Amelia Potter and the Chamber of Secrets PART 1

146

'No,' said Harry, 'there isn't anything, Professor.'

*
The double attack on Justin and Nearly Headless Nick turned what had hitherto been nervousness into real panic. Curiously, it was Nearly Headless Nick's fate that seemed to worry people most. What could possibly do that to a ghost, people asked each other; what terrible power could harm someone who was already dead? There was almost a stampede to book seats on the

Hogwarts Express so that students could go home for Christmas. 'At this rate, we'll be the only ones left,' Ron told Harry, Hermione, and Amelia. 'Us, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. What a jolly holiday it's going to be.' 

Crabbe and Goyle, who always did whatever Malfoy did, had signed up to stay over the holidays too. But Harry was glad that most people were leaving. He was tired of people skirting around him in the corridors, as though he was about to sprout fangs or spit poison; tired of all the muttering, pointing and hissing as he passed.

Fred and George, however, found all this very funny. They went out of their way to march ahead of Harry down the corridors, shouting, 'Make way for the heir of Slytherin, seriously evil wizard coming through ...' 

Amelia couldn't help but play along shouting, 'Out of the why! The hair is here!' She even went as far as to have the twins carry Harry in on their shoulders, well Amelia had Bow Down blasting on an old radio she had rigged.

Percy was deeply disapproving of this behaviour.

'It is not a laughing matter,' he said coldly.

'Oh, get out of the way, Percy,' said Fred. 'Harry's in a hurry.' 'Yeah, he's nipping off to the Chamber of Secrets for a cup of tea with his fanged servant,' said George, chortling.

Ginny didn't find it amusing either.

'Oh, don't,' she wailed every time Fred asked Harry loudly who he was planning to attack next, or George pretended to ward Harry off with a large clove of garlic when they met. Amelia even speeking to him in Parseltongue in the halls and bowing to him when he walked into the room.

Harry didn't mind; it made him feel better that Fred and George, and Amelia, at least, thought the idea of his being Slytherin's heir was quite ludicrous. But their antics seemed to be aggravating Draco Malfoy, who looked increasingly sour each time he saw them at it.

'It's because he's bursting to say it's really him,' said Ron knowingly. 'You know how he hates anyone beating him at anything, and you're getting all the credit for his dirty work.'

'Oh, I got so many ideas to mess with him! Hay Harry, how would you feel if I turned you into a snake? Only for a little bit! Then when you craw into the hall I turn you back to normal.' Harry shook his head. Well, he thought the look on Draco's face would be priceless, he didn't quite like the idea of being turned into a snake.

'Not for long,' said Hermione in a satisfied tone. 'The Polyjuice