Chapter 6

Ginny rolled me out of bed at dawn and I rubbed the grit out of my eyes before realizing I hadn't finished packing. I jumped up randomly throwing things into my trunk. I sprinted round the house gathering stray items while stuffing toast into my mouth.

Somehow all the boys were ready before me and Ginny and they sat in the living room scowling and moaning. Finally, we reached Kings Cross at quarter to eleven. We were cutting it a bit fine so I grabbed a trolley and hurried into the station. I ran ahead with Ginny and we disappeared through the barrier.

I pulled her along the train trying to find an empty compartment. I spotted Hermione hanging out of the train, waving madly and beckoning to someone inside. Dean and Seamus jumped out and hurriedly helped me load mine and Ginny's trunk inside. I grabbed Strix off the top just as the train whistle sounded.

I glanced up and down the platform as Ginny said goodbye to her parents. I couldn't see Harry or Ron anywhere so I figured they must already be onboard. Dean pulled me back in as the train began to move and we slammed the door. The train began to pick up speed and soon enough the platform was out of sight and we were streaking through the green countryside.

Neville joined us and we spent a fun first hour laughing and talking about our summers but I began to worry when the sweet trolley came round and there was still no sign of Ron or Harry.

"Be right back," I muttered. Ginny jumped up and followed, reluctant to leave me, and Hermione caught up with us a few minutes later. We walked up and down the train twice, searching for any sign of the boys. Eventually, we stopped outside a compartment to find first years all clamouring at the window.

"Oh my god, he'll be killed!"

"What are they doing up there?"

"Isn't that Harry Potter?"

Me and Hermione looked at each other and at once darted to the window, pushing the first years out of the way. My mouth dropped as I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Ron was flying the Ford Angela: Harry hanging out the side!

"For gods' sake." squealed Hermione. After a tense minute Ron finally pulled Harry into the car, we could all breathe better. I shook my head as they flew above the cloud bank and we made our way back along the train.

"Brilliant,"

"Those two are going to be in so much trouble." Hermione said wringing her hands. Every so often, I caught glances of them as we neared Hogwarts, the blue car dipping out of the clouds now and then. As night began to fall, we reached Hogsmeade station and instead of following Hagrid, we were taken up to the castle in carriages that seemed to pull themselves. The sorting passed without incident and still no Ron or Harry. The food appeared and disappeared on the plates and neither was around. Me and Hermione trekked up to the common room and the boys weren't there either. I dropped onto my favourite chair next to the fire and relaxed into it. I expected everyone to go to bed like normal but everyone was buzzing. The rumours had of course spread and by now everyone knew of Harry and Ron's entrance.

A while later the portrait of the fat lady swung open and the two boys stepped into the common room. Immediately they were mobbed. Percy, who was sitting near us, stood angrily and tried to push his way over to them. The boys spotted us over the crowd and obviously spotted Percy too.

"Night!" they called before escaping upstairs. I grinned and followed a scowling Hermione to our own dormitory. I entered the familiar, circular room, with its five four-posters hung with red velvet and its high, narrow windows. Our trunks had been brought up for us and stood at the ends of our beds. I left Hermione to her grumbling and settled down for a good night's sleep.

Hermione still hadn't finished by next morning. As we sat down in the Great Hall; the four long house tables laden with tureens of porridge, plates of kippers, mountains of toast, and dishes of eggs and bacon, beneath the enchanted ceiling (today, a dull, cloudy gray), she gave Harry and Ron the roasting of their lives.

I just sat grinning at my breakfast, once in a while looking up and catching Harry's eye before hiding my smile. Ron completely ignored her and just sat there staring at his snapped wand he'd broken when crashing into the Whomping Willow.

"My wand… Look at my wand." he kept mumbling.

"Be thankful it wasn't your neck." I said seriously. He dived into his bag and fished around for some spellotape. He wound a length of it round and round his wand.

"Say it, I'm doomed." he groaned, looking at the crooked tip.

"You're doomed." said Harry.

Ginny was sat next to me with her chin in her hand staring at Harry. He hadn't noticed but he soon would. She had a dreamy expression on her face and kept missing her mouth when she tried to take a bite of food.

"Ginny," I nudged her "You dropped something."

"What?" she said jumping and looking round dazed.

"Your dignity." But she wasn't listening, just settled back to watch Harry.

Just then something large and gray fell into Hermione's jug, spraying us all with milk and feathers.

"Errol!" said Ron, pulling the bedraggled owl out by the feet. Errol slumped, unconscious, onto the table, his legs in the air. Everyone around us laughed staring at the Weasleys crap owl.

"Oh, no-" Ron gasped.

"It's all right, he's still alive," I said, prodding Errol gently with the tip of my finger.

"It's not that - it's that." Ron was pointing at the red envelope. I glanced at it and instantly paled. This wasn't going to be good.

"What's the matter?" asked Harry.

"Look everyone! Weasleys got himself a Howler!" joked Seamus. And then it exploded; a roar of sound filled the huge hall, shaking dust from the ceiling.

"HOW DARE YOU STEAL THAT CAR. I AM ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED! I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THEY'D EXPELLED YOU, YOU WAIT TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU, I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK WHAT YOUR FATHER AND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GONE-"

Molly's yells, a hundred times louder than usual, made the plates and spoons rattle on the table, and echoed deafeningly off the stone walls. People throughout the hall were swivelling around to see who had received the Howler, and Ron sank so low in his chair that only his crimson forehead could be seen.

"- LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS, YOU AND HARRY COULD BOTH HAVE DIED - YOUR FATHER'S FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK, IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT AND IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT BACK HOME."

A ringing silence fell. I cleared my throat awkwardly but at that moment McGonagall came round handing out this years time tables saving Ron from the stares of everyone in the Hall. We had double Herbology first and we were in greenhouse three, somewhere we had never worked before.

"Good morning, everyone!"

"Good morning, Professor Sprout!"

"Welcome to Greenhouse Three. Now, gather around, everyone." She picked up a heavy looking pot and dumped it down in front of her. "Today, we are going to repot Mandrakes. Who here can tell me the properties of the Mandrake root?" It was no surprise when only Hermione put her hand up having been the only one who read the textbooks. "Yes, Miss Granger."

"Mandrake, or Mandragora, is used to return those who have been Petrified to their original state. It's also quite dangerous. The Mandrake's cry is fatal to anyone who hears it."

"Excellent! Ten points to Gryffindor!" I grinned at her from across the table and she beamed from ear to ear. "Now, as our Mandrakes are still only seedlings their cries won't kill you yet. But they could knock you out for several hours, which is why I have given each of you a pair of earmuffs for auditory protection. So, could you please put them on, right away?"

I grabbed my ear muffs and stuffed them on my head putting my hands over the flaps just in case. Once they were on I could hear nothing so I just watched closely. I felt a gust of wind next to me and turned seeing Neville lying on the floor unconscious.

"Uh, Longbottom's been neglecting his earmuffs." said Sprout.

"No, ma'am, he's just fainted." said Seamus.

"Yes, well, just leave him there." I gaped at her and looked back down at Neville on the ground. "Right! On we go! Plenty of pots to go around. Grasp your Mandrake, and pull it up!"

I did as she said and, with a lot of effort, managed to pull the ugly plant out of the ground. I giggled at everyone's plants. Ron's was extremely fat and had difficulty fitting his into a pot, mine was tiny and quite cute, Hermione's was long and lanky and Malfoy was currently having his finger bitten off by his.

That afternoon we had Defence Against the Dark Arts and Hermione was ecstatic. The boys didn't know who the new teacher was until Hermione said his name and gave a high pitch giggle.

"Have you outlined all Lockhart's lessons in little hearts?" Ron demanded as Hermione snatched her schedule back, blushing furiously. I knew for a fact she had. I sat next to Harry and we amused ourselves with making a wall with our books so Harry could hide whenever Lockhart came past. He seemed to have taken a real shine to him.

"Let me introduce you to your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher... me!" shouted a overly jovial voice "Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defence League, and five-times winner of Witch Weekly's Most-Charming-Smile Award..."

Oh Merlin. This was going to be a long year.

"Now- be warned! It is my job to arm you against the foulest creatures known to wizard kind. You may find yourselves facing your worst fears in this room. Know only that no harm can befall you whilst I am here. I must ask you not to scream. It might... provoke them!"

He pulled the cloth of the cage to reveal…

"Cornish pixies?" laughed Seamus. I raised my eyebrows laughing. He though pixies were dangerous? They were extremely mischievous and naughty but not dangerous.

"Laugh if you will, Mr. Finnigan, but pixies can be devilish tricky little blighters. Let's see what you make of them!"

He opened the cage and immediately they shot out in all directions grabbing anything and everything in sight. The class turned into chaos. The pixies began hurling books at people, some went round lifting up girls skirts and smashing cabinets.

"Come on now- round them up, round them up, they're only pixies!" It was easy for him to say. Two grabbed Neville by each ear and hung him from the chandelier. I got ambushed by loads and they all began tugging at my hair and clothes.

"Get off me!"

"Stop! Stop! Hold still!" said Harry bashing some with a book, effectively stunning them. Everyone began running out the class as the pixies flew up to the overhanging skeleton and detached it from the ceiling, letting it crash, splintering the bones. Lockhart ran off back into his office, stopping just to say:

"I'll ask you four to just nip the rest of them back into their cage!" We battled with them for another ten minutes before Hermione pulled out her wand and shouted:

"Immobulus!"

They froze in mid-air and began floating round, eyes huge and blinking. We left them as they were and after helping Neville down, ran out of the classroom locking the door tightly.


The first Friday of term was Harry's first Quidditch practice. I would have loved to be in the team this year but there were no positions that needed filling. We sat in the stands, me pouting with jealousy, but as the Gryffindor team came out one end, so did the Slytherins the other.

"Uh-oh. I smell trouble." said Ron. We got down to the pitch just as Oliver Wood was reading out a note Flint had given him.

"I, Professor Severus Snape, do hereby give the Slytherin team permission to practice today, owing to the need to train their new Seeker." You've got a new Seeker. Who?"

"Malfoy?" said Harry, incredulously as the blonde haired boy stepped forward, smirking evilly.

"That's right. And that's not all that new this year." He moved his broomstick to his other hand showing it off. That's when I realized the whole team had them.

"Those are Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones! How did you get those?" said Ron in unintentional awe.

"A gift from Draco's father." smirked Marcus Flint.

"You see Weasley, unlike some, my father can afford the best." scoffed Malfoy. Every Gryffindor glared at him. I put a restraining hand on Fred, who looked like he wanted to strangle Malfoy.

"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in. They got it on pure talent." Hermione said both truthfully and tartly. Draco rounded on her and stood face to face, disgust plastered across his pale features.

"No one asked your opinion," He paused "you filthy little Mudblood!"

Everyone stood in shock. Hardly anyone breathed. I glared at him furiously, my hand twitching for my wand. I didn't think even Malfoy would go low as to use that word. Obviously I was wrong: arrogant little bugger. Malfoy smirked satisfactorily as Hermione paled and tears welled up in her eyes. Suddenly there was an uproar, the girls were shouting at him and Flint had to shield him as Fred and George tried to jump on him. All restraint gone I whipped my wand out but before I could do anything, Ron had already taken out his own.

"You'll pay for that one, Malfoy. Eat slugs!" A flash of light and Ron went flying backwards about ten meters and landed spread-eagled on the grass.

"You okay, Ron?" Hermione squealed "Say something!"

I recoiled as he belched up a large slug. Slime was dripping from his mouth as he belched up two more. I couldn't help but gag as I helped Harry pull Ron up. I couldn't watch as more slugs came up, this time falling onto my arm and sticking there. We roughly pushed past the Slytherins and took him to Hagrid who wasn't exactly much help and just gave him a wooden bucket, a very large bucket, and waited until it stopped. Ron was green and every so often he was sick bringing up more and more slugs.

"Better out than in." said Hagrid. "Who's Ron tryin' to curse, anyway?"

"Malfoy." I managed to spit out.

"He called Hermione, ...um, well, I don't- I don't know exactly what it means." said Harry. Hermione got up as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks and turned away from us.

"He called me a Mudblood."

"He did not!" Hagrid said outraged.

"What's a Mudblood?" asked Harry, clueless.

"It means 'dirty blood'." Hermione sobbed "Mudblood's a really foul name for someone who is Muggle-born. Someone with non-magic parents. Someone like me."

"It's not a term one usually hears in civilized conversation." I said, pulling out a hanky for Hermione as she sat back down, staring miserably at the floor.

"See, the thing is, Harry, there're some wizards, like the Malfoy family, who think they're better'n everyone else because they're what people call 'pure blood'."

I wanted to hit Malfoy, no better yet: I wanted to hex certain parts of his appendages off. With an extremely painful curse. We headed back up to the castle, passing the Slytherin Quidditch team returning from practice but Hermione kept her head held high and we stalked past them. That night, the boys had their detention so Hermione and I sat in our dormitory doing homework. I dozed off eventually but was awoken by sniffles and someone crying. I sat up and looked over at Hermione who had pushed her homework on the floor and was crying into her pillow.

"Hermione," I whispered.

"Allie," she squeaked, sitting up and wiping her eyes hurriedly. "I thought you were asleep."

I said nothing and just sat down next to her wrapping my arms round her. She relaxed into my chest, another wave of tears engulfing her. We stayed like that for ages until Hermione had calmed down enough to talk to me.

"I'm sorry Allie- what Malfoy said- really got to me- I know it shouldn't- it makes me feel so worthless- I hate him- what I'd-"

"Hermione, stop," I said sternly. "You are not worthless, so don't you dare think you are. You are the brightest witch I've ever known. The best in our class. You can do every spell we've been taught and more. You are also one of the most caring and kind people I've ever met, so don't you dare listen to Malfoy. You are ten times the witch he is."

She was bright red and had stopped crying by this point. Then she gave a small giggle.

"Especially as he is a wizard." I smiled back and pulled out my hanky again. "Thanks Allie. I don't know what I would have done without you. You were my first real friend ever."

"Don't mention it Hermione. We're just going to have to get Malfoy back, and good."

We stayed sitting on the bed next to each other and eventually fell asleep, exhausted from the days events.


The rain lashed at the windows, which were now inky black, but inside all looked bright and cheerful. The firelight glowed over the countless squashy armchairs where people sat reading, talking, doing homework or, in the case of Fred and George, trying to find out what would happen if you fed a Filibuster firework to a salamander.

Fred had "rescued" the brilliant orange, fire-dwelling lizard from a Care of Magical Creatures class and it was now smouldering gently on a table surrounded by a knot of curious people. I prodded it curiously with my wand and it suddenly whizzed into the air, emitting loud sparks and bangs as it whirled wildly round the room. Percy bellowed himself hoarse as we rolled around on the ground, tears of laughter streaming down our faces. The spectacular display of tangerine stars showering from the salamander's mouth, and its escape into the fire, with accompanying explosions brightened up the dull Sunday afternoon.

It was that night that Harry told us we would be going to a deathday party on the night of Halloween. I desperately wanted to go to the feast but Harry had already promised Nick. To be honest, it wasn't fun. It was freezing cold and we just huddled in a corner for most of it. We had to be careful not to walk through any ghosts yet it was difficult not to. We left quickly feeling as though we'd just stepped into an icy shower. We probably all had frostbite.

We turned a corner when Harry stopped suddenly and clutched at the stone wall, putting his ear against it.

"Harry?"

"Did you hear it?"

"Hear what?" said Ron looking around bewildered.

"That voice."

"Voice? What voice?" I said looking around nervously.

"I heard it first in Lockhart's office. And then again just-" Harry's eyes seem to glaze over slightly "It's moving. I think it's going to kill."

"Kill?" He ran off down the corridor, us sprinting after him. We turned a corridor and I glanced at the others perplexed as Harry stood stock still, straining to listen. Movement to my left caught my eye.

"I've never seen spiders act like that." I whispered to Hermione.

"I don't like spiders..." Hermione glanced at Ron and giggled. He had gone deathly pale and was fighting the impulse to run. I knew why. When Ron was little, Fred had transformed his teddy bear into a giant spider. Fred wasn't able to sit down properly for a week after the hiding he got from Molly. I glanced around and froze.

"Look," I whispered nudging Harry. Something was shining on the wall. "It's written in blood."

THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR BEWARE

I felt slightly sick just looking at it, beads of blood running down the wall. My eyes were drawn to something hanging underneath it. Mrs Norris! As we stared in disgust and shock. There was a rumble of laughter and chatter which signalled the end of the feast. From either end of the corridor students spilled around the corners and slowly came to a stop. The noise died down and everyone stood in shock as they saw Mrs Norris and the message. We stood alone in the corridor as people glared

"'Enemies of the heir beware!'" Malfoy had pushed to the front of the crowd, his eyes alive and his face grinning evilly. "You'll be next, Mudbloods!"

At the arrival of Filch everyone held their breath; he clutched his face in horror. Fred and George pulled me and Ron out of the firing line into the crowd, Hermione quickly joining us. This wasn't going to be good. Harry tried to slip around Filch but before he could he began to screech at Harry. Luckily just as Filch looked like he was about to hit him, Dumbledore turned up.

"Everyone will proceed to their dormitories immediately!" We turned to go trying to blend into the crowd. "Everyone except, you four."

The twins gave me a sympathetic glance before heading off down the corridor. Thank god Mrs Norris wasn't dead, just petrified. We had a completely legitimate reason for not being at the feast and so Dumbledore let us go. We went, as quickly as we could without actually running.

We dashed up the grand staircase and after about three floors I stopped in the middle of the stairs and turned to face Harry.

"It's a bit strange, isn't it?" I said staring at the floor.

"Strange?"

"You hear this voice, a voice only you can hear, and then Mrs. Norris turns up Petrified. It's just... strange." I couldn't help the worried accusatory tone in my voice.

"Do you think I should have told them? Dumbledore and the others, I mean?" he asked anxiously.

"Are you mad?" cried Ron.

"No, Harry. Even in the wizarding world, hearing voices isn't a good sign." Hermione said heavily. They carried on climbing the stairs but I lagged behind at bit and Harry dropped back to walk next to me. I stared at the ground but couldn't stop my brain from whirring.

"So what's the deal?" I looked up at Harry. He stared at me questioningly.

"Nothing." I said in a low whisper. "It's just weird. I had a Great Aunt who heard voices and well…"

"Well?"

"… she died." Harry looked at me wide-eyed and I quickly corrected myself.

"But I'm sure you'll be fine," I said hurriedly, but Harry still had a heavy frown that lasted all the way up to Gryffindor Tower.


"Could I have your attention, please? Right. Now, today, we will be transforming animals into water goblets. Like so. One, two, three, Vera verto." the beautiful bird she was transfiguring morphed into a likewise beautiful shiny goblet. I looked at Strix. He was on the smallish side and looked rather cute nestled next to Hedwig who was about larger that he was. "Now it's your turn. Well, who would like to go first? Ah! Mr. Weasley. One, two, three. Vera verto."

"Ahem. Vera verto!" I grinned as Ron transformed Scabbers into a goblet with the exception of a long tail and it was still furry.

"That wand needs replacing, Mr. Weasley." she said briskly "Yes, Miss Granger?"

"Professor, I was wondering if you could tell us about...the Chamber of Secrets?" Everyone looked up and watched McGonagall intently. Her stern face faltered and she looked round at our faces both worried and interested.

"Well, very well. Well, you all know, of course, that Hogwarts was founded over a thousand years ago by the four greatest witches and wizards of the age: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. Now, three of the founders coexisted quite harmoniously. One did not."

"Three guesses who." Ron whispered in Harry's ear in front of us.

"Salazar Slytherin wished to be more selective about the students admitted to Hogwarts. He believed magical learning should be kept within all-magic families. In other words, 'pure-bloods.'" I glanced at Malfoy to find him looking at me. He looked thoughtful and seemed to be really listening to McGonagall.

"Unable to sway the others, he decided to leave the school. Now, according to legend, Slytherin had built a hidden chamber in this castle, known as the Chamber of Secrets. Though, shortly before departing, he sealed it until that time when his own true heir returned to the school. The heir alone would be able to open the Chamber and unleash the horror within, and by so doing purge the school of all those who, in Slytherin's view, were unworthy to study magic."

"Muggle-borns." said Hermione cringing.

"Well, naturally, the school had been searched many times. No such chamber has been found." McGonagall turned and flourished her wand, the spell appearing on the board. She turned only to find Hermione's hand in the air once again.

"Professor? What exactly does legend tell us lies within the Chamber?"

"Well, the Chamber is said to home to something that only the Heir of Slytherin can control. It is said to be the home of a monster." The rest of the lesson was unusually quiet, resulting in almost everyone successfully turning their pets into water goblets. We left Transfiguration confused and very sombre.

"D'you think it's true? D'you think there really is a Chamber of Secrets?" said Ron as we walked through the courtyard, into the busy crowds.

"Yes. Couldn't you tell? McGonagall's worried. All the teachers are." sighed Hermione, thinking hard.

"Well, if there really is a Chamber of Secrets, and it really has been opened, then that means-"

"The Heir of Slytherin has returned to Hogwarts. The question is: who is it?" I finished

"Let's think. Who do we know who thinks all Muggle-borns are scum?" Ron said sarcastically as Malfoy pushed through us and swaggered off.

"If you're talking about Malfoy-" I said loudly enough for him to hear.

"Of course. You heard him! 'You'll be next Mudbloods,'" pointed out Ron

"I heard him." Hermione said regretfully "But Malfoy, the Heir of Slytherin?"

"Well, maybe Ron's right, Hermione. I mean, look at his family. The whole lot of them have been in Slytherin for centuries." Harry argued.

"Crabbe and Goyle must know." Ron said, his face lighting up "Maybe we could trick them into telling."

"Even they aren't that thick." I laughed

"But there might be another way." said Hermione excitedly "Mind you, it would be difficult. Not to mention, we would be breaking about fifty school rules. And, it'll be dangerous. Very dangerous."

She dragged us off to the library were we combed through the potions section. Thinking about what she said I didn't want to believe she was thinking about the making the Polyjuice Potion. Of course she was.

"Hermione are you mad!" I whispered "That could potentially be one of the most dangerous things we have ever done!"

She just smiled and carried on looking. I was seriously getting worried about Hermione. She was getting way too lax about this 'breaking the rules' thing.

Turns out we had to ask a teacher for signed permission as the book was in the Restricted Section. We thought it would be impossible but Hermione came flying after us one day, clutching a piece of parchment with a bright pink signature scrawled across; Lockhart's signature. We took the book: Moste Potent Potions and ran to Gryffindor Tower.

"Here it is. 'The Polyjuice Potion. Properly brewed, the Polyjuice Potion allows the drinker to transform himself temporarily into the physical form of another.'" recited Hermione.

"Do you mean, if Harry and I drink that stuff, we'll turn into Crabbe and Goyle?" Ron said half in awe and half in revulsion.

"Yes."

"Wicked! Malfoy'll tell us anything."

"Exactly. But it's tricky. I've never seen a more complicated potion."

"Well, how long will it take to make?" I asked, leaning back against a table.

"A month."

"A month? But, Hermione, if Malfoy is the Heir of Slytherin, he could attack

half the Muggle-borns in the school by then."

"I know. But it's the only plan we've got." she spat.

"It would be a lot less hassle if you just knocked Malfoy off his broom tomorrow." I muttered to Harry.