Chapter 18: seeking answers

They all looked at the body on the floor, there was blood all over them, and on the wall as well. Harry's heart was pounding through his chest as he looked at Collin, a first year lion, who he had seen around with a camera all of the time. He had enough sense that he sent Fred for Poppy and staff, as thoughts of Myrtle floated through his head, and panic rose in his chest. The creature was on the loose again, and someone was controlling it, he doubted the creature could write notes on the wall. Hermione was still shaking and had tears running down her cheeks, and Harry could not blame her. Draco acted first, and took her into his arms, calm compared to others.

Poppy and most of the staff appeared, and they all waited on bated breath, no one was sure but they were scared he was dead. The blood was everywhere, and none of them knew where he had been injured or how. Poppy had a quiet conversation, and soon Collin was on a magical stretcher, and Harry and the his friends were brought.

Harry looked to his Uncle Severus who had taken him by the arm. "How did he...?"

Severus calmed him. "He is still alive, the blood was not his."

He said nothing more, as they were taken to the infirmary, Hermione in shock, though Harry and his friends were doing little better than she was. Hermione was taken over by Severus when Harry was sitting on a bed with his brother and the twins, as Poppy was busy. He was a medic, and having done it in war time so he was used to it, and fed her a potion for shock, and soon she was asleep on a bed. He tried to give the boys one, but was not surprised they refused, and were not as bad.

The blood had been removed from Collin, and Harry heard Poppy say that it was rooster blood, and Harry was shocked. He remembered though that Hagrid had said that the school roosters had vanished, and it did not look like any wild animals had snatched them.

Poppy looked up when Albus came into the room. "He has been petrified. I need a potion, but it will be months before the mandrakes will be ready."

Albus sighed. "I will contact his parents; I wish they were from our world. I have no idea how to explain this to the couple."

The boy had been holding his camera at the time, and they had been hoping that the camera might have a picture of what had attacked him. Unfortunately the film was ash, what ever had attacked him, had destroyed the film in the camera, leaving no proof of what it was. Myrtle was around, but she had never seen what had killed her, she had heard an odd sound, and suddenly she was dead. Their only comfort was Collin was alive, but the monster was still on the loose, and they had no idea what it was.

Harry and the other three of them sat there, not sure what to make of all of this, and all their could see was the blood. The teachers turned to look at them, forgetting that they were there, when they had been discussing what had happened.

Severus looked at the boys. "I will take my nephews home for the night, but I would recommend the twins be given something."

Poppy spoke up when Albus would protest. "Three and Collin are enough for me. Severus is a medic, and the boys would be better with him."

Knowing he could not argue with the school nurse, Albus had nothing to do but agree, but the twins protested having to remain. Severus led his nephews from the room, and Remus was anxious when they came in, an elf had been sent in. John was excited as he was having a sleep over on the couch, his bed split into two, so Harry and Draco could have a proper night to sleep. Though they knew the boys would protest, they needed to sleep, and a potion would be the best.

Remus stopped his nephews from protesting. "I have not contacted your dads, but if you do not take that potion, so help me Merlin, I will."

Severus looked at them. "You know how serious he is when he pulls the dad card. The twins will be taking one in the infirmary."

The boys protested they were not in shock, and it might be true, but they were both shaken by it. Remus was relieved when both were asleep, but both he and his husband were worried, and not simply about them. Severus looked at his son on the couch, and towards the nursery, and was worried about his family.

Remus knew his husband all too well." You are not sending me and the kids to the manor. I will consider it, it the danger grows, but not before."

Word had spread through the school about what had happened, and every one was shocked, and worried. The trust Harry and Draco helped build between theirs, and other houses as well, was tested by all of this. Few people knew the heir was Voldemort, so a lot of suspicion went to Slytherin, as it was the founder's house, and too many people thought them all dark. Severus told his kids not to lose hope; the suspicion was minimal, for most of the school had come to know them.

Fred and George were more worried about their sister than ever, she was acting more odd by the week, and even Ron seemed to have noticed as well. You knew something was up when Ron noticed, he was usually so self involved, he didn't even notice his own family.

Fred found Harry just before Christmas break and shocked him. "Can you take me to see your Uncle?"

Harry had never seen the twins actually turn to a teacher. "Sure, he should be in his private lab."

Harry knew there was something which may have happened, and he led his friend down into the dungeons, it was a weekend so there were no classes. They both saw Severus was surprised when they came in, not by his nephew who often joined him, but by Fred.

Fred explained about the odd journal but his next works shocked Harry. "She had blood on her last night. She said she cut herself, but there were no marks."

Severus stood up. "I need to speak to Minerva about this, and see if we can snag the journal."

He did not know what the book was for sure, but Severus agreed that this all sounded suspicious, and they needed to find out what was happening. Severus heard another rooster had bit the dust recently, and he was worried if there would be another attack soon, the blood needed for it.

Fred was pale. "I know she is acting odd but my sister would not attack other kids."

Severus turned to him. "If she is involved, I have a feeling she has been enchanted some how."

No one thought the little red head was some killer in disguise, there had to be something behind it, if she was in fact involved in all of this. Severus promised they were not looking for some scape goat in all of this, and he would make sure that the twin's sister was okay.

Severus led the boys from the lab. "I am happy you actually came to us first. I would rather not have a replay of last year."