Chapter 3

Mayham

We only got a few hours of sleep because Mr. Weasley wanted to leave early the next morning. He got us up before the sun had even risen; no sounds came from outside the tent, which made me wonder how many people were still here. After everyone gathered up, we packed the tent and headed towards the portkey area. We passed Mr. Roberts who murmured, "Merry Christmas". He had a deadpan expression on his face.

"But-" I started saying when Mr. Weasley shot me a look that told me to shut my mouth.

"He'll be alright. A memory charm can cause some fuzziness for a while. There was certainly a lot for him and his family to forget." Mr. Weasley said sympathetically as we kept walking.

By the time we reached the portkey area, it was packed with people trying to leave. Mr. Weasley went to talk to Basil, one of the Ministry staff who was helping people leave, about getting us out of here. After a few quick words, we joined the queue to leave. We ended up getting a black tire as our portkey, so it was a lot easier for all of us to get a hold of.

After the uncomfortable journey by portkey, we arrived on Otter St. Catchpole and started walking the road back to the Burrow. It was long and exhausting because we didn't get any breakfast. Plus it didn't help that we didn't get very much sleep either. When we rounded the bend, and the Borrow was in sight we heard a scream.

"YOU'RE ALRIGHT, YOU'RE ALRIGHT" Mrs. Weasley cried, running up to us. She embraced her husband, then each and every one of us. I felt a little awkward when he hugged me. I wasn't used to this kind attention from anyone other than Harry.

"Molly, hush dear, we are fine. Let's just get inside and have some food." Mr. Weasley said soothingly to his wife. She nodded, grabbing hold of Fred and George, despite their complaints, and led us inside.

"It's all over the Daily Prophet," she said as we entered the house. She picked up a roll of paper that was sitting on the table and handed it to Mr. Weasley.

"Ah, I'm mentioned in here," He said, frowning as he looked over the article.

"Where? I didn't see it. If I had, I would've known you were alright." Mrs. Weasley said, looking at her husband.

"I'm not mentioned by name," He said as he read aloud from the paper "'If the terrified wizards and witches who waited breathlessly for news at the edge of the wood expected reassurance from the Ministry of Magic, they were sadly disappointed. A Ministry official emerged some time after the appearance of the Dark Mark alleging that nobody had been hurt, but refusing to give any more information. Whether this statement will be enough to quash the rumors that several bodies were removed from the woods an hour later, remains to be seen.' Oh really?" Mr. Weasley said, frowning. "Who wrote this? Ah, Rita Skeeter."

"She's got it in for the Ministry." Percy seethed. He was going to say something else, but didn't because Mr. Weasley shot him a look.

I sighed and got up from the table. I really wanted some sleep because I didn't get much. My eyes felt heavy, and if I stayed any longer, I would have fallen asleep on the table. I headed up the stairs to Ginny's room. Without bothering to take off my clothes and put pajamas on, I crashed on the bed Hermione and I were sharing. The second my head hit the pillow I passed out.

I was running through a damp corridor, a slithering sound followed behind me. I could see my breath in small white clouds in front of me as I panted. I lost Harry when we decided to split up in hopes to distract the snake. Apparently it had decided to go after me. Great.

I was jumping over puddles, and rocks trying to be as careful as I could so I wouldn't fall. With my luck, I just happened to jump right into a puddle and fell flat on my face. My palms were scraped and lightly bleeding, and I could feel bruises forming on my legs and arms. I shut my eyes, knowing that if I didn't I would get paralyzed.

"Your destiny is very different from your brothers." A cold voice said.

"NO!" I yelled, balling my fists. I felt around for a wall so I could use it to stand back up.

"Chloe, you have no idea how special you are. You will change the world, with my help of course." The voice continued to taunt me.

"No, I will never work with or for you." I disagreed. Anger filled my body as I finally stood back up. I had no weapons, but I was ready to tackle the snake.

I shot up from my bed, sweat beaded my forehead. I looked around the room to make sure I wasn't back in the Chamber of Secrets. My movements had woken Hermione and Ginny up. They were watching me with careful eyes.

"Are you alright?" Hermione asked, sounding worried.

"Yeah, just a dream." I answered, my tone made it clear that I didn't want to talk about it.

Just then we heard a light knock on the door. "Hermione, Chloe, you should come up to Ron's room," Harry whispered through the door. The three of us gave each other confused looks before Hermione and I left the room.

When we arrived at Ron's room, the boys were on Ron's bed. They had changed into their pajamas, I assume so they could get some sleep as well.

"What do you want?" I asked, annoyed. I rubbed my eyes with my hands, trying to clear away my sleepiness.

"I need to tell you guys something." Harry said.

"What is it?" Hermione asked with interest. She sat down on the cot that Harry would be sleeping in. I sat down beside her, crossing my right leg over my left.

"My scar hurt on Saturday morning-" Harry started to say.

"Your scar hurt? You need to talk to Dumbledore, straight away. Perhaps even go see Madam Pomfrey." Hermione interrupted. I rolled my eyes at her.

"Hermione, let him finish." I said. I remember him mentioning something about his scar just before we left the Dursleys house to come here.

"But he wasn't... like there was he?" Ron asked softly. He sounded terrified at the idea of Voldemort being out and about.

"There was no way he was there," Harry said. "He was with Wormtail and someone else, I didn't get a good look at them. But they were plotting to kill… someone." He continued to explain. I had a funny feeling that he didn't mention who they wanted to kill on purpose. I gave Harry a look, asking who it was. I could tell by his expression it was him.

"Well at least it was only a dream." Ron said bracingly. "Just a nightmare."

"Yeah," Harry mumbled. "But was it though?"

"It's weird, your scar hurting and three days later his followers are attacking people and the Dark Mark is out again." I said softly.

"Let's not forget what Professor Trelawney said at the end of last year. That he would get back a faithful servant to help him return to power." Harry reminded the group.

The look on Hermione's face changed to disbelief, "Oh, Harry you're not going to pay any attention to what that old fraud says."

"You weren't there, it was different. Her voice changed and she didn't remember what she had said after." Harry countered.

"It's true, I was there." I said while nodding my head. Seeing Professor Trelawney actually predict something was an experience I'll never forget.

"You still can't seriously think-" Hermione started to say

"Harry, didn't you send a letter to Sirius?" I interrupted her, changing the subject. I was not in the mood to hear Hermione go off on another 'I hate Divination and Professor Trelawney' rant.

"Yeah, I did. I'm surprised he hasn't responded yet." Harry said looking out the window.

"Good thinking," Ron said "I'm sure Sirius will know what to do." Ron sounded like that was the end of the matter.

"But he could be anywhere, couldn't he?" Hermione said. "Who knows when we will get a response."

"Harry, let's go out and practice quidditch." Ron said abruptly.

"Good idea," Harry said as he started to get up.

"Can I come?" I asked quickly. I hadn't been on a broom since the end of last year at school. I was dying to get back in the air.

"You guys! We should be getting rest!" Hermione said, sounding upset.

"You can get rest, I need to play quidditch." Harry responded as he grabbed his broom. "Chloe, you can come along too."

"Great!" I said happily. "Hermione, I'm sure we'll only be a few hours. I'll meet you back in Ginny's room when we are done."

For the next few days Mr. Wesley and Percy were both busy at the Ministry. Both left before the family got up and returned after dinner. It wasn't until the weekend that we saw either of them at the house.

"It's been a mess at the Ministry," Percy complained the Sunday before we were to return to Hogwarts. "People have been sending howlers."

"Why?" asked Ginny as she repaired one of her school books.

"Complaints about the security at the World Cup." Percy explained. "Many of them are wanting compensation for damaged personal goods."

Soon Percy and Mrs. Wesley started arguing about Rita Skeeter, and how the Ministry was overworking Mr. Wesley. Minutes after the argument started Mr. Wesley came home. There was a flash of light at the fireplace and, he spun into view in the fireplace.

"Arthur!" Mrs. Wesley cried.

"Evening," Mr. Wesley said as he brushed soot off his robes. "Rita Skeeter has been ferreting around the Ministry trying to dig up information to write about." He complained to the group. "It's bad enough she's found out about Bertha going missing."

"Right, Ron, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Chloe, why don't you go up and start packing. We need to leave early in the morning to make the train." Mrs. Wesley interrupted.

Annoyed, we all headed up the stairs and into our own rooms to finish packing. I opened my trunk and started throwing in extra robes and clothes on top of the school supplies I had already packed. Hermione sat down on Ginny's bed, having already packed, and sighed.

"What's up?" I asked as I attempted to stuff a green and silver scarf in my trunk.

"I'm just wondering how…" she glanced at Ginny, "this year is going to go."

"I assume the same as last year. A certain someone will continue to ignore me, you're going to be top of every class, Harry is going to get into some sort of trouble, and everything will be as it should be." I said with a half smile.

AN: My goodness it has been a while. Sorry for how long this has taken for me to post. I honestly forgot I had this sitting in my documents for the longest time. But here's the 3rd chapter! Let me know how it is!