After the terrible and rather disappointing party. The four of them backed toward the door, nodding and beaming at anyone who looked at them, and a minute later were hurrying back up the passageway full of black candles.

"Pudding might not be finished yet," said Ron hopefully, leading the way toward the steps to the entrance hall.

However Y/N wasn't paying attention to that, he was more interested in the screeching voice that just echoed in his mind suddenly.

"... rip... tear... kill..."

There was no doubt about it, it was the same voice he had heard before in the Great Hall.
Y/N clasped the back of his neck tightly, almost trying to block it out. But Harry was more inclined to listen to what the sadistic voice had to say.

"Y/N are you alright?" Hermione asked, her gaze piercing through him as Y/N's hands clutching at the wall, hoping to stop whatever haunted him.

"It's back again." Y/N groaned, the familiar burning sensation coursing through his neck like a red hot sauna.

"What-"

But Ron was stopped by an angry Harry, snapping at him. "Shut up a minute."

"... soo hungry... for so long..."

"Listen!" said Harry urgently, and Ron and Hermione froze, watching the two with baffled expressions.

"... kill... time to kill..."

The voice was growing fainter. Harry was sure it was moving away – moving upward. A mixture of fear and excitement gripped him as he stared at the dark ceiling. However Y/N felt the exact opposite, load amounts of anger and boredom filled him. Harry wanted to get closer to it, but Y/N wanted to stay as far away as possible from it.

"This way," Harry shouted, and he began to run, up the stairs, into the entrance hall.

"Wait Harry! Slow down!" Y/N hissed after him but to avail, the kid was gone before he could even blink. 'Goddamn it'

The three of them ran after him, following behind slowly but soon catch up to him minutes later.

"Harry Y/N, what're we–"

"SHH!"

The voice came much louder now, and even more menacing as it let out a blood curling screech. It caused Y/N to strain his ears, clasping his hands tightly over them to drown it out but no matter what voice spoke it's words.

"... I smell blood... I SMELL BLOOD!"

The boy's stomach lurched, obviously not keen on having a sadistic voice in his head saying "I smell blood." it only made Harry was more determined to find out what was causing it, while Y/N.... didn't know what to make of it, he felt like the voice was zooming him out, swirling him into a black pit of emptiness. Almost like it was trying to distance itself from him, which Y/N obliged to but Harry had a different idea.

"It's going to kill someone!" Harry screamed, his legs taking off before anyone could protest.

"Harry, for fucks sake listen to me!" Once again Y/N felt this wave off energy pulsing through his neck. It felt as if all the untapped and present anger was uplifting, reaching out to him to do something drastic but he wouldn't. They followed after him, close behind on his heals.

When they finally reached them, Hermione and Ron were panting like wet dogs but not
Y/N, he was... unaffected.

"Harry, what was that all about?" said Ron, wiping sweat off his face. "I couldn't hear anything..."

"Harry." Y/N started, grabbing ahold of the boy's robe collar quite forcefully. "Stop running off!" He hissed, his eyes turning only slight amber. "You have no idea what this means, it could be anything. I highly doubt something could kill someone here-" But whatever he was about to say was whisked away by Hermione gasping. To which Y/N tore away his gaze from Harry and onto Hermione almost immediately. Eyes softening but still frowned.

"Look! " She pointed down the hallway, Something was shining on the wall ahead. They approached slowly, squinting through the darkness. Foot-high words had been daubed on the wall between two windows, shimmering in the light cast by the flaming torches.

THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED.
ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE

"What's that thing – hanging underneath?" said Ron, a slight quiver in his voice.

As they edged nearer, Y/N almost slipped – there was a large puddle of water on the floor; Hermione grabbed ahold of him, her hand clasped in his own. they inched toward the message, eyes fixed on a dark shadow beneath it. All four of them realized what it was at once, and leapt backward with a splash.

Mrs. Norris, the caretaker's cat, was hanging by her tail from the torch bracket. She was stiff as a board, her eyes wide and staring.

"I stand corrected." Y/N said after a few seconds of silence.

They didn't move, then Ron said, "Let's get out of here."

"Are you serious?" Y/N questioned. "We can't leave her here like this." He wasn't a big fan of Filch or even Mrs. Norris but he couldn't leave a cat to it's fate, no matter how much he hated her.

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

But it was too late. A rumble, as though of distant thunder, told them that the feast had just ended. From either end of the corridor where they stood came the sound of hundreds of feet climbing the stairs, and the loud, happy talk of well-fed people; next moment, students were crashing into the passage from both ends.

The chatter, the bustle, the noise died suddenly as the people in front spotted the hanging cat. Y/N, Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood alone, in the middle of the corridor, as silence fell among the mass of students pressing forward to see the grisly sight.

Then someone shouted through the quiet.

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

Of course it was Malfoy, pushing through the crowd into the front to get a better view.

Y/N's eyes lit up in dark shades of anger as he watched the platinum blonde boy laugh at the sight of the cat. He marched forward, his fist tightened ready to hit the boy but Hermione had grabbed his hand again, squeezing it to relax him which returned him to his calm state, a slight blush on his cheek as he noticed their hands interlocked.

"What's going on here? What's going on?" A hoarse voice from the corridors. It turned out to be Filch the caretaker himself.

Attracted no doubt by Malfoy's shout, Argus Filch came shouldering his way through the crowd. Then he saw Mrs. Norris and fell back, clutching his face in horror.

"My cat! My cat! What's happened to Mrs. Norris?" he shrieked. Y/N was inclined to say he deserved it but shook it off, nobody deserved their pet in such state, even someone as horrid as Filch.

And his popping eyes fell on that of Harry and Y/N, the ones most closest to Mrs. Norris.

"You!" he screeched. " You! You've murdered my cat! You've killed her! I'll kill you! I'll–"

"Argus!"

Dumbledore had arrived on the scene, followed by a number of other teachers. In seconds, he had swept past Harry, Y/N, Ron, and Hermione and detached Mrs. Norris from the torch bracket.

"Come with me, Argus," he said to Filch. "You, too, Mr. L/N, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Granger."

Lockhart stepped forward eagerly.

"My office is nearest, Headmaster – just upstairs – please feel free–"

"Thank you, Gilderoy," said Dumbledore.

The silent crowd parted to let them pass. Lockhart, looking excited and important, hurried after Dumbledore; so did Professors McGonagall and Snape.

The four students followed after Dumbledore, no doubt going to Lockhart's office which Y/N wasn't really up for but had no choice. The idea of entering the man's office sounded revolting to him. If it's as pompous as his class then he was into for a not-so-excellent treat.

They entered Lockhart's darkened office there was a flurry of movement across the walls; Y/N saw several of the Lockharts in the pictures dodging out of sight, their hair in rollers. He couldn't help gag slightly, 'Never coming in here again, even if it's the last thing i do'

Dumbledore set Mrs. Norris down on Lockhart's desk. The teachers began examine her, inspecting every part of her for any signs of what happened to her and more importantly who did it to her.

"It was definitely a curse that killed her – probably the Transmogrifian Torture – I've seen it used many times, so unlucky I wasn't there, I know the very countercurse that would have saved her..." Y/N resisted the urge to roll his eyes at Lockhart's false attempt of discovering what had happened to the cat.

Lockhart continued his story, how he saw a similar thing being done before and blah blah blah, really no one was paying attention except Hermione who had a rather curious gaze as she watched the teacher with fascination, which made Y/N's blood boil.

Dumbledore muttered some words to himself before standing up, directing his gaze to Filch. "She's not dead, Argus," he said softly.

Lockhart stopped abruptly in the middle of counting the number of murders he had prevented.

Lies. Everyone. Of. Them.

"Not dead?" choked Filch, looking through his fingers at Mrs. Norris. "But why's she all – all stiff and frozen?"

"She has been Petrified," said Dumbledore ("Ah! I thought so!" said Lockhart). "But how, I cannot say..."

"Ask them!" shrieked Filch, turning his blotched and tearstained face to Harry and
Y/N who wore dumbfounded expressions.

"No second year could have done this," said Dumbledore firmly. "it would take Dark Magic of the most advanced–"

"They did it, they did it!" Filch spat, his pouchy face purpling. "You saw what the two wrote on the wall! The both found – in my office – they know I'm a – I'm a -" Filch's face worked horribly. "They know I'm a Squib!" he finished.

"We never touched Mrs. Norris!" Harry said loudly, defended himself and Y/N, uncomfortably aware of everyone looking at the two of them, including all the Lockharts on the walls. "And I don't even know what a Squib is."

"It's someone who can't do magic." Y/N spoke matter-of-factually. The face that Filch made when Y/N said that was either "I'm gonna kill you." look or a "just kill me now." look.

Just when Filch was about to strangle Y/N, Snape stepped in, surprisingly.

"If I might speak, Headmaster," said Snape from the shadows.

"Potter and his friends may have simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time," he said, a slight sneer curling his mouth as though he doubted it. "But we do have a set of suspicious circumstances here. Why were they in the upstairs corridor at all? Why weren't they at the Halloween feast?"

Y/N, Harry, Ron and Hermione all launched into an explanation about the deathday party. "...there were hundreds of ghosts, they'll tell you we were there–" "Yeah ask Moaning Myrtle she'll tell you—"

"But why not join the feast afterward?" said Snape, his black eyes glittering in the candlelight. "Why go up to that corridor?"

Ron, and Hermione looked at both Harry and Y/N.

'Why are they looking at us- oh right.' Y/N thought as teachers turned their gazes on them, making the kid quite uncomfortable.

"Well - because- because we-" His heart was thumping out of chest at a fast pace.

"Because we were tired and wanted to go to bed," Harry blurted out causing the teachers to look at him suspiciously, while Y/N had baffled look on him. 'We were tired? Yeah let's go with that...'

"Without any supper?" said Snape, a triumphant smile flickering across his gaunt face. "I didn't think ghosts provided food fit for living people at their parties."

"They don't." Y/N informed, causing Snape to narrow his eyes at the boy. "We weren't really up for having supper since as you well know death day parties are not the most lively of bunches, never mind the food." He tried to wiggle his way out but even Snape could see through his white lie.

"We weren't hungry," said Ron, agreeing with them, but loudly as his stomach gave a huge rumble.

Snape's nasty smile widened.

"I suggest, Headmaster, that Potter and L/N aren't being entirely truthful," he said. "It might be a good idea if the two were deprived of certain privileges until they are ready to tell us the whole story. I personally feel that should be taken off the Gryffindor Quidditch team until they are ready to be honest."

"You what!" Y/N exclaimed, "you can't be serious!" He hissed. Unknown to him though, his eyes had once again changed colour. Unfortunately the teachers saw it, well not Lockhart who was busy trying to tell one of his MANY adventures.

"Watch your tone L/N." Snape warned him, but Professor McGonogall was secretly agreeing with the boy.

"Really, Severus," said Professor McGonagall sharply, "I see no reason to stop the boys playing Quidditch. This cat wasn't hit over the head with a broomstick. There is no evidence at all that Potter or L/N has done anything wrong."

Snape looked furious but so did Filch.

"My cat has been Petrified!" he shrieked, his eyes popping. "I want to see some punishment!"

"We will be able to cure her, Argus," said Dumbledore patiently. "Professer 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. "I must have done it a hundred times. I could whip up a Mandrake Restorative Draught in my sleep."

"You?" Y/N said with a pointed look. "You couldn't boil an egg if your life depended on it."

Secretly inside, Snape was grinning at the boy.

"Excuse me," said Snape icily after Y/N's comment. "But I believe I am the Potions master at this school."

And for once Y/N agreed with Snape, the hell did Lockhart know about potion making? Absolutely nothing!

There was a very awkward pause.

"You may go," Dumbledore said to Y/N, Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

They went, as quickly as they could without actually running. When they were a floor up from Lockhart's office, they turned into an empty classroom and closed the door quietly behind them.

"D'you think we should have told them about that voice we heard?" Harry asked, gesturing to himself and Y/N.

To which all three of the exclaimed "No!"

"No," said Ron, without hesitation. "Hearing voices no one else can hear isn't a good sign, even in the wizarding world."

Something in Ron's voice proved otherwise. "You do believe us though right? Right?" Y/N pressed on, his gaze shifting from Ron to Hermione who averted hers shyly, Ron let out a nervous chuckle.

"Course we do," said Hermione quickly, bumping her elbow into Ron's ribs, getting "yes" out of him. "But – you must admit it's weird..."

"I know it's weird," Y/N said. "The whole thing's weird. What was that writing on the wall about? The Chamber Has Been Opened ... What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know, it rings a sort of bell," said Ron slowly. "I think someone told me a story about a secret chamber at Hogwarts once... might've been Bill..."

"Well when you do remember it please do us a favour and inform us." Y/N told the boy, a sarcastic smile on his lips.

A clock chimed somewhere.

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

The four of them left the classroom, and ran all the way to their bedrooms before they got into more trouble...

—

Candles lights flickered intensively as Dumbledore strolled down one of the many hallways of Hogwarts. Professor Snape and McGonagall in tow. They entered into the headmaster's office and Dumbledore slumped down into his chair, his hand stroking through his whitened beard.

"This is rather troubling." The much older man mussed, his colleagues sharing a nod to the situation. "Although that isn't the main concern."

Professor McGonagall averted her eyes away from her boss, feeling a bit of shame building up in her.

"Yes." Snape began, his voice cold but firm. "What are we to do with L/N?" He asked as if he was talking about a serial killer, his tone filled with disgust but wavered when McGonagall glared his way.

"Nothing will be done with him, except keeping an eye on him." Dumbledore spoke softly, picturing the boy in his mind bringing a small smile to older man.

"What!" Snape exclaimed in disbelief. "You are aware of-" Obviously referring to his eyes changing colour, but Dumbledore cut him off.

"I am very aware of his current situation Severus." He reminded the Slytherin head.

"Then you understand my concerns headmaster, if he's anything like his mother then it would prove to be catastrophic, especially now that-" But Snape held back from saying anything as McGonagall resumed her previous glare at her fellow teacher.

"Yes, which is why we'll be keeping eyes on him. But I have the upmost confidence in him, he'll be fine." Dumbledore gently replied, a look of sincere in his eyes.

"And if he's not?"

Dumbledore looked down, averting his gaze, only to look back up seconds later, a determined look across his face.

"Well we better make sure that doesn't happen then shall we?"

—

For a few days, the school could talk of little else but the attack on Mrs. Norris. Filch kept it fresh in everyone's minds by pacing the spot where she had been attacked, as though he thought the attacker might come back. Which Y/N found incredibly dumb, everyone knows a killer wouldn't risk going back to the scene of the crime unless they wished to get caught.

But whenever Filch wasn't guarding the scene, he would be searching the corridors and hallways at night, hoping to catch the them off guard but to no avail, he hadn't found anyone and Y/N doubt he ever would.

Although he did think the attacker would be close behind, obviously not from the outside. The best time to strike someone is when they least expect it or rather, when they deem you trustworthy.

But aside from Filch, there was another who had felt considerably lost since Mrs. Norris's fate. Ginny Weasley, Ron's sister, seemed very disturbed by the cat's fate. According to Ron, she was a great cat lover.

"But you haven't really got to know Mrs. Norris," Ron told her bracingly. "Honestly, we're much better off without her." Ginny's lip trembled. "Stuff like this doesn't often happen at Hogwarts," Ron assured her. "They'll catch the maniac who did it and have him out of here in no time. I just hope he's got time to Petrify Filch before he's expelled. I'm only joking -" Ron added hastily as Ginny blanched.

So when Y/N found out she was a big cat lover, he asked, more like ordered, Midnight to look after her, staying close to the young girl and to bring positive energy to Ginny's life, it hurt
Y/N to see the younger Weasley sibling so down.

When entering the Great Hall the day after he was not expecting a young ginger haired girl to crush him in a huge hug, also choking the life out of him. From then on Ginny had been feeling much better, smiling for a change which they all agreed was far better than her previous mood.

But the worst part of all this was, Hermione. It seemed the attack had also had an effect on her as well, which greatly upset Y/N. It was quite usual for Hermione and him to spend a lot of time reading, but she was now doing almost nothing else.

Skipping their daily sessions and hardly muttering a word. Y/N couldn't lie, it was down right depressing to see such a joy and cheerful person shrieked down to what she was now, a saddened shell. Nor could Harry and Ron get much response from her when they asked what she was up to, and not until the following Wednesday did they find out.

Harry and Ron were at the back of the library, Ron was measuring his History of Magic homework. Professor McGonogall had asked for a three foot long composition on "The Medieval Assembly of European Wizards."

"I don't believe it, I'm still eight inches short said Ron furiously, letting go of his parchment, which sprang back into a roll. "And Hermione's and Y/N's done four feet seven inches and their writing's tiny."

"Where are they?" asked Harry, grabbing the tape measure and unrolling his own homework.

"Somewhere over there," said Ron, pointing along the shelves. "Looking for another book. I think they're trying to read the whole library before Christmas-" but before Ron could say anything else, a great shout or rather groaning shriek left the lips of one very, very, annoyed boy.

"OH YOU'VE GOT TO BE TAKING THE PISS- ouch." Y/N booming voice was soon cut by a thundering punch to the arm, rubbing it as the two students came out of their hiding place of books. Hermione looked irritable while Y/N held a scowl, either from the punch or another reason... or perhaps both?

"What was all that about?" Ron asked the two as they settled down at the table, eyeing the two down as if they had something they shouldn't be doing.

"All the copies of Hogwarts, A History have been taken out," Hermione explained, annoyance in her voice. "And there's a two-week waiting list. I wish I hadn't left my copy at home, but I couldn't fit it in my trunk with all the Lockhart books."

"Where's your copy?" Harry asked Y/N, wondering why she couldn't borrow his.

Y/N was about to speak but was stopped by the glare Hermione sent his way.

"He set it on fire!" She exclaimed loudly, enough for a few fourth year students to pop their heads up in curiosity. Hermione looked down almost immediately, averting her gaze as the embarrassment set in.

"Why?" Ron questioned, as if it was the dumbest thing to ever do, which Y/N couldn't fault him for thinking.

"I mistook it for one of Lockhart's books..."
Y/N answered shyly, his eyes looking down at the DATDA book on the table.

"Well it wouldn't have happened if you hadn't had the idea to set fire to Lockhart's books." Hermione argued her eyes narrowing slightly.

Y/N pinched the edge of his nose, groaning. "Well I'm sorry." He replied, his features softening but later forming into a frown. "but I absolutely despise reading any of his garbage."

The two went back and fourth, arguing over Lockhart. Harry and Ron couldn't tell if it was because of the teacher's books or because Hermione seemed to smitten for Lockhart. Either way Y/N was absolutely dreading it.

"Are you two fighting?" Harry and Ron inquired but immediately regretted it as the two turned to them with the most hateful, annoying and inscrutable look they have ever shared.

"NO!" The both exclaimed at the same time, which provoked them to turn their heads in each other's direction, a gist of shock filling their systems. It wasn't long until Y/N let out a laugh and Hermione merely giggled. They shook their heads in mirth and left their seats, presumingly on their way to Professor McGonagall's lesson.

"What's just happened?" Ron asked no one but himself, his eyes following Y/N and Hermione as they exited the library, the zeal and argument that was only minutes before seemed to had vanished completely.

"I believe they... er- got over their argument?" Harry said out loud, equally confused as Ron. The two boys decided to shrug it off and head out too, rushing to catch up then.

The golden Quartet made their way to lesson, in silence. That was until Ron began pestering Hermione and Y/N for the composition on their homework.

"Hermione, let me read your composition," said Ron desperately, checking his watch.

"No, I won't," said Hermione, suddenly severe. "You've had ten days to finish it."

"I only need another two inches, come on." Ron pleaded, his eyes showing desperation. But Hermione wouldn't budge, so Ron had to go to the next best thing... Y/N.

"C'mon, Y/N. Help a brother out." Ron complained, they weren't actually brothers (of course not, what book have you been reading?) but they might as well be, along with Harry. Best friends till the end.

"Ron, it's not my fault your behind. I can't simply show you my work or that would be considered cheating, plus you wouldn't learn anything." Y/N explained to his friend but Hermione seemed to have caught him in a bind.

"That's funny, what about that Herbology homework that was due in and you asked me for a copy." Hermione told him smugly as walked around a corner, closer to their destination.

"That was different." Y/N insisted, "I forget that's all." He shrugged.

"Oh rightttt" Hermione dragged on amusingly. "Because you were too busy glossing over your guitar." She added in, her voice sounding oddly sweet.

"Hey! My guitar is like a swordsman's weapon or a teacher's text books. It is mine and I am there's, we simply cannot be without the other." Y/N said to her, completely serious and confidently that Hermione had to bite back a laugh.

"If he's like that with his guitar then god knows what he's like with his cat," Ron joked to which Harry snickered but unfortunately for them
Y/N heard it. But before he could do anything Hermione had dragged him along by the arm, something about being almost late.

"Could I have your attention, please?" McGonagall instructed, as soon as they had arrived to class and settled. "Right. Now, today, we will be transforming animals into water goblets." She made a few swift movements with her wand. "Like so. One, two, three, Vera verto." and like she said, a bird perched on her desk turned magically into a silver goblet.

"Now it's your turn. Well, who would like to go first?" Her eyes spotted Ron first. "Ah! Mr. Weasley."

Ron cleared his throat "One, two, three. Vera verto." In a attempt to change Scabbers but it didn't work right, sadly. He really needed to fix that wand.

It ended up leaving him with a goblet of his own making it with a tail and all sorts, it caused thunderous laughs to erupt in the classroom as well as McGonagall who spared a small smile at it.

"That wand needs replacing, Mr. Weasley." She informed Ron and was about to move on when Hermione's hand shot up into the air, almost knocking Y/N off his seat.

"Yes, Miss Granger?"

"Professor, I was wondering if you could tell us about...the Chamber of Secrets?" Hermione asked curiosity and Y/N also yearned for such answers, as he had checked the library but no accounts of the chamber of secrets was evident in the books of Hogwarts, not even in the restricted area.

The sudden question sparked interest in the class, Dean Thomas, who had been sitting with his mouth hanging open, gazing out of the window, jerked out of his trance; Lavender Brown's head came up off her arms and Neville Longbottom's elbow slipped off his desk.

The professor seemed to have been in doubt, pondering if she should tell them but alas she decided so. "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."

"Three guesses who." Ron said to Harry and
Y/N, his gaze going over to one Draco Malfoy.

McGonagall continued. "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."

"Muggle-borns." Hermione whispered, her eyes edging down to the book that was currently on her lap. Y/N sent her a reassuring smile, to which she returned much to his delight.

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

This time however, it was Y/N that shot his hand up. "Professor? What exactly does legend tell us lies within the Chamber?" He asked her curiously.

She braced herself before answering.

"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."

"I always knew Salazar Slytherin was a twisted old loony," Ron told Y/N, Harry and Hermione as they fought their way through the teeming corridors at the end of the lesson to drop off their bags before dinner. "But I never knew he started all this pure-blood stuff. I wouldn't be in his house if you paid me. Honestly, if the Sorting Hat had tried to put me in Slytherin, I'd've got the train straight back home..."

They nodded their heads in agreement.

"I'd rather be locked away in a cupboard for the rest of my life, no offence Harry." Y/N quipped.

"Non taken." Harry replied back, not bothered in the slightest.

As they were shunted along in the throng, Colin Creevy and Ronnie Langford went past

"Hiya, Harry, Y/N!"

"Hello," Harry and Y/N said automatically.

"Harry – Harry – a boy in my class has been saying you're–"

But they were so small that they couldn't fight against the tide of people bearing them towards the Great Hall; they heard them both squeak, "See you!" and they were gone.

"What's a boy in his class saying about you?" Hermione wondered.

"That I'm Slytherin's heir, I expect," Harry said as they made they were through another hallway.

"People here will believe anything," Y/N said, disgust evident in his tone of voice.

The crowd thinned and they were able to climb the next staircase without difficulty.

"D'you really think there's a Chamber of Secrets?" Ron asked Hermione.

"I don't know," she said, frowning. "Dumbledore couldn't cure Mrs. Norris, and that makes me think that whatever attacked her might not be – well – human."

As she spoke, they turned a corner and found themselves at the end of the very corridor where the attack had happened. They stopped and looked. The scene was just as it had been that night, except that there was no stiff cat hanging from the torch bracket, and an empty chair stood against the wall bearing the message "The Chamber of Secrets has been Opened."

"That's where Filch has been keeping guard," Ron muttered.

They looked at each other. The corridor was deserted.

"Can't hurt to have a poke around," said Harry, dropping his bag and getting to his hands and knees so that he could crawl along, searching for clues.

At this Y/N chuckled. "Harry what are you doing?"

"Looking for clues." Harry deadpanned as if it was completely normal.

"Perhaps you'd like a pipe, or a magnifying glass then Sherlock?" Y/N quipped but soon noticed that Ron and Hermione had done the same as Harry, crawling around also. "Oh bloody hell." Y/N sighed and followed his friends, dropping his bag and slumping down to the floor in a crawl.

"Scorch marks!" Harry said. "Here – and here–"

"Come and look at this!" said Hermione. "This is funny..."

They got up and crossed to the window next to the message on the wall. Hermione was pointing at the topmost pane, where around twenty spiders were scuttling, apparently fighting to get through a small crack. A long, silvery thread was dangling like a rope, as though they had all climbed it in their hurry to get outside.

"Have you ever seen spiders act like that?" said Hermione wonderingly.

"No," said Harry, "Have you, Ron? Y/N?

He looked over his shoulder. Y/N and Ron was standing well back and seemed to be fighting the impulse to run.

"What's up?" Harry asked.

"Well - I... I don't particularly like spiders."
Y/N choked out, as Ron was looking rather tensed.

"I never knew that," said Hermione, looking at Y/N in surprise but a faint smirk on her face, one Y/N wished he could wipe off. "You've used spiders in Potions loads of times..."

"Yeah— but they're dead— and I'm not!" Y/N stammered out, he wasn't afraid of much but spiders.... those legged creatures were the death of him.

Hermione giggled.

"Hey!" Y/N hissed. "You would be if a huge arse fucking spider jumped onto your face in the middle of the night, trying to devour your face off. Not to mention all those legs..." Pretty sure a part of that was an exaggeration.

Y/N broke off, shuddering. Hermione was obviously still trying not to laugh. Feeling they had better get off the subject, Harry said, "Remember all that water on the floor? Where did that come from? Someone's mopped it up."

"It was about here," Y/N said, trying to distance himself from the spiders and walked a few paces past Filch's chair and pointing. "Level with this door."

He reached for the brass doorknob but suddenly withdrew his hand as though he'd been burned.

"What's the matter?" said Harry.

"We can't go in there," Y/N told him in a quick pace. "That's a girl's toilet."

"Oh, Y/N, there won't be anyone in there," said Hermione standing up and coming over. "That's Moaning Myrtle's place. Come on, let's have a look."

"That's the exact reason as to why we shouldn't go in there." Y/N argued. "It's one thing going into a girl's toilets but another thing going inside Moaning Myrtle's resting place."

"Oh don't be a baby." Hermione cooed sarcastically. And ignoring the large "OUT of ORDER" sign, she opened the door.

It was the gloomiest, most depressing bathroom they had ever set foot in. Under a large, cracked, and spotted mirror were a row of chipped sinks. The floor was damp and reflected the dull light given off by the stubs of a few candles, burning low in their holders; the wooden doors to the stalls were flaking and scratched and one of them was dangling off its hinges.

Hermione put her fingers to her lips and set off toward the end stall. When she reached it she said, "Hello, Myrtle, how are you?"

The boys went to look. Moaning Myrtle was floating above the tank of the toilet, picking a spot on her chin.

"This is a girl's bathroom," she said, eyeing
Y/N, Ron and Harry suspiciously. " They're not girls."

"Great observation." Y/N murmured and ended up with a slap at back of the head.

"No," Hermione agreed. "I just wanted to show them how er – nice it is in here."

She waved vaguely at the dirty old mirror and the damp floor.

"Ask her if she saw anything," Harry mouthed at Hermione.

"What are you whispering?" said Myrtle, staring at him.

"Nothing," said Harry quickly. "We wanted to ask–"

"I wish people would stop talking behind my back!" said Myrtle, in a voice choked with tears. "I do have feelings, you know, even if I am dead–"

"Myrtle, no one wants to upset you," said Hermione. "Harry only–"

"No one wants to upset me! That's a good one!" howled Myrtle. "My life was nothing but misery at this place and now people come along ruining my death!"

"We wanted to ask you if you've seen anything funny lately," said Hermione quickly. "Because a cat was attacked right outside your front door on Halloween."

"Did you see anyone near here that night?"
Y/N asked her.

"I wasn't paying attention," said Myrtle dramatically. "Peeves upset me so much I came in here and tried to kill myself. Then, of course, I remembered that I'm – that I'm–"

"Already dead," said Ron helpfully.

Myrtle gave a tragic sob, rose up in the air, turned over, and dived headfirst into the toilet, splashing water all over them and vanishing from sight, although from the direction of her muffled sobs, she had come to rest somewhere in the U-bend.

Y/N, Harry and Ron stood with their mouths open, but Hermione shrugged wearily and said, "Honestly, that was almost cheerful for Myrtle... Come on, let's go."

Y/N had barely closed the door on Myrtle's gurgling sobs when a loud voice made all four of them jump.

"RON!"

Percy Weasley had stopped dead at the head of the stairs, prefect badge agleam, an expression of complete shock on his face.

"That's a girl's bathroom!" he gasped. "What were you -?"

But before Ron could say anything, Y/N decided to open his mouth. "I just went in there to show them my perfect badge." He joked, even though he didn't have one, nor was he old enough for such a job. It was fun to mess with Percy, the boy had a weird look on his face. "What? I thought YOU of all people did that."

"I do not." Percy denied, his voice filled with both anxiousness and fear.

"Really? Well that's not what I saw the other day. You were with that Ravenclaw girl..." Y/N continued while Ron and Harry were snickering, Hermione was hesitating to such a thing in the presence of a perfect. "Oh what was her name again?-"

"That's enough!" Percy hissed, his face becoming engulfed in a huge blush. He let out a heavy sigh. "Get out of here now before I take away house points!" He threatened which got them to move on, well at least they didn't lose any.

"Who was he seeing in the toilets?" Hermione asked as they reached the entrance to the Gryffindor common room.

"I haven't a bloody clue." Y/N shrugged, "I heard from a fifth year that Percy was hanging around a lot with a girl, who she is I don't know."

"Well couldn't you find out?" Ron asked.

"No Ron, unlike you. I don't put my nose in people's personal affairs." Y/N said with a sarcastic smile. Which only led Ron to protest.

They finally made it inside and sat down at the nearest table.

"Who can it be, though?" Hermione asked in a quiet voice, as though continuing a conversation they had just been having. "Who'd want to frighten all the Squibs and Muggle-borns out of Hogwart's?"

"Let's think," said Ron in mock puzzlement. "Who do we know who thinks Muggle-borns are scum?"

"If you're talking about Malfoy–"

"Of course I am!" said Ron. "You heard him – You'll be next, Mudbloods!'- come on, you've only got to look at his foul rat face to know it's him–"

"Malfoy, the Heir of Slytherin?" said Hermione skeptically.

"C'mon, Ron seriously? Even Malfoy not evil enough to be the "heir of Slytherin"  Y/N argued, air quoting. "I can think of plenty of others that would be better suited than him."

To which Hermione nodded in agreement but Harry wasn't satisfied.

"Look at his family," said Harry. "The whole lot of them have been in Slytherin; he's always boasting about it. They could easily be Slytherin's descendants. His father's definitely evil enough."

"They could've had the key to the Chamber of Secrets for centuries!" said Ron. "Handing it down, father to son ..."

"Well," said Hermione cautiously, "I suppose it's possible..."

"If he IS the heir of Slytherin, how do we prove it?" Y/N pondered.

"There might be a way," said Hermione slowly, dropping her voice still further with a quick glance across the room at Percy, who had just entered. "Of course, it would be difficult. And dangerous, very dangerous. We'd be breaking about fifty school rules, I expect."

"You're not saying what I think you're saying?" Y/N asked her. "It could prove to be unstable, volatile maybe. There's a million things that can go wrong."

"Yes not to mention the-" Hermione started but was soon cut off by Ron.

"If, in a month or so, you feel like explaining, you will let us know, won't you?" said Ron irritably.

Y/N smacked him up the back of the head when he said that.

"All right," said Hermione coldly, as Ron was seen rubbing the back of his head. She thanked Y/N.

'Do I really hit that hard?'

"What we'd need to do is to get inside the Slytherin common room and ask Malfoy a few questions without him realizing it's us." Hermione continued.

"But that's impossible," Harry said as Ron laughed.

"No, it's not," said Hermione. "All we'd need would be some Polyjuice Potion."

"What's that?" said Ron and Harry together.

To which Hermione and Y/N both groaned in annoyance, facepalming.

"Snape mentioned it in class a few weeks ago..." Y/N said.

"D'you think we've got nothing better to do in Potions than listen to Snape?" muttered Ron.

"Point taken." Y/N mumbled.

"It transforms you into somebody else. Think about it! We could change into four of the Slytherins. No one would know it was us. Malfoy would probably tell us anything. He's probably boasting about it in the Slytherin common room right now, if only we could hear him."

"This Polyjuice stuff sounds a bit dodgy to me," said Ron, frowning. "What if we were stuck looking like four of the Slytherins forever?"

"Then I'd jump myself off a cliff." Y/N said seriously. To which Hermione glared at him, not liking the idea of him jumping to his death.

"It wears off after a while," Y/N said after Hermione was done trying to kill him, "Getting hold of the recipe will be very difficult. Snape said it was in a book called Moste Potente Potions and it's bound to be in the Restricted Section of the library."

There was only one way to get out a book from the Restricted Section: You needed a signed note of permission from a teacher.

"Hard to see why we'd want the book, really," said Ron, "if we weren't going to try and make one of the potions."

"I think," said Hermione, "that if we made it sound as though we were just interested in the theory, we might stand a chance...

"Oh, come on, no teacher's going to fall for that," said Ron. "They'd have to be really thick..."

At that Y/N had an excellent idea.

"Oh that's easy, we have the thickest of the lot." He told them with a dark grin, almost picturing it.

Judging by the expressions on their faces, they hadn't a clue who he was referring to... but it soon dawned on them.

Lockhart...