Oliver Wood was almost bouncing up to the dormant boy's dormitory. He had complete faith in his new training regime and also his newly devised tactics. Quidditch was his air, his bounty and his entire life had led him to believe that practice was what made you perfect. Of course he had to continually tell that to his team, who often held a grudge against him for his long hours of wearisome training but this year would be different. They would follow him once they realised his magnificent new strategies, the more they learned the more eager they would become. He was damn sure of it, once they got used to it they would be as devoted as he was.
He slipped in the door of his wonderful Seeker's dormitory. It had taken quite a while to rouse the Weasley twins, surely Harry would adhere faster. The circular room was lit with an orangey glow which was slowly making its way across each bed. He crept over to Harry's bed, the curtains were still drawn. Pulling them apart ever so slightly he spotted Harry lying on his front, his black hair sticking up at all ends. Boy, the guy needed a haircut. Oliver moved so as to place a hand on his shoulder and shake Harry awake. As soon as he touched him, Harry rolled onto his back and slipped his wand from under his pillow and instantly had it pointed at Oliver's stunned face. "Chrissake Harry… frightened the life out of me. Come on, we have an early training session. See you on the pitch in two minutes. Nice to see you're alert though. Mark of a fantastic seeker that is," he said moving away from the bed relatively nonplussed. That was the thing with Oliver; he ate, drank and breathed Quidditch.
Harry remained sitting up on the bed panting heavily. He had reacted immediately, almost unconsciously. He didn't let himself think of what might have happened if he had of said the first spell that had entered his head. He could've seriously hurt Oliver and for Harry that gave him an almost guilty sick feeling at the pit of his stomach. He completely pulled back the scarlet curtains of his four-poster bed and sighed when he realised that dawn had barely elapsed. He wondered whether he had just imagined Oliver being in his room but knew better than to underestimate Oliver's enthusiasm for Quidditch.
He dragged himself from the comfort of his bed and got changed rapidly into his Quidditch robes. He was still putting his brown leather gloves on as he raced down the spiral staircase and across the common room. When he reached the portrait hole he felt someone's presence and pivoted around to see Colin Creevey with his usual eager expression and handling his camera expectantly. Harry warned him that he should return to bed, mentioning how boring training would be. But it was fruitless as Colin was too excited and followed Harry all through the castle asking questions about the sport. Harry answered them monotonously. They had only one more floor to descend before reaching the marble staircase when Colin paused to tie his shoelace. He apologised profusely and implored that Harry should continue on down to the pitch. When Harry rounded the corner he felt a horrible sense of dread build within him.
Suddenly in the midst of the corridor he heard the most cruel and evil hissing voice. "Rip…Tear…Kill"
It was so cold it seemed to freeze the very blood in Harry's veins. He turned to stare at the wall as he pondered whether it was the source of the noise. He placed the palm of his hand flat against the wall and then put his ear to it. The voice hissed menacingly again causing Harry to take a step back. He quickly backtracked around the corner where he had left Colin but Colin had disappeared. In his place he found one of Colin's shoes, its lace untied, lying desolate on its side as if it had been instantly dropped. Then he heard a spine-chilling shriek coming from overhead. Harry thinking it sounded like Colin, dashed up the staircase and found an empty corridor. He drew his wand and found that his hand was shaking uncontrollably. The corridor wasn't completely lit but the first light of day was still fresh upon the walls. But even the beautiful radiance of dawn couldn't stop the macabre feeling Harry received from the atmosphere.
He kept close to the wall as he continued down the eerie corridor. Then as he neared a door he spotted fragments of wood sprawled across the floor. He turned to see the door which had been ripped near of its hinges. The door led to a dark broom cupboard where Colin had obviously tried to hide. Harry was holding his breath as he took another step towards the cupboard.
"C…Colin," he stammered nervously as he saw the figure of the little first year holding a camera up to his face. He received no answer and stepped into the cupboard to get a better look at Colin. He seemed to have tried to take a picture of what was pursuing him while also hiding behind the hefty camera. Harry frowned at the body. It seemed to be turned to stone but he couldn't begin to imagine what would have it result like this. He placed a hand on Colin's shoulder and shook him gently, almost afraid of the consequences. Suddenly Colin's body collapsed into Harry's arms. His camera fell and the lens shattered. Harry was so shocked at what happened he had given a short yell of surprise.
"Harry!...Come on man where are you? You're not playing hide and seek cause that's just not right man?" Fred Weasley froze in position when he noticed Harry dragging a small blond-headed boy from a broom-cupboard.
"Fred, go get Dumbledore. Quick!" he shouted pleadingly.
"What the hell's going on? What happened to him?"
"He was attacked but I don't know what happened to him. Just go get help now!"
Minutes later Harry was seated outside on the floor of the corridor which preceded the Hospital Wing. Everything that had happened was almost unbelievable. He can't be dead, he can't be dead. Please don't let him be dead. These thoughts were constantly invading Harry's brain so he was barely listening when Professor McGonagall demanded an explanation from him.
"Mr. Potter, MR.POTTER!" she bellowed. When Harry did turn to see her scandalized glare, Professor Dumbledore joined them from the Hospital Wing. Harry jumped up immediately startling Professor McGonagall. "He can't be dead. I mean it's just not possible," started Harry.
Dumbledore placed a gentle hand on Harry's shoulder. "Mr. Creevey has not died," he said calmly but his voice was filled with a graveness which made Harry's stomach turn.
"But…what happened?" asked Harry astounded. He was beginning to lose track of the situation. Even though he wished to believe Colin was still alive, his heart kept showing him the image of his breathless body.
"He has been petrified," said Dumbledore soberly. Seeing the confused expression on Harry's face he continued. "To be more exact it means that to the unconscious eye a body is lifeless but they are in fact still alive. Because of the condition of the body it is always presumed that there is no pulse. A more thorough examination of the pupil of the eye will show definite signs of life. Colin will be fine, Harry. The antidote to being petrified are mandrakes which I believe Professor Sprout has been showing you." He seemed to lighten at this but Harry was still deeply troubled.
"Who did this? Do you think it's the same person as the other night?"
Dumbledore thought for a moment. "It is highly unlikely that it is a coincidence. Is there anything more information you can give us?"
Harry hesitated. "Er…I heard…a…"
"Yes Harry?" the Headmaster encouraged. "Nothing. I didn't hear anything," finished Harry. He didn't think telling them that he was hearing voices would be of help to anybody.
"Harry the most minor of details could be vital to this case. Is there anything else?" he implored and Harry got the feeling that Dumbledore was annoyed, growing impatient at Harry's uncertainty.
Harry shook his head. "No…nothing."
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The news of Colin's attack spread like wildfire throughout the school. On other occasions this would be a bad thing but because of the seriousness of the situation, Mr. Davis seemed to view it as a good thing as more students were on the alert. Of course the major downside was the fact that Harry had been with Colin when the attack had taken place and to most students this was unfortunately common knowledge. Harry was quite aware of the suspicious glaring that he received from the minority of the student body.
Because of the events on Saturday, the weekend passed by swiftly and before he would have liked, Harry found himself sitting at the back of Defence Against the Dark Arts listening to Lockhart ramble on about the day he won an award from a famous magazine called Witch Weekly. Harry wasn't too interested, his thoughts still on Colin. The first years were particularly affected by the news of the attack. Ginny was very distressed by the events as she sat beside Colin during Charms and he often helped her doing homework. Lavender, assuming the fatal position of sister in law, tried to comfort her and after about a week was successful in doing so, she gave Ginny a make-over. Though pleased that Ginny was no longer brooding over the subject, Harry was beginning to get irritated with her continued adoration of him.
His training had become quite difficult. Mr. Davis had changed the routine slightly. He had physical training in the mornings and then on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights he practiced magic with Hermione. His timetable was so consuming that Harry was shocked to find that he had been at Hogwarts nearly two months. September and October had flown by and the first Quidditch match was only a week away and the Gryffindor team were practicing tirelessly, much to Harry's displeasure. The first match was against the Slytherin's, who had added much to their team since last year. Firstly, they had a new seeker, Malfoy, and it was quite obvious he had bought his way onto the team as they were all sporting brand new Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones.
From recent reports the pristine brooms were extraordinarily faster than the old model and this was the source of Oliver's nervousness. Harry returned to the common room every night enveloped in muck which dripped off him and caused endless arguments with Filch, the caretaker. Hermione was constantly scouring his clothes and also nagging him for not drying himself properly before returning to the freezing blustery castle. Although her nagging was aggravating at times Harry was extremely thankful for the consideration for his welfare. Apart from the upcoming match, Halloween was also approaching. Harry had to admit, he dreaded the ghoulish date.
"Harry," Hermione whispered giving him a sharp nudge. "Hey…wake up." Harry, who was in a slumber on the couch, stirred and opened a wary eye. He saw a hazy figure above him and retreated slightly against the back of the couch. "It's only me. I can't believe you didn't go to bed last night, Harry!" she scolded.
"I wasn't tired," argued Harry sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
"Oh of course not! That why I found you unconscious on the couch," Hermione retorted sarcastically. Harry gave her a wry smile and shrugged his shoulders.
"So do you have anything planned for today?" Hermione asked, sitting down beside a lacklustre Harry.
"Nope, no training, no homework, no Quidditch. It is actually my day off. There's a party in the common room after the Halloween feast. The Weasley twins are hosting it but I think some fifth years are helping as well."
"I never really liked parties. My friend, years ago, had a birthday party and she invited almost every human being she had ever met. It was an excruciating experience. Blaring music and all those idiots who are under the belief that they can dance," laughed Hermione.
"I've never been to a party. When Dudley ever had a birthday party I was immediately locked away. Hopefully the music tonight isn't too bad. I used to listen to Mrs. Figg's stereo, mainly Frank Sinatra."
"Oh I love Frank Sinatra," said Hermione excitedly. "My dad is hooked on him. He's always playing him in the car."
"I've Got You Under My Skin," they both said simultaneously and then burst out laughing. "Song of the Millennium," added Hermione.
Harry nodded in agreement. They both sat in comfortable silence for awhile before Hermione noticed that Harry was drifting off again. "Lets go get some breakfast," she interjected, breaking the peaceful quiet. She stood up while putting her hair in a ponytail and then turned to see Harry sitting in the same slumped position, his eyes fixed on the floor. "Do you think Colin will be alright?"
Hermione's face saddened. "Well Professor Sprout is certain the mandrakes will cure him when they have matured. I don't know how long that will be, I've heard that it can take a few months but I'm not too sure...It wasn't your fault Harry?" she finished gently.
"But I was there, only a few feet away from him. I should have helped him but I was listening to that stupid voice," he responded angrily. "Do you think I should have told them about the voice?"
"I don't know. It's like you've already said, hearing voices isn't a reputable thing. Even in the wizarding world it's a sign of insanity," her eyes widened in shock at what she had just said. "Not that you're insane or anything, I mean the whole ordeal is quite strange in itself and well you know…"
Hermione ushered Harry out of the portrait hole and finally to the Great Hall. Once again it was decorated splendidly. The massive pumpkins which Hagrid had been attending to for the past month were now situated symmetrically around the hall. The early-risers of the school were now sitting inside the actual pumpkins examining Hagrid's handy work. The main crystal chandelier which hung in the centre of the roof was now covered in a mass of silvery spider webs making it look even more magnificent. They strolled into the centre of the Gryffindor table and sat opposite each other so they could speak to each other more freely.
More students joined them as the morning hours passed. The upcoming Quidditch match seemed to be the topic of conversation especially when the Gryffindor team spotted Malfoy and Montague sauntering up the aisle towards them. "So you all set to loose then?" he sneered.
"I can't wait to wipe that smile off your face, Malfoy," Fred Weasley taunted.
"You're lucky you have highlights in your hair or I might mistake you for a bludger. Then again… you just never know what I may see," George uttered threateningly.
Malfoy's evil grin faltered for a moment and his eyes betrayed him for there was a flicker of fear but he quickly recovered and hitched another smirk on his face. "Well we'll see, won't we? My father is coming up to watch the match so I will be on my best behaviour which is a sore loss because I really would like to beat you unconscious."
"Why don't you take your boyfriend back over to your table?" Ron interrupted Malfoy's threat. The entire group of people who were listening burst out laughing, and both Malfoy and Montague turned a bright shade of red. The two humiliated Slytherins hastily went back up the aisle while the Weasley twins sang the wedding tune. "Bom Bom Bo Bom…"
"So how about this party tonight Fred?" Ron asked enthusiastically. He was sitting close beside a preoccupied Lavender who was gazing into a small pocket-sized mirror and fixing her flawless make-up. Parvati was talking to a nervous stuttering Neville, and Ginny, who had just turned up was now sitting so near Harry that she was nearly on his lap. Harry coughed unnecessarily and shifted slightly away from her.
"Well little bro, after much consideration we have concluded that the party will commence at eight o'clock promptly. The hospitable venue will be of course the wonderful Gryffindor Tower and music will be provided by the great DJ Jordan."
Lee Jordan waved his arms emphatically to signal his appreciation. "Thank you kind sirs," he said politely with a theatrical bow. "The music will of course be mostly soft rock. I'm not much into metal and dance music tends to scramble my brains."
"But how on earth will you play it the castle. I mean you can't use electrical devices on Hogwarts grounds because magic interferes with the electromagnetic waves," Hermione inquired, her brow furrowed in confusion. Lee Jordan shrugged his shoulders. "I just left it with the new librarian guy. I had to drop in because of the horrible essay we had to do for Binns and we got talking about music. I'm telling you that guy had some good taste in music, the Floyd, the Stones and the Clash. Anyway he was explaining about how he had arranged his radio so that it was able to play in a magical environment and when I showed him my stereo he fixed it so it would work. I was dead chuffed, that guy's a legend man. Bit reserved but still…"
Hermione still seemed very interested and after breakfast she took off to have an in-depth discussion with Davis. Harry was scheduled to have a game of chess with Ron, which turned out to be a lengthy tournament which involved almost any Gryffindor student who was capable of playing chess. Harry won Seamus to face Ron in the final. Even though Ron was a skilled chess player he was also quite chatty when he was victorious so the first half of the match went excellent for Harry. Ron noticing this shut his mouth to concentrate and made a stunning comeback to defeat Harry. By the time the tournament was over the common room was being arranged for the party. Harry noticed that Hermione was missing and left the portrait hole to find her.
He searched the library and asked Mr. Davis who informed him that she left nearly an hour ago. He thought frantically where she could have got to and hoped desperately that nothing had harmed her. Then he got an idea and hurried down to the Entrance Hall. He braced himself against the icy wind as he rushed across the grounds to Hagrid's cabin. He knocked on the door three times before a very hassled giant of a man answered it. "Harry, bin wonderin' who that was knockin on me door as if der were wolves behind him. Come in," he said politely.
Harry stepped out of the cold into Hagrid's warm house. Hermione was seated at the large wooden table a large mug held between her hands. Harry exhaled a sigh of relief when he saw her. "Thank god you're alright. I asked Davis if you were still in the library and he said you'd left ages ago. Sorry I didn't come look for you earlier, there was a chess tournament in the tower," he explained taking a seat while Hagrid set about making another pot of tea.
"Did you win?" asked Hermione with a grin that made Harry think she already knew he hadn't.
"Nope, but I made it to the final. Ron won…again," he conceded with a shake of his head. Hermione laughed to herself, "He's a practical joker but he is a very talented tactician." They spent a lot of the day with Hagrid, discussing the school and Quidditch. Hagrid told them, with some uncertainty, that Dumbledore had been worried since the beginning of the year and after the attack on Colin he had ordered the staff to remain on alert at all times, especially at night. They then debated Gryffindor's chances at finally winning the Quidditch Cup. Hagrid had complete faith in the team and told Harry that players won matches not brooms. Hermione congratulated Hagrid on his wonderful pumpkins and Hagrid confessed that he had used magic, even though his wand had been broken in two after he was expelled, he kept the remains in his pink umbrella.
"Well ye better be goin' back to the castle. The feast is startin' in a sec," Hagrid said, standing up and removing the mugs from the table. The sound of gushing water could be heard as he cleaned them and placed them back in his small cabinet. They made there way out into the night, Harry wrapping his cloak tighter around himself. The grass was slippery and wet and overhead the sky was dark but Harry could make out the silvery clouds and noted that there were many of them. "Der's a storm comin' this way," Hagrid muttered gazing into the heavens.
The feast was sensational. There was every variety of food a person could want. By the end most students could barely move or just didn't have the willpower to. Live bats once again hovered over the four house tables and Harry could see that they were making Hermione nervous, even though she would never admit to it.
Halloween had never been the best night of Harry's year. Due to his personal history with Halloween, the death of his parents and the beginning of this journey it had started, he never could really enjoy it fully. Celebration of this night was vital for some magical folks but Harry always resented it. Of course he could not lock himself away in his dormitory or barricade himself in the library mainly because to do that would somehow accept defeat. To bow down to a memory, even the most horrid of memories, was what he thought was complete failure.
Harry had to admit that Fred and George really did throw a great party. Nobody was left out. The food apparently was given to them by the kitchen staff which were humble house-elves. All the chairs and tables had been moved to the border of the room so that there was a large empty space in the centre where students could dance. Huge banners of black and orange hung from the high ceiling over the crowd of raucous teenagers who danced to the beats which Lee Jordan conjured up. Some of the fifth years had managed to attain drinks from a bar that was located in the small village of Hogsmeade. Most of the drinks only had a small percentage of alcohol but Harry was wary anyway and only drank two bottles of butterbeer, which Ron introduced to him.
"Can you get inebriated from this stuff?" asked Hermione casting a suspicious look at the bottle in her hand.
"Sure, whatever that means," shrugged Ron. Harry laughed, rolling his eyes. "She means can you get drunk?"
"Oh," he said, nodding in understanding. "Well if you drink enough of it. Especially at our age. If you are used to drinking something heavier well then this stuff won't work."
Hermione shrugged and took a swig from the bottle. "It is really nice," she granted. Ron ambled back into the floundering crowd and left Harry and Hermione on their own. Harry was just about to start up another conversation when Ginny rambled over. "Hello," she said strangely with an odd look at Harry. Her make-up was much heavier then before and her mascara was a lot darker giving her a perilous appearance. She stumbled slightly and wrapped an arm around Harry's neck to straighten herself out. "Sorry," she chuckled.
Harry pulled himself away from her grasp but held onto her wrist to prevent her from keeling over. Hermione grabbed the butterbeer bottle from Ginny's hand. "How many have you had?" she asked sternly.
"I don't know. Four, maybe five," Ginny slurred. "I am not drunk. Bit tipsy but not drunk!" Fred battled his way out of the crowd. "Oh man," he moaned when he saw Ginny approach Harry again. He caught her from behind and with an apologetic look at Harry he steered Ginny away and asked Angelina Johnson to help her to her dormitory.
The music had now changed and the lights had dimmed. The song playing had a deep sultry sound, the seductive velvety vocals seemed to rove around the room and the whole atmosphere in the room changed. Couples were now dancing, moving in unison as they swung lightly to the bass of the tune. Harry glanced at Hermione who was looking thoughtfully at the enchanted couples. She was wearing a striped short-sleeved polo shirt and a green pair of combats. She looked, for the first time in awhile, calm. She wasn't fussing about anything or worried about him or anybody else. She just leaned back against the wall, a content smile on her lips.
Suddenly there was a disturbance at the entrance to the common room. Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan burst through the portrait hole and said something to the nearest students. Like the buzzing of bees the news travelled through the crowd and finally reached them. "There's been another attack," a terrified third year yelled.
Harry and Hermione shared a nervous glance before making their way over to Seamus. "Seamus where did it happen?" Harry questioned.
"Second floor. It was only Filch's cat but still…"
Without further delay Harry rushed out of the common room, Hermione on his heels. "Harry wait you can't just go…"
"No Hermione," Harry replied not even pausing "I need some answers."
Because of the loud music in the common room the Gryffindors hadn't noticed the storm which was raging outside. As Harry progressed down the corridor rain lashed against the windows and the rumble of thunder shook their hearts. A flash of lighting illuminated the dark corridor with an eerie blue glow.
Ron climbed out of the portrait hole after them with a disappointed look on his face. "Where are you guys going? Don't go to the crime scene you'll only get in trouble. Oh come on…"
Hermione turned to see Ron chasing after them. "Well I don't want to miss anything," he justified, the hint of adventure in his eyes. They hurried through the castle and when they reached the third floor Harry stopped at the top of the stair and listened intently. He was trying to tap into his `advanced-hearing' as Davis called it. He was about to just continue when he heard voices coming from below them but sounded as if they were in the corridor with them.
"What now Albus? This is the second attack and though it might only be a cat…it is a loved one nonetheless," Professor McGonagall was saying. There was a great sniff from who Harry recognised as Filch.
"Who would do such a thing? Or write such words," Snape interrupted, his voice had lost its bored tone and was no filled with anxiety. There were footsteps that sounded like someone pacing then Dumbledore spoke. "The important thing to remember is that she is not dead. She has been Petrified and therefore can be saved."
"But who did it. A student, that's who. A dirty filthy annoying little brat! I've seen them strutting around the corridors dropping muck or," Filch started fiercely.
"A student could not have even attempted this, Argus. This is extremely advanced magic…of the darkest kind," said Dumbledore gravely. "All we can do is keep our guard up. Increase patrolling of the corridors, include prefects and alert the Head Boy and Girl. Hogwarts is indeed facing terrible times but how long we do not know." More footsteps followed this and Harry guessed the group had left the scene.
He turned around to see a confused Ron and an eager Hermione. He quickly relayed the story to them and didn't answer Ron when he asked how on earth Harry had such hearing. They crept down the rest of the corridor and started descending the stairs. Just as Harry took another step down a flash of green lighting burst through his eyes, his scar burned on his forehead and he slumped against the wall for support. Another flash of lightening lit up the corridors releasing the shadows momentarily.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Hermione said worriedly. She rushed to him to try and keep him on his feet. Then Harry heard a screaming far off in the back of his mind, he cradled his head pleading for it to be stopped. Ron noticed the slight drops of blood on Harry's left hand. "His scar is bleeding!" Harry felt like the terrible pain emanating from his scar was devouring the rest of his body. His muscles tensed as a horrible throb ripped through his body and then before he knew what was happening he had slipped from Hermione's grasp, tumbled down the stairs and fell unconscious to the rough floor.
He awoke minutes later and realised that the pain had vanished. He was still laying sprawled on the floor but his head was now being embraced in someone's hands. He kept his eyes shut almost afraid of what would occur if he dared to open them. He heard a soft voice speak and listened. "He's told me something like this has happened before. Last year he collapsed at Halloween, of course he only told me after Christmas. He thinks it's in connection with the night his parents were murdered."
"I would have to agree. People are much mistaken when they say he escaped with nothing more than a scratch." Harry opened his eyes when he heard Davis' voice just above him. Sure enough he found Davis examining him and was surprised at the small smile that appeared on his face when he discovered Harry was awake. Moving his head back slightly so as to see who was cradling his head, he learned that it was Professor Sinistra. She looked exceedingly relieved to see he was okay.
"Do you feel any pain, Harry?" Davis asked, concerned. Harry shook his head, but only just as he felt slightly light headed. "I think you should stay in the Hospital Wing tonight, just to be…"
"No," Harry croaked. "I'm fine, really." He pulled himself up and staggered slightly before he stood up straight. Hermione was looking at him worriedly still and Ron just seemed to accept that he was alright again. Harry tried to feign an encouraging smile but it faltered when his eyes landed on the wall opposite him. Foot-high words had been daubed on the wall between two windows, shimmering in the light cast by flaming torches.
AND IN THE DARKNESS HE SHALL FIND THEM AND PURGE THE EARTH OF THEIR FILTH. THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED AND ALL WHO STAND AGAINST THE HEIR WILL FALL IN ANGUISH AT HIS FEET.
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Thanks for reading…please review! By the way I know butterbeer isn't really alcoholic but just thought it'd be good to make it more…effectice.
Take care,
Radagast.
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