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has done anything wrong.'
Dumbledore was giving Harry a searching look. His twinkling light-blue gaze made Harry feel as though he was being X-rayed. 'Innocent until proven guilty, Severus,' he said firmly.

Snape looked furious. So did Filch.
'My cat has been Petrified!' he shrieked, his eyes popping. 'I want to see some punishment!'

'We will be able to cure her, Argus,' said Dumbledore patiently.

'Professor Sprout recently managed to procure some Mandrakes. As soon as they have reached their full size, I will have a potion made which will revive Mrs Norris.'

'I'll make it,' Lockhart butted in. 'I must have done it a hundred times, I could whip up a Mandrake Restorative Draught in my sleep –'

'Excuse me,' said Snape icily, 'but I believe I am the Potions master at this school.'

'I can help grow the Mandrakes.' Spoke Amelia. The teachers turned to her. 'I can grow them from seeds to roots in a few minutes it will take weeks off the growing process, but that is all I will be able to do.' Dumbledore gave a small nod.

There was a very awkward pause.
'You may go,' Dumbledore said to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Amelia. They went, as quickly as they could without actually running.

When they were a floor up from Lockhart's office, they turned into an empty classroom and closed the door quietly behind them. Harry squinted at his friends' darkened faces.

'D'you think I should have told them about that voice I heard?'

'No,' said Ron, without hesitation. 'Hearing voices no one else can hear isn't a good sign, even in the wizarding world.'

'I always hear voices, but I can tell you this wasn't just another mouse in the wall this is something bad. ' said Amelia.

Something in Ron's voice made Harry ask, 'You do believe me, don't you?'

''Course I do,' said Ron quickly. 'But – you must admit it's weird ...'

'I know it's weird,' said Harry. 'The whole thing's weird. What was that writing on the wall about? The Chamber has been opened ... what's that supposed to mean?'

'You know, it rings a sort of bell,' said Ron slowly. 'I think some- one told me a story about a secret chamber at Hogwarts once ... might've been Bill ...'

'And what on earth's a Squib?' said Harry.

To his surprise, Ron stifled a snigger.

'Well – it's not funny really – but as it's Filch ...' he said. 'A Squib is someone who was born into a wizarding family but hasn't got any magic powers. Kind of the opposite of Muggle-born wizards,

Amelia Potter and the Chamber of Secrets PART 1Where stories live. Discover now