The Curious Chamber

They spent a lot of time over the next few days in the library. They had only been researching for four days but they had already found a good dozen or so creatures who could petrify people, but they had no clues as to what creature it could actually be.

Beth had just woken up from another nightmare about Voldemort, this time he had killed Susan, Hannah and Artie right in front of her, and had been about to murder her too.

Beth was breathing heavily as she woke up and looked from one bed to the other. Hannah was snoring lightly her hair askew on the pillow, Artie seemed to be trying to play Quidditch in her sleep which was actually quite normal for her, and Susan was breathing slowly in her sleep clinging her teddy bear to her chest.

She checked her watch and saw that it was half past five in the morning.

“Gwen,” she whispered.

“Meow?” asked Guinevere looking curiously over to Beth from where she had been guarding the door.

“You wouldn’t let Voldemort in to kill me, would you?”

Guinevere shook her head and hopped into Beth’s lap.

“Rip tear kill!”

The voice chilled Beth right to the bones.

She grabbed her wand, dressing gown and slippers and ran from the dorm trying to find the source of the noise.

“Soo hungry for so long!”

It seemed to be coming from the dungeons, she kept on running her want held aloft.

“Must kill!”

The voice stopped and Beth found herself in a dark deserted corridor in the dungeons.

“Lumos!” she whispered lighting up her wand.

She nervously walked forwards and found a body lying on the floor with bright red hair.

Percy Weasley lay frozen stiff on the floor, holding his glasses in one of his hands, it looked as if he had been trying to polish them.

“Oh shit!” muttered Beth.

“Help!!” she screamed.

“Help!! Somebodies been petrified!!”

Professor Snape came running into the corridor holding his wand out looking severely disgruntled at being woken up at a quarter to six on a Sunday morning.

“What is the cause of all this commotion Miss Potter?” sneered Snape, “some of us are trying to sleep?”

Beth indicated towards Percy’s body which was still lying on the floor.

“Ah,” nodded Snape, “that is a much better reason than most have for waking me up.”

Snape knelt down by Percy’s body and checked his pulse.

“He’s not dead, merely petrified, he’s still breathing,” he muttered.

“So, the rumours are true,” he whispered, “the Chamber has been opened once more.”

“What do you mean once more?” asked Beth her eyes popping out.

“Miss Potter,” said Snape picking up Percy’s body, “thank you for informing of the situation, I suggest you head back to your dormitory, you’ve had a shock.”
Beth nodded and ran back to the dormitory before Snape changed his mind.

Beth sat down on her bed and started to hyperventilate.

What was that weird voice in her head?

Why did she always know where to find the petrified bodies?

There were only two options, either she was going crazy, or she was the heir of Slytherin!

Guinevere hopped onto Beth’s bed and started trying to nuzzle up to her.

“Beth?” whispered Susan as she woke up, “you ok?”

Beth shook her head frantically and Susan climbed over to Beth’s bed bringing her quilt with her.

“What’s up?”

“Sus, do you think I’m crazy?”

“Of course you’re not crazy,” giggled Susan shaking her head, “you’re wonderful.”

“Then why can I hear a voice in my head?”

“You heard it again?” whispered Susan.

“If I’m not crazy, I’m the heir of Slytherin,” said Beth bursting into tears.

“What are you talking about?” asked Susan putting an arm around her best friend.

“I heard the voice and followed it, I just found Percy Weasley petrified in a deserted corridor in the dungeons.”

“As for the voice, I have no idea,” sighed Susan, “as for the monster, the only monster you have is this mass of white fluff who can attack on command, but the last time I checked Gwen can scratch her victims not petrify them.”

“I guess you’re right,” said Beth giggling slightly as she tickled Guinevere between the ears.

“Did you find out anything about the chamber?”

“According to Snape, it’s been opened before,” said Beth.

“Maybe we should write home and see if our families know anything?”

Beth nodded and they both got dressed before heading down to the library.

Here goes nothing, thought Beth.

“Dear Remus and Grandpa,

How are you both?

The reason I’m writing is because I’m worried about something.

There have been attacks in the school, Filches cat and Percy Weasley have both been petrified.

Have either of you ever heard of the Chamber of Secrets?

Professor Binns said it was a legendary Chamber built by Salazar Slytherin to purge the school of muggleborns.

Professor Snape said that it had been opened before, do either of you know when or what happened last time?

Also, if it’s trying to get rid of muggleborns then why petrify Percy, he’s not a muggleborn.

Sorry for bothering you both, please write back if you know anything that might be able to help,

Yours always, Beth.”

Susan had just finished writing a similar letter to Beth’s when Ernie, Hermione and Ron arrived in the library.

Ron was looking half confused half shocked.

“You alright Ron?” asked Susan.

“Percy’s been petrified,” muttered Ron with his head in his hands.

“Imagine how I felt when I found his body,” sighed Beth.

“What was he even doing out of bed?” asked Ernie.

“Percy’s been going on about trying to find the heir of Slytherin,” sighed Ron, “he’s been spending his Prefect duties trawling through the dungeons.”

“Seems like the heir found him, before he found them,” said Ernie raising his eyebrows.

“What I’m confused about,” said Hermione, “is why Percy, he’s not a muggleborn.”

“Our family are well known blood traitors,” Ron pointed out.

“So is everyone else’s at this table,” Ernie said, “apart from Hermione.”

“So, what do we do now?” asked Hermione.

“Well, Beth and I have written home asking for information in case our families know anything, other than that I suggest we get on with researching possible creatures.”

They kept researching in the library and a few days later Beth and Susan got replies from their letters.

“Dear Beth,

First of all don’t panic, only one person has been petrified so far.

I know you’re scared, but I’m sure that the Professors have this under control.

It is curious that Percy should have been petrified, he’s from a long line of wizards.

My suggestion is that you don’t go anywhere alone, you are safer in groups, so don’t go anywhere unless you have either Susan or Ernie with you, preferably both.

As for your question about last time, I asked Dad and he told me that fifty years ago, a few years before he went to school, a girl was murdered and there was a rumour it was by the monster from the Chamber of Secrets, the girls name was Myrtle Warren.

If you have any more questions about any of this, please write,

Keep safe, love always Remus.”

“Well that was helpful,” said Beth, as she passed the letter around.