A/N: I dedicate this chapter to all my friends on our group account (shown above) as they demonstrate the perfect example of friendship, which will be seen later on in this chapter! Also, their stories are amazing, so go check them out!! 

I stared, astonished, at the three of them. This wasn't supposed to happen. They weren't supposed to be here. Rebecca and Reyna had checked to find a suitable place for us. But what were they doing here in the first place? Surely it would be more embarassing for them to be caught here than us? I opened my mouth in shock.

"What are you four doing here?" Hermione spoke out harshly.

I jumped back in surprise. Sure, Ginny had told me about her from Ron, but I underestimated how bossy and firm she actually sounded. I felt Donna step back behind me, which didn't help her, as she was at least half a foot taller than me.

Suddenly, Rebecca and Reyna burst out laughing. I shot them a questioning glance. They quickly stopped their fit of laughter having received my look. "We just realised," they said whilst looking at each other, "that while it is a coincidence us meeting each other here, don't you realise something? Briar is sort of the equivalent of Harry? Donna, of Ron. And us two of Hermione?"

Harry, Hermione and Ron looked blankly at each other. That wasn't surprising as they barely knew us. However, the twins' comment made me realise the similarites in both our groups, making me give out an unintentional smile.

"What's that you've got there?" Donna asked, making us all jump in surprise.

Hermione looked over at the implied object, giving out a sign of recognition. "It's a cauldron," she stated matter of factly.

Reyna laughed. "Hermione, we won't tell anyone if you don't tattle on us."

Hermione pondered. "Look, you four just mind your business, and we'll mind ours. I suspect both of us are doing something secret in a way, but let's forget that and us bumping into each other. I think that'll be fine, right?"

Harry and Ron looked obediently at Hermione, nodding in agreement.

"Sure," I answered.

Harry and Ron shifted uncomfortably. "Well as long as none of you lot blabber on about this, I think it'll be fine," Ron said, looking at Hermione for approval.

Hermione nodded. "Yes. Now do you mind if we come in here?" she asked, using her hands for emphasis.

"Not at all, feel free," Reyna replied as she walked towards the door, "Oh, and Harry?"

"Yeah?" Harry questioned.

"We don't think it was you who opened the Chamber of Secrets," Rebecca answered with a smile.

Harry brightened up instantly. "Really? Thank you, it really wasn't me," he said earnestly.

I gave them all a quick, brief nod before heading out with the rest of the girls.

***

"Ginny?" I asked as I entered my dormitory.

"Hi Briar," Ginny greeted back.

As I looked closer, I saw what seemed to be a diary lying on her bed. "Wait? You have a diary? Since when?"

Ginny looked down. "Oh, um, it's nothing interesting. I just decided to write in it to let out some of my feelings, you know?" Ginny replied hastily.

"Oh."

"Briar?" 

"Yeah?"

Ginny gulped. "Now, don't think of this question weirdly or anything, but who do you think opened the chamber of secrets?"

Why would Ginny ask me that, of all times? That had happened a week ago. Unless... of course. Ever since Mrs Norris' incident, Ginny had acted strangely. She was quite fond of her, plus, the added confusion of Harry Potter opening the chamber of secrets could have made her feel worse. Maybe this was just Ginny being scared and lonely. Maybe she wasn't "plotting" anything after all.

"I'm not sure. Who do you think it was?" I asked her.

"I-I don't know either."

I slowly walked over  to Ginny's bed. The bed creaked slightly from the added weight. I looked over at Ginny, who's figure was trembling. Her mouth quivered slightly. "I just, I don't know anymore."

I cautiously wrapped my arms around Ginny's frail body. Her pale complexion stood out amongst her darkening eyes, which I had only noticed now that I was directly in front of her. How did I not see this before? This whole plot of following Ginny should never happened. There was no need for it anymore anyway - I had seen enough.

"I'm so sorry! I feel like I'm failing everyone!" Ginny sobbed. Her cries were muffled by my shoulder and she continued weeping onto them.

"Ginny, you're not a failure. In fact it's me, Donna and everyone else who failed you. We should have checked up on you to make sure you were okay. Plus, you were the one who checked up on me at the hospital wing," I reassured her.

Ginny sniffed before raising her head up. She gave me a tearful smile. "Thank you, Briar. I needed that, especially with everything going on right now."

I carefully got off Ginny's bed. "That's fine. Remember, if you need anyone, Donna, me, and even the twins are always here for you."

Ginny nodded. "I know."

I grinned. "Hey Ginny?"

"Yeah?"

"Did you hear about McGonagall's new boyfriend?"

***

It was now December and Christmas was looming ever so nearer. The whole castle had settled into the festive mood from Hagrid bringing in the trees, to Professor Flitwick tiny figure decorating them. The Great Hall was now beautifully filled with real-life ice snow figures and it was completely normal for a house table to belt out into a Christmas song. The ceiling was also filled with snow drops nearly every day. The only thing that hadn't really changed were the lessons, but that was to be expected anyway.

I was now seated at the Great Hall once again alongside Ginny and Donna. We were currently talking about who the heir of Slytherin might be.

"I for one, definitely think it's Malfoy. I mean, look at him! He just brags off to everyone around him!" Donna exclaimed through a mouthful of potatoes.

"Yeah, but he does that all the time. Also, none of us are muggleborn, so we have less of a chance to get petrified," I added in.

"Briar, have you forgotten that we're both classified as 'blood traitors'? We basically are valued the same as muggleborns, if not, worse," Ginny spoke glumly.

"To be honest, it could actually be anyone at this point," Donna spoke out encouragingly.

I gave Donna a thankful smile, receiving a wink in return.

We carried on finishing our dinner, leaving us to head begrudgingly back to our pile of homework waiting for us at our dormitories. Ginny nudged my shoulder. "What are Ron, Hermione and Harry doing?"

I glanced over at the trio, who were discussing rapidly, further on at the Gryffindor table. They kept sneaking a look over at the Slytherin table every now and then, their faces full of worry.

Donna and I looked over at each other, coming to a silent agreement. Whatever it was, it had to do with our incident at the girls' toilet. 

Ginny's eyes wandered suspiciously from us to Harry, Ron and Hermione. However, we were soon interrupted by Reyna and Rebecca.

"Hi!" they chirped simultaneously. 

I sighed. Things had been awkward between the four of us after our plot against Ginny. When I had said to stop the plot, I didn't really get the chance to as they kept avoiding me. But on the other hand, we hadn't done anything to reinforce it either.

"Hey!" Ginny said, looking over at Donna and I quizzically at our lack of communication.

"Oh, um hi!"

"Hello!" Donna stuttered.

"So we wanted to talk to you guys personally, as we are friends now, aren't we?" Rebecca said carelessly.

Ginny, Donna and I became silent.

Reyna nodded. "Yes. We've been investigating a lot lately and we think we know who the heir of the chamber of secrets is.

"I don't think we want to know anymore. Dumbledore's going to find out who opened it anyway,  there's no need to go faffing about for nothing," I stated firmly.

I was starting to get a bit tired and annoyed at the Reyna and Rebecca's plans', whether they were to help or not. Why couldn't they just leave the investigating up to Harry, Ron and Hermione?

The twins' eyebrows shot up instantly. They looked over at Ginny, Donna and I one by one in shock. Rebecca shrugged. "If that's what you want, fine then. Sue us for trying to not get Hogwarts closed." She looked over at us challengingly, daring one of us to speak.

That comment made me stiffen. I wasn't helping because I didn't want to help Hogwarts, but because it hadn't come to anything serious as of yet. Plus, with Christmas around the corner, everyone's moods had gone up again. I wasn't planning on the twins' ruining Ginny's, Donna's or my spirits.

"No one asked us to do anything so don't have to. By all means, you two do whatever you want, just don't involve us in it," Donna responded, heightening her frame.

All of a sudden, Ginny grabbed both mine and Donna's hands, dragging us over to the staircase. "We'll talk about this later at the dormitory," Ginny yelled across the masses of students.

I just caught a glimpse of one of the twins rolling their eyes before I was whisked off into the sea of students.