Darwinism | hp

029: Quidditch, Third Year

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Over the following days, the school could speak of little other than how Sirius Black had entered the school. Everyone had their theories on how he entered the school, each worse than the last. From Apparation (which cannot be done on school grounds), to flying, to invisibility, to transfiguration, there seemed to be no end to how out of hand they could become.

The canvas of the Grey Lady was taken down, replaced with a pompous Knight named Sir Cadogan, who was so loud Marilyn had begun covering her ears when she neared the common room entrance. 

But that wasn't Marilyn's concern. Marilyn's main fear was for Harry. It seemed he was slowly growing more and more tired of the protection offered by the teachers, who watched him closely, and she understood it entirely. Harry could barely go to the bathroom without Percy Weasley following him. 

Marilyn herself was called into McGonagall's office one afternoon, which almost gave her a heart attack. However, she seemed more anxious than anything else when Marilyn entered.

"I'm sure Mr Potter has told you of Sirius Black."

She thought for a moment. "That he's after him? Yes."

McGonagall nodded. "Now, in normal circumstances I would not ask this of a student, but considering your and your friends track record, I believe it's the best bet. You need to stop Potter from doing anything rash."

Marilyn furrowed her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"You, Granger, Potter and Weasley have been reckless since you arrived here, Miss Locke." She sounded more angry, now. "Knowing not a single defensive spell, you followed a troll into a bathroom to save your friend. To protect the school, you all went into the trials to retrieve the stone, with little more experience. Mr Potter descended into the Chamber of Secrets alone only last year. Do you seriously believe me so naïve that you have not though about going after Black yourselves?!"

She shook her head. "Professor - this is a matter for the Ministry. And I-I understand how serious it is. I promise if anything happens to Harry, or Ron or Hermione, it will have to happen to me, first. And I'd prefer to make it to seventh year. Or maybe just fourth."

It was the next morning when Marilyn was sitting in the Great Hall, eating her lunch, when she overheard Seamus talking to Dean Thomas and Neville Longbottom.

"Well, it's gotta be Riddle, hasn't it?"

Marilyn looked up from her book - she had made it to lunch earlier, since Hermione had vanished and Ron and Harry had gone to the bathroom after class. "What're you talking about?"

"Think about it - Black wants to try bring back He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, right?" Seamus was standing, leaning on his knee, which was propped up on the bench on the other side of the table. "Who wants him back?"

Marilyn glanced at Riddle, who had just entered the Great Hall. "I don't think so."

"You never think he's up to anything." Dean said, following her gaze. "But he'd You-Know-Who's son. You have too much faith in him."

"He's an ass. I just don't think that instantly makes him evil."

But it seemed the rest of the school thought so - they were avoiding Riddle like the plague. And while at first Marilyn felt bad for him, it appeared he was playing into it - threatening students who sat too close to him, skipping classes and no one knew where he was, until he appeared at dinner. He had apparently cursed three Hufflepuffs who blocked a stairwell, who had to go to the Hospital Wing, and punched a Slytherin. He wasn't seen in the Slytherin Common Room, and people thinking he was sneaking out at night to get food for Black.