Back again with the new chapter,

Literally so close to the end now, with only one more chapter i think, maybe two if your lucky. :)

Just a quick few things i would like to say first off, thank you to all that commented, it was lovely to read what you thought and even a few for the first story.

And seeing as said first story is finished i'm going to explain some of the questions...At least i think they were questions, on here instead.

First off. Hermione is as strong as Riddle who yes did have an exceptionally good amount of control over his magic and it may seem Hermione is far behind in the sense of living up to him. But she already has been reading half of the library since first year, and most of the restricted section as well. Not to mention she already has perfected most if not all the first year and some second year spells, she just chooses not to use them to avoid suspicion.

Also with the troll, the only reason she wasn't doing anything was she wanted to give Ron the chance to prove himself after having humiliated him in class, plus if she were to take on the troll herself she would have given just how good she is at magic anyway when she would have defeated it.

Plus you have to take into account that she is one half Bella as well. And that she has her gene's as well as his, which includes getting distracted a lot by certain friends of hers, Riddle didn't have those and so was more focused.

Hermione is and will be as strong as them both. It will just be at her pace, we have the rest of the years to go yet it will only get better from there.

Hope that cleared up some stuff for peeps.

Now that my little narration is over, on with the story.

I don't own nothing.

The door to the hospital wing burst open as Hermione barreled through. She stopped in the middle looking around wildly for the older witch but can't see her prompting her to shout at the top of her lungs

"AUNT POPPY!"

Seconds pass with still nothing and so she gets ready to shout again only for the door at the other end to open and a bewildered Madam Pomfrey emerges from her office.

At first the other woman looks to the frozen bodies of the petrified students a mix of confusion and slight cautious apprehension as she eyes the cold figures and frowns. She could have sworn she heard her name being called but the only ones capable of doing so were the kids in the beds.

But that was just the problem; they couldn't.

Hermione watches her aunt give the stiff forms a slightly quizzical look before rolling her eyes. Lifting her arm, she waves in so that the other woman could see

"Over here"

Poppy spies the movement from the corner and turns. Once she sees the slightly amused expression coming from the younger woman she scowl's, of course they couldn't have spoken she was clearly spending too much time around the medical potions if this was the result, before her scowl turned into one of more confusion and then anger.

"Hermione Grace McGonagall! Just what do you think you are doing outside? Didn't you hear your Mother? No one is to be out in the halls!"

She moves quickly over to where the younger girl is intent on sending her through the Floo to her Mothers chambers with the promise of a scolding only to stop when she shook her head, she eyed the other witch with regard for a few seconds as she held up her hand and pointed it behind her to the open door,

"No...Attack, two level's down. Blonde girl, all stiff and ahh"

She mimicks the look the other girl has as she lifts up her hands to show the older woman as Poppy gasped as she looked to the door, "There has been another attack?"

Hermione nods and lowers her hands. "Where…..Who?"

"It's the level below Lockhart's room ….And I don't actually know" She admittedly reveals not looking to her Aunt. Poppy rolls her eyes this time as she moves quickly to the little room, she has to tell Minerva as Hermione tails behind her and into what could be called as a mini chamber of the others woman's as they move to the fire which was smaller than most but only because of the size of the room as she throws in some powder and calls for the other woman.

A few seconds and a flurry of fire later, Minerva comes through as she dusts the soot off her clothes and gives the Medi witch a questioning look only to be pointed in the other direction as she follows her hand and comes to a stop on the reason she was called. Her eyes narrow as she sets her gaze on the younger girl.

"What are you doing out of your dorm?" Hermione looks up and is about to answer but is given no time to as Minerva's ire steadily starts to rise as she sweeps her way over to where she is standing.

"Don't you listen to a word I say? Didn't I distinctly instruct you and the rest of the house to stay inside?"

Opening her mouth she still is given no time to answer

"Why is it that you can never follow instruction? For once can you just do as you told!" Minerva shouts as she comes to a stop in front of her, Hermione backs a little away slightly as to not get the full force the other woman is stood giving her one of her coldest stares as she waits for her to respond, her mood worsening as she waits.

"Tell me!"

"Well if you'd shut up for a moment maybe I would!" Was the snappy response as Minerva's jaw drops. Hermione glares back at her as her own anger takes precedence over the fact that it was an emergency, she had come here to help and here she was getting yelled at.

"What did you say?" It was a whisper but the hard edge meant she was in big trouble as the older McGonagall towers over her, Hermione closes her eyes and takes a breath to calm herself. This wasn't what she came here for they were getting sorely off the issue and so pushing her own ire back for the moment she opens her eyes and lunges forward. Minerva's eyes widen as her hand is picked up and tugged making her stumble.

"Hermione!"

Her tone now is one of surprise replacing the angry one as Hermione tugs on her hand pulling from the smaller room and over to the door without giving any reply they get to the door with Minerva still protesting finally deciding to become the adult once more uses her strength that was temporarily overpowered to take back the conversation reaching out she grabs the younger girl by the shoulder and forces her to come to a stop.

Hermione feels herself being yanked back and smacks into the body behind her, she turns to glare at the other woman who now had enough and returns it.

"Hermione"

The was her name was said meant she was in no mood to play any games, not that it was and that she wanted answers as she gives the door another look before turning back.

"There has been another attack."

Minerva immediately reels back at the news and her jaw drops again in a un-lady like manner as she gazes stupidly at the younger girl, it takes another few minutes of blinking dumbly but finally she gets her senses back and with a small voice, reply's

"…Who"

Hermione shakes her head, "I don't know that's why I came here….She is on the first floor so come on." She picks up her hand again and starts pulling to the door Minerva allows herself to be dragged to the door before her overall senses come back and she stops once more.

Hermione lets out a small groan and looks back. "What now? I thought you took attacks seriously."

Ignoring the jab and silencing anymore with a glare she reaches out and pulls her back from in the middle of the doorway as she moves past her and looks to Poppy who is behind them. "Make sure she stays here until I return."

"What! No!" Both older women look to the younger one and see the outraged look on her face. Hermione give's her Mother a look that lets her know she is not happy but gets nothing in return as Minerva faces back to the hall outside as she pushes Hermione further into the waiting hands of the Medi witch.

"Just keep her here and do not let her go, I won't be long." Poppy nods as she gives her friend a worried look before the deputy head disappears and hurries off to the location of where Hermione has said leaving the two to look after her until she goes round the corner. Once she is gone Hermione flings herself from the older witches grasp and turns angrily to her.

"Why did you let her go off by herself like that!" She shouts looking up to her Aunt coldly as Poppy stares at her,

"Hermione do not shout. She told me to—"

"But that thing could still be out there…What if she runs into it"

Your Mother is capable of looking out for herself. She told me to make sure you were safe." Hermione snorts and looks back to the door, "Could have looked after myself just fine. I was there after all."

The last few words out of her mouth had Poppy coming to a halt. Her blood takes an icy turn and the chills sent up her back do nothing to reduce the damp mood as she stares shocked at what Hermione had just said…..Let slip?

"What did you say" Like Minerva her words come out a whisper as Hermione turns from the door to glance at her, she frowns on seeing the look her Aunt is giving her and tries to decipher it; was it revulsion….Fear? She couldn't tell and was about to ask when the door burst open again signalling Minerva's return.

The older woman unaware of the unwitting tension in the room moved further in levitating behind her the body of the blonde girl. Her face is solemn and grim as Poppy moves forward forgetting the fear she had seconds before as she moves to tend the new patient.

"Who is it, Minerva" She asks getting closer but not enough to see as the other witch lays the stiff girl on the nearest available bed.

"Penelope Clearwater,"

Poppy should have by now gotten used to seeing the motionless forms of the students but can't help but let out a little gasp on seeing the fifth year Ravenclaw so….Immobile. It saddened her to see the so helpless like this and got about pulling the cover back to she can tuck it around her shoulders,

At least she can take comfort in the fact that the Mandrake root would soon be ready for use.

Leaving her friend to take care of the newest casualty Minerva soon finds her attention turned back to the youngest witch in the room as she spies her daughter standing just at the foot of Dean's bed. She waited silently as she took in her fellow housemate's condition before turning away, she had seen enough to last her a lifetime and at the sound of her name being called she turned to see her Mother.

The older woman nodded her head in the direction of Poppy's room making her intention clear as she followed her in and waited as she shut the door behind her, Minerva rested against the wood in silence as she took in the smaller girls posture.

"Hermione"

She looked up straight away knowing it would be pointless to try to make an argument now something Minerva must have sensed as she gave her a small but grateful smile as she speaks.

"Why did you disobey me?"

Her voice wasn't loud or angry it was of slight disappointment and it rang around the room making her drop her head again. It was the first year fight all over, and she hated the feeling. Minerva moved to the chair before sinking down into it there was no way she were kneeling down before sliding a finger underneath her chin and gently tilted her head so their eyes met.

"Yes I'm disappointed. Yes I'm angry," She stopped and almost gave in when she saw the green eyes tear up slightly but she had to carry on she had to make Hermione see the danger that was out there.

"But foremost I was terrified, walking out there in those corridors and knowing that you to had been out there not minutes before and on your own it made me fearful to what might have happened."

"But nothing did." Minerva's brow rose slightly on hearing the reply. "Nothing happened,"

"And how could you have known that"

"Because it doesn't attack half-blood's just Muggleborns."

Closing her eyes at all that was wrong and ethically despicable about that statement she sighed. It was clear she wasn't getting it."

"And how would you have known that? Hmm. How would you have known that it wouldn't have attacked if you had come face to face with it. That the person setting this thing loose wouldn't have decided to try it on anyone not Muggleborn. What would you have done then?"

Hermione didn't reply she looked to the floor, much to her embarrassment. She didn't know what she would have done as she hadn't actually thought about the possibility. Minerva didn't let up though as she wanted to make it as painfully aware as possible and if that meant making her cry, then. She would just have to cry.

"What about me? Did you even stop to think what I would have felt if you had been attacked? What would I have done if I was the one to be told that you had been petrified, or worse, killed. Did you think about me when you ran off alone wandering the halls?"

Hermione didn't bother trying to hide her tears now as they slid down her smooth cheeks. She shook her head mutely wishing that she was someplace other than here images of her Mother crying over her frozen body unwanted, playing in her head as she closed her eyes to get rid of them.

"Staying inside like I said is not just to keep those who are the most vulnerable safe. It's also to keep you away from danger, how can I do that if you blatantly disregard my instructions. Miss Clearwater is the recent example of that, now I don't know why she was roaming the halls past the imposed curfew even with the fact she is a prefect. But what I do want to know is just why you decided to do the same?"

Silence washed over the pair in the little room as she waited for her to speak. Hermione for her part had gone into her thoughts about what she could say. The truth was, as it always was, the best choice. She could tell her Mother of what she had discovered, that the creature was in fact the king of snakes and that she had heard someone telling it what to do, who she still didn't know and the voice no matter how familiar, was still eluding her.

Or

She could go with her second choice and plan which had slowly been brewing in her mind ever since the older woman pushed her into the hands of the Nurse and told her to wait. It wasn't just the older woman who had been terrified when she found out she had wandered. Hermione was also worried and scared that something might happen to her on her journey to get the blonde haired girl.

She wanted to make sure nothing did happen and that was where her plan came into it. But in order for her to make sure her Mother was safe from the snake though she really didn't think it would attack seeing as it had only gone after those of Muggle heritage. It involved lying and keeping all she had learned to herself. She hated lying but in this case she could make that exception.

"I thought I knew something." She admitted slowly as Minerva looked at her, attention fully focused on her at hearing that.

"What do you mean?"

Hermione for her part played it rather well, so she thought. She had decided to go with her plan of keeping the information to herself and keeping her safe. It was clear that the teachers didn't have a clue on what to do and how to go about making sure no one else got hurt. But she had a theory and in order to act on that she needed Harry, and so told her a truth that wasn't quite the truth.

"After you had left I was talking to Harry and Ron. Harry seemed to have upset Seamus and he wanted someone to talk to and so we were sat near the fire and….It must have been something he said, because I remembered I had read something in a book."

And you didn't have it with you," She shook her head.

"No it only was in the library that I remembered." Minerva eyed her carefully.

"And you didn't think to send me a note. I could have come with you," She lowered her head again at the slight chastise as she nodded.

"I know I'm sorry, it's just that it came to me so suddenly and well, I according to Ron don't think when I'm in the 'zone' and so went to the one place I read on it."

In spite of the seriousness of the situation Minerva couldn't help but chuckle at Ron's accurate description of the younger girl before griping her shoulder a little tighter, all traces of humour gone as she looked her in the eye.

"Can you remember what it was you had read up on?" Hermione was silent as they gazed at each other. This was pretty much the only lead they had of the little girl could tell her what she thought she knew and if it turned out to be right. She might have just saved the school.

Keeping her resolve the little girl looked into the eyes of the one person she loved more than any other, the one who she knew was at the near limit as was every other teacher when it came to the creature that they didn't know was a creature. One word that was all it would take. One word, and she could leave it up to the teachers to deal with.

But she knew they couldn't.

Which was why she shook her head and lied to her face she knew that without the ability to speak to the Basilisk something they needed but didn't have they had little to no chance of making sure no one else got hurt.

But she could, she could talk to it and stop it from harming anyone else, her and Harry. She also wanted to see for herself just who it was that was responsible for all of this and hex them into next century.

"No I'm sorry I didn't get that far, I was going to but then I saw…."

"Penelope"

"Right, I saw her lying there and everything else just went from my mind." She finished looking at her, a brief pang of guilt hit her when Minerva looked disappointed but for an entirely different reason but smiled nonetheless and eventually pulled her in for a hug. One which she gladly gave.

"Never mind. I'm just glad you're safe." Pulling back Minerva held her arms as she looked at her.

"But don't disobey me again, understand?"

Hermione nodded. Satisfied that she understood never to go out alone again and in such dangerous times. Minerva rose from her seat and opened the door for them as they left the small room and back to where Poppy was writing on a small note board.

"Given the circumstances she's lucky," Raising her hand to temper the words about to come from her friend's mouth she carries on. "The roots will have matured within a matter of days and so she will only be like this for less than the week." She adds giving her a meaningful look which meant not to interrupt. The deputy sniffs a little at being chastised but doesn't say nothing as she talks a little more with the older woman before calling Hermione over from her spot by the office door.

"We're going back to the tower now." She tells her as she gets closer, Hermione nods before giving her Aunt a hug knowing no one can see them as Poppy mutters in her hair before thanking her for letting them know about the attack before she pushed her back to the waiting woman who is stood by the door before they leave and make their way down the corridor.

The trip was short and one in which Minerva was looking around every corner. Hermione knew there was no need seeing as she had a built-in snake detector and could tell if it was around, but let her do what it was she was doing until at last they came to a stop outside the portrait of the fat lady who was staring at the two and then to the younger girl who she had seen run out of the tower knowing it was not allowed as she gave her a self-righteous look.

"I told you it was wrong of you to leave"

Pulling a face she levels a glare at the painted woman. "Er…No you didn't."

Insulted at being called a liar, the fat lady drew herself up and was about to retort when single but sharp cough had her stopping as they both turned to look at the Gryffindor head who was not impressed at their beginnings of an argument.

"If you would, please." She asked the coloured picture that was still miffed at the cheek of the younger girl but nodded for the older woman as she opened the door she was just about to go in but a hand had her stopping and looking up.

"Now once you go in I do not want you coming back out."

Nodding she turned and was about to go but the hand on her arm didn't let up, she looked back to see the neutral expression take a slightly sterner turn as she addressed the younger girl.

"I mean it Hermione."

"I know I got it."

"Promise me than" She eyed her carefully trying to gouge her features, ever since last year and the whole stone debacle she had to make sure nothing like it happened again and so she wasn't taking any chances that they might run off and find more trouble.

"….I promise." The response was flat and unenthusiastic but at least it was a promise to which she was happy with. Nodding she let go of her arm and watched as she vanished through the door before waiting a few more minutes making sure no one else tried to sneak out before she turned and left.

Not bothering with anyone as she knew Ron and Harry to be out themselves. She made straight for the bed room ignoring the stares she got before shutting the door, only to find Pavarti. The other girl looked up from her spot on the bed to find the curly-haired girl before emitting some sort of strangled noise. Hermione eyed her wearily before moving to her bed where Crook's still occupied sleeping, as she passed.

The other Gryffindor smiled at her uneasily from what she could see as very slowly, she made to start a conversation.

"Hello Hermione."

Giving her the briefest gaze she nodded her acknowledgement before taking up the book she had taken from her house just before the start of school 'the fountain of fair fortune' was a book that she had never got to finish and so was looking to getting to the end before the year was out not saying anymore she lay on her bed and opened to the page she was at before keeping her gaze firmly on the book pointedly ignoring the other girl who had, taken the opportunity to leave the room.

Sometime later when she had finished the chapter she was nudged making her grasp on the book slip forcing her to look up and into the amber eyes of one unhappy kneazle. The cat, who had waited patiently for her return so he could berate her for the way she treated him on leaving so suddenly was glaring at her as she stared back perplexed as to why she was getting the in his opinion, well deserved evils.

Eventually they reached a stalemate when she shook her head not realizing but figured he was hungry as she opened her lower cupboard for his food as she poured it out into his bowl and mixed it with biscuits. She poured in his milk as he dropped to the floor and made his way over to inspect the offerings. On first glance it seemed just like any other food and he made it known by giving her a look of derision and meowing haughtily.

She saw his action and rolled her eyes, knowing what else it was he wanted she reached into her drawer and pulled out his special bag of catnip, bending she placed a few pieces into his dish which he pounced on before promptly set about devouring earning another eye roll.

Deciding to see if the boys were back she put the stuff away and with a muttering of how cats were spoiled she left him to his food seemingly having been forgiven for earlier misgivings on his cat person as she made her way down the stairs. On coming to the bottom she spots the very boys….Or rather, boy as she makes her way over to find Harry sitting in front of the fire. She moves to sit next to him but is pulled down by the bot when he sees her.

"Thank god your back." He says almost immediately earning a narrowed eyed look. She gives him a once over, his eyes were wide and his clothes dirty and disheveled, crinkling her nose she look back to his face.

"Where the hell have you been?"

He dives head first into all that he and Ron on going to Hagrid's had discovered, he tells her about him being taken to Azkaban. He stops at her slight gasp and makes a mental note to ask what that was before moving on. He tells her about the spiders and the massive one called Aragog. How that he was the one riddle tried to get rid of and pass as the monster, before the unfortunate episode of almost being eaten by the other smaller but still larger than normal spiders.

"But don't you see" He says excitedly when he finished his tale. "This means that the spider wasn't the Monster, and that Hagrid is innocent—"

He stops at seeing her smirk that crept up and instantly knew something was up, he only ever saw that when she was proven right and she was being smug about it. "What"

She gave him a look worthy of being a Slytherin before gleefully replying. "So…Hagrid is innocent?"

"…Yeah"

"And you no longer think he is the heir of Slytherin?" He gave her a weird look but shook his head.

"No." She nodded her head before looking away for a second.

"And so….One might even say that perhaps Riddle….May have set him up?" She added in casually as Harry gapes at her before going off into his rant.

"Set him up? Of course he did, Hermione. The guy is a Slytherin he's a creep and he should—"

He stopped on seeing her smug grin widen that it almost cracks as he falls silent. It's minutes later before he comes to the conclusion and he drops his head to his chest already knowing the reason of her grin.

"But of course you already knew all this didn't you." It wasn't a question and his tone didn't offer as such. It was more of a weary realization as she nodded still grinning.

"My have mentioned it once before."

He sneers at her before getting back to the task at hand. "But if that leaves the spider accounted for don't you see that the Monster is something else. Something they're scared off but won't mention."

"It's a Basilisk."

If Harry, on looking back over the course of his lifetime was asked what his most stupidest moments were. He could assuredly say that right there sitting next to Hermione was one of his most biggest. Staring at his best friend who was looking back her face expressionless, like she had just given him some life changing news and was giving him time to think it over, he had to blink several times all stupidly before he could even get his mouth to make a word.

"….What?"

He must have channeled Ron that day.

"The Monster in the chamber, it's a Basilisk." Again he could do naught but stare stupidly she sees this and sighs but delves into what she had learnt whilst in the library.

"So that's why you ran out of here like a Nimbus was chasing you." She hummed her agreement silently not really getting the metaphor but pulls the paper she had in her pocket out and give's it to him.

'Of the many fearsome beasts and monsters that roam our land, there is none more curious or more deadly than the Basilisk, known also as the King of Serpents. This snake, which may reach gigantic size, and live many hundreds of years, is born from a chicken's egg, hatched beneath a toad. Its methods of killing are most wondrous, for aside from its deadly and venomous fangs, the Basilisk has a murderous stare, and all who are fixed with the beam of its eye shall suffer instant death. Spiders flee before the Basilisk, for it is their mortal enemy, and the Basilisk flees only from the crowing of the rooster, which is fatal to it.'

Looking up he meets Hermione's eyes who merely nods as he comes to the conclusion of what she reached only hours before. Closing his eyes he drops his head on the back of the sofa and lets out a small groan.

"…How did I not see this before?" She shrugs

"Don't know. I only figured it out with Crookshanks help." Cracking open an eye he peers in her direction to which she shrugs again.

"He helps me when I'm stressed, ok"

Holding up his hand's he doesn't say anything more as the revelation of the news she had dropped in his hand was still hitting him. It wasn't until he heard her giggle that he looks again.

"What"

She bits her lip and give him a small look before shaking her head. "Just think…..This beast. Has been terrorizing students and no one could find it for nigh on fifty years and no one, not even Dumbledore could work out what it was and all along the answer has literally been sitting in the library"

She smiles at him as his own smile creeps over and he joins in her laugh. The two gaining the attention of the others due to their outburst. They settle down before she looks at him again.

"By the way….Where's Ron."

At remembering the red-head that had passed out once they had gotten out of the forest by means of his dad's old car coming to their rescue. He had to take him to the hospital wing, he winced feeling the burn in his muscles as he dragged the other boy along in the end and not his finest hour, he played a timeless old game. One that was sure to annoy even the most patient of saints.

He dropped his limp body at the door knocked and legged it back to the tower.

"Yeah….He wasn't feeling to good, coming back from the spiders den he kinda felt sick so I took him to the hospital wing." That was all he said and she in turn merely gave a nod. She didn't feel like indulging about her own trip there and so they got back to discussing the thing that could very well save the school.

"We have to tell someone." He said once they finished and jumped up she watched as he got to this feet and pulled her up after him. "Harry what are you doing we can't go back out there"

He rolled his eyes at her stickler for rule breaking. But in reality she just didn't want to get yelled at as he pulled her to the door, she remembered the picture and how she was sure to tell her Mother she had gone out again and so shook her head.

"Wait Harry, wait. If we are going out than at least take your cloak." He paused at that taking in her advice and nodded, letting go of her hand and racing back to his dorm as she let out a small sigh of relief he came back seconds later clutching the silver cloak and grinning as they made their way to the door, silently, in case anyone was looking but they needn't have bothered as none was paying attention to the two sneaking out.

It was than she realized that most likely all Gryffindor's really were just ignorant, idiots as he threw the cloak over them and crept out the door and making their way down the steps with the fat lady calling out and eyeing the empty space as they ignored her and proceeded to finish the mystery of the Heir once and for all.

Hope everyone liked, only one more to go and than and epilogue of sorts...For this one at least.