𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 (OC x OC)

[002] Chapter 32

Louis

All of us—Makayla, Harry, Ron, and I—are standing in front of Dumbledore's desk, presenting Tom Riddle's Diary. Makayla practically dragged me up here. Dumbledore scares the shit out of her, which makes this hilarious.

"Ingenious. Simply... ingenious," Dumbledore looks up from the diary. "Of course, Tom Riddle was probably the most brilliant student Hogwarts has ever seen. I taught him myself fifty years ago. After he left, I would occasionally hear stories of his activities—dark rumors—but after a while, even the rumors stopped. When he finally resurfaced as Lord Voldemort, most people had completely forgotten the clever Head Boy he'd once been."

"It wasn't Ginny," Harry says.

"Wiser wizards than Ginny have been hoodwinked by Lord Voldemort, Harry. I think dear Ginny has endured enough. I would suggest a bit of bed rest, however. And perhaps a large mug of hot chocolate. I always find that cheers me up. Minerva, will you show Arthur and Molly up to the hospital wing?"

Makayla and I watch Professor McGonagall walk Ron's parents to the hospital wing. Makayla's expression is tainted, which makes me start to wonder what else happened in the Chamber of Secrets?

"You three realize, of course, that in the last few hours, you have broken perhaps a dozen school rules?" Dumbledore asks. "Excluding Mr. Weasley, of course."

We all reply at the same time, "Yes sir."

"And that there is sufficient evidence to expel you both?"

It seems like all of us start to hold our breaths when Dumbledore says that. Then after a pause, we all say in unison, "Yes sir."

"Therefore, it seems only fitting..." Dumbledore starts. Makayla fidgets with her nails. "That you all receive Special Awards for Services to the School. And—let me see—yes, I think two hundred points apiece, which, I believe, should be more than enough to secure Gryffindor the House Cup."

Harry and Ron hug each other in excitement. Sometimes I forget about the House Cup. It never really matters anyway. Gryffindor won last year due to the bias of Dumbledore, why not this year and every year after that? Yeah, because that's fair.

"Now, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Lupin, if you would, have an owl deliver these release papers to Azkaban. We need our gamekeeper back." He hands Ron and I an envelope. We nod and exit the room. I wish I could've caught a glimpse of Makayla's eyes for the road, though.

Makayla

Louis and Ron leave the office and now I'm trapped in a room with Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore. Surely Dumbledore knows that I brought Louis here for moral support. Unless the 'dumb' in his name is literal.

"First, Harry, I want to thank you," Dumbledore starts. "You must have shown me real loyalty down in the Chamber. Nothing but that could have called Fawkes to you. Secondly, I sense you're troubled by something. Am I right?"

"It's just, you see, sir," Harry responds, "I couldn't help noticing certain things. Certain similarities. Between Tom Riddle and me—and Makayla..."

His glare meets my eyes and then returns to Dumbledore. I'm afraid that his distrust in me has not come to an end quite yet.

"You both can speak Parseltongue, Harry, because Lord Voldemort can speak Parseltongue. Unless I'm much mistaken, he transformed some of his own powers to you the night he gave you that scar."

"Voldemort put a bit of himself in us?" Harry asks.

"Not intentionally, but... Yes."

"So the sorting hat was right," Harry says in an unfortunate tone. "I should be put in Slytherin."