Part Eleven

Walking through the hall the next day they were still talking about it and trying to figure things out. "Who could have opened the Chamber of Secrets, though?" Harry asked.

"Well," Erin said. "It would have to be someone that is at least half-blood, and the half has to be an old wizarding family…but it's probably a pure-blood, because of Slytherin's views. And they have to have been told how to get into the Chamber…there must be a secret to it…"

"Yeah," Ron said. "And who do we know that thinks all Muggle-borns are scum?"

"If you're talking about Malfoy—" Hermione said not wanting to hear it.

"Of course!" Ron interrupted. "You heard him that night. 'You'll be next Mudbloods'."

"I heard him." Hermione said. "But Malfoy, the Heir of Slytherin?"

"He could be right." Erin said shrugging. "His father's side is a really old family."

"And they've probably been in Slytherin for years." Harry said.

"What about his mum's family?" Ron asked confused. "Why does it have to be his dad, not that I'm saying his dad is great or anything…"

"Because, Ron," Hermione said. "Erin is related to Draco's mum. If it was his mum's side it could have just as easily been her that could open it."

"True." Erin said and hurried on, she did not want this conversation to continue. "We need to find out, anyway, check it out."

"How are we going to do that?" Ron asked.

Erin and Hermione looked at each other. "Wasn't Snape talking about a potion in class the other day?" Hermione asked the other girl.

"Yeah, the Polyjuice Potion!" Erin said. "That would work."

"What are you two talking about?" Ron asked.

They ignored them. "Yes, he said is was in a book…Moste Potente Potions!"

"In the restricted section of the library!" Erin said. "We need a teacher to give us permission." The two were get excited about this.

"What are you two talking about?" Ron practically roared at them.

"I know just the teacher." Erin said grabbing Hermione's hand.

"Oh, Erin!" Hermione rolled her eyes. "What makes you think he'll give us permission?" Harry and Ron were following wondering what they were talking about.

"Because he'll sign anything that stays still long enough." Erin said.

"Lockhart." Ron and Harry said at the same time.

Erin caught him just as his sixth year class ended. "Oh, Professor! Hermione and I were having a disagreement about one of your books!"

"Oh, really?" He asked smiling. "Well, come in, let's see if we can't sort it out."

This was easy, Erin thought. "Yes, you see we were wondering about it in Gadding with Ghouls and the slow-acting venoms…Hermione says that the venoms have to be in the form of a potion to work correctly and I say that they can be in their true forms."

"Ah, Gadding with Ghouls! Possibly, my favorite, you enjoyed it?"

"Oh, immensely." Hermione said. "It was so masterful how you caught that last one in a tea-strainer."

"Oh god…" Erin groaned. "Actually Professor, there is this book in the library that can help us with our argument since we know how valuable your time is. But it's in the restricted section…if you could just give us permission…"

"Of course, of course!" Lockhart smiled showing all his teeth. "No one will mind if I give a little help to the two most brilliant witches in your year, now will they?" Hermione was just gazing at him. Oh, boy, he called her brilliant. Lockhart was signing the slip of parchment and not even looking at the title. "There you are." He said handing it back to Erin.

"Thank you, so much, Professor. I am sure we will enjoy the book most immeasurably." Erin grabbed Hermione's arm and dragged her out.

"See in class, Professor!" She called back to him.

"Always an enjoyable experience!" He called back as some 1st years wandered in.

"Hey, Ginny, hi, Luna." Erin said going past them.

"Hi." Luna said brightly, but Ginny wasn't looking to well.

"Ginny?" Erin asked.

The girl looked up and nodded. "I'm feeling too well." She whispered.

"Well, I'll see you later." Erin said. "We'll sit in front of the fire, ok?"

Ginny nodded looking a bit better. "Ok."

They hurried to the library with Ron and Harry after them. They waited outside while Erin got the book. Hermione was practically crying by the time they came back out. Erin rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't let her keep the piece of parchment with his autograph on it." She explained. "Come on, we have work to do."

Erin sat down next to Neville in the stadium. Gryffindor and Slytherin were playing the first game of the season. Neville looked up smiling. "Mornin', Neville." Erin said.

"Morning." He said brightly. "If Harry up for the match?"

"He should be with how Oliver has been working them." Erin smirked.

"I heard you beat up Malfoy." He grinned at her.

"I certainly did." Erin said emphatically. "He called Hermione a 'Mudblood'. I wasn't going to allow him to get away with that."

"I wouldn't have either." He said. "He gives a bad name to the other 'purebloods'. Right, Ron?"

"Right." Ron said. "What are we talking about?"

"Malfoy." Erin said. "He gives a bad name to the other people in the school that are purebloods."

"Definitely right, then. That blowhard is just a ponce. You should hit him more often."

"Believe me." Erin sighed. "If I could, I would."

The match was well on its way and they were cheering for the Gryffindor team. Harry dodged a Bludger and then it changed direction in midair coming right back to him. "What the—?" Erin said.

Hagrid was behind them and looking through his binoculars. "Hey, Harry's got himself a Rogue Bludger, that's been tampered with, it has."

"I'll stop it." Ron said getting out his wand.

"No!" Erin and Hermione yelled at the same time.

"You could hit Harry." Hermione said. "Even with a proper wand it's too risky."

"Erin, what about you?" Ron asked.

"Even I would not attempt it." Erin said. "I want a live Harry, not one that is in a million pieces."

"You want him more than alive…" Ron said with a smirk. "OW!" He rubbed the back of his head where Erin had slapped him. "No more head-slapping!"

"Only if you stop talking about Harry and me." Erin said.

"Oh!" Ron groaned. They went back to watching Harry try to get away from the Bludger. He and Malfoy suddenly tore off in the same direction. Erin got up and Hermione and Ron followed her. They went down out the parapets to where it connected with the stadium. Just as they reached the bridge to the pitch they heard Lee shout. "Gryffindor wins!"

"Bludger!" Erin said running to where Harry was on the ground holding his arm. Harry was still dodging it. "Finite Incantatem!" Erin yelled. The Bludger turned to dust.

"Thanks." Harry said when Erin got to him.

"Are you ok?" She asked worriedly.

"My arm…I think it's broken."

"No to worry, Harry, I'll fix that in a jiffy!" They both looked and saw Lockhart there.

"No, not you." Harry said.

"Doesn't know what he's talking about." Lockhart said taking Harry's arm.

"No, really." Erin said trying to push him away. "Not you!"

"Out the way, dear girl, you're obviously hysterical. Braccius Imendium!" He held up Harry's arm and it flopped down. The idiot! "Yes, well, that can happen sometimes. But at least the bones are not broken."

"Broken?" Hagrid spluttered. "There's no bones left!"

"Oh, you—" Erin didn't finish her thought she held up her wand. "You pompous, arrogant excuse for a human being!"

"No, Erin, put the wand down!" Lockhart was smiling, but he was backing up. "Erin, put the wand down!"

"Hysterical, am I?" She said in an even tone. "I told you to just leave him as he was! Madame Pomfrey could make him right in a moment, but no! You decide you have to try and look good, but you just look like an arse!"

"Erin…" He said putting his hands up. "You don't want to do this."

"The bloody hell I don't!" She yelled.

"Erin!"

"Shoot." She said seeing Dumbledore there followed by McGonagall. "Let me explain myself."

"We know." McGonagall said holding up her hand. "But I am afraid we will have to dock 50 points from Gryffindor and you have a detention." Lockhart ran when he saw Erin's wand go down. McGonagall put her hand on Erin's shoulder. "Believe me, I have wanted to do that since the beginning of the year…but you have to respect your teachers. Those are the rules…"

"I won't respect him, he hasn't earned it…" Erin argued.

"Ah, Erin," Dumbledore said. "It isn't a question of respect then, it is a question of keeping your head and learning self-control." His eyes twinkled. "Understand?"

"Yes." Erin sighed.

"Good." He said. "Then let us go see how Harry is fairing."