The Potter Twins and the Not-so-Secret Chamber
Chapter Seven: Halloween
"So why'd you get us roped into this Deathday party?" asked Ron, who was looking longingly back at the Great Hall. They could all smell the Halloween dinner, which was being laid out onto the five tables. In sharp contrast to the warmth they were walking away from was what they were about to go to.
"Don't be so negative, Ron," Hermione lectured. "This could be a fascinating experience. After all, how many humans are invited to these parties?"
"I'm pretty sure there's a reason none of them go to these Deathday parties."
"Ron's got a point," said Melanie. She, for one, knew how absolutely boring this was going to be and was not looking forward to it. "Death and life typically don't go together."
"I promised him," said Harry. However, even he was looking regretful.
"We know you promised," muttered Ron, "but why'd you drag us here?"
The temperature dropped noticeably as they descended further into the dungeons. Shivering slightly, Melanie could feel her temperature rising and the other three walking closer to her.
The passageway they were taking was lined with candles which had blue fire that created a gloomy light over them. As if that wasn't spooky enough, they were starting to hear a screeching sound from the direction they were heading.
"Is that supposed to be music?" Ron asked doubtfully.
Melanie shrugged helplessly, trying to find a way to cover her ears inconspicuously.
"Fascinating..." whispered Hermione.
Melanie winced, covering her ears. "It won't be so fascinating when you go deaf!"
They turned a corner and saw Nearly Headless Nick floating in the doorway. He looked vaguely surprised that it wasn't just Harry there.
"My dear friends. Welcome, welcome... so pleased you could come." He swept off his hat and used it to usher them in.
Are we supposed to be happy or sad?Melanie knew that ghosts celebrated and enjoyed talking about their deaths, but was this the right occasion to smile and crack jokes? She ended up settling on a grimace like somebody was sticking her with pins.
Inside the room were hundreds of ghosts, filling the room with pearly-white figures. They were all dancing. Well, she supposed it was some form of dancing that involved floating and going through furniture. A chandelier above them was filled with hundreds more of the black candles with blue flames.
Harry's eyes were darting around the room as he tried to take in everything. "Shall we have a look around?"
"Careful not to walk through anybody." Ron tiptoed around the incorporeal figures, shivering when one reached its arm through his stomach.
"Oh no. Turn back, turn back. I don't want to talk to Moaning Myrtle-"
"Who?"
"Never mind that, Harry," said Melanie. She grabbed Harry's arm and Hermione grabbed Ron's. The two of them dragged the oblivious boys into a corner until the teenage ghost had left that area.
Leaving Hermione to explain who Moaning Myrtle was, Melanie walked around the room. She saw rotten food, which ghosts were wistfully walking through. It wouldn't be very appetizing, but it was still something.
At one end of the room, there was a crowd of ghosts which made the white so thick that Melanie couldn't see through it properly. That was where the music/screeching seemed to be emanating from. She looked back to the three humans, glad that she missed meeting Peeves.
Suddenly, Melanie was hit with memories.
Third year at Hogwarts. Dementors everywhere as a really bad safety precaution.
Sirius Black on the loose.
Sirius Black, a safety hazard.
Sirius Black, the person that betrayed their parents to Voldemort.
Somehow, Melanie had managed to find a wall to lean against so that she didn't fall onto the ground.
She had no time to think about it, however. Hermione was gesturing to the door and the boys were practically sprinting towards it. Melanie joined them, backing awkwardly towards the door. They smiled and nodded at the ghosts who noticed them.
"Quickly, quickly," muttered Harry.
Once they were out of the dungeons, they could feel their feet leading them unconsciously back towards the Great Hall.
"Maybe there's still some food left," said Ron wistfully. His stomach rumbled as if on a cue.
"Oh, I have some food in my dorm." There was a pack of Muggle crackers, which she'd stashed at the bottom of her bag and under an extra pillow.
"Well, go then." He made shooing motions with his hands. Melanie laughed.
"Fine. Meet you back in front of the library later."
Melanie walked down the hallway. I wonder whether Ron will like the Muggle crackers or not.It was only then that she remembered the basilisk.
"Damn." Walking hesitantly now, she continued on her way.
But of course she had to get lost.
Wasn't that portrait supposed to be back there? And wasn't that suit of armour supposed to be on the third floor? Didn't she already pass that door?
Hearing a small splashing sound, she looked down.
Okay, seriously?
~.~.~.~.~
"Where is she?" Ron tapped his foot impatiently. "How long does it take to get something from the Hufflepuff dorm?"
Hermione, on the other hand, was worried. "What if she got lost?"
Harry sighed teasingly. "Let's go find her." Suddenly, he stumbled, cupping his ear.
"Harry? What're you-"
"It's that voice again." Hermione shut her mouth, trying to hear. "Shut up for a minute. Listen!
Hermione and Ron both stopped, trying to hear whatever it was. Nothing,she thought.
"Harry, are you - Harry?" Ron stopped his question when Harry ran down the corridor.
"This way!"
With a helpless shrug, Hermione followed Harry's winding path.
"Harry, what're we-"
"Sh!" Hermione snapped her mouth shut. "It's going to kill someone!"
WHAT?"Shouldn't we go find a teacher?" Hermione whispered. No answer. She could see her shock mirrored by Ron.
Abruptly, Harry stopped. He was almost pressing his ear against the wall in a vain attempt to hear something.
"Harry, what was all that about?" demanded Ron, looking irritated. "I couldn't hear anything-"
"Look!"
Hermione stifled a gasp. Just ahead, the floor was patched with puddles. But with what Harry was saying about death, she was just glad that the puddles were water and not blood. It looked like it had overflowed from Myrtle's bathroom, but the water didn't hold her attention for long.
Something was shining on the wall ahead, reflecting the light from the nearby torches. On a silent agreement, the three stepped forward to get a better look at the shining words.
THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE.
Harry stepped closer. "What's that hanging there?" He jerked back. "Mrs. Norris."
"Is she dead?" asked Hermione. "Wait, no…"
Ron examined the cat and shook his head. "I think she's alive."
"Oh! She's been petrified," said Hermione. This is interesting. We should get a chance to examine the cat to know what petrification victims are like.The more sympathetic part of her brain told the other part to shut up.
"No!" Harry cried, looking down.
The other two followed his gaze to see Melanie, lying in a puddle of water. Hermione wasn't so interested in examining petrified victims anymore. Harry was kneeling next to Melanie in an instant, checking her over. Oddly enough, she seemed to have a slightly annoyed expression on her face.
"Petrified?" Ron crouched down and nodded, only slightly hesitantly, much to Harry's relief.
From around the corridor, there was a rumble of footsteps. "Uh-oh..." mumbled Ron.
Through the gasps and mutterings could be heard Draco Malfoy. "Enemies of the heir, beware! You'll be next, Mudbloods."
By that point, Filch had arrived, which was the only thing stopping Harry from punching Draco again.
"My cat!" Filch rounded on them with accusing eyes. Oh no...
"Before you say anything," protested Harry, "my sister is there too. I didn't touch your cat!"
It was at that moment that Professor Dumbledore arrived. The headmaster's eyes swept the scene before him. "Come with me, Argus. You too, Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley."
"My office is nearest. Just upstairs; please feel free-"
"Thank you, Gilderoy."
Hermione's heart was pounding as they went to Professor Lockhart's office. Was this what it felt like to be in trouble? Last year, they'd never been punished for the 'Stone incident,' but she had still felt a small rush as they sneaked through the hallways. This was ten times stronger. She never crossed professors. She didn't want to feel guilty, which was one of her natural responses whenever accused by an authority figure.
Her mood lifted as they entered the office, though. Posted on the walls, filling the space like a patchwork wallpaper, were photos of Gilderoy Lockhart. Most of them were signed. The Lockharts in the photos were all scrambling out of their frames in embarrassment out of being caught with hair rollers.
Hermione sighed as Professor Lockhart began rambling about what could possibly have happened to the cat. She was really starting to believe... Melanie.The redhead had been carried down to the Hospital Wing and put into a private area along with the cat.
"She's not dead." Professor Dumbledore's statement cut off Professor Lockhart's ridiculous assumptions.
"I didn't do it!" Harry said in response to Filch's accusing glare.
Dumbledore kept a calm voice. "No second year could have done this. It would take Dark magic of the most advanced-"
"He did it, he did it! He-"
"How many times do I have to say this?" Harry's eyes were glinting with barely concealed anger. "I. Didn't. Do. It. I don't know if you've realized, but my only family member has also been Petrified."
"Mr. Potter and his friends may simply have been in the wrong place at the wrong time." Everybody turned to look at Professor McGonagall, though Filch's face was still plastered with disbelief.
"Then why were they in the hallway instead of at the feast?" demanded the caretaker, looking triumphant.
The three of them all burst into explanations. Even talking over each other, the adults were able to understand most of what they were saying.
"See, Argus?" said Dumbledore. "These three were simply heading back to their dorms."
He still looked slightly doubtful, but nodded in reluctant acceptance. "But what about Mrs. Norris?"
"We will be able to cure her, Argus," reassured Dumbledore. "Professor Sprout recently managed to procure some Mandrakes. As soon as they have reached their full size, I will have a potion made that will restore Mrs. Norris. And Ms. Potter." The last part was added to Harry, who'd been glaring at Filch for a while.
"I'll make it," Professor Lockhart said, smiling brightly. "I must have done it a hundred times. I could whip up a Mandrake Restorative Draught in my sleep-"
"Excuse me, but I believe I am the Potions master at this school," said Professor Snape, giving him a glare known to reduce seventh years to tears.
"I wouldn't trust what that idiot made anyways," whispered Ron, though by the small twitch at the mouths of Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall, it seemed that they had heard.
An awkward pause later, they were dismissed. Lockhart looked embarrassed, Snape annoyed, Filch still looking for vengeance, McGonagall curious, and Dumbledore slightly amused.
They were gone in a snap, doing an odd run-walk. When they were a floor above where Lockhart's office was, they found an empty classroom and closed the door behind them.
"D'you think I should have told them about that voice I heard?"
Two parts of Hermione's brain battled out the pros and cons of telling. The voice might end up meaning something, but they might think that Harry was insane. It might help them, but only after they let Harry out of St. Mungo's.
"No," Ron replied straightaway. "Hearing voices nobody else can is never a good sign. They might've thought you were making it up anyways."
"If they did believe you, you probably would've been considered insane first." Hermione was only slightly joking.
"You do believe me, don't you?"
"Course I do," said Ron quickly. A bit too quickly... "But, you must admit it's weird..."
"I know it's weird," said Harry. "The whole thing's weird. What was that writing on the wall about? 'The Chamber of Secrets has been opened? Enemies of the heir, beware?' What's that supposed to mean?"
Ron looked at the wall, squinting as if the wall was hiding his answer. "That sort of rings a bell. I think someone told me a story about a secret chamber at Hogwarts once. It might have been Bill."
Hermione interrupted. "That's nice and all, but what was the actual story about?"
"Some secret chamber in Hogwarts."
"That's so specific." Hermione heard words echoing in her mind. Chamber of Secrets. Created by Salazar Slytherin. Said to be home to some monster. The monster is there to 'purge' Hogwarts of... Muggleborns.She repeated her 'findings' out loud, wrinkling her nose in disgust at the 'purging' part of it.
"Where'd you read about that, Hermione?" asked Harry, desperate for any information that could help.
Hermione tilted her head to the right. She hadn't read about a 'Chamber of Secrets,' had she? But then again... "Maybe I read it in a history book..."
"Hogwarts, a History?" suggested Ron.
"Maybe. Do either of you have that book?"
"Don't you own every book in existence?" When Hermione refused to meet Ron's eyes, he continued. "Did you not bring it?"
"Sorry? Couldn't hear you." Harry cupped his ear as Hermione mumbled.
Obviously. That's why I mumbled."I said, I didn't bring that book because I had to make space for all the Lockhart books." She could feel her face burning as both Ron and Harry stared at her in amazement.
"You got rid of an educational book-"
"To pack that giant pile of dragon dun-"
"They were required reading material for this year!" she protested, ignoring their laughter.
Thanks to…
Dazer95: Thank you! :D I'm glad you like my story!
That Elusive Reader: You're a brilliant reviewer. Considering I was expecting a total of 1 person to actually read my story, let alone actually like it, a simple review makes me so happy! And Hogwarts really should have some Muggle classes, but I suppose all of that 'basic' learning is for the parents to teach their kids before coming to Hogwarts.
Melanie's petrified. :/ Well, at least this will be interesting to write.
~ScaleneGalleons~
