What?" he frowned, though he didn't really expect a response.
"Sorry?" Lockhart looked up at him.
"That voice," Harry said, glancing around the room.
"Voice?" his teacher asked, blankly.
"Didn't you hear it?" Harry asked, in horrible realisation.
"What are you talking about Harry? I think you're getting a bit uh… drowsy," Lockhart chuckled, looking over at the clock. "And great Scott, no wonder! Look at the time! We've been here nearly four hours. Spooky how the time flies when you're having fun."
Harry didn't miss the teacher's nervous glance around the room.
Very reassuring.
"Spooky," he agreed, before gathering up his things. "Well, I'll… see you, Professor."
"Yes. We must do this again sometime, Harry! Not as a detention of course, purely recreational," Lockhart called after him, as if it were the greatest gift.
Harry simply nodded as he slipped from the room.
Had he been hearing things, he wondered, as he made his way down the corridor.
Perhaps he should stop by the dungeons, and tell Professor Snape…
Harry snorted to himself, pushing the thought away. Tell him what? That he had been hearing voices? He'd be grounded and probably find himself in St Mungo's too…
"Blood… I smell blood… Let me rip you… Let me kill you…"
There it was again. And it sounded like it was coming from within the walls.