Here is the rewritten version of Chapter 19.

The first thing Frodo and Sam smelled, as they entered Dumbledore's circular office, was peppermint and honey. It didn't take them long to find on the claw footed desk a bowl filled with sweets and cakes. Looking about the room, they saw portraits of headmasters and headmistresses asleep in their frames. Silver instruments stood on tables. Also on the desk was a battered old hat. Wait… it was the Sorting Hat. As Sam took a few bites out of a cake square, Frodo moved the Sorting Hat from the desk to on top of his head.

The same cunning voice spoke in his ear, "You're wondering if I put you in the right house." The whisper continued to speak. "Three houses I said you belong in. Could there be a fourth choice? Yes, I see it now. You would also fit well in Slytherin."

"No. You're wrong," Frodo said, moving the hat off his head and back on the desk.

"Maybe it's wrong about me, too," Sam said, between bites.

"I don't know, Sam. I'm as clueless as you," Frodo admitted, shrugging his shoulders. His gaze fell on a young fiery red bird, resting on a golden perch. He stared at the bird in awe, but found his feet had brought him closer to the creature. He stopped upon hearing a familiar voice:

"Frodo, Sam," it was Professor Dumbledore. "Enjoying the sweets, I see." Frodo was confused. Sam gulped, thoroughly embarrassed. Dumbledore climbed upstairs, joining the two hobbit lads. "Fawkes is a phoenix. Phoenixes can heal the most grievous wounds, carry heavy loads and are reborn from the ashes on A Burning Day."

"Professor, you don't think that Sam and I… well…" Frodo didn't know how to explain the things that have happened.

"No Frodo. I do not think you and Sam are responsible for the double attack today," Dumbledore said.

"What attacks?" Sam understood. "Mr. Dumbledore, Mr. Frodo and I weren't there when it happened. We only just learned…" Sam was interrupted by Dumbledore, who raised a hand at them both.

"I know you're not. But I would suggest caution," the Headmaster asked them, "And also if there is anything either of you wish to tell me. Anything out of the ordinary."

So many thoughts creeped up on Frodo: hearing the strange, slithering voice in the air to Aria going incognito about the Chamber of Secrets. What was more nerve-wracking was how Aria was avoiding him, but then the authors and authoresses were very secretive this term, as if they didn't want him to discover anything that they were up to. Then there were the attacks on Mrs. Norris and, apparently, a double attack that he only just learned. Then the Polyjuice potion being brewed in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom… he came to one conclusion. But it was this conclusion that made Frodo feel more uncomfortable…

"N –" He was interrupted by Sam.

"Mr. Frodo and I – well –" Sam's voice faded away. Frodo's gaze fell on his hobbit friend. It seems they both couldn't lie to Professor Dumbledore. But to not say anything at all? Well, that wasn't what they were used to doing.

"Very well." Dumbledore said. "You two may go."

"Thank you, sir," Frodo sighed in relief. At least he and Sam didn't lie, but then… Frodo grabbed one of the unwrapped cake squares from the bowl. His gaze met Dumbledore's. He nearly spoke up, but it was clear that he wasn't about to say anything to Dumbledore… not yet anyway. He ran off towards the door, following Sam outside the Headmaster's office.

*.*.*

Frodo awoke Christmas morning to the sounds of birds chirping. His eyes widened as he stirred. Just as he sat up, the birds vanished in puffs of blue dust. He checked his hands. Why was his magic getting out of control again? But then he remembered the Chamber of Secrets and the potion. Putting on his uniform, Frodo finished up in the boys' lavatory in haste. When he left the common room and climbed down the spiral staircase, he stopped in hesitation. There was Sam, waiting for him.

"Sam," Frodo said.

"Mr. Frodo," Sam answered. "Hermione wants us to meet her in the Great Hall, to tell us something important."

"Then let's not keep her waiting," Frodo said, following Sam's lead.

-.-.-

After a fight down the Grand Staircase, Frodo and Sam met up with Hermione, Harry and Ron in the Great Hall. There, the two hobbit boys had their share of holiday treats and desserts. It wasn't until after they were done eating that the five friends met outside the hall. It was clear to Frodo and Sam whose hair they were ripping out: two hobbit boys in their year named Dawbs and Weevil, who were also sorted into Slytherin in the same year as them and Lotho.

How were they getting the hairs? Well, it was still early and… Frodo smirked. He had an idea, which he whispered to the others, "Well, why don't Sam and I just bump into Dawbs and Weevil, and take the hairs then?"

"No," Hermione said. She added further, "The only way this'll work is if Dawbs and Weevil won't burst in on us. The same for Crabbe and Goyle. We're here to interrogate Malfoy and Lotho, not cause a ruckus."

"It was a brilliant idea," he admitted.

"Yes, when we're not trying to make Lotho and Malfoy confess the truth," Ron added.

"Then what can we do?" Frodo asked, serious.

"This." Hermione showed them two chocolate cakes. "This is for Crabbe and Goyle. As for Dawbs and Weevil, I have something a little extra…" She pulled out two sparklers. "These will be used to keep Dawbs and Weevil distracted, enough to make them pass out. Now, Frodo will have to pull his usual pranking skills on Dawbs and Weevil, if we want to make this work."

Frodo stared at the unlit sparkler in his hand. Okay. This was surprising. "You're asking me to prank Dawbs and Weevil. Hermione, I don't know if I have it in me to prank on purpose."

"We have a good reason for using the sparklers, and this is one of these reasons." Hermione told the four, "I'm going to check on the Polyjuice potion. Come back to me in Myrtle's bathroom when you have the hairs."

"We actually have to prank Dawbs and Weevil," Sam asked Frodo.

"Hiding them in a broom cupboard, too," Frodo admitted. He looked at Hermione then, "Are you sure this is for the best?"

"Well, what do you want to do? We need to interrogate Lotho and Malfoy," Hermione told them last, "Just trust me, Frodo. We get to the bottom of this soon enough."

That's what I'm afraid of, Frodo thought to himself. This was going to be enjoyable… or maybe not…

-.-.-

The easy part turned out to get the hairs from Dawbs and Weevil. Dawbs was a dirty blonde haired hobbit with a cautious gaze. He was a bit shorter than Weevil, whose hair was dark and burly, and whose eyes would stare down anyone who came across his path. It just happened that as the two Slytherin hobbit boys wandered down the hallway, they were bumped into by Frodo and Sam.

"Watch it." Weevil complained, "You'll get my clothes dirty, Baggins, Gamgee."

"We're sorry. But we came to give you a present," Frodo said, innocent.

"Humph. A likely story," Dawbs said, snatching the sparkler from Frodo's hand. "What is this? One of your gifts?"

"Maybe it's trick," Weevil announced, taking the sparkler from Sam's hand.

"Oh, it isn't a trick. Just a… friendly reminder from a fellow hobbit," Sam proclaimed, smiling. Frodo smirked at him in approval.

"Well, before we go… why don't you test out the sparklers first." Frodo suggested.

"Why not." Dawbs said, pressing a button on the sparkler.

"Me too." Weevil said, also pressing the same red button on his sparkler.

In a momentary flash of light, Dawbs and Weevil were knocked unconscious. Frodo was surprised that it worked, the moment he opened his eyes. He turned to Sam, who had been covering his face with his hands. They were very lucky to have closed their eyes, as Hermione said. Now they could get the hairs from Dawbs and Weevil… Shortly after putting the two Slytherin hobbit boys in a nearby broom cupboard, Frodo and Sam ripped out some hairs from each of them. They darted off fast, hoping to find Harry, Ron and Hermione in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. And they did, for Harry, Ron and Hermione were close to being ready to head to the Slytherin common room.

"You made it! Did you get the hairs?" Hermione asked, curious.

Frodo showed her Dawb's hair.

"So, what do we use them for?" Sam asked, looking at the dark hair he pulled from Weevil's head.

"In a minute. Once we drink the polyjuice potion, we'll have exactly an hour before the potion wears off. In other words, we'll change back into ourselves in an hour." She added, showing them the robes. "I sneaked out spare robes from the laundry. They're bigger sizes, so we'll need to change once we've changed." Hermione added, "The potion's ready. So now we put them in five glasses." She poured the potion into five glasses, before handing the glasses over to Frodo, Sam, Harry, Ron and herself. She said next, "Add the hairs."

Hermione poured the hairs into the first glass. It fizzed and turned a sickly yellow color. Harry was next, with Ron following. Goyle's essence was a khaki kind of booger, while Crabbe's was a dark, murky brown color. Frodo and Sam poured theirs in last. Dawbs was a milky orange, which smelled of curdled milk and two week old rotten eggs. Weevil's had a yellowish orange color, smelling of rotten cabbage.

Before they drank down the potion, Harry suggested to them to head into separate stalls and drink them down. Frodo couldn't have agreed more. The second the stall doors were closed, taking the spare robes with them, the five friends waited until the count of three of drink the potion down. Not liking the smell from his potion, Frodo drank it down in three gulps. Already feeling sick, Frodo doubled over in front of the toilet. As he did, his body burned uncontrollably. His nerves shivered as his body and head swelled. He collapsed on the floor when the burning sensation stopped.

He looked at his hands, which had grown bigger. He felt his hair, which was firmer than his own. The second he heard Harry and Ron – he recognized them more for the mannerisms – Frodo quickly changed out of his uniform and into the Slytherin hobbit uniform. He felt two inches taller, but was surprised to see Sam about three inches taller than him, and looking just like Weevil.

"Sam," Frodo touched his throat. His voice was raspier now, but that must have been the way Dawbs spoke.

"Mr. Frodo," Sam said. His voice was a bit huffier sounding.

"The potion works," Frodo said, peering over at the two wizards, who looked like Crabbe and Goyle. Frodo checked himself in the mirror, but all he could see was Dawbs.

"Dawbs doesn't use hand magic, Frodo," Ron replied.

"Go, you four. You're wasting time," Hermione called from behind one of the stall doors.

Frodo sighed. Ron did have a point. And yet, time was against them at the moment. Frodo, thinking like Dawbs, charged out of Moaning Myrtle's bathroom first. He looked back at his friends, who joined him in seconds. They didn't have a choice except to stick together and hope they reached the Slytherin common room on time. Finding their way to the dungeons, the four friends were stopped by Percy, who interrogated them for a moment until Draco and Lotho came up to them.

"Dawlish and Kettering, where did you come from?" Lotho asked, suspicious. He whispered in Frodo's ear, "Draco has something that may help both our interests."

"Lead on," Frodo said, getting into playing Dawbs for the evening.

"Come on," Lotho said, gesturing forward. Frodo and Sam followed him, Malfoy, Harry and Ron right into the Slytherin common room.

The Slytherin common room was underground, with greenish lamps lit along the walls. The stone was rough and the ceiling was high. Over by the fireplace, several Slytherin students – hobbits, wizards and witches, and authors and authoresses alike – were gathered in front of it. Malfoy and Lotho regroup with Harry, Ron, Frodo and Sam by the couches, where Malfoy showed them an article about Mr. Weasley and the Ford Anglia.

Lotho was stunned by the silence. "What? Don't you agree with Draco? This has to be a real treat for you Dawbs – I mean, Dwalish." Frodo was surprised. Lotho was cowering before him – or Frodo guessed it was Dawbs. "Sorry. I know you don't like hearing that nickname." Lotho admitted a moment later, "But then there's all this uproar about Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee – oh, those Gamgees." He fumed. Calming down, he explained, "Anyway. Hearing that Baggins and Gamgee are Slytherin's heirs is another thing we need to concern ourselves with. As if the Baggins' line already has enough trouble on its hands."

"Don't you know who is Slytherin's heir?" Frodo asked, his voice sounding like Dawbs.

"If I did, would I be asking you?" Lotho recovered, "No, of course I wouldn't." He sighed, recovering, "But I would love to know whose responsible for these attacks. If they do come after someone… well, I wouldn't bother with it. Or maybe I would. Someone's responsible. Why shouldn't I help them out?"

Malfoy laughed. "Lotho, the day you help out Slytherin's heirs, I would be a part of it. But then, I don't know what they'd do to you." He told Harry, Ron, Frodo and Sam, "But the last time the Chamber was opened was fifty years ago. A Mudblood died. So this time, I hope it's Granger." Malfoy added, before Ron and Sam could retaliate, "Whoever was expelled was sent to Azkaban – the wizard prison. I wonder if they're still there."

"And my mother's worried I'll turn into an odd sort, like Mad Baggins." Lotho replied. He admitted in shame. "If only Frodo Baggins was a decent hobbit. But he's been with the Brandybucks for too long. I think he's starting to take a niche for their habits. And then there's the Gamgee family…"

Sam cried, "I've got a stomachache, too."

Lotho shrugged, but then gave a quizzical expression. While he understood a stomachache, he had no idea what was happening to Dawlish and Kettering. Then again, what did he know these days? Dawlish and Kettering… wait. Why was… probably another of Dawlish's tricks.

Lotho shouted as Frodo and Sam flew out of the Slytherin common room, "Hey! Wait… I would like to…" He was too late. Crabbe, Goyle, Dawlish and Kettering were out of the common room. Lotho shooed the air. Maybe he was seeing things…

-.-.-

Frodo and Sam raced to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. They made it just in time, if only a few minutes after Harry and Ron, but just in time to look themselves in the mirror and see they were back to normal. Only by the time Harry put on his glasses and opened the stall door, the four friends found Hermione with a furry face and a tail. Moaning Myrtle was laughing up a storm. After much convincing Harry, Ron, Frodo and Sam took Hermione to the hospital wing, where Madam Pomfrey would change her back into herself.

Thanks for reading. :) More is to come…