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

XVIII

McGonagall kept rambling on how dangerous it was to walk around when students and pets were getting petrified. The four friends just tuned her out, well, everyone but Hermione, who was looking quite defeated. "I can't believe that you four had the guts to go and disobey me!" She yelled at them. "There is something on the loose, petrifying students, and you go out and walk around?! Forty-eight points from Slytherin, sixteen points from Ravenclaw." The teacher told them, rage evident in her eyes. "Why do we get more points taken away?" Draco asked incredulously. "Basic math, Dragon," Harry started. "Hermione got sixteen points taken away, there's only one Ravenclaw." Draco looked confused. "And because there are three Slytherins, us, sixteen times three is forty-eight. So we each got sixteen points taken away, forty-eight points in total." Archer finished for her brother. Hermione looked at the two in awe. "You did all of that in your head?" She asked them. The twins nodded, and even McGonagall was impressed.

"You two did that, on your own, with no help, at the same time?" The stern teacher asked, shocked. "Yes." The sibling said at the name time, once again shocking the other three. Shaking her head, McGonagall led the four students to their common room. "In, the three of you." She said, looking at the twins and Draco. "I'm sorry, Minerva, but the twins are staying with Professor Eden, the new teacher." Snape drawled out, startling Hermione. "What does she teach?" McGonagall asked him, narrowing her eyes.

"Dark History Studies." The potions master responded simply. Minerva nodded slowly, curious. "Well then, Mr. Malfoy, go on." She said at last. Draco nodded, looking at the ground, walking into the common room, the door shutting behind him. "As I don't know where you two are staying, I am trusting you to get to your common room. Miss Granger, follow me." And with that, Archer and Harry were left alone. Sighing, Archer picked Harry back up and they walked back up to the classroom.

"Why do you think that the old fool put that spell on Lilith?" Eden asked the twins, who were looking at the note. "She said that he thinks we're bad, possessed, even." Harry explained. Eden hummed slightly. "Do you think it has something to do with what happened at the beginning of the school year?" Archer wondered out loud. "If it does have something to do with it, I will bring a stop to this." Eden said, hate filling her voice.

"What do you think that Dumbles was looking for?" Harry asked. "Not sure, maybe the diary? If Lilith was right about it being a part of dad's soul, he might want it destroyed." Archer replied, the gears in her head turning. "Is there a way to copy the book, but not the soul? That way we could, maybe, trick Dumbledore?" Harry asked his mum. Eden thought about it for a moment, the twins could see the gears working behind her blue eyes. "Yes, that. . . That might work." She said finally. Archer ran up to the bedroom and looked around. Harry stayed sitting, looking at the note for anymore clues or words. Archer came back down the stairs, looking puzzled. "I could have sworn I put the diary under my pillow. . ." She muttered, rubbing her neck. Shrugging, she walked out into the hall, making Harry roll his eyes and Eden chuckled.

Archer's POV

I walked through the halls to the second floor loo. When I got closer, I noticed that my feet were getting wet. When I looked down, I saw water all over the ground, coming from the loo that Myrtle haunted. 'The same bathroom as the Chamber entrance.' I thought. Walking in, I noticed that all the taps were on, and Myrtle was moaning. Like always. "Myrtle?" I call out. "What, here to throw more objects through me?" Myrtle shrieked. "What? Why, what happened?" I ask, looking around. My eyes land on a black book, the diary.

Not thinking, I blurt out my thoughts. "Won't it just go through you? I mean—" Myrtle shirked again. "Oh sure! Let's just throw things at Moaning Myrtle! Ten points if it goes through her stomach, fifty points if it goes through her head!" She screamed. I leaned back from the screaming ghost, taking the diary with me. "No, no! I didn't mean it like that!" I tell her, backing up into the sinks.

"Hey, back off of her!" I heard a familiar voice yell at Myrtle. Turning around, I saw Tom sitting on top of the sinks, his robes splayed out around him. Myrtle looked up, shocked, but floated back to her cubicle. "Da— I mean, Tom!" I stuttered out, catching myself before I called him dad. "Hey Ruby, how are you?" The boy asked me. I shrug, looking down at the book in my hands. "Dragon threw it away, I don't know why." He told me, hopping down.

Sighing I walk over to him and give him a hug, tears threatening to fall. "It's okay, you're safe. . ." Tom whispers to me, petting my hair. "Why is this year so hard. . ." I mumble, holding onto his robes tighter. "I don't know, Ruby. . . I'm sorry.  .  ." I sniff a little. "My name isn't Ruby," I start, Tom humming. "I know, and that's okay, you don't need to tell me." He comforts. "My name is Archer, Archer 'Potter'." I tell the boy. "Potter isn't your real last name, is it?" He asked me, holding me closer. I shake my head softly, tears falling onto Tom's robes.

"I want this year to be over . . ."

A/N: Two updates in one day?! *le gasp* Hope you enjoyed!! Happy Reading!!