Harry Potter and the Dark Mark

Chapter Twenty One

They hurried down the corridors apprehensively. Hermione's face was drawn, while Ron glared suspiciously at everyone they passed. Harry felt fiercely angry with Voldemort. How had it come to this, that they were afraid to trust their own teachers?

A sudden yowl stopped the group in their tracks. "Crookshanks!" Hermione squealed, momentarily forgetting her worries and scooping the huge cat into her arms. He began to purr as she kissed his squashed, flat face and then stroked his back. He flicked his tail and stared sphinx-like at Ron. Ron rolled his eyes and leaned forward to stroke Crookshanks too.

"Come on, we really don't want to be late," Harry warned. They set off again, Crookshanks' purr almost as loud as their footsteps.

Ron attempted a joke. "Yeah, we don't want to get there to find Snape hexed the rest of the class and put the Dark Mark in the air!" The jest fell flat in the overbearing tension. Harry thought he was going to curse something when Hermione stopped again.

"That's it!" she exclaimed.

"What's it?" Ron asked.

"There was no Dark Mark over Hagrid's Hut!" she said, staring at the wall. She nodded her head slowly and then began walking again, lost in thought.

By now they were scurrying down the marble stairs into the Entrance Hall and catching up with the other Gryffindors. The crowds of students thinned as they slowed down to approach the staircase that led down to the dungeon levels. There was quite a large hold up because the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff third years had Potions and everyone was trying to cram down the stairs in one go. Harry steered Ron and Hermione to the back of the crowd and let everyone else go first.

"Let them get crushed instead of us," he said.

"Oh! Miss Granger!" a teacherly voice quavered. Harry turned to face Professor Figg.

"Yes, Professor?" Hermione asked politely.

"Please let me look at that magnificent creature!" she exclaimed, gesturing to Crookshanks. Crookshanks began to purr majestically and seemed to glow golden at the flattery. Professor Figg fussed and cooed over him as if he were a kitten.

"His name is Crookshanks," Hermione said.

"He is lovely, isn't he? He'd get on well with my Snowy! I must tell Professor Grubbly-Plank about him. She'd love to study him in one of your lessons, I'm sure," Professor Figg gushed. Hermione shot blank looks at Harry and Ron but smiled prettily at Professor Figg.

"Why, Professor?" Ron interrupted.

Professor Figg gazed at Ron in surprise. "Why? Because he is part Kneazle, of course!"

"Oh!" Hermione gasped, her face flushing. She cuddled Crookshanks to her and smiled. Ron's face showed signs of recognition too. It seemed only Harry was in the dark.

Professor Figg spied someone over Harry's shoulder. "Oh, Minerva!" she cried. "Minerva, come see Miss Granger's cat!"

Harry turned in shock. Just behind him was the very last person he wanted to see. Professor McGonagall looked at Crookshanks in a vague manner and then smiled at her three pupils. Harry gave a watery smile in return. His stomach turned. Was this woman really capable of all the things they suspected?

"Did I hear you say part Kneazle, Arabella?" Professor McGonagall enquired in her clipped Scottish tones.

"Ye-" Professor Figg began, but Crookshanks had erupted into a large, hissing, spitting fur ball at the approach of Professor McGonagall. Hermione squealed and dropped him and Professor McGonagall stepped backwards quickly, visibly alarmed.

"Crookshanks, behave!" Hermione rebuked her cat, but he ignored her and yowled angrily.

"Hell..." McGonagall began, her eyes flickering. There was a pause as her mouth struggled to form the right words. Her eyes were now fixed firmly on Crookshanks. "Hellfire and brimstone, what an unpleasant creature!" she exclaimed brusquely.

She looked about the entrance hall at the crowds of students who were laughing at the cat and then smiled awkwardly at Professor Figg. "Come along Arabella, we'll be late for our classes!" She turned away from the little group and began chivvying people along.

Harry shrugged at Ron and Hermione, and they took their leave of Professor Figg before hurrying down the stairs into the dungeons. As they dashed along the corridor to dungeon seven, where their class was being held, Harry panted to Ron, "What's a Kneazle?"

"Like a cat, but magical. They have lion's tails! Whoever would have thought McGonagall was scared of cats, eh?" Ron replied.

"Don't be stupid!" Hermione shot back. "She transfigures into one, so how can she be scared of them?"

"Oh yeah!" Ron looked perplexed. "Mind you, Crookshanks is a bit scary sometimes," he admitted.

"Here," Harry called as they almost ran past the classroom. It was the same dungeon they had attended Sir Nicholas' Deathday party in.

"Sorry we're late, Professor Snape," they chimed as they settled down at desks near the front of the classroom. The dungeon was just as cool and chilly as any other and it too had pickled animals in jars stored on shelves around the walls. Harry shivered slightly as Snape stared at them in annoyance.

"Late yet again, Mr Potter? My, you don't seem to show much enthusiasm for classes taught by me." His gaze moved to Hermione and Ron and then back to Harry. "Ten points from Gryffindor," he snapped, losing interest.

Ron scowled and pointed a finger at some of the other occupants of the classroom. "Slytherins!" he mouthed to Harry. Harry rolled his eyes. Just their luck.

"Today I will be instructing you in the art of dark magic. I assure you many of the spells and skills mastered in this dungeon will be highly dangerous and equally unpleasant."

The door swung open and Draco Malfoy sauntered in. He sat next to Pansy Parkinson near the back of the classroom and got out his books.

"You left the door open, Draco," Snape said softly.

Malfoy swaggered from his seat and closed the door, and then returned to his partner. When he was settled, Snape continued his speech from where he had left off.

"As I was saying, this class will be neither enjoyable or easy - well, for the majority of you that is - and I expect the same commitment and dedication that you require for your other academic subjects."

As he was speaking Snape stared at each one of them in turn, his eyes lingering on Draco and Neville in particular. Draco listened in rapt attention, in a manner not unlike Hermione. Neville was also spellbound but Harry could see how hard he was gripping his wand and guessed that Neville was very much afraid. He was glad they had told no one of their suspicions. Neville would have been even more terrified than he was now.

A loud sound suddenly interrupted the captivated silence of the class. It sounded like something vibrating. Everyone looked around, startled. It was Lavender who located the source.

"Hermione!" she hissed. Hermione blushed red and began fumbling around under her desk.

"Miss Granger, please put whatever the offending object is onto the desk," Snape instructed. Hermione nodded with her head bowed and eventually deposited a purring Crookshanks on the desk top. Crookshanks stopped purring and glared at her indignantly before turning to inspect Snape. There were a few giggles for the Gryffindors and disgusted snorts from the Slytherins.

"Sorry, Professor," Hermione muttered.

"Quite. Everyone turn to page four and read about the Torqueo Curse. I will dispose of this animal," Snape added. He took Crookshanks (who squirmed and yowled) and exited the classroom in a swirl of billowing black robes. Hermione looked stricken.

"Dispose?" she asked Harry in horror. He shrugged.

"Merlin's wand, can't you keep your ruddy cat under control, Granger?" Malfoy asked.

"Grunnion's onions Malfoy, aren't Slytherin playing Hufflepuff this evening? Is Daddy coming to watch?" Ron asked calmly, before Hermione could reply.

Malfoy looked coldly at Ron. "As a matter of fact, yes, my Father is coming to watch Slytherin kick Hufflepuff's arse," he sneered.

"Shame he wasn't there to give you paternal support when Gryffindor kicked your arse," Ron laughed. He was in the middle of turning away when Malfoy spoke again. He was obviously fuming.

"For your information Weasel, my father was present at that match. He saw Potty give Dumbledore a heart attack and he saw my superior tactics-"

"What, cheating?" Harry snarled.

Malfoy ignored him. "And then he returned home because he had important business to attend."

"A Death Eater meeting, you mean?" Ron asked. Everyone gasped. No one had ever accused Malfoy senior so directly before. Malfoy's countenance paled and his lips pressed together thinly. Slowly, so that everyone could see, he drew his wand on Ron.

"I meant that he had important Ministry business. Unlike your father, who is just a low level lackey. But say that again and I'll practise this curse on you," Malfoy threatened, indicating the text book on his desk. Ron snorted.

"You're all talk, Ferret Boy. You don't have the guts."

Harry was worried. He could see that Ron had hit a nerve with Malfoy. Unfortunately, Ron could see that too, and his smug demeanour was just goading Malfoy further. Before he could do anything, Malfoy was on his feet and shouting the curse.

"Torqueo!" Malfoy hissed. A flash of pale green light corkscrewed out of his wand and into Ron's stomach. Ron crumpled, screaming in agony. Harry knew exactly what the curse was doing to him. It was twisting Ron's insides about within him, causing him excruciating amounts of pain. Eventually it would lead to internal bleeding.

Hermione and Lavender were screaming, as were one or two Slytherin girls. Neville was sitting stock still, but Dean and Seamus were swearing. Parvati ran from the room. Harry thought she was going to be sick from the look on her face. Pansy smirked and Malfoy was smiling openly. It looked to Harry as if he were enjoying watching Ron in so much agony.

"Guts?" Malfoy jeered. "No, I think it's you who doesn't have the guts. But wait - why are you in so much pain?" He laughed maliciously as he stared at Ron, but was oblivious to Harry.

"Relaxo!" Harry bellowed, pointing his wand at Ron. His convulsions stopped and he lay sickeningly still on the floor. As Malfoy raised his wand to strike again, Harry realised he was the target this time. Ron's eyes flickered open and he groaned. Hermione was down beside him, and Lavender was scrambling to help.

"Petrificus Totalus!" a rather wavering voice called. Malfoy was subjected to the full body bind by none other than Neville. Pansy was forced to catch him as he keeled over. Harry shot a look of gratitude to Neville before shouting yet another charm.

"Contego!" he said loudly. A shimmering but weak bubble enveloped the Gryffindors. Harry felt the magic crackling through him and into the hazy shield and knew he couldn't keep it up forever.

"Quick!" he heard Parvati shriek. He realised she had gone to fetch Professor Snape.

"WHAT IS GOING ON?" roared an enraged Snape. Harry was flooded with relief and let his shield drop. His last thought before he fainted was the wild hope that he wasn't going to land on Ron or Hermione.