Inside My Mind (A Harry Potter Fanfiction)

Chapter LXXV

Hogwarts, Unplottable Location, Scotland, Great Britain

Sunday the 6th of April 1997

8:00 PM

"Oh God…"

Christine Jackson looked up, abruptly at where Ginny was staring. Ginny was so pale that her freckles stood out against her skin and the room fell silent as everyone stared at the doorway. They were staring at the three young women and one young man standing in the doorway. Christine frowned.

Luna…Luna's hair was pulled into a tight bun, not a wavy hair out of place. A black ribbon was around her neck, tied intricately with a white rose next to a black rose. A black feather was in her hair and that's where Gideon's eyes were trained. She wore a high collar black dress that swept her feet and the dress had long bell sleeves. She walked with her eyes to the ground and people murmured around her as she walked with Bella.

Bella also wore a black ribbon around her neck and a dark crimson rose tied to her neck along with the golden locket she had had for as long as Christine could remember. She wore the same black velvet dress that Christine had glimpsed her in only a few weeks back. Her own hair was pulled back with a veil over it. Hermione had the same choker and she wore a black dress with larger and longer bell sleeves than Luna. Her dress dragged and was accented by gold and a crimson sash around her waist. Her bushy hair was pulled back into a tame and simple plait. Zabini's arm was around her shoulders and he wore a black collared shirt and slacks himself.

"What…what's wrong?" Christine whispered. Ginny swallowed.

"They're…they're mourning. Someone died."

Christine's eyes widened and she scanned the room. Bella's friends looked at her in shock and Daphne Greengrass looked panicked next to Neville. She seemed to be scanning the room for someone but couldn't find them.

"Where's Malfoy?" Michael Brown suddenly murmured. Gideon gasped and looked at the foursome as they settled down, separated from their friends. Bella's head was bowed and her arm was around Luna's shoulders. Luna leaned on Bella, not saying a word.

"Luna's wearing a black feather. We all knew she liked Malfoy…" Gideon whispered. Christine frowned. As a Muggleborn, she had no idea whatsoever on what was going on or why they were dressed like they were attending a funeral other than the possibility that Malfoy was dead.

Christine opened her mouth to ask when the murmurs and rumors ceased. Dumbledore had stood and everyone looked at him for confirmation.

"There is much I'd like to say to you tonight but first I must acknowledge the loss of a very fine person, who should be sitting there," Dumbledore said, gesturing towards the Gryffindor table. Everyone frowned, automatically assuming the person who had died was a Gryffindor.

"Draco Malfoy was a talented young—"

"Shut up, you old fool."

Everyone stopped and Christine looked up in surprise. Bella was staring at Professor Riddle in shock. His expression was bleak and he seemed upset as well. He was dressed in black but he was always dressed in black anyway. Dumbledore looked at him with slight annoyance and a lot of surprise.

"Tom?" Dumbledore asked. Riddle stood.

"You didn't know him and don't pretend you did. You found him a pain in the arse and I don't believe you're fit to say anything about one of my prodigies. Thus, I'll speak for him. You may sit down," Riddle said, dismissively. There was a steel edge to his voice that made Christine pray that Dumbledore sit down for his own safety. Riddle wasn't to be trifled at that point. Dumbledore sat, promptly and Riddle looked out to the students as a whole.