CHAPTER NINETEEN: Panicking Gets us Nowhere
Laughter was caught in our throats as I chewed on an ice cube.
The deer antlers on the back wall over the fireplace had spring garlands hung off them like a fishing line. On the other side of the bar, Draco sat with Blaise, the two of them looking absolutely terrified as they read a letter between them.
Looking over at them, they two of them tried to appear calm however the way they hunched over the bleached parchment and left their drinks to go cold – to them whatever was written was more important than a daily family update.
"Harry stop being a dolly daydream and live a little." Hadleigh smiled, throwing a grape in his face.
He looked up at her sharply," Well I'm sorry if I seem a little distracted lately."
"No need to snap," She rolled her eyes," I'm not even a hundred yards from you."
I cleared my throat," Well at least this will be over before school ends, it'll be nice to have a couple of calm weeks."
"Calm before the storm," Hadleigh muttered into her cup.
Casually, I kicked her in the shin; the two of us having a silent convocation across the desks.
"So, how are we all doing?" Hermione asked awkwardly," Celyn, how's you and Seamus?"
I nodded," Good I guess, not sure what we are right now but we'll see."
"Well you could start with his birthday," Hadleigh smirked.
"September 12th" I smirked," Come at me."
Ron looked between us," You two are strange."
"Strangely Amazing," Hadleigh smirked as we looped out pinkie fingers together.
Ron nodded slowly," Ok? Harry, are you ready for the 24th?"
"I guess." Harry's sharp gaze relaxed.
"Are there any hints to what he could be?" Hermione asked, giving me a side look.
"Moody said something about it being held at the Quidditch Pitch, he got annoyed as they were planting something wrong."
I bit the inside of my cheek, why couldn't Harry just listen to me, just once.
"Right, Moody," I mumbled, not looking up from my cup.
Harry looked at me," Not every teacher is going to try and kill us."
"Are we going to ignore that fact that, that is something we actually bloody consider?" Ron.
Hermione shrugged," Better safe than sorry."
"Better alive than dead," I mumbled, crunching down on another cube of ice.
Leaving a tip on the table, Hadleigh and I walked together as the trio walked in a line. In front of Dogweed and Deathcap, Neville stood with Seamus and Dean a new plant in his hand as the boys ate the sweets from their bags.
As I passed with Hadleigh, I gave the three of them a wave, earning a bubble gum smile from Dean, the gum clinging to his teeth.
"Very classy," I called with a laugh.
Hadleigh had a similar smile on her face as she pulled me down the street by the crook of my arm.
We followed the winding paths pack to the school, on the opposite path was the carriages ferrying people back with so many bags you couldn't even count them.
Carrying Hadleigh on my back, she had one arm around my shoulders as the other waved around in the air. She was a peculiar one Hadleigh, she didn't care what people thought of her or the implications of her words; everyone deserves a friend like Hadleigh who make life interesting with there loud embarrassing ways.
As we reached the rickety bridge, Harry and Cedric shared a look as they walked past each other. Neither of them had a clue what was coming and for once both parties were in the dark about the last task.
"I'm going to go study," Hermione informed us.
Ron looked at her, "What are you studying for? we don't have any official exams."
"Just because we don't have official exams, we still have exams at the end of each year covering everything we have learned this year and previous years." Hermione sighed.
Hadleigh shrugged," What the hell, sure I'll come."
"I'll pick up Drizella then meet you there?"
Hermione nodded," If we are not then we are on the Quad."
"Which one?" I asked," The one by the willow or the one with the fountain?"
"Grassy one." Hermione clarified," Ron you coming?"
He nodded, "Sure, and erm, Harry what about you?"
Harry looked at each of us in the face," I'm just going to walk around for a bit, maybe go to the owlery to see if Snuffles has replied concerning Crouch."
"We can take the short cut through the tapestry corridor." I suggested," It takes us around the castle to the back where the owlery is, then it connects to another set of stairs that goes up to the floor of the Ravenclaw staircase."
"Yeah, we found that after –"
"You stole Gillyweed for me," Harry mumbled.
Hadleigh and I nodded," Pretty much."
The library was full of fifth and seventh years as they crammed for the up and coming exam week. Adrian sat with Jack and a few others from their own years as they quizzed each other of the syllabus. Adrian cast perfect spells each time making the chairs dance or a small ball of light appear.
I left the three of them there as Harry and I broke off from the group so he could go and do what every Harry Potter does.
By now, we knew the directions to the Tapestry corridor and I have fully convinced myself the paintings didn't like us at all. From the corner of my eye, I couldn't help but notice how Harry kept his head down, under his eyes were light dark circles evidence that he hasn't been sleeping well.
"What's up sugar plum?" I asked.
He shrugged.
"Come on, it hard to dislike you when you mope around," I spoke, giving a half-smile.
Harry looked up at me," You still hate me."
"I don't hate anyone, I just dislike people until they give me a reason why I shouldn't." I shrugged," Still what's up with you?"
"Dream." He sighed.
I smirked, "What kinda dreams? The –"
"Get your head out of the gutter." He snapped.
"No fun, but continue." I sighed.
Harry gave me a sideways glance," I am in this graveyard, with this stone grim reaper behind me and in the middle, there is a cauldron in the middle but the fire hasn't been lit yet."
"A Graveyard." I mumbled," huh?"
"Yeah, then another night, I'll be in the house." Harry continued," Wormtail is there, with another man who is wearing a pocket watch and a purple waistcoat."
I pursed my lips in anger," interesting."
"What do you think it means?"
I shrugged," Dreams like that, take them a seriously as possible."
"Dreams don't mean anything."
"Maybe for Muggles, Harry, but you are not a Muggle." I pointed out," It's not like your dreaming of a dentist or that horrible feeling when you wake up falling."
Harry nodded as we turned the corner that went passed Snape's storeroom; at the end of this corridor was the exit door as well as the secondary staircase up to the floor I needed.
"It's happening again, like before, and soon neither you nor anyone else will be able to deny it. You don't fool me, Severus. You are scared. Admit it."
Harry and I shared a look as we heard Karkaroff's voice from close by; together we approached the door that was mostly closed however was left open by an inch. Violently pulling the door open, the Durmstang Professor stood there with his left arm sleeve rolled up to his elbow. On the skin was the Dark Mark, the ink was bright on his skin.
That's not good, I cringed as the snake moved gently.
The Professor yanked his sleeve down, his lip pulled back as he looked at Harry then back at Snape, taking the opportunity he pushed passed up and ran stormed down the corridor.
Just as quickly, Harry tried to continue walking not wanting a confrontation with our potions Professor.
"Potter! What's your hurry?" Snapes voiced called out, stopping us in our tracks.
Turning back around, Professor Snape beckoned us back towards the open door of his ingredients cupboard.
"Your performance in the Black Last month was nothing but inspiring. Gillyweed, am I correct?" Snape drawled, his right hand holding the cupboard open.
Harry at me then nodded, "Yes sir."
Climbing up the ladder, Snape's eyes ran across the shelves until he found what he was looking for. With a heavy footing, he climbed back down the ladder, a small bottle in his hand.
It was green in colour hiding the colour of the liquid, the bottle was designed to look like two bubbles that had been joined together. The bottle or the lid didn't contain a label but with some simple deductions about potions that are potent in small amounts, it was difficult to guess what it could be... As long as you paid attention in class.
"Ingenious. A rather rare herb Gillyweed, not something found in your everyday garden," Snape glances at me whilst I looked around aimlessly to avoid eye contact," Nor is this, know what it is?"
Harry shuck his head," Bubble Juice, sir?"
Snape looked at me," Fancy a guess, Miss Longbottom? If I remember correctly you are good at guessing things from bottles."
I rolled my eyes subtly," Veritaserum, it compels the drinker to tell the truth, though isn't liable in court, three drops or less will make you spill your innermost secrets, even ones you didn't know you had."
Professor Snape gave a small nod, "Three drops of this and you-know-who himself will spill his darkest secrets. The use of this on a student is regrettably forbidden, however, should you ever steal from my personal stores again, my hand might just slip over your morning pumpkin juice."
Harry looked at him wide-eyed," I haven't stolen anything."
"Strictly speaking, it was me." I lifted my hand a little," But, you already know that."
He glared at Harry, looking at him from down his pointed nose," Thank you for your honestly Miss Longbottom however, Gillyweed might be innocuous, but boomslang skin, lace wingflies, You and your friends are brewing Polyjuice potion again and believe me I'm going to find out why."
When the door slammed, Harry and I stood there for a second.
"What was on his arm?"
"A dark mark." My voiced shacked," and it should never be that vibrant, not anymore."
Harry looked confused, "What does it do?"
"It was used by Him so he could summon his followers from every continent even to the tiniest islands."
"This is bad isn't it?"
"Yes, but we can't panic about the inevitable, I learned that a while ago." I sighed," Be careful Harry, nothing Good will come of Sunday's events."