Chapter 8: The Final victims

After the Christmas break the time flew by, and students started to feel safer again. A rumour flew by that Hermione Granger had been petrified, but it died soon, as she arrived back to the lessons.

Daisy was closer of being herself. Everything had gone almost back to normal at Hogwarts. The lessons went by, and people enjoyed their time outside, even though it was cold and snowy. Only one, who still seemed to be strongly affecting by the attacks was Olivia's housemate Ginny Weasley. Nora had noted that the girl seemed even more agitated, startled, and unfocused in lessons. Nora had tried to talk to the girl once, but she had flinched badly when Nora had tried to talk to the girl. Ginny had all of her brothers around her, so Nora decided not to intervene in the girl's situation more than that.

The months flew by, and the lessons went by. Nora still learned the new spells slower than the rest, but in the end her spells were usually stronger than the rests. Her potion-making was still little behind from Corvus, and she still fell asleep in History of Magic lessons, she still barely understood a thing from Astronomy lessons and found Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons useless. Flying lessons were still one huge nightmare for Nora, and she had decided, that she wouldn't continue them in the upcoming semesters.

On Valentine's Day Professor Lockhart shocked the group with pink robes. Olivia and Astoria drooled after the man, and Nora was certain they had sent the man Valentine's card. For the rest of the day, due Professor Lockhart's instructions. dwarfs kept sending people Valentine's Day cards. Some sang songs and read poetry. Nora was glad, that the creatures left her all alone.

There was a light at the end of the tunnel for the petrified students. Professor Sprouts was almost dancing with joy as she told the students that the Mandrakes were close to their adulthood.

The mouth of April came soon, and Nora visited her aunt and met her fiancé Dan and his daughter Melanie. The man was a good thing in her aunt's life. Nora could see care in the man's eyes. Melanie was 7 and was also treating Aunt Laurel well. Nora had never seen her aunt happier, but still Nora felt worried. Aunt Laurel was already 38 years old, and her pregnancy held lots of risks.

After coming back to Hogwarts, the group was preparing for the upcoming Quidditch games. Olivia was visibly being more cheerful than before. "Oh, I can't wait for today's game. We are going to eat up the Hufflepuffs and then slaughter you guys, Mich!"

Michelle snorted: "Zozo, didn't you see, how we destroyed the Hufflepuffs. There is no way, we are going to lose."

"Hah, it was Hufflepuffs, whom you beat, we won Slytherins!"

"H… hey, it's m… my house you're t… talking about!"

"Hush Nora, I meant every word I said!"

"Me too!"

"Want to make a bet?"

"You know that my family isn't as rich as yours?"

"Hm, okay how about loser does the winners' homework for a week?" Olivia suggested.

Michelle rolled her eyes: "I have seen the result of your work, so I am not aiming for a suicide."

"That's rude!" Olivia cried out: "Okay. If Gryffindors win then you do my homework for a week, if Ravenclaws win, then I'll give you ten Galleons."

"Ça va, since I need to save for new broom for the next semester."

"Hey, I'd also like to bet you ten Galleons for Ravenclaws victory", Corvus interrupted.

Olivia grinned: "Sure, I love to milk the money out of you!"

"And me out of you," Corvus returned a grin: "Just like last time, when you thought Hufflepuffs had a change."

"H… hey! You are st… still talking about my h… house!"

Don't mind them. The game sucks anyway. I mean in what kind of game one ball gives 150 points and others just 10. I mean even in basketball the points are only 1, 2 and 3. It makes sense. Football, you make a goal it's 1 point, not 10 or 20. Because it makes sense! Sinead wrote down for Nora to read.

Smile came on Nora's face: You're right, thanks Sinead.

The orange haired girl smiled shyly while nodding.

"But about the upcoming game, we cannot lose!"

"I'm sorry Nora, I have to agree with her," Astoria said, joining the conversation.

"Same here," Corvus added.

"Oui."

Nora blushed. She knew that arguing with the rest would do her no good, but she still hated how others sometimes under-minded her house: "W… well I'll go a… ahead then!"

Nora took her bag and stomped towards library. She had to borrow some books for her Charms homework that was due on Tuesday. Ahead of her walked Ravenclaw's prefect Penelope Clearwater, who was putting on some make-up.

"WAIT!" Nora heard familiar voice yell and saw Hermione Granger running towards them. "You have to watch-out with that mirror."

Curiosity got the best of Nora, and the three girls looked at the mirror at the same time. Nora saw sharp yellow eyes, as everything went black, and world turned still.

"Weird, I wonder where Nora is? Didn't she say, she'd be here early?" Astoria wondered. They had agreed that she and Corvus would follow the game with Nora from Hufflepuff's stand and Olivia and Michelle from Gryffindors' one.

"I don't know, it's not like her to be late," Corvus stated. He was slowly getting worried.

"Also, shouldn't the game start already?"

"There they're coming," Corvus pointed at the Gryffindor's team.

"Yeah…" Astoria still looked all over the stand. "Do you think we went too far with Nora? What if she got mad and decided to ditch us?"

"I don't think so," Corvus said. "It's not like her."

"Aye, have you seen Norra?" Daisy asked, looking all over the place.

"No, we are getting a little worried."

"I understand, she's rarely late", Matthew scratched his head: "Didn't she say, she had to go to the library to borrow some books for Charms homework."

"Aye, but shouldn't she be back already?"

The game started, and the group saw Professor McGonagall half running towards the field with megaphone on her hand.

Something is not right, Corvus thought and felt chills running against his spine.

"This match has been cancelled," Professor McGonagall called through the megaphone. People all over the stadium booed. Next to Corvus, Daisy had gone pale. Corvus felt that his how his heart missed a beat. "All students are to make their way back to the House common rooms, where their Heads of Houses will give them further information. As quickly as you can, please!"

People left the stadium slowly. Some were cursing, others were feeling frustrated. Corvus saw from the corner of his eyes, Daisy walking in trance, Matthew held the girl's hand and led them towards their common room.

"Do you think there has been another attack?" Astoria asked, feeling terrified for the petrified students.

"Yes, I do."

"Shit."

They walked the rest of the trip towards their common room in silence, where Professor Snape was already waiting for them. His expression was grim, and the atmosphere held no room for chatter.

"Finally, as everyone has arrived," Professor Snape gave sharp look at Henry, Cameron Boyle, Sebastian Dayle, and Quentin Harper, who were last to arrive in common room, and had done so with loud laughter. "We can begin to wonder, why we all are here, instead of watching the Quidditch game. As you all know, there has been attacks in Hogwarts all over the year. Today three more ones have happened."

Corvus noticed, that from across the room Draco was about to smirk, but it was killed by Professor Snape's murderous stare. "I wish that all of you understand, that if these attacks continue, the school will be shut down permanently." He gave serious look at each one of the students: "If any one of you heard or saw or know anything about the attacks, I except you to inform me immediately."

"Of course, Professor!" Gemma Farley was first one to break the silence and smiled at Professor Snape reassuringly. Other people nodded and mumbled agreeingly.

"Good", he was about to leave, but Gemma stopped him with a question.

"Excuse me Professor, but which students have been petrified."

Professor Snape gave angry look at Gemma, for asking questions, but the girl didn't even flinch. She was used to Professor Snape's behaviour.

"Penelope Clearwater from house of Ravenclaw", Gemma went pale. Penelope was her friend, despite being in different houses. "Hermione Granger from house of Gryffindor" Corvus noticed Draco going pale with the news, "and Nora Wilkins from house of Hufflepuff."

Astoria gasped and covered her mouth, but Corvus remained expressionless. He knew that his cousin was expecting him to get emotional and show weakness, that he couldn't allow anyone to see. He was after all both Black and Lestrange.

"Oh no, not Nora." Astoria cried silently.

The atmosphere in Slytherin house was surprisingly gloomy, though no one from their house had been attacked. Unlike the common belief, not everyone in the house believed in the blood purity.

"Are you okay Astoria?" Henry asked from the girl.

"No, not really," Astoria answered truthfully. "I mean, this is Nora we're talking about. She'd never do anything to hurt anyone. And now she is… she is…"

"Yeah, I know," Henry patted the girl on the back. "She is truly a nice person."

"Still, you shouldn't cry after a mere mud-blood Tori," Corvus answered. He had to act cold. He had to act, like he didn't care, even when his heart felt like breaking.

"What the hell are you saying Corvus?" Astoria couldn't belief her ears.

"You heard me, Tori. She got what she deserved." Corvus answered.

"Wha- How dare you!"

"Okay, calm down both of you, NOW!" Gemma came in between the two friends. "Other side of the common room, both of you, talk about this tomorrow!"

Both of them followed the instructions. Astoria sat down on the other side of the room with Henry. Corvus walked and sat down with his cousin and his gang.

"I told you Draco: Keep your friends close, and enemies closer."

"Yeah, you did." Draco answered. "She got what she deserved."

"Exactly", Corvus lied, as he felt Astoria shooting daggers towards him.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Astoria stormed towards Corvus next morning wand ready in her hand. Corvus had been about to enter the Great Hall.

Corvus sighed: "Can we talk about this somewhere else?"

"How? As you know, our movements are monitored! We can't wander anywhere on our own!"

"Then calm down, I don't want wrong people to hear what I am about to say."

The answer made Astoria angrier: "Don't tell me what to do!"

"Listen Tori," Corvus whispered: "All that I said yesterday was an act for my family."

"I don't understand."

"My parents will break away one day", Corvus confessed. "I've heard all the tales about them, and no prison can hold them in forever. 'Till then I have to create myself an image, where I don't belong, but I still want to spend time with you and Nora, and with the rest of the group. But I also need to proof my loyalties towards blood-purity. Because if I don't, they will murder me and my aunt, for not raising me properly."

"You sound so certain without ever meeting them."

"What kind of people torture someone into madness just for information and fun?" Corvus asked. "Why couldn't they just kill them after they found out that they couldn't give them answers?" Astoria remained silent. "Why did they both go? Did I mean so little to them?"

"Because they are monsters." Michelle answered behind them. "Your father and uncle tortured some of my family members."

"You're not wrong," Corvus said honestly. "So, if I sometimes say condescending things about her, it's because I try to protect us both."

"Well, you did bloody good job with that," Astoria stated. "You truly were brutal."

"What did he say?"

"You don't want to know." Astoria stated. "But do you think, we can go and visit Nora?"

"I don't think so. Professor Flitwick seemed really scared yesterday. I heard that they might shut down the school."

"Yeah, Professor Snape implied the same."

The group entered the Great Hall. Michelle went to sit with her own house mates, while Astroria and Corvus sat down on Slytherin table. Olivia was sitting with some of her house mates. The atmosphere was dark and gloomy, but the atmosphere dropped even more when Professor McGonagall announced that Professor Dumbledore and ground keeper Hagrid would be away for rest of the school year.

The fear was almost touchable. Only few people from Slytherin table were smiling and feeling smug, one of those people were Draco.

All the students were only allowed to move between classrooms. The free time had to be spent in Common Rooms. The lessons were grim, people were terrified. Corvus had seen more than once Daisy crying in lessons. Sinead was paler than usual. The head girl Leyla Murphy was visible shaken down by stress and worry.

Olivia had gone back being down. She had been bullied by few older students. Some blamed her for the attacks. Wherever she went, people were whispering behind her back. Michelle was fiercely defending the girl and had hexed one of the older students right under Professor Lockhart's nose. Astoria on the other hand tried to take Olivia's mind outside of Nora and the accusations. Corvus had told the girl to get a hold of herself and continue her life.

Michelle was visible stressed and constantly angry. She was grieving after her friend, trying her best to get top grades and felt scared. "Now that, Professor Dumbledore is no longer here, they might come after us half-bloods. After all, my mother is a muggle!" Corvus had heard Michelle whispering to Astoria.

Astoria had taken the role to look after her friends. She was always listening others, but Corvus noticed, that she never spoke about how she felt. It was Astoria's way of running away from her emotions. When Astoria wasn't seen comforting someone, she was reading something. Mostly schoolbooks.

Corvus couldn't say he was handling the situation any better than his friends. He refused to talk about Nora to anyone. He, like Michelle, was filled with fury, he just refused to show it to anyone. So, instead of talking or handling his emotions, he asked for library books that mentioned the Chamber and spell books, so he could practice for the tests.

All four had asked from the teachers for permission to visit Nora, but their pleads had gone to deaf ears. "We cannot take any risks, for any other student to get hurt." Professor McGonagall always answered.

"Still no permission?" Ben asked as the group ate lunch in Ravenclaws table.

"Oui, too dangerous apparently."

"I wonder why he is so happy?" Olivia wondered, as she saw Professor Lockhart chatting without any worries in teacher's table. He was the only staff member, who hadn't been affected by the attacks. He seemed to firmly belief, that the culprit was Hagrid. It had made Olivia and Astoria dislike the man greatly.

"No idea," Michelle said, shooting daggers at the man. "He is a true imbécile."

"I wonder if he knows anything about the chamber", Corvus said.

"Chamber?" Ben asked.

"Yes, Chamber of Secrets."

"Do you really think all this has got something to do with it?"

"Yes, I do", Corvus said. "Why else someone had written down the letters as Ms. Norris was petrified. Also, all the petrified students have been muggle-borns as the writing warned."

"That's actually true," Olivia said, looking puzzled. "Why didn't I think of that!"

"But is any student actually powerful enough to petrify students like this?" Michelle wondered.

"I don't think so," Astoria said. "I have no idea, how any student could harm a ghost, or three students at once."

"Yes, I already forgot the nearly-headless Nick," Corvus confessed and felt that the puzzle was getting even more pieces.

"I asked my mother about it, and she has never heard about anything like that", Ben stated. "But she told me, if a spell did it, then it must be very high leveled dark arts spell."

"Yes, and that's not something that Hagrid could do. My mother told me, he was dropped out of school, so he is no magical master-mind", Olivia told the group.

"Yeah, I don't think it was him either," Corvus answered, still deep in his thoughts.

The summer had almost arrived at Hogwarts, but the fields, Quidditch stadium and lake side were all empty. Corvus wanted badly to go to the library and study about the things that had happened at school, but he was forbidden to enter. Corvus felt frustrated, for having so many questions and so little answers. He felt urge to satisfy his hunger for knowledge but couldn't. He felt getting even more frustrated with the whole situation and the rage kept boiling in, waiting for the moment to explode.

The exams were around the corner and Corvus saw his friends constantly studying. Corvus no longer bothered, he knew he would do well in all the tests.

Few days before the exams, Professor McGonagall was beaming with joy: "I have good news."

Instead of awaited silence, Corvus heard people around him yelling with joy: "Dumbledore's coming back!"

"You've caught the Heir of Slytherin!" Penelope Clearwater's classmate joyed.

"Quidditch matches are back on!" Oliver Wood roared with excitement, which made Corvus roll his eyes.

Once students calmed down Professor McGonagall continued, "Professor Sprout has informed me that the Mandrakes are ready for cutting at last. Tonight, we will be able to revive those people who have been Petrified. I need hardly remind you all that one of them may well be able to tell us who, or what, attacked them. I am hopeful that this dreadful year will end with our catching the culprit."

Corvus felt better than in weeks. A tear of joy rolled down from Olivia's cheek, which Michelle gathered away with joyous smile. Astoria had first real smile on her face for weeks. Corvus noticed Daisy hugging her classmates tightly and this time smiling with joy.

"I can't wait to see Nora tomorrow!"

"Oui! And after that never lose her from our sight!"

"Maybe, we will finally get some answers."

"Yes, maybe afterwards we'll get Professor Dumbledore back," Olivia stated hopefully.

"And if Nora can't give any answers, then Hermione Granger will. She's known to be a huge know-it-all," Astoria continued.

"That's true," Corvus recalled the way his cousin always spoke about the bushy haired girl.

Later in the same afternoon the group was walking towards the Great Hall for lunch, from transfiguration extra lessons. Professor McGonagall was leading the group. They walked past the first corridor, where everything had started half a year ago. Soon everybody noticed that something had changed.

Corvus eyes widened, as he saw new set of red letters that had appeared under the previous one: 'Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever.'