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Saffron, Harry and Ron made it away from their peers in pursuit of did the run into the sharp, commanding voice of Professor McGonagall.

"Potter! Mitchell! Weasley! What are you doing?"

"We're going to see Hermione, Professor," Saffron said instantly, feeling Harry and Ron's eyes lock onto her in fear, expecting Professor McGonagall to explode on them. "Please, Professor, we haven't seen her in ages, we, well---" Saffron started to blush under McGonagall's gaze, but was glad she did so as it added to the effect. "We wanted to tell her that she'd be awake soon, and ---" She paused and let out a trembling nervous laugh. "Tell her that she should be awake in time for the exams. . . "

For a few moments, Saffron wasn't sure that Professor McGonagall was convinced by her lie. But, when the woman's voice shook, Saffron had to bite her lip so as to not smile, as the trio knew her act had done the trick.

"Yes, I realise this has been hardest on the friends of those who have been . .. I quite understand, Miss Mitchell. Go ahead, I shall tell Professor Binns where you are, let either Madam Pomfrey or Miss Endacott know I have given my permission,"

Saffron gave a sigh of relief, and unlike the rest of her actions in those few moments, a genuine one followed, in the form of a solitary tear glistening as it rolled down her olive skin. "Thank you, Professor," and with a small smile, Saffron, Harry and Ron walked away, hardly daring to believe that they'd avoided detention. As they turned the corner, they distinctly heard Professor McGonagall blow her nose.

"I'm impressed," scoffed Ron, being genuine. "How did you pull that one out of your arse--" He paused and blushed just as Saffron had too, before amending his sentence. "I mean your bag, so quickly,"

"Thanks, Ron,"

Even though they hadn't intended on going to the hospital wing, Saffron didn't mind. They hadn't been allowed to see Hermione for a while, in spite of Saffron practically begging Amanda. The school had been firm on their policy until now.

Once at the wing, Madam Pomfrey begrudgingly let them in, telling them that: "There's just no point talking to a Petrified. person," s

"Well, I would like to think that people would visit me if I was petrified," Saffron replied, curtly, leaving Madam Pomfrey rather taken aback as the matron let them be.

"Wonder if she did see the attacker, though?" said Ron taking a seat next to Hermione."Because if he sneaked up on them all, no one'll ever know..."

Saffron frowned. They had gone through the rounds of having that conversation over and over again, but that didn't it any easier. She looked into Hermione's fearful eyes and did so until Harry tapped her on the shoulder, pointing at Hermione's sleeve.

"Is that paper?" Saffron questioned, leaning over to see that it was indeed paper folded up in her sleeve.

"Go on and get it out," Ron whispered.

"Can you make anything out of it?" asked Saffron, walking around Ron, in order to try and get a closer look at Harry getting the paper.

Saffron was shocked by how long it took to yank off of Hermione. Her hand was ever so slightly clasped over it, but that was enough to make it rigid in her hand. Finally, however, Harry got it out.

"What is it?" asked Saffron, taking the paper off Harry and smoothing it out, Harry and Ron leaned in close to read it, too.

"Of the many fearsome beasts and monsters that roam our land, there is none more curious or more deadly than the Basilisk, known also as the King of Serpents. This snake, which may reach gigantic size and live many hundreds of years, is born from a chicken's egg, hatched beneath a toad. Its methods of killing are most wondrous, for aside from its deadly and venomous fangs, the Basilisk has a murderous stare, and all who are fixed with the beam of its eye shall suffer instant death. Spiders flee before the Basilisk, for it is their mortal enemy, and the Basilisk flees only from the crowing of the rooster, which is fatal to it."

Underneath this, lay one word that had been handwritten. Saffron would recognise the handwriting anywhere, for she had copied it countless times during the two years of knowing Hermione. It read: PIPES

"Of course," breathed Saffron. "Hermione did it, she figured it out, of course, she did. She gave us the answer but we weren't smart enough to take it off her. The monster in the chamber in the basilisk, the king of the serpents. That's why you've been hearing the voice Harry, and nobody else could because you're a Parselmouth. So the basilisk kills people by looking them directly in the eye- but no one has, or at least no one who is alive has. Mrs Norris must have seen it through the water, I specifically remember water Moaning Myrtle's bathroom being flooded that day. Colin, Colin saw it through-" she paused, and Harry finished her sentence.

"His camera, the basilisk burned the film inside"

"Exactly," she said, clapping her hands together. "That's why the photos were erased, so he was petrified. Then there was Olly and Emilia, they were in the toilets, right in front of a mirror, so they must have seen it through that. Justin.. he- he must have saw it through Nearly Headless Nick! Nick was killed- but wasn't because he's already dead, so Justin was just petrified, and Hermione and Penelope, that Ravenclaw girl," she gasped, "The mirror! Of course, nobody would have been in the library that day really, there was Quidditch. Hermione must have figured it out, all of it I mean. Surely she told Penelope, who took out her mirror and then they were petrified."

"The crowing of the rooster... is fatal to it"! Harry then read out. "Hagrid's roosters were killed! The Heir of Slytherin didn't want one anywhere near the castle once the Chamber was opened! Spiders flee before it.! It all fits!"

"But how's the basilisk been getting around the place?" asked Ron. "A giant snake... Someone would've seen..."

"Pipes," Harry pointed at the word on the sheet that Saffron her out. "Pipes... it's been using the plumbing. I've been hearing that voice inside the walls..."

"It all fits," said Saffron in bewilderment, "I can't believe we didn't realise before. . . but then, where's the chamber?"

"What if it's a bathroom? What if it's in--" croaked Ron apprehensively

"Moaning Myrtle's bathroom," said Harry and Saffron together.

The three of them didn't mean and just stared at each other for a few minutes, processing what they, or, rather Hermione, had put together.

"This means," announced Harry finally breaking the silence, "I can't be the only Parselmouth in the school. The Heir of Slytherin's one, too. That's how he's been controlling the basilisk."

"What're we going to do?" questioned Ron. "Should we go straight to McGonagall?"

"Of course, we have to tell somebody," said Saffron, "how long until break?" she asked Harry, who checked his watch.

"Ten minutes," replied Harry, jumping up "Let's go to the staff room,"

The three of them thanked Hermione for being the genius she was and ran straight downstairs and went into the empty staff room to wait for someone to show up. On a normal occasion, they wouldn't have gone into the place as it wasn't for students, however, desperate times called for desperate measures. They waited for the bell for break, but it never came. Something chilling came instead of it. As Professor McGonagall's voice rung through the castle.

"All students to return to their House dormitories at once. All teachers return to the staff room. Immediately, please."

Saffron froze and turned to the boys.

"You don't think . . . that doesn't mean. . . "

Their faces gave her the undesired answer, as all three felt certain that yet another attack had taken place.