Amelia Potter and the Chamber of Secrets PART 1

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When everyone had taken a swig of antidote and the various swellings had subsided, Snape swept over to Goyle's cauldron and scooped out the twisted black remains of the firework. There was a sudden hush.

'If I ever find out who threw this,' Snape whispered, 'I shall make sure that person is expelled.'

Harry arranged his face into what he hoped was a puzzled expression. Snape was looking right at him, and the bell which rang ten minutes later could not have been more welcome.

'He knew it was me,' Harry told Ron, Hermione, and Amelia, as they hurried back to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. 'I could tell.'

Hermione threw the new ingredients into the cauldron and began to stir feverishly.

'It'll be ready in a fortnight,' she said happily.

'Snape can't prove it was you,' said Ron reassuringly to Harry. 'What can he do?'

'Knowing Snape, something foul,' said Harry, as the potion frothed and bubbled.

'The worst he could do is give you detention. No one is going to expel a student for a harmless firework that could have been set off by accident and certainly with no proof.' Siad Amelia with a simple shrug of her shoulders. Harry wished he could believe her.

*A week later, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Amelia were walking across the Entrance Hall when they saw a small knot of people gathered around the noticeboard, reading a piece of parchment that had just been pinned up. Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas beckoned them over, looking excited.

'They're starting a Duelling Club!' said Seamus. 'First meeting tonight! I wouldn't mind duelling lessons, they might come in handy one of these days ...'

'like fencing? I tried it once. I fought three rounds and only got two points all throughout. Not worth the money-' Harry covered Amelia's mouth with his hand.

'What, you reckon Slytherin's monster can duel?' said Ron, but he too read the sign with interest.

'Could be useful,' he said to Harry and Hermione as they went into dinner. 'Shall we go?'

Harry, Hermione, and Amelia were all for it, so at eight o'clock that evening they hurried back to the Great Hall. The long dining tables had vanished and a golden stage had appeared along one wall, lit by thousands of candles floating overhead. The ceiling was velvety black once more and most of the school seemed to be packed beneath it, all carrying their wands and looking excited.

'I wonder who'll be teaching us?' said Hermione, as they edged into the chattering crowd. 'Someone told me Flitwick was a duelling champion when he was young, maybe it'll be him.'