The rest of the summer went off without a hitch. Severus and Harry saw each other on a daily basis and Lucius, as far as they were concerned, had behaved. It wasn't long however, before Harry and Draco had to leave for school again.
The two were dropped off at King's Cross- as they were the year before and boarded the train grabbing a compartment in the back.
"Harry!" Hermione said when she saw the messy-haired boy.
"Hello Hermione. How was your summer?"
The bushy-haired girl hurried inside the compartment and sat next to Harry. "It was okay. How were things at your place?"
Harry exchanged a look with Draco. "As good as it ever gets." Hermione was still smiling from ear to ear. "What's got you so cheerful?"
"Haven't you heard? Gilderoy Lockhart is going to be the new DADA teacher!"
Harry glanced at Draco when the boy groaned. "Who?"
"Gilderoy Lockhart. He is a specialist in DADA. He's written several books on different subjects pertaining to the Dark Arts and dark creatures," said Hermione smartly. "And he's positively gorgeous."
Draco made a gagging sound causing Harry to laugh. "That old sod is so caught up in himself, I'm surprised he found the time to get away from the mirror and actually put his 'knowledge' to use!"
"He is not an old sod!" Hermione claimed, affronted. "He's elegantly aged."
Harry turned to Draco and fought off the bubbling laughter as he said, "Age doesn't matter when it comes to love, Draco. Didn't you know?"
Hermione huffed. "If you two are going to be like that then I think I'll leave."
"Oh come now Granger, I'm sure he won't need more than two… what is that Muggle medicine… Niagara?"
Harry was dying of laughter. "V-viagra."
"Right, I'm sure he won't need more than two for you Granger." The two boys were too busy snickering to notice the girl storming out of the small room.
"I would like to say a few things before we begin the feast," Dumbledore announced after all the newly sorted students had taken their seats. "For those of you just now joining us, welcome. To those old faces, welcome back. The Forbidden Forest is exactly that. Forbidden. Any student caught wandering will receive a detention or possible expulsion. Mr. Filch would also like me to let you know that the list of banned items has been updated and posted in your common rooms. Now, let's eat!"
Harry turned to Draco. "The old man needs to get some new material." Harry looked down at his food and grimaced. Hearing Dumbledore talk had left a nasty taste in his mouth. "Actually I think I'm going to head up to the common room. Dunkan!" Harry called to one of the prefects. "What's the password?"
Dunkan grabbed a roll and wrote something on it with the tip of his wand then tossed it to Harry. "Eat up Potter."
Harry grabbed the roll, reading the writing before eating the plain bread. He stood up, a lone figure in the crowd of many, and left the Great Hall with two sets of eyes following him.
The halls were empty, as he had expected and the walk to the common room was bound to relax him. He was heading to the stairs leading to the dungeons when he heard it.
::Let me kill you…::
Harry stopped dead in his tracks. "Malfoy. Stop messing around. If you wanted to play a joke, you really need to pick some one else."
::Let me rip you… make you bleed.::
"Malfoy!" Harry yelled this time. "Damn it you blonde-haired git!" he stormed off to the dorms and decided he would have it out with the blonde when he returned.
"Potter, Snape wants to see you in the common room," Malfoy said as he threw himself on his bed.
"That wasn't funny earlier Malfoy," Harry said coldly getting up.
"What?" Draco sat up and looked at the raven-haired boy with confusion.
"In the hall. It wasn't funny. You should know you can't scare me with stupid stuff like that."
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I was in the Hall the whole time. Ask Snape, he was watching the table."
Harry's face filled with confusion. "That doesn't make any sense. I heard someone down there."
"Maybe it was someone else."
"Did anyone else leave the Hall after I left?"
Draco bit his bottom lip as he thought. "I don't think so. Dumbledork looked pretty pissed though. Maybe it was one of the ghosts. Probably Peeves."
"Yeah, maybe." Harry sighed. "I'm going to go see what Snape wants."
"Later."
"Yeah."
"Why didn't you eat Harry?" Snape asked as soon as the two were sitting down safely ensconced in Severus' office.
"I lost my appetite when Dumbledore spoke. He makes me sick."
Severus nodded and sat back in his chair. "How was the train ride?"
"Fine. Severus… where was Peeves this afternoon?"
"Dumbledore had him locked in an unused classroom."
"Anywhere near the dungeons?" Harry asked fidgeting. In his book it was a little worrisome to hear voices asking to kill him.
"Not that I'm aware. Why the sudden interest in the poltergeist?
"It's nothing. Lockhart talked to me earlier."
Severus scowled. "What did he want?"
"Fame is a fickle friend Harry," Harry imitated in the new DADA professors voice.
"Imbecile," Severus sneered.
"I'm aware. I think I'm going to go to bed." Harry stood up and hugged Severus before leaving his office and heading back to the dorms.
::Let me rip…Blood… I smell blood!::
He was already half way to the dorm when he heard the voice. His stomach dropped. Blood? He looked around wide-eyed. "Who are you!" he screamed.
When there was no answer he started running. The only sound he could hear now was his harsh breathing and the sound of his shoes hitting the hard stone floors. At least until he slipped. There was a loud crack as his head hit the ground. He felt the water soaking into his clothes and right before he passed out he saw Mrs. Norris, frozen.
"Albus, you can't honestly believe he did that. He had just come from my office, he wouldn't have had enough time."
"I believe you my boy. But we must also take into consideration that no one saw what happened, no one but Harry."
"If he saw anything at all."
Harry opened his eyes to blinding white light and groaned. "Someone turn out the lights." His brain felt like it were trying to pound its way out. He felt a vial being pressed to his lips. "S'that?"
"That is a headache draught. Drink up," Severus said.
Harry swallowed the foul concoction and opened his eyes. "What happened?"
"What do you remember?"
"I was walking through the halls and I heard…" a voice? Oh that would go over real well, they'll think you're nuts. "I heard a noise and it scared me so I started running. I slipped in some water, fell down and cracked my head. Why was there a puddle of water there anyways?"
"Moaning Myrtle flooded the toilets again. Did you see anything before you passed out?" Dumbledore asked.
"A cat. Mrs. Norris I think."
"You did indeed see Mrs. Norris. She has been petrified. Mr. Filch is quite distraught. Do you know who might have done that?"
"No. I already told you. I didn't see anything except the cat before I fell."
Dumbledore sighed and nodded. "Very well. I will let you rest. Sleep tight my boy."
Harry waited until Dumbledore was gone. "What isn't he telling me?"
"I could ask you the same."
"We'll do a trade off. Your information for mine."
"You first."
"Fine, your word as a Slytherin that you will tell me what you know of the situation that I don't."
"You have my word."
"Since the night of the welcoming feast I've heard something. A voice. The first time was on my way to the common room the first night here. The second time was just… whenever this happened. It said it smelled blood," Harry looked up at Snape's expressionless face. "You think I'm crazy don't you?"
"There was writing on the wall. The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir beware."
"The heir of who?"
"Slytherin. Salazar Slytherin. The Chamber of Secrets was said to be built by Salazar before leaving Hogwarts. No one is able to access it. No one knows where it is. It is said that there is a monster in there. The monster was said to have been released in 1943 and killed a student in the girls' bathroom."
"Do you think that's what happened to Mrs. Norris?"
"The Chamber of Secrets is a myth Harry. A story to scare little children."
Harry sighed. "You do believe me though, right Sev?"
Severus looked down at the injured boy and studied his face. "I don't believe you would ever say something that you didn't beyond doubt accept as truth."
Harry only nodded as Severus walked out. He wanted to cry. His Uncle Severus thought he was crazy.
A/N: The basilisk talk is mostly from the book. I edited it a bit though.