CHAPTER 25: SLYTHERIN SUSPICIONS
Days passed without any major incidents or embarrassments, save for the unsettling news of Justin Finch-Fletchley and Nearly Headless Nick being petrified. Whispers floated through the corridors, hinting at Adrian's alleged involvement in the events.
Rumors began to swirl, painting Adrian as the potential heir of Slytherin. Harry couldn't help but find them amusing. The idea of the golden Gryffindor being linked to the infamous Slytherin lineage seemed ludicrous to him. Besides, if Adrian had any connection to Slytherin, it would make Harry the heir by default, being his older brother. It would also imply that one of their parents had ties to Slytherin and that Slytherin either had a Muggle-born heir or had intermarried with Muggle-borns.
Harry quickly took it upon himself to quash the rumors before they spiraled out of control. He meticulously presented the Potter family trees to curious students, demonstrating that there were no connections between the Potters and the Slytherin line.
In the tranquil atmosphere of the Slytherin common room, Harry found himself surrounded by his closest friends. Daphne leaned comfortably against his right shoulder, while Rose nestled against his left. Tracy and Blaise, absorbed in a heated game of chess, provided a backdrop of friendly competition.
Malfoy's arrival shattered the peaceful ambiance, his trademark smirk in place as he sauntered into the common room with Crabbe and Goyle trailing behind him. Harry greeted him with a weary sigh. "Malfoy, ever get tired of being annoying?"
Malfoy's grin widened, unperturbed by Harry's retort. "Not when it's so much fun, Potter," he replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Shut it, Potter," Malfoy snapped, his tone dripping with disdain.
Daphne couldn't help but interject. "Clearly not," she remarked dryly, shooting Malfoy a pointed look.
Malfoy ignored her remark, instead directing his attention back to Daphne. "You could have been great, Greengrass. You could have been the next Lady Malfoy, but you stupidly chose to reject me."
Daphne scoffed, unfazed by Malfoy's attempt to provoke her. "And with the way you behave, I'm pretty glad I did."
Malfoy's eyes narrowed, his gaze shifting to Rose, who had nestled closer to Harry, seeking comfort. "Oh, so Potter's better than me? At least if you were with me, you wouldn't have to play second fiddle to a scared little kid."
Daphne's patience wore thin as Malfoy targeted Rose. "Leave her alone," she retorted sharply, her protective instincts kicking in.
Malfoy's smirk widened. "Or what?"
Harry's voice cut through the tension, his tone calm but laced with a warning. "Or you'll have to explain to your father why Harry Potter sent you home with thirty-two missing teeth."
Malfoy bristled at the threat. "Do you think you scare me, Potter?"
Harry met Malfoy's challenge head-on. "No, you're too much of an idiot to realize when to shut up and not annoy the person who's repeatedly sent you to the infirmary."
Malfoy sneered. "It's disgusting how you resort to brawls like some common Muggle."
"Draco, I've beaten you both physically and magically, and you know that," Harry replied evenly, his gaze steady. "Honestly, you're the only other person I can imagine who's more pathetic than my brother."
Before Malfoy could retort, a low growl emanated from Goyle, effectively halting the conversation in its tracks.
"Um... sorry," Goyle blushed, his embarrassment evident. "It's my stomach."
Malfoy waved off his friend's apology dismissively. "Ignore him. I don't care about your brother, and I don't care about you."
Harry couldn't resist a quip. "Yet you spend a lot of time bothering both of us."
Malfoy's eyes narrowed, but Harry continued, his tone teasing. "Honestly, Malfoy, I appreciate your interest, but I'm only interested in girls."
Malfoy's face flushed with indignation. "What?!" he spluttered.
Harry grinned mischievously, enjoying the reaction. "I can't speak for my brother, but I'm definitely not interested," he said, glancing at Daphne and Tracy, who giggled, and Blaise, who chuckled.
Malfoy's attempt at composure faltered. "I don't know what you mean..."
"In that case, you're even dumber than I thought you were," Harry interrupted. "Go find yourself a friend and stop bothering us. Now bugger off, Malfoy. Some of us have better things to do than talk to you."
Malfoy's anger flared at the insult. "How dare you talk to me like that, you pathetic half-blood?!"
Harry's response was calm but firm. "I may be a half-blood, but I'm also the heir of the Ancient and Noble Houses of Potter, Peverell, Black, and Flight," he stated proudly, pulling Daphne closer to him. "Plus, unlike you, I actually got the girl."
Malfoy seethed, his fists clenched at his sides. He considered drawing his wand on Potter but thought better of it; even he knew he couldn't take on Potter. With a glare, he stormed off to his room, Crabbe and Goyle trailing behind him with shocked expressions.
Harry couldn't resist one final jab. "Oi, dumb one and dumb two," he called after them. "Don't you have anything better to do than stand there?"
Crabbe and Goyle exchanged uncertain glances before hastily departing the common room, leaving Harry and his friends to bask in the aftermath of their confrontation with Malfoy.
With Malfoy's departure, the tension in the room dissipated, leaving behind a sense of victory tinged with amusement. Daphne leaned against Harry, a proud smile gracing her lips as she wrapped her arm around his waist.
Tracy chuckled softly. "That was quite the showdown, Harry."
Blaise nodded in agreement. "Indeed. I don't think Malfoy will be bothering us for a while after that."
Harry grinned, feeling a sense of satisfaction. "Let's hope so."
As the group settled back into their previous activities, a sense of camaraderie washed over them. Despite the occasional challenges they faced, they knew they could rely on each other for support and friendship.
Hours passed in comfortable companionship until the late hour reminded them it was time to retire for the night. With reluctant sighs, they bid each other goodnight, knowing that whatever challenges awaited them in the days to come, they would face them together.
As Harry climbed into bed, he couldn't help but reflect on the events of the evening. Despite the confrontations and rumors that had plagued them, he felt a sense of pride in his friends and their unwavering loyalty. With a contented smile, he drifted off to sleep, knowing that whatever tomorrow brought, he would face it with courage and determination.
Crabbe and Goyle, now back to their original forms as Ron and Adrian, hurriedly returned to the second-floor girls' lavatory just as the effects of the Polyjuice Potion began to wear off.
"That was pointless!" Adrian growled in frustration. "We didn't learn anything; Malfoy could still be the heir of Slytherin for all we know."
"I know, if your brother wasn't there, we might have learned something," replied Ron with a sigh of exasperation.
"Damn idiot!" cursed Adrian, his frustration boiling over. "Where's Hermione? Hermione? Hermione, where are you?"
They were met with a muffled response from one of the bathroom stalls. "Go away," came Hermione's voice, sounding somewhat strained.
Concerned, Ron and Adrian gently pushed open the stall door, only to be met with a bizarre sight. Instead of Hermione, they found a hybrid creature with cat-like features—a mixture of Hermione and a feline.
"The hair was from a cat," Hermione explained, her voice tinged with a mixture of embarrassment and amusement. "Look at my face."
Ron couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. "And look at her tail," he added, struggling to contain his laughter.
As Hermione tried to come to terms with her altered appearance, a voice exclaimed, "Oh, this is weird." Hermione looked up, her eyes widening in shock.
Ron and Adrian turned around, only to be greeted with a sudden blow to the face. They recoiled, clutching their noses in pain. Before they could react, Harry stepped in, grabbing Ron by the collar and sleeve, and tossed him aside with ease.
Adrian, fueled by anger, drew his wand and aimed it at Harry, his expression fierce and determined.
Harry swiftly grabbed Adrian's wrist and elbow, redirecting Adrian's wand towards Hermione. With a swift flick, the disarming spell shot from Adrian's wand, hitting Hermione's hand and causing her wand to clatter to the floor. In the same fluid motion, Harry turned Adrian's wand around, unleashing a stunning spell that knocked Ron unconscious.
As Ron slumped to the ground, Harry knocked Adrian's wand out of his hand and pressed him back against the wall, his own wand aimed steadily at Adrian.
"Stay still, little brother," Harry commanded, his tone firm as he placed his foot over Hermione's wand to prevent her from reaching it. "Or else I might have to hurt you."
Adrian's eyes widened in disbelief. "What are you doing?!" he demanded, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and confusion.
Harry's gaze remained steady. "What are you doing? Sneaking into the Slytherin common room," he replied, and Adrian paled visibly. "Oh yes, I know it was you. And look over there. Perhaps you'd like to dispose of the evidence as quickly as possible. That's Polyjuice Potion, isn't it? Perhaps Professor Snape would like to hear the story of how you snuck into the Slytherin common room with Polyjuice Potion, or what do you think?"
Adrian's defiance wavered, replaced by a sense of resignation. "I'd assume the cat over there is the one who managed it," Harry continued, gesturing towards Hermione, who still bore the remnants of her feline transformation, "she's the smartest of you three, but that's not really a compliment. Now I want to know why you snuck in."
"Why should I tell you?!" Adrian snapped, his frustration mounting.
"You'll tell me or you'll tell Snape and the rest of the Slytherins everything," Harry countered, his tone unwavering.
Adrian gritted his teeth, his resolve crumbling under Harry's unwavering gaze. "Fine!" he snarled. "We snuck in because we were trying to find out if Malfoy is the heir of Slytherin!"
Harry's laughter filled the room, echoing off the walls in disbelief. "Malfoy?!" he exclaimed incredulously. "Malfoy?! You can't be serious, can you?! Malfoy?! You're even dumber than you look if you think Malfoy is the heir!"
"He could be, he hates Muggle-borns," argued Adrian, desperation creeping into his voice.
Harry shook his head, his expression incredulous. "Like many other wizards," he countered. "Oh, come on! Everyone in school knows how he boasts about Muggle-borns being killed! That doesn't make him the heir of Slytherin."
"Yes, but that's because he's an idiot," Harry replied matter-of-factly. "Now tell me, if you were the heir of Slytherin, would you boast about people being petrified? No, you would keep quiet and let the other idiots draw attention to themselves. That's Malfoy, an attention-seeking idiot. If he knew where the Chamber of Secrets was, he'd be bragging about it to everyone. Now, being the kind and generous soul that I am, I'll allow you to leave."
"Wirst du?!" Adrian asked, surprised by Harry's unexpected leniency.
"Yes," Harry confirmed, waving his wand to cast a healing spell on Adrian and Ron's faces. "But I better not catch you sneaking into my common room again." With that, Harry turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Adrian and Ron to process the encounter.
"Harry," Adrian called after him, unable to suppress his curiosity. Harry paused by the sink, his back still turned to Adrian.
"How did you know it was us? How did you know we were disguised as Crabbe and Goyle?" Adrian questioned.
"I have my ways," Harry replied mysteriously. "Goodbye, brother." With that enigmatic farewell, Harry left the bathroom, leaving Adrian and Ron to contemplate his cryptic words.
The next day, Adrian and Ron made their way to breakfast, still reeling from their encounter with Harry. However, their thoughts were quickly interrupted as Snape stormed towards them, followed closely by McGonagall.
"Potter! Weasley!" Snape's voice boomed across the Great Hall, drawing the attention of everyone present. "Three hundred points from Gryffindor and three weeks of detention!"
Adrian's eyes widened in disbelief. "For what?!" he demanded, his voice tinged with bewilderment.
"For breaking into the Slytherin common room! For brewing Polyjuice Potion and stealing potion ingredients from my private stores!" Snape's voice was sharp with accusation. "You should consider yourselves lucky the punishment isn't more severe, you ungrateful brats! The only reason you're not being expelled is because of the Headmaster!"
Adrian's gaze shot towards the Slytherin table, where Harry sat calmly, drawing all eyes in the corridor to him. Anger surged within Adrian as he accused, "You snitch!" pointing accusingly at Harry, who met his gaze with a cool, unreadable expression.
"No," Harry said, examining his hand. "Pretty sure I'm not made of gold, and as angelic as I am, I don't have wings."
"You told him! You said you wouldn't tell him," Adrian protested, his frustration evident.
"No, I said I'd let you go," Harry reminded him, his tone matter-of-fact. "And I let you go, but I never said I wouldn't tell Professor Snape. Not my fault you can't pay attention."
McGonagall's disappointment was palpable. "Mr. Potter, I am ashamed of you!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with reproach.
"You're evil," Daphne whispered in Harry's ear, her tone filled with a mixture of amusement and admiration.
Harry's smirk widened. "No, I'm sadistic, slight difference."
Meanwhile, Ginny groaned and slowly woke up, her head spinning from the effects of passing out. She knew it was because of that cursed diary, but whenever she tried to tell someone, she physically couldn't. Frustration and fear gnawed at her as she struggled to regain control over her own actions. She had to stop relying on Tom Riddle. She had to wake up and get rid of the diary.
As she sat up, she realized she was still in the Chamber of Secrets. Panic surged within her. Usually, she would wake up in her bed; she didn't know why she was here.
"No!" growled a voice, drawing Ginny's attention. She turned around, her jaw dropping at the horrifying sight before her.
The massive Salazar Slytherin statue, from which the basilisk usually emerged, was damaged beyond recognition. Blood stained its nose, which was cracked and almost falling off. Its right eye was smashed in, but that wasn't what caught Ginny's attention. It was two other things that drew her focus.
The first was the dead 70-foot basilisk, lying lifeless on the ground with its mouth gaping open, exposing rows of sharp teeth. Thankfully, its eyes were unable to kill her as they looked burnt out. It was a horrific sight that made Ginny want to vomit.
In that moment, she noticed the other thing that had caught her attention.
Nearby, by a serpent statue, a man was on his knees on the ground, both fists planted firmly. Cracks marred the ground beneath the man's fists. He lifted his head, revealing a green face and a wide jaw full of long, white, extremely sharp teeth.
As Ginny's gaze fixed upon the unsettling figure before her, a shiver ran down her spine. The man's green face contorted into a twisted grin, his sharp teeth glinting in the dim light of the Chamber.
Ginny's mind raced with fear and confusion. Who was this monstrous creature? What had happened here? And most importantly, how had she ended up in the Chamber of Secrets once again?
The man rose to his feet with a predatory grace, his gaze locking onto Ginny with an intensity that made her blood run cold. Slowly, he began to advance towards her, each step sending a ripple of dread through Ginny's trembling form.
In a desperate bid to escape, Ginny scrambled backward, her heart pounding in her chest. But the man was relentless, his movements fluid and purposeful as he closed in on her.
Just as Ginny felt a surge of panic threatening to overwhelm her, a sudden burst of movement caught her eye. From the shadows emerged a familiar form, clad in emerald green robes and with a determined expression etched upon his features.
"Stay back!" Harry's voice echoed through the Chamber, commanding and authoritative. With a flick of his wand, he unleashed a barrage of spells towards the approaching figure, each one aimed with precision and skill.
The man, however, seemed unfazed by Harry's onslaught, deflecting the spells effortlessly with a wave of his hand. With a sinister chuckle, he continued to advance, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Ginny.
But Harry refused to back down. With a steely resolve, he squared his shoulders and raised his wand once more, determination burning in his eyes.
Ginny watched in awe as Harry stood his ground, a beacon of strength and courage in the face of darkness. And as he prepared to confront the menacing figure before them, Ginny knew that she was not alone—that she had a friend, a protector, and a hero in Harry Potter.
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