The Girl Who Vanished

Chapter 13: A Parting Gift

The school was buzzing with the news of another student having been petrified. Justin Finch Fletchley, the same boy who had caught the serpent's attention was laid in the hospital, alongside Nearly Headless Nick. Ana had no idea how the ghost could've been petrified given he wasn't living, but everyone was growing on edge.

A strange lull in conversations settled over everyone who sat at the long tables in the Great Hall. Everyone basically had the same thought in mind, despite no one wanting to voice it.

Who was going to be next?

"They seem to be attacking anyone who's not a Pureblood," Lucian explained. "Flitwick mentioned that something like this had happened before. A long, long time ago. But the results were the same. Except-"

"Except what?" Alex blurted a little too brashly.

Ana and the girl still hadn't made up, but she felt like she would be making more of a scene if she kept running from the youngest Bole. Rather, she sat in her usual spot, between Lucian and Aeron while maintaining a tight-lipped expression towards Alex when need be. She wasn't ready to forgive, but she could try to be cordial.

"Except, last time it happened, now mind you, this was around fifty years ago," he took a big gulp of his water, his shoulders dipping as he thought of the conversation with the head of Ravenclaw, "He said a muggleborn died."

The five of them halted all actions at that bit of information, but no one's face drained of color as fast as Calista's did. Her usual glowing dark complexion was reduced to a sickly blueish tinge, although, Alex's face was also depleting of color fast.

"Well, then that settles it, I'm not going home for the holidays," Alex announced as she dropped her head onto her muggleborn friend's shoulder. "There's no way I can leave."

"Holiday is in four days, Alex, I already told mum-"

"I don't care, Lucy!" She cried out desperately, nearly scaring Calista by the broken tones in her voice, "Look, you can go visit mum and dad if you want, but you're a nutter if you think I'm gonna leave Calista behind."

Despite looking like she was about to pass out, Calista's face broke out in a kind smile. It lingered for a moment before she rested her head on top of Alex's. The sight in front of her broke her heart, seeing Alex so upset at Calista's expense; but she wasn't wrong. If any of them had to be on the lookout, it would be the only muggleborn in all of Slytherin.

"What about me?" Aeron pointed to himself as if offended by being left out of the conversation. "Aren't you the least bit worried about dear old Aeron?"

Everyone, even Ana rolled their eyes at his strangely egocentric way of trying to distract Alex from her impending panic. Without even taking her head off Calista's shoulder, she grabbed a handful of peas and flung it at the boy whose hair was finally starting to grow beyond the base of his scalp. It was an awkward length, not long enough to style but short enough to make it seem like he was a fuzzy peach.

"You know I'll be alright, Lex," Calista shushed while playing with the frizzy copper strands that tickled the side of her face. Alex's nerves were affecting the four of them.

A few students at neighboring tables started shuffling in their seats, their eyes downturned at the sound of Alex's blunt discussion of the muggleborn attacks. She said it so easily, as if it were common knowledge. And it was.

Just no one wanted to admit it.

"I just don't know what I would do if something happened, Callie."

Alex's voice was soft and tired, devoid of any fight as she pondered the wellbeing of the muggleborn. Everyone stayed in silence. Aeron wasn't trying to make the situation about himself, he merely stuffed his face with potatoes, making his cheeks puff out like a chipmunk. Lucian divided the remainder of the cinnamon rolls among the five of them, making sure he got the piece with the least amount of delicious frosting.