Disclaimer: I know I am changing up the canon and chronology of Harry Potter year 2 a little bit. I want the characters to still be true to form as much as possible. However, I don't want it to be as black and white with Slytherin house being the "bad guys." I hope you don't mind the nuanced changes! Thanks for the reviews I've gotten so far! Enjoy! J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter, not me.
There was a notice on the entrance doors of the Great Hall. Harry, Ron, and Hermione paused to read on their way to breakfast one day:
NOTICE
A Dueling Club will be beginning and meeting this afternoon to those students who wish to arm themselves more adequately in light of recent events. The meetings will take place in the Great Hall. First through Third Years will have Dueling Club lessons with Professors Lockhart and Snape while Fourth through Seventh Years will have their lessons with Professors McGonagall and Flitwick. ATTENDANCE FOR THE FIRST MEETING IS MANDATORY to ensure passing Defense Against the Dark Arts class except for sixth and seventh years who are not N.E.W.T. students in DADA. Subsequent meetings are not required and will instead be for extra credit for those wishing to attend. Any class conflicts will be resolved for the first mandatory meeting.
"Lockhart, eh?" said Ron glumly. "Why'd it have to be him?"
"Is he really that bad?" said Hermione, as they made their way to the Gryffindor table.
"There's just something not right about him, Hermione," said Ron.
"He's still better than Professor Snape, right?" she asked.
"I guess," said Ron resignedly. Harry gave a noncommittal grunt.
(at the Dueling Club meeting)
Gryffindors and Slytherins had, of course, been forced to partner up for the first mandatory Dueling Club Meeting thanks to the mischievous, competitive nature of Professor Snape. Disarming jinxes were being practiced. Harry had to partner up with Malfoy. Ron had to partner up with Goyle, and Hermione had to partner up with Millicent Bulstrode. Unfortunately for Ron, his wand was still broken, which meant that he couldn't disarm anyone except himself. So, he resignedly took to falling over backwards whenever Goyle successfully jinxed him. Hermione gave him a sympathetic look. Ron looked ready to curse Millicent after what he saw her do to Hermione: she was so mad with Hermione after being disarmed that she wrestled her down and started pulling her hair. Ron looked ferocious, his eyes wide with anger at the sight of his girlfriend being tortured.
"Oi! Professor! Do something will you?!" yelled Ron angrily, pointing over at Millicent and Hermione. Millicent had quickly let go, looking innocent. Snape came over.
"Excuse me, Mr. Weasley, but you are in no position to speak to me in this manner. Five points from Gryffindor for your cheek and detention with me next Monday night!"
Ron looked mutinous. His eye was twitching. Hermione had a pained expression on her face, partly from Millicent and partly from emotion at seeing her red-haired lover be punished.
Harry and Malfoy had actually been having a decent duel. Harry had bound Malfoy, using a Petrificus Totalus spell he saw Hermione perform. Malfoy had flipped Harry backwards once. Harry had expelled his wand from him. It was a competitive duel for the two twelve year olds. Malfoy almost seemed like he was having fun. However, all the fun ended when Malfoy conjured a small snake from his wand. The snake turned from Harry and started slithering in Justin Finch-Fletchley's direction. Justin, who was teamed up with Anthony Goldstein of Ravenclaw, didn't take notice of the snake until he heard it.
Parseltongue. And it was coming from none other than Harry Potter.
Harry had no idea that what he was about to do would change his reputation at Hogwarts forever. He spoke to the snake, thinking he was speaking in English:
"Noooooo. Doooon'ttttt attttttaaaaaackkkkkk Jusssssssssstinnnnnnn. Doooooon'ttttt atttttaaaaaack."
"OI! What are you playin' at?!'' yelled Justin to Harry, his voice quivering with fear.
Harry, who seemed to have snapped out of some sort of trance, had a confused look on his face. "W-What?"
Ron and Hermione's jaws dropped, along with many people in the room. Ginny, who had been on the completely opposite side of the Hall with the first years, Harry could see, had a shocked face, which made him feel even worse. Snape had a look of confusion and surprise on his face. He sent a shower of sparks that made the snake catch fire and vanish.
"Potter, come with me," he said quickly to Harry. "Professor, I'll let you monitor the remaining situation, we only have ten more minutes before dismissal anyway," he said to Lockhart.
Harry followed Snape into his office.
"Sit down, Potter," said Snape in a voice that was surprisingly not fierce. He was confused at this show of hospitality.
"Potter, did you realize that you were, in fact, speaking another language when you spoke to that snake?" said Snape curiously.
"N-no sir," said Harry nervously. "I only told it not to attack Justin."
Snape eyed him with interest. "Really? You know, under these current circumstances, I must say I find it highly unusual that you are not in Slytherin, considering you are a Parselmouth."
"A what?"
"Parselmouth, boy," sneered Snape. "Surely you've heard the name of your own ability. You can speak to snakes. It is an extremely rare and highly coveted ability, particularly among those of Slytherin house. About one in every 50,000 English-speaking wizards is a parselmouth, in other words, almost none of them, and they are always immediately sorted into Slytherin when the sorting hat is placed on their head. Modern studies indicate that it is, in fact, a genetic gift, passed down from Salazar Slytherin and his descendants through ancient magic. You see, Potter, Salazar Slytherin, our most noble founder, was a Parselmouth."
Harry didn't like the way Snape was glorifying the whole ordeal.
"Professor, I...I didn't know it was so unusual. I figured loads of people here can do it."
"How ignorant you yet remain, Potter," said Snape with a frown. "I must, however, ask you, for the sake of my own conscience: why were you not sorted into Slytherin?"
Harry couldn't read Snape. He had never seen his Potions master act like this. He knew Snape hated him, but he couldn't help but notice that Snape was demonstrating a curiosity that got the best of him.
"I...I heard that Gryffindor was a good house to be in, and I asked the sorting hat to place me in it," lied Harry. In truth, he only told the hat not to put him in Slytherin, but at this point, that would seem like a low blow in front of Professor Snape, him being the head of Slytherin house.
Snape eyed him, confused. Then he resumed his usual coldness and sharpness.
"You're just like your father. Always making poor decisions when the opportunity would arise to do better."
"My father was a great man!" retorted Harry.
Snape did not shout back. "You would have been great in Slytherin, you know," he said, his eyes flashing in a way that made Harry very uncomfortable. "Your mediocrity as a wizard will not improve by being in Gryffindor."
"You're wrong," said Harry curtly, trying to restrain his anger.
Snape sneered. "That will do, Potter." He hesitated, as if deep in thought. Then he stood up. "Be gone, Potter! before I find another reason to have McGonagall expel you."
Harry left in a huff, leaving an irritated and curious Snape behind him. Harry couldn't help but wonder if Snape was going to go to Dumbledore and try to force him to transfer to Slytherin. He didn't even know if that was possible, but he was sure that he loathed the idea. He knew Snape would do what he could to make his life miserable. He hated every part of Slytherin and already had his best, most irreplaceable friends in Gryffindor.
As Harry arrived in the Gryffindor common room, a few people stared at him.
"Obviously the rumors have spread," thought Harry to himself. Ron and Hermione were sitting in a corner, frantically motioning for him to come over to them. Ginny was nowhere to be found.
"Harry, are you alright? What did Professor Snape want?" asked Hermione as Harry sat down.
"I'm fine," said Harry glumly. "He wanted to know why the Sorting Hat placed me in Gryffindor and not in Slytherin."
"I could've answered that one," said Ron. "Because you're not a tosspot or a lunatic or a murdering Merlin like the rest of 'em."
"That's what I wanted to say," said Harry laughing at Ron. "But…"
"But you're a Parselmouth, and that made him curious," finished Hermione with a worried look on her face.
"Yeah…" said Harry, wincing at Hermione's foreknowledge and feeling embarrassed.
Ron and Hermione could tell Harry felt bad.
"Er, how come you didn't tell us you were a Parselmouth?" said Ron. Hermione kicked him from under the table. Ron tried to ignore it but twitched. "I mean, you know. It's a really cool gift and all."
"You think I'm mental now, don't you?" said Harry, feeling depressed. "I know you do."
"Of course we don't!" interjected Ron. "I think it's really neat! You're probably the only person in the whole school who can do it!"
"That's the problem," said Harry dejectedly. "It doesn't exactly make me look like a saint, does it? Speaking to serpents? Everyone's gonna think I'm supposed to be in Slytherin or that I'm evil or something."
"Not everyone who's in Slytherin is evil," said Hermione shrewdly.
Ron eyed her suspiciously.
"Okay okay, I will admit that almost every witch or wizard who ever went bad came out of Slytherin, but I'm sure there has to be some decent ones," said Hermione.
"I've yet to meet one," said Ron, fighting back laughter. Then his smile faded when he glanced at Harry.
"So...I mean...do you guys think I'm in the right House?" asked Harry miserably.
"How could you think that?!" asked Hermione, a worried look on her face again. "Harry! You're supposed to be in Gryffindor! You remember how brave and selfless you were going down through the trapdoor last year to save Hogwarts from You-Know-Who?!"
"Yeah, and remember when you showed Malfoy up when he stole Neville's Remembrall? That was totally a Gryffindor move to stand up to Malfoy when he was being a jerk," said Ron loyally.
"Not to mention...our friendship and loyalty to each other, Harry," said Hermione with the sweetest, kindest look a thirteen year old girl could give. She grabbed Ron's hand from across the table and stroked her thumb on it. "We're best friends. Gryffindors value friendship and bravery above all the other houses. You know that."
"I can see," said Harry, smirking at their hand holding. "But I mean, you guys were there with me in the trapdoor right alongside me."
"Well, I mean we're in Gryffindor too, right?" said Hermione sweetly. "The sorting hat never makes a mistake. We were meant to be in Gryffindor from the very beginning. All of us, especially you, Harry. I just know it. The sorting hat thought about putting me in Ravenclaw."
"Three guesses why?" said Ron sarcastically.
Hermione rolled her eyes and continued: "But it didn't. Just like it didn't put you in Slytherin, Harry. This is how it's supposed to be. You're supposed to be in Gryffindor. People like Susan Bones and Justin are supposed to be in Hufflepuff. And people like Malfoy are always going to be in Slytherin. It's the way it's supposed to be."
"But…" began Harry. "What if...somehow...the hat made a mistake and I'm somehow the heir of Slytherin?"
"The hat doesn't make mistakes," said Hermione. "You can't be the heir of Slytherin because you're not in Slytherin."
"But I told the hat not to put me in Slytherin," admitted Harry. "I've never told anyone that because there's something kind of embarrassing about it, but the hat really wanted to put me in Slytherin."
"That's nothing to be ashamed of," said Hermione wisely. "You have cunning, and I'm sure there's a part of you that is ambitious and driven which is something Slytherins take pride in. But your bravery and your selflessness and your loyalty must have won out. That's why the hat chose Gryffindor."
Harry gave her a weak smile. "Thanks, Hermione,"
"Always," she said, beaming at him.
"Haha, I kinda lost myself there for a moment," said Harry awkwardly.
"That's okay," said Hermione sweetly.
"I mean, I was wondering if, somehow, I was the one opening the Chamber and somehow I didn't know it."
"Don't worry mate," said Ron. "I would know it. I mean you would've said something at the Deathday party if you'd done it that time, remember?"
"Yeah, right," said Harry, feeling reassured.
"Are you sure you're okay, Harry?" asked Hermione sympathetically.
"Yeah, I'm better now, thanks. Er, have either of you seen Ginny?"
Ron eyed him. "I think she went up to her room? Why?"
"Er, I noticed she gave me a weird look after I talked to that snake. I bet she and loads of other people think I'm mental now."
"Eh, I doubt it," said Ron. "She knows you're special so she should be able to handle it. Don't worry about her. Besides, we don't think you're mental. We won't think you're mental unless you started hanging out with Looney Lovegood or Malfoy."
Hermione giggled at Ron.
"Speaking of Luna, I think I know where Neville goes to every night now," said Ron.
"What?" said Hermione. "Where?"
"The greenhouses. I've seen him talking to Professor Sprout after classes rather quietly. They seem to be getting along well. I think Neville must have special permission to go to the greenhouses at night. I think he's growing something, maybe to impress Looney. Neville seems to really like Herbology."
"Really?" said Hermione, amused.
"Yeah," said Ron. "I think I want to help him."
"And HOW do you think you could help Neville?" said Hermione, who couldn't contain herself.
"Harry, do you want to help me get Neville and Luna to go out on a date?" asked Ron. Harry gave him a confused look.
"Normally that would be something fun to do, but remember we have to figure out who the real heir of Slytherin is. Remember? Hermione is supposed to be looking up that potion?" asked Harry.
"Oh, don't worry about that," said Hermione. "I've already researched how to brew it. It's called Polyjuice potion. It takes a month to brew though, and it's very complicated. I have a special place in the abandoned girl's bathroom where I'm going to take care of it."
"How'd you manage that?" asked Harry, curiously.
Ron did a fake groan. Harry's curiosity increased at this reaction.
"Er, I asked Professor Lockhart for special permission to go to the restricted section of the library after class one day. You have to have a signed permission slip from a teacher, and Ron figured he would be...uhh...nice enough to try to persuade since I'm one of his favorite students."
"Thick enough is more like it...It worked didn't it?" said Ron, amused.
"Yes, I suppose so," said Hermione, rolling her eyes. "So I checked out a book called Moste Potente Potions and found the Polyjuice potion. I know which ingredients to use, but I'm going to have to steal them from the Potions cupboard which basically means I have to steal from Professor Snape."
Harry's eyes widened. "Hermione?"
"Harry? Do you want to help or not? I'm thinking of going down tonight and starting on the potion. The sooner the better, right? We might could have it done in time for Christmas."
"Normally, I would, but I'm not in the mood tonight. I think I'd rather just be alone tonight."
"Aww," said Hermione disappointedly. "Er, Harry..."
"Yes?" said Harry. Ron and Hermione exchanged glances that obviously had some prior communication contained in their eyes.
"We, er, need to borrow your Cloak if that's okay," said Hermione sheepishly.
"Oh, yeah, no problem," said Harry. "You want me to just go and get it now?"
"Is that okay?" asked Hermione.
"Of course it's okay," said Harry. "I trust you guys more than I trust myself."
"Thanks," she said, smiling. And Harry picked up his books and wand and left to seize the cloak from his room discreetly. Ron and Hermione, meanwhile, gave each other understanding looks.
"Are you coming with me?" asked Hermione.
"Only if you want me to," said Ron.
"Of course I want you to," said Hermione, rubbing his hands again.
"Do you want to help me with Neville first though? I bet he's still in the greenhouses," said Ron.
"Oh, okay," said Hermione resignedly. "I can't help it, but I kinda would like to see Neville with somebody too. He seems so miserable sometimes when I see him in class."
Ron grinned. "Awesome."
Harry returned with the cloak.
"Thanks, Harry," said Hermione. "You're the best."
"No, you guys are the best," he said. "Well...I guess this is goodnight. Ron, I'll just expect you to put it by my bedside whenever you come in for the night."
"Got it," said Ron, giving him the thumbs up.
Harry went to his room. Ron and Hermione put their stuff away before meeting back downstairs, Hermione armed with her wand, and Ron with the invisibility cloak tucked away before they left the common room, went out onto the staircase to check and make sure nobody saw them, then veiled themselves under the Cloak.
"This is so exciting," whispered Hermione, almost giddy. "You and me, under the Cloak."
"I know right?" whispered Ron. "So, greenhouses first?"
"Sure, love," said Hermione.
They made their way, holding hands under the Cloak until they encountered Peeves the Poltergeist, who, thankfully, was also blissfully unaware of their presence, singing a song about death.
"Whew, that was close," whispered Ron, after they were more than 50 yards away from Peeves.
"I know..." whispered Hermione.
They arrived at the greenhouses at the end of one of the longer corridors. They heard some stirring and a few dim lights were on, signaling that someone was in there.
"That's definitely Neville. I recognize his body shape through the translucent glass. Guess we should knock?" asked Ron to Hermione. "I don't really know how we can do this without startling him."
"Guess it's our best bet," said Hermione.
Knock, knock, knock
"H-H-Hello?" said a nervous boy's voice from the other side of the door. "Wh-Who's there?"
"It's me Ron," said Ron, pulling the Cloak off, once they realized the coast was clear. "I brought Hermione too."
"What are you doing here?" asked Neville timidly, opening the greenhouse door.
"Neville, you really like Herbology, huh?" asked Ron.
"Yeah, I do, Professor Sprout noticed too, along with the other teachers. She gave me a pass to come down here on certain weeknights to work on some special plants for extra credit. BUT what are you doing here?"
"Look, Neville," began Ron. "Hermione and I have noticed that you, er, aren't in the common room much. I figured you were down here cause I saw you talking to Professor Sprout after class and thought I heard you mention coming down here to check on things. I think you have the hots for Loon..I mean Luna Lovegood."
Neville turned a light shade of red. His heartbeat became noticeable. "H-how do you know that?" he asked, feeling embarrassed.
"You're the only guy I know who would hang out with Luna, especially considering you're not in Ravenclaw," said Ron. "I've seen the way you look at her," said Ron.
"H-Have you been stalking me or something?" asked Neville.
Ron looked taken aback. "No! Of course not! I...just happened to notice...er...you seem like a nice guy and she seems nice for you...you know?"
"What are you saying?" said Neville, eyeing them.
"Don't you want to date her?" asked Ron.
"I-I don't know. I guess? I don't know if I'm ready," said Neville.
"Aww don't be like that, Neville. You like her don't you? Hermione and I want to help you."
"I-I don't know if I want your help," said Neville sheepishly.
"Oh," said Ron, not expecting this answer at all. "Really? Are you sure?"
"No I'm not sure," said Neville. "But I'm also not sure that I want your help. I'm just not sure in general."
Ron looked confused. "Okay, well when you make up your mind, Hermione and I can help you. She can butter Luna up for you and help set up the date while I can give you some tips for do's and don'ts."
Hermione looked amused and surprised at Ron. "Butter?"
"Whatever," said Ron. "Anyways, what'd you say Neville?"
"I'll think about it," he said.
"Oh alright," said Ron. "Well... good luck with whatever it is you're growing in there."
"Abyssinian Shrivelfigs," said Neville, smiling.
"Right... well see ya later," said Ron.
"Bye, Neville," said Hermione.
Ron and Hermione got back under the Cloak and made their way to Snape's office.
"That didn't go like I thought it would," whispered Ron.
"You never know with Neville," said Hermione. "Maybe he isn't ready to date yet."
"I guess...I was so sure..." said Ron.
Hermione grabbed his hand. "It's okay. Don't worry about it. For now, let's focus on getting the Bicorn hair and the Boomslang skin from Snape's store."
"Hermione, I must admit, I'm surprised at you for being so quick to break the rules. I think Harry and I have had a bad influence on you," he said squeezing her hand.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures, Ron," she said. "Malfoy would probably kill me if he had the chance, and I don't want to give people like him a chance with this whole Chamber of Secrets thing."
"I'll make sure that never happens," said Ron.
Hermione smiled weakly. "Yeah, but you have a broken wand remember? You need to get that fixed, mister."
"Yeah, yeah, I will as soon as my family gets some money," said Ron.
"Sorry...I didn't mean for it to sound like that," said Hermione. "I'm sorry."
"No, it's okay. I'm gonna get a new wand as soon as I can though," he said bitterly. Hermione squeezed his hand, trying to comfort him.
"I'd probably just beat up Malfoy without magic if he ever tried to get you while I don't have a wand."
"Well, it's the thought that counts," said Hermione, amused. "I'd rather you not have to do that though."
They finally made it to Snape's store.
Checking that the coast was clear. Hermione murmuered "Alohamora."
An alarm went off that glowed green. Snape clearly had better protection than a locked door for his store of potions.
"Who goes there?" said a voice all too familiar to Ron and Hermione. It was Filch by himself. There was a manual switch that Filch was able to flip that reset the alarm, easy enough for him as a Squib to use.
Hiding under the Cloak, Ron and Hermione backed into a corner of the corridor, 15 yards away from the door, completely invisible. Filch ran inside his store to see if anything had been stolen or if anyone was hiding in there.
"Come out. You can't hide from me," said Filch with a sinister voice.
After two minutes of searching. Filch eyed the corridors and walked ominously in their direction, as if he noticed something in the shadows. Then he turned around and walked the other way, doing the same thing, holding his lamp out in front of him.
"Ron," said Hermione, who's voice was so quiet next to Ron that even he hardly heard it. They were still huddled up under the cloak.
"I think I see the two things I need for tonight to start the potion. They're right at the entrance of the door."
"Okay," he whispered.
Filch left, convinced that Peeves must have triggered the alarm. Distraught by Mrs. Norris' petrification, Filch wasn't quite as good at his night duties, and forgot to check and see if Snape's door had been locked. Snape was far off in his private quarters, presumably resting or preparing lessons.
Hermione and Ron creeped over to the door which was still barely open after Filch had left the hallway, muttering and cursing about Peeves.
"Here. Got it," whispered Hermione, as she gave two bottles for Ron to store in his cloak. "Now, c'mon. Let's get out of here. Colloportus," she said, locking the door back to its original postion.
"So...to the girls' bathroom?" whispered Ron under the Cloak.
"Yes, follow me," said Hermione.
After about ten minutes of trying to find their way to the corridor of the girls' bathroom with Moaning Myrtle, they found it. It was even more eerie at night.
"Blimey, this place is creepy," said Ron.
"I know, just follow me," said Hermione. "Even ghosts shouldn't be able to sense our presence under this Cloak."
"Excellent," said Ron.
They made their way inside, very quietly. Moaning Myrtle was nowhere to be found. Hermione went into the second stall on the left, noticed nothing except the toilet in there, and placed the two bottles behind the toilet before casting a disillusionment charm on them.
"This way, no one will find them, although no one will find them anyway. C'mon let's go," she said.
"Right," said Ron.
"Glad that's over," whispered Hermione as they finally made their way back to Gryffindor common room.
"Me too," said Ron, grabbing her hand to hold it.
"I hate stealing from Professor Snape," said Hermione, "but it's the only way."
"I know," said Ron. "He won't miss it. Nobody hardly uses those ingredients, right?"
"Let's hope not," said Hermione.
They finally made their way back to the entrance of the Gryffindor common room.
"I'm really proud of you, Hermione," said Ron still under the Cloak. "I hope you know that."
"Proud? Not because I stole from a teacher?" she whispered quietly.
"No. Because you are brave and loyal and very caring, even if it means breaking a few school rules."
"Aww," she said. "Thanks." and she pecked him on the cheek. "I still don't like breaking the rules, obviously, but this is dire."
"I know it is. We're gonna get to the bottom of this," said Ron.
"I know we will," said Hermione. They pulled off the Cloak startling the Fat Lady.
"Er, sorry," said Hermione. "Liver Mortis."
"You're going to give me riger mortis if you keep that up," said the Fat Lady, opening the portrait door.
"Goodnight 'Mione," said Ron.
"Ooo I like that nickname," said Hermione biting her lip. "Goodnight, my darling," she said, giving him a big hug and kissing him on the cheek. Ron reciprocated with a short kiss on her cheek.
Ron had a goofy grin on his face. Hermione grinned back.
See you in my dreams.