Chapter 34
Lockhart had insisted on Dumbledore using his office on the grounds that it was closest. Sirius was sure that it was just because he wanted a reason to hang around and still act like he was helping. He hurried after Dumbledore, trying to look important along with Snape and McGonagall.
As they entered Lockhart's office several of the Lockharts in pictures dove out o sight, curlers in their hair. Dumbledore set Mrs. Norris on Lockhart's desk and began to examine her. The children exchanged nervous looks as they sank into chairs outside the pool of candlelight. McGonagall and Dumbledore were leaning over the cat, closely studying her. Snape stood behind them, it looked like he was trying not to smile. Sirius clenched his teeth and reminded himself that biting Snape again wouldn't help. Probably. Lockhart hovered around them, making suggestions.
"It was definitely a curse that killed her, probably the Transmogrifian Torture, I've seen it used many times. So unlucky I wasn't there, I know the very countercurse that could have saved her..."
Sirius rolled his eyes and tried to tune him out. Filch was slumped in a chair by the desk, sobbing and refusing to look at Mrs. Norris, face in his hands. Sirius couldn't help but feel kind of bad for him. Going by the look on Harry's face, he felt the same way.
Dumbledore had started muttering something under his breath and tapping his wand on the cat. Nothing happened. Lockhart continued prattling on. Sirius dropping his head to the floor and put his paws over his ears. Could that man ever shut up?
Dumbledore straightened up and Lockhart, finally, fell silent. "She isn't dead, Argus."
"Not dead?" The man echoed. "But why is she all- all stiff and frozen?"
"She's been Petrified," said Dumbledore. Lockhart's shout of "I thought so!" made Sirius roll his eyes again. "But how, I cannot say..."
"Ask /him!/" Filch shrieked, turning to Harry. The boy flinched, had dropping into Sirius's fur automatically.
"No second year could have done this. It would take Dark Magic of the most advanced kind."
Luna lifted her hand slightly, "Excuse me, Mr. Filch, but why are you so sure Harry did it?"
Filch glared at her and didn't answer. Snape stepped forward, "If I might speak, Headmaster." Sirius sat up and leaned against Harry. This was sure to be good. "Potter and his friends may have simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time. But we do have a set of suspicious circumstances here. Why was he in the upstairs corridor at all? Why wasn't he at the Halloween feast?"
Hermione, Ron, and Luna quickly launched into explanations about the deathday party. Harry shrank down a little more and nodded along, too panicked to speak properly.
"But why not join the feast afterward?" Snape said, "Why go up to that corridor?"
Harry's friends all turned to him. "I w-was feeling overwhelmed." He managed, "R-ron, Hermione, and L-luna were walking to the c-common room w-with me to m-make sure I was o-okay."
"Without supper?" Snape pressed. "I didn't think ghosts provided food fit for living people at their parties."
"I c-can't eat when-" He swallowed, "It m-makes me nauseous."
"We were going to try to get something after we made sure Harry was okay." Hermione chimed in.
Snape's eyes narrowed. Dumbledore was giving Harry a searching look that made the boy shift uncomfortably. "Innocent until proven guilty, Severus." He said finally.
Snape looked furious. Filch wasn't much better. "My cat has been Petrified. I want to see some /punishment!/"
"We will be able to cure her, Argus." Dumbledore said patiently. "Professor Sprout has recently managed to procure some Mandrakes. As soon as they have reached their full size, I will have a potion made that will revive Mrs. Norris."
"I'll make it." Lockhart butted in. Sirius caught McGonagall rolling her eyes this time. "I must have done it a hundred times. I could whip up a Mandrake Restorative Draught in my sleep-"
"Excuse me," Snape said coldly, "But I believe I am the Potions master at this school."
There was an awkward pause. Sirius shook his head and nosed Harry's hand. Harry started scratching his ears.
"You may go." Dumbledore told the children.
They headed up a floor from Lockhart's office and ducked into an empty classroom, closing the door behind them. Harry turned to his friends, fidgeting nervously. "D-do you think I should have t-told them? About the v-voice I heard?"
"No." Ron said, without hesitation. "Hearing voices no one else can isn't a good sign, even in the wizarding world."
"You do believe me, d-don't you?"
"Of course we do, Harry." Luna chimed in.
Ron nodded. "It's just a bit weird..."
Hermione smacked his arm.
"Ow!"
Luna smiled. "It is weird. But weird doesn't mean wrong."
Harry flashed a small grateful smile at her. "W-we should get to bed. It's r-really late."
The other three nodded. Luna insisted on sticking with them until they reached the base of Gryffindor tower, where she bid them goodnight and skipped off to her own common room.