𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆 - 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐨𝐲 (𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟑)

10 - Cursed Necklace

November 25th

We'd been struck with an early snowstorm; just enough to make it magical but too little to cause any damage. Draco and I had come to an agreement; we could be together, but only during classes; after class he had to do his strange task things I'd follow him to sometimes. I had told Harry, Ron and Hermione, and we were to alert the order during Christmas time, despite the fact that I had no idea what he was doing.

Even though Draco and I had made up, I could tell he wasn't being completely honest with me; and I don't mean hiding me from the tasks. I mean mentally. I could tell he was so much more lost than he forced himself to seem.

Hermione, Ron, Harry and I all walked to Hogsmeade. We'd decided to get some butterbeer at The Three Broomsticks. "For weeks you carry around this book, practically sleep with it, yet you have no desire to find out who the Half Blood Prince is," Hermione scoffed. "I didn't say I wasn't curious, and I do not sleep with it," Harry said defensively. "You totally do, I wouldn't be surprised," I giggled.

"Well I was curious, so I went to-" "the library," the three of us cut her off. "And?" Harry asked. "And nothing, there's no record of a Half Blood Prince," she huffed in aggravation. We walked into the restaurant, sitting down at a table. Ginny and Dean were at a booth on the other side of the room. "Anything to drink?" the waiter asked as we sat down. "Four butterbeers please," Hermione answered.

That's when I spotted Draco. I gave him a small smile before he went up the stairs, but he barely even acknowledged me. "I didn't like that," Harry mumbled, seeing Draco's reaction. "He's so off and on with me lately, I don't know what to do," I sighed. "I don't trust him," Harry whispered to me. "I know."

"Oh bloody hell, slick git," Ron sneered, finally having spotted Ginny on her date. "Honestly Ronald they're only holding hands," Hermione rolled her eyes. "And snogging," I smirked as they all followed my gaze. "I'd like to leave," Ron said, as our butterbeers were served. "Are you serious?" Hermione scoffed. "That happens to be my sister," "So what? If she looked over here and saw me snogging you would you expect her to get up and leave?" Hermione sneered. The tension between the two was impeccable. This was better than muggle television.

Suddenly Harry began to speak with Professor Slughorn. Ron and Hermione looked at each other confusedly. I tuned back in to their conversation. "Yes well back in the old days I used to hold an occasional dinner party, with a select few students of course, would you be game?" he asked Harry. "Well, I'd consider it an honor, sir," Harry said.

"You'd be welcome too Caroline, along with Miss Granger of course," Slughorn smiled. "We'd be delighted Sir," I smiled politely at him. "Wonderful, look for my owl! Good to see you," Slughorn walked away after having forgotten Ron's name.

"What was that all about?" Ron scoffed. "Dumbledore's asked me to get to know him," Harry sat back down. "Get to know him??" Ron asked. "I don't know, it must be important. If it wasn't Dumbledore I would ask," Harry sipped his butterbeer. "You've got a bit of, um," Ron pointed to Hermione's top lip which was now covered in foam. "Oh," she quickly wiped it off.

After we finished our butterbeers, we began to walk back to the castle. "Why was Draco going upstairs?" Harry asked. "I'm not sure, it's just some office room or something," I shrugged. "Maybe it has to do with one of the tasks he's been-" Harry's sentence was cut off by a blood curdling scream. We slowly walked towards the two girls in confusion. Katie lay crumpled in the snow, the other girl yelling, "I warned her, I warned her not to touch it," she cried. Katie's body began to thrash, her body flying high into the air before rocketing back into the ground, hard.

I grabbed Harry's arm, all of us standing in shock. "Everybody back!!" Hagrid yelled, running up to Katie's limp body. We all crouched around the item she'd been carrying; it was a jade necklace wrapped in brown parchment paper. "Don't touch that, except for the wrappins'," Hagrid commanded.

"Follow me, all of you, immediately," Hagrid picked Katie up, instructing us to follow him back to the castle. "Wingardium Leviosa," I waved my wand, bringing the necklace with us while staying as far away from it as possible. "Straight to McGonagall's office you five," Hagrid instructed, turning to walk Katie to the hospital wing. The other girl came with us as we entered. "Is that it?" McGonagall asked, as it hovered in the air. "Yeah," I answered softly. "Place it here," she motioned to an empty desk, as I placed it down on top of it.

"You're sure Katie did not have this in her possession when she entered The Three Broomsticks?" McGonagall asked the girl. "Like I said, she went upstairs, then came back down with the package. Said it was important she deliver it," she spoke, a bit of uncertainty in her voice. "Did Katie say to whom this package should be delivered to?" McGonagall asked. "Professor Dumbledore," she answered quietly. "Very well, thank you Lianne, you may go," she sighed.

"Why is it, that when something happens, it is always you four?" she asked. "Trust me Professor, I've been asking myself the same question for six years," Ron mumbled. Snape entered the room, his wand in hand. "Oh Severus, what do you think?" McGonagall asked as he examined the necklace with his wand. "I think Miss Bell is lucky to be alive," he exclaimed slowly.

"She was cursed, wasn't she?" Harry asked. "Yes, she was cursed," she sighed. "It was Malfoy," Harry said confidently. Great. "That is a very serious accusation to make, Mr. Potter," McGonagall scolded. "Indeed. Your evidence?" Snape hissed. "He was upstairs while Katie was, I saw him walk up before her," I blurted. Snape looked at me curiously. "And he's been sneaking around in the room of requirement," I added. "To snitch on your own boyfriend is quite the act, Miss Bellegreen," Snape criticized.

"Just because he's my boyfriend doesn't mean I won't do what's right, Professor Snape," I said strictly towards him. I'd probably earn myself a detention, but I didn't care. I couldn't help but notice a small smirk on Professor McGonagall's face as I said that; she knew me too well. "I suggest you go back to your dormitories, all of you," McGonagall waved us off.