Chapter Nine
Halloween morning was still and quiet. It was clearly not summer any more, with frost decorating the grass around Hogwarts. Harry sat, munching happily on some toast, surrounded by his friends making small talk in the great hall. It was already decorated for the Halloween feast that evening, huge pumpkins stood proudly around the walls and the bats were sleeping, hanging off the roof beams.
Harry's peace was soon interrupted though, Ron walked over and sat next to him, making a big show of supporting his arm, which was still in a sling.
"Hello Ronald." Harry said, giving him a smile.
"Please call me Ron everyone does." Ron beamed, he shot a look over to him brothers on the Gryffindor table, Percy looked back proudly that his little brother was sitting with Harry Potter. Fred and George just rolled their eyes.
"Any plans for today?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded, "It's Halloween."
Ron gave a thoughtful nodded, "Yeah yeah, actually me and Ginny were wondering if we could come with you?"
Harry blinked and his friends fell silent.
"Umm why?" Harry asked, "You don't really follow the old ways."
Ron nodded, "Yeah but I was thinking that if you like it then it could be some fun."
"We're not a zoo exhibition." Daphne snapped.
Ron blushed, "That's not what I meant, we wouldn't get in the way."
Harry tried to think of a nice way to say piss off. He glanced over to the Gryffindor table and saw Ginny beaming at him with big eyes, he sighed.
"I guess you could tag along, just remember that this is important to us so don't belittle it, OK?"
Ron grinned and nodded, "Yeah of course not. What should we wear?"
"Anything. It doesn't matter." Harry said
"Really? You always wear that strange white robes." Ron frowned.
Harry gritted his teeth, "They're special and if you wanted to take part all the time then you could do with a set but what you wear isn't important, they're just sentimental."
"Ok cool. We'll meet you outside?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded, "Yes. An hour before the feast is going to start."
Ron grinned and wondered back to his own table, again clutching at his arm and making a huge show of how painful it was.
It was still annoying Harry, his library searches hadn't been to promising, most cases didn't end well for the creatures on trial.
"I'm going to spend the day with Astoria." Daphne said, wiping the tips of her fingers clean.
"Why?" Harry asked, "We've spent it today every year we've been at school, she could come with us."
"I'm sorry Harry," Daphne sighed, "I know you're trying the whole 'be friends with Ron' thing but he's annoying and still just wanders round like you're the best thing since sliced bread."
"And Ginny is even worse." Pansy sighed, "She looks at you like you're a god. Her brain cells pour out her ears when you're nearby."
Harry let out a snort of laughter, "It'll be fine." he hoped
He finished his breakfast and went to the library. Sitting down at his normal table and grabbing a few books off the shelves he dove back into research.
"Can I help?" Hermione asked, sitting down next to him, "Are you're trying to help Hagrid?"
Harry nodded, "Yeah. I just can't seem to find much."
"The way all magical beings that aren't purely human are treated is terrible. I was reading the other day and came across a group of house elves that were put to death for disobeying an order." Hermione said, shaking her bushy hair.
"Wow that's tough. I don't think I've ever met a family that treated house elves that bad." Harry said.
"Well it was from over a hundred years ago. There must be some that are still treated badly, things don't just change." Hermione said, putting another book to the side.
Harry nodded, "Can't argue there. Sirius had some trouble with Kreacher when we first moved in, his mum was a real battle axe when it came to blood purity so talked down to Sirius loads for being a Gryffindor but mum refused to let there be any tension between them when we moved in."
"Your mum seems nice." Hermione smiled, "Very welcoming."
"As far as I can tell she's always been like that." Harry grinned, proud Hermione liked his mother, "All through school, she always tried to get everyone to get along. Not always easy."
"Oh." Hermione let out, "Look at this, here's a case were a Grindylow drowned someone who was swimming in a lake and they were let off because 'As the defence was only a creature of limited accountability they should not be put to death but rather kept away from harming.' that could help."
"Ok, mark that one." Harry smiled.
"Maybe not, the owner of the lake where the Grindylow lived was put in prison for allowing his creature to hurt someone." Hermione sighed, "I can't believe how difficult this is!"
"Lets not put Hagrid back in prison." Harry sighed, "I know what you mean though."
They found a few pages that might help, unlikely but might. Hermione had also started to write a speech for Hagrid to give explaining Buckbeak's better side and how Ron had insulted him despite being warned.
"You should go Harry." Hermione said, checking her watch, "It's nearly half four and you need to get ready still."
Harry smiled, "Thanks for remembering."
"Of course; it's important to you." Hermione smiled, "I'm going to stay here and keep working. I'll let you know at the feast if I can find anything."
Harry nodded and quickly went to his dorm to get changed. He normally loved Halloween, it was the time he felt closest to his father and that side of his family. James's family had wanted nothing to do with Lily and him after she remarried. He knew he had family all over the world but knew nothing about them.
This year, however, Harry wasn't so enthusiastic. The idea of having Ron and Ginny watching over him like it was a game was not what he wanted, but he didn't want to make enemies and it was making Lily happy that he was trying. And with her wanting to take him out of school, doing anything that kept Harry in her good books was a good thing.
"You ready to go?" Draco asked, he was also dressed in his white robes.
Harry's heart broke a little when he saw another little blue kiss had been added to the embroidery.
"Yeah." Harry forced a smile, "Lets go."
They walked down to the common room and met up with Pansy. Daphne and Astoria were just leaving and waved goodbye.
"Is it true?" Tracy asked, storming over, "You're letting the Weasley's join in?"
Harry and Draco both took a deep, calming breath.
"You're on your own there Harry." Draco smirked and dragged Pansy to the sofa for a snuggle.
"Yes. He wanted to watch." Harry said simply.
"They're blood traitors and have no respect. You should be ashamed of yourself." Tracy spat.
Millicent, seeing that there was a confrontation came over and stood behind Tracy.
"Oh, please." A voice purred. Gemini stepped forward, followed by her brother. "Not all the old families even follow that nonsense. Mother left it when she married, she says it's common. Millicent are you coming? We're going to play chess and, you may watch."
Millicent looked awkwardly between Gemini and Tracy. Gemini raised her eyebrow in annoyance.
"I am not going to wait." She said coldly.
Millicent gave a small, apologetic smile to Tracy and went off to sit with Crabbe and Goyle to watch the Lestrange twins play chess.
"Even you can do better than sheep like that." Pansy said coming back over to Harry, "Have some self respect, Davis."
Tracy tucked a strand of pale hair that had dared to come loose back under her head dress.
"Piss of Parkinson. You're nothing." Tracy hissed and stormed from the room.
"Come on lets go." Harry said, shaking his head, "We're going to be late otherwise."
"Lets walk really slowly." Pansy laughed, moving in slow motion.
Harry laughed, "Come on."
They moved quickly through the empty castle and met with an excited looking Ron and Ginny waiting at the front steps.
They walking into the chilly gardens and went to the rocky out crop next to the lake. The water splashed gently against the rocks.
"Should we sit down?" Ron asked in a loud whisper.
"No. Well if you can if you want to, it doesn't matter." Draco huffed.
Ginny giggled and clamped a hand over her mouth, blushing so brightly her cheeks matched her flaming red hair hair.
"Today I want to feel close to my father, and my family." Harry began.
"Which family?" Ron asked.
"My Dad's I don't really know them and it's been on my mind a lot the last couple of months." Harry explained, he did his best to stay calm thinking about how proud his mother would be of him.
"Oh that's so sad." Ginny simpered, "It's like you're all alone."
"I'm going to go." Pansy said, standing up from her kneeling position, brushing off her skirt and picking up her shoes and socks, "I'm sorry."
"Can you guys give us a moment please?" Harry asked.
Ron looked surprised for a moment before nodding and dragging Ginny away.
"Why?" Harry asked her quietly.
"I'm sorry I just can't do this with them looking over me all the time." Pansy shrugged, "It's hard enough without Daphne here with us and all I keep thinking about it those two." she gestured to Ron and Ginny.
Harry nodded, he was strongly regretting letting Ron watch anyway and he couldn't blame Pansy for wanting some space.
"Can I go to?" Draco asked.
"No." Harry smirked, "You have to be here, a perk of being my best friend."
"Awww I'm you're bestest friend? I'm touched." Draco grinned.
They watched Pansy walk away and waved Ron and Ginny back.
Pansy made her way over to next to the forest. There was a thick fog setting in and she couldn't see Daphne and Astoria so she put her shoes and socks down and knelt on the slightly damp grass.
She tried to clear her thoughts, there was far too much running around her head. She shifted her weight so she was sitting and reached down to run her fingers over the silver anklet she had on. It had several intricate charms on it including a new one, a swan in honour of her great great aunt who had recently past away. It was made from finely worked sliver with a large carved ruby for a head.
It had been her great great aunt's when she was a girl, she'd worn it nearly every day, although she had worn it on a bracelet. Pansy was thinking of swapping over to a bracelet as well, she didn't get to wear her anklet enough; it didn't really go with thick tights or socks which the harsh weather that often required her to wear.
Pansy shook her head and dug her fingers into the grass.
"There's so many questions I wish I'd had the chance to ask you." She whispered to herself, "But I'm so glad for every moment, every visit I got to see..."
There was a light flickering in the forest. Students weren't allowed in the forest, even for ceremonies and the light glinting in the corner of her eye was annoying her.
"Hello?" Pansy called, whoever it was, they didn't seem to far away. Although the fog was making it hard to tell, "You shouldn't be in there… do you need some help?"
There was no answer so Pansy tried to ignore it.
"I remember playing in the field outside your house, running with you though the flowers and splashing in the stream. You were always so..." Pansy couldn't help it, the light kept catching her eye and drawing her attention back to the present rather that the past she was trying to remember.
She stood up with a loud huff and walked towards the edge of the trees, "I don't know what you're playing at but can you move please? I'm trying to focus!"
There was still no answer, just the flickering light. Pansy looked behind her, something felt strange about the whole thing. She wondered if someone was hurt or trapped, she though if it was just a joke or they were sneaking off they would have moved by now. Pansy looked around her and made up her mind; moving slowly towards the light. She kept moving forwards until she couldn't see the tree line through the fog.
"Hello?" She called again, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end, "You shouldn't be in here, the forest is out of bounds."
There was a small mumble. Pansy wandered if that was a cry for help; she wanted to go back but didn't want to leave if it was someone in trouble. She couldn't imagine being trapped and someone not coming to save her after all.
She tried to move forward again, but her feet where stuck. The light that she had been following was dimming away leaving her with just the light from her wand. Pansy felt the panic start to rise, she reached down to feel around her ankles. Sand.
Pansy started to struggle as she felt herself slipping slowly more and more into the sand she had been standing on.
"Help!" She screamed. She was sure the was a rustle close by but no one came.
She called for help again, she was now up to her waist in the sand. Her brain started to think, she shouldn't still be sinking, you didn't sink this much in quick sand and she was staying as still as she could under the circumstances.
The minutes ticked by but apart from that first rustle there was no sign of anyone else around. She couldn't see the school grounds, just an endless wall of trees around her.
"Help! PLEASE!" She called again, tears pouring down her cheeks.
"Is someone in there?" A voice called in the distance.
"Yes!" Pansy called back, the sand was now just below her chin and she was struggling to keep her arms free, as she fought to keep her growing panic from turning into hysteria, "Help me. Please!"
There was the sound of running foot steps as a young boy, around her age, came over. He quickly grabbed her hand and pulled.
Pansy felt herself stop moving deeper but he was struggling to get her free.
"You need to move your feet." He told her.
"I can't." She replied, "I'm trying but I can't move them."
The boy let go of her and for a moment and Pansy felt herself being to slip again.
"Help me I'm still sinking!" She cried.
"Give me a second, I'm going to get you out I promise!" The boy told her with a kind and reassuring smile.
He took off his uniform and quickly ripped it into long strands tying them together. He looped it around and tree and gave pansy one end. Pansy tried to spit some sand out of her mouth so she could breath and wrapped the cloth around her fingers so tightly they hurt.
The boy took the other end and pulled. This time Pansy felt herself move up. A few more pulls and Pansy was able to crawl away from the sand pit which quickly vanished; changing back to the soft forest ground it had always been.
"What the hell was that?" Pansy asked, shaking.
"I don't know. Let's get you to Madam Pomfrey." The boy said.
Pansy nodded and walked with him towards the castle. She hadn't been able to have a good look at him before but he was tall and strong, with neat black hair that fell in ringlets to his broad shoulders.
"Have I seen you before?" Pansy asked, his face seemed familiar.
"I play Quidditch." he shrugged, "I'm one of the Ravenclaw chasers."
Pansy nodded and smiled, "It's Culpeck right?"
The boy nodded, "That's me. William Culpeck." he smiled, a kind smile that made Pansy want to smile back.
They reached the hospital wing and knocked.
"What is it?" Madam Pomfrey said, looking over a clip board, she looked up, "Miss Parkinson what on earth happened to you?"
"We're not exactly sure." Pansy said, she could still feel herself shaking.
"Well take a seat on bed three. I'll just grab your file." Madam Pomfrey instructed her.
Pansy and William walked over to bed three and sat down. For the first time Pansy could look over herself. Her dress was filthy, covered in sand and mud that was also caked to her legs and feet. Her skin was badly scrapped and rubbed raw from the sand and struggle, leaving small trickles of blood running down where they dropped onto the floor.
"Oh no!" Pansy exclaimed.
"What's wrong?" William asked.
She shook her head, "It sounds really silly but I had my anklet on. It had five charms that were very precious to me, including one from my great great aunt. She passed away a few months ago and we were very close." She felt like crying.
"That's awful." William said, "I'm so sorry."
Pansy wiped her eyes, "I know it sounds silly after everything that happened it's just..."
William patted her hand, "It's not silly. Things like that are very important."
Pansy nodded and sniffed, "I just can't believe they're gone. I'd just gotten the one from my aunt, it was a beautiful silver swan with a carved ruby for a head, I think it was her mothers before hers and now it's lost..."
Madam Pomfrey came over with several bottles and clean, white, cloths in one arm, a cup of tea in her free hand.
"What are you doing here, Mr Culpeck?" She asked.
"He saved me." Pansy said, "When I was trapped."
"And I'm sure he was very brave but he shouldn't be here. Run along to the feast I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will want to talk to you about what happened tomorrow." Madam Pomfrey said firmly.
William nodded and left the hospital wing, waving goodbye to Pansy.
"Here drink this. It's been well sugared." Madam Pomfrey instructed, giving the tea to Pansy.
She took a few sips and began to feel better. Her cuts and grazes were also now starting to hurt, her brain must have been in to much shock to register it before.
Madam Pomfrey was already cleaning the sand and dirt from Pansy's skin with her wand.
"I can't do much for your dress I'm afraid but I'm sure the house elves will be able to make it as good as new." Madam Pomfrey reassured her.
Pansy smiled and finished her tea, she sorely hoped so but looking down at the rips, blood and damage to the fabric she feared it might be even more than the most skilled of house elves could manage.
"So what happened?" Madam Pomfrey asked, finishing removing the dirt and began to pour some bright purple liquid from one of the bottles onto a cloth. She pressed it to Pansy's leg which stung painfully for a second before feeling much better as the liquid healed the damage to her skin.
"I was out next to the forest when I saw a light. There was a lot of fog," Pansy began, "So I'm not entirely sure how far into the forest it was but I thought it might be someone in trouble so I went to help them. Then all of a sudden I couldn't move my feet, I didn't have my shoes on and I didn't remember walking in sand before, it just appeared." She took a deep, steadying breath, "Then I started to sink. I called for help and thankfully William heard me. He managed, after a while, to pull be out and then the sand just vanished."
Madam Pomfrey looked thoughtful and started to rub a pale cream over Pansy's skin, "Sounds like a Hinkypunk if I didn't know any better, but they don't have any in the forest and they certainly can't make magical sand traps. I'll report this to Dumbledore, I'm sure he'll be able to figure it out."
She finished healing Pansy and tided away the medicines, "Right Miss Parkinson, you're finished. Any more issues feel free to come back, they're only half way through the feast so I suggest we head down and be sure to eat plenty to raise your blood sugar."
Pansy smiled and stood up, a shower of now dry sand fell off her dress and hit the floor. Madam Pomfrey rolled her eyes, but didn't say anything instead getting Pansy a change of clothes from her store cupboard and then escorting her to the hall.