Henrick Hanz and the Demon of Durmstrang

Chapter 7

A horrendously rancid smell permeated the halls for days after. Everything from clothing to classrooms positively reeked of sulfur. The acrid smell made it difficult to concentrate in classes. The food had become unappetizing as well. Ruined by the overpowering odor of rotting eggs. Windows and doors throughout the castle had to be opened to let the castle air out. All around, house elves were scurrying about, trying to cleanse everything they could from that sent. However, every day, fewer and fewer elves could be seen running about. They seemed to be disappearing. Another marked disappearance was the blond girl who had defied the omen of death had also disappeared. Her many admirers found new places to take their worship. He was sort of glad for it. It had been a bit annoying. It wasn’t like she was the first one to have escaped a bad omen. Bad omens were part and parcel of the school. But now that she was gone, more annoying things had replaced her. Rumors were starting to spread.

Initially, they had hailed form the now missing blond. She had told all that surrounded her that Viktor had come back to the school and rescued her. It was such an idiotic statement that Hanz didn’t even bother to listen beyond that. There was just no way the Hungarian would have come all the way from England. Last news was the announcement that the other had battled a dragon. New that had brought cheering and the picture of Krumm being paraded about the school like a holy icon. He was as disgusted with the display now as he had then.

His displeasure was made greater by the fact that the young Egyptian was still taking up the spare bed in the room. He didn’t like having to share his private space for too long. There was just too much of a chance that any of the secrets he was keeping might be revealed. Still, he couldn’t just boot the injured boy out. No matter how he might feel about his privacy, he’d let Ness stay until the other was healed up.

Mostly, Henrick was upset by the fact that the day after the strange storm, he had been banned from the library. The next day, he had gone as his schedule usually dictated. The door that had denied him entrance the day before opened without any trouble at all. When they opened, the ghosts that had been chained for millennia rushed out into the castle proper finally freed. The flood of disquiet spirits was only the start. A noxious odor of brimstone wafted past, carried by the ghosts in their escape.

The library was in an absolute disaster. Hundreds of books and loose pages were spread about as if thrown by a mighty wind. Entire shelves were upended, slanted against the one next to it. Dozens of tiny little candles were arranged about the room in a strange pattern. They had all been snuffed out quite suddenly. At first glance, there was no discernable pattern to the haphazard placement of those candles. Yet they all seemed to lead deeper into the library, towards the very back. Towards the forbidden books section. Being Durmstrang, that section only held few books. Those few were being held under lock and key.

His foot came into contact with a heavy lock. It was singed; proof that magic had been sued to force it open. The carnage had only just begun. Only one spot seemed clear of books and debris. A small circle had been burnt into the stone floor. A small lump on mangled metal rested at the center. Unable to tell what it might be, he felt it alone. Instead, he reached to pick up a book nearest top the charred ring. This was how he had been caught by the half-blind librarian. The gnarled old Goblin must have just come in. Before Henrick could attempt to explain, he’d been blamed for the mess. When he denied it, the twisted creature stole away more of his hard earned points away.

He’d been given marching orders to see the temporary headmistress. The German only swallowed his pride, dropped the book and went. As he left the library, he saw something out of the corner of his eye. It had only been there a moment before it vanished. In the dark of the dungeon, he thought he’d seen a glimpse of something unexplainable. With only that one sidelong glance of the image of in the dark shadows, he couldn’t know what it was for sure. Besides, he knew the school didn’t play host to harpies and the only gargoyles were made of stone.

Hanz’s visit to Professor Massengruber had not been very pleasant one to say the least. He could protest all he wanted, but there was no trying to defend his innocence. He just sat and received his punishment like a man. He thought himself lucky to only get banned from the library for a week or two. He did wish that someone would have believed him. He left the office feeling terribly more irate than when he went in. he stormed past a group of professors that were hurrying towards the place he had just left.

The next day even more rumors started to float about. More and more girls had claimed to see Krumm in the halls. Others seemed to claim that Henrick had finally lost his temper and trashed the library. He’d been avoided since then. Only Fiona sat with him. A broken and bandaged Nessmont sat down that table from him. Her didn’t really mind because he preferred being alone. Not that being alone meant silence. Not with Fiona around. She made up for the lack of his talking. “So anyway, I over heard some teachers talking. They said that someone tried to break thought the barrier that protects the back gate where the challenge always takes place. It wasn’t’ you, was it? I know I said things about it, but you’re in enough trouble already. I don’t know what I’d do if they expelled you.”

Instead, Henrick wanted to choke her. After all, he had explained to her very carefully and very clearly what had happened in the library. He liked to think that she would believe him. Instead, she’d offered to bring books to him. Henrick refused. He had other ways to get into that place without being seen. A way he liked to keep from having to do. After all, the last thing he wanted was to put his name onto the Animagus registration. He’d rather die than admit to such an embarrassment.

That evening, he snuck out of his room after houses. It was difficult to sleep anyway. The now freed ghosts made for far too much noise. It wasn’t like he was the only one out there. There were always students out after hours, usually trying to sneak from one turret to another to visit a lover after dark. He didn’t have such a person to visit. He just wanted to get back into the library to investigate. He wanted a closer look at the books that had been strewn about upon the burned floor. There was also that strange figure he thought he had seen. He was rather intrigued by that strange image.

The large German was not the stealthiest of people. He was far too big to be sneaking around after midnight. The huge fifth year shuffled his way towards the library as silently as possible. He heavy boots clunked terribly loudly in the silent halls. Somewhere further down he could see a light flickering. He stopped short and peered around the corner.

The library door was wide open and a small gathering of teachers stood in a ring. One knelt sown upon the blood to examine a small form crumpled upon the floor. When the teacher moved to stand again, Henrick saw the body. It was the blond girl that had disappeared. She was dressed as if she had been going to meet some boy. Even from a distance, her skin had a wavy pallor, as if she was just a lifeless manikin lying upon the ground.

From down a separate hallway, a group of medical witches hurried to the scene. In a manner of moment, the girl was whisked away. He didn’t bother to stay and listen in. Last thing he wanted was to get caught. He didn’t doubt that if he didn’t he’d be blamed for the girl on the ground. He didn’t think that he’d get away with just a few weeks away from the library. Yet the girl’s state was intriguing. In his few years at Durmstrang, he had seen and cast quite a few curses himself. He’d never seen any magic like that.

Instead of staying and trying to come up with another explanation, he committed the state of the girl into his memory and crept back to his room to plan. Because of his ban from the library, he’s not be able to research. He supposed he would have to take Fiona up on her offer. There were just a few things he needed to take care of first.