Parents are muggles, are they not?" the potions master was saying.
No matter how close Harry got, he couldn't quite hear Hermione's response and he let out a noise of frustration.
"…ought to be careful…" Snape said.
And then the man turned to leave.
Hermione turned, watching him go, with a look on her face that Harry had never seen before.
She looked scared.
Another pull.
And Harry was back in the Gryffindor common room.
Slamming the book shut, Harry sat there, frozen to the spot, and his breath hitched in his throat.
It was Snape.
Snape had opened the Chamber of Secrets. But don't you see? It's exactly like you were saying! That book… it showed me those… those things. And it was him," Harry pointed out.
Ron grimaced. "I'm sorry, Harry. I tried to warn you…"
"I know. I guess I just didn't want to believe it," he sighed, taking the diary from Ron and placing it back down on the table.
"What are you going to do?" Ron asked.
Harry thought about it for a moment.
"Let's get dressed. As soon as its light and curfew lifts, we need to get to the great hall," he decided. "We have to find Professor Dumbledore."
Though Harry knew it was unlikely Snape would be at breakfast quite so early, both he and Ron only cautiously peeked their heads around the doors of the great hall.
Sure enough, the potions master's seat was empty.
But so too was Dumbledore's.
That was certainly unusual, Harry knew – the headmaster was always first to breakfast to welcome the students, and (as he had once told Harry himself) to ensure he got to the pastries whilst they were still fresh and warm.
Today however, save for the two or three early risers at the house tables, there was only Professor McGonagall in the hall.
Shutting the door again as quietly as he could, Harry set off back down the corridor.
"Harry? Where are you going?" Ron called, following him.
"Maybe he's in his office," Harry told him.
"But, I thought we could at least grab something to eat before we –"
"No, Ron. I don't have time," he shook his head. "You stay though, if you want. I can do this alone."
But Ron shook his head. "I'm coming with you."
It was only when they reached the entrance to Dumbledore's office that it occurred to Harry he didn't know the current password.
He tried several, including 'Sherbet Lemon' and 'Liquorice Wands', and even 'Fizzing Whizbees', which he had heard McGonagall use some months ago. But none of them worked. Calm down, Harry. It'll be alright," Ron told him, though the redhead didn't sound too convinced himself.
"Good morning!" came a far-too-chirpy voice from behind them.
Harry recognised it immediately and groaned inwardly – this was the last thing he needed.
Turning slowly, he looked up at Professor Lockhart.
"Good morning, sir."
"Harry! Good to see you out and about so early," Lockhart beamed, glancing at Ron. "And you, er…?"
"Ron, sir. Ron Weasley," he said, less than impressed.
"Right you are. I was just on my way to breakfast but found my services were once again needed," the professor told them. "Found that awful little fellow terrorising a first year in the second floor corridor. Terribly violent and bordering on dangerous. I took care of it of course."
A pause, and the two boys simply stared at him.
"Peeves?" Harry realised, eventually. The poltergeist was many things, but even he wasn't sure 'dangerous' was one of them.
"That's the one. Don't worry, the first year is safe, and the spectre is… handled," Lockhart told them.
Ron just nodded, giving him a confused smile.
"Actually, sir… maybe you could help us?" Harry piped up, gesturing back to the phoenix. "You wouldn't happen to know the password, would you?"
"Afraid not," Lockhart shook his head. "And even if I did, you and I both know I wouldn't be able to hand it out readily to you, Harry."
Harry sighed, but nodded.
"In any case, you wont be needing it," Lockhart began, before becoming distracted by something at the other end of the corridor.
Harry followed his gaze, just in time to see Peeves floating towards them, a huge bundle of oranges in his arms, looking like he was ready to launch them at any body who got in his way.
"Peevesey sees the blonde professor! Is he writing another book? Peevesey knows that blonde professor is a stupid, nasty crook!" Peeves sang.
Chuckling nervously and eyeing the oranges, Lockhart took a step away from the two boys.
"What do you mean I won't be needing it, sir?" Harry asked, turning his attention back to Lockhart.
"P-Professor Dumbledore isn't in there," Lockhart said, eyes still on Peeves as he turned to make a quick exit. "Got to go! Breakfast will wait for no man! See you in Defence boys!"
"Yeah, looks like he really handled that spectre," Ron snorted, as Peeves ploughed past them, in hot pursuit of the professor.
"Let's try the astronomy tower," Harry decided, setting off at a fast walk again.
"Where do you suppose Peeves got all that fruit from?" Ron asked, jogging to keep up with his friend. "And what the hell was Lockhart doing on second floor?!"
Harry simply shrugged. He hadn't given either much thought – he had far more important things on his mind.
But just as the great hall had been void of Dumbledore, so too was the astronomy tower.
"Where is he?" Harry asked, exasperated, as the two of them stood atop the tower, catching their breaths.