She whispered

by Lucas Chesterton

  Her stomach grumbles broke her thoughts as she headed back. She put her things away making sure to put her broom back and under the cloak headed back to school before she slipped in and stuffed the cloak back in Ron was as bright as possible despite his appearance she sat down, she got caught up on a brawl and that Neville was out cold after a brief fight with two bigger boys.

  ‘So much for not being brave,’ Holly joked, ‘Look I need to talk to someone,’ she headed over and rushed Sally as she caught up him.

  ‘Yes?’ He asked as Holly caught up, ‘you seemed to have been late getting to dinner.’ He commented.

  ‘Right, here it’s a late Christmas present, they may be big,’ she admits as she handed him a thick pair of wool socks.

  ‘Thank you,’ he smiled as he patted her on the shoulder. ‘Now what pray tell can I help you with?’

  ‘Well, I may have disregarded a rule,’ she evaded as he eyed her, ‘but I think what ever is being hid under the third-floor corridor may be in trouble,’

  ‘Really?’ He seemed surprised but her dad pulled a similar stunt.

  ‘Two of the teachers were, well I am not sure one of them was very flippant so I wasn’t sure but one of them wants a stone I am not suppose to know about,’ she sighed as she found a painting rather interesting.

  ‘I will look into it, you need not worry about it,’ he gave her a pat on the shoulder, ‘oh forgive an old man his slipping old mind but congratulations on the Quidditch win,’ he smiled before he said something and a stone griffin statue moved out of the way.

  Holly headed down in happy spirits, Sally was tipped off, classes were good, and her second victory was still fresh.

  However with the end of the school year about ten weeks away Hermione did her regular study set up Holly was so use to it that even the extra home work was handled. Which freed Hermione up to drag Neville in on the study sessions, who seemed happy to have the help, well more so than Ron.

  ‘It’s the first beautiful day out and here we are,’ Ron complained as he balanced his new wand under his noise, the new wand made classes easier for him.

  ‘Next time we can study by the lack, but I am not packing things up now, just so you can find a new distraction in the giant squid.’ Holly frowned, as she glanced over to see Hector as he moved into view. ‘Dragons huh? I recall you mentioned the desire to have one. Decided on studying a bit before heading to Romania?’ She asked,

  ‘Holly nothen gets past you, you are not looking into Nicholas are ya?’ he sighed,

  ‘Homework,’ Holly raised the book. He seemed to find some relief in that. ‘Besides we got that figured out, around my first Quiditch match,’ Holly shrugged as Neville looked up, ‘nothing to worry about,’ she waved, she figured he had enough problems then to burden him with more.

  ‘Huh?’ Neville frowned in confusion,

  ‘Don’t go speeding it students are not sapose to know,’ he hushed,

  ‘I do have some concerns, one being that I found out but something has been bugging me,’ Holly admitted.

  ‘now, you can come by my place, not saying we’ll talk, any way then if you don’t mind I need to get going,’ he ushered him self away as Ron took off to inspect the books he looked over.

  ‘A book on breeding dragons?’ Ron frowned as Holly stood up.

  ‘Let’s go, I got a feeling Hector had a bit of more than he could chew,’ Holly sighed as she packed up her things.

  ‘What about homework?’ Hermione frowned ‘we only have ten weeks left.’ Ron jumped at the chance as Hermione sighed the four headed down

  Holly could say she wasn’t suprised at the Dragon egg being in the fire as she cursed her hair length. Hermione buttered up Hector and Neville was suprised to find out about the stone, Hector started to kick himself when he realized Neville didn’t know and seemed hurt they left him out.

  ‘Sorry didn’t think you would be interested tell you what next time I stumble onto a mystery involving a giant three headed dog I’ll let you know.’ Holly smiled Neville went pale at the idea. ‘ one step at a time,’ Holly told him ‘So what, what did the stranger look like?’

  ‘I don’t know, he kept his hood up,’ Hector shrugged Hermione frowned but Holly shook her head Blimy,’ Hector jumped up. He got up to close the gap as Holly spotted the blonde in a dash for the castle.

  ‘Malfoy, he must be looking for revenge for the black eye I gave him.’ Ron admitted Holly gave him a smirk as they headed off.

  Things started to drag, after an interesting birth of what looked like a wadded up umbrella. A week or so latter Hermione and Neville joined her on a late night trip up to the tallest tower.

  ‘I think teddy got its head torn off,’ Neville swallowed as Holly patted him on the back.

  ‘Just be thankful for levitation spells, could you imagine dragging Norbert up the stairs?’ Holly gave out a hollow laugh.

  The dragon was set off as Holly sighed she picked up the cloak when suddenly someone started up the stairs she acted on instinct and tossed the cloak over a pair of panicked friends as Filtch spotted her, ‘my my we are in trouble,’ he smiled as his cat purred contentedly.

  ‘I am sure you say that to all the trouble makers,’ Holly smiled

  ‘That grins going to be torn of your face, little girl, your game won’t protect you here,’ he grinned as he motioned for her to head down.

  ‘So much for the cloak,’ she frowned as she soon found herself getting a detention and a stern talking to, but McGonigal’s look of disappointment didn’t bug her. Holly got Hector out of some serious legal trouble, and with all the points she earned the house could survive the hit. ‘… are you even listening, to make it worse you tricked Malfoy.’

  ‘Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy,’ Holly thought as a sly satisfied grin blinked on her face but the head house caught.

  ‘To think you would do such a thing,’ she frowned,

  ‘Sorry,’ she lied

  ‘You are such a good student, I never would have guessed you be capable of such treachery,’ she scorned,

  ‘I guess I am more like my dad than you thought,’ Holly admitted she was really digging a hole at this point.

  ‘Ten more points from Gryphondor for your check,’ she frowned but Holly didn’t react she figured the Proffesor was taking it as her being a troublemaker like her dad, but she ment it as another Holly like her dad was more than willing to take a hit for a friend. ‘It seems points are not enough you will be serving a detention as well.’

  ‘Sounds fair,’ Holly admitted, as McGonigal eyed her the teacher seemed very torn.

  ‘You are not playing distraction for and older students are you?’ She asked leaning into her desk as Holly blinked in suprise at the question.

  ‘No,’ Holly responded.

  ‘What were you doing up there if you had your astronomy stuff it would make sense but this hole event makes no sense,’ she tapped her chin but Holly went silent. ‘Mark my words Miss Potter no good will come from covering form older students rarely does it work out for the younger students.’ She erged,

  ‘It’s, it’s getting late Proffesor we both have work in the morning.’ Holly sighed she was getting tired and already the regret from her out burst was sneaking up her dad was probably going to chew her out over it.

  ‘I can’t force you to talk, head to bed we will deal with your detention later.’ She dismissed Holly stood up and moved to leave.

  ‘Professor are Dragon bites poisonous?’ She asked.

  ‘No, They are know to carry bacteria in their both so bites can be dangerous however most don’t live that long, why?’ She asked

  ‘Just worried about a friend,’ Holly admitted.

  Holly wasn’t to suprised by the student body, she and Malfoy were given some glares from their respected houses but the hufflepuff and Ravenclaw houses seemed happy since the two front runners were now closer. It also was not long for the Dragon rumor to start up, thanks to her hint, as well as Malfoy people were not sur
e what was up so it took the bite off a bit replaced more with curiosity, every so often someone would as and Holly would just smile and shrug. Neville and Hermione were very apologetic but Holly waved them off, they seemed to feel guilty about her determination but Holly wasn’t.

  Quirrel wasn’t doing much better as Holly was certain that Snape was behind the attempts with the Defense teacher being pushed in unless someone else was had bullied the man he did seem easily pushed around. Holly had pondered this for the rest of the day til she got her detention slip that evening.

  ‘How much do I not know?’ The thought rolled around in her head uncle Sirius taught her quite effectively that not everything was as it seemed, and that any good scam usually had an unseen third party.

  Even as she walked next to Malfoy as they headed out she ignored his whining as she battled two ideas the evidence she new against her fathers trust, as far as she knew her dad had never been wrong about who to trust.

  ‘You can pack your things and leave,’ Hector finished as Holly watched Malfoy hesitate but Holly rolled her eyes.

  ‘Can we get on with it already if prince blue blood here wants to leave fine, but the longer this takes the less sleep I get, do you want to see me without sleep,’ Holly snapped as Malfoy shook his head,

  ‘Then get in the damn forest,’ she pointed

  ‘I’ll be back in the morning for what’s left of them,’ Filch grinned as he turned Holly rolled her eyes.

  ‘Ye of little faith Hector wouldn’t let anything happen to us,’ Holly smilled at the giant as the man’s mustache twitched in a smile but he urged them onward.

  ‘Lumos,’ Holly casted as her wand tip added as a third laturn. ‘Unicorn blood,’ Holly recognized,’ as Hector nodded, he explained what they were out for as Holly felt a puzzle piece suddenly click mid explanation.

  ‘Don’t worry Holly we will take care of it,’ Hector eased mistaking her own mental information. The pair moved on ward when the came to a split.

  ‘I say we go that way,’ Malfoy pointed as the other two Justus eyed him. Hector frowned,

  ‘This will slow us down, we head down one way then double back after some distance if we had some extra heads this wouldn’t be an issue.’ Hector muttered as he leaded the way his crossbow shouldered.

  ‘This is so stupid, this sort of work is for house elves,’ he muttered,

  ‘If I didn’t know any better I would say that your scared,’ Holly commented,

  ‘Scared, Potter,’ he huffed, ‘only a girl would be scared,’ as a sound snapped behind them which caused him to jump. Holly laughed as Malfoy went pink, only to hide behind Holly when the foliage was rustled. Hector brought forward his cross bow only to be greeted by a red haired and bearded centaur.

  Holly elbowed Malfoy in the gut to put an end to his pure blood redric. ‘Time and place,’ she hissed.

  ‘Stop hitting me Potter,’ he glared back,

  ‘I will as soon as you wise up,’ Holly responded this idiot hat no tact or sense he reminded her of a parrot he reacted words and expected the same results someone else got.

  ‘Never get directions from a centaur, not interested in anything closer than the moon,’ he grumbled, Malfoy seemed pleased with this comment, ‘let’s head the other way,’ he decided, Malfoy didn’t like that idea so much.

  ‘I think we are close, bloods getting thicker. Keep your eyes peeled and don’t get to far away.’ Hector warned as Holly glanced around she spotted something white and slide down a slight hill.

  ‘Find something Potter?’ He sniffly questioned.

  ‘Sorry, if you were hoping for balls, sadly no,’ Holly sarcastically answered,

  ‘You filthy half blood,’ he hissed back even now she could see him going red as Holly kept a dull expression on him. Only to raise an eyebrow as his face went chalk white, she spun her wand around to see something glide away from the unicorn corpse towards them its mouth glistening with silver blood. Malfoy screamed and ran as Holly stumbled back her wand still out but no spell came to mind she froze like a deer in the headlights. Suddenly a house like cry hit her ears as a third centaur appeared, the new figure kicked at the cloaked, figure.

  ‘Are you all right?’ He asked as Holly blinked up at the blonde haired bieng with astonishingly blue eyes.

  ‘Yes, thank you Mr.?’ She paused

  ‘Firenze, Miss Potter, the forest is not safe for you,’ he warned as Holly glanced at the magical creature. ‘I am afraid it is dead,’ he frowned.

  ‘Why would anyone want to kill such a beautiful creature?’ Holly asked her voice wavering in confusion.

  ‘What do you know of Unicorns?’ He asked I. A peaceful tone.

  ‘Less than I would like to admit, I think the horn has some potion utility, but the hair is used for wands.’ She recalled Ron complained about his old wand.

  ‘There is one reason, Holly,’ Hector interrupted, the blood of a unicorn will keep ya alive even if you are on the brink of death. But ya kill something so pure, your life is shortened by half and to add even more to this cruelty it creates a craving.’

  ‘A half life a cursed life,’ Firenze nodded,

  ‘But who would do such a thing?’ Holly asked,

  ‘Can you think of no one?’ Firenze whispered as a final piece clicked into place that meant Snape was clear in her mind but now a much larger problem was clear. ‘Now then I see you are safe, take care Miss Potter.’

  ‘Thank you Firenze, I hope I can return the favor someday!’ She called after him.

  ‘Potter,’ Malfoy muttered, in disgust, but as Holly rolled her shoulder she noticed he flinched if she got too close.

  ‘Malfoy,’ Holly returned,

  ‘Come on fang jobs done fer the night next will be going after that fellow.’ He grumbled, ‘damn collectors always causen trouble,’ he muttered as Holly realized Hector would probably not believe her.

  She was lead in by Filtch as Malfoy went on. ‘That was to easy, your all hot hair,’ as the caretaker of Hogwarts shit him murderus looks.

  She hit a few looks as she ignored the obnoxious blond and hit a short cut to make it to the fat lady, if she was lucky she could get enough sleep to get through classes and maybe get a nap in.

  ‘Holly,’ Hermione waved as Holly spotted Ron and Neville were up as well.

  ‘Shouldn’t you all be sleeping?’ Holly asked,

  ‘We were worried,’ Neville admitted,

  ‘I had full confidence,’ Rona mended as Holly gave a thankful smile.

  ‘I had a close call but I seem to find friends in the oddest of places.’ Holly rubbed the back of her head, ‘crap,’ she realized she had gained their undivided attention.

  A prolonged conversation started which kept her up for another hour as the Voldemort treated sizably upped even Holly’s concern. An immortal and rich Snape meant less potions trouble, but a returned all powerful Dark lord that wants to kill you was definitely a much bigger problem.

  The next day Holly sent out a letter about the night time event as well as the centaurs implications. She was a bit surprised that she didn’t get a response when Hedwig arrived ‘well that’s that I guess,’ Holly admitted ‘says he is going to look into it.’

  ‘I some how to feel robbed,’ Ron admired as Holly shrugged and went back to her homework.

  The next morning brought a surprise, one Professor Snape was grinding his teeth over. The staff table had three new people all looked like they had been up all night long.

  ‘Is that your dad?’ Samuels asked as Holly nodded, ‘what is he doing here?’

  ‘I’ll go find out,’ she stood up as Sirius brightened up. Her dad, however, looked like he was ready to hit someone.

  ‘We were looking into that letter last night, sadly outside a body and few unhelpful centaurs. We have concerned the guy can levitate nothing to go on besides the teeth mark, sadly wizards don’t need a dentist.’

  ‘So, in the end, we stayed up all night looking around and Nothing,’ Lupin grunted, as D
avid bit into his breakfast Snape seemed to be finding life more enjoyable at her fathers expense.

  Sally walked as her uncles greeted him but her dad ignored the man. The two seemed more than happy to ignore each other.

  ‘So no luck then?’ Holly looked her dad who seemed to be grumbling something.

  ‘Maybe if someone took the grounds security a bit more seriously rather than in the hands of one man, who is not legally allowed to use magic.’

  ‘Preferences,’ Sally said to his oatmeal.

  ‘Mom, dad, stop fighting,’ Sirius cracked as David tossed a spoon at him only for Sirius laugh at him.

  ‘Honesty, when ever you to around I swear the maturity level drops.’ McGonigal frowned as all three gave her an apologetic look.

  ‘Sorry, it’s been a ruff night,’ Sirius cracked as Holly groaned,

  ‘We looked into last nights detention,’ David mentioned, ‘it seems life threatening situations are now no longer worth telling parents,’ David frowned, as he glared at Sally.

  ‘What ever do you mean the detention was perfectly safe,’ she frowned not sure who she should give a disappointed look to.

  ‘He’s active, the theft the unicorn everything is connected, not mention her scar has been paining her.’ David nodded as McGonigal’s eyes went wide. ‘Someone apparently wasn’t telling anyone,’ David frowned.

  ‘Everything is under control David nothing to worry,’ Sally eased, ‘have faith in Lilly.’

  Her dad glared at him before he glanced at the deputy headmistress. ‘I need to look into this, I hope you will stick to less life threatening punishments in the future, like cleaning. In the mean time good luck, dealing with him,’ he gave McGonigal a sympathetic smile and stunned her with a quick hug. ‘Sally,’ he frowned as he headed off.

  Holly got a smile as she fallowed him out. People already started to whisper as her dad pulled out a small mirror.

  ‘It’s a bit early for a birthday gift,’ Holly frowned as she looked at it.

  ‘It’s a two way mirror me and Sirius would use it to stay in contact during detention. If anything comes up you let me know.’ He explained as she took it.