Chapter Seven: Mrs. Norris

There are several dialogue quotes taken from JK Rowling's Chamber of Secrets in this book. This is to convey the same story she wrote, but from another character's POV. The quotes taken directly from the book have three quotation marks (instead of two) around them to signify she wrote them and that I am citing them. Because I am transforming pieces of her work into something new this falls under the Fair Use Act. Additionally, JK Rowling has stated that she is okay with noncommercial fan fiction. All direct quotes, the Harry Potter storyline, and the characters all belong to JK Rowling.

The caretaker, Flich, shouted as he pushed his way through the crowd to see his beloved cat, which was hanging, seemingly dead, by its tail on a torch. However the words that were shouted all around Draco seemed to be bouncing off his ears entirely, as he felt his friends' eyes on him. He had lost track of what was happening until Daphne grabbed his arm and yanked him towards the Slytherin common room.

"Hm- what's happening?" Draco asked, breaking from his daze.

"Honestly, you're ridiculous," Daphne answered sharply. "Professor Snape just told all of us to get back to our houses."

The four Slytherins hurried down the hallways and into the common room. "Nice one, what you said back there" Crabbe shouted at Draco, patting him on the back as he walked by.

Daphne pulled Draco into a corner of the room. "What the hell was that?" She whisper-shouted.

"What was what?" Asked Draco, dumbly.

"Stop playing mate," said Blaise. "She's talking about when you literally shouted, 'The Chamber of Secrets has been opened, you'll be next mudbloods.'"

"You wrote that on the wall didn't you?" Daphne asked incredulously, eyes welling up with tears. "You killed Flich's cat."

"Don't be stupid Daphne," said Pansy, raising her voice. "There is no reason to believe that."

"Really?" Daphne shouted back. "Then why did he ask about the Chamber of Secrets on the ride here?"

"He didn't do it," Blaise interjected firmly, "We were literally with him all night. But he clearly knows something we don't."

"Look it was just a stupid joke," Draco shouted. "Why do you guys care so much? It's just the stupid mudbloods, or have you gone blood traitor on us, Daphne?"

"There is a difference between not wanting to associate with muggle borns, and wanting them dead, you ass" Daphne seethed, through clenched teeth.

"Shut up, Daphne!" Pansy shouted. "You don't get to sit there and dictate the degree to which we are allowed to not like muggle borns."

"What the-" Daphne began to shout back, but Blaise interrupted her.

"The important thing here is that implying muggle borns should die does not make us look good in the eyes of the school, okay? I'm sure we can all agree on that. But we can't turn on each other like this or we will have no one. Are you listening to me Draco?" asked Blaise. "You need to start talking, because if you push us away, you will have no one. So Draco... what... the fuck... was that?"

Draco slumped down, sitting against the wall, completely exasperated. "My dad may have implied to me that the Chamber of Secrets would open this year... And he is hoping that everyone understands that if Dumbledore can't keep us safe, it is his fault."

Blaise, Pansy, and Daphne kneeled down beside Draco. Draco's face held no sign of emotion, no window into his thoughts. He very consciously had not mentioned that his father had perpetuated opening the chamber by passing on the key, which held the form of a diary. Or the fact that his dad had asked him to incite panic in the other students. Or anything about the basilisk. He knew that telling them too much could put his father in danger of going to Azkaban, or make him risk losing his friends forever.

"How did your dad know the Chamber of Secrets would open this year?" Blaise asked softly.

"I don't know," Draco lied. "He is a powerful man. What doesn't he know?"

"Who is the heir of Slytherin?" asked Pansy.

"I don't know," Draco answered truthfully. No one spoke for a moment.

"I can live with the daddy issues, the fits of anger, and the frequent incidents where you say mean and explosive things," said Daphne, shaking with emotion. "But I need you to look me in the eyes and promise me right here and now that you didn't open any chamber, that you have no intentions of hurting anyone, that you didn't kill Filch's cat, and that you didn't write that message on the wall."

"I didn't have anything to do with any of those things," Draco answered angrily. "I promise. I just... I have to be there for my dad. You guys should understand that."

"I do," Pansy answered, wrapping her arms around him, but Draco made no move to hug her back.

"I get it," Blaise answered simply.

"What?" Daphne answered in shock.

"We are each doing what we need to succeed within our situation, Daphne. And neither I nor you are guilt free, so unless you want to bring up old dirt, I suggest we move on."

"I'm not okay with killing muggle borns, that's taking blood purity too far." Daphne answered, clearly upset.

"No one is saying that that is okay, and no one is going to let that happen" answered Blaise. "It's just that Draco is in a tough situation, and he needs to do what keeps him safe... which includes obeying his father."

"You're right," Daphne answered, tears pouring from her eyes. "It's so silly of me. Of course you don't want anyone to die." Daphne pulled Draco into a hug. "It's just a game, right? A game that we play to please our parents." Daphne smiled weakly through her tears. "I hate this... I'm not cut out for this... I see it in your eyes Draco, you hate this too."

Draco looked away, unable to stand eye contact with her at the moment. Perhaps nothing too bad would come from this, Draco thought. It was just a stupid cat right? Everything would be fine... It had to be.

The next morning, the four Slytherins felt a lot better than they had the night before. Ten minutes through breakfast, they had already heard that Filch's cat, Mrs. Norris, was actually not dead, just petrified.

Although the four Slytherins were relieved at the news, and thankful for Hogwarts's affinity for gossip, they had all seemingly come to the conclusion that the best way to handle the situation was to forget about the emotions of last night. They were now huddled together, casting their emotional attachments aside, as they chatted about the situation at hand.

"I knew second year wouldn't disappoint us with being boring," Blaise laughed, as he buttered his toast. "So I'm assuming it's our job to save the day again?"

Everyone turned to him. "What?" Blaise asked. "Daphne, you said it yourself last night, we can't let anyone die. And Draco, don't you still have that hero's complex? Here's an opportunity. I for one am ready for some entertainment, and Pansy... well you're always there too I suppose."

"Actually... I think we need to lay low after last night." Daphne answered. "I was tired, and emotional, but let's not get ahead of ourselves and freak out over nothing. I got all upset last night, and it turns out Mrs. Norris wasn't even dead."

"I'm with Daphne," said Pansy. "I really need to focus on Lockhart. If there is anything going on, he is the one who is going to save us, so think of me helping him as me doing my part."

"What about you?" Blaise asked, turning to Draco.

"It's like I said last night... I don't want to go against my father." Draco answered. "This year is the year that I prove to him that I am worthy."

"Oh well..." Blaise sighed disappointingly. "I was hoping this year would be, four Slytherins save the world 2.0"

"That might be overstating it a little," Daphne laughed.

"Say Draco," said Blaise, thoughtfully. "Would you asking your father for more details on the Chamber of Secrets, show him that you are a son he can be proud of... I mean think about it? Taking an interest in his affairs... that comes across good, right?"

"Okay," Draco answered, plainly.

"You're easy to convince," said Daphne.

"Well, naturally I was planning on doing this anyways," Draco answered. "I actually wrote up a letter last night."

"Wait really?" Asked Pansy, now interested in the topic at hand.

Draco pulled a piece of parchment from his bag, and handed it over to Blaise to read aloud.

Dear Father,

I hope you are doing well. I have no doubt that you heard I made the Slytherin team for quidditch. I am also making great marks in all of my classes. I am writing to inquire more about the Chamber of Secrets. Can you please tell me who the heir is? I greatly admire your work and research into the subject, and want to support you in any way possible.

Draco

"Think he will tell you?" Asked Blaise.

"I honestly doubt it, but it's worth a try," answered Draco.