No one spoke as Dumbledore took to the podium.
I sat at the head of the Slytherin table, feeling numb. A feast lay before us, yet I couldn't bring myself to eat.
“As of today, Professor Evandra Plum will no longer be serving as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Professors McGonagall, Vector and Babbling have agreed to fill in until we find a replacement,” Dumbledore said.
Murmurs rippled through the hall.
Of course, rumours had been flying all day. After all, it had been during Defence Against the Dark Arts class that the monster had struck. Adding to that, those other monsters were apparently Blast-Ended Skrewts that had erupted from—you guessed it—Plum's private quarters.
It didn't take a genius to put two and two together.
Dumbledore continued speaking for some time before pausing to allow the murmurs to settle.
“I am aware that many of you have heard rumours concerning the events of this afternoon. I would ask that you exercise patience and refrain from treating speculation as fact. An investigation is underway, and until we know precisely what occurred, I will not entertain accusations against any individual.” His expression grew sombre.
“However, I will not pretend that what happened was anything less than serious. Harry Potter was gravely injured, and he remains unconscious. He is receiving the best care available to us, but I regret that I cannot tell you when he will awaken.”
The hall filled with chatter. Dumbledore raised a hand, and we fell silent.
“Harry is a student of this school, and his well-being is our foremost concern. I know that many of you will be worried for him. Some of you may even be frightened by what has occurred. Such feelings are entirely understandable. Rest assured, we have taken measures against any further intrusions.”
Dumbledore glanced at Hermione and Ron.
“For now, I ask that you respect Harry's privacy, follow your professors' instructions, and refrain from attempting to investigate these events yourselves. I assure you that the matter will be dealt with as seriously as it deserves. And I hope that, whatever your House, whatever your friendships, and whatever your opinions of Harry Potter may be, you will remember that he is a young man who has been gravely hurt. He deserves our concern, not our gossip.”
Dumbledore looked straight at me.
I felt a chill.
Wait, why'd he look at me? Like, he totally looked at me! Do I start rumours? Is that what these people think of me???
The professor finished his address, and we ate in silence. Soon, however, the chatter returned.
“I heard Harry killed Professor Plum and unleashed...” Blaise Zabini laughed.
“What did you say?” I regarded him.
“Everyone's thinking it. First it's Digory, then that Ministry lady disappeared... what's her name?” He snapped his fingers.
“Deloris Underbridge... or something,” a girl said.
“And now Plum disappears. Yeah, I think it's good he's dead. It's safer for the rest of us. How long until he goes on a killing spree and...” Blaise stopped.
I stood and glared at him. My chest heaved.
All eyes turned towards me. Even students at the other tables looked my way.
“How many people have you killed?” I asked.
“Ahhh, what?” Blaise stared at me.
“I think you've killed six people. Maybe seven. Maybe you're a Death Eater in disguise, and...” I stopped when he stood and glared at me.
“What's gotten into you, Princess?” he growled, resting a hand on his hip.
Victetta and Georgia stood.
“Doesn't feel nice, does it?” I asked.
“What?” he demanded.
“I said it does not feel nice, does it!” I raised my voice so everyone could hear.
The room fell silent.
Every eye was on me.
“Accusing people of murder. Spreading rumours! Imagine if someone said that about you!” My voice echoed through the hall.
“Are you defending that Pot-hea—”
“We are Slytherin. We are nobility.”
“Ah...” He tried to speak, but I raised a finger.
“Slytherin, listen up, and listen well. We represent the best of the wizarding world. What will people say if they hear us spreading unsubstantiated rumours? No, we are better than that! We must be better than that. We are Slytherin. We must set the example. We do what's right, and when a student is hurt, we help. Any student!”
I glanced around at the other members of my House.
They all stared at me in shock. Some stood open-mouthed. Several had utensils near their mouths and dropped their spoons with a clatter.
I suddenly realised that everyone was looking my way.
“Well said, Miss Malfoid!” McGonagall stood and applauded.
“Yes.” Snape gave a tiny clap.
One by one, the other professors joined in.
I sniffed, and one of my eyes began to water.
“If you'll excuse me, I'm not hungry.” I dabbed my lips with a napkin and walked away, my hips swaying.
Once alone in the corridor, I leaned against the door and sniffed. Tears flowed, and no matter how much I wiped them away, they wouldn't stop. Read this novel at novelping dot com for the best experience.
I held a handkerchief to my eyes and waited for the tears to subside.
Eventually, I sniffed, hardened my resolve, straightened up and walked away.
My feet carried me to the hospital wing.
Soon, I stood beside Harry as he lay unmoving. His chest barely rose and fell with each breath.
I reached for him, but my hand stopped an inch from his.
What am I doing?
I don't belong here!
I barely know him.
Like, aside from our recent meetings, we'd barely ever had a full conversation.
I felt a pang in my chest.
How many times had I dismissed him and walked away because he made me feel... he made me feel?
I hate the twerp. I hate him, right?
I sniffed.
“Goodbye, Pot-head.”
I turned and walked away.
I heard voices and glimpsed a giant out in the corridor.
No, Hagrid.
The Pot-heads were with him, too.
Casting Disillusionment, I concealed myself behind one of the dividers.
“Well, I don't quite get it. How did she make Skrewts? My hut hasn't been broken into.” Hagrid shook his head.
“Maybe Plum made them on her own,” Ron offered.
“How? Skrewts aren't easy ter get, lad,” Hagrid said.
“I can't sleep comfortably knowing Plum is out there.” Hermione shuddered.
“What was it?” Ron asked.
“If I had to guess, a Voisych,” Hagrid said.
“A what?” the Pot-heads asked in unison.
“Voisychs are magical beasts. Well, more like spirit creatures. They can take the form o' anyone whose voice they steal. Normally, the victim dies, but sometimes they fall into a dreamless sleep an' never wake up. Well, not until the monster returns ter eat 'em.”
My blood ran cold.
“How do we wake him? There's gotta be a way, right?” Ron asked.
“I dunno, lad. I reckon killin' it might release the voice. From what I've heard, Voisychs kill their hosts once they've completely extracted the voice. So if he's asleep, then maybe, just maybe, the voice can be returned. Then he'll wake up.” Hagrid shook his head.
“So what you're saying is this creature will try to kill Harry. Somehow, when it tries, we need to catch it, extract his voice and return it to him, and maybe even... you know... a professor,” Hermione said.
“NO! There'll be none o' that 'yeh knowin'' any Voisych! In fact, I don' want yeh kids anywhere near this thing. We're handlin' it.” Hagrid waved for them to leave.
They started walking away.
“Does the Order of the Phoenix know?” Ron asked.
“Shhh, fool. Don't talk about that!” Hagrid hissed.
I returned to my room, but I couldn't sleep.
Their conversation kept replaying in my head.
What the hell is the Order of the Phoenix?
Focus, girl! FOCUS! The problem is Professor Plum. No, the Voisych!
Think! Come on, think! I need to do something, anything! Harry needs me!
No! I'm being stupid again. Stupid, stupidy, stupido!
I wrapped my arms around my legs and knocked my knuckles against my head.
I thought about the way he'd floated there. The way that thing had held him in the air and the way light had spilled from him.
No, she would do it again. She had to eat him, and worse, she could shapeshift.
What if she was a student? A professor?
Could I trust anyone?
“You... alright?” Georgia looked at me.
Moonlight illuminated her face.
“Yeah.” My voice shook.
She sat up, then came over and hugged me.
“Look, I agree with you. We should help. It's a great sentiment, and I'm suuupes proud you helped the stupid Pot-head. Heck, you should be proud. You probably saved his life.” She gave my shoulder a gentle punch.
“Y... yeah.” I nodded.
“Hey, it was nothing compared to that troll in first year. Remember how we ran into the bathroom to hide, and then it came into the bathroom? I totes died!” She threw up her hands in an exaggerated gesture.
“Yeah.” I nodded.
She looked at me for a long time.
“Talk to me. Something's changed, and it's involving Potter,” she said.
I regarded her.
“Yeah.” I nodded.
“Boyfriend?” she asked.
“What!” My voice came out shrill.
She threw back her head and laughed.
“I'm joshing you. I know that would never happen, but I do have questions. Like, the other day...” she said.
“Father... he gave me a quest. Harry's just... helping.” I held out my ring hand.
“I see. And you didn't think to ask me?”
“I don't have a choice.”
“I don't have a choice! I'm your best friend, legit! ME!” She jumped to her feet and smacked her chest.
I stared at her, then looked away.
What could I say? She's 150% correct.
“Well?” She put her hands on her hips.
I couldn't meet her gaze.
“WELL!” she snapped.
When I looked at her, I had tears in my eyes.
I wanted to tell her. Oh, I SOOO wanted to tell her.
Hey, bestie. I'm a Death Eater. Yep, you know those scary dudes who crash sporting events and terrorise people? That's totally ME! Death Eater Draconia Malfoid here. Oh, and here's a ring that will totally kill me if I let the Dark Lord down. Yeah, like I could say any of that.
“It's... complicated.” I stared at the floor.
“Too complicated to tell your friend? I'm trying to help you. We're all trying to help you, but you're pulling away, acting weird, and worse, you're embarrassing me,” she said.
“What?” I gasped.
“Oh, yeah, the whole school's talking about you. 'The princess has gone soft' or 'the prince is a Pot-head' and my favourite, 'the princess has a crush on Harry'.” She paused.
The last point gave me a pang in my heart.
“Shut up,” I growled.
“No! You know what? We follow you around, obey you, and we believe in you.” She pointed at me.
“I never asked you to believe in me!” I jumped to my feet.
“You've changed. You're running around with Potter, and something is wrong with you. The worst part is you've become a liar. So come on, tell me! SHARE!” She smacked her chest.
“Leave me alone!”
“I'm trying to help. Just...”
“I don't need your freaking help. I don’t want your freaking help! Just leave me ALONE!” I screamed.
My voice echoed around the room.
We stood in silence, my finger extended towards the door. She bit her lower lip and tipped her head.
“Fine,” she said.
I stood there with my hands on my hips as she put on her robes and headed for the door.
She clapped her thigh calling her cat. The little monster hissed at me before trotting over to her.
She looked at me, raised her chin and slammed the door shut.