Author's note:

Here's the start of year 2! I apologise for the late publication. I made a mistake in the timeline, so I had to change it a bit. I hope you enjoy!

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Year 2 Part 1 (chapter 7)

Word count: 1.6k

Warning: Death threats

It's another school year... Great. Severus sighs in irritation before taking a sip of his water.

He did the usual he always does during the summer - reading, preparing for the new term, reading, brewing potions, reading, drinking firewhiskey, coming up with an excuse to stay in his home instead of going to Malfoy Manor...

It worked this year. Even though Lucius wasn't pleased, he let it slide this time. He will visit him at Hogwarts, anyway.

Apparently, he's going to buy the Slytherin Quidditch team new brooms so that Draco will become the new Seeker.

And of course, he's going to watch the match between Slytherin and Gryffindor later this year because of his son.

Slytherin better win this time.

In the Great Hall, the Potions Master is sitting next to the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Quirrell was absolutely annoying - but this man beats him.

To his right is Gilderoy Lockhart sitting - an incredibly irritating, incompetent idiot who smiles all the time...

Severus wonders why in Merlin's name Albus gave him the position. If only the stupid man would stop talking about himself!

"I hope you had a good summer, Severus. Mine was fantastic - but not without danger, of course. You see, I had to save a family from a vampire. Being the amazing and brave man that I am, I saved them in an instant. I gave that vampire a good scare, I tell you" Lockhart brags as he laughs, showing his pearly white teeth.

They are almost blinding the poor Potions Master.

Severus growls. "I'm sure you did..." he mutters.

As he's trying his best to ignore the obnoxious man who seems to only care about his appearance, he notices Y/L/N sitting next to Draco. He wonders if she did visit him at the manor during the summer.

Just then, Minerva starts reading the names of the first-years out loud. "Ginevra Weasley" she calls.

The red-haired girl slowly walks towards the wooden stool. She sits down as the Sorting Hat is placed on her head.

"Gryffindor!" the Hat shouts. Everybody at the Gryffindor table cheers loudly.

"That's my sister!" George Weasley exclaims as he claps.

"She's my sister too, you know!" his twin, Fred Weasley, says as he claps as well.

Severus keeps looking at the Gryffindor table, only to notice two particular boys missing next to Granger. Where is Potter and Weasley?

While he's in deep thought, he sees the Daily Prophet in Filius' hands when something catches his eye.

"May I read that, Filius?" he asks the Charms teacher.

Filius smiles at him. "Of course, Severus. Here you go" the small teacher says as he hands the Potions Master the newspaper.

"Thanks" he mutters as he quickly reads the page he wanted to have a look at. He can't help but get angry with what he's reading. A flying car - in front of Muggles? Who in Merlin's name is that stupid?!

Having a hunch who did this, Severus quickly leaves the Great Hall. As he strolls through the halls, he unconsciously looks out of one of the windows only to see a very upset and injured Whomping Willow.

He then spots Argus.

"Argus, find Potter and Weasley for me and bring them to the Potions classroom. I will finally have them expelled" he tells the Caretaker, looking furious.

Argus gives a sly and creepy smile as he nods before quickly leaving.

A few minutes later in the classroom, the Caretaker finally shows up with the two Gryffindor boys. They look quite frightened - good.

Gulping, they both walk closer to the teacher's desk.

"You were seen by no less than seven Muggles!" Severus exclaims as he throws the newspaper away, not caring about where it lands. He looks absolutely furious.

"Do you have any idea how serious this is?" he slowly asks so it will get through their thick skulls.

"You have risked the exposure of our world. Not to mention the damage you inflicted on the Whomping Willow that's been on these grounds since before you were born" he says coldly.

"Honestly, Professor Snape, I think it did more damage to us" Weasley dares to say.

"Silence!" Severus yells. Both boys now look more scared than before. The Potions Master rises from his seat, holding onto the table.

"I assure you that were you in Slytherin, and your fate rested with me... the both of you would be on the train home... TONIGHT!" he shouts, voice full with anger as he walks closer to the Gryffindors.

"As it is-" he starts before he's interrupted.

"They are not" Albus calmly says.

Severus quickly turns his head to look at the Headmaster and the Head of Gryffindor.

"Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall" Potter says when he spots the newcomers.

Severus can't give up, he won't give up! "Headmaster... These boys have flouted the Decree for the Restrictions of Underage Wizardry" Severus states as he points at the boys.

"As such-" he starts. Of course, the old man once again interrupts him.

"I am well aware of our bylaws, Severus... Having written quite a few of them myself. However, as Head of Gryffindor House, it is for Professor McGonagall to determine the appropriate action" the Headmaster states.

"We'll go and get our stuff, then" Weasley suddenly says while looking sad.

"What are you talking about, Mr. Weasley?" Minerva questions.

"You're going to expel us, aren't you?" the boy asks.

"Not today, Mr. Weasley... But I must impress on both of you the seriousness of what you have done" the Transfiguration teacher says while looking serious. Both boys nod.

"I will be writing to your families tonight, and you will both receive detention" she declares. She then leaves the room with the Headmaster. Potter and Weasley quickly follow them.

"Detentions. What happened to torturing the heedless students?" Argus mutters under his breath, leaving the room as well with his cat following behind him.

Severus sits down on his seat as he sighs. How come Potter and his friends get away with everything?

--

The next day after dinner, Severus is following Albus and Minerva. All the students are gathered in the halls, looking at something. What are they looking at?

Suddenly, they hear yelling.

"I'll kill ya! I'll kill ya!" a voice threatens. It's Argus.

"Argus" the Headmaster calmly says to stop the Caretaker from murdering the Boy Who Lived.

"Argus, I-" he continues just as he stops.

They are all looking at the scene - something written in blood on the wall. "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir... beware" the message says.

And Argus' cat... which seems to be dead. What did Potter do this time?

"Everyone will proceed to the dormitories immediately" Albus states as all the students start to leave.

"Everyone except... you three" he then says as he points to Potter, Granger and Weasley before they can leave, too.

"She's not dead, Argus. She has been... petrified" Albus explains when all the students have left the halls.

"Ah, thought so. So unlucky I wasn't there. I know exactly the counter-curse that could have spared her" Lockhart suddenly says, sounding quite confident.

Severus rolls his eyes. He bets that the man can't even use Accio to find his hairspray in the mornings.

Lockhart doesn't say anything else as the other teachers are giving him unapproved looks.

"Well, how she's been petrified I cannot say" Albus says after a while.

"Ask him! It's him who's done it! You saw what he wrote on the wall" Argus immediately says, accusing Potter.

As much as Severus hates Potter, there's no way it was him who did this. He doesn't possess the powers of petrifying people.

It does seem strange that the boy wasn't at dinner, though.

"It's not true, sir, I swear. I never touched Mrs. Norris" the boy defends himself.

"Rubbish" Argus quickly comments.

"If I might, Headmaster - perhaps Potter and his friends were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time" Severus suggests. The Gryffindors look at each other, not believing their own ears.

"However, the circumstances are suspicious. I for one don't recall seeing Potter at dinner" he adds, looking at the boy suspiciously.

"I'm afraid that's my doing, Severus. You see, Harry was helping me answer my fan mails" Lockhart says as he smiles at the thoughts of fan mails. Severus raises an eyebrow at him.

"That's why Ron and I were looking for him, professor. We just found him when he said..." Granger starts as she quickly looks at her friends, hesitating to continue.

"Yes, Ms. Granger?" Severus asks, wanting to know what she doesn't want to tell them.

"When I said I wasn't hungry. We were heading back to the common room when we found Mrs. Norris" Potter quickly says.

Severus looks at the boy, not believing him.

"Innocent until proven guilty, Severus" the Headmaster states.

"My cat has been petrified. I want to see some punishment!" Argus shouts with anger.

"We will be able to cure her, Argus. As I understand it, Madam Sprout has a very healthy growth of mandrakes and when matured, a potion will be made which will revive Mrs. Norris" Albus assures him while Sprout nods to confirm it.

"And in the meantime, I strongly recommend caution... to all" the Headmaster warns.

As everybody leaves the crime scene, Severus is in deep thought. Potter has barely been here for twenty-four hours and incidents are already happening at Hogwarts.

But who could have petrified the cat? He just hopes that no one else will get petrified.