Second chapter of the week, I hope you will enjoy it and don't forget that lovely button with Review written on it!
Jade was dutifully writing her Charms' essay, when a Ron slammed his book shut, making her jump. It surprised her even more when Hermione shut her book as well. Jade looked between the two of them wildly. Christopher seemed as surprised as her sister and was looking questioningly at their two friends.
"What is it?" asked Jade finally.
"Who do you think it is?" asked Hermione.
Jade didn't need to ask what the bushy haired girl was talking about. She knew it was about the heir of Slytherin. The raven haired girl glanced at her surroundings nervously. They were currently sitting in the Gryffindor Common Room. Curfew had started five minutes ago, so most students were there. They were mainly doing their homework but a few of them were playing or chatting near the fire. Jade turned back to look at Hermione. It had only been two hours since they had come back from Moaning Myrtle's bathroom and she was still trying to recover from the trauma of entering the 'nest of the Devil'. In the bathroom she shared with the girls in her dorm she had made sure to place the mirrors in such a way that she didn't have to look at them. The other girls had just taken it as a redecorating spree and had just let it go.
"Well, if you think about it," said Jade. "When you talk of someone who hates all Muggle-borns and half-bloods and would be happy to see them dead, there's only one person who stands out from the rest."
The others looked at her with confusion written on their faces.
"What do you mean?" asked Christopher.
Jade raised her eyes in exasperation.
"I mean Malfoy, obviously!" she told them. "The git's the only person I know that's open about his hatred for Muggles."
Her three friends exchanged doubtful glances. Finally, Hermione spoke up.
"But do you really think he's the true heir of Slytherin?"
"Well, he's in Slytherin…" said Jade looking sheepish.
"But there's loads of people who are in Slytherin!" remarked Christopher.
"Yes, but he's the only one who goes around showing his blatant happiness at the news of Muggle-borns being killed." said Jade.
Christopher didn't seem very convinced. In fact, the only one who looked convinced other than Jade herself was Ron. However the red haired hated Malfoy with a passion so he wasn't the best judge. Still, Jade was absolutely sure that the heir of Slytherin had to be Malfoy. After all, he was a pureblood from an ancient and noble family who could very well be related to Salazar Slytherin. Now, the only thing was, what could be the proof that he was? If she found that she could prove it was him and perhaps even get a clue as to where the Chamber of Secrets was. She just needed to find proof. And since she wasn't willing to go back to Myrtle's bathroom, the next best place was Slytherin Common Room.
"Guys, we need to go into the Slytherin Common Room." announced Jade.
The others looked confuse.
"We need to go there to find proof." she explained.
Comprehension washed over her friends.
"There is a way." said Hermione cautiously. "Of course, it would be difficult and dangerous, very dangerous. Not to mention we would be breaking about fifty school rules."
Three expectant faces turned to her. Jade suspected that Ron was more excited about the 'breaking about fifty school rules' part rather than the 'entering Slytherin Common Room'. She couldn't blame him, though. Breaking fifty school rules at once had to be a record. She doubted that even the Weasley twins had ever managed it.
"We could use Polyjuice Potion." said Hermione.
"What's that?" asked Christopher.
"It's a potion that enables you to transform into someone else. However, it takes a long time to brew and you need something from the person you want to change into, like a hair or a nail for example." explained the bushy hared girl.
"I see." agreed Jade. "That way we could transform into four Slytherins and ask Malfoy questions without him suspecting anything."
"Precisely."
"This sounds a bit dodgy to me." said Ron. "What if we stay stuck as Slytherins?"
"It wears off after a while." said Hermione impatiently. "Getting our hands on the recipe won't be easy, though. Snape said that it was in a book called Most Potent Potions and it's bound to be in the restricted section."
Jade frowned. To get in the library's restricted section they would need a note signed by one of the teachers. It wouldn't be easy to get one, as the teachers would most likely ask them why they needed it and they couldn't really reveal their plan.
"It's going to be hard to explain why we want that book if we don't plan on actually making the potions." mused the raven haired girl.
"Maybe, if we look like we're only interested in the theory…" said Hermione uncertainly.
Jade grinned wickedly as she turned to her brother.
"Or, if that doesn't work we could always have Chris ask Lockhart for a favour." she said.
Her twin grimaced which caused her to smile even more widely.
"There's always that." agreed Hermione with an amused smile.
The plan was put into action during their next class with Lockhart. Since the pixie incident, the man hadn't brought any more creatures to the classroom. He was only reading them passages of his books and enacting the most dramatic parts. It was hilarious, well, unless you were Christopher. The poor boy was often dragged to the front of the class to help re-enact the scenes. So far he had been asked to be a Transylvanian villager who Lockhart had supposedly freed from a Babbling Curse, a yeti with a head-cold and a vampire who had only been able to eat lettuce since Lockhart had finished with him.
Jade was clutching her stomach, laughing hysterically as she watched her brother play the part of a werewolf. When her twin was forced to howl she doubled over. The rest of the class seemed mildly impressed by Christopher's howl. Jade had to admit it was pretty realistic. Truth be told, they had had a lot of training with Christopher's godfather being a werewolf.
"And then if you'll believe it," said Lockhart. "I pounced, like this, and slammed him to the floor, thus, whith one hand, I managed to hold him down, with my other, I put my wand to his throat. I then screwed up my remaining strength and performed the immensely complex Homorphus Charm, he let out a piteous moan – go on, Christopher – higher than that – good – the fur vanished, the fangs shrank and he turned back into a man. Simple, yet effective. And another village will remember me forever as the hero who delivered them from the monthly terror of werewolf attacks."
By that point, Jade would have normally made an innocent remark about how the Homorphus Charm didn't cure Lycanthropy which meant that the attacks would have continued the following months. She might have added that he had to make his mind – either the charm was 'immensely complex' or it was 'simple'. However as her brother was about to ask the man for a favour she decided it was best not to ruin his mood.
The bell rang and Lockhart jumped to his feet. Christopher also got back into a standing position, rubbing his neck and grimacing.
"Homework: Compose a poem about my defeat of the Wagga Wagga Werewolf! Signed copies of Magical Me for the best one." announced Lockhart cheerfully.
The class retreated. Ron, Christopher, Hermione and Jade stayed behind. After a silent debate between Christopher and Hermione, the bushy haired girl stepped forward. She walked up to the teacher and handed him a note.
"Erm, Professor, I was wondering if you would be willing to give me permission to take that book from the Restricted section. It's for academic purposes, of course. I thought it could help me understand what you said in Gadding with Ghouls about slow-acting venoms…"
"Ah! Gadding with Ghouls!" exclaimed Lockhart, taking the note with a broad smile. "Possibly my very favorite book, you enjoyed it?"
"Oh yes!" said Hermione eagerly. "So clever, the way you trapped the last one with the tea-strainer..."
Lockhart beamed at her, flashing his overly white teeth.
"Well, I'm sure no one will mind me giving permission to the best student of her year to expand her knowledge." he said pulling out an enormous peacock quill.
It was a good thing Lockhart was so absorbed in his signing; it gave time to Jade to wipe the revulsion from her face.
"Here you go." said Lockhart handing Hermione the note now sporting an enormous loopy signature.
Before, the man had time to make any comment on, say the Quidditch match on the next day, Jade dragged her friends out of the room.
"I can't believe it." said Ron once they were a good distance away. "He didn't even look at the title!"
"That's because he's a complete idiot, Ron." said Jade flatly. "Just an egocentric git, who has probably never seen a werewolf or a vampire in his life, let alone defeat one."
"He is not an egocentric git!" exclaimed Hermione as they hurried to the library.
Jade snorted.
"Just because you have a crush on him…" she said.
Hermione blushed and started to protest vehemently. Christopher was chuckling softly behind them and Ron looked absolutely disgusted. Jade shot the red haired boy a knowing glance which he ignored completely.
They entered the library and automatically dropped their voices. Hermione went to show her note to Madam Pince. The older witch accompanied her inside the Restricted. A few minutes later, Hermione was back carrying a heavy book. She tucked the book in her bag and they left this time heading towards Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. To Jade's horror Hermione had insisted that the bathroom was the best place for their secret brewing. After all, nobody ever went there. None of the raven haired girl's protest was of any use against Hermione and Ron and Christopher had quickly agreed to it as well. One against three, Jade was at a great disadvantage. Not finding any way other than telling them about her little problem, she finally agreed to have the meeting in the bathroom.
Therefore, a few minutes later, they were safely hidden in the Myrtle's bathroom. Jade didn't feel safe in the least, she felt like she had just stepped into a torture room, but the others seemed content and comfortable so she could only do her best to hide her growing paler. Hermione took out the book and opened it. Jade wasn't paying attention as she was trying not to look at anything that might reflect her image. So she was concentrating deeply on staring at her lap.
"This is the most complicated potion I've ever seen." said Hermione. "Lacewing flies, leeches, fluxweed and knotgrass." she murmured looking at the list of ingredients. "Well, they're easy enough; they're in the student store-cupboard, we can help ourselves. Oooh, look, powdered horn of a Bicorn – don't know where we're going to find that…Shredded skin of Boomslang will be tricky as well…and of course, a bit of whoever we want to change into."
"Hermione, do you realise how much we're going to have to steal. We're definitely not going to find shredded skin of Boomslang in the student cupboard. Do you expect us to break into Snape's private storage? Because somehow that doesn't seem like a good idea to me." said Christopher frowning.
Hermione slammed the book, her cheeks turning an angry pink.
"Well, I don't want to break rules but it appears to me that letting Muggle-borns be harmed is worse than brewing a difficult potion!"
"Hermione has a point." agreed Jade finally looking up. "I you guys want to chicken out, then go ahead. But I'll be brewing the potion and going in the Slytherin Common Room anyway."
"I'm not chickening out!" cried Ron in outrage.
Christopher hurriedly shook his head to his twin's relief.
"How long is going to take anyway, Hermione?" asked Jade trying not to flinch as she caught sight of her Avada Kedavra green eyes in a mirror.
"Well, as the fluxweed has to be picked at full moon and the lacewings have got to be stewed for twenty one days, I would say a month if we can get all the ingredients…" said the bushy haired girl.
"A month! Malfoy would have time to get rid of half the Muggle-borns in the school by then!" exclaimed Ron but as Hermione's eyes narrowed dangerously he hurriedly added "But it's the best plan we've got, so full steam ahead I say!"
Jade smiled at her friend's antics however it promptly turned into a grimace when she saw her face reflected yet again.
"Sorry guys, I just remembered something I have to do. I'll see you later." Jade got up quickly and practically fled the room.
The others exchanged surprised looks.
"Was it just me or was that strange?" asked Hermione.
The boys just shrugged and they went back to their plotting.
At eleven o'clock the next morning, Jade went down to the Quidditch followed by the whole school, for the first match of the season, Slytherin vs Gryffindor. Jade joined her team in the changing rooms after letting her friends wish her good luck. Wood stood in front of all of them and started his pep talk.
"They've got better brooms than we have no use denying that." he said with his usual Scottish accent. "But we've got better people on our brooms. We've trained harder than they have; we've been flying in all weathers…" Jade recalled the painful memory of flying through a storm a few weeks before. "and we're going to make them damn the day they let that little slime Malfoy buy his way into the team."
Wood turned to the raven haired Seeker.
"It will be up to you, Jade, to show them what a true Seeker is, that one has to have more than a rich father. Get to that Snitch or die trying, Jade, because we've got to win today, we've got to."
"So no pressure, Jade." said Fred winking.
The raven haired girl winked back.
"Don't worry I'll fight to my last breath." she told Wood.
As they walked onto the pitch, they were greeted by the roars of the crowd. They had a lot of support since most Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs supported Gryffindor. However, the Slytherins in the crowd were making about as much noise as the three other houses and distinct boos and hisses reached Jade's ears. Then, it was time for Wood and Flint to indulge in their usual hand-crushing duel before the match started. Once they had once more proved that a hand was stronger than it looked they joined their team in the air and the match started. Jade soared in the air and looked around, hoping to catch the golden gleem of the Snitch.
"Alright there Golden Girl?" yelled Malfoy, who was flying nearby.
"I'm fine, thanks for your concern Madboy." she yelled back shooting him a sickeningly sweet smile.
At that moment, a Bludger shot towards her and she barely had enough time to move away. The black ball ruffled her hair as it passed.
"Close one there, Jade." called George who shot after the Bludger.
The red haired boy gave the Bludger a powerful whack towards Adrian Pucey, however, halfway towards the Chaser, the Bludger turned around and aimed for Jade again. They continued this dangerous dance for a while. Jade avoided the Bludger which seemed to be attracted to her like some kind of Muggle missile and Fred or George would whack it away, only for it to come back moments later. Jade was vaguely aware that the Slytherins were in the lead. She was between Fred and George who were frantically trying to protect her from the Bludger when heavy rain drops started falling.
"The Bludger's been tampered with." said Fred panting slightly.
"We need time out." groaned George as he frantically signalled t Wood.
It seemed to work as Madam Hooch's whistle blew and all the players dived to the ground. Jade was grateful when she reached the safety of the changing rooms.
"What's going on?" asked Wood. "We're being flattened by Slytherin. Fred, George, where were you when that Bludger stopped Angelina from scoring?"
"We were twenty feet above her, trying to stop the other Bludger from murdering Jade." snapped George. "It was tampered with. It just won't leave Jade alone. It hasn't gone for anyone else all match. The Slytherins must have done something to it."
Wood looked confused.
"But the Bludgers were locked into Madam Hooch's office since our last practice, and there was nothing wrong with them then." he said anxiously.
"Listen boys," said Jade urgently as Madam Hooch walked towards them. "With you two flying so close, the only way I'm going to catch the Snitch is if it starts aiming for me too. Go back to the rest of the team and let me deal with the rogue one." she told the twins.
"That's practically suicide!" said George frowning.
"We can't let you alone with that thing trying to take your head off." said Fred.
"But we need to win this match, honestly I'll be fine." pleaded Jade.
"This is all your fault." said Fred angrily turning to Wood. "'Catch the Snitch or die trying', what a stupid thing to say!"
"Are you ready to resume playing?" asked Madam Hooch.
Oliver gave a quick glance at Jade's determined expression and nodded.
"Yes." he told the teacher before turning back to his teammates. "All right, Fred, George, you heard Jade. Let her deal with the Bludger and go back to the rest of the team."
The twins looked very unconvinced and angrily flew away as the rest of the team took back their position. Jade took a deep breath and mounted her broom. She kicked the ground hard and rose in the air. Immediately, the rogue Bludger shot towards her. Jade wished herself good luck and started her mad dance with the Bludger.