Hey guys! Hope you're enjoying it so far though I know not much has happened yet. Please keep reading and I hope you like this chapter! Would be great if you could leave a review too!
"I can't believe that!" Hermione snorted.
"It's true!" Ron insisted as the three of them made their way out of the dining hall early and back to the Gryffindor common room. "Dad enchanted it. It's got an invisibility button and everything! So muggles don't see it flying about."
"But what would you need a flying car for?" Draco asked, "Why not just use a broom?"
"You can get more people in a car," Ron said, "and besides, it's just more fun, really."
"It's impressive," Hermione conceded, "but I'm with Draco. A broom is probably faster too, because it's more streamlined."
"More what?" Ron frowned.
Draco nudged Ron. "Look there," he said, pointing at a lone figure at the end of the corridor. "Well, if it isn't Potter, the Slytherin Prince," Draco crowed.
"Stop it, Draco," Ron moaned, "leave the kid alone."
"I agree," Hermione said, her voice carrying a touch of concern, "leave him, Draco." He shrugged her arm off. "He's not worth it!"
Draco strode forwards. His feet splashed. He looked down to see the ends of his robes hanging in an inch of water. "Don't tell me you've wet yourself again, Potter," Draco sneered, a grin breaking onto his face. Harry was motionless, staring at something on the wall. "What is it, Potter?" he asked, "Cat got your t—"
A shudder ran down Draco's spine and he stopped dead. Mrs Norris, Filch's cat, was hanging stiffly by her tail. Draco's heart pounded.
"Look at the words," Harry gasped.
Draco stepped back. Daubed across the wall was written: The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir, beware.
"Is that…?" Draco gasped.
"What's the Chamber of Secrets?" Ron asked, glancing at Hermione, but she shook her head.
"Potter! Malfoy!" Filch's rasping voice echoed down the corridor, making them all jump. Behind them, from each direction, students appeared, chatting loudly. Draco began to back away. A sudden hush fell over the students as they saw Mrs Norris and the writing.
Filch's face turned from one of glee to one of horror. "My…" he gasped, "my cat. You… You've killed my cat." Both boys froze in terror. "Which one of you was it?" Filch roared, his voice almost breaking. "Which one?" They both shook their heads.
Filch's chin trembled and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. "I'll kill ya," he said, "I will. I'll kill both o' ya!"
Draco leapt backwards and knocked straight into Harry as Filch's hand shot towards them.
"Argus!" Dumbledore's voice boomed throughout the corridor as he swept into sight, students parting instantly to let him through.
"They…" Filch said, choking, "they've killed my cat!" A tear spilled from his eye. "Mrs Norris," he whispered.
Dumbledore stared at Mrs Norris and at the wall behind her. He waded through the water and gently touched her. Her stiff body swung slowly. Dumbledore looked over his shoulder and nodded briefly at Professor McGonagall.
"All students back to their common rooms," she announced. No one moved. "Now, please!"
Reluctantly, the students shuffled away. "Harry, Draco," Dumbledore said, "you stay." Draco stared at Ron and Hermione. Ron bit his lip but turned away. Hermione followed him, looking back over her shoulder as she went.
"I swear, Professor," Draco began, stepping forwards.
"Hush, Draco," Dumbledore said.
Draco ground his teeth together. "No!" he exploded, "You'll all think I had something to do with it. I demand that I be allowed to speak, or else my father—"
"I know you had nothing to do with this, Draco," Dumbledore said firmly, raising his hand for silence.
McGonagall sprang forward in Draco's stunned silence. "How dare you answer back to the headmaster," she hissed to Draco, "five points from Gryffindor! You might get your way at home, getting whatever you want, but that is not how it works here." She turned to Dumbledore. "Albus. What can this mean?"
Dumbledore paused before replying. "I have seen this before," he murmured, "a girl… For now, we must not panic."
"But if the Chamber has been opened again," McGonagall protested, "then Hogwarts… This could be the beginning of the end." Dumbledore didn't reply. Exasperated, McGonagall span round and her eyes fell on the two boys. "Which one of you got here first?" Both stuttered. "One of you got here before the other, I know that much. I can't much see you walking hand in hand around the corridors." Lockhart stifled a laugh.
"He did," Draco said.
"Is this true, Potter?"
"Yes, Professor."
McGonagall looked from one to the other. "Well, I remember seeing Mr Malfoy at dinner, but you… Potter, where were you at dinner?"
"I was—"
"My fault entirely, Professor," Lockhart said, striding forwards, swirling his pale blue cloak as he went, "I was talking to Harry, we were discussing fame and celebrity. I rather held him up."
"Surely, as his head of house, it might be more prudent if I were to talk to Mr Potter about any issues of fame or celebrity," Snape said, his eyes narrowing at Professor Lockhart.
"Yes, well," Lockhart said, "forgive me for saying it, but you don't have much experience in the area, do you, Professor Snape? Whereas I do. We had a little chat, man to man, about it." He cleared his throat. His eyes drifted over to Harry. "But that was some time ago…"
Harry shook his head. "I swear, Professor, it wasn't me."
"What's happened to my cat?" Filch burst out, his tear stained face trembling.
"She has been petrified, Argus," Dumbledore said calmly.
"Petrified?"
"Yes, petrified. Don't worry, it's perfectly reversible."
"I have some mandrakes on the verge of adolescence," Professor Sprout said, "soon, once they're adults, we can take the leaves and make a restorative draft."
Dumbledore nodded approvingly.
Filch shook his finger at the two boys. "I want to see punishment!"
"Might I point out, Professor," Snape said quickly, gliding forwards, "petrification such as this requires highly advanced dark magic, that these two boys are entirely incapable of producing."
"Dark magic," Filch sneered, "and you'd know all about that, wouldn't you?"
"Please," Dumbledore said, holding up his hands for calm, "I am fully aware that neither Harry nor Draco would be capable of producing such dark magic." He looked at them both sternly. "They are completely innocent. Now, return to your dormitories, at once."