There was a week left until the final task. A week. To say I was shitting myself was an understatement. Anything to help calm me down was welcome. Padma, who was head girl of Ravenclaw, suggested I treat myself and relax in the Prefects' bathroom. So that evening, I made my way to the 5th floor and into the 4th door to the left of the statue of Boris the Bewildered. After giving him the password, he let me in.

My mouth opened when I entered the bathroom. It was no less than stunning. I could see why Padma had sent me there. Opposite of the toilet stalls sat a large bath. The size of a small swimming pool, it looked like it would take forever to fill.

The amount of water it must waste!

Buy hey, I was potentially going to die in a week, so why not?

I walked up to the bath and turned on the jeweled taps. The water ran all different colours like a rainbow cascade, and, much to my surprise, the tub filled rather quickly. I undressed, lowered myself into the hot water, and sighed. Bubbles encompassed me as I took in my surroundings. There were three large stained glass windows, one depicting a mermaid. She flicked her ginger hair and winked at me.

I shut my eyes and listened to the rain. I cleared my mind, blocking out all thoughts about the Clash of Magic, Professor Snape, and Harry. I hadn't seen Harry in a few days, and I wasn't taking it too well. He was the only one who had any idea of what I was going through, but I supposed this time apart would do us good. It would give me more time with Luna. My beautiful Luna. I cursed myself for getting so mad at her the other day. Proposing to her seemed like a dream. I loved her so much. And I knew what people would say: "You're only 18!" "After only a few months?" "Marrying another girl? You'll go straight to hell!" "Where will you live?" but we'd figure it out somehow.

When thought and reality began to take over again, I dunked my head under the water, but I soon I returned to the surface because I'd heard screeching and hissing. I looked out the window. There was a glittering green skull in the sky with a snake protruding out its mouth. I gasped in shock; I'd sworn I'd seen it before.

What the F-

I stared at it without blinking until it vanished. There was no relaxing after that. I got out of the tub, dressed, and hurried out the bathroom. Before reaching the grand staircase, I was halted by a swarm of students in the hall bickering to each other. In front of them stood Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape. Somehow, Snape had already spotted me and was giving me a suspicious look. I tousled my wet hair and listened in as the headmaster spoke.

"Settle down, everyone!" Dumbledore yelled, "Some of you may have noticed the obscure marking in the sky just now...Do not panic. As long as we teachers are here, no harm will come to you."

Harm? What harm? What was that thing?

"Hogwarts will be in lock-down until further notice." Dumbledore announced, only evoking more fear in the students. At that moment, all I did was panic. My hand moved up to my mouth. I scanned the crowd for anyone I knew. I needed to be with Luna, to protect her. If she got hurt I'd never forgive myself.

"Fay!" Someone tapped me on the shoulder. It was Padma. "Did you see it? In the bathroom?"

"Yeah! What was it?"

"They're saying its...Lord Voldemort..."

V-voldemort? Near the castle?

I turned back to Snape. His dark eyes never left me. He was looking at me like I had something to do with this. As if! He started pushing through the students to get to me, and, like I was paralyzed, I stood and waited for him.

"My office. Now."

"But, Professor-"

"NOW."

I had no choice but to follow him down to the dungeons. Not a word was spoken the entire way. Did it not look weird to anyone that I was the only student being taken away by a delusional professor?

Once we were inside, he locked the door and cast the silencing charm on it.

"W-...what was that thing, Professor?...That thing in the sky?" I had to know.

He turned around, "That...'thing'...was the dark mark, the symbol of Lord Voldemort."

And what does this have to do with me?

"...What does he want?" I asked.

"I can't be sure of that..." He eyed me suspiciously again.

I narrowed my eyebrows, "...What do you want?"

"What do I want?" He looked offended; I did speak to him rather rudely for a student, but I was just so sick of being accused of things I didn't do. "...What I want...is for you to obey my orders for once and stop being such an insufferable,...sneaky...common..."

"Oh, enough with that!" I interrupted him. "Ever since I arrived at Hogwarts you've made me out to be some lying, cunning, little bitch! And even after finding out I've been telling the truth, you're still on at me! You've cost me one of my best friends!"

He grabbed me by the neck, "Let's make one thing clear, Woodcroft...Harry Potter...was never...your friend. You think he cares about you?" Tears formed in my eyes. "You sneak around the castle at night,...you break into the Prefects' bathroom,...And I know that boy you were with at the Warlock's Prom was really Luna Lovegood." My eyes widened. "You've been breaking the rules this entire school year...and I haven't said a word. I could have easily reported you to the headmaster and had you out of here in the flick of a wand." He backed off, "I'm to keep you safe until the final task, so I suggest you treat me with a little...more...respect."

"...Keep me safe?"

This prick has done anything but keep me safe!

"I have been instructed to do so..."

"...Instructed by who?"

Snape gave me the death stare, "I don't think you realize you're playing with fire, Miss Woodcroft. As I said, for once, you need to shut that mouth of yours and adhere to my commands...It may just save your life."