"Well Roger, it seems I own you some Galleons." Duncan said as he landed, giving me an impressive look.
"Me as well." Jason added landing next to Duncan, Roger gave me a proud smile.
"I told you she had it in her!" He replied motioning at me in pure joy.
"We told them." Cho replied, folding her arms and glaring at Roger, who chuckled lightly.
"Yeah." Roger replied rubbing the back of his neck. "We...anyways Potter you were excellent tonight!"
I smiled in pride. "It's all Thanks to you guys." I said, looking to my broom in awe. "Though I think this also helped."
And it had. The Nimbus Two Thousand and One's reputation was certainly warranted. The fact that I was able to score ten consecutive goals against Grant only seemed to justify it. By the end of practice any doubts about me had vanished, leaving Grant awestruck, Jeremy ecstatic, and both Duncan and Jason ten galleons shorter having lost bets to Roger.
"The broom is only half of it." Grant admitted, having been the one to let all of those Quaffles through. "Your skill...let's just say Harry wasn't the only one born for Quidditch."
"Here, here." Both Jason and Duncan said.
"Like me and Roger have been telling you all along." Cho said, walking next to me and placing a hand on my shoulder. "She's going to be amazing."
Jeremy nodded. "Most likely."
"Anyways..." Roger said getting the attention of the whole team. "Tonight's practice was a start. Potter proved she belonged and the rest of you looked capable, but if where going to take home the Quidditch cup for the first time since Sixty Nine, we need to keep at it."
"Here here!" Some of the older boys shouted, while I turned to Cho with a raised eyebrow.
"It's been that long?"
Cho nodded. "Slytherin's won every year since Eighty Six. Before that Gryffindor was dominant under Charlie Weasley, and before him...your father."
"So I've heard." I replied, remembering Harry telling me about our father's day as a Chaser. "What about Hufflepuff?"
"They last won in Eighty. Your father had left, and Charlie hadn't arrived, while Slytherin hadn't yet become the dominant force it has been lately."
Again I nodded then frowned. "And we haven't won since Sixty Nine because..."
"Most of our house cares more for books and learning than sport." Cho replied frowning. "Still, hopefully with you on the team, everyone will have more reason to care"
I nodded. "Hopefully I can live up to your praise."
Cho once again patted me on the shoulder. "You will, I have total faith in you."
Roger set the practice schedule, which was every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday night, then dismissed us. After changing back into our school robes, me and Cho headed to the broom shed, dropped our brooms off, then began heading back to the common room.
"Well, that was fun." I said as we entered the castle.
"It was. I mean, that move you pulled on Grant...he went as white as a ghost."
"Well, I couldn't have done it without good genes, and a good broom." I replied, and Cho nodded.
"Yeah...still, I wonder who sent you it?" She asked tapping her chin thoughtfully, before shrugging. "Must have been Professor Flitwick."
"I don't know...I hadn't said anything to him."
"Maybe Anthony said something to him." Cho pointed out and I shook my head.
"Earlier today, when it arrived, he had no idea who sent it either."
We were both silent, Cho clearly deep in thought. Before she sighed. "I don't know I'd still ask Professor Flitwick if he sent it, and if he didn't...then I'd just let it go."
"Let it go?" I asked.
"Yeah, I mean, Roger's already checked it for curses, so it's not dangerous. If whoever sent it to you wanted you to know they would have left a name, or come forward. Until they do theirs no way to figure out who sent it. Best let it go."
I nodded. Cho was probably right, after all someone had left me a ring last year and had never come forward. Clearly someone was sending me things, and wanted to remain anonymous. "Well, hopefully someday they come forward so I can think them, whomever they are."
Cho nodded. "That's how I would look at it."
The two of us continued through the corridors in silence until we started up the spiral staircase of Ravenclaw tower, as we neared the top I turned to Cho curiously.
"Where do we say we've been?"
Cho just chuckled. "You'll see." I looked at her in confusion, then remembered the Notice Me Not Charm, clearly it would have some effect...
We reached the Eagle Knocker, Cho stepped forward and knocked.
"What room can you eat?" It asked, and Cho shook her head.
"A Mushroom." She replied, causing the door to open as Cho turned to me. "Got that one my first year."
"The riddles repeat?" I asked as we stepped into the common room.
"Their are thousands of them, but, yes. Rowena Ravenclaw could only teach the knocker so many before she died." Cho answered, before turning her attention back to the Common room before smiling. "Good, it seems the charm's effect is still up."
"Effect?" I asked, before turning my attention to the common room as a whole. Like usual it was filled with fellow housemates. Some reading, some doing homework, some playing wizards chest, however none seemed to least bit concerned that we had entered the common room.
I turned to Cho. "What happened?"
"The charm." She said in a low voice. Make's them not notice, or care to notice, any activity done under it."
"What does that mean?"
Cho smirked, then motioned to my year mates all of whom sat in our usual corner near the windows. "Go find out, just don't mention Quidditch." She warned, then walked over to Marietta and the rest of her friends in another section of the common room.
I took a deep breath, then walked over to my year mates, all of whom seemed more interested in their readings or homework than the fact that I was approaching...
"Hey guys." I said, sitting down on the couch next to Lisa.
"Oh, hey." Lisa replied.
"Sarah." Anthony added nodding before turning back to his book. Everyone else greeted me in a similar manner, before turning back to whatever book, homework, or conversation they were doing.
I looked over at Cho, whom was looking at me amused, before turning back to the group. "What are you doing?" I asked Lisa.
"My Transfiguration homework." She replied looking up at me. "Anthony's still reading his awful book from earlier."
"It's not awful." Anthony responded, looking up from his book in annoyance. "It's entertaining."
Lisa smirked. "Right. Anyways, you want any help on this?" She asked, motioning to her Transfiguration homework.
"Sure..." I replied, still in awe how nobody seemed to care where I'd been the last several hours. I began rummaging through my book bag and found the homework. "By the way, how was detention?"
"Same as the last two days." Lisa answered with a frown. "Snape made us clean the seventh years potion bottles today..."
I grimaced. "I'm guessing it was..."
"Disgusting." Lisa answered, then looked up at me. "What question were you on?"
"Nine."
"Good, let's compare answers so far, then continue on." Lisa suggested, and I nodded.
"Of course."
And just like that we began, Lisa and everyone else acting like I'd been there the whole time. Again I couldn't help but feel slightly guilty from hiding so much from her...but at the same time knowing in the long run she'd understand.
With me now on the Quidditch team the weeks began to feel longer, yet shorter at the same time. Three nights a week we would meet, practice, and return to the common room. And three times a week no one asked any questions, nor seemed to care where we had been. The charm was so powerful in fact, that one night the whole team entered the common room together, and no one batted an eye, much to the amusement of Roger.
"It's going to be hilarious when we have our first game and they all realize where we've been."
Indeed, as soon as I played a match, everyone in the common room would finally notice everything. All the nights I was with the team, and so on. Not that it would matter anymore, seeing as me being a secret would no longer matter.
Speaking of secrets, no one had come forward saying they'd bought me the broom. I had asked Professor Flitwick if it was him, but he quickly shook his head.
"You told me you wanted to get it yourself?"
"I did it's just...never mind Professor."
And with that I decided to take Cho's advice and let it go. If whomever sent it wanted me to know, they could tell me themselves.
Other than Quidditch, thing's were going swimmingly. Classes continued as normal, including me just scraping by in Transfiguration. Smith had once again been cowed by Snape and was leaving me alone for the time being, while Draco had started talking to me again, by only as an absolute necessity, such as asking me to pass the shovel in herbology and so forth.
Professor Lockhart on the other hand was the total opposite. At every opportunity he would stop me, Harry, or both of us together in the hall and talk us up. While even I could admit it was a bit much, I was still grateful, while Harry would was still trying to avoid the man like the plague.
As for Harry himself, I hadn't seen much of him to be honest. Seeing as we still didn't share any classes, and now both of us had busy practice schedules. We did try and meet up as often as possible, usually down at Hagrid's for tea, whose pumpkins continued to grow to a massive size.
With everything going on I was surprised to look up and see we were already in October, bringing with it the cold, rain, and a flurry of sickness throughout the school. Luckily Madam Pomfrey and her fabled Pepperup potion cured instantly, with the rather embarrassing side effect of smoke pouring out of the ears for several hours.
The worst part of the weather however was the effect it had on Quidditch practice. It didn't matter if it was sunny and beautiful, or a thunder storm. Roger never called off a practice. What had once been a quaint rush of breeze in my face, turned to a typhoon of rain. Causing me to shiver, and my hair to be ruined, soaked for hours afterwards...
It was horrid.
"Why are you soaking wet?" Lisa asked one day after practice. Yes the charm prevented her from putting me soaking, and the rest of the team soaking together, but it didn't stop some questions.
"I got caught up in the rain." I replied, motioning to the window and the pouring rain beyond.
"For the third time this week?" She asked, and I shrugged.
"I was down at Hagrid's." I answered, before hurrying of to my dorm to change, and get under the covers, hoping I wouldn't need any more Pepperup potion.
"So, you aren't enjoying Quidditch practice?" Anthony asked my soaked form outside the library one evening, as we waited on Lisa to return a book.
All I could do was glare at him. "Shut-up."
Anthony chuckled and I felt a twinge of regret I had reminded him of the practices. After all, he already knew I joined the team, and him knowing I was on the team, yet not knowing or caring where I was every other night felt counter productive. That also meant I complained to him, and him alone, which in turn meant he was tired of hearing about it...
Anthony sighed..."Sorry, it's just, I know you hate the rain by now."
"Sorry, I just...need someone to talk with it about."
"What about Cho or Roger?"
I shook my head. "I don't want them to think I'm ungrateful." I replied, and Anthony nodded.
"That makes sense...still, that's the fourth time in the last two weeks I've heard the same rant."
I smirked. "Well, get ready to hear it another couple of times. At least until our first gam..."
"Sarah!"
Both me and Anthony stopped our bickering and saw Harry, flanked by Ron, and Hermione approaching us.
"Brother." I replied, giving the trio a nod. "How's it going?"
"Good..." Harry began in a tone that indicated he was nervous. "...How are you?" He asked, and shrugged.
"Other than being caught in that darn rain more times than I would care to admit, fine." I replied, as Harry noticed my damp hair.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Harry began "I know how it feels, Wood's been making us practice hard, especially now that Malfoy's gotten Slytherin those Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones. Fred and George said the Slytherin team looks like seven greenish blurs flying around the pitch.
"So I've heard." I replied, remembering how Cho and Roger had been spying on them. "Facing them will be a challenge."
Harry grimaced at the thought, then began fidgeting. "So...where's Lisa?" He asked.
"She's returning a library book." Anthony answered motioning to the library entrance. "Madam Prince wouldn't let Sarah in, so I stayed with her."
"Something about not getting the library muddy." I answered, and Harry nodded.
"I know how you feel, Mr Filch was furious with me the other day..." Harry began then trailed off, and I noticed Hermione begin to tap her foot impatiently. Clearly she was wanting Harry to say something...
"Is their...something you need Harry?" I asked, and he tugged at his collar.
"Well, I...kind of..."
"Finally." Lisa said as she exited the library a annoyed look on her face. "Sorry that took so long. The line was the longest I'd ever seen...oh hey guys." She said, noticing the Gryffindor's.
"Lisa." Harry replied with a nod before turning back to me.
"So you were saying?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, it's just...I was talking to Nearly Headless Nick the other day and he just wanted me to make sure you would be fine in..." Harry's voice trailed off, as me, Lisa, and Anthony looked at each other confused.
"Yes?"
"He wants you to...I kind of promised that I could get you three to maybe be..."
"Harry owes Nearly Headless Nick for saving him from Filch the other day, and Harry promised to go to his Death Day Party." Hermione interjected.
"A Deathday Party?" Lisa asked looking at Anthony.
"The day he died, ghosts celebrate that sort of thing." Anthony answered,
"Oh." Lisa replied.
"That's...interesting. But what's that got to do with us?" I asked. Hermione looked pointedly at Harry who had gone pale.
"I kind of promised that Me, Hermione, Ron...and maybe you three could go?"
There was a moment of silence as me, Anthony, and Lisa once again looked at each other, then back at Harry. "You want us to go to this Deathday Party?" I asked, and Harry nodded.
"I mean...yeah."
"Both me and Hermione have agreed to go." Ron interjected as we all turned to him. "You guy's don't have to if you don't want to..."
"But It would mean a lot, please Sarah?" Harry begged, and I sighed.
"Speaking for myself...fine, we hardly see enough of each other anyways." I replied, and Harry seemed to perk up, then pulled me into a hug.
"You are the best sister." He said, and I couldn't help but smile.
"That's what family is for right."
"Anyways..." Harry began pulling away from me. "What about you two?" He asked Anthony and Lisa.
Anthony was stroking his chin. "A Deathday Party, how interesting...why not count me in." Anthony replied, as everyone turned to Lisa, who was looking skeptical.
"When is this Deathday Party?" She asked, and Harry's beaming smile turned nervous once again.
"Um...well." Harry began and Lisa folded her arms while me and Anthony looked at each other wondering what we'd just agreed to. "...During the Halloween Feast."
"What?" I asked frowning as Harry laughed nervously.
"Oh, did I fail to mention that part?"
"Yes." Both me and Anthony replied at the same time.
"Oh...um Sorry." He replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "That won't be a problem will it?"
"I can't believe you two talked me into this." Lisa said frowning while we waited at the entrance to the dungeons for the Gryffindor's to go to the Deathday party.
"You can still go to the feast." I replied motioning to the stairs leading towards the great hall. "Nothing is stopping you."
Lisa just rolled her eyes. "Not without you two."
"Suit yourself." Anthony interjected with a shrug. "I for one am interested to see what a death day party consists of."
"I still don't get why you'd celebrate the day you died." Lisa replied, down into the dungeons and seeing the pathway lined with dozens of bright blue candles. And shivering at the cold that seemed to engulf the entryway.
"Well, where not dead, so I'm guessing we'd never get it." I replied, as the sound of footsteps rounded the corner, as Harry, Ron, and Hermione appeared.
"Hey Sarah!" Harry said, trying to keep a positive attitude. "Anthony, Lisa, you three ready for a Deathday party?!"
Lisa just glared at him, while Anthony shrugged.
"I suppose."
"Great, let's go then!"
Harry led the six of us deep into the dungeons. With every step the air grew colder and the candles seemed to shine us in a ghostly glow.
"You know." Lisa began leaning in to whisper to me and Anthony. "I heard Dumbledore hired a troupe of dancing skeletons for entertainment at the feast, we could..." She finished, and motioned backwards.
"Like I've said for the seventh time today, you are free to go." I replied, making Lisa groan in annoyance.
We continued deeper into the dungeons, Lisa grumbling all the way. We all had to tighten our robes around us to keep warm. And I was beginning to wonder how much further this party was when what sounded like a thousand scraping a blackboard.
"What is that sound?" Lisa asked.
"Is that supposed to be music?" Ron added as we rounded a corner and came face to face with Nearly Headless Nick, standing in front of a doorway with black velvet drapes.
Being a Ravenclaw I hadn't seen him nearly as often as Harry, Ron, or Hermione. But from the few times I had talked to him he'd seemed pleasant enough. He looked straight out of the medieval ages, with long curly hair, and a fancy, plumed hat.
"My dear friends," He began in a mournful tone. "Welcome, welcome… so pleased you could come…" He began looking over the Gryffindor trio before turning to face me, Anthony, and Lisa. "...and your sister and her companions as well...an honor." He finished, taking off his plumed hat and bowing to us, then motioning us past the black velvet draped door.
What we saw next was incredible.
Hundreds of ghosts were gathered in a large chamber, in the middle of which was a dance floor where the ghosts were "dancing" with one another to a orchestra playing what sounded to be chainsaws. The room was lit by a chandler of even more ghost tinted candles. To top it all of, the presence of so many ghosts made the room freezing, it was so cold in fact that I could see my own breath.
"Looks...fun." Harry said, noticing Lisa's glare. Even Anthony wanted to leave, given the fact his usual curious face was now frowning horribly.
"If you say so." Lisa said, then leaned close to me and Anthony. "Have I mentioned the troupe of dancing skeletons?" She whispered to us.
I sighed. "We'll only stay for a couple of minutes." I replied, and Lisa nodded.
"Shall we have a look around?" Harry suggested, and I nodded.
"Lead the way." I replied, as Harry lead us deeper into this...party.
"Careful not to walk through anyone," Ron Commented as we reached the edge of the dancefloor and passed a group that consisted of the Fat Friar, ghost of Hufflepuff, and several others.
"I'll be sure not to." Anthony replied a grimace on his face.
"You two don't have to stay." I whispered to the pair, careful not to let the Gryffindor's or Ghosts hear.
"And leave you hear alone." Anthony replied shaking his head.
"Yeah, we're having to much fun." Lisa added grimacing at the sight of the Bloody Baron.
I sighed, feeling bad I had dragged them into this. "I'm sorry..."
"Oh, no," Hermione said, stopping so quickly I almost bumped into her. "Turn back, turn back, I don't want to talk to Moaning Myrtle —"
Both me and Lisa groaned.
"Myrtle." I said looking in ahead and seeing the ghostly former student.
"Not her." Lisa added.
"Who?" Harry asked as we all backed away, while Ron and Anthony both looked just as confused.
"She haunts one of the toilets in the girls' bathroom on the first floor," Hermione explained.
"She haunts a toilet?" Ron asked in horror.
"Yes. It's been out-of-order all year because she keeps having tantrums and flooding the place. I never went in there anyway if I could avoid it; it's awful trying to have a pee with her wailing at you."
"It's quite the traumatic experience." Lisa added.
"Indeed."
"I wonder why she haunts a toilet?" Anthony wondered aloud, causing me to shrug.
"No idea, and to be honest..." I began giving the ghostly student a quick glance over my shoulder. "...I don't want to get close enough to ask her."
Anthony gave the ghost girl a glance as well, whom was now bawling, and nodded.
"I can see why..."
"Look, food!" Ron said suddenly, pointing past the dance floor.
Sure enough at the other end of the dungeon was a long table which was also covered in black velvet. Ron eagerly led the way, while Lisa looked skeptical...
"Are we sure the food will even be eatable?" She whispered to me and Anthony, I shrugged, while Anthony stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Who knows? I mean, I've never seen what ghosts eat, if they eat at all, but surely it can't be that ba..."
Anthony was cut off by the smell of rotting fish, causing us all to pinch our noses.
"What is that?" Lisa asked, pushing past us and up to where Harry, Ron, and Hermione were standing.
What we saw next made me nearly vomit...
As the smell had suggested, large rotten fish were spread all along the table on silver platters, served alongside cakes burned darker the charcoal, cheese that was moldy green, along with many more...dishes. The center piece of the meal however was a large, grey cake the shape of a tombstone, with icing spelling the words
SIR NICHOLAS DE MIMSY-PORPINGTON
DIED 31ST OCTOBER, 1492
We all stood in shocked silence. Lisa going green in the face, Anthony shuddering in disgust, while I took a deep breath to prevent myself from puking. Finally, Lisa collected herself and forced us into a huddle.
"Troupe-of-Dancing-Skeletons." She said slowly motioning to the exit with her head. "Let's go."
Anthony quickly nodded, while I looked back at Harry and the others, whom were watching a ghost walk through the a piece of rotten salmon.
"Can you taste it if you walk though it?" Harry asked him.
"Almost," The ghost replied sadly before drifting away.
I let out a sigh. "Fine, let me tell Harry." I said, before walking over to the Gryffindor's.
"I expect they've let it rot to give it a stronger flavor," Hermione was saying, looking over the food while pinching her nose.
"Can we move? I feel sick," Ron added, causing the trio to turn towards me.
"Harry I think..."
Before I could finish however, a little man swooped suddenly from under the table, stopping in midair between the six of us.
"Hello, Peeves," Harry said nervously while rubbing the back of his neck.
Unlike the ghosts around us, Peeves, whom was a Poltergeist, was dressed in a bright orange party hat, a bowtie, and a wicked grin.
"Nibbles?" He replied, holding what looked like peanuts covered in fungus out to the Gryffindor's.
"No thanks," Hermione declined, holding out her hand. Peeves gave her a shrug before turning to face me.
"What about you three?" He asked us, wearing the same grin he'd just used on Hermione. "Want some Nibbles?"
"No we don't." Lisa replied firmly, causing Peeves to shrug.
"Suit yourselves." The poltergeist replied, eating the entire bowl in one pour. "Delicious." He finished, noticing the disgusted looks on all our faces.
"I'm glad you enjoyed them." I replied, trying to smile.
Peeves smiled wickedly. ""Heard you talking about poor Myrtle," He began, looking at me, Lisa, and Hermione. "Rude you was about poor Myrtle."
Lisa just rolled her eyes. "We didn't mean any har..."
Before Lisa could finish Peeves took a deep breath, then roared. "OY! MYRTLE!"
"Oh no." I said slouching as the ghostly girl began approaching us.
"Oh, no, Peeves, don't tell her what we said, she'll be really upset," Hermione begged in a whisper. " We didn't mean it, we don't mind her — er, hello, Myrtle."
Myrtle had arrived and was looking at the stammering Hermione glumly.
"What?" She asked in a sulking tone.
"How are you, Myrtle?" Hermione asked in a fake, pleasant tone "It's nice to see you out of the toilet."
Myrtle only sniffed in reply...
"Let's go." Anthony whispered suddenly to me and Lisa, realizing that neither Peeves, or Myrtle were paying close attention to us.
"Yes lets..." I replied, as we tried to tip toe away...
"Miss Granger was just talking about you — along with Miss Potter, and Miss Turpin." Peeves said suddenly, as we were forced to turn back around. Myrtle was now staring at me and Lisa with folded arms which we met with cheery faces.
"Just saying —Just saying — saying — how nice you look tonight," Hermione began
"And how wonderful your—glasses look tonight." Lisa added.
"And how they match your—eyes so well." I finished.
Myrtle eyed the three of us suspiciously.
"You three were making fun of me," She accused us as her eyes began to fill with silvery tears.
"No — honestly — didn't we just say how nice Myrtle's looking?" Hermione said, nudging both Ron and Harry in the ribs.
"Oh, yeah —"Harry sputtered
"They did —" Ron added.
"Obviously—" Anthony finished, though Myrtle didn't seem convinced.
"Don't lie to me," Myrtle roared looking back and forth between Harry, Ron, and Anthony, and tears now pouring down her face. While Peeves looked on in glee. "D'you think I don't know what people call me behind my back? Fat Myrtle! Ugly Myrtle! Miserable, moaning, moping Myrtle!"
"You've forgotten pimply," Peeves whispered suddenly in her ear.
With that the Dam broke. Myrtle burst into uncontrollable, ear piercing, sobbing, and fled. Peeves chasing after her, throwing more moldy peanuts at her and shouting, "Pimply! Pimply!"
"Oh, dear," Hermione said sadly.
"Quite." I interjected before turning back to Harry and rubbing the back of my neck. "Listen Harry..."
"Enjoying yourselves?"
I jumped at Nearly Headless Nick's words, and turned to him with a fake smile.
"Oh, yes," Harry, Ron, and Hermione lied, Nick smiled then turned to us.
Me, Lisa and Anthony shared quick glances.
"Obviously." Lisa lied, and Nick looked satisfied, before looking around the dungeon..
"Not a bad turnout," He said proudly. "The Wailing Widow came all the way up from Kent… It's nearly time for my speech, I'd better go and warn the orchestra…"
Before he could do so however, the orchestra stopped playing on it's own. All the ghosts fell silent, and a hunting horn rang.
"Oh, here we go," Nick said, bitterness draping every word.
Suddenly, through the far dungeon wall, burst twelve ghosts horses. Each ridden by a ghost without a head. I remembered Harry saying something about Nick and a headless hunt, and realized this must be what he was talking about.
Throughout the dungeon, the ghosts began to clap wildly. Harry started to as well, but stopped when he noticed the look on Harry's face, while me, Lisa, and Anthony each shared a confused look.
"What's going on?" Anthony whispered.
"Something about a Headless Hunt..." I replied as horses stopped in the middle of the dance floor. The ghost on the lead horse, whom held his bearded head under his arm, blew his horn once again. The ghost leapt off his horse, and lifted his head high into the air to see over the crowd, causing the other ghosts to laugh. He scanned the crowed until he found Nick, then strode over.
"Nick!" he roared as he pushed his head back onto his neck. "How are you? Head still hanging in there?" He finished with a hearty laugh, and patted Nick on the shoulder.
"Welcome, Patrick," Nick replied stiffly.
"Live 'uns!" Sir Patrick said noticing the six of us, and jumping back in fake fear, causing his head to fall off again, and land on the floor, causing the ghosts to once again burst into laughter, and I realized that we were now in the middle of a sea of ghosts.
"No escape now..." Lisa whispered, noticing the same thing as me, and I shrugged.
"Very amusing," Nick told Sir Patrick in a dark tone
"Don't mind Nick!" Sir Patrick's head told us from the floor. "Still upset we won't let him join the Hunt! But I mean to say — look at the fellow —"
"I think," Harry said suddenly, as I noticed Nick give him a look. "Nick's very — frightening and — er —"
"Ha!" Patrick's head roared from the floor. "Bet he asked you to say that!"
"If I could have everyone's attention, it's time for my speech!" Nick said suddenly. Striding towards a podium lit in the same colors has all the candles.
"My late lamented lords, ladies, and gentlemen, it is my great sorrow…"
Unfortunately for Nick, Sir Patrick and the rest of the Headless Hunt had started using their heads to play hockey, and the assembled crowd had turned to watch. Nick tried to recapture there attention, but it was useless, and he gave up as Sir Patrick's head went soaring past.
At this point we were all cold, hungry, and miserable. And seeing as Nick was distracted, I decided to tell Harry...
"I can't stand much more of this," Ron spoke before I could, and I noticed both Anthony and Lisa perk up as we all turned to Harry, who nodded.
"Let's go," He agreed.
I could hardly believe my luck. We were leaving, and I wouldn't have to abandon Harry to do it!
"Yes, lets." I added, letting out a sigh of relief I didn't know I was holding.
The six of us made our way through the crowd of ghosts towards the exit. Smiling, and nodding politely at any ghost who looked at us. Soon enough we made it to the black velvet door, and without a second thought rushed out back into the corridor of black candles.
"Well that sucked." Lisa said as we stepped out of the dungeons.
Harry gave her a guilty look." Sorry..."
"It's fine." She replied with a sigh. "At least where out of there."
"Yeah." Ron agreed as he led the way towards the entrance hall. "And hey, pudding might not be finished yet," He added hopefully.
"I hope so." Anthony commented, however before we could begin up the stairs towards the Great Hall, Harry suddenly stopped, and put his his ear against the stone wall.
"Harry what's wrong—?" I asked.
"Harry, what're you —?" Hermione said at the same time.
"It's that voice again — shut up a minute —"
Anthony and Lisa gave him confused looks, then turned to me.
"What's he talking about?" Lisa asked me in a whisper.
"I don't kn..."
"Listen!" Harry urged. All of us stared at him in confusion, not hearing anything. While he stared up into the ceiling. "This way," he said suddenly bolting up the stairs into the entrance hall.
"What's going on?" Anthony asked as we followed, and I looked at him in total confusion.
"No idea."
We finally made it to the entrance hall. Harry looking in every direction. Lisa gave a hopeful look towards the Great Hall, where you could hear the chatter of the feast taking place. But Harry didn't stop, and continued up the staircases to the first floor.
"Harry, what're we —" Hermione tried.
"Where are we go —" I added.
"SHH! "Harry shushed us, straining to hear...whatever it was he was hearing.
Lisa folded her arms, clearly tired of Harry not explaining what he was hearing. "What in the world do you hear Harry—"
"It's going to kill someone!" Harry shouted suddenly, ignoring all of our bewildered faces, and running up the next flight of stairs.
"Kill?" Anthony asked Harry in horror as we chased after him.
Harry didn't respond, clearly still trying to listen for...whatever was going to kill. He continued on leading us through the second floor, until we turned into the last corner, all of us trying to catch our breaths.
"Harry, what was that all about?" Ron asked, as he wiped sweat from his face. "I couldn't hear anything."
"Neither could I." Lisa added, gasping for breath.
Before anyone could say anything else, Hermione gasped, and pointed to the far end of the corridor.
"Look!" She shouted.
We all looked down the corridor, and sure enough something was shining. We all looked at each other, as Harry began walking down the corridor.
"What is that?" Anthony asked, following Harry. Both me and Lisa looked at each other worriedly.
"Are you sure we should..." Lisa began, then sighed as Anthony continued, and turned to me "...let go."
We finally reached the end of the corridor, and found words written on the wall between two windows. Finally we got close enough to read what it said through the darkness.
THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED.
ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE
"Chamber of Secrets?" Lisa asked aloud, looking at Anthony who shrugged.
"No idea."
"What's that thing — hanging underneath?" Ron said suddenly, and we all edged closer through a large puddle that almost made Harry slip. Finally we got close enough to see what Ron was referring too, and we all jumped back in horror, causing the puddle to splash.
"Mrs. Norris." I gasped, holding my hands over my mouth in horror.
Sure enough, under the writing, sat Mr Filch cat. She was hanging from a torch bracket by her tail, her body stiff and unmoving, and her eyes wide open and staring blankly ahead.
For a couple of seconds we stood in absolute horror, before Ron and Anthony took over.
"Let's get out of here." Ron said firmly, while Anthony nodded.
"Now."
"Shouldn't we try and help —" Harry asked, motioning to the cat.
"Trust me," Ron warned. "We don't want to be found here."
"It wouldn't look good." Anthony added.
But before any of us could go anywhere, a chorus of distant footsteps let us know that the feast had just ended. We all looked at each other nervously. Soon enough the footsteps converged as both sides of the corridor were filled with students from the feast.
As soon as the first wave of students noticed the sight before them, Mrs. Norris hanging from a torch and the six of standing their, they went quiet. Kids near the back of the line pushed forward, vying for a look at why the line had stopped moving. I noticed Smith look over the words on the wall, then stare at me, and accusing look in his eyes.
There was an awkward silence for a moment as everyone took in the horrid scene, until a familiar voice called through the silence.
"Enemies of the Heir, beware! You'll be next, Mudbloods!" Draco shouted from the other side of the corridor as he pushed to the front of the crowd, his face grinning as he noticed Mrs. Norris hanging, and Harry front and center, though when he noticed me his grin turned into a frown, as he looked down at the ground, and slid back into the crowd.
"What have we gotten ourselves into?" Lisa whispered to me and Anthony, as we all looked at Harry, who had led us to...this.
"I don't know."