"Wonder what's keeping this game from getting started," mused Robert, sitting next to Scott at the Quidditch Pitch, waiting for the match against Gryffindor and Hufflepuff to begin.

"No idea," replied Scott. "And where's Penelope? I thought you two were walking down together."

"She said she had to go to the library for something for Charms class," Robert said. "I thought she'd be here by now."

Just then, their attention was drawn to the center of the field, where Professor McGonagall had appeared. She raised her wand to her throat and spoke with a magnified voice.

"This match has been canceled," she announced, causing many students waiting for the game to groan. "All students are to return to their house dormitories at once."

Scott and Robert glanced at each other and shrugged. They left the stands together and only stopped when McGonagall called their names. They turned and saw Harry and Ron following McGonagall.

"Peck, Hilliard, you two will come with me and these two. There is something you all need to see."

They followed McGonagall to the Hospital Wing; none of them asked any questions as they walked.

"I warn you, this could be a wee bit of a shock," McGonagall said softly as they approached two beds. Scott's eyes widened in shock as he saw Hermione, petrified with her right arm held up in place. But, on Hermione's left...

"Penelope!" cried Robert when he realized who it was. He gasped in shock and seemed unable to control himself.

"They were found near the library," McGonagall explained. "Along with this," she added, picking up a mirror and showing it to the four of them. "Does it mean anything to any of you?"

"No," replied Harry. The others shook their heads, at a loss for words.

"I am truly sorry," said McGonagall, wiping a tear from her eye. "I will take you all back to your dormitories and the Heads of House will be speaking with the students shortly."


Later that afternoon, Scott and Robert sat silently in the Common Room. Everyone was in the shock at the news of the attack on Hermione and Penelope. They all seemed too stunned that someone in their house had been attacked by whatever lied in the Chamber.

Professor Flitwick entered the Common Room, carrying a large piece of parchment with him.

"Can I have your attention please?" he said in his squeaky voice once he was inside the Common Room. "Because of recent events, these new rules will be put into effect immediately: All students will return to their Common Rooms by 6:00 every evening. All students will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. All activities and organizations are henceforth disbanded until further notice. No exceptions."

Flitwick rolled up the parchment.

"I need scarcely add that rarely have I or anyone else teaching at this school been so distressed," he said somberly. "And I should tell you this: unless the culprit behind these attacks is caught, it is likely the school will be closed."

With that, Flitwick beckoned for Scott to come over to him. Scott stood up, looking slightly confused, glanced at Robert, who shrugged and looked away miserably, before walking over Flitwick.

"Mr. Peck," Flitwick whispered so only he could hear. "Professor Snape wishes to speak with you at once. I shall escort you to his office."

Once outside Snape's office, Scott knocked on the door while Flitwick waited, glancing around the corridor as if expecting Slytherin's monster to pop out at any moment.

"Enter," came Snape's voice.

Scott opened the door and walked into Snape's office. It looked as normal as ever, meaning he likely did not want to practice dueling with Scott.

"Ah, Scott," Snape said, looking up. "Thank you for bringing him, Filius."

"Not at all, Severus. Shall I wait outside?"

"No, no. Scott and I have several things to discuss and it may take some time, so I'll take him back to Ravenclaw Tower when we're done."

"Very well," said Flitwick, bowing slightly. "Good night, Severus. Mr. Peck."

With that, Flitwick turned and left the office, shutting the door behind him.

"Are you all right?" Snape asked.

Scott was surprised at the concern in Snape's voice; he had never heard it before.

"I'm all right," he replied quietly. "I just didn't expect two of my friends to be attacked, let alone at the same time."

"That's understandable," said Snape. "Which is why I regret that I have to burden you with even more bad news."

"What is it?" Scott asked, sounding concerned.

"The governors have suspended Professor Dumbledore. They ordered his immediate removal from his post."

"They did what?"

"Yes," Snape replied, looking disgusted with the governors' decision. "Lucius Malfoy himself delivered the order just moments ago in front of the Minister for Magic. Dumbledore left the castle shortly after. My understanding is he is staying in Hogsmeade until this is over, should that happen."

"What do you mean?"

"Surely Filius told you Ravenclaws about the likelihood of the school closing. It seems more and more likely will all of these attacks. And with Dumbledore gone, I daresay there could be an attack a day."

Scott sat, stunned at what Snape was telling him.

"But what about my training? I have to do that."

Snape nodded. "Yes, we will continue your training to prepare for your role, no matter what happens."


Days later at breakfast, Professor McGonagall stood up as the students ate.

"I have good news for you all," she said, sounding much more cheerful than she had all term. "Tonight, the Mandrake Draught will be ready and we will be able to revive those who have been petrified. I need hardly say that we may indeed find out who is responsible for all of these attacks."

Most of those in the Great Hall cheered at the news. Scott turned to Robert, who seemed delighted.

"Thank goodness they're going to be all right," he said, looking happier than he had been in days. "Mind you, Penelope might not be happy that we've got exams starting tomorrow."

"Best let her wait to her the news from someone else," Scott replied, grinning.


Later that afternoon, Scott was in the library working on Transfiguration homework when McGonagall's voice echoed throughout the school.

"All students are to return to their House Dormitories at once. All teachers to the second-floor corridor immediately."

Wondering what could have happened, Scott gathered his things and rushed back to Ravenclaw Tower. Just as he was inside, Piri flew toward him carrying a note.

"Thanks, Piri," Scott said, unraveling the note as Piri flew out of the window back to the Owlery.

Don't get too comfortable. I shall be at the Common Room in moments. I need your assistance.

Just as Scott finished reading the note from Snape, Robert came into the Common Room.

"Scott, Professor Snape is right outside waiting for you."

"Right," Scott replied absentmindedly, tossing the note into the fire in the room before turning around and leaving, finding Snape just outside the Common Room.

Snape turned, motioning for Scott to follow him. Once they were out of earshot of fellow students, Scott caught to Snape and walked right next to him.

"What's happened?" he asked.

"A student has been taken by the monster into the Chamber itself," Snape replied. Scott gasped in shock.

"Who is it?"

"Ginny Weasley."

"Oh my goodness," Scott replied as they reached the potions classroom. "What is it you need my help with?"

Snape opened the door to the classroom, where Professor Sprout was waiting for them, carrying two pots, which Scott realized contained the Mandrakes.

"We need your assistance with the Mandrake Draught," Snape explained. "We have to get those petrified woken up so we can figure out what's happened and who, or what, attacked them."


Once the potion was ready, Scott accompanied Snape and Sprout to the Hospital Wing. When they finally arrived, it was nearing midnight; the potion had taken some hours to prepare. They set down the cauldron carrying the potion as Madam Pomfrey came bustling out of her office.

"Have you got it, then?" she asked.

"Yes, Poppy," Sprout replied cheerfully, though she looked tired. "We just finished making it. Have you got goblets?"

Madam Pomfrey raised her wand and summoned six goblets from her office. She grabbed two and filled them with the potion, walking toward Nearly Headless Nick and Mrs. Norris. Professor Sprout filled a goblet and walked over to Justin Finch-Fletchley. Snape filled two goblets and walked over to Colin Creevey, who was on a bed next to Penelope. Scott filled the last goblet and walked over to Hermione.

He looked around at the others and saw they were pouring the potion into the victim's mouths. Scott turned back to Hermione, glad that her mouth was slightly open and that he didn't have to pry it open. Gently, he bent down and poured some of the potion into Hermione's mouth. A few moments later, Scott breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Hermione blink.

"Scott!" she gasped when she realized that she could move and speak. "Oh, Scott!"

"Sssshhhh," Scott said, putting a hand on Hermione's shoulder to keep her calm. "It's all right now, Hermione. You're in the Hospital Wing. You had been petrified."

"Yes, I know, it was a basilisk, Scott."

"A what?"

"It's a giant snake," Hermione explained as if she had memorized the book she had read. "It's hatched from a chicken's egg that was under a toad. Its stare is fatal, which is why I had the mirror, to look around corners. The crow of a rooster is fatal to it, and that's why Hagrid's roosters were killed. And the reason Harry could hear its voice: he can understand Parseltongue."

Madam Pomfrey suddenly appeared at her bedside.

"Now, enough of that talk, Miss Granger," she said firmly. "You've got to have some rest after what you've been through."

"Oh, nonsense," said Hermione, waving her hand impatiently. "I've got to go find out if Harry and Ron have figured it out."

"You won't have to leave to find out, Miss Granger," came a voice from the Hospital Wing's entrance. They all turned around and saw Dumbledore standing in the doorway, beaming at them.

"Headmaster!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed. "You've returned."

"Oh yes," Dumbledore replied cheerfully. "When the governors heard about what happened to Arthur Weasley's daughter, they saw fit to summon me back."

"What about Lucius Malfoy?" Sprout asked.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled for a moment, but he did not respond. Instead, he walked over to Hermione's bed and spoke.

"Your friends managed to discover what happened, Miss Granger," he whispered. "I've just spoken to the both of them. They eradicated the threat in the Chamber and have prevented any further attacks from occurring."

Dumbledore smiled at Hermione's look of shock.

"And now, we must all head down to the Great Hall for a celebratory feast!" he said for everyone to hear.

"Headmaster..." Madam Pomfrey began.

"Oh, come now, Poppy, everyone who was petrified appears to all right to me. Even Miss Granger seems her normal self, as it sounds like she had swallowed the text about basilisks.

Scott grinned at Hermione who had turned bright red.

"Come now, all of you, we should get to the Great Hall at once."

Dumbledore turned and left the Hospital Wing. While Madam Pomfrey helped Hermione, Scott walked over to Penelope, who had recovered faster from her ordeal and was standing next to her bed.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm all right. I'm glad everything is over."

"So, you needed to go to the library, huh?" Scott asked in a knowing tone.

Penelope frowned. "I'm not sure what you mean."

"You told me that you were running up to the Common Room for something before we left for the match. I didn't say anything to Robert about it, and it seems you told him that you were going to the library. So, what were you really doing?"

Scott grinned at Penelope's look of shock on her face, which had a hint of anger in it.

"Well, all right," she said, sighing. "If you must know, I was meeting my boyfriend for a quick kiss."

"And this boyfriend would be Percy Weasley, am I right?"

Penelope's eyes widened in shock. "How the bloody hell did you know that?"

"Well, I didn't know for sure until just now," Scott said with a chuckle. "But I had my suspicions before now."

"What gave it away?"

"Oh, Penelope," Scott said as they walked toward the exit with the others. "You forget: I'm also a Ravenclaw. The Sorting Hat did put me into that house because of my mind, you know."