Thankyou to Emma, Chris, HGDM lova, anonymous (lol I know who you are), w3ndi, angela, Lauren: e m m a , hpfan142, Aidyl, Linding and Alateriel567 for reviewing!
YAY! I REACHED THE FIFTY REVIEW MARK! THANKYOU TO EVERYBODY!
And yes I realise I'm crappy at updating. I'm sorry!
To make up for long wait, I've made an extra long chapter. Woot!
Warnings
Screams pierced the cool night air, echoing down the corridors of the first floor of Hogwarts.
Verity writhed under her covers, thrashing wildly, trying to get free.
With a cry, the covers ripped and shred as Verity slashed through them, freeing herself.
Still screaming, but upon her feet, she stumbled blindly around in the dark, feeling for the huge double doors that led out of the suffocating hospital wing.
Suddenly hands grasped around her and started hauling her back. With shrieks and wails she lashed out at the restraining figure.
With a shock, James and Liam were awake immediately; staring wide-eyed at the scene.
"Miss Chambers, Miss Chambers!" Madam Pomfrey shouted above the roar. "Please, it was just a dream! You had a bad dream!" She struggled madly to try and calm to panicked girl.
But Verity would not be calmed.
"Patrick killed her! Patrick killed my mother! Patrick did it Patrick did it!" she howled.
She tore free from the nurse and bolted for the doors, slamming brutally into the hard wood as they refused to open for her.
Bawling, she pounded on the door frantically trying to find a way out.
Madam Pomfrey whipped out her wand, pointing it at the terrified girl. "I'm sorry, my dear." she said in a low voice.
A wisp of dim light spun out from the tip, surrounding Verity.
A sudden peace filled her. With a sigh she slid down the wall and lay unconscious on the tiled floor.
Low, mumbling voices. A splitting pain in her head. What was going on?
"Oh, it was quite alarming of course, but luckily she wasn't harmed badly. I sent Mr Potter and Clemens down to breakfast this morning, they have recovered quite well..." she could hear someone talking in a low voice.
Verity stirred slowly, her blurred vision revealing Madam Pomfrey talking with who appeared to be Professor McGonagall.
Well not quite. "Ah, Miss Chambers you are at last awake. This is Professor Dumbledore."
Verity tried to speak but found she couldn't.
"I'm sorry headmaster, but I had to sedate Miss Chambers last night and she is still under the weather."
"Of course," Dumbledore smiled and gave a little bow. "Perhaps then while your patient recovers, I shall gain the happenings of last night from you, Poppy."
"Well Miss Chambers and several others as you already know were attacked at the Hogsmeade visit yesterday. They were brought here. Around midnight last night, I was awoken by some screams and found Miss Chambers here clawing at her bed as if she was being attacked. It was obviously a bad dream. She tried to escape the hospital wing and I had to sedate her."
The girl struggled to rise. "Oh, no. You aren't to leave this wing until I'm completely satisfied that you're healthy." exclaimed Madam Pomfrey.
Verity shook her head, speechless. The woman raised an eyebrow at her.
Choking on the words, she spat it out painfully. "Mother. Dead. Patrick - kill!" she gasped from the effort and sank back onto the pillows.
She was exhausted. But she had to get out. Find Patrick and her mother. See if indeed the dream was true. Oh it was so real, but she wished with all her heart that it wasn't.
"Miss Chambers, is this the latest assassination scheme you believe your step-father is plotting against you?" Professor McGonagall asked dryly as she entered the room.
She took a deep breath, trying to form the words. "I had... a dream." she stoped as her throat closed off again. Forcing the words out she began again. "I was in my house. My mother was there. Patrick killed her. He killed her. I have to find her and see if she's okay." She moaned as pain seared through her head.
McGonagall sighed. "Oh Miss Chambers do you really believe –"
"Of course." Dumbledore stepped forwards, twiddling his thumbs. "You can see clearly, Minerva, that this girl is terrified for her mother's safety."
McGonagall stared at him.
"I ask you to write a short letter to her mother, asking her to come up to the school. Make sure she is safe and well and bring her to see her daughter."
"My dear Headmaster, it was just simply a dream. Unless if this girl is some sort of psychic, I doubt there is any truth to it."
"She always excelled in Divination..." someone slurred.
Madam Pomfrey's head shot up. She hurried over to Lyla's bed and felt the girl's forehead. "She's awake!" Then she became serious. "Professor McGonagall, Headmaster, you may do what you wish. These two students were hit by a very powerful spell and I do not know as yet what it was. I am currently consulting Professor Flitwick about various possible charms. But I must ask you now to leave."
Verity looked alarmed. "Please, Sir, I need to know if my mother is alive."
"I shall see to it as soon as I can," Professor Dumbledore nodded.
With a small sob, Verity slunk under the soft sheets of her bed, her head pounding.
Madam Pomfrey was frantically fussing over Lyla's awakening.
"Open your mouth. Show me your hands. How many fingers am I holding up? Does your head hurt? Count for me backwards from ten." she ordered.
Verity lay still, listening to Lyla hesitantly recount the number system. Now that she was fully awake, she was thinking more clearly. Maybe it WAS just a dream. But it had seemed so real!
"Now how do you feel?" she heard the nurse ask.
"Sore," came the reply.
"Well yes of course you're sore," Pomfrey snapped. "But I need you to tell me something important - when you were hit, did you see anyone?"
"See anyone? Well... I was surrounded by people... so I suppose - "
"No not that kind of see. I mean as in... when the spell hit you, did an image flash in your mind?"
Lyla looked confused, then a frown appeared on her face. "Actually yes," she said slowly. "I saw Verity and I felt... angry? Then I can't remember anything."
Verity uncovered her face and stared at Lyla curiously. But Madam Pomfrey sighed and rocked back on her heels. "So that's it," she muttered. "The Iracundi curse..."
"The what?" Verity and Lyla asked simultaneously.
The matron cleared her throat. "The Iracundi curse is a very old spell; it's very powerful too and can kill instantly."
Lyla looked terrified. Pomfrey gave a short laugh and continued on. "But it can only kill if the right person is hit. So the attacker would have to imagine his target clearly and then cast the spell at the victim, in this case, Miss Chambers."
Verity said, uncertainly, "So he WAS after me?"
"It appears so. If he had have hit you fully, you could be dead now, I'm afraid. But instead, Miss Apylbie and Miss Sapientia were hit."
"Why isn't Emily awake?" Verity voiced suddenly.
"I AM awake..." Lyla yawned.
"No not you, I meant her," Verity pointed to Emily's bed.
Madam Pomfrey frowned. "Well she was hit first, which means she faced the more dangerous side of the spell. It takes quite a lot of power out of the one who casts it, see."
"Oh. Will she be alright?"
Pomfrey nodded. "Now you must rest. It may not have killed you, but there are some other... side effects... the spell may have caused. We must keep you here for observation."
But Verity wasn't listening anymore. The pain in her head was subsiding and her mind had become clearer. Someone was trying to kill her. That, at least was definite.
It had to be Patrick. But no, he wasn't there. Maybe Patrick sent someone to kill her off.
But why? What possible reason had Patrick to harm her? Maybe he was just a psychopath. Or could it be something deeper?
There was a knock at the door. The Matron clicked her tongue crossly and checked to see who there. Looking in puzzlement from side to side, she saw no-one. Then a small bundle of brightly coloured flowers caught her eye. Picking them up, she hurriedly read the small note and with an exasperated sigh, strode to Verity's bed and dropped them softly on the bed cover.
"It seems they are for you," she turned to attend back to Lyla. "Open your mouth," she commanded. Then with a frown, she fumbled through her pockets.
"Where's my thermometer?" she asked herself. Muttering quietly, she walked out of the room into the hallway, looking to see if she had dropped it.
Verity picked up the flowers. Tulips. How sweet. She looked for a card, but there seemed to be none. She frowned in disappointment.
With a gasp, she watched as the flowers changed colours softly, then morphed into a small box of chocolates.
Honeydukes chocolates, she noticed. Expensive ones too.
She lifted the lid and saw a small, lavender coloured (and scented, she realised as well) note. The writing shone and sparkled lightly as she scanned the paper.
"Dear Verity,
I'm glad you're better now.
Here are some chocolates I had bought earlier yesterday for you, but then never got the chance.
I hope you like them."
It was unsigned.
She wondered who might have sent them. Deciding to follow Emily's philosophy, she took out one piece and put it into her mouth.
It was wonderful. Soft and sweet, she started to feel much better as the chocolate work it's happy-making magic.
Emily loved chocolate. Verity hoped that she would wake up in time to have a piece from the box.
The crinkle of the wrapper made Lyla's head snap towards Verity. "Chocolate!" she cried.
Madam Pomfrey's voice floated from the corridor. "No chocolate just yet, Miss Sapientia." she called. "You are to have no food for the time being."
Verity laughed. "Since when did you like chocolate?" Lyla wasn't one to be known for any noticeable chocolate addiction.
"Since forever!" Lyla giggled.
Giggle? Lyla didn't giggle often. How odd.
"Well, I'll give you one when Madam Pomfrey says you can have one. Ok, Lyla?"
She looked puzzled. "Lyla? I'm not Lyla, I'm Emily."
Verity stared at her. "Emily? You're not Emily, you're Lyla Sapientia."
Lyla looked at her as if she was insane. "Verity, I know who I am. Maybe that spell did hit you after all, eh? Now gimme that chocolate." she held out her hand.
Now this was getting weird, Verity thought. "Madam Pomfrey?" she called out. "I think you need to come back!"
But there was no Matron.
"Well if you think you're Emily Apylbie, then who's that?" she pointed to the real Emily, lying peacefully on the bed, purring.
Wait... purring!
She watched as Emily shifted in her sleep and curled into a ball with a small meow.
"Madam Pomfrey!" Verity shouted. Maybe these were the strange side effects she had mentioned earlier...
Emily looked up sleepily. She hissed at Verity. "Don't wake me when I sleep!" she snarled, before settling back into her cat-like position.
What on earth was going on?
Ignoring Emily's warning, she rushed out of bed and shook her forcefully. The girl yowled and swiped at her.
"Emily! Stop it!"
Emily, or whoever (or whatever) she thought she was, hissed again and clawed at Verity's dress. "No wake!" she wauled. "I sleep!"
"Tell me who you think you are!" Verity demanded.
Emily blinked lazily. "I'm Bubbles!" she said, as she stretched and yawned.
Verity looked on with horror. Bubbles?
Then as she began to purr, she rubbed her cheek against Verity's hand. "You woke me up from my nice nap, but you seem nice enough," she sighed sleepily.
"Bubbles?" Lyla (who still seemed to be thinking she was Emily) seemed to be thinking the same thing. "What are you, a cat?" she said incredulously.
Emily stared at her. "Well of course," she scoffed. "What else would I be?"
That was it. Verity jogged out of the hospital wing. Where was Madam Pomfrey? She couldn't have just disappeared.
"Madam Pomfrey!" she cried. "We need your help!"
"Miss Chambers?"
With a shriek, she turned around to find the matron right behind her. "I'm sorry dear but I ran into Professor Flitwick in the hallway and..."
Verity cut her off. "Lyla thinks she's Emily and Emily thinks she's a cat!" she babbled.
Madam Pomfrey raised an eyebrow at her.
Suddenly there was a crash from inside the infirmary, which was followed by a yowl and someone screaming: "She's insane!"
They hurried back inside.
Emily (or Bubbles) was racing around the room on her hands and knees, vainly trying to capture a small mouse which had ventured in. Lyla (or Emily) was standing on her bed shrieking and clutching a pillow.
"She's insane!" Lyla (or Emily) shrilled again. "She must think she's a cat or something but she's gone mad!" she pointed wildly at Emily (or Bubbles).
Madam Pomfrey rushed over to the girl, who was clawing at a small hole in the wall where the mouse had gained entrance. Grabbing her firmly but gently, she led her back to her bed and lay her down.
"Good girl... or kitty..." she seemed confused as to which she should call her.
Verity stood awkwardly, staring at the scene. Broken bottles of potion smashed and dripping lay on shelves and created a slippery mess on the floor. Papers lay everywhere. Fragments of pillow and the feathery insides floated through the air, catching themselves in her hair.
There was a knock at the door and a girl with flaming hair entered.
Lily gazed, bewildered, at the state of the hospital wing. "Well this is new..." she commented idly. "Did you decide to redecorate?"
Madam Pomfrey glared at her. "No, Miss Evans, it was not I, but Miss Apylbie who created this mess."
"I didn't do anything!" Lyla protested. "It was her!" she pointed a quivering finger at Emily, who had since fallen asleep and was purring contentedly.
Madam Pomfrey sighed. "Well it seems to me," she came towards Verity and felt her forehead, "that you are of full health. You may go now, but if you feel unusual in any way, you are to come straight back here. I am keeping these two here to try and sort this out. Now go!" she pushed the chocolate tin into Verity's hands and bustled the two out of the hospital wing. She shut the doors firmly behind them.
Lily looked at Verity who shook her head. "Fine then... I won't ask what that was. But at least you're normal now."
"Normal?" she retorted. "Nothing is normal now."
Sitting quietly in History of Magic while a ghost rambles on about obscure topics and an evil minded blonde is yet again throwing things at you is not an easy task.
Professor Binns, completely oblivious of anything but his speech of the Battle of the Cobwabbles and the Pinglays (species of pixie which had wiped each other out in a war of who thought they had the rights to a particular forest somewhere in Scandinavia), took no notice as Miranda took the opportunity to send many objects flying across the room at Verity.
She spun around in her seat. "Rack off!" she mouthed, drawing a finger across her throat threateningly.
"Why should I?" Miranda mouthed back.
"You're just being childish now!"
"Bitch!"
"Stop it!" Liam hissed from across the room. "Binns'll go off at you!"
Miranda scoffed. "Binns's discipline skills are as bad as his teaching. Mind your own business, freak!"
"Don't call him a freak!" Verity rose up from her seat, a ruler clutched in her hand.
"Why? Is he your boooooyfriend?"
"What, jealous?"
She didn't know why she said it. She supposed it just sounded witty at the time.
"What's that meant to mean?" Sirius stood up, staring at Verity.
"I dunno..." she shrugged.
"I thought you liked me!"
"Well, I do," she spluttered.
"Oh." Liam said quietly; turning red. Nobody heard him, considering they were too focused on Verity and Sirius's spat.
"Well evidently you consider Liam your boyfriend, rather than me, so then that must mean you don't like me!"
"What are you, a six year old boy?" Verity said angrily. "If you're going to act like this every time I attempt to fend off Miss "I'm-blonde-and-I-love-it"'s constant attacks, then I probably won't!"
With a growl, Sirius swept all his books into his bag and stalked out of the classroom, sending the door shut with a bang.
Miranda smirked. "Somebody's not happy..."
Lily tugged at Verity's robes. "Sit down before you make any more of a fool of yourself!" she whispered hastily.
There was a knock at the door and Professor McGonagall appeared, looking quite hurried.
"Miss Chambers, I would like to have a quick word with you,"
There was a chorus of low "Ooooh"s rumbling from the class as Verity stood and walked quietly from the classroom.
"Immature idiots," Verity heard Lily mutter.
So this was the moment she had been waiting for. Dread settled in her churning stomach as she awaited the teacher to speak.
'Miss Chambers, your mother is perfectly healthy. No spells, no nothing. She's been here for nearly an hour already."
Relief washed over her. So the dream wasn't true after all.
"Is she here?" she asked eagerly.
"No, I'm afraid she wasn't very enthusiastic to see you," McGonagall sighed. "She and her husband."
The bell ringing just above them, shrill and loud, startled them.
"Your mother just left my office," she commented mildly, before turning and leaving before the wave of students rushing from the classroom.
Just left...
She bolted into the classroom, cannoning into several students.
"Lily! Take my bag for me please, I have to go really quickly!" she gasped.
Sure, her mother hated her, but she had to see her.
Without waiting for a reply, she took off from the classroom, pelting through the corridors, dodging students along the way.
Skidding into the entrance hall, she caught sight of a furred coat at the doors.
"Mum!" she shouted, running forwards and catching hold of the hideous overcoat.
The woman turned, raising an eyebrow at her. "Do I know you?" she asked coolly.
"Get away from us!" Patrick hissed. "We are leaving now and we do not need you to hinder us!"
"Mummy, please," Verity begged. "Just talk to me for a minute."
"Get away!" Patrick viciously tore her from the woman; off balanced, Verity staggered and fell.
With that, Patrick ushered Leanne from the hall and slammed the door heavily behind him.
Painfully she struggled up and hopped to the doors, opening them to see the two running across the grounds and out of sight.
"Didn't work as well as you hoped?" Lily held out Verity's book bag. "Don't worry I'm sure she'll come to her senses soon enough..."
She desperately hoped that was true.
The weeks following were very strange.
There was the tense air surrounding everybody which could be thanked to the upcoming NEWTs. Every last minute was dedicated to studying.
Then there were the strange circumstances surrounding Emily and Lyla's side effects. Nothing Madam Pomfrey did could remove the spell, and so Emily continued with the mentality of a cat, and Lyla the very weird and unusual chocolate-and-cat-obsessed mentality of Emily. Rumours had it to two were to be sent to St Mungo's if their conditions didn't improve.
Not to mention both Sirius and Liam were avoiding Verity at all costs.
Although the flowers were continuing. Every Monday morning at breakfast, a small bunch of brightly coloured tulips would arrive with one of the school's barn owls.
"Well obviously they're from someone who hasn't got very much money." Lily guessed one day.
"What makes you think that?" Crystal asked, holding the flowers gingerly and searching for any note at all.
"There's no note. But I think that, because if he had money, he would have his own owl, rather than borrowing one of the school's." Lily leant back in her seat. "You're looking at the new Sherlock Holmes."
"You don't look very much like a man..." Crystal laughed.
Lily swiped at Crystal, knocking the omelette from her plate.
Verity giggled. "Well Sherlock, I don't think that quite works out. He might be using a school owl so I don't guess as to his identity."
Lily scoffed and leant over to get Crystal a new plate of omelette. "Well, I do know he's pretty keen on you. Do you think he's the same person who sent you the chocolates while you were in the hospital wing?"
Verity shrugged.
She scanned the hall for any possibilities.
Sirius? No he was mad at her. Git. It was hardly her fault.
Liam? Probably not. He'd been avoiding her all month.
Snape was staring at her. Gosh, she hoped it wasn't him. That's all she'd need. She shuddered slightly and went back to her cereal.
"Well, I'm off to visit Lyla and Emily before Care of Magical Creatures starts. Anybody going to come?" Crystal yawned briefly and swung her bag onto her shoulder.
"Sorry can't," Lily said. "I have Charms; it starts slightly before Magical Creatures... I won't have the time."
"I will," Verity volunteered, standing up. "I have Magical Creatures with you."
"Goodio. Now hurry up," Crystal commanded, hauling Verity along with her.
They arrived at the hospital wing to find a very irritated Madam Pomfrey.
"No you cannot see your friends!" she said snappily. "Miss Apylbie's condition is hardly improving. If she hasn't improved at all within two weeks, I will be forced to send her to St Mungo's."
Crystal looked horrified. "But what about her NEWTs?"
The nurse shrugged. "Health is more important than school."
"You say Emily isn't improving..." Verity mentioned. "So how about Lyla?"
"Miss Sapientia is gradually getting better... although slightly confused as to her identity."
"Will she have to go to St Mungo's at all?"
Madam Pomfrey shook her head firmly. "Since Miss Sapientia faced the milder side to the spell, I believe she will recover quite well. But Miss Apylbie... well I'm not sure if she will recover fully."
Crystal stared at her open-mouthed. "Like, ever?"
Madam Pomfrey raised her hands into the air. "Who knows? But I do know, if she doesn't start acting like herself soon, rather than this "Bubbles", she will have to start serious treatment at St Mungo's."
Crystal gave a sharp exclamation. "Can't we see her? Please?" she pleaded.
"Absolutely not." Madam Pomfrey said firmly. "Now out." She pointed to the door.
Disgruntled, Verity and Crystal left the hospital wing and started on the way to their next class.
"I hope Emily's ok." Crystal murmured.
"Don't worry she'll be fine," Verity said with more confidence than she felt.
Her gaze wandered out the first floor windows onto the outside grounds where some early students were already waiting for their Care of Magical Creatures lesson.
A slight feeling of unease crossed her.
"Are you alright?" Crystal glanced out the window too. "Come on, we're already late." she said, pulling Verity along the corridor.
"Now girls and boys, you are about to see an incredibly endangered species of magical creature," Professor Kettleburn announced.
"These animals are very rare, and quite unique. They are classed by the The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures as a 4, but they are hardly dangerous. This is due to their rarity."
He paused. "You are not permitted to touch it. You may not shout, or make any loud noises. Hogwarts was incredibly lucky indeed to gain permission from the Ministry of Magic to show you this.
There are severe penalties for harming, capturing or owning them."
"Then why do you have one?" Karina Russell, a fellow Griffindor, said slowly.
"Because we sought permission from the Ministry of Magic. And, after today it is being released back to its natural home. But back to where we were –"
The students looked up expectantly.
"I give you... the Snidget." He waved his wand and a silken covering was swept off a large cage to their left.
It was a magnificent round, golden bird, with shining red eyes. Compared to the cage though, it was quite small.
"Aww..." Crystal whispered. "It's so cute!"
"This bird is endangered, which was mainly due to its being hunted. It was also used in Quidditch, but was soon replaced by the Golden Snitch that we use today." the Professor resumed.
He raised an eyebrow. "I think this is something you may need to write down."
Verity fumbled through her book bag for her book and quill and started to note down what the Professor had just said.
"Professor," Karina raised her hand. "Did you say they were a class 4 creature?"
Kettleburn nodded. "Not due to any danger, just for the rarity. If they were not rare, they would probably be a class 1."
Something moved suddenly near her. Looking up, she scanned the nearby trees for anyone.
"Crystal," Verity hissed. "I think someone's watching us."
Crystal looked up. "Where? I can't see anyone."
"Now, you may get up slowly and approach the cage. But if you place your fingers, or anything else through the bars of the cage, I will sever them without hesitation." Kettleburn said sharply.
Verity walked around to the back of the cage. The Snidget cocked its head and stared at her.
"Snidgets are extremely agile creatures." the Professor said. "Cerritus, do you really want to lose as many fingers as I?" he sighed, waving a pinkie-less hand at Miranda, who drew back from the cage immediately.
"Now, I shall feed the Snidget." Kettleburn announced. He turned and sorted through a small wooden box located next to the cage. "And no, you may not have a turn at feeding it."
Crystal looked disappointed.
But Verity couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that she was being watched.
"I'm sorry, but I can't find the food. Snidgets love to eat ripe fruit and vegetables, but unfortunately, someone has replaced this with rotten cabbage." He made a disgusted face. "Someone's idea of a joke I suppose... I shall be right back students; I might go and ask Hagrid if he has any vegetables from his garden patch to spare."
He started to walk off, then stopped. "Actually..." he waved his wand and a shimmering barrier appeared over the cage. "Just in case any of you get any ideas... that barrier is very strong. I advise you do not touch it." He disappeared behind the small cabin the gamekeeper lived in.
With the Professor gone, Verity felt even more insecure.
"Look, Verity, I'm sure there's no-one about." Crystal said in a low voice. "And he wouldn't - " she swallowed a muffled screech as she stared over Verity's shoulder.
Verity spun around. At the edge of the trees bordering the Forbidden Forest, a tall man stood, shadowed by a dark cloak.
He pointed at her and drew a long finger across his throat.
She screamed, abandoning any bravery, and bolted away from the trees, past the students.
She stumbled and tripped as a leg stretched out across her path. Falling, she crashed into the barrier surrounding the cage.
There was a spark and a flash and Verity was sent flying through the air, colliding painfully with Miranda, whose leg still was stretched out.
"What's going on?" Professor Kettleburn shouted as he burst out of the cabin, hearing the noise.
Crystal pointed wildly at the trees. "There was a man!" she yelled.
Verity lay, dazed, on the ground, next to Miranda.
Crystal bent to help Verity as Miranda's friend, Allison, did the same for her.
Kettleburn was furious. "I told you specifically NOT to touch the Snidget!" he roared.
"She didn't!" Crystal cried, to Verity defence. "Miranda tripped Verity and made her fall into the barrier!"
Professor Kettleburn glared at Miranda.
"I - I - I didn't do it purposely! I was trying to tie my shoe!" she stuttered lamely.
"You were trying to tie a shoe that has no laces?" Kettleburn questioned darkly, his eyes flicking over her slip-on shoes.
"Oh..." Miranda realised too late, her mistake.
"Five points from Ravenclaw for your foolishness. You do not realise how your actions could have affected this Snidget, Miss Cerritus." he barked at Miranda.
Then he sighed. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to take it away now and return it before other harm comes to it. Class dismissed." he removed the barrier and replaced the silken cover, before applying the barrier again. "What a waste of a lesson..." he muttered under his breath.
"Are you alright?" Crystal said to Verity.
"Yeah..." she raised her hand to her forehead.
"Quick, we'll get back into the castle before that creep returns again," Crystal gathered Verity's quill and book and stuffed them back into her book bag for her.
Far away, back in London, Kate Chambers returned to her home from a nice day of shopping. Pulling up in her driveway, she exited the car and started to pull her shopping bags out of the boot.
A man walked casually up the driveway. "Hello Miss, would you like me to help you with those bags?"
Kate looked warily at him. "Oh no thankyou, I'm perfectly fine."
The man's eyes narrowed. "Oh no, let me help you."
"No thankyou." she said firmly. "I am perfectly capable of bringing these bags into my house on my own."
The man's hand plunged into his jacket pocket and drew out a wand. "Take me into your house now or I will kill you," he growled.
Kate hesitated. She could do as he asked, and probably be killed as soon as she went inside, or run for it.
Making a decision, she threw the bags into the air, knocking them into the man's head. Shouting loudly, she ran from him down the street.
"Attack! Help me!" she shrieked, urgently hoping any of the muggles living in the street would hear and come to her aid. But it was the middle of the day. Many of the muggles would be at work now.
There was an explosion of light from behind her, and she tripped head over heels along the pavement, grazing her arms along the ground.
Feeling for her wand, she whipped it out and shouted the first spell that came to mind.
"Incendio!" she cried.
The man screamed as his clothes burst into flames around him.
Not a moment to lose, Kate scrambled to her feet and pounded down the street.
In pain, the man struggled after her. "Iracundi!" he gasped. A jet of silver light shot from his wand and struck Kate in the back.
With a cry she fell to the ground, motionless.
The man bellowed in triumph, but staggered towards her to check she was finished off.
But suddenly there was a shout from one of the nearby houses. Out of it came running a woman dressed in a small pink apron.
"Oh Katherine!" she cried.
The man blundered back into some hedges, unseen.
"Oh George, George! I think she's had a heart attack! Ring the ambulance! George!"
A short man ran out of the house and joined the panicked woman.
"Oh George, don't come out, just ring the ambulance!" she bawled.
The man retreated and dashed back into the white house while the woman rolled Kate over and put her ear to her chest.
"Oh, oh, George - I think she's dead!"
The man in the hedges smiled through the burning pain and vanished. His work here was done.
Author's Note:
As per usual: Thankyou to Carmen Good luck overseas, Lydia, Kendall and Linda for checking this before I posted!
PLEASE review! (falls on knees) I thrive on reviews!
And the very sad thing is, out of the twelve reviews I got for my last chapter, I've realised only about one or two were off people I didn't know. :o(
So: If more unbeknownst people to me review, I shall update quick. If I get no reviews then no more chapter for you! Bwahahahahahahaha! (evil but weird laugh)
Lol but then I'll probably give in and update anyways... but PLEASE review!
I'll send my invisible friend along to thank you and give you an invisible cookie:o)
Little Kity
P.S. About the: Miss "I'm-blonde-and-I-love-it" - No offence to blondes. Blondes are just as intelligent, attractive etc. as other different coloured hair people. Although I am not a blonde myself, I am staging no attack upon blondes. So don't post weird reviews saying I'm discriminative against blondes. Coz I'm not...I don't think.
P.P.S. To the Sirius lovers: Sorry for calling Sirius a git. Well he strikes me as the gittish-type, at least in school. Anyone remember the dangling upside-down incident from book 5? Ok well it WAS Snape I suppose... but meh. Same as above: No posting of reviews saying I'm discriminative against Sirius. (Pokes out tongue)
