"May I have your attention, please?" said Professor McGonagall's voice. 

We were having Transfiguration Class first thing the next morning after the Mrs. Norris incident from last night. I immediately looked up at her with rapt attention. 

"Now today, we are going to be turning animals . . . . into water goblets." We were impressed, but it wasn't terribly interesting — until she did the demonstration. "Like so: one, two, three, Vera Verto." 

At once, the crow that stood on its perch turned itself into a water goblet. But not just any water goblet. A golden goblet. Of course, we were all very impressed and began exclaiming with amazement and awe. I'd never seen any of the students in Professor McGonagall's class look so focused and amazed. Professor McGonagall just smiled slightly, loving the amused looking on our faces. 

"Now. Who would like to go first?" Ron immediately raised his hand, looking eager. "Ah. Mr. Weasley. Repeat after me — one, two, three: Vera Verto."

Ron nodded and counted in his head before finally —

"Vera Verto!" 

Sparks flew from his wand and immediately, his rat turned into a short, furry goblet. Ron looked horrified and gently picked his rat up, examining it. Professor McGonagall tutting at him, looking a bit sympathetic.

"That wand needs new replacing, Mr. Weasley."

Ron nodded, knowing exactly that he needed his wand replaced by the end of next year. Finally Hermione, who sat right next to Ron (and I sat next to Harry). I'd assumed that she was going to ask to be next, but her question surprised me. 

"Yes, Miss Granger?" 

"Professor, I was wondering if you could tell us about the Chamber of Secrets?" 

At once, everyone had their full attention on Professor McGonagall. Tension began to feel noticeable within the room. With everyone staring at her expectantly, Professor McGonagall knew that she could not back down.

"Very well," she finally answered, and she set her wand down. "As you all know, Hogwarts has been founded by the four greatest witches and wizards of the age: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. Three of the founders coexisted together, forming the school.  One did not." 

"Three, guesses who," Ron muttered to Hermione from across the row from me and Harry. Professor McGonagall gave Ron a brief glare before continuing. 

"Salazar Slytherin wished for the school to be more selective in the young witches and wizards. He believed that each family should be all-magic families Otherwise known as Pure-Bloods. Unable to persuade the others, he decided to leave the school. Now, according to legend, Slytherin had built a hidden chamber within the castle, known as the Chamber of Secrets. Though shortly before departing, he sealed it. Until his own true heir returns to the school. The heir, alone, will be able to open the Chamber and unleash the horrors, and by so doing, purge the school in all those who . . . . are not worthy of studying magic." 

"Muggle-borns and Blood Traitors," I murmured sadly, my voice barely above a whisper. 

Professor McGonagall nodded, pointing her wand at me, letting me know that I had got the right answer. She then continued on.

"Naturally, of course, the school has been searched many times. But no such Chamber has been found."

"Professor?" I couldn't help but ask. "What exactly does the legend tell us of what lies beneath the chamber?" 

Professor McGonagall took in a deep breath, not really thrilled that we were all interested in such a dangerous story. 

"The Chamber is said to be a home of something that only the heir of Slytherin can control. It is said to be the home . . . . . of a monster." 

Harry's reaction startled me. He'd been paying attention to Professor McGonagall, but he looked very tense. As if he knew something that we didn't. What was even more startling was his reaction to whenever Professor McGonagall told us of the legendary monster that hid somewhere inside the school. His knee underneath the desk jumped, as though he was having a spasm. He kept his head down, and I could see a faint blush creeping up his cheeks. And that immediately got me thinking: Did Harry know something that we didn't? And was it dangerous? 

I felt my body tense. I glanced over at Ron, who was looking over at Malfoy with a horrified look on his face. Of course, Malfoy gave him his signature smirk in return. He looked pleased that the Slytherin monster, whatever it was, is terrifying the entire school — except for Pure-Bloods. And I knew, at some point, the monster would try to go after me, meaning that the creature would most certainly kill me before the end of the year. 

Professor McGonagall resumed her lesson. But I only had one thing on my mind: The monster that lived in the bowels of the castle. And someone in this classroom might be the next victim. 

***

We walked out of class. My friends and I immediately launched into a conversation about the Chamber of Secrets, debating on whether the Chamber of Secrets and its monster were real or not. 

"Do you think that there really is the Chamber of Secrets?" Ron immediately asked. 

"Yes. Couldn't you tell? Professor McGonagall is worried. All the teachers are, including Professor Snape," Hermione answered at once.

"Well, if the Chamber of Secrets really has been opened before, and it has been opened, then —"

"The heir of Slytherin has returned the school," Hermione butted in, immediately knowing the answer to my question. "The question is, who is it?"

"Let's think," said Ron in mock deep thought. "Who is the one person who thinks that everyone else is scum —" 

"If you're talking about Malfoy —" I began furiously. But Ron stopped me.

"Of course! You've heard what he said: You'll be next, Blood Traitors."

"I heard him. But Malfoy? The heir of Slytherin? As much as we know that he's mean and can be vicious, it seems highly impossible to jump to conclusions about a twelve-year-old kid opening such a dangerous Chamber." 

"Well maybe he's right, Chloe," said Harry softly.  I noticed that he kept his eyes fixated on anywhere but the three of us. He looked slightly uncomfortable."I mean, think about it. A whole load of them Malfoys have probably been in Slytherin House for centuries!"

"Crabbe and Goyle must know," said Ron thoughtfully. "Maybe we can trick them into telling."

"Maybe," Hermione agreed, though she sounded doubtful. "We can try. But just remember: we are about to be breaking about over fifty school rules. And it'll be dangerous. Very dangerous." 

She spun on her heel and walked away. We followed her to the library. I caught Ron rolling his eyes at Hermione, knowing that Hermione always spent her time in the library for God knows what. 

None of us were in the mood to roam the library in search for the perfect book that would tell us something about how to get information out of Malfoy. Ron immediately went to the next aisle, and Harry and I followed him. Ron immediately got a book out and began to flip through it. Harry walked over to the large window and stared outside. Finally, he sighed, turned over to us, and began speaking.

"Guys? I have something to tell you. And you're not going to like it."

Ron and I looked up at our best friend, surprised. Ron furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

"What is it that you want to talk to us about, mate?"

Harry bit his lip. He began to open and close his mouth. Finally, on his fifth time of trying, Ron got a bit annoyed.

"Well, what do you want to say, mate? We're waiting on you. Go on, spill out whatever you have to tell us."

I was shocked by Ron's behavior. Ron had never spoke firmly to Harry like that before! He needed to give Harry some space so that he could figure out what he was trying to say.

"Ron! Manners!" 

My brother just shrugged. "Sorry. I just wanted some answers."

"Everyone wants answers about the Chamber of Secrets, Ron. And don't go forcing Harry around. If he wants to take his time, he can take his time." 

Ron gave me a suspicious look, probably wondering why I was defending his best friend all of a sudden. He looked confused for a moment before a mischievous grin spread across his lips. I knew what he was thinking. But no way in hell were me and Harry dating any time soon! 

Harry cleared his throat, catching our attention. We turned to face him, and I could see him messing with the skin between his forefinger and thumb. I reached my hands out and forced him to stop.

"It's okay, Harry. You can tell us."

Harry glanced up at me and his face began to turn scarlet red. He began to open his mouth again, but at that time, Hermione was already making her way towards us once again. He shut his mouth, glancing down at his feet.

"Later," he finally whispered. 

We put our focus on Hermione, who held a large book in her hands, blowing some dust that had accumulated the pages. 

"Here it is! The Polyjuice Potion! Properly brewed, the Polyjuice Potion allows one's self to be temporarily formed in the physical form of another person."

"So you're saying, if Harry, Chloe, and I drank that stuff, we'll be transformed into Slytherin goonies?" Ron asked eagerly. 

"Yes."

"Wicked! Malfoy would tell us anything!"

"Yes," Hermione repeated as she glanced down at the recipe again. "But it's tricky. I've never seen such a complicated potion."

"Well, how long will it take for the potion to be completed?" I asked.

Hermione looked up, a look of sadness in her face. I knew what she was about to say would be no good. 

"A month."

My eyes widened in shock at her confession. 

"A month?! But Hermione —" I quickly glanced around the area to make sure that no one else was paying attention. But even then, I kept my voice low and quiet so that no one else could hear what we were saying. "If Malfoy is the heir of Slytherin, he could attack half of the Muggle-Borns and Blood Traitors in the school by then!"

"I know," Hermione answered sadly. "But it's the best thing that we've got if we want answers." 

We handed Madam Pince the book and she checked it out for us.

"Be sure to bring that back when you're done with it," she said, her eyes narrowing in suspicion at us.

"We will," Hermione answered quickly. She offered Madame Pince a reassuring smile. "Thank you, Madame Pince." 

We quickly walked out of the library. Ron and Hermione walked next to each other with me behind them, and Harry behind me. I finally found myself falling into Harry's pace and began to speak to him in a low voice so that neither Ron nor Hermione could hear us.

"What was it you wanted to tell us earlier, Harry?" I hissed.

Harry glanced up at me, looking surprised. He furrowed his eyebrows.

"Really? I don't recall saying anything," he lied hastily.

"Don't lie to me, Harry," I sighed. "You were about to say something. Like you knew something that we didn't. Harry, it's okay if you tell me. You're my best friend! I'm not going to judge you."

Harry went quiet. He seemed to be debating on whether or not he should tell me that something's going on. Finally, he shrugged, letting out a sigh. 

"I'm sorry, Chloe. But I don't remember what I was going to say."

And with that, he hurried away, catching up with Ron and Hermione, leaving me rooted in the spot, wondering what Harry wasn't telling me.