Shadowed Mystery

“It’s the first game of the season back, you have to watch at least one.” Harmonie insisted, practically dragging Alyssa towards the Quidditch stadium. “Bedsides, no one’s going to attack. If they were, they would have done it already.”

“I just don’t like this. Not knowing what’s going on. I’m surprised their haven't been any more attacks. Whoever’s doing it must have lost a bit of control and I want to know why. Besides, I’ve already told you I don’t like flying. I really don’t much care for the sport. I know it’s safe, but the buldgers-“

“Kicking and screaming.”

“Theodor.” Hermione gave a curt nod to the boy as him a Draco headed up. He was a tall man, with Medium almond skin and neat brown hair. His round brown eyes sparkled with amusement as Alyssa grumbled to themselves, peeling away from their friends to find a seat. They had a bad feeling about being their to begin with, but now their was a knot in their stomach preventing them from leaving. Something bad was going to happen they could just feel it.

The game started peacefully enough for a game of admitted violence, but it wasn’t long before the dreaded happened.  A buldger soared towards Harry, and when George knocked it away it went roaring right back towards him.

It was cursed. It had to be.

Standing quickly Alyssa quickly made their way out of the stands to the entrance of the pitch. Glancing out they watched as Wood called a time out, the buldger still reading for Harry.

Locating Hermione in the crowd they closed their eyes. “Next step is easy, though it shouldn't take long for me to heal if it get’s me.”

Before Hermione could even locate them to respond, Alyssa pulled out their wand and pointed at Wood.

“Sorry if this counts as interference, but somebody has to do something.”

At Wood’s sudden frantic searching, Harry started to try and find the source as well. Alyssa met his eyes and smiled before pointing their wand at the buldger.

“Acio!”

No one had time to react to what was happening as Alyssa poured their magic into the spell, daring the ball to hit them. Unfortunately it was faster than even they had anticipated, a shadow tenderly just barely managing to knock it slightly off the course of their head and instead right into their shoulder.

Their  left shoulder.

Alyssa had nearly feinted from the pain, only just catching the sound of the buldger exploding, and what sounded like Hooch full cussing them out. Then; without any warning, the pain gave to a sickening numbness, pins and needles danging along the skin, and through everything but bone.

Alyssa’s ears were ringing so loudly they could hardly make out what Hooch was saying, though the wobbliness of their vision informed them it was shock and not the start of a melt down. They had to thank whatever god the order thought surpassed them that fate was kind enough not to throw that one on top of what was happening. However; as the twins helped steady Alyssa to take them to the hospital wing, they could make out who Hooch was shouting at now. The way too shiny golden hair, and forget-me-not blue robes were the tell tale sign of Gildroy Lockheart.

“Alyssa?”

“What he do to me?”

“How are you contentious?”

“I don’t know.” They admitted as the ringing began dying down, the pins and needles fading too. “Suppose I’ll have to wait for Ace to be able to make me a new arm.”
“Make you… You have a friend that can do that?”

“They’re an artificer. Greatest of all time. A red court person though, but they don’t wanna be. It’s just the curse they were burden with. But they can male limbs in Wonderland. They made their othered form bit by bit. I think at least, they don’t talk bout that part much. But I figure if they can make and remake limbs there, why not here right?”

“I guess.” The other twin responded. “But while full limbs cant be regrown, bones can be.”

“Regrown? And why is bone the limit?” Alyssa let out a hum. “I mean come corals are comparable with bone, I suppose theoretically it would be the easiest thing for a potion to safely replicate.”

It wasn’t too long before the three reached the hospital wing, but the pins and needles had returned to Alyssa’s arm, and they could feel blood running down their chest.
“What on earth happened here?”

“A stray bulder was going after Harry and I wasn’t thinking. I… Used Acio. I thought I could smash it before it got to me but it went too fast… I’m lucky I didn’t accidentally kill myself. I don’t know how that came to be I was… Hardly awake for a bit. Lockheart did something.”

“Your bleeding.” Pomfrey scolded as Alyssa was lead to a bed.  Shooing the twins away she closed the curtain to get to work, cutting away Alyssas’ shirt with a spell to reveal half a collar bone puncturing their skin, the rest of it, along with the rest of the bones in Alyssa’s arm and hand, just gone.

“That absolute moron!”  Alyssa had never heard Madam Pomfrey swear, and clearly Chiara hadn’t either because she quickly popped into the private area. She took one look at the wound and went ghostly pale.

“Depending on how that went, it could have punctured an artery.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time.” Madam Pomfrey faltered, took in the scar that ran across Alyssa’s head, and took a moment to recollect herself.

“Not to mention the dangerous complications if he had managed to remove all of your bones.” She shook her head. “An Ampul isn’t getting you through this one I’m afraid, and it’s not going to be pleasant.”

“I-“

“You’re going to have to stay the night Alyssa. No other choice.” Pomfrey scolded, quickly getting a few potions. “I can give you something for the pain, but your here for the night.” Madam Pomfrey sighed, watching as Alyssa drank the potion with ease. “I will give you you took that like a champ.”

“Would you believe heath drinks taste worse?” Alyssa let out a grim chuckle as Pomfrey cast a spell to hold their collarbone in it’s proper place, the wound healing itself without too much fuss thanks to an easy health potion.

“Now you should do your best to get some sleep, Chiara here will make sure your well taken care off. I’ll make sure Wood isn’t able to throttle you in your sleep as will.”

“Did I cost them the game?”

“It got canceled, as did the next few until the school can get new balls and double protect them.”

“Whoever cursed it wont be stupid enough to do it twice.”

“Professor Snape also seemed just about ready to throttle you, but unlike Oliver I know he can restrain himself.” With that she left and Snape stormed in.

“What were you thinking?”

“Get the ball away from Harry? I’ve survived worse to b fair.”  At Snape’s incredulous look they motioned to their neck. “Really think something got me deep enough to scar on my neck and didn’t nearly kill me in the process. Got my carotid. Thankfully just the one. Was able to guzzle an ampul, but like my back it scared. The en Point have a tendency to do that to me.”

“From what you’ve shown me they have the tendency to cut deep. I would also propose that you; in your own way, have a silver weakness. You’ve faced the Pendulum and they haven’t been able to hurt you the same way.”

“It’s also a lot harder to miss a pendulum.” Alyssa gave a week chuckle.

“I’m assuming Granger is going to be handling the situation?”

“Yeah, I know she can handle where things are.”

Snape let out a hum then nodded. “I suspect that she will be. Now were lucky that no m ore attacks have occurred, but knowing your friends I know that wont stop them from looking.”

“I can tell that something is going to happen. We suspect a Horcrux, one of Riddles.”

It took a moment for Snape to figure out who Alyssa was talking about, but as he did he arched an eyebrow. “It’s the name that the map showed. Why bother using the name no one likes when you can look death in  the face and cal it Tom.”

“And you have good reason for this?”

“They can possess people if they create an emotional bond with the item. We don’t know who has it that’s why my friends want to question Malfoy. The family house elf tried to stop Harry from coming to school by stopping his letters.”

“Hm… it’s possible that this was also his doing.”

“Possible, but since I was the one injured I think he wont be showing his face. I’m done playing nice, if I see that elf I’m getting answers.” Even Snape shrunk back slightly at that. “Look things are going to pick up pace again. I’m just worried that with new control were going to lose whoever is being possessed. And it’s Riddle. He will kill.”

“I know Alyssa, and as much as this is going to hurt you you know you can’t leave right?”

“I know Professor.” Alyssa gave a nod. “I’m sorry, I just wanted to keep Harry safe.”

“I know you meant well but this was foolish.”

“I know Professor. I know."

“Alyssa, I have to ask. Did part of you want to die?” Snape whispered and Alyssa faltered a bit. As they went to respond, they found themselves struggling, a tugging at their heart causing their face to fall. “Alyssa.”

“It wasn’t my intention, and I… I… “ Alyssa dropped their head as they teared up. “I don’t know. I don’t know and I don’t like that.”

“I’m sorry your hurting so much.”

“It’s my own fault. It’s always my own fault in the end.”

“How is it your fault?” Snape sounded genuinely concerned as he sat on the edge of the bed. “You have mental health issues, none of what is happening to you is your own fault. You made a mistake, that is all. Now try and get some rest, you have a long night ahead.”

Alyssa had woken up several time in a cold sweat, either from nightmare, pain, or a combination of the two. It really wasn’t like Alyssa had never had to deal with the pain of growing bones, and she remembered the pain of auto combustion all too well. But this was long and fairly unbearable, and it wasn’t helping the slight fever that had started. The blankets were charmed, but the stress Alyssa’s body in was starting to genuinely make her feel sick.

As Alyssa went to call out for Chiara, footsteps caught her ear and she fell silent. Two sets, hasty. Alyssa had just enough space to see through the curtain to the bed next to her, watching as Albus and McGonagall carried what looked; for a moment, to be a statue.

“Go get Madam Pomfrey.” Albus said in an urgent whisper, and Alyssa realized what it was.

A student, and one that she had come to know well enough considering how much he followed her ‘brother’ around.

It was Colin Creevy, eyes wide, hands stuck clutching his camera. Alyssa could assume what had happened easily. He had been looking through his camera when he had seen the snake, which gave a very interesting look on how direct the eye contact had to be. 

As McGonagall returned a sharp gasp sounded from Madam Pomfrey.

“What happened?”
“Another attack.” Albus responded. “Minerva found him.”

“There was a bunch of grape with him. We figure he was sneaking up to try and get pictures of Alyssa, perhaps convince them to get Harry to open up a bit more to him.” McGonagall explained.

“Petrified?”

“Yes, but I shudder to think.” McGonagall’s voice shook slightly. “If Albus hadn’t been on his way downstairs for some hot chocolate, who knows what would have happened.”

Alyssa carefully shifted, allowing the shadows to darken slightly around her as she watched Albus go for the camera. As much as she hated him she knew it would be best if there was no rick of him seeing what happened, focusing a long distance heat  metal on the inside of the camera as he went for it.

“Do you think he took a picture of whatever attacked him?” McGonagall asked, and Alyssa found herself grateful that the woman was facing away from her. Albus didn’t respond as he simply took the camera and popped it open, a plume of black bellowing from inside.

“Goodness gracious.” Pomfrey gasped. “Melted, it’s all melted.”

Even Alyssa felt shocked, she was just trying to damage the role, even she couldn’t have actually done that much damage.

“Albus, what dose this mean?”

“It means that the Chamber of Secrets had been opened again.”

“But Albus… Surely who…”

“Tom Riddle, I’ll come by after class tomorrow to explain.” Alyssa messaged McGonagall quickly, smirking as she didn’t attempt to look for the source though she did seem confused.

“We think someone came into the possession of something gravely dangerous of no fault of their own, and could be being controlled to some extent by Riddle. Or- your know. But here is not the place to talk.”

McGonagall gave the smallest of nod’s in acknowledgment and Alyssa lay back down, body relaxing slightly as she drifted back off to sleep.