Chapter 8: The Second Year, Part One

A worried Severus Snape entered the Headmaster's office. "Lemon drop?" Dumbledore asked.

Snape turned it down and went right into business. "Headmaster, I just had an interesting conversation with Board of Governors member Lucius Malfoy." Snape said.

"What makes it so interesting, Severus?" Dumbledore asked.

"It suggested something would happen that would make you and some muggleborns leave Hogwarts." Snape said.

"Really?"

"He didn't get into details, Headmaster, but he said something that happened fifty years ago was about to repeat itself." Snape added. Noticing Dumbledore's reaction, Snape figured out something really horrible must have happened back then.

Meanwhile, Harry, Dudley and the Delacour sisters are preparing themselves for the journey to Beauxbatons. While Harry and Dudley were sad for not having a chance to see Vernon before going, they understood not returning to England for a while was needed to protect them from Albus Dumbledore's machinations.

At September the 1st, at the Hogwarts Express, Ginny Weasley entered a compartment that stayed empty until a bushy-haired girl entered as well. "Mind if I sit here?" The bushy-haired girl asked.

"Not at all." Ginny replied. "My name is Ginny Weasley. And yours?"

"I'm Hermione Granger." She replied. Ginny then remembered what her mother said about not mention the Quirrell incident in front of Hermione, who probably is already suffering enough. "Weasley? Like in Ronald Weasley?"

"He's one of my brothers." Ginny explained. "You're on the same year as him, right?"

"Yes." Hermione would have added 'unfortunately', but she's too polite for it. "What's like to having several older brothers?"

"The only downside is that, since I'm a girl, my brothers won't let me play Quidditch with them." Ginny answered.

"Well, you could try to join the team and show them all." Hermione suggested. "Sure, you'll have to wait until next year since first-years can't join any Quidditch team at Hogwarts."

"My brothers said Gryffindor Quidditch Team is in need of a new Seeker." Ginny replied. "Maybe I'll talk to the captain about preparing me for next year."

"Wood."

"Excuse me?"

"Oliver Wood." Hermione clarified. "He's the Gryffindor Quidditch team's captain. But why are you so sure you'll become a Gryffindor?"

Before Ginny had a chance to answer, another girl appeared. "Hi, Ginny." She said.

"Hi, Luna." Ginny replied. "Hermione, this is my friend Luna. Luna, this is my friend Hermione."

After a little exchange of pleasantries, the students started to put on their robes. They then left the train and heard someone shout. "First years, this way."

"Oh, that must be Hagrid." Ginny commented. "My brothers told me about him."

"My Dad says Hagrid is an example that half-giants aren't necessarily so bad as people say." Luna replied, shocking Ginny and Hermione.

Meanwhile, at Beauxbatons, the students were having their welcoming feast when Harry and Dudley noticed many girls were sad. "Gabrielle, do you know what's wrong with them?" Harry asked.

"Oh, they wanted their parents to transfer them to Hogwarts when they found out Gilderoy Lockhart took over the Defense Against the Dark Arts classes there." Gabrielle explained. "Maman said this Lockhart is a liar whose books only sell because he's beautiful."

Harry and Dudley then remembered reading the newspaper article about the release of Lockhart's autobiography and his new job as Hogwarts' defense teacher. That article gave the two boys another reason to be glad they don't attend Hogwarts.

A few days later, it turned out studying abroad wasn't enough to avoid being annoyed by Lockhart. Several girls at DADA kept annoying Professor Prost during class with their questions about Lockhart. 'What was Dumbledore thinking when he hired that clown?' Professor Prost wondered.

Hogwarts' Halloween Feast was marked by the fact Mrs. Norris, Argus Filch's pet cat, got petrified. The caretaker became grumpier than usual. The biggest shock was the message left near Mrs. Norris. THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED – ENEMIES OF THE HEIR BEWARE

"You'll be next, Mudbloods!" Draco Malfoy shouted.

"You! You!" Filch accused, pointing at Malfoy. "You did it!"

"No, I didn't." Draco replied.

"Mr. Filch, this is a serious accusation." Severus Snape sternly replies. "You'd better have a good reason to accuse him."

"He was too sure muggleborns would be next." Filch explained. "He even called them by that foul name." Every non-muggleborn who didn't hear Draco's shout had a fairly good idea of what the 'foul name' was.

"I was only sure they'd be next because of the writing on the wall." Draco explained, pointing at the writing.

"While this is a good clue to who might be next, this is no excuse for name calling, Mr. Malfoy." Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor Minerva McGonagall said. "Ten points from Slytherin."

"Malfoy, you did well for warning the muggleborns they'd be next." Potions Master Severus Snape said. "Ten points to Slytherin."

If glares could kill, McGonagall would have killed Snape.

Before anyone had a chance to protest against Snape's demonstration of favoritism, Gilderoy Lockhart showed up and started making up some story about how he knew the countercurse that would have saved her had he arrived on time.

"Mrs. Norris is just petrified, Argus." Dumbledore said with his grandfatherly voice. "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 revive Mrs. Norris."

"I'll make it," Lockhart butted in. "I must have done it a hundred times. I could whip up a Mandrake Restorative Draught in my sleep —"

"Excuse me," said Snape icily. "But I believe I am the Potions master at this school."

"Indeed, Severus. You'll make the potion." Dumbledore said and then addressed himself to the students. "Anyone of you who has any object that ever belonged to a Tom Riddle, please present it to me. It's of extreme importance."

Later on, at the Gryffindor Common Room, Hermione and the Weasleys were wondering the importance of this Tom Riddle. "Does anyone here know who this Tom Riddle is?" Hermione asked.

Percy answered. "I've never met him but I've read his name at an Award for Special Services."

"And you got to remember this?" Ron asked, shocked.

"I remember because it was the most unusual award I ever saw." Percy explained.

"How so,"

"dear brother?" Gred and Forge asked.

"It doesn't mention what Tom Riddle accomplished to earn it." Percy answered. "All other awards granted to Hogwarts students for special services I ever saw mentioned what the students who received them did to deserve that honor."

Ginny then approached Percy. "Percy, I have something to tell you."

Please review. If anyone is questioning my rationality in having Percy Weasley remember that detail about Tom Riddle, I believe Prefect Percy would be likely to remember anything unusual (and even some usual details few people would care about) about any other prefect hoping to learn from their experience.