News of the attacks and of Harry's ability to speak Parselmouth had spread like wildfire through the halls and gossip mills of Hogwarts. Harry, not one to like conflict unless needed, shied away from everyone except a few of his friends. The rest of his dorm mates refused to even look at Harry, and it was the same for the rest of his classmates.

Teachers didn't address the subject, leaving Harry feeling alone, and gave bullys a fair shot of ruining Harry's days.

He couldn't even walk to the bathroom alone, in fear of someone cornering him or hexing him. Ron and Neville had taken to shadowing Harry, acting like impromptu bodyguards. Hermione was equally getting 'fed up' with the behavior in others, but instead of lashing out, she used her knowledge with the teachers in asking the right questions.

That's how, in one of their History of Magic classes, shared with the Slytherins, Hermione sat with her hand in the air, waiting for Professor Binns to notice and call on her.

"Professor Binns?" she asked when twenty minutes had gone by without him stopping his monologue on Barabus the Foul.

"Uh, yes Miss Ranger?" asked the ghost.

"Miss Granger, sir. But, I was wondering on what you could tell me about the Chamber of Secrets?"

"Miss Ranger, this is a class on History, if you wish to discuss Myths, then maybe you should research them on your own time in the library. Now, Barnabus the Foul had angered the King of…"

"Sir, Myth does have a certain truth in History. But, seeing as the attacks happening have mentioned the Chamber of Secrets, and that it was built by Salazar Slytherin himself, I was wondering if you would be able to tell us anything more?"

"Very well, Miss. The Chamber of Secrets was supposedly built by Salazar himself when he help found and teach at the school. During his time here, he actively fought for the right of excluding Muggleborns to come to the school. However, the other founders, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Godric Gryffindor, all refused his claims, further stating that any child of magical inheritance had a right to be taught at the school.

"This resulted in Salazar leaving the school, but before leaving he left the warning that 'a beast laid in the Chamber, and would be called forth by his rightful heir, and would help in saving the school.'

"Many interpretations have been made by that, but the most notorious are those saying that a heir would call the beast forward and it would slay the Muggleborn students. However, the school has been scoured many times in the centuries that have followed, and no such beast - or Chamber - has been found."

"Thank you sir."

Following the information that the Professor revealed, murmurs broke out, and soon, the class was unstable. Each student was speculating that it was either fake or true, which resulted in most of the class giving Harry rude looks and whispering about him behind his back.

Harry, deciding that the hassle of confronting everyone wouldn't be worth it, laid his head over his arms on his desk, blocking out the murmurs that increased in volume till class ended.

~oOoOoOo~

Later that night, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were lounging in front of the fire in the Gryffindor common room. Luna, Ginny, and Neville were currently in the library studying. They were discussing the probabilities of who was the heir and causing the attacks, but so far couldn't come to a viable solution.

"I'm telling you, it's Malfoy! He's been the most verbal about attacking Muggleborns, plus he's a Slytherin!" reasoned Harry.

"I'm telling you both, just because he's a Slytherin, doesn't mean that it's him! Honestly, you don't even have any proper evidence!" retorted Hermione.

"Hermione, he's a Slytherin! That's all the evidence we need," added Ron.

Harry felt another headache coming on from the disagreement, so instead of continuing, he excused himself.

Once free of his friends outside of the common room, Harry walked down the moving staircases until he reached the first floor. Not paying any attention to his surroundings, Harry entered the first door that he found.

When he entered, he discovered it was a loo. It most likely was a girl's loo, since he saw no urinals, and only toilet stalls in one corner, with the opposite side containing sinks in a circular layout.

Deciding to hurry out of there before a girl entered, he turned on the spot and headed back to the door.

"Who's there?" asked the voice Harry had heard through the walls previously.

Halting his steps, Harry took a look around, but he couldn't see any snake. Forgetting that he was in the girls loo, Harry responded to the voice, "Hello? Where are you?"

"I am in my home, human. I haven't met another human who was able to talk to me," said the voice.

Listening closely, Harry was able to tell the the voice had a feminine lilt to it.

"My name's Harry, and don't worry, I haven't talked to many snakes either," he replied, before heading inside the closest toilet, just in case. "Are you the one attacking the students?"

"It is not my purpose to harm students, Harry. I try not to, but Master gets angry if nothing happens. I only petrify them, leaving them in a deep sleep."

"Who's your master? Can't you petrify them instead?"

"I have tried, young one. But, my Master is untouchable. He hides in another student."

"Who? Who is he hiding in? How is he hiding in them?" he asked.

"I cannot say, and I do not know. It is not me who knows how wizards work."

"When do they come to you? Do you have a name?" he asked urgently.

"They come when they please… Yes, young one, it is Rowena."

"Like Rowena Ravenclaw?"

"Yes, my first Master, my true Master, spoke of her great beauty and wisdom. He named me after her, he claimed."

Realizing that he had been there long enough, and not wanting to push his luck any further, Harry decided to tell Rowena goodbye.

"I really have to go, cause I'm not supposed to be in here Rowena. But, could I come to talk to you more?" said Harry.

"Come whenever you please, Harry. I really enjoyed talking to you," replied Rowena.

Harry cautiously left the loo, and took off back towards the tower to tell Hermione and Ron what he just discovered.

However, he didn't notice the small form hidden in the alcove, watching him leave. When the coast was clear, they rushed inside the loo themselves, preparing to give the beast another order.