half-moon spectacles, his long fingers gently prodding and poking. Professor McGonagall was bent almost as close, her eyes narrowed. Snape loomed behind them, half in shadow, wearing a most peculiar expression: it was as though he was trying hard not to smile. And Lockhart was hovering around all of them, making suggestions.
'It was definitely a curse that killed her – probably the Transmogrifian Torture. I've seen it used many times, so unlucky I wasn't there, I know the very counter-curse that would have saved her ...'
Lockhart's comments were punctuated by Filch's dry, racking sobs. He was slumped in a chair by the desk, unable to look at Mrs Norris, his face in his hands. Much as he detested Filch, Harry couldn't help feeling a bit sorry for him, though not nearly as sorry as he felt for himself. If Dumbledore believed Filch, he would be expelled for sure.
Dumbledore was now muttering strange words under his breath and tapping Mrs Norris with his wand, but nothing hap- pened: she continued to look as though she had been recently stuffed.
'... I remember something very similar happening in Ouagadougou,' said Lockhart, 'a series of attacks, the full story's in my autobiography. I was able to provide the townsfolk with vari- ous amulets which cleared the matter up at once ...'
Amelia wished he would just shut up.
The photographs of Lockhart on the walls were all nodding in agreement as he talked. One of them had forgotten to remove his hairnet.
At last Dumbledore straightened up.
'She's not dead, Argus,' he said softly.
Lockhart stopped abruptly in the middle of counting the number of murders he had prevented.
'Not dead?' choked Filch, looking through his fingers at Mrs Norris. 'But why's she all – all stiff and frozen?'
'She has been Petrified,' said Dumbledore ('Ah! I thought so!' said Lockhart). 'But how, I cannot say ...'
'Ask him!' shrieked Filch, turning his blotched and tear-stained face to Harry.
'No second-year could have done this,' said Dumbledore firmly.
'It would take Dark Magic of the most advanced –'
'He did it, he did it!' Filch spat, his pouchy face purpling. 'You
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Amelia Potter and the Chamber of Secrets PART 1
FanfictionPlease read my first book, Amelia Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. PART 1 and PART 2 first or none of the following will make sense. Thank you. This story is marked CREATIVE COMMONS ATTRIBUTION not becouse I wish for people to rewrite my work but b...
