Everyone was now back from break, it was still pretty chilly outside. Cortney was currently in the courtyard. She was on a bench talking to Theodore Nott.

" So Cortney," Theodore said staring at the ground.

" So Teddy," Cortney said as she also stared at the ground. It was very awkward. " About the kiss-".

" I really like you, Cortney," Theodore said interrupting her.

" I really like you too," Cortney smile looking at him. He met her gaze. He grabbed her hand.

" Ms. Cortney Lestrange, would you like to be my girlfriend? " Theodore asked.

" I would love to," Cortney answered smiling. All of a sudden Neville came running out towards the Golden Trio. " I'll be right back". She got up, pecked his cheek, and walked over to the four Gryffindors.

" Harry! I don't know did it! Come on! " Neville said in a rush. He led the four up to the second-year Gryffindor boy's dorm. Everything on Harry's side was a huge mess. Cloaks ripped, sheets thrown everywhere, pillows everywhere, contents from his trunk all around the floor. Drawers pulled out and flipped.  Papers everywhere. Hedwig seemed alright. Harry began to put everything back.

" It had to be Gryffindor," Hermione stated. " Nobody else knows our password".

" Whoever it was, they must've been looking for something," Neville said. After putting the last of Lockhart's books in his trunk he realized something.

" They found it," Harry sighed. " Tom Riddle's diary is gone". Everyone left and went their separate ways. The Golden Trio was far in front of Neville and Cortney.

" Tom Riddle? " Cortney questioned. " It sounds really familiar". Neville looked at her like she was on some sort of drug. They walked out of the common room.

" Why are you telling me this? " Neville asked as he eyes her suspiciously.

" I don't know, but it sounds oddly familiar," Cortney shrugged.

" Don't you have your mean best friend to tell these things to," Neville spat Cortney glared at him, before realizing something?

" Actually now that you mention Pansy, I do have something super important to tell her," Cortney said, taking off. She looked all over and finally found her bullying some first year from Ravenclaw.

" Leave her alone! " Cortney demanded walking towards them. Pansy turned her head, the first year took the opportunity to escape.

" You are ruining all my fun," Pansy whined, as Cortney stopped next to her. They started to walk towards the common room.

"More important things to do than bully someone," Cortney said rolling her eyes. " Anyways I have some gossip for you ".

" oh, you know how much I love gossip," Pansy said expressing the love part.

" Me and Mr. Theodore Nott decided to start dating today," Cortney spilled.  Pansy's hand flew over her mouth and she began jumping up and down happily. 

" Yay !! " She squealed removing her mouth. " Does Draco know? "

" Not yet," said Cortney. 

" It won't be that bad," Pansy said patting her back.

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

Cortney was now heading to the hospital wing with Harry, Ron, and Professor McGonagall.

" There's something you three need to see," McGonagall said with grief. She led them into the hospital wing. " I warn you, this could be a bit of a shock". She led them over to a petrified Hermione on a bed.

" Hermione ! " the three gasped.

" She was found near the library with this," McGonagall said holding up a mirror. " Does this mean anything to you ?" The three shook their head. " I will escort you to Slytherin Ms. Lestrange and you two boys to Gryffindor Tower. I need to address the students in any case ". 

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

Cortney now stood next to Pansy, leaning against the wall. Snape stood at the entrance. Everyone in Slytherin was out of the dorms, listening to Snape

" Can I have your attention, please? " Snape asked, everyone went silent. " Due to recent events...the new rules will be put into effect...immediately. And...All students will return to their house common rooms by six o'clock...every evening...All students will be escorted to every lesson....by a teacher....No exceptions ". Everyone looked at each other with wide eyes. " I should tell you this...unless the culprit behind these attacks...is caught, it is likely the school will be....closed". With a swish of his black cloak, Snape was gone. Everyone went into their dorms besides Cortney. A few minutes later, she slipped out. It was dark, soon she turned into her fox form and sneaked down to Hagrid's hut. At his door, she changed back to her human form. 

" Hagrid," Cortney called as she knocked on the door. He opened the door and let her in. He began to make a cup of tea when another knock came to the door, but no voice. Hagrid grabbed his crossbow and walked over to the door. Fang let out a bark.

" Who's there? " Hagrid said kicking open his door.

" What is that for ? " demanded Harry removing the Invisibility cloak. Ron was with him.

" Oh nothing, was excepting.....It doesn't matter. Come in! Just made a pot of tea! " Hagrid said. The two boys were surprised to see Cortney there. He began to pour tea, he was shaking, and tea started to overflow.

" Hagrid are you okay? " Cortney asked.

" I'm fine. Alright," Hagrid said as she stopped pouring tea.

" Did you hear about Hermione? " Harry asked.

" Oh yeah, I heard about that alright," He nodded.

" Look we have something to ask you," Harry began. " Do you know who opened the Chamber of Secrets? "

" What you have to understand about that--" Hagrid was cut off by a knock at the door. " Quick under the cloak," Hagrid whispered. " Don't say a word, be quiet! " He hissed. Harry threw the cloak over him, Ron, and Cortney. He then opened the door. " Professor Dumbledore Sir ! "

" Good evening Hagrid, I wonder....could we? " Professor Dumbledore greeted.

" Of course, come in, come in," Hagrid said. Dumbledore walked in with some man.

" That's dad's boss! Cornelius Fudge. Minister of Magic" whispered Ron.

" Bad business Hagrid very bad," said Fudge. " Had to come; three attacks on Muggleborns these have gone too far. The Ministry's got to act! "

" I'd never! You know I'd never! Professor! " Hagrid panic.

" I want it understood Cornelius, that Hagrid has my full coincidence," Dumbledore informed.

" Albus, look Hagrid's record is against him. I've got to take him," Fudge insisted.

" Take me? Take me where? Not Azkaban Prison ! " gasped Hagrid, backing into a table.

" I'm afraid I have no choice," Fudge said. The door swung open revealing Lucious Malfoy, he walked into the house. Cortney froze.

" Already here, Fudge? Good," Mr. Malfoy smirked.

" What're you doing here? Get outta me house !? " Hagrid roared.

" Believe me I take no pleasure being inside your---" Lucius said as he began to walk around the house, observing it.  He walked towards the three under the cloak, they had to back up. " You call this a house? " He then turned to Dumbledore and the other adults. " I see headmaster is here ".

" And what exactly is it that you want with me? " Dumbledore asked.

" The governors and I decided it's time for you to step aside. This is an Order of Suspension." Mr. Malfoy said holding up a scroll. " You'll find all twelve signatures on it". He handed it to Dumbledore. " I'm afraid we feel you you've rather lost your touch with all these attacks". He turned back towards the people under the cloak. " There'll be no Muggleborns left at Hogwarts. But I can only imagine what an awful loss that would be to the school". His voice was full of sarcasm.

" You can't take Professor Dumbledore away. Take him away the Muggleborns won't stand a chance ! " argued Hagrid. " Mark me words, there will be killings next! "

" You think so? " Mr. Malfoy smirked.

" Calm yourself Hagrid. If the governors desire for my removal, I will of course step aside," began Dumbledore. " However, you'' find that help will be given at Hogwarts to those that deserve it ". He winked at the children under the cloak behind Mr. Malfoy. Lucius turned around, looking super confused. 

" We should leave Minister, shall we? " Lucious suggested. The adults began to file out of the room.

" Come on Hagrid," Fudge ordered. Hagrid took one last look at his house.

" If anybody is looking for some stuff then all they'd have to do would be follow the spiders. Yup, that'll lead 'em right. That's all I have to say. Oh and somebody will have to feed Fang while I am gone," Hagrid advised. The two adults walked out of the house closing the door. The kids threw off the cloak.

" Hagrid's right, with Dumbledore gone, there'll be an attack a day! " Ron said.

" Look," Cortney said pointing at spiders crawling out the window in a line.

" Come on! " Harry exclaimed grabbing a lantern.

" Come on Fang! " Cortney called walking out, Fang followed her. Harry looked at Ron.

" What? " Ron asked.

" You heard what Hagrid said; follow the spiders," Harry repeated. The two boys hurried out of the house and began to follow the spiders.

" They are heading towards the Dark Forest ! " gasped Ron. They started to walk towards the Dark Forest. " Why spiders? Why couldn't it be follow the butterflies? " Ron whined. They went deeper into the Forest. " Harry I don't like this! I don't like this at all! " Harry shushed him. " Can we go back now? "

" Come on! Honestly are you in Gryffindor or not! " Harry snapped, this shut Ron up. They walked into a giant place filled with spiders.

" Who is it? "  There was a giant boom sound. " Hagrid is that you? " The figure was now in front of them. It was a huge, giant spider!

" We're friends of Hagrid," Harry answered. The spider had long hairy legs, two close to his front. He has big shiny pincers, a whole bunch of eyes. " Y-you are Aragog aren't you? "

" Yes, Hagrid has never sent men before," said Aragog.

" He's in trouble! Up at the school, there's been attacks! They think it's Hagrid. They think he opened the Chamber of Secrets, like before," informed Harry.

" That's a lie! Hagrid never opened the Chamber of Secrets! " Aragog said. Cortney looked up and began to twirl her hair nervously.

" Then you're not the monster? " Harry asked.

" No. The monster was born inside the castle. I came to Hagrid from a distant land. In a pocket of a traveler," explained Aragog.

" Harry," Ron whined tugging his sleeve. Harry shushed him.

" But if you're not the monster, then what killed the girl fifty years ago ?" asked Harry.

" We do not speak of it! It's a name we spiders fear all above," explained Aragog.

" Have you seen it ? " asked Harry.

" I never saw any part of the castle, but the box, in which Hagrid kept me in," Aragog said. " The girl was discovered in a bathroom when I was accused. Hagrid brought me here".

" Harry," Ron whined again.

" What !? "He snapped. Rom pointed up. Above them were a thousand spiders descending towards them.

" Thank you, we'll just go," Harry said as they began to back up.

" Go ? " asked Aragog. " I think not, my sons and daughters do not harm Hagrid on my command. But I cannot deny them fresh meat when it wanders so willingly into our mists".  There was a moment of silence. " Goodbye friends of Hagrid". The spiders began to circle around them.

" Can we panic now? " Ron asked.

" Do you know any spells? " Cortney asked.

" One, but it's not powerful enough," Harry said as ll three pulled out their wands. All of a sudden light interrupted the darkness. They looked and saw that it was Weasly's car! It was plowing through the spiders, making them go flying, their legs flying helplessly through the air. The car screeched to a stop. The four immediately got into the car. Cortney and Fang sat in the back. While Ron took the driver's seat, and Harry took the passenger.  A spider broke through the window and began to strangle Ron. He began screaming. Harry whipped out his wand.

" Arania Exomia!" Harry shouted. The spell blasted the spider off.

" Thanks," breathed Ron. 

" Drive! " Cortney shrieked. Ron nodded and sped away from the scene. They tried to get the car in the air but the stick was stuck. Eventually, it got jammed, and the car went into the air. Cortney gripped her seat, so tightly her knuckles turned white. The car landed harshly on the ground. All the creatures scrambled out of the car before the car drove away. Fang retreated to Hagrid's hut.

" Follow the spiders! Follow the spiders! If Hagrid ever gets out of Azkaban I'll kill him! " Ron exclaimed with anger. " I mean what was the point of sending us into there? What have we found? " 

" We know one thing," Harry began. " Hagrid never opened the Chambers of Secrets. He was innocent ". All three walked up to the castle and went to their common rooms. Cortney was just ten feet away when.

" Ms. Lestrange," said a cold monotone voice. Professor Snape stepped in front of her. He was very angry. " Where have you been? You know the new rules! The fifteenth point from Slytherin! I don't want you here again at this time of night! You will receive detention! " Cortney sulked into the common room and up to her dorm. She laid her head on her pillow and laid with her eyes open. She could not sleep with all this information she just learned. Thus was going to be one long night.