To say that Oliver Wood was incensed would be a gross understatement; words cannot do justice to his bearing as the Quidditch match was halted before a ball could be released. Professor McGonagall had come, striding across the lawn, and had ordered to stay put. Harry, however, was an exception, as Professor McGonagall gathered him and Ron.

The three met Hermione, who was waiting for them. Professor McGonagall walked ahead, waving her wand as they walked through the corridors.

"Hermione?" Harry began. "I thought you were in the…"

"The Library? I was, and I found what I was looking for. I told Professor McGonagall about my theory, and she agrees that it seems to be sound enough…"

"Do you have an idea of who the heir is?" Ron interrupted.

Hermione shook her head. "The monster. Be ready to shut your eyes at a moment's notice."

Harry and Ron exchanged quizzical looks. Hermione was concentrating on her meeting with Headmaster Dumbledore; he would no doubt listen to her plan, so Hermione wanted to be as informative and concise as possible.

Professor McGonagall had brought Harry and Ron along because she knew that the story of how Hermione came by the idea research the possibility of a Basilisk would include them as chief characters.

"Fizzing Whizzbees." McGonagall said to the Stone Gargoyles which stood guard outside the Headmaster's office. They swung aside to let her, Hermione, Ron and Harry past.

Knocking on the door, Minerva waited for Albus's voice to grant access, before ushering her students into the room.

Ron and Hermione, who had never been in the Headmaster's office, seemed stunned at all the strange, wonderful devices that sang, hummed, whistled and shimmered around the room. Harry, who'd been there before was instead struck by the beauty of the bird perching above the Headmaster's desk. Fawkes was arrayed in his magnificent adult plumage, and with all the distractions, Ron, Harry and Hermione nearly forgot what they were actually there for.

"Ah, Minerva. What can I do for you?" Dumbledore looked up from scratching a quill on some parchment. Harry thought that Dumbledore knew that McGonagall was on her way, and his mild surprise was just an act.

"Miss Granger has come to me with a logical theory that I believe you should hear, Headmaster. She… Perhaps I should allow her to tell you."

"Miss Granger?" Dumbledore's twinkling eyes turned on the girl, and waving his wand, he conjured up plush armchairs. "Please." Dumbledore gestured for guests to be seated.

"Well, sir. I believe that the Monster of Slytherin is a Basilisk."

The only tell Harry picked up was the slightest flicker in Dumbledore's eyes that seemed to betray the fact that this information came as a complete surprise to him. Thinking on it for a fraction of a second, it made sense…but there were holes in the logic. Rather than spend time analysing the situation, Dumbledore decided that a fuller explanation was necessary.

"How did you come to this conclusion, Miss Granger."

"It fits, Sir." Hermione began. "Harry's ability to speak Parseltongue was the first clue, although I didn't actually realise it at the time. Some of…suspected who the Heir of Slytherin is. We found out that it wasn't who we suspected; in fact we don't know who the heir is. It didn't make sense, at first, because the Basilisk kills on sight, so I dismissed the idea. Besides, to control a Basilisk requires the use of Parseltongue, which…the person we suspected did not possess. But after some thought, I realised the idea wasn't so far-fetched. Hagrid's Roosters were killed some months ago. Although it might've seemed to be natural predation, I believe that the Heir killed them because their crow is fatal the Basilisk. Recently I've also observed many spiders scuttling around out of their hiding places. They're fleeing the castle; spiders flee before the Basilisk. So, there must be either one of two options: There is a another Parseltongue in the school, or the monster has escaped, gone rogue, and someone is taking advantage by smearing anti-muggleborn propaganda on the walls."

Albus Dumbledore knew well who was responsible. Tom Marvolo Riddle, who at the current time styled himself as Lord Voldemort. But how was Tom opening the Chamber of Secrets? And how was it that there had been no casualties? The monster, if it was indeed a Basilisk, had other weapons in addition to a deadly gaze. Dumbledore suspected that Tom was possessing students and he struggled to keep the revulsion in his throat down as he imagined Tom, hiding in the forests as he had the year before, waiting for a straggler to return from Hogsmeade, and taking their bodies over. Tom could be extremely subtle; and his victim(s) would probably have no idea what had happened once it was over. Dumbledore suspected that deep down, there would be a sign of Tom's presence in their consciousness's, but to reach it would almost certainly destroy them. And perhaps Tom didn't want to kill anyone…yet. He was probably playing with his victims, the school and Dumbledore. Or - Dumbledore's heart rose - Tom's victims and tools resisted his control, and the Basilisk, bereft of his guidance, slithered back into its chamber.

"There is a question, Miss Granger. How were the students petrified, and not killed?" McGonagall asked.

"Professor." Hermione addressed them both. "What would happen if a person were to indirectly look into the eye of a Basilisk. Such as a reflection on a pool of water; a vision through a camera lens; a ghost?"

Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore made no effort to hide that they were impressed by Hermione's reasoning. (Whilst berating themselves for not having seen it.)

"How does it get around?" Ron spoke up. " I mean, a bloody great snake, I'm sure that someone would've seen a dirty great snake slithering around on a leash, following the Heir through the corridors."

"Pipes." Hermione smiled. "It uses the plumbling. Hogwarts' pipes are massive; most are more than sufficient for even a large creature to move in."

Dumbledore needed to hear no more. "Thank you for coming, Miss Granger. Professor McGonagall, I'm sure I can count on you to deal with the Quidditch stadium; I believe that I can hear the raucous enthusiasm of the crowd from here. If wouldn't mind, Fawkes. And please return with the staff."

"What do we do with the Students, Albus? We can't bring them back into the school."

"Indeed not; I suggest that we proceed with the match. A long, entertaining contest is just the distraction we need."

$.$

Oliver Wood was of the impression that Albus Dumbledore was the greatest wizard that ever lived when he found out that the match was back on. The students had been instructed not to leave the stadium – and they were under the watchful eye of Madame Hooch and their Heads and Prefects.

$.$

Meanwhile, back in the Headmaster's office, all the teachers had been assembled. Gilderoy Lockhart immediately started proclaiming that he knew exactly what was happening.

"Well, I knew it had to come to this." Lockhart started saying to Professor Sinistra as soon as Fawkes placed him in the Headmaster's office. "As I was saying to…" Gilderoy droned on and on, oblivious as to the complete disregard that his captive audience was paying him.

Soon, everyone was there. Mostly everyone was waiting quietly for Dumbledore to say something, and Lockhart turned around to see everyone looking at him. Some, like McGonagall, tried to keep her loathing expression in check, but others, like Snape, didn't even bother.

"…Perhaps the Headmaster should speak about the matter. Of course I…"

"Thank you, Gilderoy." Dumbledore cut his Professor off firmly yet gently.

Even Gilderoy Lockhart got the hint.

Dumbledore explained, without going into names, how someone had come up with idea that a Basilisk was the Monster of Slytherin.

"We'll, that's the first good news we've had in months." Hagrid spoke up. Everyone looked at him, incredulous and unable to comprehend his fanatical love for terrifying monsters. "We can simply get roosters, let them crow to their heart's content and that'll be the end of it. Although." Hagrid looked depressed about the idea of killing such a magnificent beast. "I'm sure that it's just misunderstood."

"Leaving aside the questionable theory that a Basilisk could be a nice pet; one thing still stands in the way of that plan. We still don't know where the Chamber of Secrets is; and it is likely to be a place where the suspected Basilisk is safe from the Rooster's Crow." Snape pointed out. "We could raise a whole farm of Roosters and still achieve nothing."

"So, you see the problem." Dumbledore continued. "The Basilisk is most likely in the Chamber. I cannot bring the Students back into the school now I know it's there. But conversely, we're unlikely to be able to lure the Basilisk out again without doing so."

"So, this is it?" Professor Sprout asked. "Hogwarts is being closed?"

"Sadly, I don't believe that will happen, Pomona." Dumbledore said. "If we evacuated by tonight, the Heir would realize what was happening. The Basilisk would lie in hiding once again.

Perhaps for a few months it will work; but the Board of Governors and the Ministry would both get involved. Eventually, they'll want to reopen Hogwarts – perhaps under new management. Sadly, the word of a Muggleborn girl doesn't hold much weight there. I'm afraid that if we leave, it may just bring greater evils in the future. On the other hand, there's no way we can stay."