Daphne helped Harry throughout his classes, as he couldn't be excused every day. The only thing Harry really cared about was Magic, though, and Daphne often used that desire to get him to eat and take care of himself. After classes, Harry would go to the hospital wing, Daphne following him like Magic used to. Touching Magic's cold stone skin made him sad, but desperate to see her again. As the days passed, Harry grew more exhausted, and as he wasn't eating much, he was starting to feel its effects. Daphne tried to get him to eat more, but even if he tried, everything in his mouth was tasteless. One night a week from Magic's petrification, Harry confessed to Daphne through tears that he was terrified he'd never be able to use magic again. Somehow, sharing his deepest fear with her eased the burden it had given him, and gradually, Harry began to accept his circumstances and come out of his grief.
Not only was Harry grieving, but Mr. Filch was, also, and Ginny Weasley seemed particularly disturbed by the attack. Ron tried to comfort her, and as for Hermione, she seemed to be researching without end. The day after Harry had spoken with Daphne about his fear of losing magic forever, Hermione came to Harry during a break between classes, telling him, "I'm trying to find out what petrified Magic and Mrs. Norris. If I can, we might be able to put a stop to it."
"So it can't do anything like that again?" Harry asked, but was starting to feel a deep determination.
"That's right." Hermione responded.
"How can I help you?" Harry asked, determined.
"That hissing sound you heard. Is there anything familiar about it at all?" Hermione asked. "Does it remind you of anything?"
The memory was hazy and filled with Harry's grief, and as he tried to remember, his new found determination crumbled to nothing, sadness filling the void.
"It's okay, Harry." Hermione said as she patted one of his hands, likely seeing the tears in his eyes and the changing expression on his face. "You don't have to remember if you don't want to."
"I have to." Harry said. "I don't want whatever happened to Magic happening to anyone else." His voice shook and he tried not to cry again, knowing he'd been doing quite a bit of that lately. He remembered for Hermione, though, but didn't recognize the hissing he'd heard as being familiar.
For perhaps the first time in his life, Harry attended a history of magic class that was eventful when Hermione asked about the Chamber of Secrets. Professor Binns told them a story of the founders, and how each had put a secret chamber in the school, though searching for Slytherin's chamber hadn't yielded any results. The monster, Professor Binns had said, was rumored to have been used by Slytherin's true heir to rid the school of all those that weren't worthy of learning anything at Hogwarts, according to the views Slytherin had on allowing only those of pure blood to attend. It was the same stereotypical view that already existed at Hogwarts, Harry thought to himself through the constant cloud of grief that covered everything.
Ron and Hermione were talking about Slytherin having started the pure-blood views as they walked from History of Magic, but Harry didn't much care. He walked behind them with Daphne leading them, feeling disconnected from everything that was happening. They eventually ended up at the second floor, where Ron, Hermione and Daphne looked for any clues that might determine what had petrified Mrs. Norris and Magic. It led them to enter Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, and speak with Moaning Myrtle herself, a depressed female ghost with a rather shrill voice. Percy Weasley caught them when they left, and told them they ought not to be searching for any clues, as that was a task for the professors. Harry numbly followed Ron and Hermione to the Gryffindor common room, then to dinner, eating a little more than he usually had, something Daphne found encouraging.
Ron was in a bad mood from his and Percy's argument, and Harry, who's hands were on the defense against the dark arts book for his assignment, but who wasn't actually reading it, heard something almost catch on fire. It brought him to a little more alertness than he usually had these days, and he turned his head, hearing a slam.
"I wonder who it could be." Hermione said, though Harry didn't know what she was talking about. "Who would want to frighten all the muggle-bourns out of Hogwarts?"
"Let's think." Ron sounded like he was pretending to be puzzled. "Who do we know who thinks Muggle-bourns are scum?"
"If you're talking about Malfoy..." Hermione was cut off.
"Of course I am! You heard him, he said you'll be next, Mudbloods. How much more obvious could it be? You only have to look at his fowl red face to know it's him." Ron said.
"Malfoy, the heir of Slytherin?" Hermione skeptically asked.
"I don't find that likely." Daphne responded. "The thing Harry heard, and had Magic follow, was hissing in the pipes. Perhaps it's some type of snake, and if that's the case, perhaps a Parselmouth is who we need to find. Malfoy isn't one."
"He could be." Ron said. "Parselmouths are all dark, we know that."
"And how do you know?" Harry asked, feeling suddenly furious. "Have you spoken to one, Ron? Just how are you supposed to know something like that and make a judgement based on something you've probably only heard! I'm sick of this narrow-minded prejudice!"
Before Ron could reply, Harry stood from where he sat, knocking the table over and scattering the books, ink and quills on it. He didn't care, though, simply stormed furiously into the dormitory, dressed for the night, then yanked the curtains around the bed before he lay down with a heart pounding with fury. Eventually, he drifted off to sleep, though woke again when he heard others entering to get their sleep as well. He pretended to be asleep, and wasn't bothered by anyone.
The next day, Harry woke earlier than the rest, but unlike he usually tried to do, didn't attempt to fall back to sleep. His watch told him it was four o'clock. After quietly dressing for the day, Harry made his way from the dormitory and into the Gryffindor common room. He could hear the scratching of a quill as someone wrote, but as he appeared, heard whatever it was slammed shut and Ginny let out a squeak of surprise.
"Hi, Ginny." Harry stated in a tired voice, and after finding a couch, sank down with a sigh.
Grief was taking a great deal from him, and while he was tired, he didn't feel like he could fall asleep. The cold, frozen flame of magic within him was a constant reminder that sent pain through his heart, of a deep emptiness and a desperate longing for Magic to return so he could be with her again first, and use his magic again second. After a few seconds passed, he heard Ginny writing again, though found he wasn't as keen to investigate her diary as he'd been before. She was probably working on some piece of homework anyway, Harry thought to himself.
By the time it was five thirty, Harry unfolded his cane and made his way from the portrait hole, heading toward the hospital wing. Having been there enough, Harry knew where Magic lay frozen. He entered, walked to her bed, and touched her hand which was at her side.
"Hey." He said quietly, in a voice that bordered on crying. "I think about you every day. I'm sorry for yelling at you, you didn't betray me... But it felt like it, I know you don't understand... It's the nature of grief. I'm trying to accept things, but it's hard not having you around... I miss you, miss your direct advice, the feel of my magic within me... It's like ice now, it hurts."
Harry heard a door quietly open and recognized the footsteps of Madam Pomfrey. Quickly, but carefully, he kissed her on the cheek and whispered into her ear, "Come back soon please, come back..."
"Mr. Potter." She said quietly, her voice gentle. Harry turned his head to face her. "You may remain until seven o'clock if you wish."
Harry said nothing, only tried to create a chair so he could sit next to her. Even though he was with her, using magic had been so natural to him that he'd forgotten he couldn't. When nothing happened, no spike in his flame, he remembered why and tears rolled down his face.
"You said I was strong." He whispered to Magic's statue form. "But I don't feel strong, I just want you back with me."
Of course, there was no reply. Harry stayed until six thirty before he made his way to the Great Hall to eat, almost hearing Magic's voice in his head telling him that he would need strength to deal with his emotions. He felt a little lighter at that, but also heavier with the emptiness that the lack of her presence gave. Even without Magic in his life, he was still able to find his way to the Great Hall on his own, and found his way to the Gryffindor table.
"Hey, Harry." Ron said, sounding a little nervous.
"Ron." Harry stated as he sat down, carefully reaching out to see what was available.
"Listen." Ron said. "I'm sorry for what I said last night. I shouldn't have done it. Hermione and Daphne talked to me about it and... Well... I hope you can forgive me."
"Yeah." Harry stated flatly. "Sure."
He didn't feel angry, didn't feel anything at the moment. He remembered why he'd said what he did, recalled how he'd felt about it, but it all seemed pointless. He ate some toast and eggs, the food having some taste now when it hadn't before.
"I'm glad to see you eating more, Harry." Daphne said calmly as she sat down beside him.
Harry didn't say anything to her, nor did he say anything to Hermione, who rushed in and sounded as if she was eating quite fast.
"Are you Ron now, Hermione, or what?" Daphne asked, sounding amused. Harry felt a touch of resentment that she could feel so good when the world was so empty.
"No, I just have a thought and I want to get this finished quickly." Hermione said. "Got to get to the library before class starts. It was you that gave me the idea that the monster might be a snake and I'm going to find out which one it is so we'll know more about what attacked the rest of the students and can tell Headmaster Dumbledore." Hermione spoke very fast and in a single breath, then Harry heard her resume eating.
"Telling Dumbledore probably won't do any good." Harry stated bitterly. "He didn't even help Magic."
"It's not his fault, Harry." Daphne reminded him. "It's the fault of whoever opened the chamber, which isn't Malfoy, by the way."
"And how do you know that?" Ron asked.
"Because, Ron, not only is it highly improbable due to the fact that he's not a Parselmouth, but before I was sorted here, I heard him speculating on who the heir might be. He knows as much as we do. Nothing." Daphne said.
"Wouldn't be surprised if he's playing it off that way." Ron said. "He's done a lot of other underhanded things."
"Yes, but this isn't one of them. I'm certain." Daphne stated.
"If you're sure, that's good enough for me." Ron said as Harry heard Hermione hurrying off.
He was more attentive as he went through his classes that day, though when it came to performing any practical magic rather than simply studying the theory, it sent the cloud of sadness and grief pressing down on him. The professors seemed understanding, which Harry was grateful for, though sent Harry spiraling back down into his depressed state of grief. He insisted on being alone that evening and wandered through the corridors.
"Well, well, Potter." Malfoy's voice, which sounded cold and malevolent, came from around a corner and was moving closer. From the sound of things, he was walking with several others behind him. "Heard you've lost your magic like a lowly squib or Muggle scum. Glad to hear you're finally the trash I always expected you were."
"Just do whatever you're going to do." Harry said in a resigned voice.
"Fine, Potter. We will." Davis stated.
This time, when she placed the body bind curse on him, Harry couldn't deflect it or lift it from himself, even though he tried. He couldn't even feel the magic on him as he'd been able to before, and as he fell back and slammed into the floor, his body as rigid as Magic's own in the hospital wing, a couple tears rolled down his cheeks from his eyes.
"Aww." Malfoy stated in a mock tone of sympathy. "Poor blind Potter is crying. Guess you're as weak as I always thought."
Harry felt Malfoy stamp down on his fingers, then he stated maliciously, "That's your break, Potter. And Goyle here has a little gift for you."
Harry felt the large shoe of Goyle slam down on his arm, and in addition to the pain in his fingers, felt and heard his arm snap, sending searing pain up his shoulder. Harry couldn't cry out due to the body bind, though, but didn't care what happened to him. Maybe his empty existence without Magic would be put to an end by Malfoy and his friends, the only good thing they'd ever do for him.
"Maybe we should stop." Davis sounded a bit awkward and nervous now, Harry noticed.
"What's wrong, Davis?" Malfoy asked snidely. "Losing your nerve?"
Harry heard footsteps moving quickly off, then Malfoy kicked Harry hard in the side before hurrying off with his friends. He lay for what felt like about five minutes before he could hear careful footsteps entering the corridor.
"Potter, I'm... I'm going to release the body bind." Davis said, her voice still sounding a little nervous. "Finite Incantatem."
Harry gasped from the pain and the suddenness of being able to move again. He struggled to push himself to his feet, and when Davis tried to help him, yanked her down as hard as he could before he hit her, furious. She simply grasped his wrist in both hands and pulled him to his feet with a grunt of effort, then both of them heard hurried footsteps coming along the corridor.
"Oh, dear, dear." Professor Lockhart said as he rounded the corner. "Mr. Potter, just what happened to you?"
"Nothing." Harry snarled angrily.
"Not to worry, Harry, I'll have that arm of yours fixed up in a jiffy." Professor Lockhart said, and before either Harry or Davis could stop him, Harry felt the pain vanish from his arm, feeling that it was oddly light.
"Oh. Well, sometimes that can happen." Professor Lockhart sounded a bit mollified. "Maybe you should take him to the hospital wing, Miss Davis, though I'm sure I could heal that..."
"I think I've seen enough of your inept healing spells, thanks." Davis stated coolly, Harry hearing and feeling her bend over and pick something up. "I have your, stick, Harry."
"Fine." Harry stated coldly, not feeling like correcting her.
As Davis led him down the corridor, firmly grasping his hand, Harry said nothing to her. A few seconds passed before she began to speak, sounding awkward, though determined.
"I'm sorry for what I did to you, what I helped them do." She said. "I... No one should go through that. I'll be reporting myself and Malfoy and Goyle."
"Might as well report me too." Harry stated icily. "Thought you could get me to trust you, Davis?"
"Broken bones aren't worth..." She began.
"Didn't feel that way last year, did you?" Harry asked, nearly shouting. "Forget it, Davis! I'm sick of you Slytherins!"
"And I thought you wouldn't be so prejudice." Davis stated coldly, her grip on his hand tightening almost painfully. "Well, I guess I won't be friends with you Gryffindors then, and you can forget me helping you the next time."
Harry froze, a wave of terrible guilt hitting him. He opened and closed his mouth several times, trying and failing to apologize. Davis sighed beside him, then said quietly, but still with a bit of coldness in her voice, "We've all seen how effected you've been without Magic, that she really is your magic."
Harry said nothing, but walked along with her as she carefully started moving forward again.
"I'm sorry, Potter." She said quietly. "When you're ready to talk, you've got someone in Slytherin on your side. Okay? And you can call me Tracey if you want."
"Yeah." Harry said dully. "We'll just see."
"Just what have you gotten yourself into this time, Mr. Potter?" Madam Pomfrey said as Tracey led him into the hospital wing.
"Professor Lockhart didn't heal him, he removed the bones in his broken arm." A mollified Tracey stated, sounding ashamed. "And... I was the one to put the body bind on him."
"You should be ashamed of yourself." Madam Pomfrey stated, then briskly said, "Out, Miss Davis. I dare say that bruise on your face will be a lesson to you. This way, Mr. Potter."
Tracey released Harry's hand, then pressed his cane into it. Numbly, Harry made his way over to where Madam Pomfrey directed, then as the door closed behind Tracey, Harry said, "I want to be near Magic."
"I've already arranged that." Madam Pomfrey said softly, and Harry realized his bed would be to the right of Magic's own, both of them curtained off together. "I'm afraid you'll be in for a rough night, Mr. Potter. Regrowing bones is a nasty business, and it'll be painful."
"I'm already going through the worst pain ever, nothing could even compare." Harry said in response, his voice cracking a little.
Madam Pomfrey helped Harry into a hospital robe, then after Harry got into his bed, he felt his boneless arm, which felt more like a formless fleshy mass attached to his shoulder. It made him shudder and made him sad, knowing he could probably reverse whatever magic Professor Lockhart had used, if only Magic wasn't petrified. Reaching to his left, Harry touched Magic's cold skin, then heard Madam Pomfrey enter the curtained off beds.
"This won't taste good." She stated. "You must drink it all, Mr. Potter."
She handed him a cup of something that smelled terrible, and as he gulped it down, tasted even worse. Afterward, however, he was allowed to have water to drink to wash out the taste. Madam Pomfrey told him he should try and get some rest, and as Harry lay on his back, he quietly spoke to Magic's immobile form, telling her everything that had happened to him, even asked her for her advice on the Tracey situation. He could almost hear her respond and tell him that he could be friends with anyone, and she would then be their friend. It made him cry, but he wasn't crying for quite as long as he used to.
His arm was starting to prickle and feel like it was almost asleep when Ron, Hermione and Daphne entered the hospital wing and had a hushed conversation with Madam Pomfrey before they came over to his bed.
"How you doing, mate?" Ron asked.
"Fine." Harry said. "Malfoy and Goyle attacked me, Davis body bound me, then undid it and brought me hear after Professor Lockhart's bone vanishing job."
"Tracey Davis undid the body bind she herself placed on you, curious." Daphne replied calmly. "I wonder why she'd do a thing like that."
"Probably trying to manipulate Harry again." Ron replied. "You remember what he told us about what she did the last time."
"I suppose I'll have to have a private chat with her." Daphne responded coolly. "I don't appreciate anyone hurting my friends."
"How long are you going to be here?" Hermione asked.
"All night." Harry stated in reply.
"Well I hope you get better soon." Hermione said. "We could only stay for a bit, but we wanted to come and wish you well. And if you can hear me, Magic, Harry needs you back, so don't let him down."
It took Harry about an hour to fall asleep after his friends left. Harry's dreams were rather unpleasant, though he only remembered the terrible sadness and grief he felt when he was awakened suddenly by a warm sponge on his face. Harry blinked his eyes and reached up, grabbing a small, bony wrist in his left hand, feeling his right arm filled with shooting, splintering pain.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked.
"Dobby warned Harry Potter not to return to Hogwarts." The sound of Dobby's high voice was filled with a terrible sadness and grief. "Now Harry Potter's Magic is p-petrified."
Harry heard Dobby blow into some type of tissue, vaguely realizing that he, too, had been effected by what had happened.
"You know who's behind all of this, and what's going on, don't you?" Harry asked.
"Yes, sir, Dobby knows, but Dobby can't say." The house elf responded.
"Does it have anything to do with Slytherins heir?" Harry asked, pushing aside his feelings for the moment, determined to get some answers.
"History is repeating itself, Harry Potter sir." Dobby replied. "But Dobby can't say anything more."
"So." Harry stated coolly. "You come here, block the barrier trying to stop me from going to Hogwarts, then you think it's okay to look after me after what you tried to do?"
"Harry Potter must remain safe!" Dobby said imploringly. "You is not knowing what you mean to house-elves! Dobby remembers how it was when He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was at the height of his powers, sir! We house-elves were treated like vermin, sir! Of course, Dobby is still treated like that, sir. But mostly, sir, life has improved for my kind since you triumphed over He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Harry Potter survived, and the Dark Lord's power was broken, and it was a new dawn, sir, and Harry Potter shone like a beacon of hope for those of us who thought the Dark days would never end, sir... And now, at Hogwarts, terrible things are happening already, and Dobby cannot let Harry Potter stay here now that the Chamber of Secrets is open once more..."
Harry heard a whack as if something hard hit a head, Dobby topple from the bed, then heard him climb back on to the bed, muttering, "Bad Dobby, very bad Dobby."
"When was it opened before?" Harry asked.
"Dobby can't say, sir." Dobby replied pleadingly.
"Thirty years ago?" Harry asked.
"No, sir..." Dobby trailed off.
"Forty?" Harry asked quickly.
"No, s..." Dobby began.
"Fifty?" Harry said desperately.
Dobby let out a little whimper and sounded as if he was choking, then he heard him whacking himself in the head. Harry tried to grab at him, but Dobby toppled on to the floor and he sighed, feeling his heart pounding with a wild, desperate determination to get answers. Moments later, Dobby climbed back on to the bed again, muttering that he was very, very bad under his breath.
"Who opened it before?" Harry asked. "Do you know?"
"Dobby mustn't tell, sir. Go home, sir, go home!" Dobby pleaded.
"No." Harry stated coldly. "And stop trying to save my life, Dobby. Try another thing, and when Magic gets back I swear I'm going to imprison you."
'I don't like being bound. Don't bind others.' Magic's voice seemed to speak in his mind, but it was something born of Harry's thoughts. Of course, he knew it wouldn't be right to imprison Dobby, and sighed to himself.
"Dobby is used to threats, sir. Dobby gets them at least five times a day at home."
"Well I'm not going home, Dobby, and that's that." Harry said with determination. "I'm going to find out what petrified magic so I know who to blame, and then maybe I can reverse it. I'm not leaving and you can't make me, don't try. Just go, Dobby."
"Dobby must leave anyway, sir, Dobby is being called." Harry then heard a crack, similar to what he'd heard when he vanished from the Dursley's. Sighing, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
He had a very odd dream in which Hagrid was furious, shouting at Harry and twisting his arm as he went on about how he shouldn't have tried to ask him about his expulsion, and that the Chamber being opened was all his fault. The pain in his right arm was terrible, and as Harry pleaded with Hagrid to release him, Hagrid simply roared at him in a voice of raw rage that they were all going to die because of him. When Harry woke, it was to an arm that hurt much less, and a pounding heart, though it did give him an idea that he decided to pursue.
Madam Pomfrey gave Harry some porridge on a breakfast tray the next morning as she manipulated his stiff arm, bending his wrist, fingers, elbow and his arm at the shoulder before declaring, "All in order. You may go whenever you wish."
Harry finished eating with his right hand, drank the pumpkin juice which he'd grown fond of during his time at Hogwarts, told Magic his plan, then unfolded his cane and made his way from the Hospital Wing. After making sure it was a weekend day, he made his way outside, the cool air and lack of heat on his face telling him the sun either hadn't risen yet, or wasn't yet noticeable by him. He dutifully followed the directions of the watch to Hagrid's hut, hearing him in his paddock where he'd been planting pumpkins.
"Ah, Harry, mornin'." Hagrid said in a subdued voice. "Heard about Magic an' all."
"It's part of why I came." Harry said. "What is it you're doing?"
"Jus' pullin' some weeds." Hagrid said.
"Hagrid, I need to know something." Harry stated. "Were you expelled fifty years ago?"
"I don' wan' ter talk about tha', Harry." Hagrid replied.
"Hagrid, I need to know." Harry stated. "It could be behind the Chamber of Secrets being open again."
"Wha'?" Hagrid sounded shocked. "How'd yeh find tha' out?"
"Some house-elf named Dobby." Harry stated. "Were you around then, Hagrid?"
"Yeh." Hagrid replied. "But I didn' open the chamber o' secrets." His voice was resolute.
"Then why hide your reason for being expelled?" Harry asked.
"Because I don' wan' ter discuss it." Hagrid responded simply.
"Well if it has anything to do with Magic at all and what attacked her, I need to know." Harry replied coolly.
"It doesn', Harry..." Hagrid began, raising his voice.
"Then maybe you should tell me so I can know for sure! I'm not giving up on this, Hagrid, I need to know!" Harry shouted angrily, feeling a deep rage driving him.
"Yeh don' know what yer meddlin' in!" Hagrid roared back, standing to his full height.
"I don't care!" Harry shouted back. "I want Magic back and if this can help or eliminate something, tell me! Now!"
Though Harry's voice was angry, his eyes burned with tears that started to roll down his face. To his great surprise, Hagrid gently lifted Harry in his huge hands and said in a quiet, shaking voice, "I shouldn've yelled, Harry. I'll tell yeh, but you go on an' cry if yeh wan' ter."
One of Hagrid's hands gently patted Harry's back, though his level of gentleness was limited to what amounted to a bit of a back pounding. Harry knew he was trying to comfort him, though, so didn't mind. After a few moments, Harry was able to pull himself together, Hagrid carefully lowering him to his feet.
"So what's the story?' Harry asked in a shaking voice.
"It was fifty years ago. You were righ' abou' tha'." Hagrid said, sounding calmer now himself as he resumed pulling weeds. "A student had been attacked and killed from wha' we knew was the monster in the Chamber o' Secrets, and at the time, I was takin' care of an Acromantula called Aragog. He knew wha' was attackin' the students, but he didn' tell me even though I asked abou' it. Everythin' finally came ter a head when a girl was found dead in the girls bathroom on the second floor."
"Myrtle." Harry said flatly.
"Tha's righ'." Hagrid replied. "It was Tom Riddle who blamed the chamber bein' opened on me and was awarded fer it, but he opened the ruddy chamber and let the monster attack the students!" Hagrid's voice rose at the end of his speech and he was breathing hard before he took a deep breath. "An' now yeh know."
"Aragog doesn't hiss by chance?" Harry asked.
"No, bu' he did tell me somethin' abou' the monster attackin' the students." Hagrid said. "Come with me, Harry, gotta take care o' the roosters."
Harry followed Hagrid, practically running to keep up with him as he made his way to the chicken coop. As they walked, or in Harry's case, jogged, Hagrid spoke, making it easy for him to follow.
"He said it was feared by spiders, tha' it was like somethin' o' mortal terror." Hagrid said.
Harry then heard Hagrid gasp.
"What is it?" He asked, then sniffed the air and realized he could smell blood.
"One o' the roosters has been killed." Hagrid said. "Don' know who did it, bu' tha's the second one this term."
"Is there anything else you can tell me?" Harry asked, trying to keep all the information straight in his head.
"No, Harry, tha's all. Maybe yeh should run along to the castle now, don' wan' ter be caught out here, eh?" Hagrid said.
Harry did as he suggested, and once inside, went to the library to find Hermione. After Harry entered, he quietly made his way through the shelves before he heard a voice hiss, "Harry!"
Harry turned and said, "Hermione?"
"What are you doing?" She asked as Harry moved closer.
"Listen, I have some information for you." Harry said. "The creature in the Chamber of Secrets, it terrifies spiders and for some reason, the roosters are being killed by someone, probably the heir. Hagrid was blamed for opening the chamber fifty years ago but he didn't, this creature did, whatever it is."
"Good. That'll help a lot." Hermione responded, then said, "You look a lot better, more determined, but better. Did something happen to you over the night last night?"
"Yeah." Harry said. "Dobby visited me and I confronted Hagrid, that's what happened. Can I help you in any way?"
"Yes." Hermione said as he heard her pull a piece of parchment from her bag. "You said the hissing you heard was in the pipes, right?"
"Yeah." Harry replied.
"Do you think it could be a snake that you heard?" Hermione asked. "It's the only thing I could think of that would be able to move through the pipes and hiss, but there's so many I've had trouble trying to figure out just which one it might be."
"Maybe." Harry said, thinking, his grief overshadowed by the determination to find the creature that poured through him. He almost felt like himself again, his head clearer than it had been in a long time. "I haven't actually heard a snake hiss before, not that I remember now."
"That's okay." Hermione responded. "I've been searching through different books with snakes, trying to find one that might fit everything we've found out. Roosters are being killed you say, and spiders fear the creature?"
"Yeah." Harry responded.
"Well, I've got a few books to go through. You can stay here if you want, but I'll tell you, Ron and Daphne what I find out." Hermione said.
"I want to stay." Harry responded, determined.
"Okay." Hermione replied.
Harry was glad he'd brought something to do, and after pulling his backpack off his shoulder, took out some of the assignments he'd been neglecting and got to work, though as he did so, felt the misery that was his constant companion settling over him. He pushed through it, though, bringing up his determination and hope. It was only about Forty-five minutes later that Hermione triumphantly said, "Found it."
"What is it?" He asked.
"Listen to this." Hermione said as Harry turned toward her, attentive. "Of the many fearsome beasts and monsters that roam our land, there is none more curious or more deadly than the Basilisk, known also as the King of Serpents. This snake, which may reach gigantic size and live many hundreds of years, is born from a chicken's egg, hatched beneath a toad. Its methods of killing are most wondrous, for aside from its deadly and venomous fangs, the Basilisk has a murderous stare, and all who are fixed with the beam of its eye shall suffer instant death. Spiders flee before the Basilisk, for it is their mortal enemy, and the Basilisk flees only from the crowing of the rooster, which is fatal to it."
"That's it." Harry concluded. "And that might be how Myrtle got killed, too."
"But Magic and Mrs. Norris are only petrified, so they must not have met its gaze directly. The water." Hermione muttered under her breath. "A reflection, of course."
"A reflection of what?" Harry asked.
"Of its eyes." Hermione said. "If you meet its gaze, it'll kill you, but it must only petrify you if you look at a reflection."
"So we know what it is, and how Myrtle might have died." Harry said. "Now what do we do?"
"Telling Professor Dumbledore might ensure there's precautions taken." Hermione stated. "But then, it might also increase the attacks from the heir, whoever that is."
"How about Tom Riddle?" Harry asked. "Hagrid told me he blamed the opening of the chamber on him."
"Riddle. Tom Riddle. I don't know who that is." Hermione muttered. "But I can look him up."
"It seems like something simple to me." Harry said. "Look. Tom Riddle opens the chamber, uses the Basilisk to kill someone, doesn't want anyone to know it's him, so he blames it on Hagrid and gets him expelled. Obviously, he's the heir of Slytherin."
"It sounds logical enough." Hermione said.
"And what happens after we tell Professor Dumbledore?" Harry asked.
"I don't know, but let's tell him what we've found." Hermione responded in a resolute voice.
"Do you even know where his office is?" Harry asked.
"No, but I'm sure we could ask someone." Hermione said as Harry heard her pulling something from a bag. "It's going to take us a bit though, I'm going to use a mirror to look around the corners. If we encounter the Basilisk, I'll only be petrified."
"And what about me?" Harry asked.
"You'll be safe. You can't see it." Hermione said. "If I'm petrified, just yell for help."
"Okay." Harry said, though felt his heart pounding with nervousness.
The two of them walked from the library, and Hermione paused before rounding each corner, likely looking through her mirror. It wasn't long until they came upon Professor McGonagall, who asked, "What are you doing, Miss Granger?"
"Looking around corners, Professor." Hermione responded.
"I can see that, but why are you doing so?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Because of the Basilisk, Professor." Hermione said.
"The what, Miss Granger?" Professor McGonagall asked. "I can assure you that there is no Basilisk in Hogwarts."
"But there is." Hermione responded. "Harry helped me gather some clues, and we're going to Professor Dumbledore with the evidence. See here?"
A few moments passed, then Professor McGonagall said, "Your evidence is circumstantial at best, Miss Granger, and I find it unlikely that Professor Dumbledore would want his time wasted by such silliness. I'm aware that the attack has been hard on both of you, most difficult for Mr. Potter, but spreading such rumors will only cause more fear and panic to spread through the school."
"Fine." Harry stated furiously.
"Mr. Potter, I may not show this, but I truly am sorry for what you've lost." Professor McGonagall said.
"Really?" Harry asked. "Then maybe you'll let us present this to Professor Dumbledore so we can hear what he has to say directly."
"You already know my position on the matter." Professor McGonagall replied sternly. "I suggest you get some rest in the common room, and try to relax from the worry of the attack."
"Relax from the worry of the attack." Harry said bitterly under his breath after they'd turned around and rounded a corner. "Yeah right."
"I can't believe she just blew us off." Hermione said, also sounding a bit angry. "She could have at least let us talk to him."
"Of course not, Hermione, they think they know it all." Harry stated coolly. "Just like you think Professor Lockhart knows everything."
"After he vanished the bones in your arm, I started to wonder, and I looked at his books a bit more closely." Hermione said. "You might be right about him."
"Might be?" Harry asked. "Please. All he does are things to make him look good. Stop being so love struck and see Professor Lockhart for what he is. A fraud."
Hermione said nothing about Harry's accusation, and they made their way to the common room in silence.