Okay its been a while since I wrote on this story and I'm so excited to be back to it! This chapter is one of three I wrote in the last 24 hours! Thank you dear readers for all the patience.

Thank you as always to my Alpha MissRissa81 for always being so encouraging and supportive and for loving this story as much as I do!

15 September 1940

The start of Third year for the Slytherin's was as uneventful as they had hoped. Tom started off slowly talking to the creature in the wall. It would talk about what it was seeing around the school.

It kept leading them towards a bathroom on the second floor, which had them curious. So they would go down to the bathroom everyday and comb the bathroom for any signs of anything important.

The creature whatever it was wouldn't tell them what it was and where it was located. It said it was told to make sure that it's heir had been worthy of the find by doing the hard work that it would take to find the Chamber of Secrets.

Salazar Slytherin wanted to make sure that there were no mistakes. The four students kept Tom talking and it didn't escape their notice that Dumbledore and his two Gryffindors kept following them to see if they could find anything out.

That was why they had decided that the four of them would walk around together while Tom was conversing with the creature so that he didn't draw too much attention to himself.

Alders had become even more determined to find out what they were doing since their run in on the train. He had once again gotten in the way and had cursed Hermione which the boys had taken offence to and showed him exactly what he deserved.

This had caused him to be embarrassed in front of the whole school, so now it didn't even seem like he was only following them for Dumbledore now.

He had his own agenda so they would have to be more careful.

Hermione spent more time alone with Tom and Aldrich separately from the group and enjoyed building their friendship more. She needed someone else besides Theo.

19 October 1940

It had taken them almost a month to find it. But one day they were looking and Hermione was looking at each individual tap— that's when she had seen it. The snake symbol on the sink.

At first they couldn't figure out how to open it but then Theo said to try speaking Parseltongue and the drain had opened to reveal the entrance.

All four of them slid down into the depths of the chamber and were amazed at how truly spacious it was. The chamber was truly spectacular and they would have so much more room and secrecy to do what they wanted to do.

Taking all of their books down there in small amounts took it's time. But it was worth it. No more having to watch over their shoulders to make sure no one was around. No more having to speak quietly.

They could have open conversations for the first time since they had come to Hogwarts and it was a welcome experience.

Hermione discussed inviting other Slytherins into their hideout eventually but for the moment they would enjoy the sedate peace they had found there.

Alders, Warn and Dumbledore seemed more aggravated with the four Slytherins since they had found the Chamber of Secrets and were able to slip away from them at a moments notice.

Aldrich had also discovered another hidden entrance to the Chamber that came out on the Seventh Floor— this made it easier for them to hide that they were going into the bathroom all the time. Dumbledore just assumed they were still using the Room of Requirement.

Hermione was still going in there to get more books but they never stayed in there anymore. The Chamber of Secrets atmosphere was more sedate. And that's what they needed to really make any progress in their goals.

November 1940

Hermione had walked off by herself as she had been annoyed with her brother and friends, it was bound to happen, always spending time with them. But their attitudes coming closer to the Quidditch season was turning her mood sour.

So she had decided to get some space. She was up in the Library in one of the far back corners hiding away when some of the Gryffindor females from her year found her.

As she was facing the other way she hadn't realised they were there and hadn't had time to defend herself when the first curse struck.

She thought she could take them easily but they overpowered her and by the time they were through she was left bruised and bloodied. It wasn't until hours later when she was found by the Librarian who was cleaning up before closing the library off for the night.

Calling for help, the Librarian got her to the Hospital Wing.

Tom, Theo and Aldrich rushed up to her as soon as they were told and their families weren't far behind.

Their parents were furious and demanded that Headmaster Dippett find out who did this to her immediately.

For two weeks Hermione was kept asleep so she could heal properly— the boys had taken it into their own hands to find out who had done this to her and had been in four duels with Gryffindors already. They had assumed rightly that it was Gryffindors.

That's what landed them in detention for a month and they could only go and see Hermione after they had served their detention for the evening.

The stress on the trio of boys was beginning to wear thin and the other Slytherins had taken it upon themselves to once again walk with them to keep them from causing more trouble for the house and losing more points. They had already dropped to Second Place in the cup.

Hermione woke on the Monday of the third week and immediately chastised the boys for getting in so much trouble.

Their parents began to relax a bit and vacated the cottage in Hogsmeade back to their own homes once she was up and walking again.

It wasn't for another week and a half before she was allowed out of the Hospital Wing and she had to play catch up in all of her classes to keep her grades up.

Hermione was distressed by this thought so when the boys went into the Chamber to do research she would either stay in the Common Room or go into the Chamber with them and simply study until she was all caught up.

She didn't try to go off by herself and the boys and other Slytherins wouldn't allow her to. It was too risky.

Hope you enjoy xo