It was still dark when Hazel woke the next morning, and the wind was still howling outside the windows. She didn't particularly care, for once. All the questions of last night came rushing back to her; why was Harry hearing things? Who had attacked Mrs Norris? Why had she felt such fear out of nowhere?
The questions bounced around and around in her mind until Ginny woke up.
"Mrs Norris?" She brought a hand to her mouth once Hazel had filled her in, "I don't get it. I mean, I know everyone hates Filch but to do that to a poor defenceless cat? It's mental. And Malfoy was there?"
"Yeah, he seemed really happy it'd happened."
"Maybe it was him. He's certainly evil enough."
"Hermione thinks whatever did it isn't human."
"Oh, Snape then."
"Not funny, Ginny."
"But Harry heard a voice before it happened?"
"Yeah," That was the most worrying part, especially as the voice had led him right to the scene of the attack, "Do you think it was the attacker?"
"Who else could it have been? Maybe someone invisible in the corridors?"
Ginny yawned loudly. She still looked very pale.
"How are you feeling?" Hazel asked.
"Much better. I don't know what happened, I just felt really weird all of a sudden."
"Maybe you should go to Madam Pomfrey?"
"Nah, I'm okay now. I think a good night's sleep helped loads. Hey, do you mind if I tell Tom about what happened before we go to breakfast? He'll be dying to know that I'm feeling better."
For the next week, the only thing anyone wanted to talk about was the attack. Not many people seemed sad that she was gone, except for poor Filch. He was spending every spare moment sitting outside the girl's toilets with a mop held in both hands, ready for the culprit to come back. He stared down everyone who passed with his bloodshot eyes, daring them to so much as breath out of turn.
Hazel had felt so sorry for him at first. He looked so lost without her, so lonely without his companion. She wouldn't wish that feeling on anybody.
Her sympathy did fade as the week progressed though, because he seemed to be holding Harry and her personally responsible for the loss of Mrs Norris. Three times already he'd jumped out of hidden passages and tried to put her in detention. The first time was because her shoes were making too much noise, the second time because she sneezed and by the third time even he'd run out of ideas. He just wrote her name down while mumbling angrily. She had taken to walking in the middle of the other Gryffindor first years or sticking to busy corridors, just so he couldn't ambush her.
Despite her best efforts, he caught her again on the way to Transfiguration. She was chatting to Ginny and Colin when he leapt out from behind a tapestry right in front of them and made them all scream.
"At last!" He bared his yellow teeth, "I've got you now! Bag clasp undone," His blood-shoot eyes gleamed as he scrawled untidily on the parchment, "This'll be a suspension for you, and not before time!"
"But I didn't hurt Mrs Norris!" she said.
"A likely story!" He was writing so fast he was splattering the floor with ink, "Dumbledore might not see it, but I do! You and that miscreant of a brother!"
"Harry didn't hurt her either!"
"We'll see about that when you're both on the train home!"
"Argus!"
Professor McGonagall was approaching with a severe expression, books piled high in her arms.
"Professor," Filch whipped the parchment out of sight so quickly it was just a blur.
"Argus," Professor McGonagall said impatiently, "Professor Dumbledore has already warned you, until we can tell otherwise, the Potters are innocent. I know this is hard but trust us that we will find the true culprit."
Filch looked at the floor but his eyes were still popping, and he hadn't put the parchment away.
"Now, there's been a spillage on the second floor. You may need to see to it. Come along, Miss Potter."
Hazel followed Professor McGonagall. She could feel Filch's eyes burning into her back the whole way.
Everyone else was unpacking their books already.
"Did he get you?" Ginny asked.
Hazel shook her head.
"He's not being very nice, is he?" Colin shook his head.
"It's not fair," Ginny said, "He's just looking for someone to blame."
"It's lucky McGonagall was nearby," said Colin, "I heard he tried to put Gavin McNory from Ravenclaw in detention for opening a chocolate frog too loudly."
"Hey, Ginny," Romilda leant over. She had taken a magazine out of her bag and hidden it in her book, "Do you think your brothers had anything to do with it? It would be a great practical jo-"
"No," Ginny said sharply.
"Silence please," Professor McGonagall stood up from her desk. Hazel looked forwards just in time to see Magnus Gilchrist and Euan Neil look quickly away. Were they watching her? "We will be continuing our work on simple transfiguration today. Take a set of toothpicks each and attempt to turn them into pins. That means you too, Miss Vane, so magazine away."
Romilda scowled and put her magazine back in her bag. Hazel went up to the front to get the pins for her, Colin and Ginny. The two boys at the front had been whispering but stopped when she got close. There was something weird about how intently they stared at Professor McGonagall's desk.
What were they up to?
It was a frustrating ninety minutes. Try as she might, Hazel could not get her toothpicks to change shape. Not unless she snapped them, that was. She may as well have been using Romilda's magazine for all the difference it would've made. It was the same in Charms, the same in Defence Against the Dark Arts. She thought back to Filch, a squib. From a magical family but unable to do it himself. Is that what she was? Or a version of it?
She handed her immaculate toothpicks back to Professor McGonagall when the bell rang, packed her bag and hurried from the classroom before the teacher noticed how pathetic her efforts had been.
"That was great!" Colin said once he and Ginny joined her, "Did you see my toothpicks? I think one of was pointy by the end!"
"Colin," said Ginny, "It's a toothpick, they're all pointy."
"Yeah, but one was even pointier than the others! And-"
"Hey, Potter!" It was Euan Neil.
"What?" Her insides squirmed uncomfortably. This couldn't be good.
"Is it true your brother used magic to hit a muggle with a trifle this summer?"
"What?" How had he heard about that?
"He did it then?"
"He didn't!"
"I heard he got a warning from the Ministry about using underage magic."
"It wasn't him!" How was she supposed to explain that one? Would anyone believe a house elf had done it?
"Did you really set a muggle on fire in your old school?" Magnus Gilchrist asked.
"No!" She hadn't set a muggle on fire! It was his lunchbox.
Yeah, that sounded much better. It was before she knew she was a witch.
Was she really a witch though?
The two boys were looking at one another, "Is your brother the heir of Slytherin?"
"The what?"
"The Heir of Slytherin. Everyone says he opened the Chamber of Secrets on Halloween."
"Do you seriously think that?" Ginny said angrily, "Really? Harry Potter, the heir of Slytherin?"
Magnus shrugged, "I dunno. Why was he there when the cat was attacked? Everyone says he knew Filch was a squib, that he tried to put him in detention."
"He wasn't there when Mrs Norris was attacked!" Hazel's temper was growing. How could anyone be so stupid to think Harry wanted revenge for detention? All those years he'd been bullied by Dudley and his gang, and he'd never once punched back. But yeah, a detention was too much for him, obviously.
"You would say that though," Magnus' cheeks had gone pink, "You were there too."
"I wasn't!" She shouted.
"That will do!" Professor McGonagall pushed through the ring of students. Her mouth was very thin, "Miss Potter, Mr Gilchrist, two points from Gryffindor for fighting in the corridor."
"But Professor!" This was so unfair!
"That is enough, Miss Potter," Professor McGonagall said with a severe look at her, "Whatever's the matter, there is no need to shout about it in the corrido-"
"He thinks Harry is the heir of Slytherin!" She couldn't take it anymore, "He's stupid enough to think Harry would hurt Mrs Norris."
"Hey, I'm not stupid," Magnus flushed red.
"You so are!"
"Enough!" The corridor fell silent, "This rumour is utter nonsense. Mr Potter is no more the heir of Slytherin than you, Mr Gilchrist. I will have no more of this gossip. Move along to your next class. Miss Potter, please wait here."
Professor McGonagall waited until the corridor had cleared, except for Ginny and Colin who hovered at the far end. Her fists were clenched, how could Magnus and Euan be so thick!
"Miss Potter," Professor McGonagall's tone was a little softer, "There will be a lot of silly rumours around this attack. The headmaster is satisfied that Harry and you were not involved but people will talk. If you allow it to bother you, then this will be a very long year for you. Mrs Norris will be revived by the end of the year and then no more will be said about it."
"Yes, Professor," The anger was starting to fade a little bit.
"And Miss Potter," Professor McGonagall was stern again, "A further two points from Gryffindor for your rudeness. I appreciate your frustrations, but I will not have students speaking to staff in the manner you spoke to me just now. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Professor," She didn't really understand though. Magnus and Euan had started it! It wasn't her fault they were idiots.
Despite Professor McGonagall's warning, she did notice the whispers and stares as she walked through the castle or sat in the Great Hall. Those same whispers went very quiet, or people looked away whenever she got close. They were saying the same horrible things about her and Harry, and there was nothing she could do about it.
Harry wasn't bothered.
"Yeah, people are doing the same with me," he said in the Common Room, "But they're always doing that. It's still not as bad as last year."
Oh, thanks Harry. That was a huge help.
About the only place away from the whispers was the library, if only because Madam Pince, the librarian, waited to bounce like a particularly stern leopard on anyone who dared speak above a whisper.
Didn't stop people staring though.
"Why aren't we doing our homework in the common room?" she asked Ginny.
"Because Fred and George dropped their box of stink bombs, and you'll pass out in about ten seconds?"
"I'd rather that than being here."
"It's here or down in the Great Hall. There're way more people down there," Ginny held up two books, "Charms or potions?"
"Potions," Ginny pulled a face, "You asked!"
"Shush!" Madam Pince hissed from the front desk.
"An essay on ten types of antidotes? It's going to take hours!"
"It won't be that bad, there's the bezoar, clementia, therapeía…"
"Alright, alright" Ginny said, "It'll take me hours. Happy?"
"Shuuush!" Madam Pince sounded like a very angry snake.
"Well, Charms is the same for me. Describe the practical challenges in basic charmwork? I can barely light my wand up! I've not got as far as the charmwork challenges yet!"
Madam Pince made a noise like a deflating tire and both girls looked hurriedly down at their desk.
"Alright," Ginny whispered, "We'll do potions first, because Flitwick won't take a thousand points off us if we don't get it done, but you have to help me."
"Deal."
"Oh, hello you two," It was Hermione who looked very cross, "Is this where you've been exiled to?"
"Hey Hermione," said Hazel, "Yeah, the twins-"
"Yes, yes, I know. Honestly, it's bad enough they disrupt our homework time each night without making the common room uninhabitable as well!"
"Keep your voice down!" Madam Pince was inflating like a frog behind her, "Are you annoyed about it?"
"No, well yes but not right now," Hermione shook her head, "I was trying to get a copy of Hogwarts: A History but they're all checked out, and there's not one free for a fortnight."
"Why do you want it?" asked Ginny.
"To read up on the Chamber of Secrets, like everyone else."
"Do you think it's real?"
"I don't know. It was a weird thing to write on the wall if it wasn't. We went back there this morning, there's a few odd things happening."
"What," said Ginny after Hermione had explained their findings, "A couple of scratch marks and some spiders?"
"Well, it's better than nothing," Hermione puffed her chest out indignantly, "I'll write to mum and dad, maybe they can send my copy via owl."
"Do you think there's really a chamber?" Hazel asked Ginny once Hermione had left.
"I remember Bill telling me about it, dad told him, and grandad told him," Ginny shrugged, "But something attacked Mrs Norris and wherever it is, not even Dumbledore can find it. I might ask Tom this evening, maybe he knows something about it."
"Why would a diary know anything about?"
"He was owned by a Hogwarts student before, maybe he heard rumours or something. It's worth a try isn't it?" Ginny stood up, "I'm going to stretch my legs. This potions stuff is making my head spin."
Hazel was happy to work on her potions essay but she kept getting distracted as students coming and going stopped to stare, like she was part of the zoo. What did they think was going to happen? She hated the staring and the judgement that came with it.
Maybe the Great Hall would have been better after all.
Or the dungeons. Sure, they were cold, damp, dark and stank of mould but at least she could do her homework in peace.
"Hazel!" Ginny hurried back. Her face was bright pink, and she was chewing her lip furiously.
"What?" asked Hazel, alarmed.
"You'll never guess what happened!"
"You found the monster?"
"No! I was walking in the autobiography section, and I saw Percy! He was with-"
"Right! That's it!" Madam Pince slammed her book on her desk with a thunderous bang, "This is a library, not a tavern! You two, out! Out!"
Hazel woke that Saturday morning stupidly early, just like she did every day. Normally she would have sat with one of her Lockhart books until Ginny woke up, but this morning was different. When she pulled back her curtains there weren't thunderous black clouds and no howling gale to greet her. It was actually, nice? It wasn't even raining!
How long had it been since she'd walked around the grounds? The shore of the lake would probably still be too windy, but the edge of the Forbidden Forest should be nice and sheltered. It seemed a shame not to take advantage of the nice weather. Well, the better weather.
Should she wait for Ginny? Nah, Ginny would lie in until late morning and the weather might have changed again by then. Colin would be up, but he developed his photos on a Saturday.
No, she'd go by herself.
There was only one other bed empty as she put on the thickest coat she owned over her jumper. Atia Malfoy was gone already? What time had she been up from?
As soon as she stepped through the double doors, she realised she should have put on another coat. The chill made her shiver, but the air was wonderfully fresh, like it could only be after an autumn rain. The birds were still singing in the woods, and it was a lovely sound to walk along with.
It was such a freeing feeling, to be out walking and exploring by herself. It was how she knew every street, every lane and every alley of Little Whinging. It was better than spending another evening in Privet Drive.
She passed by Hagrid's hut. Should she drop in and say hello? No, if he was asleep then let him enjoy his rest. What with being out every day in those storms, he'd definitely earned it.
Wait. Was that someone ahead? She peered into the distance. The figure was small, draped in what looked like a very expensive cloak and with long, blonde hair.
So, this was where Atia Malfoy went.
Should she say something? She was very far ahead. Besides, she probably didn't want to talk. She'd made her feelings about Hazel very clear already.
"Mornin' you!"
She jumped in surprise.
Hagrid was standing right behind her in his thick, moleskin coat and carrying a crossbow. Fang was panting happily beside him.
"Didn' sneak up on you, did I?" Hagrid's beetle-black eyes were twinkling beneath his shaggy hair.
"No," she lied breathlessly. How distracted had she been? He was the size of a small house! "Hi, Hagrid. How are you?"
"I was goin' to as' the same of you," Hagrid said, "Hear' ye were in a spo' of bother this week."
"Oh," She still wasn't speaking to Euan or Magnus, "They think Harry's the heir of Slytherin."
"Aye, heard somethin' like tha'," Hagrid shook his head, "Jus' people being stupid, tha's all. Always somethin' going aroun'. Anyone with a brain in their heads know Harry didn' do anythin'.
"Thanks Hagrid," He patted her gently on the shoulder and her knees buckled. Ow, "What's the crossbow for?"
"Ah," Hagrid looked uncomfortable, "It's nothin' serious. Jus' hearin' rumours about somethin' somewhere in the Fores' it shouldn' be."
"What?" That sounded pretty serious.
"Well, nothin' too bad. I was lookin' for it there and couldn' find the poor critter. All the same, probably bes't ta stay away from the fores' fer a while. Jus' til I fin' it an' all. Be seein' ya."
He strode off back into the forest with Fang at his heels. What could it possibly be that had Hagrid so worried? Harry said there were all sorts of horrible things in the Forbidden Forest and Hagrid's view on what counted as a 'critter' was very forgiving.
Best stay out of his way then. It wouldn't be long before breakfast anyway. And maybe she could finish Holidays with Hags again.
Maybe it was a dragon. Or a hydra. She'd seen those in her books as well.
She stopped suddenly.
Atia! Did she know about the danger in the Forest?
Should she go back up to the school and hope there was a teacher up early for breakfast? She had no hope of finding Hagrid in the Forest, but maybe he'd run into Atia anyway? What if Atia was already back up at the school and in no danger at all?
No, she couldn't take the chance. If Atia was anywhere near the Forest, then she'd never forgive herself.
She strode around the Forest, eyes straining for a sight of white-blonde hair. She was walking so fast she didn't even feel the cold anymore. How far had Atia gone? She must have been walking at the speed of Hagrid to be so far ahead! Surely she hadn't actually gone into the forest proper? Dumbledore said no one was supposed to.
The longer she looked, the less tense she got. Atia must have gone back up to the castle already. She was probably already up at breakfast, tucking into toast and reading the Daily Prophet. The thought made her feel rather silly. If this 'critter' of Hagrid's turned out to be a goat or something then she was going to be very cross.
Then she heard the scream. Her blood ran ice cold.
She ran towards the Forest with her heart pounding in her chest. She hadn't gone very when she came to a clearing of thick trees and colossal trees in murky light.
There she was! Atia was laying amongst the roots. Her face was livid with fear as she backed away from…
Hazel tried to scream, but nothing came out. It was like an invisible hand had closed around her windpipe.
It was a spider. Far worse than the ones in the cupboard under the stairs. This one was the size of a wolf, with eight long, hairy legs and empty eyes the size of snooker balls. It was approaching Atia slowly with its arm-length pincers clicking.
Atia was cornered. There was nowhere else for her to go.
Do something!
She felt faint, dizzy but she picked up a branch from the ground and threw it with all her might. It bounced off the spider like it would have a car. The spider turned on those horrible, wiggly legs to face her. Her stomach felt like it had dissolved.
She backed away, as fast as her legs would carry her. She tripped over a root and landed hard on the ground. There had to be something here that could help.
The spider charged.
Wait!
She pulled her wand from her pocket, but she could barely hold it. Her hands were shaking so much. What was she supposed to do against giant spider! They hadn't covered this in class!
It was nearly on top of her. The smell of rotten meat turned her stomach. She turned away without thinking.
A fierce light burst from her wand and bathed the clearing in a warm, golden glow. The spider was hurled back against an oak and landed with a loud squeal. It scrambled for the safety of the darkness, disappearing amongst the trees.
Hazel barely noticed the light fading. She lay on the cold, hard ground, shaking furiously. She was holding her wand so tightly that her fingers were going numb. Was her heart ever going to beat normally again?
Atia!
She stumbled through the roots. Her legs felt like jelly and the world kept lurching from side to side. Atia Malfoy was lying on her back, face deathly pale and her blonde hair tangled and twisted around her shoulders. She could have been petrified.
"Are you okay?"
Seriously? What a stupid question.
"I thought," She said in a very high-pitched voice, "I thought…"
Her lip was trembling.
Hazel helped her to her feet, though it was hard to tell who was supporting who more. Then Atia threw her arms around her. Hazel flinched instinctively but there was no chance of breaking her grip. She was shaking so fiercely. Hazel held her tightly.
There came a crashing and banging from the forest. The girls split as if someone had passed an electric current through them, but it was Hagrid with his crossbow raised and no sign of Fang.
"Than' ruddy goodness," Hagrid panted. There were twigs and branches sticking everywhere out of his hair, "Are ye hur'?"
"I think we're okay," Hazel's voice was so shaky she could barely talk. How were they okay?
"Come 'ere, I'll bring ye up te the hospital wing."
They followed him out of the Forest. Atia and Hazel stayed very close together the whole way. Funny how surviving a giant spider attack could bring people together.
