A/N: The poem and a number of Lockhart's lines are lifted from canon

Callidus may have won that particular battle against Hoyt, but the war against the fifth years was by no means over. Callidus had woken up the next day with a pounding headache, and a grin of triumph on his face. It was maddening that he couldn't precisely remember what had happened, though the memory felt like it was right there on the edges of his mind if only he could reach out and grasp it, but he couldn't shake the feeling that whatever had happened, he had come out on top.

He kept expecting an attack soon after. He redoubled his mediation efforts, and steeled his nerves every night waiting for it to come. And yet, morning after morning, he woke up well rested, and even Harry had reported that the fifth years were not making plans ("But that Hoyt girl has been in a really bad mood lately. I've never heard her scream at Alphie so much").

Early in February, another case of the Orange Madness struck Hogwarts. The student affected had been an upper year Ravenclaw whose name was unfamiliar to the trio. And despite the fact that Hogwarts still remain safer than the outside world, the incident renewed the sense of fear that pervaded the student body. But calloused thought it may have been, the incident did not remain in the students' minds for very long. This was due to the fortunate fact that the Ravenclaw, being inquisitive and well-informed, had caught their own symptoms before the phase known as 'the madness' had manifested. The student had gone to the infirmary immediately, and knowing that the situation would only get worse, had willingly submitted to being put in a magical stasis. The lack of drama, and the responsibilities of school life were enough to bury most students' fears.

This new incidence of the disease may have caught many people off guard, but Callidus, who was fixated on learning more about the disease itself, had expected the disease to resurface. If anything, Callidus was surprised that there weren't more incidents of the Orange Madness, and he felt a sort of growing admiration for those who had crafted Hogwarts' defenses.

But life continued on, and before he knew it, it was creeping up to Valentine's day - a day that Callidus would have entirely forgotten about if not for two sources: Ginny and Longbottom. Of course, knowing Ginny, it was impossible not to be aware of her hopeless infatuation for Harry. As for Longbottom -

"Prince - erm - I was wondering, well is there anyone you like?"

They were in Potions lab nine for one of their tutoring sessions, a cauldron sitting between them.

"Pay attention to the color of your brew, Longbottom, and don't take your eyes off the flame. I would prefer to go back to the common room alive and with my skin intact."

"I was paying attention!"

Callidus merely rolled his eyes, disbelieving Longbottom's excuses. Fortunately, Longbottom had returned his attention to the potion that he was working on and they fell into silence.

"And certainly there people I like," Callidus eventually said. "People who have their wits about them."

Longbottom frowned. "I didn't mean like that. I meant -" he coloured, "girls and stuff."

Callidus was incredulous. "Don't you have friends that you can discuss such matters with?"

"Well, there are a few fellows in Gryffindor that I speak to, but," his brows furrowed, "I'm not really close to them. None of them have the same interests as me, and I don't have the same interests as them. And it's not just that - sometimes, well, I just get the feeling that they don't have the patience for me."

Callidus frowned. The last thing that he wanted was to have sympathy for the other boy. He had more than enough Gryffindors in his life. But the other boy was looking at him with an expectant expression, So Callidus eventually said: "No. I have no such feelings for anyone. Not in that regard."

"Oh." Longbottom's lips drew downwards. "I -"

"Give your potion three linear stirs!" Callidus barked. When the potion emitted small swirl of green, Callidus nodded in satisfaction. "Always mind the timer."

After another long stretch, Longbottom said: "It's just that, well, there's someone I like. Only, I don't know if they feel the same way and I was thinking, since Valentine's Day is coming up, maybe I could let them know?"

"And who might this lucky soul be?" Callidus asked, lips twisted a sneer, and his tone edging towards cruel.

Somehow, Longbottom was completely oblivious to Callidus's cues. "It's, well, Caiside." He looked up at Callidus, pale eyes hopeful. "You know her, don't you? I heard that you have some sort of relation."

While Callidus wasn't surprised by Longbottom's revelation, he was surprised that Longbottom was willing to admit it to him. Didn't the other boys know better than to lay his vulnerabilities on the table for others to dissect? Callidus couldn't tell if this was Gryffindor bravery, or simply sheer stupidity. Perhaps it was an even mix of both. But while Callidus had no interest in Longbottom's life, the idea of being able to somehow needle Caiside was appealing. After all, Caiside was always needling him. Perhaps a little payback would do her good.

"Add the pressed flitterbloom stamens. You must do so when you see the brew bubbling. When the brew is dark, like this one is, you must pay particular attention to the surface. See how it roils?" Callidus waited for Longbottom to complete his instructions. "And yes, Caiside and I are distantly related." He gave Longbottom an assessing look, and a slow smile made its way across his face. "So you have developed an attraction for Caiside?"

The redness of Longbottom's round face mottled down his neck and up his ears.

"Is it perhaps something to do with your shared interest in Herbology?"

Longbottom's eyes widened. "How did you know?"

"How could I not know," he muttered. "So, what is it that you plan to do then, to make your feelings known?"

"Should I? Make my feelings known that is."

"As you yourself said, Valentine's Day is coming up. What better time could there be for a dramatic revelation of your affections?"

Longbottom frowned. "Well, I wasn't planning anything dramatic. I was just thinking of sending her a nice letter or something. I thought, perhaps, I could try to write a poem, but I'm afraid that I'm not very good with words."

"A poem? But what could be better? Girls appreciate that sort of thing."

"Really? I thought so too, but I thought girls only liked, well, you know, nice - pretty poems."

"Girls are - sentimental creatures. I'm sure nothing stirs their heart like poetry." It was an effort for Callidus to maintain a straight face as he thought about Caiside's reaction to receiving a poem. She would probably be so mortified that she would try to feed it to her vicious plants.

"You might be better off sending her the poem with the owl post so that you know for certain that she's received the message." Callidus added. That and if Caiside received the message in the Great Hall, that meant that Ginny and Hermione with see it as well. There be no escape for Caiside then. He felt this muscles in his cheeks strain as he tried to hold back his amusement.

"Huh. Thanks for the advice. And thanks for listening to me. I really appreciate it you know."

Callidus felt a twinge of guilt, but he pushed it away. It may not have been kind of him to use Longbottom in this way, but Gryffindors, or at least Callidus's Gryffindor friends, were soft-hearted. He knew that Ginny and Hermione would laugh at Caiside, but neither of them would use the information of Longbottom's infatuation to humiliate or hurt Longbottom. Surely, there was no reason for guilt.

"Will you help me write my poem?" Longbottom asked shyly, interrupting Callidus's thoughts.

Callidus felt his eyes nearly bulge out of his head. This was getting better and better. "Of course. It would be my pleasure."

Longbottom beamed, completely innocent and unsuspecting, and Callidus answered with a smile of his own, though his reasons for smiling had nothing to do with Longbottom.

It seemed that Longbottom wasn't the only person with poetry in mind. Callidus was in the abandoned fourth floor classroom with the Gryffindors, still preoccupied with reading about enchantments when he should have been revising, when he heard Ginny utter that very word.

"I'm going to write a poem for Harry," she declared, and unlike Longbottom, she was full of conviction.

Caiside frowned. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Why wouldn't it be? My brothers told me that boys like receiving poems."

"Let me guess. It was the twins who told you this?"

Ginny's expression became uncertain. "Well, yes?"

"And you believed them?" Caiside asked, not bothering to mask her disbelief. "Knowing what they're like?"

"You think it's a bad idea? But - well, I already wrote a poem! It took me ages to find the best rhymes."

"Let me see it."

Ginny pouted, her expression becoming mulish. "Why should I let you see it? You may not even have the same taste as Harry."

"Same taste or not, I think I can determine good poetry from bad poetry."

"Oh yeah? How many poems do you read? Or write?"

Caiside scowled. "Fine. But at least show it to Cal. He knows Harry better than any of us. He could probably tell us if Harry would like it or not. I just don't want you to embarrass yourself - or get hurt, you know?"

Ginny's expression became indecisive. "All right." She pulled out a sheet of parchment from her book bag and slid it towards Callidus.

Callidus just rolled his eyes. The girls didn't even bother to ask his permission, nor did they seem to care that he was busy reading his own book. But he couldn't help feeling curious about what Ginny had written to Harry, so instead of complaining, he picked up the parchment and began to read.

His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad,
His hair is as dark as a blackboard.
I wish he were mine, he's really divine,
The hero who conquered the Dark Lord

Callidus slid the parchment back towards Ginny. "No," he said with absolute conviction.

Ginny knit her brows. "What do you mean 'no'?"

"I mean, no."

Caiside managed to pluck the parchment away from under Ginny's nose, her eyes rapidly scanning the page. "Oh, Merlin. Ginny, listen to Callidus. Do not even think about giving this to Harry. I'm getting second-hand embarrassment just thinking about it. Merlin, I'd be scared to look at his face if he ever saw this!"

"What you mean? I worked really hard on that!" she cried, as she snatched the parchment out of Caiside's hands, pressing the parchment face down as if she did not want anyone else to see.

"I'm sure Ginny's poetry is perfectly nice," Hermione defended.

"That's because you're the only one who hasn't read it," Caiside retorted.

Hermione frowned before giving Ginny a gentle look. "May I?"

Ginny sighed in resignation before giving the parchment to Hermione. As Hermione read the poem, the only words that escaped from her lips were: "Oh dear."

"What?" Ginny exclaimed. "What's wrong with it?"

"Well, to begin with -" Hermione looked back down at the poem, "I'm not sure that Harry would be too pleased to have his eyes compared to a fresh pickled toad."

It was an effort for Callidus to muffle his snort, and Ginny gave him a scalding glare.

"And -" Hermione looked over at Callidus, "perhaps bringing up the Dark Lord would only bring back unfortunate memories for Harry? I've had time to think about such things since first year, and since getting to know Harry. I think it would be better to show some - hmm - sensitivity?"

"Oh." Ginny blinked. "I hadn't thought of it that way. D'you really think it would upset him?"

"It would be -"

"Tasteless," Callidus finished.

Hermione handed the poem back at Ginny, and Ginny looked down at her own writing, her expression now filled with discontent.

"What should I do then?" Ginny asked.

"Nothing," Callidus said, while Caiside recommended: "A card."

"A card?" Ginny echoed.

"A card would be nice," Hermione mused.

"But what should I say to him?"

"Nothing, Callidus repeated, but the girls ignored him.

"What do you like best about him?" Hermione asked. "You can't just like him because he defeated the Dark Lord. What about his Quidditch skills?"

Ginny lit up. Callidus thought it was a surprisingly good idea, but he did not say so out loud. In fact, he didn't see any point in involving himself with the girls' silly infatuations, and returned to his reading instead.

If Callidus had thought that Valentine's day would pass by like any other ordinary day, he was soon proven wrong. As the trio entered the Great Hall on the fourteenth, they were quite stunned by the sight that met their eyes. What they saw was a rather remarkable display of all the various shades of pink: pink flowers on the wall, pink decorations on the tables, and pink confetti hearts falling from the magical ceiling. They made their way over to the Slytherin table, where a number of students wore expressions of open disgust on their face. Many of the purebloods were likely accustomed to elegantly decorated social events. Nothing about the Great Hall today could be mistaken for elegant.

"What's going on?" Harry asked the second years who were already seated.

Pansy's eyes drifted over to the Head Table, and it was impossible to miss the sight of Lockhart, decked out in pink robes, and wearing a blinding smile on his face.

"He's such a handsome and charming professor. I don't understand how he thought this would be in good taste," Pansy said woefully, as if Lockhart had personally disappointed her.

"It's not so bad," Greengrass said, though it looked like the words pained her to say.

"I like it!" Bulstrode loyally declared.

"Millie, darling," Pansy began, about the correct Bulstrode for having atrocious taste, but she changed her mind and shook his head instead.

The owl post arrived, and Callidus looked towards the Gryffindor table, pleased to see that Caiside had received a letter. He glanced towards Longbottom, and saw the other boy looking towards her hopefully. But as the Great Hall filled with students, Callidus's attention was soon to distracted by Lockhart, who had stood up and was looking extraordinarily satisfied with himself.

Once Lockhart had the eyes of all the students in the Hall, he shouted: "Happy Valentine's Day! And may I thank the forty-six people who have so far sent me cards! Yes, I have taken the liberty of arranging this little surprise for you all - and it doesn't end here!"

This next part would have disgusted Callidus if not for the amusement he derived from watching the Slytherin girls' expressions change from hope to horror. The betrayal on their faces was palpable and Callidus pressed his lips into a thin line to keep himself from bursting out into laughter.

"My friendly, card-carrying cupids!" Lockhart said, gesturing to the dozen of surly dwarves, wearing golden wings and carrying harps. "They will be roving around the school today delivering your valentines! And the fun doesn't stop here! I'm sure my colleagues will want to enter into the spirit of the occasion! Why not ask Professor Slughorn to show you how to whip up a Love Potion! And while you're at it, Professor Flitwick knows more about Entrancing Enchantments than any wizard I've ever met, the sly old dog!"

Slughorn blushed, as if unable to decide whether he was more flattered or dismayed by the attention, while Flitwick buried his face in his hands. The girls were all looking at Slughorn speculatively, wondering if he really could brew them up some Love Potions and Callidus's amusement quickly turned to worry. What he thought would be an ordinary day was starting to look like it would be anything but.

The dwarves proved themselves to be extremely disruptive, barging into classrooms and generally have no regard for the looks of irritation or embarrassment sent their way. The trio soon learned (to Draco's delight and Harry's horror) that they had quite a number of admirers. Callidus didn't realize that there were so many ways to describe 'dark' and 'mysterious.' Even more disturbing was the message that said: 'Love heals all! Let me be the one to cuddle you to happiness,' as well as the one that said: 'Be my Valentines and I'll do all that you want. Dungeons of gloom are my favorite haunt. Nothing is better than three handsome snakes. Let me be yours, and meet me by the lake!' Suffice to say that none of them went down to the lake that day, though Draco tried to cajole them into going, if only to sate his curiosity.

"Oh Merlin," Harry moaned, as the trio made their way through the corridor between classes. "Not another one! I hate these stupid cupids!" Harry quickened his pace, determined to get away.

"Harry!" Draco called out. "Where are you going! I wanna hear what this one says!"

But Harry had heard enough Valentines for one day. Aside from the ones addressed to the trio, he also had quite a few directed solely to him, and Callidus could see that Harry found it horribly embarrassing. He dashed down the third floor stairs, and quickly turned a corner, Callidus trailing close behind.

They had thought that they were safe, but as they ventured forward, they heard the gruff voice of a 'cupid' asking: "Oi! Has anyone seen 'arry Potter? I'm looking for 'arry Potter."

Harry paled. Along the stretch of corridor, there was only one accessible room. It was the girls' bathroom, though a sign that said OUT OF ORDER warned students away. Harry expression was pained and indecisive, and Callidus of thought that Harry would turn around and head back the way that they came. But Harry seemed to have come to a snap decision. He pushed open the door and went in, and after a moment of hesitation Callidus followed him.

"What are you doing?" Callidus hissed. "Do you realize where we are?"

"I know," Harry answered crossly.

But before Callidus could say anything more, a scandalized voice interrupted them. "Who are you? And what are you doing in the girls' bathroom?"

Callidus and Harry stumbled back, not realizing that anyone had been in this bathroom and feeling mortified to have been caught. But it wasn't a girl who was in the bathroom, it was a ghost. Callidus vaguely recalled that there was a ghost that haunted one of Hogwarts bathrooms, but he couldn't remember the ghosts name. Ghost could be incredibly unpredictable. For all they knew, she could fly out into the hallway and call the attention of the professors upon them, and then where would they be?

"We're just trying to hide," Harry said. But as he got a closer look at the ghost, his eyes bulged. "Have we - met? You look - familiar."

The ghost's expression changed from sulky and hostile, to tentative surprise. "I'm Myrtle. You must've heard of me. But then, nobody cares about me, do they? Nobody cared even when I was alive!"

The name was familiar to Callidus. It took him short seconds to remember. Moaning Myrtle. That was what she was called.

Though Harry was usually sympathetic, he was oblivious to the ghost's lament. "Where have I seen you?" he murmured. "This -" he cut himself off and began to look around. "This place looks familiar."

"Harry?" Callidus said, uncertain. But Harry was already walking towards the sinks, eyes wide as if seeing the bathroom for the first time.

"Harry?"

"It's here," Harry said breathlessly. "It's here! It has to be! I know it!"

"Your secret chamber?" Callidus asked, ignoring Myrtle who was crying: "Of course you're both ignoring me. Of course! Let's all ignore Myrtle. I'm sure she doesn't care at all!"

Harry nodded excitedly. But before he could begin a close examination of the sinks, the pair of them heard Draco's voice out in the corridor calling their names.

"Harry! Callidus! You bloody pillocks! Where are you? We're going to be late for class!"

Behind the irritation, Callidus could hear a hint of insecurity in Draco's voice. In Harry's determination to get away from the 'cupids,' they had forgotten all about Draco. Not wanting to be late, Callidus tugged at Harry's robes, but his friend resisted.

"Harry. We'll lose points if we're late."

But instead of relenting, Harry glared at him. Surprised at the anger in the other boy's eyes, Callidus released Harry's robes. He had just been trying to help. What has he done to earn a look like that from Harry?

Irritated, Callidus couldn't help glowering at Harry as he said: "Fine. I'm leaving." He turned away and pushed the door handle, but short moments later he heard footsteps behind him.

"Wait!"

Callidus paused. He was vaguely aware of that Moaning Myrtle had departed to her stall, and her wails ("horrible, horrible boys!") were echoing off the walls.

"I'm sorry. I guess I got over-excited. We'll come back tonight, yeah?"

"Yeah," Callidus answered, relieved that Harry was sounding more like himself.

It took most of the evening to sooth Draco's temper, but once they finally managed to convince him that they hadn't deliberately abandoned him, he was just as excited as Harry about finally entering the secret chamber.

"Is it really in the girls' bathroom?" Draco whispered, as the trio trekked through the hallways that night, nearly invisible in the shadows. "Harry?"

Harry was too busy scanning their surroundings. After that incident with Filch and Mrs. Norris, he had been more reluctant to take chances.

"Yeah, it is," Callidus answered.

"Why would anyone put the entrance of the secret chamber in the girls' bathroom? It's hardly dignified."

Callidus shrugged while Harry shushed him. With the Camouflage Potion it was impossible to see Draco's glare, but Callidus could feel it all the same. Callidus had been worried about the presence of Myrtle in the girls' bathroom, but when they finally crept through the bathroom door, she was nowhere in sight.

"My mother's told me a few stories about Moaning Myrtle," Draco remarked once the door closed behind them. "Said she's the most vexatious ghosts in Hogwarts. Almost as annoying as Peeves."

"Yeah," Harry absently agreed, more interested in the sinks than Draco's comments. While Harry began to murmur "open" at the sinks, Draco and Callidus examined the rest of the bathroom.

"What a dump," Draco said disdainfully. "This is the one that always floods too. Never would have figured that the chamber would be in here."

"It's strange," Callidus agreed.

Since there was nothing to really look at, Callidus and Draco returned to Harry's side. Harry was intently focused on the sinks. There was nothing particularly interesting about the porcelain, nor the mirrors, nor the copper taps.

"What are you looking for?" Draco asked.

"I -" suddenly Harry inhaled sharply. "Do you see that?" He pointed to the side of one of the taps, and as Callidus and Draco edged closer, they noticed the engraving of the tiny snake.

"Open!" Harry insisted. "Open! C'mon, open up!"

But nothing happened.

"Harry, are you sure -" however, Harry cut Callidus off.

"Open! Open dammit!" Still nothing happened.

Callidus and Draco exchanged a look, which was little more than a ripple in the shadows. Callidus was about to suggest searching elsewhere, when a strange hiss escaped Harry's lips, and the sink began to vibrate and then move, sinking downwards and away to reveal a large pipe, the diameter easily the width of a man's shoulders.

"I was right," Harry said, barely above a whisper. "I found it!"

"We're not really going down there, are we?" Draco asked, looking doubtfully down at the black gaping maw of the pipe.

"Are you scared?" Harry replied, and although Callidus could not see the expression on Harry's face, a frisson ran down his spine.

"Of course not!" Draco scoffed. "But when you mentioned a chamber, I was expecting a chamber, not a pipe."

"The chamber is down there. Either way, I'm going." And without waiting for Callidus or Draco to protest, Harry slid down the pipe.

"I can't believe -" Draco muttered, the rest of his sentence incomprehensible.

"Indeed," Callidus agreed. "He hasn't even considered how we're going to get back up."

Callidus's observation was met with silence, and he had a feeling that he had unsettled Draco. But neither of them were about to leave Harry on his own, so they slid down the pipe one after the other. The pipe followed a strange and curving path that seemed to make no architectural sense. Only a magical school could have such convoluted plumbing. The pipe was disgustingly damp and slimy, and Callidus could easily imagine Draco's horror. But soon he had reached the end, which was brightly-lit thanks to Harry's lumos.

"It was underground after all," Harry said, just as Draco came flying out with a yelp from behind Callidus. "C'mon. Let's see what's up ahead."

Neither Callidus nor Draco protested, but both of them felt the unease crawling through their guts, clamping around their ribs. This felt wrong. Nonetheless, each of them lit their wands, and followed Harry.

The darkness down in these tunnels was oppressive, seeming to eat away at their faint wand light. It made their camouflage seem like a dreadful thing, as if the darkness consumed more than the light - as if the darkness was consuming them as well. All they could see down here was each others' lumos. Callidus felt as if he may have as well have been alone. Never had the absence of footsteps felt so isolating, so wrong. He clung on to the sound of Draco and Harry's breathing. He felt as if it was the only link to the world, the only thing keeping him sane, and he wondered if he wasn't asleep after all, having a nightmare that could crown all nightmares. Why didn't either of them speak? Why didn't he speak?

A loud crunch reverberated through the air, Callidus heard Draco say: "Oh Merlin - Merlin." Beneath their feet were myriad small animal bones, like a macabre tableau of an open grave. And that was why Callidus didn't speak.

"We should head back, Harry," Draco said, trying to feign conviction when all Callidus could hear was fear.

"It's messier than I thought, but we can always clean it up later," Harry answered, oblivious or perhaps insensitive to the emotion behind Draco's words.

"I agree with Draco," Callidus said. "This is a foolish endeavour. We don't know what might be down here. And we have class tomorrow morning."

"If you two want to go back, I'm not going to stop you."

"Harry!" Callidus snapped, but the bite in his voice was meant to hide his own, ever-mounting fear. Thinking fast, he cried out: "Expelliarmus!" and Harry's wand flew out of Harry's hand and into his own.

"Merlin's pants!" Harry exclaimed, shocked and angry. "Why did you do that? Give me back my wand!"

"We're going back," Callidus replied. "All of us."

"You can't just take someone's wand," Harry said, and heartbeats later, Callidus felt the air shift and he stepped backwards just as Harry lunged towards him. He did not move fast or far enough, and Harry's weight knocked him over, causing him to fall upon the small bones with a terrible crackle. Callidus tighten his grip on the two wands, while using his free hand to try to push Harry's weight off of him. Near-invisible hands and limbs grabbed at him, elbows digging into soft spots, while his own near-invisible hand grappled in the darkness.

Callidus heard Harry cry: "Let go of me!" and felt Harry's legs kicking out, likely bruising him. It took moments for him to realize that Draco was attempting to pull Harry off.

Somehow, despite the deficiency of clear sight, Callidus and Draco managed to pin Harry to the ground. All of them were panting heavily, driven by adrenaline, limbs burning with exertion, and horrified by the situation they were in.

"What's wrong with you, Harry?" Draco demanded.

"I - I -"

"I understand that you're excited that we found the chamber, but it will still remain here whether we explore it today or some other day," Callidus reminded him, his voice harsher than he intended.

Voice shaky, Harry said: "I - I don't know what came over me. I just got so excited that we found the chamber. I know there's more. We haven't even seen the half of it. But, well, you're right. This is so - so -" He let out a ragged sigh. "Just - let me up. Please."

"You're not going to keep fighting us?" Draco asked.

"No!" Harry burst out. "No. I'm fine. I'm fine."

Callidus removed his weight from the body below him, and short moments later, Draco did the same. After a brief and silent debate with himself, Callidus handed Harry back his wand. The trio began to make their way back to the common room, and despite Harry's submission to their will, the silence felt heavier than ever.

A/N: I apologize about any grammatical errors. When it comes to voice typing, proper nouns, plurals, arbitrary capitalization (or lack thereof), and homophones are major challenges.

A/N: I have run a number of my chapters through Word instead of just relying on Google Docs, but I probably haven't caught everything. I really appreciate the comments and reviews!