Chapter 12

Puzzling Inconsistencies

Pain was constant. Voices filled his ears but they were too muffled to make out. Moving was certainly out of the question since the simple act of breathing seemed to take more energy than what Orion had to spare. Thinking came in spurts but it kept repeating the same questions. 'What happened?'

Slowly, one voice came through the muddled mess followed by others. "I must warn you, this will be a bit of a shock," Professor McGonagall said in a surprisingly gentle voice. "There has been another attack, a triple attack."

There was only a moment of silence before Ron gasped, "Hermione!"

"They were found a short distance away from the library," Professor McGonagall added. "I don't suppose either of you can explain this? It was on the floor next to them—"

"Where's Orion?" Neville interrupted. "He went after Hermione—"

"—Mr. Longbottom—"

"—please, Professor!" Hayden insisted. "I know he wasn't Petrified. Something—painful happened to him."

There was a long silence before a sigh was heard. "I am doing this against my better judgment," Professor McGonagall said at last. "Come with me."

Footsteps could be heard but Orion was helpless to do anything but lay still and hope for unconsciousness to claim him. At least then the pain would be gone. That was all that mattered, right? Everything would make sense once the pain was gone…it had to.

Gasps filled the air. "Ori?" There was the sound of hurried footsteps before a shaking hand grasped his. "W—will he b—be okay?"

"Mr. Black will recover, Mr. Longbottom," a strict voice answered for Professor McGonagall. "Now, if I may attend to my patient before his father arrives…"

"Of course, Poppy," Professor McGonagall said. "Longbottom, Potter, Weasley, I will escort you back to the Gryffindor Tower. I need to address the students and I know Mr. Black's father will demand answers the moment he steps in Hogwarts."

That was the last Orion heard before something soothing washed over him causing him to succumb to darkness.

It is very strange, being caught between consciousness and sleep. One moment, you were aware of your surroundings only to fall into oblivion the next. It was like both ends were taunting him with what he would be missing out on if he chose the other. The world of sleep was peaceful and pain free while the world of awake was full of stress and ache. On the other hand, there was no one else with you while you floated in oblivion.

Hermione.

That thought alone was all it took for Orion Black to make his decision to leave his safe haven. How could he have forgotten what had happened just before the pain had overwhelmed him? Opening his eyes, Orion was nearly blinded by the vast whiteness of the Hospital Wing. Oh, that's not good. Slowly, Orion turned his head and was surprised to see Evelyn sitting at his bedside with a relieved look on her tired face.

"Hi Orion," Evelyn said softly. "How are you feeling?"

Orion blinked as his sluggish mind processed the question. "'Mione?" he croaked.

Evelyn's gaze fell. "I'm sorry, Orion," she said as she grasped his hand. "Your friend was Petrified. She was found beside the Ravenclaw Prefect, Clearwater, a short distance from you."

Orion's eyes moved back to the ceiling. He could already see Hermione in his mind—stiff, staring at nothing while her face was trapped in the last expression she made before the monster…it was almost too much to comprehend. A sudden thought hit Orion like a ton of bricks. They didn't know—none of them were aware of what Hermione had figured out only moments before she had been attacked.

"Where's Dad?" Orion croaked.

Evelyn stared at Orion in surprise for a moment before answering. "He's on patrol. After your attack, the Minister insisted that a small group of Aurors remain at Hogwarts until the culprit was caught. Your father, Remus and I have been taking shifts sitting at your bedside."

"Why?" Orion couldn't help asking.

Evelyn's gaze shifted to one of incredulity. "Orion, you're a witness," she said slowly. "Whoever is behind the attacks could come after you to silence you. At least, that was what your father told Fudge to have the protective guard ordered. Truthfully, he wanted someone you knew by your side when you woke. Things have changed since you were attacked. Fudge ordered Hagrid to be taken to Azkaban and the Governors demanded for Dumbledore's removal—"

"—Grandad's gone!" Orion cried. "Hagrid's in Azkaban!"

Evelyn quickly rose to her feet and looked over her shoulder towards Madam Pomfrey's office. "Calm down," she insisted. "Your father's doing what he can but his hands are tied until we gain ground on the Chamber of Secrets."

Orion tried to sit up but a sudden wave of dizziness in mid-motion put a quick end to that. "Evelyn, you have to find Dad!" he pleaded. "The monster—it's a Basilisk!"

In a blink of an eye, Evelyn covered Orion's mouth with her hand to silence him. "Orion, listen to me," she said quietly. "You are still recovering from a severe concussion. You need to remain calm and stay in bed. I'll find your father. Just let me arrange for—" The sound of the door opening put an abrupt end to the conversation. Without a word, Orion was pushed down on the bed as Evelyn turned around to face the newcomers. "Identify yourself!" Evelyn ordered.

"Er—Hayden Potter and Neville Longbottom," Hayden said nervously as he stepped around the privacy screen with Neville following suit.

Evelyn relaxed. "All right, this may work," she said thoughtfully. "I need to find Auror Black so I need you two to stay here with Orion until Auror Black, Mr. Lupin or myself return. I'll lock the door behind me but you need to be prepared to disarm and stun if anyone attempts to get in. Can you do that?"

Hayden and Neville glanced at each other uneasily. "Well, we know how to disarm but—"

"—that will have to do," Evelyn interrupted hastily as she turned to Orion and gave him a reassuring smile. "I'll find him, Orion. I promise."

Orion could only watch as Evelyn hurried out of the hospital wing and closed the door. A loud click filled the room, signaling that the door was indeed locked. Releasing a sigh, Orion could only close his eyes and hope that Evelyn wasn't too late although the fact that Hayden and Neville entered so easily was certainly a boost of confidence.

"H—how are you, Ori?" Neville asked softly. "We were beginning to wonder if you would ever wake."

Opening his eyes, Orion could only stare at Neville. He was at a loss of what to say, especially when his gaze rested on Hayden Potter. A wave of anger and resentment surged though Orion, forcing him to look away. Deep down, Orion knew that the attack wasn't Hayden's fault but he felt the need to blame someone for what happened and Hayden was the easy target.

"Right," Orion said finally in a disbelieving voice. "Most likely some people just needed someone to blame for their own stupidity."

Hayden flinched and took a cautious step back. "Orion, please," he pleaded. "I know I have no right to ask you for anything but—please—just listen. I was stupid. I should've listened to you but I was too desperate for answers. You don't understand what it's like for me. Half of the school still thinks I'm the heir of Slytherin for some strange reason. If there was something that could have proven my innocence—"

"—nothing of Voldemort's—"

"—I know that now!" Hayden shouted. "I know I messed up! I know I should have listened to you and I know it's my fault that you and Hermione were attacked!" His gaze fell as his shoulders slumped in defeat. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry. When I saw—I thought you had died, Orion, and it made me realize what you had been trying to tell me all along. What I want doesn't matter when others can get hurt because of it."

Biting back the urge say something sarcastic, Orion forced himself to remember Hayden's upbringing. Not everyone grew up paging through their father's case files. Hayden didn't really know just how deadly mistakes could sometimes be. The more Orion thought about it, the more he realized that was precisely the problem. Their upbringings were so drastically different. What Orion viewed as common sense, Hayden didn't understand.

Hayden's not the only one.

"This last attack's affected everyone, Ori, especially because you were involved," Neville said softly. "Some of the purebloods believe that they're in no danger because you weren't Petrified."

Orion stared at Neville incredulously. "That's ridiculous," he said and he meant it. He had never claimed to be a pureblood because he honestly didn't know his blood makeup. For all he knew, his birth mother could have been a Muggle. It had been a topic Orion had avoided for years. He never felt the need to know about the people who gave him up. They hadn't wanted him so why should he want to know anything about them?

"We know," Hayden said softly. "Professor McGonagall told us that your injuries had been more dangerous than being Petrified. Some of the Slytherins refuse to believe that though. They thing that being pureblood means they won't get Petrified."

Orion shook his head stubbornly, ignoring the stabbing headache that was emerging. "That's not what I meant," he insisted. "Dad never said anything about me being a pureblood—"

"—but you were raised as one, Ori," Neville interrupted. "Sometimes presentation is all that matters. Look at Hermione and me. If you compared us on talent, would you ever consider that I was a pureblood and Hermione was a Muggle-born? The only reason everyone knows about Hermione is because she's never hidden where she comes from."

The sound of a door opening put an abrupt end to the conversation. "Mr. Potter! Mr. Longbottom!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed as she approached at a brisk pace. "What are you two doing here?!?" Her face shifted to a look of outrage when she noticed Orion. "Mr. Black! Why didn't someone inform me that you had awoken?!? Where is Miss Smith?!?"

Hayden and Neville shared a nervous glance. "She had to leave," Hayden said cautiously. "We're supposed to stay here until she comes back."

Madam Pomfrey let out a loud annoyed huff as she pulled out her wand and waved it over Orion's head. "She should have informed me the moment Mr. Black had awoken," she ranted. "We've only been waiting three weeks—"

"—THREE WEEKS!" Orion shouted in disbelief, trying to sit up only to be prevented by Madam Pomfrey holding him down. "I've been here for three weeks?!?"

Hayden and Neville took a quick step back while Madam Pomfrey's gaze remained stern. "Mr. Black, please calm down," she insisted. "With all of the injuries you sustained, it's a miracle you even survived. I had to use quite a few reconstructive spells repeatedly to repair your facial structure and don't get me started on the complications with your concussion."

Orion fell silent while staring at Madam Pomfrey in horror. Had it really been that bad? Was that why Hayden had suddenly realized his mistakes? Was that why Professor Dumbledore was removed and Hagrid was taken away? "Was Hermione hurt?" he asked softly.

Madam Pomfrey seemed to deflate as her gaze turned sympathetic. "No, Mr. Black," she said gently. "Only you were physically injured and I assure you that you still look exactly like your father except for your eyes."

A loud click startled everyone. With a flick of her wand, Madam Pomfrey had spelled all of the privacy screens to surround the beds making it difficult to determine which bed Orion was in. The door opened with a creak as Madam Pomfrey hurried away from Orion's bed. Neville and Hayden hadn't moved from their spots but their wands were at the ready just like Evelyn had told them.

The moment a familiar voice hit their ears, however, all of the tension vanished. "Poppy, I hear my son is awake and needs to speak to me," Sirius said briskly.

"Mr. Black, your son is still recovering," Madam Pomfrey scolded. "He needs rest—"

"—he will get it as soon as we are done," Sirius interrupted firmly. "Now, my son, Poppy."

An annoyed huff could be heard only a moment before Orion's privacy screen was magically pulled back. In all honesty, Orion had never seen his father look so exhausted. There was no sign of the good-natured Sirius Black that everyone was familiar with. This was Auror Black who many wished to avoid at all costs, including Neville and Hayden. With one stern glance, both second years bid a quick goodbye to Orion before hurrying out of the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey wasn't so easily frightened but she did give them their privacy—albeit against her better judgment.

"Evie, would you please give us a moment?" Sirius asked briskly.

Evelyn hesitated for only the slightest of moments before nodding and retreating to the door where she stood with her wand clearly visible. At that moment, everything about Sirius changed as he sat down on the edge of the bed and grasped Orion's hands. The stern face had melted to one of relief.

"You have no idea how good it is to see those eyes, kiddo," Sirius said softly. "For I while there, I thought I may have lost you."

Orion had to fight back a cringe. His father was normally so strong. To hear him sound so broken...it was so unlike Sirius Black. "Dad, I'm sorry," Orion said weakly. "I thought I would've had enough time to get Hermione out of the castle."

Sirius let out a slow breath, his gaze never wavering. "Ori, Neville told me everything," he said softly. "Why didn't you tell me you were hearing voices in the walls?" Orion bit his lower lip as he hastily looked away but Sirius continued on. "Orion, you are the most rational and sane twelve-year-old I've ever known. Why would you think that I would even consider you were mad?"

When you put it that way… Orion had no answer. He felt horrible for doubting his father. "Dad, I—I'm sorry," he muttered. "I was just so—so—"

"—scared?" Sirius offered.

Orion nodded. "It's just that I'm already abnormal enough—"

"—because you can…Orion!" Sirius cried in disbelief. "One ability doesn't define who you are! Yes, I'll admit that it was a little unnerving at first—"

"—Dad, you started screaming—"

"—were you any different when you saw Padfoot and Moony for the first time?" Sirius countered causing Orion to wince. Shaking his head, Sirius let out deep breath. "We're getting off topic. Evie said you had something to tell me."

So Orion did and, this time, he left nothing out. He explained his theory behind his belief that the monster was a Basilisk, including the missing link to it all. The only difference between him and everyone else at Hogwarts was that he could speak to snakes. That was why he was the only one who could hear the voice. He was the only one who could understand what was being said.

If Sirius had been pale before Orion had started, he was chalk-white by the time Orion finished. "Are you certain?" asked Sirius and let a resigned sigh when Orion nodded. "All right, let me think…I should talk to McGonagall. We'll need to send everyone home. We have no way to protect ourselves from something like a Basilisk."

"But Dad," Orion interrupted. "How can we find out who's behind this if everyone's sent home?"

Sirius let out a sigh as he ran a hand through his hair. "I'll figure something out," he said then rose to his feet. "You just concentrate on your recovery, all right?"

Orion slowly nodded. As much as he didn't like it, Orion knew that there was nothing he could do to help while he was confined to the hospital wing. It didn't matter if he could hear the Basilisk speak if he wasn't able to tell someone or even get to safety before the Basilisk struck?

Changes had been implemented immediately. Sirius had taken Orion's concern to heart. Searches had begun in the dormitories for any items that had any connection to Voldemort while students were in classes, students were escorted by Aurors from class to class, attendance was taken and any student unaccounted for was immediately searched for. Several Slytherins found themselves serving long detentions in the dungeons with Aurors watching their every move.

There were no visitors allowed in the hospital wing so Orion really had no on for company other than Madam Pomfrey, Evelyn and, occasionally, Remus while he worked on all of the assignments he had missed. In no time, Orion became extremely stir-crazy. No one would tell him anything other than that nothing had been found yet. Orion didn't know how to feel about that. If something hadn't been found right away, chances were whoever was involved had hidden any evidence.

A week after awaking, Orion was finally released by Madam Pomfrey only to want to return as soon as he rejoined the student body. Regardless of any stern warnings from Professor McGonagall, everyone wanted to know all of the details. Orion had lost count how many times he had insisted that he hadn't seen anything but most refused to believe him.

With all of the attention, it was extremely difficult for Neville, Hayden and even Ron to attempt to mention anything they had 'overheard' from the Aurors but whatever it had been, Hayden had insisted it was important. Orion wasn't fooled though. He knew that Hayden and Ron were doing what they could in an attempt to make up for not turning Riddle's diary in. The fact of the matter, though, was that Hayden and Ron hadn't been the only ones to mess up. In his anger, Orion had ignored any rational thought concerning the diary until it was too late.

Finally, three days after Orion had been released from the hospital wing, Neville, Hayden and Ron had managed pull Orion into their dorm room and lock the door with three different spells. To say that Orion was impressed was an understatement. He had no idea Neville, Hayden and Ron had even heard of two of the spells.

"I overheard your dad talking to Professor McGonagall," Hayden said as he sat down on his bed. "He said that all of the evidence points so far points to the Chamber of Secrets being on the second floor—"

"—near Moaning Myrtle's bathroom," Neville finished. "He mentioned something about inconsistencies."

Orion frowned in thought. What 'inconsistencies' could there be? What had he missed? Whatever it was, it must've been a recent discovery. Like something associated with my attack. Something that finally linked all of the attacks…

"Did your dad say anything to you, Orion?" asked Ron eagerly.

Orion stared at Ron with a raised eyebrow. "I think my dad prefers I stay out of trouble considering I just got out of the hospital wing," he said dryly. "He won't tell me anything unless it's a matter of life and death." Orion sat down on his bed and ran a hand through his hair. "Has anyone talked to Moaning Myrtle?"

Hayden and Ron stared at Orion in horror. "Are you mad?" Ron blurted out. "Who in their right mind would willingly spend any time with her?"

"Someone who thought she may know who died when the Chamber was opened fifty years ago?" Orion countered.

"Why didn't she say anything then?" Hayden asked in confusion.

Neville snorted. "Probably because we didn't ask," he said dryly.

Deep down, Orion had a feeling that Neville was right. From he had heard about Moaning Myrtle, it wouldn't surprise him that a simple question was all it took.

A/N: Okay, I finally finished chapter 13. It took me nearly three months to do which was why postings had slowed down. Now it just needs to be edited and the remaing chapters need to be written. Hopefully I'll be able to get some writing done while I'm traveling for work.