Over the next few weeks security was very high in the castle, making Penny feel claustrophobic. How was she meant to find out what happened to Hermione if the teachers insisted on escorting them everywhere? She wasn't even allowed to help Madam Pomfrey in the Hospital Wing, as nobody aside from the matron was permitted to enter it. This lead to Penny being in a foul mood, and most of her Slytherin gang became wary of her unpredictable outbursts.

Ginny had once again become very quiet, which Penny understood as Hermione had been a close friend of hers. However, when Penny assured her that she would catch the one responsible if it was the last thing she did, instead of looking pleased, Ginny had started crying much to Penny's alarm. This red head never stopped confusing her.

Due to the high security, Penny hadn't gotten a chance to speak to Harry, although he had raised his hand in greeting as their groups pasted in the corridor. Ron however had simply glared at her, perhaps despite Hermione's reassurances, he still suspected her involvement. Penny heard rumours about Hagrid's arrest and his apparent involvement last time. She reflected on how he had avoided talking about his expulsion and supposed his love of dangerous creatures would mean it made sense. But it just didn't seem right to her. Hagrid wasn't a Slytherin, nor did he dislike Muggle borns. No, something else was going on here.

Summer descended over the castle, and despite everything exams were fast approaching with only three days to go. Penny wasn't too worried as it was evident she easily outperformed the rest of her year, and most of the students in the year above. Her History of Magic group with the Huffelpuffs was just being escorted down the corridor, some Gryffindor second years were coming the opposite way with Lockhart when she heard a snatch of his conversation with Ron.

'Why don't you leave us here sir? We've only got one more corridor to go' Ron said. Penny immediately sensed an alternative motive in his words, and quietly switched sides of the corridor to join their group. She concealed herself slightly behind a statue as Lockhart wondered past mumbling something about making the most of his new quicker hair curling cream. She saw Harry and Ron sneak past her hiding spot and stepped out just behind them.

'Up to something Harry?' She said giggling as the boys jumped a foot.

'You need to stop doing that!' Harry replied, as usual unaware he had switched language. After glancing at Ron's annoyed face he seemed to realise he was speaking the Serpent's Tongue. 'How do you know which you are speaking? I can't tell except that Ron looks annoyed.'

'You need to learn to recognise it, otherwise how will you know if I'm intentionally talking only to you?' Penny said switching to English, smirking as she glanced sideways at Ron. 'What are you up to anyway?' She asked again. Harry started to explain despite Ron's objections of distrust.

He told her about Tom Riddle's diary, the visit to Hagrid's, their encounter with Aragog and their belief that Moaning Myrtle the ghost of the girl's toilets might be the girl that was killed before. Penny took it all in, quickly turning it over in her mind.

'Tom Riddle…..' she said her voice trailing off as she frowned. She knew she had never heard that name before, but somehow it seemed important. 'So what are we waiting for?' She turned around and quickly headed off towards the girl's bathroom, Harry and Ron in tow. That is until they heard McGonagall's voice shout after them.

'Potter! Weasley! Black! What are you doing?' McGonagall said, glaring down at them from her impressive height. Penny's mind raced to find anything the three of them would have a reason for being together, and it came to her because in a way it was true.

'Hermione.' Penny said quietly.

'What did you say?' McGonagall snapped

'We wanted to sneak into see Hermione' Harry continued for her, as Penny felt McGonagall's emotions change towards sympathy. She gave permission for them to visit and as they walked off Penny caught a strange wave of emotion emitted from the older witch. Regret and sadness that almost said 'the daughter I might have had….' Startled by this revelation Penny raced after the two boys down to the Hospital Wing. Whilst reluctant, Madam Pomfrey let them in, but seemed glad to have a little bit of help from Penny as the boys sat by a still Hermione. After a few minutes Penny glanced over to see Harry gently tugging a piece of paper from Hermione's rigid hand. Intrigued, Penny waited until Madam Pomfrey went into the back store rooms and moved over to the three of them. Harry looked straight at her when she approached, he glanced to see if Madam Pomfrey was watching before asking.

'Have you heard it?' He asked urgently, continuing as Penny looked bewildered 'Have you heard a snake in the castle?'

'Yes…why?' She said cautiously. In answer he past her the piece of paper he had taken from Hermione's. Penny gasped as she understood. She looked up into Harry's eyes as she realised what he was thinking. 'Yes Harry I think you are right, the Heir must be a Parselmouth to control the Basilisk, but I can assure you it's not me. You know I was in detention when the cat was attacked, and I was here when the Ravenclaw and Hermione were attacked.' Harry relaxed as he accepted her words, as did Ron, although he looked less pleased about it. 'We should go and tell McGonagall what we know.' Penny said, the three of them running down the corridors to the staff room and waiting inside.

However the bell never came, the announcement of students returning to dormitories did instead and the news of the new message and Ginny Weasley's disappearance. Penny felt like her stomach had turned to ice. Her friends were being attacked and she had not managed to do anything to protect them. As much as she knew that it wasn't her fault…she couldn't help but feel responsible somehow.

As she sat in the Slytherin common room, her thoughts whirling as she thought threw the last few months, trying to see what she had missed. Hermione was a Muggle born but Ginny was pure blood, everyone knew that. She had been acting strange, but she couldn't be the Heir could she? But she was in Gryffindor. But then she had had that strange presence about her, when Penny had tried to steal her diary. Her diary…could it be the diary Harry mentioned?

Penny stood up decisively. She was going to have to talk to the ghost in the bathroom, to see if the Chamber of Secrets was in there. She had to do something and now. Determinedly, she strolled straight out the Common Room, the Prefect stood there took half a pace towards her then thought better of it when he saw the fire in her face. Quietly she crept down the corridors, on the lookout for teachers. When she reached the door to the bathroom she leant against it as she heard male voices.

'Potter' she thought, the only guy she knew who would be in a girl's bathroom in these circumstances. Quietly she opened the door to hear the whiny ghost girl explaining about her death to the two boys and Professor Lockhart, who looked white as a sheet. They all turned as she came in, relaxing as they saw who it was. Penny quirked an eyebrow at Harry, glancing at Lockhart questioningly.

'This fraud was trying to run away' Harry snarled through gritted teeth in explanation before turning towards the sinks 'We think the entrance is here somewhere…ah' he said as he found the snake symbol on the tap. He looked around at her expectantly 'Say something in Parseltongue' he asked.

'You need to learn to do it at will' Penny retorted.

'We don't have time for this!' Roared Ron 'My sister is down there any you are playing smart arse teacher!' Penny went to snap back but stopped herself at Harry's glance.

'Very well' she said stiffly taking a breath 'Open' she hissed, jumping as green sparks emitted from the tap, and the entrance to the Chamber exposed. 'Wow.' Penny said her eyes wide.

Lockhart had tried to leave but the three of them made him slide down the pipe first, the tunnel at the bottom was dark and green. They had nearly frozen with fright when they found the snake skin, Harry had edged forward for a better look, whilst the others stood back. Whatever the others said, Penny thought this creature must be truly a magnificent serpent. Ron had foolishly let his guard down and Lockhart had tugged his wand off of him. Raising Ron's Sellotaped wand, Lockhart shouted 'Oblivate!' As the spell rebounded, the chamber started shaking above them. Penny's eyes met Harry's and held.

Then the ceiling caved in between them.