Chapter 10

Harriet's P.O.V

But, the snow that had started earlier had turned into a snow storm and the lest lessons of term were cancelled. Also, Professor Sprout wanted to fit socks and scarves on the Mandrakes, A job she wouldn't let anyone else do, except Neville who was better than the Hufflepuffs at Herbology. Especially now that two living things had been petrified. I was curled up in an armchair in front of the fire in the Gryffindor common room, wearing my Weasely jumper with Zoe on my lap and Alexander, the snake, around my arm, when Harry stepped through the portrait hole. "How bad is it?" I asked, watching the flames. "Pretty bad." Harry sighed, sinking into a chair. "Could barely eat without being insinuated by death glares." Harry scowled at the flames. "People are being ridiculous." I said, uncurling my legs from underneath me. "You face them then!" Harry was really pissed. "People hate me even more then you. I was the one the snake came to." I sighed. "Ssssssorry Missssstressssss." Alexander hissed. "It's not your fault the school is so fucking prejudice." I ran a hand down his silky scales. "That's all it really bottles down to." Harry said. "People making assumptions." I nodded. "We should go hind Justin." I suggested, Harry gave me a look. "So that we can explain what really happened." I said. "Ok." Harry stood up. "Where should we check first?" I shrugged, putting Zoe on my shoulder and standing up. "The library?" Harry nodded. "Ok." We silently made our way down to the packed library, where we found Ernie McMillan in a dark corner with a bunch of other Hufflepuffs. "I told Justin to hide up in our dorm." Ernie whispered loudly to his friends, where Harry and I were standing, in the Magical Creatures section, could here them perfectly. "But why?" Hannah Abbott asked, confused. Ernie rolled his eyes. "Because Hannah, Justin accidently let slip to the Potter's that he was muggleborn, you saw what happened last nigh, they've pinned him down as their next victim." Ernie said. "But they always seemed so nice." Hannah frowned. "Just the other day Harriet helped me carry a bag of compost to the greenhouses."

"It's just a front Hannah." Ernie sighed. "They're trying to work our who they'll go after next." Hannah's eyes widened. "But I'm not muggleborn."

"No." I said, stepping out from behind the bookcase and the Hufflepuffs jumped. "You're not, but Hermione Granger is, and she's my best friend. I'm not exactly going to try and kill her. Am I?" I glared at their startled faces. "You hate those Muggles you live with." Ernie said, not meeting my eyes. "Don't live with them anymore." Harry scowled. "And besides." I said, spinning a chair round and sitting on it backwards. "They beat us.." Harry grabbed another chair. "Enslaved us..." He continued. "Starved us.."

"Killed our brother. honestly Ernie, the list goes on." I waved a had abound in the air. "What about last night?" Ernie said stubbornly. "You were egging the snake towards Justin." Alexander came out from under my sleeve then. "Incompetent boy." He hissed. "Sssshall I bite him Missssstressssss?"

"No Alexander, that won't be necessary." I said, in Parselmouth. Ernie went pale. "And if you're getting any ideas." He said quickly. "You can trace my family back,"

"Don't care." I stood up. "We were looking for Justin, we need to explain what happened." Harry stood next to me. "But seeing as he's not here."

"We'll leave." We turned at the same time and exited the library. "You better go by yourself Harry." I sighed. "I don't want to go in boy's dormitories." Harry rolled his eyes. "What are you going to do?" I grinned at him. "Go to Hogsmead. I need to do some shopping." Harry rolled his eyes again, while grinning. "See you later." He turned and walked down to corridor. "Don't forget you're map! And can I borrow your invisibility cloak?" I called after him. "Fine!" He yelled back. "Thanks!" I called and quickly made my way up to the Gryffindor common room. Hermione was curled up in a chair reading, Ron was at a table playing chess with himself. Percy was at a table furiously writing, Neville and the twins were no were to be seen. "Have you seen Fred and George?" I asked Ron. "No. Why?" I shrugged. "Need to ask them something." Ron shrugged and went back to his game. Just then there was the sound of feet running down the corridor and Fred, George and Lee stumbled into the common room, covered in goo and grinning madly. "What have you done now?" Percy said, disapprovingly. "Nothing?" George asked. "I find that hard to believe." Hermione looked up from her book. Before they could reply there was a yell. "WEASELY!" It was Flitch. "Shit." Lee swore. "Hang on." I said, running up the boy's staircase. I quickly found Harry's room and then his invisibility cloak. I sprinted down to the common room, pushed the three into a dark corner and threw the cloak over them as Flitch entered the common room. "Where are they?" He scowled around the room. He was dripping with green goo and bat droppings. "Who?" I asked innocently, Flitch's piggy eyes glared at me. "Potter." He scowled even more. "Lovely day Sir." I smiled. "Where are they girl?" He spat. "Who?" I shrugged. "Fred, George and Lee." Percy said. "No idea." I shrugged. "They were here a moment ago. Maybe they slipped out and into a classroom." I suggested. Flitch seemed to be trying to read my sole, but he turned and stormed out the common room. I burst into giggles as the boys pulled the cloak off themselves. "That, was so cool!" Lee grinned. "What is this?" George held up the cloak. "It's Harry's." I said, taking it back, Alexander slithered down my arm to get a closer look. "It was our dad's." I grinned. "That is one cool cloak." Lee said. "I know. I was hoping to get into Hogsmead today, it's almost Christmas and I need to do some shopping. And seeing as you now owe me one, you're helping me get there." I grinned. "You want us."

"To help you."

"Break out of Hogwarts?" The three boys said. "Duh." I said. "Ok." They shrugged. "Come on." We checked the corroder for Flitch and making sure no one was following us, we slipped out and threw the cloak over ourselves. "We'll have to stay in the shadows." I said, looking at our feet poking out the bottom. "It's not meant for four tall kids." George agreed. "Good thing the passage isn't far." Fred muttered. "Why can't you go on the weekend, like a normal person?" Lee asked as George tapped the round belly of a statue. "I'm not normal, and I'm only a second year." I grinned at him before sliding down the slide. "I agree that you're not normal." Fred grinned and I punched him on the arm. "Ow!" He protested and I stuck my tongue out at him. "Mature." He said. "Goo and bat droppings." I said as Lee hit the floor. "Point taken." Fred grinned. "Come on guys." George grinned. "this is so mush more fun then looking for Justin." I grinned. "Why were you looking for Justin?" Lee asked as me make our way down the dark, damp corridor. "Harry and I wanted to explain what happened at dulling club." I shrugged as Zoe wrapped her tail around my shoulders. "Oh, with the Parseltongue?" Fred asked. "Yeah." I kicked a stone. "People now believe that we're the heir's of Slytherin."

"Hay." Fred nudged me with his elbow. "We know they're wrong, and so do you. And Hermione, and Ron and Neville. It's ganna be ok."

"Thanks Fred." I smiled up at him just as George tripped over a large boulder. "Nice trip?" I grinned down. "Shup." He scowled, scrambling to his feet. "Are we nearly there?" I asked as the tunnel began to get darker and wetter. "Half way, why?" Lee said. "I'm not particularly fond of the dark." I admitted. "Probably a side effect of being locked in a cupboard for the first six years of my life." I shrugged. "Your Aunt and Uncle looked you in a cupboard?" Lee sounded shocked. "Yeah." I said miserably, not wanting to elaborate. "Why?"

"They hated us, they do hate us."

"Why?"

"Jesus Lee, I don't fucking well know! Maybe they were scared that we'd turn them into wombats or something." The others snorted at that. "I'd pay to see that." George piped up. "Thanks. Where does this come out anyway?" I asked. "Honeydukes." Fred grinned. "What's that?"

"The sweet shop." Lee grinned. "Brilliant!" I grinned back. "I need some sugar."

"You really don't." George said, I made a face at him. We hit a dead end. "Wrong turn?" I asked. "Nope, gimme a leg up." Fred said, Lee and George hoisted Fred up, who pushed against the ceiling, a tile came away and Fred disappeared from sight. "Who's next?" Fred face appeared in the gap. "I'll go last." I volunteered, seeing as I was wearing a skirt. "You sure?" George asked. "Will you be able to lift us."

"Sexist much?" I scowled. "And did you seriously miss my fight with Flint?"

"Point taken." George said, Lee frowned as he and I lifted George. "You fought Marcus Flint, as in the Slytherin Quidditch captain?"

"I thought everyone knew." I said. "Most people don't believe it" Lee said. "Typical, anyway. Long story short, I beat up Flint and half the quidditch team." I shrugged, lifting Lee. "Jeez girl. You got guts." Lee said admirably as Fred and George pulled him through the hole. "Thanks." I said, backing against the wall so I could have a good run up. "What are you doing?" George asked when he peeked down. "Jumping." I grinned at him before running towards the opposite wall and jumping just before the hole. I managed to grab the side of the hole, legs dangling into the darkness, my arms shook slightly as I lifted myself out. "How the hell did you do that?" Fred asked, replacing the tile carefully. "Practice." I shrugged. "Climbed a lot of trees that way to get away from my cousin's gang."

"Those guy's really hated you." Lee said. "Dudley probably wouldn't have been too bad if he wasn't raised and spoilt by the Dursley's." I shrugged and peered into the gloom. "We could do with some light." George said. "Hang on." I patted my pockets. "Where did I put it?" Alexander's tail popped out of my pocket, wrapped around my flashlight. "Thanks Alexander." I sad and turned it on. "What is that?" Lee asked looking at the torch. "Emergency Muggle lighting." I shrugged. "Got another one of those?" George asked. "Yeah." I slipped my hand back into my pocket and as I was pulling my spare torch out Alexander bit me. "You ok?" Fred asked worriedly. "Shit." My hand was bleeding badly. "No, I'm not ok." Then they spotted the blood. "Jesus, what happened?" Fred shone the spare torch onto my hand. Alexander bit me." I scowled. "Who's Alexander?" Lee looked closely at the bite as Alexander slithered out my pocket. "This, is Alexander." I said as he wrapped himself around my arm. "Why do you have a snake with you?" George asked. "Just do." I shrugged. "I hope his bite isn't poisonous." I said. "Know any spells?"

"Episky could work." Lee tapped his chin. "If you don't know if it's going to work then I'm not letting you near my hand, I'll go to Madam Pomphry when we get back." I said. "You sure?" Fred asked. "I'll be fine. My own bloody fault if I die, didn't bring any ambrosia and I forgot to put my bracelet back on this morning." I scowled slightly. "Gimme your hand." Fred held out his hand. "Okay." I said and 'gave' him my hand. Fred pulled at bundle of snowy white fabric out his pocket. "Why do you carry bandages around?" I asked. "Pranking has it's downsides." Fred grinned and tightly secured my hand. "There, almost good as new." Fred gave me back my hand. "Thanks." I grinned. "You know. If you didn't piss her off so much, I'm sure Madam Pomphry would appreciate your help." I said as we started back down the corridor. "I'm sure she'd be thrilled." George said sarcastically, clambering over a pile of boxes. "Nah, wouldn't want to risk people seeing me help a teacher." Fred said, following George over the boxes. "And more people would want to get hurt if one of the famous Weasely twins worked in the Hospital wing. Those two are serious people gathers." Lee joked, following me over the boxes. "One more set of stairs and we're there." George said from up ahead. "Good, how long have we been walking?" Lee asked. "It's been ten minuets since we left the castle." I answered, shining my torch on my watch. "Seems longer." George said. "It's the dark, it play's trick on your mind." I glared at the nearest shadow. "Doesn't it Nico?" There was a small sigh and my crazily pale cousin stepped out the shadows. "Jesus!" The boys jumped. "What are you doing here Nico?" I folded my arms across my chest. Nico shrugged, hands in the pockets of his black jeans. "Percy asked me to check on you." His dark sword seemed to block out the light. "Wait, Percy as in Percy Weasely?" Lee asked. "No you idiot." Nico rolled his eyes. "Percy Jackson her brother."

"Nico, please shut up." I gritted my teeth. "I thought you wanted to know what I was doing here." He smirked. "Nico, get your black clad butt back to America before I throw you in the lake. And tell Percy I don't need a babysitter, I can look after myself." I spun on my heal. "But." Nico started. "What?" I spun back. "Percy told me not to come to camp this summer. The war's started and."

"And you're younger then me and you're fighting in it. I'll come if I want to."

"And I was born in the middle of World War 2, but Percy want's you to stay here."

"Tell him to go fuck himself." I growled, clenching my fists. "Will do." Nico grinned and dissolved into shadows. "What the fuck just happened?" Lee asked as we continued down the corridor. "Tell you later." I growled. "Okay. Peace." Lee said. "We're almost there." Fred promised. "Good, I really need sugar." I said. We quickly found Honeydukes. "This place is awesome." I grinned. "Yeah. You should see Zonko's." George grinned. "Come on." We spent a happy twenty minuets in Honeydukes, sampling the sweets and I ended up buying a lode to give to Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Neville. We soon stepped out the shop into the snowy street. "I'm so glad I was mention to have potions today." I said. "Why?"
"I wouldn't have worn warm clothes if I didn't." I said, brushing snowflakes out my eyes.

Fred's P.O.V
As we passed the post office Harriet stopped. "Do they change currencies in there?" She asked. "Yeah." George said "Why?" I asked. Harriet grinned and put her hand into her cloak pocket, when she managed to get her cloak I don't know but she had it, anyway, hand in pocket and she pulled of a bulging bag. "Cos I got a lode of Greek money." She grinned. "Oo, let's see." Lee said, Harriet opened the bag and pulled out a handful of glittering gold drachmas. Our eyes widened at the size of the ancient coin. "What is that?" Lee asked in admiration. "A Greek drachma." Harriet flipped it to him as she pushed open the door to the post office. "Keep it." She said, when Lee tried to give it back. "I don't need it." She grinned before walking up to the counter and placing a few coins on the counter. "Hay Fred." George waved me over to the owls that were meant for sending stuff to Egypt. "Think Mum and Dad would be impressed if we sent a couple of dung bombs to Bill over Christmas?" George grinned. "No, but when's that stopped us?" I grinned back. "Too bad we're out of dung bombs." Lee said. "We used the last ones on Flitch." George said. "And Lockhart." I finished. "You can't be serious." Harriet's shocked voice carried across the small room. "Absolutely Miss." The attendant said. Harriet paused. "Done." She shook hands with the man and gathered up a large pill of Galleons. "Are you done?" I asked. "Yeah." Harriet grinned, shaking snow out her hair. "I just can't believe how much two drachmas can get me." Harriet said, patting her extra money bag. "That is a lot." George inspected the money bag from a distance. "I know!" Harriet exclaimed. "You wizards are crazy."

"You're one of us too." I pointed out. "That explains something's." Harriet grinned. "What, like the fact that you're in Hogsmead, on a weekday, in your second year?" George asked. "No, more like that fact that I've got a cat on my shoulders and a snake in my pocket." Harriet shrugged. It to a while for the four of us to get all the things we needed, and Harriet actually made shopping fun which is always a plus. As we made our way back to Honeydukes it was slowly beginning to get dark. Harriet pause in the door way of the sweet shop. "Hang on, I just remembered something." Harriet said before turning and running down the street. "Stay there!" She called over her shoulder. We glanced at each other and shrugged. "She's crazy." Lee finally decided. "Just a little." I agreed. "What's this?" George fake gasped. "Fred saying something bad about his precious Harriet?" I pushed him lightly. "Shup." I said and felt my face slowly go red. "Aw, look at him." Lee ruffled my hair. "Get off." I scowled. "Our ickle Frediekins is growing up." George grinned. I ignored him, focusing on the corner where Harriet had disappeared. "Next thing you know, Ron will have a girlfriend." Lee said. "Ron wouldn't know what a date was if in danced in front of him wearing Percy's prefect badge." I grinned. "Or Harriet's underwear." Lee said slyly. "Would you like to keep your teeth?" I said calmly. "Taking a leaf out of your girlfriend's book I see." George said, I blushed harder but before I could say or do anything, Harriet came running round the corner, carrying a huge a brown parcel, as she got closer we could clearly see the Zonko's logo on the front. "What is that?" George's eyes widened. Harriet shook her head, hands on knees, panting for breath. "Isn't it heavy?" I asked. Harriet nodded, still panting. "We could carry I for you." Lee said, eyes twinkling evilly. "Nuhu." Harriet shook her head and started toasted the cellar door. "What? Don't you trust us?" George asked, opening the door. "With my life, sure. Other peoples, nope." Harriet said. Still slightly breathless as she made her way down the steps. "Reassuring." Lee said sarcastically. "Shup." Harriet grinned in the gloom. "Still go that light?" I asked. "Yeah." Harriet chucked something at me, I caught it and pressed the loupe black bobby bit, the thing lit up better then Lumos Maxima. "Cool." I grinned. We were soon back at the bottom of the tunnel. "How are we going to get all our stuff up there?" Harriet asked. "We don't." George said simply. "How do we get everything up to the common room?" Harriet looked confused. "We take the stairs." I said as the slide became a long set of stairs. "How?" Harriet asked as we began to climb. "There's a tile at the bottom that turns the slide into stairs." Lee said, still eyeing the parcel. "Oh, and just so you boys know." Harriet said "I blocked off the passage that goes to the girls dorms."
"Why would you do that?" George exclaimed, Harriet glared at him and rolled her eyes. "Well." She continued. "I don't exactly block it." We grinned. "But when someone come through it, it sends a warning to me." She grinned evilly at us and we groaned.

Harriet's P.O.V

It was Christmas eve, Hermione was in the library with Neville and the others were play a strange version of quidditch. I was sat in the common room doing homework. I sighed and rubbed my eyes, putting my quill down. "I need a walk." I said to the empty common room. I pulled on another jumper, wrapped my green and gold scarf securely around my neck and fastened my green cloak around my shoulders. The snow crunched under my boots as I crossed the snowy lawn. Subconsciously I made my way down to the quidditch pitch, where Ron, Harry, Fred and George were zipping around the frosty air. A snow ball came sailing through the air towards me and I ducked. I glanced up and Harry grinned at me from his broom. "No fair!" I yelled. "You're flying!" I carefully gathered up a ball of snow without Harry noticing and threw it as hard as I could at him. He ducked just in time and it hit Ron in the face. "Sorry Ron!" I called, laughing as Ron spat snow out his mouth. The boys swooped over head and snow rained down on me. "HAY!" I yelled. "I CAN'T FLY!"

"Sorry Stripes!" George grinned. "I wish I could fly." I sighed, lobbing snow at George. "I could talk to my dad." Harry suggested, ducking as Fred's snow ball whizzed towards him. "I'd appreciate it." I smiled, throwing snow at him. And that was how Percy found us two hours later, throwing snow at each other. "Just what.." He started before a snow ball hit him in the face, we all stopped laughing and started backing away. Percy scrapped the snow off his glasses and smiled evilly. "You're going to get it now." He said, gathering snow. "RUN!" George said, ducking as the snow sailed over his head. So, with Percy we had a three aside snow ball fight, with me, Percy and Fred on one teem and Ron, Harry and George on the other. We all went to bed exhausted that night,exited for what the morning would bring.