Before Leo and Marisa knew it, it was Halloween. The first two months had gone by in a flash. The Snow Leopards were learning fast: most of the second-years were getting the hang of Shield Charms and were currently working on Mobilarbus while the first years were working on the Full Body-Bind.
Quidditch training sessions were going acceptably for Marisa. She was working on winning over the other players in the hopes of eventually becoming permanent Seeker. So far it hadn't been working too well.
The Halloween feast had just ended and students were spilling out to head back towards their dormitories. Marisa had had a lot of practice at moving in crowds, so she drew ahead of Leo and as he tried to follow, he found Vincent had squeezed between them.
Sighing, he began to drop back, not having any particular inclination to hurry – until the crowd suddenly stopped outside a girls' bathroom. Silence fell dramatically. Leo wormed his way forwards and he could see: there was writing on the wall.
THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE.
Hanging beneath the message was – a cat. Mrs. Norris, belonging to Filch. Dangling by her tail from the torch bracket, stiff and lifeless.
Leo knew what the Chamber was: it was created by Salazar Slytherin and held a monster, supposedly there to purge the school of those unworthy to study magic.
He shivered. He had just realised what Draco meant. This was what he had referred to in the summer. This was what was going to kill Muggle-borns.
Draco knew something about it. Maybe he was even behind it.
And if someone couldn't find out what this was and put a stop to it, Marisa could be in danger.