Amidst The Enclosing Darkness

CHAPTER TWO

Fiery fires burn,
Smoldering ash,
within the air.

Blackened bones,
Broken souls,
Death's enchanting song,
For ever playing.

And yet,
The fire burns.
*

*

"Fang! Did yeh see Goyle?" yelled Hagrid loudly. He was still several feet away from the spot where Fang stood growling menacingly. He finally reached Fang, panting and breathing heavily from running at such great speed. He stood near Fang as he took calming breaths. After a few moments, he got his composure back and patted Fang on the head.

"Wha' are yeh growling at the tree fer? C'mon, we hav tah find Goyle. Remember?"

Fang wouldn't budge. His teeth bared, Fang looked fixedly at the tree; growling furiously, his saliva dripping from his open mouth.

Hagrid noticed a pool of black liquid at the root of the tree. He looked up and was taken aback by what he saw. His eyes widened as his face filled with shock. "Wha' teh hell is tha'!"

After a few agonizing minutes, he scribbled a note and placed it on Fangs mouth. "Fang, I wan' yeh teh go straight ter Profes'er Dumble'ore, understood?" Fang wagged his tail furiously, then took off in a flash.

Meanwhile, back at the school grounds, Draco was accompanied by Tyrell Gryson, a fifth year Slytherin Prefect. They were feeling frustrated that their search yielded nothing.

"I have a bad feeling about this," whispered Draco to himself, beginning to think of the worst possible scenario.

"Yeah, me too," agreed the Slytherin fifth year Prefect. "We've searched totally everywhere." Then he gave a start. "Remember last year, the twins disappeared into nowhere and were rumored to be killed by You-Know-Who?" He glanced nervously at Draco. "I think Goyle might suffer the same fate."

They were talking so earnestly that they had already reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest before Draco noticed where they were.

"Why don't we take a look over there?" said Draco, pointing to the path leading to the dome, which was where he had last seen Goyle.

"You're bloody kidding, right?" Tyrell looked really scared. "I'm not going in there. Dumbledore clearly prohibits us from doing so."

Draco didn't answer. "If you don't want to, I can go by myself." Then he turned away, determined to search the forest.

Tyrell remained where he was, looking scared out of his wits. "But... but ... but we're forbidden to enter the Forbidden Forest!" Obviously, he had no intention of going further into the forest.

Draco ignored him and walked straight ahead.

"But... what will Snape say?" the terrified Prefect stammered nervously.

"Scared?" taunted Draco. "Just go back to where you came from," he called out.

Tyrell was clearly spooked. He quickened his pace to catch up with Draco. "Hey, wait up!" he said finally.

They took the path Draco suggested. The Forbidden Forest was, as usual creepy looking and unnaturally silent. Not a bird twittering could be heard... just eerie silence.

Tyrell was overwhelmed with fear. He had an uneasy feeling, like he was being watched. Perspiration trickled down his face, his hands cold and clammy. He was torn between running back into the castle alone or walking into the Forbidden Forest with the others. The urge to say 'Let's go back' was getting strong. He kept glancing behind his back, fearing someone would attack them. His breath came in short gasps, as panic filled his entire being. He took three hesitant steps backward; ready to turn around and run back to the castle, when suddenly, a figure rushed past them at such lightning speed that it was merely a blur.

Draco quickly guessed what it was. "That's Fang! It came from that direction. Maybe Hagrid has found something!"

Both of them ran at breakneck speed deep into the Forbidden Forest. They were in such a rush they nearly bumped to a motionless Hagrid. The two stopped dead on their tracks, following Hagrid's transfixed gaze, and went rigid with shock.

Tyrell felt the bile coming up his throat. He started to gag, feeling dizzy and nauseated. His weakened knees gave way. He fell on the ground, staring aghast at the thing in front of him.

His face starkly white, Draco felt guilt and self-disgust washed over him. 'This couldn't possibly be happening?' His mind went numb with shock.

They now knew the reason why Goyle couldn't be found. The discovery shocked them speechless. All the blood drained from their faces as they stared at the macabre sight.

Someone really evil had transfigured Goyle into a horribly grotesque dead tree. His human head protruded above the bark of the tree; with mouth open in a silent scream, and a look of utmost terror on his face. A black tar-like liquid oozed out from the roots of the dead tree which they presumed was Goyle's blood. All of them wanted to look away but couldn't. They were much too shocked at the sight to do anything but stare at what Goyle had become. It was like a horrible nightmare, where you are powerless to do anything but watch.

Dumbledore, together with McGonagall and Snape, finally arrived on the scene led by Fang. They discovered Hagrid, Draco and the other Prefect standing rigidly, transfixed by the horrible sight.

McGonagall nearly fainted. Snape went white with rage that somebody would dare murder a Slytherin student in cold blood. Dumbledore looked so pained at Goyle's horribly transfigured figure that it made him appear older and unfamiliarly vulnerable.

McGonagall shook her head and uttered, "How could anyone be so evil to do this to a student."

Dumbledore slowly tore his gaze away from the grim specter and went to Hagrid, giving him instructions. Hagrid nodded then left in a rush, bringing Fang with him. The old wizard scribbled two more notes and handed them to Draco. "I want you to owl these immediately," he instructed to a very shocked Draco.

Draco, whose face remained chalky white, was still stunned. He just looked distractedly at the notes placed in his frozen hands, not saying anything. His mind was numbed with shock.

"What is your next class, Draco?" Dumbledore asked, his tone gentle.

"Double Potions with Gryffindors," was the slow answer. Draco finally looked up at Dumbledore, folded the notes and put them inside his robe pocket.

Dumbledore produced another note, "Give this to Professor Vector immediately, she will know what to do. Classes will be suspended today. I want you as a Prefect to tell your fellow sixth year Slytherin to stay in your common room. And for the mean time not a word to anyone about this."

Draco nodded slightly and was about to turn away, when Dumbledore placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and said in a concerned voice, "Steer clear of the Forbidden Forest for a while. You were the last one to talk with Mr. Goyle. I don't want any harm to come upon you. Is that understood? Good ... you may go." Draco nodded curtly then left in an instant.

Dumbledore turned his attention to the white-faced, trembling Prefect. "I want you to instruct the fifth years to stay inside the castle, nobody will be allowed to go out the school grounds unless accompanied by an instructor. Kindly refrain from telling anyone about this, I will make the announcement to the school later. Is that clear?" When the boy nodded. "Very well, you are dismissed and may go back to your class."

After Tyrell and Draco left, he turned to face Snape and McGonagall, his face grim.

"Albus, there's nothing we can do for the boy. He's already dead," said Professor McGonagall sorrowfully. Her face looking equally grim.

"He may be dead but we still have to know who's responsible for this heinous crime!" roared Snape, who was white-faced and trembling with rage that someone would dare murder a pureblood. He clenched and unclenched his fists.

Dumbledore quickly told them the content of Goyle's last words to Draco.

"Why didn't he tell this to us earlier? Then this could have been prevented, Goyle needn't have died!" McGonagall exclaimed furiously.

"As Mr. Malfoy had told us earlier, he told Mr. Goyle to seek our help. It was most unfortunate that he didn't know the extent of the danger Goyle was in. It was already too late. There were three other students who shared the room with Mr. Goyle, but only Mr. Malfoy out of concern tried asking for help. The boy would not be blamed for this," said Dumbledore, refusing further argument.

Snape was silent. He thought Dumbledore was right. It would be unfair to blame Draco, when he as Head of the Slytherin House should have taken more time to check on his students.

"But who are the "they" and "she" Goyle referred to as evil? Obviously, they are already here inside Hogwarts, probably posing as students!" exclaimed McGonagall, clearly aghast.

Dumbledore with a grave determined look replied, "That, we are soon going to find out."