The were an odd group. Two men in chains, two men with wands trained on them, and two children. They stepped into the eerily silent castle, hesitating at the writing dripping from the wall.

Severus turned to Granger and Weasley. "Report to the infirmary."

Weasley was pale, but he visibly clenched his jaw. "Yeah, right. Harry is in trouble, we can't just-"

"Potter may have little or nothing to do with this." He waved at the wall. "Now, you must-"

"We are witnesses!" Granger piped up, pointing to Black and Pettigrew. "We need to also see Dumbledore and tell him what we saw!"

Severus felt ready to stupify them both. "Weasley is not capable of climbing that many stairs."

Pettigrew suddenly spoke. "I can take him to the hospital wing. Make sure he gets all fixed up!"

Severus cast a wordless spell, muting the man. He was not in the mood for second opinions. He heard Black snicker and he raised an eyebrow, daring him to test him farther. "Go now. If Madam Pomfrey releases you, then you may meet us at the headmaster's office."

The two children had matching expressions of stubbornness. But Lupin stepped forward, leaning down and smiling gently. "If we need you before then, we will be sure to bring the headmaster to the hospital wing."

They bent a little under his gaze. Granger adjusted her grip and began to haul Weasley back towards the infirmary. Perhaps with a little more haste that what was comfortable for the boy. Severus sighed, turning again and striding up the stairs. The sooner they found the headmaster, the sooner he could search for Harry.

His skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever.

The boy was stupid enough to get caught in something like that. He turned to Sirius who was staring at him. "Do you believe now that I have nothing to do with the Chamber?" Black said.

"The writing proves nothing. Keep walking, Black."

But Black wasn't walking. He was stopped, staring past Severus. Severus frowned and looked over to find Lupin suddenly leaning against the nearest window, breathing heavily. His hands were shaking violently and his wand clattered to the floor. Severus took was step back and realized, with sudden horror, that a full moon was rising outside.

"The potion," he whispered. "You've had your potion."

Lupin suddenly dug his nails into his scalp. "Didn't…forgot. It's still…still in my office," he managed through clenched feet. "Run…run now!"

Black thrust out his shackles to Severus. "Release me!" Severus couldn't help but gape at him. Black's eyes were all earnest. "I know how to stop him. Did it for so many years. You must let me!"

It was Lupin who reacted. Seizing his wand from the floor and shouting a spell that nearly exploded Black's shackles away. It also managed to explode Pettigrew's. Black immediatly became a huge bear of a dog, launching himself at Lupin, pinning him to the wall.

Pettigrew also changed. So fast, he was a rat again, sprint down the hall.

"Stupify!" Severus shouted, but his aim was off. He swore, torn between chasing him and remaining to try to control the beast Lupin was about to become. Lupin was already growing, bones breaking loudly in the corridor.

Black pushed off from Lupin, snarling at Severus. He changed back. "Run, you fool! Don't let Peter get away from me again!"

Lupin let out a howl, reverberating against the stones. The sound was almost enough to make Severus quake in fear. But he had knelt before the darkest wizard of the age with less fear. "Even if you escape Black, I will hunt you down."

Black grinned. "If we are both alive by morning, then I will turn myself over to you."

Then he was a dog again, jumping back towards Lupin, who was now sprouting hair and an elongated nose. Severus turned and sprinted to where Pettigrew had run off. He knew he had little hope of finding the rat in the massive castle. So instead he ran to Dumbledore's office. He needed back up and he needed to know exactly how many other people were in the castle.

Dumbledore's office was a mess of teachers. Just about everyone was there, talking or arguing. Dumbledore nearly smiled as Severus entered. But Severus didn't have the time. "Lupin is transforming without the aid of wolfsbane. Sirius Black, an animagus dog, is attempting to subdue him and Peter Pettigrew is an animagus rat and currently trying to escape the castle."

There was total silence. The sight of so many wide eyes staring at him was almost comical. Severus only looked to Dumbledore.

"Granger and Weasley, if they have any reason, are in the infirmary. Is there anyone else in the castle?"

Dumbledore took a moment to find his words. "Severus…are you quite sure you are feeling-?"

"I do not have time to question my sanity. It will be shown momentarily when you come across a werewolf roaming your halls. Possibly being accompanied by a giant black dog. Now tell me, where is Harry Potter?"

Dumbledore suddenly grew somber. He turned to the rest of the room. "Stay here, my office is well protected. Severus, come with me." Everyone made some halting arguments, but Dumbledore's eyes silenced them all.

He exited, Severus following. Once they had exited the stone staircase, he gave a quick word with the Gargoyle out front.

"There, they will not be able to leave for some time." He looked to Severus. "I suppose we've both some explanation to give. But where is Lupin currently?"

"I left him on the third floor. Black insisted that he knew how to deal with a werewolf. I had little other choice but to find you."

Dumbledore immediately began striding in that direction. "We must attempted to lure him outside. He can run wild in the Forbidden Forest."

"Headmaster. Where is Potter?"

Dumbledore frowned, blue eyes darkening. "Have you seen the writing on the walls?"

Severus felt like the wind was knocked from him. "So he is in the Chamber?"

"Yes, and if you were occupied with Black for the past hour or so, which I suspect you were. Then it is very likely that Black has not been opening up the Chamber."

Severus did not know if that was enough evidence. They didn't know when Harry disappeared, after all. "Have you any way to reach him?"

"None, truly. We have tried-" his words were cut off by a terrible howling.

"He's climbed to the fifth floor." Severus murmured dryly.

Dumbledore drew his wand. "He sounds like he's in the west end."

Severus drew his own wand. A single werewolf may be strong and fast, but they didn't have any intelligence, just pure animalistic rage. With a proper strategy, one could be taken down easily. But they were also the cramp corridors of a castle. Complete with moving staircases and rooms and hallways that tended to shift during in opportune times.

"Perhaps you should have not locked the other teachers in your office," Severus commented.

"More people will only increase the frenzy of the werewolf, as you well know." Dumbledore checked around a corner. The howls and snarls were ringing all around them and it was impossible to tell just where the werewolf was. "And Remus would be glad to know that less people were put into danger because of him."

"We could always just put him down now, save us the trouble every month," Severus muttered.

Dumbledore practically smirked at him. "Your words lack in true anger, Severus. I know you would much rather brew a wolfsbane potion for Remus every month than condemn him to death." He sighed. "Besides, I do believe Harry would miss him almost as much as you."

Severus was denied a response by a sudden, higher pitched yelp. And a large black dog skittered up the stairs before him. Transforming instantly, Black panted, almost doubled over. "Can't…can't get him contained…think he…hates the close…quarters of the castle…"

Dumbledore stared at Black for a moment, and Severus wondered if he managed to make him speechless. "Sirius Black," he stated.

Black suddenly straightened. "Give me a chance. I'll show you I'm innocent, but…" There was a low growl from around the corner and Black was suddenly the giant dog again, barking at them.

Lupin rounded the corner, letting out a loud howl that rattled Severus' bones. Werewolves did not look precisely like normal wolves. The back was hunched awkwardly as they fight to stand on two legs. The snouts were longer, full of jagged teeth dripping in foaming saliva. And a werewolf was huge. Lupin, the man, was just below average height, only made more small by his placid demeanor. But here, in the school hallway, he was filling up the walls. One massive paw clawed against a stone wall, hind legs bent awkwardly. The black eyes looked straight to Severus and Dumbledore.

Black barked and jumped, sinking his teeth into Lupin's neck. Black practically dangled from the floor, but it seemed to have little effect as Lupin lazily batted him away. He wasn't interested in the dog, strange as it was, eyes still fixated on the two humans.

"Stupefy!" Dumbledore and Severus shouted almost simultaneously. The spells rebounded off the thick hide, making the werewolf snarl at them. But it did little other effect. It crouched then leapt towards them. Severus instinctively gripped Dumbledore's arm and pulled him from the gaping jaw. Black jumped up Lupin's back, ripping at one shoulder. It got enough of the werewolf's attention to turn slightly.

"Incendio!" Severus shouted, wand shooting out the high flames. Lupin screeched, throwing Black away and retreating down the hallway. Severus pushed his flames up and over Black to the running werewolf. There was a loud bang as Lupin met the stairs.

They all ran forward. He had fallen down nearly three flights of stairs. Lupin was crumbled at the bottom, moaning and twitching, but he didn't seemed to be getting up anytime soon. Black transformed again. "He'll be up again. Break every bone in his body and he'll still chase you."

"Incarcerous!" Dumbledore boomed and Lupin was suddenly bound in silver chains. They scorched his flesh and he howled, but seemed unable to move. Dumbledore sighed, slowly lowering his way. "I'll be able to levitate him out with him immobilized with these. I'll have to apologize to Remus tomorrow."

Black looked down the stairs as well. "He would never blame you."

"Headmaster! AHH!" There was a scream and they all turned to find Hermione Granger having just skidded to a halt at one of the stairwells. She was staring down at the werewolf on the floor just below her.

"Granger!" Severus snapped. "You shouldn't be here!"

She turned and sprinted up the stairs towards them, ignoring Severus. "Headmaster! He's innocent!" She pointed at Black. "We found Peter Pettigrew and …and where is he?"

Black looked at Severus. "Yes, where did that rat run off too?"

Severus sneered, motion to the writhing werewolf. "I do believe that you were there to witness the chaos that allowed Pettigrew to escape."

Dumbledore put a hand between them, silencing the impending argument. "Time is pressing, but I do believe we have a minute to sort this out. Miss Granger, can you explain to me exactly what transpired this evening up to this point?"

Severus felt a little peeved that Dumbledore had singled out Granger when she should be in the hospital wing at this point. But she quickly opened her mouth, and like she was reciting a textbook, quickly apprised him of the situation from when her and Weasley left Hagrid's house to when she appeared now before them.

Afterward, she looked down. "That is Professor Lupin, isn't it?" She nodded slightly to herself. "I thought as much, but I didn't have any proof."

"Yes," Dumbledore said slowly. He turned to Black. "It is a compelling story, but we are lacking in a key player to prove your innocence."

Black squared his shoulders and clenched his jaw stubbornly. "I have witnesses."

"A werewolf, two children, and an ex-death eater." Dumbledore had the grace to send an apologetic nod to Severus. "It will not convince many in the ministry…but, you have saved our lives from a rampaging werewolf. So, for now, you'll have my protection in return."

Black's face lit up, and he almost smiled. "Thank you," he breathed.

Behind Dumbledore's back, Severus glared at Black, who only glared back at him. One young girl's testimony and Dumbledore was won over by Black's story.

Granger stepped forward. "Harry's in the Chamber of Secrets, right?"

Dumbledore sighed. "Yes, but by whose power we are still uncertain."

She suddenly looked to Black. "But that map that Professor Lupin had…he said it showed everything in Hogwarts. Does it also have the Chamber of Secrets?"

Black reached into his ragged robes and pulled the parchment from it. He held it out. "Someone with a wand say 'I solemnly swear I am up to no good'."

Granger immediately obeyed, gasping slightly as the blank page became overrun with lines. The school was meticulously drawn out and Severus quickly spotted their group, one of the few people in the castle. Even Lupin was written just below them, despite the fact he was currently very much not Remus J. Lupin at the moment.

Harry Potter was not located on the map.

"We—I mean, James, Remus, Peter, and I—all made the map while we were at Hogwarts. And though we prided ourselves on knowing every inch of Hogwarts, it is limited to what we had discovered. And we had never found anything like the Chamber of Secrets."

"Why isn't he here?" Granger moaned. "Is he not even in the castle? But I was so sure…"

Severus stared at her. "What have you been up to?"

She flushed pink. "Well, nothing…bad or anything. It's just that Harry was…getting kind of weird about the Chamber of Secrets since, well, Christmas. But he refused to tell me or Ron about it. So I've been doing some research…and, well, I think I might know what the monster could be and how it could be traveling the school."

Severus and Black gaped at her. Dumbledore looked mildly interested. "Truly? Enlighten us then."

She inhaled deeply. "A basilisk. Through the plumping."

There was a brief moment of silence and Severus fought with himself to not outright reject her idea. "And you basis for this assumption?"

"Well…a basilisk can kill someone with their gaze, right? But no one has died. But Colin Creevy did look at it through his camera lens. And Justin through Nearly Headless Nick. And Nick, well, you can't kill a ghost, right? That's why they were all petrified instead of…dying. And then, Hagrid's been complaining all term about how his roosters are disappearing, which their crow can kill a basilisk. Then…then Harry's been hearing these voices in the walls and once he told us he was a parseltongue, well…what better monster for Salazar Slytherin than a giant snake?"

It was a rather stunning deduction, Severus had to admit. Harry had admitted once to hearing a voice, but Severus had brushed it off as a nightmare. He had never thought that Harry was hearing a voice, a voice that only he could understand…

"But, the plumbing, why do you figure that?" Black asked.

"A guess, really. It had to be traveling in the walls somehow. And, at the scene of the first attack, that bathroom was completely flooded. I didn't think of it before, because that's moaning Myrtle's bathroom and she always floods the toilets. But I didn't have any other connection."

Severus suddenly turned to Dumbledore. "Headmaster, do you remember exactly how Myrtle died?" For all his years at Hogwarts, he had never paid attention to her, being completely uninterested in some sobbing ghost girl.

Dumbledore's eyes were narrowed in though. "She…she died many years ago…I had never thought that…but it makes perfect sense." He looked up. "Severus, go there and question her. She might be the key to finding the Chamber."

Severus was ready to turn and sprint, but Granger and Black both stepped forward, protesting.

"But I can be of use! I've spent hours researching basilisks!"

"Even if the map doesn't show them, I know Hogwarts better than anyone here. If we are in the right direction, I can be sure to find the entrance!"

Dumbledore put a hand on Severus' arm. "Do take them, will you? I've a werewolf to manage at the moment."

Severus sneered. "We could always lock them away somewhere for the time being." Dumbledore raised an eyebrow and Severus shrugged him off. "As you wish," he spat and turned and sprinted down the hallway, uncaring if Granger and Black could keep up.