Harry Potter: Heir of the Dark Lord

Part 25-Dueling Club and another Parseltongue

(Noctis pov)
I alongside Hermione, and Ron was in the girls' bathroom as Harry explained to us what with down last night.
Hermione:" The Chamber of Secrets has been opened before?"
Ron:" This settles it, Lucius Malfoy must've opened the Chamber when he was at school here and now he's told dear old Draco how to do it. It's obvious. Wish Dobby'd told you what kind of monster's in there, though. I want to know how come nobody's noticed it sneaking around the school."
Hermione:" Maybe it can make itself invisible, Or maybe it can disguise itself - pretend to be a suit of armor or something - I've read about Chameleon Ghouls...."
Ron:" You read too much, Hermione," he said pouring dead lacewings on top of the leeches.
Noctis:" So Dobby stopped you both from getting on the train and broke your arm. You know what, Harry? If he doesn't stop trying to save your life he's going to kill you."

The news that Colin Creevey had been attacked and was now lying as though dead in the hospital wing had spread through the entire school by Monday morning. The air was suddenly thick with rumor and suspicion. The first years were now moving around the castle in tight-knit groups, as though scared they would be attacked if they ventured forth alone.
Ginny Weasley, who sat next to Colin Creevey in Charms, was distraught, but I felt that Fred and George were going the wrong way about cheering her up. They were taking turns covering themselves with fur or boils and jumping out at her from behind statues. They only stopped when Percy, apoplectic with rage, told them he was going to write to Mrs. Weasley and tell her Ginny was having nightmares.

Meanwhile, hidden from the teachers, a roaring trade in talismans, amulets, and other protective devices was sweeping the school. Neville Longbottom bought a large, evil-smelling green onion, a pointed purple crystal, and a rotting newt tail before the other Gryffindor boys pointed out that he was in no danger; he was a pure-blood, and therefore unlikely to be attacked.
Neville:" They went for Filch first, and everyone knows I'm almost a Squib." he said, his round face fearful.
In the second week of December Professor McGonagall came around as usual, collecting names of those who would be staying at school for Christmas. Harry, Ron, and Hermione signed her list; we had heard that Malfoy was staying, which struck them as very suspicious. The holidays would be the perfect time to use the Polyjuice Potion and try to worm a confession out of him.

The only reason I wasn't staying at Hogwarts this time was because I wanted to introduce Delphini to my aunt, uncle, and cousin. Dumbledore explained that Andromeda, Ted, and Nymphadora don't know about Delphini as Andromeda will probably freak out seeing her as she bears a striking resemblance to Bellatrix when she was young. I remember this one time Uncle Ted told me once that Dora, who is a metamorphmagus, a person capable of changing one's appearance, took the form of my mother when she was young as a prank. Needless to say, it had the opposite effect, Aunt Andromeda began to ball her eyes out in tears. So I'm hoping that it will not come to that. Plus Delphini did admit that she would like to meet her aunt, uncle, and cousin.

Anyway, Hermione told us that the potion was only half finished. They still needed the bicorn horn and the boomslang skin, and the only place they were going to get them was from Snape's private stores.
Hermione:" What we need is a diversion. Then one of us can sneak into Snape's office and take what we need." Harry and Ron looked at her nervously.
Hermione:" I think I'd better do the actual stealing. You two will be expelled if you get into any more trouble, and I've got a clean record. So all you need to do is cause enough mayhem to keep Snape busy for five minutes or so."
Harry:" What about Noctis? Can't he be the one to do it?"
Noctis:" Snape might suspect me of stealing immediately, so it would be better if Hermione does it.

Potion lessons took place in one of the large dungeons. Thursday afternoon's lesson proceeded in the usual way. Twenty cauldrons stood steaming between the wooden desks, on which stood brass scales and jars of ingredients. Snape prowled through the fumes, making waspish remarks about the Gryffindors while the Slytherins sniggered appreciatively. Draco Malfoy, who was Snape's favorite student, kept flicking puffer-fish eyes at Ron and Harry, who knew that if they retaliated they would get detention faster than you could say "Unfair."
Everyone in the classroom including myself was brewing Swelling Solution, I was making sure that the potion was simmering perfectly. I looked over to see Harry's Swelling Solution was far too runny, but he had more important things on his mind right now. He was waiting for Hermione's signal, and he hardly listened as Snape paused to sneer at his watery potion. When Snape turned and walked off to bully Neville, Hermione caught Harry's eye and nodded.