"How long has Harry's detention been now?" Ron kicked the wall.

"Uh..." Erica checked her invisible watch,"Too long."

"I'm sure they're doing good things." Hermione smiled.

"Probably boring things." Ron muttered, shaking his head.

"Good things." Hermione pointed.

"Boring things." Ron repeated.

"Don't argue." Parker sighed.

"Or do, just leave me out of it.' Erica rubbed her eyes.

"And me." Parker leaned against the wall.

Erica looked at Parker and leaned against the wall to. That's when they saw Harry, walking over to them, almost in confusion as he looked around.

"Oh, Harry!" Erica walked over to him.

"Did you hear it?" Harry turned to her.

"The voice." Harry stated.

"Hear what?" Erica raised a brow.

"What voice?" Ron questioned.

"The voice!"

"Harry, there weren't any voices here except us." Hermione shook her head.

"Are you sure?"

"Very sure." She nodded.

"I think he's going crazy." Parker whispered.

"Agreed." Ron whispered back,"Even in the Wizarding World, hearing voices isn't normal."

"It's nothing, Harry." Hermione assured Harry.

"I mean, with this school.." Erica trailed off.

"He's just going crazy after being with Lockhart for bloody four hours." Parker chuckled.

"I knew he was evil!" Erica pointed.

"He is not!" Hermione pointed.

"He is, look what he's done to Harry." Erica crossed her arms.

"I'm fine." Harry sighed as they walked down the hall, only to have Ron grab onto his sister and gasp.

"Huh- What?' Erica looked back at him.

"S-Spiders!" He pointed.

"Oh." She covered his eyes.

"You don't like spiders?" Parker raised a brow.

"Hates them, absolutely terrified." Erica sighed.

Parker bit her cheek as she walked forward, looking at the wall and tilted her head. The wall had... A message written on it and it was written with blood?

"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir, beware." Parker read out.

"Guys... What's wrong with Mrs Norris?" Erica asked.

"Mrs Nor- Oh my god." Hermione covered her mouth.

Mrs Norris... She was hanging by her tail just along my the message, not moving.

Students from different rooms came out, looking at what was infront of them. Whispers and gossip were being heard.

"Uh oh.." Erica grabbed Parker's wrist.

Parker looked around, only to catch eyes with Filch, pushing through the crowd.

"Let me through-" Filch then noticed Mrs Norris before looking diwn at Harry, "You... You murdered my cat... I'll kill you!"

"Argus!" Dumbledore shouted as he appeared with some teachers, McGonagall pushing through to see the sight.

Snape joined as well, holding Filch back.

"I'll kill him!"

"Argus! Argus, come with me." Dumbledore sighed to him, "You all too." He nodded to the Herd.

"Uh oh..' Erica mumbled.

"My office is nearest, Headmaster, just upstairs, please feel free-" Lockhart began.

"No, no, Professor Lockhart. My office will do just fine." Dumbledore shook his head.

Once they got to Dumbledore's office, everyone either sat down or stood up, talking about what they just saw.

"She's not dead, Argus. She's been petrified." McGonagall sighed.

"Doesn't sound good." Harry whispered to Ron.

"What does it mean?" Ron muttered.

"It means-" Hermione went to speak.

"If I may, Professor. Perhaps Mr Potter and his friends were in the wrong place and the wrong time. However... The circumstances are suspicious. I for one, didn't recall seeing Potter at lunch." Snape walked forward.

"Harry was at detention with Professor Lockhart." Erica pointed,"We went to look for him."

"And we started heading to our common rooms when we saw Mrs Norris." Parker added.

"Innocent until proven guilty, Severus." Dumbledore nodded to him.

Snape nodded slowly and stepped back.

"Children, you may go." Dumbledore sighed.

"Thank you, professor." Erica smiled at her.

The Herd rushed out of the office and walked through the halls, Parker was thinking about what they just witnessed.

"Parker, what do you think happened?" Erica asked her.

Parker bit her cheek and shook her head,"I don't know... It's just so strange."

"First the voices Harry hears, then the spiders, then the writing on the wall and then Mrs Norris?" Hermione looked at them all,"It has to mean something."

"Maybe the spiders did it all." Ron shivered.

"I don't think so, Ron." Erica shook her head.

"Why don't we all just... Go to sleep and talk about this in the morning?" Harry sighed, holding his head.

"That sounds like a good plan." Hermione nodded.

"Night guys." Parker waved to the Gryffindor trio as they walked off.

"Night Parker." Erica waved as she skipped off.

"Goodnight Erica." Parker hummed as she walked down to the dungeons.

Erica smiled as she headed into the Hufflepuff Common Room.

*********************************

Erica was sat beside Parker, tapping her hands against the table.

"Why is she always late?" Parker groaned as she leaned her head on the table.

"Because she must not have a watch." Erica shook her head.

"I could go to sleep and she still wouldn't be here." Parker chuckled.

"Probably." Erica nodded.

"Sorry I'm late!" McGonagall rushed into class,"I was in a meeting, right, get your wands out."

The class did as they were told, looking up at McGonagall.

"Today we will be transforming animals into goblets. Like so, one... Two... Three... Veraverto." McGonagall tapped her wand against her bird and it transformed into a goblet.

"Can you do that, Ron?" Erica asked.

"What do you mean, can you do that?" Ron scoffed,"Who do you take me for? A first year?"

"No... But your end is broken." Erica reminded him,"Remember the slugs?"

"Don't remind me." Ron covered his mouth.

"Mr Weasley." McGonagall spoke up,"Perhaps you'd like to try?"

"Not really." Ron muttered.

"What was that?"

"I mean... Sure Miss."

"Good. Now, one... Two... Three... Veraverto." McGonagall repeated.

"Veraverto." Ron copied her, doing the spell on Scabbers.

Although Scabbers didn't entirely turn into a goblet. It turned into the shape but, still had fur and a tail. Erica covered her mouth to mask a laugh while Draco and his gang snickered in the corner.

"That wand of yours needs replacing, Mr Weasley." McGonagall pointed.

"Stating the obvious much?" Erica mumbled.

"Miss?" Parker raised her hand.

"Yes, Miss Malfoy?" Parker turned to her.

"Could you... Possibly tell us about the Chamber of Secrets?"

McGonagall seemed to contemplate before nodding,"Hogwarts was founded by four great, wizards and witches. Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff and Salazar Slytherin."

The Herd listened in closely, listening for any hints they could get.

"Salazar Slytherin wished to be more... Selective about the students admitted to Hogwarts. He believed that magical learning should be kept in magic families. In other words, Pureblood. Unable to sway the others, he left the school. Now according to legend... Slytherin had built a secret chamber in this castle, known as the Chamber of Secrets." McGonagall explained,"Although he sealed it until the time when the true heir comes to the school."

"Well, it's clearly been opened now. So..." Erica whispered to Parker.

Parker chuckled and nodded. McGonagall continued with her lesson but Erica's thoughts were still on the Chamber.

"Guess what I overheard the other Slytherins talking about." Parker hummed.

"What?' Erica looked at her.

"That the Chamber apparently killed Mrytle."

"Huh... I see." Erica nodded slowly.

"Do you believe it?

"Maybe, you never know."

*********************************

"Free period!" Ron clapped as they walked out the class.

"Well? Where are we off to?" Erica asked.

"Hm, we can look for... What Harry was hearing." Parker hummed.

"The spooky voice." Erica nodded.

"The mystery voice." Parker teased.

"Right, I get it." Harry chuckled.

"Do you remember what it said?" Parker raised a brow.

"Something about... Kill.." Harry recalled.

"Well who wants to kill all muggleborns?" Ron pointed.

"Draco." Parker answered.

"But- But it can't be him? Could it?" Erica fiddled with her hands.

"You heard him! You'll be next Mudbloods." Ron copied what Draco previously said.

"He's a wuss." Erica shrugged.

"You know who might know stuff?" Hermione spoke up.

"Who?" Harry asked.

"Crabbe, Goyle and Blaise. Draco tells them everything, I'm sure. Parker... Maybe you could try Blaise and we'll talk between us to see who'll talk to Crabbe and Goyle?" Hermione raised a brow.

"I can talk to Blaise." Parker smiled.

"Not it." Erica raised her hand.

"I'm not doing it either." Hermione shrugged.

"That leaves you boys." Erica poked Ron.

"Why is it always me?" Ron sighed.

"Because you were too slow."

"It's alright bud, we can do this together." Harry hummed.

"It takes about a month to brew, for now... I believe you have Quiddich, with Draco." Hermione turned to Harry.

"Just brilliant." Harry sighed, shaking his head.

*********************************

"Is it just me or is my dad sitting over there in the teacher's stand?" Parker used her hands as binoculars to look over.

Erica squinted,"Uh... Yeah, that's your dad. Oh God, that's your dad!"

"Why in Merlin's name is he here?" Ron sighed.

"Draco's playing and he spent all that money on those brooms." Hermione shook her head,"He probably wants to watch them win, which they won't."

"I just wish he'd be that happy with me." Parker sat down.

"You don't need him, Parker." Erica hugged her.

Parker leaned her head on her friends shoulder,"Will we always have each other, Er?"

"Of course we will." Erica smiled.

Parker hummed, looking over the bar,"Is... That bludger going awol?"

She pointed at the bludger chasing Harry. Erica turned and looked at the bludger, it was only chasing Harry. It was like he was being targeted

"It's bewitched." Ron sat up.

"We have to stop it!" Hermione shook her head.

The bludger then began going through the stands, weaving in between them. It turned back to Harry as him and Draco went for the snitch. Although Draco barged Harry and they went under the stands, no one could see where they went.

"Thanks, Draco." Erica muttered.

"Where are they?" Hermione groaned.

"I can't see." Ron shook his head.

That's when they saw Draco appear, flying up before falling to the ground which caused Erica to burst out laughing. The bludger and Harry appeared again, it hitting Harry's arm, causing him to fall to the ground.

"We need to go." Hermione rushed the others.

Erica dashed forward, pulling Parker along with her.

"Oh-" Parker ran with her.

Once they got down to the pitch, they saw the bludger still attempting to hit Harry so Parker quickly got her wand out and pointed at the bludger.

"Finite Incantatem!"

The bludger exploded, the fragments falling to the ground, smoking. Harry winced and held his arm as Lockhart ran up to him and the others.

"This appears to be broken. No worries, Harry. I shall fix it." Lockhart used a spell on Harry's arm... Although it just flopped down as if it were jelly.

"You idiot, you made it worse!" Erica crouched by Harry and glared up at Lockhart.

"Ah... Yes. Well, that can sometimes happen. But the point is, the bones are no longer broken. That's the thing to bear in mind. So, Harry, just toddle up to the hospital wing... Ah! Mr and Miss Weasley, Miss Granger and Miss Malfoy, would you escort him? And Madam Pomfrey will be able to- er... Tidy you up a bit."

"I'll tidy you up in a minute-"

"Erica, not now." Hermione sighed as she helped Harry up.

"Come on, let's just go." Ron took Harry's limp arm.

Erica shook her head at Lockhart as she began walking with the rest of the group.

*********************************

Harry opened the door to the girl's bathroom on the 3rd floor and walked in.

"Harry!" Hermione smiled.

"Finally." Erica sighed,"I don't understand what she's talking about."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

"Go on, Hermione. Tell him." Erica crossed her arms.

"Not if you're gonna make fun of me."

"I'm not gonna make fun of you."

"I'm talking about the polyjuice potion, letting everyone know what to do. But anyway- How is your arm?" Hermione turned back to Harry.

"Oh, it's doing better. It has bones now." Harry chuckled.

"Well that's something.' Parker shrugged,"Oh! Did you hear what Snotharts setting up?"

"Oh Merlin, what now," Harry sighed

"He's starting a dueling club." Parker hummed.

"Stupid, I know." Ron shook his head,"How's he supposed to teach us how to duel?"

"He says he's the best." Hermione pointed.

"He isn't, he sucks." Erica huffed.

"Well... I also have news." Harry spoke up.

"Oh?" Erica looked up at him.

"I heard the Professors talking last night." Harry bit his cheek.

"That's interesting... About what?" Ron asked.

"Colin. The first year with the camera? They brought him in last night, he had been petrified."

"Aw... I liked Colin." Erica sighed.

"We need to stop this." Hermione pointed.

"And how do you suggest we do that?" Ron crossed his arms.

"Well... We can start the polyjuice potion."

"Yeah, why are we doing this in the girls bathroom?" Ron raised a brow.

"Nobody comes in here, because of Moaning Myrtle." Hermione shrugged.

"Myrtle?"

"Who's Moaning Myrtle?" Ron furrowed his brow.

"I'm Moaning Myrtle!" A voice shouted.

Ron jumped back as the ghost of a girl appeared in front of him.

"I wouldn't expect you to know about me! Why would anyone want to talk about miserable, ugly, Moaning Myrtle?" She squealed as she flew past them.

"Nice one, Ron. Now she's upset with us." Erica sighed.

"She's sensitive." Parker shrugged.

"Yeah, I can tell." Ron rolled his eyes.

*********************************

"Erica!" Neville walked up to her.

"Oh, hi Nev!" Erica smiled.

"Guess what?"

"What?"

He showed her a new plant, a little cactus.

"Aw, it's so cute!" Erica smiled.

"I grew it... Myself." Neville smiled, proud.

"You did? That's so cool!'

"You really think so?" Neville looked at her.

"I really think so." She smiled.

"Thanks Erica." Neville handed7 it out to her,"It's... For you."

"For... Me?"

"I mean, if you don't want it that's okay-"

"No- I do." Erica told him.

"You want it?"

Erica nodded.

"There." Neville handed the cactus over,"Please take good care of it."

"I'll try my best." Erica held it gently.

"And make sure to water him every four hours... But if you're in class you can do it when you go back to your dorm."

"Okay, I will."

"I'm growing sunflowers next, I'm hoping they grow quite tall." Neville hummed.

"I love sunflowers, they're my favorite!"

"Really? Well- Once it grows I can give you one."

"Thank you!" She smiled.

"I'm get you the biggest one." He smiled back.

Erica hugged him.Neville gave a hug back, rubbing her back.

*********************************

Erica smiled at her cactus, sitting it by her new rocks. That's when... The devil walked through the door, immediately looking at Erica. Erica tried to ignore and just looked at her cactus.

"What is that?"

"A cactus." Erica told her.

Hannah walked up to it and tilted her head.

"Neville gave me it."

"Why would he give you it?"

"Because he wanted to." Erica shrugged.

"You don't deserve it." Hannah shrugged.

Erica closed her eyes,"Just go away."

"I just want to see it." Hannah reached for the cactus.

"No." Erica moved it away from her.

"I said let me see." Hannah pushed her.

Erica stumbled back,"Hey!"

Hannah just waved Erica off and went to pick up the cactus. Erica panicked and hurried forward, grabbing the cactus and... Oh God... She threw it.

Hannah gasped and looked at Erica before she laughed,"Well that lasted."

Erica looked down at the cactus. The pot had smashed but the plant actually looked okay so she scooped it up.

"Have fun with that then." Hannah scoffed and walked out the room.

Erica sighed and looked down at her cactus, "Sorry, I didn't mean to throw you.."

She needed to get a new pot but she couldn't let Neville know what she had done.

"Where can I find a pot.." Erica looked around,"Who..?"

Who else to ask than another Hufflepuff? Cedric!

"Yeah... Yeah! Ced will help me." Erica hurried out of the room.

There he was, sitting down in the common room.

"Ced? I need some help." Erica walked up to him.

"Oh hey Er, what's up?" Cedric turned around to her.

"Well, there was an accident and I broke my plant pot." Erica sighed.

"Okay? Can you not buy another?" He raised a brow,"Unless- Was it important?"

"My friend got me it when he gave me this." Erica showed him the cactus.

"Oh that's cute." Cedric smiled.

"What do I do, Ced?" Erica asked him.

"Well, we can always get a new pot. I can run to the Greenhouse." Cedric nodded.

"Thanks, Ced!" Erica smiled.

"It's a cute cactus." He hummed.

"I know, I love it."

"Did you name him?" He raised a brow.

Erica nodded,"William."

"William?"

"Mhm!"

"William it is." He chuckled.

Erica smiled happily, she loved her cactus.

*********************************

After an hour or two, Erica heard a knock at the door.

"Hello?" Erica looked up.

"Hola." Cedric held up a new plant pot.

"Ced, thank you!" Erica smiled.

"Is it big enough? Small enough?"

"I'm sure it'll fit."

"Well, here you go." He handed her it in.

Erica smiled and put her cactus in the pot along with the soil she'd collected.

"So... Anyone annoying you lately?" Cedric leaned against the door.

"Of course not." Erica shook her head.

"You sure?"

"Mhm." Erica lied.

Cedric crossed his arms,"How sure?"

"Very sure."

"You know if you ever need me I'm only ever ever down the hall."

Erica nodded, looking down at her cactus. She didn't like lying to Cedric but she didn't want to constantly bug him with her problems.

"Come here." Cedric opened his arms.

Erica sat William down before running and hugging Cedric.

"Get a good night's sleep, yeah?"

"I will." She smiled.

"See you in the morning, kid." Cedric hummed and pulled away.

"Night Ced." Erica waved.

*********************************

"Merlin, how many people turned up for this?" Ron gasped.

"A lot." Harry sighed,"But that's Lockhart for you."

"I don't want to be here." Parker sighed.

"Me either." Erica grabbed her hand.

Parker tapped Erica's hand as they saw Lockhart get onto the table, along with Snape.

"Oh, now I'm interested." Erica smiled,"I hope Snape wins."

"Me too." Parker chuckled.

"Don't worry children, I shall not hurt your dear Potions master." Lockhart smiled.

Snape scoffed and raised his wand, turning away from Lockhart.

"Ready Professor?" Lockhart raised a brow at Snape.

"Readier than you, I'd bet." Snape commented.

"Three, two one-" Lockhart began, pointing his wand.

"Expelliarmus!" Snape fired a spell at Lockhart, firing him back.

Lockhart grunted as he landed, quickly getting back up and walking back to the centre.

"Just warming up." Lockhart cleared his throat,"Good one, Snape. But it was quite obvious what spell you were going to use, maybe if i-"

"Perhaps, if may make a suggestion, we should focus on teaching these students how to block unfriendly spells?" Snape raised a brow.

"Oh- Well yes. That is an excellent suggestion." Lockhart pointed before he looked for two subjects,"Potter, Weasley."

"If I may, Professor. Weasley's wand will send Potter to the Hospital Wing, no doubt. May I suggest one of my own students? Malfoy, perhaps?" Snape shrugged.

Parker looked at Snape,"Me?"

She didn't see Draco about.

"No, me." Draco smirked, pushing through Erica and Parker.

"Just barge in, why don't you." Parker muttered.

"My shoulder.." Erica rubbed her shoulder, glaring at Draco.

"Get him Harry!" Parker cheered.

"I'll try." He sighed as he stepped forward.

"Who are you placing bets on?" Parker whispered to Erica.

"Hm, I don't know. It's so hard- Harry." Erica pointed.

"Ready Potter?" Draco spat.

"You bet." Harry narrowed his eyes.

Draco smirked before he stepped forward,"Everte Statum!"

Harry flew backwards and landed with a thud, although he quickly got to his feet and aimed his wand at Dravo, "Rictusempra!"

Draco landed on the ground, giggling as the charm tickled him. Snape swiftly lifted him up and pushed him forward. Erica squinted, she could've swarn she saw Snape and Draco muttering something.

"Serpensortia!" Draco shouted, pointing the spell at Harry as a snake came from his wand, going towards Harry.

"Parker- Oh my god!" Erica grabbed her arm.

"This wasn't- Oh no." Parker jumped back.

"Don't worry! I'll get rid of it." Lockhart stepped forward.

Lockhart's spell only threw the snake in the air, it landing in front of Justin, a Hufflepuff boy.

"You get along with him?" Parker looked at Erica and moved away from the snake

"Uhm, not really." Erica shook her head,"He has a crush on Hannah though."

"Ew." Parker shivered.

When the two looked back at Harry, they saw he was speaking to the snake.

"Look he's speaking to the snake." Erica smiled,"Wait-"

"He's speaking snake." Parker blinked,"How in Merlin's name does he do that?'

"Well, that means he's parselmouth, doesn't it?" Hermione looked at him.

Parker nodded,"Surely he hasn't learned it himself... It looks like he's controlling it."

"He's so cool!" Erica smiled.

"Vipera Evanasca!" Snape pointed his wand at the snake, causing it to disappear in a small fire.

"Uh, guys? Maybe we should get Harry and go." Ron shook his head.

"Harry." Hermione grabbed him, pulling him down.

"What the hell are you playing at!" Justin pointed.

"Oh, go away Justin." Erica grabbed Harry's arm.

"Shut up, Erica." Justin glared at them before storming out.

"Since when could you do that?" Ron asked his friend as they all walked out.

"I-I, well, I let a snake out a zoo once." Harry admitted.

"You- What?" Parker blinked.

"Yeah... It was an accident." Harry sighed.

"Harry, this isn't common." Hermione told him.

"Yeah, not everyone can speak to.. Snakes..." Erica stopped.

"Let's just get out of here." Ron shook his head

"Ron- Ron!" Erica grabbed his shoulder.

"What?" Ron groaned.

"There.." Erica pointed slowly.

"What?" Ron groaned.

"There.." Erica pointed slowly.

Ron looked over where she was pointing, only to see Justin... Petrified, two teachers bringing him out on a stretcher.

"That's... It's really not good for us." Erica shook her head.

"Why are we always in the wrong place at the bloody wrong time?" Parker leaned against the wall.