Harry is walking down the corridor wearing his Quidditch outfit, accompanied by the rest of the team: Oliver Wood, Fred, George, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, and Katie Bell.

Oliver: I spent the summer devising a whole new Quidditch program. We are going to train earlier, harder, and longer.

Oliver glances to his left, and the rest of the team follows his gaze.

Oliver: What...? I don't believe it.

Stepping out into the courtyard, they come across the Slytherin Quidditch team, also dressed for Quidditch, as Ron, Matthew, and Hermione are sitting nearby; Oliver directs his attention to the team's captain, Marcus Flint.

Oliver: Where do you think you're going, Flint?

Marcus: Quidditch practice.

Oliver: I booked the pitch for Gryffindor today.

Marcus: Easy, Wood. I've got a note.

Marcus holds out a rolled-up scroll; Wood takes it and opens it.

Ron: Uh-oh. I smell trouble.

Ron, Matthew, and Hermione get up and walk towards the two teams.

Oliver: [reading the parchment] I, Professor Severus Snape, do hereby give the Slytherin team permission to practice today, owing to the need to train their new Seeker." [looks up from the parchment] You've got a new Seeker, who?

Marcus steps aside, and Draco steps out towards the Gryffindor team members. Harry was amazed that his nemesis was now a member of the Slytherin Quidditch team.

Harry: Malfoy?

Draco: That's right. And that's not all that's new this year.

Draco puts his broom at his side; Harry, Ron, Matthew, Hermione, and the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team examine the brooms Draco and the rest of the Slytherin team are holding.

Ron: Those are Nimbus 2001s. How did you get those?

Marcus: A gift from Draco's father.

Draco: You see, Weasley, unlike some, my father can afford the best.

Hermione: At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in. They got in on pure talent.

Draco glares at her in annoyance as he takes a few steps and stops only at arm's length in front of her.

Draco: No one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood.

Hermione glares at him, offended by the remark, as Draco sneers.

Ron: You'll pay for that one, Malfoy!

Ron takes out his wand and aims it at Draco.

Ron: Eat slugs!

Matthew: Ron, don't-!

Ron chanted the spell... But it ended up backfired. Blasting him off backward and onto the ground.

Harry, Matthew, and Hermione immediately rush to his side.

Hermione: You okay, Ron? Say something!

Ron opens his mouth as if to say something, but instead, he spits out a slug.

Colin starts taking pictures of Ron.

Colin: Wow! Can you turn him around, Harry?

Harry: No, Colin! Get out of the way.

Harry and Hermione help Ron to his feet.

Harry: Let's take him to Hagrid.

Ron regurgitates another slug.

Harry: He'll know what to do.

The three of them rush off to Hagrid's while the Slytherins laugh at them. Matthew narrows his eyes at Draco and the other Slytherins.

Matthew looks at Neville and Seamus, then slowly looks at the mud, slowly getting a light bulb.

Matthew: Perfect.

He walks away from the scene to get his recruits for his plan. At Hagrid's house, Hagrid walks up to Ron with a bucket as Harry and Hermione sit on either side of him.

Hagrid: This calls for a specialist's equipment. [Ron takes the bucket as Hagrid sits down] Nothing to do but wait till it stops, I'm afraid. [Ron throws up another slug] Better out than in. Who was Ron trying to curse, anyway?

Harry: Malfoy. He called Hermione...

Harry and Ron glance at her; she is still very hurt.

Harry: Well, I don't... I don't know exactly what it means.

Hermione still upset, gets up and folds her arms as she walks away from her friends.

Hermione: He called me a Mudblood.

Hagrid: [gasps in shock] He did not!

Harry: What's a Mudblood?

Hermione: [spinning around to face him] It means "dirty blood". Mudblood's a foul name for someone who is muggle-born, someone with non-magic parents, someone like me. It's not a term one usually hears in civilized conversation. [sits on the edge of the bench]

Hagrid: See, the thing is, Harry, there are some wizards, like the Malfoy family, who think they're better than everyone else because they're what people call pure blood.

Harry: [appalled by this] That's horrible.

Ron coughs up another slug; Hermione glances at him.

Ron: It's disgusting.

Hagrid: And it's codswallop to boot. Dirty blood... Why, there isn't a wizard alive today that's not half-blood or less. More to the point, they've yet to think of a spell that our Hermione can't do. Come here.

Hermione smiles and walks to him.

Hagrid: Don't you think about it, Hermione. Don't you think about it for one minute? Hey?

Hermione, despite the tears in her eyes, dons a smile.

Matthew: [comes in] He's right. Hagrid, where's the sink?

Hagrid: To your left.

Matthew: Thank you.

Then, Hagrid, Harry, Hermione, and Ron see Matthew covered in mud stains.

Hagrid: Blimey. What in Merlin's beard happened to you?

Matthew: Well...

[Flashback]

Just below the training Slytherins, Matthew, Neville, and Seamus sneakily walk onto the Quidditch pitch.

Matthew: Okay guys, we all know what to do, right?

Neville: I don't know, Matt. We might get in trouble for this.

Seamus: I mean, Malfoy did disrespect Hermione from what he said.

Matthew: Look, it's simple.

Matthew opened his notebook and told them the plan.

Matthew: We'll be at the very top of where the Slytherin team is at, we'll be dumping mud on them as payback for what Malfoy said to her. Though we gotta time that right, as the moment they change spots would be difficult, we need to wait until the moment they head to a permanent spot.

Matthew gave them buckets full of mud.

Matthew: Once we are positioned, we'll wait at the right time and moment to dump the mud onto them.

Seamus: Right.

Neville: Ok.

Matthew: In positions.

They go to the spot that Matthew pointed at.

Matthew: Ok. Wait for it.

They hold the mud buckets closely to watch the Slytherin team.

Draco is about to try and catch the golden snitch, Goyle, Crabbe, Exie and Pansy among other Slytherin students cheer him on.

Slytherin: Draco! Draco! Draco!

Matthew: Now!

Just when Draco has a couple of seconds to catch the snitch a ball of mud hits him in the side of the head, moments later a barrage of mud balls hit the Slytherin Quidditch team and the Slytherin students. They groan in disgust to be hit by mud.

Matthew: Bullseye!

Neville and Seamus laugh at the Slytherin's misfortune. The boys climbed down.

Matthew: Told you guys, when you stick by me, I'll get us out of any mess.

Seamus: We should them.

Neville: Uh, guys?

Matthew: Yeah. I added raw sewage small in the mud.

Neville: Guys?

Seamus: They are going to smell stinky for like, weeks, months maybe.

Neville: Guys?

Matthew: What Neville?

He points as they turn, and is shocked to see Pansy glaring at them.

Matthew: Uh-oh.

Pansy: HEY EVERYONE, I FOUND THE MUD THROWERS!

Draco and the other Slytherins arrived behind Pansy.

Draco: You're a dead, Stutler!

The Slytherin house aimed the trio with their wands.

Seamus: We're doomed.

Neville: I told you we'll get in trouble!

Matthew: Wait, before you curse us, I have one thing to say.[picks up mud] Mudball fight!

He quickly throws it at the Slytherin, prompting them to do the same. Oliver Wood, Fred, George, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, and Katie Bell arrived as watched their fellow Gryffindor students in a Muball fight against the Slytherin house. They decided to help Matthew, Seamus, and Neville too.

Matthew throws a mud ball at her which splatters on the top of her head and ruins her hair, she stops flabbergasted.

Matthew: How, how do you like that, diva!?

Pansy: [triggered] I'M GONNA KILL YOU!

Matthew: [gulps]

Pansy manages to tackle Matthew before trying to hit him, but they end up wrestling in the mud. Surrounding them are most of the other houses, and as the Quidditch team recovers, into the courtyard comes Professor McGonagall, thankfully she's still behind a wall of students.

Matthew: Oh, no! Professor McGonagall is coming! Run!

They quickly scatter before they get spotted.

Pansy: Oh no, you're not!

Pansy gets up and chases after Matthew. Most of the separate houses manage to get out except Matthew.

Matthew: Let me go!

Pansy was pinning Matthew to the ground.

Pansy: Fat chance, Stutler!

Matthew tries to reach for his pocket to get his wand, but Pansy puts her hand in it to stop him.

Pansy: Not getting out of it, that easily!

Professor McGonagall: [almost here] What's with all the ruckus?

Pansy smirks as she slowly breathes in, fearing Matthew as he knows what she's going to do next.

Pansy: Professor McGonagall! I -MPH?!

Matthew quickly grabs Pansy by the sides of her head and forcefully pulls her down until unexpectedly happens.

The young sorcerer kissed her on the lips, shocking her. As Matthew looked at Pansy he was in shock, the girl who had been a pain in his side since day one, and his lips were on hers.

Pansy was equally shocked, the last boy on Earth she ever thought she would be interested in was kissing her. And surprisingly it wasn't as disgusting as she thought.

Both slowly close their eyes as they never expected to have these same feelings before. Matthew becomes lost for a moment and after a couple of seconds he realizes what he's doing using this opportunity, he takes her hand out of his pocket and then escapes, leaving the Slytherin princess lost for words.

Professor McGonagall: What is going on here?

Pansy slowly placed her finger on her lip, as she couldn't either accept or deny what happened.

[End of Flashback]

Matthew: So, yeah, I taught Malfoy a lesson when you messed with my friends.

Hermione smiles, as she goes to hug him, she remembers his clothes are covered in mud and extends a handshake. Matthew smiles before shaking her hand.

Ron: [after vomiting what seems to be the last slug] Aren't we going to talk about you kissing Pan-

Matthew: NO!

Later that evening, Harry is doing his detention with Lockhart.

Lockhart: Harry, Harry, Harry. Can you possibly imagine a better way to serve detention than by helping me to answer my fan mail?

Harry: Not really.

Lockhart: Fame is a fickle friend, Harry. Celebrity is as celebrity does. Remember that.

As Lockhart picks up another fan letter, Harry begins to hear an ominous, inhuman voice.

Ominous Voice: Come... [Harry looks up] Come... come to me... come to me...

Harry: What?

Lockhart: [looking up] Sorry? [glances at Harry]

Harry: That voice.

Lockhart: Voice?

Harry: Did you hear it?

Lockhart: What are you talking about, Harry? I think you're getting a bit... uh, drowsy. And great Scot! No wonder. Look at the time, we've been here nearly four hours. Spooky how the time flies when one's having fun. [chuckles]

Harry glances up, still thinking about the creepy voice he just heard.

Harry: Spooky.

Harry is walking into the corridor when he suddenly hears the ominous voice again.

Ominous Voice: Blood. I smell blood. Let me rip you... Let me kill you. Kill... kill... kill!

Matthew: Harry.

Harry: Huh? Oh, hey Matthew.

Matthew: What are you doing?

Harry: Matthew, did you ever hear that voice?

Hermione and Ron just appear out of nowhere.

Hermione: Harry...

Harry: Did you hear it?

Ron: [concerned and confused] Hear what?

Harry: That voice.

Hermione: [getting concerned as well] Voice? What voice?

Harry: I heard it first in Lockhart's office, and then, again, just-- [he hears the voice once more]

Ominous Voice: It's time.

Harry: [getting tense] It's moving. I think it's going to kill.

Ron: [as Harry runs past them down the corridor] "Kill"?

Hermione: [she, Matthew, and Ron run after him] Harry, wait! Not so fast!

Harry stops in the middle of the corridor, then looks down to see the floor is wet before walking to the right. Ron, Matthew, and Hermione run to catch up with him; they stop abruptly as they see numerous spiders scurrying away through a crack in the window.

Harry: Strange... I've never seen spiders act like that.

Matthew: Me neither.

Ron: I don't like spiders. [they then glance at something else on the floor] What's that?

They gaze at a puddle of water, where they can see what appears to be bloody writing, then look up at the wall to see foreboding words written in blood which Hermione reads.

Hermione: "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir, beware." It's written in blood.

Harry: [looks to the left] Oh, no.

Hermione follows Harry's gaze and gasps when she sees what he is seeing; he walks toward a torch on the wall, tied to the torch is Mrs. Norris, frozen and seemingly scared by something.

Harry: It's Filch's cat. It's Mrs. Norris.

Behind them, Percy walks into the corridor, leading the other Gryffindor house students. Soon enough, the corridor fills with students, who gaze at the bloody writing, and Mrs. Norris, Madame Pomfrey expresses horror and shock; Colin gets his camera ready, but Percy stops him.

Draco: "Enemies of the Heir, beware." [glances at the Gryffindor house students] You'll be next, Mudbloods.

Matthew clenches his fists as he glares at Draco. Ron scowls and glares at him.

Matthew: I think I see some mud in your hair, Maldork.

Draco glares at Matthew.

Filch: What's going on here? [pushing his way through the crowd] Go on, make way, make way. [glares at Harry] Potter... what are you...? [gazes past Harry at the frozen form of his cat and trembles] Mrs. Norris? [glares at Harry again] You murdered my cat.

Harry: No. No.

Filch: [as Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle grin] I'll kill you. [smiles wickedly at Harry then grabs him by the shirt] I'll kill you!

Suddenly, a fireball was cast near Flich that stopped him.

He turned and saw Matthew with his hand out, steaming.

Matthew: Leave him alone.

Filch lets go of Harry.

Dumbledore: Argus?

The students step aside as Professors Dumbledore, Balthazar, McGonagall, and Snape arrive on the scene.

Dumbledore: Argus, I... [he glances at the writing on the wall] Everyone will proceed to their dormitories immediately.

The students turn to leave; Harry, Ron, Matthew, and Hermione follow.

Dumbledore: Everyone except [Harry, Ron, Matthew, and Hermione stop] you four.

They turn to face him.

Ravenclaw Prefect: [the other students all depart] Ravenclaws, follow me.

Dumbledore: She's not dead, Argus.

Filch trembles, presumably from relief and confusion.

Dumbledore: She has been petrified.

Lockhart: Ah. Thought so. So unlucky I wasn't there. I know exactly the countercurse that could've spared her.

Dumbledore: [smiles and nods] But how she has been petrified I cannot say.

Filch: [gesturing towards Harry] Ask him. It's him that has done it. You saw what he wrote on the wall.

Harry: It's not true, sir. I swear. I never touched Mrs. Norris.

Filch: Rubbish.

Snape: If I might, headmaster. Perhaps Potter and his friends were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, the circumstances are suspicious. I for one don't recall seeing Potter at dinner.

Lockhart: I'm afraid that's my doing, Severus. You see, Harry was helping me answer my fan mail.

Hermione: That's why Ron, Matthew, and I went looking for him, Professor. We just found him when he said... [looks at Harry]

Snape: Yes, Ms. Granger?

Harry: When I said I wasn't hungry.

Snape turns towards him.

Harry: We were heading back to the common room when we found Mrs. Norris.

Ron and Matthew nodded; Snape turned towards Professor Dumbledore.

Dumbledore: Innocent until proven guilty, Severus.

Filch: My cat has been petrified. I want to see some punishment!

Balthazar: One more word out of you...

He flinches to see Balthazar behind with his arms crossed.

Balthazar: And I'll show you some punishment. Painfully.

He slowly raises his hand, moving his fingers as a magic aura slowly forms around the palm.

Dumbledore: We will be able to cure her, Argus. As I understand it, Madame Sprout has a very healthy growth of Mandrakes. When matured, a potion will be made, which will revive Mrs. Norris. [Filch trembles] And in the meantime, I strongly recommend caution... to all.

Harry, Ron, Matthew, and Hermione nod. Moments later, they are walking along the Grand Staircase, as the numerous staircases change.

Hermione: [as they ascend the stairs] It's a bit strange isn't it?

Harry: "Strange"?

Hermione: [turns to face him] You hear this voice, a voice only you can hear, and then Mrs. Norris turns up petrified. It's just... strange.

Harry: You think I should've told them, Dumbledore and the others, I mean?

Ron: Are you mad?

Hermione: No, Harry. Even in the wizarding world, hearing voices isn't a good sign. [turns and walks along]

Man in Painting: She's right, you know.

Harry, Matthew, and Ron glance at him, then walk along.

Matthew: If what you said is a bad sign, that means something bad will happen.

At Transfiguration class the next day.

Professor McGonagall: Could I have your attention, please? Right. Now, today, we will be transforming animals into water goblets. Like so

Professor McGonagall turns to a bird resting on a post to her right, tapping it with her wand as she speaks.

Professor McGonagall: One, two, three, Vera Verto.

A stream of magic emits from her wand, and the bird becomes a goblet; the other students express amazement.

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;

Harry, Matthew, and some of the other students grin and laugh.

Professor McGonagall: [as Ron picks up the Scabbers-goblet] That wand needs replacing, Mr. Weasley. Mr. Stutler, your turn.

Matthew: Alright, wish me luck.

Matthew waves his wand three times.

Matthew: Vera Verto.

He waves his wand and taps it. The bird turns into a goblet.

Matthew: Hm, well that's good.

Hermione raises her hand.

Professor McGonagall: Yes, Ms. Granger?

Hermione: Professor, I was wondering if you could tell us about the Chamber of Secrets.

Draco gives Hermione a surprised look. Professor McGonagall glanced around the room and saw that the students looked somewhat interested.

Professor McGonagall: 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.

Ron: [turns to Harry] Three guesses who.

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.

Professor McGonagall: 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. Well, shortly before departing, he sealed it, until that time when his 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.

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]

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.

Matthew: [nervous/afraid] Monster?

Professor McGonagall nods as Hermione feels a sense of dread at these words; a horrified Ron turns around to look at Draco, who grins smugly at him.

Professor McGonagall: But...

They all looked.

Professor McGonagall: There was one man, a sorcerer who changed it all.

Matthew: Who?

Professor McGonagall: One who was once known as the Sorcerer of Good and Light, Merlin.

Ron: Merlin?

Professor McGonagall: Yes, as he is the most important sorcerer who ever stepped into the world of magic, he is what helped Hogwarts to what it is now.

Students: [murmuring]

Matthew: Whoa, never knew how important Merlin was here.

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.

Matthew: But... what about Merlin? Can he control it too?

Professor McGonagall: He can only ward it off, to keep it stable for the time being.

Later, Harry, Hermione, Matthew, and Ron walk down the corridor.

Ron: 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.

Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle walk down the corridor behind them.

Harry: But if there is a Chamber of Secrets, and it has been opened, then that means...

Hermione: The Heir of Slytherin has returned to Hogwarts. The question is, who is it?

Draco and Goyle walk past them, with Crabbe running to keep up.

Matthew: 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?

Harry: 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. 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.

Matthew: Whatever this leads us, will show us the answers afterward.

End of Chapter 15