The Hospital Wing and the Astronomy Tower

As Blaise was wandering the hallways after classes were let out, she ran into Sirius Black. He asked if she would see him in his office for a moment, as there was something important he needed to speak to her about.

"I know what you were talking about earlier," said Sirius. "But I don't know why. Is there something you want to tell me?"

"Yes," said Blaise, smiling. "You see, well, you probably know all about what's happening already."

"Yes," said Sirius. "And I lied to you earlier, when I said I was going to Hogsmeade. Really, I'm staying here, and I'll be guarding the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets, so don't even think about heading down there. Stay at the ball like you're supposed to."

"But it isn't me who'll be going there," said Blaise. "Actually, it's Draco I'm worried about. See, he's the sacrifice, and he has to be there, it's all been planned out, and even if you do guard the entrance, you won't stop him going down there. In fact, there's no point in guarding it, a Death Eater could come out at any time and kill you in the blink of an eye."

"Yes, but if I'm guarding it, no Death Eater can enter," said Sirius. "So if one was to come along, I could stun him, and send him off to Dumbledore."

Blaise made a noise of frustration. "When did Hogwarts become so... so uncaring?" she asked. "It's not that complicated. The Death Eaters probably went down into the chamber yesturday, or even earlier today, and they're just hanging about in there, waiting for Draco."

"But Draco won't be going to them," said Sirius. "Even if it means I have to tie him down to a chair by magic."

"But it doesn't stop the Death Eaters getting to him," said Blaise. "Please tell me Dumbledore has some big plan; that he knows this situation is a lot worse than he's treating it."

"Why would we need another plan?" said Sirius.

"This one's just not clever enough," Blaise cried. "When did Dumbledore become so ignorant?"

"He isn't ignorant," said Sirius. "We're just trying to solve this problem without having anybody die in the process."

"A wise man once told me you can't solve a problem by avoiding it," said Blaise. "But he's no longer wise; he's avoiding a problem as we speak."

"Blaise, it's fine, really," said Sirius. "Just don't go looking for trouble. And tell Harry that too."

"All right," said Blaise. "I'll see you later, professor."

***

Seamus was concentrating on walking in a straight line. He had had a bit much to drink only an hour before, and it was almost time to go to the ball, but he was still quite tipsy. He was concentrating so hard on keeping his steps in perfect allignment that he didn't notice he was directly outside the classroom he had been in that night he had seen the strange little man who had threatened him.

Seamus stopped when he realised where he was. He looked around and didn't see anyone, so he entered the classroom. It was almost exactly as it had been the night he had left it, except that light was flooding through the windows. Other than that, every detail was the same, right down to the little man standing in the center of the room.

"I've been expecting you," said the man. "My name's Wormtail, and I'm your new commander."

"Commander..." Seamus snickered. "And exactly what does my commander do?"

"You will do as I tell you," said Wormtail. "And you will not question my orders, understand?"

Seamus chuckled. "Oh yeah," he said. "I'll do anything."

"Good," said Wormtail.

"You didn't think I was serious?" said Seamus in disbelief. "You directing me would be complete madness. I don't have to take this bull shit from you, I think I'm gonna go... somewhere away from little freaks like you." With that, he turned on his heel, and made to leave the room.

"Not so fast, Seamus," said Wormtail, raising his wand.

Seamus whirled around. "How do you know my name?" he asked.

"We shared a dormitory for almost three years," said Wormtail.

"Funny, I don't recall a three year stay at St. Mungo's Department for the Criminally Insane," said Seamus.

"Very funny," said Wormtail. "Imperio!"

Seamus went suddenly rigid. "I am here to serve you, oh great one," he said, tonelessly.

"Very good," said Wormtail. "Now, go and fetch me a sandwich from the kitchens."

Seamus snickered. "You must be joking!" he shouted. "Your imperius curse is weak, my friend, very weak."

"Drat!" said Wormtail. "Don't you ever do that again!"

"Or what?" asked Seamus. "You'll tickle me to death?"

"That's not a bad idea," said Wormtail.

"I'll set you on fire again," said Seamus. "If that's what you'd like."

"What on Earth would you do that for?" asked Wormtail.

"Because you annoy me," said Seamus, childishly. "And your empty threats are getting on my nerves."

"You're a Celt, aren't you?" Wormtail questioned.

"Why do you ask?" said Seamus, curiously.

"I don't know," Wormtail replied. "Just trying to pass time."

"Pass time? What for?" asked Seamus. "I've got to get going, it was nice chatting and all, but I've got a ball to get to."

"What are you, Cinderella?" said Wormtail.

Seamus didn't reply. Instead, he was staring behind Wormtail, where a strange looking creature had appeared, almost as if out of thin air, but you couldn't apparate on the Hogwarts grounds, could you? Or perhaps that rule didn't apply to half-serpent, half-human things.

The thing raised an arm, so strangely inhuman, it was unbearable to see for Seamus, but when he tried to turn around, he couldn't, whether out of fear, or because the creature wouldn't let him, Seamus didn't know. But the thing raised a wand, and pointed it at Seamus.

"Imperio!" it hissed.

Seamus suddenly felt as though he were drowning, and a voice in his head told him to obey the Lord's orders. Seamus couldn't seem to fight the voice, and his own thoughts were squeezed out of him, leaving only orders to obey.

***

"Harry," said Blaise. "You've been staring at me for the past five minutes, is there something on my face?"

Harry shook his head, still looking dazed, an unusual look for him.

"Then what is it?" Blaise asked. "Why did you bring me out here?"

"Just," said Harry.

"What's wrong?" said Blaise.

"Nothing's wrong," said Harry, with a slight chuckle. "Why would something be wrong?"

"I don't know," Blaise replied. "It's only, you're acting really distant."

"I'm sorry," said Harry. "But isn't it nice out here?"

"Yes, but why are we out here?" Blaise asked, impatiently.

The two of them had been walking aimlessly through the Hogwarts grounds for the past five minutes. Nobody else was around as the younger pupils had already left to go to Hogsmeade, and everyone else was getting ready for the ball.

"Does it matter?" asked Harry.

Blaise smiled and shook her head. "But it's chilly, and the ball starts in an hour," she said.

Harry, who had grown a lot taller than he used to be before the age of fifteen, leaned down and kissed Blaise to make her shut up, there just didn't seem to be another way to stop her complaining. And Blaise didn't complain, or protest. In fact, she was quite happy just kissing Harry without having to worry about everything else that was going on.

Just when everything seemed perfect, Crabbe and Goyle just had to ruin the moment. They were not far away, and they were making a Hell of a lot of noise, giggling like giddy little school girls, touching each other in places neither Blaise nor Harry wanted to think about.

Blaise broke the kiss in pure frustration. "Will you two go find some other place to act disturbing?" she yelled.

Crabbe and Goyle both looked at her, both red-faced.

"I'm sorry, Blaise," said Harry. "Why don't we just go inside?"

Blaise nodded and followed Harry inside.

***

"Ginny," said Draco, sternly. "You're getting on my nerves."

"I'm sorry Draco, but it seems like I care about you more than you care about yourself," said Ginny. "And that would have to mean you care about yourself very little, or not at all."

"Why do you think everything's so bad?" Draco asked. "It's going to be just fine, and stop that pacing."

"No it isn't," said Ginny. "I know Voldemort's here, I can tell."

"Do you have some sort of bond with him?" Draco joked.

Ginny stopped pacing and looked him straight in the eye. "Yes," she said. "Ever since my first year, when... well when the Chamber of Secrets was opened."

"Oh yeah," said Draco, remembering. "I forgot about that."

"But it's bad," said Ginny. "Believe me, it's bad. You might be worse than dead by the end of the night, and we still don't know how we're going to stop it."

"Why are we in the library?" said Draco. "If we're going to the ball at all, we have to be there in twenty minutes, and that's if we want to make a fashionably late entrance."

But Ginny wasn't listening; she had gone back to pacing. "Think, what would Ron, Hermione, and Harry do?" she muttered to herself.

"Well, I'm quite sure they're all going to ball," said Draco. "They are completely clueless after all."

"Let's go to the ball," said Ginny. "Hermione should be there, I'll ask her."

"But we still have twenty minutes," said Draco. "And why are you going to ask Mudblood? I thought we agreed that we weren't going to tell anybody else, especially them. I thought this was my chance to be in the spotlight, but it seems like Potter's going to get all the attention I deserve again."

"Stop being difficult," said Ginny.

"Me?" said Draco. "You're the one who's going to involve Potter."

"Blaise probably already told him," said Ginny.

"To Hell with Blaise," said Draco, louder than he intended, causing Madam Pince to shoo them out of the library.