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ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜɪʀᴛʏ sᴇᴠᴇɴ

Summer was creeping over the grounds and the castle. The sky and the lake had both turned periwinkle blue and flowers as large as cabbages had burst into bloom in the greenhouses. But with no Hagrid or Dumbledore, nothing felt right.
Harry, Ron, and B/n had all tried visiting Hermione and Allanah, and for me, the Pevensie's, too, but visitors were now barred from the hospital wing.

"We're taking no more chances." Madam Pomfrey told us through the crack in the infirmary door. "No. I'm sorry, there's every chance the attack might come back to finish these people off."
"Could you at least-" I pulled a necklace from my robes and pushed my hand through the crack. "Put this around Hermione?"
"What is it?" She asked, inspecting it. "Ah. You gave one of these to Allanah, too, didn't you?"
"Yes." I nodded. "It's a protective charm. Enchanted to ward off evil."
"That's very thoughtful. I shall put it around her neck for you." She shut the door on us with a nod.
"A protective charm?" Ron pulled a face at me as we walked away. "All harms done now."
"You heard what Pomfrey said." I defended my silly little charms. "There's chance that the attacker wants to come back and finish the job."
"Should've given one to Hermione before she was attacked."
"I tried to."

With Dumbledore gone, everyone was more tense and scared as never before.
Harry was constantly repeating Dumbledore's words back to us.
"I will only truly have left this school when none here are lots to me... Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."
"Yes, Harry. We heard him." I groaned after hearing it for the hundredth time.
"What good are they?" Harry shook his head. "Who exactly are we supposed to ask for help, when everyone else is just as confused and scared as we are?"
"Hagrid's hint is easier." Ron spoke. "...Though I don't like it."
"Follow the spiders." Harry nodded.
"Only trouble with that-" B/n began. "There are no spiders left to follow."

We parted ways with B/n and headed into our potions lesson.
"I'd much rather be anywhere else." Harry groaned as we walked in.
"You'll be fine." I walked over to my table, watching Harry and Ron go to theirs. And the lesson began.

//

"I always thought Father might be the one who got rid of Dumbledore." Draco spoke next to me. Snape had moved him over to my table. Along with Crabbe and Goyle. "I told you he thinks Dumbledore's the worst headmaster the school has ever had. Maybe we'll get a decent headmaster now. Someone who won't want the Chamber of Secrets closed."
"Dumbledore will be back." I told him.
"You don't honestly believe that?" Draco snickered. "He's done for."
"McGonagall won't last long. She's only filling in." Crabbe added. Draco agreed, before calling on Snape.
"Sir? Why don't you apply for the headmasters job?"
"Now, now, Malfoy." Snape shook his head, though he had a small smile on his face. "Professor Dumbledore has only been suspended by the governors. I dare say he'll be back with us soon enough."
"Yeah, right." Draco smirked. "I expect you'd have Father's vote, sir, if you wanted to apply for the job. I'll tell Father you're the best teacher here, sir!"
"You're such a kiss up." I whispered as Snape walked away.
"You're just jealous because you aren't his favourite."
"And you think you are?"
"Well, obviously I am."
"I'm surprised the Mudbloods haven't all picked their bags by now." Goyle just had to bring up the chamber again.
"Muggle-borns."
"Mudbloods." Goyle glared into my literal soul.
"Bet you five galleons the next one dies." Draco chuckled.
"Pity it wasn't-"
"Say Hermione, Crabbe, and I swear to you, I will cast cru-"
The bell rang, the lesson was over.
"Ooh, she's scary." Crabbe laughed to himself as he packed up his things.
"You honestly think I won't? Did you hear what I did to those Muggles who killed my mothers?"
"I-Um-"
"Hurry up!" Snape yelled, interrupting our little thing. "I've got to take you all to Herbology." And so, off we went. Crabbe made sure to say far away from me.

☀︎☀︎☀︎☀︎☀︎

Professor Sprout had set us all to work on pruning the Abyssinian Shrivelfigs. As I'd went to the front of the greenhouse to grab a handful of withered stalks, I overheard Ernie preparing himself to talk to Harry.
"It's okay, Ernie. He's a nice guy. He won't hold a grudge for wrongly accusing him."
I glared at him as he gave himself a pep talk. And as I walked back to mine and B/n's shrivelfig, and watched as Ernie put himself face to face with Harry.