As the sun began to create shadows through the window of the Slytherin girl's dormitory, Pansy Parkinson awoke to a foul stench. Figuring that one of the boy's had let out dung bombs, she rolled over. Unfortunately she saw the mangled body of a young girl, her eyes barely open and her nightclothes and bed sheets saturated with blood. Taking a moment to clear her head, Pansy looked again and knew she was not dreaming. She screamed. She screamed so loud that it could be heard all the way in Professor Snape's office where he had spent the better part of the early morning hours reading several books he had taken from the library. Annoyed by the screaming, he put his book down and followed the sound to its source. "Miss Parkinson what on Earth are you screaming about?" he asked angrily. "P-P-Professor, T-T-Taylor is d-d-dead," the young Slytherin stammered. "Dead?" he asked. Pansy only nodded. Professor Snape made his way over to Taylor's bed and saw her bloody, mangled body. "That she is. Very observant Miss Parkinson," he said. He turned and left. His pace quickened as he neared Elizabeth's office. He knocked and heard footsteps and then the door opened. "Severus. What the---. It's 4:00 in the morning," she said, her hair draped over her slender shoulders. "Miss Turner is dead," he said bluntly. "Oh no!" Elizabeth breathed. She turned and shut the door. Several minutes later she emerged wearing yesterday's pants and shirt. Snape gave her a skeptical look. "Where is she?" Elizabeth asked, ignoring the look. He led her to the girl's dormitory.
Back in the hospital wing, Cameron was crying and shaking uncontrollably. The sound of footsteps and then the door being opened did not register with her. "Cameron? What happened?" Elizabeth asked quietly. "H-h-he killed Tay!" she wailed. "How obser---" Snape began. "Oh Severus be quiet. Can't you see she's upset?" Elizabeth spat. "She was my best friend. I could've stopped him but I didn't," she continued. "Severus, can I please have a moment with her alone," Elizabeth asked. He promptly turned and left. "Now Cameron listen to me. I've got some things to tell you," the young woman said calmly. "First off, I'm sorry that it was your best friend he killed. Secondly, I know that if you try, you can defeat him. You need to concentrate and believe that you are stronger than him," she said. "I've done some research and the only way to get rid of demons like this is by forcing them out of your body. Once out, it will die," she finished. "But how do I force him out?" Cam asked sullenly. "Just believe that you can and throwing a few fireballs at him wouldn't hurt either," Elizabeth said as a slight smile came over her lips. "I'm a bit out of practice," Cam said, a smile gracing her lips as well.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
By noon the rumors of Taylor's death were circulating through the school. Draco sat at the Slytherin table, his sky blue eyes glazed over. He hadn't eaten anything at breakfast and had barely paid attention in Potions. He hadn't even had the heart to insult Harry. "Malfoy looks out of it," Ron commented. "Well, Taylor was his girlfriend," Harry said. "Yeah. I wonder what killed her and Melinda?" Hermione piped in. "You don't think it's a basilisk do you?" she continued. "No, I killed the one in the chamber in our second year, remember," Harry said looking over at Draco again. "How could we forget," Ron and Hermione said in unison. Just then, Jack and Christina sat down next to Ron and Hermione. "Hey guys do you think Melinda and Taylor's deaths are connected?" Christina asked. "Yeah, I'd bet my wand on it," Jack said. He looked up and Elizabeth caught his attention. 'Meet me in the library after lunch' she mouthed. Jack nodded slightly in her direction to signal that he understood.
In the library, Jack found both Professor McGonagalls, Professor Snape, Professor Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey. "What's going on?" Jack asked with a puzzled expression on his face. "Jack, Cam's been, well responsible for the student deaths," Elizabeth said. "I sort of figured as much," he said, looking at the ground. "Jack, how close are you to your sister?" Professor Dumbledore asked. "We haven't always gotten along wonderfully but we are still close. Why?" he said. "Well, we think that if the panther tried to attack you, Cam might have enough anger to force him out," Elizabeth said. "Wait. Let me get this straight. You want me to put myself in mortal danger so that Cam can conquer this demon inside of her?" Jack asked astonished. "Well, yeah," Professor McGonagall said. "I just have one question. What happens if it doesn't work?" Jack asked. "We're hoping she loves you enough that we don't have to worry about that," Elizabeth said. "Alright. I'll do it," Jack said with a determined look.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In the hospital wing, Cam sat on her bed and stared up at the ceiling. A book lay at her feet. She had been reading up on mental patronuses and demonic banishing with the mind. From what she had read, it was quite difficult. 'I bet Potter could do it,' she thought bitterly to herself. She stood up and turned to the door, her shoulder-length dirty blond hair fanning out behind her. She met Jack's pale, green eyes. "Hey where are you going?" he asked, blocking her way. "I was just going for a walk. Now move!" she said. "What have you been up to lately?" he asked. "None of your bloody business," she spat. She raised her right hand and a small fireball appeared. She threw it at him. He jumped back several feet and the fireball hit the wall behind him. "That felt good," she said. Raising her hand again, a normal sized fireball appeared. She sent it flying towards Jack but unfortunately it hit Draco squarely in the chest. His robes ignited and he started screaming. "I didn't do anything to you," he said, looking angrily at Cam as he put the fire out. "I was aiming for Jack," Cam said innocently. "Humph," he muttered and continued on his way. "So Jack what do you want?" Cam asked her brother. "I just haven't visited in a while," he said and he gave her a hug. Jack and Cam spent the rest of the afternoon reminiscing and just hanging out.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As darkness surrounded the Hogwarts grounds, Jack lay awake waiting, wondering. Elizabeth had told him not to make contact with Cam. He knew it was too risky. Cam drifted into sleep and found herself in the forest. "You have been very good Cameron," Asesino said. "I hate you. You aren't going to control me anymore!" she screamed. She struggled against his power but gave in. Asesino left the hospital wing and moved stealthily to the boy's dorm in Slytherin. Jack sat up and pulled out his wand as he heard the approaching footsteps. "No! Not him. Don't hurt him!" Cam screamed inside the panther's mind. "Silence!" he yelled. "No!" she yelled back. Jack stared at the panther's eyes. They were so much like hers but with a driving evil in them. He could see the struggle taking place but felt scared for his sister all the same. 'Cam. Can you hear me?" he asked. 'Yes. But I'm a bit busy at the moment,' she said back. "Expecto Patronom" she yelled and a graceful eagle was formed in her mind and Asesino let go slightly of his control. She raised her right hand and through a volley of fireballs at the panther. Jack could see the fire behind the panther's eyes. It was very frightening. 'You can do it Cam. I know you can,' he told her. 'Thanks Jack,' his sister's voice said in his mind. With all of her energy Cam took control and forced the panther out. She fell to the ground, her energy having been greatly depleted. Elizabeth, Minerva and Albus rushed in. The writhing form of Asesino could be vaguely made out in the dark room. Elizabeth lit a candle and the demon cringed at the pale light. Suddenly, he vanished and a cloud of black smoke was all that remained. "Come. Let's get her back to the hospital wing." Minerva said. Professor Dumbledore picked her up and the four of them made their way to the hospital wing. 'You did good tonight Cam,' Jack said. 'Thanks,' she mumbled and then fell asleep.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Later that morning, Cam was permitted to leave the hospital wing and rejoin her classmates. On her way to Transfiguration, she ran into Elizabeth. "Oh. Miss Williams," she called. "Yes Professor?" Cam responded. "You that week of detention I gave you at the start of term?" she continued. "Yes," Cam said tentatively. "Forget about it. I think my point was well taken. Tell Jack and Draco they don't have to finish either," she said. "Ok," Cam said as she hurried off. As she entered the classroom, everyone's eyes turned to her. Jack began clapping and pretty soon the whole room was resounding with praise. "Jack. Draco. We don't have to finish that detention from the start of term," she said.
The school year began to wind down and everyone settled back into routines. Before the students knew it, final exams were upon them. Jack, Cam, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Christina and Draco all made it through them without much trouble. As Cam was walking out of the Entrance Hall to go into Hogsmeade to catch the train, Elizabeth stopped her. "You've been through so much this year," she said. "How did you know what was going on?" Cam asked, putting her trunk down. "Well, the first day on the train when I found you throwing fireballs at Mr. Malfoy I knew you had some gift and when I found out you and Jack could both create them, I knew it had to be in your family. So I did some research and found out that one of your great-great-great-great grandfathers had been inhabited by a demon in the form of a panther," she told her. "Wow. So you mean that Asesino found me because I was related to someone else he had inhabited?" Cam asked. "Yes. Unfortunately, his former victim did not survive," Elizabeth replied. "Go on. You don't want to miss the train," the teacher said hurrying Cam along. Elizabeth smiled as she watched Cam and Jack get on the train. "You did a wonderful thing Elizabeth," her mother said. "No. Cameron did," Elizabeth responded. The two women stood there and watched the train pull out. It had been a tough year but they had all gotten through it.
Back to Books Chapter Nine
