"Malfoy?" Head boy of Gryffindors, Percy Weasley walks to the Slytherin table. Percy stood annoyed as he looked at Draco. "Professor Snape wants to see you in his office".

"For what.. Weasley?"

"Mind your tongue.. Malfoy. He's waiting for you!" Percy snarling. Turns his feet but stops. He faced Draco again. "I suggest you mind your language when you speak to Malfoy. Think wisely Malfoy.. your family wasn't a good thing to remember in the wizardry world".

Percy resumed his walk, out of the great hall. Draco grit his teeth in anger. "What Snape wants Malfoy?"

"Shut up, Goyle!" Draco rose up. His feet walked straight to Snape's office.

From Gryffindors table. Hermione watched Draco leave the table. Serve his right! Or not .. "That bloody git, he's the one who made you this''.

"It's okay, Ron. He deserves Snape to call him in his office".

"What do you think Snape will do to Malfoy? Beating him? NO! Snape is head of Slytherin.. probably he and Malfoy already plan something evil that I don't like to know".

Dungeons. Snape office. Malfoy stood in front of his door.. knocking then swung the door half open. Take a peek, saw Snape buried his nose reading the daily prophet. Closing the door behind, His haughty good looks met Snape.

Snape folded the daily prophet, eyes met Draco. "You know why exactly I call you in my office, Mr. Malfoy?"

"I don't know, sir".

"Indeed". Snape rose up from chair, he walked toward Draco. "Let me tell you this, Mr. Malfoy. Do not insult someone who is better than you. Do not insult someone who is clever, brilliant, or better than you and does not.. ?"

Silence... "Fifty points from Slytherin".

"WHAT!"

"You heard me, Mr. Malfoy".

Draco stuttered and shocked. "What for? You can't just take away your own house point!"

"I'll take the chance. Reminding yourself not to insult someone who is better than you". Snape stares. "Now get your foot out of my office". Draco backs away, bolting out.

Transfiguration classroom. McGonagall stands before the class. Resting on the desk in front of each student, is a different animal.

"Could I have your attention, please? Right. Now, today, we will be transforming animals into water goblets. Like so. One, two, three, Vera verto".

She taps the bird in front of her, three times, with the tip of her wand. It transfigures into a beautiful crystal water goblet.

"Now it's your turn. Well, who would like to go first? Ah! Mr. Weasley. ― One, two, three. Vera verto".

Ron nodded, clearing his throat. He taps his rat, Scabbers, who turns into a goblet with a tail.

"That wand needs replacing, Mr. Weasley". Ron nods sheepishly, looking at his broken wand. McGonagall sees Hermione's raised hand. Her untouched animal. "Yes, MissGranger?"

"Professor, I was wondering if you could tell us about... the Chamber of Secrets?"

A hush falls over the class. "My subject is Transfiguration, Miss Granger".

"Yes, Professor. But there seems to be very little written about the Chamber of Secrets. For those of us with a personal interest in the subject, that is... disturbing".

Malfoy regards Hermione with chilly amusement. McGonagall considers Hermione's question for a long moment, then nods.

"Well, very well. Well, you all know, of course, that Hogwarts was founded over a thousand years ago by the four greatest witches and wizards of the age. Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. Now, three of the founders coexisted quite harmoniously. One did not".

"Three guesses who?" ask Ron.

"Salazar Slytherin wished to be more selective about the students admitted to Hogwarts. He believed magical learning should be kept within all magic families. In other words, ―pure-bloods. Unable to sway the others, he decided to leave the school".

Hermione sighs. McGonagall spoke back.

"Now, according to legend, Slytherin had built a hidden chamber in this castle, known as the Chamber of Secrets. Though, shortly before departing, he sealed it until that time when his own true heir returned to the school. The heir alone would be able to open the Chamber and unleash the horror within, and by so doing purge the school of all those who, in Slytherin's view, were unworthy to study magic".

"Muggle-borns".

McGonagall nodded. "Well, naturally, the school had been searched many times. No such chamber has been found".

"Professor? What exactly does legend tell us lies within the Chamber?"

"Well, the Chamber is said to be home to something that only the Heir of Slytherin can control. It is said to be the home of a monster".

Ron's eyes shift. Malfoy sits calmly, smiling too.

Hallway. Same day. Harry, Hermione, and Ron thread their way through the teeming corridor. Up ahead, Malfoy walks with Crabbe and Goyle.

"D'you think it's true? D'you think there really is a Chamber of Secrets?"

"Yes. Couldn't you tell? McGonagall's worried. All the teachers are".

"Well, if there really is a Chamber of Secrets, a-and it really has been opened, then that means _"

"The Heir of Slytherin has returned to Hogwarts. The question is, who is it?"

Ron in mock puzzlement. "Let's think. Who do we know who thinks all Muggle-borns are scum?"

"If you're talking about Malfoy..?!" Hermione eyeing Malfoy ahead.

"Of course. You heard him! You'll be the next Mudbloods".

"I heard him. But Malfoy, the Heir of Slytherin?"

"Well, maybe Ron's right, Hermione. I mean, look at his family. The whole lot of them have been in Slytherin for centuries".

"Crabbe and Goyle must know. Maybe we could trick them into telling".

"Even they aren't that thick. But there might be another way. Mind you, it would be difficult. Not to mention, we would be breaking about fifty school rules. And, it'll be dangerous. Very dangerous".

Library then. In a light nook, Harry, Ron and Hermione huddle round a book entitled Moste Potente Potions.

The spotted pages are littered with disturbing illustrations. "Here it is. The Polyjuice Potion".

Hermione reading from Moste Potente Potions.

Properly brewed, the Polyjuice Potion allows the drinker to transform himself temporarily into the physical form of another.

"Do you mean, if Harry and I drink that stuff, we'll turn into Crabbe and Goyle?"

"Yes".

"Wicked! Malfoy I'll tell you anything".

"Exactly. But it's tricky. I've never seen a more complicated potion. Lacewing flies, leeches, fluxweed. And, of course, we'll need a bit of whoever we want to change into too".

Ron is feeling sick. "Hang on now. I'm drinking nothing with Crabbe's toenails in it".

"Well, how long will it take to make?"

"A month".

"A month? But, Hermione, if Malfoy is the Heir of Slytherin, he could attack half the Muggle-borns in the school by then".

Hermione nods understanding. "I know. But it's the only plan we've got".

Later moment. Snape can smell Hermione's lavender scent around the library. He walks to her usual seat and there she is.. buried her nose reading a book.

Nothing changed... She is still the same Hermione Granger he knew. Nose stuck in a book.

No Harry and Ron around her. Snape sat in front of her. She didn't bother to look up knowing who had bothered her.

The only one Severus Snape.

"Are you not looking at me, Miss Granger?" Snape asks. "Don't avoid me like this, Miss Granger. Is that because you are upset.. Mr. Malfoy..to you"

"I don't". She whispers.. still not looking up at Snape. "What are you doing here, Professor?" She asked. "What do you want?"

Snape smirking. "I didn't see Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley with you".

"They just left".

Snape eyeing book on the table. He caught a book about Hermione trying to learn Polyjuice Potions without him knowing.

Polyjuice Potions? For what..

"Are you learning Polyjuice Potions, Miss Granger?"

Jolted. Her hand gently hid the book. "Is none of your business, Professor".

"Indeed. Is my business to know you, Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley. The Headmaster won't be pleased if he finds out. Enough.. that first years you three do something I barely imagine".

Silence. Snape studies her. "You cannot avoid me, Miss Granger. You know that. Because I always walk around the castle, around you.. no matter.. you trying to get lost from me".

Hermione didn't realize Snape was already gone from her sight as she looked up from the book.

She did not hear anything dragging sound from the chair he made. Everything were.. silent.

"Of course".