-Chapter Eight-

Halloween Revenge

The next few weeks after Meredith and Mafalda planned their revenge went quickly, and before they knew it, Halloween was around the corner.

The weather had taken a turn and on most days the castle was assaulted by brisk winds and heavy downpour.

Meredith had finally finished all of her detentions with Professor Sprout. In the end it hadn't been all that bad. Sprout had made her do all of the less desirable jobs in the green houses like mixing manure for the compost and cleaning up after the muddier lessons. She had a new found respect for Herbology and for Professor Sprout.

Even the threat of the mysterious voice Harry had heard could distract Meredith from her quest for revenge. And although she worried about her friend's sanity, it was a relief for once to not be worrying about Harry Potter. Meredith reasoned with herself that Harry had been tired after his detention and just heard a passing noise. Sure the voice said something about murder and blood but maybe that was just distortion. She was sure it will all turn out to be nothing. Probably.

A couple days before Halloween night, Meredith was up earlier than everyone else for once. She hadn't been able to sleep the night before because she kept having bad dreams about her plan going wrong or Mafalda betraying her. She was staring blankly into the fireplace when she remembered that Harry would probably be finished with quidditch practice soon. Instead of sitting here and moping all morning, she might as well go and see if she can bump into him.

The corridors were grey and cold as she pulled her scarf closer over her face. She headed the most direct route through the castle and was lucky enough to hear a familiar voice.

She turned the corner to find a very wet and muddy Harry talking to Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost.

"Half an inch of sinew and skin would be enough for most people- it's basically beheaded!"

Meredith froze in her steps, amused and curious at the conversation she was hearing.

"But anyway," said Sir Nick, "was there anything I could help you with, Harry?"

"No, not unless you can somehow find me seven free Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones for our upcoming match."

"I'm guessing training didn't go well then," Meredith said, making herself known to Harry and the ghost.

Harry startled but smiled when he saw it was her.

"Fred and George have been spying on the Slytherins- it's not looking good for our upcoming match-"

Harry was interrupted by a loud meowing around his ankles. Mrs Norris was curling around his legs, and was staring accusingly up at him with her yellow eyes.

"She'll report that mud you're tracking to Filch," Meredith said worriedly.

"I think it's best you leave, Harry," said Nick seriously, "Filch has been in a foul mood since he's got a cold and some first years accidentally flung frogs spawn all over his door."

"Right," said Harry, backing away from the tabby cat, but not quick enough.

As if summoned by the cat herself, Filch burst out of a tapestry to their right. He had a huge tartan scarf wrapped around his neck and head, his nose bright red and running.

"Filth!" he shrieked, his eyes popping out at the mud all over the floor. "That's it Potter, you're coming with me."

His eyes circled around and landed on Meredith.

She groaned as he recognised her. She'd managed to avoid him for over a month but now it seemed her luck had run out.

"You little devil," Filch spat, his body shaking with rage, "you're coming too!"

"I didn't even do anything!" Meredith said angrily. "I have every right to go for a walk."

"You're an accomplice to this crime," Filch snarled, gesturing

to the mess surrounding Harry.

He turned around and stormed down the corridor.

Harry said a miserable goodbye to Sir Nick, Meredith was too annoyed to be polite.

"Sorry about this, Meredith," muttered Harry under his breath.

"It's not your fault," she said with a sigh, "Filch just has it out for me."

Harry gave her a bemused look.

"Yes, yes- I know I deserve it a little- no need to point that out," said Meredith.

Neither of them had ever been in Filch's office before and they shared a disgusted look as they noticed the old torture chains hanging from the wall. The small, mouldy room was lit by a single oil lamp that threw the shadows against the wall in a menacing, suffocating way.

Wooden filing cabinets went across one whole side of the room. Meredith smiled when she spotted a whole drawer dedicated just to Fred and George Weasley.

Meredith threw herself angrily into a rickety chair by Filch's desk, glaring at the back of his oily head as he rummaged for a complaints form.

Muttering to himself, Filch slapped two pages on his desk, scrawling out their names on each page.

A loud clash shakes the ceiling above them and stops Filch in his writing.

"Peeves!" He yelled, making Meredith and Harry jump and share a bemused look.

Without a second glance at them, he rushes out the room, the door slamming behind him and nearly missing Mrs Norris's tail.

"That was decent timing," Meredith said, "should we make a run for it?"

Harry rubbed his chin. "I think that would just make this worse- let's wait a bit and see if he comes back."

Meredith slouched in her chair with a sigh, kicking her feet onto the desk.

She watched Harry curiously as he grabbed a heavy envelope off the desk, leaning nosely over his shoulder as he carefully pulled out the folded pamphlet.

At the top of the page, in orange flowing script, reads KwikSpell.

"What is that?" She asked, getting distracted by the smiling witch on the page.

Harry flips through a few pages. "It's a course for basic spell work- I think Filch is a squib!"

Meredith's stomach did an uncomfortable twist and she watched Harry's face, looking for any signs of derision or judgment.

Storming footsteps outside the office stopped the question on her lips and Harry quickly shoved the letter back into the envelope and put it back on the desk. They both leant back into relaxed positions, hoping they didn't seem like they were snooping in Filch's private mail.

"That bloody poltergeist has done it now! That wardrobe was invaluable- the headmaster will have to get rid of him now!"

Filch was so distracted by his rage with Peeves that it took him a moment to remember that Meredith and Harry were still in the room. Their good fortune ended when his eyes locked onto the envelope, which was now a few inches closer to Harry's elbow than it was before.

The blood floods Filch's face and Meredith worries for a moment that he's having a heart attack.

"Did you read that?" He said, his voice a strangled rasp.

"No we didn't -" Harry and Meredith share a wide eyed glance.

"It's not for me- it belongs to someone else," spluttered Filch, his eyes darting between them erratically, "get out of my office."

Meredith stands up, her face pale. "Sir, we promise we didn't read-"

"I said get out!" He roared, slamming his fists on the table.

Harry grabbed her by the hand and raced out of the room, dragging a despondent Meredith behind him. She kept seeing the panic in the caretaker's face, and it made her think of her father and perhaps how he had felt being magicless in this magical world.

It's an uncomfortable experience- to pity one's parents. It sits at the back of the throat like bile.

Meredith felt more than heard Harry trying to get her attention. When she blinked back into the present, she gripped the sleeves of his muddy quidditch robes.

"We can't tell anyone Harry," she said, "it would be so cruel if people found out."

Harry nodded, slowing their pace down to a walk. It wasn't long before Nearly Headless Nick appeared in front of them, floating through the ceiling.

"Did it work? Did Filch let you go?" He asked, fixing his neck ruffle. "I convinced Peeves to push over the vanishing cabinet upstairs- it's just above Filch's office."

Meredith plastered a fake smile on her face, still feeling that confusing inner turmoil regarding Filch.

"It worked a treat Sir Nick," she said, "thank you."

Harry smiled too. "Yeah thanks so much Sir Nick- are you sure there's nothing I can do for you with the headless hunt?"

"Oh no- no there's nothing... except maybe," Sir Nick hummed to himself. "Actually there is something you could do! This Halloween is my 500th death day."

Harry and Meredith shared a look, not sure whether to offer condolences or congratulations.

Harry cleared his throat. "What would you like us to do?"

"If you could come to my death day party and maybe just say how terrifying and impressive you find me to Sir Podmore that would really be of help. We'll be using a vacant room in the dungeons."

Meredith could tell that it pained him, but Harry agreed to be at the party.

The ghost drifted happily away, leaving them to make their way back quickly to their common room.

"I'll try to meet you guys after my revenge plan," Meredith said, as they waited for the staircase to swing back around to them.

"Honestly I wouldn't try too hard to make it," Harry said, "a Death Day party is probably going to be boring. I'd much rather see how your plan plays out."

"You're probably right- I can't say I'm dying to go to a party filled with dead people."

Harry groaned, followed by a chuckle. "That was terrible."

Meredith laughed happily at her own pun.

"I was quite proud of that," she said, still laughing, "I can't help that my jokes are so spirited."

Meredith shot Harry a wicked grin as he slapped his palm to his forehead.

"Please shut up," he said, exasperated as Meredith continued with her puns all the way

* * *

The Great Hall was in top form as Meredith squirmed in her seat. She periodically checked her robe pocket for the small vile of crushed up Alihotsy leaf. Without Harry, Ron and Hermione she felt a lot less brave as she tried to discreetly watch Mafalda laughing with the Slytherin girls. Meredith couldn't even appreciate the wild bats flying wildly around the ceiling since her anxiety was so great.

The plan was ultimately very simple. Mafalda would distract Pansy and any other nosey Slytherins as Meredith came over, making up some cock and bull story about a letter that needed writing to go back home. And while Mafalda said something nasty - which catty Pansy would laugh at- Meredith would quickly slip in the powder. Then Pansy would definitely be laughing. For at least a day.

The main courses- untouched on Meredith's plate- was cleaned away when she made her move. Her fingers shook as she made her way across the hall, sure that the eyes of the professors were watching her as she darted past other students moving about. Pansy had just thrown her head back haughtily when Meredith reached them.

"Hello squib." Pansy smirked as Daphne Greengrass laughed prettily.

Meredith longed to retaliate, biting the inside of her cheek until she tasted blood.

"Mafalda." Meredith said, clearing her throat.

Her sister ignored her. Either she was playing her role really well or she had decided to no longer help with their plan. Sweat broke out on Meredith's neck. Suddenly poisoning a classmate, no matter how harmless, felt very stupid.

But she was a Gryffindor. And that meant bravery above all else. Even common sense.

"Mafalda," she said again, "I need your help."

Mafalda looked up lazily from her dessert. "With tying your shoelaces again?"

The Slytherins howled. Even some of the older students turned around to watch, which made slipping something in a drink a little harder than Meredith expected. Maybe Mafalda had set her up?

"No, not with my laces," Meredith said through gritted teeth, "I need to write a letter. To- um- Mrs Weasley."

Poor choice. The laughter turned viscous now as different Slytherins called out insults. Meredith glared at Pansy as the pig nosed girl laughed, her hand clutching her goblet.

"Can the Weasleys even read?" asked Mafalda, eyes open wide in feigned innocence.

That did it. Pansy threw her head back and laughed, her eyes closing in glee. With a quick scan that no else was watching her hands, Meredith pulled the vile out of her pocket. There was no turning back as she slyly reached towards Pansy's glass.

But they'd timed it wrong.

Suddenly the students were getting up as dinner ended, the floor basically shaking as the benches were scraped back. Meredith fumbled with the vial as her shoulder was jerked back.

The tinkle of shattered glass didn't carry over the noise surrounding her. All that hard work; the hunt in the greenhouse, getting knocked out, the month of detention. All of it for nothing.

Meredith glared at the person who bumped her, meeting eyes like silver clouds. Malfoy stood right next to her, sneering at her shocked expression. Her breath stuttered in her chest as he glanced down at the shattered vile of poison, bracing herself for whatever accusation he would throw at her.

"You owe me." Malfoy's voice hissed in the air as he slid past her, leaving nearly as quickly as he appeared.

Meredith turned nervous eyes to Mafalda, who watched back with a twin expression of surprise.

Mafalda forced her way over to Meredith, who was still stood stubbornly in place. She stared blankly ahead as Mafalda gripped her arm, dragging her along the stream of students heading out the hall. Meredith barely registered what Mafalda was saying. Something about how maybe they got off lightly.

Her voice died off as they got stuck in the heave of students. For some reason they weren't moving forward, but she saw a blonde head shoving through the crowd. Mafalda steered them both behind Malfoy.

"What's going on?" Meredith asked, her voice cracking.

She never needed her sister or Draco Malfoy to answer her. Because on the wall at the end of the corridor was a grizzly sight.

In slimy red font, a sentence was splashed between the two windows.

The Chamber of Secrets has been Opened,

Enemies Of The Heir,

Beware

From the torch bracket hung Mrs Norris, the tabby cat that most students hated and wished to kick when she passed. Her tail seemed to be tied or nailed and she dangled stiff as a board.

Meredith clung to Mafalda's hand, forgetting all about her childish plots and problems as a heavy silence fell on the students.

The silence was shattered by the aristocratic voice of the boy beside her.

"Enemies of Heir beware!" Draco crowed, "you'll be next, Mudbloods!"

His flushed cheeks and excited grin made Meredith frightened enough to step out of his space.

What type of favour would a monster like that expect of her?