Persuasion

This hasn't been beta-read, and I'm sure it shows in the construction of plot. It was really hard to keep together. So if you spot something missing or contradictory, let me know, please!

Thanks to my husband for coming up with the title, even without reading it!


17 September 1993

Dear Tom,

Why does Harry like Hermione and not me? It's not fair. She's ugly, she's a Mudblood, and even though she's so smart, it's just books. She has all that bushy hair, and her teeth would look much better on a beaver. At least I don't have classes with her, but then she's in the common room all the rest of the time, talking in that high-pitched voice and bossing people around.

She sounds like a horrible person, Ginny.

She is! I wish I could kill her.

Why can't you?

Well... isn't it illegal?

Yes, but if you're not caught?

I'm bound to be, aren't I? They'd find it in my wand, you told me about the Priori Incatatem

There's another way.

Yes?

Have I told you about the Chamber of Secrets?

No. What is it?

Well. In my fifth year, I'd of course heard about the Chamber through rumours and my own research into Hogwarts' secrets. I knew there was a monster, and I knew it was supposed to rid the school of Mudbloods.

REALLY?

Yes. And I opened it.

HOW?

The entrance is in the girls' toilet on the second floor. But you have to speak Parseltongue to open it.

Snake language??

Yes.

You speak Parseltongue?

Yes.

Cooool. So, what about the monster?

It's a Basilisk.

WOW

Yes. It's big, it's very big. And to control it, you

have to speak Parseltongue, I get it. So. Can I learn Parseltongue?

Not really.

Pooh.

But...

What? Tom, come on, what?

Well... How badly do you want to open the Chamber?

Very badly! I want to get Granger for being such a... such a... such a bitch!

That's a very bad word to use, Ginny.

I know. But it's the only one that fits her. But go on. How do I open the Chamber?

How much do you trust me?

What are you going to do, Tom?

I'd have to possess you.

But if you do that, I'd not be able to remember what I did, would I?

Yes you would. It's only unwilling possession where the person doesn't remember.

So... it's more a collaboration?

Yes. Yes, I suppose it is. I'd be more like a little voice in your head.

All right then! When can we get started?

Why not now?


24 September 1993

MURDER AT HOGWARTS

Parents who send their children to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are always aware of the risks of placing so many magical teenagers in such a confined space. Accidents are bound to happen, and in fact do, quite often—but a children's school duel is nothing compared to the gruesome fate that third-year Muggleborn Hermione Granger met last night.

Miss Granger, who was considered by her teachers as the brightest witch of her generation, and who had already distinguished herself by her excellent work last spring uncovering the scandal of Gilderoy Lockhart's falsified exploits, was found dead in a girl's toilet by one of the Hogwarts ghosts.

"She was covered in blood, and there were gashes all across her skin," reports "Moaning Myrtle," the ghost who discovered the body. "She looked awful," she adds excitedly.

Your reporter was unable to view the corpse, but the students who were drawn to the scene by Myrtle's shouts confirm that there was a lot of blood, and that written on the walls in the girl's blood had been the message: "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir, beware."

The Chamber of Secrets is a longstanding Hogwarts myth. Legend says that when Salazar Slytherin left the school, he also left, concealed in a secret chamber, a monster who, one day, would purge the school of the unworthy—meaning Muggleborns like the unfortunate Miss Granger.

It is always possible that Miss Granger's death was merely teenage anger taken to a criminal degree, and that the message regarding the Chamber of Secrets was designed to stir up panic; it is also possible that the Chamber of Secrets does, in fact, exist, and that a terrible monster now roams Hogwarts' halls, preying on Muggleborns and half-bloods.

It is also possible that this is part of a larger plot: the escape of Sirius Black in July has put the Ministry on the watch, wary of Death Eater activity and attempts to find He Who Must Not Be Named and bring him back to power. One Ministry analyst confirmed that using the Chamber of Secrets' mystique for the murder of a student would be well within typical Death Eater ploys.

"Their ultimate aim is what they see as the purification of the wizarding race," the analyst said. "Whether or not the Chamber actually has been opened, it's just the sort of thing they'd like to claim they've done."

In addition, it was revealed that Miss Granger was one of Harry Potter's closest friends. Harry Potter, famous for his defeat of He Who Must Not Be Named in 1982, at the mere age of one, refused to meet with the Prophet to comment on his friend's death. Miss Granger's other close friend, a Ronald Weasley, admitted that he was "terrified" by the Chamber, and that Miss Granger's death "really freaked me out."

Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster, was unavailable for comment, although the Daily Prophet was able to interview Lucius Malfoy, a respected member of the school's Board of Governors. Mr Malfoy expressed his concerns that Headmaster Dumbledore, who is now 162 years old, might not be quite capable of handling something so dangerous as these murders.

For the full transcript, see page 12.


INTERVIEW WITH LUCIUS MALFOY, HOGWARTS BOARD OF GOVERNORS

DP: Thanks so much, Mr Malfoy, for agreeing to this interview.

LM: It's my pleasure.

DP: So do you believe in the Chamber of Secrets, Mr Malfoy?

LM: I do. Hogwarts is a highly magical place, full of nooks and crannies that are impossible to learn during one's seven years there—I find it completely plausible that such a great wizard as Salazar Slytherin would be able to hide an entire chamber.

DP: Do you believe there's a monster of sorts in there?

LM: Yes.

DP: What kind?

LM: It could be anything, really. But considering how violent the poor Miss Granger's death was, I would assume it had lots of teeth. Perhaps a chimaera, or a sphinx. I really don't know, though, to be honest.

DP: You have a child at Hogwarts, correct?

LM: Yes, my son, Draco. He's in his third year.

DP: Are you concerned for his safety?

LM: No, not at all. Our family is Pureblood, as far back as history can be traced, so if the murder is the result of the Chamber of Secrets, he's in no danger.

DP: But what if it's not the Chamber; what if it's a crazed lunatic? Some pet theories say that Sirius Black must have broken into the castle somehow and murdered the girl.

LM: Draco can defend himself. But again, he's a Pureblood. And I thought Sirius Black's target was Harry Potter?

DP: Do you think other parents should be concerned for the safety of their children?

LM: Yes, I think so, especially parents of Muggleborns and those of mixed parentage. Whether it's Sirius Black or the Chamber of Secrets, non-Purebloods are definitely at risk at Hogwarts.

DP: What are your opinions on Headmaster Dumbledore's actions so far?

LM: What actions? As far as I know, he hasn't done a thing. These are our children in danger, and he's probably sitting up in his office sucking sherbet lemons or folding his socks. Without meaning to offend the good headmaster, I think time is wearing on, and that his age is showing.

DP: Will the Board of Governors be taking any action against the Headmaster?

LM: We were in discussion late last night, as soon as the girl's body had been found, and our current agreement is to wait and see. I personally advocated removing Dumbledore immediately—I mean, a murder at Hogwarts? It's unthinkable!—but my fellow Board members overruled me and decided to give Dumbledore a chance to catch the murderer.

DP: Thank you, Mr Malfoy, for your time.

LM: Again, it was my pleasure.


27 September 1993

Dear Tom,

Harry's now sad because Hermione's dead, and Ron's even worse. Why can't I make Harry happy? Should I tell him that I killed her because she was unworthy of him?

No. That's not a good idea.

Why not? It's the truth.

From what you've told me, your Harry thinks with his emotions rather than his brain.

He's not my Harry.

Give him some time to get over her death. He will, in a little while.

How long?

Perhaps a month.

A MONTH?

It's not long. Just until Halloween, really. But now tell me, did you enjoy killing?

Well, it was nice to see how shocked she was. And that snake—you didn't tell me how big it is!

It's huge, I know. But that makes it all the more impressive when the victim sees it. Imagine how hopeless Hermione must have felt right before looking into its eyes.

I know. I feel so great.

Why did you slash her up? I thought you were only going to use the Basilisk to kill her and then write the message.

I thought about just using red paint, like you told me, but then I thought that blood would be a lot cooler. And I really, really hated Hermione.

How did it feel, cutting her skin? What did you use?

I used my wand, of course. What, did you think I'd use a knife? Like some common Muggle?

No, my sweet Ginny. I was actually asking which spell.

Oh. Diffindo, of course. It's the only cutting spell I know. Are there others?

Yes. I'll tell you more later. Oh, dear Ginny, I am so very proud of you.

Really, Tom? You're proud of me?

Yes, yes, very proud. I wasn't sure you would actually go through with the killing.

I'm not a Gryffindor for nothing!

I never thought I would be proud of a Gryffindor. Amazing how things change.

Thanks so much!! Anyway, I should probably get to Transfiguration. You know McGonagall; if I'm late she'll put me straight in detention.

Yes, I knew Minerva.

Ooh - you never told me you knew her at school! You'll have to tell me more later. Bye, Tom!

Bye, Ginny.


6 October 1993

Dear Mother and Father,

I received your letter, and while I understand your concerns, I myself feel duty-bound to stay here at the school, to support both teachers and students in this time of hardship.

I have spoken with my siblings, and although I have pressured both Ron and Ginny to return home, neither will hear a word of it. Of course Ron will go wherever Harry is, and as Harry has no better home than his Muggle relatives (and from what I hear, they're pretty awful), Harry will be staying here. Ginny is being sullen and moody—you know how she can get—and while I might be able to convince her, it will take time. Fred and George have their O.W.L.s this year, so personally I think it's very important for them to stay, as those exams are extremely important for their future careers... whatever they may be.

Please, do not worry overmuch about us. You have long said that you trust Professor Dumbledore; let your trust extend through this bout of uncertainty.

Love,
Percy


6 October 1993

Mum-

No way. We're staying.

Gred and Forge


7 October 1993

Dear Daddy,

Since you don't take the Prophet, I wanted to tell you that a girl was murdered a while ago here. She was found all bloody in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. You remember Myrtle, of course. Glasses, spots, whiny voice. I don't like her much—she teases me about my hair. You would think that a girl like Myrtle wouldn't tease, since she was teased so much herself (and she'll tell anyone who'll listen about it), but I suppose a Gurmuple got into her heart and froze it a bit, seeing as how she's a ghost.

Anyway, there's nothing much else to report, apart from the murder. I'm doing well in my classes. Snape had to award me a point yesterday because I prevented Ginny Weasley's cauldron from exploding. I could tell he didn't like doing it, but if I hadn't thrown in a handful of fairy eggs, he wouldn't be alive anymore. Ginny was so distracted yesterday, that's why her cauldron nearly exploded. She'd put too many nettles into her Engorgement Solution, AND it was boiling instead of simmering. But I didn't think that a Wrackspurt had got into her, because she has red hair and you know how they prefer blonde and black. So I wonder why she's so distracted? It can't be because of Hermione, since Ginny didn't really care for her.

Oh, well. Say hi to Humperdinck for me. I hope his front hooves are feeling better. Luna