𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝; 𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐡.𝐩

𝓨𝓮𝓪𝓻 2, 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 11: 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓓𝓾𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓒𝓵𝓾𝓫

Harry and Y/N started to tell them about Colin, but Hermione interrupted.

"We already know—we heard Professor McGonagall telling Professor Flitwick this morning. That's why we decided we'd better get going—"

"The sooner we get a confession out of Malfoy, the better," snarled Ron. "D'you know what I think? He was in such a foul mood temper after the Quidditch match, he took it out on Colin."

"There's something else," said Y/N, watching Hermione tearing bundles of knotgrass and throwing them into the potion. "Dobby came to visit us in the middle of the night."

Ron and Hermione looked up, amazed. Harry told them everything Dobby had told them—or hadn't told them. Hermione and Ron listened with their mouths open.

"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened before?" Hermione said.

"This settles it," said Ron in a triumphant voice. "Lucius Malfoy must've opened the Chamber when he was at school here and now he's told dear old Draco how to do it. It's obvious. Wish Dobby'd told you what kind of monster's in there, though. I want to know how come nobody's noticed it sneaking around the school."

"Maybe it can make itself invisible," said Hermione, prodding leeches to the bottom of the cauldron. "Or maybe it can disguise itself—pretend to be a suit of armor or something—I've read about Chameleon Ghouls—"

"You read too much, Hermione," said Ron, pouring dead lacewings on top of the leeches. He crumpled up the empty lacewing bag and looked at Harry and Y/N.

"So Dobby stopped us from getting on the train and broke your arm and leg...." He shook his head. "You know what, Harry, Y/N? If he doesn't stop trying to save your lives he's going to kill the two of you."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The news that Colin Creevey had been attacked and was now lying as though dead in the hospital wing had spread through the entire school y Monday morning. The air was suddenly thick with rumor and suspicion. The first years were now moving around the castle in tight-knit groups, as though scared they would be attacked if they ventured forth alone.

Ginny Weasley, who sat next to Colin in Charms, was distraught, but Harry and I both felt that Fred and George were going the wrong way about cheering her up. They took turns covering themselves with fur or boils and jumping out at her from behind statues. They only stopped when Percy, apoplectic with rage, told them he was going to write to Mrs. Weasley and tell her Ginny was having nightmares.

Meanwhile, hidden from the teachers, a roaring trade in talismans, amulets, and other protective devices was sweeping the school. Neville Longbottom bought a large, evil-smelling green onion, a pointed purple crystal, and a rotting newt tail before the other Gryffindor boys, and I, for that matter, pointed out that he was in no danger; he was a pureblood, and therefore unlikely to be attacked.

"They went for Filch first," Neville said, his round face fearful. "And everyone knows I'm almost a Squib."

I considered pointing out that the attacker hadn't gone for Filch directly, and only Petrified his cat instead, but that most likely wouldn't have helped, so I kept my mouth shut.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

In the second week of December Professor McGonagall came around as usual, collecting names of those who would be staying at school for Christmas. Ron, Hermione, Y/N and I signed her list; we'd heard that Malfoy was staying, which struck us as very suspicious. The holidays would be the perfect time to use the Polyjuice Potion to try to worm a confession out of him.