Ron and Hermione raced down the open corridor. The stillness was nerve-racking.
"I've never had to do this without Harry's invisibility cloak before. It makes things a bit more complicated." Ron whispered quietly to Hermione, carrying the large broomstick awkwardly in one hand as they ran.
They jumped behind a statue in attempt to remain hidden from any Hogwarts faculty that may not take kindly to visitors. Hermione peered around the other side of the knight that sheltered them.
"It's clear, there's no one down here." She whispered back to him.
"It's not people I'm worried about, it's Filch's cat. She always waits until you think you're safe."
They ran down the corridor to a staircase that stopped before them. Hearts racing, hair rippling behind Hermione's head, they reached the bottom on the staircase and still, the castle was silent.
"It's down this corridor and to the right." Hermione said under her breath. Ron could hear panic in her voice, and he felt it too. It was only a few more treads before they reached the lavatory. The turned the corner into the entrance to reveal the U-bend when-
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" roared a voice in the bathroom.
Ron and Hermione came to an abrupt stop as the shriek echoed through the corridor. A graceful silhouette drifted down from the ceiling and floated directly above the pair, who were still clutching their chests from the startle.
"Student's shouldn't be roaming the school at night." Said Moaning Myrtle, a smirk curling up the edges of a wicked smile.
"Myrtle, please," pleaded Hermione, "please don't make too much noise. Myrtle we have to get into the Chamber of Secrets. It's important we're not seen!"
"Oh?" said Myrtle, turning to Ron. "Back into the plumbing?"
"Yeah." said Ron, trying to avoid provoking a tantrum.
"No Harry this time?" she asked looking past Ron, hoping to lay her eyes upon Harry no doubt.
Hermione stepped into Myrtle's gaze in attempt to take back her attention.
"Well, he's not coming with us, Myrtle. But it's important to Harry that we go. So please, let us pass and get down to the Chamber."
"Alright." said Myrtle floating back up to the top of the lavatory. Ron and Hermione exhaled sighs of relief and they walked further into the girls' bathroom.
"What's waiting for you down there?" ask Myrtle curiously, following the duo towards the sinks.
"It's got a snake on it, Hermione; the sink that opens up." Called Ron as Hermione rushed forward.
Hermione looked up to Myrtle who hovered above the toilet that had been designated to her years before.
"It's what's going to help us end this war." Hermione told her. Ron rolled his eyes as he watched Hermione engaging in a discussion with Myrtle.
"Hermione, we're kind of running on a tight schedule here." he told her; a hint of annoyance rang in his tone as he looked up to Myrtle. She smiled smugly back to him.
"Look Myrtle, after all of this is finished, we'd be glad to come by and give you a run down of past year or so but I really have to suggest that WE KEEP ON MOVING, HERMIONE!" said Ron urgently.
"He's right, Myrtle, I'm sorry. We'll see you when we get back." said Hermione quickly.
She turned to the sinks and watched as Ron ran to where he had entered the chamber from before.
"Here, it's this one!" he called, bending over to look at the tap engraved with the Slytherin serpent.
"So, how did you open it? Hermione asked, surveying the serpent below Ron's finger.
"Well," said Ron hesitantly, "Harry sort of, spoke parseltongue to it."
"I didn't think about that." said Hermione sounding defeated. She crinkled her eyebrows together, searching thoroughly through her mind for an alternative way to open the passage.
"It's alright." Said Ron firmly. "We've heard Harry do this before. We just need to make the sound that he makes. We can do this, Hermione."
"I don't know that sound, Ron." She told him, knowing she was of no help to his plan. "Do you think you can do it?"
"Let's hope so." Said Ron, leaning forward towards the sink.
Ron handed the broomstick to Hermione. He thought for a moment and then let out a sound of varying hissing noises, then stood back and waited patiently. Hermione watched silently, Myrtle floated above, watching intently.
"Again," Hermione told him. "Try it again, Ron."
Ron leaned forward and hissed to the tap again. This time he spoke shorter, quicker and deeper. Nothing happened.
"Damn it!" Ron threw his hands into the air, defeated.
"Don't stop, Ron!" Hermione told him. "Keep going, don't stop." She encouraged.
Ron exhaled his frustration and leaned into the sink and tried again. Still the sink did not change.
"Again!" Hermione told him.
Ron failed a forth time, and a fifth. Hermione strode quickly towards him. She placed a hand to his arm.
"Keep trying."
Ron tried again, and proved to be defeated a sixth time. He looked to Hermione and she nodded, urging him to go again. Ron leaned down and this time whispered slowly and precisely. The ground below their feet began to shake. Hermione's wide eyes looked up to Ron.
"You did it, Ron!" she said, beaming excitedly.
"Yeah." He managed to breathe out, overtaken with surprise.
The sink began to slowly lower itself into the ground. Moments later it had been fully submerged below the ground, and all that was left was a large open pipe that waited to take Ron and Hermione into the Chamber.
"So we just, jump into it?" Hermione asked.
Ron nodded, looking down into the long, dark pipe.
"Alright." Said Hermione. She took a deep breath and stepped towards the entrance.
"Good luck down there." Called Myrtle, who watched the two approaching the opening apprehensively.
"Thank you, Myrtle." Said Hermione, with great surprised. She smiled sweetly back to Myrtle. Hermione gave one last glance to Ron, and with the broomstick in hand she lunged herself into the pipe. Ron looked down after her, admiring her bravery. He smiled as he watched her disappear into the darkness.
"Alright, then." He nodded to Myrtle. She smiled at him before diving back into her toilet. Ron took one last glance around him and jumped feet first down to the Chamber.