"What's that thing---hanging underneath?" said Ron, a slight quiver in his voice.
As they edged nearer, I came close to falling--- there was a large puddle of water on the floor; Ron and Hermione grabbed me, and we inched toward the message, eyes fixed on the dark shadow beneath it. All three of us realized what it was, and leapt backwards with a splash.
Mrs.Norris, the caretaker's cat, was hanging by her tail from the torch bracket. She was as stiff as a board, her eyes wide and staring. For a few seconds, we didn't move. Then Ron said, "Let's get out of here."
"Shouldn't we try and help---" I began awkwardly.
"Trust me," said Ron "We don't have to be found here."
But it was to late. A rumble, as though of distant thunder, told them that the feast had just ended.
I looked to Ron and Hermione and then gasps came from all around me, "RUN!!!" Was all I could think to say.
We ran up the hallway when we ran into someone, Dad???
"Going somewhere?" was the first thing that dad said to me.
I looked up and in his eyes I could see that if I lied I would be in DEEP TROUBLE, and I would rather not go there so I replied, "Can I talk to you in private, please?"
"Why yes, but I pray for the sake of your behind you have a satisfactory answer." He said just as calm as I have ever heard.
Dad led my friends and myself to Professor Dumbledore and said, "Sir, if you do not care to much, I wish to speak to my son and his accomplices in my office and I will report back to you immediately with some answers, okay?"
Professor Dumbledore looked to Severus with the same twinkle in his eyes as when he spoke to Harry and replied softly, "Yes, Severus, my boy."
The walk down to the dungeon's didn't seem as dreadful this time because I knew for once I wasn't guilty of anything at all.
Alas, we arrived to the door to his chambers in which he said the password and pointed us in.
Dad sat on the armchair while Ron, Hermione, and myself sat on the couch.
"So, care to explain why you three were lounging in the hallway at the same time whilst Mrs. Norris was found petrified?
"Dad, I promise I am not going to lie today believe me I intend to never have the same discussions we have had about lying already once more but you have got to believe me, okay?"
"Harry, I will never believe any other as much as I believe you, I know you may lie today and I don't trust you at the given time but my trust will never be banished completely."
"Okay, well I have been hearing this voice, more like a hiss, stating it wants to kill. So tonight we were heading back to the common room when I heard it and I decided to find out what it was so I followed it and it led me to the place where Mrs. Norris was."
"Harry listed I do believe you are parselmouth as to why you are hearing it I do not know but you are not to follow the voice again, okay?!?"
"Okay Dad I will not follow that voice again."
"Oh and if you do I will be sure to punish you very severely as to the account you will be placing yourself in adequate danger. Oh and Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley trust you two will be punished just as severely as Harry seeming as I plan on contacting both your parents to inform them of tonights event's."
After three yes sirs' they were dismissed while Snape proceeded to the Headmaster's office and as they rounded the corner Ron stated, "So Harry, do you plan on following orders or figuring out what is going on?!?"
"What do you think I am going to continue trying to solve the mystery, we will just have to be more careful."
All three agreed and when they arrived at the common room they finished their homework and went to bed.