The Potter Twins and the Chamber of Secrets
Chapter 5: Rumors
It's now daytime in the girls bathroom. A gloomy place. Cracked mirrors. Chipped sinks. Guttering candles. Harry and Ron huddle over a small, bubbling cauldron, as Hermione and Michael add strange ingredients.
Hermione, "again? You mean, the Chamber of Secrets has been opened before?
Ron, "of course! Don't you see? Lucius Malfoy must've opened it when he was at school here, and now he's told Draco how to do it."
Hermione, "maybe. We'll have to wait for the Polyjuice Potion to know for sure."
Michael, "shouldn't be too hard to finish up."
Ron, "enlighten me. Why are we brewing this potion in broad daylight, in the middle of a girls' lavatory? Don't you think we'll get caught?"
Hermione, "never. No one ever comes in here."
Ron, "why?"
Michael, "yeah, why?"
Hermione, "Moaning Myrtle."
Ron, "who's Moaning Myrtle?"
There is a loud, piercing screech, and the ghost of a young girl comes racing out of the wall. Face to face with Ron.
She says, "I'm Moaning Myrtle. I wouldn't expect you to know me. Who would ever talk about fat, ugly, miserable, moping, moaning Myrtle?"
Myrtle sobs loudly and dives head first into the toilet.
Hermione, "she's a little sensitive."
Michael shrugged and said, "if she weren't dead, I'd say she's a little cute."
A slight giggle is heard from the toilet.
….
Notice-Board: Dueling Club! First Meeting Tonight.
A golden stage has been erected. Lockhart struts atop it. Harry, Michael, Ron, Hermione and a good number of other students watch.
Lockhart, "gather round! Gather round! Can everyone see me? Can you all hear me? Excellent. In light of the dark events of recent weeks, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little Dueling Club, to train you all up in case you ever need to defend yourselves as I myself have done on countless occasions…. For full details, see my published works."
The boy next to Harry, turns to him.
He says, "that Lockhart's something, isn't he? Awfully brave chap", he offers his hand, "Justin Finch-Fletchley. Hufflepuff."
Harry, "nice to meet you. I'm-"
Justin, "I know who you are. We all do. Even us Muggle-borns."
Michael shook Justin's hand and said, "nice to meet you."
Justin grins agreeably and looks back to the stage, where Professor Snape has joined Lockhart.
Michael actually smiled, excited to see Snape give Lockhart a lesson in REAL magic.
Lockhart, "let me introduce my assistant Professor Snape. He has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration. Now I don't want any of you youngsters to worry. You'll still have your Potions Master when I'm through with him, never fear!"
Ron, "what's the fun in that?"
Lockhart and Snape face each other and bow. They turn, walk ten paces, then…. Spin…. Wands poised like swords.
Lockhart, "as you can see, we are holding our wands in the accepted combative position. On the count of three, we will cast our first spells. Neither of us will be aiming to kill, of course."
Harry, "I wouldn't bet on that."
Michael, "I'm hoping for it."
Lockhart, "one-two-three-"
Snape, "Expelliarmus!'
A dazzling flash of scarlet light bursts forth and blasts Lockhart off his feet and into the wall behind.
Hermione, "so you think he's alright?"
Harry, Ron and Michael, "who cares?"
Lockhart rises unsteadily, "well, there you have it. That was a Disarming Charm. As you see, I've lost my wand….", Hermione returns it, "ah, thank you, Miss Granger. Yes, an excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape, but if you don't mind my saying so, it was very obvious what you were about to do. If I had wanted to stop you it would have been only too easy…."
Snape, "perhaps it would be prudent to first teach the students to block unfriendly spells, Professor."
Lockhart, "an excellent suggestion, Professor Snape. Let's have a volunteer pair. Potter, Weasley, how about you?"
Michael, "which Potter?"
Lockhart, "oh, uh, Harry."
Snape, "Weasley's wand causes devastation with the simplest spells. We'll be sending Potter to the hospital wing in a matchbox. Might I suggest someone from my own house. Malfoy, perhaps."
Malfoy and Harry eye each other malevolently as they take their places onstage. Grudgingly, they bow to each other.
Draco, "scared, Potter?"
Harry, "you wish."
Michael, "I've seen scarier things on my cousin's bed sheets!"
Lockhart, "please refrain from the commentary, Michael."
Michael, :no promises."
They turn, walk ten paces, then whirl, wands poised.
Lockhart, "wands at the ready! When I count to three, cast your charms to disarm your opponent, only to disarm. We don't want any accidents. One, two-"
Malfoy fires early, knocking Harry off his feet with a blast of white light.
Michael, "boo!"
Harry jumps up, points his wand and yells, "Rictusempra!"
A jet of silver light hits Malfoy dead in the stomach. He doubles up, wheezing.
Lockhart, "I said disarm only!"
Draco, "Serpensortia!"
To Harry's horror, the tip of Malfoy's wand explodes and a long black snake slithers forth. Snape smiles with amusement.
Snape, "don't move, Potter. I'll get rid of it for you."
Lockhart, "allow me!"
Michael, "and here we go…."
Lockhart flicks his wand.
BANG!
The snake flies into the air, hisses in rage, and slithers straight towards Justin! As students scream, Harry, oddly calm, approaches the snake. It rises, fangs exposed, poised to strike Justin.
Harry says to the snake in a strange language, "leave him!"
The snake looks into Harry's eyes, then turns for Justin.
Michael mutters, "what the bloody Hell?"
Harry, "LEAVE HIM!"
The snake hovers a moment more, then, miraculously, slumps to the floor. Harry blinks, as if coming out of a trance, grins curiously at the snake, and offers his hand to Justin.
Justin, "what are you playing at?"
Terrified, Justin backs away. Confused, Harry eyes the faces around him. Malfoy looks shocked. Seamus and Neville's eyes glitter with fear. Ginny bolts out of the room.
Michael looks around, just as confused. His brother could talk to snakes. Wasn't that normal for some wizards?
Snape waves his wand and the snake vanishes in a puff of black smoke, then regards Harry with a look that is both shrewd and calculating.
He looks to Michael, and seems shocked by Michael being confused by everything.
Ron takes Harry's arm and says, "come on. Move. Now."
….
Later in the common room...
Ron and Hermione usher Harry and Michael inside. Harry glances up and sees Ginny staring down at him from the top of the stairs. As their eyes meet, she turns for the girls' dormitory.
Ron, "you're a Parselmouth! Why didn't you tell us?"
Harry, "I'm a what?"
Michael, "yeah, what the bloody Hell is a Parselmouth?"
Hermione, "you can talk to snakes."
Harry, "I know. I mean, I accidentally set a python on my cousin Dudley at the zoo once."
Michael, "it was the funniest thing we saw that day."
Harry, "but so what? I bet loads of people here can do it."
Hermione, "no. They can't. It's not a very common gift, Harry. This is bad."
Harry, "what's bad? If I hadn't told that snake not to attack Justin-"
Ron, "oh, that's what you said to it."
Michael, "I figured it was that."
Harry, "you were there! You heard me!"
Ron, "I heard you speaking Parseltongue. Snake language."
Michael, "it sounded like gibberish to me."
Harry, "I spoke a different language? But I didn't realize…. How can I speak a language without knowing I can?"
Hermione, "I don't know, Harry. But it sounded like you were egging the snake on or something. It was…. Creepy."
As Gryffindors stream into the room, they eye Harry warily. Even Seamus, Neville, and Dean Thomas walk by without a word.
Hermione, "Harry, listen to me. There's a reason the symbol of the Slytherin house is a serpent. Salazar Slytherin was a Parselmouth. He could talk to snakes too."
Ron, "exactly. And now the whole school's going to think you're his great-great-great grandson or something."
Harry, "but I'm not. I…. Can't be."
Hermione, "he lived a thousand years ago. For all we know…. You could be."
Michael, "but I can't speak snake! Why is that?"
The others merely shrugged as they tried to figure out what was going on….
….
A heavy snow falls. Harry sits atop one of the towering hills facing Hogwarts. Hedwig sits beside him.
Harry, "who am I, Hedwig? What am I?"
Michael is standing nearby with Fleet snuggled up in his scarf. He really wished he could help his brother….
….
Later in the library...
The four friends study. Harry, burdened by dark thoughts, looks up at Ron.
He smiles at Harry, then, seconds later, Hermione does the same, something forced about it all. Unable to bear it, Harry gathers his books, gets up from the table.
Michael sighs and follows his brother, not wanting to leave him alone.
As Harry and Michael, students glance up, meet his gaze, then look away. Even Madam Pince eyes them from her desk.
Ginny Weasley, tired and pale, scribbles furiously in a small black book.
Harry and Michael exit, walk into the hallway and pause. From inside a room, the voices of a group of Hufflepuffs can be heard.
Ernie, "so, anyway, I told Justin to hide up in our dormitory. I mean to say, if Potter's marked him down as his next victim, it's best he keep a low profile for a while."
Hannah, "but why would he want to attack Justin? He and his brother have no motive."
Ernie, "Justin let it slip to them that he was Muggle-born."
Hannah, "and you definitely think Harry is the Heir of Slytherin?"
Ernie, "Hannah, he's a Parselmouth. Everyone knows that's the mark of a dark wizard. Have you ever heard of a decent one who could talk to snakes? They called Slytherin himself Serpent-tongue. Michael, I'm not sure of. But Harry? I'm sure of it. Remember what was written on the wall: Enemies of the Heir Beware. The twins had some sort of run-in with Filch. Next thing we know, Filch's cat's attacked. That first-year Creevey's been annoying the Potter's, namely Harry. Then Creevey's attacked."
Hannah, "he always seems so nice, though. And, after all, they are the ones who made You Know Who disappear."
Ernie, "that's probably why You Know Who wanted to kill them in the first place. Didn't want another Dark Lord competing with him."
Harry doesn't need to hear anymore. He slips quietly away.
Michael, however, stays behind and goes over to the students, growling, "hey!"
Ernie and Hannah look like deer caught in headlights.
Michael said, "my brother isn't the heir of Slytherin! If he were, why would he be in Gryffindor? And do you seriously think my brother would kill Voldemort as a baby, knowing he'd be the heir? Also, I can't even speak snake, so if he were the heir, I would be too! Or did you even stop to consider that we didn't even know about Magic years ago? And since Slytherin was fond of pure bloods, explain him choosing an heir from a mother who came from a Muggle family?"
Ernie and Hannah suddenly felt ashamed of their words as Michael said, "and tell Justin that Harry was trying to tell the snake to leave him alone!"
Michael ran after his brother.
….
Muttering, Harry and Michael storm straight into Hagrid, who stands covered in snow, a dead rooster dangling from his hand.
Hagrid, "all righ', boy's?"
Harry, "Hagrid…. What're you doing here?"
Michael, "and what's with the rooster?"
Hagrid holds up the rooster, "second one killed this term. Reckon it's either foxes or a Blood-Suckin' Bugbear. Need Dumbledore's permission ter put a charm round the hen-coop. Yeh sure yeh're all righ', boy's? Yeh look all hot an' bothered."
Harry, "it's nothing. I'd better get going. I've got a lot of studying…."
Michael, "er, yeah, plenty of studying…."
….
Harry and Michael enter a corridor, slow. Up ahead, in the light of a flickering torch, something dark lies. A windowpane rattles in the wind and the torch…. Goes out. Michael and Harry step closer and find…. Justin. Lying rigid on the floor, a look of shock on his frozen face. Nearby, an inert Nearly Headless Nick floats, body teeming with black smoke.
Kneeling, the twins notice a trail of spiders scuttling away from Justin's body and out the loose windowpane…. When suddenly…. Michael and Harry sense someone watching them, and turn around to see…. McGonagall.
Harry, "Professor, we swear we didn't-"
McGonagall, "this is out of my hands, Potter's. Mr. Filch, will you take care of this, please?"
Harry and Michael look behind McGonagall. Filch lurks in the shadows beyond her.
He steps forward and hisses quietly, "caught in the act. I'll have you out this time, Potter's. Mark my words…."
As McGonagall leads the boys away, they look back. Filch stares at Justin and Nick, then turns.
Filch, "dark magic. That's what you've got, Potter's. Even the air you breathe comes out poison. You're evil. Evil as they come…."
….
In the Gargoyle corridor, moments later...
McGonagall marches Harry and Michael down to an ugly stone Gargoyle.
McGonagall, "sherbet lemon."
The Gargoyle springs to life, its wings opening.
McGonagall, "Professor Dumbledore will be waiting for you both."
McGonagall ushers them inside. It's an elevator. The Gargoyle's wings close. The twins rise to an upper floor…. Dumbledore's office!
They step out of the Gargoyle's embrace and enter a large, circular room. Michael recognized the room from his last visit with Voldemort. On a nearby shelf, the Sorting Haf sits. Harry and Michael cast wary eyes at the past headmasters snoozing in the portraits around them. In the last portrait, the Headmaster is awake, reading a book. He is Professor Dippet. Harry approaches the Sorting Hat, glances around, then places it atop his head. Michael watches his brother, a little confused.
The hat, "bee in your bonnet, Potter's?
Harry, "well, you see, I was wondering…."
The hat, "if I put you in the right house? Yes…. While your brother was easy to sort, you were particularly difficult to place. But I stand by what I said last year…. You would have done well in Slytherin."
Harry strips the hat off and tosses it back onto the shelf.
Harry, "you're wrong!"
The hat sits motionless. Silent.
Michael places his hand on Harry's shoulder and said, "well, I for one, think Gryffindor was the perfect choice for you."
Harry smiles at his brother before they both hear a gagging sound. They turn to see an old, decrepit bird sitting on a golden perch. It wobbles, then…. Bursts into flames. As Dumbledore enters, Harry and Michael look horror-struck.
Harry, "Professor, your bird…. I couldn't do anything…."
Michael, "yeah! He just caught fire!"
Dumbledore, "about time too. He's been looking dreadful for days. Pity you two had to see him on a Burning Day. He's really very handsome most of the time…."
Harry and Michael look utterly perplexed.
Dumbledore, "Fawkes is a phoenix, boy's. Phoenixes burst into flame when it is time for them to die and are reborn from the ashes."
Harry and Michael look to the floor. The ashes swirl. A baby Fawkes pokes out his wrinkled head, blinking through the dust.
Michael, "well I'll be…."
Dumbledore, "fascinating creatures, phoenixes. They can carry immensely heavy loads, their tears have healing powers, and they make highly faithful pets."
Michael, "makes me kinda jealous."
Just then, Hagrid, still clutching the dead rooster, bursts through the door.
Hagrid, "it wasn't them, Professor Dumbledore!"
Dumbledore, "Hagrid-"
Hagrid, "I was talkin' ter 'em jus' before that kid was found. It can't've bin 'em!"
Dumbledore, "Hagrid-"
Hagrid, "I'll swear ter it in front o' the Ministry o' Magic'
Dumbledore, "HAGRID! I do not think that Harry or Michael have attacked anyone."
Hagrid, "course you don't. I- Oh. Right. I'll wait outside then…."
As Hagrid exits, Harry and Michael look hopefully at Dumbledore.
Harry, "you don't think it was us, Professor?"
Dumbledore, "no, boy's. But I must ask you…. Is there anything you'd like to tell me? Anything at all?"
Dumbledore waits. Harry debates. Michael trusts his brother to say something. Finally, Harry says….
"No, Professor. Nothing."
….
The next day….
Students drift into the snow with their trunks, heading home for holiday. As Harry, Michael, Ron, and Hermione appear, Ernie and a few others cast wary glances. Looks like what happened to Justin and Sir Nicholas didn't help Michael's words.
Fred, "make way for the Heir of Slytherin! Seriously evil wizard coming through!"
Ron grins, amused, then sees Harry; anything but. Michael looks utterly furious at the teasing.
Ron, "oh, c'mon, guy's. Fred's just having a laugh."
Harry, "he's the only one."
Michael, "the entire school has turned on my brother just for being able to speak to snakes. I have a right to be mad."
Ron, "okay, so half the school thinks you're nipping off to the Chamber of Secrets every night. Who cares?"
Michael, "we already had this kind of treatment from muggles, and now we're dealing with it at the one place we love more than anything."
Harry, "yeah…. And maybe they're right."
Hermione, "Harry!"
Michael, "don't talk like that!"
Harry, "I didn't know I could speak Parseltongue. What else don't I know about myself? Maybe you can do something…. Even something horrible…. And not know you did it."
Michael, "you're suggesting murderous sleepwalking."
Hermione, "you don't believe that, Harry, I know you don't. And if it makes you feel better, I just heard Malfoy's staying over for holiday, too."
Ron, "why would that make anyone feel better?"
Hermione, "because, in a few days, the Polyjuice Potion's will be ready. In a few days…. We may truly know who is the Heir of Slytherin."
Michael, "hopefully you and I brewed the potion just right…. Or else I might very well turn is all into cabbages!"
….
The Christmas Feast. The Hall glimmers grandly as snowflakes tumble from the ceiling. Harry, Michael and Ron sit with Hermione. Fleet is snuggled up in a nearby stocking.
Hermione, "everything's set. We just need a bit of who you're changing into."
Harry, "Crabbe, Goyle and Marcus Flint."
Hermione, "and we also need to make sure that the real Crabbe, Marcus and Goyle can't burst in on us while we're interrogating Malfoy."
Ron, "how?"
Hermione holds up a pair of small cakes.
Hermione, "we've got it all worked out."
Michael, "we filled these with a simple Sleeping Draught. Simple, but powerful."
Ron glances at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who presently are eating everything in front of them.
Hermione, "you know how greedy Crabbe and Goyle are. They won't leave the Christmas Feast until every last drop of trifle is gone."
Michael, "now, once they're asleep, hide them in a broom cupboard and pull out a few of their hairs."
Ron, "and whose hair are you ripping out?"
Hermione, "I've already got mine."
She removes a small vial. Inside is a tiny hair.
Hermione, "Millicent Bulstrode. She's in Slytherin. I got this off her robes."
Michael, "I already got one of Marcus' hairs. He's off in detention with Lockhart for breaking one of Snape's beakers by accident. I still think the punishment is too harsh."
Hermione, "alright then…. Michael and I are going to check on the Polyjuice Potion."
Hermione points to the cakes in front of her.
Michael, "remember. Just make sure Crabbe and Goyle find these."
Michael and Hermione exit as Ron looks at Harry.
Ron, "have you ever heard of a plan where so many things could go wrong?"
….
Later that night, in the entrance hall...
Harry and Ron, lurking behind a suit of armor, watch Crabbe and Goyle exit the Great Hall. Goyle spies the cakes instantly, perched on the end of one of the banisters. Grabbing them, he reluctantly surrenders one to Crabbe and, in unison, they stuff them into their mouths. They pause. Look at each other. And keel flat onto their backs.
Harry and Ron dash out, drag Crabbe and Goyle across the floor and into a cupboard.
….
Hermione and Michael, wearing Slytherin robes, hover over a smoking cauldron.
Harry and Ron enter.
Hermione, "did you get it?"
Harry and Ron hold up their hands. In each: a tuft of hair. Hermione points to a pair of Slytherin robes.
Michael, "we sneaked those out of the laundry."
Harry and Ron nod, glance at the cauldron. The potion resembles a thick, dark, bubbling mud.
Hermione, "I'm sure we've done everything right. It looks like the book said it should."
Michael, "once we've drunk it, we'll have exactly one hour before we change back into ourselves."
Ron, "now what?"
Hermione, "we separate it into four glasses and add the hairs."
Michael, "and that'll cause the transformations."
Harry and Ron grimace.
….
They pour the potion into four glasses.
Harry and Ron have changed into the Slytherin robes. All four raise their glasses. Drop the hairs. The potion turns shades of yellow, brown, orange, and khaki.
Ron, "ugh. Essence of Crabbe…."
They nod and all drink. Ron swallows grimly ans doubles over.
Ron, "think I'm gonna be sick…."
He runs into a stall. Harry looks sick and steps to a cracked mirror. Hermione pauses and looks worried.
Hermione, "something's wrong…."
Michael, "ngh, that's putting it mildly!"
Inside the stall: Ron bends over the toilet and watches his reflection morph into Crabbe.
In the cracked mirror: Harry watches his face contort into the thick features of Goyle.
Hermione looks at her arm. Patches of fur begin to spread across her wrist and hand. Terrified, she runs into a stall.
Michael looks in a mirror to see fluffy ears coming out of the top of his head, and quickly runs into another stall.
Ron emerges from his stall, a dead ringer for Crabbe.
Ron/Crabbe, "Harry?"
Harry/Goyle, "Ron?"
They both sound like who they were impersonating.
Ron, "bloody hell. Hey…. Where's Hermione and Michael?"
Hermione yells from her stall, "I…. I don't think I'm going. You go on without me."
Michael yells, "yeah, me too!"
Harry, "are you both okay?"
Hermione, "just go! You're wasting time!"
Michael, "we'll be fine! Just find out what Malfoy knows!"
Harry and Ron hurry off and down the staircase.
Ron, "don't swing your arms like that. Crabbe holds them sort of stiff."
Harry goes a bit more "Neanderthal."
Ron, "yeah. That's better…."
….
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….
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