The Last Gaunt:Harry Potter and the Chamber Of Secrets [Book 2]

Chapter X: The Dueling Club... and another Parselmouth

Third Person POV

                      Sunday Morning, the winter air made the Slytherin common room feel colder than usual. Meaning that Nyx, Kieran's pet snake slithered to the bed to keep its cold body warm. Kieran woke up lazily as he sat on his bed and took a deep sight. He got ready for that day and walked out of the common room. Despite losing the Quidditch Match last night, Kieran's mind wondered about the sight of the Gryffindor boy on the floor petrified. Kieran went to the Great Hall to have breakfast. It was barely empty since most students usually woke late. So there were barely any Slytherin students there, as Kieran ate someone walked towards him. Kieran looked up from his place to see Terry walking to his table. 
                                                                                  "Hey, Uh Cunningham was it?" Terry said awkwardly, mainly because he was approaching the Slytherin table. 
                                                                                  "Oh, uh yeah" He said "What brings you to the Slytherin table" He asked calmly as he ate
                                                                                   "Well..." Terry began "I wanted to say that, You played well yesterday for you first time" He said smiling a bit.
                                                                                    "Oh Thanks" He smiled awkwarly "I think i need more improvement, tho"
                                                                                     "Maybe but still" Terry said encouring "You played well!" Kieran nods as he smiles shily as he and Terry talk as Kieran finished eating.

                           After their meal, Terry and Kieran said their goodbyes, each heading in a different direction. Kieran wandered alone through the school grounds, eventually arriving at the serene Transfiguration Courtyard. The tranquil setting, with its meticulously maintained stone paths and lush greenery, provided a stark contrast to the bustling hallways he had just left. He chose an empty stone bench near the old fountain, allowing himself to relax and take in the scene around him. As Kieran sat there, he observed the steady stream of students moving through the courtyard. Their voices blended into a soft murmur of whispers and gossip, creating a backdrop of lively chatter. Despite the noise, the courtyard held a sense of calm, and Kieran felt a peaceful solitude amid the crowd. He watched as students passed by in various states of animation—some deep in conversation, others lost in their own thoughts, and a few exchanging friendly waves. To his surprise, a group of older Slytherin students soon made their way over to him. They approached with genuine smiles and words of praise. Among them were Peregrine Derrick and Lucian Bole, both of whom had been removed from the team by Flint's decision. Despite their own recent disappointments, they extended their congratulations to Kieran for his impressive performance in the game. Rhys Maybury and Graham Montague also joined the group, their expressions warm and supportive. Even Terence Higgs, who had been notably bitter about Malfoy's acquisition of the Seeker position—feeling that Malfoy had essentially bought the role away from him—was part of the gathering. Terence's usual harsh comments about Malfoy had seemed to fade as he offered Kieran a nod of approval. Seeing these older students, who had once seemed distant and formidable, reach out with such support was both surprising and uplifting for Kieran. The sense of connection and appreciation from his peers, combined with the presence of these familiar faces, made him feel reintegrated into his House. The earlier sense of isolation began to lift, replaced by a renewed sense of belonging and pride in the House he was a part of.

                        Eventually, Kieran found himself alone once more and decided to leave the Transfiguration Courtyard. He wandered through the hallways until he reached the second floor, near the bathrooms. His gaze lingered on the door of the girls' bathroom, and he couldn't help but recall the last time he had been here with Nyx and the others. He distinctly remembered the quartet's whispered conversation and suspected they had been brewing Polyjuice Potion. With a quick glance around to ensure no teachers or prefects were in sight, Kieran placed his hand on the door. After a deep breath to steady himself, he slowly pushed it open. The door creaked on its hinges, and as Kieran stepped inside, he could hear muffled voices coming from one of the stalls, their tones hushed as though trying to avoid detection.
                                                                               "Dobby came to visit me in the middle of the night." Kieran managed to hear Harry say, as He told his friends everything Dobby had told him - or hadn't told him. Tho mid way thru the conversation Zach spoke i a low voice 
                                                                                "I'll.... Be right back. I need to Find Hector" He said as he was leaving he noticed Kieran was standing there before leaving the bathroom. Kieran walked to the semi opened door to the stall and joined them, It appears they didn't hear Zach.
                                                                               "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened before?" Hermione said.
                                                                                "This settles it," said Ron in a triumphant voice. "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."
                                                                               "Maybe it can make itself invisible," said Hermione, prodding leeches to the bottom of the cauldron. "Or maybe it can disguise itself - pretend to be a suit of armor or something - I've read about Chameleon Ghouls--"
                                                                             "You read too much, Hermione," said Kieran making his prescensen known, stratling them as Ron was pouring dead lacewings on top of the leeches. He crumpled up the empty lacewing bag and looked at Harry.
                                                                            "So Dobby stopped us from getting on the train and broke your arm." He shook his head. "You know what, Harry? If he doesn't stop trying to save your life he's going to kill you." 
                                                                           "Kieran you look like you have something on your mind" Hemione said making the others look at him. Kieran glances at everyone as he takes a deep breath and sighs 
                                                                           "Look...," He hessitates "... Last night,..." He was thinking about how to explain the events of the nights "... I did some late night wondering... and...." He took a deep breath as he looks at them in the eye, "Harry I heard the voice..., I was sneaking around and..." He looks at them as he continued. "I followed it, but at the end... I... I... I had found the boy, just before McGongall found him. I had tripped over one of the grapes and bumped into a suit of armor... But I saw him petrfied...."
                                                                              "You saw Colin Petried?! and you heard the Voice again?" Harry said 
                                                                              "Kieran you could have gotten in trouble if you had been caught" Hermione said before she added "Or worst you could have been  blamed for that."
                                                                               "I know... I know but...." He looks at them and then sighs, Maybe things are worst than they imagined.