We woke the next day to sunshine and a light, cool breeze. It was a beautiful day.
"Perfect Quidditch conditions!" Wood said enthusiastically as he sat at the Gryffindor table, loading mine and the rest of the team's plates with scrambled eggs. "Harry, buck up there, you need a decent breakfast"
I looked at Harry to see him staring down the Gryffindor table. He was probably wondering if the new owner of Riddle's diary was right in front our eyes. It was very uneasy not knowing who had stolen from him, after all, only a Gryffindor could have done it, yet no one seems to be the guilty one. No one seems suspicious at all. Hermione, however, keeps bugging him to report the robbery, but Harry didn't want to. I don't blame him to be honest, he'd have to tell a teacher all about the diary and how many people knew why Hagrid had been expelled fifty years ago? I don't blame him for not wanting to be the one who brought it all up again.
"Harry, stop worrying," I whisper, moving closer to his ear. "The thief will slip up at some point and we'll know who it is"
"I can't help it, if that person reads it, they'll know how Hagrid got expelled," he whispered back to me.
I sigh. "The truth would have come out eventually, Harry"
He stayed silent.
As we left the Great Hall with Ron and Hermione to go and collect our Quidditch things, Harry suddenly froze with one foot on the marble staircase.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Hermione asks with concern.
"The voice!" Harry shouted, and me, Ron, and Hermione jumped away from him in alarm. Harry looked over his shoulder. "I just heard it again - didn't you?"
Ron shook his head, wide-eyed, I stared at him blankly and Hermione clapped a hand to her forehead.
"Harry - I think I've just understood something! I've got to go to the library - Bella, come on!"
I look at her surprised. "I can't! I have a Quidditch match, remember?"
Hermione sighs before she sprinted away up the stairs.
"What does she understand?" Harry asked distractedly, still looking around.
"Loads more than I do," Ron said, shaking his head.
"But why's she got to go to the library?" Harry asked again.
"Because she's Hermione and that's what she does," I say.
Ron nods. "When in doubt, go to the library"
I look up the marble staircase where Hermione had just vanished.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" I asked with worry in my voice.
Ron shrugs. "Maybe because you're nervous about the match"
"No, that's not it..."
I had a very bad feeling about Hermione going to the library, and I knew it wasn't because of the nerves. I just didn't like the idea of her being there alone. Which is stupid because she always goes there alone and she's just fine. Maybe I'm just being paranoid because of all the attacks that have been happening...
People were now emerging from the Great Hall behind Harry, talking loudly, exiting through the front doors on their way to the Quidditch pitch.
"You both better get moving," Ron tells us. "It's nearly eleven - the match"
We raced up to the Gryffindor Tower, collected our Nimbus Two Thousand's and joined the large crowd swarming the grounds, but my mind was still in the castle with Hermione alone in the library. Why won't this feeling go away? I pulled on my scarlet robes in the changing room, my only comfort now was that everyone - except Hermione of course - was now outside to watch the game.
The game could wait...Hermione couldn't. I left my Nimbus Two Thousand in the changing room and snuck out away from Wood and ran towards the castle. Once inside, I tried to forget the feeling of being watched and raced up the stairs towards the library.
"Please be all right, Hermione," I said to myself, as I rounded the corner only to freeze in shock.
Hermione lay still on the floor, her eyes wide with fear and holding a small, circular mirror. I cried out in shock and ran towards her.
"Hermione, Hermione, no, wake up!" I shake her gently. "Don't do this to me!"
I looked around, hoping someone would walk past and spot us. I knew what had happened, there had been another attack and this time, Hermione was the victim.
"No, oh god no, why?" I say helplessly. "I'm going to get you help Hermione, even if I have to drag you to the Hospital Wing"
I stand up and walk down her body until I'm in front of her feet. Taking a deep breath, I grab her ankles and start pulling her down the hallway. She's probably going to hate me for doing this, but I'm not strong enough to grab her and there's no one else around, so I have no other choice but to drag her.
"Damn, Hermione, you need to cut out on the cheesecake," I huff, pulling her a little more.
I didn't get far. I heard footsteps behind me and I turned to see Ginny Weasley walking towards me in a dazed way. I didn't care that I hate her right now, she has to help me.
"Ginny! Oh, thank goodness!" I say, breathlessly. "Hermione's been attacked, I need your help getting her to the Hosptial Wing"
Ginny didn't say anything. She just continued to walk towards me, her face pale and her eyes wide.
"Ginny, what are you doing?" I ask, stepping back and protectively in front of Hermione.
She stopped in front of me. "You"
And then it all went black.
*
Meanwhile, back at the Quidditch pitch, the match was about to start but Professor McGonagall came half-marching, half-running across the pitch, carrying an enormous purple megaphone.
Harry felt his heart drop like a stone.
"This match has been cancelled," McGonagall said through the megaphone, addressing the stadium. There were boos and shouts. Wood, looking devastated, landed and ran towards McGonagall without getting off his broomstick.
"But Professor!" he shouted. "We've got to play...the Cup...Gryffindor..."
McGonagall ignored him and continued to shout. "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 waved Harry over to her.
"Potter, I think you'd better come with me..."
What? Harry saw Ron run through the crowd and run up to them as they made they way to the castle. McGonagall didn't stop him.
"Yes, perhaps you'd better come too, Weasley"
Some of the students swarming around them were grumbling about the match being cancelled, other's looked worried and quite frankly, scared. Harry and Ron followed McGonagall up the marble staircase and strangely towards the Hospital Wing.
"This will be a bit of a shock," McGonagall told them. "There's been another attack...a double attack"
Madam Pomfrey was bending over a fifth-year girl with long curly hair. Harry recognised her as the Ravenclaw they'd asked for directions to the Slytherin Common Room. And on the beds next to her was-
"Hermione!" Ron groaned.
"They were found near the library," McGonagall told them. "I don't suppose either of you can explain this? It wss on the floor next to them"
She was holding up a small, circular mirror.
Harry and Ron shook their heads, both of them looking at Hermione.
"I will escort you back to Gryffindor Tower," she said. "I need to address the students in any case"
Harry nudged Ron as they started walking. "Where's Bella?"
"I dunno," Ron shrugged. "I haven't seen her since before the game"
Now Harry was even more worried.