Chapter 6: The first incident
The first incident happened right before the Ravenclaw vs Slytherin Quidditch Match.
Theo was just returning, alone, from Quidditch Practice, when he found himself walking down an unknown. Glancing around, he couldn't see anyone that could help him and pulled out the Marauder's Map. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." As he searched the map to find out where he was and how to get to the Great Hall, he saw something strange. "Leonardo Böse? Here?" he exclaimed out loud. Peering closely, he saw footprints, titled 'Leonardo Böse' coming towards him. Theo glanced around, trying to see him. Suddenly, the footprints on the map turned around and began to rapidly move away from him. "I'd better follow him!" thought Theo, running after him. Down a corridor, turn right, then left, and finally stopped in corridor that was outside Filch's office. Theo peered down the corridor. It appeared empty. He glanced down at the map. Theo couldn't see Böse on that part of the map but apparently, just in front of him, standing on the spot was Justin Bordlecorn. Theo once again peered forward but couldn't see anyone who was standing in front of him. But there was something or someone lying down. Theo walked closer to the lying someone and saw that it was Justin. "What's wrong with him? Why's he lying down?" Theo asked himself but he could see someone or something lying on the floor. Looking at the map again, Theo thought. "It's probably Justin. Why's he lying down?" Coming closer, he saw why.
HIs mouth open, his hands lying limply at his sides on the floor, Justin groaned in pain. On his neck, he had a red puncture mark of large size, from which blood was trickling slowly. Backing away in horror Theo looked for someone to call. Desperately, he tried knocking on Filch's office door. Theo kneeled down next to Justin. "It's okay Justin, don't worry," he reassured him. "M...Mist..Mister B-," Justin groaned. Theo ignored it, thinking that he was probably just raving. Not wanting anything to happen to Justin while he was gone, Theo helped Justin up and, supporting him with his body, staggered down the corridor in the direction of the hospital wing. "Madam Pomfrey! Madam Pomfrey!" he shouted as they entered the hospital wing. He helped Justing onto a bed as Madam Pomfrey came rushing out of her office. "Oh!" she gasped when she saw Justin. Theo watched as she immediately got to work and began rubbing ointments on the wound. He was about to go when she stopped him. "Mr Lincoln, please fetch the Headmistress!" she instructed. Theo nodded and ran out the hospital wing. He stopped. "Where exactly is the Headmistress' office?" he asked himself, pulling out the Map, which he had put away in his robes. as he looked for the office, Theo noticed that Böse had disappeared on the Map. he quickly found the Headmistress' office and as he stood outside of the office, he realised that he didn't know the password. He didn't have to worry, as Professor Podmore came to his rescue. As she walked past him in the corridor, she whispered to him. "The password's 'Caput Draconis'." Theo nodded gratefully. He moved towards the huge stone gargoyle that presumably hid the entrance to the office. It made no signs as to have noticed him. "Caput Draconis," he said to it. Theo watched in amazement as the gargoyle nodded and, moving aside, revealed a flight of circular stone stairs that were moving upwards. shaking himself, Theo quickly stepped on to one and walked up the stairs, as the stone gargoyle moved back into place. Theo saw in front of him an ordinary wooden door which was, probably, the entrance to the office. He knocked and waied. from within the office, he heard McGonagall call out. "Come in!" Theo opened the door quickly and ran in. "Whatever is the matter?" asked the Headmistress with concern. "Madam Pomfrey needs you to come to the hospital wing, Professor! Justin's been wounded!" he exclaimed. McGongall nodded determinedly. "Yes! Of course! Come with me, Lincoln!" she said sharply as they rushed from the office.
At the hospital wing, McGonagall frowned with concern. "You will be able to fix it, won't you, Poppy?" she asked as they gazed down upon Justin, who was sleeping by means of a Sleeping Draught. Madam Pomfrey nodded. "I've fixed Bill Weasley's werewolf injuries, I'll fix this," she said with determination as she continued to clean the wound. "What sort of injury is this?" McGonagall asked Madam Pomfrey in whisper. "I don't exactly know Minerva but the horrid thing is that half of his blood has been sucked. I have no idea what monster might've done this," replied Madam Pomfrey. McGongall nodded and turned to Theo. "Tell me, what happened?" she asked, frowning with concern. "Well, you see Professor, I was…."
After he had explained how he found Justin, McGonagall nodded. "You may return to your dormitory now," she said. Theo sighed as he left the hospital wing. "I think we'd better investigate the place where I found Justin, tomorrow," he remarked to himself as he made his way down to the dungeons.
Dasha turned in her sleep. The dream was back. This time, the thing that was chasing took the form of a man. Dasha pulled out her wand to blast it back, but her mind was blank. As the thing came closer, she tripped over the hem of her skirt and fell down. As the man-creature came closer, she continued moving backwards on her hands, while trying to stand up and remember a spell to blast the man-creature with. She ultimately gave up as it jumped and closing her eyes, Dasha found herself awake.
Chapter 7: Investigations
"Poor Justin! Is he okay?" asked Dasha as Theo led them to where he had found him yesterday. Theo shrugged. "I think he is," he replied edgily, making Jai, for some unknown reason smirk. "Is this the place?" asked Patrick, pointing to the red stain on the floor. Theo nodded. "Well, you can't really miss it, can you?" he joked grimly. Dasha frowned as she bent down and inspected the floor. "It looks like there might be some footprints here but I can't see them properly," she said, taking out her wand. "Lumos!" she said, pointing her wand at the floor, while they all held their breath. The white, pulsing light revealed that Dasha had been correct in her theory. Depicted clearly the light from her wand were big, dusty, grotesquely shaped prints. Dasha frowned as she peered closer. "Well, what is it?" asked Patrick impatiently, as she moved her wand up ahead of her. "They look like they lead somewhere. Follow me!" she said, running down the long corridor, followed by Theo, Patrick and Jai. The footprints lead them down to the end of the corridor, down a secret passageway, which was extremely long and out into the Training Grounds. Dasha frowned. "The footprints go onto the grass and disappear from there; they don't reappear on the side," she said, answering Theo's unsaid question. "Maybe there's a secret tunnel or trap-door that leads somewhere and that's why they don't reappear," suggested Patrick, suddenly, he was stopped by a Hufflepuff fifth-year. She was a tall girl with brown hair. "You're Guinness?" she asked. Patrick nodded. "And those are your friends?" she continued. He nodded. "Professor Baruti wants to see you," she said, walking away. Patrick looked in confusion at his friends. Jai shrugged. "Come on guys, let's go," she said as they walked away. "What could Professor Caviador want with us? We haven't done anything wrong, have we?" worried Dasha. Theo shrugged. "Who knows. I don't think we have been doing anything wrong but who knows," he said as they knocked on the door. It was immediately opened by the Professor, this time wearing a purple turban and red robes. He smiled when he saw them. "Come in, come in!" he said, inviting them in. "Miss Bran, Miss Gatward, take a seat!" he said as they entered his office. It, like his classroom, had birds in golden cages, only they weren't hanging from the ceiling, but standing on shelves. The couches were made from a squashy, soft material and there were a lot of jewel-coloured cushions. "Now, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" he asked, addressing the whole group, smiling charmingly. Dasha frowned. "Actually, Professor, we were that you wanted to see us, so that was why we came here," she explained. The Professor frowned. "No, I didn't send for you. Who told you this?" he asked coolly. "A student that we don't know, sir," replied Theo. "If you don't mind, sir, we've got to get going. To practice," said Patrick hesitantly. The Professor nodded. "Yes, yes of course. Good luck for the Quidditch game tomorrow, Lincoln, Bran," he said as they left the office. "Thank you sir!"
"Where are we going now?" asked Jai. "To the hospital wing to see Justin. He should be better by now," replied Theo.
The hospital wing was empty apart from Justin, who was reading a book. As the four friends entered the room, he put his book down and waited for them to approach him. "Hi Justin! How are you?" asked Dasha, sitting down next to him. "Still a bit sore," he said, wincing as he touched his neck. Theo rolled his eyes. "Anyway, we've come to find out what you remember from yesterday," declared Theo. Dasha frowned as Justin turned to stare at him. "What I remember from yesterday? I….I was walking down to the Ravenclaw common room when suddenly, someone, I think it was a….a," he stumbled, trying to remember. "Was it by any chance a tall fifth-year girl with brown hair?" asked Dasha, making them stare at her in bewilderment. Justin nodded. "I'm not to sure, but I think it might've been. And, then this, person, tells me to follow her and I did. She led me to a strange room that was dark and then, I fell into a sort of trance. The rest I don't remember, only that I woke up to find myself in the hospital wing. I'm sorry if that was useless but I'm still feeling a bit groggy," he said, feeling his head. Dasha patted him on the shoulder as she stood up. "Nonsense, that was some really important information you gave us. Get well soon, Justin!" she called as they left the hospital wing.
"Well, what have we found out?" asked Patrick, getting out a piece of parchment. "We know that whatever happened to Justin happened in some sort of secret room. The person that might at least know who's behind all this, is that Hufflepuff fifth-year. Patrick do you know her?" asked Theo, beginning to pace back and forth. Patrick shook his head. "Nope. I don't know all the Hufflepuffs you know." Theo waved his hand. "Doesn't matter," he said, lost in thought. "What sort of injury did Justin have?" asked Dasha, looking at Theo as he walked back and forth. "Actually it really looked more like a puncture than anything else I've ever seen. I overheard Madam Pomfrey telling McGonagall that half his blood had been sucked. Hey you kno-!" he began but Dasha bet him to it. "Vampire! There's probably a vampire at Hogwarts!" she exclaimed. Jai surveyed her dubiously. "Another vampire?! Why?" she asked her. "I bet you it has to do with Saint-Germaine!" replied Dasha thoughtfully. "Who?" asked Patrick. "McGonagall told me and Dasha last year that Transfigurantes had been trying to sacrifice Jai and Dasha to Saint-Germaine. He's a vampire saint," explained Theo. Patrick nodded. "Well, we can't do anything else tomorrow. It's Quidditch. 'Night guys!" he said, shouldering his bag and going off to bed. The rest of them decided to do the same and agreed that after the game, they would go to the library if they could.