disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, just Arabella and her story. Hope you all like it!

Cornelius Fudge

The next day Harry told us what happened the previous night. He managed to find out how to communicate with Riddle's diary and somehow managed to be taken inside the diary itself. Through Riddle's memory, Harry found out that the attack that happened at Hogwarts fifty years ago was due to a girl being killed and the person behind the attack was Hagrid.

Arabella really did not want to believe that Hagrid could be responsible for the attack of a girl, but there were some glaring facts that she had to admit. During her first year he tried to raise a dragon in his little wooden house and had a giant three-headed dog named Fluffy.

"Riddle might have got the wrong person," said Hermione. "Maybe it was some other monster that was attacking people…."

"How many monsters d'you think this place can hold?" Ron asked dully.

"We always knew Hagrid had been expelled," said Harry miserably. "And the attacks must've stopped after Hagrid was kicked out. Otherwise, Riddle wouldn't have got his award."

"But does Hagrid seem like the type to set a creature loose on Hogwarts?" asked Arabella. "This is Hagrid we're talking about."

"He probably didn't know about what the monster was capable of until it was too late," said Harry

"But Hagrid knows loads on creatures," said Arabella. "You saw how he was with Norbert. He researched so much on dragons."

"He did that now," said Harry. "But this happened when he was a teenager. He was probably very different back then."

Ron, however, took a different tack.

"Riddle does sound like Percy," said Ron. "Who asked him to squeal on Hagrid, anyway?"

"But the monster had killed someone, Ron," said Hermione.

"And Riddle was going to go back to some Muggle orphanage if they closed Hogwarts," said Harry. "I don't blame him for wanting to stay here…."

"You met Hagrid down Knockturn Alley, didn't you, Harry?"

"He was buying a Flesh-Eating Slug Repellent," said Harry quickly.

They fell silent. After a long pause, Hermione said in a hesitant voice, "Do you think we should go and ask Hagrid about it all?"

"That'd be a cheerful visit," said Ron. "'Hello, Hagrid. Tell us, have you been setting anything mad and hairy loose in the castle lately?'"

In the end, they decided that they would not say anything to Hagrid unless there was another attack.

It was now nearly four months since Justin and Nick had been Petrified, and nearly everyone seemed to think that the attacker had retired for good. Peeves had finally stopped singing "Oh, Potter, you rotter…" and Ernie seemed to be polite towards Harry now during Herbology. In March, several of the Mandrakes threw a loud party in the greenhouse, meaning that they were close to maturing soon.

During their Easter holidays, the second years were given something else to think about. The time to choose their subjects for their third year came and this was serious. Remus, Andromeda and Ted wrote numerous letters to her, stating that her choices will greatly affect her whole future, that it would impact her career choice, that it would affect her future, her choices were going to be difficult, that it would affect her future, it would affect her future, affect her future…. It was making her head hurt and Hermione seemed to be taking a leaf out of their books.

"It could affect our whole future," she told them as they poured over lists of new subjects.

Arabella groaned and closed her eyes. She was getting tired of hearing that statement. She was sure those were going to be her least favourite words by the end of her holiday.

"I just want to give up Potions," said Harry.

"We can't," said Ron gloomily. "We keep all our core subjects, or I'd've ditched Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"But that's very important!" said Hermione.

"Not the way Lockhart teaches," said Arabella. "Or Quirrell if you think about it. It's a very important subject, I'll agree with you one that, but we've gotten lousy teachers since coming here."

Everyone was having trouble deciding what to study next year. Neville was taking advice from every member of his family, Dean closed his eyes and let his wand decide for him, Seamus was going back and forth between numerous subjects, changing his mind every hour or so, Parvati and Lavender picked their subjects together and seemed to make a pact to do everything together. Hermione took no one's advice and sighed up for everything. Arabella had no idea how she was going to manage that.

During the last day of their holiday, Arabella looked down at the list of options once more. She had to choose two between Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, Muggle Studies and Study of Ancient Runes.

The letters she received from Remus, Andromeda, and Ted weren't really helping her. It just made her more uncertain than before. Muggle Studies was out of the question. She already knew enough of the Muggle community from Ted, Remus and her practically living like one at times.

Ancient Runes and Arithmancy both branched off into different complicated magic. Ancient Runes seemed more of memorization, much like History of Magic, so that was out. Arithmancy did sound complicated and a little more interesting than Ancient Runes, but with numbers involved she wasn't so sure. It's not as though she wasn't bad at mathematics. She was somewhere in the top of her primary class when she was younger and she did enjoy multiplication, and division, but with magic and the prediction of the future involved, she wasn't so sure.

Divination sounded like a lot of guess work, but it also sounded pretty interesting if she could actually look at someone's palm and predict their future. Maybe it wouldn't be so much guessing once she got the hang of it, and it did sound less painful than Ancient Runes or Arithmancy.

Care of Magical Creatures was the only one of the list that she was excited for. They could learn so much in that class and they would be outside for the duration of the subject. That was an easy decision to make when Arabella ticked it off.

After a couple more minutes of deliberation, she choose Divination and that was it. Hopefully she wouldn't regret her decisions.

The next Quidditch match coming up was Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff, and Wood insisted on the team practicing every night after dinner, so Harry became more and more busy for anything but Quidditch and homework. But all this hard work seemed to pay off as they kept returning back to the common room with big smiles. Harry just returned from practice and was going to change out of his uniform for dinner. But he was gone for about ten minutes and they were getting restless.

Ron soon went up to see what was taking so long and they came down a couple minutes later, looking worried.

"What's wrong?" Arabella asked.

"Riddle's diary's gone," said Harry breathlessly. "All my things have been thrown all over the room – my cloak ripped on the floor, books everywhere, parchments ripped – they were looking for the diary."

"But –"began Hermione, shocked, "only a Gryffindor could have stolen – nobody else knows out password –"

"Exactly," said Harry.

Unfortunately, there wasn't too much time to dwell on the subject as the next morning everyone was buzzing for the Quidditch game. Wood was beyond enthusiastic as he loaded scrambled eggs onto his teammate's plates. Fred and George were both speaking to Angelina Johnson and Alicia Bell animatedly but Harry was less excited than everyone else. He was staring at everyone at the Gryffindor table suspiciously.

As Arabella, Ron and Hermione left the Great Hall with Harry to go and collect his Quidditch things, Arabella thought back to Riddle's diary. Hermione urged Harry to report it, but he refused, stating that he would then have to explain the diary and how they knew Hagrid was the one who was behind the attacks fifty years ago.

The moment they stepped foot on the marble staircase, Harry shouted aloud.

"The voice!" said Harry. Arabella, Ron and Hermione jumped in alarm. "I just heard it again – didn't you?"

Arabella and Ron shook their heads, but Hermione clapped a hand to her forehead.

"Harry – I think I've just understood something! I've got to go to the library!"

And she sprinted away, up the stairs and without another word.

"What does she understand?" said Harry distractedly, still looking around.

"More than we'll ever know," said Arabella as Ron nodded in agreement.

"But why's she got to go to the library?"

"Because that's what Hermione does," said Ron, shrugging. "When in doubt, go to the library."

People were now emerging from the Great Hall behind them, talking loudly, exiting through the front doors on their way to the Quidditch pitch.

"You'd better get moving," said Ron. "It's nearly eleven – the match –"

Arabella and Ron joined the large crowd swarming across the grounds. They found seats next to Neville, Dean and Seamus. Hermione was nowhere to be found, but they saved her a seat.

When the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff teams walked onto the field, the crowd burst out into tremendous applause. Wood was diving around the goal posts for a warm-up flight, Madam Hooch released the balls, the Hufflepuffs were having a last minute conversation and Harry was mounting his broom.

They were about to start the game with Professor McGonagall came half-marching and half-running across the pitch, carrying an enormous purple megaphone with her.

"This match has been canceled!" called McGonagall through the megaphone, addressing the stadium.

There were boos and shouts. Arabella and Ron looked at each other for a moment. Wood was devastated and ran towards McGonagall, but she ignored him and continued to shout: "All students are to make their way back to the House common rooms, where their Heads of Houses will give them further information. As quickly as you can, please!"

Arabella and Ron detached themselves from the crowd and made their way onto the field where McGonagall was beckoning Harry towards her. To her surprise, McGonagall didn't seem to object to her and Ron.

As they made their way back to the castle, many of the students were not pleased about the match being canceled while some looked worried. McGonagall led them up the marble staircase and approached the infirmary.

"This will be a bit of a shock," said McGonagall gently. "There has been another attack… another double attack."

Arabella's heart began beating wildly as McGonagall pushed the door open and they entered. Madam Pomfrey was bent over a sixth-year with long, curly hair. She was the Ravenclaw that they accidently asked for directions to the Slytherin common room.

"Hermione!" Ron groaned.

Arabella gasped when she looked at the next bed. Hermione laid utterly still on the bed with her eyes open and glassy.

"They were found near the library," said Professor McGonagall. "I don't suppose either of you can explain this? It was on the floor next to them…"

She was holding up a small, circular mirror. Harry, Ron and Arabella shook their heads, staring at Hermione.

"I will escort you back to Gryffindor Tower," said Professor McGonagall. "I need to address the students in any case."

"Will she be all right?" asked Arabella, her voice cracking.

McGonagall did not answer her and that spoke volumes.

"All students will return to their House common rooms by six o'clock in the evening. No student is to leave the dormitories after that time. You will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No student is to use the bathroom unaccompanied by a teacher. All further Quidditch training and matches are to be postponed. There will be no more evening activities."

The Gryffindors packed inside the common room listened to McGonagall in silence. She rolled up the parchment from which she had been reading and said in a somewhat chocked voice, "I need hardly add that I have rarely been so distressed. It is likely that the school will be closed unless the culprit behind these attacks is caught. I would urge anyone who thinks they might know anything about them to come forward."

She climbed out of the portrait hole and the Gryffindors began talking immediately.

"That's two Gryffindors down, not counting a Gryffindor ghost, one Ravenclaw, and one Hufflepuff," said Lee, counting on his fingers. "Haven't any of the teachers noticed that the Slytherins are all safe? Isn't it obvious all this stuff's coming from Slytherin? The Heir of Slytherin, the monster of Slytherin – why don't they just chuck all the Slytherins out?" he roared, to nods and scattered applause.

Percy was sitting behind Lee, paled and stunned. He was in shock at the thought of Penelope Clearwater getting attacked. He thought prefects were clear from getting attacked.

Arabella was sitting with Ron and Harry and she couldn't get the image of Hermione out of her mind.

"What're we going to do?" said Ron quietly to Harry and Arabella. "D'you think they suspect Hagrid?"

"We have to go talk to him," said Arabella. "I don't believe that he's the one who's doing all of this, but if he did open it the last time, he'll know where the Chamber is and how to get there. We can start from there."

"But McGonagall said we're got to stay in our towers unless we're in class –"

"I think," said Harry, "it's time to get my dad's old cloak out again."

Harry had inherited his Invisibility Cloak from his father and it was the one thing that gave them a chance of sneaking out of the school to visit Hagrid without anyone knowing. Arabella was the first one in the common room. Lavender and Parvati went upstairs, speaking animatedly about the Chamber of Secrets. It took a while for Harry and Ron to join her. When they finally showed up, Harry threw the cloak over them and journeyed through the dark castle.

Teachers, prefects, and ghosts were marching the corridors in pairs and it was a relief that they reached the oak front doors and eased them open. It was a clear and starry night, and they hurried toward Hagrid's lit house and pulled off the cloak when they were right outside his front door. Seconds after they had knocked, Hagrid flung it open. They found themselves face-to-face with him aiming a crossbow at them. Fang barked loudly behind her.

"Oh," he said, lowering the weapon and staring at them. "What're you three doin' here?"

"What's that for?" said Harry, pointing at the crossbow as they stepped inside.

"Nothin' — nothin' — "Hagrid muttered. "I've bin expectin' — doesn' matter — Sit down — I'll make tea —"

He hardly seemed to know what he was doing. He nearly extinguished the fire, spilling water from the kettle on it, and then smashed the teapot with a nervous jerk of his massive hand.

"Are you okay, Hagrid?" said Arabella. "Did you hear about Hermione?"

"Oh, I heard, all righ'," said Hagrid, a slight break in his voice.

He kept glancing nervously at the windows. He poured them large mugs of boiling water and was just putting a slab of fruitcake on a plate when there was a loud knock on the door. Hagrid dropped the fruitcake. Harry and Ron exchanged panic-stricken looks as Arabella quickly grabbed the Invisibility Cloak and threw it over them. They retreated to the corner as Hagrid seized his crossbow, and flung open his door once more.

"Good evening, Hagrid."

It was Dumbledore. He entered, looking very serious, and was followed by the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, with rumpled grey hair and an anxious expression.

"That's Dad's boss!" breathed Ron. "Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic!"

Harry elbowed Ron hard to make him shut up. Hagrid had gone pale and sweaty. He dropped into one of his chairs and looked from Dumbledore to Fudge.

"Bad business, Hagrid," said Fudge in a clipped tone. "Very bad business. Had to come. Four attacks on Muggle-borns. Things've gone far enough. Ministry's got to act."

"I never," said Hagrid, looking imploringly at Dumbledore. "You know I never, Professor Dumbledore, sir —"

"I want it understood, Cornelius, that Hagrid has my full confidence," said Dumbledore, frowning at Fudge.

"Look, Albus," said Fudge, uncomfortably. "Hagrid's record's against him. Ministry's got to do something — the school governors have been in touch —"

"Yet again, Cornelius, I tell you that taking Hagrid away will not help in the slightest," said Dumbledore.

"Look at it from my point of view," said Fudge, fidgeting with his bowler. "I'm under a lot of pressure. Got to be seen to be doing something. If it turns out it wasn't Hagrid, he'll be back and no more said. But I've got to take him. Got to. Wouldn't be doing my duty —"

"Take me?" said Hagrid, who was trembling. "Take me where?"

"For a short stretch only," said Fudge, not meeting Hagrid's eyes. "Not a punishment, Hagrid, more a precaution. If someone else is caught, you'll be let out with a full apology —"

"Not Azkaban?" croaked Hagrid.

Before Hagrid could answer, there was another knock on the door. Dumbledore answered it. It was Ron who elbowed Harry as he let out a gasp. Arabella's insides turned cold at the sight of Lucius Malfoy.

"Already here, Fudge," he said approvingly. "Good, good…"

"What're you doin' here?" said Hagrid furiously. "Get outta my house!"

"My dear man, please believe me, I have no pleasure at all in being inside your — er — d'you call this a house?" said Lucius Malfoy, sneering as he looked around the small cabin. "I simply called at the school and was told that the headmaster was here."

"And what exactly did you want with me, Lucius?" said Dumbledore. He spoke politely, but there was a fire blazing in his blue eyes.

"Dreadful thing, Dumbledore," said Malfoy lazily, taking out a long roll of parchment, "but the governors fell it's time for you to step aside. This is an Order of Suspension – you'll find all twelve signatures on it. I'm afraid we fell you're losing your touch. How many attacks have there been now? Two more this afternoon, wasn't it? At this rate, there'll be no Muggle-borns left at Hogwarts, and we all know what an awful loss that would be to the school."

"Oh, now, see here, Lucius," said Fudge, looking alarmed, "Dumbledore suspended – no, no – last thing we want just now –"

"The appointment — or suspension — of the headmaster is a matter for the governors, Fudge," said Malfoy smoothly. "And as Dumbledore has failed to stop these attacks —"

"See here, Malfoy, if Dumbledore can't stop them," said Fudge, whose upper lip was sweating now, "I mean to say, who can?"

"That remains to be seen," said Malfoy with a nasty smile. "But as all twelve of us have voted —"

Hagrid leapt to his feet, his shaggy black head grazing the ceiling.

"An' how many did yeh have ter threaten an' blackmail before they agreed, Malfoy, eh?" he roared.

"Dear, dear, you know, that temper of yours will lead you into trouble one of these days, Hagrid," said Malfoy. "I would advise you not to shout at the Azkaban guards like that. They won't like it at all."

"Yeh can' take Dumbledore!" yelled Hagrid, making Fang the boarhound cower and whimper in his basket. "Take him away, an' the Muggle-borns won' stand a chance! There'll be killin' next!"

"Calm yourself, Hagrid," said Dumbledore sharply. He looked at Lucius Malfoy. "If the governors want my removal, Lucius, I shall of course step aside —"

"But —" stuttered Fudge.

"No!" growled Hagrid.

Dumbledore had not taken his bright blue eyes off Malfoy's cold gray ones.

"However," said Dumbledore, speaking very slowly and clearly so that none of them could miss a word, "you will find that I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me. You will also find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."

For a second, Dumbledore's eyes flickered toward the corner were they all stood.

"Admirable sentiments," said Malfoy, bowing. "We shall all miss your – er – highly individual way of running things, Albus, and only hope that your successor will manage to prevent any – ah – killins."

He strode to the cabin door, opened it, and bowed Dumbledore out. Fudge waited for Hagrid to go ahead of him, but Hagrid stood his ground, took a deep breath, and said carefully, "If anyone wanted ter find out some stuff, all they'd have ter do would be ter follow the spiders. That'd lead 'em right! That's all I'm sayin'."

Fudge stared at him in amazement.

"All right, I'm comin'," said Hagrid, pulling on his moleskin overcoat. But as he was about to follow Fudge through the door, he stopped again and said loudly, "An' someone'll need ter feed Fang while I'm away."

The door banged shut and Ron pulled off the Invisibility Cloak.

"We're in trouble now," he said hoarsely. "No Dumbledore. They might as well close the school tonight. There'll be an attack a day with him gone."

Fang started howling, scratching at the closed door.

Thank you so much for reading! Tell me what you guys think!