A/N: Thanks as always for everyone who's reading and favouriting the story! I really appreciate you all!
Sorry this one's a little late, it's been a busy weekend!

What do you think of the story so far? Is it interesting? What do you think of Hazel as a character?

Any and all feedback is always appreciated! :)


"Wow!" Colin said eagerly, "That's amazing!"

Of course, that was his reaction to hearing about a giant spider roaming the Forbidden Forest. Colin would have been bursting with excitement if a dragon had just bitten his arm off.

"But where did it come from?" Ginny asked, "And what was Malfoy doing with it?"

"It must have found her," Hazel said. It was still very hard to get the image of Atia's terrified face out of her mind.

"Evil attracting evil, you mean?"

"That's not fair, Ginny."

Ginny raised an eyebrow and shrugged. She went back to reading Winning Witches: A history of the Holyhead Harpies.

"Do you think it'll come back?" Colin asked as he gripped his camera, "Could you show me?"
Hazel would rather have stuck a spoon up Uncle Vernon's nose than go back to that clearing. She shook her head.

"Aw," How could anyone sound so disappointed that they weren't going to come face-to-face with a monster? "Well, maybe another time."

The portrait swung open, and Harry stormed through. His face was red and his eyebrows furrowed.

"Hazel!"

Her shoulders tensed and her stomach dropped. Ginny dropped her book and disappeared.

"Did you go into the Forbidden Forest?" He snapped. The entire Common Room had gone quiet.

She didn't answer. She couldn't even look at him.

"What were you thinking? Do you have any idea how dangerous the Forest is? You could have been killed!"

She couldn't remember the last time he had shouted at her. It was the most horrible feeling, far worse than Uncle Vernon shouting had ever felt.

"But Atia was in trouble!" Hazel said, "I couldn't just leave her!"
"You could have gotten Hagrid," Harry said angrily, "He would have been close. You could have sent up red sparks and he would come. Did they not tell you that in your first class?"

They had, but she hadn't been able to cast them. No matter what she tried, they just wouldn't come out of her wand. That's how bad a witch she was. Harry was already mad with her, she didn't want him to be ashamed as well.

"I didn't think," she said quietly without looking up, "I'm sorry."

Hermione cleared her throat. She and Ron were a little breathless, like they'd ran all the way from the grounds. Ron wasn't speaking because he looked like his jaw had been welded shut.

"Harry," she said, "I remember a pair of first years who jumped in without thinking to save someone's life."

"That was completely different!" Harry said, "The teachers were all in the dungeons. We had to do something or that troll would have pulverised you!"

"Was it really that different?" Hermione asked.

Harry took a deep breath, "You're right. I'm sorry, Hazel. Just, please don't do it again?"

"I won't," she said in the same small voice.

Harry gave her a tight hug, "You were incredibly brave. I hope Malfoy appreciates it."

They headed off and Ginny emerged from under the table.

"I think that's not very fair," She said, "After all the things he, Ron and Hermione got up to? At least you only stumbled across your monster rather than going looking for it!"

"It's so wicked that you fought it off though!" said Colin, "What did you do? Did Lockhart teach you? Was it something from Gadding with Ghouls?"
"What does a giant spider have to do with ghouls?" Ginny asked.

"Well, nothing, but that's the book I'm reading now so if there's something that wicked, I'll skip forward a few chapters!"

"I don't really know how I fought it off," said Hazel. Had she even fought it off? She mostly remembered cowering in terror, "My wand sort of…did something."

"But wands can't act on their own. Everyone knows that."
"But I can't make my wand whistle on command, so how could it have been me?"

Ginny shrugged.

"Maybe you need to stop thinking about it so much?" said Colin, "That's what my dad always says when I try to kick a football."

"I've tried not thinking about it, thinking about it, looking at it, not looking at it," Hazel looked into the fire. Her stomach felt like it was clenching horribly, "Maybe I'm just not a very good witch."
"Says the girl who just fought off a giant spider," Ginny shook her head.

The Fat Lady's portrait swung open, and Atia Malfoy stepped in. Any time she did come into the common room it ignored her, and she went straight up to her room. This time was different though. She was standing at the door and, Hazel might have imagined it, but she swore Atia had glanced over at them before heading for the stairs.

"She seems grateful anyway," said Ginny.

"She could have come and sat with us," Colin said, "We had a spare seat."

"Sit beside a muggle-born?" Ginny scoffed, "She'd rather sit beside a spider."

Or maybe she just didn't want everyone glaring at her, but Hazel didn't say it. The last thing she wanted was a fight with Ginny.

Ginny took her book and stretched, "I'm going to head to the library for a bit. I need to start on that History of Magic homework."
"I'll come too!" Colin sprang up, "I'm still getting confused between Elgar the Boneless and Edgar the Gormless."
"Just guess," Ginny shrugged, "They're close enough to me."
Hazel had just started reading Break with a Banshee when a cough made her jump.

"Excuse me," It was Fred.

"We would like a word, Miss Potter," said George.

"We have a bone to pick with you."
"A rather large bone."
"Like a hip."
"I was thinking leg bone, Fred."
"That's the perfect bone to pick, George."
"What is it?" Hazel asked nervously and craned her neck back to see both twins.

"We hear you were in the Forest," said Fred.

"From a trusted source," said George.
"I shouldn' a told ye that' was how he put it."

"So, it was definitely good."

"He says you found a creature and all."

"Well, he called it a creature."
"So it was definitely a monster."

"Definitely shouldn' a told ye that!"

"So, spill, Potter," said Fred eagerly, "how'd you get into the forest without Hagrid stopping you?"
Once she was done, the twins looked impressed and disappointed in equal measure.
"So wait until he's distracted?" Fred said thoughtfully, "Why did we never think of that, George?"
"Because we're always the ones distracting him, Fred."
"Very true," Fred seemed satisfied, "Well, must be off. Training and all that."
"Yup, because a good training session is definitely going to overcome Slytherin's fifty mile-an-hour speed advantage next weekend," George nodded, "Enjoy. Let us know if you fancy heading back into the forest anytime soon!"

She felt a little light-headed as she back to her book. At someone wasn't cross with her.

The excitement through the school kept building and building as the day of the match got closer and closer. By the Friday night, it was the only thing anyone could talk about. Slytherin vs. Gryffindor, 2000s vs. 2001s, Chasers vs. Beaters, Quaffle vs. Keeper, Harry vs. Malfoy.

"Harry has the what?" She said with no confidence she would understand the answer.

"The Turn-In Advantage," Ginny said it like she wasn't just putting random words together, "And he's got better twitch in the low-speed tail twists."

"He's got what in the what?" why had she a thumping headache all of a sudden?

"Just because the Nimbus 2001 is faster doesn't mean Slytherin's going to win. Harry actually has loads of advantages over Malfoy, so he has a really good chance of getting the snitch and winning the game. Of course," Ginny looked worried, "It does mean they'll probably target him."
Hazel's stomach dropped, "That's another quidditch term, right?"

"Nope, if they knock Harry out of the game, they'll win."
"And it happens all the time!" The heavy book on Colin's knee rocked alarmingly as he bounced in his seat in the common room, "Especially with the professionals! Like here, the Chudley Cannons hold the record for most games finished without a seeker in a single season! They only did it last year! One game, he got hit by an airplane and-"

Ginny coughed as Hazel's stomach twisted in a knot, "Harry's too good for those Slytherin idiots to knock him out though. He'll be fine!"
The whole Gryffindor team were sitting quietly in a corner of the room. Oliver Wood prowled around them and scowled at anyone who tried to get close. She hadn't even dared, but she badly wanted hear Harry say he was going to be alright.

Eventually Wood sent the team up to bed. The whole common room broke out in applause as they left and everyone else went for the dormitories not long after. It was not a restful sleep. Any time she drifted off, she had the same dream of Harry being hit by a helicopter.

She woke early the next morning with her stomach trying to escape through her mouth. She was so excited that her fingertips were tingling. There was a mad urge to leap out of bed and just run to the pitch, right now. What was going on? Was she really this excited to see Harry play quidditch? There'd definitely not been the same feelings when she'd been dragged to watch Dudley fall over a football, that was for sure.

There were only a few students in the Great Hall. Clouds drifted high in the rafters, grey and thick but dry. That would help right? Ginny had said something about Slytherin being faster in the rain. Or was it slower?

Madam Hooch and Professor Flitwick were the only staff sitting at the top table, and there were maybe a dozen students dotted around the tables, reading newspapers or magazines. The entire Gryffindor team were already at the far end of the table in a huddle. Should she go over now to wish him good luck? Would she survive if Wood saw her doing it?

The nerves in her stomach were wriggling all the more furiously. At this rate, her breakfast was going to be a round of toast and nothing more. How bad must Harry be feeling?

At the other end of the table, well away from everyone else, sat Atia.

Hazel was rooted to the spot. Should she go say hello? What if she was rude and sneered like usual? She already felt bad enough without having a Malfoy make her feel worse. Then again, she had looked over that time in the Common Room. Maybe she would be nice?

Then again, what if Malfoy saw?

She took a deep breath and walked over.

Atia's plate was untouched, and she was busy reading a magazine called The Goblin's Gossip, which had a very stern looking wizard on the front over.

She looked up suddenly as Hazel approached and Hazel froze, like she'd been caught sneaking out at night. Why had she come over again? Atia was clearly busy and didn't want to be disturbed.

"Sorry," She said, "I'll leave you alone."
"It's okay," Atia wasn't sneering. Did she actually look nervous? "I don't mind."
Hazel sat across from her and poured herself a bowl of cereal. This felt very, very awkward. It was like the Privet Drive Dinner party all over again.

Would Uncle Vernon's Japanese golfer joke work better on a witch? No, it could make a statue squirm.

"I never thanked you," Atia said quickly, "For saving me."

What did she say to that? It would be so big-headed so say 'you're welcome'. And if it hadn't been for her wand doing its own thing, they would have both been spider food.

"I told Draco about it. He was really cross. He said I should be embarrassed that I had to be saved by a Potter. He said Harry Potter would never stop gloating about it now."
"Harry doesn't gloat," The words were nearly automatic. How could Draco Malfoy say that? Of all people?

Atia's mouth set in a hard line, and she went back to her magazine. Hazel ate her cereal and tried to shake the annoyance. How could she think Harry would act like that? He wasn't the arrogant bully who strutted around the school like some sort of king.

She pushed her bowl away. Her stomach was churning furiously, and she felt very sick. Where had that come from?

"Do you like quidditch?" Atia asked.

"I've never seen it. But Harry loves it."
"So does Draco, but it's really dangerous. I was hoping he wouldn't make the team this year."

Hazel didn't answer that. She didn't dare repeat what the Gryffindor team had said about him.

Atia scowled like she'd read Hazel's mind, "I know everyone thinks he bought his way onto the team but it's not true! He was the best seeker at the trials by far, but Higgs is a friend of Flint's and he wouldn't drop him. He wanted brooms to let Draco on the team or he would never get picked! Father was furious, and he was already cross about…me."

"You? What have you done?"

"Be sorted into Gryffindor?" Atia Malfoy was looking fixedly at the table, "I'm the first Malfoy ever not to be in Slytherin. He was so ashamed. He even wrote to Dumbledore and ordered him to put me in the right house, but Dumbledore said no. He said I had been sorted this way for a reason. It's not fair. I waited so long to come to Hogwarts and I get stuck in the wrong house."

"There's nothing wrong with Gryffindor," Hazel was starting to get annoyed again.

"But it's not where I belong, all my friends and my family are in Slytherin," Atia looked away.
The Great Hall was starting to fill up and the excitement was building. The Gryffindor team walked past Hazel and Atia without looking but Harry stopped.
"Hey," He looked so nervous. He was very pale and his lips were pursed.
"Hey," She said.

"You're up early."
"I couldn't really sleep."

"Me either," He took a deep breath, "Well, I'll see you later. Wish me luck."
"Good luck," She smiled, "You'll do brilliantly."

"Thanks, hopefully we put Malfoy in his place," He shot Atia a dirty look and ran after the team.

Atia stood up from the table with a slam without looking at Hazel, "Maybe I'll see you later."

"Atia!" Hazel called as Colin and Ginny sat down next to her, "I hope Draco's okay today."
Atia nodded and left the hall, pushing through the crowds.
"Wow!" said Colin, "Were you talking to Atia Malfoy?"

"A bit."

"That's brilliant!" Colin looked ready to burst with excitement. Ginny shook her head, she looked very tired, "Hey, I was doing some more reading last night into Quidditch! Did you know…"
On and on he went, all the way through breakfast and then down to the pitch. Ginny didn't eat much either, but then she had two brothers playing. How worried must she be for the twins?
It felt like every single student were here and the path down to the quidditch pitch was as packed as Hazel had ever seen it. Everyone was chatting and laughing happily, many wearing scarlet scarves or hats. There were a few in green and silver but they were much outnumbered.

At last they reached the stand and started to climb the narrow and steep staircase to their seats. There were so many steps! She was quite out of breath by the time they reached their bench. The pitch was very, very far down. Why were they do high up! The wind was whipping at her cloak and Hazel held on firmly to the bench beneath her, in case she blew away.

It looked like rain.

Please let Harry be okay.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!" Lee Jordan's voice boomed around the pitch, "Your teams! Gryffindor and Slytherin!"

There were cheers and boos as two lines of players walked out, one in scarlet robes and the others in green. Harry was easy to spot; he was the smallest Gryffindor by far. Malfoy was even smaller compared to the Slytherin team. Was Atia watching the game? She must be, surely?

"The Gryffindor team; Wood, Weasley, Weasley, Johnson, Spinnet, Bell and of course, Potter!"
There were loud cheers and chants from three-quarters of the crowd.

"And the Slytherins," Lee said it like he had stepped in something revolting, "Bletchley, Derrick, Bole, Flint, Montague, Warrington and," A deep sigh echoed around the pitch, "Malfoy."
The Slytherins clapped and cheered but they were drowned out by the boos from the other Houses.

"And they're off!"

The crowd cheered and chanted, groaned and cried in frustration or annoyance but at what, she had no idea. All she saw were fourteen blurs whizzing through the sky. There was so much going on in so many different directions that she was getting dizzy trying to keep track. Had Ginny and Colin been talking about the same game all week? Colin's camera clicking constantly in her ear wasn't helping much either.

"What are they doing!" Ron and Hermione were sitting behind her, Ginny and Colin, "That's the third Bole's hit that bludger and there's no sign of Fred or George!"

"They're flying with Harry," Hermione pointed up into the centre of the pitch where it was just possible to see three figures in red flying together.

"I didn't read about that," Colin said, "Is it a new tactic?"
"It's not tactical," Ron groaned as Katie Bell dropped the quaffle to avoid a bludger, "It's stupid! Gryffindor won't have any players left in five minutes!"

Madam Hooch blew her whistle in the middle of the chaos as thick drops of rain started falling on Hazel's shoulders.

"And Gryffindor take a time out!" Lee Jordan announced, "As the teams land, it's Slytherin who lead by sixty points to nil."

It was just possible to see the Gryffindors in the huddle. Harry was gesturing furiously and the red-headed twins were waving back. Whatever they were talking about, no one seemed happy about it.

Come on, Harry…you can do it…

Madam Hooch blew her whistle again.

"And we're underway again!" Lee boomed, "Slytherin retake possession as Potter dodges a bludger. And again. And again!"

Harry was flying above the match, tiny black-haired speck in the clouds. Except he wasn't alone, one of the bludgers dived at him again and again, turning back each time it missed.

"What's going on?" Ron shouted over laughter from the crowd as Harry did a clumsy spin to avoid the bludger again, "It's not supposed to do that!"

The bludger missed Harry by inches. Hazel's eyes were stinging from rain and wind, but she couldn't look away. Her heart was thumping very fast in her chest.

"It's trying to kill him!" Seamus Finnegan roared.

Madam Hooch's voice echoed around the stands, "The bludger has not been cursed! Play on!"

She bit her lip so hard she could taste blood. Her breathing was sharp and shallow.

Please be okay, please be okay, please be okay…

"He'll be fine," Ron said, "Harry's the best flyer in the sc-"

Harry was hit by the bludger.

It bounced hard off his shoulder and rumbled over their stand. Harry slumped against his broom. Hazel's scream was hidden by the groans of the crowd.

"Time out!" Ron shouted furiously, "Time out! He's hurt!"

Hermione screamed. Harry was diving.

He was heading straight for the ground at full speed, red blur. He passed Malfoy who was hovering nearby without slowing down.

"He's after the snitch!" Colin squealed as his camera clicked furiously.

Hazel couldn't take her eyes off Harry. She couldn't think. She couldn't breathe. He wasn't pulling up! He was going to crash straight into the ground!

He pulled up at the last possible second with his toes skimming the grass. Something glimmered in his good hand.

"Potter catches the snitch!" Lee yelled over the cheering crowd, "Gryffindor win by 150 points to 60!"

Hazel was being pushed this way and that as people jumped up and celebrated around her. She had to fight to see the pitch. Why was everyone celebrating? Didn't they know Harry was hurt?

One second he was hovering just above the ground. She lost sight of him for a half-second and then he was lying on the ground, broom beside him.

"Come on," Ron said, "Let's get down there."

They had to fight through the crowd of Gryffindors heading down the stairs.

Please let him be okay. Please let him be okay.

A crowd had gathered around Harry by the time they reached him. Hazel pushed through to the front. Harry was lying on his back with the snitch still gripped in his good hand.

But his other arm! It was bent at such a weird angle.

Professor Lockhart was kneeling with him. Thank goodness, at least there was a teacher with him.

"Don't worry Harry," He was saying, "It's a simple charm I've used countless times before."
"No!" Harry protested.

Colin pushed in beside her and lifted his camera; click, click, click.

"I don't want a photo of this, Colin!"

Hazel pushed the camera down. This was bad enough without there being a photo of it as well!

Lockhart pointed his wand at Harry's bent arm and there was a flash of light.

She wasn't entirely sure what she expected to happen. The arm to move back into the right place maybe? Or for there to be some sort of pop perhaps? What she did not expect to see was her brother's arm…deflating, like a balloon. Was this part of the spell? Did this have to happen before it was fixed?

Lockhart lifted the arm, and it wobbled like it was made of rubber.

"Ah," he said, "Yes, that can sometimes happen. Why don't you pop up to the hospital wing then Harry and Madam Pomfrey can…tidy you up a bit."

Ron and Hermione picked up Harry and brought him through the cheering crowd. How could they be so happy? His arm was gone!

Madam Pomfrey was far from impressed, "You should have come to see me at once! I can mend broken bones in an instant, but growing them back…"

"You can grow the bones back, right?" Harry asked nervously.

Oh, please say yes.

"Oh, I can grow them back," she said, "But it will be painful."

She poured him a very generous helping of something called 'Skele-grow' once he was changed and in bed. Even by the low standards of most medicines, it looked absolutely disgusting.

Harry's face went red as he drank it and he coughed violently as he handed the cup back to Madam Pomfrey.

"So," he said once the Matron had left them, "How did you like your first quidditch match?"
"Oh it was great," She said, "I especially liked the part where you were nearly killed by a flying cannonball."

"This sort of thing happens all the time," Harry's smile had slipped, "It's not serious."
"That isn't serious?" She pointed at his floppy arm, "Compared to what? Being hit by a bus?"

"It was Lockhart's fault," Ron muttered, "If he'd left Harry alone, he would have been fine."
"Anyone can make a mistake, Ron," Hermione said, "And it doesn't hurt anymore, right Harry?"
"Well no, but it doesn't do anything else either."

"You should have seen the look on Malfoy's face," Ron grinned, "It was brilliant, like he'd just been slapped."

"I'd love to know how he tampered with that bludger," Hermione said.

"Just something else to ask him when we-" Hermione elbowed Ron in the ribs. Neither would meet Hazel's eye. What were they up to?

She didn't care right now. All that mattered was that Harry got better.

The entire team arrived then and were promptly chased away with Madam Pomfrey ("This boy has thirty bones to regrow!") and then it was only her and Harry.

They sat quietly for a while. She was still trying to get the image of Harry's limp arm out of her mind, the moment he'd been hit by the bludger. It had looked so horrible. So painful.

But then Harry was so strong.
"You were brilliant," She said at last.

"You think so?" she smiled as he brightened up instantly.

"Yeah, duh. Some of those things you were doing up there were incredible. Besides, how many other people can catch a snitch one-handed?"

"Well, I nearly swallowed one last year."
"So all you need to do is catch one with your foot and you have the full set!"

He lay back in the bed and laughed. It felt good to see him so happy, to see him doing something he was so good at, that he loved so much.

Even if it did cost him an arm once in a while.

"I'll visit tomorrow," she said as Madam Pomfrey returned to chase her away.

"Talk tomorrow! And you can slap me with my arm in the morning if it hasn't grown back by then."
"I think Wood might do it for me," She giggled.

The Gryffindor Common Room was in uproar when she got back. There was loud party music playing from somewhere and fireworks were bouncing off the ceiling and bursting in midair. Mountains of food and drink were piled up on every table and people were dancing in any clear space they could find.

It took her a while to find Ginny and Colin in all the chaos. They were standing off to one side, Colin taking photos furiously.

"Hey!" He had to shout over the music, "How's Harry?"
"He'll be okay. He just needs to grow an arm back." It sounded mental when she said it like that. All he had to do was grow an arm back…
"He was amazing today!" Colin said, "The way he shook off that bludger! And that catch! He made it look so easy! I have so many photos to show him, Hazel, he's going to love it!"

Well, that photo he would definitely enjoy. The thousand other ones Colin had taken of the match he might not like so much.

Ginny smiled weakly but she looked very pale. She looked exactly like she had Halloween night.

"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Ginny said, "Just worried about Harry. I'm glad he's going to be okay."

"Hey, Hazel!" Colin said suddenly, "I've had a brilliant idea! Harry's going to be lonely in the Hospital Wing tonight right? All by himself?

"Um, he'll probably want to sleep," She said.

"Right! So how about we visit him! I can show him my photos and we can take him grapes and everything! I bet he hasn't had any yet!"
"Grapes?" Ginny said, "Why grapes?"

"That's what you do for people in hospital," Colin said, "You bring them grapes."

"Is that a weird muggle thing?"

"It's not weird! Everyone wants grapes in hospital!"

"I think I'd prefer chocolate."
"No," Colin said firmly, "Sick people get grapes. That's how it works!"

"Fine," Ginny didn't look well at all.

"You want to come with me, Hazel?" Colin asked.

Hazel bit her lip, "Isn't it against the rules to be out after dark?"

"Yeah, but we're only going to visit Harry! It's not like we're doing anything wrong! Come on! You want to come too, right Ginny?"

"I think Ginny should stay here," Hazel said. Ginny had blacked out at Halloween when she looked like this. It was better she was in the Common Room, so there were people to help her if anything happened.

"But you'll come, right Hazel?"

He was going to go with or without her. She had told Harry she wouldn't do anything dangerous again, but then she was only going out after dark. Harry did it all the time. The worst that would happen was she'd lose a few points or maybe a detention. Harry would understand, especially if it meant he wasn't stuck alone with Colin all night.

"Alright," she said.

"Brilliant! It's going to be great! I can't wait to write home to Dennis about it!"

"Yeah," If they weren't caught, that was.

Professor McGonagall arrived in a tartan dressing gown at midnight and chases the House up to bed despite the boos and groans.

"Meet here in 30 minutes?" Colin whispered to Hazel as they headed for their dormitories.

"Alright," The more she thought about it, the worse an idea it was. Sneaking out at night just to give Harry grapes? If Filch caught her, she'd be lucky not to be expelled.

Still, she'd said she'd go. It took the full thirty minutes for Romilda and Theodora to stop gossiping and go to sleep but finally they were quiet. She checked their curtains were closed before sneaking down to the Common Room. The debris of the party was scattered everywhere; banners, confetti, half-eaten food and empty botties. She didn't envy whoever had to clean this up. At least it wasn't her.

Colin was waiting for her with his camera around his neck and grapes in his hand. Where had he gotten them?

He wasn't at all nervous of course, because Colin Creevey didn't know the meaning of the word.

"Ready?" he asked.

She nodded. The sooner they did this, the sooner they were safely back in bed.

The Fat Lady wasn't in her portrait when they pushed it open. Where had she gone? Did she have another painting where she relaxed? It seemed silly that a painting would have a commute.

The corridors were dark and every footstep echoed no matter how carefully they walked. This was feeling more and more like Halloween all over again. The clouds were so thick and the night so dark that there was barely enough light to see Colin just ahead of her. She shivered fiercely. Why hadn't she brought her coat? The castle was cold enough during the day, nevermind at night with all the fires out.

"I think it's down this way," Colin whispered.

"Are you sure, Colin?" She asked. This didn't feel right at all. Why had she agreed to this? Why couldn't the stupid grapes have waited until the morning? She wrapped her arms around herself.

"Colin, I think we should go back."

"But we're not far away!"

"Do you even know where we are?"

"I think we're close to Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"That's nowhere near the Hospital Wing!"

"Oh, yeah…"

"So, we've been going the wrong way the entire time?" She hissed. Why hadn't she gone first? Colin could barely find his way from the dormitory to the common room!

"A bit," He whispered brightly, "But if we go this way, it'll bring us to the hospital wing!"
"No it won't!"
"It will!"

"Come on," She grabbed his wrist. If they were going to do this, then at least they get without taking a detour round the entire castle! "Follow me!"

They turned onto a windowless corridor, where doors and corridors branched off on either side. The candles were burning low, and she had to squint to see ahead. She was pretty sure they weren't far away now. Another horrible thought hit her though, what if they ran into Peeves?

She turned to warn Colin about this new problem.

The candles blew out.

She was standing in total darkness. Her breathing had suddenly gotten very fast.

"Colin?"

"What happened?" It didn't sound like he was behind her anymore.

"I don't know. Where are you?"
"I took a left back at that crossing."
"What crossing?"

"The one with the ogre statue."

"I didn't see that!"

No answer.

"Colin?"

Hazel pulled out her wand. It trembled in her hand.

"Lumos", She said. The wand tip flickered briefly and faded into darkness.

Oh no. Not now. Please, not now.

She shook her wand, "Lumos!"

Nothing happened.

"Come on!" She pleaded, but the wand didn't react, "Please!"

Something moved behind her.

She couldn't see anything. Her heart felt like it was trying to escape through her chest.

There was a sharp gasp and a soft thump behind her.

"Colin?" She spun on the spot. Her legs felt like jelly, "Is that you?"

She tripped over something and fell to the ground. She looked back at it and screamed.

Colin was lying on his back. He was holding his camera up in front of his face and his eyes were wide and terrified. He was completely rigid, like he was made of stone.

"Colin!" What did she do? What did she do? She didn't dare touch him in case it hurt him. She had to go get help, but she couldn't leave him like this!

There was something moving ahead of her. It didn't sound like footsteps, it didn't even sound human.

She didn't even think. She put her arms around Colin and closed her eyes.

"Lumos!"

It was like someone had turned on a searchlight. She shielded her eyes as a figure stepped forward with wand raised. It was Professor Dumbledore, dressed in a woolly dressing gown and a long, silly nightcap. There was nothing silly about him though, as his eyes blazed fiercely behind his half-moon glasses.

"Professor!" Her voice wavered. What did she say? Where did she even start? "I didn't…I don't…it was so dark…"

Dumbledore leant beside Colin and pointed his wand at him. He was chanting in languages she didn't understand, just like Halloween.

Wake up Colin, please wake up.

He didn't so much as twitch.

"Godwin?" Dumbledore said.

Who? There was no one else here but them. Then a painting of an old man holding an apple coughed.

"I could not see anything in the darkness, headmaster," he said in a wheezy voice, "I only saw the girl and boy enter."

Hazel's stomach lurched horribly.

"Very well," Dumbledore said, "Fetch the Heads of House at once."

She didn't dare speak. Did Dumbledore thing she had attacked Colin? Surely he would after Halloween? She was going to be expelled.

Right now, she didn't even care. She just wanted Colin to be okay.

Professors McGonagall, Sprout, Flitwick, and Snape did not take long to arrive. Professor Flitwick squeaked in horror at the sight while Professor McGonagall uttered 'good lord'.

"Filius, Pomona," Dumbledore said, "You will fetch the ghosts and search the castle at once. Please ensure all dormitory guards remain at their posts until further notice. Minerva, please help me bring Mr Creevey to the Hospital Wing. We can examine him more thoroughly there. Severus, escort Miss Potter to my office and remain with her until I return."

"Headmaster," Professor Snape said coolly, "It would better if I were to assist in the search."

"I have given my instructions, Severus. Please see them done."

Professors Flitwick and Sprout pulled out their wands and began checking the different corridors. Dumbledore and McGonagall lifted Colin as if he were a plank of wood.

That left her and Professor Snape. His eyes were burning into her but she didn't dare look back.

"Follow me," he said.