Chapter Fifty-One
Nearly all of the students were fast asleep later that night. Argus being one of the few souls awake as he and Mrs Norris walked along the hallways as always. Oakleigh Burton would take over after one in the morning. Argus briefly walked past the windows with his lantern in one hand. The boy felt very sleepy and was tempted to make an early night but the thought of Oakleigh finding out made him force himself to stay awake. One more hour to go he thought. His hand was once again in bandages to cover the bruises from Walburga's jinx. He carried on dawdling but suddenly paused as he looked right towards one of the doors and saw a hurried pile of robes running out. It took him a few moments to process what he just saw and the cold wind from the now wide opened door made him recall. A student out of bed. He began running towards it with his lantern...
"You're in trouble whoever you are!" Argus shouted into the yonder.
When he got no response, he stepped out and gave a small growl again. As he stepped into frosty and squashy mud. He shone his light around but could find nothing but footsteps in the mud. He found they were quite large which made him think it was a seventh-year. This made him question whether he should carry on. Even more so when the cold wind hit his face. He walked on and on regardless, looking backwards as the castle was getting further and further away. He found that they were leading towards Ogg's hut. Argus stopped outside the hut and looked inside the window with his lantern. He could see Ogg was fast asleep in his bed but the footsteps didn't stop at the hut's door. Thus Argus carried on cautiously.
"Hello! Come out whoever you are!" Argus yelled as he found the footsteps led into the forbidden forest.
He briefly heard a rustling before what sounded like panicked footsteps. He shone his lantern and caught a brief glimpse of the same robes. Without much thought, Argus ran into the forest in hope of catching him or her. Mrs Norris notably stayed by Ogg's hut as the cat laid down to sleep outside his door. Thus the teenager was alone as he ran and ran. The darkness and similar looking clearings quickly made him disoriented. He stopped in one of the lighter clearings and suddenly realized how stupid this was. He shone his light around and found he was lost, he had no way of retracing his steps. The squib began to panic and found himself running backwards but this only made matters worse. He fell down over one of the tree stumps during this manic directless run. Screaming as he felt something beneath him and even more so when he was lifted into the air by an unseen force. He fell downwards again as he felt some sort of cold invisible hard feeling push against him. He placed his hands over his head as he began shaking. His lantern being the only light he had but it showed him nothing.
"Please don't hurt me" Argus pleaded to this invisible force.
He dared not look up as he felt the same cold hard feeling brush past him. He could have sworn he even felt a cold substance on the back of his head. As if something was breathing upon him. Argus didn't understand what was going on as he just carried on shaking. Hoping this thing would just go away but it wouldn't and he doesn't know how long he was there for. He heard the sound of hooves in the distance which made him slowly turn around onto his back. Nothing was there and he felt relief. He slowly put his hand out and he felt nothing, he breathed out again. Thinking it was over as he forced himself back up. Shining his lantern around, hoofprints being the only thing on the ground now. Just as he thought he was safe to have another crack at finding his way out. A dozen or so invisible hooves galloped past him, knocking him down again! The last thing he felt was a slash against his face before everything went black. The student out of bed was panicking behind a nearby tree during this. This first-year was the half-giant boy Rubeus Hagrid as he stepped out to inspect the teenage Argus once he felt the thestrals were gone. He knew that's what they had to be. The 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' was the only school textbook he poured over right now. He bent down and began to shake him...
"Squibby" Hagrid muttered (not knowing his real name, only that he was a squib).
Hagrid panicked again when he got no response. He thought about the worst case scenarios. He knew he would be in trouble just for being out of his bed after hours, never mind in the forbidden forest. How would he explain this? That he just so happened to find him deep in the forest. People already though he was violent in nature thanks to his giant mother. He picked him up and made a walk through the woodlands. To him, it was like an adult carrying a child. His ears pricked as he hoped to run into no more creatures. He was safe but a human like Argus may not be. The pathway out was very simple to him. He's lived in woodlands his entire life, Argus never should have came after him. He reached the end of the woods and could see Hogwarts in the distance. Mrs Norris still fast asleep outside Ogg's hut and with one last look. Hagrid placed Argus into the small garden of Ogg which had pumpkins scattered around. He didn't feel very brave but he ran away, knowing Ogg would find him in the early morning. He ran back towards the castle, slowly but quickly making his way back to the Gryffindor tower. He quietly said the password to a disgruntled Fat Lady before crawling inside. His dormitory roommates seemed fast asleep, including Lyall Lupin. Hagrid removed his muddy shoes but accidentally tripped over his own feet and landed with a big thump onto the ground. The sounds of two poster beds curtains being pulled open was heard.
"What are you doing?" Lyall asked him in an annoyed tone of voice.
"He's being a buffoon like always" another first-year Gryffindor boy (named Carl Brown) spoke up.
"I just used chamber pot" Hagrid insisted with a shrug, hiding a guilty looking face in the dark.
Getting tuts in response before the boys pulled back the curtains. Laying back down as they turned over again hope of returning to sleep. Hagrid however couldn't sleep as he forced his dirty shoes off and retreated to his own enlarged bed. Pulling the curtains tightly shut. He thought about 'squibby' and how cold he must be in that garden patch but he believes he would be blamed had he admitted to being out there too. Why would anyone believe a half-giant wasn't guilty?
...
The following morning came around as Ogg opened his hut door. Confused to see Mrs Norris fast asleep on one of his pumpkins. He went to shoo her away as he didn't take kindly to cats being on his patch. Which is when he saw the body of the teenage squib. He took one hold of the boy's hand and felt it was as cold as ice. Ogg quickly removed his large coat and wrapped it around him like it was a blanket. He picked him up and ran towards Hogwarts. Knowing time wasn't on the lad's side as he needed to be warmed up at once! He slammed open the Hogwarts doors, Oakleigh Burton almost jumped out of his skin as he saw Ogg enter. The teenage lad in his arms looked as white as a sheet. He was quickly rushed to the hospital wing and the matron Wendy came out stunned. Still in her nightdress, dressing gown and night cap. She hadn't even had her breakfast yet on this cold early Sunday morning as she swooped down to check the squib's pulse.
"Who would do such a thing?" Wendy asked in disbelief.
"Take your pick" Ogg grunted back with a scoff.
He had a few ideas and a few students in mind. All of them Slytherins, Hagrid wasn't even thought about. She got out her wand and said the spell which blew hot air over the teenage lad. Clicking her fingers as she asked if one of them would make a warm cup of pumpkin juice for when he does wake up. Removing both coats and his dirty shoes from his person. His clothes were all wet and so she pulled the curtains over to give him some privacy as she reluctantly removed the cold rags. Wrapping him up in the nice warm blanket instead. Ogg returning with the warmed up pumpkin juice as he passed it to Wendy. She pressed a bit against his lips, watching as a small trickle went into his slightly open mouth. His eyes twitching slightly which made her do it again.
"He's stable. I don't think St Mungo's is needed" Wendy spoke with a small smile as she watched his eyes open and close.
"He's only a squib. Wouldn't be a great loss" Oakleigh Burton dared to say.
He was thinking out loud and suddenly put his head down when he felt stares. Wendy just tutting at him as she said...
"Such a heartless thing to say, Oakleigh"
Oakleigh just grunted something else to himself. Saying he's going to go since the lad is going to live. All the while, he felt Ogg and Wendy's eyes burning through the back of his head as he departed. Even still, Ogg couldn't muster up too much sympathy as he didn't care much for squibs either. He didn't dehumanize them but he also didn't think about them neither. Wendy giving a small sigh to herself as she felt Argus' forehead. He would awake again shortly but he would be weak for a couple days at least.
...
"Lucy. Argus is in the hospital wing" Archibald said with much regret.
The girl's face went to worry as she looked towards her friends. They haven't even got to the great hall for breakfast yet. He had caught her outside and was keen for her to know before the entire school does. Lucy followed Archibald nervously though the hallways. Lucy's first thought was on Walburga Black, she's jinxed him twice already. No doubt she would do worse if given the chance and Lucy supposed she found that chance. Argus was awake by this point but very weak as he was still wrapped in the blanket. A nightshirt laid on the side for when he has the energy to get into it.
"Look at ya...What happened?" Archibald questioned as he pulled up a chair. A teary-eyed Lucy standing at the side.
"I...I don't know. I didn't see anything" Argus mumbled.
Barely looking at him as he remained looking at the ceiling. That's what he told Wendy too. He didn't see anything, just recalled feeling that something was there. His brother didn't think that was a good enough answer as he must have saw something or somebody. As he leaned in closer and snapped his fingers as if urging him to snap out of something...
"You must have saw something" Archibald insisted as he leaned over him with both hands on one side of the bed.
"I...I just remember seeing somebody running into the dark forest. Then I got attacked" Argus wearily explained.
"I bet it was Walburga. She's been after him for weeks" Lucy nervously spoke up.
Archibald letting go of the bed as he nodded. Argus held out a hand on hearing Lucy's much softer voice. She grabbed onto it as she leaned over on the opposite side, making sure he knows she's really here. The silence from Archibald was telling as he looked quietly enraged. That evil banshee attacked his defenceless squib brother and left him to die. Before the professors could get to the bottom of it, he stormed away. Ready to confront Walburga as he really did believe this was down to her. He was watched by the school as he went to the Slytherin table and straight to the Riddle gang...
"Outside now!" Archibald shouted to an amused but confused looking Walburga.
"I beg your pardon?" Walburga asked with a smile.
"I said outside now! Don't act like you don't know what I'm speaking about. Now unless you want me to shout at you in front of your little friends, I suggest you come outside with me now" Archibald snarled.
This got a few chuckles from the Slytherins. Walburga lifting up her prefect badge as if he needed reminding. That was worthless to him as he slapped the stupid badge away from his general direction. Walburga giving a sigh as she excused herself, telling her friends that she will see what the lout wants. The girl following Archibald outside of the great hall and down the hallway. He stopped in one of the empty alcoves.
"Archibald. You're not my type" Walburga spoke with a small glint in her eye.
"Just shut it. Argus is in the hospital wing and I think you know exactly why. Took a midnight stroll in the forbidden forest, did you?"
"I don't know went on but it had nothing to do with me"
"Liar!"
"No! Ask my dormitory friends. They will tell you exactly where I was last night. Tucked up in bed with my pet cat. Why would I waste time going into the forest just to attack your brother?"
"I don't know, do I? Lucy seems to think you have it out for him"
"I do a bit of light teasing! I never ever put anybody in the hospital wing! Why would I risk getting expelled for some fun? Save me some credit, Archibald" Walburga replied more firmly.
Archibald could see her point but it still made no sense. He knew it had to be somebody and nobody else seemed to have it out for him as much as her. She's jinxed him twice now. Now suddenly he gets attacked, Walburga could sense him trying to reason it out and so she reminded him...
"The whole school has it out for your tell-tale brother, so you're going to have a long list of suspects"
"If I find out you've been lying. Sleep with one eye open" Archibald warned.
She just scoffed before making her way back to the great hall. Giving him one last glare as she did so.
...
Lucy had missed her morning classes. As she refused to leave Argus' side, not wanting him to be alone. She thought that the hospital wing was a dreadful place, as most hospitals are. She just tried to cheer him up by saying he may finally get a good night's sleep as Peeves wouldn't dare come in here. Argus nodding as he managed to finally move onto his side so he could look at her. He had a nasty scar on his face and blemishes over his hands and neck. He tried to recall the student and the attack but couldn't say who or what it was.
"Perhaps it was a non-verbal spell. That would explain why you heard nothing. Oh it would be like Walburga to learn something like that" Lucy mused with a frown.
"I don't know. It felt like a load of footsteps run past me at once" Argus replied.
"A gaggle of her friends no doubt"
"I only saw one student though but it was dark. So I'm not sure, it's a bit of a blur really. Aren't you missing lessons?"
"You're more important than lessons" Lucy said firmly.
Just as Headmaster Dippet and Silvanus Kettleburn entered. Lucy shifted in her seat slightly, looking behind at them. No doubt they heard what she just said and took it the wrong way. She looked down upon the floor nervously, awaiting for them to scold her and take away house points. For daring to suggest lessons weren't very important to be at.
"Lucy Norris. May you attend your very unimportant lessons. We will take over Argus' bedside now" Headmaster Dippet spoke up in a slightly amused tone of voice.
The girl just nodded as she muttered...
"Yes, Headmaster"
Before moving past them. Looking guilty as she thought that was a cheeky thing to say, even to her friend. Argus covering himself up again as he watched Dippet and Kettleburn approach closer with serious looking faces. They were here to get to the bottom of this once and for all. Lucy already down the hallway as she briefly looked back with a sigh, making her way over to potions. She gave a nervous knock before opening the door. The students already half-way through a 'Girding Potion', she sat besides an unamused Myrtle.
"Why are you late, Miss Norris?" Slughorn questioned from his desk.
"Please Sir, I was sitting with my friend Argus. He's been through an awful time last night and I thought he would want a friend. He's in the hospital wing" Lucy nervously but truthfully explained.
"Right. Well I really do admire your kindness to others, Norris. I can't condone you missing lessons or coming in late because of a personal errand. Therefore you will lose fifty house points to Hufflepuff for your lack of seriousness in your studies. If you want to make it to year five in one piece. Buck up your ideas" Slughorn answered in a tone of voice which made her look down.
She just gave a silent nod as she looked back up. Beginning the potion which she knew she was going to find difficult. Even without the sudden time crunch as she knew she had to speed up if she had any chance of completing it before the bell rings for break. Eileen making her way over, helping out again for the first time in a year maybe. Slughorn giving a small smile as he watched her act like a professor, helping Lucy at least start it quickly.
"It's going to smell really foul but that's how you know it's right" Eileen spoke quietly, instructing Lucy.
"And it turns turquoise at the half-way mark" Myrtle added in a smug tone of voice.
Tom was looking over from his finished potion with a scowl. He thought it was convenient that Eileen didn't mind magic when it concerned helping out muggle-borns. She managed to get Lucy to the half-way point before making her way back to her own desk. Getting called a traitor by Lestrange for her troubles as she sat back at her desk. Finishing her own potion, ignoring the glares from the Riddle gang. She didn't care what they thought of her.
...
TBC