Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Harry Potter
Harry sat, waiting at the back of the defence classroom for the bell to ring. Luck was on his side when not two seconds after that thought, the bell rung signalling the end of class.
"Homework: compose a poem about my defeat of the Wagga Wagga Werewolf! Signed copies of 'Magical Me' to the author of the best one," Lockhart shouted as the class cleared out of the room.
Waiting for everyone to go Hermione, Ron, Neville and Harry then made their way towards Lockhart.
"Umm…Professor Lockhart," Hermione started nervously, "I wanted to get this book out of the library. Just for background reading, you see. However, the thing is that it is in the restricted section of the library. This means I need a signed signature from a teacher to get it. I'm sure it will help me better understand what you say in 'Gadding with Ghouls' about slow acting venoms…"
"Ah yes, 'Gadding with Ghouls'!" Lockhart said cheerfully. "Probably one of my most favourite books. Did you enjoy it?"
"Oh yes," Hermione said. "So clever how you trapped the last one with a tea strainer." Harry gave her a weird look at that comment. She did not notice.
"Well I don't suppose it would hurt giving the best student of the year a little extra help," Lockhart said pulling out an enormous peacock quill. "Yes beautiful isn't it? I normally save it for book signings," Lockhart said, misreading Ron's features of disgust as he wrote his signature on the piece of paper.
"So tomorrow's the first match of the Quidditch season I believe, isn't it?" Lockhart said to Harry whilst he was handing the piece of paper back to Hermione.
"Yes it is and I've got practice in a second so I've got to go," Harry said and then strode out of the door leaving Lockhart behind. A minute latter Ron, Neville and Hermione came out and they started to head towards the library.
"That was rather rude Harry," Hermione scolded.
"Who cares, it's Lockhart," Ron said shrugging.
"Yeah," Neville agreed. "The important thing is that we've got the signature."
"He didn't even look at the book we wanted," Ron said. "I guess he really is a brainless git."
"He is not a brainless git!" Hermione retorted, getting angry and ready for a fight.
"Will you two shut up!" Harry said, getting annoyed. The two of them fell silent.
"Ah, quiet," Neville said. "Here, I bet another 10 galleons that they start arguing in the next two minutes."
"Another?" Ron asked, causing Hermione to shake her head.
"Yeah, I already lost ten galleons to him earlier in the week," Harry said shrugging.
"You're betting on us?" Hermione said outraged.
"It's an easy way to make some quick cash," Neville said. "We can guarantee that you two will start fighting. It's just the matter of when."
As they reached the library, they saw Ginny waiting outside the door. "Did you get it?" she asked, as they got close enough to her. Hermione showed her the note. "I guess he really is a brainless git then isn't he?" Ginny said. Hermione turned to look at her angrily whilst Ron just laughed. Ginny was confused by the look Hermione gave her. "What did I say?" she asked Harry and Neville, but they were too busy laughing to answer her.
They went into the library and went over to the vulture-faced Madam Pince. Hermione showed her the note, but did not let it go. "I was wondering if I could keep it?" she asked. Harry shook his head in disbelief at Hermione whilst Ron snatched the note out of her hand and handed it to the librarian.
After a vigorous test, Madam Pince seemed to decide that the note was genuine and went to get the book. After she handed the book to Hermione, Harry and the others quickly left the library and went straight to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
"Please tell me why we are here. It's a girl's bathroom," Ron said looking around disgusted.
"But it is the safest place to keep the potion," Hermione said, carefully opening up the book. "Here it is. The Polyjuice potion."
"Oh my," Hermione said as she read the instruction on how to make it. "This is one difficult potion. Lacewing flies, leeches, fluxweed and knotgrass. They're easy; they're in the student store cupboard so we can help ourselves. However, it is these ingredients here, which are going to be difficult. Powdered horn of a bicorn. Where are we going to get that? Shredded skin of boomslang. That will be tricky too. In addition, of course, something of who ever we are changing into…"
"Excuse me!" Ron said. "I am not drinking anything with Crabbe's toenails in it."
"…But we don't have to worry about that because we add that right at the last minute," Hermione continued as if she had not heard Ron.
"I'm not sure about this," Neville said. "I mean all that stuff we are going to have to steal."
"Fine," Hermione said snapping the book closed. "If you lot don't want to do this that's fine by me. I will just take the book back now. However, I think something attacking Muggleborn students is far worse then brewing this potion."
"How long will it take to make?" Ginny asked.
"About a month," Hermione answered, rescanning the book. "If everything goes to plan and we can get the ingredients soon…about a month."
"A month!" Ron said. "Malfoy could have attacked half the Muggleborns in the school by then." Ron looked at Hermione and saw the look she had on her face. "But it's the best plan we've got at the moment so I say full speed ahead," he hastily added.
However as they were leaving Ron turned to Harry and said, "It will be a hell of a lot easier if you could knock him off his broom tomorrow."
-oOoOoOo-
Harry sat in the Gryffindor changing rooms, wearing his scarlet robes and waiting for Wood to start the pep talk. Harry was thinking of the game ahead. Last time there was the rogue bludger. Would Dobby make it go after Harry again? He hoped not. He wanted to win this game as much as possible. With everything that was going on again he knew that he could not predict Quidditch games. They were completely different to last time around. And that's what scared him. What if the bludger really hurt him? Harry was shaken from his thoughts by the sound of Wood's voice starting the pre-match talk.
"The Slytherins have better brooms than us," Wood started. "That we cannot deny. However, we have better people on our brooms. And we're going to make them rue the day they let that filthy bit of slime Malfoy buy his way onto their team." Turning to Harry, he addressed him. "It will be down to you Harry. You need to show them what a seeker is made of, that it has nothing to do with a rich father. You need to get that snitch before Malfoy or die trying, Harry, because we have to win today. We have to show that skill can out play fast brooms. That you need skill to win the cup."
"So no pressure then Harry," Fred said.
The fourteen players both walked out onto the pitch to the Gryffindors' cheers and the Slytherins' boos as they lined up, ready to start the match. Harry mounted his broom ready to play in one of the most difficult matches. He just hoped Dobby had not fixed the bludger.
On the sound of Madam Hooch's whistle fourteen brooms rose up into the air, all seven Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones accelerating faster than the Gryffindor broomsticks. Just as Harry levelled out, a bludger came shooting straight at him.
Ducking, Harry watched the bludger sail past his head. "Please don't turn, please don't turn," Harry said in his head, begging for something to go his way for once. Harry was pleased to see that the Bludger went off towards a Slytherin chaser. Harry was glad that Dobby had not done the rogue Bludger trick this time. Something was going his way for once.
Harry turned to fly into the other direction when he heard the sound of the other Bludger coming straight at him. Barrel rolling out of the way, the Bludger screamed past him. Harry watched as his happiness depleted when the Bludger turned in a circle and once again shot at him.
"Damn you, Dobby," Harry cursed as he pushed himself flat on the broomstick and zoomed off in the other direction. George was holding his beater ready to hit it away and Harry ducked as he swung the club at the Bludger and knocked it towards one of the Slytherin chasers.
"That was close Harry, watch out next time," George shouted to him.
"Err George, I suggest you duck…" Harry said and George ducked just in time for the Bludger to go over his head and Harry had to swerve in order for it not to hit him. Harry streaked across the pitch towards the other end where Fred was waiting for him. If only he could cast the counter jinx, but bringing wands onto the field was illegal. If he was found with a wand on him the game would be forfeited. Moreover, Harry could not wandlessly do the counter jinx. If he did that, he would have lots of explaining to do. Most important, he would be asked how he could do wandless magic.
Fred smacked the Bludger as hard as he could away from Harry. "That's done it!" he shouted.
"Don't think so Fred," Harry warned, as the Bludger once again turned in midair and aimed for Harry again. For ten minutes Harry, Fred and George flew close together trying to stop the Bludger hitting Harry.
"Someone's bloody tampered with this Bludger," Fred hissed out in frustration as he swung his bat at the Bludger for the one thousandth time.
"We need a time out," George said signalling to Wood.
"No guys just leave it and leave me; I can take care of it," Harry said. However, Wood had already called for the timeout and Harry heard Madam Hooch's whistle blow so they dived down the ground with the Bludger still trying to hit Harry.
"What is going on?" Wood said, "We're being flattened! Fred, George what the hell were you two doing when that Bludger hit Angelina to stop her from scoring?"
"We were about thirty feet above her stopping the other Bludger murdering Harry, Oliver!" George retorted angrily. "That Bludger has been tampered with. It has not left Harry alone all game. It has not gone for anyone else either. It just keeps going after Harry. Slytherins must have done this."
"The Bludgers have been kept in the office since last practice, nothing was wrong then," Wood said worryingly.
"Then just leave me alone and let me deal with the rogue Bludger," Harry said. "You know I fly well, I can handle it. I told Fred and George to leave me alone up there just before you called for time out."
"What's going on?" came the voice of Ginny. She had come down from the stands from where she was watching the match.
"Nothing Ginny. Come on, we need to get back out," Harry said.
"You're going back!" Ginny cried. "But what about the Bludger? Someone has obviously made it come after you! I bet its Malfoy."
"Neither Malfoy or the Slytherins have the brains to do that Ginny. I'll be fine," Harry assured her as Madam Hooch started walking over to them. "Oliver, tell Fred and George to leave me alone and let me deal with it on my own."
"Don't be thick," Fred said. "You'll be dead within a minute."
"Harry," Ginny pleaded. "Please don't go back out there."
"I'm not going to die," Harry said heatedly. "Ginny," he added soothingly to stop her from worrying, "I'll be completely fine. You can trust me right?"
"I don't want you hurt," she said quietly.
"Its Quidditch Ginny, everyone gets hurt sometime or another," Harry said.
"Getting hurt is one thing. Getting killed is another, Harry," Fred said.
"Bloody hell, I'm not going to die," Harry said. "Stop saying things that you know will upset Ginny."
"I'm not a baby, Harry," Ginny said folding her arms. "I'm sorry that I care so much for you that I don't want you hurt."
"Listen, I can take care of it," Harry said, very frustrated now. "Wood, believe me. Tell them to leave me alone."
Wood looked into Harry's eyes, concentrating and thinking. "Ready to resume play?" Madam Hooch asked when she reached them.
"Oliver, this is mad. Let's ask for an enquiry." Angelina said.
"No. We ask for that we have to forfeit," Harry said getting angry. "And I will not forfeit. I can take care of the Bludger on my own."
Wood sighed. "Fred, George, leave Harry alone. Let him deal with the rogue Bludger."
Back up in the air, Harry dived and twisted to avoid the Bludger. It was getting very annoying and Harry's decision to not to show his wandless magic was close to breaking. He zoned out the laughter from the Slytherin end, deciding to concentrate purely on the Bludger.
Just as the Bludger narrowly missed another shot at Harry, he saw Malfoy going into a dive. Harry shot straight after him. However, the speed between the Nimbus Two Thousand and the Two Thousand and One was obvious. He could not catch up with him. With silent horror, he saw Malfoy reach out his hand and saw his fingers close around the small form of the golden snitch. Harry stopped what he was doing not concentrating; his only thought was seeing the golden snitch enclosed in Malfoy grotty hands. He had lost. He had never lost to Malfoy before. He could not believe what he was seeing. His moment of hesitation of seeing Malfoy catch the snitch opened the door to allow the Bludger to strike. Harry heard the whooshing of the Bludger and the feeling of it pounding into his skull before the blackness of unconsciousness swallowed him whole.
-oOoOoOo-
Harry woke up in the darkness of the hospital wing with a headache beyond that of which he had ever felt before. He was not sure what was wrong with him. Harry reached towards the side table and with his free arm, glad that at least he had the function of both of them this time around. Putting on his classes he finally saw Dobby at the end of his bed.
"Harry Potter is awake sir," he said astonished. Shaking his head Dobby continued. "Harry Potter came back to school sir. Dobby tried to get him to miss the train but Harry Potter saw through. Oh sir, why are you so determined to come back here sir. Why didn't Harry Potter heed Dobby and stay at home."
"Because I am needed here," Harry said through greeted teeth. Ignoring the continuous thumping his head was doing. "There's more going on then you think Dobby, and I wish I could tell you something to make you not worry so much. However, if your master ever found out you knew secrets of mine he would force you to tell them. I cannot and will not risk that."
"But it is dangerous here, Harry Potter sir." Dobby said. "Harry Potter might be needed here sir, but Harry Potter is needed to be alive more sir. Harry Potter must go home sir. Dobby thought his Bludger would be enough… it should have been enough. Dobby does not really understand how Harry Potter is awake."
"You have your secrets and I have mine," Harry said. "I am not going anywhere."
"Ah but sir…" Dobby said strenuously trying to get Harry to see his point. "If Harry Potter only knew," he stated, tears starting to come down his cheeks. "If he knew what he means to us. The lowly, the enslaved, us dregs of the magical world. Dobby remembers what it was like when He Who Must Not Be Named was at the height of his powers, sir! We house elves were treated like vermin sir. Of course, Dobby is still treated like vermin sir, but for the rest of our kind, our life has improved. Harry Potter survived, and the Dark Lord was broken. A new dawn arose, sir, and Harry Potter shone like a beacon of hope for our kind to those that thought that the dark days would never end. However, dark times are to return to Hogwarts this year, perhaps already returned. Dobby must not let Harry Potter stay here now that history is to repeat itself. Now that the Chamber of Secrets has been opened again once more…"
Horror struck at what he just revealed, Dobby grabbed the empty water jug from Harry's bedside table and began to hit himself with it. "Bad Dobby… Very Bad Dobby," he screamed.
"Dobby stop!" Harry commanded grabbing the water jug and tearing it away from him. "Be quiet before you wake up Madam Pomfrey. You don't want anyone to know you're actually here do you?" Dobby shook his head. "Like I said, I know more than you think. I knew that the Chamber of Secrets had been indeed, opened before. You didn't tell me anything I didn't already know."
"Then you know how dangerous this is Harry Potter. Do you know what happened before the culprit was caught Harry Potter?" Dobby asked.
"The culprit was never caught. Hagrid never opened it, he was framed," Harry said.
"Then you do know more than you let on. Oh, Harry Potter sir. If you know the full danger that this is then why are you persisting on staying here. Go home where you will be safe. Go home Harry Potter. Go home," Dobby said.
"I am not about to leave when Hermione and Ginny…" Harry said but stopped when he heard the sound of footsteps coming towards the hospital wing.
Dobby looked at him in wonder. It was obvious he knew it was Ginny. He looked at Harry in complete shock before remembering the footsteps coming towards the hospital wing. "Dobby must go!" Dobby said breathlessly. "Be safe." With that, he disappeared with a loud crack.
At that time, the doors to the hospital wing burst open and in came Dumbledore and McGonagall carrying in the petrified form of Colin Creevey.
"Get Poppy," Harry heard Dumbledore say to McGonagall. Harry slowly leaned down into his bed and pretending to be asleep. Both Dumbledore and McGonagall were too busy carrying Colin to notice that Harry was awake.
McGonagall came back into the ward followed closely by Pomfrey in her nightcap. "What happened?" Pomfrey asked.
"Another attack," Dumbledore said. "Minerva found him on the stairs."
"We think he was coming up here to visit Potter," McGonagall said. "The whole Gryffindor house is shocked by what happened this afternoon. Especially Potter's close friends. Is there any news on Potter?"
"None more than there was this evening, Unconscious and most likely not to return to consciousness for at least two weeks, maybe three," Madam Pomfrey said. She looked down at Colin. "So he's petrified like Mrs Norris?"
"Yes," Professor McGonagall answered her. "But it was lucky that I wanted some hot chocolate. If he were left there alone all night, who knows what would have happened. How is this happening Albus? What does this mean? What do we tell the staff?"
"We tell them the truth. Tell them that Hogwarts is no longer safe, that it is as we feared. Tell them that the Chamber of Secrets has been indeed, opened again," Dumbledore answered.
"But Albus... surely... who?" McGonagall stammered.
"The question, Minerva, is not who," Dumbledore answered. "The question is how…"
-oOoOoOo-
After a further ten minutes the three grown-ups fussed over Colin before heading back to bed. Dumbledore was the last to leave. He looked over to where Harry lay pretending to sleep.
"I surely hope you know what you are doing Harry," He said quietly.
"I hope so too," Harry whispered to himself.
Five minutes later Harry was just about to drop off to sleep when Estelle flamed into the hospital wing.
"Harry!" she shouted into his mind causing Harry to bolt upright.
"Bloody hell Estelle," Harry said to her. "Where's the fire?"
"Harry!" came a loud hiss from Simon from the floor causing Harry's head to feel yet again like it was going to explode.
"Bloody hell guys," Harry said putting his head into his hands. "Can you shout just a little bit quieter?"
"Harry it's Ginny," Simon said to him gently and Harry stopped thinking about his headache and straightened considerably.
"Harry, Ginny needs your help," Estelle said quietly. "She's in the common room right now. Harry, she needs you right now."
"What…?" Harry said confused.
"Go to Ginny now Harry," Simon said. "She needs you."
Harry, trusting his companions, got out of bed and hurriedly got dressed. He walked as quickly as his body or head would allow him so it took a little longer than normal to get to the Gryffindor common room. As he came towards the Fat Lady she looked relieved to see him. "Oh thank god you're alright. I would bore you to death but you need to get in here."
Confused as hell he walked into the common room looking for Ginny. He spotted her by the common room fire. She looked terrible. Her clothes were loosely hanging from her body and her hair was all over the place. She had dark black bags under her eyes and she looked like she had not slept properly in weeks. Her body was physically shaking and her sobs were coming out thick and fast. Taking hesitant steps, he approached her.
"Ginny?" Harry asked gently causing her sobbing to stop abruptly. She looked at Harry in shock, her face showing fear and unhappiness.
"Ginny?" Harry asked gently again, as he walked slowly towards her. As he got close, he knelt down besides her and looked into her emotion-filled brown eyes which clearly showed how scared and vulnerable she was feeling. She continued to stare silently at Harry. Taking her hand, Harry tucked back the hair that had fallen around the front of her face to show her face clearly. "Ginny?" He asked one more time. At last, she answered.
"Harry." She whispered so quietly that Harry could hardly hear her. She sobbed once more before continuing. The voice she used made her sound so scared, so lost compared to the normal, confident Ginny that he knew and loved, that it shocked him to the core. "Harry" she said one more time. "Help me…"
A/N: he he, so you like the cliffhanger no? no, you don't… oh erm, then can you promise that you don't kill me and allow me to write the next chapter so you all know what happens next? You hold no promises? Okay then, I suppose that's fair. Let us just hope I write the next chapter before you people find me.
Secondly now that the cliffhanger is out of the way. In regards to Colin. I want to put it in the story how he managed to get petrified without the camera, but just in case I don't manage to get that in. he saw the basilisk eyes from a mirror hanging on the wall on the stairs between the first and second floor corridor. The reason he was out of bed was too of course see Harry. But because Colin wants to be a proper friend now, not because of him being famous, he has gone away and thought about what Harry said in chapter called the fake professor. And he just wanted to check on Harry friend wise, hence no camera.
Other than that. That is it. I hope you all enjoyed. And now I'm going to go have a 2 month break so you guys don't know what happens next… oh you don't like that? I suppose you would not. you say you will hire out a trained assassin? Oh erm… I am hurrying writing the next chapter for you. :-). Seriously, I will start writing the next one about 2 days after I have finished writing this one, which means I will probably have it all written before you get this. So you would not have too long to wait hopefully. Cheerio!