January 1993- Petunia

Petunia stood at Platform 9 3/4, loath to let go of her nephew. All parents and guardians had received a missive from Hogwarts detailing the 'tragic incidents' that had occurred at Halloween and just before the end of term. Despite the assurances that whoever was attacking students would be caught soon, many parents hesitated to send their children back to school. Harry had received an apologetic note from Neville, explaining that he would not be returning to school that term as his grandmother had hired a tutor. Petunia strongly considered doing the same for Harry, and Dumbledore had recommended several good magical teachers, but Harry begged her to allow him to return, promising he would be careful.

The crowd on the platform was abnormally subdued, and Petunia wondered if she was making a mistake. Parents clung to their children, whispering instructions on how to be safe, issuing hushed warnings about the dangers of the world. Petunia thought that it was a truly dreadful day when a school was considered a dangerous place. She squeezed her nephew one last time, and watched as he boarded the train. She prayed for his protection. She prayed that magic would not take this precious child from her.

The Second Term 1993- Harry

Hogwarts was strangely quiet upon his return. There were no squeals from girls greeting each other after a holiday apart. There were no playful hexes between friends. Chatter in the Great Hall was suppressed and whispers hung in the air like wind in leaves. Everyone was nervous and it showed. There were gaps at the tables where students, like Neville, had been kept at home. A heaviness hung over Harry and he wondered if he ought to have taken up Aunt Petunia's offer to have him tutored instead. Of all his friends, only Hannah and Draco seemed to have returned, and he was quite lonely for the first time at Hogwarts. Even his extra potions lessons lacked their old familiarity, as poor Hermione Granger was now housed in the hospital wing, stiff as a board, and Padma Patil (and her twin sister from Gryffindor) had been kept at home. Nevertheless, Snape wanted Harry and Draco to continue the class, and they huddled over the warmth of the cauldron, brewing a memory potion.

'Alright, good job, Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Dursley.' Snape shook the vial that held their potion. 'You're dismissed. Remember to walk together until you're out of the dungeon.'

Hogwarts had implemented a buddy system, and students were required to walk around in pairs until they got to common rooms, classrooms or the Great Hall.

'Ah, the buddy system,' sighed Harry, and Draco glanced at him questioningly. 'So efficient. If the attacker finds us, he gets two for the price of one!'

Draco snorted. 'Idiot.'

Harry grinned. Like most of the school, Draco had been quiet and downcast. He appeared paler than usual and Harry wanted to lighten the mood. 'How was your Christmas? Got anything cool?'

The smile Draco wore disappeared. 'I stayed at Hogwarts… it was fine, I suppose. Hardly anyone was here, really.'

Harry was surprised. 'Why'd you stay? I thought your family did a big thing for Christmas every year!'

'Father and Mother had some terribly important meetings, and they didn't have time for a celebration this year,' said Draco flatly. 'It's fine, a Malfoy always does his duty, and my duty was to stay here for Christmas.'

Harry shifted uncomfortably; caught up in celebrating Christmas with Aunt Petunia, he hadn't known that the boy had been alone for the holiday. He never even wrote to Draco, and now he was filled with remorse.

'I didn't know… I'm sorry Draco.'

'I said, it's fine,' snapped Draco. 'Anyway, I've got to go. Later, Dursley.'

'Draco, wait!'

Draco stalked past Harry, and passed the alcove that hid the Slytherin common room. Harry watched as he stomped up a staircase and out of view. He debated going after him, but decided against it. Draco clearly wanted to be alone. Harry shook his head; he never knew quite what to say to him. The boy was defensive over his parents and hated admitting that they were less than ideal. He rubbed most people the wrong way with his boasting about his wealth and power, but Harry had begun to understand that it made Draco feel better about his critical father.

Later that evening, Harry sat in the half empty Hufflepuff common room with Hannah Abbott and Ernie Macmillan next to a roaring fire. The three shared a plate of sugar cookies that Ernie had sourced from the kitchens, along with a pot of hot, sweet tea. The three discussed the theories and rumours that had been flying around the school about the attacker's identity.

'I heard that it was a former student who didn't get the job they wanted as the DADA teacher!' whispered Hannah, casting furtive looks around the common room as though she expected the spurned teacher to be hiding behind a plant.

Ernie snorted. 'Don't be silly Hannah. It's obviously a plot by the Ministry to get rid of Dumbledore. They think he's too soft on muggleborns.'

Someone chuckled from a dark corner of the room. It was Cedric Diggory, an older Hufflepuff, and one much admired by the younger students. 'I'll trade you a biscuit for a story about what's really going on.'

Harry held out the plate of cookies. 'Go on, have at it, and tell us!'

Cedric grinned, and bit into a cookie. 'Well, you know the story of the Founders. Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin. The first three, as we know, wanted to include muggleborns, but Salazar Slytherin wanted to keep magic for the pure bloods. They fought about it whilst building the school.'

Cedric paused, and leisurely poured himself a cup of tea. Harry, Hannah and Ernie stared at him impatiently.

He continued, 'Old Salazar was so angry, that he built a secret room, the Chamber of Secrets, where he kept some sort of monster. Some say it was a dragon, others think it was a sea serpent. Whatever it was, he said that some day, his final living descendent, his heir, would open the chamber, and let the creature out. And then it would PURGE THE SCHOOL OF ALL IMPURITIES!'

Cedric dramatically shouted the last bit, startling the three second years, who jumped up, upsetting the tea and biscuits.

He laughed and flopped back into his seat. 'And that's what everyone thinks is happening… the two students who were petrified were muggleborn… perhaps old Salazar's prediction has come true. Or there's a psychopath running around school randomly attacking students. Who knows, really.'

He grinned, and sauntered off, leaving three rather shaken Hufflepuffs next to the dying fire. The room, which a few minutes before was cosy and secure, now seemed filled with ominous shadows, and the three fled to the safety of their beds.

Morning brought dire news- a Ravenclaw girl, Cho Chang, had been found petrified outside, near the frozen lake. She appeared to be in the process of putting on skates when she was attacked, her startled face reflected in the ice. Her friends said that they were about to meet her for an early morning skating lesson. Even as Cho was deposited in the Hospital Wing, teachers carried on with their classes, reiterating to the students the importance of sticking together. Everywhere Harry went, students were huddled in groups, shooting fearful looks at each other.

As the weeks went by, more of Harry's classmates were summoned home, and the school echoed with emptiness. Even Aunt Petunia had written and told him that she would prefer if he stayed home after the Easter holiday, 'until all this is sorted, dear.' As Easter approached, Harry obediently packed his things, and prepared to stay at home until third year began. Aunt Petunia didn't intend to let him slack off; Dumbledore had recommended several texts and a tutor so that Harry could keep up. Even so, Harry was thoroughly crestfallen at having to leave school so early, and didn't look forward to Draco being ahead of him in potions in third year!

After his final potions session, Harry informed Snape that he was leaving. 'My aunt decided that it would better if I went home until the attacker is caught, sir. But I wanted to thank you for the extra classes, they've helped me a lot.'

'I am sorry to hear that, Mr. Dursley… I look forward to seeing you in third year then, and we shall continue these sessions.' Snape's face was unreadable, but as Harry gathered his books and left with Draco, he liked to think that he would be missed.

Draco's voice trembled as they walked. 'You're leaving? You can't!'

'My auntie's really scared about what's going on,' sighed Harry. He continued, lightly, 'You'll be so much further along in class than I am, I hate it already.'

Draco glared at him, and Harry was shocked to see his eyes filled with tears. 'You're my only friend! You can't leave! You mustn't!'

'Draco, I've got to,' began Harry, confused at Draco's reaction. 'My aunt really wants me t-'

'No! Everyone keeps leaving me alone!' shouted Draco. He began running ahead of Harry.

'Draco, wait! It's not safe, come back!' yelled Harry, as Draco disappeared ahead. Harry was frightened of Draco's reaction; he had never seen the usually reserved boy so emotional. He hurried through a group of fourth year Gryffindors who threw him annoyed glances. He could see the back of Draco's white blond hair bobbing up and down in the distance, and he dashed after him.

Draco led him on a wild chase, up the stairs, through corridors that Harry had never been to before, and past a gallery of irritated portraits. Finally, out of breath and wheezing, Harry came to a stop. He had arrived at a plain stone corridor, devoid of furnishings and paintings, and he could no longer see Draco. The passage ended in a window, so Harry began checking each room for his friend. Most of the rooms were empty, disused classrooms, filled with broken desks, old books, and cracked cauldrons.

In the distance, Harry heard a whimper. 'Please, no, I don't want to, please. Don't make me!'

'Draco?' he called out, peering into each room, finding them completely vacant. The last room opened into an old girl's bathroom, and Harry blushed at the thought of entering. However, a melancholy sob emanating from the room drew him in.

'Draco? Is that you? Are you alright?' Harry's voice echoed in the old bathroom, accompanied only by the steady drip of water.

'No, I am NOT Draco!' The ghost of a young girl burst out of one of the toilets, spraying a disgusted Harry with water. 'I'm a GIRL, I'm MYRTLE. Who are YOU?'

Harry carefully wiped the toilet water off his glasses. 'My name's Harry, I'm looking for my friend, Draco. Have you seen him?'

The ghost began to cry again. 'Nobody ever comes here to see me, nobody cares! Everyone is just passing through, no one ever asks, "how are you, Myrtle? How is your toilet today?" They just carry on, living, and ignoring me.'

Harry gaped at her, unsure of what to say, still wondering where on earth Draco had gone. He never got the chance to reply.

Behind Myrtle, a great shape rose and a voice echoed in Harry's head. 'I am so hungry. I will tear you apart, I shall eat your organs, drink your blood, come to me, fill me.'

Myrtle froze, and went a smoky grey. Harry never had time to scream. The only sound that was left was the constant drip of water, until the two were discovered by Argus Filch later that day.

April 9th, 1993

Dear Mrs. Dursley,

We regret to inform you that your nephew, Harry Dursley, met with an unfortunate accident today. He was found petrified by our custodian, Argus Filch, in a disused bathroom. Please rest assured that he is merely petrified, not dead, and Hogwarts is currently working on a cure that will be ready in one month. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Madam Pomfrey

School Nurse.

The letter fluttered to the floor as Petunia's grip weakened. The blood drained from her face, and the world around her spun. Somehow, she staggered to a chair, the terrible words twisting through her mind. She sat, unmoving as the room darkened into night and numbness spread through her body and her heart. Harry was supposed to come home tomorrow. He was supposed to be safe. She, Petunia Dursley, was supposed to take care of him, and she had failed. Slowly, her sadness and fear turned into anger. A school was supposed to be a safe place. She shouldn't have been afraid to send her child there. Determination set in. The magical world had always tossed Petunia to and fro, and she never had any control. Today, she decided, would be the day that she took back that control. She sat and penned a short letter to Dumbledore. She didn't care if he didn't like her plan or not, she was not about to leave Harry's fate up to chance.

Professor,

I've received the terrible news about Harry. I'll be coming to Hogwarts shortly. I can't sit here at home and wait. I must see him.

Petunia.

She quickly packed a small trunk of things, and rushed off to catch the London train. A few hours later, Petunia stood cautiously at the entrance to Platform 9 3/4, her earlier spunk gone. Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, she sidled across the magical barrier and came to the other side. It was packed with relieved parents and children returning home- many until the following academic year. Petunia wished so badly that she was one of them.

Petunia usually ended her journey here on the platform, after putting Harry on the train. But today, she would be the one getting on board. Petunia did not have much of a plan beyond somehow getting to Hogwarts, and was relieved to find that the train was indeed working. She was lucky- it was the last day of term at Hogwarts, and the train would return one last time to the school. In the bustle of an unprecedented number of students leaving for the Easter holiday, no one took much notice of her. Petunia purchased her ticket for a galleon from a sleepy witch manning the booth who didn't appear to care who she sold tickets to. Now inside the Hogwarts Express, Petunia made herself comfortable on the plush red seat, and settled in for a long journey. She seemed to be the only person on the train, aside from the trolley lady. Hours passed and the sun had already dipped, colouring the sky orange, when the train slowed at the Hogsmeade station. Petunia had long dozed off, and woke with a jump as the steady motion ceased.

The platform was deserted, and a glance at the main street of the small village told her that every store was closed for the evening. Windows were snapped shut, curtains drawn, and she couldn't see a single soul around. Resigning herself to a long walk to the castle, Petunia hobbled off. Fortunately a horseless carriage came rumbling up to her, and she was too relieved at the thought of a lift to wonder what drove it. Her smart heels didn't lend much practicality to lengthy treks!

Petunia's first view of Hogwarts was very much unlike what Harry and Lily would have seen. When the first years arrived, a point was always made to have lights blazing at every window and turret, creating a fairy like aura. Now, it was dark, and Petunia was strongly reminded of Dracula's castle that she had seen once in a film. She shuddered, and a chill went over her. An air of danger hung around the school.

She was in the eye of the storm now.

AN: Thank you so much to all the follows, faves and reviews! I really appreciate them all :). Please let me know what you thought of this one!