Disclaimer. Everything you recognise belongs to J.K.

A/N. I updated fast this time, this chapter is also a little shorter as planned, but it felt like a right point to stop at.

Enjoy :)

In darker times – chapter 12

Harry held his breath when the last students entered the Slytherin Common Room. He was standing under his invisibility cloak, checking the Marauders Map for any straying student or patrolling teacher on the road to the library. It was after curfew, so the castle was silent. The library was also deserted, which meant Harry could easily slip into the restricted section. He noticed Professor Dumbledore was on patrol this evening, but he was currently in the entrance hall, heading towards the headmasters office.

Harry knew he had to act quickly, to minimise the chance of getting caught. He had asked Vincent earlier this evening which book he should be searching for, and Vincent had given him a few titles, but told him to look for Secrets of the Darkest Art by Owl Bullock first, and continue for the next few afterwards. This book possessed the darkest curses and the others could wait for later if he got caught.

The dungeons where chilling and dark as Harry walked through them in a fast pace, the candles that usually lit the halls where dimmed after curfew, only giving of an eerie glow, illuminating the stone walls and casting shadows on the floor. Harry now understood why the first year students sometimes got lost, the dungeons where like a maze, and without the usually bright light showing the way every hallway looked the same.

After a short walk, Harry entered the library on the third floor. The library was deserted, and Harry had to light his wand in order to see anything. He quickly made his way over to the restricted section, and opened the spelled robe guarding the entrance with a whispered Alohamora, quietly closing it behind him and locking it again. He quietly began his search trough the rows of book, quickly making his way over to the row which held the letter B.

Adrenaline began coursing through his body as he scanned the names of the authors. It didn't take him much time to find the book he was searching for. Secrets of the Darkest Art was a big tome with a damaged black leather cover. He quickly shoved it in his bag, making his way over to the letter S for his next book. Checking the map again he saw Professor Dumbledore entering the library. He gasped in surprise, silently dimming the light of his wand, casting him in darkness. He hid himself behind a book case and kept his eyes on the map, hoping Dumbledore would leave soon.

But Harry had no such luck, for Dumbledore entered the restricted section, standing guard at the entrance robe. It was as if he knew Harry was there, and was waiting for him to leave. Harry had to think fast, was there any other way out, maybe a secret passage? He felt himself starting to panic, he couldn't stay here, and the Marauders map didn't show any other way out. He had to wait and hope for Dumbledore to leave again. He certainly would not be searching for any of the other books.

A few minutes passed, which felt like a few hours, with Harry's eyes fixed on the map he held in front of him. Professor Dumbledore hadn't moved from his spot, but he had begun pacing up and down the short corridor. Harry suddenly saw another dot entering the library, with a name Harry didn't recognize underneath it. It must have been a student, for he heard Professor Dumbledore ask if he needed to accompany the student in his search for the required book. The student accepted, to Harry's great relief. This could offer him a chance to slip out of the restricted section unnoticed. He did find it awfully strange Dumbledore would help a student after curfew, and not just during the day, but he didn't dwell on it to long, grateful for the distraction.

He quickly checked the map once more, to be certain there was no one else around he could run into before packing it away in his bag, he also dropped the book in the bag after which he made sure his invisibility cloak covered both him and his bag. He waited for the professor and the unknown student to pass his shelf before silently slipping towards the exit. His next obstacle presented itself quickly; he had to open the robe. He would need to use an Alohamora spell for that, he only hoped Dumbledore would not hear him. He quickly checked over his shoulder, making sure Professor Dumbledore was far enough away before casting his spell and quickly closing it after him again.

He sighed in relief after he had left the library, slumping against the wall. That had been a close call, and Harry was glad he had managed to get the book before he had had to make his sudden leave. If Dumbledore would have caught him he would have been in big trouble, the man already didn't trust him entirely and this would only have fuelled his suspicion.

He slowly made his was back towards the dungeons, entering the cold stone corridors. They where still eerily dark and silent, sending goose bumps on Harry's skin. He suddenly felt as if the chill was worse than normal, making him stop dead in his tracks. He quickly fished the Marauders Map from his bag, activating it and checking if anyone was near him. He didn't see any dots in the dungeons, outside of the common room, so no one could be responsible for the sense of dread that Harry felt. Then what was the cause of it? Harry decided he should be heading to the common room quickly, blaming the chill on his loss of the adrenaline he had felt earlier. After a few minutes of walking Harry hit a dead end, cursing him for not paying attention. He quickly turned around, checking the map for the correct route without noticing he was walking straight trough something misty.

It felt like someone had dropped a bucked of icy water on top of him, making him shiver and stop walking abruptly. He turned around, only to be faced with the Bloody Baron, the Slytherin ghost. Only the Baron wasn't paying attention to him, he was floating in the air, his back facing Harry.

"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to walk trough you, I hadn't noticed you."

A sense of dread filled Harry when the Bloody Baron didn't answer him, he didn't even acknowledge him.

"Bloody Baron, sir? Are you alright?"

Harry took his wand out and slowly began to make his way around the Baron, making sure not to touch the ghost again. He had never particularly liked the Baron, he wasn't known to be very sociable like Nearly-Headless Nick for example, and he knew he wasn't the only student who feared the ghost. The Bloody Baron usually kept to himself, not mingling with the students a lot. The few times he was seen around the castle were when Peeves was making trouble, for the Baron was the only one able to control the poltergeist.

Harry decided something was definitely not right with the ghost. He finally got a glimpse of the Baron's face and nearly jumped with what he saw. The normally stern look on the Baron's face was replaced with one of fury, but what scared Harry most where his eyes. Normally his eyes where the same slivery colour as the rest of his body, but his eyes where black right now, glaring at nothing in particular. Harry had a sense of deja-vu, and immediately remembered Nearly-Headless Nick in his second year, when he was petrified by the basilisk. But Harry noticed this was not the same, Nick hadn't had those scary black eyes back then; his eyes had still been normal. But the Bloody Baron certainly looked like he was petrified; he was just floating in the air, not responding to Harry's presence in any way.

Harry knew he should probably inform a professor about the Baron, but he was also aware he wasn't supposed to be roaming the castle, let alone this far in the dungeons carrying an invisibility cloak and a banned book around. Professor Dumbledore would not be pleased if he found out, and maybe he would even suspect Harry to have something to do with the Baron's condition.

Harry checked the Map again, trying to find another teacher nearby. The only teacher close by was Professor Slughorn, who was currently walking around in his private rooms. Harry decided Slughorn would have to do and started a slow jog towards the man's rooms. He was glad to have his map with him or he would've never been able to find his way back this quickly, and after a short run he stood before the professor's door. He quickly remembered to stuff both his map and invisibility cloak in his bag before knocking.

He only had to wait a short moment before the door opened, revealing Professor Slughorn in his dark purple robes. The man looked surprised to see Harry standing before him, but quickly snapped his jaw shut before replacing it with a bright smile.

"Harry, my boy, what brings you here after curfew? Quick, come in before another teacher catches you out of the common room."

"No, professor, there is no time; you have to come with me! There is something wrong with the Bloody Baron!"

Harry had already started to turn around, walking down the corridor again before he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.

"Easy there, Harry, why don't you tell me what's wrong first?"

Harry sighed, before turning back to face Slughorn again, "I got lost walking towards the common room, and I stumbled upon a dead end. The Baron was floating there, but he isn't responding and his eyes are black. Something is wrong, sir, please come with me." Harry pleaded, hoping the professor would hurry.

Luckily, Professor Slughorn noticed his panic for he quickly closed his door and started following Harry down the corridor. The man already had his wand out, ready for anything that might happen. Gone was the normally chipper man, an alert man had taken his place in return. Harry luckily found his way back without his map, and the Bloody Baron was still floating in the same place Harry had left him.

"Bloody Baron, good evening!" Harry rolled his eyes at Slughorn's barely hidden anxiety. And as before, the Baron didn't respond. Professor Slughorn slowly began to make his was over to the Baron as well, and gasped when he saw the ghost's eyes, just like Harry had before. Slughorn took a large step back, turning around to face Harry again. His eyes where wide, and he swallowed noticeably before acknowledging Harry again.

"Go back to your Common Room, Harry, right now. I'm going to inform Headmaster Dippet."

"What is wrong with him, sir?"

"Nothing for you to worry about, Harry. Quickly now." Slughorn began ushering Harry away from the ghost, and Harry noticed the man looked pale, a shimmer of sweat was starting to form on the man's forehead. Harry knew this was not a normal situation, and didn't go against the order. He turned around and started to make his way back to the main corridor, where he knew his way back to the common room. Slughorn followed him, his wand still tightly clutched in his hand. The man was breathing heavily, and left once he was sure Harry was safely at the entrance of the common room.

"Now, Harry, don't leave the common room again tonight. Also make sure no one else leaves. I will cover up for you, but I expect you to keep to your curfew in the future, you understand? Also, don't tell anyone about what you witnessed just yet."

"Yes, sir, thank you. Do you have any idea what might be wrong with the Baron?"

Slughorn gave him a long stare before sighing, "I have my suspicions, I confess, but I don't know anything for sure. You don't have to worry about it; Headmaster Dippet will know what to do." He didn't look to sure about that, Harry noticed, but didn't press further for he knew the professor wouldn't tell him more.

Harry spoke the password, opening the door to the common room, and saw Professor Slughorn walking away. Swallowing visibly, he turned around and entered the common room; he knew he had some explaining to do.

A/N. Thank you again for reading. I enjoy getting your reviews, and I really appreciate it when people take their time to leave me a message. I always use any input or critic's people give me, so if there is anything you would like to see differently, let me know, and I might take it into consideration. Of course any other reviews are also welcome ;)

M