Chapter 21 – The Forgotten Locket
We made our way to the Potions dungeons. While we were waiting for Prof. Slughorn to let us in, Jack Sloper one of the beaters from the Quidditch team came rushing towards Harry.
"Harry, this is for you." He said and handed over a rolled up parchment to him.
"Er… Thanks." Harry answered while taking the parchment from him.
"When are the try-outs for the team?" He asked nervously.
"I'm not sure. I'll let you know when I decide."
Jack walked away. Harry reads the note and is visibly excited.
"It's from Dumbledore. He wants to start the lessons. He asked me to come to his office this Saturday." He whispered. "I won't have to do detention with Snape then."
We made guesses about the things that Dumbledore and Harry would be doing during lessons. Few minutes later Prof. Slughorn let us in. That's when I realise very few students are continuing Potions this year. Out of a class of forty, only sixteen are continuing. This is startling because almost everyone is continuing DADA. There were already some potions on the Prof. Slughorn's table. Each potion gave out a distinct smell. One of the cauldrons gave out a very enthralling smell, I was reminded of the smell of earth when it rains, my mother's cookies, green apples – this I associate with Draco, he loves them and a woody smell – this I associate with Harry. What the hell is this potion?
"Professor, Ron and I don't have books and supplies for today's class."
He looked pleased that Harry addressed him. "Yes, yes, McGonagall told me." He brought two old textbooks and two pairs of old scales from the cupboard and gave them to Harry and Ron. "You can take ingredients from the store cupboard today."
He turned towards the class now. "I have prepared some potions already so you can have a look. These are the kind of potions that you will be required to prepare after N.E.W.T.s. Can anyone tell me which potion this is?" He pointed towards a clear potion. It looks like water.
H's hand went up in the air before anyone even got a proper look at the potion. Prof. Slughorn nodded for her to answer. "It's Veritaserum, a colourless, odourless, potion that forces the drinker to tell the truth," said H.
"Very good!" Prof. Slughorn exclaimed. "Now, which one is this?" This time he pointed to a cauldron that was boiling mud in it. "This has been mentioned in the Ministry leaflets as well.
I know this one. H's hand moved quickly again. "Polyjuice Potion, sir." We both said at the same time. We both smiled at each other.
"Now this one?" He was looking at H, like she he knew she would be the one to answer. He pointed towards the cauldron, which gave out that enticing smell.
"It's Amortentia," she blushed.
"Excellent and what does it do?"
"It's the most powerful love potion in the world. It's smells differently to different people. I smell freshly mown grass and new parchment and…" She blushed even more now.
I raised my eyebrow at her. "I want to know." I mouthed to her. She blushed even more.
"May I know your name?" Prof. Slughorn asked.
"Hermione Granger."
"Are you related to Hector Dagworth-Granger, the founder of the Extraordinary Society of Potioneers?"
Wow! This man can pick out a famous person out of any surname.
"No…I'm a Muggle-born."
"Oh! One of my best friends is a Muggle-born and she is the best in our year! I'm assuming this is the friend you told me about, Harry."
"Yes, sir." Harry said proudly.
"Twenty points to Gryffindor."
She turned to Harry and beamed at him. "Did you really say that? Say that I am the best in the year?"
"Yes, I said that and you are the best in our year." Harry said it like it was the most obvious thing.
"I'm surprised you even asked that." I said.
"Even I could have said that if he had asked me." Ron said. She is very happy.
"Amortentia doesn't really create love. It only creates a very strong infatuation. Nothing can replicate or manufacture love." Prof. Slughorn said.
I felt eyes on me. Harry was looking at me. I smiled at him. I moved my eyes a little to the right. I saw Draco look at Prof. Slughorn. For a moment, just for a moment, I thought it was Draco who was looking at me. Wishful thinking!
"Which potion is that one, sir?" Ernie Macmillan from Hufflepuff asked. He pointed towards a small cauldron, which contained a liquid gold potion. It looked like it would spill out any moment but it didn't. Large drops of the potion were leaping above the cauldron like little goldfish. It looks beautiful.
"Ah! That one is the most curious little potion, Felix Felicis. Do you want to tell the class what it does, Ms. Granger?" He said with a kind smile.
"It's liquid luck! The potion makes you lucky!" She exclaimed.
This made everyone look at the potion with even more longing. Everyone is more attentive now.
"Why doesn't everyone take it all the time, sir?" Terry Boot from Ravenclaw asked.
"If taken in excess, it causes giddiness, recklessness and dangerous overconfidence. Too much of a good thing can ruin everything."
"Sir, have you taken it?" Michael Corner from Ravenclaw asked.
He smiled mischievously, "Twice. Once, when I was twenty-four, once when I was fifty-seven. Two teaspoonfuls with breakfast. Two perfect days!" He looked into the distance like he was remembering his perfect days.
"And that is the prize for this lesson." He said with a spark in his eyes. One tiny bottle of Felix Felicis, enough for twelve hours' luck. But I should warn Felix Felicis is banned during exams, sporting events, elections and similar events. So, the winner should use it only on an ordinary day and watch how an ordinary day becomes extraordinary!" The excitement was very tangible now. We all watched him with hungry eyes as he filled a tiny bottle with it and sealed it tightly. "Now, turn to page ten. There is enough time for you to make a decent attempt at the Draught of the Living Death. I don't expect perfect potions from you but whoever does the best will be given the prize. Off you go!"
Immediately, we all go to work. I decided to take it slow. I knew, I didn't have a chance, H will get the bottle of Felix Felicis. Also there are a lot more students who are better potioneers than I am. When I started preparing the potion, I realised I was more relaxed, all because Prof. Snape was not breathing down my neck. I think, even Neville can brew perfect potions without Prof. Snape around. With every step, my confidence increased. Maybe I do have a chance at winning it. I got more hopeful with every step that I completed successfully. I decided not to look at what others were doing, I don't want to be nervous.
Then, I got to the tough part. I was supposed to cut up Sopophorus Bean. The stupid bean just wouldn't cut. A bean is stalling my progress. I didn't know what to do. If I didn't add the bean soon, my potion was going to get ruined. In frustration, I held the bean with one hand and poked it with the tip of the knife in the other hand. Immediately, the juice came out and I put in the cauldron, the potion turned lilac – just like the textbook said it would.
"Yeah!" I exclaimed loudly. Everybody in the class looked at me with questioning eyes. "Sorry." I looked down at the book for the next instruction. I'm so embarrassed. Now all I have to do is stir the potion counter-clockwise until it turns clear like water. I happily started stirring the potion. I heard Harry and H argue about something but I didn't pay attention.
"Time's up." Prof. Slughorn announced. "Stop stirring and step back, please."
He started moving around the class. He occasionally looked impressed. My potion was not transparent but more translucent. I think I'm going to win. H didn't look to impress with her potion so I guessed, I must be ahead of her. Harry looked unusually smug considering this is Potions class. Prof. Slughorn looked at my potion and looked impressed. He frowned at Ron's potion. He looked impressed with H's potion. He looked very surprised by Harry's potion.
"The winner!" He announced and pointed at Harry. I didn't know if I should be shocked, happy or jealous. "Just like your mother! Your mother was excellent at potions. Looks like you've inherited your mother's potions talent." He said happily and gave him the tiny bottle of Felix Felicis. "Here's your prize."
"Congrats, Harry." I quickly pecked him on the cheek when we got out of the class. "But I must admit I'm a little jealous. I actually thought, I was going to win when I saw the frustrated look on H's face. I hope you don't mind that I'm jealous."
He snorted. "No, it's all right if you're jealous. But don't be jealous for a long time."
"How did you do it?" Ron blurted out.
"Just my luck." He said but he looked at Draco who was just passing us.
Once we got the common room, Harry told us about the potions textbook that Slughorn gave him. He said he it belonged to the 'Half-Blood Prince'. Apparently, Half-Blood Prince wrote down alternate instructions next to the instructions on the textbook. Harry followed Half-Blood Prince's instructions. H looked annoyed.
"You think I cheated, don't you?" Harry asked her.
"Well, it's not your own work, was it?" H counter asked him.
"He just followed a different set of instructions." Ron said."
"Ya. He still made the potion his own, it's not like this Half-Blood Prince made it for him."
"He took a chance and it paid-off." Ron said. "Why couldn't Slughorn give me that book!"
"Hold on!" Ginny said. She stood a little too close to Harry. Harry perked up slightly. "Are you telling me you're taking instructions from a book?" She looked shocked.
"It's not like that, Ginny." Harry explained.
"Are you doing what the book wants you to?" She asked.
"It's not like Riddle's diary. It's not the same thing." Harry said irritably.
"But Ginny's got a point." H perked up. She snatched the book from him. He protested but she didn't give it back to him. "Specialis revelio!" She tapped the book with her wand. Nothing happened with the book.
"Are you done?" Harry picked the book up and held it tightly. He held it like it was his precious Firebolt.
"There is nothing wrong with it." H said with uncertainty.
"All right. I have CFMC now. I'll see you guys later." I pecked Harry on the cheek. I saw Dean come down the stairs from the boys' dorms. "Hey Dean. Are you going for CFMC class?"
"Yes." He kissed Ginny on her cheek. Ron grunted. Harry looked uncomfortable.
"Let's go together."
He nodded and we left together. We spoke about the classes we attended till now till be reached Hagrid's hut.
We were waiting for Harry to return from Dumbledore's office. The three of us were too excited to go to sleep. Despite numerous attempts at completing my homework, I was not able to concentrate. I chucked it. I decided to complete the reading assignments. The common room was almost empty now. Ron and H were playing wizard chess.
We perked up when we heard the portrait door open. Harry came in. He saw me and grinned at me.
"You did a very good thing." Harry told me. He hugged me tight.
"Umm…thanks! But what did I do?"
He told us about seeing Bob Ogden's memory of visiting the Gaunts. The Gaunts were the last descendants of Slytherin.
"Voldemort's mother owned the locket." Harry said excitedly.
"Did you tell Dumbledore? Oh my god! With everything that happened last year, I completely forgot about the locket." I said.
"I think we should take it to Dumbledore tomorrow." H said.
"Or we take it to Chamber of Secrets and destroy it." Ron said.
"We don't know for sure, if it'll work." H countered him.
"Then there's no harm in trying." Ron said.
"I think, I should tell him after we destroy it. He is already injured God knows doing what. If we destroy it ourselves, maybe we are helping him." Harry said.
They looked at me, waiting for me to say something. "All right. Let's go then. Let's just get it over with." Harry and Ron looked pleased but H was looked betrayed.
"I'll go get the map." Harry went up to his room.
"Come on, H. It's better if we destroy it and then tell Dumbledore instead of telling him and watching him do the same exact thing. It's a long process."
"Anyways, even if we had decided to go to Dumbledore first, I'm pretty sure we would have ended up destroying it ourselves and then gone to Dumbledore. That's how we are. We act first."
"Don't say you don't enjoy it." I poked her playfully. She laughed.
Once Harry came back, we checked the map to decide the most 'un-patrolled' way to Myrtle's bathroom. Myrtle was not in the bathroom. She must be in the prefects' bathroom, Harry told me that she sometimes hangs out there. It's good that one was disturbing us. Since the four of us wouldn't fit in the invisibility cloak, Harry didn't bring it along with him. We made sure not to make too much sound.
Harry went straight to the tap, which had the snake symbol on it and said something in Parseltongue. The tunnel opened up. One by one we slid down the tunnel and landed on brittle bones of dead animals that ended up becoming the Basilisk's food. H kept looking around. She is alert. She was the only one of us who wasn't here the last time. Though we told her everything, she still looked wary. Harry, Ron and I were more relaxed. We got to the chamber entrance and again Harry spoke in Parseltongue. I must admit when he speaks in Parseltongue, I get goose bumps all over my body. I'm not scared. I don't feel like I'm with Harry when I hear him talk in the snake language. He sounds very sinister.
The chamber entrance door opened. The chamber looked exactly how we left it the last time. The dead basilisk was in the small pool of water on the other side of the room. I could tell the basilisk is decomposing by the acrid smell in the chamber.
"H, is there any spell that can stop the body from smelling so much. I think, I'll puke if I stay here." I asked hopefully.
"Yup." She waved her wands a couple of times. While the magic didn't produce any pleasant smell, it at least contained the odour to a large extent.
"Thanks." Ron breathed out.
"Let's just get this over with." Harry said. He looked excited and nervous at the same time.
We went closer to the basilisk. I don't like this chamber. I can still see Riddle draining life out of Ginny's body. I may not like her but I would never want that for her. It was scary sight. I remember Fawkes blinding the basilisk. I remember being chased by the basilisk. I was so scared. Later Harry pulled out Gryffindor's sword from the Sorting Hat and killed the basilisk but almost killing himself in the process. I remember Harry going blue as the venom spread through his body. He pulled the basilisk tooth from his arm and gave it to me. And he looked at the diary meaningfully. It took me a while to understand what he was implying. I took the tooth and drilled it through the diary. Just as I was attacking the diary, Fawkes dropped a few tears on Harry's arm. Riddle couldn't do anything. The diary was his strength. I often wonder how Riddle did that.
Harry picked up the tooth that I had used to destroy the diary. "Here, you do it. You found the locket, it's only fair that you destroy it." He told me.
"Nah! It's fine. You do it." I told him.
"I'll do it." Ron said. His eyes sparked with excitement.
I shrugged. Harry gave him the tooth. The locket was still covered in the rags that I wrapped it up when Harry and I took it from Kreacher. Harry set the locket on the floor.
"I think, it would be better if the locket is open rather than close." H said cautiously.
"Okay." Harry says and opens it.
As soon as Harry opened it, black smoke rose from the locket. There were voices coming as well. I couldn't understand what they were saying. Harry stood next to me. Ron stood in front of us.
"I see you. I see your fears." A voice from the smoke said. It was a chilling voice. I don't like this. "I know what you want."
Ron is stationary. He is paler than usual. I see the smoke taking definite forms now. I see a black smoke version of Harry. He is sneering at Ron. "You will always after me. Everyone knows you only because you're my friend," said the same chilling voice through smoke Harry.
Then a smoke version of H stood next to smoke Harry, "You will never be as good as Harry. He is the chosen one. He is the 'Boy-who-lived'. You are nothing in front of him."
A smoke version of me appeared on the other side of Harry and said, "Ron you are not good enough, you will never be. Harry will win us the Quidditch Cup. Harry should have been made prefect not you." I say to a petrified Ron.
Next his mother appeared, "Your brothers have made us very proud. You will never make us proud like that." Each of his family members appeared and they said things that kept upsetting Ron more and more.
"Ron, just do it." Harry urged him. He looked at us like he wanted us to do something.
"None of it is real, Ron." I said tentatively. Harry nodded.
"Ron, just destroy the locket." H said.
The smoke changed form again. It was Harry, H and I again. Smoke Harry had one hand around smoke H and one hand around smoke 'me'. Smoke versions of Harry and I kissed, then Harry and H kiss. The three of us of saying mean things to him.
This is uncomfortable. The real 'us' are very shocked. For a moment we forget to encourage Ron to just destroy the locket. We watch what the smoke versions of us are doing. We start doing things, which are hard to explain. I'm surprised Ron thinks about these things.
I snapped out of the shock. "Ron, come on, buddy. Just finish it off."
"Yes, mate. Use the tooth." Harry said.
"Ron, it's not real." H shouted.
We kept shouting out words of encouragement. Neither of us offered to do it because we knew it would offend Ron. H got frustrated and shook Ron's arm. Ron snapped and looked at H.
"It's not real. You can do this." H told him earnestly.
Ron nodded. He shouted, "None of this is real." He stabbed the locket hard with the basilisk tooth. The smoke gave a blood-curling shout like it was in pain. The force of the smoke threw us all back. After a few seconds, it was gone. The locket was on the floor where Harry placed it. It was blackened like it was set on fire.
None of us said or did anything for a while. We just looked at the locket. Again, I was wondering how Voldemort could manage something like this? Are we strengthening him or weakening him by doing this? I hope we are weakening him.
Harry got up and walked up to Ron. He patted him on the back and said, "Well done, mate."
I looked at Ron. A part of me knew he was always jealous of Harry but what we just saw startled and scared me.
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Enjoy! Neepa :-)