Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

58

It took a while for Ron and Harry to find their way to Slytherin's common room. They had a run in with a Ravenclaw girl, who had been offended they even suggested she was a Slytherin, and Percy, who was probably thinking about writing them up if it hadn't been for Draco himself strolling by to get them out of it. They were now sitting in the common room waiting for Malfoy to come back with something his father sent for him. 

Harry wasn't surprised to see the common room didn't feel quite home with its gothic appearance of green and silver. Soon Malfoy came strolling back with what appeared like a newspaper clipping and thrust it at Harry and Ron. 

"That'll give you a laugh." Malfoy said, pointing at it. Harry and Ron's eyes widened in shock. It was about Mr. Weasley who was being fined fifty galleons for bewitching the muggle car and Lucius trying to get him fired and claimed Mr. Weasley wasn't fit to be working in the ministry. 

"Arthur Weasley loves Muggles so much he should snap his wand in half and go and join them," Malfoy said scornfully, "You'd never know the Weasleys were pure-bloods the way they behave." 

Ron, or rather Crabbe, looked ready to kill Malfoy. 

"What's wrong with you?" Malfoy asked. 

"Stomachache," Ron grunted, remembering he was in cover. 

"You know, I'm surprised the Daily Prophet hasn't reported all this attacks. I suppose Dumbledore's trying to hush it all up. He'll be sacked if it doesn't stop soon. Father's always said Dumbledore is the worst thing to happen to this place." Malfoy mumbled as he laid back on a sofa, crossing his arms over his chest, "Saint Potter, the Mudbloods' friend. He's another one with no proper wizard feeling, or he wouldn't go around with that jumped up Granger Mudblood. And people think he's Slytherin's Heir! Worse, they think Granger is one of the Heirs as well! No way, Salazar would be in any relationship with a Mudblood." 

Draco sat up as he messed around with an apple from the fruit basket, "I wish I knew who it is. I could help them." 

"You must have some idea who's behind it all..." Harry asked. 

"I told you I don't! How many times do I have to tell you!" Malfoy shouted, "And Father won't tell me anything about the last time the Chamber was opened either. Of course, it was fifty years ago, so it was before his time, but he knows all about it, and he says that it was all kept quiet and it'll look suspicious if I know too much about it. But I know one thing-- the last time the Chamber was opened, a Mudblood died. So it's a matter of time before one of them's killed this time... personally, I hope it's Granger so I won't have to be nice to her." Malfoy blurted out. Harry and Ron shot each other a look of shock. 

"What do you mean?" Ron asked. Malfoy shot his head. 

"Don't you two remember anything? My Father personally said I should be more kinder to that filthy Mudblood. I think that stupid Barty Crouch fellow finally got into Father's head... and I think my Mother is also as convinced of whatever it is the nutter was spitting out. I remember when I was able to go away that one weekend to my parents house, remember? I've overheard my Father talking to Mother, saying something about Granger this or that. Couldn't get all the details. But I did hear this. My Father told Mother that if Hermione learns this supposed truth about herself... apparently... she could take over the whole Wizarding World if she wanted to." Malfoy stated to them. Harry sat completely aghast from what he heard. 

"Do you know if the person who opened it last time was caught?" Harry asked. 

"Oh, yeah... whoever it was was expelled. Probably still in Azkaban." Malfoy answered. 

"Azkaban?" 

"Azkaban-- the wizard prison, Goyle? Honestly, if you were any slower, you'd be going backward." Malfoy shot at Harry, "Father says to keep my head down and let the Heir of Slytherin get on with it. He says the school needs ridding of all the Mudblood filth, but not to get mixed up in it. Of course, he's got a lot on his plate at the moment. You know the Ministry of Magic raided our manor last week. Luckily, they didn't find much. Father's got some very valuable Dark Arts stuff. But we've got our own secret chamber under the drawing room floor--" 

"Ho!" Ron blurted out. Malfoy turned to look at him and so did Harry. Harry's eyes widened as he noticed Ron's hair was starting to turn back to red. Harry grabbed hold of Ron's hand and mumbled something about medicine and rushed out of the common room and back towards the out-of-order bathroom. 

"Hermione! Come out! We've got loads to tell you!" Harry screamed, banging his fists against the stall. Harry paused when he heard suddenly the sound of crying. 

"Hermione? Are you okay?" Harry asked. Soon the door opened as Hermione came out. Her clothes had patches of shedded fur along with a trail of fur being kicked across the the floor by her feet. She wiped her eyes with her hands. 

"I was transformed into a cat..." Hermione sniffled, "The potion isn't supposed to be used for animal transformations..." 

"Well-- you're back now." Ron assured her. Hermione soon pulled out her arm as she held up an empty potion bottle. 

"Barty Crouch gave this to me... and he knew I was a cat... but he didn't even see me. I was hidden in the stall, but he knew." Hermione whimpered. Harry's eyes widened as he was understanding what Hermione was saying. If Barty Crouch knew that Hermione was part cat without seeing it for himself, it meant Barty had switched the hairs... which meant he had been in Gryffindor's Common Room... and in the Girl's dorms... more importantly, Hermione's dorm.