Chasing Shadows

Chasing Shadows

Chapter Nine-A Descendent

Fox burst into hysterical tears. Sam stood up and went over to her. He threw his arms around her and hugged her tightly.

The first years were sobbing. The boys looked sick and pale. Professor Flitwick had Professor McGonagall take all the first years out of the classroom and wait in hers for the time being.

Madam Pomfrey had come and taken Lindsay's body upstairs to the hospital wing.

Harry and I stood and comforted Fox.

"We're so sorry," Harry said, quietly to her.

Sam stepped forward.

"If you know what happened, please tell us," Sam said. There was a touch of anger in his voice.

"We think she's a descendent of Lord Davis," I said, slowly.

"I don't believe it. Right now, Fox needs support," Sam said, as he turned and focused his attention onto Fox. They began heading out of the classroom. I figured they were going to the common room.

I sighed.

"Don't feel bad. We'll figure this out too," Harry said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

"I know. I just feel so badly for her," I said, quietly. "We know what it's like to lose someone we care about."

"I know...but Ron returned to us...remember?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, but somehow I doubt Lindsay will be returning," I muttered as we began walking to the library. I didn't have class until tomorrow.

"How do you figure?" Harry asked.

"Oh Harry...please, open your eyes. That was something new Lord Davis did. He never did that before. It was like...he squeezed Lindsay's heart," I said, sighing.

Harry went pale.

"Oh,"

"We really need to do more research on Fox's ancestors," I replied.

So, we headed to the library.

FOX.

Sam stayed with me in the common room. I was sitting in a chair leaning forward with my elbows resting on my thighs. I was holding a crumpled tissue.

"I can't believe what I saw," I sobbed.

Sam was crouching down in front of me, his hands resting on either side of my thighs on the edge of the chairs' seat.

"I know. I saw it too," Sam said, quietly.

"Why is this happening?" I asked, looking up into Sam's hazel blue eyes.

They were filled with remorse and tears as well.

"I don't know...but I have a feeling that Harry and Hermione know what's going on here," Sam replied.

"They'll help us...I know it," I said.

Sam smiled.

"I'm sure of it,"

"I miss her so much already," I said, bursting into fresh tears.

Sam slipped his arms around me and pulled me against him. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tightly. I pressed my face into his shoulder and sobbed.

"Hey. We'll figure this out...don't worry," Sam said, reassuringly.

I gently pulled back from the embrace. Sam kept his hands on my shoulders. A strand of my hair fell over my eye. He reached up and tucked it behind my ear, then lowered his arm as if embarrassed.

"I don't know what I would do without you," I said, forcing a smile through my tears.

I leaned forward and quickly gave him a kiss.

He seemed stunned.

"I'm sorry. That was stupid," I muttered. "I'm going to class."

I stood up. Sam went to say something but I left the common room before he could continue.

SAM.

I stared after Fox. I actually liked the kiss. I had wanted to tell her that it wasn't stupid, but she had just up and left.

Sighing, I got up and followed her.

We met up in Transfiguration. Fox was busy taking notes. I sat down beside her.

"Hey," I said. "Why'd you run out of the common room like that?"

"Because I just embarrassed myself, okay?" she replied.

"How?" I asked.

"By kissing you. Can we please just drop it?" Fox asked, turning her eyes onto me.

I was shocked, but didn't pressure her anymore.

"Fine."

She kept her eyes on her parchment. I pulled out my quill and a piece of parchment and began copying down the notes Professor McGonagall had written on the board.

She really had no reason to be embarrassed. I didn't mind the kiss...In fact I wanted to kiss her.

About an hour into the lesson, Harry and Hermione came into the room.

"Professor McGonagall? May we please borrow Fox for a moment?"

"Certainly," Professor McGonagall said.

Fox, let her quill drop and stood up. She walked toward the back of the classroom where Hermione and Harry were standing.

HERMIONE.

Fox came over to us.

"What is it?" she asked, halfheartedly.

"We found something I think you'll be interested in," Harry said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Fox looked back at Sam before we led her to the library.

We found a book called MEDIEVAL KINGS AND THEIR DESCENDENTS.

I flipped open to the page where we found the information.

Fox sat down at the table and began reading:

"Lord Davis' descendents have a birthmark in the shape of a crown on their arm. It filters down through each generation," she read aloud. "What does this have to with me?"

"Check your arm," I said.

Fox rolled up her sleeve on the left arm. Sure enough, there was the birthmark.

"My God...it's true," she said, astonished.

"So I'm a descendent of Lord Davis?" she asked, wide-eyed.

We nodded.

"But-how?" she asked.

"Might I suggest asking your parents," Harry said.

Fox nodded.

"Can you come with me to the Owlery?"

"No problem," I said.

We headed up to the Owlery.

Fox wrote a note to her parents and used one of the schools tawny owls. The owl extended its wings and took off gracefully.

She turned to us.

"What happens if I am a descendent?"

"He will try and kill you. He tried to kill me three years ago, but failed," I replied.

Fox went pale.

"Don't worry. We won't let anything happen to you," Harry said. "Or Sam."

She seemed a great deal calmer now.

We headed back to class.

Harry and I decided to stay with Fox and Sam to keep an eye on them. Thankfully, no further happenings occurred.

The next day, I was to teach History of Magic. I stood in front of the classroom, facing the students. They were eagerly awaiting my instructions. Fox had her arms cross on top of the desk and her head was resting in them. It looked like she had dozed off. Figuring she must've had a bad night, I didn't bother to wake her up. Harry nodding at her, signaling me, but I just shook my head. He nodded and took a seat toward the back.

I began the lesson by putting notes on the board.

Everyone began copying them.

"Okay...can anyone tell me about the Troll Proclamation of 1509?" I asked.

Several hands went into the air. I pointed to a shy looking boy with blond hair.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Joey Simpson,"

"Okay, Joey, shoot," I said.

"The Troll Proclamation of 1509 stated that trolls were free to roam a certain part of the land. If they wandered off of that land, they were subjected to curses," he replied.

"Good! And what about the Rebellion of the Myrenx?"

A girl raised her hand.

"Suzie Edwards," she introduced herself. "The rebellion of the Myrenx was when the Myrenx's decided to try and overthrow the section of the Ministry of Magic because they felt that the Ministry was taking over their land. They were large bi-pedal creatures with long orange fur and white eyes. They're harmless, except when threatened."

"Wonderful!" I said, ecstatic.

To my surprise, the Slytherins seemed to be getting along with the Gryffindors. I guess since Malfoy left, things have certainly changed.

"10 points to Gryffindor!"

A Slytherin girl raised her hand next.

"Professor Granger? Did the War of the Wyanam's result in the fall of the magical society back in 1144?"

I nodded.

"My name is Robyn Travis," she continued.

"That's right. For about 30 years, no one was allowed to do magic because of the war. It was between Muggles, wizards and witches," I said, beaming. "Ten points to Slytherin."

Robyn beamed.

Slytherin definitely changed since we left. It seemed like the malicious students started acting more along the lines of Gryffindor. Salazar would be turning over in his grave if he knew about this.

I wrote down more notes and the students copied them down as well. For a first lesson, it was going exceptionally well.

I looked at Harry. He was grinning and gave me a wink. I grinned back.

Just then, Fox screamed and sat bolt upright, knocking her books on the floor.

Everyone jumped and looked at her concerned.

Harry was the first to reach her.

"Fox? Are you alright?" he asked, crouching down beside her.

She was shaking violently.

Harry began smoothing back her hair away from her face.

"Fox?" Sam asked, peering at his best friend.

Fox was pale. Harry put a hand on her arm. I hurried over now.

"She's ice cold," Harry said.

"What happened?" I asked her gently and soothingly.

"I-I saw what Lord Davis did to those that he thought were magically talented," she said in a shaky voice. "I also saw him trying to kill me."

She was shaking badly.

"It's okay...it was just a dream," Sam said, soothingly.

"N-no...I don't think so. I saw everything like it was real," Fox replied, looking up at me.

"Okay...class? You're dismissed for now," I said.

They gathered their things and headed out of the classroom, worriedly glancing back at Fox.

"Why would Lord Davis want to kill me if I'm a descendent of his?" Fox asked, looking from Harry to me.

Harry was still stroking her hair, trying to keep her calm.

"That part I don't understand myself," I said, slowly. "It doesn't make sense."

Just then, one of the Ravenclaw boys burst into the room looking terrified.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"P-Professor Granger! One of the girls is hanging on the wall!" he cried.

Harry and I looked at each other. Fox and Sam followed us as we bolted from the room.

There was a girl hanging upside down spread eagle on the wall. She was frantically trying to keep her skirt from rising up. The students were huddled against the opposite wall, looking terrified and scared.

"Help me!" the girl screamed.

Harry ran over to the wall and tried to grab her arms to pull her down. After a few tries, something knocked him backward onto his rear end. We looked up and saw the shadow holding onto the girls' ankles.

Fox angrily stepped forward.

"Let her go!" she yelled at the shadow.

Harry and I could clearly see the shadow as well.

The shadow didn't move.

"LET HER GO!" Fox yelled again.

The shadow then let go. The girl screamed as she fell. She hit her head on the floor and fell to her side, not moving. A small puddle of blood had begun forming near her head.

Several of the first years screamed and began hugging themselves.

"Take them away," I said.

Sam offered and he ushered them down the corridor away.

The shadow disappeared.

"Harry? Go get Professor Dumbledore," I instructed.

Harry nodded and headed off to the office. Fox stood beside me.

"What's going to happen, Professor Granger?" she asked, quietly.

"Call me Hermione," I said, kindly. "I don't know, but we'll figure it out soon and come up with a plan. Trust me."

Fox nodded and smiled.

"I do trust you,"

I smiled back.

A short while later, Harry returned with Professor Dumbledore.

We explained to him what just happened.

"It's starting again?" he asked, quietly.

"Yes, this time this young lady is the target," I said, gesturing to Fox. "We found out that she's a descendent of Lord Davis."

"Why would he be trying to kill his own descendent?" Professor Dumbledore asked.

"I don't know sir, but I think we'd better find out soon before another innocent student is killed," I said, swallowing.

Professor Dumbledore nodded.

"I might suggest the book you used three years ago. It might be of some use," he said, handing me the book.

"You had this the whole time after we left?" I asked, surprised.

He nodded, his blue eyes twinkling behind his half moon spectacles.

"Absolutely. I had a strange feeling that we hadn't seen the last of Lord Davis,"

I shook my head and smiled.

"What are we going to do now?" Harry asked, standing beside me.

"I think we'll cancel classes for a while. Keep everyone in the common room. If they need to leave to use the restroom, they are to go with an escort. The attacks seem to be in the corridors," Professor Dumbledore said.

Harry nodded.

"Hey...where's Ron?" I asked suddenly, remembering we hadn't seen him for two days.

"My God! Yeah! Where is he?" Harry asked alarmed.

"Let's go find him," Fox said.

We hurried to the Gryffindor common room. He wasn't there. Harry even tried the boys' dorm...nothing.

"Where is he?" I asked, starting to become panicked.

Harry's face drained of all color.

"Let's check the fourth floor. Fox? You stay here," Harry said.

Fox nodded.

Harry and I then flew up to the fourth floor.

"RON?" we called.

No reply. It looked exactly like it had three years ago.

"Lindsay would've known where he went, but she's not here to tell us," I replied, sadly.

"We'll find him," Harry said, earnestly.

Just then, Ron stepped out of one of the classrooms and faced us. His head was low.

"Ron! Oh thank God!" I cried, relieved.

I went to lunge for him, but Harry threw his arm out across my chest to stop me.

We watched as Ron slowly raised his head. His eyes had changed into a red color and he was smiling.

"Ah...I remember you," he said in a voice that wasn't his.