Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor am I attempting to make any personal gain from this story.
Harry Slithers-in; Chamber of Secrets: Chapter 6: Petrified
At breakfast the following morning the students were informed that Mrs. Norris was not, in fact, dead. She had apparently been petrified. Dumbledore explained that her internal organs and muscles had been turned into stone but that it would be possible to restore her normal condition. All it would take would be sufficient time for the school's Mandrake plants to mature and then a potion could be made that would restore her health.
In the meantime students were asked to be careful and to report to a teacher any unusual occurrences they may become aware of. He particularly wanted information about any person seen acting peculiarly or who they saw sneaking around the castle.
"Does anyone have any idea what might be able to petrify something?" Theo asked. Nobody could answer that question.
Over the following week almost the only topic of discussion amongst the students was 'What had attacked Mrs. Norris?' It quickly became clear that the whole school was curious about it and, indeed, somewhat afraid of what had happened. Filch was making sure nobody forgot either. He began hanging around the area where Mrs. Norris had been found as if he expected the attacker to return. When not manning this post he was prowling the corridors threatening student with detention for even minor things such as laughing, talking loudly or even looking happy.
Saturday saw the first Quidditch match of the year. Slytherin were down to play Hufflepuff and Malfoy would be making his debut as seeker for Slytherin. Everybody went down to the pitch to watch the game. Harry sat with his fellow Slytherins cheering their team on but keeping a close eye on Malfoy as he soared through the air. Harry got the impression Malfoy was showboating, displaying his flying skill rather than concentrating on his job as seeker, a fact he decided to comment on.
"Malfoy better pay attention to his job or he could end up making a fool of himself."
"Relax Potter, Hufflepuffs are useless. Malfoy might as well have some fun," Crabbe said.
"Maybe," Harry replied, "but if he doesn't turn around he'll miss the snitch." Harry pointed to a space about 10m behind Malfoy.
"There's nothing there, Potter," Crabbe said.
"No, Potter's right," Blaise said.
Just then they heard a shout from Slytherin captain Flint. "Malfoy, behind you, you idiot."
Malfoy turned around just as the Hufflepuff seeker Cedric Diggory shot past him. Harry could see the look of shock on Malfoy's face as he turned but it was already too late, Diggory caught the snitch while Malfoy was still several metres away giving Hufflepuff the win by 150 – 80.
The Hufflepuffs were of course delighted as were the students from Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. As they left the stadium they could hear the cheering from these students still in the stadium all the way to the castle and it was a relief to get back inside so they didn't have to listen to it any more.
Hours later Flint walked into the Common Room. He looked around until he located Harry and then made his way over. "Potter," he began, "You're back on the team. When training restarts after Christmas break you will be training with us and Malfoy will be training with the reserves."
"Where are the rest of the team?" Harry asked.
"Probably beating the crap out of Malfoy for his stupidity during the game. I really don't care about that, though," Flint said before heading up the dormitories.
Crabbe and Goyle decided they should go help Malfoy so they set off in search of him while the others wondered if the team would actually hurt him. The consensus was they wouldn't but it was likely Malfoy would face some form of humiliation over the game.
When Malfoy did return with Crabbe and Goyle in tow soon after he went straight to where Harry was sitting. "Hello, Potter," he said.
"Hello, Malfoy. Are you alright?" Harry asked.
"So, Flint has already put you back on the team has he? Don't I even get to trial against you?"
"Flint is the captain," Harry said. "It's his job to make these calls. I guess he thought I might be just as good as you and that he wanted me back on the team. I have no say in matters like this."
"Well, good luck. Try not to make a fool of yourself," Malfoy said before heading to the dormitory.
Next morning when the Slytherins arrived in the Great Hall for breakfast they realised something was wrong. Throughout the Hall students were muttering quietly, totally unlike the normal loud chatter that occurred during meal times. They noticed, too, that as soon as they entered the Hall almost every student turned to face them with looks of fear on their faces. "Something's wrong," an older student muttered. Several people nodded in agreement.
"Attention please," Professor Dumbledore said. "For those of you who haven't heard last night a second year boy, Justin Finch-Fletchly was found in the corridor near where Mrs. Norris was attacked last week. He has been petrified and is now in the hospital wing. Also found at the scene was the Gryffindor ghost, Sir Nicholas de Mimsey Porpington, more commonly known as 'Nearly Headless Nick.' Nick has been transformed into a dark shadow and has been moved to a secure location.
"Needless to say this is a serious situation. The staff and I have agreed we need to conduct a thorough search of the school to try and locate the perpetrator. I ask that, until this matter is resolved, all students be careful and that, if you see or hear anything out of the ordinary, you tell a teacher immediately."
"We have got to do something," Harry muttered quietly to those around him. "Dumbledore clearly thinks the Heir of Slytherin is responsible."
"What can we do, though?" asked Tracey.
"We need to study harder to try and discover what is happening," Theo said. "I just wish we knew where to start looking."
"Dumbledore said both attacks took place near the same location," Blaise said. "I think that is where we should start looking."
"I agree, but how are we going to search for clues in an area that is obviously under extra surveillance now?" Harry added.
"I think a couple of us should casually walk past there when we leave here," Daphne said. "As we walk past we look around for anything odd but we'd have to keep moving otherwise people might think we're up to something."
"It's a start," Theo said. "As I recall there is a girls' bathroom near that place. I think you and Tracey should do the searching. That would be less suspicious than us guys doing it."
With that agreed they finished their breakfast.
Over the next week there was a noticeable increase in the level of tension around the castle. The first years especially seemed frightened by events. The only one who didn't appear concerned was Professor Lockhart.
"Now, now, there is no need to look so worried," he said at the beginning of their next lesson. "As long as I am here and you all follow instructions there is nothing to worry about. Why, it's only a matter of time until I identify the culprit. Once that happens it will all be over. I must say, too, that the culprit would be very wise if they stopped now before I catch them. It is easily their best option." Nobody took him seriously, however.
Daphne and Tracey's reconnaissance mission turned up nothing other than the fact the bathroom in question was haunted by a ghost named Moaning Myrtle and that she hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary during either attack.
Saturday saw Gryffindor play Ravenclaw in their first Quidditch match for the year. Gryffindor recorded a comfortable win over the defending champions showing that Ravenclaw were very much in a rebuilding stage. It was in the evening after the match that the school was disturbed by another shock discovery. A first year Gryffindor boy was found petrified with a camera held in front of his face.
All students were immediately sent to their Common Rooms. Professor Snape made a rare appearance in the Common Room to address the students. "As you have heard there has been another attack on a muggleborn student. This time it was a Gryffindor first year named Colin Creevey. I do not need to tell you this is a very serious matter and is of the gravest concern to the staff."
"Sir," Malfoy began, "it seems to me that only mu-ggle-borns are being attacked. Shouldn't we all be safe from attack because of our blood status?"
Snape glared at Malfoy, something he had never done before. "Do you have any information that may be relevant to this matter?"
"No, sir," Malfoy replied.
"Then kindly keep your opinions to yourself. The staff and pupils already suspect that it is a Slytherin who is responsible. I sincerely hope this is not the case since our house is already viewed with suspicion and distrust by the other houses. Already there have been calls for all Slytherin students to be suspended until the culprit is caught. Fortunately wiser heads prevailed and no such action is planned at present."
After he finished speaking Snape looked over everyone in the room. Harry got the impression Snape was looking into the student's minds and it made him feel even more nervous. Without saying anything more Snape swept from the room.
"Can you believe that?" an older student asked. "They can't kick us out just because of the house we're in." Nobody disagreed.
"Typical," Malfoy snarled. "We finally get someone who is trying to clean up Hogwarts and the others all want us thrown out. What they should do is ban muggleborn students, then there wouldn't be a problem."
"That kind of attitude isn't going to help us, Malfoy," Harry said. "We need to find out who is doing this and stop them. Until whoever is responsible is caught we are all in danger and not just from this monster, whatever it is." Several people agreed with Harry although some thought Malfoy was right.
Harry and his group moved away from Malfoy and his group. Eventually the rest of the students moved to one or other group to offer support. Harry was pleased to see that most of the students sided with him. Malfoy's expression clearly showed his contempt for Harry's group.
"We need to find out where that boy was when he was attacked," Tracey said.
"That shouldn't be too hard. What we really need is a clear opportunity to examine the scenes of all the attacks, try and find out if they have anything in common," Harry said.
"We know both previous attacks occurred near Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, and that so far all attacks have been on people who were alone at the time," Theo said.
"What about the boy who was attacked when he was with the ghost?" one of the newcomers asked.
"We don't know if they were attacked together or one of them just happened along afterwards," Theo replied. "Maybe the ghost was attacked first and then that boy arrived later, or maybe it was the other way around."
"Tracey? Can I talk to you alone?" Harry asked.
Harry and Tracey stepped away from the group. "I think I might be able to use my cloak," Harry explained in a whisper. Tracey nodded.
"We've got a plan," Harry said to the group. "We can't put it into effect tonight because security will obviously be tighter than usual but, in a few days' time, we should be able to make it work. For now I think we could all use a good night's sleep."
The students headed toward their dormitories. As they left the Common Room Harry caught Draco's eye and the two of them exchanged glares before Draco pushed past Harry and entered the dormitory. Harry made a note to keep an eye on Draco at all times over the forthcoming days.