Barnaby Lee x Reader - Year 6

Another Curse?

A few hours later, Lana was walking past the archway that lead to the courtyard when she saw Snape and Beatrice standing there and looking at something. She decided to approach them and see what was going on, as Snape had called her there earlier in the day after all.

But when she did, she saw a younger boy...frozen like a statue?? Panic set in Lana's heart as she feared the worst.

"He's been petrified." Snape said.

"Like a...statue." Beatrice added worriedly.

"Miss Haywood found him. It appears we have another curse at Hogwarts."

'Shit.' Lana thought worriedly, eyes widened as she stared at the poor student in front of her.

"I got a message that 'Miss Haywood' needed me..." Lana said, thinking back to earlier.

"You assumed Penny." Beatrice said, "No, I told Professor Snape I wanted you to see this. Because you're the best curse-breaker at school. And because I want you to know you were wrong to tell me Hogwarts is safe." she frowned.

"Normally I wouldn't honour such a request but Miss Haywood was understandably upset." Snape said.

"Who knows about this?" Lana questioned.

"Before anyone is told, we need to investigate what there is to tell."

After inspecting the boy's condition more thoroughly, Snape spoke again.

"I suspect this 'statue curse' is connected to the final cursed vault. In which case, finding the vault and breaking the curse would be the only way to save this student."

"Rakepick is already looking for the vault." Lana reminded him.

"Yes I know. I spent my summer searching for Rakepick...to no avail."

"We have to find the next vault before she does."

"Forget Rakepick. Just find the cursed faster this time!" Beatrice said angrily, "You can't let someone stay stuck in a portrait— I mean, stuck as a statue for the whole school year."

"We do have some clues that connect the petrified student to a merperson trident I found in the last vault." Lana said.

"I need to inform Professor Dumbledore and get this student to the Hospital Wing." Snape told the girls.

"I knew this school was doomed. I knew it." Beatrice mumbled.

"Miss Haywood, you'll want to refrain from any talk that alarms the other students—"

Beatrice slowly inched closer to the statue, before speaking sinisterly.

"Everyone should be alarmed. We don't know who's next..."

Lana took one last look at the boy before heading off to bed, preparing herself for the year ahead.

************************************************************************

Lana and her classmates had their first divination lesson the next day. They entered the small, cosy room, and sat in their seats.

"Welcome to divination, my children." Professor Trelawney greeted in her mystical, airy tone, "I am the rarely seen, often talked about, Professor Trelawney. A proud member of the Hogwarts faculty since 1981. So why would each of you elect to study the most challenging and elusive of magical arts..."

"Is she asking us...or does she already know?" Barnaby asked from two tables behind Lana and Tonks, a frown gracing his handsome features.

"I already know your reasons..." Trelawney said.