They had just reached the top of the staircase when Harry staggered into the wall.
"Harry!" Nova yelped, immediately circling to support him.
"Harry, what're you -?"
"It's that voice again - shut up a minute -"
Gale's confusion was palpable, but he didn't ask, instead moving closer.
"Listen!" said Harry urgently, and everyone froze.
The halls were silent. In fact, Gale glanced up and down the corridors, seeing no one. Everyone else was at the feast. Harry's gaze moved to the ceiling. Gale sent the others a worried look, but no one saw, they were too focused on Harry.
"This way," he suddenly shouted. Harry bolted up the stairs, into the entrance hall. Gale cautiously followed, keeping to the back, as Nova, Hermione and Ron clattered after. Harry sprinted up the marble staircase to the first floor.
"Harry, what're we –"
"SHH!"
Gale pulled back, making a small hum. Hoping to hear whatever Harry was, he closed his eyes and focused. Standing still, he strained his ears, but nothing sounded different. Gale opened his eyes, only to see the group gone.
He nodded to himself, and took a step back towards the Great Hall. Gale was rather hungry, and they couldn't really blame him, could they. He stood there, indecisively looking back and forth, then decided that food sounded better right now.
Backtracking, Gale slid into the Great Hall, where many students were settled into their own conversations, mid-dessert. He found a seat near the end of the Ravenclaw table then grabbed a few small items to eat. And he ate them quickly as he was uncertain how much longer the food would be there.
Gale kept an eye on the nearby Ravenclaws, hoping that nobody had noticed his late arrival. None appeared to be aware of any changes.
Because of his late arrival, the food vanished mid brownie. Gale hesitantly followed as loud movement began in the hall. He tried to stick close to the front, if only so he could spot his friends. They went over too the second floor, thousands of loud voices filled the corridor, along with thunderous footsteps.
Gale's eyes locked on the strange sight. Nova, Harry, Hermione, and Ron were all stood near dark red words. "The chamber of secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir, beware." Just below the words were a familiar cat. Mrs. Norris was hanging from the torch by her tail.
Everybody else went quiet as they spotted the sight before them. Someone was shoved into Gale, who stumbled into the wall.
Moving past was Draco, who bit out, "Enemies of the Heir, beware! You'll be next, Mudbloods!"
That shout attracted more interest.
"What's going on here? What's going on?" Argus Filch shouldered his way through the crowd, stopping when his eyes fell on his cat. "You! You! You've murdered my cat! You've killed her! I'll kill you! I'll -" He took a few steps towards Harry.
"Argus!" came the low demand of Dumbledore's voice.
Just behind him were a number of other teachers. Dumbledore swept past the gathered students and detached the suspended cat.
"Come with me, Argus," he said to Filch. "You, too, Mr. Potter, Miss Lestrange, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger."
Lockhart stepped forward, "My office is nearest, Headmaster - just upstairs - please feel free -"
"Thank you, Gilderoy," said Dumbledore.
The silent crowd parted to let them pass. Lockhart, looking excited and important, hurried after Dumbledore; so did Professors McGonagall and Professor Snape.
Gale turned to watch his friends, but made no move to follow. As they disappeared down the hall, theories were thrown around energetically.
Glancing back, Gale's eyes met Draco's. The blonde's head ducked down, cheeks turning pink, but gale paid him no mind. Instead, he bolted back to his common room, hoping to find some information on the Chamber of Secrets.
Gale breezed past the knocker's riddle, then ran up the stairs to his room. He flew throughout the room, digging around his luggage. With great glee, he lifted his copy of Hogwarts, A History, by Bathilda Bagshot above his head. He lightly set it on his bed, then sat down. He pulled the book to him, then began to skim over the contents, searching for the Chamber of Secrets.
He pulled his blankets around him, becoming absorbed into history. Occasionally, Gale would take a few notes, or reach out to pet Alexa, who was stretched out in the middle of his bed.
Gale sat reading throughout the night, wand tip glowing, just to provide light. His mind focused entirely on his research.
"Merow!"
Gale jumped his eyes jerking around the room, until his gaze landed on the irritated black cat sitting before him. He grimaced, at her then cast a look to the nearby window. Faint morning light streaked through the glass, dust floated through the air, now visible with the early sunlight.
Gale carefully moved his book to the side, and slide out of the blankets. He was still dressed, but he wanted to at least try to make himself presentable.
Bolting down the tower, with his notes and book in hand, Gale slid into the group's typical meeting spot at the Gryffindor table. He flipped the book open on the table, then grabbed a few croissants, and his morning chocolate milk.
Despite his excitement, he wasn't sure about presenting any of his gathered knowledge to his friends. So, when Nova muttered a greeting then flopped into her seat, he stayed silent.
Just because Gale kept quiet didn't mean the rest of the school was willing to. Filch had taken the attack on his cat very seriously, and paced where she had been left, he even went at the writing on the wall with Mrs. Skower's All-Purpose Magical Mess Remover, which did absolutely nothing.
In the following days, Gale and Hermione had sheltered away within the Library, doing as much research as possible on the Chamber of Secrets and, after it was explained that Mrs. Norris was petrified, anything that could cause petrification.
Unfortunately, even with Gale's, copy of Hogwarts, A History, they could find little about the Chamber. All that had been written was that it was rumored to have been created by Salazar Slytherin, then sealed away. There was little else to go on.
Hermione let out a frustrated groan, throwing herself across the book in front of her.
"Same." Gale muttered, slamming a copy of Fantastic Beasts and where to Find Them shut.
"Why can't we find anything on this chamber?" She rubbed her face, "It must exist, because why else would it be mentioned at the attack?"
Gale curled up around Alexa, who was purring in his lap. He absently began scratching her back, and tried to think, but his mind felt like mush.
"We need to take a break." He sighed, feeling defeated.
Hermione stacked their collective books, and stood.
"We can't give up Gale, this is important."
"I know it is 'mione, but I'm wreaked." Gale lifted his cat up to his shoulder, where she settled. "We've found nothing of value, and if we wanted to narrow down what creature, or thing, that petrified Mrs. Norris, we need more information." He leaned forward, eyes pleading with her.
She let out a soft growl, before her body seemed to sag, "Yeah, okay."
Gale nodded, then grabbed half of the book pile, He efficiently put the book back on their respective shelves, then moved to the door. Hermione was right on his heels.
Together they left, both having to inform the others that they had no helpful knowledge.
A day passed, with little change, until they gathered at the Gryffindor table that evening.
"We have information!" Hermione practically shouted at Gale, as the three red wearing students slid into their seats.
"What?" Nova asked blearily. She had fallen asleep at the table.
Harry leaned forward, "Hermione interrupted Professor Binns and asked him about the Chamber of Secrets."
"Really?" Gale perked up, gaze turning to regard Hermione, "What'd he say?"
Hermione took a breath, "The founders began to argue about who were being admitted into Hogwarts, Salazar Slytherin wanted it to be kept within magic users, and their families. Of course, he was outvoted. He hated the Muggle-born students, which caused an argument between Slytherin and Gryffindor, ending with Slytherin leaving." She took in another breath, "According to legend, Salazar Slytherin hid a sealed chamber inside the castle, which only his heir can open. He didn't know what was in the Chamber. He just called it a horror that would purge the school of those unworthy to study magic."
"No wonder there isn't much information on the chamber." Gale murmured, settling back.
"How would you seal of a chamber like that, Gale?"
"Blood Wards." Was his immediate response.
"Blood Wards?" Harry asked.
"Wards directly linked to a family bloodline. Most of the time they are used as a protection of sorts, but you can make a version that only activates or does something when that bloodline is in contact, or does something."
Nova's nose wrinkled in befuddlement, "Then why weren't they used during the first war?"
"Because they often require the individual casting it to give up a piece of them. Like their magical essence. So, it's kinda not that efficient."
Hermione hummed, in acknowledgement. They all fell into a comfortable silence, as they ate. They were miway through desert when nova spoke.
"We should go investigate the hall." She stated it as a fact.
Hermione cast a nervous glance towards the teachers, "I don't know, that seems a bit risky."
"Can't hurt to have a poke around." Harry said, not looking up from his food. Gale gave a hesitant nod, they did need more information on what was happening.
The group easily slipped out into the corridor, and scrambled to the scene of the attack. Turning the corner, it was very apparent nothing had changed, sure Mrs. Norris was gone, but the area still had that eerie feeling which lingered.
They split up, each carefully running over the area. Harry lowered himself to his knees, Nova examined the nearby walls, Hermione and Ron went to the window. Gale stepped closer to the script on the wall.
Gale reached out and ran a hand across the dark red letters, then pulled his hand back to look. The letters remained unchanged, and his hand was clean.
Gale's eyes flickered across the writing, it had been written fairly low to the ground, and upon silent contemplation, Gale had to rule out anyone who was older than them, as many of the older students would have written it far higher.
He hated having to consider that it was a first-year student who had written the message.
"Come and look at this!" said Hermione. "This is funny…"
The five gathered around Hermione, moving to the window next to the red words. Hermione pointed at the top pane, where a line of spiders were fighting to get out through a small crack in the glass.
"Have you ever seen spiders act like that?" Hermione inquired.
Gale leaned closer, "No, this is very new."
"No," Harry echoed, then looked behind him, "have you, Ron? Ron?"
Noca let out a soft snicker, and Gale followed her eyeline to a very pale Ron. His body was tense, fight or flight response starting to kick into gear.
"What's up?" said Harry.
"I - don't - like - spiders," said Ron tensely.
"I never knew that" said Hermione, looking at Ron in surprise. "You've used spiders in Potions loads of times…"
"I don't mind them dead," said Ron, who was carefully looking anywhere but at the window. "I just don't like the way they move…"
Hermione giggled, which caused Nova to let out a loud laugh.
"It's not funny," said Ron, fiercely. "If you must know, when I was three, Fred turned my - my teddy bear into a great big fiIthy spider because I broke his toy broomstick ... You wouldn't like them either if you'd been holding your bear and suddenly it had too many legs and…" He shuddered.
The girls exchanged gleeful looks, before they both broke out into laughter. It echoed in the hall, and Gale found himself smiling along, despite feeling sympathy for Ron. It was pretty amusing.
"Remember all that water on the floor? Where did that come from? Someone's mopped it up." Harry spoke, attempting to corral the group's amusement.
"It was about here," said Ron, happily moving away from the spiders, "Level with this door."
His hand extended for the brass knob, but drew away before touching it.
"What's the matter?" asked Harry.
"Can't go in there," said Ron. "That's a girls' toilet."
"Oh, Ron, there won't be anyone in there," said Hermione, as she moved over to him. "That's Moaning Myrtle's place. Come on, let's have a look."
She reached out and opened the door, ignoring the large OUT of ORDER sign. Nova was quick to follow, with Harry matching her pace, leaving Gale and Ron outside.
Gale awkwardly gestured, "After you."
Ron sent him a glum look, but went in without a word.
Gale slid int after them. It was a very unwelcoming bathroom. The mirrors that hang above the sinks were cracked and spotted, and the sinks themselves were chipped, weathered from a lack of care. The floor appeared green from mildew, but it wasn't slick, so no one was going to be slipping across the floor. The stalls were tilted slightly, and paint was flaking off of the surface, leaving the wood beneath exposed.
Hermione put a finger to her lips, then set off to the end stall. She carefully opened the door, and said, "Hello, Myrtle, how are you?"
Nova scampered up behind, with the boys following close behind. Moaning Myrtle was floating above the toilet tank, eyeing the boys with suspicion.
"This is a girls' bathroom. They're not girls."
"No," Hermione nodded. "I just wanted to show them how er - nice it is in here." She waved behind her, towards the chipped sinks.
Harry mouthed something to Hermione, and Gale shifted forwards, catching the tail end, '…she saw anything'
"What are you whispering?" said Myrtle, Eyes locking onto Harry.
"Nothing," Harry quickly replied. "We wanted to ask -"
"I wish people would stop talking behind my back!" said Myrtle, barely holding in a sob. "I do have feelings, you know, even if I am dead -"
"Myrtle, no one wants to upset you. Harry only -" Hermione tried.
"No one wants to upset me! That's a good one!" howled Myrtle. "My life was nothing but misery at this place and now people come along ruining my death!"
"Myrtle, we just wanted to know if you saw anything strange after leaving the party Halloween night." Nova pushed, "a cat was attacked just outside you're door, and we though you might know something."
"Did you see anyone near here that night?" asked Harry.
"I wasn't paying attention," said Myrtle, dramatically. "Peeves upset me so much I came in here and tried to kill myself Then, of course, I remembered that I'm - that I'm "
"Already dead," offered Ron, skilllessly.
Myrtle let out a grievous sob as she rose up, in one motion she flipped, diving headfirst into the toilet sending water to the floor with a splash, as she disappeared from view.
Gale tilted his head to Hermione, silently asking if this was at all worth the time.
"Honestly, that was almost cheerful for Myrtle… Come on, let's go."
Hermione led them out, Harry was the last one out. He had just closed the door when a loud voice made them all jump.
"RON!"
Just down the hall was a familiar read-head, Percy Weasley. He had frozen at the top of the stairs, expression completely shocked.
"That's a girls' bathroom!" he gasped. "What were you -?"
"Just having a look around," Ron shrugged, nonchalantly. "Clues, you know -"
The prefect's chest puffed up, and a stern look spread across his face.
"Get - away - from - there -" Perry said, striding toward them to usher them away, his arms flapping. "Don't you care what this looks like? Coming back here while everyone's at dinner -"
"Why shouldn't we be here?" demanded Ron, fiercely, stopping short to glare at Percy. "Listen, we never laid a finger on that cat!"
"That's what I told Ginny," said Percy fiercely, "but she still seems to think you're going to be expelled, I've never seen her so upset, crying her eyes out, you might think of her, all the first years are thoroughly overexcited by this business -"
"You don't care about Ginny," Ron snapped, his ears were growing very red. "You're just worried I'm going to mess up your chances of being Head Boy -"
"Five points from Gryffindor!" Percy said tersely, fingers running over his prefect badge. "And I hope it teaches you a lesson! No more detective work, or I'll write to Mum!"
The he was practically stomping down the hall, features just as red as Ron's ears.
They all exchanged looks, then with great trepidation split up.
"Let me know if I got this right. You want to brew some Polyjuice Potion in order to interview Draco Malfoy, because you believe him to be the heir of Slytherin." Gale's head dropped when the three nodded.
"I'm in." Nova piped up.
"I'm not." Gale snapped, "This is unlikely to be anyone who went to school last year, as it's happening this year."
"Oh, come on, you can't know that for certain." Ron scoffed.
Nova looked between Ron and Gale,
"What's your reasoning?" She asked, eyes glittering.
Gale bit his lip, then responded, "If it was someone from our year, why did they wait until now. Why not do this last year? And why did they write their message so low? I mean I'm barely four foot three, but if I wrote that message I would have to crouch uncomfortably."
"Short people exist." Nova pointed out.
"Nova… you can't talk, you're taller than me."
Harry chuckled, "She does raise a point though."
"But" Gale raised a finger, "Draco is taller than me, by a fair margin."
"That doesn't rule him out though." Hermione said.
"Well, no, but come on, he's a prat, but he wouldn't hurt anyone like that."
"You have a lot of confidence in him." Harry commented.
Gale shook his head, "Because I give everyone the benefit of the doubt… Draco is not his father."
Nova vigorously nodded, "Just like I am not my mother."
He sent the others a pointed look, "I will not be helping you faff about trying to incriminate Draco."
Then he stood from his spot and left the hall, hoping that his departure made them all think a bit before they inevitably ran off to do exactly as they previously stated.
Gale loathed to admit that he relied heavily on his connection to the three Gryffindors and one Hufflepuff. He spent a week being ignored by Nova and Ron, and even though she wasn't ignoring him, Hermione hadn't talked to him as much the weeks following their plan. Harry was the only one acting relatively normal, but even the boy-who-lived had no explanation for their friends' oddities.
Harry slid into the seat across from Gale, rubbing his eyes wearily.
"You okay?" Gale rasped; voice heavy with exhaustion.
Harry yawned, "Oliver has been wearing us down this year." A tired smile tugged at his lips, "I love Quidditch, but Oliver takes it to a new level."
"Ha! All you sporty people are weird to us nerds." Gale pretended to adjust his non-existent glasses. Harry let out a soft chuckle.
"Is Nova still not talking to you?"
"Nope." Gale pursed his lips, "I don't know why she isn't though, I just gave you lot my opinion."
Harry nodded, "and me and Hermione understand that. I guess Ron and Nova don't see it that way."
Gale shrugged, cluelessly.
"I have no idea, I thought she agreed with my reasoning when I brought it up."
"It's Nova." Harry stated, "She isn't very linear."
"Pulling out the big words there, Potter." Gale teased, Slipping his homework away.
Harry laughed, but he turned his attention to the unfinished essay in front of him.
"Are you coming to the game this Saturday?" He inquired, quill still above his parchment.
Gale slumped, "I guess I will. It's you guys versus Slytherin, right?"
Harry grinned, "Yeah."
"Then I'll be there."
Gale walked with Harry down to the pitch come that Saturday. He wished his friend luck, before navigating the chaos of the stands. Eventually, Gale found a spot without his other friends, eyes focused intently on the ground below.
Considering last years game, he had a right to be nervous for Harry, Gale did not want him dead.
The crowded stands grew loud as the teams walked out onto the pitch. Even from a distance the tension between the two Captain's was felt, both trying to intimidate the other.
The whistle rang out, and the green and red players rose into the air. Gale focused on Harry, as he flew higher above the others. Only a few seconds later a Bludger went flying toward him.
Gale's eyes snapped to where the ball had come from, but neither of the two Slytherin beaters were anywhere near there. Gale rose, his gaze settling back on Harry.
Harry went streaking across the pitch, the Bludger mirroring his movements.
What was going on? Gale was not fantastic with Quidditch rules, but he was certain that Bludgers were not supposed to concentrate on a single player.
The Gryffindor beaters, the Weasley twins, kept close to Harry, trying desperately to keep the ball from hurting him. This went on for quite a few minutes, and the longer it went on the more anxious Gale got.
The Gryffindor team called for a time out, but to Gale's astonishment, the game resumed, and Harry was left on his own with the stray Bludger.
In attempts to avoid the ball, Harry went twirling through the air, leaving Gale to perch nervously on the edge of his seat. There was a brief moment where Harry paused, allowing the Bludger to slam into him. Harry's arm went slack before he aimed towards Draco.
Harry reached out to grab something, before careening into the muddy earth below.
Gale sprang from his spot and raced down the stand, dodging the chaotic student body. He bolted across the wet field and slid over to Harry.
The raven-haired boy's arm was completely knackered, arm bent at just the wrong angle. Gale lowered next to him and began trying to make a basic splint for his friend. Gale barely noticed the sudden appearance of Gilderoy Lockhart, who pushed him aside.
Harry let out a low moan, "Oh, no, not you."
"Doesn't know what he's saying," said Lockhart loudly to the anxious crowd gathering around them. "Not to worry, Harry. I'm about to fix your arm."
"No!" said Harry. "I'll keep it like this, thanks…"
Gale pushed at the 'Professor', "Harry should be immediately taken to the hospital wing." He pressed.
"He should really, Professor," agreed a very muddy Oliver Wood, who was grinning despite Harry's injury. "Great capture, Harry, really spectacular, your best yet, Id say -"
"Stand back," Lockhart commanded, as he rolled up his jade-green sleeves.
"No." Gale groaned as Lockhart waved his wand over Harry's arm.
It was an unpleasant sight. Harry's arm flashed a pale green, then seemed to turn into a jelly. It dropped under its own weight, moving unpleasantly with Lockhart's ministrations. If Gale had to guess, he would say that the arm had no bones.
"Ah," said Lockhart. "Yes. Well, that can sometimes happen. But the point is, the bones are no longer broken. That's the thing to bear in mind. So, Harry, just toddle up to the hospital wing - ah, Mr. Lupin, would you escort him? - and Madam Pomfrey will be able to - er - tidy you up a bit."
Gale helped Harry up, glaring angrily at the fraud of a teacher they had been saddled with for Defense.
Madame Pomfrey seemed to agree, both with Gale's assessment of the 'injury', and of Lockhart.
"You should have come straight to me!" she raged, examining what remained of Harry's arm. "I can mend bones in a second - but growing them back - "
"You will be able to, won't you?" asked Harry, desperately.
"I'll be able to, certainly, but it will be painful," said Madam Pomfrey grimly, tossing Harry a pair of pajamas. "You'll have to stay the night…"
Gale carefully helped Harry into his pajamas, stuffing the rubbery arm into a sleeve. Past the drawn curtain, they could hear Nova lambasting Lockhart, and Hermione's crush on him. Hermione had little defense, besides "it was a mistake'.
"It doesn't hurt anymore, does it, Harry?"
"No," Harry responded, getting into a bed. "But it doesn't do anything else either."
Gale vanished around the curtain, to cautiously talk to Madam Pomfrey.
"How do you regrow bones?" He asked, quietly.
"Skele-Gro." She responded, grabbing a bottle with the same label, "It is a very painful process, and rather unpleasant. You should have taken him straight to me."
Gale ducked his head, following her, "I tried, but Professor Lockhart didn't listen."
Madam Pomfrey scoffed, then bustled around Harry. She carefully gave him some Skele-Gro, then whisked away, back to her office.
"We won, though," said Ron, a grin breaking across his face. "That was some catch you made. Malfoy's face ... he looked ready to kill…"
"I want to know how he fixed that Bludger," said Hermione, darkly.
"We can add that to the list of questions we'll ask him when we've taken the Polyjuice Potion," said Nova, as she settled into a chair next to Harry.
"I hope it tastes better than this stuff …" Harry muttered.
"If it's got bits of Slytherins in it? You've got to be joking," said Ron.
Gale rolled his eyes, just as the hospital wing doors burst open. the rest of the Gryffindor team had arrived to see Harry still covered in wet mud.
"Unbelievable flying, Harry," said George. "I've just seen Marcus Flint yelling at Malfoy. Something about having the Snitch on top of his head and not noticing. Malfoy didn't seem too happy."
The team were ladened with a variety of cakes, sweets, and bottles of pumpkin juice; they gathered around Harry's bed and were just about to start an impromptu party when Madam Pomfrey came storming over.
"This boy needs rest; he's got thirty-three bones to regrow! Out! OUT!" She ushered everyone out.
Nova grinned to the others, "Party in Gryffindor tower?" She asked brightly.
One of the Weasley twins smirked, "We're game, right."
Gale shook his head, as the team agreed. He split off heading straight up to his room, where he flopped into the mattress. Alexa curled up against him, and Gale found himself dozing off to her loudly purring in his ear.
Hello!
Sorry for not uploading last Sunday, but it was Thanksgiving, and I have been preparing for the 13 days of Halloween, where I make 13 vaguely Halloween art pieces. There will be a piece for both Gale and Nova, so if you want to see those, head over to my Deviantart.
I thank you all for the follows, but honestly Please review, this is a hobby, but I still want to learn more and I can't do that if I don't get any input.
~~~~~ Wolf