A silent snow was brought about two weeks before Christmas. Hogwarts students were writing to home about the recent death of fellow Gryffindor Neville Longbottom, and some students were even leaving the school early because of the recent deaths.

The Gryffindor common room was gloomy after Neville's death. Nobody seemed to want to talk, but Hermione decided to continue planning their entrance to the Chamber of Secrets during Christmas break.

"I've already told my parents basically," she said. "Well, I put a memory charm on them, and they don't even know they have a daughter, but I'll be able to make it wear off after we're done with the Chamber."

Ron was sitting on the ground near a sofa, twirling a small string that was stretched out from the cloth on the sofa.

"Ron," said Hermione, catching Ron's attention. "What have you done to tell your parents that you're staying at Hogwarts during Christmas?"

"I don't know," muttered Ron. "Nothing," he admitted after that.

"Exactly," said Hermione. "You need to do something or you won't be able to go into the Chamber!"

"Alright, alright, I'll think of something."

Harry didn't feel like talking much that day. The loss of Neville seemed bigger than he thought it would ever be. He stared into the fireplace, thinking of how Neville really did help him all of those years, such as what happened at the Ministry two years ago; he was part of that. Maybe there wasn't much he had accomplished, but Neville was still a good friend to keep around.

"Harry," came in Hermione's voice, "are you listening to me?"

Harry looked away from the fireplace and towards Hermione. "What?"

"I just wanted to tell you that we're taking some Polyjuice Potion before we enter the Chamber. I was able to snatch some away from Slughorn's cabinets. He'll never notice."

Harry simply nodded, and continued staring at the fire, thinking of all the recent deaths that had occurred.

Time moved on, and the gloomiest week at Hogwarts Harry had ever seen passed by. The snow from the previous week melted, and that brought in for a dry Christmas.

Ron was finally able to persuade Mrs. Weasley to allow him to stay at Hogwarts during Christmas. She finally gave in when Ron had told her this would actually help the Order.

Christmas break came along, and fellow Gryffindors said goodbye to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Ginny left without saying a word, and was disappointed that she wasn't able to go into the Chamber. Still, she had promised Harry not to tell her mother about the Chamber, and Harry had trusted her with his heart.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione seemed to be the only three in the common room that night, next to two others who decided to stay during the break.

"What serpent statue did Dumbledore say the Horcrux was in?" Hermione asked Harry.

"I think it was the fourth," said Harry, but quickly added, "Never mind. The seventh one. I'm pretty sure it's the seventh one."

Harry was about as anxious as ever. He would get the chance to destroy one of Voldemort's Horcruxes, yes, but it would come at a dangerous price. Anyone could die in the Chamber, especially with the Poisonous Grasp in the perimeter.

"If anyone dies," said Hermione, "just move on. At least someone sacrificed themselves to be able to destroy Voldemort. Move on, even if it is Harry."

Then the thought of death came to Harry. What if he died? He decided not to fear death, but accept it if he really had to.

Hermione lifted up the bottom of her shirt, and revealed the large pregnant belly. Ron looked at it wide eyed.

"What in the bloody hell?" Ron exclaimed.

Hermione rapidly pulled her shirt down.

"Are you — pregnant?" Ron asked.

"So what if I am? That makes me just about as more mature than you are, Ronald!"

"Wow. Talk about mood swings."

"You filthy prune!" Hermione shouted. Harry had never in his life heard Hermione yell something like that to either Harry or Ron. "Just because Viktor and I —!"

"Oh, oh!" exclaimed Ron. "So Krum was involved in this. I see. He wanted to get you knocked up so you'd die more easily when walking in the Chamber!"

"Ron, shut up, SHUT UP! HE — WE DIDN'T — KNOW THAT WOULD — EVER — HAPPEN!" Hermione sobbing very hard now. "I CAN'T — STAND YOU!" And she ran up the girls' dormitory stairs and slammed the door.

"Bloody hell," said Ron.

"Ron, you're not making this any better," said Harry, stood up from the couch, and walked away. But before he hit the stairs to the dormitory, a parchment flew out from the fireplace.

Harry snatched it, looked to see if anyone was near, and read it aloud to Ron:

"'Dear Harry, I'm so happy you're taking on the challenge to enter the Chamber. You're completing the mission I couldn't, you're destroying the Horcruxes, the few pieces left of Voldemort, including his body. So, I give you good luck.

"'Also, if you see a biography called Albus Dumbledore: The True Story, don't read it. It's all lies, all lies, Harry. Just thought I'd let you know.

"'Well, I must go. See you sometime; that line will be explained soon. Sincerely, Albus Dumbledore.'"

Harry pondered over the note a little. What did "see you sometime" mean? Did Dumbledore think Harry was going to die?

The nervous Harry said "good night" to Ron, and headed up to the boys' dormitories. He laid under the covers on his bed that night, his thoughts racing so much. Eventually, somehow, he was able to fall asleep.

He was sitting on a nice grassy hill. Suddenly, all of the Death Eaters, including Malfoy and a peculiar man Harry did not recognize surrounded him, their wands at the ready.

"Say your last prayers, Potter," snarled Malfoy, and Harry glared in return.

"Luna's told me some hideous things about you," said the unfamiliar man.

"You might as well give up now, Harry," said Voldemort, the flat-faced man standing in front of all his Death Eaters.

Harry swore he saw Dumbledore somewhere, but the picture raced somewhere else.

"Avada Kedavra!" shouted Voldemort, and a green light shot towards Harry.

Blackness came upon him. He was suddenly standing in the middle of the Chamber of Secrets.

"Should I shoot up the Dark Mark?" asked a man with raggedy brown hair.

"Yes," he said in his cold, high pitched voice. "Even if they have not been killed yet, it is fine to do so. The professors are all away from the school. No one will know."

The raggedy brown haired man held up his wand towards the ceiling, and a green spark shot out, breaking open the ceiling and revealing cloud night sky. The spark exploded into a skull with a snake wrapping around it and coming into its mouth.

Suddenly, there was a bang, and down the walkway, he saw Severus Snape strutting towards him.

"Severus," he greeted. "What a pleasant surprise."

"Good evening to you also, my lord," replied Snape.

"Are these rumors have been hearing about you, Severus, true?"

"What...rumors?" Snape stuttered.

"Ah, I am sure you have knowledge of what I am talking about. You being a spy for Dumbledore, that great, old bafoon. You being a spy for the Order of the Phoenix, the bloody organization that is out to stop me."

Snape fell to his knees and had a terrified look on his face.

"I know you do not mean it, Severus. It was a lie that you were still spying for us, for the Death Eaters. There's only one way to settle this." He held up his wand towards Snape.

"Please...my lord, don't do this," begged Snape.

"Avada Kedavra!"

And Harry shot upward in his bed. He looked out the window near his bedside, and saw the sun just peaking out of the hills.

Was it true? Was Snape really dead? Was he really on Dumbledore's side instead of Voldemort's?

And the dream. It was the same dream he'd been having for over half a year, except there was something different about it. His Aunt Petunia wasn't surrounding him with the other Death Eaters. An unfamiliar man was standing there, and said something about Luna... Then it came to Harry: it must be Luna's father. But was he really a supporter of Voldemort?

Harry got dressed, woke up Ron, and they met Hermione down in the common room.

"So," she said nervously, "this is it."

"This is it," said Harry.

She was right. This was it.