The next morning they questioned Ginny, actually Ron questioned Ginny. She
told them she didn't remember going downstairs, then again she could have
been sleepwalking, a bad habit she had at home. One time she slept walk
into Rons room and was a burglar in her dream and stole half his
belongings. After a week of work and getting back on schedule they decided
to visit Hagrid on Friday. Hagrid was happy to see his visitors.
"Come in, come in, yer letting the bugs in," Hagrid said opening the door for them. They stepped inside and sat down.
"Hagrid, do you know anything on this new teacher? Professor Dwight?" Ron asked at once.
"I know he aint nothing but a nosey fool!" Hagrid said sitting in his chair. Hermione looked at Hagrid puzzled.
"Its only been a week, what do you mean a nosey fool?" she asked.
"I met the bloke over the holiday. Kept asking me 'bout the chamber. I told him to forget it but the fellow wouldn't quit. We aint supposed to speak of it, yer know?" Hagrid said petting Fang, he oversized coward for a dog.
"Why would he ask about the chamber?" Harry asked. He couldn't understand why anyone would still care, it happened over three years ago.
"I don't know!" Hagrid said in a gruff voice. He changed the subject and they finished up their visit with a cup of tea and some cookies. Dinner was coming soon so Harry, Ron, and Hermione said farewell and headed off to their tower to clean up a bit for dinner.
"Asking about the chamber? That's a bit odd, isn't it?" Ron asked. Hermione simply shook her head.
"The Chamber of Secrets has a very interesting history to it, and I mean barely anyone has been there. If I were a new teacher here and heard stories about a girl being taken in there and a simple second year saving her four years ago, I would certainly be asking about it." None of them spoke about it again all the way up to the common room. When Hermione walked off with Lavender, Ron finally spoke about the Chamber again.
"What if he wants to open it?" Ron asked Harry under his breath so one would hear.
"I doubt that. He sounds to scared and weak to do something like that."
"Remember Professor Quirll? He sounded to scared to do something like that." Ron had a good point. His first teacher of the dark arts did sound weak and scared, yet shared a body with Voldemort. There was a slight possibility that Professor Dwight wanted to open the chamber, but Harry still doubted it.
*
The second term was just starting. Hermione has received excellent marks, Ginny was making a habit of sneaking out every other night, and Professor Dwight was still a weirdo asking about the chamber. There was even a whole class discussion on it. Harry warned all the other Gryffindors not to say a thing and luckily none of the Ravenclaws knew every thing that happened.
Potions with Snape hadn't improved since the first year at all. Snape was crabbier then ever. There was a rumor that Dwight was his cousin who promised to take over potions but was a two face and applied for defense against the dark arts himself. Since Harry had since Snapes worst memory, Snape had been taking points off him for every small thing. Five points for snickering, five points for adding a pinch more then needed, five points for blinking too much, and sometimes he would just take points for no reason. It wasn't fair. Each time points were taken off Malfoy would laugh his butt off. Everyone knew Snape favored the Slytherins, Malfoy for one. That was another reason not like Malfoy, he was a pure teachers pet.
"I really wish Snape would stop taking points off for nothing," Ron said after class. Snape had taken away 15 points within the last five minutes of class after he realized he hadn't taken any away in days.
"Feed me . . .feed me . . ." a cold, familiar voice said. Harry began to turn around.
"Malfoy, sto-," but when he saw Draco was nowhere to be found, a cold chill went down his back. It wasn't because the dungeons were cold, but because he suddenly knew where that voice was from. He could hear it moving down until it stopped.
"Malfoy isn't here, lets' go," Ron said eyeing Harry. But Harry stood frozen; he looked as if he had seen a ghost.
"Ron . . . I think someone has been petrified. Down by the potions room!" he said and sprinted off in the other direction. Ron dropped his books and ran after Harry. Sure enough Harry was right. Laying face down petrified was Crabbe. Crabbe was one of Dracos' best friends. Kneeling next to him was Malfoy and Goyle. Neither of them could speak, they were both frozen in fear. Even Harry had trouble talking.
"Pro- Pro- Pro-fessor S-s-s-nape!" he stuttered. Snape came running out from his room. He looked down the hall a bit and saw them all standing there. He came running towards them, wand out.
"What is going on here?" he demanded looking at Crabbe. Malfoy stood and finally talked.
"Professor, me and Crabbe and Goyle started down towards our common room. Crabbe stopped and bent over to pick something up and when we turned for him he was like this!" Snape rolled Crabbed over who was holding a shiny Galleon in his hand. Then he looked at Harry and Ron.
"Potter, Weasley, mind telling me how you two here got involved?" Snape asked folding his arms.
"We were walking and I heard this voice, the same voice I heard whenever there was an attack our second year. Then I heard the voice coming from the direction of the potions room, then it went down." He explained. Ron was now bent over Crabbe with Goyle. There was a frightened look on his face.
"Does this mean the chamber is opened again?" Malfoy asked breathing hard. But Snape didn't answer. He simply left them there and went to get Dumbledore. Draco looked Harry.
"I think it's opened again," Harry answered, he was too scared to even remember how much he hated Malfoy. All of them sat against the wall and didn't speak until Dumbledore arrived. Then Harry and Draco told their stories again.
*
"Are you serious?" Hermione asked after Harry and Ron told her what happened, even though they were supposed to tell anyone else what happened, Dumbledores orders.
"Who could have opened it again?" Ron asked. At that moment they heard Ginny coming down the stairs.
"Hide!" Ron hissed and they all dove for different places. Hermione under the couch, Ron under behind the curtain and Harry under his invisibility cloak. Ginny sat on the couch, only Harry could see what she was doing. She put her arms out in front of her and threw her head back. A bright light seemed to appear around her. She began speaking in Parselmouth. Ron and Hermione couldn't understand it, but Harry could, seeing as how he was a Parselmouth himself. Ginny was saying;
You shall eat again soon my dear. You may be a weakling now, but after you eat, my dear, you will be strong. I your master command you to next attack a first year Gryffindor. Thomas Dean. He will be in the library alone tomorrow evening. At that time you shall strike. That is all for now my dear.
Harry could see a snakes tail slide out of the room, into the wall. He hadn't noticed the snake until it left. Hopefully Ron didn't peek and Hermione didn't look up. Judging by the look of the tail it was another basilisk. Ginny then stood up and went back up the stairs. The trio waited for a moment, then came out from their hiding places. Harry held the cloak.
"Good thing I hid it under the chair cushion," he said.
"What was she saying?" Ron asked. Harry repeated every word Ginny said. Ron was looking very pale. Hermione sat.
"Who could be controlling her like this? It isn't Tom Riddle, who could it be?" She asked thinking hard. It came to Harry.
"Professor Dwight. He was oddly interested in the Chamber, and after he comes there is another attack. I start hearing the snake again. Who else could it be?" For once, Hermione agreed on this theory with Professor Dwight.
"I heard one of the other fifth years saying how he always chooses her for examples. He says he doesn't do anything to her, but he must be. How else could he be controlling her?" Hermione explained.
"That would also make sense on why Ginny says she cant remember all those late night sneak outs I've been asking her about."
"Right. And the fifth year, us the sixth years, and the seventh years know that Ginny opened it before. She is the heir to Slytherin. Professor Dwight must have finally found this out after asking around and decided to go after her!" Harry said pacing back and forth.
"What if she gets taken in again?" Ron asked, suddenly worried. No one knew what to say. There was nothing to do at the moment, they were positive. The only to do was go to bed, which they did.
"Come in, come in, yer letting the bugs in," Hagrid said opening the door for them. They stepped inside and sat down.
"Hagrid, do you know anything on this new teacher? Professor Dwight?" Ron asked at once.
"I know he aint nothing but a nosey fool!" Hagrid said sitting in his chair. Hermione looked at Hagrid puzzled.
"Its only been a week, what do you mean a nosey fool?" she asked.
"I met the bloke over the holiday. Kept asking me 'bout the chamber. I told him to forget it but the fellow wouldn't quit. We aint supposed to speak of it, yer know?" Hagrid said petting Fang, he oversized coward for a dog.
"Why would he ask about the chamber?" Harry asked. He couldn't understand why anyone would still care, it happened over three years ago.
"I don't know!" Hagrid said in a gruff voice. He changed the subject and they finished up their visit with a cup of tea and some cookies. Dinner was coming soon so Harry, Ron, and Hermione said farewell and headed off to their tower to clean up a bit for dinner.
"Asking about the chamber? That's a bit odd, isn't it?" Ron asked. Hermione simply shook her head.
"The Chamber of Secrets has a very interesting history to it, and I mean barely anyone has been there. If I were a new teacher here and heard stories about a girl being taken in there and a simple second year saving her four years ago, I would certainly be asking about it." None of them spoke about it again all the way up to the common room. When Hermione walked off with Lavender, Ron finally spoke about the Chamber again.
"What if he wants to open it?" Ron asked Harry under his breath so one would hear.
"I doubt that. He sounds to scared and weak to do something like that."
"Remember Professor Quirll? He sounded to scared to do something like that." Ron had a good point. His first teacher of the dark arts did sound weak and scared, yet shared a body with Voldemort. There was a slight possibility that Professor Dwight wanted to open the chamber, but Harry still doubted it.
*
The second term was just starting. Hermione has received excellent marks, Ginny was making a habit of sneaking out every other night, and Professor Dwight was still a weirdo asking about the chamber. There was even a whole class discussion on it. Harry warned all the other Gryffindors not to say a thing and luckily none of the Ravenclaws knew every thing that happened.
Potions with Snape hadn't improved since the first year at all. Snape was crabbier then ever. There was a rumor that Dwight was his cousin who promised to take over potions but was a two face and applied for defense against the dark arts himself. Since Harry had since Snapes worst memory, Snape had been taking points off him for every small thing. Five points for snickering, five points for adding a pinch more then needed, five points for blinking too much, and sometimes he would just take points for no reason. It wasn't fair. Each time points were taken off Malfoy would laugh his butt off. Everyone knew Snape favored the Slytherins, Malfoy for one. That was another reason not like Malfoy, he was a pure teachers pet.
"I really wish Snape would stop taking points off for nothing," Ron said after class. Snape had taken away 15 points within the last five minutes of class after he realized he hadn't taken any away in days.
"Feed me . . .feed me . . ." a cold, familiar voice said. Harry began to turn around.
"Malfoy, sto-," but when he saw Draco was nowhere to be found, a cold chill went down his back. It wasn't because the dungeons were cold, but because he suddenly knew where that voice was from. He could hear it moving down until it stopped.
"Malfoy isn't here, lets' go," Ron said eyeing Harry. But Harry stood frozen; he looked as if he had seen a ghost.
"Ron . . . I think someone has been petrified. Down by the potions room!" he said and sprinted off in the other direction. Ron dropped his books and ran after Harry. Sure enough Harry was right. Laying face down petrified was Crabbe. Crabbe was one of Dracos' best friends. Kneeling next to him was Malfoy and Goyle. Neither of them could speak, they were both frozen in fear. Even Harry had trouble talking.
"Pro- Pro- Pro-fessor S-s-s-nape!" he stuttered. Snape came running out from his room. He looked down the hall a bit and saw them all standing there. He came running towards them, wand out.
"What is going on here?" he demanded looking at Crabbe. Malfoy stood and finally talked.
"Professor, me and Crabbe and Goyle started down towards our common room. Crabbe stopped and bent over to pick something up and when we turned for him he was like this!" Snape rolled Crabbed over who was holding a shiny Galleon in his hand. Then he looked at Harry and Ron.
"Potter, Weasley, mind telling me how you two here got involved?" Snape asked folding his arms.
"We were walking and I heard this voice, the same voice I heard whenever there was an attack our second year. Then I heard the voice coming from the direction of the potions room, then it went down." He explained. Ron was now bent over Crabbe with Goyle. There was a frightened look on his face.
"Does this mean the chamber is opened again?" Malfoy asked breathing hard. But Snape didn't answer. He simply left them there and went to get Dumbledore. Draco looked Harry.
"I think it's opened again," Harry answered, he was too scared to even remember how much he hated Malfoy. All of them sat against the wall and didn't speak until Dumbledore arrived. Then Harry and Draco told their stories again.
*
"Are you serious?" Hermione asked after Harry and Ron told her what happened, even though they were supposed to tell anyone else what happened, Dumbledores orders.
"Who could have opened it again?" Ron asked. At that moment they heard Ginny coming down the stairs.
"Hide!" Ron hissed and they all dove for different places. Hermione under the couch, Ron under behind the curtain and Harry under his invisibility cloak. Ginny sat on the couch, only Harry could see what she was doing. She put her arms out in front of her and threw her head back. A bright light seemed to appear around her. She began speaking in Parselmouth. Ron and Hermione couldn't understand it, but Harry could, seeing as how he was a Parselmouth himself. Ginny was saying;
You shall eat again soon my dear. You may be a weakling now, but after you eat, my dear, you will be strong. I your master command you to next attack a first year Gryffindor. Thomas Dean. He will be in the library alone tomorrow evening. At that time you shall strike. That is all for now my dear.
Harry could see a snakes tail slide out of the room, into the wall. He hadn't noticed the snake until it left. Hopefully Ron didn't peek and Hermione didn't look up. Judging by the look of the tail it was another basilisk. Ginny then stood up and went back up the stairs. The trio waited for a moment, then came out from their hiding places. Harry held the cloak.
"Good thing I hid it under the chair cushion," he said.
"What was she saying?" Ron asked. Harry repeated every word Ginny said. Ron was looking very pale. Hermione sat.
"Who could be controlling her like this? It isn't Tom Riddle, who could it be?" She asked thinking hard. It came to Harry.
"Professor Dwight. He was oddly interested in the Chamber, and after he comes there is another attack. I start hearing the snake again. Who else could it be?" For once, Hermione agreed on this theory with Professor Dwight.
"I heard one of the other fifth years saying how he always chooses her for examples. He says he doesn't do anything to her, but he must be. How else could he be controlling her?" Hermione explained.
"That would also make sense on why Ginny says she cant remember all those late night sneak outs I've been asking her about."
"Right. And the fifth year, us the sixth years, and the seventh years know that Ginny opened it before. She is the heir to Slytherin. Professor Dwight must have finally found this out after asking around and decided to go after her!" Harry said pacing back and forth.
"What if she gets taken in again?" Ron asked, suddenly worried. No one knew what to say. There was nothing to do at the moment, they were positive. The only to do was go to bed, which they did.