Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Sailor Moon.

Heirs of the Founders

Chapter 10

Hagrid's Pet

The Heir of Slytherin did not attack another student for the remainder of the holidays. Raye, Serena, and Amy were always on the alert during guard duty. They were searching for signs of the Chamber of Secrets. Perhaps if they were able to find the entrance, they could hide and wait fort the Heir to shot up and catch him in the act. However, how would they be able to find it in the school, as large as it was? They did not even know what to look for. There was not much excitement for the rest of the holidays, except for Raye. While she was reading in the common room, she heard a strange clicking noise from a box n the corner. Curious, she went to look at it. She expected to see a toy that may have belonged to someone in her house, but instead, she found a set of eight black eyes looking up at her. Two seconds later, she realized the thing was a spider. What scared her most was that the spider could talk. It turned around and said, quite clearly, "Hello."

Raye dropped the box and screamed as loud as she could. People hurried down to see what was the matter.

"Hey, what's going on?"

Raye could only point at the box. When Rubeus Hagrid saw that the box was opened, he ran to it and closed it.

"Rubeus—Rubeus, that thing is yours?" she demanded.

"Yes, it's my pet," said Hagrid. "I know he looks scary, but he won't hurt you."

"You can only have a cat, owl, or toad in Hogwarts!" she shouted. "That—that thing is not a cat, owl or toad—it's a—a—where did you get it anyway?"

"Someone sold him to me," replied Hagrid.

"You've got to get rid of it!" cried Raye.

"I can't," said Hagrid, "Aragon's just a baby!"

"Just take him outside," said insisted Raye. "Before it eats something!"

"Aragog won't hurt anybody!" Hagrid insisted. "Please, Raye, I'll move him out of the common room. I'll keep him in the dungeons. He's all I got since my father died!"

"But you still can't keep him in the school…anyone could find him!"

"Aragog is harmless," said Rubeus. "Harold's been helpin' me with him. We feed him table scraps."

Raye groaned. Hagrid was always getting in trouble, and somehow, Hagrid managed to drag her brother in it too.

"So...that's why you leave with food in your pockets after every meal," Raye said, shaking her head in dismay.

"Please let me keep him!" begged Rubeus.

"He's getting too big to keep in the school. You can just take him outside…he'll be happier out there."

"But it's the middle of winter!" Rubeus cried.

"It looked hairy enough to me," moaned Raye. "He'll be fine."

The clicking from the box was getting louder. Rubeus opened the box, causing Raye to gasp and look away. "Calm down, Aragog." He said softly before looking back at Raye. "Sorry, he's been acting restless lately. I don't know why…"

"Maybe he's tired of being in that box all the time!" Raye said. "Was he always that big?"

"Well, no," said Rubeus, "I had him since he was an egg…" Fat tears came out of the big boy's eyes and slid down his cheeks.

"Oh, all right, I guess you can keep him a little longer," said Raye, "but not in the tower, all right! Find another hiding spot for him, but if he gets too big for that box, you've got to let him outside!"

"Oh, thank you, Raye!" said Rubeus. "Yes, I promise I'll take him outside once he gets too big."

"Now hurry up and hide him somewhere before I change my mind," said Raye, motioning him to leave.

Thanking Raye again, Rubeus left the common room with the box containing his "pet."

"What was in there, Raye?" asked a curious seventh year.

"You don't want to know," Raye shivered and went upstairs, hoping she would never see Aragog again.

--

When rest of the students returned from home, they could not believe what had happened to Minerva. Teachers escorted their students to and from each class, club and team meetings were temporarily cancelled and everyone were to come to meals together. It wasn't a school anymore. It was a prison. Even though the thought of the school being closed down was upsetting, some students would rather be home instead. Hogwarts was no longer a fun place to be.

O.WL's was getting closer and closer and many of the fifth years were becoming anxious. Myrtle was one of them. Even after interviewing with Professor Dumbledore, she was not sure what it was that she wanted to do. There were too many options for her out there but she did not have enough skills. History of Magic was her best subject, but besides being a historian, there wasn't much for her. The teachers poured on the homework and gave difficult lessons to prepare their students. Only in many cases, it did more harm than good. Professor Slughorn gave a lesson on difficult anti-venoms, though the lesson was interesting and vital, the students wondered how they were going to do their potions without burning their fingers. Making anti-venoms were tricky.

"There are many dangerous creatures out there deadly venoms," said Slughorn. "Acromantulas, basilisks, manticors and the nundu of Africa. However, there has been no known anti-venom for the nundu's dangerous breath, but I always believed an overlarge breath mint would do the trick."

A few Gryffindors laughed at their witty potion master's joke whereas the Slytherins shook their heads. How could their head of house act so "Un-Slytherinish?"

"Now then, I wish for us to make anti-venoms from the most potent poisons," said Slughorn, "but it is dangerous, expensive and difficult to acquire poisons from beasts such as acromantulas or basilisks."

Tom shifted slightly by his cauldron. Raye wanted to laugh as she thought about Hagrid's pet. She had told him to get rid of him. It was spring now and his monstrous spider for a pet had to have been twice the size than she had seen him. However, she strongly doubted if he had taken her advice and took him outside. She somehow wished she knew were Aragog was so she could tell Professor Slughorn this. Perhaps he would give her extra credit.

"So instead, we'll make anti-venoms from doxies," said Slughorn. "They prefer the cold but they infest houses. They prefer the draperies."

"Professor, what kind of symptoms do you get when a doxy bites you?" inquired Raye.

"The slightest case would be dizziness," Professor Slughorn replied. "But they can be as extreme as vomiting and vomiting."

"Oh, disgusting," muttered Raye, wishing she hadn't asked.

"So, when you make your potion, try to think which ingredients will be best to treat your symptoms," Professor Slughron told the class. "I've placed numbers of ingredients you can use. Be creative. All right, go ahead and start. You have until the end of the hour to finish."

Myrtle looked at the small bottle of doxy venom and struggled to get started. Noticing this, Professor Slughorn volunteered Tom to help her.

"Tom, m'boy, you mind helping Myrtle with her potion?" he asked.

"Not at all, Professor," said Tom, gathering his things and walking to her cauldron. Olive and Myrtle were both red, Olive with jealousy and Myrtle with embarrassment. She was happy that he was helping her, but she was nervous that she would make a mistake in the potion.

'Tom, what are you doing?' Olive thought. 'Helping that Mudblood?' Too focused on her jealousy, she didn't notice what she was reaching for, and accidentally cut herself on her knife. "ouch!"

"Are you all right, Miss Hornby?" asked Slughron.

"Yes, Professor," lied Olive.

With Tom's help, Myrtle was able to get through the potion. Tom explained the use of each potion ingredient before he told her to add it. Myrtle wasn't able to keep from smiling. Tom was at her side for the whole of class hour.

"Here, put in seven caraway seeds." He handed her a box of seeds.

"Why seven?" Myrtle asked.

"It's the most powerful number."

"It is?"

"You don't take Arithmancy?" he inquired.

"No, just Runes and Divination," she answered.

"Arithmancy is helpful for potions," Tom explained. "All right, put in some powdered ginger root."

"Oh, right, ginger!" Myrtle laughed. "Ginger really helps with nausea and motion sickness!"

"I bet you wished you had some ginger on you when you got sick on the boats, eh, Myrtle?" asked Olive snidely.

Myrtle rolled her eyes at Olive and smiled back at Tom. "All right, what next?"

"Two teaspoons of horse blood—horse blood is used in snake anti venom."

"Wow," said Myrlte as she carefully measured out two teaspoons of the blood. "I suppose that's where the phrase 'healthy as a horse' comes from!" She laughed and Olive started shreading a daisy root. Watching Myrtle cozy up to Tom was making her blood was boiling faster than her potion. Finally, the hour was finished and Slughorn went to check on how everyone did. Slughorn was not surprised that Tom and Myrtle's potion was the best.

"Well done, Myrtle, Tom," said Professor Slughorn.

"Oh, it was all Tom, Professor," Myrtle insisted. "He knew exactly what to use!"

"You did remember the bit about ginger," said Tom.

"This is very close to the real antidote to doxy venom here," said Slughorn. "Well done, well done."

When class ended, Myrtle hoped she could spend a little time with Tom, but Olive went to him and grabbed his arm. "Tom, let's go!" she glared at Myrtle before pulling him away.

"Wait, I need to put my stuff way," said Tom, throwing his things into his bag and following her outside. "What is your problem?"

"What was that about?" said Myrtle as she placed her things back into her bag."

"She's jealous," said Raye. "You know she's dating him."

"I don't know what he sees in her," said Myrtle. "He can do so much better. I wanted to talk to him."

--

"What is your problem?" Tom demanded once they were in the hall.

"What do you mean?" said Olive. "I saw you putting your head together with that Mudblood! What were you thinking?"

"Relax," Tom muttered, "Professor Slughorn asked me to help her. That's all."

"You could've said no!" Olive snapped. "You're not supposed to be helping mudbloods, Tom Riddle! You're supposed to be killing them!"

"Shh!" Tom hissed as someone walked by, and heard. Rufus Scrimgeour paused and looked at the pair curiously. What did he just overhear Olvie say about muggleborns? Olive looked at Scrimgeour and narrowed her eyes.

"What are you staring at, Scrimgeour?" Olive demanded.

"Let's go," said Tom, taking her arm and pulling into the prefect's break room and finding it empty, he locked the door behind him. "You've got to keep your mouth shut! Scrimgeour just heard you!"

"Like he would figure out who you are," Olive said, shaking her head.

"Don't underestimate Scrimgeour," said Tom. "I know he's taking all this seriously…he may be on his way to Dippet's office right now. I've got to stop him."

Olive chuckled. "You're being paranoid, Tom. He knows I hate mudbloods."

"Yes, but he doesn't know I do!" Tom said. "Don't you understand, Olive? I've had the whole school fooled thinking I'm a model student! They see me come to class on time, I follow the rules…"

"Most of them," said Olive.

"Just keep your mouth shut," said Tom. "I won't let you ruin my reputation or my destiny, you hear me?"

"Yes, loud and clear," Olive grumbled.

"Now, I've got to go and do something about Scrimgeour," said Tom and before Olive could say a word, he said, "Without you!"

"Well, fine!" she grumbled as he left her alone.

--

Tom was right about Scrimgeour. Scrimgeour suspected him now but he hadn't gone to the headmaster about what he heard yet. He was soaking himself in the prefects bathtub, pondering on what he had heard Olive say.

"You're not supposed to be helping Mudbloods, Riddle! You're supposed to be killing them!"

It was no secret that Olive Hornby was a bully and she hated muggleborns. When she passed one in the hall, she always had an insult ready. Her favorite person to tease was Myrtle Mason. She liked to make her feel miserable. However, Tom Riddle never seemed to share the blood prejudices of his house. If he hadn't been in Slytherin colored robes, no one would be able to guess he was a Slytherin. He was bold like a Gryffindor, loyal like a Hufflepuff and smart like a Ravenclaw. The only Slytherin trait he showed was that he had fierce determination. When he said he would do something, no matter how difficult it seemed, he ended up doing it. He was not rude to anybody, even Muggleborns. He was polite, charming, and brilliant. Many wizards, Rufus included, was jealous of him. But his jealousy should not be the reason to tell Professor Dippet what he had heard. He did not even know what Olive meant by it. Perhaps she was trying to get Tom to act more prejudiced against muggleborns, like the rest of Slytherin house. But she had said the word "killing." Was she so serious that she wanted Tom to kill the muggleborns? Rufus closed his eyes and held his breath as he submerged his body in the water. While he was under water, he did not hear the weird, made up language spoken in the bathroom. Then Rufus' popped out of the water. It came to him. He had figured it out. Tom was only pretending to act like a model student, but Rufus saw the worried look on Tom's face when he found Olive and Tom together. It could only mean one thing.

"Riddle's the Heir of Slytherin!" Rufus shouted.

He had to tell someone quick, but before he could get out of the tub, he saw the reflection of a giant snake's face in the water, bearing big yellow eyes. He gasped and his body became rigid and he sank in the water like a stone.

"You're right, Scrimgeour," said Tom Riddle. "I am the Heir of Slytherin, but you're not going to be able to tell anybody." The brilliant and charming young wizard grinned mischievously, patting the basilisk's face before exiting the bathroom.

--

At breakfast the next morning, a frantic Eddy Macmillan ran to the Great Hall. He was wearing a bathrobe and his feet were wet. "There's been another attack! It's Rufus Scrimgeour—I think he's dead!"

Raye dropped her spoon into her porridge and stood up straight. No, not Rufus. How could Rufus fall prey to the monster of Slytherin? Rufus was always careful when he walked into the halls. Raye would never suspect this would happen to Rufus.

"No," she said. "NO!" she went to Eddy. "Where is he? Tell me what happened!"

"I was going to take a bath this morning, but it was already full." Answered Eddy rapidly. I found Rufus in the water. He's petrified like the others, but I don't know if he's dead because he was in the water! Maybe he drowned when the monster attacked him!"

"No, don't say that!" said Raye tearfully, shaking her head.

The professors came to Eddy and told him to lead them to the body. Raye attempted to follow but Professor Dumbledore stopped her. "It's best that you don't come, Raye."

"What about me?" demanded Brutus. "Rufus is my brother!"

"Very well, Brutus," sighed Professor Dumbledore and the professors went to look at Rufus' body. Raye remained still for a minute then ran outside. Myrtle and Serena went after her, finding her on the steps outside the entrance of the school.

"Raye?" said Myrtle. "Maybe he's okay—if he's just petrified."

"Yeah," added Serena.

"But what if he drowned in the water?" Raye asked.

Myrtle and Serena had no answer. They exchanged glances and then Serena sat next to Raye.

"Wait until the teachers look him over, all right?" Serena said. "Don't jump to conclusions. Maybe the petrification kept the water from entering his body."

"That's right," said myrtle, "the other people that were petrified, they're not even breathing. It's like they're asleep."

Raye rubbed her hands together, even though she wasn't cold and she propped her elbows onto her knees, pressing her lips to her index fingers.

"You really do like him, don't you?" asked Myrtle.

"Yes," said Raye after a while. "I never told him how I felt. I didn't seem to realize until now how I felt about him. I guess I'll never get that chance."

"Hey, don't' say that!" Serena scolded, grabbing Raye's shoulder. "Listen to me Raye, Rufus is going to be fine and so will everyone else in the Hospital Wing. The Heir of Slytherin hasn't won."

"We don't know if he's all right for sure," said Raye. "And say he does get the Mandrake Draft, what he wakes up and something's wrong with him? If he's been in water that long…"

"He'll just be all pruney," said Serena optimistically.

Raye stood up, tensing her fingers and running her hands through her black hair. "I'm—I'm going to the hospital wing and I'll wait there."

"We'll come with you," volunteered Myrtle.

"thanks, but I just want to be alone," Raye said. "I want to be there when they bring him in so I'll know how he is."

Raye walked through the double oak doors and up to the infirmary. She paced the hospital wing, glancing at each form on the bed. Gwendolyn Morgan, Terrence Jordan, Jocelyn Banks, Phil Hansen and Minerva McGonagall. Now the boy she admired, Rufus Scrimgeour, became a victim. She clenched her fist. If he had drowned in the tub, she would find the Heir fo Slytherin down and make him pay. If he was still alive, she was certain she would do the same. Rufus was on his guard, telling the students not to underestimate the Heir of Slytherin. He sometimes told Raye he wanted to find the Heir himself and catch him in the act. Now Raye wanted to do it for him.

Professor Dippet and Professor Dumbledore carried Rufus into the Hospital Wing, with Brutus and Eddy right behind him.

"How is he?" Raye said at once.

"He's fine," said Professor Dumbledore, "Professor Flitwick was able to remove what little water was in his lungs. The petrification curse kept him safe from the water, amazingly."

They laid Rufus onto a bed and Raye sat next to him, peering into his amber eyes. They looked lifeless. Brutus hung at his brother's body for a while until Professor Dumbledore told him to get to class.

"I'll escort you to your class," said Dumbledore. "You shouldn't be on your. Macmillain, you might want to put some clothes on. .Miss Potter…"

"I'm staying here, Professor," Raye said firmly.

Dumbledore paused. "Well, all right, you are a prefect so you have authority to be in the halls alone, but you shouldn't take too long."

"I won't," said Raye. She waited for the room to be empty so she could be alone with Rufus. She looked down at him and put her hand over her mouth, suppressing a sob of relief and sorrow. She was glad he was all right, but she was upset that they wouldn't' be able to sit their OWL's together. She wanted to see how well he would do. What if he wouldn't get the career if he wanted because of this?

"Rufus," Raye mumbled, putting her arm across his chest and laying her head onto him. "Rufus…why did this have to happen to you?" A tear trickled out of her eye and then her face became enraged and determined. She tightened her hand around the blanket over him.

"I'm going to find out who did this to you," she said with clenched teeth. "And I'm going to make them pay…I swear it!"

TO BE CONTINUED