After the attack on Mrs Norris, it seemed like all everyone can do is talk about it. Filch paced the area where she was attacked, to try and keep it fresh in everyone's minds. Jasmine was to busy being worried that the teachers would somehow find out about the graphic novel character's coming to life.

They had seen Filch scrubbing at the writing on the wall with some sort of cleaner, but the message stayed put. Filch tried giving her detention for looking 'suspicious' and Lisa almost got detention for looking 'cheerful' over not being expelled.

Among that, Jasmine heard a conversation from Hufflepuffs; Ernie, a stout, blond haired pureblood and Justin Finch-Fletchey, a Muggle-born boy, spring up that she and Harry may be the Heirs of Slytherin, when she working in the library. So, she tried to stay away from those two Hufflepuffs as much as possible, and they did the same to her.

Ginny had been looking disturbed over what happened to Mrs Norris. Harry had told her that according to Ron, Ginny was a great cat lover.

One day, at breakfast, Jasmine heard Ron saying to Ginny, "You haven't gotten to know Mrs Norris. Honestly, we're better off without her. Stuff like this doesn't happen at Hogwarts." He sounded like he was trying to reassure her. "They'll catch the maniac who did it and have him out of here in no time. I just hope he's got time to Petrify Filch before he's expelled…" He then added hastily, "I'm only joking."

Craig didn't look amused at the word 'maniac' but Jasmine figured it was because of his depression. He doesn't like terms like 'crazy', 'insane', 'maniac,' and other terms like that to insult someone.

From what Jasmine heard, Hermione had been reading quite a lot, but Harry and Ron didn't know what she was up too.

One Wednesday, Jasmine was trying to work on ten inch essay on the history behind the history of the antidote to the Swelling Solution. She had another ten inch essay on the history behind Occamy egg shells and what their uses for potions were for. She was using the Book of Potions and she checked out something called Ingredient Encyclopedia for help for both. She had checked the Book of Potions out so many times; she believed that Madam Pince should just give it to her already. Surprisingly, it seemed like she was the only one to be checking it out, especially with the essays that Snape was putting on them. The essays were due the next day, on Thursday.

Ron and Hermione joined her at her table, much to her surprise. Ron started measuring his parchment and Hermione went over to the bookshelves, muttering something about looking for another book.

Harry walked in and sat down at the table.

"Do you have a tape measure?" Harry asked Jasmine. She reached in her messenger bag and passed it to Harry.

Ron let go of his parchment, which rolled back up with a snap. "I don't believe this…I'm still eight inches short. Hermione's done four feet seven inches and her writer's tiny." He looked at Jasmine. "How much have you done?"

Jasmine hesitated, "four feet. Craig's done four feet ten inches and Lisa's done three feet and six inches."

"Where is Hermione?" asked Harry and unrolled his own homework.

"Somewhere over there," Ron answered, pointing along he shelves. "She's looking for another book. I think she's trying to read the whole library before Christmas."

Jasmine rolled her eyes. Harry said, "before I came in here, I saw Justin Finch-Fletchley. I was going to say 'hi' to him, but he ran away from me."

Jasmine considered telling him what she heard from Ernie and Justin. Before she could, Ron unrolled his parchment again and started writing with large loopy letters. "Dunno why you care. I thought he was a bit of an idiot. All that junk about Lockhart being so great—"

"All the copies of Hogwarts: A History has been taken out," Hermione said, emerging from the bookshelves. She sat down, looking irritable. "And there's a two-week waiting list. I wish I hadn't left my copy at home, but I couldn't fit it in my trunk with all the Lockhart books."

"Why do you want it?" asked Harry.

"People think that the Chambers of Secrets might've been mentioned in it," Jasmine said, before Hermione can say anything. "It's mentioned that there was a secret society that was made up of pure-bloods from Slytherin that used to go down in a secret chamber that was built under Hogwarts. The book mentions that it's a legend, that's all."

"Legends are often based on fact. That's something Professor Binns says," Hermione said.

"Hermione, let me read your composition," Ron said desperately.

"No, I won't," Hermione said. "You've had ten days to finish it—"

Ron interrupted, "I only need another two inches, come on—"

The bell rang and Jasmine gathered her stuff up. They left the library with Hermione and Ron bickering.

She turned to head towards Transfiguration, sitting down next to Craig, although Jasmine actually wondered about the Chamber of Secrets.

"Can I have your attention please? Now today, we will be transforming animals into water goblets. Like so," She tapped the bird three times, "one, two, three. Vera Verto." A crystal clear mist came from the wand, engulfed the bird, and it transformed into a silver goblet. She walked up and down the aisles, "Who would like to go first?" Lisa raised her hand. McGonagall grabbed a cage with a bird in it and removed the bird. She set the bird on a desk right in front of Lisa.

Lisa looked at Jasmine and Craig. She rolled up the sleeves on her robes and tapped the bird three times, before saying, "Vera Verto." A crystal clear mist came from the wand, engulfed the bird, and it transformed into a silver goblet, right before their eyes.

"Well done, Miss Turpin," McGonagall said, walking back to the desk. Jasmine raised her hand. "Yes, Miss Potter?"

"Professor, I was wondering, can you please tell us what the Chamber of Secrets?" Jasmine asked feeling very stupid at the moment.

"Very well," McGonagall say. "Well, you all knew, 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 co-existed quite harmoniously, one did not."

"We don't have to ask to know which one that is," Craig whispered to Jasmine, looking at the Slytherins.

Professor McGonagall continued to explain, "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". 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," Jasmine whispered to herself in horror.

Professor McGonagall stated, "well, naturally the school has been searched many times. No such chamber has been found."

Lisa raised her hand and asked, "what exactly lies within the Chamber?"

Professor McGonagall answered, "the Chamber is said to be home to something that only the Heir of Slytherin can control. It is said to be the home…of a monster."

Jasmine noticed that Malfoy seemed to be smirking at that. The conversation ended at that, and the lesson continued, with Craig volunteering to go second.


After class, they entered the hallway, which was filling with students.

"Do you really think that the Chamber of Secrets actually exists?" Craig asked.

"No," Jasmine said. "It's a legend. If it was real, they would've found it eventually."

"Yeah," Lisa said.

"But who attacked Mrs Norris and put that message on the wall?" Craig asked.

"I don't know. Someone with a sick sense of humour," Jasmine said.

"What happened to Mrs Norris anyway?" Lisa asked.

"She's got Petrified," Jasmine said. "It was someone with the most advanced skill in Dark Magic. At least that's what Harry told me."

Among the throng of students, a shrill voice shouted, "Hiya, Harry!"

"Hullo, Colin," came Harry's voice.

"Harry—Harry—a boy in my class has been saying you're—" the tide of people pushed Colin forward. "See you, Harry!"

"Are people really on that rumour?" Jasmine asked as they fought the crowd to get to Ravenclaw Tower.

"Yes," Craig and Lisa said together.

"Trust me, people will believe anything," Lisa said.

"There's like two or four people here that think that I'm a Lestrange," Craig said, shrugging. "It's usually shut down because I'm American."

"Huh," Lisa said, "never heard that one."

"That was before we became friends," Craig said waving his hand.

"Anyway," Jasmine started, "the Chamber of Secrets? Who would write that on the wall?"

"To scare Muggle-borns," Craig said. "You heard what Malfoy said."

"He's just bitter that he's not the top of his class. That honour goes to you and Hermione," Jasmine replied. "How can two Muggle-borns get top ranking than someone who was born into the wizarding world?"

They came across the corridor where Mrs Norris was attacked; Hermione, Ron, and Harry were looking round. Harry was crawling along the ground.

"What are you doing?" Jasmine asked Harry. "You shouldn't come back to the scene of the crime. The rumours— they would think you proud for attacking Mrs Norris…you will look even more guilty—"

"We're just looking for clues, Jazz, calm down." Harry told her as he stopped where he was at. "Hey, come tell me what this looks like to you."

Jasmine hesitated and walked up to what he was looking at. She crouched down and frowned, "that looks like scorch marks to me."

"That was what I was thinking," Harry said, walking along the corridor. "There's some more over here and here." He pointed at it.

"Come look at this! This is funny!" Hermione called over from the window.

They went over and crowded round.

"You stepped on my foot, Strange," Ron hissed.

"I'm not sorry at all, because you elbowed me in the ribs, Weasley," Craig said sounding delighted.

"Girls, girls, you're both gorgeous, so shut up!" Lisa snarled.

"Your friends are mental," Harry murmured to Jasmine.

"Have you seen spiders act like that?" Hermione asked, pointing at the topmost pane. Twenty spiders were scuttling, like they were fighting to get through a small crack. There was a long silvery thread dangling like a rope, which they probably climbed in a hurry to get outside.

"No," Jasmine and Harry said together.

"Have you, Ron? Ron?" Harry asked and they looked over their shoulders. Ron was standing well back.

"I haven't seen anything like it," Lisa said.

"Me neither. Spiders don't act like that," Craig said.

"What's up?" Harry asked Ron.

"I—don't—like—spiders," said Ron tensely.

"I never knew that," said Hermione, looking at Ron in surprise.

Lisa seemed confused, "but we use spiders for Potions…"

"I don't mind them dead," Ron said, looking everywhere except the window. "I just don't like the way they move…"

"They are kind of creepy when they move," Craig explained. "They're kind of unnatural."

"It's not funny," Ron said angrily. "If you must know, when I was three, Fred turned my—my teddy bear into a great big filthy spider because I broke his toy broomstick…you wouldn't like them either if you'd been holding your bear and suddenly it had too many legs and…" he shuddered.

"I know who you feel. Sort of," Craig said. "Black widows…those things are just ungodly. I got bitten by a black widow once and I had to stay overnight in the hospital, it because of the venom. You shouldn't trust a spider that kills its mate." Ron squeaked and Craig grimaced, "Sorry."

Hermione sounded like she was trying hard not to show that she was laughing.

Harry said, "remember all that water on the floor? Where did it come from?"

"It came from over there," Ron said pointing at the door. "It was level with that door." He walked to it and grabbed the doorknob.

Lisa frowned, "that's Moaning Myrtle's place."

Ron removed his hand as though he got burned.

"Let's have a look," Hermione said.

"That's a girls' toilet," Ron said.

"No one won't go in there," Jasmine said. "There won't be anyone in there, either."

All six second years walked inside the lavatory. It was still gloomy and depressing inside.

The mirror was still cracked and spotted. The sinks were still chipped. The floor was still damp and reflected the dull candlelight. The wooden doors to the stall were flaking and scratched. One stall door was still dangling from its hinges.

"When was the last time this place was cleaned and fixed?" Craig asked.

Hermione shushed him and together they walked towards the end stall. "Hello, Myrtle, how are you?"

Myrtle was floating above the tank of the toilet and picking at a spot on her chin. She was a squat which with her hair in pigtails and wearing circular glasses that kind of resembled Harry's. She was wearing a denim looking robe and her tie was blue and silver as well.

She eyed the three boys, "this is a girls' lavatory. They're not girls."

"No," Hermione agreed. "We just wanted to show them how—er—nice it is in here." She waved at the dirty old mirror, the chipped porcelain sink columns, and the damp floor. Jasmine looked at the sink column.

"What are you whispering?" Myrtle asked and Jasmine looked over.

"Nothing," said Harry quickly. "We wanted to ask—"

"I wish people would stop talking behind my back!" Shouted Myrtle in a voice chocked with tears. "I do have feeling you know, even if I am dead—"

"Maybe you can relate to her." Jasmine whispered to Craig, as Hermione tried to tell Myrtle that no one was trying to upset her.

"No one wants to upset me! That's a good one!" howled Myrtle. "My life was nothing but misery at this place—"

"She's way to far gone," Craig whispered back.

"—now people come along ruining my death!" Myrtle finished.

"We wanted to ask you if you've seen anything funny lately, because a cat was attacked right outside your front door on Halloween," said Hermione quickly.

"I wasn't paying attention," said Myrtle dramatically. "Peeves upset me so much I came in here and tried to kill myself."

"I'm out," Craig said, looking wide-eyed. He was shaking and walked away quickly. Jasmine followed after him, as they left the lavatory.

They stood outside the door and Craig sat down in Filch's chair.

"I wasn't expecting her to say that she tried to kill herself, even though she's dead," Jasmine said. He was probably triggered at that because of his mother doing the same exact thing, except his mother took Craig's sister's life as well.

The others left the lavatory, wet, and Harry just closed the door when, "Ron!"

They looked at the head of the stairs where Percy was standing, with a look of shock on his face. "That is a girls' lavatory!" he gasped, "What were you—?"

"Just having a look round," Ron said, shrugging, "clues, you know—"

Percy swelled, which reminded Jasmine of Mrs Weasley.

Lisa grabbed Jasmine and Craig's arms. "Meet you in the library after dinner to do homework." She dragged them downstairs to the Great Hall.


The six were in the library, as far away from the other students. Ron was in a very bad mood and kept blotting his Charms homework. Jasmine was still on her Potions essays.

When Ron used his broken wand on his parchment, it ignited. They hurriedly put it out before Madam Pince noticed and kicked them out.

Ron slammed his The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 shut. Hermione followed suit.

"Who can it be, though?" Hermione asked in a quiet voice. "Who'd want to frighten all the Squibs and Muggle-borns out of Hogwarts?"

"Let's think," Ron said in mock puzzlement. "Who do we know who thinks Muggle-borns are scum?" He looked at Hermione, who was looked unconvinced.

Hermione started, "if you're talking about Malfoy—"

"Of course I am," said Ron. "You all heard him—'You'll be next, Mudbloods!'—come on, you've only got to look at his foul rat face to know it's him—"

"Malfoy, the Heir of Slytherin?" asked Hermione skeptically.

"Look at his family," said Harry, closing his books, too. "The whole lot of them have been in Slytherin; he's always boasting about it. They could easily be Slytherin's descendants. His father's definitely evil enough."

Jasmine said, "hold on, there were other wizarding families in Slytherin too. The Parkinsons, the Notts, Malfoy, obviously, Greengrass, Davis… they were in Slytherin for decades as well. Malfoy seems like the obvious—"

"They could've had the key to the Chamber of Secrets for centuries!" said Ron, ignoring Jasmine. "Handing it down, father to son…"

"Jasmine was speaking," Harry said.

"Well, we all hate Malfoy, so we're targeting him. The Parkinsons are the second obvious choice, because of her views of Muggle-borns," Jasmine said. "They could be the Heir to Slytherin."

"I suppose it's possible," Hermione started.

"But how do we prove it?" asked Harry darkly.

"There might be a way," said Hermione slowly. "Of course, it would be difficult, and dangerous, very dangerous."

"I know a thing or two about danger." Craig said, obviously thinking about the car accident he was in a year ago. He added, "sort of."

Hermione continued as if she hadn't heard him. "We'd be breaking about fifty school rules—"

"If, in a month or so, you feel like explaining, you will let us know, won't you?" asked Ron, irritably.

"All right," said Hermione coldly. "What we'd need to do is to get inside the Slytherin common room and ask Malfoy a few questions without him realizing it's us."

Ron laughed and Harry said, "but that's impossible."

"Not really," Lisa said twiddling her quill.

Jasmine looked at Hermione and Craig said, "are you talking about…?"

"The Polyjuice Potion," Hermione finished.

"What's that?" Harry and Ron asked, together.

Jasmine face-plamed and Craig groaned.

"You two really don't pay attention in Potions, do you?" Lisa said.

Hermione said, "Snape mentioned it in class a few weeks ago—"

"D'you all think we've got nothing better to do in Potions than listen to Snape?" muttered Ron.

"If you want to graduate, you should," Lisa said.

Hermione explained, "it transforms you into somebody else. Think about it! We could change into six—"

"Five," Craig cut in. "I'm going home for Christmas. I won't let my dad travel alone for winter break."

Hermione started again, "five—"

"Four," Lisa said. "My parents want me home for Christmas, too. Family being together during Christmas is a big part of my family. Sorry."

"Four of the Slytherins," Hermione continued. "No one would know it was us. Malfoy would probably tell us anything. He's probably boasting about it in the Slytherin common room right now, if only we could hear him."

"This Polyjuice stuffs sounds a bit dodgy to me." said Ron, frowning, "what if we were stuck looking like four of the Slytherins forever."

"It wears off after a while," said Hermione, waving her hand, impatiently. "But getting hold of the recipe will be very difficult. Snape said it was in a book called Moste Potente Potions and it's bound to be in the Restricted Section of the library."

"Hard to see why we'd want the book, really," said Ron, "if we weren't going to try and make one of the potions."

"It's possible to get a note of permission." Jasmine said, "if you'd ask the right teacher."

"Oh, come on, no teacher's going to fall for that," said Ron. "They'd have to be really thick."

"I can think of one teacher who's really thick," Craig said. "And his initials are, G.L."


A/N: Favorite lines anyone?