes. Not as awesome as the Twins, but alright Beaters.

At last came the Keeper tryouts, Ron's big moment in the Spotlight. Cormac was up first, saving several catches, much to Brooklyn's disappointment, hoping that Ron wouldn't lose his confidence. But on Cormac's final turn, he missed a shot somehow, for he veered way off to the left.

Okay, how could he have missed that one? He thought questionably, glancing over to Hermione, who had a little laughing smile on her face.

Ron was up next, stumbling almost every catch, but managed at least four good ones in the end, surpassing McLaggen by a long shot.

He was beyond furious. "That isn't fair, Potter! He missed half of them!" Cormac stormed, towering over Harry. But Brooklyn puffed out his chest, towering above Cormac even more, the boy's face faltering.

"Yeah, well, too bad. Ron made the team, not you, so beat it," Brooklyn growled, pointing his finger at Cormac's chest, whose face flushed furiously as he stalked away. Harry grinned.

"Thanks. I'll need the support for being the new captain," he said, glad when Cormac left the field.

Katie had jumped into Brooklyn's arms, tears of happiness coming down her face, as the two celebrated her being back on the team.

"Hey, Katie, since Hogsmeade visits are coming, I-uh, do you want to-to go get a butterbeer with me at the Three Broomsticks? Just you and me?" He suddenly blurted out, without thinking. Katie's brown eyes widened. She just came to realize that she had been asked on an outing (or perhaps a date) with the Guardian of Hogwarts. Her heart fluttered.

"I-yes, that would be very nice," she responded back, embracing her gargoyle friend again. They waved as they broke apart.

"See you then!" He called out, catching up with the Golden Trio. Harry grinned at the smile on his brother's face.

"Got a date?" He asked teasingly. Brooklyn elbowed him in the shoulder, but nodded.


The next few weeks passed involving the second lesson night with Dumbledore in the Pensive, furthering along the story of Tom Riddle including the story Brooklyn already knew of his life in the orphanage before going to Hogwarts.

Snow finally came, covering the castle in it, and Brooklyn was already looking forward to his date with Katie, even with Dumbledore being gone somewhere for quite a while, he wasn't going to let this bother him having the best day ever with the one human girl he was growing to like even more.

He went with his brother and friends to the Three Broomsticks together where Katie was waiting for him at a separate table, the smile he liked on her features.

Brooklyn grinned back. "Hey," he greeted. "I-I'll get us butterbeers." She nodded as she sat down. "That sounds good!"

He approached the counter with his small currency pouch containing a few galleons, sickles, and knuts, ordering two butterbeers from Madam Rosmerta, then returning to their table, handing Katie her drink.

They just sat there for a time, talking merrily. Brooklyn occasionally glancing over to his brother who appeared to be in a conversation with Slughorn. Dumbledore had told Harry to get to know him on their last lesson, to try and soften him up to get something that Dumbledore needed desperately.

You have to tell Katie about your 'condition', Brooklyn suddenly heard his inner voice say, while Katie talked about her favorite maneuvers in Quidditch. He grimaced silently, but the voice was right, Katie besides the Golden Trio and the Order was the only other human he could confide in. Even if it meant her leaving him because of his new ability, it had to be said.

"Katie, there's something I need to tell you, something serious," he mumbled, gripping his mug of butterbeer tight, butterflies in his stomach, worried about her reaction. A small frown presented itself onto her, and Katie took his hand gently.

"Go ahead," she murmured. Taking a breath, Brooklyn began.

"R-remember my little incident with Tom Riddle those years ago?" He asked, and Katie nodded, her heart clenching painfully remembering Brooklyn looking so pale and hurt during those days, even before the two got together at the Ball, she had been scared when Brooklyn had been taken by the monster of Slytherin.

"Well, something else from him is still implanted onto me. I-I can speak Parseltongue, Katie Bell," he admitted, looking away from her shamefully. She gasped softly, a hand on her mouth. This was something new to her. And she clearly saw the fear and embarrassment in his gentle eyes. He was afraid she would reject him because of this. No, she didn't hate him for it. He and Harry were nothing like Voldemort, even if they do talk to snakes, they were much nicer!

"I don't care if you speak that language, Brooklyn. I still like you," she said gently, holding his hand comfortingly. "There's no need to feel ashamed."

He felt warm relief. She didn't mind he could speak snake, and he was happy that she didn't hate him.

"Harry already knows I can still speak it, and he's glad that he's not the only one. The two of us are gonna fight against this together," Brooklyn said in a determined tone. Katie's heart fluttered yet again. Brooklyn was so brave, even when he was sometimes scared of things like this, he always knew how to push through it.

"I hope you can figure it out," she said, as he nodded. "Yeah. But for now, I feel like going to Zonkos, could do with a bit of a laugh after this," he suddenly suggested. Katie liked that idea.

"Sure, just need to stop by the ladies room before we go," she said, getting up. Brooklyn nodded. "I'll wait!" He called after her retreating form. She smiled back at him before going on her way.

He waited a few minutes, but for some reason, she seemed to be taking longer than usual. Confusion came into Brooklyn like lightning, hoping Katie was okay, until at last, he spotted her returning, holding something in her arms.

"Hey!" He waved, but she didn't look at Brooklyn, continuing to the door as if he didn't exist. A pang of hurt struck him. Something wasn't right. And where did she get that package?

He got up, following her out into the snow, just as his brother and friends were leaving.

Brooklyn continued after Katie further out, managing to grab her arm before she got too far ahead.

"Katie, what's going on? I thought we were going to Zonkos, and who gave you that package?" He demanded, turning her to look at him. What he saw, made his stomach clench.

Katie's face was blank, eyes almost lifeless and dull, as if somebody had cursed her. She struggled in Brooklyn's grasp.

"I-I need to get this to Dumbledore right away…" she said in an almost monotone voice. He frowned, something was definitely wrong, this definitely looked like the Imperius Curse! And it reminded him painfully of when Demona mind controlled Goliath. But who did it? And why did it involve Dumbledore?

"No, you can't go, somebody's controlling you, Katie! I want to help!" He begged desperately, trying to get her to come with him, but she kept fighting.

"Stop! Get away!" She cried, and then suddenly the package fell, its contents falling out, revealing a magnificent opal necklace on the snowy ground. Katie quickly grabbed it, touching the necklace with her bare skin, and then something terrible happened that Brooklyn couldn't comprehend.

Kate's eyes went completely round, body shaking, then she collapsed, dropping the necklace near the wrappings, twitching.

"Katie!" Screamed Brooklyn, his heart beating in worry and terror, staring back and forth between the opal necklace and Katie who kept twitching violently on the ground.

"Help! Somebody!" He roared, not sure what to do, when whatever curse was on the necklace began tossing his friend around on the ground, making him back away in fear.

Harry, Ron and Hermione had turned up at that moment, having heard Brooklyn's yells, and Hermione gasped aloud at seeing Katie who by now was being lifted gracefully into the air, arms spread out, hair blowing slowly around, and she was screaming, as though she had seen some horrible vision. Brooklyn trembled, watching, until she fell hard to the ground once again in a terrible heap.

"No!" Yelled Brooklyn in anguish, kneeling down next to his fallen friend. It reminded him too much of when McGonagall had been hit by those four stunners. But this looked much worse. Today had been going so well for him, thinking he had been lucky again to find another girl to love, only to lose her to a cursed necklace. He brushed her black hair out of her eyes, that were staring up at nothing.

"Katie, don't die!" He whispered in a choked voice, hugging her unmoving form, checking for any kind of pulse. Harry just stared for a while, unsure of how to comfort his brother.

Thankfully, she was still alive, but whatever was on the curse kept her unconscious. Hagrid eventually happened along, warning Brooklyn's friends to stay back from the necklace, eyes round at the sight of Katie, and Brooklyn staying near her side.

"Help her," he begged. Hagrid gave a soft smile, nodding as he took Katie in his large arms gently.

"I'll make sure she's alrigh', Brook. Don' worry," he promised, as he took her back to the castle. Brooklyn glanced down at the necklace that had hurt Katie, growling at it. He remembered seeing it on display at Borgin and Burkes, that had claimed the lives of thirteen Muggles. He prayed she didn't become one of the victims!

Harry then tugged on his arm after Hermione rewrapped the necklace in it's packaging once more with her wand, saying that they need to see McGonagall about it right away.

A while later, the four of them were meeting with her and Snape, who were looking over the opal necklace carefully.

McGonagall looked at Brooklyn after a few minutes, who still had a despondent look on his face from what happened to Katie.

"Are you sure that Katie didn't have this in her possession when you two entered the Three Broonsticks?" Brooklyn nodded.

"Yes, we had just finished our drinks and had planned to go to Zonkos. Katie first went to the restrooms before we left. And when she came back, she-she had the package, and mentioned that she had to deliver it to Dumbledore," he explained as best he could. Hermione held his arm comfortingly, feeling truly sorry for him.

"Her face looked weird when I tried to stop her, like she had been Imperiused or something. I should have known she wouldn't have just walked out on me like that!" Brooklyn added, eyes clenched shut in sadness.

McGonagall shook her head. "No, it wasn't your fault, Brooklyn. I'm glad you went after her, or something worse could've occured," she assured gently, while Snape continued studying the necklace with an unchanged expression before he spoke.

"I think Miss Bell was lucky to be alive," he said, and McGonagall then eyed Brooklyn's friends, brow raised.

"You wouldn't happen to know anything, do you four?" She questioned suspiciously. Harry and Brooklyn looked at one another with certain guilty expressions.

"Yeah, uh, we saw Malfoy going into Knockturn Alley at Borgin and Burke's with his mother and Demona," Harry responded. "He wanted Borgin to fix something for him, using Demona to threaten him if he fails." Brooklyn nodded, hoping she would believe them. He would so get his hands on Malfoy if he did this to her. Nobody hurt his friends without answering to him!

McGonagall folded her arms. "That is a very serious accusation, thinking he is the one to have cursed Katie. I advise you not to take any drastic action until me and Professor Snape uncover the real culprit behind it," she then advised, much to Brooklyn's disappointment. He wanted justice for Katie being hurt!

But the four of them ended up listening to her, returning to the Gryffindor Common Room, but Brooklyn took a detour to the Hospital Wing to see Katie, telling his brother he would join them later.

Pomfrey let him in, and he could see his beloved Katie lying there on the bed, and tears welled up once more. It seemed only mere seconds ago she and him were having a good time over butterbeer. And now here she was lying half dead.

His eyes shut tightly, heart aching, taking her lifeless hand in hers.

Please try to get well for me! I love you! He thought, giving her hand one more squeeze before leaving, planning to visit her another day.