The next day, Harry, Hermione, Alexis and Ron were out in the courtyard, after Harry explained what happened in the Tom Riddle's diary, it had shown him something that happened fifty years earlier, that Hagrid was the one who released the monster that lives in the Chamber.
"It was Hagrid. Hagrid opened the Chamber of Secrets 50yrs ago." Harry stated.
"it can't be Hagrid. It just can't be." Hermione replied.
"Something about that story sounds strange to me, Hagrid is the most nicest person, I know." Alexis added,
"We don't even know the Tom Riddle. He sounds like dirty rotten snitch to me." Ron stated.
"The monster had killed somebody, Ron. What would any of us have done?" Harry asked.
"Look, Hagrid's our friend. Why don't we just ask him about it?" Hermione asked.
"That would be a cheerful visit. 'Hello, Hagrid. Tell us, have you been setting anything mad and hairy loose in the castle lately?'" Ron replied.
"Mad and Hairy? You wouldn't be talking about me, now, would you?" Hagrid asked as he walked up behind them.
"No." all four answered. They just stared at each other for a while, unsure of what do or say. Until Alexis saw a canister in Hagrid's hand.
"What's that you've got, Hagrid?" asked Alexis, feigning innocence.
Hagrid held up the canister "It's Flesh-eating slug repellent. For the Mandrakes, you know." Hagrid answered. "Now, according to Professor Sprout, they've still go a bit of growing up to do. But once their acne's cleared up, we'll be able to chop them up and stew them and then we'll get those people down at the hospital un-Petrified."
the four nodded,
"In the meantime, though, you four had best be looking after yourselves. All right?" Hagrid asked. He turned and walked away. "Hello, Neville." he greeted as Neville came running up,
"Harry, I don't know who did it, but you'd better come. Come on!" Neville informed them.
The Quartet were confused but took off running with Neville. They ran all the way to Gryffindor Tower and into the boy's dormitory what greeted them was chaos, broken glass was everywhere Harry's bed was in shreds, everything was just trashed.
"It had to be a Gryffindor. Nobody else knows our password." Hermione stated.
"Unless it wasn't a student." Alexis added, she knew all the passwords, because she could go into any House at any time.
"Whoever it was, they must have been looking for something," Ron stated
"They found it, Tom Riddle's diary is gone." Harry replied.
A few days later, Alexis was playing her guitar when Professor McGonagall walked up, carrying a rolled up parchment
"Ms. Halliwell, please come with me." was all Professor McGonagall would say.
The two went straight to the Quidditch Pitch where the Gryffindor team were about ready to take flight.
"Professor McGonagall." Oliver Wood, the Keeper and Captain of the team greeted.
"This match has been canceled." Professor McGonagall informed them.
"we can't cancel Quidditch," Oliver stated.
"Silence, Wood, you and your teammates will go to Gryffindor Tower. Now." McGonagall ordered. "Potter, You, Ms. Halliwell and I will find Mr. Weasley. There's something the three of you have to see."
After finding Ron, Professor McGonagall lead the three students to the Hospital wing.
"I warn you. This could be wee bit of a shock." McGonagall warned.
Alexis let out a strangled sob as she approached the bed, there laying Petrified was her best girl friend.
"Hermione!" Ron exclaimed.
"She was found near the library...along with this." Professor McGonagall explained as she picked up a hand mirror. "Does it mean anything to either of you?"
the three shook their heads 'No'
That evening, Alexis was in Gryffindor Tower with Ron and Harry, Carmela walked in with Professor McGonagall.
"Could I have your attention, please?" McGonagall called out
the Gryffindor students and Alexis turned and paid attention,
"Because of recent events, these new rules will be put into effect immediately: 'All students will return to their house common rooms by 6:00 every evening. All students will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No exceptions.' I should tell you this: Unless the culprit behind these attacks is caught it is likely the school will be closed." McGonagall explained. She turned and left.
Carmela locked eyes with one of her charges, she would abide by the rules to a certain extent.
Alexis turned after she knew that Carmela would help to sneak them out if she had to. She looked at Harry and Ron.
"We've got to talk to Hagrid, I can't believe it's him but if he did set the monster loose last time. He'll know how to get inside the Chamber of Secrets. That's a start." Harry stated.
"but you heard McGonagall, we're not allowed to leave the tower except for class." Ron replied.
"I think it's time to get my dad's old cloak out again." Harry stated.
Carmela walked over and stared at them, "I'm breaking my own rules here but this thing needs to be stopped. I'll handle hiding Lexi."
"How are you going to hid me?" Alexis whispered.
Carmela smirked "Now you see me," then disappeared "Now you don't."
"Invisibility, I can't believe it." Alexis was amazed
"I'm an Elder, remember." Carmela laughed, "I can do mostly anything, I believe I'm still able to use a wand, but I never tried."
"Well let's get to this," Alexis stated,
They waited until everyone was asleep, the four of them. Carmela had orb them outside where Ron and Harry hid under the cloak while Carmela hid Alexis and herself. From inside they heard Fang snort,
"Who's there?" Hagrid asked. He kicked open the door of his hut, and saw nothing. "Hello? Hello?"
Ron and Harry took off the cloak, while Carmela went visible with Lexi holding her hand.
"What's that for?" Carmela asked as she saw the loaded crossbow in Hagrid's hands.
"Nothing, I was expecting...it doesn't matter. Come on in. I just made a pot of tea." Hagrid answered. After they were in and the door was closed. Hagrid went to pour tea for them to drink but he overfilled cup.
"Hagrid, are you okay?" Harry asked.
"I'm fine. I'm all right." Hagrid answered.
"Did you hear about Hermione?" Alexis asked.
"Yeah. I heard about that, all right." Hagrid replied
Alexis felt like he was holding something back.
"Look, we have to ask you something." Harry explained before looking Ron, Alexis and Carmela. "Do you know who's opened the Chamber of Secrets?"
"What you have to understand about that is-" Hagrid began but a knock on the door interrupted them "Quick, under the cloak."
Carmela wrapped her arms around Alexis and turned invisible.
"Don't say a word. Be quiet, all four of you." Hagrid whispered. He went to opened the door when his other guests were hidden. "Professor Dumbledore, sir."
"Good Evening, Hagrid. I wonder, could we...?" Dumbledore asked.
"Of course, come in. Come in." Hagrid stated.
"That's the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge." Carmela breathed
Alexis shallowed spit she was nervous if they were found out being here at night. They would be in trouble and Carmela would most likely loose her wings.
"Bad business, Hagrid, very bad business. Had to come." the Minister explained. "Three attacks on Muggle-borns. Things have gone far enough. The Ministry's got to act."
"But I never-" Hagrid began "You know I never, Professor."
"I want it understood, Cornelius that Hagrid has my full confidence." Dumbledore declared.
"Albus, look, Hagrid's record is against him. I've got to take him." Cornelius replied.
"Take me? Take me where? Not Azkaban prison." Hagrid asked.
"I'm afraid we have no choice, Hagrid." the Minister replied.
The door swung open and reveals Lucius Malfoy.
"Already here, Fudge?" Malfoy Sr asks. "Good." he walked in.
Carmela hovered a bit to get out of the way.
"What are you doing here? Get out of my house!" Hagrid exclaimed
"Believe me...I take absolutely no pleasure at being insider your...you call this a house?" Lucius replied stopping right in front of the hidden Harry and Ron. "No, I simply called up the school and was told the headmaster was here"
"Well, what exactly is is that you want with me?" Dumbledore asked.
"The other governors and I have decided it's time for you to step aside." Lucius answered as he held out a roll of parchment, "This is an order of suspension,"
the Minister was about to take it, but Dumbledore reached out and took it.
"You'll find all 12 signatures on it." Lucius added. "I'm afraid we feel you've rather lost your touch, well, what, with all these attacks there'll be no muggle-borns left at Hogwarts. I can only imagine what an awful loss that would be to the school."
Carmela found herself hard pressed not to blow her cover. She wanted to use one of her Elder powers on this slimly git. She felt Alexis' temperature rise as she was getting angry.
"You can't take Professor Dumbledore away, Take him away and the Muggle-borns won't stand a chance." Hagrid stated. "You mark my words, there'll be killings next!"
"You think so?" Lucius asked.
"Calm yourself, Hagrid. If the governors desire my removal, I will, of course, step aside." Dumbledore reasoned. He began to walk up to Lucius, "However you will find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it." The headmaster glanced straight at the four hidden people
"Admirable sentiments. Shall we?" Lucius replied
as they were beginning to leave, Hagrid cleared his throat.
"if anybody was looking for some stuff then all they have to do is follow the spiders. Yep that would lead them right." Hagrid stated, "That's all I have to say, and someone will need to feed Fang while I'm away."
after the Minister left, the hidden four came out of hiding.
"Hagrid's right, with Dumbledore gone, there'll be an attack a day." Ron stated.
"look" Alexis pointed out as she looked over at the spiders that were crawling away.
"Come on." Harry stated as he lead the way out the door. "Come on, Fang."
"come on." Carmela stated as she heads for the dark forest.
"What?" Ron asked.
"You heard what Hagrid said, 'Follow the spiders.'" Alexis replied as she ran to catch up with the Elder.
"They're heading to the Dark Forest." Ron stated
Harry looked at him, then followed after Alexis and Carmela.
"why spiders? Why couldn't it be 'follow the butterflies'?" Ron asked fear lacing his voice as he walked into the forest too.