Hey people. I am so annoyed and tired so I thought I'd update. And no offense to any teachers reading this (I even want to be a teacher some day) but my art teacher who I've had for 7 years (yes she followed me from elementary) decided today that every single idea I had couldn't be done. Now I'm a very patent person and I love my art teacher she's helped me a lot with my drawing, but we have to make this sculpture using recycled materials and it has to be functional and structurally sound. Do you know how hard it is to make something structurally sound when you can only use Elmer's glue, no hot glue, string or tape. Not to mention her definition of recycled means only certain things in her art closet. My idea of recycled is any thing that can be used and reused. Like a cup, I wanted to fill one with water, drink it and then use the cup. I've been fighting a cold but I went to school so I wouldn't have to take exam's and she made me take apart my whole project. Then I suggest about 5 different projects and she doesn't think I can make it structurally sound. If I can never work on a project how can I be expected to make it perfect. So now I'm doing a very uncreative simple teepee thing. And she said I wasn't trying. I was trying my hardest but I'm only good with a pencil not building things.

Anyway sorry to bother you with that monologue but it ruined my whole day. On the plus side I get to go watch a baseball game tomorrow and in two weeks Apple Blossom Festival!! If you've read my other story you know what I mean. But it's great two days with just the band two parades and a symphonic performance fun!

Okay moving on here's Chapter 19. Oh and check out my new story but I promise this gets more updates then that.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Hermione thinking

I'm so bored Hermione complained. It turns out that when you're petrified you don't sleep because your body doesn't need to.

I guess that makes since, even when your asleep your mind is still going causing dreams. During the day she was kept entertained enough by her mother's daily updates on every thing including Harry and Ron. She really enjoyed when her mother stopped by as Harry and Ron couldn't come much with the new restrictions. Not that her mother had much time either, she normally came in at night once all the students were in bed. She didn't want to know how Colin and Justin felt being petrified so long. It was only a few weeks in when a thought occurred to her.

I wonder . . .

One Month later

It was official; the past month had been one of the worst in Minerva McGonagall's life. Not only was her new daughter petrified, her husband had to leave the school because of stupid Lucius Malfoy. Now not only was she temporary Headmistress, she had to prepare for her classes, make sure no students left teachers eyes and she was expected to be strong for all of them. She now knew why no one was ever Headmaster and a current professor. It was only three day until exams started and she was sure something would happen then. She was headed down to breakfast when Professor Sprout came and grabbed her by the arm.

"Minerva I have great news?" Sprout said coming to walk in step with Minerva.

"What?" She asked though she had an idea what.

"Mandrakes are ready to be cut; we can unpetrify all the students tonight."

"That's great Pomona," She said smiling. "I'm going to hurry to the great hall to tell everyone the great news."

"I have to go prepare them I'll see you later." Sprout said running out of the entrance hall. Minerva felt like dancing. Not that she would. Finally she would get her daughter back and they would find out what was causing the attacks and who, and once that was gone Albus would be back. Not that he was fully gone. No he came and saw her most nights but he could only help so much. If the school governors found out he was sneaking in, he would lose the title of Headmaster completely. He went to see Hermione when ever he got a chance. And even though Minerva was happy he went to see her, she didn't believe Hermione could hear them talking to her. She sat down at her chair in the Great hall and waited for all the students to fill in. When she decided that most of them we in she stood up.

"I have good news." She announced and a barrage of noise greeted her.

"Dumbledore's coming back!" Several people yelled.

"You caught the Heir of Slytherin!" Squealed a girl from the Ravenclaw table who Minerva recognized to be Penelope Clearwater's friend Rachael.

"Quidditch matches are back on!" She heard Wood yell excitedly. Maybe I should have rethought the decision of making Wood Quidditch captain, even though he's a great captain there is a limit of too much Quidditch. She held up her hands the way Albus always did and the Hall quieted.

"Professor Sprout has informed me that the Mandrakes are ready for cutting at last. Tonight, we will be able to revive those people who have been Petrified. I need hardly remind you all that one of them may well be able to tell us who, or what, attacked them. I am hopeful that this dreadful year will end with us catching the culprit." She finished triumphantly to the now cheering crowd. The staff all started talking happily about this horrible experience finally ending. Minerva leaned back into her chair and fixed her eyes on Harry and Ron. Sure enough they looked thrilled to hear the news, and it made her happy that Hermione had such great friends. Then she saw Miss Ginny Weasley sit down next to her brother looking nervous and scared. Even though Minerva couldn't hear what they were saying it looked like Miss Weasley was trying to tell her brother something. Then she saw Harry lean over and whisper something to her and the girl looked even more nervous and she opened her mouth to say something when Percy Weasley came to sit and Ginny ran off.

This puzzled Minerva greatly, what could be so important that Ginny must have wanted to tell them in front of everyone directly after she made the announcement about the mandrakes. Wait a Gryffindor stole the diary, could it be Miss. Weasley. She didn't seem any different from the beginning of the year . . . but that could be because she must have had the diary all year. I need to write Albus, but first I'll have a talk with Miss. Weasley. Luckily for her, her first class was combined Gryffindor and Ravenclaw first years.

She made it though the class without any interruptions. She kept a close eye on Miss Weasley though and saw that the girl was fidgeting nervously in her seat the entire class period. At the end of the class period she took the first years up to the Charms classroom she watched them file in and when Miss Weasley walked by her, Minerva put a hand onto the girls shoulder. She drew Miss Weasley away from the door and turned to face her.

"Miss Weasley are you feeling okay?" The girl looked nervous.

"Yes Professor McGonagall I'm fine."

"Are you sure you look nervous and fidgety?" Minerva pressed on, now speaking softly to the girl.

"Well . . ." Ginny started and then she turned away from Minerva and then she turned back. "I'm completely fine Professor why would I be any different. I'm just quite happy that all the petrified people will be fine tonight." Ginny's voice had gone completely monotone, as if she didn't care about a thing in the world. This caused Minerva to back up slightly at the sudden change.

"Ginny," She started feeling that she should use the girls first name. " You know that you can come to me about anything." She said softly.

"I know." Ginny said her voice soft again. Then Ginny turned around and ran into Charms class. Minerva sighed in exhaustion. There was something wrong with the girl, the way her voice changed . . . she sounded possessed. Minerva shivered and headed downstairs back to her office.

She rounded the second floor corridor when she ran straight into young Mr. Potter and Weasley. She felt her anger flare, and from the looks on their faces it showed. She put all these security restraints in, to make she the students were safe, and here were Potter and Weasley sneaking away to do who knows what.

"Potter! Weasley! What are you doing?" She hissed at them.

"We were --- we were-- we were going to -- to go and see." Weasley stuttered, most likely thinking of an excuse.

"Hermione!" Harry shouted, and Minerva wheeled around to stare at him in shock.

"We haven't seen her for ages Professor and we thought we'd sneak into the hospital wing, you know, and tell her the Mandrakes are nearly ready and, er, not to worry –"

Minerva stared at him in shock. They risked detention and possible death from this monster to go visit Hermione and tell her that Mandrakes were almost done and that she would be fine tonight. Even though it was quite possible that Hermione couldn't hear a word they said. She felt her heart clench and she held back tears. They really did care for Hermione. She thought again of Hermione coming into her room a month into her first year asking to go home because she didn't have any friends. Now she had two great ones.

"Of course," She started tearing up, "of course, I realize this has all been hardest on the friends on those who have been . . ." She couldn't bring herself to finish that sentence. It was one thing for her to know her daughter's petrified, it's another thing entirely to say it out loud. "I quite understand. Yes, Potter of course you may visit Miss Granger. I will inform Professor Binns where you've gone. Tell Madam Pomfrey I have given my permission." As soon as she finished talking the boys took off down to the hospital wing. She pulled out a handkerchief and blew her nose. This had better all be over soon.

Harry couldn't believe his luck as Ron and he walked towards the hospital wing. He felt for sure McGonagall was going to give them detention. Maybe there was something more going on with McGonagall and Hermione then they let on. Then again, he thought, I'm sure McGonagall would have let any Gryffindors go at this point. But how did she know we had History of Magic next?

Madam Pomfrey let them into the hospital wing releuctly claiming that Hermione couldn't here them anyway. Harry partially agreed with this but wasn't going to say any thing. Some one disagreed with them though.

I can hear you Madam Pomfrey, and I like when they talk to me. If people stopped talking to me I think I would go crazy. Normally Hermione wouldn't be this rude to a elder however a month of no being able to talk to someone was driving her partially crazy.

"I wonder if she did see the attackers though." She heard Ron say out loud.

Yes look into my right hand, it's a basilisk!

"Because if he sneaked up on them all, no one'll ever know." Ron finished not knowing that neither Harry or Hermione was paying him the slightest attention now. Harry had been glazing at Hermione's hand and saw a piece of paper crumpled tightly in Hermione's hand.

"Ron look at Hermione's hand there's a paper in her hand." Harry said starting to pull at the paper.

Thank you Harry!!

"What let me see!" Ron said bending over Hermione's hand. "Try and get it out." Harry waved to him to watch for Madam Pomfrey. Harry set to work slowly twisting and turning the paper out of Hermione's hand. He finally got it out and flattened out the very old page of paper.

"Ron come here and read this." Harry replied and eagerly read it to himself. He couldn't believe it when he finished. Hermione had figured it all out. She had been on the way to tell them when she was petrified.

"Ron, this is it. This is the answer. The monster in the chamber is a Basilisk – a giant serpent! That's why I've been hearing the voice all over the place. It's a snake. It's all right here, the crowing of the rooster, how it's been getting around, and it kills by looking straight into the eye. No one looked it straight in the eye Ron! They all saw it through something, that's why Hermione was found with the mirror. She was making sure she was prepared in the worse. I bet you that Ravenclaw prefect was the first person she found so she told her to warn her." He was energized he wanted to run and tell someone and fix it, when Ron grabbed his arm.

"The enternce to the Chamber of Secrets! What if it's in a bathroom? What if it's in –"

"Moaning Myrtle's bathroom!" They said together.

Yes finally they figured it out. Now guys be smart about this go to Professor McGonagall, she will take care of it and stop the attacks.

"What should we do? Should we go get McGonagall?" Ron asked. Harry nodded.

"Lets go to the staff room, it's nearly break she'll be there soon." Harry said and together they ran out of the room leaving behind to paper laying on Hermione's bed.

Sorry about my rant earlier, but it's frustrating. Any way hope you like this chapter. I should tell you I have another idea for a story to post after I'm done with this story. It won't be nearly as long. So I guess it's a mini series. Any way hope everyone has a great weekend and a great day. And please review.