Chapter II
This was the second time Draco got in trouble in all his Hogwarts history and it was the second time Harry Potter brought him detention. Draco did try to stop them, but technically Sirius was an adult and besides… the flying car sounded really cool. In retrospective, he should have gone with his first instinct.
They didn't get in detention for the flying car or the Willow, from what Draco heard Sirius was fined for that. But they did get in trouble for running late, missing the first years sorting and sneaking into the kitchen to get leftovers from the Feast.
Harry's detention involved helping Lockhart, with polishing his mirrors probably, while Draco was in charge of the trophy room. The trophy collection was not really impressive. Draco did notice that Slytherin had the least of them all, but was not surprised.
He should go to bed. It was way past dinner and tomorrow were the Quiddich trials. He did agree to try for backup seeker, not like he had any chance of getting in the team since Harry had the position now. Of course he did, just like he had okay grades without studying as much as Draco and Hermione, like he had a lot of friends without trying… sometime he hated him for real.
Draco made his way to the dungeons. The common room was empty. The fire was still flickering in the fire place; the window to the lake was lighted by moonlight. The water appearing green, with mermaids at this time. He liked to watch the lake sometimes. The mermaids, the squid, the fish – it all looked peaceful.
The room was quiet when he got in. Everyone seemed to be sleeping, except Harry - his bed was still empty. Did Lockhart keep him this long? Why was Draco worrying anyway…? He was not… and if it took him longer to change and he decided to read a bit before bed it was no one else's business.
Draco was ready to grab his cloak and go search for the idiot when the door to the dorm cracked open and Harry slipped in. He seemed disturbed, slightly shaking.
"Are you ok?" Draco whispered.
Harry looked up at him; like he just noticed he was there.
"I heard… voices," Harry whispered back in a low voice Draco barely caught.
"You are a bit young to lose it," Draco said inching closer.
"I heard whispers, in the walls."
Draco paddled over in socked feet and sat on Harry's bed. He cast a silencing charm over the bed as Harry took a seat as well.
"Saying what?"
"Just kill… it was like something saying the words all over again, like a mantra. It sounded like one of my snakes…" Harry whispered looking at Draco.
"Well it can be a garden snake or something hunting"
"Draco… It sounded… big," Harry said.
"Merlin knows what is in that forest; a naga would not surprise me."
"But I could hear it from inside the castle," Harry persisted.
"There are a lot of magical snake-like creatures with a lot of power. Hey, maybe snakes call to each other or something"
"Maybe…" Harry frowned.
"No, we are not going into the forest to look for it. From what you said it can handle itself."
"But…"
"Harry, we already have a Hagrid that deals with dangerous magical creatures, I am not smuggling out another dragon."
Harry laughed. "Ok."
"Now, go to bed, I have trials tomorrow."
"Thank you," Harry smiled.
"Well, talking you down seems to be more optimal for getting me to sleep faster," Draco said rising and removing the silencing spell.
"Good night, Draco."
"Night, pain in the ass."
The next morning was cold; Draco felt it even before he opened his eyes. Reluctantly he got out of bed; he changed into his Quiddich gear already and made his way to breakfast. Not a lot of people were up at this hour, but Draco preferred it this way.
Harry disturbed his peace though a few minutes later. He seemed cheerful today, so Draco lets it slide. Besides, his friends were sleeping, so he could stay with Harry today.
"Nervous?" Harry asked with the discretion of a Bludger.
Draco glared at him.
"You will do amazing, you are a great Seeker."
"Too bad you are not in charge of the trials then," Draco rolled his eyes.
"Do you want me to talk to Flint for you?"
"No, obviously not. I want to get in the team on my own. It's not like I get to play anyway," He muttered.
"Who knows, maybe you are lucky and I get injured," Harry said cheerfully.
"I can only hope," Draco deadpanned.
"Oh, oh, Weasley got a Howler," a Gryffindor screamed from their table.
In the next few minutes, Mrs. Weasley's voice fills the hall. Draco shivers. Gryffindors… He got a Howler as well after their car shenanigans, but he received his in the common room like a normal person.
"Molly is scary," Harry whispered next to him.
"She did scream more than mother did."
"Like Aunt Cisa is less scary."
"I genuinely think my mum is the most peaceful of the bunch," Draco declared.
"Mum is not threatening," Harry argued.
"Lockhart disagrees."
"Ok, point to you…"
"Mrs. Weasley is the scariest though," Draco whispered.
The trials were a success; they give him the backup Seeker position without much fuss. Basically if he could stay in the air and make a dive he was in. Pansy smiled at him in congratulation and Blaise patted him on the back. Harry beamed like a loon as usual, bloody Gryffindor at heart.
Draco liked herbology, not as much as potions, but those two often intermingled and he did know a lot about plants from his independent potion study. They were having Herbology with the Gryffindors this year and he was not excited about that.
Gryffindors weren't very nice, he gathered. Ron Weasley acted okay around him, but mostly because he was Harry's friend. The rest were loud, brash and full of themselves. Neville was an exception, but Draco was positive he was sorted wrong.
The greenhouse was warm at least and smelled of grass and mint. Professor Sprout hadn't arrived yet and the place was resonating with Gryffindors' screams. Harry was in the middle of them, as usual, telling them a story and gesturing widely.
He had been sorted wrong as well, Draco thought.
"If you stare any harder you will pierce a hole through his skull, darling," Pansy sighed by his side.
Draco jumped.
"I was only marveling at his lack of house pride, that is all."
"Well at least he is wearing Slytherin green today," Blaise said.
"A Slytherin Green girl uniform you mean," Draco spat.
"Like you mind" Pansy rolled her eyes.
"I do, for your information," Draco glared at her rightfully.
"I think the skirt suits him actually," Blaise said.
"Alright, kids, take your places," Madam Sprout said.
Harry smiled and stayed by his Gryffindor friends' side at the table.
As much as Draco commented about his methods, Harry did manage to change some of the antique rules of the school with his last year campaign. Now they could stay at any house's table unless it was a Sorting Ceremony and they were not divided by houses in classes. They were required to wear the house's color though.
This year he was fighting against uniforms and he was demanding gender free bathrooms. Neither of the issues ever affected Draco personally, but he could understand it being important for some people. He saw more people wearing not gendered uniforms since Harry stated doing it, so he guessed it resonated with some people… or people want to be like Harry, which was fair enough as well.
Professor Sprout talked about this class subject which was the mandrake. They each had a pot in front of them and they were instructed to remove the plant and replant it in a new pot. They were handed earmuffs and Draco secured his over his ears.
Professor Sprout asked about the proprieties of the mandrake and surprisingly Longbottom raised his hand and shyly delivered a correct answer that awarded Gryffindor with 10 points. Then, Professor Sprout pulled her screaming Mandrake from the pot.
Longbottom collapsed. The teacher didn't seem impressed and continued with her lesson. All the Slytherins looked at each other, but no one seemed concerned so they left it. Sprout ushers them to replant their Mandrakes as well.
Draco pulled his from its roots. It looked like an angry screaming baby. Draco didn't resist the urge to poke it; the mandrake squirmed and screamed louder. Draco dumped it in the pot and put the earth above it drowning the screams, this was barbaric.
The next class didn't go any better. They had Defense against the Dark Arts; Draco didn't really like that class, maybe because they always had weird teachers for it. The last one, Professor Quirrell, just left after one year and then he got himself killed.
They shared this class with the Ravenclaws and that was at least a comfort. Ravenclaws were less loud and usually paid attention and had great notes. He was actually studying with Hermione quite a lot in the library.
Draco tuned Lockhart out while he rambled over his introduction, but maybe he should have paid attention because he woke up with a Quiz in front of him. He looked over the questions. "What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favorite color?" he read and grimaced; all of the questions were about Lockhart…
Draco looked around at Pansy, but she seemed to know something because she was scribbling furiously. So was Hermione to his right… Harry looked as confused as he was so that was a comfort. He started writing. He had no chance of getting them right, but he could try to flatter his ego, which might boost him a bit.
"What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favorite color?" "Royal purple, the color of kings" he wrote. Lockhart's greatest achievement, he said something about having an Order of Merlin. Bloody stupid questions, he huffed and kept on writing.
Of course, that Hermione got most of the right answers. His favorite color is lilac? With that complexion? Draco shuddered.
Lockhart revealed a cage sitting in the middle of his desk that had been covered by a rag. He hyped the monster inside and uncovered the cage to reveal… Cornish Pixies? He said that way too loud judging by the faces turned to him.
"Yes, Mister Black," Lockhart called from the front of the room. He boosted the creatures like they were terrifying beasts and then released them from the cage. The pixies flew everywhere causing mayhem, the students were quick to make their way out with Lockhart quickly behind.
The pixies ganged on Crabbe that was a bit chubby and slow and raised him to the ceiling. Draco shrugged and walked to the door intend to let his old bully hang there. Harry, of course, being the Gryffindor that he was inside, stepped away from the door, where he was nearly out and walked back in.
The pixies flew by him buzzing around and grabbed the wand straight from his hand. Hermione's voice was loud and clear in the room. She casted an Impedimenta and the pixie stopped in midair blinking owlishly.
"Thanks, Hermione," Harry grinned.
They retrieved Harry's wand and got Crabbe down from the chandelier where the pixies had hanged him from his robes.
"Thank you," he muttered to Harry when he was safely down.
"Don't thank me, Hermione did all the work."
"I am not thanking the Mudblood" Crabbe spat with venom.
Harry and Draco's wands were out before he got to finish the sentence.
"Stop", Hermione's voice rang in the tense silence.
"But he…" Draco's voice was shivering.
"I know, but we are no better if we lower ourselves to his level," the Ravenclaw said.
"Then you are not getting the help from her either," Harry's eyes shined and he raised Crabbe to the ceiling once more and hung him kicking and screaming by the candelabra.
"Harry!" Hermione chided.
"Come on guys, how about breakfast!" Harry smiled broadly.
Okay, Draco conceded, maybe he was part Slytherin after all.
Draco was peacefully eating his breakfast the next morning when Harry's disruptive presence changed the course of his morning. Harry plunked himself down on the bench next to Draco, then some of the Quiddich team did, which Draco could handle. But then a small Gryffindor first year with a muggle camera started talking their ears off and blinding them with the flash.
Draco was about to snap at the little menace when the owl post arrived in the Great Hall quieting some of the chaos. He had a few letters, one from Mother, one from Sirius, one from Remus too surprisingly and a package. It was Hermione's birthday and he ordered some books for her. She kept pestering him about Dobby and how his magic and the laws worked so he got her a book about it, since the library was lacking as usual.
He took his mail to the dungeons. Today was Saturday and he had Quiddich practice straight after breakfast, but he had time to drop them off. He liked training; Flint was not as absurd as Wood was in his demands, even less so from the back up players.
He didn't shower on the Pitch and opted to go straight to the dungeons. He hoped that by doing so he would have more peace to read his letters. Draco started with Mother's, asking about his classes, detention and inquiring if he need another care package to be sent via Dobby. She said she took gardening recently, Draco was always worried about her in that big old house alone.
He opened Sirius's latter next. It read:
Dear Dipper,
How is your detention treating you? You have already made it 2/2 in that department, Moony and I are very proud.
Thank you for your concern, but I am good and Moony didn't "give me detention", he did kill Jasmine though… If she can't fly, can she even show me a whole new world?
Regarding Narcissa, cheer up kid. Lily, Andromeda and I are working in shifts to bring her out of the house, I can assure you she is taken care of. The situation was dire though, she started planting begonias for Merlin's sake.
Congratulations on getting on the team, I wanted to say I hope I see you play soon, but you know… I also like Harry and all.
We will be at the next game though so see you there. Try to have some fun, ignore whatever Moony says this time is about making mistakes as well.
Love,
Big Dipper.
Draco rolled his eyes fondly. Honestly, his uncle was the silliest person alive. He opened Remus's latter the next.
Dear Draco,
How is your first week? I hope the detention you received was nothing like last time. I can assure you Sirius was severely chastened as well. I removed completely the flying charm he put on that monstrosity he calls a bike.
You should not trouble yourself with us, Narcissa is having a lot of friends and the flowers do liven up the place.
Now, I have a request of you and Harry. I have two young girls started this year, Genevra Weasley and Luna Lovegood. I want you to keep an eye on them and make them feel welcomed; they are both sensible and smart girls.
Luna lost her mother recently in an accident; I think having you and Harry around may help her. Miss Weasley was sorted into Gryffindor and Miss Lovegood in Ravenclaw. May ask Hermione to be careful too.
As always, take care and make sure to pay attention in class.
Love,
Remus Lupin
He sighed. Why do they even bother with separate owls anyway?
He took Hermione's present; he would give it to her tonight when they meet in the library. He didn't see Hermione as one for loud parties so Draco opted for that.
Draco was right; Hermione didn't like loud birthday parties. She thanked him for his thoughtful gift and they went on with their homework. He praised his choices as the next day Hermione was positively fuming. Apparently, Harry tried to throw her a party for her birthday and Ron Weasley tried to spell the cake to cut itself, but something went wrong and the whole cake turned to slugs… Draco was kind of sad he missed that to be honest.
Draco was reading in the library. He found a book behind the muggle section that people did not usually visit and was having quite a pleasant afternoon when he heard muffled sobbing. Usually and especially as a Slytherin when people cry the best thing was to leave them express their emotion. If they wanted help they would have asked for it… So politely walk away, best option. But this person was sobbing in the dark, alone and… he should at least investigate.
He was very surprised to see the youngest Weasley there. She was huddling up in a corner, red hair all over her face… it was unusual for Gryffindor to be alone…. especially when this upset. Draco remembered Remus's letter and took a big breath; he could recognize a bad first year when he saw one.
He took a seat by her side. And now what? Ask her if she was okay? She was clearly not. Pat her back? That was a grave violation of personal space…
"There is a safest place to hang out if you need," He said. Weasley stiffened by his side.
"I had a tough time in my first year and I always went to Professor Snape's office when I didn't want to go into my common room."
"Because you are a Slytherin."
"I was not the only one there," Draco lied. "Actually there are some first years there already"
"Why are you helping me?" She raised her red puffy eyes at him.
"Your sobbing was really distracting me."
Ginny raised her wand. Damn Lily Potter teaching her the Bat-Bogey Hex! Draco would feel it for days after. That should teach him to never do a kind deed again.
"Mister Black, can I talk to you for a moment after class?" Snape's voice stopped Draco in his tracks. And he was so hungry already.
"Go on," He told Pansy at the door.
"Yes, sir?"
"Mister Black, do you happen to know why my office was filled with first years last night?"
"No, sir."
"Really? Because Ginevra Weasley was under the impression that I offer a "safe space" for first years," Snape did the quotation marks himself by raising an impressed eyebrow.
"I am sure a handful of scared students are not rowdy enough to cause any commotion."
"She brought Luna Lovegood," Snape's voice spat the name out as venom.
"And what is the problem, sir?"
"That girl is a menace… She put cut flowers in all of my beakers!" Snape's voice rose a bit.
Draco was trying really hard to control his laughter.
"And in class I asked her to do a nauseating potion… She did a Cheer me up potion instead. Said the first one gave her bad vibes… I couldn't even do anything about it since the Cheer me Up is taught in third year."
Draco was full on smiling on the verge of uncontrollable laughter.
"If you ask me, sir, that girl is a prodigy"
"I didn't ask! All I asked of you is to tell me why are they all there! Creevy is taking pictures every five seconds!"
"They needed a safe place."
"Then go to any other teacher!" Severus huffed.
"But they are not," Draco shrugged.
Severus sighed long suffering.
"Neville Longbottom has a hard time adjusting," Snape said and walks away with a flourish of his coat.
It was Halloween. Draco didn't care much for it to be honest. The wizarding world didn't dress up like muggles did; there used to be some rituals to preform, but not in his family. His family usually mourned someone Draco never knew.
This year, he was dusting books for Madame Pince. He was upgraded from the trophy room since the librarian asked for him specifically. Apparently he read more than the usual student, definitely not as much as Granger, but she was not on detention.
He got lost reading a muggle novel and was not long after curfew. Could he get double detention? Better not find out since Filch had been in a mood lately. Honestly, who hired this stuff? No wonder some first years were crying themselves to sleep.
Draco hurried down the corridors to the dungeon. He had taken the book with him and hid it under his jumper. He could have done magic to hide it, but he didn't know a spell for that yet. He was out of the main staircase and down a corridor when he saw it… A whole wall covered in blood red writing "The chamber of secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir beware".
As he was reading his eyes fell on the three figures crouch in front of it.
"What is going on here?" he asked.
"You tell as, mate," Ron Weasley said.
"You got here first," Draco glared at his classmate.
"It was already like this," Granger said.
"And why were you here?"
"We went to an undead party. You?" Ron Weasley asked.
"Came from a mermaid wedding."
"We really were at Nearly Headless Nick's party," Harry said.
"I was in detention," Draco sighed. "What's with the mural?"
"We don't know…" Harry said looking worried.
"Harry was telling us about a voice…" Ron said.
"You finally lost it?" Draco replied sarcastic.
"What is that in the corner?" Hermione asked stepping closer to the wall.
Hanging from her tail and dangling morbidly, Filch's cat Miss Norris was staring at them, unmoving.
"What are you all doing here?" An obnoxious voice rang.
The group jumped. It was Filch, because of course it was.
"Nothing, sir, we were just on our way to bed," Hermione said.
"It is after hours, Miss Granger," He hissed.
"Well, you know, we…" Ron started, but was interrupted by a scream of anguish.
"Miss Norris… what have you done to my cat?"
"Nothing, it was like this when we got here," Harry said.
"You… You… I am going to kill you…" He extended his arms towards Harry.
Draco took out his wand. He couldn't do much, but a Stunning Spell would be enough.
"That is enough!" Severus's voice rang behind them.
"But… they killed my cat," Filch lamented.
"It's not dead…. Petrified, by the looks of it. And I can assure you Potter doesn't have the skill to do that."
"But something did!" Filch cried.
"Something did… The question is what though," Severus pondered the writing and then his eyes fell on the students.
"Everyone in bed right now!"
They all scattered. Granger and Weasley went back to the stairs to the Towers while Draco and Harry made their way to the dungeon.
"I heard the voice again," Harry whispered.
"The Naga's voice?"
Harry nodded. "It was moving around, but it was closer than last time."
"You can't tell Weasley and Granger"
"And why not, they are my best friends."
"Parseltongue is not dark on its own, but usually Dark Wizards master i.t"
"But… I am not a Dark Wizards!"
"I know, Scatterbrains, but that with the Heir…"
"What about the Heir?" Harry asked naively.
"Are you even a Slytherin?" Draco rolled his eyes. "It is said that Salazar built a room in the castle were he hid a monster that will kill all the muggle born and the ones unfitted to perform magic"
Harry's eyes widened.
"And you think that happened now?"
"A terrifying years old monster and he petrified a cat?" Draco huffed. "Maybe someone wanted to get rid of that pest; it won't surprise me if it was the Weasleys or some pranksters"
"But what about the voice?"
"You hear a hungry snake or something, not everything has to be a big plot."
"I hope so…" Harry chewed on his lips.
The first game of the season for Slytherins was against Gryffindor. Harry was fit to play so Draco was in the stands with his friends. Pansy and Blaise didn't like Quiddich, but they still came to the games. It was the School tradition after all.
In the parents' box, he could see Sirius, Lily and Remus. Severus decided to stay in the teachers' booth this time. They all hugged him and asked him to join them, but no other kid did, so he refused.
He noticed Ginny and Luna sitting together; Creevy was nowhere to be seen. Draco only hoped he was not trying to get on the pitch for photos… or maybe he should be, probably then he would stop harassing people for photos.
The game started pretty standard. Yes, some Gryffindors got hit by bludgers, but who stops and speaks to someone in the middle of the field? Wood should know better. Then the bludger that hit Wood turned and started following Harry.
"Should that thing do that?" Pansy asked suddenly interested in the game.
"No," Draco answered. "It must be enchanted like the broom last year."
Draco took his wand out.
"You can't aim at it from here, is in motion" Blaise said grabbing his wrist.
"I can't just stay here and do nothing…"
"There are a lot of competent people with wands on this pitch," Blaise said almost bored.
"But then why none of them are doing anything?" Draco asked.
"Well… maybe is standard procedure with Potter at this point," Pansy shrugged.
Harry was chasing the snitch with a Bludger closing in behind him. He got dangerously close to the ground and Draco gripped his wand.
"If the distance is the issue I will go closer," He rose from his seat and started running towards the pitch.
When he got to the sand of the arena, people were cheering, the Gryffindor seeker was in a heap on the ground and Harry was laid flat on the ground, with the Snitch in one hand and cradling his other one to his chest. The Bludger rose in the air and was plummeting towards Harry, Draco never cast so fast in his entire life before.
"Finite."
The bludger exploded above their heads in tiny sparkles. Harry turned with a big smile on his face.
"Are you okay?" Lily Potter ran past him and kneeled by her son's side.
"The bludger hit my arm, I think is broken."
"I can help with that," Lockhart's voice closes in on them wearing an arrogant smirk.
"I am a MedWitch, step aside," Lily glared and almost showed her teeth in dominance.
"A quick Brackium emendo and he would be…"
"Boneless!" Lily shrieked. "Do not cast your wand if you do not know how to use it!" She glared and cast a quick non-verbal spell.
Harry face that was contorted in pain looked clear for a second.
"We should take you to the infirmary for a checkup anyway" She muttered.
Harry jumped up and looked like he was going to argue for a second, but nodded instead.
"You did good, kid," Sirius ruffled his hair before he supported Harry back to the castle.
"Did good," Ron muttered. "Anyone with a good wand could have done that."
"Well, too bad you can't afford one then, Weasley. What excuses would you have come up with if you had?"
"Maybe you put the spell there in the first place" Weasley glared.
"And what would I have done that for?"
"To look like the hero… to get the Seeker position you really want… Who knows really, you are a Slytherin."
"Harry is too."
"By mistake, probably," Ron glared.
"Are you two done?" Hermione asked.
Both boys bristled, but nodded reluctant.
"Good, now we are going to see how Harry is doing and if I hear another peep from any of you, I will personally make a bludger just for you," She stormed ahead.
"She's scary," Ron whispered in awe.
Draco nodded and gulped. They both hurried to keep up with Hermione.
When they got inside the hospital everyone was crowding by Harry. Madam Pomfrey was speaking with the adults in a corner, nothing major by the looks of it.
"You okay?" Ron asked.
"Yes, mum's spell repaired all the damage, now I think they are just reminiscing about med school. But mom insisted I spend the night here, just in case."
"Do you need me to bring you anything?" Draco asked.
"I am good, I will see you all at breakfast, ok?"
They all nodded and made their way out.
Draco was almost through the book he "borrowed" from the library. He would put it back before Madam Pince noticed it anyway. In the other beds, Nott and Blaise were deep asleep. He glanced more than once at Harry's empty bed before he caught himself.
He was about to turn off the light and go to bed when he heard a loud pop and Dobby was standing at the foot of his bed.
"Master Draco, it has started, you need to leave," The house elf said frowning and toying with the end of his cloth.
"What has started?" Draco asked rising from bed.
"Please… I tried everything…"
"What do you mean?"
"Master would kill me for this."
"What master, I am your master, you serve my family."
"I serve the Malfoys, sir, yes, sir."
Draco flinched at the name. He hadn't heard it in years, the name his father had and took with him to the grave.
"What did Father ask you to do, Dobby?"
"I only did what he asked… He didn't say to protect Master Draco, but master has been kind to Dobby… I did try to stop you from coming to Hogwarts."
"The station… You turned off the portal," Draco widened his eyes in realization.
"Yes, master… I am not sorry, master," The house elf said.
"What else? You didn't just stop after that did you?" Draco was getting close to the frightened elf that was cowering behind Harry's bed. "Did you do something to Harry?"
"I only set the bludger… thought if Master's friends get hurt, maybe Master…"
"You hurt Harry!?" Draco had to bite his lip not to shout and wake the others up.
"The youngling is fine…" Dobby raised his hand above his face.
"Not because of you!"
"Your friend can be hurt more if you stay here... Like before…"
"What are you mumbling about? What before?"
"I already said too much… Master will punish me!"
"Master will punish you if you do not tell me everything!"
"The chamber…" Dobby closed his mouth like it was stitched shut, looked like a vow.
"You are useless… I can't trust you…" Draco was shivering now. He grabbed an item of clothing from Harry's bed, a pair of socks by the looks of it, and threw them into the elf's hands.
"I am reliving you of my service," He hissed.
"Dobby… Is Dobby a true elf sir?" He blinked.
"Dobby is a disobedient elf… But yes, you are free."
"I can teleport you and your friend out, please, master…"
"I am not your master anymore," Draco said cold.
"You are a good master," Dobby said and disappeared with a pop.
Harry was not back in the room by the time breakfast rolled around. He did come down to the Great Hall for it though. Everyone was whispering about Colin Creevy, he got petrified last night.
"I was there," Harry whispered when he slipped on the seat by Draco.
"You have to be more specific."
"With Colin… I heard the voice again and got to him."
"What did the voice say?"
"Only "kill"… kept repeating it," Harry said.
"Lovely."
"They caught me again by the victim," Harry said glancing suspiciously at the teachers' table.
"Do you think they suspect you?"
"I was there every time… And it's not like I can tell them I hear voices."
"Not exactly voices… just snakes," Draco shrugged.
"Not helping."
"Draco, I have something to show you, it's important" Harry's eyes shined full of excitement.
Draco looked up from the book he was reading.
"Now?"
"Yes, I promise you it will be worth it!"
Draco sighs long suffering.
"It better be," he muttered and rose up.
He followed his friend through the castle till the third floor bathroom, the girl's one.
"What are we doing here, Scarhead?"
"Remember that voice I was telling you about? I follow the noise and it let me here."
"Okay…" Draco said looking around the musty room, water everywhere and a forgotten cauldron to one side fuming.
"And then I was thinking about snakes and I spoke to it… And then…" Harry hissed something to the center piece of the room, four large sinks with mirrors decorated with snakes. One of the stone snakes hissed and recoiled, the whole centerpiece split in the middle and opened.
"What the…"
"And that is not it. Follow me," Harry said and recklessly jumped into the hole.
"Stupid Gryffindor will get me killed," Draco spat, but jumped as well.
Draco landed on solid stone, some kind of large sewer or pipe system.
"Come on, keep up," Harry said and sprinted down the corridor.
"Wait!" Draco screamed.
The idiot finally stopped in front of a large metal door decorated with two intermingled snakes.
"You found the Chamber of Secrets!?"
"And that is not all," Harry said and hissed again at the door.
The door opened.
"Close your eyes!" Harry said.
Draco obeys although he wanted to argue. He heard Harry hissing again in the room and then something moved. He heard something slither towards them.
"The monster… obviously is a snake," Draco said out loud.
"Yes, she was very lonely," Harry said. "Do not open your eyes first, I need to warn her"
"Warn her!? She sounded huge; I am not the threat here!"
Harry hissed some more and a voice answered him, a voice that made Draco skin crawl.
"It's safe now!" Harry said.
"Safe?" That thing petrified people"
"That is why I brought you here, Selena is innocent."
"Innocent? Then what other bloody monster is responsible?"
"It's a bit more complicated than that… Selena was Salazar's familiar and when he died he put her in a safe place to hibernate in hope that a new master will come and wake her up."
"The heir, yes, I know," Draco snapped.
"But that is the point; Selena wasn't Salazar's weapon… The heir made her so… She is compelled to follow his every command, no matter what she wants…"
Draco opened his eyes. Harry was petting an immense snake… Not any snake – a basilisk, by the looks of it! He stared in horror and wonder.
"She told me everything, because I was the only one who could understand her. When she found out there is another Parseltongue in the school she reached out to me."
"How?"
"She can turn herself small… She is a very powerful familiar," Harry smiled and patted the monster scales.
"And you just believe it?"
"I do. And we are going to help her."
"Help her?" Draco swallowed.
"Someone is controlling her, she doesn't know who since she has to cover her eyes all the time, but she said they smell of death."
"Not enough to go on. "
"But there must be something we can do."
"Kill it before it gets to hurt someone else."
"But it's not her fault! Someone is controlling her!" Harry said stubbornly.
"Why do you need me?" Draco asked.
"I need to know who might have Salazar's blood in this school."
"But what if she kills someone till then?" Draco asked.
"Selina would let me temporary blind her… Snakes do not need the eyes that much to see anyway."
"How are you going to do that?"
"There is a spell from what I found out."
Draco sighed. "I will help you, but if she hurts anyone else…"
"She won't! Thank you," Harry beamed.
Draco kept his promise and researched Salazar's line. From what he could find out the line ended with two siblings - Merope and Morfin Gaunt. Both were Parse mouths, he was a pureblood supremacist that had trouble with the law and she was meek from what Draco found out… considered a Squib and not really sought out by suitors.
What happened there? She just disappeared till her death was registered in a muggle orphanage. The Genealogy book he was reading did not mention anything else... but Draco felt like something was missing.
"Are you still here?" Harry asked busting into his secluded corner.
"I found where the line stopped, with no heirs mentioned," Draco said.
"So a dead end?"
"Not exactly… We do not know what one of the descendants did for a few years till she died in the muggle world."
"Wasn't she a pureblood witch?"
"Many reports said she might have been a Squib," Draco explained.
"Does she even count then?"
"Squibs can have magical kids or, in her case, use Parse tongue. That particular ability runs deep in the Gaunt family."
"Any connection to me?" Harry asked.
"No… well, if we go as far back as the Peverell family…"
"They were actually real!?" Harry widened his eyes.
"Honestly," Draco sighed.
"Yes… you were related to one brother that started the Potter line and the Gaunts came from another line."
"What about your family then?"
"There was a Black who married a Potter at some point down the line actually."
"Are related!?"
"No… It was a few centuries ago."
"What about your father's family?" Harry asked delicate like he was stepping on glass.
"I can't find any connections with Salazar Slytherin."
"But what about…" Harry started.
"You bothered me for something or just to find what I know?"
"Oh! Thank you for reminding me. The dueling club is about to begin." Harry beamed.
"Dueling club?"
"Yes, I signed both of us in."
"You signed me in without my consent!?"
"It will be fun; Ron and Hermione are both in."
"Even if kicking Weasley may be fun, why did you sign me?"
"Because you need to do social stuff"
"Rich coming from you, mister Popular," Draco mocked.
"Come on… Severus and Lockhart are the ones in charge; you do not want to miss that."
"Fine," Draco sighed and followed his over enthusiastic companion outside.
Harry was right, the dueling club was fun. Watching Lockhart and Snape interact was quite interesting. Up till Snape called Harry on stage. His opponent was Nott. Neither Harry nor Draco particularly liked him; he was arrogant, mean and had a vendetta against Potter.
Harry was superior in offensive spells, but then Nott casted something Draco had never heard before conjuring a viper on the arena.
Draco held his breath. The viper raised its head and peered at the gathering. Snape made a step forward to send it away, but the beast fixed on a Hufflepuff – Justin something – and it seemed like it was about to strike.
Harry started specking to it. Draco was used to the hissing from all the time with Selena, but he could see shocked faces all around him. Even from Harry's beloved Gryffindors.
"Viper evaneca," Snape called and the snake went out in smoke.
"That is enough for today, thank you for your demonstrations," He said cold.
Draco waited for Harry. Most people cleared from his path and even more whispered behind his back as he made his way to Draco.
"What did you told it?" Ron asked.
"To leave Justin alone… You heard me talking to snakes before…" Harry said frowning.
"You sounded menacing," Ron accused. "Only dark wizards spoke Parseltongue."
"Is that what your mother told you?" Draco hissed.
"It's true!" Ron said.
"What are you implying, Weasley?" Draco glared.
"You know very well what I am… And I am not the only one either," Weasley hissed.
"I am not the heir!" Harry said with a raised voice.
Ron shook his head and fled.
Draco closed the distance between him and Harry.
"Are you ok?"
"I can't believe… I was trying to tell the snake to leave Justin alone."
"I believe you!"
It was unusual for Harry to stay inside the Common Room on a Saturday; he was standing at the large bay window watching over the lake. Draco was wondering if he should go over and talk to him, but usually Harry was the one that came to him with his problems.
"Harry!" Pansy called by his side. Draco gave her a side-glance.
"Yes?" Harry turned to them.
"Where are your Gryffindors?" She asked unabashed.
"We are not… speaking at the moment."
Pansy raised her eyebrow.
"Because you are a Parselmouth?"
"Among others," Harry changed his weight from one leg to the other.
"You know that we actually cherish Parselmouths, right?"
Harry nodded unconvinced.
"Salazar Slytherin was one, all the wizards that were have been Slytherins."
"I read about that… they were mostly his descendants."
"The Potters came from a different line though," She said.
Draco looked at her surprised.
"I studied genealogy, it is a pureblood custom," She said simply.
"So then you know about the last Gaunts?" Harry asked.
"Yes…" Pansy said hesitant.
"Why did she die in a muggle orphanage?" Draco asked.
"I do not know… Have you tried looking over genealogy books?" Pansy asked.
"Yes, the library was not helpful."
"Have you tried the Verecundia?" Pansy asked.
"The what now?" Harry asked.
"Shame?" Draco frowned.
"Yes, the Book of Shame. I am not sure the library has it, but the Slytherin common room definitely has a copy. The book where they put indiscretions, rumors and scandals about different pureblood families."
"Of course it is!" Harry rolled his eyes.
"That is actually helpful, thank you, Pansy", Draco rose and kissed her cheek.
"You welcome, darling. I am sure some gossip can cheer you up, little snake."
"Thanks," Harry beamed.
Draco walked over to the library the Slytherins had in their study hall. Next to the common room, they had a special room designed only for people that want to do their homework or study. And on the far wall they had a small library – mostly textbooks, some Potion books and of course Genealogy books. Verecundia was quite popular since they had every number. From what Draco saw they released it every year.
"We need 1925 and 1926," Draco whispered to Harry and levitated the volumes off the shelf.
Draco checked the book; it was divided by chapter starting with the secret 28. Draco glanced at the Black chapter that was quite large, but he nodded it for later. Gaunt was on there so he opened to it. He skimmed over the page.
"Apparently, Merope was not a Squib. She was very skilled with potions, love ones especially, quite known in the pureblood circles," He read out loud to Harry. "In 1925 her brother was arrested and sent to Azkaban together with Gaunt senior for hexing a muggle. According to Bob Ogden, the Auror that caught them, they hexed the muggle because Merope was in love with him."
"What was the muggle's name?"
"Tom Riddle," Draco read. "Oh, it's actually more interesting. They got married in a muggle ceremony in 1925 after her family was sent to prison."
"Why was that not in the Genealogy we read?"
"They do not acknowledge muggle weddings as official."
"So she married him after all. Good for her," Harry smiled.
"Not really… From what Irma Crabbe said, Merope used a love potion on the guy."
"Ouch… Can they be this strong? I mean she married him and all that."
"If you keep administering it… like every few hours, can work as a pollyjuice."
"So what happened then?" Harry put his head on his hands like listening to a story.
"She left for London apparently living only a note to her family." Draco said.
"Check 1926 then," Harry said and handed him the book.
"So 1926, Tom Riddle returns to the village alone. From what the Purebloods in the area say, he left Merope alone and pregnant in London. She gave birth to a baby boy and died in childbirth in 1926, her son was named Tom Marvollo Riddle and raised in the orphanage."
"That's awful… What about the baby?"
"Nothing in here… If she gave him her husband's muggle name we won't find more about him in Verecundia," Draco said.
"Maybe check if he went to Hogwarts… 1926… He should have been 11 in 1937, right?" Harry asked.
"It's worth a shot…" Draco put the books back on the shelf. "In the trophy room there is a picture of each generation, let's check that."
"Sure" Harry beamed.
They got to the trophy room fairly quickly. Some Gryffindors were pointing at Harry and whispering and some Hufflepuffs changed directions when they saw them coming. But Harry was entertained enough by the mystery or he really didn't notice.
They checked each frame for the kid. He was not in 1937, but he was in 1938. A pretty kid, curly black hair, obviously a Slytherin tie on his neck.
"He looks like a nice kid," Draco said.
"He has something weird…" Harry said frowning.
"So now what? The kid actually existed and he was a Slytherin," Draco said.
"I want to know more… If he was the one that opened the chamber…"
"But if he was how can he do it now? I mean he is not that old, but I am sure no one in their 70 is in the school…"Draco frowned.
"Maybe the events are connected," Harry said. He looked around and his eyes fell on a frame a few years further. "Draco, check this."
Draco walked to the picture – 1940, not as many students as previous years and in the back being awkwardly tall, Rubeus Hagrid.
"Is that..?"
"Yep!" Harry beamed. "I bet he can tell us more!"
"If he is not the one that opened it… I mean giant monsters."
Harry glared at Draco.
"Fine, let's go," He sighed.
They got to Hagrid's hut under the Invisibility Cloak because Draco didn't want to get in trouble again because of Harry. Once a year was enough, thank you very much.
Harry was the one who knocked on the big wooden door. Hagrid opens it and peered into the night.
"Who's there?" He asked.
Harry removed the Cloak. "We want to ask you something really important."
"Is a bit late innit?" Hagrid asked.
"It is of vital importance" Draco added.
Hagrid beckoned them in. The two Slytherins entered the hut warmed by the fire and put away the Cloak.
"What can I do for you?" The host asked.
"It's about your time at Hogwarts," Harry said taking a seat by the fire.
"Is gonna be a short story."
"We want to know about Tom Riddle," Draco said.
It was like a shadow crossed over the half-giant's face.
"Don't 'now him."
"He was two years above you. And from what we know you stayed in Hogwarts till your 3rd year, correct?" Draco asked.
"Yes," Hagrid muttered. "What do you wanna know?"
"Particularly about his time at school… We believe the Chamber have been opened before."
Hagrid shivered. "It was… A girl died. Poor thing"
"And what happened?" Draco asked.
"I was expelled, happened in my last year."
"But who opened it?" Harry asked.
"Dunno… They never found anyone. After I left, the heir stopped."
"But you suspect someone..." Draco prodded.
"I know it wasn't Aragog!" Hagrid said heated.
"Aragog?"
"My acromantula."
"You had a giant spider in school!?" Draco panicked.
"He was a baby," Hagrid defended.
"And they pinned it on you?" Harry asked revolted.
"It did stop after I left… I can understand why Dumbeldore…"
"Dumbledore was around then?" Draco asked.
"He was a teacher, yes."
"So if he knew you were not guilty why haven't he done anything?"
"He gave me this job," Hagrid said.
"So they allowed you to be a gate's keeper here, but not return to school!?" Draco looked revolted.
"They broke my wand," Hagrid said.
"That is horrible," Draco put a hand on the giant's shoulder.
"I am sorry," Harry said pityingly.
"I love my job," Hagrid said.
"Did you love being a wizard?" Draco asked.
Hagrid nodded and remained quiet.
"We think Riddle opened the Chamber and that he was a Parselmouth," Harry said.
"Why a Parselmouth?" Hagrid asked.
"The monster… It's a snake, I can hear it too."
"You are the only in the school, 'arry" Hagrid said.
"But it's not me!" He said rising from the chair.
"I know," Hagrid said gently.
"Did Riddle have any kids; we can't find any other information about him?" Draco asked.
"No kids, he died," Hagrid said with an unusual amount of venom.
"You know him well?" Harry asked.
"Harry… He was… Dark… He died and he is never coming back," Hagrid said with a dark look.
"Was he a Death Eater?" Draco asked.
"In a way" Hagrid said. "Go back to your dorm, boys," He sighed.
"Someone opened the chamber and it is a Parselmouth" Harry said.
"I'll talk to Dumbledore, 'kay?" Hagrid said encouraging.
"Ok," the boys said defeated.
After their meeting with Hagrid nothing really changed. Most of the Gryffindors still avoided Harry and threw him weird looks. The Slytherins seemed normal, even warmer to Harry than usual. He started hanging out with Draco and Pansy more, they started reading embarrassing stories from Verecundia that happened years ago. Like, a wizard from the Black family was rumored to have slept with someone from the muggle Royal family and even provided a child that was rumored to have magic. They did not read anything that was even remotely about people they know, Harry made the rules.
They were on one of those binges when Severus entered the common room. The Slytherins all stopped and watched him, waiting.
"I received your request about staying here on Christmas," He said." Potter, Black, a word."
The boys looked at each other and rose.
"Yes, sir?"
"In my office," Severus said.
They followed the Professor out of the common room that erupted in fanatic whispers as soon as they were away. Snape's office was between the Slytherins dorms and his Potion's Classroom, a short walk really.
"You requested to stay here for Christmas?" Snape asked as soon as the door was closed.
"Yes, sir" Harry said.
"Why?"
"Well, you see, sir, I am very behind on my homework," Harry said.
Even Draco looked at him unconvinced.
"And you?" Snape asked Draco.
"I am not leaving the idiot alone," Draco shrugged.
"I talked with your mothers today, neither knew about this."
"Well, you asked us if we stay or not, not our mothers," Harry replied simply.
Snape's left eye started twitching.
"There is no legal way for me to force you to go home for Christmas," He said cold.
"Yes, sir?" Harry asked politely.
"But there is also no rule about Professors inviting people to stay at the School for Christmas."
Both boys look on shocked.
"There must be," Draco bit his lip.
"So how about you tell me what is going on?"
"We need to remain here for Christmas" Harry said imploring.
"Will you tell me why?"
Harry looked down and shook his head.
"I trust you," Severus sighed." If you do anything dangerous, you are both loosing that privilege, do you understand?"
Both nodded.
"Dismissed," He said unhappy.
Both boys made their way out.
"That went well" Harry beamed.
Draco threw him an impressed look.
"I hope the bloody snake is worth it!"