The Monster Strikes Again (Elijah's POV)
Chapter 15: The Monster Strikes Again (Elijah’s POV)
“Elijah!” Harry came running up to him in the Great Hall, skidding to a stop. Nearly half the Hufflepuffs sitting down scattered immediately, but it didn’t seem to phase Harry this time. “Mate. Your grandfather was at school when the chamber was last opened. Hagrid did it.”
Elijah leaned forward, ignoring his breakfast. “What?!”
“Hagrid opened the chamber of secrets?” Ryan asked incredulously, from beside Elijah.
He jumped slightly; she’d been fairly quiet that morning and he’d almost forgotten she had joined him at his table for breakfast.
“So I wrote in the diary last night. And the ink disappeared, but it wrote back! Tom Riddle somehow saved his memories of what happened back then in this diary!” Harry had to pause to take a breath. “And he figured it out when the monster killed someone!”
“Bloody hell, Potter.”
“Yeah.”
“So, what do we do? Ask him about it?” Ryan leaned forward. “I doubt that would go over well.”
“We’re not. Unless there’s another attack.” Harry said firmly. “Ron, Hermione, and I decided that last night.”
“Well, I haven’t heard that voice anymore.” Elijah started. “So…”
“I haven’t either.”
“Anyways, here.” Harry handed the diary back to Elijah. “Do you want it back?”
“Um-” Elijah hesitated. “Keep it. Just in case.”
Harry nodded and went back to the Gryffindor table and the other two finished their breakfast before heading to the library.
Somehow, nearly four months had passed after the attacks on Finch-Fletchly and Nick, and the Easter holidays dawned on them, bringing new classes for next term. Elijah sat with Oscar at the edge of the lake, both looking over their list of electives to choose from. “Arithmancy sounds terrible.” Elijah wrinkled his nose. “I couldn’t.”
“I’m trying to decide between that one or Ancient Runes.” Oscar said thoughtfully. “I know I’m taking Muggle Studies, though. That class sounds fun.”
“What do you need Muggle Studies for? Just talk to Granger.” Elijah joked, grinning when Oscar laughed.
“Because it sounds fun. And, you’re right. I could always ask Granger for help. Or Michael. He’s Muggle-born I think.”
“Well, I’m taking Care of Magical Creatures. Mostly because I know Ryan won’t. She already hates Herbology because of the dirt.”
“That is a good point.” Oscar sighed. “If I do Ancient Runes, will you take it with me?”
“Sure, why not?” Elijah marked it down on his paper to had into Professor Sprout. “It should be an easy class.”
“Hi, boys.” Ryan flopped down beside them. “What classes did you two decide to take?”
“Care of Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes.” Elijah answered. “Oz is taking Muggle Studies and Ancient Runes, too.”
“I wish I could take them all, honestly.” Ryan sighed. “But I settled on Arithmancy and Ancient Runes.”
“Well, at least there’s one class you won’t be in with me.”
“Hey, I thought we were friends now.”
“We are.” Elijah said. “Doesn’t make you less annoying though.”
“That goes both ways, Holmes.”
“Don’t start fighting today.” Oscar interjected. “Can’t we just enjoy the little break we get?”
The last day of their Easter holiday, Elijah met Ryan and Oscar outside the Great Hall. “-amazing! I can’t believe how fast the game was going!” Ryan was talking excitedly, nearly bouncing up and down. “I can’t wait to play!”
“I’m so jealous. I’ve been asking my parents to take me to a game and they won’t.”
“Quidditch?” The Hufflepuff asked, adjusting his house jumper.
“Apparently, Ryan got to see the Falcons game against Puddlemere United over the Christmas holiday.” Oscar huffed. “On the bright side, she’s got her own set of omniculars now, so she can’t steal mine.”
“Hey guys!” Hermione waved as the Gryffindor trio met up with them. “Ready for the game?”
“Absolutely!” Ryan beamed at Harry. “Good luck!”
“Tha-” Harry stopped mid sentence.
“Kill this time . . . let me rip . . . tear . . .”
He and Harry both looked at each other as Harry let out a shout. “Bloody hell.” Elijah sighed. “Not again.”
“The voice is back!”
Hermione suddenly clapped a hand to her forehead. “Boys, I think I’ve just understood something! I’ve got to go to the library!”
“Why’s she got to go to the library?” Ron asked grumpily, staring after her.
“Because that’s what Hermione does: when in doubt, go to the library.” Harry said, looking around for the source of the voice. “What does she even understand?”
“Pretty much everything.” Ron said.
Ryan rolled her eyes and took off after Hermione. “Alright, let’s go see Gryffindor finally lose.” Elijah teased. “Diggory’s a hell of a Seeker.”
“But he’s way bigger than Harry.” Ron argued. “Harry’s much more aerodynamic.”
“That’s a big word, Weasley, I’m proud.” Oscar laughed. “But, yeah, you’re probably right.”
They headed to the pitch as Harry darted back upstairs for his broomstick. Elijah and Oscar split from Ron as he went to the Gryffindor side and the other two found a seat with the Hufflepuffs. The two teams walked out on the field and the stands erupted, Elijah included. He and Oscar cheered for the Hufflepuff team, both chanting Diggory’s name.
“THIS MATCH HAS BEEN CANCELED!” McGonagall’s voice rang loud and clear, effectively ceasing the students’ noise. She stood on the pitch in between the teams with a huge megaphone in her hands. “ALL STUDENTS ARE TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO THEIR HOUSE COMMON ROOMS WHERE YOUR HEADS OF HOUSES WILL GIVE YOU FURTHER INFORMATION. QUICKLY NOW!”
Elijah and Oscar looked at each other and Oscar grabbed Elijah’s arm as they fought their way through the crowd to keep from getting separated. “Ravenclaws, this way!”
Oscar reluctantly let go of his friend and followed the sixth year prefect down a different hall. Elijah felt strangely lonely as he was being shuffled toward the stairs leading to his dormitory. “Who got attacked?” Susan Bones asked as soon as they got into their common room. She looked terrified; they all did.
“Penelope Clearwater, a Ravenclaw prefect, Hermione Granger, and Ryan Black.” Professor Sprout was somber as she addressed them. “No one is to leave this dormitory.”
“Pomona?” Professor McGonagall poked her head in. “Can I borrow Mr. Holmes?”
“Yes, of course.”
He followed his Transfiguration professor up to the hospital wing, trying not to think of what he was about to see. Ryan was on one of the hospital beds, her face frozen in a state of absolute horror. “She was found with these two girls with a mirror on the floor between them.”
Elijah caught a glimpse of Harry and Ron, both looked as upset as he felt. Two of their friends had been attacked. “So the monster doesn’t care about blood purity anymore, I guess.” Elijah muttered. “Bloody hell.”
“Alright, I have to address my students. Come on you three.”
Elijah sat on his bed, feeling incredibly numb. As much as he said Ryan annoyed him, she was constantly warm and bubbly. How was he going to get through his classes without her?
The next few days at school were the worst days Elijah had experienced. Dumbledore had been suspended, Hagrid had been arrested, and he (and Harry and Ron) were banned from checking on the girls in case the attacker came back to finish them off. The only person in the school who seemed wholly unaffected by the attacks was Draco Malfoy. One morning at breakfast, Malfoy’s nasally voice carried over the quiet chatter. “I always thought Father might be the one who got rid of Dumbledore,” he said, not troubling to keep his voice down. “I told you he thinks Dumbledore’s the worst headmaster the school’s ever had. Maybe we’ll get a decent headmaster now. Someone who won’t want the Chamber of Secrets closed. McGonagall won’t last long, she’s only fil-”
Elijah spun around. “Will you shut up!”
“What’s your problem, Holmes?” Malfoy sniggered. “Miss your girlfriend?”
“She was one of your friends too, you bloody arse.” He snapped. “Do you really only care about yourself and your shitty ass dad?”
“Don’t talk about my dad!” Malfoy almost yelled, jumping up at the same time Elijah did. “He’s a right sight better than yours. At least my dad can afford a house-”
Elijah punched Malfoy square in the nose. “Mr. Holmes!” Professor Sprout ran down, having seen the incident. “Twenty points from Hufflepuff and a week’s detention.” He just nodded, snarling at the blonde Slytherin with blood running down his nose. “And someone get Mr. Malfoy to the hospital wing eventually.” She said, shaking her head. “Maybe that’ll teach you to not run your mouth.”
Sprout grabbed him after lunch that day and had him clean the greenhouse. As he was working, a line of spiders scurrying through the open window caught his attention. He stopped and cocked his head. Spiders didn’t usually act like that. “Holmes, back to work.” Professor Sprout said gently.
“Sorry, Professor.” He diverted his attention back to the empty mandrake pots and resumed cleaning.
Two hours later, as he was walking to his dorm, Ernie stopped him. “Potter asked me to give this to you during dinner.”
Harry’s messy handwriting was almost hard to read. Meet us by the entrance hall after midnight.