Clara POV
I knew immediately that McGonagall was taking us to Dumbledore's office. Renee was still dragging her feet, but Harry and I were walking, ready to defend ourselves.
"Lemon Drop," McGonagall said to the gargoyle knocker, rolling her eyes. It seemed like she didn't really approve of Muggle candy as a password, and I guess I could see her reasoning. "Wait here, you three."
We nodded. Harry walked over to a crumpled hat and put it on his head. It was the sorting hat, of course. Harry stayed with it for a moment before replacing it and saying, "Don't tell Ron or Hermione, but the hat wanted to put me in Slytherin. I didn't want to be with Malfoy, and I thought all Slytherins were bad. I'd never met anyone like you, Renee. They're all like Draco in my year."
"Well, it's okay. I wouldn't want to be there either, considering it's where Voldemort and all the evils come from. And Kaylee."
"Renee, you are a Slytherin!"
"I know, but I don't want to be."
"But what about Gill? He's nice, isn't he? And Sandra's sisters?"
"Well, okay. Fine. But Clara, what about Zacharias Smith? He's not nice."
"Okay, can we not bring that up?" Suddenly, I heard a strange gagging noise. Renee and Harry noticed it too.
"Oh great, Dumbledore's bird just has to die on us while we're here and in trouble. Great."
"Renee, shut up."
Harry laughed. "How did a Hufflepuff and a Slytherin get to be such good friends, anyway?"
"Long story."
The bird burst into flames. I screamed. Dumbledore walked in calmly, but looking somber.
"Professor, your bird-"
"-it just exploded-"
"-couldn't do anything-"
"-burst into flames."
Dumbledore chuckled at our stammering. "Fawkes, you see is a phoenix. He is reborn from the ashes every few months, when he expires."
"Oh!" I gasped. It wasn't that the "baby" was beautiful; it was quite ugly, but that we got to witness….life. Harry and Renee were staring at it too.
"Phoenixes," he continued, "can carry immensely heavy loads, their tears have healing powers, and they make highly faithful pets. But alas, you three are worried.
"You needn't be, though. No first or-"
"They didn't do it, Professor Dumbledore, sir! I was talking to Harry just minutes before! An' the girls were in class. They wouldn't've had time."
"Hagrid."
"Ask Professor McGonagall or any of the first years, they'll tell you!"
"Hagrid! I do not believe any of these three are the culprit."
"But-yeh don't? I'll wait outside, then.
Once Hagrid had walked out, Dumbledore resumed his calm manner. "You really don't believe it was us?" Renee asked
"No first or second year, no student could have done this. But I still want to talk to you three. A Gryffindor, a Slytherin, and a Hufflepuff. How is it that the three of you collectively take the blame?
"Is there anything any of you wish to tell me?"
"Sir, are you in touch with Chiron?"
"But of course. All the magical heads know each other, and with you two being here, I have to be."
"That is all, then. At least for me. Clara, Harry?"
We shook our heads. "Nothing, sir."
Renee POV
Two weeks later, I was still wondering whether I should have mentioned the diary. It was the time when Clara used it that I really felt us breaking. She would leave it alone for a few days and then come back to it. I hated what it was doing to her.
McGonagall took the list of people who would be staying for Christmas. Luckily, it was on a day where Clara didn't use the diary, so she had her wits about her.
"Wren," she said, and I knew something was wrong. "I want to go home for Christmas." She waited for me to say something before continuing. "This is all so new for the Bradleys. Only David really knows what my parents know, and I don't even know how much that is. I mean, I want to spend time with them. Next year….next year, you can stay with us. But I have to get away from the teasing, and I need to see my family."
"Okay. But….promise me you won't go out of your way to see anyone from camp."
She promised, and I hugged her tightly. "You're the best, Clara."
Not many people were staying. Most either had families to go to or were so afraid of the Heir of Slytherin that they just wanted to be away. Luckily, Harry, Hermione, and all of the Weasleys were staying.
"Come stay in the common room with us, Renee. All my roommates have left, and I know you don't want to be alone with Ariana and Morgana. And Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle," Ginny persuaded one day shortly before break. I happily agreed. I knew the only reason Kaylee wasn't staying was because of her parents, who didn't want to look suspicious during all of this. But most of the parents didn't care.
So I spent my time in the Gryffindor common room, reading magazines and playing exploding snap. I had ordered gifts for my friends as well. For Clara, a candy assortment. For Annabeth, a copy of the book on my school, Hogwarts: A History. Percy would be getting a rare photo of the giant squid in the lake, and I gave Clarisse a miniature working cannon. Jade got a copy of my herbology book, and Gill would be receiving a t-shirt. For Ginny, I bought some chocolate frogs. I wish I knew her better, but I didn't.
The Gryffindor common room had a much better vibe than Slytherin, but I decided to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas night in there anyway. It just felt right. I'd see my friends during the day.
The Christmas feast was wonderful. I sat with the Gryffindors, and nobody bothered to say anything, not even Draco. Ginny even gave me her spare house tie. I felt like a true Gryffindor. Everyone treated me with kindness and it was the best Christmas I'd had in a long time. I noticed that Draco was going to say something to me but every time, his tongue went slack. I also saw Fred and George laughing every time. I figured they were hexing him every time. A tongue tier or some sort, probably. I had a feeling Snape would give me detention for this, but at the moment, none of that really mattered. I was surrounded by friends who knew my true potential.
The feast ended and I headed back to Slytherin. I had decided to stay there for the evening, and then maybe sleep at Gryffindor.
Clara POV
I was really sad that Renee couldn't come with me, but I knew that I had to spend this first Christmas alone with the Bradleys. Christmas dinner was the hardest, because it was then that I decided to tell my family everything.
I sat between Dave and Ross. "Okay, so, tell me again, what do you know?"
"Well," Dave started, "we know that you're Apollo's daughter, and that you had a quest. No details. And now you're at….an elite boarding school for wizards? Did I get that right?"
"Well, yeah, except that Hogwarts isn't exactly elite."
"Hogwarts? What a joke! I mean, really? Pigfarts!"
"Tony, do we have to remind you you're not funny?" Ross yelled across the table, earning a fist bump from Dallas and a glare from Mom. "Anyway, Clara, go on."
"So yeah, I guess I'll start with the quest. Um, we had to go to England. We were lucky that there weren't many monsters-"
"Oh, so you didn't die? What about Sanderson?"
"Antonius Theodore Bradley!"
"Sorry, Dad."
"So anyway," I said, glaring at Tony, "there weren't many monsters, but we were on a ship that kind of….trapped us. We had to fight our way out. Then we had to fight a giant once we reached England. We had help with that; giants need gods and demigods to defeat them."
"Which god helped you?"
"My father. And….my mother."
"Who is she? I mean, I know you asked Mom about her, and she didn't know."
"Narcissa Malfoy, and thank you for asking, Dave. That brings me almost to the second part of our story.
"Anyway, so when we got back to camp, I found out that we were being attacked by Luke Castellan, one of our own campers. He's working for Kronos, the titan. I don't know what their plan is.
"He attacked my friend Percy Jackson with a scorpion. We went to tell Chiron, but when we got there, he had other news for Renee and me. He gave us our letters and told us we were going to Hogwarts. We went shopping that same day and I met some of my school friends.
"Well, Hogwarts is great. I wish I could do demonstrations of magic for you, but I can't because I'm underage. But there are problems there, too. There is a supposed 'Heir of Slytherin' who has a monster that has already attacked two students and a cat. But don't worry, only those who come from Muggle-nonmagical-families are unsafe. My mother was a Slytherin, so I'm safe. I'm a Hufflepuff, though."
"Whoah, slow down! I mean, I don't really know what half of the stuff you just said is! What are Hufflepuff and Slytherin? And what letters? And what's Narcissa Malfoy like? Are your parents still together?"
My brothers were staring at me intently, and my parents were looking at me with raised eyebrows.
"Clarissa Jeanne Bradley!" Dad slammed his hand on the table, "you can't go back to that school. It's just ridiculous, we're sending you to not one but two places where you could get yourself killed! What do Renee's parents have to say about this?"
"John, let the girl talk. Her brothers have questions, you know. I do agree that we need to think about this, but Clara has some important things to say. I think we need to hear her out, you know."
My father nodded solemnly. "Continue, Clara."
"Thank you. Yes, it is dangerous, but there's no way I'm not going back. I have to return. One of my friends is Muggle-born, she could be next. So, as for your questions, Hufflepuff and Slytherin are Hogwarts houses. There are four of them, each with different qualities that they are praised for."
"And let me guess, your house is praised for idiocy?"
"Tony!" All my brothers were glaring at him now. It took everything I had to continue. My brother was the world's biggest idiot.
I smiled sweetly. "Well, actually, Antonius, some would say that. But the ones who know….well, they think we're the kindest. I bet you'd be a Slytherin, though. They're cunning and will do anything to get their way. Many of them are mean assholes, but Renee's a Slytherin. She hates it there."
"Don't call me Antonius! And what are the other houses?"
"Wow, you actually asked me a question without an insult. Maybe you wouldn't be a Slytherin, Tony."
My other brothers laughed and urged me to continue. My parents gave each other a look that plainly said, I give up.
"So anyway," I said once the laughter had died down, "the other houses are Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. I have friends in Gryffindor, which is praised for bravery. And Ravenclaw is knowledge.
"The letters told us we were accepted into Hogwarts. You go shopping at Diagon Alley, which is kind of like a wizard mall, for supplies. So that's what we did. As for my parents, Narcissa is….well, I didn't really get to know her as much. She seems nice, but her son-my half brother-ugh! He hates Muggles and Muggle-borns with a passion. We think he might be the Heir of Slytherin, to be completely honest."
"Eww, so you have to be related to two slimeballs, then!"
"Steve! You cannot say that about Tony!"
"Sorry, Mom."
"So yeah, my parents are not together, but I think they still love each other. Or at least, my dad loves my mom."
"And how does Renee get worked into all of this? I mean, you've mentioned her a million times, and, I mean, what do her parents have to say?"
That's when I broke down. I was crying as I told them the truth about Renee's nonexistent family, how Aphrodite had given her up to an orphanage, and how her father was probably dead. I hoped she was doing well at Hogwarts.
Renee POV:
After the amazing feast, I went back to the common room and noticed that Draco Malfoy was, surprisingly, alone.
"Where are your bodyguards and your princesses?"
"Crabbe and Goyle are not my bodyguards! I'm fine on my own, Sanderson! But, they've probably forgotten the way to the common room or something. Maybe pigging out? I don't know, but it's about time to go drag them up here, don't you think?"
"You think I actually care?"
"You asked, Sanderson."
"If they're not your bodyguards, why don't you call them by their first names? Even I know that their names are Vincent and Gregory."
"I'll go get them if you care so much." He swung the portrait hole open with a bang and rushed out. I knew I only had a minute to myself, but I enjoyed it all the same.
He said the password, something I wanted to refuse to say, and clambered in with Crabbe and Goyle. But awkwardly, Goyle was wearing glasses.
"You wear glasses?" I blurted out without thinking.
"Yeah, why are you wearing those?" Malfoy echoed.
"Er….reading."
"I didn't know you could read," Malfoy scoffed. I stifled a giggle. "Hey, Sanderson, get out. I'm with my friends."
"You can't make me. It's my common room too!"
"Oh, whatever, stay here then." I could have sworn I saw Crabbe wink at me. But that was too weird to think about.
"Here, you two, this will give you a laugh. Take a look." I leaned over to see it too. "Oy, Sanderson! Get away, this isn't for your eyes, blood traitor!"
Crabbe looked at the paper first and then scowled, handing it uncomfortably over to Goyle, who clenched his fist.
"Well, don't you think it's funny?" Crabbe and Goyle quickly forced their faces into grins. What could be funny to Malfoy that wasn't funny to them?
"Arthur Weasley loves Muggles so much, he should snap his wand in half and join them. I mean, you'd never know the Weasleys were purebloods, the way they behave."
Crabbe's face twisted and Goyle nudged him in the ribs. Then, he laughed halfheartedly.
"What is it with you two?"
"Stomachache," said Crabbe a little too quickly.
"Well, go up to the hospital wing and give those Mudbloods a good kick from me. You know, I'm surprised the Daily Prophet hasn't reported all these attacks yet. I suppose Dumbledore's trying to keep it all hushed up. He'll be sacked if it doesn't stop soon." He paused. "Father always said old Dumbledore's the worst thing to happen to this school. A decent headmaster would've never let slime like that Creevey in."
Malfoy pretended to take pictures with an imaginary camera. "'Potter, can I have your autograph? Can I have your photo? Can I lick your shoes, Potter?'" For some reason, Crabbe and Goyle didn't look too happy about what Malfoy was saying. "What's up, you two?"
Slowly, they laughed, and Malfoy continued slowly, "Saint Potter, the Mudbloods' friend. He's another one with no proper wizard feeling, or he wouldn't go round with that jumped-up Granger Mudblood. And people think he's Slytherin's heir! I just wish I knew who it was. I could help them!"
Crabbe gasped, and Goyle said, "Well, you must have some idea who's behind it all?"
"You know I don't, Goyle, how many times do I have to tell you? And Father won't tell me anything about the last time the chamber was opened, either. Of course, it was fifty years ago, but he knows all about it, it was kept hush-hush last time. It would look suspicious if I knew too much. But I do know one thing. Last time the chamber was opened, a Mudblood died! So, I bet it's a matter of time before one of them gets killed. I do hope it's Granger."
Crabbe and Goyle were being very unlike themselves. Goyle was even asking intelligent questions. "The person who did it last time….were they caught?"
"Of course. They were expelled. Probably still in Azkaban."
"Azkaban?"
"The wizard prison! Honestly, Goyle, if you were any slower you'd be going backwards! Father says to keep my head down and let the heir get on with it."
He explained more about what his father said and how they raided their mansion. I had stopped listening, it was all boring politics anyway, until-
"Hey, where are you going?"
"Medicine for my stomach," Crabbe yelled. But to me, he no longer looked like Crabbe.
I looked Malfoy in the eye. "Good night, Malfoy," I said before storming out.
I saw Harry and Ron running down the halls. They stopped at the bathroom near where the cat had been found, nearly two months ago. "It was you!" I breathed.
A/N: I hope you liked this long-awaited chapter. I meant to publish it on Christmas, but then I got busy packing for camp, so then I meant to finish it on New Years, but I'm not feeling too well-so yeah, it's here now.
I had to use the glasses line, it was just so funny, even though it wasn't book canon.
Anyway, please review.
~Hufflepufferfish
