Chapter Thirteen: Prisons
"Why don't we ask Hagrid?" Hermione asked tentatively.
Ron rolled his eyes. "Oh, that'll be a cheerful visit-"Ron then ventured a tactless question they might ask him.
Hermione sighed in frustration. "Gohan, I understand your reluctance to go against Dumbledore. Is there anything else you can tell us about the monster?"
Harry scoffed. He was still agitated at Gohan.
In the end, they decided not to ask Hagrid unless someone else was attacked. It had been four months since Justin and Nearly Headless Nick had been attacked. Things began returning to normal. Ernie Macmillan was even beginning to be polite to Harry. The Mandrakes were growing rapidly and nearly ready for the potion.
The only two that seemed to be taking the threat seriously were Gohan and Ginny. Gohan began stalking the halls with a new fervor to find the Heir. Ginny, however, was looking as pale and sickly as ever. Gohan had given her two sensu beans already, but her energy kept draining faster and faster.
Gohan was thinking about Ginny when Hermione said, "This could potentially affect our futures."
Gohan blinked stupidly. "Huh?"
"As long as I can give up potions," Harry replied.
Ron shook his head miserably. "We can't. We keep all of our old subjects. If I could, I'd ditch Defense-"
"Ron! That's an important-"
"Not with Lockhart teaching…only thing I've learned from him is not to set pixies loose-"
Harry grinned. "Too bad you didn't learn not to brag."
Ron bristled. "Hey! Don't compare me to him! I am nowhere near as bad-"
"I know. I was only teasing," he sighed, watching as Neville Longbottom perused some letters concernedly.
When Gohan had to pick his classes, he chose everything Hermione did except for Muggles studies. He already lived with Muggles, so he didn't see the point of studying it. Hermione, however, was interested in wizarding views of Muggles. Harry and Ron had selected identical classes.
Gohan became quieter and more reclusive as the days passed. He was still friendly, but more thoughtful. He walked up toward the dormitory to retrieve a book when he saw Harry digging in a mess. Someone had ransacked Harry's possession. Harry nodded to Ron. He walked over and muttered to him, "Riddle's diary is missing."
"What?" Harry nodded affirmatively then saw Gohan looking at them. Annoyed, Harry turned away and stalked toward the door, Ron following.
Gohan frowned thoughtfully. He didn't trust that diary any more than he trusted Cell. Still, he found it strange that anyone would take it. The only people that knew about it were Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Gohan. Malfoy had seen it, but he was Slytherin. Only someone knowing the Gryffindor password could have entered; that ruled out Malfoy.
Suddenly, Gohan's eyes widened. Ginny. Ginny had looked horrified when she saw the diary the day Malfoy had picked it up. But how would she know about it? And why would she have taken it? Gohan raced down the stairs. He shot out of the portrait and looked around frantically. Nothing. He closed his eyes, trying to find her energy signature. He couldn't.
He sought out Harry and Ron instead. "Have you seen Ginny?" he asked.
Ron stared, but Harry wrinkled his nose. "It's not our fault if you can't keep up with a girlfriend." Pulling Ron, he walked away.
Gohan flash sped in front of them. "Please! It's urgent! Have you seen her?"
"No! I've got more important matters to worry about, Son" He said coldly. Apparently, he hadn't forgotten that Gohan was still keeping secrets.
Gohan hadn't slept. He had spent every moment looking for Ginny. For some reason that he couldn't seem to think or remember, he sensed that Ginny was in danger. Not from the monster, but from something else. He knew better than to ignore his instincts. So it was with a heavy heart that he reluctantly allowed Hermione to pull him to go with them to get Harry's Quidditch things the following day.
"After the game, you should get some rest. You look terrible," she said. Harry scoffed. They were on the marble staircase when both Gohan and Harry jumped.
"Let me kill now…this time kill…tear…rip…"
"That voice!" Harry exclaimed. Ron looked confused, but Hermione exclaimed.
"I think I get it! I understand now…I need to go to the library." She darted away.
"What does she understand?" Harry muttered distractedly. Gohan followed her with his eyes until she disappeared. Unable to hear it again, Harry bolted up the staircases to get his things. He snorted when he saw that Gohan was still with Ron. Sensing Harry's hostility, Gohan turned and strode away. Harry followed from a distance shooting an angrier glare at Gohan's back before continuing his conversation with Ron.
As they walked up toward the arena, Gohan stopped, causing both Harry and Ron to bump into him.
"Gohan-"Harry began in annoyance but stopped.
Gohan's eyes looked almost vacant as he stared ahead, seeing nothing in front of him. Something snapped; his eyes suddenly bulged in anguished horror.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" He screamed and shot back toward the castle with quick speed.
Unnerved, Ron mumbled, "What's his problem?"
Harry glared at him, "Who cares? He's probably been beaten over the head one time too many. Let's go." But as they continued to the pitch, Harry glanced over his shoulder in concern. Even though he was mad at Gohan, he still cared about him.
...
"LET GO!" A blond Gohan bellowed wildly as he tried to free himself from his mentor and a blond Vegeta. "LET ME GO NOW!" The teachers shrunk back from the emotionally frenzied half Saiyan and his companions.
"Calm down, Gohan. Try to think-"Piccolo was cut off.
"I DON'T WANT TO THINK! ALL I WANT TO DO IS TO DESTROY IT!"
Piccolo sighed. He looked at Vegeta and nodded. "I'm really sorry about this, Gohan-"
"Huh?"
Vegeta stuck the boy near the base of his spine. Gohan grunted loudly as his body lurched; his eyes popped in surprise. He lost his Super Saiyan transformation as his eyes slowly closed with a wearied sigh. No longer conscious, the boy fell twenty feet from the air, landing on top of the stiff, petrified body of Hermione Granger.
Hermione examined her dark surroundings. "If this is what it's like to be dead, it's going to be really boring." An illuminated object caught her attention. She looked at it.
"Oh, no. Not you," she moaned at the shiny clear golden box. She approached it cautiously. She gasped. The surface had a large fissure.
"Well, that's new." She brushed the gilded surface with her finger tips. She heard a sinister tinkling. Suddenly, a silver strand shot from the crack and shot partially through her hand. Hermione shrieked as painful images, sounds, and smells penetrated her consciousness. She pushed against the box with her free hand and feet. The strand slowly removed from her hand. Free, she scrambled away from the box, panting heavily. The box shook menacingly, continuing to make the tinkling sound.
She looked at her hand. There was no sign damage to her hand. She glared at the box somewhat fearfully. Then she gasped.
"Hang on, if I am still having this dream, then that means I am still alive! But…that's not possible, is it? I looked the basilisk straight in the eyes. There's no way I survived…"
"Is Gohan petrified, too?" Harry whispered to himself as he examined Gohan's body lying in a bed near Hermione's, feeling guilty about the way he had treated him.
"Not exactly." A low yet amazingly clear voice answered. Harry jumped as Piccolo came into view. "Gohan got a little upset when he saw Hermione's body. We had no choice but to subdue him."
"A little upset?" scoffed Vegeta, who was floating near the high vaulted ceiling. "We're just lucky that the sentimental fool didn't anticipate my little love tap. If he had, we would be rebuilding the entire school!"
Professor McGonagall shook her head as she picked up a mirror. Turning to Harry and Ron, she said, "This was found near the bodies of Miss Granger and Miss Clearwater. Can you explain this?"
Harry and Ron shook their heads.
She sighed. "Very well. Come along. I'll escort you to your house. I have to make an announcement, anyways.
"I won't take this anymore! Do you hear me? I won't stand by and watch while people get hurt!"
Dumbledore sighed. "Mr. Son-"
"No! I'm not going to take it! Next time that beast shows its ugly head, I'm having roasted snake for dinner!"
Professor McGonagall started with shock. "You mean...it's a bas-"
"Minerva!" Dumbledore said sharply. Gohan glared. As Dumbledore looked over the row of stiff bodies, he softened, "I'll want to talk to you after I finish with Mr. Son."
Gohan stood. "We're already finished!"
"But Gohan, I-"
"I mean it, sir! I'm not changing my mind!" Gohan bounded from the room.
...
Gohan strode purposefully toward Harry and Ron. "Come up with me," he said simply. Looking meaningfully at Ron, Harry and Ron followed Gohan up the stairs to the dormitory. They found Gohan checking to see if anyone was inside the room. Then he rounded on them.
"The monster is a giant snake," he said abruptly. Harry and Ron started.
"What?" Harry said.
Gohan nodded firmly. "It's a huge snake, but it's different from other snakes. Its stare is dangerous, maybe even deadly. Its fangs are deadly poisonous-"
"How do you know this?"
"I've fought it. It bit me…the first night you heard the voice. Snape found me trying to get into Gryffindor common room for a sensu bean. I almost died."
"You? Is it that strong?"
"Not really…for me. It would be to you, though. But even so, it would be foolish to underestimate it. It possesses some really powerful weapons. That's what I did. I underestimated it. One moment's distraction and it had me."
"So, Hagrid didn't open the Chamber of Secrets."
"No. But we need to see him anyways."
Harry stiffened. "Why?"
"Because we haven't seen him for awhile…and while he didn't open the Chamber of Secrets, he may have some clues we can follow."
"What makes you think so?"
"The spiders."
Harry and Ron both flinched but for entirely different reasons.
Wham! The door flung open violently, narrowly missing Ron, Gohan, and Harry. Hagrid appeared in the doorway with a crossbow, aiming at Gohan.
"Oh," he said, lowering his weapon. He stepped aside to allow them into the cabin.
"What was that for?" Harry said, staring where Hagrid had laid the crossbow.
"Nothin'…never mind…suppose just a bit paranoid with…you know…sit down and have a spot of tea."
Hagrid was acting pretty funny. After breaking his teapot, Harry asked, "Are you alright? Did you hear about Hermione?"
"Oh, I heard 'bout that," he choked out, his voice breaking slightly.
Hagrid continued to walk around jittery. There was a knock on the door. Everyone jumped. Hagrid tossed the Invisibility cloak at them, grasped his crossbow, and checked to see whether the boys were covered before unbolting the door. Professor Dumbledore entered, looking very grim, followed by a man who was dressed most peculiarly.
"That's Cornelius Fudge, dad's boss," Ron whispered softly. "He's Minister of Magic."
Hagrid's crossbow dropped to the floor with a clatter. Pale, he slumped into a nearby chair.
Fudge spoke in a clipped voice, explaining why he had come, or making excuses, rather.
Hagrid pleaded at Dumbledore. "Professor, you know I never-"
Dumbledore turned to Fudge."I want it understood, Cornelius. Hagrid has my complete confidence."
"Now, look here, Albus," Fudge said with growing discomfort. "Hagrid's got a record. The ministry has to act, the school governors have-"
"Removing Hagrid won't make a bit of difference," Dumbledore said passionately with a fire in his oceanic eyes.
Fudge looked pleadingly. "Please, walk around in my shoes. I'm under so much pressure. Have to be seen doing something. If it turns out Hagrid is innocent, we'll bring him back…with a full apology. But for now we've got to take him."
Hagrid trembled. "Take me? Take me where? No…not there. Please, Professor Dumbledore! Not Azkaban!"
Someone else knocked on the cabin door. Not waiting for an invitation, the door swung open and Lucius Malfoy entered. Harry gasped, earning him an elbow in the ribs from Ron and a clamped mouth from Gohan. Grinning in a cold, satisfied manner, he swished his black cloak and glided across the cabin floor.
"Already here, Fudge? Good, good…"
Hagrid bristled. "What're yer doin' here? Get outta my house!"
Malfoy sneered. "My dear man, believe me when I say I take no pleasure…you call this a house? I was told that the headmaster was here."
"And what exactly do you want with me, Lucius?" Dumbledore inquired politely, his eyes still aflame.
"Mhmm…dreadful thing…the governors feel it's time to step aside. This is an order of suspension…all twelve signatures. We're afraid you've lost your touch. How many attacks now? Why two this afternoon…keep this up and there will be no Muggle-borns left," he chuckled lazily, "and we can only imagine what a tragedy that would be."
Fudge looked alarmed. He began to stammer, but was cut off.
"The appointment or suspension of headmasters is a matter of the governors, sir. And as Dumbledore has failed to stop-"
Gohan! Piccolo's voice echoed inside his head, causing the boy to jump a bit.
Piccolo?
Why are you outside the school?
Why are you away from the school?
Get back inside, Gohan.
Sorry, Piccolo. I can't.
Gohan, don't be foolish! If you're not careful, you'll be expelled. Then, you won't be able to help anything.
I'm following my instincts, Piccolo. Isn't that what you always said to do? What are you doing at the Lookout, anyways?
Don't change the subject, Gohan. This better be for a good reason, kid.
Trust me. It is.
Gohan looked up in time to hear Hagrid clear his throat, "Well, if anyone wanted ter find…some stuff, all'd they hafta do is jerst follow the spiders…yep. Oh, and someone needs to feed Fang while I'm away."
The door closed. The boys whipped off the cloak.
"We're doomed," Ron moaned ominously. "With Dumbledore gone, there will be an attack a day."