November 2, 1996 - Part 2
What was he supposed to do? He felt like he was being pulled in two different directions. Harry, Uncle Remus and Uncle Sirius were all firm with telling him to leave it alone. Whatever was happening around the school was something he needed to stay out of, not go digging into the mystery and myth of the Chamber of Secrets. After all, looking into the Philospher Stone the year before had led to Harry being kidnapped by Quirrell and both of them almost dying. But it seemed that no matter what he said, Ron was determined to find out the truth. This time, Hermione was right beside him.
Harvey had returned to the Gryffindor Common room after saying goodbye to Remus and Sirius and found Hermione and Ron with their heads together. Hermione was sitting with an advanced potions book in her lap, and Ron was spitting nonsense about having to wait a month. Harvey had almost avoided his friends and ran straight up to his room, but Hermione's head snapped up as he walked in, giving him no chance.
Ron followed Hermione's gaze and his frown became a beaming grin of excitement. "Mate, Hermione's a genius."
Harvey walked over and sat on the edge of the coffee table beside them. "What are you up to?" he asked.
Hermione pressed the book to her chest. "Working out who could be behind the attacks."
"How are you going to do that?" he asked.
Ron sat forward on the couch. "Hermione found a potion that will let us become whoever we want."
"Seriously?" asked Harvey.
Hermione nodded. "It's called a polyjuices potion." She lowered the book and handed it over to him.
Looking down at the book, Harvey couldn't believe what he was seeing. It was a complicated potion, something well beyond their talent—well, his and Ron's, Hermione was clever enough to figure it out—but it also said it would take a month.
"We can use this to sneak into the Slytherin common room and find out whose behind the attacks," said Ron.
Harvey handed the book back to Hermione. "Why the Slytherin common room?"
Ron huffed. "The chamber was built by Salazar Slytherin; it makes sense that only a Slytherin would be able to find this chamber and unleash whatever monster is inside."
Harvey wanted to argue, but it made sense. Remus had said that Salazar's heir would be the one to open the chamber.
"It could be anyone," said Hermione, "we need more information." She closed the book and held it against her chest.
Ron sat back. "I bet anything that it's Malfoy."
"Why?" asked Harvey.
Ron sneered, in a very Snape like manner, and said, "He's a Slytherin. His whole family has been in Slytherin, even his older brother."
"Being in Slytherin doesn't make him guilty," said Hermione.
Harvey frowned. "But he also hates Muggleborns."
Hermione jaw tensed.
"According to Remus, Salazar built the chamber after disagreeing with the other founders about allowing Muggleborns into Hogwarts. He sealed the chamber before he left so that only his heir could open it and release the monster to purge the school of those unwanted students," explained Harvey.
He hadn't intended to tell his friends anything further, not after being warned off. But if Hermione was going to get involved, she needed to know that as a Muggleborn, she was in more danger than anyone.
Ron clapped his hands together. "That settles it; Draco is the number one suspect. We need to get into the Slytherin common room and interrogate him…without him knowing it's us."
"Your best bet would probably be Crab and Goyle, aren't they his friends?" said Hermione.
"More like minions," said Ron.
"I don't know about this," said Harvey.
"What's there to worry about? Hermione will make this potion; we confirm that Malfoy is the one behind it, tell Dumbledore, and we are heroes. Malfoy is expelled from Hogwarts, and we get to enjoy the next six years Malfoy free." Ron beamed and stood up. "After all that planning, I'm starving."
Harvey wasn't sure. If Harry busted them, or any of the teachers, they would all be in so much trouble. Their return to Hogwarts had been bad enough, and Harvey needed to think about his mum; she was pregnant. Getting in trouble would just cause her unnecessary stress. He needed to stay out of it.
"I don't want to do this," said Harvey.
Ron frowned. "Why not?"
"Because we will be breaking the rules again. Possibly getting into another life-threatening situation…again. I would like to graduate from Hogwarts one day, not get expelled or murdered before then," said Harvey.
Ron rolled his eyes. "You are being dramatic; it will be fine—"
"You don't know that," he snapped. "I don't want to be dragged into this again. I let you do it last year, but not again. Leave me out of it." Harvey stood up and crossed his arms.
Ron's teeth ground together. "Whatever, be a coward."
"Better a coward than an idiot," snapped Harvey.
Ron didn't respond; his cheeks went pink, and he marched out of the common room.
Harvey sank back down onto the coffee table and sighed. Hermione was looking up at him with sad eyes from her spot on the floor. She ran her hand over the book before placing her hand on his knee.
She said, "I don't blame you for wanting to stay out of this, but I need to know. I can't just sit by if I'm a possible target."
Harvey wanted to tell her she was wrong, but he knew it was her choice.
"I know," he said, "just be careful."
She smiled warmly. "Always."
"How'd you get the book, by the way?" he asked.
Hermione smirked. "You were all right about Lockhart; he is as thick as you said. I asked for a pass to the restricted section, and he gave me one, no questions asked."
"At least he's useful for something."
Hermione smiled, but Harvey could still see she was sad about the whole Lockhart thing. He ended up sitting beside her on the floor, and they flipped through the potion book together, seeing what else was inside.
The terrible weather hadn't been able to put a damper on Harry's mood. The rain had let up for the quidditch match, but by two o'clock, the skies were dark, and rain was thundering down. Harry had met back up with Fleur after talking to his father and godfather, and they had decided to spend the afternoon with Amelia and Carlisle. The other couple seemed to like the idea of finding something relaxing to do, and Harry and Fleur couldn't agree more.
The four teenagers ended up sitting at the end of a corridor beside one of the many courtyards. The rain was coming down hard, but with a few charms, the four of them had made the space comfortable and warm. Harry leaned against one wall with Fleur settled between his legs; she was holding onto one of his arms wrapped around her waist. Carlisle and Amelia were in a similar position, but Amelia was propped up on his lap, her side against Carlisle's chest and her arm around his neck.
Fleur shifted slightly and turned to lean more on her side.
Harry stroked his thumb across her stomach and asked, "You okay?"
She nodded. "Just stiff from sitting in one position too long."
"We could go back to one of the common rooms," said Amelia.
"I thought you weren't supposed to go into one another's common rooms," asked Fleur.
Harry shrugged. "Snape wouldn't care; Flitwick might. Depends who were to catch you."
"I think the only real shock would be if a Slytherin walked into the Gryffindor common room," said Carlisle.
Harry laughed. "That would be rather amusing."
"I could make Draco do it," suggested Carlisle.
Amelia frowned. "Leave your brother alone."
"Why? The shit deserves whatever would happen to him." Carlisle's grip tightened around Amelia.
The couple hadn't really shared any of the details about them making amends. They didn't talk about the cause or anything that had happened, but they seemed to be moving forward from it.
"He apologies, let it go," said Amelia.
Carlisle scoffed.
"He did?" asked Harry.
"What did Draco do exactly?" asked Fleur.
Amelia looked at Carlisle and pushed back his hair. "He told my sister some things that she repeated to me, and it caused a disagreement between us."
"A disagreement?" Carlisle gave her a look of disbelief.
"Fine; he almost exploded our whole relationship," said Amelia.
Fleur's eyes widened. "Hex the little shit."
Harry chuckled. "So violent." He pressed a kiss to her head.
"I second her statement," said Carlisle.
"He apologised." Amelia leant her head against Carlisle's shoulder.
Carlisle ran his fingers through her hair. "No, he whimpered and begged for mercy when I had him cornered in his room."
"Wait," Harry lifted his head away from the wall, "when did this happen?"
"A few weeks ago." Carlisle shrugged.
"You never said anything."
Carlisle sighed. "Yeah, because I knew I would get that disapproving look you do so well…honestly, it's like you have this strange ability to channel my mother when I do something she would disapprove of."
The girls giggled.
"That's because we've both been on the receiving end of it too much," said Harry.
They all laughed.
Harry squeezed Fleur's waist and tangled his fingers through her free hand when he heard it. The hoarse cry.
"Kill…"
He sat up.
"What is it?" asked Fleur.
Harry gently pushed Fleur to stand before jumping up and walking down the hall. He paused at the crossroad and listened.
"Soo hungry…for so long…."
"Harry, mate. What it is?" Carlisle walked up beside him.
"That voice…"
"What voice?"
"I haven't had a chance to tell you, but I keep hearing this voice right before something, or someone turns up petrified," Harry explained.
Carlisle frowned. "Seriously?"
"Yeah, Harvey's heard it too."
"Kill…time to kill…"
"What are you?" Harry asked. He turned and started to walk down a hall.
Carlisle and the girls followed.
"Harry, maybe we should get a Professor," said Fleur.
He turned to look at her; she looked concerned. Harry held out his hand, which Fleur took, and squeezed it.
He said, "I'll keep you safe, I promise."
Fleur smiled. "I don't doubt that."
"Let me kill…"
"This way."
The four teenagers moved down the corridor and paused when they reached Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Harry stopped and frowned. This was where the cat had been found, and Colin was just around the corner. He walked past the bathroom, leading Fleur, and rounded the corner.
He stopped and froze.
Fleur let out a shocked scream, and she turned her face into Harry's arm.
A second-year, one Harry didn't know but had seen in Harvey's potion class the year before, was lying on the floor, rigid and cold, a look of shock frozen on his face, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. But that wasn't all; just beyond him was another figure.
Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor house ghost was floating immobile and horizontal, six inches off the floor. His normally pearly-white and transparent appearance had become black and smoky. His head was hanging half off, and his face wore the same identical shock as the student.
"What the Merlin?" said Carlisle. "I haven't actually seen anyone like this yet."
Harry frowned. It was starting to become a common thing for him. "Carlisle, would you mind going to get someone, please."
Carlisle nodded and dragged Amelia past the petrified student and ghost.
"Harry, what could do such a thing?" asked Fleur.
"I have no idea, but I'm starting to think that this isn't some student pulling a prank that has gone wrong."
"A creature?" she asked.
Harry nodded. "Something that can move around without being seen and can only be heard by Harvey and me."
"That's not a lot to go on," she said.
"Don't I know it."
Carlisle returned with Dumbledore and McGonagall. The both of them quickly knelt beside the frozen student and examined him. Dumbledore stood and let out a harsh sigh before walking over to Harry.
"Mr Black, this is the third petrification you have come across."
Harry frowned. "Sounds like you're accusing me, Professor."
Dumbledore smirked. "No, I would never. However, I would like to know if you have noticed anything strange before coming upon the poor victims?"
Harry wondered. It wasn't common to hear voices; normally, it was a sign of madness or dark magic, but whatever was happening wasn't exactly normal.
Fleur nudged him; she clearly wanted him to confess.
"I have been hearing a voice," he said.
Dumbledore frowned. "A voice?"
Harry nodded. "It's hoarse and sharp."
"What does it say?"
"That it wants to kill, that it's hungry."
Fleur's grip tightened on Harry's hand.
"I hear it right before someone turns up petrified. It happened with Colin, now them," he gestured toward the second-year and Nick, "and I'm not the only one."
Dumbledore straightened.
"Harvey has heard it too."
"How fascinating," said Dumbledore. He turned back towards the petrified victims. "Mr Malfoy, Mr Black, Miss Parkinson; I hope I can count on your discretion about what you have seen."
The three of them nodded.
"And, I'm sorry dear, what is your name?" Dumbledore looked at Fleur.
"Fleur Delacour, Headmaster. I am just visiting Harry for the day," she said.
"Right, well, Miss Delacour, I am sorry that your visit had to be marred by something so shocking. But I do hope you will be discrete as well."
Fleur nodded. "Of course, Headmaster."
The four students were dismissed by the Headmaster. Harry led Fleur back towards the Great Hall, where her mother would be meeting them shortly. Carlisle and Amelia said their goodbyes before heading to the dungeon.
Harry stood with Fleur by the entrance, watching the rainfall.
"It was the right thing telling the Headmaster," said Fleur.
Harry sighed. "Was it? I don't trust that man."
"You don't?"
He shook his head. "More his judgement than his character. After everything that happened last year, I just don't like leaving it up to him."
"You said, in the end, he was the one who saved you and Harvey."
"It shouldn't have happened in the first place."
Fleur cupped Harry's face and stroked his cheeks. "No, it shouldn't have. Dumbledore made a bad call, but you can't judge him by one bad mistake."
Harry took Fleur by the waist and pulled her against him. "Why do you have to make so much sense?"
Fleur smiled. "Because I'm brilliant…and you would probably be lost without me."
Harry laughed softly and nodded. "That I would be."
Watching Fleur go made Harry's heart ache. They shared one last deep kiss before she walked away with Appoline and promised to talk to him soon. It was only a month and a half before they would be side by side again, but it was a month and a half too long.
Harvey sat with Hermione and the Weasley Twins at dinner that night. Ron was sitting a few seats down with a few of his other friends, making certain that he kept his back towards Harvey and made sure he talked and laughed the loudest. Harvey knew that Ron was upset, but Harvey wasn't going to fold. He had promised to stay out of the whole thing, and that was what he intended to do. So, instead of watching Ron and feeling bad about putting his foot down, Harvey chose to ignore Ron right back.
Fred and George were more than happy to entertain Harvey and Hermione with their latest prank; set up and ready to go off at the next moment, Lockhart went into his office. It sounded rather amusing, picturing Lockhart covered from head to toe in black ink. Fred mentioned that they had almost added owl feathers to the mix, having them fall down and stick to Lockhart too, but they decided that may have been a little too far.
As Harvey was helping himself to a slice of pumpkin pie, he realised that he hadn't seen Ginny. The youngest Weasley had become a frequent companion during meals; she always sat with Harvey for breakfast and dinner and tended to also join Harvey, Hermione and Ron when they were in the common room. She never spoke much, but she seemed to enjoy their company.
It was Hermione who pointed out to Harvey that Ginny still hadn't made any friends. She couldn't say what Ginny was like in her classes, but all of her free time was spent with her head in her journal. Harvey had hoped to help Ginny come out of her shell and be the bubbly girl he had known before she started school, but he had yet to have any success. And with her isolation and now her missing from dinner, Harvey felt more worried than ever.
"Have you seen Ginny?" Harvey asked the twins.
Fred said, "Not since the Quidditch match—"
"—when she joined us," finished George.
Fred said, "She was planning on going to the library—"
"—after the match," finished George.
Harvey nodded.
He decided he should probably find her. He quickly finished his dessert and decided to head towards the library. He would check there first, then her favourite courtyard—where he always found her writing—and then the common room.
The library was empty, except for the librarian. As was her favourite courtyard. The common room wasn't empty, but there was still no sign of Ginny. Harvey wasn't certain where to look next and started to just check wherever he could. He reached the main entrance hall again, just outside the Great Hall and spotted her.
Ginny was sitting on the front steps, her diary on her lap. She was sniffling.
Harvey approached her and took a seat beside her. He placed his hands on his lap and said, "You missed out on dinner."
"I wasn't hungry." She sniffed and wiped her cheeks.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Ginny shook her head. "No, I just want to go home."
"Why? I thought you were excited to come to Hogwarts." Harvey remembered how she had jumped for joy when her letter arrived; it was all she talked about when he had been over at the Burrow.
Ginny shrugged. "I was until I got here." Sniff. "I have been miserable since the day I got off that bloody train."
"Hermione mentioned that you were still struggling."
"I've been trying, but any time I think I meet someone who I think will like me, it goes all wrong." She pulled a piece of fluff off her stocking covered leg and flicked it away.
"How so?"
Ginny huffed. "I don't know—everyone is just so mean."
Harvey said, "I hope I'm not included in everyone."
"Of course not, but even Ron's been a butthead."
"Yeah, that he can be."
Ginny looked up, surprised. "I thought you two were best friends?"
"We are, at least, I consider him mine. But Ron's temper gets the best of him and his ego. Sometimes even I want to knock him over the head."
"If you ever do, I want to watch." Ginny giggled through another sniff.
Harvey smiled.
"Can you walk me back to the common room?" she asked.
Harvey nodded. "Sure."
Ginny was still sad; Harvey could see that. They talked as they headed towards the common room, but Ginny's eyes seemed to remain down. As they rounded a corner, Harvey came to understand why.
Just before they reached the stairs, Draco appeared in front of them. He sneered at them as he passed, making Ginny flinch and step closer to Harvey. Fresh tears started to fall down Ginny's cheeks, but she didn't make a sound before taking off. It took a moment for it to sink in that Ginny had run off, but once his brain caught up, he chased her.
"Ginny!" he called, "Ginny, stop!"
She only stopped once they reached the Common room. She rushed through the portrait and dropped onto the couch beside the fire.
Harvey was glad that most students had yet to return after dinner. He sat down on the couch beside her and rubbed her shoulder.
He asked, "Ginny, what did Draco do?"
A loud sob erupted from Ginny's throat. She reached out and grasped Harvey's top and buried her face into his stomach.
"Did he hurt you?" asked Harvey.
Ginny didn't speak; she just continued to sob. After a moment, her sobs quietened, by she continued to sniffle. She didn't say anything, but Harvey knew that something had happened. And he would find out what.
He knew that Draco could be harsh; originally, Harvey thought it had to do with Harry's resentment of Harvey, back when Harry wanted nothing to do with him. Draco saw Harry as his brother's cool friend and wanted to be on his good side; Harvey thought that maybe Draco's attitude would change. But similarly to Ron's, it seemed that the youngest Malfoy just got meaner.
Harvey wasn't sure what Draco had said or done to Ginny, but he could imagine. Draco seemed to enjoy insulting the Weasley's whenever he could, taking a shot at their lack of money second-hand items, and he even seemed to have a thing for making jokes about the red hair they all had.
Ginny ended up falling asleep on Harvey's lap. Her diary had fallen out of her grasp and onto the floor. Harvey eyed the book before picking it up. He was tempted to peek inside and wonder if Ginny had maybe written about what Draco had done, but that would be wrong. He couldn't intrude on her private thoughts.
The portrait to the common room swung open, and Hermione came in with Lavender Brown, another second year. Hermione spotted Harvey, sitting there with Ginny in his lap, and walked over.
"Is she okay?" asked Hermione.
"Was Draco picking on her again?" Lavender stopped beside Hermione, concerned in her eyes.
"He walked past us, and she started crying," explained Harvey.
"What has Draco been saying?" asked Hermione.
Lavender frowned. "I'm not sure, but I saw them the other day. He ripped her diary from her hands and was saying something not very nice because she looked distraught. I ran over to help her, but Draco turned and left by the time I made it to her."
"Did she say anything?" asked Harvey.
Lavender shook her head. "She ran off after she grabbed her diary; she wouldn't even look at me."
Harvey needed to talk to someone; he could talk to Professor McGonagall, she would be able to punish Draco, but that probably wouldn't stop him in the long term. He needed someone to scare Draco into leaving her alone.
The simmering of cauldrons was almost relaxing to Harry's mind. He had a large batch of calming draught brewing, a large batch of sleep draught brewing, and was putting the last touches on a smaller batch of blood replenishing potion. He had been in Snape's lab since he had finished dinner, with most of his morning being occupied by Fleur, followed by his quidditch match, then finding another student petrified, he had some work to do before he got to enjoy his Sunday rest.
Snape had left him in peace to work, deciding to retire to his chambers early before having to do his turn of monitoring the halls. But the man had made sure to comment on Harry's potions before leaving. The man was nitpicking, and while it was frustrating, Harry knew that really Snape just wanted him to be perfect.
Cutting the head to the blood replenishing potion, he left it too cool. He walked over to the sleeping draught and went to start the next step when two gentle knocks on the door made him pause. He cast a quick preservation charm on the potion and walked over to the door.
He was surprised to see Harvey standing on the other side.
"Isn't it almost curfew?" asked Harry.
Harvey nodded. "Yeah, but I needed to talk to you about Ginny."
"Is she okay?"
Harvey shook his head. "No. I think Draco's bullying her."
Harry sighed. He pushed open the door to let Harvey inside. Harvey stepped into the lab, and he looked around surprised. Harry closed the door behind him and walked back over to his potions.
"Don't touch anything," said Harry, "Snape will murder me if he finds out you were in here."
Harvey shoved his hands into his pockets and nodded.
"Tell me what's been going on?" said Harry.
Harvey pulled out a stool and hopped up onto it. "Ginny's been having a hard time making friends; I've been trying to help her, but she is kind of isolating herself. I noticed she wasn't at dinner tonight, so I went looking for her. She was crying when I found her."
Harry leant against the bench. He hadn't taken much notice of the youngest Weasley, but he knew that she had always been a rather loud and happy kid, much like the rest of her siblings. It did seem strange that she had lost that since coming to Hogwarts unless she wasn't coping so well with her separation from her parents.
"I tried to comfort her, and as we were going back to the Gryffindor common room, we walked past Draco. He sneered at Ginny, and she jumped; she burst into tears again and took off running. She ended up crying herself to sleep in my lap." Harvey pulled a black notebook out of the pocket of his cloak and placed it on the bench.
Harry picked it up and frowned; it looked familiar. "What's this?"
"It's Ginny's diary."
Harry frowned. "You took her diary."
Harvey nodded. "I know that I shouldn't, but I want to help her. I thought maybe she might have written down what he said."
"And?"
"That's the weird thing; it's empty."
Harry flipped open the book and took in the blank parchment.
"She writes in that thing constantly, but there isn't a single trace of ink anywhere."
Turning the book over, Harry noticed one scribble of ink. Tom Marvolo Riddle. "Where did she get this?" he asked.
Harvey said, "It's the one Draco dropped that day in Diagon Alley."
It seemed too strange that Ginny was so attached to a diary that seemed to hold nothing inside it. And it was also the same book that Draco had dropped, and now Draco was picking on Ginny.
Flipping through the diary again, Harry felt like something just wasn't right.
"Maybe it's charmed," said Harvey.
Harry shrugged. "Maybe. Either way, it is Ginny's diary. Maybe you should return it to her." He placed it down in front of Harvey. "Before she notices that you took it."
Harvey nodded.
"And I'll talk to Draco; he won't be bothering Ginny again."
"Thanks, Harry."
"No problem, now get to bed before Snape catches you in here."
Harry watched his brother go and couldn't help but wonder about that name. Tom Marvolo Riddle. He took out his own book, his potions journal that he always kept on him, and scribbled the name down—just in case. It seemed strange that Ginny just happen to come into the possession of a charmed diary that hid all her secrets. Then again, if it really were special, Draco would probably have wanted it back.
