At breakfast, Dudley and his friends discussed Dobby's warning.

"He let slip it was Slytherin," Ron said. "That can only be Malfoy."

Dudley agreed, but Dean didn't.

"It could be anyone in there," Dean argued. "The whole lot are up to their ears in the dark arts."

"Dobby said it was about Voldemort though," Dudley said. "And we all know Malfoy's dad was a Death Eater."

"No, he said 'not you-know-who," Dean said.

"In a way that hinted it was close to him," said Ron. "Not, You-Know-Who," he spoke, emphasizing the 'not' the way Dobby had done. "That means its Death Eaters."

"Or Voldemorts son, or brother maybe?" Dudley suggested. "If he had a son. Is there anyone called Riddle at the school?"

"You reckon we should get Hermione?" Ron suggested.

"Why?"

"Because she's smarter than us,"

"Fair enough," said Dudley.

Ron went to invite Hermione over. She looked a little surprised—she only really ever sat with Dudley and his friends when studying together, and that was more of an obligation over Dudley, on and Dean telling a prefect about the troll which almost killed her.

"What is it?" she asked.

Between them, Dudley, Ron and Dean told Hermione about Dobby and his warning.

"You don't think he might have been making it up?" she asked, finally.

Ron shook his head. "No, House Elves can't lie."

"Maybe he was ordered to tell you that?" Hermione said.

"Why, though?" Dudley furrowed his brow.

"Perhaps they are hoping you'll poke around, get caught out of bounds, get expelled," Hermione suggested.

"Could be Malfoy's idea of a prank," Dean said, thoughtfully.

"Nah, I know of House Elves," said Ron. "The way Dobby kept hurting himself … he was telling us something he had been forbidden to talk about."

"And what was it he said?" Hermione asked.

"Well, he said that I'm a great wizard," Dudley replied with a smirk.

Ron and Dean both punched him on the arm.

"And that there's a plot to wake up a big evil," Dudley finished, rubbing his arm.

"And he definitely said it wasn't You-Know-Who?"

"Yeah, but he said it like this," Ron said, "Not, You-Know-Who," he again emphasized the 'not'.

"So, that means it's not You-Know-Who, but it is someone with a relationship to him," Hermione said.

"See," said Ron, pleased at being right.

"We wondered if there's any Riddles here," Dean said. "Probably in Slytherin."

"I'll check the class records, but I don't think so."

"Or the kid of a Death Eater," Ron said. "Like Malfoy."

"Is he the only one?" asked Hermione.

"That we know of," said Dudley. But Ron shook his head.

"There's Nott too," said Ron. "Remember, Dad said he was a big follower of You-Know-Who. And Crabbe and Goyle."

"Crabbe and Goyle are too thick to be a threat though," Dean said.

"Maybe there's more in the other years," Hermione said. "I'll do some research, see what I can find. An ancient evil … I wonder what that could be?"

Hermione had had no luck whatsoever checking current records for any Riddles. "There's none," she informed them.

"Didn't you ask McGonagall?" Ron said.

"Well, I didn't want McGonagall to get suspicious about why we're asking about someone with You-Know-Who's last name.'

Ron blushed, he hadn't thought of that.

"I also checked old Ministry records about Death Eaters and looked to see if any matched students who attend Hogwarts. There are surprisingly few. Here." She handed them a sheet of parchment where she had wrote four names.

Lucius Malfoy – Pleaded imperius

Tobias Nott – Pleaded imperius

Vince Crabbe Sr – No evidence to proceed with prosecution

Armin Goyle – Pleaded imperius

"We already knew them, thanks to Ron's dad," Dudley said, disappointed.

"You mean to say there's no other children of Death Eaters in Slytherin?" Dean sounded genuinely surprised.

Hermione shook her head. "None—though there are some nasty pieces of work. Montague's father served two years in Azkaban for hexing a muggle. Flint's father has twice pushed for muggleborns to be removed from Hogwarts and Bletchley's father did three months for selling biting wallets to muggles."

"She rummaged in her pocket and pulled out a cutting from an issue of the Daily Prophet.

"Severus Snape Faces Trial"

Severus Snape, the one-time potions protégé is due to face trial, accused of serving He-Who-Must-Be-Named. Snape is currently being detained at Azkaban Prison. He was investigated and detained by seasoned auror Alastor Moody after a three month investigation. Moody uncovered material relating to the Death Eaters at Snape's residence in Spinner's End. After an examination of Snape's wand, Ministry of Magic investigators also found evidence of the use of several curses and spells—although so far, there is no evidence that he used an unforgiveable."

"Snape!" Ron almost shouted.

"He was Death Eater?" Dean thundered. "And Dumbledore's letting him teach here!"

Dudley stared at the report in surprise. He had never liked Snape, had even suspected him of plotting to steal the Philosopher's Stone, but he had never expected this.

"There's more," Hermione said, handing over a second cutting of a later prophet.

"Severus Snape Found Not Guilty"

After a lengthy trial, Severus Snape of Spinner's End has been found not guilty of Death Eater activities. Snape, who faced a life spell in Azkaban admitted that he was once a Death Eater but left partway through the Wizarding War. Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts, gave evidence on Snape's behalf, explaining that Snape worked as a spy inside You-Know-Who's ranks at great personal risk and provided evidence that directly led to the Dark Lord's downfall. Both Snape and Dumbledore refused to comment to Daily Prophet reporters.

"What do you think?" Ron asked, after Dudley had finally finished reading it.

"I dunno, I mean, Snape definitely doesn't seem like a good guy," Dudley said.

"He's a nasty bit of work."

"If Dumbledore trusts him though …" Hermione said.

Ron looked doubtful.

"I don't think Dumbledore would hire Snape if he hadn't truly reformed," Dean said, thoughtfully. "But he joined You-Know-Who, which means he hates muggles and muggleborns. Even if he changed sides, I just can't see how he suddenly stopped feeling that way.

"Yeah," said Ron. "It's more likely that he was saving his own tail by getting out before You-Know-Who fell."

"Still, it does say he was instrumental in You-Know-Who's downfall."

"Either way," Dudley said, "I reckon he still needs to be a suspect."

The other three agreed, Hermione a little reluctantly.

"So, we know it's a Slytherin," said Dudley. "Because Dobby said so."

"And we know it's something to do with You-Know-Who …" Ron began.

Hermione opened her mouth to speak.

"Yes, not him directly, but to do with him," Ron said quickly, silencing her.

"So, likely a Death Eater or Death Eater supporter," Dean said. "Which is just these four—Malfoy, Nott, Crabbe or Goyle."

"Or it could be someone else," Hermione said. "I'm sure You-Knw-Who had supporters who never faced trial."

"I reckon Malfoy or Nott," Dudley said. "Crabbe and Goyle are too thick."

"Or it could be nothing at all," Hermione said. "We have zero evidence that Dobby was telling the truth."

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see if a, what was it, a big evil' awakes."

"Talking about Percy?" a voice said. They all jumped. None of them had seen Fred and George approaching.

"That's a bunch of suspicious faces if ever I saw some," Fred said.

"Still following in our footsteps, Ronnie? Good lad," George grinned.

"What do you two want?" Ron asked.

"To see if you know what's wrong with Ginny, she looked a little sad when I was last saw."

"No idea," Ron replied. "I expect she's just had a falling out with one of her friends."