Reader POV

Tom was especially careful around me as he carried me to the common room. "I'm so sorry, (y/n)." He gently placed me on my bed, Seasmoke coming over and meowing with concern.

I picked up the cat and tried to calm down, but I could not stop the tears. "Tom, the worst thing to ever happen has happened! My best friend just got murdered! How am-"

He said nothing but gave me a hug. We stayed like that while I soaked his shirt with my tears, eventually falling into a dreamless sleep.

I was awakened by a castle-wide sound that instructed students to meet in the great hall. Tom helped me change into new clothes as I was still in yesterday's clothes. We walked with the rest of Slytherin house and moved quickly, Abraxas looking at me with worry.

"Students, the rumors spread that there is a monster intentionally attacking students is true." Headmaster Dippet said once everyone was quiet. "Last night, a student was attacked. There is an investigation currently being carried out by the Ministry of Magic. Those with any knowledge are urged to come forward."

Students started whispering, some questioning who the student was and others huddling closer to their friends.

"Mum works at the ministry," Preston said with a shiver. "She reckons the school will be closed due to the attacks."

All the noise died down at Professor Slughorn tapping his glass for Headmaster Dippet to speak.

The hall was quiet, but I noticed Rubeus Hagrid was quietly slipping away, probably to go find the monster! I gave Tom a look and once Dippet started speaking again, we left the great hall.

"I'm almost sure he did it," I said to Tom as we walked quickly but at a distance from the young Gryffindor. "I don't care if it was an accident, he should be punished! Him and that monster!"

Tom could tell that I wasn't thinking straight. "I know. But we can't do anything yet-"

"Bullshit! He killed my best friend!" My movements were only stopped by Ministry officials carrying a stretcher. I didn't have to move the cover to see who it was, I immediately knew it was my best friend.

"You two should not be here." Professor Dumbledore said as he saw our faces.

"Are the rumors true?" I asked. "Will the school be closed?"

"I don't have a place to go," Tom said with anxiety clear in his voice. "They wouldn't really shut down Hogwarts?"

Dumbledore sighed and shook his head. "Headmaster Dippet may have no choice."

"So what if the attacks stopped?" Tom suddenly said.

Dumbledore looked at the pair of us with narrowed eyes. "Is there something you wish to share? Either of you?"

"No," Tom said with confidence.

"Well, Myrtle as you know was looking into the attacks with the rest of the muggle-borns," I said. "Last night before we heard something, but I saw something."

Both Tom and Dumbledore looked at me with worry. "What did you see?"

"Something massive. It came out of the bathroom Myrtle died in," I said with honesty. "I couldn't see it clearly through the reflection, but I heard loud hissing noises and two people talking."

"Who did you see?" Dumbledore prodded.

"No one. I only heard the voice of Olive Hornby and someone. I don't know who was with her."

Dumbledore slowly looked at Tom and I would've been a fool to not notice the suspicion in his intelligent eyes. "And Tom, you do not know anything either?"

"No sir," Tom said with a straight face.

Dumbledore looked at him hard but nevertheless accepted his word. "Very well. Any news must be brought to Headmaster Dippet, am I understood?" At our compliance, he went back to following the ministry officials.

Tom grabbed my hand and we resumed our search for Hagrid. "Let's split up. That way, we can find Hagrid quicker. It was obviously Hagrid who did this, no one else has monsters in the castle except that oaf."

It didn't take long for Tom to find Hagrid, as we were both ordered to go to the headmaster's office immediately. I couldn't even look at the young Gryffindor as he was yelled at by Myrtle's parents, all the words and curses they shouted at him would suffice as to whatever I could've cooked up.

Olive Hornby was also there, but her name was cleared as she was placed under the Imperius curse to do whatever the caster wanted. But as I was listening to the adults talk, some things didn't add up. First, how could a person as young as Rubeus Hagrid place the Imperius curse? Second, what was that monster? Tom claimed he found a giant spider, but I swore up and down I had heard hissing and spitting. Third, what was the language spoken by the mystery person with Olive?

"(y/n)!" My eyes darted back up to Myrtle's parents. Her mother was looking at me. "You said Myrtle wanted to tell you something. You were with her right before she died."

"I was," I said with honesty. "But as soon as we heard the monster, she told me to go find Dippet. I ran into Tom and he went to go check on the bathroom."

Myrtle's mother sighed in exhaustion, most likely due to the stress and agony of her daughter's death. "Then it's settled. These three are innocent."

My uncle Silas Livingston eyed Hagrid with contempt. "As for this student, the ministry has no choice but to take possession of the young Rubeus Hagrid's wand. Furthermore, he shall be expelled."

"You can't do that!" Hagrid stood up immediately.

I stood up just as fast and raised my want. "Sit the fuck down, you traitor! She and the other muggle-borns were innocent! And your monster killed them. You killed my best friend!"

"My niece is correct," Silas Livingston gave me a nod of approval. "You three may leave. We will handle the rest."

Headmaster Dippet escorted us to the entrance of his office. "If any more news shall arrive, see that it arrives within the week. You three will be asked to testify, do you understand?" With our agreements, he gave us a sympathetic look. "Classes will resume in two weeks. I implore you to talk to trusted adults and support each other right now, hm?"

Tom instinctively put his arm on my shoulder and escorted me away, Olive Hornby following us very closely.

Even though the case had been solved, I could tell in my gut that I was missing something. Until I could figure it out, I knew I had to be very careful. There was something Tom and his group of pure bloods was hiding.