Disclaimer- I don't own it.

I don't particularly like this chapter; it's too much like the original for my taste. But it had to happen, I suppose.

Enjoy! :)

Harry, Ron, and Hermione have stumbled onto the scene of a crime on their way back from Nearly Headless Nick's Deathday Party; Mrs. Norris is hanging by her tail off a torch bracket and the message revealing that the Chamber of Secrets has been opened is written in blood above. Filch has spotted them.

"You!" he screeched. "You! You've murdered my cat! You've killed her! I'll kill you! I'll-"

"Argus!"

Dumbledore had arrived on the scene, followed by a number of other teachers, including Professor Lupin (who had informed Harry weeks earlier that Dumbledore knew about the voice he'd heard. For some reason he had not looked pleased). Dumbledore swept past Harry, Ron, and Hermione and detached Mrs. Norris from the bracket.

"Come with me, Argus," he said to Filch. "You, too, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger. Also, Remus, would you mind?"

"Not at all, Professor," said Lupin quickly. "My office is nearest, just upstairs, why don't we..."

"Thank you, Remus," said Dumbledore.

The silent crowd parted to let them pass. Professors McGonagall and Snape hurried after Dumbledore, both looking severe.

Dumbledore carefully placed Mrs. Norris on Lupin's desk as soon as they entered and began examining her carefully, the tip of his nose barely an inch from Mrs. Norris's fur. McGonagall and Lupin were bent almost as closed, twin expressions of worry coloring their faces. Snape loomed behind them, half in shadow, wearing a most peculiar expression: It was as though he was trying hard not to smile.

Harry couldn't help feel sorry for Filch, who was sobbing loudly, although he probably would have felt sorrier if he wasn't so worried he was going to be blamed for it. He stared at the back wall of Lupin's office, which was stone and completely bare. The empty grindylow tank was sitting on an old cabinet, and Harry concentrated on examining the green algae that had grown on the back. Beside him, Ron was doing the same thing.

At last Dumbledore straightened up. "She's not dead, Argus," he said softly.

"Petrified?" asked Lupin quickly, as though he'd come to the same conclusion and had only been waiting for Dumbledore to ascertain that she wasn't dead. Filch cast Lupin a distrustful look and choked out, "Is that true?"

"Yes," said Dumbledore. "No second year could have done this. It would take Dark Magic of the most advanced-"

"He did it!" spat Filch furiously, turned his blotchy face to Harry. "He did it, I know he did, he found..found my letter...he knows I'm a Squib!"

"I never touched Mrs. Norris!" said Harry furiously. "I don't even know what a Squib is!"

"Rubbish," snarled Filch, but before he could continue, Lupin stepped forward.

"I don't think Harry and his friends had anything to do with this," said Lupin calmly, ignoring Snape, who had risen out of the darkness like a bat to speak. "To suggest otherwise is ridiculous; they're twelve years old."

"I have known twelve year olds capable of actions just as vicious," spat Snape, his eyes narrowed in hatred.

Professor Lupin turned away from Snape and didn't say anything.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione all launched into an explanation about the deathday party. "...there were hundreds of ghosts, they'll tell you we were there-"

"But why not join the feast afterward?" asked Snape, his eyes glittering in the candlelight. "Why go up that corridor?"

Ron and Hermione looked at Harry.

"Because..." said Harry, desperately looking at Lupin, who furrowed his brow for a moment before his eyebrows rose in understanding. "Because I...we were tired and wanted to go to bed."

Professor Dumbledore glanced at Lupin, who nodded swiftly. Harry felt relieved that these two adults seemed to understand what he was trying to say.

Snape snorted. "Without any supper? I didn't think ghosts provided food fit for guests at their parties."

"Severus," said Dumbledore quietly. "That's enough. We'll be about to cure Mrs. Norris, Argus, as Professor Sprout has recently managed to procure some Mandrakes. I will have a potion made to revive Mrs. Norris as soon as possible. As for you and Severus, Minerva, could you deal with cleaning up the mess downstairs, if Filius hasn't already attended to it?"

Professor McGonagall's lips thinned, but she didn't look nearly as angry as Snape, who stormed out of the office in a flurry of black, McGonagall behind him.

"Harry," said Dumbledore gently. "Does this, as Professor Lupin has led me to believe, have anything to do with the voice he says you've been hearing?"

Harry nodded and Dumbledore's face darkened for a split second before he said, "Tell me, what does this voice sound like?"

"It sounds like a hissing, sort of...it was whispering that it wanted to kill, and that's why we ran down that corridor, because I heard it..."

"I believe you, Harry," said Lupin, who looked worried nonetheless.

"Do you have any idea what it could be?" asked Harry hopefully.

"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened..." said Dumbledore, half under his breath. "Yes, I have an idea of what it could be. And generally my ideas are quite good."

"Professor?" said Harry, unsure of what that meant for him.

"You're not in trouble, Harry," said Dumbledore. "You three had better get back to your common room, it's safer there. Professor Lupin and I will talk about what you've told us; we'll do what we can. Hogwarts is safe as long as I am here."

As Harry, Ron, and Hermione scurried back to their dorms, Harry reflected on those words and decided to trust in Dumbledore. Yes, Hogwarts was safe.

Twelve year old Harry is so trusting. :3 Reviews are love! :)