Chasing Shadows

Chasing Shadows

Chapter Seven-Defeated?

Lord Davis kept yelling for the ghosts to back off, but they kept coming at him.

Then, the coldness vanished and heat began rising.

"The fire!" I cried.

Sure enough, flames started to lick the door. Lord Davis was yelling as the ghosts began attacking him.

The flames got thicker and taller. Lord Davis was screaming. We covered our faces as the flames grew nearer.

Then, there was complete silence.

We lowered our arms and stared around the room. We were back at Hogwarts.

Lord Davis, the ghosts and the fire was gone. Hermione was still lying on her stomach a few feet away from us.

"What just happened?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"I think the ghosts got revenge...again," I said, slowly.

"Wow," Ginny breathed.

She was still shivering despite the warmth of the castle. I then rushed over to Hermione and crouched down beside her. I gently turned her over onto her back.

"Mione?" I asked, gently shaking her.

She didn't move or respond.

Ginny hurried over as well. The teachers came over and also crouched down behind us.

"Hermione?" Ginny asked, also gently shaking her.

There was still no response.

Professor McGonagall lowered her ear to Hermione's chest.

"She's not breathing and I don't hear a heartbeat," Professor McGonagall said.

Ginny began sobbing. I felt tears forming in my eyes.

"No...I lost Ron...I'm not losing you! WAKE UP!" I shouted shaking her more fiercely.

She didn't stir.

"Harry, I'm so sorry," Professor Dumbledore whispered. His voice was shaky as well.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Potter," Professor Snape said, quietly.

"NO! WAKE UP HERMIONE!" I yelled.

I was angry that it wasn't me in her place. I jumped to my feet and began pacing the room as the tears streamed down my cheeks. Just then, a blue orb floated into the room. We stopped and watched it.

It floated over to Hermione and hovered above her. We watched amazed as it hovered above her body. After a few moments, it disappeared.

Then, we heard Hermione take in a breath of air. Her chest began rising and falling.

"Hermione!" Ginny cried shocked.

Relieved, I rushed over to her as she was sitting up.

"What happened?" she asked, looking around at us.

"The ghosts defeated Lord Davis again," Professor Dumbledore said.

"Why'd Lord Davis go for Hermione in the first place?" Ginny asked.

"Because he probably thought Hermione was the one that made the sword hover," I said.

Hermione looked a little dazed and confused.

"Why does my body feel strange?" she asked, as I carefully helped her to her feet.

She was unsteady on her legs and she leaned forward like she was going to fall. I caught her.

"Because I think Lord Davis killed you. You were dead for a bit and then this blue orb saved you," I replied.

Hermione looked amazed.

"But you're alive again and that's what counts," I said, as I threw my arms around her and pulled her close. She threw her arms around me and hugged me back just as tightly.

Then, Hermione hugged Ginny.

"The rest of the castle!" Professor McGonagall said.

We all hurried out of the room and down to the Great Hall. We stopped at the entrance and stared into the Hall with surprise.

Everyone was awake and chattering away, as if nothing weird at all happened.

Crabbe and Goyle had snapped out of that trance and stumbled toward us.

"Take your seats," Professor Snape barked at them.

"He's still normal," I said, winking at Hermione.

She broke out into a grin.

HERMIONE.

It felt good to be back to normal. We all headed into the Great Hall. Harry and I took our seats at the Gryffindor table.

"I can't believe Ron's gone," I said, quietly feeling tears streaming down my eyes.

"I know," Harry said, just as quietly.

Ginny was sitting across from Harry and I. Harry leaned against me.

"I had wished it was me in your position," he said quietly.

I looked at him startled.

"You wanted a nearly six hundred year old wacko after you? I thought Lord Voldemort wasn't challenging you enough," I said, raising an eyebrow at him.

Harry grinned.

"No. I love you,"

I felt the heat rising to my cheeks

I was finally able to tell him how I felt.

"I love you too,"

He broke out into a grin and moved his face closer until our lips met. He kissed me gently and softly. I kissed him back the same way.

We pulled apart, grinning. So was Ginny.

Just then, we heard footsteps running into the Great Hall.

We looked up. Ron, Pansy, Draco, and Neville appeared.

"HEY!" Harry yelled happily.

Ron and Neville broke into a grin. They came hurrying over to the table.

I threw my arms around Ron and hugged him. Then hugged Neville, who shyly hugged me back as well.

"What happened?" Neville asked.

We all sat down at the table.

I launched into the whole story.

When I was done, Ron and Neville were pale.

"Bloody hell!" Ron breathed.

"But what I don't understand is why'd they come back? They were dead," Ginny asked, as she hugged her brother and wouldn't let him go.

"I think once the ghosts of the hospital defeated Lord Davis, everything was erased like it never happened," I replied.

"That makes sense!" Harry nodded.

"It is over for good now?" Ron asked.

"I hope so, Ron," I replied, sighing.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spied a shadow. I quickly whipped my head around, but it was gone.

"I hope so," I repeated.

THREE YEARS LATER.

FOX RAMONE

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

MARCH 12

I bent down and picked up my backpack. We had just finished Charms class. My best friend, Lindsay Marsh jogged up to me.

"Hey, Kellie!" she said, eagerly.

"Hey," I said, cheerfully.

"What's up?" Lindsay asked as she and I began walking side by side to Potions class next.

"Not much. I just got my report back. I'm on the same level as Hermione Granger was two years ago!"

"Wow! That's amazing!" Lindsay said ecstatic. "You like worship her...don't you?"

Fox's tone was teasing.

"No...but I like her ideas," I replied.

"Riiiight," Lindsay said, teasingly.

I playfully hit her on her arm.

Just then, our other best friend, Sam Murray, came hurrying up to us.

"Hey look! It's the Monster from the Black Lagoon!" Lindsay joked.

Joey gave her a dirty look and then turned to me.

"Guess what? I've got great news!" Sam said, eagerly

"What? You found your mother ship?" Lindsay asked.

Sam ignored her.

"What is it?" I asked, intrigued.

"Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley are coming back to Hogwarts!"

My jaw dropped.

"They're coming to guest speak on careers the day after tomorrow," Sam continued. "Harry became an Auror; Hermione became a teacher. I think she's going to be transferring here and Ron followed in his father's footsteps."

Lindsay and I heard everything we could on the "Trio" as they were affectionately called. We read all about Harry's run-ins with Lord Voldemort, Hermione's academic achievements and Ron's loyalty. They graduated two years ago. There were tons of books written on them. Lindsay, Sam and I are first years in Gryffindor, the same house as they were in. We even heard about what happened to Hermione with the strange happenings in their sixth year.

"Wow," I breathed.

"Great. I can't wait to see how cute Harry was," Lindsay said, dreamily.

"You're like so weird," Sam said, studying her closely. "Are you sure you took your medication today?"

Lindsay just stuck her tongue out at him.

"Come on...we're late for Potions and you know how Professor Snape is," I said.

Sam shook his head and we headed down to the dungeons.

That night, Lindsay and I headed to the girls' dorm while Sam headed to the boys.

"God. He can get under your skin!" Lindsay said, irritably, shaking herself.

"That's because you like him," I said, grinning.

"EEWW!" Lindsay said.

Several other first years glared at us. We had accidentally woken them up.

"Sorry," I apologized for Lindsay. "She hasn't taken her medicine lately."

They shook their heads and went back to sleep. Lindsay and I climbed into bed.

"And like you don't like Joey Simpson?" Lindsay asked, shrewdly.

I felt my face flushing with color.

"Bingo," Lindsay said, pleased.

"Go to sleep," I muttered as I pulled the covers up and closed my eyes.

"'Night,"

"'Night,"

We soon fell asleep.

Around midnight, we heard banging above us.

"What the heck is going on up there?" I heard Lindsay whisper.

"I dunno. That's the fourth floor," I whispered.

"Weird," Lindsay muttered.

"Probably Peeves," I said.

"Yeah. You're right," Lindsay agreed.

We dozed off again.

The next morning, we met Sam sitting at the Gryffindor table, along with Joey Simpson, another fellow Gryffindor.

Immediately, I felt my heart fluttering. My name is Fox Ramone. I'm 11 years old with shoulder length curly auburn hair and blue eyes. Lindsay has shoulder length blond hair and blue eyes. Sam has short, black hair and hazel blue eyes. I sat beside Lindsay. Sam and Joey were sitting across from us.

"Hey," Joey said, brightly to me.

"H-hi," I stammered nervously.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lindsay giggling quietly. Smiling, I jabbed my elbow into her side.

I heard her let out a whoosh of air.

"What was that for?" I heard her growl.

I turned to her.

"Stop giggling," I hissed through gritted teeth.

"Sorry," Lindsay muttered.

We began helping ourselves to pancakes, sausage, toast, and bacon.

"This is the best food I've ever had," Joey said, eagerly.

He has short, wavy thick light brown hair and brown eyes.

"I know. The elves have outdone themselves," Lindsay said.

I frowned at her.

"Oh geeze...Lin, you stuck your foot in something again," Sam moaned catching my expression.

Lindsay looked under the table and looked at the bottom of her shoe.

"What are you talking about?"

Sam snorted with laughter. "You said 'elves',"

"Oooh," Lindsay said, as realization dawned on her. "Sorry, Fox."

"Had I been here when Hermione started S.P.E.W, I would've joined," I said.

"Right," Sam said nodding.

I just shook my head.

"You know...you're like obsessed with Hermione Granger's work. You're like trying to be exactly like her," Lindsay said. "It's starting to be come slightly annoying."

I saw Sam's expression. Even Joey looked upset.

I stood up and not saying a word, I turned and stalked out of the Hall.

"Fox!" I heard Sam's voice calling.

I heard him jogging after me. He finally managed to catch up with me in the corridor and he gently grabbed my arm, just above the elbow. He spun me around to face him. His blue eyes were filled with concern.

"Don't listen to her," Sam said.

"But she's right!" I said, throwing my hands up in the air.

"No, she's not," Sam said, earnestly.

He looked cute in the Gryffindor uniform. Dark gray slacks, a gray V-necked vest with the maroon and gold stitching along the neckline, the maroon/gold striped tie tucked into the vest and the black robe with the Hogwarts crest. I was dressed the same way except I had a gray pleated skirt. The girls had skirts; the boys had slacks.

"There's nothing wrong with wanting to be good at school, Fox. But I hope you know where to draw the line," he said, gently.

"I'm probably annoying to you as well," I muttered, turning around and looking out the window at the grounds. I folded my arms on top of the windowsill and rested my chin on them. The warm morning sunlight hit my face and reflected in my eyes. Sam stood beside me and also folded his arms on the windowsill.

"You're not annoying to me, Fox," he said, quietly and softly. "You never were."

I looked at him surprised.

I had always thought he liked Lindsay...but now maybe he likes me?

"What are you saying, Sam?" I asked.

"I like you as a best friend, but I also like..." his voice trailed off because I cut him off.

"Don't bother. I'm sure you and Lindsay will be very happy together," I said, and walked away.

SAM.

I stared after Fox, wondering why she was acting this way. I was going to tell her that I liked her as a best friend, but I also liked her more than a best friend. I was starting to feel differently toward her. True, mostly everyone thinks Lindsay and I should be a couple, but I liked Lindsay as a best friend and only a best friend. I hurried after Fox.

"Fox? What's really bothering you?" I asked, catching up to her.

Fox turned to me, her eyes brimming with tears.

"I'm scared! I heard banging above us on the fourth floor last night!"

"Oh. Fox...it was probably Peeves," I said, soothingly.

"I don't think so! This sounded different," she said, shivering.

I put a hand on her shoulders.

"Let's go check it out, okay?" I suggested.

Fox nodded.

FOX.

Sam and I headed up to the fourth floor. Immediately, we were hit with an ice cold blast of air. Then, this shadow flew at us. I screamed. Sam grabbed me and threw me to the floor. The shadow hit him. He was knocked backward and didn't move.