Later:
I've been wondering who the boy could be. I remembered Lotty had seen someone coming out of the Forbidden Forest on the day we first discovered the tunnel near Silas' secret base.
Could it be Silas Warren? Then I remembered something, Silas' Patronus is a snake. If the boy is an Animagus, from what I've heard, a person's Patronus is always the same as their Animagus form.
Then who could it be?
I suddenly remembered the red fox that Lotty and I had found caught in barbed wire - that had been near the Foxhole Chamber. What if that fox had actually been an Animagus? What if the reason the boy could speak Parceltongue was because he discovered the Foxhole Chamber and learned to speak Parceltongue through the same method I'm using?
Well, the best way to start, was with process of elimination.
-----------------
Night 16, OM Day 15.
Next day:
I'd almost decided to give up trying to find out who the Parceltongue-speaker was, when DADA happened.
Professor Livia was teaching about Patronus charms again. This time, in class, I was able to produce a whole owl. It gracefully glided around the classroom, giving off a reassuring glow.
The Sanding twins finally managed their Patronuses too. Artemisia's was a cat, and Amelia's some kind of bird (not an owl).
At one point, Professor Livia was called out for something. She informed us class was not yet over, and instructed us to remain seated.
Feeling bored, and suddenly having an idea, I closed my eyes, imagined I was talking to the green grass snake, and whispered in Parceltongue,"hello, can you hear me?"
I was not expecting to hear a response...
"Yes,"came a reply,"who are you?"
I opened my eyes, shocked. I noticed people were looking around the classroom with alarmed expressions.
"Did you hear that?"Amber said,"I'm sure that sounded like Parceltongue."
"Was someone just speaking Parceltongue in class?"Lauren Golding asked Amber.
Antonius, who was sitting next to Dominic, looked over at me with a disapproving expression.
"Obviously it was one of those Slytherins,"Kenneth Brass said.
"Let's figure out who it is,"Amber whispered, though loud enough for me to hear,"we should put them on trial."
But hearing that didn't worry me, I was thinking about something else. One of the boys in this classroom was the one. I was sure it had to be either Luke Stevenson, Kenneth Brass, Max Castellanos, Richard Steel, Henry Blaise, Regulus Flint or Dominic.
Later:
I tried speaking Parceltongue (while hiding under a table) in the common room. Henry, Dominic and Regulus were all there at the same time. I listened for an answer - nothing.
"So it was one of us,"I heard Regulus saying to Dominic.
"Come on! Own up!"Dominic shouted,"we know you're in this room!"
That ruled them out. Parceltongue sounds like normal speech when you speak it, and you answer naturally.
"Henry,"I whispered in Parceltongue.
"There it is again!"I heard Regulus saying.
"Whoever you are, can you please shut up!"Henry Blaise said.
"How come we never heard them speaking it before,"Regulus said,"why now?"
"It's giving me the creeps,"Henry said.
I whispered in Parceltongue again.
"Did you hear that?"Henry said,"I heard it again!'
"I'm getting out of here!"Regulus said.
Just then, someone moved the table-cloth, and Amelia looked under and saw me,"Cathy, why are you hiding under a table?"
"It's scary!"I said.
It is scary, almost getting found out like that.
I decided it's fairly obvious it's not one of us. It has to be one of the Gryffindors.
---------------
Night 17, OM Day 16.
Next day:
I decided not to risk speaking Parceltongue in DADA again. Especially not while Professor Livia was present. I also decided it wouldn't be a good idea to try it in the Great Hall.
So how?
Max was probably going to be the easiest one to test. Maybe I should start with him.
Later:
It's not Max.
I need to be careful, people are starting to get creeped out by the Parceltongue now, and they're investigating. I already scared Lotty. She was near Max when I tried communicating...
Testing it on Luke and Kenneth seems a bit like walking into the lion's den, as Silas' gang members have made it a sort of quest to track down the Parceltongue-speaker and put them on trial. I don't fancy getting caught.
Antonius has already had a go at me for it. I didn't tell him I wasn't the only Parceltongue-speaker in the classroom that time. I knew that would just complicate things. For the rest of the day, I was trying to work out a plan to test Luke, Richard and Kenneth.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
One thing that makes it even more difficult, is Luke and Kenneth are always hanging out with Silas.
I decided to give it a miss today. I think Kenneth is the person it's most likely to be, I can imagine him being ruthless enough to earn the trust of a Basilisk.
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Night 18, OM Day 17
Next day:
Today I had the idea to write down two notes in the enchanted rune language. I left one in the place where Richard usually sits, and one in the places where Luke and Kenneth usually sit. Three notes for three suspects. I managed this before DADA began.
When the class started, I watched carefully as everyone took their places at their desks. To my annoyance, Silas picked up the note meant for Kenneth. Then I noticed Silas looked like he was actually reading it. He also had a very strange look on his face, almost - worried. He then looked around the room. I quickly looked away, then I glanced back at him. Kenneth had seen him reading the note, and took it from him, laughing.
"What are these scribbles?"he said.
Well, at least I now know that Kenneth hasn't been in the Foxhole Chamber. Silas, on the other hand? Then I thought - maybe Luke Stevenson is the one? He's in Silas' gang, if he discovered the Foxhole Chamber, then it stands to reason that he could have shown it to Silas.
The fact that Silas seemed to be able to read those runes bothered me a lot. I was so distracted by it, that I didn't even think about looking to see how Luke and Richard reacted to the notes I'd left for them.
----------------
Night 19, OM Day 18
Next day:
I hunted around for some frogs to bring to the green grass snake. I've named him 'Oliver'. He already has his own snake name, which he's told me, but it's really long and complicated. He said he didn't mind being called Oliver.
"What do you want?"he asked, after I'd given him the frogs.
"Could you tell me any more about the boy who speaks Parceltongue?"I asked.
"Well, now that you mention it,"Oliver said,"I saw him again yesterday."
"Yesterday?"I said.
"Yes,"Oliver answered,"as a fox. I knew it was him again. I could sense it. Humans in animal form are not the same as ordinary animals, you see. He went down that fox warren over there."
So whoever he is, he does know about the Foxhole Chamber!
"Have you seen him go into that warren before?"I asked.
"Yes, many times,"Oliver replied,"I've seen you too, and some other people with you. Only, you didn't go down as a fox. He always goes down as a fox."
"Did he do anything else?"I asked.
"That was all,"Oliver replied.
"Is there anything more you can remember about him?"I pressed on,"any more ideas you can give me?"
"Maybe for a newt..."Oliver began.
"I'm not going to get you a newt!"I said, frustrated.
"For a newt, I could go off on more travels,"Oliver persuaded,"I could discover more things from other snakes. Some of them will have seen him too."
"How long will that take?"I asked.
"Not so long as it did with the King Serpent,"Oliver responded,"come back to me in two days. With a newt. A good quality one."
I wondered why I hadn't thought of this before.
------------------
Night 21, OM Day 20.
Next Day:
Tonight will be the last night I have to drink that vile snake potion. The instructions on learning Parceltongue don't say whether or not I have to win the trust of a King Serpent before the last day. I suspect I won't be able to speak Parceltongue permanently until I do I've decided to keep the remaining vials and bottle of snake potion, as I'm sure it will still be able to grant me the temporary ability to speak Parceltongue. I'll need it if I do happen to find that Basilisk. I will also need it to talk to Oliver.
-------------------
Night 22, OM Day 21.
Next day:
As soon as I had a chance, I went up to Oliver's woods, but then I saw a red fox. It was coming away from the woodland. I quickly tried to look inconspicuous, and made it look like I wasn't heading for that woods, but somewhere else. I saw the red fox run into the Forbidden Forest.
I had wondered how the Parceltongue-speaker was able to go in and out of the Forbidden Forest without annoying the Centaurs. I'd wondered if he had possibly obtained some kind of special permission from them. Or maybe if he went there in Animagus form, they weren't able to detect him so easily?
I had been thinking about following the fox, but decided against it. Going into the Forbidden Forest would be a dangerous move. Also, if it happened to be a real fox, I would be lead on a wild goose chase. Besides - foxes run fast! Too fast for me. I'd have a job keeping up with the thing, even on my broom-stick - and then it would certainly notice me!
When I was satisfied the fox was far enough away, I slipped into Oliver's woods and went to find him.
"Hello, Oliver?"I asked,"are you back from your travels yet? I've brought you the largest newt I could find."
"Yes,"Oliver answered,"newt first, then the news."
"Well, then?"I asked Oliver, after his dinner.
"Some other snakes have seen the boy too,"Oliver said,"they told me he has a place in the Forbidden Forest. There is a cave there, an evil cave, they say. Near there, is where he keeps the King Serpent. It lives in caves underground. He has enchanted that part of the forest, so that the Centaurs cannot enter it. They are not happy about it, the Centaurs, for they forsee a darkness."
"Right,"I said, starting to feel a little worried,"anything else?"
"Sometimes they have seen the boy with his friends,"Oliver went on,"but never as a fox with them, and never have they seen him with his friends in the Forbidden Forest."
I suddenly had an idea.
"If I took you with me, and showed you, would you be able to identify him to me?"I asked.
"Yes,"Oliver replied.
"All I have to do, is hide you inside my cloak,"I said,"don't worry, I'll keep you safe."
"I'm not so sure, but for another newt..."Oliver said.
"Of course!"I agreed.
"Then, I suppose I could,"Oliver said.
"But when you see him, don't make it obvious,"I said,"if you say anything that might give us away, he'll hear it."
"So, what should I say when I see him?"Oliver asked.
"What do you usually say?"I asked,"when you're by yourself, looking for food."
"Delicious newts!"Oliver said,"my favourite food, you know. I like to sing songs about finding newts for supper."
"Well,"I said,"when you see him, start singing your newt song. Then I'll know he's the one."
I took Oliver with me, back to Hogwarts. I had him hidden under my cloak. I went into the grounds and looked around to see if I could see any of the Gryffindor 6th years.
I found Richard Steel, sitting by himself, reading a book. Oliver remained silent.
Then I saw Luke, Kenneth and Silas. Oliver started singing his song.
But which one of them was it? They were all standing close together, so it was hard to tell.
I quickly dodged behind a wall, and whispered as quietly as I could,"I need to separate them."
"Understood,"Oliver replied.
I went back out from behind the wall, and followed them for a while. Then Lauren Golding came up, and took away Kenneth. For the first time in my life, I was actually glad to see her, of all people!
As Lauren and Kenneth walked past me, Oliver said nothing. I followed on after Silas and Luke. It must be Luke? But I still had to be sure and certain - I could easily have made a mistake, somewhere along the way, in my process of elimination.
As I followed them, I made sure to keep a far enough distance to avoid suspicion...
Then I had my chance! Luke was just saying goodbye to Silas and going off somewhere.
But as Luke walked past me, Oliver remained silent. So it wasn't Luke...
After Luke had gone, and only Silas remained, Oliver began singing his song. He kept on singing his song until Silas went off out of sight.
How could it be Silas?
I waited until he was out of hearing distance and whispered to Oliver,"you're sure he's the one?"
"Yes,"Oliver insisted,"he is the one!"
I felt a bit skeptical, especially as I have been tricked before, and Oliver might be making this all up to get free newts. Then I remembered how I'd spoken Parceltongue in class, and someone had replied. Still - that didn't mean everything Oliver told me was true.
"So, you'll bring me a newt tomorrow?"Oliver asked.
"Yes, of course,"I said,"I might not be able to speak to you, though. I'm not drinking any more of my potion tonight."
"All that matters is I get a newt,"Oliver responded.
Suddenly someone tapped me on my shoulder. I turned around in horror!
It was just Antonius.
"Oh,"said Antonius, seeing Oliver on my shoulder,"your pet snake. Catherine, you really shouldn't bring him into school with you. You've been causing a lot of chaos already! Those Gryffindors are after the person that has been speaking Parceltongue, and if you keep this up, they'll catch you, and they'll torture you in the Courthouse."
"I know,"I said,"I'll be careful."
"Well, you can start being careful by leaving it where it lives,"Antonius urged me.
"Fine, I'll bring him back to his woods now,"I said.
I returned Oliver to his nest under the old oak tree. If nest is the correct word.
"Don't forget my newt!"Oliver reminded me.
"Of course I won't! Goodbye and thank you!"I called after him.
Antonius had come with us. He was satisfied to see me return the snake to his den. Then we went to the common room together.
I was approached by Priscilla.
"Catherine! Where have you been?"she asked.
"Outside,"I answered.
"Yes, but aren't you forgetting something?"she went on.
I thought for a moment, and was about to ask what, then I remembered! The memory potion! Of course!