Chasing Shadows

Chasing Shadows

Chapter Five-The Response

The next morning, there was owl post. I eagerly looked up for Hedwig. Sure enough, she flew in and landed gracefully on the table. She held out her leg. I eagerly took the letter from her leg and gave her a piece of bacon as a 'thanks'. She hooted softly and took off again. Harry was sitting beside me. He leaned close to read the response.

"What's it say?" Ron asked, eagerly.

I cleared my throat and began to read aloud softly:

"Hermione,

It is true that you are a descendent. We didn't want to scare you. We would've told you sooner but we didn't know how. I know you're probably wondering how come you're so good at magic and school. It's because Lord Scoris really had a magical background. The history books didn't put that down because they were afraid of ridicule. Lord Scoris' magical talent was kept silent. The real reason why Lord Davis wanted to wipe out all descendents was because each descendent had that magical talent. Think of Lord Davis as Voldemort, but a Muggle. Lord Davis hated magic...of any kind. He was just pure evil. That probably doesn't give much detail, but evil is the only word to describe it. He thought that by torturing and experimenting on people, it might torture the magic right out of them.

If there are strange happenings there at school, be careful. Two days away is the anniversary that the Sevijion Mental Institution Burned down by it's own patients. The patients were tired of being experimented and tortured so they revolted.

Plus, Lord Davis will want to make the last descendent of Lord Scoris disappear. Stick to Ron and Harry and if you get into really big trouble, go to Dumbledore. You are the last descendent. Your father and I are not. We married from two separate families. The bloodline is in you. We love you so much and please be careful okay?

Love,

Mum and Dad

XOXO

"Geeze," Harry breathed. "We've got to stick to you like glue!"

Realization dawned on me.

"That shadow is really Lord Davis," I said, quietly.

"How do you figure?" Ron asked.

"It's evil...that ice cold feeling I feel each time that shadow is around? That means it's pure evil," I said. "Cold has always been associated with evil."

"How do we stop a shadow?" Harry mused.

"I don't know, but I think we should fill Professor Dumbledore in on everything," I said, seriously.

Ron and Harry nodded.

We went to classes. After Potions, we immediately hurried up to Professor Dumbledore's office.

He was dressed in lavender robes and a matching wizards hat. His blue eyes twinkled behind his half moon spectacles.

"Please come in," he said, kindly.

We entered and he conjured up three poufs for us to sit on. We sat.

"Now, what can I do for you three?" he asked, kindly.

Harry, Ron and I looked at each other before Harry launched into the whole story.

Professor Dumbledore listened to each of us intently and without interruption.

"Hmm...so in two days it will be the 600^th anniversary of the Sevijion Mental Institution burning down and the head of it is back to keep a promise he made to wipe out all descendents of a Lord Scoris?" Professor Dumbledore said, slowly.

Ron, Harry and I nodded.

"And why would he wipe out all descendents?" Dumbledore asked, tilting his head.

"Because everyone who was related to Lord Scoris had magical talent. It was hidden from the rest of the world though," I said.

"It sounds like a muggle Lord Voldemort," Professor Dumbledore said.

"That's what we thought too," Harry said. "We need to find out how to destroy that...thing...before it hurts Hermione."

"I agree," Professor Dumbledore said, seriously.

"How do you kill a shadow?" Ron mused.

Suddenly, an idea hit me.

"By finding it's owner,"

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, looking at me.

"I'm getting a feeling that Lord Davis was buried somewhere on the grounds," I said.

"How do you know this?" Ron asked.

"I told you, numbnut, that I'm getting a feeling," I said.

Professor Dumbledore chuckled.

"Where would we look for the body?" Harry asked.

"The book would tell us," I said, as I reached into my bag and pulled out the book we were using earlier. HOGWARTS: BEFORE THE SCHOOL.

I flipped through the book until I found what I was looking for.

"Okay...here it is:

Lord Davis ordered that he be buried next to the facility under a tree. He wanted to be as close to the hospital as possible," I read.

"A tree? It can't be the Whomping Willow because that was planted when Hogwarts was founded," Harry said.

"I know," I said, frowning.

I got up and looked out Professor Dumbledore's window.

"What if it really wasn't as close to the hospital as Lord Davis wanted?" I mused.

"What do you mean?" Ron asked.

"If you were a patient would you want the person responsible for your torture buried close to you?"

"Absolutely not," Harry said.

"Then might I suggest looking toward the Quidditch pitch?"

"Does the book say any marking on the tree that might help us?" Harry asked as Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape followed us out to the Quidditch pitch.

I checked the book.

"It says that there should be the symbol of Lord Davis' reign. A circle with an arrow in it. Like this,"

I showed Harry the book.

"Right," he replied.

"I don't believe we're taking their word that this thing really exists," Professor Snape muttered.

"Severus, how else do you explain Mr. Malfoy and Neville Longbottom? I doubt very much a student could to that to them, regardless of magic," Professor Dumbledore said.

Professor Snape didn't reply.

We saw three trees near the Quidditch pitch.

"It has to be one of them," I said, feeling scared, yet eager to put a stop to this.

About two minutes later, we reached the trees. We scanned each tree. Finally on the third one, we could see the mark faintly etched into the bark.

"This is it," Harry whispered.

"He's buried here," I added.

"How do we find out if he is?" Ron asked.

Professor Dumbledore pulled out his wand and crouched down. He put the tip of the wand against the ground. There was a rumbling and a small crack formed. We stepped back as the ground split open, revealing a dusty coffin.

"Bloody hell," Ron choked out.

Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall carefully dropped down beside the coffin.

A group of birds that had been resting near the lake suddenly took off and noisily chattered.

"Whoa," Harry breathed.

Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall opened the coffin.

About six hundred years of dust floated around. We coughed and once the dust settled, we peered into the coffin

Sure enough, there was a body lying in it, totally decayed. What was left was mostly bones and the same robe with the high collar on it that I had seen in that weird vision when we were on the fourth floor. He was holding a long sword.

"Well, there's your proof, Severus," Professor Dumbledore said.

"I say let's head back to the castle...this is disturbing me," Professor McGonagall said as she carefully climbed out of the ditch.

Professor Snape carefully climbed out as well.

As we were heading back to the castle, none of us saw the body sitting upright.

THE NEXT DAY.

"Tomorrow's the anniversary," I said, helping myself to some pancakes and sausage.

"Yeah. I hope nothing happens," Harry said, seriously. "I won't let it."

We caught each other's gaze and held it for a while. I felt my heart fluttering.

I was really starting to fall in love with him even more.

"What about anything happening tonight?" Ron asked, startling us.

We jumped and quickly turned our eyes onto him.

"I don't think so. I think if anything were to happen it would more than likely be tomorrow," I said, clearing my throat.

"Midnight tonight," Ron said, gravely.

That had me thinking. Suppose something did happen tonight?

"You might be right. I say we stay awake in the common room just to play safe. We can take turns keeping an eye on things," Harry said.

"Good idea," I said, nodding.

So, later that night, we stayed awake in the common room while everyone else slept peacefully.

Ron had dozed off in a chair. He was sleeping half on/half off of the chair and he was drooling.

Harry and I had blankets wrapped around each other. He was sitting next to me on a couch.

"Ron's trying to water himself again," Harry said, softly.

I giggled. "If he starts to sprout leaves, I'm leaving,"

Harry grinned.

The fire was going casting a soft orange glow over us.

God, he looks so adorable. I thought.

I quickly moved my eyes off of him. Harry scooted closer to me.

"Listen, Hermione...we need to talk," Harry said.

"Really? About what?" I asked.

"What might happen to you," Harry said, quietly.

"Oh. Listen, I'm not going anywhere...I promise," I said, gently.

"We don't know that. Whatever...whoever this thing is, is totally stronger than the three of us put together. Heck, we don't even know how to stop it," Harry said, pointedly.

"If it means sacrificing myself to save everyone in this school, then I'm ready," I said.

Harry angrily got to his feet.

"I'm not ready to lose you yet," he replied.

I shrugged off the blanket and stood in front of him.

"Listen...you would do the same thing if you were in my shoes...I know you like a book, Harry. We can't let this 'thing' kill anymore people," I said, firmly.

Harry began pacing the room. Ron let out a snore and shifted even more dangerously off the chair.

"I can't lose you," he said, his voice breaking as he stopped pacing and stood in front of me.

"I l..." his voice trailed off as the entranceway to the common room suddenly flew open. We jumped and looked at the portrait entrance.

The body we'd seen in the coffin was standing there, very much alive...and the shadow was attached to it.

I screamed. Ron woke up abruptly, sliding completely off the chair now.

The skeleton had flesh on it...if you would call it flesh. It lunged at me. Harry pushed me out of the way. The skeleton backhanded Harry. Harry flew backward and hit his head on the edge of one of the tables. He landed in a heap and didn't move.

"Haarrrry!" I screamed.

Ron grabbed his wand and aimed it at the skeleton. It turned and slapped Ron's wand from his hand. I heard it roll under the table where Harry was. It grabbed Ron by his throat and lifted him several feet off the floor.

I felt tears forming and I raised my hands to my mouth. I could feel my body shaking violently. Ron was gasping for breath. The skeleton squeezed Ron's throat even more like it was trying to break Ron's neck. Ron's face was draining of all color.

It squeezed even more and I heard the sickening 'crack'. I screamed again as the skeleton tossed Ron aside. Ron landed on the couch on his stomach and didn't move or get up. He was dead.

"Haarrrry!" I screamed again as the skeleton faced me and started walking toward me. I began walking backward.

Harry began stirring. He groggily got to his feet and shook his head. He looked up and then tackled the skeleton to the ground.

He got up off the skeleton and grabbed my hand.

"Ron!" Harry yelled.

"He's dead," I sobbed.

"God," Harry choked out.

The skeleton began moving again.

"Run!" Harry shouted.

He and I began running down the corridor. His fingers intertwined with mine.

I glanced over my shoulder. The skeleton was running on two legs like it was no problem. Harry and I turned a corner sharply and found an empty classroom. We flew into it and closed the door and he used his wand to lock the door.

I backed away from the door. Harry did too. There was silence outside the door. I began sobbing uncontrollably.

"Hey," he said soothingly, but I heard his voice breaking as well.

Throwing my shyness aside, I threw my arms around his neck and pulled him close. I rested my chin on his shoulder. I felt his arms around me as well pulling me tighter against him. His chin was resting on my shoulder as well.

"We'll get through this," he whispered in my ear.

"Ron's dead," I sobbed hysterically into his neck.

"I know...he died fighting," Harry said, quietly.

"This is all my fault!" I sobbed.

Harry stepped back from the embrace and took my face in his hands.

"How on earth do you see it as your fault?" he asked, searching my face.

"This thing wants me! Why don't I just go and give myself up?" I asked as tears slid down my cheeks.

"Because I have a gut feeling that we'll be able to defeat this," he said, firmly.

"I give up! It already killed Malfoy and Neville! Now Ron!" I said.

"You will not give up...do you hear me?"

I just sobbed.

"I just want this to end," I sobbed.

Harry exhaled loudly. "I know...so do I,"

My hair fell over my right eye. He gently reached up and tucked the strands behind my ear.

He wiped my tears with his thumbs. He moved his face closer. Our lips just brushed when exhaustion took over me and I slumped forward into his arms.

HARRY.

Hermione slumped into my arms. Her face was pressed against my chest. She was out cold. Smiling to myself, I gently sank to my knees with her. I cradled her and stayed awake the rest of the night.