Chapter Ten
The look on Alice's face was just about what you'd expect when someone hears that they might have
Death Eater at their university. "But how could they have gotten there?" Alice asked, her eyes full of fear. Harry thought she looked really adorable right now, but he was pretty sure this wasn't the right time to point that out. Harry knew there wasn't a Vanishing Cabinet at ASU, so there must be another way that the Death Eaters were getting through. Arthur's face was scrunched up in thought as well, and both men answered in unison: "a Portkey!"
"What's a Portkey?" Alice asked. "A Portkey is something that is enchanted to allow you to travel instantly to a pre-determined destination," Harry explained. "It can be anything, and the Death Eaters could come through it at any time." "We've got to get back and find the Portkey, then," Alice said, already standing up to grab her coat. "You can't just go around checking the personal items of everyone on your campus. First, that would take far too long. Second, that would raise quite a lot of suspicion," Arthur said, and Harry nodded in agreement. "Then how do we find it?" Alice asked.
Harry didn't really have an answer for that question, but thankfully, they were interrupted by the sound of the front door opening and familiar voices filling the foyer. Harry immediately recognized Hermione's voice and turned towards the doorway just as she walked in. She was just as he remembered her, and all at once he was flooded with old feelings for her. Of course he couldn't act on any of them now. He was very happy with Alice, and Hermione had been with Ron for quite a while now. Hermione smiled at Harry and met him in the middle of the room to give him a big hug. After they embraced Harry turned to Alice and smiled, "Alice, this is Hermione." Alice stood up and smiled. "Hi. I've heard a lot about you." Hermione smiled back and said, "It's nice to meet you, Alice. Harry is very lucky to have you." Harry thought he heard a twinge of resentment in her voice but decided not to ask about it. "Good thing you guys came back when you did. Harry and Alice are heading back to ASU tonight," Arthur said.
"We think there's a Portkey at ASU, and that's how the Death Eaters got through," Harry said to Ron and Hermione, who both nodded solemnly. "I'm gonna go pack up my stuff," Alice said, giving Harry a peck on the cheek as she headed upstairs to pack. "It's great to see you, Hermione. It really is," Harry said, smiling at her. "But, uh, I should probably go pack up myself, since we're leaving tonight and all." Harry headed up the stairs, mentally cursing himself for making that situation so damn awkward. Hermione was one of his oldest and closest friends, so why should any of that change?
Arthur dropped Harry and Alice off at the airport with an hour to spare before their flight. The entire time they were waiting for their plane, Harry was going through all of the things that he thought could be a likely Portkey and what the Death Eaters would want with Eric. They boarded the plane and Alice slept most of the way there. Harry couldn't sleep, though he tried. His mind was racing with all of the possibilities of what they could be facing when they got back to ASU.
When Alice and Harry got back to campus, everything appeared to be relatively normal, which concerned Harry. He got up to his dorm room and two policemen were there waiting for him, going through Eric's belongings. "You must be Harry. I'm Officer Mayse, this is Officer Davidson. We'd like to talk to you about your roommate, Eric Watson." Harry shook hands with Officer Mayse and sat his luggage down on his bed and began to unpack as they talked. "Did you know that Eric kept a diary?" Mayse asked Harry. "No?" Harry replied. "His frequently mentions you as his best friend." Mayse said. Harry thought that was really weird, since he and Eric barely talked and Eric hadn't even been around in the last few days before break. In fact, Harry hadn't seen him anywhere lately. "We didn't find much on his person, except for his wallet, a $5 bill, and this," Mayse said, holding up a necklace and showing it to Harry. "Since you're who he considered his best friend, does it mean anything to you?"
Harry held the necklace in his hand and almost gasped aloud. He excused himself from the room, thrusting the necklace back into Mayse's hands before he could say anything. He walked down the hallway until he was sure he was out of earshot of the officers and dialed his phone.
Alice picked up on the second ring. "Hello?" she said. "Alice, it's me," Harry said. "I've found the Portkey."
Sorry it's taken so long for me to update this. You all know how finals week goes and whatnot. I will hopefully be updating more now that I'm on break for a bit.
My thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the terrible shooting in Connecticut.
Have a happy and safe holiday everyone, and please review!
Until then,
Eridium Blight