A/N: Bending the rules so that all first years share astronomy class (honestly is just makes sense, to me. You have seven grades of students and seven nights a week.)
A note from my past self, Feb 12, 2020: Hey, PZ, remember when you told yourself that this would be a nice story without your usual fucked up ideas? That was a lovely dream.
While half of the detentionees retired to their dorms for the evening, the other half raced double time to the hospital wing. Hagrid ran ahead of the group, Melissa's body hanging limp from his arms.
"Poppy! Ge' 'ere quick! " Hagrid boomed as he crossed the threshold.
"Hush!" Poppy emerged from the bedside of a sleeping student. Her voice at a loud whisper. "You'll wake the patients."
"Sorry, Poppy, bu' is urgent." His arms lifted slightly to the witch in his arms.
The matron lifted her lantern to the bundle in his arms. "Tsk. Bennett, again? Alright bring her to a bed."
"Found 'er near the forest." Hagrid explained as he laid her down as gently as he could manage. "All scrapped and bloody. A few o' the others 'ad got attacked earlier. Doubt it was the same thing, though."
"Well, that's certainly a new one for her." Madam Pomfrey muttered. Admonitions aside, the witch produced her wand and began casting diagnostic spells.
"Excuse me," Harry spoke in a hushed voice, "what do you mean by 'a new one'?"
The matron finished investigating the second spell and looked disapprovingly at Harry and the others. "What on earth are you all still doing here? Go! The patients need rest."
The others looked nervously at each other or immediately retreated towards the exit. Harry, though, persisted. "I know, and I'll leave in a bit, but what did you mean by that?"
Madam Pomfrey tsked at the boy. "I mean that this instance is different from all of the other mishaps that's brought Miss Bennett's to the hospital wing this year. Now go. It's late, and I have a patient to attend to."
Harry wanted to ask more, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned, finding Kevin shaking his head. "We'll come see her tomorrow." He promised. Harry looked further, finding both Lee Jordan and the Twins nodding assuredly. Harry could only sigh and accept the situation for what it is. He turned to Hagrid, thanking him for helping Melly, and promised his unconscious friend that he would see her in the morning before he left the hospital wing with the others.
The next morning Harry got up early for a quick breakfast and a trip to the hospital wing. Unfortunately for him, Melly had yet to wake up from whatever caused her to go unconscious. Eventually he had to be shooed from the wing to go to class. With both defence and charms being shared with the Gryffindors, it seemed that nearly everyone was aware of what had happened in the forest last night. A lot of people gave Harry pitying looks and whispered questions for his and his friends' health, along with questions about centaurs and unicorn-killing monsters lurking in the forest. Harry could hardly focus on class. The combination of last night's events, Quirrell's stuttering presence, and a headache-inducing reek of garlic all weighed down on Harry's mind. Watching the man sway through a near fainting spell, he couldn't help but think of the events of the past two days and how they were all connected. If the professor is the cause of all of it… Harry will need to tell someone about it, and soon. Though what proof can he give? Maybe if he can convince the third years to confess about looking for the stone Dumbledore can arrest Professor Quirrell for attempted theft? Having him arrested for putting students in danger can certainly help, whether or not he can prove that Melly was one of the ones that he hurt.
When the bell rang for lunch, he raced off to the hospital wing again. On his arrival, Madam Pomfrey informed him that Melly still hasn't woken up yet. Dejected, Harry sat at her side, and wondered once again of how he would bring the evidence to Dumbledore.
"Hey, Harry." Kevin's voice called out gently. Harry looked up, finding Kevin and Hannah standing over him, plates of food in hand. "You rushed off pretty quick."
"So we brought you something to eat." Hannah added.
Harry beamed a warm smile. "Thanks, guys." He accepted a plate from Hannah and ate slowly. The three of them talked quietly as they finished their meal. Talk was partly inane conversation, but the rest was encouraging to Melly's health and hope that everything will be fine in the end. Harry couldn't help but be comforted by the break. Hard as it was to see one of his oldest friends hurt, it helped knowing he had other people looking out for both of them.
A shot of movement caught his eye, as Melly suddenly bolted upright in her bed. "Ereh fo tuo teg, yrrah!" She shouted. Her eyes looked frantic about the room. When she caught Harry's shocked expression, she practically leapt out of bed and grabbed him by the shoulder. "Revlis eht knird tnod! Gnimoc seh!"
"Melly, what's wrong?" Harry asked, fear creeped in as she shook his body violently.
"Madam Pomfrey!" Hannah shouted, running to get the matron.
"Get off of him!" Kevin shouted, trying to pry Melly's fingers off his shoulders.
"Evila si elddir! Sluos ynam oot!"
"MELLY, STOP!" Harry pushed her back. The girl fell backward, her upper half dangly dangerous over the other side of the bed.
At that moment, Hannah and Madam Pomfrey made it back to the bed, having seen what had transpired. "Alright, everyone step back!" The matron commanded. They all stepped back from the bed. All except for Melly, whose body continued to dangle. With a command and a flick, Madam Pomfrey levitated Melly gently back onto the bed. "Miss Bennett, do you know where you are?" She asked placidly. The girl blinked, suddenly not at all panicked. Instead, she looked at the woman with childlike curiosity, giving no answer. "...Can you tell me your name?"
Melly looked down, ponderous. "...Ynam. Eon? Owt? Teews sa sllems esor. Ragus. Ydnac-"
"Let's try something else." Madam Pomfrey interrupted. "What's the last thing you remember?"
This time, she looked up to the ceiling. "Regnad. Revlis. Doolb. Llerriuq. Bro. Elgna-"
"Alright!" Madam Pomfrey interrupted once again. She sighed loudly, turning to the frightened first years. "I think it's best if you leave for the afternoon. I'll need to work with Miss Bennett for some time."
"Will she be alright?" Harry asked.
The matron looked over Melly with a nonplussed expression. "Hard to say. I need to determine what spell is causing these reactions, or if the cause is something ...internal." The last word seemed to have been chosen carefully as she looked back at the three of them. "I'll let you know when she's allowed to have visitors. You are dismissed." She gently shooed them away. They obeyed mutely, but once they were out of earshot the whispers started.
"What do you think happened to her?" Hannah asked.
"Not sure, but that couldn't have been an animal that attacked her." Harry nodded.
"No reason for it to be a spell, either. We were in the forest." Kevin mentioned.
"A magical animal might have, though." Hannah considered. "I'm not sure what type, but there are a lot of strange creatures in the forest."
The boys pondered over it a moment longer. "Maybe." Harry replied. Though he doubted the idea. "We'll have to see what Madam Pomfrey says when we visit her again."
The rest of the day crawled by slowly. Made worse by the fact that he had astronomy at midnight. He half-listened to Professor Sinistra as she talked about the moons of Jupiter, while others noted intently for next week's exams. All Harry could do was wait anxiously. When the class finally finished, Harry moved slowly away from the group, knowing that he would go unnoticed among the group of 40 first years. Once he pushed himself quietly into an alcove, he quickly pulled out his invisibility cloak and began to put it on.
"What are you doing?"
Harry froze. His eyes darted to the shadowed face of Draco Malfoy. Harry's own body was half-visible, but that was quite obviously due to the cloak.
"Um, just going out for a late-night stroll."
"After hours. Without your friends. With an invisibility cloak." Draco asked deadpan.
"...Yes?"
Draco huffed at the obvious lie. He then looked around the hall and, finding no one left, dove in after Harry. "Alright, what are you really doing?"
Harry frowned. His mind was already censoring parts of his intent. "I'm going to visit the hospital wing. Something about what's happening to Melly doesn't feel right."
Draco nodded slowly, having heard the rumours circling through Slytherin. Truthfully he didn't care for the ...muggleborn girl. She already seems half-mad, from what people say, and that's not including her strange ramblings spoken about at supper. That said, the boy couldn't help but feel some pull of curiosity. "I'll come with you." He offered. "You'll need someone to keep watch for you." and should he learn of anything of interest, all the better.
"Alright." Harry agreed. "We can both fit under the cloak. Come on." With a gesture, Draco took the invitation and went under the invisibility cloak. Together they made their way over to the hospital wing. When they arrived, they found everyone laid down and unconscious for the night.
...Including Madam Pomfrey. On the floor.
Harry abandoned the cloak to Draco and rushed to the matron. Her eyes were closed and her chest heaving shallow breaths, but her position showed clear signs that it hadn't been intentional.
"She's alive, but someone knocked her out." Harry informed the invisible wizard.
"I think your friend's gone mad." Draco pulled the hood back, standing over a messy, empty, bed. "She must have knocked her out and run off.
"What?" Harry stood quickly and went over to the bed Melly had been in earlier. His eyes swept across the area, settling on the nightstand. "It couldn't have been her. Melly's wand is still here."
"What else could it be, though?" Draco asked.
"I know." A quiet voice whispered. The boys looked to see a young witch laying in a bed across the wall. Her eyes were open, but her body was stiff in its laying position.
Harry marched over to her. He vaguely recognized her as a gryffindor in Melly's year. "Can you tell us what happened?"
"I don't know how it started. I was asleep." She began, her voice still at a near-whisper. "But when I woke up, Madam Pomfrey was on the ground. I saw someone, I think it was Professor Quirrell, levitating someone out of the room."
"Quirrell?" Draco gasped. "What would he be doing with an ill student?"
Harry froze at the revelation. The answer was obvious.
~"It's rare to have such loyal friends to help you in your time of need. If only I could be so lucky for my own troubles."~
"He's taken her hostage." Harry answered.
"Hostage? By Professor Quirrell?" Draco shot back incredulously.
Harry bit his lip as the facts clicked into place. "He wants something. Something Dumbledore hid in the school. ...I know where it is and I think he knows that I know. He must be using her to get to me."
"Harry, that's mad!" Draco gesticulated. "What could be so important that a professor would take someone hostage?"
"Just trust me, Draco, please!" Harry shot back in frustration. He then took a quick breath, looking between Draco and the girl laid stiff on the bed, as a plan began to formulate. "On Monday he told me that he's dying. Now he's taken Melly hostage. That can't be a coincidence. Excuse me Miss…?"
"Cromwell." The girl answered.
"Miss Cromwell," Harry nodded, "I need to know the password to Gryffindor Tower."
"Why-?"
"It's proudheart." Miss Cromwell answered.
"Proudheart." Harry repeated, nodding once before turning to Draco. "Do you know Heathcote Barbary?"
"Vaguely." Draco answered, nonplussed. "What does he have to do with this?"
"He's a seventh year, in Slytherin, knows Melly, and plays guitar." Harry clipped, as if those facts made any sense to the average onlooker. "Tell him what's going on and to meet me at the third floor corridor with the cerberus. He needs to bring his guitar!" Harry stressed. "After that, find a teacher or go to the headmaster and tell them what's going on. I'm going to get help for the other traps." He turned back to the witch. "Cromwell, when someone comes to revive Madam Pomfrey, tell them what happened. Hopefully that will be proof enough."
"I'll do that." Cromwell wisped, her voice still affected by whatever curse she was under.
Harry looked at Draco earnestly. "Draco?"
Draco took and released a resolute breath. "Alright. I'll find Barbary. Are you sure you know what you're doing?"
"I do." Harry assured. "I've been down there before, so I know what to expect."
Draco gave a resigned sigh. "Alright then. We'll meet you there soon. Good luck, Harry."
"Thanks." Harry smiled lightly. That settled, he went back under the invisibility cloak and sped out of the room to Gryffindor tower.
A short while later, a bleary eyed Ron Weasley shuffled out of Gryffindor tower, down to the third floor corridor. "Tell me why we're going down there, again?"
"I already told you." Harry stressed. "Quirrell's after the stone and he's taken Melly hostage."
"I get that, but the stone isn't there anymore." Ron paused for a moment, wide eyed. "You're not going to take it to him, are you?"
"Of course not." Harry answered. "But he doesn't need to know that. I just need to distract him long enough for a teacher to sneak in and stun him."
"If you say so, mate. I just hope this works."
"So do I." Harry replied solemnly.
A short while later they met Draco and Barbary near the corridor. "Filch is there." Draco explained. "We won't be able to get in."
"I figured." Harry replied. "Which is why you'll need to distract him."
"Me!" Draco snarled in outrage. "I'm a Malfoy, not some low-rung bait!"
"This is important!" Harry stressed, trying to keep his voice down. "The last time we went down there four was nearly too much. Corin ended up in the hospital wing. We can't risk more than three of us, and I need you to either lure Filch to the hospital wing or find a teacher to do it. Now, can you do that?"
The question was less a request and more of a challenge. The boys met the challenge in a staredown, one which Draco soon had to concede. "Fine." He huffed. "But if I get caught, you owe me for this."
"First years." Barbary grunted with mild distaste. "Don't even bother, transulto crura!" His wand twirled downward towards Draco. "Leaping Leg charm. You'll be able to outrun Filch in a heartbeat. Hide your tie so he doesn't catch what house you're in. Now, if you're done bickering we have something actually important to worry about."
The younger boys had the decency to be cowed by his chiding. With a collection of nods and apologies, everyone moved on to get into position. On Harry's signal, Draco leaped loudly across the corridor. The sound caught Filch's interest immediately, and the old man shuffled after Draco as quickly as he could. Once they were out of sight, Harry, Ron, and Barbary dove to the door. Plucking at some notes, a song was ready by the time the door opened. It was good timing, too, as the cerberus had all three heads sniffing at the door.
At the sight of all six rows of teeth, Ron and Harry immediately jumped back. Barbary, though, managed to keep his cool and continue playing the song. Slowly, the three heads backed off from the door, its eyes drooping and body falling not too far behind. Once its eyes were closed, the three boys walked over to the trapdoor.
"Once we go in there'll be some devil's snare to cushion our fall." Harry explained. "They tend to be grabby, so you'll need to cast a fire spell to scare them off."
"Easy enough." Barbary nodded. He turned his back on the trapdoor, still strumming the guitar against his chest. With a wink, he shouted "See you on the other side!" and jumped backward into the abyss.
Harry and Ron looked down the hole after the seventh year boy. A sense of dread creeping on them. "Well, here we go again." Ron commented, jumping in after Barbary.
Harry nodded once, his voice determined yet resigned. "Here we go again."
