The Wild Side

3. Saturday Blues

Sun is at least 40 precent more intensified when you wake up. It’s a fact, because it’s burning through my eyelids right now.

But thank God it’s Saturday. One week of school survived, barely.

The bed next to me was empty, lacking its usual presence of Audrey Hart. I couldn’t help but feel suspicious. I shuddered at the memory of when she first disappeared.

1 year ago

“Audrey? Audrey?” I called out into the dark, eyes searching painfully under the dim light the candle provided.

I was no longer in my bed, like a good fourth year should be, I was prowling the shelves of the library, looking for any sign of my friend.

Cursing myself, I searched in vain through the library. I wished that Maxi was here; maybe she could use her cousin’s invisibility cloak to conceal us.

But as it was I was prowling Hogwarts alone, at night, and in plain sight.

Maybe Gryffindor’s really are stupid.

I crept out of the entrance of the library, thankful that Mrs Norris or Filch weren’t here to catch me. The corridors were empty, as predicted. No students or teachers in sight. I breathed a sigh of relief. Luck might just be on my side. I could faintly hear voices from a classroom. Odd. No one was meant to be out of bed.

So I’m looking for a Gryffindor then.

Carefully, I crept up to the shut door. Leaning in so I could hear the voices clearer.

“Audrey. Deep breaths, shhh, shh, you’re safe.” So Audrey was in there? What was wrong with her? I’m her friend. I have a right to know!

“HOW CAN WE BE SAFE?” Audrey’s voice screamed, “HOW CAN WE BE SAFE WHEN THERE IS A TRAITOR?”

“There is no traitor, Audrey,” The other voice crooned, “it’s all okay.”

I crouched down onto my knees so I could see through the lock. Audrey was seated in a chair, her eyes unnaturally green. Her pupil was a mere speck of black, intensifying the odd colour. As for the person talking to her, I couldn’t see him.

“Yes there is,” She wheezed, “Right within the walls of the castle.”

I heard the sound of a hand connecting with a face. It was to my surprise that it was Audrey who had hit the mysterious other person, in a fit of cluelessness momentary insanity.

“You are becoming a danger.” The voice said, “I will have to leave you here.”  I ducked around a corner when I heard footsteps coming from the door.

“As you always do.” Audrey droned in her slightly hysterical voice, “Leave me when you are in danger.”

“You will regret hurting me when you are more,” The voice paused, “Sane. You will be fine to get yourself back to the dormitory?”  Audrey must have nodded, because soon after the door creaked open and the figure hurried into the dark.

Slowly, cautiously, I walked up to the door. I could hear Audrey whimpering. Unable to swallow my Gryffindor instinct, I walked to Audrey. I sucked in a breath. Audrey, nice, sarcastic Audrey, was stuck in a chair, sweating buckets, a crazed look in her eyes.

What was going on? 

“Audrey, are you okay?”

Her eyes snapped to my face.