Percy Jackson and the Heir of Slytherin [Book 2]

48) Basilisk

My brain was filled to the brim that morning at breakfast. Even my Hufflepuff friends didn't seem to want to bother me.

I became an enemy to the spiders, met Athena, and had to try and figure out how we were going to talk to Myrtle. It was a bad morning.

All of those thoughts were momentarily pushed to the back of my mind during Transfiguration when McGonagall told us that exams would be in one week.

"Exams?" Seamus howled. "We're still getting exams?"

I ignored Neville disappearing a table leg and listened to McGonagall continue, "The whole point of keeping the school open at this time is for you to receive your education," she said pointedly. "The exams will therefore take place as usual, and I trust you are all revising hard."

I knew I hadn't been studying. So much had been on my plate recently that I hadn't even thought about exams. Mutters filled the room, people having similar thoughts as me.

"Professor Dumbledore's instructions were to keep the school running as normally as possible," McGonagall scowled. "And that, I need hardly point out, means finding out how much you have learned this year."

I looked down at the recently turned white slippers in front of me. I was worried that I would fail the tests. Especially, Lockhart's. That man hates me.

Ron's wand started whistling, and he said, "Can you imagine me taking exams with this?"

Just a few days before the first exam, McGonagall made an announcement at breakfast.

"I have good news," she said, and everyone started shouting.

Different people guessed with shouts. Most seemed to think Dumbledore was coming back. Haley squealed about the heir being caught. Wood roared that Quidditch was back on.

None were right.

When everything quieted, McGonagall said, "Professor Sprout has informed me that the Mandrakes are ready for cutting at last. Tonight, we will be able to revive those people who have been Petrified. I need hardly remind you all that one of them may well be able to tell us who, or what, attacked them. I am hopeful that this dreadful year will end with our catching the culprit."

The Great Hall exploded with cheers. I felt myself getting teary at the thought of my friends coming back. I heard happy sobs coming from Hannah. I hugged her. It was probably the happiest that we've ever been.

I could only see a few Slytherin's cheering. The only one I recognized was Blaise Zabini. He's chill. I've worked with him on some potions project before. Draco wasn't cheering, though I could see he was struggling to fight back a smile.

It was one of the happiest days of my life.

On the way to History of Magic while we were being led my Lockhart, an opportunity to go see Myrtle arose.

"Mark my words," Lockhart ushered us around a corner, "the first words out of those poor Petrified people's mouths will be, 'It was Hagrid.' Frankly, I'm astounded McGonagall thinks all these security measures are necessary."

"I agree, sir," Harry said, and I gaped at him while Ron dropped his books.

"Thank you, Harry," Lockhart said as we waited for a line of sixth years to pass. I smiled and waved at Holden. "I mean, we teachers have quite enough to be getting on with, without walking students and standing guard all night..."

"That's right," Ron said, and I quickly caught on, too. "Why don't you leave us here, sir, we've only got one more corridor to go."

"You know, Weasley, I think I will," Lockhart said. "I really should go and prepare my next class."

"Prepare his class," Ron sneered. "Gone to curl his hair, more like."

We hurried off after the other classes walked ahead, and Draco gave me a worried look. I just smiled, and tapped my pocket, where Riptide sat. He nodded, then walked ahead.

We were nearly there when I heard McGonagall, "Potter! Weasley! Jackson! What are you doing?"

"We were — we were —" Ron started stammering, "we were going to — to go and see—"

"Hermione," I said. My friends all looked at me.

"We haven't seen her in forever, Professor," I said, frowning, "and we thought... well, we thought we would sneak into the hospital wing, and tell her how things were going. Mandrakes are nearly ready, and then maybe read some of our notes to her because she's missed on so much studying, and well... not to worry," I said, my lip sticking out slightly. I looked at my shoes, frowning.

I was worried McGonagall was going to explode at us, but she spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, "Of course. Of course, I realize this has all been hardest on the friends of those who have been... I quite understand. Yes, Jackson, of course you may visit Miss Granger. I will inform Professor Binns where you've gone. Tell Madam Pomfrey I have given my permission."

We turned the corner. I was surprised that she hadn't given us detention.

"That," Ron said, "was the best story you've ever come up with."

Now we had no choice but to go to the hospital wing and visit Hermione. Thankfully, Madam Pomfrey let us in, though she was reluctant.

As I walked in, Madam Pomfrey said, "Mr. Jackson, I thought you were going to help with the potion to unpetrify the students? What happened with that?"

"Well, after my attack, the teachers decided it would be better that everyone stay away from too much danger. If the heir were to attack, that's where they would go if they were smart," I said, frowning slightly. Madam Pomfrey nodded, and we walked over to Hermione.

Ron was saying something, but me and Harry were staring at something clenched in Hermione's right hand. A small piece of paper.

Ron moved his chair to block view from Madam Pomfrey as Harry attempted to wiggle the paper out of her grip. After ten minutes, he finally succeeded.

Ron whispered what the paper read to me.

Of the many fearsome beasts and monsters that roam our land, there is none more curious or more deadly than the Basilisk, known also as the King of Serpents. This snake, which may reach gigantic size, and live many hundreds of years, is born from a chicken's egg, hatched beneath a toad. It's methods of killing are most wondrous, for aside from its deadly and venomous fangs, the Basilisk has a murderous stare, and all who are fixed with the beam of its eye shall suffer instant death. Spiders flee before the Basilisk, for it is their mortal enemy, and the Basilisk flees only from the crowing of a rooster, which is fatal to it.

Beneath this was a single word, written in Hermione's neat hand. Pipes.

We're watching the Lorax I guess. My cousin is here. We'll call Supergirl. They got my dog a new toy. He loves it. We're supposed to look at another house later today. It's actually close to our school, which is pretty cool. It's pretty nice. Also, my step-mom is getting a new job, where she gets to stay at home for work. That's not fun. Emblem only comes over when the parents are home. But she'll get paid more, so that's cool. I also really want food, but I want to get up even less. This book is going to be done pretty soon. It's weird. I've also really got to work on the fourth book more. I'm excited.

I love you all, and I hope you have a Fantastic Friday. I will see you on Sunday :)