Chapter 20: Dueling and Discoveries
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. Now this was a fun one I put a lot of excitement and crazy things happening in this one as well as a few new characters to make the story interesting. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
Word had spread around Hogwarts, one that Colin was laying petrified in the Hospital Wing and that Sam had taken Malfoy's place as the new Slytherin Seeker.
While some were happy for him almost all of Slytherin was giving Sam trouble.
On the Quidditch field, Sam was training with Skye and Orion.
"So why isn't the rest of the team here?" Sam asks flying up.
"Literally no one else was willing to train with you. Flint says if you don't catch that Snitch in February Draco's seeker again." Orion said.
"Gee love the confidence they have in me." Sam groans.
"Hey don't worry, you got us to help you out." Skye said flying up to him.
"Alright let's try this again." Orion said as Sam took a deep breath before flying in and around the field with Skye flying in front of him. "Now your goal is to follow Skye. You're decent but your skills need to quick and precise or you'll never catch that Snitch.!" Orion said.
"Catch me if you can!" Skye taunts flying ahead.
Growling Sam flew after her as fast as he could, but Skye wasn't making it easy as she bobbed and weaved between the goal posts.
Mimicking her movements Sam bobbed and weaved between the goals before Skye flew up and then dived quickly.
As Skye turned a corner through the stands Sam made a sharp turn and ended following her on the inside and ends up racing alongside Skye surprising her.
"Come on! Come on!" Sam said leaning in as he ended up racing past her causing Skye to whistle impressed.
"Yeah Sam!" Orion said as Sam and Skye flew down to him.
"Oh man that was wild." Sam said climbing off his broom.
"That last turn was quite impressive." Orion said.
"Think I'll be ready by the time we have our match with Ravenclaw?" Sam asks.
"Keep this up and you could even give your friend Harry a run for his money." Skye said.
Smiling Sam felt like he was on top of the world…unfortunately that feeling did not last long.
Later that night, he was standing alongside Snape in the Dueling Club having another Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson Snape walks around him and adjusts his stance.
"Alright now keep elbows bent, arms ready and make sure your hands are relaxed." Snape said.
"Ready." Sam said getting a little tired as Snape stood across from him.
"Attack!" Snape yells drawing his wand.
"Stupefy!" Sam said firing a blast at him but Snape repels it.
Moving in Sam was about to attack again.
"Obscuro!" Snape said flicking his wand causing a blindfold to appear over Sam's face.
"What the?!" Sam said flailing around trying to get the blindfold off only for Snape to use this chance to blast Sam knocking him to the ground.
Groaning in pain, Sam pulls the blindfold off to see Snape looking down at him.
"Best 5 out of 9?" Sam asks.
"I think you've had enough for one lesson." Snape said helping Sam up. "Spells can be used not just to attack but to also make your opponents mess up. This can give you an opening to strike."
"Ugh I may be getting knocked around this arena like a ragdoll but at least I'm learning something." Sam said.
"You're improving little by little, but I noticed your reaction time is a little lagging today." Snape said.
"Quidditch practice. Lately I've had to start practicing so I don't lose my first match. Guess I'm a little tired." Sam sighs.
"I'm not surprised you got the position. It's in your blood." Snape said getting his attention.
"It is?" Sam asks surprised.
"Come with me." Snape said leading Sam out to the school trophy room that was filled with awards and trophies.
"Amazing." Sam said looking around.
"Sam over here." Snape calls out getting his attention.
Walking over Sam noticed one of the names for the Quidditch cup winners one year. "Look at that one."
Eyeing the list he saw the names of the Slytherin team and in the Seeker spot Sam saw the name Lucy Smith written on the Seeker position.
"Mom?" Sam said surprised.
"Yes, your mother was a Seeker just like you. One of the best this school ever had." Snape said.
"Wow, I mean I knew she was on the team but she was this good?" Sam asks.
"She was quite the Seeker." Snape nods.
"Sounds like you knew them." Sam said.
"A little, your father had his own group of friends but I hated them so I never bothered with him, your mother was different. We spent some time together but nothing more than working on school assignments. I had my own life and they had theirs." Snape said.
"Wow." Sam said before letting out a yawn.
"Head back to the common room and get some rest. You're no good to anyone if you can't keep your eyes open." Snape suggests.
"Okay." Sam said in a drowsy tone.
Looking at his face Snape pauses as Sam walks away. "Sam wait." Snape calls out stopping him. "Listen I know you have a lot to deal with but…don't push yourself too hard. I don't want to see you hurt yourself."
"Thanks I uh…I'll try not to." Sam said walking away.
Watching him Snape was surprised: Quidditch practice, their training, regular classes and he wasn't complaining about any of it. He was working hard and…he felt proud of him for doing this.
A few days later, it was Potions Class as Slytherin and Gryffindor were hard at work.
To get the Bicorn Horn and Boomslang Skin for the Polyjuice potion, Hermione would need to sneak into Snape's storeroom.
Looking to Harry, Hermione winks saying she was gonna make her move.
As she stood up to weigh her items, Harry took out one of Fred's fireworks and tossed it into Goyle's cauldron causing it to explode and spray a handful of the class with Swelling solution especially Mafloy as his face swelled up like a balloon causing Sam to hold back his laughter.
"Silence! SILENCE!" Snape roars. "Anyone who has been sprayed come here for a Deflating Drought and when I find who did this.
Sam and Harry laugh as Malfoy ran forward.
"Finally his face is the same size as his ego." Harry said as he and Sam laugh before Sam let out a small yawn not noticing Hermione sneak out with the ingredients.
After class, Harry, Ron, Sam, Barnaby, Penny and Hermione were sitting in a girl's bathroom as Hermione was brewing the ingredients.
"So the Chamber has been opened before?" Penny said.
"Yeah Sam and I heard Dumbledore say it himself." Harry nods.
"It must've been Lucius. He opened the Chamber before and now he's taught Draco how to do it." Ron guesses.
"We don't know that for sure. That's why we need this to find out." Hermione said stirring the Polyjuice ingredients.
"Sam what do you think?" Barnaby asks looking to Sam but got no response. "Sam?"
Nudging him they saw Sam was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed sleeping.
"Asleep? How can he be asleep at a time like this?" Ron asks.
"He's worn out. Along with classes, Sam has been working hard to be the new Seeker and almost every Slytherin is eager to see him blow it." Barnaby said.
"And all this stuff with the Chamber. He must be exhausted." Harry said.
"Poor guy." Penny said sitting next to him but ends up nudging him and his head drops making it land on her shoulder surprising Penny. "Sam get off." She said.
"Mmm so warm." Sam said in his sleep causing her to stop.
"Well…I guess I can let him stay like this for a few minutes." Penny said as Sam used her shoulder as a pillow.
"Enlighten me. Why are we brewing this potion in broad daylight in the middle of the Girls Lavatory? Don't you think we'll get caught?" Ron asks.
"No, no one ever comes in here." Hermione said.
"Why not?" Barnaby asks.
"Moaning Myrtle and Duncan Ashe." Hermione said.
"Who?" Ron asks when the ghost of a girl with long hair and glasses came out of the stalls behind him and from behind Penny and Sam the ghost of a boy appeared.
"Moaning Myrtle and Duncan Ashe." Hermione repeats when Harry and Barnaby notice Myrtle.
"Who are they?" Ron asks.
"I'm Moaning Myrtle!" Myrtle yells startling Ron.
"And I'm Duncan!" Duncan said appearing behind Penny causing her to yelp and let go of Sam causing him to hit his head on the stall door.
"Ow." Sam groans in pain waking up. "Ugh what's with all the noise?" Sam asks holding his head.
"Oh man you should have seen your face!" Duncan laughs looking at them.
"Of course no one knows about me. Who would ever talk about ugly, miserable, moping, moaning Myrtle?" Myrtle whines before sobbing as she flew to her toilet stall and splashed down into the toilet.
"Sorry about that, she's a little sensitive." Duncan said flying above them. "Been a while since we've had any visitors."
"Why are you a ghost in the girl's bathroom?" Barnaby asks.
"You're not one of those peepers are you?" Penny asks.
"No, I died right in front of the entrance to this place so unfortunately I ended up being permanent roomies with that whiner." Duncan said.
"Yikes." Sam said.
"Tell me about it." Duncan said before flying up to the window by the entrance and laid down by it.
"So what did I miss?" Sam asks turning them.
"Sam I think you need more sleep." Harry said.
"Yeah sorry. I've got a lot on my mind." Sam said.
"Why don't you go back to the Common room and get some rest. Now that we have the potion we the Potion can start." Barnaby said.
"Yeah good call." Sam nods as he walks out.
As Penny watches him she couldn't help but wish he was still asleep on her shoulder.
A week had passed since that day and Sam had definitely used that to rest up and get the much-needed sleep and soon he was feeling better.
As students gathered near the great hall, they saw a note saying the Dueling Club was being set up.
Walking up front a Hufflepuff with tan skin and brown hair saw this and smiled. This was Diego Caplan.
"Yes! The Dueling Club! I've been wanting to learn dueling since I joined here." He cheered.
Nearby Sam and Harry's trios were looking at the parchement.
"Could be useful." Ron said.
"With what's going on it wouldn't hurt to learn a few new spells." Hermione said.
"Says the Club is gonna be at 8 tonight." Penny read.
"Let's check it out." Harry said as he walked away only to accidentally bump into someone. "Oh sorry."
"My bad, I didn't see where I was going. Oh hey Penny." He said looking at them.
"Hey Justin." Penny said recognizing a member from her house.
"Justin Finch-Fletchley , Hufflepuff." He said.
"Harry Potter." Harry said.
"Oh I know, you're famous even among us Muggleborns and you must be Samuel Snape." Justin said looking at him.
"You know me?" Sam said surprised.
"Yeah you're trying to change the Slytherin House, pretty wild but respect for trying. Hope to see you at the Dueling Club tonight." Justin said walking away.
Soon, Sam entered his familiar training room to see tons of students from all the houses lined up along the stage eager to see who would be teaching them.
"Hey guys." Tulip said waving at them.
"Tulip nice to see as always." Sam said.
"So any idea who our teacher is?" Neville asks.
"I heard Prof. Flitwick was a dueling champion maybe it'll be him." Blaise said.
"Well as long as it's not—" Before Harry could finish Lockhart walked on stage.
"Gather round students. Can everyone see me? Can everyone hear me?" Lockhart asks.
"Yes." Hermione smiles.
"No." Sam groans.
"In light of the dark events in the recent weeks, Prof. Dumbledore has granted me permission to restart the Dueling Club to train you all up in case you need to defend yourselves as I myself had done on countless occasions. For full details see my published works." Lockhart said.
"That guy is so full of himself." Sam mutters.
"Tell me about it." Harry agrees.
"Now let me introduce my assistant, Prof. Snape." Lockhart said as they looked to see Snape walk up from the opposite side. "He has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration. Now I don't want any of you to worry. You'll still have your Potions Master when I'm through with him." Lockhart said and almost instantly Sam's mood took a 180.
"Oh this is gonna be good." Sam grins.
"Yeah we might have a real duel on our hands." Hermione said causing Sam to snicker.
"Sure Hermione." Sam said as Snape and Lockhart walked up to each other and raised their wands like swords before bowing to each other and walking to opposite ends of the platform.
"Now don't worry class. We are only teaching to disarm, not kill." Lockhart said as they both took a dueling stance. "On three. One, two, three."
"Expelliarmus!" Snape said firing a scarlet light that blasts Lockhart to the ground knocking his wand out of his wand.
"This is the best day ever." Sam grins.
His role model just blasted that faker with one move like it was nothing.
"Do you think he's alright?" Hermione asks.
"I hope so." Tulip said.
"Who cares." Ron and Harry cheered.
"Hit him again." Sam said.
Slowly Lockhart stood up. "That was a Disarming Charm as you can see. I lost my wand." Lockhart said when a student handed it to him. "Thank you. Excellent idea to show them that, Prof. Snape, but if you don't mind my saying it was pretty obvious what you were gonna do and if I wanted to stop you it would have been too easy." Lockhart smirks walking towards him.
"Perhaps we should let the students try so we can teach them to block against unfriendly spells." Snape suggests.
"Good idea. Let's see who should go first?" Lockhart asks looking around.
"I will!" Sam said holding his hand instantly getting everyone's attention.
"Ah Young Snape, very well yes come on up." Lockhart said as Sam walked up on stage and needless to say Sam was met with mixed opinions. "Now who will be his opponent?"
"I will!" Looking to the other side they saw Merula climb up.
"Ms. Snyde excellent. Sorry Prof. Snape looks like either way a member of your house will be a loser." Lockhart said.
"I'll manage." Snape said.
"You can do it Sam." Penny said.
"Come on Snyde take that stupid dreamer down!" Malfoy said.
Walking across Sam and Merula raised their wands.
"I've been wanting to put you in your place since Day One." Merula smirks.
"You can try Merula but I don't go down easy." Sam said as they walked to the opposite ends with Snape standing behind him.
"Time to see if you remember our lessons." Snape mutters.
"Alright remember this is to disarm only, one, two—"
"Metelo!" Before Lockhart could finish Merula flicked her wand and a snowstorm blew towards Sam knocking him back.
Gasping all Sam's friends look in shock while Malfoy and most of the Slytherins pointed and laughed at him.
"Serves you right Samuel!" Malfoy mocks.
"All talk no action." Pansy said.
"Hit him harder Merula!" Ismelda said as Sam struggles to get up.
"I am gonna enjoy this. Flipendo!" Merula said.
"Protego!" Sam said making a barrier that blocked Merula's attack and sent it back knocking her backwards.
"How did you?" Merula gasps.
"You and so many other Slytherins look down on me because I'm different but fortunately that just made me want to work harder than all of you." Sam declares taking a dueling stance.
Seeing this Snape smiles softly as Merula got back up.
"Stupe—"
"Melfors!" Sam said flicking his wand and a pumpkin appeared on Merula's head causing her to stumble and everyone else to laugh.
"I like this guy." Fred and George said while Tulip was laughing loudly holding her side.
"Genius, freaking genius!" Tulip laughs as Merula yanks the pumpkin off her head.
"Oh you're going down." Merula growls.
Taking a deep breath Sam took a stance. 'Calm, quick and precise movements.' Snape's words echoed in his mind.
"Come on Merula what's stopping you? Beat him!" Malfoy snaps.
"Bombarda!" Merula said but Sam jumps to the ground dodging the explosion.
"Stupefy!" Sam said blasting Merula knocking her to the ground and the wand out of her hand.
"And Miss Synde has been disarmed! Winner Samuel Snape!" Lockhart said as people applauded him.
Groaning Merula tries to stand up when she see looks to see Sam offering her a hand.
"I don't need your pity." Merula said.
"Who said this was pity? I just wanna say thanks for a tough duel. You got moves." Sam said.
Surprised by this Merula freezes as she looks at the calm, kind expression on his face before slowly reaching out and taking his hand.
"Very, very good. But I must say boy, you have a ways to go before your dueling skills are my level, but keep at it. You have potential." Lockhart said.
"Gee thanks." Sam said as he looks to Snape who nods his head in acknowledgement causing Sam to smile as he made his way down to his friends.
"Mate, that was awesome." Ron said as Barnaby patted him on the back.
"Never doubted you." Barnaby said.
"That pumpkin head spell of yours, genius." Tulip said.
"Thanks guys." Sam said.
"Well how about another match. Uh Potter, Weasley come on up." Lockhart said looking to them.
"Weasley's wand causing devastation with the simplest of spells. We'll be sending Potter to the Hospital Wing in a matchbox. Might I suggest someone from my house? Malfoy let's see what you make of Potter." Snape said causing Malfoy to grin.
"Oh I am gonna win this." Harry said.
"Take him down Harry." Sam said as they high fived before Harry and Malfoy made their way up.
"Wands at the ready." Lockhart said as Harry and Malfoy raised their wands.
"Scared Potter?" Malfoy asks.
"You wish." Harry said as they walked away and stood on opposite ends.
"Now on three. One, two—" But like with Merula, Malfoy fired a spell before he finished counting down knocking Harry off his feet.
"I guess cheap shots are a thing in Slytherin duels." Chiara said.
"No one waits for three." Tulip said as Harry got up.
"Rictusempra!" Harry said blasting Malfoy with the tickling charm causing him to burst into laughter as he fell to the ground.
Harry was about to attack again but not even he was low enough to hit someone while he was down. Malfoy however was not.
"Tarantallegra!" Malfoy said blasting Harry and this spell made Harry's feet dance quickly causing most Slytherin's to laugh.
"I said to disarm only!" Lockhart said when Snape moves in.
"Finite Incantatem!" Snape said as Harry stopped dancing and Malfoy stopped laughing.
When Malfoy caught his breath, Snape grabbed him by the ropes and yanks him back onto his feet.
"Take him down Harry! This loser has nothing on you!" Sam calls out.
Hearing that insult, Malfoy growled in anger. "Serpensortia!" From the end of his wand a long black snake shot out onto the arena floor alarming everyone and causing Harry to freeze.
"Don't move Potter. I'll get rid of it." Snape said walking up.
"Allow me!" Lockhart said waving his wand but instead of destroying it the snake flew ten feet into the air before hitting the ground hard enraging it.
Hissing the serpent set his sights on a nearby Justin.
Almost instantly Harry stepped forward and started talking in a strange hissing language.
"Wait…where have I heard that before?" Sam pauses as Harry made his way towards the snake who turns to Harry and hisses back.
Looking in shock everyone was speechless when Snape stepped forward and blasted the snake destroying it.
"What are you playing at?" Justin asks as they all looked to Harry who was equally confused.
"Come on move." Ron said as he and Hermione grabbed Harry and they ran out of the room.
Gulping Sam didn't like this one bit and he knew he had to move fast.
Looking over to Chiara and Penny he runs over.
"Girls I need your help. Chiara it has to be tonight." Sam said.
"What's tonight?" Penny asks.
"Are you sure?" Chiara asks surprised.
"Yes, this is getting insane. Run to your house and wait. I'll meet up with you." Sam said.
"What are you talking about Sam?" Penny asks worried.
"I'll fill you in." Chiara said grabbing Penny's hand as they ran out.
As Sam ran out Prof. Snape looked out at Sam with a worried expression.
That night, Sam was making his way through the secret tunnels that Slytherin made with his wand and Viper Fangs just in case.
Making his way down one path he comes to a stop at the end of the hall.
"You can do this." Sam whispers to himself before pressing a stone tile opening up the entrance.
In the Hufflepuff Common room, Chiara and Penny were waiting for Sam.
"Are you sure he told you to wait here?" Penny asks.
"Yeah he said would get in on his own." Chiara said.
"But how is he gonna get in? He never asked for the password." Penny said as the secret entrance opened up alerting the girls as they saw Sam enter through it.
"Hey, hope I didn't keep you both waiting." Sam said surprising them.
"Whoa." Chiara said blown away.
"Sam what was that?" Penny asks.
"I'll explain later." Sam said walking up to them. "We don't have much time and I need to find a special object before we get caught."
"Okay what is it?" Chiara said.
"It's one of three things. A music box, a tooth necklace or a small old leather notepad. One of those is hidden somewhere in this house." Sam said.
"Then we better start looking." Penny said.
Looking around the common room, Sam saw it was based on a badger's den much brighter than the Slytherin Common room.
It had a much warmer atmosphere and there were tons of plants everywhere, no doubt Prof. Sprout had a thing or two behind that.
As Sam moved the plants around he didn't notice someone had spotted him.
Nearby Penny and Chiara were searching the couches and desks around them.
"You know Chiara I was a little surprised you agreed to help." Penny said.
"Well Sam asked me and he seemed really serious. Like if we knew it would help lots of people. I couldn't say no." Chiara said opening a drawer.
"That's the thing with Sam, he hardly ever thinks about himself." Penny said.
"How did you and Sam ever become friends?" Chiara asks.
"Peeves. That annoying ghost was messing with me and everyone just stood there and watched, but then out of nowhere Sam came in and helped me. Even though he was a Slytherin he wanted to help me and when he said he wanted to change his house…I thought he was amazing." Penny smiles letting out a sigh.
As Sam made his way up to the near the dorms he was about to check a cabinet when he bumped into a potted plant causing it to fall and shatter.
"What was that?" Prof. Sprout said causing Sam to panic as she made her way down.
Sam looks to Penny and Chiara who were also scared.
"It's Prof. Sprout." Penny whispers.
"She can't know I'm here." Sam said.
"Quick hide." Chiara said as Sam was about to run to the girls' side.
"Not there!" Both girls said as Sam turned around and went down the other way to the boys' side.
Panicking Sam was about to grab his Viper Fangs to hide when a pair of hands grabbed him. "Hey!" Sam yelps.
Being pulled down the hall he saw Diego from the Dueling Club and an older Hufflepuff with brown hair, this was Cedric Diggory.
"What is going—" Before Sam could finish Cedric put his hand over Sam's mouth.
"Quiet and stay behind us." Cedric said as they turned around to see Prof. Sprout walk in.
"Diego, Cedric what is going on down here I heard a noise." Prof. Sprout said.
"Oh sorry Prof. Sprout I was showing Diego some spells and I accidentally broke a flower pot. I'll clean it up right away." Cedric said.
"See that you do. With everything that's going here I don't need any trouble in my own house." Prof. Sprout said walking away when she noticed Chiara and Penny.
"Girls can you find Mr. Diggory the broom?" She asks.
"Of course." They both said quickly as Prof. Sprout left.
Once she did Diego and Cedric move allowing Sam to step out.
"Wow thanks uh…"
"Diego Caplan."
"Cedric Diggory."
"Why did you guys help me back there? You could get in trouble?" Sam asks.
"I saw you at the Dueling Club, anyone who duels like you do can't be that bad." Diego said.
"I know about what you do Sam how you helped get the Philosopher's Stone and are trying to change the Slytherin House. Call me crazy but I wouldn't mind seeing that." Cedric shrugs.
"So whatever it is you three are up to we want in." Diego said as Penny and Chiara walk up.
"Well maybe you can help me because I have no idea where you would hide anything in here. Is there anything in this place that looks like it's been here forever?" Sam asks as all four Hufflepuffs pause to think.
"The portrait on the mantle." They all said.
"What?" Sam asks.
"In this house there's a special portrait of Helga Hufflepuff over a wooden mantlepiece that's been here since the school was founded." Cedric said.
"It's gotta be where whatever you're looking for is." Chiara said.
Making their way up the stairs they reached the portrait of Helga and as Sam looked at the wooden mantle he didn't see any sign of a compartment.
"There's gotta be something I'm missing." Sam said as he paused to think.
Scanning the mantle he saw various little symbols when he noticed two symbols long swirly sideways S symbols. Looking closely Sam saw the two S's had eyes at the end.
'Wait a minute, in the memory I saw Salazar and Helga kiss.' Sam recalled as he traced his hand along the snakes and when it came to a stop it was right on a small wooden heart.
"Sam what are you doing?" Chiara asks.
"Testing a theory." Sam said pressing against the heart and when he did the snake's eyes glow before slithering out of the way and when it moved a secret compartment at the base of the painting appeared.
Stepping back all of them watched as a small compartment opened up to reveal a music box.
"Is that it?" Diego asks.
"Yes." Sam said reaching out and taking it. "Thank you all so much for this. How can I thank you all for this?"
"Just make sure you figure this out before whatever the Chamber has comes after us." Diego said.
"I'm rooting for ya." Cedric said.
"Now get outta here before you get caught." Chiara said.
"Thanks you guys." Sam said running out.
"You know for a Slytherin he acts pretty weird." Diego said.
As Penny and Chiara watched Sam leave they couldn't help but smile at how committed he was to saving everyone and…how cool he looked sneaking out.
The next day, the snow had filled up the school so much Herbology was canceled as Prof. Sprout was trying to keep her Mandrakes warm and didn't want anyone else to get in the way.
As Sam was walking down the hall, he was examining the music box.
"One down, two to go." Sam said as he opened it expecting music but saw a small opening for a centerpiece and a knob where Sam saw he needed a combination for.
'Guess this is why I need the other pieces.' Sam thought when he spotted Harry down the hall. "Harry!" Sam calls out getting his attention.
"Sam am I glad to see you. Where were you after the Dueling Club incident?" Harry asks.
"It was crazy. After everyone thought you were gonna kill Justin everyone was on edge." Sam said.
"Sam I would never do anything like that to Justin." Harry said.
"Harry don't worry I believe you, but the fact that you can talk to snakes is pretty crazy. How long have you been able to do this?" Sam asks.
"I don't know the last time I did this was when I saw a snake at the zoo and started to realize I had magic. I thought all wizards could do it." Harry said.
"But how do you speak another language without knowing it?" Sam asks.
"I should find Justin and clear this up." Harry said.
"I'll come with you." Sam said.
But as they walked away they heard a group of Hufflepuffs talking.
"So I told Justin to hide up in the dormitory. If Potter has marked him down he better lay low for a while. Especially since he told Potter he was Muggle born. Don't want Slytherin's heir getting any ideas." Erinie said.
"You really think it's Potter?" Hannah asks.
"Hannah he's a Parselmouth. Everyone knows that's the mark of a Dark Wizard. There's no decent wizard alive who can speak to sneaks. They called Slytherin himself serpent tongue." Ernie said causing Sam to pause.
'That must have been that weird language I heard in the memory.' Sam thought.
"Harry seems so nice though, I mean he's the one who stopped You-Know-Who disappear." Hannah said.
"That's probably why You-Know-Who wanted him dead. He didn't want another Dark Lord competing with him." Ernie said.
"Harry." Sam said.
"Come on." Harry said in a huff as they walked out only to see Hagrid walk in blocking them covered in snow.
"Hagrid?" Sam said.
"Boys? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in class?" Hagrid asks.
"Canceled. What about you?" Harry asks as Hagrid held up a dead rooster.
"Second one killed this term. I reckon I better go talk to Dumbledore about setting up a charm around the hen coop." Hagrid said.
As Harry walked past him Sam ran to catch up.
"Harry come on man don't let them get to you. I put up with things like that all during my first year." Sam said.
"Sam it's not that—" Harry suddenly stopped mid sentence hearing something. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Sam asks as Harry moved his head around.
"It came from over there." Harry points.
The two of them make their way down the hall but when they arrived they saw Nearly Headless Nick floating in the middle of the hallway and at his feet was a petrified Justin.
"Justin." Sam gasps as they walked up to him.
Harry looked and saw a shocked expression on Justin's face but also noticed a line of spiders moving as quickly as they could out of the room.
"What happened?" Sam asks as Harry stood up.
"Sam we have to get help." Harry said when Peeves flew in.
"Well if it isn't Potter and Young Snape what do we have here?" Peeves said when he noticed the vicitims.
"No Peeves it's not what—"
"ATTACK! ATTACK! THERE'S BEEN ANOTHER ATTACK! NO ONE IS SAFE!" Peeves yells as the top of his lungs and flew out crashing into stuff and alerting everyone.
As they came in multiple students and staff saw Sam and Harry by the newest victims.
"Caught in the act." Filch said.
"It seems Potter's asked his best friend to join him in his hunt." Erinie scoffs when Prof. McGonagall came in.
"That's enough. Take Mr. Finch-Fletchly to the Hospital Wing. Potter, Snape come with me." She said pulling them away.
"Professor please this is a mistake." Sam said.
"We swear we didn't do anything." Harry said as she led them to a gargoyle.
"I'm sorry boys but this is out of my hands. Lemon drop." McGonagall said as they looked to see it was a staircase right to Prof. Dumbledore's office.