Conversation Starters
The trio stared in stunned silence at the message on the wall. What did it mean? Who was the heir? None of them heard the footsteps behind them until a very twisted shriek erupted right next to Ron's ear. He looked up to see Filch quivering from head to toe, his hands extending and retracting in the direction of Mrs. Norris. The man's eyes darted to Harry.
"You. You did this!" he howled.
"No…no I didn't. I swear. We found her like this," Harry protested.
"What did you do to her?' the man cried, fat tears falling down his cheeks.
"Nothing. We didn't do anything," Harry reiterated. Just then several other pairs of footsteps came up the corridor. Professor McGonagall stopped in her tracks when she saw the petrified cat.
"What…what happened here?' she finally asked.
"We don't know, honest, Professor. We were just walking and found it," Ron babbled.
"They did it Professor. I know they did," Filch protested, looking to Dumbledore.
"Now, Argus, I'm sure we can return Mrs. Norris to her rightful state. No need to get flustered," Albus replied, fixing Harry with his intense blue stare.
"You three may go," he added, ushering the trio away from the scene. They took off gratefully, their feet sliding on the dry stones.
'What do you think it mean, Albus?" Minerva asked in a whisper. Dumbledore looked at the message on the wall and then to the petrified cat on the wall.
"I am afraid it may mean…that the Chamber of Secrets may have been opened," he sighed, shaking his head.
Off in the Ravenclaw Tower, Irlynn was lying in her bed, reading her Herbology textbook when she was hit with a vision. She saw Ron and Hermione walking up the corridor from the library. They happened upon a large pool of water and what appeared to be a dead cat. She watched s the text on the wall grew bigger…Harry was taking a step back. As soon as the words registered in her mind she was pulled out of the vision. She couldn't keep herself from gasping in horror at the words on the wall.
Without thinking, she tossed her book aside and ran out of the room. Her feet thundered on the hard stones of the corridor as she raced towards the corridor where Harry, Ron and Hermione had been. She was halfway there when she collided with Harry. They both fell to the ground with a unison 'thud'.
"Sorry," he apologized.
"It's ok. I ran into you," she muttered, standing up.
"Where were you going so fast?" Hermione asked.
"To find you…what was on the wall? Do you know who wrote it?' Irlynn replied, still trying to catch her breath. Ron and Hermione shared a confused look and then looked back to Irlynn.
"How did you know what happened?" Ron asked tentatively.
"Uh…" the other girl trailed off. She didn't want to get into it. Not even Dumbledore knew about her visions.
"Word travels fast," Harry interjected. While they hadn't heard anyone talking about the incident, or seen anyone else in the corridor, he hoped it would work.
"But…" Hermione began to interject.
"I mean…Filch screamed pretty loud," Harry added before taking Irlynn by the arm and beginning to lead her towards an alcove.
"I'll see you back in the Common Room," he called to his friends.
"Must be a brother-sister thing," Ron muttered and went on his way. Hermione shot them an anxious glance before following the redhead.
"That was close," Harry breathed.
"Yeah…thanks for covering for me," Irlynn said with a smile. They managed to both sit down on the ground in the secluded area. Harry looked at her for a minute before speaking again.
"Can I ask you a question?" he asked.
"Yeah," she answered.
"If you can see my memories…how come I can't see yours?" he asked. Irlynn thought a minute and then shrugged.
"I don't know…It's strange. I don't know why I can see your thoughts…and it isn't all the time. It's kind of when you aren't really concentrating or you're embarrassed or scared," Irlynn answered. Harry blushed a little.
"Did you see a lot of things when you were little?" he pressed.
"Sometimes. At first I thought they were just strange dreams or nightmares. And then I started having them when I was awake…like at school. Thankfully my parents didn't think I was a nutter," she began to explain.
"Does Dumbledore know?" Harry interrupted.
"No. I suppose I should tell him…but what does it really matter…it's not like I can see just anybody's thoughts," Irlynn muttered.
"Maybe you should tell him. I don't think it's normal…even for a witch," Harry offered. Irlynn slowly nodded her head.
"Ok…I suppose you're right," Irlynn sighed. Just Irlynn was standing up, Harry's ears pricked at a sound. It was echoing and sounded vaguely familiar. It was a voice and it had almost a hissing quality to the tone. It was saying his name and that it wanted blood.
"Did you hear that?" he asked Irlynn as he too stood up.
"Here what?" she asked.
"That voice…it was calling my name," Harry murmured.
"Maybe you should tell Dumbledore. I don't think that's normal…even for a wizard," Irlynn retorted with a smirk.
"I'm serious," Harry snapped as they started off to fin Dumbledore's office.
Up in the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore was sitting at his desk, reading the Daily Prophet. He was waiting for Snape to arrive. Just then there was a curt knock on the door and it opened to reveal Snape.
"You called for me, Headmaster," he said, sitting down immediately.
"Yes. Are you aware of what happened this evening in the corridor by the library?" Dumbledore asked.
"I am not," Snape replied shortly.
"Mrs. Norris, Argus' cat, has been petrified and this message was written on the wall," Dumbledore explained, handing the Professor a piece of parchment on which he had written the message. Snape looked at the words and then up to Dumbledore.
"It does not appear to be a prank," Snape observed.
"I agree with you. Do you know anyone who might have done this?" Dumbledore asked.
"I cannot. It seems to imply the Chamber of Secrets however I do not believe any student here can claim the title of "heir'," Snape drawled.
"I would appreciate it if you would keep an eye out for any students that appear to be acting out of the ordinary," Dumbledore said in a tone that Snape believed to be finality. He stood dup but Albus held up his hand to sit back down.
"Is there something else, Headmaster?" Snape asked.
"Yes there is," Dumbledore began, pushing the Daily Prophet aside. There sitting on the man's desk was an envelope bearing Snape's name in a very familiar script. His brow furrowed. He had locked his desk drawer. He looked at Dumbledore and that irritating twinkle in his eye gave it away. It was Lily's letter.
"Where did you get that?" Snape demanding, trying to reach for it.
"A unnamed informant brought the letter to my attention," Dumbledore replied.
"Where is the bloody little creature? I'll wring it's thieving little neck!" Snape roared.
"Severus, calm down. I assure you, nothing has been read," Dumbledore stated. Severus had to grip the edges of the chair to keep from bolting from the room and throttling any house elf he came into contact with.
"I would just like to urge you to reconsider your…approach with Irlynn," the Headmaster added.
"I told you. I'm not getting involved," Snape spat. Dumbledore looked from the letter sitting on his desk to Snape and back again.
"What would Lily think? Her wishes not being honored," he posed. Severus knew his knuckles were turning whiter than they already were as he gripped the arms of the chair. Finally he couldn't contain himself anymore. He stood up and grabbed the letter from the desk. He stuffed it in his robes.
"This is blackmail," he hissed before storming out of the room. He bolted down the spiral steps and nearly knocked Harry and Irlynn over as they were trying to figure out the password. He didn't even notice the pair as he stalked off towards the dungeons. They rushed up the stairs before the gargoyle decided to take up its position again. They made their way up the winding staircase until they came to the door. It was still ajar from when Snape had tried to slam it. Dumbledore looked at the two students and waved them in.
"Come in, come in. What can I do for you?" he asked, offering them lemon drops. Both declined as they took seats across from the Headmaster. He waved his wand hand lazily at the door and it swung shut.
"We uh…we were hoping we could talk to you about some things, Headmaster," Harry began.
"But we didn't mean to interrupt," Irlynn added.
"Professor Snape and I were finished. No need to worry my dear. Now what is it you need to discuss?" Dumbledore replied.