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Note: Things getting excitingggg...
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We spent the next two hours making an exact plan to confront Professor Madison and in turn Courtney. Draco held Melinda as tears ran down her face as she tried to help. I would only let Fred rub my back as I stared off willing myself to have a vision. "Tammie, we need your help too" Matt said. I continued staring off, even as he walked over and kneeled down in front of me. "I know you're upset, but, don't close us out, not now" he said patiently, his words kind. "If you want to do Abby justice, help us." It was enough to get me talking, I only happened to accidently catch Fred mouth a 'thank you' at Matt who nodded.
By nine that night we had some additional information: After her meeting she was making a short fly to Hogsmade to get some more billytoads; Hagrid said she could leave her broom by his hut. Harry had found out Hagrid was picking up some things for Dumbledore and wouldn't be back until the end of the week.
By ten-thirty we came up with a flimsy plan—purposely flimsy—confront her, get her mad enough to react, distract her and then apprehend, call entire staff down. All we needed was some type of proof, she still hadn't shown herself to anyone except me, and Melinda. The twins came up with the final idea that we needed to search her office while she meeting with Dumbledore the following evening; Hermione was the first to agree, the rest of quickly after.
I managed to keep myself together for the rest of the night, even the next evening when the other students learned of the fatal attack of Abby. The Daily Prophet ran a story, a Healer stated that it was a poisonous slow acting sharp vine called it Dnix that killed Abby, though, experts were baffled how and when she was in contact with the plant. It wasn't allowed on school grounds, and although they used it at the St. Mungos, there was no way they'd apply it to someone of her status. Neville informed us Dnix came from the same venom as bats and rumored to be in the blood of a vampire. "The signs are impossible to detect unless you make direct contact with it; if she showed symptoms she could've been treated with Raycleanious," Neville said reading over the article.
"What's Raycleanious?" Ron asked. Melinda, Neville and Hermione all opened their mouth to speak but Matt spoke first.
"It a blood cleanser, you can use it for any infected blood, but it's really only recommended on with strong venoms, like certain snakes, bats, spiders vampires—if you believe garlic won't work—and of course plants" he explained half-heartedly glancing over Courtney who seemed torn between the news and excited about being back and Slytherin in the lead for the house cup.
"I should get going; I'll see you before I go to bed…" Melinda said standing up to head out, Draco following. Ron, Harry and Hermione left next, their departure just as subtle. George and Fred pretended to joke around, finally "convincing" Matt and I to help them settle a beat. "Tammie" I turned at the sound of my name, instantly regretting it as Courtney approached.
"Courtney, shouldn't you be with your house?" Matt asked gently stepping in front of me to stop Courtney from coming closer.
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry, I heard what happened to Abby, I know you were close to her." Fred tightened his grip on my hand. I clenched my teeth, it would be better if I didn't say anything.
"Thank you Courtney" Matt said directing his sister around me. She was only half way up the stairs when she turned back around.
"Not that it matters now," she started as she walked backwards us the stairs. "But, Charity and I were making fun of her homemade gifts—Christmas gifts—she was making for you guys; we feel just awful about it now of course…she was so sweet" Courtney said, her tone, her voice, everything about her made me want to strangle her. And Charity too, wherever she was. I started to move but within the second I frozen in place as if bonded and then Courtney was gone. "Fred, let her go" Matt said. Just then, whatever invisible force that was wrapped me was gone, but I still couldn't move. "George, you too" Matt said kindly.
"Why did you do that?" I asked my voice on end.
"If she's really doing Madison's bidding, what are the chances she won't attack you with the same plant?" Fred snapped. I ignored him and headed up the common room, focusing on a book for five minutes and then fell apart, Fred rocking me as George patted me on the back, Hermione and Harry saying positive things as Ron nodded in agreement. "Where's Charity anyway?" I asked when I felt like I could cry no more.
"No one knows, but, she's not at school, I heard some rumors that she got sent home, I think she has to go to the Ministry" Hermione explained.
"Why?" I asked but in the back of my mind I had a sinking feeling it had to with Courtney and Burnner. "Good, she can get convicted and rot in Azkaban for all I care" I said feeling my eyes swell up again. "And don't say Abby wouldn't want that" I interrupted looking at the twins.
"I was going to say Abby would probably drag the bitch there herself…" he said as Lee and Matt came in.
"C'mon, I got these while in Hogsmade and left them in the kitchen for safekeeping" Lee said as he passed each of us a bottle of bottle beer. "Melinda and Draco already had their toast" he said as he took a seat next to Matt.
"To Abby" George said as I stared at the golden liquid.
"To Abby" the rest of echoed as we all took large swigs of drinks. None of us said anything, not that we could if we wanted to. "She was gonna be a Beater," I said with a nod as the others nodded too.
"She would've made a wonderful Prefect had she not been involved with the twins" Hermione piped in as we sort of smiled.
"I still can't believe she stunned Charity" Harry said finishing his drink first. We all nodded again, and went back to silence. At some point Matt excused himself, offering to take the cups with him. No one refused as we passed along our cups and watched him leave. He was taking this much harder than he should've. Although we informed Lee of our plan he thankfully offered to stay behind and be the one to tell the Professors if we were gone too.
We met the others at seven and waited until eight-thirty when we started to leave. Matt was waiting just outside the library. "Where have you been?" I asked.
"Thinking" he said quietly. I searched his face for a lie, only thing I saw was how tired he looked, even his blue eyes looked grey.
"Well, we're leaving, you don't have to come, we understand how serious this is and how it could harm your sister, but, we can't stand by and watch this happen" Hermione explained.
"That wasn't fair what happened to Abby, no child should have to suffer through that, especially not at the hands of an adult. We might be able to stop Courtney in the process, but I'm not betting on it," Matt said looking around at us.
"Even if we can't reverse the evil she's done, we can still save her" George added trying to sound optimistic as we headed down the hall.
"She can't be saved…" Matt said, almost inaudible. I had to look back at Matt—who had a stone faced expression—to make sure it wasn't my imagination that heard his voice shaking.
Professor Madison headed to Dumbledore's office; not even bothering to leave her own office locked. George stood watch while the rest of us hurried in. I went to her desk, trying to find any piece of evidence linking her to Margret while Melinda focused on where she was going. The others searched for potions, letters, books or plants that could connect her with Courtney or Abby.
Almost instantly Hermione found a visitor tag for St. Mungos, while Ron found a book titled: Seer's Link. Melinda and Draco found a few jewels that we knew for a fact Professor Barrass had given her. Harry and Matt found lesson plans from third year scattered under the closet. Fred found a draw full of pictures, organized into three piles. The only picture in the third pile had a red X through it, it was the same picture I had of me and Abby before the first Quidditch game; it suddenly dawned on me that Courtney had taken the picture. Even though we had a lot of proof my there seemed to be a nagging sensation in the back of my mind. Fred stuffed the pictures in the bag we had brought with us; Hermione had put a charm on it so that it only opened to our voices.
"I know we're making good progress and all, and I certainly don't want to start again, but, doesn't this seem a bit too easy?" Ron asked. We all looked around at each other. "Well, I mean, she could just be bloody awful at hiding things."
"No, you're right, something's wrong, look for anything really peculiar," Melinda instructed. I nodded in agreement as we now shifted our focus, but still the nagging feeling didn't go away.
"Look, let's just go with this, it's better than nothing; I don't think she'll be able to get herself out this. Besides, she'll be back soon" Draco told us, looking at the time, it was about twenty minutes in, we still had ten minutes left. Everyone else nodded in agreement, I looked at Melinda who gave me the same unconvinced look I knew I was giving her.
"Yeah, we have her, she's going to Azkaban" Matt said giving my hand a squeeze. I leaned back in the chair.
"It will be enough, Dumbledore will understand" Fred reassured me walking over, Matt getting up to give Fred his seat.
"And all of us agree and they can examine Courtney, it's more than enough." Melinda's voice was certain, full of determination. "We'll never have to see her again" she added as Draco gave her shoulders a squeeze, sweeping the last bit of doubt from her face. Ron passed a book to Hermione who scanned the cover and then quickly through the pages.
"Tammie…" she said. I sat up, alarmed by her high tone. "Tammie, are these directions and a map?" she passed me the book. Instantly, my heart sank, in sank even further as I read the words America on the top of the page.
"What's wrong?" Melinda asked quickly walking over to join me. I held up the book, her face drained of color as she saw the name, road and description of her house and mine. "Oh my god…" she whispered.
"The school is on here too" I added looking back at the book.
"That's where her leave of absence is taking her. To our homes where she's planning on killing our families and then she's going to murder Professor Barrass. She knows we'll follow, and we can't do magic at home," Melinda explained.
"Well, technically you can't because you'll be expelled but I think that will be the least of your worries if your families are threatened or if you die" Harry offered but Melinda wrinkled her nose, if only for a minute.
"But they'll have to send someone from the Ministry, they'll take care of her" George added from the doorway.
"She'll be gone by then!" I exclaimed, anxiety building up.
"Listen, we don't have to worry about America unless our plan here doesn't work and even then, if doesn't work she's going kill us, we have too much information and we're going to confront ourselves." Ron reminded us.
"We just have to make sure our plan works then" Draco said firmly. I nodded in agreement, the nagging still in my mind as I looked around at everyone else nodding. "Does it say anything else?" Draco asked nodding at the book.
"I can hardly read it, it's not coded, just bad handwriting," I said looking over the pages again before passing it around. "She's leaving tomorrow" I added.
"At least we know it's hers" Melinda said looking over the pages. "It's a short trip, she's not bringing much" she added passing the book back to me.
"We weren't supposed to find that" Harry said. I flipped through the book again, turning the pages slowly, trying to bat away the nag and anxiety.
"Where did you find this?" I asked. He pointed a book, Rights and Equalities for the Lesser Man: A Guide. "Behind that one" he said. I stood up to study the book, the nag turning into warning.
"C'mon, she's on the move" George said grabbing his wand and leaving the room. Matt and Harry followed, Fred and I behind them, the others somewhere behind us. We quickly and quietly made our way down the steps, her in view. She looked just as determined as Melinda did a few minutes ago. As we followed the warning seemed to grow louder and louder. Something was wrong. I ignored it as I followed Fred. We just needed to confront her. I reminded myself as we quickened our pace; I ran through the plan in my mind: confront, distract, apprehend her at any cost, get Dumbledore. Don't let her get away. It took longer to get down and out of site behind Hagrid's hut while she was in front, though we did manage to do it successfully, causing the warning in my mind to scream.
I peeked around; she was adjusting her broomstick, humming to herself. At least she'd be thrown off guard by our direct approach. I thought to myself looking over at Melinda who gave me thumbs up. This was it. George would appear first; she still favored him, the first crack. Harry, Ron and Hermione would pull out their wands; it would certainly be a surprise for her. Matt, Fred and Draco would stand in front of me and Melinda, the three unlikely people she'd expect to protect us, especially together.
Harry, Ron and Hermione moved forward, Matt backing up, pushing Melinda behind him, Draco on his other side holding Melinda's hand. Fred moved from his place next to me, to in front of me, my hands loosely wrapped around his arm. All our wands were out. George walked out. "Professor" he said casually, as if he were supposed to be taking an evening stroll after hours outside.
"Good evening Weasley," she said.
