Chapter 17: The Past Returns
'The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir… Beware.' Those words had been haunting Albus for the last several days. He had every reason to be worried. His students were all endanger from an ancient monster and he had no idea who or what is behind it.
Well… that's not entirely true. He had a good idea who was behind it… but the question is how is it possible?
He knew all too well that it was Tom Riddle who opened the Chamber 50 years ago. He knew that it was Tom Riddle who attacked those students and finally succeeded in killing one. He knew that Tom was the last living decedent of Salazar Slytherin… he knew that Tom was the one who hated Muggle-borns… and he knew that Tom was the one who framed Hagrid that day.
*Flashback*
A much younger Albus Dumbledore was making his way towards Headmaster Dippet's office. He had just been told that the one responsible for the death of one of his students has been caught and is about to be expelled. Once he reached the stone gargoyle, he gave the password and stepped onto the spiral staircase. It was with a heavy heart that he reached the Headmaster's door, knowing that the one inside wasn't the one to blame. With a sigh, he pushed it open.
Rubeus Hagrid was sitting in a chair in front of Professor Dippet's desk, looking more miserable than Albus had ever seen him. Hagrid was sobbing, with his face buried in his enormous hands, while tears were falling down his face in a flood. Dumbledore approached him quietly, barely making any noise over the sound of Hagrid's sobs.
"Mr. Hagrid?" he said kindly.
Hagrid looked up startled. When he saw who it was he leapt up to his feet and wrung his hands together in a pleading way. "It weren' me, Professor Dumbledore, sir!" he implored. "Wha'ever Riddle says, it an't true! It's all a misun'erstanding! It weren' me or Aragog!"
"Please, Mr. Hagrid," Dumbledore said in a calm and soft voice as he led Hagrid back to the chair. He laid a gentle hand on Hagrid's massive shoulder in a comforting way.
"Sir, please, this an't what it looks like sir! I can explain everythin'… but no one will listen!"
"That is why I'm here, Mr. Hagrid," Albus said sympathetically. "I wish to hear what you have to say. To understand everything you must hear both sides of a story."
Hagrid's eyes suddenly turned hopeful and he said, "Hagrid. Please call me Hagrid, Professor Dumbledore," he began.
Dumbledore nodded his head. "Alright then Hagrid. Now I want you tell me everything you know about the Chamber of Secrets."
"Nothin', Professor, 'cept what everyone else knows," Hagrid said desperately. "I don't know where the Chamber is or how ter get it. I never went in there I swear!"
Hagrid rubbed his nose on his giant sleeve before he moaned, "I'm just glad that me dad's not here ter see me expelled."
"Now, Hagrid," Albus began softly.
"Headmaster Dippet won't believe me, Professor," he interrupted bitterly. "How do you expect him to? Riddle's a perfect student and a prefect, everyone knows that. Wha' about me? I'm 'alf-giant Rubeus Hagrid who gets in trouble every week! They won' hesitate for an momen' on throwing me out."
Albus looked at him with grave eyes, the twinkle gone from them. "I cannot argue with that, Hagrid," he sighed, "Unfortunately, most of the teachers here weren't at all pleased with your admission. I'm afraid that all I can say is that I know that it is not what's in our blood that matters, but what we do with our lives that shows who we are. But you must understand that you are in a bad position where a student was killed and…"
"I didn' kill Myrtle, sir," Hagrid interrupted quickly. "I barely even knew her, sir! I heard she died in a bathroom, and Aragog's never b'n out of his cupboard! He couldn' 'ave kill her, sir. And even if he wanted ter, Professor, he's still just a baby, so he can' hurt nobody. He wouldn' hurt nobody!"
"But you did attack Tom, didn't you?" Albus questioned.
"Yes…" Hagrid admitted. "But not really, sir. I didn't want ter, but he tried ter hurt Aragog sir! I couldn' let that happen!" He put his head down sadly, "I panicked sir."
"Understandable," Albus smiled slightly before sobering. "It happens to all of us every now and again. Now, tell me, who is this Aragog?"
"He's me friend sir," Hagrid explained. "I was playin' cards with a stranger… one night. And he put down an egg… he's an Acromantula and I've been takin' care of 'im ever since."
"An Acromantula?" Albus said in astonishment.
"Yes, sir," Hagrid muttered. "But you have ter see, he wouldn' hurt anyone!"
"You do realize that was foolish Hagrid," Albus said softly but sternly. "You ended up putting your fellow classmates in danger."
Hagrid nodded sadly. "I'm sorry sir."
"It's alright. Not tell me where is Aragog now?"
Hagrid sighed, "He's not in the castle anymore, Professor. That's why I was down in the store cupboards last night when Riddle found me; I was 'rying to get Aragog out because of everything that's 'appening. He was scared by the real monster. He ran off ter the forest, sir."
Albus felt his eyebrows rise in surprise. "The Forbidden Forest?" he repeated hoping that he heard wrong.
Hagrid nodded. "You see sir, Aragog been growin' a lot lately, and he needed a bigger home. He couldn' stay in the cupboard for much longer, so I've been getting 'im ready to move into the Forest; but he's just got so scared by what's been attacking the students that I tried to move 'im last night."
"Hagrid, you mean to tell me that you've wandered into the forest?"
"I had to, Professor!" Hagrid winced, knowing that things just got worse. "I had to do it for Aragog!"
"Be that as it may," Albus said firmly. "The Forbidden Forest got its name for a reason; it's dangerous…"
"I'm sorry sir!" Hagrid yelled, sounding close to tears again. "Aragog was afraid o' whatever's been attacking the students. He begged me ter let 'im go!"
Albus's eyes widened, 'What would frighten an Acromantula?' he thought.
He snapped out of it and said, "Hagrid I understand why you did what you did. But keeping Aragog here in the first place was very dangerous."
Hagrid nodded and croaked, "But…"
"I'm afraid that this is out of my hands, Hagrid," Albus said sorrowfully. "I cannot convince the Board of Governors that you were not responsible for these attacks, especially since you were found with Aragog. Hagrid, I'm sorry but monsters don't make good pets."
"But Aragog…" Hagrid began desperately, but Albus raised his hand to silence him.
"I can see that Aragog didn't attack those students, Hagrid," Albus said. "But no one else will believe this. Aragog is an Acromantula and it is in their nature to attack humans. I'm afraid that without any further proof…"
"It's all righ', Professor," Hagrid said, seeing where this conversation was going. "I know they won' listen to me. I'm glad that you did at least."
"I believe you Hagrid," Albus said gently. "I know that you didn't attack anyone. But I cannot change their minds. I have, however, managed to convince Headmaster Dippet that you meant no harm to anybody and that, considering your situation, he has agreed to some other preparations made for you, and if you agree, you don't have to leave Hogwarts."
Hagrid stared at him, looking like he hardly dared to believe it.
"You mean… I…" he croaked out. "I c'n stay 'ere?"
Albus nodded kindly. "You won't be allowed to attend classes," he said. "And you won't be allowed to use any magic without permission. It will be very hard and difficult work. Probably the hardest part will be seeing your fellow classmates go on with their studies and leave the school without you."
"But…" Hagrid asked hesitantly.
"I suggested that you might stay here as gamekeeper," said Albus, smiling. "I persuaded Headmaster Dippet, that you'll help maintain the grounds, take care of the magical creatures, and everything else outside. What do you say to that?"
Hagrid smiled tearfully at him and said hoarsely, "Thank you sir…"
*End of Flashback*
After that, Hagrid's wand was snapped in half. The Chamber was closed, and things returned to normal… well as normal as it can get at Hogwarts. But now Albus was terrified of what would happen this time the Chamber was open. Which innocence would die this time? He didn't want to jump to conclusions… but…
"ALBUS!" yelled a booming voice from his left. Albus looked up to see Dexter looking down at him with an expression of what appeared to be astonishment and incredulously.
"Yes, Dexter?" he asked politely.
"I just got back from watching Harry and his friends… and you're not going to believe what they're up to!"
"Well," Phineas said coolly, "We won't be able to believe it if you don't tell us!"
Dexter glowered at him for a minute and told Dumbledore, "They're trying to brew some Polyjuice Potion!"
Albus felt his jaw drop for a second before he asked, "How do you know this?"
Dexter shrugged and said, "I heard the three of them talking about the Chamber of Secrets in their commonroom. They've been trying to figure out who the Heir of Slytherin is and they think it's that Malfoy character."
"Draco Malfoy?" Albus said in surprise.
"Yes," Dexter said shaking his head. "I know that you believe that it's not Malfoy who's behind all of this, but that little snake sure isn't making it convincing. He strutting around the castle as if he owns the place and calling Muggle-borns that ugly word… so I can't say that I blame them for thinking its him."
"And so they're trying to get proof that Mr. Malfoy is the heir so they're going to brew the potion and sneak into the Slytherin commonroom in disguise." Albus said slowly. It normally took a lot to surprise him. He was impressed. "Well… they sure are creative I'll say that."
"You're not seriously letting them get away with this are you Dumbledore?" demanded Phineas indigently. "They're trying to make an illegal potion so they can sneak into the Slytherin commonroom and you're complementing them?"
"Yes," Dilys agreed but for a different reason. "You know as well as we do what can happen if the potion goes wrong! For goodness sake, they're only second years! The Polyjuice Potion is a sixth year potion! You truly think they can pull this off?"
"I know…" Albus said slowly. "But I'm curious to see if they can pull it off."
"Pull it off?" Phineas cried in outrage. "Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I mean, if they were any other students you would've stepped in and done something… but nooooo—it's your precious Potter and his two sidekicks…"
Albus turned back to Dexter before Phineas could finish. "Are you positive about this? Do they even know how to make such a complicated potion?"
"Like I said," Dexter said shrugging. "I was spying on them when they were doing their homework in their commonroom and they were trying to figure out ways to prove if it was Malfoy. Granger then told them about the Polyjuice Potion—and get this, she was the one who suggest they try it."
"Miss Granger is trying to persuade them to break the rules?" Albus asked with his eyebrows raised.
"I should've known that she was a troublemaker as well," Phineas said sourly. "That, or those two boys that she hangs out with are a bad influence on her."
"That's enough Phineas," Albus said. He then asked Dexter, "If I recall correctly, the only that they can get the instructions to make the potion is in a book call 'Moste Potente Potions,' which I know is in the Restricted Section in the library. And if they want it they're going to have to get a signed note from a teacher and… ah…" He smiled and closed his eyes as realization washed over him. "They went to see Lockhart didn't they?"
"Did you have to ask?" snorted Dexter. "Of course, they did. I mean, no other teacher would be thick enough to give those three permission to read a book from the Restricted Section!"
"So they really are going to do it?" Albus confirmed.
"Yes," Dexter said. "I followed them all the way from the library to the second floor bathroom."
"Bathroom?" Albus repeated. "Oh, I take it that you mean the one that is haunted by Myrtle?"
"The very same," Dexter nodded. "They figured that it would be the best place to read the book. I have to admit they have a point. No one ever goes in there."
Albus nodded in agreement. "That it is. But how do they intend to get the ingredients? Most of them they can get from the student's store-cupboards. But I believe that they need… bicorn horn and boomslang skin?"
Dexter shrugged. "I'm sure that they'll figure something out. They always do somehow don't they?"
Albus smiled. "True. Now I would like you to tell me every detail that you know. I am well aware that there isn't a painting in the bathrooms…"
"Well," Dexter said slowly. "I didn't think that they would actually do it, that's why I didn't mention it before now. But today they went to that brainless git Lockhart. Miss Granger was rather clever on asking him for his signature, but he didn't even look at the name of the book that they wanted. As long as he can sign his name on something, he doesn't care."
Several, (and by several I mean all,) of the other portraits nodded in agreement at that statement. "And can you believe this?" Dexter said, sounding close to laughter. "He offered to give Potter tips on Quidditch!"
Albus actually laughed out loud at that. "Did he now?" he asked, his eyes twinkling for the first time in days. "If I recall correctly, Gilderoy couldn't even fly 3 feet off the ground without falling off and hurting himself."
"I know!" Dexter said, laughing himself. "He called Harry a 'less able player'."
That caused another round of laughter from Albus and the portraits.
"'Less able'?" Dilys repeated, tears of laughter in her eyes. "If that's true, then why wasn't that prat ever on the team when he was here?"
"Yes," Everard agreed. "Why wasn't he the youngest player in a century?"
Once the laughter died down, Albus turned his attention, still smiling up at Dexter and said, "Before that bit of interesting information," the portraits all snorted, "What else did they do?"
"Well," Dexter said cheerfully, "Mr. Weasley insulted that git… Miss Granger defended him…"
"I thought that she was supposed to be the cleverest witch of her year?" Everard asked in amazement.
"She's young," Dilys said with a sigh. "Anyone can be fooled by a pretty face."
"Anyway," Dexter went on, "I followed them all the way to the library and I watched as they checked out the book. They then went to that bathroom… they need to work on their guilty faces by the way, you could tell that they were up to something."
"Yes," Albus said smiling. "That is something that they need to work on."
"Well, I couldn't hear what they were all saying while they were in there," Dexter finished. "But they all came out a little while later with Mr. Weasley telling Harry that it would be easier if he just knocked Malfoy off his broom at the Quidditch game tomorrow."
Albus tried to digest all of this new information. He was curious to see if these kids could actually pull this off… but he was also worried about what could happen if they failed. If anyone else found out about what they were up to…
He stood up. "Just keep a close eye on them all," he told the portraits. "I will go down and see how the potion is faring every once in awhile to make sure that they get it right."
"But they're breaking rules if not the law!" Phineas hollered. "You're supposed to do your job as Headmaster and force them to face punishment!"
"I know for a fact that Mr. Malfoy is not the one who is behind these attacks," Albus said thoughtfully. "But this could be informative for us all. For now, we watch and wait."
(Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter.)
