chosen - harry potter

Chapter 13 - The Trap Door

When thinking back on the exams from first year, Cassia had no idea how she managed to pass them when Voldemort was about to burst through the door at any moment.

They had both written and practical exams, Cassia preferring the practical exams greatly. She had no issue doing magic, it was just remembering the specifics of what you're supposed to do that got to her. She didn't mind her exams too much except for the Potions exam, for Snape was breathing down all of the student's necks while they tried to make a Forgetfulness potion. Ironic, as she had forgotten how to.

Harry had told the quartet that his nightmares had returned, and they were worse than ever. They were now accompanied by a hooded figure dripping blood down its front. He also continued to have the stabbing pain in his forehead that he had in the forest.

Cassia had some nightmares as well, but they weren't the same as Harry's. It was mostly just a recounting of the night's events in the forest. Her mind was still swirling with questions, but she mostly kept them to herself as to not worry her already panicked friends.

Their last exam was History of Magic. It was an hour of answering questions about boring old wizards. When the ghostly Professor Binns directed them to put down their quills and roll up their parchment, the whole class cheered with excitement.

"That was far easier than I thought it would be," Hermione said. The quartet had joined the crowds of students on the sunny grounds. "I needn't have learned about the 1637 Werewolf Code of Conduct or the uprising of Elfric the Eager."

"That was the worst of the exams, I think," Cassia sighed. "I'm glad it's over."

"No more studying," Ron beamed at the girls, stretching out on the warm grass. "You could look more cheerful, Harry, we've got a week before we find out how badly we've done, there's no need to worry yet."

Harry was rubbing his forehead, making Cassia worry.

"I wish I knew what this means!" he burst angrily. "My scar keeps hurting — it's happened before, but never as often as this."

"Go to Madam Pomfrey," Hermione suggested.

"I'm not ill," Harry said. "I think it's a warning...it means danger's coming..."

"Move your hair," Cassia said. He pushed his hair to the side, and his scar looked irritated similarly to when they were in the forest. "Hm."

"Harry, relax, Hermione's right, the stone's safe as long as Dumbledore's around," Ron said. "Anyway, we've never had any proof Snape found out how to get past Fluffy. He nearly had his leg ripped off once, he's not going to try it again in a hurry. And Neville will play Quidditch for England before Hagrid lets Dumbledore down."

"I just," Harry started, "have a feeling that I've forgotten something — something important.

"That's just the exams. I woke up last night and was halfway through my Transfiguration notes before I remembered we'd done that one," Hermione said.

Cassia remained silent, trying to think. How could Ron and Hermione possibly be so calm when Voldemort was in the forest? Perhaps it was because they hadn't seen him like Cassia and Harry. But how could he possibly be in the forest when Hogwarts was supposedly so secure? Someone had to be letting him in...and a pit in her stomach told her that it wasn't Snape like they had been suspecting.

Harry suddenly jumped to his feet.

"Where're you going?" Ron said sleepily.

"I've just thought of something," Harry spoke, his face turning white. "We've got to go and see Hagrid, now."