Chapter 57: The Opening
I trudged through the rain and wet grounds. My umbrella spell was small and weak, so I was getting soaked. I pushed myself into a light jog to reach the safety of the castle sooner. Lighting crashed and boomed overhead.
Even tho I was tired and soaked to the bone, a smile graced my face. I could feel the power in the guitar as I gripped its neck like I was holding my wand; my magic filled the guitar and returned like it was another limb.
Pushing open the door to the castle and slipping into the quiet halls, I breathed a sigh of relief. What time was it? Had the attack happened? Was the feast ongoing? These questions and more ran through my head. I started up the stairs towards the second floor. I was tired, but if I could get there, I might have a chance at stopping the basilisk before it caused too much harm.
A sense of dread and foreboding seep into me as I climb the stairs. Each step was like I was walking to my death, but I pushed on, 'If I could kill it, if I could get its tooth, so much death could be spared.' These thoughts ran through my head.
I pushed myself down the hall, and I heard something scraping against stone up ahead around the corner. I pressed myself against the wall of the corner. Heart pounding, reaching into my satchel, I produced a small mirror. I pointed it down the hallway towards the floor. Glancing into it, I saw the empty hallway. I sighed in relief and walked down the hall. There, hanging from the sconce near the second-floor girls' bathroom, was Mrs Norris. The bloody words scrawled across the wall.
THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED.
ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE.
I heard footsteps approaching; I tore my gaze from the bloody words to look at the golden trio.
"Eddie?" Harry said as he looked at me. I must have been a sight, drenched, pale-faced, holding a stringless guitar by the neck.
"I just got here," I said to them with concern. "it wasn't me."
"Qhat wasn't-" Hermione started, then gasped in shock as she saw what was written on the wall.
"did you hear it as well?" Harry whispered to me.
"What are you talking about?" I turn to Harry, pretending to be confused.
"let's get outta here", Ron whispered.
"shouldn't we try to help Mrs Norris," Harry said back.
"trust me. We don't want to be found here," Ron said in a rush.
A rumble of footsteps came down the hall. "too late", I sighed in registration. Soon, the mass of students coming from the great hall came into view. They went silent upon seeing the scene of four standing in front of bloody words and Mrs Noriss hanging stiff as a board.
Dracos' words echoed in the silence: "Enemies of the heir, beware. You'll be next, Mudbloods."
I clenched my fist and stalked towards the prick who was making a joke about this. A poor creature had been hurt, and he made a joke and a threat. Harry grabbed my arm to hold me back.
Mister Filch came shouldering through the crowd. "what's going on here?" he yelled.
"my cat! Mrs Norris," he yelled as he saw the scene, his eyes landing on me. "You! You've killed my cat; you murdered her." he grabbed my collar. "I'll kill you." I was initially shocked that he thought it was me, and then I looked at him with sympathy.
"Argus!" Dumbledore yelled as he got on the scene. The other teachers were with him. he quickly scanned the wall. Then, he walked up and unhooked Mrs Norris. "come with me, argus," he paused, "And you four as well," he said to me and the golden trio.
Gilderoy offered his office for the meeting, and we headed in that direction. Dumbledore yelled back, "Back to your Common rooms". We were followed by Professor McGonagall and Snape.
In the office, dumbledor inspected Mrs Norris while Gilderoy talked about how he could have saved the cat If he had been there. The urge to roll my eyes was so strong; if he had been there, the snake would have killed him before he could have cast a spell. Filch was sobbing as Gilderoy spoke. I kind of wanted to go over and hug the man. It was never okay to lose a friend, even if they were an animal.
"she's not dead, Argus", Dumbledore whispered as he finished his observations.
"Not dead?" Filch choked out. "Then how come she is all - all stiff and frozen."
"she's been petrified", Dumbledore explained, ignoring Gilderoy's additions to the conversation. "But how I cannot say,"
"ask him", Filch yelled, pointing at me. "he's the one who done it!"
"Mister Filch, I know you're upset, but I had nothing to do with this," I said defensively.
"You hated Mrs Norris for chasing your rooster", Filch yelled back. People looked a bit confused at that statement.
"I have a great deal of love for all animals, and if you think I could harm someone's pet", I glared at him.
"Enough!" Dumbledore said, "This was done by dark magic beyond the capabilities of a second year." he glared at the both of us.
"Might I speak?" Professor Snape said. "This might just be a case of wrong time, wrong place", he said softly, "but I must say I do not remember seeing any of them at tonight's feast."
The golden trio started to explain how they were at nearly headless Nick's death day party. But Snape looked at me. "so Mr potter, Mr Wealesy, and Miss Granger have an alibi, but it doesn't explain where you were, Mr Carter, and why all four of you were in the corridor."
"I was -" *Ah-choo* "-in the grounds by the lake." It seemed like a cold was setting in. Dumbledore noticed my state.
"why were you outside during the storm?" he said, then waved his wand at me. Warm air rushed past, drying me and my clothes.
"I was making this", I held up the guitar. "I lost track of time." Snape reached out and took the guitar, flipped it over in his hands, and then handed it to Dumbledore. Snape had an impressed look on his face.
"yes, this would take all day", Dumbledor said.
"Before you ask, I was on scene first because I heard a door slam as I was heading towards the dungeons, and I went to investigate. I found the scene, and then the Gryffindors found me. They must have heard the same." I lied through my teeth.
"Innocent until proven guilty, Severus." Dumbledore handed the guitar back to me with a smile.
"My cat has been Petrified!" Filch yelled, "I want to see some punishment."
"we will be able to cure her, argus." Dumbledore calmed the man down. "now, you four head to bed. Mister Carter, you might want to get some pepper-up potion from Madame Pompfrey."
"Actually, here you go" " Professor Snape handed me a vial of red liquid. "with all the flu going around, I had a few on hand."
"thanks professor" I said and left for a hot shower and some sleep.
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