Note from 2021: For a few months after writing the Cipher chapters I fell into a rut. What seemed like a funny idea a couple years ago morphed into a dark realism guaranteed with that sort of villain. The result: I lost the plot. I felt that I destroyed this story at its very essence; and was feeling regretful and in constant self-argument over whether or not to rewrite Year Four in its entirety. It's been slow finding a way for this world to live with the consequences of my actions. I spent the past two chapters trying to heal Melissa as a way to reach an equilibrium, but I still felt like the Cipher plot ruined the story. So, I went back, reading chapters, reminding myself of what this story means and means to me. Now, in writing this chapter, I hope to return this story to its essence at last.

Classes resumed on Monday, four students fewer than before. By four and four again, a cloud of dread hung over them. With dread came words, then words to whispers. The rumour mill, ever-turning.

Unlike before, Harry listened carefully to the whispers spoken. An effort to find which ones linked to his own words, and which linked to the other three. As the days grew, a pattern came clear to him over how the school viewed the events of April 17th.

One. Melly has gone fully insane, a violent mudblood who planned to use a dark ritual to destroy purebloods. That rumour came from MacNair, who -unlike Rowle- opened up about the tortures inflicted on them and the taunts made of what Bill would do with them after taking over one of their bodies. This rumour came detailed with graphic concepts that older students refused to explain to Harry. Ones that made them grow pale or go wide-eyed in horrified fascination. Which, sadly, made it one of the more popular rumours at the start.

Two. Melly sold her soul to the Devil. That one came from Rowle. It seems the witch was both willing to accept Professor Snape's account of fighting Cipher, but actively believes that Melly let it all happen on purpose. She's been telling people about how Snape fought multiple demons last year, causing speculation to grow wild over how many demons has Melly been giving bodies to using the horcrux ritual since then.

Three. Melly is the real Heir of Slytherin. This one came about accidentally. One day, while people prodded over how they succeeded after George's arm got sliced off, Fred snapped and made mention of a giant monster. This caused a mix-up in translation, leading people to think the monster was working for Melly; and -after seeing snakes protecting her during Serpa-geddon- people speculated that she was responsible for everything gone wrong this year- including Creevey's petrification. Those rumours were initially believed by anyone who dismissed the idea of demons, saying that of course Slytherin would leave instructions for dark rituals down in the Chamber of Secrets.

To Harry's appreciation, Creevey, Fred and several Hufflepuffs refuted those rumours when asked, which helped in turning down that one's popularity. Unfortunately, it did semi-backfire once people connected that the monster came to help Harry, a Hufflepuff, inspiring rumours of a Hufflepuff Monster akin to Slytherin's Monster. Only this one was left by Helga Hufflepuff to protect the school instead of attacking muggleborns. The irony was not lost on Harry.

Four. Lockhart saved the day! That wasn't a rumour so much as Lockhart's own boasts. He was actually silent about the events for a while, but as rumours started pouring in, he took advantage of people's confusion to merge a combination of truth and lies to make it seem like he was the man of the hour. So, in his words, he summoned the 'monster' to help after Harry told him about the attack. Then he expelled the demon, himself. So that was… something.

Then, of course, was the most important of the rumours:

Five. I made the deal to protect what I Know from legilimency.

Those were the words Harry found on his pillow when he returned from the hospital wing. The words were tucked within a letter full of apologies. She wrote it all out, though. A confession that the occlumency creatures weren't figments at all, but fragments of real beings from other dimensions. She found a way to do it the Christmas before last, in a ritual she tore out of Slytherin's journal. Though it took months before she could do the ritual and use occlumency to house them within her mind. All this, to protect her knowledge of the future from the three legilimens' that would target her that year. The confession threw Harry completely; but, as he held the tear-stained letter, he tried his best to accept her words for their truth.

I was specific in the beings I chose to contact. Dealmakers. Trickster Gods. People who use both cunning and brutality to defeat their enemies. The idea seemed genius at the time. Who better to protect me from Dumbledore, Voldemort and Snape than actual trickster gods? But I was wrong. I put trust in tricksters, and now other people have paid the price.

He read on, arriving at a surprising request.

They're setting up a trial soon for what happened. When it happens I'm going to tell them everything I can. Even my seer abilities. So, honestly, you might as well tell people the truth, too. Better off that they know, now, than whatever else they're coming up with.

So that's what Harry did. When people asked he told it all. Her seer ability, the deal, the bullying, the ritual, hell- he even told people that she knew Voldemort planned to use legilimency on her when he possessed Quirrell. Weirdly, that part resonated with people who scoffed at the idea of demons. It certainly sounded like a desperate enough reason, especially since everyone knows that he kidnapped her last year. His only real fib was in going along with the idea of Hufflepuff's Monster, saying that he heard a mysterious voice while in the caves and asked it for help. He even added that the monster said she was there to protect all of the children of Hogwarts (just in case anyone got any prejudiced ideas.) That part sometimes distracted people when he told the story, as they made their own theories as to what the large, underground creature could be. Though Harry hoped that at least others would listen and believe the rest of what he had to say.

As days passed with four out of five witnesses talking of demons and deals, those rumours came to overpower those of the Mad Mudblood, even when MacNair had rallied Runcorn's relatives into believing his version. It was news that Harry took to quiet relief.

The only unfortunate side effect of this was that, in telling people the truth, it meant that people he knew were learning the truth.

"All this time..." Soros clenched his fist. "You mean to tell us that all this time Melissa is a seer and she never told us!"

Harry glanced from Soros to Flinton to Pierce to Orpington to Pucey then back to Soros with a flinch. "She is."

"But she told you?"

"No," He huffed before continuing, "I figured it out back when my relatives were on trial. She begged me not to tell anyone, so of course I didn't."

"But she's-" Soros sat back, looking distraught towards Pierce. "How could she not trust us with this? We're her friends!"

"I- I don't know. I'm not sure if I believe it, to be honest." Pierce said softly. "Melissa, a seer? That doesn't make sense."

Orpington shook his head. "No. Strangely, I believe it." Around him, the other Slytherins reacted with surprise, yet Orpington lifted his finger up in contemplation. "Think about it. None of us suspected she was a muggleborn before she told us. She already knew enough about our world to get by. On the other hand, when she shares news from the muggle world, she talks about how their technology will advance- beyond what the articles speak of; and the way she manipulated her schedule to have free time-"

"But she planned that!" Flinton argued. "She asked around to find out what classes everyone was taking. And those muggle things, she just guesses and jokes around."

"Is it joking? Or is it playing the clown to hide the truth?" He gave a halting gesture before the others could argue back. "And you're forgetting the most damning evidence of all. Quirrell. She was nervous around him, we all knew that. Her reasons played the clown, sure. Bad luck with defence professors. …But then he kidnapped her. Nearly killed her and Potter in the process. Now, that could be a coincidence, but she's openly mocked Lockhart from the beginning; was confident that he wouldn't teach us any useful spells. Why no fear this year? Especially after such a traumatic event? It's because she knew Quirrell was a threat, right from the beginning!"

The answer stunned the group to silence. The full weight of Orpington's insight overpowering any sense of doubt. They sat still. Reeling. Unsure, or perhaps unwilling, to argue back in light of such glaring evidence.

"THE BETS!" Pucey said suddenly, hopping off his seat as he shouted. "Every time she bets high, she wins! I hate it when she does that, but that makes SENSE! That little-!" Pucey groaned into cupped hands. "I've been getting swindled by a seer this whole time!"

People burst into short snickers at the outburst. Though Flinton's morphed into a groan as she rolled her eyes. "Circe help us, priorities, Adrian!"

"Right." Said Pierce. She looked at Harry. "What do we do now? Do you know where she is?"

"No. She says she's somewhere safe. Though she made a point of saying that she's somewhere where the public will feel safe from her. That wording's probably for the best." The others nodded as he continued. "What's important is making sure people know the truth, not believing just whatever MacNair and Rowle say."

Soros scoffed. "It's ridiculous. 'Evil mudblood', as if everything we've done these past four years means nothing!"

"You're right!" Pierce spoke in realization. "VATIC, the Prank Pledge, those were practically all her ideas, weren't they?"

"Hers and Steph's;" Flinton replied, "and the Pledge was with the Weasleys. ...As long as we don't bring up why that happened, we have a full case for her. You'd have to be crazy to think she'd attack people on purpose. Especially George Weasley!"

"Of course!" "Absolutely!" The group shouted varying assents. They spoke longer, hearing more of Harry's explanations and hashing out how to work the details into a proper character defence. When all was settled, the group broke apart and travelled to different parts of the school, all with words in motion to help their friend.

"You're saying she did it on purpose!"

Harry nodded to Neville and his Gryffindor yearmates. "In most of the futures she saw, you struggled doing magic in all of your classes the whole time at Hogwarts. It wasn't until you mentioned having your dad's wand that she realized why you were going to struggle. So she challenged your gran to make sure that wouldn't happen."

"Merlin!" Neville muttered in awe. "All this time… It was strange when she did that; but knowing that she knew how my future could be, especially when everyone thought I'd be a squib-"

"Don't listen to him, Nev!" Ron snapped. "He's just trying to help his mad friend not sound mad!"

"Ron-"

"No, Harry! She cut off my brother's wand arm! That's not something you can just brush off!"

"I'm not saying that!"

"Yes you are! George is stuck at St. Mungos and Fred's walking around like a ghost. My brothers are in pain and you're talking about Bennett like she's some kind of saint!"

"I'm just trying to point out that there's a difference between her and Cipher!"

"Who the bloody hell is Cipher?!"

Harry went white. "Shit! I wasn't supposed to-" He took a sharp intake of breath. Around him, the round of young faces leaned forward with curiosity and suspicion. With a defeated sigh he continued. "That's it's name but- please- that can't get out. Not until we're absolutely sure that he's gone for good." Seeing more disbelief, he added. "Lockhart did the charm that's supposed to exorcise him but, well, until we're absolutely sure that he did the job right, we have to make sure that nothing triggers her memories of him in case he left an anchor to come back."

"...You're serious." Ron said in a questioning yet disbelieving tone. "You really believe she was possessed."

"You didn't hear that thing." Harry replied. "That voice. They way it talked, laughed, it killed that boy and smiled like it was a game. That thing, demon or not, that thing isn't human. And the other one-" Harry couldn't help but laugh with exasperation, "it didn't understand sleep or pain. Taking over her body was its first time experiencing those things. That's mad! Nothing human talks like that. It even admitted to being a demon from Hell. Said it so casually, like it was the most normal thing in the world! Water is wet. Nifflers like gold. I'm from Hell.

"And I've known Melly since I was seven. I've seen all her quirks and weird moods. When she's angry, or manic, even how she looks when she sees the future. None of that was there that day! There was nothing familiar between how she acts and how those two act. The demons were even different from each other in how they'd walk and talk. Then when Melly woke up, she was terrified! It had been torturing her inside her own brain. She woke up screaming and crying, begging to know if her 'limbs are where they're supposed to be' because he was twisting up her body whenever she tried to fight back!

"I can't look at that, remember all of that, and not believe her when she and those demons say that they aren't human. I can't. It's impossible. So, yes, I believe it. I know it. It's the truth."

His piece spoken, the room quieted to stunned silence. The young Gryffindors were horrified by the descriptions. Hermione and Neville were holding each other's hands in support. A few other Gryffindors -who were listening in on the conversation- openly wept with pity. Lastly was Ron, who shifted uncomfortably in his seat, unable to keep eye contact.

"If I… Fred hasn't talked about it. Not really." He twisted part of his robes in his hand. "If he ever opens up about it, will he say the same thing?"

Harry nodded. "He will. George, too. They both know she was possessed and tried to make him leave."

"Okay… I'll- I have to hear it from Fred first. You understand, right?"

"Of course. He's your brother." He patted Ron's hand gently, offering a sympathetic smile. Ron gave a small one in return, then excused himself to check in on Fred.

Harry continued to speak with Neville and Hermione. As time passed, others around the room approached, asking their own questions about the attack and possession, and the reasons behind it. As the conversation continued, Hermione's eyes narrowed, puzzling over a thought.

"Harry, did your friend have anything to do with the Eurydice Waltz?"

"What?" A chorus of the word popped up from Harry and the surrounding group.

"Last year, you were positive that that song held clues to the protections for the Philosopher's Stone; and it did!"

Gears whirled in Harry's mind as the memory resurfaced. "Oh! Right. I forgot about that." Around him people began to mutter questions. The words Song, Weird Sisters, among others passed through briefly as he continued. "She gave them that song for their album. With the way she didn't like talking about the forbidden corridor, and both having a cerberus, I figured the two were connected."

"Is that how it works, then?" Hermione asked. "She tells prophecies through song?"

Harry scrunched his face. "Not really. Most of the things she writes are just silly lyrics. That one was a one-time thing, I think-" He stopped, mind halted as the idea percolated in him. Her songs usually are just silly nonsense; …but when it came to the Weird Sisters, his mind snagged onto a memory from their recording day.

'She sang some creepy song!' '...Tom peeping at your window …TOM at your door-'

Harry groaned, face sinking into his hand. "Wait. No. I'm wrong. She's definitely done that before. I can't believe I missed that!"

"Missed what? Harry?"

Keeping his face hidden, he used his free hand to waive her concern aside. "It's nothing anymore, just… It didn't hit me until just now that she's sung the future before."

That comment caused a minor eruption of murmurs around the room. Even Harry's brain whispered and speculated over the revelation. Just how many predictions have I missed this entire time?!

"It's not that unbelievable."

Blaise looked to Draco with disbelief. "You cannot be serious!"

"Why not? You and I both know she's a bit mad, but to torture people and murder Runcorn's cousin? That's a bit much from the girl who spends her free time making up stupid rhymes and valentine gifts."

Beside him, Greg scrunched up his face in painful thought. "She gets hexed a lot, though she doesn't really fight back."

Harry's brows rose. "Wait, you know about that?"

"You know about that?" Blaise asked.

"Of course! Hold on-" He looked over at Draco. "Did you already know about it when I told you?"

Draco bit his lips in mild guilt. "Not to the extent you described, about people from other houses, but…"

"Right. Of course." He huffed. "Any problems between Slytherins stays between Slytherins."

Draco grimaced, while the others were shocked that Harry knew about the rule. "Yes, exactly."

Harry gave an angry nod, but fought to keep his temper in check. "So… you've seen for yourself for two years that she doesn't fight back against people bullying her?"

"Could have reached a breaking point, though?" Blaise suggested.

"Except they were never the intended targets." Harry replied. His eyes squeezed shut briefly. "If the twins hadn't caused that coma, she'd have gone home for Easter. The plan was to possess her during that time and use her family for the ritual. That means her parents, her aunt and uncle, and her little cousins. Children. All those things that happened to MacNair and the others? He was going to do that to them."

The Slytherins blanched at the information. In the face of such news, even Blaise had to admit that "going mad" didn't make much sense.

Hopefully the rest of the school will believe it, too.

Shortly after Harry left the group of Slytherins, Draco excused himself to the loo. Though, in truth, he left his friends to find an empty classroom. Once he was sure the coast was clear, he stepped inside and locked the door.

"Dobby, if you're not busy, are you willing to speak with me?"

Nothing happened. Still, Draco waited in the room for a few minutes longer. Sure enough, a pop eventually burst inside the room.

"Hello, Master Draco." The house elf bowed to him. "Is Master Draco wishing for french pastries from home?"

"Not this time." Draco dismissed. "I'd like to ask you some questions, if you're amenable to answering?"

"Dobby be doing the best he can." The house elf nodded with a pleasant smile. Odd. He's been doing that a lot lately.

"Last year, the first time you came to me at Hogwarts, did you notice anything strange about the witch who was with me?"

He stopped smiling. He seemed to frown in a twitchy sort of way. "The first time Dobby came to Hogwarts?"

"Ye-" Draco stopped, narrowing his eyes slightly at the question. "Actually, any time you've seen that witch."

The house elf became more nervous now, wringing his hands as if afraid to answer. Ha! He knew it! He's been getting better at understanding his servant's way to phrasing. "...Dobby hopes Master Draco won't be angry with Dobby."

Still smirking, Draco answered. "I won't be. I'd just like to know."

The elf nodded, gulping slightly. "Master's witchy friend knows things she shouldn't." It admitted, though Draco didn't ask to elaborate, knowing that he'd continue. "Terrible, interesting things."

"Like secrets about the Dark Lord?" Draco asked eagerly. "Or who his parents are?"

The house elf gulped. "Yes, sir."

Ha! I knew it! "She had you send that photo to the Prophet, didn't she?"

Dobby replied in a near-whisper. "...Among other things."

"Dobby…" Despite his status, Draco couldn't help but kneel close to the house elf, grinning darkly all the while. "Can you tell me how she made you do it?"

"How?" The house elf tilted his head. "Missy didn't make Dobby do it. Missy asked if Dobby be liking to help Harry Potter."

Draco raised his brows in surprise. "To help Harry?"

The elf nodded vigorously, causing its ear to flop about. "Missy said Harry Potter be upset by the terrible things at Hogwarts. Wanted to get revenge for Harry Potter."

"...How does an article about the Dark Lord get revenge for Harry?" Well, objectively, that can make sense. The Dark Lord did kill his parents, after all. Still, the timing doesn't seem logical.

Draco broke out of his musings, finding something amiss. Dobby was slamming his face into one of the desks. Muttering "Bad, Dobby, bad" with each slam. That's puzzling. Draco went over the question in his head. Was it too forceful, sounding like an order?

"Can you tell me what you did wrong?" Another slam hit the desk. "Dobby?"

"Dobby- must not- tell-!"

Well that doesn't make sense. It's not like Dobby has to answer him. Though, on thinking about it, an odd and dreadful possibility came through. "Dobby, you know I'm your Master's son, right? Surely if he hasn't told you not to tell me something, I can know about it, right?"

His stomach clenched, hoping. Especially so as Dobby slowed, then stopped hurting himself. Good. He must be wrong, then. He slowly relaxed as the elf paused to think. "Master has not said not to tell, but Dobby knows Master would punish Dobby for not not telling."

His stomach tied in knots. His mind warred, speculating yet wanting to disbelieve his own thoughts. "You're saying father is somehow involved in her revenge?"

"Not… not in revenge, exactly." He twisted his ears, wincing. "Just… why revenge." He squeaked suddenly, and bashed his head again -this time against a chair.

Draco semi-ignored him, thoughts whirling, trying to puzzle it out. Back then they had been sneaking about to expose Dumbledore after- no! He can't be suggesting-. Though those rumours about the Heir-. But how does his father fit into all of this?!

"You should head home, Dobby. I'll not ask you about it anymore." He glanced over the house elf's body. The sight of blood trickling down its face caused him to wince with a twinge of guilt. "And… maybe you should have the Hogwarts elves fix you up before you go? You know, so father doesn't notice?"

The elf broke into a beaming, tearful smile. An act which unnerved Draco to witness. "Master Draco being very kind to Dobby. Dobby will do as he suggests!" With a final bow, Dobby popped off, leaving a very confused and disturbed Draco alone in the classroom.

It took him a short walk to find Harry, who was now regaling a group of puffers with the tale from Saturday. Draco waited for him to finish. Though once the tale itself was done he refused to listen to their questions, calling Harry away and practically dragging him to another abandoned classroom.

"What was all that about?"

"I have to tell you something. Or well, I think I'm wrong. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm not sure that I am." He halted the ramble. He flushed slightly, realizing that he was pacing away from the other boy as his thoughts spiralled.

Harry, meanwhile, was kindly patient as he spoke. "Just let me know what it is and we can figure it out."

"Right." He said, still not facing him. "Well, I think, maybe, the Dark Lord was involved with the Chamber of Secrets last year; and- and my father, too, maybe?" He turned to Harry so he could behold the boy's shock and curiosity.

Instead he found himself faced with a sad, pitying frown. Watching each other's expressions, Harry's shoulders sagged as he gave a small huff. "You know about that?"

The words were like being submerged in ice-water. Frustrated, Draco answered. "I don't know anything! Why?! What do you know about my father that I don't?!" He reigned himself back. Looking away, he seethed. "What did she tell you that you couldn't tell me?!"

He looked back up. Harry bit at his lip slightly, an array of emotions on his face. Squaring back his shoulders, he spoke. "I think it's best if I start from the beginning." He took a breath. "On our way home for summer hols, I asked her what Voldermort's plans would be for this next year..."

Draco's journey to bed happened in a daze. The story- and subsequent fight- left him entirely drained. His father had to be innocent! He proved it years ago that he was imperiused, right? There was a trial!

Then again-

Dobby knew about Creevey's attack. Dobby! His own house-elf tried to warn Harry! Worse, it had been foretold. A mud- muggleborn seer knew something would happen and that Dobby would be involved.

The act of falling into bed shuffled the thoughts in his mind. The word If at the forefront of it all. If Harry is telling the truth, If Dobby misunderstood, If Father has been imperiused again, If Father hasn't been imperiused again, If he was ever imperiused at all, If anyone else finds out-

What does it all mean for him?

Worse, what should he do if the answers to these Ifs are the worst-case scenario?

He allowed the possibilities to ruminate. Thoughts whirling and whirling until he fell asleep. When he next woke, he was hardly any closer to an answer that satisfied him. Only one action felt acceptable at this time. Sitting up slowly, and confirming that none of the others were in the room, he pushed to the edge of the bed and pulled out a spare roll of parchment and ink.

Dearest Mother,

By now you may have heard the terrible rumours regarding the Averys' daughter, among others. I will explain what I know of the situation soon. Unfortunately, there is another danger that may affect our family, and I require your unique perspective on the matter.