A Snake in the Nest Chapter Fifteen
The next few days were full of rumors and theories on the writing on the wall. For the most part, the children were free of suspicion, as most of the other students were of the opinion that it had to be an older student, or an adult.
One theory was that it was Sirius Black, but Cooro quashed it whenever he heard it, spreading the 'fact' that he was still in Russia. He privately told the others that the day Sirius went to Russia "will be the day I clip my wings and join Slytherin."
Nana was the only one who winced at the analogy. The others didn't really know the implications of clipping Anima wings.
Other theories ranged from truly bizarre, like Lockhart being behind it all, to the rather interesting idea that Snape was the one. Hermione had scoffed, and told them that as soon as she could get her hands on a copy of Hogwarts, A History, she could tell them what was really happening.
"I know I read something about it, I just can't remember what." This exasperated her, and if the subject came up, she was liable to fits of annoyance.
Nana was ignoring the whole thing as much as possible, and concentrated on her studies. Now that she looked back at the DADA curriculum, there were several gaping holes in pretty much everything they'd learned. When she'd said as much to the boys one night, Cooro had pulled her into a hug.
"Welcome to the conspiracy. We're glad to have you." He and the others had proceeded to tell her what Remus had said about Lockhart, and made plans to look into his stories for things to discredit him.
"It's not like we're out to ruin him, per say, more just… wanting the truth." Ron said when she looked uncomfortable. There wasn't much research to do anyway, as Hermione was always in the library, and they knew she wouldn't believe without proof.
Cooro was now almost a celebrity to the ghosts of Hogwarts, and they sought him out for conversations whenever he was free. He enjoyed it, and the others, especially Hermione, found their stories interesting. The Fat Friar, especially, was full of tales.
"My real name was Moriarty, but I was called Mort, usually. I died in my sleep one night, but I wanted to keep helping people, so I stayed on Earth. Eventually, I found my way here, and I've never left." He had an excellent memory as well, and remembered the Marauders pranks, which he would share frequently.
Nothing happened, though, really, until the next Wednesday, in History of Magic, of all things.
Now, Cooro and Husky had grown to not exactly enjoy History, but tolerate it with more patience than most of the student body. Hermione always took notes, of course, and Senri, well, it was difficult to tell if he was listening at all.
Today, however, Hermione wasn't taking notes. Instead, she stared at their teacher in silence for half an hour, before raising her hand.
This was unheard of, and it quickly caught the attention of their teacher.
"Yes, Miss…?"
"Granger, Professor. I was wondering if you could tell us about the Chamber of Secrets." The students around her stared in awe (or at least woke up). The Professor blinked.
"This is a history class, not mythology. I deal in facts." He began to talk again, but Hermione raised her hand again. Nana finally woke up, and Husky explained the situation to her. She quickly roused the others that were sleeping, and soon the entire class was watching.
"Don't legends always have some basis in fact, though, sir?" Harry glanced at the teacher, who seemed amazed that someone had the gall to interrupt him. Twice.
"Well, yes, I suppose. But that legend is so fanciful and ludicrous that-" he stopped, looking at the class that was now watching him as though what he said was their only chance of survival.
Probably the most attention a class has paid in all his years. Neville thought in amusement. He muttered this in Ron's ear, who snorted.
"Oh, very well…" They sat in silence, hanging on his every word, as he told of the legend. He finished in an annoyed manner.
"This whole thing is nonsense. The school has been searched many times, and there is no evidence that Slytherin ever built a thing. It is a tale for the gullible." Hermione raised her hand.
"What is the 'horror within the Chamber'?" Binns waved a hand dismissively.
"Some sort of monster, which only Slytherin's heir could control." The class looked around, nervous.
"I tell you, it doesn't exist!" Cooro frowned, considering Myrtle's story. What if it had been this monster?
"But sir, if the Chamber can only be controlled by his heir, no one else could find it, could they?" Seamus asked, not bothering raising his hand. Several students nodded.
"Nonsense, O'Flaherty. If no headmaster or headmistress has ever found it-"
"But wouldn't you need Dark Magic to open it?" Nana asked, half to herself.
"Just because a wizard doesn't use Dark Magic, doesn't mean they can't. If even Dumbledore couldn't-"
"But maybe you have to be related to him. A family trait of sorts." Husky pointed out, and Ron nodded.
"There's plenty of old magic that won't work unless you're family-"
"Enough!" Binns yelled, exasperated. "There is no Chamber! It is a myth! There is no evidence that he built as much as a secret broom cupboard in the school! Now, we will return to solid, undisputable fact, if you please." And he returned to his lecture.
The class fell back into its' doze.
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"So it was Slytherin himself that started the Pureblood mania. Why am I not surprised?" Ron asked the group at large as they walked to dinner.
As Ron continued to talk, Husky noted that Harry paled bit, especially at the part where he said he'd go home if he'd been put in Slytherin. Husky raised an eyebrow at his reaction, but didn't say a word.
A first year by the name of Colin Creevy greeted them, and tried to say something else, but was swept up by the crowd before he could speak.
"What was that about?" Hermione asked, gazing at the place where the boy had disappeared.
"Probably heard some rumors and couldn't wait to tell him, is all." The eight of them were nearing the corridor where Mrs. Norris was attacked when another student neared them. It was a Hufflepuff, Justin Flinch-Fletchley, who looked very nervous when he saw Harry.
"You four are to go to see the Headmaster right away. The password's Lemon Drop." Nana giggled at that, and he seemed become more frightened than before, practically running down the corridor.
"Anyone else notice he avoided the corridor with the writing?" Harry asked dully as the other four walked away with loud greetings.
They reached the gargoyle that hid the entrance to Dumbledore's office, and called out the password. It hopped aside, and they walked in. Cooro called his thanks to it as he passed.
"Honestly Cooro, do you need to talk to every animate object you come across?" Husky asked. Cooro was rather infamous for greeting the armor and portraits.
"Well, it's only polite." They continued to bicker, while Nana rolled her eyes and knocked on the inner door. A voice called them to enter, and she pushed it open, shushing the boys as she did.
Inside, the headmaster smiled at them from behind his desk. He gestured for them to sit. Senri remained standing while the others took the invitation, leaning on the wall instead.
"So, what did you need, Professor?" Nana asked first, while Cooro and Husky continued their argument in muted tones.
"I need, or rather, Remus needs, to tell you something that cannot be entrusted to a letter. He will arrive by Floo in a moment. Meanwhile, would you care for a lemon drop?" He held out a tin of them, and Nana giggled, accepting one.
Cooro, with his perfect food sensors, looked up and took one as well, smiling happily and thanking Dumbledore. Husky rolled his eyes and accepted one as well. Senri didn't.
Maybe he doesn't like sweets…Cooro thought, just as the fire turned green and Remus fell through, brushing ash off of his robes. He looked exhausted, and it reminded them all that the full moon had been only a few days before.
"Remus!" He'd barely stood when Cooro barreled into him, nearly knocking him into the fire again.
"Cooro, be careful!" Nana admonished, but she too hugged Remus as he stepped away from the hazardous flames. The other two called out greetings from their places, and Remus waved at them tiredly.
"Hello. I wish this visit was with better circumstances. I managed to find the man responsible for the portal, but I didn't get to him in time. He has gone… off the grid, you might say. No one has seen him in at least a month." he sighed. Husky got the feeling he wouldn't like this next part.
"Now, I knew all of this a few days ago. The reason I'm telling you four is because when I searched his home- don't give me that look Nana- I found plans to try the portal again. I believe he is in the Forest at the moment." Husky frowned.
"Why not go in and find him then? A forest can be searched." Remus shook his head, and Dumbledore answered for him.
"The Forest is, among other things, full of strange magic and creatures. Many would kill or do worse to a wizard that ran into them. No, there are other ways to find this Jerard, which are far less dangerous." Remus nodded, though Cooro saw the barest hint of amusement in his eyes.
"The problem is that while he is there, he may find some link to you four. Inside the castle and on the grounds, you are safe, but I want you to stay away from the Forest at all costs, and be in the castle by nightfall." Nana wondered absently if that included flying, but didn't ask. After all, if she didn't ask, they couldn't say no, could they?
"Fine. Sounds easy enough." Husky said, sounding a bit bored. They were asking them to obey rules that were already, well, rules. It was almost a waste of time.
"There is one more thing. I ask that you do not tell the others about this yet." Dumbledore held up his hands as they began to protest.
"I realize you wish to tell them, but it is as much for their safety as yours." Husky glanced at Cooro, raising an eyebrow. Then they both turned to the adults, speaking simultaneously.
"How?" Remus snorted a bit as they deadpanned, but Dumbledore didn't look as amused. Nana thought she could see amusement, though, in his eyes.
"Think. If something was threatening them, wouldn't you go out and defend them by any means necessary? I don't want them going out and risking their lives." Husky sighed. He could see his point, but that didn't make him happy.
Remus saw their grudging acceptance, nodded, and continued to speak.
"In other news, Sirius has now converted several old friends to his side. There are quite a few that didn't really believe he could do such a thing anyway, and questioning under Verituserum told them all they needed to know. He'll be back at my home in a few weeks." Cooro grinned, happy that Sirius was gathering support.
"That is all. Go on ahead to dinner." They left, and behind them, a painting spoke up.
"So it's true? Sirius was innocent?" The door closed before they could look back and see who it was.
At dinner, the others told of their adventure with the spiders and Myrtle's bathroom.
"She seemed right disappointed when we said we didn't know where you were, mate." Ron said at the end of it. Cooro nodded, silently reminding himself to go and say hello soon.
"And then Percy came along. He seemed right annoyed that we were there," he added, munching on a piece of bread.
They waited until they were in the Common Room to tell them why they'd been called to Dumbledore's office. Leaving out the entire first part, Cooro told them of the news about Sirius instead.
"Brilliant! If he gets enough people on his side, maybe they'll clear him!"
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Sirius was annoyed. He'd gotten to most of the people that he wanted to know of his innocence, and they in turn were telling others. All told, he should be happy.
But he wasn't. There were a few more he wanted to tell, and they were in one of the most un-accessible places in Britain: Hogwarts.
He knew it was ridiculous; all he had to really do was owl them, or ask Dumbledore to say something, or just wait for word to spread. But McGonagall and Hagrid… he wanted to tell them in person, as though it would make him more believable.
He crept, in dog form, towards the hut, where he could see lights on. He held the scrap of paper in his mouth, swallowing nervously. Then he shook his head. He was a Gryffindor, was he not?
He trotted to the door, and scratched on it, trying to look as pitiful as he could. It was raining heavily, so this wasn't difficult. The door opened, and Hagrid filled the doorway, looking down at him in surprise. He moved aside, letting Sirius in.
Sirius looked around, noting the place didn't look very different than it had when he'd been in school. Fang, who sat in the corner, raised his head, but lay back down again. He grinned as well as he could in dog shape.
At least someone remembers me, even if it is Fang. Behind him, Hagrid was setting down a bowl of water. He turned, ignored the bowl, and set the paper down carefully. Hagrid eyed it, then picked it up, moving over to the fire to read.
Sirius watched his eyes widen, then tighten in anger. He wasn't sure what to make of it, and slipped closer to the door, just in case. Hagrid turned to him, an unreadable expression on his face.
"Yer not a dog, are ya?" He shook his head slowly, otherwise not moving. Hagrid moved forward, still holding the parchment.
"Change. Now." He did so, and stood there, hands outstretched in a gesture of surrender. Hagrid was still for a brief moment, then pulled Sirius forward into a bone crushing hug.
"Yer an idiot. Why not tell someone?" He asked, releasing Sirius and turning to the kitchen, making a pot of tea.
"Insanity tends to ruin people's ability to listen, and I'm about as insane as they come." Hagrid laughed, and after a moment, so did Sirius.
They talked, of his escape and Hagrid's job and whatever else came up. Finally, Harry came up.
"No, I haven't talked to him in person. Those weird photos did, though, so he at least knows I'm not a bad guy. I want to see him, though." he grinned wryly.
"Unfortunately, I'm supposed to be out of the country right now." Hagrid nodded, then glanced out the window.
"You'd better go now, before someone notices." Sirius nodded, and resumed his dog form, nudging the door open and slipping into the night. But he didn't head off the grounds yet; he had another stop to make before he left.