The scene shifted back several dozen minutes.
Harry hurried to Gryffindor Tower, picked up his Nimbus 2000, and joined the bustling crowd crossing the grounds, but his thoughts were still in the Castle, chasing that voice. As he changed into his scarlet robes in the changing room, his only comfort was that everyone was outside watching the match now.
The players walked onto the pitch amid deafening cheers. Oliver Wood took to the air and flew around the goalposts to warm up. Madam Hooch released the balls. The Hufflepuff team, dressed in pale yellow, were huddled together, using the last minute to discuss tactics.
Harry looked toward the stands. With his white hair, Malfoy was easy to spot as he squeezed through the crowd toward Ginny and Ron. But Harry did not see Hermione.
Cyrus sat down beside Ginny, panting, and asked a question he already knew the answer to. "Finally found you. Where's Hermione?"
"She went to the Library," Ginny said at once. She told him everything that had happened since they parted.
"On her own? You shouldn't have let her go alone. What if she runs into danger?"
"Surely not? How would the Heir just happen to know where Hermione was?" Ron did not believe it could be such a coincidence.
But just as Harry was about to mount his broom on the pitch, Professor McGonagall suddenly hurried across it, half walking and half running, with a huge Purple Microphone in her hand.
His heart sank like a stone.
There had probably been another attack.
Sure enough, what he had heard earlier really had been a sign that the monster was on the move.
Ron's face went white in an instant. He scrambled to his feet and began pushing his way toward the pitch. "It can't really be..."