New Beginnings

Chapter 21

It was when they arrived at the second floor girls bathroom - thus far making it undetected - that either Slytherin spoke up. Suddenly they were apprehensive, starting to wonder just exactly what was going on.

"A girl's bathroom?" Snape's eyes narrowed as Harry walked up to the sinks, like this was a daily occurrence for him. The teen ignored them.

They flinched as Harry spoke parseltongue, the Gryffindor for one moment sounding eerily like the dark lord. Nevertheless this was replaced by awe as the sinks revealed the pipe below it. Sliding marble took up their attention so much so that that they almost missed the distraught expression Harry wore.

"Where are you taking us?" Draco stepped up to the edge, glancing down fearfully. He still wanted to speak with Harry about him suddenly talking. Draco wouldn't lie and say he wasn't hurt that Harry hasn't told him anything.

"The chamber of secrets."

Before anyone could say another word Harry had jumped down the pipe, disappearing wordlessly. Draco glanced round to Snape then followed, his want to find out the truth overriding everything else.

He landed at the bottom, the floor automatically cushioned to break his fall gently. Draco found the Gryffindor standing at an tunnel opening, watching mutely as Snape slid down last.

Then he was off, not waiting for them to follow as Harry ambled down to another doorway as fast as he could. This one open with some parsel as well, though the surprise was muted now that they'd seen the sinks move, somehow it seemed less impressive than the spectacle in the girls bathroom.

Not even when Harry lead them to the base of Salazars statue did anything faze the pair, used to the dramtics of purebloods and the large displays of grandeur.

"Harry? Why are we here?" 

The Gryffindor pointed upwards, "Hermione's up there, she'd probably explain everything better than I ever could."  He chuckled weakly, looking ill as he levitated them to the top.

Harry knew Hermione didn't know everything - Dumbledore was smarter than that, but she knew enough to explain most of it better than Harry could ever verbalize especially if Snape was watching him.

The one spell changed everything for the two as Harry showed a casual dismissiveness to a display of magic that neither knew he was capable of.

Draco stumbled after, eyes widening in horror as they found Hermione strapped to a chair, working on some kind of quill. A knife embedded in her shoulder. Beneath the desk they could see her leg  sticking out at an odd angle, very clearly broken.

"Granger?"

She glanced up then went back to working silently. The Slytherins noted one eye had been sewn shut, whilst the other had the it's eyelid cut off.

"Answer them Hermione."

"Professor, Fer...Malfoy?" she took one look at Harry and hastened to changed her words, almost using the moronic insult Ron had first coined in fourth year.

Ducking away Harry mumbled softly, "I'll be downstairs."

Apprehensively Snape and Draco turned back to Hermione, who stared at them open mouthed, unsure of where to start but hope growing at the idea of them freeing her.