68: The writing on the wall

(Beatris POV)

Hagrid walked us to the castle door and then left. We moved both the first years to the hospital wing. Considering the strength in my body I would not have been able to lift a kid half my age not to mention an eleven years old but this kid was unusually light. It was almost as if she was weightless. She was weak and frail but I did not consider that she would be this light weighted.

"OW, THAT FUCKING HURT YOU BARBARIAN."

"Language, please. And who you calling a barbarian."

We heard sounds coming from inside the hospital wing.

"Hey, Beatris what do you think is going in there. Isn't the hospital supposed to be a quiet place?" Hermione whispered near my ear in a timid manner.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH" We heard someone screaming in agony. The voice was awfully familiar.

"It is not supposed to be like this." I was having second thoughts about going inside.

"UMMMM you know what I feel fine now. I do not think that I need to visit the hospital." I heard A trembling voice from my back.

(I guess anyone would be scared.)

"YOU DAMN BARBARIAN, I TOO AM A HUMAN."

"And that is the reason why I am trying to heal you."

We heard more horrific noises from the hospital wing.

"I think that it's better that we leave." Hermione was starting to look pale.

"Yeah, I think so too." And I had to agree with her.

"What are you four doing here." We heard a voice from behind and all of us jumped.

"WE DID NOT DO ANYTHING PLEASE SPARE US. I PROMISE WE WILL NOT COME BACK HERE." Hermione started to shout.

"No one is going to do anything to you young lady. For god's sake, this is the hospital, not a prosecution chamber." The lady said being surprised by her sudden outburst.

"M-M-MADAM POMFREY." I said in a loud voice.

"Yes! Who else." She said

"We are so glad to see you here. You see.... Ummmm..... How should I put it." Hermione tried to explain the situation to her.

"Yes yes speak lady I do not have much time."

"Ummmm you see." She tried to talk again but for some reason, she still could not find appropriate words.

"There are weird noises coming from inside." So instead of her, Anna completed the sentence.

"What do you mean by weird noises." Madam seemed confused. So it meant that this was not normal.

"Weird and scary noises." I tried to describe it better.

"I do not hear anyth....."

"NOT THERE NOT THAT ONE...….. AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH" another sound came.

"THOSE SOUNDS."

"THOSE SOUNDS."

"THOSE SOUNDS."

The three of us said in a union.

"Ahhhh" She smacked her face in frustration. "It must be those two again." Her voice was low.

"Those two?"

"Those two?"

"Those two?"

The three of us asked again in a union.

"Just come along." She shook her head in frustration and opened the door lightly. The door slid without a sound and we all walked in.

There was a duo sitting there. Ana and Nathan. They were talking leisurely. Well, Ana was talking leisurely and Nathan was screaming as she supposedly pressed against his wounds while pretending to treat him. He had various cuts on his body. It seemed as if he had been beaten by someone with a blade.

Upon looking at that scene, my mind immediately went back to.

(So did this happen when they were both in the field. That means that he was really being trained by Ana in sword arts.)

"Look, you are all better now."

"Better my ass. You tortured me and...…. AAAAAHHH"

(I have never seen Nathan act this way. Is he really talking normally? I mean that's not normal but considering the way, he usually talks this is more normal than anything. I never knew he...….)

I was deep in thought when the both of them noticed us.

Nathan was laying on the bed ... while just wearing his pant.

(W-W-W-W-W-W-W-W-WHY IS HE NAKED.)

It was my first time seeing a boy without a shirt.

His body was chiseled. Muscular but slender. I only caught a glimpse of him when he noticed. I had never in my life seen someone move as fast as Nathan did at that time. One moment he was in the bed his shirt off and the next moment he was not.

"Since my treatment is over I will be leaving." I heard his voice coming from behind a curtain. His silhouette was visible from across the curtain. I saw as he wore his shirt. Then he collected his hair and tied them up in a ponytail loosely that rested on his left shoulder. His usual style. It was the first time I had seen him like this and for some reason it was mesmerizing.

"I see someone has a dirty mind." I heard an annoying voice near my ear.

"WHA---- what are you talking about. Who has a dirty mind? I was definitely not looking at him." I panicked and a lot of stuff that should not have, left the premises called my mouth.

"Ohhhhhhh." With a smug grin, Hermione placed a hand on her lips. "does not seem like that to me."

At that time I imagined that my face would have become beet red because it was emitting heat like a kiln.

But she became quiet as Nathan walked out from behind the curtain. He simply ignored us and walked past.

(For the first time in my life I am relieved that he ignored me)

He simply walked out slowly without looking back even once.

"Someone's disappointed." I heard Hermione's teasing voice.

"No, I AM NOT DISAPPOINTED." I stomped my feet. "What is wrong with you. Why would I be disappointed anyway." I looked at the door once again before turning my face towards Hermione again.

(is it just me or were there...)

"Hey Hermione, did you see his body." I asked seriously.

"Why would I. I am not a pervert like you." She pulled her face away from me like she was avoiding a dirty sock.

"YOU. THAT WAS NOT WHAT I MENT." My face started to burn with embarrassment again.

"Then what is it that you meant." Her smug face was really getting on my nerves right now.

"Did you see his body or not just tell me." I asked…. annoyed.

She started fidgeting with her fingers as she said. "I did see a little bit."

(AAAHHHAAA. And she was calling me a per...…. No no no that is not what's important.)

"Did you see those scars on his body?" I asked in a whisper.

"Scars? No, I did not see any."

"What? really?"

"Well you were in front of me so you might have had a better view but I did not see anything like that."

(I must be hallucinating. But...… Nevermind)

"How many times will I have to tell you that again." Madam Pomfrey was scolding Ana who probably was not listening.

"It's not a big deal. I know what I am doing. And it was not that bad. He was overreacting." Ana pouted.

"That is not the...… I can't convince you can I?" She literally gave up.

"No, you can't. TE HE" Ana stick out her tongue a little.

"Huh..... What am I going to do? I have to tell you if not for your talent in healing I would never have allowed you to step foot in here, after your brother came to Hogwarts." She turned and talked while arranging various bottles on shelves. Then she turned towards us. "So what brings you four here."

"Oh, I am sorry we brought these two." I hurriedly spoke. Throughout everything that had happened, the two of them had stood there without uttering a single word.

"What happened to the two of you." Ana spoke before anyone else.

"Some mean bullies tried to hurt Gus but I made sure to protect him." Anna puffed her chest.

"What?." Hearing that the atmosphere around Ana changed completely. Moments ago she was all jolly and mischievous but then as if those words had triggered something, she became all serious and scary. "Who was bullying you."

"let me explain." Hermione stepped forward.

(Thank the Gods Hermione that you are here. Half the time I would have been frozen with nervousness and the other half with fear.)

She quickly explained the situation to her. After hearing Hermione Ana turned towards Aug and Anna.

"Why did you guys not tell me about it. You know you can come to me any time."

"Yes, but I thought that you would be busy."

Aug also moved his hands. He was probably saying something but I could not understand as I did not know sign language.

"No Aug. That is not going to happen a second time. Someone bullies you, you come to me."

He probably tried to argue in sign language.

"NO." But she cut him short. "You will tell me or Nathan or any of the people here. Are we clear?" She did not give them any room for negotiation and they could only nod their heads in defeat. "Good!" And the atmosphere around her changed once again. "Now shall we get to your treatment?" She picked up Aug and laid him on one of the beds.

"Let's stay here till Ana is done." I heard Hermione speak.

"Yeah, lets..... NO, I can't stay." I suddenly remembered. "I have detention with Lockhart. Sorry need to skedaddle." I waved at them as I ran towards his office.

-------------------------

(How much time has it been. I do not know. I have never been more afraid. I have never been more tired. I have never been tormented this much. I would even be willing to go back to London if it means stopping this torture. Someone please help me.)

"What could be a better way to spend your detention than to help me answer my fan mail. Aren't you thrilled Beatris?"

"Hmm... Yes, professor."

(That's a lie. I am a liar.)

I had been in this very room for the past God knows how many hours helping professor Gilderoy answer his so-called fan mails. It was bad at first. And as the time passed it became worse. I was in so much pain and agony that it was indescribable. And that idiot of a professor thought that I was having fun.

It was then that I heard it for the first time.

"Come... come to me...….. let me rip you...… let me tear you...… let me kill you."

I immediately jumped up. "What?"

"I know. Six whole months on top of the best sellers list. Broke all records." I turned to look at him.

(Has he finally lost it.?)

The voice was chilling to the core. I felt a chill run down even in my bone marrows. A voice filled with hatred. Cold as the coldest Siberian tundra and toxic as the deadliest venom.

"Did you not hear the voice just now sir." I looked at him with concern.

"Voice...….. what voice." He looked back at me with a puzzled expression.

"The voice that...…. You didn't hear it, sir." I was horrified at the idea that I was hearing such voices and only I was hearing such voices.

"I don't know what you are talking about." He was still confused.

"Did you really not hear it, sir." I still tried to confirm.

"Seems to me that you are getting all drowsy. Great Scott….. look at the time. We have been here for nearly four hours. Time sure flies when you are having fun eeh Beatris." He nudged at me but my mind was elsewhere.

Absentmindedly I gathered all my stuff and left his room. My mind was still thinking about the voice that I hear.

(Was it really just my imagination.)

But deep down I knew that it was not my imagination. It could not have been. It was way too cold and way too real.

"Beatris."

"AAAHHH" I screamed.

"AAAHHHH" Hermione screamed as well.

"AAAAHHH WHAT HAPPENED. DON'T HURT ME." Ron went a step further.

"You ...…. You..... scared me. Both of you." My heart was beating like a drum.

"WE SCARED YOU?" Hermione almost screamed at me.

"Why did you scream." I asked still angry at them.

"Why did you scream." She threw the question back at me.

"You scared me." I answered.

"Well, we screamed because you screamed." Ron poked a finger in his nose.

"Whatever that is not the problem here." Hermione shook her head. "Where have you been. It's so late. We were worried about you." She scolded me.

"Not my fault. Gilderoy was having way too much fun answering his fan mail with me." I rolled my eyes as we walked back. "That's that but do you have anything to eat" I placed a hand on my stomach. "I haven't eaten...….."

"Let me kill you..... Come to me...….. Kill...… kill."

It was then that the sound came again. The same bone-chilling voice and the same phrases. Hearing that my body immediately froze.

"D-D-D-Did you guys hear that." I trembled.

"Hear what." Ron spoke nonchalantly.

"The voice." I pressured.

"What voice Beatris." Hermine asked.

"You guys can't hear it."

"Kill...…. Kill... Kill....."

"That voice." I said as the voice echoed again.

"We don't hear anything."

I looked around for the source of the sound but there was no one in sight but the three of us. No one alive or dead. So then where was the voice coming from?

"So Hungry...... for so long...…."

I looked at the wall nearest to me.

"Rip... tear...…. Kill."

"It's coming from inside the walls." I whispered.

"What's coming from inside the walls." Ron said trying to listen as well.

"will you shut up for a minute?" I spoke.... Annoyed.

"Kill...…. Time to kill." The sound was getting fainter. It was moving away. Was it some kind of phantom? I looked up but there was nothing.

I began to chase the sound.

"Beatris where are you going." Both of them started to follow.

"It's the sound." I said.

"What sound." Both of them shouted.

"SSSHHHH" I shushed them. I needed to concentrate if I wanted to find the source of the sound.

"Blood...….. I smell blood.... I SMELL BLOOD."

"Guys come quick. It's going to kill someone." I shouted ignoring Both their bewildered faces and ran after the sound.

Without even stopping to take a breath I ran up the marble staircase. I was not even looking behind to see if the two of them were following me or not.

"Kill... rip...….. tear."

The sound was getting fainter and fainter. And then it disappeared as I turned around a corner.

"There is nothing here." I was shocked beyond reason.

"What happened. *PANT* Beatris." Both of them were behind me and now they were panting like crazy.

"There is no one here. I am sure that I heard a sound."

"Well not like there is not anyone here except us." Ron spoke. "Look there." He pointed.

I followed his finger and there were two persons coming from the other edge of the corridor. Two people I had not imagined to see there.

"What are you doing here." I asked bewildered.

"I don't know. It was Gus. He suddenly started to act all weird." The two kids in front of us were none other than Anna and Aug.

Upon hearing her explanation Ron asked. "Weird? How?"

He might not get it but I understood. "You heard it too right?" I looked at Aug and he simply nodded.

"Heard what. We did not hear any ....."

*GASP*

Our conversation was interrupted by Hermione's scared gasp.

"What happened." I looked at her and she simply pointed towards the wall.

We all looked where she had pointed to and the first thought that came to my mind was that

( how the hell did we miss this)

There was something shiny on the wall. Maybe we had missed it due to the low light. But now that we squinted our eyes and focused, it was clearly visible. A writing. A writing done with blood that read

THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED.

ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE.

What's that thing - hanging underneath?" said Ron, a slight quiver in his voice.

As we edged nearer, I almost slipped. There was a large puddle of water on the floor. Ron and Hermione grabbed me.

"Careful," she said.

We inched toward the message, eyes fixed on a dark shadow beneath it. It took us but a minute to realize what it was, and we leaped backward with a splash.

Mrs. Norris, the caretaker's cat, was hanging by her tail from the torch bracket. She was stiff as a board, her eyes wide and staring.

We could not move for a few seconds and then Anna broke the silence.

"It's hurt. We should help it."

But Ron said, "Help! Let's get out of here."

"Shouldn't we try and help" I was with Anna on this.

"Trust me," said Ron. "We don't want to be found here."

"What are all of you doing here." But it was already too late. Someone had found us.

We all turned towards the source of the sound and out of the shadows came a person. She was walking slowly towards us. It was Anastasia Morningstar and she looked pissed.