"Well, that could have gone better," Kara said.

"Yes," Astra agreed. "And now the entire school is going to jump to the worst possible conclusion."

"With the Hogwarts Rumor Mill, it will," Junior agreed.

"Same in our time," Fred said.

"And it hasn't changed at all," Kate said.

"It was that way when I attended as a student," McGonagall said. "I've said it before, and I said it again. You three had a knack of being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"I know, right," Ron said.

No one who had an idea with what Harry, Ron, and Hermione got up to back in the day would disagree.

"Let's get to this," Lily said.

"Yes," James agreed. "I want to see what happens."

"We all do," Sirius responded. "Because, the way that last chapter ended…in our time, we've never been in that kind of situation."

"Not even I was caught near a dead cat," Bellatrix said.

"Mrs. Norris is not dead," Astra said. "Although, it's…far more unsettling. Especially if it is, what I think it is."

"Read," Sara said. "Gideon, please."

"Chapter Nine," Gideon narrated. "The Writing on the Wall."

"Always thought that was ominous," Lita said.

"No shit," Lily murmured.

Her sense of dread with what was going to happen was about to go to a new level.

Filch comes across Mrs. Norris. And is upset about the entire situation.

"Guy is a vile twat," Lily said. "But, I really can't blame him."

"This is really awful," Ginny said. "Why did it have to be a cat?"

"Oh, honey, I know," Zari said soothingly.

Fred caught Harry's eye and Harry did the time snap thing, leaving the four Weasleys and Harry in the time bubble.

"Going to be okay, sis?" George asked.

"I just…I'll be fine," Ginny said. "It just feels like I'm back to being eleven. I was out of my mind that night, because I don't remember a damn thing between lunch that day and then."

"Damn," Ron said.

"Just take a minute to compose yourself," Harry said. "If you want to leave, I understand."

"No, I'm good," Ginny said. "Snap us back."

Harry did and everything cleared up.

"What?" Astra asked

"Spoiler thing," Harry said.

"Oh, yeah," Kara said.

"I almost feel bad for kicking the thing," Bellatrix said.

Despite the direness of the situation, a few people cracked a smile. Although Ginny looked at the very horrified expression on Filch's face. Rotten as he would be, Mrs. Norris was obviously the one thing he cared about, above all else.

"I feel sorry for Filch," Peter said. "And I hate cats."

Filch flips out and threatens to kill Harry for "killing" his cat until Dumbledore arrives on the scene.

"Well, his timing was perfect," Astra commented lightly.

"How much did he know?" Narcissa asked. "About what was going on?"

"More than he was willing to let on, that's for sure," Harry said.

Ginny gritted her teeth but said absolutely nothing.

"Well, then, I think Dumbledore was still piecing it together," Harry confirmed. "Although, I have a feeling after the third attack, he figured out what was doing it, although not the how."

"Third attack?" Lena asked. "Just how many were there."

"Read on," Harry said.

"Oh, God," Lena grumbled.

Dumbledore tells Harry, Ron, and Hermione, along with Filch to come with him. Lockhart offers his office, which is closest.

"Always have to be the center of attention," John said in disgust.

"Seriously?" Ruby asked. "Now is really the time?"

"For Lockhart, never miss an opportunity to make a spectacle out of himself," Sirius said in disgust.

"Lockhart was way ahead of his time," Zari commented. "He would thrive in the age of social media influencers."

"Oh God, I just threw up in my mouth a little bit," Kate groaned.

"You're not the only one," Lita said. "Imagine how self-indulgent that would be."

"I'd rather not," Zari said.

The examination of Mrs. Norris began. Dumbledore examines Mrs. Norris, with Lockhart offering his benefit of "expertise."

"Do us all a favor, and keep your mouth shut!" James snapped.

"Did that word salad coming out of his mouth have any relevance?" Severus asked.

"No," Snape said. "It took much practice to tune out Lockhart's drivel. And a few calming draughts didn't go amiss either. Which I really wish I had right now."

"Hey, if we all have to suffer," Mia said. "This guy can't be for real."

"Oh, nothing about him is real," Hermione said. "Oh, I can't believe I was so…"

"He wrote books," Kate told her sister. "Lots of books."

"Books are meaningless though when the person behind them is a pretentious prick," Junior added.

"He just has to be the center of attention," Lily said. "There's a cat which is…ugh…and my son and his friends are in the center of this bullshit."

"And why wasn't the school shut down during the first attack, so the teachers could properly invesitgate the matter?" Charlotte asked.

"Because, that would make sense," Natalie said.

"If this was a school shooting, everyone would be sent home," Lita said. "And this is far worse."

"So, why isn't it shut down?" Charlotte pressed.

"Dumbledore…you're going to have to ask him," McGonagall said.

"You know, maybe you should pull Dumbledore out of the afterline and bring him here," James suggested.

"Given how hostile half of the room is to him, that's not a good idea," Harry said.

"Well, he does have a lot to answer for," Astra said. "And I want to look at him in the personally and tell him what an awful human being he is."

"Many of us would," Alex commented.

There were several murmurs of agreement.

"And…the school should have been objectively shut down," Harry said. "Although I was hoping it wouldn't be. Because that meant I would go back to the Dursleys."

"Oh, you could have come home with us," George said.

"You really think Dumbledore would have allowed it?" Kate asked in disgust.

"Oh, we might be out one flying car, but we would have thought of something to get Harry out of there," Fred said.

"Plus, if Dumbledore shut the school down, it might have avoided…certain events," Ron said.

Ginny nodded solemnly behind her brother and motioned for them to continue.

Finally Dumbledore declares that Mrs. Norris is not dead but petrified.

"Yes, as I said," Astra said.

"He had to be for sure," Hermione said. "And that just raised a lot more questions."

"There's only one thing I can think of that petrifies that it could be," Regulus said. "And…it can't be, it's impossible."

"It seems that way," Junior said. "It would have to be a serpent, given it's Slytherin."

"Do you mind sharing it with the rest of the class?" Sirius asked.

"I'm sure it will be revealed, if you can't figure it out," Regulus said.

Bellatrix raised an eyebrow.

"How did he get the bloody toad to sit still?"

Only a handful of people heard Bellatrix's off hand musing.

Naturally, Lockhart claims this is just what he thought.

"Bullshit!" Lily snapped. "You were just going on about some curse which killed her, that you apperently knew the countercurse for."

"This idiot," Astra said.

"I'm beginning to understand why you idolized him," Kate told Hermione. "Because, you both have to be right."

"I don't always have to be right," Hermione said.

"Oh, really?" Kate asked.

"Girls, enough," Charlotte said.

"I hate this idiot," Mick said.

"That's about as natural as breathing right about now," Lita said.

"Honestly, Lockhart can go fuck off," Sirius said.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Filch accuses Harry because Harry knows he's a squib. Harry has no idea what a squib is.

"Somehow I doubt ignorance is going to get you off the hook with Filch," Sirius said dryly.

"You being ignorant about the Wizarding World is still jarring," Malfoy said.

"He wouldn't be, if someone didn't wipe almost five years worth of memories," Astra said through gritted teeth.

"Throw one more vote for bringing Dumbledore here," Malfoy said. "And we should place bets on who forgets the no bodily harm rule first.

"Anyone who doesn't put their money on Astra, hasn't been paying attention," Alex said dryly. "Although, Kara's been wanting to wring his neck for years."

"Me?" Kara asked. "What about you?"

"Sara, we're in agreement we're not signing off on this, right?" Harry asked her.

"As amusing as it would be, it would cause more problems than it would solve," Sara said. "Although, hearing his justification would be interesting, I trust you when you say it's not a good idea."

"Well, Mommy and Daddy have spoken," Lita said.

"Probably for the best," Remus said.

Remus always felt like he would respect Dumbledore, by allowing him to attend Hogwarts. However, some of his decisions regarding Harry stunk to high heaven. And now Remus had doubts. He wanted to be open-minded, but he had doubts.

Snape adds his two cents. He speaks up for Harry and company first, but comments about the suspicious set of circumstances. Namely, the fact that Harry, Ron, and Hermione were not seen at the feast.

"I hate to admit it, but that seems sus," Lita said.

"Especially when you ran towards the scene of the crime," Mia added.

"We had a knack for attracting the worst kind of trouble," Ron said. "Doesn't help when we keep running headlong towards it."

"Typical Gryffindors," Bellatrix said.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione attempt to explain about the Deathday Party. Needless to say, their claims make it very suspicious. Especially Ron's stomach betraying him when he says he was not hungry.

"Oh, the Weasley stomach," George said.

"Very traitorous," Fred said.

"The ghosts would have vouched for you," Natalie added.

"How much time did you have between when you were seen at the Deathday Party and when people came across you with the cat?" Mick asked.

"About ten to twelve minutes," Hermione said.

"Well, it's tight, but it's possible," Mick said. "Not that people give a damn about timing when they have an obvious scapegoat to accuse."

Snape's first suggestion for punishment is to take Harry off of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team.

"Oh, not as confident in your Seeker, are you, Snape?" Astra asked.

"Spiteful greaseball," Sirius murmured.

"Sirius," James warned him. "We're part of the reason why he's so spiteful."

"Yeah, but he was asking for it," Sirius said.

"Not every time, and we kept escalating it," James said.

"Did my ears deceive me?" Snape asked. "Or did the great James Potter admit he was wrong?"

"It took two to tango," Sara said. "Just remember that."

McGonagall scoffs at this, because Mrs. Norris was not beaten by a broomstick.

"Thanks for being the voice of reason, Minnie," Sirius said.

"Haven't I told you not to call me that, Mr. Black?" McGonagall asked.

"Not recently?" Sirius asked.

McGonagall just rolled her eyes, although she had a small smile.

Dumbledore suggests that they create a Mandrake Restorative Draught. And Lockhart jumps in, saying that he's made one a hundred times and says that he could whip it up in his sleep.

"Which means, he could only do it in his dreams" Junior said in disgust. "And I've seen him in Potions class. One of the few times I've ever seen Slughorn lose his temper with a student."

"I can't picture that," Ron said.

"I thought Severus was the Potions master," Regulus said.

"Well, yes, but…we've met Slughorn," Ron said.

"Still collecting young boys and girls?" Bellatrix asked.

"That seems creepy when you put it that way," Ruby said with a shudder. "And have you ever met someone more insufferable than Lockhart?"

"Not outside of politics," Lita dryly commented.

"We better move on from that one," Kara said.

Snape's cold comment that he's the Potions Master at this school leaves a chill in the air.

"Oooh," Peter said. "Ouch."

"Yeah, don't tread on Snape's turf," Lita said.

"I'm surprised he didn't wake up in a pickle jar," Kara said.

"Tempting, but Dumbledore told me not to harm him," Snape said.

"And obviously, you jumped for your master," Severus said. "What did I do to become his lapdog?"

"Mistakes were made," Snape said.

"Dumbledore had to have known that Lockhart was incompetent," Lena said. "How could he be this blind? It would be better off not to have a teacher than to have this teacher."

"Yeah, a self-study group would have been better," Harry mused.

"Perhaps enlisting the help of a few NEWT level students," Lily suggested.

"There's a theory about why Dumbledore hired Lockhart," Nora said. "And it doesn't paint him in the best light."

"I can hardly wait," Astra dryly said.

After the trio leaves, Ron suggests that it was not a good idea for Harry to say that he was hearing voices.

"Given how the Wizarding World generally reacts to anything like that, probably some sound advice," Malfoy said. "Just surprised it came from Weasley."

"Thanks for that, Malfoy," Ron remarked.

"And given they want to think the worst of you, you don't want insane on top of everything else," Astra said.

"Fickle, the whole lot of them," Kate remarked.

Ron mentions Bill mentioned something about a secret chamber at Hogwarts.

"Mmm, maybe not so much of a secret chamber, but more like some cursed vaults," Lita mused.

"No way, the Cursed Vaults are a myth," Bellatrix said.

"Real, very real," Harry agreed.

"Seriously?" Peter asked with interest.

"Rakepick's always went on about those, although she's never been able to find anything," Sirius said.

"What's the deal with them?" Regulus asked.

"I'm not liable to tell you anything," Harry told them.

"Just a little hint?" Peter asked.

"Guys, there's likely a good reason why Harry isn't telling us much more than they exist, "Lily said.

"Although, the secrets they hold would be fascinating,' Natalie said.

"Trust me, not all secrets are worth unearthing," John said.

"I do wonder how many secrets the school holds," Lena said.

"More than I care to think about," Harry murmured.

Ron explains to Harry what a squib is. And that explains why Filch is bitter.

"And yet, they let him work at a school full of children with the gift he never got," Nora said.

"And he resents each and every one of them for it," Lita said.

"Don't see what Filch does that the House elves can't do," Regulus said.

"Get paid for one thing," Hermione said shortly.

"I don't know either," Astra said.

"It's not funny, given what happens to most squibs," Sirius said.

"And there's a few in every family tree," Junior said. "Not that you'd get most people to admit their magical defects."

"And most of them get killed early, when trying to get magic forced out of them," Harry explained.

"Neville was really lucky," Astra said.

"And that's what the lighter families do to their children when they don't show magic," Sirius said darkly.

"Filch is a rarity, given that he lived past adulthood," Regulus added. "Lived long enough to be the bitter old git we all know and loathed."

"I wonder what his parents were like," Ruby mused.

"Not bad enough to kill the kid, but obviously they must have made their disappointment clear," Sirius concluded.

Filch is in a terrible mood. And Ginny is terrified about what happened to Mrs. Norris. And Ron's attempts to try and sooth her nerves don't work out well.

"I appreciated the effort," Ginny said. "But, I don't think there was nothing you could say.

After Harry is held back in Potions, he meets Justin Finch-Fletchley, who runs away in terror on Harry's mere sight.

"Well, he does come across as not the brightest bulb in the box," Zari said.

"That's putting it mildly," Astra remarked.

"Amazing how people are prone to fits of hysteria," Lily said.

"And yet, oh so predictable," Lena said.

Harry meets Ron in the library. Ron's still eight inches short. In his essay.

"Don't worry about coming up short," George said. "Happens all the time."

"It's not like Binns reads the things anyway," Sirius said. "So, put in the minimal effort, and you'll get a halfway decent grade."

"Why hasn't he been exorcised yet?" Natalie asked.

"I've been asking myself that question for years," Snape said.

"Because, having a ghost in the post saves the Ministry a fortune," Junior said. "And he's been in that position for centuries at least."

"Well, it would be a shame if Binns got sent on," Kate said. "Because, seriously, he could make bloodshed look about as exciting as watching paint dry."

"Watching paint dry is more exciting," Ron said. "Trust me."

Hermione's on the hunt for knowledge. Harry tells Ron about Justin and Ron brushes it off, thinking that Justin's a bit of an idiot for simping for Gilderoy Lockhart.

"My thoughts exactly," Mia said.

"Don't take these people too seriously,' Zari said. "They are prone to…well they're prone to doing something stupid."

"And naturally, Granger is already trying to find out as much as she can," Malfoy said.

"It wouldn't be Hermione if she wasn't," Kara said.

"I thought I read about it," Hermione said. "But, I didn't remember."

"And here we thought you memorized Hogwarts: A History back to front," Fred said.

Hermione is trying to check out a copy of Hogwarts :A History, but everyone has checked them out. To read up the legend of the Chamber of Secrets.

"It wasn't much more than a blurb about it," Junior said. "If I remember."

"Oh, you've read it?" Hermione asked.

"Father wouldn't have it any other way," Junior said. "Although, you'd be surprised how much they cut out. It's far from complete."

"It's rubbish," Kate said. "They haven't changed it since the sixties."

"Oh, you finally got an updated book," Regulus said.

"Everyone's concerned," Astra said.

"Not enough to write to their parents and do something about it," Charlotte said while eying her daughter.

"Mum, I thought Dumbledore had it handled," Hermione said.

"Honestly, I'm surprised there weren't more Howlers, and most of them directed to Dumbledore," Lena said.

"Knowing him, he likely knew some spell to make sure they never reached his ears," Kara said.

"Yes, because he would never have to hear that, while children have to suffer," Ron said. "Great man, that Dumbledore."

History of Magic is as dull as dishwater as usual. But Hermione breaks the monotony by raising her hand.

"Bet that woke everyone up," Sirius said with a chuckle.

"No one ever engaged with Binns in that class," McGonagall said.

"Never," George said.

"That's Granger, always breaking traditions," Malfoy said.

Needless to say this surprises everyone, including Binns. And Hermione asks about the Chamber of Secrets.

"I'm pretty sure Binns was really pleased you asked about something he hasn't been droning about for centuries," Lily said dryly.

"It rattled him quite a bit," Hermione said. "But, he was the only person I could asked."

"And he was the History of Magic teacher," Junior said. "So, he should know everything."

Binns refuses at first due to the Chamber being a myth. However, he relents and starts talking about the Chamber of Secrets to the class.

"I'm pretty sure Binns hasn't had an actual engaging class since before he died," Lita said.

"Assuming he was that interesting before he was dead is pretty bold," Ruby said.

"He must have been something at some point, surely," Mia said.

"When did they hire him in?" Astra asked.

"I don't know," McGonagall said. "No one does. It's just he taught for a long time and then one day he died and got up to keep teaching class. And he's been doing it for hundreds of years."

"One more mystery about Hogwarts that needs to be solved," Zari said.

"Surely he couldn't have been there since the Founders?" Peter asked.

"Don't think he's that old," Sirius said. "Maybe next time I see Nick, I'll talk to him about it."

After Binns tells the story, he debunks it as nonsense. Because no one has found the Chamber of Secrets. Not even Dumbledore.

"Well, if Dumbledore couldn't find it, then it must not exist," Bellatrix dead panned.

"Seriously, even Dumbledore would admit he didn't get close to finding all of the secrets hidden in Hogwarts," Ron said. "And a few he found were by accident."

"Or so it seems," Astra said. "Can't believe Binns would shut down the only interesting thing that ever happened in his class."

"Oh, I can," Remus said. "Back to the usual bland teaching."

"Fun while it lasted," Lily said wistfully.

After some questions Binns snaps back into his usual lesson. And thus the class snaps back into its usual stupor.

"That was interesting while it lasted," Natalie said with a sigh.

"The first interesting History of Magic class in generations," Bellatrix said.

"Doubt there's going to be anyone as persistent as Hermione to force that issue again," Kara said.

"Or stubborn," Kate said. "Seriously though, magical history is pretty cool. It's just this guy can make the most interesting thing tedious."

"Should hang your hat on that accomplishment, making him give a somewhat engaging lesson," Zari said. "And you made him feel an emotion. Even though that emotion was disgust."

"Thanks, I think," Hermione said.

Ron remarks he would have gotten straight back on the train if he got sorted into Slytherin.

"Not all Slytherins are like Malfoy," Harry said.

"Or Snape," Astra responded.

"The loudest ones are," Ron said. "But, you're right."

"And I would have gotten on the train before you could even get the hat off," Malfoy said.

"You would have had to deal with it, Draco," Narcissa said sternly.

Harry worries about almost being sorted into Slytherin.

"Really not a big deal," Lily said

"No, it's not," James said. "All houses have their bad eggs."

"Unfortunately, Slytherin is a bit louder in celebrating those bad eggs," Sirius said.

"I was Slytherin," Natalie said. "Half of the house just wants to learn all they can and advance themselves. The other half is just a bunch of old families that have always been in Slytherin and think the sun shines out their arse."

"We know all of this now," Harry said. "But, I had a very black and white worldview."

"Wonder who that could be from," Ruby murmured.

"I think you would have done well in Slytherin, Potter," Malfoy said.

"And it's thanks to you is why I didn't get the chance," Harry said.

"Yes, thank you, I'll never hear the end of that one," Malfoy said.

"I think I'm thankful that Potter was never sorted into my house," Snape said. "And he should be as well because he would have been expelled."

"You do realize that Dumbledore would have vetoed you," Sara said.

Snape said nothing, but simply scowled.

Colin pops up and tries to tell Harry about what a boy in his class is saying about Harry, but he's cut off.

"Not in the mood to deal with him," Astra said.

"Still loads better than Lockhart," Natalie said.

"That's damning the poor kid with faint praise," John said.

Harry suspects it's the fact he's Slytherin's heir. And Ron remarks that people will believe anything.

"The more things change," Kate grumbled.

"Then, now, forever," Lily said.

"Well, technically…Lita said. "Whoops spoilers."

"What?" Astra asked.

"Forget I said anything," Lita said.

"Now I'm intrigued," Sirius said.

Ron, Harry, and Hermione poke around the scene of the crime, looking for clues.

"You three couldn't help yourselves," McGonagall said.

"Obviously, we couldn't," Harry said.

"And Harry's the best chance to spotting the thread," Sara said.

The spiders are acting weird. And Ron is acting anxious around them.

"Sorry, bro," Fred said. "Just…sorry."

"It was a long time ago," Ron said.

Ron braced himself to relieve the terror from later that year.

Ron doesn't like spiders.

"Can't say I blame you," Ruby said with a shiver.

"Given how your phobia started, no one can," Ginny said.

"I said I was sorry," Fred said. "Although we were kids and…stupid shit happens."

Hermione giggles when Ron says he doesn't like how they move.

"I'm sorry, but did you just giggle at someone's phobia?" Alex asked Hermione through narrowed eyes.

"I wasn't laughing at him, it was just the way he said it," Hermione said. "Sorry, Ron."

"What?"

"I said I was sorry," Hermione said. "That was out of line."

"Wow," Kate said. "Hermione admitted she was wrong."

Hermione stared daggers at her sister.

"It is rare," Harry said.

"I know," Charlotte murmured so only Harry could hear her.

Ron explains how he broke Fred's toy broomstick, and Fred turned his teddy bear into a spider.

"To be fair, that would kind of fuck up anyone for life," Zari said.

"Accidental magic, it really can get out of hand," Junior said. "And did they fix your broomstick?"

"Yeah, Mum did it in a second," Fred said.

"Traumatized your brother for life, for a broomstick that was easily fixed," Kate said.

"I was five!" Fred said.

"Yeah, and we…kind of didn't help matters when we left Ron in that hole with all of the spiders when we were both nine," George said.

"No offense, but your pranks get out of hand sometimes," Sirius said.

"Like you have room to talk, Black," Snape said.

Younger Severus Snape, James, and Lupin all cringed, knowing what Snape was on about.

"I still have the marks from when Mum found out," Fred said with a shiver.

"And I laughed about that," Hermione said. "What the hell was wrong with me?"

"You were twelve?" Lena suggested.

"Technically thirteen by that point," Hermione said.

"Still, kids can be cruel," Lena said.

"Just wait until some of them become adults," Mick said.

Hermione struggles not to laugh, which Harry changes the subject about remarking how the water has been mopped up off of the floor.

"Thanks for steering away from that topic," Ron said.

"Figured it was uncomfortable," Harry said. "I have a sixth sense about those type of things."

They step into Myrtle's bathroom and everything is in pretty bad shape.

"Not much has changed," Lily said.

"Worst place you can be right now," Sirius said.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Astra said.

"Oh, you should," Kara muttered grimly.

Myrtle comments that Harry and Ron aren't girls when the trio enters the bathroom.

"Wow, real Ravenclaw that one," Bellatrix said.

"I think she is," Junior said.

"Really credit to your house, then," Bellatrix said.

"You're welcome to adopt her," Junior said.

"No thanks, I'm good," Bellatrix said.

Hermione wants to show them how nice it is. Or so she claims.

"Well, you're a terrible liar," Mia said.

"Just a bit," Ginny murmured.

She did wonder how much Myrtle saw in hindsight. Granted, everyone knew, but still, watching this play out in real time after burying it deep in her psyche for years had been quite the experience.

Myrtle is not happy about the trio whispering.

"She's not happy about anything," Natalie said. "Ever."

"Temperamental bint," John said.

"Oh, she better not hear you call her that," Sara said.

"Hey, I could call her a lot worse," John said. "And given she's going to be offended anyway, might as well go all in."

"Charming," Natalie said.

"Oh, I can think of a lot worse things I'd like to call her," Bellatrix said.

"I'm sure you would," Regulus said.

Needless to say, the comments they did not want to upset Myrtle do not go over that well.

"Wrong thing to say," Lily said.

"I figured that much, thanks," Harry said.

"Anything you say to Myrtle is the wrong thing to say," Kate said. "Can't we find a way to exorcise her along with Binns?"

"I have a feeling Hell would just spit her back out," Astra said.

"Could have her hang out with Snape for all eternity," Sirius said.

"Bite me, Black," Severus murmured.

"No thanks, I know where you've been," Sirius said.

Harry asks if Myrtle saw anything that night. Myrtle says she was too upset and was trying to kill herself. Only to realize she was already dead.

"Yikes," Lita murmured.

"That's a terrible existence," Alex said quietly. "Wanting to be dead. But you're already dead. And it's not like you can get any help for your problems, given her state. And she's miserable and makes everyone miserable around her."

"I wouldn't step foot in that bathroom if you paid me," Ruby said.

"I know, right," Mia murmured.

Myrtle wails when Ron reminds her of that fact. And Hermione says that was almost cheerful for Myrtle.

"If that helps you sleep at night," Lily responded.

"She didn't almost drown you," Peter said. "So, that's something I think."

Percy catches the trio going out of Myrtle's bathroom.

A lot of the group cringed obviously.

"I can think of a few worse people who could have caught you three," Sirius said. "But the snooty prefect is up there."

"I wonder why he was lurking around out there," Astra mused.

"Wanted to catch someone so he could look important," George said.

Ron and Percy have a bit of a back and forth. Ron makes a comment that Percy does not care about Ginny, only about being Head Boy. And Percy takes five points from Gryffindor and threatens to write home to Mrs. Weasley if there's any more detective work.

"No one likes a snitch," Mick said.

"And I think you touched a bit of a nerve with your brother," Junior said to Ron.

"Just a bit," Ron agreed.

Later that night, Ron, Hermione and Harry talk about who could be behind the Chamber of Secrets.

"Well, finding the who could be important," Mia said. "You know the why. But the how and the what are things you can't figure out."

"Let's see how far off the mark you're going to be," Bellatrix said.

"Why do you think they're going far off the mark?" Lily asked.

"Twelve year olds aren't known for critical thinking," Bellatrix said. "And they have a very small view of the world."

"Yeah, that's unfortunate, but true," Alex said.

Ron suggests that Malfoy could be the heir of Slytherin.

Bellatrix just shook her head as if to say she was right.

"Yeah, I don't know how we thought it could be him," Harry said.

"I'm not sure whether or not I should be insulted or flattered that you thought I was capable of magic that advanced," Malfoy said.

"And you didn't do yourself any favors by yelling out like a git that Mudbloods would be next," Kate said.

"To the younger mind, you did make yourself pretty suspicious," Lena suggested. "It's very easy to see how absurd even thinking you were capable of this at the age of twelve was. But back then, it wasn't."

Hermione is skeptical but Harry thinks that Malfoy's family could be involved. His father is pretty evil.

"Hmmm," Sirius murmured.

"What?" James asked

"I don't think the Junior Malfoy has anything to do with this," Sirius said. "But, maybe we should be keeping a closer eye on the older one. He is capable of pulling off something like this. As much as he likes to hide behind the facade of being a respectful aristocrat."

"But, he's outside of Hogwarts," Peter protested. "How could he be capable of pulling off an attack like that?"

"How indeed."

Those in the know kept their mouths shut and expressions blank. The previous generation meanwhile spectaculated on what was going on.

When Harry asks how they can prove Malfoy is involved, Hermione thinks of a way. Of course they would be breaking a lot of school rules.

"Oh, yes, enough where you should have been expelled at least five times over," Snape said through gritted teeth.

"What are you up to?" Astra asked.

"We're going to find out in a minute."

Hermione states they could use Polyjuice Potion.

"Oh, yes, because that would work," Bellatrix said. "And I don't care how smart Granger thinks she is, she's not capable of brewing something that would last as a second year."

"Maybe she could manage the rudimentary one that gives you at least an hour," Junior mused.

"An hour at most," Bellatrix said. "And that's if you do everything right."

"It's NEWT level," Lily said. "The proper one at least."

"Don't count these three out," Mia said.

"I feel a migraine coming up," Natalie said.

"Not the only one," John said.

Hermione explains about what Polyjuice Potion is. And that it's a book which they need is in the Restricted section of the library.

"Well good luck in getting in there without a teacher's note," Remus said. "No teacher would let you in there without one."

"No proper teacher," Lena said in realization.

Of course they need a teacher's signature to get that. And the teacher would have to be pretty thick.

"Well, you've got the king of thick as your Defense teacher," John concluded.

"And that's the chapter," Sara said.

"And thus sets up one of the dumbest things we've ever done," Harry said.

"How badly did it go wrong?" Lily asked.

"Find out in a couple of chapters," Harry said. "All, I'm saying you won't be happy as a Potioneer, especially knowing what I know now about what we did wrong."

"Wonderful," Lily said.

"You three children shouldn't have even tried," Snape said.

"Well, maybe the adults should try harder," Ruby added.

"Shouldn't be too hard to get a note from Lockhart," Zari said.

"Can't believe Pince would let a note from him be enough," Junior said.

"Well, if Dumbledore told her to treat him like any other teacher, she would have no choice," Hermione said.

"Oh, yeah, of course," Junior said.

"I can't believe people think a student would be capable of this," Astra said. "This is very advanced dark magic."

"People want to latch on to an explanation on how I defeated Voldemort," Harry concluded. "And for some of them, I was a dark wizard in the making."

"In late breaking news, people are stupid," Zari said.

"Carlin was right," Mick said.

"So next chapter," Astra said. "Because, I'm wondering how this plan goes sideways."

"Before that, I believe some guests are coming in for the next chapter," Gideon said.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back, Oliver Wood, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, and Katie Bell. The Gryffindor Quidditch Team."

The four guests for the next chapter appeared to some fanfare.

"Group's a bit bigger than we remembered," Katie said. "Sure, there's enough room?"

"We'll manage," Harry said.

One long round of introductions later and a brief explanation of the circumstances of the time travelers, along with a summary of what happened so far, brought them to this point.

"Seems like we missed a lot," Angelina said.

"Understatement for sure," George said. "But, we got you caught up, and now we can return with a very memorable game."

"Oh, bloody hell, it's this game, isn't it?" Wood asked.

"Mmm, hmm," Harry said.

"Let's get going with this," Angelina agreed.

"Alright, Gideon, next chapter," Sara said.

To Be Continued.