Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Also I made this chapter longer than normal to make up for for not posting last week (tell me if it is too long tho as chapter 21 is a similar length so if it is too long I can split that instead)

Trigger warning: anxiety attack (not detailed)

Though Justin Finch-Fletchley was petrified, over the past week he'd become somewhat of a trendsetter. Madam Pomfrey had been landed with three more students - and confusingly enough, one nearly-headless ghost.

Hermione Granger had been the second student after Justin. She'd been petrified in the library between first and second period on Tuesday morning.

Kenneth Towler soon found became the third, alongside Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor house ghost. Kenneth, a fourth year Gryffindor who had the misfortune of sharing a dormitory with the infamous Weasley twins, had been petrified on Wednesday, his frozen form found next to the ghost by Harry himself.

Harry wasn't sure what petrification meant for the ghost, in theory ethereal beings couldn't digest the restoration potion that Madam Pomfrey and Professor Sprout were working on, but the news of Penelope Clearwater's petrification on Thursday at lunchtime meant there wasn't a lot of time to dwell on ghost's fate.

Harry didn't see Penelope's petrified body close up, but he still had the image of Kenneth's petrified body, ashen like a corpse, burned into the back of his eyelids, forcing him to confront the image every time he blinked.

He'd been alone at the time, having had to race back and forth between the Ravenclaw tower and his History of Magic class - he'd forgotten his textbook, probably because he was too focussed on Malfoy, and whether or not he'd reveal his secrets. Then he'd stumbled upon Nick - well, actually, he'd almost ran through him. Then behind Nick was a body lying on the floor, a brunette boy with red and gold lined robes who's name Harry hadn't even known at the time.

Then a sixth year class of Ravenclaws and Gryffindors had stumbled upon the scene of Harry frozen still hovering above the body of Kenneth Towler. That's when those rumours had started again. It hadn't help that Penelope had been petrified during Harry's free period.

The Friday came, and along with it another piece of startling information.

The announcement had been foreshadowed by the appearance of a man - whom Harry had later found out was Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father.

Harry had seen him in the corridor before dinner, a glimpse was enough to startle him, the similarities between Lucius and his son were so striking.

He had the same shade of platinum blonde hair, but grown-out and pulled into a neat ponytail. His face was pulled tight to the point where it could almost be described as gaunt. His son, whilst having a similar shaped face, still had the remnants of baby fat on his face, which rested in a calmer expression as opposed to Lucius who's default expression seemed to be a sneer.

Even from the brief glimpse Harry had caught of the man, he didn't appear capable of smiling or laughing - which perhaps explained a lot about his son, though Harry could still remember vividly how Draco's lips had quirked into a smile, small dimples in his cheeks and an amused glint in his eyes as Harry had laughed at his joke the other week.

He'd even blushed ever so slightly.

Lucius Malfoy's prowling of the corridors had evoked gossip around the castle walls: why was a highly prominent member of society, as well as a member of the Board of Governors, walking around the castle like he owned it. Tapping his cane impatiently as he walked around, each step filled with importance and superiority as though the man thought he owned the castle.

Later that day at dinner came the announcement, a tired looking Professor McGonagall, who's face wore several more wrinkles then the week before, stood at the front of the hall, behind the podium from which Dumbledore would usually make his own notices from.

"The ministry has temporarily removed Headmaster Dumbledore from his position at Hogwarts with regards to the growing situation of the Chamber of Secrets." The hall seemed quieter than it ever had before, each student's face mirrored the fear and realisation at the severity of the situation that Harry himself felt. "Until further notice as deputy I am now acting Headmistress of Hogwarts." McGonagall paused, her eyes surveying the room of tired and scared students, seemingly hesitant to say anything more - but aware that she must.

Even the Slytherin table seemed quiet, and aware of the implications of Dumbledore's removal. Though some of the students exchanged triumphant smirks and celebratory smiles, most seemed less pleased at the news of Dumbledore's suspension.

"I believe I have to warn you all, as Headmistress, that if this situation continues as it has been, that we will have no choice but to close Hogwarts school, and send you all home for your own safety." At these words even the few smiles that had been traded at the Slytherin table had disappeared, though ironic, and a sharp contrast to non-maj schools most of the students at Hogwarts actually liked the school (to the extent that they didn't want it to be shutdown) and everyone knew about the lack of other educational options in wizarding Britain.

The closure of Hogwarts would result in most muggleborns, and some half-bloods, resorting to ignoring their magical halves, and would instead have to integrate back into no-maj Britain, go to ordinary schools and study the ordinary curriculum.

The purebloods would either be forced into home-schooling or sent abroad to one of the other wizarding schools such as Durmstrang or Beauxbatons - neither a desirable option.

"If-" Harry started,

"I know." Terry replied as he turned to face Harry, his forehead creased in either concentration or worry - probably both. "I don't understand why the ministry would think a change of leadership should have any effect on the chamber of secrets situation."

"Maybe it's because he should have informed the ministry, or introduced stricter measures." Michael's calm voice was betrayed by his hand anxiously tapping his fork on the table.

"Well, yeah, I guess that makes sense, especially after last year and all, but still, now we're just one staff shorter in the middle of a- I don't even know what to call this?" Harry rebutted.

"Mass-petrification? Blood purist terrorism?" Terry offered half-heartedly, twirling around the mash potato left on his plate - his appetite having disappeared immediately after the announcement. "I guess I understand their standpoint." He admitted - an unusual matter, for Terry to admit when Michael has a point. "Even if it's just because the ministry fears him."

"What?" Harry asked, feeling left out of the wizarding-world-loop as usual. He knew Dumbledore was an exceptionally powerful wizard, and a member (or was it a higher position?) of the Wizengamot, and the magical equivalent to the UN who's name Harry couldn't remember. He just didn't understand why the ministry would fear him: Dumbledore was (supposedly) the most unequivocally 'light' wizard (though Harry debated how 'light' somebody could be when they continuously endangered their students).

"Well, Dumbledore is the most powerful wizard in our generation - well, this generation, the guy's like a hundred, he's definitely not our generation-" Terry started to go off on a tangent before shaking his head. "- basically it's a big debate that if under some circumstance the ministry needed to arrest him whether they actually could, them removing him from Hogwarts helps though, because then he has less influence over the newer generations and parents, and is less in the public eye, and uh," Terry hesitated. "I know there's another reason I just thought of and now I can't remember." He told them, his voice full of frustration - probably not fully as a result of forgetting his point.

Harry nodded in understanding before Michael took over the explaining from Terry. "Last year didn't help with his popularity, but the 'lighter' families such as the Weasleys - mainly Gryffindor and Hufflepuff alumnis-"

"Alumni." Terry interrupted, his mind still clearly focussed on trying to remember his previous point.

"Alumni." Michael nodded reluctantly. "Well, those families are almost blindly loyal to Dumbledore - which I don't really understand because he didn't do a damn thing in the last war against You-Know-Who-"

"Right. Because we should all just forget about Grindelwald?" Terry snarked and Michael rolled his eyes.

"Whatever. My point is those families would probably prioritise their loyalty to Dumbledore over their loyalty to the ministry, some would even potentially break the law for him." Michael elaborated and Terry nodded approvingly, drawing a hint of a smile from Mike - who, whilst he'd never admit it, clearly craved other people's approval (or maybe it was just Terry's he wanted).

"Even after last year and his little endangerment stunt? and what he did with Harry Potter?" Harry asked, angry at the idea of anyone blindly supporting the man who'd placed him in an abusive household.

"I don't know how they excuse what he did last year, but what are you talking about with the Harry Potter thing?" Michael asked and Harry froze in fear. Had he said too much? Had he accidentally let his secret slip?

"I'm guessing Harry's alluding to how it was Dumbledore who hid him, and is therefore at fault for losing him." Terry intervened and Harry let out a sigh of relief: thank god that was public information. Then again it should have been pretty obvious to him that it was anyway, considering how Petunia told him nothing of the magical part of him - all he'd known (before he was told about Dumbledore) was that he'd been left, abandoned on their doorstep in the middle of winter with only a letter from some secretarial person in child services.

"Yeah." Harry confirmed.

Michael snorted. "I can't believe I forgot about that, but then again that's sort of the point isn't it?" He posed, before finally picking up his fork that he'd been fiddling with for the last few minutes and stabbing it into a sausage.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked confused.

"Well, Dumbledore's an expert at making people forget about all the bad things he's done, and making sure they never forget about the good he has done. He probably takes propaganda tips from Lockhart." Michael joked.

"Huh." Terry nodded slowly. "That actually makes a lot of sense. He makes sure he's on the chocolate frog cards, and he's obviously on the Wizengamot and in the ICW so he's in the news some of the time for that, but other than the original article, and potentially a follow up he hasn't really been in the prophet for the negligence, endangerment, et cetera et cetera."

"Huh." Harry echoed. "You think he bribes them?"

"Or they're just too scared of him." Michael returned.

"What you guys talking about?" Anthony asked, a perplexed expression on his face as he only heard the tail ends of the conversation, having slid over after talking with Lisa and Padma.

"Dumbledore being Lockhart's apprentice." Terry replied, a hint of mischief in his eyes as Anthony's confusion only grew.

Harry laughed before taking sympathy on Ant. "Just debating whether the wizarding world is corrupt with regards to Dumbledore, how his good deeds get prioritised above his bad ones."

"Oh. Well, yeah. They definitely do." Anthony said, the boy surprisingly decisive on the issue. Seeing the raised eyebrows' of the rest of the group Anthony elaborated: "Well, my family are traditionally Dumbledore supporters, right?" Anthony told them, checking if they were aware of this (more for Harry's sake than Michael and Terry's). "But after the news came out last year - about how he risked all of our lives, for a favour to a friend - well, my parents changed their minds pretty quickly after that - along with the Harry Potter news of course."

Harry flinched, as he always did when his name - his birth name, his real name - was mentioned. "Good." He replied shortly. "It's one thing to support someone, but it's another to support them blindly." He explained.

"Yeah." Anthony nodded slowly before reaching over to grab the mash. "What do you think is going to happen? - with the school that is?" He asked and the group devolved into silence. No one had a clue.

The Secret Affairs of Dumbledore and Hogwarts
by Rita Skeeter

For those of us without children at Hogwarts - and even some of us with children at the school - we have been left woefully uninformed of what has occurred at the school. The story of the Chamber of Secrets' reopening starts on the fateful night of Halloween, on the eleventh anniversary of You-Know-Who's demise...

Each line of Rita Skeeter's article was like another nail in the coffin for Harry. Each line ended up inadvertently detailing how Harry had kept Luke in the dark about what had happened over the last week.

The Daily Prophet finally ended their silence on the Chamber of Secrets on the Monday following Dumbledore's departure from the school with an expose by the infamous reporter, covering everything in alarmingly hyperbolic detail painting Dumbledore in a very negative light, referencing how this was the second year in a row that he'd endangered his students - not that Harry could disagree with that.

The Prophet talked about Dumbledore's ineptitude in his inability to correctly identify Slytherin's monster, before attacking the groundskeeper, a tower of a man called Hagrid, saying how he'd been the student previously convicted when the Chamber of Secrets was first opened in the 1940s, before bringing into question Dumbledore's own state of mind in how he didn't remove Hagrid from the grounds, or contact the DMLE (the magical equivalent of the police) to bring him in for questioning, or to just arrest him.

After Dumbledore was - according to the prophet - 'forcibly removed in an excellent example of the prowess of the aurors' team, and proof of Minister Fudge's tight grasp over magical Britain' Hagrid too was taken by the aurors.

The blonde man Harry had seen before the announcement was confirmed by Terry to be Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father and a highly prominent member of wizarding society, with influence on the ministry at the highest level - Fudge - as well as being a member of the Hogwarts' board of governors.

Luckily for Harry there was often a delay between the Daily Prophet arriving at Hogwarts and arriving at the house of Luke Reynolds, meaning that for a small while longer he'd be able to remain at the school, before he was surely removed by his angry father.

Unluckily for Harry Tuesday morning brought, not only a letter from Luke telling him that he was coming to collect him as soon as he received a reply from McGonagall and was permitted access to the school, but also another issue of the Daily Prophet. One which all but - in the eyes of the Hogwarts' population - condemned Harry himself.

Gringotts Bank Confirms Reappearance of the Heir of Slytherin
by Rita Skeeter

After the news dropped on the scandalous affairs within Hogwarts school (see page 9 for the reprint) this reporter decided to dig deeper into the mystery and try to unravel the secrets of the school and its founders.

After communications with Gringotts bank this reporter can confirm that the Salazar Slytherin's vault at Gringotts was entered in the summer of 1990. For those who are unaware of the policies of Gringotts bank their privacy guidelines say that they cannot explicitly reveal the identity of the heir. However the Head of the Goblin Nation, Ragnok, has established that the vault of Hogwarts' founder, and known blood-purist, Salazar Slytherin, was entered by his rightful heir, and this piece of evidence was enough to lead this reporter in the direction of the Heir.

The key dates for accessing vaults tend to be at ages 11 (when a wizard/witch first receives their Hogwarts' letter) and ages 17 (when a student is legally of age) . This indicates that the potential Heir of Slytherin is either 12/13 or 18/19. This could lead to proof that the Heir is either a seventh year at Hogwarts or a second year.

Whilst it is perhaps more expected for the Heir of Slytherin, who has committed such heinous, blood-purist crimes, to be an older student, it has come to this reporter's attention that a second year student displayed his ability to speak parseltongue in a duelling club, led by the legendary Gilderoy Lockhart.

This piece of information is so condemning due to the fact parseltongue is an ability made infamous by dark wizards, most notably He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, but it is also an ability which belonged to Salazar Slytherin himself.

Parselmouth is also known to be a hereditary ability, and therefore the Heir of Slytherin is most likely a parselmouth himself.

You, the reader, might be questioning now how I know to keep referring to the Heir as a him. This is because the second year student in question who showed that he was a parselmouth is a muggleborn boy by the name of Harry Reynolds.

Whilst it is questionable how and why a muggleborn would be committing crimes which discriminate against his kin, muggleborns, it is possible that one of Salazar Slytherin's descendants was a squib and the line went dormant for a period of time before re-emerging in Harry Reynolds.

Upon finding out about his ancestry and being allowed access to the Slytherin Vault Harry Reynolds would have surely been privy to the information such as where the Chamber of Secrets was, how to access it and how to control the beast to perform these atrocious acts against other muggleborns.

This reporter, acting as a concerned citizen, demands that the DMLE look further into this, and arrest the boy before more innocent students are petrified.

Upon reading the newspaper Harry had been quickly ushered back up to the Ravenclaw common room by Terry and Cameron, to the bemusement of Anthony and Michael who had barely been out of bed when they had rushed in.

"You have to speak up." Terry demanded as soon as the door slammed shut behind them, thrusting a copy of the Daily Prophet into a confused Michael's hands.

"Speak up about what?" Cameron immediately questioned.

"That he's not a muggleborn." Terry retorted and Harry immediately whirled round sending him a death stare - he didn't really mind Cameron knowing, it was more that he was angry at the principle that Terry thought it was his secret to tell. "Harry this is important." Terry replied firmly, not caring about the betrayed look on Harry's face.

"You're not a muggleborn? But-" Cameron stopped himself. "Not important now."

"Why should Harry tell everyone he's a half-blood?" Anthony asked from where he sat, his chin perched on Mike's shoulder reading the Prophet.

"Because half-bloods get more immunity in these sorts of circumstances." Terry replied and Cameron nodded.

"He's right. This world is stupid and prejudiced but it would probably help to tell people."

"No." Harry replied unable to keep his voice from shaking. "I'm not pulling the half-blood card to get out of this. They have no proof. I won't be convicted."

"Hagrid's back in Azkaban." Terry retorted. "There's absolutely no proof behind that other than he's half-giant and as such the wizarding world would never stand up for him."

In four, hold four, out four. Harry tried to remind himself so that he'd stop spiralling at the ludicrous nature of what was happening.

"We need to find some way to prove he isn't the Heir."

"Well no kidding Mike." Terry bit his lip so hard Harry could see it going white under the pressure from the other side of the dorms.

"Come on Terry you know what I meant." Michael replied, clearly exasperated.

"If we can prove that he didn't enter the vault..." Terry trailed off in thought, ignoring Michael's comment.

"A blood test, or an inheritance test?" Cameron offered and Terry clicked his thumb in approval before pointing at Cameron.

"That could work."

Except Harry knew it wouldn't. All that a blood test would do was reveal his Boy-Who-Lived (And-Is-Still-Alive-And-Not-Actually-Missing) as well as confirming that he was actually the heir of Slytherin - which just seemed to be one of the most ridiculous lining up of events possible.

Even if his Boy-Who-Lived status helped the situation, the Slytherin reveal would just regress back to here, there was no point in revealing his secret identity - if anything it would only do more damage than good.

"Arrest?!" Anthony screeched in surprise as he finally read the final line having ripped the paper out of Michael's grasp.

"Could they actually do that?" Terry asked, his eyes imploring into Cameron's, begging him to say 'no, of course not, there's no way they'd arrest Harry with minimal evidence and only speculation' but no such words came, only a grim nod from the sixth-year.

"As long as he's a muggleborn, he effectively has no rights in this society." Cameron grimaced before adding, "Even as a half-blood... the wizarding world needs a scapegoat right now, to reassure them that Hogwarts doesn't need closing and that the situation has been managed. Harry's the perfect scapegoat."

"Even with a blood test? If we can prove he isn't the heir-"

Cameron shook his head. "It probably wouldn't be enough. Or it might be but it would take too long, and by that point they might have arrested Harry."

"Merlin." Terry breathed out, pacing around the room, his lower lip bleeding from the force of which he'd bit into it.

"Harry." Cameron called out and Harry shakily looked to him. "Harry, it's okay, it's okay." Cameron reassured him, moving towards him to place a hand on his shoulder having noticed his panicked demeanour.

"Yeah, but it won't be." Harry replied feeling like he could breakdown any second. "Arrest me? That said they might arrest me? I c-"

"Harry." Cameron interrupted calmly. "Harry look at me." He continued firmly. "We're not there yet."

"The newspaper literally says that this Rita person is demanding they come arrest me." Harry yelled back anxiously. "And it isn't like I have the best track record. I am a parselmouth after all, I was the one who found Kenneth, I have no alibi for the some of the others - or no alibis that isn't just you guys, and everyone would just say you're covering for me 'cause we're friends." Harry rambled gesturing at the other second years in the room whilst keeping his eyes forwards on Cameron.

"Okay." Cameron soothed as Harry's panic only escalated.

"Shit." Harry exclaimed, sliding down to the floor against his bed, his hands nervously plucking at his hair.

"Harry, it's going to be ok." Anthony walked over to Harry, placing himself next to him on the ground.

"Stop-" Harry started angrily before taking a deep breath followed by another one and another one, trying to collect himself so he could speak without lashing out at his friends who were only doing their best to help and comfort him. "Stop saying that. We all know it isn't true. Just," he looked imploringly at Michael and then Cameron, knowing those two were the most likely to give it to him straight. "Just tell me. Worst case scenario."

Michael swallowed, his hands fidgeting at his sleeves. "Worse case scenario you get your wand snapped and are expelled back to the muggle world."

"Mike!" Terry protested angrily but Harry quickly waved him off, sending Mike a grateful look.

"Not Azkaban?" Harry asked, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on Mike's. He knew the horror stories about Azkaban. About the dementors. He couldn't imagine anything worse.

"Hagrid didn't get sent to Azkaban when he was a student here." He replied.

"Harry, even if that does happen, it won't be permanent. The attacks will continue at school despite your absence which will then prove your innocence and you'll be allowed back in - probably with a decent sum of money in compensation." Cameron said, joining him on the floor and nudging their shoulders together in an attempt to comfort him.

Harry nodded slowly before remembering the final line of the article. "Are you sure I wouldn't get arrested, because that Rita Scooter person or whatever her name-"

"I'm pretty sure. Rita Skeeter is a fear-mongering gossip columnist who pretends to be some professional reporter. She's not. The DMLE isn't stupid, Amelia Bones,"

"Susan's aunt." Terry interjected.

"She's a formidable, lady - a good department Head. Even if she's somehow forced by Fudge to convict you, worst case scenario - as Mike said - you'll get your wand snapped. Either way there is no chance you'd go to Azkaban. One: you're a minor. Two: The only crime so far has been petrification, which is reversible, so whilst a criminal offence, it is not quite on the levels of performing an unforgivable or being a death eater." Cameron explained and Harry nodded - despite not really knowing what a unforgivable was.

"What now?" Harry asked, hating how weak and scratchy his voice sounded as it forced its way out of his mouth.

"You go to class." Cameron smiled at him, knowing how preposterous his idea sounded - how do you go from discussing being imprisoned to going to DADA with Lockhart of all people as your teacher. "You ignore all the assholes in the corridor. Just, act normal."

Normal. Right. Because Harry Reynolds - formerly Harry Potter - definitely knows what normal is...

"Ahh. The heir of Slytherin. I'm so scared." Good start.

"Twenty minutes late?" Lockhart seemed genuinely upset at the idea of anyone losing out on lesson time with him. "That'll have to be twenty points from Ravenclaw." He told them as the boys made their way to their seats.

"Shut up Malfoy." Harry heard Terry whisper as they walked past, the blonde only smirked.

Most Mondays it was hell having to have first period with not only the inept fraud that is Gilderoy Lockhart, but also with the Slytherins, and more specifically Draco Malfoy. Most Mondays. This Monday? This Monday it was something past hell. Something worse than hell if that's even possible.

Malfoy decided that any attempt at being nice had been firmly left on the quidditch field (though confusingly enough he still kept Harry's 'muggleborn' identity a secret - maybe he preferred it that way, makes Harry more convictable) and in typical Malfoy fashion throughout the lesson he kept making snide remarks, much to the amusement of the other Slytherins.

It was wearing Harry's patience down, and his normal tactic of completely ignoring the blonde was getting harder and harder by the second. Lockhart - for some weird and inexplicable reason - actually liked Malfoy (maybe it was because the blonde was happy to play along with his hero charade, maybe it was because they both had blonde hair, who knows?) so didn't reprimand him when he kept talking about Harry petrifying students, and speaking to snakes.

Gilderoy Lockhart was doing yet another lesson of re-enacting a scene from his books, a reluctant looking Gregory Goyle seemed to be playing the part of the yeti.

"See here, I used my sheer intelligence - former Ravenclaw as you all know from my autobiography - to tactically defeat the yeti, despite him having skin nearly impervious to spells, and being about four, no five times the size of Gregory here."

"Professor," Malfoy began in a sickly sweet voice, "With your vast knowledge" Malfoy wasn't able to contain the sarcasm in his tone here, but luckily (unluckily?) Lockhart is too narcissistic to realise he might be being mocked, "of beasts and monsters, I was wondering whether you might have any clue what the monster causing all this... commotion is?"

Lockhart smiled widely. "Well Draco, I have certainly had a few theories, which I of course have talked to Professor Dumbledore, and now Professor McGonagall about."

"And what were they?" Pansy Parkinson asked after a brief silence in which it was clear Lockhart wasn't going to elaborate upon any further.

"Yes, see professor, we were just wandering what on earth Harry here is able to control." Draco added with his trademark smirk.

"Shove off Malfoy." Harry couldn't help himself but reply.

"Now now boys." Lockhart sighed before perching himself on Harry's desk. "I know all about the press Harry my boy-" My boy? Weirdo. "-and you just need to remember that all press is good press." He said with a wink before jumping back off the desk and strolling dramatically back to the front of the classroom where Goyle was still standing, dressed head to toe in a ridiculous yeti outfit, looking about as uncomfortable as Harry felt.

"Well professor, I presume that a lot of your predictions are serpent-based? Given Slytherin's connections to snakes of course." Malfoy suggested, an odd lilt to his tone which Harry couldn't quite identify - nor could he understand why Malfoy had offered Lockhart an easy-way out in the conversation.

Lockhart's eyes widened almost imperceptibly before he schooled his features and flashed another of his award-winning smiles. "Of course Draco. Now back to the yeti..."

"Well that was as pointless as ever." Harry muttered as he left the classroom, flanked by Lisa and Padma in front of him, Terry to his side and Anthony and Mike behind him.

Terry looked at him his brow furrowed. "Not completely." He commented much to Harry's confusion.

"All Lockhart did was inadvertently humiliate Goyle - which I will admit, was quite funny - and tell me that it's a good everyone thinks I'm the heir." Harry replied incredulously.

"Seriously?" Terry asked, seemingly genuinely surprised at Harry's answer. Harry nodded under Terry's gaze, which the brunette took as a cue to continue. "Lockhart of course was pointless, but what Malfoy said..." He trailed off.

"About being scared I was the heir?" Harry scoffed.

"Harry, wow, you are really acting like a Gryffindor right now."

"Hey, don't compare me to one of those Gryffindorks!" Harry protested.

"Gryffindorks?" Terry replied with a laugh and Harry couldn't help but blush slightly as he remembered where that nickname came from. "I'm talking about what Malfoy said about the monster." He continued, his tone having reverted back to being serious.

"Are you being purposefully elusive just to make me feel dumb right now?"

"Harry, Malfoy effectively told us that the monster is probably some serpentine beast. Which, if you think about it, makes a lot of sense. It would explain why the heir of Slytherin could control it - considering the fact that most heirs of Slytherin are parselmouths."

"So, he's effectively added further evidence which could convict me?"

Terry frowned. "Look Harry, I don't know why Malfoy said that - merlin, I don't even know if he meant it to be some sort of hint - but it is useful information, it could help lead us to what the monster is, and prove your innocence." Terry said, his tone quieter as they turned into a busier corridor, where they were immediately given a wide berth as people stopped to stare at Harry, whispering things to their friends.

"Honestly," Terry continued, "I don't know why we - or anyone really - hadn't considered this before. It seems so damn obvious now. It makes a lot of sense." He paused turning to face Harry. "We've got flying now."

"I know." Harry replied. "Which is why we're going to put our books away and then go to the pitch... like always."

"Harry, you're on the team. You don't need to fly."

"But I want to." Harry said, unable to stop himself from sounding like a petulant child. "It's the only time where I can just feel free, where I can just feel like me." He elaborated.

"I know." Terry stopped to turn to face him. "I understand how hard this all is." He paused meaningfully - though Harry didn't quite know what he was trying to convey - before turning around to continue walking. "You could use the free to research potential possibilities for what the beast is."

"Because looking at monsters in the library won't look suspicious? Everyone will just think I'm further researching the beast I'm ordering around to petrify muggleborns." Harry said - slightly too loudly apparently, as two first year Hufflepuffs looked at him nervously, before scuttling off in the opposite direction. Harry groaned.

"It's too important to not. Besides, you won't be alone." Terry told him before turning around abruptly. "Mike! You're skipping flying today to look into Malfoy's, probably accidental, hint about the monster." He half-ordered and Michael just scoffed.

"Well, obviously." He replied before returning to his conversation with Anthony.

"It's not up for debate." Terry told him - sounding eerily like his father.

"Alright dad." Harry snarked and Terry lightly shoved him in the side, laughing as Harry tripped over his own feet (though Harry definitely viewed it as a success that he somehow managed to maintain his balance and not completely fall over).