The Christmas holidays seemed to fly over for Hermione, Harry and Draco. The couple of weeks they got to spend at home, not putting on an act and hiding their friendship, seemed to whizz over. It felt as though they'd no sooner arrived home then they were back on the Hogwarts Express and heading back up to school for the rest of the year. Even though the holidays had seemed to pass exceptionally fast, the trio had still made the most of their time together. Apart from summer it was the only time they truly got to spend time together without having to hide, and they enjoyed every second of it.
As well as enjoying the freedom to spend the holidays together, the trio also made plans for when they returned to school. They knew from Lucius that Dumbledore had managed to keep what had happened to Penelope from becoming public knowledge. Of course the governors and the Ministry knew what was going on, but according to Lucius the headmaster had convinced the vast majority of them that it was a one off incident and he had everything under control. However, they were out to prove to everyone that Dumbledore wasn't in control of the situation, they were.
When they returned to school there was a noticeable change in the attitude of the staff. Before Christmas the staff had been visibly nervous and unsure of what was going on, but clearly over the holidays Dumbledore had convinced them that nothing further was going to happen. The extra patrols the staff had been doing before Christmas were still in place, but they could sense there was a lot less urgency about them. It was merely habit by this point and everyone could tell that none of the Professors expected to find anything untoward happening around the castle.
The trio waited until they'd been back at school for a week, before they decided to strike. Severus had given them a copy of the Professors patrolling schedule so they could pick the opportune moment to strike. After checking the schedules all three agreed that the Professor to target was Lockhart. It was be very easy for one of them to distract him, while the other two opened the chamber. And if Lockhart got into any trouble for not doing his patrols correctly, well none of them were overly fussed at that. They'd all agreed he was fairly useless, and they wouldn't be upset if he ended up in trouble.
"So who's doing what?" Harry asked. The trio were in their secret room in the library, making final arrangements, but they didn't have long as it was nearly dinnertime.
"Since we opened the chamber last time, I think it's only fair that Draco is involved this time," Hermione replied. "We just have to decide which of us will distract Lockhart."
"You could be better at that," Harry said. "Lockhart loves flattery, and I'm sure you could act all impressed like the other girls."
"He also likes fame, and you're perfect for that," Hermione shot back. "You could ask his advice on the perils of being famous."
"Yeah, but I'm not that famous really," Harry argued. "There was a lot of fuss last year when I started school, but I've kept out of the limelight. Besides, I've already made it clear to Lockhart I want no part in his search for fame and fortune."
"Fine, I'll do it," Hermione conceded with a dramatic sigh. "I'll distract Lockhart."
"What about getting away from Weasley?" Draco asked. "It's easy for me to slip away from my friends, but will you two be able to manage it?"
"I'll say I'm coming to the library," Hermione answered with an unconcerned shrug. She didn't have half as many problems getting away from Ron as the redhead was more concerned about sticking with Harry.
"I'll find some way of getting away," Harry vowed. "Last I saw of him, he was in the bathroom feeling queasy. If he's still feeling ill after dinner, it'll be easy to slip out for a while."
"You better think of a back-up plan just in case he's feeling better," Hermione said as she checked the time. "We have to get going. We'll meet up an hour after dinner in the Defence corridor. I'll then distract Lockhart while you two go and open the chamber."
With plans in place the trio snuck out of the secret room and exited the library. Draco left before Harry and Hermione, and headed straight down to the dungeons. The two Gryffindors headed up to Gryffindor Tower for Hermione to drop her bag off, before heading back down to the Great Hall along with their fellow housemates. Luckily for Harry, Ron was still feeling queasy and although he accompanied them to dinner, he ate very little.
"I think I'm heading to bed," Ron grumbled as they returned to Gryffindor Tower after dinner.
"Hey Harry, do you want to join us playing cards?" Dean called as Ron trudged up to bed.
"Yeah, I'll play for a bit, but I need to go and grab a book for Transfiguration later on," Harry said as he joined his friends beside the fire. "I'm sure I can slip out for ten minutes later on."
"Yeah, worry about it later," Seamus agreed as he dragged Neville into the game so they were a foursome.
Leaving the boys to play cards, Hermione headed up to her room for a while as she tried to think of a way to distract Lockhart. Searching through her homework, she hit on the perfect idea and got together everything she would need. Shortly before they were due to meet Draco, she grabbed her bag and headed down to the common room.
"I'm going to the library, if you want my help finding that book, Harry," Hermione called, finding Harry still ensconced in the card game.
"Yeah, that'll be great," Harry called back. "I'll just finish this hand and I'll be right with you."
"Okay, just catch me up," Hermione said as she exited the common room.
Hermione had made it halfway to the Defence corridor when Harry caught up with her. Together the pair made it to their destination without incident, and they quickly found Draco skulking in one of the deeper alcoves. Draco confirmed that Lockhart was still in his classroom, but his patrol was due to start any minute so they needed to get moving before they lost the chance to distract him.
"Here we go," Hermione said. "I'll distract Lockhart for as long as I can, but just in case it doesn't work, you two better get going."
Wishing her best friends luck, Hermione strode over to the Defence classroom and knocked on the door. Lockhart quickly answered the door, and beamed widely when he spotted Hermione.
"Miss Granger, how can I help you?"
"I was hoping I could interview you," Hermione replied. "We've got to write an assignment in History of Magic about a witch and wizard who have achieved great things in the wizarding world. After reading all your wonderful books, I decided you would be a wonderful candidate. I was just hoping you could give me further insight into all you've achieved."
From along the corridor, Harry and Draco exchanged eye rolls as Lockhart preened at Hermione's blatant flattery. Personally, the pair thought she was going slightly over the top, but the important thing was that Lockhart bought it. He quickly ushered Hermione into his classroom, and they clearly hear him say they would retire to his office where they could talk in more comfort.
"He really is pathetic," Draco snorted as the pair carefully began making their way to the girls' bathroom on the second floor. "He never once thought about the fact he's supposed to be doing patrols."
"I think a few of the Professors are slacking off to be fair," Harry replied. "Yesterday I spotted Flitwick and Sprout sitting chatting when Sprout was supposed to be patrolling. They're all convinced nothing more will happen."
"If only they knew," Draco said with a low chuckle.
Sharing a devious smirk with his best friend, Harry led the way to the bathroom they needed to enter. After checking there was no-one in sight, Harry pulled the incense burner from his bag and slid it into the bathroom. Without Hermione to check the coast was clear, the two boys had to be more cautious as they entered the bathroom, but they were quickly in place with the door charmed shut behind them and no sign of Myrtle.
"Let's get on with this," Harry said, making his way over to the appropriate sink. "Remember, don't look into its eyes."
"Don't worry, I'm not stupid," Draco replied. He would have loved to have gotten a good look at the basilisk they were releasing, but he knew the dangers far outweighed his desire to sneak a peek at the creature they were commanding. One wrong move, could result in his death or petrification, and Draco wasn't taking that risk.
Standing side by side, the two boys set about opening the chamber. Since they didn't know if Draco would actually be able to command the basilisk, they decided he would be the one to open the chamber. Taking a deep breath, Draco turned his thoughts to what Voldemort had taught him over the summer, and the words to open the chamber slithered naturally out of his mouth.
"Here she comes," Harry said, his excitement evident in his voice.
As the basilisk made its way out of the chamber, both Harry and Draco dropped their heads. With no risk of accidentally looking the basilisk in the eye, Harry gave the order for it go and have some more fun.
"Yes master," The basilisk hissed, before disappearing down a nearby toilet.
Even though Draco was able to talk Parseltongue because of the help Voldemort had given him, he wasn't attuned enough to hear the basilisk as she roamed the school. Harry, however, could keep more in tune with the basilisk and when it was nearby he could hear it as it slithered through the pipes looking for a target. However, when the basilisk travelled a bit further afield, Harry was just as much in the dark as Draco.
"She's coming back," Harry announced after almost fifteen minutes.
"Is it done?" Draco asked.
"I assume so," Harry replied with a shrug. "We'll find out in a minute."
Less than a minute later the basilisk returned and confirmed there was a new victim.
"Good job," Harry said with a grin as the basilisk headed back down into the chamber.
"That was so cool," Draco enthused when the chamber sealed itself back up with a few words from Harry. "I wonder who she got."
"I guess we'll have to wait and see," Harry said as they prepared to leave the bathroom.
After Draco had checked there was no-one outside in the corridor, Harry doused the incense and he and Draco left the bathroom at a sprint. Darting into a nearby alcove, they stopped to catch their breath as they discussed their next move. Hermione had told them to go straight back to the dorms when they'd finished, but they were wondering if they should save her from Lockhart. Her plan of distracting him had worked perfectly, but it was also a plan that could result in her struggling to get away from the self-publicising Defence Professor.
Deciding to rescue their friend, the pair made their way back to the Defence corridor. Opening the door to the classroom opposite Lockhart's, Draco and Harry pointed their wands at the chairs that were stacked up against the back wall. With identical grins, they cast a spell that sent the chair noisily tumbling to the floor, before turning and sprinting around the corner. Peeking around the corner, they spotted a flustered Lockhart emerging from his classroom. Hermione followed him, and both Harry and Draco spotted her eyes flicking in their direction.
"Look at the time Professor," Hermione said, pretending she'd only just noticed what time it was. "I better get back to Gryffindor Tower, curfew is in just over an hour."
"So it is," Lockhart remarked, paling as he checked the time and realised he'd missed most of his patrols.
"Bye Professor, and thanks for the help," Hermione called as she set off to where Harry and Draco were hiding.
Turning the corner, she dragged the pair into a nearby alcove. After thanking them for saving her from Lockhart, she checked everything had gone okay, before her and Harry parted ways with Draco and they all made their way back to their respective common rooms.
When Harry and Hermione re-entered Gryffindor Tower, they slipped back in with their friends easily enough and no-one questioned their supposed trip to the library. As they settled down for the evening, they wondered who the latest victim was and when they would hear about it.
As it turned out, they got the answers they were looking for sooner than they'd expected. Within ten minutes of them arriving back at Gryffindor Tower, they became aware of a group of first years stalking backwards and forwards between the door and the corner as they seemingly checked for something or someone.
"What's going on with that lot?" Dean asked with a frown. "They're making me dizzy, jumping up and down all the time."
Hermione shrugged in response, but her curiosity was well and truly piqued along with half of Gryffindor Tower. Percy Weasley was one of those people wondering what was going on, and he approached the first years to see what the problem was. It soon transpired that one of their friends, Colin Creevey, had gone down to the Black Lake to take some pictures and hadn't returned to Gryffindor Tower. A few of his friends had gone looking for him and found no sign of him, and since it was nearing curfew they were worried in case he was going to get into trouble for being out late.
"I'll go and see what I can do," Percy said to Colin's friends.
After leaving the common room, Percy was gone for nearly half an hour, and when he returned he had a sombre looking McGonagall with him. Instantly everyone in Gryffindor Tower knew something bad had happened, and the room quickly fell silent.
"I have to inform you that Colin Creevey is in the hospital wing," McGonagall said quietly. "He was found petrified. Everyone is to remain in Gryffindor Tower this evening, and Professor Dumbledore will address the entire school tomorrow."
After fielding a few questions, and reassuring a few worried people they were safe, McGonagall exited Gryffindor Tower. The instant she was gone, the gossip began and for the rest of the night all anyone could talk about was Colin and the fact the chamber had yet again been opened.
