5. Rose's Secret

Scorpius, Artemis, and I shuffled back to the common room. I couldn't believe what I just heard. James was dead. And we don't know by who.

"Al, are you okay?" Artemis asks, giving me a sympathy hug.

"I just want to know who did it."

"I'm sure everybody does." Scorpius reassures me.

We all go head to the dormitories. We had enough for one night. Surprisingly, even though he was such a jerk, I cried. I cried because James was dead and there was nothing I could do about it. I felt helpless. I think I cried myself to sleep that night.

The next morning, I packed my trunk. The last day of term is always sad, and with this new terrible news, it was even worse. Professor Hamilton took my trunk and escorted me to Professor McGonagall's office. My sister Lily and I were to be take home by our parents. We would not take the train back home.

THe car ride home was very emotional. My mother couldn't help but cry. Her eldest son...dead.

James' trunk was tied up to the hood of the car. Artemis had sent me an owl.

Her and Scorpius were waiting for me when we got home. I wanted to make sure they were okay. So when we got home, Scorpius, Artemis, and I went out for ice cream.

James funeral was another event. Most of my friends and their families came. Artemis and her father, Oliver Wood, Scorpius and Draco Malfoy, Selena and parents. The entire Gryffindor Quidditch team was here too. James had affected so many people. Who could do such a thing?

This summer past by painfully. I started teaching Lily a few new Quidditch moves. She liked playing. Maybe she would make the team for Ravenclaw.

School started. It seemed like time just passed by now. Like I couldn't feel anything. Artemis reminded me I was still alive though. Every time our lips touched, a surge of electricity shot through me. She helped me get through the day.

Time passed by. Before we knew it, it was already Christmas. I decided I was going to stay for the holidays with Artemis and Scorpius. We decided we were going to do some detective work and see who killed James.

At sunset, we took out the cloak, and headed to the Forbidden Forest. We decided to start with the scene of the crime. Maybe there was some evidence we could use.

"Look at the ground," Artemis said.

"It looks like James was dragged out here," Scorpius said.

"So he was murdered." I say.

Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream come from the castle. We look and see red sparks coming from the Herbology wing. We ran as fast as we could. But we were too late. A flash of green light, and the screaming stopped.

"No!" I holler.

When we get to the Herbology wing, we see the victim. Selena Curtis lay perfectly still. Scorpius let out a wail. Artemis and I grab him and give him a hug. We go and alert the professors that another student has been attacked. When we all come back, black and blue robes lay at the crime scene, suggesting that a Ravenclaw student has committed the crime.

We get back to the common room and see that people are talking. Most are discussing secret alliances that are being made. Gryffindor and Hufflepuff are teaming up to attack Ravenclaw and Slytherin. It looks like there is going to be a Hogwarts civil war.

When everybody returns from the holidays, the alliances are formed. Scorpius, Artemis, and I are sitting in the Great Hall.

"By the way everybody is acting, you would think there is a war about to break out." Artemis said.

"I think there is going to be one. And I'll take down anyone who tries to hurt us," I say.

"I'm with you, Al," Scorpius says.

We discuss this so called war some more when Rose comes up to me.

"Al, can I talk to you?"

"Uh, sure Rose." We go outside the Great Hall.

"I really don't want this whole house vs. house battle to start." She says.

"Me either. But it seems pretty inevitable."

"I think there is a way to stop it. Meet me at the library tonight. 11 o'clock."

"Okay."

I don't know what Rose is thinking, but if it can help me find out who killed James, I'll do anything.

When the time comes, I sneak out of the common room and join Rose at the library.

"Good you came. Let's go." She orders.

We walk through the library, straight to the restricted section. I start to wonder what she's doing. We come up to a shelf with no books on it. I give Rose a puzzled look. She giggles.

"Just wait."

She waves her wand, and the entire shelf fills with books.

"I've been doing research on a particular wizard for three four years now. I need help though. I need help finishing the Dark Lord's work."

I stare at her blankly. Had she just said the Dark Lord?

"Rose, he's evil. I couldn't do that."

"Getting rid of the Mudbloods is what all wizards should do. Magic is for pure bloods only. Muggle offspring should not receive the precious gift."

I run facts through my head. Selena was muggle born. No way...

"You killed Selena!"

"No. My Ravenclaw minions did that for me. To prove their loyalty."

"Then you killed James."

"Ah, is it finally clicking for you? I told James the same thing that I'm telling you. The school would be so much better off without this filth in our school. I asked him to convince his house for me. He didn't like that very much. He said 'I'd rather die' so, he did.

"I dragged his body to the Forbidden Forest to make everyone he was killed in a place where teachers say not to go unless you want to die. Pretty clever, huh?"

I look at her with disgust. "What do you hope to achieve? No one will follow you." I tell her.

"Oh but that's where you're wrong cousin. The entire house of Slytherin is behind me. And, I've even recruited Ravenclaws." She seemed a lot powerful than she looked. "Hopefully after my houses win this battle that is about to happen, I can quit Hogwarts and continue learning Dark Arts with the last of the Death Eaters. They will become my new followers once I rise to power as the Darkest witch in history. I'll I need is for you to convince your house."

I look at her like she's crazy. "I'd rather die."

"Fine," she says, "have it your way."

A jet of green light whizzes past my head. I jump behind a bookshelf, firing stunning spell after stunning spell. Every time, Rose dodges my attacks.

"Expelliarmus!" I yell. Luckily, I disarm her. This is my one chance. I ran for it. I didn't look back whether she got her wand or not. I just ran. I ran back to Hufflepuff's basement, but an explosion stopped me. Students flew through the walls. It seems Rose has signaled for the battle of Hogwarts to start.

A/N: TWIST! We're almost at the end of the story. Only the action is left. Please let me know what you think.

~Psycho