Chapter Eight
For the next few days the attack, and Harry being at the centre of the scene, was the only thing anyone could talk about. Filch was even more angry at everyone than normal. He paced the spot where the attack took place and was often seen scrubbing the writing with the strongest cleaners they could find but even 'Mrs Skower's All-Purpose Magical Mess Remover' couldn't make the slightest difference which left students hurrying past the wall, heads down; as if pretending the writing wasn't there would make it go away.
Filch skulked in the corridors, his eyes red and puffy, throwing detentions at students for looking too happy or coughing.
Harry was used to people looking at him wherever he went but this was different. People were scared. He'd found young Ginny Weasley staring up at the writing on the wall crying, only to run off when he'd tried to talk to her.
Ron seemed to be everywhere. Glaring at Harry whenever he turned a corner. Hermione had become a focus of his taunts when Harry wasn't around. Being caught in that corridor with Harry was enough to put her in the Weasley bad books. Harry mostly saw her now reading, which wasn't unusual for Hermione but this was a lot even for her. She'd sit at meals with a book propped up in front of her and even between classes be reading something.
They found her one day in the library, they were working on a History of Magic essay, Harry was annoyingly still two inches short.
"I can't believe it. Every copy of 'Hogwarts- A History' has been taken out. I wish I hadn't left my copy at home." Hermione sighed and sat down with them, "I really need to read it."
"I think I might have a copy." Draco said, sighing in relief that his essay was now long enough, "You can borrow it if I've got it with me or I'm sure my parents will send it in."
"Thank you." Hermione smiled, and chewed her lip, "You've got History of Magic next with me haven't you?"
They nodded, Hermione smiled, "Good. I have an idea."
They were about to ask her what that idea was when the bell rang summoning them all to class. They met up with Neville and took their seats. Ron glared at them and knocked into Harry on his way past. Harry ignored him.
Professor Binns floated into the room and asked for the essays. One person from each row collected them up and put them on the desk. Harry wondered how Professor Binns managed to unroll the parchment in order to read them, he'd be very annoyed if he'd been forced to write all those essays only to have them ignored.
Professor Binns nodded his approval and began to drone on about the International Warlock Convention of 1289. The lesson had been going on for half an hour, most of the class was half asleep when something happened that had never happened before.
Professor Binns stopped and blinked at Hermione who's hand was high in the air.
"Ummm yes Miss..."
"Granger," Said Hermione putting her hand down, "I was wondering if you could tell us about the Chamber of Secrets Professor?" she said boldly.
The whole class began to pay attention. Professor Binns blinked again several times.
"My subject is History of Magic." he said straightening up and looking a little annoyed, "Not myths and legends. I deal in facts." he cleared his throat loudly, "Now in September of that year a sub-committee of Sardinian sorcerers-"
Hermione's hand was back in the air; causing Professor Binns to stop again.
"Yes Miss Grant?"
"Granger." She corrected, "Isn't it true myths and legends often start of in fact though?"
Professor Binns was looking at her astounded, Harry was sure no student had ever interrupted him before.
"Well," Binns said slowly, "I suppose that could be argued. In some peoples perspective." he peered at Hermione for a few moments, "But in this case, the legend or tale of which you speak is very...sensational, ludicrous even.
Harry looked around, it was clear the whole class was hanging on Professor Binns every word. He clearly wasn't used to students actually paying attention, let alone this amount of attention and was thrown by it.
Professor Binns sighed loudly, "Very well then. If only to get the subject past and back to the proper lesson. Well then let me see… as you all know Hogwarts was founded around a thousand years ago, although the exact date is not known. It was founded by the four founders who named the houses after themselves. Hogwarts was to educate young witches and wizards who would be not only looked on suspiciously by muggles but also at danger from their own gifts. And so they built a castle far away from prying eyes where they could be safe. At first all was well between the four of them and they worked in harmony with one another for a good few years. Then things changed, disagreements sprung up and a rift was caused between Slytherin and the others. He wished to be more….selective about which students were allowed to attend Hogwarts. He believed that only those who's parents where magical should be allowed to join; he disliked muggle borns and thought them unworthy. After a while a huge fight erupted and Slytherin left Hogwarts."
Binns paused looking over his class that, for the first time ever, was hanging on his every word.
"This we know for sure," He said slowly, "Historical fact tells us this much but the rumour, the fanciful legend that is the Chamber of Secrets hides among the facts and lingers on."
"So what exactly is the Chamber of Secrets?" Harry asked.
Binns thought for a few moments before sighing, "The legend says that before Slytherin left the castle he built a secret chamber, of which none of the other founders knew anything about. It could only be opened by his heir. In this chamber he hid a terrible creature, a monster which, when he returned, would be used to rid the school of all those he saw unfit to study magic."
Silence filled the room. Not the normal bored silence, a shocked and terrified silence.
"This is all a legend though, a rumour nothing more and you would all do good to set it out of your minds." Professor Binns pleaded.
"But the writing on the wall." Ron pointed out, "And the cat. There's someone doing these thing." he glared at Harry.
"It's a prank." Binns said shaking him head, "Someone had picked up an old book and thought it would be funny. The castle has been searched top to bottom many times and no one has ever found even the smallest trace of a secret chamber."
"But if only Slytherin's heir could open it?" Tracy pointed out.
"Really Miss Davis are you trying to say that the most powerful witches and wizards couldn't find it?" Binns huffed.
Hermione stuck her hand up again, "Sir, what is the monster?"
"Nothing." Binns said, "It's not real."
"But it would probably need dark magic to open it." Parvati pointed out.
"Just because some don't use dark magic doesn't mean they can't." Professor Binns shouted, "Every headmaster and headmistress has searched and looked for the chamber. It does NOT exist. Now I must insist we get out of the fantasy and back to facts."
It was clear the subject was closed and within five minutes most of the class was back to day dreaming and doodling in their books.
As soon as the bell rang Hermione rushed to Harry's side to talk. Professor Binns floated quickly out the classroom leaving the students to pack up.
"I think it's real. Why would all the teachers be so quiet and secretive about it if it was really only a story? We need to find out what the 'monster' is." She said quietly.
"Well." Ron said loudly, "I always knew that Slytherin was a batty old fool." he gave a laugh.
Harry rolled his eyes and ignored him.
"I think, had the sorting hat stuck me in Slytherin I would have gotten straight back on the train. All that family history thrown away to a house full of leaches."
Draco slammed his hand down on the table,
"Don't." Harry said firmly, "He's not worth it."
"Lets go to the hall we can all talk there." Pansy suggested pulling her bag onto her shoulder and giving Ron a glare. He looked at her smugly and continued to make comments about them as they left the classroom.
"I know who might have an idea," Harry said stopping suddenly, "Hagrid. He loves weird animals."
"Well he'll be busy now, but we can go tomorrow after Quidditch." Pansy suggested.
"Why don't we go have a look at the scene?" Hermione said, "There might have been something we've missed."
"Well I never. Miss Granger breaking the rules." Neville smirked, Hermione blushed.
They wondered through the castle, as there was so many of them it was difficult to talk without being so loud everyone around could hear so they walked in silence. It wasn't long before they reached the wall the ominous bright red warning was still on the wall.
The hall was deserted, clearly Filch was off somewhere else harassing students. They stood in a line looking over the wall.
There were scorch marks around the wall which they hadn't seen before, but they looked faded so were probably from the night of the attack.
"Look." Hermione said pointing to the iron torch bracket.
She moved forward and seemed to be looking slightly under the bracket. Daphne moved forward as well and followed Hermione's gaze.
"Spiders." Daphne said, "Look."
They moved forward and crowded around, Harry could see clearly now; a single silver thread was letting dozens of spiders escape. They moved in single file and escaped from a chip in the wall.
"I've never seen spiders behave like this." Neville said.
"It's like they're running from something." Pansy said.
Harry reached forwards and broke the thread. There was a second of confusion from the spiders before a single one simply rewove the thread and they continued to move down.
"This is very strange." Pansy said shaking her head, "Do you think this could be connected to what's in the Chamber?"
"No idea." Draco said as they continued to look around.
"There was water on the floor that night." Harry said, "Where did it come from?"
The three girls looked at each other and sighed,
"This way." Hermione said.
She led them a short way down the corridor to a girls bathroom with a large out of order sign.
"This is moaning Myrtle's bathroom." Daphne sighed, "She's a ghost who...she's a little sensitive."
"We stay away from here whenever we can. She had no idea what personal space is." Pansy shook her head, "Right OK then."
She pushed open the door and walked in. Harry, Draco and Neville looked at them awkwardly.
"Umm...it's a GIRLS bathroom." Neville said.
"Get in here." Daphne ordered.
They all walked in and made sure the door was shut.
"Myrtle, are you in here?" Pansy said softly.
A rather moody looking ghost appeared. She was young, couldn't be more than a few years older than themselves. She was pretty enough but pouty and sullen with large glasses and spot covered skin. Her once black hair in pigtails that swung around her face. She was wearing Hogwarts robes, Ravenclaw ones.
"Yes." She snapped, "Where else would I be? Want to get away from stupid Moaning Myrtle?"
Harry took a step back; he'd never met a ghost so aggressive, even the Bloody Barron was nicer.
"No, of course not." Hermione said gently.
"Still want to make fun of me after the Death Day party?" Myrtle huffed, "Stupid ugly spotty Myrtle."
Hermione sighed, "I never said that...oh Myrtle." she shook her head as Myrtle huffed and crossed her arms.
"We were wondering if we could ask you a few questions?" Neville asked slowly.
"You're a boy." she said looking over her glasses at him, "You shouldn't be here. That's why you're all here! To laugh at me!" she burst into tears, something that Harry didn't think was even possible.
She wailed loudly and dived into a toilet splashing water everywhere.
"We'd best be out of here. We wont get anymore out of her for now." Pansy said rolling her eyes, "Thank you Myrtle."
She was greeted with another loud sob and they left the bathroom rather quickly.
"I don't understand, why is she so upset?" Harry asked.
"I've never seen a ghost so miserable." Neville said walking quickly away from the bathroom.
"She was always like that so we're told. She died, like, fifty years ago and basically never left the bathroom since." Hermione said.
"It was probably her who flooded the floor that night. She does it a lot." Pansy shrugged, "I don't think it's anything to do with what happened."
"We'll just have to keep looking." Hermione said.