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.

Blaise raises an eyebrow at me "are you still worried about your brother?"

I nod as I 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?"

Blaise 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 let's go to dinner, maybe Harry is already there and you can talk to him." Blaise stands up walking from the common room in that fast way that he does. I walk beside him playing with my hair nervously, my thoughts run wild as I imagine Harry chained up in the dungeons of the castle.

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

I look over towards the Gryffindors looking 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.

I let out a sigh and walk over awkwardly trying to avoid the curious gazes that follow me.

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's 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 "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 "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 widely 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 wrap my arms tightly around his neck squeezing tightly.

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

"Are you okay?" I pull his head up looking over 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.

"I'm fine!" He bats my hands away and stares at me bewildered "what is wrong with you?"

"Ron said McGonagall used a wood against you? What does that mean? Did she hit you?"