Camille's POV

It's three days before exams, Professor McGonagall is acting headmistress in Dumbledore's absence. There have been no more attacks since he left. But I have a bad feeling. Anyway it's breakfast time and I sitting on Minerva's right with Snape on her left. "I have good news" she tells the students.

"Dumbledore's coming back!" several students yell.

"You've caught the Heir of Slytherin!" a girl squeals from the Ravenclaw table.

"Quidditch matches are back on?!" Wood asks loudly.

"Quiet down everyone and she will tell you the news" I tell them calmly. They all quiet down and look up McGonagall.

"Professor Sprout has informed me that the Mandrakes are ready for cutting at last. Tonight, we will be able to revive those people who have been Petrified. I need hardly remind you all that one of them may well be able to tell us who or what attacked them. I am hopeful that this dreadful year will end with our catching the culprit" McGonagall announces.

There was an explosion of cheering. I smile and look at my fellow staff members. They all look as happy as the students about the petrified students being revived tonight. I decide to help Professor Sprout and Snape prepare the potion that will revive the petrified students.

(Time skip)

I'd just dropped off my students at their next class and was heading back to mine to mark papers. When I see Harry and Ron walking together alone. "Harry, Ron what are you both doing? Don't you have history soon?" I ask them confused. Lockhart was supposed to escort their class to Binns room.

"We were going to - to go and see" Ron stammers.

"Hermione" Harry finishes. "We haven't seen her for ages, Professor" he states. "We thought we'd sneak into the hospital wing, you know, and tell her the Mandrakes are nearly ready and, er, not to worry" he explains.

"What a lovely idea you two, but you really shouldn't be wondering the corridors alone" I tell them. "I realize this has all been hardest on the friends of those who have been... I quite understand. Of course you may visit Hermione. I will send Professor Binns a patronus to inform him where you've gone. Then escort you personally as it's on my to my destination" I tell them. I send Binns a patronus and start to lead them to the hospital wing. "Are you both prepared for the exams?" I ask them.

"As ready as we can be" Ron mumbles. I nod my head in understanding. Hermione had helped them study last year, must be hard without her guidance. We arrive at the hospital wing.

"Morning Madame Pomfrey, these two wish to see Hermione Granger. I've given them permission to do so" I tell her. She nods her head and I leave them with her. I was heading to my room when I see another message written in blood on the wall:

I have a flash of Ginny Weasley unconscious on a wet stone floor. I send a patronus to Professor McGonagall telling her a student had been taken into the chamber itself. Not long after her voice fills the halls of the entire school. "All students to return to their House dormitories at once. All teachers return to the staff room. Immediately, please". I race to the staff room.

Once we all arrived I tell them what I saw. "A student has been taken by the monster. Right into the Chamber itself" I tell them sadly. Professor Flitwick let out a squeal. Professor Sprout clapped her hands over her mouth.

Snape gripped the back of a chair very hard. "How can you be sure?" he asks me.

"The Heir of Slytherin, left another message" McGonagall tells him.

"Right underneath the first one. Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever" I explain. Professor Flitwick burst into tears. "I had a vision of the student that was taken" I add sadly.

"Who is it? Which student Camille?" Madame Hooch asks me from my cheer.

"Ginny Weasley" I tell them all.

"We shall have to send all the students home tomorrow. This is the end of Hogwarts. Dumbledore always said..." McGonagall starts to say. The staff room door banged open again. For one wild moment, I was sure it would be Dumbledore. But it was Professor Lockhart, and he was beaming.

"So sorry - dozed off - what have I missed?" he asks us. He didn't seem to notice that we were looking at him with something remarkably like hatred. Snape stepped forward.

"A girl has been snatched by the monster, Lockhart. Taken into the Chamber of Secrets itself. Your moment has come at last" Snape sneers.

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

"I - well, I" Lockhart sputters.

"Yes, didn't you tell me you were sure you knew what was inside it?" Flitwick adds.

"I certainly remember you saying you were sorry you hadn't had a crack at the monster before Hagrid was arrested" I add smirking. :Didn't you say that the whole affair had been bungled, and that you should have been given a free rein from the start?" I ask him. Lockhart stared around at his stony-faced colleagues.

"I - I really never - you may have misunderstood--" he stammers.

"We'll leave it to you, then, Gilderoy" McGonagall states. "Tonight will be an excellent time to do it. We'll make sure everyone's out of your way. You'll be able to tackle the monster all by youself. A free rein at last" she explains.

"Very well. I'll be in my office, getting - getting ready" he says and leaves the room.

"Right, that's got him out from under our feet. The Heads of Houses should go and inform their students what has happened. Tell them the Hogwarts Express will take them home first thing tomorrow. Will the rest of you please make sure no students have been left outside their dormitories" McGonagall tells us. We all went to do as we're told.

A/N

Picture above of the message on the wall.