The entire lake was pure white with snow and ice. Children laughed as horses dragged the sleigh through the fields and onto the frozen ice. An excitement buzz was flying around the school, as it was almost time for them to go home for Christmas. Well, almost everyone.
Harry leaned on the balcony, snow falling around him. His mind flashed to the dream he had last night, because he couldn't shake the feeling it was something more than that. Hermione and Ron sighed sadly, wondering what to do to help Harry. "Hey everyone look! It's the Heir of Slytherin!" George pointed and laughed. "Be careful! He's a seriously evil wizard!" Fred teased with a bit of a snicker. Everyone around the twins laughed, Harry just silently taking on the abuse.
"Hey! Leave him alone you two!" Everyone looked behind them, and saw Lucy pointing them down. "It's not nice to tease him about it." She scolded. Fred and George looked at each other, then at Lucy to smile. "Of course." Fred reassured. "We shant bring it up again." George smiled, as the twins took a bow. "Your Highness." The said together, and shuffled backwards, before turning the corner backwards. Still stuck in their bowing position.
Lucy had an embarrassed look on her face, her strong pointing finger now slack from the awkward shuffles from the twins. She brought her fist up to cough in it. "Right. Anyone else want to say anything?" Lucy asked, looking at the remaining students around Harry. Everyone stayed silent for a bit, until moving again, not daring to make eye contact with the princess.
"You alright Harry?" Lucy asked, giving Harry a warm smile. "Yeah, thanks. Uh, Your Highness..." Harry stuttered, taking a bow. "Oh, you don't need to call me that! Lucy will do just fine!" Lucy said, a bit flustered. "A-anyway, If anyone's giving you a hard time you can always come to me." She smiled, as she moved on.
"Don't worry Harry. Fred and George were just having a laugh." Ron comforted as soon as Lucy left. "They're the only ones." Harry sighed miserably, looking back into the distance. "Ok, so half the school thinks you're nipping off to The Chamber of Secrets every night. Who cares?" Ron asked.
"Maybe they're right…" Harry said stiffly, moving into the castle. "Harry." Hermione called after him, she and Ron following him. "Harry!" She called once more. "Oh come on." She sighed. "Look, I didn't know I can speak Parseltongue!" Harry snapped. "What else don't I know about myself?!" He asked. Ron and Hermione looked at each other, silent.
"Look. Maybe you can do something. Even something horrible, and not know you did it." He reasoned, hoping for them to see his point. "Harry, you don't believe that. I know you don't…" Hermione said, her voice on the brink of a whisper. "And if it makes you feel any better, Malfoy's staying for the holidays too."
"...Why would that make anyone feel any better?" Ron asked, confused of Hermione's reasoning. "Because in a few days the Polyjuice Potion will be ready. In a few days… we may know who the true Heir of Slytherin is." Hermione said. Harry gave a silent sigh, before Harry gave a small nod.
"Alright, here's the plan." Hermione ducked underneath the table they were sitting at. Harry and Ron looked at each other, confused. She slammed two cupcakes onto the table, Harry and Ron staring wide eyed at the small cakes. "There is only one ingredient left. Strands of DNA of the people you'll be transforming too. In this case, Crabbe and Goyle. I've laced these cakes with a sleeping draft. Simple, yet powerful. It should knock them out for a couple of hours, which is necessary as we'd be exposed if they walked in on us questioning Malfoy. Grab a couple of their hairs and their uniforms, and we should be good to go." Hermione explained.
"Alright. But who are you going to be?" Ron asked a bit snarkey. "I've already got mine." Hermione said proudly. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a vile with a black hair. "Millicent Bulstrode. Slytherin. I got this off her robes." She said, putting the vile back. "I'm going to check on the Polyjuice Potion. Make sure that Crabbe and Goyle find these." Hermione stressed, picking up the cupcakes and gave them a little shake before putting them in the boys' hands.
Later that night, Ron and Harry waited patiently behind the Main Statue outside the Grand Hall. Ron pulled out his broken wand and gave a cough. Harry suddenly tapped Ron on the shoulder and suggested he do it. Ron sighed and agreed as he put his wand away. Harry got out his wand and chanted, "Wingardium Leviosa."
The two cupcakes began to float in the air, stopping at mid height. A door bang echoed through the hall, Ron and Harry jumping back behind the statue. A hands filled with food Crabbe and Goyle walked out of the Hall, stuffing their faces with creamy cakes. Suddenly, Crabbe and Doyle stared at the floating cakes. They stared at each other, and greedily grabbed the cakes and immediately stuffed their faces with the cakes.
They smiled and gave each other a look of approval. Their faces turned from approval, to a slow, slugged chew. Both of them looked at each other once more, before fainting down with a echoing thud. Ron and Harry slowly walked out of their hiding spots, and looked at the two unconscious Slytherins. "How thick could you get?" Ron questioned. "Come on, let's get them." Harry prompted, picking up Goyle.
The boys finally managed to lock both Crabbe and Doyle in the broom closet and picked their hairs. They immediately ran to the Fifth Corridor bathroom, where Hermione was meeting up with them. They burst through the doors, panting as they ran up to her, who was simply stirring the cauldron. "Did you get the hairs?" She asked. The boys presented their hairs, Hermione giving a nod. "What are those?" Ron asked, looking at the uniforms next to Hermione.
"Slytherin uniforms. I had to sneak them from the laundry." She told them. Ron then looked at the contents of the pot. What he saw made him gag. It was like old milk mixed with expired oatmeal and had the colour of troll phlegm. "Are we really going to drink that?" Harry asked, gagging. Hermione nodded. "We'll have exactly one hour before we change back into ourselves."
Hermione moved the cauldron into one of the sinks and poured the chunky potion into three beakers. Everyone gave a disgusted look at the sound the potion made when it was poured. Hermione gave a beaker to Harry, then to Ron. "Add the hairs…" She instructed. All three of them dropped their hairs into the potion, a strong essence of their chosen DNA filled the room. "Ugh, essence of Crabbe…" Ron gagged.
"Well, cheers." Hermione said, trying to think positive about the potion. The three of them clinked their beakers together, before quickly drinking the potion to get it all over and done with. Ron was the first to swallow. "I think I'm gonna be sick…." He gagged, dropping his glass with a crash and ran into a cubical. "M-Me too…." Hermione gagged, dropping her glass next, and ran into the Cubicle next to Ron's. Harry bended over, dropping his glass last, the glass shattering everywhere.
His hands grasped the sink, gagging, his stomach in pain. His hand felt bubbly. He looked down at the hand, the flesh bobbling underneath his skin. He looked in the mirror, his face having that same feeling next. He watched in surprise as his face slowly morphed into Goyle. His mouth dangling open from how well he looked in comparison to the real Goyle. He turned around, Ron coming out of his stall emerging as Crabbe. He couldn't stop looking at his hands. He then looked up, his friend now looking like an exact replica of Goyle.
"Harry?"
"Ron?"
"Blood hell!" Ron sweared, examining Harry up and down. "We still sound like ourselves." Harry noticed, looking up and down his body. "You need to sound more like Crabbe." He said. "Uh… Bloody hell." Ron repeated, only deeper, sounding just like the real Crabbe. "Excellent." Harry smiled. "But where's Hermione?" Ron asked.
"I…" Hermione stuttered. "I don't think I'll be going! You guys go on without me!" Hermione called out from the stall. "Hermione, you ok?" Harry asked, a bit concerned. "Just go! You're wasting time!" Hermione begged. Harry gave a sharp sigh and looked at Ron. "Let's go!"
The two ran down the stairs into the dungeon and looked around. "I think the Slytherin Common Room is down this way." Harry pointed, Ron nodding in agreement. The two walked down the corridor, looking out for the door to the Common Room. "What are you two doing down here?" A gruff voice asked.
The two boys stopped stiff and slowly turned around. There stood Gajeel, Lily walking next to him. "G-Gajeel! W-We were just taking a walk…" Harry explained nervously. Gajeel stepped towards them and leaned into their faces. Ron and Harry leaned back a bit, not even daring to breathe. Gajeel hummed, darting his eyes between the two.
"I-Is something wrong?" Ron stuttered. "Hmmm…. Alright, here's how this is going to go down." Ron and Harry looked at each other, confused. "One, this is only once I'll help you. Two, you have one hour. Three, once you leave, don't come back to the Common Room. Got it?" Gajeel growled. Ron and Harry looked at each other, eyes widened. "Common Room's this way." Gajeel pointed, and led on.
"Excuse me." A firm voice called out. "Hm?" Gajeel hummed, looking at the person who called them out. The three boys stopped, watching Percy march towards them. "What are you-" Harry sharply nudged Ron, while Gajeel firmly stepped on his toe with his heel. Ron puffed his cheeks in pain, and bended over.
"What are you doing here Weasley? This is our turf." Gajeel sneered as Percy stood up to them. Percy raised his eyebrow and folded his arms. "I am a Prefect Mister Redfox. But you three should not be out and about at this hour." Percy explained in a calm, orderly manner. "But you're still a student Weasley. And a student in our turf." Gajeel sneered, getting into Percy's face. "What makes you think that I would respect your authority?" He said, cracking his knuckles a bit.
Ron's face began to panic a bit. He stepped forward, wanting to tell Gajeel to back off his brother. But Harry stopped him, shaking his head. If Ron said something, they could be exposed. "I suggest you back off Mister Redfox. Unless you want to be expelled like Mister Dragneel." Percy warned. Gajeel tisked, and took a step back hands in pockets. "Whatever. You're wasting our time." Gajeel sneered, walking on. Ron and Harry had a second to think about what happened, before shuffling behind Gajeel.
"Wait, what are your names?" Percy asked them. "Why do you care?" Gajeel asked, tilting his head back. "Uh, well he's uh…" Harry stuttered, pointing at Ron, who was pointing at Harry. "Crabbe! Goyle! Redfox! Where were you?!" An angry voice called out from behind them. Everyone turned to the voice. And there was Malfoy, storming up to them "Stuffing your fat faces in the Great Hall again?" As he stopped, he scanned Ron and Harry from top to bottom. "Why are you wearing glasses?" He asked, not knowing it was Harry. "O-Oh! I was… uh… reading." Harry lied, scuttling to take the glasses off. "Read?" Draco repeated, Harry giving a shaky nod. "...I didn't know you could read…" Draco muttered a loud.
Draco then turned his attention to Ron's older brother, snarling at what he was doing. Percy gritted his teeth, warning him about his attitude. Draco just gave a snuff as he walked away, Harry, Ron, and Gajeel following behind.
Draco flopped on the sofa in the middle of the Common Room. Harry and Ron looked around. The room was very green and dark. There was a very cold demeanor about it. Tapestries of famous Slytherins hung on the walls, the windows clouded with the murky lake water. Gajeel pulled up a chair at a nearby table and put his feet up. His exceed jumped up as well and took a seat on the table, watching the three near the sofas. "Well, sit!" Draco commanded, Ron and Harry slowly sitting down.
"I must say their disguise is impeccable. They're almost a perfect match with the real Crabbe and Goyle." Lily praised, very impressed. "Yep. Even the scents aren't that far off. But still. What gave it away was their voices." Gajeel grumbled. Lily hummed, as both of them listened carefully to the conversations.
"You'd never know the Weasleys were pure-bloods, the way they behave…." Draco sighed, shaking his head. "They're an embarrassment to the Wizarding World. All of them." He gritted. Gajeel's eye began to move to Ron. He could see he was visibly tense. "What's wrong with you Crabbe?" Draco asked with a scoff. Harry knudged Ron, who relaxed and lied about a stomach ache.
Draco gave a sigh, and looked at Gajeel. "You know, I'm surprised the Daily Prophet hasn't done a report on all these attacks. I suppose Dumbledore's trying to hush it all up." Draco wondered, before looking back to the fake Crabbe and Goyle. "Father always said Dumbledore was the worst thing that ever happened to this place."
"You're wrong!" Harry yelled, not wanting to listen to what Draco had to say. Gajeel's eyes opened wider, Lily and Ron gasping sharply. Draco, who was baffled at Goyle, stood up and leaned over him, like a pressing shadow. "What was that Goyle…? Speak up! Is there someone here you think is worse than Dumbledore?!" He interrogated. Harry looked at Ron, then back at Draco. "H-Harry Potter…?" He suggested, a bit worried.
Gajeel looked at Draco, wondering what his answer to that would be. Draco leaned back, giving a thinking look, until his lips gave a twisted smirk. "Good one Goyle. You're absolutely right." Draco smirked, sitting back down again. The other boys relaxed, breathing air of reliefness. "Saint...Potter." Draco spat at the name. "And people actually think that he's the Heir of Slytherin?" Draco continued. Ron and Harry looked at each other. Now was their chance to ask him.
"B-But then you must have some idea who's behind it all…" Harry stuttered. "You know I don't Goyle. I told you yesterday." Draco sighed, shaking his head. He moved to the side table, and propped himself onto it. He picked up a small green box that gave a small rattle whenever it moved. "How many times do I have to tell you?" He scoffed. He brought the box to his ear and gave it a shake. He pointed at it, and looked at Harry. "This yours?" He asked. Harry shook his head. Once he did, Draco looked around and stuffed it into his pocket. Gajeel and Lily gave him a cold eye. Disgusted at his actions.
"But my father did say this."
Harry and Ron looked up at Draco, Lily and Gajeel gave a curious hum at what Draco was going to say. "It's been fifty years since the Chamber was opened. He wouldn't tell me who opened it. Only that they were expelled. The last time the Chamber of Secrets was open, a Mudblood died."
Gajeel and Lily couldn't believe what they were hearing. They looked at each other with shock. "This information…" Gajeel whispered. Lily nodded and looked back at Draco. "So it's only a matter of time one of them is killed again." Draco snarked and raised his eyebrows with an evil hope. "As for me, I hope it's Granger."
Ron leaped out of his seat and marched towards Draco, fuming mad. Harry gasped and stood up in time to hold Ron back. "What's the matter with you two?! You're acting very….odd." Draco noted, looking between the two. "I-It's his stomach ache." Harry lied, and then whispered to Ron to calm down.
Draco reached into his pocket again and pulled out the box again. He gave it another shake and pulled the silver bow tying the package together.
Ron took a deep breath and looked at Harry. His eyes went open, and pointed at his forehead. "S-Scar…" Ron stuttered. Harry reached to his forehead and felt his lightning shape dent. "Ron, your hair…!" Harry whispered. Ron touched his hair, feeling it grow back again. The two of them looked at Draco, who was too occupied with the pendant inside.
Gajeel gritted his teeth, almost jumping out of his seat. "Crap! They're gonna get caught!" He thought. "So Draco, do you have any idea who it could be?" Draco looked at Gajeel, his attention away from Harry and Ron. "You have ears don't you Redfox? I told you I don't know!" While Draco was sneering at Gajeel, Gajeel looked at Harry and Ron, signaling for them to get out. Both of them mouthed a "Thank you" and ran out.
Draco turned around after hearing a thud from the door. "Where did those two go?" Draco asked. "Beats me. Anyway, I'm going for a walk." Gajeel sighed, as he stood up and left for the door. Draco looked at him, and shook his head.
Harry and Ron burst through the doors to the Fifth Corridor Bathroom. "That was close! We really need to that Gajeel next time we see him." Ron sighed. "Hermione, come out! We've got loads to tell you!" Harry yelled in her cubicle. "Go away!" Hermione yelled back. Myrtle gasped in surprise and slid in beside them. "Wait till you see. It's awful!" Myrtle giggled and flew behind them.
"Hermione? Are you ok?" Harry asked, and pushed the door open. Once the door opened, Ron took a silent gasp. "Do you remember me telling you… that the Polyjuice Potion was only for human transformations?" Hermione asked. Harry put on his glasses and was startled. "It was cat hair I plucked off Millicent Bulstrode's robes…" Hermione turned around, revealing she had transformed into a half cat creature. Her eyes were yellow, pupils slit. Hair and whiskers all over her face. "Look at my face." Hermione said. Myrtle then began to laugh. "Look at your tail!" Ron smiled, thinking how cool this was.
Myrtle zoomed off, disappearing. As Hermione moved out of the cubical, a loud click echoed through the bathroom. The three looked at each other and stuffed each other into the tiny cubicle. Soon, a loud grinding sound echoed, like granite rubbing against each other. Once the grinding stopped, a heavy breathing sound could be heard. A dark shadow floated pass the cubical. The three kids watched the shadow pass.
A crispy sound came from the bowl, the three kids slowly looking down. Their eyes began to to widen, the water in the bowl slowly turning to ice. "W-Why is it s-s-so c-c-cold in here all of a s-s-sudden?" Ron asked, his teeth chattering. The floor began to form a thin coat of ice. A dark growl was heard, Hermione, Ron, and Harry holding their breaths.
A few minutes passed, bare feet could be heard hitting the marble floor. A grinding sound echoed again, until a loud click was heard. The three waited for a bit before they slowly opened the door and looked around. "What was that…?" Ron asked, looking around. "Why is it so cold now…?" Hermione asked, each of them physically shaking.
Harry breathed out, the crisp air forming physically. "Weird…" He gasped.