Chapter 11
"Could I have your attention, please?" Professor McGonagall called out to her students. Cassidy was busy doodling rude caricatures of Draco Malfoy and Filch, much to Hermione's amusement, for once. After the Mudblood incident, it appeared Hermione hated Malfoy as much as the rest of the group did.
"Today," the Professor continued, "we will be transforming animals into water goblets."
Cassidy looked on in interest as McGonagall brought out her wand.
"Like so."
She rested her wand against an exotic-looking bird, counting down from three. At the last number, she uttered a spell, and the bird transformed into a goblet—pristine and new.
"Wow," Cassidy breathed, eyes sparkling.
"Now it's your turn," the professor announced, walking down from her podium. "Who would like to go first?"
Cassidy, for once, raised her hand eagerly.
"Ah, Mr. Weasley." McGonagall pointed to Ron, either not seeing Cassidy's hand or intentionally ignoring her. Cassidy groaned and dropped her arm.
"One, two, three, Vera Verto," she instructed.
Ron looked up at her with glee, then cleared his throat and concentrated on his pet rat, Scabbers. (Cassidy still didn't like that rat. She'd once considered feeding him to Moony, but she remembered that he belonged to Ron, after all, and the whole idea was a bit barbaric.)
"Wait, isn't Ron's wand—" Cassidy started, only to be shushed by Hermione.
"Vera Verto!" Ron declared confidently.
Scabbers transformed into a goblet, all right, but only halfway. The goblet remained hairy, with his tail wagging in despair. The class giggled as Ron held the goblet at arm's length, disgust written all over his face.
"That wand needs replacing, Mr. Weasley," McGonagall said sternly.
Hermione raised her hand now, and McGonagall strode over to the girls' table.
"Yes, Miss Granger?"
Cassidy looked to Hermione, curious as to what the girl had to say.
"Professor, I was wondering if you could tell us about... the Chamber of Secrets."
Cassidy's eyes widened, and she slowly turned to Hermione.
"What are you doing?" she hissed.
Nobody in the room seemed to share Cassidy's sudden apprehension. All eyes were on McGonagall, who sighed deeply.
"Very well," she said simply. "You all know, of course, that Hogwarts was founded over a thousand years ago by the four greatest witches and wizards of the age."
Cassidy leaned forward, her former apprehension melting into curiosity.
"Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. Now, three of the founders coexisted quite harmoniously. One did not."
"Three guesses who," Ron scoffed, earning a smirk from Harry.
"Salazar Slytherin wished to be more selective about the students admitted to Hogwarts. He believed magical learning should be kept within all-magic families," McGonagall continued.
"Loads of rubbish," Cassidy muttered, rolling her eyes.
"In other words, pure-bloods," McGonagall clarified.
Cassidy and Hermione shot Draco matching glares. He glared back, clearly amused.
"Unable to sway the others, Slytherin decided to leave the school. According to legend, however, he built a hidden chamber in this castle before departing. Known as the Chamber of Secrets."
Cassidy felt her necklace grow warm against her skin. Quickly, she hid it beneath her robes and nudged Hermione. Hermione looked at her, understanding dawning in her expression.
"Shortly before departing, Slytherin sealed the chamber, ensuring it could only be opened by his true heir."
"I think I've got a vague idea of who that might be," Cassidy muttered loudly, shooting Draco a pointed look.
The Gryffindors burst into laughter.
"That's quite enough, Miss Sweet," McGonagall said sharply, and the laughter died down.
"The heir alone would be able to open the chamber and unleash the horror within. By doing so, they would purge the school of all those whom Slytherin deemed unworthy to study magic."
The room fell silent. Cassidy glanced at Hermione, whose hand trembled slightly on the desk. Quietly, Cassidy reached out and held it under the table.
"Muggle-borns," Hermione said softly.
McGonagall's expression turned somber.
"Well, naturally, the school has been searched many times. No such chamber has been found," she assured the class.
McGonagall had just started to walk back to her desk when Hermione called out again.
"Professor! What exactly does the legend say about what lies in the chamber?"
"The chamber is said to hold something that only the heir of Slytherin can control," McGonagall answered. "It is said to be the home... of a monster."
Under the table, Hermione squeezed Cassidy's hand tightly. Cassidy gave it a reassuring squeeze back, her eyes flicking to Draco.
He was smirking at her, his gray eyes sharp and hateful. Slowly but deliberately, he mouthed two words:
"Blood traitor."
Cassidy's necklace burned hot against her chest as her other hand instinctively flew to it. She wanted to snap back, but Hermione's grip on her hand kept her grounded.
Not yet.
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The group now strode in the hallways, discussing what had happened in class.
"So it's really true?" Ron asked, looking to Hermione as they walked. "Do you think there really is a Chamber of Secrets?"
"Yes." Hermione answered, looking determined. "Can't you tell? Something's off. Cassidy's necklace glowed a completely different color when we found Mrs Norris, and McGonagall's worried. All the teachers are." She huffed, looking to Cassidy.
"An artifact glowing green isn't a good sign. It usually means Dark Magic's involved." Hermione continued, matter-of-factly. Cassidy looked back at her with fear, but didn't reply.
"If there really is a Chamber of Secrets," Harry continued, seeing Cassidy's visible discomfort, "a-and it's really been opened, that means-"
"The heir of Slytherin's back." Cassidy completed, her face devoid of its usual joy. She was really scared for Hermione.
"The question is, who is it?" Hermione mused.
"Let's think," Ron started sarcastically.
"I don't think we really need to think that far, Ron," Cassidy said, glaring at Draco and his cronies as they passed by.
"Who do we know thinks all Muggle-borns are scum?" Ron continued, despite Cassidy's obvious frustration.
"If you're talking about Malfoy—" Hermione started to protest.
"Ding ding ding! Right on the money, Granger." Cassidy gave Hermione a pointed look but smirked despite herself, her eyes still fixed on Draco.
"You heard him," Ron agreed, mimicking Draco's sneering voice. "'You'll be next, Mudbloods.'"
Cassidy groaned, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. "I hate that you're kind of good at that voice."
Hermione sighed. "But Malfoy, the heir of Slytherin? That seems a bit..."
"What, far-fetched?" Cassidy raised her eyebrows, gesturing toward Draco dramatically. "Are we in some alternate universe where Draco Malfoy isn't the son of a blood supremacist?" She let out an exaggerated sigh, shaking her head.
"Maybe Ron and Cassidy are right, Hermione," Harry chipped in, siding with the two. "I mean, look at his family. The whole lot of them have been in Slytherin for centuries." Ron's eyes lit up just then, an idea forming in his mind.
"Crabbe and Goyle must know," he suggested excitedly. "Maybe we could trick them into telling us." Hermione scoffed at Ron's suggestion.
"Even they aren't that thick. But there might be another way."
The group stopped, listening to Hermione.
"Mind you, it would be difficult. And not to mention, it'd be breaking around fifty school rules. And it'll be dangerous. Very dangerous." She emphasized.
"More dangerous than protecting a Stone from the Dark Lord himself?" Cassidy asked, a tired look in her eyes. "Spit it out, 'Mione, it couldn't possibly be that bad."
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Cassidy was wrong. It could be that bad.
"What did you just say?" Cassidy leaned forward, wide-eyed. Hermione had just explained what a Polyjuice Potion was, and from what Cassidy could gather, Hermione was suggesting that they drink it.
"What?" Hermione smirked, her tone playful. "I thought you said it couldn't possibly be that bad, Cassidy."
The boys sniggered, and Cassidy groaned, burying her face in her hands.
"So, do you mean, if I, Harry, and Cassidy drink that stuff, we'll turn into Crabbe, Goyle, and Daphne?" Ron asked, incredulous.
"Yes," Hermione confirmed.
"Wicked. Malfoy will tell us anything!" Ron exclaimed, his face lighting up.
"Exactly. But it's tricky. I've never seen a more complicated potion," Hermione admitted, furrowing her brow as she glanced down at the book in front of her.
"Remember what Hagrid said," Cassidy said with a grin. "They've yet to make a spell our Hermione can't do."
Hermione smiled back, grateful.
"Well, how long will it take to make?" Harry asked.
Hermione hesitated. "A month."
"A month?" Harry repeated, his voice rising. "Hermione, we can't wait that long! What if—what if someone else gets attacked?"
"Harry, keep it down," Cassidy whispered, shooting a glance at the other students in the library.
"Right. Sorry." He lowered his voice but still looked worried. "If Malfoy is the heir of Slytherin, he could attack half the Muggle-borns in the school by then."
"I know," Hermione replied softly, her confidence faltering for a moment. "But it's the only plan we've got."
A heavy silence fell over the group as they let this information sink in.
"Cassidy," Harry said suddenly, turning to her with a spark of realization. "Did you look into your ancestry, like I suggested?"
Cassidy winced, smacking her forehead. "Oh, fiddlesticks, I forgot. What with the cat, and studies, and everything—"
"It's alright, Cass," Hermione said quickly, giving her a reassuring smile. "Take your time. There's no rush."
"I beg to differ," Ron muttered under his breath, earning a playful shove from Cassidy.