Chapter 10

For the entire school year, Fred and George would continue to crack jokes about us being dark wizards. They would often shout, "Make way for the Heir of Slytherin! Seriously evil witch and wizard coming through!"

It was quite funny and we had all gotten use to it by now, but Hermione continued to tell us that the Polyjuice Potion would be ready in a matter of days. She said that about…oh, I don't know…eight days in a row! As we walked into the Great Hall, the hall glimmered grandly as the snowflakes tumbled from the ceiling. We all sat together as Hermione stated, "Everything's set. We just need a bit of who you're changing into."

About time, I thought. "Crabbe and Goyle," stated Harry.

"Oh, and Pansy Parkinson. I've seen how Malfoy looks at her. He would tell anything to her," I explained.

"And we also need to make sure that the real Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle can't burst in on us while we're interrogating Malfoy," stated Hermione.

"How?" asked Ron.

Hermione then placed two small cakes on the table. "I've got it all worked out. I've filled these with a simple Sleeping Draught. Simple, but powerful. You know how greedy Crabbe and Goyle are. They won't leave the Christmas Feast until every last drop of trifle is gone. Now, once they're asleep, hide them in a broom cupboard and pull out a few of their hairs," explained Hermione.

"What about Pansy?" I asked.

"I've sent her a note from Malfoy telling her to meet him at the entrance hall in ten minutes. You can then meet up with her and lock her in the broom cupboard. But make sure to take out a few of her hairs," she explained.

"And whose hair are you ripping out?" asked Ron.

"I've already got mine," replied Hermione, holding up a vial with a tiny hair, "Millicent Bulstrode. She's in Slytherin. I got this off her robes. All right then... I'm going to check on the Polyjuice Potion."

And with that, Hermione rose from the table and pointed to the cakes in front of her. "Remember. Just make sure they find these."

And with that, Hermione left. Ron then looked at us. "Have you ever heard of a plan where so many things could go wrong?" asked Ron.

"Actually, yes," I replied.

Ron and Harry tagged along with me as I went to get Pansy. I hid behind one of the statues and waited for her to show up. And, just like the note said, she showed up ten minutes later. "How are you going to get her hairs without you knowing?" asked Ron.

"Just watch," I smiled as I cleared my throat and pointed my wand at a suit of armor. I then muttered, "Windgardium Leviosa."

The helmet from the suit lifted into the air just above Pansy's head. "One…two…three," I smiled as I put my wand away and the helmet fell on her head, knocking her unconscious.

We all laughed as I ran up to her and pulled out a few of her hairs. Then, I stuffed her in the broom closet and waited with Harry and Ron for Crabbe and Goyle. Harry, Ron and I lurked behind a suit of armor as we stared at the cakes resting peacefully on the ground. Ron drew out his wand and was about to compel the levitating charm I had just performed earlier when Harry stopped him. "Um, maybe I should do this."

Ron stared at his wand and nodded as Harry uttered the chant. Just then, Crabbe and Goyle came walking out and saw at the cakes. They each take one and before you knew it, Crabbe and Goyle stuffed their faces. It was gross watching them stuff their faces. But then, they fell onto the floor asleep. "How thick can you get?" asked Ron.

We then drug their sleeping forms into a cupboard and pulled out a few of their hairs. When we ran into the girl's lavatory, we saw Hermione wearing Slytherin robes, hovering over a smoking cauldron. "Did you get it?" she asked.

Harry, Ron and I held up our hands. We each had a tuft of hair as Hermione pointed to three sets of Slytherin robes. "I sneaked those out of the laundry. I'm sure I've done everything right. It looks like the book said it should. Once we've drunk it, we'll have exactly one hour before we change back into ourselves."

"Now what?" asked Ron.

"We separate it into three glasses and add the hairs."

Harry, Ron and I grimaced. Hermione then began to pour the potion into four glasses. After we changed into the Slytherin robes, we raised our glasses and added the hairs. Harry's turned Brown, Ron's turned khaki, Hermione's turned yellow and mine turned purple. "Ugh. Essence of Crabbe..." grimaced Ron.

We nodded and drank. It tasted disgusting. After Ron swallowed, he doubled over. "Think I'm gonna be sick..." he said as he dropped the glass and ran into a cubicle.

"Me too," said Hermione as she followed Ron's example.

After hers fell, I felt sick and ran into a cubicle. As I threw up into the toilet, I saw my skin bubbling. I felt my skin morph and when everything stopped, I walked out into the lavatory and found Harry…or was it Goyle? "Harry?" I asked.

"Elliot?"

I walked up to the mirror and saw that I, indeed, looked like Pansy. Just then, Ron…or Crabbe…walked out of a cubicle. "Harry? Elliot?"

"Ron?" we chorused.

"Bloody hell," stated Ron.

"We still sound like ourselves. You need to sound more like Crabbe and Pansy."

"Bloody hell," said Ron with a deeper voice.

"Excellent. Now, you're turn, Elliot."

"Easy," I said with a snort.

"Wow! You can pull pranks, play Quidditch, defeat You-Know-Who, read people, and impersonate people! Is there anything you can't do?" asked Ron.

"I can't cook," I replied

"Hey... Where's Hermione?" asked Ron.

That's when we heard Hermione shout, "I…I don't think I'm going. You go on without me."

"Hermione, are you okay?" asked Harry.

"Just go! You're wasting time!" she shouted again.

As we walked down the staircase, Harry turned to Ron and said, "Don't swing your arms like that. Crabbe holds them sort of stiff."

I laughed as they both went more Neanderthal. "Yeah. That's better," laughed Ron.

As we moved more quickly, we heard footsteps. Just then, Percy appeared at the end of the corridor. "What are you doing here?" asked Ron in his normal voice.

Percy stared at us, confused by Ron's voice. Quickly, Harry elbowed Ron, who cleared his throat and spoke in a lower voice. "What are you doing here?"

"I happen to be a prefect. You, on the other hand, have no business wandering the corridors at night. It's not safe these days," replied Percy.

We all nod, afraid to speak. Percy stared at us in confusion. "What're your names again?"

We were just about to answer when Draco came running, shouting, "Crabbe. Goyle. Where have you been? Pigging out in the Great Hall all this time? Oh, hello Pansy," he smiled as he ran his finger down my arm. I could see Ron clench his fist, but Harry yanked on his arm. Why is it that no matter who I am, Malfoy can't resist me? As he smiled at me, he glanced at Percy. "And what are you doing down here, Weasley?"

"Mind your attitude, Malfoy. You want to show a little bit more respect to a school Prefect!" replied Percy through his teeth.

"Come on, boys. Weasley thinks he's going to catch Slytherin's heir single-handed," he laughed s we walked off. Malfoy led us down into the Slytherin Common Room. As we walked in, he walked to the table and picked up an edition of the Daily Prophet. "Listen to this...'Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, was today fined fifty Galleons for bewitching a Muggle car. 'Weasley has brought the Ministry into disrepute,' said Lucius Malfoy, a governor of Hogwarts.' He is clearly unfit to draw up our laws and his ridiculous Muggle Protection Act should be scrapped immediately."

Grinning, Malfoy glanced over the paper at us. "Arthur Weasley loves Muggle so much he should snap his wand in half and go join them. You'd never know the Weasleys were purebloods, the way they behave. Embarrassment to the wizarding world. All of them," continued Malfoy.

Ron growled at Malfoy just as Harry elbowed him. Before I could sit down, Malfoy grabbed my hand and pulled me over to him. "What's up with you, Crabbe?"

"Stomachache," replied Ron in a low voice.

"Well, go to the hospital wing and give all those Mudbloods a kick in the arse for me! You know, I'm surprised The Daily Prophet hasn't reported all these attacks yet. I suppose Dumbledore's trying to hush it all up. He'll be sacked if it doesn't stop soon. Father always said Dumbledore's the worst thing that's ever happened to this place," laughed Malfoy.

"You're wrong!" shouted Harry.

We all looked at him with shock. Slowly, Malfoy stood up and walked towards Harry. "What? Did you say that I was wrong? You think there's someone here who's worse than Dumbledore?"

Ron and I stiffened with worry. Quickly, I thought and said, "Harry Potter?"

"Good one, Pansy. You're absolutely right. Saint Potter and his filthy sister. They're another one with no proper wizard feeling, or they wouldn't go around with those Mudbloods Granger and Janine. And people actually think they're the Heir of Slytherin?"

We exchanged looks and Harry asked, "Then you must have some idea who's behind it all?"

"You know I haven't, Goyle. How many times do I have to tell you? But my father did say this much: It's been fifty years since the Chamber was opened. He wouldn't tell me who opened it…only that they were expelled…but I know this: the last time the Chamber of Secrets was opened, a Mudblood died. So it's only a matter of time before one of them's killed this time. As for me... I hope it's Granger or Janine."

As Malfoy grinned, Ron clenched his fist and stood up to strike, but Harry brought him down. "What's the matter with you two? You're acting very... odd."

As soon as Malfoy said that, he turned away and I saw Harry's scar reappear and Ron's red hair return. "Guys," I whispered.

But they pointed to me and I saw that my hair was turning red again. Quickly, we high-tailed it out of there. "Hey! Where are you going?" shouted Malfoy.

As we raced towards the stairs, the broom closet burst open and a woozy Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy staggered out. They froze as they watched themselves run up the staircase. As soon as we reached the girl's lavatory, we were fully ourselves. "That was close!" panted Ron.

"Hermione, come out," shouted Harry.

"We've got loads to tell you!" I finished.

"Go away!" she shouted from the cubicle.

Just then, Moaning Myrtle came flying at us. "Ooh, wait till you see. It's awful!"

As she flew away, a small cackle came into the room. The stall slid back and the door opened slowly. "Do you remember me telling you the Polyjuice Potion was only for human transformations...?" came Hermione's voice as she turned around.

And what I saw was hilarious. Hermione's face was covered in fur, her eyes yellow and her pointed ears poked through her hair. "It was cat hair I plucked off Millicent Bulstrode's robes! Look at my face!" she said.

"Look at your tail," Ron smiled as I laughed.

--oOo--

Hermione was quickly admitted to the hospital wing and treated. After a couple weeks, Hermione asked us bring her the homework she had missed in her classes. So, Harry, Ron, Amanda, Rachel and I came staggering in under the weight of the library books. When we arrived, we saw Hermione's bed covered in books already. "Oh, good. Put those anywhere."

We took a look and noticed that there was no more room. So, we just dropped them. "Madam Pince asked that we relay a message to you, Hermione: She'd appreciate it if you'd leave a few books for the rest of the school," stated Rachel.

"I've got to keep up, haven't I?" she asked as her tail twitched into view. "Is that thing ever going away?" asked Amanda.

"Any day now, according to Madam Pomfrey. I'm just thankful I've stopped coughing up fur balls," sighed Hermione.

"We all are, believe me," I finished.

"Now. What about the Chamber of Secrets? Any new leads?" asked Rachel.

"Nothing," sighed Harry.

"And has it gotten any better? I mean... is anyone speaking to any of you?" asked Hermione.

"Neville asked to borrow a tubeworm in Potions yesterday. I suppose that's something," said Harry.

"Seamus apologized for bumping into me. But that was probably because he was afraid I was going to petrify him," I muttered.

"Well, Dean and Lee asked if I wanted to help them with their homework," replied Rachel.

Just then, Ron took a get well card from under Hermione's pillow. "'To Miss Granger. Wishing you a speedy recovery, from your concerned teacher Gilderoy Lockhart.' You sleep with this under your pillow?" asked Ron.

"Of course not. I don't know how that got there. Now go. I still have six hundred pages to read in Transformation Through the Ages," replied Hermione as she flipped another page. That was our cue to leave. Amanda elected to stay behind to talk with Hermione while Harry, Ron, Rachel and I headed towards the Common Room. "I know Hermione's mental, but can you believe she falls for that smarmy nonsense of Lockhart's?" Ron asked.

Just then, we stopped. The floor was flooded with water. "Looks like Myrtle's flooded the bathroom," sighed Harry.

Harry splashed toward the bathroom while we stepped lightly. "Yuck," stated Ron.

When we walked in, we saw Myrtle floating above one of the cubicles. As soon as she noticed us, she asked, "Come to throw something else at me?"

"Why would I throw something at you?" asked Harry.

"Don't ask me. Here I am, minding my own business, and someone thinks it's funny to throw a book at me..."

"But it can't hurt if someone throws something at you," started Ron.

"Yeah, I mean, it'd just go right through you, wouldn't it?" I finished.

Just then, she flew towards us, clearly angry. "Oh sure! Let's all throw books at Myrtle, because she can't feel it! Ten points if you can get it through her stomach," she shouted, punching Ron in the stomach, "Thirty points if you get it through her chest," she shouted as she punched Rachel in the chest, "Fifty points if it goes through her head!" she finished as she punched me through the head.

"Who threw it at you anyway?" asked Harry.

"I don't know. I didn't see them. I was just sitting in the U-bend, thinking about death and it fell through the top of my head," explained Moaning Myrtle.

Slowly, we walked over to the toilet Myrtle was talking about and Harry picked up a small black book. Ron leaned over and whispered into my ear, "Fifty points if you can get it through her nose."

"I HEARD THAT!" shouted Myrtle, causing all of us to dash out of the bathroom. As we walked, Harry examined the book. "This is a diary. And it's old..."

"It's a diary, it's old... and was most recently in a toilet, Harry," stated Ron.

As Harry began to open it, Ron grabbed his hand. "Are you mad? That could be cursed. Dad once told me about a book the Ministry confiscated that burned the eyes out of anyone who tried to read it."

"I'll take my chances... Ahhh! MY EYES! MY EYES!" I shouted as I took the book from Harry's hands and as I opened the book, I placed my hands on my eyes dropping the book. Ron stood there, frozen to the spot as I grinned, ending the ruse. "It's not funny!" shouted Ron as he finally breathed in. I was laughing when, at the end of the corridor, we saw Ginny standing there, looking from the diary at me who had just picked it back up…with what seemed to be utter terror. Suddenly, she ran off. "Ginny! I was only joking…Brilliant. Even your sister thinks we're the monster now."

"Who doesn't?" asked Rachel.

Ron frowned suddenly. "What?" I asked.

Ron pointed to the front page of the diary. It was inscribed with a name; Tom Marvolo Riddle. "Tom Marvolo Riddle? Hang on. I know that name... Of course! The night I had detention... My job was to polish the silver in the trophy room. I remember because I kept burping slugs all over Tom Riddle's trophy. I must have wiped slime off his name for an hour," Ron explained.

Quickly, I fanned the pages, hoping for something…but it was empty. "That's odd. He never wrote in it," noticed Rachel.

Quickly, we ran to the hospital wing where we met up with Amanda and Hermione. "Tom Riddle... Hm. And Ron said he won an award fifty years ago?" asked Hermione.

"Special Services to the School or something…" explained Harry.

"Fifty years ago? You're sure?" asked Amanda.

"Yes. Why?" I asked.

"Don't you remember what Malfoy told you? The last time the Chamber of Secrets was opened was…" began Hermione.

"Fifty years ago! That means…" began Harry.

"Tom Riddle was here at Hogwarts when it happened. What if he wrote about what he saw? It's possible he knew where the Chamber was, how to open it, even what sort of creature lives in it. If so, whoever's behind the attacks this time wouldn't want a diary like this lying around, would they?" explained Hermione.

"That's a brilliant theory, Hermione. With just one tiny little flaw. There's nothing written in this diary," I replied sarcastically.

"It might be invisible ink. Aparecium!" explained Hermione as she took the book and tapped the diary three times with her wand. Nothing happened. The pages remained blank. We frown as she passed the book to Harry. "I don't know, Harry. But I think you should be careful with this. Something tells me Ron might be right. It could be dangerous," stated Hermione.

"You don't think we're dangerous, do you, Hermione? I mean, you're not scared of us," I asked.

"I'm scared, but not of you three," she finishes.

TBC…