Draco practically raced to the Headmaster's office the next day after study hall. Only when he approached the gargoyle did he realize that he was unaware of the password.
He was about to guess "Hogwarts" when Professor McGonagall arrived with Potter.
"What is it, Mr. Malfoy?" the professor asked.
"I have to see Professor Dumbledore," he replied.
"I am afraid it will have to be done another time."
"This is important."
She sighed. "Very well." Turning to the gargoyle, she said, "Sherbet lemon."
Sherbet lemon? What kind of a password was that? Draco shook his head and followed Potter onto the stairs as the gargoyle spun.
When he entered through the door, Potter called, "Dumbledore?" There was no reply so he walked up to the Sorting Hat. Draco remained behind and pretended to take interest in a book.
"Bee in your bonnet, Potter?"
Draco whirled around to see the Sorting Hat in conversation with Potter.
The boy who'd been addressed replied, "I was just wondering if you'd put me in the right house."
"Yes, you were particularly difficult to place. But, I stand by what I said last year - you would have done well in Slytherin."
Draco's eyes widened. Potter was considered to be in Slytherin?
"You're wrong," the Gryffindor said. Suddenly, he turned his head to a red bird. Draco recognized this as a phoenix. Wait. Wasn't this the phoenix whose tail feather was currently in Draco's wand?
Then the bird caught fire, which caught Draco's attention, and he walked over to the bird.
"Harry? Draco?"
The two boys looked up to find Professor Dumbledore on a staircase.
"Professor!" Potter exclaimed. "Sir, your bird - there was nothing I could do. He just caught fire!"
"It's a phoenix, Potter," Draco told him.
"A what?"
"He's been looking dreadful for days," Dumbledore said. "Pity you had to see him on a burning day. Fawkes is a phoenix, Harry. They burst into flame when it is time for them to die, and then they are reborn from the ashes."
Dust swirled around the pile of ashes and a gray bird lifted its head.
"Ah," Dumbledore admired, "fascinating creatures, phoenixes. They can carry immensely heavy loads, and their tears have healing powers."
The door burst open and in walked Hagrid. He said, "Professor Dumbledore, sir! Wait! Listen! Professor Dumbledore, sir, it wasn't Harry!"
"Hagrid-" the Headmaster tried.
"In fact, I'd be prepared ter swear it in front o' the Ministry of Magic!"
"Hagrid! Relax. I do not believe that Harry attacked anyone."
"Well, of course you don't, and...oh...oh, right. Well, I'll, um- hum. I'll just wait outside, then."
Draco chuckled at the big man's reaction. So that's why Potter was here - there's been another attack.
"You don't think it was me, Professor?" Potter asked.
"No, Harry. I do not think it was you. But I must ask you, is there something you wish to tell me?"
After a moment's hesitation, Potter answered, "No, sir. Nothing."
Dumbledore, looking disappointed, nodded, and said, "Very well, then. Off you go."
Potter shoved past Draco and left the office.
The Headmaster turned to Draco. "Now, is there something, you wish to tell me?"
"Sir," Draco said, "there's loads I have to tell you. But I'm going to start with Potter. Judging by your face, I presume you understood that Potter wasn't being completely honest with you."
Surprise was written all over the older man's face. "Why, yes. Tell me, what is it that Harry should have told me?"
"He's been hearing voices. I overheard his friends and him discussing whether or not they should have told the truth about Potter hearing voices."
"And what did they think?"
"They thought that telling would've been a bad idea because as Granger put it, 'even in the Wizarding World, hearing voices isn't a good sign.'"
"Hmm. Well, I am glad that you have told me. Is there anything else? You said there were quite a bit of things you had to say."
"Well, hasn't the chamber been opened before?"
"Yes, quite long before I became headmaster, in fact."
"Was the culprit caught?"
"A falsely accused student had been expelled. He had a fascination with creatures that others did not. So there was a boy who sought him out and blamed him."
"Whatever happened to the student who got expelled?"
"I did not believe he was the attacker so I suggested that he work here."
"So it's Hagrid, then?"
Dumbledore smiled and said, "You are very clever, Draco. Might I ask why this is of interest to you?"
"Sir, not to ignore your question as I shall return to it later, but who accused Hagrid?"
Dumbledore's smile faded and he hesitated before replying, "Tom Riddle."
Suddenly, everything made sense.
"You mean Voldemort?" Draco asked.
Dumbledore frowned and looked up at Draco. "How do you know his true name?"
"My father isn't always as careful as he seems. He tries his best to make sure that I am not aware of what is going on, but I still find out some things. Are you aware that Dobby, our house elf, is on a mission to save Potter?"
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.
"Well, anyway, he's not our house elf anymore, technically speaking. I freed him, but he still must behave as if he is ours because I asked him."
Draco explained the situation from earlier this summer then said, "It'd be best if you don't mention this to a single soul. Not even Dobby, because he will start talking."
"Of course, Draco. Now, I must ask you again. Why is the chamber of secrets of interest to you?"
"I think I have a faint idea of what's been going on. I don't why Potter can speak Parseltongue, but I know that Salazar Slytherin and Tom Riddle could speak it, too. I don't think Potter could be the heir of Slytherin because he was in the Hospital Wing when the boy with the camera was attacked."
"May I ask how you know that piece of information?"
So Draco explained everything (not just the Hospital Wing situation) and asked not to be expelled for being out of bed.
Dumbledore chuckled at this and said, "You have quite the sense of humor as well. So you are meaning to say that this monster which is in the chamber of secrets must be some sort of snake?"
"Why else would only Potter be able to hear it?"
"That is possible. If this creature has been Petrifying people, it could be killing them next."
Draco opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again to ask, "Was someone killed last time?"
Dumbledore looked at the floor and nodded. "Her name was Myrtle Henderson. She was a Muggle-born, therefore, a target."
"So whoever is doing this clearly hated Muggle-borns. Slytherin is the one who said his true heir would get rid of them, and Riddle and Potter are possible heirs. Obviously it's not Potter, but how can it be Riddle if he's in no state to do this?"
"You said there was a diary."
"Yes. Tom Riddle seems to be inside it. But unless I'm mistaken, diaries can't walk around Petrifying students."
"He seems to be inside it?"
"Like I said before, my father was writing in it and Tom Riddle wrote back."
"This diary is in the possession of Ginny Weasley, you say?"
"Yes, and I don't know if she's written in it yet, but there's a pretty good chance that she has."
"Draco, you've given me quite a bit to think about." The Headmaster rested his index finger on his chin.
"What do you do about this?"
"Didn't you say that Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley would be visiting you with Polyjuice Potion?"
"Yes, er, if you expel them for that, you didn't hear it from me."
"Not to worry, my boy. You have helped me immensely. You may not know it, but you have. Off you go then, and if you need to return, you know the password."
"Of course. Thank you, Headmaster."
"No, Draco, thank you." The old man's eyes twinkled and Draco left the room.
