OOO

"I knew this was a bad idea!" Harry stormed off down the hallway, leaving the chattering group of students behind him. "Snape did that on purpose too! He probably knew somehow… argh!" He shook his head. "I should have left the moment I saw Lockhart. Nothing good ever happens when he's involved. And it's not like he could really teach us anything."

"Harry, slow down and calm down!" Susan ran after him, grabbing him by the sleeve of his robe. "Harry, we know you aren't opening the Chamber," she began.

"Oh yeah? Tell that to your friend Justin," Harry interrupted. "He's convinced I'm trying to kill him. I was telling the snake to get away and he thinks I was going for the jugular."

"Would you let me finish?" She said as Theo, Ernie and Hannah caught up. "Justin worries about everybody, jumps at every shadow lately. I mean, he was the one who found Zach in the bathroom if you recall. He's nervous – we all are. But as I was saying, while we know you haven't been opening the Chamber, why didn't you tell us you were a Parselmouth?"

"Yeah," Hannah added. "We wouldn't have thought any less of you," she assured him.

"Theo knew!" Harry pointed towards the slight boy. "He and Draco and Luna and Ginny found out over the summer when we went to a zoo and heard me talk to a snake. But they all agreed that I should keep it under wraps so that people didn't get the wrong idea about me. You know, the kind of wrong idea everybody is getting now."

"Well that's everybody," Susan pointed out. "But we're not everybody. We're your friends – at least I think we are. And you should tell your friends about things like this." They pulled up at the portrait of the Fat Lady. "It's like Draco and his… his dog secret. You should be able to trust us and rely on us. We're not going to go around spreading rumors to the whole Hogwarts population, you know that."

"I know, I know. But… well, the more people know about a secret the less secret it is." He fell into a chair. "I'm not saying you would do anything intentionally, but it could slip." He sighed. "Not like any of it matters now. Everybody found out anyway. So now what do I do?"

"Nothing you can do, really," Theo said with a sigh. "Nothing but wait it out. Let the rumors swirl – it's not as though you can be kicked out for being a Parselmouth and they don't have anything to suggest you were the one doing the attacks."

"So I can't get kicked out. But life's going to be miserable from now on." He grimaced. "I still can't believe that, of all things, Pansy would produce a snake. And since Snape talked to her right before we dueled… it had to be him. He knows and he told her. Somehow."

"Maybe he's the Heir," Theo suggested with a roll of his eyes.

"Well maybe!" Harry said defiantly. "He was in Slytherin, he's their head of house and he has grudges against us – especially me! And he's really sly so he could probably slip under the radar. Quirrell did and he was nowhere near as sneaky as Snape. In fact, this whole set up tonight was probably part of a plot to frame me and throw suspicion off himself!"

"I know you don't like Snape. I'm not crazy about him either. But I don't think he would attack students like that," Susan said. "And as much as he dislikes you, I can't really see him framing you. I don't think he's responsible anymore than I think Draco was or you are."

"Well somebody has to be opening that Chamber. And what better way to get away with it than to have everybody looking in another direction? It happened with Draco and now me…" Harry sighed. "Look, I'm getting to bed. This has been an awful day and the sooner it's over, the better, before I do something else incriminating."

Hannah nodded. "Alright. We'll let you get some rest."

"It's almost break anyway," Susan said. "I'll bet after Christmas everybody's attention will be on someone else entirely."

The Hufflepuffs headed to the door, but it swung open before they got there, revealing the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan.

"Is Harry okay?" George asked.

"We could cheer him up if need be," Fred offered.

"I think he needs some alone time," Susan told them. "It's been a bad day."

"Seems like every day has been since this mess started," Ernie mumbled as the exited the portrait hole and made for their own common room.

"Well it has to come to an end at some point," Susan said with forced optimism.

"The only question is how," Hannah added morosely. "And how many more of our friends will get hurt before it does?"

OOO

"Dobby!" Narcissa called for him as she bent over a trunk. "Dobby, come here and help me with this!"

Dobby appeared. "Yes, Mistress?"

"Help me clean out Draco's trunk." She pulled out a set of robes. "Here, get these out of the way, take them to the laundry – but check the pockets first!"

He nodded, deciding it would be best not to remind her that this would make the sixth time she had gone through the trunk, each without success. He took the robes and popped away, back a second later. "Anything else?"

"What is this?" She rummaged through pair of pants and held up a bag with green plants in it. "And where did he get it?"

Dobby fidgeted. "Gillyweed, Mistress. Young master says he is needing it for when he is swimming in the lake so Dobby is getting it for him from the master's greenhouse."

"Oh." Her face relaxed. "Wait – swimming in the lake?" She shook her head and sighed. "He's going to catch pneumonia one of these days." She reached further down in the trunk, pulling out dog treats, parchment, quills, candy, books, and then a device with a leather wallet of some sort. Narcissa opened it up and found it filled with donut-shaped discs.

"And what is this?" She held it up in front of Dobby who once again looked distinctly uncomfortable.

"Master Draco's CD player. And CDs." Narcissa's eyebrow arched and Dobby grew even more flustered. "He knows they do not work at Hogwarts but he says he likes to listen to them on the train back and wanted to keep them with him…"

"Alright, alright," she said, waving her hand for him to be silent, tossing the CDs aside and turning back to the trunk. "Nearly at the bottom and no sign of anything like Lucius described." She shook her head then looked at the house elf. "Dobby? Did you ever see Draco with a black book, probably blank – like a diary?"

Dobby shook his head vigorously. "No mistress. Dobby never saw Draco with such a book."

"Did you ever see any of his friends – particularly Harry – writing in a book of that description?"

"No, Mistress," Dobby said with an apologetic shake of his head. "Dobby is sorry but he has never seen anyone with a book like that."

Narcissa nodded again, then suddenly stood, took the trunk, dumped out the rest of the contents and threw it against the wall. "Damn!" She turned to Dobby, furious. "It's been weeks since Lucius left and still he has no luck! Items are missing, I cannot find anything in Draco's belongings to give us a hint, who knows how he'll react when he wakes and hears that more of his friends have been attacked – and still those who lead that wreck of a school stand idly by and refuse to take action!" Dobby cowered as she began to pace. "Have they researched the Chamber at all? Have they been doing anything besides raising mandrakes that will take months to mature? They're a bunch of incompetents up there who shouldn't be trusted with so much as a puffskein, let alone children!" By now she was red-faced and shaking. "And those damn animals keep gathering under Draco's window, snorting and howling like the world's about to end and doing nothing for my nerves!" She yelled in a rage, blasting the trunk further with her wand.

Finally exhausted, she panted and buried her head in her hands. Carefully, looking nervous as he did, Dobby guided her back to Draco's room where she knelt at his bedside, holding his hand.

"We'll find something. We'll find something, I promise you…"

Suddenly, Dobby's ears perked and he popped away. "Mistress! Mistress!" He dashed back into the room and second later. "Mistreses, the Master has returned – and he brought a box with him!"

"Lucius?" She stood and gasped as he appeared at the door, snow-damp but grinning.

"I found one!" He murmured, setting the sound-proofed box carefully onto the floor. He ran up to his wife and embraced her fervently. "Draco will be awake as soon as it's brewed!" Then he lifted her off her feet and twirled her, making his robes and her dress swirl around them. Dragon started barking and jumped about in an elated fashion and Dobby ducked out of the room to have a private tearful but joyful moment.

"How long will it take?"

"Only a few hours as soon as I get the ingredients to Snape. I am sure they are all asleep by now but I will head up tomorrow at the earliest possible time, I assure you. We will have our Draco back before sundown."

Narcissa's eyes began to well and instead of saying anything she simply hugged her husband again. When then finally parted, however, she looked up at him uncertainly.

"Lucius?" She whispered.

"Yes my darling?" He beamed.

"Lucius, I sent a letter to Harry. And I told him how Draco was doing. I didn't say anything else, but I considered it… Lucius, if you head up to the school, perhaps you should speak to Harry and ask him if he's seen any such book."

Lucius' face darkened. "Dear, he cannot know about…"

"I realize that," she interrupted. "But there is no need to reveal to him the nature of the book. Only ask if he has happened upon one like it."

"You don't understand the gravity of this, Narcissa. That book absolutely cannot be traced back to us. If it was – it would be a disaster for us."

"I know you received it from the Dark Lord," she murmured. "But who would know besides those who will not speak?" She frowned. "Just what is this book anyway, Lucius? Does it hide an incantation for opening the Chamber within its pages? Is that why it is so dangerous, so evidently dark?"

"No, no." He shook his head. "Do not ask me."

"I have a right to know if it is putting my boy in danger!" She gestured towards Draco. "Lucius, I am your wife."

"And it is for your own sake that I say nothing!" He insisted. "There are some things…" He paled. "I am sorry. Perhaps… I do not wish to discuss this further."

"I will find out," she replied. "I will know." She stepped towards him. "Ask Harry – if it was in our house he is the one most likely to have encountered it."

Looking away from her, Lucius hesitated. "Perhaps after the holidays," he relented. "After Draco wakes but before he returns to Hogwarts."

She nodded, as if relieved to have reached a compromise. "Very well. I will hold you to that."

"I know you will." He nodded. "Now if I might…"

"I'm sure you must be tired," she said, taking his cloak. "There is more dreamless sleep potion waiting for you on our nightstand."

"Thank you darling." He kissed her again then left to rest.

OOO

"Quite a sight, isn't it?" George sat down next to Harry who was looking up at the sky. The ceiling was filled with flurries of white snow that looked like they would land at any moment.

"Yeah. Must be some blizzard outside."

"It's been going like that all night," Nott added from across the table. "There must be inches on the ground by now."

Looking down from the ceiling, Harry turned and waved to Hannah and Susan who'd just walked in. "Seen the snow?" He asked when they came over.

"We have." Hannah looked up. "I don't much like it. It feels… ominous. Like it's burying us."

Susan nodded. "Professor Sprout canceled our morning class, you know."

"Really?"

"Says that it's far too cold to be out at the greenhouses and she's got the mandrakes to take care of. I think she's putting scarves on them, of all things," Susan said with a thin smile.

""I guess that makes sense." He looked around. "Where's Ernie?"

"Still upstairs," Hannah fretted. "He's trying to convince Justin that it's safe to come down and eat breakfast. Not that we blame you!" She quickly added.

"Well don't tell him you saw me at breakfast." Harry stabbed a sausage with a fork. "If you bring him anything to eat he'll probably think that I've poisoned it."

"I'm sure he'll come down eventually," Susan assured him, though doubtfully.

"If you do see him, please try and tell him that I didn't mean anything by it. I only wanted the snake to get away from him!" Harry looked at the girls hopelessly. "I wouldn't hurt him."

"I'd say you could tell him yourself but that would probably only freak him out more," Susan replied as she grabbed a cup. "But we'll tell him when we go back."

"What are you going to do with the morning off?" Nott asked as he buttered toast.

"Probably pack," said Hannah, taking a plate of eggs that Fred passed her. "We leave Monday if you remember."

"You leave Monday," Harry said. "We don't."

"Or you could stay," George grinned. "Now that Harry's been whacking all the students, we'll have run of the castle," he teased.

"Percy will kill you if he hears you say that," Harry said with a twisted smirk.

"Well, we'll be glad he's not around then." Fred, who'd sat down next to Nott, shoved a scone into his mouth.

"Say, you think you might be willing to autograph some of those pictures Creevy's always snapping of you? I'm sure you supporters will be very glad to have them once you go full blown evil. Just ask Lockhart how important glamour shots are to your adoring public!" George kept it going.

Harry rolled his eyes again. "I think I'm going back to the Common Room. I've had enough of people shooting me looks and I should probably go over our transfiguration reading for later." He looked at the Hufflepuffs. "You can let Justin know that the area is safe and Harry-free."

"I should probably study as well," said Nott, standing.

As they stepped into the hallway, Harry caught sight of a familiar flash of silver hair turning the corner. Thinking it was Draco, he ran up, leaving Nott to fall behind. He looked for the silver hair only to realize the hair was much longer and the person it belonged to much taller than Draco.

"Mr. Malfoy?" Harry called out and the man turned around.

"Hello young Potter," he said with a somewhat stiff nod.

"What are you doing here?" Harry looked at the box. "What's that? And how's Draco?" He shuffled his feet. "I got a letter from Mrs. Malfoy yesterday; I've been meaning to write back."

Lucius' face creased into a smile. "Draco is stable. But we hope he will be well soon." He held up the box. "I managed to procure a mature mandrake from a grower in Asia and am bringing it to Snape to brew the cure. Draco will be awake in time for Christmas, a fact for which both I and his mother are very grateful. I'm taking it to the dungeon just now. I would invite you to join me, but I'm sure you have class."

"Actually, no." Harry tried to subtly flatten his hair. "We have Herbology this morning but it was canceled due to snow." He frowned. "Draco would have been in that class, if not… But he'll be better soon, right?"

"As soon as we can brew and administer the potion," Lucius replied as Harry fell into step beside him. "If you want to visit the manor over the winter break, you're more than welcome. Draco would probably be very glad to have the company."

"I was planning on staying here," said Harry. "But I'd like to see Draco if he's up to it. And it would be nice to get away from… well, never mind," he said, shaking his head.

"Is something wrong?" Lucius asked him as they descended a flight of steps. Just then a pair of Ravenclaw boys came up the steps and, seeing them, ran past as quickly as they could. "People seem to be… skittish around you."

"It's the whole Heir of Slytherin, Chamber of Secrets business," Harry whispered. "Everybody was blaming Draco but when he got Petrified… it's complicated, but they started blaming me."

"Blaming you?" Lucius frowned. "You are close to my son. And to… some of the others. Why would they blame you?"

"It only just started because… well, I…" He sighed, and looked at Lucius reluctantly. "It's…"

Lucius felt his heart drop as Harry hedged; where there was smoke there was usually fire and perhaps Narcissa was right to be worried that Harry was the one who'd gotten his hands on the diary.

"Why are the students nervous? What happened?" He looked at Harry. "Was there an incident?"

Harry sighed. "You'll probably hear about it anyway." He looked up at the older Malfoy. "There was a dueling club. And I faced off against Pansy Parkinson. Snape… he told her to conjure a snake. When it appeared, everybody got really scared and it went after one of the Hufflepuffs. I told it to back off, instinctively. I forgot that… it didn't come out that way. All the other students heard was me hissing." He shook his head. "I don't know why or how because I don't think I'm related to… I'm a Parselmouth," Harry murmured miserably. "Which is really dark, I know, and I'm sure Snape only did it to frame me because he hates me..." His anger from the previous evening returned and he forgot, momentarily, whom he was talking to.

"Hate you?" Lucius forced a scoff. "Why should he hate you? I've known Severus for years…"

"I don't know," Harry said irritably. "Something about my dad, which is stupid because I'm not my dad…"

"I should hope not," Lucius murmured.

"…but he uses it anyway as a reason to dock points and he hates everybody who's not Slytherin…" Harry finally checked himself and blushed. "I'm sorry, sir. I know he's a friend of yours. And if he's helping Draco…"

Lucius shrugged. "Severus is prickly, there's no denying that. And we Slytherins do have a tendency to stick together." He looked at Harry. "But I will see if there's anything I can do."

"You don't have to do that," Harry insisted.

"For a friend of my son's, I will." They reached the door of the Potion's dungeon. "But if you wish to leave before meeting Snape…"

"I think so." Harry backed away. "But when Draco gets up tell him I said 'hi.'"

"I will." Lucius paused as Harry began to leave, and then called out to him again. "Harry?"

"Yes, sir?" Harry turned.

"Harry, you haven't…" He wrestled with asking Harry about the book, but found he could not, ultimately, bring himself to implicate guilt in his own knowledge and actions. "You haven't seen anything strange, though? Or actually done anything have you?"

Harry thought back to the horrible night in the forest where they'd found the Acromantulas and opened his mouth, wondering what he should say if anything at all. Then, as if on cue, he heard a whisper – the same insidious whisper he'd heard the night Hermione had been attacked.

Kill, kill… Kill and pierce and tear…

"Harry, what is it?" Lucius frowned. "You've gone absolutely white."

"I just… Can't you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Lucius quirked his head.

"That voice… that voice, I… I…" Harry looked around. "You didn't hear it?" He asked a second time, weakly.

Lucius stood still for a moment. "Stay right there," he said in a commanding tone. "I will be out in a second."

He disappeared into the Potions classroom as Harry walked beside the walls, trying to determine where the voice had been coming from. Then there was a hand on his shoulder and he turned to see Lucius, without the mandrake-filled box.

"Now tell me," he began, "what did this voice you heard sound like?"

Before Harry could reply, however, the air was pierced by a scream. In unison, Harry ran with Lucius up the steps to the top of the steps, following the sounds. Leaping out into the hall, he saw Hannah leaning tearfully into a very pale Susan who was looking at a Petrified Ernie and Justin and a weirdly gray Nearly Headless Nick.

"We were just going up to get them…" Susan whispered as Hannah sobbed.

Then the other students began pouring in from all directions and the air was filled with the sounds of doors crashing. Everybody seemed to be running in all directions and more screams joined Hannah's. Dimly, Harry realized that Lucius' hand was on his shoulder and had become quite tight.

"I knew it!" Seamus pointed at Harry. "Trying to finish off Justin? Do what you couldn't do yesterday? He saw this coming; he knew you were going to do something like this!"

"No," Susan protested, "We were here first and Harry wasn't…."

"I mean, that's why he was hiding, wasn't it?" Seamus ignored her and went on. "He told you he was Muggle-born and you used that against him, first snakes and now…"

"Shut your idiotic mouth!" Lucius screamed and created a blast with his wand that caused all of the chattering students, and even the teachers, to fall silent and stare. "The Potter boy was with me when the attack happened and the next person who insinuates anything will be expelled – I will see to it personally!" Then he turned on McGonagall in a fury. "And since the headmaster seems to be woefully unable to put a stop to this nonsense, perhaps he should be gone too!"

She glared at him viciously as he turned on his heel and stormed out of the castle, leaving a dumbfounded Harry and tittering student body in his wake.

"What was that about?" Susan came up to Harry looking worried. "Why was he here?"

"Mr. Malfoy… he had a mandrake, Draco's going to be alright…" He looked over at the Petrified student. "What could do that to a ghost?" He wondered.

"I don't know." Susan swallowed. "I don't want to know." She looked at Hannah who was still sniffing. "Come on, Hannah. Come on."

"I'm sorry," she murmured. "It's only…" She wiped her hands with the hell of her palm and took a deep breath. "I'm fine. I'm fine."

"Then lets get out of here before more accusations start flying," Susan said, looking at Harry. "We'd better track down Theo. Hopefully the library will be pretty deserted."

"Do you think anything will happen to Professor Dumbledore?" Hannah asked in a quivering voice as they went up the stairs.

Harry sighed. "Lucius Malfoy rarely makes idle threats."

"Then we might be in even more trouble," said Susan with a grimace. "I'm really glad I'm not going to be here all alone…"

"Yeah. Glad." Harry's shoulders slumped.

Mr. Malfoy didn't make idle threats – but he didn't go back on his offers either. And maybe, Harry thought, it would be best if he took him up on it.

OOO

A/N: So matters get simultaneously better and worse – and an ending is coming very, very soon.