star shopping ✰ d.m.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Arabella was in quite a good mood as she made her way out to the Quidditch pitch with Seamus and Dean. There had been no attacks, her classes were going well, she had not gotten herself in any trouble, and the weather was amazing. Her content lasted only minutes more, however.

It seemed like they had just taken their seats when Professor McGonagall was making her way towards Arabella with Harry at her side. At the same time Lee Jordan was announcing the cancellation of the Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff match they had come to see, McGonagall was telling Ron and Arabella to come with her. With a confused look towards Seamus and Dean, she got up and followed the professor.

Professor McGonagall was silent until they reached the hospital wing. "I warn you. This could come as a wee bit of a shock," she said. With a pit in her stomach, Arabella continued into the infirmary. When she finally saw what Professor McGonagall had brought them there for, her heart lurched.

She had always known that Hermione was at risk. Salazar Slytherin had created the Chamber of Secrets so that his heir could let out the monster, who would purge the school of Muggle-borns. Hermione was Muggle-born. But Arabella had never for a second considered that Hermione could become one of the victims. So when she saw Hermione lying on the hospital bed looking like a statue, she felt as if the walls were closing in all around her.

"Hermione," Ron and Arabella breathed, both completely shocked by what they saw.

"She was found near the library along with this." Professor McGonagall picked up a mirror from the bedside table. "Does it mean anything to any of you?"

"No," Harry answered, speaking for all of them.

"When did this happen?" Arabella asked, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Just as everyone was leaving for the Quidditch match," Professor McGonagall replied. She was speaking in a softer tone than usual.

After this, Arabella couldn't hold in her sobs anymore. As she leaned into Ron, who had put a comforting arm around her, she couldn't help but feel guilty. She was pure-blood. If she had just been with Hermione, maybe she could have prevented this somehow.

Professor McGonagall escorted the three of them back to Gryffindor Tower. The whole way there, Ron was trying his best to calm his sister down.

"She'll be okay," he kept repeating. "She's only Petrified. I mean, it sucks, but Hagrid says the Mandrakes are almost mature. We'll have her back in no time."

As Professor McGonagall stood before all of Gryffindor, Arabella sat with her siblings and Seamus and Dean. She was still sniffling, but now that she was back in the company of Ginny, she was trying to be strong because of how sensitive the girl was to what was happening.

"Because of recent events," Professor McGonagall announced, taking out a scroll of parchment, "these new rules will be put into effect immediately: all students will return to their House common rooms by 6:00 every evening; all students will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher; no exceptions. I should tell you this: unless the culprit behind these attacks is caught, it is likely the school will be closed."

She left the common room in shocked silence. Everyone was exchanging serious looks and murmuring to each other. Even Harry and Ron. Being reminded of what Hermione had told her just two weeks previously, Arabella got up out of her seat to speak with them.