Chapter 121

Time passed relatively peacefully without the attacks and so, the second years were given something new to think about during their Easter holidays other than the threat that had plagued the school over the past half a year. With the end of the second year approaching, the time had come to choose their subjects for the third year, a matter that other than Harry and Ron at least, everyone took very seriously.

"It could affect our whole future. Look at Tom, Adam, Michael, Daphne, and Tracey, all of them are already thinking about what they want to learn next year. Meanwhile you two…" Hermione scolded Harry and Ron as they pored over lists of new subjects, marking them with checks.

"I just want to give up Potions," Harry responded while putting the paper with the subject away.

"We can't do that," Ron said gloomily. "We keep all our old subjects, or I'd've ditched Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Believe it or not, Ron, D.A.D.A will help you tremendously, of course only if our teacher is somewhat decent at teaching and not like Lockhart, but my point stands, D.A.D.A. is not a bad class. I'd rather ditch the history one since that's the only boring class of every year." Thomas jumped to Hermione's defense, explaining to the Weasleys what he might need in the future.

"Damn all of them, Thomas. Harry's right though. I'd give everything to get rid of potion and Defense Against the Dark Arts classes."

"Only a fool would ditch Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts." Daphne sneered at them while berating the two Gryffindor boys to their friends' amusement. "Those are two of the most important subjects in the wizarding world. Potions have more than one usage, something that you should have known if you were to be active in class, while Defense Against the Dark Arts can teach you how to fight against things… or at least that's what it was supposed to do. But considering our professors … I doubt we will even learn something useful from it. So yeah, if your worst comes true, we can always learn how to defend against various creatures. Tom here can help with that, can you?"

When Thomas turned his head, he was dumbstruck to see Daphne giving him puppy eyes, something that he knew he was weak against. It took him only a few seconds before he cursed himself for being weak against her puppy eyes. But she was right, other than him, none of them exactly had any proper combat training that would undoubtedly help them in the future.

"Fine, fine, I'll help you with that but just because we are friends, don't expect me to go easy on you. If you want to learn how to defend yourselves, you have to be willing to work hard and practice a lot. I'm saying this because that's how I was being trained, so sorry in advance."

"At least this will not be the way Lockhart teaches it." Ron smiled when he heard his friend's words. "We haven't learned anything from him except not to set pixies loose in a closed room."

"Anyways…" Hermione paused not quite happy that her friend managed to do something that she wanted to ask for some time now. "What about you Ron? You keep talking but what are you going to pick?"

"Well… you are right Hermione, it's never too early to think about the future, so I was thinking about Divination. People say Muggle Studies is a soft option, but I think wizards should have a thorough understanding of the non-magical community, particularly if they're thinking of working in close contact with them. I mean, look at my father, he has to deal with Muggle business all the time. My brother Charlie was always more of an outdoor type, so he went for Care of Magical Creatures. I think I will choose one of those options. What about the rest of you?"

"I'll go with Muggle Studies since you know that should be pretty easy for me," Michael said right before Adam joined him.

"Same here. I reckon that Divination will be less boring and clearly less dangerous than taking care of creatures."

"I going for Care of Magical Creatures." Daphne gave a short answer while looking at a certain someone with a sly smile on her face.

Hermione gritted her teeth at her before letting out a sigh. "Divination. I'm picking Divination. As my first class, but I'm going to sign to all of them."

That surprised everyone, especially Daphne who thought that her friend might join her, then again dealing with creatures was more of hers and Thomas's area while Hermione was more of the obscure teaching area, something that she had to amid did sound ever so slightly interesting.

"As for me …" Tracey paused for a second. "I'm also going to pick Divination"

Once she said that, they all turned towards Thomas, even Harry who didn't pick anything. "Don't look at me like that. You all know that I'm going with the creatures."

Meanwhile, Harry didn't know what to do. He wasn't particularly good at anything other than Quidditch. But in the end, he chose the same new subjects as Ron, feeling that if he was lousy at them, at least he'd have someone friendly to help him pass this bloody class.

Nevertheless, they didn't spend too much time on this as Harry's next quidditch game quickly came.

"Perfect Quidditch conditions! Nothing like the rainy day the Ravenclaws and the snakes had to play in." Wood said enthusiastically at the Gryffindor table, loading the team's plates with scrambled eggs. "Harry, buck up there, you need a decent breakfast."

Harry had been staring down at the packed Gryffindor table, wondering if his strange dream from last night meant anything. Truth be told as impossible as it seemed, the dream showed him having the diary and losing it to someone from his own house. In the dream, someone stole Riddle's diary that for some reason he had and not Thomas. That's when the dream ended with him going to his friends who for some reason were only Hermione and Ron, while others… they weren't anywhere, almost as if they didn't even befriend them.

"You okay over there, Harry?"

Harry heard Wood calling him, making him break out of his thoughts. "Yeah, sorry… I was just thinking about Thomas's game against the Slytherins and how dumb the Slytherins' tactics were in the game."

As Harry left the Great Hall with Ron and Hermione to go and collect his Quidditch things, another very serious worry was added to Harry's growing list. He had just set foot on the marble staircase when he heard it yet again …

"Kill this time . . . let me rip . . . tear . . ."

Harry shouted aloud and Ron and Hermione both jumped away from him in alarm.

"The voice!" Harry said, looking over his shoulder fearing that whatever just spoke might be coming for him. "I just heard it again … didn't you?"

Ron shook his head, wide-eyed. Hermione, however, clapped a hand to her forehead.

"Harry! I think I've just understood something! I've got to go to the library, Daphne and Tracey should be there!"

And she sprinted away, up the stairs leaving the two boys alone.

"What does she understand?" Harry said distractedly, still looking around, trying to tell where the voice had come from.

"Loads more than I do. Best we don't even try to imagine what she and that snake witch might plot." Ron said, shaking his head while thinking about their poor Ravenclaw friend who for the better or worst was the reason behind these two girls' rivalry.

"But why's she got to go to the library? Don't the Slytherin have any class right now?"

"Beat me if I know mate. Also remember what our geniuses say: When in doubt, go to the library. At least that's what Hermione, Thomas, and the others do. Anyways, you better start moving… the match …"

When he heard Ron's words, Harry raced up to Gryffindor Tower, collected his Nimbus Two Thousand, and joined the large crowd swarming across the grounds, but his mind was still in the castle along with the bodiless voice, and as he pulled on his scarlet robes in the locker room, his only comfort was that everyone was now outside to watch the game.

The teams walked onto the field to tumultuous applause. Oliver Wood took off for a warm-up flight around the goalposts and soon after, Madam Hooch released the balls. The Hufflepuffs, who played in canary yellow, were standing in a huddle, having a last-minute discussion of tactics, something that they might have stolen from the Ravenclaws, who every time they walk on the field, gather for what Thomas call a chivalrous and adaptable meeting.

Harry was just mounting his broom when Professor McGonagall came half marching, half running across the pitch, carrying an enormous purple megaphone. When he saw her looking so uneasy, Harry knew that something happened, especially when he hadn't seen either one of his friends in the stands.

"This match has been canceled," Professor McGonagall called through the megaphone, addressing the packed stadium. There were boos and shouts while Oliver Wood, looking devastated, landed and ran toward Professor McGonagall without getting off his broomstick.

"But, Professor!" he shouted. "We've got to play … the Cup … Gryffindor …"

Professor McGonagall ignored him and continued to shout through her megaphone.

"All students are to make their way back to the House common rooms, where their Heads of Houses will give them further information. As quickly as you can, please!"

Then she lowered the megaphone and beckoned Harry over to her.

"Potter, I think you'd better come with me …"

That didn't sound good at all, making Harry fear the worst.

Wondering how she could possibly suspect him this time, Harry saw Ron detach himself from the complaining crowd before running up to them as they set off toward the castle. To Harry's surprise, Professor McGonagall didn't object.

"Yes, perhaps you'd better come, too, Weasley… Mr. Grayson, Mr. Wood, and Mr. MacKenzie are also being led by Professor Snape."

Harry and Ron followed Professor McGonagall back into the school and up the marble staircase. But they weren't taken to anybody's office this time.

"This will be a bit of a shock," Professor McGonagall spoke in a surprisingly gentle voice as they approached the infirmary. "There has been another attack . . . another quadruple attack."

As soon as she said that, Professor McGonagall pushed the door open and the two boys entered.

The first thing they saw was Madam Pomfrey bending over a sixth-year girl with long, curly hair, and on the beds next to her were…

"Hermione!" Harry exclaimed in disbelief.

Hermione lay utterly still, her eyes open and glassy.

On the beds next to her were Daphne and Tracey, looking exactly like her lying motionless, their eyes wide and blank making Ron gulp before whispering their names too.

"Daphne… Tracey…"

Just as Harry was about to turn towards McGonagall, the door burst open and a really scary-looking Thomas followed by Adam and Michael rushed towards the beds.

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