Ally of Darkness: Isn't it common knowledge that girls are always smarter than boys? Mouahaha! (truth is, I'm only saying that because I'm a girl ^^). Anyway, I won't answer any of your questions ^^ I don't to spoil the fun! Thanks anyway, I do love how you always compliment me on my chapters!
animelove : I'm not telling you that ^^ (because I don't know yet either!)
KGC112: Yes, that is a bit of a mystery…He probably had Aragog when it was just an egg which would have made it easier to bring in the school.
All my thanks to the readers and reviewers. And I'm really sorry but I had a massive Internet problem so I haven't been able to connect at all for the past few days, combined with a week of holidays in distant lands I have missed the net dearly.
During the next few days, the quartet didn't have much time to think about Hagrid and the Chamber of Secrets. They talked about it of course, but between choosing their subjects for third year and Quidditch practice (for Jade), there wasn't much time to think about it. Jade had to deal with a frantic Hermione who was trying to decide which subjects she should choose.
"It could affect our whole future!" she had said.
Ron had sniggered and Jade had chosen to remain silent. The raven haired girl was also being harassed by Wood who insisted on having Quidditch practice at every single free time. Their next match was to be against Hufflepuff so Jade couldn't really see why he was so stressed, it would have been different if it had been Slytherin or Ravenclaw…However, once again, Jade chose to remain silent and to go with the flow. Being constantly occupied was a good distraction from her dark thoughts and she was tired at night that she didn't have time for nightmares.
This busy but comfortable routine was broken quite suddenly when Jade going back to her dorm one night, found Parvati and Lavender whispering to each other with very worried looks, in the corridor. Puzzled, Jade walked over to the two girls. It was Parvati who saw her first.
"Oh, Jade!" said the indian girl. "I really don't know who did this…"
Jade followed her roommate's gaze towards their room's door. She walked to the door frowning and entered the room. She froze in shock upon seeing the inside of the room. Her bed had been attacked savagely. The sheets had been pulled out and thrown on the floor, on the mattress lay the contents of her bedside table's drawer which had been abandoned on the floor. Her trunk had not been forgotten. Its contents had been thrown everywhere.
The raven haired girl walked over to her bed open mouthed. With apologetic glances, Lavender and Parvati helped her put the sheets back on her bed. She then proceeded to put everything back in their rightful place. Hermione had joined them and was examining Jade's robes.
"Someone has been looking for something." she said pointing to the turned out pockets. "Is anything missing?"
The raven haired girl didn't reply immediately, scanning her possessions. It was as she absent-mindedly threw Lockhart's book in her trunk that she noticed.
"Riddle's diary is gone." she said.
Hermione paled.
"But…but who would've…?"
Jade shrugged.
"It had to be a Gryffindor, nobody else knows the password." said Jade. "Also, it should have been a girl since boys can't come in the girls' dorm."
Once all her things were back in her trunk and drawer, Jade led Hermione downstairs so they could inform the boys of what had happened.
The next morning, Jade woke up to find a dazzling sunshine. She went to breakfast with her three friends and was immediately grabbed by Wood.
"Brilliant day for Quidditch!" exclaimed Wood enthusiastically as he continued loading the team's plates with scrambled eggs. "Come on Jade, you need a decent breakfast."
The raven haired girl had been examining the crowd of Gryffindors thinking about the new owner of Riddle's diary. As she left the Great Hall towards her room to collect her broom, she suddenly stopped.
"Kill this time…Let me rip….Tear…"
Jade shouted to her friends to wait for her.
"The voice, I heard it, didn't you?" she asked bewildered.
The others looked at her blankly. Suddenly, Hermione slapped her forehead causing the others to turn to her with worried frowns.
"I think I just understood something, I'm going to the library." announced the bushy haired girl before running off.
The other three stood in shock.
"What does she understand?" asked Christopher.
"Probably more than we do." answered Jade distractedly.
"But why does she have to go to the library?" insisted Christopher.
"Because that's what Hermione does." said Ron patiently. "When in doubt go to the library."
The raven haired girl shook herself, remembering that the match would be starting soon and sprinted to her room. She grabbed her Nimbus 2000 and ran to the pitch where she met up with the rest of the team. She was mounting her broom when Professor McGonagall came running carrying a megaphone.
"This match has been cancelled." she announced.
Wood looked devastated and boos erupted from around the stands.
"All students are to go back to their Common Rooms." added Professor McGonagall.
Wood tried to protest but the older witch ignored him. She marched towards Jade, her lips pressed tight together.
"Potter, I think you should come with me." she said.
Jade felt her heart sink. She followed the teacher back to the castle. When Christopher and Ron ran towards them with worried frowns, the teacher didn't object.
"Yes, you two had better come as well." she said simply.
So the three students followed Professor McGonagall through the corridors. Christopher came to Jade's side and grabbed her hand. The raven haired girl offered a small smile to her twin and gave his hand a squeeze.
"This may be a bit of a shock." said Professor McGonagall gently as they approached the Hospital Wing. "There has been another attack…Another double attack."
The first Jade saw was Madam Pomfrey bending over a fifth year Ravenclaw girl. Then she saw a smaller girl on the next bed.
"Hermione!" she gasped.
The three students ran over to their friend's side. The bushy haired girl was frozen, her eyes open and glassy.
"They were found near the library." explained Professor McGonagall. "I don't suppose any of you can explain this…" she showed them a round circular mirror. "…we found it near them…"
Jade looked at the object with a blank look. When she realised it was a mirror she jerked back abandoning all pretence. The boys and the teacher looked at her in surprise.
"So-sorry, I have, er, a bit of a problem with mirrors." she explained hurriedly.
The raven haired girl forced herself to regain her composure as they were dismissed by the Transfiguration teacher. None of them said a word on the way back to Gryffindor Tower.
Soon after they had entered the Common Room, Professor McGonagall came in as well.
"Attention please!" she called. "In light of recent events, rules have been set. All students will return to their house's common room by 6 o'clock. No student is to leave the common room after that time. You will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No student is to use the bathroom unaccompanied by a teacher. All further Quidditch practices and matches will be postponed. There will be no more evening activities."
A heavy silence followed the announcement.
"I need hardly add that I have rarely been so distressed. It is likely that the school will be closed unless the culprit behind these attacks is caught. I would urge anyone who thinks they might know anything about them to come forward."
She left the common room somewhat awkwardly. The students stayed assembled.
"That's two Gryffindors down, not counting a Gryffindor ghost, a Hufflepuff and a Ravenclaw." said Lee Jordan. "Haven't any of the teachers noticed that the Slytherins are all safe? Isn't it obvious all this stuff's coming from Slytherin? The heir of Slytherin, the monster of Slytherin…Why don't they just chuck all the Slytherins out?" he roared.
Jade was rather surprised that Percy Weasley did not say anything even though he was sitting just behind Lee Jordan.
"Percy's shaken." said George in her ear. "The girl who was attacked, Penelope Clearwater, she was a Prefect. I bet he thought Prefects wouldn't be attacked…"
Somehow, Jade doubted that it was because the girl was a Prefect. Percy was bright so he must've known that even Prefects could be attacked. There must be some reason why he was so upset about the incident though…The raven haired girl went to stand by Christopher and Ron.
"We need to go and talk to Hagrid." she said. "I don't believe he was the one who opened it this time but he must know where the Chamber is if he opened it fifty years ago."
"But McGonagall said we weren't supposed to leave the common room." whispered Ron.
"I think it's time to take out Dad's cloak." said Jade quietly turning to her brother.
Christoher nodded and they went towards the boys' dormitories. They grabbed the cloak in Christopher's trunk and covered themselves with it. It was difficult to pass in the common room without being found out as there were a lot of people assembled there. They managed it somehow and walked down the stairs. The journey wasn't pleasant. In all her wandering after hours, Jade had never seen the corridors this crowded. Prefects, teachers and even ghosts were wandering the corridors in pairs, looking out for anything out of the ordinary. They finally made it out of the castle and went to Hagrid's hut. They knocked and were greeted by the man holding a crossbow.
"It's us." said Christopher hurriedly, looking warily at the crossbow.
"Oh." said Hagrid lowering his crossbow. "What're you three doin' here?"
"What's that for?" asked Jade pointing at the weapon in the half-giant's hand.
"Nothin'…Nothin'." said Hagrid motioning them inside. "I've bin expectin'….doesn' matter…Sit down, I'll make tea…"
The three children sat at the small table. The man seemed very nervous. He nearly extinguished the fire by spilling the kettle's water on it and smashed the teapot on the table with his massive hand.
"Are you okay, Hagrid?" asked Jade. "Did you hear about Hermione?"
"Oh I heard all righ'." said Hagrid with sadness in his voice.
He had just handed them large bowls of boiling water (he had forgotten to add tea bags) when there was a loud knock on the door. Jade grabbed the boys' arms and threw the Invisibility Cloak over them. Checking that his young guests weren't visible anymore, Hagrid opened the front door.
"Good evening Hagrid." Dumbledore came in, looking deadly serious.
"Professor Dumbledore, Sir." said Hagrid lowering the crossbow he had been holding.
A short, portly man with grey hair and an anxious expression came in after the headmaster. His clothes were also rather strange. He had a pin-striped suit, a scarlet tie, a long black cloak and pointed purple boots.
"That's my Dad's boss!" whispered Ron. "Cornelius Fudge, the minister of magic!"
Jade remembered the name as she had heard it often at home. Her parents both worked for the Ministry, James was an auror and Lily worked in the Department of Mysteries. The both of them often complained about the way the ministry was run. Jade had indeed heard the name of Cornelius Fudge, however it had never been in a kind way.
The raven haired girl looked anxiously at Hagrid, who had started sweating profusely. The half-giant dropped into a chair upon seeing the minister.
"Bad business, Hagrid. Bad business." mumbled Fudge. "Had to come. Four attacks on Muggle-borns. Things've gone far enough. Ministry's got to act."
"I never…" said Hagrid imploringly, looking at Dumbledore. "You know I never Professor Dumbledore, Sir…"
"I want it understood, Cornelius, that Hagrid has my full confidence." said Dumbledore with a stern frown.
The minister of magic looked unsure and stared at his feet.
"Look, Albus," he said uncomfortably. "Hagrid's record's against him. Ministry's got to do something, the school governors have been in touch…"
"Yet again, Cornelius, I tell you that taking Hagrid away will not help in the slightest." said Dumbledore.
A fire had been lit in his blue eyes.
"Look at it from my point of view." said Fudge imploringly. "I'm under a lot of pressure. Got to be seen doing something. If it turns out it wasn't Hagrid, he'll be back and no more said. But I've got to take him. Got to. Wouldn't be doing my duty…."
'Duty my ass!' thought Jade glaring angrily at the minister of magic. The guy only wanted to keep a good public image by doing something, even though he knew it wouldn't change anything! That bastard!
"Take me?" said Hagrid with a quiver in his voice. "Take me where?"
The fear and dread in the man's voice made Jade even angrier at the minister.
"For a short stretch only." said Fudge. "Not a punishment, Hagrid, more a precaution. If someone else is caught, you'll be let out with a full apology…."
"Not Azkaban?" croaked Hagrid and Jade had to clench her teeth not to yell at that poor excuse for a minister.
Before Fudge could gather enough courage to answer, another loud rap came from the door. Dumbledore answered the door and in strode none other than Lucius Malfoy. Just seeing the blond man was enough to make Jade go berserk. Both Christopher and Ron grabbed her arms in fear that she would attack the man.
"Dreadful things Dumbledore." said Malfoy. "The governors think it is time for you to step aside." he continued lazily, taking out a long roll of parchment. "This is an Order of Suspension, you'll find all twelve signatures on it. I'm afraid we feel you're losing your touch."
"Oh now see here, Lucius…" started Fudge.
The small man was cut off by wave of Dumbledore's hand.
"If the governors feel that I should step aside, then I will of course do so." said the headmaster. "However, you will find that I am not truly gone from Hogwarts as long as there are those who remain loyal to me. You should also know that help will always come to Hogwarts when she is in need of it."
Jade could have sworn that at that moment, Dumbledore's eyes had flicked towards the corner where the three Gryffindors stood.
"Admirable sentiments." commented Lucius drily before leaving the cabin.
Fudge fiddled with his cloak, darting glances at Hagrid, probably waiting for the man to go ahead of him. However the half-giant didn't move. Instead, he took a deep breath and looked from Dumbledore to the corner where Jade and the boys were.
"If anyone wanted to find out some stuff, all they'd have ter do would be ter follow the spiders." he said. "That'd lead all right! That's all I'm sayin'."
He then marched out of the cabin, soon followed by the stunned minister and the freshly dismissed headmaster. The three children stood unmoving in the same spot for a few minutes after the older wizards had left.
"No Dumbledore. They might as well close the school!" said Ron at last. "With him gone we'll all be as good as dead."
Jade pulled the Invisibility Cloak, revealing the two boys by her side.
"Well, would you really expect anything good from Lucius Malfoy?" she asked. "I don't think he cares that all the Muggleborns might die. He might even be happy about the whole thing."
"What do we do?" asked Ron anxiously.
"We follow the spiders." answered the raven haired girl matter-of-factly.
"You-you mean, we're really going to do it?" asked Ron in shocked horror.
"Do you have a better idea? Because I don't. Not to mention it was supposedly Hagrid who opened the Chamber fifty years ago, meaning he's probably the one person who'll know where to find clues." said Jade frowning at the red haired boy.
The raven haired girl turned away and made her way to the door. She cautiously opened the door and peered outside.
"Looks like they left, we should go as well." she said.
Ron still ashen faced joined her by the door. Christopher however stayed behind looking thoughtful.
"What is it Chris?" asked Jade looking questioningly at her twin.
The boy looked at her in surprise, blushing faintly.
"Oh, er…I was just wondering, do you think anyone's going to be feeding Fang while Hagrid's away?" he asked.
The raven haired girl raised an eyebrow and turned to look at the large dog sitting by the fire. Fang met her gaze and barked once in her direction. Jade sighed. She would bet anything that they would have to take care of the dog….