Written In The Stars VI -[Harry Potter xF!Oc]

Chapter Thirteen: Merry Talks.

Once they managed to pull Katie back to the ground Ron kept her in place, but she was squirming and crying so agitatedly he could barely hold her.

"Stay there!" Harry shouted. "I'm going for help!"

"Someone must've attacked her," Erick commented, standing behind her with the wand at the ready. "But I can't see anyone around... Leanne, what happened?"

"I don't know!" The girl sobbed. "She was acting so strange — we left the pub and she — she just—"

Mel gripped Katie's shoulders firmly, silently thanking Harry for making her train till she couldn't feel her arms, now she was strong enough to keep someone pinned down against the ground. 

"Get back!" Hagrid's voice caused her to give a start. "Lemme see her!"

"Something's happened to her!" Leanne ran to Hagrid. "I don't know what —"

Hagrid carried Katie and ran towards the castle without wasting time talking.

"Leanne, isn't it?" Hermione asked, holding the girl. "Did it just happen all of a sudden, or — ?"

"It was when that package tore," Leanne said, thick tears staining her face.

"Don't touch it!" Harry shouted, Ron had bent to grab it. "I've seen that before! It was on display in Borgin and Burkes ages ago. The label said it was cursed. Katie must have touched it. How did Katie get hold of this?"

"Well, that's why we were arguing. She came back from the bathroom in the Three Broomsticks holding it, said it was a surprise for somebody at Hogwarts and she had to deliver it. She looked all funny when she said it... Oh no, oh no, I bet she'd been Imperiused and I didn't realize!"

Leanne shook with renewed sobs, Erick stepped forward, he waved his wand and a handkerchief came out of it. He offered the soft fabric to the girl and she took it clumsily, Erick softly pressed a hand on her shoulder. Mel abruptly remembered Leanne was one of his newest friends, Katie was Erick's classmate.

"She didn't say who'd given it to her, Leanne?" Harry inquired.

"No... she wouldn't tell me... and I said she was being stupid and not to take it up to school, but she just wouldn't listen and... and then I tried to grab it from her... and — and —"

Leanne let out a wail of despair.

"You were trying to do the right thing," Erick assured her. "This wasn't your fault..."

"We'd better get up to school," said Hermione. "We'll be able to find out how she is. Come on..." 

Harry took off his scarf and quickly wrapped it over the necklace. 

"We'll need to show this to Madam Pomfrey." 

Harry got closer to her and the boys, then he whispered:

"Malfoy knows about this necklace. It was in a case at Borgin and Burkes four years ago, I saw him having a good look at it while I was hiding from him and his dad. This is what he was buying that day when we followed him! He remembered it and he went back for it!"

Ron glanced at her helplessly, she was clearly not the only one suffering from her inability to step into conversations.

"I — I dunno, Harry," He said. "Loads of people go to Borgin and Burkes... and didn't that girl say Katie got it in the girls' bathroom?"

"She said she came back from the bathroom with it, she didn't necessarily get it in the bathroom itself —"

"Didn't you spend half of your time in a girl's bathroom when you were twelve?" Erick inquired.