Not Just Our Story

Chapter 12: The Opening of the Chamber

October 31, 1992

Harriet Potter

I'm late, I'm late, I'm late, I'm so late! "Ack!" CRASH.

"Ha, ha, ha!"

Argh, just my luck. I tripped over myself and landed headfirst onto the floor, right in front of the Slytherins. Okay... it's not just the Slytherins, but everyone in the Great Hall. And... unfortunately, my table's at the other side. I had to walk past the Ravenclaws, the Hufflepuffs, until...

I let out a loud groan as I fell on the seat next to Hermione. "Finally, I'm here!"  

She glared at me disapprovingly. "Where have you been?"

"Second floor. Sorry, can't talk. Must eat." I grabbed the treacle tarts and stuffed them in my mouth. 

Horrified, Hermione hissed, "You are a lady!"

"I'm a girl, not a lady," I said. "And my estrogen and progesterone levels are going bonkers. I'm craving for high-carbs and sweets!"

"What? What the---all right, all right, slow down, Harry. You're going to choke if you eat too fast." I nodded as she went on. "Could you please tell me why you're late?"  

I swallowed before saying, "I woke up somewhere in the second floor. Don't know how I got there, but I was covered in paint." I stopped when I realized I had already taken half of the tarts. I offered some to Hermione. "Want some?"

"Never mind that," she snapped. "You promised Nearly Headless Nick---"

"Oh, right! The ghost party! We're late, aren't we?"

She let out an exasperated huff and took my arm as she got up. "Come on!"

"What about---?"

"Ron!" Hermione practically roared.

"Coming!" He hastily got up from the other side of the table, cramming some chocolates in his mouth. Hermione looked up at the ceiling. "Honestly!" She led us out of the Great Hall and toward the dungeons. 

Draco Malfoy

Shaking my head, I watched Potter clumsily get up and rush to the Gryffindor table. The Halloween Feast had already started, and the Great Hall was decorated as usual with live bats and vast pumpkins large enough for three men to sit in. Dumbledore had booked a troupe of dancing skeletons, and we were all waiting eagerly for them to begin. While absentmindedly looking around, I saw Potter and her friends sneak off to the dungeons. Now, what on earth are they up to?

After a satisfying meal, we all went back to our own common rooms. We were all happily talking when we stopped dead in front of a hanging cat---Mrs. Norris.

There was a writing on the wall behind her.

THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE.

I purposefully pushed to the front of the crowd. "Enemies of the Heir, beware! You'll be next, Mudbloods!"

I realized too late that Potter and her friends were standing at the center of the scene.

"What's going on here? What's going on?"

Filch came shouldering his way through the crowd. Then, he fell back, clutching his face in horror. "My cat! My cat! What's happened to Mrs. Norris?"

His cracking eyes fell on Potter. "You!" he screeched. "You! You've murdered my cat! You've killed her! I'll kill you! I'll---"

"Argus!"

Dumbledore entered the scene, followed by other teachers. He calmly swept past us and detached Mrs. Norris from the torch bracket. "Come with me, Argus," he told Filch. "You too Miss Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger."

Lockhart keenly stepped forward. "My office is nearest, Headmaster---just upstairs---please feel free---" "Thank you, Gilderoy," said Dumbledore.

We all parted to let them pass. Lockhart hurried after Dumbledore, along with Professors McGonagall and Snape. We were immediately ushered to our common rooms after that.