Chapter 39
The weeks went by quickly, and before Meredith knew it it was October. There was a chill in the air followed by rain. Meredith and her friends were extremely busy. Oliver had the team out practicing in the wee morning hours whether rain or shine. The stormy weather brought forth an outbreak of colds. Meredith fortunately was able to avoid getting sick, but she was one of the few. Percy had practically dragged Ginny to Madam Pomfrey when the girl had starting sneezing during breakfast. Meredith considered herself fortunate that she had managed to evade sickness, for her classes were already keeping her in the library till the late hours. Defense Against the Darks Arts was quickly becoming her least favorite subject. The more she listened to Lockhart's tales the more she became convinced that the man was a total fraud. Just that day he'd told them how he'd managed to corner a werewolf in a telephone booth and chant a spell that turned him back into human form.
"Total malarkey," Meredith scoffed as she and her friends made their way to the Common Room. "There is no spell that turns werewolves back to human form."
"You're the expert," Percy said as they stood in front of the Fat Lady's portrait. "Wattlebird." The Fat Lady nodded and the portrait swung forward.
"I'm telling you," Meredith insisted as they climbed through the portrait hole. "The man is a complete fake."
"That's ridiculous," Percy said. "Dumbledore wouldn't hire a phony to teach at Hogwarts."
"He would if no one else would take the job," a small voice piped up as they entered the common room. Ginny sat the big arm chair by the fire, her diary opened on her lap.
"And just what do you know about such things Ginny?" Percy said haughtily. Ginny slammed her diary shut and glared at her brother.
"Hagrid told me when I was down at his hut visiting him," she said. "He said that no one wanted to take the Defense Against the Darks Arts job because it's supposed to be jinxed."
"Nonsense," Percy said.
"I wouldn't be so sure Percy," Meredith said. "Look what's become of all our Defense Against the Arts teachers. Not one lasted more than a year. My dad says it was the same way when he was in school."
"And considering our last professor had You Know Who under his turban," Patricia said. "If that's not a jinx I don't know what is." They turned as the portrait hole opened and the twins, dripping wet and covered in mud.
"Oliver's a mad man!" Fred declared shrugging off his sodden coat. "He's got us out there practicing in a bloody hail storm."
"Can't you talk some sense into him Meredith," George implored her. "He listens to you."
"Not much chance boys," Meredith said using her wand to vanish the mud the twins had tracked in. "Oliver's still smarting over having to forfeit last year's final."
"Whatcha writing there Ginny," Fred said suddenly snatching her diary away from her. Ginny shouted in protest and jumped at Fred who held the diary just out of her reach.
"Give it back Fred!" Ginny shouted.
"Dear Diary," Fred said in a mockingly high pitched voice. "Harry Potter looked at me today and made my heart go pitter pat!"
"Knock it off Fred," Percy said. "Give Ginny back her diary."
"Make me," Fred said tossing the book to George.
"Oh diary," George said joining in the game. "Harry Potter is the most handsome, brave…"
"You're an ugly git George," Ginny cried running up the stairs. Meredith sighed in frustration.
"Will you two ever grow up!" she said. She waved her wand and summoned Ginny's diary to her. The twins looked slightly abashed.
"Now don't take on so Meredith," Fred said. "We was only teasing."
"There's nothing in that diary anyways," George said. "Look at it. It's blank." Meredith raised an eyebrow and opened the book. Sure enough the pages were empty of any writing.
"That's funny," Meredith said. "I'm sure I saw Ginny writing in it."
"Maybe she was using invisible ink," Patricia said. "Considering who she's got for brothers it'd be pretty smart."
"I'll return it to her," Meredith said. "And you two…" Fred and George cringed.
"Knock off the shenanigans or I'll write to your mother," she said. She hurried up the stairs to the first years dormitory. She pushed the door open and saw Ginny lying on her bed.
"Here Ginny," she said going over to her.
"Thanks," Ginny said taking the book back.
"Don't let them get to you, Ginny," Meredith said. "Fred and George only tease to get a rise out of you."
"That's easy for you to say," Ginny said. "They've never put pepper in your tea, or beetles in your porridge. They'd never play pranks on you. They'd be too scared." Meredith smiled a little. It was an odd compliment but she took it for what it was.
"You don't know how hard it is being the only girl. You've got Patricia."
"But I didn't always," Meredith said. "I didn't get to be friends with Patricia till I came to Hogwarts. You'll make friends too Ginny."
"No I won't," Ginny said miserably. "I just a nobody in second hand robes with tatty second hand books. Malfoy's right."
"Don't ever say that," Meredith said. "You're worth ten of Malfoy Ginny. You'll find your place here Ginny."
"I hope so," Ginny said. "In the meantime I've got my diary." Meredith didn't say anything about the blank pages she'd seen in the diary, she just patted Ginny on the shoulder and left her to her thoughts.
Halloween came and with it the first Hogsmeade weekend of the term. For the first time Percy declined to join the foursome.
"I told Penelope I'd go with her," he told them at breakfast. They told him to have fun and set off just the three of them. The rain had finally stopped and it was a beautiful fall day. Meredith loved this time of year. The leaves were beautiful turning their red and gold colors and there was just a hint of chill in the air that whispered of a coming winter.
"What do you think?"Oliver asked the two girls. "Honeydukes and the Three broomsticks?"
"Works for me," Meredith said. "But lets not get too stuffed. We've got the feast tonight." They did not stay in Hogmeade very long after they'd had lunch at the Three Broomsticks. Patricia needed practice on the Aguamenti Charm and needed Meredith to help her.
"Hey watch it!" an irritated second year shrieked as Patricia shot a jet of water at her.
"Sorry," Patricia said. Meredith quickly dried the second year off with a wave of her wand.
"You're too overzealous," she said. "Try again and try to keep your aim at the bucket." Patricia scowled. They both looked up as Ginny came into the common room looking slightly dazed, her robes covered in feathers and her diary tucked firmly under her arm.
"Ginny!" Meredith said going over to the girl. "You're covered in feathers."
"What?" Ginny said looking down at her robes.
"They're all over you," Meredith said brushing off Ginny's robes. "What have you been doing?"
"Um…" Ginny said her expression blank. "I don't know. I have to go." She scampered up to her dorm. Meredith stared after the girl with her mouth open.
"What was that about?" Patricia said.
"I have no idea," Meredith said. "She was acting so strange."
"You don't think someone put a hex on her do you?" Patricia asked. Meredith shrugged.
"I don't know. She's been a bit off since term started."
"Do you think we should say something to Percy?" Meredith bit her lip. She was concerned about Ginny, but she wasn't sure telling Percy was the right thing to do. Percy was not exactly the most compassionate person in the world and Meredith had a feeling this would require a gentle touch.
"Not just yet," Meredith said. "We might be making something out of nothing. Until we know what we're dealing with I think you and I should just keep an eye on her."
"You're probably right," Patricia said. "But now let's try this Aguamenti Charm again before the feast. Ever since I knock Flitwick off the desk he's been ducking every time I pass him in the hall. You'd think he'd be used to having things like that happen to him." A few hours later both girls were starving and eager to head down to the feast.
"Oh my," Patricia said. "Hagrid's really outdone himself this year." Meredith grinned at the huge Jack o' Lanterns large enough to house a family of five. They settled themselves at the table where they were soon joined by Oliver and Percy.
"How was your date?" Meredith asked him. Percy blushed.
"Oh, fine. We…uh…went to Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop and uh…"
"Snogged?"
"Well yes, but before that we had a very nice time chatting about our classes and our goals once we leave Hogwarts. Penelope is looking to write for the Prophet."
"How interesting," Meredith said.
"Yes," Percy said. "I told her it was a perfectly acceptable career option even if the newspaper business lacks any real stability." Meredith rolled her eyes.
"Is she still speaking to you?"
"Well after that we started snogging and uh we didn't really talk much," Percy said.
"Probably for the best," Meredith said. They said no more for the tables were suddenly full of delicious food. Meredith clapped as the troupe of dancing skeletons entertained the students. Dessert was served when Ginny entered the hall and plopped down next Percy.
"Where have you been?" Percy said. "You've missed half the feast." Meredith was studying Ginny carefully. The girl looked even paler than she had that afternoon and she was rubbing her hands nervously on her robes.
"Here Ginny," she said. "Try some of the treacle tart." The girl took the food wordlessly and began to eat. She said not a word the whole rest of the meal. By the end of the feast Meredith was feeling very full and sleepy.
"I'm stuffed," Oliver said rubbing his belly.
"Me too," Patricia said. "I think I need bigger robes." Meredith laughed and they made their way out of the Great Hall with the rest of the students. The crowd suddenly stopped and went oddly silent.
"What's happened?" Oliver wondered.
"I don't know," Meredith said pushing her way through the students to the front of the crowd. When she saw the cause of the silence she gasped. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were standing beneath what looked to be a dead cat that was hanging from the ceiling. But what made her blood freeze was the message on the wall, written it what appeared to be blood.
THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED
ENEMIES OF THE HEIR BEWARE
"You'll be next mudbloods!" the voice of Draco Malfoy sneered. The entire school stood motionless staring at the message.
"Mrs. Norris!" Filch squawked. "You!" Meredith jumped as Filch made as though to throttle Harry.
"Argus!" Meredith sighed in relief as Dumbledore pushed through the students. The headmaster stared at the message for a short moment.
"Everyone return to your dormitories," he said. "Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, if you will come with me." No one made a move to obey Dumbledore. Meredith cleared her throat.
"You heard the Headmaster," she said raising her voice. "Back to your dormitories. Get on now!" The younger Gryffindors immediately started to move and the other houses followed their example. As they moved up the stairs she felt someone grab her arm.
"Meet me in my dormitory," Percy's voice said. "Bring Patricia." Meredith asked no questions. As soon as everyone was inside she grabbed Patricia by the elbow and they slipped up to the boys' dormitory. Oliver was standing by Percy's bed while Percy dug through his trunk. Around them they could hear the other boys whispering.
"Found it," Percy said lifting out a heavy looking book.
"What's going on Perc?" Oliver said. Percy jumped onto his bed and beckoned them all forward. The four of them squished onto Percy's bed. Percy drew the bed hangings closed and placed a silencing charm around them.
"Percy what is this all about?" Meredith demanded a little sick of the drama.
"The Chamber of Secrets," Percy said flipping through the book.
"You know what it is? Oliver asked.
"I know I've read about it," Percy said. "Somewhere in here." Meredith lifted the book in his hands enough so she could see the title.
"Hogwarts a History?" Meredith said. "You've actually read that?"
"Only twice," Percy said. "But I can't remember…here we go." He laid the book on the bed so they could all look."
"Of the many unsolved mysteries that lie inside the walls of Hogwarts, none is quite so dark as the mysterious Chamber of Secrets. This mystery date back to the days of the four founders of Hogwarts Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff and Salazar Slytherin. While Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff wished the school to be open to all who had a talent for magic, Salazar Slytherin thought that such teachings should be kept within all magical families."
"Purebloods," Meredith interjected." Percy shot her an annoyed look at being interrupted and she gestured for him to continue.
"Their differing views on who should be allowed to attend the school led to a falling out amongst the four and Salazar Slytherin left the school. However, it has been said that Slytherin built a secret chamber somewhere in the school and placed within it a monster that only one with the blood of Salazar Slytherin would be able to control, so that someday Slytherin's heir would be able to finish his work and purge the school of those whom Slytherin felt were unfit to study magic. Though the school has been searched many times no such Chamber has ever been found." He closed the book and stared at them all.
"So you think that the heir of Salazar Slytherin has come back to Hogwarts and opened a Secret Chamber," Meredith said.
"You saw the message on the wall," Percy said. "Enemies of the heir beware."
"Muggleborns," Oliver said. "Who else would Slytherin want to keep out of Hogwarts. You heard that prat Malfoy. "You'll be next mudbloods."
"But why attack Filch's cat?" Patricia asked.
"Have you met Mrs. Norris?" Oliver said.
"It's cause Filch is a squib," Meredith said after a moment. "Bill told me our first year. A Pureblood manic like Slytherin wouldn't want a squib in Hogwarts any more than a muggleborn."
"I guess that's explains why he hates the students ," Oliver said.
"Dumbledore's worried," Percy said. "I've never seen him like that before."
"So this monster," Meredith said. "Is there any mention of what it is?"
"None." The four of them looked at each other, none of them knew what to say.
The halls were filled with gossip and whispers the next day. Everyone was talking about Filch's and the message on the wall. Mrs. Norris it turned out was not dead at all. She was petrified and Dumbledore assured them that Professor Sprout would be able to make a potion to revive her. So life went on. The first Quidditch match had arrived and the entire school was out on the pitch to see Gryffindor in their first match against Slytherin. Meredith decided to take advantage of the rare quiet the deserted common room offered and get a jump on her homework. She spread her books and parchment out over the table and curled up on the sofa. She was halfway through her essay on poisons and antidotes when the portrait hole swung open and a very distressed looking Ginny burst into the room followed by Percy.
"Ginny," Percy was saying to his sister. "Ginny will you just talk to me?"
"Leave me alone," Ginny said rushing up the stairs to her dormitory.
"What was that about?" Meredith said in astonishment. Percy looked positively frazzled.
"I don't know what's going on with her lately," Percy said. "She's been jumpy ever since Mrs. Norris was found."
"Surely she's not worried that Slytherin's heir is going to come after her," Meredith said.
"I don't know," Percy said. "But I know she's been having nightmares and Fred and George certainly aren't doing anything to help." He plopped down on the sofa and ran a hand through his frizzy hair.
"You don't think it's one of those 'girl' issues do you," Percy said wincing. Meredith shrugged.
"I doubt it," Meredith said. "Ginny's only eleven. But I can't be positive."
"Could you talk to her Mere," Percy asked. "Just in case it is something like that. I mean, if she were worried about her potions grade I could help her in a second, but when it comes to girl stuff…"
"I'll talk to her," Meredith promised.
"Thanks Mere," Percy said. "You're a pal."
"One does what one can," Meredith said. The portrait hole swung open again at that moment and this time Meredith was met with a much noisier crowd.
"…all your fault Oliver," Fred said. Oliver and the twins entered covered with mud and dirt followed closely by Patricia. Fred and George looked upset about something but Oliver was positively elated.
"How'd the match go?" Meredith said.
"We won," Oliver said pumping a fist in the air. "The snitch was right under Malfoy's nose and he didn't even see it till Harry snatched it."
"Yeah, I'm sure Harry would be thrilled if he weren't laid up in the hospital wing right now," Fred said tossing his broom in a corner.
"Harry's injured?" Meredith asked. "What happened."
"Oddest thing," George said. "This bludger went after Harry and tried to kill him."
"I thought that's what bludgers did," Meredith said confused.
"Not like this," George said. "They're supposed to go after as many people as possible not target one specific person."
"So why didn't you stop the game?" Percy asked. "Someone must have tampered with the bludger. Why didn't Madam Hooch investigate?"
"Harry wouldn't let us," Fred said. "Oliver got him all riled up about 'catch the snitch or die trying'."
"Well he got the snitch didn't he," Oliver said.
"Yeah," George said. "And got a bludger in the arm for it."
"It broke his arm?" Meredith asked.
"Too right it did," George said. "I could hear the bone crack from the air."
"Well a broken arm's nothing to fret about," Meredith said. "Madam Pomfrey will be able to fix him up in a jiffy."
"Yeah," Fred said. "If he'd been taken to Madam Pomfrey right away like he wanted. But Lockhardt got the brilliant idea to mend Harry's arm himself."
"Oh no," Meredith said fearing the worst.
"It was an honest mistake," Patricia piped up. "I mean it's an easy enough spell to get wrong."
"I'm afraid to ask," Percy said.
"Bracheum Imendo," Fred said rolling his eyes.
"That's not the spell for mending bones," Meredith said tossing her book aside. " 'Imendum', means to mend. 'Imendo' is….oh no. He didn't."
"He did," Fred, George Oliver and Patricia said together.
"For those of us who don't read healing journals all day," Percy piped up. "What does 'Imendo' mean?"
"Remove," Meredith said with a groan.