Disclaimer: Sorry, but once again I don't own Harry Potter.
So far I've only had one suggestion for Draco's raven. If I don't get anymore I'll use that one. Thank you Shadowface for said suggestion. The next chapter will deal with investigations into the Chamber of Secrets. Please tell me what you think and if there's something you'd like to see or for me to add please tell me. Any questions feel free to ask, I'll answer them at the beginning of the next available chapter. Thanks.
Chapter 7
Veneficus had wound himself around Harry's arm when they left for the train. Draco and Harry were looking forward to the new school year, to seeing what was in store. Their first year had been eventful so why not their second one? Upon passing through the barrier they quickly boarded the train, were almost late. With a sigh of relief they plopped down in their seats.
"That was close." Draco said with a sigh.
Harry nodded and gently rubbed Veneficus' head. The snake hissed in pleasure, "Hey, Drac, what was up with that elf, Dobby, telling me not to come?"
"Probably thinks it knows something and is doing you a favor." He said with a shrug.
Harry rolled his eyes, "It should mind his own business then, shouldn't it?"
Draco chuckled, "I wonder how classes will be this year."
"Who knows? We'll have to wait and see." He chewed on his lip for a moment, "Drac, can I ask you something?"
He cocked his head to the side, "Go ahead."
"You haven't told me about wizard marriages or about what they think of…umm…gays." Harry said a bit nervously.
Draco laughed softly, "Well, you've never asked until now. Ok, I'll tell you. I'll start with the second part first. Gays aren't shunned, in fact it's accepted. Marriages can be with anyone, the old families sometimes choose who's going to marry who. I don't know who I'm supposed to marry, my parents won't tell me. Hopefully I have a choice." He smiled, then whispered, "To tell you the truth I kind of like guys better."
Harry sighed in relief, "Me too." He said, blushing lightly.
Draco smiled, "No wonder we get along so well." He said, causing Harry to laugh.
The rest of the train ride was uneventful; they just talked about random things, Veneficus interjected every now and then with a random comment to Harry. Finally they arrived. What appeared to be carriages without horses were waiting for them. Harry scowled but didn't question it, climbing into one of them with Draco. The Sorting Hat had a new song that year, apparently it had one every year. The new Weasley was sorted into Gryffindor, no one was surprised. That's where all Weasleys went just like Slytherin is where all Malfoys went. Harry was happy he wouldn't have to put up with them, at least not that much. Of course having classes with the Gryffindors meant he couldn't always avoid them but at least he only had to deal with one during class. Their first class with Lockhart was a complete joke. The quiz that he had given him was laughable. Between questions like: What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favorite color? and Ron throwing pieces of parchment at the back of his head. He was sick of the day already. Happily potions were later that afternoon and Harry looked forward to sitting through a class where the Gryffindors would lose points. Of course the Howler that morning had been superb. Ron's mother was suitably upset about an incident that happened earlier. Apparently Ron had taken the car and flown it into the whomping willow. Draco and Harry had enjoyed teasing him about it and more then likely would continue to as long as they got a rise out of him. Then there was Colin Creevey who wouldn't stop hounding Harry, wanting to take pictures.
"Harry, can I have a picture?" Creevey asked for the hundredth time that day.
Harry whirled on him, robe flying, Veneficus wasn't happy about the sudden turn either and clenched around his arm. No one had said anything about the black snake, "Creevey, little Gryffindor." Harry sneered, his voice almost pleasant, "I suggest you run along before something happens…" He said softly so only Colin could hear.
The boy's eyes grew wide and he ran off crying. Harry chuckled softly and Draco looked over at him, "Think you made your point?" Draco asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I'm not sure. He's stupid enough to come back for more." Harry said with a shrug, "So, what are we going to do now?"
Look. Veneficus hissed, There's something on that board.
Harry looked over, "Hey, Drac, there's a Dueling Club."
"Think we should join, show them their weakness?" Draco asked with a malicious grin.
"I think we should. Let's just hope that Lockhart isn't the one running it."
Draco nodded, "Exactly." He said as they signed up for it.
Over the next few days something happened. Filch's cat, Mrs. Norris, was found hanging, petrified. Harry and Draco had gotten there after Ron and Hermione had found it. Apparently they were at some ghost party and on their way back found the cat. Above the cat was written:
THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN
OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE
The two Slytherin looked at the cat with wicked grins and it was Draco who spoke, "Enemies of the Heir, beware! You'll be next, Mudbloods!" (159)
Harry laughed, "Watch yourself Granger." He purred.
Dumbledore took Ron and Hermione to Lockhart's office since he had volunteered. Harry and Draco chuckled to themselves, "That had to be the best way to get them into trouble; we didn't have to do anything." Draco laughed as they made their way back to their common room.
"Too easy, not enough of a challenge." He paused, hearing something hissing, "Hey, Draco, there's a snake somewhere."
"Yeah, he's around you arm." He teased.
"No, not him, someone else." He growled, then sighed, "Saying something about blood and killing." Draco shrugged, "Drac, what do you know about the Chamber of Secrets?"
Draco smiled, "Father told me that the Chamber of Secrets has been opened once before. It gets rid of all the Mudbloods who don't belong here."
Harry smiled, "Good. They shouldn't be here anyway."
Draco chuckled, "Sounds like I'm rubbing off on you." He said as they walked.
Harry blinked as they rounded a corner, "Well, looks like the chamber claimed another victim." He said morosely, looking down at the petrified body of Colin Creevey, "Think we should tell someone?"
"Yeah, although it would be more fun to see someone else find him." He replied, "Let's go tell Snape."
The two of them continued down to the dungeons to find Snape. They found him in his office, "Professor?" Draco said, knocking on the door.
"What is it Mr. Malfoy?" He replied, looking up from his parchment.
"Harry and I found someone in the hall." He said with a half smile.
He scowled, "What?"
"We'll show you." Harry said quickly.
Harry and Draco showed him to the body of Creevey. Snape raised an eyebrow, "Return to your rooms, I'll deal with this." He stated calmly.
Harry and Draco nodded before going to their room. The Dueling Club started the following evening and the two snakes were looking forward to it. They feel into an excited sleep, forgetting about Creevey, and Filch's cat. Finally it was time and they made their way into the Great Hall to wait. Ron, Hermione, and various others were there as well, obviously wanting to find some kind protection against what had been attacking students. A collective groan escaped them when Lockhart walked in followed by Snape.
Lockhart began speaking, calling Snape his assistant. Harry snorted at that, "As if Snape would be that idiot's assistant."
When they took their positions Lockhart counted to three. Each waved their wand and Snape shouted, "Expelliarmus!" With a blast of scarlet light Lockhart was thrown back into the wall.
Harry, Draco, and some of the other Slytherins clapped happily. After that they were put into pairs. Snape split up the two snakes, pairing Harry with Ron and Draco with Hermione. They sneered at their respective partners. When ordered to begin casting disarming charms only they went further then that, casting hexes as well until they were ordered to stop. Ron was rolling around on the floor having been hit with a Tickling Charm and Hermione was on the ground, her legs having given out on her. Draco and Harry weren't about to use some of the curses Lucius had taught them over the summer, that would definitely get them into trouble. Draco and Harry smiled as Snape undid the hexes various groups had performed on each other.
"Perhaps I should teach you how to block unfriendly spells." Lockhart said, looking around, "Longbottom and Finch-Fletchley, why don't the two of you come…" He wasn't able to finish because Snape cut him off.
"Bad idea, Longbottom causes devastation with the simplest of spells." Snape said calmly, "There won't be much left of Finch-Fletchley." Snape looked over at Draco and Hermione, "How about Malfoy and Granger?"
Lockhart didn't object and began giving instructions on how to block to Hermione, in the process he dropped his wand. Snape whispered something in Draco's ear and he smirked before looking over at Harry and nodding towards the arm where Veneficus was curled, giving him a heads up on what he was going to do. Harry smiled, now would be a good time to reveal his secret.
"Scared Granger?" Draco drawled.
She narrowed his eyes, "You wish!"
Lockhart counted to three and Draco shouted, "Serpensortia!"
A long black snake came from the end of his wand, coiling between Draco and Hermione. She gasped and took a step back, "Don't move Granger." Snape laughed.
"Allow me!" Lockhart said enthusiastically, brandishing his wand at the snake. Instead of the reptile vanishing it was launched across the room. Hissing angrily, the enraged snake went for Finch-Fletchley.
Harry chuckled and spoke, Stop. He ordered. The snake fell back into a coil, blinking. Harry smiled, Come here. He ordered.
The snake began slithering towards him when Snape made it disappear in a puff of smoke. All the people in the room looked at Harry in shock, all except Draco that is considering he already knew. Snape was giving him an odd look, as if what he had done had confirmed whatever suspicions he had.
"Let's go Harry." Draco said calmly, walking over to him.
Harry shrugged, "Sounds good." He replied and the two of them returned to their common room.