Amelia Potter and the Chamber of Secrets PART 1

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History of Magic homework. Professor Binns had asked for a three-foot long composition on 'The Medieval Assembly of European Wizards'.

'I don't believe it, I'm still eight inches short ...' said Ron furiously, letting go of his parchment, which sprang back into a roll, 'and Hermione's done four feet seven inches and her writing's tiny.'

'Where is she?' asked Harry, grabbing the tape measure and unrolling his own homework.

'Somewhere over there,' said Ron, pointing along the shelves, 'looking for another book. I think she's trying to read the whole library before Christmas. Amelia is helping her.'

Harry told Ron about Justin Finch-Fletchley running away from him.

'Dunno why you care, I thought he was a bit of an idiot,' said Ron, scribbling away, making his writing as large as possible. 'All that rubbish about Lockhart being so great –'

'He isn't.' A voice whispered. They jumped around to see Amelia pocking her head out through a bookshelf. As fast as a startled deer she disappeared back into the books.

Hermione emerged from between the bookshelves. She looked irritable and at last seemed ready to talk to them.

'All the copies of Hogwarts: A History have been taken out,' she said, sitting down next to Harry and Ron. 'And there's a two-week waiting list. I wish I hadn't left my copy at home, but I couldn't fit it in my trunk with all the Lockhart books.'

'Why do you want it?' said Harry.

'The same reason everyone else wants it,' said Hermione, 'to read up on the legend of the Chamber of Secrets.'

'What's that?' said Harry quickly.

'That's just it. I can't remember,' said Hermione, biting her lip. 'And I can't find the story anywhere else –'

'You can borrow mine,' Amelia now stood next to Harry who screamed.

'How do you do that?'

Amelia giggled and handed Hermione her book.

'Hermione, let me read your composition,' said Ron desperately, checking his watch.

'No, I won't,' said Hermione, suddenly severe. 'You've had ten days to finish it.'

'I only need another two inches, go on ...'

The bell rang. Ron and Hermione led the way to History of Magic, bickering. Amelia making comments on how they bickered like an old married couple.

History of Magic was the dullest subject on their timetable. Professor Binns, who taught it, was their only ghost teacher, and the most exciting thing that ever happened in his classes was his entering the room through the blackboard. Ancient and shrivelled, many people said he hadn't noticed he was dead. He had