Touched by Death – Chapter 5
Harry wasn't sure if he should be surprised that Hermione and Ron let him go out of Gryffindor Tower. They were both worried about him, he knew that. But Ron and Hermione knew that he needed his space.
In all honestly, Harry probably would have stayed in the Tower if he hadn't promised to meet Marcus after the match. He just hoped that today proved to Marcus that he could trust him, despite being sorted into Gryffindor house.
It would be after that meeting that Harry would ponder on what had all happened. Flint almost seemed a bit kinder. Course his words could be a bit harsh, being a brainless Gryffindor as he would say. In all honesty Harry didn't mind being around the Slytherin. Despite that his encounters with Flint were few and far between. Though the Gryffindor knew that Marcus' mood would be in high spirits, seeing as Slytherin did win the Quidditch match and that put them in the lead for the Quidditch and House Cup. But even if Marcus did make a nasty comment, there was no fuel or fire to it. Definitely not like Malfoy with his taunts and insults like he knows everything.
And the magic Marcus performed on him was interesting. He had never heard of what exactly he did except a lot of chanting. Something about protection, though a lot of it seemed to be from Latin or something. But Harry could feel the immediate difference, like a shield formed around him. It was like a thin layer before vanishing. The Potter heir just wondered what type of magic it was.
It was weird to him though, Harry had heard from other students that Marcus wasn't very intelligent. Even rumors from Slytherin themselves. But then how could Marcus have known about the magic he did, it appeared to be advanced. Though he wasn't too sure seeing as he was only twelve. But he never asked about it, although he really wanted to. Flint may tolerate him, but he didn't think he saw him as a friend. The one thing he did ask Marcus was about Draco getting hit with the Bludger. That was the first time he saw Flint genuinely laugh.
The blonde had apparently been bitching a fit that he got hit by a bludger to anyone that would listen. And that was to say there weren't many that wanted to listen. Apparently, the blonde got hit with several silencing charms. That had gotten Harry into a bunch of laughs, even in Slytherin the Malfoy heir wasn't too liked.
As amusing as it was for Harry, Marcus' parting words stayed in his mind. 'Stay safe, Potter.' But that didn't stop Flint from once again ruffling his hair. Harry grinned ear to ear as Marcus left back towards his common room.
So maybe some Slytherins weren't so bad.
Harry was in shock, almost to the point of tears.
The young Gryffindor was looking down at the bed in the Hospital Wing where a familiar brunette girl laid petrified. Parts of Harry's nightmare was coming true, Hermione Granger had gotten petrified. If there was one part to be glad about concerning the nightmare that happened over a month ago. That was that the school was starting to doubt that Harry was the heir. Considering the strong friendship that Harry held with the young bookworm. And not that Harry had only pretended to be friends with the muggleborn. But it still left the school in bit of a frenzy on who possibly could be the heir.
Harry honestly never felt more lost, Ron wasn't much of any help. He was as clueless as Harry and didn't seem to offer any support. Hermione was always the brilliant one and he knew she could have figured it out if not already. But how does one speak to someone who's petrified and won't talk back? There was none unless Professor Sprout had the mandrakes ready, unlikely as they still had a few weeks to go.
Marcus had surprisingly been very sympathetic about it all, though he didn't really say it in so many words. He still snarled and would respond that he needed to get out of his pathetic state. So maybe Harry had been a bit gloomy about it all and Marcus was trying to remind him that Hermione wasn't dead. And there was an antidote along the way, though Harry wasn't sure if Flint was fond of muggleborns or not. He appeared not to be, but sometimes the Gryffindor wondered if that was a phase or mask.
There had been several more encounters between him and the Slytherin before Hermione was petrified and some of those he actually spoke with Marcus. They really didn't talk about their own houses much, though it was nice to talk to a Slytherin without being cursed. And for some reason Flint was very tight lipped about his family. Maybe his parents were like the Malfoys, it didn't say much considering Harry had already met Lucius once.
And which brought Harry back to the present moment. He was still by the bed that Hermione was in. Though his eyes felt a little unfocused. Ron had never bothered to come into the Hospital Wing to see him or Hermione.
A sight that did make Harry's jaw drop was when the Hospital Wing doors opened and someone with a Slytherin crest walked through. It wasn't that it was a Slytherin that was so surprising, it was which Slytherin in specific.
"Marcus?" the Gryffindor asked in shock.
"Nice to see you too, Potter," Flint commented sarcastically.
Harry had the nerve to look embarrassed. "Sorry, just didn't expect to see you, that's all."
Marcus laughed, "then I be careful if I were you. Someone may mistake that you like talking to Slytherins, then."
Harry merely rolled his eyes, "heaven forbid the day…that means you have to be careful too, someone may think you tolerate foolish Gryffindors."
Marcus wound up sitting on the other side of Harry, staring at the petrified girl with a calculating glance. "And yet you're not as brainless as most of them."
Harry's eyebrows rose, "was that actually a compliment?"
Marcus only huffed and didn't say a word, but that didn't stop the grin from Harry's face from growing.
"Insufferable Gryffindors," was Flint's only remark about that. Though the Slytherin froze for a second before his steel gaze went to Hermione's balled up fist.
Harry lost his teasing tone before realizing that something caught Marcus' attention. "What is it," he whispered as if afraid they be overheard. Madam Pomfrey was just in the other room after all.
"Look at your friend's hand, she's clutching something," Marcus hissed.
Harry's eyes widened dramatically when he took notice what Flint had said. And true to what the Slytherin said, there was something clenched in Hermione's balled up fist. 'What is that?' were Harry's silent thoughts.
Harry looked at Hermione's fist intently, it was clearly a piece of parchment. 'Did Hermione find something out?'
"Marcus," Harry whispered.
Flint took his attention from Hermione's lone figure and focused it on Harry.
"Can you help me get the parchment without ripping it? I think she may have figured it out," Harry finished asked.
Harry didn't have to see Marcus' nod to know he would help. It was trying to unravel Hermione's hand that was the most difficult. The parchment was clenched tightly in her hand and Harry didn't want to rip it.
It took some careful maneuvering, but Harry and Marcus managed to get the parchment loose without any damage. Harry took the parchment in his hands and sat back down next to Marcus. Flint started to look over Harry's shoulder, so he could see what it said.
The Gryffindor's hands froze when he saw the word, Basilisk. The monster was a giant snake that could kill with its stare. He felt like he couldn't think properly, first it was the chamber and nobody knew what was going on. Then came the bullying and accusations and now the realization what the monster actually was.
Flint's lips thinned out as he furiously thought. It had all started with the Chamber of Secrets being opened. He had never cared much for Mudbloods, so the chamber being opened didn't affect him much. After all he had grown up with a hatred for them, stealing magic of wizards as his parents had said. Then it felt like everything had turned upside down since he helped that tiny Gryffindor. Harry Potter. He knew of the boy, seeing he was the captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team and there had been an uproar about a first year being on Gryffindor's Quidditch team. He didn't really think of him until he ran into him, literally. The twelve-year-old was so skinny, dare he say maybe even malnourished. Though his Head of House always claimed that the Potter boy was spoiled beyond belief, it didn't make much sense to the boy's appearance. His figure was skinny, and he looked afraid. He didn't think he was scared of him, which would be a surprise as most were. But the scared look had been because of his chasers. The young Gryffindor honestly reminded him of the first years that were sorted into Slytherin house. Nervous and scared eleven-year-olds and some coming from abusive or neglectful families that didn't believe a child's life is precious. But that was what make them a Slytherin, they were survivors. And someone Marcus thought that was Harry Potter as well. He was a prefect and so he was very protective of the charges that came under him. And it seemed that Harry was falling under that category. So naturally, Marcus felt that protective urge about Harry Potter. One reason why he gave the Gryffindor that pendant and not some random object. The necklace was linked to his magic and its pulse would give him the boy's location. It had pissed off the prefect that nobody cared for the boy and just turned against him. That was the worst betrayal, and if his thoughts were correct. This was the only place that the Gryffindor could seek protection from. Though he felt like your house should be the one place you should be able to trust. It was awkward at first as he would usually avoid Gryffindor at all cost unless it was to curse them or rarely take points. Taking points didn't teach those idiots anything, showing them would keep the lesson in mind. And the protective urge just grew stronger with every second that he spent with the boy. He could almost say the boy was innocent, though he knew he was not. The Gryffindor had some horrors in his past, that fact in the stories remained true. The idea that a Basilisk was running around the school was a terrifying thought. It was common knowledge that the snake's stare could kill and its venom guaranteed death.
Harry curiously glanced up at Marcus, his features was unreadable. He couldn't quite get an idea what the Slytherin was thinking. But he was sure that the Prefect would be mad on his behalf. Harry already knew that it pissed the older boy off that all the Gryffindors were against him. Though he wasn't sure why the older Slytherin would care. From his nightmare, though that seemed ages ago, Hermione had thought it was from being a Prefect. Harry assumed that Prefect had a soft spot for his 1st and 2nd year Slytherins. Though it calmed him that he realized that Hermione wouldn't be in danger of dying. The mirror now made sense, the girl never looked directly in the Basilisk's eyes and only its reflection. Hence the petrification and not death.
"It will not solve where the Chamber is, though it will make the school panic," Marcus finally spoke.
The Gryffindor knew that Flint was still thinking, but he knew his words made sense. But he couldn't see the use in the professors knowing, what could they do against a Basilisk that nobody seemed to spot?
"Even if someone knew where the Chamber is, it can't have been opened easily… could it?" Harry hesitantly asked.
Marcus was looking at Harry which made him awkwardly shift. The stare was intent. "It was called a myth for a reason. You speak to snakes, Harry."
The Gryffindor's eyes almost cast down before he realized the tone wasn't accusing. It was more of a statement. Then he realized what Marcus may have been hinting at. It made prefect sense. "You have to speak Parseltongue for it to open?"
Flint nodded, "probably why nobody could find it."
"That's brilliant," Harry grinned.
Marcus narrowed his eyes at Harry, "whatever you are thinking. Get rid of it. Your ideas always end up bad."
Harry almost pouted at the words. "They aren't that bad."
"I've heard of what happened last year, I don't believe that for a minute, Potter."
"I think the Chamber may be in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom," Harry thought out loud.
"Don't even think about going alone!" Flint hissed.
Harry's eyes jerked to meet Marcus', he hadn't expected the Slytherin's response.
"Who else speaks Parseltongue!"
"Do you realize you will not be facing an eleven or twelve-year-old. This apparent heir is intent on killing and wiping out all the Mudbloods in this school! You would not stand a chance! You be dead in an instant!" Marcus growled with anger.
Harry was taken back by Flint's words. He did stiffen up when Marcus said 'Mudblood', though he didn't say anything. When had Marcus gone from being rivals, to acquaintances, to maybe friends? When had they got the point that Marcus actually cared… per say? Harry honest did not know but he would not take any of it back. He appreciated Marcus, he actually was there for him besides Hermione who he could normally rant to. But Marcus actually protected him, it felt different somehow.
"You're willing to go with me and help me?" Harry couldn't help but be flabbergasted.
"Obviously, you dumb ass Gryffindor…" Flint droned.
Harry frowned for a second before grinning again, "Hey! I take insult to that."
Flint rolled his eyes and gently ruffled Harry's hair as he been accustomed to do recently.