Granger My Love

III - Petrified

The students are seated in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, decorated with portraits of its owner: Gilderoy Lockhart; the door to the office opens and Lockhart walks out. "Let me introduce you to your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher: me, Gilderoy Lockhart."

later wards, Harry and Astrix are walking down the corridor wearing his Quidditch outfit, accompanied by the rest of the team: Oliver Wood, Fred, George, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, and Katie Bell. "I spent the summer devising a whole new Quidditch program. We are going to train earlier, harder, and longer." glancing to his left, the rest of the team follows his gaze "What...? I don't believe it." stepping out into the courtyard, they come across the Slytherin Quidditch team, also dressed for Quidditch, as Ron and Hermione are sitting nearby; Oliver directs his attention to the team's captain, Marcus Flint "Where do you think you're going, Flint?" Astrix asked "Quidditch practice." he responded, "I booked the pitch for Gryffindor today."

"Easy, Wood. I've got a note." he holds out a rolled up scroll; Wood takes it and opens it "Uh-oh. I smell trouble." Ron and Hermione get up and walk towards the two teams

Oliver, reading the parchment "I, Professor Severus Snape, do hereby give the Slytherin team permission to practice today, owing to the need to train their new Seeker." looks up from the parchment "You've got a new Seeker, who?" Marcus steps aside, and Draco steps out towards the Gryffindor team member. Harry is amazed that his nemesis is now a member of the Slytherin Quidditch team "Malfoy?" He asked, "That's right. And that's not all that's new this year." he puts his broom at his side; Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team examine the brooms Draco and the rest of the Slytherin team are holding "Those are Nimbus 2001s. How did you get those?" He asked, "A gift from Draco's father." Marcus responded "You see, Weasley, unlike some, my father can afford the best."

"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in. They got in on pure talent." Hermione butted in, Draco glares at her in annoyance as he takes a few steps and stops only at arms length in front of her "No one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood." Hermione glares at him with a mixture of hate and hurt as Draco sneers. "can i punch him? i feel like i have full right to punch him." Astrix asked Harry "just wait a moment." Harry responded.

"You'll pay for that one, Malfoy!" he takes out his wand and aims it at Draco "Eat slugs!" Unfortunately, Ron's spell backfires, blasting him off backwards and onto the ground. Harry and Hermione immediately rush to his side. "You okay, Ron? Say something!" Ron opens his mouth as if to say something, but instead he spits out a slug, Colin Creevey starts taking pictures of Ron "Wow! Can you turn him around, Harry?" "No, Colin! Get out of the way." he and Hermione help Ron to his feet "Let's take him to Hagrid." Ron regurgitates another slug "He'll know what to do."

The three of them rush off to Hagrid's while the Slytherins laugh at them. "Hey Malfoy." Astrix appeared behind him, Draco turned around "Take Muggle Violence!" Astrix punched Draco and continued to punch him over and over "not very fun when your the one getting bullied, is it now Malfoy?" Astrix got up and ran towards Hagrids house. "i like her." Fred/George said "me too." George/Fred said.

the duo are walking into the corridor when they suddenly hears the ominous voice again "you too?" Harry asked "yep.." Astrix responded, "Blood. I smell blood. Let me rip you... Let me kill you. Kill... kill... kill" Hermione and Ron just appear out of nowhere "Harry... Astrix." "

Did you hear it?" Ron concerned and confused, "Hear what?" he asked, "That voice." Astrix responded, Hermione getting concerned as well "Voice? What voice?" she asked "I heard it first in Lockhart's office, and then, again, just--" they hears the voice once more "It's time."

Astrix, getting tense "It's moving. I think it's going to kill." Astrix and Harry runs past them down the corridor "Kill"? Hermione and Ron run after them "Harry, wait! Not so fast!" the duo stops in the middle of the corridor, then looks down to see the floor is wet before walking to the right. Ron and Hermione run to catch up with him; they stop abruptly as they see numerous spiders scurrying away through a crack in the window.

"Strange... I've never seen spiders act like that." Astrix said, "I don't like spiders." they then glance at something else on the floor "What's that?" they gaze at a puddle of water, where they can see what appears to be bloody writing, then look up at the wall to see foreboding words written in blood which Hermione reads

"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir, beware." It's written in blood.

Harry looks to the left "Oh, no." Hermione follows Harry's gaze and gasps when she sees what he is seeing; he walks toward a torch on the wall, tied to the torch is Mrs. Norris, frozen and seemingly scared by something "It's Filch's cat. It's Mrs. Norris." behind them, Percy walks into the corridor, leading the other Gryffindor house students.

Soon enough, the corridor fills with students, who gaze at the bloody writing and Mrs. Norris, Madame Pomfrey expresses horror and shock; Colin gets his camera ready, but Percy stops him. "Enemies of the Heir, beware." glances at the Gryffindor house students "You'll be next, Mudblood."

Astrix mouthed something; "say that again." she glares at malfoy "What's going on here?" pushing his way through the crowd "Go on, make way, make way." heglares at Harry and Astrix "Potter... Lupin.. what are you...?" gazes past Harry at the frozen form of his cat and trembles "Mrs. Norris?" glares at Harry andAstrixagain. "You murdered my cat."

"No. No." as Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle grin "I'll kill you." smiles wickedly at Harry then grabs him by the shirt "I'll kill you! "Argus?" Filch lets go of Harry; the students step aside as Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape arrive on the scene "Argus, I..." he glances at the writing on the wall "Everyone will proceed to their dormitories immediately." the students turn to leave; Harry, Ron, Hermione and Astrix follow "Everyone except you four." they turn to face him "She's not dead, Argus." Filch trembles, presumably from relief and confusion "She has been petrified." "Ah. Thought so. So unlucky I wasn't there. I know exactly the countercurse that could've spared her." Dumbledore smiles and nods "But how she has been petrified I cannot say."

Filch gesturing towards Harry and Astrix "Ask him. their doing it. You saw what they wrote on the wall." "It's not true, sir. I swear. I never touched Mrs. Norris." Harry responded, "Rubbish."

"If I might, headmaster. Perhaps Lupin and her friends were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, the circumstances are suspicious. I for one don't recall seeing Lupin at dinner."

"I'm afraid that's my doing, Severus. You see, Astrix was helping me answer my fanmail." "That's why we went looking for him, Professor. We just found him when she said..." looks at Harry "Yes, Ms. Granger?" Snape asked, "When I said I wasn't hungry." Snape turns towards her "We were heading back to the common room when we found Mrs. Norris." Snape turns towards Professor Dumbledore

"Innocent until proven guilty, Severus."

Filch as Snape smiles slightly "My cat has been petrified. I want to see some punishment!" "We will be able to cure her, Argus. As I understand it, Madame Sprout has a very healthy growth of Mandrakes. When matured, a potion will be made, which will revive Mrs. Norris." Filch trembles, "And in the meantime, I strongly recommend caution... to all." Harry, Ron, and Hermione nod. Moments later, they are walking along the Grand Staircase, as the numerous staircases change. "it's a bit strange isn't it?" Hermione asked "what do you mean by "Strange"? Mrs. granger?" Astrix asked
Hermione turns to face her "You two hear this voice, a voice only you both can hear, and then Mrs. Norris turns up petrified. It's just... strange."

"You think I should've told them, Dumbledore and the others, I mean?" Harry said "Are you mad?" Ron asked, "No, Harry. Even in the wizarding world, hearing voices isn't a good sign." turns and walks along with Astrix following, Harry and Ron then walk along after a pause.