The next morning, Aly went in search of Hermione. It was rumored that she was at the scene when Mrs. Norris was discovered petrified. Aly jumped out of bed early in the morning. The ground looked soft and muddy. It was mid October. Aly grabbed her books, put on her clothes and went downstairs to breakfast. She walked into the Great Hall and noticed all the teachers in deep conversation. They all looked serious. Aly saw Hermione sitting, eating eggs and toast.

"Hermione!" Aly called. Hermione looked up and smiled at her.

"Morning," Hermione said stifling a yawn. "I'm dead tired."

"Yeah. I heard about last night."

"You did?" Hermione asked sharply.

"Yeah," Aly said slowly, watching her expression. "Everyone said Norris was petrified, and something about the Chamber of Secrets...?" Aly said, leaving the sentence open.

"Yeah. Harry said he heard voices about something wanting to kill, something about blood, and then we discovered Norris. She was Petrified, all right. That writing on the wall was pure, true, blood." Aly shivered.

"The teachers are taking it really seriously," Aly noted.

"Yeah. If it was a prank, it's not funny. I plan to ask Professor McGonagall about it today in Transfiguration," Hermione answered. Aly continued eating her breakfast, lost in thoughts.

"Hey, Aly!" Char called after Aly left the Great Hall. He caught up with her from behind. "I haven't seen you in a while." He smiled at her as he caught up.

"Yeah. We really haven't been around together, have we?" Aly answered as they continued to Charms.

"Crazy, what's been going on, though. What with that writing and all," Char said seriously.

"Yeah. Harry was accused of petrifying Filch's cat," Aly answered with a sigh. "You don't know anything about this 'Chamber of Secrets', do you?" she asked.

"Well, I read about it in a book. That stupid Professor Binns, he made us read it."

"And..."

He stopped walking. Char looked around. "Story goes that the four founders of Hogwarts started this all. Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Helga Hufflepuff. Everything was great, everyone was buddy-buddy. Then Slytherin wanted pure-bloods to attend Hogwarts only.

"Everyone else wasn't happy about that at all. Slytherin left the school, sealing a chamber with a monster, saying only the heir could unleash it. It lives to kill," Char said in a chilling voice.

"What monster?" Aly dared to ask. Char smiled darkly.

"Basilisk. Greatest of all serpents. Hope you have your will written Aly, because one bite," Char said pretending to bite her neck, "And you're as good as gone." Aly gulped. He leaned away and chuckled darkly and ran a finger on her skin.

"You've got goosebumps? Wow, I did good," Char said with a light smile.

"Um...yeah. That was very chilling. I liked how you added the dark smile. That helps," Aly said sarcastically. Char chuckled.

"Hey! You two lookin' a bit too close for comfort!" Aly looked behind her and saw Nicholas strutting down the hallway. He smirked at her as he walked past her. Aly smirked and took out her wand.

"Diffindo", she muttered. Nicholas' bag split in half, dropping books, parchment and ink. He gasped and looked behind him at Aly, who was waving her wand with a grin. She grabbed Char's arm and they continued walking.

"Yeah. It's all a myth. At least, I thought it was, until now," Char shrugged. They had arrived at Charms.

"Until now?"

"Well, the Chamber of Secrets, it's been opened, hasn't it?"