Chapter 15
Turned out it was a good-for-nothing Mudblood boy Colin Creevey. Albus feigned concern as they placed the boy into a hospital bed. He grabs for the camera as McGonagall mentioned that he was constantly taking pictures. He opens it and there was a puff of smoke.
Damn, a Basilisk. His mind races and calmly states, “ Tell them the truth, the Chamber of Secrets have been opened”. As the other teachers left Albus discreetly sends a compulsion charm two Harry’s bed; he needed the boy to be tested. And going against the Slytherins monster is the perfect opportunity.
When Harry got out of the Hospital Wing, a little confused and miffed that the house-elf Dobby was the reason for the Barrier at Kings Cross to close but the Bludger as well. After the second attack rumors of who was the heir and what the monster was flying the school like wildfire; including obscure talismans, trinkets, amulets, and charms were swapped between students. One of the rumors Ron heard was that Malfoy was the heir, “ Come on Harry, he fits the bill.”
“That doesn’t mean he is Ron,” Harry replied.
“Then he knows who is,” retorts the redhead.
“ Well, we still have a month for the Polyjuice Potion to be ready. Then we can interrogate Malfoy since he most likely knows more than what he’s saying,” interjected Hermione.
As they entered History of Magic and took their seats.
The following weeks went by, he got detention for causing a disturbance after potions to allow Hermione to ‘gather’ the remaining potion ingredients. The worst part was after the new dueling club started when Draco summoned a snake and it went after the audience. He told the snake to stop and not to attack. But everyone looked at him with both shock and hatred. Apparently, he was speaking Parseltongue or Snake language. And the last person to speak it in Britain was You-Know-Who.
Dumbledore was rolling with glee because his plan of slowly pushing that Harry was Dark was going as planned. It also further cemented that it was a Basilisk roaming the castle. He just needs one or two more attacks. Ginny Weasley has become more withdrawn. She’s not eating as much and has been sneaking off to kill the roosters and hanging around the first floor. Interesting he thought; perhaps I should throw in a Damsel in Distress scenario for Potter while I’m at it.
More weeks pass and soon it was Christmas break, and the potion was ready! All that was needed was some hair of a person they were impersonating. Harry quickly signs up to stay over the holiday, as did Ron, Hermione, and surprisingly some of the Slytherins. Particularly Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle. Hermione gave them some pastries to give to Crabbe and Goyle; she was going as Millicent Bulstrode.
Turns out Goyle and Crabbe really liked Pastries. And that the only thing Malfoy knew was that the Chamber was opened before and that a Muggleborn died. Hermione didn’t join them because she turned into a humanoid cat.
On Christmas, Harry received his usual Christmas Weasley Sweater and fudge. A strange sensation came as he noticed Ginny sitting alone with her diary. He was about to say something when Ron got his attention to play Wizards’ Chess.
Weeks passed without further incident; Valentines’ Day was a complete embarrassment. As Lockhart got the brilliant idea to have the whole Great Hall in ghastly pink and have dwarves go around saying poems and sonnets. Ginny bumped into him while he was about to sit down. When a dwarf stood up in front shouted “ HARRY POTTER”, and the surrounding tables went silent. And the dwarf came at a sprint and steamrolled Harry over with a headbutt to the chest like a mad Billy-goat.
The next thing he knew he was on the ground with a dwarf sitting on his chest. “ Ahem, His eyes are green like a pickled toad, His skin like cream tea. His hair dark as a chalkboard. He’ll be mine o’ truly divine, the hero who conquered the Dark Lord.” When the dwarf was done he got up and gave a bow and trotted away as the sniggers came from the students.
Harry decided to skip lunch.