‘Right now on those mirrors I was thinking we set up some mirrors at intersections and wide halls to be safe, I’ll put out an announcement at dinner, feel free to spread the word, I have some work to do, a headmaster should make sure his school is safe.’ David watched him walk away as David looked at Colin, he could see his Daughter there, as he steeped himself he had a chamber to find.
The night was late as he scanned the girl’s bathroom, he checked the stalls everything didn’t seem anything was out of place in the gloomy bathroom. ‘Think,’ he pressed himself as he urged his brain to work out what was wrong.
‘Professor!’ Came to a shout as Filch walked in with a busted return. ‘I found this in the restricted section.’ He grinned before he glanced around nervously. ‘Sir, uh why are you in the girl’s bathroom?’
‘Looking into the late night events, let’s go,’ he walked past the sink as he was dragged along on a wild goose chase for the rest of the night.
Holly turned over in her sleep when she snapped open from a pretty cool dream about her knocking Voldemort around, she rushed for her trunk as she snapped it close wakings Hermione as well as the other two second-year Gryffindor girls.
The truck shook as Fobby tried to escape. ‘Not this time my dad and I Came prepared after you got my new books.’ She smirked only for the trunk to be blasted off, everyone screamed as Holly dropped through the canopy over her bed as she flopped onto the bed. ‘Get back here!’ She shouted.
‘It’s for Holly Potters own good!’ He cried back as Hermione sent a spell at him, the spell hit but he kept moving as the two girls tore after him in their nightgowns.
‘What in the world?’ Lavander commented.
‘What did you hit him with?’ Holly asked as they raced after Dobby as he took a sharp turn out of the common room.
‘An anti aperition jinx that should keep him grounded as a suit of armor suddenly dropped in their path as Holly leaped around only for Hermione to crash into it.
‘Hermione!’ She skidded to a halt only for Hermione to wave at her to go as she stood up. Holly carried on as Dobby busted into the library as she raced after him.
The House-elf dashed into the restricted section as he knocked a series of books that all suddenly started to scream. She clamped down on her ears as the elf busted back out and around another corner into a straightaway she managed to catch up with him, as she scooped him up she slipped, the long fall hit the rug as she slides across the floor as she held onto Dobby and her book as she crashed into a table as ink splashed over her.
‘Grrr,’ Holly fumed as she lifted Dobby up and held him by his now ink-stained pillowcase her defense book held in her other, as she heard shouting as she pulled out her cloak and wrapped the pair up in it. Filch skidded around the corner,
‘Out of bed troublemaker,’ he hissed the old man looked more angry and dangerous than normal as she clamped a hand over Dobby’s mouth only for him to bite.
‘Irk,’ she forced her hand into his mouth and it thankfully cut back on his bite force. She waited for her heart pumping as her hand throbbed with pain as the caretaker glanced around as if to sniff her out.
‘Filch we have an emergency,’ McGonagall strode in before she glanced around, ‘a student has been attacked, I need you to be careful. Do try to take care of this.’ She gestured to the area,
‘Yes ma’am,’ as she worked her way out of earshot.
‘You are making it very hard not to want to strangle you.’ Holly frowned as she sat him down near the fireplace, she had bound him up her scarf to prevent him from running off as she cleaned the ink of herself.
‘Dobby only means well, Dobby hopped that if Holly Potter missed the train she would stay home.’ He admitted,
‘I bet you also sent the bludger as well.’ She concluded as he nodded as Hermione repaired her glasses that had bent in the crash.
‘Do we really need to tie him up?’ Hermione asked as she hat a pitying look on her face.
‘Okay, so settle this for me?’ Holly crossed her arms. ‘The Malfoy family is behind this, So is Draco the one who opened the chamber?’
‘No master Malfoy was never informed, it was for his own good.’ Dobby then started to slap his head as hard as he could against the chair arms.
‘Ohh,’ Hermione moved to stop him, as she restrained the elf. ‘What happened to your hands?’ She asked as she held them in front of her a pair of blackened and bandaged digits.
‘I had to open them, punishment for cursing the bludger,’ he admired, as Hermione looked horrified at the prospect her own anger twisted up with pity for Dobby.
‘How horrible, is there anything we can do for you?’ Dobby can only be freed by his masters.
‘Good luck with that.’ Holly frowned, ‘we also had a new attack a student so we have The Who the question is how?’ She frowned,
‘Wait that means Draco is involved,’ Hermione concluded.
‘No his dad, I am not going after that potion idea, the books he tore down had some kind of security. So unless you think you can outsmart a teacher, that option is out.’ Holly frowned.
‘We should tell your dad about what we know.’ Hermione sighed, admitting defeat on the matter, Holly said was sure Hermione would figure out another idea, her oldest friend was not easily detoured when she found an injustice.
‘Dobby, the longer you stay here the worse you’re going to do to yourself. Hermione, we need to let him go.’ She sighed,
‘But his hands he might kill himself,’ she looked horrified.
‘I know,’ she sighed, ‘but you can’t fight a magical contract, we will think of something but for now we have to accept the rules as they stand.’ Holly begrudgingly admitted.
‘Promise?’ Hermione asked as she looked at her that just ate her insides up.
‘Promise,’ Holly agreed as Hermione stood up and whipped away her tears as she canceled her spell.
Dobby lingered for a second, ‘I am sorry Holly Potter, and Hermione.’ He squeaked with a bow, then cracked away.
‘How terrible,’ Hermione frowned, as Holly silently nodded,
‘Spread it around to Muggle-born students, try not to be too loud about it.’ Holly glanced at her before she grabbed her book and headed up for the night.
‘Holly,’ Hermione whined,
‘A student was attacked Hermione, I want to help but right now making a fuse could get you attacked, or worse,’ she wrapped the curly hair girl into a hug as she let a few tears lose. She pulled back with a hard sniff as she tried to pretend she wasn’t upset.
‘Good night,’ she stated as she headed up to bed.
The next morning everyone knew who it was Colin. The rumor mill was going crazy, as Ron started up about Malfoy being upset about the loss.
A long conversation from Hermione and he was up to speed. ‘So heard the dueling club starts up later today. Want to go?’ Ron asked as he missed the role of Hermione.
‘And miss out on a chance to hex Malfoy?’ Holly smirked as Hermione perked up. ‘Not a chance,’ as the three found themselves front and center at the start of the club, not too surprisingly it was pretty cramped.
‘Hey Neville,’ Ron greeted as the fellow Gryffindor waved back he looked rather winded. ‘You okay?’
‘Just fine,’ he waved of as Ron shrugged as The two Professors walked in.
‘Do to-aw- recent events we decided to jump the dueling club up a bit earlier than normal.’ He yawned as her dad looked even more tired than usual. ‘Since most of you should know the basics, but there are a few dues that must be paid, so Professor Snape will join me in showing an example of a duel.
Malfoy and his little gang grinned as Draco sent a malicious grin. Holly was already familiar with the motions already. The bow, the walk, and the count.
Snape moved first but the stunner was deflected as both teachers went silent. Even sleep deprived David was able to defend against the well-rested potions master. The room went silent as the sound of robes and the l
ight movements of feet clipped careful you each used all the allotted space.
‘End,’ David said as he withdrew. ‘Now then-‘ He was cut off as he was suddenly sent spiraling into the air as he slammed into the ground. Holly covered her mouth as the usual suspects laughed at her dad as she spotted a downright murderous look. The glare vanished as he stood up his face calm.
‘Now then, I think it would be a good time to give the floor, Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Weasley comes on up.’ He instructed,
‘A fair idea, but Mr. Weasley I feel Mrs. Potter would be better suited for a demonstration, She has already practiced no offense.’ David winked at him as Ron grinned.
‘Ladies first,’ he bowed as Holly jumped up onto the stage.
Draco smirked as he stood up on Professor Snape’s side. Holly bounced on her heels, ready to vent out some frustration.
‘Now then any good duelist when starting out should have a good stance, one of the best is the fencer’s stance. Holly,’ He nodded as she turned to minimize the amount of herself that faced Malfoy her wand rested low but without obstruction. ‘This lowers a number of spells that can hit you. While with more seasoned duelist can easily counter most things in this club are straight spells. Next up the shield,’
Holly changed bending her knees as a magical shield formed with the proper incarnation. ‘This should cover and incoming spells and curses while not everything, it can tire you out so don’t hide behind it to long.’
Holly dismissed the shield as she relaxed, ‘next is the stunning spell, stupify. Then the Disarming spell experiamus. These will do as implied, those are the only spells that should be needed, for the dueling climb but if you get creative with a tickle charm or say a jelly leg jinx that’s okay as well. Everyone pair up and give it a few test tries most of you should be familiar So everyone line up on opposite sides of the room don’t need anyone getting hexed in the back.’
The spells moved around as Draco started up but Holly put up a shield up as the curses were absorbed. Holly glanced around as she grasped the fact that she was well ahead of here pears, even Hermione who was top was having trouble with a Slytherin girl, Pansey if she remembered the proper name.
She suddenly felt her feet move as she realized her mistake. She ‘Finite feet,’ she tapped her feet as the stopped, ‘Experiamus!’ She shouted as his wand went flying.
Malfoy glared at her as he watched her, and moved towards his fallen wand. She watched as he picked it up got ready to cast a second spell as she repeated the spell as it was knocked away.
Hermione giggled as everyone started to stop to watch Draco as he repeated the proses. Holly sighed, ‘Can I pair up with someone else?’
‘Issues, Mrs. Potter?’ Snape asked in his slimy tone, he seemed a bit more present than normal.
‘Can we change partners?’ She asked as she watched, Draco picked up his wand as she motioned her head as the two dodged another curse.
‘Draco stop your just embarrassing yourself.’ He frowned as the blonde boy paused. ‘Fair enough, since it seems you consider yourself better than the others I will be your partner.’
Draco grinned, but it started to fade as Holly grinned at the idea. ‘Okay,’ She readied herself as Snape announced his spells. The first spell hi her shield as she felt the impact in her wand arm, the shield shattered, as Snape smirked at her.
‘How do we deal with strong spells?’ Her dad reminded as she nodded, as she ignored the crowd, the next spell she used her wand to guide the spell away as it hit a wall harmlessly deflected. She shook her arm to dull the pain.
‘Hmp,’ Snape has lost his smirk as did Draco. Holly watched the teacher glance past her as she sent a disarming spell as his wand flicked out of his hand.
The room could hear the wand drop before it settled, ‘Well always be alert as Draco showed earlier and as Snape has shown all the skill and knowledge in the world cannot save you if you’re not paying attention.’ David commented. Snape walked back to retrieve his wand as Holly stood and felt uncomfortable,
‘Serpensortia!’ Malfoy cast as a large black snake landed on the table, as everyone gasped, as David rolled his eyes, as Holly reached out and just picked the snake up.
‘So what was this supposed to do?’ She asked as she used two fingers to rub the animals head.
‘I,’ Draco blinked dumbly,
‘Can I keep it?’ She asked, as her dad sighed,
‘No, Holly you can’t that’s a black mamba, it’s venomous. Vipers Evanesca,’ He summoned the snake as Holly frowned, as her dad shook his head.
‘Next time try something else, I happen to have an affinity for handling snakes.’ She winked and dropped off the stage.
‘That was wicked,’ Ron patted her on the back as the dueling club slowly started to dissolve as people filed out as she spent the time practicing spells with her friends as the group loosened up. Her dad spent most of it instructing those who were not as gifted as Snape kept to his corner, she would catch him watching her from the corner of her eye as the potions master’s nature continued to confuse her.
As the day winded down she took the time to linger as she waited her dad became more aware as he hurried along some excitable first years. ‘Something you need Mrs, Potter?’ He asked as she rolled her eyes.
‘I got a visit from Dobby last night, he confirmed that Lucius is somehow behind the chamber opening. How?’ She shrugged,
‘That is odd but I’ll ask Lupin to keep an eye on his political activity, what troubles me is how that son has been claiming to be involved but I doubt he honestly has a clue.’ David shook his head when his eyes went wide. ‘Parseltongue.’ He slapped his head in realization.
‘Speaking to snakes right, I thought you said to avoid that?’ She reminded as she recalled the heart attack she gave him.
‘Right follow me.’ He waved her along as she followed along to find herself back at Myrtle’s bathroom. She stood idle as he glanced around, when suddenly.
‘Found it!’ He declaimed, ‘Okay I need you to say something in the snake.’ He stepped back. She nodded closed her eyes and thought of a snake.
‘Opens,’ she said as the sink suddenly snapped as the sinks slowly parted and the one she faces slowly dropped down to reveal an opening and a long drop.
‘Well, crap.’
‘I may still need you, so stick close, here’ he handed her a mirror she looked in and saw Well the hole still. She tapped the mirror only to confirm it was there.
‘A charm it will keep you from looking directly where you are going, still if you see anything move close your eyes and head back,’ he flicked his wand after a long wait two brooms flew in as he summoned up an orb of light.
‘That should cover everything. I am sure there is a way back up but better safe than sorry.’ He nodded as he pulled out a paper airplane and sent it off.
‘Another adventure,’ she smiled as they mounted up and floated down,
‘The sewer system that would explain it, I didn’t think the pipes would be this large.’ He admitted, she blinked not sure how to respond as he zipped down the pipe as Holly shot after.
‘With his reputation, I was expecting something, more,’ He frowned as the walked along a rocky path.
‘Luxurious?’ She finished as he nodded,
‘Yeah, rock and, close your eyes,’ He suddenly ordered as she stopped and listened as her dad moved, ‘Okay it’s safe,’ he sighed, as Holly opened her eyes to find a massive snake,
‘Oh,’ she frowned, as her dad whistled.
‘Big snake huh?’ He commented as he patted the dead skin.
‘We are going to kill this?’ She asked as she looked at him.
‘Something like that, if needed I can transfigure a rooster if needed… that’s why the roosters.’ He summed up as he explained the monster, to listen to her dad talk on about it, the monster became more of a deadly pest than the fear-inspiring creature the school had been in terror of even as they passed a weird door with a bunch of snakes.
‘Ego much?’ She frowned as she cautiously stepped forward only for her dad to match forward. She watched him move and he shifted around glanced over everything.
‘Something’s never changed huh?’ He chuckled, ‘but empty all the same this is the place.’ He settled.
‘What was your first hint?’ Holly sassed as her dad laughed it off.
They headed back, The familiar purple robes rushed as Holly closed the door with the multiple snakes on it. ‘I see you are as quick to act as ever.’ Sally greeted as David slipped his hands into his pockets.
‘Nothing to worry about but now that we have the location confirmed, we should keep a female ghost to keep an eye out for our petrified, is that even a word?’ He glanced at Holly who just shrugged.
‘That’s Good Why is Holly here?’ The headmaster asked,
‘Her Parseltongue ability was instrumental, but best keep that on the down low.’ He hushed, ‘We also have reason to believe Lucius is involved, a source that wishes to remain anonymous so keep an out for any sudden movement in the political.’
‘Fair enough,’ Sally nodded, ‘thank you for finding this place.’
‘We should set up our trap the sooner we shut this down the better.’ David insisted as Sally agreed.
Holly held back as the two chatted as Holly glanced back as she had a feeling they were being watched. She glanced back to see the adults had already started to walk off as she raced after them.
She talked to Her group of friends and before long the school started to calm down. ‘Well that’s good they will finally wrap this up. Now we can get on to bigger issues, my end of the year potions exam.’ Ron decided as he got back to his homework. ‘Hey Ginny, they found the chamber, it was in a girls bathroom of all places.’ He cracked, she seemed to want to speak but Holly gave her a wave, and she went bug-eyed and took off.
‘I hope she gets over that soon.’ Hermione shook her head. ‘Holly?’
She whispered Page 84