Silver was brought to a pair of large doors which he slowly opened. Silver looked around. One thing was certain: of all the teachers' offices Silver had visited so far this year, Locke's was by far the most interesting. If he hadn't been scared out of his wits that he was about to be thrown out of school, he would have been very pleased to have a chance to look around it. It was a large and beautiful circular room, full of funny little noises. A number of curious silver instruments stood on spindle legged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. The walls were covered with portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses, all of whom were snoozing gently in their frames. Two spiralling staircases led up to a second room, presumably the study. There was also an enormous, claw-footed desk, and, sitting on a shelf behind it was a golden hilted sword, Caliburn. Silver looked up and made sure the headmasters and mistresses were all asleep. It couldn't hurt to check, would it. He hesitantly took the sword, pointed it down and closed his eyes "Hello, Silver" a voice said in his head. Silver forgot how strange it was "Er… Hello, sorry to bother you" "Not at all. I rarely get to talk to the same person twice". Silver struggled to speak "I was… wondering-" "You've been wondering whether I put you in the right House. Yes… you were particularly difficult to place. But I stand by what I said before. You would have done well in Raiju". Silver's stomach plummeted "You're wrong" he slammed the sword back on the shelf. Then a strange sound made Silver turn around. He wasn't alone after all, on a little perch was a barely glowing Red Wisp. Silver slowly approached it, it looked quite ill, it's eyes were barely open. Silver was about to pet it when it suddenly exploded. Silver stared at the perch in shock, it was gone, there was just a pile of ash "Silver?".

Silver looked up, Locke was staring down at him from the door to his study "Sir… There was nothing I could do. Your Wisp… it just… blew up". To his astonishment Locke smiled "About time, too. "He's been looking dreadful for days; I've been telling him to get a move on". He chuckled at Silver's confusion "It is natural for Wisps like Burst here. Fire Wisps destroy their body in death and are reborn from the ashes. Watch". The pile of ashes started to move and out came a smaller Red Wisp, it looked as ugly as the full grown one "It's a shame you had to see him on a Burning Day. He's really very handsome most of the time, wonderful glowing red. Fascinating creatures, wisps. They can carry immensely heavy loads, their tears have healing powers, and they make highly faithful pets". In the shock of Burst exploding Silver had forgotten why he was here, it wasn't until Locke sat down at his desk and stared at him. Before either of the could say anything Big burst into the room "It wasn't Silver, Professor Locke. I was talkin' ter him seconds before that kid was found, he never had time, sir" "Big-" "I'd swear it in front o' the Ministry o' Magic if I have to". Locke raised his hand "Big! I do not believe Silver harmed anybody". Big turned red "Oh… Right. I'll wait outside then, Headmaster" he left embarrassed. Silver looked hopeful "You don't think it was me, Professor?" "No, Silver, I don't. But I do wat to talk to you. Is there anything you'd like to tell me". Silver thought about everything, his suspicions on Rutan, the potion shimmering in Lah's bathroom, the voices and the growing rumours of him being Raiju's Air "No, sir, nothing".


With how many witnesses their were the story of Smokey getting attacked spread faster than Skye. Curiously more people were scared by what happened to Barney, what was so terrible that it could hurt a dead person. When the holiday's started people were very eager to get on the train. Razor found it funny "At this rate it'll only be us, Rutan, Ruff and Tumble left. It's gonna a jolly holiday". Ruff and Tumble always did whatever Rutan did so they were staying as well. Silver was glad there wasn't going to be many be people staying over the holidays. He was getting tired of people skirting around him in the corridors, as though he was about to sprout fangs or spit poison. He was tired of all the muttering, pointing, and hissing as he passed. Mighty and Ray found it all quite funny. They went out of their way to march ahead of Silver down the corridors, shouting "Make way for the Heir of Raiju, seriously evil wizard coming through…". Hamlin didn't find it very funny "This is no laughing matter". Mighty dismissed him "Out of the way, Hamlin, Silver's in a hurry". Ray nodded "Yeah, he's off to the Chamber of Secrets for a cup of tea with his monstrous servant". Blaze would yell at them when they made these kinds of jokes, she was very jumpy nowadays. Silver didn't mind though, Mighty pretending to ward him of with a handful of garlic was the most amusing thing he'd seen all day. It was a comfort to know that at least Mighty and Ray considered the idea of him being Raiju's Air was quite ludicrous. Another person who didn't appreciate the jokes was Rutan "It's because he's bursting to say it's really him. You know how he hates anyone beating him at anything, and you're getting all the credit for his dirty work" Razor would say. This wouldn't last for long though, Coral told them the Metamorphia Potion was almost ready. They will get to use it any day now.


Now that everyone was gone Silver, Coral and the O'Hedges had the run the Shinobi tower. which meant they could play Exploding Snap loudly without bothering anyone, and practice duelling in private. Mighty, Ray and Blaze had chosen to stay at school rather than visit Ash in Pumpkin Hill with Mari-An and Rob. Hamlin, who disapproved of what he termed their childish behaviour, didn't spend much time in the Shinobi common room. He had already told them pompously that he was only staying over Christmas because it was his duty as a prefect to support the teachers during this troubled time.


Early Christmas morning Coral burst into the dormitory in a gown "Wake up! Wake up!" "Coral, you're not supposed to be in here" "Merry Christmas to you too". Coral threw Razor a present "I've added the final ingredients. The Potion is ready". This managed to wake Silver up "Are you sure?" "Positive. I think we should do it tonight". Lily suddenly flew in and landed next to Silver holding a package "Oh, are you speaking to me again". She nibbled his finger affectionately which was better than the actual gift he got. It was from Menthor and Cynthia, it contained a toothpick and a note asking if Silver could stay over the summer holidays as well. The rest of his presents were much better. Big had sent him a large tin of treacle fudge, which Silver decided to soften by the fire before eating. Rzor had given him a book called Flying into the Dawn, a book of interesting facts about his favourite Sky Chase team, and Coral had bought him a luxurious eagle-feather quill. Silver opened the last present to find a new, hand-knitted sweater from Mari-An and a large plum cake. He read her card with a fresh surge of guilt, thinking about Rob's car (which hadn't been seen since its crash with the Granifer Giganticus), and the bout of rule-breaking he and Razor were planning next.


No one, not even someone dreading taking Metamorphia Potion later, could fail to enjoy Christmas dinner at Soleanna. The Great Hall looked magnificent. Not only were there a dozen frost-covered Christmas trees and thick streamers of holly and mistletoe crisscrossing the ceiling, but enchanted snow was falling, warm and dry, from the ceiling. Locke led them in a few of his favourite carols, Big booming more and more loudly with every goblet of eggnog he consumed. Hamlin, who hadn't noticed that Mighty had bewitched his prefect badge so that it now read "Pinhead" kept asking them all what they were sniggering at. Silver didn't even care that Rutan was making loud, snide remarks about his new sweater from the Raiju table. With a bit of luck, Rutan would be getting his comeuppance in a few hours' time. Silver and Razor just managed to eat their third helping of pudding before Coral ushered them out of the hall to finalize their plans "We still need a bit of the people you're changing into". She spoke like she was asking them to go to the supermarket to get some detergent "And obviously, it'll be best if you can get something of Ruff and Tumble; they're Rutans best friends, he'll tell them anything. And we also need to make sure the real Rough and Tumble can't burst in on us while we're interrogating him". She ignored their stupefied faces and took out two small cakes "I've got it worked out. I've filled these with a simple Sleeping Draught. All you have to do is make sure Rough and Tumble find them. You know how greedy they are, they're bound to eat them. Once they're asleep, pull out a few bits of fur and hide them in a broom closet". Razor noticed something was missing "Who are you going to be?" "I've already got mine". She smugly took out a small vile with a few white scales looking things "Remember Abyss the Squid wrestling with me at the Dueling Club? She left this on my robes when she was trying to strangle me! And she's gone home for Christmas, so I'll just have to tell the Raijus I've decided to come back". When she bustled away to check the potion Silver and Razor shared looks "Have you ever heard of a plan where so many things could go wrong?". But to Silver and Razor's utter amazement, stage one of the operation went just as smoothly as Coral had said. They lurked in the deserted entrance hall after Christmas tea, waiting for Rough and Tumble who had remained alone at the Raiju table, shovelling down fourth helpings of trifle.

Silver had perched the chocolate cakes on the end of the banisters. When they spotted Rough and Tumble coming out of the Great Hall, Silver and Razor hid quickly behind a suit of armour next to the front door. The two skunks spotted the floating cakes as they left. Grinning stupidly, they stuffed the cakes whole into their large mouths. For a moment, both of them chewed greedily, looks of triumph on their faces. Then, without the smallest change of expression, they both keeled over backward onto the floor "How thick can you get?" Razor asked. By far the hardest part was hiding them in the cupboard across the hall. Once they were among the mops and buckets they yanked out a few of their hairs. They also took their shoes and gloves before closing the door. They arrived at Lah's bathroom where Coral was putting the finishing touches on the potion "Did you get it", Silver nodded. Coral was already wearing clothes resembling Abyss green outfit. They both got a look at the potion than now looked like thick, bubbling mud. Coral nervously reread the book "I'm sure I've done everything right. It looks like it does in the book. Once we drink it we'll have exactly an hour before it wears off". Silver and Razor removed all their clothes as Coral took three glasses and filled them with the exact same amount. She handed them out "Now add the templates". Coral put the scale into her potion making it white, Razor's turned a cream colour. He looked disgusted "Ew, essence of Tumble". Silver dropped his, the potion bubbled and frothed before turning a dark blue "Ready? Three… Two… One". They all gulped down the drink before the taste fully hit them. After a few moments Razor gagged "I think I'm gonna be sick!" he dropped his glass and ran into a stall "Me too!" Coral yelled before doing the same. Silver's insides burned, he dropped his glass as well. His skin bubbled like hot wax. He leant against the bathroom sink to steady himself. He looked down at his hand, his skin was literally bubbling, his fur was growing scruffier and changing colour. He could feel his tail growing. He looked in the mirror, his quills were shrinking into his head, his mouth and nose extended forward. After a few moments Silver was staring into the face of Rough the Skunk. He could hear a noise behind him, he turned and saw Tumble standing in front of him looking at his hands. Tumble then looked at him in amazement "Silver?" he spoke in Tumble's deep voice. Silver couldn't believe it "Razor?".

Razor felt his own face, he seemed to be disturbed by the feeling of having fur. Silver composed himself "We better get going. We only have an hour" "It's weird seeing Rough thinking". Razor knocked on Coral's stall "Coral, we gotta go" "I… I don't think I can go" "Oh, come on. Abyss isn't that ugly" "No, really. Go on without me". Silver looked bewildered which Razor commented on "Now you look like Rough" "Coral, are you okay?" "Yes, just go". She was right, they had already lost five minutes. They ran out of the bathroom "No, don't move like that" "Like what?" "Waving your arms. Tumble walks with them all stiff". Razor mimicked what he remembered "How's that?" "Excellent". All they need to do now was find the entrance to the Raiju common room. Maybe if they asked someone "They always come up from this way at breakfast" Razor said. They went down a staircase and found a female tenrec wearing a sari "Excuse me. We've forgotten the way to our common room" "Excuse me? Our Common room? I'm in Gossamer". She walked away staring back at them suspiciously. They headed further down, their footsteps echoed much more with Rough and Tumble's larger feet. They met someone else but it wasn't a Raiju, it was Hamlin "What're you doing-", Silver nudged Razor. Razor cleared his throat and sounded more hostile "I mean, what're you doing down here?" "That is none of your business. What's your name? Tumble?".

Silver had to nudged Razor again "Uh, yeah" "Well you shouldn't be wandering around so late" "You are". Hamlin looked affronted "I happen to be a school prefect. Nothing is about to attack me" "Rough! Tumble! Where have you two been?". They jumped and turned to see Rutan walking towards them "Well…?". Silver gulped and then blurted out "Reading". Rutan narrowed his eyes "Reading?". Silver and Razor both nodded, Rutan looked impressed "I didn't know you could read". He then noticed Hamlin "And what're you doing here O'Hedge" "Mind your attitude, Rutan". Rutan sneered and motioned Silver and Razor to follow. As they past Silver almost apologised to Hamlin before stopping himself. Once they got far away Rutan laugh "Can you believe that Callum guy?" "Hamlin" Razor said before he could stop himself. Rutan wave dismissively "Whatever. I've noticed him sneaking around a lot lately. And I bet I know what he's up to. He thinks he's going to catch Raiju's heir single-handed". They reached a bare stone wall "What's the new password?" "Uh…" "Oh, yeah, Iblis". The door slid open and they walked through, the Raiju common room was a long, low underground room with rough stone walls and ceiling from which round, greenish lamps were hanging on chains. A fire was crackling under an elaborately carved mantelpiece ahead of them, and several Raiju were silhouetted around it in high-backed chairs. Rutan sat down at one of the couches and stared at the two of them "Well, sit down". Silver and Razor quickly did so "This'll give you a laugh" Rutan threw a newspaper at them "Check page 2". The two opened the paper and read what was on page two. Silver's just got hit by a wave of new guilt.

Rob O'Hedge, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, was today fined fifty Galleons for bewitching a Muggle car.

Mr Clutch, a governor of Soleanna School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where the enchanted car crashed earlier this year, called today for Mr O'Hedge's resignation. "Robert O'Hedge has brought the Ministry into disrepute," Mr Clutch told our reporter. "He is clearly unfit to draw up our laws and his ridiculous Muggle Protection Act should be scrapped immediately" Mr O'Hedge was unavailable for comment, although his wife told reporters to clear off or she'd set the family ghoul on them.

"Well?" Rutan said, "Uh, ha, ha" Silver laughed. It didn't sound convincing but Rutan seemed satisfied "Rob O'Hedge loves Muggles so much he should snap his Talisman in half and go and join them. You'd never know his family were pure-bloods, the way they behave. An embarrassment". Razor clenched his fist "What's with you, Tumble?" Rutan said. Razor looked down "Uh, stomach ache". Rutan was convinced "Well, his little protection act is causing trouble. Do you know the Ministry raided our house last week". Silver forced Rough's face into a look of concern "No" "Yeah. Luckily, they didn't find much. Father's got some very valuable Dark Arts stuff. But luckily, we've got our own secret chamber under the drawing-room floor" "Oh" Razor said in surprise, thankfully Rutan didn't notice. Rutan took the paper back read through it "And still no report on these attacks. I suppose Locke's trying to hush it all up. He'll be sacked if it doesn't stop soon. Father's always said old Locke's the worst thing that's ever happened to this place" "You're wrong!" Silver blurted out. He regretted it immediately, Rutan was now standing glaring at him "Well, Rough. You think there's someone worse than Locke? Well, do you?". Silver stared at the floor but then he got an idea "Silver the Hedgehog". Rutan stared at him for what felt like hours until he finally smiled "Good one, Rough. You're absolutely right. Saint Silver. And people think that he's the heir of Raiju". He sat back down "I wish I knew who it was. I'd like to shake their hand". Razor's mouth fell open making Tumble look even more clueless than usual. Silver thought quickly "But-But you must have some idea who's behind it all" "You know I don't, Rough. How many times do I have to tell you". Rutan sat back enjoying having their full attention now "And Father won't tell me anything about the last time the Chamber was opened either. Of course, it was fifty years ago, so it was before his time, but he knows all about it, and he says that it was all kept quiet and it'll look suspicious if I know too much about it. Don't even know who it was. They're probably on Prison Island" "Prison Island?" Silver said.

Rutan stared at him in disbelief "Yeah, that place criminals go, Rough. Honestly if you were any slower you'd be going backwards". He shook his head and got back to his story "Anyway, I know one thing, last time the Chamber of Secrets was opened, a Mudblood died. So I bet it's a matter of time before one of them is killed this time. As for me… I hope it's the Betta". Razor jumped to his feet and Silver had to hold him before he attacked Rutan who was staring at them "What's the matter with you two? You're acting very odd". Silver apologetically nodded "It's his stomach ache". Rutan looked back at the paper, "Calm down" Silver whispered to Razor. Razor however was now staring at him with a concerned look "Your eyes". Silver took a second to realise then he felt the back of his head. He could feel his quills slowly growing back out of his head. He then saw Razor's fins appearing and his fur was thinning. They both covered themselves as much as they could and ran for it "Hey, where're you two going?" "Medicine, stomach ache!" Razor yelled in his and Tumbles voice at the same time. They rushed out of the Common Room door and through the corridor. Silver could feel his shoes and gloves getting two big for his shrinking body. They got back up the stairs and reached the entrance hall where the cupboard door was shaking, something behind it was pounding against the door. They both threw their clothes at the door for Rough and Tumble to find and kept running. They made it back to the bathroom, by now they were both back to normal. Silver gave a great gasp of annoyance "Well that was a waste of time" "Not completely. I'm going to write to Dad Tomorrow and tell him to check under Clutch's drawing room". They banged on Coral's stall "Coral, come on, we've got loads to tell you" "Go away". They looked at each other "What's wrong. You would have changed back by now". Lah glided down grinning "Wait till you see. It's awful". They heard Coral sobbing , "What's wrong. Have you still got scales or something?". The stall finally opened and out walked Coral except to her horror she was made of stone, her eyes were bigger and a green plant was growing out of her head "It was Koco scale! Abyss has a pet Koco and the potion is only to be used on Mobians". Lah laughed "She'll be teased something dreadful". Silver and Razor both helped her walk with her now very heavy feet "It's okay, Coral. We'll take you up to the hospital wing. Madam Vanilla never asks too many questions". It took a while to convince her to leave the bathroom. Thankfully it was late enough that nobody saw them on their way to the hospital wing.