HP chamber of secrets: Amelia's beginning (fanfic)

Chapter 5: Mrs. Norris, and the dueling club

October rolled in faster than I could've imagined. It was now Halloween night, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione was going to sir Nicholas' death day party tonight. I denied the polite invitation. (After all, it may have been great for Halloween, but I've been to those dungeons before. It's like the North Pole down there!)

right now I was casting the spell I've been studying in secret for a few long weeks. (Why else would I go to the library?) it was just a simple cloaking/illusion spell. Before you say anything, no I am not using it for evil, and no I'm not using it on someone else or for a friend. It's unfortunately for my own selfish needs. I was getting tired of people asking why I kept my hood up, so I've been searching for a spell (with some sneaky subtle questions for Hermione) to hide my disfigured face in plain sight. I did impressively well actually. -Well, For a first year who isn't that acquainted with magic. The downside? The spell doesn't last long.

I stared at myself in the mirror. My hood was down in public for the first time in years. A pale pinkish scar that was reminiscent of a cracked mirror branched out from the middle of my cheek, trailing down my jaw and disappearing underneath my collar. My short dark Amber hair billowed out in a wave of messy wild curls that framed my face nicely. In addition, I had little pearl white freckles sprinkled across my Upper cheeks and nose like melt-free Snowflakes.

With a shaky hand, I rested the tip of my wand under my chin and whispered the spell. My scars and freckles suddenly melted away. Finally, I looked normal for once. The cloaking spell worked and hid my violent scars well enough to pass for a normal girl. With a little proud pep in my step, i tucked some wild strands of hair that fell in front of my face behind my ear, then I went downstairs to the great hall for the Halloween celebration.

~~~~

The feast was very fun. Dumbledore announced the feast cheerfully, wearing a very silly small wizard hat adorned on his sliver head. A troupe of dancing skeletons used each other's bones as instruments and played "spooky scary skeletons" and other songs during dinner. Some of the usually grumpy (except snape) teachers seemed to enjoy the festivities as well.

The food was exquisite as always. I barely had enough room for dessert! As Soon as I had just barely touched a spoonful of pudding to my lips, I froze. I heard something.

"...rip... tear... kill..."

It was the same voice, the same cold, murderous voice I had heard down the corridor from Lockhart's office. After thinking about it for a while, I was no longer afraid. I was much more curious about it if anything.

"...kill... time to kill..."

The voice was growing fainter. I was sure it was moving away. Looking around the hall, no one else seemed to be affected by it. I slowly moved out of my seat and began to nonchalantly walk out of the great hall to not arouse suspicion. As soon as I made it past the threshold, I sprinted at full speed up the stone steps, straining my ears, tracking down the voice like a hungry predator. I ran up the next flight of stairs two at a time, trying to find that blasted faint voice. My heart was pounding, excitement and fear flooded my veins. Now this is the kind of adventure I was talking about!

I strained my ears as best I could. Distantly, from the floor above, and growing fainter still, I heard the voice again:

"...I smell blood... I SMELL BLOOD!"

I gasped as my eyes widened. "It's going to kill someone!" I shouted to myself. I skidded to a halt at the last deserted passage, surprised to see Harry coming in from the opposite side, hermione and Ron panting heavily behind him. "What are you doing here?!" I exclaimed as I took some deep breaths, my lungs burning from the cold castle air.