Ron, Hermione and Harry were all allowed to leave the Hospital Wing the next morning. Snape also left on Madam Pomfrey's orders that he must eat before teaching for the day.

Rumours had already begun spreading round the school like wildfire. Everybody seemed to know that Harry, Hermione and Ron had gone into the chamber and then the teachers had followed along with Venus Potter. After that the rumours seemed to take different directions. Some claimed that Venus had fought of Tom Riddle and that was how she had ended up in the hospital wing, some claimed that she'd lost control of her magic and wiped herself out. Others believed that she was the one opening the chamber from the start and a few even thought that Harry had turned on her and hexed her, leaving her unconscious. None however seemed to know what had really happened.

At breakfast the next morning, Dumbledore did something he didn't usually do apart from on special occasions. He stood up and clapped his hands, showing he was going to address the whole school. The hall fell silent immediately and all eyes turned to Dumbledore. Malfoy looked especially anxious to hear what was going to be said to the surprise of most of the Slytherins.

"Many of you have now heard that the Chamber of Secrets was indeed opened and it was entered yesterday, first by three students, then by staff." He held back on explaining about Venus for now. "The beast within the chamber has been killed and the cause of the attacks this year has also been destroyed. I must now make it clear that none of you should attempt to enter the chamber, we are unsure what else may be kept in there and you could cause problems for yourselves and the whole school." His eyes settled on Harry who looked away. "Another student was in the chamber. She entered with the staff, wanting to help but Tom Riddle who is the younger version of Lord Voldermort drained her energy, leaving her in the hospital wing." There were hushed whispers around the room at the mention of Voldermort. "This is student was Venus Potter." The faces around steeled. Only Malfoy seemed to have any concern. The other houses held no sympathy for the Slytherin and the Slytherins didn't care as she was already an outcast there.

"The pathetic little mudblood." Called out Linda Flint. The Slytherins all broke out into laughter. Snape glared at her.

"Detention." He barked.

Her lips turned into a smirk and Snape's fists clenched beneath the table. Dumbledore noticed and continued quickly.

"I tell you this, not to evoke your sympathy or as seems more likely, something to taunt over her but to show you the dangers of the chamber. Without the staff being available, she may not have survived."

There were mutters of "May have been better." from the Slytherins but they were stopped by a piercing glare from Snape.

"I urge you again to not attempt to open the chamber or to visit it. This would be a foolish attempt." He eyed all of the students with seriousness. He clapped his hands, "Now allow us to dine before you go to lessons."

The ripple of noise began quickly and soon the hall was back to as loud as it usually was. Dumbledore turned to Snape who was sat to his right.

"I didn't realise the girl was so hated by Slytherin."

"She's got a Muggle-Born mother and to them she's a Potter. She doesn't fit in with them." Drawled Snape.

"Malfoy doesn't seem to hate her like the rest despite his actions at Christmas." Noted Dumbledore.

"How she acted in relation to that made him respect her. I don't think he realises but he's began to care for her."

"As have you."

"I think you're mistaken Headmaster."

"I don't think so Severus, I saw your anger at them for laughing at her."

"She is a Slytherin, we stand together, the others seem to have forgotten that."

"Oh they stand together but all of them against her."

"I've realised."

"It makes me wonder who she'll ever be accepted by."

"When the truth comes out, your side won't."

"No." He agreed.

"It's time for me to be heading to the dungeons for first lesson."

"Severus, did you sleep last night?"

"I don't see what importance that is."

"That's two nights in a row Severus."

"So?"

"You need to sleep Severus."

"You don't tell me what I do and don't need, you sound like my parent or something."

"She said the same thing last night."

"What?" He was extremely irritated now.

"She told you that you weren't her parent."

"Your point."

"You care about the girl Severus, I care about you but you see it is as an almost parental worry even though I hold no blood the same as you, your relationship with Venus is much the same."

"No, she is just another of my Slytherins."

"And how many of them have you stayed up all night worrying over?"

"And how many of them were in a place where I needed to worry."

With that he turned and left the hall, his cloak billowing behind him.

0o0o0

I woke up a feeling of fatigue washing over me. I felt tired even though I was sure I'd been asleep for ages. The last thing I remembered was Snape catching me as I fell in the Chamber of Secrets.

"Oh good you're awake." Said Madam Pomfrey.

"What day is it?"

"Friday."

"I've been in here, asleep, for almost five days."

"Yes I know but you had a lot of energy to regain. You almost died in the chamber."

"Because I'm weak." I muttered.

"What was that?"

"Nothing." I said hurriedly.

"Well here's some food, you must eat it all and then keep resting."

She passed over a tray piled with food.

"That's a lot of food."

"You haven't eaten for five days." She reminded me.

"Oh yeah."

"Just do your best, you don't have to eat it all at once. I can also guess that you'll have a few visitors."

She turned and busied herself. I tried to eat some of the food but I wasn't surprised that I wasn't hungry. I managed a little bit but had to push it away so I wasn't sick. I noticed a small pile of presents and lots of cards piled up by my bed. I couldn't think who they'd all be from. There was Harry, possibly Snape, Ron and Hermione but nobody else.

I grabbed one of the nearest presents and opened it. There was a bundle of sweets from Ron in it, the next held a collection of books from Hermione. Harry had gotten me a notebook with green and silver bindings. It was an enchanted one so that it never ran out of pages. I decided to use it for notes on extra topics such as occlumency, when Snape let me learn it. I vowed never to use it as a diary after the effects of the last one. Snape had sent a card calling me Riddle within it so I hid it in my cloak in case Harry came in. There was one last present, I didn't know who it was from. Inside there was a thin silver bracelet with a single small opal threaded on. It was beautiful but I couldn't tell who had got it for me. I slipped it onto my wrist and moved towards the pile of card. These had been placed seperately from the presents and Snape's card. There had to be at least thirty.

I reached for the first one, inside it read "Filthy mudblood, should have died in the chamber." It was written in gleaming green ink so I could tell it was from a Slytherin. The next one was much the same "You should have done us all a favour and died in the chamber, you're bringing Slytherin's reputation down."

I felt the familiar anger rise up in me but I thought of brewing and pushed the magic into the cauldron, pulling it into a potion.

"You've got a lot better at that." Observed Malfoy who had appeared at the door.

"Oh well yeah." I flushed.

"I could tell you were angry from your face but then nothing released, you stayed calm."

I shrugged.

"What made you so angry?"

"Nothing." I said shortly.

"Sorry I shouldn't be prying."

His eyes fell on the two opened cards and the pile of unopened ones.

"You've got more popular."

"Hardly." I sighed and handed him the first letter.

He winced, "I'm sorry, I started this, they wouldn't even be calling you a mudblood if it wasn't for me."

"It's fine, really."

"No it's not."

"Look, stop beating yourself up over this, you made a mistake but you keep working to fix it."

"Riddle, I-."

I jumped a little, surprised he'd called me Riddle.

"Sorry, I won't call you it, I just thought..." he trailed off.

"No, no, it's fine, I prefer it actually, just didn't expect it. Just not in front of anyone who doesn't know who I am."

"Of course. I guessed you must prefer it after Snape started calling you it. You didn't flinch anymore."

"No, I didn't. Why did you come?" I asked curiously.

I swore I could see a slight blush forming on his cheeks, "I needed to check you were okay, the things people have been saying, just I wanted to know you were okay."

"What time is it?" I asked suddenly.

"Oh, almost 12."

"Are you skiving off lessons to see me." I teased.

"I had Binns, I got bored."

"Fair enough."

"I think you should eat some more." He said looking towards the pile of food.

"Probably." I sighed.

I pulled the plate of food back over to me and ate some more but I still wasn't hungry. After a few mouthfuls I had to push it away again.

"I've got to get back so it doesn't look suspicious when I come from here for lunch."

"Oh yeah, that's fine." I assured him.

He left and I turned back to the cards. I didn't think I wanted to read them all so I added the other two to the pile and pushed it away. I grabbed one of the books Hermione had got me and stared to read it.

I heard footsteps so I put the book down and turned my head to the door. Snape came striding in.

"Riddle, you're awake."

"Yes Sir."

"I'm sorry you ended up in the chamber."

"It wasn't your fault Sir, I wouldn't have let anyone go in if I hadn't. What happened Sir?"

"The Tom Riddle in the diary took your energy-."

"That's because I'm weak." I muttered, looking away.

"Eyes Riddle, no it's actually the opposite. You were the only one who could have easily stopped his plans."

"Oh."

"As it turned out, he called for a basilisk but your brother managed to kill it with the help of Fawkes." He pursed his lips disapprovingly.

"Is everyone okay Sir?"

"Yes Riddle, nobody else got hurt." His eyes fell onto the presents and cards.

"I don't recall you having this many people who were your friends."

"Oh, well..." I trailed off.

His eye caught the glint of green from the Slytherin pile. He reached towards the first opened card.

"Sir, please don't." I begged.

"And why not?"

"I... just..."

He rolled his eyes and opened the card. I watched as he read what it said. He snapped it shut and slammed it on the table.

"When did this start again Riddle?"

"It never stopped." I said quietly.

"Do you not recall that I told you to tell me when this happened?"

"Yes Sir I do but-."

"Then why did you not tell me?"

"It didn't seem that bad," I stammered, "None of them physically tried to hurt me or force me to do anything. It's just name calling. I don't spend much time with them anyway and Malfoy always tries to stop them."

"Things don't have to reach people using force to be a problem."

"Yes, I know Sir."

"They will recieve punishment."

"No Sir, don't you see, the more you try to do, the worse they get. None of them bothered with me much apart from Malfoy until after you punished them for what they did at Christmas."

"They all were a part of that which is the worst event to date."

"Yes Sir but they wouldn't do anything without Malfoy starting it, now anybody will."

"Exactly Riddle, they need to be told. Malfoy's stopped hasn't he, after all the detentions."

"After I stopped him from being expelled." I pointed out.

"So you want me to let them all off?"

"Yes."

"No Riddle, I can't do that. They will all receive detentions for these letters."

"No they won't." I said calmly.

"You can't stop me Riddle, it may surprise you but you don't tell me what I can or can't do. That's my decision and these letters are evidence enough of that."

"Incendio." I cast at the letters until they turned to ash.

"Aguamenti." And the flames went out.

"Potter!" He growled.

I flinched but stared up at him defiantly,

"Yes Sir."

He faltered over what to say.

"You can't give me any more detentions, can you Sir?" I asked sweetly.

"You seem to enjoy the detentions anyway. I think more of a punishment would be to tell you to not come to detention."

"I'll just go to the library then."

He sighed, "Why are you so resistant to them being punished?"

"It won't make a difference, they won't stop and you'll just give them more ammunition to use against me."

"But-."

"No Sir, I hardly notice them anyway."

"You're house is supposed to be your family."

"Not all families are nice to each other."

I felt my hand shift to trace the scars from the Dursleys on my side and was surprised to see Snape doing the same to his side. He caught me looking and dropped his hand.

"Sir-."

"I want to teach you defensive spells as I said I would at the start of the year, just in case."

"Okay Sir but only if you don't say anything to the Slytherins about the letters."

"Yes okay Riddle but I don't want you exerting yourself every night. You only need to come and see me once a week. You don't need to come to detention anymore. I can't even remember what you did that earned you them."

"Oh okay Sir."

"Stay out of the common room, go to the library or on the grounds."

"Yes Sir."

"Every Wednesday Riddle."

"Yes Sir and I'm sorry Sir."

"Sorry for what?"

"Sorry that your childhood was as bad as mine."

He froze. "I don't know what you're talking about." He said and turned on his heel to leave.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have said anything." I muttered.

"No, you will learn to keep your thoughts to yourself Potter." He snapped and walked quickly out of the room.

I flinched from the name but I knew why he'd used it. I shouldn't have said anything, he was right. It wasn't a subject that you approached with a teacher. I sighed and grabbed the food back, knowing that I should be eating, especially as I had exerted myself from burning the cards from the Slytherins. I had started to feel more hungry so managed to make my way through so I had half of the plate eaten.

"Very good Miss Potter." Said Madam Pomfrey as she came past.

"Madam Pomfrey, how long will I need to stay in here?" I asked.

"It's probably best you stay in here for the weekend and you can return to classes on Monday. Is that okay with you?"

"Yes, thank you Madam Pomfrey."

I picked back up one of the books that Hermione had sent me. It was an advanced potions book, with some interesting ideas about alterations you could make to basic potions to make them more powerful or to combat side effects. I read it all the way through the afternoon. On the evening Harry came to visit me.

"Venus, you're awake."

"You sound surprised."

"Well, I didn't know. I've been visiting you every night."

I smiled softly.

"You really care that much."

"Of course Venus, why wouldn't I?"

"Just, I never see you, you're always with Ron and Hermione."

"And you're always in detention."

"Very true but I want to see you more. I only have to see Snape on a Wednesday now, we need to make sure we see each other in the week."

"Yes we do. I'm sorry that we've grown apart."

"We are never going to be as close as we are at home but we can try to be closer than we are now."

"Venus I'm so sorry."

"Why?"

"It's because I went into the chamber that you came down. If I'd have just stayed out of it, this wouldn't have happened."

"But the basilisk would still be alive. You saved the school, there could be worse effects than this if you hadn't gone down."

"I know."

"I will be fine Harry, in a few days this will just be a memory."

"Venus, what's going on with the other Slytherins?"

"Nothing."

"Venus, I know that's a lie. Dumbledore, he was warning everyone about the chamber and he told them about you. Flint, I think it is, one of the ones in your dorm, she said you were a pathetic little mudblood and they all laughed and some of them said they'd wished you were dead."

"That doesn't surprise me."

"Venus?"

"I don't fit in Slytherin, you know that. My mother's Muggle-Born."

"That doesn't mean they should say that stuff."

"Oh Harry, anyone who's different doesn't fit into Slytherin."

"I still don't know why you're a Slytherin."

"It's my head, I don't think like you, you see I ignore them now but I'm planning revenge, I can't imagine you doing that."

"Well no-."

"You see, I'm a Slytherin even if I'm not exactly the same as them. I wouldn't fit into Gryffindor, I don't act or think like you."

"I know just sometimes I wish not that you were different but that you were in Gryffindor."

"I know me too."

"The mirror of Erised." He said suddenly.

"Sorry?"

"I never explained about the mirror, how I didn't see you except I did but you were different. You still had your red hair and green eyes but your nose and mouth were different. It looked like you but not you."

He had seen me but as James' daughter, not Voldermort's but how did he know.

"And you were wearing Gryffindor robes."

"Oh well that's strange about the appearance. The robes are understandable."

I decided that I was best to act as confused as he was so he didn't get suspicious.

"Why didn't you tell Ron and Hermione that you had a sister last year?"

"I was always expecting someone to mention you but they never did and it sounds embarrassing but I kept thinking I'd made you up to keep me company at the Dursley's. I thought maybe you were just a part of my head and I'm sorry Venus."

"No I understand. You wouldn't have wanted to seem crazy."

"I missed you all last year."

"You did?"

"Of course, you're my sister."

"I missed you too."

I felt a pang in my heart. He was going to find out the truth eventually and then what, would he still feel the same way or would he hate me? I couldn't help but think it would be the latter, even in the mirror of Erised he hadn't seen me as me, he'd seen me as his real sister. That's what he wanted not me.