Charlotte spends most of her time at Hogwarts with our favorite side characters. Wonder what they were doing during those anything but normal 7 years? Lottie is Cedric Diggory's best friend, a Gryffindor ally and an all around adventure driven, snea...
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In Transfiguration class, everyone seemed distracted. I mean why wouldn't they be? This school seemed to live like an epic drama.
Ronald Weasley had just attempted to turn his rat into a cup but was epically failing. It was furry and had a tail.
As McGonagall looks displeased, Hermione piped up. "Professor, I was wondering if you could tell us about the chamber of secrets?"
Everyone went quiet. Even Draco Malfoy who never stopped messing around. She looks at all our faces. Then decides to share.
" Very well. You all know, of course, that Hogwarts was founded over a thousand years ago by the four greatest witches and wizards of the age: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. Three of the founders co-existed quite harmoniously. One did not."
Ron snorts a bit. "3 guesses who." It was obviously Salazar Slytherin.
"Salazar Slytherin wished to be more selective about the students admitted to Hogwarts. He believed that magical learning should be kept within all-magic families. In other words, pure bloods. Unable to sway the others, he decided to leave the school." McGonagall says.
This is what Justin was telling me about.
McGonagall continues "Now according to legend, Slytherin had built a hidden chamber in this castle, known as the Chamber of Secrets. Shortly before departing, he sealed it until that time when his own true heir returned to the school. The heir alone would be able to open the Chamber of Secrets and unleash the horror within, and by so doing, purge the school of all those who, in Slytherin's view, were unworthy to study magic."
Hermione sighed a bit. "Muggle-borns."
"Yes. Naturally, the school has been searched many times for such a chamber. It has never been found." McGonagall seems to hope this will be the end of the discussion.
"Professor, what exactly does legend tell us lies within the chamber?"
"The Chamber is said to be home to something which the heir of Slytherin alone can control. It is said to be the home...of a monster."
My breath catches in my throat. This was the magical world. Monsters were hiding in the shadows.
That Saturday the girls and I put on our warmest coats and head to the Quidditch game. "This is so exciting." Luna, who has joined us says. We're rooting for Gryffindor (Obviously).
We all seemed to need a little something to get our minds off the danger that seemed to be looming. The game, like everything at Hogwarts, is nothing short of exciting.
"That bludgeon is chasing Harry Potter." Hannah says worriedly. We look and see the teachers aren't sure what to do. The Weasley twins do their best to defend Harry, but there is no doubt about it - that bludgeon is jinxed. It has one goal - get Harry Potter.
Harry plays the game as normal and when he almost has the snitch the bludgeon whams into his arm. We all gasp and the whole stand stands up. Harry finally gets the snitch, but falls off his broom in the process. "Oofff." Susan says covering her eyes.
"Why can't we have a normal school year?" Anna asks. "I had to convince my mom I did not want to transfer to another magical school in a very long letter last week." Hannah sighed. I sighed. I can't blame parents for feeling like this is unsafe.
The bludgeon finally is cast into flames by Hermione Granger. We all watch in horror as Lockhart says he can fix Harry's arm but actually makes the bone disappear. "Uhhhhh." Anna groans behind me. I think she might puke. "That's awful." Luna says.
We all agree we should leave. The game was over anyway. The 5 of us head to the library without any homework- we play cards and chat with each other- getting hushed at every giggle.
Soon after Seamus, Neville and Dean show up. "Hey guys! Is Harry alright?" Hannah asks. The boys take a seat and nod. "Yeah, Madame Pomfrey is gonna have to grow back the bone." Dean says. Anna makes another noise. She really is squeamish.
"Well, do you guys want to join us?" I ask casually. They all nod. Luna deals out some cards and we have our own fun Saturday.
"What do you guys think about that message on the wall?" Dean asks us. I shiver. "It's just dumb to think pure bloods are better." Luna says.
"Glad you think that, Luna. I'm a half-blood." Susan says.
"Yeah me too, actually. Just half." Hannah says.
"Half." Seamus raises his hand.
"Half." Dean chuckles.
I feel a sigh of relief that my friends are safe. "Anna?" I look to see her kicking the floor. "I uhh...well you know the aunt who I live with has magic and taught me from a young age so I wouldn't have questions but uhhh, I'm actually a muggle-born." She swallows hard. "I didn't know that." Hannah says. "Me neither." I mumble. I push all my fear away like I know she would do for me.
I get a hold of myself and squeeze her hand. "Nothing is going to happen." Anna nods but doesn't look up, obviously not convinced.
"Right guys?" I ask the group.
They all chorused with "yeah." "we're sure." "Don't worry." In the moment Anna felt a little better.
Unfortunately her relief was short lived. The next morning at breakfast rumor had spread - the monster had petrified first year Colin Creevy. A known muggle-born.
This stirred panic in everyone except the Slytherins. On that morning we all knew the danger wasn't coming. It was already here.
