"I am so sick of Potions," Parker complained loudly.
"Why? You're really good at it," Veronica said.
"Okay, let me rephrase that," Parker said, "I am so sick of Professor Malfoy."
The girls laughed. "Me too," Kylie said grinning as they stopped in front of the Potions room. They were five minutes early. Almost everyone was already there. Everyone knew not to be late for Potions. Of course, if you were a Slytherin, you could probably get away with it.
Veronica looked around for Tristian. For some reason she couldn't get what he said out of her head. "There is no doubt in my mind it will happen again and the next person might not be so lucky." Nothing had happened again and she hoped that nothing would. However, deep down she agreed with Tristian. She was jerked from her thoughts when she saw Tristian leaning against the wall, in his usual manner. She was surprised when she saw Amelia with him.
Amelia was looking angry. She was talking animatedly and gesturing with her hands. Tristian had a slight smile on his face, as though he found it absolutely hilarious and was trying not to laugh. I wonder what they're talking about, Veronica thought.
"Nicci!" Kylie shouted.
Veronica turned back to her friends and blushed. "Sorry. I guess I was daydreaming."
Parker raised her eyebrows. "Really?"
Veronica didn't answer. The loud footsteps of Professor Malfoy could be heard echoing through the hallway. Veronica shuddered when he turned the corner. He looked in a particularly bad mood today.
"Everyone in the classroom now," Professor Malfoy shouted. The girls entered quickly and took their seats.
"Today, we will be doing a difficult potion and a dangerous one if you do not follow my instructions exactly. The directions are on the board. I will walk around and make sure none of you idiots mess things up." At the last part he glanced over at the Gryffindor side with dislike.
Nicci began her potion. She was half way done when a piece of paper landed on her table. She glanced at Daniella, Kylie and Parker. They were not paying any attention and had not noticed the paper. Veronica picked it up curiously. It had her name written on it. She opened it.
Dear Winters,
Hope you enjoy your little gift. Let's just call it payback for earlier.
Amelia
Veronica stared at the letter, not quite sure what to make of it. However, moments later she knew what Amelia had meant by "little gift." Veronica stared in horror as her potion started to bubble. She felt herself being thrown backwards with a deafening BANG!
Veronica groaned from her position on the floor. She touched her head and grimaced. It was hurting rather badly. She looked at her hand and noticed it had blood on it. Veronica got up slowly and looked around. She was starting to feel dizzy.
It wasn't a pretty sight. Daniella, who had been working next to her had gotten knocked to the ground as well. She looked very shaken up, but luckily unhurt. Kylie was helping her up. Parker was walking over to Veronica. She was cradling her arm. The table she had been working at was on the other side of the room. It had knocked into a bookcase, causing all the potions and books in it to be knocked to the ground.
"Winters!" Professor Malfoy screamed. Veronica turned around slowly to look at him. His face was a red purple color and he looked as though he was going to explode. "Look what you've done, you foolish girl!"
Veronica stared at him, not sure what to say. "It's not like she did it on purpose."
"Stay out of this Keowen!" Professor Malfoy screamed.
"I'm sorry," Veronica said softly, "I don't know what happened."
"Sorry! Oh you're going to be sorry! Get out of my classroom! You'll have detention for the rest of your life! I'll have you expelled for this!" Veronica stared at him in horror.
"You can't expel her. You don't have the authority."
Professor Malfoy turned to Parker. "Get out of here! You'll be expelled with her, when I'm through. We never should have started letting your kind into Hogwarts to begin with."
Parker scowled. "Let's go, Nicci. We need to get your head looked at." She grabbed Veronica's arm and pulled her from the room.
Veronica and Parker started walking. "I can't believe that bloody bastard," Parker fumed. Veronica didn't bother to admonish her bad languarge as she glanced over at her. She was still cradling her arm and Veronica noticed it was bleeding rather heavily. Veronica simply nodded. She was worried. He couldn't really expel her, could he?
"What's that?" Parker said suddenly. Veronica stopped and followed Parker's gaze. Laying in the middle of the floor, face down, was a young girl. No, Veronica thought. This isn't happening. She followed Parker over to the girl. It isn't related, Veronica reassured herself. The girl just fainted or something.
Parker carefully turned the girl over. Veronica recognized her immediately. She was a first year Hufflepuff named Brittany Barkate. Parker pulled up her sleeve. She had the same needle mark Shane had. "This is the same mark Shane had."
"Is she...alive?" Veronica asked. Her voice cracked. Could this day get any worse?
"Yes," Parker said, checking her pulse. "She'll be fine, but we should take her with us to the Hospital Wing. It isn't too far from here." Parker stood up and removed her wand. "Wingardium Leviosa." Brittany floated up gently and Parker guided her down the hall as the walked.
Veronica felt herself shaking. This was like some sort of nightmare. Her mother was lying to her, she might get expelled, her head was bleeding and people were being kidnapped, attacked, well something like that. She looked over at Parker, who looked completely calm. If it weren't for her eyes, Veronica actually would have believed that this hadn't phased Parker at all. However, the look was one Veronica knew well. It was fear. It was the same fear she felt right now. She looked at Brittany's seemingly lifeless body. She was getting dizzier.
Parker and Veronica entered the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey got up from her desk. "Now what are you two..." she began, before letting out a gasp when she saw Brittany floating just behind them. "Oh Merlin!" She quickly took control of Brittany's body and placed her on a bed. "Sit down you two," she ordered, "I have to go get the Headmaster." She ran quickly from the room.
Veronica rocked slightly. She was feeling dizzy again, but this time much worse. She tried to move over to a bed, but her vision was starting to blur. "Nicci," she heard Parker say. She sounded so far away. Veronica swayed again. She fell, but someone caught her. She wasn't sure who, because at that moment she passed out.
Veronica groaned quietly. She felt like she had been bashed over the head with a troll's club. She opened her eyes slowly and looked around. She was in the Hospital Wing. I must have passed out, she thought. She moved to get up, but stopped when she heard voices.
"What are we going to do Sirius?" Professor Weasley asked. She sounded frightened.
"I'm afraid there's not much we can do. Obviously we must put an earlier curfew in place. We'll make an announcement to the students to stay in groups."
"How will that help?" Ginny asked, "They can't defend themselves."
"No, but whoever or whatever is doing this seems to attack them when they are alone," Sirius said, "Should I feel the need, we'll have teachers take the kids to and from class. Doing that now would cause a panic among the ministry and parents. Let's just see what we can do first."
"I agree," Professor Potter said.
"Well we don't even know who or what or why students are being attacked," Coach Weasley said, while pulling at his robes.
"What if this is something like the Chamber of Secrets," Professor Miller said in a frightened tone.
"I doubt that," Professor Potter said, "That was an entirely different attack style."
"And the snake is dead," Ginny said.
"How did you know about the snake?" Professor Malfoy asked, "I didn't know you went to Hogwarts."
"I didn't. Sirius told me about it." Yes you did, Veronica thought. You told me so.
"Right now that doesn't matter," Sirius said, "We have more pressing matters." Why didn't he call her out on her lie? He knew that Ginny had gone to Hogwarts!
"Do you think it is safe to let the children eat in the Hall and be walking around right now?" Professor Weasley asked.
"I think the danger has passed for now, Hermione," Sirius said, "Our search of the castle tells us that whoever or whatever is doing this is not here anymore."
"Unless its one of us," Professor Potter said.
"Nonsense, Harry," Sirius said, "Come on. We all need to get to the Great Hall. Poppy will take care of Brittany." The teachers nodded and left one by one out the door. Veronica stirred and yawned. Madam Pomfrey walked over to her.
"Ahh, so you're awake," Madam Pomfrey said, "How do you feel?"
"I feel much better," Veronica said in her best convincing voice. Her head was still throbbing slightly. Madam Pomfrey stared at her suspiciously. "May I go get some food? I'm starving."
"Well, I don't think it's a good idea to let you go down there alone," Madam Pomfrey began, but was interrupted.
"Madam Pomfrey," a voice called.
"Over here, dear," Madam Pomfrey called. Veronica watched as Tristian Malfoy stepped into view. "What is it you need?"
"The potion for my father that I asked you to make earlier," Tristian said.
"Yes, yes," Madam Pomfrey said. She walked over to a cabinet not far away and grabbed a small vile from it. "This should relieve those headaches." She handed him a small bottle and then glanced over at Veronica. "You wouldn't mind walking her down to the Great Hall, would you? The Headmaster doesn't want students walking alone and you're on your way there anyways."
"I guess."
Madam Pomfrey smiled. Veronica got up quickly and followed Tristian from the Hospital Wing, before Madam Pomfrey changed her mind. They walked in silence, but Veronica didn't mind. Her head was filled with worries and questions that she had a feeling would go unanswered.
"How's your head?" Tristian asked, after they were a good distance from the Hospital Wing.
Veronica sighed. "Throbbing, but at least it isn't bleeding anymore."
Tristian smiled. "Yes, sorry about that. It seems Amelia has developed quite a hatred for you."
Veronica smiled and shook her head. "Good for her. I'd like to point out she's the one who started it. She wouldn't need to get revenge if she hadn't challenged us to a duel."
"Ah, yes," Tristian said, "I heard about that. Amelia was absolutely furious that you beat her. I should tell you now, that she won't consider what she did actual revenge. She'll try something else."
"Yeah, well, I have plenty of other more important things to worry about then some stuck up little prat who's a sore loser," Veronica said.
"So you do," Tristian said, "Your mother is still lying?"
Veronica sighed. "I heard her talking to the teachers earlier. She told me that she went to Hogwarts, but she told them she didn't."
"Well, I think we both know what that means."
Veronica looked at him. "No, I think that would just be you."
Tristian looked over at her and then back at the hall in front of them. "When an adult lies, it means they have something to hide, something they don't want anyone to know. Now it's obvious that she had no reason to lie to you in this case. So, that means she must be hiding something from the teachers as well. Something happened to her why she was at school here, or..."
"Or what," Veronica asked, even though she really didn't want to know.
"Or," Tristian said slowly, "She did something at school that she doesn't want them to know about."
Veronica sighed and said nothing. Once again, Tristian had voiced her own fears. Perhaps she did not want the teachers to know she had been considered a traitor. It was impossible though, wasn't it? Her mother would never be a traitor. Then again, who could really tell what was impossible anymore? A few months ago if someone had told her they were a witch, she would have thought they were insane. It still didn't explain why her mother had lied. Unless of course, it had something to do with that Chamber of Secrets thing. That was what they were talking about when she lied. I'm going to find out what that is, Veronica thought.
Tristian and Veronica walked slowly by a statue of a towering wizard. This is where we found Brittany, Veronica thought with a shudder. A sudden thought popped into her head. "How did you know it would happen again?" Veronica said suddenly.
Tristian looked at her. "Sometimes being who I am has certain benefits," he said slowly. He stopped when they reached the door to the Great Hall. "And they'll be more attacks too. Its seems that whoever is taking students has yet to find what they're looking for. Be on your guard Winters."
"Why?" Veronica asked, feeling slightly frightened by his sudden change in mood.
Tristian stared at her. His eyes seemed to see right through her. Veronica shuddered. "Haven't you noticed that you are always just one step away from whoever is doing this? Not to mention the similarities between who is being taken. They were both..." He stopped suddenly.
"Both what?" Veronica asked, though she had a feeling he wouldn't answer.
Tristian smirked. "Never mind, Winters," he said, "Go to dinner. You wouldn't want to keep your friends waiting." Veronica felt a surge of annoyance as Tristian disappeared down the hallway. He never could give a straight answer.
Veronica sighed, annoyed and walked into the Great Hall. She took a seat next to Parker, who smiled. "Hey there, Nicci. You had me worried, fainting like that. Lucky that Malfoy kid was there to catch you."
"Tristian?" Veronica asked in a shocked voice.
"That's the one. Little git actually did something useful. I never thought I'd say a Slytherin could come in handy."
"Unless you were using them as target practice," Kylie said grinning.
Veronica smiled. "Are you guys alright?"
"I'm fine," Kylie said, "Luckily, I didn't get hit with the blast."
"Parker, how's the arm?" Veronica asked.
"I've had worse," Parker said, "It should be totally healed by the end of the week."
"Daniella?" Veronica asked turning to her. She was still pale.
"Fine," Daniella said softly, "I'm just glad you're okay. I was so worried when Parker told us you passed out."
"Yeah," Parker said, "What happened anyways?"
"Amelia," Veronica said.
Parker and Kylie scowled. "I say this calls for a little payback," Parker said.
Veronica nodded. She was surprised to see Daniella remain silent. It seemed even Daniella couldn't object to this one. "Don't worry," a voice said, "We already gave them a little hell ourselves."
Veronica turned to see Orion, Shane, Jeff, and James sit down. Rob took a seat by Annabel and Levinia. Veronica stared curiously. She had seen Rob and Annabel together an awful lot lately.
"What do you mean by that?" Parker asked.
"You'll see, my dear," Orion said smiling.
Parker raised her eyebrows and looked over at Kylie. "So how did you know it was her anyways?" Kylie asked.
"We heard the slimy git talking about it to some of her older friends after Transfiguration today," Jeff said.
"So we took it upon ourselves to dish out a little payback," Shane said grinning.
"Right, because nobody picks on my little sister and gets away with it."
"Except you, right?" Veronica asked, shaking her head. James smiled.
"Well, it was very kind of you to try and help but..." Daniella began, but she was interrupted by Parker's sudden fit of laughter.
"What?" Kylie asked.
Parker, still laughing, pointed toward the doors. Veronica looked over and started laughing as well, despite the pain it was causing her head. Amelia, Jillian and Cristina had just walked in. All of them were covered head to toe in a neon colored paint and had beards that reached their knees. Amelia was orange,Cristina was yellow and Jillian was green. They glared furiously over at the Gryffindor table.
"Merlin's beard," Kylie said grinning, "Why didn't they wash it out or get rid of those beards? They look absolutely ridiculous."
The boys smiled. "It's a little something called Permanent Dye," Orion said winking. They all laughed.
"Unfortunately, it isn't really permanent," Shane said, "I'm sure Jeff's dad will give them the reversal spell sometime soon."
"Yeah," Jeff said, "But since we changed up the spell a bit, it should take him a few days. As for he beards, well, those will fall out in a week or so."
They laughed again. "Nice," Parker said smiling.
"Yeah," Veronica agreed.
"What do you think, Carter?" James asked smiling at her. He had an expectant look on his face.
Daniella looked at him nervously. She sighed and then let a slight smile appear on her face. "I suppose it was okay just this once, since what she did was so terrible."
"It's a miracle!" Parker shouted loudly, earning her strange stares from the people sitting around them, "It's a Thanksgiving miracle!" Daniella blushed and everyone else laughed.
