Chapter Fourteen - Running After Trouble

"Salazar Slytherin created the Chamber of Secrets, and he hid a monster inside, that, when released by a heir of his, would kill and purify all the impure witches and wizards the rest of the Founders had agreed to let into Hogwarts." Hermione read once more, trailing her finger on the library book in her hands. I leaned forward to see, trying to look for any more information.

"Well," I sat back and blew hair from my face. "Not very helpful. Mcgonagall said the same thing to your class in Transfiguration."

Next to my ear, Harry's breath tickled my hair. "Don't think we'll find anything else in this book, anyway. Should put it back before Pince catches us." I waved a hand in the air behind me, pretending to swat an invisible fly before I made contact with a fabric-covered Harry( "Ow! Rowan!")

"Keep your voice down, Ron," I said cheerfully, nodding at Ron who was dozing off watching us research behind the invisible Harry. Sliding the book to my lap, I casually lifted up a non-restricted library book and waited for invisible hands to take the restricted one away.

"So what're we going to do?" I leaned back and lowered my voice when Pince shushed in our direction. Out of the corner of my eye Harry appeared, walking through the library door with a sly smile.

"Harry!" Hermione matched his grin. "Good of you to join us."

"Yes," Harry said dryly. "I was busy returning some books."

"Are we done?" Ron whined, dragging the end of a quill across Hermione's dry, finished essay. She snatched the quill away, muttering about ruining the feather, and put away the parchment.

"No," Hermione leaned forward, eyes on Harry. "Tell us the story again, Harry. Maybe you -"

"Missed something?" Harry groaned, rubbing his eyes. "I've told each of you at least three times. It has to be Hagrid."

"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."

Ron tried a different tack.

"Riddle does sound like Percy - who asked him to squeal on Hagrid, anyway?"

"Hey," I said sharply, feeling oddly defensive of Tom. "The monster had killed someone, Ron."

"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..."

"Wonder which one he was dropped at," I said softly, crossing my legs.

Ron cocked his head at me. "Does it matter?"

"Well, yeah," I said. "Depending on which one you get sent to, they'll treat you differently about your magic, and...what?"

All three of them were staring at me.

"Did you stay at an orphanage for a while?" Hermione asked.

I shrugged, eager to get away from the topic. "For a little while - then the Masons took me in. I saw Hagrid in Knockturn Alley," I blurted out.

There was silence. Hermione cleared her throat uncomfortably. "Do you think we should go and ask Hagrid about it all?"

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

"Or," I interrupted, folding my hands hopefully. "We could forget about this, and move on in our lives, leaving this for the adults?"

"Not a chance," all three chorused, Hermione a beat later.

I sighed, untangling my hands. "Well, then. Let's get to Hagrid before it gets dark."

O-O

In the end, we chickened out and decided not say anything to Hagrid unless there was another attack, and as more and more days went by with no whisper from the 'voice' Harry told me more about, we became hopeful that we would never need to talk to him about why he had been expelled.

The whole "Harry Potter is a scary Slytherin Heir" rumour was slowly dying down, and as it did, Draco's mood dwindled into sulky. He even tried to get Peeves to start the "Oh Potter You Rotter" song again.

Over Easter, we received papers asking us to sign up for our classes in Third Year. I sat in the boys' dormitory with Zabini, Draco, and Theodore.

"Where're you signing up?" I asked Theodore, leaning over to see what he had checked off.

Draco moved his rook, casting a triumphant look at Zabini as they played chess in the other bed. His eyes flickered to mine, and I knew he knew what I was thinking about signing up for.

No.

"Not Divination?" I asked in surprise.

"It's rubbish," Theodore said defensively, checking off Ancient Runes. "You can't predict the future."

Draco made a sound of agreement, and Zabini made a throaty chuckle.

"What, so you can turn ducks into chairs and make potions that cure colds in three minutes but not predict the future?" I raised my eyebrows.

Zabini snorted. "Right, almost forgot you were raised like a mudblood."

Draco and Theodore both twisted their heads to see my reaction, but I examined my fingernails in boredom. "Right, and I almost forgot you were raised to be an idiot."

"What'll you take, then?" Draco said quickly, taking Zabini's pawn. Zabini cursed loudly and turned his attention to the game.

"Muggle studies seems alright," I leaned over to check the box.

"What?" Draco and Zabini turned to stare, open-mouthed. Theodore cringed.

"What?" I said defensively. "It'll be easy. I'd like to see how the Wizarding World learns about muggles."

"That's suicide," Zabini shrugged. "On your own head be it."

"Fine," I retorted. "It's only a class, anyway."

Finished with my list, I put it away and took out a Hogwarts, a History, flipping through to the Slytherin section.

"Not much on the Chamber's in there," Theodore informed me, examining his list. "I've checked."

"I want to know who the heir is," I announced, skimming through.

Theodore rolled his eyes. "Well, if you find him, I will personally ask Dumbledore to sign me up for Muggle Studies."

Zabini and Draco snickered.

"Very funny," I glared at him, looking up from my book.

Zabini let out a barely-controlled chuckle. "I'll pay you ten Galleons and take Muggle Studies."

Draco smirked. "I'll do both and compliment Granger."

"Oh, for-" I grabbed my book and headed out to my own dorm, ignoring the laughter behind me.

O-O

"Oi, Snape!" Flint called from across the hallway.

I yanked at my bag, which had gotten stuck at the doorknob of the Transfiguration classroom. "Flint?"

"Yeah, I've got to talk to you," Flint hollered across the busy hallway.

"Listen, I'm running late to meet up with friends, so I'll talk with you about formations later - "

It was true; Hermione had asked me to meet with them at the library before dinner, and I wasn't sure if Harry or Ron were showing up, but the Chamber of Secrets issue was interesting and I didn't want to pass up research.

"There's a match tomorrow with Hufflepuff and Gryffindor," Flint said sternly, reaching me. I nodded frantically, deciding the best way to get rid of him was to rifle through my messy bag for a draft of the new game plan I had. It had Theodore's lazy doodles on the side, but it was still legible. "I want dinner skipped tonight to go over things, you hear me?"

"What?" I blinked. "Not today - the match isn't even for us."

"But if Gryffindor wins, which…" Flint grimaced. "..is possible considering Hufflepuff is horrible this year, it puts them right under us. We can't let them beat us."

"I'm busy," I shoved the draft at him. "i promised some friends-"

"New game plan?" Flint smacked my back so hard I nearly fell over. "Perfect, we'll go over it at dinnertime. Keep it a secret and I'll meet you in the Common Room."

I swallowed. "Is it really important?"

"Absolutely," Flint roared. "We can't lose!"

"Alright," I sighed. "I'll let Theodore know."

"Already spoke to him," Flint caught my arm again. "He's got detention. Don't breathe a word about this - I don't want Wood breathing down our necks."

By the way he was speaking, it sounded as if we were doing some much shadier things than discussing Quidditch. I let out a low laugh at how serious he was. "Alright, alright, I swear I won't say anything."

He released me, and I raced to the library to let them know.

They were already there - Ron and Harry lounging about, waiting for me, and Hermione scolding them as she carried books to the table.

"Hey, guys," I said distractedly. "I'm really sorry, but I've got to bail. I've got a - thing."

"What?" Hermione frowned. "Well, what about after dinner?"

"Can't," Harry reminded her. "Quidditch practice."

I shrugged. "Don't think so."

"What do you have to do?" Ron said, slightly cheered he wouldn't need to research.

"Just - stuff," I shrugged again, wiping my eyes tiredly. "I just want to sleep - Flint wants me to go over stupid formations or something."

"All night?" Ron whistled. "I heard Flint's as vicious as Wood."

I yawned. "Well, I don't want to be late. We can talk about this tomorrow - I think Flint'll want me to skip dinner. Maybe I'll grab a biscuit and see you three." With a wave, I darted out of the library.

O-O

I was very confused.

Chewing my breakfast, I glanced over my shoulder at the Gryffindor table once more. Harry, Hermione, and Ron abruptly stopped looking at me and bent their heads to speak in hushed tones.

"What's wrong?" Theodore stole a sausage off me instead of reaching over to the other side of the table. I stabbed viciously at a piece of toast on his plate, and he jerked slightly in surprise. "My apologies; didn't know you cared about your sausage so much."

"I don't get it," I said, frustrated. "What did I do? I come down to breakfast late, go over to the Gryffindor table to ask Harry, Hermione and Ron what I missed from the library meet I didn't go to yesterday, and they almost completely ignore me! Hermione's looking at me with these suspicious eyes, Ron won't even look at me, and Harry says a few short words! And I actually wanted that sausage, Theodore."

"Maybe," Zabini leaned in, sausage on his fork dangling carelessly in his hand. "They just never liked you."

"Is that the best you can come up with?" I rolled my eyes, and shoved my own fork forward so our forks collided and his sausage fell to the floor. With an annoyed growl, Zabini turned away.

"Come to think about it," Theodore frowned. "I did bump into them this morning at breakfast. They asked me if Flint had arranged some sort of formation meeting yesterday?"

"I'll talk to them later," I pushed my plate away, miserably confused.

When Harry and his friends got up to leave, I stood as well and followed them. Hermione was the best chance I had to properly sort this out - Ron would sneer at me and Harry might not listen. But as I watched, Hermione clapped a hand to her forehead and darted away.

Pushing past the crowd of students, I slammed into Ron and Harry. "Excuse me," I said hurriedly, and raced after where Hermione had gone.

It took me a while to find Hermione - but by the direction she had gone, I could only assume she had gone to the library.. It was completely empty, probably because Madam Pince rarely was in at a match. Most teachers were at the Quidditch match and nearly no students ever entered the library in the early morning.

Turning the corner, I looked up from rummaging through my bag and froze.

I couldn't think - it was as if time stopped. My mouth was frozen in a silent scream, and I stumbled forward.

Hermione was laying on the floor, a fist by her side. Her eyes were wide and glossy. By her side lay, diagonally and several feet away, another girl. She looked to be in an older year, with long curly hair and Ravenclaw robes. A mirror was scattered on the ground.

Clapping a hand to my mouth and feeling sick that Hermione had been attacked, I stood and ran for the Infirmary.

O-O

I was sitting next to Hermione and staring at my knees when Harry and Ron burst through with Mcgonagall.

"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 held up the mirror that had been on the ground.

Numbly, both boys shook their heads.

"I will escort you back to Gryffindor Tower," said Professor McGonagall heavily. "I need to address the students in any case. Miss Snape, you will come with us until I have finish addressing them, and then you will be escorted to the Slytherin Common Room."

I stood, shakily, and followed them. Harry and Ron wouldn't even look at me. I had no strength to speak.

"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 Professor McGonagall in silence. She rolled up the parchment from which she had been reading and said in a somewhat choked 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."

I was curled up in the corner, waiting somberly for Mcgonagall to finish. When she finished and began to check in the dormitories, I rushed to Harry and Ron, who sat in another corner of the room quietly.

"I'm so sorry," I breathed. "I found her near the library, next to - "

"Right," Ron said sarcastically.

I blinked. "I - what?"

"I said, right," Ron spat. "As if we don't know you're the Heir."

"I'm the - where is this coming from?" I demanded, crossing my arms suddenly. "Harry? Didn't you say it was Hagrid who opened it last time?"

Harry, whose eyes were glassed with fury and shock from Hermione, turned to me. "That doesn't mean he did it this time, though."

"But - why would you say it was me?"

"We aren't," Harry said quickly. "Yesterday we found the diary stolen. And all my stuff had been looked through. And you said you had something with Flint - but we asked Nott, who's the other strategist for the Slytherin team, and he said he had no idea what I was talking about."

I spluttered. "He was in detention! You're a fine one to talk, Harry!"

"I'm not accusing you!" Harry spread his hands. "I'm just - er - " By his face, he could tell he was digging his own grave but unsure what he was doing wrong. Ron, however, had no problem practically throwing himself into his coffin.

"You snuck in last time," Ron pointed out. "You could have done it again."

"And then we find out you were where Hermione was Petrified," Ron continues. "Seems a bit odd, doesn't it?"

"Is this because I'm a Slytherin?" My eyes pricked furiously. "Are you kidding me?"

"No, no," Harry cut in pleadingly. "That's not what we're saying. Plenty of things have happened to me as well, don't - "

"Forget it." I hissed. "If it means so much to you, then fine."

Standing, I waited for Mcgonagall to appear and left.

O-O

Tensions high, my nerves were shot constantly. Summer slowly began to creep in, but I could hardly breathe without feeling hurt or angry from Harry and Ron. Draco, as well, had chosen to take his fear and turn it into an outward appearance of swaggering arrogance. Dumbledore had left the school for the time being, and new panic began to spread amongst students.

I tried to visit Hermione again, but Madam Pomfrey wouldn't let anyone in. I resigned myself to stalking Harry and Ron to see if they planned to do anything odd, and looking utterly disgusted and not hurt at all when they glanced over.

"That's it," Theodore threw down the book he was reading (that was how I knew he was fed up - he took care of his books almost as well as Hermione). "Chess? Exploding Snap?"

I blinked morosely, leaning on one of his bedposts. "What? No, I don't feel like it."

"Are you okay?" Theodore demanded, sliding next to me. "Sick, or…?"

"No," I batted his hand away irritably. "Play with Draco."

"No," said the blonde sitting in the bed on the other side of the room instantly, his own book propped on his legs.

"Zabini, then - "

"No."

"Rowan - "

"Fine," I flipped my wand up and at Draco's drawer impatiently. "If it means so much to you, Wingardium Leviosa." The chess set, which was sitting atop the drawer, levitated itself in my direction but not before cuffing Draco's head. He let out a loud sound of annoyance and smacked the box away.

The box went spinning, and Zabini responded with a hearty slap of his own, sending it towards Theodore. Huffing, I put out my hands to catch it, but Theodore (who'd been staring at me the whole time) lunged forward and slapped it away.

"Theodore!" I shoved him. He smirked, and I stood up to catch the chess set, careful to keep the spell there so it didn't drop and send the pieces flying out.

I reached Zabini, but he slapped the box towards Draco with an enthusiastic "Too slow!"

"Guys, seriously," I felt laughter bubble up and erase my irritation, but I tried to glare. A slow grin forming, Draco shot out his foot and kicked it towards Zabini again as I lunged.

"Now I see why you aren't on the Quidditch Team," Zabini stood up and caught the chess set, holding it high above me. I jumped several times, laughing so hard I could hardly breathe - the rest of them had begun to chuckle as well - until I stamped his foot so hard he wheezed and knocked the chess set away so it spiraled over to Theodore. Zabini scowled, glaring at me as he hunched over to nurse his sore foot.

Leaping over to Theodore triumphantly - he and I were the same height - I stopped abruptly as he stood atop his bed and flipped the chess set over, a finger resting on the lid. If the chess pieces fell out they would run this way and that; it would take forever to find them all.

"Theodore, no." I tried to stop laughing and ended up choking. "Stop!"

"Then stop sulking," he demanded. "Or we'll make you go flying and throw Quaffles."

"Why so courteous?" Draco frowned. "I vote for bludgers."

"I second that!" Zabini raised his hand.

"Alright, I get it, I'm sorry!" I yanked at his robes, and smirking, Theodore handed me the set. I smacked him with it as he lowered himself off the bed.

"I'm leaving," I called to them, hugging the chess set to my chest. "At least the Slytherin girls don't throw things." This was untrue - after a sweaty afternoon outside I'd actually ducked perfume Pansy had thrown at me.

I dodged a crumpled up parchment ball as I left their room, trying and failing to stop smiling.

O-O

It turned out the boys did manage to get me on a broom - well, Draco did. Draco and Zabini proceeded to pressure me into it - Draco because he, like me, was shaken by recent events and Zabini because he wanted to see if he could push me off.

Theodore, surprisingly, had pressed his own rarely-used broom into my hands, insisting I go. I knew why; one look in the mirror and the dark circles slowly getting darker would reveal the stress I was facing. Harry and Ron had caught onto my sneaking about, and once they had even told me to bugger off.

I protested at once, but Draco told me firmly that he needed someone to toss him Quaffles so he could practice. Up in the air, though, I felt distinctly safer from the Chamber of Secrets business, and I resigned myself to flying for the rest of the day.

Zabini, who had taken to zooming past me at lightspeed in an attempt to knock me off, was having a grand time swooping into catch the Quaffle before Draco could. The two of them set their jaws and flew after the Quaffle in every way I threw it. Sometimes, to trip them up (and sometimes by accident), I'd drop the ball and have them fight their way to catch the ball before it hit the ground.

At a particularly hard swerve, Zabini rolled right off his broom and tumbled into the grass below. He waved at us to let us know he was alive, and scowled, stalking off the field with his broom.

Draco, who had nearly crashed as well, waved me down. I slowly but steadily drifted down, and he smirked at how unsteadily I clambered off the broom to get to class; our free first period was over.

Right after Lockhart's class, as students waited for the break bell, Mcgonagall's voice magically filled Hogwarts.

"All students to return to their House dormitories at once. All teachers return to the staff room. Immediately, please."

Mcgonagall's voice sounded so stern, so urgent that students instantly began to clamor and whisper. Lockhart didn't seem at all concerned; he was busy conversing with his own portrait.

"Another attack," Theodore said, stunned. "And with Dumbledore gone…"

"Another mudblood, maybe - "Zabini suggested.

I punched his arm and trailed after them to the Common Room. I couldn't imagine - Harry and Ron would never obediently slink to their Common Rooms…

With an exasperated sigh at myself, I darted towards the staff room.

My computer literally refused to post this. It would NOT load. But yes. I am alive.