Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Chapter Two



It was in the late fall of that year, near the end of October, that things began to happen. When the leaves of the trees were just beginning to fall, the weather began to get colder, and seeing scarves of the House colours wrapped around the necks of students became more and more frequent, the first inklings that something was terribly wrong began to reach Hogwart's.

A man by the name of Tom Riddle had graduated from Hogwarts in the summer of 1944. After doing so, he promptly murdered his father and grandparents and then disappeared into obscurity. It wasn't until roughly 1970 that the ambiguous Riddle, who had simply started out as a disgruntled former student of Hogwart's with a lot of fanatic, radical ideas, began to gain notoriety. It was in 1970 that Riddle began to act on his personal vendetta against all those Witches and Wizards of non-pure blood. These acts against non-pure bloods were fairly small in their scope and it wasn't until 1975 that Tom Marvolo Riddle, now known as Lord Voldemort, began to attract supporters. These supporters hailed from the Giant community, and, much worse, the Wizarding community. They came to be known as the Death Eaters.

There had always been the obscure, extremist belief within the Wizarding community that only those of pure, untainted Wizarding blood were true Witches or Wizards and hence, were the only ones trustworthy enough to study and practice magic. This belief dated all the way back to when Salazar Slytherin had first parted ways with the three other founders of Hogwart's and his prejudice had been kept alive, albeit sparsely, ever since. People of this line of thinking also believed that people who happened to be born a Witch or Wizard but had two Muggle parents, usually known as Mudbloods, should be shunned completely. This belief had always been considered very radical and antiquated and had always hung around the periphery of the Magical community. Most often, it was just ignored by the mainstream and only found support, and very rarely at that, with those of longstanding Wizard heritage. It wasn't until now that the belief was beginning to gain notoriety and support.

Hogwart's soon found itself flooded with rumours concerning the dealings of shady characters and suspected Death Eaters and their possible connections to the rising evil. The rumours ranged from the disturbing to the absolutely absurd. Of course, there was also much talk of the old standard, the Chamber of Secrets, which was a room within the castle that was rumoured to be home to a monster. Supposedly, the chamber was created by Salazar Syltherin before he quitted the school. It could only be re-opened when his true heir returned to the school to "unleash the horror within" and rid the school of all those who were of Muggle parentage and unworthy to study magic. It was also rumoured that Chamber had been opened twenty years prior, but of course, as the existence of the Chamber was not even certain, rumours of it having been opened were even less substantiated.

Just as the rumours varied greatly, in their believability and substance, so did the reactions of those at the school. The Professors did their duty and assured all those willingly to listen that there was absolutely nothing to worry about and that they should not bother to concern themselves with such unfounded nonsense. Most of the students elected to listen to the rumours, but, for the most part, pay them no mind and pass them on, if they felt so inclined. Others, specifically meaning James, decided that it was a great opportunity to increase the confusion and atmosphere of disorder already present within the school. He did sol by transforming every rumour he heard into something utterly ridiculous and then passing it on to everyone he possibly could. For example, he turned the rumour that there was a small contingent of Voldemort's followers hiding in Hogsmeade and were planning.....something, into some far-flung hearsay about a bunch of disgruntled, kilt-wearing Irishmen, who had just recently developed an allegiance to Voldemort and were planning to break into the castle in order steal all the socks they could find.
It was also learned at this time just how gullible some of the students of the school could be. Besides believing every word James Potter said, some students became truly, deeply afraid and would walk around the castle in groups and be in the common rooms before dark every night. These were also the people who were most responsible for spreading, and at times, exaggerating the rumours. Although, for the most part, that was left up to James.

Then of course there were those at Hogwart's who became truly worried and alarmed. Not because they feared for their safety, not all, it was because they feared their family ties to Voldemort would be discovered. In the proceeding weeks, these students became very withdrawn and defensive and most of them, unsurprisingly, resided in Slytherin House.

And then there was Sirius. He opted for a much more practical approach to the entire affair.

"It's Snape, I just know it." He stated flatly at breakfast one morning. "The greasy git's the Heir of Slytherin."

There was a collective groan in response to this.

Sirius looked incredulous.

"James, wouldn't you say it's at least a possibility?" He asked.

James let out a sigh.

"Look, I despise him just as much as you do, but really, the Heir of Slytherin? I highly doubt it. He's just not the type."He replied, and for all intensive purposes, actually sounded like he knew what he was talking about.

"What do you mean, 'not the type'? He fits the mold perfectly. Conniving, scheming, sly-"

"Don't forget ugly." James cut in. The way James saw things, if he exceeded anyone in anything, be it their looks or their Quidditch skills, it gave him the right to expound their shortcomings.

"- and, right, ugly. "Sirius finished. He glared across the hall at Severus Snape, sitting at the Slytherin table, his lip twitching slightly.

"If you're not careful, Sirius, your face will get stuck like that." Darwin stated with the air of a patronizing mother speaking to a particularly problematic child, barely looking up from her breakfast.

Sirius only scoffed.

"You know Sirius, "Lily began, laying a hand on his forearm. "Just because you don't like him, doesn't necessarily mean he's evil. He could be a true sweetie at heart, helping old ladies cross streets and such."

Darwin glanced across the hall at Severus Snape. He looked particularly venomous today, and on his face he wore his seemingly permanent sneer. He was one mean looking, ugly son of a bitch and Darwin supposed that any old lady in her right mind would prefer to take her chances crossing a street alone than let Snape anywhere near her.

"I highly doubt that." Sirius said with confidence, quickly removing Lily's hand from his arm. " Keep your icicles to yourself." He said with a smile.

Lily's hands and feet were constantly ice cold, regardless of the climate, and the cause of which was often theorized whenever boredom abounded or conversation came to a lull. Hilarity would almost always ensue.

Darwin was somewhat removed this morning, electing to listen quietly to the others chatter on around her while she ate her breakfast in near silence.

Their group of friends usually consisted of the Marauders, as James, Sirius, Remus and Peter were known throughout the school, Lily and Darwin. There was also the occasional addition of Geoffrey Parks, Peter's good friend in Slytherin who spat when he talked and had a greasy complection, Sloan Chapman, Darwin and Lily's friend in Ravenclaw, or any one of James' seemingly endless acquaintances.

On this morning, the usual six were joined by Mr. Parks and he did not disappoint. As always, he spat when he spoke and there was an oily look to his face. This was much to the chagrin of all present, except Peter, who seemed willing to forgive his friend's obvious shortcomings. This especially perturbed Darwin, who found herself seated right next to the detestable Parks.

"If I were in charge." Parks began, adjusting his ridiculously thick glasses, "I would have all those even remotely connected to the Death Eaters or You-Know-Who killed. No exceptions."

As he spoke, little bits of spittle flew from his mouth and on to Darwin's robes. She made a big show of wiping them off, hoping Parks would notice. But it was to no avail. Not only was he obnoxious, he was oblivious as well.

Darwin noticed Parks jab his fork into one of the many sausages piled on his plate. She disgustedly watched him take a large bite of sausage and then carry on talking.

"The Ministry should take serious action. It's the only way to ensure that safety within the Wizarding community is maintained." His voice was slightly muffled by the sausage there, but this didn't appear to concern him.

He continued to rant on, no one listening except Peter. As he spoke, more saliva flew from his mouth and onto Darwin's robes, only now, there were bits of sausage mixed in with it.

Darwin abruptly stood to leave, her appetite quite ruined. As she did so, she chanced to glance up, and met the eyes of Remus Lupin. His eyes were pale to match his pale complexion, and they were staring directly at her. The eye contact lasted for a mere moment. Remus hastily looked away, slightly embarrassed.

As she left the Hall, a small smile graced Darwin' lips that no one saw.



A/N: I know this chapter was short and boring, but the story will pick up really soon, I swear.