Chapter 15

Ewan was now regretting telling Harry no. Everyone had departed from the Great Hall only to find, Harry, Ron and Hermione in the middle of a corridor with the words:

THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN

OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE.

'Maybe if I was with him, this won't have happened.' He thought before he was ushered away by the teachers.

The next day was a Hogsmeade weekend, with Ewan mainly spent with Katie. The two were getting close. Not what anyone would call a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, but it was defiantly a start.

After the weekend past and school started, rumors started flying around about the Chamber of Secrets. Students were constantly talking about the attack on Mrs. Norris. Ewan reluctantly helped Hermione in the library, looking up about the Chamber.

A few days later she came back to him telling him what she found out from her History of Magic class.

"So you're saying that Salazar Slytherin built a chamber, and now it has been opened by his heir?"

"Yes" answered Hermione.

"And… it holds a monster?"

"Yes."

"And you believe that?"

"I don't know"

Ewan sighed. "Okay, well I can't keep you three from investigating, so I'm not going to try just…just be careful, and don't get in trouble."

***

With Harry, being careful, wasn't possible. During the first match of the season, Gryffindor vs. Slytherin, a rogue bludger attacked him, broke his arm, and then tried to pummel him to death. Thankfully, Fred and George were able to contain it. Ewan rushed to Harry's side on the pitch.

"You okay?" he said worriedly.

"Yeah, but my arm is broken." harry said wincing in pain.

Just then Professor Lockhart came to Harry's other side.

"Oh no, not you" Harry mumbled.

"Poor boy, doesn't know what he's saying. Not to worry, Harry. I'm about to fix your arm."

"How about you don't and say you did?" growled Ewan. Quickly but gently, Ewan helped Harry up, walking him to the hospital wing.

"Wait! What about his arm?" said Professor Lockhart.

"I believe its Madam Pomfrey's job to fix it!" Ewan shouted back to the Professor.

Soon Madam Pomfrey had Harry's arm fix and they walked together to dinner.

The next morning, Collin Creevy was found with his camera, petrified. Hermione had found out that the Chamber had been opened before, fifty years ago. Ewan didn't want to be involved in their investigation, so he went off to the Ravenclaw tower, only to find people buying and selling talismans, amulets, and other supposed protective devices.

***

"Before, when Slytherin opened the Chamber?" asked Ewan who was talking to Hermione.

"No, his heir opened the chamber."

"Wait, what?" Ewan was confused.

"Salazar Slytherin built the chamber, his heir opened it, and now the heir has taught someone else to do it. But we won't know for sure until-"

"Until what?"

"Nothing." She said walking away, like she almost said something she wasn't supposed too.

***

In December, there were notices all around the school of a new dueling club. Ewan and the other Ravenclaw's all attended.

"Gather round, Gather round, can everyone see me, can you all hear me?" said Professor Lockhart, who was running the club with Professor Snape. "In light of the Dark events of late, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little dueling club."

After a few more minutes of Lockhart talking about himself, he and Snape had a little duel to show the students. They bowed to each other. At the count of three, Snape cast Experillimus at Lockhart, making him not only lose his wand but fly three feet in the air. Ewan and the other Ravenclaw boys laughed, cheering on Snape.

After little skirmishes against students, Snape suggested that Draco Malfoy and Harry be an example for the other students. After a few painful curses to each other, Draco cast a snake in front of Harry. What happened next surprised everyone. Harry spoke to the snake.

The Great Hall was silent. All eyes on Harry. Harry, Ron, and Hermione fled the Great Hall.

'Harry can talk to snakes!?'

The next day, the same Hufflepuff boy that the snake almost attacked from last night's dueling club, was found petrified along with Nearly Headless Nick. Many students now thought Harry was the hair to Sytherin. Most said he had to be because only dark wizards talked to snakes. Ewan couldn't even talk to snakes.

Peeves was found singing songs about Harry in the halls. Fred and George were making it worse by saying: "Make your way for the Heir of Slytherin, seriously evil wizard coming through…" Ewan almost laughed at that… almost. However, though the twins found this all funny everyone else was scared, they all seemed to be wondering what could cause a ghost to be petrified.

Finally Christmas arrived. Ewan was going home, Harry stayed with Ron and Hermione, of course. Ewan's 15th birthday was the day they went home, and he couldn't be happier. In fact a lot of people were happier, with the whole Chamber of Secrets thing going on.

Christmas was quiet at the Tyler house that year. The usual gifts exchanged and the Christmas dinner still delicious. Ewan wondered what Harry was doing. 'Probably getting in trouble…'

***

His assumption was proven correct when Harry told him what they did while he was away. They were in an unused classroom, Ewan sitting on a desk table while Ron and Harry told them their tale.

Not only did they make and drink Polyjuice potion to impersonate other students, but they also snuck into the Slytherin common room, and interrogated another student. The worst part was: was Hermione was turned into a cat and was currently in the Hospital wing.

Ewan snorted, he tried to stifle his laugh. "So she's all….," he waved his hand over his face, "…furry?" He couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"It's not funny" said Ron.

"No your right, not funny… Hilarious!" Ewan, laughing so hard tears welled up in his eyes.

***

By February, Hermione was de-whiskered and out of the hospital wing. Ewan was ever busy with quidditch, schoolwork, and spending time with Katie that he didn't have much time with Harry.

There was a Hogsmeade trip on valentine weekend. Ewan went on his first real date with Katie. The next morning, Ewan waited for Katie at the Gryffindor entrance. Together they went to the Great hall, holding hands. They were shocked to see the castle: the walls were covered in pink flowers, heart shaped confetti was falling from the ceiling in the Great Hall, and winged dwarfs were seen giving out singing messages and cards.

Ewan thought it was gruesome sight. Katie thought it was cute.

"Well, sorry for being a miser then" he said to her. "You didn't get me one of those singing telegrams or a card, did you?"

"No" she laughed

"Thank, Merlin" he mumbled under his breath.

Unfortunately, a few girls did. Two Ravenclaw forth years, a Gryffindor second year and a Hufflepuff sixth year. The last one even sung a song. The dwarf was half way through the song when Ewan grabbed it by its throat and said if it sung another word to him, he'd turn him into a stuffed cat.

"You didn't have to be so callous, Ewan." Katie said through her laughter, when he told her.

"It sung to me!"' complained Ewan, "In a hallway full of people!"

Katie didn't stop laughing till he dropped her off at the Gryffindor tower that night.

***

During the Easter holidays, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were finally able to drag Ewan away from studying in the library.

"We need your advice." said Hermione.

"Okay." Ewan said curiously.

"We have to pick our next year's electives." said Harry with his form in his hand.

"Oh! Oh that's easy." said Ewan. "Pick what you like to do. For example, if you like Magical Creatures pick Care of Magical Creatures, if you like knowing the future, pick Divination. If you want to know more about muggle's, which I would only recommend for you Ron, is Muggle Studies.

"What did you pick?" asked Ron

"Ancient runes and Arithmancy. Arithmancy is a branch of magic concerned with the magical properties of numbers. Ancient Runes is mostly theoretical subject that studies the ancient runic scripts. Both classes are hard. You should take them Hermione; I think you'll like them."

"What about Ron and I?" asked Harry.

"Well I wouldn't recommend taking Divination, it's described as "one of the most imprecise branches of magic". For you Ron, I recommend Care of Magical Creatures and Muggle Studies. For you Harry, I recommend Care of Magical Creature and Ancient Runes. You may have a hard time with Ancient runes but I can help you and I'm sure if Hermione takes the class with you she'll help also."

"Well, I'm using Ewan's advice." said Hermione.

"But then we all won't have the same classes." complained Ron.

"It's not about having classes with your friends. I mean, I don't have the same classes with all my friends." said Ewan.

"I think I'm going to take Ewan's advice also" said Harry.

"Fine… at least I'll see you two in the other main classes." said Ron.

Ewan smiled said bye to the three then headed back to the library to finish studying.

***

Ewan was in the library with Hermione during the next Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff match. She had found out some information she wanted to share with him. Ewan, a little disappointed for having miss the match, found Hermione behind a bookshelf of Magical Creatures.

"Why do you have a mirror?" he asked.

"Look!" said thrusting a piece of paper in his face.

"Basilisk?" he asked her confused.

"Keep reading!" she growled.

Ewan was stunned by what he read. "…but how?"

"Pipes" she whispered.

There was a slithering noise coming from the entrance to the library. Both were deadly quiet, their breathing shallow.

"Was there anyone in the library when you came in?" Hermione mouthed to Ewan

Ewan shook his head 'no'.

Hermione moved the mirror to see the other side, Ewan looked through it also. His breathing intensified, his heart pounding against his chest. Suddenly, they saw big, yellow eyes, and then a black oblivion claimed him.

***

When Ewan woke up all he saw was Professor Sprout face. He blinked a few times.

"Wh...What happened?" his voice was hoarse, his body felt numb.

"You were petrified dear." said Madam Pomfrey, handing him a potion.

"H-how l-long?"

"About two months." answered the Professor.

"Two months! Holy crap!"

"Language, Mr. Tyler." warned Madam Pomfrey.

"Sorry… Oh! Hermione! She was with me!" Ewan said concerned.

"She is starting to wake now, now drink that potion." said Madam Pomfrey. Ewan sniffed the potion then took a sip. Slowly he fell back to sleep, having calm and peaceful dreamless sleep.

Mrs. Norris, Collin, Justin, Penelope, Hermione, and Ewan all made a full recovering. Ron and Harry told Hermione and him what happened while they were out. Harry had fought a basilisk, killed it, and destroyed the diary that was controlling Ginny Weasley.

Both Ron and Harry expressed how concerned they were over Hermione and him, coming everyday they could to see them in the hospital wing, finally discovering the paper about the basilisk and finding the hidden chamber. Ewan was shocked to hear about Aragog and that a house-elf bewitched the blugder to attack harry to protect him, Harry then freed the house-elf using a sock. Dobby, the house-elf, promised never to do it again.

Later, when Harry and Ewan were alone, Harry told him how scared he was to almost lose him. Ewan held Harry in a tight embrace for a few minutes, neither speaking, neither wishing to go anywhere else.

There was a huge feast, celebrating the end of the attacks forever and the restoration of those who have been petrified. Everyone was in pajamas, the feast lasted all night. Hagrid turned up early in the morning. Gryffindor won the house cup because of Ron and Harry's actions. Exams were canceled which made everyone happy except Hermione, and Professor Lockhart was in the hospital, trying to get his memory back. Everyone, including the teachers, were happy to have him gone. At the end of it, Katie gave Ewan his first ever kiss, giving Ewan the best day in his life.

The last days of the school year were relaxing, defense classes were canceled, and Lucius Malfoy was fired as school governor, and Ginny was back to normal. The day came for everyone to go home. Ewan, Harry, Katie, Fred, George, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny all shared a large compartment together. They played exploding snap, set off fireworks, and practiced a bit of magic. Ewan was also able to convince Katie to come over some time during the summer. Together they all walked through the gateway to the Muggle world.