Chapter Eleven: The Key
There are several dialogue quotes taken from JK Rowling's Chamber of Secrets in this book. This is to convey the same story she wrote, but from another character's POV. The quotes taken directly from the book have three quotation marks (instead of two) around them to signify she wrote them and that I am citing them. Because I am transforming pieces of her work into something new this falls under the Fair Use Act. Additionally, JK Rowling has stated that she is okay with noncommercial fan fiction. All direct quotes, the Harry Potter storyline, and the characters all belong to JK Rowling.
On the last day of break, Draco met Blaise and Daphne at the train station platform. "Where's Pansy?" Draco asked.
"Still with Lockhart on tour," answered Daphne. "They're getting back later tonight."
"How was the wedding?" Asked Draco.
"Long, fancy, expensive... the usual," answered Blaise. "It was missable."
"That Granger girl has been held up in the hospital wing ever since Christmas," said Draco. "It's unfortunate you missed it. She somehow managed to turn herself into a cat. Too smart for her own good."
"Well that must have been a sight," answered Blaise. "How did she do it?"
"Maybe she made the mistake of using polyjuice potion to turn into an animal. Madam Pomfrey put up a screen so we can't look at her anymore. Granger couldn't bear the students stopping by to watch her cough up hairballs," said Draco with a laugh.
"Well that's unfortunate, but why do you think polyjuice?" Asked Daphne
"Oh- er- I don't know... it just seems the most plausible." Draco answered, not wanting to tell the others about how Harry and Ron had used polyjuice potion on Christmas to look like Crabbe and Goyle. His face turned red with his attempt to hide this information. He knew that his friends would ask him millions of questions, and Daphne would certainly scold him for being stupid enough to lead Harry on. However, none of the information Draco shared with Harry and Ron really mattered at the end of the day, because it is not like they would ever be able to figure out that Lucius had given the key to the Chamber of Secrets to Ginny Weasley.
Later that night, Pansy finally made her way into the Slytherin common room, bags in hand. Daphne came running over to give her a hug. "Thank goodness you're here," she said. "There has been way too much testosterone in this group."
"It's late," Pansy answered. "I have to get up early, so I best be off-"
"Wait, tell us about your tour with Lockhart," said Daphne.
"It was fun... busy... We went to several bookstores and conventions all over England so he could sign autographs, read excerpts from his book..." Pansy trailed off as she saw Draco and Blaise rolling their eyes, and Daphne biting her lip to hide her grimace. "But you guys don't care, and don't want to hear about Lockhart, so can I go to bed now?"
"No, Pans, we're interested," Daphne pleaded.
"I'm just tired." Said Pansy blankly. "I have so much to do to prepare for Valentines day. We'll talk later, so please just let me go to bed."
Pansy left for the dormitory, leaving the others the last Slytherins in the common room. "So we waited up for her for nothing," Draco grumbled.
"I think the more pressing issue is that Pansy is practically a different person," said Daphne weakly. "Something is really up."
In the next few weeks there were no more attacks on any of the students. Lockhart seemed to believe that it was all his doing. One morning he chased Professor McGonagall down the hallway shouting, "'I don't think there'll be any more trouble, Minerva. I think the Chamber has been locked for good this time. The culprit must have known it was only a matter of time before I caught him. Rather sensible to stop now, before I came down hard on him. You know, what the school needs now is a morale-booster. Wash away the memories of last term! I won't say any more just now, but I think I know just the thing. . . .'"
Pansy chased closely behind Lockhart, carrying a notebook, his cape, a glass of pumpkin juice for him. She didn't bother to stop and talk, or even wave to Blaise, Daphne, and Draco as she ran by.
Aside from Pansy's complete personality change, things were back to usual. The four Slytherins, now reduced to three, went to classes, studied all the time. Draco continued to meet with Snape every Friday to work ahead on potions, and somehow squeezed in quidditch practice between everything else.
However, Friday February the 14th was like none other. When Blaise, Daphne, and Draco walked into the Great Hall, they were met with vibrant decorations painting the room. Pink satin drapes lined the hall. Heart shaped confetti fell from the ceiling, dusting the food and people's shoulders as if it were snowing. The dishes mostly contained food that was red or pink, but those that didn't were smothered in pink sticky syrup or raspberry jam.
"Pansy wasn't kidding when she said she had a lot to plan for Valentines day," said Blaise.
"'Happy Valentine's Day!" Lockhart shouted with glee. "And may I thank the forty-six people who have so far sent me cards! Yes, I have taken the liberty of arranging this little surprise for you all — and it doesn't end here!'"
Lockhart clapped, and suddenly the doors opened to about ten ugly and plump dwarfs. They each looked rather angry at their current situation, and were wearing fake gold wings and carrying harps. Pansy ran from dwarf to dwarf straightening their wings and trying to get them to smile. At one point, a dwarf lunged at her, trying to bite her fingers in an effort to be left alone.
However, Lockhart seemed oblivious to, or maybe he just didn't care, how unhappy his little helpers were. "'My friendly, card-carrying cupids! They will be roving around the school today delivering your valentines!'" Shouted Lockhart. "'And the fun doesn't stop here! I'm sure my colleagues will want to enter into the spirit of the occasion! Why not ask Professor Snape to show you how to whip up a Love Potion! And while you're at it, Professor Flitwick knows more about Entrancing Enchantments than any wizard I've ever met, the sly old dog!'"
Along with about 50% of the student population, the teachers seemed rather upset by the spectacle. Professor Snape's eyebrow was distinctly twitching, Draco could see that all the way from where he was sitting.
"Please don't tell me you're the kind of girl who is into this?" Asked Blaise.
"Not a chance Zabini," Daphne answered, looking almost offended that he would even have to ask.
Throughout the day, the dwarfs had to keep interrupting class to deliver the valentines. Draco and Blaise each received about a dozen embarrassing valentines. It seemed that the more valentines they received, the more the other girls took notice of them, realizing that they must be two of the most desirable boys at Hogwarts.
"Draco! Blaise" Shouted a giggling third year girl while they were walking between classes. She looked behind her to her group of friends who were clearly egging her on. "We had some extra chocolate frogs, and well... we were wondering if you two would like them."
"Uh thanks," said Draco, grabbing the chocolates, and stuffing them in Blaise's bag.
"That's so nice of you to think of us," said Blaise with a warm smile. "We have to get to class now, but let's talk soon."
"Always the politician," said Daphne laughing.
"There's no harm in being nice, and keeping options open." said Blaise. "Jealous?"
"God no," said Daphne. "I wouldn't like getting all the attention. I would have thought Draco would be enjoying it a little more though."
"It's just... these girls are being weird," said Draco. His stomach felt quite odd. It was a feeling he was not used to.
At that moment, Harry Potter came running right past them, but he did not make it far because a dwarf, following close behind, pushed several students out of the way to corner him. "'Oy, you! 'Arry Potter!'" He shouted angrily. "'I've got a musical message to deliver to 'Arry Potter in person,'" he said, holding up his harp, ready to bash Harry on the head if he ran away. Harry ducked under and tried to run but the dwarf turned and grabbed Harry's bag. A sort of tug of war broke out. "'Stay still,'" yelled the dwarf.
"'Let me go!'" Harry shouted and not a moment later, the bag ripped in two, sending ink, books, and bits of parchment flying. Harry dropped to the floor, desperately trying to fill his bag with his belongings.
"'What's going on here?'" Draco asked mockingly, making his way over to Harry.
"'What's all this commotion?'" Asked Percy Weasley, clearly upset that something he did not know about was transpiring in the corridor.
Harry tried to get up, but the Dwarf grabbed his knees, pulling him back down, and then sat on his ankles.
"'Right,'" said the dwarf. "'Here is your singing valentine:
His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad,
His hair is as dark as a blackboard.
I wish he was mine, he's really divine,
The hero who conquered the Dark Lord. '"
The other students were laughing so hard that some of them were crying. However, Draco spotted something interesting on the ground in Harry's belongings. It was the book that his father had slipped into Ginny Weasley's cauldron at Diagon Alley. It was the key to the Chamber of Secrets. Now that he had a look up close he opened the binding just slightly enough to see the name "T.M. Riddle" written on the first page.
"'Off you go, off you go, the bell rang five minutes ago, off to class, now,'" Shouted Percy arrogantly, trying to disperse the crowd. "'And you, Malfoy —'"
Crabbe and Goyle leaned over Draco's shoulder trying to take a peak at the book. Draco tried to hide it in his robes, but it was too late.
"'Give that back,'" said Harry with his arm outstretched, who had just noticed the absence of the journal.
"'Wonder what Potter's written in this?'" said Malfoy, trying to play it off as if he didn't know what it was.
"'Hand it over, Malfoy,'" said Percy.
"'When I've had a look,'" said Malfoy, waving it around to keep Harry from grabbing it back.
"'As a school prefect —'" shouted Percy.
"'Expelliarmus!'" Exclaimed Harry. The book shot through the air and Ron caught it.
"'Harry!'" Percy shouted. "'No magic in the corridors. I'll have to report this, you know!'" However, by this point, no one was listening to him anymore.
Draco felt his cheeks flush red with embarrassment as Harry had clearly one-upped him. He darted his eyes around the corridor, daring anyone to laugh, and saw Ginny Weasley looking redder than him with her face in her hands.
"'I don't think Potter liked your valentine much!'" Draco shouted, shifting all the attention to her. He must have guessed right that she sent the valentine, as she went running into class, refusing to look at anyone.
After this, Draco could hardly focus on his classwork. All he could think about was how close he was to getting ahold of that journal and seeing what was inside. He felt envious and confused. Why did his father give the key to the Chamber of Secrets to Ginny Weasley? Was Harry supposed to get the diary? Was this all according to plan? And who was the heir of Slytherin? Could it be Harry controlling the basilisk? He certainly had the ability to, but Draco wasn't thick enough to seriously consider Hogwarts' golden boy to be the culprit. It didn't make sense. "T.M. Riddle" Draco thought to himself. He knew he had seen that name somewhere, but he couldn't remember where.
As usual, after the Slytherins' last class, potions, Draco stayed back to work with Snape. Snape was writing potion ingredients on the board with so much force the chalk broke in two. "You seem on edge sir," said Draco.
"No less than 7 students plucked up the courage to ask me about love spells as Lockhart had suggested." Snape seethed through clenched teeth.
"Immature," Draco answered plainly.
"It's more than just immature," said Snape whipping around. "It's dangerous and immoral. You have no idea, no understanding of what you can do to a person under the influence of a love potion. I've been pushing to get the ministry to ban them. Of course no one listens to me. Why would they? I only happen to be an expert on the subject. Of course the ministry thinks there are more important things at hand then 'childish pranks.' Stupid of them really."
"Because when given a love potion, the victim will do anything for the one they were made to obsess over," answered Draco.
"Correct," said Snape who took a key from his pocket and unlocked a private cabinet. He pulled out a small vial and brought it over to Draco. "One drop of this and the victim would engage in sexual activities they didn't want, they would carry out the person of their affection's bidding, they would kill for the person they were made to 'love'. Which is why for as long as I teach this course, no student will learn how to make it."
"You seem to care a lot about it," said Draco. "Why?"
"That," said Snape through his crooked smile. "will take you a lot more than a proficiency in potions to find out. Finish up, I have other things to do today."
Professor Snape started to walk to his desk, but in a moment of courage, Draco called after him, "Professor Snape," Snape turned around to face Draco. "Tell me this at least- does the name T.M. Riddle mean anything to you?"
Snape raised his eyebrows, "Not as much as it does to you and your family."