HIS CHOSEN GIRL
chapter thirty eight-something as is happening at hogwarts
[Harry's P.O.V]
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"Killllll,"
I jolt up immediately and search the hospital wing for the source of the mysterious voice I've been hearing ever since we've arrived at Hogwarts this year. It concerns me, really, how it seems as though I'm the only one who's able to hear the voices, it makes me question if there even there at all, if they're all in my mind. Though it's hard to tell because my vision is blurry without my glasses, there's seemingly no one else in the hospital wing, no one but me.
I reach over to the table beside me, put on my glasses and lay back on my pillow, staring up at the ceiling. I can't make out anymore words, just what seems to be a kind of growling sound and as I stare up at the roof, it's clear that the sound seems to be coming from above. Although I am exhausted, that information may be faulty.
I feel myself growing anxious so I look away from the ceiling, I instead advert my eyes almost getting a heart attack in the process when I see two giant eyes staring back at me from the end of my bed.
"Hello," says Dobby's extremely cheery voice.
"D-Dobby?" I stutter, hand on my heart as I try to steady my breathing from the fright he had given me just seconds ago.
"Harry Potter should've listened to Dobby. Harry Potter should've gone back home when he missed the train," Dobby whines, cheerful voice gone within seconds.
I stare at him, confused. How on earth could he have possibly known about Ron and I missing the train unless- no.
"It was you," I accuse. "It was you who stopped the barrier from letting Ron and me through,"
Dobby looks down, ashamed. "Indeed, yes, sir,"
"You nearly got Ron and me expelled!" I whisper as to not draw any attention but make my anger extremely clear.
"At least you would be away from here. Harry Potter must go home!" Dobby begs. "Dobby thought his bludger would make Harry Potter see that-"
"Your bludger," I speak to myself as I absorb all of this information in my brain. The person who'd had it out on me this entire month, that really felt as long as about five, has been Dobby. But why? "You made that bludger chase after me?"
"Dobby feels most aggrieved, sir. Dobby had to iron his hands," he holds out his hands weakly and I wince as I see all of the dirty bandages tied around them. I feel sympathy towards the house elf, but only for a quick minute, what he did was still by choice.
"You better clear off before my bones come back, Dobby or I might strangle you," I warn.
Dobby makes a fearful screeching noise and hops off the bed. I climb out as well, staring down at him. Dobby begins retreating slightly the closer I get to him. "Dobby is used to death threats, sir. Dobby gets them five times a day at home."
Because I'm a good person I feel myself growing concerned for the house elf, but I try to let my irritation come through and push my concerns aside, for the time being. "I don't suppose you can tell me why you're trying to kill me?"
"Not kill you, sir," Dobby is quick to correct. "Never kill you. Dobby remembers how it was before Harry Potter triumphed over he who must not be named. We house elves were treated like vermin, sir. Of course, Dobby is still treated like vermin."
Without warning, Dobby bursts into sobs and it's getting harder and harder for me to not care about the little house elf. Dobby calms himself down, blowing his nose into his awful pillowcase, robe like attire, the same one he'd worn when he visited me well over a month ago.
"Ugh," I can't help but cringe in disgust. "Why do you wear that thing, Dobby?"
"This, sir? Tis a mark of the house-elf's enslavement. Dobby can only be freed if his master presents him with clothes," Dobby whips his head when he hears a noise off in the distance, I hear it too, but Dobby gets extremely put off by it. "Listen... listen! Terrible things are about to happen at Hogwarts. Harry Potter must not stay here now that history is about to repeat itself."
"Repeat itself? You mean this has happened before?" I ask bringing my voice down to a whisper, finally getting some useful information.
Dobby gasps. "I shouldn't have said that!" Dobby quickly grabs the Skele-grow and starts smacking himself on the head while scolding himself. Annoyed, I try to calm him down, eventually giving up and grabbing him by his pillowcase.
"Tell me, Dobby. When did this happen before? Who's the one that's doing it now?"
We hear another sound from outside the hospital wing and I look to dobby expectantly, well aware that time is running out.
"Dobby is scared for her, Harry Potter. Scared for her indeed. Had Dobby known that she had such a role in the plot, he would've warned her better."
"Who Dobby?" I beg.
"But now Dobby fears it's too late, she's no longer safe and you must beware of her power," Dobby continues.
"Beware of WHO?"
"The girl with the eyes the color of blood."
Dobby snaps his fingers and disappears into thin air.
Just then the doors of the hospital swing open and I jump back into bed, pretending to be asleep. My mind though has a zero percent chance of going to sleep though. (y/n)? Involved in all of this, no way. She can't be, she may have evil in her genes, but I know for a fact that girl is not evil.
"Put him here," says the urgent voice of Madam Pomfrey.
"What happened?"
That must be McGonagall.
"There's been another attack," I hear Dumbledore say, his tone grim.
I nearly shoot out of bed before I remind myself that I'm supposed to be sleeping, and that if I wake up now they'll now I was faking. Instead, I attempt to steady my anxious breathing as I try to hear more.
"I think, do you know, I think he's been petrified, Madam Pomfrey," says Professor McGonagall shakily.
My eyes widen as I hear the words out of the professor's mouth. Another petrification, and this time of a person? Oh man. My heart catches in my throat for a moment as I try to think back to what time (y/n) left the hospital wing.
"Perhaps he managed to take a picture of his attacker."
As bad as I feel about feeling relieved that it wasn't (y/n) who had been petrified I really do feel reassured. However, that feeling isn't too strong as I make the connection, who else carries around a camera at all times?
Colin Creevey.
"What can this mean, Albus?" McGonagall asks worriedly.
"It means that our students are in great danger," Dumbledore replies.
Though his words are rather dire, he disguises it quite well. His tone remains calming as it always does.
"What should I tell the staff?" McGonagall inquires.
"The truth. Tell them Hogwarts is no longer safe," Dumbledore says. "It is as we feared, Minerva. The chamber of secrets has indeed been opened again."
Now I feel like I need some medical assistance. There's a rock in my throat and a pit in my stomach. Wait, no, that doesn't seem right. I'm so worked up that I can't even think straight. I close my eyes, hoping that this year has just been one horrible dream and that I'll wake up ready to run through the platform with Ron.
Alas, I'm still here. In the hospital wing only a few feet away from a petrified body with my head filled with nothing but worries. Although I'd love nothing more than to ignore the house elf, I can't help but fear Dobby's warning that I stay away from (y/n), that she's, as he says, somehow involved in all of this. What scares me most though, is how a small, small pet of me believes him. After all, the girl that had yelled at me a few hours ago is not the girl that I've come to known. The red that disguises the beautiful (e/c) eyes frightens me. I'm frightened for her.
For now I've got to remain helpless, there's really nothing I could do right now anyways. Come morning I'll meet my friends in the great hall, tell them about Dobby, and come up with a solution.
Until then, I'll lay here. Alone and afraid.
-
I sprinted out of the hospital wing the second I was dismissed. Now, I run towards the great hall in search of my friends. I got no sleep last night after my visit from Dobby, I was so scared that whoever came for Colin would come for me next. Speaking of Colin, I don't think there's a person at Hogwarts who hasn't heard about what happened to him. Hogwarts seems different after the news. I've never seen the school so quiet, so afraid.
When I finally make it to the great hall, I run immediately over to Ron and Hermione, who appear to be in an intense conversation.
"I'm telling you Ron, she never came back last- Harry, you're back!" Hermione exclaims when I drop down onto the bench across from the two of them.
"How are you doing, mate?" Ron asks.
"Fine, thanks," I dismiss. "Where's (y/n)?"
Hermione looks at me concernedly, shaking her head as if she's heard me incorrectly. "We thought she was with you."
I frown, confused. "With me? Why would she be with me?"
"Because last night when she'd gotten back to the dorm from visiting you, she'd told me almost immediately that she had to go back there to apologize to you. Something about having yelled at you as well," Hermione explains, my own concern growing.
"So she left the dorm and didn't come back?" I clarify. "She never came back, my only visitor after she left was Dobby."
"Wait, Dobby the house-elf?" Ron clarifies. "What was he doing here?"
"He told me that he's the one who did all that stuff. Closed the barrier, sent the blusher after me," I fill in my friends.
"But why?" Hermione asks.
I sigh. "He wants me to leave. He says it isn't safe for me. Essentially told me everything he'd told me last time although this time..." I trail off, refusing to finish my sentence.
"What'd he say?" Ron asks.
I look down. "That she's in on it, the girl with eyes the color of blood."
Hermione's eyes widen. "You've seen them too?" I nod my head and she smacks Ron's arm. "Ronald I told you! I told you I'd seen them turn red!"
Ron looks conflicted as he takes his time to respond. "Okay, well, surely there's a logical reason. I mean, listen to the two of you. We're talking about (y/n) here. What exactly are you guys accusing her of?"
I immediately feel guilty from my best friends words, he's right. Of course he's right. How stupid am I to think that (y/n) would have anything to do with the Chamber of Secrets?
As if on cue, I turn my head to see (y/n) walking into the hall with Ginny. At least, I think that's (y/n). Her hair is a mess, she wears the same clothes that she did yesterday when she visited me in the common room. I can see from here how tired her eyes are and she limps when she walks. Ginny doesn't look much better. She's shaking and she looks extremely on edge.
"Guys, look," I tell Ron and Hermione.
(y/n) takes Ginny's hand and pulls her over to the Gryffindor table. They seat a relatively far distance from the three of us. The two of them talk for a good minute, constantly looking around themselves suspiciously until (y/n) finally stands up.
"What on earth is that about?" Hermione asks to no one in particular.
"Dunno," I respond.
"Well quick, start talking about something, we don't want it to be obvious that we'd been watching her," Hermione demands.
The three of us begin recapping the recent Quidditch match as (y/n) makes her way over to our group.
"Hey guys," she says weakly, taking the open spot beside me.
"What are we talking about?"
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