Without Draco [Harry Potter]

Second Year

Quidditch Practice

The Gryffindor Quidditch team was heading down to the pitch to practice. Wood was making them work as often as possible. He was determined to win the Quidditch Cup that year.

On their way down, they were stopped by the Slytherin Quidditch team. Montague, the team captain held up a note for all to see. It read:

I, Professor S. Snape, give the Slytherin team permission to practice today on the Quidditch field owing to the need to train their new seeker.

The Gryffindors noticed just by looking at the Slytherin team's brooms that whoever the new seeker was had real talent. They certainly hadn't bought their way on, judging by the cleansweeps and comets each Slytherin had.

"You've got a new seeker?" said Wood. "Where?" Out stepped a second year boy no one recognized. He seemed rather nervous for his first practice but must've done well in tryouts to be on the team.

Seeing no reason to deny them the Quidditch pitch, Wood waved them ahead. They hadn't really done anything wrong, except steal the pitch. None of them were too smug about it, except the smirks. At least they didn't turn it into an argument. There was nothing the Gryffindors could do about it, anyways.

Secretly, the members of the Gryffindor Quidditch team were relieved. Wood had them out practicing every morning from dawn until breakfast and from dinner until sunset. It was nice to not have to practice for one morning.

The two teams parted ways, one heading towards the Quidditch pitch, the other to the Gryffindor dorms.

The Dueling Club

"I think is better teach you how to block unfriendly spells," said Lockhart. "Let's have a volunteer pair - Longbottom and Finch-Fletchley, how about you-"

"A bad idea, Professor Lockhart," said Snape. "Longbottom causes devastation with the simplest spells. We'll be sending what's left of Finch-Fletchley up to the hospital wing in a matchbox. How about Zabini and Potter?" suggested Snape, his lips curling into a twisted smile,

Snape didn't really know who to pick. Yes, Harry hated all of the Slytherins just like any other typical Gryffindor. However, he didn't have a specific rivalry with any of them. There also wasn't any particular student who stood out intellectually. Had there been such a student, Professor Snape would've chosen them in a heartbeat.

"Excellent idea!" exclaimed Lockhart. "Now, Harry, when Zabini points his wand at you, you do this." Lockhart attempted a demonstration but dropped his wand. "Whoops - my wand is a little overexcited-"

Harry looked up at Lockhart nervously. "Professor, could you show me that blocking thing again?"

Lockhart patted Harry's shoulder. "Just do what I did, Harry!"

"What, drop my wand?"

Harry and Blaise Zabini stood in the center of the dueling platform. They both drew their wands up in front of their faces and put them down. Both second year boys then turned around and headed to their sides of the platform, and went into their starting stances.

"Three, two, one, go!" shouted Lockhart.

Zabini attempted to disarm Harry, but he easily dodged the attack. Seeing an opportunity, Harry noticed Zabini was about to move. Using this to his advantage, Harry pointed his wand at Zabini, effectively making him believe Harry was gong to shoot and jumping to the right. Harry immediately yelled "Expelliarmus!" successfully disarming Zabini and therefore winning the match.

Everyone congratulated Harry when Lockhart announced him as the winner, except the Slytherins of course.

The duel had been successful and they were now to be working on a shield charm for the remainder of the class.

Polyjuice Potion

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting in the library. They had been there for about three hours, looking up information about the Chamber of Secrets. There wasn't much.

"I just wish there was some clue of who the Heir of Slytherin could be. I wonder if anyone knows who it is," said Harry, frustrated.

Hermione looked like she was in deep thought for a few seconds, then suggested "Well, we could use Polyjuice potion and ask a bunch of Slytherins. We'd be breaking about fifty school rules but it could be worth it."

Harry and Ron looked at each other with wide eyes. Hermione, suggesting they break school rules? No one saw that coming.

Harry eventually said, "What's Polyjuice potion?"

Hermione sighed, before stating "Weren't you listening to Snape in potions? It lets you transform into someone else for about an hour."

Harry and Ron thought about this. Well, Harry did. Ron was too hungry to focus. "We'd be talking to a lot of people. We don't know who to start with, especially since we only have an hour."

Hermione nodded then said "Yes, I suppose it was a silly suggestion. Never mind then."

And the three continued reading in the library for the next few weeks, finding next to nothing.

The Chamber of Secrets

Harry and Ron dragged Lockhart to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. "Myrtle?" Harry called out.

Suddenly a wailing ghost spun out of one of the toilets. "Ooh, yes, Harry?" she asked, flying around the bathroom.

Finally, though, she stopped in front of him. "Did you have something you wanted to ask me?"

"Erm, yes, how did- how did you die?" Harry asked, ripping off the band-aid.

"Oh, well this girl Olive was bullying me...I ran in here to hide. I cried in one of the stalls and heard someone walk into the bathroom and say something. It wasn't a girl though, so I told him to go away. I stepped out of the stall and I died."

Harry furrowed his eyebrows. "How exactly did you die?"

Myrtle replied, "I don't know. All I remember is a great big pair of yellow eyes, over by that sink." She pointed to the sink facing them.

Ron and Harry rushed over to the sink Myrtle pointed out. There were some snakes decorating the faucets, but neither of them could figure out how to open the Chamber from there.

Eventually, all of the Basilisk's victims were revived, and Hermione spent three hours in the library as soon as she woke up. She made the connection of Parseltongue and the Basilisk.

The trio was able to open the Chamber by faking some Parseltongue. They found out Harry actually was able to speak the language. That would've been very useful the night Lockhart tried to leave. They defeated the Basilisk along with Tom Riddle and his diary, but Ginny Weasley was dead.

(A/N)

Two down, five to go! I'll most likely post two more parts today and the other three tomorrow. Or three today, two tomorrow. Whatever ends up happening. Hope you enjoyed!

Have a nice day!

~Lia