As soon as they entered Gryffindor Tower, Sirius called James over. "I think I might know where the chamber is," he announced.
"Really?" Remus, Severus, and James asked in unison.
"Yes, and if I'm right, then we could go down there and stop this before my grandfather has to close the school. We found out today from my aunt that the monster in the chamber is a basilisk."
The other three boys gasped.
"So, are we going or what?" James asked.
"Yes, but three of us will go down there, and one of us will stay behind, just in case something goes wrong," Sirius explained. "If someone sends up red sparks, then it means to get help."
"Where do you think it is then?" Severus asked. He usually wasn't one to break rules, but if it meant stopping future attacks like the one on Lily, then he was all for it.
"We were on the second floor when we saw Mrs. Norris," Sirius reminded them. "And there was water on the floor. It was coming from the girls' bathroom."
"So, we need to go to the second floor girls' bathroom," Remus said.
"Let's go! I'll get the cloak!" James said, excited for a new adventure. Once they had the cloak over themselves, Sirius put a silencing spell on them so no one would hear them. He couldn't do anything about their scents, so he just hoped that they didn't come across the headmaster or deputy headmistress.
When they entered the girls' bathroom, they were not prepared for what they saw. Lucius Malfoy was standing before a broken pipe, a book in his left hand and his wand in his right hand. Severus noticed immediately that something was wrong.
"His eyes look glassy, like he's being possessed or something," he said.
"It must be that book," James commented. "I can feel the dark magic from over here."
They all shivered when they heard Lucius hiss something in Parseltongue. That was proof that he was being possessed because Lucius Malfoy was not a parselmouth. There was suddenly a big hole in the ground. Lucius jumped down the hole.
"We need to go after him!" James declared.
"Me, Severus, and James will go. Remus, could you stay up here and get a professor if you see red sparks?" Sirius asked.
Remus nodded. "Be careful," he warned.
"We'll be fine," James said. "Now, let's go!" They took off the cloak and the silencing spells. They left the cloak with Remus. They then jumped down the hole.
Remus stood there nervously. He couldn't just stand there and hope that his friends would be alright. He had to do something. With that thought in mind, he decided he needed to find a professor, red sparks or not. He headed out of the bathroom and decided to check the staffroom. Sure enough, there was a staff meeting happening.
"We will have to tell the students tomorrow that the train will be coming at eleven," McGonagall was saying. Remus widened his eyes. They were going to close the school. He knocked on the door and entered. All of the professors were looking at him.
"Headmaster, Professors," Remus said hurriedly. "We found the entrance to the chamber. Lucius Malfoy is being possessed by a dark book, and he just went down there. Sirius, James, and Severus just followed him so they can try to stop him from whatever he's doing. They told me to wait for them, and to get one of you if they send up red sparks, but I just couldn't wait. I could smell danger."
"Mr. Lupin, stay here with the professors. Professor McGonagall, if you would come with me, I think we have some students to save," Arcturus said. McGonagall nodded.
"That we do, then they'll be in so much trouble," she said.
"I am coming too," Melania stated firmly. "Blacks stick together."
"It would be best if you stayed up here, so you can keep an eye on Regulus," Arcturus argued. Melania sighed but nodded.
Arcturus and McGonagall left the staffroom on a run. The sooner they got to the students, the better. Remus had supplied them with the location, so they knew where they were going.
When they entered the bathroom, Myrtle came out of her stall. "It is loud down there," she said. "If either of you die down there, you can stay here with me!"
McGonagall glared at Myrtle. "Thank you Myrtle, but we don't have time to listen to you talk about dying," she said coldly. Arcturus motioned her over to the hole in the ground.
"I will go down first," Arcturus decided.
"Have fun sliding down that disgusting hole," McGonagall sniffed.
"Being a snake has its uses," Arcturus commented before transforming into his snake form. He slid down the hole with ease. McGonagall shook her head. A cat wouldn't be able to handle that. She finally got up the courage to go down herself.
Meanwhile, Sirius, James, and Severus found themselves facing Lucius Malfoy. He no longer looked like he was being possessed.
"Well, well, well," Lucius drawled. "Came to join me, did you? The Dark Lord gave me orders to get rid of each and every Mudblood in this school, and you three will not be stopping me!"
"Oh, you're a follower of that half-blood man?" Sirius asked, knowing it would get Lucius angry.
"How DARE you accuse him of being a half-blood!" Lucius snarled. "Crucio!" Sirius ducked out of the way of the curse just in time.
"You want to fight? Then a fight is what you'll get!" James declared angrily, bringing out his wand.
"Oh, but let's have the basilisk join in on the fun," Lucius drawled. With that, his eyes went glassy again and he hissed something in Parseltongue.
"Close your eyes!" Sirius whispered. They all shut their eyes tightly. They knew the snake was set loose when they heard it hissing. The fight was on.