Violet Potter and the Basilisk Plague (Year Two)

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Writing On The Wall

When Violet, Tori, and Devon had all returned to the Hufflepuff common-room and left as quietly as they could before anyone else from Hufflepuff House found them in a common-room they were not technically supposed to be in, they found Cedric Diggory, a fifth-year Hufflepuff with wavy chocolate brown hair and gray-blue eyes waiting for them, just as Professor Sprout had said earlier he would be right outside the main common-room doorway.

Violet thought to herself that she could understand why so many girls, mostly in more advanced years around Hogwarts were often to be seen clamoring after him, and why there were so many other boys around his age in particular hyping him up. He really was that handsome, and from what Violet already knew or heard, he did really seem like the type of person anyone would fight the Giant Squid to be friends with.

Violet for her part would never be interested in Cedric in any remotely romantic way. She was Violet Potter, but even so, she felt certain in her bones she would never be that girl. Besides, he was three years older, three years ahead of Violet, and Violet was never so athletically inclined, not even for Quidditch, quite possibly the best sport on Earth that its' non-magic human population would largely live their entire lives never knowing anything about. She wasn't even that pretty, not like Tori, let alone a girl like Cho Chang. But of course, there were far more important matters at hand.

"So, Professor Sprout informed me that you three would have the other ingredients needed to complete the Mandrake Draft. May I have them?" Cedric asked politely. Violet said, "Yeah, here's the Glimmersalve." She removed the vial from her right robe pocket and gave it to Cedric. Then Victoria stepped forward and handed Cedric a very small drawstring pouch. "The Willowort is just inside the bag. It's very delicate and can be completely ruined if handled improperly." Tori explained.

"Yeah, I know, but thanks." Cedric replied. And finally Devon said, while carefully handing Cedric the dazzling golden flower, "One Lily Of The Sun. You would not believe what I have been through tonight to get it either."

"We've all been through loads on this night. The most important thing is that the Mandrake Draft will soon be ready. There will be an antidote for the petrified in the hospital wing, and Hogwarts will be safe again." Violet said hopefully.

"Even now we aren't out of the woods, not even close, if that prophecy of Mopsus is anything to go on.
Someone mentioned that your brother is going to have to battle the Heir of Slytherin." Devon said grimly.

"I'm sorry, but we really do need to get these ingredients straight to Professor Sprout and Madam Pomfrey. Perhaps you should discuss any other plans to save Hogwarts after we deliver these items?" Cedric suggested.

"Right, we have wasted too much time already, let's get to the hospital wing." Violet said, determined.

Violet, Tori, Devon, and Cedric had only just arrived inside the hospital wing, Cedric going to Professor Sprout and Madam Pomfrey with the last remaining ingredients for the Mandrake Draft when Professor McGonagall, the Head of Gryffindor House, was the first to approach them with the look of someone who was about to deliver even more terrible news. "Miss Potter, Miss Maynard, Mr. Wolfe. You have arrived not a moment too soon. Your brother and Mr. Weasley are also here. I'm afraid I have unfortunate news regarding the Headmaster and your friend, Miss Granger. She is here now too, and I warn you now, it may all come as a bit of a shock..."

***

Violet and Victoria both began what felt like the longest walk back from the hospital wing to the Slytherin Dungeons silently and miserably after what had to be the longest and most miserable day they'd ever spent at Hogwarts, well, since the day Tori lost her mother. Hermione now lay petrified in the hospital wing, though hopefully not for much longer. Hagrid was placed under arrest, and Professor Dumbledore had been forced to resign. And not a single one of them, Violet, Harry, Ron, Devon, or Tori were any closer to figuring out the real culprit behind these attacks than they were when all the trouble began. The one ray of hope in it all had been that Violet, Tori, and yes...even Devon were at least able to find and bring Professor Sprout the other three ingredients needed to prepare the Mandrake Draft, the only existing antidote for basilisk petrification during their adventures in the Chambers of Destiny, Healing, and Time.