Chapter Fourteen: Best Laid Plans

January 24th,1993

Two months had passed and Harry realized that he had gone over the estimated time to craft the defense with the Great Lion's fur. It was a bit more complicated than he'd anticipated. At this point, he might finish by Valentine's Day at the earliest. He was glad that Dumbledore had called in the Department for the Control of Magical Creatures, just in case the beast attacked before Harry could finish his project.

In other news, Hermione seemed to really appreciate the featherlight bag that Harry had gotten her for Christmas. Harry had some help with the runework, but it worked rather well. Harry had crafted gifts for his other friends too, but he honestly couldn't recall any of the other items off the top of his head. The only other notable event that had happened was Harry finding a black diary in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. His scar seemed to prickle with pain just being near it, so Harry wrapped it in a piece of cloth and carried it to his dorm for safekeeping until he could get it to Dumbledore.

However, after winning against Ravenclaw in Quidditch, Harry returned to his dorm to see it ransacked — but the only thing missing was the diary. Harry told McGonagall that he was going to give the item to Dumbledore because it felt dark, but now it had been swiped. McGonagall told Harry that the staff would keep an eye out for the diary, but if he found it again to bring it straight to a staff member. Harry had a feeling that diary was somehow connected to the attacks, so readily agreed.


February 14th, 1993

The majority of Harry's project had been finished, his latest portion being just recently being put outside the library. This Valentine's Day was a bit more gaudy because Lockhart had insisted on it, but most everyone disliked his over the top decor. Harry had sent out yellow flowers to all his female friends, but Hermione got a golden flower to signify her "best friend" status. But Harry had secretly sent her a pink rose with a message saying it was from a "secret admirer".

Harry knew someone might think it was him, but flowers were common enough gifts on Valentines that he thought he was in the clear.

His day was going pretty well, but Hermione wasn't at lunch. His worst fears were realized when a member of the Control of Magical Creatures contingent burst into the Great Hall. "We've subdued the basilisk and have apprehended a young girl with a dark diary. However, one of my people got petrified along with a second year Gryffindor student. They were found in the library."

Harry was glad that the attacks were over, but they were plain out of mandrake draft. The only consolation Harry had was that Hermione would be brought to St. Mungo's. McGonagall said she would inform her parents and let her friends visit her soon. Harry could only hope Hermione recovered quickly.


Author's Note: Sorry it's been a while. Writing this story is getting harder for me so I'm officially putting this on hiatus until at least after New Year's Day, maybe longer. I hope to have a more comprehensive structure for the next few chapters before I start posting this story again. See you in 2025!