A/N:Hello again everyone it's been a very long while. First off, I apologize for the long wait for this chapter. For those that haven't checked my profile for an update, my laptop crashed on me and I was busy scrambling all over the place to get my notes for my exams. It's fixed now (yay),and I've been writing this since mid-June. Didn't upload because I just didn't like how it turned out and was constantly fixing and changing up things; still don't like it and it doesn't seem flow with me, but had to give you all something after such a long wait.
Won't be saying much unless I get some feedback on this chapter that would require a public reply. When that happens I'll add another note at the bottom of this.
Side note, anyone interested in beta-ing or have any idea on how to produce those fancy paragraph dividers (anything I try doesn't seem to stay when I save the document after editing on this site) please pm me.
As usual,I apologize for any grammatical errors that got pass me.
Please Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Harry Potter or anything dealing with its franchise; Only the OCs.
Chapter 18
Chambers Reopen and Hermione Dagworth
Albus Dumbledore sat down on his throne like seat, at the center of the long table that hosted the professors of his school, looking down on the vast hall filled with the many faces of those enjoying the Halloween feast; his usual grandfatherly expression adorn on his face.
He always enjoyed this time of year, when Hogwarts was filled with her students as they enjoyed the distraction from their daily rigors of learning magic. The fact that this was the one time of the year in which he could make a valid excuse to leave the castle to stock up on his supply of muggle confectionaries without Minerva or Poppy stopping him, had no bearings for why this was his second favourite day in the year. Chuckling at the thought of the look he'd soon be receiving from the aforementioned witches, Dumbledore scanned the hall.
As always, the four houses had their own unique traits and methods of celebrating occasions such as these.
Gryffindor was a boisterous bunch and jovial as always; eating in merriment as they spoke tales of adventures and close run-ins during their after-hour escapades.
Hufflepuff, while similar in behaviour to their lion neighbours, had the subtle difference in the amicable presence that was amongst them, as plates and dishes found their way circuiting up and down the table as they spoke with those around them.
Ravenclaw as usual, were in various pockets of quiet debates as they challenged the knowledge of their friends, rivals, and those that happen to be seated next to them or shared titbits of information that had gone unknown to those around them in regards to the subject at hand.
Slytherin was as reserved and refined as he had always seen them in the one hundred years of his tenure of being a part of Hogwarts, whether in the capacity of a student, teacher, or now as her they sat in pockets similar to the Ravenclaws, it was done mainly in what he knew were the factions and power structures of this current generation of students. As his grandfatherly eyes roamed over the table, he saw that his query was not with his usual group of Slytherins, but was currently sitting with the Carrow twins, who flanked him on either side as he ate his meal quietly.
It had been a week since he had called Mr. Cunningham and his friend, Ms. Lovegood, into his office; looking down at the young Slytherin now, his mind recalled the meeting that he had with him.
~Flashback~
Dumbledore sat at his large desk, elbows pressed on the antique furniture while fingers locked together with his chin resting upon them, as he waited patiently.
His mind was not on the many stacks of correspondence or important documents pertaining to the roles he played in his society. His mind was not on the never ending mummer of the various past heads of Hogwarts, as they discussed intriguing theories or the past experiences of their lives, nor was his mind on the silver instruments that rattled softly down on the landing of the lounge area of his large office.
No, Dumbledore was mentally finishing how best to approach the meeting to come in order to reveal all that he hoped to know.
As he felt a tingle from the ward at the gargoyle that granted entrance to his office, Dumbledore sent Fawkes a mental request to join him shortly upon his command. As the aged phoenix gave a consenting mental reply, with a wave of his wand, Dumbledore conjured two rigid wooden chairs on the other side of his desk, and spoke aloud as he felt the second ward being activated.
"Come in Mr. Cunningham, Ms. Lovegood." He intoned, watching the door open gently to reveal the addressed pair.
As the two entered, Dumbledore took in their forms. Mr. Cunningham wore a calm expression, which spoke volumes of his experience in Occlumency to Dumbledore's eyes, and was immaculately dressed just as he and his fellow Slytherins usually were. However, he was curiously missing his robe, which Dumbledore noted was resting on the shoulders of the much smaller Ms. Lovegood; curiously, she was only wearing a nightgown underneath, but her wide eyes was openly scanning the room with ill-concealed wonder. This caused Dumbledore to focus on the results of his first test of Mr. Cunningham's character.
His Lounging area was arrange in a way that would reveal much about a person; The right side of the lower room's walls were lined with bookshelves housing ancient tomes, manuscripts and many noteworthy articles of magical knowledge and theorems that had been collected through the ages of both the past Heads and himself. It also had tables which contained rare magical instruments, the likes which would be coveted by many for the value and prestige they would bring to the owner.
On the left, was a small set of high-back chairs and small comfortable stools surrounding the fireplace, whose artistically created and decorated mantel housed a few personal photos of his school days and his family; The walls of the left side had four suits of armour resting against it, shining brightly in the glow of the flames, and various antique medieval weapons adorned its smooth surface.
Dumbledore watched the pair as they took in the room.
Ms. Lovegood's eyes were vaguely focused on the books, they were filled with a sort of whimsical wonder that he hadn't seen since her own mother once walked Hogwarts' halls. However, her eyes oddly went up and stared at the many portraits of the past Heads; her head tilting from side to side curiously.
Mr. Cunningham's eyes scanned the room in a wary sort of way, which was slightly disconcerting to Dumbledore. Did the boy think that he would set this meeting to attack him in some way or was this paranoia something that he had developed due to his tenure in Slytherin?
The boy's eyes glanced back at the books and then down towards the instruments after his first cursory survey of the room, and then focus entirely on his own as both he and Ms. Lovegood approached him. When they had climbed the small steps up to his office proper, Dumbledore spoke.
"Welcome Mr. Cunningham, Ms. Lovegood. You'll have to forgive the state of my desk," Dumbledore spoke as he indicated the many stacks of letters and parchments as he continued speaking, "I find in my old age, the paperwork of bureaucracy has become quite tedious to keep up with, but please, have a seat."
"That's understandable Headmaster, that curse is quite powerful and difficult to overcome. Daddy's says it's been around since Roman times, but was weaponized against wizards and witches with power by the French in the eighteenth century." Luna replied.
Dumbledore chuckled kindly in his usual grandfatherly tone, he was about to reply to the young Ravenclaw when he noticed Mr. Cunningham stopping Ms. Lovegood from taking the proffered seats, eyeing the two uncomfortable wooden chairs and then his golden throne-like high back.
Dumbledore watched as the Slytherin took out his wand with a flourish and uttered in a calm whisper, "Vera Verto."
The pair of chairs transfigured into a more cushioned and comfortable version their former selves.
Dumbledore peered over his half-moon spectacles at the boy and spoke, "Very impressive transfiguration, my boy. Ten points to Slytherin."
"Thank you Headmaster," he replied as he sat down along with Ms. Lovegood, who promptly begun to rock her legs back and forth as she did so, on his newly transfigured chairs. "I found Transfiguration to be my preferred branch of magic; given its versatility and daily practical uses. That, and Magical History; I find that subject particularly enlightening."
"Very true my boy, but you'll find that many prefer magic that give direct results without much effort." Dumbledore replied, taking note of his comment of History.
"What's more direct than being able to create exactly what you need at a moment's noticed. Besides the technical limits of the branch, the only real limitations one would face are knowledge, power and imagination."
"Wizards no longer have the drive to explore and improve nor the imagination to invent; two things Transfiguration tend to need...fundamentality speaking," Luna piped up as she continued to rock her feet and stare up at all the portraits.
Dumbledore turned his attention from the young Slytherin after taking a few mental notes from the brief exchange and addressed the young girl, "Forgive me if I'm behind in the current trends in regards to witch fashion, Ms. Lovegood, but could you explain your choice in attire?"
"I was locked in an unused broom cupboard for three days by a pair of nargles until William came by and saved me."
"Nargles?" Dumbledore asked curiously as he reactively used his legilimens on the girl. He got a brief glimpse of nonsensical images before he felt something akin to a sharp scratch against his own mental barriers. Dumbledore glanced slightly over to Mr. Cunningham and found him staring at him.
Something was wrong with this situation; everything he observed and learnt about the boy spoke of secrecy and discretion, especially when it came to what he was capable of. Why then, was he offering information on the magic he used, His proficiency in that field, and now openly showing that he was a talented Legilimens?
"We're going off on a tangent, Headmaster. Was there a reason why you wanted to see us?" Mr. Cunningham spoke as he continued to stare into Dumbledore's eyes.
"Why yes, my boy; you're here to discuss the incident which transpired between yourself and three Gryffindors a few minutes ago. I received word from Madam Pomfrey that the Gryffindors in question were admitted into her care with various injuries. While he was slightly disorientated, Mr. McLaggen was able to give his account of what happened and named you as the culprit; I called you both to hear your account of the events." Dumbledore replied, allowing the obvious attempt to change topics in order to see what this young Slytherin was up to; mentally taking note that it may have something to do with Ms. Lovegood.
"Luna and I were on our way up to the Ravenclaw tower to find her a change of clothes; we came across three Gryffindors attacking two first years that are a part of my House. Seeing this, I felt obligated to help my fellow housemates, and move to intervene." Mr. Cunningham answered him.
"I see." Dumbledore nodded slowly before he turned his head towards Ms. Lovegood and asked, "And you Ms. Lovegood, what was your role in this situation?"
"Observing." Luna stated matter of factly. Dumbledore waited for her to continue on, but seeing the curious girl no longer paying attention to him once more, he chuckled internally and turned back to reason they were here.
He had been informed by the portrait that was in the area of what truly happened down that hall, but Dumbledore wanted to know something. He wanted to get a true measure of the young Slytherin before him, to understand both what motivates him, how he thought, and if there was any chance of redeeming him, and keep the world from suffering under another person like Tom. With that in mind, Dumbledore spoke.
"Mr. McLaggen identified those two Slytherins, the Carrow twins I believe, as the aggressors. They led them towards an isolated hall and proceeded to attack them with first year spells. He stated they were merely defending themselves when you came and proceeded to attack them. I have a list of their injuries."
Dumbledore reached over to one of the smaller stacks of parchment, and took up a single leaf. Peering down through his glasses, he spoke once more.
"Mr. Alfred Morris was admitted with internal haemorrhaging and burns, along with a high fever; symptoms akin to the 'Blood-boil Curse'. Mr. Sagan Owen: unconscious and slightly bruised, and Mr. Cormac McLaggen: several scratches and cuts, five broken ribs, three fractures and a minor concussion."
Dumbledore looked up from the parchment and looked at the young Slytherin as he stared calmly back at him; noting that Ms. Lovegood was also looking at them both curiously.
While fighting was a minor offence, the use of the dark curse could be grounds for expulsion given the circumstances. With the spell being casted by Ms. Hestia Carrow on an injured party, whose deceased family member had been tortured with the very same spell by her mother; it would stir many of the light sided members on the board to action and see the girl being punished to the full extent of their power.
He wouldn't allow something like that to happen of course, the girl's actions, while excessive and dangerous, did not mean she should be condemn without the chance to prove herself to the light. But Mr. Cunningham wouldn't know this, and be left with only two choices; what was right...and what was easy.
Dumbledore watched as Mr. Cunningham paused slightly, before he reached towards the right sleeve of his vest and pulled out his wand once more; handle first towards him as he spoke, "Here Headmaster, I believe this would answer your questions faster."
As William stood up slightly and leaned forward towards Dumbledore, a faint shadow of his arm and wand was created from an overhanging chandelier. Dumbledore reached out with his own hand and took hold of the offered wand, connecting both there shadows in the brief exchange.
Despite his occlumency, William had to physically stop a smirk from forming on his face.
Dumbledore found himself disappointed with the choice Mr. Cunningham was making, but he pulled out his wand and connected the tip with the young Slytherin's and casted mentally, 'Prior Incantato.'
Dumbledore and the pair of students watched as a mist issued from between the wands, showing Flora Carrow's face being healed, then various other areas of her body, the mist then went through a varying change in colour which would have been meaningless to a less skilled practitioner, but Dumbledore recognized them as wards and protective charms.
Next the mist began to morph into shapes, which Dumbledore recognized as transfiguration spells, before the mist faded; indicating the limit of how far Dumbledore was able to go with the spell.
"The transfiguration spells were used on Mr. McLaggen, what the spell didn't show was how I incapacitated Misers Owen and Morris."
"What spell did you use to cause the broken bones and fractures seen on Mr. McLaggen?" Dumbledore questioned stapling his fingers together as he rested his chin on them, peering over his glasses as he did so.
"I didn't, Mr. McLaggen casted the 'bludgeoning curse' at me during our fight. I only countered the spell back towards him, which knocked him unconscious, and more than likely caused his other injuries."
"And the other curse Mr. Cunningham? Were you the one to cast the 'blood-boil curse'?"
"It was." He replied calmly. Dumbledore couldn't help the twinkle that he knew was currently in his eyes, and went to speak, but another voice decided to speak up at that moment.
"He's lying, Headmaster. It was me."
"Ms. Lovegood?" Dumbledore asked the girl curiously, surprised by her declaration and the sudden turn of events. Glancing at Mr. Cunningham, he noted the boy was eying her as well.
"William is only trying to protect me from getting in trouble. He told me to lie about my involvement and cursing Morris." She replied as she took her wand from behind her ear and held out towards him as she finished with a whimsical, "Take a look."
Ms. Lovegood's magic flared slightly towards her wand, something that would've gone unnoticed by many and by him as well, if it were not for his many years of experience, and Dumbledore knew what he would see even as he took the wand from the young blonde and casted the spell once more.
From the mist that was formed between their two wands, was the 'Blood-boil curse'.
It was crude, and didn't show the spell being used on Mr. Morris, but the mere fact that she was capable, let alone willing to doing something so complex for the sake of a fellow student, struck a chord with Dumbledore; even if it created more questions that he would like the answers for.
There was nothing more he could gain from this meeting given their 'confessions', but before he ended it, there was one more test to confirm his thoughts on the young Slytherin, and now, on the intriguing Ravenclaw.
Dumbledore summoned Fawkes.
As the phoenix burst in from a blaze of brilliant flames and landed on his golden perch on the right side of his desk, Dumbledore focused on the pair as Fawkes gave out a brief welcoming chirp and song.
Ms. Lovegood's eyes became even dreamer as she seemed to bask in the musical notes and tones as they washed over her; eyes watering slightly as she seemed refreshed and happier than she already was prior to the song.
Mr. Cunningham flinched.
It was a brief moment, a flick of unexpected exposure to such potent and pure magic, but Dumbledore had noticed the reaction before the young Slytherin was able to cover it with his barriers.
Mr. Cunningham was feeling discomfort around Fawkes.
Dumbledore couldn't help the small frown that came upon his face as he spoke, "You must forgive my friend, Fawkes, here. He tends to like making extravagant entrances around unfamiliar faces."
"Is this your phoenix Headmaster?" Luna asked, her eyes still on the ancient looking bird.
"Yes my dear. Fawkes has been my friend and companion longer than I can remember."
"I was expecting a phoenix to be more...majestic." William stated, eyeing the dull plumage and ruffled feathers of the aged crimson bird, causing Fawkes to give out a gag-like squawk at the perceived insult.
"Careful Mr. Cunningham, magical creatures tend to take insults even more personally than we do; he's nearly his burning name, hence his current appearance, but I'm afraid we're straying from the point of this meeting, and given what has been revealed, it is time to conclude and discuss your punishment." Dumbledore stated, bringing the two students before him.
"While I understand your desire to help those of your House, and in your case Ms. Lovegood, defend a friend; you both went to the extremes in handling the situation and I must act accordingly. A month's detention with your Heads of House and one hundred points from Slytherin and Ravenclaw for using magic in the corridors and intentional harm on your fellow students." Dumbledore finished in a disappointed tone.
"And the gryffindors Headmaster, what punishment will they be receiving?" William asked, staring at Dumbledore intently.
Dumbledore knew he was referring to the real events that had taken place, and he replied in his grandfatherly tone, "I believe what has happened to them is punishment enough."
There was a pregnant pause after his words as they both watched the other, until Mr. Cunningham simply replied.
"I see."
~Flashback End~
It had been an interesting experience, though he was still curious on the results in which it had brought forward, though it told him that he needed to act sooner rather than later.
That, plus the added fact that since the meeting, there had been an increase of Slytherin injuries within their dungeon common room, and two Ravenclaws, Ms. Chang and Edgecombe, were found magically stuck against their common room wall in nothing but their under-garments and a multitude of pink and orange poke-a-dots covering their exposed skin.
While he could consider the Ravenclaw attack as an isolated incident, if one took into consideration the newly formed friendship created with the Carrow twins and , it revealed what was really happening; Mr. Cunningham was actively attacking and issuing out a warning to all those that wished to harm the trio that were now associated with him and his growing following.
The more time he observed the boy, the more he saw the similarities he shared with another student that grew up to become a threat to the natural order and structure of the wizarding world, and the greater good overall, but the boy held promise to also possibly become another paragon of light. Perhaps...it was time to take over from Severus, and take a more hands on approach to the situation, and prevent another Tom Riddle from forming under his watch.
Having come to a decision on what to do with the young Mr. Cunningham, Dumbledore turned his gaze back over to the Gryffindor table in search for Harry, but found neither trace of him nor his friends.
Dumbledore frowned mentally as he took another sweep of the table to confirm his findings, and then chuckled slightly, wondering what sort of mischief Harry was currently finding himself in; something that would no doubt have James smiling proudly, and Lily shaking her head in frustration, he had no doubt.
Meanwhile, said Gryffindor was currently making his way down to the Great Hall, in the company of three of his friends and Housemates, after being invited to 'Nearly-Headless' Nick's Death day party; something that he was slightly regretting at the moment, if his churning stomach and the constant grumblings of his best mate were anything to go by.
"I can't believe we missed the feast for that rubbish." Ron muttered lowly from his left, but it was loud enough for Harry and the other two to hear him.
"Hush Ronald." Hermione reprimanded him lightly from Harry's right, "The feast should still be going on right now, so you'll at least get desert, and you shouldn't be complaining at all in the first place; being invited to such an occasion is a rarity, and something you may never experience again. You should be feeling honoured to have been there."
"Honoured? If I should be feeling anything, it'll be bloody hungry; what kind of party only has rotten food for its guest." He replied.
"W-Well, they were d-dead…m-maybe t-the closer s-something is to death t-the more 'alive' it i-is to them?" The quiet and nervous voice of Neville spoke from the other side of Hermione as he offered his two Knuts into the conversation.
"Nobody asked you, Neville." Ron answered back harshly, causing Neville to shy back into himself, and Hermione to snap at him.
"Don't talk to Neville like that Ronald! He has just as much right to speak his mind as you do, despite the drivel that comes out of it." She spoke while giving a hard look at their red haired friend, before it faded as she turned to Neville and continued on speaking with a calmer and gentler tone than the one she used addressing Ron, "That was very insightful Neville, I think you're right about how close the food was to being considered 'dead' would affect how it tasted to them."
"Y-You think so?" Neville replied, and upon seeing the earnest smile and nod from Hermione, smiled back and became quiet once more.
Harry found himself frowning at the interaction of his friends. Since the day that Neville was pranked, and Hermione bringing him into their group, Harry had been notices several things about his three friends.
Neville was more often than not quiet, nervous and clumsy as he always was, except for the few occasions where he braved to speak out, they were working on their Herbology assignments and homework or if Hermione was addressing him. Though Harry also noticed that during those times he looked at Hermione with an odd expression on his face.
Hermione, while she still was his closest friend, was spending more and more of her time in either the library with her Slytherin friend, William, and those that where around him or outside jogging and exercising by the Black Lake after classes ended for the day. She rarely put up with Ron nowadays, and either walked away entirely when he either said something that wasn't entirely nice to her or argued when he set his poor moods on Neville.
Speaking of Ron's poor moods; Ron…well, Harry was noticing a new side of his best mate. With Hermione no longer helping them with their assignments, reminding them to study or doing anything more than checking over their work when they asked, Ron had been falling behind them in class, all of them in fact. This had been the cause of most of Ron's bad mood nowadays and he started blaming Hermione, seeing as she would not help him at all, on his slipping grades.
His foul mood hadn't been helped at all when Neville joined them, and whenever Hermione wasn't around or in any mood to entertain his friend's accusations, Ron took it out on Neville; until either he or Hermione put an end to it.
Ron had started acting almost similar to Dudley did to him back when he was younger. He would have to tal-.
§Hungggrrry…food…ffood…§ Harry's thoughts were interrupted by a voice that seemed to echo all around him, causing him to stop abruptly and listen out for it.
"Harry...is something wrong?" Harry heard someone ask, breaking his focus on listening out for the voice. Looking towards his friends, he realized that it was Hermione who spoke, being flanked by Ron and Neville as they had continued walking before realizing that he had stopped.
"I heard the voice again…the same voice I heard before Fred and George had their accident." Harry replied.
"We didn't hear anything, mate." Ron responded with bewilderment.
"What did it say Harry?" Hermione asked, not at all sceptical of what he was saying, something he was grateful for.
"Nothing that made any sense, really; it was just saying it was hungry and wanted food."
"Sounds like you were just hearing my stomach mate." Ron quibbled with a playful smirk.
"Do you still hear it Harry?"Hermione asked, ignoring what Ron had said.
Harry focused on the sounds around them, trying hard to hear the voice once more, but was met with nothing by the sound of the gentle mutters caused by a portrait that hung on the walls of the hall they were walking in.
"No…" Harry replied plainly as he frowned. With nothing else to go by, the four continued their journey down to the Great Hall. However, as they approached the Grand Staircase, Harry heard the voice once more.
§Food…Found…riippp...tear...kill. Killll!§
"Harry! Where are you going!?" Harry heard Hermione shout at him as he broke into a sprint towards the staircase.
"It's going to kill Hermione! I have to stop it!" Harry shouted back behind him. He was determined to stop the voice this time. The last time he was late, and it had almost cost Fred and George their lives; he wouldn't let whatever it was attack yet another student if he could help it.
As he ran down a moving staircase, he could hear the others right behind him, but he was too focused on the strange voice, as it continued with a chant-like quality about killing.
As he came down onto the second floors landing, Harry came to a stop, panting slightly, as he noticed that the floor was flooded with a steady stream of water, which was flowing down the staircase and down towards the first floor.
"Harry!" he heard, and then turned to see Hermione coming to an abrupt stop beside, wand out and breathing slightly more than she usually did. "We don't know what's down there or what it could be that you're hearing; we should be more careful, it could be dangerous." She finished, just as the other two calm down to join them, doubled over.
"Whats...got in-...into you...mate?" Ron asked.
Harry looked at Hermione, who was biting her lip as she stared down into the poorly lit and flooded corridor, that he knew the voice as coming from, with her wand pointing in the same direction, and then back at the still panting pair and made his decision after the memory of what happened a few months played in his head.
"Whatever wants to kill is down this corridor. Hermione, Neville and I will go stop it; Ron you'll wait here." Harry spoke to his three friends.
"Wait! Why does Longbottom get to go!" Ron asked indignantly.
"I-I don't m-mind st-staying back, Harry." Neville spoke, both to appease Ron, and slightly out of fear.
"Hermione's right Ron, this could be dangerous; just like last year when 'Quirrell' took Hermione hostage." He spoke using the old professor's name and not Voldemort's in order not to scare Neville, but he could see the comprehension on Ron's face. Harry continued, "This way, we have three wands to go up against what's down there and still have someone back in case we need help."
"That still doesn't explain why I need to be the one to stay back, and not Neville. I get why Hermione gets to go; she's bloody brilliant with spells, but I'm better at magic than he is." Ron replied, arms crossed as he looked at the nervous Neville.
"We need someone that the professors, especially the Headmaster would believe readily, Ronald. After last semester, you'd have more credibility over Neville if you went to them with an outlandish threat. And language Ronald." Hermione chided Ron as she continued to focus down the corridor, missing the preening look that came on Ron's face.
"Well...when you put it that way...I guess I could stay back." He replied. Seeing that everyone was in agreement, Harry spoke up once more.
"Right then, let's go." He stated, causing Hermione to give a curt nod, and Neville a shaky one, as they made their way down the second floors corridor, with Ron standing at the threshold as he watched them go further and further down its path.
The hall was silent as the made a turn and proceed further to where Harry believed the voice came from. He was walking slowly in the centre of the hall with his wand held out in front of him at the ready, with Neville on his left, nervously looking around, also holding his wand out. Hermione was on his right, slightly behind him as she muttered a constant stream of incantations, many of which he hadn't heard of so far from their classes. Their silent progress was interrupted by Hermione sighing before she spoke.
"I'm not picking up anything on this floor Harry. I've casted every detection spell I know; whatever was here, isn't here anymore." She said as she lowered her wand.
"Th-that's a good thing...right?" Neville asked out loud.
"It depends; did we miss it...or has it already got what it wanted." Hermione replied.
"Come on, there's only one way to find out at the moment." Harry spoke up, as he quickens his step down the hall, now that they knew it was safe.
It wasn't long before Harry saw an odd sight; the water that was flooding the second floor was coming from an open door that was further down the pathway of the hall they were in, and on a scone close by was an odd furry shape hanging from it. As he got closer, Harry realised that the odd shape was actually that of a cat...Mrs. Norris; stiff and frozen beyond anything he'd seen before in his life. Next to the scone, and the frozen Mrs. Norris; illuminated by the flames of the scone, were words written in a red substance:
The Chamber of Secrets as been Opened. Enemies of the Heir beware.
Harry felt worried and confused as he finished reading those words; what does it mean? Did the thing that was speaking kill Mrs. Norris? Did it write that on the wall? A sharp gasp from Hermione broke Harry from his thoughts as both she and Neville took in the scene for themselves.
"That's blood Harry..." Hermione spoke as she brought her hand cover her mouth.
"Do you think that creature that I heard did all this, Hermione?" Harry asked.
"I...I don't know Harry. The words...they're too neatly written to be your typical magical creature, and those don't speak at all for their voice to carry so far for you to hear. And all the sentient dark creatures that I could think of with the ability to write, couldn't possibly enter the school without the Headmaster knowing and stopping them, let alone have the time to do something like this without drawing attention to themselves."
"May-maybe we should go get help? O-or at least get out of here before it comes back?" Neville spoke up, addressing the pair that stood inches from the bloody words, investigating it. Harry turned to look at him, and took in the green tint of his skin as he avoided looking at the words on the wall, and the dead Mrs. Norris hanging stiffly beside it, and continuously looked round the corridor nervously.
Harry made to speak to him when he heard a sound coming from the direction they came from. Turning towards it, Harry was met with a large part of the student body as they move down the hall, with Ron apparently leading them; turning in the other direction he noticed more students were coming from that direction as well. They were surrounded.
As the students all came to a stop at the site in which the trio stood, Harry and Hermione found themselves face to face with Ron as he joined them in the centre of the circle created by the students around them.
"Ronald, what did you do! Why did you bring them here!?" Hermione whispered at his best friend angrily.
"I didn't do anything Hermione, they were coming up the staircase when they saw the water flooding it; I tried to stop them, but well...look at them all." Ron defended himself while pointing at the large crowd that was whispering in worried tones as they read the bloody words on the wall.
"Enemies of the Heir beware," Harry heard a smug voice speak, and turned to see that it belonged to Malfoy, as he stood at the front of the students; Crabbe, Goyle, Nott, Bulstrode and a very pale looking Pansy stood around him as he continued, "that means you, Mudbloods."
"Shut it Malfoy." Harry replied, as he noticed the blonde's words seem to be causing many of the students to panic.
"Odd, that you would immediately jump to that conclusion, Lord Malfoy." A calm voice spoke, quieting many around them. Harry found himself turning once more to the opposite side of the corridor, and found himself looking at Hermione's friend, William, staring at the words on the wall; Greengrass, Li, Davis, Zabini, two first years student he didn't know, and surprisingly a slowly rocking Luna, were around him. Harry noticed William sniffed oddly a few times before he continued on to speaking, "However, given that it's your favourite word, it's understandable that you would want to use it here."
"You dare speak to me like that, Mudblood." Harry heard Draco yell angrily at William. Harry noticed that the rest of students didn't sound as panicked as they were before.
"Though I am curious, why are you and your friends here, Hermione?" William asked Hermione, staring at her intently while ignoring Malfoy completely; Harry noticed Greengrass raised one of her thin eyebrows at William when he did so.
Before a sheepish Hermione could answer however, there was commotion as a voice made its way through the crowd, "Move out the way the lot of you. When I find the one that caused all this water on my floors, I'll have them hanging from their thumbs; mark my words."
Coming into view after harshly another student out of the way was the caretaker, Argus Filch; He gave Harry a dirty look when he noticed him and his friends in the center of the slightly clearing, before his eyes scanned what was causing them to gather, and then finally landing on the stiff form of Mrs. Norris.
"Mrs. Norris!...wha-what did they do you my sweet." Mr. Filch spoke with such an anguish filled voice, Harry felt sorry for the man, despite his cruel tendencies.
"Mr. Filch, I'm-" Harry went to say, but was interrupted as the man turned suddenly on him.
"You! It was you wasn't it! Wasn't it!" Mr. Filch yelled, pointing at crooked finger at him accusingly.
"No, I-"
"Don't lie to me boy! I'll kill ya for this! Kill ya!" Filch interrupted Harry. As he moved towards him with arms outstretched, Filch was halted in place suddenly as a grandfatherly voice spoke.
"Argus, that's quite enough." Harry heard the calm voice of Dumbledore, and looked over Mr. Filch's shoulder to see the Headmaster making his way through a suddenly parted path through the students.
"But Headmaster, he killed my cat." Filch answered in a hurt tone.
Harry, his friends and the many students watched as the Headmaster glanced at the words written on the walls, and then approached the stiff cat, observing it briefly, before he reached up and gently took her down; turning back to Filch, he addressed the man.
"We will get to the bottom of what really happened to Mrs. Norris, for now why don't you follow me to my office." The Headmaster finished as he handed over the frozen cat to Filch.
"You can use my office, Headmaster; it's a lot closer." Harry heard the animated voice of Lockhart shout out from amidst the crowd of students.
"Thank you, Professor Lockhart." The Headmaster nodded slightly towards the man as he continued, "Would the other Professors and prefects kindly lead the students back to the common rooms."
There was a din of mutters and shuffling feet as the crowd began to move. Harry was moving to join them along with his friends, when he heard Dumbledore addressing him.
"Not you Harry. I'd like for both you and your friends to follow me. Your testament to what occurred before your fellow students arrived maybe of help."
Harry glanced at his friends; Ron gave an unsure shrug of his shoulders, Hermione gave a short nod as she drew closer to him, and Neville looked nervously back at him.
He turned back to the Headmaster and nodded his consent, and followed after him as they begun their walk towards Lockhart's office. However, Harry couldn't help but turn back and look at the words written in blood on the wall and take in their ominous meaning.
It looked like there wouldn't be a quiet year at Hogwarts this year either.
Later on that night, Hermione could be found walking at a steady pace towards her intended destination with a determined stride. Coming across a pair of prefects patrolling, she stepped to the side and allowed them to pass; going unnoticed by the pair even with the aid of their lit wands and them walking merely a few inches from her. Once she was sure that they were far enough away, she continued her determine stride down the dark and quiet hall.
Upon arriving at her destination, Hermione approached the door that played hosted to her training sessions with her brother and found it lock.
Taking out her wand she casted, "Specialis Revelio." The spell caused the door before her to be lit in a multitude of cascading colours, and made her huff in feinted annoyance.
It was becoming another common occurrence between herself and her brother; the first one to arrive would ward, and in her case enchant, the door to best of their ability to prevent the other one entry. It was both a means of pushing the other to be better at detecting various wards and enchantments, but also a subtle sibling rivalry that had formed between them.
After a few more seconds of continuously recasting the spell, and observing the results, Hermione began casting the counter charms for those that she recognised, and breaking through the woven scheme of the wards that she didn't. When the door final gave out a small click, signalling that she had succeeding in breaking the wards placed, Hermione opened the door, and moved inside.
"You're getting sloppy Mi', that was the exact same wards that I had used the last time we were to meet…and I see you're enjoying your birthday present." She heard her brother announce to what would be just the empty air at the doorway to anyone observing.
Taking in the room, she noticed that it was once more empty of any furniture except her usual desk and chair and the professor's table. There at the table, were Su and William; Su Li, who was sitting on the table with only her uniform blouse, tie and skirt on, looked slightly dishevelled and was sporting a heavy blush going all the way down to her neck. William, who was leaning against the table, had seemed to have removed his robe and vest, as he still had on the remainder of the uniform,but was in a slightly similar state as Su Li, with his tie looking like it was practically choking him around his neck.
"Yes, I still can't thank you enough for this cloak. And you know you had changed the ward scheme itself, so it took time to figure it out." Hermione stated as she closed the door behind her, and as she walked towards her brother and their mutual friend, she reached up and pulled down the hood that was covering her head, revealing the rich purple of the invisibility cloak that she adorned. "I hope I wasn't interrupting anything?" she finished once she stood by her seat.
"No." Su Li addressed her as her blush refused to leave while she physically fixed her clothes.
"You want to tell me about what happened earlier tonight." Her brother spoke, offering her the seat.
"Yes...but I think this would be something you'd want to be kept within the family." She replied, subtly glancing at Su Li as she sat down.
"I have a feeling I know what you want to ask, and I have no problem with Su hearing."
"Right…" She replied as she took a calming breath and focusing her occlumency as she looked into her brother's hazel eyes and asked, "Are you the Heir of Slytherin?"
"Why would you think?" he asked plainly.
"Well…we are related to Slytherin…and you did say that you would be making your move to announce yourself as a Lord this year." She replied matter of factly, but hesitantly as she watched Su Li for any negative reaction to the information she just gave; she saw none.
"You saw my inheritance as the Lord of House Dagworth, Mi'. I have no right…as far as I'm aware of, to House Slytherin. Besides, petrifying a cat and writing on a wall with chicken blood? No. When it's time for us to come into the open, I won't be doing any such obtuse theatrics." He replied.
"You're related to Slytherin?" Su Li asked her brother softly, and when she received a curt nod, continued onto saying, "that explains the parseltongue."
"Wait, you can speak parseltongue? Does that mean I can also?" Hermione asked William.
"I don't believe so Mi'. Sashet had tried to speak with you on a few occasions, even warned you a few weeks ago, but you didn't react to her it's not your fault; I was just lucky to get that particular gene from our lone Slytherin ancestor."
"Who's Sashet?" she asked, however the only response she received from her brother was the familiar sensation of him knocking gently against her barrier, asking for permission. Upon letting him in, she received several images of a large black snake and a memory of her brother first getting her.
"She's my familiar" her brother spoke, and then smiled slightly as he continued, "and in her free time, your guardian of sorts. She's preoccupied with spying on Dumbledore for me at the moment though, so we'll have to postpone your meeting her for the time being."
Hermione heard his words, but was busy thinking about what she was told. Those instances where she heard hissing close to her or around her feet, were caused by her brother's familiar…a snake… a voice that she couldn't understand…but Harry had…meaning Harry could speak parseltongue just like her brother.
Should she tell him? Would she be betraying him if she didn't? She already withheld information from him once, and looked how that turned out; her little brother embarrassed before all of the school, and Fred and George in the hospital wing when he struck back.
"What's the matter Hermione?" she heard her brother speak, breaking her out of her train of thought.
"What? Nothing's wrong." she replied quickly.
"You were biting your lip rather tightly Mi'" he jovially replied, before he continued in his usual voice and small smile, "tell me what's troubling my lil' sister."
"I'm bigger than you." Hermione found herself replying childishly.
"Not when I'm standing." He replied with a chuckle.
Huffing and fighting a smile from forming onto her face, Hermione continued her internal debate for a couple more seconds, before she made her choice and spoke, "I think Harry can speak parseltongue too."
Hermione could see the spark of interest that came on her brother's face, despite his ability to hide his emotions. "Oh, and what makes you think that?" he asked.
Hermione then told the pair about the times in which Harry had been around her when she believe Sashet was speaking to her, his reactions to it, and his words on the voice that he heard before the Weasley twins' 'accident', and before they stumbled upon Mrs. Norris' petrified body. When she finished, she watched the contemplative eyes of her brother rapidly move as he took in her words.
"Maybe he's a family member?" Su Li offered from her seated position.
"Merlin I hope not; the last thing I need is to have a complication like that. Dumbledore already has his wrinkly old fingers deep in the bloke; though he seems to be enjoying it." He answered plainly, though to Hermione it sounded sardonic. "That's besides the matter though, Potter isn't this Heir, given what we know about him, and Mi's backing his alibi to the fact that he wasn't there in the first place." He finished.
"It's possible that we could have someone just pulling some kind of prank, and he or she is just calling themselves the 'heir' to make themself more mysterious or infamous." Hermione supplied, however she was meet with Su Li's shaking head.
"Too serious for a prank." She stated softly.
"You're forgetting the fact that they used some form of 'dark' magic to petrify the cat, Mi'; magic that not even the highly esteemed Dumbledore can undo with a simple wave of a wand. So we have to take this as face value for now, and believe that this 'heir' is a valid threat to whoever is his enemy."
"How do we know that this person actually is a male, and what are we supposed to do in the meant time?" Su Li asked.
"If we are to believe that this is real, then we have to consider the first move they made. It was a declaration of things to come, an introduction of sorts. They want everyone to know who is doing the things that will happen in the future; it wouldn't make sense for them to use misdirection when they want the credit." William replied as he pushed off the desk and stood up as he continued, "As for what we will do about this 'relative'… we wait."
"Wait? Why wait?" Hermione asked curiously.
"We're just speculating on what we believe about this person,Mi', and lack any tangible information on this 'heir'. So, we'll wait till they make their real moves, and then act accordingly. In the meantime, I'll contact Gringotts for an extensive look into the Slytherin part of our family tree, and Crow to see if I can get anything out of her. Hermione, you will be in charge looking up any information on the Chamber of Secrets, and where it may be located. With my plan still in the works, and my other obligations, Su and I'll be pressed for time to really help you."
"Sure, but…why is it that you still don't trust me with this plan of yours. I wouldn't have basically accused you if I had known what you were doing.
I mean, I'm your sister, why is it that Su Li still knows more about what you're doing for our family, than your family does." Hermione stated in a small outburst.
While she understood that Su Li was his girlfriend, and maybe his first confidant. But she was his older sister damn it; it was a small peeve of hers that her brother didn't share the same faith in her that he showed in the petite girl that was always by his side.
"I do trust you Hermione, with my life if it was called for." She blushed slightly with pride when he stated that, causing him to give her a small smile, however it dropped as he gave her a concerned look as he continued, "however, I don't believe I can trust you when it comes to the plans that I have in regards to our House due to your current worship of authority figures, Dumbledore in particular." He finished.
"I get that he's not with us…and that because how he sees you, he considers you an enemy. But that doesn't explain why the fact that my having respect for him, would affect you not believing you can tell your plans." She replied with a frown.
Honey brown stared into their Hazel counterparts for what seemed like ages, until Hermione heard her brother called out a name.
"Tabby." As soon as he said the name, was there a pop, and she was greeted with the sight of the most curious creature she'd seen so far in the wizarding world.
"Master Willy bes calling Tabby, sir?" the creature spoke to her brother.
"Yes my dear friend, do you mind bring us enough tea for the three of us, we're a bit parched." She listened to William's reply, her eyes still taking in the creature.
With a rapidly bobbing head, the creature snapped its fingers, and there beside Su Li, was a tray holding a teapot, cups and a plate filled with snacks for them.
Upon seeing the results, her brother spoke to…Tabby. "Well done as always, Tabby. Thank you for your assistance." When he finished, Tabby gained a cheerful and prideful look before he popped away once more.
"What was that?" Hermione found herself asking as soon as the creature was gone.
"A House elf." Su Li answered her as she got off the desk and began preparing to serve out the tea.
"A race that is completely subservient to ours due to the fact that they survive by feeding off our magic. Or at least that's the reason that was given behind their reliance on us. Due to that fact, they are given nothing in return except that base need." William continued where Su Li had stopped.
"Subservience…nothing in return…" Hermione paused for half a second, before she stood up abruptly with a gasp and then yelled, "You mean slavery don't you! How could they! That's utterly barbaric. Why is it that their hasn't been any mention of them in any of the books I've read or the ones that you gave me?" she finished as she paced back and forth in front of the pair in an attempt to strive off the few choice words she had in regards to the backwards thinking of the world she and her little brother were now a part of.
"Would you write about what you ate on an uneventful day when you're writing your autobiography or whether or not it was sunny when you're recording a historical event that wasn't affected by the weather, Mi'?" she heard her William asking her rhetorically, causing her to stop and look at him. "History is written by those with the power to dictate what they want written. Why would you write something that would but you in a bad light?" he finished as he conjured two more seats, and sat on one as Su Li came with the tray and handed out the tea cups, forcing her to retake her seat.
After taking a sip of her own tea, Su spoke, "The ownership of House elves has been a symbol of wealth and power for centuries. It is the way things are; tradition."
"Slavery was considered the same in the muggle world; a tradition that stood for centuries, but that didn't make it justifiable. This is wrong, and must be stopped." Hermione almost spat out her replied, her voice filled with righteous emotion.
"You're right Mi'. But tell me, how do you plan to do that? As Su just pointed out, this is tradition, 'the way things are and are meant to be'. Plus, the house elves are happy to serve. How do you plan to persuade a species to fight for freedom when they neither want nor desire it?"
"I don't know at the moment, but I'd do everything I can. I'd start here first; changing the minds of our fellow students, and rally them to fight for the elves on their behalf." Hermione spoke in an emotionally filled voice as she leaned forward and stared into her cup, holding it with both hands.
"Mi', I'm sure you don't think that you're the first muggle-raised to come up with the same idea. What you're planning won't work because it hasn't work before in the past. If you want to change things in this society, it'll have to be done from the top; with the very bigots that enjoy 'tradition'."
Hermione thought for a few minutes how that line of action would work, and then frowned as she realised how that would end, if history was anything to go by, and she whispered as she tighten her grip around her tea cup, "A revolution…"
"Only if you really want change." Su Li replied.
"But I'm sure it won't have to come to that…I mean, if we talked to Dumbledore-"
"Dumbledore, the paragon of light," William spoke, interrupting her, "the man with arguable the most influence in all of Britain, if not all of the wizarding world, who literally holds every position of power that would enable or at least kick-start the change you want; cares little for or has no desire to create plans to change the wizarding world in the way that you imagine." He finished.
"Dumbledore has been in position of Chief Warlock for over fifteen consecutive terms, and has been the Supreme Mugwug for five. The only things that have changed since now and before his tenure in those positions are the fact that more subjects and artefacts are either banned or labelled as dark, and a handful of reforms that favour muggleborns." Su Li spoke as soon as her brother finished speaking.
"So is that why you don't trust me? Because I had trust in someone that followed the opposite side of the dichotomy you think exist?" Hermione asked, still looking down.
"No, Dumbledore is a very dangerous man, I didn't trust you with our plans because I thought that he would turn you against me, and what I want our House to stand for…what it always stood for." She heard William reply.
"What do you mean by dangerous? And what do we stand for?" Hermione found herself looking up at her seated brother who sat across from her.
"You haven't realized it as yet, but I'm a very selfish person Mi'; I care for nothing that does not affect what I consider important. I wouldn't bat an eyelash if the world were to go up in flames and become nothing more than a smouldering ash, as long as House Dagworth and those that follow us, were unaffected by it."
Despite her occlumency, Hermione couldn't help but look appalled at her brother's words, and found her head turning towards Su Li, but found the girl to be unaffected by what they just heard, and kept an easy stare back at her. How could she just do that? Her brother just declared that he didn't care whether or not the entire world died as long as both of them lived. Shouldn't Su Li be even more shocked than she was feeling right now?
Hermione's introspection was interrupted as she heard her brother continue, "However that being said, my selfishness is tempered by my pragmatism, especially as the head for our House." He paused as he walked forward and stood mire inches in front of her, forcing her to lean back up to keep the eye contact that she had been maintaining since he started speaking.
"Duc populum…Two simple words that carry an enormous weigh. We Dagworths have always strived to be the best, but in doing so, we also thrive to make our achievements benefit those around us; we push; we strive; we break barriers that thought could not or should not be broken. We change the world around us Hermione. That is what 'Duc populum' truly means. What our House truly stands for and symbolises. Change…Leading the people towards change."
Hermione could hear the unadulterated passion and earnestness in her brother's voice as he spoke, and couldn't help but watch in silence, taking in every word he uttered, and as he knelt before her, so that she was now looking down on him, she remained silent as her took her hands in his and continued to speak.
"Already I've made moves to better not only muggleborns like us, but also Squibs and werewolves." At his words, Hermione heard Su Li give a small intake of breath, but neither she nor her brother turned to her as he continued speaking. "But as I said before, I'm well aware of my apathy and lack of empathy to fully do my duty as a Head-no…as a Dagworth…and that is why I need you, Hermione Jean. I need you to be the one that leads the change, to be the heart that nurtures, the voice of the voiceless; to be light, While I be the darkness; an invisible hand that ensures both the safety of our house and those that follow us, and a force that makes sure that we thrive and succeed in whatever we aim for. Do you think you can do that, Mi'?"
Hermione bit her lip as she stared in her brother's hazel eyes. There were many things that she wanted in life; A career, a family, to be a part of something great and leave her mark on the world. Everything she did was done with a plan in mind that would eventually lead to all those things, but what she also truly yearned for, was to belong.
She never really belonged in the muggle world; no one like her, so she had no friends there, and while she had her parents, they could never truly understand her due to magic, and the differences it caused, which were now more prevalent than they were while she was growing up.
But even here, in the wizarding world, she hardly belonged due to the bigots and purist that exist here. She wouldn't have belonged even here if it weren't for Harry and William. Harry, her best friend, a person that needed her and made her feel wanted, someone how could stand her flaws and bossiness, and see them instead as quirks in her personality and traits. And William, her first friend, her first best friend, her first crush, her rival, her ally, her equal, and her family.
She stilled remember what he told her about his time at the orphanage. And while she was spending her time with their family, in the loving embrace of their father; her brother was left alone to fend for himself, slowly being shaped into the jaded person before her in order to survive. And now that same brother was asking her to always be by his side; to cover the flaws that were in him, that were by no means his fault, but were the product of her father's mistake and the world that they live in.
How could she say no? Even though he didn't truly answer her initial question regarding Dumbledore, how could she say no to the only family she had in this world that would always have a place for her; a place where she truly belonged.
"My name is Hermione Jean Dagworth-Granger, Daughter of Emma and Daniel Granger, Sister to the current Head, and soon to be publicly announced, Lord William Edward Dagworth; I'm surprise you would even have to ask me that question. As a Dagworth, of course I would do everything in my power to aid my brother and the Lord of my House, and nothing or no one will stop me from doing as such." She said in a faux-haughty tone, but it didn't take away the seriousness of the words she just spoke.
"I'm happy to know that I have someone else that I can truly rely on…Thank you, Hermione Dagworth." Her brother said with such an earnest and happy tone in his voice, she couldn't stop the blush from spreading across her face as she continued to stare into her little brother's eyes.
"It's almost curfew, and we haven't done anything yet." A soft voice spoke out causing Hermione to be startled slightly, and turn to see her brother's girlfriend sitting across from them, quietly watching, and found herself frowning slightly at the girl's audacity to interrupt the moment they were having.
"Right." She heard her brother reply, voice once more it's calming tenure, and lacking any discernable emotion once more as he walked towards the professor's desk, "Since you plan to be on the ground floor of everything I plan to do, there'll be much that you will need to be caught up on. For tonight though, we will focus on making you stronger." He finished as he reached the desk, and conjured a long white feather.
"Come Hermione Dagworth, show our ally the strength we Dagworths possess." He intoned with his usual small smile on his face.
Hermione and walked the short distance to the desk. As she did, she found herself watching Su Li's look of contemplation; she was a part in every lesson she had with her brother, so she knew exactly what she was being taught. All lessons except the ones that Hermione thought were the most important, and the ones she treasured dearly; lessons on their Family and magic.
Hermione stood before the desk; in a similar manner William did a few weeks back. She flicked three of her fingers on her right hand up slightly, and watched as the feather thrust itself up into the air, and started to move in an unfelt wind as she moved her fingers this way and that.
She turned her attention away from the feather and took in Su Li's look of wonderment at the fact that she too, could perform magic wandlessly, and then she looked at her brother and took in his small smile at the fact that she was accomplishing something that was deemed impossible for those of their age.
She gave him a smirk.
The desk began to rattle and shake violently, but Hermione was determined. She started to sweat slightly, but the desk was now in the air, rotating slowly in a circle, reminiscent to the manner it had done when she had first seen the secret that would be kept between herself and her brother.
Despite the struggle she was currently under, it was all worth it when she took in the astonished look and of Su Li, and the bright, gleaming look that could be nothing but pride, that her brother was giving her.
She treasured that look; a look that she would always make sure that she saw from her brother when he stared at her.
This she swore, as Hermione Dagworth.
There you have it.
Till next time.