Disclaimer: Harry Potter and its characters belong to J. K. Rowling and Warner Brothers and its associates; it does not belong to me.

Chapter 9: Rising Suspicions

A distant relentless tapping and banging sound was heard in one of the rooms at Hogwarts in the early hours of the morning.

"Poppy, wake up!" Severus Snape said in a pressing tone.

Usually, Madam Poppy Pomfrey remained awake and alert, in the late hours of the night, looking after her patients, giving them medications or alleviating their pain. But since today the Hogwarts school nurse had no patients, she was in her room, taking nap.

"Just a minute." Poppy said groggily. Her silk rose-colored night dress was creased up towards the end, as she removed herself from the blue quilt over her. She wore another cotton blue cloak, before opening the heavily pounding door. The medallion watch, given by a dear friend of hers, told it was close to three in the morning. A big yawn filled her half asleep middle-aged countenance.

"A minute, Severus. I'm coming!" Poppy shouted as she tied the satin blue belt and ran towards the door.

Severus Snape, the most feared teacher in Hogwarts, rushed inside the Hospital Wing medicine cabinet as soon as Poppy opened the one side of the big brown door

"Whoa..." Poppy was flabbergasted. She had never seen Professor Snape acting so out of character before. Reserved, serious, cold, distant, and scary (for some students) would describe the most frightened teacher of Hogwarts. But now, he was the one who was looking frightened and alarmed.

"What's the matter, Severus?" Madam Pomfrey inquired. "Do you need..."

"...Get me three bottles of Skele-Gro, lots of blood replenishing potions, and healing potions, now!! " Severus barked Poppy, before even she could finish her speech. He was looking through some red and yellow potions. "Get some strengthening potions, a burn-healing paste, and a dreamless sleep potion as well and come with me into my personal chambers, immediately!"

There was a feeling of deep solemnity in Severus Snape's voice. She brought the concoctions within minutes and set off with him instantaneously, after locking her door.

"What is the matter, Severus? Is someone hurt?" Poppy inquired on the way, as they walked towards the Slytherin Chambers.

"Someone attacked Draco over the night." Professor Snape said in a mixture of chilly and worried pitch. "He was tortured, beaten and stabbed. I found him unconscious, bled out, about half-an-hour ago, lying outside and in front of the Slytherin common room doors.

"What?" replied Pomfrey. "Who did this?"

"I don't know." Severus said, as they both turned towards the left. They turned once more towards the right found themselves in a long underground course. Huge silver-black hue stone walls lined up both ways. The entire pathway was dim and murky, bar the long narrow metal made torches that were placed on the walls to shed light

They went past the entrance to the Slytherin common room door. They twisted and turned some more before standing in front of a large polished black door. In front of the door, there was no handle or knob to turn open the door from inside. Instead there was an image of a serpent, which had a silver-white tinge. It gleamed in the darkness like a star in the night sky. The snake was an accurate design of King Cobra, (one of the world's most deadliest and venomous snakes). The serpent twisted and coiled within itself repeated. Head was so deeply shrouded within its body that it hard to see.

"Serpentis Naga." Snape uttered in front of the large polished black door. The snake gave a counterclockwise twist, and the door opened (with an ominous sound coming from within the room).

Whimpers, groans were the sound that filled the room, as they both entered the Severus Snape's personal chambers. Light illuminated the interior, and a person could see that the entire room was decorated in black, green and white colours. The long white embroidered drapes fluttered as strong gust passed by.

"Draco, it's okay." Severus Snape spoke softly to his godson. "I'm here."

"Oh God!" Madam Pomfrey uttered in an appalling voice. Shock evident in her appearance. She was removing Draco's upper garments, but as she tried getting his cloak and shirt out from the back, Draco gave out a loud cry, full of pain. As she turned the boy around to see what was causing him discomfort, she came eye to eye with a horrific laceration

As Poppy was placing potions and pastes all over Draco's cuts and gashes and, something brushed against her fingers, As she deeply palpated into wound, (which resulted a loud whimper coming from Draco, and Snape giving Poppy a dark look), she found traces of something granulated in her fingers. As she pressed against this powder, she was shocked.

"Severus," Poppy said seriously, "I don't like the looks of this. His attacker not only lacerated him, but also put salt into his wounds. Whoever has done this, I don't think is of sane mind."

Severus was pouring some Dreamless sleep Potion down his godson's throat before he took notice of what Madam Pomfrey was declaring, after they were done tending to his injuries. Draco was completely bandaged up over his entire body, and was sleeping (though whimpering and crying at times). Both, Severus and Poppy's, attire was stained with crimson liquid.

"Whoever has done this to him, had been very careful and smart. His attacker was cunning and ingenious. He or she left no evidence behind so that anyone catch him or her." Snape said, a bit wearied-ly.

"I hope someone catches him soon. I've never seen anyone who could attack a young child like that. This person has to be pure evil to do something like that." Poppy said tearfully.

"Watch over him." Professor Snape said, back in his cold voice. "I'm going to notify Dumbledore that we've an unknown assailant at Hogwarts." With that said, Snape stood up straight, looking somber, and than walked towards the door.

Poppy looked sadly at the injured and quivering sleeping boy, as the door clicked shut.

XXXXXX

"The dark elementals are categorized in a far higher level classification than the three unforgivables. Born millennia ago, from the amalgamation of hatred, fear, pain, and malice of the victims, the dark elementals had the power to corrupt even the most purest and innocent person..."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class; it was the last class in their daily schedule. The class was almost over (they were here since two in the afternoon). Professor McNight was teaching the class the about the dark elemental magic which was a part of dark curses..

"...The person who wanted to perform the ritual of dark elementals would have to do atrocious crimes before they could become the master of dark elementals. Sacrifice of at least one living creature, be they human, witch, or creature, was an essential part in creating these magiks. If the ritual was successful, than darkness and corruptness would fill those persons by making them their servants."

Harry sat as far away from McNight as possible. In the end, he chose the last empty seat, in the room. He didn't want to see his smirking face, chestnut-brown eyes looking at his body lasciviously. Harry hated that McNight. He was now trying to find a reason as to why he liked him at the fast place; he now realized that what he felt for the man was infatuation, not love. But it was too late, when he realized the truth.

"Mr. Potter..." McNight inquired. "Could you please share with the class what are you thinking about."

But before he could reply, the sound of a bell gong could be heard throughout the Hogwarts. The class was empty within minutes, but not before McNight gave the entire class homework to write a detailed essay about the "dark elements magiks"

"Mr. Potter, could you stay here for a minute." McNight inquired. Harry was walking a bit slowly and was almost near the door.

"Mate, don't worry, if we're back at the dorm a bit late, okay." Ron whispered, as Harry stayed behind. Tom who walked away from the group earlier, turned into the direction of the library, rather than going to the Great Hall for lunch.

On the other side of the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Ron and Hermione sneakily trailed back behind Michael, who was going towards the direction Ravenclaw dormitory.

I'm done. Michael mused. It's so hot and humid, and I'm soaked. He nearly jogged through the long narrow white marble-floored corridors and the frequently moving staircases

But before they could confront Michael, someone came dashing behind the inquisitorial dyad crying and weeping. Hermione and Ron had lost their balance and fell on the floor two loud thuds, as Michael spinned around sharply. He saw a profoundly weeping Pansy running away from them.

Pansy. Michael pondered What's the matter? Why are you weeping. There was soft and tender look in his eyes, which abruptly hardened as Michael saw the two fallen duos.

"What are you two doing here?" He inquired roughly, as saw his arch-rivals on the floor.

With a glared stare and some undesired assistance, Hermione and Ron stood up, shaking dirt out of their coal black uniform. Both of them gave him an accusing stare in return.

"We want to know what you said to Harry the other day." Hermione asked sharply.

There was a sharp look in his eyes, before they once more became aloof. "Why? Did he came and fussed to you about how I called him a blind and buffoon?"

"Shut up! Michael." Ron responded rudely. "We know that you know why Harry is acting peculiarly?"

"Oh! Really!" Michael replied coldly. "What am I? His mother. Sorry. It should be father, not mother."

"TELL ME THE TRUTH!!!!!" Hermione screamed, "WHAT'S WRONG WITH HARRY?!"

"Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!" Michael said astutely. "Poor little mudblood is worried about her half-breed ragamuffin companion. Is that stray boy your sweetheart? Is this why you're coming after me?"

"Shut the CENSOR up?" Ron spat.

"Oh my!" Michael snickered. "So mudblood, it looks like you have two lovers, don't you? So you're a whore now, isn't it?"

"Shut up!" Hermione altercated furiously. She clutched his white shirt collar in her fists. "WHAT. IS. WRONG. WITH. HARRY. TELL ME? AND TELL ME NOW?" Hermione's face flushed, with all the yelling, and Ron looked as red as flaming red tomato. Though rage were visible in the eyes, amongst all three.

Hermione fell on the floor once more, as Michael forcefully removed her hands from his shirt. There was an angry and cold unfeeling look in his eyes and appearance. His lips thinned to the point that it appeared as if he had no lips, and his hands tuned into fists.

"LISTEN TO ME, CENSOR CENSOR..." Michael spat, "I've no idea what is wrong with your CENSOR friend I'm not his secretary, and I don't care if your lovely friend gets himself killed with Avada Kedavra. For all I care he could be busy fucking a man or a whore. Understand" Michael replied softly, yet it was latched with such coldness, it ran a shiver down Hermione's spine.

"What's going on here?" Severus Snape inquired from behind.

"It's nothing" Michael replied. "We had a misunderstanding. I cleared it up for them. That's all, Professor." With that said, he asked Professor Snape permission to leave to go his dorm.

"You two would better behave and go back to your dorms, otherwise far more House Points will be lost" Severus Snape scowled at them.

"Sorry." Hermione replied. "We're on our way...

Severus Snape looked at them for sometime before turning and walking towards the Slytherin rooms, with a worried look in his cold obsidian eyes.

Tom, wearing his traditional black-green colored uniform, came and sat down in the Slytherin side of the Great Hall. He took two herb-roasted chicken legs, lamb curry, honey-BBQ roasted sweet potato, three buns, boiled green beans, and vegetables. His outward appearance didn't betray the slightest of emotions that was raging inside of him. Tom gradually took a bite of the herb-roasted chicken leg, before drinking pumpkin juice.

There's something wrong with Harry. I can feel it in my bones. He has become so distant from us. Such thoughts swirled around Tom's mind. He had been worried about Harry for sometime now.

And who attacked Draco so viciously. His brutal attacker almost wanted to murder him. Tom remembered what Pansy said about some unknown assailant brutally assaulting, almost killing his friend, Draco. From the inside, Tom was worried about his friends though he wouldn't express it.

Tom remembered when he abruptly had to return back to Defense Against Dark Arts class from the library. When he came back, it was somewhat unclear what he saw, but it wasn't good. He saw Professor McNight pulling Harry's face towards and spoke something (Tom didn't know the content of the speech) which frightened Harry to no end. It was as if Charles McNight was threatening Harry with something.

Tom took chocolate pudding and a piece of apple pie, and looked around a bit. Worried expressions displayed in Head of Slytherin face as well as the Headmaster's face. Draco wasn't to be seen in Great Hall, and a gossip spread throughout the school that he had gotten a wizard's contagious cold.

"Are you going back to the dorm, Tom?" Blaise inquired. Her eyes puffy red with crying. She didn't eat much thinking too much about Draco's condition.

"Yes."

"Oh!" Blaise replied. "Aren't you going to visit Draco?"

"I don't think Professors will give permission to visit him now. The condition of his health is precarious. I will visit him as soon as they give us consent to visit him, alright." With saying that Tom rose from the bench, and left the Great Hall.

Thoughts once more swirled around his head. What did McNight say that brought fear in Harry's face. He doesn't get frightened that easily.

A sudden thought abruptly entered his mind, which threw his entire train of thought away. Before Draco was found outside the Slytherin rooms, he said that McNight called him up. I remember it distinctly he said this to Blaise and Pansy as well. Today, Harry looked frightened of McNight.

Somehow these thoughts wouldn't leave him. It tortured him to no end. Why wouldn't all these leave me. Is McNight somehow involved? Are the events related?

A sharp breath left his lips.

Update: 08/ 29/ 07