Abby and the rest of the school had let the events of Chamber fade from their minds as November began so did Quidditch. The students of Blackstark were excited to play for the first time in the history of Hogwarts. Fred and George decided to be co-captains since they had the most experience. Abby was sitting with Hermione reading Quidditch through the ages when George came up to her. "Hey Abby if you stare at that book any longer your face will be glued to it." Abby looked up to see him smiling and she couldn't help but laugh. "Thanks George I needed that." She closed her book and placed it on the table. "What's up?" "Fred and I just wanted to let you know practice will be later tonight. We want to get some practice in before the game tomorrow." She nodded and decided to go for a walk.
Abby had been walking for close to five minutes when she ran into Draco. "Abby! How have you been? Lily told me you and Hermione have been glued to your books." Abby laughed and smiled at him. "Yeah sorry I haven't been around lately. Hermione and I have been trying to figure out what is going on with the Chamber." Abby looked at Draco and he looked slightly uncomfortable. Abby touched his shoulder gently. "Draco…" He looked up at her. "What?" "Do you know something?" she asked. "No, I don't why would you even ask!" Draco stormed off leaving Abby more confused as ever. She felt like she had just spoken to the Draco from last year. The one who was so judgmental he couldn't see his own faults.
Abby met up with the others before heading to Defense. No one seemed to enjoy his class. All he ever did was talk about how great he was and sometimes he would reenact parts of his books. Abby had had just about enough when Hermione passed her a piece of parchment. Looking around making sure no one was looking she opened it up as quietly as she could.
Abby,
I was thinking just in case we need to get a book from the restricted section I should have Lockhart sign a permission slip. Don't worry I have a great plan. Let's have him autograph for us and then we could forge it if need be. Just nod if you like the idea. He won't notice since he will think you are completely interested in his story.
Hermione
Abby nodded and zoned out for the rest of class. At the end of class Lockhart told everyone that he wanted 2 feet of parchment of what they considered to be his greatest achievements and why. Hermione and Abby waited until most of the students had filed out. Abby felt like she was going to barf for doing this. The two waited patiently until Lockhart acknowledged them. "Ah what can I do for you two lovely ladies?" Hermione smiled as Abby tried her best to the same. "Professor I was wondering if we could get your autograph," said Hermione sweetly. His face lit up as if it was glowing. "Of course, of course." He pulled out a piece of parchment and a ghastly pink quill. Abby had to look away to stop herself from laughing so hard that she wouldn't be able to breath. "There you go." Lockhart handed them each a piece of paper and the girls hurried out of there. Once they were a safe distance away, they burst into laughter.
"Hermione that was torture. Never make me do that again." Hermione nodded, and the girls walked towards the lake. Abby was kicking pebbles around with her foot when a shadow loomed over them. They turned around to see Severus. "Severus!" Abby hugged him, and he wrapped his arms around her. Most of the students had come to accept that for whatever reason Snape cared for Abby as if she was his own daughter. Unfortunately, this led some students to believe her loyalties would still lie with Slytherin. Hermione waved goodbye saying she had something else to do as Abby took Severus' hand and walked with him.
They walked and talked for some time before Severus brought up the topic he wanted. "Abigail, I have good news. Remember when you wanted me to see if I could find a replacement for the second term. His name is Remus Lupin." Abby thought she heard a strain when he said the name but chose to ignore it. "Really! Oh, thank you Severus." She hugged him and ran off to tell Hermione. Severus smiled he didn't know how Abby did it, but just like her mother she could bring out the best in him. Abby found Hermione later that evening sitting on her bed reading Hogwarts a history for the umpteenth time. "Hey Hermione, we are getting a new defense after Christmas," said Abby. "Really Who?" "His name is Remus Lupin. He has to be better than Lockhart." Hermione nodded, and Abby suddenly remembered her conversation with Draco. "Hermione, I think Draco knows something about the Chamber of secrets. When I spoke to him, I mentioned we were trying to figure out what was going on and he looked uncomfortable. When I questioned him, he flipped on me and stormed off." Hermione got up and hugged Abby. She knew how much the friendship with Draco meant.
"It will be alright Abby. I have an idea come with me." She dragged Abby to the library and handed a slip of paper to Madam Pince. After looking to see if it was a forged, but after a few moments disappeared behind a gate. A few minutes later she reappeared carrying a very old book. After Hermione checked it out, she dragged Abby to Myrtle's bathroom.
Hermione opened Moste Potente Potions carefully, and the two of them bent over the yellowed pages. It was clear from a glance why it belonged in the Restricted Section. Some of the potions had effects almost too gruesome to think about, and there were some very unpleasant illustrations, which included a man who seemed to have been turned inside out and a witch sprouting several extra pairs of arms out of her head. "Here it is," said Hermione excitedly as she found the page headed The Polyjuice Potion. It was decorated with drawings of people halfway through transforming into other people. Abby sincerely hoped the artist had imagined the looks of intense pain on their faces. "This is the most complicated potion I've ever seen," said Hermione as they scanned the recipe. "Lacewing flies, leeches, flux weed, and knotgrass," she murmured, running her finger down 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 get that — shredded skin of a boomslang — that'll be tricky, too — and of course a bit of whoever we want to change into." "Excuse me?" said Abby sharply. "What do you mean, a bit of whoever we're changing into? I'm drinking anything with a piece of someone else in it."
"Oh, relax will you that won't be until later. We have to gather all the other ingredients first." "But Hermione where are we going to get all this?" Hermione smiled at Abby that she suddenly had a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach. "Simple you will create a distraction in potions on Monday and I will have Ron help me get the ingredients." "But Hermione, I can't do that. He trusts me. Can you imagine what this would do to him if he ever found out." Hermione gave a glare that said fine, but what do you suggest we do instead. Abby hung her head. "Fine I'll do it, but he must never know. In fact, after this is over, we are never to talk about this do you understand?" Hermione nodded, and the two girls headed down to dinner.
Dinner passed by too quick for Abby and before she knew it, it was time to head to the Quidditch pitch. Arriving there she saw everyone, but Fred and George were there. "Hey Daphne, where are the twins?" "They had to go grab something quick and said they would be right back." She nodded and decided to take control. "Okay since we are waiting let's do some practice rounds. Everyone will be doing their normal positions except Daphne. I'm going to have you be a beater." Everyone got on their brooms as Abby tossed Daphne a bat.
The group flew up to practice. Twenty minutes later Abby saw Fred and George running to the pitch and she signaled for everyone to touch down. She was the first to touch the ground and got off. "Where have you two been!" shouted Abby. The twins looked at here and grinned. "Nowhere just giving Filch a present," they said in unison. She shook her head and started to laugh. "Will you two never cease pranking him. One of these days he will come after you with revenge." "Ah Abby, its only in good fun, but anyways who took charge of practice while we weren't here?" asked George. Everyone pointed at Abby and she blushed.
"Well thank you Abby. Now how about we continue practicing until nine. George grabbed the extra bat as Daphne tossed the other bat to Fred. The group practiced for the next hour and when everyone was putting the equipment away Abby felt unnerved. Spinning around she scanned the bleachers. "Abby?" She turned to see Fred looking at her concerned. "It's nothing," she smiled. She picked up her broom and started walking towards the school, but she couldn't shake the feeling that someone had been watching her. Shaking her head, she headed to her dorm and crawled into bed hoping that sleep would ease her worries.