"Its nothing Neville." They had realized that they made a huge mistake.
Neville looked hurt.
Hermione went over and tried to make him feel better. "Neville, we were just talking about things we heard and wanted to look into."
He rolled over and ignored her. No one spoke. Then slightly muffled by a pillow, "You all lie to me and you're going to get hurt one day." After that Neville either fell asleep or just continued ignoring them.
The four talked for a little while more deciding on what books to bring. That is, until Madam Pomfrey came back in and shooed them out claiming Harry needed rest. Harry, who didn't feel like sleeping, felt extremely bored. His friends had been chased out of the room. Neville was mad, and wouldn't speak to him. There was nothing to do.
Two hours later Madam Pomfrey went to her office after giving Harry his lunch and while she was there Renata snuck in.
"Hi Harry. It doesn't look like you made up with Neville yet, and it seems the nurse doesn't want the rest of us to be in here so I brought you a book. Here's the Simarillion. It's another Tolkien. You can borrow it, if you want. Personally I think you should apologize to Neville. Remember, friends can listen and talk back, that book can't." She turned heel and left before Harry could say a word about how he wasn't going to apologize to Neville.
Harry was engrossed in his book when Madam Pomfrey came with dinner hours later Harry was still reading. She went over to Neville's bed and since Harry still hadn't touched his food when she came back she took his book and moved it to the other side of the room. "Eat, you need your strength if you want to leave in three days."
"What's wrong with me that I even have to stay that long?"
The nurse didn't answer and simply moved back to her office.
After eating Harry was tempted to use the Summoning Charm to get his book but instead he turned to Neville.
"Look, Neville, I'm sorry. We didn't mean to lie to you. We didn't have any choice."
"Yes you did, and there's always a choice," the reply came in a melancholy voice.
"I don't know why I'm even bothering to apologize to you," Harry muttered angrily.
"Because she told you to."
"What are you talking about?"
"Renata told you that you should apologize to me. You don't like saying sorry or that you were wrong so you started reading that book so you ignored what she said. Then you decided to listen to her advice because it was her advice."
"You mean you weren't asleep when she was talking to me?"
"I haven't slept all day."
Harry's temper was rising. "You've listened to all my conversations all day!"
"Well, no one ever talks to me so what am I supposed to do? Sit here?"
Harry picked up his wand, "Accio Simarillion!" The book soared into Harry's hand and he began to read.
At 10:30 Madam Pomfrey came in and turned the lights off. Harry lay there awhile before sleep claimed him.

Harry was roused by the sound of voices.
"Where can he have gone?" It was Madam Pomfrey.
"He isn't in the Tower," McGonagall's voice.
"Not in the dungeons," Snape's whisper.
"Hagrid has seen no sign of him on the grounds."
"Keep searching. We need to find him," Dumbledore this time.
Harry heard several pairs of feet walk away.
"Albus do you think he left of his own accord or was he taken by someone?"
"Poppy, there is no sign of any struggle but who ever took him, if that was the case, could have quite easily covered their trail."
"So what will we tell the students?"
"For the time being keep the drapes around Neville's bed closed in case anyone comes up to see him or Harry. Harry will be awake soon."
"What shall I tell him?"
"I don't believe in telling lies. We shall tell Harry that Neville is not here this morning. If Neville still has not turned up by this evening we will have to report that he is indeed missing."
"Albus, what about Harry? He is asking questions. He wants to know when he can leave. He also wants to know why he was unconscious and what happened to him. He wants to know why we're keeping him."
"Well, Poppy there are several factors, you know. I could have sworn this was one of the securest places in the School. How a student can be taken from here without our knowledge or leave without our being aware is beyond my comprehension. I have to go consult with some friends about what happened in September and see if they know anything else. I'll be back shortly if not sooner."
Harry listened to the receding sound of Dumbledore's steps and then to Madam Pomfrey's as well. He leaned over to the nightstand beside the bed and put on his glasses. He let the reality of what he heard hit him. Neville was gone. Dumbledore leaving out something important about what happened the night the Dementors came. Harry reviewed the facts. A poisonous snake had come to kill Harry. Dementors had left Azkaban and the first thing anyone knows they did after leaving was come to Hogwarts to Harry's dorm. But had the snake really come for him? That Boa Constrictor had warned him, but this didn't seem like Voldemort's style. He would do something big, something colossal. But he had no idea of what it was and no way to find it out.
Harry slumped down in a dejected manner. At least as soon as he was out of the Hospital Wing he could go back to Quiditch practice. Nothing worked better for getting rid of nightmares than a vigorous Quiditch practice. That in mind, Harry drifted off once more.
When he awoke once more it was with a start. His vision was blurred. Someone must have removed his glasses. He reached to the table and put them on. He knew what it was now, the Quiditch match with the Angel Academy! It had to be. Two schools. Harry, assuming he won the Cup at Hogwarts and got to play in the match, might be far enough from Dumbledore's reach to be vulnerable to attack.
In the air what control could Dumbledore have? There was Dark Magic that could interfere with a broom. But how was it going to happen? Would Voldemort kill him in front of everyone or lure him away? Would he allow Harry a fighting chance and risk what happened the last time or would he do the same as what he had down to Cedric? Harry's thoughts were interrupted by Madam Pomfrey.
"So I see you're awake. Well, I have your breakfast here. Eat it when you wish, but I warn you that if its not soon it will get cold. I'll be back to check on you in a bit."
Harry didn't feel like eating but didn't want to make a fuss and put the food to his mouth as he returned to his confused thoughts.
He needed to talk to Ron and Hermione; but he also needed a good excuse to speak with them.
He brooded on it for a while, pretending to be reading. By the time Madam Pomfrey showed up with his lunch he had an idea.
"Madam Pomfrey, I'm missing a lot of schoolwork right now and I just sit here doing nothing. Can Ron come by later with my work?" He asked in a voice of innocence.
She hesitated before answering. "Of course. You don't want to fall behind now."
"Madam Pomfrey, I need to talk to Neville I feel really bad because I was mean yesterday and I want to apologize." He tried to look like he meant what he was saying.
"I'm sorry Harry, Neville isn't up here right now. You can talk to him next time you see him." That said, the nurse left before Harry could further question her.
Harry chewed thoughtfully at his sandwich. Why was he being kept here? The effects from a Dementor wouldn't be a reason to keep him here. He hadn't gotten bitten by the snake. There was something more. There was something that wasn't being told to him. He tried to review everything he had found out but it was too confusing. This was a jigsaw puzzle and he was missing the key piece to hold it all together.
Somewhere along in his confused thoughts he dropped back to sleep.

When Harry woke he was being poked in the back. "Harry Potter, sir? Wake up!"
"What?"
"Harry Potter!"
Harry looked down to see a house-elf named Dobby looking at him with enormous eyes. "Hello Dobby. What is it?"
"Dobby hears things, Harry Potter."
Harry waited for the house-elf to continue.
"Many things, sir. They is going to get you. They took the other boy here. He's gone Harry Potter."
"Dobby who's going to get me? Who took Neville?"
"Dobby was in the Slytherin dungeon, had to change stinky sheets." He wrinkled his long, pointy nose. "Dobby heard the mean blonde boy talking to his friends. The one whose family Dobby used to work for. He said that the boy in the Hospital Wing would be sorry he existed. Then they was laughing, sir. Dobby thought they was talking about Harry Potter, sir. But then Dobby has to get dirty robes from the staff room and he hears more. Professor Dumbledore was talking to Professor McGonagall. They was saying that the boy in the Hospital with Harry Potter was gone. So Dobby knew that Harry Potter was safe but his friend is in danger, sir."
"Thanks Dobby. Do you know who took Neville? Or where he is?"
The little house-elf shook his head. "No. But Dobby does hear more. You aren't well Harry Potter. The Headmaster say so. Dobby hears him." He nodded his head vigorously.
"What did he say was wrong with me?"
"The Headmaster didn't say. He just say 'Harry cannot leave the Hospital Wing yet.' Both looked very worried. Then Dobby had to go to the kitchens."
"Thank you Dobby. Tell me if you hear anything else?"
"Yes, Harry Potter. Dobby must go now Harry Potter, sir." He left quickly.
Harry mentally digested the information he had received. So there was something wrong with him. Malfoy had something to do with Neville's disappearance. Harry was mad. Neville had never hurt anybody. Why would they take him? Harry thought back to his second year when Voldemort had taken Ginny Weasly. She was unsuspecting. That's what it was. She hadn't done anything wrong but she was getting suspicious and so she was taken. Neville had heard them talking yesterday but how would anyone know that he had heard them?
Well, whatever was wrong with him he hoped it wouldn't keep him from playing against Slytherin in their next Quiditch match. Every time Harry had faced Malfoy in a Quiditch match, Malfoy came out the worse; Harry wasn't about to let that change.
Harry was still deep in thought when Ron came in followed by Hermione and Renata.
"We've got news."
"So have I." Briefly Harry told his friends of everything he had heard during the day. He finished with, "So Neville's missing, Dumbledore thinks that someone took him."
"Why would anyone bother taking Neville?"
"I don't know."
"Here's your homework Harry. I don't understand why you want it but here it is."
"Thanks I needed an excuse to talk to you all. I think I know when Voldemort is going to strike. The Quiditch game against the Angel Academy."
"If you're right, then, Harry you know what you have to do," said Hermione.
"What?"
A look passed between Hermione and Renata.
Renata took a deep breath. "Harry, she wants you to throw the game."
"What do you mean 'throw the game'?"
"Throw away the game Harry! You need to lose the Quiditch match against Slytherin so we don't go to California."
"Never! The only Quiditch match I ever lost.well I'm not losing another one. Especially to those rotten Slytherins!" Harry could imagine the endless taunting from Malfoy if Gryffindor lost.
Madam Pomfrey came out, "What's all the commotion about?"
Ron was in his element. "We were telling him about a Quiditch game we read about in the sports section of the Daily Prophet and his favorite team lost."
"Well, he needs rest and you are all disturbing him and he needs rest. Out!"
Harry answered hastily. "Madam Pomfrey can they please stay a bit longer its lonely; without Neville here there's no one to talk to."
"Ten minutes. That is it."
"Thank you." Harry turned back to his friends. "I'm not going to lose that game. Renata, if you're playing bad on the day of the game I'll put someone else on the field."
"That's assuming you get to play of course."
"What are you saying?"
"What if they don't let you out of the Hospital Wing by the time the match comes?"
"How long do you think they'll keep me here? The match isn't until May 12. Its hardly the middle of February."
Renata laughed. "Yeah but I've asked around and you seem to have a knack for ending up in here. Concussions. Bone loss. Tons of it. What is this now? Twice this year, and not for colds or flues."
"I'm not going to miss the match," He said firmly.
"Whatever," Renata answered casually.
"Okay let's get back to the important thing here."
"What's that, Hermione?"
"I said let's get back to what's important. Harry, I don't really want you to lose. I hate the thought of Gryffindor losing to the Slytherins. But if it means people will be hurt."
"Think about it. Hufflepuff plays Slytherin in two weeks. If Hufflepuff loses then Slytherin and Gryffindor are tied for the Cup. Then if we lose Slytherin will win. Renata do you really want them at your old school? They'll probably cause more trouble, if we're all there we can at least try to stop it." Harry knew he made some sense and hoped he had won with the argument.
"That makes sense too."
"Well we've got time let's forget about it for now and go back to Neville. Where could he be? They said they searched the grounds and the Castle. But did they get everywhere?"
No one spoke.
"Can you guys bring me my cloak tonight? There's somewhere I need to check."
"Harry one of us can go in your place."
"None of you speak Parseltongue," he replied in a low voice.
"Why are you going there?" asked Hermione, shocked.
"I have to. Renata, can you make a copy of me so I can leave without being noticed?"
She looked doubtful. "I can try but I've only ever duplicated myself before. To make the duplicate out of nothing it will just be a hologram. If I use an inanimate object it won't move or do anything. With an animal maybe I could make you groan and roll over or something."
"Well I've got to go, whether it works or not."
Ron looked at his best friend, "Harry, I'm going with you. I went down there once and came out, I can do it again."
"Me too," Hermione said.
Renata was puzzled. "Where will you all go?"
"The Chamber of Secrets."
"Isn't that place a myth?"
"We've been there."
"I'm coming too."
"Renata," Harry said. "I don't think the Invisibility Cloak will cover four of us."
"There are other ways to avoid being seen."
"Then nine thirty, I think. It will be early enough for you guys to have a short visit but late enough for me to be asleep when you leave; well, look like I'm asleep at any rate."
Before anymore could be said Madam Pomfrey said they had to leave. Immediately.
Harry whispered urgently, "Send Hedwig to me!"
Then he was alone.
Harry opened the window hopeful that one of his friends had heard his final words before they left. No more than half an hour later Hedwig fluttered to his knee bearing a note with a single word on it. What? Harry picked up a quill from among the pile of books beside his bed. He scribbled furiously in case Madam Pomfrey came back. The cloak is in the bottom left hand corner of my trunk. The map should be there too. It will look like a blank piece of parchment, sorta old and worn. Harry tied it to Hedwig's leg and she flew back to Gryffindor Tower in search of Ron.
Harry decided he should be doing something useful so he began the dull task of catching up on his homework. Along with the books was a sheet listing all the assignments for each class each day, written up in Hermione's tidy writing.
He started at the beginning.
It was nine thirty and his friends hadn't shown up. They didn't come until quarter to ten. "What kept you?"
"Snape he spotted us and wanted to know where we were going."
"Didn't the map warn you?"
"You forgot to tell us how to make it work."
"Oh."
Renata came over, "No use crying over spilled milk or lost time. I've got to get the spell ready." She pulled out one of Harry's hairs.
"Ow! You could have warned me."
"Why? It's so much more fun this way. Now, I told you the spell would work best with something alive. I couldn't bring your owl in here so I've got this." She opened her hand and held out a small fly. It buzzed irritatingly. She spoke in a whisper to the fly, "Do this one favor for me? Please."
It buzzed a little less unhappily.
"Good. Okay, Harry hold out you hand." Renata put the fly in Harry's outstretched hand. She began to utter the long and complicated words of the spell. Suddenly, there was no longer a fly in Harry's hand, but a perfect image of himself sitting next to him wearing pajamas identical to the one's he was wearing. Renata reached over and put Harry's hair that she had pulled out into the pocket of the duplicate Harry. She then extracted a small vial from her pocket. She made the duplicate Harry drink it. "Well we're done. That fly will stay like that for eight hours or whenever we take Harry's hair out of his pocket. Harry put your cloak on and climb out of that bed."
As he did Renata let the duplicate Harry lay down and she tucked the blankets around him.
"Let's go."
"Wait!" Came Harry's voice from somewhere beside Ron. "Give me the map."
"I can't see you."
"Then hold it out and I'll take it." An invisible hand snatched the seemingly blank parchment form Ron. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Lines spread across the map as if they were being drawn and in the end came a complete diagram of Hogwarts, complete with secret passages and dots representing the people with their names in miniscule writing. The top of the page read:

Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs
Purveyors of Aides to Magical Mischief-Makers
Are proud to present
THE MARAUDER'S MAP

Renata looked at the map in awe. "Wow! Who made this?"
"You know a few of them."
"Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black, and my dad."
"Harry, your dad.?" Renata questioned.
He nodded. Then consulted the map. No one appeared to be in the corridor. "Let's go."
"Harry, are you wearing pajamas to go down to the Chamber?"
Harry reddened slightly and was glad no one could see him or his face. "Well, I had to change just before the three of you came and I didn't have time to change back before you got here."
Renata tried to turn to where Harry's voice had come from. "And you don't have time now. We've got to leave."
The four of them left, Harry standing under the cloak while the others walked out in the open to give the appearance that the visitors were returning to the Gryffindor House.
They were halfway to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom when someone caught their attention. It was Hagrid. He saw them.
He waved and came over. "Why yeh all out o' bed so late, eh?"
"We were up seeing Harry in the Hospital Wing."
"Maybe I'll go say 'night to the laddie meself."
"Er-No!"
"Why?"
"Well." Ron started.
"We just saw Harry. He's asleep and it really isn't a good idea to go waking him up. Madam Pomfrey insists that Harry needs as much sleep as possible," Renata filled in quickly.
"Aw. Then I'll see 'im in the mornin'. 'Night all!"
"Goodnight Hagrid!" They called.
They continued on their way to the bathroom without incident. As soon as they got there Harry ripped off the cloak.
"What are all you doing here?" called a moping voice.
"Er-Hi Myrtle."
"None of you have visited me in ages. It's lonely here!"
"No don't cry Myrtle!" Hermione said.
"We're here now!" called Harry.
She sniffled and cheered up a bit. "Hello Harry. Who's that?" The sad looking ghost pointed to Renata.
"This is our friend Renata."
"Hello Myrtle. Do you come here often?"
"I'm always here."
"Except when you're spying on Prefects in the bathroom," muttered Harry.
"Why are you whispering? I don't like secrets. People were whispering about me the day I.here."
"Died?" helped Renata.
"Don't rub it in!"
"Its okay Myrtle," Hermione said. "We just want to ask you some questions. Has anyone been in here lately?"
"No." Came the sulky reply. "You three and now her are the only ones who visit me and you haven't been around for a long time."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!"
"Ok thanks Myrtle."
Ron murmured to Harry, "Let's go before somebody sees us."
Harry walked over to one of the taps and bent over. He opened his mouth but before he could say a word he was tapped on the back. "What?"
Renata stood behind him. "Do you plan to tell me that you are going to slide down a very steep chute without anyway of climbing back up later?"
He was speechless.
"I thought so. Ron was telling us about the last time you went into the Chamber. We've brought a way out." She extracted several bottles of thick green goo. "This stuff will let us climb right back up." She passed a bottle to each of her friends. "Let's go."
"Bye Myrtle!"
Harry knelt down by the tap and looked at the scratchy carving of a tiny snake with emerald eyes. Pretending the snake was real so he would be able to speak Parseltongue. He hissed, "Open up." The sink slid away revealing a pipe large enough for a man to slide down. "I'll go first." Harry volunteered. Before anyone could object Harry slid down. There was a lot of rushing air before he landed on the ground far below with a thud. He scrambled out of the way because just after him came Renata, Hermione, and Ron. "Well, let's get going." It was dark. "Lumos!"
There was a large heap of empty reptile skins that in years passed had been shed by the gigantic Basilisk.
They walked until they came to a large blockade of boulders with only one whole, which might be climbed through, but none of them would fit.
"We won't fit through the hole!"
"I guess we need to start digging. When we made this whole it was for twelve year olds, not fifteen year olds."
It was tedious and hard work but they managed a sizable gap in the pile and squirmed through to the other side.
When they got through they rested a short bit. "We've got to move on."
They wandered onward through seemingly endless columns that reached the immense ceiling. Then they saw it. Someone among them screamed.
It was a decomposing Basilisk. It had been killed three years back and much of it still remained.
They had reached the end of the Chamber still had encountered no thing that breathed.
"We don't seem to have had much luck here," Renata stated, her voice echoing.
"We need to make sure there aren't any tunnels leading out of here. Then we can go back."
They searched the walls for nearly half an hour before Hermione gave a cry, "Look!" She brushed away some scum from a section of wall revealing a circle half a foot in diameter with the Slytherin snake on it. But that wasn't all.
The snake was squeezing the Gryffindor lion making it immobile, while whipping it with its tail and sinking its poisonous teeth in its neck; though at the same time the lion's claws were embedded in the snake's long back and the mouth of the lion was open in what would be a terrifying roar had the picture been given a voice. It 'twas a gruesome sight indeed.
Ron examined it closely. "There's words. 'The day will come when the heir of Slytherin will face that of Gryffindor and the stronger shall triumph o'er all. To the victor will the power come, and all the grace and glory. If ye stands here then ye has some part yet to play ere all ends in the final battle. Choose carefully your actions and words, for truths can be spun and twisted in ways unimaginable.' " Ron looked at the others perplexed.
They seemed as lost as he.
"What do you think it means?" Harry asked to no one in particular.