Someone mentioned that it shouldn't have been Ginny who wrote a poem, but perhaps someone else, more likely, but Ginny IS the most likely person, because she doesn't know him. The Slytherins wouldn't befriend him in any way because it's too uncertain, due to whom he is. Perhaps later, but right now it's all very new. Ginny is the tiny Gryffindor who only sees her hero, sure that he's probably sent to Slytherin to save them or something silly as that.

I'd love if you logged in before reviewing, because it makes it easier to answer you if you have any questions. Things will not be entirely the same next year, already forming a plan to make it much different, but trust that Harry will somehow be pressed into the situations somehow, though he will NOT like it.

Chapter 7

Lisa Turpin

No new attacks occurred and people seem relax and be more at ease. I'm not entirely at ease, because we obviously haven't found the culprit. And I'm not entirely one to go looking for trouble. See what happened to Hermione when she tried to help. She played with the Gryffindors and now she's a cat. I couldn't help but laugh when I saw her. We're good enough friends to allow me entrance to the hospital wing. It was truly a funny sight. I think she may have learned her lesson and won't be fooling around with mindless Gryffindors again.

***

Hermione Granger

The library was quiet as everyone was getting ready for the Quidditch match. I'm not going, because obviously there are something more important things than Quidditch, but it seems I'm the only one who sees it that way.

I asked Ron and Neville if they wanted to help, but they didn't, they wanted to see the match. I knew Lisa didn't want to help me and I admit that I need a little break from her. She keep making me feel stupid for trusting the Gryffindors and yes, it was stupid, but it was a lesson well learned and now I will manage to apply my brains more effectively when they come up with other silly schemes.

It's nice to have friends, sort of friends, so I pushed whatever grudge I have to the back of my mind and perused the library for information.

What do I know? I know that it's an animal that can petrify, but… what else? Is it invisible? How did Salazar Slytherin communicate with it?

Parseltongue

The answer hit me immediately and my thoughts flashed to Harry Potter. He knows the language of the snakes, but it's impossible for it to be him… isn't it? Yes, it is! I know it is; Harry Potter saved the wizarding world, after all. He's the Boy Who Lived!

But then again, he's in Slytherin, he might've been corrupted, probably by Malfoy.

I pushed the thoughts away and tried to see if there were any snakes that could petrify. I find nothing.

Or do I? A footnote read that the Basilisk can petrify those who don't look at it directly, otherwise it is instant death. My heart is beating wildly in my chest, could this be it? Could it be so obvious?

I skimmed the text, positive that this was indeed the monster and ignoring all thoughts of a corrupted Harry Potter.

I had to go get the professors!

The silence around me was suppressing me suddenly and I jumped when I heard a noise.

"I didn't mean to startle you, Hermione," Penelope Clearwater, a prefect, informed me kindly.

"I figured out what's behind the attacks!" I rushed to inform her and she looked at me frightened. "Here," I conjured up a mirror from my pencil, a funny spell I've learned from watching vanity take over Ravenclaws; always know how to turn things into mirrors and such.

"What is it?" Her voice was uncertain, scared. "I'm meeting Percy soon, we should find him and get the professors," she informed me. I nodded in agreement and we peered in the mirror as it reflected the corner. There's nothing there and we rushed around it and proceeded to do the same with the next corner.

***

Severus Snape

I've just entered the stands when Percy Weasley rushes to us. He looks exhausted, his red face matching his hair.

"Professor Dumbledore!" He calls urgently. "Penelope Clearwater and Hermione Granger have been attacked! I found them in the hallway!" There's a collective gasp and it feels as if the universe halts for just a seconds before it continues its rotation. We all stare at Weasley, but I am quick to snap out of it, so is Albus, and we follow Weasley while Minerva calls for the attention of the students.

"What happened?" Albus questions when we reach the castle.

"I don't know, Sir. I was supposed to meet with Penelope, she was in the library, I thought she'd forgotten and then I went to find her. That's when I found this!" We rounded and corner and came to a halt.

They were petrified. The youngest, Hermione Granger, was holding a mirror in her hands.

"Mr. Weasley, you're excused," I snapped at the boy and he fled quickly.

"Petrified," Albus muttered to himself, "I wonder at this mirror," his hand found Miss Granger's and he pried the mirror from her petrified hands.

"Girls?" I muttered, half-heartedly. I bowed down to see more clearly. "We should get them to Madam Pompfrey;" I informed and Albus muttered, still pondering the mirror.

We floated the girls to Madam Pompfrey who quickly made room for them.

"Albus?" A voice interrupts us and both of us turn to see Minerva. She looks worried, scared. I agree with her sentiments. I am worried about the meaning of this.

"I will inform the parents;" Albus informs us and takes his leave.

"I am worried, Severus," Minerva tells me, glancing at the two girls. "The board will not accepts this, Lucius is pressuring them," she looks at me for confirmation, but what can I say? Lucius is worried as well, but he'd never miss a chance to get Albus thrown out of the school.

I leave not long after that, just in time to see Draco leave the owlery. I assume he's sent a note to his father. Despite how clever Draco is he has moments of absolute stupidity. But no matter, Lucius would find out, whether or not Draco told him. We'd only be saved a couple of hours.

***

Lucius has arrived with the minister. Albus does not like this and to my surprise it turns out they've come to take in Hagrid. I've no idea why, but as the events unfold I realize that Hagrid did something silly in his youth. Despite it, I truly doubt Hagrid had anything to do with this, and I voice my opinion to Lucius when I'm sure no one can hear it.

"A chance to get that oaf out should not be wasted," he merely replies. Lucius's dislike towards certain people has made him blind, I realise, to the real threat.

Hagrid is not the only one removed from Hogwarts this evening, I later realise. Albus has been sacked and Minerva has gone to me to fret.

"What exactly am I to do?" I question, irritably, but it's mainly out of frustration. Lucius has gone too far with this; without Dumbledore the muggleborns won't stand a chance, and worse, the rest might be targeted too.

But there's nothing to do and Minerva takes over temporary duty as Headmistress. I've lent Albus my old childhood home at Spinner's end. It's a vague place, but he's lived in the castle for so long that he has no other places to go. Well, I'm sure he could call in a few favours, but this is easy and quick. He doesn't believe it to be permanent and I hope he's right.

I almost wish another attack would happen to prove Hagrid isn't guilty and that we're not better off without Albus.

My wish is soon granted.

Not even a month has passed when I'm called from the dungeon to the staff room. I'm one of the last ones there and Minerva tells us that another attack has happened.

Ginny Weasley

***

Neville Longbottom

I was shocked to learn the Ginny has been taken by the monster. I want, more than anything, to just scream, run away, but I know that Ron needs my support. It was by accident I found out, overhearing it, and I quickly informed Ron. It was my only option.

"Should we tell the others?" I question Ron. We're in the infirmary, visiting Hermione. It took Ron a while to accept the clever Ravenclaw, but now he seems very protective of her. It's a nice development, but like Ron Hermione never really fitted in. Nor did I, really, so we don't fit in together.

"Hermione, we could really use your brains right now," Ron informed Hermione. My eyes caught something in Hermione's hand I hadn't noticed before.

"Ron, what's in her hand?" I question and Ron pries it from the Ravenclaw's hand. It's a note and as Ron reads it I am shocked to realise what this means.

"It's Potter, the filthy Slytherin! He's the heir! Don't you see, Neville?!" Ron growls and suddenly stands up. I back away in surprise at the vicious edge of his voice.

"Do you really think so? It's seems a little unlikely," I question. "It could be a coincidence." Ron doesn't look as if he finds that likely, so quick to judge, and I am surprised when his shoulders slump.

"Yeah, you're probably right. But if he's not, then he can help us. If the beast in a snake we'll need a parselmouth." Ron is convinced.

***

Severus Snape

I'm in shock. Ginny Weasley is a pureblood, and not just pureblood, but one of the oldest ones there are. While normally looked down upon, with their lack of money and large brethren, they nevertheless are pure as pure is.

"This is your chance, Gilderoy, to show us your worth," Felius mentions and Lockhart looks terrified at the idea.

"Yes, you did say you knew where the monster resided," Minerva adds and I take brief pleasure in Lockhart's discomfort. He rushes off with a promise to help, but I'm sure the man is already packing his things.

The meeting conclude and Minerva gets ready to inform the board of governors as well as the Weasley family. I slip into the dungeon to check on my students, as per Minerva's request.

One might assume that the Slytherins would be pleased to be rid of a Weasley, let's face it: one gone wouldn't be noticeable, but they're not. Like me, and many others possibly, they realise that this is bad. Ginny Weasley is a pureblood and if she was targeted, no one is safe.

I note Potter is no where to be found, possibly in the library, which annoys me since a warning had been sent out, just before the meeting, that all students were to go to their common room. Albus will kill me if I don't find the boy, I know, and so with much bother and dislike as possible and trek towards the library to give the insolent boy a piece of my mind.

Surprisingly the boy isn't there and I tiredly assume that he must've been in the common room, I just didn't see him. Either that or he'd behind the disappearance of Ginny Weasley, It wouldn't be all too surprising given what happened on Valentines Day. I'd probably kill anyone who did the same to me.

Briefly I relish is the funny image of what would happen if it turned out to be Potter.

"Severus," a familiar voice shake me out of my reverie and I turn to look at Albus.

"Albus, you're back I see," I greet him with a short nod and shove Potter's whereabouts out of my mind. We make our way towards his office.

"The board of governors felt it wise to reinstate me," he chuckle lightly and I wonder about Lucius. "Your old friend is soon removed from his position. It turned out he had made quite a few severe threats in order to get rid of me," I nod thoughtfully. This was rash, I note, for Lucius. Lucius did blackmail, but not like this, but it seems his need to get rid of Albus superseded his sense.

"Are your Slytherins accounted for?" Questions Albus.

"Yes," I reply, tiredly.

"And Harry?"

"No, he's out doing Dark deeds with the body of the Weaselette before, no doubt, devouring it," I inform him irritably and Albus chuckles. "I didn't see the brat, but he's probably in the common room, which was stuffed when I was there. I checked the library, where you found me, and he's not there," he reach the office and are greeted by Minerva. It seems the Weasley parents have just arrived and Percy Weasley has been told to fetch his siblings.

"Ma'am, I cannot find Ron and I believe Neville Longbottom is missing as well," Percy says upon bringing back his other siblings. Molly Weasley breaks out in hysterics and this continue for quite a while as Albus tries to get things under control. I just praise myself lucky that it's not my house which has so foolishly gone on a rescue mission.

"Lockhart is missing as well," Felius mentions, "I found his wand outside upon patrolling and when I got to his quarters I found them packed up mid-way."

"Why would he stop mid-way?" I wonder.

"He probably decided he could run faster without luggage," Minerva exclaims quietly.

"I'm sure that everything will be unravelled soon enough," Albus informs soothingly. Despite his calm words he retreats soon enough to check the wards, run down spells, speak with portraits and ghosts.

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