Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Writers Notes: thanks to my beta HGranger89 and thanks to RhodaBush, Whatanidea15, The Lady Fair, consumedly, FlowerChild23, Lucyola, munchiedi, NevermoreBlack, leonix2009, grisela19wwe, FrancineHibiscus, smithback, Smootsmokey and lia a karas for the positive feedback.
Hermione Granger wandered about the library, browsing the shelves absent-mindedly. She did that quite often, but right now something was clawing at the back of her brain. There had to be something, some realization, some collection, some little thing she missed, something that explained all of the terrible things that have been happening during the year.
Images flashed before her eyes: seeing the group of spiders fleeing the castle headed out to the Forbidden Forest; Hagrid's chicken slaughtered; people being petrified, there had to be a common thread. She recalled reading something about this last year, some ghastly magical creature. It was on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't seem to remember the name of the beast. She had a burning desire to find out anything about what kind of creature could dwell in the Chamber of Secrets, especially now since Draco evil, heartless father had thrown Hagrid in Azkaban, believing he was the one who had opened the Chamber of Secrets. While she didn't know the groundskeeper that well, she refused to think he would hurt anyone. He was always so friendly and would always warmly greet students; he wouldn't even hurt a fly. Harry and Ron were taking care of Fang for Hagrid, Hermione smiled a little at that, Ron was a jerk, but he did have a heart.
"Where is it!? Where!?" she mused aloud.
The witch's fingertips grazed over the bindings of the books, History of Hogwarts, The life of Salazar Slytherin, Wizards and Witches of World War II, Ministers of Magic relationships with the Royal Family, Minster of Magic relationships with the Prime Minister, all of these books looked fascinating, but they were not what she was looking for.
"WHERE IS IT!?" she finally shouted in frustration.
The strict librarian, Madam Pince, shushed her and glared at the young witch with a nasty look that was only rivaled by Filch and Snape, warning her she would take away points if she weren't quiet.
"Sorry..." The witches face blushed with embarrassment, as the irate librarian ran off towards Oliver Wood and Marcus Flint who were fighting over books about Quidditch.
"Excuse me but do you need help?" Hermione tilted her head and saw Penelope Clearwater, a sixth year Ravenclaw prefect and rumored girlfriend to Percy Weasley.
"I don't know what I'm looking for exactly. I can't recall the title of the book," Hermione answered.
"Okay, well if you remember what it was, let me know, and maybe I can help you," Penelope smiled as Hermione's eyes turned over to examine the titles on the bindings of the books.
She was growing more and more impatient as her fingers danced along the spines of the books until her eyes locked onto one particular title. She nearly pulled down the entire shelf as she ripped the book from its perch.
Hermione stared at the title; she'd read this one last year: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, by Newt Scamander. Her hands were shaking as she quickly opened the book to the index. Hermione barely blinked as she read over the page regarding the Basilisk, the King of Serpents; monstrous glare; spiders fleeing; rooster's crow is fatal. All of the traits of the Basilisk fit together so perfectly she was sure this was the monster. Then there was the fact that only Harry could hear it. The serpent was in the walls; it must be using the piles. Mrs. Norris saw the reflection in the water, Colin through his camera and Justin through Sir Nicholas, everything fit, no one had died because no living creature had looked directly into the Basilisk's eyes.
Hermione knew she had to tell the Headmaster immediately. The matter was so urgent; she ran out of the library without checking the book out. Once she arrived at the gargoyle outside the Headmaster's Tower, she realized she did not know the password. After many guesses, she finally begged the guardian to take pity on her.
"Please let me through! I know what the monster of Slytherin is and I need to tell Professor Dumbledore now!"
In her desperation, Hermione missed the curious look the gargoyle gave the little thirteen-year-old and leaped aside for her. Hermione ran up the spiral staircase as fast as she could before bursting into the office without knocking.
"Good afternoon, Miss Granger," the Headmaster said with a bemused look on his face as if he had been alerted to his arrival; unfortunately, he wasn't alone. Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, and Snape were on the Headmaster's right while Mr. Malfoy and a portly little man, with rumpled grey hair wearing a lime green bowler hat, and pinstriped cloak stood on the other side of the desk facing her teacher. She remembered seeing the unknown man's face in the Daily Prophet and recognized him as Cornelious Fudge, the Minister of Magic."
"Miss Granger! What excuse do you have for your impertinence?" Professor McGonagall said, shocked and embarrassed by the behavior of her cub.
Hermione looked at her teacher with her head held high before turning to the Headmaster, "Sir, my research has led me to believe that the creature petrifying students is a basilisk."
The Headmaster's eyes widened with shock, McGonagall and Flitwick gasped aloud, Malfoy and Snape's reaction was imperceptible to anyone but each other, and the Minister stared at the child as if she was delusional.
"A Basilisk?" crowed Fudge, "little girl if a Basilisk was inside Hogwarts for fifty years, surely it would have been found by now."
"Headmaster, please read this passage," Hermione said quickly ignoring the Minister. She flipped through the book to the section on basilisks and placed in on the Dumbledore's desk, staying quiet as the adults read the passage.
"Everything fits," Flitwick said in alarm.
"See, you can't take Albus away now," Minerva glared at the two unwelcomed guests.
"What!?" Hermione cried, "No you can't go, Headmaster!" She narrowed her eyes with outrage at the Minster and Mr. Malfoy, "you can't do this, Muggle-borns like me will be unsafe."
"Miss Granger is right," squeaked Filius Flitwick, "don't you see that taking Dumbledore away means you're leaving the Muggle-borns on a silver platter.
"Unfortunately I can," Lucius Malfoy was decidedly smug, holding up an order of dismissal for Dumbledore. The staff and Hermione glared at Lucius seething, while his old school friend, Severus, just continued to gaze on impassively, as if these new developments did not affect him.
"Now come along Dumbledore, don't make this any worse of yourself," sneered Lucius.
"The Board of Governor's decision stands until revoked by the body," Fudge said, walking over to the Deputy Headmistress. "For the time being, you'll act as Dumbledore replacement Minerva."
The minister extended his hand to shakes her, while Minerva shot daggers at him with her stare. "And of course, you must choose an Acting Deputy."
"Filius," she answered.
"This is of course only temporary, but I don't see Dumbledore returning anytime soon," Lucius smirked.
"I do hope you consider applying for the post of Headmaster Severus," Lucius said as a passing remark, "This school could do with a proper Headmaster for a change." Then the pompous man turned on his heel and strutted out of the office while Fudge and Dumbledore followed.
"Goodbye Professor," Hermione sniffled and waved to the Headmaster.
"No tears little one," Dumbledore smiled, "While I may be going away for a little while. I won't truly be gone while they are still people who remain loyal to me." Fawkes let out a long caw, and the young Gryffindor launched herself at her Potions Master, burying her teary face in his robes.
Severus stared down at sniffling Gryffindor completely stunned and unsure how to react while the new Headmistress and her Deputy looked on, their mouths agape. Emotional children had never been the Potion Masters area of expertise, not even the first-year Slytherins or his godson bothered him with something as frivolous as expressing their emotions.
"Umm... there...there Miss Granger," Severus said stiffly patting her shoulder hoping he would provide enough comfort to stop the girls insufferable sniveling. Severus had absolutely no idea how to comfort anyone. In the past with Lily, he'd listen to blather on about whatever mean comment Petunia or James Potter until she tired herself out. If this didn't work then Severus' second alternative was terrifying her and threatening to remove points if she didn't remove herself from his person. Lucky the small comfort seemed to work, and eventually, Hermione Granger dried her eyes apologized to her Potions Professor and returned to her dormitory.
Minerva was making a fine Acting Headmistress while Dumbledore was away and for a few weeks all seemed well at Hogwarts. Minerva did have her Gryffindor biases, but she was far more equitable when it came to punishing students than her predecessor. However, eventually troubled reared its ugly head again, and one night, after guiding their students back to the dormitories, the staff were forced to disperse, combing the castle in search of Ginevra Weasley and Hermione Granger. The two girls were reported missing in the morning, and it was unlikely that someone as studious as Miss Granger would intentionally miss classes.
The staff held small mirrors to check around corners and corridors in case the basilisk was near. In the dark second floor corridor, the site of the first attack, the teachers were met with a gruesome image. Minerva gasped in horror, while Severus' face drained of the little color it had and his blood turned to ice in his veins, and Lockhart looked like he'd soiled himself.
Thereupon the wall was a new message in fresh blood: 'Her Skeleton will lie in the chamber forever.' On the ground below the haunting message was another petrified student, Hermione Granger.