Finding The Light

How Embarassing (edited)

We all burst into an explanation about the death day party.

". . . there were hundreds of ghosts, they'll tell you we were there -"

"But why not join the feast afterward?" said Snape, "Why go up to that corridor?"

Ron and Hermione looked at Harry and I. Sure, way to single us out and make us look guilty, guys.

"Because - because -" Harry said, "Because we were tired and wanted to go to bed," he said.

"Without any supper?" said Snape, a triumphant smile flickering across his gaunt face. "I didn't think ghosts provided food fit for living people at their parties."

"We weren't hungry," said Ron loudly as his stomach gave a huge rumble.

"I suggest, Headmaster, that Potter is not being entirely truthful," he said. "It might be a good idea if he were deprived of certain privileges until he is ready to tell us the whole story. I personally feel he should be taken off the Gryffindor Quidditch team until he is ready to be honest."

"Really, Severus," said Professor McGonagall sharply, "I see no reason to stop the boy playing Quidditch. This cat wasn't hit over the head with a broomstick. (I burst out laughing and tried to smother it) There is no evidence at all that Potter has done anything wrong."

Dumbledore was giving Harry and I a searching look. His twinkling light- blue gaze made me feel as though I was being X-rayed.

"Innocent until proven guilty, Severus," he said firmly.

Snape looked furious. So did Filch.

"My cat has been Petrified!" he shrieked, his eyes popping. "I want to see some punishment!"

"We will be able to cure her, Argus," said Dumbledore patiently. "Professor Sprout 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. "I must have done it a hundred times. I could whip up a Mandrake Restorative Draught in my sleep -"

"Excuse me," said Snape icily. "But I believe I am the Potions master at this school."

"Yeah! Don't steal Debbie's job you prat! Snape's awesome you hear!" I snapped. McGonagall gave a giggle at the name Debbie.

"Now I was under the impression that you disliked Professor Snape," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye.

"No, he's one of my favourites actually, and I bloody well love the guy compared to Lockhart," I said.

There was a very awkward pause and i could see the hair in front of my face turning bright pink out of embarrassment.

"I don't mean love, like you know with babies all that i mean like a kind of odd fondness, you know that kind of fondness you have for a fish or a small cute animal sort of – you know what I'll just shut up now," i muttered, realising I'd dug myself into a deep hole.

"You may go," Dumbledore said to us.

We were almost at the Gryffindor common room before Harry spoke up.

"D'you think I should have told them about that voice I heard?" I elbowed him, "That Belle and I heard."

"No," said Ron, without hesitation. "Hearing voices no one else can hear isn't a good sign, even in the wizarding world."

"You do believe us, don't you?" I asked.

"'Course I do," said Ron quickly. "But - you must admit it's weird . . ."

"I know it's weird," said Harry. "The whole thing's weird. What was that writing on the wall about? The Chamber Has Been Opened . . . What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know, it rings a sort of bell," said Ron slowly. "I think someone told me a story about a secret chamber at Hogwarts once . . . might've been Bill . . ."

"And what on earth's a Squib?" I asked, making Ron snigger.

"Well - it's not funny really - but as it's Filch," he said. "A Squib is someone who was born into a wizarding family but hasn't got any magic powers. Kind of the opposite of Muggle-born wizards, but Squibs are quite unusual. If Filch's trying to learn magic from a Kwikspell course, I reckon he must be a Squib. It would explain a lot. Like why he hates students so much." Ron gave a satisfied smile. "He's bitter."

I said goodnight to them and snuck my way into the common room. Almost immediately eyes fell on me but with a scowl and a glare i had them looking away quick enough. For a few days, the school could talk of little else but the attack on Mrs. Norris. 

-