Chapter 2
November 5, 1993
Hogwarts
The subject of Sirius Black was suddenly considered a taboo by the students of Hogwarts. Half the school seemed to think that Black was going to jump out from the next corner, while the other half were suddenly suspicious that their neighbour was Sirius Black in disguise. This caused everyone being significantly subdued; even the Twins weren't cracking jokes and the Slytherins weren't being antagonistic for once.
Hariel was at her wits end because Percival Weasley had taken it upon himself to be her bodyguard, stalker and general unwelcome tag-along due to some deluded notion of responsibility. It took an intervention from the Weasley Twins to fix this problem.
After that, the teachers began finding a reason for being in the hallway at the same time and 'coincidently' ended up going the same way Hariel was. When she finally had a moment relatively alone, she asked Professor Snape, who had been assigned her 'escort' for the day.
"The Headmaster is under some foolish notion that you," he answered, "must be protected from Black."
"Don't I?"
"If Black was competent enough to defeat you, he wouldn't have been hindered by Pettigrew." That was glowing praise if ever she heard it. Or at least, as close as Snape got to praise. Hariel accepted the 'praise' with a cheeky smile and a twirl of her wand. "That isn't to say," Snape continued, "that you don't need protecting. All students need protecting from a madman like Sirius Black."
"Just not me specifically."
"Precisely."
"Seeing as you're here," Hariel said, changing the subject very blatantly, "I have a few questions about ways to improve the Proventus Draught…" And so teacher and student fell into discussion.
Hariel, escorted by her favourite Professor, reached the Gryffindor Common Room. Standing outside was Neville, who was all but begging the new Portrait Passageway, Sir Cadogan, to let him in.
Sir Cadogan was the replacement for the Fat Lady while her canvas was repaired. When asked 'why him?' Professor McGonagall simply let out an agonising sigh of exasperation and replied, "he was the only one who volunteered."
Sir Cadogan was most certainly not an ideal replacement to the Fat Lady (at least, that was the general consensus). He was annoying and arrogant, often wasting students' time by recounting his 'great adventures', flirting with the female students and challenging the male students to sword duels. He changed the password erratically and they got more and more outrageous by the minute. Hariel loved it. She would play along with his attempts to 'seduce' her, sometimes even dragging her friends into the conversations.
Neville, who could never remember the password when it changed every two weeks, was completely mortified to learn it would change at the portrait's whim. Now he stood before Sir Cadogan, very tempted to beg to be allowed in. Then his saviour came in the form of an unlikely duo: Professor Severus Snape and Hariel Potter.
Neville almost shrunk under the dark visage of his greatest fear, but the image of Snape in his Gran's robes appeared in his mind. With that in mind, Neville stood firm and straightened his back a little. He met Snape's eyes and held them for a moment before the dark Potion Master gave an approving nod.
"If that's all, Potter," said Snape, "I'll take my leave." And he did, with his cloak billowing out dramatically. Hariel clicked her tongue as she watched the Professor disappear around a corner.
"I've got to learn how he does that." She turned back to Neville who looked a little out of breath. "Well done Nev," she said before turning her attention to Sir Cadogan. "Scurvy Cur."
"But for you, Milady," the knightly portrait replied, "I'd be a dashing rogue." Hariel graced the knight with a saucy wink as she and Neville entered the Common Room. Inside, Ron and Hermione were having another argument. Not wanting to get involved, Hariel sat beside Ginny.
"How goes Quidditch?" she asked. The youngest Weasley and the new Gryffindor Seeker grinned as she outlined her intensive training routine that Oliver had set her. Hariel noted it wasn't as intense as her old one and hoped it was because the Trio and the Twins had managed to reign the fanatical Keeper in.
"And thanks for the Nimbus, Rhee," Ginny said after she finished, "it's really useful for a seeker." Hariel smiled, accepting the thanks and offering welcome.
"I'm more of a Bluebottle girl myself," she said, "and I felt that the Nimbus was bought more for the Gryffindor Seeker than for Hariel Potter." It seemed that Ron and Hermione had stopped arguing because Ron came over and said loudly, "how come you've got Harry's Nimbus?" It was evident to Hariel that Ron hadn't heard of her resignation from the Quidditch team. Ginny grinned widely.
"I'm the new Gryffindor Seeker." Ron resembled a fish, and Hariel couldn't help but laugh.
"But Harry's the Seeker!" he shouted, "how can you be Seeker?" Hariel huffed.
"Honestly, Ronald," Hermione said from behind him, "didn't you know Hariel resigned from the team?"
"What!?" Hariel rolled her eyes, before opening her Potions book. She decided to research the Remedium Cicuta (ill-named as the main ingredient, Hemlock, was actually a fatally poisonous plant), among other things. She mentally recalled the ingredients she had available when her book was snatched out of her hands.
Standing beside her with her book in his hands, was the ever present Percival Weasley. He was frowning at her book; he'd closed it, he lost her page! He was inspecting it as if he'd seen it before.
"Miss Potter, this book is from the Restricted Section of the Library," he said imperiously, "unless you show me written permission for your possessing it, I'll have to confiscate it."
"Percy, that's mine," Hariel replied, "I bought it at Flourish and Blotts last summer." That second part was a lie; she bought it from a much less reputable apothecary in Knockturn Alley.
"Forgive me if I don't believe you." He started to walk away when he was ripped off his feet by some invisible force. Dangling from his leg with the book in his hands, Percy looked fearfully at the witch that seemed to be responsible for it. Hariel said nothing, only smiling daintily and plucking the book out of his hands. She stepped close to his face, placing her lips near his ear.
"Don't ever take my things again," she whispered before she walked away. When she vanished from view, Percy fell to the ground. Fred and George started laughing and Alicia, Angeline and Katie followed after Hariel, but the rest of the Common Room was silent as they stared.
Word of the confrontation between the Head Boy and the last Potter spread throughout the entire school. Each time the tale was told, it became more outlandish. Hariel heard that she had turned into a red eyed demon that threatened to eat Percy's soul, that Percy was trying to force himself on her and even that it was actually a lovers' spat.
When Professor Snape heard about the event, he demanded an explanation. When she told him the exact detail, all he did was smirk and say, "should I be concerned that you are researching poisons, Potter?" When Professor McGonagall was made aware, by her trusty informants (she had contracted the Weasley Twins into keeping an eye on Hariel), she deducted points from Percy for attempting to steal a student's property and threatened to remove his badge.
When Professor Dumbledore heard the details, he called Hariel up to his office. As it was, Hariel was sitting in front of the Headmasters desk admiring Fawkes, the phoenix that saved her life in the Chamber of Secrets. Dumbledore sat at his desk in his colourfully distasteful robes and matching hat, gazing at Hariel over the top of his half-moon glasses.
"Why did you call me here, Headmaster?" He was cutting into her Potions lesson.
"I have heard of the disagreement between you and Mister Weasley," Dumbledore explained, "and would like to hear your side." Hariel had expected this. Shortly after her victory over the Weasley prat, Hariel had written in the diary to ask for suggestions. Riddle had warned her that Dumbledore would ask her for the details and then scold her for her 'violent' reaction while letting Percival off without even a warning.
"Percy Weasley took my book without permission and I took it back," she said.
"What is the book called?"
"Moste Potente Potions."
"That book is from the Restricted Section-"
"That book is my copy that I bought and paid for." Dumbledore didn't respond. Instead, he stared intently at her, the usual twinkling in his eyes now gone.
"Why would you have a copy of a book like that?" he asked after a moment. Hariel scowled.
"Because I have an interest in Potions," she said. Hariel was already tiring of the interrogation. She knew what was going to happen next, but said nothing. Riddle had warned her about Dumbledore's suspicious nature.
"Regardless, your reaction was out of line." Hariel rolled her eyes as she slumped into her chair. She brushed her hair out of her face. I'll have to cut it soon, she thought. She turned her gaze to the elderly wizard in front of her. Hariel took note of his eyes, how they always twinkled when they met hers.
"I don't see the problem," she said calmly, "all I did was take my book back." Professor Dumbledore frowned before his gaze became disappointed. He sat back in his chair, stroking Fawkes absentmindedly. He wondered how Hariel could have changed so much in the last few months. Perhaps I should've had someone speak to her about what happened in the Chamber, he thought.
"You levitated him by his feet-"
"I don't think you understand, Professor. He took what was mine. I took it back." Dumbledore flinched at her harsh tone. "If that's all, Professor," said Hariel, "I have class." Without another word, Hariel left the office, leaving Dumbledore to ponder the similarities he saw between a past student and Hariel Potter
The class in question turned out to be Defence Against the Dark Arts. Hariel wasn't surprised to not see Professor Lupin teaching; it was the day of the full moon after all. To add to this, Professor Snape was the substitute. This had Hariel almost giddy. After all, everyone knew that Professor Snape desired the position of Defence teacher. Hariel was excited to see what her favourite teacher would do.
Her excitement was short-lived when he said, "turn to page three hundred and ninety-four." She knew what he was doing. Acting quickly, she scribbled a note onto a piece of parchment and threw it at the dark haired Potions Master. Snape caught the balled up parchment without even looking and was about to retaliate when he caught Hariel's gaze. Her lips moved silently. Read it, she was saying.
"Five points from Gryffindor for disrupting the class, Potter," he said as he unfolded the paper.
Don't, please. That was all that was written on the sheet. Snape smirked in understanding.
"Potter, keep your opinions about Mr Malfoy to yourself. Two points from Gryffindor." He then turned and rescinded his instruction.
"Looking through Lupin's pigsty of a desk, I have found the notes he left to detail your progress, as woeful and inadequate as it is. Turn to page one hundred and eight and we will begin learning about the Hinkypunk, or as it is known here in Scotland, the will o' the wisp…"
November 6, 1993
Hogwarts
The first Quidditch match of the season was well underway, though the weather left much to be desired. Despite her loud protests, Ginny couldn't convince Oliver to postpone the match to better weather. Thus, the youngest Weasley found herself flying Hariel's former broom in the violent torrent. The redhead chased Cedric Diggory, the Hufflepuff Seeker when he spotted the snitch a split second before she did. Diggory was a well-built teen whose skill as a Seeker was certainly not exaggerated. He gave Hariel a run for her money when they played. Now it was Ginny's turn to play.
In the stands, Hariel scowled. The weather was abysmal. She'd thought Oliver would have learned by now. Unfortunately, they were all forced to endure the raging winds and rain pelting down on them. The drums of thunder caused Hariel to jump. She shook her head and looked refocused on the match. Ginny soared back to the goal posts when the snitch vanished from view. Hariel narrowed her eyes as she scanned the field for the small golden ball. She jumped again when another round of thunder startled her.
Enough is enough, she thought, I'm leaving. With great difficulty, she managed to reach the edge of the stands and was about to go down when Cedric Diggory came shooting down screaming, "dementors! Hundreds of them!" Shoving her way back to the edge of the stands, Hariel scanned the skies for Ginny.
She couldn't spot her.
Ginny felt the overwhelming sense of hopelessness that the dementors made people experience. What she also so was the Chamber. She heard Tom's mocking laughter and heard Hariel's words. She also saw…
Hariel spotted Ginny falling through the sky on a one-way trip to the ground. She panicked. Disregarding the consequences, Hariel raised her wand and called, "aresto momentum!" She was dimly aware of Professor Dumbledore calling the same thing. Together, the powerful magic users slowed Ginny's fall to a stop, just inches above the ground. Hariel released her spell and stumbled, breathing heavily.
"Hariel, are you alright?" Hermione's voice barely pierced the haze around Hariel's mind when she collapsed.
Hariel woke to the face of Hermione Granger over her.
"Hariel, you're awake!" Before the Girl-Who-Lived could react, she was swept up into a warm embrace by the muggleborn witch from Crawley.
"What happened?" asked Hariel. Hermione pulled back and sat on the bed.
"You collapsed after Ginny was saved," she said, "but why? Was it the dementors?" Hariel sighed. She knew that she would eventually have to tell Hermione about her skills with upper year magic, but she didn't expect it to be so soon.
"As you know," Hariel began, "in terms of spellwork, I specialise in Charms. What I didn't realise during the year, was how far this talent extended." With a gesture, Hariel silently and wandlessly cast wingardium leviosa on a nearby lamp.
"In the common room with Percy…"
"A spell called levicorpus, taught to me by Professor Snape. Apparently, levitation comes easily to me. Professor Flitwick let me read ahead on levitation charms." Hermione remained silent for a long moment, while Hariel prepared to deal with the leading fallout between the pair over this secret.
"Teach me." Hariel's eyes widened at Hermione's words. She could honestly say she didn't expect that.
"Okay."
Hariel was let out of the Hospital Wing later that day, but immediately moved to Ginny's bed. The red-haired girl was still unconscious after exposure to hundreds of dementors. Hariel felt guilty, as it was her who would have been up there if she hadn't quit the team. Ron and the Twins had already left, but Percy remained, switching between protectively sitting by his sister and warily eyeing Hariel.
It wasn't for a few more hours that Ginny woke up. Her eyes narrowed when she saw Hariel, but the suspicion was gone before the brunette could notice. Percy was about to speak when Ginny interrupted him.
"Percy," she said in an oddly dull tone, "please leave for a moment. I want to talk to Hariel alone." Percy didn't want to start anything, so agreed and quickly left the room. Ginny's eyes narrowed accusingly. "You kept it," she said. For a moment, Hariel was confused, before she remembered what Professor Lupin taught her about dementors; that they forced people to relive their worst memories. So that meant Ginny had remembered the Chamber.
"Yes." There was no point in denying it. Ginny knew without a doubt.
"Why?" That was something Hariel asked herself every day. It was only recently that she might have figured out a reason beyond her desire for control. But that new reason wasn't something she'd tell the youngest Weasley.
"That's my business."
"Isn't he trying to take you over?" Hariel laughed harshly, before pulling out the pocket sized diary. Ginny flinched at the sight of the offending item.
"Of course not. Riddle knows his place."
"His place? You're starting to sound like Malfoy."
"Really? Did I start spouting off nonsense about blood and the like?"
"No…"
"No, when I say 'his place', I refer to his substance as a diary."
"You write in it?!"
"We're done here." Hariel stepped forward until her now green eyes were right in front of Ginny. The younger girl shivered as those eyes met hers. "Get well." Without another word, Hariel turned to leave. Ginny sighed in relief before making plans to go see Dumbledore about this.
"And Ginny?" Ginny's head snapped in the direction of the former seeker. "If you tell anyone about this, the Chamber of Secrets will seem like a happy fantasy when I'm done." Hariel turned and left, allowing Percy to enter the room. Ginny plastered a smile on her face as her big brother doted on her. She couldn't tell anyone. She couldn't speak the truth.
She couldn't warn anyone that Hariel Potter was being turned Dark by Lord Voldemort.