One week before Christmas/Yule break started, the Marauders were outside having a snowball fight. Sirius had the most experience, so he was throwing hundreds of snowballs at once. James was a close second, however. He could throw about ninety at a time. The others could only do a few at a time.
Lily was the most covered so far. Sirius was the least covered of them all. They had been at this for twenty minutes when they saw someone entering the grounds.
Sirius widened his eyes. He knew exactly who this was. The woman stopped in front of them, narrowing her eyes at their snowballs.
"Good afternoon," she said coolly. She then turned to Sirius. "Sirius, could you please show me to your grandfather's office? I have done some research for him and I have some information to share."
"Of course, Aunt Cassie," Sirius replied. Cassiopeia Black was known for researching anything she could get her hands on.
Sirius led Cassiopeia to the headmaster's office. "Equality," he said. The gargoyle jumped aside. Cassiopeia snorted.
"That is the kind of password he uses? If I were the headmistress, I would pick better passwords," she stated. They came up to the office door. Sirius knocked.
"Enter!" the headmaster called out. Sirius opened the door and led Cassiopeia in.
"Aunt Cassie is here to see you," he stated. Arcturus nodded. `"What did you find?" he asked Cassiopeia.
"Are you sure a first year student should be listening in on this?" she asked.
"Sirius knows what's going on, so he can listen," Arcturus said. "Now please tell us what you've found."
"Firstly, the research you have asked me to do regarding the Chamber of Secrets itself, came up with the same information you already have," she began. "But as for the second part of the research, I was able to find some information that may fit the descriptions you've given me." She held up a book. "I believe that the monster in the Chamber of Secrets is a basilisk."
"What?!" Sirius exclaimed. "But, those things can kill you with just one look!"
"Right you are, Sirius," Cassiopeia confirmed. "Which actually explains a lot. That cat that was petrified, didn't you say there was water on the floor?"
"Yes," Arcturus said, his brain already working. "Are you saying perhaps she had been looking at the ground, so she saw the eyes through the water, instead of directly at the basilisk?"
"Exactly. Glad to know you can put together the pieces," Cassiopeia said. "Then there's the ghost and Hufflepuff first year. The Bloody Baron must have been in front of her when the basilisk looked at her, so she was only indirectly affected."
"That explains why she was only petrified," Arcturus stated. "That also explains why the Bloody Baron was affected as well. You cannot die a second time, after all."
"Correct," Cassiopeia confirmed. "And you said that Sirius and his friends heard hissing. That is what led me to this conclusion. The basilisk must be getting around by going through the pipes."
Arcturus sighed. "This just made things much more complicated," he said thoughtfully. "It's only a matter of time before someone is killed. After all, Myrtle was killed last time."
Cassiopeia nodded. "I do not know where this chamber is, but I…"
"Hang on!" Sirius piped in. "If it's using the pipes to get through the school, doesn't that mean the chamber must be under the school somewhere? The chamber could be from one of the pipes."
"Yes, I agree with you," Arcturus replied. "Cassiopeia, is there anything else you would like to share?"
"No, but I urge you to take action soon, or someone will really be killed," Cassiopeia urged.
"I will," Arcturus promised. "Thank you for informing us of these new developments." Cassiopeia nodded and bid farewell before leaving. As soon as she left, the door flung open to reveal a panicking Severus and a terrified Remus.
"Headmaster! Lily… she… was… petrified!" Severus gasped out. Arcturus stood quickly.
"Where?" he demanded.
"The library," Remus said. "She had a mirror clutched in her hand."
"What was she doing by herself?" Arcturus asked.
"She went to the library with Mary and Alice," Remus reassured him. "They're the ones who told us."
"The three of you will use the Floo to go back to Gryffindor Tower," the headmaster decided. "You will stay there until further notice. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Headmaster," they all agreed. They used the fireplace to floo back to Gryffindor Tower.