October came quickly, bringing cool air and rainy days. The overcast skies seemed to reflect everyone's moods. Harry was busy with Quidditch practice in the rolling storms. Ron and Hermione were constantly bickering about Lockhart and I was fighting off a cold that spread through the castle. Despite taking multiple Pepperup Potions, the stuffy nose and sore throat sore throat didn't seem to want to go away.

"A deathday party?" I asked incredulously as Harry joined Ron, Hermione, and I in the Common Room after Quidditch practice one stormy afternoon.

Nearly Headless Nick had run into Harry on his way back from practice and saved him from detention with Filch. In return, he wanted Harry to go to his death day party.

"I bet there aren't many living people who can say they've been to one of those- it'll be fascinating!" Hermione chimmed in, looking far too interested.

"There's a reason for that. It's bad luck to go to a death day party when you're still… you know, living." I said, wrinkling my nose in distaste.

"I didn't realize you were superstitious." Hermione mused looking a little surprised and I gave her a deadpanned look. "So, what? Is it like don't walk under a ladder, or if you step on a crack you'll break your mother's back."

Ron and I looked at her in horror.

"And muggles think we are the messed up ones." I scoffed. "You know what I'm talking about though, right Ron?"

"Lyra does have a point…" Ron sighed heavily. "Why would anyone want to celebrate the day they died anyways? Sounds dead depressing to me."

"Anyways, I was actually looking forwards to the Halloween feast this year. Last year we were a little preoccupied."

The others smiled a little, thinking about the troll attack that ultimately sealed our friendship. Harry was about to say something else when a loud bang filled the Common Room. We all turned to see Fred and George holding a salamander that had sparks flying out of it's mouth, filling the common room. Percy rushed over to the twins, red faced.

By the time Halloween arrived, we were all regretting Harry's decision to go to the deathday party. The castle was buzzing in anticipation for the feast. The Great Hall had been decorated with live bats and Hagrid's pumpkins that had been carved with intricate designs.

Hermione unfortunately wasn't letting any of us forget about Harry's promise.

"A promise is a promise." Hermione said for the hundredth time today. "You said you'd go to the deathday party."

"Can't we join the feast for a little bit beforehand?" I whined, wanting nothing more than to stop at the Great Hall.

"We can eat afterwards."

I scowled at the back of Hermione's head as we passed the packed dining hall and made our way down to the dungeons.

Jet-black candles lined the hall burning a brilliant blue telling us that we were going the right way. The temperature dropped with every step we took and I was wishing that I had brought my robes with me.

This was not how I wanted to spend Halloween.

"My dear friends." Nearly Headless Nick stood in a doorway hung with heavy black drapes. What sounded like a fingernails on a chalkboard was coming from inside that room. "Welcome, welcome… so pleased you could come."

He pulled his hat off and bowed deeply, showing us inside.

Hundreds of translucent ghosts had filled the dungeon. Some waltzed to the horrendous music while others gathered around, talking to each other. An orchestra played on a raised platform, their music getting progressively worse. I shivered even more at the sight. This was no place for the living.

"Shall we look around?" Harry suggested looking pale faced.

"Careful not to walk through anyone." Ron muttered.

The four of us huddled together as we walked around the edge of the dance floor. I let my eyes drift to the dancing ghosts, their movements familiar despite the horrendous music.

"Food!"

Ron's outburst broke me from my thoughts and I saw the table he was pointing at.

We moved towards it eagerly only to stop in our tracks. The smell had me gagging. Everything on the table was either burnt till it was black or furry with mold. I took a step back while the others looked at the table curiously.

"I think I'm going to be sick." I moaned, my mouth starting to water unpleasantly at the sight.

A large ghost floated to the table, crouched low, and walked through it, his mouth wide open as he passed through one of the plates of rotting fish.

"Can you taste it if you walk through it?" Harry asked, too interested.

"Almost." The ghost said sadly and drifted away.

Hermione inched towards the table, pinching her nose as she leaned closer to the discolored haggis. I gripped Ron's arm for support, the red head looking as green as I felt.

"I expect they've let it rot to give it a stronger flavor." Hermione mused and my stomach gave a flip.

"Can we please move? I feel sick." Ron groaned and I nodded eagerly. Anything to get us away from the food.

We didn't stay long after that much to my relief. Between an awkward encounter with Moaning Myrtle and Peeves and Nearly Headless Nick getting shown up by the Headless Hunt, the party was a bit of a disaster and we were all eager to leave.

"Pudding might not be finished yet." Ron said hopefully as the four of us made our way to the enterance hall.

"I don't know how you're hungry after seeing all that food." I shuddered only to run into Harry who stopped in his tracks.

He grabbed my shoulder to steady himself, head tilted to one side.

"Harry, what're you-"

"It's that voice again- shut up a minute."

I glanced at Ron and Hermione. Almost a month ago Harry had heard a voice while serving detention with Lockhart. Lockhart hadn't been able to hear it, but Harry said it was a low, chilling voice that sounded dangerous. All of us strained our ears, trying to hear something- anything.

"Listen!" Harry said more urgently, his grip on my arm tightening.

Ron looked at me and I just frowned, unable to hear whatever Harry was.

"This way!" Harry shouted, face pale and he began to run. The rest of us scrambled after him, trying to keep up.

"Harry, what're we-"

"SHH!"

"It's going to kill someone!" Harry shouted back at us and continued to run up the next flight of stairs. He didnt' stop until we were on the second floor corridor near Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.

"Harry what was that all about?" Ron panted. "I couldn't hear anything-"

"Look!"

Hermione and I saw it at the same time. The breath left my body as I looked down the corridor. Water had flooded the corridor and there was something written in dripping crimson on the wall.

THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED.

ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE.

I stared at the words, something tugging in my mind. The Chamber of Secrets… where had I heard that name before?

"What's- what's that thing- hanging underneath?" Ron's voice quivered as he asked. I dragged my eyes away from the words to what he was talking about.

Slowly the four of us inched forwards. Harry nearly slipped in the large puddle of water that had flooded the corridor. My heartbeat quickened as I looked at the creature hanging.

Mrs. Norris was completely stiff, eyes wide, hanging from the torch bracket by her tail.

None of us moved as we took in the grizzly sight.

"Let's get out of here." Ron finally muttered.

"Shouldn't we try and help-" Harry began but Ron was already shaking his head.

"Trust me. We don't want to be found here."

It was too late. Footsteps rumbled through the corridor and students started to come into the passage from both sides. The noise died as quickly as it started as people spotted the hanging cat and writing on the wall. I tried to keep my expression blank as eyes stared accusingly at us.

"Enemies of the Heir beware! You'll be next, Mudbloods!"

A shout broke the silence causing me to flinch. My stomach sank as grey eyes met my own. Draco pushed his way towards the front of the crowd, the cruel grin that had graced his features fell slightly as he saw us underneath the painted words.

"Lyra, not now." Harry muttered under his breath and grabbed my arm as I tried to take a step towards my brother.

"What's going on here? What's going on?"

Filch's voice broke through the crowd and it parted, letting the man push his way forward. The moment he saw Mrs. Norris his expression immediately fell.

"My cat! My cat! What happened to Mrs. Norris?" He shrieked. His eyes nearly popped out of his head as they fell on Harry. "You! You! You've murdered my cat! You've killed her! I'll kill you! I'll-"

"Argus!"

The crowd parted as Dumbledore and the other professors made their way towards us, expressions severe. The four of us inched out of the way as he swept past us, pulling Mrs. Norris from the touch bracket.

"Come with me, Argus." Dumbledore said to filch. "You too, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, Miss Malfoy."

I glanced at the others nervously.

"My office is nearest, Headmaster." Lockhart stepped forward eagerly. "Just upstairs- please feel free-"

"Thank you, Gilderoy."

The silent crowd let us pass. McGonagall directed the Prefects to get everyone back to the dorm rooms before trailing after us, Snape at her side.

Professor Dumbledore set Mrs. Norris on Lockhart's desk, leaning in close while he examined the stiff creature. McGonagall and Snape all gathered closer, while Lockhart broke the silence, giving suggestions that none of the professors seemed to agree with.

After what felt like an eternity, Dumbledore finally straightened up.

"She's not dead, Argus." He said softly. Filch choked back a sob.

"Not dead?" He asked, his voice thick with tears. "But why's she all- all stiff and frozen?"

"She's been Petrified-"

"Ah! I thought so!" Lockhart exclaimed despite the fact that he was just talking about how the cat had been cursed to death.

Everyone ignored him.

"But how," Dumbledore mused. " I cannot say."

"Ask him!" Filch shrieked, pointing wildly at Harry. We all flinched back at the accusation.

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

"He did it, he did it!" Filch exclaimed his face started to go purple. "You saw what he wrote on the wall! He found- in my office- he knows I'm a- I'm a- He know's I'm a squib!"

Harry's face heated up at the attention.

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

"Rubbish!" Filch snarled. "He saw my Kwikspell letter!"

"If I might speak, Headmaster," Snape interrupted. "Potter and his friends may have simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time. But we do have a set of suspicious circumstances here. Why was he in the upstairs corridor at all? Why wasn't he at the Halloween feast?"

The four of us immediately started talking over each other, trying to explain the deathday party we had attended

"But why not join the feast afterward?" Snape asked, sneering at us. "Why go up that corridor at all?"

I bit my lip, looking at Harry with wide eyes.

"Because- because- we were tired and wanted to go to bed." Harry stuttered out. Leaving out the part where he had heard the voices.

"Without any supper?" He asked with a triumphant smirk. "I didn't think ghosts provided food fit for hte living at their parties."

"We weren't hungry." I finally cut in, ignoring the loud growl that Ron's stomach gave. "Well, I wasn't. I was feeling ill from all the moldy food so the others were escorting me back to the tower before they got food."

Dark eyes bore into my own. I tried to keep my expression as controlled as I could.

"All of you were escorting Miss Malfoy? I suggest, Headmaster, that Potter and his friends aren't being entirely truthful." Snape said slowly, turning his attention back to Dumbledore. "It might be a good idea if he were deprived of certain privileges until he is ready to tell us the whole story. I personally feel he should be taken off the Gryffindor Quidditch team until he is ready to be honest."

"Really, Severus." McGonagall said sharply before any of us could protest. "I see no reason for the boy to stop playing Quidditch. This cat wasn't hit over the head with a broomstick. There is no evidence at all that Potter has done anything wrong."

Dumbeldore's light blue eyes passed over us before falling on Harry.

"Innocent until proven guilty, Severus." He said firmly.

"My cat has been petrified!" Filch shrieked. "I want to see some punishment!"

"We will be able to cure her, Argus. Professor Sprout recently managed to procure some Mandrakes. As soon as they have reached their full size, I will have a potion made that will revive Mrs. Norris.."

"I'll make it." Lockhart butted in, looking a little too cheerful about the entire thing. "I must have done it a hundred times. I could whip up a Mandrake Restorative Draught in my sleep-"

"Excuse me," Snape cut him off. "I believe I am the Potions master at this school."

There was an incredibly awkward pause at that.

"You may go." Dumbledore sighed to the four of us.

We all rushed out of the room as quickly as we could. It wasn't until we were on the next floor up did we turn into an empty classroom, closing the door behind us. Harry's face was pale as he started to pace the room.

"D'you think I should have told them about the voice I heard?" Harry asked nervously.

I shook my head rapidly.

"No," Ron said shaking his head as well. "Hearing voices no one else can hear isn't a good sign, even in the wizarding world."

Harry's face went even paler.

"You do believe me, don't you?"

"'Course I do." Ron said quickly. "But… you must admit it's weird…"

"I know it's weird." Harry said testily. "The whole thing's weird. What was that writing on the wall about? The Chamber has been opened…. What's that supposed to mean?"

"It sounds so familiar…" I mumbled, eyebrows pulling together in confusion. "I'm going to have to talk to Draco because he clearly knows something."

"It does ring a bell." Ron said slowly. "I think someone told me a story about a secret chamber at Hogwarts once… might've been Bill."

"And what on earth's a Squib." Harry asked after a moment of silence. I couldn't stop myself from laughing and Ron stifled a snigger.

"Well- it's not funny really. But as it's Filch. A squib is someone who was born into a wizarding family who hasn't got any magic powers. Kind of the opposite of Muggle-born wizards, but Squibs are kind of unusual."

Unusual was one way to explain to put it.

"Kwikspell is for squibs who want to learn magic." I explained. "I dunno why he'd work at Hogwarts though. I mean clearly he hates us all for having magic. Most squibs do"

Hermione looked like she was going to say something when a clock chimed in the distance and we all went quiet.

"Midnight." Harry mumbled. "We'd better get to bed before Snape comes along and tries to frame us for someone else."

"I'll ask Draco in the morning what he knows." I declared and the others nodded, looking as worried as I felt.