He scanned the page in his hand eagerly. The more he looked at it, the more it made sense.

'The Basilisk flees only from the crowing of the rooster, which is fatal to it!' he read aloud. 'Hagrid's roosters were killed! The heir of Slytherin didn't want one anywhere near the castle once the Chamber was opened! Spiders flee before the Basilisk! It all fits!'

'Imitate a rooster got it,' Amelia gave a thumbs up.

'But how's the Basilisk been getting around the place?' said Ron. 'A dirty great snake ... Someone would've seen ...'

Harry, however, pointed at the word Hermione had scribbled at the foot of the page.

'Pipes,' he said. 'Pipes ... Ron, it's been using the plumbing. I've been hearing that voice inside the walls ...'

Ron suddenly grabbed Harry's arm.

'The entrance to the Chamber of Secrets!' he said hoarsely. 'What if it's a bathroom? What if it's in –'

'– Moaning Myrtle's bathroom,' said Harry.

They sat there, excitement coursing through them, hardly able to believe it.

'This means,' said Harry, 'I can't be the only Parselmouth in the school. The heir of Slytherin's one, too. That's how they've been controlling the Basilisk.'

'What're we going to do?' said Ron, whose eyes were flashing. 'Shall we go straight to McGonagall?'

'Let's go to the staff room,' said Harry, jumping up. 'She'll be there in ten minutes, it's nearly break.'

'If anyone can stop that thing it wil be her,' grined Amelia.

They ran downstairs. Not wanting to be discovered hanging around in another corridor, they went straight into the deserted staff room. It was a large, panelled room full of dark wooden chairs. Harry and Ron paced around it, too excited to sit down.  Amelia leaned against the wall.

But the bell to signal break never came.

Instead, echoing through the corridors came Professor McGonagall's voice, magically magnified.

'All students to return to their house dormitories at once. All teach- ers return to the staff room. Immediately, please.'

Harry wheeled around to stare at Ron.

'Not another attack? Not now?'

'You have got to be kidding me?!' hissed Amelia punching the wall.

'What'll we do?' said Ron, aghast. 'Go back to the dormitory?' 'No,' said Harry, glancing around. There was an ugly sort of wardrobe to his left, full of the teachers' cloaks. 'In here. Let's hear what it's all about. Then we can tell them what we've found out.'