Four Heads Are Better Than One

Year Two: The First Attack

Hi everyone, sorry this took so long. Thanks for all the reviews, favourites and alerts. We hope you enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Professor McGonagall's office

"Thank you again for letting us use your office, Minerva."

Minerva shuddered. "I don't think any of us wanted a visit from the twit today."

Severus scowled. "Did you hear him earlier? 'I could whip up a Mandrake Restorative Draught in my sleep.' I doubt he even knows what it is."

Filius tapped the table sharply. "As much as I agree with you, I believe we have more important matters to attend to." All traces of humour disappeared at his words.

Pomona let out a long sig of disbelief. "The Chamber of Secrets…I always thought that it was just a myth."

Minerva looked very grim. "I'm afraid it's very real." She paused. "I was a student here when it was opened the first time."

Severus leaned forwards. "But I thought the person responsible was caught and expelled."

Minerva shook her head vehemently. "Hagrid never opened the Chamber!"

Pomona stared at her. "That's why Hagrid was expelled? That's ridiculous."

Severus looked more sceptical. "Is it though? We all know of Hagrid's penchant for… interesting creatures."

"Severus, do you seriously think that Hagrid is Slytherin's heir? He wasn't even in Slytherin."

"If that's the case Minerva, then why was he expelled?"

The Gryffindor scowled. "He was found with a dangerous creature by one of the prefects. But it certainly wasn't Slytherin's monster."

"Then why…?"

"Because Headmaster Dippet had to do something. They were threatening to close the school!"

Filius frowned. "The fact remains though, that the attacks did stop after Hagrid's expulsion." He held up a hand at the furious expression on Minerva's face. "I don't believe that Hagrid was responsible any more than you do Minerva, but there has to be a connection."

"The attacker may have lost his nerve after Hagrid was caught," Severus suggested.

Minerva scowled. "Or framed Hagrid so that he took the blame instead."

Pomona glanced at her sharply. "The prefect who turned him in?"

Minerva shifted uneasily. "There was never anything to link him to any of the attacks, but…"

Filius' eyes narrowed. "Was he in Slytherin by any chance?"

"Yes, he was."

Severus froze. "Do you remember his name?"

"Tom. Tom Riddle." She met Severus' gaze and gave a tiny nod. The Slytherin's face hardened and he sat back in his chair.

Neither of the others had noticed the unspoken interaction. Pomona's brow creased into a deep frown.

"But even if this Tom Riddle opened the Chamber all those years ago, that doesn't help us with finding whoever's responsible this time."

"Well, there are always the people who were found at the scene of the incident."

Minerva rounded on him. "Severus, will you stop blaming Harry Potter every time something happens!"

"He was found next to the cat, and he and his cronies were missing from the feast. Even you can't deny that that's suspicious, Minerva."

"They were at Nick's Deathday party!"

"Are you sure?"

"I asked him myself! You can check with the Bloody Baron if you need more proof."

"Besides Severus," Filius interrupted, "Harry is a second year, and no second year could have Petrified Mrs. Norris like that. I also very much doubt that he could find, let alone open, the Chamber of Secrets."

Severus snorted. "We also thought that a first year would be unable to get the Philosopher's Stone."

Minerva was visibly struggling to control her temper. "Severus, the Chamber can only be opened by Slytherin's heir, and the Potter family has no connection to that line whatsoever. Harry's more closely related to Gryffindor than Slytherin."

Severus scowled. "I still think he had something to do with it."

Pomona rolled her eyes. "And I think you're paranoid, but there you go."

Filius sighed. "Severus, even if they were somehow able to open the Chamber, do you really think they would be able to hide it from Albus?"

Severus' scowl darkened, but he said nothing.

Minerva shot Filius a grateful smile. "Thank you."

The Ravenclaw shrugged. "Harry has no reason to open the Chamber and attack Muggle-borns. Miss Granger is one of his best friends after all." His smile faded. "The question is, what do we do now? The students are bound to panic, particularly the Muggle-borns."

Minerva shivered. "This is the way it started last time." She shook her head sharply. "Just carry on as normal. Albus will probably introduce further precautions at a later date, but for now, stay alert and keep the students calm."

Severus grimaced. "Easier said than done, Minerva."

Pomona gave a rueful smile. "At least one good thing came out of this meeting." The others glance at her, and her smile widened. "We just managed an entire meeting without any idiotic interruptions."

Minerva's face broke into a satisfied smirk. "He's probably still waiting for us to arrive."

Severus snorted. "I doubt it. I put a mirror in the staff room. He'll be so entranced by himself that he won't even notice our absence."

Filius burst out laughing. "That really wouldn't surprise me."

Minerva's smile faded slightly. "We'll have to find somewhere else for next time though. If we get too predictable, he might be able to find us again."

Pomona grinned wickedly. "I know just the place."

Please let us know what you thought.