School of Magic

by Foxy Talia Potter

This is inspired by a story I read, it'll follows Talia Potter (femHarry) and her journey. I write a book a chapter, meaning this will be a 7 long chapter story, only the first chapter leans on canon heavily. I plan twists later. All reviews will be answered, so please review respectfully. Eventual Talia/Hermione

2. Chapter 2

School of Magic

Chamber of Secrets

Regardless on how you as the reader understand certain parts of this story, just know that Talia is an adaptive witch, nothing more nothing less.

Isolation

To quote J.K Rowling (Yes the same author as the original books): "There is always room for a story that can transport people to another place."

And on that note let us begin:

A young red haired girl woke up with a start as another loud truck above her sounded. She groaned, it was the fourth time that night and she was tired. She had been walking for five days now. Sure it was only twelve hours a day, but it still took its toll.

Why was she walking and where is she going to one might ask. Well Talia Potter was walking to clear her mind. Her journey started up in Peebles, more specifically Hogwarts castle, she was on her way down to Devon, the Weasley's home.

Talia didn't think much about the fact that she hadn't received any letters, she wanted some isolation. Facing Voldemort scared her endlessly, and besides she already had her Hogwarts letter, she really dreaded buying the Lockhart books, the only good thing about them was that the author was easy on the eye.

Talia pulled her wand out and sighed before replacing it. Witches under seventeen aren't allowed to use wand magic outside of Hogwarts. Accidental magic wasn't uncommon for first and second years, and those were overlooked. Talia buried her head under the pillows and tried to sleep again. Only another five days then she'll be with Ginny, the one who invited her.

During the first days after term ended, Talia found out more about herself. Something she hasn't shared with McGonagall yet. Sure they knew she could speak to snakes, and that she turned into a fox Animagus, but they didn't know that if she starts to run out of breath while under water, she turns into a mermaid. They also didn't know that if she concentrated hard enough she could change her appearance. She practiced in the bathroom mirror until the time it took to transform was only a few seconds. The traffic over head rumbled down and Talia drifted off again, blissfully unaware of the plot against her.

Talia was fast running out of Pounds, but luckily she was also running out of miles. It has been four days since that horrible night in the motel under a freeway, Talia decided to pick her places more carefully. Tonight was no exception. Talia smiled, she paid the clerk only half of what the room was worth.

Upon arriving in the room Talia took a deep breath and shifted back to her normal self. She shrunk down and her ample bosom melted away to small bumps. She locked the door and placed a chair in front of it. She didn't want any unwelcome guests.

The next morning Talia woke with the rising sun and left the room she rented. She bought herself a pie at the closest 24h convenient store and began the last of her journey. She arrived in Ottery St. Catchpole and took out her flute. She blew in it three times and waited. Moments later a snowy owl descended and rested on her arm.

"Hey girl," Talia whispered as she attached the note to Hedwig's foot, "How about you show me the rest of the way to Ginny and Ron."

The owl took off and Talia turned into a fox, her bag changed her one fox ear red, and ran after the snowy owl. They reached a house outside the quiet town that could only be held up by magic. Talia barked her thanks to the owl, which flew into the second highest window.

Ginny had thought that Talia forgot about her when she suddenly noticed Hedwig at her window. She found it odd. It has been three weeks without a word. Ginny read the note and turned her head doubting that she read correctly, none the less she read it again:

Ginny,

Please could you open the door?

Talia

Ginny ran down the stairs towards the kitchen, ignoring her brother's colorful language when she almost ran him over. She opened the door and found a head of red hair standing with her back towards the door. As the girl turned around Ginny couldn't believe her eyes.

"Hi Ginny," Talia smiled before being embraced by a very tight hug.

"How did you get here?" Ginny asked. Talia noticed her smell instantly. Just like Hermione Talia was sure she could track it easily as a fox.

"Ginny what in –" Mrs. Weasley asked but then saw who was at the door. "Dear girl, how did you get here?"

The cycle continued with every Weasley present with Talia just smiling at them. Once she was seated in the living room when she finally answered the question.

"I walked," the Weasleys laughed, but then realized Talia wasn't laughing with them.

"You are serious aren't you?" Mrs. Weasley asked shaking her head, "Merlin's beard Talia why did you walk all the way here?"

"It gave me time to think Mrs. Weasley." Talia said only then realizing her foolishness. "That and I didn't want to draw attention to myself. Since we walk out of Hogwarts after the term ends in our first year the ministry traces us and I wanted to be isolated from the wizarding world for a bit after –" Talia left that part open.

"Well we're glad you're here Talia, would you like something to eat?" Mrs. Weasley smiled.

"Thank you ma'am, but I ate in the town before coming here. I didn't want to impose." And it was true. Talia used her last muggle money to have her most filling meal the entire journey.

"You can sleep in Ginny's room. Did you at least get your Hogwarts letter dear?"

"Yes ma'am, just after Prof. Dumbledore found the latest defense teacher. I don't know who it is but most of the books are Lockhart's. I'm just glad that I bought myself a set last year, even if I never got to read it."

"Well then off you go, just look at the time." Mrs. Weasley shuffled her children up the stairs, but kept a hand on Talia's shoulder. "I just wanted to personally thank you for the Lockhart collection dear, it was a very thoughtful gift, and it'll help Ginny as well this year."

"Mrs. Weasley, I want you to keep the books." Talia fiddled in her bag. "I bought a set of the Lockhart book for Ron, Fred, George, Percy and Ginny."

"Please dear, we can't accept that." Talia knew this was going to happen and she prepared for it.

"It isn't charity Mrs. Weasley. It's me helping out my friends. Think of it as borrowing them my books for a year or two or I'll burn them." Talia watched Mrs. Weasley's eyes stretch, but she accepted the books and made Talia promise not to burn them.

As Talia walked up the stairs she gave a fox-like grin. She knocked on the door of the room she saw Hedwig fly to. Ginny opened the door and Talia saw the twins smirk at her while they made the cot for Talia.

"We heard the little exchange downstairs," Fred started.

"And we wanted to thank you personally." George continued.

"By not pranking your cot, right boys?" Ginny finished folding her arms. The twins smiled. "You see Fred and George are in the room just above the kitchen, the best place for mum to keep an eye on them."

"It was nothing. The Lockhart books are expensive and I saw that it was written on every year's lists." Talia said around a yawn. The twins bid them good night and went down to their own beds. Talia fell asleep instantly.

The next morning Talia woke with the pleasant smell of bacon. She took a moment to scan her surroundings and smiled into her pillow. She had made it to The Burrow and gave the Weasleys her gift. Suddenly a halo of red hair greeted her.

"Hey sleepy head," Ginny smiled. Talia raised an eyebrow. She knew Ginny also just got up since she was still in her pajamas, "Time to get up unless you want Fred and George to pop in while you're still getting dressed."

That jerked Talia awake and she was dressed in a simple skirt and t-shirt before Ginny could blink properly. Ginny did however notice the scar next to Talia's left nipple contorted by her breast-bump. She also notice something else –

"Why aren't you wearing underwear?" Talia blushed beet red.

"Shh," Talia urged. "I don't like wearing them, they feel uncomfortable over my other scars, Madam Pomfrey couldn't fix them and I only burned the front of my body with Quirrell."

Talia wrote Ginny a long letter and hid it behind their secret code. Talia got the idea after Fred and George showed her the Marauder's Map. It took some research with Hermione's help, but a few weeks she had managed it.

Ginny motioned Talia over and asked her to sit on the floor. Talia's eyes rolled in pleasure as Ginny ran the brush threw her hair. She knew Ginny wouldn't be able to tame her locks, but the sensation was out of this world.

"Now there's the fox we know and love." Fred stood in the door arms folded. George could be heard at Ron's room.

"Not now Fred, kinda relaxing here," Talia said only opening one eye.

"Anyway, mum says breakfast is almost ready." Fred said winking at Talia.

"Okay, you have got to tell me how you knew it was Fred." Ginny was busy braiding some of Talia's hair, she was going to use it to tie Talia's hair into a pony.

"Fred has five freckles above his left eye in the shape of a star. George has the same five freckles under his right eye." Talia said. Ginny made a note to remember that, she usually knew them apart from the way they smiled.

"I usually tell them apart by their smiles. George always smiles to the left and Fred to the right."

Talia was about to return the favor and do Ginny's hair when they were called down. After a stop at the loo they walked into the kitchen. The other Weasleys were already there. Talia sat down next to Ron and Ginny sat down opposite her.

"Morning Weasleys," a voice from the door said. Talia glanced at the balding man and smiled, this must be Mr. Weasley. He sat down at the head of the table and nodded to each of his children, "Ginny, Percy, Fred, Molly, George, Ron –" he stopped when he saw the seventh Weasley. "And who are you then, I thought I knew all my children."

"Oh, sorry sir," Talia smiled, "I'm Talia Potter."

"Are you now?" Mr. Weasley took in her appearance. "Wouldn't say it, you look more Weasley, but then so did Lily." Mr. Weasley ruffled Talia's hair. "Welcome to the family Talia Weasley."

Shopping

They had a decent breakfast filled with a lot of jokes. Apparently the twins were worried about her and wanted to take their father's car to go after her, wherever she was. Talia assured them that she didn't have troubles on their journey, turns out Mr. Weasley wasn't too pleased with Talia helping them out, but after Talia said she was merely borrowing them the books until they didn't need it he begrudgingly agreed.

"Sir, may I buy Ginny's wand?" Talia asked as she sat with him in the shed, he had dragged her in there to explain how the Weasleys worked. Talia understood.

"It would be a birthday gift sir. Ron's wand works for him, but that's only because Charlie was his brother. Ginny will have the exact same problem that Neville has. Neville's wand is fighting him all the way. If Ginny is going to use Mrs. Weasley's wand, it'll do the same."

Talia handed Mr. Weasley a book on wand lore she picked up in Hogsmead. The Weasley patriarch read it and his face dropped a few times. Talia felt awful, but she knew this had to be done.

"Alright, but you'll have to let us do something for you, pay you in some way."

"Allow me to stay here for a month every summer and let me give Ginny my old robes and we have a deal Mr. Weasley."

Talia left with a good heart, Mr. Weasley understood why Talia did what she did, he didn't like most of it, but he accepted her offers. And it helped that she and Ginny looked like twins, apart from their eyes. Ginny could get Mr. Weasley to do almost anything.

When Talia got back in the house, her cloak was draped over her shoulders and she was ushered to the fireplace. Talia knew that it meant that they were going to floo. Talia took out her own floo powder and smiled at Mrs. Weasley.

"I live at Hogwarts. Prof. McGonagall gave me a pot of floo powder. I always carry a heap with me." Talia said this as if it was the most natural thing. "It's better than to pay a Knut every time you use the public floo networks."

Mrs. Weasley let Talia step in first, Talia knew that she would end up at Knockturn ally like the last time so she said very clearly The Leaky Cauldron. She noticed Mrs. Weasley's slightly cogged head before she vanished into the flames and came out behind Tom the Barman.

"Thank you Mr. Tom," Talia said as the older man kept her from falling. "I don't want to end up in that ally again like at the start of summer."

"You're always welcome to floo in here dear." Tom smiled and pulled her hood over her head. "Best be off then."

Talia nodded and left the bar to go to the wall and into Diagon Ally. The wall barely opened when she was pulled into an embrace by Mrs. Weasley. Talia explained about the start of summer. With a warm kiss to her forehead Mrs. Weasley let her go. Talia dragged Ginny of to Ollivander's.

Just like the previous year Talia could feel the magic in the air of the shop. She unconsciously held her Holly and Phoenix feather close. Mr. Ollivander peered deep into Ginny's eyes, and then took out a tape measure. It was measuring on its own all around Ginny while Mr. Ollivander walked to take out a few wand boxes.

Twenty minutes in and over a hundred boxes on the table Ginny finally got her wand, a very odd one according to Mr. Ollivander. It was twelve inches, made from Holly, like Talia's, but it had a core of dried mermaid tears, kelpie venom and banshee hair. The wand was made for jinxes, mostly.

"You're poisonous," Talia joked, as she paid the seven Galleons for the wand. She turned to Mr. Ollivander. "Sir is it possible to buy more than one wand? You know just in case yours breaks?"

"It is highly unethical, but you can buy blank shells as long as the core of your original wand is intact. You may also purchase or use an incompatible wand and earn its trust over time." Mr. Ollivander said with a smile.

Talia thought about it and bought two shells and two incompatible wands. The shells were made of holly. The one incompatible wand was fourteen inches, made of willow with a unicorn hair core, the other was a sort of copy of Hermione's wand, only a bit longer, twelve inches, vine wood with a dragon heartstring core. Talia motioned Ginny to keep quiet about this though.

They made their way to Gringott's where the rest of the Weasleys were waiting for them, but not just them Hermione was there too. Mr. Weasley was busy talking to the Grangers.

"We thought we'd wait here while you go into your vault dear. Hermione was also waiting for you." Mrs. Weasley smiled.

"Can I go with her mum?" Ginny asked. Mrs. Weasley looked at Talia her eyes unreadable. She noticed that Ron wasn't making eye contact just like at breakfast.

"I wouldn't mind, last time it was me and Hagrid, and he's no fun on the carts."

Talia lead the way through the doors and to a free goblin, she produced her key and the goblin called to Griphook again. Talia had a suspicion that every goblin had a designated route they could go. Talia took a few handfuls of each heap and dumped it into her money pouch she then counted off a hundred Galleons which she would exchange for pounds again.

Once outside Mrs. Weasley took them to Flourish and Blotts to get their school books, Ron's first year books were going to Ginny and Fred's second year books (which were in better shape then George's) would go to Ron, some of them anyway.

There Talia felt dread, the place was crowded. Talia was just glad that her scar wasn't on her forehead. Glancing to the sign in front of the shop Talia knew why, Gilderoy Lockhart was signing autographs today. Talia inched into the shop and got her books, minus the Lockhart books which she already had. She wanted to be out of the shop before anything happened. Luck wasn't on her side though.

"Talia Potter?" Lockhart asked as Talia accidentally knocked into him.

"Depends on who is asking." Talia snapped.

"Did you come to purchase my autobiography then?"

"I already have all your books thank you." Talia saw Lockhart's face twist into a smile, a smile that didn't meet his eyes.

"Do you have them here? I could sign them for you." Lockhart said turning Talia around for the camera.

"Sadly I forgot them at home," Lockhart was too wrapped in himself to notice the sarcasm.

"Not to worry not to worry," Lockhart said then turned to the crowd still gripping Talia tightly. "From this year I will embark on a new adventure. For I was chosen as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts."

Talia notice Ginny fake a swoon before she mimicked gagging. Talia envied the slightly younger girl at that moment. As Lockhart sat down Talia was finally able to escape and join Ginny and Hermione at the door.

They walked to Slug & Jiggers Apothecary and Talia bought three sets of first and second year potions ingredients and took out a list of thing she didn't have yet, but read about. Hermione gave her a quizzical look but didn't say anything until they stopped for ice cream.

"Okay, spill it, why did you buy all those potion ingredients you won't need all that." she said.

"Hermione, have you actually seen my potion cabinet? I'm stocking up." Talia rolled her eyes.

"No it has nothing to do with the fact that Ron and Neville borrow from you from time to time." Hermione rolled her eyes too. Talia started laughing.

"I remember you using my potions kit during exams because you used yours up studying."

Ginny laughed with them, she found that these two girls were closer than sisters. She could almost understand why Ron was angry all the time. He met Talia first, but she's closer to Hermione. They continued their shopping until Mrs. Weasley caught up with them and pulled them aside. Before she could berate Talia on buying Ginny's supplies Talia handed her the receipts. They had visited a few second hand shops.

"Mrs. Weasley, I promised Mr. Weasley that the books and Ginny's wand was all I would buy for her, but I really didn't want to be in that shop with Lockhart, neither did Ginny. So I took her to get the rest of her stuff." Mrs. Weasley counted off the money and handed them to Talia.

"Thank you dear, but I noticed that you didn't buy phials or a telescope." Mrs. Weasley looked over the receipts.

"Hermione and I worked together with one telescope the whole of last year, I haven't even touched mine. Ginny can use it. As for the phials, I have forty three sets at Hogwarts in my room. Ginny can give it back to me at the end of the year."

"There is just one last stop to make then, before we go home." Mrs. Weasley said.

They walked down the path to another solid wall. Mrs. Weasley walked straight through the wall like at King's Cross. The three girls followed her silently. However once they walked through the wall Talia wanted to walk out again, only she couldn't, the wall was sealed.

"Welcome to The Grooming Mermaid," a smiling witch greeted them. "The only shop, in Diagon Ally, where no wizard can ever enter and no witch can exit until her needs are met."

"Then I guess I'll just go then, I don't need anything violently pink." Talia said and was about to try to escape again when Ginny took her hand.

"Talia dear," Mrs. Weasley smiled, "Arthur and I decided, that should you keep insisting to help like you do, we'll treat you as a daughter, that means getting you proper feminine treatment." Mrs. Weasley turned to the clerk, "Two standard Hogwarts Packages, Miss. Juniper, please."

Talia placed three Galleons on the table, three times the amount needed, and made her way to get out of the shop with the kit. She called over her shoulder. "It's on me this time, Mrs. Weasley." And then she walked into the wall.

Talia, Hermione and Ginny were led into the back room and a healer ran a diagnostic on them. Another witch then took them through a lesson on how their magic would react to their bodily changes. Talia was beat red by the time they could finally exit the shop. Mrs. Weasley smiled a knowing smile.

Ron's problem

When they returned to the Burrow, Talia noticed Ron walk up to his room. Before she could follow however she and Ginny was pulled outside. Talia glared at Fred and folded her arms over her chest.

"There comes a time in every twin's live where they need to share something they had hidden." Fred said while looking at Ginny.

"Of course, Fred and I have already blown up that bridge early on." George said then turned to Ginny.

"Now you might ask yourself why we told you this." Fred.

"It's because you two are twins in every way except for birthdays." George.

"I see where this is going," Ginny said. "I already know Talia is an Animagus."

"And I already know Ginny's secret," Talia said. "The one you two want her to spill in front of you."

"Brother dear, it seems like these minxes outsmarted us this time." Fred pretended to cry.

"Looks like we need to find another way of getting the secret." George there-there'd Fred and they walked away.

"Thanks," Ginny said. "I'm not ready to tell anyone else that secret yet."

Truth was she blurted the secret out to Talia when they tested out the mirrors. Talia felt empathy for her twin, as the twins called them. The girls made their way back into the house and into Ginny's room. Talia took out her three mirrors and called Hermione's name. The bushy haired girl wanted to spend some time with her parents before term started.

That night once dinner was done Ron darted up to his room, Talia knew then that he was trying to avoid her. She spared a glance at Ginny and politely excused herself. She walked up to Ron's room and gave a loud polite hug.

"What," Ron said opening the door seeing Talia. "Oh it's you."

"Who did you think it was?" Talia folded her arms. "Why are you avoiding me?"

"You have become best mates with Ginny, go to her then." Talia slapped Ron.

"Are you really that thick?" Talia asked. "I'm a girl in case you haven't noticed Ron. Ginny and I sleep in the same room. In Diagon Ally you were busy with Malfoy when I escaped Lockhart. When we got home I was really embarrassed about something that happened in –" Talia couldn't say the name in front of Ron for some reason, "One of the shops. I really couldn't be around boys in general. I was even short with Fred and George when they pulled us outside."

"But you showed your scar to Ginny." Ron feebly tried.

"Take off your shirt Ron." Talia demanded. Confused Ron complied. She pulled out a normal, muggle, sharpie, and drew a lightning shaped line next to his left nipple. "This is where the scar is Ron. Need I remind you again that I'm a girl?"

"What –" Ron turned beet red when he looked at the mirror, the reality dawning on him. He quickly pulled on his shirt. Talia turned around giving him some false privacy, when she saw the book on his bed. The name was unmistaken.

"Ron, I'm going to ask this question slowly or I might lose it. Think carefully before you answer okay?" Talia said in barely more than a whisper. Ron nodded. "Where did you get this diary?"

"In Diagon Ally, it just was there after we left." Ron was confused. "This Riddle bloke is really smart."

"Did anyone handle the books, anyone at all?" Talia was rubbing the scar on her chest through her shirt.

"Well Malfoy's dad picked up the books, but he dropped them instantly." Ron said.

Talia pulled out a parchment, quill and a piece of cloth from her bag. She wrote a letter on the parchment and wrapped the book in the cloth. Tying the two together, Talia called Hedwig who flew into Ron's room.

"What are you doing?" Ron finally asked.

"I don't trust myself to speak now Ron, too angry."

Talia took out her wand and wrote in flaming letters the name on the book in the air and flipped it around for Ron to see: Tom Marvolo Riddle. Ron nodded, this was quite obvious. Talia waved her wand and the letters began to rearrange itself. It now read: I am Lord Voldemort.

"Hedwig. Prof. Snape. Please." The owl took off leaving Ron disgusted and curious.

"Why'd you send the book to Snape?" Ron asked. He still didn't trust the potions master.

"Later," Talia said before she walked out the room.

Talia passed every Weasley, all of them tried to stop her. Once she was outside, she ran, reaching the nearby trees Talia shifted into Cracker to increase her speed until she reached the River Otter. Turning back Talia picked up a rock about her weight, and went to lie on the river bed.

The drowning sensation washed over Talia, followed closely by the feeling of water rushing over her lungs. Talia's legs fused together and her feet became fins. Luckily she was wearing only a skirt, the first time she became a mermaid was very painful until her panties snapped. Talia let go of the rock and lay there in the fresh water. She could see the surface clearly and kept extra quiet whenever a Weasley would pass.

That was until Mr. Weasley came home. He just walked up to the river, took off his shoes and walked up to her lifting her out of the water. Mr. Weasley didn't say a word. He just took out his wand and pointed it to Talia. A warm breeze dried Talia's body and the fresh air turned her body back to normal.

"Ginny told me you were upset after seeing Ron." Mr. Weasley said. "I know she can be over dramatic at times, why don't you tell me what happened, did Ron say or do something to you?"

"It wasn't anything Ron did sir." Talia blushed. She was the one who over reacted. "Ron found a diary between his books, a diary that belonged to Tom Marvolo Riddle."

"I don't think that I quite follow you dear." Mr. Weasley gestured for her to sit. Talia complied.

"Tom Riddle was in Hogwarts years ago. Back then he was tolerable I guess." Talia said then looked at Mr. Weasley. "Tom Riddle became the person who tried to kill me twice now sir, Voldemort."

"Don't say his name." Mr. Weasley said, Talia could tell it was a reflex.

"After term ended and before Prof. Snape went back to his home, he asked me to send him anything I thought was related to Tom Riddle." Talia said.

"Why do you keep calling him Tom Riddle?"

"People don't flinch at the name sir." Talia smiled, "And if I ever meet him again it will annoy him endlessly."

Arthur Weasley wasn't too sure he approved of Talia's plan to annoy a merciless killer, but he couldn't find another fault on Talia's reasoning, besides a name like Tom Riddle is hardly as threatening as Voldemort. Mr. Weasley led Talia back to the house.

Hogwarts

Talia woke the day before departing to Hogwarts to a tiny jumping thing on her guest bed. At first Talia thought it was an over grown garden gnome, but this thing didn't look like a potato. Talia glared at the little thing.

"Who are you?" Talia snapped.

"My name is Dobby, Miss. Dobby the house elf." Dobby bowed low towards Talia.

"Why are you here Dobby, I know that the Weasleys don't have a house elf and I know all the elves at Hogwarts." Talia said pulling her blanket with her as she sat up.

"Dobby is here to warn you, Miss." Dobby looked around as if someone could hear him. "There is a plot to make things most terrible happen at Hogwarts."

"If you mean Tom Riddle's diary Dobby, it is safely hidden in Prof. Snape's office. He told me this himself."

"It is only a delay. Miss Talia Potter must promise Dobby that she will not go back to Hogwarts."

"Where should I go Dobby? I'm currently at the Weasley's house. I can't stay here while the Weasleys go to Hogwarts." Dobby started to shiver clearly he's been called.

"Promise Dobby Miss."

"I promise that I will go home Dobby." Talia said. She had a feeling that Dobby knew what that meant.

Talia woke Ginny and together they packed Ginny's stuff in her trunk. Talia took out her first year spell book until she found the spell she needed. She pointed it out to Ginny who smiled.

"Reducio," Ginny whispered and pointed her wand at her trunk it shrunk down to the size of an eraser. Talia had helped Ginny with a lot of the first year spells while she read through the second year books.

Talia placed Ginny's trunk in her bag. Every time, during the day, when Ginny thought about something she would give it to Talia who put it in her bag. By the end of the day there was little of Ginny's stuff left.

Talia couldn't sleep that night. She knew that Dobby would try something. She kept him secret from the Weasleys though. At around two in the morning Talia couldn't keep it to herself anymore. She took out her mirror set and called for Prof. McGonagall.

"Talia you know what time it is right?" McGonagall was halfway between amused and irritated.

"Dobby the house elf woke me up yesterday ma'am. I think he's going to try and stop the Weasleys and me from going to Hogwarts. Is it okay if I floo them over to my room?"

"It may not be advisable to floo them all Talia. Why don't you and the youngest Weasley come over the floo network? If the Weasleys are stuck on platforms nine and ten, then other arrangements can be made." McGonagall said then added, "If that is okay with you Molly?"

"Thank you Minerva," Talia jumped when she heard Mrs. Weasley behind her. Mrs. Weasley then went to wake Ginny up.

"You have kept this quiet. I feel it is best if you proceed in doing it. You can tell Miss Weasley you wanted to show her your room or something." McGonagall supplied.

"Or I can say I forgot to bring my old robes to the Burrow, because I kind of did. I only have the ones I bought this year." Talia smiled sheepishly, "Thank you ma'am."

Within the next few minutes Ginny was awake and curious. She was still dressed in her pajamas when she saw Talia poking the floo fire. She turned to her mother looking a bit sad.

"Isn't Talia going to ride with me on the train mum?" she was close to tears. Mrs. Weasley turned to Talia.

"It's kind of embarrassing," Talia said rubbing behind her ear. "You see I wanted to make sure my old robes were clean when I realized I didn't bring them. Your mum said that we can go to Hogwarts and get them, and meet the others at the station with Hagrid."

"But I was looking forward to –" Ginny just realized what Talia said. "Am I going with you?"

"My room is called The Den." Talia took out her floo powder and held it for Ginny.

When Ginny vanished in the emerald flames, Talia turned to Mrs. Weasley.

"I'll floo call once we're safe in my room Mrs. Weasley. I'll make sure that Ginny is at the feast to get sorted. I just hope I'm wrong about Dobby." Mrs. Weasley gave Talia a big hug.

"We'll see you at Christmas. Please try and stay out of trouble won't you?"

Talia wiped a tear then went into the chimney. The green flames took her all the way into her room at Hogwarts. After telling Mrs. Weasley that they were safe, Talia called one of the Hogwarts elves and asked her to ensure that they woke up the later that morning. Not that it was necessary. Ginny hardly lay down, when she was up again.

"I can't sleep anymore." She declared.

"I remember the feeling." Talia added then held the door open for Ginny. "Let me show you my favorite places."

For the next few hours Ginny was led through most of Hogwarts starting with the come-and-go, Room of Requirement. Talia told Ginny that she only explored about a tenth of the room. Walking through the isles she heard it, a feint whisper, almost a hiss. Talia turned to Ginny who nodded.

"Parseltongue," Ginny said with a shiver.

"It's coming from this," Talia picked up a diadem. "I don't think that Rowena Ravenclaw was a parselmouth." Ginny shook her head.

Talia placed the jewel encrusted, raven shaped diadem in her bag. Not surprisingly it ended up next to the ring she picked up in that one town that didn't appear on any map, Little Hangleton.

The next stop on their journey, Talia took Ginny to all the class rooms, that way she wouldn't get lost and know the fastest way to get there. Talia showed Ginny the locations of all the Common Rooms, just in case she doesn't make Gryffindor.

Talia was busy introducing Ginny to the teachers in the Great Hall when McGonagall pulled Talia aside. It turned out that there was a sleeping charm on The Burrow. At five minutes to eleven, the barrier between muggle London and platform nine and three quarters closed. Ron had crashed into the wall after the twins and Percy entered. Ron would arrive via Port Key, the floo network was experiencing – difficulties.

The girls went up to Talia's room and got ready for when the train would arrive. Talia changed the name tags on her old robes to Ginny's name. Then they went down to the entrance hall and placed their trunks at the door, before going down to Hagrid's for a visit.

"So what happened to Fluffy?" Talia asked.

"Exactly where he was b'fore I lend him ter Dumbledore an' I won' tell yeh. Knowin' yeh, yeh will be seekin' him out." Talia knew Hagrid was joking.

"Did you know Norbert was a female?" Ginny asked. Hagrid blinked.

"I didn' know tha'." Hagrid confessed.

Ron arrived just moments before they went out to Hogsmead station. Dumbledore couldn't get a port key to work so he sent an elf to fetch Ron and his luggage. Ron looked sick and was taken to the Hospital Wing.

As the train arrived Talia told Ginny that they'll meet in the castle and that she's sit with her no mater what house she was sorted in. After that Talia left with Hermione and Neville. She bowed at the Thestrals and got in. Hermione gave her an odd look, but didn't ask the question just yet.

As they entered the castle Talia noticed that the first years just made it to the boats, realizing that the previous year the other students didn't really wait that long. She also noticed that her trunk was gone, but not Ginny's.

Talia sat in idle patients to see the first years come in that she zoned out. It was only when she felt a hand on her shoulder that she snapped out of it. Hermione giggled behind her hand before giving her the password: wattlebird.

Ginny was anxious as she stood with the other first years. She recognized a few from events she attended with her family, but in all there weren't that many first years. Taking a deep breath, Ginny reminded herself that she was wearing Talia's robes and it would be unbecoming if she was scared.

McGonagall came back and asked them to follow her. Ginny stood next to Luna who, as always, where zoned out. Ginny on the other hand gazed across the hall. Talia was sitting with her back to the table clearly ready to go to any table Ginny was on.

The sorting hat sang an odd song, terribly off key, Ginny didn't listen to it. When it finished McGonagall started calling the names. Luna went to Ravenclaw, an odd choice but not unexpected. There were two boys in Gryffindor, but when her name was called she realized there were no girls.

"What an odd mind." A whisper said in Ginny's ear. Clearly this was the hat. "But then you are no stranger to oddities are you? The first of your line to commune with snakes and the second that could charm a dragon, your brother was just as difficult to place, so I'll offer you the choice."

"Gryffindor please," Ginny thought, "It's just that I've notice that there are no girls in Gryffindor this year."

"Very perspective and yes I have not seen any qualities worthy of Gryffindor in any of the girls I sorted this year. Perhaps it is because you hold such an abundance of every house. Welcome, Miss. Weasley to – GRYFFINDOR!"

Ginny walked down the isle and sat down next to Talia. She looked up and down the table and realized that Ron wasn't there. Ginny smiled at the headmaster's choice words and filled her plate with a nibble of all the food she was able to reach.

After the meal and dessert they were lead to the Common Room by Percy. Ginny rolled her eyes, Talia showed her the fastest way up and this was clearly the long way. When Ginny reached the dorm she smiled when she saw Talia waiting for her next to her dorm.

"This door is locked, since you are the only girl in your year your bed has been moved to the second year girl's dorm." Talia said and pointed to the door opposite them.

"Are you sure that wasn't just you?" Ginny bumped her hip against Talia who bumped back.

"It's not easy to convince Prof. McGonagall that you'd be lonely, but Hermione and I managed."

Talia lead Ginny inside and introduced her to the others, they then made their way down stairs with Hermione to wait for Ron. Luckily they didn't have to wait long. Talia was busy entertaining the Fat Lady to prevent her from visiting her friend in the second floor.

They entered the Common Room did a little catch-up, Talia told them about Dobby and that she suspected the elf was responsible for Ron missing the train. Talia figured since Ron was the one locked from the platform he had the right to know. Talia however didn't tell them that the reason she and Ginny was at Hogwarts already was because of that. She held true to her word that she wanted to give Ginny her uniform.

Lock your heart

The next morning when they got their schedules, Talia got a rude awakening. Hermione was busy doodling hearts around all Lockhart's classes. Throughout the previous year Talia was convinced that Hermione was different, like her. Talia's heart sank a little.

"Double Herbology with Hufflepuff." Talia read from her schedule.

Bidding Ginny a good day, Talia left with Ron and Hermione to the green houses. Sprout was already waiting for them and with her was the Gilderoy Lockhart. Talia rolled her eyes. This pretty boy wasn't fooling anyone. Before Lockhart could say another word they were led into Green House three.

"Today we're going to be repotting Mandrakes." Talia piped up, she loved magical plants even if they didn't like her. "Who can tell me the properties of Mandrake – yes Miss. Granger?"

"Mandrake, or Mandragora, is a powerful restorative," Hermione smiled, "It is used to return people who have been transfigured or cursed to their original state."

"Excellent take ten points for Gryffindor." Prof. Sprout was back to her bubbly self. "The Mandrake forms an essential part of most antidotes. It is also, however, dangerous. Who can tell me why?" Talia shot her hand up before Hermione could, again.

"The Mandrake's cry is fatal to all those who hear it, however a sapling's cries can still knock you out, but not kill you." Talia smiled. She earned fifteen points for adding the part of the saplings.

Sprout told every one to get a pair of earmuffs. Talia laughed as the boys fought for a pair that wasn't pink. She pulled two pairs out of her bag and handed one to Hermione. Ron had somehow managed to get a yellow pair. Talia guessed that she could've told him about the ones she had, the enchanted ones for her extra keen ears.

Sprout showed them how to repot the mandrakes and set them working in teams. Talia, Ron, Hermione and Neville were grouped together. They had some fun repotting the mandrakes and Neville seemed to understand why Talia had trouble with plants. Neville obviously didn't know about her relatives and how she used to take out her frustration on ordinary plants.

After a sweaty morning they all rushed back up to the castle for a quick wash, before the Gryffindors went to Transfiguration. As always the class was hard, but Talia liked it. Today was no exception. They had to turn beetles into buttons. Ron was particularly agitated and ended up breaking his wand.

Talia cursed under her breath, she'll never go back on a promise and she promised Mrs. Weasley that she won't interfere with anyone but Ginny's supplies. That was kind of accepted by the entire family. She would floo-call Mrs. Weasley to offer one of her incompatible wand for Ron to use while he doesn't have one.

The bell rang telling them that it was lunch time. Talia excused herself at the great hall and went up to her room. Once there she was not surprised to see Ginny, the girl looked interested in the library Talia was beginning to build, just like Hermione did. Connecting with the Burrow Talia stuck her head into the green flames. Luckily Mrs. Weasley was knitting in the living room.

"Mrs. Weasley?" Talia said, getting the older witch's attention.

"Talia?" Mrs. Weasley asked confused.

"This is going to sound a bit odd, but may I lend Ron one of my spare wands? He's kind of broke in transfiguration."

"Why do you have a spare wand dear?" Clearly no other witch or wizard thought about this before.

"Well I wanted to practice using spells with wands that didn't quite suit me, that way when I do the spells with my own wand they work out better." That was only half true.

"Well we will save up some money to get Ron a wand when he gets home. In the meantime he may use your wand if you are willing to part with it."

"Thank you Mrs. Weasley, if I wasn't just a head in a flame I would've hugged you."

They bid their goodbyes and Talia made her way into her room to take get the wands for Ron. She wasn't sure if the vine wood would fit him but took it anyway. She made herself and Ginny sandwiches before they went down to the great hall to find Ron and Hermione. The two were just leaving when Talia and Ginny arrived.

"Here," Talia pushed the willow wand into Ron's hands. She didn't think there would be a reaction.

"Merlin's beard Talia," Ron stopped to correct himself. "Sorry I know you hate that line, but where did you get this wand?"

"I bought two incompatible wands actually, one with dragon heartstring one with unicorn hair to practice spells with." Talia shrugged. "Guess this wand was actually made for you. I'll buy a new one next time I'm in Diagon Ally."

"But why give it to me?"

"Seriously Ron, do you think that spellotape would fix your wand? It is snapped in half!

They made their way to Defense Against the Dark Arts. Lockhart was already waiting for them and Talia could've sworn his outfit changed between Herbology and now. She shivered the thought down and tried to make her way to the back of the class. Lockhart however wouldn't have that so Talia ended up in the front of the room.

Talia was desperately trying to build a wall between Lockhart and herself using his completed works as the bricks. Once everyone was in the class and seated he stood from his desk and took the topmost book from Talia's pile: Travels with Trolls.

"Me," he stated. "Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League, and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most-Charming-Smile Award – but I don't talk about that. I didn't get rid of the Bandon Banshee by smiling at her!"

"Really?" Talia couldn't hide her sarcasm anymore, "But it is such a charming smile."

"I know but alas –" Talia resisted the urge to roll her eyes, how thick can you get?

They were given a quiz. If Talia wasn't such a keen learner she would've filled the test with sarcasm. Unfortunately she did read the books and remembered far more that she dared to it ranged from: What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favorite color? That was in Year with the Yeti, it is lilac to: When is Gilderoy Lockhart's birthday, and what would his ideal gift be? That is revealed in Wonderings with Werewolves, well the ideal gift anyway.26 January, and his ideal gift would be peace between muggles and magic folk, although he would indulge in a bottle of Ogden's Old Firewhiskey. Yet Talia forgot that his secret ambition, Hermione however didn't and got full marks for the test earning Gryffindor ten points. Talia had three questions wrong but still earned eight points.

Finally Lockhart got down to business. He took a covered cage from behind his desk and placed it on his table. He made a speech on how they would face their fears in his class. However when he removed the cover it was a gang of Cornish Pixies, Talia had a feeling that only Lockhart found them terrifying.

"L-let's see w-what you m-make of t-them," Lockhart said his stutter hardly noticed and after the pixies pulled Neville into the air by his ears Lockhart took out his wand and pointed it at the electric blue creatures and bellowed. "Peskipiksi Pesternomi!"

Talia really rolled her eyes this time as the spell had no effect because Lockhart didn't believe the words leaving his own mouth. The class left as soon as the bell rang, Talia wasn't that lucky. Lockhart ran to his office and left them to take care of the mess. Talia pulled out her wand. Hermione was in shock because Lockhart was a fraud.

"Codladh!" Talia shouted making everything in the air sleepy, unfortunately that included Neville, the pixies returned to their cage to sleep. Talia turned to Neville and used the levitating charm to bring him back to the ground and wake him up.

Warnings

Over the next few days Talia went out of her way to avoid Lockhart and her new follower, Colin Creevey. The muggle-born boy was easily exited and once almost followed Talia into Myrtle's Bathroom. Luckily the ghost girl was always alarmed. Death only strengthened her resolve. She told Talia about how she died looking at a pair of huge yellow eyes.

On Saturday Talia was planning on having tea with Hagrid along with Ron, Hermione and Ginny. However she shouldn't have made plans since she was woken by Katie Bell rather early, too early.

"Ollie is wants us awake so that we can go practice," she said around a yawn. "Best seeker or not you're coming with me."

"Not before I go to the loo." Talia glared at Katie.

"Hurry up!" she shrugged and left.

Talia was busy applying her glamour charm when Ginny walked into the room. After a quick exchange Ginny got ready and walked down to the Common Room with Talia. Wood wanted to protest, but the Weasley twins vouched that Ginny wasn't a spy and she was allowed to accompany them to the Quidditch pitch.

Talia looked at the diagrams wood had drawn up and nodded, she finally got it, Wood was insane and the pretty lines where his release. Ginny sat next to Talia looking just as tired as the rest of them, but for some reason she couldn't sleep if Talia was awake. Talia began to doodle to stay awake. Wood saw that and nodded his head after he saw what Talia drew. It was a picture of Ginny in one of the American cheerleader outfits she saw on the telly that one time the Dursleys forgot it on.

"Maybe if you gave it a Quidditch uniform and maybe a lion's head – yes that could work." The team was confused right about now. Wood picked up on that. "What?"

"You went into strategy mode leaving the rest of us outside." Alicia Spinnet said for the team.

"Well Talia just gave me an idea. Since – Ginny," he glanced at the other red head who nodded. "Insist on being part of this team, she'll be a part of it, just not up on the brooms."

"Huh?" Fred and George said in unison.

"Well Ireland has Leprechauns, and Bulgaria has Veela as mascots, why don't we?" Wood said.

"Lion head and Quidditch robes?" George said thinking deeply.

"No!" all the girls shouted.

"I don't want to hide my face." Ginny said after her brothers stopped laughing at Wood.

After a few more minutes it was decided. Ginny would be a part of the team as a mascot, but she won't cover her face. A tail and golden skin against the scarlet uniform she and Talia would pick out a bit later.

After some more time revising, read ignoring, Wood's speech they finally made it out onto the field only to come face to face with the silver and green robes of Slytherin. Wood was fuming even when he read the letter by Snape. Turns out Malfoy bought his way onto the team by giving them all a Nimbus Two-thousand-and-one. Talia stayed to the back with Ginny, keeping out of trouble.

"Well at least none of the Gryffindors had to buy their way in." Talia recognized the voice of Hermione.

"No one asked you, you filthy little mudblood." Draco sneered.

Talia had her wand out seconds later along with Ginny they performed the same spell aiming at Draco: Raka Lentaa. Seconds later green bats flew out of his nose and attacked him. Unfortunately it was in front of witnesses, unwanted witnesses.

"Detention Miss. Potter, Miss. Weasley and ten points each from Gryffindor." McGonagall said her anger barely contained. "As for you Mr. Malfoy, using such language is fowl and unforgiving. Fifty points from Slytherin, take the hex as a just punishment."

Talia snickered when she saw that Draco's face had been scratched. McGonagall's lips twitched showing that she might be didn't approve of the method, but appreciated the result. McGonagall turned to Wood and gave him a piece of parchment, a schedule for when it they could use the Quidditch pitch. Turns out they could do so the next day.

"Where's Ron?" Talia asked trying and failing to see the other red-head.

"Breakfast probably." Ginny mocked, but then covered her mouth when Hermione nodded.

The three girls went down to Hagrid's hut instead. Talia hasn't visited with the large man this year yet. Talia and Ginny was talking so vividly that they didn't notice Lockhart exit Hagrid's hut. It was too late to duck away so she switched to a polite nod.

"Talia Potter, what are you doing here?" Lockhart asked surprised, he had just offered Hagrid a signed book.

"Coming to see Hagrid," Talia smiled.

"Poor fellow, he does seem lonely at times." Lockhart had a faraway look in his eyes.

"Are you ever lonely, being on the road as much as you are?"

Lockhart ruffled her hair without saying a word and walked up to the castle. Talia felt a sharp pain in her shoulder. It came from Hermione.

"I thought you didn't like Prof. Lockhart!" she all but screamed.

"I don't, but that doesn't mean I can't be politely sarcastic." Ginny snorted at this before falling over and actually laughing.

"Hermione," Ginny said when she regained composure. "I can honestly say that Talia has no crush on any of the male teachers in this school, not even that pretty boy."

Hagrid added his two cent when he poured the girls a goblet of tea each. Hermione concluded that none of the teachers liked Lockhart very much, she couldn't understand why, he was charming and attractive.

When the girls went up to the castle for lunch Talia got a bit of a surprise. She already knew that there was a notice board in the teacher's lounge that told the others about detentions and so on. And Lockhart was just talking to McGonagall when he motioned Talia and Ginny over.

"I just found out that you girls had a detention coming up, I thought it courteous to ask Minnie here if she'd mind if I supervised the pair of you." Talia shot McGonagall a surprised look. The woman looked like she was sucking on a lemon. "Be in my office at three, we'll find you something to do."

When Lockhart was out of sight Talia and Ginny turned to their head of house, she smiled and said in a sad voice:

"Well technically a student isn't supposed to enjoy detention –"

When Talia and Ginny made their way to Lockhart's office, Talia noted that Tracey Davis, the Slytherin girl Talia sort of got along with, rushing down an opposite hall a book clenched in her hand. Talia found the behavior a bit odd but thought that maybe it was an overdue library book.

Talia found out one thing about Lockhart, he answered his own fan mail. He had set Talia and Ginny to work addressing the envelopes. He made it his mission to read them all out loud. By eight that night Talia was certain she was going mad. And the sudden voice she heard wasn't helping either.

"Come – Come to me – Let me rip you – Let me tear you – Let me kill you."

Talia looked to Ginny who nodded. That was definitely a snake. The girls were excused and when Talia stood up she noticed something, the cramps in her stomach wasn't caused by hunger.

"Prof. Lockhart, I spilled some ink on my chair when I packed my stuff away, may I vanish it please?" Talia asked, she didn't want to unnecessary break the rules.

"Oh sure go ahead, you have nothing to fear about using magic in my class outside of class." He hardly looked up.

Talia took her wand and swiped it across the chair and whispered: Liquesco, she didn't want Lockhart to realize that the incantation was for biological material, not that she felt like she had to bother. When they left they hit a crossroad, the dorms, the Hospital Wing or the Great Hall. The Hospital Wing was closest.

"You spilled ink?" Ginny teased as they walked down the hall.

"Well it was better then saying I started that in front of him, he would probably wanted to check." Talia shivered at the thought.

After speaking with Madam Pomfrey and drinking the potion for the cramps, they went back to the common room. Once there the place was buzzing with talk about some kind of message on the wall outside Myrtle's bathroom.

"Mrs. Norris has also been petrified." Hermione informed them. "Do you have any mandrake root in your stores?"

Talia concentrated, her glasses appeared again only this time it had a distinctive green frame. Her normal reading glasses' frames is onyx while her map frames is silver. Talia's eyes moved up and down the list only she could see in the glasses.

"I don't have any Mandrake root." Talia said then shifted her eyes sideways, "It seems like every time I went to Diagon Ally, Slug & Jiggers were out of mandrake root. Since I never had any." Talia's green glasses vanished.

"So we need to wait for the ones in green house three to mature, Prof. Snape also doesn't have any." Hermione sighed. She told McGonagall that she'll ask Talia.

A Bludger Approaches

October brought about a fair bit of troubles. Firstly Madam Pomfrey had her hands full with sick staff and student. Talia unfortunately were among them. When she took the Pepper-up Potion her ears started spewing smoke. She didn't enjoy the comments made by the twins about her hair being on fire, but she endured it. Maybe she could use it later.

Sir Nicholas invited Talia to his Death Day party, but she declined. She went through issues of The Daily Prophet of the time around her birth and her parent's deaths. She found that they had been killed on Halloween and she wanted to morn them. Sir Nicholas understood and extended the invite to whenever she felt up to it.

Around the middle of October Talia finally found out why so many people had been avoiding her. They thought that she was the heir of Slytherin. Talia didn't really care about that, the friends who mattered knew she wasn't. Talia avoided telling Ron why she and Ginny weren't at the feast that night. Talia really didn't want to tell Ron about that. He wasn't a girl.

It also seemed like Hermione was avoiding her, but Talia wrote it off to her being too busy with reading. Talia was getting annoyed with Ron constant nagging on why Hermione was avoiding them. That was until they walked into Binns's class and sat down. He was drawling on when a look of surprise suddenly washed over his face. Talia looked next to her and noticed that Hermione's hand was up.

"Miss – eh –" Prof. Binns finally asked.

"Granger sir," Hermione said, "I was wondering if you could tell us about The Chamber of Secrets?"

There was a bit of an argument that Hermione finally won.

"You all know, of course, that Hogwarts was founded over a thousand years ago – the precise date is uncertain – by the four greatest witches and wizards of the age. The four school Houses are named after them: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. They built this castle together, far from prying Muggle eyes, for it was an age when magic was feared by common people, and witches and wizards suffered much persecution."

He paused, gazed blearily around the room, and continued.

"For a few years, the founders worked in harmony together, seeking out youngsters who showed signs of magic and bringing them to the castle to be educated. But then disagreements sprang up between them. A rift began to grow between Slytherin and the others. Slytherin wished to be more selective about the students ad mitted to Hogwarts. He believed that magical learning should be kept within all-magic families. He disliked taking students of Mug gle parentage, believing them to be untrustworthy. After a while, there was a serious argument on the subject between Slytherin and Gryffindor, and Slytherin left the school."

Professor Binns paused again, pursing his lips, looking like a wrinkled old tortoise.

"Reliable historical sources tell us this much," he said. "But these honest facts have been obscured by the fanciful legend of the Chamber of Secrets. The story goes that Slytherin had built a hidden chamber in the castle, of which the other founders knew nothing.

"Slytherin, according to the legend, sealed the Chamber of Se crets so that none would be able to open it until his own true heir arrived at the school. The heir alone would be able to unseal the Chamber of Secrets, unleash the horror within, and use it to purge the school of all who were unworthy to study magic."

There was silence as he finished telling the story, but it wasn't the usual, sleepy silence that filled Professor Binns's classes. There was unease in the air as everyone continued to watch him, hoping for more. Professor Binns looked faintly annoyed.

"The whole thing is arrant nonsense, of course," he said. "Natu rally, the school has been searched for evidence of such a chamber, many times, by the most learned witches and wizards. It does not exist. A tale told to frighten the gullible."

Hermione's hand was back in the air.

"Sir – what exactly do you mean by the 'horror within' the Chamber?"

"That is believed to be some sort of monster, which the Heir of Slytherin alone can control," said Professor Binns in his dry, reedy voice.

The class exchanged nervous looks.

"I tell you, the thing does not exist," said Professor Binns, shuf fling his notes. "There is no Chamber and no monster."

"But, sir," said Seamus Finnegan, "if the Chamber can only be opened by Slytherin's true heir, no one else would be able to find it, would they?"

"Nonsense, O'Flaherty," said Professor Binns in an aggravated tone. "If a long succession of Hogwarts headmasters and head mistresses haven't found the thing –"

"But, Professor," piped up Parvati Patil, "you'd probably have to use Dark Magic to open it –"

"Just because a wizard doesn't use Dark Magic doesn't mean he can't, Miss Pennyfeather," snapped Professor Binns. "I repeat, if the likes of Dumbledore –"

"But maybe you've got to be related to Slytherin, so Dumble dore couldn't –" began Dean Thomas, but Professor Binns had had enough.

"That will do," he said sharply. "It is a myth! It does not exist! There is not a shred of evidence that Slytherin ever built as much as a secret broom cupboard! I regret telling you such a foolish story! We will return, if you please, to history, to solid, believable, verifi able fact!"

And within five minutes, the class had sunk back into its usual torpor.

After class Talia had her suspicions, but she needed to make sure. Just before dinner she got her answer even before asking it. Snape was waiting and he called her one side while her friends, save Ginny, went into the Great Hall.

"Miss Potter," Snape said in barely a whisper. "It has come to my attention that the students believe you to be the Heir of Slytherin. Therefore I need to ask you, did you remove Tom Riddle's diary from my office?"

"Sir," Talia was shocked, "I haven't been near your office this year yet, except for Potions Class, but I haven't been in it sir."

"Thank you Miss. Potter, if you – see someone with the diary – do let me know won't you?" Snape didn't wait for her reply. A simple look at Ginny told her that the girl wouldn't tell a soul.

They entered the Great Hall and Talia sat down next to her friends at the end of the table. A sudden flash in her eyes made her jerk backwards and then another flash when she was on the ground. She noticed her knickers were exposed and moved to cover it. She really needed to ask McGonagall about the charm she used last year to obstruct the view. She looked around and saw a small boy being berated by Ginny.

"Colin was it?" Talia asked as she stood up. "You will destroy those last two pictures you took and every copy of it." Talia's eyes shifted venomously green, it seemed to get the point across. "If you really want photos why don't you do it at the Quidditch game in November instead of now with my knickers?"

Colin seemed to pipe up and was dashing down the hall. Talia turned to Ginny who shook her head. Talia smiled, the silent answer was all they needed. As Talia sat back down she noticed Hermione looking at her intently.

"What, I can't have pictures of my knickers out there." Talia whispered to avoid Lockhart overhearing.

"It's not that," Hermione blushed, "I was wondering if you have any books on the founders of Hogwarts, maybe there's a cryptic message that Salazar Slytherin left.

"Nothing," Talia's green glasses appeared and disappeared again. "I have my course books and a few advance spell and potion books. Oh and Hogwarts, a History, but nothing on the founders themselves." Hermione nodded. Talia wasn't that into background reading.

"If only we knew where the chamber was." Hermione sighed.

"No rather if we knew what was inside. You can't just plunge into something with out having an idea what you're facing." Talia smiled.

"What about last year?" Hermione asked, "We didn't know what we would be facing."

"In a way we did, Hagrid told us who the teachers protecting the stone were. We had a vague idea, but still an idea."

"Are you telling me you know where the chamber is?" Talia only winked in reply.

Time passed rather quickly trying to figure out who opened the Chamber and what could be inside. On the morning of the Quidditch match Ron, of all people, suggested they try to sneak into the Slytherin common room and ask Malfoy if he was the heir. Hermione came up with a scheme to get a six year book by getting Lockhart to sign the permission slip.

"Why do you need a copy of Moste Potente Potions?" Talia asked.

"Well I read about a potion that can turn you temporary into someone else."

"The Polyjuice Potion?" Talia asked again.

"Yes, now if we can only get –"

"I have a few phials in my room," Talia interrupted. "I brewed it last year, that's why I bought more lace wing flies and boomslang skin."

"But –" Hermione started

"The Polyjuice Potion, if properly preserved, can last for years, and every month it's not used, it adds an hour to the transformation, as it is now we can probably stay, as whoever, for seven hours give or take. It's also rumored to taste differently depending on the host." Talia bit her lower lip. "I tested it twice this summer with one of your hairs Hermione and it tasted like toffee that fell in mud. And one of Ron's hairs it tasted like grass."

"Do I want to know why you wanted to turn into my brother?" Ginny teased.

"I just missed my friends okay!" Talia exclaimed. Ginny knew that Talia felt nothing for her brother, but friendship.

Talia left to get dressed in her Quidditch robes when Ginny hooked arms with her.

"So when are you going to tell her?" Ginny asked as they reached Talia's room. They wanted to keep Ginny's outfit a secret even from the team.

"I can't tell her, it would be so awkward." Talia said as she got undressed. She took placed her wand next to her on the table as she went to get her Quidditch robes and Ginny's outfit, "Bed only." Talia said as the clothes she dropped circled from the cupboard back to the bed.

"I can't tell her, it would be so awkward." Talia said as she got undressed. She took placed her wand next to her on the table as she went to get her Quidditch robes and Ginny's outfit, "Bed only." Talia said as the clothes she dropped circled from the cupboard back to the bed.

"I wish my room did that." Ginny said taking her outfit from Talia, "Thanks."

"It's a basic charm." Talia smiled as she pulled on her robes. "Just like this one: Accio." A small phial of potion flew their way from the kitchen. Ginny caught it.

"So this is the potion that would turn my body gold?" Ginny asked taking the stopper out and smelling it.

"The Honey Glow Potion," Talia smiled, "I believe Fred and George used a similar one on their Weasley hair Sweets. Ready?"

"Still a bit nervous," Ginny confessed, "I never really had my ears on top of my head or a tail."

"Mutare ut leaena!" Talia whispered and soon two ears sprouted on top of Ginny's head and a tail through the hole in her skirt.

"How do I look?" Ginny asked.

"Beautiful," Talia whispered then handed Ginny a hooded cloak.

"Like Hermione?" Ginny teased then ran from the room Talia soon followed behind her.

The speech Ollie gave wasn't very inspiring. Ginny tuned most of it out, something about brooms and heart. She follows the others out into the sun she glanced up. Three thirds of the crowd was cheering. Her heart swelled as she dropped the cloak. The Gryffindor team was surprised that is for sure. Apart from the ears and tail, Ginny wore a scarlet and gold trimmed tank top, a skater skirt, a pair of flat boots and gloves with clawed fingers. She smiled and waved to the crowd.

Talia smiled as the crowd got behind Ginny like she knew they would. She mounted her broom and waited for the whistle. As soon as the whistle blew Talia had to instantly dodge a Bludger. The fourth time the same Bludger came her way Talia knew there was something wrong with it. And she can only do an aerial ballet so long before she lost her focus.

Something gold caught her attention when she turned to glare at Malfoy. The prick definitely bought his way in because he didn't hear or see the snitch next to him. Talia smirked as she sped towards him she reached out making Draco frantically search all around him. Unfortunately Talia didn't see the Bludger and it hit her arm, hard. Winching she pulled her broken arm in and dove after the Snitch.

Draco finally caught on, but it was too late. Talia had already caught the Snitch and jumped off her broom to dance around the Bludger trying to maim her. Ginny rushed onto the field and threw Talia's wand to her. Talia aimed it at the Bludger and shouted: Bombarda!

Sure the spell was over kill but the Bludger did just break her arm. Talia pulled the Snitch she pushed into her pocket out and held it high. The rest of the team came to hug her when she pushed them away and then she saw him and this time she couldn't escape.

"Let me mend your arm," Lockhart smile showing all his teeth.

"I prefer it broken thank you." Talia turned around.

"Girl doesn't know what she's talking about." Lockhart smiled, "Brakium Emendo."

"What the hell!" Talia screamed at Lockhart. "There are more to spells then knowing the incantation and pointing your wand!"

"Let's get you to the hospital wing." Ginny pulled Talia away, Talia's de-boned arm dangling next to her.

"I swear that bastard was thinking about, Ossio Dispersimus," Talia fumed once they were out of earshot. "I don't care anymore. That man is not a teacher's arse."

As they reached the hospital wing Talia told Madam Pomfrey what happened and that she was caught off guard when Lockhart ushered the spell. Madam Pomfrey cursed under her breath and went down to her store to get a bottle of Skele-Gro.

"Anyone can make that mistake," Hermione said as Talia recounted the encounter.

"You can't be serious," Talia said looking at Hermione skeptically. "The guy de-boned my arm trying to do a show. A simple Episkey may not have done the job, but Disrumpam et Retro would've. In fact I would've asked you to do it Hermione, but now I can't join the celebration, all because of him."

Hermione was speechless. Once all her friends left Talia took out the only book she had with her, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them, and began to read. It wasn't until she reached the actual beasts that her eyes stretched. There in a first year book lay the answer to all their questions about the monster in the chamber:

The first recorded Basilisk was bred by Herpo the Foul, a Greek Dark wizard and Parselmouth, who discovered after much experimentation that a chicken egg hatched beneath a toad would produce a gigantic serpent possessed of extraordinary dangerous powers.

The Basilisk is a brilliant green serpent that may reach up to fifty feet in length. The male has a scarlet plume upon its head. It has exceptionally venomous fangs but its most dangerous means of attack is the gaze of its large yellow eyes…

Talia stopped reading there when Dobby suddenly appeared on her bed. She instantly knew the Bludger was his.

"Talia Potter came back to school." Dobby said.

"No Dobby, I came home. My house is on the seventh floor." Talia countered.

"Dobby thought that Talia Potter wouldn't come back when she missed the train."

"Lucky me that I arrived the night before because I forgot something." Talia smirked. "Dobby, don't try to save me, I beg you. Every time you try to save me I get hurt."

Dobby left with a confused look on his face. Talia knew she hit a nerve. She didn't want to go there, but it was necessary. And then the hospital wing flew open. Snape, McGonagall and Dumbledore walked in carrying someone under a sheet. They were very worried and didn't notice Talia listening to them

"Albus," McGonagall said, "this can't go on, surely you should know that if there is a first human victim more will follow."

"I know that, and I'm raking the restricted section in search of what could be in the chamber, Minerva."

"A Basilisk, sir." Talia couldn't help blurt out.

"A Basilisk?" Snape asked, "How can you possibly know that?"

"I just read it in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." Talia held up the book. "Everyone knows that Slytherin was a Parselmouth like me," and Ginny, "So was Tom Riddle. The question is who else in the school can speak to snakes?"

"Thank you Talia, but you shouldn't really eavesdrop on adults." Dumbledore said. "Do you mind if I let you sleep now?"

"But –" Talia only saw black after that. She wanted to tell them where the entrance was but now she wouldn't.

Tom Riddle

Talia was released the next day with a sling on her arm and made her way towards the Great Hall for breakfast when she thought she'd rather take a detour to Myrtle's Bathroom. It wouldn't hurt to ask the girl if she heard more of the made up language, as she called it.

"Watch it – oh it's you. Hello Potter." Tracey had just left Myrtle's Bathroom when the two bumped into one another.

"Hey Davis," Talia greeted, "Is Myrtle in there I wanted to ask her something. Come to think of it, I'd also like to ask you something."

"Myrtle will be back soon I heard her in the pipes, what did you want to ask me?" Tracey folded her arms then smiled. "I hope it's not for a date, you're too short for me."

"No it's not that," Talia blushed. "I was actually wondering if any of the Slytherins spoke about who might be the Heir."

"No clue, Malfoy seems miffed that it might be you. I asked that prick if he knew something but he's as clueless as the rest of the school." Tracey pulled out one of her hairs and gave it to Talia. "If you don't believe me use this in your Polyjuice Potion to find out."

"That won't be necessary," Talia said but took the offered hair. "Thank you for your honesty."

"And that would be Myrtle." Tracey walked away rather fast. "Maybe I'll take up your offer once you had your growth spurt."

Myrtle was really irritated not even Talia could calm her down. In a last failed attempt she noticed something stuck in one of the toilets, a diary, Tom Riddle's Diary. Did Tracey leave it or was she just in there to use it for its intended purpose? Talia blushed at the thought. Talia pocketed the diary and walked to the Great Hall. Hermione and a still transformed Ginny were waiting for her in the Entrance Hall.

"Ollie didn't want me to turn back until tomorrow when classes start again." Ginny confesses. "The ears I can deal with but the tail is a bit uncomfortable in my normal clothes."

"Why are you out here?" Talia asked hugging her friends.

"McGonagall told us last night that a Basilisk might be loose in the Castle." Hermione said then took out a mirror. "She asked us to bring you to the Common Room once you showed up."

Ginny handed Talia a blindfold and they both linked arms with Hermione. Hermione led them back to the Gryffindor tower and into the Common Room. Talia stopped to read the notice board.

New Safety Measures

All students will be escorted to classes by a Hogwarts Professor. If for some reason students find that a teacher is unavailable, one should use a mirror while others are blindfolded. Should the Basilisk appear only one student would be petrified while the others could flee. Aurors will arrive at the school within a few days armed with roosters.

Sincerely

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

Headmaster

The girls walked up to the dorm when Talia noticed something was off. Parvati and Lavender stopped talking. They both got up and went down stairs without a word. Talia raised an eyebrow. The silent question asked.

"They heard gossip that you might be the Heir and took it seriously after McGonagall announced that Colin Creevey was the first student to be petrified." Ginny supplied. "Morgan hear me, they are thick."

"Morgan hear me?" Talia laughed.

"It's better then the phrase you hate," Ginny bumped Talia onto the bed with her hip.

"This could really put a dent in our plan to infiltrate Slytherin." Hermione said in a scowl.

"We don't need to, remember my friend in Slytherin? She said Malfoy was clueless who the Heir was. Meaning he isn't the heir. She also gave me some of her hair if I didn't believe her, which I do." Talia said. "Anyway where are the teachers, I need to give Prof. Snape something." Talia took out the diary.

"Is that the same diary Ron had?" Ginny asked. She could hear the whisper coming from it. Talia nodded.

"Maybe we can find out something about the Chamber from it?" Hermione asked. Talia didn't want to do it but she knew this would be their only chance.

"I'm going to pretend to be someone else, if I change a bit please remind me who I am?" Talia was nervous.

Hermione and Ginny got on her bed and the three of them placed their wands on the privacy rune strengthening it three fold. Talia thought about Voldemort and the picture she saw of young Tom Riddle when he was still in school. Her hair turned dark and her eyes went from green to blue. Her face became more angular and then she turned to the others.

"Do I look like I could pass for Voldemort's daughter or granddaughter?" Ginny and Hermione who saw the same pictures nodded.

Talia turned to the book and opened it. Taking a quill she started writing.

Tom Riddle?

The text absorbed into the book before another set appeared.

You aren't the one that wrote to me before, who are you?

You wouldn't believe it if I just wrote it is there a way we could talk? I mean really talk?

I am but a memory trapped in a book. But if you draw an ear I can hear you.

And if I draw a mouth would you be able to speak to me?

Unfortunately not, you do seem odd though.

Talia drew the best ear she could and it started to twitch.

"We are of one blood." Talia said Ginny nodded behind Hermione.

What is your name? Tom's writing was hurried.

"Morgan," Talia hissed, "Imagine my surprise when I found your diary with a filthy mudblood." Ginny winched at the last statement.

I was not aware that I was in the possession of a mudblood. That fucking idiot told me he was pureblood, lesson learned never trust a Hufflepuff. In what year are you, Morgan?

"Fourth year." Talia said.

May I inquire why you haven't opened our Ancestor's Chamber before?

"Because I was saving it for my seventh year or until I can frame Talia Potter for it. That slut hasn't done anything that I can use against her."

I think I can help with that. The diary then revealed very familiar handwriting and then some that wasn't as familiar. The second must've been the Hufflepuff that had the book before. The first was clearly Ron Weasley's.

"Thank you father. I shall keep your diary save with the other keepsakes you left behind. I have unlimited space in my bag and it never leaves my side."

If I made more Horcruxes than the diary and my grandfather's ring then I would like you to have it, but the diary should be returned to the fool who lied to me, I will drain him to build myself a body.

The ear vanished from the page and Talia turned to the others on her bed. She shut the book and dropped it in her bag. She wasn't surprised that it went to the ring and diadem. She instantly dropped the guise and looked worriedly to Ginny and Hermione.

"Even at sixteen he was as mad." Talia shivered. "What is a Horcrux?"

Ginny and Hermione shrugged.

Holidays spend at school

Just before Christmas the Weasleys received a letter from their parents asking them to stay at school. Mr. Weasley was dealing with a cursed doorknob and was now prone to violence around everyone but Mrs. Weasley, at least until the venom left his system in a month. Hermione was staying too, not that she needed to. Talia was just glad she won't be the only girl in the girls' dorm this year.

The next morning as they left the dorm, Talia noticed a message pinned on the Notice Board. It was an open invitation to join a Dueling Club. Talia passed, after what happened at the end of the last school year she didn't think learning to properly duel would do her any good. Hermione and Ginny agreed, although Ron tried to convince Talia to join with him and Neville. Every time she declined, but to satisfy Ron she said she'll think about it over the holidays.

With no students in the school beside the Weasleys, Hermione and Talia the castle was considered save, at least for the moment. As the last class ended before the holidays it seemed that Draco would've stayed but that was soon remedied by an emergency letter by Mommy-dearest.

Finally free to walk about Talia went down to the dungeons with Ginny. Hermione was lecturing Ron when they left. Talia wanted to give the diary to Snape. After knocking Talia took out the diary and waited.

"Miss. Potter," Snape drawled.

"Professor, I found Tom Riddle's diary in Myrtle's bathroom the day after that pretty boy vanished my bones." Talia handed the diary to Snape.

"And you took this long to bring it to me?" Snape eyed Talia. "Why?"

"When would I have the chance, I didn't want to risk whoever stole it the first time to be alerted that someone found it." Talia said without batting an eye.

"Very well," Snape took the diary.

"I think a Hufflepuff student had it. I kind of pretended to be his heir to get some information. He mentioned something about a Horcrux ring." Talia said.

"That will do, on your way now." Snape's words were final. Talia and Ginny walked up to the Talia's room where Hermione would wait for them, if she was done with Ron that is.

Hermione really didn't want to lecture Ron, but he was being unreasonable. Talia Ginny and Hermione were planning a girl's day the previous night. Ron overheard them and asked if he could join them. They told him just what a girls' day was. And this morning he said he wouldn't mind seeing them naked, not realizing how dirty it sounded.

Hermione saw that now as she approached the tapestry. She sighed as she took out the note Talia scribbled down, a single word was written on it: Krystal. Hermione said the word out loud. The fox wagged its tail and Hermione was able to enter. Ginny and Talia arrived not to long after that.

"So how red was Ron?" Ginny teased.

"He should really think before he talks, I mean really: I don't care if you're naked I don't want to stay with Fred and George. I mean really." Hermione smiled.

"Well we can't change Ron into a girl," Talia said then got an idea. "Or can we?" Talia took out a phial of Lavender's blonde hair.

"Why do you have a phial labeled Lavender?" Hermione truly shocked.

"I have a lot of phials with different people's hair. I store it with my Polyjuice Potion. I got this from Lavender's brush. I think it's hers, but I wanted to test if it was human hair first." Talia blushed.

"As much as I would like to see my brother being more feminine, today isn't that day." Ginny picked up a pillow and threw it at Talia, "Pillow fight!"

Talia caught the flying pillow and darted towards Ginny. Talia turned into a fox just before Ginny's pillow connected with her head. Hermione giggled and joined in after setting the rules that Talia was forbidden to become a fox. Talia gave a foxy grin and partially changed back.

"What about a fox-girl?" Ginny giggled then got an idea.

"Talia do you think you can teach us how to become Animagi?" Ginny looked hopeful.

"Not tonight," Talia said then summoned a book from her shelf. "It is pretty advance magic and I'm still getting used to it. That's why I never take this off when I sleep." Talia held up her arm band.

"This doesn't say how to turn into one." Hermione remarked as she skimmed through the book.

"No that one only tells us the history and practice. The spell I used to partially transfigure Ginny came from that book." Talia pointed to what looked like a small trunk near the bookshelf. "I'm only about a third into the book."

Talia got up and dropped her skirt before she made her way into her room and coming back with a mirror and a vanity case, enchanted to store thousands of beauty products. She blushed, and wouldn't admit she got these through The Grooming Mermaid's owl mail catalogue.

"Now Hermione," Talia smirked, "Down to your underwear so that we can tame your hair."

The next hour was spent with Hermione reading the Animagus book and Talia and Ginny applying potion after potion onto Hermione's bushy hair. When they were done so was Hermione. Hermione inspected herself in the mirror and grinned. She liked how her hair was now straighter but still had a lot of volume.

While Ginny played with Talia's hair Hermione made her way to the bookshelf. She started pulling books and reading the titles. She came across a very peculiar title and called over to Talia.

"My mother doesn't let me read Harper Bliss's books. Is it any good?" Talia glanced over and went beat red.

"Um, Hermione," Talia stammered. "That book isn't exactly a book."

Hermione dropped the book and when it fell open several magazines, both muggle and magical fell out. Hermione picked one magazine up not recognizing the title and opened it on a random page. Her eyes went the size of dinner plates.

"Well this is quite interesting." Hermione said looking at the two women in the magical magazine rubbing their nether regions against each other, their legs scissored. "Why do you think they're doing it, I mean they're both girls right?"

"Some girls don't like boys." Ginny said seeing that Talia was playing chameleon with her hair.

"I don't see –" Hermione started but then pieced it together. "Talia do you like girls?" Talia could only nod. Hermione picked up the rest of the magazines and placed them on the table next to the Harper Bliss empty cover.

"I have a few other books from her, real books." Talia finally said. It was my mother's I got most of my books on these shelves from my mother's vault in Gringott's. Not the one they set up for me. I asked the goblins last year if they could send me the stuff in her vault."

"I don't think Prof. McGonagall knows what was in these books." Ginny grinned and picked up one of the muggle adult magazines. "Wow she looks so young."

Talia and Hermione leaned over her shoulder. The girl Ginny was referring to looked like she could be fourteen, only Talia knew that the girls in the muggle magazines were all over eighteen. The rest of the day was spent going through the naughty magazines. Talia also took down another hollowed book with magazines her father and friends collected. Hermione enjoyed these ones more if her blush was anything to go by.

The girls slept in Talia's room on the pillows in the living room. When they woke up they went to the Gryffindor Common Room and spent the day with Ron and the twins. The next few days were spent reading, playing chess and a snowball fight. The twins finally gave up seeing that they were outnumbered.

Too soon Christmas arrived. When Talia woke there was a pile of gifts at the foot of her bed. Ginny and Hermione joined her on her bed and together they opened the gifts. Talia got Ginny a Nimbus two thousand, she knew Ginny snuck into their shed and took her brother's brooms out for a flight. Of course they would tell the Weasley elders it was Talia's spare broom, which Ginny could use until Talia needed it. For Hermione Talia got a copy of the Animagus book she had in her room with a charm to make it pocket sized while the covers were closed.

For Ron she got a set of Gryffindor Quidditch robes. The Twins got a set of potion ingredients for their pranks. For Percy she got a new set of quills and a leather-bound journal, both enchanted to last a lifetime.

Talia had gifts from the Weasleys, Hermione and for some reason Tracey Davis. Then again she did send Tracey that golden bracelet she bought in muggle London. From Ginny, she got several hair accessories. Ginny joked and said it would look cute on Cracker. Hermione got her a hollowed book and a magic camera. She said it was to make new memories. Ron just got her an assortment of candy. The twins got Cracker a bell collar, so that she couldn't sneak up on them. Mrs. Weasley sent her a new jumper and more home made fudge.

The last gift was from Tracey. Talia didn't know what to expect. It was a rather large package, but it was incredibly light. Talia cautiously opened it and gasped. She picked up the note and read it quietly: When you can fit in these come see me. She parted the wax paper and gasped. Inside was the most beautiful dress she ever saw.

The dress was three shades of green, two of the shades matched her eyes. There was also a pen-stripe dragon on the hem, and the back was completely open. Talia blushed when she realized that the dress was so low cut in the back that she wouldn't be able to wear underwear. That was probably what Tracey had in mind.

Talia's gifts paled in comparison, in her opinion at least. Talia pulled on the Weasley jumper and smiled as Ginny and Hermione did the same. Talia took three parcels out of her trunk and placed them inside the bag she slung over her shoulder. The three girls made their way out of the dorm and through the Common Room down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

Talia excused herself when she saw her targets at the table. The first person she reached was Hagrid. She took out the largest of the parcels and handed it to the Giant. He opened it and got a tear in his eye. Talia wrote to Charlie Weasley and asked him if he could send her some pictures of Norberta. Talia had the best picture enlarged and placed in a golden frame. The others she made placed in a photo album for the large man. He gave her a monster hug.

The second parcel was for McGonagall. Talia didn't really know what to get the woman, but when she bumped into the book she knew she had to get it for the women. It was a signed copy of The Animagus' Journey by Newt Scamander. It was Scamander's only fictional book. McGonagall's eyes went wide. She secretly wanted this book, but would never buy it for herself. She wouldn't tolerate the mischief of the lead character.

"Thank you Miss. Potter, this is a very thoughtful gift." McGonagall smiled.

The last gift was for the Head Master, she didn't feel it appropriate, but gave him the gift anyway. It was a few sets of wooly socks.

"I may not be able to get you the thing you want most, but the socks did look comfortable." Dumbledore just smiled at the girl.

The Snake Charmer

With the holidays done the atmosphere turned grim. Another student was attacked and almost instantly Hagrid was escorted to Azkaban. Talia and Hermione went down to visit him when the minister of magic arrived. They snuck out, yes, but then Hagrid was rarely in the castle. He gave them a very cryptic clue, one that Talia wasn't too keen to follow.

They shared this information with Ginny. She made a joke about Ron and spiders causing Talia to frown. They had really drifted apart, her and Ron. She didn't know why and after many hours thinking she finally decided that it must be a boy thing.

The dueling club turned out to be a joke, according to Neville and Ron. It was taught by pretty-boy. One night in the Common Room Talia and Ginny made a wager, just for fun and wrote down how many defensive and offensive spells and jinxes they knew and gave it to the impartial judge, which would be the closest Gryffindor student, it turned out Ron was sitting in the comfy chair staring at the two girls' or rather Talia's behind. Ginny noticed this but said nothing, mostly because Talia knew four more offensive spells than she did and one more defensive spell.

One morning in February Talia woke up to find her world turned pink. The Common Room was decorated in hearts of pink and red. She turned towards Hermione with a quizzical look. The previous school year this didn't happen. Hermione told her all about the muggle Valentines Day. Talia gagged, she may be a girl but she wasn't overly girly.

The rest of the day wasn't any better. It turned out that Lockhart masterminded the whole thing, a way to lighten the moods. Lockhart even introduced the cupids. A gathering of dwarves dressed in diapers and armed with a heart shaped arrow and a bow.

Talia barely made it to her first class when she was ambushed by one of these cupids giving her a heart shaped paper. Talia asked the cupid to just shoot her. The same thing happened throughout all the classes, almost always the same routine, mostly aimed at Talia. In transfiguration Talia got a sympathetic nod from McGonagall and in charms she accidentally got her valentines card in the path of Seamus's backfiring spell. Talia had about enough when she saw yet another cupid walking her way.

"That's it I had it!" she shouted at the dwarf.

"Look girly," he said in a gruff voice. "I don't make the rules. You're gonna listen to this singing card even if I have to sit on you."

"Get the hell away from me," Talia pointed her wand at him. "Walk away slowly, and I'll pretend I heard it."

Talia never knew a dwarf could move that fast. She was knocked over and the dwarf sat on her. Talia glared daggers at the thing sitting on her sensitive breasts. She tried to tune him out put his voice penetrated her hearing.

Her eyes are unique in shades of three

Her hair as red as a open cut

I wish for her hand so wild and free

Conqueror of the Dark Lord and my heart

"Are you done?" Talia's cheeks were red with rage.

"Yeah girly, you can go now." the cupid stood up and walked away.

"Weasley, I don't think she liked your valentine." It was Malfoy who shouted across the hall. Ron blushed.

"Seriously?" Talia asked Ron who simply nodded. "Ron I like you as a friend and all but I can't like you like that. It that why you've been avoiding me? You have a crush on me?" Talia turned around and shouted to all who could hear. "And that counts for the lot of you dangling bits out there."

Tracey walked past her at that moment and Talia felt something being tucked into her skirt. Tracey winked at her and continued walking. Hermione noticed the exchange, although she didn't mind it, it felt odd somehow. When the crowed decimated Talia pulled the card out and placed it in her bag.

That night as Talia was about to pull the curtains shut to read the card from Tracey Hermione asked her if she could hear it. Talia sighed and nodded then asked Ginny if she would like to hear it too, she didn't. Talia pulled the curtains and activated the silencing charms. Once Hermione was seated Talia opened the card.

The first time I saw you, I thought of you with jealousy

Then I got to know you and it made me feel crazy

When I see you smile it fills the heart of me

Now all I want to do is get you naked and lick your pussy

Hope you feel the same about me, although you are scrawny

When you are taller call me, and I'll be your Tracey

Hope my picture gets you wet and horny

Talia blushed even more than a Weasley could. Hermione's mouth was open from the shock. Talia unrolled the picture from the phial and gulped. It was a magical picture of Tracey, naked, playing with herself. A caption across the top read: All for Talia Potter, a part of me is in the phial.

"Talia are you and Tracey Davis a – couple?" Hermione whispered the last word.

"No," Talia shook her head. "Tracey just likes to tease me, I think."

"If you are sure –" Hermione trailed off and went to her bed.

Talia placed the card and phial in her bag. She left the photo and activated the privacy charms. Using her wand to float the picture above her Talia pulled down her panties and started touching herself mimicking Tracey in the picture. Her thoughts swam as she toyed with her naughty bits losing track of time. In a mind blowing moment Talia exploded into orgasm.

She took hold of her wand about to vanish the liquid, but then she thought differently. She took a phial from her bag and scooped up as much of it as she could. Putting a stopper on the filled phial Talia vanished the rest of it, but not before snapping a picture of herself naked. The magical picture that instantly appeared had Talia stripping out of her clothes and continuously striking sexy poses, exposing herself several times.

"Cheeky bitch," Talia whispered before writing a caption. I'll savor your gift if you'll savor mine.

Talia dropped the gift into Tracey's pocket when they crossed paths the next morning. The Slytherin girl gave a half smile and flattened her skirt pocket. She gave a wink that said she would definitely savor it.

The days went on until the next Gryffindor Quidditch, a match that wouldn't be happening. Just as the teams came out of the dressing room they were told the match was cancelled. Wood was fuming. It turned out that two more students were petrified, Ron and Neville.

"Ron was acting odder since Valentines Day, this morning he excused himself to the library of all places." Ginny mused. "I guess he found Neville there and –" she left the last part out.

Strict rules were put in place, even stricter than before. Where there was some leeway before, there now were none. Days later Lucius Malfoy was seen strutting out the doors just before dinner. It became evident why he was smiling, Dumbledore had been asked to step aside. Malfoy senior, probably threatened the rest of the board of directors.

Things escalated rather quickly after Dumbledore left. Within just a few weeks a new message appeared in blood on the wall: Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever. Talia didn't like it one bit. They were lead through the second floor corridor by Snape when they saw the message. Talia and Tracey shared a brief realization. Tracey pulled Talia into Myrtle's bathroom discretely even if it was Snape supervising them.

"Daphne was acting odd the whole year." Tracey said. "And I know you know where this Salazar's Chamber is. Please, she's the only other decent Slytherin in this school."

"We shouldn't really do this alone," Talia sighed and turned to the taps, "Hesha-Hassah."

"Was that Parseltongue?" Talia nodded.

"A gift from Tom Riddle, the heir of Slytherin." Talia said, "I'll explain later, we need to save Daphne," Talia turned around again then switched to Parseltongue: "Stairs."

The girls made their way down the spiraling path into the unknown. When they neared the bottom the girls lit their wands and Talia handed Tracey a mirror. She needlessly explained that it would save her from an instant death.

The girls went deeper surprised when torches lid up next to them. Upon reaching a great door Talia once again told it to open up, it did. Talia concentrated, she wasn't sure she could control this large snake. The girls noticed a naked figure lying in a shallow pool, her chest heaving. Daphne was alive, but judging by the blood flowing from her nether region, she had just been raped.

Talia felt a weight on her shoulder and instantly recognized the phoenix, him and the sorting hat. Talia pulled out the sword inside and asked Tracey to keep the hat over her eyes. Just than she heard clapping from behind her, there stood someone, rather attractive, for a boy.

"Tom Marvolo Riddle." Talia introduced the boy.

"I have to say I find myself disappointed. I was hoping to lure my heir in here. As you can see I got a little bored waiting." Tom gestured towards Daphne.

"You are one sick pedophile, Tom." Talia's grip strengthened on the hilt of the blade.

"At one point yes. Probably more as my body aged. Although that isn't the point, is it?"

"Yeah, the point is that you have fooled everyone in the wizarding world. It is true that your mommy was a direct descendant of Salazar, but she didn't want to conform. She married a muggle, didn't she?"

"A clear oversight I'm sure." Tom turned to face Talia more directly. "The same oversight I had when I didn't grab the girl's wand when I possessed her."

"And you can't grab my wand since you don't know where I keep it. Are you going to call your pet now?"

"Oh? Do you think you can take on a sixty foot basilisk?" Tom seemed amused as he turned to the statues. "Very well, it would be a shame to kill a Horcrux, but you are too cocky to live. Speak to me Salazar, greatest of the four."

"Basilisk you are not to open your eyes no matter what another says." Talia thought fast then addressed Tom again. "You don't mind do you, it is only a fair fight?"

"Indeed, phoenix go gauge out the basilisk's eyes." Talia knew that Tom's arrogance would be his downfall. While he was focused on the phoenix and the basilisk Talia summoned the diary and hid it in the inside pocket of her robes.

Talia set off running when Tom set the basilisk on her. Leading the beast away from the two Slytherin girls, but not too far that Tom could do anything else. Talia ducked into many tunnels, and used her fox form to get through bars, frustrating the snake.

It was in one such escape that Talia thought of something brave but stupid. She waited for the basilisk even calling it to her. As the snake approached Talia took a deep breath and leaped into its mouth. It tried to snap its mouth shut, but Talia was ready with the sword. It went through the soft pallet and through the brain. Talia turned into a fox to minimize the strain of the drop.

As Talia pulled the sword out one of the basilisk teeth punctured her arm. She winched as she returned to the other she pulled out the tooth when she reached them and looked at Tom.

"Voldemort, I hope you die soon!" Talia shouted and plunged the tooth into the diary. Tom screamed in agony as he disappeared.

"Phoenix, I don't know your name," Tracey called out, "but Talia needs you she was bitten by a basilisk." In no time the phoenix arrived and healed not only Talia but Daphne as well.

"Are you okay Tracey?" Talia asked.

"I'll manage." Tracey smiled and turned to the still unconscious Daphne. "I wish I could say the same for –" she took out her wand and whispered a spell.

"What –" Talia started.

"I took her memories of the last day. She won't remember being raped." Tracey said. "The phoenix fixed her virginity."

"Fawkes," Talia said.

"Bless you," Tracey joked. "You know this phoenix?"

"Prof. Dumbledore's," Talia said, "I'm surprised he showed up. I'm not exactly loyal to those who want to control me."

"I usually prefer them taller but –" Tracey gave Talia a deep kiss right there and then.

Talia reached into her bag and pulled out one of her spare robes. Together she and Tracey clothed Daphne and carried the girl out of the chamber. Talia placed the tooth in her bag as a keepsake. They reached the entrance of the chamber and exited the Myrtle's bathroom.

"Do you think he wanted to be a girl or was he just a pervert?" Tracey asked. "You know, since girl's have a Chamber of Secrets? Not to mention it is in the girl's bathroom."

The joke worked Talia's mood was lifted and they laughed all the way up to the hospital wing. Daphne was placed on a one of the beds and the heads of house and Dumbledore was called. Tracey told her story followed by Talia. The headmaster considered both and asked to see the diary. Talia found it odd he didn't ask where the chamber was. Something Tracey picked up on.

A Slave set Free

Talia and Tracey were sent to Dumbledore's in order to share their memories. While waiting Talia took the sorting hat out of her bag and put it back onto the shelf she was about to take the sword out when Tracey stopped her.

"Don't be insane." She whispered. "That's the Sword of Godric Gryffindor. It's a Goblin made relic that takes in what makes it stronger and rejects everything that makes it weaker. It presented itself to you so it is yours."

Dumbledore entered the office and assisted the girls in extracting the memories, offering a copy to each of them. Tracey declined the offer and offered her phial of memories to Talia. Talia placed them in her bag and was about to walk out when a cane blocked her way. It belonged to Lucius Malfoy and behind him was Dobby.

The Malfoy patriarch was furious and demanded expulsions for every one involved, only he got the participants wrong. Dumbledore seemed to ignore this but Talia couldn't. Discreetly Talia snatched the diary and pulled a pair of winter socks out of her bag. She placed them inside the diary.

"Mr. Malfoy," Talia interrupted him suddenly. "If you are truly concerned why did you give this diary to Ron Weasley?" Talia thrust the book at the older man.

"You insolent brat." Lucius didn't notice the socks when he threw the book at Dobby's head. "Come Dobby."

"No more!" Dobby exclaimed. "Master has freed Dobby. Master gave Dobby socks."

Lucius was angry. Talia played on his predictability and bested him, he couldn't allow this.

"Avada –"

"You will not harm Talia Potter!" Dobby said as Lucius was hurling down the stairs. He turned to Talia. "Miss Talia Potter has freed Dobby. Dobby doesn't know how to repay her."

"Don't try to save me again, unless I ask you to, deal?" Talia smiled so did Dobby.

"As cute as this is, it's making me sick." Tracey placed an arm around Talia. "Dobby, if you will." Dobby stepped aside while Tracey dragged Talia down the stairs accidentally stepping on Malfoy senior's bits.

Together they walked into the Great Hall. Tracey didn't care who saw them. She was proud to say she was there when a girl, slightly smaller that her, took down a massive basilisk and outsmarted the dark lord.

Author's Note:

Thank you for reading my story hope you enjoyed it. I would appreciate it if you'd review, unless you just offer one-line insults. If you hated the story tell me where I can approve, if you liked it tell me what stood out. Look out for book 3 in the future, but don't pest me about it, this story took a while to complete. I know this chapter is shorter, but I covered everything I needed to. You can find the dress on my tumblr page.