The Four Shadows

Chapter 6

  "He knocked me off my broom, Professor!" A Slytherin student exclaimed in exasperation. In fact, only two Slytherins from Slytherin House were engaged in the Quidditch dry run.
  Godric, irked and sore, stopped the game once more. "Yes that's the point Poveglia! Mr. Whints hits the Bludger, to knock the other team off their brooms!" He yelled. "Again!" But before Godric tossed the red Quaffle in the air, Helga ran in from the sidelines. She stared up at the annoyed Slytherin student. "Wait, Miss-?"
"Poveglia Patson" She said, landing gracefully on the ground with her broom in front of Helga. "Miss Pardon why are you and your friend the only Slytherins here?" Helga asked. "Surely the rest of the House would want to partake in Quidditch?".
Everyone on the field listened in and stared, since Helga stopped the game. Poveglia Pardon gulped with fear. "Professor Slytherin hasn't been present to teach us anything, let alone how to use a broom stick. Our good friend managed to get a few so we can teach ourselves". The field went silent and Poveglia tensed up and realized she let the broom story slip. In that moment of silence you could hear the soft swaying of the trees and birds, and also the boiling anger rising in Godric.
"What do you mean, 'Managed to get a few?', Miss Patson?" Godric said hotly through gritted teeth. He gripped the Quaffle in his hand so hard his knuckles turned white. Poveglia knew if she lied, she would be in big trouble, or even expelled! But if she told the truth, she would put Monolithos Malfoy in even bigger trouble. She swallowed what felt like her last breath of freedom. "I took them, sir, from your Quidditch room". She stated, lying firmly. A few gasps and shrieks emerged from the students above her, still on their brooms. Godric fell silent before inhaling, red faced. "Continue with the game! Me and Miss Patson will have a chat". He threw the Quaffle on the ground and without haste Godric escorted Poveglia Patson out of the field and back to the castle. Rowena broke the tension rather quickly. She turned around and clapped. "You heard him, go on!" She exclaimed, throwing the Quaffle into the air.
  On the inside, Godric was boiling with anger. How could a student go into his Quidditch room and steal?! He didn't favor the Slytherin House too much, but now he loathed them. Poveglia hadn't peeped a word as they entered through the front, grand oak doors of Hogwarts. However, Lithos Malfoy, with a broomstick in his hand, was leaving as they were entering and almost collided into his friend and rather angry looking professor.
"Poveglia!" Lithos stammered out. "Also, Professor.... Hello..."
Godric plastered on a crooked smile. "Why hello Mr. Malfoy. I was just going to take Ms. Patson here back to her Common Room For the rest of the night for stealing my brooms" He said hotly. Lithos was confused.
"But sir, she didn't steal-" He stopped, because realization hit him like a brick wall. Poveglia took the fall for him! Now Godric was confused too, and knew someone was lying. Godric turned to face the already terrified girl and interrogated her. "Ms. Patson, how did you enter the Quidditch room?" He asked.
"I-er-" she stammered, but Lithos took action.
"I stole them!" He sputtered out. "Just let Poveglia go, I'll explain!".
Godric was torn, and in his moment of fury, he told Poveglia to return to the Quidditch fields at once, rather harshly. She burst into hot tears and ran back to her friends.
"Come with me" Godric calmly said. "Let's take a walk". Lithos set his broom down and he and his least favorite professor begun walking at a very slow pace.
"Explain" Godric immediately demanded. Lithos had no choice but to tell the spine chilling truth. "Sir...." he started slowly.
"Mr. Slytherin has been absent for two days now. His own House can't even mount a broom. I took action Ana and Poveglia are the only ones who know how to fly. I snuck down there, cracked your rather easy code and took brooms. But Professor, I saw odd things".
Godric raised an eyebrow. "Odd, how?" He asked.
"Well there was shattered glass. It was broken, just an odd spot for something glass to be broken at. And a corner of the room was a bit flooded. I don't know how but I got scared and I left".
Godric suddenly left every drop of anger leave him. He had known what the water had been the cause of, but the broken glass was a mystery. Although, Lithos continued.
"Something is up with Professor S, Mr. Gryffindor" he said quietly. Godric wanted to hear no more, but Lithos wanted to stay and pry the truth of Salazar Slytherin out of Professor Gryffindor. But Godric cut him off with a warning and sent him back to Quidditch.
Godric had a foolish and sly idea brewing in his brain.