I don't own it.

Hermione sighed as she placed the last book onto the correct bookshelf. It was the day before they left for the summer holidays, and library rules demanded that she return her books before the year ended. Due to her Petrified state for most of the last term, she hadn't been able to finish reading them. Such a pity too; they were good books and she could have entertained herself with them during the holidays.

She wondered if there were any magical books to be found in muggles libraries; non-magical people did seem to excel at overlooking things out of the ordinary, even those that happened right in front of them, thoughtlessly casting away what their senses told them and putting what they saw down to overactive imagination, sleep deprivation or stress.

Abruptly, Hermione's musings came to a standstill as her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. A beautiful display of magic appeared to be taking place right in front of her on the previously empty wooden table. Hermione quickly glanced around; looking out for who or what, she didn't know. Madame Pince seemed to have left while she was absorbed in her thoughts.

Breathless, she watched as glistening threads of black and bronze, silver and gold came together in a most entrancing show of nature. Then, just as suddenly as they had appeared, the tendrils of magic left; leaving behind a heavily bound bundle of parchment.

Looking at it closely, Hermione realised it was a book. A fairly ancient one, and big enough to classify as a tome. Gingerly, she touched it. It certainly felt normal, and it definitely didn't look dangerous. Rather, it just looked like one of those artefacts one might find in a museum of ancient Roman or Greek history.

Carefully, she opened the book, pulling back the cover to reveal the first page. Stifling her reflexive gasp with the back of her hand, she quickly read the words printed on the aged golden-brown parchment...

OoO

Harry Potter stared at Hermione like he was seeing her for the first time. She had only ever been so full of nervous energy before exams or the numerous times she'd had to figure out the puzzle of who or what was causing the quickly-becoming-normal odd events at the school they attended.

He shifted his gaze to the large book Hermione had unceremoniously dropped in his lap. Hermione leaned over him to flip open the cover, and Ron moved so he was in a position to read what was on the first page.

'Listen to us, the four voices of unity!

Learn of the old tales of yore!

Of courage, wit, loyalty and cunning,

Of sin and betrayal, of pride and prejudice;

The fine lines between law and justice, innocence and corruption,

Between Light and freedom, oppression and manipulation.

For a time of great peril shall arrive

'A war,' most shall say, 'between light and dark'

'A conspiracy, 'less shall believe, 'to obtain power'

'A battle,' some shall think, 'carved by fate, and won with love'

But heed our plea, these words from the founders four,

To those who know both the price and prize,

That come hand-in-hand with Victory

Which seldom leads to peace.

Find the gems of unity,

Rebuild old beliefs, and rise from the ashes!

Depend not on authority, but on the soul

Use the knowledge of books, spells from myths,

Find the heirs of the first traits above

Unite with friends, allies, think in shades of grey

Form the army of Britannia, and lead it with strength!

Let the emblem of the Phoenix, the flag of freedom fly free once more!'

Ron stared at it with an expression that suggested that he'd finally accepted that life was just meant to be weird. He looked at his muggle-raised friends who were still engrossed in the strange text. He opened his mouth, surprising both them and himself with the somber tone of his voice.

"It's the Founders' prophecy, which is only mentioned in really old legends told to us by our parents, and it's supposed to be nothing more than a myth, or a bedtime story." He glanced at the book again, missing his friends' slack-jawed expressions.

"I suppose it's real then..."

OoO

"I wish I hadn't told you about the legend," said Ron grumpily, wrinkling his nose at the stench of stale blood and leaking pipes. He looked away from the corpse of the basilisk, suddenly unable to face the scene of his sister and best mate's near-deaths. His formerly rumbling stomach suddenly felt full of stones as he pushed down a growing feeling of nausea.

Hermione tore her wide eyes away from the carcass to glare at him. "This is the only logical place that can provide some sort of answer to this... this extract" She waved the copy she had made of the original first page in his face, forcing him to step back in slight alarm.

"But why here?" asked Harry, looking around the Chamber with ill-hidden distaste. "It's not like Slytherin was a person the other Founders would trust with a secret like this"

Hermione whirled around to face him. "The verses in the book mentioned the 'founders four', Harry. While we mustn't depend on the text alone, tell me, how much do we really know about the Founders? Apart from hearsay and the fact that they built this school with its houses and emblems? What were their interests, how they met, what led to their building this school?"

Then she continued, more softly, "History can be twisted by the victors and filled with hyperboles, Harry. You know that better than most"

Harry turned away from her to stare at the supposed statue of Salazar Slytherin. "Yes. I suppose I do"

"But Binns does not really help, you know," put in Ron defensively. "All he goes on about is goblins and their wars. And anyway, I wager he'd even make the school's founding sound boring"

Hermione, visibly restraining herself from launching into a speech about respect towards teachers, pulled them back to the subject at hand.

"This Chamber is the only known thing to have personally belonged to one of the Founders, and no one really thought it existed until fifty years ago, and it was truly confirmed only a few weeks ago. It is also nearly inaccessible. So, it's logical to assume we might find some clue here"

Ron sighed. "I'm really not in the mood for another near-death experience" Then, catching his friends' unwavering gazes, he sighed again. "Fine, then. Might as well have another adventure"

Under his breath he muttered, "It's not like we've already had our annual one or anything"

OoO

Two hours later found a disgruntled trio with growling bellies and bleary eyes.

"We're not going to get anything out of here," said Harry, looking disgusted. His upper lip curled slightly.

Ron just groaned from the corner he had slumped in. No one seemed to care about the stink and dirt by now. They were just about done.

"It's not like we ever get much at the first look," muttered Hermione, brushing some dirt off of her skirt. "Maybe we're just going about this the wrong way"

The boys just shot identical looks of mingled annoyance and exasperation at her as she started another minute examination of the book.

"These symbols," she said suddenly, getting her friends' attention. "What are these symbols?"

"Errr...um," said Harry intelligently as he stared at the cover of the book blankly. It was made of a tough leathery material and was bound and backed with what looked like iron.

"I know what those are!" burst out Ron suddenly. Harry and Hermione stared as his ears turned red and a surprised look passed over his freckled features.

"Well?"

"I'm not sure if I'm right, but- are you sure you don't..."

"Ron"

"Oh alright," sighed Ron, though Harry thought he looked more pleased than irritated. "They're runes. The library doesn't have an awful lot on them; what's there's only for the third years and above. Bill used to show me his before he went off to Egypt. It's a very difficult subject," he added unnecessarily.

Hermione's shoulders slumped. "And it's the end of term. We'll never be able to solve this"

Caught off guard by her distraught expression, Harry glanced helplessly at Ron. Ron cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Maybe... maybe I can ask Percy and Bill for you... I'm sure there's a library near the Burrow too..."

"Don't muggles have runes too?" asked Harry, frowning. "I remember my old history teacher talking about them".

Ron looked bemused. "How'd they hear about them?"

Before Harry could answer, Hermione butted in. "I think we should all go home and do some research. Ron, are all your brothers- and Ginny- trustworthy?"

Ron looked indignant. "Why, of course they are! What do you-?"

Harry quickly intervened. "She means, can they keep a secret?"

"Oh," Ron blinked, looking slightly sheepish. "Yes, they can"

"Brilliant," said Harry. "Tell all of them about this, and take the book with you to prove it. Maybe you can come up with something to get away to the library for a bit. And we'll send our research too," he added hastily as Ron's face turned sour at the thought of more work during the holidays. Ron accepted the book from Hermione with a slightly glum expression.

"I hope they'll believe me," he mumbled, looking down at the book. He had a feeling that it would become a catalyst for disaster…