"… fifth year, or sixth?" Padfoot asked, looking at Moony. The three of them were sitting on one of the benches on the outskirts of Hogsmeade, that looked up at the path to the school, and out over the forest. Moony had been recognised and greeted by a few of the older students (and Harry had quickly hidden under the invisibility cloak), but no one had passed by for a few hours now.
"Sixth." Moony took a sip of his butterbeer and smiled at Harry. "Bellatrix was giving Lily grief for something or other; could have been to do with Snape-" Padfoot's expression flickered. "- or because Slughorn had given her points-"
"Or just her general existence," Padfoot said. "Bella's a complete cow, Harry."
"No arguments there," Moony said, grinning. "Anyway, Lily'd come up with some sort of retort-"
"Probably that she was off to tell one of the teachers," Padfoot said, rolling his eyes. His smile was fond, though.
"Anyway," Moony said, with a look that Harry took to mean that Padfoot should stop interrupting, "Lily'd turned to walk away, when Bellatrix pulled out her wand." He paused. "None of us were there, Lily only told me about it later, so I don't know what spell it would have been-"
"Something nasty," Padfoot said darkly.
"Probably," Moony agreed. "And Lily had her back turned, and no way of dealing with it, when Peeves apparently comes barrelling out of nowhere with toad hearts he'd stolen from the dungeons and starts throwing them at Bellatrix-"
"We know that part's right," Padfoot said, "because I was in the hospital wing because James dropped a phial of dragon's blood on me and burnt my feet, when Bella turns up with a black eye and covered in toad blood…"
"I'm sure it made your day," Moony replied, rolling his eyes, but Harry didn't miss the way his mouth twitched.
"Our understanding of it all, was that Peeves had heard James' pining enough to understand that Lily was somehow special, or at the very least, associated with us-"
"His best and greatest allies," Padfoot said. "He never really attacked Lily; called her names, and blew raspberries at her, but mostly he left her alone."
"I think he feared James would come after him," Moony admitted.
"He'd have been right," Padfoot said. "As it was, after the whole toad-heart incident with Bella, James got worried that Peeves might have had a soft spot for your mum, and sat down with Peeves to tell him she was off limits."
"How'd that go?" Harry asked, wincing.
"They talked. Briefly. Then Peeves got James with a dungbomb," Moony said, "but James stole Peeves' hat."
"Which we made float and used to terrorise Filch, or otherwise lure him away from places we intended to cause trouble in." Padfoot barked his laugh.
"To gits," Moony said, mouth still twitching as he lifted his bottle. Padfoot and Harry lifted theirs as well, and chinked them together.
Padfoot and Moony walked Harry back to school – well, Moony walked them, while Harry and Padfoot transformed and chased each other around, and raced each other up the road.
"We'll see you tomorrow," Moony said, as Harry reared up into his normal self.
"Is Tonks coming?" Harry asked.
"She's looking forward to seeing you," Moony said, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't let Wood wind you up too much in the meantime," Padfoot said, grinning. "If he's anywhere near as mental as James-"
"It wasn't James that used to bounce on my bed and throw socks at me until I woke up on game mornings," Moony said pointedly.
"Of course it was," Padfoot said, flapping a hand.
"No," Moony said, "I distinctly remember-"
"Wrong," Padfoot said. He grinned at Harry. "He's definitely wrong." Harry just sniggered and hugged them both before slipping through the gates.
"… mean it 'doesn't sound like you'?" Moony was saying as he offered Padfoot his arm. "It sounds exactly like you-" Padfoot's response was swallowed by the pop of the pair of them Apparating away. Harry lit his wand because it was getting dark, and started up toward the castle.
He met Fred and George along the way; they were working at the very edge of the forest, collecting some sort of plant for Professor Sprout as a detention, and he paused to chat with them, as well as confide that he'd sneaked into Hogsmeade for the afternoon. That was the sort of thing he thought they'd appreciate.
He was right; Fred beamed and patted him on the back.
"Harrykins," George said, pretending to dab his eyes with his sleeve. "We're so proud of you-"
"And of Moony and Padfoot," Fred said, sniffing. "Bless them. They're well out of school, but they're still involved in corrupting the youth of today." He shared a look with George. "Speaking of corruption, though, Harry, is there any chance-"
"None," Harry said, dancing out of reach; he wouldn't put it past one of them to make a grab for him. "I'll see you at the feast." Laughing, Fred threw a clump of dirt at his retreating back, but Harry ducked out of the way.
He wasn't overly hungry, since Padfoot had bought him dinner, but he was already late, so he'd intended to go straight to the Halloween feast anyway, at least until Peeves appeared in the Entrance Hall, with a jar of some sort of potions ingredient in hand. The bell on his hat rang in a soft, menacing way.
"Hi, Peeves," he said weakly. "Moony and Padfoot send their regards."
"Tell them old Peevesy sends his regards too," Peeves said. "In fact, I even have a message for them." He cackled and flicked what appeared to be an eyeball at Harry, who didn't quite dodge it in time; it bounced off his knee and landed with a squelch, and then, another two came at him in quick succession. One missed, but the other hit his glasses, and then rolled, wet and sticky, down the side of his face.
Harry pulled his invisibility cloak on at once, and moved quickly, but silently out of the way. "Ooh, he's tricky, isn't he? Not to worry, though-" Peeves fished another eyeball out of his jar and held it up. "-Eye can see you!"
Harry snorted despite himself, and moved just in time to avoid the next flying eye. He headed for the stairs, with Peeves zooming after him. Harry had to resort to using almost solely secret passages to get to the common room; he'd decided to delay the feast, in favour of cleaning his glasses and washing his face.
Then he heard it again. It was seemingly coming up through the floor, and Harry froze to the spot, and clutched the invisibility cloak more tightly around him.
'So hungry…" It said, and ice raced down Harry's neck and back. "Rip… tear… kill… oh, yes… it's been so long…."
"Peeves?" Harry called. An eye dropped to his head, from above him, and Harry's stomach flopped; that ruled out Peeves. "Did you hear that?"
"Eye didn't hear anything," Peeves said cheerily, lobbing another eyeball at Harry, who managed to get himself out of the way again. "Where'd you go, Potty; you could probably use a new set of eyes!" While his mission had been to lose Peeves somewhere along the way, Harry took care to make sure he didn't, until he'd made it to the seventh floor; after all, Peeves for company was better than no company, even if he was throwing body parts.
Harry blurted the password at the Fat Lady, who clucked at him, and told him he should be downstairs with everyone else, but let him in anyway. Harry went straight to his mirror, but Padfoot wasn't answering, so Harry took a deep breath and had a shower. After trying, and failing to get Padfoot again, Harry left a note on his bed, explaining what had happened just in case the voice came after him – and resolved to head downstairs. He'd have a word with Dumbledore after the feast. He nodded to himself.
Harry was just heading back through the common room after a quick shower when a soft noise caught his attention. It was Ginny, sitting in an armchair by the window, looking very pale. She had a book in her lap.
"Harry," she said.
"Are you all right?" They both asked the question at the same time, and then fell silent.
"Well?" Ginny asked.
"I'm hearing voices," Harry said, trying to make light of the situation. "Nothing unusual." Ginny laughed, but it was strained, and her eyes were on the wand in his hand. "What about you?"
"I think- I fell asleep- You're all wet too." Ginny bit her lip, and glanced at the ends of her damp hair.
"Peeves got me, so I had a shower."
"I think I must have too," she said. "But I don't remember." She glanced at the book in her lap, which Harry now recognised as her diary. She closed it when she saw him looking, despite the fact that the page was blank. "Are you heading down to the feast?"
"Yeah, I reckon," Harry said. "You?"
"I don't know." She glanced at the diary again. "Percy keeps telling me to rest."
"Come on." Harry offered her a hand up. "You can't miss the Halloween feast." Ginny hesitated. "Hagrid's going to want to know what you think of his pumpkins." Ginny didn't take his hand, but she stood.
"For Hagrid, then, I s'pose," she said, but she was grinning. It occurred to Harry he hadn't seen her smile this past week.
"Exactly," Harry said, grinning. She ducked upstairs to put her diary away, and then came to rejoin him. The two of them set off downstairs, chatting about tomorrow's match, and whether Hydrus' broom could even carry his ego, Nimbus 2001 or not. The voice didn't speak again, but Harry was glad for company to take his mind off it.
"Harry," she said, when they were somewhere on the second floor. "I- thanks for-" She shifted slightly, and then yelped and slipped, almost taking Harry down with her when she grabbed him for support. "Stop laughing!" she said, but she was obviously trying not to herself. "It's not my fault; the floor's wet!"
"All right," he said, putting his hands up in mock-surrender. A glance at the floor revealed that she was right. "Huh. I wonder why-"
"Oh, no, that's Myrtle's bathroom," Ginny said, looking suddenly nervous.
"The ghost that attacked you?" Harry asked. She nodded. "I'll protect you," he teased.
"My hero," Ginny said, scowling at him. She jabbed him in the side with a finger.
"Ow-"
"Well, that's what you get for teasing me," she said, tossing her long hair back. Harry chuckled, at least until the smell of her shampoo assaulted his nose and made him sneeze. "Ask Ron."
"I believe you," he assured her, rubbing his nose. Another scent caught his attention and he stilled.
"What?" she asked. She looked ahead. "Is it Myrt-"
"Mrs Norris," he said, looking around. Ginny scowled.
"Where?"
"Dunno, usually she makes herself known-" The pair of them were silent; while they weren't doing anything wrong, the fact that Mrs Norris was around meant that Filch was nearby, and if Filch was nearby, detention was probably inevitable.
"Harry," Ginny said slowly. "That's not- it isn't-" Harry moved in the direction Ginny was pointing, where a small, dark shape dangled from one of the torches. Harry's stomach froze over, and he pulled his wand out, gesturing for Ginny to stay close. He couldn't see or hear anyone around, or smell any recent scents; all he could smell was the cat, the water, and Ginny… and blood. Harry could smell blood. He looked up and felt his heart jump into his throat.
Written – not very high - in large, dribbling letters, were the words, The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir, beware.
"Is that blood?" Ginny asked. She was very pale, but leaned closer to have a look. Harry's mind was racing. He had no idea what the Chamber of Secrets was, or who the Heir might be, but he suspected it was all related to the voice, somehow. "Harry that's blood-"
"Ginny, we need to go, now," he said, grabbing her wrist. But it was too late.
"Caught in the act!" a triumphant voice said from behind them.
Anyone but him, Harry thought, closing his eyes for a moment. Filch shuffled up, rubbing his hands together, his pale eyes drifting over the pair of them.
"Vandalism, for one," he said, without really looking at the writing, "damage to school property-" He waved a hand at the floor.
"It wasn't us," Ginny said, shaking her head.
"And the floor's stone," Harry said. "And that's just water, so it's not really damaged-"
"Shut up," Filch said. "And, you're not at the feast… duck out for private time, did we?" He looked vaguely ill, and Harry and Ginny looked at each other with wrinkled noses. "Oh, it's trouble for you, all right. The Headmaster might let me bring out my thumb screws again-" Filch's eyes, which had been drinking in their terrified faces, alighted on Mrs Norris. "Is that- that's not- Mrs Norris? What have you done to her?!"
"We didn't-"
"You've killed my cat!" Filch howled. He took a step forward, and Harry moved back, pushing Ginny behind him. "You little beasts have killed my cat!" Harry could see tears in his eyes, and for the first time ever, felt bad for the man.
"I promise we didn't, we just found-"
"Liar! You've killed-" Voices rumbled at the end of the corridor, and shadows of students, cast by the torches, appeared on the walls. Filch made a jerky motion toward them, and then turned around, shouting for a Professor. Harry and Ginny moved away from the wall as much as possible, but people were already talking amongst themselves, and pointing.
Then, a voice spoke out from amongst the gathered students.
"'Enemies of the Heir, beware'?" It was Hydrus, flanked by Daphne and Blaise. Blaise didn't look anywhere near as excited as the other two. Harry wondered why they were even there, and then supposed they could be heading to the library. "Creevey- where's Creevey?" There was a quiet noise from somewhere in the mob of students. "Ah, there; you'd better start taking photographs of yourself and the other mudbloods. We'll need something to remember you all by." Daphne laughed loudly.
"That is enough, Mr Malfoy." Filch had found Snape, who was making his way toward them. In his wake, Harry could see his friends, looking worried and confused.
"They kill-"
"Yes, Filch," Snape drawled. "We'll get to that." He cleared his throat. "Twenty points will be taken from each and every person that is still within my sight in ten seconds." His eyes met Harry's, and Harry knew they were supposed to stay. "Yes, Draco, that includes you. I'm sure you can bear to be separated from precious Potter for a few minutes." Harry didn't meet any of his friends' eyes, but he didsee Ron make a rude hand gesture at Snape's back, as Hermione led him away.
"We didn't do it, I swear!" Ginny said, as soon as they were alone with Snape and Filch.
"Obviously, idiot girl," Snape said. "This-" He gestured at Mrs Norris. "-is dark magic that is well outside the capabilities of a first or even second year." His eyes met Harry's again. "What is not obvious, is why the pair of you were here, and not at dinner."
"It's Halloween," Harry said quietly, "sir."
"I am well aware of what day it is, Potter," Snape said, and something Harry couldn't quite name flickered in his expression for just a moment.
"Then you'll believe me when I say I was with Padfoot and Moony." After a moment, Snape jerked his head.
"That's easy to check," he said, almost warningly.
"Yep," Harry said. Snape's jaw worked for a moment, and then he flicked his wand. A Patonus, moving too quickly for Harry to make out its shape, charged down the corridor.
"Then what?" Snape asked. "Then I came back, and Peeves attacked me so I went upstairs, and found Ginny and we decided to come down together." Ginny nodded at his side.
"We just found all of this," she said. "I promise, sir."
"They killed my cat!" Filch said.
"She's not dead," Snape said. "I don't have experience with her current state, but she is alive, I assure you."
"I want to see them hanging in the dungeons-"
"We didn't do it!" Ginny snapped at him.
"Regardless of whether he is incorrect or not, Weasley, it is inappropriate to address a member of the staff in such a manner. Five points from Gryffindor." Snape detached Mrs Norris from the torch and passed her to Filch, then gestured to them. "Come along; the Headmaster will doubtless have questions of his own."
I'm sorry everyone; I know I said updates would be on Mondays, but just based on work and uni, I think Tuesdays are going to be best! Sorry for being a bit late with them all lately, but I hope you're still enjoying the story!
Until Tuesday! :)
MarauderLover7.