The Last Riddle

5. Flying and falling

Blaise looks sideways at me as I shift in my chair in the common room, all day I've felt on edge and uncomfortable.

He raises a shaped eyebrow at me "are you still worried about your brother?"

I nod and slowly close the book in front of me "what if they locked him in the dungeon Blaise?" I look at him terrified "or what if they have some sort of whip or cane they use on bad students?"

He gently puts his hand on my shoulder "they don't use any punishment like that here anymore Angelica. You're letting your imagination cloud your judgement. He probably just got detention nothing more."

I sigh and nod my head.

"Come on" he stands up and holds his hand out to me "let's go to the hall for dinner. You never know maybe Harry is already there with the Longbum boy."

I laugh "you know it's Longbottom."

Blaise smirks at me as we walk from the common room "well I got you to smile at least so that's a win in my eyes."

We walk into the hall together side by side and Blaise offers me an encouraging smile before heading off to the Slytherin table.

I stand still in the doorway and look over towards the Gryffindors searching for Harry, I scan the table back and forth.

My eyes land on the back of a ginger head of hair that I know can only belong to a Weasley. Thankfully it's just the Weasley that I need.

I let out a sigh and walk over quickly trying to avoid the curious gazes that follow me as I head to the Gryffindor table.

Ron is sat with a group of other first years around him and he's talking loudly to them "can you believe it? He didn't get in trouble or anything, instead he has been rewarded really!"

I tap Ron on the shoulder and wait for him to turn around, as he does he smiles widely at me and his eyes light up.

"Hey Angelica!"

"Hi Ron" I give him a small smile and ignore the glares from the others around him "do you know where Harry is?"

Ron laughs "he's with Wood. Slimy bugger."

"Huh?" I raise my eyebrows and shake my head slightly "what are you talking about?"

Ron laughs again his face pink with glee "didn't you hear?"

"No, not a word. Is he in trouble?"

"Ha! Hardly! Can you believe it? McGonagall got him and took him straight to Wood. That's where he still is."

I resist rolling my eyes at the spirited ginger boy and offer him a stern look instead.

"Ron who or what the hell is Wood? Can you just tell me what's happened, I've been losing my mind all day over this."

"Oh Merlin, I'm sorry!" He smiles goofily and points to the entrance "look there he is now, I'll let him tell you himself!"

I turn quickly to see my brother walking towards me, his head is down and his shoulders are slumped forward.

"Harry!" I run towards him quickly my heart banging in my chest. Why isn't he looking up? Is he covered in bruises and cuts?

I reach him and throw myself into him. I wrap my arms tightly around his neck squeezing him and breathing in his scent. He doesn't smell like blood at least, instead he smells like grass, mud and sweat.

"Hmhp Ang?" He stumbles backwards his breath knocked out of his body. "What are you doing?"he steps back pulling out of my grip.

"Are you okay?" I pull his head up forcefully and lookover his skin and into his green eyes. I scan my eyes across every inch of his face and then start reaching for his collar to look down his back.