Chapter Sixteen
The next morning he sat with the book in front of him at the Slytherin table in the great hall waiting for his friends.
"Harry you look like you've barely slept." Daphne commented sitting next to him.
"I wrote in this yesterday." Harry said, he filled them in on everything that had happened last night.
"I always knew that Hagrid liked monsters but really…" Draco said shaking his head.
"Hagrid would never do something like this on purpose." Harry said firmly, "He's a good soul and I've seen the way he is with Danica. And Mum! Why would Hagrid ever want to hurt muggle borns?"
"We agree with you Harry. We don't even know anything about this Tom Riddle." Pansy pointed out, "He could have made the whole thing up."
"It's very suspicious." Daphne said, glaring at the book, "I've never heard of a spider that can petrify. Paralyse, yes, but even acromantula, who are by far the worst spider-like species, can't petrify."
A small amount of heart-shaped confetti fell on Harry's head, "It's been a week I can't believe that this is s… stuff still falling." he muttered through gritted teeth.
"Still enjoying my little valentine day surprise!" Lockhart beamed walking past, brushing the confetti out of Harry's hair.
"It's something we'll never forget." Daphne said beaming sarcastically back at him.
Lockhart chuckled and walked away. Harry picked the book up between his fingers and flipped it over.
"We should get to class." Draco said checking his watch.
"I'm going to give this into Dad." Harry said, "It's not...right. It might not be bad but it's really not good and Dad will know what to do. I'll tell him what I saw and everything as well. Tell Professor Sprout I'll be a little bit late will you?"
They nodded and watched Harry leave the hall. Harry walked quickly down the corridor, he knocked on the Potion's classroom door but there was no answer which confused him as there was a line of students waiting outside the classroom for the lesson to begin.
So Harry went round to Snape's private room and knocked there.
"Come in." Snape said sounding unhappy.
Harry came in and felt all the air leave his lungs. Everything was packed. Every set of robes, every picture from the walls. Severus was finishing tucking some of his more dangerous potion ingredients in a special case.
"Dad...where are you going?" Harry asked, mouth hanging open.
"Harry. I was just going to come and find you. Sit down."
Harry sat down next to Severus and waited to find out what on earth was going on, "Are you moving offices?" he said hopefully.
Severus shook his head, "No. Dumbledore has just been in to tell me that, well, that I have to leave the school, for the time being."
"WHAT?!" Harry shouted standing up, Severus dragged him back down to his seat, "Dad why do you have to leave?"
"Dumbledore feels it's best if I leave for a while. The ministry is becoming increasingly worried about the attacks, and, because I'm your father it has been... deemed improper for me to continue teaching here." Severus told him.
Harry felt hot tears roll down his cheeks, "This is because of me isn't it?" he asked, "Because they think that I'm the one attacking people?"
Severus pulled him into his arms, "No, none of this is your fault Harry. I promise you that."
Harry snuffled and wiped his eyes, all thoughts of the diary long gone.
"I'll be back. It's only a suspension. I need you to promise me you'll stay safe while I'm gone." Snape told him, checking his watch, Dumbledore had given him instructions to be out of the castle as soon as possible.
Harry nodded, "I'll do everything I can."
"I'm sorry Harry, but have to go. Dumbledore has arranged it so I can apparate out, cause less of a scene." Snape stood up and hugged Harry again, "I'll see you soon."
Harry nodded and stepped back. There was a sharp crack and Snape was gone. Leaving Harry alone in the room trying his best not to cry; feeling completely alone.
It was over half an hour later when he arrived in greenhouse three to find the place looking like a bomb had hit it.
"You're late Mr Potter." Professor Sprout said, "Please help them clean up."
Harry looked round at the other students trying to make a dent in the mess, "What happened?"
"Some of the mandrakes last night." Professor Sprout beamed.
Harry wondered over to Pansy, Draco and Daphne.
"They threw a rather large party last night. Apparently it's a good thing," Daphne said, "But then she's not the one having to clean it all up."
"Why doesn't she just use magic?" Harry asked.
"It might hurt or upset the mandrakes." Draco shrugged, "They're too mature now to risk it at the moment. It's not worth it with all the people who are relying on them. Anything happens to this lot and it'll be after the summer at best that the people in the hospital wing are fixed."
Harry frowned, "You can't buy mandrakes. It's convenient that they're being grown this year, had a good few months head start before Mrs Norris was attacked."
Pansy shook her head, "What do you mean?"
"Nothing." Harry said, shoving some broken glass into the bin, "Dumbledore has kicked Da… Professor Snape out the school."
"What?! Why?" Daphne asked.
"Because everyone thinks it's me. Can't be seen to have favourites." Harry mimicked Dumbledore unkindly, his upset turning to anger.
Draco gave Harry a rub on the shoulder, "I'm so sorry. You can still talk to him though?"
"Means we're a bit alone though doesn't it?" Pansy whispered, "We've been looking into things but what good would it do if we found anything now? Who could we tell?"
Harry nodded. He'd never felt more alone in his life.
It was a bright sunny day and the school was buzzing with excitement over the latest Quidditch match. Hufflepuff vs Gryffindor and it would be one of the deciding matches of the year. All had been quiet for weeks now, with no more attacks since Justin and Nearly Headless Nick, everyone was crossing their fingers and silently hoping that the worst was over. Even Peeves gotten bored of singing 'Potter you rotter'.
Daphne was making her way out to the pitch, she'd nearly finished her book and needed to bring another with her when she ran into Hermione.
"Are you OK?" Daphne asked, "You looked a bit panicked."
Hermione tucked a strand of unruly hair back behind her ear and shook her head, "Do you know where Harry is?"
"He's out at the game already. I'd just popped back into get a book. Hermione you're as white as a sheet. Are you ill?" Daphne said moving closer.
Hermione shook her head and looked around her, "I've been thinking and...I have a theory. I need to go to the library but don't really want to go by myself. I was hoping to double check something with Harry first."
"I'll come with you to the library then we can go find Harry once you've check whatever it is." Daphne said brightly, thankful of an excuse to miss at least some of the match.
"Are you sure? I don't want to make you miss the game." Hermione said.
Daphne shook her honey blonde hair, "Trust me you're doing me a favour." She smiled, "So what is it we're checking?"
Harry sat blowing on his fingers in the Quidditch stands, bright and sunny it was, warm and not windy it was not.
"Where's Daph?" Draco asked.
Most of the seats had been filled now and Draco had to keep glaring at people trying to take the seat they'd saved for Daphne but there was no sign of her. The match was about to begin.
"I imagine she's going to take the next two hours choosing which book to read." Pansy laughed.
"She's supposed to be learning the other teams tactics. Flint won't be happy." Harry pointed out.
"We can fill her in." Draco smirked, "Besides, she mostly has to smack the Bludgers at people which, so far she's been pretty good at. We're winning by a mile."
Harry nodded and watched the Gryffindors fly round to warm up. Madam Hooch let the balls out and blew her whistle.
Then Professor McGonagall marched/ran onto the pitch carrying a large, purple megaphone.
"This game has been cancelled everyone please report to you house common rooms at once, your head of house will give you further instructions soon." She shouted.
There was a large groan from the crowd and people started filling out. Harry could see Wood run over to McGonagall, broom still between his legs, though Harry was to far away to hear what was being said.
"Will Mr Harry Potter, Mr Draco Malfoy and Miss Pansy Parkinson please join me on the pitch." Professor McGonagall said, pushing Wood away and clearly shouting at him.
"What have I done this time?" Harry snapped.
"She might want to just check that you're here." Pansy pointed out, "And she asked to see all three of us."
"So she's blaming us all now then for whatever Harry's done." Draco said, rolling his eyes.
"I haven't done anything!" Harry shouted, causing a few people around him to look back in confusion.
"It was a joke." Draco said raising his hands in a surrender.
"Sorry. I'm just jumpy still." Harry said, giving them a small smile.
They made their way to Professor McGonagall and waited.
"Well, what have I done this time?" Harry asked, as nicely as he could manage.
Professor McGonagall looked kindly at him, he could have sworn she was almost crying, "You've not done anything Potter. Please, I think it best you all come with me."
Harry's heart sank leaving him feeling like he was about to throw up. He looked around him, Draco and Pansy also had gone as white as a sheet and were looking rather unsteady on their feet.
They followed Professor McGonagall back into the castle, their feet echoing horribly in the empty corridors. Harry stopped, his legs unable to move.
"We're going to the hospital wing." He mumbled, the words falling over each other.
Professor McGonagall stopped and took a deep breath, "Yes. There has been another attack. This time three students were hurt. They are all in the hospital wing, petrified." her voice caught as she said the last words.
Pansy started crying and ran through the doors. Harry felt like he was about to faint. He knew Daphne was in there; he didn't need to look to know that. Draco took his hand and pulled him forwards.
In the hospital wing three more beds were occupied. One was an older, Ravenclaw girl who they'd seen around but didn't know by name. On the opposite wall two beds had been pushed together, Daphne and Hermione were laying, holding hands, as still as stone.
Harry couldn't hold back the tears. He'd sent Hermione away to keep her safe and it clearly hadn't worked. He could have been keeping an eye on her, instead he'd left her alone and vulnerable.
Pansy was sitting crying her eyes out into Daphne's free hand. They'd been friends since they were babies and seeing her like that was breaking her.
Harry walked over and ran her fingers over Daphne's hair, neatening it out a little.
"They were found by the library, with this." Professor McGonagall said holding up a small, round, silver, hand mirror, "Do any of you know why?"
They shook their heads.
"It might be Daphne's." Harry suggested.
"No." Pansy shook her head, "She doesn't carry a mirror."
"She always looks so flawless." Draco pointed out.
"She's just annoying like that." Pansy said bursting into fresh tears.
"I'm afraid you're going to have to leave." Madam Pomfrey said softly, "You need to go back to your dorm."
Harry shook his head, "Please let us stay."
Madam Pomfrey shook her head, "I'm sorry but I can't allow that. It's not safe and you need to listen to your instructions. Your head of house doesn't know you're here."
"Can we leave things for them?" Pansy asked, wiping her eyes.
Madam Pomfrey resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "If you insist, but only if it's something small that isn't going to get in the way. The hospital ward is getting rather busy."
They nodded.
"I have a book of Muggle fairy stories in my bag." Harry suggested, "I think they'd both like that."
Draco and Pansy nodded. Harry put his bag on the edge of Hermione's bed and began to dig through it. The book of Grimm's Tales was right at the bottom and it was only after he saw the slightly stained bottom of his school bag that he noticed something was missing.
"The diary is gone." he whispered to Draco and Pansy.
Pansy shook her head, "I thought you gave it to your father?"
"No, I was going to but then I got distracted by him leaving. I haven't moved it since because every time I touch it, every time I even think of it, I being to doubt Hagrid and I couldn't bare it because I knew it wasn't true. I didn't know who to give it to." Harry explained.
"Are you sure it's gone?" Draco asked. Madam Pomfrey was starting to glare at them to hurry them up.
Harry empted the whole bag but the diary was definitely gone. He repacked the bag quickly and they tucked the book of fairy tales between Hermione and Daphne before leaving and heading to the dorm.
"Where has your bag been?" Draco whispered as they walked down to the common room.
"With me. Or on the end of my bed when I'm sleeping. It barely ever leaves my side, especially with exams coming up." Harry whispered back.
"Well then I think the heir has gotten it back, for whatever reason." Pansy told them, "It means they must be a Slytherin; no one else could get into our rooms."
"I think we'd already worked out it was a Slytherin." Harry said, rolling his eyes and stepping into the common room.
He stopped and nearly walked straight out again. Lockhart stood, beaming in the middle of the room, he'd never wanted to smack someone so much in his life.
"Harry you've arrived!" Lockhart said beckoning him to a seat, "Got lost did you?" he asked patronisingly with a chuckle.
"No." Draco said firmly, "Daphne Greengrass has been attacked, petrified. We were visiting her."
The smiled on Lockhart's face faltered, "Well...please sit down."
Harry, Draco and Pansy sat down; huddled with the other Slytherins. Tracy and her group were in the other corner sniggering at the latest news.
"Well then, I've got a list of rules for you all." Lockhart beamed again, pretending he hadn't just heard the horrific news, "As you all know, I'm stepping in for head of Slytherin house, which is a first in Hogwarts history, because, as I'm sure you all know I'm not a Slytherin, I'm a Ravenclaw but enough about that. I am responsible for you all so I want you all to follow these rules to the letter." He unwound a roll of parchment. "All students will be in the common room by six o'clock every evening. No student is to leave the dormitories after that time. You will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. All further Quidditch training and matches are to be postponed. There will be no more evening activities."
There was silence across the common room. There wasn't even a complaint from the most harden Quidditch fans. They all sat, dumb-struck listening to Professor Lockhart. It seemed he was enjoying the attention as he spent a few moments straightening his burnt orange robes.
Harry still hadn't seen him wear the same robes twice, although he didn't miss the florescent pink ones he wore for the disastrous valentine's day. He rolled up the parchment he'd been reading from and looked over the room.
"Any questions?" He asked.
Slowly a few hands were raised.
"Are they going to shut the school?" Sally asked.
Lockhart looked uneasy, "I don't know. But if these attacks don't stop, if they don't find the culprit I think they'll have to." he coughed, "But don't worry. I already think I know who it is. They slipped up this time. I'm to smart for any of them!" he laughed, "Don't you worry you're pretty little head Miss Mary."
"Maria." Sally glared at him.
"So sorry Miss Maria." Lockhart gave her a beaming smile that made Harry want to throw up.
Lockhart looked over the room and nodded, "Right well, I'd best be off. Lots to do."
He gave them a small bow and left the room. It was silent for a few moments before the room burst into whispers.
"It's someone from every house now."
"A couple aren't even muggle born."
"Why would a Slytherin attack another Slytherin?"
"The Greengrass family are part of the sacred twenty-eight, is no one safe?"
Harry sat feeling empty and confused at what was going on. Everything seemed to have happened so quickly. He pinched himself hard, leaving a bruise on his arm, to check he hadn't dossed off and was still waiting in the Quidditch stands.