Ever since the disastrous day with the pixies, Lockhart never brought live creatures back to class. Since then, Lockhart had read excerpts from his books and used Hailey to enact the more dramatic bits, much to the Slytherins amusement, and much to her, Michael, and Mandy's annoyance. Hailey had pretended to be: a simple, Babbling cursed Transylvanian villager that Lockhart cured, a yeti with a head-cold, and a vampire that can eat nothing but lettuce after 'Lockhart dealt with him'.
In their next Defense class after they agreed to make the Polyjuice Potion and to get a note signed, Lockhart asked, "Now, who wants to volunteer to reenact the defeat of the Wagga Wagga Werewolf?" He looked around the classroom and he looked at Hailey.
Michael grabbed onto Hailey's arm as if that would keep her from getting hauled up to the front. In a way, Hailey was dreading going to the front, but somehow she got hauled up to the front anyway. She would've said no, but considering that they needed Lockhart's signature to check out Moste Potente Potions, she decided to play along to butter Lockhart up.
"Now nice loud howl, Hailey—" Lockhart urged and Hailey nearly rolled her eyes, but she tried to howl, loudly ignoring the way Malfoy and Parkinson were trying to cover their laughter. "—exactly—and then, if you'll believe it, I pounced—like this—slammed him to the floor—" with that, Hailey was forced to lay on the floor, "—thus—with one hand, I managed to hold him down—" Lockhart placed himself at an odd angle, half laying on her and half on the floor. He continued, "—with my other, I put my wand to his throat—" he put his wand to her throat, and from the corner of her eye, she noticed Mandy and Michael both sit up straighter in their seats, as if preparing just in case Lockhart's wand pulled a Ron Weasley and backfire.
"I then screwed up my remaining strength and performed the immensely complex, Hormorphus Charm—he let out a piteous moan—go on, Hailey," Lockhart urged. Hailey groaned out of embarrassment instead and Lockhart said, "—higher than that—" Hailey tried to let out a higher pitched groan, "—good—the fur vanished—the fangs shrank—and he turned back into a man—" Hailey rolled her eyes, knowing better as Lockhart continued, "simple, yet effective—and another village will remember me forever as the hero who delivered them from the monthly terror of werewolf attacks." Again, Hailey rolled her eyes and the bell rang. Lockhart jumped to his feet and Hailey was glad to get rid of the weight. "Homework—compose a poem about my defeat of the Wagga Wagga Werewolf! Signed copies of Magical Me to the author of the best one!"
Hailey went to the back as the class was leaving. Pansy pushed Hailey out of the way using her shoulder and Hailey heard Malfoy snicker, before shoving past the Ravenclaws, as well. They waited till the class was empty and the three Ravenclaws approached Lockhart's desk.
Mandy holding onto a piece of paper, and she stammered, "Er—Professor Lockhart? I wanted to—to get this book out of the library—just for background reading." She held out the paper to Lockhart, "But the thing is, it's in the Restricted Section and a teacher has to sign for it. I'm sure it would help me understand what you say in Wanderings with Werewolves better, about the transformation process—"
Lockhart took the note, "Ah, Wanderings with Werewolves! My second favourite behind Gadding with Ghouls! You enjoyed it?"
Mandy hesitated before saying, "Oh, yes. It was so brave, the way you fought with the werewolf—"
"Well, I'm sure no one will mind me giving the second best student of the year a little extra help," said Lockhart warmly and Mandy looked a little irritated. He pulled out a enormous peacock quill and Hailey noticed that Michael's eye twitched a little. "Yes, nice, isn't it? I usually save it for book signings."
Oh, good to know, Hailey thought sarcastically.
Mandy folded the note, right as Lockhart looked at Hailey, "So, Hailey. Tomorrow's the first Quidditch match of the season, I believe? Ravenclaw against Slytherin, is it not? I hear you're a useful player. I was a Seeker for Ravenclaw, too. I was asked to try for the National Squad, but preferred to dedicate my life to the eradication of the Dark Forces. Still, if you ever feel the need for a little private training, don't hesitate to ask. Always happy to pass on my expertise to less able players…"
Michael snorted, before they hurried out of the classroom. "Can you believe that guy? It's like he wants to be everywhere."
"I can't believe that he didn't even look at the book we wanted to check out." Hailey replied, looking at the paper in Mandy's hand.
"That's because he's a brainless git," Michael said. "He's making Ravenclaws look bad, too."
Hailey was reminded of last term, where Michael said the same thing about Quirrell. "Let's hope that next term, he won't be here and that it's not another Ravenclaw." She was positive that she couldn't put up with Lockhart for another term, especially with him clinging to her like a cheap suit.
They walked inside the library and up to the desk where Madam Pince was at. Mandy handed the note over to the librarian. "We want to check out Moste Potente Potions."
"Moste Potente Potions?" Madam Pince repeated, trying to take the note from Mandy.
Mandy held on, "Can I have it back? I was thinking of giving it to Hermione."
Michael grabbed the note from his friend. "We'll get Hermione an autograph some other time. We all know he'll sign anything if you asked."
Madam Pince held the note up to the light as if she was trying to detect a forgery and it passed the test. She walked by the shelves and returned holding a large, moldy looking book. Mandy placed the book carefully in her book bag, and they walked away, trying not to look suspicious or guilty.
A few minutes later, they found themselves in Moaning Myrtle's lavatory, where Hermione and Ron were waiting. Hailey turned to the door, took out her wand, and said, "Colloportus," before going to where her friends stood.
Mandy passed the spell book to Hermione, who started turning pages, and Hailey tried to ignore Myrtle's noisy cries.
Hailey watched as Michael looked at the toilet stalls and said, dryly, "Don't even think about writing on the stalls."
"This is the most complicated potion I've even seen," said Hermione before Michael can reply to Hailey's comment. "Lacewing flies, leeches, fluxweed, and knotgrass." She ran her finger down the list of ingredients. "Well, they're easy enough, they're in the student store-cupboard, we can help ourselves…Ooh, 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?" asked Ron sharply. "What d'you mean, a bit of whoever we're changing into? I'm drinking nothing with Crabbe's toenails in it—"
"We don't have to worry about that yet, though, because we add those bits last…" Hermione said as if she hadn't heard him.
"That's a lot to steal," Mandy said, grabbing at her headband. "I reckon that shredded skin of a boomslang isn't in the student cupboards. What are we going to do? Break into Snape's private stores? I'm not sure this is a good idea."
Michael was looking a little ill, "I agree with Mandy."
Hermione shut the book with a snap. "Well, if you want to chicken out, that's fine. I don't want to break rules, you know. I think threatening Muggle-borns is far worse than brewing up a difficult potion, but if you two don't want to find out if it's Malfoy, that's fine. We won't hold it against you two, right Hailey?"
Hailey looked at Mandy and Michael. It was a little jarring to see Michael backing out, considering that he had thrown a unicorn blood covered shirt at Quirrell in the Forbidden Forest last term. Especially since Hermione was willing to break the rules. "It's all right. You two can leave if you want."
"I never thought I'll see the day where Hermione is encouraging rule-breaking." Mandy said, "I'm in."
"I guess I'll stay, as long as I don't drink the potion that has Goyle's toenails in it," Michael said, looking a little disgusted at the thought.
"How long will it take to make anyway?" Hailey asked.
Hermione opened the book. "Well, since the fluxweed has got to be picked at the full moon and the lacewings have got to be stewed for twenty-one days…" She looked the instructions. "I'd say it'd be ready in a month, if we can get all the ingredients."
Ron looked incredulous, "A month?"
"Malfoy or Parkinson could have attacked half of the school by then," Michael said. Hermione narrowed her eyes dangerously at him. "But it's the best plan that we've got, so let's continue, I guess."
While Hermione went to go unlock the door that Hailey sealed, Ron whispered to Hailey, "It'll be a lot less hassle if you knocked Malfoy off of his broom tomorrow."
Early Saturday morning, Hailey woke up early. She lay there, thinking about the Quidditch match. She wasn't entirely sure what Roger would say about losing to Slytherin, but then again, her House was known for not being the best at Quidditch, which they can poke fun at. She was dreading the idea of facing a team on fast brooms, and she really wanted to beat Slytherin so she can rub Malfoy's face in it too. That was also a bonus.
After a while, she got up and made her way to breakfast where the Ravenclaw Quidditch team was sitting at the long table. The team was looking oddly solemn and grim. Hailey joined them and managed to eat a bit of toast.
When eleven approached it seemed like the entire school was making its way to the stadium. It was a muggy sort of day with a hint of thunder in the air. Hermione, Ron, Mandy, and Michael came over to wish them good luck. After they left, Roger started his usual pre-game pep talk.
"Alright men and woman…We're going to crush our opponents into the dirt. Not literally, but it certainly won't hurt to try, even thought Slytherin has better brooms than us. Win or die trying." Roger looked at them as if threatening to win. He looked at Hailey, "You better get that Snitch before Malfoy does or crush him into the dirt if you have to."
As they walked onto the pitch, there was a roar of noise. Gryffindor and Hufflepuff seemed anxious for them to beat Slytherin. Ravenclaw was cheering and Hailey spotted what looked like a live eagle perched on Luna's head, which was flapping its wings.
"Is that a real eagle?" Duncan Inglebee asked staring at the hat.
"I don't know," Hailey replied back.
Roger and Flint, the Slytherin captain, gripped each other's hands rather harder than necessary.
There was a whistle and fourteen broomsticks went airborne. Hailey flew higher than the rest to spot the Snitch.
"All right there Scarhead?" Malfoy shouted as he shot underneath her, as if trying to show off the speed of the broom.
A Bludger came at her, so she swerved it time for it to avoid hitting her. It ruffled her hair as it passed.
"Close one, Hailey!" shouted Jason Samuels streaking past her. He was holding the club, ready to hit the Bludger to the Slytherins. She watched as Jason whacked the Bludger to Adrian Pucey. However the Bludger swerved in mid-air and came back for her!
Hailey dropped quickly to avoid it and Jason hit it towards Malfoy, but it changed direction and came for Hailey's head! She shot off towards the other end of the pitch and she heard the Bludger whistling along behind her.
When she got to the other end of the pitch, Duncan hit it as he can. It flew off course and Duncan smiled, "Got it!"
The Bludger came after Hailey once again.
In the stands, Michael and Mandy were watching the entire thing through binoculars, confused.
"What is going on with that bloody Bludger?" Mandy asked confused, wiping rain from her face.
"It could have been tampered with," Michael said as Hailey shot off in a different direction.
"It couldn't have been. I think it's been locked in Madam Hooch's office," Mandy replied.
It looked like Jason was trying to stop the Bludger from breaking Hailey's nose.
Michael looked into the stands, trying to see if any of the professors were pulling a Quirrell and jinxing the Bludger to attack Hailey, continuously. It looked like the professors weren't paying attention to what was happening to Hailey.
Mandy growled, "I hate that we're losing."
Michael looked at the game to see that the Ravenclaws were in a huddle debating something as the Slytherins pointed and seemed like they were laughing. Michael rolled his eyes at the Slytherins. They wouldn't be laughing if the Bludger chased after Malfoy. Malfoy would be threatening to tell his father about the Bludger chasing him.
"Whatever they're saying, it looks like Hailey is refusing," Mandy said.
Michael looked to watch the huddle and Madam Hooch strode up to them. He watched as whatever what was said caused the game to continue.
"I hope that Hailey knows what she's doing," Michael stated anxiously.
The rain was coming down harder and they watched as the Bludger came at her again.
She looped, swooped, zigzagged, spiraled, and rolled. She hung upside down as the Bludger dove at her.
"I seriously hope that she knows what she's doing," Mandy said.
Michael nodded, his heart beating rapidly, "Me too."
It seemed like Hailey was turning and looping, like some sort of roller-coaster type thing, to throw the Bludger off. She stopped and stayed put.
Michael inhaled sharply as the Bludger flew right by her. She turned and flew off in the opposite direction.
She did, in Michael's opinion, a stupid looking twirl in the air. It looked like Malfoy said something to her and laughed.
"One of these days, I'm going to punch Malfoy in the face," Mandy said.
"I was thinking the exact same thing," Michael replied.
"I think she found the Snitch!" Mandy shouted sounding excited.
Michael watched as Hailey reached for the Snitch, and the Bludger flew into her arm, almost throwing her off the broomstick. He winced, "Oh, god!" He closed his eyes and tried to get rid of the mental image.
"Ooh," Mandy groaned. "I think I'm going to be sick."
"Me too," he agreed. He watched as she reached with her other hand, and she fell forward off the broom. She rolled onto her back.
"Quick, let's see if she's all right," Mandy said dragging Michael from his seat.
"Hailey Potter caught the Snitch! Ravenclaw wins!" Lee Jordan's voice rang out as the two second-years headed towards the field to check on Hailey.
The Bludger came down and Hailey rolled out of the way. Michael pulled out his wand as the Bludger went up and back down on the ground. Hailey rolled out of the way again and he pointed at it, as the rogue Bludger went in the air. "Finite Incantatem!"
Two streams of red light hit the Bludger right at the same time, shattering it.
"I don't know what is odd. That you and Hermione both had the same idea, or the fact that it seems like you both operate with the same brain waves," Mandy said, holding out her wand as well.
Hermione seemed to size Michael up over hitting the Bludger with the same spell at the same time.
"Well, I was faster," Michael stated as he, Mandy, two Gryffindors, and Hagrid gathered around Hailey, who was holding her arm.
Lockhart pushed through them to get to Hailey.
"Oh, no, not you," Hailey said, backing up.
"Doesn't know what she's saying," Lockhart said to the now forming crowd of Ravenclaws. "Not to worry, Hailey. I'm about to fix your arm."
Hailey could've sworn she heard Stephen and Colton snicker at the thought of Lockhart fixing something. Now that she thought about it, some of the other Ravenclaws seemed unimpressed at the thought of Lockhart doing magic. She backed up, "No! I think I'll keep my arm like this." There was a clicking noise and she rolled her eyes at Colin. "And I don't want a picture of this, Colin!"
Lockhart continued, as if he didn't hear Hailey's protests, he tried to sound soothing, "Lie back, Hailey. It's a simple charm I've used countless of times—"
"Luna could mend broken bones!" Colton suddenly shouted, "Well, its more like broken toes, but I'm sure that it's not that different from a broken arm."
"She should go to the hospital wing," Michael said.
"I trust the girl with the eagle on her head more than Lockhart," Mandy whispered to Michael, glancing at Luna, who was standing next to Colton.
"Can I just go to the hospital wing already?" Hailey asked, feeling overwhelmed by the Gryffindors showing up. Fred and George were looking concerned and Hailey was a little touched at that.
Roger Davies looked at Lockhart, "You really should let her go, Professor."
"Stand back," Lockhart said.
"What?" It seemed like the entirety of the Ravenclaws and some Gryffindors asked that at the same time.
"No—don't," Hailey protested.
"Brackium…Emendo!" Lockhart shouted, twirling his wand, and bringing it down. There was a blue light and Hailey felt a strange and unpleasant feeling in her arm, which spread all the way down to her fingertips. It felt like her arm was being deflated.
Lockhart held out Hailey's arm, which made a funny squelching sound and it hung out weirdly because there weren't any bones in there. It looked like a thick, flesh-coloured rubber glove. The crowd made a disgusted sound, and Hailey felt like she was going to be sick.
Lockhart said, "Yes, well, that sometimes happen. The point is…you can no longer feel pain." He pulled Hailey's hand back all the back way to her arm, much Hailey's disgust again. "The bones are no longer broken."
Mandy was now glaring at Lockhart.
"Broken?" Hagrid exclaimed, "There's no bones left!"
"Much more flexible though," Lockhart muttered and he looked at the crowd. "Ah, Miss Granger and Miss Brocklehurst, Mr Weasley and Mr Corner—would you escort her?" He looked at Hailey, "Madam Pomfrey—will—er—tidy—you up a bit."
Ron helped Hailey to her feet, which caused her to sway a little, due to being a little lopsided. Together, the five started walked to the hospital wing, but Michael was to busy examining Hailey's arm. He kept grabbing at it and wiggling the fingers, to be of any use. He pulled Hailey's fingers all the way back and they flopped forward.
"Stop that," Hermione hissed at him.
Hailey rolled her eyes, "Michael, leave my arm alone."
"You should've come straight to me!" Madam Pomfrey raged, holding up the limp arm.
"We tried, but Lockhart held us up," Ron stated.
Madam Pomfrey continued, as if she didn't hear Ron. "I can mend bones in a second—but growing them back—"
"You will be able to, won't you?" Hailey asked desperately. She didn't want to know how Dudley would react if she came back to Number Four with a boneless arm. He would probably laugh his arse off.
"I will be able to, certainly, but it will be painful," said Madam Pomfrey grimly, throwing Hailey a pair of pajamas. "You'll have to stay the night."
Michael and Ron waited outside the curtain which was drawn around Hailey's bed, while Mandy and Hermione helped Hailey into her pajamas. It took a while and Mandy repeatedly saying, "Bloody useless thing," to stuff the rubbery arm into a sleeve.
"How can you stick up for Lockhart now, Hermione, eh?" Ron asked through the curtain, while Hermione was pulling Hailey's limp fingers through the cuff. "If Hailey had wanted a deboning she would have asked."
"Leave Hermione alone," Michael said.
"Anyone can make a mistake," said Hermione. "And it doesn't hurt anymore, does it, Hailey?"
"No, but it doesn't do anything else either." Hailey said, swinging herself onto the bed with her arm flapping pointlessly.
The boys and Madam Pomfrey came around the curtain. Madam Pomfrey was holding a large bottle that was labeled Skele-Gro. It was a large bottle with the top half with a ribcage and arm. The lid was in the shape of a skull and the bottom half was regular looking. Madam Pomfrey opened the bottle and poured out a little bit of the steaming potion in a cup. She said to Hailey, "You're in for a rough night, Potter. Regrowing bones is a nasty business." She passed the cup to Hailey, who took it. She took a gulp, before spitting it out at the taste. Michael and Ron stepped aside to avoid the spray and Hermione looked disgusted. "Well, what did you expect? Pumpkin juice?"
Hailey forced the potion down, which burnt her mouth and throat as it went down. It made her cough and splutter. Ron, Michael, and Hermione both helped her drink some water.
"At least we won," Mandy said.
"Better than Slytherin," Ron muttered. He smiled, "That was some catch you made. Malfoy's face…he looked ready to kill."
"I want to know how he fixed that Bludger," Hermione said darkly.
"We can add that to the list of questions we'll ask him when we've taken the Polyjuice Potion," said Hailey, sitting back onto the pillows. "I hope it tastes better than that stuff." She motioned to the bottle of Skele-Gro.
"If it's got bits of Slytherins in it? You've got to be joking," said Ron.
The door burst open, to reveal a muddy, and soaking wet, Ravenclaw team, among them was Fred and George.
"Unbelievable flying, Hailey," said one of the Weasley twins. Hailey was sure it was George. "I've just seen Marcus Flint yelling at Malfoy. Something about having the Snitch on top of his head and not noticing. Malfoy didn't seem too happy."
They brought sweets, cakes, and bottles of pumpkin juice. Ron helped himself to some chocolate frogs and Mandy grabbed a Skeletal Sweet. It had the figure of a skeleton on it.
"I love these," Mandy said, grinning widely. "Eating one of these is guaranteed to make you do skeleton puns for an hour."
Michael took it from her and said flatly, "No."
Madam Pomfrey walked up to them and shouted, "This girl needs rest, she's got thirty-three bones to regrow! Out! Out!"
With that, Hailey was left alone with nothing to distract her from the stabbing pain in her limp arm.
Hailey suddenly woke up quite suddenly in the dark and yelped in pain. Her arm felt like large splinters and she thought that was what woke her up. She realized that someone was sponging her forehead in the dark, which horrified her.
"Get off!" She shouted and then she realized that it wasn't a person, but a creature. She recognized the wide eyes, "Dobby!"
The house-elf's goggling tennis ball eyes were peering at Hailey through the darkness. A single tear was running down his long, pointed nose. "Hailey Potter came back to school," he whispered. "Dobby warned and warned Hailey Potter. Ah, Miss, why didn't you heed Dobby? Why didn't Hailey Potter go back home when she missed the train?"
Hailey sat up on the pillows and pushed the sponge away. "What're you doing here? And how did you know I missed the train?" Dobby's lip trembled and Hailey realized something. "It was you!You stopped the barrier from letting us through!"
"Indeed yes, Miss," said Dobby, nodding his head vigorously, ears flapping. "Dobby hid and watched for Hailey Potter and sealed the gateway and Dobby had to iron his hands afterward." He showed Hailey ten long, bandaged fingers, "but Dobby didn't care, Miss, for he thought Hailey Potter was safe, and never did Dobby dream that Hailey Potter would get to school another way!" Dobby was rocking backward and forward, shaking his head. "Dobby was so shocked when he heard Hailey Potter was back at Hogwarts, he let his master's dinner burn! Such a flogging Dobby never had, Miss."
Hailey was a little horrified and she slumped back onto the pillow. "You nearly got Ron and me expelled." She looked at Dobby, "You'd better get lost before my bones come back, Dobby, or I might strangle you."
Dobby smiled weakly, "Dobby is used to death threats, Miss. Dobby gets them five times a day at home." He blew his nose on a corner of the filthy pillowcase, looking so pathetic, that Hailey felt bad for the house-elf. She wasn't sure what to do to help Dobby with his situation. She didn't want him to go back to his owner's house, but she knew that she didn't have any authority over Dobby.
Dobby mopped his eyes and said, "Hailey Potter must go home! Dobby thought his Bludger would be enough to make—"
"Your Bludger?" asked Hailey angry. "What d'you mean, your Bludger? You made that Bludger try and kill me?"
"Not kill you, Miss, never kill you!" said Dobby and Hailey wasn't reassured by that. "Dobby wants to save Hailey Potter's life! Better sent home, grievously injured, than remain her, Miss! Dobby only wanted Hailey Potter hurt enough to be sent home!"
"Oh, is that all?" Hailey asked, angrily. "I don't suppose you're going to tell why you want me sent home in pieces?"
"Ah, if Hailey Potter only knew!" Dobby said, more tears dripping onto his ragged pillowcase. "If she knew what she means to us, to the lowly, to the enslaved, we dregs of the magical world! Dobby remembers how it was when He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was at the height of his powers, Miss! We house-elves were treated like vermin, Miss! Of course, Dobby is still treated like that, Miss," he admitted, drying his face on the pillowcase. "But mostly, Miss, life has improved for my kind since you triumphed over He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Hailey Potter survived, and the Dark Lord's power was broken, and it was a new dawn, Miss, and Hailey Potter shone like a beacon of hope for those of us who thought the dark days would never end, Miss. And now at Hogwarts, terrible things are to happen, are perhaps happening already, and Dobby cannot let Hailey Potter stay here now that history is to repeat itself, now that the Chamber of Secrets is open once more—"
Dobby froze, horror-struck, then grabbed the water jug from the bedside table, and cracked it over his own head. He toppled out of sight and Hailey was briefly horrified. Dobby crawled back onto the bed, cross-eyed, and muttering, "bad Dobby, very bad Dobby…"
"So there is a Chamber of Secrets?" Hailey whispered to herself. "And—did you say it's been opened before? Tell me, Dobby!" Dobby's hand inched towards the water jug and Hailey grabbed Dobby's wrist, noticing that it was bony. "But I'm not Muggle-born—how can I be in danger from the Chamber?"
"Ah, Miss, ask no more, ask no more of poor Dobby," stammered the elf, his eyes huge. "Dark deeds are planned in this place, but Hailey Potter must not be here when they happen—go home, Hailey Potter, go home. Hailey Potter must not meddle in this, Miss, 'tis too dangerous—"
"Who is it, Dobby?" Hailey asked, keep a firm hold on Dobby's wrist, to keep him from hitting himself with the water jug again. "Who's opened it? Who opened it last time?"
"Dobby can't, Miss, Dobby can't, Dobby mustn't tell!" squealed the elf. "Go home, Hailey Potter, go home!"
"I'm not going anywhere," Hailey said fiercely. "One of my best friends is Muggle-born; she'll be first in line if the Chamber really has been opened—"
"Hailey Potter risks her own life for her friends!" moaned Dobby in a kind of miserable ecstasy. "So noble! So valiant! But she must save herself, she must, Hailey Potter must not—" He froze, his ears quivering. Hailey frowned and heard the footsteps coming down the passageway. "Dobby must go!" he sounded terrified. Dobby faded from air, and Hailey was left clutching onto air.
She slumped back onto the bed and kept her eyes on the doorway.
Dumbledore was backing into the hospital wing carrying what looked like a statue. He was wearing a long dressing gown and a nightcap. Professor McGonagall appeared a second later carrying it's feet. Together, they heaved the statue onto the bed.
"Get Madam Pomfrey," whispered Dumbeldore and Professor McGonagall hurried past the end of Hailey's bed, out of sight. Hailey lay quite still, trying to give the appearance that she asleep. She heard urgent voices, and then Professor McGonagall swept back into view, closely followed by Madam Pomfrey, who was pulling a cardigan over her nightdress. She heard a sharp intake of breath.
"What happened?" Madam Pomfrey whispered, bending over the bed.
"Another attack," said Dumbledore. "Minerva found him on the stairs."
"There was a bunch of grapes next to him," said Professor McGonagall. "We think he was trying to sneak up here to visit Potter."
Hailey felt her heart sped up at the thought. Slowly and carefully, she raised herself a few inches so she can look at the statue on the bed. There was a ray of moonlight on its face and she saw that it was Colin Creevey. His eyes were wide and his hands were stuck up in front of him, holding his camera.
"Petrified?" whispered Madam Pomfrey.
"Yes," said Professor McGonagall. "But I shudder to think…If Albus hadn't been on the way downstairs for hot chocolate—who know what might have—"
The three stared down at Colin and Dumbledore wrenched the camera out of Colin's rigid grip.
"You don't think he managed to get a picture of his attacker?" asked Professor McGonagall eagerly.
Dumbledore opened the back of the camera. A jet of steam hissed out and Hailey, three beds down, caught the smell of burnt plastic.
"Good gracious!" said Madam Pomfrey, "Melted. All melted…"
"What does this mean, Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked urgently.
"It means that the Chamber of Secrets is indeed open again," said Dumbledore.
Madam Pomfrey clapped a hand to her mouth. Professor McGonagall stared at Dumbledfore, "But, Albus…surely…who?"
"The question is not who. The question is, how…?" said Dumbledore staring at Colin.
From what Hailey could see of Professor McGonagall's shadowy face, she didn't understand it any better than her.
A/N: On the Harry Potter wikia page, there was something called Skeletal Sweets, and I decided that it would be funny to have them enchanted where one has to say skeleton puns for an hour, after eating just one.