Chapter Text
Dear Draco.
The Chamber is very much real.
In fact, I say that this year will go better than the last time it was opened.
Fifty years ago, a mudblood died.
Let us hope more is purged from the school this time around.
I want you to keep your head down and let the Heir do what needs to be done.
If the Heir is caught, expulsion might not be in their future.
Azkaban.
Need I say more?
I don't want you messing with this.
Ask what kind of food Potter likes.
Your Mother and I wish to be prepared to seek an alliance next summer.
Much love, Dad.
Draco decided to keep most of what was in this letter a secret from Marry.
He tossed it in the fireplace.
When Marry asked if his Father wrote back, Draco told her about the Chamber being real, and that a Muggle-born died fifty years ago.
Marry hummed.
"I think we need to find it!"
Draco laughed.
"You're so silly Marry! Don't worry about it. You are a Slytherin, so you are safe here. If anything, you being a Magica would mean you're the least likely of all to be a target."
Marry said, "I don't want to see others hurt!"
Draco changed the topic.
"My parents wish to know what food you like for next summer."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Marry was ready!
His first race!
Broom Racing was to start a week before Quidditch.
There was a roster up.
If Marry kept winning, he would receive the Feather of Turul! An award for the fastest racer.
Hermione said, "The Feather of Turul is said to help flyers and bring good luck."
Marry wanted that Feather.
He trained for this.
Which turned out to be a good thing.
Because his first opponent was Milo.
And it was raining.
It seemed the whole school showed up to watch the race despite the weather.
Marry even saw some teachers!
Madam Hooch was at the starting line.
She pulled her wand out.
"When I shoot, you will take off!"
She turned to the crowd and pointed her wand at her throat.
"THIS IS THE FIRST RACE OF THE YEAR! POTTER VS BROOKS!"
There was cheering.
"OUR TWO COMPETITORS WILL FLY AROUND THE CASTLE, THROUGH HOOPS, AND DO TRICKS AT THE DESIGNATED CHECK POINT! WILL IT BE A CLOSE RACE? OR WILL ONE LEAVE THE OTHER IN THE DUST!"
Marry heard his name being called.
POTTER! POTTER!
He was ready.
Madam Hooch brought her wand down.
"Mount your brooms."
Marry got on his Nimbus 2000.
Madam Hooch raised her wand in the air.
BANG!
Marry took off!
He flew through the first hoop.
Wind in his face, he hurried to the next hoop.
Milo was ahead by a few inches.
He had more experience.
The third hoop.
The first checkpoint.
Milo did a corkscrew spin.
Marry gripped his broom, hung by one leg, and did a spin.
He felt his Nimbus start to vibrate.
Huh?
Marry got back on to speed up.
As he entered the next hoop, his broom was starting to shake in his grip.
Marry kept steady.
He made it through another hoop.
It was at the next checkpoint that things went terribly wrong.
Marry tried to dip low to hover upside down.
His broom violently shook him off.
Marry fell.
He instinctively brought his arm out.
His bracelet glowed hot, and Marry was slowing down.
Not slow enough.
He hit the ground, arm first.
CRACK!
Pain shot up Marry's arm.
Marry lay in the rain-soaked grass.
He turned to see his Nimbus 2000 still in the air, convulsing.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Someone jinxed Marry's broom.
He was wondering who would do something like that as he lay in the Hospital bed.
His arm hurt from Magical Overflow and regrowing his bones.
Marry hit the side of the bed with his good arm.
He lost.
He lost his first race.
Milo tried to ask for a rematch, but Madam Hooch said it was not allowed.
Marry was still on the roster, which was good.
He would not be getting that Feather.
Second place then?
Marry covered his face with his good arm.
"Damn it..."
He felt like such a fool.
Thinking that a second year could go against the Leader of the Racing Club.
Someone couldn't stand that.
So they jinxed his broom.
That must be it.
Marry drifted off, as it was late in the middle of the night, when he felt someone wiping his forehead.
Marry blinked.
"Dobby?"
Dobby had tears falling down his long nose.
"Miss came back. Why did you not heed Dobby's warning? Why did you not go home when you missed the train?"
Marry narrowed his eyes.
"How do you know about that?"
Dobby hiccupped.
Marry glared.
"Did you close the barrier?"
Dobby held up ten bandaged fingers.
"Dobby did. He had to iron his hands for it."
Marry saw a pitiful creature in front of him.
His anger ebbed away.
"Oh, Dobby. I know your heart is in the right place."
Dobby brought his pillowcase that he was wearing up and blew his nose in it.
Marry asked, "Why do you wear that? Don't you want nice clothes?"
Dobby said, "Tis the mark of the house-elf enslavement. Dobby can only be freed if presented with clothes."
Marry sighed, "Guess the Malfoys don't care if their slave is presentable. Do they let you have different pillow cases?"
Dobby shook his head.
"Only this, Miss."
Marry had been there.
He wanted something that was all his.
His bracelet would not come off even when his bones disappeared.
Dobby then said, "Why did Marry Potter use her magic? Dobby thought if he jinxed your broom-"
"You did that!? I thought you wanted to save me, not kill me!"
Dobby said, "Not kill! Just hurt enough to be sent home."
Like the Dursleys would take care of Marry if that happened. They would dump Marry at the hospital and never come back.
That might be okay.
Marry asked, "Why are you so sure I'm in danger? I'm not Muggle-born. And I'm a Slytherin."
Dobby twisted his ears.
"Do not ask more from poor Dobby."
Marry gently touched Dobby's head.
"What do you know? What do the Malfoys know?"
Dobby pulled at his ears.
"Dobby can't... Marry Potter must go home."
Marry petted his head.
"I'm not going anywhere. Hermione is a Muggle-born. She might be in danger."
Dobby started to cry again.
"Miss is too kind. So kind. To kind to face with-"
Dobby stilled.
Footsteps.
Dobby clicked his fingers and disappeared.