Misidentified

Chapter 5

Syed didn't know what to think. This was all happening too quickly for him to process. The man. Dorian. Moosa's urgency to speak to him. And now Moosa was dead. He had just spoken to him maybe two hours ago... He couldn't believe he was dead. No. It couldn't be true. 

Syed quickly stood up to leave to his bed. Before he could take a step, Matt stood up abruptly, and barked at him, "Tell me what he told you. What did he need to so urgently tell you?"

"Yo...leave him alone man..." Mikey sympathized.

"No. Don't you think it's a bit odd Moosa ended up dead the day he got the chance to talk to him?" Matt replied. 

"He didn't get the chance to say anything to me," Syed said quietly, surprised his best friend of years would accuse him of such a thing. He had met Matt when he was a first-year. He had given him advice to not go in the 2nd floor bathroom because he knew what Mikey had done in every stall. From then on, their friendship had been quite close. Now a 6th year, Syed couldn't believe this was the same Matt of last year. 

"What am I supposed to believe Syed? I saw you and him walking towards exactly where he was murdered"

"You're supposed to believe me! I really can't believe you don't trust me right now," Syed said, his voice cracking a bit. 

Matt stared Syed down. Mikey stood there, pondering whether to mention the fact that Matt's fly was down. They might ask why he was looking down there. But he didn't want to come out so fast...

Syed turned around and walked out of the Common Room. It was nighttime, but he was headed to the Forbidden Forest to calm his nerves, risking punishment. He had found a special spot there in his 3rd year when he was dumb enough to try to explore the Forest. Two vines stretched from one tree to another far away to create a strong little hammock-type bed for Syed to lay on and relax on. The trees above him produced a dark canopy, but a little opening at the top allowed for some sunlight to seep through to reveal the true light green beauty beneath the heavy concealing ceiling created by the canopy. The open space in the area also created for Syed to practice curses and spells he was curious about. Sure there would be many torn tree branches by the end of his time there, but the Forest would heal itself quickly. 

Syed ran out down the corridors. He heard behind him the gently voice of a girl. "Syed stop! I need to talk to you!"

Syed didn't look back. He kept running, not caring about anyone who saw him. 

When Syed got to his resting spot, he laid on his bed and looked up at the sky through the hole up in the canopy. He wondered why the man would insert himself into his life. He didn't even know him. What did he want with him? Questions upon questions pounded his mind. 

He had only been there for a few minutes until Mika walked into the space. "Syed? Are you in here?" 

Looking in Syed's direction now, she exclaimed, "SYED THERE YOU ARE! Why didn't you stop when I told you to?"

"I don't know. Why are you here?" Syed mumbled. 

"Because I want to know if you're okay," Mika replied, looking concerned. She rested her hand on his arm. 

Syed got up from his vine-bed and looked almost happy as he looked into Mika's eyes. "Really? You didn't come to ask about what I know??" 

"Of course not Syed. I care about you more than I care about my curiosity"

"Thank you so much Mika," he smiled a genuine smile he hadn't smiled in a while. She smiled back at him and slowly took a hold of his hand and held it tight. He smiled a bit wider, but his smile faded away as he looked away, thinking about the actuality and grim environment of his situation. "But there is something I need to say. I think I may know who killed Mo-" Dorian jumped into his arms. Syed let go of Mika's hand and his hands ran through Dorian's fur before he held onto Dorian really tight. His grief and worry had all gone away for a second. All he knew was that his precious Dorian was back. The cat that had been in his life as long as he could remember. The fact that Dorian was alive ravished his heart with so much peace and happiness, he couldn't remember the last time he felt such relief or happiness. 

"Syed...his fur..." Mika let out in a horrified but quiet voice. 

Dorian's perfect white fur was stained. Dried blood covered Dorian's body like a paintbrush covered in a gory red paint. He didn't have time to think about it. Footsteps grew nearer. "I forgot my wand in the Common Room," Mika said in a soft and afraid voice. She almost let out a cry. She attached herself to Syed's arm as if it would save her life. The footsteps grew louder and a voice was projected into their area, "HEY YOU STUPID CAT. WHERE ARE YOU? Wait a second..." 

Syed let go of Dorian and stood up, drawing his wand and backing away slowly, Mika attached to him. He could feel her heart beating against the back of his shoulder. He didn't know exactly where he was going to come from. 

Silence. 

A deep silence to where heartbeats could be heard out loud consumed the entire area. Then all of a sudden a quick movement and a flash of light.

"EXPELLIARMUS!"