Chapter 9

Petrification, Chambers and Bludgers

Note from the authors: Sorry for the spotty updates, but I can promise you this story will be continued (Editing is taking a while, but there is a good portion done of the first draft). Also, please do keep up with the reviews and comments, it means a lot, knowing you all enjoy the story. I know the characters are different, but then, the circumstances of what's happening in their lives are also different. If you have any particular questions, I'm always happy to answer them, as is Mystic Dodo.

The start of his second year wasn't that much fun for Harry. Despite many of the Gryffindor's thinking Ron and Harry a legend for flying the car to school, and Hermione grateful they were okay, mostly it was worse than the previous year. Harry was first humiliated by Lockhart when he claimed to have given Harry 'a taste of fame' back at the bookstore (a claim Harry wanted to shove back in the arrogant jerk's face) but the first lesson proved to Harry that Lockhart was an idiot who had no idea what he was doing. The Cornish Pixie incident was still commonly spoken about by older students and Professors alike, and am embarrassed Hermione was regularly stopped and questioned in the corridors about what happened.

Despite that, she still had a crush on Lockhart, which Harry didn't understand. He gave Harry the creeps, and whenever he was near the so-called Professor, a strange feeling ran down his back, as though someone had dropped cold water down his back.

Snape, of course, was still vindictive as ever, despite the revelation that Harry's father had once saved Snape's life. When Snape and Sirius had briefly seen one another the first night, Harry could see the same look he and Malfoy always shared; pure hatred.

On top of that, Malfoy Junior was now the Slytherin seeker, his father having donated a Nimbus 2001 to each member of the Slytherin team as an obvious bribe. When Hermione mocked Malfoy for having to buy his way onto the team, he turned up his nose at her and called her a Mudblood. resulting in Ron attacking Malfoy in retaliation. The Slytherins immediately caused a scene, and a teacher rapidly came to see what the comminution was about. Despite the defence of the other Gryffindor Quidditch players Ron still ended up with a weeks' worth of detention, although the look of Malfoy spewing up slugs was worth the detention, in Harry, Ron and Hermione's eyes.

As Halloween – and the anniversary of his parent's death – approached, Harry was invited to something called a Death Day party by Nearly Headless Nick. The Gryffindor Ghost had died five hundred years earlier to the day and having the Boy Who Lived at his party would surely cause some more esteemed ghosts to accept the invitation. Whilst he hadn't wanted to go, Harry didn't want to insult Nick, and thankfully Ron or Hermione were allowed to accompany Harry to the strange event. Out of the three of them, Hermione was most curious to go since she knew that living people rarely ever went to death day parties, so it would be good research for her. Harry wasn't sure he could agree.

Harry had never felt more uncomfortable in his life. The food looked like it was five hundred years old, and smelt like it too, and the ghosts were… unusual. They were very polite and pleasant, but Harry felt awkward. He couldn't really understand about Ghosts, although he was curious as to whether anyone could become a ghost. A part of him wished his parents were ghosts.

As the trio left the party, heading to the Great Hall to see if there was some edible food left, Harry suddenly stopped, frowning at the whispering he could hear. "Hello?" Harry asked, looking around the deserted corridor.

"Harry?" Hermione stopped walking, a confused frown on her face.

"Didn't you hear that? Someone whispering?" Harry checked around them again, but no one was around. Hermione and Ron shook their heads.

"I didn't," Ron replied. "You feel okay, mate?"

"I'm probably both tired and hungry," Harry sighed as he spoke. The three only took a few more steps before Harry paused again, the whisper closer than before. "No, there it is again. It's saying blood, it wants blood…" Harry's voice trailed off. |He shivered at the terrifying sound and its murderous words but after one last look to confirm the corridor as empty aside from him and his best friends, he shook himself free from the growing panic and began to follow the sound of the whisper.

"Harry, what's going on?" Hermione sounded worried as she spoke, with her and Ron following Harry down the corridor.

"I don't know. I can hear something, or someone, but I don't know what," Harry replied, picking up speed. "I'm getting a really bad feeling."

"You think Dobby is behind this?" Ron asked, his voice laced with concern and bitterness.

"I don't think so," Harry answered. They turned a corner and immediately froze. On the wall in front of them was written a phrase that chilled all three of them to the core.

"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir, beware," Hermione read, before letting out a distressed cry. Just below the writing, slumped over and still, was Argus Filch's cat, Mrs. Norris. Ron put a comforting hand on Hermione's shaking shoulders while Harry knelt and began to gently stroke her immobile form. Whilst he wasn't fond of Mr. Filch, Mrs. Norris was a sweet old cat, and he had petted her several times. "No one, and no pet, deserves this," Harry said softly.

"Is she…" Hermione began to ask in a choked high-pitched voice.

"I… I can't feel her breathing. But she's warm."

Hermione let out a distressed sob before she got out her wand, before performing a spell to summon help. "I just called Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore."

"Good," Harry said, stepping back from the small feline. "Mr. Filch is going to be devastated."

"I know he can be a pain, but he definitely doesn't deserve this," Ron agreed, his eyes returning to the disturbing message on the wall. He opened his mouth just as the familiar snarl of the Hogwarts caretaker made them jump.

"Doesn't deserve what?" the voice of Argus Filch said as he came around the corner followed by Draco Malfoy.

"Mr. Filch!" Harry exclaimed. "I… we just got here… you don't want to see this," he said, trying to step in front of the frozen cat.

Filch pushed Harry aside and gasped when he saw his familiar. "Mrs. Norris?" he asked weakly.

Harry put a hand on his arm. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Filch. I don't… I don't know who did this, but we'll find them," Harry promised. Filch looked at Harry, who saw tears welling up in the old man's eyes.

"Enemies of the heir, beware," Malfoy chanted. He gave an evil, cold grin to Harry, Ron and Hermione. "You'll be next, Mudblood," he claimed smugly.

Filch immediately turned to Malfoy with a cold look of anger.

"Did you do this you brat?" Filch demanded with spit flying from his mouth, causing Malfoy to step back. "I'll kill you. I'll kill you!"

"Mr. Filch, no, don't. You're better than that," Harry cried out, holding the man's arm just as Dumbledore and Minerva came around the corner.

"What is going on here?" Dumbledore asked, his usually sparkling blue eyes taking in the confusing and morbid scene in front of him. Hermione quickly explained what happened as students finished with their food began to make their way to their respective common rooms. Unfortunately, it happened to be that the corridor with the message, the possibly dead cat and a sobbing Argus Filch was one of the main hallways.

McGonagall held up her hand to stop the curious, advancing students as Dumbledore examined Mrs. Norris. There were some noises of protest as Lockhart pushed his way to the front.

"A pity I wasn't here, I know the very counter spell that could have saved her," Lockhart announced loudly, much to Harry's annoyance. He wanted to snap at the pompous git, but before he could, Dumbledore turned around.

"Students, return to your dormitories. Everything is alright, not to worry."

Very few people defied a direct order from the headmaster, and the crowd quickly thinned. A pointed look from Dumbledore kept Harry, Hermione and Ron where they were standing.

"She is not dead Argus, but she has been petrified," Albus said when the stragglers had gotten bored and followed their classmates, pushing his half-moon glasses up his crooked nose.

"Ah! As I suspected!" Lockhart claimed, snapping his fingers.

Nobody paid him attention.

"Petrified? How?" Filch demanded, his face blotchy with tears.

"I don't know, but we will investigate. Fortunately, Professor Sprout is having the second years growing Mandrakes, and when they're fully grown, we'll be able to create a potion to un-petrify her," Dumbledore stated as he turned his attention to the message on the wall.

"I can whip it up in no time, I must have prepared it a hundred times before," Lockhart said but Snape made a noise of disgust.

"I believe I am the potions master at this school," Snape said coldly.

"Severus, please join me in taking Mrs. Norris and Argus to the hospital wing. Minerva, please take Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger to my office, and wait for me there," Dumbledore instructed, stopping Lockhart as he opened his mouth to reply to the Slytherin's head of house.

Minerva nodded, and led Harry, Ron and Hermione to Dumbledore's office.

The walk was in silence, but as soon as they were in the office, Minerva looked at Harry, pale in the candlelight. "What happened, Harry?" Minerva asked. Harry explained everything, how they had gone to the Death Day Party and how, on their way to get some proper food, he had heard the chilling whispers which had led them to the corridor.

"No idea who was whispering or where it was coming from?" Minerva inquired, concerned.

"I'm afraid not, Aunt Minnie. Ron thought it might be because of Dobby, but I don't think this is his doing," Harry replied.

Minerva nodded in her agreement, her lips thin. "If you hear anything like that again, summon me immediately," Minerva said. "And I don't want you on your own again."

"No, Aunt Minnie," Harry concurred, shivering. "That voice… it was nothing like I've ever heard before."

"Keep your cloak on you at all times, Harry, I don't want you at risk. If you need to escape, from anywhere or anything, use your cloak and go straight to my office," Minerva insisted. "All three of you."

"We will," Ron agreed, as Dumbledore arrived, looking uncharacteristically solemn. He sucked on a lemon sherbet as Ron and Hermione explained the full story, fingers interlaced in front of his sombre face. Harry felt another cold chill run down his back, and he gratefully leaned lightly against his surrogate Aunt when she placed a comforting hand on his arm.

Why was this happening? Is this what Dobby had tried to warn Harry about? He didn't know what was going on, but he was going to find out, one way or the other.

Harry was kept busy over the next couple of weeks. He was training harder than ever for Quidditch under Wood's almost over the top schedule and finally, the time came for the first match of the season against Slytherin. Wood had coached them hard, telling the team that whilst the Slytherin team had the Nimbus 2001's, they didn't have the skill or heart that Gryffindor did.

Harry knew that was true, and as he sat on his broom, just ahead of Malfoy, he watched the smirk on the boy's face, wanting to smack it. Instead, he waited, and prepared to launch for the golden snitch. He was forced to dodge every few seconds as a rogue bludger kept going after him. The keen eyed Weasley twins made a joke about Harry's magnetism as they batted the ball away for the third time in less than a minute. Harry shouted that they should focus on making sure the other bludger didn't knock any of their teammates off their brooms as he began to fly in an array of zigzags and loops to dodge the angry ball.

As Malfoy mocked Harry, he saw that the snitch was hovering around the clueless Slytherin. Harry launched forward and shoved Malfoy aside. He sped after the snitch, with Malfoy quickly following him, but Harry was forced to keep dodging as the bludger kept going after him. Flying between the rigging of the stadium, Harry was able to dodge the bludger. Malfoy, however, lacked the skill despite his speed, and was thrown from his broom with a breath taking "oomph!". Harry reached for the shimmering Snitch but as he did, the bludger crashed into his hand. The immediately crunching alerted Harry to it being broken before the pain hit him and with his vision blurred in response, he somehow managed to catch the ball in his non-dominant hand. Shaking in adrenaline and pain he was unable to stabilise himself and fell off his broom a meter or so from the ground. He tried to shield his broken wrist as best as he could and was immediately winded as his back hit the floor.

He barely had a second to try to gulp in air as the bludger went to strike him again, but Harry rolled out of the way. He managed to dodge it a second time, but before the bludger could try to hit the third time, Madam Hooch destroyed it with a well-placed spell.

Harry sighed in a mix of relief and pain as the crowds caught onto the fact that Harry had caught the snitch seconds before he fell and began to cheer. His teammates landed close to him, and Wood opened his mouth to say something as Lockhart burst through the team, taking in the sight of the mangled hand "Not to worry, I can fix it in a heartbeat." Lockhart said as he retrieved his wand from his expensive looking robes.

"No… not you… get lost…" Harry protested, trying to shuffle back.

Lockhart chuckled. "Poor boy is delusional. Doesn't know what he's saying," Lockhart said, before casting a spell. Harry felt a quick wave of relief as the pain vanished but cried in shock as he saw that his hand resembled a piece of rubber or latex. Lockhart hadn't fixed his bones; he had removed them! The rest of the Gryffindor team made noises of disgust as the arm flopped.

"Ah, yes, that can happen. The important thing is that the bones aren't broken anymore," Lockhart chuckled as Hermione and Ron arrived, panting.

"Not broken? They're not there anymore, you bloody idiot!" Ron snapped, pushing Lockhart out of the way. "Stay away from him you absolute maniac!"

"Now see here!" Lockhart began, but Ron quickly pulled out his wand in anger.

"MR. WEASLEY!" Minerva's voice cut through the crowd as she arrived, a confused looking Madam Hooch levitating the box that contained the Quidditch balls close behind. "Mr Weasley, put your wand away! Twenty points from Gryffindor. Now get back," Minerva demanded. "Harry, hospital wing. Gilderoy, get the students to the school. I'll handle this."

As the students dispersed, Harry looked up at Minerva in alarm. Ron and Hermione helped Harry get to his feet. "Rogue bludger. Sorry about that, Mr Potter, no idea what happened there. Madame Pomfrey will fix you up in no time," the Quidditch Instructor said gruffly. "Great flying, as always."

Harry tried to do a thumbs up but felt nauseated as he saw his boneless arm uselessly swing by his side.

As Minerva escorted them to the hospital wing, Ron shuffled awkwardly. "Professor, I…" Ron started, but Minerva cut him off.

"I know how you feel. I'd like to do the same thing, but we can't be so impulsive. Learn from Miss Granger and be less rash," Minerva said in warning.

"Sorry Professor… I just, how is he a teacher? He's a pompous jackass."

"Language, Weasley," Minerva replied as they finally reached the hospital wing. Harry was given a dose of disgusting Skele-gro and was told he would have to stay the night. After assuring his friends that he was okay he laid down to get some rest. Madam Pomfrey warned him that regrowing bones was painful and that he couldn't have any additional potions to numb the pain due to conflicting ingredients. Harry, already beginning to feel the sensation, grit his teeth and prepared himself for a long night.

Waking up in the night, Harry was startled by a sharp jolt of pain. As he sat up, he saw something on his bed, and pulled on his glasses. He saw Dobby standing there. "Harry Potter, Sir, you did not listen. Dobby warned Harry Potter not to return to Hogwarts, but you came back anyway," he said sadly.

"Dobby… you could have had me killed," Harry said angrily.

"Dobby did it for Harry Potter's own good. Dobby needed to keep Harry Potter safe, so he made the bludger to get Harry Potter to go home," Dobby explained.

"Dobby, why? You need to tell me more," Harry insisted.

Dobby shook his head, his large eyes filling with stress-induced tears. "Dobby wants to, Sir, but Dobby can't. Please, Harry Potter must go home," Dobby repeated. "Stay with Master Black."

"Dobby, wait, please. I know you're trying to help. Give me a clue, anything," Harry pleaded.

"Dobby can't… Dobby wants to say… Spiders… and Snakes…" Dobby stammered, before banging his head against the bed frame, hard.

"Dobby, please, stop," Harry begged, grabbing Dobby with his one working hand and pulling the small creature away from the foot of the bed. "Don't hurt yourself."

"Harry Potter must not be killed," Dobby squeaked. Suddenly, the door to the hospital wing opened, and in the blink of an eye Dobby disappeared. Harry quickly laid down and closed his eyes, pretending he was asleep as some hurried footsteps echoed in the wing.

"Put him down gently," Dumbledore said. Harry looked through his eyelashes and saw that they were bringing in Colin Creevey. The 1st year Gryffindor photographer looked like he was a statue.

"What happened?" Madam Pomfrey asked as she waved her wand over him for a diagnosis. As Harry listened, he learnt that Colin had likely been trying to sneak in to visit him but had been petrified.

"Albus, you look like you know something," Minerva's voice broke through the dim light. "What does all of this mean? First the cat and now Mr Creevey…"

Harry broke out in a cold sweat as Dumbledore said something that would forever haunt him.

"It means, Minerva, that the Chamber of Secrets has been opened once again."