Chapter 8

Harriet's P.O.V

Apparently, ever since the first lesson with the pixies, Lockhart had taken to re-enacting passages from his books. I still refused to go to his class, I just shut myself in the ROR with my video games until the class was over. Hermione successfully got Lockhart signature on a permission slip for the book we needed from the library. I wasn't there when they went to get the book, but apparently, Hermione had wanted to keep the slip. I met them in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. "Why in here?" Ron protested as the came through the door. "It's the last place anyone will look."

"What about the ROR?" Ron asked. "Other people use it." Hermione sad as she lent against a sink. "Like Fred." I said, coming out the shadows, the three jumped. "What does my brother do in the ROR?" Ron asked. "Beat's Travis' high score on Call Of Duty: Demi-God addition." I grinned. Hermione opened the old musty book and we lent over the damp pages. After several gruesome pages we found the right potion. "Here, the Polyjuice Potion." Hermione tapped the page. "Ew." I said, looking at the picture of a woman inside out. "This is one of the most complicated potions I've ever seen. Lacewing flies, leeches, fluxweed, knotgrass. All that's in the student store cupboard. But the rest of it." Hermione looked up at us. "We might have to ask Snape." Hermione said "Or we could go to Hogsmead." I pointed out. "Or that. But only if we're desperate." Hermione nodded. "And we need a bit of who we're going to turn into."

"Excuse me?" Ron said in horror. "I'm drinking nothing with Crabbe's toenails in!" Ron said, Hermione ignored him. "We don't have to worry about that at the moment, those bits are added last." Ron and Harry exchanged looks. "If we ask Snape then he'll figure out what we're doing, our best bet is to try and steal it."

"You want us to break into Snape's privet stores?" Harry raised his eyebrows. "If you two are going to chicken out then fine." Hermione glared at the two boys. "I don't want to break the rules. If you think threatening muggleborns isn't as worse then brewing difficult potions then I'll just that the book back." Hermione looked close to tears. "I never thought I'd see the day you'd be persuading us to break the rules." Ron grinned. "We'll do it Hermione, but no toenails." Harry said. "How long does this thing take any way?" I asked, Hermione glanced at the book. "Well, the fluxweed had to be collected at the full moon and the lacewings have to be stewed for twenty one days. About a month." Hermione said after some mental calculation. "A month! Malfoy could have attacked half the Muggleborns in the school!" Ron exclaimed. "But it's the best plane we've got so full steam a head I say." But when Hermione was cheeking the corridor I herd Ron say to Harry. "It'll be easier if you just knocked Malfoy off his broom tomorrow."

I woke up early the next day, it was the quidditch match and Hermione and I had made a massive sign that we needed to enchant. "Hermione. Come on." I dragged her out of bed. "Wha?" Hermione looked at me blearily eyed. "The sign dofus." I grinned, pulling it from underneath my bad. "Ok, lets do this." Hermione grabbed her wand as I unrolled sign. We'd taken Malfoy words from Halloween and twisted them so it said. "You'll be next Malfoy." In big red letters, and underneath we'd gotten Lee Gordon to paint a massive lion eating a snake. "Ok, so we want the snake to go round the words once and then for the lion to pounce and eat it." I said. Hermione began tapping the paper with her wand and muttering. "I'll go get you some breakfast ok?" She nodded and I left the dorm, few moments later I was back with two bacon rolls and some toast. "Thanks." Hermione gratefully took a roll and a piece of toast. "Is it done?" I asked through a mouthful of bread. "Yes." Hermione grinned. "Good." I licked the grease off my fingers. "Lets go show the Slytherin's our Gryffindor pride." Dressed in red and gold, Hermione and I got down to the pitch about ten minuets early to put up our banner. The Gryffindor team were flitting across the morning sky warming up. "Harriet!" Harry called down. "Hermione! What are you two doing here?" He flew down. "Banner." I said indicating the tube under my arm. "Come on Hermione." We quickly reached the Gryffindor stands and pulled out the sign. "Ok, we need to fix all four corners to something." Hermione said. "So that it doesn't blow away."

"How we ganna do that?" I asked, securing one corner to the front of the stand. "We could ask one of the team." Hermione suggested as she secured the other corner. "OI FRED!" I yelled over the wind. "What?" He stopped next to the stand. "Can you secure those two corners to the stand, if we try and reach we'll fall off and most probably die." I grinned. "Sure." He shrugged and disappeared from view, seconds later he reappeared. "Cool sign."

"Good luck!" I called as he zoomed off. A few minuets later the rest of the school arrived dressed in a mixture of red, gold, green and silver. The two captain's shook hands and Madam Hooch blew her whistle. They took off to the roars of the crowd. Harry shot higher then the others, scanning the pitch for the snitch. A black bludger missed him by inches, George slammed his bat into the ball and sent it towards one of the chasers. But it twisted in mid-air and hurtled back at Harry. No matter how many times Harry dodged and no matter how many times the twins hit the bludger, it still went after Harry. "Someone tampered with it!" I turned to Ron and Hermione. "That's impossible!" Ron hook his head. It had started to rain and Slytherin were wining. "Look, they're having time out." Hermione pointed as the players shot towards the ground. "Come on." I pulled my friend onto the pitch. "Oliver, what's going on? What's wrong with that bludger?" I asked stopping next to the captain. "I'm more worried about the Slytherin team's brooms." Wood said. "It doesn't matter any way, I can't see anything in this weather!" Harry protested, Hermione grabbed his glasses and tapped them with her wand. "There, they'll repel water." She handed them back. "Thanks, cool banner by the way." He grinned, Madam Hooch began walking towards us. "Listen, with you two flying around me, the only way I'll catch the snitch is if I nearly swallow it like last year, go back the rest of the game and I'll deal with the rogue bludger."

"Don't be thick." Fred said. "It'll take your head off!" Wood looked at the twins then at Harry. "As much as I hate to say it, I agree with Harry, if you want to win the game you'll have to focus on keeping the Slytherins away from Katie and Alicia." I sighed. "And if you stop now you'll forfeit the match and the Slytherins will throw stuff at you in the halls." Hermione said. "And I refuse to lose to them because of a rouge bludger!" Harry crossed his arms. "You herd the man, leave him alone." Wood nodded reluctantly. "Ready to resume play?" Madam Hooch appeared at my shoulder. "Yes." The team mounted and one by one took off, just before he kicked off I grabbed Fred's arm. "Keep him alive."

"I will." He met my eyes, I let go and he disappeared into the rain. We ran back up to Ron. "What's happening?" He asked. "Harry persuaded Fred and George to leave him alone."

"He'll be killed!" Ron said. "I know." I groaned as Harry began to take drastic measure to avoid the bludger, like turning upside down. Then suddenly Harry stopped, he was starring at a stop above Malfoy's head, the snitch. The bludger slammed into Harry and I literally saw his arm break. He slipped slightly, his right arm hanging uselessly, but the bludger wasn't finished it was aiming for his face. But just as Harry sped towards Malfoy, Fred tackled the bludger, stopping it from following Harry. Everyone's eye's were on Harry as he let go of his broom and clutched the snitch, now that he was only gripping the nimbus with only his knees, he plummeted head first towards the mud, the whole of the Gryffindor team sped towards him but he hit the mud with a thud. I almost flew down the steps of the stands, by the time I reached Harry, he was surrounded by anxious Gryffindors and the quidditch team. I struggled through the crowd and knelt next to Harry. "We won." He said weakly. "Yeah. Here." I handed him my vile of Nectar but before he could take a drink, Lockhart parted the crowd. "Oh no, not you." Harry moaned. "Doesn't know what he's saying." Lockhart said loudly. "Don't worry Harry, I'll fix your arm."

"NO! I'll keep it like this, thanks" He tried to sit up but he moaned in pain and flopped back down. The was a click and a flash of light. "I don't want a picture of this Collin." Harry tried to push the camera out of his face. "Collin, why don't you go fetch Madam Pomphry?" I said. "Ok." The tiny boy said brightly and whizzed off. "Stay still Harry, it's a simple charm I've done countless times." Lockhart smiled. "Why can't he just go to the hospital wing?" I asked. "He should Professor." Wood said, covered in mud and grinning despite the face the Harry was injured. "Great catch Harry, you're best yet." Behind the crowd I spotted Fred and George forcing the bludger into the quidditch trunk but the bludger was putting up a tremendous fight. "Stand back." Lockhart rolled up the green sleeves of his robes. "No!" I launched myself at Harry, who I pushed out the way of the shot of light but unfortunately I got hit in the ribs with the spell. A very unpleasant sensation overcome me, I jammed my eyes shut and nearly passed out. "Harriet!" I herd Harry yell. "What did you do to her?" Fred asked indigently. "Ah yes, that can happen sometimes." Lockhart said sheepishly then yelped. "Harriet, can you hear me?" Fred asked. "Yeah." I slowly opened my eyes. "But I really don't want to look." I said. "I don't blame you, Lockhart made your ribs disappear."

"Will you kick him for me?"

"Done that."

"Thanks." I tried to grin but I really didn't fell like it. "Honestly!" Madam Pomphry bustled through the crowd. "Can't you keep out of trouble for one moment?"

"Don't think so, not with Harry around." The nurse sighed and turned to Fred. "You, whichever twin you are, bring her." Fred nodded and scooped me up. "Can you walk?" She asked Harry. "Yes, I think so." Harry struggled to his feet and wobbled. "Whoa there." Wood caught him. "Thanks Wood." Harry righted himself and took a step. "Oh no you don't." Madam Pomphry gabbed his good arm, with her help Harry successfully got to the hospital wing. Hermione and Ron followed us arguing about Lockhart. "If Harriet wanted de-boning then she would have asked." Ron said as Fred put me down. "Thanks." I said. "No problem." He smiled. "Anyone can make a mistake." Hermione protested. "And it doesn't hurt, does it Harriet?"

"No." I agreed. "But it doesn't do anything else." Madam Pomphry handed Harry some pyjamas and drew his curtains. She turned to me and took and bottle of something called 'Skele-Gro' out her apron pocket. She poured me a mugful and handed me the hot mug. "Re-growing bones is a nasty business, you're in for a rough night Potter." The Skele-Gro burnt my throat as it went down making me cough and gag. Madam Pomphry left muttering about unqualified teacher and stupidly dangerous sports. With Fred's help I chocked down some water, Harry handed me back my Nectar so I had a little of that as well. "You'll be good as new in no time." Fred grinned. "Hopefully." I smiled then jumped as the hospital wing doors burst open and the rest quidditch team entered, still covered in mud and soaking wet. "Awesome flying Harry." Wood was still grinning. "We just saw Flint yelling at Malfoy, something about have the Snitch on top of his head and not noticing." George laughed. "Thanks for saving Harry Harriet, we need him for practice tomorrow." Katie smiled at me as the team gathered around our beds with cake, sweet and bottles of butterbeer and we were getting started on a great party when Madam Pomphry bustled over. "No! Get out! These children need rest, she has 24 bones to re-grow! Get out!" She started swatting at the muddy team with a nearby broom (Not a flying one). The team left, not wanting to have a sore backside from the broom, dripping mud on the pure white floor. Madam Pomphry made a strange noise and stormed off to her office, on doubt to get a mop, forgetting that Hermione, Ron and Fred were still with us. ""Hay Harriet." Hermione said. "Yeah."

"How can you still breath? I mean your ribs keep you lungs and heart in place and now that they've been removed.."

"Honestly 'Mione, I don't want to know." I said. "I don't think the rest of us do ether, except maybe Hermione." Ron grinned, just then Madam Pomphry decided to come back, with the promised mop. "What are you three still doing here?" She asked primly as the mop started cleaning the floor by it's self. "Um. We were just.." Ron trailed off. "Out and you, Mr Weasely." She pointed to Fred. "Tell that team if they dare come in here again, covered in mud they can expect more then just a sore backside. "Yes Ma'am." Fred saluted, winked at me and ran out the room, quickly followed by Ron and Hermione. "Well, this is boring." Harry said to me. "Pretty much, see you in the morning." I said and fell asleep.

I woke up to a dark hospital wing and a searing pain in my ribs. There was someone dapping my forehead with a damp cloth which was doing me no good. At first I thought it was Madam Pomphry. "Getoff." I mumbled sleepily. "Miss must go home."

"Dobby!" The little elf's massive eyes were glistening with tears in the darkness. "Miss and Mr Potter came to school." He whimpered. "Dobby warned you, Dobby though that blocking the barrier. Dobby never thought you would find another way." I struggled to sit up. "That was you? You made us miss the train?" Dobby nodded miserably. "Dobby ironed his hands after." He held up his bandaged hands. "When Dobby heard you'd come back to school, Dobby let his master's dinner burn. Such a whipping Dobby never had Miss." I groaned and flopped back onto the bed. "You nearly got us expelled. You better hope my bones don't re-grow any time soon Dobby or I might kill you."

"Dobby is used to death threats. Dobby gets then five times a day at home." The little elf smiled weakly and blew his nose on his grubby pillow case. "Why do you were that?" I asked, my anger rushing away from me. "A mark of the house-elf's enslavement. Dobby can only be freed if his masters present him with clothes and the family are careful not to pass Dobby even a sock, Miss, for then Dobby would be free to leave their house forever." He mopped his tennis bal eyes then said. "Harriet and Harry Potter must go home! Dobby though his bludger would be enough."

"Your bludger! That thing almost killed Harry."

"Not kill miss, never kill! Dobby want's to save your lives! Better sent home, seriously injured then remain here! Dobby only wanted to sent you home!"

"Oh, it that all? I don't suppose you want to tell me why you want us sent home in pieces?"

"If Harriet Potter only knew!" Dobby moaned, more tears splashing onto his pillowcase. "If you knew what they mean to us, to the lowly, the enslaved, we dregs of the magical world! Dobby remembers how it was when He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was at the height of his powers, sir! We house-elfs were treated like vermin! Of course, Dobby is still treated like that Miss." He admitted, drying his face on the pillowcase. "But mostly Miss. Life has improved for my kind since you triumphed over He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Harry and Harriet Potter survived, and the Dark Lord's power was broken, and it was a new dawn, sir, and the Potters shone like a beacon of hope for those of us who thought the Dark days would never end. And now, at Hogwarts, terrible things are to happen, are happening already, and Dobby cannot let Harry and Harriet Potter stay here now that history is to repeat itself, now that the Chamber of Secrets is open once more!" Dobby froze, horror struck, then grabbed the water jug from my bedside table and cracked it over his own head, toppling out of sight. A second later, he crawled back onto the bed, muttering. "Bad Dobby, very bad Dobby. . ."

"So there is a Chamber of Secrets?" I whispered ergently. "And did you say it's been opened before? Tell me, Dobby!" I grabbed his bony wrist as Dobby's hand inched toward the water jug. "But I'm not Muggle-born - how can I be in danger from the Chamber?"

"Ah, sir, ask no more, ask no more of poor Dobby." The elf implored, his eyes huge in the dark. "Dark deeds are planned in this place, but Harriet and Harry Potter must not be here when they happen - go home, you must go home. You must not meddle in this, Miss. 'tis too dangerous -"

"Who is it, Dobby?" I said, keeping a firm hold on Dobby's wrist to stop him from hurting himself with the water jug again. "Who's opened it? Who opened it last time?"

"Dobby can't, sir, Dobby can't, Dobby mustn't tell!" The elf squealed and shook his head, ears flapping. "Go home, go home!"

"We're not going anywhere!" Harry said fiercely. "One of our best friends is Muggle-born; she'll be first in line if the Chamber really has been opened -"

"Harry Potter risks his own life for his friends!" moaned Dobby in a kind of miserable awe. "So noble! So valiant! But he must save himself, he must, Harry Potter must not -" Dobby suddenly froze, his bat ears quivering. I heard it, too. Footsteps coming down the passageway outside. "Dobby must go!" The elf was terrified. There was a loud crack, and my fist was suddenly clenched on thin air. We slumped back into bed, eyes on the dark doorway to the hospital wing as the footsteps drew nearer. Next moment, Dumbledore was backing into the dormitory, wearing a long woolly dressing gown and a nightcap. He was carrying one end of what looked like a statue. Professor McGonagall appeared a second later, carrying the other. Together, they heaved it onto a bed. "Get Madam Pomphry," Dumbledore muttered and Professor McGonagall hurried past the end of our beds and out of sight. We lay quite still, pretending to be asleep. I heard urgent voices, and then Professor McGonagall swept back into view, closely followed by Madam Pomphry, who was pulling a cardigan on over her nightdress. There heard a sharp intake of breath. "What happened?" Madam Pomphry whispered to Dumbledore bending over the statue. "Another attack." Dumbledore said seriously. "Minerva found him on the stairs."

"There was a bunch of grapes next to him." Professor McGonagall said. "We think he was trying to sneak up here to visit the Potters." I breathed in sharply and Harry slowly and carefully raised himself a few inches so he could look at the statue on the bed. A ray of moonlight lay across its staring face. It was Colin Creevey. His eyes were wide and his hands were stuck up in front of him, holding his camera. "Petrified?" whispered Madam Pomphry. "Yes." McGonagall nodded. "But I shudder to think ... If Albus hadn't been on the way downstairs for hot chocolate - who knows what might have -" The three stared down at Colin. Then Dumbledore leaned forward and plucked the camera out of Colin's rigid grip. "You don't think he managed to get a picture of his attacker?" McGonagall was eager. Dumbledore didn't answer. He opened the back of the camera. "Good gracious!" Madam Pomphry gasped as a jet of steam had hissed out of the camera. I, three beds away, caught the acrid smell of burnt plastic, I saw Harry wrinkle his nose and make a face at me. "Melted." Madam Pomphry said in wonder. "All melted..."

"What does this mean, Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked urgently.

"It means," Dumbledore said slowly "That the Chamber of Secrets is indeed open again." Madam Pomphry clapped a hand to her mouth and looked ready to faint. Professor McGonagall stared at Dumbledore. "But, Albus ... surely ... who?"

"The question is not who.". Um, yes that is the question. Dumbledore said, his eyes on Colin. "The question is, how . . . ." That is the other, from what we could see of Professor McGonagall's shadowy face, which wasn't much, she didn't understand this any better than we did. Harry shrugged at me and dropped back on to bed. "Talk in the morning?" I mouthed to Harry who nodded and promptly fell asleep.