Harry Potter and the Green Skull

 
4. The Green Skull
 
Harry and Ginny were playing a game of Exploding Snap, when Ron and Hermione appeared again. They were smiling nervously, and looked even more pleased when Harry said he was sorry. “It's all right, mate,” said Ron cheerfully, and Hermione beamed at Harry, and hugged him gently. Harry wanted to tell them he knew, and was hoping they’d tell him about them being together, but they didn’t even mention it. Maybe it’s because Ginny’s here, thought Harry, as Ron and Hermione joined the game.
 
After a few rounds of the game, Hermione whispered something to Ron, and made the excuse that she needed to go to the toilet. After 5 minutes, Ron said he was going to pop upstairs for a second, while Hermione was upstairs as well. Harry tried not to smile or grin, in case he gave it away. But Ginny looked very suspicious, and when Ron had left the kitchen, she said to Harry, in a low voice, “I wonder what those two are up too?” Harry smiled slyly, and replied in an even lower voice, “Do you really want to know?” Her eyes widened, and she looked questioningly at Harry. But Harry kept quiet, and within ten minutes, Hermione appeared, followed by Ron. Ginny watched them closely, but Harry ignored all happenings, concentrating on the game.
 
After a few more rounds,Hermione’s and Ginny’s fingers looked like they were falling off, so they stopped playing, and Hermione and Ginny rushed off to soak their hands in cold water. Ron laughed as they ran off, and said jokingly to Harry, “Women, eh?” Harry smiled slyly, and then asked Ron, “So, anything new?” Ron eyed him, and replied suspiciously, “No. Why?” Harry shrugged, and replied coolly, “No reason. Just...curious.” Ron’s eyes widened, and then he rushed off, saying he had to check on something. Damn! Harry thought angrily, as Ron dashed off. He’d given it away, and now Ron was going off to tell Hermione. Oh well, Harry thought, leaning back in his chair, at least it’s only me who knows. Harry could just imagine what Fred and George would do and say if they knew. And how long would this thing stay secret? A week? A month? The entire year? Harry doubted even an hour, without Lavender Brown or Parvati Patil finding out though.
 
They were resident gossips of the Gryffindor fifth year, Lavender especially. They were also Hermione’s roommates, and Harry knew that they’d soon find out something like that quickly. He wondered how long it would take Dean, Seamus and Neville though. They would find out when Parvati and Lavender did surely, as he knew Lavender and Dean had just started dating at the end of term. Though, Harry thought realistically, that could have split up by now. Harry then noticed Hedwig and Errol, the Weasley’s owl, were in the corner, with a large eagle owl. Harry knew that the school used eagle owls, and guessed it was a Hogwarts owl. He was right - it was a Hogwarts owl, with letters from school for him, Hermione, Ron, Fred, George, and Ginny. Harry called Ginny’s, Ron’s and Hermione’s names, as he saw Fred and George were making their way towards the house, followed by Mrs Weasley. “Oh, hello dear,” she said, eyeing him curiously. “Is everything all right now?” Harry nodded, and replied, “Yeah, I was just a little tired.” She nodded, as Fred and George picked up their letters. “Strange these things arriving now,” said Fred, as he opened his. Ron and Ginny appeared in from the stairs now, and picked up theirs. Harry then picked up his and Hermione’s, but Hermione hadn’t come down yet. Harry placed hers on the kitchen table, and opened his. He then jumped back in surprise.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
 
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)
Dear Mr Potter,

It is my pleasure in informing you that you have been chosen to be a prefect at Hogwarts school next year. This is a prestigious role and honour, as only two in a year are chosen from each house, one girl, one boy. Also attached to this letter is a list of the other prefects this year, and your head boy and girl. A list of books you will require this year is also attached. Parents and students are reminded that this year, fifth years will take their O.W.L.s, and should be well prepared.

There will also be a Halloween Ball this year, for Fourth years and up only. No other students from other years will be allowed to go, as there will be several alcoholic beverages.

The Hogwarts Express will leave at 11:00 on September 1^st.

I look forward to welcoming you as a prefect in the new year, Harry.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
 
Harry stared at the letter again. A prefect? Him? It didn’t make much sense, Harry thought, as he put his hand on the table to support himself from falling over. George now walked up to him, grinning mischievously, and said in a voice that reminded Harry of a doctor. “Ooh, I know that look. Don’t you Fred? Surprised by a letter? Holding the table for support?” Fred jumped up, grinning mischievously as well, and snatched the letter out of Harry’s hand. “Yep,” he said in a saddened, but grinning voice, “Harry’s a prefect.” Ron yelled out a surprised sound, and snatched the letter off Fred. “No way? That’s great!” he said, dropping the letter, and smacking Harry on the back. Hermione now appeared at the doorway, looking a little flustered. “What’s going on?” she asked in her usual bossy tone. “Harry’s been made a prefect!” Ron said, picking up the letter, and showing it to Hermione. She made a squeak of happiness, and hugged Harry again. “That’s wonderful, Harry!” she said happily. Ron tried not to look a little put-out not being made a prefect, but he was trying to hide it.
 
Ginny then kissed Harry on the cheek, and said appraisingly, “Congratulations, Harry,” she said smiling. Then she seemed to realise what she’d done, and went bright red, as Ron and the twins stared at her in disbelief. Fred coughed loudly, and George looked like he was planning something wicked. She then slunk into the corner of the room, glowing like her hair. Hermione then picked up her letter, and Harry heard Ron mutter, “I expect you’ve got onetoo, Hermione.” She looked at him, smiling slightly. If she doesn’t get one, Harry thought suddenly, it will be very strange. But Hermione let out another squeak of surprise, and she hugged Ron, as they read the letter. This made the twins seem very interested in what was going on. It must be a field day for them, Harry thought. First I’m made a prefect, then Ginny kisses me, and now Hermione and Ron have got their arms around each other. But was Hermione also competing with Ginny? She had been acting very strangely around him, and Harry was suddenly worried that she might like not only Ron, but Harry as well.
 
Later on, Harry was sitting out in the garden. Mrs Weasley had gone with Fred, George and Ginny to Diagon Alley, but Charlie was still at home, and had fallen asleep in the garden. Harry hadn’t wanted to go, and neither had Ron and Hermione, so they’d stayed with Charlie at the Burrow. It was a nice, sunny afternoon, and the day had been very eventful. Harry had shouted at Hermione and Ron, and told them he wanted to no longer be friends with them. He had found out that the two of them were now an item; he had been made a prefect; and he was pretty sure he was starting to like Ginny. For a fifteen year old, that was a pretty long day. But the only problem for Harry was – he knew it wasn’t over yet. Somehow he could tell that something big was going to happen. So he’d decided to hide in the garden, and read a book. Harry hadn’t really paid attention to the book he’d picked up when he had rummaged through his stuff, and it wasn’t until he’d found a quiet corner of the Weasleys'garden, that he’d realised which book it was. It was Dark Objects and Dark Lives, by Vert Crane. It was the book Sirius had given him for his birthday. Harry had a feeling that Sirius was going to be giving him a lot of books on the dark arts in the future. He wondered whether Sirius would have become a dark arts teacher at Hogwarts, if Wormtail hadn’t killed his parents. Harry knew Sirius had an interest for the dark arts, as did Snape.

Harry was now on a section,reading a section describing certain objects that were very dark and dangerous. Some of the more interesting objects Harry had so farread about were snake amulets, green skulls, black wands, and anything touched by Grindelwald, though Harry wondered whether this was a personal statement by the author, for otherwise there wouldbe loads of dark objects all over the world.
 
Harry was just starting to read about Dementors’ heads, when he heard someone approaching. A worried looking head, Hermione appeared over the fence. Harry had climbed over to get to the part were he was, followed by a puzzled looking head, Ron. The worried looking one then jumped over the fence. Harry noticed that Hermione was holding a bag. “What are you doing in a field, Harry?” Ron then jumped over the fence after Hermione, and said to Hermione, “Why are we here? That’s what I want to know.” Hermione then replied, as Harry put down his book, and sat up,“I-I’ve found something in my bag. I’m pretty sure I know what it is, but I’m not sure.” She then pulled out, from the bag she was holding, an object Harry recognised immediately. It had been in his book.It was a green skull. Hermione was holding it loosely, but her face had a weird expression, like she was fighting something. Ron however, saw it and jumped forward, trying to grab it off her. Harry lunged at Ron, pulling him back.
 
“What are you playing at, Ron!” Harry yelled at him, as Ron struggled to break loose of Harry’s grip. “Let...me...destroy...it! Hermione’s...in...danger!" He struggled, as he tried to throw Harry aside. Hermione now fell to floor, looking like she was in pain. “Kill it!” she screamed, and Ron threw Harry over the fence. Then, as Harry pulled himself up, he heard a piercing scream, and saw Hermione rolling around on the floor. Ron crouched beside her and there was a smoking crater next to them, where the skull had been after Hermione had dropped itto the ground. Harry leapt over the fence, and stood over Ron, who was holding Hermione as she sobbed. “What happened?” Harry asked Ron, who let go of Hermione, but she still was wrapped around him. “I-I’m not sure. I saw the skull, destroyed it, and Hermione collapsed in pain.” Hermione then stopped crying, and sobbed, as she still clung to Ron. “It possessed me. It was a-a dark wizard.” Ron’s face went completely white, back got up and backed away from Hermione. Hermione was still on the floor, and started shouting, “I was in control then!” Harry knew what they meant, but he pretended to look puzzled. Ron looked calmer, and strolled over to Hermione, and helped her up. “Sorry,” he said softly, and she nodded, still sobbing, and had tears rolling down her face. Harry then realised something, and cursed loudly. Hermione and Ron stared at him, as he explained, “You used magic, Ron! The Ministry’ll be here in minutes!”
 
Ron and Hermione looked at each other in panic, and Ron let go of Hermione. “We can’t tell them about the skull, Harry. It was probably put in there by someone at the Ministry.” Harry thought about this. If Hermione’s things were searched at the Ministry, then it was obviously planted at some point either during or after that. “Maybe, but that doesn’t give us much to go on.” said Hermione, whose tears seemed to have evaporated. Harry then said blankly, “Then I’ll take the blame.” Ron and Hermione stared at him in disbelief. “You? But-but they’ll expelyou from Hogwarts,” Ron hissed. Hermione nodded in agreement, and backed Ron up, by stating, “He’s right, Harry. You can’t afford to be expelled. Not with...one thing and another...” Harry knew what she meant. “But what if I took the blame?” Hermione asked. But before Ron or Harry had a chance to share their thoughts, a witch dressed in dark blue robes appeared in front of them. She looked awfully familiar, Harry thought. She had long black hair, tied behind her, and had tanned skin. “Which one of you is Ronald Weasley?” the witch asked them strongly.
 
The three looked at each other, and before Ron could step forward, Harry stepped forward, and said clearly, “I am.” The witch looked at him in amusement, and said sceptically, “Nice try, Mr Potter. I take it you are Mr Weasley?” she asked Ron. He nodded, but didn’t speak. He looked very worried. “We detected the use of unauthorised magic in this area. We also identified it as being used by you. I believe it was a Explodos spell?” Ron shrugged, and said quietly, “I used it in anger. I did it by accident. I didn’t even have my wand on me...”
 
But he could tell the witch wasn’t paying attention. She was now looking at the green crater where the skull had been. She seemed to look worried. “Is that what I think it is?” she asked in a small voice. Hermione replied, “It was a – a Green Skull.” Ron shot a look of anger at her, as did Harry. Was she trying to get them in trouble? “A Green Skull?” The witch had jumped back, and had her wand pointed at the crater. “Resurrectio,” she said, and a blue flash of light flew from her wand to the crater. Then, where the crater had been, a shadowy Green Skull was sitting in it. Ron and Hermione jumped back in fright. The witch then waved her wand, and the skull disappeared again. “Hmm,” she said, examining what was left of the skull. Ron and Hermione didn’t move, but Harry stepped forward, and asked her, “Have we met before?” The witch looked up and smiled.
 
“My name is Annette Skeeter. I believe you’ve met my...” she paused. “Um, my sister” So this was Rita’s sister.But why did she pause? “Oh,” said Harry plainly. Ron looked a little surprised, but Hermione shot her a cold look. “I apologise for my sister. She’s always been – evil.” Hermione snorted, and Annette turned to her. “You must be Hermione Granger? I’ve – read about you. I assume my sister was up to her usual tricks when she was writing it?” Hermione nodded, and said bitterly, “It was her article that upset my...ex-boyfriend.” Ex-boyfriend? Krum had dumped her because of what Rita had said? Ron seemed to already know, as he wasn’t staring or cursing, as Harry would have expected him to.
 
“Well, I’m afraid Rita has disappeared recently, so I can’t give her any grief. She was last seen in London a few weeksago. She’d only just reappeared after her disappearance following the Triwizard tournament. But,now she’s disappeared again...” So Rita had disappeared. Harry wondered how many other disappearances would occur over the next few months. “You don’t suppose...You-Know-Who...” Ron said weakly, but Annette shook her head, and replied stiffly, “I assume she’s just gone underground. After some of the things she’s been saying, and after she lost her job, she’s been very touchy. No, You-Know-Who has got nothing to do with this. I hope,” she added quietly. Harry then asked, “So you believe he’s come back then?” She nodded, and replied, “Yes. After the things that have been happening, even if the Ministry has told the Daily Prophet to keep it quiet, disappearances, murders and damage doesn’t go unnoticed. And besides, you saw him, didn’t you Harry? And Professor Dumbledore believes he’s back.” Harry nodded grimly. Annette then turned to face Ron. “No charges will be pressed, and if your parents ask, I shall say it was not you, and it was a hoax set up by some pranksters. Now, I must be off.” She turned, and raised her wand. “I’ll be seeing you soon, Harry,” she said to Harry, winking, before vanishing.
 
Harry, Ron and Hermione stood there for a moment in silence, before Hermione asked Harry, “What was that about?” Harry shrugged. When would he see her again, he wondered. And how did she know about the Green Skull? Was it a well-known fact? Or had they just spoken to a Death Eater? Harry was unsure about the answers to all these questions, but what he decided, was that the next time a Ministry official turned up, he should be careful not to say too much.