On our way back from dinner, Harry suddenly stumbled to a halt, clutching at the stone wall, looking around, squinting up and down the dimly lit passageway.
Pieck: Harry? What're you
Harry: It's that voice again... listen!
We froze, watching him.
Harry: This way!
He began to run. He sprinted up the marble staircase to the first floor, the rest of us hurrying to keep up with him.
YN: I think he's lost it-
Harry: SHH! It's going to kill someone!
Ignoring our bewildered faces, he ran up the next flight of steps three at a time. Harry hurtled around the whole of the second floor, not stopping until we turned a corner into the last, deserted passage.
Ron: Harry, what was that all about? I couldn't hear anything-
But Hermione gave a sudden gasp, pointing down the corridor.
Hermione: Look!
Something was shining on the wall ahead. We approached, slowly, squinting through the darkness. About a foot off the ground, words had been scrawled on the wall between two windows, shimmering in the light cast by the flaming torches. "THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE."
Ron: What's that thing? Hanging underneath?
As we edged nearer, Harry almost slipped. There was a large puddle of water on the floor. Ron and Hermione grabbed him, and we inched towards the message, eyes fixed on a dark shadow beneath it. All five of us realized what it was at once, and leapt backwards with a splash. Mrs Norris, Filch's cat, was hanging by her tail from the torch bracket. She was stiff as a board, her eyes wide and staring. For a few seconds, we didn't move.
Ron: Let's get out of here.
Harry: Shouldn't we try and help-
Ron: Trust me, we don't want to be found here.
From either end of the corridor where we stood came the sound of hundreds of feet climbing the stairs, and the loud, happy talk of well fed people. Next moment, students were crashing into the passage from both ends. The chatter, the bustle, and the noise died suddenly as the people in front spotted the hanging cat. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Pieck, and I stood alone, in the middle of the corridor, as silence fell among the mass of students, pressing forward to see the grisly sight. Then someone shouted through the quiet.
Malfoy: Enemies of the heir, beware! You'll be next, Mudbloods!
It was Draco Malfoy. He had pushed to the front of the crowd, his cold eyes alive, his usually bloodless face flushed, as he grinned at the sight of the hanging, immobile cat.
Filch: What's going on here? What's going on?
Attracted no doubt by Malfoy's shout, Argus Filch came shouldering his way through the crowd. Then he saw Mrs Norris and fell back, clutching his face in horror.
Filch: My cat! My cat! What's happened to Mrs Norris?
His wide eyes fell on Harry.
Filch: You! You! You've murdered my cat! You've killed her! I'll kill you! I'll-
Dumbledore: Argus!
Dumbledore had arrived on the scene, followed by a number of other teachers. In seconds, he had swept past us and detached Mrs Norris from the torch bracket.
Dumbledore: Come with me, Argus. You too, Mr Potter, Mr Weasley, Miss Granger, Miss Lovegood, and Mr Tybur.
Lockhart stepped forward eagerly.
YOU ARE READING
The War Hammer of Hogwarts - Harry Potter
خيال (فانتازيا)YN Tybur. The prodigy son of one of the most influential families in the wizarding world, with a power that hasn't been seen in hundreds of years. Join him as he journeys to Hogwarts and meets friends, foes, and people who will change his life for...
