Disclaimer:
*frustrated sigh* I'm going to be paying off these student loans for the rest of my life!
School equals good job for future! HA! I'll be working just to pay off the damn school loans! And if I get one more ticket…oh…erm I forgot where I was for a sec…I don't own HP. Can't afford to get sued. Unless you want my debt, then you can sue all you want!
Recap:
The snake slithered behind a young boy with a camera.
"I know you're out here! Where are you!? I know you had detention tonight" The boy thought he had him so he turned around to quickly snap a picture of his hero Harry Potter and immediately froze with his camera to his face.
The snake slithered by as young Colin hit the floor with a thump. He was petrified.
Chapter 13: Hermione's got It!
The news spread fast. By breakfast the next morning everyone knew that Colin had been petrified.
Everyone knew that young Colin admired Harry Potter.
Everyone knew he was petrified in the hall that Harry and Ron had to clean.
Everyone was sitting and chatting about the guy who did it, and why a person that dangerous is still in school.
Everyone except three Gryffindors. Ronald Weasley, who was currently to full to breath, yet alone gossip. Hermione Granger, who couldn't stop staring sadly at her messy haired boyfriend.
Then there was Harry Potter. Harry Potter was sitting hunched over his plate staring at his eggs, not moving except the for slow rhythm of his breathing. He looked like he just found out he only had 1 hour to live. This was by far his worse day, and it hadn't even really started yet.
After 20 minutes of constant gossip about Harry, Dumbledore stood made all the food disappear. There were yells of "I wasn't finished with that" and chatters about why breakfast is ending early. When everyone quieted down, Dumbledore spoke.
"It saddens me to have to do this again. I am an old wizard but I can very well hear the comments being made about Mr. Potter" Chatter immediately broke out again. People were furious that their food was taken because of Harry Potter.
"SILENCE!"
The entire Great Hall fell silent at the not so subtle command.
"Now as I was saying. It is impossible that Mr. Potter was the one to petrify Mr. Creevy last night. Yes he was found in the hall that Mr. Potter's detention was held in, but that doesn't put the blame on him. The truth is, Hogwarts isn't safe anymore. I told you all to travel in groups for a reason. There is something or someone trying to cause harm inside this school."
"YEAH WE KNOW. IT'S POTTER" the rest of the school nodded their heads affirmative.
"ONE more disruption and you will be detained Mr. Malfoy. It is not Harry Potter and I have a teacher as proof."
Harry looked up at this. Proof? Teacher? Wait, I missed something.
"Professor McGonagall was the one that gave detention that night."
Dean Thomas yelled out "But Ron was blabbing about how she wasn't there. How could she be proof ?"
Harry glared at Ron. "Harry, I'm sorry mate. I didn't think that these rumors would be around. I said that before everyone found out…sorry" Harry nodded and listened to the rest of what Dumbledore had to say.
"Mr. Thomas the same goes for you as it does Mr. Malfoy."
"BUT YOU ARE LYING FOR POTTER!" Everyone snapped their heads over to Dean who was fuming. "I WILL NOT SHARE A ROOM WITH SOMEONE LIKE HIM. RON WAS RIGHT TO CALL HIM THOSE THINGS. HE'S TRYING TO KILL PEOPLE IN HOGWARTS!"
Seamus stood with dean, "YEAH YOU'RE PUTTING US IN DANGER BEING IN A DORM WITH HIM"
Hermione looked over to Harry and knew what was going to happen if he didn't calm down. His fists were clenched tight out of anger. His face was flushed. His body was tense. Oh yes, Harry was about to snap.
Seamus turned to face Harry, "YOU'RE A DISGRACE TO US ALL. WE NEVER DID ANYTHING TO YOU, YET YOU WANT TO HARM US. YOU BELONG IN SLYTHERIN"
Harry stood up and hit his palms on the table. Everyone gasped at what happened next. \
The Gryffindore table vanished.
Harry looked down at where the table used to be, and then he looked in the air...just to make sure it wasn't floating above them. Albus chose that moment to speak again.
"Mr. Potter was under watch last night. Professor McGonagall was hidden in the hall watching over her detention time. She wanted to see if the boys would start another fight or were they really sorry. If another fight was started, they would be under attention for being expelled if they could not solve their differences. She watched them do their work and go directly to their dorms. The Fat Lady reported that Mr. Creevy was the only one to leave after that. The problem is Mr. Potter is a powerful young man. His accidental magic is going against him right now."
Dumbledore looked over to Ron "Last year you, Mr. Weasley, made my plate of food fly to you when you were hungry and couldn't wait for the students dinner to appear" Ron looked away and blushed. He couldn't help that he was starving and the teachers get their food first!
He looked at Susan Bones next "You accidentally conjured a puppy that was exactly like yours when you got homesick" Susan smiled at the thought of her puppy at home. She missed him dearly at times. She was sitting in History of Magic and her dog appeared out of nowhere!
He looked at Fred next; "You filled the Great Hall with roses when you found out you passed DADA" Fred was embarrassed. At least the could have left the manly thorns on. But no, they were nice and picked ROSES…he got girly talk for weeks from the guys, especially George, and even Percy.
"Hunger, sadness, and happiness started their magic to flow. All emotions effect magic and the strength of it. Mr. Potter here is angry. You all turned on him once again without even considering the other options! Last week Mr. Longbottom blew up a caldron when he got house points taken away from Gryffindor, in potions class. Accidental magic is easily forgiven by the ministry. If what Mr. Potter just did wasn't accidental he would be getting taken away by the ministry as we speak." He looked pointedly at Harry, "But you all are here to learn to control and develop it!"
Dumbledore waved his hand and the Gryffindor table was put back into place. "Mr. Finnegan, Mr. Thomas, you will receive detention for disobeying my orders of being quiet when I gave you both a fair warning before you chose to shout again. Meet me after breakfast. All classes are canceled today!" and with a wave of his hand, the food reappeared on the table; their food was the same as before, all the way down to the bite marks.
The students were too sullen to cheer about no classes or to even touch their food. All except the Slytherins…only a few of them took Dumbledore's words to heart.
Harry turned and walked briskly out of the Great Hall with Hermione and Ron hot on his trail.
They walked quietly to the common room. Harry plopped down in one of the big cushion chairs. Hermione and Ron took the couch next to him. Hermione sat quietly waiting for Harry to begin, she wanted to ask him what was wrong, but knew to let him sort things out first.
Ron was having a mix of emotions. He was furious at Dean, Seamus, and the rest of the Gryffindors. How could they turn against Harry so quickly! They didn't even think of the possibilities of him not doing it. They just assumed he did. He felt sad at the fact that a while ago he would have easily been with them on their assumptions. He was just as quick to turn on Harry too. Then he felt horrible for Harry. He was with him the entire time. They never even thought that he, Ron, could have been the one to have done it. He just felt horrible.
Then there was also Ginny. She had been getting worse and worse. She would come to him crying, telling him that she couldn't help it, the snake was doing its' job. This scared Ron. His sister would only repeat that over and over again. And he wanted to help but there was no use, he was close to thinking she was crazy, but he couldn't bring himself to finish the thought. He loved his sister, no matter how much they fought, and he wanted to keep her secret but some things needed to be told for the safety of others. Ron had made up his mind a few days ago to tell someone. He just hadn't built up the courage to do it.
Ron was snapped out of his thoughts by Harry's voice, "Um thanks guys. I know it's hard to stick with me, especially with you Ron. You didn't turn on me and I guess I'm saying thanks. Honestly, I could care less what the others think. But a few things have been bothering me."
Harry took a deep breath and continued, "The voice, I hear it a lot now. In the halls it comments on things people say and it goes back to where it came from. I heard it say something about a girl and master. When it's far away it's harder to understand what it is saying."
Harry looked up at Ron and Hermione. They were looking at him intently but not like he was some freak.
Harry couldn't hold it in any longer, he was scared. He heard voices that said weird things and his powers were out of control. He didn't know what was happening to him.
His voice cracked as he spoke, "The voice scares me, that snake like voice"
Ron jumped up and looked at Harry. They stared at him wondering what happened.
"What did you say Harry? Did you say snake voice?"
"Ye…Yeah. It kinda rolls the S words. It reminds me of a snake hiss."
Ron knew it was time to talk. "Listen, Ginny has been acting weird. She is terrified and jumpy about something. She says she can't help it and bad things are happening. Then the last time she told me the snake was doing its' job. Now you hear snakes! That's no coincidence Harry. Something is really happening. You are not losing it mate. But whatever is happening, it's happening with Ginny too."
Hermione had a look of deep concentration on her face. Harry knew she was close to figuring something out; she did it all the time while doing homework.
Her eyes widened and she gasped. "I have a suspicion but we need to get to the library"
Harry and Ron followed her as she practically ran to her favorite place in Hogwarts. When they reached the library, the boys took a well deserved rest at a table in the corner furthest away from Madam Prince. Hermione looked in a section on history and came back to the table with, what Ron thought was, the thickest tomb in the library.
She opened the book and started her search. She read with incredible speed; her eyes darting back and forth with every line.
Harry was fascinated by her skills. It was as if she was using magic to absorb the book! He couldn't help but smile at the thought of how cute she looked when she was in 'search mode', as he liked to call it.
He must have had a goofy grin on his face, because Ron nudged his shoulder and whispered, "No time for that mate"
Harry blushed and looked away. Hermione shouted "I GOT IT!"
Madam Prince looked sharply at Hermione and gave one of the greatest library SHHHH's ever.
Hermione sat down and whispered franticly, "I know what is going on; this just confirmed my suspicions! But you both have to have open minds to what I am going to tell you"
They nodded and she continued. "Okay. Harry hears voices a voice that sounds like a snake. Ginny says the snake is doing its job. When I read about the Chamber of Secrets in Hogwarts: A History, it said that Slytherins' heir opened the chamber once before, almost 50 years ago. Students were coming up dead…muggle born students. Salazar Slytherin believed that muggles should not be allowed to attend this school; that we taint the magic blood. That's where Malfoy got the idea. It's still common amongst most pure-blooded families." Harry nodded at the small history lesson but urged her to continue with a roll of his hand and wrist.
"The book says that the monster was hidden and locked in the Chamber of Secrets until the heir of Slytherin returns. And the message on the wall said that the heir of Slytherin has returned!"
Ron gulped "So the heir is really here and he set the monster loose?" his bottom lip quivered at the thought of a monster.
Hermione huffed at his antics, "Ron honestly! This is no time to be afraid!"
He looked at her incredulously and said "This is the perfect time to be afraid a bloody monster is on the loose!"
She rolled her eyes, "Now as I was saying, I believe the monster is a snake called the Basilisk. The Basilisk is a legendary reptile reputed to be king of serpents and said to have the power of causing death by a single glance. Legend says it can only be killed by severing the brain or head, or by gazing at itself in a mirror. However if it is gazed at through a reflection or not directly in the eye, without interference, it will cause the victim to become petrified. And Colin had his camera. I bet anything that he saw the basilisk through the lens! Somehow Harry can hear it. I have an explanation for that too."
Hermione turned to Harry, "Harry, do you remember over the summer when you told me you set a snake out on Dudley and it said thanks?" Harry nodded fervently in hope to get the answer out of her quicker.
"Well there is no way you could have heard that snake unless you were a parselmouth! Parseltongue is the language of snakes. It is in the common mind associated with Dark Magic. Harry you have a gift that most people in the Wizarding world see as a curse. It is extremely rare to be a parselmouth. It really goes against you because the last known Parseltongues were Salazar Slytherin himself, and Voldemort. I don't know how you got the power Harry but the snake is loose in the castle and it's after muggle-borns like me. I don't know who the heir is but we know the person is in Slytherin."
"But what's going on with my sister! Why can she hear it too?" Ron was on the verge of tears. He was scared for his sister and himself. There was a giant snake on the loose, and what twelve year old wouldn't be scared?
"Ron this is where I want you to keep your mind open" he took a deep breath to steady himself and nodded for her to continue.
"I believe that whoever the heir is, is working through Ginny. She leaves and comes back tired. She said the snake is doing its job and she knows what is happening."
Ron stood up and shouted "It's NOT TRUE! She wouldn't do it!"
"If I get one more interruption out of that table you will be dismissed from the room!" Ron sat down at Madam Prince's threat.
Hermione grabbed Ron's arm and whispered, "I said keep calm! And besides I believe whoever it is, is controlling her with a spell like the imperious or something. It's the only thing besides possession that could take over a person like that. But the heir would have to be dead and I'm sure Dumbledore has wards against evil ghost in the school. So that leaves us with someone in the school using an unforgivable on Ginny to get her to do his or her dirty deeds."
Ron was in a state of shock. His little sister was being controlled by the Slytherin heir!
Harry was determined to save her no matter what she did in the past… "We got to save her, no matter what she did in the past" (A/N: Sorry I couldn't help it *laughs*)
Hermione nodded, "But how? I mean we can watch her every move? But she would notice."
"Not with Harry's cloak she won't. She doesn't know about the invisibility cloak! We can start tonight! I have to save her."
"Ron I really think we should tell Professor Dumbledore. He will help"
"NO Hermione. He has been helpful and trying to make up with me for what he did in the past but I don't think I trust him enough yet. He uses people. We must do this alone. And when we figure you who is controlling Ginny and where the Chamber is, we can tell him then."
Hermione was reluctant but agreed in the end.
Harry knew what Dumbledore was up to. He makes a huge mistake and tries to get on my side by helping with the school rumors, but he is a good manipulator. I don't want to trust him completely yet, it's still too soon.
"So tonight then we follow her in Harry's cloak and see what is going on?" Ron was eager to help her.
"No, not tonight we have to make things seem normal as possible and I still want to research where the Chamber could be located. If she is actually going there then it may be warded to us. We have to be careful."
"But this is my sister!"
"I know Ron but Hermione is right. I want nothing more than to get her too. But we can't let it be known that we know about all of this. If the heir discovers we know most of the things happening, he may kill Ginny so she won't tell; that doesn't mean we can't watch her though. Just have to be discrete about it. In fact we have to get more of the attention turned to me."
Hermione and Ron looked at Harry in shock. "What the bloody hell are you on about? You were just moping about being in the attention a few minutes ago"
Hermione would have laughed if she didn't want to know the answer too.
"If I keep doing things to make them believe it's me, the heir wouldn't suspect we know. If everyone thinks it's me then the heir may slip up by getting too comfortable. And we can search better while pretending to be just as confused as everyone else, or in my case, moody and angry"
"Oh Harry that's a brilliant idea. I knew your angst was going to do us all some good" they all chuckled at Hermione's joke, mostly because she rarely told one.
"Now that we got that settled what's the next step in making you appear to be the heir. Because other than you, Malfoy is the next choice" Ron laughed at what he thought was a joke, but Harry and Hermione had an 'idea' look on their faces.
"Ron you're brilliant!" Wow I never thought I'd hear Hermione say that.
"Erm…I am? Oh yeah I am…Why am I brilliant again?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "People also think of Draco too. We have to eliminate him as a suspect since it really may be him. He will never be comfortable with every one thinking it's him too. I have an idea but we have to get Malfoy to throw a specific curse at you Harry. This plan would surely turn the attention to you. It's the serpiente adsumo spell. It conjures a snake to attack the person that the caster is thinking of. We have to ease the spell into his mind and show him how to use it. Then you boys fight over whatever, and he will surely use it. He's dirty and will use it to get ahead of you. You speak Parseltongue to it and it goes away. But it has to be done in front of enough people to start the rumors."
"But how will we get it to him, or find out if he's really the heir? And what if he's not the heir?" Ron nodded in agreement saying he was thinking of that question too.
"Well we can use polyjuice potion. It turns us into whoever we get a hair from. We will change for approximately one hour and we can use you two as Crabbe and Goyle and I can be Pansy. She is dumb but smart enough to know a few dark tricks. You two can get the truth out of him by being his buffoons for an hour. If he's not the heir we can eliminate him off the list of Slytherins."
"Good idea Hermione. How long for the potion to be ready?"
She nibbled on her bottom lip and said "I don't know. It may be a little after Christmas, but it'll give us the time we need. We all are responsible for getting our persons hair. So do it as soon as possible and put it somewhere safe."
Ron was upset it would be that long, but knew the importance of keeping a low profile for his sister's sake. He would just keep helping her and keeping a close eye on her and protecting her at all cost.
Xxx BREAK TO LATER IN THE COMMON ROOM xxX
Harry was reading a book. Not just any book. But Hogwarts: A History. He read the book once for Hermione's sake, early in the summer. But you may be wondering how this came to be…again.
Hermione had an interesting way of getting him to read it. She threw the book on his lap and sat herself next to him. She opened the book to page one and started reading while he sat there and enjoyed her head on his shoulder. She smiled and looked at him then pointed to the beginning of page one, indicating that she wanted him to read with her. He rolled his eyes and started to read the book…again.
Later, Ron walked into the common room and groaned, "Oh no she turned you into her! Harry you have quidditch. Shouldn't you be practicing?"
Harry didn't look up from the book but still gave a half reply, "No. Not yet. In a bit though. Starts in a few days."
Ron rolled his eyes and smiled as he walked to the dorm. He may not say it now but he knew they were a good couple. And besides he had to think of his plan to watch Ginny.
Twenty minutes later they were finished with a few chapters of the book. Hermione was obviously a faster reader but she slowed down to keep up with him.
"Harry?"
"Yeah?"
"Why is quidditch being held off so long? I thought it would have started by now?"
"With all that's going on they want to make sure we are safe. So now we have to practice with our Head of House on the field. All our practices have to be around McGonagall's schedule"
"Oh…"
"Is there something you wanted to say Hermione?"
"Yes. If the Basilisk comes after me, promise me you won't come in the way. You need to be here at all cost, because you're the only parselmouth that we all know of and I know it has to be important to this puzzle"
Harry didn't want to say yes, but he knew she was telling the truth.
"Okay. But you have to do me a favor…Carry a mirror at all times. If you have a feeling you are being followed get your mirror and wand just in case. I know I get that eerie feeling when I'm being followed, except it's usually by Dudley's gang, but you know what I mean. They can get you back if you're petrified, not if…you know"
"I understand and I promise I'll keep a mirror. The girls in my dorm would think I'm joining their side, but I'll deal with that. Now let's get back to chapter 5"
Harry would never tell Hermione but he actually liked Hogwarts: A History.
Oh let's face it with a pretty girl tucked under my arm, I'd read anything.
A/N: Hi guys and girls. I know I haven't updated in a while, but things happen. I had personal things to deal with and some other stuff. But I had far too many good reviews to just stop the story. I got more hours at work! Yay me! And I turned 20 on the 27th of December!!!! Hope you enjoyed the chapter and I'll update when I can. (Read and review please)