"So you're not suspended?" Neville asked incredulously as the twelve students made their way into the frosty clearing. The year was getting along, but as the heavy clouds around Hogwarts had yet to break or disperse the spring flowers had failed to bloom. Snape had only come here on the off chance his students decided to show up, but now they were actually here he knew he never should have doubted it – of course this lot would never let a little thing like a death stop them.

"What?" Draco asked with a laugh as he threw an arm over Neville's shoulders. "You didn't really believe the old goat would get away with trying to suspend an Addams, did you?"

Neville rolled his eyes. "It's incredible really: Dumbledore tries to suspend Herido, and ends up getting suspended himself." Snape allowed himself a frown as he listened to the children. 'Incredible' was one way to describe it. It did seem that whenever someone thought they had an Addams pinned down they suffered some personal defeat, some catastrophe. Only this wasn't a like for like consequence. Dumbledore had indeed been suspended, but he'd also taken major damage to his credibility: His reputation and influence had protected him thus far, but with this latest tragedy two children under his care had been murdered in as many years, as had one teacher, and he couldn't survive that. People en masse began thinking Dumbledore had lost his edge, and unless he could do something to improve his standing Snape didn't think it would be long before the man was relieved of many of his other duties too.

The suspension had been delivered by Lucius the day following Clearwater's death, and Snape believed his old friend had waited until dinner to make his appearance just to increase his enemy's humiliation. By sheer coincidence it was also the day Hagrid returned to the school after the counter to his curse was finally discovered:

Heri hadn't felt anything when the grounds keeper returned while he sprinkled a few salted crickets over his oxtail soup. As far as he was concerned the man had paid for his crime. The half-giant was as much a bulk as he ever was wrapped in his numerous furs, but his gaunt face showed the toll his stay in hospital had taken.

"Draco, what's your dad doing here?" Greg asked, causing the entire group, as well as several nearby Slytherins to look across to Lord Malfoy, who was now strutting across to Dumbledore at the head table and obviously fully aware that he had hundreds of eyes on him.

Lucius look decidedly smug and satisfied as he smiled at the aged man. "Dumbledore." He said by way of greeting.

"Lucius," Albus returned, already knowing what the blond had come here to say. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"Dreadful thing, but following recent events the governors have decided it's time for you to step aside. Given your record in the last few years, we rather feel you've lost your touch." With flourish he produced a long roll of parchment from his robes. "This is an Order of Suspension - you'll find all twelve signatures on it." The hall full of students took a collective gasp, before breaking into scandalous murmuring.

"Now see here Lucius," Minerva stood, her frosty glare pinning the Malfoy Lord in place. "If Dumbledore hasn't been able to…"

"Perhaps we could continue this conversation in my office." Albus broke in, thinking the students didn't need to hear this.

"Your office?" Lucius asked with a sly smile. "Well, I suppose you will need to clear out your belongings." And with that he turned to lead a handful of worried teachers from the room.

And that was the last any of the students saw of their headmaster. Snape at least was glad that Albus hadn't had chance to arrange Herido's suspension, because with the old man gone the school really needed all the help it could get. He had no illusions that Addams would volunteer to protect the school any time soon, but he was certain the boy would at least protect his muggleborn friend and given his attitude towards her kind he might even help stop this madness. McGonagall must have thought likewise, because so far she was acting as though she wasn't aware of Addams' crime.

"Do you know, professor?" His attention was brought back to the present, and he looked down in question at Hermione, whose face was creased with worry lines. "Do you think they'll close the school? And if not, when will classes recommence?" He would have pointed out how off balance her priorities were, but now knew this girl well enough to know such an observation was useless.

"I've not been informed of any decision yet." He replied – she should really have been more concerned with the risk to her life than with school matters!

"You must know something!" Hermione snapped harshly, before quickly pulling herself together and apologising for her tone. She hadn't meant to snap, but she was growing frustrated with the adults for allowing the students education to be disrupted for so long, not to mention increasingly anxious that they would decide to close the school. Today was the fourth day that classes had been cancelled while the castle was searched and the death investigated, and she knew that if classes didn't start up again soon the students would have to be sent home because they were going stir crazy already.

"There has been no word. But if the person responsible for these attacks isn't found soon, I believe there is a good chance the school will be closed."

"In the meantime, what about extra-curriculars?" Heri decided to redirect the conversation before Hermione got really worked up. The rest of his group were more upset with the idea that this weekend's Quidditch game would be cancelled than about their stunted education.

"Yes, maybe you could have a word with McGonagall?" Blaise suggested, and suddenly Snape found himself surrounded by the whole gang. It wasn't a pleasant situation for anyone to be in. He'd taught these children things that could kill him – he might as well be surrounded by a dozen adults. He shook his head, refusing to let himself think that way and dismissing the feeling in his gut that told him he was being threatened: that was preposterous… "You could help her understand how allowing the upcoming match to go ahead as normal would raise spirits and help everyone relax a bit."

"And Herido will patrol the pitch to ensure no nasty monsters get in." Daphne added, laughing at Heri's betrayed look.

"Hey!" He cried, offended that his friends would think he'd volunteer to protect the school. Though his protest was half hearted: he knew that appeasing his friends in this way would keep their own protests at bay. They were mad that Tom's actions might see the school closed, not to mention their growing concerns for the wellbeing of Ginny Weasley. Hermione had managed to shut them up for the time being after pointing out that Ron had looked much worse than Ginny last year and he was doing just fine. He didn't think Hermione cared about the youngest Weasley at all.

"I'll pass your proposition along." He said before coldly dismissing any further argument by turning away to start the lesson, causing most of the students to break away to set up. He doubted Minerva would find Addams' involvement as reassuring as he did, but it was worth a shot. Besides, it would give the aurors a chance to see Addams working for their cause. Hagrid had an ironclad alibi for the attacks, and so if the Ministry was looking for a scapegoat they'd have to look elsewhere. Herido would be an obvious suspect, but even if they wanted to, they wouldn't dare accuse an Addams without definitive proof. The last time the Chamber was opened it was Tom Riddle's doing – not that the young Dark Lord had ever been brought to account – and when Snape had asked, Albus could think of no one else with the ability to open it. No one that was, except Addams. The legend went that only Slytherin's heir could control the monster within the chamber, but Albus had learnt not to underestimate that child; he could likely do it if he so wished. It was either that or Voldemort was somehow active within the school, and as far as he could tell that was impossible. All the secret entrances remained sealed, the wards had not been breached and the new Defence teacher was, well, he'd retire permanently if Lockhart turned out to be responsible. Snape silently hoped it was Voldemort, for at least then he would know what the man was up to, though opening the chamber seemed rather petty compared to his more recent ambitions.

"I don't think…"

Snape turned back to see what else Herido had to say, but he'd been silenced by Granger's murderous glare. The boy smiled fondly in response.

Snape frowned at the intensely accusatory and angry look being sent to his most troublesome student. "What do you know of this?" The way the children spoke of the chamber during their secret lessons had him believing they had nothing to do with it, but now he wasn't so sure. Granger at least seemed to think Herido was in some way responsible.

"Of the chamber you mean?" Heri replied easily as he leaned back against a training dummy. "Well, just before Salazar Slytherin left the school he…"

"You know very well what I mean." Snape cut in as his animosity and annoyance toward the boy rekindled. He would not endure Potter's son playing these games with him. He decided it best to be specific. "Addams, do you have anything to do with the Chamber of Secrets?"

"No professor. That's nothing to do with me." It was none of his business really. Heri was just an observer.

"Do you know where the Chamber is? Have you seen the monster?"

"No. To both questions. Please, continue." Heri thought Snape needed to practice his interrogation technique. The man didn't even have a flash light and hose. And there wasn't a torture device in sight. Maybe he'd betrayed Voldemort because he just wasn't cut out to be a Death Eater. Maybe he could convince Lucius to interrogate someone to check they all weren't so incompetent.

"Do you know who is opening the chamber?" Snape asked, his voice becoming harder with each question. If only they weren't in school!

"That really depends on your definition of 'who', and whether a composite being can be defined at all." Heri didn't actually know the mechanics of who was opening the door – Ginny or Tom, or both? Legally speaking, could a memory even be classed as a person?

Seeing her professor take a calming breath, Hermione stepped in. She knew Heri was going to see this experiment to its end, so just wished everyone would back off. "Professor, is there a way to protect ourselves while…"

"Hermione that's a fine idea. A nice hex bag perhaps. We could use them to further protect the game this weekend. Any ideas?" He didn't care about the rest of the school, but Heri could make sure his friend was protected. He didn't think Tom would dare go after Hermione, but one could never be too careful.

Frowning down at the two students, Snape conceded to the change in topic. "Maybe, if I knew what it is we are up against." Came his cold reply.

"We're dealing with a Basilisk. Surely you knew that!" Were the staff here really this useless? The monster belonged to the most famous Parseltongue in history and had the ability to kill without leaving any wounds and to petrify: it was obvious. Kounna's description of 'giant serpent' helped too.

Severus shook his head. Maybe the trick to getting answers out of the boy was to not ask for any at all. Or maybe Herido was simply giving out information now because it was useful to him – he made an excellent Slytherin.

"I can think of a few things. But they require ingredients we do not stock here… for obvious reasons." Herido held up a hand:

"Say no more. Just give me a list." Snape managed to suppress a shiver from Heri's smile, but acquiesced and summoned a book from his private rooms before making a note of everything he'd need. It was for a good cause and these items were only a little dark, he reassured himself. The things he was teaching were darker and therefore more dangerous to him should anyone discover them.

Heri took one look at the note before shaking his head. "Claws from a living cat, mongoose or badger – that won't do at all." He had no problem sacrificing an animal, but this was just cruel. "Humans are the biggest predator, so surely any protection would be more potent with a human element." He sent Snape a disapproving frown. "'Mione, why don't you ask Gregory to go… downstairs, to collect some nails. We only need a handful." He smiled at his own stupid pun, but when he looked up to see Snape's face struggling to decide between intrigue and disgust that smile grew to something more twisted.

Hermione scowled at the floor. "No, I'll do it." His head snapped to his friend.

"Why Hermione, you're becoming quite the vicious creature." Heri said proudly as he handed over the key to his case.

Before she could leave Heri had another thought: "Actually, if we're going for an aggressive, predatory element, perhaps teeth would be…"

"NO! No. Nails with suffice." Snape was choosing to believe Herido already had a stock of human nails for some insane reason, and although he would usually applaud this kind of lateral thinking, it was threatening to shatter that already tenuous belief. He decided it was time for class.

"Ok children, dismemberment…"


"Ah! Oh, you absolute bastard!"

The ambient chatter of the Slytherin common room came to an abrupt halt at the startled and angry cry emanating from the dorms. Heri just smiled, looking up from his charms book as Daphne came out holding a laptop and a worried expression. As she walked over to her friends the other students returned to their previous activities, completely dismissing the disturbance now they knew it was something to do with Addams and his friends.

It was now a week after the death of Penelope Clearwater and everyone was still painfully on edge. Even those that quietly welcomed the attacks on muggleborns had been humbled when one was actually killed. It was like cold water to the face and the reality of losing one of their peers was difficult to come to terms with, not to mention terrifying. In a reversal of the previous norm, students had begun to spend their time in the general vicinity of Addams – for once his dangerous, oppressive aura made them feel safer. Nobody was in any doubt that he was capable of doing something like this, but they also knew he was not one to discriminate on the basis of birth and they were therefore divided on whether he was behind the attacks. Even so, they were all in agreement that should Slytherin's monster attack while Hermione Granger was nearby, Herido was sure to take care of it, and that gave them some twisted comfort. Staying close to him and Granger seemed the safest place to be. The only lingering concern they had was that Flint was still diligent in his avoidance of Addams – almost as though he would rather face the monster than the dark second year…

As Daphne sat down she handed Heri the laptop, which he could now see was smashed beyond repair.

"There is raw rage going on back there." Daphne informed, perhaps a little unnecessarily.

"What was she doing?" Draco asked after Hermione. It couldn't have been anything good.

Daphne shrugged. "She was playing a game, I think." Her book smart friend hand been sitting at her desk, wearing some kind of visor and concentrating like there were exams around the corner. She would gasp and flinch every now and then, but then out of nowhere she had shattered the quiet of the room, jumping back in her chair with a loud exclamation while her magic exploded around her, destroying the muggle device along with the desk and everything else on it.

Before anyone could ask for details, Hermione had pulled herself together and finally came out to join them.

"How far did you get?" Heri asked, his voice alight with amusement.

"Do not speak to me!" She snapped, glaring as his smile twisted into a self-satisfied, sadistic grin. She'd done a lot over the last year and a half, but for some reason that stupid video game had made her feel more nervous and paranoid than she had since that first kill! Bloody Heri with his bloody horror games! He'd said Dreadhalls was a pleasant walking simulator… she should have known better.

Hermione was one of only a handful of muggleborns left at Hogwarts. When news of the murder reached parents, most of the muggles immediately pulled their children out of school. Herido believed this was utterly selfish of them – to spoil his and Tom's fun like that! He thought the atmosphere had been greatly improved lately; he could taste the fear and uncertainty in the air and it was simply delicious. It was amazing how a little death could lighten up a place. Tom deserved another medal for services to the school!

Heri returned to his charms book, half reading and half allowing his mind to wonder who Tom would go after next. He'd overheard his friends taking bets on who it would be. It was rather callous of them really. But still, Tom hadn't unleashed Slytherin's monster again, and Heri was starting to think maybe the young Lord had simply taken the opportunity to get rid of Dumbledore. The sly dog, him!

"Ah? Addams?" He looked up to see the frightened face of Anthony Falco, seventh year prefect and raised an eyebrow in question. "Er, professor Snape asked me to give you this." The poor boy nearly shoved the small sack at Heri before quickly scuttling away. The students really were just too skittish and fearful – it was something Heri thought he could get used to.

Within the sack were a dozen hex bags (that among other things contained the worryingly fresh human nails that Snape had calcified), and a note. He winced slightly as he read, for it appeared McGonagall had refused their request to allow this weekend's match and he knew that Draco and the Weasleys were going to have a fit. He looked across the room as he pondered how else he could stop his friends from bothering him, and it occurred to him that he hadn't yet tested how deep the student's respect truly ran.

He stood abruptly, startling his friends from their own study, while all other eyes turned to him because keeping Herido Addams in sight just felt like the safest thing to do.

"Everyone who's not a seventh year, a prefect or on the quidditch team kindly leave." He said pleasantly, sweeping one arm towards the dormitories. No one took his words as anything less than a demand, and those not called to remain made haste in gathering up their things and getting the hell out. Well, all but Pansy, who loudly proclaimed she was comfy and staying put, and had to be dragged out by Tracy and Millicent. He glanced to Hermione, who merely batted her eyelashes at him with a saccharin smile – a picture of innocence. Heri scoffed, and turned back to see who was left in the room.

"Flint?" His friendly tone did nothing to alleviate the painful tension that took hold of the older boy's body as he was addressed. He stood to acknowledge the call, but kept his head down, almost shrinking into himself in an effort to hide. "Gather the rest, would you?" Not everyone Heri wanted was already in the common room.

McGonagall's main concerns were that she didn't feel they had enough security to ensure the safety of such a large out door event, and that the teams due to play, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, were down several muggleborn players.

"Heri, what are you doing?" Blaze asked, somewhat concerned that his dark friend was up to something.

"Raising an army and arranging a charity match." He informed without looking back. If the school teams couldn't play he was sure a Friendly would suffice in placating the school and reassuring the higher-ups that they didn't need to close the place. His mother would be so proud – she always said charity was important, and she always said charity should hurt.

"Of course you are." His friends shook their heads, but watched on with interest.

Heri waited until everyone was gathered, and then waited a few more minutes until the anticipation and tension began to choke the air before he spoke: "Everyone on the team come sit over here." He said, pleased when they insistently obeyed despite their wary glances. He needed to see how many bodies he'd be able to supply to protect the stadium. It was all for show and reassurance: there was no way Tom would unleash the basilisk amid a thousand magical children, which was a shame really, because that kind of chaos would surely be interesting. "This Saturday you'll be playing a friendly against Gryffindor, and the rest of you will be assisting me in guarding the match." It was curious to see the twinkling of excitement in their eyes. The hysteria of sport never ceased to amaze him. "I trust there are no objections?" His voice became cold as he dared them to object, though he couldn't quite hide the amusement in his eyes as many gulped loudly or ducked their heads. Part of him wanted them to challenge him – it had been so long since a student did – but unfortunately they all remained quiet. Many of the seventh years looked a bit miffed they wouldn't be able to watch the game, but not enough to pick a fight. Maybe he should have made them do something they weren't so eager to do. With all this do-gooding he was just itching to punish someone.

"Do Gryffindor know they're playing yet?" Daphne asked, suspecting he'd just come up with the idea. He smiled at her, and suddenly the eerie shadows snapped forward, reaching out and enveloping him in darkness. Then he was gone.

"Ah!"

"Fuck's sake!"

"Morgana's tits!"

A chorus of startled exclamations greeted Herido when he appeared, cloaked in darkness, in the centre of the Gryffindor common room. As the shadows dissipated, Neville and the Weasleys made their way over to him. There were a few cries about Slytherins not being allowed in here, but they were subdued, like they were only being made because it was expected but didn't court a response of any kind.

All eyes watched cautiously as the five boys engaged in a brief, hushed conversation, and before anyone could create their own reasons for the unexpected visit Heri was gone, leaving wisps of darkness in his wake.

"He… You can't apparate in Hogwarts!" A sixth year cried, feeling a little more confident now Addams was no longer present. The redundant statement was left ignored.

Jumping up onto a nearby table, the twins took the lead: "Good news, Gryffindors!" They chimed together joyously.

"This weekend we're going to be facing," Fred started.

"And beating," George interjected. Everyone watched the brothers with nervous curiosity.

"Our Slytherin foes on the quidditch pitch…"

"In front of the whole school."

"How can you think about playing quidditch at a time like this?!" Cut in Percy, his face a picture of incredulity. "Penny died last week! This isn't the time!" Murmurs of agreement echoed through the room.

"This is the perfect time." Ron hit back with a frown. With everything that was happening, people needed an opportunity to let loose and enjoy themselves. Ron needed an opportunity to enjoy himself at least; to vent some of his pent up energy before he tore through his housemates in restless frustration.

"And it's the perfect way to show we aren't cowed the monster. That we won't be driven out of our school. We're Gryffindors, aren't we? We're bold and courageous." Neville spoke up, challenging their sense of House pride.

"And speaking of bold and courageous: The seventh year Slytherins have volunteered to patrol the game, to make sure everything goes smoothly…" George sneered a little as he spoke of the other house, while his twin continued trying to stir up the room:

"And we can't let them show us up, can we? If those conniving, cowardly snakes can defend the school, then surely we can too!" They smiled wickedly at the fiercely determined faces in the crowd.

Mission accomplished.


I'm so sorry for the delays! I didn't want to give out endless excuses, but fingers crossed I should be back on track soon.

Thank you all so much for reading and sticking with me xx