Nothing Cast (A Harry Potter One-Shot)

Nothing Cast

All of sixth year, Malfoy had been terribly suspicious. Harry suspected Voldemort finally had his hands on the boy— meaning the Malfoy heir was now a Death Eater, just like his father, Lucius. But the patriarch was far from the dark lord's grasp now, for he had wound up in Azkaban upon the night the wizarding world finally realized You-Know-Who was back. Although Harry was glad people finally acknowledged the presence of Voldemort after a year of horrific mistreatment the year prior— Sirius was gone— the closest thing he had to a father was gone. And now he was back, and now, Malfoy was up to something.

On the daily, Malfoy disappeared into the Room of Requirement, which Harry knew far too well the location of from his days of instructing 'Dumbledore's Army." What could Malfoy constantly require? Harry had been debating consulting Dumbledore on the matter for months, warning him that the Slytherin peer was definitely a Death Eater— ignoring the fact that he had absolutely no proof other than his gut. Part of him believed Dumbledore would believe him wholeheartedly. Unfortunately, he could hear Hermione's scolding now. Neither of his best friends believed his claims of Malfoy's new role alongside Voldemort— so how could the Headmaster believe him?

Besides that, the golden trio currently sat at their houses' table in the Great Hall. Hermione was trying to get Ron to recall his time in the Hospital Wing, to no avail. Harry was absent-mindedly engaged in the conversation for he scanned through his Advanced Potion Making, formerly the property of the so-called "Half-Blood Prince." At the time being, one note caught his eye: "Sectumsempra— for enemies." He had not done much digging in discovering the book's origins, for his marks in potions were better than ever; especially now that Slughorn was his potion's professor rather than Snape. For once, he felt as if he was actually learning something in potions; not to mention he was having fun. Harry thought Hermione would be proud of him, but for once, she was obviously jealous.

"Harry, that's Katie." Harry was broken from his thoughts looking up to see Hermione was looking at him expectedly. Seeing Harry was lost, she elaborated. "Katie Bell."

How could Harry forget? Weeks ago, she had been cursed upon coming in contact with a cursed opal necklace; which apparently was intended for the Headmaster. Harry suspected Malfoy was behind the scheme, and told Professor McGonagall as such. Alas, she did not believe him.

The girl was lucky only to come in slight contact with the item for instead of instant death, it brought horrific pain— he could not forget the petrifying look on her face as she levitated into the air.

Harry jumped from his seat to catch up with Katie who was walking with her friends; which included Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet, and others Harry could not name. Before fully departing, he made sure to grab his book.

"Katie!" Katie spun around to face Harry. A smile instantly plastered her now pale face.

"Give me a moment, girls." The group nodded as they continued on their way. "Hello, Harry!"

"How are you?" Harry treaded lightly. Katie's smile dropped slightly into a guilty sort of look.

"I know you're going to ask, Harry. But I don't know who cursed me." Harry felt awful for bringing the matter up to Katie, right when she got back too. "I've tried to remember, honestly. But I just— can't." Katie went quiet from her lack of recollection. But before the two could say their goodbyes from the conversation going nowhere, Katie's face froze, then she began to shake.

"Katie?" The Gryffindor chaser did not respond, so instead Harry turned to follow her gaze and see, Malfoy. The look on the Slytherin's face was pathetic as he stood there frozen— in fact, he sported a look that was strikingly similar to Katie's. His pale face was somehow paler and ashen. Suddenly, he turned and sped out of the Great Hall.