~ Chapter VII ~

Interrogations

Team Gryffindor won a daring Quidditch match against Slytherin with the score of 190 – 80. Precisely after half-past one, a few fifth-year and seventh-year Gryffindors have decided to study for their approaching exams than joining the after match party in their common room.

As they had turned a corner of a row of shelves all of books in the library, they discovered Madam Pince lying on the floor looking almost dead.

Some girls screamed as a seventh-year boy ran out of the library searching for a professor or anyone he could seek.

Madam Pince was very pale. On her exposed neck were two puncture wounds where the vampire had bitten her and stuck her blood. Lying opened next to her was The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Seven.

The seventh-year returned with Professor McGonagall and Professor von Stein. They took the unconscious Madam Pince out of the library and into the Hospital Wing placed on the bed next to the vampire's first victim, Gilderoy Lockhart.

The news of the latest attack had quickly spread through the entire school an hour later.

'This is Samantha Grey, and this is William Weasley,' said Lillian introducing her friends to Hagrid. 'I've told you before.'

It was Sunday's morning, the day after the vampire had attacked Madam Pince. Lillian, Sammy and Bill were inside Hagrid's hut. Hagrid was pouring boiling water into a large teapot and putting rock cakes on to a plate.

'Pleases to meet you,' Sammy said, 'but you can call me, Sammy.'

'Just Bill will do, Mr Hagrid.' Bill added.

Hagrid placed four bowl-sized cups on the table. 'There's no need teh call me t'at, Bill. Everyone calls me Hagrid. I knew yer uncles,' he said sympathy, looking at Bill and his flaming red hair, 'Gideon and Fabian Prewett, they fought bravely in the War. They were great men those two, great men.'

'Thanks Hagrid,' said Bill.

'What War is he talking about?' Sammy asked Lillian in a whisper.

'The First Wizarding War,' replied Lillian. 'It started in 1970, before Bill and I were born, until it ended last year … on Hallowe'en Eve.'

'That's when Harry stopped You-Know-Who, am I right?'

'Yeah,' answered Lillian quietly. She turned to Hagrid. 'Did you hear about Madam Pince?'

'Oh I did,' said Hagrid. 'Very shockin' the vampire got Irma like it did teh t'at dim-witted Ravenclaw on Hallowe'en.'

Lillian tried her best to hide her smirk. She was delighted to hear Hagrid call Lockhart 'that dim-witted'.

'Irma?' questioned Sammy.

'T'at is Madam Pince's first name, Sammy,' said Hagrid. 'I could not believe the vampire attacked her in the broad of daylight while the whole school was out watchin' Quidditch.'

Lillian couldn't believe it what had happened yesterday.

After seizing the Marauder's Map from Mr Filch's office and falling asleep in her dorm, a Prefect (a sixth-year Slytherin girl) had woken her from her sleep. She was shocked by the news of the vampire had attacked Madam Pince at the library.

She hadn't told Sammy or Bill of the Marauder's Map. She thought it was best to keep it a secret.

'Actually Hagrid, I didn't go and watch Quidditch yesterday.'

Hagrid looked at Lillian in somewhat astonish. 'You didn' watch. Why Lillian? I thought yeh like Quidditch.'

'I still do like Quidditch, Hagrid. But I didn't get enough sleep since Hallowe'en. I went back my common room after breakfast, and slept there.'

'Yeh were very lucky the vampire didn' suck yer blood in yer sleep, Lillian.'

Lillian chuckled weakly. 'You can say that, Hagrid. The Slytherin Common Room is tightly secured from anyone who isn't a Slytherin. No offence,' she added quickly to Bill and Sammy.

'It's ok, Lillian,' said Sammy. 'We have seen Professor McGonagall very strict to anyone for breaking the rules or not handing over their Transfiguration homework to her on time.'

'So … the vampire was inside at the library …' Bill said slowly piecing the details together, 'probably hiding in the shadows … until Madam Pince saw it. Or it saw her first.'

'The vampire could be any gender,' added Lillian, 'vampire or vampiress.'

'And we were there!' shrieked Sammy. 'And it was most likely been upside down spying on us before Madam Pince kicked the three of us out! What if the vampire will get one of us next? Sucking our blood?!'

'Don't worry, Sammy,' said Hagrid. 'The vampire won' get yeh and suck yer blood. The professors and I will find it before someone else gets hurt.'

Sammy gave Hagrid a thankful gesture.

Lillian decided to change the subject. 'So … how much did I miss out of Quidditch yesterday?'

While Sammy was telling Lillian of the Quidditch match yesterday, Hagrid asked Bill what type of magical creatures Charles was really interested.

'Charles, he's such a big dragon-lover, Hagrid,' said Bill.

Mentioning of magical creatures, Lillian turned and noticed an empty spot at the corner of Hagrid's hut. 'Speaking of magical creature,' she said, 'how is Hawkeye?'

'Hawkeye is fully healed,' replied Hagrid to Lillian. 'He's out at the paddock with Featherhoof.'

'Featherhoof has finally stopped scratching and plucking Hawkeye's feathers. I know what newly-be-mothers are like when are expecting for the first time. They can be really scary.'

'Sounds like my mum … well … mum is scary along with her broomstick if we get into big trouble,' said Bill. 'By the way, who's Hawkeye?'

'And who's Featherhoof?' asked Sammy to Lillian.

'They're a pair of –'

A knock on the door interrupted Lillian.

'Now who could t'at be?' said Hagrid, getting up from his seat and heading forwards the door. He opened it.

'Is Miss Hale here with you, Hagrid?' said a low voice.

'Lillian is here, Professor Snape,' replied Hagrid, stepping back, 'along with her friends.'

Entering Hagrid's hut, the long black cloak trailed behind Professor Snape. He spotted Lillian sitting between Bill and Sammy at the table.

'The headmaster wants to meet you at his office, Miss Hale.'

Hearing that Professor Dumbledore wanted to see her, this made Lillian looking a bit off-colour.

Her mind was running. Why did Professor Dumbledore want to see her? Did somebody, who wasn't at the Quidditch match, witness a door opening by itself (by Lillian who was under the Disillusionment Charm) at Mr Filch's office yesterday and told the headmaster? Was it Peeves or one of the ghosts? Or maybe the Headmaster wanted that important memory of hers right now.

'Why?' Sammy demanded, as Lillian snapped out. She and Bill stared in gobsmack. It was very brave of Sammy to answer back to Professor Snape. 'Lillian hasn't done anything wrong –'

'Did I say anything of Miss Hale is in the wrong, Miss Grey?' Professor Snape replied softly.

Sammy went quiet, sipping her tea in a loud slurp.

'Come, Miss Hale. The headmaster will be done interrogating Mr Filch and the poltergeist at this moment.'

'Peeves too, sir?' said Bill.

The Head of Slytherin eyed at the young, red-headed Gryffindor. 'You've heard me correctly, Mr Weasley.'

'Blimey! It won' be easy teh ask Peeves some questions, Professor Snape. Unless Peeves knows some funny jokes teh make anyone laugh. I know one –'

Professor Snape cut Hagrid off. 'I don't have time to hear how amusing the poltergeist's nonsense jokes are.' His black eyes turned to Lillian. 'Come, Miss Hale. We're wasting time.'

'We'll wait here for you,' Bill told Lillian, as she was getting up from her seat.

'Yeah!' answered Sammy.

'I'll keep the kettle on the fire for yeh,' added Hagrid.

'Thanks.' Lillian expressed her gratitude. 'I'll be back.'

Stepping out and closing the door of Hagrid's hut, Lillian followed behind while she was calming and clearing her mind without Professor Snape noticing.

'So …' Lillian answered ten minutes later, as she and Professor Snape were drawing closer to a large and extremely ugly stone gargoyle on the seventh-floor. 'Which sweet did Professor Dumbledore change for the password this time? Acid Pops? Pepper Imps? Is it Chocolate Fish? Or Fudge Flies?'

By surprise the gargoyle sprang to life as the wall split in two. Behind the wall was a spiral staircase moving smoothly upwards like an escalator.

'F-Fudge Flies,' muttered Lillian, 'really?'

Professor Snape didn't ask of how she knew the password. He thought it was a lucky guess. He would've to tell the headmaster to change the password again. He stepped onto the moving spiral staircase. Lillian followed as the wall behind her closed with a thud.

They rose upwards in circles, higher and higher.

'Chocolate Fish … That sounds utterly ridiculous,' said Professor Snape, not sounding like he was being sarcastic. But for once he was curious. 'Is that a new addition of sweets from Honeydukes?'

'No. Chocolate Fish is a Muggle sweet. They don't make them here, but at New Zealand where my grandparents are living right now.'

'Fascinating to know,' he replied. 'Your grandparents … their names are Ulysses and Dawn. Am I correct, Miss Hale?'

Lillian turned away from him, facing the wall. 'They were no grandparents of mine,' she said bitterly. Her fists clenched at her sides, vibrating violently. 'I don't want to hear their names ever again.'

It appeared Lillian didn't get along with her grandparents. Was it because they were big pure-blood supremacists? Or was it Lillian's deceased mother had married a Muggle-born, Lillian's father?

Then a gleaming oak door with a brass knocker in the shape of a griffin appeared ahead. After stepping off the moving staircase, Lillian and Professor Snape could hear Peeves' cackle voice from inside Professor Dumbledore's office.

'… oh yes, I saw that ugly-blood-sucking-maniac giving Pretty-boy Lockhart a hickey on that pretty neck of his.'

Professor Snape rapped on the door. It opened silently as he and Lillian were about to enter –

'VAMPIRE!' Peeves shrieked as he started throwing garlic.

Before the first garlic were about to hit Professor Snape on the chest, he whipped out his Ebony wand and the garlic dissolved into fine dust.

'Please don't throw your garlic at Professor Snape, Peeves,' said Professor Dumbledore. 'Save them for the vampire.'

Inside Professor Dumbledore's large and beautiful circular office, Lillian first spotted the headmaster sitting on the edge of his enormous claw-footed desk. She couldn't see Peeves but a string of garlic flowing in mid-air.

Peeves appeared with a pop and upside down in mid-air. Over his shoulder and across his chest was the string of garlic like he was wearing a bandolier.

'Oh … it's only you, Snivellus,' he said. 'I thought you were that ugly-blood-sucking-maniac. The same one I saw on Hallowe'en.'

'Repeat that once more, poltergeist,' snarled Professor Snape, tucking his wand away, but keeping an eye on Peeves, 'or I'll turn you into dust and be blowing away from here for an eternally.'

'Wooooooo! I'm sooooooo scare!' Peeves' dark eyes turned and stared at Lillian. 'Well, well, well,' he spoken mischievous with a light touch of seductively. 'Look who it is. It's none other than Slippery Slytherin's only firstie girly.'

'Hi Peeves,' greeted Lillian. 'Looks who's dressed up in his Sunday's best to hunt down the vampire or vampiress tonight? But –'

'But,' Peeves placed his hands on the hips, 'what?'

'You've forgotten to get a silver cross, a wooden stake and holy water. Then you're – Hold on! Did you say you saw the vampire on Hallowe'en?'

'Of course I did, girly,' he cackled, descending upside down towards Lillian. Their faces were a foot apart. 'Would I tell a lie in the present of Professorhead himself? I got the full description of him. He has red eyes and looks just like Snivel – Oops! I mean the Poop Master here, but uglier –'

'That's enough, Peeves,' said Professor Dumbledore.

Him … So it's a vampire not a vampiress, Lillian thought. That narrows things down.

'Am I free to go, Your Headship, sir?' asked Peeves pleading to the headmaster. 'I've plans at the library this afternoon, since Batty Pince isn't there.'

'You are free to go, Peeves,' said Professor Dumbledore.

'Yippee!' cheered Peeves all delightful, diving down headfirst through the stone floor.

Once the poltergeist had left, Lillian spotted the ill-tempered Mr Filch the caretaker sitting by the fireplace with Mrs Norris purring loudly on his lap. She heard him muttered, 'Good riddance. He's gone.'

Out of the corner of her eyes, a crimson bird the size of a swan had soared from its golden perch and landed heavily on Lillian's shoulder. 'Hello Fawkes, miss me already?'

Fawkes the phoenix let out a soft, melodious coo.

Professor Dumbledore chuckled warmly, seeing his beloved pet phoenix on Lillian's shoulder. 'Fawkes maybe an old bird but he is incredibly fond of you, Lillian. Why is that?'

'I've no idea, Professor. If my owl sees me with another beautiful bird on my shoulder, he will be jealous. Professor Snape said you wanted to see me.'

'Just a few questions of your whereabouts yesterday, Miss Hale,' said Professor Dumbledore, as Fawkes flew back to his golden perch.

Lillian hesitated. 'O-Okay. But you swear not to use Legilimency on me. Are you, Professor? I'm prepared – just in case.'

Listening close by, Professor Snape was, once again, surprised. How did Lillian know the headmaster was a skillful Legilimens? What she had said, I'm prepared – just in case. Did it mean she mastered the art of Occlumency at a young age?

'I promise, Lillian. I won't use Legilimency,' said Professor Dumbledore. 'Let's return back to the subject, shall we? Where were you yesterday between eleven and half-past one?'

'Between eleven and half-past one … I was in my dorm sleeping, Professor.'

'Why didn't you watch Quidditch yesterday?'

'I didn't sleep much after what'd happened on Hallowe'en Eve. I knew the common room would be quieter at that time because the Slytherins would be out watching Quidditch.'

Professor Dumbledore's twinkling blue eyes gazed at Lillian for a moment. 'That's a reasonable answer, Miss Hale. You've missed quite a match yesterday.'

'Yes, Sammy has told me all about it.'

'I got a question for you, girl!' It was Mr Filch. He had got up from his seat, as he was approaching towards Lillian while holding Mrs Norris in his arms. 'Did you break into my office and steal something?'

'W-What?' answered Lillian, trying not to sound suspicious. 'I was nowhere near your office, Mr Filch.'

The year old Mrs Norris growled, her lamp-like yellow eyes gazing dangerous.

'Don't sound so formal at me, girl!' spat Mr Filch. 'I know Mrs Norris doesn't believe in you. Who else would have broken into my office? Eh?'

'How would I know, Mr Filch? You should've asked Peeves before he left –'

'THE POLTERGEIST,' Mr Filch roared, causing Lillian to jump in fright. 'HE'S BLOODY IMPOSSIBLE!'

'Argus!'

Mr Filch spun on the spot and saw Professor Dumbledore was on his feet. 'Please kindly step aside,' he said sharply, 'and let me answer Miss Hale the questions.'

Giving Lillian a disapproval look, Mr Filch turned away and went back to his seat.

Lillian peeked over her shoulder and saw Professor Snape standing nearby. She turned back to the headmaster. 'Can I go, Professor?'

'Before you leave, I have a question or two to ask.'

Professor Dumbledore pulled something out and revealed it on his hand. It was a library book, titled: The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Seven.

'This book you're seeing was found next to Madam Pince. I've looked up at Madam Pince's records of the students borrowing books from the library. And the most bizarre thing, other than its missing page, is you were the last student reading this very book here. Am I correct?'

He passed the book to Lillian. She held it, skimming all the pages from beginning to end.

'Yes, you are right, Professor. I did read this book.' She said truthfully, closing and passing The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Seven back. 'But I didn't have the chance to put it away, because Madam Pince kicked Bill, Sammy and me out of the library.'

'I see,' Professor Dumbledore paused for a while.

'Professor, may I ask you something? What's going to happen with the library now since Madam Pince is unable to work there?'

'The library will be open again tomorrow morning. Several house-elves have volunteered to work at the library until Madam Pince is well and fit again. I have asked plenty of questions to you. You are free to go now.'

'Thank you, Pro –'

Then there was a loud hooting noise from above. All present in the office looked up. Fluttering down was –

'Merlyn,' cried Lillian. 'Finally you got his reply.'

Her male snowy owl landed on her shoulder. Merlyn hooted very proudly back, as he held out his leg where a piece of parchment was tied on.

'His?' asked Professor Dumbledore curious.

'Just dad, Professor,' Lillian answered a small white-lie. 'Have a good afternoon.'

'Just before you leave, Miss Hale, what are your plans for the Christmas holidays?'

'I've decided to stay here for the holidays … you know why, Professor. Dad's thinking of visiting my grandparents at New Zealand.'

'Very well, then … off you go, Lillian.'

Lillian exited out of the office with Merlyn on her shoulder.

She walked, until she went inside an empty, unused classroom on the third-floor. Chairs and desks were piled against the walls and centre of the room was a waste-paper basket with paper-balls scattered around it.

She untied the piece of parchment from Merlyn's leg and unfolded it.

It read:

Dear Lillian –

Sorry I've been keeping my distance away from you and your dad, and missing out your mum's funeral. It's been difficult without my best mates, and with my furry problem. I'm sure you understand. Congratulations sorting into Slytherin. I know there are some capable witches and wizards (other than your mum, Professor Slughorn and Merlin himself) who were in Slytherin.

In your letter, you've mentioned that a vampire/vampiress had attacked a student, and it cast a new type of silencing spell on the doors of the Great Hall. Well … you were right. This silencing spell, the incantation is Muffliato. The four of us discovered it during our fourth years, and very handy to us from any nosy eavesdroppers.

The vampire/vampiress could be anyone in or out of Hogwarts. Make sure you and your friends are prepared if it strikes another attack in future. And have plenty of garlic with you.

Keep in touch of any unusual developments.

Moony