NOTE: Bold = Anastasia's written response Slanted = Anastasia's mind-link response
Disclaimer: I don't own anything other than my original characters. This is made for my entertainment and for the entertainment of the fan fiction community!
Nobody sees Flint for the rest of the day. In fact, nobody sees little Flint ever again because almost a week later the prank that the twins put on him finally wears off. Almost everyone completely forgot about Flint and his situation, but when he strolled into the Great Hall as his regular old self the prank came back to everyone. Sadly, since he turned back into a teenager, he has tried to make my life miserable and he has succeeded to an extent.
For a while he and Pansy partnered up and were pulling horrible pranks on me. The pranks started off simple like turning off my alarm spell or tripping me. As the days progressed, the two started to do horrible things like hiding my journal so I couldn't write things down. There was this one prank that got so bad that I started crying and hyperventilating. I went to use the restroom before Potions, and I told Draco to go on ahead. I didn't want him to be late as well if I was taking too long. At first Draco refused, but after me begging him a few times he finally left me alone. I tried to be as quick as possible because Professor Snape is someone that will not accept any excuses for being late. With five minutes left before class started, I finished my business and was heading out of the restroom when stopped by the two. Honestly, I don't remember how it happened but the next thing I could remember was being stuck upside down inside a stall and no way of getting help. I couldn't move and without the ability to speak I was left there…helpless. I don't know how long I stayed like that, but the stall walls started to feel like they were closing in. There wasn't as much room and air. Why isn't there more air? My body started to fight against the stasis charm more. Salty tears burn my eyes making me unable to see around me which made my heartbeat even faster. I just needed air. That's the part of the memory that stands out the most. Just that overwhelming need and feeling like you are going to die. Apparently, I fainted after that from hyperventilating and was later found by a Ravenclaw girl using the restroom. I don't know how long I was there for.
After I recovered enough to inform my head of house what happened, Pansy and Flint got detention for a month. When I heard that they only got detention for a month, I became upset. I mean why wouldn't I be!? These two left me suspended in midair with no way of getting help. I developed a fear of small places because of them, and I thought I was going to die, and they only got a month of detention. Thankfully, I wasn't the only one that saw the problem there because all of my friends especially Draco and big brother voiced their displeasure about the outcome. I think even Professor Snape was upset but he didn't say anything nor did really even show that he was. But when I looked at him for a brief moment a flash of some kind of emotion flashed in his eyes before he covered it up again. I don't know what that emotion was but I'm hopeful and say it was anger. Unfortunately, Professor Dumbledore informed us that no one was physically hurt, and no one was killed. He can't do anything more over a harmless prank. A little part of my respect for this man died when he said that. "Just a harmless prank." That's what he called it. He called bullying a harmless prank. I didn't say anything else. My friends and brother tried talking to me, but I didn't write anything down. I didn't do anything until a few days later when I was released from the medical wing. That day Kitty came to see me with Draco, and she started to talk about her experiences so far. Her enthusiasm about making her first real Hufflepuff friend made me smile. I felt big brother Draco grab my hand to keep me from tripping on an uneven stone and at that moment I knew. My friends are there for me and they will keep me safe. Ever since that day, Flint and Pansy haven't come near me but that's mostly because I haven't left anyone's side. It was rare for me to be by myself and if I wasn't with any of my friends or brother I was with Professor Snape. He probably doesn't appreciate having to deal with me, but he hasn't said anything yet, so I just keep coming back to his classroom and studying/doing my homework.
Focusing back on the present, it's been a month since that horrible incident. I am currently eating dinner in the Great Hall when Hermione and Ron stop in front of me. I wave at them while I continue with what I'm doing. If they have something to say, they can say it while I enjoy the delicious tastes that I'm slowly getting used to.
"Do you know where your brother is?" Hermione asks me, and I stop eating while I trying to remember anything. Something flashes briefly in my mind and I quickly write down where he might be.
"He had detention today with Professor Lockhart. Big Brother might still be there. I'll come with you," I inform them while I turn to Draco, who is watching this exchange with a form of jealousy on his face. Quickly, I write to him that I'll meet him in the commons after I find my brother. Big brother Draco looks jealous for some reason, but he nods before turning back to his food. Feeling guilty, I give him a big hug, and I don't let go until he finally hugs me back. Giving him a goofy smile, I follow the Weasel and Hermione out of the Great Hall towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
As we are walking through the cold hallways, my stomach briefly flips at the thought of seeing him again. Ugh! If this keeps happening, I won't be able to even sit in that class anymore. I really need to control this crush before it gets out of hand like these other females. I swear, when he walks down the hall every female stops and makes googly eyes at him. I definitely don't want to act like the rest of them.
Right as we turn the corner, my brother suddenly collides into me but, thankfully, neither of us fall onto the hard floor. I giggle slightly at the amount of hurrying he is doing but my giggling stops short when I notice how serious he is. Something must have happened to make big brother this stern. Taking a step forward, I put my hand on his arm while asking him what's wrong.
"Did you hear the voice?" he asks quickly while looking around the hall. I look at the other two before shaking my head no. Hermione asks him what voice, but he doesn't really answer her. "I first heard the voice in Lockhart's office, but…it's moving. I think it's going to kill." Right after he says that he takes off running with us having to go after him even though we have no idea what he is talking about.
We follow him through a few more halls until he finally slows down long enough for us to catch up to him. No one says anything as we watch big brother look around the hallway before walking towards a window. By this point, I'm standing right beside Harry when he throws his arm in front of me. Stopping, I turn to look down at what he is looking at and a chill instantly crawls up my spine. There are a ton of small spiders walking in a line up into an opening in the window before leaving the building. Taking this opportunity of the spiders being distracted, I walk onto the other side of my brother in order to get as far away from the spiders as possible.
"That's strange. I've never seen spiders act like that," my brother says while we continue to stare at the creepy eight-legged creatures. I hate spiders. I'm afraid of spiders to the point that some people call me arachnophobic and when I say some people, I mean I call myself that. It seems that the Weasel agrees with me because he informs all of us that he doesn't like spiders as well.
As they continue to stare at the spiders, I turn my gaze away from the creepy crawlies and continue to look around the hallway. No one else is here but us and that's to be expected because it is dinner time. I am surprised though that we haven't even seen Filch. I guess, even Filch needs a break from walking around the castle. Turning my gaze to the wall opposite from us, my heart suddenly stops in fright. My mind and heart start to race at what I'm seeing. Feeling the adrenaline filling my veins, I start smacking my brother's arm repeatedly until he finally pays attention to me.
"What is it, Ana?" I hear him ask me, but I can't turn away from the sight in front of me. It's like when there's a car accident and people who drive by can't stop looking at the scene. I never understood why we humans just can't look away from morbid things. Unfortunately, for me I am caught in that kind of situation right now as I stare at the body of Mrs. Norris.
Remembering that there are others with me, I point at the cat that is currently hanging upside down by her tail. Next to the cat are words written on the wall in what I really hope isn't blood. In the red ink, the words say, "enemies of the heir beware" and my mind flashes to a tale that I overheard the other Slytherins talking about. I think the story was about something called The Chamber of Secrets. Mentally, I add researching more about that story onto my list of things that I need to do.
I hear a gasp from Hermione as she grabs my arm and we stand closer together. A whimper comes from the Weasel while Harry slowly makes his way closer to the cat. At first glance Mrs. Norris appears to be dead but as my friend and I walk closer to my brother I realize that she looks wrong. Gently, I tug away from Hermione as I inspect the body closely. Why does this look familiar? She is breathing but she isn't moving from her original position. My eyes widen at the realization that the cat is showing signs of petrification. How can she be petrified? This appears to be something else that I'm going to have to research more on.
Footsteps. Oh, no! What sounds like thousands of footsteps are bouncing off the stone walls and floors. My heart starts to pick speed up and my breathes come out shorter. Am I even breathing? Oh, Salazar! Everyone is going to think that we did this! We are going to get expelled! Harry and I will be forced to go back to the Dursley, and they will lock us in that small room. We will never see the sun again, and we won't have any friends. People are going to think that we died and…and…and…why is this happening? The almost calm like thought ends my panic tirade which makes me pause momentarily. Where did that thought come from? It's almost like someone else's thought and not mine. Is that possible? Oh, Godric! I'm even more freaky than normal! All of my friends are going to think I'm crazy!
Suddenly, right as my thoughts start to spiral into a darker place the entire student body enters both ends of the hallway. Dinner must have ended. Within minutes, we are surrounded by students, and I instantly want to tear up but there is still hope that we can explain ourselves. Well…hopefully the other kids will allow us to explain ourselves. I hear gasps as everyone sees Mrs. Norris and the words on the wall. Looking around, I watch as the scared looks on people's faces take light but there are a few adults in the crowd like Madam Pomfrey that just look shocked with some fear inside that shock. As I look around the crowd, I notice that my friends are in the very front of the crowd. Draco is standing with Crab and Goyle, and right next to the Slytherins is the Weasley twins with Kitty close by. The urge to go to my friends is pretty high at the moment but it's like my mind and body are disconnected. No matter how much I would like to go over there, I'm stuck standing next to my brother and Hermione with the Weasel next to her. The whispering in the crowd erupts after the gasps and the constant talking is making my heartbeat faster. Why can't I hear anything else besides the pounding of my heart? I think my breathing is even faster. How am I still standing? Can this just be a nightmare?
"What is going on here?" the sudden voice of Filch makes everything stop. Before everything was so loud and uncontrollable but now everything is silent. Everyone is still whispering but now I can hear external noises. My breathing is still too quick to be considered normal and my heart is still beating faster but there is an odd calmness that just takes over me. It's almost like that one time when Aunt Petunia dumped cold water on big brother and I because we were dirty from working in the garden.
"Mrs. Norris?" Filch asks with a quiet broken voice when he finally notices her. I feel sorry for him because I can only imagine how horrible it must feel to find your pet not okay. He turns his focus on my brother because he is the closest to the cat. The look on his face immediately draws my fight or flight instincts to the forefront, and I want to run as fast as possible away from the danger that he is going to cause. Filch has a look worse than Uncle Vernon's. I actually think he may murder my brother. A low whimper makes its way out of my throat, but I don't think anyone noticed because everyone is focusing on the unhinged caretaker.
"You murdered my cat," he says, and my brother instantly shakes his head. Panic is continuing to rise as I look around for any help but the only thing that I notice is Flint smirking at the situation. Of course, he is enjoying the situation, but I'll worry about him after this is over. Finding no help from my friends either because they, like everyone else, is focused on Filch so I need to help my brother on my own. Focusing on my legs, I force my legs to move to stand next to my brother which is a feat all on its own. After getting to his side, I can feel a headache starting to form from the strain that my legs have caused. Grabbing the back of my brother's cloak, I shake my head at Filch while trying to figure out how to calm him down long enough for me to explain the condition of his cat. Unfortunately, before I can think further, I watch as he grabs the front of my brother uniform before shouting at him.
"I'll kill you!" he says, and my protective instincts take effect. Quickly, I try to push the two apart while still shaking my head. I feel fear bubbling inside my blood, and there is a part of me that is starting to get angry at the grown man. Nobody hurts my family! Before I can attack the man, I hear Filch hiss before yanking his hand away from my brother. He holds onto his hand, and I notice that it's bright red almost like a burn. The anger, fear, and panic drains from my body leaving me lightheaded, and I sway a little bit before leaning against my brother.
"Did you do that?" my big brother asks me, and I shrug my shoulders. I think my magic reacted to my emotions, but it doesn't explain that deep seated anger that appears or the other emotions that come in a detached form that I keep experiencing. Hmm, maybe I should ask someone about this. Right as I finish thinking that a chill strikes through me and all I can think about is not letting anyone find out about this. Shaking my head, I turn my attention back onto Filch who looks one step away from getting rid of us both but thankfully someone up there loves us!
"Argus!" the voice of the headmaster is heard above everyone else and the sea of students part for him. I watch as the headmaster walks toward us with Professors Snape, McGonagall, and Goldilocks behind him. At first Professor Dumbledore doesn't seem to notice anything wrong until he starts to talk to Mr. Filch. However, once the headmaster sees the writing on the wall, I notice that his face immediately goes grave.
"Everyone will proceed back to their dormitories immediately," Professor Dumbledore says calmly but with authority behind it. Trying to get away from the situation, my group except me start to quickly walk off with the rest of the crowd but I continue to watch the upset adult. I'll head back as soon as my brother is far enough away from Filch that I don't have to worry about the man attacking him. Unfortunately, that plan doesn't work out because the headmaster calls my group back from their position at the end of the crowd. If it weren't for the problem that we're in, I would certainly laugh at their dejected look that they are sporting for being caught.
I listen as the prefects from each house tells their housemates to follow them. Thousands of footsteps are ricocheting off the walls and ceiling of the large hallway. I can feel eyes on me for a few seconds, but I don't take my eyes away from the cat owner. He has progressed from overwhelming anger to just despair with some anger layered with it. A hand grabs the back of my collar and pulls me away from the adult.
"Calm down, silly girl. Show some respect to your elders," Professor Snape's voice belongs to the hand, and continues to hold me away from the man. Almost like I'm breathing for the first time, I gasp slightly and turn to look at the professor. Annoyance flares up inside of me when I realize that I was focusing too much on something again because of my emotions. These foreign emotions are making me lose my patience the more this happens. How can someone have emotions that are either not made by that specific person or they rapidly turn intense almost like an extraordinarily strong bi-polar disorder, but this doesn't happen all the time. My anger sometimes becomes almost dangerous with how strong and focus it becomes, and I don't know what to do with it.
Taking a deep breath, I force myself to turn to Professor Snape and nod my head to show that I'm okay. He stares at me for another few seconds like he is trying to figure out if I'm telling the truth or not before letting go of my collar. Readjusting my shirt and cloak, I turn to look at Professor Dumbledore talking to Mr. Filch. He is explaining to him that his cat isn't dead but actually petrified, and I decide to write down my experience while everyone is busy. Knowing my luck, I'm going to need this explanation asap.
"I thought so! It's sad I wasn't there because I know a countercurse that could've saved her," Professor Lockhart's voice cuts through the air and my hand immediately slips across the page. A blush starts to form on my cheeks, and I lower my head so nobody can see. Come on! Get ahold of yourself! Taking a deep breath, I focus on lowering my heart rate when something catches my attention. The professor said countercurse. There is no countercurse for petrification. What is he talking about? Unless…I didn't read about the countercurse yet, but I only remember the books saying that there is a potion that counteracts the effects. If he is the defense against the dark arts teacher then shouldn't he know this? Maybe, I'm simply wrong! That has to be it! I'll have to revisit the library and look for the countercurse that he is talking about.
"You saw what he wrote on the wall!" Filch shakenly says while looking at the headmaster. I can already tell who is talking about, and I'm starting to lose my patience with the man. There is a large part of me that is willing to drop my writing utensils and tackle the man for threatening my family. I would too but I would also like to continue my schooling here. My breathing become longer and deeper as I think about finishing my latest sentence. Let's just get this finished because I trust the other adults to not listen to the grief-stricken man.
"I swear, headmaster, I didn't do anything!" big brother pleads to the older man, and I nod along to his words. There is grumbling coming from the cat owner when a voice that I hear a lot enters the conversation.
"Headmaster, if I may speak," Professor Snape says from next to me. He looks over at the headmaster before continuing, "Maybe, Mr. Potter, Ms. Potter and their friends were at the wrong place at the wrong time." I nod my head at his words just as I finish the last part of the statement. Looking up at him, I notice that he is staring at the trio with a look that clearly states his position on this matter. Ugh, of course that would be too easy! He starts toward them while continuing with his thought. "But…I, for one, don't remember seeing Mr. Potter at dinner."
Okay, he has a point. There is a good reason why he wasn't there but that is considered suspicious given that he was just found next to this monstrosity. It's a fact but that doesn't mean that I have to like where he is going with this. I was expecting the abnormal anger to appear again, but it isn't coming. The usual annoyance that one gets when someone is accusing someone that they care about but besides that there isn't anything. Maybe, it's because I trust him? But why is he only focusing on my brother? The rest of us are equally as guilty besides the dinner part. Ugh, I honestly just want to go to bed. I feel the weight of all my ancestors falling onto my shoulders at this moment. Wait…where did that thought come from?
"That was my doing, Severus. The boy was helping me with all of the mail that my fans send me," Goldilocks cuts into my inner dialogue, and I actually manage to not blush this time. I notice the look that Professor Snape gave to the other professor when he said that. Giggling silently, all I can think about is what he is thinking because if I had to guess based on his expression alone it is 'seriously?'. My shoulders start to shake from the force of keeping my laughter in but thankfully Hermione starts to talk.
My friend starts to explain that they were looking for my big brother because he wasn't at dinner. Unfortunately, she decides to stop herself before she tells everyone that my brother was hearing things. Seriously?! I love my friend, but she isn't particularly good at lying or keeping secrets. Quietly sighing, I walk over to my head of house and hand him my statement. He quickly snatches the paper from my hand. His eyebrow raises in disbelief before looking at the headmaster. He peacefully says that my brother is innocent unless there is evidence to prove otherwise. My face almost breaks into a smile as the professor decides to read the paper. I think he knows when he is beaten, for now anyway.
"What about my cat?! She has been petrified!" Mr. Filch almost shouts at Professor Dumbledore but he quietly holds up a hand.
"We will cure her, Argus," he says in a soft voice. It's strange to hear a quiet voice being able to command attention from others. Professor Dumbledore is the first person that I have ever met that was able to do that. Maybe, everyone respects him or maybe they just don't want to get on his bad side. It's hard to imagine a bad side from a grandfatherly figure but everyone has one. As I continue to ponder this, the headmaster turns to Professor Sprout, "if I understand correctly, Madam Sprout has Mandrakes growing as we speak. Once they have matured, they will be made into a potion that will revive Mrs. Norris."
Professor Sprout nods her head with worry. I can see why she is the head of the Hufflepuffs. Her face portrays her sadness at the situation with a deep underline of worry. From spending an entire year here, I can officially say that the Hufflepuffs are the most emotional students out of all houses. Honestly, it's nice after spending so much time with my own house. There is a lot of calculation in my house that is hard for me to pick up.
"During this time, I highly recommend caution to all," with that said, the professors allow us to leave. Immediately, the trio head off towards the Gryffindor Tower while I stay behind with Professor Snape. Considering that the headmaster just said to be cautious, I think it would be better if I was escorted down to the dungeons. My head of house notices that I'm still here so he tells me to hurry up before heading towards the Slytherin Common Rooms. Running after him, I try to keep up with his pace, but my legs are much shorter than his.
"Is this an accurate recounting of events?" he asks me, and I nod my head as I start to slow down. The professor suddenly stops at the stairs before handing my journal back to me. Looking up at him, I notice that he has a scowl on his face.
"I know that they lied but they were only trying to protect my brother. I mean, isn't it strange that my brother heard a voice that no one else could hear but then that same voice leads us to a petrified cat?" I ask him while thinking of solutions for this problem.
"Unlike what muggles may believe, Ms. Potter, hearing voices even in the Wizarding World is not a good thing. I suggest that you make sure your brother heeds Professor Dumbledore's warning," he drawls as he starts to walk down the stairs. Nodding my head, I make sure to remember his words.
"What are you going to do with this information?" I ask while I start to trail behind him again. I hear him grunt as he read my message before thrusting the journal back towards me. The professor doesn't say anything, and I start to wonder if I should ask him again. Hm, considering everything that has happened tonight maybe I should ask some other time. Everyone needs time to think things through before coming up with a game plan so maybe he doesn't have a plan yet. A large yawn escapes me as we reach the entrance to the commons. I certainly know what my game plan is. I'm going to put on some pajamas, wrap my blankets around me like a burrito and sleep until the end of time. Honestly, that sounds so nice right now that a smile appears on my face at the very thought.
"In the process that you tell your other friends about what happened tonight, I suggest that you leave out the part about the voice. Children are particularly cruel when faced with the unnatural," the drawl brings me out of my fantasy, and I look up at the professor. Thinking about his words, I remember Dudley and the other children at school when I or my brother did anything remotely freaky. Children are not the only ones that can be cruel considering the fact that two full grown adults locked my brother and myself in one room for the majority of the summer. Unwilling to think about that load of emotional trauma, I nod my head to the adult's words and turn to head into the entrance. I show the portrait the page with the password, and the portrait swings open.
Not even a few seconds after the portrait closes behind me, I am immediately wrapped in pair of pale arms. My vision is overwhelmed with ash blond hair, and the smell of roses strangles my nose. Giggling, I wrap my arms around Draco, and the feeling of fatigue is momentarily forgotten in favor of enjoying the warmth that comes from a hug.
"Are you alright, Ana? What happened?" he asks in quick succession, and I giggle some more before nodding my head. We go to seat on the couch and that's when I finally look around the commons. I honestly thought that there would be more people awake but only Crabbe and Goyle are awake. From the looks of it, the two are currently eating some desserts that they snuck into the commons. Giving them a small wave, I sit down, and I write down everything that has happened since I left dinner. Of course, I decided to heed Professor Snape's advice and I leave out the part about my brother hearing things. I hand my journal over to my brother, and I listen to the fire crackle as he reads. Feeling the warmth and listening to the crackling, my eyes close and lean back against the suddenly unbelievably soft cushions. The cushions are like giant marshmallows that will surely swallow people up the longer that they sit. Maybe, I'll just stay right here and sleep the night away.
My shoulder being shaken forces me to turn and look at Draco. His mouth opens but from one look at my face he closes his mouth. A large yawn escapes me, and I just have to stretch my arms over my head. Why does stretching feel so good? I don't even place my arms down before Draco puts my journal back in my lap.
"Come on. I think it's time to get to bed before you fall asleep down here," he tells me, and I nod my head at his words. Draco stands up but I hold up an arm because my legs feel like two bricks. He looks down at me with an eyebrow raised but I simply give him a smile in return. With a sigh that makes my smile get even bigger, he grabs my arm and pulls me off the couch. Sleepily, I give him a kiss on the cheek and head upstairs towards my bed with open arms.
Hello! I know that everyone has been waiting for the next chapter, and I'm so happy I've finally was able to finish this chapter. I want to apologize to everyone about how long it has taken me to finally update this story but this year has been terrible. Also, I have a tendency to start things and never finish them. I want to finish this book because I know so many of you are enjoying this series and still receiving comments reminds me that people are reading this series. I know I always ask this but, please, keep commenting even if it's just to tell me to update. They help me continue to write this! Also, I hope you guys love this chapter. My last term before summer break I took a writing class. So, hopefully, it's sounds better! Okay, I hope you all have a great day and bless you all for reading this! :-)