Spider's Blood

Chapter Four

"Well...what do we really know about her? That Pansy Parkinson just happened to take a year in France to study, then they bring in a girl from America to practice advanced magic...that's all we really know. She could be anyone really...anything."

"You two are getting all worked up over nothing," Ron finally chimed in, "Dumbledore would never agree to anything like that...there's no way!"

"Maybe he doesn't know about it," Hermione suggested. "Maybe Snape's the one keeping her safe...she said 'you of all people should know by now,' what did that mean anyway?"

Harry shifted his eyes to the Slytherin area. Zora was sitting at the long table, a few illuminated pumpkins dancing above her head, reflecting an orange glow over her and the entire section. She was pushing her food around on her plate with her fork, just as Harry was doing, and staring at her goblet. Her face was set in concentration, deep in thought as it had been briefly on the train and earlier beside the lake. She was uninterested in the conversations taking place around her and she kept her eyes set on the table before her.

"Ok...so what can we do about it?" Hermione asked, cutting Harry's stare.

"We wait until something catastrophic happens, then we confess that we had a suspicion all the time, get Dumbledore involved, break a few rules, and realize that our suspicions are wrong when a big twist comes around like always," Ron replied.

"It doesn't always happen like that," Harry replied after he had judged Ron's statement.

"Oh no? First year: Quirrell, not Snape...Second year: Tom Riddle, not Draco...Third Year: Wormtail, not Siris...do you want me to keep going?"

Harry did not reply for a long while. He hated it when Ron was right, which he was. There was always some twist that caught them, something that presented itself and made all the sense in the world. They were always quick to assume Snape had a part in it, but when had he actually done anything wrong? Ron was right...there was more to it, but Harry believed Zora was part of the mix somewhere.

"When did you become the voice of reason?" Harry finally replied, hiding his revelation and admittance that Ron was right.

"Been reading some of Ginny's magazines over the summer...I think they've had an affect on me."

"Regardless," Hermione stepped in, "I think we need to make a trip to the library."

Harry nodded his head and looked down to his food. He watched around him, Hermione and Ron retreated to a visibly private conversation since they were whispering and leaning very close together. Harry glanced quickly on the other side and noticed Ginny and Neville were in a similar state of conversation. This sight made Harry's heart beat a little faster as the pangs of jealously hit every possible nerve they could find. He took in a calming breath and allowed his eyes to trickle back to the Slytherin table. Zora was gone.

Harry stepped into the dark corridor, the sounds of his shoes echoing loudly on the walls. He was glad he finally had a chance to be alone. Ron and Hermione had gone off before him from the banquet and Harry was busy taking his secret route to the common room. The castle had so many beautifully decorated corridors and hallways that no one ever bothered to use, it seemed like a waste of architecture. As he strolled down the peaceful corridor he especially enjoyed walking through, Harry peered at the paintings lining the walls. Most portraits were sleeping or absent, visiting other paintings for the Halloween celebration and those of scenery were extra vibrant with their colors and movements.

Harry made a left and a right and another left. He was about halfway to the common room now and there was barley a sound all around him. He wished for a moment he had taken the quick way, it was Halloween after all. He took in a deep breath and reminded himself that anything to fear was out in the Forbidden Forest and he was inside the well-protected Hogwarts' castle. There was absolutely nothing to fear.

The creak of his shoes echoed against the stonewalls as he slowly walked, lengthening the short journey and allowing a chance for his thoughts to come alive. He let his creaking shoes travel without any positive direction as he wandered along the hollow corridor, not exactly paying attention to where his impulsive feet were leading him.

The storm of thoughts about Zora and Snape slowly leaked out of his mind as the smell of sausages infiltrate his nostrils. The familiar smell of his potions class made Harry's eyes rise to gaze at the paintings lining the walls. He suddenly saw a stunning portrait he hadn't noticed before. There were so many portraits of famous witches and wizards it was hard to notice them all. He stopped his feet and began to gaze further at the portrait when his ears perked and his heart began to race. His feet had stopped but the sound of at least two other steps had echoed through the stones. Harry froze and clenched his fists as he tried to slow his rapid breathing. He was positive that he was not alone.

Harry slowly turned his body around and peered into the darkness...empty. There was no sign of life anywhere in the hall. Harry's mind began to race, he knew he heard the steps there was no denying it. His senses were sharp from fear as he listened and watched.

A flutter of something sounded from his side and Harry felt a pressure against his arm. It moved quickly down another hallway not far from where Harry stood. Harry raced after whatever it was, leaving his fear behind and let his brave curiosity drive his body.

He turned down the hall and continued to run as fast as possible. His head slammed against something very solid and sent him falling backwards, landing his rear against the extremely hard floor. He groaned from the pain as his eyes traveled to see what he had run into.

"What are you doing around here, Potter?" Snape said as his upper lip curled in the most distasteful way.

Harry gazed up in astonishment. He hadn't expected to see the potions master in this hallway at this time of night. His mind tried to piece itself together as he carefully pushed himself from the floor.

"I was heading to the common room," Harry explained, brushing of his robes as he spoke.

"A little far off don't you think?" Snape hissed, "You realize the curfew is in affect even on holidays? You've got exactly five minutes to get to your dormitory before I send you straight to McGonagall...do you hear me?"

"Yes, professor," Harry sneered as politely as possible before he turned back into his hallway and continued his path.

As Harry gently rubbed his rear, trying to ease the pain of the fall, Harry looked down to his arm. A rip in his sleeve made Harry's feet stop for a moment. He studied the tear with a wondering mind as he remember the flutter and brush at his side. Something had passed him, and slashed at his arm in the process.

Harry hadn't slept well at all that night. The surge of sugar from the Halloween goodies the twins had whipped up in the common room had kept Harry's eyes staring at his canopy most of the night. His mind continued to ponder Snape and Zora's conversation with no sign of resolution and briefly trailed to the minor slash in his sleeve. Harry hated not knowing what was going on around him, like a puzzle set in front of his eyes that he just couldn't piece together. Hermione, Harry, and Ron were going to meet immediately after potions in the library and hopefully something useful could be found. Harry still wasn't sure what they'd be looking for and he had a most unsettling feeling that neither Ron nor even Hermione knew either.

His eyes locked shut as he leaned against his hand, Snape's voice pestering in his mind occasionally with ingredients and technical terms he only recognized from Hermione reading her notes aloud when she studied each night for potential pop quizzes. He saw a vision of Ginny dressed in the yellow sweater she had worn on the first day. She was laughing and smiling like she was in the picture he kept in his trunk in his dormitory. She looked to Harry with her brilliant blue eyes that twinkled before him. Her mouth opened and she began to speak.

"Potter, what does spider's blood do?" Snape's voice sounded from Ginny's smiling mouth.

Harry's eyes popped open as his heart raced. He looked around, realizing he was in class. A few snickers sounded from the Slytherin side of the dungeon. His cheeks burned with embarrassment as his mind raced.

"Did you hear me? Spider's blood..." Snape persisted, hovering in front of Harry's face. He knew somewhere behind him, Hermione's hand was waving frantically in the air.

Harry listened for Hermione's voice. His mind saw his potions notes...his handwriting was clear...the words were coming into view.

"It serves as a temporary healing agent until a stronger potion or charm can be found, but strong amounts will make the person taking it violently ill," Harry said very quickly without a break for a breath.

Snape's eyes widened in temporary surprise before they tensed back to their usual scornful glare.

"Correct," Snape hissed as he moved, "but you forgot it's the key ingredient in nearly all healing potions."

Snape continued to stroll between the tables as he continued his lecture on healing potions. Harry turned his head, pretending to be listening to what the professor was saying. His eyes floated passed Hermione, who was giving Harry a thumbs up for his answer, and continued to Zora. Her eyes were locked on a page of a black book with a red spider etched on the front. Her face was extremely pale against her stark black hair. She yawned as she turned the page and continued to read, uninterested and bored with whatever she was reading. Harry took his eyes and moved them to Snape, who was now asking Millicent Bulstrode what happened when an uninjured person drank spider's blood.

Snape leaned over Millicent, his hands on the table before her. She was thinking very hard, obviously visualizing her notes as Harry had. Snape continued to lean closer and closer, almost begging for her to answer correctly. The long and ample sleeves of his robes rose slightly as he got closer and closer to Millicent. Harry looked closely to Snape as he leaned and recognized a bit of white cloth wrapped around Snape's forearm peeking from under his sleeve. Suddenly Millicent answered incorrectly and Snape leaned back, his sleeve covering the bandage again. Harry turned back to the front of the classroom as Draco answered superiorly, "They get extremely sick."

"Violently sick," Snape added, "near fatal I might add, so if any of you dunderheads put too much blood in your cauldrons yesterday, you'll be greatly sorry today."

"Professor!" a voice full of alarm sounded from the back of the classroom.

Snape's cape spun behind him as he quickly turned to find a panicked Madame Pomfrey standing in the doorway of the classroom. Snape clicked as he walked over to her and let her whisper something in his ear. He drew back quickly when she was finished and looked at her sternly. He then turned and walked through the rows of students and to the storeroom, unlocked it, and proceeded inside.

The whole class was now buzzing with questions and looking all around. Someone asked Madame Pomfrey what was going on, but she didn't take her eyes off the storeroom door.

Snape emerged at the door slowly and walked over to Madame Pomfrey and whispered something in her ear. She nodded her head and muttered a thank you before she turned and walked out of the classroom.

The door slammed quickly and the classroom turned completely silent. The whole class was staring at Snape waiting for something, anything to come out of his mouth. He walked to the front of the classroom and slammed his books closed, the whole class flinching together at the sound of each slam. The attempt at intimidation worked as even the Slytherins' shoulders lowered slightly.

"I would like to remind all those in this classroom presently..." he began as he roamed his eyes over the whole dungeon, "that stealing from a professor or a student is in strict violation of the rules at this school. I am to release you all back to your dormitories now. Go now and your house master will give you further instructions."

"What's going on?" Ron asked at Harry's shoulder.

"I think I might have an idea of who," Harry replied as he turned his head to the back of the classroom.

Zora sat, still reading the black book. She appeared as though she hadn't heard a word uttered by anyone. Her face was set and uncaring, unemotional. She just sat and quietly turned the page of her book as she yawned.

"So...any clue what's going on?" Hermione asked. She peered over the rim of her library book as she sank comfortably into the large red covered couch that sat near the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room.

"No one knows," Ron replied as he slumped next to her. He had just come from the boy dormitories, asking anyone with ears if they knew what had happened, "but there are a few rumors that someone died or something."

"No," Harry interrupted thoughtfully, "Snape talked about stealing...someone stole something. But it has to be more serious than that, why would they send us to the common rooms if it wasn't?"

"Well, we're about to find out," Ron replied as he gestured his hand towards the portrait hole. Professor McGonagall stepped in, walked fiercely over to the fireplace. Her face was tight and full of complete seriousness with just a hint of concern. She waited for silence, her presence made even more intimidating by the flames glowing behind her emerald robes.

"Ms. Johnson and Mr. Jordan, if you would make sure all Gryffindors are present, please?" she addressed the two closest to the dormitory staircases and waited for their return. The professor took the opportunity to give a harsh look over students, pausing briefly at the twins and for a fleeting moment at Harry and Ron before looking the staircases. A few nervous first years quietly crept into the common room and sat towards the back. The professor took in a small breath before continuing.

"I have just come from a small meeting among the professors and we have gathered our information and stories together. We will not blame any one person or house without further investigation, of course, but I wish to give those who are responsible time to confess to their deeds."

Professor McGonagall took a pause and continued her harsh survey of the student before continuing, "Some time last night...a student or a number of students stole from the infirmary and several classrooms. I wish to convey to those responsible that the items you took can have grave consequences if not handled properly although they may appear ordinary. If you have any information about the items or the thieves, because that's what they are, notify a professor immediately, if not for the safety for you and your classmates...for theirs too. They have no idea what they have gotten themselves into."

"Professor?" Hermione said after a brief pause to be sure she was finished addressing everyone, "What was taken?"

She survey the common room one last time, sharing her sternness and disappointment with all in the room.

"A very large amount of very rare ingredients including Dragon, Spider, Grindylow, Manticore, and Pixie blood were stolen from locked closets some time last night. The advanced students here will know how dangerous the blood is when not handled properly...maybe you students can enlighten those younger. Those responsible will not be severely punished more than a detention if the matter is handled immediately. As I said, we are more concerned for your safety at the moment. However, if you wait...and force us to discover it ourselves, and we will, expulsion will be unavoidable."

The professor then turned and left the common room, her emerald robes flowing behind her out of the portrait hole.

The common room was uncharacteristically silent for a few moments while everyone glanced around at their friends. A few students left and went to their dormitories while some remained in their seats.

"What...what does the stuff do?" a first year stammered out nervously as she looked anxiously upon those older around her.

"Spider's Blood forms into little spiders when its not contained properly...I suppose a lot of tiny spiders could be hazardous if they are excited," Hermione said thoughtfully, "and Pixie blood glows in the dark and'll burn your skin...I think dragon's blood is used in some healing potions or protection potions...Manicore is poisonous and Grindylow will cause you to drown if it seeps into your skin."

"Not even Fred and I are stupid enough to steal that," George laughed from across the common room.

Harry gave a smile to the flame haired prankster, "None of us said it was either of you, George."

"Just clearing my name...I went straight here after the banquet...I have witnesses!" he proclaimed in a loud voice over the room.

"So do I," Ron said, "Whoever doesn't is gonna have a hell of a time explaining."

"I was here all night, Lavender saw me," Hermione added thoughtfully with a sigh of relief.

"Where were you Harry?" George asked.

Harry thought for a moment where he had been exactly. He had taken the long way, which just happened to be only a few twists from the infirmary and a staircase away from the dungeons. Harry suddenly realized that only one person knew where he was the previous night...Snape. It was most likely that not only would Snape share the fact that he had seen him alone in the proximity of the crime scene, he would more than gladly come right out and accuse Harry of something he did not do. These thoughts wrapped themselves over and over in Harry's brain as McGonagall re-entered the common room. Everyone tensed as she glided over to the couch and leaned over behind Harry and whispered, "Harry, you must come with me to Dumbledore's office."

Harry looked around the room and noticed all eyes were on him. He despised that feeling of always being watched and hated even more that it wasn't only his imagination. Harry took in a deep breath as he rose from his seat and followed McGonagall out of the portrait hole and through the many hallways leading to Dumbledore's office.

Harry thought it best not to ask any questions since he had a feeling he already knew what this was all about. As he walked a little ways behind McGonagall, pretending not to know the way, Harry noticed that he and the professor were nearly the same height. She had always appeared a stern statue at the head of his classes but now she seemed quite average. However, as soon as she turned to face him, her countenance stole his observation and she appeared to tower over him.

"Pepper Imps," McGonagall called to the ugly stone gargoyle in the middle of the hallway.

Harry smiled briefly to himself at the password being very "Dumbledore-like" as he watched the gargoyle. He peered at Harry and McGonagall before he gave a throaty grunt and moved to the side. Behind where the gargoyle stood was a large opening and a staircase that began to spiral around and around.

"Wait here," McGonagall instructed as she hopped onto the moving staircase within the hole in the wall.

Harry sighed and sat down on the floor across from the opening. He felt cold stone floor on his still sensitive and possibly bruised rear, and comfortable rested his arms on his knees in front of him. He through his head back against the wall with a quiet thump and he closed his eyes. He knew it was all connected somehow: Zora, the blood, maybe even Snape. But it just didn't add up; there were too many questions he couldn't answer, far too many for him to be comfortable with.

"We wait until something happens," he thought to himself and hated the resolution.

"Don't hurt yourself, Potter," a familiar drawl sounded from the staircase.

Without opening his eyes, Harry knew it was Draco. It was the hate in his voice and his smell of expensive cologne that triggered Harry's brain to an angry state of mind.

"I see they're rounding up the usual suspects," Harry replied opening his eyes, but not moving anything else.

"Only the ones who can't explain where they were," Draco replied, raising his chin a little. Even though Harry was sitting on the floor, Draco was making every effort to appear taller and superior.

"And I suppose you can't? All that money and you can't buy a decent alibi?" Harry disdainfully asked.

"Oh, no...I wasn't near the dungeons...but I never kiss and tell," Draco replied, raising one eyebrow and smirking in a most unappealing way.

"I'm sure Goyle enjoyed it as much as you," Harry replied with a smirk.

Draco's smile dropped and his fists tightened at his sides.

"At least I'm not the one who was caught at the scene at the exact time it happened...unlike some," Draco replied, recovering his expression and hardening his eyes.

"Harry," McGonagall called from the stairs, "we're ready to see you now."

Harry rose to his feet and walked past Draco, brushing his shoulder as he did and continuing onto the spiral. Up and up the staircase circled, giving Harry a slightly dizzy feeling as it always did. He took a step off and stabled himself for a moment before continuing to the thick wooden door and pushing it open with quite an effort he hated to admit.

Dumbledore was seated behind his desk. McGonagall was at his right and Professor Sprout at his left. Professor Flitwick sat in a large chair near McGonagall and Snape was standing gloomily at the window, his arms folded and once again a vague hint of a white bandage appeared at his forearm. Harry ignored the sight and concentrated on himself.

"Hello, Harry," Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling, "good to see you again...how are things?"

"Just fine, professor," Harry replied as convincingly as possible, eyeing each of the five expressions surrounding him.

"Harry...we're not formally accusing you or anyone of anything...we just want to hear what you have to say. I understand Professor McGonagall has explained to you that some very important ingredients were removed from the dungeons and the infirmary."

"Yes, I know...the blood was taken," Harry replied, nodding his head and not taking his eyes of the pleasant face of Dumbledore.

"Harry," Professor Flitwick began from the chair he was seated in, obviously trying to give himself a more respectable appearance by not showing his height, "where were you after the banquet last night?"

Harry gave a short sideways glance at Snape who was glaring thoughtfully out of the window.

"I went to the common room," Harry replied, it was the complete truth as he was simply taking a longer route to the common room than usual.

"It's a lie," Snape hissed, not removing his eyes from the glass.

"Severus, please...let the boy speak," Sprout cut in shortly, "go on, Harry...you went to the common room?"

"Yes, I did...only...I took a longer way. Not many people use the hallway, but I didn't think I was breaking any rules."

"What hallway, Harry?" McGonagall persisted helpfully.

"The one on the second floor...near the dungeons stairwell," Harry sighed, letting the fact that he was near the scene fill the ears of his accusers.

"Did you see anyone there?" McGonagall persisted.

"No one except Snape," Harry replied, his mind pausing on the slash in his sleeve.

"He literally ran into me," Snape hissed from the back, finally turning to face Harry, "why were you in such a hurry, Potter?"

"I was to be late for curfew," Harry lied. Looking around at the five of them, Harry had a sudden urge to leave. He didn't want to be locked away in St. Mungo's Hospital for magical Maladies and Injuries for hearing and seeing things he could not explain. He especially did not want to reveal this all in front of Snape.

"And you saw no one around there?" Sprout chimed in.

"Of course he didn't!" Snape burst, "He was the only one in the area at the exact time of the robbing he wouldn't have seen anyone else! I told you...it's him!"

"Severus, calm yourself," McGonagall replied calmly. "We have no reason to suspect Harry of anything. He was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time."

Harry watched wide-eyed as McGonagall tried desperately to defend him.

"Enough bickering," Dumbledore spoke loudly, but without harshness. Snape turned back to the window and McGonagall backed a step or two away from the desk. "Harry...did you or did you not take the blood?"

Harry gazed at the twinkling eyes of the gray haired man and had a sudden feeling that he was trying to see into his head, searching for the truth. With no effort at all, Harry simply replied, "It wasn't me...and I didn't see who it was."

"There...he knows nothing. Simply in a bad place at the wrong time. You are excused Mr. Potter," the professor added with a smile.

Harry glanced at each of the professors, no one objected to his departure, although Snape's face seemed tighter and more agitated than it usually did as he stared out the window. Harry turned slowly and walked out of the large oak door, giving a glance and a quiet smile to Fawkes on his way out.

Harry let out a little sigh of relief as he stepped onto the spiraling staircase. The stones made slight shuffling sounds as they brushed against each other as the stairs further and further down. They believed him...and not Snape. How very odd, Harry thought for a moment as the spiraling stopped and Harry stepped out of the gap in the wall.

Harry stopped as soon as his feet hit the floor and he stared at the girl in front of him. Her long black hair looked very messy pulled into a quick ponytail she had no time to give effort to. Her blue eyes looked tired, dark shadows of near purple weighing her entire face to a frown.

"Hello, Zora," Harry said.