Chapter Twelve

Harry lay awake that night listening to the snores from Crabbe and Goyle. He had Charms with the Hufflepuffs tomorrow and would explain to Justin that he was saving him not sending the snake to attack him. Harry rolled over and punched his pillow. He shouldn't have to explain that.

The next morning however brought with it a blizzard that filled the skies and left nearly all lessons cancelled. Most of the teachers had been called down to the greenhouse in order to help Professor Sprout put knitted hats and scarves on the mandrakes, and keep Lockhart away from them. It was important for the mandrakes to grow quickly now that they were needed to save Mrs Norris and Colin Creevey.

Harry was pacing the Slytherin common room all morning. He hadn't been able to talk to his father or Justin. Hedwig had delivered him a note that morning from Severus saying Harry wasn't in trouble, Lockhart was useless and he'd come and find Harry as soon as he could. It wasn't much but at least Harry knew he had one teacher on side.

"Harry please sit down." Daphne said as she lost at chess to Pansy again. Draco stretched and flexed his fingers, taking Daphne's place.

"Look if you really want to talk to Justin just go and find him. Nearly everyone is in the great hall at the moment or the study hall so just go find him at least it'll give you something to do." Pansy suggested resetting the board.

Harry nodded, "I'll be back as soon as I can be. I just have to explain things."

Pansy sighed loudly, "Of course you do. You might not be well received though."

"Do you want us to come with you?" Daphne asked.

Harry shook his head, "No I think it would be better if I went by myself."

He walked out the common room and down the halls. It was darker than normal due to the masses of snow swirling around the castle. Harry wondered why it had to snow so much every year. Couldn't they have built the castle in the lowlands?

He wasn't sure where Justin would be but thought he'd try library first; seemed like a sensible place to be if you were studying. He walked in and could see a group of Hufflepuffs studying at one of the round tables tucked away.

Harry walked towards them and froze, over hearing them talk, he tucked himself behind a bookcase.

"So anyway," A stout boy he recognised as Ernie, "I told Justin to stay in his room in the common room today, when he's not in class. I mean to say, if Potter has marked him down as his next victim, surely it's best to stay out of his way, keep a low profile. Of course Justin told me he's been waiting for something like this to happen. He let slip to Potter that he was a muggle born. Was down for a school called Eton. I mean really, that's not the sort of thing you should go around blurting out when the heir of Slytherin in on the loose. Justin is almost to blame himself. Everyone knows that Potter called Ron a 'Mudblood' when he got angry at him. I'm surprised there hasn't been a Weasley victim."

"Don't say that." one of the other boys at the table said giving Ernie a small shove, "It's not fair. Justin didn't know."

"So you really think it's Harry then?" a young girl with long blonde pigtails asked shocked.

"Hannah, he's a Parselmouth. That's all the evidence you need. Have you ever heard of a good witch or wizard that is? No; they're all dark who can talk to snakes. Even Salazar Slytherin was known as the Serpent-Tongue."

There was a lot of muttering and whispers at him. Most of the table nodded their head in agreement.

Ernie cleared his throat, "Remember what the writing on the wall said? 'Enemies of the heir beware' it all makes sense. Filch and Potter have a spat and Mrs Norris turns up petrified, Colin was going around annoying Potter, shoving his camera in his face which we all know Potter doesn't like. He wants to be above it all and then Colin turns up. Petrified. It all fits doesn't it and now he wants Justin."

"But, Harry always seemed so nice." Hannah said slowly.

Ernie let out a snort, "Well he'd want you to think that wouldn't he? No point letting everyone know you're a psycho."

"He is the one who made...You-Know-Who go away." Hannah pointed out anxiously.

Ernie sat back chuffed with himself, "Yes well that's suspicious in itself isn't it? He was only a baby when he stopped You-Know-Who and no one really knows how; just what his mum has said and she's always been closed off about it. He was a baby- he should have been blasted into a million tiny little pieces only he wasn't. He must be a powerful dark wizard to have survived, there's no other explanation. And then there's why You-know-who was going after Potter in the first place. I think he just didn't want another dark wizard rising to power."

"It does all make sense." Hannah nodded.

Harry had shrunk back against the book and was trying to take several deep breaths to stop himself doing something stupid and letting them know he was there.

"Exactly. I'm telling you they need to lock Potter up." Ernie said shaking his head, "He's dangerous. Someone else is going to end up getting hurt if they don't take him away."

"Sarah Feverflower." Hermione said slamming her books down on a nearby table where she had been sitting. She stood up and began to shove her books roughly into her school bag. She turned round and stomped over to the table of Hufflepuffs, "Sarah Feverflower was a sixteenth century nurse who was a Parselmouth. She was Irish and worked at the tower of London, never did a thing to hurt a soul in her life, in fact she dedicated her life to helping people in the greatest pain. You'd know that if you picked up a book once in a while rather than just... bitch about people."

Ernie looked at her shocked, "Well that's all well and good but what about everything else. Potter is behind this, I know it."

"Well I know he would never hurt someone like that." Hermione rolled her eyes, "You're making yourself paranoid. You have no real evidence."

"How about him setting the snake on Justin?" Hannah pointed out.

"He was trying to get the snake away from Justin. You should blame Ronald, he was the one who conjured it after all." Hermione said through gritted teeth.

"He bullies Ron. It's Harry's fault his wand is damaged in the first place and for all you know Harry was able to force him to make that snake. It seems the sort of trick he would play on poor Weasley. And how would you know what Potter was trying to do?... You've been talking to him?" Ernie went pale, "Hermione you can't be talking to him! You're muggle born! You'll be on the top of his list in a flash."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "It's not him so I don't care what you think." she turned to walk away.

"Hermione wait," Ernie said, straightening his shoulders, "Please tell Potter that I can trace my family back nine generations of witches and warlocks so I am as pure as they come."

Hermione rolled her eyes and stormed away with out another word. Harry took the chance to leave the library while he could. He took a few deep calming breaths outside the library and wiped away a few stray tears.

"Well well well it's Potter." Ron sniggered coming down the corridor, "What are you doing? Finding another muggle born to attack?" he let out a nasty laugh.

Harry gritted his teeth, "No I'm just….I need to get going."

"I know it's not you." Ron said to Harry's back.

Harry stopped despite the little voice in his head telling him to keep walking before Ron said something worse. Harry turned around slowly and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Ok thrill me. How?" Harry said with a lot more confidence than he felt at that moment.

"You're nothing. Even Slytherin, who was by far the worst founder, is so much better than you, a poor, stupid, boy, all alone." Ron said nastily, "Mummy-slut has a new family. Doesn't need you now. You're nothing."

Harry forced his fists to stay by his side and turned to walk away. He ignored the calls from Ron and kept walking. His heart was pounding loud enough to make his ears ache. He was paying so little attention that he walked straight into Hagrid and stumbled backwards.

"Sorry." Harry said forcing a smile onto his face.

" 'Arry you're in a rush. What's up?" Hagrid asked.

Harry shook his head, "It doesn't matter. It's just a...I'm sure you've heard that things are difficult. People are getting attacked."

Hargid nodded solemnly, "Aye I know."

"What are you up to?" Harry asked, pointing to the dead cockerel dripping blood on the floor underneath Hagrid hand.

Hagrid sighed, "Second one killed this term. Need to ge' permission from Dumbledore to put a protective spell up. I think it's go' to be either a Blood-Suckin' Bugbear or foxes."

"There are foxes around Hogwarts?" Harry asked surprised, he would have thought that the large amount of dangerous animals in the forest would keep simple things like foxes at bay.

Hagrid nodded, "Aye. Mostly friendly little thin's unless you is somethin' they want to eat."

Harry shook his head and tried not laugh.

"Why ain't you in class?" Hagrid asked.

"Most of them are cancelled from the weather. I was looking for Justin Finch-Fetchley. I really need to talk to him." Harry explained.

Hagrid nodded.

"Actually I should be getting on." Harry said checking his watch, "I've got Transfiguration next." Harry thought about the shouts coming from McGonagall's classroom as he'd walked past. He really wanted to find Justin and still needed to get his books. Being late was not an option either.

Hagrid nodded and gave him a quick hug, trying not to splatter Harry with blood. He failed slightly but a few drops of blood on the back of Harry's uniform weren't that important.

Harry gave him a final grin and wandered quickly down the hall. He turned the corner and the air temperature dropped dramatically. Harry wrapped his arms around himself and took a breath. He could see his breath dancing in front of him and knew something was wrong.

All the lights were out and the hall was very dark. Harry moved forward and tripped, falling flat on his face. He shoved his glasses back on and dragged himself up, thankfully they weren't broken. He turned around to see what he could have tripped over and froze.

Justin was laying, still as a statue on the floor, eyes open in horror.

"No….No….No..." Harry whispered, shaking Justin gently by the shoulder, he knew it wouldn't do any good, Justin had been petrified to it was obvious; but he had to try.

Harry rocked back on his heels and tried to think. He could leave, someone would find Justin and they'd never know Harry was even here; but if they did find out he would be in more trouble than before. Running away from the scene of an attack would have them shipping him off to Azkaban before they sent the owl to his mother.

He stood up and walked over to Nearly Headless Nick; no longer pearly white but blacken and charred.

"What the hell could do this to a ghost?" Harry whispered.

"ATTACK!"

Harry spun round, pulling out his wand.

"ATTACK! NO ONE IS SAFE! NOT STUDENT OR GHOST!" Peeves was screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Shut up." Harry told him sternly, "Leave now or I'll get the Barron!"

"ATTACK!" Peeves continued to screech until Harry was forced to cover his ears, there was no point running away now, Peeves would tell everyone, he had been there.

It wasn't long before the hall began to fill with students and teachers.

"I knew it!" Ernie shouted pointing at Harry, "Look caught in the act! Caught red handed! Monster even still has his wand out!"

Harry looked at his hand and stuffed his wand back into his robes, "It wasn't me I just found him."

"Unlikely." Hannah sobbed, "Oh Ernie you were right! Poor Justin."

Harry backed against the wall. He could see Hermione and Neville in the crowd a few rows back and they gave him reassuring, if rather worried, smile while trying to push their way forward.

"What is all this?" McGonagall's voice cut across the shouts from the students.

The crowd parted and allowed her through, she gasped at the sight of Justin lying on the ground and Nearly headless Nick who kept being stepped in by students getting shoved forward.

"Get to your dorms. NOW!" She barked.

Harry looked to see an older girl with black and white stripped hair try to get McGonagall's attention before giving up and heading off with her friends.

"You two as well please." She said to Hermione and Neville as they walked towards Harry.

"Please Professor…" Hermione begged.

"No." She waved her wand and created a large fan, "Miss Granger please waft Sir Nicolas to the hospital wing. Mr Longbottom go with her and tell Poppy to collect Mr Finch-Fetchley. Then please find Professor Snape."

Hermione took the fan and began to fan Nearly headless Nick to the hospital wing. Harry was still frozen against the wall, afraid to move unless it caused more people shouting abuse at him.

"It wasn't me Professor, I swear. I just found him." Harry mumbled.

"You were seen and heard to be searching for him Mr Potter." Professor McGonagall pointed out carefully, "And you were seen to...the snake at the duelling club looked very suspicious."

Harry moved forward, "Professor I know I've never been your favourite but..."

She put her hand up to silence him, "It's out of my hands Mr Potter." she said ending the conversation.

Harry stood back against the wall and watched as Madam Pomfrey arrived and gasped, waving her wand over Justin before levitating him out the corridor leaving Professor McGonagall and Harry alone.

"This way Mr Potter." she said marching quickly down the hall. Harry struggled to keep up, down corridors he wasn't familiar with. Finally they reached the end of a long, dead end corridor and stood in front of a large and rather ugly gargoyle.

"Sherbet Lemon." Professor McGonagall said clearly to the gargoyle. It sprung to life and moved out of the way letting the wall spilt open to reveal a moving stone staircase.

Professor McGonagall stepped on and gestured for Harry to do the same. Harry didn't need to be told where he was going, this was clearly where Dumbledore lived.

Harry stepped into the large office and gazed around. It was beautiful. Every wall covered in gently snoozing portraits of old headmasters and mistresses or shelves covered in all sorts of whirling machines or glittering containers.

"Wait here Potter." Professor McGonagall said before leaving him alone.