The diary scared me to death, I went and left it where I found it. Luckily though; I had a distraction.

The second years were given something new to think about during our Easter holidays. The time had come to choose our subjectsfor the third year, a matter that I and Nick, at least, took very seriously."It could affect our whole future," we told Draco and Zoe as we pored over lists of new subjects, marking them with checks."I just want to give up Potions," said Zoe."We can't," said Draco gloomily "We keep all our old subjects, orI'd've ditched Defense Against the Dark Arts.""But that's very important!" said Zoe, shocked."Not the way Lockhart teaches it," I said. "I haven't learnedanything from him except not to set pixies loose."  

I smiled grimly to myself at the thought of what UncleVernon and Aunt Petunia would say if I tried to discuss my careerin wizardry with them. As I ran my tongue over my  dry lips, when a realisation came. Water....The Camera...Ghosts...."Reflections."I gasp, Draco, Zoe and Nathaniel raised their eyebrows at me. I rummaged in my bag for a spare notebook; "The monster...I think that they were seeing it through reflections...think about it; I have a suspicion it's a snake...since I heard it via telepathy, and my brother, can most likely talk to it...so, does anyone know about a snake who petrifies people through...um...not looking them in the eye." 

Draco put down a piece of paper. "I think your asking the wrong question Ems...I think the real question is; what happens when it does look them in the eye?" 

We woke the next day to brilliant sunshine and a light, refreshingbreeze. 

"Perfect Quidditch conditions!" said Pucey grumbling atthe  table."I'd rather have Gryffindor out, but with these conditions--

 As I left the Great Hall with Zoe to go get a spot for the match., another very serious worry was added to my growing list. I had just set foot on the marble staircasewhen I heard it yet again —"Kill this time . . . let me rip . . . tear . . ."I shouted aloud and Zoe  jumped awayfrom me in alarm."The voice!" I said, looking over my shoulder. "I just heardit again — didn't you?"

Zoe opened her mouth, but I cut her off "never mind, let's go."

The teams walked onto the field to tumultuous applause. OliverWood took off for a warm-up flight around the goal posts; MadamHooch released the balls. The Hufflepuffs, who played in canaryyellow, were standing in a huddle, having a last-minute discussionof tactics. 

until..

"This match has been canceled," Professor McGonagall calledthrough the megaphone, addressing the packed stadium. There wereboos and shouts, "What?" breathed Draco furiously "why?" "Why do you think you idiot?" said Nick "here's been an attack." Oliver Wood, looking devastated, landed and rantoward Professor McGonagall without getting off his broomstick."But, Professor!" he shouted. "We've got to play — the Cup —Gryffindor —"Professor McGonagall ignored him and continued to shoutthrough her megaphone:"All students are to make their way back to the House commonrooms, where their Heads of Houses will give them further information. As quickly as you can, please!" 

A hand tapped my shoulder "follow me, Ms Potter" said Snape then roared at pucey "PUCEY! HARPER! take the students to the common room, Now." 

I had to jog to keep up with Snape's long strides. "Professor" I panted "who--" "Ms Potter" said Professor Mcgonagall, making me jump, I was so focused on the attack I didn't notice where we were going, we were in the Hospital Wing, and the person on the bed was..

"Hermione" I gasped.

 "Therehas been another attack . . . another double attack."

 my insides did a horrible somersault. Hermione lay utterly still, her eyes open and glassy."They were found near the library," said Professor McGonagall."I don't suppose either of you can explain this? It was on the floornext to them. . . ."She was holding up a small, circular mirror.Harry and Ron shook their heads, both staring at Hermione. "Ms Potter?" she asked, I hesitated, I don't know...what could they do anyway? But.."no professor" I said quietly. She sighed "I will escort you back to your Towers," said Professor McGonagall heavily. 

Before I went, I thought I saw..a piece of paper.

 "All students will return to their House common rooms by sixo'clock in the evening. No student is to leave the dormitories afterthat time. You will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No student is to use the bathroom unaccompanied by a teacher. All further Quidditch training and matches are to be postponed. Therewill be no more evening activities."The Slytherins packed inside the common room listened toProfessor Snape in silence. He rolled up the parchment from which he had been reading and said  "I need hardly add that I have rarely been so distressed. It islikely that the school will be closed unless the culprit behind theseattacks is caught. I would urge anyone who thinks they mightknow anything about them to come forward."She climbed somewhat awkwardly out of the portrait hole, andthe Slytherin began talking immediately.

"You do realise what this looks like?" Said Emily Harper ""That's two Gryffindors down, not counting a Gryffindor ghost,one Ravenclaw, and one Hufflepuff," She looked around "everyone would have noticed that Slytherins are all safe? It'll look  obvious all this stuff'scoming from Slytherin? The Heir of Slytherin, the monster ofSlytherin — They'll want to chuck us out!"

I bit my lip.

The next day, Draco burst in , "My Father!" he yelled for the entire common room to hear "he- he told me..that...that..the governers feel Dumbledore's loosing his touch...he's gone! He and the Hagrid!" The whole room erupted "I don't care about that Hagrid" Yelled Pucey "But why take away Dumbledore?" "There's more" said Draco, coming to sit next to us "they're thinking about closing the School."

No. I couldn't loose Hogwarts...it was my Home.

Ten minutes into the class, Professor Snape told us that our exams would start on the first of June, oneweek from today."Exams?" howled Zoe. "We're still getting exams?"There was a loud bang behind me as Prankinson'swand slipped, vanishing one of the legs on his desk. Professor Snape  restored it with a wave of his own wand, and turned,frowning, to Zoe."The whole point of keeping the school open at this time is foryou to receive your education," he said sternly. "The exams willtherefore take place as usual, and I trust you are all studying hard." 

"Professor Dumbledore's instructions were to keep the schoolrunning as normally as possible," he said. "And that, I need hardlypoint out, means finding out how much you have learned thisyear."  

I remembered every lesson well, but I had never thought there'd be exams? 

Then there was that piece of paper...."Professor" I said to Lockhart, as we finished our defense against the dark arts lesson "I need to use the bathroom."

"Oh, well, let me just-"

"Oh, don't worry professor" I said smiling at him "it's only just a few feet away! I'll catch up to you!" 

"Well, alright. " He said, taken aback.

I did go to the bathroom, until all the students were gone then I crept to the hospital room.

"Potter! What are you doing?"

 It was Madame Promfery, and her mouth was the thinnest ofthin lines."I was — I was —" I stammered. "I was goingto — to go and see —" 

"Hermione," I said. Promfery looked at me."I haven't seen her for ages, ," I went on hurriedly, "and I thought I'd sneak into thehospital wing, you know, and tell her the Mandrakes are nearlyready and, er, not to worry —Not talked to her in a while, I miss her." Madame Promfery was still staring at me, and for a moment, I thought she was going to explode, but when shespoke, it was in a strangely croaky voice."Of course," she said, and I, amazed, saw a tear glisteningin her beady eye. "Of course, I realize this has all been hardest onthe friends of those who have been . . . I quite understand. Yes, Come in then."

I waited till she left, jumping down and trying to prise her hand apart. "What are you doing here?" I jumped. Turning around sharply at the voice. Harry was staring at me "my guess" I said "is that you're not doing anything better,"