Professor McGonagall: [at Transfiguration class the next day] Could I have your attention, please?

The tension began to ease as everyone realized they were merely witnessing a normal class, rather than encountering a threat. And given their familiarity with Mia, Hermione, and Ron, it's highly likely that they anticipated the mention of the Chamber of Secrets.

Professor McGonagall: Right. Now, today, we will be transforming animals into water goblets. [Draco shrugs] Like so. [turns to a bird resting on a post to her right, tapping it with her wand as she speaks] One, two, three, Vera Verto. [a stream of magic emits from her wand, and the bird becomes a goblet; the other students express amazement]

The first years looked at the screen in awe, their faces lit up with curiosity and anticipation as they couldn't wait to learn more from their esteemed professors. Their eyes were wide with fascination, and whispers of excitement filled the room as they leaned in, eager to absorb every bit of knowledge being imparted.

McGonagall couldn't help but smile, a small, warm expression that softened her features as she observed her students' reactions. Seeing their enthusiasm and interest brought a sense of relief, knowing that even amidst the uncertain circumstances, her recorded lessons could still provide a semblance of normality and comfort for the young witches and wizards.

Professor McGonagall: Now it's your turn. Who would like to go first? [approaches Ron] Ah! Mr. Weasley. One, two, three, Vera Verto.
Ron: Ahem! [silently taps his wand towards Scabbers three times] Vera Verto. [his wand causes Scabbers to turn into a furry goblet with his tail moving around while squeaking; Mia and some of the other students grin and laugh]

Some of the students couldn't help but let out chuckles and amused smirks at Ron's on-screen misfortune.

"It's not funny," Ron stated, a hint of defensiveness in his voice.

"Come on, it's kind of funny," Mia replied with a playful giggle, meeting Ron's gaze before he couldn't help but chuckle along with her. "I mean, If the thing that happened in the end didn't really happen, I would feel bad for you, but because it did, I definitely find it funny,"

"Now I really want to know what happened!" one student piped up.

"Yeah, what really happened?" another added eagerly.

"You'll see," Mia assured them with a mischievous glint in her eyes, leaving the rest of the students eagerly anticipating the upcoming revelation.

Professor McGonagall: [as Ron picks up the Scabbers-goblet] That wand needs replacing, Mr. Weasley. [Hermione raises her hand] Yes, Ms. Granger?
Hermione: Professor, I was wondering if you could tell us about the Chamber of Secrets.

The Great Hall was suddenly even more focused on the screen, with even those who had heard about the legend of the Chamber of Secrets completely invested in listening.

"If such a chamber existed, it would be scary yet interesting. But it's just a legend... right?" muttered one student, voicing the mixture of apprehension and curiosity that filled the room.

[Draco gives Hermione a surprised look]
Professor McGonagall: [glancing around the room and seeing that the students look somewhat interested] 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," Sirius whispered to Remus and Mia, who responded with a sound that was a mix between a chuckle and a sigh, indicating that they were all too familiar with the mischievous culprit.

Ron: [turns to Mia] Three guesses who.

Mia and Remus couldn't help but chuckle at Sirius's stunned facial expression, finding his reaction to be quite amusing.

Professor McGonagall: 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. [Hermione and Draco glare at each other] 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.

As the story of the Chamber of Secrets unfolded, no one said anything, completely absorbed by the tale. The air was thick with anticipation and unease, each person immersed in their own contemplation.

"I wonder if it's real," whispered one student, breaking the heavy silence.

"I hope not," another responded in a hushed voice, their eyes scanning the room nervously.

"I wouldn't want to meet whatever's lurking in there," chimed in Neville, the fear evident in his tone.

The anxiety in the room was palpable as everyone grappled with the unsettling possibility of the legend being more than just a story.

Professor McGonagall: Well, 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.
Hermione: Muggle-borns.

The atmosphere in the Great Hall grew taut as the news of the Chamber of Secrets impacted the muggle-born students. Trepidation and unease spread across their faces, and many instinctively retreated into themselves, their thoughts and feelings mirroring the fear and uncertainty that gripped the room. A few narrowed their brows in skepticism, unwilling to entirely succumb to the false narratives that threatened to unsettle their sense of safety and belonging within the magical world.

[Professor McGonagall points her wand at her in an affirmative gesture]
Professor McGonagall: Well, naturally the school has been searched many times. No such Chamber has been found. [turns and walks back to her desk]

"It's because it doesn't exist," Umbridge said condescendingly, provoking eye rolls from Mia, Ron, and Hermione, who were growing increasingly frustrated with her dismissive attitude.

"You found it, didn't you, Mia?" Alastor Moody asked her, his artificial electric blue iris eyes fixed on her intently.

As everyone turned their attention to Mia for an answer, she met Mad-Eye Moody's gaze and allowed a slight smirk to grace her lips. "Yes," she responded with a defiant tone.

The response sent shockwaves through the Great Hall as hushed whispers and widened eyes echoed through the crowd.

"She's lying," Fudge accused, his tone insistent.

"Blah, blah, blah," Mia retorted, rolling her eyes in exasperation at the ongoing accusations.

The tension in the room surged as Mia's claim and Fudge's rebuttal sparked a heated debate among the students and staff. Whispers and murmurs filled the air, and apprehensive gazes darted between Mia and Fudge, unsure of whom to believe.

Umbridge folded her arms smugly, clearly enjoying the chaos she had incited. "This is preposterous. The Chamber of Secrets is nothing but a figment of wild imaginations," she declared, her voice dripping with disdain.

At that moment, the ghostly figure of Nearly Headless Nick floated forward. "I can assure you, Dolores, the Chamber is very real," he interjected, his transparent form exuding an air of solemnity.

The room fell silent as Nick's words hung heavy in the air, lending an unexpected gravitas to the conversation.

Mia, still maintaining her composure, shot a pointed look at Fudge before addressing the crowd. "Believe what you will, but the truth will always come to light," she declared, her words resonating with a quiet determination.

The Great Hall buzzed with speculation and uncertainty, the revelation igniting a fervent pursuit for the truth amidst the mounting tension.

"I mean, isn't that the point of the movies?" Mia sassed, punctuating her statement with a wry smile, effectively diffusing some of the tension in the room. Her cheeky remark drew a few chuckles from across the hall.

Hermione: Professor, [Professor McGonagall turns around] what exactly does legend tell us lies within the Chamber?
Professor McGonagall: Well, the Chamber is said to be home to something that only the Heir of Slytherin can control. It is said to be the home of a monster. [Hermione feels a sense of dread at these words; a horrified Ron turns around to look at Draco, who grins smugly at him]

The audience was filled with dread at the sinister implications of a creature that only the Heir of Slytherin could command. The notion seemed illogical and bewildering, leaving many in the room with a sense of unease and fear.

Ron: [as he, Mia, and Hermione walk down the corridor] Do you think it's true? Do you really think there is a Chamber of Secrets?
Hermione: Yes. Couldn't you tell? McGonagall's worried. All the teachers are.

"Maybe it's not because of the Chamber of Secrets," Dean pondered aloud, a furrow forming on his brow as he mulled over the perplexing situation.

Several students exchanged uncertain glances, their expressions mirroring the collective unease that pervaded the air. Seamus, his voice tinged with skepticism, probed further, "Then why would they be worried if it's not because of the Chamber of Secrets?"

Dean considered the question, his thoughts racing as he tried to piece together the puzzling events that had unfolded. "Perhaps there's something or someone out there petrifying people?" he suggested, his voice laced with a cautious apprehension.

"Yeah, someone or something from the Chamber of Secrets," Neville added, his words hanging heavy in the tense atmosphere, each syllable amplifying the gravity of the situation.

The room fell silent as the weight of their words settled over the listeners. An aura of uncertainty enveloped the group, their wide-eyed gazes reflecting a mix of concern, fear, and a subtle glimmer of realization, as they grappled with the unsettling notion that their speculations might indeed hold some truth.

Mia: [as Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle walk down the corridor behind them] But if there really is a Chamber of Secrets, and it really has been opened, then that means...
Hermione: The Heir of Slytherin has returned to Hogwarts. The question is, who is it?
Ron: [as Draco and Goyle walk past them, with Crabbe running to keep up] Let's think... [glances at their adversaries as they pass] who do we know who thinks all Muggle-borns are scum?
Hermione: If you're talking about Malfoy...
Ron: Of course! You heard him: "You'll be next, mudbloods."
Hermione: I heard him. But Malfoy, the Heir of Slytherin?

Draco fixated a scornful glare at the trio. The implication that he might be the Heir of Slytherin stung, and the thought that they, and by extension others, could suspect him of such dark intentions gnawed at him. If he had indeed been the Heir, he certainly wouldn't have kept it a secret, or so he asserted inwardly.

Meanwhile, the rest remained engrossed in the trio's conversation, hanging on their every word in the hopes of unraveling the cryptic mystery. The heavy silence spoke volumes, as everyone present silently urged the trio to make some headway in shedding light on the puzzling events that had recently gripped them all.

Mia: A joke [Ron nodded his head.]

Draco turned his head and glared at Mia and Ron.

Mia: Well, maybe Ron's right, Hermione. I mean, look at his family, the whole lot of them have been in Slytherin for centuries.
Ron: Crabbe and Goyle must know. Maybe we could trick them into telling.
Hermione: Even they aren't that thick.

"Hey!" Crabbe and Goyle exclaimed, visibly insulted by the insinuation. However, underlying their indignation, a faint acknowledgment lingered, suggesting that there might be a grain of truth to the accusation.

A smattering of chuckles rippled through the crowd, sparked by the duo's defensive response to the suggestion, as amused onlookers found some levity in the unfolding tension.

— But there might be another way. Mind you, it would be difficult, not to mention, we'd be breaking fifty school rules, and it'll be dangerous, very dangerous.
[In the library, Hermione pulls a book titled "Most Potente Potions" off the shelf, then walks a few rows to where Mia and Ron are.]
Hermione: Here it is, the Polyjuice Potion. [reads from the book]

"You did not," Snape interjected, having keenly discerned their covert scheme before anyone else.

"What are you talking about, Severus?" McGonagall inquired, her expression a mix of concern and confusion as she addressed the pointed accusation.

The teachers and other adults in the vicinity turned their attention towards Snape, their faces reflecting a similar blend of curiosity and concern.

Snape maintained a steely glare fixed on the trio. "Engaging in something perilous, breaking rules," he accused with a stern tone.

Mia, undeterred, responded defensively, "To save the school. You'll see." Her unwavering conviction resonated through her words, carrying an undercurrent of determination despite the gravity of Snape's admonition.

— "Properly brewed, the Polyjuice Potion allows the drinker to transform himself temporarily into the physical form of another."
Ron: You mean, if Mia and I drink that stuff, we'll turn into Crabbe and Goyle?

"What in Merlin's beard were you thinking?" Molly's voice struck like thunder, the tone carrying an air of disbelief and stern warning that sent a ripple of unease through the gathering.

"That's the only way to find the truth," Ron countered, meeting his mother's incredulous gaze with unwavering determination.

"No, it's not!" Molly retorted, her concern and anxiety palpable as she confronted the trio, her maternal instincts driving her to protect them from potential harm.

Dumbledore, observing the scene with his characteristic calm and wisdom, turned his attention to the trio, his eyes alight with understanding and a hint of approval. "They didn't do anything wrong as long as it came with a resolution," he remarked, his gentle tone carrying the weight of his reassurance.

Mia, the corners of her lips upturned in a grateful smile, met Dumbledore's gaze with a deep sense of gratitude. "Thank you, Professor," she expressed, a glimmer of relief shining in her eyes as she acknowledged the much-needed support from a trusted mentor.

Hermione: Yes.
Ron: [he and Mia exchange grins] Wicked. Malfoy will tell us anything.
Hermione: [smiles slightly at their motivation] Exactly, but it's tricky. [glancing at the book again] I've never seen a more complicated potion.
Mia: Well, how long will it take to make?
Hermione: [looking up at Mia] A month.
Mia: A month?! But, Hermione... if Malfoy is the Heir of Slytherin, he could attack half the Muggle-borns in the school by then!
Hermione: I know, but it's the only plan we've got.

"That's not going to be easy to do by yourselves," Charlie remarked, his concern evident as he regarded the trio with a mixture of worry and support.

"We knew that. But we didn't have any other choice," Mia responded, her tone reflecting a blend of determination and resignation.

"You just can't help yourselves, can you?" Arthur sighed, a touch of exasperation lacing his words as he contemplated the trio's penchant for diving into perilous situations.

"Like Mia said, Father, we didn't have a choice. A lot of people could've been killed if we hadn't gotten involved. We couldn't just let them die," Ron explained, a solemn gravity underlying his words as he justified their actions to his parents.

Unbeknownst to Ron, his impassioned declaration of their motives stirred feelings of pride within his parents—an unspoken acknowledgment that their children were willing to sacrifice their own safety to protect others. The weight of the unspoken understanding settled heavily in the air, casting a shadow of apprehension over the gathering as they grappled with the ominous implications of the unfolding events.

A palpable unease hung in the room, and the collective gaze of those present turned back to the screen, the shared hope that the price of their intervention would not be their own lives underscoring the tense atmosphere. As the scene unfolded, a sense of foreboding enveloped the assembly, prompting uneasy thoughts about the unknown perils that lay ahead.