The First Attack
Emmie sat on her favorite sofa in the Hufflepuff common room surrounded by the quidditch team, Kara, Melanie and Toni. They were all currently discussing the distressing events of the night, granted they were more distressed about the message in what looked like blood on the wall rather than Mrs. Norris. The blasted cat had gotten more than one of them into trouble at one point or another.
The others from sixth and seventh year quickly gathered around them, listening in and causing the crowd around the fireplace to grow larger. Even some of the younger years were venturing towards them, hoping the older students might have answers to some of their questions.
"What is the Chamber of Secrets?" she heard Kara shout out over the noise. They all fell silent and looked around at each other. Emmie had to admit that she had never heard of it, but the message was enough to strike fear in her.
"Heard about it once," Fincher said finally. "Something to do with the school founders… there are stories that Salazar Slytherin made some sort of secret chamber in the school. Because he didn't like that the others wanted to let anyone with magic in. He thought only purebloods should be allowed."
"Not surprised at all," Parks snorted. "Can't trust the lot of that house."
"Yea, but the heir… who you think it is?" the new chaser Tyler Charles asked.
"Someone in Slytherin, obviously," Parks replied. "How much you want to bet it's Flint?" Kara cast a worried glance in Emmie's direction.
"We don't know that," Emmie said, an air of caution in her voice. "We don't really know anything."
"Other than there's a bloody monster lurking the halls, likely targeting anyone with muggle blood," Nickles said. They all fell silent at that. Everyone in the group was part muggle in some way, though some more than others.
"Puts a damper on things," Kara said glumly. Fincher looked around the group.
"Alright then," he said, his voice taking on a note of authority as it usually did in practice. "Then we look out for one another. For the team - we go to practice as a group and come back as a group. No one goes from the castle to the pitch and back alone. If you see a younger year alone, you stay with them until they are safely wherever they're going."
"Thought that it was my job to be coming up with plans and orders," Emmie said, glancing at him. "Prefect and all."
"Sure that they'll have new orders for you lot as well, but this goes for just us and our house for now," Fincher said decidedly. Emmie nodded her agreement, happy to let Fincher take on any sort of leadership role in this matter. While she did enjoy the responsibility that being prefect afforded, she preferred being the one carrying out orders rather than coming up with them. Not to mention, she was sure the head boy and girl would have a bevy of them in their next meeting. She had already received a note that they were to meet the next afternoon to discuss the issue after they spoke with the heads of houses and other professors.
"Think we should step up your lessons," Kara said to her as the group broke up into various conversations.
"While none of us have any idea what we're facing, I have to agree with you," Emmie said. "Looks like I may need to step up my game this year. Especially if comes down to protecting a younger year." She looked around the room, seeing various groups of younger students huddled together. They looked terrified. She couldn't fault them - it was a rather scary prospect. Some sort of monster coming after them and such. A shiver of fear ran through herself as she thought about it.
"And who knows, perhaps this could be some elaborate prank by a Slytherin to scare the bejesus out of everyone," Melanie said airily, playing with her hair.
"Didn't look that way," Emmie said. "The professors looked like they were taking it very seriously." Even Dumbledore looked more than a little concerned from what she recalled.
"Of course, they will. It's their job. But they may find out it's nothing," Melanie said, looking over at her. "Just don't think we should start thinking it's the end of the world just yet."
"She's got a point," Toni said, taking in Emmie's still rather pale face. "No need to worry too much just yet." Emmie nodded and smiled slightly. She knew they were trying to alleviate some of her fears.
"Suppose you are right about that. No need to get too worked up just yet," she said, standing. "Maybe we should take this upstairs. Think we're scaring the younger years."
"I agree," Kara said, standing as well. "Besides, I've got a stash of something. That whole fiasco may have put a damper on Hallowe'en but doesn't have to ruin the whole night."
Emmie chuckled as she, Melanie and Toni followed Kara to their room. She was so caught up in everything that it completely slipped her mind to tell them what Oliver told her. Seemed it had slipped their minds as well as no one mentioned it at all the rest of the night.
Oliver frowned as he sat in a corner, listening to Percy Weasley lead a discussion about what had just happened. He stared down at an old rug, his brow furrowed as his thoughts returned to earlier. The looks of fear on the other students, especially the way Emmie's face had paled. He had never heard of this Chamber of Secrets. Nor whatever this heir was. But from the sounds of it, anyone with muggle blood was at risk, which was easily a good chunk of Hogwarts - himself included.
"There's no need to panic!" he heard Percy shout as voices began rising. He glanced around the group and sighed as he rubbed his face.
"What do you make of it?" Alicia asked, leaning towards Oliver. He looked over at her and shook his head.
"Dunno," he replied with a sigh, his eyes falling on Potter, who was moving to another quiet corner of the room with his friends Granger and Percy's little brother Ron. "Never really heard about it before."
"Neither have I. You'd think something like this, we'd of heard about it," Alicia said as the rest of the quidditch team settled around them. They always seemed to refer to Wood on things, regardless of whether it was related to quidditch. Ian had commented once that he was surprised Oliver hadn't been made a prefect with his natural air of authority and leadership skills. Oliver knew it was because McGonagall had wanted him focused on the team and winning the cup, not bogged down by all the work being a prefect entailed.
"Who do you suppose this 'heir' is?" Fred asked.
"Likely a Slytherin," George commented.
"Could be anyone," Wood said, though he didn't sound so convinced. He was already thinking it was a Slytherin as well.
"What does this mean for muggleborns and half-bloods?" Katie Bell chirped, outside of Potter, she was the youngest on the team and already looked rather terrified. "I saw Mrs. Norris…"
"Dumbledore said she was only petrified. And Professor Sprout is going to get the mandrakes ready and take care of her. No need to worry about that, Bell," Fred said soothingly as he patted the third year on the back.
"Yea, and we'll keep a look out for you. No beastie is going to get you while we're around," George added.
Oliver looked around the group, taking in the various expressions. Fred and George were continuing to comfort the ashen-faced Katie, while Angelina watched on, her brow furrowed in worry. Alicia was watching him.
"What should we do?" she asked.
"For now, suppose we should all go to practice together," he said with a sigh. "Wait and see what the professors have us do. Sure they'll have some sort of plan."
He looked over and saw Ian and Walter heading up to their dorm, motioning for him to follow. Percy was still talking to a group of first and second years, though from the look on his face, he was trying to quickly wrap it up so he could follow.
"I'll see you lot tomorrow," he said, standing.
Once up in the dorm, Ian immediately went to his trunk and pulled out a flask.
"Trying to make this last but dare say we could use a nip after tonight," he said, holding it out to Wood. He accepted it and took a swig, then handed it back before plopping down on his bed with a heavy sigh.
"So… Chamber of Secrets…" Walter said, settling on the end of his bed. "Either of you heard of it?" Wood and Ian shook his head.
"Surely Weasley knows more about it. He knows everything," Ian replied. He glanced at Wood who nodded his agreement. Percy did know a rather lot about things. As if on cue, Percy walked in and sighed as he stepped over to his bed, loosening his tie.
"Going to take work to keep the younger students from losing it," he grumbled. It wasn't often that Percy complained about things, so it must be bad. "The next prefect meeting is sure to be a long one."
"Do you know anything?" Walter asked.
"Not much," Percy admitted. "Heard some story about Salazar Slytherin disagreeing with the other founders about who should be allowed to study at Hogwarts and then creating some sort of dungeon for his own use in the castle."
"And now there's some sort of monster lurking around the castle," Ian said.
"We don't necessarily know that," Percy said rationally. "This could be anything. Possibly a prank or, or…" He stopped speaking, a worried look on his face. Blimey, if Percy was this worked up, it couldn't be good. He usually was more in control. "I just think that we shouldn't get too panicked just yet… in the meantime, we should look after the younger years. Help keep them calm." He looked around the group sternly until the three other boys nodded their agreement.
Ian and Walter started tossing out ideas over who the heir could be as Oliver was lost in thought. Percy noticed this and walked over, sitting on his bed.
"What's going on?" he asked. Oliver looked over at him.
"Well… before all this chamber of secrets stuff started up, found out something at Hogsmeade," he said. "Not related." Percy's eyebrows rose. "I overheard Mac and her friends talking about Flint acting odd. Nice and such. Then I happened across him talking to Pucey and Warrington-" Percy gave him a look. "Seriously, I wasn't stalking or anything! I did actually just accidentally overhear them… besides the point… He was gloating about how it was working and that he'd shag Mac by break at this rate."
Percy nodded slowly as he processed the information.
"I take it you informed her brother," he said.
"No. I told Mac," Oliver replied. "She didn't seem too worried about it. Or surprised at that."
"She has been dealing with him since the beginning of term," he replied. "Surely she's capable of handling him." Oliver frowned slightly in concern.
"This is Mac we're talking about," he replied. "You know how she gets."
"I also know she's a rather clever sort," Percy said. "Good prefect as well. Honestly, I think the lot of you underestimate her most of the time."
"I don't underestimate her," Oliver retorted. Percy cracked a smile.
"You've been secretly watching out for her since third year," he replied. "I think that's the very definition of underestimating her."
"Only because her brother asked me to," Oliver replied, his voice rising slightly. It was true, after all. Alex and Ryan had asked him to look out for her in their stead.
"You ever thought she could take care of herself?" Percy suggested. "That perhaps she didn't need a white knight waiting in the eaves to come rescue her?"
"Her friends are just as bad," Oliver said, deflecting from the criticism. "Whole house is. Have you seen how the quidditch team is around her?"
"Doesn't excuse you acting as though she needs a constant bodyguard," Percy said sensibly. Oliver was silent for a moment. Had he been hovering too much? He swallowed a lump in his throat, a bit of shame starting to sneak in. Perhaps he had been a bit too much. "You don't act like this around her on the pitch."
"That's different. It's quidditch," he replied. Percy just shook his head, unable to really comprehend the difference. "She can handle herself on the pitch."
"Perhaps you should start thinking of her more capable of handling herself off the pitch," Percy pointed out. "And while you're at it, get around to confessing your feelings for her." Oliver frowned at him.
"I,I, no," he said. Percy rolled his eyes.
"Why not?" he asked.
"Because… Don't think she much cares for me like that," he replied, remembering how she had quickly moved away from him at the Hallowe'en party. If she was interested in him, wouldn't she have reacted differently? Percy just stared at him. "You saw her with Diggory. And then she was getting cozy with Williams at the party."
Percy had seen the way MacKenzie acted around Wood. While she had always gotten a bit flustered around most guys in the past, it always seemed to be a bit more around Wood. Whenever their paths did manage to cross over the years, that was. Not to mention her friends did talk rather loudly and made effort to hide their sly glances between MacKenzie and Wood. He was under the impression that they were likely scheming to get the two together. Percy didn't have much time for scheming - besides it was more his brothers' territory - but he did think that it was rather obvious the two had some sort of feelings towards each other and the practical thing to do was for them to just admit it and get on with it. All this back and forth, tiptoeing around the obvious was rather aggravating. Direct and to the point was the way to go and he was surprised the normally no-nonsense quidditch captain wasn't taking that route.
It was the approach he had taken with Penelope Clearwater and that was progressing rather well, in his opinion. What's more, it had always worked for Wood it the past. He wasn't so sure just why he was hesitating with MacKenzie.
He slowly stood from Oliver's bed, shaking his head.
"Fine, don't say anything. But don't come complaining to me when she does start dating someone else," he said lightly as he turned towards his bed. Oliver glanced nervously towards Ian and Walter, who were too busy still discussing the night's incident to pay them any heed.
Percy continued over to his side of the room, pulling out a fresh pair of pyjamas. Oliver just laid back on his bed, thinking it over. Perce did have a point. He had always viewed Emmie as someone to be looked after. Perhaps he should change the way he viewed and treated her. Though he still thought he shouldn't say anything about fancying her. Not just yet.
Sighing heavily, he rubbed his face. Girls were confusing.
Sorry this one is a bit shorter – it was originally part of the last chapter, though I split them up because it was getting too long. More canon stuff – I did actually try really hard to stick to the book timeline with this and keep a lot of the original story in, though it focuses more on what's going on outside Harry, Ron and Hermione's adventures and how the other students are handling it and such.
Aphrodite-Venus-u.k – Haha, yea. I had forgotten until I started re-reading the book and going through the timeline just how far into the school year all that starts happening. Though it leaves a lot of room to set up my characters and such. ^_^ Though the following chapters go through time a bit faster than this.
Thanks for reading!
