The Monster of The Chamber
Harry told Hermione and Ron about the Chamber of Secrets.
They found out, in Hogwarts a History, that it's said that Salazar Slytherin built a secret chamber in Hogwarts with a monster in it, to purge the school of those unworthy of studying in it.
A chamber that only his true heir could open.
There had also been an announcement about a Duelling Club, but as it would cut into her time of finding out what the monster in the chamber was, Hermione refused and Harry insisted that he could learn duelling on his own.
And Ron needed to be there to make sure that Harry and Hermione ate and slept.
Though, they were relieved they had declined once they found out that Lockhart was the teacher.
"Who is the heir though", Ron wondered, as they were pouring over ways of petrification and who could be the monster.
"A blood-purist", Harry said.
"Like Malfoy?", Ron questioned.
"Nay. Malfoy may hate muggle-borns and
blood-traitors, but he's more the type to just have people do things for him.
I don't think he'd put in the effort to look for a chamber that isn't confirmed to be real", Hermione waved off.
"Hmm, but what about Parkinson, or Nott", Ron suggested, but just then they heard Madam Pince gasp.
They made their way over, to find, a (rather stupid, in Ron's opinion) Hufflepuff boy, Justin Finch-Fletchley petrified.
In front of him was the Gryffindor ghost, Nicholas de Mimsy Porpington, but popularly called Nearly Headless Nick, was ashen black, floating meaninglessly.
Professors and students alike came by, another Hufflepuff, Earnest 'Earnie' Macmillan fanning the ghost away.
The Professors carried Finch-Fletchley to the hospital wing, while the students were gaping.
What in the world could possibly harm a ghost.
The incomplete quartet hurried out of the library, not being able to stand seeing another petrification.
***
"Ael, Delph", Sciurus said.
"What is it?", Aelurus asked.
"Did you notice something? There was water beneath Cat, Creevey had a camera and Finch-Fletchely was near a ghost.
All of them are indirect mediums of sight", Sciurus said, putting emphasis on indirect.
"So you mean that they didn't get the full effects of the danger", Aelurus figured.
"And since it's Salazar Slytherin who built the chamber, the monster must be some kind of snake, but it didn't seem like the work of poison, nor any form of physical attack", Delphinus suggested.
"So a snake that can harm by magical means. Cancels out non-magical snake, runespoors, ashwinders, fenny snakes, cobra lilies and boomslangs.
Maybe Gorgons, or Basilisks", Aelurus said.
"I'm worried that you remember all these snakes by heart", Delphinus said.
"Oh well, they're supposed to be our house's symbol. Besides, I'm a parselmouth."
Sciurus dropped the stack of books in her arms and gaped.
Delphinus chocked.
"Y-you didn't bother telling us this sooner!", he spluttered out, coughing, trying to regain his breath.
"It never came up", Aelurus shrugged.
"Ael, that voice that you've been hearing, it could be a snake saying all that. That's why you're the only one who's been hearing these voices", Sciurus gasped.
"But, since this voice talks about ripping and killing, I think we can safely cross out gorgons.
So that just leaves basilisks", Delphinus grinned.
"And didn't Hagrid once say that his roosters were being killed!
Basilisks are afraid of roosters, or at least the rooster's crow", Sciurus said.
"So now we need to figure out where the entrance is, who the heir is and how in the name of merlin's bloody balls is a dirty great snake travelling without being seen", Delphinus frowned.
"Mind your language Delph and I'm sure we'll figure it out", Sciurus replied.
"For Catulus", Aelurus said.
"For Catulus", Sciurus and Delphinus echoed.