Heads and Tails

It was early the next morning when Penelope woke up cold, confused, and wondering if the secret room she had seen had been a bizarre dream. Moving across the mess made by her disastrous roommate, Cheryl Janine, she took a quick shower and searched for a cleaner uniform. She had promised Percy, Oliver, and Marcus that she would get to the library to obtain a book on Elfish Runes. Picking up her bag and making sure her wand was securely in her pocket, she headed towards Madam Pince's Cave, as so many Ravenclaws liked to call it.

Being it very early in the morning, Penelope found the library almost empty. Madam Pince was looking over a tattered volume of Herbology 101: What Drugged Merlin, muttering, "Students are a nuisance. Tearing through books like tea leaves." At a farther corner were two Hufflepuff sixth years, whom Penelope was quite sure were not studying in the slightest. Walking past them, toward the language section, she breathed in the musty air. it was not her favorite smell, yet it was calming. She had always liked the library. Venturing through it was a slight adventure to her, like she was the heroine and Madam Pince the dragon, which was quite cruel since Madam Pince seemed to like her.

A small chuckle broke Penelope from her thoughts, and she glanced towards the source of it - Marcus Flint. Flint was munching on an apple (something Penelope was quite sure Pince wasn't aware of), and flipping through a book called Magical Me. Marcus must have found it quite funny, because every so often he would let out a small chuckle . Penelope had to admit, that for a Slytherin, he was quite cute in that sort of Zetes (rather cute Greek mapmaker with rather, er, large front teeth) adorable way, excluding the whole being able to see until the end of the world thing. Still, he was a Slytherin, and a rude one.

"It's rude to stare," Flint suddenly said, his eyes rising to meet Penelope's. Maybe he could see until the end of the world, she thought.

"Oh, sorry," Penelope murmured, flushing. "I was coming to look for that Runes book. I'm sure it's here. Somewhere."

Marcus nodded and returned to his book. Leaving Penelope quite confused; ignoring the boy, she made her way towards the cases of book, which hopefully would hold that for which she was looking.

It took most of an hour for Penelope to search through the books. Strange titles such as Happy Dwarf: The Language of Silliness and Dragonis: The Language of the Fiery, kept trying to bite her. Unfortunately, her search (and bite marks) had been in vain, since she didn't find the right books. Tucking away a copy of Titter: Talking to the Fairies, she turned to address Marcus and demand help, but the Slytherin had already left, leaving only the core of the apple he had eaten.

Upset at not finding anything and noticing the Great Hall was packed with students eagerly waiting breakfast, Penelope decided it would be wiser to come back at a later time. Maybe she could even ask Madam Pince for the location of a book - if it existed.

*~*~*

Percy had been dreaming of a quite peculiar Weasley gathering - Ginny had exchanged her chocolate milk for Bill's beer - when he was roughly awakened. "Mfff," he muttered, waving his arms madly, hitting his attacker in the head.

"Oi," yelped Oliver, "What'd ya do that fo'?" He rubbed his head angrily.

"Sorry, Oliver," Percy apologized, getting up from his bed. "You startled me."

"Come on," Oliver said, "you'll be late for breakfast. Also, I want to see if Clearwater found that book on Elfish runes." He gave Percy a maniacal grin. "I thought we might ditch Flint, and the three of us investigate the Chamber."

Percy shook his head. "No, Oliver. Flint did help us. It wouldn't be fair."

Oliver wrinkled his nose, but quickly nodded. "You're right. We might as well get rid of the Mudblood."

"Oliver!" Percy snapped, as their various roommates gave Oliver loathing looks. Pulling on his robes, Percy yanked Oliver out of the room, down the stairs, out of the common room to the indignant shouts of the Fat Lady, and towards the Great Hall, all the time muttering, "Stupid prejudiced views, you've got, Oliver. Absolutely disgraceful."

Oliver, who had allowed Percy to call him a Quidditch prat, quickly untangled himself from Percy's grip. He headed toward the Ravenclaw table, where Penelope was munching on a buttered piece of toast and reassuring her friend Cheryl that Cheryl's hairspray was not flammable.

"Hullo, Clearwater," Oliver greeted, as he sat across from her, much to Cheryl's delight. "Been to the library lately?"

Penelope, who knew about Oliver's view of mixed-blood wizards, wrinkled her nose. "Yes, I have."

Percy sat next to her and offered her a grin while grabbing a bowl of porridge. "Oi, that's Ravenclaw's food," a fifth-year objected.

Cheryl looked from Percy to Oliver and back to Percy before deciding that she wanted nothing to do with them, and went to flirt with Jacob Kiono, the Head Boy.

"Did you find anything?" Oliver asked, while he reached across the table to grab a handful of Penelope's grapes.

Penelope swatted his hand away and answered, "No. I found a variety of books on languages, but nothing Elfish. I'll go during lunch and maybe ask Madam Pince."

Percy nodded and ate a spoonful of his porridge. When the heat burned his tongue, he spit it out, dismissing Oliver and Penelope's laughs. "Very funny," he growled, downing some pumpkin juice and pushing the porridge aside in favor of a piece of cake. After chewing slowly, he said, "Oliver and I will take a look at a map of Hogwarts. Maybe we can see if the teachers already know about it."

"I can't join you," Oliver said, pouring some iced tea. "I've got Quidditch practice this afternoon. We have a game against Ravenclaw, and we need to win." He looked at Penelope and grinned.

Penelope scowled at him. "You can come with me at lunch to the library," she said to Percy. "All the maps are there, anyway."

"Sure," Percy said, "I'll meet you there."

Penelope agreed, and they all returned to their breakfasts.

"What do you think it will open to?" Oliver asked.

"What?" asked Percy, buttering another bit of biscuit.

"The chamber," whispered Oliver. "Flint read that it led to something. What do you think?"

"I'm not sure," Percy replied, "I mean, it could be nothing, or it could be a secret entrance or something. Maybe we're just hoping for too much." He took a bite of his cake.

Oliver didn't want to believe the Chamber could be nothing, or that the teachers had known about it for years. He strived for adventures, something much grander than Quidditch, and if it was possible that that Chamber led them somewhere else - perhaps another world - he'd be able to set out as an adventurer, and be in the face of danger. Fight dragons, rescue maidens, and be rich - well, maybe that was a little fairy-tale-ish, but he'd still be rich. Then he'd buy top brooms to win the next Quidditch match against Slytherin, and show Flint he was no pouf.

While Oliver was daydreaming ("Gryffindor wins the cup!"), Percy had finished his second breakfast. He pulled out his Herbology book, carefully going over the herbs and flowers used to cure illnesses. Every so often, he'd glance at the Ravenclaw table, sneaking looks at Penelope, who was talking to her friend Kaylin ("Penny, where did you buy that quill?") while serving herself some juice. Then he'd go back to his book, read a few paragraphs, and go back to watching her. She was quite pretty, with her black, curly hair and light brown eyes, and quite smart too. That was always a bonus. Percy cursed himself for being so corny, and continued to read his book, not noticing the way Oliver was smirking at him.

"You fancy her, don't you?" Oliver asked with a cheeky grin.

Percy almost choked on his juice. Trying to not get that famous Weasley blush, he asked, "Fancy whom?"

Oliver pointed towards the Ravenclaw table, precisely at Penelope. "Her," he stated. "I've seen you looking at her."

"No, I don't!" exclaimed Percy defensively.

Oliver nodded, as if understanding. "That's good," he said, munching his toast. "She's a Mudblood."

Everyone that had been sitting close enough to hear him gave a collective gasp. They all stared at him, though some glared.

"Oliver," snapped Percy, getting up and pulling him away from the table. "What have I told you about using the word Mudblood in public?"

Oliver followed him out of the Great Hall. "They're Muggle-born, Percy," he mumbled. "They're not worth it."

Percy crossed him arms over his chest and glared at the brown-haired boy. "Oliver, Muggle-borns are wonderful people. You shouldn't be so closed-minded. Next thing we know, you'll be wandering around the halls screaming, 'Anyone that can't fly isn't allowed at Hogwarts!' while wearing the bloody Dark Mark or something. You'd make Salazar Slytherin proud."

Oliver rolled his eyes. "It's just that my aunt told me that if Muggles were allowed to know about magic they'd kill us, or use us for their own good." His voice had started becoming more high-pitched. "Like my mom."

Percy felt sick at Oliver's remark. Oliver's mother had died trying to save Muggles from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Unfortunately, she had died, and her sister had always told Oliver it was those "bleedin' Muggles who killed 'er" and nothing else. Since Oliver's father hardly spent time at home, he had never corrected that fib, and no one was the wiser. Mrs. Weasley had told him that was why Oliver had a strong dislike for Muggles, and why he ignored anyone who tried to correct him. Percy didn't have the courage to tell him the truth, so he just nodded his agreement.

"Come on, then," Oliver said, starting to smile again. "I have a nasty Potions essay to complete."

*~*~*

Marcus had been watching Oliver's outburst, and wondered whom Oliver had called a Mudblood. While the term was well-used, Marcus had at least the brains to not say it at a table full of Gryffindors. Cretin, thought Marcus, as Percy dragged Oliver out of the Great Hall. He watched as Penelope looked confusedly at the two boys, ultimately dismissing them and turning back to her friends. Marcus wondered if she had managed to find a book on Elven Runes. No matter, he'd corner her during Herbology class and ask her. In the mean time, he'd ask his grandmother for help. Asking Raquel Louise for parchment and quill, he started scribbling a quick message:

Dear Grandmother,

I have currently been asked to study Elfish Runes. I remember that I once studied a book on that subject at your house, and I wonder if it were possible for you to lend it to me. . I await your prompt answer.

Yours truly,

Marcus F.

He made sure the letter was polite and elegant, for the Flint side of his family expected no less. Marcus folded it carefully and tucked it away in his pocket, reminding himself to visit his owl later that day.

"Who are you writing to?" asked Raquel, forever nosy.

"My grandmother," Marcus answered, returning her quill.

"Why?" Raquel said, flashing him a smile. "Asking for sweets and money?"

"No, Raquel," Marcus answered irritably. "I was just asking for some new mice. Gunther, your brother, got rid of mine."

Raquel, who found mice quite disgusting, looked at Marcus with a look of loathing, and went off to speak of more elegant things.

Marcus grinned finishing his French toast. He reached for his bag under the table, bid farewell to his friends, and went to Herbology aware that Penelope had seen and followed him.

"Why are you following me, Clearwater?" he asked, after they both had passed the portrait of Melody Ear on the second floor.

"I want to talk," Penelope said indignantly, "about last night."

"Shouldn't you be doing this with Weasley instead of me, a Slytherin?" Marcus raised an eyebrow, and leaned against the wall. "I would say Wood, but his Mudblood dislike is well known."

Penelope clutched her bag tighter to her, and looked at Marcus carefully. His hair was messy and his cloak was open, showing off his ironed Slytherin uniform. His arms were crossed against his chest, and he was watching her carefully. "Were you able to understand all of the Elven Runes?" she demanded.

"No," answered Marcus, "I thought I made that clear."

"But you understood more than you told us," Penelope prodded. "What did you read?"

Marcus shook his head, strands of black hair falling to frame his face. "I haven't studied the Elven language in ages, Clearwater. I'm rustier than an iron nail that's been around too long. I'm not sure if I read well. Without the right book my thoughts aren't very useful."

Penelope looked almost as if she were willing to lock him in a classroom and starve him until he told her. "Percy and I are going to the library at lunch. Will you join us?" she asked, deciding words might be better, if less satisfying, than actions.

"Maybe," he said, glancing at his watch, which announced Two minutes to Herbology in his handwriting. Grabbing his bag, which had fallen to the floor, he nodded briefly at her and left.

Penelope just stared after him, confused, until Kaylin and Cheryl came to get her for Charms.

*~*~*

Percy and Oliver, who had been teamed up in Potions, looked curiously at the recipe in front of them. After Rebecca, one of Oliver's "fans," had accidentally dropped her slug juice on it, strange purple blots had appeared making it unreadable.

"It's okay," Oliver assured Percy, who had been complaining about getting low grades. "I remember how to make a Swelling Solution. Sort of."

"That's so reassuring," said Percy sarcastically. "Why don't we see if we can conjure a Draught of the Living Dead while we're at it?"

Oliver, who was busy cutting newt tails, growled at him. Mixing the current mess, he grinned. "Perce, do you have a mirror? A small one?"

Percy's eyebrows shot up curiously, then he said, "No, sorry, Oliver. I must have left it in my other make-up kit. Silly me, forgetting to bring such an important thing to Potions class."

Oliver ignored him and asked Rebecca for her mirror. Setting it on their desk at an angle, he announced to Percy, "Dash of leech juice, two rose roots, sliced fish, and - peculiar, I thought that was only used in Truth Potions - and a bit of moon dust."

Percy looked curiously at him, then at the mirror. Adding the leech juice, he asked, "Who are you copying from?"

"Alexia, that Hufflepuff, you know. She always gets good grades in Snape's class." Seeing Percy roll his eyes, he added, "Anyway, it's not like we're cheating. Our instructions got messed up. We're just finding a suitable copy."

"Rebecca was more than willing to exchange notes," Percy pointed out. "It might have been easier. What if you confuse Alexia's ingredients, or if she gets them wrong?"

"First, Rebecca doesn't do so well in Potions, and second, Alexia won't get them wrong," said Oliver, still staring at the small mirror. "Calm down, Perce."

Percy sighed and continued to add the ingredients into the boiling solution in the cauldron. "Remember," he said, lowering his voice, "in my first year, when I was reading Hogwarts, A History a lot?" Oliver nodded. "I don't remember any talk of chambers with Elfish runes. There was one, though, the Chamber of Secrets. You know, the one built by Salazar Slytherin that's supposed to have a monster or something."

Oliver looked at him curiously. "Do you think we've found the Chamber of Secrets?" he asked excitedly.

Percy shrugged as Snape passed them, looking at their potion menacingly, almost as if expecting it to explode. "It's a possibility," he said, "but we can't be sure. I mean, the Chamber of Secrets is supposed to be a bunch of bollocks anyway. Maybe all we've spotted is Dumbledore's secret stash of lemon sherbets, carefully guarded by long-lost Elven words that only Slytherins and extremely smart Ravenclaws know."

"Prepare to test your potion!" Snape yelled, cutting off Oliver's laughter.

Oliver and Percy paled.

*~*~*

"Thought you might not come," Penelope said, after Percy caught up with her in the library. "My mom always said food was the most important thing to a man."

Percy blushed. "Sorry, bad story involving a Swelling Solution gone wrong. Not very charming, really."

"Oh, I hate messing up in Snape's classes," Penelope said with a grin. "Did you get detention?"

"Surprisingly no. He just told the rest of the class how if they ever messed up like we had, he would take fifty points of their house." Percy ran a hand through his hair and smiled nervously. "I think he was pretty upset."

Penelope grinned and followed him into the library. Once again Madam Pince was cursing some third year that had accidentally set a slimy flobberworm on his copy of Quidditch Through the Ages. As it had earlier that morning, the library lacked for students except a few that had forgotten to finish their homework or study for an exam.

"Flint's here," Percy said, nudging her in the ribs.

Penelope, blushing at the contact, looked over to where Percy was pointing. Sitting calmly, eating a Chocolate Frog, was Marcus. He was reading The Odd Biography of Uric the Oddball carefully, turning the page every two minutes or so.

"What are you doing here?" Percy asked him.

"I came to help Clearwater with her search," Marcus said without looking up from his book.

Percy looked at Penelope confusingly, but didn't say anything, and went off to look at the maps of Hogwarts.

Marcus let out a chuckle. "What?" Penelope asked, frowning.

"Weasley is jealous," Marcus said, as he started looking over the section where the books on magical races were kept. "Tsk, tsk, imagine that."

"Why should he be jealous?" asked Penelope, sneaking a glance at Percy, who was bent over searching for the right map. "It's not like we're dating or anything." Marcus just grinned and carried on looking through the heavy volumes.

Deciding it might be better to have professional help, Penelope headed over to Madam Pince, who had just finished chastising a careless third year. "Hello, Madam Pince," Penelope greeted warmly.

"Hello, darling," Madam Pince said, wiping flobberworm slime off the Quidditch book. "Looking for something?"

"Oh, yes." Penelope handed her a napkin, which made the librarian beam. "I was wondering if you had a book on Elfish runes."

"I would have to check," Madam Pince, said, running her eyes over a shabby parchment full of names and book titles. "I can send you an owl later today. If we have it, you can stop by." She didn't smile.

"Thank you," said Penelope, doubtfully. She allowed the librarian to get back to her book cleaning and went to join Percy and Marcus, who were staring daggers at each other.

"Madam Pince says she'll check the library for the book, then she'll owl me," Penelope explained.

"The chamber doesn't appear on the map," Percy said, "so I don't think anybody knows about it."

"This just means," Marcus continued, "that all we need is that book, and we're done. Phase one will be complete." He didn't look too happy.

Percy checked his watch and found he had five minutes to get to Defense Against the Dark Arts. "I'm going to be late for class." He rolled up the map and tucked it back into its place. "I'll tell Oliver of this. Penelope, as soon as you get Madam Pince's owl, let us know."

Penelope nodded. If Madam Pince sent her an owl, she thought.