Harry Potter and Hermione Granger: The Chamber of Secrets

Inside The Chamber

Dateline: May 28th, 1993

It had been hard enough trying to look for spiders. Escaping their teachers long enough to sneak into a girls' bathroom, the girls' bathroom, moreover, right next to the scene of the first attack, was going to be almost impossible.

But something happened in their first lesson, Transfiguration, that drove the Chamber of Secrets out of their minds for the first time in weeks. Ten minutes into class, Professor McGonagall told them that their exams would start on the first of June, two days from today.

"The whole point of keeping the school open at this time is for you to receive your education. The exams will therefore take place as usual, and I trust you are all studying hard," she said sternly.

It had never occurred to Harry and Hermione that there would be exams with the castle in this state. There was a great deal of mutinous muttering around the room, which made Professor McGonagall scowl, "Professor Dumbledore's instructions were to keep the school running normally as possible. And that, I hardly need to point out, means finding out how much you have learned this year."

They both looked down at the pair of white rabbits they were supposed to be turning into slippers. What have they learned so far this year? Harry couldn't seem to think of anything that would be useful in an exam.

Dateline: May 29th, 1993

Just days before their first exam, Professor McGonagall made an announcement during breakfast in the Great Hall.

"I have good news," she said as everyone erupted.

"Dumbledore's coming back!" several people yelled.

"You've caught the Heir of Slytherin!" squealed a Ravenclaw girl.

"Quidditch matches are back on!" roared Wood excitingly.

The only people who weren't satisfied at all were Harry and Hermione. Hagrid never opened the Chamber at all; it was Tom Riddle all this time. He was the one who let out the Basilisk in the first place and killed Moaning Myrtle fifty years ago. So Hermione thought of a plan to Harry that they'd enter the Chamber with Lockhart at their side.

It was soon dark in the castle as Harry and Hermione journeyed to Lockhart's office when they heard the bell, but it wasn't the normal bell signal they heard. Instead, it was McGonagall's voice.

"All students are to return to their house dormitories at once. All teachers to the second-floor corridor immediately."

"Come on, let's see what the damage is this time," said Hermione, pulling Harry's arm and hiding behind a pillar to look at the newly written message, The beast will lie in the Castle forever.

"As you can see, the Heir of Slytherin has left another message. Our worst fear has been realized; the monster has been released from the Chamber itself," said McGonagall fearfully. "The students must be sent home. I'm afraid this is the end of Hogwarts."

Something was moving outside of the writing on the wall; it was footsteps that belonged to Professor Lockhart as he made his way to the group of teachers, looking happy.

"So sorry -- dozed off -- what have I missed?"

He didn't seem to notice that the other teachers were looking at him with something remarkably like hatred. Snape spoke up.

"The monster has been released, Lockhart. Your moment has come at last."

"My moment?" Lockhart blanched.

"Weren't you saying just last night you've known all along where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is?"

"That's settled," said McGonagall. "We'll leave you to deal with the monster, Gilderoy. Your skills, after all, are legend."