Violet Potter and the Basilisk Plague (Year Two)

Chapter Sixteen: Sister and Brother

Violet Potter later found herself hurrying up to the Owlery to seek Eros, at once the most sad and alone she'd ever felt so far in her young life and extremely concerned about her brother. Violet just knew deep down of course, that there was simply no way that Harry Potter could ever be the Heir of Slytherin, the same dark wizard, it was foretold, would be responsible for reopening the Chamber of Secrets when the time of the Four Founders was centuries gone, not only once, but even a second time. It would have made so much more sense, a hundred times more so, if the Heir of Slytherin had somehow turned out to be Lord Voldemort himself!

Her mind racing, Violet called out for her owl. "Eros! Come out here now! I have something I need to write in a letter to Emily and I need you to deliver it!"

Violet watched as the snowy owl flew down from his perch and descended toward her. Eros stood out among most of the other owls even more than Hedwig due to the fact that he was a male and was even whiter of plumage.

While Eros waited (and ate a few owl treats Violet had brought for him), Violet got everything she needed ready and began writing the letter. She only hoped that Emily wouldn't be so worried about what was happening now that she might consider taking Violet out of school. But someone on the outside Violet trusted needed to know what was now happening.

Dear Emily (for you to read only):

You have told me before that if anything were to happen at Hogwarts that could be considered an emergency, that I should write home to you. Well, I would say that the madness that has been going on at Hogwarts is for sure an emergency.

I'm not certain how much you have or haven't heard already, but the Chamber of Secrets, the one that Salazar Slytherin had built, has been reopened. Several muggle-born students have already been petrified, and many, many more students are now pointing the fingers of blame not to where I suspect they belong, but to everyone in Slytherin, and even more toward me, and Harry, though he is not even a student of Slytherin House. I cannot say how, or why it has to be, but it turns out that Harry is a parselmouth. And you have told me that no Potter has ever been known to have been in possession of such a rare magical ability.

It's just been so terrible all around. I have already run into my share of other Hogwarts students gossiping around the school about Harry and me. You should have just seen how everyone reacted in today's Defence Against the Dark Arts Class (which was a special one due to the circumstances) when it was revealed. Draco Malfoy conjures up a great stupid cobra from out of his wand even though the clear instructions were to 'disarm only,' but when has Malfoy ever been about doing what's fair? Lockhart couldn't even do much of anything, as usual. I'm sorry Emily, but it's the truth.

Anyway, when faced with this fearsome serpent, Harry just stares at it, and before Professor Snape can move to vanish the snake, Harry begins to make the most eerie hissing whispers, which sounded very otherworldly and inhuman. But the cobra understood what he was saying, which apparently was a command to stop the cobra attacking anyone as Harry has already insisted.

The problem is, that no one else in that class could understand it, and many are convinced that Harry was egging the snake on to strike at any muggleborns in our Defence Against the Dark Arts class. I just know it can't be true, and there's no way I'm leaving Hogwarts either. Besides, Professor Sprout needs me and Tori to help her out with the preparation of the mandrake draft. Between that and our classes for the rest of the year, we should be kept very busy and away from getting into any real trouble---I hope.

Sent from Violet to you.

And so, the letter was sent, eventually to reach Nettleship Moors.

***

Later on, Violet did at one point advise Harry to talk to Professor Dumbledore.

But Violet didn't even know if Harry was ever going to reveal what was really bothering him, especially after he already said to her sarcastically, "Oh that's brilliant Vi, why didn't I think of that? Oh right, because just as I was about to do that very thing, Justin Finch-Fletchley from Hufflepuff gets petrified and so does Nearly-Headless Nick and I just happen to come across them both. Peeves goes and shrieks about me being caught red-handed over it, and the only thing stopping Filch from potentially stringing me up on the very top of the Hogwarts clock tower is Professor McGonagall who sent me straight to the Headmaster's office herself. My own Head of House is beginning to doubt my innocence and is scared of me now. Minnie is scared of me. I hardly had the heart to tell Professor Dumbledore anything after that in case I dissappoint him next. What am I to do?"

"Harry, you don't know that Professor McGonagall blames you. You know, it reminds me of something Emily once told me. That when terrible things nobody knows much about begin to happen, especially if it happens to anyone they know, that can be frightening. That sort of fear can sometimes cause even normally sensible adults and elders to say and do strange things, or it can make the already prejudiced strike out even more cruelly.

Which is why I think that it's only a matter of time before someone like Lucius Malfoy tries to use what's happening at Hogwarts to his own twisted advantage, as a way to rally certain other powerful wizards behind him to have Professor Dumbledore sacked." Violet theorized. "Someone is eventually going to have to find the Chamber of Secrets and take out whatever monster is living there."

"So, you really don't believe that I'm behind any of these attacks or involved in any way?" Harry asked Violet.

"Harry come on, you're in second year, and I know that you and Ron wouldn't have even made it this far or have any clue what Polyjuice Potion even is without Hermione." Violet said matter of factly.

"Thanks Violet." Harry said drily. "You really made my day notably better."

"But," Violet added for good measure, "I also know that you're too good of a person to do such things ever. Just hold on to that." Violet added.

"Thanks Violet, but I'll be okay, really!" Harry assured his sister. But deep down, he still wondered...

What if I really am more like Voldemort than a true Gryffindor? What if I really should be in Slytherin as well?