Chapter 9

Harriet's P.O.V

By the time I woke up the next morning, Apollo was high in the sky and Harry was gone. After a quick breakfast and a final check for Madam Pomphry, I left. Wanting to tell Ron and Hermione about Dobby, when I entered the common room George yelled. "And the heiress for Slytherin has returned!" I rolled my eyes. "Shut it Paws." Fred snorted. "Speak for yourself Stripes." I stuck my tongue out at him. "Have you the others Grizzly?" I asked. "No I have not Stripes. Let us hope that they are not in another female toilet." Fred grinned. I smacked my forehead. "Of corse. Thanks Grizzly, Paws." I ran out the common room and down to Myrtle's bathroom, unaware that the twins were following me. "Guys?" I called as I closed the door behind me. "You in here?" There was a squeak and a clatter from one of the larger stalls. "Harriet?" Hermione's voice called. "Duh." The cubical door opened and Hermione beckoned me in. On top of the toilet seat was a bubbling cauldron. "How's the bones?" Ron asked. "Alright." I turned to Harry. "Did you tell them about Dobby?"

"No, I was waiting for you." Between Harry and I we explained about Dobby and how he was trying to 'save' our lives. "That's one crazy elf." Ron said. "ya think? What worries me is that the chamber has been opened before." I ran a hand through my knotty hair. "But how s the monster getting around school?"

"It could be invisible. I've read about Chameleon Ghouls." Hermione said, poking the leeches. "You read too much Otty." Ron said, dumping lacewings on top of the leeches. "If it wasn't for reading you wouldn't be an animagi Fluffles." There was a snort of laughter from outside the cubical and I think we all stopped breathing. I pressed a finger to my lips and drew a dagger. Quietly unlocking the cubical I slipped out and came face to face with the twins amused faces. "And just what do you think you're doing?" I demanded, brandishing my silver dagger. "Whoa, easy on the pointy stuff ok?" George leaned backwards. "Answer the question." I growled. "We followed you." Fred shrugged. "Why in the name of Hades would you do that?" The twins shrugged. "You were acting weird." I sighed and opened the cubical. "Fine. You may as well know." My dagger shimmered and reappeared on my dagger. "Nice place." George grinned and I kicked him in the leg. "Ow! Harriet, what was that for?" I shrugged. "How's your arm?" I asked Harry. "Well, it's not broken any more."

"That's always good, what are you making? It stinks." Fred pinched his nose. "Polyjuice Potion." Hermione shrugged. "Uh, why?"

"So we can sneak into the Slytherin common room and find out if Malfoy is the heir of Slytherin." Ron grinned. "That kind of makes sense." George nodded. "Well duh Paws, or we wouldn't be making it." I rolled my eyes. "Otty, what else do we need?" Hermione checked the book. "Just the things from Snape's store room." She said. "Isn't he helping?"

"No, since he's the head of Slytherin we didn't think he'd appreciate us trying to sneak into his common room." I said. "What do you need? We can get it from Hogsmead." George volunteered. "That's a good idea. We would go ourselves but as second years we'd get noticed." Hermione said, handing them the damp book. "We can get that from Zonko's." George said. "I didn't think the joke shop would sell potions ingredients."

"Dung bombs." George shrugged. Hermione rolled her eyes and went back to the potion. Just then Myrtle decided to show up. "Hello." She sniffed and I think I jumped about three feet into the air. "Gods almighty!" I said after calming down. "Do not do that." Myrtle scowled. "What are you doing?" She asked. "No of your bloody business, go cry in your toilet." Ron glared at her. Myrtle sniffed and floated away. "That was, odd." Hermione said before standing up and taking putting the potions book into her bag. "That's done for today, how soon can you get the rest of the ingredients?" She asked as she pushed us out the cubical and locked the door behind us. "Probably next Saturday. That's when we're allowed to go." Hermione bit her lip. "I can't believe I'm saying this but, can you use the secret passages to get to Hogsmead?" Our jaws dropped. "I'd never though I'd hear you telling us to break the rules." Fred said after a long pause. "That's what I said." Ron agreed as the bell rang for lunch. "Come on." Hermione rolled her eyes and we followed her down to the great hall.

By Monday, the whole school had herd about Collin. Ginny, who sat next to Collin in Charms, was pretty distressed. Unfortunately Fred and George tried to cheer her up, which didn't really work as they kept covering themselves in boils and jumping out from behind statues. For once I was glad that Percy stopped them. Another difference in school was that al the first years were now traveling in packs, like numbers would help. also, unknown to the teachers, some of the Gryffindor students started a black market *Cough* Fred and George *Cough* selling anything that was said to protect and bring good luck. Before anyone could stop him Neville brought an foul smelling green onion, a large purple crystal and a rotting tail from a newt. "Um, Neville." I said when I heard what he'd done. "You're a pureblood."

"I know, but I'm almost a squib and they went for Filch first." I put a hand on his shoulder. "Neville, you can turn into a lion, some fully grown wizards can't even produce a patronus, you've already beat them. You're better protected then most." Neville shrugged and hurried to his seat.

The week for Christmas McGonagall came round asking for the people who were staying for Christmas, as I signed my name I noticed that Malfoy's name was at the top of the parchment. It was the perfect time to try the Polyjuice potion. But, the potion in question was three quarters finished, Fred and George had got what they could but we were still missing a few ingredients. "I think I better be the one to do the actual stealing." Hermione said that Wednesday lunch break in Myrtles bathroom. "And tarnish you perfect record?" George asked in surprise. "Well, if any of you try and get caught then you'll probably get kicked out of Hogwarts." Hermione said simply. "All we need to do is create a diversion in his class and we'll be fine." Hermione smiled, I exchanged a look with Fred that said 'Does she thin we're suicidal?' "Hermione." I said slowly. "Even though Snape likes us, I don't think even we can get away with disrupting his class." Hermione smiled at me. "Sure you will, you've survived, what, three trips to the hospital wing this year? And besides, we can just blame Cormac, he's a bit of an idiot." Hermione waved her hand dismissively. "Um, Hermione, are you feeling ok?"

"I'm fine." Hermione snapped. "Ah there she is, the Otty we all know and love." Harry grinned and then we all burst out laughing. "Shut up Feathers." Hermione playfully pushed Harry. "Come on." I checked my watch. "We need to sleep before Astronomy." Hermione stood up, gathering all the empty packets. "See you tomorrow." We waved to Fred and George as they headed off to charms.

Harry was practically jumping up and down on his seat in nerves. I, on the other hand was trying to sit as far away as possible from Cormac, who was meant to be in third year but he got moved down, but anyway, it was pretty difficult to stay away from him as I'd volunteered to be his partner for the lesson. Apparently, to him this was the equivalent to agreeing to be his girlfriend as he kept trying to put his arm around me and calling me 'Babe'. I was so tempted to just punch him the face and be done with it but Hermione had said that would probably land me with even more detentions. Speaking of detentions, I had my first of many with McGonagall on Saturday, oh joy. "So, Babe." Cormac grinned at me. "What are we making?" 'Oh Gods please make this lesson go quickly.' I prayed before smiling sweetly at Cormac. "A swelling solution."

"Ok, what do we need?" I absentmindedly reached for my dagger that was in the back of my waist band. "Why don't you read the instructions and find out?" Snape's voice said behind me. "Instead of letting your partner do all the work. Or can't you read?" Cormac went white and promptly berried his head in the potions book. "Thanks." I whispered as Snape passed by. "You owe my one." I nodded and added more dried spiders into our acid green potion. As Snape turned his back on us I pulled a Filibuster's Firework out my robe pocket, prodded it with my wand and threw it at Goyle's cauldron. Swelling Solution sprayed every were, Cormac got hit in the head, which quickly swelled to the size of one of Hagrid's Halloween pumpkin. In all the commotion Hermione slipped out the room. When she returned everyone's body parts had been de-swelled and her robes where bulging. Later when Fred and George about Cormac's head, Malfoy's nose and Goyle's eyes they almost bowed to us. "And so, you pranking career begins." George grinned. "And it won't be over for a long time." I agreed. "Snape didn't even look in the cauldron." Hermione grinned. "Oh Gods." I jumped up from my place next to Fred on the couch in the Gryffindor common room. "What?" They all looked up at me worriedly. "I'm ganna be so late. Shit, shot, shit." I ran up to my dorm and grabbed my music sheet, shoving them in my bag I ran back into the common room. "You're late for what?" Harry asked. "My music club you prat. See you guys later." I sprinted up to the fifth floor, bursting into classroom 7G I was met by the slightly pissed off faces of my fellow band mates. "Sorry." I panted, hands on knees. "Lost, track of time." Penelope Clearwater, the Hufflepuff prefect laughed. "Don't worry, Professor Flitwick isn't here yet ether. Did you bring your music this time?"

"Yeah." I grinned. "Are right." Professor Flitwick entered. "Harriet, did you bring your music this time?"

"Yes Sir."

"Good, take your place and let's begin." The practice was, eventful. As Andrew Kirke, a fellow Gryffindor, kept dropping his drum sticks, and Susanna Hesleden, a Ravenclaw, kept hitting the wrong notes of her keyboard, I glanced at Penelope. She looked about ready to throw her guitar at one of them. "Ok." Flitwick squeaked. "Let's take a break." He jumped off his pile of books and ran off. Penelope rounded on the other two. "It's bad enough that we're missing a member but with you two screwing up the song, how are we meant to practice properly?" Penelope glared. "It's Harriet's fault!" Susanna said. "How?" Penelope crossed her arms. "She's not singing right and that's distracting me."

"Harriet is pitch perfect."

"You're just saying that because you're scared of her!" Andrew said, I snorted. "Why would you be scared of me?" I asked. "You're the one with the sword."

"Which I only turn on people who disrespect my friends and family." I interrupted. "And you're the heiresses of Slytherin."

"And how did you come to that conclusion?" I narrowed my eyes. "Well, Filch was annoying your brother, next night you and him were found next to his cat, at the quidditch match Collin Creevey was taking pictures of your brother with a broken arm and that night he was petrified." Susanna was counting on her fingers when I slapped her round the face. "My best friend is muggleborn, do you really think that I'd be attacking muggleborns and squibs?"

"You hate those muggles you live with."

"They starved us, beat us, enslaved us and killed my other brother. I'd like to see you try and live with them and we don't live with them anymore."

"You threatened Dumbledore."

"He put us with the Dursley's."

"You killed a troll last year and you don't come to Professor Lockhart's classes."

"The troll was trying to kill Hermione, and Professor Lockhart is a dick and an idiot."

"He's in Ravenclaw."

"Along with you, who is accusing a Gryffindor of being the heir of Slytherin. Case closed."

"Why did you-know-who go after you any way?"

"Does it look like I know?" I turned to Penelope. "I'm sorry Penny but can I skip the rest of todays practice?" She nodded. "Thatnks." I gathered up my things and left, slamming the door behind me. I slowly made my way back up to the common room. Fred and George were arguing with Hermione when I came in. "What's going on?" I lent on the back of Harry's armchair. "Fred and George were trying to prank Percy but Hermione caught them." Harry said. "Harriet! When did you get here?" He asked suddenly realising. "About three seconds ago." I laughed. "But I though you had Music." I shrugged. "Yeah, anyway, I've got homework to do." I turned and walked up the girl's staircase. I actually did have homework to finish but I couldn't be bothered, you try being accused of being a muggleborn hater and then do homework. "You ok?" Lavender asked as a entered. "Yeah, just tired." I said. "Well you have been re-growing bones." Parvati smiled. "I guess." I shrugged, dragged on my pyjamas, drew my hangings around me and curled up under my blissfully warm blankets.

It was about week later and one tedious detention later when we were walking across the Entrance Hall. "Have you finished that History of Magic essay?" Harry asked. "Duh." I grinned. "Did the day we got it, I don't need any more detentions."

"Can I see it?" Harry asked hopefully. "No." I said. "Do it yourself you lazy bum." That's when I bumped in to the back of Ron. "Ron, what'd you stop for?" I asked. "There are people in the way." That's when I saw the group of people blocking the marble staircase looking at the main notice board. "They're starting a duelling club!" Seamus said happily. "First meeting tonight." Dean grinned. "I wouldn't mind duelling lessons. Might come in handy one of these days." Parvati said to Lavender. "Recon Slytherin's monster can duel?" Ron asked, but he read the notice with interest. "I could be useful." Ron said as we went into dinner. "Should we go?" I asked. "it might not be fair if we go, I mean we know lodes of spells that we're not meant to." Hermione said worriedly as we sat down. "But they're not teaching us spells, they're going to teach us how to duel." I pointed out as the food appeared. "I guess." Hermione said reluctantly, taking a slice of shepherd's pie. "Well, I'm all for it." Harry said. "I'll go." Ron said. "May as well, could be fun." I nodded before taking a forkful of pie. "You in Otty?" I asked. "Fine." Hermione smiled.

So at eight that evening, we went down to the Great Hall, wands in pockets. The long tables had disappeared and a golden stage had been placed along one wall, lit by thousands of candles floating overhead. The ceiling glittered with little stars in the black night. It looked as if the whole school had decided to come along. "I wonder who'll be teaching us?" Hermione said eagerly as we entered the hall. "Someone told me Flitwick was a duelling champion when he was young, maybe it'll be him."

"Flitwick was young?" I asked and Ron snorted. "As long as it's not." Harry began, but he ended on a groan, Gilderoy Lockhart was walking onto the stage, dressed in deep plum robes and accompanied Snape, wearing his usual black. Lockhart waved his arms for silence."Gather round, gather round! Can everyone see me? Can you all hear me? Excellent! Now, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little duelling club, to train you all in case you ever need to defend yourselves as I myself have done on countless occasions, for full details, see my published works. Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape." Lockhart flashed a wide smile. "He tells me he knows a tiny little bit about duelling himself and has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration before we begin. Now, I don't want any of you youngsters to worry, you'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him, never fear!"

"Wouldn't it be good if they finished each other off?" Ron muttered. "Or if Snape finished off Lockhart." I muttered back. Snape's upper lip curled. I wondered why Lockhart was still smiling, if Snape had been looking at me like that I'd have been running as fast as I could in the opposite direction, even though Snape is ok around me, he still tries to make our lives living hell. Lockhart and Snape turned to face each other and bowed. Well, Lockhart did, with much twirling of his wand and arms, Snape just inclined his head stiffly, then they raised their wands like swords in front of them. "As you see, we are holding our wands in the accepted combative position." Thank you, Captain Obvious, Lockhart told the silent crowd. "On the count of three, we will cast our first spells. Neither of us will be aiming to kill, of course."

"I wouldn't bet on it." Harry murmured to me as Snape bared his teeth. "One. two. three." They both swung their wands above their heads and pointed them at each other. Snape bellowed. "Expelliarmus!" There was a blinding flash of scarlet light and Lockhart was blasted off his feet. He flew backward off the stage, smashed into a wall, and slid down it to sprawl on the floor. Malfoy and some of the other Slytherins cheered, some others laughed, I almost joined in but Hermione was dancing on her tiptoes. "Do you think he's all right?" She squeaked through her fingers. "Who cares?" Me, Harry and Ron said together. Lockhart was getting shakily to his feet. His horrid hat had fallen off and his blond curls were standing on end. "Well, there you have it!" he said, tripping back on to the stage. "That was a Disarming Charm. As you see, I've lost my wand. Thank you, Miss Brown, an excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape, but it was obvious what you were about to do. If I had wanted to stop you I could have, however I felt it would be prudent to let them see." Snape was livid, it was like he had a strange black aura telling Lockhart to shut up or be disembowelled and put in one of Snape's glass jars to be used in a potion. Lockhart must have noticed this, because he said. "Enough demonstrating! I'm going to put you all into pairs. Professor Snape, if you'd like to help me I would be grateful." They moved through the cluster of students, matching up partners. Lockhart teamed Neville with Justin Finch-Fletchley, but Snape reached our little group first. "Time to split up the dream team, I think." He grinned. "Oh come on Sir." I whined Snape waved a hand airily. "Reputation to up hold. Weasely, you can partner Finnigan. Mr Potter." Harry gravitated automatically toward Hermione. "I don't think so." Snape smiled coldly. "Malfoy, come over here. Let's see what you make of the famous Potter. And Miss Granger,you can partner Miss Bulstrode." Malfoy sauntered over, smirking. Behind him walked a Slytherin girl who reminded me of the picture on the front cover of Holidays with Hags, she also looked a little like Clarisse from Camp only less muscly and a lot less pretty, she was large, square had a heavy jaw that jutted aggressively. Hermione managed a weak smile that was not returned. "Miss Potter." I glanced over to Fred who I could just about see. "Hum let's see." He tapped his chin, clearly enjoying himself. "Mr Crabbe. You'll partner Miss Potter." One of Malfoy's henchmen lumbered over. "Face your partners!" Lockhart yelled, back on that stupid stage. "And bow!" I stiffly jerked my head and Crabbe just stood their aimlessly. "Wands at the ready!" Lockhart shouted. "When I count to three, cast your charms to disarm your opponents, only to disarm them, we don't want any accidents do we? One ... two ... three." I flicked my wand at Crabbe. "Expelliarmus!" Crabbe's stubby wand flew out of his hand I caught it. "Too easy." I grinned, then I spotted Hermione and the Bulstrode girl wrestling, I ran over, tucking my wand into my waist band as I pushed Millicent off and holding her down. "Potter!" She growled at me. "What?" I asked, matcher her glare. "Stop! Stop!" Lockhart waved his arms like he was trying to fly. So Snape took charge. "Finite Incantatem!" He shouted, green fog settled over the scene. Neville and Justin were lying on the floor, panting; Ron was holding up a sooty Seamus, apologizing for whatever his broken wand had done, Malfoy was lying on the floor like he'd been laughing and Harry was sweating. "Dear me." Lockhart smiled, almost skipping through the crowd, looking at the aftermath of the duels. "Up you come, Macmillan ... Steady there, Miss Fawcett ... Pinch it hard, it'll stop bleeding in a moment, Boot. I think Id better teach you how to block spells." Lockhart grinned, standing in the midst of the hall. He snuck a glance at Snape and looked quickly away. "Let's have a volunteer pair, Longbottom and Finch-Fletchley, how about you -"

"A bad idea, Professor Lockhart," Snape smirked, gliding over like a large and evil vampire bat. "Longbottom causes devastation with the simplest spells. We'll be sending what's left of Finch-Fletchley up to the hospital wing in a matchbox." Neville's round, pink face went red. "How about Malfoy and Potter?" Snape said with a twisted smile. "Excellent idea!" Lockhart gestured Harry and Malfoy into the middle of the hall as the crowd backed away to give them room. "No not you Mr Potter." Snape was looking more and more evil by the moment. I shrugged at Harry as I passed him and clambered up onto the stage, I was glade that I was tall for my age as the glittering stage was about three feet off the ground. "Now, Harriet." Lockhart smiled as he slung a casual arm around my shoulders and bent to talk in my ear. "When Draco points his wand at you, you do this." He raised his pale wand and attempted a complicated sort of wiggling movement, then dropped it. Snape looked ready to laugh as Lockhart quickly picked it up, saying, "Whoops, my wand is a little overexcited." Snape moved closer to Malfoy bent down and whispered something in his ear. Malfoy smirked. I glared up at Lockhart. "Professor, are you sure you showed me the right thing?" Lockhart nodded happily and jumped off the stage. "Scared?" Malfoy murmured. "You wish." I hissed. "Three - two - one - go!" Lockhart shouted. Malfoy raised his wand quickly and bellowed. "Serpensortia!" Just as I yelled. "Protego!" The end of Malfoy's wand exploded. I watched as a long black snake shot out of it, hit my shield charm and spiralled off in the crowd. People began to scream and back away from the moving snake. "Don't move." Snape said lazily. "I'll get rid of it ..."

"Allow me!" Lockhart interupted. He flourished his wand at the snake, there was a loud bang and the snake flew ten feet into the air and fell back to the floor with a loud splat. Angered and hissing furiously the snake slithered straight toward Justin Finch-Fletchley and raised itself again, fangs dripping with poison, poised to strike. My legs had a mind of their own as I swang myself off the stage and over to Justin. "Stop it!" Harry Yelled as I called. Leave him alone!" Worryingly, the snake fell to the floor, tame as rabbit. It's eyes flickering between Harry and me. The terror evaporated and I glanced at Harry, he was grinning. We looked up at Justin who was backing away in terror. "What do you think you're playing at?" He said and before we could say anything, Justin turned and ran out of the hall. Snape stepped forward and waved his wand at the snake but the python stayed. it slithered closer to me. "Missstress." It hissed, wrapping itself around my leg loosely. There was a tugging on the back of my robes. "Come on." Hermione mumbled. "Move - come on -" Hermione and Ron pulled us out of the hal. As we went towards the doors, the people on either side drew away as though they were frightened of catching something. Neville was looking at us like we'd both grown extra heads and the twins looked slightly gleeful. Having not a clue on what was going on and since neither Ron or Hermione wanted to explain anything we let them drag us all the way up to the Gryffindor common room. We were pushed o the couch and Ron said in a small voice. "You're Parselmouths. Why didn't you tell us?"

"We're what?" Harry asked, brow furrowed.

"Parselmouths!" Ron half whispered. "You can talk to snakes!"

"We know." Harry grinned. "This is the second time we've ever done it. We accidentally set a boa constrictor on our cousin Dudley at the zoo once - long story - but it was telling us it had never seen Brazil and we sort of set it free without meaning to that was before we knew we had magic." I continued. "A boa constrictor told you it had never seen Brazil?" Ron muttered. "So?" Harry shrugged. "I bet loads of people here can do it."

"Oh, no they can't." Ron insisted. "It's not a very common gift. This is bad."

"What's bad?" I scowled. "What's wrong with everyone? Listen, if we hadn't told that snake not to attack Justin." Ron cut me off" Oh, that's what you said to it?" Harry frowned. "What d'you mean? You were there, you heard us."

"We heard you speaking Parseltongue." Ron retorted. "Snake language. You could have been saying anything, no wonder Justin panicked, you sounded like you were egging the snake on or something, it was creepy, you know." My eyes widened. "We spoke a different language? But - I didn't realize - how can we speak a language without knowing we can speak it?" Ron shook his head. Both he and Hermione were looking as though someone had died. I, for one, couldn't see what was so terrible. "So now there's something wrong with stopping a massive snake biting off Justin's head?" I scowled. "What does it matter how we did it as long as Justin doesn't have to join the fucking Headless Hunt?"

"It matters." Hermione said quietly. "Because being able to talk to snakes was what Salazar Slytherin was famous for. That's why the symbol of Slytherin House is a serpent." Our mouths fell open. "And now the whole school's going to think you're his great-great-great-great-grandchildren."

"But we're not." I said with a panic. "You'll find it hard to prove that." Hermione said, staring at the old and red patterned rug. "He lived about a thousand years ago; for all we know, you could be."

I couldn't sleep that night. Through a slip gap in my gold hangings, I saw snow begin to fall in the early hours of the morning. If someone had told me, a few hours ago that I'd be wondering if I was part Slytherin, I wound have punched them in the nose and fed them to the giant squid, but now. I wasn't so sure who I was. I didn't know anything about our father's family, our mortal father's family, we were never even told about our Mother, let alone our father. I tried to say something in snake but it didn't come, despite the face that I had a big green snake curled up next to my head. But I'm in Gryffindor, I scolded myself, the Sorting Hat wouldn't have put me in here if I had Slytherin blood. Ah, said a nasty little voice in his brain, but Dumbledore wanted to put you in Slytherin, don't you remember? 'Piss off Uncle Hades.' I scowled at the God in my head and rolled over. Maybe Harry and I could go see Justin the next day in Herbology and we'd explain everything. With that final thought I fell asleep.