Chapter 14: Petrified Cat

Margaret slowly came up on Stephanie the next day as she and Hermione were on their way to watch a Gryffindor Quidditch practice. Stephanie was sitting by the lake seeming to stare at nothing.

"Good morning Stephie. What's going on?" Margaret greeted cheerfully.

Stephanie shrugged slightly and looked up at the two curiously.

"Stephanie this is my daughter Hermione. We were headed to the pitch to watch her brother practice. Care to join us? If you don't like Quidditch I'm sure you will soon," Margaret said smiling. Hermione was smiling as well.

Stephanie bit her lip and shrugged. Margaret thought she looked kind of cute like that as she smiled wider and offered her hand to the girl. Stephanie eyed it warily for a moment but accepted the hand and walked with the two onto the pitch. They entered the student bleachers just as the Quidditch players took the field.

Harry saw his mother and sister in the stands with some girl and happily waved to them. It fell good to see them wave back and he wasn't even that embarrassed to see Maggie blow him a kiss.

Stephanie was thrilled as soon as the players took to the skies and a few hours later while she was walking back with Harry, Hermione, and Maggie she was hopping all around them chatting at a very fast speed.

"And then….then when you spiraled down and caught the snitch…oh it was so cool!" the child rambled.

Margaret put a hand to her lips as she giggled. Harry and Hermione loved the sound of their mother laughing.

"Stephanie you are the cutest little ball of energy I've ever met!" Margaret exclaimed as they entered the castle.

Stephanie blushed a pretty pink color causing Harry and Hermione to grin widely.

"Kids how about we go to my room and have some tea. It's still a while till supper and we missed lunch," Margaret stated. Her children nodded eagerly and proceeded to race each other upstairs.

Margaret had just mounted the staircase when she turned and saw the tiny child staring at them longingly.

"Stephie care to tag along?" Margaret smiled holding her hand to the girl. This time it took Stephanie no time at all to happily join the woman.

Stephanie had so far had a good day. She'd been the first in Transfiguration to get her pin into a straw and had even earned a few points in Herbology.

Stephanie hadn't seen the kind; Margaret McGonagall, that day but still it was a good day. She was wandering around outside till supper when a black owl landed in front of her. The poor thing looked quite haggard and annoyed as he dropped a parcel at the girl's feet and flew off.

She frowned and picked up the plain brown package. Her mother hated her and was a muggle so there was no reason she'd get mail.

There was no return address or even a name to who it was supposed to go to. Now she knew she should turn it in to her Head of House…but her curiosity got the better of her and she tore open the package. Inside she found a silver locket with a green snake in the shape of an S on it.

Her gut told her not to mess with it. But somewhere in her mind she convinced herself it was a gift from Miss Maggie and put it on.

Immediately her pretty chocolate eyes turned black and she appeared to see nothing as she headed inside the castle mumbling to herself.

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"Ugh what a blow hart!" Margaret shouted to no one as she stormed out of the Defense classroom and down the hall.

Gilderoy had asked her to come by to discuss Harry but in reality all he wanted was to have a ride in the sack with her. And confidentially she knew from old friends he didn't have much to go with.

Blood. I need blood.

Margaret stopped short and looked around. "Who's there? Show yourself!"

"Mum?" Harry called as he Hermione and Ron rounded the corner.

Margaret turned and sighed, "Hey kids."

"You weren't at supper we came to see if you were okay," Hermione explained hugging the woman.

"Oh I'm fine I just…"

I want to rip you. To eat you.

Margaret's head swiveled and she saw Harry looking pale.

"You hear it don't you Harry," Margaret stated. He nodded cautiously.

"Hear what?" Ron asked.

"Come on," Margaret stated running toward the voice the three children hot on her heels.

She followed the noise till it abruptly stopped and she very nearly fell on the stone slipping in the water covering the floor.

"What the…" Margaret cocked her head to the side and a strange look came to her eyes as her head lifted and she gasped seeing Mrs. Norris hanging from a hook.

"Enemies of the heir Beware? Mummy it's written in blood!" Hermione gasped as the rest of the school came from different directions and saw the sight.

"Move! You heard me out of my way move!" Mr. Flitch snarled pushing through the students.

"What's going on here? I…." the man blinked in shock seeing his cat.

"She's dead," he cried turning to Harry, "You, you killed her! You, I'll kill you!"

Argus lunged for the boy and Margaret pulled him behind her as Albus stepped forward shouting, "Argus!"

Everyone parted way to allow Albus to step through. He eyed the writing and for a second Margaret saw the worry in her father's eyes before it vanished again.

"She's not been killed Argus. She's simply petrified…but how I cannot say," Albus said calmly.

"Ask him! He's the one's that done it," Flitch shouted pointing to Harry, Ron, and Hermione who were still behind Margaret.

"Honestly headmaster they didn't. I had been with Professor Lockhart and they came to find me. We ran into this ourselves," Margaret stated.

"Innocent until proven guilty," Albus stated looking at Mr. Flitch.

"My cat has been petrified. I want to see some punishment!" Argus shouted.

"We will be able to help her Argus. Professor Sprout has a healthy crop of mandrakes and when they are matured a potion will be brewed to help her," Albus explained, "Now everyone please return to your common rooms!"

Slowly everyone filtered out of the corridor. Everyone that is but Margaret, Minerva, Severus, Albus, Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

"What's the real story Margaret?" Minerva asked.

"I…I heard a voice mother. Something about eating, killing, and blood. They couldn't hear it," Margaret explained gesturing to the children, "I think it's an animal."

"An animal? What animal could petrify someone?" Severus asked.

"Quite a few are capable Snape. Had you taken Care of Magical Creatures in school you'd know that!" Margaret snapped taking Hermione's hand in hers, "Now if you'll excuse me I'll take these children to the common room." Albus nodded as they walked off.

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"Mum why didn't you tell them I heard it too?" Harry asked as they hurried after her up the moving stairs to the tower.

"Because Harry… it's not normal for people in any world to hear voices. Dumbledore would believe me because I can control the element of earth. I can speak to animals. And what I heard…well let's say it was not a nice creature," Margaret sighed as they reached the Fat Lady portrait.

"Oh," Harry nodded.

"You guys get inside and go to bed all right. Don't worry too much," Margaret smiled and headed off.

Margaret turned a corner leading her away from the children and she broke into a full out run not stopping till she reached her quarters.

A painting of a knight called Sir Wilmington stood guard. "Power Pure," Margaret breathed and dashed into her room as soon as the portrait swung open.

She grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill hurriedly scribbling a note to her great-grandmother.

Kat,

Chamber of Secrets opened. What is it? What kind of snake can petrify?

Maggie

Margaret checked it over once and rolled it up tightly before tapping her wand three times and chanting, "Depart to Emerald Lioness."

The parchment vanished in green flames and she sighed tiredly deciding what she needed right now was a hot bubble bath.

Two days after the petrified cat incident Margaret received and owl from Katherine during breakfast.

"What would grandma be writing you about?" Minerva asked curiously easily recognizing her grandmother's elegant emerald scrawl.

"She's decided to keep tabs on me till I get settled in good with the kids. You remember she did the same to you with Jackson," Margaret lied easily. Minerva nodded in understanding.

Margaret quietly and discreetly left the Great Hall and returned to her rooms where she could safely read the letter.

Maggie Grace,

First off I find this Stephanie child rather intriguing. Your letter suggests she has a shady past. Perhaps befriending and mothering her would be a good idea.

Secondly I want you to know that I've discovered some interesting things about the Riddle Story. It appears he's the one that threw Hagrid out of school. That I never knew you'd think Minerva would have told me! Why do all of you keep secrets from me!?

Any way…Riddle is one big pretentious snot. He believes he's the heir of Slytherin…whether that's relevant to your situation I haven't a clue.

As for the Chamber…maybe it is relevant. I need to do more searching.

On snakes…a vampire python could hypnotize you, a Romania fire breather will call to you, and I believe a Basilisk will kill you with one look. No idea if any of them can petrify. I'll look into it more.

Before I go there is something of note….. I have it on high authority Wasserman is livid that Hermione is alive and well and it appears Guinevere wants to see you face to face. She's never met you…be careful.

Love,

Gran

Margaret folded the letter back up and stuck it in her desk drawer locking it with several charms. She needed to brush up on her snake and founder knowledge and fast! Guinevere Wasserman she'd worry about later.