Chapter 7

Pansy's Offer

"Professor, I um…" My mind raced to think of something. "I swear, I found him like this!"

McGonagall's expression read a mix of shock and sternness. "Miss Chamberson, this is a very serious situation you have landed yourself in. What were you even doing out of the Slytherin common room at this hour?"

I stood up and turned my head to look for Lenora, but she was nowhere to be found. Letting out a sigh, I figured I may as tell the truth. "I was trying to follow a voice I heard before Mrs. Norris's attack. I thought it might have something to do with the attacks."

The professor shook her head, gazing at me sharply. "Miss Chamberson, this is a very serious situation you have landed yourself in."

"Please, Professor!" I begged frantically, rising to my feet. "I promise I just wanted to help find out who is behind the attacks. That's the only reason I…"

"It is not up to you to take these matters into your own hands, Miss Chamberson," she replied sternly.

"Well, maybe if you and the other teachers were more on top of this, I would not feel the need to get involved," my mouth spat before my brain had the chance to intervene.

That was not the best choice of words. My body froze, horrified at what I just said.

McGonagall looked at me, the strictness flashing in her eyes. "That remark, Miss Chamberson, just bought you a week's detention, and under the present circumstances I am afraid I have no choice but to escort you to Professor Dumbledore."

"Wait," a deep voice came from behind.

I looked past her to see Professor Snape emerge, a couple other professors behind him. I am not sure whether or not to feel relieved.

"Miss Chamberson is in my house," Snape said, calmly with a dash of bitterness, "therefore I am to decide what happens to her at this point."

McGonagall pointed her eyes to her colleague. "She was found with Collin Creevey in this state."

"So," Snape answered, darkly with a shrug. "Potter and his friends were first found with Mrs. Norris, yet he was barely questioned. It is not Miss Chamberson's fault she does not lie within the same range of favor with Dumbledore as Potter does."

Appearing rather taken back, the Transfiguration teacher merely nodded and she and the other professors proceeded to care for the young Gryffindor boy. Snape motioned for me to follow him.

"Thank you, Professor," I muttered from behind him.

Ignoring my gratitude, he immediately demanded, "Why were you and Miss Lane out of your chambers at this hour?"

"We wanted to…" I paused, looking down at my feet and mumbled, "We wanted to see if we could find the heir."

His body swiftly turned to face me, coming to a halt. "And what exactly did you find out?"

I shook my head, keeping my eyes down. "Nothing."

Snape turned back around as we proceeded forward. "You see, Miss Chamberson, the heir of Slytherin indeed knows what he or she is doing. That person will not likely find himself or herself caught by a couple second year girls. But then again, it is likely you already know that."

What is that supposed to mean? I wondered, but did not dare ask. Instead I went with, "Do you think the heir will be caught?"

He turned to give me a brief sharp glance before answering, "He was last time. No matter how clever this person believes he or she is, I believe, with Dumbledore in this school, that person will indeed be caught."

Recalling the first person I saw at the last attack, I felt compelled to ask, "Sir, do you by any chance know where Harry Potter is at this moment?"

Without turning his head, the professor answered, "Mr. Potter is, at the present time, recovering in the hospital wing."

I drew in a sharp breath. "That is not far from here, is it?"

"Indeed it is not."

xXx

I trudged back to the Slytherin common room after my detention with McGonagall. Thankfully, it was the end of the week so this was my last one, at least until I wound up in trouble again. Since Creevey, there have been no more attacks. I also have not heard the voice in a while. I wish I could understand why only I hear that voice. Do I have some sort of connection with this monster? Thinking back on the conversation with Professor Snape last week, he seems to believe so. Perhaps I only imagined him hinting that.

Approaching the portrait, I muttered 'pureblood,' and walked in the common room. The first thing my ears caught hold of was Pansy gossiping with her girl posse.

"It is like she is not even trying anymore," Pansy said, facing Daphne. "If she does not get it together she is just going t make a fool out of our house."

I clenched my teeth in no mood for this.

"Pansy!" Daphne cautioned, nudging her head in my direction.

"Oh," Pansy mumbled, pulling together a feign smile. "Hi, Melanie. We were only talking of your progress."

"What progress?" I grumbled, wishing I just snuck past her unnoticed.

"As the heir, of course!" she went on. "You did do at bit better this time around. At least, you managed to get an actual person, even if it was only a first year."

I took in a bitter breath, wanting so desperately to punch her now.

"Anyway," Pansy continued, "if you were to just stay more focused then maybe you could actually do some good for this school."

"More focused?"

"You know," she appeared to be putting quite the effort in holding back a smirk, "perhaps, try to spend a little more time actually planning out your attacks and a little less in detention."

She is really enjoying this, isn't she?

Considering I just got back from detention, I decided the best thing to do know was to walk away. However, Pansy did not let me get far.

"Melanie, wait!" She took a step, away from her friends and towards me. "I am not saying all this to be mean. I am only trying to help you."

I rolled my eyes. How is insulting me supposed to help me?

"I don't want your help," I stated firmly.

"It's okay, Melanie." She tone seemed mixed with sweetness and mocking. "I don't mind helping you for a good cause."

"I would soon seek Hermione Granger's help than yours," I spat at her. "At least she has a brain."

By the way she reacted, one would think I had called her a snot-faced pig or something utterly revolting. Pansy gasped quite loudly, her shoulders rising as she took a step back.

"How dare you put me below a mudblood?" She stammered, her hair seemingly lifting in flames. She then took a dangerous step closer to me. "What gives you the nerve?"

I could not help but smirk. "I am the Heir of Slytherin. I can do whatever I want."

That seemed to finally shut her up. I took advantage and turned to walk away.

Just as I reached the steps to the girls' dormitory, she shouted, "I hope that monster has the sense to finish you off and wait for the next heir, who will probably be more qualified for the task than you."

I paused, taking a moment to debate on whether on not to turn around and go back. My eyes still on the steps, I decided to ignore her and continue up. Lenora, who had been apparently laughing historically, immediately greeted me.

"Oh my god, that was hilarious!" Lenora commented as we both sunk to our beds.

"I'm glad you were amused," I grumbled, wondering just how much she heard.

"Can you believe how stupid she is?" Lenora went on. "I mean, if the monster were to finish you off, how would there another heir?"

Despite my annoyance, I did chuckle. Considering Pansy truly seemed to believe I was the actual heir that was a pretty funny remark.

"Did you hear me say I would rather have Granger's assistance than hers?" I asked, lying back on my bed.

Lenora laughed even louder. "No, but I see what really got her worked up, now." As she, too, laid flat on her back, she turned her head to me. "That was awesome, Melanie."

"Thanks." I smiled, now completely relieved from my anger.

"You know, Pansy has no idea what she is talking about," Lenora continued. "If you were really the heir, you would be the most bad-arse one this school has ever known."

My smile began to fade. The irony of that statement was a little unsettling.

"Melanie?" She looked over to me. "Are you okay? I only said if?"

"I'm fine," I said as I began to stand up. "I'm just going to go get something to drink. Be right back."

I went down to see that the common room had mostly cleared out, except for Pansy and her friends, Daphne and Millicent, who were now hovered by the fire. Not wanting to be noticed this time, I tiptoed past them, only stopping when something caught my ear.

"We have to do something," I heard Pansy saying. "If she does not get it together soon with these attacks, we will have to find another way."

Millicent laughed. "What are you going to do, Pansy, try to control the monster yourself?"

"No," Pansy retorted with attitude. "I don't think Melanie is the right person for this. I think its best we turn her in and wait for her to send in the next heir, who will hopefully do a better job."

I gasped. She cannot be serious.

"Are you sure, Pansy," Daphne asked, uncertain.

"Yes," Pansy stated firmly, pounding her fist into her hand. "First thing tomorrow morning, I am going straight to Professor Dumbledore to turn in Melanie Chamberson."