Very soon, Christmas arrived and several people were going home. Among the departees were Neville and Hermione. Katie and Mackenzie also stayed back, along with the rest of the Weasleys. More importantly, Malfoy and his posse were staying back as well.

All that meant was that it was the perfect time for Pansy and her friends to spy on the blond boy. A few days later, The quartet were at lunch in the Great Hall when a shadow briefly passed over Harry and he felt something flutter onto his lap.

Subtly looking down, he saw a note and sneakily opened it. It read, "Have news. Meet in the library after lunch. Bring W with you. Will be there with G and Z."

An hour later, Harry and Ron headed to the library. Inside, they spotted Pansy Parkinson, along with Daphne Greengrass and Blaise Zabini. She spotted him as well, but subtly motioned for them to sit at the next table. Shrugging, Harry and Ron obeyed and sat down, with Harry's back to Pansy.

She murmured, "Got to keep up appearances. We can't be seen having friendly relations with anyone outside of Slytherin, especially not with Gryffindors and especially not with you, Potter. Nothing personal, but if Malfoy were to find out, he would make our lives a living hell."

Harry whispered back, "Understood, what do you have for us?"

Daphne replied, "Potter, your suspicions were right. He has no idea who is behind the attacks. However, his father does, though he has been tight-lipped about the culprit's identity. We listened in while he was talking to Snyde and Murk. All we know is, the Chamber was opened around 50 years ago and one student died. We also found out that the Ministry of Magic raided Malfoy Manor last week."

Blaise chipped in, "They didn't find much, but Malfoy being the loudmouth twat that he is, boasted of various Dark Arts objects. Even revealed something about secret chambers under his drawing room floor."

They all sat around in silence for another 15 minutes before Harry and Ron got up. The demigod said, "Thank you for your help. We need to try and get to the bottom of this."

Daphne said, "I hope the attacks stop soon. I don't want Hogwarts to close down."


Very soon, the Christmas holidays passed by, and Neville and Hermione were back. As the days passed, Harry stepped up Ron and Hermione's training. Ron was getting better and better with the spear, while Hermione had a preference for daggers. Even Neville joined in, and his preferred choice of weapon was a sword.

One day, he and Neville were facing each other in their first friendly spar. Harry lectured as he held his practice sword, "Remember Nev, always wait for your opponent to strike first. That way, you can read their body language and identify any weak spots to exploit."

With that, he lunged and Neville somehow parried the sword strike. Harry advanced, "Here's another tip. When you have a shorter blade, get in closer. Jackson taught me that and he learnt that from Luke. That's it… Parry, Parry, Thrust!"

Eventually, Harry was able to disarm Neville and pointed his sword at the other boy's throat. Ron whistled in the background, "Bloody hell, Harry! You're pretty good with a sword."

Harry waved him off, "Actually, I'm not. Sword fighting is one of my primary weaknesses. Haven't been able to find a sword that has the right balance for me."

Hermione cocked her head curiously, "Is that important? I mean, surely you can pick up any sword and start fighting."

He shook his head, "I'm afraid not. If the sword is too light, you won't be able to control it. On the other hand, if it's too heavy, then it will be difficult to lift, and you will be a liability in the battlefield. Anyway, good spar. We have a lot of work to do. We'll pick this up tomorrow."

As they walked back, and Harry hid the weapons, they entered the castle. They clambered up the stairs when they heard angry mutterings from Filch. He complained, "Not again! This one will be the death of me! Piling on even more work on me! Mopping all night, like I haven't got enough to do! No, this is the final straw! I'm going to Dumbledore-"

The angry rant was cut off by a loud door slam and the four poked their heads around the corner. Then they spotted what the caretaker had been whining about. There was a great flood of water, stretched over half of the corridor. The source was Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, as usual. The quartet could even hear the ghost wailing inside.

Ron grumbled, "Now what's up with her?"

Harry shrugged, "Let's go and find out."

They all stepped in and found her bawling her eyes out in her usual toilet. Harry hesitantly approached the ghost, "Hello Myrtle, are you alright?"

She petulantly sobbed, "Who's that? Come to throw something else at me?"

Harry chuckled slightly, "Son or not, Mother would turn me into a jackalope if I ever dared to hit a girl. Who threw the book then?"

She shouted, "Don't ask me! Here I am, minding my own business, and someone thinks it's funny to throw a book at me."

Ron tactlessly said, "But surely you won't feel a thing when someone throws something."

The others winced, and Myrtle went ballistic. She shrieked, "Oh yes! Let's all throw books at Myrtle, because she can't feel it! Ten points if you can get it through her stomach! Fifty points if it goes through her head! What a jolly game!"

Harry raised his hands placatingly, "Hey, I'm sorry for my friend, Myrtle. He has a tendency to speak without thinking. Where is that book anyway?"

Moaning Myrtle sullenly pointed and they walked over to it. Not wanting to take any chances, Hermione checked the book for Jinxes before Harry picked it up. They noted that it was a diary and it was fifty years old, belonging to one T.M. Riddle.

Ron observed, "Hold on… I know that name! T.M. Riddle got a special services award around 50 years ago. I got in detention earlier this year, and Filch made me polish the shield bearing his name, until it shone."

Harry flipped through the pages, "It's blank. Not a single entry in the diary at all. Maybe someone flushed it down the toilet because they saw that it was someone else's. But that doesn't make sense. Surely they would have given it to a professor or started writing in it, themselves. This Riddle bloke must have forgotten about it too, seeing that he never came back to reclaim it even once in 50 years."

Having not gleaned anything from the diary right there in the bathroom, Harry pocketed it. As they walked back to their Common Room, he mused, "I wonder what the award for special services was about."

Ron grunted, "Could have been anything. Maybe he cleared every O.W.L with distinction or saved a teacher from the giant squid."

Just then, Hermione adopted a thoughtful look, "The Chamber of Secrets was opened fifty years ago right? And this diary is also fifty years old?"

"Yeah?" Ron replied.

"Well what if this Tom Riddle knew about who opened the Chamber of Secrets? Maybe the Award for Special Services was for catching the Heir of Slytherin. The diary will probably tell us where the Chamber is, how to open it, and what sort of monster lives in it."

Harry was already checking the diary and flipping through the pages as she continued her excited tirade. He interrupted her, "That's a solid theory, Hermione, except there is one major hole. There's nothing written in the diary. It's completely blank."

Unperturbed, she cast a few detection spells, checking for invisible ink. However, that turned up nothing at all, so she changed tactics and used a bright red eraser, which she called a 'Revealer'. However, that turned out nothing at all.

In the end, they elected to investigate it another time.


Over the next few days, Harry, Ron, Neville and Hermione tried their hardest to extract as much information from the diary, but to no avail. They even visited the trophy room and had a look at the plaque celebrating Tom Riddle and his many accomplishments.

Overall, things seemed very quiet over the next couple of weeks. One day, Harry was writing his Potions homework when he accidentally knocked over his inkwell. Fortunately, he prevented his homework from being ruined, as Snape was a hard taskmaster. However, not everything was saved, as the diary got a generous dousing. He frantically opened the book, only for an unbelievable sight to greet his eyes. The massive ink blot shone briefly before steadily melting into the book. Sadly, he did not have any more time to delve into the mystery because he spotted Percy Weasley enter the Common Room and announce that it was time for bed.

January flew by quickly, and February arrived. Things were relatively quiet, as there were no attacks, but everyone was still on edge. The school was also clearly divided into two camps, The first consisted of those who blindly believed Malfoy's crazed rambling about him being a Parselmouth. The other camp was the group who believed that he was innocent. He had Lavender, Parvati and Penny to thank, for running interference. Harry made a mental note to send them Thank You cards for Valentine's Day.

Speaking of Valentine's Day, Lockhart had the 'brilliant' idea to introduce a morale-booster. On February 14th, he and Ron entered the Great Hall, to see it completely transformed and unrecognisable. The walls were adorned with lurid pink flowers, heart-shaped confetti cascading from the ceiling and pink wallpaper plastered everywhere.

Harry murmured, "Gods above! Did Aphrodite sneak in and decorate this place? Even she is not this garish."

Ron looked like he was about to hurl, as they both sat down next to Hermione and Neville. The boy was simply looking around, bemused, and the girl was overcome with giggles. Then he looked over at the head table and blanched. Lockhart was standing there, grinning like a loon, wearing robes, whose colours matched the walls. He was the only one in good spirits, while the other professors looked like they would rather be elsewhere.

Lockhart yammered excitedly, "Happy Valentine's Day! And may I thank the forty-six people who have so far sent me cards. I have taken the liberty to arrange this all, just for you! Guess what! It does not end there!"

He clapped his hands and the doors opened slowly. On cue, about a dozen surly-looking dwarves ambled in, and they were wearing golden wings and were carrying harps. Lockhart explained that the dwarves would deliver everyone's valentines greetings.

Spotting a scarlet Hermione, Harry shot her a teasing grin as they got up to leave after breakfast. He said, "Let me guess, you were the first one to send Lockhart a Valentine's card?"

Turning even redder, she mumbled, "I was the fourth one…"

Harry and Ron sniggered until they couldn't hold it in any more and began howling in laughter, clutching each other's backs. Hermione simply gave them the stink-eye, though that effect was ruined by her apple-red face. In the afternoon, he was in the Courtyard with the others when a dwarf trotted up to him. He grunted, "You, Harry Potter?"

Harry fought down his blush, as there were a bunch of First-Year Gryffindors within earshot, including Mackenzie. He groaned, "Fine… Let's get this over with."

It sang horribly off-key, "His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad. His hair is dark as a blackboard. I wish he was mine, he's really divine. The hero who conquered the Dark Lord."

Unfortunately, Malfoy, Snyde and their cronies turned up and were guffawing away. Harry simply ignored them and walked away, but not before noticing Ginny's scarlet face.


Not much happened afterwards, but he did bump into Ginny and Mackenzie in the Common Room, quite literally.

Mackenzie asked, "Are you okay, Harry?"

He smiled at her, "Perfectly fine, Kenzie. Oh by the way, Ginny. I appreciate the sentiment, but next time, I'd prefer a more personal Valentine's gift. Good effort though!"

The youngest Weasley's face reddened once again and he walked back up to his dorm, while they left to go somewhere else. He headed to his dorm, which was empty, and fished out the diary from his trunk, with the odd scene of the disappearing ink, wafting back into his memory. Eager to test out his theory, he wrote, "My name is Harry Potter."

Just like before, the words shone briefly and disappeared. However, his eyes soon widened when different words appeared in front of him. "Hello Harry Potter. My name is Tom Riddle, How did you come by my diary?"

Harry wrote back, "Someone tried to flush it down a toilet."

The book replied, "Lucky that I recorded my memories in a more lasting way than ink. I always knew that there would be those who would not want this diary read."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that this diary holds memories of terrible things. Things that were covered up. Things that happened at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"What sort of things? There are some strange goings on this year. Something about the Chamber of Secrets. Do you know anything about it?"

"Of course I know about the Chamber of Secrets. In my day, they told us it was nothing but a legend, and it did not exist. They lied. In my fifth year, the Chamber was opened and the monster attacked several students, finally killing one. I caught the person who'd opened the Chamber and he was expelled. However, Headmaster Armando Dippet forbade me from telling the truth, out of shame that such a thing had taken place at Hogwarts. In the end, the 'official' story was that the girl died in a freak accident. All I got was a nice, shiny trophy for my trouble and warned to maintain my silence. However, I knew that it would happen again. The monster was never killed and the one who had the power to release it, was not imprisoned."

Harry replied back, "Already, there have been three attacks. No one knows who's behind it. Do you know who it was who opened the Chamber last time?"

"I can show you if you like. You don't have to take my word for it. I can take you inside my memory of the night when I caught him."

With that, Harry was suddenly sucked into the book. When he managed to regain his footing, he found himself in a familiar room, Professor Dumbledore's office. The only difference was that there was someone else sitting on the headmaster's chair.

The man in front of him was a frail-looking wizard, who was bald, except for a few wisps of white hair. Harry tried to get the man's attention, but got ignored until it hit him that he was in a memory.

Soon, there was a knock on the door and a sixteen-year old boy with a silver prefect badge walked in.

The headmaster said, "Ahh, Mr. Riddle!"

The boy nervously asked, "You wished to see me, Professor Dippet?"

"Yes, do sit down. I was just going through the letter that you sent me. My dear boy, I cannot possibly allow you to stay in school over the summer. Surely you wish to go home for the holidays?"

The boy was a little defiant, "No, I'd much rather stay at Hogwarts than go back to that – to that –"

"Oh yes, I forgot that you live in a Muggle orphanage. Are you, by chance, a Muggle-born?"

Riddle reddened a little, "No sir, I'm a half-blood. Muggle father, witch mother. My mother died just after I was born, sir. The orphanage told me that she lived long enough to name me Tom, after my father, and Marvolo after my grandfather."

Dippet nodded, "I see, I understand where you are coming from, I truly do. I would have been more than willing to make special arrangements for you, but circumstances changed."

Riddle tilted his head, "You are referring to the recent attacks, right sir?"

"Precisely, my boy. I cannot, in good conscience, allow you to stay in such a treacherous environment. Particularly in light of the recent tragedy. That poor girl who died… You orphanage would be far safer than Hogwarts, at this juncture. Furthermore, there are rumours that the Ministry of Magic is planning to close down the school. Unfortunately, we are no nearer to locating the – er – source of all this unpleasantness."

Riddle nodded, "I understand, sir. What if the culprit was caught, sir?"

Dippet gazed at him sharply, "What do you mean? Is there something that you wish to tell me?"

Riddle hurriedly shook his head, "N-no sir!"

Harry wasn't convinced, but Headmaster Dippet was certainly placated. He simply gestured towards the door, "You may go, Tom."

Riddle left, and Harry decided to follow him. He observed the Sixth-Year student as he bit his lip and scrunched his forehead in thought. Just then, he paused, and then hurried off in one direction, with Harry tailing him. They didn't meet anyone along the way, but once they reached the Great Hall, they ran into a tall wizard with sweeping auburn hair and a long beard.

When he spoke, Harry recognised him as Professor Dumbledore, immediately. Dumbledore said, "What are you doing, wandering around this late, Tom?"

Tom Riddle replied, "The headmaster requested an audience with me."

He fixed the student with a penetrating stare, "Very well… hurry off to bed. Best not to roam the corridors these days. Not since…"

Dumbledore big Riddle goodnight and walked away. Meanwhile, Tom Riddle continued on and headed straight for the dungeons. The boy entered a hidden passageway and stood, as if he was waiting for something, or someone.

Soon, they heard a shuffling in the main passage and someone muttering, "Come on… Got to get you out of here. Come on now, in the box."

Harry could have sworn he had heard that voice from somewhere. Riddle made his move and stepped out of his hiding place, with Harry following him. He confronted a large boy crouching in front of an open door, with a big wooden box next to him.

Riddle drawled, "Hello Rubeus…"

His voice startled the other boy, and Harry was shocked to see none other than Rubeus Hagrid. Hagrid yelped, "What are you doing down here, Tom?"

Riddle advanced towards him, "It's all over. I'm going to have to turn you in, Rubeus. They're talking about closing Hogwarts if the attacks don't stop. Now I know you didn't mean to kill anyone. But you have to understand that monsters don't make good pets. I'm assuming that you let it out for some exercise, and it just–"

Hagrid cried, "It never killed no one!"

He made to block the door, and Harry could hear some bewildered voice saying, "Wh-what's going on? What's happening?"

Riddle continued, "Come on Rubeus, be reasonable. The dead girl's parents will be here tomorrow. The least that Hogwarts can do is make sure that the thing that killed their daughter, is slaughtered…"

Hagrid roared, "It wasn't him! He wouldn't! He never!"

Tom Riddle finally lost patience and used his wand to knock Hagrid aside and blow the door open. At the same time, a large hairy body with a tangle of black legs, many eyes and razor sharp pincers, scuttled out at top speed. It yelled out, "Freedom!"

With that, Harry was blasted back out of the book, where he sat panting. He couldn't believe his ears, Hagrid of all people, was accused of opening the Chamber of Secrets! Then he thought about the large figure that ran off. It was an Acromantula, a creature that he recognised from the few Care of Magical Creatures classes that he attended.

With the book in hand, he descended down the stairs of his dorm and made his way to the portrait, Just then, it opened and he crashed into Mackenzie and Ginny, sending the three of them tumbling down. He laughed, "We've got to stop meeting like this, Kenzie! This is getting to be a habit. Anyway, have you seen, Ron, Hermione or Neville?"

His cousin replied, "I think I saw them in the library. We just got back from there."

Harry nodded and left through the portrait. Just then, Mackenzie noticed a black book on the floor, "Oh! I think Harry forgot about this book! He must have dropped it when he bumped into us."

Ginny snatched it up, "I-It's okay! I can give it to him."

Mackenzie tilted her head curiously, "Are you sure? I mean, you still can't talk to him normally without reducing yourself into a blushing mess. Maybe it's better if I-"

Ginny interrupted, "No-no! I can handle it!"

Her friend shrugged, "If you say so."

Meanwhile with Harry, his mind was still reeling as he entered the library. He slid next to Neville, who was doing his homework. Ron and Hermione were doing the same, when they noticed him. Ron raised his eyebrows and whispered, "You okay mate? You look like you've seen a dementor."

Harry murmured back, "The book started writing back. Turns out, it preserved the memories of what happened 50 years ago. However, something's still really dodgy about this whole situation. I believe Hagrid was accused of opening the chamber last time, and the monster was an Acromantula."

Ron shuddered, "Bloody hell! The man's mental for thinking that Acromantulas are good pets. But how do you know that the monster is not an Acromantula?"

Hermione piped up, "First of all, if its Slytherin's monster, then it has to be a snake-like monster. Acromantulas are far from snakes. Also, I don't think they petrify their victims. I have a feeling that Hagrid was just a scapegoat in the whole matter."

Later on after classes, the quartet were hanging around in the Great Hall, when they spotted Sirius enter. He made a bee-line for them straightaway and he looked pretty mad. He slid in next to Neville and they asked what was wrong. Sirius scowled, "The Minister of Magic is on his way here. I believe the last time the Chamber was opened, Hagrid was involved. Cornelius Fudge is about to fudge up this entire investigation, simply because he wants the 'Ministry to be seen doing something'. My boss, Amelia Bones, is doing everything in her power to stall him. I'm just the advance party. Come on, kiddo. Let's go to see Hagrid and straighten this out."

Harry got up, "Do you want my friends to come with us?"

Sirius stopped and thought, "Better not risk it. I can vouch for you because you have been helping us directly with the investigation. I even got Madam Bones to sign off on it, especially when you pointed out details that we missed. However, I can't really vouch for your friends, because Fudge might not listen, thinking that you are all just little children. Don't worry though, Harry will fill you in on the situation."

He and Sirius made their way over to Hagrid's hut, while Hermione headed to the Library again. Ron and Neville elected to stay in the Great Hall. Before she left though, Harry said, "Make sure you carry a mirror with you. It should hopefully protect you from a Gorgon's stare/ That is, if the monster is a Gorgon". She walked away muttering, 'Acromantulas… Acromantulas…'.


Sirius knocked, and the door flew open, revealing Hagrid with a crossbow aimed at them. Instinctively, Harry brought out his shield and made to protect himself and Sirius. Seeing who it was, Hagrid was a little sheepish and closed the door behind them. He said, "Sorry, sorry. Was expecting someone else, or something else. I still haven't caught the blighter who's been killing my roosters."

Sirius spoke out, "Hagrid old friend, there's no easy way to say this. You know what's been happening in the school, right? Apparently, our investigations revealed that something similar happened nearly 50 years ago."

Hagrid caught on to what Sirius was saying, and his face paled, "Now wait just a minute… I would never… Aragog would never."

Harry interrupted, "Who's Aragog?"

The larger man clamped his hand over his mouth. Then he mumbled, "He was my pet Acromantula. But he would never-"

Harry raised his arms placatingly and said, "I believe you, Hagrid. As far as I'm aware, Acromantulas don't petrify their victims. I'm willing to bet that the culprit is a Gorgon. Heck, three of my demigod friends and I fought and managed to kill Medusa."

Hagrid stared nervously at the windows, and Sirius noticed it. He said, "It's okay Hagrid. We're so close to cracking this case. I know that Fudge has been pushing for Azkaban, but Amelia insisted that the Ministry holding cells are a better option. Like Harry said, Acromantulas don't petrify people."

Just then, there was another knock on the door, and Sirius opened it. In walked Headmaster Dumbledore, and a man in a pinstripe suit, scarlet tie, long black cloak and pointed purple boots. To cap off the bizarre look, he wore a lime-green bowler hat. A third person entered, and the demigod recognised the newcomer as Madam Amelia Bones.

Fudge looked at Harry and raised an eyebrow, "Mr Black? What is a child doing in here? This is adult business! Don't you have classes to go to?"

Sirius grabbed Harry's shoulder and squeezed it gently. He coolly said, "Actually Minister Fudge, Harry is here on my request. He has been actively helping me and the other Aurors in the investigation, and is proving to be a valuable asset."

Fudge only nodded before sighing, "Very well then, what have you discovered?"

Harry asked him, "Before I begin, I have to ask, when Hagrid was expelled 50 years ago, what was the creature that was accused of the attacks?"

Fudge explained, as if Harry was an idiot, "What does it matter, dear boy? Mr Hagrid has a tendency to think of any dangerous beast as a cuddly little Crup."

Harry replied, "I'm not denying that, Minister Fudge. I simply asked, because I have a few theories in mind."

He declared, "It was an Acromantula. Bloody dangerous bugs, they are. Those things ought to be exterminated!"

Dumbledore spoke calmly, "Minister Fudge? Perhaps we can watch our tongues here. Mr Potter is 12 years old after all, and needn't pick up such language."

He blanched, "Apologies…"

Suddenly, a final figure entered the hut casually swinging a fancy cane, it was Lucius Malfoy. He drawled, "Already here? Good, good. I arrived as quickly as I could, and was told that the headmaster was here. Anyway, what were we discussing?"

Fudge brightened, "Well, Mr Potter has supposedly been helping in the ongoing investigation. He is aware of the previous accusation of Mr Hagrid and wished to know what kind of monster he had in his possession. I already told him that it was an Acromantula."

Malfoy spoke condescendingly, "And what… is Mr. Potter's 'expert' advice and his deduction?"

Unfazed, Harry continued, "Forgive me if I'm wrong, but Acromantulas are not known for petrifying students. As far as I'm aware, they are known for biting their victim and poisoning them. So I really don't know if Hagrid's pet Acromantula is the culprit. If I had to take a guess, then my biggest suspect would be gorgons."

Malfoy Sr. sneered, "And how would you know this? If I'm not mistaken, you are just in Second Year, and too young to study an elective like Care of Magical Creatures."

Harry shrugged, "Well sir, I have to confess that I have an affinity for animals. I've also been assisting Professor Kettleburn with a few lectures. I've grown up, mostly in the outdoors and fairly close to nature. Additionally, my care-givers were fairly fond of Ancient Greek mythology."

Malfoy pushed, "You say that you are good with animals? Any in particular?"

Harry looked him firmly in the eye and said, "Sir, if you are insinuating what I think you are, allow me to allay your concerns."

With that, he gave a sharp whistle, and a minute later, a small golden blur shot in. It stopped in front of Harry briefly, before darting forward and nuzzling the left side of his jaw. Hagrid and Professor Dumbledore looked absolutely delighted, with the latter's eyes twinkling. Sirius didn't react, because he was a little used to it. However, Fudge and Madam Bones' jaws had dropped, and even Malfoy Sr was stunned.

As it alighted on his left finger, Harry stroked it gently with his right hand. He explained, "A few months ago, some friends and I managed to stumble upon an animal smuggling ring and I happened to discover this little guy. Of course, we saved the animals, but this one grew a little attached to me."

After his explanation, Harry could not help noticing that Malfoy clenched his cane a little. Madam Bones interrupted, "Mr. Potter, this is all very fascinating, but I think we have wandered off the point. I will take your findings into account. For now though, I would recommend that Mr Hagrid be taken in for questioning and be held in a Ministry cell. If there are any further attacks in his absence, then we will release him."

Fudge blustered, "Madam Bones! We at the Ministry are under a lot of pressure! We have to be seen doing something!"

She fixed her monocled eye on him, "Minister Fudge! Do not presume to tell my Aurors and I, how to do our duties! You forget, I have a niece in this school! Auror Black has his godson, and Mr. Malfoy has his own son studying in this school!"

He backed off immediately. Then Malfoy drawled, "Headmaster, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I almost forgot. The Board of Governors are worried about the attacks. So, they have collectively decided that it is time for you to step aside. Hence, we have decided to hand out an Order of Suspension. I also met with Professor McGonagall, who has just informed me that there has just been another attack. This time two students were involved. Unfortunately, I do not know their identities, as yet."

Harry was shocked and turned to Sirius, "Uncle Sirius? May I go and analyse the crime scene?"

Sirius nodded in assent, but just before he left, Dumbledore spoke up. He said, "Mr. Potter, I shall go with you. Since I have been essentially dismissed, I had better head up to my office and pack up. I think it's time for a vacation. I hear that Long Island is beautiful at this time of the year."

He gave a subtle wink at Harry, before continuing, "Mr. Potter, walk with me, please."


As the two walked back to the castle, Ron came rushing up, with his eyes wide in terror. He exclaimed, "Harry! There you are! Neville and I have been looking for you everywhere! There's been a double attack and-"

Dumbledore calmly interrupted him, "Mr. Weasley, we are aware of what has transpired, right under our noses. The head of the Board of Governors has immediately ordered my dismissal, owing to the evolving situation."

Ron was aghast, "B-But sir! With you gone, there will be no one to protect the Muggleborns!"

He gave them a gentle smile, "Mr Weasley and Mr Potter. Do not weep that I'm gone. You will find that I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me. You will also find that help will always be given at Hogwarts, to those who ask for it. Oh, and before I forget, remember when you spoke about the spiders leaving the castle? I'd suggest you look into that and follow them."

With that, he parted ways with them, leaving Harry and Ron alone. Then Harry asked, "Hey Ron, what were you so panicked about?"

Ron's face fell, "Harry, it's Hermione… She is one of the latest victims, along with the Ravenclaw prefect, Penelope Clearwater."

Harry reeled back in shock and collapsed on the ground. He breathed, "Wh-Where are they?"