The Snake Twins || Book Two: The Chamber of Secrets

XVII

Archer and Harry sat in their room, the other beds and desks had been moved out, along with Hermione and Draco's things. All that was left in the big room was a green and black bed, a red and gold bed, and two desks with all of their things. Archer was fighting back tears, and Harry was laying on his bed in a ball. "Why are we always left alone. . ." Archer mumbled.

"I don't know. . ." Harry whispered, tears rolling down his face. The door opened and a boy with striking blue eyes walked in. "Dumbledore wants to see you two, come with me." He said, his voice quiet. Archer looked up and narrowed her eyes at the boy. Sighing, the boy grabbed the two and dragged them out into the hall. The twins walked in silence, recognizing the boy from the beginning of the year. "What is Dumbledore going to ask? Where is it?" Archer asked sarcastically. The boy scoffed, looking at her with amusement.

"So you remember me?" He asked, his voice soft. Harry nodded mutely. Just then, a door opened and Dumbledore walked out, his eyes gleaming. "Ah, miss Potter, Mr. Potter, how lovely for you to meet me." He told us, smiling kindly. "Please follow me," He leads them to his office in silence. When they got there, Dumbledore offered them a lemon drop, to which they refused. "Children, it has come to my attention that you two have opened the Chamber of Secrets?" Dumbledore told the twins.

"And the fact that Archer, my child, you have entered the Chamber as well?" The twins looked at each other, their ruby eyes shining. "Is there something you wish to tell me? Anything at all?" Dumbledore said, hiding a smirk. "No sir. Nothing." The twins said in unison. The twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes vanished. He remembered someone else saying that. . . Someone he thought was dead and gone. "Why do you believe that we opened the Chamber of Secrets, or that I went in?" Archer ask, feigning politeness. "Well, there are rumors going through the student body and—" Harry cut him off. "So not only are you using non-authentic proof, you are also spying and stalking the students in this school so you can, what? Get information about us?" Harry told Dumbledore, his red eyes narrowing.

Dumbledore's eyes went wide, and the twins knew that that was what he was doing. Archer scoffed, standing up. "Come on, Hades, let's go." She said, picking Harry up. The two exited the room, and Harry flipped the old man off, holding onto his sister. Laughing, the two walked through the halls, which were empty, as everyone was in their common rooms. As they walked past the hospital wing, Madam Pompfrey walked out in a rush. "Potters, please, come here." She said, exasperated.

Glancing at each other, Archer set Harry down, and the two walked in the hospital wing. Pompfrey showed them to a bed with a curtain covering it. Pulling the curtain aside, Archer screamed slightly, and Harry gasped in shock. Laying in the bed, petrified, was Lilith. "Some students found her in the library, holding this," Pompfrey held up a silver-lain mirror. "Do you know why she would have this?" She asked, handing Harry the mirror. "No. . ." He mumbled. Glancing over at his sister, Harry saw that Archer's bright eyes were dull and full of tears. Pompfrey gave the twins a look of pity, then walked over to her office, leaving the two alone. "This is all my fault. . ." Archer whispered, tears falling down. "How is it your fault? You did nothing wrong. . ." Harry whispered back, bringing his sister into a tight hug. "I gave her dad's diary, that is what made her look into it. . ." Archer sobbed, holding onto Harry tightly. Just then, Draco and Hermione walked into the wing, rushing over. "The teachers told us what happened and allowed us to come," Hermione explained, bringing Archer into her arms.

Harry walked over to Draco and hugged him gently. He just looked at Lilith, trying to keep from crying. "I know you two were close, I'm so sorry. . ." Harry whispered to him. Sobs rang out from Archer's mouth, shakes raking her body. Madam Pompfrey walked back over to the group, holding something. "This letter was found next to her, it's addressed to you two." She said, giving Harry the letter. Opening it, he and Draco stared at the scrawled words.

Dear Harry and Archer,
I'm sorry that everything that happened happened, I don't know what came over me. When I pulled that card, I didn't think of any of you. Dumbledore had been pulling me aside, trying to convince me that you two were bad, possessed.
I didn't listen. McGonagall was doing the same. So when I pulled that card, I thought of them, never you. When I left the library with the book, (it's under 'Ruby's' mattress), I felt a strong urge to leave all of you.
I came back to the library after I left the class, and took off the charm I had on me. The Imperius Curse. Cast by Dumbledore no doubt—

The letter abruptly ended, leaving the group in shock. Looking back down at the mirror in Harry's hand, Archer grabbed it, looking it over. "'Mione, what happens if you stare at a Basilisk in a reflection?" She asked the Ravenclaw. "You get petrified. If you look at it dead-on, you die." Hermione told the group. Archer pieced everything together. "You're right, it is a Basilisk! The water when we found Mrs. Norris, the first student found, and now Lilith, she had a mirror!" Archer exclaimed.

Pompfrey walked back over to the group. "I'm afraid you four will need to leave now, McGonagall is on her way to fetch you." She told them, an apologetic look on her stern face. As she said this, the doors swung open, and the Gryffindor Head of House walked in, a stern look plastered on her face. "Why are you out of the common rooms?"