Hermione slammed another book closed in frustration, muttering incomprehensively under her breath. She glared at the shelves round her before placing the book she'd just closed back. It was the Tuesday after the writing had been found on the wall. Hermione had been terrified after she, Harry and Ron had been taken into Lockhart's office but they had been let go without being accused of anything, much to Hermione's relief. Harry did seem to have a knack of getting them into the wrong place at the wrong time. The morning after she had rushed off to the library to take out Hogwarts: A History, remembering it had the legend of The Chamber of Secrets in it but to her utter horror, all the copies had been checked out earlier that morning. Hermione had slept late due to her, Ron and Harry staying up into the night to talk. She mentally kicked herself again for not managing to pack her copy with her. She couldn't find anything else about the legend in other books. Hermione had only read the section that included The Chamber of Secrets once very quickly as she was more interested in the factual history of the school. She was also angry at herself about that as normally she could recall information very easily. All she remembered was that it had something to do with Slytherin.

As Hermione stalked through more shelves, searching for any book that could include the legend she caught a flash of bright red hair. Doubling back she saw that Ginny Weasley was sitting alone at a small secluded table in between some shelves, looking utterly miserable. Ginny had been very distressed about Mrs Norris and now Hermione thought about it, had seemed quiet and sad for most of October too. Slowly Hermione approached her.

"Ginny?" She said quietly, drawing level with the side of her table.

Ginny looked up and Hermione could see her eyes looked tired and worried.

"Ginny are you okay."

She nodded slowly and gave a small, very quiet "Yes." before looking back down at her book, sniffing.

"I know that what happened to Mrs Norris upset you but is there anything else bothering you?" Hermione asked drawing slightly closer to her and crouching down to be at her eye level. "Because if there is something, something you don't want to tell Ron or your other brothers, you can talk to me about anything and I'll listen and try to help."

A shadow seemed to pass over Ginny's face and her lips parted ever so slightly. Hermione was sure she was going to tell her something. But just as quickly as the look had come it had gone and Ginny snapped her mouth shut. "No, everything's fine. Thank you." She said quietly

She turned her head back to her work and Hermione nodded slowly, standing up.

"You can talk to me any time if you need to Ginny." She said as she walked away.

As she glanced back she saw Ginny was staring at her, a glazed look in her eyes. Hermione sighed, she was worried something was seriously bothering Ginny. But she had done everything she could for now. Hermione continued to search the shelves around her.

The next lunchtime found Hermione in the library again, growing more and more frustrated as she hunted the books around her. She had come with Ron who was desperately trying to finish his History of Magic essay on a table nearby. Finally at ten minutes until the end of lunch she gave up and stalked back over to where Ron was sitting, who had now been joined by Harry.

"All The copies of Hogwarts: A History have been taken out." She said, throwing herself into the chair next Ron and Harry and raking a hand through her hair in frustration. She been doing this a lot recently meaning it was growing bushier and bushier by the hour. "And there's a two-week waiting list. I wish I hadn't left my copy at home, but I couldn't fit it in my trunk with all the Lockhart books."

"Why do you want it?" Harry asked, rolling up his History of Magic essay.

"The same reason everyone else wants it," explained Hermione, "to read up on the legend of the Chamber of Secrets."

"What's that?" asked Harry

"That's just it I can't remember. And I can't find the story anywhere else…"

"Hermione let me read your composition," said Ron, finally looking up at them after checking his watch.

Hermione frowned crossly, annoyed at him. "No I won't, you've had ten days to finish it."

"I only need another two inches, go on…"

The bell rang and Hermione stood up and started to sweep out the library.

"It's not fair, you've done loads, and you could just give me a tiny bit of yours." Ron said, hurrying to her side.

"How is it not fair just because I do my homework on time and you don't? I'm happy to check over your work Ron but's it's your own fault if you haven't finished it in time!"

"I could get a detention now!" Ron burst out angrily.

"And whose fault would that be – not mine." Hermione answered viciously, he could be so idiotic sometimes. He always got himself into trouble and didn't want to admit it was his own fault.

Beside her Ron spluttered a bit, trying to think of an answer. But thankfully they arrived at History of Magic and Hermione sat down heavily. She got out her notebook and stared resolutely forward. Ron didn't have time to say anything else to her and Hermione began her usual routine of taking notes. Her mind usually wondered slightly as she did this as Professor Binns was very boring but for the most part she managed to stay alert enough to copy down the main points of everything he was saying, unlike everybody else. Today though an idea started to enter her head. An idea of how to get the answers she wanted from someone who would know them, even if he wouldn't want to tell them. After considering she really couldn't get into any trouble for asking a simple question, Hermione stuck her hand in the air.

Hermione's mind would not stop whirring. Slytherin had wanted to rid the school of Muggle-borns so badly that there was some of monster that would kill them. It was barbaric. Hermione couldn't decide whether she believed it or not. As she Ron and Harry hunted for clues in the corridor where Mrs Norris had been petrified and went to talk to Moaning Myrtle Hermione thought about the people that could possibly hate muggle-borns so much that they wanted them dead. The idea made her shiver and even by the evening she couldn't concentrate on her homework. Therefore when Ron slammed his book shut, Hermione gave up and followed suit. She allowed the thoughts which had been running around her head all day to be spoken out loud.

"Who could it be though? Who'd want all the Squibs and Muggle-borns out of Hogwarts?"

Ron's face took on a look of sarcasm. "Let's think," He said, cocking his head to one side. "Who do we know that thinks all Muggle-borns are scum?"

He turned to her a quirked a brow upwards. Hermione knew who he was talking about but she really didn't believe that Malfoy had the mind capabilities to do something like that.

"If you're talking about Malfoy…"

"Of course I am!" said Ron. "You heard him: 'You'll be next mudbloods!' Come on, you've only got to look at his foul rat face to know it's him –"

"Malfoy, the heir of Slytherin?" said Hermione. She knew that Malfoy was utterly horrid but would he really release a monster to kill people?

"Look at his family," said Harry, closing his book to join in the conversation. "The whole lot of them have been in Slytherin, he's always boasting about it. They could easily be Slytherin's descendants. His father's definitely evil enough."

"They could've had the key to the Chamber of Secrets for centuries!" said Ron, growing excited. "Handing it down, father to son…"

Hermione still didn't really believe that Malfoy could be the heir but she could see that it would fit. "Well, I suppose it's possible…"

"But how do we prove it?" asked Harry.

An idea sparked in Hermione's mind and, as ideas often did in Hermione's brain, developed quickly into a plan. She spoke slowly as her mind whirred fast.

"There might be a way." Hermione glanced across at Percy, not wanting him to hear, and leaned slightly closer to the boys. "Of course, it would be difficult. And dangerous, very dangerous. We'd be breaking about fifty school rules, I expect."

"If, in a month or so, you feel like explaining, you will let us know, won't you?" Ron said irritably.

Hermione glared at him. Could he not see she was only just working this out for herself? "All right. What we'd need to do is to get inside the Slytherin common room and ask Malfoy a few questions without him realising it's us."

"But that's impossible." Harry said and Ron laughed. Hermione grew more annoyed at him.

"No it's not. All we'd need would be some Polyjuice Potion." She said, revealing her plan.

"What's that?" They both asked. Hermione sighed – really did they ever listen!

"Snape mentioned it in class a few weeks ago-"

"D'you think we've got nothing better to do in Potions than listen to Snape?" muttered Ron. Hermione felt about ready to storm off in annoyance but she was so excited about her plan that she kept going, this could really work.

"It transforms you into somebody else. Think about it! We could change into three of the Slytherins. No one would know it was us. Malfoy would probably tell us anything. He's probably boasting about it in the Slytherin common room right now, if only we could hear him."

"This Polyjuice stuff sounds a bit dodgy to me," said Ron sceptically. "What if we were stuck looking like three of the Slytherins for ever?"

"It wears off after a while," said Hermione, impatiently waving her hand as her brain further thought of how to go about making the potion. "But getting hold of the recipe will be very difficult. Snape said it was in a book called Moste Potente Potions and it's bound to be in the restricted section of the library."

"Hard to see why we'd want the book really," said Ron. "If we weren't going to try to make one of the potions."

Hermione thought of Professor Lockhart, he liked her as a pupil and there was a good chance he'd sign it for her. "I think, that if we make it sound as though were just interested in the theory, we might stand a chance…"

"Oh, come on, no teacher's going to fall for that. They'd have to be really thick…"

"Can you honestly think he's so amazing now Hermione, I mean seriously?"

It was the day after Harry's Quidditch match and Ron and Hermione were walking through the castle after an early breakfast. They intended to go back to Gryffindor common room to pick up a few books then head down to pick up Harry from the hospital wing. They had begun to bicker a few minutes ago about Professor Lockhart.

"He made a little mistake, are you telling me you never make mistakes?" Hermione retorted as they rounded a corner together.

"Not on that proportion. It's the fact he just pretends he know everything Hermione! He's just a lying git who…"

"SHHHH!" Hermione cut Ron off, grabbed his arm and pulled him into a nook with a suit of armour.

"Hermione! Is there any particular reason why we're…"

Hermione clamped a hand over his mouth a pointed to the corner they had been just about to round, where now that Ron was quiet she could properly hear what Professor McGonogall and Professor Flitwick were saying.

"Wait Minerva, say that again, what's happened!" said Flitwick.

It's Colin Creevey, a first year in my house he's been … he's been petrified!" Professor McGonogall whispered.

"When?"

"Late last night. We think he'd been on his way to visit Potter in the hospital wing."

"And is he muggle-born?" Flitwick asked, his voice horrified.

"Yes, I went and told him he was coming to Hogwarts at the beginning of this year. His father's a milkman" Professor McGonogall's voice shook slightly.

"Oh the poor poor boy! What are we going to do? What did Albus say?"

"That the Chamber of Secrets really has been opened again!" Professor McGonogall sounded more emotional than Hermione had ever heard her.

There was silence for a moment. Flitwick seemed to be digesting what McGonogall had said.

"Dear Merlin!" He sighed. "Have you had breakfast yet, come you must eat something."

Their voices grew fainter as they disappeared down the corridor. Hermione turned to face Ron, her eyes wide. Apprehension was also reflected back in his. They were both silent for a moment before Hermione felt anger bubbling up in her and she burst out,

"How, HOW could somebody do this. Colin's eleven years old, he wouldn't hurt a fly and somebody tried to kill him because he's Muggle-born!"

Ron stepped out of the nook and folded his arms looking thoughtful.

"But we can catch him Hermione, the Polyjuice Potion. If we find out it's Malfoy we can report him before anybody else get hurt."

Hermione noted Ron's greater interest in the plan now and nodded.

"Let's start it now. Harry can find us or we'll catch up with him at lunchtime. I want to catch Malfoy if it's him."

Ten minutes later after running up to Gryffindor tower to get their basic potion ingredients and a cauldron Ron and Hermione walked into Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. They couldn't see or hear Myrtle anywhere which was a relief. Hermione led the way into a cubicle furthest away from the one Myrtle usually inhabited and locked the door behind them. She handed Ron all the ingredients she was holding and bent down over the toilet.

"caeruleum flammula" she muttered and blue flames shot out the end of her wand, landing in the toilet.

"Engorgio," The flames grew in size until they were substantial enough to heat the bottom of the cauldron.

Hermione stood up and Ron placed the cauldron on top of the flames, balancing it on the toilet. They both put their bags down on the floor and Hermione pulled out Moste Potente Potions which she balanced on the cistern.

"This is really professional looking by the way." said Ron grinning.

Hermione shot him a look of annoyance but couldn't hold it for long and ended up cracking a smile, really it did all look ridiculous.

"Firstly we need to add 7 pounds of torn fluxweed to boiling water. "Agumenti" Hermione said, pointing her wand into the cauldron.

Ron began to measure out the fluxweed whilst Hermione watched the water begin to boil. Ron tore it up into small bits and threw it in.

"Stir eleven times anticlockwise," Hermione did so with her wand.

"Wait till the water turns a clear green shade,"

Hermione leaned back against the wall of the cubicle, Ron doing the same on the other side. Just as she was about to say something, a voice sounded from the toilet outside.

"It's me." Ron jolted in fright, hitting the toilet making a large clunking noise and causing the water in the cauldron to splash about. Hermione gasped loudly. She quickly bent down to peer through the keyhole and saw Harry looking back at her.

"Harry!" She said, unlocking the door to let him in. "You gave us such a fright. Come in – how's your arm?"

"Fine," said Harry as he squeezed himself into the cubicle – it was a tight fit now with all three of them in.

"We'd've come to meet you, but we decided to get started on the Polyjuice Potion. We've decided this is the safest place to hide it," Ron explained.

"There's something I need to tell you. Last night Colin…"

"We already know, we heard Professor McGonogall telling Professor Flitwick this morning. That's why we decided we better get going –" Interupted Hermione, watching as the potion turned a clear green colour and leaning over the read the next line of instructions.

"The sooner we get a confession out of Malfoy, the better," Ron said angrily. "D'you know what I think? He was in such a foul temper after the Quidditch match, he took it out on Colin."

Hermione had begun to tear up bundles of knotgrass and throw them into the potion. Ron was now leaning over to read the potions instructions. Harry went on to reveal that Dobby had been to see him last night and that the Chamber of Secrets had been opened before. The three of them continued to discuss this and the theory of Malfoy being the heir of Slytherin for hours whilst they brewed the potion.

It was two weeks later when Hermione was in the girls toilets in between lessons that she found out something crucial to their plan. Hermione had been about to leave her cubicle when she heard Pansy Parkinson and Daphne Greengrass, two Slytherin girls who Hermione heartily disliked enter the toilet.

"So I'm still trying to persuade my mum to let me stay here for Christmas, but she's just not having it. Says I have to come home to spend it with the family!" Pansy said in her annoying screechy voice.

"Wait, why would you even want to stay here over Christmas?" answered Daphne. "I thought you wanted to go home for a bit and last year you said that the people that stay over Christmas are losers"

"Have you not heard?"

"Heard what Pansy?"

"Draco's staying here over Christmas?" she said

"Why?"

"I don't know, he didn't say but how amazing would it be to stay, I'd get to spend so much time with him, alone without everyone else." Pansy sounded sickening to Hermione

"Not if stupid Crabbe and Goyle are with him the whole time."

They carried on talking as they went into separate cubicles and Hermione unlocked her door, quickly washed her hands and rushed to charms desperate to find Ron and Harry. She almost ran headfirst into them as they stood outside the door to their classroom.

"I've got something really important to tell you." She said as she skidded to a halt in front of them, they had both reached out their arms to catch her as she wobbled to a halt.

"What?" They asked in unison

"Malfoy! He's staying in the castle for Christmas!" She whispered excitedly.

"What! But last year he was boasting about how pants Christmas was here and how he felt sorry for everyone who had to stay!" scoffed Ron.

"I know that's why it's important. Don't you think it's suspicious that he wants to stay?"

They glanced at each other, and nodded quickly.

"Very suspicious!" said Harry.

"So we can do the Polyjuice Potion over Christmas! They'll be less people around so it'll be easier and it will be ready by then." Ron said excitedly

Hermione faltered. That had been her idea too but it wasn't until Ron said it that she realised that would mean not going home to see her parents for Christmas. The thought made her heart ache.

"Well obviously I wasn't going to go back to the Dursely's anyway." said Harry, smiling.

"Yeah and mum and dad have just said they're going to Eygpt to visit Bill and me, Fred and George already talked about not going with them, you know save them some money and it'll be more fun here with us lot than in Eygpt." Ron agreed, nodding enthusiastically.

They both turned to look at her expectantly.

"You alright with not going home?" asked Ron.

Hermione's honest answer was no, but then she thought about poor Colin Creevey, lying petrified in the hospital, not even getting an option to where he went for Christmas. Some things were more important.

"Of course." She answered.

AN: Quite a long one this one - hope you enjoyed :) Remember to review, it really helps me!