THE WRITING ON THE WALL
an empty classroom and closed the door quietly behind them.
Harry squinted at his friends’ darkened faces.
“D’you think I should have told them about that voice I heard?”
“No,” said Ron, without hesitation. “Hearing voices no one else
can hear isn’t a good sign, even in the wizarding world.”
Something in Ron’s voice made Harry ask, “You do believe me,
don’t you?”
“ ’Course I do,” said Ron quickly. “But — you must admit it’s
weird. . . .”
“I know it’s weird,” said Harry. “The whole thing’s weird.
What was that writing on the wall about? ‘The Chamber Has Been
Opened’. . . . What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know, it rings a sort of bell,” said Ron slowly. “I think
someone told me a story about a secret chamber at Hogwarts
once . . . might’ve been Bill. . . .”
“And what on earth’s a Squib?” said Harry.
To his surprise, Ron stifled a snigger.
“Well — it’s not funny really — but as it’s Filch,” he said. “A
Squib is someone who was born into a wizarding family but hasn’t
got any magic powers. Kind of the opposite of Muggle-born wiz-
ards, but Squibs are quite unusual. If Filch’s trying to learn magic
from a Kwikspell course, I reckon he must be a Squib. It would ex-
plain a lot. Like why he hates students so much.” Ron gave a satis-
fied smile. “He’s bitter.”
A clock chimed somewhere.
“Midnight,” said Harry. “We’d better get to bed before Snape
comes along and tries to frame us for something else.”
* * *
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