The Lost Souls

Ch 16 // fourth times NOT a charm

Sorry guys I've run out of ideas so I'm going a bit faster so I can get to an interesting point in the story. Hope you enjoy. Read on!

Harry was lying in his updated bed, previously Dudley's due to his cousin's kind gestures of whining to his father. The years have gone by too fast. He remembered when he was in second year and everyone freaked out about his parseltongue ability. He still looks back to that and wondered why he could communicate with snakes. He had no knowledge of his parents being able to do that, and nothing he ever heard at Hogwarts showed any sort of background of the ability in his family.

His inner Slytherin managed to talk his way to the librarian to get a certain book from the forbidden section. He got to take a book of known wizard families since the founders' time, a book on mysterious wizard stories, and a book on parselmouth ability. Hermione was happy about his eager to read, but was curious to his book choice. He had tried to start reading once he was locked away, upstairs in his room making noise and pretending he doesn't exist. He read about Tom Marvolo Riddle and his father and grandparents' mysterious death. He has read further when he stopped at mention of his parents.

When third year had started, he found out about his godfather and his innocence in a crime that was really Ron's rat's fault. He currently was laughing about it in his head. 'Rat man,' he was thinking. The door began to slowly creak open and he straightened his posture and sat up on his bed. He looked only to see his cousin at the door. He breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Hey, Harry. What're you up to?" "No good," joked Harry. Dudley laughed in response but kept his voice down. "School starts soon, doesn't it?" "Yeah. Draco said he'd come by to pick us up. Somehow he'd be casual, as to not raise suspicion. What do you reckon he'd do?" Dudley shrugged and took a reasonable guess. "He might have his parents dress all fancy and then they'd say their from secret service and that they used to go to school with us and that they needed to get us for a false claim. I don't know. He'll figure something out."

When they finally arrived at Hogwarts under the Malfoy's care, they rushed to the best seats Slytherins could ask for. Their house called it the Silver Seats. It was the seat with the best view, good distance from the bathrooms, and best access to overhearing Gryffindors and their gossip. Mainly they get those seats. They're the most popular group of Slytherins, more than any other year. Quidditch players get the next best seats, but no ones as high ranked as them. Along with them is Hermione and Pansy, who seem to come together all the time now.

Once they put their stuff away, they took a seat, Draco across from the other two. "How's that book you've been reading?" "Useful. I've found out about Tom splitting his soul into pieces. I think they called them hocruxes. Very classified information. I'm surprised they even allow this book in Hogwarts. No one even knows it's Voldy's real name." "Well he changed it for a reason. He doesn't want his father's common muggle name" said Draco.

Just then, the compartment door opened and they saw Pansy come in seeming to have something on her mind. "Hey Pansy. Where's Hermione?" The girl mumbled her response, "She's coming." The boys shared a confused look as she sat down next to Draco. Not a moment later, Hermione came in and her cat she got the previous year was in her arms. You could see a cut across her forehead and cheek, and more on her arms. "Woah, Granger Danger. What happened to you?" Hermione glared at Draco as she sat down next to Pansy.

Only Pansy noticed her wince as she took a seat. "I saw a cat and tried to pet it when it jumped up and scratched me. Crookshanks saved me from more damage, thankfully" explained Hermione. The boys believed her lie easily. They didn't seem to think it was really the fault of her mother's boyfriend. The girls were glad for that, because the boys wouldn't understand and would overreact.