Chapter 8: Wasn't me! Then Who?
A/N: last chapter was short for a reason, hopefully this chapter will quench your thirst! Whenever I get a follow, I seem to want to write. So, thanks for the new follow!
The students ran down the hall, and found quite a shock, a brown and white tail lay on the floor, Filch was sobbing over it, cradling it to his face. Above the shocking scene was writing that seemed to use blood as it's primary ingredient.
"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir beware."
No one moved, no one spoke. How could any of them console the man who made their lives miserable by his very existance? Finally, Dumbledore swept through them all in a grand sweeping gesture and seemed to pick up Filch with no hands. "Come with me, Argus." He said softly, guiding him away from the scene. As they walked away, Dumbledore commented, "I believe Lockharts office is closest, not far now Argus."
Lockhart reacted quickly, his expression ranging from shocked to pleasant in the span of a mere second. "Of course, Of course Headmaster, I just need to clean up a little if I'm to have company." He looked at Harry pointedly, "In fact, I could use Potters help. He's been under my tutelage and knows where I put things." Harry nodded, understanding Lockhart's silent message, Lockhart wanted people to believe anyone could be him, that his power wasn't both Arts and Magic.
Lockhart hurried with Harry leaving Dumbledore and Filch following. "We have a few moments, take my book to your most excellent pouch, I should remember that one. Help me sort out over here, I've got over there!" Harry followed along, quickly following routine. Lockhart generally cleaned up his room himself, but as the semester advanced in difficulty 7 classes for a first year Professor was a bit trying. Lockhart had admitted one night, feeling lucky he hadn't needed to pick up any 3rd-year apprentices and that the rotating staff left almost none left.
Dumbledore and Filch were soon at the door, followed by the other Heads of House. Dumbledore sat Filch down in Lockharts incredibly comfortable chair. "What's Potter doing here?" Snape asked with a tone of concern, "I thought all students were to be tended to by us and the prefects." "Mr. Potter was just helping Professor Lockhart clean his room. He's been being advised by the Professor." Snape raised an eyebrow, and frowned a bit, "You should come to me instead Potter. This... Professor might not be able to be as familiar with the advanced classes as I am." Snape had clearly bit his tongue on that one, telling Harry what he thought about Professor Lockhart.
Harry thought to himself quickly, not entirely sure what Dumbledore was speaking of, but decided to take advantage. Especially if he was to stay on Professor Snape's good side. "Of course Professor, but I do like speaking to such a strong talent in Defense Against Dark Arts, one should always know what Darkness one will be against in life. I seem to have a talent at finding it too." He said wryly, smoothing over any possible tension. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, "Now then, Mr. Potter, I would suggest you leave us to help Mr. Filch say goodbye to his familiar and determine what kind of Darkness attacked his cat. Professor McGonagall, if you could."
The professor escorted Harry to the dormitory, and hugged him. "I'm so sorry Harry, no one should see something so vivid so young..." "I'll be ok Professor, really." Harry promised her, and hugged her back slightly awkwardly. She looked to want to say something, but then said the password and saw him safely inside.
The next few weeks, the school could talk of nothing else. Filch kept it fresh in everyone's minds by crying aloud one day and being surrounded by cats the next. Professor McGonagall spoke to them how a wizard's familiar needed to be kept safe. Someone, probably Fred or George, brought up the point that no one had seen Filch cast magic to clean. The Professor said that it was his story to tell, only that it was incredibly important even more so than most for Filch to have a familiar by his side.
Malfoy seemed irritable as well and told off those who approached him, only to apologize the next day. The students threw themselves into their studies, concentrating on both normal academics but also trying to find the Chamber of Secrets.
Hermione had surprised everyone by asking Professor Binns about the chamber, but alas, it came to no avail. They had even assessed the scene of the crime, but found very little besides scorch marks, odd spiders and a closed girls bathroom which prominently featured a ghost of a girl who was incredibly irritable.
They had just left the bathroom when an old bizarre sensation washed over him. "Everyone! Wands up!" he cried just in time. Hermione, Ron and Draco all took out their wands as did Harry. While his training under Lockhart had been beneficial, they had yet to do any practical work or learning of new spells.
That said, Harry had been keeping an eye out. Being attacked randomly in the castle walls had almost become second hand... except... "INFERI!" Hermione shouted loudly at the sight of three shambling human like creatures. Ron and Draco seemed shocked, but Harry decided to take action, "Inferi or zombies, let's hope fire still works! INCENDIO!" He pointed his wand at one of the zombies that seemed more ready to take them on. Unfortunately he missed, but was so close. Two of the Inferi shuffled up to him, Harry smiled, Isyndel's advice was paying off. Thanks to his innate speed and no small purchase on a consistent Mage Armor ring, he was just fine. Hermione seemed to have shaken herself awake and aimed at a struggling Inferi who seemed painfully unaware they were even in combat.
She smiled and blasted at it, "INCENDIO!" An orange flame caught the zombie by surprise and it seemed somewhat hurt by the flame. "Ron! Draco! Come on!" Harry called out, and they realized they had to take action. "INCENDIO!" they aimed at the shambling one, a blue and white flame engulfed it and it crumpled to dust. 'Nice, my turn!' Harry focused hard, though he was near two Inferni, they could strike at any time while he cast. "INCENDIO incendio!" He double cast, though it was always risky, hoping to take care of the seemingly stronger one. Only the second hit, but it was a pleasant yellow flame. It was hurt decently but still standing. They both attacked at him again, neither hitting him. "Take out the one I haven't hurt yet, Hermione!" he shouted, she nodded and blasted! "INCENDIO!" another barely missed shot, she seemed like she wanted to curse, but Ron smiled, "INCEND-squeak!" at the last second, Ron's pet rat Scabbers gave out a noisy squeak in fear to distract him. He tripped and the shot went wild but hit no one.
Luckily, he recovered easily while draco made his try. "INCENDIO!" His miss did made Ron curse. "RON!" Hermione said, in an angry tone, as if they weren't in the middle of battle. "INCENDIO!" Harry shouted without missing a beat, but he missed again! Something was going on here... but Harry had no time to think about it as the inferi went for him again. One managed to slam into him hard with it's arms, leaving a small scratch behind. "I'll teach you to hurt my friend!" Hermione shouted with rage, "INCENDIO INCENDIO Incendio!" Her last spell went off with a trailing in her voice as she poured her magical core strength into burning both inferi. Two yellow bolts of flame blasted into the two zombies as the third wave of her wand just left red sparks. Her strength was not in vain, as both zombies crumpled into dust before their eyes.
Harry looked gratefully at Hermione, and she smiled back at him. The two seemed quiet as Ron and Draco sighed that they inferi had only left dust. Her eyes went to Harry's arm and noticed the scratch, "He's hurt! Quick, do Inferi act like Zombies?!" She was so panicked she forgot herself. Neither Ron nor Draco knew, though Ron unhelpfully talked a bit about an uncle who had been hurt and started acting weird... though he was always a bit odd. Hermione would take no chances and started dragging Harry to the infirmary, even though Harry said he felt fine. "They always start out fine!"
Thus, it was that on the 8th of November that Harry and Hermione were witnesses to the pronouncement of death of one Colin Creevy, Gryffindor, first year.
AN: This chapter was really hard to write, but the next ones will be even harder. Wish me luck!