Wands & Brooms

6

 The next morning, I woke up and looked at my clock. I groaned. I had slept almost entirely through my first class. Whoops. Professor McGonagall was NOT going to be happy. Briar already left the dormitory. Why didn't she wake me up???

I ran down the hall, approaching the Transfiguration classroom, wondering what Professor McGonagall would say. I hope she won't take points from Slytherin.

I opened the door quietly, hoping she didn't notice that I was late. I didn't see her anywhere, so I figured I was safe. I closed the door and went to sit in the empty seat next to Briar, when I noticed a grey tabby cat behind me. I stared at it as it turned into a woman- not just any woman; It was Professor McGonagall.

"You're late, Ms. Evermoor," she said, stiffly.

"I-I-" I stammered.

"I do not want to hear your excuses. That will be twenty points from Slytherin. Take a seat and I expect you to figure out what you have missed."

I grimaced as I sat down next to Briar. I shot her a 'you didn't wake me up and now i got in trouble' look.

She understood, but just shrugged. About ten minutes later, it was time to go to our next class. I was on my way to the dungeons for Potions, when I came across a group of gathered students. I noticed Harry was at the centre of it, and behind him was a stiff cat and red writing on the wall. Was that... blood? The letters read 'The Chamber Of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir.. Beware.'

I was so confused, and a little scared. I saw Draco near the middle of the crowd. I pushed my way through to get to him.

"What happened?!" I asked.

"Potter did it, I think," He said. When he says Potter, it sounds like Pottah. It's kinda funny.

"Harry? Really?" I ask. I only knew him for a short time, but it didn't seem like something he would do. The caretaker had shown up, and he saw the cat and had a mental breakdown.

"YOU'VE KILLED HER!!" He screamed at Harry.

"I didn't touch the cat!" He said. "I didn't do this!"

"YOU LIAR!!" He screamed. "YOU DID KILL HER AND YOU KNOW IT!!!"

The headmaster and Professor McGonagall came running in.

"What happened?" Professor Dumbledore asked the caretaker.

"THAT BOY KILLED MY CAT!!" He screeched as he pointed an accusing finger at Harry.

"Argus, please. I'm sure Harry didn't kill your cat. In fact, this cat isn't dead at all. It's petrified."

A gasp resounded in the crowd. "Should I know what that means?" I asked Draco.

"Petrify is a curse, and that's what happens when it's cast." He pointed at the cat's stiff body in the caretaker's arms.

Professor Dumbledore shooed the students away, and I caught up to Briar, who was limping badly. "I'm sorry I woke up late. Do you want to go to the Hospital Wing now?"

"YES." She said. I helped her as we climbed up the stairs. We got to the door of the Hospital Wing. I pushed it open and helped her inside, where we saw Madame Pomfrey making up the bed that Harry had been in the night before.

"Excuse me," Briar said. "I-I hurt my ankle last night when I tripped on someone's trunk."

Madame Pomfrey looked at us. "Come sit down and I'll check it out," she said to Briar. "You," she said, addressing me, "You best get to class."