Lust for Blood

I sat at dinner with Ronald and Hermione. Harry was serving detention with Lockhart to his delight, nobody else was sat around us as I could feel Hermione’s gaze upon me. It started to bug me… since its been happening for about a week now…

“Why have you been weird with me since the other week?” I asked looking at her seriously,
“I haven’t been weird with you,” Hermione quickly spoke, I rolled my eyes as Ronald looked between us both, agreeing with me,
“You have been a bit weird though,” Ronald spoke, I gestured towards Ronald with a smirk then folded my arms. Hermione shook her head with her nose in the air for a moment then looked at me seriously,
“I’m going to ask you a serious question now, and I want you to answer truthfully,” Hermione leaned forward keeping her voice as low as she could so nobody else could hear.

“What are you really?” Hermione asked.

Hermione knew she was onto something. I was noticeably uncomfortable with that question as I shifted in my seat,
“What do you mean?” I asked with a worried voice, she smirked.
“The other week after what happened with Ronald, I noticed that you were running ridiculously fast towards us until Professor McGonagall stopped you… then… when I hugged you because you were actually concerned for me your skin was unusually cold for how warm the air was,” Hermione explained, I sighed and leaned back a bit.

“I am a witch… you’ve seen me perform spells… but… I’d like it if you’d appreciate my concern to keep the answer to myself… until I feel that I can tell you in confidence…” I explained seriously, Hermione sat back and we had a small staring contest until Hermione moved forward again,
“Fine, tell us when you’re ready, but you can trust us, we’re your friends now,” Hermione explained I smiled to myself.

“Thank you,” I spoke, and bit my lip, “I’ve never had any real friends,” I added with a bigger smile.

“Shall we go find Harry?” Ronald asked,
“Sure,” both Hermione and myself nodded.

We left the Great Hall and headed towards Lockhart’s classroom. We found Harry looking worried and flustered,
“Harry!” Hermione spoke,
“Did you hear it?” Harry asked quickly,
“Hear what?” I asked with a small frown looking at Hermione and Ronald to see if they knew what he was on about.
“That voice.” Harry replied,
“Voice? What voice?” Hermione spoke,
“I heard it first in Lockhart’s office. And then again just—” Harry stopped and looked at the ceiling, “It’s moving. I think it’s going to kill.” Harry spoke then ran between us all.
“Kill?” Ronald spoke worriedly,
“Harry, wait! Not so fast!” Hermione called after him.

We followed Harry to another corridor where water had been lightly seen over the floor, the tapping of our feet confirmed there was a thin layer of water. Following Harry we looked upon a small trail of spiders climbing up the wall and out of the window,
“Strange. I’ve never seen spiders act like that.” Harry spoke,
“I don’t like spiders,” Ronald admitted, I looked at him with a raised eyebrow,
“You big baby…” I spoke.

My nose reacted quickly as I could smell something very desirable in the air, I covered my nose and closed my eyes when I saw blood on the wall… The others saw it moments later.

“The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir, beware. It’s written in blood.” Hermione cringed, I looked away closing my eyes,
“I don’t like blood…” I spoke and hugged myself.

“Oh, no.” Harry spoke, I looked around to see what he was looking at then gasped when I saw Filch’s cat. “It’s Filch’s cat. It’s Mrs. Norris.” Harry spoke.

Students and teachers appeared around the corridors as we stood there looking at them.

“Enemies of the Heir, beware. You’ll be next, Mudblood’s.” Draco spoke glaring at Hermione.
“What’s going on here? Go on. Make way, make way.” Filch appeared through the crowd then looked at Harry, “Potter? What are you…?” Filch looked up and saw his cat hanging from the metal spike, “Mrs. Norris? You’ve murdered my cat.” Filch spoke,
“No. No.” Harry spoke looking around,
“I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you!” Filch yelled.

“Argus!” Dumbledore appeared on the scene with McGonagall, “Argus, I…” he stopped when he saw the blood on the wall. “Everyone will proceed to their dormitories immediately. Everyone except… you four.” Dumbledore pointed to us, we stopped and looked at each other briefly. Everybody else left, now it was just us and the teachers.

“She’s not dead, Argus. She has been Petrified.” Dumbledore explained,
“Thought so. So unlucky I wasn’t there. I know exactly the countercurse that could’ve spared her.” Lockhart spoke, my right eyebrow raised and Dumbledore looked at him over his half moon spectacles.
“But how she has been Petrified, I cannot say.” Dumbledore spoke,
“Ask him. It’s him that’s done it. You saw what he wrote on the wall.” Filch spoke his voice shakey from what has happened,
“It’s not true, sir. I swear. I never touched Mrs. Norris.” Harry explained,
“Rubbish.” Filch snapped glaring at him.

“If I might, headmaster? Perhaps Potter and his friends were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Snape started, we looked at each other a bit confused, “However… the circumstances are suspicious. I, for one, don’t recall seeing Potter at dinner.” Snape walked forward towards us,
“I’m afraid that’s my doing, Severus. You see, Harry was helping me answer my fan mail.” Lockhart spoke, I smirked, at least he speaks up for children.
“That’s why Ron, Meira and I went looking for him, professor. We’d just found him when he said…” Hermione looked at Harry, there was a slight pause,
“Yes, Miss. Granger?” Snape asked, then Harry looked at Snape,
“When I said I wasn’t hungry.” Harry answered, Snape looked at Harry with his mean glare, “We were heading back to the common room when we found Mrs. Norris.” Harry explained.

“Innocent until proven guilty, Severus,” Dumbledore spoke,
“My cat has been Petrified. I want to see some punishment!” Filch complained, his bottom lip shaking,
“We will be able to cure her, Argus. As I understand it, Madam Sprout has a very healthy growth of Mandrake. When matured, a potion will be made which will revive Mrs. Norris. And in the meantime… I strongly recommend caution to all.” Dumbledore nodded his head while looking around slowly.

We started walking back to the common room,
“It’s a bit strange, isn’t it?” Hermione started as we walked up the stairs,
“Strange?” Harry spoke slightly confused,
“You hear this voice, a voice only can hear and then Mrs. Norris turns up Petrified. It’s just strange.” Hermione explained,
“Do you think I should have told them? Dumbledore and the others, I mean?” Harry asked,
“Are you mad?” Ronald looked at him,
“No, Harry. Even in this world, hearing voices definitely isn’t a good sign.” I explained as Hermione continued up the stairs.

I followed on behind her.