One Step Closer
The look on Albus and James's face, when hearing that Rosie was turned to stone, almost killed Basil. Her guilt was spilling over and her days were filled with staying in her room and moping about how she couldn't save Rosie. Anna spent her days studying and consoling both Albus and Basil over the loss of Rosie. It didn't help much that the Aurors that were placed around the school were Harry Potter and Ron Weasley; everytime Basil passed by Mr. Weasley, her heart just broke into pieces.
"It's March Basil, it's getting worse. We need to keep up with our studies and find this person who did this." Anna expressed as her work was sprawled out on a desk in the common room.
Basil sat silent in a chair with her work already finished and thrown back in her bag. These days she finished her work, half-assed, but complete; now she mainly put her effort in looking in books of curses. Yet, Basil class grades were excellent for someone who doesn't try as much. The only thing she couldn't get right was Defense Against Dark Arts.
"I'm doing great except for Defense Against Dark Arts. I just need to find something." Basil replied nonchalantly while reading another book.
The door to the common room swung open to reveal Albus, Meg, and Persephone; for the past few months, Albus would wait for Meg and Persephone to come up to the tower so he could join them to talk to Anna and Basil. Albus looked stressed as he swung himself on the love seat and threw his head into his hands and groaned.
"Kylie Jefferson has invited us over to their common room. We're going to go change." Meg informed and Persephone launched forward to Anna and Basil.
"Wanna come with? We need some girl time!" Persephone smiled. Her eyes however were staring daggers at Albus.
"No thanks, we need to talk to Albus." Anna replied with a slight bit of regret. They wanted to hang out with Meg and Persephone, but they were so busy with Medusa's curse.
"You're always with that boy; he's so boring if you ask me. I guess we'll see you in the morning." Persephone stomped her way up the stars with Meg in toe.
"So what's the word on Rosie?" Anna asked Albus softly, ignoring what had just happened. His face was in a constant frown.
"They're eroding! Nurse Paige says she can't do anything until she knows the degree of how bad the curse was. To do that we need the person who did it. All of them will be dead by the end of the year." Albus inhaled and threw his face into the loveseat.
Anna and Basil sat stiffly at what he said; his own cousin will be dead by June. That leaves a little more than three months to find out who the culprit is. Anna stood awkwardly for a moment then left for their room to grab a textbook. Basil looked over at Albus sympathetically but did not dare to move towards him. She flipped through the pages of her notebook to look busy until she found the page of people affected.
Young
McGinty
Weasley
Her eyes scanned the list and nothing seemed to pop out to her. Basil shuffled over to Albus and patted his back lightly; Albus touched her hand and looked to Basil with depressing green eyes. They didn't say anything but Basil felt incredibly awkward looking towards her friend so lovingly; her other hand clutching the notebook tightly. Fake coughing came from dormitory door that was adjacent to them. Both of them shot their eyes towards Anna, who was standing there tautly.
"So…did I miss anything?" Anna sat back down in her chair and stared at her friends.
Basil shrugged and handed Anna the notebook of names of the people they found that were affected by the person. It was Ministry members, Aurors, and the three Hogwarts students. Anna scanned the list with her bright blue eyes widening; Albus and Basil spun around Anna to look at the list also.
"Look at the names." Anna spoke and pushed her finger towards the Hogwarts student's names.
"Young, McGinty, and Weasley. What about it?" Albus asked as his eyes scanned the pages again and again.
"Alexander Young, secretary to Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt. Cameron McGinty, head of Department of International Magical Cooperation. Then Hermione and Ron Weasley, Department of Magical Law Enforcement high official and Ron Weasley is an Auror." Anna explained as she went through the list.
"Ministry members, but why target their kids?" Basil questioned. Her voice was slightly lost as the pieces came together.
"All of them live in high security houses. It's a privilege of workers at the ministry. I have it in my house too." Anna exclaimed with her face lighting up.
"So, we can tell who he'll strike next!" Albus finally smiled as the realization finally hit them.
"We did it! We did it!" Basil jumped up and hugged both Anna and Albus tightly.
They celebrated for a little longer until Meg and Persephone came through the door of the girls' room and stared at them like they were crazy. The main three stood and looked to each other until Meg and Persephone left while staring at them suspiciously. As soon as they left, the three laughed at each other.
"Anna, will you be able to know who might be struck next?" Albus asked and kept laughing.
"Of course, I have a copy of list of Ministry members from my father's work." Anna shot up and darted for the room.
Basil smiled, for once it wasn't fake and she felt free; after a long year of going through notes and books, she'll find her culprit. It was all because Anna Winchester's father worked with the Ministry! Reality suddenly hit her though, it might be Anna…Basil shook his head and looked towards Albus. His attention was drawn towards the door that Anna left and his eyes wouldn't leave it, waiting for her to come back.
"Oh no," Basil finally made words. "Anna is possibly a target." Basil whispered behind Albus.
"No…" Albus turned to Basil with sad, wide eyes. "We have to tell her!"
"No, let her be happy. She's been working on this for months now, let her have her moment." Basil insisted and Anna immediately appeared.
Anna was going through the list of people with more enthusiasm than she showed when they were on the train to Hogwarts. Albus was gazing at her with pitiful eyes, but every time Anna looked to him, he looked away at the pamphlet. Basil masked her worries as excitement for finally being able to catch the person and gave Anna all the glory for finding a major clue.
"Let's keep a watch on the kids, but I'm getting tired from all of this. I'll see you both tomorrow before Charms. Bye guys." Albus yawned and left the two.
Anna and Basil were growing tired and they hurried up to their room and got ready for bed. Anna was murmuring about what they could do to catch the criminal until her words turned to yawns, and then the room was silent. Basil tossed and turned over for about an hour with her mind clouded with horrible thoughts of Anna being hurt; Basil threw everything away from her mind and focused on the moon until sleep overcame her.
A man stood staring at Basil with glowing eyes and his voice was nothing but hissing and growling. Basil didn't know what to do; he was edging nearer and nearer and yelling out incantations that she wasn't familiar with. Basil's feet started to go numb, and then her legs; her eyes scanned downward and she saw that she was turning a dark grey.
"No! Stop it!" Basil screamed and threw her arms out.
The man slapped her arms away and the feeling numbness was crawling up to her neck; she couldn't find words to yell out to. The man cackled and pointed at Basil, her eyes almost blinded until the man stepped into the light and-
"Basil! Wake up." Anna's voice broke through her dream and the pillow was thrown on her face.
Basil shot up and inhaled fresh air as if she hadn't been breathing for years. Anna was putting her curly hair in a ponytail and she was dressed in her school robes. Basil said nothing and went through her morning routine to be ready for class. Meg and Persephone were sitting on their beds, looking over their essays for Professor Binns.
"Were you having another nightmare?" Meg asked as they walked down the tower to the Great Hall.
"Yes, how do you know I have nightmares?" Basil asked defensively while rearranging her robes.
"You've had three or four so far. You're always screaming about a man or a snake-"
"Yeah and then you yell about being blind or numb." Persephone added onto Meg's explanation.
Basil became quiet in their conversation; her nightmares were rare but it was still personal to her. Especially since that it had much to do with her current predicament with the man who has done all the damage. Once they sat down for breakfast, Albus had come over and said his good morning and asked to talk to them after eating.
"You guys are always with Albus." Persephone stated with a bit of a whine in her voice.
"We've been helping him through the whole Rosie thing, you know?" Basil reminded, Persephone rolled her eyes and kept eating.
"Why don't we study tonight? Finals are coming up and Coleman is being so hard on us now. Basil, you're great at Potions." Meg pleaded and gave Basil puppy eyes.
"We'll try; we might be busy with Albus." Anna assured and continued to eat her eggs.
"You're always with him! We're your friends too you know." Persephone shouted and turned a dark red.
"I'm sorry, we've been busy." Anna tried to apologize but Persephone went on a rant.
"-I don't even know why you're with him all the time! His bastard father-"
"Shut up Persephone! How can you even say that? Just because your father was canned for not being at his post, doesn't mean you can say those things!" Basil screamed at the top of her voice. Her face red and her fist punching at the table.
Persephone made a loud 'hmp' and left the table with Meg trailing behind, saying words that sounded apologetic. Basil clenched her fork and knife as she finished off her plate with her face bright red from screaming so loudly. A hand went to touch Basil's shoulder, only to meet Basil's knife up to his pale little nose.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Basil growled and lowered her knife.
"Never mind Sweets, I'll ask when you're not deadly." Scorpius rolled his eyes and strutted off with Sylvestri and Peter.
Anna took the utensils from Basil and gave her a stern look. Basil brushed it off and slide out of her seat and walked out of the Great Hall, Anna in toe. Both of them stood in the entrance of the Great Hall until Albus appeared with a look of admiration for Basil.
"I heard what Persephone said. I also heard what you said. So thanks." Albus laughed awkwardly as Basil smiled as a reply. "What did Malfoy want?"
"I have no idea. He saw me with the knife and backed off. It's better when he's not around anyways." Basil sighed and looked around the halls.
The three entered the extensive hallways, searching for somewhere to talk in private about another plan of action, when none other than Harry Potter and Ron Weasley approached them. Mr. Weasley had sagging circles under his eyes, obviously tired, and his attire was messily put together. His robes were tattered, and he could barely find words to greet them.
"Dad! Uncle Ron! What are you doing here?" Albus exclaimed with a joyful smile.
"We need to talk in private. James is coming too. Anna and Basil should come also." Harry replied naturally.
The trio followed the older men up another level of stairs and down an abandoned hallway; the walls were covered of portraits of past teachers and excelling students from the late 1800's to early 1900's. The hallway opened up to a magnificent double door with diamond forming a mosaic sunset on both doors. The room they entered was about the same size as the Headmaster's office; it had a massive desk towards another window with colored glass, the floor was cluttered with books and papers about spells and hexes that had yellow marking in it; tapestry was strung from the ceiling that fell to the floor into a mess of tattered red and gold.
"What is this place?" Anna questioned while sitting into red colored chair across from the desk.
"For now, it's our office until we find whoever is attacking these students." Mr. Potter responded and placed himself at the desk.
Ron sat himself next to Harry in another chair while Albus and Basil found seats by Anna. No one said a word, making it awkward for Basil, as the adults whispered to each other and faced away from the kids. Soon enough James Potter made his entrance with a nervous laugh at the group.
"Hello dad! Uncle Ron, looking good." James laughed and leaned against the desk.
"James, you're not in trouble. None of you are." Harry assured with a casual laugh. "It's about the attacks that have happened."
"The Ministry is going insane with their members dropping dead and the students being turned to stone." Ron added with a miserable expression. His eyes were dark and never made eye contact.
"We know about Arnold Sweets previous attempts years ago. I wanted to ask you, Basil, if you have any knowledge of your grandfather or his cohorts." Harry narrowed his soft green eyes towards Basil. It was just now that Basil saw the uncanny resemblance between the two.
"No, my grandfather is very ill. He's in the hospital from what my parents have said. He's not allowed to talk to anybody from the Wizarding World also." Basil replied with her temper being controlled very well. Normally these accusations would have her in a fit.
"Oh, very sorry then." Mr. Weasley stated bluntly.
"Mr. Potter, I think we know who he is targeting." Anna spoke up. Basil and Albus stared at her resentfully.
"Yes?"
"Whoever it is, they're targeting all the children of the ministry. There should be more protection for these students, correct?" Anna squeaked. Her voice had become a high squealing sound as she addressed Harry.
"Of course, thank you for this." Harry smiled again. His smile was just like Albus's.
"Now Al, we know you hear our adventures a lot-"
"Every night at home." Albus interrupted with laugh.
"Exactly," Ron agreed, a smile finally appearing on his sunken face. "But you shouldn't go after this person."
"Why would I?" Albus remarked with a facade.
"Rosie has been attacked. I know when Hermione was attacked by the Basilisk, Harry and I went ballistic trying to find whoever did it." Ron added with a nostalgic tone of reminiscing.
"Even worse to be with Lockhart." Harry added, Ron laughed. "Anyways, James, have you seen my Marauder's map?" James turned a slight pink.
"Nope, haven't seen it. Maybe Kreacher moved it while cleaning." James suggested and leaned back in his chair.
"I'll ask him when I go back home. Thank you for coming girls." Harry gestured towards Anna and Basil. "Mum sends her love to both of you boys." Harry smiled to his boys.
Anna and Basil stood up and waited by the door while Albus and James hugged their father and uncle goodbye. All four left the hallway and straight to the ground floor; James exhaled and searched through his bag and brought out an older looking object.
"James! You took dad's map!" Albus accused with a tomato face.
"I needed it, but it looks like he's catching on. So here, keep it safe until June." James instructed as he handed the map to Albus.
"I don't even know how to work it." Albus fought with irate mien.
"Just tap it with your wand and say 'I solemnly swear I am up to no good' and it works. To make it disappear just say, 'Mischief managed'." James explained. Suddenly some of older Gryffindor students appeared. "See you Al." James said quickly and left for his friends.
Anna, Albus, and Basil stood in the hall and said nothing; Basil analyzed the people and structure around herself. The hallway had the doors again; it had been a long time since Basil acknowledged the existence of the ancient looking doors with padlocks attacked to the handles. After the meeting, Basil couldn't get the miserable expression of Ron Weasley from her mind. It's all your fault. Her mind reminded her; she knew she had to make it up to the Weasley family. The key! After rummaging through her bag, Basil found the key she had found months ago; older and silvery with her name carved in it.
"I can see the doors right?" Basil asked rhetorically, her answer will be the same as before.
"Yes you can. We can't though." Anna agreed and grabbed the key from Basil's hands gingerly.
"So we'll have to go on a little adventure, won't we?" Basil gave both her friends a sly smirk.
"No! Did you not listen to Mr. Potter? We cannot go after this man." Anna debated. Her arms crossed over her chest and she stood stiffly.
"How else will we make it up to the Weasleys? You saw Mr. Weasley's face. He wants his daughter back." Basil reminded with her eyes set on her best friend.
"I know but-"
"Albus, what do you think?" Basil interjected. Albus looked between both friends swiftly.
"I think Basil might be right. My dad did a lot of things like this when he was younger. We can do it if we're careful." Albus agreed. His eyes did not dare look back at Anna.
"We find out which students are high up in the Ministry. We can determine when the person will strike next and we can stun him or keep him busy long enough until one of us gets a teacher or an Auror. It's simple; we just have to be careful. The key even looks like it fits the locks on the doors; I bet my grandfather has an explanation." Basil suggested.
Anna and Albus agreed with this plan; the list of kids that had parents that worked at the ministry was awfully short and would not take much time. They established that their plan would be at night and they would use Albus's invisibility cloak to hide and Basil's key that might just work for the lock if they had to travel through whatever the doors held behind it.
"This is a suicide mission." Anna remarked as her and Basil sat in their seats for Charms.
"We've done worse, remember?"
"That was all you, Basil. I merely stood behind and made sure you didn't get caught." Anna shook her head with a simple smile.
Both girls laughed over the past escapades, Basil was undoubtedly sure that they could catch the person; her bet was on Aguirre. After all those stunts, Basil was sure, with a little more work and effort, they'd be able to pull off this mission; except Anna was right about one thing. This was a suicide mission.
"We're dealing with a powerful wizard. He knows more spells and hexes than we do. We're only first years." Anna reminded as Professor Carrie instructed them to do a simple charm exercise.
"I understand that, but he doesn't know that we know." Basil gave her signature smirk and leaned in her chair.
"Don't be cocky." Anna stated then began to work on the exercise in front of her.
The rest of lesson went smoothly or at least for Anna. Basil was unsuccessful on making her bag to levitate but Anna had been able to lift it several inches in the air; that was before Professor Carrie shouted in her ear and causing her to drop it. This also caused the insides to explode on the floor.
"Well clean it up Winchester." Professor Carrie snapped and kicked a book across the room.
Anna and Basil scrambled to throw Anna's things back in the bag. Professor Carrie only observed at her desk with the homework that had just been turned in; her smirk was conspicuous, as if she had just won a game. As soon as the belongings were back in Anna's bag, another student skidded into the room and almost knocked both Anna and Basil over.
"Professor Carrie! It's Derek!" Kylie Jefferson squealed and threw herself into the nearest chair in exhaustion.
"What about him? Did he throw another stink bomb in the corridor?" Professor Carrie groaned as she indolently got up from her chair.
"He's another victim of the Medusa's Curse." Kylie cried and shook in the chair.
"Oh, not again." Professor Carrie said in an almost yawning voice. She leisurely left her classroom.
Anna and Basil darted out of the classroom and towards the classroom that Albus was entering. They hit their heels into the floor and stopped themselves before knocking Albus over. Albus looked at them in a mix of shock and dread; he knew something awful must have happened.
"Derek Collins was the next victim. Professor Carrie is seeing him now. Derek Collins is son of Zander Collins, one of the top Aurors." Anna bent over like she was about to heave but collapsed to her knees in exhaustion.
"That's awful." Albus looked off to the distance and exhaled. "We need to get this person, who knows who's next." Albus gazed over at Anna as she regained her breathing.
"Tonight, we'll talk through everything. We can't waste anymore time." Basil looked to the distance then back to Anna.
Anna was laughing dryly as her breathing was becoming regular again. Both Albus and Basil looked to her concerned but she didn't notice it. She's so oblivious… Basil thought and stared at Anna with fake contentment, but behind her smile was absolute terror of losing her best friend.