Harry closed the somewhat worn copy of 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' and added it to the pile of books on the desk in front of him, on top of 'Dark Dwellers and Dungeon Dangers' and 'Compendium of Frightfully Frightening Fiends'. As he did so, he couldn't help but notice a small group of Hufflepuff students, standing by the door of the library, whispering and throwing glances his way.
It had been the same wherever Harry had gone, for days now.
"What are you looking at?" Ron asked, noticing them too. "If you've got a problem with Harry, why don't you come over here and say it?"
Muttering something, the tallest boy opened the door, and the group exited.
"Thanks," Harry said glumly.
"They'll be talking about something else next week," his friend tried to reassure him.
"They think I petrified Justin and the others. Somehow I doubt that," Harry sighed, as Ron closed his own book and placed it on the pile. "Anything?"
Ron shook his head. "Should we look for some more books?"
"No. Maybe we're just wasting our time," he shrugged. "If McGonagall's right and there is a monster in the chamber, it's nothing in any of these books."
A pause.
"Maybe there's no monster at all," the redhead suggested. "Maybe whoever has opened the chamber is the one behind the attacks."
"If that's true, it would have to be a really powerful wizard. When I was in Dumbledore's office, McGonagall said that most students wouldn't be able to petrify people like that," Harry told him.
Ron didn't respond, but the look on his face told Harry where his friend's suspicions still lay.
"I know you think it's Snape…" he began.
"Don't you?" Ron asked.
"I don't know, Ron."
"Look, I'm sorry mate. I know you don't want to believe it," he sighed. "But those things that elf said… I dunno. It's just… weird."
Exhaling, Harry picked up the final book in front of him