Chapter 58: Rumors
I trudged into the Slytherin Common Room; I was tired and hungry, which made me cranky; that's why I was shaping at Filch and also why I was going punch Draco's punchable face. The Common Room was filled with whispers as students talked about what had happened. When I walked in, silence reigned, and the other students stared at me, some in awe, some in shock.
"What?" I said flatly, staring back at my Hogwarts 'family'.
"Is Mrs Norris dead?" asked Cynthia in a whisper.
"just petrified; the school has mandrakes, so she will be cured eventually", I explained, some whispering picked up. "Anything else?"
"did you do it?" an older Slytherin asked.
"No," I said flatly and headed to my dorm room. I stopped briefly in and placed my guitar on the bed. Tim and Grant looked at me expectantly. I didn't say anything, just left to head to the showers. I drank the Pepper-up potion before going in for a nice, long, hot shower.
I came back refreshed, feeling physically much better. Grant and Tim had set up some food on my desk. "thanks", I said and tucked into the food with vigour.
They were respectful and quiet while I ate, but once I was done. "what happened?" Grant said in a cold voice.
"I made my guitar, came into the castle and found Mrs Norris hanging there", I said, "She's not dead, thank god", I sighed.
"what's the Chamber of Secrets?" asked Tim, who was worried for me.
"Something bad, no doubt", Grant said, and I nodded. "you know what it is?"
"yeah, I know", I said with a whisper, "when the castle was built, each of the founders made secret rooms. Like the room of requirements was made by Rowena."
"so this chamber is one of these rooms by the founders," Tim said
"Slytherin's, to be exact," I said. "It is said he left a monster when he left the school for his heir."
"so, the enemies of the heir?" asked Tim in a frightened voice.
"like Draco said. Mudbloods," I said, "but I doubt that was the original intention."
"Why?" Grant asked in a less cold voice.
"because Salazar was paranoid about muggles finding the school. He felt that teaching muggle-borns would be dangerous because they might betray the wizarding world." I said, "It's probably more of a defence in case the castle was attacked."
"how do you know?" asked Tim.
"Because I met a portrait of someone who knew the founders," I said.
"and the guitar," Grant said.
"Like the violin, but it's mine", I sighed. "Is the interrogation over? Can I get some sleep?"
Grant looked a bit shocked, then a bit embarrassed. "Sorry, Eddie, I should have just trusted you", he apologised.
"huh?" asked Tim with confusion. "You thought he could do something like that?" he asked Grant. "Eddie might be odd, but he's not some nutter to paint in blood" I smiled at Tim having my back. I had no doubt that he even thought it could be me.
"yes, you're right", Grant said. "It's just all crazy."
"So you're going to play something?" Tim asked, looking at the guitar.
"in the morning." I lay down, moving my guitar and propping it up against the nightstand. I yawned, laid back down, and went to sleep.
I woke to the sound of Rodney crowing. I yawned and stretched "Thanks, buddy", I said to Rodney. I looked over. Grant was up and about to get ready; Tim just rolled over. He was wearing earmuffs. "you wanna join me on my run?" I asked Grant if I did this most mornings. He usually said no, but to my surprise, he accepted.
We ran in silence with headphones on. When we came to the end of my route in the entrance courtyard, he was puffing out of breath and sat on a bench. I got down and started to do my exercises.
"How?" Grant asked as he looked at me.
"how what?" I asked mid-push-up.
"Can - you - still - work out," he said, huffing.
"It gets easier and easier", I said, "if you keep at it." Grant sat and watched my workout and calmed down.
"Eddie, I realised I was out of line last night, but it was strange", Grant said.
"no, I was out of line," I said. "I was discovered at the scene of the crime, and you were right to be worried", I reassured him. "I was tired and cranky and had just been interrogated, so I took some anger out on you. Sorry." I looked at the clear sky. "But today is a new day, and it is going to be a great day."
With that said, we had sorted out our hurt feelings, and we walked back to the common room, joking and laughing.
Breakfast was an interesting affair. People avoided me like the plague, so I sat and ate in silence. I kept catching people staring at me or whispering and looking at me. Harry was getting a bit of that, too.
It was bound to happen. We were found at the scene, and Harry was seen as the leader of his group. "let's finish up and head out to the lake", I said to my friends, and that's what we did.
Walking down to the lake shore, I saw Luna skipping towards us. I smiled at the sight.
"hi, Eddie, Grant, and Tim", she said. "Are you going down to sing to the tree?" Luna asked.
"yeah, trying something new." I smiled as I held up the guitar.
"that's really pretty", Luna said, looking at the guitar, "but It doesn't have strings."
I smiled and laughed. "Just wait." once we arrived at the yew tree, I pulled out my wand, twirled it in my fingers and pushed it into the slot designed for it on the guitar.
*click*
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone