Taking Over Me

Chapter 14 - Year 5 - 1943- House Cup Ceremony

     The end of the year banquet was fantastic. Ronnie, Iris and I talked eagerly about our O.W.L. Jeremy said we were crazy to be thinking about the test when we'd only just finished taking it. We ignored him.

     The house cup was awarded to the Hufflepuff house this year. It was the first time in several years so they were very ecstatic. I clapped along with them. They deserved the victory. Besides, there was always next year for Ravenclaw to win.

     I stopped clapping. It was my fifth year, my O.W.L.s were finished. I was about to start my sixth year, the year where I was supposed to die at some unknown time. I felt sick as I realized that I might never get to see another house cup . There was so much I still wanted to do here; I couldn't die. I wanted to graduate and become the first Hit Witch. I wanted to find a nice guy and settle down, maybe have a child or two later on. I'd thought I'd have my whole life ahead of me, yet now I was already facing the end.

     Headmaster Dippet gave his final speech, congratulating the graduating seventh years and wishing all of us a good summer. I was numb thinking about my life ending.

     "One other announcement." I glanced up. Headmaster Dippet held out a large plaque with the words 'Award for Special Services to the School' printed on it in gold. "As you all know, we were plagued by a rash of disappearances and petrified students this year. In the process, we lost a valuable student. Myrtle Warren was brutally murdered by a monster that was hiding in the school. Fortunately, one of our very own brave prefects, confronted the monster and the person responsible for allowing it into our school. This young man bravely chased the creature out of our school and apprehended its keeper. With those accomplishments, the school would like to recognize Tom Marvelo Riddle, for his bravery and dedication to protecting the students of this school."

     Applause roared throughout the room as Riddle walked up the dais and shook hands with Headmaster Dippet. The Slytherin walked back to his seat, getting slapped on the back or his hand shook as he went.

     I didn't clap. I remembered what Aragog had told me about the thing in the school and how it was connected to Riddle. If the spider had been telling the truth, then Riddle was the cause of Myrtle's death, and was taking credit for getting an innocent man expelled from school. That was if I could trust the spider was right. How trustworthy were spiders? 

       The feast ended and we all left the hall heading to our dorms for our last night here. Tomorrow we were supposed to go to the Hogwarts Express and head home. My trunk was packed and I was glad to be going home, even thought I'd have to help bury my father.

     With all of the danger here this past year, and finding my friend's dead body, I needed a break from Hogwarts. Plus, I wouldn't have to worry about a giant spider living somewhere around Hogwarts, or a mysterious serpent that lived in the walls of the school. Yeah I definitely needed a break.

Author's Note: I know this chapter is really short and I'm sorry for that. I wanted to give you an update, but I had so many ideas running around that I wrote an insanely long chapter. I'm going to break it up into smaller sections so it's not so crazy to read. 

Thanks,

Jinx