I don't own the story or the characters of Harry Potter, this work is entirely fan-made. The rights to everything Harry Potter belong to J.K Rowling.

Times were tough but I know that we can work through this together, one step at a time. My contribution is this story still getting regular updates, despite having multiple projects going on for this site as well.

Anyway, enjoy!

The student populus was in an uproar. Another child had been attacked by the monster. Justin's quarrel with Harry Potter was old news by now, and even after a month had passed when there had been no more issues with the Heir of Slytherin, people still felt that Harry was to blame for their misfortune. Some of the teachers had even taken a side in the drama. Professor Sprout would now stand further away from the four Gryffindors in herbology and Professor Babbling would swerve around Harry in the halls. The Society was unaffected by the rumours and stayed loyal and faithful to Harry, even when the rest of the school was against them. It was a wonder that Professor McGonagall hadn't told the press or the ministry about the attacks. It was as if she was Dumbledore reincarnate. Nevertheless, Hogwarts stayed well away from the Potters if they could help it. Since the attack at the start of December on Justin, Harry had taken to being solitary in class, not even engaging with his friends until he had to. The only things that didn't change were the bonds that he had with the other three. Hermione was still as caring, kind and thoughtful as ever, Zoe was still teasing the two about their newly cemented relationship and Neville had remained the loyal and fierce brother that Harry had always needed in Zoe's absence. 'Hogwarts is in danger and once again, I am at the root of it.' Harry mused.

"Mr Potter, please answer the question!" Professor McGonagall said annoyedly as she woke Harry form his brooding. "Sorry Professor, uh," he looked at the question on the board that she was pointing at. "The incantation would be Vera Verto but can be changed to suit the caster's need of the item," McGonagall stared at him, knowing that he wasn't paying attention. "Correct in the first answer, so five points. However, the incantation cannot be changed to suit the caster's need. The intent of the spell matters when forming different objects. Mr Potter, if you would kindly see me after class please." She carried on as the Slytherin contingent snickered, laughing at the Gryffindor hero get taken down a few pegs. The class went as horribly as was the new normal, having even some of the Slytherins performing the spell better than him, though, Daphne, Tracey and Alexander didn't boast. Harry noticed that Ron Weasley had even performed the spell before leaving the classroom and made it clear to Harry that he didn't care what people said about him, but he also didn't care enough to say anything in retort. 'Fair enough' he thought as he waited for the class to leave the room. Professor McGonagall locked the door and erected silencing wards to stop unwanted ears from eavesdropping with a swish of her wand. "Potter. I understand the rumours going about, but I can't stop them. Even as the Headmistress, they will all take time to get used to my authority. Until such a time when that happens, I cannot dispel any of the murmurs going around about your lineage. Meanwhile, your classwork is lacking in its lustre. You used to be a prize pupil, but you have let yourself slip. I don't mean to sound like Profess- Albus Dumbledore, but your emotions need to stay in check, especially whilst you are around your peers. For the sake of your work, please, think about what I am saying. It will benefit you in the long run." She nodded and waved the young lad off, telling him to get to Potions fast.

"Potter, nearly late, be careful you do not end up like your godfather and be a constant truant." Professor Snape told him with a small smirk, hiding his ire for Sirius Black. Harry just glared at him as he did with McGonagall, tired of the lectures and belittling. "Today we shall be preparing ingredients for the swelling solution, similar to the bloating draught, but affects something without having to ingest it. Mr Malfoy," he said, raising his eyebrow at Draco "you would do well to learn this one, otherwise, you could be made a fool of again. The instructions are as follows." He wrote down the ingredients and preparation on the blackboard with a flick of his wand and the class scrambled to get the items necessary for the potion. "Hermione, you get the bat spleens and the dried nettles from the cupboard and Harry could you get the puffer-fish eyes?" Neville asked, as he prepared the cauldron and stoked a small fire underneath it with incendio. Harry and Hermione brought the items over and began to prepare and measure them into correct states and quantities. The class passed faster than normal but was still quite boring nonetheless. 30 minutes came to an end and Professor Snape set stasis charms on the ingredients for the next time they were in the class.

Considering the student's attitude towards Harry, it was a surprise when Colin Creevey walked up to Harry as he was eating his lunch beside Neville and Hermione; Zoe hadn't yet been released from the hospital wing. "Hiya Harry. It's so cool that you can talk to snakes and defended Justin as you did in the duelling club. I don't think that you are the Heir of Slytherin of course, you just aren't the type. You're not evil or in Slytherin, umm you… Uh… Do you think I could get a picture today?" He rattled off lots of words and made Harry's head spin, not enough to lose consciousness or the ability to tell Colin to go away though. "No Colin, not today," Harry growled, trying to keep his anger in check, though the boy didn't listen. "Please Harry, it would mean a lot if I could send my little brother one of them. I'm sure you can meet him when he comes to Hogwarts." Harry's eyes told the boy that today was not the right day for this. However, he decided to tell Colin himself. "No Colin, I don't want a picture, I don't want you to have a picture of me, and I want to be left ALONE!" He got up and stormed off to have a walk on the grounds. Neville and Hermione offered to come with him, but he waved them off as the rest of the hall watched a severely pissed-off Harry Potter walk out of the hall with many sniggers and jeers being made in his wake. His friends looked at each other, knowing to leave him alone when he was like this. On the way to Gryffindor tower to get his cloak, Harry noticed a stream of water coming from around a corner. The girl's bathroom on the second floor was leaking water from under the door. Pushing it open, Harry called into the bathroom, "Hello, is anyone in here?" The only reply he got was an angry cackle from a ghost that was sitting up on one of the windowsills. "Come to throw more things at Myrtle have you? Oh, it's you." She sighed with disdain. "Who are you anyway? Why are you in the ladies room? Come to peep, have you?" She gave a mad laugh. Harry narrowed his eyes at the ghost and walked over to the stall that was leaking water into the rest of the room. Peering into the stall, Harry spotted a single black book lying in the waste. It was miraculously clean and dry 'Impervious charm probably'. Flipping through the pages, he saw that they were all blank and the only writing in the whole thing was a name at the front that read, T. , printed in neat, black handwriting.

After Harry's outburst at lunch, people were more horrible than ever. Though something lifted his spirits later that evening after charms class in the form of a mirror call from Sirius. "Hey, Sirius. What do you want?" he asked gloomily. Narrowing his eyes at his godson, he answered "We have been able to keep the parseltongue news quiet around the Prophet, though Rita Skeeter nearly caught wind and we had to pay them a substantial amount, for them at least, to keep her in check, though that deal is forever. Anyway, enough about the news, what is happening at Hogwarts these days? The new Marauders making trouble for McGonagall as the new Headmistress? Or is your gloomy tone for something other than a failed prank?" Harry nodded at the second part and explained the situation with himself, the Heir of Slytherin and his outburst at lunch. "Oh don't worry pup, things will sort themselves out soon. Plus, I've got someone for you to meet properly." A woman Harry recognised shuffled into the frame. "Madam Bones, a pleasure to see you again." He said with a sly smirk. "Ah Mr Potter, I have been subtly investigating this Chamber of Secrets nonsense and so far I can definitely conclude that you are at least, NOT the person responsible." Harry's expression didn't change. "Well at least someone other than my girlfriend, god-brother, sister and family believe me. Hogwarts is still under the impression that I am murdering psychopath with Medusa tendencies. Well, I have to go, thanks for everything you've done so far. Oh, and Madam Bones, I know exactly where you are, Sirius is using the wide-frame mirror that only resides in his room. Keep him in check, please. Bye, Padfoot!" Harry waved as was about to shout "you little shi"- and was cut off.

Hermione saw heard the conversation from her seat at the desk next to Harry's bed and giggled at his slight towards the DMLE director and his godfather. Harry rose from his bed and walked over to Hermione, giving her a peck on the cheek before sitting down on the bed. "So, how's my reputation with the first-years, scared them off yet?" She smiled weakly and started to rest her head on his shoulder. The action did not go unnoticed by Neville and Dean, two people that also used the room as a dorm. "Well, Colin is certainly… miffed, for lack of a better word and the rest of Gryffindor still believes that you are a heartless, psychopathic moron that is turning people into stone. I do believe that we have some support though on the first-year side. Ginny Weasley seems quite taken with you and ripped into Colin the first chance she got and walked him out of the common room. Probably going to shout at him more." Hermione replied with a wink at the mention of Ginny Weasley, which made Harry shudder in disgust. "I guess I can apologise to Colin… when this whole Heir thing is over and done with. Until I am cleared of any doubt that I am not the Heir of Slytherin, I will not be apologising for my short temper. Besides, you like it when I get all defensive." He shot back, waggling his eyebrows. Hermione laughed back and pecked Harry on the lips, bidding goodnight to Neville who returned the gesture and Dean who just gave a curt nod. "G'night Hermione. Sleep well." Harry called after her as he leaned back into the headboard of his bed. 'At least it's the weekend tomorrow.' Harry thought as he pondered what he could do tomorrow, given that he had done all of his homework for the next week. "Hey Nev, the library for research tomorrow?" Harry asked his brother. "Sure, we might be able to get some more info on the magic causing the attacks. I hope that we can also do some more transfiguration practice as well. I think that my wand might be losing power or something like that. I seem to be doing progressively worse in the classes that I need my wand for. Well, I'll ask Gran about it anyway. Night Harry." He said back through the drawn curtains.

Thanks for sticking around for this long into the story. It means a lot that people read it.

Stay Safe

-E