The Hunt and Fudges Visit

The Following morning Dumbledore announced the dance and explained exactly what it was about and that all students were recommended to attend. He told them that no students would be allowed in the school during the dance well the teacher and staff placed additional protections on the school.

Following lunch the students went to the quidditch pitch to find that there was a buffet set up, and muggle style DJ system. It only took a few minutes for the dance to get under way. Well the students had fun, Dani sat with the head boy and girl at the door.

"Dani, I know that when they handed out the two way mirrors, you got one too, why?"

"Well the headmaster doesn't want this spread a round, but you remember that the sorting hat said that I was a headmasters apprentice?" The two nodded, and she continued "it means that, to protect the school, the founders made it so only the school could choose the next headmaster."

"Basically, when I came onto the grounds for the first time the school knew that I was supposed to be a future headmaster. Since my parents were teachers the school, and I was younger then normal, the school couldn't do anything yet so it waited until my sorting to announce it. I get a lot of benefits like prefect status, but that's offset by additional training."

Meanwhile, the teachers were finishing there first search areas, and met to get second assignments. This meant that the houses were clear and the dungeons were clear. Now they would split up to take the individual floors.

McGonagall was searching the girls bath room on the 1st floor (2nd for our American readers) she cast it on all four walls and was about to leave when she noticed a snake carved into the the faucet. Curious, she stopped and cast the detection spell. It came back positive to a password enchantment.

She immediately pulled out her mirror and summoned the headmaster and Dani.

Dumbledore said that he would be there in a moment and not to announce to the other teachers encase there were other entrances, Dani echoed similar statements.

When the two arrived, Dani tried different passwords in parseltongue finally hitting it when she said "open up you stupid thing." After successfully closing the chamber, McGonagall and Flitwick continued on the their way while Dumbledore put a password charm on the door as well as few ward and detection charms. Dani returned to the front door.

Latter that evening the teachers met in Dumbledore's office to discussed what was found. The bathroom entrance was the only one found so little was needed. The students had been told that the room was off limits but not the why. Naturally the discussion turned to what could be in the chamber.

"Yes, at least we are limited in what we are looking for, I mean, how many creatures can petrify people"

"It could be a couple dozen creatures" Hagrid stated simply.

"I think we should look at uncommon creatures"

"That's a given"

"We probably should look for a snake" stated Dani.

"What makes you think it is a snake?" Snape sneered.

"Well, a parseltongue could communicate with it. Parseltongue is an inherited ability and rare, so an order to a snake could control it. Plus Slytherin was known for snakes and it's the house mascot, so it would fit."

"It would be a logical conclusion, Mike, Hagrid, any ideas?"

"Nothing that I can think of at the moment" Mike Kettleburn stated.

"Me neither professor" stated Hagrid, "but I'll look."

"Well then, there is nothing more we can do for the moment. Now I would like Dani to remain but the rest need to leave for the minister is here. Come in Cornelius."

The teachers got up and started leaving while Fudge came in. While waiting for the other to leave, he noticed Dani. "What the $ is a student doing in a teachers meeting?"

"Miss Potter is a headmasters apprentice, so she sits in on many meeting with me. I have found that she is very wise for her age, and so she is good for advice. So what can I do for you today minister?"

"Whatever, I received word that the chamber of secrets had been opened, I was wondering when you were going to tell me?"

"I wanted to see if it were true before starting a panic."

"So"

"We are not certain yet, but the good new is that, with Miss Potters help, we were able to locate the chamber. Now we just need to find out whats in it and it will be over with."

"How pry tell did she do that" sneered Fudge.

"She came up this the idea that rather then blood magic and such, which are quite powerful and noticeable, that a password charm set to require the password to be spoken in parseltongue. It was simple and effective."

"So great, to destroy this thing we have to find a dark wizard."

"Not necessarily, Miss Potter, as a sub-ability to another, has that ability."

"You mean to tell that she's a dark wizard."

Dani snorted and spoke up "Mr Fudge, I have the ability to read, write and speak any language, human or other wise. I most certainly am not a dark wizard."

Fudge ignored her and turned back to talk to Dumbledore. Dani, pissed off, decided to send a wordless and wandless stinging hex at the ministers rear. A lot of screaming and a few innocent smiles later, fudge left.