Author's Note: J.K Rowling is close to silvermoony77, right? Kind of…not really? Fine, you win.

Chapter 5 A Sad State of Affairs

Alex and Hermione waited up for the boys to finish their detentions. It was well after midnight when they came back. Ron's hands and face were black from polishing. Harry's fingers were covered in ink, but it was the look on his face that made Alex worried.

"Harry, are you okay?" she asked him.

"I…I think so," he said shakily, "I heard something when I was in Lockhart's office…a voice. It said it wanted to kill…to kill someone or something."

"Who was it?" asked Hermione.

"That's just it," said Harry, "Lockhart didn't hear anything, or if he did, he didn't say so."

"I told him he was just tired and his mind was playing tricks," said Ron putting an arm around his friend. "Don't worry mate, you just need to rest."

Alex watched as Harry and Ron went up to the dormitories. She turned to Hermione.

"Do you think it was his imagination?" she asked.

"I don't know, it could be. He did have a rough day today, you know," said Hermione.

"Harry's not one to hear things when he's tired. He's been in a lot more tiring situations before and has managed to get through all right."

They sat in silence until Hermione told Alex they needed rest.

…...

Alex woke up and groaned. It was Monday morning.

I hate Mondays, she thought as she got up and ready.

Alex and Hermione met up with the boys in the Great Hall. Alex sat down and grabbed some bacon and eggs. Harry hadn't touched his food.

"You all right?" she asked him.

"Yeah, thanks. I'm not very hungry," he said. She noticed how he kept looking around for something.

"You still thinking about last night?" Alex said.

"Yes, it was so weird though. The voice didn't even sound human," he shuttered as he said this.

The day flew by quickly. Alex and Hermione, once again, managed to turn their goblets from Friday into the animal it had been originally. They both received ten points to Gryffindor and didn't have to do any homework. Defense Against the Dark Arts was very boring. Lockhart was describing in every gory detail how he managed to slay the werewolf.

"Harry, come here and be the werewolf. Now then, I grabbed my wand and pointed it at him. I said 'Stand down you foul beast!' and he growled, growl Harry…louder, wonderful! Then I shouted a spell that send him flying and watched as he slowly turned back into the man he was before. He never terrorized that small town again. When I came back from my heroic fight, I was rewarded with flowers and a large tankard of Firewhiskey," he winked at the class.

"Professor," asked Alex raising her hand, "Do you mean to say that you cured the man who was a werewolf?"

"Yes indeed Miss Ratcliff," he said jovially.

"But how?" she asked earnestly, "There are many good men and women out there who are werewolves, you could treat them and they could go on to live happier lives."

"Well Miss Ratcliff…you see…it's more complicated than that…it's just that…" he stuttered. The bell rang for classes to end and Lockhart looked relieved. "Class dismissed, I want an essay on my heroic beating of the werewolf by Wednesday, two feet of parchment. Good day class!"

Alex left the class in a huff. It took a few minutes for the others to catch up to her.

"Can you believe that…that prat?" she said loudly, adding a few choice words as well. Hermione shushed her and Ron laughed. "He has the ability to help a whole race of humans' lives be better and he just sits there with his stupid grin on his face!"

"Alex, you heard what he said, it's very complicated. It must take a lot of energy to perform the spell," said Hermione defensively.

"Well, he must've had enough energy to drink a whole tankard of Firewhiskey," muttered Ron.

Hermione looked at Ron and stormed off. Alex only followed her because she was a good friend. In truth, she hated their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. She followed Hermione up to the girl's dormitories.

"That little…URGH!" Hermione shouted, throwing up her hands in frustration. "He's jealous because Lockhart's done all those amazing things and he's still in school,"

Hermione ranted for a while and Alex listened, nodding at the right times, but never agreeing out loud. Finally, Hermione stopped and looked at Alex. "You don't like him either, do you?" she asked.

"I'm not going to lie to you Hermione. I think he's arrogant and self-absorbed. He may be good looking, but that doesn't make up for his attitude," Alex said.

"I guess you're right…he is self-absorbed," said Hermione, smiling slightly.

They spent the next ten minutes making fun of Lockhart's love of himself. Finally, after Alex's stomach gave a loud grumble, they headed down to the Great Hall. Along the way, they saw Harry and Ron.

"You all right you two?" asked Harry.

"Yeah, we're good, but starving. Let's go eat," said Alex.

They turned to the doors and ran right through Sir Nicholas. Alex shuddered violently, going through a ghost was like getting freezing cold water poured down your back. The others' reactions were much like Alex's, although Ron swore quietly.

"Hello young Gryffindors!" said Sir Nicholas, also known as Nearly Headless Nick, "How are you this wonderful Monday?" There was something in his voice that made Alex frown slightly.

"Sir Nick, are you okay?" she asked hesitantly. Ghosts had a tendency to be emotional when asked about themselves.

"Just dandy," he said sarcastically and Alex knew something was wrong, "Once again my request to join the Headless Hunt has been denied. And then they lower my pride by telling me in a letter, a letter! They are too cowardly to tell me in person!"

"I'm sorry," said Harry, "Is there anything we can do?"

"No, I'm afraid…wait, yes my dear boy, there is something you can do for me! I am having my 500th Deathday party on Halloween. It would be an honor if you four to attend. Although," he added, looking glum, "You would probably rather go to the feast."

"No, of course not Nick," said Harry, "We'd love to come."

"Oh thank you," said Nearly Headless Nick, smiling widely, "It will be in the dungeons, first one on the left. Oh, Harry," he called as they turned to leave, "Could you possibly tell the ghosts there you think I am scary?"

"Sure…I will," said Harry.

They said good-bye to a much happier Nick and went to eat. Ron was not happy with missing the Halloween feast.

"Oh Ron," snapped Hermione after Ron had complained all through the meal, "It's for a friend, I'm sure you'll live."

"Well, it is a Deathday party," muttered Alex and looked away innocently when Hermione glared at her, not noticing the boys almost choking on their food while they laughed.

…...

The days leading up to the Halloween feast were cold and wet. Alex wasn't exactly looking forward to spending the evening in the dungeons with a bunch of ghosts, but she knew it would make the Gryffindor ghost happy. After their last class, Alex, Ron, Harry, and Hermione dropped off their books and went into the dungeons. The sound of high-pitches screams and something like nails on a chalkboard greeted them when they entered.

"Holy Merlin!" cried Alex, covering her ears as she entered, "Is that supposed to be music?"

The room was filled with over fifty translucent figures, all in old-fashioned, outdated clothing. Then they saw Nick glide over to them dressed in all black and looking very solemn.

"Hello children, welcome to my Deathday party," he said sadly.

Alex didn't know whether to say congratulations or sorry for the event, so she just nodded. Nearly Headless Nick introduced them to many of the guests, who were very interested in them.

"Do they still have Edwina's Liquor Shoppe in Diagon Alley?" slurred one man.

"Uh, no, they closed ages ago," said Ron, looking uncomfortably at the axe in the drunken man's hand. It had blood stains all over it.

They finally made their way to the food, but stopped at the smell.

"Ew, is that a potato?" Alex asked, pointing to the brown-like food with purple spores on it.

They watched a ghost go through the table with his mouth open and sigh sadly.

"I can almost taste the plum pudding," he said gesturing at the thing Alex mistook for a potato.

"Oh no, hide me quickly," said Hermione, looking at the ghost of a young girl. She had long, lank brown hair and large glasses in front of clear blue eyes.

"Who's that?" asked Ron, his voice strange because he was holding his nose.

"Moaning Myrtle," groaned Hermione, hiding behind Alex, "She haunts the girl's bathrooms, crying the whole time about her life. It's not great to listen to her while you're in there."

"Now, now Missy, that wasn't very nicey!" came the cackling voice of Peeves the Poltergeist, "Poor Myrtle would be very upset if she heard what you said. Oi Myrtle!" he called to the girl.

"Oh no Peeves, I didn't mean it I-Hello Myrtle," said Hermione as the girl glided over.

"Miss Granger was just talking about you," said Peeves, trying unsuccessfully to fight back his laughs.

"I was just saying how…nice it is to see you out and about, right guys?" said Hermione, looking at the others.

"Oh yeah…" said Ron after Alex stomped on his foot.

"It's true…" said Harry.

"You're lying to me!" wailed Myrtle, "You were making fun of me, calling me names like they all do!"

"No of course we weren't," said Alex, "We're…"

But Moaning Myrtle wailed even louder and flew away. Alex rolled her eyes and glared at Peeves.

"All right, you've caused enough mischief, why don't you say hello to the Bloody Baron?" said Alex, pointing to a ghost with silver stains all over his front. "Or better yet, why don't I tell him what you did?" Alex smiled her mischievous smile and Peeves flew away faster than they had ever seen. "Nothing to it," she said, pretending to wipe dirt of her shoulders.

Suddenly, a man on a horse came through the wall and started performing. He would take off his head and twirl it like a basketball or throw it into a lady's arms. The crowd cheered, but Nick looked livid.

"Come on, let's leave while he's distracted," whispered Harry.

They snuck out the door and ran down the corridor. Alex stopped and looked around.

"Guys, I think we should've gone the other way," she called.

They turned around and followed Alex. SPLASH! Alex looked down and saw her feet were covered in water.

"Moaning Myrtle," she growled.

They kept going through the water and finally reached the Entrance Hall. Suddenly, Alex heard something.

"Blood…I smell blood…let me rip…let me kill…kill…"

Alex froze, not daring to make a sound. It was coming from the ceiling, but no one was there. She turned to the others and saw Harry was looking scared. Ron and Hermione were looked at them both.

"What's up?" Ron asked Alex.

"I heard something," she said looking at Harry, "Is that the voice you heard with Lockhart?"

Harry nodded and sprinted up the stairs, the others at his heels. Alex could still hear the voice, but tried to block it out. They reached the second floor corridor and there was more water. Harry slowed down.

"Harry…what…are…you…doing?" panted Hermione.

"It, whatever that voice is, is going to kill. I have to stop it," Harry said.

Alex was leaning over her knees, panting. She saw something in the water, red writing on the wall ahead. Alex looked up and gasped. The others looked where she was and Hermione let out a small cry. It read:

THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR BEWARE.

Alex stood frozen with fear. What did this all mean? What heir and what was the Chamber of Secrets? She walked to get a closer look at the wall and realized, with horror, the message was written in blood.

"Alex, what's that hanging on your left?" Ron asked in a higher voice than normal.

Alex looked up and jumped back in alarm. It was Mrs. Norris, eyes wide and fearful. She wasn't moving.

"Mrs. Norris," whispered Alex. She was about to move closer when Ron held her back.

"We need to get out of here quickly, before anyone finds us," he said urgently.

But it was too late. People were just leaving the Great Hall and were going to their common rooms. The students reached the hallway and a few girls screamed. A familiar voice rang out through all the confusion.

"Enemies of the heir beware? You'll be next Mudbloods!"

Draco Malfoy had pushed his way to the front, looking excited. Alex looked around at the people staring at them.

"What's going on here? Get out of my way!" said Mr. Filch and Alex's stomach dropped.

He came through the crowd and locked eyes with Alex. He then looked at the wall and at his cat. His expression changed from anger to worry.

"Mrs. Norris?" he said, his voice full of concern. Alex felt a pang of pity, but it disappeared when he looked at her furiously but said rather calmly, "You've killed her, you've killed my cat. I'm going to kill you now."

He started walking over to her, but a voice made him stop.

"Argus, what is going on here?" said Professor Dumbledore.

Alex felt relief wash over her. Dumbledore would believe that she and the others didn't hurt Mrs. Norris. She watched as his eyes fell on the cat, the blood writing, then on Harry, Ron, Hermione and, lastly, Alex.

"Everyone is to go to their dormitories, except for your four," he said as they turned to leave.

The Headmaster took the cat off the wall and started walking, the teachers and the others at his heels.

"My office is closest Headmaster," said Lockhart, pointing to the door up ahead. Dumbledore nodded in thanks and went inside.

Alex watched as Dumbledore put the cat on one of the tables and began to examine her. Lockhart would make some remarks while this was going on.

"If only I was there in time, I could have performed the counter-curse that would have saved her," he said.

Mr. Filch was standing in a corner crying into McGonagall's shoulder. "She's gone, my sweet is gone. I never got to say good-bye," he moaned.

"She's not dead Argus," said Dumbledore quietly.

"I think-she's not?" said Lockhart, who was in the middle of explaining the curse that might have killed her.

"No, only petrified. Professor Sprout, I believe you have Mandrakes in your greenhouse? You and Professor Snape will brew a potion to cure Mrs. Norris and she will be back soon," he said.

"They did it!" cried Mr. Filch, "They did this to my cat!"

"We didn't do anything to her!" said Alex hotly. She wasn't going to get blamed for something she didn't do.

"No second year could have done this. This is the work of dark magic," said Dumbledore.

"If I may say something Headmaster," drawled Professor Snape, his face twisted in an evil smile, "Potter, Weasley, Granger, and Ratcliff could have been in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Alex looked at Harry and they both knew something else was coming. Snape hated them all.

"However, why were they not at the Halloween feast?" Snape asked. And there it was.

"We were at Sir Nick's Deathday Party," said Alex coldly.

"But why not come to the feast afterwards?"

"Because…um…we were tired," said Alex, trying to think of something quick.

"Without anything to eat?" Snape said, clearly enjoying his interrogation, "Ghost food is not edible for humans."

"We weren't hungry," said Alex as Ron's stomach gave a loud grumble.

"I don't think these students are telling the truth Headmaster," said Snape, his evil grin widening, "I think we should take away privileges of these students."

"Innocent until proven guilty Professor Snape," said Dumbledore. He was looking at Harry strangely, "You may leave."

Alex practically ran out of the room and away from Snape. She turned to wait for the others so they could talk about this.

"Should we have told them what we heard?" asked Alex as they walked to the common room.

"It was only Harry and you, Alex," said Hermione, "I don't think so."

"Even in the Wizarding world, hearing voices is not good," said Ron.

"You believe us, right?" asked Harry.

"Of course Harry, it's just strange, that's all," said Ron with a shrug.

Author's Note: As an animal lover, I feel for Filch…even though he can be quite a grouch. So how are you enjoying the story so far? Is the pace all right? There are only 12 chapters and a prologue so it's definitely not the longest in the series but I promise they do become more detailed later on.

On a happy note, here's a fun fact for you. When Lockhart says, "Stand down you foul beast!", I got the idea from Disney's Enchanted because the prince kind of reminded me of Lockhart when he said that.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and please feel free to leave all comments and questions in a review or PM. To all the new reviewers who reviewed last chapter, welcome to the club and I hope to continue to hear from you! Big thanks to Lone Fairytale for recommending me in her story Scarred. If you're into Avatar: The Last Airbender, I highly recommend checking it out as well as her other stories posted. If you have never heard of the show I just mentioned, I highly suggest checking out. It may be on a kid's channel but hey, aren't we all kids at heart? :) Thanks again to all who reviewed and feel free to do it again! ;)