Hiiii! I'm back! I had an awesome time and managed to get a couple of chapters written too :) I'm going back to school on Tuesday (which is also when the next update should be), so, yeah. That sucks. But anyway! Updates! Nothing too exciting just yet, but I have big things in store for the future ) Keep reading, feel free to leave a comment and I'll see you all soon. Enjoy!
After speaking with Professor Snape a few days ago, I had decided that whoever was impersonating me had to be revealed, and I had to find out where the Chamber is. If the monster is only supposed to obey me, then I should be able to stop it from doing anything that might jeopardise my position.
I tried looking up the Chamber in the library, along with most of Ravenclaw house and Hermione, but (like all of them) found nothing on it. It seems to be a very hushed subject, so I wasn't surprised that Hermione asked about it in our next Transfiguration lesson.
"Today we will be transforming animals into water goblets," Professor McGonagall said, beginning the lesson. "Like so," she turned to a large toucan-like bird sat on a pedestal. "One, two, three Vera Verto." The bird's shape distorted, colours spinning before it formed a large glass goblet. "Now it's your turn", she had said, turning to us. "Who would like to go first?" I sat up, intrigued. I've always enjoyed transfiguration – it's one of the only lessons I excel in. "Ah, Mr Weasley," she said, turning to Ron. He cleared his throat and pulled out his wand which had been crudely cello taped back together after his encounter with the Whomping Willow at the start of the year.
"Vera Verto," he said clearly, and his rat transformed into a furry goblet with a tail that squeaked in distress. The class laughed as McGonagall sighed.
"That wand needs replacing, Mr Weasley." Yeah, no kidding. That was when Hermione put her hand up.
"Yes, miss Granger?"
"Professor, I was wondering if you could tell us about the Chamber of Secrets," Hermione said nervously. The professor looked across us all at our silent, curious gazes, and sighed.
"Very well," she said reluctantly "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." She began to pace slowly across the front of the room, looking from the floor, to her wand, to us and to the floor again. "Now, three of the founders coexisted quite harmoniously. One did not."
"Three guesses who," Ron smirked. McGonagall looked at him, and then continued.
"Salazar Slytherin wanted 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 the 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," Hermione said quietly, and McGonagall nodded.
"Naturally the school has been searched many times. No such chamber has been found."
"Professor, what exactly does legend tell us lies within the chamber?" Hermione asked, and again McGonagall paused before speaking reluctantly.
"The chamber is said to be home to something only the Heir of Slytherin can control. It is said to be the home, of a monster." I saw Ron turn to look at Draco, and Draco smirk back at him, raising an eyebrow.
At the end of the lesson, when we were all dismissed, I saw the trio hurry out of the room, huddled together, talking quietly. Draco smirked at Crabbe and Goyle and made a beeline for them as Daphne and I rolled our eyes simultaneously.
They pushed past the trio as Harry stopped walking. Ron seemed to be suggesting something. I gestured silently for Daphne to carry on as I slowed. She nodded obediently and followed Draco. As I neared the trio, I listened to their conversation – I know some people might think eavesdropping is rude, but it really is an amazing way of accumulating information, especially when someone doesn't realise you're doing it, but I do love the look on people's faces when they realise you know what's going on.
"…breaking about fifty school rules," Hermione was saying seriously "and it would be dangerous. Very dangerous."
"What's dangerous?" I asked with a smile, making the three of them jump. I blinked, hiding a laugh. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."
"What are you doing?" Ron asked defensively.
"I was going to wish Harry good luck with the Quidditch tournament tomorrow before I heard you talking about something dangerous." I lied smoothly "So, what's dangerous? You're not planning on doing something are you?" They glanced to each other.
"No, of course not." Harry answered, but I could tell he was lying. Even if he wasn't a bad liar I'd be able to tell. I raised an eyebrow.
"Glad to hear it. With the Chamber open and all doing something dangerous sounds pretty stupid, especially with you Hermione."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron said, turning to me with narrowed eyes.
"All I'm saying is Hermione isn't exactly low-key. Everyone knows your name," I said, directing my speech from Ron to her "you're practically the smartest witch in our year. If someone's targeting muggle-borns, you'd probably be high-up on their list. I'd be doing everything possible to avoid getting into a dangerous situation, you know?" Then I smiled "But I guess if you're not doing anything dangerous then there's nothing to worry about. Good luck tomorrow Harry – from the way the whole common room's been talking, it looks like you're going to need it. Ciao."
"Was it just me or did that sound an awful lot like a threat?" Ron said with a glare in Midnight's direction as she walked off, probably back to the Slytherin common room. I glanced to Hermione, who was looking rather shocked, as if she had realised something she didn't want to realise.
"All right Hermione, what was the plan?" I asked, trying to distract her. She looked to me and nodded.
"Right. The plan. We have to go to the library."
"The library. Of course it's the library." Ron sighed, before we started to follow Hermione. She walked quickly, almost urgently, towards the library. It was mostly members of Ravenclaw house there – still doing everything they could to try and find information on the Chamber of Secrets.
Hermione led us to a smaller section of the library, where most of the potions books are found.
"Wait here while I find it," she said sternly. We paused and waited, glancing to each other while she walked down the shelves, running her fingers along the book bindings as she scanned the titles. While we waited, Ron and I moved to a quieter part of the library, so we wouldn't be overheard. After a few minutes, Hermione hurried over to us again.
"Here it is, the Polyjuice Potion. Properly brewed, the Polyjuice Potion allows the drinker to transform himself temporarily into the physical form of another."
"You mean if Harry and I drink that stuff, we'll turn into Crabbe and Goyle?"
"Yes," Hermione nodded, but a frown was forming on her face as she looked down at the book.
"Wicked! Malfoy will tell us anything,"
"Exactly, but it's tricky, I've never seen a more complicated potion," she said nervously.
"Well, how long will it take to make?" I asked. She looked up at me.
"A month."
"A month?" I gasped in shock "Hermione, if Malfoy is the Heir of Slytherin he could attack half the muggle-borns in the school by then."
"I know," she frowned "but it's the only plan we've got."
