Jane Fizzle and the Chamber of Secrets

Chapter 9

    "What's going on here? What's going on?" Attracted no doubt by Philip's shout, Newart Flint comes shouldering his way through the crowd. Then he sees Mrs. Bella and falls back, clutching his face in horror."My cat! My cat! What's happened to Mrs. Norris?" he shrieks. And his popping eyes fall on Jane, Jane looking around a little, making sure he's looking at her and not someone else.

    "Me?" Jane asks smally.

    "You!" he screeches. "You! You've murdered my cat! You've killed her! I'll kill you! I'll—"

    "Newart!" Harrington has arrived on the scene, followed by a number of other teachers. In seconds, he has swept past Jane, Scarlett, and Gavin, detaching Mrs. Bella from the torch bracket. "Come with me, Newart," he says to Flint. "You, too, Miss. Fizzle, Miss. Herbert, Mr. Woods."

    Lockhart steps forward eagerly. "My office is nearest, Headmaster — just upstairs — please feel free —"

    "Thank you, Gilderoy," Harrington says. Jane looks over at Professor Randolph and Professor B, who is wearing festive Halloween clothing. Professor B rolls his eyes at Lockhart and Randolph nods.

    The silent crowd parts to let them pass. Lockhart, looking excited and important, hurries after Harrington; so did Professors Evans, Randolph, and Professor B. 

    As they enter Lockhart's darkened office, there is a flurry of movement across the walls; Jane sees several of the Lockharts in the pictures dodging out of sight, their hair in rollers. The real Lockhart lights the candles on his desk and stands back. Harrington lays Mrs. Bella on the polished surface and begins to examine her. Jane, Scarlett, and Gavin exchange tense looks and sink into chairs outside the pool of candlelight, watching.

    The tip of Harrington's long, crooked nose is barely an inch from Mrs. Bella's fur. He is looking at her closely through his half-moon spectacles, his long fingers gently prodding and poking. Professor Evans is bent almost as close, her eyes narrowing. Randolph looms behind the two, half in shadow, wearing a most peculiar expression: It is as though he is trying hard not to smile. Professor B is watching over the children, the four of them looking at each other awkwardly. And Lockhart is hovering around all of 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 would have saved her..." Lockhart's comments are punctuated by Flint's dry, racking sobs. He is slumped in a chair by the desk, unable to look at Mrs. Bella, his face in his hands. Much as she detestes Flint, Jane can't help feeling a bit sorry for him, though not nearly as sorry as she feels for himself. If Harrongton believes Flint, she will be expelled for sure.

    Harrington is now muttering strange words under his breath and tapping Mrs. Bella with his wand, but nothing happens. She continues to look as though she has been recently stuffed.

    "... I remember something very similar happening in Ouagadogou," Lockhart says, "a series of attacks, the full story's in my autobiography, I was able to provide the townsfolk with various amulets, which cleared the matter up at once..." The photographs of Lockhart on the walls are all nodding in agreement as he talks. One of them has forgotten to remove his hair net.

    "Shut up already," Professor B mutters, his eyes glowing a vibrant green, hands shaking in rage. For once, Jane agrees. She also notices that his true eye color isn't brown, but dark green.

    "Honestly," Gavin mutters back, crossing his arms in frustration.

    At last, Harrington straightens up. "She's not dead, Newart," he says softly.