The double attack on Justin and Nearly Headless Nick turned what had hitherto been nervousness into real panic. Curiously, it was Nearly Headless Nick's fate that seemed to worry people most. What could possibly do that to a ghost? people asked each other; what terrible power could harm someone who was already dead? There was almost a stampede to book seats on the Hogwarts Express so that students could go home for Christmas.
Draco, however, was not rushing. He had decided weeks ago that he would be staying behind this year and as such, his friends Crabbe and Goyle would stay as well. During breakfast just before the other students would be off to the trains, Draco received a letter from his owl.
Dear Draco,
As you have decided to stay at school this Christmas, your father and I have made plans to fly to Romania. Lucius has told me that there is a district with pure blood wizards only, and a party with only the most royal of bloodlines. I must say it would be grand to get out of this dreary mansion. I find I have too much free time on my hands at late, and an outing would be most beneficial.
If you change your mind about coming home, there is an extra seat on the train for you. I have your presents ready to be sent by owl on Christmas. Your father sends his love, and asks you to behave during the holidays.
Your loving Mother,
Narcissa Malfoy
Draco smiled at the letter from his mom, but even her words could not sway him from staying at school. He would find the time to approach Harry Potter without either of their goons to follow.
One morning Draco woke early in his room, he stretched wondering what had woken him. After getting dressed for the inevitable snow outside, he tip toed out of his common room, and out of the dungeons.
The snow had piled high on the grounds outside, when Draco trudged through his boots would be buried in white. He looked up to see Rancor diving through the air, chasing something in the distance. He followed his bird to see Harry Potter, his arm out stretched for Hedwig to land on it. Rancor had taken perch on one of the school flag posts, squawking angrily as his prey had gotten human protection.
Draco swayed over to Harry, a sly smile on his lips, "Your bird taking after you? Not able to stand up with 'Gryffindor courage?'"
Harry looked over to see the blonde walking towards him, "Malfoy. What do you want?"
Draco cocked his head, looking Harry over. The black haired boy had specs of snow all over his robes, his normally pale cheeks were rosy from the cold, his hair more tossed then usual. Draco clicked for his owl to come to him and with a great display of powerful wings the hawk owl swooped over Harry's head onto the outstretched arm. "You out here all by yourself, Potter? No Granger? No Weasel?"
Harry rolled his eyes, settling Hedwig's ruffled feathers. "No Crabbe? No Goyle?" Harry mocked, "Why must everything you say have that… tone?"
Draco looked confused, "What tone?"
"That I'm Draco Malfoy and I'm better then you tone."
"Well it's true isn't it?" Draco smiled evilly, to which Harry just rolled his eyes. "Besides, how else could I keep my reputation of being the great Slytherin that I am?"
"Draco…" Harry seemed actually flustered, "What did you come here for?"
Draco was a bit crest fallen, but just smirked back, "No reason. Who do you think is next on the Chamber's list?"
Harry glared at Draco, "What? No one… I hope. What does it matter?"
"Slytherin's are starting to talk, they say if the chambers have been open there is only one creature in the world that could turn a ghost into stone. It makes perfect sense too… it's a-" as Draco was just about to finish his thought, a red head popped into sight.
"Hey Harry!" Ronald called out, he spotted the blonde, "Oh… Malfoy. Castle not big enough to keep on your side?"
Draco sneered, he grabbed Harry's shirt pulling the boy closer. For a moment Draco wasn't sure what he wanted to do, but as Harry's eyes were widening at the sudden movement, he whispered in Potter's ear, "See you at Dinner, Harry." He shoved the other boy, causing some of the snow that had accumulated over Harry's robes to brush off.
Draco walked over to the red head, his hand on his hip as he came closer. "Well… Well… Weasley. Mum and Dad couldn't afford another mouth to feed, so they dumped you here?"
Ron's face contorted into anger, "Shut up, Malfoy!"
Draco pushed back a stray hair on his head, chuckling. "And there you have it, the truth. Ronald Weasley is a waste of a ineffectual family. A poor man even among the destitute."
Ron's wand swiftly came out of his pocket, pointing at Draco. "Take it back!"
Draco sighed, "Isn't that the worst of it. They haven't even gotten you a new wand." Draco tsked as he walked by Ron, patting his shoulder as he went. "I feel sorry for you Weasley."
Ron looked at Harry his eyes burning with hurt and anger, Draco could hear Ron arguing about what Harry was doing even talking to Malfoy.
Christmas soon arrived, the dungeons were filled with the scent of Christmas trees and candy canes. Crabbe and Goyle had already began stuffing their faces with the treats that the house elves had left out for them. Rancor flew in a package in his talons that landed in Draco's lap as he sat by the fire watching his friends begin opening presents.
"What's that?" Crabbe asked, as Rancor took to a perch on the top of the chair.
"Just a present. Not worth opening right now." Draco said slyly. In fact it was a present for Harry, one he intended to give face to face with the other boy. It wasn't anything expensive, at least not to a Malfoy, but he thought the other boy might actually like it.
Draco's gifts were his usual wish list worth of toys and books, and even Snape's present wasn't very note worthy. Draco yawned, putting away his things and heading down to the field where he knew Harry would be flying his owl.
He stopped seeing the Weasley's had taking their post around the boy, making it impossible for Draco to intercept Harry. He sighed, beginning to walk away when Rancor cried out diving towards the white owl. She hooted angrily, flying after him in a huff, leading them right back to Draco. Harry rushed after her, laughing as she pecked Rancor's wings while he flew.
Harry almost ran into Draco as he watched the birds over head, but Draco caught the boy in his arms. Harry yelled out in surprise, but chuckled at his clumsiness. "Are you having a good Christmas, Malfoy?"
"Ah, you seem in a good mood." Draco brushed Harry off, setting him steady on his feet.
"It's been a great Christmas." Harry looked back to hear his friends shouting for him. "Listen… I can't be long."
Draco handed Harry the wrapped present, finding the shock on Harry's face to be priceless. "Wha- I- I didn't get anything for you… Why would you give me a present? What?"
Draco shook his head, "Just take it. It's not that great, just something lying around in the attic for a while."
Harry didn't quite believe the story, but opened up the present, seeing a very ornate and NEW jewelry box. He opened the lid to see a snake curled like a bracelet. Harry looked at Draco strangely, but when the snake came to life he almost dropped the box. "What is it?" He asked Draco, looking down at the green eyed snake. It smelled the air with it's silver forked tongue, and traveled onto Harry's hand. Harry stuffed the box in his robe, running his fingers over the silver snake.
"It's just like any transfigured jewelry. It acts like a snake, but when you want it to turn back into a bracelet, just do this." Draco touched the snake letting it coil around Harry's wrist he said, "Descino." It turned back into a bracelet, it's body becoming more like a chain. "Ascino." Draco stroked the snake again, and it began to climb up Harry's sleeve.
Harry smiled at Draco, "I love magic."
They both looked up as Ginny Weasley approached, "Harry?"
Draco sneered at her, calling for his owl, he turned and left quickly.
The Great Hall looked magnificent. Not only were there a dozen frost-covered Christmas trees and thick streamers of holly and mistletoe crisscrossing the ceiling, but enchanted snow was falling, warm and dry, from the ceiling. Dumbledore led them in a few of his favorite carols, Hagrid booming more and more loudly with every goblet of eggnog he consumed. Percy, who hadn't noticed that Fred had bewitched his prefect badge so that it now read "Pinhead," kept asking them all what they were sniggering at.
Draco watched from across the table. He didn't very much like being pulled over to the Gryffindor table, but Dumbledore had insisted. He watched as the trio ran off, looking like they were up to no good. He glared as they left, finishing his helping of pumpkin pie. Crabbe and Goyle were still eating when Draco decided to leave, wanting to back to his room. He had a bad feeling that the trio had something out for him, they had stared at him whispering to each other at dinner.
He settled into the common room, putting his feet up waiting for his friends to finish gorging themselves. Draco grumbled after waiting for fifteen minutes, where could they be? He stomped out of the dungeons and began his search.
Finally he saw Crabbe and Goyle speaking to someone in the halls, he yelled out to them. "There you are! Have you two been pigging out in the Great Hall all this time? I've been looking for you."
He looked over to see they had been talking to a Weasley, this time Prefect Percy Weasley. Draco puffed himself out, sneering down his nose at the poorly dressed man, "And what're you doing down here, Weasley?"
Percy looked outraged. "You want to show a bit more respect to a school prefect!" he said. "I don't like your attitude!"
Draco sneered and motioned for Crabbe and Goyle to follow him. Goyle seemed to want to say something to Percy but caught himself. They hurried after Draco, who said as they turned into the next passage, "That Peter Weasley —"
"Percy," Crabbe corrected him automatically.
"Whatever," said Draco. "I've noticed him sneaking around a lot lately. And I bet I know what he's up to. He thinks he's going to catch Slytherin's heir single-handed."
Draco gave a short laugh, but neither Crabbe or Goyle seemed to find it funny.
Draco paused by the Common room entrance. "What's the new password again?" Draco asked, sarcastically.
"Er —" said Goyle.
"Oh, yeah — pure-blood!" said Draco, not listening, and a stone door concealed in the wall slid open. Draco marched through it, and as usual his friends followed soon after.
The Slytherin common room was a long, low underground room with rough stone walls and ceiling from which round, greenish lamps were hanging on chains. A fire was crackling under an elaborately carved mantelpiece ahead of them, and several Slytherins were silhouetted around it in high-backed chairs. Draco looked curiously at his friends who looked like first years gob-smacked by the décor of the house.
"Wait here," said Draco to Crabbe and Goyle, motioning them to a pair of empty chairs set back from the fire. "I'll go and get it my father's just sent it to me —"
Draco snatched the clipping that had landed on his desk when he first had entered the common room. "That'll give you a laugh," he said.
Crabbe read it first, but only have a short forced laugh. Then to Goyle who seemed to take in every word.
It had been clipped out of the Daily Prophet, and it said:
INQUIRY AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC
Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, was today fined fifty Galleons for bewitching a Muggle car.
Mr. Lucius Malfoy, a governor of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where the enchanted car crashed earlier this year, called today for Mr. Weasley's resignation.
"Weasley has brought the Ministry into disrepute," Mr. Malfoy told our reporter. "He is clearly unfit to draw up our laws and his ridiculous Muggle Protection Act should be scrapped immediately."
Mr. Weasley was unavailable for comment, although his wife told reporters to clear off or she'd set the family ghoul on them.
"Well?" said Draco impatiently as Goyle handed the clipping back to him. "Don't you think it's funny?"
"Ha, ha," said Goyle bleakly.
Draco rolled his eyes, putting it away. "Arthur Weasley loves Muggles so much he should snap his wand in half and go and join them," said Draco scornfully. "You'd never know the Weasleys were pure-bloods, the way they behave."
Crabbe's face was contorted with fury, but Draco was sure he was reading the boy wrong.
"What's up with you, Crabbe?" snapped Draco, what was wrong with both of them?
"Stomachache," He grunted.
"Well, go up to the hospital wing and give all those Mudbloods a kick from me," said Draco, Jeeringly. "You know, I'm surprised the Daily Prophet hasn't reported all these attacks yet," he went on thoughtfully. "I suppose Dumbledore's trying to hush it all up. He'll be sacked if it doesn't stop soon. Father's always said old Dumbledore's the worst thing that's ever happened to this place. He loves Muggle-borns. A decent headmaster would never've let slime like that Creevey in."
A new anger welled up in Draco, and he remembered all the photos of Harry the boy had taken. Draco started taking pictures with an imaginary camera and did a cruel but accurate impression of Colin: "'Potter, can I have your picture, Potter? Can I have your autograph? Can I lick your shoes, please, Potter?"'
He dropped his hands and looked at his friends, hurt by their confused and almost angry looks. "What's the matter with you two?"
Draco quirked a brow at them, as they seemed to laugh. Draco shook his head, it seemed that today they were both going to be a little slow. Maybe it was the food…
Draco sighed, it felt good to get his feelings about people that got in the way with Harry, it might feel better to get all his emotions out at once. It seemed as good a time as any with his friends not putting much forward towards a conversation.
"Saint Potter, the Mudbloods' friend," said Draco slowly. "He's another one with no proper wizard feeling, or he wouldn't go around with that jumped up Granger Mudblood. And people think he's Slytherin's heir!" Draco huffed, he didn't particularly hate mudbloods as much as he boasted, but Granger's hold on Potter was beginning to aggravate him. She always beat him in almost anything they competed in, and hearing his father bring it up didn't help him feel sorry for mudbloods.
Crabbe and Goyle continued to stare at him, looking even duller then usual. "I wish I knew who it is," said Malfoy petulantly. "I could help them."
Goyle said, "You must have some idea who's behind it all…"
"You know I haven't, Goyle, how many times do I have to tell you?" snapped Draco. "And Father won't tell me anything about the last time the Chamber was opened either. Of course, it was fifty years ago, so it was before his time, but he knows all about it, and he says that it was all kept quiet and it'll look suspicious if I know too much about it. But I know one thing — last time the Chamber of Secrets was opened, a Mudblood died. So I bet it's a matter of time before one of them's killed this time… I hope it's Granger," he said with relish. The thought of consoling Harry over the loss of his friend crossed his mind. He would then be able to take Harry under his wing.
Goyle again asked, "D'you know if the person who opened the Chamber last time was caught?"
"Oh, yeah… whoever it was, was expelled," said Malfoy. "They're probably still in Azkaban."
"Azkaban?" said Crabbe, puzzled.
"Azkaban — the wizard prison, Goyle," said Draco, looking at him in disbelief "Honestly, if you were any slower, you'd be going backward."
He shifted restlessly in his chair and said, "Father says to keep my head down and let the Heir of Slytherin get on with it. He says the school needs ridding of all the Mudblood filth, but not to get mixed up in it. Of course, he's got a lot on his plate at the moment. You know the Ministry of Magic raided our manor last week?"
Goyle's face looked like it was trying to hide a smile.
"Yeah…" said Draco, glaring at his friends. "Luckily, they didn't find much. Father's got some very valuable Dark Arts stuff. But luckily, we've got our own secret chamber under the drawing-room floor —"
"Ho!" said Crabbe suddenly.
Draco looked at him. So did Goyle. Crabbe blushed. Even his hair was turning red. His face looked odd for a moment. Draco looked between his friends, but then his eyes widened as he noticed something on Goyle's hand. It was a silver snake that had began twisting it's way down to Goyle's hand.
It was too late for Harry to hide it now, but he tucked it back up his sleeve. Looking at Draco with a look of horror.
They both jumped to their feet.
"Medicine for my stomach," Crabbe grunted, and without further ado they sprinted the length of the Slytherin common room, hurled themselves at the stone wall, and dashed up the passage, hoping against hope that Malfoy hadn't noticed anything.
Draco roared throwing a small side table against the wall. How had Harry's snake bracelet gotten on Goyle. Why would he be wearing it? Their faces… they had been using poly juice potion. That must have been how they'd done it.
Draco huffed to himself, but realized, he'd said all those things about Granger… there was no way Harry would forgive him for that.