Amidst The Enclosing Darkness

CHAPTER ONE

_

Trelawney was in the infirmary visiting a sick student. Suddenly, she jerked upright. Her head turned into a rigid mask, as her glazed eyes stared straight ahead. Her mouth opened as an eerie voice, which sounded like it came from the grave, came out of her lips.

"Someone walking in the darkness must never follow the light or she will never see the light of day...within the enclosing darkness, the dark shadow will come knocking on the door. The cursed shall not escape the talons of death, and innocence shall be lost forever, never to return."

Then Trelawney fell on the floor with a faint hiss.

~*~*~*~*~*~

A month passed by...

"Hey, Ron," whispered Seamus, pointing a finger at Goyle's direction. "Look at Goyle over there."

Goyle, who was sitting between two Hufflepuffs, was looking dazed and confused. Seamus and Dean snickered loudly at how funny the Slytherin looked, making snide comments about his appearance.

Ron, who was scribbling notes furiously, took a brief glance towards Goyle, sitting just several seats away from them. To Ron's surprise, he did look like he hadn't slept for days. With his robes dirty and soiled, Goyle looked absolutely Snape-ish, like he was desperately in need of a bath. If he hadn't looked so pitiful, Ron would have laugh out loud.

The Gryffindors were in a special joint Apparating Training class with the other three Houses. Professor Angus Higgins turned out to be a brilliant lecturer; his lecture were incredibly interesting, all of them listened with rapt attention.

Harry and Ron, along with Dean and Seamus, were seated at the back of the class together with the Hufflepuffs. They, like Goyle, had arrived late. Earlier that morning, Hagrid led the students, Gryffindor first, followed by Slytherin then Ravenclaw, with Hufflepuff last, through the middle of the Forbidden Forest, where a glowing igloo-like dome stood. The dome was magically built for training purposes and enabled students and teachers alike to Apparate with ease. It was a common knowledge that nobody could Apparate within Hogwarts' grounds.

Many Ravenclaw and Hufflepuffs were surprised that the Slytherin and Gryffindor group were not sneering at each other like they used to do each year. They had absolutely no idea that the two bitter archrivals had become civil with each other after Snape had them paired in Potions. They were expecting a tussle between the two Houses.

Ernie McMillan, a Hufflepuff, was the most disappointed at the turn of events, as he made a bet of three sickles and one chocolate frog, to Justin Finch-Fletchley, that Draco Malfoy would pick a fight with Harry Potter and that Harry will beat Malfoy, odds of two to one.

~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Why were you late?" asked Hermione.

They were now walking back towards the castle for their next class. Magical Cures for her, and Divination for the rest of them.

"Fred told Ron about a short cut through the Forbidden Forest which turned out to be a big lousy joke," Harry replied bitterly. "Instead, we got lost, and if not for Bane, who pointed us to the right direction, we'd still be lost and trying to find a way out for hours!" Harry glared at Ron furiously.

"Hey, don't look at me. It's all Fred's stupid fault," Ron snapped defensively.

"I'm definitely not going back to that forest if Hagrid is not leading!" declared Seamus loudly. He shuddered. "Thought I was going to be sick."

"Yeah, me too! I'm not taking any stupid short cut again, ever!" swore a still frightened Dean. "It was really creepy."

For a moment, nobody said anything, then Neville suddenly shouted. "Hey, race you all back to the Great Hall. Last one won't get to eat lunch!" He ran ahead, laughing loudly. His laughter echoed around the forest.

They all scrambled into action, running at great speed, finally catching up with Neville. Obviously no one wanted to be the last.

"There's no way I'm doing without lunch!" shouted Ron, who has already passed Neville and was leading the pack. Boisterous laughter ensued.

Draco, who was just several feet behind the group before they took off, walked casually, not least in a hurry.

"Draco?" a hoarse voice called out.

Draco turned around - and to his utter surprise, it was Gregory Goyle. He nearly didn't recognize him. He stared at Goyle's bloodshot eyes, noted the deep black circles around them, looking like he hadn't slept a wink for weeks, his robes unkempt, hair a total mess. In short, he looked like a deranged criminal.

"What's the matter with you? You look horrible!" exclaimed Draco.

Goyle dropped onto the ground and burst into uncontrollable tears, howling like a helpless five-year-old.

Draco sat down next to him and said, "Damn it, Goyle! If you don't want to tell me, tell Dumbledore or Snape. I told you last week, something is definitely wrong. Why didn't you listen to me? You've had nightmares for the last three weeks, YOU SERIOUSLY NEED HELP!"

Goyle immediately stood up, panic written all over his face. Draco stood up quickly too, concerned that Goyle might do something stupid. Goyle gripped Draco's arms painfully, his face clearly terrified. "Draco, help me, help me please. I must hide from them. Don't let them find me. They're evil, she is evil ... no one is safe. She is .."

"Calm down," Draco said. "Talk slowly, you're not making any sense!" He looked at Goyle with pity, truly convinced that he had gone completely insane.

Goyle's eyes suddenly widened with fear and he pushed Draco away from him. "Don't ever trust them or her ... don't be fooled by their appearance!" he warned Draco. In his haste to leave, he stumbled and fell to the ground. He scrambled to get up and ran like he was being chased by the devil. Not looking back, he kept muttering, "They're not going to get me, never!"

Draco remained rooted to the spot, staring at Goyle's retreating figure, clearly saddened by his pathetic state and confused by what he just said. After a few minutes, he realized that if he didn't hurry, he would be late for class. He ran all the way to the castle, not stopping until he reached the Great Hall. In his haste, he bumped to someone as he turned around a corner. "Sorry!!" said Draco. He looked up and was startled to discover the person he had bumped into was the the Headmaster.

"No harm done, Mr. Malfoy," said Dumbledore good naturedly. His eyes twinkled with good humor, appraising the young man in front of him.

Draco wanted to tell him about Goyle, but he hesitated, not knowing what to say. 'I couldn't just say hey, Professor, Goyle has gone stark raving mad! Could I?'

"Professor Dumbledore," called a Gryffindor Head Girl from a distance. She quickly reached Dumbledore's side.

"Yes, Ms. Townsend?" asked Dumbledore to the girl. She whispered something to Dumbledore, there was an urgency in her voice. Dumbledore was about to turn away, when Draco called out.

"Headmaster?"

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore and the Gryffindor Head Girl looked at him expectantly.

"N-n-nothing," Draco lied. "I have to go. I'll be late for my next class." Avoiding Dumbledore's all-knowing-gaze, he quickly darted around a corner, running up a staircase leading to the corridor where Arithmancy Classroom was located. He arrived just in time. Professor Vector was about to enter the room.

"Professor Vector," he called out loudly to the professor.

The witch turned around to see Draco running towards her. "You're late, Mr. Malfoy. I hope you have a good excuse for that."

"I had a talk with the Headmaster," Draco answered. 'It wasn't an outright lie,' he thought.

"Very well," commented Professor Vector. "Go to your seat, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco quickly went inside and took a seat at the back. Placing his books down, he scanned the room looking for Goyle. He was nowhere in sight. A deep frown creased his forehead, feeling oddly disturbed and uneasy. He stared at the doorway, expecting Goyle to enter the room at any minute.

After half an hour passed, Draco couldn't control his impatience, getting extremely worried about Goyle. The feeling of 'Something was not right' continued to nag him. He swore under his breath, "Damn it, Goyle. Where the hell are you?"

He looked once more at the doorway, then glanced at the professor. He suddenly had an idea. He tipped his books on the floor with a loud thud then he let himself fall off his chair with a crash. All eyes turned on him, Professor Vector was immediately on his side.

"Mr. Malfoy, are you alright?"

"I don't feel too good," he mumbled. His pale face now chalky white, his brow covered with sweat. He lay there, holding his stomach, looking like he was in great pain. Professor Vector immediately conjured a stretcher and placed him on it. Within a few minutes, Draco was whisked away into the infirmary.

After Professor Vector left, Madam Pomfrey looked at him with disapproval, clucking her tongue loudly. "As if I don't have my hands full, what with Trelawney still out cold, a dozen sick first years and now this."

"Madam Pomfrey, do you know why Professor Trelawney fainted this morning?" asked Padma Patil, who was seated near the Divination teacher's bedside. "I heard she fainted right here in the infirmary just a month ago. Right?"

Madam Pomfrey went over the spot Padma was sitting, forgetting about Draco. "I really don't have the slightest idea. However, if this fainting spells don't stop, I'm afraid she might slip into a comatose state and remain that way."

Draco seeing Pomfrey absorbed in talking with Padma, quickly slipped out of the infirmary. He ran all the way to Dumbledore's office and nearly collided with Snape.

"Mr. Malfoy!!" exclaimed Snape, in surprise. "What are you doing here? You are supposed to be in Arithmancy Class."

"It's about Goyle," said Draco, looking flushed and slightly out of breath from all that running. "Sir, I need to see the Headmaster," he said, with such urgency that Snape decided not to persist in questioning the boy.

"Very well," said Snape, who stepped sideways allowing Draco to pass.

Draco went inside Dumbledore's office, followed by a suspicious looking Snape. Dumbledore was clearly surprised to see Draco.

"Headmaster, Goyle didn't attend Arithmancy class. Something must have happened to him!" Draco quickly blurted out. "He's been having nightmares for the past three weeks and he hasn't been himself lately. I told him to tell you or Professor Snape, but he wouldn't even listen to me."

"Do you have any idea where he is now?" asked Dumbledore. He motioned to Draco to sit down. Snape shot Draco a suspicious glare, not totally understanding his star pupil's words.

"That's the whole problem," confessed Draco, a frown on his face, as he recall the look of sheer terror on Goyle's face. "This morning, right after our Apparating Training class, he broke down in tears. He wanted to tell me something but it all came out sounding nonsense. He rambled about they and she being evil, he repeatedly kept on saying help him. His rambling didn't make any sense, I wanted to help him but he ran away when he heard someone coming."

"Is that all he said?" asked Dumbledore, his face looking serious.

Snape didn't say anything during this exchange.

"Uh, no ..." said Draco, his eyes narrowed trying to recall what else Goyle had said. "Before he took off, he warned me not to trust them or her. And something like not getting fooled by their appearance. I think those were his exact words, more or less."

Dumbledore's eyes mirrored the concern Draco felt. He remembered the mysterious disappearance of the Weasley twins last year, and he feared that something like that might happen again.

"Severus," Dumbledore looked at Snape. "I want you to search the whole school for Mr. Goyle immediately. Call the Prefects to help you." Snape gave a slight nod and left in a hurry.

Dumbledore then turned to Draco, "Before you assist in searching for Mr. Goyle, I want you to find Hagrid first, tell him to take Fang with him and look for Mr. Goyle in the Forbidden Forest. Thank you, that will be all."

With a curt nod to Dumbledore, Draco left in an instant, feeling relieved that Dumbledore shared his concern over Goyle's bizarre behavior. For the first time, he altered his outlook towards the Headmaster, regarding him with some degree of respect. His father had brainwashed him since he was eleven years old into believing that 'Dumbledore was merely an old imbecile, Muggle-loving, old fool.'

On the way to Hagrid's hut, Draco cursed himself for waiting until today before telling Dumbledore about Goyle. 'I should kick myself for not telling Dumbledore immediately. I just hope he's alright,' he thought fervently.

Snape along with the Prefects and Head Boy and Girl searched the castle thoroughly. Not a sign of Goyle was found. Hagrid on the other hand, brought Fang in the Forbidden Forest to search for the missing boy, since it was the last place he was last seen.

Fang, who was sniffing the trees for traces of Goyle's scent, suddenly became excited. Quick as lightning, Fang ran deep into the Forbidden Forest, with Hagrid in hot pursuit.

"Fang! Did yeh see Goyle? Wha' teh hell is tha'!" Hagrid stopped dead in his tracks, clearly aghast.