Book: Courage
Chapter 21
Word Count: 4987
Ron, Layla, and Hermione passed the students' potions cupboard, and after checking quickly to see if they were being watched, they opened the door and walked in.
It was very dark inside the huge cupboard when they shut the door and there wasn't any visible source of light.
"Lumos," whispered Layla, and a ball of light glowed on the end of her wand. She raised her wand over the many cups and vials. "What are we looking for again, 'Mione?"
"Um, let's see if I can remember," said Hermione quietly. "Uh, lacewing flies, leeches, and fluxweed. Oh, yeah, and knotgrass."
The three of them searched for the ingredients, and when it was all found, Hermione took them all and stuffed them in her pockets.
"We need a cauldron," said Ron. Layla scanned the floor before noticing a small rusty cauldron in the corner. She pointed her wand at it.
"Reducio."
The cauldron shrank until it was small enough to fit in a pocket. Layla picked it up and handed it to Hermione, who shoved it into her pocket, too.
Soon, the three of them were sat in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, locked inside one of the cubicles. Layla was sat awkwardly and kept looking around as if she was frightened. In the last few months, the only memories of the bathroom were when she was waking up on the ground, not knowing what had happened. She tried to brush it off.
Hermione got all of the ingredients out of her pickers and put the cauldron back to its original size. She then conjured up some blue fire on top of the closed toilet and placed the cauldron on top of it.
The three friends were just about to get started with the Polyjuice Potion when they heard the bathroom door open.
"It's me," came Harry's voice. Hermione jumped and dropped one of the boxes into the cauldron. Layla chuckled and reached into the cauldron to grab the box as Hermione looked out of the keyhole to see that it was, indeed, Harry.
"Harry!" said Hermione. You gave us such a fright — come in."
"How's your arm?" asked Layla.
"Fine," said Harry, squeezing into the stall.
"We'd've come to meet you, but we decided to get started on the Polyjuice Potion," Ron explained as Harry locked the stall again. "We've decided this is the safest place to hide it."
"Did you hear about Colin? He was atta—"
"We already know," Hermione interrupted. "Ron and I heard Professor McGonagall telling Professor Flitwick this morning. That's why we decided we'd better get going. We then told Layla straight away."
Layla just hummed and nodded her head, acting like she wasn't one of the first people to even know about the attack on young Colin Creevey.
"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 temper after the Quidditch match, he took it out on Colin."
"There's something else," said Harry as Hermione tore bundles of knotgrass and throwing them into the potion. "Dobby came to visit me in the middle of the night."
Dobby was a house-elf who first showed up to Harry's uncle and aunt's house and warned him not to go back to school, but of course, Harry didn't listen.
"Again?" frowned Layla. "It's unusual for a house-elf to be so smothering. What does he want with you?"
Harry told them everything Dobby had told him — or hadn't told him. Hermione, Layla, and Ron listened with their mouths open.
"It was Dobby who bewitched the Bludger, not Malfoy. And it was Dobby who closed the barrier to the train early. Oh, and there's another thing. He said the Chamber of Secrets has been opened before, but he couldn't say why. He disappeared before he could say anything else."
Layla pretended like the part about the Chamber of Secrets being open again was a surprise to her, letting out a gasp of shock. She just hoped that it was believable.
"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."
"It couldn't have been Lucius who opened the chamber," said Layla, remembering that Tom said the chamber of secrets was opened fifty years ago, before Lucius was even born.
"How are you so sure?" asked Harry, glancing at Layla. Her eyes widened and she tried to think of a lie.
"Well, I... I just don't think the Malfoys are capable of petrifying muggleborns. Sure, they're a bunch of prejudiced rats, but I wouldn't say they're murderers."
"Come on, Layla, you don't always have to see the good in everyone," said Ron, and Layla just looked down at her lap, fiddling with her fingers.
"Well, we'll soon find out if it's the Malfoys or not," said Hermione, prodding leeches to the bottom of the cauldron. Layla sighed and tried to clear her mind, focusing on the Polyjuice Potion and pouring dead lacewings on top of the leeches. She wanted to know why Tom wasn't telling her who opened the Chamber of Secrets. Was it really the Malfoys? Maybe it was Lucius' father fifty years ago, and he'd told Lucius who couldn't open it, so Lucius told Draco.
Layla would just have to find out for herself as soon as the Polyjuice Potion was complete.
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 by 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, who sat next to Colin in Charms, was distraught, but Layla felt that Fred and George were going the wrong way about cheering her up. They were taking turns covering themselves with fur or boils and jumping out at her from behind statues. They only stopped when Layla, feeling really bad for the girl she saw as a younger sister, had stepped in and scolded them, threatening that she would write to Mrs Weasley and tell her that the twins were scaring their little sister to death.
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 Layla had pointed out when she saw Neville in the halls that he was in no danger; he was a pure-blood, 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."
In the second week of December, it was Layla's birthday. She opened her presents that morning but she wasn't as excited for her birthday as she had been the year before. She felt almost lost this year. She treated her birthday as an ordinary day, nothing special... even if she was now officially a teenager. The big thirteen. Still, Layla wasn't that affected by her birthday, which confused her friends as they saw how excited she was for her birthday the year before.
At breakfast that morning, Layla received a package and birthday card from Remus. She opened the package, seeing white chocolate exploding bon bons as usual, a snowglobe of Hogwarts, and two new books. She then opened the birthday card.
Layla,
Happy 13th birthday, honey. You've grown up so much and I couldn't be prouder of the young girl you've become.
I have heard all about the attacks as I still sometimes keep in contact with Minnie (Professor McGonagall) and she has been kind enough to inform me all about them.
I understand that you are safe as a half-blood but keep your friends close, honey. Things are getting dangerous there.
Stay safe, I love you, and don't tell the attacks stop you from enjoying your birthday. Have a great day!
With love,
Dad x
Ps. Are you coming home for Christmas this year? If not, I'll send your Christmas presents to you on Christmas Eve, but if you are, I'll see you later this month. I love you, and again, happy 13th birthday!
As Layla placed down the birthday card with a small smile, Professor McGonagall came around as usual, collecting names of those who would be staying at school for Christmas. Harry, Layla, Ron, and Hermione signed her list; they had heard that Malfoy was staying, which struck them as very suspicious. The holidays would be the perfect time to use the Polyjuice Potion and try to worm a confession out of him.
"Do you guys have any parchment on you?" asked Layla. Hermione pulled out some parchment from her bag, handing it to Layla, who then took out her quill and ink, getting started on a reply for Remus.
Hi dad,
I miss you. A lot.
Thank you for the birthday wish and the presents, I love them. But oddly enough, it barely feels like my birthday. I've been showered with birthday wishes, hugs, and presents all morning but it just feels different this year.
I really do want to see you soon, but I have decided to stay at Hogwarts this Christmas. All of my friends are staying here, and with all of the attacks, I would feel worried if I left and they stayed with the monster still inside the castle.
I will probably be home for the Easter holidays though, so I will hopefully see you then.
With love,
Layla x
She lied, of course. She had to stay at Hogwarts in hopes that the Polyjuice Potion would be finished by Christmas. Layla stood up to go to the owlery and send her dad the letter.
Unfortunately, the potion was only half finished. They still needed the bicorn horn and the boomslang skin, and the only place they were going to get them was from Snape's private stores.
"What we need," said Hermione briskly as Thursday afternoon's double Potions lesson loomed nearer, "is a diversion. Then one of us can sneak into Snape's office and take what we need."
Harry, Layla, and Ron all looked at her nervously.
"I think either Layla or I better do the actual stealing," Hermione continued in a matter-of-fact tone, turning to Harry and Ron. "You two will be expelled if you get into any more trouble, and me and Layla have got clean records. So all you need to do is cause enough mayhem to keep Snape busy for five minutes or so."
Potions lessons took place in one of the large dungeons. Thursday afternoon's lesson proceeded in the usual way. Twenty cauldrons stood steaming between the wooden desks, on which stood brass scales and jars of ingredients. Snape prowled through the fumes, making waspish remarks about the Gryffindors' work while the Slytherins sniggered appreciatively.
Layla's Swelling Solution was going better than expected and had turned the perfect shade of yellow, despite her barely being able to concentrate. She must have been better Potions than she thought.
She waited for Hermione's signal. Hermione would nod at Harry to cause a diversion, and then she would send a thumbs up in Layla's direction and the two of them would sneak into Snape's private stores and search for what they needed.
When Snape went to bully Neville, Hermione caught Harry's eye and nodded.
Harry ducked swiftly down behind his cauldron, pulled one of Fred's Filibuster fireworks out of his pocket, and gave it a quick prod with his wand. The firework began to fizz and sputter. Knowing he had only seconds, Harry straightened up, took aim, and lobbed it into the air; it landed right on target in Goyle's cauldron.
Goyle's potion exploded, showering the whole class. People shrieked as splashes of the Swelling Solution hit them. Draco got a faceful and his nose began to swell like a balloon; Goyle blundered around, his hands over his eyes, which had expanded to the size of a dinner plate — Snape was trying to restore calm and find out what had happened. Through the confusion, Hermione gave a quick thumbs up to Layla and the two of them slipped quietly into Snape's office.
After not long of searching, Layla had located the bicorn horn on the second to top shelf, and Hermione had located the shredded boomslang skin closer to the ground. Layla handed the bicorn horn to Hermione, who shoved both ingredients into her pockets.
The two of them practically ran back into the classroom.
Thankfully, Harry and Ron were the only two people who had noticed their absences. The people who had been hit with Goyle's potion were lining up for a Deflating Draught.
When they had finished, Snape swept over to Goyle's cauldron and scooped out the twisted black remains of the firework. There was a sudden hush.
"If I ever find out who threw this," Snape whispered, "I shall make sure that person is expelled."
The bell rang ten minutes later.
"He knew it was me," Harry told Ron, Layla, and Hermione as they hurried back to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. "I could tell."
Hermione threw the new ingredients into the cauldron and began to stir feverishly.
"It'll be ready in two weeks," she said happily.
"Snape can't prove it was you," said Ron reassuringly to Harry. "What can he do?"
"Knowing Snape, something foul," said Harry as the potion frothed and bubbled.
A week later, Harry, Layla, Ron, and Hermione were walking across the entrance hall when they saw a small knot of people gathered around the notice board, reading a piece of parchment that had just been pinned up. Seamus and Dean beckoned them over, looking excited.
"They're starting a Dueling Club!" said Seamus. "First meeting tonight! I wouldn't mind dueling lessons; they might come in handy one of these days."
"What, you reckon Slytherin's monster can duel?" said Ron, but he, too, read the sign with interest. "Could be useful," he said to Harry, Layla, and Hermione as they went into dinner. "Shall we go?"
Harry, Layla, and Hermione were all for it, so at eight o'clock that evening, they hurried back to the Great Hall. The long dining tables had vanished and a golden stage had appeared along one wall, lit by thousands of candles floating overhead. The ceiling was velvety black once more and most of the school seemed to be packed beneath it, all carrying their wands and looking excited.
"I wonder who'll be teaching us?" said Hermione as they edged into the chattering crowd. "Someone told me Flitwick was a dueling champion when he was young — maybe it'll be him."
"As long as it's not—" Layla began, but she ended on a groan: Gilderoy Lockhart was walking onto the stage, resplendent in robes of deep plum and accompanied by none other than Snape, wearing his usual black.
Lockhart waved an arm for silence and called, "Gather round, gather round! Can everyone see me? Can you all hear me? Excellent! Now, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little dueling club, to train you all in case you ever need to defend yourselves as I myself have done on countless occasions — for full details, see my published works. Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape," said Lockhart, flashing a wide smile. "He tells me he knows a tiny little bit about dueling himself and has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration before we begin. Now, I don't want any of you youngsters to worry — you'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him, never fear!"
"Wouldn't it be good if they finished each other off?" Ron muttered in Layla's ear, causing her to hold back a smile at the thought.
Lockhart and Snape turned to face each other and bowed; at least, Lockhart did, with much twirling of his hands, whereas Snape jerked his head irritably. Then they raised their wands like swords in front of them.
"As you see, we are holding our wands in the accepted combative position," Lockhart told the silent crowd. "On the count of three, we will cast our first spells. Neither of us will be aiming to kill, of course."
"I wouldn't bet on that," Harry murmured as Snape bared his teeth.
"One — two — three—"
Both of them swung their wands above their heads and pointed them at their opponent; Snape cried: "Expelliarmus!"
There was a dazzling flash of scarlet light and Lockhart was blasted off his feet. He flew backward off the stage, smashed into the wall, and slid down it to sprawl on the floor.
Draco and some of the other Slytherins cheered. Hermione was dancing on tiptoes.
"Do you think he's all right?" she squealed through her fingers.
"Who cares?" said Layla with a small roll of her eyes. Lockhart deserved that. She could already tell he was a fraud. He could barely cast a charm that a first year could master.
Lockhart was getting unsteadily to his feet. His hat had fallen off and his wavy hair was standing on end.
"Well, there you have it!" he said, tottering back onto the platform. "That was a Disarming Charm — as you see, I've lost my wand — ah, thank you, Miss Brown — yes, an excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape, but if you don't mind my saying so, it was very obvious what you were about to do. If I had wanted to stop you it would have been only too easy — however, I felt it would be instructive to let them see."
Snape was looking murderous. Possibly Lockhart had noticed, because he said, "Enough demonstrating! I'm going to come amongst you now and put you all into pairs. Professor Snape, if you'd like to help me—"
They moved through the crowd, matching up partners. Lockhart teamed Neville with Justin Finch-Fletchley, but Snape reached Harry and Ron first.
"Time to split up the dream team, I think," he sneered. "Weasley, you can partner with Finnigan. Potter, you can partner with Mr Malfoy, Miss Lupin—"
Layla moved automatically toward Hermione.
"I don't think so," said Snape. "You can go with Miss Parkinson over there. And you, Miss Granger — you can partner with Miss Bulstrode."
As Draco strutted up to Harry, a girl was trailing behind him, sending a nasty look in Layla's direction. That, of course, was Pansy Parkinson.
Pansy was a bit short in stature. She had bright eyes and high cheekbones with pouting lips. She had dark hair with a bit of natural curl to it since it was so short, resting in a bob above her shoulders. To Layla, Pansy resembled a pug quite a bit. She definitely looked sort of pug-faced.
All Pansy did was eye Layla down coldly, so Layla didn't even bother smiling at her, just staring blankly at the Slytherin girl.
"Face your partners!" called Lockhart, back on the platform. "And bow!"
Layla and Pansy barely inclined their heads, not taking their eyes off each other. Pansy was busy glaring and Layla's face remained void of any expression.
"Wands at the ready!" shouted Lockhart. "When I count to three, cast your charms to disarm your opponents — only to disarm them — we don't want any accidents — one... two... three—"
"Expelliarmus!" cried Pansy, but nothing happened. The word came out unclear from Pansy and she didn't move her wand in the right way, Layla noticed. Pansy glared at her wand, hitting it against her hand as if it was broken. "Stupid wand. Work!"
Layla didn't wait for Pansy to cast another spell, she carefully sent a quiet spell to rip a few strands of hair from Pansy's head, placing them in a small vial in her pocket without Pansy noticing, and then raised her wand again at the Slytherin.
"Expelliarmus!"
A flash of scarlet light flew from Layla's wand. Pansy barely had enough time to look up, her eyes widening, before she was thrown off her feet. Pansy crashed into a Hufflepuff third year, knocking them both to the ground. Pansy could have easily gotten to her feet but she just sat there, banging her hands on the ground like a toddler having a tantrum.
"Drake! Did you see what she just did to me?!" shrieked Pansy, but Draco was too busy angrily dueling Harry. "Drake! Listen! That Lupin girl did this! DRAKE!"
Giving up, Pansy scrambled to her feet and glared at Layla.
"I'll make you pay for that one, disgusting half-blood."
"Try me," Layla rolled her eyes, raising her wand again, but a pair caught her eye nearby.
Millicent Bulstrode had Hermione in a headlock and Hermione was whimpering in pain; both their wands lay forgotten on the floor. Completing forgetting about her own duel, Layla turned her wand towards Millicent.
"Expelliarmus!"
Millicent was then blasted off of Hermione, crashing into a wall.
"Millie!" cried Pansy, rushing over to help Millicent. Layla, however, hurried up to Hermione.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm okay," Hermione panted, breathless. "Thank you — look!"
Hermione was suddenly alert, pointing at something behind Layla. The Lupin girl span around, seeing that Draco had cast a spell at Harry.
The end of Draco's wand exploded and a long black snake shot out of it, falling heavily onto the floor between them, and raised itself, ready to strike. There were screams as the crowd backed swiftly away, clearing the floor.
"Don't move, Potter," said Snape lazily. "I'll get rid of it."
"Allow me!" shouted Lockhart. He brandished his wand at the snake and there was a loud bang; the snake, instead of vanishing, flew ten feet into the air and fell back to the floor with a loud smack. Enraged, hissing furiously, it slithered straight toward Justin Finch-Fletchley and raised itself again, fangs exposed, poised to strike.
Suddenly, Harry started walking slowly towards the snake, hissing and rasping continuously for about thirty seconds without drawing breath. Layla furrowed her eyebrows in confusion at the new language that Harry seemed to be speaking. It was Parseltongue. But for some reason, the language seemed oddly familiar to Layla, as if she'd spoken the language before, but she knew that she wasn't a Parselmouth. She just knew.
Her thoughts began to run even wilder when she could understand perfectly what Harry was saying.
"Leave him alone!" Harry had exclaimed in Parseltongue. Layla froze, not knowing how she had just understand snake language.
The snake stopped slithering towards Justin and turned to Harry, slumping to the floor, docile as a thick, black garden hose.
Thankfully, Harry stopped hissing and grinned at Justin, but Justin just looked angry and scared.
"What do you think you're playing at?" he shouted, turning and storming out of the hall.
"Come on," said Ron, tugging on the back of Harry's robes. "Move — come on—"
Ron steered him out of the hall, Layla and Hermione hurrying alongside them. As they went through the doors, the people on either side drew away as though they were frightened of catching something. Ron, Layla, and Hermione dragged Harry all the way up to the empty Gryffindor common room.
Then Ron pushed Harry into an armchair and said, "You're a Parselmouth. Why didn't you tell us?"
"I'm a what?" said Harry.
"A Parselmouth!" said Ron. "You can talk to snakes!"
"I know," said Harry. "I mean, that's only the second time I've ever done it. I accidentally set a boa constrictor on my cousin Dudley at the zoo once — long story — but it was telling me it had never seen Brazil and I sort of set it free without meaning to that was before I knew I was a wizard—"
"A boa constrictor told you it had never seen Brazil?" Layla repeated, her eyes widening.
"So?" said Harry. "I bet loads of people here can do it."
"Oh, no they can't," said Ron. "It's not a very common gift. Harry, this is bad."
"What's bad?" said Harry angrily. "What's wrong with everyone? Listen, if I hadn't told that snake not to attack Justin—"
"Oh, that's what you said to it?"
"What d'you mean? You were there — you heard me—"
"We heard you speaking Parseltongue," said Ron. "Snake language. You could have been saying anything."
Layla kept quiet after that, not bringing up the fact that she'd understood what Harry had said.
"Excuse me, guys, I'm gonna go... take a nap," Layla lied, turning and hurrying up the stairs to the girls' dorms. She sat on her bed, grabbing her diary, quill, and ink, beginning to update Tom on what had happened.
Tom, you won't believe what happened. I went to dueling club today and one of the boys, Draco Malfoy, conjured a snake and Harry spoke to it. In Parseltongue.
Parseltongue? My, isn't your Harry an interesting person. I would very much like to meet him.
Not right now, Tom. It gets worse. I understand what he was saying! I understand Parseltongue, but I don't know how. I'm not a Parselmouth. When I first learnt what snake language was a few years ago, I tried to speak it, but I couldn't. And now all of a sudden, I can understand it?!
I wouldn't think too much of it, Layla.
But why can I understand it? Do you think I can speak it now?
Not permanently. Only when you are under my control.
What do you mean?
Never mind that now. Let's get back to Harry. Tell me, what did he do?
Well, Harry told the snake to leave this boy alone, I think his name was Justin Finch-Fletchley, and the snake actually listened.
Interesting. Is this Justin Finch-Fletchley muggle-born, by chance?
I don't know, but probably. I don't know any other wizards by that name.
Good.
The next morning, Layla felt extremely tired. Despite having slept through the entire night, she still felt as though she had barely slept at all. And when she brushed her hair, she found a chicken feather amongst her brown locks, causing her to frown in confusion.
The snow that had begun in the night had turned into a blizzard so thick that the last Herbology lesson of the term was canceled: Professor Sprout wanted to fit socks and scarves on the Mandrakes, a tricky operation she would entrust to no one else, now that it was so important for the Mandrakes to grow quickly and revive Mrs Norris and Colin Creevey.
Later that day after breakfast, Layla was on her way to head to the Quidditch pitch. Since Herbology was canceled and she knew that Cedric didn't have a lesson when she had Herbology, the two agreed to meet on the pitch so Cedric could help Layla practice her Quidditch moves again.
On the way there, she accidentally bumped into the Justin Finch-Fletchley boy just outside the bathroom that was home to Moaning Myrtle.
"Sorry," muttered Layla.
"No worries," said Justin. Layla walked past him to continue towards the Quidditch pitch, although she never seemed to quite make it there.
She found herself waking up once more on the bathroom floor. This time, however, daylight still shone through the window. She picked herself up off of the floor and left the room.
The Lupin Girl soon heard the distant shout of Peeves the Poltergeist: "ATTACK! ATTACK! ANOTHER ATTACK! NO MORTAL OR GHOST IS SAFE! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! ATTAAAACK!"
Layla started running in the direction of the voice.
Peeves was floating in mid-air besides Harry, who looked startled at what was going on. On the ground was a petrified Justin Finch-Fletchley and floating horizontally was a Nearly Headless Nick, also petrified.
Professor McGonagall came running, followed by her class. She used her wand to set off a loud bang, which restored silence, and ordered everyone back into their classes. Everyone dispersed, but Layla simply hid behind the wall, listening in as she heard a Hufflepuff in her year, Ernie MacMillan, speaking to Harry.
"Caught in the act!" Ernie yelled, his face stark white, pointing his finger dramatically at Harry.
"That will do, Macmillan!" said Professor McGonagall sharply.
Peeves was bobbing overhead, now grinning wickedly, surveying the scene; Peeves always loved chaos. As the teachers bent over Justin and Nearly Headless Nick, examining them, Peeves broke into song:
"Oh, Potter, you rotter, oh, what have you done? You're killing off students, you think it's good fun—"
"That's enough Peeves!" barked Professor McGonagall, and Peeves zoomed away backward, with his tongue out at Harry.
Justin was carried up to the hospital wing by Professor Flitwick and Professor Sinistra of the Astronomy department, but nobody seemed to know what to do for Nearly Headless Nick. In the end, Professor McGonagall conjured a large fan out of thin air, which she gave to Ernie with instructions to waft Nearly Headless Nick up the stairs. This Ernie did, fanning Nick along like a silent black hovercraft.
"This way, Potter," McGonagall said.
"Professor," said Harry at once, "I swear I didn't—"
"This is out of my hands, Potter," said Professor McGonagall curtly.
They marched in silence around the corner. Layla stayed for a minute or two, pressed against the wall, her mind running wild. Why did she black out again? What was going on? Was her mind playing tricks on her? Why could she never remember the times around when someone was attacked?
Eventually, Layla sighed and pushed herself up from the wall, hurrying back to the Gryffindor tower.