A/N This chapter is dedicated to Kaylee.
The double attack on Justin and Nick had started a stampede to book seats on the Hogwarts Express so students could go home for Christmas. We were all wondering what could do that to a ghost; harm someone who was already dead?
In Slytherin only Crabbe, Goyle, Draco and I were staying for Christmas. Draco tried to be nicer to me, I do realise it was so he wouldn't need to hang around with the goons but I felt better having my twin back.
Fred and George found the whole Harry being the heir of Slytherin very ludicrous, they marched ahead of him in corridors shouting 'Make way for the heir of Slytherin, seriously evil wizard coming through...'
Ginny found it very unamusing, she wailed whenever they joked about it near her. I wanted to comfort my friend but I stayed near Draco, I knew about Harry's potion interrogation and, as promised, I had not tried to stop them. I just wanted to make sure Draco was clever enough to stand up to them.
As the end of term came I gave Seamus, Dean and Neville huge hugs before they boarded the train. I also did not betray my fellow snakes and wished Blaise, Theo, Daphne and Tracey a happy Christmas. I waved at all seven of them as they left on the carriages to the station. Those black skeletal horse still freaked me out...
Draco and I woke up early, this was the first Christmas we had spent without our parents. Now I'm going to boringly explain my presents this year.
I got Draco a framed photo of a dragon and a new toy for Carau, he got me a book on Transfiguration and a bed for Aries.
I got Vince and Greg a gift box from Zonko's each, they got me jewellery.
Blaise and Theo received a broom servicing kit each, I got a Slytherin snapback from Theo and boot polish from Blaise.
Daphne and Tracey got me a make-up set, trying to get me to be girly, then again I got them Quidditch jumpers with their last names on the back.
Pansy got me, yep, you guessed it, a dress, but it was gold and I love Gryffindor colours. I returned the favour with a silver set of bracelets, earrings, a necklace and numerous rings.
Millicent got me a book on advanced Charms, she got a pair of muggle sneakers... not that she knows they're muggle sneakers.
The entire of Gryffindor Quidditch team (except Fred and George who got me Filibuster Fireworks) bought me a set of Appleby stationary and a notebook! I got them all (including Fred and George) warm, but flexible, dragon hide gloves for bad weather practices.
Seamus got a summer pass to his favourite Quidditch league and Dean got a summer pass for his favourite Football league. They were both overcome with joy and agreed one day during the summer all three of us would host the other two, Neville might come too. Seamus got me an attachment for my broom, you can attach almost anything to the back of it now. Dean said when we go to his I can't wear a Quidditch jumper - so he bought me a football jumper with 'MALFOY' on the back.
Neville got me a golden bracelet saying 'Potions Mistress' which made me laugh as I got him a dragon hide notebook called 'The Herbologist's Handbook.'
I got Ron and Harry 50 galleon vouchers for Quality Quidditch Supplies, an attempt at peace, Harry gave me a fake flower crown - I said that they looked pretty when Hermione showed me one of her muggle magazines. Ron selected some easier recipes from his mother's cook book for me to try.
Hagrid got me a book full of pictures he had taken. Harry had told him about my love of beasts. There was even one of Fluffy! I'd got him a new tea set, Fang smashed his last teacup last week.
Ginny got me a wall sticker of a cat's paw print, you place it on the wall and in several different places and a black mark stains the wall, like a giant cat walked over your walls. I got her a charm bracelet with a 'G' on it, a cat paw print, a love heart, a flower, a broomstick, a snitch and a tiny little diamond.
Hermione got me a copy of Quidditch Through the Ages, I got her a copy of Most Potent Potions.
The Weasleys (excluding Fred, George, Ron and Ginny), well it was probably just Mrs Weasley to be fair, had knitted me a golden jumper with a 'N' on the front, she also made me a plum cake. To be presented with a Weasley Jumper at Christmas means you are in Mrs Weasley's good books, it gave me hope that the entirety of the red-headed family did not hate me.
Mother and Father got me a set of emerald green duvet and pillow cover for use at Hogwarts as well as a very soft silver blanket. I'd got them both new coats to put over their clothes when using the Floo system.
A card from Gringotts signified 100 galleons going into my account from Auntie Bellatrix's as usual.
I'd got Aunt Andy, Uncle Ted and Cousin Nymphadora all picture frames that change colour to what compliments the photo the most. They got me all the colours I knew of in nail varnish.
Uncle Alphard got me perfume, I'd got him a new flat cap, he loved them.
Grandmother and Grandfather didn't know what to get us, in other words Draco and I were both 50 galleons richer. I bought them both books about some dull thing they probably like.
Sev got me a ,set of bobbles that were silver and green, I forgot in every single class to bring a bobble. It had become a running joke, he had took to standing at the door waiting for me to take it every class or he would leave one on my desk. I got him a hat, scarf and gloves in black, not wanting to clash with his funeral style look.
Vince and Greg thanked me for the various Zonko products, I in return thanked them for the (horrible) jewellery. Draco thanked me for the Dragon picture, I thanked him for the Transfiguration book. Aries adored her new bed and was already sleeping on it, Carau was tearing apart his new toy, you know, as pets do.
I changed into my Weasley Jumper over a green top and put on my boots and jeans. Draco and I walked down to the Great Hall to be frank, it looked magnificent. A dozen frost-cover pine trees lined the Hall, thick streamers of holly and mistletoe hung around the room and enchanted snow fell from the endless starry, enchanted ceiling. Dumbledore sung some carols, Hagrid boomed loudly the more glasses of eggnog he downed and Percy did not noticed that two red-headed brothers of his had bewitched his badge to say 'Pinhead'.
Draco made loud remarks about Harry's Weasley Jumper, he did not comment on mine though. After we had finished our helping of Christmas pudding, (Draco had two, Vince and Greg had about three, I had one, Draco and I left them to finish a fourth portion and we went to the Library, I needed to give back my borrowed copy of Quidditch Through the Ages since Hermione had bought me my own copy. We made our way to the common room talking like we used to.
"So who d'you think is the best in your beloved Quidditch team at the moment Nash?" Draco asked.
"Well they're all pretty talented in all aspects, some have their weaknesses but the others work..."
He was staring at me with a dull expression "You sound like one of those motivational speakers!" He laughed. "There is something much funnier I want to show you."
He rustled through his robe pockets and found a crumpled piece of paper "Father sent it."
It was from the Daily Prophet:
'ENQUIRY AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC
Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, was today fined fifty Galleons for bewitching a Muggle car.
Mr Lucius Malfoy, a governor of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where the enchanted car crashed earlier this year, called today for Mr Weasley's resignation.
"Weasley has brought the Ministry into disrepute," Mr Malfoy told our reporter. "He is clearly unfit to draw up our laws and his ridiculous Muggle Protection Act should be scrapped immediately."
Mr Weasley was unavailable for comment, although his wife told reporters to clear off or she'd set the family ghoul on them.'
"I think I'm going to be sick." I said faintly. Poor Mr Weasley, my Father just wrecked most of his chance for whatever this Muggle Protection Act was, and made him pay for it.
"Oh, come on, where are Vince and Greg anyway, they can't still be in the Great Hall, what portion were they on, their 90th?" Draco laughed.
"Let's go and get them, this common room is to cold." I said getting up.
We strolled down the corridors until we came across Vince, Greg and... Percy?
"There you are!" I exclaimed.
"Have you two been pigging out in the Great Hall all this time?" Draco drawled. "I've been looking for you, I want to show you something really funny."
An automatic disgusted look crossed my face.
"Yes, Nash doesn't seem to like it." He said amused.
"What are you doing down here Percy?" I asked changing the subject.
"That is none of your business." He said coldly.
Draco sneered and the goons hurried after him. I waved at Percy and walked on after them.
Draco said "That Peter Weasley -"
"Percy." Vince and I said. I stared at Vince confused, when did he start to know stuff, and correct Draco?
"Whatever, I've noticed him sneaking around a lot lately. And I bet I know what he's up to. He thinks he's going to catch Slytherin's heir single-handed." Draco said.
I snorted, that was so Percy, Draco gave a short laugh. We paused at the bare, damp wall - what a lovely entrance we have to our common room.
"What's the new password again?" He asked.
I said "serp-"
"Oh yeah - serpens!" Draco said. The door slid open and we marched through.
I sat down on the sofa near the fire, Vince and Greg stared around the room.
"You two look like you've never been in here your entire life." I chortled.
Draco went to get the terrible newspaper clipping, I should really show it to Ron and the rest of the Weasleys.
Wait, Ron... these goons weren't Draco's goons, these were Ron and Harry, they had finished that polyjuice potion, but then, where was Hermione.
I snorted, they stared at me. I went over tot them and whispered "Hi Ronald, Harry."
I sat back down and laughed, they glared at me.
Draco came back and shoved the cutting at Vince's (Ron's) face.
Both their eyes widened in shock as they read.
"Well?" Draco said impatiently. "Don't you think it's funny? Or are you like Nash; you sympathise with the Gryffindorks?"
Greg (Harry) bleakly laughed.
"Arthur Weasley loves muggles so much he should snap his wand in half and go and join them. You'd never know the Weasleys were pure-bloods, the way they behave." Draco scorned Vince's (Ron's) face looked furious.
Draco snapped "What's up with you, Crabbe?"
He grunted "Stomach ache."
Draco snickered "Well go up to the Hospital Wing and give all those Mudbloods a kick from 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 soon if it doesn't stop soon. Father's always said Dumbledore's the worst thing that ever happened to this place. He loves Muggle-borns. A decent Headmaster would never've let slime like that Creevey in."
They weren't even asking him questions, well, to be fair I think Vince and Greg being curious would make him suspicious, but they were just sitting there like they were part of the furniture, and letting Draco talk.
Draco cruelly pretended to take some pictures "Potter, can I have your picture, Potter? Can I have you autograph? Can I lick your shoes, please, Potter?"
He dropped his hands and looked at Vince and Greg (Ron and Harry) "What's the matter with you two?"
Far too late Greg and Vince (Harry and Ron) forced themselves to laugh. Draco didn't mind, the goons were always slow on the up-take.
Draco said "Saint Potter, the Mudblood's friend. He's another one with no proper wizard feeling, or he wouldn't go around with that jumped-up Granger Mudblood, I'm so glad your not her friend anymore Nash. And people think he's Slytherin's heir!" I smirked at Vince and Greg (Ron and Harry) they were the worst at being undercover.
"I wish I knew who it is. I could help them." Draco said. I sighed. I just hoped it wasn't Harry (Greg), I gave the person in question a sad look.
The person in question then said "You must have some idea who's behind it all..."
Draco snapped "You know I haven't, Goyle, how many times do I have to tell you? And father won't tell me anything about the last time the Chamber was opened, either."
"Of course, it was fifty years ago, so it was before his time," I said.
"But he knows all about it, and he says that it was all kept quiet and it'll look suspicious if I know too much about it. But I know one thing: last time the Chamber of Secrets was opened, a Mudblood died. So I bet it's only a matter of time before one of them's killed this time... I hope it's Granger."
Vince's (Ron's) fists clenched. I shot Vince (Ron) a look.
Greg (Harry) said "D'you know if the person who opened the Chamber last time was caught?"
"Oh yeah... whoever it was was expelled. They're probably still in Azkaban." Draco said.
Greg (Harry) said puzzled "Azkaban."
"Azkaban - the wizard prison, Greg. Honestly if you were any slower, you'd be going backwards." I said in both disbelief and spite.
"Father says to keep my head down and let the heir get on with it, and you too." Draco nodded to me "He says the school needs ridding of all the Mudblood filth, but not to get mixed up in it. Of course, he's got a lot on his plate at the moment. You know the Ministry of Magic raided our Manor last week?"
"What?!" I said in shock.
"Yeah..." Draco squeezed my hand. "Luckily they didn't find much. Father's got some very valuable- Ow! What was that for?"
I had stamped on his foot. "Sorry, my foot must've slipped." I smiled sweetly at Draco and scowled at the goons.
Their hour was up. Harry stared at Ron. His hair was turning red, his nose was changing, a scar appeared on Harry's forehead. Draco didn't notice as he nursed his foot.
Ron grunted "Medicine for my stomach." They both sprinted out of the Slytherin common room.
"I need the toilet." I walked out of the common room calmly and then sprinted after them.
They were running to Myrtle's bathroom.
"Why did you stop him?!" Ron scowled as we ran.
"You'd got the information you wanted, I'm not letting you get dirt on my family. We are innocent!" I said. Ron snorted.
"On the bright side, you didn't stop us." Harry shrugged.
We crashed into the bathroom. I grinned at Myrtle, she ... grinned back...
They ran into cubicles. Wait, more importantly, Myrtle grinned...
"Myrtle... why are you grinning?..." I asked uneasily.
"Ooooooh, wait till you see. It's awful!" She said.
I walked over to Hermione's cubicle. "Er, Hermione. What's the matter?"
The lock slid back, she emerged, sobbing, with her robes pulled up over her head.
"What's up?" I asked uncertainly.
Her robes fell. Her face was covered in black fur, her eyes were yellow and long pointed ears poked through her hair.
She howled "It was a c-cat hair! M-Millicent Bulstrode m-must have a cat! And the P-Potion isn't supposed to be used for animal transformations!"
"Oh, Hermione," I hugged her.
Myrtle said happily "You'll be teased something dreadful."
The boys must've come out as Harry said "It's OK, Hermione. We'll take you up to the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey never asks too many questions..."
Eventually we persuaded her to leave the bathroom. Myrtle said as we left "Wait till everyone finds out you've got a tail!"
I said loudly "Goodbye Myrtle!"
