Heart of Stone: HPHM Year 6

The Prophecy

"It's the vault," Sarah whispered, transfixed by the statue.

"You three!" They all jumped as Snape turned to face them. "You were told to go to your dormitories."

"Is it the next curse?" Sarah asked.

"Now!" Snape bellowed. "Take Haywood by the hospital wing first, she appears to be in shock."

"I'm...I'm fine," she mumbled, but she let Barnaby lead her toward the castle doors, Sarah walking on the other side of her.

"Where's Ismelda?"

"She ran off with everybody else," answered Beatrice. "She's smart."

Sarah resisted the urge to roll her eyes. 

They arrives at the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey put down the box of supplies she'd been sorting to greet them. 

"What can I do for you three?"

"Nothing," said Beatrice. "There's nothing you can do." 

"Professor Snape said she would need something for shock," Sarah explained. 

"Of course." Madam Pomfrey selected a bottle from the shelf. "What's happened?"

"A boy got turned into stone!" said Barnaby. 

Madam Pomfrey clutched at her heart. "Good heavens! Is it...?"

"The last vault," said Sarah. 

"My word," said Madam Pomfrey. "I must see what I can do to help. But first," she handed the bottle to Beatrice. "Drink up." Beatrice took the bottle with annoyance before taking a sip. "I suppose there's likely nothing that can be done apart from breaking the curse."

"Yeah, and you better do it more quickly this time!" Beatrice shouted at Sarah, stomping her foot. 

"Calm down, Miss Haywood," ordered Madam Pomfrey. 

Beatrice's face had gone red. 

"He doesn't deserve to have a year of his life taken away because of your curses! No one does!"

The bottle slipped from Beatrice's hand and shattered on the floor. 

"You'd better leave," Madam Pomfrey instructed Sarah, putting her arms around Beatrice as she continued to shriek. 

"There's no point anyway! This whole school is doomed! And its all your fault! You and your cursed brother!" 

Barnaby pulled Sarah out of the dormitory and into the entrance hall. 

"You okay?" he asked. 

"Yeah. Fine." 

"It's not true," said Barnaby. "We know the vaults aren't your fault." 

"Yeah," she said again, but her blood had gone cold. Beatrice was right. No one deserved to be trapped by the vaults. And yet, someone already was again. And she had no idea how to save him. 

"Lee! Spellman! I told you to get to your dormitories." Snape had reappeared, levitating the petrified student behind him. "Ten points from Slytherin, and fifteen from from Gryffindor." 

"What?!"

"A prefect should know better." 

Snape swept past them into the hospital wing, the student's body spinning slowly as it followed. 

"You'll figure it out," said Barnaby, rubbing her arm reassuringly. "And we're all here to help you." 

She nodded, and they parted ways before Snape could reappear and give them detention.