Halloween

The weeks passed and in addition to autumn, a persistent rain had settled over Scotland. A weather that did nothing to alleviate the melancholy Harry felt on this Halloween night.

For Harry, Halloween had never been a very joyful day. For him, it was above all the anniversary of the death of his biological parents. He might say that it didn't affect him, that his birth parents were horrible people anyway and that his real parents were the Dursleys, but he always felt sad on this day. And this year even more so, because he felt the absence of Petunia to share his sorrow and Dudley to distract him by taking him (forcibly) to play pranks on theneighbors

Not wanting to prevent his friends from enjoying the party, he had discreetly slipped away under a bogus pretext when it was time to go to the banquet. That evening, he preferred to wander through the empty castle plunged into the darkness of a stormy night rather than find himself in the midst of people partying. It was a bit gloomy but not unpleasant. He felt like he was in the castle from one of Dudley's favorite games: Castlevania.

Despite its trickster staircases and various other inconveniences, Harry loved the castle and planned to take this moment to explore it. He was particularly eager to solve a mystery: where did the smell of cakes that filled the Hufflepuff common room every morning come from? And where did the extra desserts that some older students regularly brought back to the common room come from? For Harry, there was no doubt about the solution: Hogwarts contained a secret room filled with sweets, and for some mysterious reason, its scent spread into the Hufflepuff common room in the morning. He and other first-years had tried to find it, without success. Maybe it changed places regularly (like the staircases)?

Thus, Harry lost himself in exploration to avoid thinking about his feelings, when the lights in the corridor where he was suddenly went out. All of a sudden, he was plunged into total darkness. A darkness that, without knowing why, sent a chill down his spine. Then he understood why when he heard thunder rumbling in the distance. Even the regular light of the lightning no longer reached him. He then focused on his other senses to try to find his bearings and then heard a strange voice. In fact, it was more of a sort of hissing. Harry concentrated to listen to what it was saying:

... so hungry... for so long...

Harry then remembered Dobby's warnings and began to panic. He called himself an idiot for having neglected the elf's warnings and promised never to wander alone in the castle at night again.

... kill... it's time to kill...

Suddenly, something charged at his back with a cry of rage, then grabbed him and began to lift him. Harry screamed and struggled with all his might.

Ouch! But our spectacled little badger has some resourcefulness. Said a voice he knew well.

I mainly believe that he is afraid of the dark. What a disappointment. Responded synchronously another almost identical voice.

All of a sudden, the light had turned back on and in front of him stood Fred and George Weasley. Harry realized he had just been the victim of a very bad joke by the prankster twins.

What on earth made you do that? I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Shouted Harry.

It would be more appropriate for us to ask you that? Don't you know it's dangerous to wander alone in the castle corridors at night? Why do you think there's a curfew? Did you at least inform someone so you can get help if you don't come back? They said in an unexpectedly serious voice.

I needed to be alone for a bit. Said Harry sheepishly. And wait a minute. Are you the one saying that? You spend your time breaking curfew. And besides, you also wander around the castle alone.

We are looking for Ginny. She wasn't well all day.

For the first time, he saw the twins look sad.

It's not surprising since today is the day of... Ron's death. But anyway, she slipped away from the banquet and we can't see her on the char... Well, we can't find her and we're worried. Have you seen her?

No and frankly you should give the princess and the pea a break. Considering how Percy is sticking to her everywhere, it's no wonder she wants to be alone a bit. Especially on a day like this. I understand that after what happened to Ron, you want to protect her, but you're just going to make her even more annoying than she already is.

Harry, don't you know that you should never speak ill of the sister of someone stronger than you?

What do you want, my brother? The youth is very poorly educated these days. No respect for the rules.

Hearing this sentence from the mouths of the two students who were the least respectful of the school's rules made Harry laugh in spite of himself.

It's fine, you've scared me enough. Your sister is perfection incarnate and I'm going to pick her up in a place with plenty of witnesses.

Excellent idea. They said in unison.

Just how did you manage to do the voice? I really thought a bloodthirsty monster was roaming the castle.

The voice? Oh! How cute, George. Fred simpered.

So young and he's already trying to make a joke. Continued George.

You'll have to eat a lot of soup before you get there, Fred replied.

Alright, I understand. A magician never reveals his secrets. You know the shortest jokes are the best? Harry replied.

The two brothers looked at each other.

Harry the darkness and the act of grabbing you from behind, it was us, but we didn't do anything else. And we heard no voices.

But yes, that's it. I'm going before the monster devours me.

Before the twins could reply, he left them, determined to go to the great hall and not leave his friends for the rest of the evening.

Despite the confidence he had shown in front of them, part of him doubted that they were behind the voice he had heard. And even if it was a joke, this experience had convinced him to take a littleTake Dobby's warnings more seriously. He did not want to put his loved ones in danger again due to his recklessness.

But a few meters further, he stopped, paralyzed by fear when his gaze met two red eyes in the shadows, staring at him from the other end of the hallway. The creature let out a scream and charged at him. He then confirmed that they belonged to the one he had dreaded seeing again for months: Scabbers, Ginny's rat. God, how he hated rats. According to his aunt, it was because of a rat that had bitten him the first night he spent alone in his room. Before, it was a storage room used by Dudley to store toys he no longer wanted, and while cleaning it for him to settle in, they apparently discovered that he also stored food there that he no longer wanted. He had no memory of what happened that night, but his uncle told him that afterward, he had slept in their bed for a week. Between that and the cupboard story, he didn't regret having forgotten everything about his early childhood.

Get lost, filthy beast.

Harry made large gestures to drive it away, but it kept charging at him. Panicking, he forgot he had a magic wand and started to run away. The rat followed him.

Ginny, if you're there, come get your filthy creature. He shouted as he ran. But only silence answered him. He was completely alone.

After a few minutes of this chase, an absurd thought came to his mind. The rat's movements were not random. It moved in a way to block certain corridors and push him towards others. Like a sheepdog wanting to herd its flock. The rat wanted to lead him somewhere.

No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than he slipped on a puddle of water and sprawled on the ground at full length. He didn't have time to recover from the pain in his back before a line of spiders as big as his fist crawled over him, eliciting another scream. Gripped by fear, he got up and this time had the presence of mind to take out his wand and press against the nearest wall. Something strange was happening here.

He shouted:

Go on twins, I know it's you. I learned the lesson so show yourselves? It's really not funny anymore.

But the only one who appeared was the rat again. But this time, he was determined not to run away. He used his other hand to stop his arm from trembling and searched his mind for a spell capable of killing the rat.

The rat fixed its gaze on the wand and seemed to understand that this time, it shouldn't charge at it. Harry took advantage of this pause to look at his surroundings and think. A sign informed him that his chase had led him into a corridor next to the girls' bathroom on the second floor.

Wait, last year, Ginny's brother didn't die in anyGirls' bathroom? And a year later, to celebrate the anniversary of her death, his rat braved her screams to drag him there while Ginny was nowhere to be found. She might be in danger, and his rat had gone to find the local hero to save the princess. Except there was a casting error. He was anything but a hero. There was no way he would put his life in danger to rescue that prissy girl. Anyway, what could a first-year like him do against a murderer who had vowed to reduce the number of weasels in the castle?

While putting the rat in a duel, he began to move away slowly, making as little noise as possible. But after five minutes, an indistinct commotion reached Harry's ears. A crowd was coming in his direction. Probably the students returning from the feast. Harry was relieved and pressed himself against the wall again, keeping his wand out to guard against any eventuality.

The rat fled and the crowd arrived, then stopped upon seeing it. Among them, Harry recognized his friends: Jenny and Lucas, as well as some first-year Hufflepuffs he got along with well.

Harry lowered his wand and stepped towards them with a big smile, saying:

Ah, I am happy to see you.

But they did not answer him and all looked at him with a shocked expression.

What's going on?

Harry, what did you do? Is that blood on your clothes? Jenny asked.

Huh!

And where had you gone? Asked Lucas

A second-year blond boy in Slytherin, whose name Harry had forgotten, pushed the other students without any shame. Once there, he recited while staring at Jenny:

Enemies of the heir, beware. Soon, it will be the turn of the traitors to their blood.

Following this statement, the students began to whisper among themselves and Jenny to insult the blond boy when the janitor cut through the crowd, shouting:

My cat. He killed my cat.

He passed Harry and rushed towards the wall against which he had leaned. Harry then saw for the first time that above the spot where he had stood was magically hung the body of Filch's cat with a message written in letters of blood that had apparently stained his clothes in some way.

The janitor gently picked up his cat and rocked her for a few seconds like a baby, sobbing.

Then he came out of his catatonia, turned towards him, and shouted:

You! He shouted in a shrill voice. It's you who killed my cat! You killed her! And now, I'm going to kill you! I'm going to...

Argus!

Dumbledore had just arrived in the corridor, followed by several professors.

Come with me, Argus, he said to Filch. You too, Mr. Potter.

I assure you that I had nothing to do with this story. Tried to plead a Harry on the verge of tears in front of the hateful look the janitor and most of his classmates were giving him.

But Snape, who seemed delighted by the situation, interrupted her sharply:

In your position, I would advise you not to discuss the director's orders.

Lockhart stepped forward eagerly.

My office is right next door, Mr. Director. If you wish to use it...

Thank you, Gilderoy, said Dumbledore.

The silent students stepped aside to let them pass. Lockhart followed Dumbledore, followed by Professors McGonagall and Snape.

When they entered Lockhart's office, Dumbledore gently took Mrs. Norris from the caretaker's arms, then laid her on the table and began to examine her.

Dumbledore carefully listened to the cat under the watchful eye of Professor McGonagall. Snape's silhouette was outlined behind them in the shadows, with a strange expression on his face, as if he was trying not to smile. Lockhart fluttered around them making all sorts of comments punctuated by Filch's sobs. Slumped on a chair, his face in his hands, the caretaker didn't have the courage to look at Mrs. Norris.

Dumbledore began to mutter strange words while giving little taps with his wand on Mrs. Norris's body. But nothing happened: it looked like she was stuffed.

Finally, Dumbledore straightened up.

She is not dead, Argus, he said softly.

Not dead? Filch choked, looking at Mrs. Norris through his splayed fingers. But how is it that she's all stiff?

She has been petrified, said Dumbledore.

That's exactly what I thought, commented Lockhart.

But in what manner, that's what I don't know, Dumbledore continued.

It's him you should ask! Yelled Filch, turning to Harry.

No first-year student could have managed to do that, assured Dumbledore. You have to be an expert in dark magic to achieve it...

It's him! It's him! Insisted Filch, his face purplish. You saw what he wrote on the wall! He knows that I am... that I am...

Filch's face twisted into a horrible grimace.

He knows that I am a Squib! He finally admitted. He even threatened to have me fired.

I never touched Mrs. Norris! protested Harry vigorously. And I never wanted to threaten him with anything. I don't care if he's a Squib. Well, if Squib means he doesn't have magical powers, right?

Lies! Snarled Filch.

If I may, Mr. Director, Snape intervened...

Harry felt more and more anxious. Whatever Snape would say, Harry knewthat it was meant to sink him. His blood boiled with rage in anticipation. He hated that man so much.

I believe that Potter simply found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, he said with a sly look, as if he doubted his own words. But it's true that there is reason to be suspicious. What was he doing alone in that corridor at that time? Why wasn't he attending the Halloween feast with his classmates?

I have no doubt that you spent the day celebrating the event, but unlike you, for me, October 31st is not a day of celebration, Sir. Harry insisted greatly on this title so that Snape couldn't accuse him of rudeness. I wasn't in the mood to celebrate today, so I wandered around the castle. Sir.

He expected Snape to fly into a rage following this retort, but on the contrary, his face turned pale and he seemed to feel guilty. An uncomfortable silence ensued, which was broken by Filch:

My cat has been petrified! He shouted, his eyes bulging. I demand punishment!

We will manage to heal her, Argus, assured Dumbledore in a patient tone. Mrs. Sprout has succeeded in obtaining mandrake plants. As soon as they have reached maturity, I will use them to make a potion that will bring Mrs. Norris back to life.

I'll handle it, Lockhart intervened, I've done it hundreds of times...

I beg your pardon, Snape interrupted, but it seems to me that the Potions Master here is me. There was another awkward silence.

You can leave, Harry. Said Dumbledore.

Harry ran back to his common room, not very comfortable with the idea of being alone in the corridors again. Once in his common room, he went straight to bed without speaking to anyone and tried unsuccessfully to fall asleep as quickly as possible to avoid thinking about what had just happened.