28

The Secret Diary and a Visit from Lucius

For several weeks after Christmas Granger was in the hospital wing. Emily was unsure what put her there but she had a feeling it had to do with the Polyjuice Potion her brother and Weasley had used to impersonate Crabbe and Goyle. Originally she thought Granger had not joined them because their only other options were to try and impersonate her and Draco and the likelihood of that happening was very minimal at best. She had gone to the hospital wing to check on the girl but all she was told was that she wasn't allowed visitors at the time and her bed had been curtained off so no one could see her. The only way Emily knew to have an imperfect transformation with a good batch of Polyjuice was to use animal hair but they would have been more careful than that… she hoped.

Emily noticed that Granger was released in early February. She looked happy to be out of the hospital wing and eager to be back in her classes. Emily couldn't blame her brother's bushy haired best friend, if she had been in the hospital wing for a month she would have gone barmy and demanded to be released.

The sun was finally beginning to shine again on the Hogwarts grounds. With the sun came a hopeful outlook by many of the students and staff. The attacks on students had seemingly stopped and the Mandrakes were entering their 'teenage' phase. They had become moody and secretive, a sure sign that they were growing.

"Mrs. Norris will be returned to you soon," Professor Sprout placated Filch one afternoon. "We can repot them as soon as their acne clears and shortly after that we can cut them up so Severus can brew the Draught."

While most people were happy to accept the new calm, Emily was actually curious as to why the attacks had stopped. With everyone blaming her she thought that the Heir of Slytherin would continue opening the chamber. She supposed someone had come too close to discovering the person's secret and they were forced to stop for a time to lessen suspicion. Whatever the reason Emily highly doubted the attacks were truly over. If ridding the school of muggleborns was their task they had yet to really accomplish anything. A couple of petrified students and a cat was no great success.

Emily rolled her eyes as the ever pompous Gilderoy Lockhart puffed out his chest telling everyone who was in ear shot how the attacks had stopped because of him. He had boasted to Professor McGonagall one day when dropping the Gryffindors at Transfiguration before taking the Slytherins to the library for their down period.

"There is no need to worry further Minerva," Professor McGonagall's lips tightened at hearing her name come from the man. "The culprit knew I was getting close to discovering their little secret. They know they would never stand a chance against me. Dumbledore did right by hiring me this year, I may have just saved us all."

As he strode towards the library with the Slytherin second years in tow he began talking to himself. "This school needs a bit of cheer and color… hmm… Oh I know just the thing to lift everyone's spirits… I best not tell you anything more…" he trailed off down the wrong corridor leaving the Slytherin second years alone looking at each other wondering who he was talking to before they continued on to the library by themselves.

Lockhart's version of lifting everyone's spirits came on February the Fourteenth, Valentine's Day. Emily was exhausted as she usually tended to be in the mornings. When she entered the Great Hall for breakfast the young witch paused, grabbing Draco's arm suddenly awake as she looked around the hall. Everything was pink. Garlands of pink flowers hung down the walls and pink heart shaped confetti fell from the enchanted ceiling piling onto the tables and floor. The tables had been covered in large pink table clothes and the torches on the walls had large pink bows tied to them. Emily and Draco moved to the Slytherin table as they slowly continued to take in their surroundings.

"What is with all the confetti?" Emily grumbled. "I want coffee not confetti with a side of coffee!" Emily pulled out her travel mug and filled it quickly making sure no confetti got in her cup before putting the lid back on it.

"I have never seen so much pink in my life," Draco sneered as he tried to get the confetti out of his food.

Emily nodded in agreement, "I get that it's Valentine's Day but I think this is going way overboard."

Just then the post came. Apollo, Hermes and an owl she didn't know landed in front of her each carrying a package. She opened the package from the owl she didn't know only after checking it like Lucius taught her.

Emily

Happy Valentine's Day

Cedric

Emily opened the gift and found pink sugar quills along with a box of dark chocolate truffles. She smiled scanning the Hufflepuff table till her eyes landed on the fifth year, waving to him she mouthed a 'thank you'. He smiled and nodded in welcome to her. Moving on to her next gift she unburdened Hermes handing one of the packages to Draco while offering Hermes and Apollo her juice and bacon.

Princess,

We hope all is well with you and Draco. Happy Valentine's Day.

We miss you greatly,

Lucius

Emily opened the gift to find a pair of amethyst teardrop earrings. Smiling she turned to show Draco who in turn showed her his new pocket watch from Narcissa.

She moved her attention back to the package Apollo brought and opened the letter.

Em,

I know I sent you a letter a few days ago but I figured since I received your gift early I would send mine back now with Apollo. Hopefully it makes it on time.

Happy Valentine's Day

Bill

Emily smiled as she opened her gift to find muggle conversation heart candies and a book that looked quite old titled Rituals of Binding. She wondered how Bill had come across the muggle candy she had seen many of her classmates in muggle school exchange.As she flipped through the book she noticed it was indeed very old and was about the many binding rituals of ancient magical cultures and the importance of runes in each ritual.

Emily was pulled from looking through the book as Lockhart stood shouting, "Happy Valentine's Day!"

"I just want to thank all of the wonderful people who sent me Valentine cards, so far I have received forty-six!" Lockhart declared. "I have put together quite the treat for you all today!" Emily took in the looks of the Professors behind Lockhart. Professor McGonagall's lips were barely visible as she tried to appear as if she wasn't annoyed with the crazed man in bright pink robes. Severus looked as if it was his dearest hope that his glare could kill the man before them.

Emily's head turned to the doors as a bunch of grumpy dwarves walked into the hall dressed in white pants with golden wings attached to their backs. "These are our love-carrying cupids for today!" Lockhart said motioning to the dwarves. "They will be going around the school and delivering any Valentine you give to them! I don't want your fun to stop just there, we have many talented people on the staff! Professor Flitwick could teach you an Entrancing Enchantment or Professor Snape could whip up a love potion!"

Professor Flitwick let his head fall into his hands hiding his face from the view of the students. Severus on the other hand turned his glare to the students as if to let them all know that the first person to ask about a Love Potion would be scrubbing cauldrons in his dungeons for life.

All day long the 'cupids' interrupted classes and tracked people down in the hallways to deliver Valentine greetings. Most of the Slytherins sent them as a joke finding it funny to see the receiver's embarrassment. Every 'cupid' that came towards Emily seemed to find itself distracted by a puff of smoke with Emily nowhere in sight when it cleared. She was certain her disappearance from Transfiguration would earn her a detention but it never came. Draco assured her McGonagall had a smirk on her face at the sight of the stumbling cupid. In the end the teacher was probably just impressed by the young witch's ability to avoid Lockhart's poor attempt at cheering the students up.

Later in the afternoon after evading another 'cupid' she found herself close to the Charms corridor where there seemed to be a large group of people gathered. She maneuvered her way to the front of the crowd and watched as her brother's bag was ripped open by a determined 'cupid'.

"Excuse me I'm a Prefect," Emily heard Percy say as he pushed his way to see what was causing the commotion. Emily watched as the dwarf forced her brother to stay on the ground singing a rather horrible poem relating his eyes to pickled toads and his hair to a blackboard. Emily took pity on her brother who no doubt was hounded by many fangirls trying to send him Valentines. He was quite cute and she had seen many girls drooling after him.

Emily moved forward to help her brother fix his bag and pick up all his books as Percy dispersed the crowd that had gathered.

"What's this?" Emily heard Theo say. She turned to see Theo holding a leather book that looked to be a diary.

"Give it back," Harry said holding out his hand. Emily heard a gasp and looked over to see it had come from Ginny Weasley, the girl had a look of fear on her face as she looked between the diary and Harry.

Emily stared at the girl curiously before turning to tell Theo to drop the diary, but before she could her brother cast an Expelliarmus at Theo making the diary fly towards Emily who caught it. She immediately wanted to drop it the second it touched her hand.

She stared at it terrified until she heard Theo sneer "I don't think he liked your Valentine little Weasel!" before storming away.

Ginny looked to Emily who was holding the diary before bursting into tears and running off. Emily heard Harry clear his throat and turned to look at him.

"Can I have that back," he said pointing to the diary.

"Harry I…" but she didn't get to finish the sentence.

"I really need to get to class," he said quickly.

Emily noticed he looked quite embarrassed and just wanted to get out of there so she handed him the diary. The relief she felt the second the book was out of her hands was immediate and she wasn't sure what to make of it all. She saw Weasley helping Harry so she turned heading off quickly to find Draco and get to the common room.

Emily put the diary from her mind and before she knew it the Easter holidays were upon her. Severus had instructed the second years that during this time they were to sign up for the classes they would be taking in their third year.

"Can I give up Defense Against the Dark Arts," Emily grumbled as she looked over her sheet at breakfast one morning.

"Sorry little Snake but you can't drop core subjects," Marcus chuckled across from her.

"But both teachers have been pointless. Lockhart made us write a sonnet about his bravery for homework last night," Emily said as she sipped her coffee.

"We had to write something similar," Marcus told her. "Hang in there, at least you have the Malfoys to make sure you don't fall behind."

Emily had to agree, as she started to eat her blueberry muffin, she was far luckier than most. Lucius and Severus would never let her and Draco fall behind in defense. She knew there was a reason they were so determined to have them skilled in defending themselves but they had yet to tell them, saying they had to wait until their minds were completely safe.

Emily, knowing that the classes she chose would affect her chances at her future career, had written to Bill to find out the requirements to be a Curse Breaker. From all of his letters she had become enthralled with the idea of becoming a Curse Breaker. Working on tombs in distant lands sounded like something she would immensely enjoy.

In the end Emily and Draco both signed up for Ancient Runes and Arithmancy. Draco also convinced Emily to sign up for Care of Magical Creatures with him so he could be close to Blaise. Emily knew her blonde best friend was crushing on the Italian born wizard. She couldn't help but smirk when he tried to tell her his reasoning for taking the class.

"It's good to have knowledge of magical creatures," he told her for the fifth time. "And I'm sure dad will be glad to know we are taking on three classes instead of just two like most people."

"I get it Dray, you really need to stop trying to convince me to sign up. I will take it but please just admit it's because there's a cute little Italian wizard who signed up for it," Emily remarked laughing as Draco started to stammer.

Emily woke the morning of the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff feeling off. She wasn't sure what was bothering her but she put it out of her mind as she got ready, joining Draco to head to breakfast. Looking out the windows in the Great Hall she could tell the day was going to be bright and the conditions were great for a good game of Quidditch.

As they left lunch that afternoon Emily and Draco headed to the staircases to make their way back to the dorms to grab a few things when she heard it.

"So hungry… must kill… I will rip them… tear them…"

"Em, come on if you want to watch the match we need to go grab the binoculars and get to the pitch," Draco said nudging Emily gently.

"What… Oh right," she turned to her best friend following him away from the voice.

As they walked Emily started running things through in her mind, the last time she had heard the voice there had been an attack. Why was she hearing this voice? It was obvious Draco hadn't heard anything. Emily decided not to think on it, there were just too many questions and she wanted to enjoy the match today.

Emily and Draco met in the dorm hallway, after running to their rooms, to head to the game. They both stopped, noticing that the entire Slytherin House seemed to be congregating in the common room as more and more people piled in and took seats as if waiting for something. Emily pulled Draco with her as she moved over to Marcus who she knew never missed a Quidditch match because it was a perfect opportunity to watch the competition.

"What's going on?" Emily asked the sixth year.

"The match was canceled. Everyone was told to make their way to their common rooms and await further instructions from the Head of House," he told her edging himself closer to the pair. Emily got the feeling he was attempting to shield her slightly. "Just in case," he whispered proving the witch's thoughts correct.

Just then Severus entered the room and everyone fell silent. He asked the Prefects to make sure no one was missing before they could begin. The prefects stood and took role of students by their year. After it had been announced that everyone was indeed present Severus nodded his head and stepped forward to address the room.

"There has been another attack. This time a second year Gryffindor and a sixth year Ravenclaw were the victims. Both have been petrified and moved to the hospital wing. Due to this recent attack further steps must be taken to maintain your safety. Curfew will now be at six o'clock each evening. Every class you attend, you will be escorted to by a teacher. Quidditch has been postponed until further notice as has all evening activities. Are there any questions?"

The room was dead silent, no one seemed to be able to even speak words of outrage at the canceling of everything but classes. Emily was shocked. She could tell that the teachers were rattled if they were becoming this paranoid. Severus spoke again as the silence continued. "If we cannot find the culprit the school may very well be closed. I urge you all to think on your actions and come to me if you know anything. I ask that you remain in the common room now and enjoy what you can here."

With that as a dismissal everyone started to move and break off into groups. Severus approached Emily and Draco instead of leaving. "I want you both to come with me," he said quietly. Marcus nodded his head and patted Emily's shoulder as he left, confident they were in good hands now.

Emily and Draco nodded following him from the Slytherin common room into his quarters. "You both can get comfortable. Lucius has informed me he will be at the castle soon for business and would like to see both of you."

They nodded Draco taking a place on the couch after picking out a book while Emily moved to sit by the hearth where Isis was curled up on her pillow.

"Sev," Emily said as she petted Isis's scales. "Who was the Gryffindor that was petrified?"

"Hermione Granger," he said not looking up from his grading. Emily's thoughts turned to her brother who was probably worried for his friend right now. Emily knew that Harry's curiosity was going to get the better of him now that Granger had been affected. Hopefully he was safe, with all the precautions now in place she doubted she would be able to see much of him to keep an eye on him. Severus would no doubt be watching Emily and Draco closely. Maybe she could get Fred and George to watch over him.

It was a few hours later before there was a knock at the portrait and Lucius was led into the room by Severus. He looked tired as he entered but he smiled when Emily and Draco both moved to embrace him.

"I've missed you both so much," he told them as he hugged them tightly to himself.

"If you don't mind me asking, what are you doing here?" Draco asked after they were all comfortable on the couch with Lucius in between the two second years. Severus seated himself in his usual chair by the fire.

"The Governors elected that Dumbledore needed to step aside for the time being, it was my duty as the Head of the Governors to escort him from the premises until further notice." Lucius answered his son, though he seemed to be trying to communicate something to Severus with his eyes.

"Why would they want Dumbledore to step down? What is going on?" Emily said looking between Lucius and Severus.

"With the latest attack people outside of the school are getting worried. The fact alone that the attacks are continuing and how late in the year it is tells us that something needs to be done. Edmund offered that we suspend Dumbledore and I had no choice but to agree with him."

That confused Emily greatly, why would the Malfoy Lord have to agree with Edmund Nott? She supposed this was all part of the secret that they were planning on telling Emily and Draco but right now was probably not the best time to pry.

"They've taken Hagrid as well," Lucius added as a side note.

"Why would they take him?" Draco asked his father. "He's just the Gamekeeper."

"He was accused of opening the Chamber of Secrets the last time these events occurred. Fudge wanted to be seen doing something as well and has moved him to Azkaban in hopes that it will appease the parents."

"But if he truly opened the Chamber last time Dumbledore would never let Hagrid work here," Emily thought aloud.

"Yes, but I never said that Fudge was doing it because he was truly guilty. There are a few people held in the walls of Azkaban that are not guilty of their crimes. Now tell me all about your classes," Lucius said.

With that Emily knew that topic of conversation was closed for now. They spent the next hour telling Lucius about their classes and Emily introduced him to Isis. When it was time for him to leave Severus escorted Emily and Draco back to the common room. That night as Emily tried to fall asleep she was plague by many questions to which she had no answers. It took her quite a while to fall into a fitful sleep.