Nobody had taken Professor Suspiro seriously at first, they all thought it was a sick joke that their new Headmaster was trying to pull on them. But when notices were pinned in every corridor, signed by Suspiro himself, the truth –no matter how ridiculous it may have been- was the truth.
Nancy and Jeremiah were still shocked the next morning when they met in the library for their second official meeting.
‘So, do you think we should go, Nancy?’ Jeremiah asked, some of him enthusiastic, the other incredulous. ‘It might be crazy, but we do want to help and this could be a big clue to solving the case.’
‘I’ve been thinking the same,’ Nancy replied, though there was a look of uncertainty of her face. ‘Professor Suspiro is obviously taking this seriously, and maybe we should accept his help. And remember what Harry Potter said, “Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask”. I think this is the best chance we have.’
‘You’re right, Nancy. But remember, we’re not entirely helpless. We’re detectives, and there’s always something, there’s always a clue.’
Nancy’s face lit up proudly for a moment before returning to its former seriousness.
‘Let’s lay this out straight. Orsay Westwall was murdered on the fifth floor. There was a large knife wound on her back. Well, according to Rita Skeeter anyway…
‘The question is: why was she wandering the corridors at night? No offence to the Puffs, but there not the type to be rule-breaking.’
‘Well, maybe there was something on her mind,’ Jeremiah pondered.
Nancy’s brain seemed to click, ‘Of course! Her mother had died only almost a week before. She would be upset, wouldn’t she?!’
Jeremiah nodded, concentrating hard as he bits his nails.
‘Let’s move on to Ravinder,’ he continued. ‘She was found on the third floor corridor, in the same position and I’m betting she had the same wounds. There must be a connection.’
Nancy was on the edge of her seat, her heart threatening to climb her throat and leap out of her mouth. Jeremiah was likewise, though tried to calm himself to gain concentration.
‘Well, Ravinder was out after the curfew as well,’ Nancy exclaimed. ‘Clearly she had to do something that night. Everyone else went to bed when Dumbledore dismissed us, but she must have had something on her mind. What?’
Jeremiah was biting so hard on his nails, it was almost possible to hear them creak like they being prized from his fingers.
‘Do we know anything about Ravinder,’ Jeremiah asked.
‘Well, she was a third-year and a Ravenclaw. There was no obvious connection between her and Orsay.’ Nancy dropped her head hopelessly. ‘We know nothing else about her; whether she had friends, whether someone close to her has died. We need to know this.’
‘We could ask one of her friends,’ Jeremiah suggested.
Nancy seemed to think for a moment, ‘we might end up needing to; but for now, we should keep secrete about our investigations.’ There was a twinkle in her eye upon the last word.
All of a sudden, a smile spread across Jeremiah’s face. ‘How could I forget?! I was at breakfast the other day,’ he told Nancy, ‘and I overheard the Weasley twins. You know, a few years above us.’ Nancy nodded to show she understood.
‘They mentioned Filch’s office,’ Jeremiah continued, ‘…said something about…pupil records and that he has everyone’s.’
‘Everyone’s?’ Nancy exclaimed.
YOU ARE READING
The Tear Collector (a Harry Potter fanfic)
FanfictionHogwarts is not what it used to be. One by one, house by house, students are being picked off and killed brutally. They all have one thing in common: they were all crying before they died. It's a race against time for Jeremiah and Nancy as they work...
