Updated as of 2/06/19

The next day in transfiguration, Fiona couldn't help but feel like everyone was looking at her. She looked back at the students and they looked away. Fiona looked forward and Hermione turned to her.

"Just ignore them," she whispered.

"Could I have your attention, please?" McGonagall asked the class. "Right. Now, today, we will be transforming animals into water goblets," McGonagall said "Like so. One, two, three, Vera verto." She turned the bird on her desk into a goblet. "Now it's your turn. Well, who would like to go first? Ah! Mr. Weasley. 'One, two, three. Vera verto.'"

"Ahem. Vera verto!" Ron said. Green shot out from his wand and turned Scabbers into a fuzzy cup with a rat's tail. The class laughed.

"That wand needs replacing, Mr. Weasley," she said. Hermione raised her hand. "Yes, Miss Granger?"

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

"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," Ron muttered to Harry.

"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.'" Draco sent a glare towards Hermione. "Unable to sway the others, he decided to leave the school. 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," Hermione said. 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 home to something that only the Heir of Slytherin can control. It is said to be the home of a monster," she said. Ron turned around to see Draco smirking smugly at him. Ron quickly face forward again. Draco noticed Fiona glaring at him and quickly looked down. She faced forward and glanced up at McGonagall.

…

"D'you think it's true?" Ron asked as the four walked down a hallway. "D'you think there really is a Chamber of Secrets?"

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

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

"The Heir of Slytherin has returned to Hogwarts. The question is, who is it?" Hermione asked. Fiona noticed Ron glance at her.

"Why are you looking at me?!" she squeaked.

"Ron!" Harry exclaimed with a frown.

"I don't think it's you!" Ron said quickly. "But… you are related to him."

"That doesn't mean anything," Harry said.

"Fiona's not like that," Hermione said.

"Well, maybe Salazar thought his heir would be like him," Ron suggested with a shrug.

"Let's just say it's not Fiona," Hermione said giving Ron a glare. "There are others related to Salazar Slytherin."

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

"If you're talking about Malfoy-" Hermione started.

"Of course. You heard him! 'You'll be next Mudbloods,'" Ron quoted.

"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," Harry said.

"Since that night we saw Filch's cat… he seems… scared of me lately," Fiona said. "Like he's trying not to anger or upset me."

"Trying harder than normal you mean," Ron pointed out.

"He could think she's the heir," Hermione mused.

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

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

"Hermione, you can't be serious," Fiona looked at the girl with wide eyes. The two boys looked confused.

"It's the only way."

"There's no way we can-"

"What are you two talking about?" Ron asked.

"Polyjuice Potion," Hermione clarified.

"What?" Harry asked. Both girls rolled their eyes.

"Snape mentioned it in class a few weeks ago," Hermione reminded them.

"Do you really think they pay attention in Potions?" Fiona asked.

"Hey!" Ron looked offended but Harry gave him a look. "Still…"

"The book we need is in the restricted section," Fiona reminded Hermione. "Not to mention the ingredients won't be easy to get."

"I have an idea."

…

Hermione, being Gilderoy's best student was able to ask him for a note to be able to get the book they needed from the restricted section. Madam Pince, the librarian, was skeptical about Hermione needing the book but since she had a note she let her check the book out. Hermione brought the book over to the others who were sitting in a secluded section of the library.

"Here it is. 'The Polyjuice Potion,'" Hermione said. "'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?" Ron asked.

"Yes."

"Wicked! Malfoy'll tell us anything," Ron said with a grin.

"Exactly. But it's tricky. I've never seen a more complicated potion."

"Make Fiona do it, she's got the highest marks in our year," Ron suggested.

"Even for me it'll be difficult," Fiona told him.

"Well, how long will it take to make?" Harry asked.

"A month," Hermione answered.

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

"I know. But it's the only plan we've got," Hermione said.

"You know…" Ron began as he looked to Fiona. "Malfoy's been trying to get Fiona to talk to him, right?"

"Yeah, since first year," Fiona said with a frown. "And?"

"Well… since this potion's going to take a month to make, maybe we should have a back up plan…"

"No way," Fiona cut him off. "I'm not being nice to him."

"You do sit near him in Potions," Hermione said.

"Not you too," Harry groaned.

"Bet if you asked he'd get those harder ingredients for you," Ron said. "He is Snape's favorite."

"Even if he is his favorite he wouldn't be able to get the ingredients," Hermione pointed out.

"Still… you could find out if he knows about the heir," Ron suggested.

"But… but I don't wanna be nice to him," Fiona whined.

The group walked into Potions class the next day and stood near the doorway a moment. Harry put a hand on Fiona's shoulder as she let out a sigh.

"I don't think I can do this," she muttered but walked up to the front row before sitting down next to a confused blond. The boy looked over at her briefly before clearing his throat once then twice. She slowly turned her head to look at him.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Yes?" he repeated. "You…" he glanced behind them to see Harry and the others, Harry openly glaring at the back of Draco's head. Draco looked back at Fiona. "Why are you sitting here?"

"Do you want me to move?"

"No!" He cleared his throat again. "No. I was just…" Behind them Crabbe walked up with a frown, Fiona was in his seat, but Draco waved him off immediately when he saw him. "But, why are you sitting here?"

"I wanted to talk to you," Fiona said.

"About?" he asked. Fiona hesitated.

"There's a Quidditch match this week, right?" she asked. It was the only thing she could think of since Harry had mentioned it earlier that morning.

"Yeah," he confirmed. Fiona shifted in her seat. "And?" Thankfully class began before she had a chance to fumble a stupid answer. Snape looked confused about her seat change but didn't make her switch back. "Why are you really sitting here?" Draco whispered.

"Harry and I are having a fight," she replied.

"Really?" He looked delighted.

"He thinks I know something about the Chamber,"

"And… do you?" he asked as he leaned closer. Fiona slowly turned her head to look at him.

"What do you think?" she asked. He visibly gulped and shifted in his seat, facing forward.

"So you're just sitting here to upset Potter?" he asked after a moment.

"Problem?" she asked, not looking at him.

"No. Just had a few suggestions." Fiona glanced at him from the corner of her eye.

"Suggestions?"

"Be my partner for the potion this week."

"Why do you think I'm sitting here?" She glanced at him. He looked surprised but then grinned. "We could… work on the essay together too," she suggested.

"Essay?" Fiona pointed forward to the chalkboard. "Flobberworm Mucus?"

"Do you want to work on it before or after Quidditch practice?" she asked. Draco turned to sneer at Harry smugly.

…

"Did you have to watch their practice?" Harry asked as he and Fiona worked on the potion's essay that night in the Gryffindor common room.

"I didn't want to either," Fiona reminded him. "But I have to be nice and he asked."

"Just don't let Oliver know you saw their practice, he'll interrogate you until the match."

"Noted." Fiona let out a sigh as she looked through a potions book.

"Tell me you didn't really help him with the essay."

"I didn't really have to," Fiona admitted. "He's the next highest in class after me."

"I always thought that was just because Snape favored him," Harry muttered.

"No, he's actually quite talented at potions." Harry gave her a look. "Hey, I may not like him but I can appreciate his work, can't I?" Harry shook his head slightly as he looked back down at his essay that was half the length of Fiona's. "Oh, and don't let Ron just copy your essay this time; Snape is smart enough to realize that he just changed a few words and moved a few sentences around."

"Alright, alright," he muttered. "You sound like Hermione."

"I'm going to take that as a compliment."

Later on that week was the Gryffindor-Slytherin match. Draco made a point to fly close to the stands where Fiona watched to show off whenever he could. Slytherin scored a goal before flying around the stadium.

"Another goal for Slytherin! They lead Gryffindor ninety to thirty!" Lee announced. Draco flew to hover a few feet away and above Harry. A bludger came at Harry and he had to duck to avoid it. Oliver shouted something to him. The bludger came back and Harry tried to warn him but it came back and hit Oliver's broom, shattering it, before coming at Harry's head twice before following him as Harry tried to get away from it. It was clear it was trying to hit him.

"Blimey! Harry's got himself a rogue Bludger! That's been tampered with, that has!" Hagrid shouted.

"I'll stop it," Ron said pointing his want.

"No! Even with a proper wand it's too risky. You could hit Harry!" Hermione warned as she pushed his wand down. Harry dodged the bludger before stopping a few feet in front of Draco. He caught sight of the snitch but had to duck to avoid the bludger that came back. Draco had to duck as well. He saw the snitch and the two chased after it. They flew below the stadium around the edge. After they'd gone around almost once suddenly Draco went flying into view again, his broom having hit something and flipped. He tumbled on the ground before coming to a stop. Harry flew out from below to chase the snitch. He reached out for it and the rouge bludger hit it arm, sending his arm guard flying off. He clutched his arm to his chest and had to balance and reach with his other arm. He managed to grab it but turned on his broom and hit the ground, skidding across the ground and landing on his back. "Let's go," Hermione said as she followed Hagrid.

"Harry Potter has caught the Snitch! Gryffindor wins!" Lee announced. The bludger suddenly came down and Harry had to roll out of the way twice before Hermione ran out, with her wand raised, along with the others.

"Finite incantatem!" the bludger exploded.

"Thank you," Harry said as the four ran over.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked.

"No, I think my- I think my arm's broken," Harry said. Lockhart slid to his other side.

"Not to worry, Harry. I will fix that arm of yours straight away," he said.

"No, not you," Harry said.

"Oh, poor boy doesn't know what he's saying. Now, this... won't hurt a bit. Brackium emendo!" Lockhart picked up Harry's arm and it flopped around like a noodle.

"Oh! Ooh! Ugh!"

"Ah, yes, well, ha, that can sometimes happen, um, but- uh, the point is, uh..." Lockhart bent the arm back.

"Ohh! Uhh!"

"...you can no longer feel any pain, and, heh- very clearly, the bones are not broken."

"Broken? There's no bones left!" Hagrid shouted. Lockhart let go and Harry's arm unfolded on its own. .

"Uh-huh-ugh!"

"Much more flexible, though," Lockhart said.

…

In the hospital wing Harry, and Draco, were in beds. A group of Gryffindor were around Harry while only Crabbe, Goyle and two of his teammates were by Draco. Fiona sat on the edge of Harry's bed, grimacing at his arm with him.

"Uhh, uhhh..." Draco groaned.

"Oh, Mr. Malfoy, stop making such a fuss, you can go," Madame Pomfrey said. "Out of my way. Out of my way! Should've been brought straight to me. I can mend bones in a heartbeat- but growing them back..."

"You will be able to, won't you?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, I'll be able to, certainly. But it'll be painful. You're in for a rough night, Potter. Regrowing bones is a nasty business," Madame Pomfrey said as she poured something into a glass before giving it to Harry. He took one sip before spitting it out.

"Ugh!"

"Well, what do you expect? Pumpkin juice?" she asked. Harry groaned. Madame Pomfrey motioned everyone to leave. "Go on now. He'll be good as new in the morning," she said. "Go on, up." She put a hand on Fiona's back to gently move her off the bed. The Gryffindors started to leave. "You too, Mr. Malfoy," she called. Draco frowned and started to get up.

"You heard her, stop being such a baby," Fiona said as she passed by him. He quickly stood as his cheeks turned red and smoothed his hair back. She glanced back at him and smirked in amusement. Unfortunately this gave him the idea that she still didn't mind his company.

"Gaunt." Fiona closed her eyes briefly and she heard him catching up to her. "You and Potter done fighting?"

"Not really your business," she pointed out to him.

"I don't really care," he muttered with a frown. "You know I could've caught the snitch," he started.

"Must be a faulty broom," Fiona said as she looked at him. "Otherwise it'd be you." His cheeks flushed.

"Potter did bump me a few times."

"Considering he's still in the hospital wing regrowing bones and you only landed on your arse, I'd say he got the worse end of it."

"Maybe that shows I'm tougher than he is,"

"Or just that Lockhart is incompetent," Fiona muttered. Draco snickered.

"Glad to see you're not fawning over him."

"Please. There's only one famous wizard I like." Draco frowned but Fiona ignored him.

"What's so great about him?" he mumbled.

"He's a decent human being?" Fiona suggested giving him a look. Draco let out a huff and rolled his eyes.

In the abandoned girl's bathroom Hermione sat on the floor in front of a bubbling cauldron making the polyjuice potion. Harry had told them about the night before when Colin had been brought into the hospital wing, prettified, and about Dobby showing up again. He sat against a wall next to Fiona as Ron leaned against one of the stall posts.

"Again? You mean the Chamber of Secrets has been opened before?" Hermione asked.

"Of course. Don't you see? Lucius Malfoy must have opened it when he was at school here. And now he's taught Draco how to do it," Ron said.

"Maybe. We'll have to wait for the Polyjuice Potion to know for sure," Hermione said.

"Enlighten me. Why are we brewing this potion in broad daylight, in the middle of a girl's lavatory? Don't you think we'll get caught?" Ron asked.

"Heh... No. No one ever comes in here," Hermione said.

"Why?"

"Moaning Myrtle."

"Who?"

"Moaning Myrtle," Hermione repeated seeing the ghost of the girl slowly come out of a stall a few to the right of Ron. Harry and Fiona saw her too.

"Who's Moaning Myrtle?" Ron asked.

"I'm Moaning Myrtle!" the girl screamed in his face before flying up to the top of the sinks. "I wouldn't expect you to know me! Who would ever talk about ugly, miserable, moping Moaning Myrtle? Huh...aaaah!" she screamed as she flew into one of the stalls and down the toilet making it splash everywhere.

"She's a little sensitive," Hermione said.

The great hall was set up with a large table in the center for dueling practice. Students were gathered on either side.

"Gather 'round, gather 'round!" Lockhart said as he walked down the table. "Can everybody see me? Can you all hear me? Excellent! In light of the dark events of recent weeks, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little Dueling Club to train you all up in case you ever need to defend yourselves, as I myself have done on countless occasions- for full details, see my published works." He pulled at the drawstring of his cloak before tossing it out to some of the upperclassmen girls. "Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape." Snape walked up onto the table with his arms crossed. "He has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration. Now, I don't want any of you youngsters to worry- you'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him, never fear." He took out his wand. The two stopped about three feet from one another. They raised their wands up in front of their own faces before swinging them down then bowing to each other. They turned and walked away before facing each other again and getting into their own dueling poses. "One, two, three-"

"Expelliarmus!" Snape exclaimed sending a blast at Lockhart and sending him flying to the end of the table with a thud.

"Whoaah!"

"Do you think he's all right?" Hermione asked.

"Who cares?" Ron asked.

"An excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape, but if you don't mind me saying, it was pretty obvious- ah- what you were about to do. And if I had wanted to stop you, it would have been only too easy," Lockhart said.

"Perhaps it would be prudent to first teach the students to block unfriendly spells, Professor," Snape suggested.

"An excellent suggestion, Professor Snape! Ah... Let's have a volunteer pair! Um, Potter, Weasley, how about you?" Harry headed up to one end of the table.

"Weasley's wand causes devastation with the simplest spells. We'll be sending Potter to the hospital wing in a matchbox. Might I suggest someone from my own house? Malfoy, perhaps?" He turned and pointed at the boy before pointing to the table. Draco climbed up and approached.

"Good luck, Potter," Lockhart muttered to him as he passed.

"Thank you, sir," Harry said.

"Wands at the ready," Lockhart said. The two raised their wands.

"Scared, Potter?" Draco asked.

"You wish," Harry said. They lowered them and walked away before turning. Draco caught Fiona's eye and smirked at her briefly.

"On the count of three, cast your charms to disarm your opponent- only to disarm. We don't want any accidents here. One, two—"

"Everte statium!" Draco shouted. Harry went flying but quickly got up.

"Rictusempra!" he shouted. Draco went spinning before landing in front of Snape. He looked up at him. Snape pulled him up by his robes before pushing him back towards Harry.

"I said disarm only!" Lockhart shouted.

"Serpensortia!" Draco shouted. Suddenly a snake shot out of his wand and slithered towards Harry, hissing at the other students.

"Don't move, Potter. I'll get rid of it for you," Snape said.

"Allow me, Professor Snape," Lockhart said. "Alarte ascendare!" The snake went flying in the air before landing, a bit more ticked off. Harry started walking towards the snake when it turned towards Justin Finch-Fletchley.

"Sya- hassa- she. Sya- hasi- heth. Sya- hasi- heth." The snake turned to him.

"Vipera evenesca," Snape said. The snake disintegrated.

"What are you playing at?" Justin Finch-Fletchley asked. Harry looked between Lockhart and Snape with wide eyes.

"He was trying to help!" Fiona exclaimed. Justin turned to her.

"It was going to attack me!"

"He was telling it not to!" Fiona protested.

"How do you know?" another student asked. Fiona flinched.

"I-I heard him," she said.

"You understood him?" Justin asked with wide eyes.

"She is a Gaunt," another student said. Fiona bit her bottom lip. She looked around and saw the look Harry was getting was now directed at her as well. Fiona looked up at Draco to see him staring with his mouth open.

"Ahem." Lockhart cleared his throat.

"Everyone is dismissed," Snape said before he could say anything.

…

The four Gryffindors headed into the common room.

"You're a Parselmouth? Why didn't you tell us?" Ron asked Harry who turned to him.

"I'm a what?" Harry asked.

"You can talk to snakes," Hermione said.

"I know. I mean, I accidentally set a python on my cousin Dudley at the zoo once. Uh, once! But, so what? I bet loads of people here can do it."

"No, they can't. It's not a very common gift, Harry. This is bad," Hermione said.

"What's bad? If I hadn't told that snake not to attack Justin-"

"Oh, that's what you said to it!" Ron exclaimed.

"You were there! You heard me!" Harry said.

"I heard you speaking Parseltongue," Ron pointed out. "Snake language?"

"I spoke a different language? But- I didn't realize I- how can I speak a language without knowing I can?" Harry asked.

"I don't know, Harry, but it sounded like you were egging the snake on, or something," Hermione said. "Harry, listen to me. There's a reason the symbol of Slytherin House is a serpent. Salazar Slytherin was a Parselmouth. He could talk to snakes, too."

"Exactly! Now the whole school's gonna think you're his great- great- great grandson, or something." Ron said. "You could be one of Fiona's cousins!"

"But I'm not... I can't be," Harry said.

"He lived a thousand years ago; for all we know, you could be," Hermione said. "There's more lines than just the Gaunt line." Harry looked at Fiona.

"You understood exactly what I said to the snake then?" Harry asked her. Fiona nodded.

"I was actually about to tell it not to attack anyone when you started telling it not to hurt Justin. I didn't even know you could."

"Wait. So you knew that you know how to speak snakes too?" Ron asked.

"Of course," Fiona said. "My dad can… and so could my grandmother."

"It's no surprise Fiona can," Hermione said.

"What do you mean?" Ron asked. "It's a surprise to me!"

"And me," Harry said with a nod.

"She related to the direct line," Hermione said. "Even though she's a half-blood the trait was still passed down."

"Trait?" Ron asked.

"You don't learn Parseltongue," Hermione said. "You're born with it."