Myrtle8

Myrtle, Harry and Sirius all left the office. It was now 8 a.m. and the students were stirring from their beds. They smiled at Myrtle as she passed. Some stared, in awe, at the sight of the great Harry Potter. Myrtle could clearly see Will Creevey bouncing up and down in the excitement of it all.

Out of the corner of her eye, Myrtle saw a group of Syltherins passing by. Yvette flashed a menacing glare at Myrtle and continued on her way to the dining room. Professors Snape and Mancini were also on their way to breakfast. Professor Mancini smiled gently at Harry, Myrtle and Sirius, but Professor Snape looked as though he’d rather clip Troll’s toenails than smile for them. He looked positively murderous, as usual.

“Arghhh!!”

Myrtle looked beside her and found her Dad on the floor, crying out in pain, clutching his scar.

“Daddy? What’s wrong?”

She bent down to help her father, but the moment she came in contact with him, a sharp pain began to burn in her arm. She fell into a crumpled heap, unconscious.

A pair of glowering eyes looked on from the shadows an ominous stare upon them like they’d just done the greatest thing in the world.
***************

As her eyes adjusted to the light, Myrtle saw that she was in the Hospital Wing. Her Dad was down the far end talking hurriedly to Professor Black.

“Sirius, you don’t truly believe that Voldemort is back? And even if he is, how is there a connection between him and Myrtle? My scar is not hereditary, gosh; Myrtle wasn’t even alive when Voldemort was still reigning. It is not possible that he could have made contact with her. There is also no possible way that he could be here at Hogwarts. Dumbledore saw to that back when he was here as principal.”

Myrtle had never seen her Dad look so furious. Nor had she seen Professor Black look so frightened. She remained silent, waiting for Professor Black to respond.

“Harry who else could it be? You were the one who felt the pain first. Voldemort gave you that scar, he controls the pain that you feel. You know that better than anybody. Nobody could ever match Voldemort’s evil powers. The entire Ministry of Magic saw to that. I’ve been talking with Lupin and he believes too that it’s Voldemort. He’s in the Ministry for crying out loud Harry, he’d know! Everything is just as I’ve always feared. Voldemort is back and he can't be killed.”

“Are you forgetting that I too am at the Ministry? There is no conceivable way that it is Voldemort, I would have noticed it before I came to Hogwarts. The evil we are dealing with is not Voldemort, it is somebody and they have an incredibly strong influence here at this school.” He paused Sirius was looking unbelievably cross. “For the last time Sirius, Voldemort is not back!!!!!” Harry screamed.

“What about Myrtle’s arm then?” Myrtle looked around, shocked at the mention of her name. “This is precisely what happened to you when you were here at Hogwarts and Voldemort was trying to regain power. He connects with her through dreams, she has violent flashes of pain, it is Voldemort Harry, there’s no denying it.”

Myrtle lifted up the sleeve of her robes. She felt a blinding pain in her right arm as she did. Sure enough the arm was inflamed. The strange thing was, it was only around her birthmark. Her birthmark that was in the shape of a snake.

“What is going on?!” Harry and Sirius whipped around and saw Myrtle clutching her arm. “Is Voldemort back? Is he the one that wants to kill Dad and I? Is he the one doing this? How did I get this on my arm anyway? It’s just a birthmark. Why Why Why!!!!!?????” Myrtle fought back her tears, she was at this point too angry to cry.

“It’s not Voldemort Myrtle. Get yourself together, we have to be off or we’ll miss our ride back.” Harry ignored the glares he was getting from Sirius.

Myrtle climbed out of bed and straightened her robes, ready for the journey home.

On the way out of Hogwarts Castle, Sirius mumbled to Harry.

“Dumbledore was the strongest defense this school had against Voldemort. I certainly cannot protect these children like he did, Harry. Voldemort murdered Dumbledore before our very eyes, just think of what he can do to this school now that he’s back, and stronger than ever. Dumbledore was the only person he ever feared, and now he’s gone. Neither you nor I can replace him Harry no matter how strong you believe yourself to be. Think of the children. I sure as hell can’t save them. I couldn’t save Dumbledore or your parents and they were fully trained wizards. There’s no hope left.” Sirius’s voice was quivering with fear.

Harry turned, without a word and left the castle grounds, Myrtle’s hand clasped tight in his.