A/N: Yo People, I am back. And comes with me the thing that you wait the most for, or I at least hope that you do. With that, After receiving blows after blows of mistakes, which hurt my pride quite a bit I have decided that it's finally time. Time for a Beta. Sigh! What can I do now, I don't know anything about a beta, so I thought of asking my loyal readers. So here I am, on my knees, begging for a beta. Is there anyone who would listen to this poor guy and, hopefully, become a beta?
Without further ado, the next chapter. By the way, you people read my Author notes don't you?
Chapter 11
A long silence followed Dumbledore's announcement, slowly, the whispers broke out and soon the Great Hall resembled a noisy den of chickens.
"SILENCE," Dumbledore screamed and instantly the whole hall quieted down.
"The one who was attacked was Penelope Clearwater, a fifth year prefect. Fortunately she was only petrified and we can hope that she will make a full recovery in a few months when the mandrake plants are ready. Am I right Professor Sprout?" at the end Dumbledore looked towards the Herbology professor who only nodded.
"Well then I would ask that all of you attend to extreme caution and not travel alone especially at night. Henceforth the curfew has been set at 7 p.m. Teachers will personally escort you all for dinner and back to your dorms. It is advised that even during the day you must travel together so as not to give the heir an easy target. In the mean time I and my teachers are devoting their full efforts to the finding of the heir and we are sure that we'll catch him soon. That is all," and with that Dumbledore sat down grimly.
"But how?" Harry asked quite shocked. They had monitored the halls of Hogwarts till late at night and couldn't find anything out of ordinary.
"The last one who met with Penelope was Percy," Luna said thoughtfully.
"Could it be?" Harry asked slowly.
"Impossible," Ginny immediately shot down the idea, "Look at him," she pointed towards Percy who had gone rigid with shock, "Percy is an asshole but he was never a good actor and this certainly isn't acting."
"Not to mention it should be some champion of pureblood supremacy and Percy doesn't look like that type," Luna theorized.
"But then how?" Harry asked.
"I don't know Harry. I don't know," Luna replied.
…..
Harry, Ginny and Luna didn't have much time to ponder over how the heir managed to escape their watch as their second match of the Quidditch season was coming up against the Ravenclaws and Wood didn't look like that he would let the Cup go even if the heir himself came on the pitch. Sometimes the practices even had to be broken by Professor McGonagall because they would be running near the curfew time. It would usually result in a lecture to Wood but it only seemed to increase his fanaticism for the cup. Honestly Harry and the girls didn't mind and they suspected that the rest of the team didn't mind much either. All of them were determined to take the Quidditch cup with them, not to mention that all the practice provided a welcome distraction from the gloomy atmosphere inside the Castle.
Soon the day of the match was upon them. Harry Ginny and Luna went to Great Hall on the usual time only to find the whole team there. As expected. Even after having brilliant successes in a row the team was still nervous as hell before the match. The only one who ate anything were Harry, Ginny and Luna.
Shortly afterwards Wood stood up and motioned for the team to follow him. In a few minutes they were in Gryffindor Locker room earlier than anyone. As expected.
Harry and the girls sat there listening, as the pitch slowly filled up. It looked like more than usual people had turned out to watch as the cheers were louder than usual.
Wood stuck his head out through the door to take a look at the situation. Noticing that it was almost time, he went back to his customary position to give the pre match pep talk.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," Wood breathed as he surveyed his team, "This year has been especially hard with these attacks. We all have noticed the gloom in the air inside the castle. The students here crave for a distraction. Something to divert their attention away from those maddening attack and we know how to do that. Don't we?" Wood stopped for a short time, "So what do you people say, LET'S GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO CHEER," Wood ended his sentence with the usual loud voice and mounted his broom before flying out. The whole team yelled before following him out to the deafening cheers.
"AND THERE YOU HAVE THE MOST BRILLIANT TEAM, AT LEAST OF PRESENT IN HOGWART LED BY CAPTAIN WOOD AND FOLLOWED BY SPINNET, BELL, JOHNSON, LOVEGOOD, WEASLEY, WEASLEY, WEASLEY AND POTTER."
As usual the one performing the commentary was Lee Jordan mediated by Professor McGonagall herself.
This time Ginny and Luna were part of the starting lineup. The one given rest were Katie and Alicia. Harry slowly rose up, confident that the girls would give them a huge margin but still keeping an eye out for the snitch which was already released.
"AND THAT'S THE WHISTLE, THE MATCH HAS BEEN STARTED. OH MY WHAT IS THIS FOR ONCE WEASLEY MISSED THE QUAFFLE AND IT'S IN THE HAND OF RAVENCLAW CHASER, MAVICK I THINK, HE IS FLYING FAST TOWARDS THE HOOP. WHAT! WHERE DID THE QUAFFLE GO? OH IT'S IN THE HANDS OF LOVEGOOD. SHE CAME OUT OF NOWHERE AND SNATCHED THE QUAFFLE BACK BEFORE MAVICK EVEN REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND NOW IT'S A LONG PASS TO WEASLEY AT THE OTHER END, AIMS AT THE HOOP, IT'S A FEINT, JOHNSON COMES FROM THE OTHER SIDES, CATCHES IT AND SCORE! GRYFFINDOR LEADS 10-0."
Lee continued the commentary in usual excitement, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff stands were drowned in cheers whereas only boos were coming from Slytherin, followed by dead silence in the Ravenclaw stands. It looked like they had already lost hope of their team winning the match.
Harry watched as the chasers scored relentlessly, and Ravenclaws tried to score in what little possession they had. Wood was a good keeper but still let a few shots in. Amidst all this, the twins were doing a remarkable job of keeping the bludgers away from the chasers. Gryffindors were leading 60-20 in the first hour of the game. But then it all changed.
Harry was busy looking for the snitch when he heard a zip like sound. Reflexively he jerked his broom to the side and that's what saved his life. A bludger at lightning speed whooshed passed the place Harry was at just a moment after. Harry blinked as he watched the bludger go.
"Who,a guess they really have lost all hope of disrupting the girls," Harry mumbled to himself.
One of the twins came up and hit the bludger, Harry had no idea which one it was but then again no one had, "Sorry Harry," the twin called out as he smashed the bludger.
Harry just nodded his head to show it was alright. He was about to turn and began searching for the snitch when noticed out of the corner of his eye, another bludger coming towards him. This time he couldn't jerk his broom back so he just tilted back. Harry watched transfixed as the bludger passed right in front of him mere millimeters away from his face.
"Whoa that was close," Harry mumbled.
"HARRY BEHIND YOU," A voice shrieked presumably from Ginny. Harry turned back only to find another Bludger coming at him.
"Oh shit," Harry cursed before jerking his broom at full speed downwards, the bludger once again whooshed passed him.
"What the hell? Where are those infernal twins?" Harry asked to no one in particular, only to find another bludger this one from the front coming at him.
"Seriously, I am already getting tired of this," Harry mumbled as he pushed his broom upwards. He watched as the bludger sailed past him only to stop a few meters away from the stands and come at him at full speed.
"Wait a minute, they are not supposed to do that." Harry said in shock. So engrossed in the upcoming bludger was Harry that he didn't notice what was happening behind his back.
"SMASH," was the sound Harry turned as he reflexively turned back only to find a twin in front of him.
"Sorry Harry, we don't know what happened but these bludgers seems to be targeting you," the twin explained.
Harry was about to answer, when he heard another smash, this one from the front. The other twin had arrived too.
"George my esteemed twin, as much as I would like to join you and Harry in your no doubt important discussion, we needs to pay attention to those bludger or otherwise he might be smashed to a jelly and I don't think our beloved sister would like that now would she?" the other twin said.
"As always you are right, my dearest twins," the one in the back now recognized as George spoke.
Harry looked down towards the chasers only to find the anxious pair of eyes on him.
"I AM ALRIGHT, CONCENTRATE ON THE MATCH," Harry yelled.
Ginny and Luna nodded, and once again, turned their attention towards the Quaffle, now in Ravenclaw possession, Taking advantage of their distraction they had scored three more goals, and now the score was 60-50.
"ABOUT TIME YOU TWO ARE BACK," Angelina screamed as she threw the Quaffle at them, which she had just stolen from the Ravenclaw chaser.
"Don't worry we'll give them hell now," Ginny mumbled quite serious and angry at the current situation, Luna also was in the same state.
"COME ON LUNA," Ginny screamed before she zipped past the fast coming chaser and passed it to Luna on the other end
As soon as the Ravenclaw chaser were about to close in on Luna, she dropped the Quaffle down which was picked by Ginny who passed her from below at just the exact moment. Truly, their teamwork was remarkable.
Now they were almost in front of the hoops.
"No feints this time," Ginny mumbled to herself as she threw the Quaffle with full force towards the hoops. The Ravenclaw keeper didn't even have any time to react as he watched the Quaffle sail past him in the middle hoop. And hence, Gryffindors once again continued to increase their lead.
Amongst this all, Harry continued to struggle with the Bludgers, but no matter what he did, the bludgers wouldn't leave him alone. Another half hour had gone by, and the Bludgers showed no sign to stop.
"Where is that freaking snitch," Harry mumbled as he once again dodged the bludger, only to find another one coming at him, this one smacked away by the twins. But even they were growing tired of constantly smashing the Bludger. The score had risen to 130-50
And it was then when Harry noticed the snitch hovering right in the middle of the pitch but the other seeker was already speeding towards it.
"Oh shit," Harry cursed before he pushed his broom to its maximum acceleration towards the snitch. Thankfully the broom of the other seeker was an older model and was not as fast as nimbus 2000. Even then the distance was so great that Harry for a moment doubted that he could reach it.
The distance between the seeker and snitch grew shorter and shorter as Harry approached. The other seeker extended his hand intent on catching the snitch.
Harry seeing this pushed his broom for one last burst of speed and just as the other seeker was about to catch the snitch Harry plucked it from right underneath his hand.
But as he closed his hand on the snitch, he noticed an odd expression on the opposing seeker face, Harry involuntary pulled his broom in a dive only to hear a smack from above. Harry looked upwards only to find to his horror that the bludger had hit the other seeker right on the face. He could only watch, as the seeker fell from his broom and crashed on the ground a hundred feet below, in a heap of tangled limbs.
But even now, the Bludger won't stop. Twins who had obviously relaxed since the match had ended could only watch as the other Bludger smashed with full force in the shoulder of Harry who was finally caught unaware.
"HARRY," these voices belonged to Ginny and Luna as they landed hastily on the ground to get their wands and before anyone knew it they were on Harry's side.
But they didn't have much time as they saw another Bludger coming at them at full speed. Seeing no other option they brought out their wands and were about to cast a spell when both of the Bludgers were simultaneously destroyed.
Looking around they found themselves right in front of the Commentary Stand and there Professor McGonagall stood with her wand pointed towards them. Her lips drawn in a thin line. They certainly didn't wish to cross her at this time.
But they had other matters to attend to, as Harry gave a hiss in pain. The girls turned towards him, only to find him barely holding onto his broom due to the pain in the shoulder.
"Come on Harry, let's get you to Madame Pomfrey," Ginny said tenderly.
Harry only nodded as Ginny and Luna both guided him down to the pitch slowly.
There, the whole team was waiting for them anxiously.
"Harry, are you alright?" Wood asked the whole team stood behind.
"Of course not does he look alright Wood," Ginny replied bitterly, "He took a Bludger to the shoulder, and how can he be alright?" she looked to be right in state.
"Come on Ginny, no need to snap," Harry said slowly only to hiss with pain.
"Harry?" Luna asked concern evident in her eyes.
"I am alright Luna, it's just a broken shoulder but I…."
Whatever Harry was going to say was cut short by the arrival of Lockhart.
"Yes Harry, for the vanquisher of Dark Lord broken shoulder mean nothing, am I right?" Lockhart gave his trademark smile, "Now why don't you allow me to heal that shoulder."
But before he could draw his wand, he found two other wands pointed right at him.
"Ladies, Ladies there is no need for hostility, I perfectly well know how to heal a broken shoulder," but he could only gulp at seeing the fiery look in the eyes of the two young girls.
"We don't want your half-baked knowledge. Now move," Luna hissed. All those that heard her could fill a chill run down their spine.
"But…" Lockhart was about to protest.
"I must agree with the young girl here Gilderoy," Professor McGonagall had finally arrived, "I mean, Harry should get that shoulder looked at by a proper healer. I trust you girls can take him to Madame Pomfrey?" at their nod she turned towards Wood, "Wood you go with them."
"Yes Professor," Wood nodded obediently before helping the two girls carry Harry back to the infirmary.
…
Harry groaned as he turned in his bed. He had no idea why he was still in the infirmary. After Wood, along with the girls, had arrived at the infirmary carrying him, Madame Pomfrey had immediately banished them from the infirmary before waving her wand at him and healing his shoulder in an instant. But even then she hadn't allowed him to leave. Claiming that she needed to watch over him for the night. He certainly hadn't liked the strict attitude of the healer. What healer in their right mind would be so stern to their patient? That was the thought that had crossed Harry's mind. The infirmary was fast becoming the most dreaded place in Hogwarts for him.
"Harry Potter Sir!" a voice squeaked from the side of the bed making Harry jump. Harry turned towards to the side only to find Dobby standing there shivering.
And then everything was clear to him in an instant. Dobby's warning and how the Bludgers chased him around like a pair of mad bulls.
"So it was you, Dobby," Harry stated calmly. But he was far from calm inside. This deranged elf was causing him way too much headache. He seriously was considering strangling him right now.
Dobby shook his big ears, "Dobby is not Sorry, Dobby would have come in first match but Dobby was so busy watching young master getting beaten that he was almost…" suddenly Dobby placed his hand on his mouth as his eyes went wide. Harry had a split second warning, before Dobby started banging his head on the nearby lamp.
"Bad Dobby, Dobby speaks ill of his master, Very bad Dobby," Harry lunged at the diminutive creature trying to pry the lamp from his hands, "Dobby it's alright, you didn't say anything bad," at the same time his mind was racing. Dobby had given a large clue to who his master was.
Dobby finally let go of the lamp and Harry breathed a sigh of relief.
"Harry Potter Sir, He is so great. He even consoles poor Dobby," Dobby said while wiping away big white tears.
Seeing that Dobby had finally calmed down Harry decided to press forward, "Malfoys, they are your master right,"
This time Harry was ready for Dobby as he once again lunged for the side table, "No Dobby, I already knew, you didn't tell me," Harry tried to calm the elf who was trying to break away from his grip.
"Really Harry Potter Sir," Dobby looked at him with big watery eyes.
Harry sighed, "Yes."
"Harry Potter Sir is so great, he saves Dobby from great trouble," Dobby looked at him in admiration, "But still Harry Potter Sir must leave Hogwarts t it still is too dangerous for him." Dobby said as he looked around.
"Dobby senses the great evil Serpent, The king of Snakes," Suddenly Dobby's eyes went wide, "Dobby must go now, Dobby's master be calling him." And with that the elf was gone before Harry had a chance to say anything.
"Still it was productive," Harry mumbled to himself before he lied down, "King of Snakes huh?" Harry whispered, "I wonder what that is."
"Basilisk Harry," A voice oddly matching to Luna said from thin air.
"You two," Harry sighed as he sat back up, "How long have you been here?"
At that moment the air in front of his bed simmered as someone had pulled back a transparent cover and two young girls appeared in front of him.
"We were watching the map for any odd activities when we noticed the dot of Dobby near you, so we stole your cloak from your dorm and came here as soon as we can," Ginny explained.
"Still though Basilisk, what is that?" Harry asked turning towards Luna.
"A Basilisk is a magical snake Harry," Luna started explaining, "It is said to kill its prey with just a glance. His glance is so strong that even if you look at it through a reflective surface it would still petrify you."
"A snake huh?" Harry murmured, "Just the perfect animal for the Slytherin beast."
"That does explain those petrification," Ginny said thoughtfully.
"But that still leaves us with one question," Luna said seriously as she looked at her friends, "Where does he hide something like a Basilisk?"
….
As the investigation of Harry and the Girls continued, so did the time fly. Even after knowing of the Malfoy's involvement with the Chamber incident, they still didn't know how they were involved. Not to mention they still didn't know who was the heir or acting on heir's behalf.
Soon the Valentine's Day was upon them and with it came Lockhart's ridiculous attempt at cheering up the gloomy atmosphere in Hogwarts, with his cupid messenger delivering Valentine's messages to their loved ones. How could anyone stand those little things? He didn't know.
But soon Harry's irritation turned to full blown horror as he watched a cupid make its way towards him. He wanted to run but found that his feet frozen to the ground. He looked towards his friends in panic hoping for their aid but immediately knew none was coming. Resigned to his fate he could only listen, chagrined, as the cupid delivered its message.
After being thoroughly humiliated, he finally looked up, "So which one of you it was, or rather were it both of you?" Harry asked exasperatedly.
"Not really," Ginny answered barely suppressing her mirth, "It wasn't us honest."
"Those twins," Harry swore. For no one else could it be, "But first Lockhart's going to pay for what he did to me," he looked towards his friends, "Are you two in?"
Ginny gave a feral smile, "Always in for a good prank."
….
The next morning held an interesting dilemma for a certain professor. As it happened Professor Lockhart tripped over apparently nothing as soon as he entered only to find himself turned into an ostrich. In a few seconds he was back to normal and it looked like nothing will happen, till right when the Hall was bustling with activity he suddenly jumped from his seat only to lay an egg right in front of the whole school. Needless to say the whole school was dead silent till Lockhart walked up to Snape only to declare his undying love to him. As it happens the whole school was rolling on the ground in laughter. The hall had barely quieted down when Lockhart had said in a stage whisper that he really liked it when Snape bounced him on his wand. It had sent the whole school in a fresh peel of laughter. A very smug faced raven haired boy sat at the Gryffindor Table looking at the proceeding with extreme satisfaction.
….
Harry and the girls were sitting at the Gryffindor table eating their well deserved dinner after a full day of exhausting classes, which was spent mostly on the spell they already knew and hence resulted in them once again at the top of the class, not to mention a double potions class, in which Snape was extremely irate and kept sending them murderous glares. Granted he usually sent them murderous glare, but today Harry and the girls felt that the glares were much more in intensity and quantity.
"Snape sure was in a foul mood today," Ginny observed, mirth evident in her voice.
"I would think so," Luna stated, "Now the whole school knows he is homosexual."
"What?" Harry sputtered, "Snape's gay?"
"Well, what other reason could there be for him being single even now," Luna answered with a rather serious look.
"Oh my, Harry, could it be that Snape's secretly attracted to you and that's why he is so hostile towards you," Ginny said teasingly.
"Don't even joke about it," Harry said as he felt a powerful shiver run down his spine.
"I hear someone saying Joke," Harry and the girls heard a familiar voice before the twins plopped down on the bench opposite them.
"Harry, my boy," One of the twins said.
"Ginny. our beloved sister," other twin chorused.
"Luna The lo….. we mean the lofty, we your humble servants salute you," both finished together.
"And why would that be?" Harry asked feigning ignorance.
"Harry, you hurt us," the twins answered while placing a hand over each other chest, "We know a perpetrator when we see one."
"Now, I and my esteemed brother here," the twins looked towards each other, "Couldn't help but notice that the prank was extremely complex. Not complex for us of course, but still we were rather interested."
"In how you managed to pull it off," the other twin finished.
"Trade secret guys," Harry said with a grin throwing their very own phrase at them.
"Now Now Harry," one of the twins, Merlin knows which one, started, "Is that any way to speak to the guys who granted you that esteemed Map,"
"Hey, that was supposed to be our make-up gift," Ginny exclaimed.
"Oh our beloved sister, if you truly believe that,"
"Then you really are naïve,"
"In truth, we had learned all that we could from that map and were looking for a suitable heir to pass it onto,"
"Not to be mistaken with another heir that prowls these hallowed halls as of late,"
"Yes my esteemed brother, but let me finish."
"Of course my esteemed Twin continue."
"As I was saying, before my esteemed twin here so gallantly interrupted me,"
"You mean respectfully," Luna corrected absent mindedly, "Gallantly means courageous and I don't think courage is needed here."
"Now there's a girl, my esteemed twin who is paying attention," the twin which was explaining exclaimed.
"Of course my brother, we are such magnificent story tellers that people cannot help but be attentive."
"You two were saying something," Harry said exasperated. He could feel a headache coming on from the constant to and fro between the twins.
"As I was saying," the twins which was explaining before started once again, "we were looking for a suitable heir to pass this map onto, and then we discovered that you three are as much in love with exploration as we young adventurers are. Now we had recently made up with our beloved sister here, so we thought let's make her happy and henceforth is the whole story." Finally the twin finished.
"Well good luck to you two getting anything out of us now," Ginny huffed.
"Ah, but Harry here would understand, won't you Harry?" the twins turned towards him.
"Sorry guys but I rather like myself as I am now," Harry answered.
"Well look here Fred,"
"I know George,"
"The young these days won't even take a small risk for the greater good."
"I'll tell you whether it's a small risk or not," Ginny glared at them.
"Ah George, my beloved twin looks like we have overstayed our welcome here," Fred said hastily before jumping over the bench, "See you three trouble makers later," and with that the two were gone just like they came.
"I am going to hex those two," Ginny muttered under her breath.
Harry was about to give a snappy retort when he noticed Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore enter the Great Hall looking extremely grim.
"Looks like the heir struck once again," Luna observed calmly.
"And Percy is not present this time either," Harry said surveying the Gryffindor table.
"MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE?" Dumbledore's voice echoed through the whole Great Hall instantly silencing the gossiping students.
"It looks like I have been bringing you some bad news of late," Dumbledore noted sadly, "And it's with great regret, that I say that today's announcement isn't of a happy nature either," The whole student body listened to Dumbledore wondering what he was about say, "It is with great sorrow that I announce that the heir has taken the life of another student."
The silence following Dumbledore's announcement was so deafening that Harry and the girls could listen to their own hearts beating.
"I must ask you all to observe a minute of silence in honor of one Mr. Ronald Weasley." After announcement Dumbledore clapped his hand and instantly the house banners turned black.
"Well that is one death I won't fret over," Ginny quipped after a full minute had passed.
….
"I don't Know, Percy maybe a pompous ass, but he doesn't sound like someone who would kill," Harry said contemplating.
"Well I would kill Ron in a heartbeat if given the chance," Ginny added her two Knuts of wisdom.
"You would kill your own mother given the chance," Harry mumbled.
"Now why would I do that," Ginny grinned, "It would be horrible of me to get her out of that misery."
"Well Fate does have an eerie way of getting even," Luna answered in her usual dreamy way.
Professor Dumbledore, after announcing the death of Ron had contacted Molly Weasley. Hearing that her beloved son had died, she couldn't bear with grief and had suffered a mental breakdown. Arthur had to admit her to St. Mungo's hospital. And since then Ginny had been unusually happy.
"Getting back to topic," Luna said, "we have to remember that Malfoy's are involved too, they could very well be somehow controlling him to get their way."
"I remember," Ginny said, "Dad has been trying to pass a muggleborns protection law for some time now. If it was known one of his own children is attacking muggleborns than it would be a severe blow to Dad reputation."
"And Malfoy's and your dad doesn't seem to be on the best of their relationship," Harry said.
"I would say," Ginny murmured.
"But that still doesn't take us anywhere," Luna observed, "We still don't know how they are controlling him and when he would attack next. Even more important we don't know where he is hiding that basilisk or rather how is he even controlling a basilisk?"
"There still are a lot of question needed to be answered," Harry sighed, "All we can do is be prepared for when he attacks."
"Even then we have come out a lot of way. I mean at least we have a prime suspect now with a master mind and a motive," Ginny said.
"You are right Ginny but even now, I don't know I just have this feeling that we are missing something."
"Putting that aside we need to focus on confirming our suspicions regarding Percy, and if they are right, then how to reverse the holds of Malfoy's on him." Luna stated.
"We need to do this for Hagrid too," Harry stated.
"Those idiots," suddenly Ginny's mood turned foul, "the ministry thinks they can do whatever they want? Where's the justice in that. We all know Hagrid won't even hurt a fly, but still, they had the audacity to come and arrest him."
"I know Ginny, but it's against those kind of idiots that we are learning to fight right?" Luna said soothingly.
"On a completely related note," Luna continued, "It doesn't look like Dumbledore would be able to hold on to his position of Head master for long."
"I know," Harry nodded, "There have been the death of two students already with another petrified students, patience of the board of Governors must be running thin by now."
"So any of you want to bet when he would be removed?" Ginny said brightly.
…
In the following week, the news of Dumbledore's removal was announced and Professor McGonagall became the acting Headmistress, but it only brought with it a fresh wave of fear. There were already rumors of Hogwarts being closed down till the chamber have been found. Amidst all these rumors and fears, Harry and the girls diligently kept an eye on Percy. But to their frustration, they found no signs of him being under some kind of influence.
As February turned to March, the fear in the pit of stomach of Harry and the girls grew. It almost was like some grand finale was awaiting to end this show. But no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't find any other clue as to what was going to happen.
And so the days continued to pass, and soon it was the middle of March. Harry and the girls were just returning from their charms class, when they noticed a horde of students just ahead.
"What happened now?" Ginny asked quite worried.
But instead of answering her, Harry and Luna rushed forward to the crowd. They had to push a lot of students out of their way, but soon they reached the front. What they found, was a message written in blood. Human blood.
"His skeleton shall lie there forever"
It was a short message, but a message that struck fear in the heart of those who read it. A moment after, Ginny reached them too, only to suck in a breath, "Percy, where is he?"
Harry and the girls quickly came out of the crowd, and activated the map only to find, that Percy's dot was nowhere to be found.
"What do we do now? Percy has been taken down to chamber." Ginny asked in a rushed whisper.
"The Room of Requirement," Luna spoke calmly.
…..
"Okay what do we do now?" Harry asked to no one in particular.
They were right now, in room of requirement, in front of a strange sink after they had asked for the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.
"Salazar Slytherin was renowned for his parseltongue ability," Luna said, "Why don't you try speaking in parseltongue?"
"If you say so," Harry said before he spoke "open,"
Luna shook her head, "That was normal Harry, I said in Parseltongue."
"Well I don't know how to activate this parseltongue," Harry retorted.
"Well Parseltongue is the language of snakes right? Why don't you imagine speaking to a snake?" Ginny suggested.
"Might as well," Harry shrugged before he closed his eyes and imagined a snake, "Open,"
Just then Harry heard a sound of grinding stones. He opened his eyes to find the sink has revealed a long drop.
"So what now?" Harry asked as he looked down in the dark hole.
"We jump into it," Luna said as it was the most obvious thing in the world before moving to jump into it.
"Wait, Luna!" Harry tried to stop her, but it was too late, as Luna had already jumped in.
"Oh well," Harry said, "Ladies first."
Ginny just stuck out her tongue, before following Luna.
"I must be barmy for doing this," Harry mumbled to himself before, he too, jumped inside.
After several long twisted pipes and what not, finally he was thrown out into a dark tunnel, illuminated by two lights, coming from Ginny's and Luna's wand.
He too, pulled out his wand and illuminated it, and took a step forward only to find something crunching under his feet.
"Rats," Harry said as he looked at his feet.
"Come on let's move forward. We don't have much time." Luna stated before she started moving. Harry and Ginny right behind her.
After several minutes of walking they came across a double set door and what looked like snake shedding right beside it.
"Are we going to fight that thing?" Harry said incredulously as he illuminated what looked like fifty feet long snake shedding.
"You think we can leave Percy?" Ginny asked.
"We have come so far, might as well rescue him," Luna said as she too took in the large shedding.
"He is going to owe us one large favor after this," Harry muttered to himself.
"Well Harry, if you will do the honors," Luna said with a smile as she motioned towards the entwined snakes.
"Yes I will do the honor of arranging our funerals," Harry muttered once again, only to hear giggles from behind.
The snakes were so lifelike, that Harry didn't have to imagine a snake he just looked at the two snakes and commanded, "Open"
It was like the snakes had come to life, as their eyes glowed and they separated from each other. The doors opened with a grinding sound.
"Well Ladies," Harry turned towards the girls with a smirk, "Ready for the fight for your life?"
Ginny and Luna just gave him a feral smile each.
Harry turned towards the chamber, "Okay then, let's show this heir who he is messing with."
….
