Chapter 20
The Gryffindor common room felt heavy with silence, the usual chatter replaced by hushed whispers and worried glances. Cassidy sat on the couch, wrapped in her own arms, her face blotchy from crying. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Hermione, still petrified in the hospital wing. George sat beside her, his presence a steady comfort as he silently watched over her.
"Why her?" Cassidy whispered, her voice cracking. "She didn't deserve this. Nobody does."
George squeezed her shoulder gently. "She'll be alright, Cass. They won't let her stay like that."
But even his reassuring words couldn't chase away the dread building inside Cassidy. The school was on edge, and she could feel it in the pit of her stomach.
The portrait hole suddenly opened, and McGonagall stepped in, her face grim. "Can I have your attention, please?" she called out, her voice steady but urgent. "Because of recent events, new rules are being put into effect immediately."
Cassidy's stomach dropped. She could tell from McGonagall's expression that things were about to get much worse.
"All students will return to their house common rooms by six o'clock every evening, all students will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher, no exceptions."
Cassidy looked back, and caught the eye of Ron and Harry, who seemed to be listening intently. Ron caught sight of her tear-streaked face, and gave a sympathetic, albeit encouraging smile. She smiled back mirthlessly and turned to Professor McGonagall yet again.
"I should tell you this." McGonagall's voice lowered, and she put away the parchment she had been reading from. "Unless the culprit behind these attacks is caught...it is likely the school will be closed."
Without another word, McGonagall turned and left. The room exploded into frantic whispers, and Cassidy stood, brushing past George after murmuring her thanks. She started towards Ron and Harry but froze when she caught Ginny's eye.
A cold, hissing voice slithered into her mind, the same way it had the night they found Mrs Norris.
"Kill... this trinket was made to kill..."
Cassidy blinked, her gaze narrowing in confusion as she stared at Ginny. Ginny looked away quickly, her eyes falling to the floor. Cassidy suddenly remembered the diary—something was wrong, but she couldn't place it.
Shaking it off, she made her way over to Harry and Ron, who were talking quietly.
"We need to talk to Hagrid," Harry said urgently. "If he let the monster loose last time, he'll know how to get into the Chamber of Secrets. It's a start."
"But Harry, it wouldn't be—" Cassidy began, but Harry spun toward her.
"Cassidy, Hermione's been petrified. Do you want it to happen to someone else? We need to talk to him, now."
Cassidy hesitated, the voice still echoing in her mind. Harry was right. They had to do something.
"But McGonagall said—" Ron started.
"We'll figure it out," Harry interrupted, a determined look on his face. "I think it's time to pull out my dad's old cloak again."
Cassidy banged on Hagrid's front door three times, huddled under the Invisibility Cloak with Harry and Ron.
"Keep knocking like that, Filch'll come running," Ron muttered. Cassidy ignored him, taking a step back with the rest of the group before Hagrid's front door flew open. He was holding a crossbow, aimed at the ready.
"Hello?" Hagrid called out into the night. "Hello?"
The group ripped off the Invisibility Cloak, and Hagrid sighed in relief.
"What's that for?" Harry stared at the crossbow, bewildered.
"He's using it to pick his bogeys, obviously." Cassidy said sarcastically, earning a side-eye from Harry. She tended to get snappy with other people when stressed.
"Cassie, quit it with the sass," Hagrid grumbled, turning to Harry. "I was expecting...uh...doesn't matter." He motioned for them to come in.
The warmth of the cottage enveloped them, as usual, and Cassidy looked at a sleeping Fang as they stood next to Hagrid's table. Hagrid poured a cup of tea, hands trembling. Cassidy looked up at him worriedly.
"Hagrid, are you okay?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, you look all trembly." Cassidy added, concerned. "Like you've seen a ghost."
"I'm fine. I'm alright." He muttered unconvincingly.
"D-did you hear about Hermione?" Harry asked again. Cassidy felt a pang in her chest, and fought to keep her tears from rising again. Silently, Ron's fingers brushed against hers, but when she looked up at him, he was looking at Hagrid, avoiding eye contact.
"Oh yeah, I heard about that alright." Hagrid answered grimly. Harry nodded slowly, mentally preparing himself for what he was about to ask of Hagrid.
"Look, we have to ask you something." Harry said cautiously, the firelight reflecting off his round glasses as he looked to the other two. "Do you know who's opened the Chamber Of Secrets?"
Hagrid hesitated.
"Please, Hagrid, we need to know." Cassidy's voice trembled. "Hermione's been petrified, she's-"
"I know that, Cassie." Hagrid interrupted, voice low. "What you have to understand about that is-"
Suddenly, Hagrid's door was being banged upon. The group turned their heads towards it, eyes wide with panic. A dog's barks could be heard, loud and aggressive. Cassidy squeaked in fear, something she wasn't accustomed to feeling. Not until her best friend got petrified.
"Quick, under the cloak." Hagrid instructed. Ron, Harry and Cassidy ran to the corner of the room, Ron pulling the cloak over them all. "Don't say a word." Hagrid whispered, going towards the door with his crossbow at the ready once more. As he opened it, Cassidy heard the faint voice of Professor Dumbledore before turning to Ron, who was watching in concentration as Dumbledore and another man she recognized to be the Minister for Magic were entering. But she wasn't focused on that. For a moment, something shifted. She noticed, not for the first time, how blue his eyes were. But for the first time, she noticed how nice the blue was.
"Ron." Cassidy whispered, almost imperceptibly.
"What?" He whispered back, still focused on the scene unfolding in front of them.
"Your eyes. They're blue." She whispered again. Ron turned to her with a look of utter confusion.
"Yeah, I know." He replied, shaking his head.
"They're really pretty. A perfect blue." She said quietly, turning back to the adults speaking. Ron, however, kept staring at her, his face slowly turning red.
"...three attacks on muggle-borns, things have gone far enough. The Ministry's got to act." Cornelius Fudge said, a look of trepidation on his face.
"B-but I'd never...Professor, you know I'd never!" Hagrid protested, turning to Dumbledore. It appeared that Fudge was accusing Hagrid of being responsible for the attacks, an accusation so absurd to Cassidy she fought the urge to snort.
"I want it understood, Cornelius," Dumbledore said firmly. "That Hagrid has my full confidence."
"Albus, look, Hagrid's record...is against him, I've got to take him." Fudge said helplessly. Cassidy got the impression that he didn't really care.
"Take me? Take me where? Not Azkaban Prison." Hagrid started, true fear in his eyes.
"I'm afraid we have no choice." Fudge replied coolly.
Azkaban. Cassidy had heard stories from her father about that place. He was still a pure-blood, after all, and though he was generally shunned from the circle of pure-bloods for his choice of a partner, he still managed to get information about certain things. From what she'd heard, it was horrible. She hoped she'd never have to meet someone who'd been there. It changed people, and not for the better. She felt a shiver run down her spine, and kept watching the conversation in front of her.
Slowly, Hagrid's front door opened, and the dark figure of Lucius Malfoy slunk into the cottage, a small smirk on his face. Cassidy's necklace flared up, but she had a feeling it had more to do with the anger she felt than any dark magic.
"Already here, Fudge?" Malfoy asked, voice silky smooth.
"That slimy-" Cassidy started, but Ron clamped his hand over her mouth.
"What are you doing here?" Hagrid asked gruffly, voice rising. "Get out of my house!"
"Believe me, I get absolutely no pleasure by being inside your..." Lucius Malfoy stepped too close to the three children standing under the Cloak, and they stepped backwards quickly; Ron's hand still on Cassidy's mouth. "...you call this a house?" Cassidy fumed, muffled insults being heard from under Ron's hand. Malfoy's eyes flicked around the cottage's interior before he continued. "No, I simply called at the School and was told the Headmaster was here." He stepped away from where the three were hiding, and Ron finally removed his hand from Cassidy's mouth.
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed at Lucius Malfoy, almost imperceptibly. His silver-blonde hair shone in the firelight, shadows being cast across his sharp features.
"And what is it, that you want with me?" Dumbledore asked suspiciously.
Lucius turned to all of them, a smug look on his face. "The other governors and I have decided that it is time for you to step aside." Hagrid whipped his head towards Lucius like he'd just said Unforgivable Curses should be made legal.
"No!" Cassidy gasped, and both the boys covered her mouth this time, staring on in horror as Lucius's eyes filled with hateful glee. He removed a scroll from his robe, stepping towards Dumbledore.
"This is an order of suspension." He held it out to Dumbledore. "You'll find all twelve signatures on it."
Cassidy could hardly believe it. Her headmaster, the one who'd been dropping hints about her necklace, helping Harry and her friends, keeping everybody safe...was being sacked? Harry and Ron dropped their hands from her mouth in shock.
"I'm afraid we feel you've rather...lost your touch." Malfoy sneered.
"He's about to lose the ability to touch anything with those slimy hands of his." Cassidy fumed quietly, but stayed put.
"And what with the recent attacks, there'll soon be no Muggle-borns left at Hogwarts." Lucius sounded like he felt that would be a very good result indeed, a slight smile on his face. "And I can only imagine what an awful loss that would be for the school." The three children exchanged a look.
"Yeh can't take Professor Dumbledore away," Hagrid protested. "Take him away, the muggle-borns won't stand a chance! You mark my words, there'll be killings next!" The image of Hermione on the hospital bed flashed into Cassidy's mind, and she fought the urge to cry again. Now wasn't the time for tears.
"Calm yourself, Hagrid." Dumbledore cautioned gently, turning to Malfoy and Fudge. "If the governors desire my removal, I will of course, step aside."
"This can't be happening." Cassidy whispered, and her necklace started to glow softly.
"However, you will find that help will always be given at Hogwarts, to those who...ask." Dumbledore then looked straight at the three students under the cloak, as if he could see them.
For all they knew, he probably could.
Confused, Lucius followed Dumbledore's line of sight, but saw nothing. Huffing, he turned back to Dumbledore.
"Any more sentiments?" He asked coldly.
Dumbledore didn't reply.
"Shall we?" Lucius turned to the door, opening it. Dumbledore looked at the three under the cloak once more, meaningfully, and Cassidy thought she might've imagined Dumbledore subtly nodding to her necklace.
"Come, Hagrid," Fudge urged, looking around the cottage with a superior air about him.
"Well," Hagrid cleared his throat, looking around. "If anybody was looking for some stuff, all they have to do would be to follow the spiders." Cassidy stifled a giggle at Hagrid's attempt to be sneaky.
"Yep, that'll be right." He muttered to himself, stepping toward the door while Fudge looked at him like he'd suggested a tea party with You-Know-Who. Before he left, he turned around again.
"Oh, and someone'll will need to feed Fang while I'm away." The big black dog whimpered absentmindedly as Hagrid left, Fudge in his wake.
As soon as they left, Cassidy, Ron and Harry uncovered themselves from the Invisibility Cloak, panting.
"Hagrid's right!" Ron blurted out breathlessly, turning to the other two. "With Dumbledore gone, there'll be an attack a day!"
"Wait, what's that?" Cassidy pointed, and the two boys looked at a trail of spiders crawling out of Hagrid's window.
"Come on." Harry said, walking with Ron to the doorway and taking a lantern. Cassidy stood where she was, trembling, until Ron came back and dragged her along with them.