Prophecies- a Dramione Fanfiction

Chapter Nine: The First Challenge

No one in Hogwarts knew it but the first challenge Voldemort would send from the grave was going to appear at breakfast that morning. Harry and Ron were eating with their respective partners, quietly talking about quidditch.

Ginny and Pansy were actually being civil and were talking about dresses, hair and make-up. "We should totally get ready for the Yule Ball together!" Ginny squealed. Pansy rolled her eyes but nodded, agreeing. "Yeah. I have a dress that would look Ah-May-Zing on you. " Ginny nodded, thinking. "If you were gonna wear the velvet taffeta dress, I have some heels we can resize to fit you."  

It was merely seconds after this comment, that screaming began down the end of the hall. Professor McGonagall looked up in alarm and went pale. Professor Trelawney had passed out. "Minerva, am I right in saying... we can not control ghosts?" Professor Sprout asked nervously. Professor McGonagall nodded. "I will... talk to him. Meanwhile, get the students out of the hall." The teachers began shepherding terrified students out the doors.  
"Tom Riddle. What a displeasure it is to see you alive and kicking again." snapped McGonagall. She stared at the ghost in front of her, meeting his eyes, which, should have been red.

  "Professor McGonagall. A pleasure to see the school running like clockwork again." replied the ghost smoothly. "May I enquire as to what you have done to be graced with the opportunity to thrive in Hogwarts' walls. New ghosts must meet with the Head before being allowed to roam our school. I do not remember allowing you within our land." barked McGonagall.   "I did not need to join, for I was already here. May I enquire as to what happened to my body?" the ghost smiled eerily. "Given to the remainder of the Acromantula in the Forbidden Forest."

She cast a distrusting look. On the outside she was calm and collected, but the inside was a different story. "Nick!" she called. "Please get all the ghosts to assemble in the Great Hall immediately. The ghost sped off. The confused professor made the Great Hall more ghost friendly.

Most of the light was blocked and the room temperature dropped a little.   Soon the hall was full of shimmery ghosts. Nick floated up to the raised platform where McGonagall and Riddle stood. "Ma'am, Barnabus Billy Batswater has not appeared. I believe he is a Metamorphamagus though. My sincerest apologies." He bowed and joined the other ghosts.   "Are you Barnabus Billy Batswater?"
The ghost craned his neck and nodded and shook at once. McGonagall shook her head desperately before turning towards the mingling ghosts. "Sonourus! EXCELLENT! EVERYONE, MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!"

The ghosts watched her, apprehensive. " I WOULD LIKE TO ASK WHEN YOU LAST SAW BARNABUS BATSWATER AND WHERE! "  

Two ghosts came forward. "We saw him in the Charms corridor. He looked like he was re-doing his appearance, like normal. But he sounded possessed." stated one. "There was a new ghost that resembled He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named after that. I met him in the broom closet near the staircase to Astronomy. I asked him who he was and he tried to say something but then his mouth twisted and he couldn't say what he wanted to say." called the other. He looked at Riddle. "THAT'S HIM!" he shrieked and shot off in terror.   "Very well. Anyone else?" asked the thinking professor. There was silence.
"Avoid the Charms corridor and that broom closet, as well as any students. I fear they are a little terrified of you as per the new ghost's arrival. You are dismissed. Please come and see me in my office of you hear of anything else."

"Follow me, Riddle." She ordered. She bound him to her and Flooed to the Ministry. "Riddle, please try to stay out of eyesight." They soon arrived at the Minister's office. "Why, Minerva! What a pleasant surprise! Do come in!" welcomed Kingsley.   "Wait here, Riddle. Kingsley," she lowered her voice. "Are there any ghost destroying charms? Governor's ghost has turned up at Hogwarts, though Albus because of his Horcruxes. He's terrifying the heck out of Hogwarts. What am I to do?"   "Are there any ghosts missing?" " Yes. A Metamorphamagus called Barnabus Billy Batswater. I am wondering if he was somehow forced to transform. " "Hmmm. Wait a minute."

He then made some calls and soon enough , two Aurors were at the door. "Do you two know anything about ghosts? "  

One thought for a minute and shook her head. The other replied quietly "Sorry sir. We never paid much attention to Professor McGonagall in class." He then looked up and saw said professor .

"Dreadfully sorry, Professor."   The first Auror added. "Miss Hermione Granger may know a thing or two. I know she did some research on ghosts a few months back." Kinsley and Minerva shared a glance.

"She had to go to Hogwarts for that prophecy thing y'know. I could write, if you'd like. She hasn't owled me  recently... how odd." "Well, thank you for your time. You are dismissed." Kinsley frowned.

"What are we to do, Minerva? We can't let them out of that closet until they fall in love. The wards won't even let someone as powerful as Albus break them. Only the house -elf change in and out." " YOU'VE LOCKED THEM IN A BROOM CLOSET? " bellowed a furious Minerva.

"You told me they were going to be in a safe secluded area where they would be taken care of. NOT A BROOM CLOSET!" "Well, they are in a safe, secluded area." protested Kingsley. "Anyway,try 'priori incantatem' "

  "RIDDLE! YOU ARE NEEDED HERE!" yelled Minerva.

The ghost floated through the door and together the two shot a ' priori incantatem ' at the ghost.

The ghosts skin rippled and the ghost transformed back to a middle aged man, dressed in Edwardian clothes and looking very annoyed.

"What in Heaven's name am I doing here? Why, hello Minerva." Then he realised. " OH MINERVA I'M TERRIBLY SORRY, I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, SOMETHING FLEW THROUGH ME AND I COULDN'T CHANGE BACK TO ME! " he shrieked. "I hated being like... like... like" he lowered his voice. "HIM!"
"Don't worry, Barnabus. Let's return back to Hogwarts." The ghost shook his head and looked imploring at Kingsley. "Ok then. You may return to Shacklebolt Hall." The ghost smiled happily and vanished. "Return?" asked Minerva.

  "Yes. He was my great -grandfather's illegitimate cousin. He lived with us in secret until his cousin died then he went to Hogwarts as a Astronomy teacher. He fell off the tower teaching one night and died. " Minerva just sighed and went back to Hogwarts.