Chapter 20: The Voice

Albus thought after the attack on Malfoy that the Jokers pulled on Malfoy's crew, Malfoy would become a bit more friendly towards him, but that was the last thing Malfoy was going to be.
Albus never really expected much from Malfoy now, maybe a few fights here and there in the hallways, never really humiliating Albus or making Albus have to be in trouble. But that changed a fine Saturday evening at Hogwarts. The sun had not yet returned to the depths of the blue sky, to illuminate finally the flowers that had been willing to grow, leaving Hogwarts below a terribly heavy snowfall that was estimated to end soon. Because of that, all those who decided to go home for Christmas had to wait one more day. Hagrid had walked all of them to the station but the train didn't arrive.
Still, some children were outside in the snow (most of the kids had now gotten tired of the coldness and frostbites). Albus rarely ever went out there, and only a few kids did, including Malfoy's crew.
Albus kept a close eye on the three, they just stood around in the terrible cold, discussing and sneering every now and then (Albus found out that day Slytherins just can't laugh, so the best they can do is sneer). 
And Albus was indeed watching over them again as he sat in the Gryffindor common room, looking out the window to see Malfoy's crew once again discussing. 
Albus frowned. "Can't believe the train was canceled another day. We'll have to wait until we can go home for Christmas another day."
Naomi was beside him, Andrew too. "Why do they talk?" Naomi asked.
"Because they have mouths, Naomi, what else?" Andrew answered.
"No, not like that," Naomi moved back from the window, "they never talk this much, and it's a bit weird for them to be talking out on the snow... it's just not... just not...."
"Not Malfoy," Albus finished, and sat back from the window as well, Andrew joining him, "I know."
"The most times I've seen that lot actually talking is when they're fighting with us," Andrew said, "not to mention they seem to be ALWAYS fighting with us."
Albus nodded and looked closer. Malfoy was talking, making hand movements frantically and sneering as usual.
"Not Malfoy." Albus whispered.
Just then, James, Aubrey, Alfie Poe, Archie Wyatt, and Teddy Lupin, and Victoire Weasley entered the room, chattering.
"Hello, Albus. Hello, Andrew, Naomi," Aubrey waved. Albus and Andrew said hello back at the same time and Naomi smiled at the lot. 
Albus had known Teddy Lupin for a long time. Teddy's godfather was Albus's father. Every now and then, Teddy would come for a week or so to live in Albus's house. It was in rather rare occasions, usually on Mr. Lupin's death Anniversary or Mrs. Lupin's birthday, when Teddy just wanted to live somewhere to distract himself from the sadness that overwhelmed him when he reached the days on his calendar.
 Albus, Andrew, and Naomi turned from the window.
Andrew sighed. 
"What's wrong, little bro?" Archie Wyatt asked, and everyone turned to Andrew. Andrew turned an excellent shade of tomato.
"It's Malfoy, what else? It looks like they are up to something." Naomi answered.
"That lot has been like that for ages," Aubrey said, playing with a lock of hair that escaped her absurdly loose brown braid, "I'm beginning to worry." Teddy, Victoire, and Alfie Poe nodded in agreement.
But just then, Albus heard something. A voice. A cold, dark-feeling voice that made him want to shrink to the ground. A terrible chill went up his spine.
The voice came again.
Der Knecht ist gekommen.
"What did it say?" Naomi whispered. She had heard it.
Der Knecht ist gekommen.
Andrew shivered.
Aubrey looked at the three and squinted. "What, have you seen a ghost?" James asked.
"More like heard one," Andrew whispered. "You heard it, right?"
James stared at Andrew like he was silly and shook his head. "It seems you're becoming metal-minded, Andrew."
But he was not becoming that, and Albus knew it. That voice was so distant, yet...

so familiar.