IN WHICH the chamber has been opened

AUBERY DID not know what to expect when she signed up for Quidditch, but alas, early in the morning, she was roused, and the Gryffindor team was heading down to the pitch.

"I spent the summer devising a whole new Quidditch program. We are gonna train earlier, harder, and longer. What- I don't believe it! Where do you think you're goin', Flint?" Oliver asks. 

"Quidditch practice," Flint replies. 

"I booked the pitch for Gryffindor today," Oliver adds.

"Easy, Wood. I've got a note." Flint hands Oliver a small note.

"Uh-oh. I smell trouble." Ron comments.

"I, Professor Severus Snape, do hereby give the Slytherin team permission to practice today, owing to the need to train their new Seeker. You've got a new Seeker. Who?" Wood asks

"Malfoy?" Harry gasps.

"Oh great." Aubery sighs.

"That's right. And that's not all that new this year." Draco smirks.

"Those are Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones! How did you get those?" Ron gasps. 

"A gift from Draco's father," Flint says.

"You see Weasley, unlike some, my father can afford the best." Draco drawls.

"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in. They got it on pure talent." Hermione fires.

"No one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood!" Draco snaps.

"You'll pay for that one, Malfoy. Eat slugs!" Ron snaps and points his wand at him, but the spell backfires, sending him back.

"Ha, ha, ha!" Everyone on the Slytherin team starts laughing.

"You okay, Ron? Say something!" Hermione asks, as the Gryffindor team crowd around him.

"Blech..." Ron barfs up a large slug.

"Ooh! Ugh! Yech!" Everyone gags.

A flash appears. "Wow! Can you turn him around, Harry?"

"No, Colin! Get out of the way! Let's take him to Hagrid's." Harry snaps.

"Blech..." Ron groans.

"He'll know what to do." Aubery looks green, about to hurl herself. 

"Ha, ha, ha..." The Slytherin's jeer.

They arrive at Hagrid's hut, where he gives Ron a big bucket to barf. 

"Wo, this calls for a specialist's equipment. Nothin' to do but wait'll it stops, I'm afraid." Hagrid shakes his head.

"Blech..." Ron pukes more slugs.

"Ah! Oh... Okay." Aubery nods.

"Better out than in. Who's Ron tryin' to curse, anyway?" Harry asks. 

"Malfoy. He called Hermione, ...um, well, I don't- I don't know exactly what it means." Harry shakes his head.

"He called me a Mudblood," Hermione says.

"He did not!" Hagrid gasps. 

"What's a Mudblood?" Harry asks.

"It means dirty blood. Mudblood's a really bad name for someone who is Muggle-born. Someone with non-magic parents. Someone like 'Mione. It's not a term one usually hears in civilized conversation. Sorry, Hermione." Aubery explains.

"It's fine."

"See, the thing is, Harry, there're some wizards, like the Malfoy family, who think they're better'n everyone else because they're what people call pure-blood." Hagrid continues. 

"That's horrible!" Harry gasps.

"Blech... It's disgusting." Ron adds. 

"And it's codswallop, to boot. Dirty blood. Why, there isn't a wizard alive today that's not half-blood or less. More ter the point, they've yet to think of a spell that our Hermione can' do. Come here... Don't you think on it, Hermione. Don't you think on it for one minute... eh?" Hagrid says.

Hermione, Aubery, and Ron were exploring the halls, trying to find Harry during dinnertime.

"Harry!" Aubery gasps, running toward him.

"Did you hear it?" Harry asks.

"Hear what?" Ron asks. 

"That voice." Harry continues

"Voice? What voice?" Hermione asks.

"I heard it first in Lockhart's office. And then again just-" Harry stops, then starts running. "It's moving. I think it's going to kill." 

"Kill?" Aubery asks, slightly scared.

"Harry, wait! Not so fast!" Hermione yells, running with him.

They reach a small corridor, where they see spiders running out a window. "Strange. I've never seen spiders act like that." Harry comments.

"I don't like spiders... What's that?" Ron asks. 

"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened... enemies the heir... beware. It's written in blood." Hermione gasps.

"Oh, no... It's Filch's cat. It's Mrs. Norris." Aubery gasps.

Kids start coming around the corridor. "Ahhh! What's that?"

"Oh!" Madam Pomfrey gasps. 

"Enemies of the heir beware! You'll be next, Mudbloods!" Draco jeers.

"What's going on 'ere? Go on, make way, make way. Potter- What are you...Mrs. Norris? You've...murdered my cat." Filch gasps.

"No. No." Harry shakes his head.

"I'll kill ya... I'll kill ya!" Filch gets in Harry's face angrily.

"Argus! Argus, I... Everyone will proceed to their dormitories immediately. Everyone except... you four." Dumbledore orders.

"Ravenclaws, follow me!" A Ravenclaw Prefect orders, and as everyone leaves, Dumbledore continues.

"She's not dead, Argus. She has been Petrified." Dumbledore informs.

"Ah, thought so. So unlucky I wasn't there. I know exactly the counter curse that could have spared her." Lockhart shakes his head, making Aubery scoff.

"Nothing can stop Petrification. He should know that." Hermione rolls her eyes, still staring dreamily at Lockhart. "Pay attention!" Aubery slaps Hermione's head, snapping her back to reality. 

"But how she has been Petrified, I cannot say..." Dumbledore shakes his head. 

"Ask him. It's him who's done it. You saw what he wrote on the wall." Filch exclaims.

"It's not true sir, I swear. I never touched Mrs. Norris." Harry shakes his head.

"Rubbish!" Filch roars.

"If I might, Headmaster? Perhaps Potter and his friends and cousin were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, the circumstances are suspicious. I, for one, don't recall seeing Potter at dinner." Snape cuts in.

"I'm afraid that's my doing, Severus. You see, Harry was helping me answer my fan mail." Lockhart chuckles.

"That's why Ron, Aubery, and I went looking for him, Professor. We'd just found him when he said..." Hermione says.

"Yes, Miss Granger?" Lockhart asks.

"When I said I wasn't hungry. We were heading back to the common room when we found Mrs. Norris." Harry continues. 

"Innocent until proven guilty, Severus," Dumbledore says.

"My cat has been Petrified. I wanna see some punishment!" Filch snaps. 

"We will be able to cure her, Argus. As I understand it, Madame Sprout has a very healthy growth of Mandrakes. When matured, a potion will be made which will revive Mrs. Norris. And in the meantime, I strongly recommend caution... to all." Dumbledore orders, ushering the 4 away. 

As they reach the common room, Hermione speaks up.

"It's a bit strange, isn't it?" Hermione starts.

"Strange?" Aubery asks. 

"Harry hears this voice, a voice-only Harry can hear, and then Mrs. Norris turns up Petrified. It's just... strange." Hermione continues. 

"Do you think I should have told them? Dumbledore and the others, I mean?" Harry questions. 

"Are you mad?" Ron asks.

"No, Harry. Even in the wizarding world, hearing voices isn't a good sign." Hermione shakes her head.

"She's right, you know." A picture adds.

The next day in class, Professor McGonagall is teaching the others how to transform animals into water goblets.

"Could I have your attention, please? Right. Now, today, we will be transforming animals into water goblets. Like so. One, two, three, Vera verto. Now it's your turn. Well, who would like to go first? Ah! Mr. Weasley. One, two, three. Vera verto." McGonagall orders.

"Ahem. Vera verto!" The raven turns into a half water goblet, still squawking. 

"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha..." Everyone starts laughing. 

"That wand needs replacing, Mr. Weasley. Yes, Miss Granger?" Professor McGonagall asks.

"Professor, I was wondering if you could tell us about...the Chamber of Secrets?" Hermione asks. 

"Well, very well. Well, you all know, of course, that Hogwarts was founded over a thousand years ago by the four greatest witches and wizards of the age: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. Now, three of the founders coexisted quite harmoniously. One did not." Professor McGonagall starts. 

"Three guesses who," Ron mutters.

"Salazar Slytherin wished to be more selective about the students admitted to Hogwarts. He believed magical learning should be kept within all-magic families. In other words, pure-bloods. Unable to sway the others, he decided to leave the school. Now, according to legend, Slytherin had built a hidden chamber in this castle, known as the Chamber of Secrets. Though, shortly before departing, he sealed it until that time when his own true heir returned to the school. The heir alone would be able to open the Chamber and unleash the horror within, and by so doing purge the school of all those who, in Slytherin's view, were unworthy to study magic." Professor McGonagall finishes. 

"Muggle-borns," Hermione says.

"Well, naturally, the school had been searched many times. No such chamber has been found." Professor McGonagall adds. 

"Professor? What exactly does legend tell us lies within the Chamber?" Aubery asks. 

"Well, the Chamber is said to home to something that only the Heir of Slytherin can control. It is said to be the home of a monster." McGonagall finishes and shudders a bit, and the bell rings.

"D'you think it's true? D'you think there really is a Chamber of Secrets?" Ron asks.

"Yes. Couldn't you tell? McGonagall's worried. All the teachers are." Hermione says.

"Well, if there really is a Chamber of Secrets, a-and it really has been opened, then that means-" Harry deducts.

"The Heir of Slytherin has returned to Hogwarts. The question is, who is it?" Aubery adds.

"Let's think. Who do we know who thinks all Muggle-borns are scum?" Ron says.

"If you're talking about Malfoy-" Hermione starts.

"Aubs!" Eliza runs up to the small group. "You know anything about what happened? Everyone's been dying to know." 

"Sorry, no." Aubery shakes her head. "We were just caught in the wrong place, at the wrong time." 

"Oh, it's fine. See you!" Eliza runs off.

"Of course. You heard him! You'll be next Mudbloods," Ron whispers. 

"I heard him. But Malfoy, the Heir of Slytherin?" Hermione questions.

"Well, maybe Ron's right, Hermione. I mean, look at his family. The whole lot of them have been in Slytherin for centuries." Harry adds.

"Crabbe and Goyle must know. Maybe we could trick them into telling." Aubery asks.

"Even they aren't that thick. But there might be another way. Mind you, it would be difficult. Not to mention, we would be breaking about fifty school rules. And, it'll be dangerous. Very dangerous." Hermione adds.

"I can break loads of rules without getting caught. And it's not your Invisibility Cloak Harry." Aubery says. 

"What is it?" Ron asks.

"I'll tell you later. It's not safe here." Aubery whispers.

Hermione walks into the common room, beckoning Harry, Ron, Aubery to go into an abandoned classroom.

"Here it is. The Polyjuice Potion. Properly brewed, the Polyjuice Potion allows the drinker to transform himself temporarily into the physical form of another." Hermione says.

"Do you mean, if Harry and I drink that stuff, we'll turn into Crabbe and Goyle?" Ron asks.

"Yes." Hermione nods.

"Wicked! Malfoy'll tell us anything." Ron cheers.

"Exactly. But it's tricky. I've never seen a more complicated potion." Hermione shakes her head.

"Well, how long will it take to make?" Harry asks.

"A month," Hermione says.

"A month? But, Hermione, if Malfoy is the Heir of Slytherin, he could attack half the Muggle-borns in the school by then." Aubery says.

"I know. But it's the only plan we've got. Aubery, you better tell us now what your plan is." Hermione says.

Aubery nods and takes a deep breath. "I'm an animagus. I can turn into an animal, like McGonagall."

"Like, you can turn into a cat?" Ron asks, amazed.

"No." Aubery turns into the same little white fox as before.

"Woah. Is that you Aubs?" Harry asks, and Aubery nods, brushing against Harry's legs.

"Brilliant! No one knows right?" Hermione asks. Auebry turns back into a human.

"Only my mom and dad. And the Ministry, since I'm registered." Aubery explains.

"Brilliant." Harry smiles. 

"Yeah! Come on Slytherin!" The Slytherins shout. Aubery dives down to a Slytherin Chaser, but nearly gets knocked off of her broom, and Slytherin scores again.

"Another goal for Slytherin! They lead Gryffindor ninety to thirty!" Lee says.

"Yeah! Yeah!" Flint cheers.

"All right there, Scarhead?" Draco taunts.

 "Watch yourself, Harry!" Oliver yells. 

"Wood! Look out!" Harry yells, as a Bludger soars by Oliver and knocks him off his broom.

"Training for the ballet, Potter?" Draco snickers. Aubery, Katie, and Alicia flies by the edge, protecting Angelina, but Slytherin Chaser box them in, and knocks them down, but Aubery pulls up.

The Rogue Bludger nearly hits Aubery, as Harry and Draco zoom past her. 

"Watch it!" Aubery snaps.  

Harry chases after the Snitch, before leaning forward once more, and then getting knocked off, but not before grabbing the Snitch.

"Harry Potter has caught the Snitch! Gryffindor wins!" Lee cheers.

"Finite incantatem!" Hermione yells, blowing up the Bludger. 

"Thank you." Harry gasps, as Hermione, Ron, Aubery, and the Gryffindors/team run to Harry.

"Are you okay?" Aubery asks.

"No, I think my- I think my arm's broken." Harry groans.

"Not to worry, Harry. I will fix that arm of yours straight away." Lockhart exclaims.

"No, not you." Harry stutters.

"Oh, poor boy doesn't know what he's saying. Now, this... won't hurt a bit. Brackium emendo!" A loud crack was heard. Lockhart lifts up Harry's arm, but it flops around like jelly.

"Oh! Ooh! Ugh!" Everyone groans in digust.

"Ah, yes, well, ha, that can sometimes happen, um, but, uh, the point is, uh,..." Lockhart bends Harry's arm all the way back. 

"Ohh! Uhh!" Students gag.

"...you can no longer feel any pain, and, heh- very clearly, the bones are not broken." Lockhart defends. 

"Broken? There's no bones left!" Hagrid exclaims. 

"Much more flexible, though." Lockhart claims, as Aubery decides to take things into her own hands, and lifts Harry up.

"Maybe you should go back to school Professor." Aubery sneers, leading Harry to the Hospital Wing.

"Uhh, uhhh..." Draco moans in fake pain, as Aubery, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the Gryffindor Quidditch team arrive at the Hospital wing.

"Oh, Mr. Malfoy, stop making such a fuss, you can go. Out of my way. Out of my way! Should've been brought straight to me. I can mend bones in a heartbeat- but growing them back..." Madam Pomfrey walks straight at them, and beckons Aubery to set Harry on a hospital bed.

"You will be able to, won't you?" Hermione asks, worried.

"Oh, I'll be able to, certainly. But it'll be painful. You're in for a rough night, Potter. Regrowing bones is a nasty business." Madam Pomfrey exclaims, giving Harry a cup of Skele-Gro

"Ugh!" Harry spits out the mecidine, some landing on Aubery.

"Well, what do you expect? Pumpkin juice?" Madam Pomfrey snaps. 

"Sorry Aubery." Harry says, as Aubery brushes off the mecidine off herself, glaring at Harry.