Harry goes up the stairs, still  feeling angry, He goes through the door at the top of the stars and heads down corridor. He was halfway down the corridor, when he trips headlong over something lying on the floor. He turns his head to see what he had tripped over, only to see Justin laying rigid on the floor. His eyes were frozen in shock as if something frightened him. Justin was the only one on the ground.  right Right next to Justin was none other than Sir Nicholas. He was no longer pearly white and transparent. He looked black and smoky, floating and immobilized in the horizontal position. He was floating 6 inches above the floor. His neck was half off and his face had the same expression of shock as Justin. Harry quickly got to his feet, breathing fast and his heart racing. He didn't know whether to go for help or to stay with the bodies. Suddenly, Filch appears and said, "Caught in the act. I'll have you out this time, Harry Snape. Mark my words." Harry said, "No! Mr. Filch! You don't understand....!" But Filch ignores Harry and leaves to find a teacher. Once again, Harry spots spiders moving in a single line as they scurry out of the window. Suddenly, footsteps are heard. Harry turns to find Filch returning with none other than McGonagall, Harry's head of house. McGonagall gasps upon seeing Sir Nicholas and Justin. Harry said, "Professor, I swear I didn't...." McGonagall said, "This is out of my hands, Harry." McGonagall leads Harry to a gargoyle that blocked the way up the stairs. McGonagall said, "Professor Dumbledore will be waiting for you." She faces the gargoyle and said, "Sherbet Lemon." The gargoyle leaps aside, revealing a moving staircase. Harry steps on the staircase as it moves upwards. The staircase stops at the top. Harry steps off of the staircase and goes up to the door with a griffin knocker. Harry knocks and enters Dumbledore's office. The office was circular. There were tables with different instruments on them. Some puffed smoke, while others made whirling noises. There were also portraits of sleeping witches and wizards hanging on the walls. Around Dumbledore's desk were bookshelves full of books. There were stairs on either side of the desk that lead up to the observatory, where a telescope sat. Harry spots the Sorting Hat on top of the bookshelf. The Sorting Hat said, "Bee in your bonnet, Snape?" Harry said, "I was just wondering if you put me in the right house." The Sorting Hat said, "Yes. You were particularly difficult to place, but I stand by what I said last year. You would have done well in Slytherin." Harry said, "You're wrong." The Sorting Hat looks offended as it looks at Harry. Suddenly, Harry hears a sound and turns towards the source of the sound. Next to Dumbledore's chair was a perch and on the perch was an ill looking bird. Some of the red and gold feathers had fallen off. Suddenly, the bird bursts into flames and becomes a pile of ashes. Harry stands there in shock at what he just saw. Dumbledore appears and said, "Harry?" Harry said, "Sir, you're bird, there was nothing I could do. He just caught fire." Dumbledore said, "Oh, it was about time, too. He's been looking dreadful for days. It's a pity that you had to see him on a burning day." Harry looks confused at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore said, "Fawkes is a phoenix, Harry." Dumbledore comes down the stairs as he continues, "They burst into flames when it is time for them to die and then they are reborn from the ashes." He gestures to the pile of ashes, where a baby phoenix pokes his head out of the pile of ashes. Harry looks on in awe. Dumbledore said, "Fascinating creatures, phoenixes. They can carry immensely heavy loads and their tears have healing powers." Suddenly, the door opens and Hagrid comes in. He said, "Professor Dumbledore, sir! Wait! Listen! Professor Dumbledore, sir, it wasn't Harry." Dumbledore said, Hagrid...." But Hagrid continued, "In fact, I'd be prepared to swear it in front of the Ministry of Magic." Dumbledore said more loudly, "Hagrid!" Hagrid stops and looks at Dumbledore. Dumbledore said, "Relax. I do not believe that Harry attacked anyone." Hagrid said, "Of course you don't...." Then stops himself, when he realizes what Dumbledore had said. Hagrid said, "Oh, right. Well, I'll just wait outside then." Dumbledore said, "Yes." Hagrid walks sheepishly out of Dumbledore's office. Harry said, "You don't think it was me, Professor?" Dumbledore said, "No, Harry. I do not think it was you." Harry relaxes as Dumbledore said, "But I must ask you, is there something you wish to tell me?" Harry thinks back to everything that happened since he came to Hogwarts for his 2nd year. He looks back at Dumbledore and said, "No, sir. Nothing." Dumbledore looks over his half-moon spectacles at Harry, then said, "Very well, then. Off you go." Harry leaves Dumbledore's office and heads back to the common room. The double attack on Justin and Sir Nicholas turned what had been nervousness, into real panic. It was Sir Nicholas' fate that seemed to worry the students the most. What could possibly do that to a ghost? What terrible power could harm someone who was already dead? There was almost a stampede to sign their names on the list, so that they could go home for Christmas. Ron said, "At this rate, we'll be the only ones left. Well, us, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. What a jolly holiday this is going to be." Harry, however, was glad that most of the people were leaving. He was tired of people skirting around him in the corridors. He was tired of all the muttering, pointing and hissing they did as he passed them. Fred and George's antics made Harry feel better, but it irritated Draco to no end. Their antics seem to be aggravating Malfoy, who was looking more and more sour, each time he saw them at it. Ron said, "It's because he's bursting to say it's really him. You know how he hates anyone beating him at anything and you getting all the credit for his dirty work." Hermione said, "Not for long, the Polyjuice Potion is nearly ready. We'll be getting the truth out of him any day now." Harry and Ron smiles at Hermione. Ron and Hermione were looking forward to getting Malfoy to confess. Harry was hoping that their plan went well. 

Harry and Ron were woken up on the morning of Christmas Eve, by Hermione. Ron and Harry were the only ones in their dorm. Hermione said, "Wake up!" Ron wakes up, blinking his eyes against the morning sun. He said, "Hermione! You're not supposed to be in here!" Hermione said as she throws Ron's his present, "Merry Christmas to you, too. I've been up for nearly an hour, adding more lacewings flies to the potion. It's ready." Harry sits up, feeling wide awake now. Harry said, "Are you sure?" Hermione said, "Positive. If we're going to do it, I say we do it today." Hermione leaves them to get dressed. Once Harry and Ron got dressed, they go down to the great hall for breakfast. Hermione said as they ate their breakfast, "We still need a bit of the people you're changing into. Obviously, it'll be best if you can get a few strands of hair from Crabbe and Goyle. They're Malfoy's best friends, he'll tell them anything. We also need to make sure that the real Crabbe and Goyle can't burst in on us while we're interrogating Malfoy." Hermione pulls out 2 chocolate cupcakes and said, "I've got it all worked out. I've filled these cupcakes with a simple Sleeping Draught. All you have to do is make sure that Crabbe and Goyle find them. You know how greedy they are, they're bound to eat them. Once they're asleep, pull out a few of their hairs and hide them in a broom closet. Don't forget to put on their uniforms." Harry and Ron look incredulously at Hermione. Hermione said, "The potion will be useless without Crabbe's and Goyle's hair. You do want to investigate Malfoy, don't you?" Harry said, "Alright, Hermione." Ron said, "What about you? Whose hair are you ripping out?" Hermione pulls out a vial, which contained a strand of hair, "I've already got mine. Millicent Bulstrode, Slytherin. I got this off of her robes. She's gone home for Christmas, so I'll just have to tell the Slytherins that I've decided to come back." She gets up from her seat and said, "I'm going to go check on the Polyjuice Potion. Make sure that Crabbe and Goyle find these." She pushes the 2 cupcakes that were filled with Sleeping Draught towards Ron and Harry. Hermione leaves the great hall. Harry and Ron finish eating and leave the great hall. They hid behind the statue of a hog that was by the great hall. They made the two cupcakes levitate outside the double doors of the great hall and wait for Crabbe and Goyle to find them. Crabbe and Goyle come out of the great hall and spot the floating cupcakes. They take the cupcakes and eat them greedily. One minute, they were smiling triumphantly as they ate the cupcake in one go. The next minute, they both keeled over backwards and fall onto the stone floor. They had both fallen fast asleep. Ron said, "How thick can you get?" Harry grabs hold of Goyle's legs as Ron grabs hold of Crabbe's legs. They pull them into a broom closet, near the great hall. Harry pulls out a few strands of Goyle's hair, while Ron yanks a few strands of Crabbe's hair. They take the shoes, since Crabbe and Goyle's feet were bigger than theirs. They leave the broom closet and head up to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Stage 1 of making Malfoy confess was a success. It was on to Stage 2 of their plan. They enter the bathroom and shut the door. They find Hermione standing by the sink, where the cauldron sat. They could see a silver mist rising from it. Hermione said, "Did you get them?" Harry and Ron showed her the strands of hair. Hermione said as she holds up a small sack, "Good. I sneaked these spare robes out of the laundry. You'll need bigger sizes once you're Crabbe and Goyle." The three of them look into the cauldron. The potion looked like thick, dark mud, bubbling sluggishly. Hermione said, "Once we've drunk it, we'll have exactly one hour before we change back into ourselves." Ron said, "Now what?" Hermione said, "We separate it into three glasses and add the hairs." Hermione ladles large spoonfuls of the potion into each glass. Hermione's hand shakes as the hair falls out of the vial and into the potion. The potion hissed loudly. A second later, it had turned a sick sort of yellow. Ron and Harry added their hairs. Harry's potion turned a khaki color of booger. Ron's potion became a dark murky brown. Ron said, "Ugh! Essence of Crabbe." They put on the Slytherin robes, take their glass and chose a stall to enter.

Once inside, Hermione said, "Ready?" Ron and Harry said in unison, "Ready." Hermione said, "1....2....3.... Go!" Harry drinks his in 2 gulps, then sets the glass cup down. Suddenly, Harry felt a burning sensation that spread rapidly from his stomach to the very ends of his fingers and toes. Next thing he knew, he was on all fours, gasping. Then Harry felt a horrible melting feeling, as the skin all over his body bubbled like hot wax. Right before his eyes, his hands began to grow, the fingers thickened and the nails broadened. The knuckles were bulging like bolts as his shoulders stretched painfully. A prickling on his forehead told him that hair was creeping down toward his eyebrows. As suddenly as it had started, everything stopped. Harry laid face down on the stone cold floor. He sits up and looks at his hands. So this is what it felt like, being Goyle. He reaches up to brush his hair out of his eyes, only to feel short, wiry bristles, low on his forehead. He puts on Goyle's shoes and laces them up. Harry said, "Are you two okay?" Goyle's low voice issued from his mouth. Ron said, "Yeah." The deep grunt voice of Crabbe, came from his right. Harry unlocks his stall door and steps up to the sink. He looks in the cracked mirror. Goyle's face stared back at him, out of dull, deep set eyes. Harry scratched his ear, so did Goyle. Ron's door opens. They stare at each other. Other than looking pale and shocked, Ron looks exactly like  Crabbe. From the pudding-bowl haircut to the long, gorilla arms. Ron said, "This is unbelievable." As he approached the mirror and prodded Crabbe's flat nose, "Unbelievable." Harry said, "We'd better get going. We've still got to find out where the Slytherin common room is. I only hope we can find someone to follow." Ron said, "You don't know how bizarre it is to see Goyle thinking." Ron bangs on Hermione's stall door. He said, "Come on, we need to go." Hermione's high-pitched voice said, "I.... I don't think I'm going. You 2 go on without me." Harry said, "Hermione are you ok?" Hermione said, "Just go. You're wasting time." Harry said, "Come on, Ron. Let's go." Harry and Ron leave the bathroom and head down to the dungeons. Harry said, pointing down the corridor to their left, "I think the Slytherin common room is this way." Ron said, "Ok." They walk down the corridor and bump into Ron's older brother, Percy. Percy said, "Excuse me." Ron, who was Crabbe, said, "What are you doing down here?" Percy said, "I happen to be a school prefect." Percy eyes them, then said, "What are your names again?" Before Harry and Ron could answer, a very familiar drawl was heard from behind them, "Crabbe, Goyle, where have you 2 been?" They turn around to find Malfoy walking up to them. Malfoy said, "Pigging out in the Great Hall all this time?" Harry and Ron nod at him. Malfoy notices Goyle, who was actually Harry, wearing glasses. He said, "Why are you wearing glasses?" Harry realizing that he was still wearing his glasses, takes them off quickly and pockets them. He said, "Reading." Malfoy said, "Reading? I didn't know you could read." Malfoy turns back to Percy and said, "What are you doing down here, Weasley?" Percy glares at Malfoy and said, "Mind your attitude, Malfoy." Malfoy smirks as he walks passed Percy and heads towards the Slytherin common room. Harry and Ron follow him. After a few minutes, Malfoy stops in front of a wall and said, "Pure-blood." The wall slides open and Malfoy enters. Harry and Ron follow him into the common room.

The Slytherin common room was a long, low underground room with rough stone walls and ceiling. Round, greenish lamps were hanging on chains. A fire was crackling under a carved mantelpiece ahead of them. Slytherins were silhouetted around it in high-backed chairs. Malfoy said, "Wait here. I'll go and get it. My father's just sent it to me." He has them sit on the couch, while he goes to his dorm to get whatever it was, his father sent to him. Malfoy came back a minute later, holding a newspaper clipping. He thrusts it under Ron's nose and said, "That'll give you a laugh." Harry saw Ron's eyes widen in shock. He reads the clipping quickly, gives a very forced laugh, and hands it to Harry. It had been clipped out of the Daily Prophet. It said:

INQUIRY AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC

Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, was today fined fifty Galleons for bewitching a Muggle car. Mr. Lucius Malfoy, a governor of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where the enchanted car crashed earlier this year, called today for Mr. Weasley's resignation. "Weasley has brought the Ministry into disrepute," Mr. Malfoy told our reporter. "He is clearly unfit to draw up our laws and his ridiculous Muggle Protection Act should be scrapped immediately." Mr. Weasley was unavailable for comment, although his wife told reporters to clear off or she'd set the family ghoul on them.

Malfoy said, as Harry hands the clipping back to him, "Well? Don't you think it's funny?" Harry laughs bleakly. Malfoy sneers, "If Arthur Weasley loves Muggles so much, he should snap his wand in half and go join them. You'd never know the Weasleys were pure-bloods, the way they behave. They are an embarrassment to the wizarding world. All of them." Ron's, or rather Crabbe's hand clenched into a fist, out of anger. Malfoy snaps at Crabbe, "What's up with you, Crabbe?" Ron grunted, "Stomachache." Malfoy said, thoughtfully, "You know, I'm surprised the Daily Prophet hasn't reported all these attacks yet. I suppose Dumbledore's trying to hush it all up. He'll be sacked if it doesn't stop soon. Father's always said that Dumbledore was the worst thing that's ever happened to this school." Harry, who was Goyle, said, "You're wrong!" Malfoy stands up and glares at Goyle. He said, "What? You think there's someone here, who's worse than Dumbledore?" Malfoy said impatiently, "Well, do you?" Thinking quickly, Harry, as Goyle, said, "Harry Potter?" Malfoy smirks, "Good one, Goyle. You're absolutely right. Saint Potter. People actually think that he's the heir of Slytherin?" Harry and Ron look at each other. Harry, as Goyle, looks back at Malfoy and said, "Then, you must have some idea who's behind it all?" Malfoy said, "You know I don't Goyle. I told you yesterday. How many times do I have to tell you." Malfoy sits down again and said, "My father did say this: It's been 50 years since the Chamber was opened. He wouldn't tell me who opened it. Only that they were expelled. The last time the Chamber of Secrets was opened, a mud-blood died. So, its only a matter of time, before one of them is killed this time. As for me, I hope it's Granger." Ron as Crabbe gets out of his seat, forgetting he was Crabbe. He was ready to launch himself at Malfoy. Harry as Goyle jumps up and holds him back. Malfoy said, "What's the matter with you two? You're acting very.... Odd." Harry said, "It's his stomachache." Harry whispers to Ron, "Calm down." As Malfoy spots a small unopen Christmas present and opens it. Ron whispers back, "Sorry." They sit back down as Malfoy puts what he took out of the box, into his pocket. He said, "Anyways, father says to keep my head down and to let the Heir of Slytherin get on with it. He says the school needs ridding of all the mud-blood filth, but not to get mixed up in it. Of course, he's got a lot on his plate at the moment. You know the Ministry of Magic raided our manor last week?" Harry as Goyle, acts concerned. Malfoy said, "Yeah, luckily, they didn't find much. Father's got some very valuable Dark Arts stuff, but luckily, we've got our own secret chamber under the drawing-room floor." Ron suddenly said, "Ho!" Mafloy and Harry look over at him. Ron's hair was slowly turning red. From the look on Ron's face, Harry was starting to change back too. Their hour was up. They had to leave and now! Harry and Ron stand up. Ron grunted , "Medicine for my stomach." Without another word, they fled from the Slytherin common room as Malfoy shouts after them. They ran all the way up to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. By the time they entered the bathroom they were back to themselves. Ron pants, "Well, it wasn't a complete waste of time. I know we still haven't found out who's doing the attacks, but I'm going to write to Dad tomorrow and tell him to check under the Malfoys' drawing room floor." They change into their own robes. Ron bangs on the door as Harry puts his glasses back on. Ron said, "Hermione, come out!" Harry said, "We've got loads to tell you!" Hermione said, "Go away!" Harry and Ron look at each other as Moaning Myrtle comes floating through the stall door. She said, gleefully, "Wait until you see. It's awful." Harry said, "Hermione? Are you ok?" Hermione unlocks and opens the door. Hermione was covered in fur. Her eyes were yellow and she had pointy ears poking through her hair. She also had a cat's tail coming out from under her skirt. She looked like a cat! Hermione said, "Do you remember me telling you that the polyjuice potion was only for human transformations? It was cat's hair I plucked off of Millicent Bulstrode's robes." She sighs, "Look at my face...." Ron said, "Look at your tail!" Moaning Myrtle cackles from behind Harry and Ron. Harry said, "It's ok, Hermione. We'll take you up to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey never asks too many questions."

It took them awhile to convince Hermione to leave the bathroom. They take her up to the hospital wing, hoping that Madam Pomfrey can reverse the affects of the Polyjuice Potion. Just as Harry had said, Madam Pomfrey asked very few questions. After getting Hermione settled in at the hospital wing, they said good night to Hermione and left. The following day, was Christmas Day. Harry opens his presents. Hagrid had sent him a large tin of treacle toffee, which Harry decided to soften by the fire before eating. Ron got him a book called: Flying with the Cannons. A book of interesting facts about his favorite Quidditch team. Hermione had bought him a luxury eagle-feather quill. Harry had gotten a new, hand-knitted sweater from Mrs. Weasley and a large plum cake. The sweater was blue with broomsticks and golden snitches. The letter H on the front of his sweater. He puts it on and picks up the final gift. It was from Snape. Harry smiles and opens it. It was a pair of dragon-hide boots. The boots looked somewhat worn, but it still looked great regardless. Harry grins and puts them on. They fitted him perfectly! He couldn't wait to thank his dad for the boots! Harry head down to breakfast and sits with Ron. Snape smiles as he see Harry wearing the boots. The boots were his, but he decided to give them to Harry. He had gotten new boots from Draco's father, which fitted him perfectly. He had shrunk his old boots to Harry's size and wrapped them up. He can always resize the boots as Harry grows older. He sees Harry look up at the staff table at him, grinning. Snape smiles back at Harry, feeling happy that Harry was having yet another great Christmas. After breakfast, Harry runs up to the staff table, goes around the table and hugs Snape tightly. The staff smile as they watch it unfold. He said, "Thank you, dad! I love my new boots!" Snape smiles and said, "I'm glad you like them. They were mine. I resized the boots, so that you could wear them." Harry looks at Snape in shock. He said, "These boots were yours?" Snape nods, "Yes, Harry, I wanted you to have them. I don't want you feeling guilty for receiving my old boots, understood?" Harry smiles, "Alright dad. So, if I have your old boots, what are you going to wear on your feet?" Snape pushes his chair back and shows Harry his new boots. He said, "I just got these boots for Christmas, from Lucius Malfoy. I told you I get gifts from Lucius, from time to time." Harry said, "Those boots look great on you, dad!" Snape smiles as he pulls Harry into a hug. Snape said, "Thank you, Harry." Harry hugs him back and said, "You're welcome, dad. Did you get my gift?" Snape nods, "I did, Harry. Thank you for the new stirring rods, they are much better than the ones I use." Harry grins, "You're welcome dad. I figure you could use some new stirring rods. The ones you have were looking worn. At least that way, if one of your stirring rod breaks or something, you can use one of your new ones." Snape smiles, "Especially when I am brewing potions for Madam Pomfrey." Harry grins and hugs Snape, who hugs him in return. McGonagall and Dumbledore smile at them, happy to see Snape smiling more often. Since they hardly ever see him smile, until Harry came along. Harry said his goodbyes to Snape and left with his friends. Snape smiles as he watches them go, feeling happy and content. He was happy with how close he and Harry were becoming as father and son. Just as he would do anything for Lily, he now will do anything for his son. His smile fades as he thinks about the attacks. If only they could find out who was behind the attacks, he would feel better about Harry's safety. Not to mention, he needed to figure out how to remove Voldemort's soul from inside Harry. Maybe after these attacks end, he can finally figure out how to get Voldemort's soul out of Harry. Until then, he needs to focus on the students' safety and finding the one responsible behind these attacks.