A Halliwell at Hogwarts: The Chamber of Secrets

IV - Mudbloods And Slugs

Harry spent a lot of time over the next few days dodging out of sight whenever he saw Gilderoy Lockhart coming down a corridor. It wasn't difficult, he was an idiot and every time he asked Persephone if she had seen Harry (he had noticed that she, Harry, Ron and Hermione spent a lot of time together), she'd send him the other way without hesitation.

Harder to avoid was Colin Creevey, who seemed to have memorized Harry's schedule. Nothing seemed to give Colin a bigger thrill than to say, "All right, Harry?" six or seven times a day and hear, "Hello, Colin," back, however exasperated Harry sounded when he said it.

Ron's wand was still malfunctioning, surpassing itself on Friday morning by shooting out of Ron's hand in Charms and hitting tiny old Professor Flitwick squarely between the eyes, creating a large, throbbing green boil where it had struck. So with one thing and another, they all were quite glad to reach the weekend. Persephone, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were planning to visit Hagrid on Saturday morning. Persephone, however, was shaken awake several hours earlier than she would have liked by Angelina Johnson, one of the other Chasers of the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

"Whassamatter?" said Persephone groggily.

"Quidditch practice..." said Angelina sleepily.

Persephone squinted at the window. There was a thin mist hanging across the pink-and-gold sky.

"Angelina," Persephone croaked. "It's the crack of dawn."

"I know," said Angelina, "you tell Oliver that. Apparently, it's part of our new training program."

Yawning and shivering slightly, Persephone climbed out of bed and tried to find her Quidditch robes.

"Meet you on the field in fifteen minutes" the older girl said with sleepy eyes.

When she found her scarlet team robes and pulled on her cloak for warmth, Persephone scribbled a note to Hermione explaining where she'd gone, and went down the spiral staircase to the common room, her Nimbus Two Thousand on her shoulder.

She and Harry reached the common room at the same time. They looked at each other and sighed.

The two had just reached the portrait hole when there was a clatter behind them and Colin Creevey came dashing down the spiral staircase, his camera swinging madly around his neck and something clutched in his hand.

"I heard someone saying your name on the stairs, Harry!—" He stopped when he saw Persephone.

"Good morning, Persephone" he said shyly with flushed cheeks.

Persephone yawned and smiled at him, "Morning, Colin."

"Look what I've got here! I've had it developed, I wanted to show you —"

Harry and Persephone looked bemusedly at the photograph Colin was brandishing under Harry's nose.

A moving, black-and-white Lockhart was tugging hard on an arm Persephone recognized as Harry's. Harry was pleased to see that his photographic self was putting up a good fight and refusing to be dragged into view, while Persephone found it amusing. It reminded her one of those old mute films she had found in the attic of the Manor two years ago. As they watched, Lockhart gave up and slumped, panting, against the white edge of the picture.

"Will you sign it?" said Colin eagerly.

"No," said Harry flatly, glancing around to check that the room was really deserted. "Sorry, Colin, we're in a hurry — Quidditch practice —"

He climbed through the portrait hole, dragging Persephone with him.

"Oh, wow! Wait for me! I've never watched a Quidditch game before!"