American Beauty

Chapter 8: The Suspect

"Hey Laila!" yelled Harry. 

"What," I said when he finally caught up to me. 

"We just wanted to update you," he said. "We found out that Snape tried to get past a three-headed dog on Halloween that we neglected to tell you about. He is trying to get to this thing called a Philosopher's Stone I think."

"Why Snape?" I asked. "He's a teacher."

"Why else would he want to get past that dog?" Harry retorted. I nodded my head in agreement.

"Be careful," I said.

._____________.

As per Harry's request, I kept an eye on Snape for the rest of the spring term before Easter. I also kept an eye on the other teachers to see if they realized anything. The only one I particularly noticed was Professor Quirrell. He was nervous all the time and I didn't think it was because of anything but an impending threat. 

In class one day he almost completely freaked out.

I had raised my hand to answer a question and when he didn't call attention to me immediately, I called out. 

"Excuse me professor," I said. He squeaked and jumped a bit where he was standing. His turban started to unravel because of the sudden movement. Because of my position in the room, right before he wrapped it back up, I caught a glimpse of a sinister face sitting there on the back of his head.

.___________.

"Harry!" I yelled. He whipped around to face me as I charged towards him with the news. "I've found a clue," I said.

"What is it?" he asked excitedly.

"Quirrell," I started, "has Voldemort's face sticking out the back of his head."

Harry looked at me oddly. "Not possible. Snape is the person behind this."

My mouth dropped in shock. "Don't you believe me?" I asked. "I'm your best friend." He shook his head.

"Ron is my best friend."

I hurried away from Harry in tears. I didn't know where I was going but I had to get away. Halfway to the library I ran smack into someone. I turned to apologize quickly and keep moving until I realized it was Malfoy. 

"What happened?" he asked.

"I told Harry the truth about something and he didn't believe me and then he told me I wasn't his best friend anymore even though for the longest time I was and-." Malfoy cut me off by smacking his hand over my mouth.

"Potter can be a bit of a prick," he said. I nodded furiously in agreement. We sat there at the top of the main staircase until Filch shooed us away at curfew. 

._____________.

The next morning Hermione attempted to speak with me at breakfast. Instead of stopping to hear her excuses, I flounced away to the Ravenclaw table without a backward glance. All through breakfast, I could see Hermione whisper-yelling at Harry about what he said to me last night and him whisper-yelling back that I was in a different house and I couldn't be trusted about what I said. 

A little later I heard a frustrated yell from Hermione herself. "She is in Ravenclaw!" she yelled at Harry. "The smartest house. If she doesn't know the answer or figured out the truth than who will!" She then stormed over to the Ravenclaw table and plopped down across from me.

"Boys," she muttered.

"Tell me about it," I said.