The tears wouldn't come.

Harry knew they should. He knew that he should be sniffing and sobbing and trembling with sadness and despair. He knew that he should be on his knees, just as Ron and Hermione were, clutching Ginny's cold, lifeless hands and crying at the sight of her petrified form. At the very least he should be pacing like Neville, out of his mind with worry at the thought of Luna going off alone to try and confront whoever was forcing the Beast to commit these attacks.

But Harry felt none of this. He felt no frustration or fear or sadness. He didn't even feel rage or anger. The only thing in his heart was desire... desire to put an end to whoever dared attack his friends and threaten the school that had given him a second chance at life. It was as if the longing for vengeance was a burning flame that had gutted his heart and scorched away all other emotions, leaving only blackened walls in its wake.

Dobby had brought them all to where Hermione was and they had found that she hadn't been exaggerating; there lay Ginny, petrified next to an open window; it was the same one Luna had leapt out of in her pursuit of the Beast. Hagrid had gone to fetch some help but Harry was in no mood to wait for a professor that would tell him to go back to his dorm while they once again did nothing. Luna was in grave danger and Ginny had already paid the price of the professors' inability to do anything. It was his turn to try.

"Ron, stay with Ginny," Harry said sternly.

"Hell no," Ron exclaimed, scrubbing at his eyes. "I'm going-"

"Ron, she needs you right now," Harry said gently yet firmly. The boy looked down at her, his jaw clenched and tears still running down his cheeks. His mind went to all the times he'd picked on her or told her to leave him alone when all she wanted to do was play. He remembered how much he'd protested her being included in their little group but Harry and Neville and Hermione had been set upon it and Ron had begrudgingly allowed his 'bratty little sister' to tag along with him and his friends. Each memory was a knife in his stomach and at that moment he wanted nothing more than for her to sit up and call him names or make fun of Magikarp.

Anything was better than her lying there, looking more like a corpse than a person.

"Harry," Ron hiccupped. "You... you can't face the Beast... it'll... it'll..."

Harry took out Emolga's Pokéball and placed it in Ron's hand. "I told you we'd trade one day... this is my promise that I am going to come back. You aren't getting Emolga that easily." Harry flashed a teasing smile at his friend. "Don't get any idea though."

Ron quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out a ball. "Take Cubchoo with you... he might be some help." Harry looked ready to refuse but Ron waved him off. "If I can't help you at least Cubchoo can."

Harry nodded, accepting the gift. "I'll bring him right back." Harry turned towards Hermione and Neville, locking eyes with one then the other. "Neither of you need to come if you don't want. This is between me and the Beast."

Hermione shook her head. "Like I keep telling you, I'm sticking around to keep you out of trouble."

Neville was more determined. Just like when they'd battled Cho, Neville's shyness faded and in its place was a glimpse of the great man he'd grow up to be. "The Potters and the Longbottoms have always stood together. I don't know what all this "Heir of Slytherin" thing you have going on means, but I wouldn't care if you were the Heir of Billy the Poliwhirl-Licker." Neville reached out and clasped Harry's hand in his own. "To hell and back, Harry."

"To hell and back," he echoed. Harry turned one last time towards Ron. "Tell the professors where we've gone. I'm counting on them rescuing us if we get in over our heads." Ron merely nodded and Harry looked skyward. "We're ready!"

The Unown blinked into appearance and began to swirl around the children before they pulled away. Harry, Neville and Hermione took off in a run, leaving Ron sitting on the cold tile, hugging his little sister's frozen form.

~MC~MC~MC~

"Where it all started," Hermione mumbled as they came upon the courtyard. It was the same one that Mrs. Norris had been found in many months ago. The Unown had first contacted Harry there and now they led him to the very stone wall they'd once attached themselves to in order to deliver their first warning. "Of course it would be out here... all the attacks have happened outdoors."

"What about Ginny?" Neville asked.

"She was looking outside," Hermione reminded him. "I wonder if the Beast meant to get her or if it was just bad luck."

"Whatever the case, we need to get through this wall," Harry said, running his hands along the stone. "Check to see if you can find a latch or something... maybe a loose brick that can be pushed it." Harry's friends joined him in feeling the wall, seeking out the hidden trigger that would open the passageway.

After a few minutes Neville sighed in disappointment. "Nothing," he muttered.

"There must be a way in," Harry grunted, pressing his palms against the wall and pushing with all his might. No matter what he did he could not get the stone to budge an inch. "We must be missing something!"

"You are." The three friends turned, hands instantly going for their Pokeballs. The newest arrival stepped forward, his hands out to show he meant them no harm. "The Chamber can only be opened by speaking the key phrase: We Come to Honor Salazar!"

The children turned away from the intruder to watch as the stone wall began to retract, solid stone split upon hidden seams to reveal a deep tunnel the height and width of a school bus looming before them. The air was stale but not pungent and while the walls looked old and dust covered the floor, which at one time might have been cut to have steep steps, was now polished smooth.

"How... how did you know that, Lockhart?" Harry demanded, whipping around and pulling out a Pokéball. Hermione instantly grasped his wrist and, to his surprise, was able to squeeze hard enough to make him drop the ball. She reached over and snagged Eevee's ball, as well as Ludwig and Togepi's before Harry could think of going for them. "Hermione!"

"Harry James Potter!" Hermione complained, hands on her hips, a look of utter disgust on her face. "How dare you attack a professor!"

"How dare you take my Pokeballs without asking," Harry snapped, glaring daggers at his friend.

Hermione moved to stand next to Lockhart, handing him Harry's Pokeballs. "You were going to attack Prof. Lockhart! I asked him-"

"You told him about this?" Harry thundered.

"-to help us out. He has gone after legendary Pokémon before and is the most qualified to help us capture the Beast!" Hermione shook her head sadly. "I don't know why you insist on holding onto your misguided hatred for him, but I won't stand by and let your rage compromise our only hope!"

"Well said, Miss Granger, well said."

It was a good thing for Hermione that Harry wasn't the one commanding the Beast to attack students; otherwise she would have found herself in the infirmary. The girl actually took a step back, startled by the anger that flashed in Harry's eyes. Hermione was a good friend but everyone in their little circle agreed that her stubborn devotion to those in authority was annoying to the highest levels. None of them were sure what it was that made Hermione like that, but when it came to even the worst of authority figures, she tended to weigh towards trusting them than distrusting. If she wasn't blinding following them then she was frightened of them. While Ron and Harry and even shy Neville grumbled about Draco and his cruel taunts and jeers, Hermione remained for the most part quiet; it wasn't Draco that held her tongue but his father. He had power and wealth and silky threats against Hermione had left her unable to even consider speaking out against the man or any in his family. The same was true of Snape and, it many of the Gryffindors' amusement, Finch.

But the worst was Gilderoy Lockhart. In him Hermione found a wonderful blend of authority figure to idolize and celebrity to swoon over. Even as most of the school had come to realize that the man was a wrong fit for the professor of Pokémon Battles Hermione remained steadfast. She at times acted like a religious zealot in a sea of nonbelievers, trying her hardest to get her friends and fellow Gryffindors to see just how wonderful he was. She became angry when they refused to listen and would not 'put away their anger and jealous and see how smart he was'.

Harry and, to a lesser extent, Neville both believed Lockhart to be a fraud. Ron enjoyed the man's classes but had no desire to read his books. All the space of Ginny's Hero-Worship Shelf was reserved for Lily Potter and there was no way for the professor to compete with her. The one time Hermione had asked Luna about Lockhart the blonde had spent 20 minutes explaining why Keith David was nothing like Julius Little. What that had to do with Lockhart even Luna couldn't say.

Harry grit his teeth and balled his hands into fists. Staring at Hermione and seeing the way she positioned herself next to Lockhart made his blood boil. Luna was in danger, Ginny had been petrified, and Hermione had once more lost track of the narrative and was focusing only on the puffed up author.

Neville stared at Lockhart for a moment, considering the man. He too was frustrated that Hermione refused to listen and was siding with Lockhart but unlike Harry he was able to compartmentalize his turbulent emotions. "When did you find out the password?"

"What was that?" Lockhart asked, tearing his eyes away from the glowering Harry.

"The password," Neville repeated. "You knew how the open the entrance... that is really impressive. We'd have spent hours here trying to figure out a way through!"

Lockhart was tickled pink that he was receiving a compliment. Of course, he always looked that way and took even the smallest compliment in like a dying man in the desert guzzled down water. "Oh, it was nothing too hard. After the first attack my Miss Edgecombe I did some research in the library and found a reference to Helga Hufflepuff disappearing in this very courtyard after uttering those words. I tried them myself and was quite pleased to find the entrance."

"You... you've been in the Chamber?" Hermione asked in surprise, glancing back at the professor.

Lockhart nodded happily. "Of course! Took a great many pictures too. Luckily the Beast was away every time I ventured in but from what I was able to gather I'll be able to make a logical guess about what it is. Really quite obvious, when you think about the old legends."

"You son of a bitch," Harry growled. "You've known for months where the Chamber was and never told anyone?"

Lockhart laughed. "Of course! Needed to wait for the right moment to make the grand reveal!"

Hermione stared at her favorite professor and began to back away in growing horror. "No... no, that can't be..." She looked up at Lockhart, her eyes begging him to reveal that this was all a joke and that at any moment he would give them the real answer to how he'd known the password. But Lockhart merely snapped his fingers and Hermione reached up, grimacing in pain. Harry and Neville quickly joined her, feeling around their necks even as a gentle numbness began to seep into their limbs. "What... what did you..." Hermione mumbled, her tongue feeling thick and fat in her mouth. Her fingers clumsily grasped a small poisoned barb that had been shot into her neck, staring at it in confusion.

"I really didn't want to do that," Lockhart admitted. "I hate hurting my fans. The one consolation is that you won't be remembering any of this." From the shadows a male Nidoran trotted over. At least, it looked like a Nidoran. Every step it took, however, wiped away the illusion and revealed to the students just what had attacked them: a Ditto. "I'd say we have a few minutes before I have to erase everything. Ditto can perform that Poison Barb attack but his paralysis poison is rather weak; still working on that."

Suddenly it all made sense to Harry. Remus had said that all of Lockhart's photos of legendary Pokémon were authenticated and showed no signs of tampering. No one had ever considered that the photo wasn't tampered... the moment in time it was capturing was. The braggart would go out, have his Ditto turn into one of the legendaries, snap a few quick photos, then create a story about how he had confronted it. Even the little Legendary he'd shown in class (Harry still didn't know if it was a Reshiram or a Zekrom) had been Ditto in disguise.

"I must say, Miss Granger, I am disappointed. I was hoping this time you'd finally see my side of things."

"This... time?" Hermione managed to get out, tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. It looked as if she had just been told that her Ralts had died and there was no Tooth Fairy and chocolate had been outlawed.

Lockhart slung his pack off his shoulder and began to happily lay out bricks of C4. He kept smiling, even as the children stared in horror at the explosives the professor was laying out. "Of course! You honestly believe this is the first time you figured out the truth?" He shook his head and walked back the children, setting about his task of securing the blocks of explosives to the doorway. "You've been quite helpful as of late, Miss Granger. At first I sent you on a few odd tasks along with a few other students. Nothing sullied." He waved off the wave of fear and loathing that entered the children's eyes. "Please. Give me some credit. No, I had you run and do my mail, sign some autographs for me... by Halloween I got a bit bolder and had you and a few Ravenclaws grading tests for me. I always made sure to wipe out your memories when you realized just what I was doing, of course. Wouldn't do for old White Beard to realize that I was collecting a paycheck white doing no work."

Lockhart examined the door for a moment before deciding that there was no such thing as 'no much C4' and began the task of wiring up the explosives. "The Battle Club was my attempt to find students that could help me out. Then the Edgecombe girl got petrified and I saw an opportunity: the Beast of Slytherin and the Chamber of the Unown! No need for a punny title with that one... 'Gilderoy Lockhart and the Chamber of the Unown'!" He rubbed his chin. "Hmmm… no, not quite good enough. Perhaps 'Chamber of Secrets'... that has a better ring to it." The professor shrugged. "That's when I began to ask you to stay after class, my dear. You were oh so eager to help your hero." Lockhart reached over and pinched Hermione's cheek. "While I do play the role of the foppish professor who can barely manage his class quite well, I'm not going to claim I am some brilliant mastermind. Even I have my limits and finding the Chamber proved too much for me.

"But not for you." Lockhart shrugged his shoulders, giving Hermione, Harry and Neville a 'well, what are ya gonna do?' look. "It took you only a few days to find out where the entrance was... of course, I couldn't let you remember, as that would ruin everything. Don't get me wrong, I think it would have made for a wonderful plot! 'Gilderoy Lockhart and his assistant, the brilliant Hermione Granger, working together to discover the Chamber of Secrets!'. The public gobbles up the 'adopted father figure' trope." The professor shook his head and began to back away from the wired doorway. "But sadly you had, and still do have, your slavish devotion to right and wrong."

"Yeah, that's our Hermione," Harry snarked. "She's really-CUBCHOO!" He'd been fighting all during Lockhart's monologue to grabbed the borrowed Pokéball and finally managed to get his fingers wrapped around it. Lockhart stepped back and Ditto's smile fell as the Pokéball flew through the air.

"Karp karp!"

Harry's head dropped as he saw Ron's Magikarp flopping about where Cubchoo should have been.

"We're boned," Neville muttered.

"Well... that's different." Lockhart casually pulled out a Pokéball and tossed it out. Harry and his friends stared at the Hypno that appeared, the trunked-Pokémon merely looking back with his beady little eyes. "But that little act only proves that I need to get a move on. I've fallen into the old 'villainous monologue' trope… I do see WHY they monologue, it is ever so much fun, but now it is time to get the show on the road, as it were."

"Don't look at the pendant!" Hermione shouted, slamming her eyes shut. "Don't open your eyes!"

"Oh, not this," Lockhart complained. "You've done this the last three times and each and every time you give in. Why fight it? This will be so much better. The chamber is destroyed, the Beast is trapped, everyone wins."

"Not the students that were petrified!" Harry snapped. "The Beast is the only one that can awaken them."

"Then they were doomed even if I'd never shown up," Lockhart stated, pulling the triggering device out. "I have no desire to fight a losing battle. To try and fight the Beast in its own liar is foolishness... now, just open your eyes and try to enjoy it as Hypno rips your cares-"

"IVY!"

Harry's eyes snapped open just as Flora charged into the courtyard, her vines wrapping around Hypno's waist and tossing him against a wall. Lockhart twisted only to end up with a face full of lashing vines for his trouble. Hermione, Neville and Harry forced themselves to move, the effects of the poison already wearing off. Harry recalled Magikarp while Hermione sent out Ralts in hopes of retrieving his Pokeballs from Lockhart.

"I was wondering where she went," Harry said dryly, trying to work his muscles to loosen them up.

"Harry, I'm sorry-" Hermione began.

" I know but we have to wait till later to discuss all of this," Harry snapped, diving to his right. Hypno had returned to the fight and was now casting purple beams of energy from his pendant. The children didn't know what they did but they were in no mood to try and find out. Ditto had also joined the frey, transforming into a Registeel. The behemoth tried to grab the students but Harry and his friends were nimble enough to escape his clutches. Lockhart was shouting out commands rapidly but it became apparent to the Gryffindors that he didn't have a strategy or plan. Lockhart was taking the approach of throwing everything at a wall and seeing what would stick.

Neville had been backed into the Chamber's entrance when Hypno got a clear bead on the boy. Time seemed to slow as the purple energy shot from the pendent and raced towards the boy.

"RALTS!"

The little green and white Pokemon dove in front of the blast, her focal mirror still clutched in her hands. The attack bounced off its polished surface and raced back across the courtyard, striking Lockhart in the face. The professor/writer swatted his hands about like he was trying to chase away a bee, only to stop and blink in confusion.

"What... what's going on?" he mumbled, looking dumbly at the trigger still clutched in his hand. "What does this-"

"NEVILLE!" Harry screamed, rushing forward and tackling his friend just as Lockhart pressed the trigger button. Harry and Neville tumbled through the darkness, the explosion shooting through the tunnel and making Harry feel as if his head was going to explode. Harry remembered a flash of bright light then darkness overtaking him as the entire tunnel trembled all around them. The floor was quite steep once one made it through the doorway and Harry and Neville fell down deeper into the darkness, rocks biting into their tender skin and leaving them bruised and battered when they finally came to a stop.

Harry didn't know how long he laid there. His ears were ringing something fierce and it felt like a Slowbro was playing Belly Drum inside his skull. His shoulder ached and he could feel his bangs sticking to his forehead. When he brought his hand up to touch his throbbing face he cringed in pain and pulled his hand away, feeling the warm bloody sticking to the grooves in his fingertips. His chest hurt and running his blood-stained hand along his side confirmed that he'd cracked at least one rib, if he hadn't broken it outright.

Neville moaned. The boy was lying on his back, his leg twisted at an odd angle. He was breathing funny and Harry quickly realized that Neville's nose had been broken and the boy was choking on the blood that was now gushing down his throat. Forcing himself to stand, Harry made his way over to Neville, grimacing as his left arm hung limp and useless at his side. Harry let out a strangled cry of pain as he used his good arm to roll Neville onto his side, the boy gagging as Harry did so. A few good smacks on his back had Neville vomiting up the blood; as long as he was breathing Harry was happy. Reaching down, Harry found that Neville had also gotten a nasty knot the size of a Mankey's fist on the back of his head, explaining why the boy was down and out.

Harry thanked his lucky stars that Remus had bought him a new pair of glasses before the beginning of his second year. Made from special glass, the frames were notoriously difficult to scratch or break, which meant that the fall down the chamber's passage hadn't even scratched them. This meant Harry could actually look around and take in the great room he found himself it.

The Chamber of the Unown was lit by glowing veins of green crystals. Harry was reminded of the first Gauntlet course he'd ever run, the one that mimicked tunnels filled with Thunderstones. It was easily the size of the Great Hall and all around him were empty poles that had once held tapestries and other decorations of cloth. Time had seen them rot away, leaving the Chamber feeling like a living room emptied of the things that made it feel like home. Three great mausoleums stood before Harry and each one was decorated with a statue. Harry took a shaky step forward and realized he was looking at the Founders' final resting place. Staring at them, he was struck by how much they reminded him of his friends. Not in looks, for they did not resemble anyone he knew, but in personality.

There was Lady Ravenclaw with her little glasses and a selection of books tucked under her arm; Hermione to a T. Harry couldn't help but wonder bitterly if Lady Ravenclaw had also listened to a conman and betrayed her friends. And there was Helga Hufflepuff, who while a bit thicker than the Lady of Ravenclaw gave no signs of softness or weakness like some thought when discussing her. No, there was a fire to her and a passion that reminded him so much of Ron. Godric was next and did not fail to impress. He was leaning forward, one leg resting on a slab of stone, a stern determined look clear on his features. His hand was on his belt, reaching for a stone Pokeball that was attached to it. Harry had seen that look before on Neville face when he'd begun the Honor Battle and Harry wished his friend were healthy enough to see the statue.

Finally Harry's eyes swept to his right and he looked up at the centerpiece of the room: the great 20 foot tall statue of Salazar Slytherin. Harry had expected a stern looking man with his nose in the air and a sneer on his lips. But the statue instead depicted a man of honor and strength. He was noble yes, and Harry shuddered at the sense of power the statue conveyed, but there was nothing cruel about Salazar's statue. The boy could tell that the founders had made sure the sculptor depicted Salazar in a positive light and looking upon the final work Harry knew whoever was responsible for it had succeeded. The statue was not one of a monster or a tyrant as some many wanted to portray Salazar, nor was it of a man full of hatred and loathing. No... this was the statue of a man of royal blood who might have been a fair and just king.

Harry took a few more steps forward, staring at the base of the statue. There was writing there but for the life of him he could not make sense of the words.

"We are not the commanders of destiny," a small voice said, translating the words, "we are the sheppard's of future."

"Luna," Harry said, whipping around and hurrying over to the blonde. Luna was lying on the ground, her face paler than normal. Dirt and dust clung to her and her eyes lacked the entrancing quality that always seemed to trap Harry whenever he looked directly at her. Mickey her Trappinch lay beside her, out cold, and Linus her Pumpkaboo.

"No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church-door; but 'tis enough, 'twill serve: ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man." Luna chuckled weakly, her hands pressed to her side. Harry reached down with his good hand and realized that his friend had been stabbed. "Oh happy dagger... I am your sheath."

"Luna, who did this?"

"I did," a new voice called out from the darkness. Harry whipped around, his hands going for his Pokeballs only to realize all his Pokémon were still with Lockhart and the only one he had was Magikarp. "Please, don't do that Harry... we have so much to discuss." The speaker stepped forward, smirking at the boy with glowing green eyes. "This has been a fun little ride, hasn't it?"

"Cho," Harry muttered.

~MC~MC~MC~

Author's Notes: And we come to it at least… the final confrontation. For those of you that put the pieces together and realized Cho was the Thief of Slytherin, well done! For the rest, don't feel bad. I purposely played on your knowledge of the books and also inserted little things (Like Luna tending to wander off just before someone was petrified) to throw you off. Next chapter will explain just how Cho got to this point.

Hermione's acts WILL have repercussions. Unlike the books, where Harry seems to always forgive his friends, here we will see such mistakes by characters have results. Not to say Hermione will be on the outs with the group, but Harry will never forget that she took his Pokémon from him.

Well done for those that also figured out how Lockhart was pulling his tricks. Yes, he used his Ditto to copy legendary Pokémon, then would pose in front of it for a nice picture. He'd also get other people to do his research, give him the notes, and then wipe their minds with Hypno. Rather smart of him… in a disgusting sort of way.

There are roughly three more chapters to go: The Chamber of the Unown (dealing with the battle in the Chamber), The Trade (wrapping up some loose ends) and The Lord of Johto (serving as a bridging chapter from Chamber into The Lord of Seveii).