The next day of classes were brutal for Harry. Jo and Harry had been used to people staring at them all the time, being the Potter twins and all, but this was different. Now the entire school believed Harry was out to get all the Muggle-borns, which was bizarre thinking in Jo's opinion. She knew he brother and he was not capable of any of the rumors that were flying around. Harry was doing his best to ignore everyone, but Jo could tell the whispers and pointing were starting to get to him.

It was the afternoon and the second years were sitting in their study hall period. The Gryffindor and Hufflepuffs sat at the same table. Harry sighed very loudly, getting Jo's attention. Her brother was hunched over his book, almost trying to cover his face from everyone else. Jo looked down at the end of the table at the Hufflepuffs who were all staring at Harry.

"Hey, we're not blind you know," Jo said to them. "We can see you."

The Hufflepuffs quickly looked away and bent their heads together and started whispering, or maybe it was an attempt at whispering because Jo and the others could hear everything they were saying.

"So I told Justin to hide out in our dormitory," Ernie Macmillion was saying to the other Hufflepuffs. "I mean to say, if Potter's marked him down as his next victim, it's best to keep a low profile for awhile."

"But why would he want to attack Justin?" asked Hannah Abbott.

"I guess he found out Justin is a Muggle-born somehow," said Erinie.

"And you definitely think Potter is the heir of Slytherin?" Hannah asked.

"Hannah," said Ernie in a condescending tone. "He's Parselmouth. Everyone knows that's the mark of a Dark wizard. Have you ever heard of a decent one who could talk to snakes? They called Slytherin himself Serpet Tongue."

"Harry always seemed so nice though," Hannah said back. "And after all, he and is sister are the ones who made You-Know-Who disappear."

Thank you, Hannah, Jo thought to herself. Why couldn't anyone else put that together as well.

"That's probably why You-Know-Who wanted to kill him in the first place," Ernie countered back. "He didn't want another Dark Lord competing with him."

Jo had enough. She turned to Ernie and Hannah and the other Hufflepuffs. "Well maybe if Harry is another Dark wizard, it's probably in your best interest to not 'whisper' these things right next to him! Maybe I forgot to mention we're not deaf either!"

Harry closed his books. "It's fine, Jo. Just leave it." He threw his book in his bag and stood up quickly leaving the classroom.

"Harry! Harry, wait!" Jo gave the Hufflepuffs a quick glare and ran out after her brother. She finally caught up to him by the staircases. "Harry, come on. Slow down!"

Harry stopped.

"Let them talk, Harry," said Jo, now standing beside him. "You and I both know it's not you. Ernie just likes to gossip."

Harry opened his mouth to respond, but instead said, "Hagrid."

Hagrid had just turned the corner and stopped right in front of the twins. "Hello Harry, JoJo," he greeted the twins.

"Hagrid, what are you doing with that?" Jo asked, pointing to the dead bird in Hagrid's hand.

He raised the bird up a little higher, "It's the second one that's been killed this term. Now I reckon it's a fox or something. I was just getting Dumbledore's permission to put a little charm around the hen coup."

"Hmm, interesting," said Jo.

Hagrid smiled at her and then looked over at Harry, his face turning serious. "You alright there, Harry? You look all hot and bothered."

"It's nothing," Harry said quickly. "I gotta go." He left, leaving Jo and Hagrid staring after him.

"Oh, dear," said Hagrid. "Something's not right."

"It's been a tough day for him," Jo said. "I better go after him. Bye Hagrid!" Jo hurried off after her brother for the second time.

"Harry!" she called after him. He was standing in the middle of the corridor. Jo could see him looking around widely. She caught up to him, almost out of breath. "Harry, what is it?"

"I hear it again, that voice."

Jo looked around widely. "Is it close?" She couldn't hear a thing.

Harry nodded, "It's moving this way. Let's go."

The twins walked down the corridor and turned the corner, coming to a halt. Jo gasped and covered her mouth with her hands, taking a step back.

Before the twins floated Nearly-Headless Nick, staring off with a blank expression on his face. And just behind him, as the twins moved forward to see what was on the floor, was Justin, from Hufflepuff. He was frozen stiff, just like Mrs. Norris had been.

"I can't believe this," Jo said, bending down next to Justin. She touched his hand and jumped back. "He's so cold."

"Caught in the act!"

Both the twins jumped and turned around quickly. Filch stood behind them with a look of pure pleasure. "I've got you now, Potter," he said, then hurried away.

"Mr. Filch, no, wait!" Harry said, "You don't understand."

Jo stood up quickly as she noticed spiders crawling away from Justin out the window in a straight line, just as they had the night Mrs. Norris was attacked. "Harry, look." The two watched as they disappeared.

Footsteps could be heard around the corner. Filch had returned with Professor McGonagall. She clutched at her heart as she took in the sight before her. She looked at the twins very seriously.

"Professor," Harry said quickly. "I swear I didn't."

"He's telling the truth!" Jo added.

"This is out of my hands," said Professor McGonagall. "Come with me, the both of you."

The Potters followed Professor McGonnagall in silence. She came to a halt at the end of a corridor with a statue of a very large gargoyle. It was there that Jo asked, "Where are we going?"

"To see Professor Dumbledore," answered Professor McGonagall, not looking back at Jo. "Lemon drop," she said, and the gargoyle began to rise up with a staircase forming below. "On you go," she said to the twins.

Jo and Harry stepped up on the stairs as they continued to rise. Before Jo knew it, the twins were standing outside a door. As Harry raised his hand to knock, it opened slightly. Harry looked over a at Jo who nodded and he pushed the door opened.

The twins entered Dumbledore's office and looked around in awe. It was a beautiful room, in Jo's opinion, with many books and random instruments and artifacts that she had never seen before. But what really caught her attention were the many portraits on the walls with past headmasters and headmistresses of Hogwarts. It appeared that all of the witches and wizards on the walls were sound asleep in their chairs. Jo found that facilitating.

"JoJo, look," Harry said, pointing above a bookshelf behind Dumbledore's desk. "It's the Sorting Hat."

The twins moved closer to it. Like the paintings on the wall, the Sorting Hat looked lifeless, just like an ordinary hat. Jo, however, knew that the Sorting Hat was anything but ordinary. She wondered how someone would make it come alive.

"Maybe you have to put it on in order for it to talk," Harry said, reading Jo's thoughts. He walked closer to it, about to reach out and pick it up when suddenly, the brim of the hat opened and began to speak.

"Ah, look who we have here."

"Um," Harry muttered, "I have a question for you- I was just wondering if you put me in the right house."

"Harry, how can you think that? Of course you belong in Gryffindor," Jo told her brother.

"Yes... You were particularly difficult to place, but I stand by what I said last year. You would of done well in Slytherin."

Jo took a step forward before Harry could say anything. "You're wrong," she said. "Harry's right where he belongs."

Harry moved away quickly from the Sorting Hat after that response to the other side of Dumbledore's desk. "Look at this."

Jo followed him. Standing on a golden stand was a bird. Or in this case, what looked like a bird dying. "He doesn't look well," Jo whispered, moving closer to the bird. It was sort of sad to look at.

The bird began making a gagging noise to which Jo took a step back. The bird shrieked and then suddenly burst into flames. Within seconds, it had disappeared to nothing but ash.

Harry and Jo looked at each other in disbelief. How did that happen?

A door in the back of the office opened and in came Professor Dumbledore. "Harry... Joanna.."

"Professor," Harry said quickly. "Your bird-

"There was nothing we could do-" said Jo.

"It just caught fire," Harry finished.

Professor Dumbledore gave a chuckle, a response that neither of the Potters had expected. "And about time too. Pitty you had to see him on a burning day,"

Jo and Harry exchanged questioningly looks to each other. "Professor?" Jo asked.

"Fawkes is a phoenix," explained Professor Dumbledore, coming closer to stand before the twins. "They burst into flame when it is time for them to die, and then they are reborn from the ashes. Look."

The twins, still confused, looked down at the pile of ashes that began to move. Within seconds, a tiny head poked of the ashes revealing a tiny baby newborn bird.

"Whoa," Jo whispered in amazement.

"Fascinating creatures phoenixes are," said Professor Dumbledore, getting close to the baby bird. "They carry immensely heavy loads, and their tears have healing powers."

The twins watched Fawkes move around in the ashes. Jo looked up when she felt eyes on her and her brother. Dumbledore was looking at the two with a piercing glare.

"Professor," Jo began. "I'm not sure what you've heard, but Harry didn't open the Chamber of Secrets. He's not attacking-" The door burst open and Hagrid came running in. "-anyone." Jo finished.

"Professor Dumbledore, sir, wait listen." Hagrid panted. "Professor Dumbledore, sir. It wasn't Harry."

"Ah, Hagrid..."

"I'd swear it in front of the Ministry of Magic."

"Hagrid!" Dumbledore said louder, silencing Hagrid. "Relax." Dumbledore moved closer to Harry, putting his hand on his shoulder. "I do not believe that Harry attacked anyone."

"Of course you don't. And-" Hagrid paused. "Oh. Oh..." he said, understanding what Dumbledore said. "Right. Well, I'll- I'll just walk out."

"Yes."

As soon as Hagrid left the office, Harry turned to Dumbledore and said, "You don't think it was me, professor?"

"No, Harry. I do not think it was you," answered Professor Dumbledore.

"See, Harry," said Jo.

"But," added Professor Dumbledore. "I must ask you is there something you wish to tell me?"

Harry and Jo made eye contact for half a second, and of course Dumbledore didn't miss a beat. Jo knew Harry was asking whether or not he should tell Dumbledore about the voices he's been hearing, and she hoped that within that moment of locking eyes, he understood she was screaming no. Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at the twins.

Harry shook his head. "No, sir, nothing."

Professor Dumbledore looked from one to the other. "Very well, then," he said. "Off you go."

When the twins left Dumbledore's office quickly and were down the hall, Harry stopped Jo. "You really think I shouldn't have said anything? Even to Dumbledore?"

Jo shook her head no. "Not now, not even to Dumbledore. Once we question Malfoy and get the information we need, then maybe. But for now, it's best no one else knows about this..."

Daphne Greengrass, a Slytherin, turned the corner and bumped right into Jo, almost knocking her over. "Hey, watch it!" She shot at the twins, then kept on walking.

"You okay?" Harry asked Jo.

She nodded her head and went to rub her arm where Daphne hit her, but stopped. A strand of blonde hair. Jo gently plucked it off her sweater. "Perfect," she muttered to herself.

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked her.

"We need this for the Polyjuice Potion," said Jo quickly. "I'll explain later... come on!"

As a result of the attacks of Nearly Headless Nick and Justin, it seemed that more than half the school decided to go home for Christmas. But as long as Malfoy stuck around, they were okay.

"Well I'm glad everyone is leaving," Harry muttered as the four were standing outside. A light snow had begun. "I'm tired of all the whispering."

A group of Hufflepuffs sped by quickly, staring at Harry and whispering away.

"Look everyone, it's the heir of Slytherin!"

"Be careful... he's a serious evil wizard!"

Fred and George burst into laughter as they passed by the group. Jo and the others looked at Harry... he didn't find it funny.

"Come on Harry," said Ron. "It's Fred and George just having a laugh."

"Yeah, and they're the only ones," Harry said bitterly.

"Okay... so half the school believes you go off to the chamber every night. Who cares?" pressed Ron.

"Maybe they're right," said Harry, turning away.

"Harry, wait!" called Jo as she, Ron, and Hermione ran to catch up to him. "Would you slow down?"

Harry whipped around. "Look, I didn't know I could speak Parseltongue. Why can I and not you?" He pointed to Jo, "What else don't I know about myself?"

"Harry..."

"Look," he said, catching his breath. "Maybe you can do something, even something horrible and not know you did it."

"You don't believe that, Harry. I know you don't," said Hermione.

"Beside, the Polyjuice Potion will be ready in a few days," Jo added. "In a few days, we may know who is truly the heir of Slytherin."

A few days had gone by and the Christmas Holiday had finally began. With more than half the school missing, the Great Hall was much quieter that evening for dinner.

"Everything's set," Jo said, sitting down from across Harry.

"We just need a bit of who you're changing into," added Hermione.

The boys nodded their understanding. "Crabbe and Goyle," Harry said.

"We also need to make sure that the real Crabbe and Goyle can't burst in on us while we're interrogating Malfoy," said Hermione.

"How?" Ron asked.

"Come now, Ron, don't you have more faith in me?" said Jo. "I've got it all worked out." She pulled two cakes out of her bag. "I've filled these with a simple sleeping draught. Simple, but powerful. "

"Now," started Hermione, getting down to business. "Once they're asleep, hide them in the broomstick cupboard and pull out a few of their hairs, and put on their uniforms."

"Who's hair are you ripping out then?" Ron asked.

"We've already got ours," said Jo. She pulled out a vile of blonde hair. "Daphne Greengrass."

"So that's why you were excited about her hair..." Harry said, putting things together.

Jo nodded. "And Hermione has Milcent Bulstrode's hair."

"Make sure Crabbe and Goyle find these," said Hermione, pointing at the two cakes. "We're going to go check on the potion."

Jo paused before leaving the hall with Hermione. "This is pretty exciting, right? I mean I always wondered what the Slytherin Common Room looked like."

The others rolled there eyes.

"There's something wrong with your sister," Ron muttered to Harry.

Harry chuckled. "Tell me something I don't already know." And they watched the girls leave the Great Hall.

The boys came bursting into the girl's lavatory as Jo was stirring the potion. It was bubbling away over the fire.

Hermione stood up quickly. "How'd it go? Did you get the hairs?" The boys held their hands up with locks of hair visibly seen between their fingers, a look of triumph on their faces.

"Nicely done, boys," said Jo with a smile. "I knew you could do it. Hermione, on the other hand..."

"Oh stop it," Hermione said quickly. She ushered the boys over to the sink where there were four separate glasses.

"Bring this over to JoJo. Once the glass is filled with the potion, add the hairs."

"Once we drink it," Jo said, pouring the disgusting looking potion into the glass Harry held out to her, we have exactly one hour before we change back into ourselves."

Once everyone's glass was full and they had changed into the Slytherin robes Hermione snatched, they stood around looking at each other.

Jo sighed. Just looking at her glass of Polyjuice Potion made her feel like she was about to vomit. But she would have to get over it. What they were doing was important. They had to know what Malfoy knew. "Cheers," she said, raising her glass. And the four of them drank the potion.

It was just as bad as Jo had expected. Once she swallowed the last drop of her potion, she ran straight to the bathroom stall, ready for it come back out. But instead, she felt an odd burning sensation inside her. She felt her limbs getting longer, her body changing, the end of what used to be her long red hair was now blonde. She held her hands up to her face and immediately knew that they were not her own. She was now Daphne Greengrass.

Jo opened the stall door and walked over to the mirror. Her jaw dropped. She couldn't believe it. "Freaky," she muttered to herself, pinching her cheeks. She had successfully brewed the Polyjuice Potion. Not that she had any doubt in herself, but at the same time, she was very proud of herself.

"Woah" came a voice behind her. Jo turned around staring at Crabbe and Goyle.

"Bloody hell," said Crabbe. Only it didn't sound like Crabbe, it was Ron.

"We still sound like ourselves," said Harry.

"This is too weird," Jo said, looking around for Hermione. "Hermione, come on out, we're ready to go."

"I-I don't think I'm going," came Hermione's voice from one of the closed stalls.

"Hermione, are you okay?" asked Harry.

"Just go! You're wasting time!"

The boys looked over at Jo. "You guys go. I'll see what's wrong and try to catch up with you if I can. Just, act like dumb and dumber and try and get stuff out Malfoy, okay? Should be easy enough. He tells Crabbe and Goyle everything."

The boys nodded and left Jo in the bathroom with Hermione. She walked over and knocked on the stall door that Hermione had locked herself in. "Hermione, come on, what's wrong?"

"Please, Jo, don't." Hermione sounded so upset.

"Hermione, it's just me. Tell me what's wrong. The boys are gone."

There was silence for a moment, then Jo heard the stall door unlock and open very slowly. Hermione stood in the shadow before taking a step forward into the light.

Hermione had fur all over, her eyes turned yellow, pointed ears coming up from hair, and a bushy tail behind her. "It was cat hair!"

"Holy meow," Jo muttered.

Hermione burst into tears. "Oh, no," Jo reacted quickly. "I'm so sorry, Hermione, I didn't mean that. Listen, we can work this out, don't worry. I can take you to the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey will know what to do."

"You can't take me now! You're Daphne Greengrass. Why would Daphne Greengrass take me, a Gryffindor to the hospital wing?"

"Okay, then we'll wait until it wears off," Jo said.

Just then, Moaning Myrtle floated over to the girls. She took one look at Hermione and started cackling away.

An hour later, Jo had finally told Moaning Myrtle off and had calmed Hermione down. The girls were sitting on the bathroom floor against the sinks. Suddenly, Jo felt that odd sensation again inside her. She saw that her long and slender fingers had returned, she had shrunk a bit in the Slytherin robe, and her hair was back to her natural red color. She stood up and looked in the mirror. She was Jo again.

Jo looked down at Hermione who still remained looking like a cat. She had hoped Hermione would return to her usual self after the hour, but she wasn't sure if it was going to happen. The Polyjuice Potion was meant for humans, not animals.

Hermione stood up and looked into the mirror. When she saw she still was the same, she started to cry again. She ran back into the stall.

"Shhh, Hermione, it's going to be alright."

Then the came running into the bathroom, panting heavily. The potion had wore off on them too. Harry rammed his glasses back onto his face.

"That was close," Ron said, leaning over his knees trying to catch his breath.

"Where's Hermione?" Harry asked, looking around.

"Yeah, we have so much to tell you two!" added Ron.

Before Jo could even answer, Moaning Myrtle appeared again, smiling away. "Wait till you see. It's awful." She started to giggle.

Hermione swung the door open slowly as Jo started explaining. "It was cat hair Hermione had taken from Millicent Bullstrode's robes. Polyjuice potion is meant for human transformations, not animals."

The boys jaws dropped when they saw Hermione. "Look at my face," she said in despair.

"Look at your tail," Ron said with a smile.

Jo punched him in the ribcage. "Not helping!" She turned to her friend. "Come on, Hermione. Let's go see Madame Pomfrey."