Magic and Mystery Coil by Allegory_for_Hatred

Dazai vs. Pansy

Great.

Dazai had one week to convince her to keep her mouth shut.

Unfortunately, that little petrification trick of his would only work once. Once someone realized it was only Dazai's enemies that got petrified...

Dazai dropped his hand to his lap. He'd figure something out. He always did.

Snape was... also a problem. Though less of one, Dazai thought. Because for all Snape could be pushy, Dazai had the man fairly under control. He fell for easy lies, and seemed at all times willing to side with Dazai's innocence. Dazai would figure something out for Snape eventually. But for now, playing his usual cards was best. Still. The whole thing was needlessly exhausting.

No sooner did Dazai slump forward in his chair, did the office door suddenly burst open.

Draco stormed across the room. He slammed his hands on the desk. The resulting bang! finally sent Dazai's newspaper tumbling to the ground. Blaise, a few feet behind Draco, shut the door and ambled after him.

"Good evening, you two," Dazai said. He eyed them both for a moment before grabbing his gloves from the desk and slipping them back on.

"Don't 'good evening' us, Boss!" Draco's palms pressed firmly into the desk, turning white. "What the hell?!"

"You're very noisy today, Draco. But as it happens, I have no idea what you're upset about."

"Madam Pomfrey!"

Blaise finally reached the desk, though he didn't make of show of slamming it like Draco had—for which Dazai was greatful. "She was petrified," he translated. "We were under the impression we had put a stop to those."

Dazai hummed. Riddle's diary was safetly tucked into the pocket of his robes. And though Dazai didn't reach for it now, it suddenly felt more weighty against him. "That diary was just the controller. You know, there's still a wild basilisk loose in the school."

"Ah..." Draco deflated, his shoulders slumping and the mean twist of his face going slack. "I hadn't thought..."

"No worries, the thinking part is what I'm here for," Dazai waved them off. "Without the diary here, there's nothing linking the petrifications back to us anymore. We're in the clear—even if things are a little messy."

Draco made a disgruntled face, still clearly upset over something. Blaise, meanwhile, merely tilted his head. "Draco mentioned you wanted to investigate the Chamber of Secrets," he commented. "Do you have any leads on catching the basilisk?"

Dazai blinked. Draco did the same.

"Oh. Right. I was doing that, wasn't I?"

Draco's stare was baffled. "You forgot."

"Of course I didn't forget," Dazai sniffed. "I've just been preoccupied."

Blaise and Draco were giving him odd looks. But before he could say anything about it, there was suddenly a knock at the door.

All three of them immediately stilled.

"Hey. Think that's for us?" Dazai chirped.

Draco shot him a wide-eyed look.

"No one in the gang usually knocks," Blaise pointed out, and Draco nodded a wary agreement.

They knocked again.

Dazai got to his feet. He walked across the room towards the door, very aware of Draco and Blaise's eyes on his back.

"Hold up," Draco said, hurrying after him, "it could be a professor."