Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

52

They hurried down the passageway with all the black candles as they were heading towards the entrance hall with Ron in the lead, hoping that there may be pudding when they arrive at the great hall. But then Hermione heard it.

"... rip... tear... kill..." 

Hermione came to a halt as her eyes darted around. She noticed Harry was doing the same thing. 

"Harry? Hermione? What are--" 

"It's that voice again! Hang on--" 

"... soo hungry... for so long..." 

"Listen!" Harry said. 

"...kill... time to kill..." 

The voice went fainter. Without thinking, Hermione rushed down the hall towards where the voice was heading with Harry and Ron following behind her. Her eyes landed on the wall where she could feel like the thing was inside, heading upward. 

"This way!" Harry said as he began to take the lead alongside Hermione. They sprinted pass the Great Hall, trying to focus their attention on the voice. 

"...I smell blood... I SMELL BLOOD!" 

"It's going to kill someone!" Harry growled as they ran up the next flight of steps. They only slowed down to a stop when they reached the last deserted passage. 

"What was that all about?" Ron panted at them, wiping sweat from his face, "I couldn't hear anything..." 

"LOOK!" Hermione called out, pointing at the wall. Written across the wall in blood red words were...

THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. 

ENEMIES OF THE HEIRS, BEWARE. 

 And right above the flooded floors there was Mrs. Norris hanging on one of the torch's bracket. She was stiff as a board, her eyes wide and staring. Hermione couldn't help but walk over towards Mrs. Norris, her mouth opened. She couldn't help but gently began to pet Mrs. Norris as she pulled the cat from the bracket. 

"Let's get out of here! Hermione put the cat back!" Ron pleaded with them. 

"Shouldn't we try and help?" Harry asked him. 

"Trust me! We don't want to be found here." Ron stated to them. But it was too late. The halls from both ends began to fill with hundreds of people walking down the hall, chattering happily till they freeze up at the sight of the three of them standing in front of the writing on the wall, Hermione holding the immobile cat. 

"Enemies of the Heir, beware! You'll be next, Mudbloods!" someone shouted. It was Draco, who had made his way in front of the crowd, his eyes glued on Hermione. 

"What's going on here? What's going on?" Filch's voice echoed through the hallway as he made his way through the crowd. Then he saw Mrs. Norris laying immobile in Hermione's arms. 

"My cat! My cat! What's happened to Mrs. Norris?" he shrieked till his eyes landed on Hermione, "You! You! You've murdered my cat! I'll kill you! I'LL KILL YOU!" 

"ARGUS!" 

Dumbledore came rushing towards them, his eyes sweeping over them all. 

"Come with me, Argus," he said to Filch, "You three as well." 

"My office is nearest, Headmaster-- just upstairs-- please feel free--" 

"Thank you, Gilderoy." Said Dumbledore as they hurried along through the silent crowd, which parted for them. Lockhart hurried after Dumbledore along with McGonagall and Snape. Hermione was clinging tightly to Mrs. Norris, gently petting the cat, as they entered Lockhart's office. As Lockhart was lightning candles, Dumbledore sat behind Lockhart's desk, not even going to remove the cat from Hermione's hands. Filch couldn't even look in Hermione's direction. Everyone was looming over Hermione, looking directly at the cat while Lockhart went suggesting things. 

"It was definitely a curse that killed her-- probably the Transmogrifian Torture-- I've seen it used many times, so unlucky I wasn't there, I know the very countercurse that would have saved her..." 

Filch began to sob violently as he took a seat, clinging his face with his hands. Much as she detested Filch, Hermione couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Hermione continued petting the cat, wanting to say that Mrs. Norris isn't dead. She wasn't sure how she knew but she felt it in her bones that Mrs. Norris wasn't dead. But without proof, who would believe her. Dumbledore continued to stare at both Hermione and Mrs. Norris like he was waiting for something to happen. Lockhart was still going on about something, clearly wanting attention, till finally Dumbledore spoke out. 

"She's not dead, Argus." 

Lockhart finally shut up as Filch perked up from his seat. 

"Not dead? But why is she all-- all stiff and frozen?" 

"She has been Petrified, but how I cannot say..." Dumbledore said, his eyes still darting between Hermione and Mrs. Norris, still with a look like he was waiting for something to happen. 

"Ask those two!" Filch shrieked, pointing his finger at Harry and Hermione. 

"No second year could have done this. It would take Dark Magic of the most advanced--" 

"They did it! I know it! Hermione's got the brains so she taught Potter how it's done. She clearly is the mastermind of this whole thing." Filch shot at them. 

"If I might speak, Headmaster," Snape said from the shadows, "Potter and his friends may have simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time. But we do have a set of suspicious circumstances here. Why were they in the upstairs corridor? Why weren't they at the Halloween feast?" 

The three of them began to launch into the explanation about the deathday party. 

"But why not join the feast afterward? Why go up to that corridor?" 

"Because we were tired and wanted to go to bed." Hermione quickly blurted out. 

"Without any supper? If I remember, ghosts don't provide food fit for living people at their parties." 

"We weren't hungry." Ron said right before his stomach gave a large rumble. 

"I suggest, Headmaster, that they aren't entirely truthful. It might be a good idea if we deprived of certain privileges until he is ready to tell us the whole story. Like taking Potter off the Gryffindor Quidditch team until he is ready to be honest." 

"Really, Severus," growled McGonagall, "I see no reason to stop the boy playing Quidditch. This cat wasn't hit over the head with a broomstick. There is no evidence at all that Potter or his friends have done anything wrong." 

"Innocent until proven guilty, Severus." Dumbledore said firmly. 

"My cat has been Petrified!" Filch shrieked," I want to see some punishment!" 

"Meow!" the room suddenly became all quiet. Everyone looked at Hermione's lap to find Mrs. Norris was fumbling around till she was on all fours. Mrs. Norris gazed up into Hermione's eyes, purring as she rubbed her face against Hermione like to say a silent thank-you. 

"Mrs. Norris!" Filch cheered as he hurried and snatched Mrs. Norris from Hermione's lap and hugged her, weeping into Mrs. Norris's fur. The professors began to mumble amongst each other while Harry and Ron stared bewildered at Hermione. But Dumbledore... he had a look like he knew this would happened.