Chapter 16—Discord and Harmony
"Ginny Weasely? Has anyone seen Miss Weasely?" Professor Sprout glared around at them all, as though each and every student present had a hand in her truancy. Colin looked around, startled, but all it took was a perfunctory scan of the room to notice that her flaming red hair was absent. The Gryffindors all shook their heads.
"She…she was in Charms," said Colin hesitantly, "and that was only last period…"
"Well, she is not here now, and I intend to find out why!" said Sprout. "Don't touch anything, or it's detention for all of you!" she barked, and strode out of the greenhouse. Immediately, people began muttering: Was Ginny Weasely the latest victim? Was she lying in an abandoned corridor somewhere, paralyzed, or petrified? Colin looked faintly ill. Ryan patted his hand soothingly.
"I'm sure it's all a mistake, Colin," she whispered. "You know, this place is so big, it's possible she just got lost. Or maybe she's just stuck in a staircase! Did I tell you about the time that happened to Ben and me on the first day…?" She related the tale, trying to make Colin laugh, or at least to calm him down. It didn't work. He only half-listened, then jumped up towards the end.
"Look!" he cried shrilly, pointing, "It's Ginny and Sprout! She's okay!" Everyone, with the exception of Ben, swarmed towards the door. There she was, right as rain, though slightly pale in the face. Probably from fright, thought Ryan. Professor Sprout looks angry. Indeed, the diminutive woman was pulling Ginny along, though they were of a height, as though she weighed no more than an unruly dog.
"Trying to skip class, were we?" she remonstrated, "Trying to hide out by Hagrid's hut? Amongst the chickens, no less! Well, it's certainly detention for you, missy, and I'd love to see you explain to Minerva! Twenty points from Gryffindor!" The students from Gryffindor house groaned.
"I—I'm sorry," stuttered Ginny, her voice barely above a whisper. "I wasn't trying to skive off, honestly! I was…I was coming down from Charms, I swear, and the next thing I knew…the next thing I knew, you were there! I swear, I don't know how I got down to Hagrid's hut, I don't remember that at all!"
"Now see here, Miss Weasely, I won't have you dreaming up stories, or it will be more points from Gryffindor, do you understand? Don't remember? It takes more than a silly tale to pull the wool over the eyes of Pomona Sprout!" Ginny nodded miserably, and shuffled over to the most remote corner of the greenhouse. Colin rushed off to join her. Something bright caught Ryan's eye. As Ginny's too-large, much-patched robe dragged along the floor, Ryan swore she saw a hint of something silver along the hem.
They had Charms next, with the Slytherins. Ryan had been dreading this, and she was right to fear: the tension between the two houses was so potent that it made Transfiguration seem light and carefree. The Ravenclaws all sequestered themselves on the opposite side of the room, studiously avoiding making eye-contact for any reason. Ryan took her usual seat next to Ben and Finn, but couldn't help surveying her other classmates. O'Reilly, the Slytherin girl who accidentally spilled ink on her, happened to look up at the same time. Ryan immediately averted her eyes, trying to absorb herself with the Wingardium Leviosa charm. They were gradually trying to lift heavier and heavier items; today, they were working with stones the size of her first. To her disquiet, Flitwick was wearing an old-fashioned metal helm. That can't bode well.
She soon saw that he had reason to do so. Back-firing spells soon sent shrapnel flying across the room. Ryan took refuge under her desk, hoping Flitwick didn't see, and didn't require her to resurface and attempt the spell for herself. Finn managed to melt his stone again, and she scooted to the side as it burnt through the desk, dripping to the floor next to her with an awful hiss noise. Fi joined her.
"He's obviously done this before," said Fi, raising her voice to be heard over the general pandemonium. "Why does he think this is a good idea?" Ryan was about to reply when a scream cut through the air, and all activity ceased. Fi and Ryan poked their heads out, trying to determine the cause of the lull.
It was O'Reilly. She was clutching the side of her head, blood streaming down half of her face. It was a gruesome sight. Flitwick hurried over, as fast as his short stature would allow.
"Now, now, O'Reilly, I'm sure it's just fine…a cut…" It certainly didn't look fine; in fact, it looked like O'Reilly was losing half of her blood. "Hospital wing! Madame Pomfrey will sort you out in a jiffy. Someone help Miss O'Reilly, get her to the hospital wing…" Ryan wiggled out from under the desk when no one seemed ready to leap up.
"I will, professor." Ben kicked her ankle, but she didn't even look at him. She kept her gaze fixed on Professor Flitwick, who looked rather surprised.
"You, Miss Lapitske?"
"Yes, sir. Me."
"You know the way, then?"
"Yes, sir," she lied.
"Well, all right, get to it, then. Five points to Ravenclaw." Ryan dithered over whether or not to take her bag, then decided just to leave it there. Doubtless, Fi or Finn would get it for her. Ben would probably just spill ink on it, in this state. She walked over and gingerly took O'Reilly's arm, the one that wasn't covered in blood.
"Well…come on, then, this way." She'd never been to the hospital wing before, but she knew where it was, or at least, the general direction. The halls were eerily silent, not a soul to be seen, so different from the packed corridors she'd grown accustomed to during class changes. "I'm…I'm Ryan," she said, trying to break the silence. "Ryan Lapitske."
"Amena O'Reilly," said her companion, sniffling quietly. Ryan drew out her handkerchief and offered it to Amena.
"Here…you can try and stop the bleeding…"
"Thanks," said Amena stiffly, dabbing it over the cut, holding it in place and trying to wipe off her face with the excess fabric.
"So…what happened?"
"I got hit with a rock on the side of my head. It feels like a bit is still in there." Ryan winced.
"Ouch. I'm sorry."
"Yes, well. Magic is dangerous. McGonagall was right."
"It's horrible when teachers are right," said Ryan. "She took points from Ravenclaw because I was talking with my friends about…" She changed what she was going to say from 'Slytherin's monster' to "the Chamber." Amena shivered.
"Oh! That Chamber! And Mrs. Norris." Ryan hadn't expected that reaction. Wasn't Amena a Slytherin? Shouldn't she be happy that this terror was unleashed? Apparently not.
"Yeah. That Chamber. Do you know what the word 'cognisance' means?"
"Never heard it. It's so horrible, because everyone knows that the Chamber was built by Slytherin, so now everyone thinks we're all of us murderers." Ryan looked down guiltily, but Amena didn't notice. "We don't even trust each other. Did you see how no one wanted to help me? From my own house!" That seemed to be more upsetting than the Chamber. "Everyone's so suspicious, and it only happened yesterday! If someone isn't caught soon, this whole place will explode." It was odd, hearing her own thoughts from someone else's mouth.
"I know exactly what you mean," murmured Ryan. "One of my friends has already snapped."
"That's horrible. We shouldn't be fighting each other, we should be finding this Heir of Slytherin."
"The Heir of Slytherin? Surely someone should know who that is. Slytherin is famous! Hasn't someone traced his genealogy? It shouldn't be that hard…"
"But you're forgetting that these people lived a thousand years ago. Do you know your heritage back to 992?" Ryan thought again of the letter in her pocket.
"I'm still learning my heritage." Amena looked at her with interest, scrutinizing.
"So what are you, if you don't mind my asking?"
"You mean, am I pureblood? I'm a half-blood. My mum is as Muggle as Muggle gets, and my dad went to Interlaken Something-or-other in Switzerland."
"Can't say I've ever heard of that school. Well, personally, I don't care if you're pureblood, Muggleborn, or house elf. I just want to be an international magical law enforcer. That's what my dad does, and it's the coolest job ever. He gets to travel all around the world, chasing criminals, working for the Ministry." Ryan nodded, understanding maybe half of that.
"Sounds like a good job." Amena's eyes were shining.
"It is. I've wanted to work in International Magical Law Enforcement since I was…really little. But you need outstanding grades, and a clean record. I've never studied this hard!"
"Isn't Ravenclaw the house for smart people? You should be with me!"
"But Slytherin rewards ambition," replied Amena breezily. "Hey, it's right there, you're walking past it!" Ryan made a sharp turn, and pushed the door to the hospital wing open.
"Madame Pomfrey?" she said, looking around for someone, anyone. "Hello?" she said a bit louder.
"I'm right here, dear, no need to shout." Madame Pomfrey was a stout, matronly woman, who looked more than capable of taking care of any magical mishaps, no matter how severe. "Now then, what's the problem?"
"Well, we just came from Charms…we're learning to make things fly, and…" Madame Pomfrey clucked disapprovingly.
"Is he still using stones? It's a mercy no one's been killed, yet. Come here, sit down, I'll clean your face off and we'll take care of that nick…" A wave of her wand, and most of the blood was gone. Ryan was amazed to see that the cut was no longer than the tip of her little finger. "Ah, yes, a wound to the temple. Lot of blood, not very serious." She pulled out a bottle from what looked like a medical utility belt around her waist and dabbed a bit on the cut. Amena gasped, then the cut faded and scabbed over. "There! That's all in order, no damage done. Here, come with me, and we'll give your face a proper wash. Your friend can just wait out here." Ryan did, taking a seat on one of the numerous narrow cots. They were all empty, except for one across from her. There was a small little form, covered by a blanket. A small, cat-like form…she shivered and looked away, to wherever Madame Pomfrey and Amena had gone.
She reappeared a moment later, looking as though she'd never been injured. The cut was almost invisible, and the blood was all gone.
"I'll clean your handkerchief and give it back," she promised, apologetically showing her the blood-soaked bit of cloth. Ryan had almost forgotten about it.
"Oh, yes. Thanks."
"Thanks for letting me borrow it."
"Oh, sure." They were silent as they made their way back to Charms. As they stood on a shifting staircase, waiting for it to come to rest at its destination, the bell rang.
"Charms is over!" said Amena.
"I have Defence, next," said Ryan at the same time. Amena immediately turned around to head back the way they came, while Ryan still had to head upstairs. She paused at the foot as students streamed out of their classrooms.
"See you tomorrow!" she called. Ryan grinned, hoping she'd been correct in her assumption about Fi or Finn.
"Here's hoping."