"Wonderful job," said a high pitched voice. "You're doing an excellent job here! We'll be killing in no time."
They were standing on a long stone walkway, which had dark, murky waters surrounding it. Statues of snakes were around the lakes, and a large statue of a man's face was at the end of the walkway.
"Thanks, master," replied the other voice.
"I expected less from a person as young as you," said the high pitched voice, "but you've amazed me, astonished me."
"I told you my son would be very valuable to your services," replied a much deeper, eviler voice.
"Ah, you were right," said the high pitched voice. "Your son carries exceptional qualities over the bar that anyone could believe. He can make himself up into a Death Eater, or whatever he wants to be, in a second. He's much better than the other one; the one that, for some odd reason, does not believe in evil. This one here believes that evil shall prevail, and I must applaud you on that. But for the other one, you must be punished severely."
"Master," pleaded the deeper voice, "Spare me! I'm sorry! I did not know the other one would turn out like that!"
"I am sorry," said the high pitched voice, "but your days are over. Your service was very kind, but you have failed to have both boys support me. Say your last prayers."
"My lord!" the deeper voice said.
"Enough!" hushed the high pitched voice. "Goodbye, Lucius Malfoy." To that, he raised his wand and said, "Avada Kedavra!"
Harry sat upright in his bed, sweating, and breathing heavily. Was that true? Voldemort had just murdered Lucius Malfoy? That would not be such a great loss to Harry, but another death? Especially one of his most respected Death Eaters. Harry did not know whether the boy was Draco or Perifius, but he would find out.
The next morning, he told Ron and Hermione about his vision at breakfast.
"They were standing in the Chamber," said Harry.
"That's it!" Hermione exclaimed. "All the clues lead to the Chamber of Secrets! The only flaw is the Poisonous Grasp."
"I don't want that bloody Chamber of Secrets to come back," winced Ron.
"If you want to destroy Horcruxes with Hermione and I," said Harry, "you're going to have to get a little more mature, Ron."
"I'm about as mature as Hermione and you!"
"Are you sure about that, Ronald?" asked Hermione.
"Well — no," Ron replied, "but I can build myself up by the end of the year."
Hermione shook her head, and continued reading a book on her lap, while at the same time was eating.
"Hermione," said Harry, "what are you reading?"
"I have a few books here," said Hermione, piling them up on the table, "but the one I'm most interested right now is All About the Poisonous Grasp; found it in the restricted section. The Poisonous Grasp can grow on stone walls; it doesn't need any soil."
"That's odd," replied Harry.
"What kind of a stupid plant is that?" said Ron.
"I actually think someone of sophisticated talent built this thing up," said Hermione, "but they use their sophisticated talent with evil.
"It also says," she continued, "that Poisonous Grasps happen to be filled with insects, and other living creatures."
"Spiders?" winced Ron.
"It doesn't exactly say." Hermione grabbed a book that looked somewhat tortured from the pile. "This one is called How to Quickly Create Complex Potions. It basically shows how you can whip up potions such as Felix Felicis, Polyjuice Potion, and more, in sometimes about a week!"
"Wicked," said Ron.
Hermione picked up the last book from the pile. "This one is called Most Magical and Secret Artifacts. I haven't found much in this one yet, but I don't think we need anymore."
Since that day was a Saturday, the three had no classes, and decided to walk across the grounds to Hagrid's hut. This would be the first time they had seen him that year.
"It's 'bout time yeh guys came over here," said Hagrid, while they were all in his hut.
"Sorry, Hagrid," said Hermione. "We've been all caught up in our studies."
"I understand. Seventh year is prob'ly the toughest, eh?"
Suddenly, a loud pop was heard from a cauldron above Hagrid's stove, and a large egg popped open.
"Oh dear," muttered Hagrid, attempting to handle the creature that popped out of the egg.
Harry looked to see what Hagrid was holding. It was a strangely round creature, that had a grey jellylike skin covering it, with blue poke-a-dots. On its bottom, there were around ten flexible legs. The creature resembled a squid, but out of water. The creature then made a strange noise, and a green odor was released into the air that smelled terribly bad.
"Ew," complained Ron. "What the bloody hell is that smell?"
"Oh — er — well — this is a Plodmipuff," answered Hagrid.
"A — a — a what?" Harry asked.
"A Plodmipuff," Hermione answered instead of Hagrid. "I've always wanted to see one! They're really rare! How did you get one?"
"There's quite an awful lot o' stuff tha' you can buy in ol' Knockturn Alley," Hagrid said. "They got some Plodmipuff juice tha' can create a Plodmipuff."
"Why do you need a Plodmipuff?" asked Harry.
"Er — well — tha's Hogwarts buisness, that is."
"Couldn't you just tell us?" Hermione asked. She had a certain twinkle in her eye that seemed to persuade Hagrid.
"Oh, alright," said Hagrid, "but I don' want you three bein' 'fraid, or gettin' int'a any trouble, yeh hear?
"We need," he continued, "this Plodmipuff... Well, they can destory, or a' least keep off dangerous creatures, yeh see."
"Like a basilisk," suggested Hermione.
"Well — er — yeah, sure. An' other thing that I won' get int'a, but I'm just warnin' yeh —" here he held up one finger like a parent would "— don' go lookin' for stuff yeh shouldn't be lookin' for, 'specially durin' these times. Hogwarts isn't as safe as it used to, even more dangerous dan last year, so, just watch your backs..."
Harry knew they weren't going to take Hagrid's warning into effect.
That night, he lie awake, thinking about how Hermione was planning to enter the Chamber, of if they were even going to enter the Chamber. Dumbledore left him a task, and entering the Chamber would be completing it; that would be destroying a Horcrux hidden there. His thoughts dwelled into dreams about Death Eaters attacking him, but softly swayed into thoughts about Ginny.