The Slytherin Troublemaker

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

"That's...that's Mrs. Norris!" Ron said, horrified. "Filch's cat. What happened to her?"

"Look at this!" Hermione yelled, pointing to the wall with the words written in blood. "The Chamber of Secrets...I've never heard of that before."

"Neither have I," I said. "Enemies of the heir, what could that be? And why is it written in...blood?"

"We'd better get out of here," Harry said quietly. "The feast's bound to be over soon. We don't want to be caught here. It wouldn't look good." We all nodded in agreement. As we started to exit the area, we heard chattering of people coming down the hallway.

"The feast must be over," Hermione said quietly. "We'd better hurry up." When we had just stepped about five feet away from the wall and the brazier, we saw Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Snape, Lockhart, Professor Sprout, and much to our despair, Filch.

"What the devil is...?" Filch began, pointing at his cat but he trailed off. "You, you killed my cat!" He was infuriated with rage and started towards the four of us. Thankfully, Professor McGonagall held him back.

"Argus, they're children!" she yelled.

"But my cat! These children have been discovered at the scene of the crime! They killed poor old sweet Mrs. Norris!" He ran over to his cat dramatically but then began tearing up. I felt a tiny bit of pity for him.

"Not that sweet," Ron mumbled, elbowing me. The teachers walked over to the scene. I dearly hoped we wouldn't get in trouble. We could be expelled! 

 Dumbledore looked the raggedy-coated cat up and down over his spectacles. The cat's yellow eyes were alert and frozen. I had thought that her eyes would've been closed if she was upside down, but they were wide in shock.

"She isn't dead Argus," Dumbledore announced. "She's only been petrified."

Filch pointed a bony finger at us. "It was them! They did it! Be reasonable Albus! They've been discovered at the scene of the crime!" I don't know why he had to use that saying again, but I hoped the other teachers wouldn't believe him.

"We didn't do it!" I mustered out with a strong pulse of courage.

"I know very well that the four of you have not done anything wrong," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye. "It would take a high level of wizarding skill to preform such a curse." I almost sighed in relief. So Dumbledore knew we weren't guilty. Phew.

"Albus I beg you expel them! Look what they did to her!" Filch pleaded.

"Perhaps they were just at the wrong place at the wrong time," Snape piped in. I was surprised to see him sticking up for us. Harry had told me how much Snape loathed him and even being in his own house, I could tell he didn't particularly like me. "Of course we should investigate further, but I'd say they are innocent...until proven quilty."

"I believe Severus is right," Professor McGonagall said with surprise in her expression. Lockhart stepped forward.

"Ah I fixed one of these occurrences very quickly. I believe I was working in the Himalayas. Someone had thought that the petrifying case had been one involved with the Yeti, but obviously I had already slayed the beast. Anyhow-" He was interrupted by Snape.

"I believe the Headmaster has this under control," he said with annoyance flickering in his voice.

"Oh yes of course," Lockhart said, blushing. I was beginning to like Snape all of a sudden.

"I believe Professor Sprout is growing mandrakes currently," Dumbledore said, turning towards the plump lady with emerald robes and a generous looking face.