The Dueling Club
(Book: B2, 182-185 with the terror of the news Colin is in the Hospital Wing, Hermione has started the Polyjuice Potion)
"But if Dobby belongs to the Malfoys…" Ron began, but Siria shook her head.
"I know house elves can be ordered to lie, but…" Siria looked to Hermione, "I believe Dobby."
"But Dobby knew the Chamber would be opened." Ron argued.
"I know, but that doesn't mean it was Malfoy. His father might be why it opened, but Draco Malfoy is all talk. Remember when we had detention in the Forest?" Siria asked, as if Hermione could have forgotten going into the Forbidden Forest, at night, as a first year. "Well, we heard something snap and he was so eager to get away from it he knocked me down trying to run away." Siria reminded her.
"Then he screamed when we saw Quirrell feeding off the unicorn." She continued. "He's fine calling you names when he's guarded by the big, bad Crabbe and Goyle, or the Slytherin team, but he can't fight to save his life!"
"To be fair, you seemed rather used to it." Hermione looked down to the cauldron. Siria shot Hermione a short glare, which Hermione felt, even if she did not see.
"More importantly" Siria transitioned "even if it is Malfoy, we need more proof. Mr. Malfoy's got money, connections, and is apparently part of the school board."
"We've got the potion," Ron pointed to it.
"But we need to make the most of our time before then. We'll only have an hour, right?" Siria asked. Hermione nodded. It made Siria uneasy. Her stomach was a mess of knots, felt empty, but hurt like she could collapse at any moment. She winced and wondered if the time limit was really causing it.
"Ron, one of us should follow some Slytherins to their tower." Siria suggested.
"They may not even have a tower," Hermione noted. "The castle is huge! For all we know, they could be in the dungeons."
"All the more reason to follow one!" Ron agreed with Siria. "Hermione, if you'd help me with my homework that night—"
"Honestly, Ron" Hermione tsked. "Obviously."
After the attack on Colin, Professor McGonagall had suspended their Sunday use of her classroom. It was more of a blessing than an inconvenience though. Ron's wand had gotten much worse; it made terrible hissing sounds and spat sparks whenever he tried a spell. Hermione and Siria agreed it was more time to prove Malfoy was the Heir of Slytherin. Neville, however, was rather depressed about it. He had yet to produce a Shield Charm, but had finally managed to turn a beetle into a button last Sunday. Hermione had moved on to turning birds into goblets, and Siria was already practicing turning rabbits into slippers.
Despite there not being a match until after the break, Siria had Quidditch practice. After they crushed Slytherin in the first match, Wood's passion of winning had raised beyond expectation. Though they were excited about their win and wanted to continue, the rest of the team found the absence of Colin's cheers to be rather depressing. It was especially hard on Siria. At least twice, she would break away from drills and hover over the spot he normally sat to cheer.
Even with the chilling temperature and wind of the day, she knew he would have been there. His absence distracted her in practice, but fueled her desire to find out who was behind the Chamber of Secrets. Her heart sank when she locked eyes with Wood and he said nothing. When Colin had been well and she flew by to greet him or else tell him to go inside before he caught a cold, even though he'd never listen, Wood would always blow his whistle to call her back to the field. For Wood to know she wasn't practicing her best every second and let her, had to mean that even he missed Colin.
(Book: B2, 185 the amulet trade, Neville buying loads because he says he's practically a Squib, & signing to stay for the holidays)
When Wednesday's mail rolled in, Siria was surprised to find that Sirius had not sent a Howler. Hermione, however, was far more excited that Sirius had sent the potion ingredients. She slid them into her bag while Siria opened the letter.
Dear Siria,
I'm so very sorry you have to stay over Christmas. Remus and I have been looking at applicants, so I can be off next year. And yes, people have applied to work with us at our very boring Muggle job. If all goes well, I may be able to get Easter this year. Chloe is adamant that any new hire is completely trained before Remus or I do so much as step out of the office— can you believe her?
Thank you for the photo of you and Hermione. I've added it to the wall. Colin did a great job. Be sure to thank him.
"I will" thought Siria, "by closing the Chamber of Secrets."
Now, I just wanted to warn you that I may have gone a little overboard this year. Chloe and Remus also added some things, so don't think I went too far overboard. It's a healthy level of outdoing myself.
"I'll be surprised if I don't wake up buried alive," she sighed, but smiled.
Don't get too into any of the books until you finish Helping Hands. On the subject, once you finish the potion or balm you're making, I want you to send a sample to me. If it's done right, that'll be one less thing you have to show me you've learned.
As I haven't gotten any letters or photos of you holding someone's hand, I'll say you've stayed out of trouble. Good! If you're doing to do something you shouldn't, at least don't get caught. Molly would probably rather I say don't do anything reckless, she was still fuming about the brawl, but you have to what you believe is right. Just don't go after anymore teachers— not even Snape.
Love,
Sirius
Siria folded the letter up and put it in her bag. She would have to figure out when she could even make something from Helping Hands. Maybe she'd be able to talk Wood into stopping practice until after break. None of the other teams were still practicing, though what the other teams were or were not doing never seemed to affect Wood.
(Book: B2, 188-193 Hermione puts the ingredients in & tells them it'll be ready in two weeks. One week later, the Dueling Club begins. Snape pairs Siria Malfoy. When Lockhart counts down, Malfoy casts on two, and hits Siria rather hard)
"Mimble Wimble!" Siria shouted. Malfoy seemed to choke as his tongue glued itself to the roof of his mouth. He fought to cast something back, but it only made him choke harder. Siria lighted her head in silent triumph. She'd have to brag to Sirius how well that worked.
(Book: B2, 192-193 Snape ends the spells because quite a bit of damage has occur. Lockhart says he should teach them how to block, and Snape volunteers Siria and Draco to demonstrate disarming and a shield, but Lockhart fumbles a complicated wand gesture he should be teaching Siria, by dropping his wand)
"Scared?" muttered Malfoy, so that Lockhart couldn't hear him (B2, 193). Siria scoffed.
Forget about Lockhart's block. She would show them what a real Shield Charm looked like. They took their positions, Lockhart counted down. Siria drew her Shield Charm and Malfoy shouted "Serpensortia!"
(Book: B2, 194 It summons a large, black snake, which startles the crowd. Snape offers to handle it, but Lockhart steps in & makes it worse by zapping the snake, which heads for Justin Flinch-Fletchley)
"Don't you dare!" Siria snapped at the snake as the Dursleys so often did her. The snake dropped, docile to the floor. Although she didn't know how, Siria knew that it wouldn't attack Justin now, but wanted to teach Malfoy a lesson. "Come here!" She pointed to the spot before her. The snake's eyes fixed themselves on her. It seemed to be entranced by her voice. "Come on." Siria knelt down and placed her hand on the ground. "I won't hurt you."
The long black snake slid over to her. "There we go," she told it. It rode up her palm and coiled lazily around her arm. Siria smiled at the snake then looked to Malfoy. A look of complete and utter horror on his face. "What?" She smirked, "I'm in Gryffindor. What kind of lion is afraid of snake?" But it wasn't just Malfoy. Everyone else in the Great Hall was staring at her with similar wide eyes and similarly dropped jaws. Even Snape had lost his usual stone cold expression.
(Book: B2, 194-5 everyone is rather freaked out, Ron & Hermione get Siria out of the Great Hall & back to their common room. Ron has the "you can talk to snakes")
"I know. I used to send off snakes from poor Mrs. Figg's yard." Siria told him. "Then, at the zoo, I accidently set a boa constrictor free so he could see Brazil." Ron and Hermione looked at Siria in disbelief. For the second time since Siria had known her, Hermione seemed without words. Siria shifted, a little uncomfortably in her chair.
"Well, I know Dumbledore said it was rare, but he and Sirius certainly didn't seem as shocked as everyone else."
(Book: B2, 196-197 Salazar Slytherin is known for being a Parselmouth, & Siria remembers the Sorting Hat tried to put her in Slytherin)
Snow. Heaps and loads of snow, as if a blizzard hit over night, greeted Hermione and Siria the next morning. Herbology had been cancelled. Professor Sprout needed to tend to the mandrakes, and would trust no one else (B2, 197). Ron and Hermione sat in the common room playing wizard chest. Siria sat over a letter to Sirius that only had "Dear Sirius" written. She was starting to think she'd go stir crazy in the overly packed room.
The black snake from yesterday had turned a little grey and almost ghostly. It held itself around Siria's arm. She rubbed the snake's forehead and wondered if there was something she could do to help it. Snakes didn't usually look like this, or change color so quickly. It didn't appear to be shedding its coa either. She had convinced it to eat some table scraps she'd snuck into her bag. Siria sighed. What was she supposed to do? Ask Snape how to take care of the snake he had tried to get Malfoy to sic on her?
"Siria," Hermione prompted without looking away from the chessboard, "Would you mind picking up Morphing and Metamorphosing for me? I don't know if we'll finish before Transfiguration. Besides, you may be able to find something about your snake."
"I can't believe you're keeping it." Ron muttered.
"Sure!" Siria agreed and ignored him. She stuffed the letter into her bag. "See you in class!" She told them.
Perhaps a little too eager, Siria pushed through the crowded common room and climbed out of the portrait hole. The temperature suffered an immediate drop, and she considered going back to get a sweater. Siria, however, decided to continue forward, rather than pushing back through.
(Book: B2, 198-199 Siria overhears some Hufflepuffs say that they think Siria is the Heir of Slytherin and that she's got it out for Justin. Ernie tells the group the Voldemort probably came after Siria because he knew she was going to be a dark witch & didn't want competition)
Siria looked to her ailed snake; had it been doing better, she may have convinced it to spook them. Instead, Siria stepped out from behind the bookshelf. She wore her best smile and the snake coiled around her arm. If she hadn't been furious about their petty gossip, she could have laughed (B2, 199).
(Book: B2,199 the terror of the Hufflepuffs, who look petrified)
"Hello Ernie, Hannah, Megan, Wayne," there was a certain satisfaction to watching them choke on the silence. "As Hufflepuffs are such hard working, helpful people, I was wondering if I couldn't trouble you for a hand." She held out the arm with her greying snake. Ernie scooted his chair back and knocked into Hannah.
"I— I've got nine generations of witches of warlocks, so—" Ernie began (B2, 200)
"So what? If I'm really Slytherin's Heir, do you think I'd let people gossip about me in darkened corners of the library?" She snapped. There was something about how Ernie thought he was safe just because he could trace his heritage back a few generations that made her really angry.
If Squibs happened and, like in Sirius's family, got blasted off their tree, then for all they knew, Muggle Borns were just a line of Squibs that finally got the magic back. Ernie felt above reproach, just like Draco. Siria didn't mean to let her smile slip into a glare, but it did. She was furious. Even if she had to break every rule in Hogwarts, drink essence of Crabbe or Goyle, and sneak into the Slytherin tower by herself, Siria was going to catch the real Heir.
(Book: B2, 201-204 with Hagrid, Siria finding Justin and Nearly Headless Nick, Peeves finding Siria & him announcing that there's been another attack and Siria did it. Professor McGonagall taking Siria to Professor Dumbledore)