A Dark Halloween II (Page 64)

~~~(POV: Alexander Aevum)~~~

~~~(Location: Empty Classroom, Scotland, Hogwarts)~~~

~~~(Date, Time, Year: October 31st, 7:47 PM, 1992)~~~

~~~(Age: 13 Years)~~~

Daphne takes a few more breaths as she leans against the door to the classroom we're suddenly in. I've never seen her act this way before. I was returning to the dorms when I heard her scream.

At first, I didn't know it was her. But when you hear a fellow student screaming bloody murder, it's not something you ignore. Not to me, at least.

Her eyes rise from their spot on the ground as she looks at me. I'm still waiting for a response to the question I asked. Most of the time, people would be telling you about something dangerous after it just happened.

But the way she looked around the corner as if something were there... It was strange. When I looked, nothing was seen. Hogwarts is a place full of mysteries; despite that, the teachers wouldn't let something knowingly and willingly threaten or harm students.

I watch her stand up straight, and she stares into my eyes with relief now that we're somewhere safe from whatever scared her.

"Um, I don't exactly know what's going on... I was walking down the hall on my way back to the Slytherin dorms when a sound stopped me for a second."

A sound.

A sound is what made her scream like her life was in danger. Usually, I'd say she needs to get her head checked. The genuine terror I saw in her eyes doesn't make me say that.

You don't look like that if you didn't think your life was actually in danger. She felt like she was going to die, and that's not something I'll ignore. Daphne isn't a liar. I know that. She wouldn't make up such a story.

Especially with no one to tell it to. Whose benefit would it serve if all this happened, and she told it to someone who didn't see her right after it happened? No, what she heard she believed was real.

"You don't believe me, huh..."

The disappointment in her voice takes me from my rapid thoughts. I look at her again, and she's looking away from me. Averting her eyes. The concerned look I'm wearing is being misinterpreted. She believes I'm not taking the truth from her.

Instead of saying anything, I step forward and hug her. It causes her to jump slightly at initial contact but after a second. She wraps her arms around me and leans her head on my shoulder.

The soft sounds of her crying add credence to her claims. Genuine fear is what I saw after running into her. Hearing her scream like that was a cry for help.

"I believe that what you felt was real. In my time adjusting to the magical world after living a normal life, I learned there is so much I don't know."

I feel her arms hug me tighter as I speak. Taking comfort that I don't think she's crazy. A 12-year-old girl can't fake terror like that. No matter how talented she might be.

"I was so scared... If felt like whatever was chasing me would eat me whole..."

It's hard to come up with something to say to make her feel better. Maybe not saying anything at all will make her feel better. Just letting her know that I'm here is what she needs.

Before either of us can say anything, the sounds of students rushing down the hall outside the classroom door force us apart. Daphne looks at me, slight panic forming. Thinking that whatever was chasing her has attacked someone else.

Legilimency isn't something I purposefully use a lot. Right now is a moment that's appropriate for me to use it. It'll allow me to help Daphne better.

I turn away from my friend and make my way to the door. Opening it and looking outside. Down the hall, a crowd of students is gathering. After a second, Daphne looks out behind my shoulder to see what's happening.

"Whatever's happening down there, it doesn't look like any students are in danger."

I step out of the classroom, and before I get too far. I feel Daphne slink her arm in mine. Stopping me for a second before she catches up.

"Sorry..."

Her apology is weak, and her eyes avoid mine as we walk down the hall. All I can do is accept my fate of having her hold onto me like this for now. If it makes her feel better, then I suppose it's not bad.

We eventually reach the crowd of students.

"I swear, I had nothing to do with this!"

The rushed and slightly elevated voice of Harry grabs my attention. I make my way to the front with Daphne still holding onto me. As I pass some taller students, I see the scene Harry is protesting against.

Mrs. Norris is hanging from a lantern. Stiff as a rock and lifeless. There are words written on the wall using blood.

THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE.

Daphne looks away from the brutal display. Using my arms as a place to put her eyes.

This wasn't what I was expecting.

~~~(POV: Hermione Granger)~~~

~~~(Location: Gryffindor Common Room, Scotland, Hogwarts)~~~

~~~(Date, Time, Year: October 31st, 8:02 PM, 1992)~~~

~~~(Age: 13 Years)~~~

Harry stares into the fireplace as Ron sits in a chair next to him. Trying to make him feel better about what's happened. He was blamed by Mr. Filch for what happened to Mrs. Norris. Luckily for Filch, she's only petrified.

I don't know what happened tonight, but a lot has surprised me. My attention slowly drifts to Alex, who is sitting on the couch opposite me. Watching Harry and Ron. As if feeling my gaze, he turns to look at me.

Normally, this is when I'd turn away from him. But seeing him with Daphne like that has my anger and desire to know what's going on greater than my embarrassment at getting caught staring.

He folds his arms and releases a small sigh.

"Go ahead, ask me what you want to ask."

My nose crinkles as I can't help but let my frustration become a little visible. A small smirk appears on him at my reaction, and I instantly gain control.

I can tell that Alex has been annoyed by me lately. I've been trying to give him space. I've taken solace in the fact that Daphne was treated the same way I was.

At least for a while. Based on what I saw earlier, it looks like I'm the only one he needs a break from.

"It's nothing."

Instead of digging the hole I'm in with Alex any deeper, I decide to drop it. Right now isn't the time to bring this up. I glance back at Harry and Ron, and they're silent now. Ron stares at me, telling me without words I shouldn't be focusing on Alex.

I should be focusing on my friend. Not wasting any more time, I leave my spot on the couch and sit beside Harry on the floor. I do my best to comfort him as I hug him.

"What happened to Mrs. Norris wasn't your fault, Harry. Petrification to that magnitude can't be done by second years like us."

Alex's sudden outburst of words causes all of us to look at him. Now that I'm thinking about it deeply if a student like us were to petrify Mrs. Norris, it could be easily undone by one of the faculty. The fact it wasn't tells me something.

I stop hugging Harry and stand up with a sudden burst of energy.

"Of course, how could I have been so stupid! Harry, Alex is right. A second-year student wouldn't be capable of a petrification spell that powerful."

The excitement at knowing more about what's happened leaps from me without control. The amused look from Alex causes me to bring myself under control, along with rosy cheeks.

"But everyone still thinks I did that to Mrs. Norris..."

The energy I've suddenly gained sinks out of me at his words. Harry's not wrong. It's not like the other students know what we know. They'll still think Harry did that to Mrs. Norris. It was just bad luck; he was the first one on the scene.

"What do you all think it means..."

The question from Alex is entirely off-topic. All three of us look at him, wanting an explanation.

"The words written on the wall."

I've been trying not to think about that. Seeing Mrs. Norris and blood written on the wall like that turns my stomach.

But Alex is right.

The Chamber of Secrets...

There is something to find there, and the sooner we do. The faster Harry won't be suspected for what's happened.

"The chamber of secrets has been opened... Enemies of the heir, beware... The heir... Is it just me, or does that sound like someone we know?"

Ron says what I'm thinking. Draco comes from a pure-blood family and is an heir to a powerful house in the wizard world.

"It does no good to speculate on who it is and isn't. We need evidence. And we've already been given our first clue."

Alex stands up and walks over to the fireplace. Standing behind Harry and folding his arms.

"We need to find out more about this Chamber of Secrets."

I agree. The more we know about it, the closer we can get to the truth.