Amelia Potter and the Chamber of Secrets PART 1

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light cast by the flaming torches.

THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE.

'What's that thing – hanging underneath?' said Ron, a slight quiver in his voice.

As they edged nearer, Harry almost slipped over: there was a large puddle of water on the floor. Ron and Hermione grabbed him, and they inched towards the message, eyes fixed on a dark shadow beneath it. All three of them realised what it was at once, and leapt backwards with a splash.

Mrs Norris, the caretaker's cat, was hanging by her tail from the torch bracket. She was stiff as a board, her eyes wide and staring.

'Why can't this just be a normal fucking magic boarding school! My brother is going to Nevermore for fuck sakes!'

For a few seconds, they didn't move. Then Ron said, 'Let's get out of here.'

'Shouldn't we try and help –' Harry began awkwardly.

Trust me,' said Ron. 'We don't want to be found here.'

But it was too late. A rumble, as though of distant thunder, told them that the feast had just ended. From either end of the cor- ridor where they stood came the sound of hundreds of feet climb- ing the stairs, and the loud, happy talk of well-fed people; next moment, students were crashing into the passage from both ends.

The chatter, the bustle, the noise died suddenly as the people in front spotted the hanging cat. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Amelia stood alone, in the middle of the corridor, as silence fell among the mass of students, pressing forward to see the grisly sight.

Then someone shouted through the quiet.

'Enemies of the heir, beware! You'll be next, Mudbloods!'

It was Draco Malfoy. He had pushed to the front of the crowd, his cold eyes alive, his usually bloodless face flushed, as he grinned at the sight of the hanging, immobile cat.

'Oh, shut your yap you bleached-haired snot-nosed cockalorum shitbag!'