Hello all. I want to thank everyone for taking the time to read and review my story. After rereading it, I decided that it needed some cleaning up before I finalized the posting. I hope that you enjoy the rewrite; it reads a little easier and I like it better, if that is any indication.

As always, no characters belong to me. I am only responsible for the story idea and situations. With that being said, I understand that there are mountains of great stories dealing with Hermione's petrifaction. It is not my intention to plagiarize these pervious stories in any form. If there are similar thoughts to my writings from other authors, please let me know. It is quiet difficult to research all stories to avoid these types of mistakes, and is not intentional. In addition, I have twisted a few facts from cannon to my advantage, I hope that everyone doesn't mind.

Please enjoy the story and as always reviews and comments are welcome.

Chapter 2-Lying in Wait

May 8, 1993- later in the day

What happened? I feel stiff. The last that I remember is the yellow eye of the basilisk. Hermione's reality crashed. Oh my. I have been petrified like the rest. Penelope! Merlin that was why she had a strange colour to her, she was already petrified. Hermione's recollection of the events flooded back to her memory. She recalled the library along with the resulting journey to the bathroom.

Another part of her brain kicked in and began to share in the conservation with her. That was a mistake Hermione. Now look at the mess you got ourselves into. You are yet another victim of the basilisk. You figured it out and now you can't share it with anyone.

Harry will figure it out. He will see the paper in my hand and figure it out. Just like with the stone. He will be able to do it.

What piece of paper?

The one in my hand, of course.

Oh, the one hidden behind the mirror. Is that the one you are referring to?

Darn, I forgot about that. Now what am I to do?

Enjoy the quite. Enjoy my endless ramblings. Enjoy not getting to read and learn new things. Enjoy not getting to talk with Harrrrry.

Shut up. Just shut up. Hermione tried to close her mind to the ramblings from the other side of her brain, however they only dissipated to a low roar. Wait what is that? She could hear small echoes of footsteps that were growing in intensity before they suddenly stopped somewhere close.

"It's a shame really, she was such a bright student." Hermione could hear McGonagall's Scottish voice above and to the left of her she thought. I am still here. It's a basilisk that is petrifying everyone. I think that it's in the Chamber of Secrets, which is in the girl's bathroom. Hermione screamed in her thoughts. She tried to move her arm, a leg, or anything, but she couldn't.

"There is still time to save her. The mandrakes will be ready soon to provide the cure. Poppy informed me that they had held a party in the recent weeks." Hermione could distinctively make out the soft tone of the Headmaster. "Alas, I am afraid that my time here is the limited one. I am sure that Fudge will wish for my suspension from the school." Hermione detected the tiredness in the headmaster's voice. She could picture the sad look on his face. "I will take the ladies to the infirmary, and notify the minister that there has been another attack. Minerva, please inform the rest of the school of the attack and cancel the quidditch match."

"Albus, you don't seriously think that Fudge will have the nerve to ask you to step down. The school may be forced to shut down, if you leave." The pleading was apparent in McGonagall's voice. "In addition, Fudge has no say if you are to be removed. The school is not part of the ministry."

"True, the Board of Governors has the final say."

"Malfoy." McGonagall sounded as if the word left a bitter taste in her mouth.

"Correct, Lucius will push for my dismissal by both the Governors and Fudge. Please take care of the students during my absence, Minerva." Hermione could hear the headmaster's breath exhausted. "I would confine the students to their common rooms for now."

"Yes, Albus. I think that Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley would like to see their friend before being escorted there."

"Yes, the trio has grown quite close in friendship. They proved themselves at the end of last year, and will have enough chances to add to that in the years to come."

"I will do everything in my power to protect the students, Albus. Please don't worry about them."

"I am sure that you will, Minerva. Please go before more are attacked."

Merlin Hermione. Why did you have to investigate? Why didn't you go directly to the headmaster or Professor McGonagall? The headmaster is being sacked because of you. Why?

-000-

"Please keep your voices low so not to disturb anyone Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley." Hermione again heard the Scottish brogue of Professor McGonagall. It was faint, but unmistakable.

"Professor they are all petrified. We can't disturb them."

"Mr. Weasley keep your comments to yourself." Hermione could hear Ron's large feet pounding the ground to drown out the sounds of any others as they neared her location.

"Yes, Professor." Ron replied as the footsteps slowed before coming to a halt somewhere close to where Hermione lay. "Merlin, she is just like the rest of them."

"What did you expect for her to be doing, Ron? Jumping from bed to bed, carrying on a conservation, possibly reading a book?" Hermione could sense the edge of Harry's voice. It was obvious that he was annoyed with Ron's comments.

"Gentlemen, I will give you a few minutes while I talk with Madam Pomfrey before escorting you to the Gryffindor common room."

Harry, please hear listen to me. It is a basilisk, which is a snake. That is why you have been hearing voices. It is in the girl's bathroom… Hermione suddenly felt a warm hand with hard ridges on the fingertips press itself against her lower arm.

"She's cold."

"Of course she's cold. She's stone Harry. What are you doing?"

"Leaving my shirt to help keep her warm."

"Like that will do a lot of good." Hermione could feel the soft edges of the heavy fabric being draped over her upper torso. She wasn't sure exactly what Harry had draped over, but it was offering a sense of belonging; of security; of friendship. Hermione tried to inhale to catch the scent of Harry's scent of evergreens and musk as he leaned over her, but it was of no use. She could neither breathe nor smell.

"Listen Ron. Shove it." Harry's voice embraced a sharper edge than when he spoke to Ron before.

"Blimey, Harry. What's the matter with you?"

"Our best friend has been attacked like the rest!" Hermione heard Harry's voice explode in the room. She could hear it quivering with fear or anger or both. His rapid and shallow breaths could be heard as he gulped for air. "She would have been the only one of us to figure out what was going on." His voice had lowered slightly after his first outburst. "We might as well face the facts. We can't help Hogwarts now." Harry's voice had almost returned to the normal soft tone. Off to her side, Hermione heard rushing footsteps closing in on her location.

"Sorry, Harry," Ron stated in an ashamed voice.

"What is going on?"

"It's my fault Professor McGonagall. I lost my temper."

"Well, under the circumstances, I can understand that. I must get you to the Gryffindor common room. Everyone will be confined to their rooms till we can sort out the details. Be quick out it."

Slowly fading footsteps filled the room as Harry, Ron, and Professor McGonagall exited the room.

Sounds of nothingness seeped into the infirmary. Filling the void with a stillness that scared Hermione. Her strength and courage disappeared with all of the sounds. Normally, with a chin up and a look of determination on her face, she would have forged through the fires of hell, but now all she could do was begin crying to herself.

-000-

Hermione's mind roused quickly from the semi-sleep, semi-unconscious state that it was in, by a light, almost feathery touch that crawled up her arm.

"Hermione, I hope that you can hear me. I wore the cloak to keep me from being seen." It was Harry. His voice was low and smooth. It was totally opposite from the raucous tone from before.

Yes, Harry, I can hear you. Merlin, I wish that I could talk to you. I have so much to tell you. So many things I need to warn you about. So many things I wish that I could convey to you. In her current state of body, Hermione felt helpless for the first time in her life.

"It's worse that we originally thought. So much worse." Harry's voice dropped below a whisper to her. "Dumbledore's been sacked by Lucius Malfoy no less. And they have taken Hagrid to Azkaban." Hermione heard a faint slapping of skin. "They think that he has been opening the Chamber of Secrets. I hope that he will be ok. Ron said that no one escapes or lives through it." Harry's voice was low and muffled.

He will be ok, Harry. Hagrid is strong; just like you. Where did that come from?

"Ron and I went to Hagrid's hut under the cloak to visit him after McGonagall took us to the common room. As soon as we got there, Dumbledore, Malfoy, and the Minister of Magic showed up. We had to hide under the cloak. We overheard them talking to Hagrid about the attacks on the students." Hermione felt the confusion in Harry's voice. "Funny thing is, all Hagrid said was follow the spiders. It makes no sense, follow the spiders."

Don't listen to him; a basilisk is making the attacks. God, I wish I could tell you what is happening.

"You look so pale, so grey." Hermione could feel a rough finger run down her cheek. "I wish that I could have kept you from this. It's so unfair."

It's not your fault Harry. I shouldn't have gone to the bathroom. I should have gone straight to Dumbledore or McGonagall or came to you.

"I wanted to protect you; to keep you from this. I…I'm sorry Hermione." She could feel Harry's unruly hair graze against her outstretched arm. A heavy weight rested against her side.

It's not your fault Harry. You told me to be careful. I just wanted to see for myself. Merlin, I want to run my fingers through your hair to comfort you, the same as my mother. It's truly a mothering instinct I think. Quickly the weight lifted from her torso as if on a spring.

"Madam Pomfrey is coming. I know that she can't see me, but I am taking no chances. I will visit often, with or without Ron. I hope that the mandrakes hurry in their maturation." Harry paused as if collecting his thoughts. "I care for you Hermione. I hope that you will be ok."

I care for you too Harry. Hermione knew that he had left as it suddenly turned colder and uninviting.

-000-

Hermione's mind was going numb. Only her thoughts were keeping her company today and they were turning mutinous. Earlier, she had overheard McGonagall discussing the state of patients in the infirmary with Madam Pomfrey. All in all, it was a grim conservation. She did learn that the medi-witch was concerned with the muscle development and motor skills of the petrified; especially the ones who had been petrified the longest. She felt sorry for Mrs. Norris and Colin Creevey, but the sight of a punch drunk Mrs. Norris made Hermione internally smile for a while.

"Sorry I took so long in getting here Hermione, but I was finishing Snape's parchment on the uses, effects, and procedures of the hair raising potion."

Thank goodness you came Harry, I am getting a little stir crazy in here. Even though she could not smell or see Harry, his presence of warmth greatly lifted her spirits.

"Ron couldn't come, he is still working on his essay. He say's hello though." A slight pause occurred. "Oh…" Hermione heard a rustling that she couldn't recognize. "I brought our transfiguration book with me. I thought that you might like me to read a bit." Hermione heard Harry release a long breath. "I thought that it might relieve some monotony of what you are experiencing.

Yes, please Harry. I would like that very much. Again, Hermione smiled internally once again.

"If it's ok, I am going to sit on the side of the bed."

It's ok Harry.

"Like you can tell me not to do it. I can't imagine what you are going through." Hermione felt warm touches against her skin where he slid beside her into the bed. "I need to read McGonagall's assigned reading in our book. I am sure that you have already read it, but…I thought that you might like hearing it again." Hermione heard the faint rustling of pages as Harry opened the book to the proper page before he began to read. His wavering voice did not do justice to the words flowing from his mouth, but it provided a necessary security; much like his shirt draped over her torso. Slow and steady, he made his way through the pages detailing wand movements and the mental state the mind should be in during a transfiguration.

"That's the last page. I'm sorry that my reading leaves much to be desired."

It was wonderful Harry.

"But on the bright side, it will get better the longer that you are in here..." Hermione could almost feel the lopsided grin his face was making. "But I hope that isn't very long."

I don't either Harry.

"I will be back tomorrow. Have a good night. I care for you. I want you to be safe."

I care for you as well Harry.Again the room turned colder when she could no longer sense his presence.

-000-

"Oiy, Hermione. Can you hear me?" Ron's unmistakable voice rang throughout Hermione's mind.

Yes, Ron I can hear you.

"Think she can hear us, mate?"

"I…don't know. Maybe she can. Sure she will tell us when she is unpetrified. Hermione could hear the shuffling cease in close proximity to her body. "Hey, Hermione. Wish you could have been with us today. It's been an interesting day to say the least. For all of the classes, we have been escorted by the professors between them." Hermione could hear him chuckle to himself before continuing. "Fred and George pulled a prank on Lockhart today."

"Yeah, one of them changed his hair to an ugly purple. Took him most of the day to figure it out. And when he did, he had to get Flitwick to reverse the charm. Fraudhart said he was too flustered to reverse the charm himself. All morning he couldn't figure out why everyone was laughing in class at him. Drove him batty it did."

I wish that I could have been there to see that. Maybe we could have given him the hair-raising potion to add insult to injury. Hermione's mood was so much better when she had the company. Without it, there was little or no stimulation throughout the day.

"It was one of the few highlights of the day. McGonagall has instituted new rules regarding movement in the castle. The house elves deliver us meals in the common room. We can't even leave without an escort by a teacher. You would be miserable with not being able to go to the library. At least Ron and I have permission to visit you here without being escorted."

"That prick Malfoy is enjoying all of this. It's just mad. Harry, we better go back to the common room."

"Ok. We'll see ya latter Mione."

Mione, I like that. It's sweet.

"Why ya call her Mione?"

"I…it just came to me. Thought she might like it."

"She'll rip ya a new one latter. Bet she will…" The voices trailed off as the distance increased.

I'm alone again. This is terrible. I have never felt such loneliness in my life. I might not have had many friends, but at least I had my books. Now I don't even have them.

-000-

"Hey, Mione. I'm back again."

Oh thank Merlin Harry. I can't stand the emptiness of this place much longer. How much longer till the mandrakes are ready? Sorry, I forgot you can't hear me.

"I forgot to tell ya' earlier that Professor sprout said the mandrakes are getting close to being ready. I hope that they won't be much longer. I hope that you don't mind me coming back without Ron. It just didn't feel right earlier today."

No I don't mind that you came back.

"Ron got me to thinking earlier. Don't laugh about that. I don't know if you can hear me or not."

I can hear and feel you Harry.

"I wanted to talk to you about…never mind. It doesn't matter." Hermione could hear the defeat in his voice.

It does matter Harry. You want to talk about it. I will listen. I even promise not to ask questions.

"I brought our charms book today. Professor Flitwick gave a reading assignment." Hermione could hear the faint shuffle of parchment in the distance. Once again, she could feel the warm touches against her arm and torso signalling Harry sliding into the bed next to her. The warm voice reading from the book allowed her to enjoy the company that she had at the time.

Relaxed from the slow, deliberate reading, Hermione slipped into unconscious warmth that surrounded her heart and soul.

-000-

A sudden turn beside her startled her unconscious state. Where am I?

Petrified is where you are. The other side of her brain added.

Oh. I remember now. She could feel warmth radiating to her body from an unknown subject. What is that? She felt another turn from the bed next to her. Listening intensely, she could hear a faint inhale of breath followed by the faint exhale in perfect rhythm. Harry, he must have fallen asleep and I can't wake him. What if he is caught being out of the common room? Harry! Please wake up! Hermione screamed in her mind.

A sudden jerk from Harry signalled that he had woken up. "Wha…where… oh no. I must have fallen asleep. The sun. It is morning. I have to go." Hermione could feel Harry's warmth slide away from her body leaving her cold and wanting the warmth to return. "Hermione…I will talk to you latter. I hope that I didn't upset you last night. I am sorry about falling asleep. It truly was an accident."

It was ok Harry. I really didn't mind. In fact it was…very nice. It was the first night that I rested comfortably, I think. I don't remember much, just being warm and cared for. Loved.

"Take care and I will be back. I care for you Hermione."

I care for you too Harry. Very much.