As February faded into March, the weather got warmer. Harry hasn't heard the disembodied voice since Justin Finch-Fletchley and Sir Nicholas were petrified. Nearly everybody thought that the attacker, whoever it was, had stopped for good. Even Ernie Macmillan, who had spread rumors about Harry,to the rest of his house, had asked Harry politely to pass a bucket of leaping toadstools in Herbology one day. Harry noticed that several of the mandrakes threw a party in greenhouse three. This made Sprout very happy. She said, "The moment they start trying to move into each other's pots, we'll know they're fully mature. Then we'll be able to revive those poor people in the hospital wing." Now, however, the second years were given something else to think about during their Easter holidays. It was time to choose their subjects for when they start their third year at Hogwarts. It was something that Hermione took seriously. Hermione said, "It could affect our whole future." Harry said, "I'm not ditching Potions. I'm doing pretty good in that class." Ron said, "If I could, I'd ditch Defense Against the Dark Arts." Hermione said, "But that's very important!" Ron said, "Not the way Lockhart teaches it. I haven't learned anything from him except not to set pixies loose." Ron ends up choosing the same classes he was taking now. Hermione chose to sign up for every class listed. Percy who was watching Harry looking at his list, said, "Depends where you want to go, Harry. It's never too early to think about the future, so I'd recommend Divination. People say Muggle Studies is a soft option, but I personally think wizards should have a thorough understanding of the non-magical community, particularly if they're thinking of working in close contact with them. Look at my father, he has to deal with Muggle business all the time. My brother Charlie was always more of an outdoor type, so he went for Care of Magical Creatures. Play to your strengths, Harry." The only thing Harry was good at, was Quidditch. So, in the end, he chose the same new subjects as Ron. He felt that if he was lousy at any of them, then at least he'd have Ron to help him.
Harry awoke the next day and washed up. He got dressed and went down to the great hall for breakfast. Oliver was plating eggs on his team's plates. He said enthusiastically, "Perfect Quidditch conditions! Harry, buck up there, you need a decent breakfast." Harry did what Oliver said and ate breakfast. He left the Great Hall with Ron and Hermione to get his Quidditch things. As he set foot on the marble staircase, he heard the voice once again. The voice said, "Kill this time.... let me rip.... tear...." He shouts out loud making Ron and Hermione jump away from him in alarm. Harry shouts, looking over his shoulder, "The voice! I just heard it again.... Didn't you?" Ron shakes his head, wide-eyed. Hermione, however, claps her hand to her forehead. She said, "Harry! I think I've just understood something! I've got to go to the library!" She sprints up the stairs, heading to the library. Harry looks at Ron and said, "What does she understand?" Ron said, "Loads more than I do." Harry said, "But why's she got to go to the library?" Rons said as he shrugs, "Because that's what Hermione does. When in doubt, go to the library" People were now leaving the Great Hall, talking loudly as they go out the front doors on their way to the Quidditch pitch. Ron said, "You'd better get moving. It's nearly eleven, the match." Harry runs up to Gryffindor Tower, while Ron goes down to the Quidditch pitch. Harry grabs his Nimbus 2000 broomstick and joins the large crowd heading to the pitch. It was sunny outside and Harry felt a light breeze as he enters the changing room and changes into his Quidditch robes. The team walks onto the field to the sound of applause. Oliver takes off for a warm-up flight around the goal posts. Madam Hooch releases the balls. The Hufflepuffs, who played in canary yellow, were standing nearby, waiting. Both teams had just flown into the air, when McGonagall came marching onto the pitch. She was holding a megaphone. Harry's heart dropped as he thought, 'Please don't let there be another attack. Please....' McGonagall said, "This match has been cancelled." Oliver lands his broomstick and said to McGonagall, "You can't cancel Quidditch!" McGonagall said, "Silence Wood! You and your teammates will go to Gryffindor Tower. Now." McGonagall looks at Harry with a sad face as she said, "Harry, you and I will find Mr. Weasley. There's something the both of you have to see." While the entire school went up to the castle. Harry and McGonagall found Ron. They follow McGonagall up to the hospital wing. McGonagall said as they enter the hospital wing, "I warn you, this could be a wee bit of a shock." McGonagall leads them to 2 beds. Madam Pomfrey looks sadly at the 2 boys as they approach the beds. In one bed laid a 6th year girl named Penelope Clearwater, a Ravenclaw Prefect. In the other bed was Hermione. Both were petrified. On the bedside table was a mirror. Harry and Ron look on in shock. Ron said, "Hermione!" McGonagall said sadly, "She was found near the library with Miss. Clearwater." McGonagall picks up the mirror and shows them. She said, "She was holding this." She continues, "Does it mean anything to either of you?" Harry said, "No, Professor." She sets the mirror down on the bedside table. McGonagall leads Ron and Harry back to the Gryffindor Common Room. They enter the common room, where all of Gryffindor was waiting for them. Ron and Harry stood with the others as McGonagall faced her house. She said, "Could I have your attention please?" Everyone quieted down and look at their head of house. McGonagall said, "Because of recent events, these new rules will be put into effect immediately. She unrolls a scroll and said, "All students will return to their house common rooms by 6:00 every evening. All students will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No exception." She rolls the scroll back up and said, "I should tell you this: Unless the culprit behind these attacks is caught, it is likely the school will be closed." McGonagall leaves the common room with a worried look on her face.
Everyone in the common room starts talking to one another, wondering who it was, that was causing the attacks. Harry whispers to Ron, "We've got to talk to Hagrid, Ron. I can't believe it's him, but if he did set the monster loose last time, he'll know how to get inside the Chamber of Secrets. That's a start." Ron whispers back, "But you heard McGonagall. We're not allowed to leave the tower except for class." Harry said, "I think it's time to get my dad's old cloak out again." That night, they changed into their clothes. Harry takes the invisibility cloak out of his trunk and puts it around Ron and himself. Harry said, "Ready?" Ron said, "Yeah." The sneak out of the common room and head downstairs, being careful to avoid the teachers, prefects and Filch. They manage to get outside and head down to Hagrid's hut. The go up to the door and knock. Hagrid opens the door and points the crossbow, not realizing that he was pointing it at Harry and Ron. Hagrid said, "Hello?" Harry removes the cloak revealing himself and Ron. Hagrid relaxes upon seeing them Harry said wide-eyed, "What's that for?" Hagrid lowers the crossbow and said, "Oh Nothing. I was expecting um.... Well, it doesn't matter now. Come on in. I just made a pot of tea." They immediately noticed how nervous he was as he pours tea into the cups. He was distracted, since the tea ended up overflowing from the cup. Harry said, "Hagrid, are you ok?" Hagrid said, "I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm alright." He sees the cup overflowing and quickly stops pouring. Harry said, "Did you hear about Hermione?" Hagrid said, "Oh yeah. I heard about that alright." Harry knew he had to ask him. So he said, "Look, we have to ask you something. Do you know who's opened the Chamber of Secrets?" Hagrid sighs and said, "What you have to understand about that is...." Before he could finish, a knock was heard at his door. Fang barks at the door. Hagrid said, "Quick! Under the cloak! Don't say a word. Be quiet, both of you." Once they were hidden, Hagrid goes and opens the door, his crossbow held at the ready. There at the door was Dumbledore and a wizard wearing a bowler hat. Hagrid quickly lowers his crossbow as he said, "Professor Dumbledore, sir." Dumbledore said, "Good evening, Hagrid. I wonder, could we?" Hagrid said as he steps aside, "Of course. Come in, come in." Dumbledore and the wizard enter the hut. Ron recognized him immediately. He whispers, "That's dad's boss. Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic." Fudge said, "Bad business, Hagrid. Very bad business. Had to come. 3 attacks on muggle-borns. Things have gone far enough. The Ministry's got to act." Hagrid said, "But I never! You know I never, Professor." Dumbledore said, "I want it understood, Cornelius, that Hagrid has my full confidence." Fudge said, "Albus, look, Hagrid's record is against him. I've got to take him." Hagrid said, "Take me? Take me where? Not Azkaban Prison!" Fudge said, "I'm afraid we have no choice, Hagrid." The door opens to reveal Lucius Malfoy. Lucius steps into the hut and said, "Already here Fudge? Good." Hagrid said, "What are you doing here? Get out of my house!" Lucius said, "Believe me, I take absolutely no pleasure being inside your...." Lucius pauses, then sneers, "You call this as house?" Lucius continues, "No, I simply called up at the school and was told the Headmaster was here." Dumbledore said, "What exactly is it that you want with me?" Lucius said, "The other governors and I have decided that it's time for you to step aside." Lucius gives Dumbledore a scroll and said, "This is an order of suspension. You'll find all 12 signatures on it. I'm afraid we feel that you've rather lost your touch." Lucius turns away and smirks as he said, "What with all these attacks, there will be no muggle-borns left at Hogwarts. I can only imagine what an awful loss that would be." Hagrid said angrily, "You can't take Professor Dumbledore away! Take him away and the muggle-borns won't stand a chance! You mark my words! They will be killings next!" Lucius said, "You think so?" Dumbledore said, "Calm yourself, Hagrid." Dumbledore looks at Lucius and said, "If the governors desire my removal. I will, of course, step aside. However, you will find that help will always be given at Hogwarts, to those who ask for it." Dumbledore's eyes went from Lucius to Harry. Harry looks back from his hiding spot with wide eyes. Can Dumbledore see through his cloak? Lucius said, "Admirable sentiments. Shall we?" Dumbledore looks at Harry once more, before allowing himself to be escorted out by Lucius. Lucius nods to Fudge, "Fudge." Fudge nods back. Lucius leaves with Dumbledore. Fudge said, "Come Hagrid." Hagrid said as he glances at where Harry and Ron were hidden under the cloak, "If .... If anybody was looking for some stuff, that all they'd have to do would be to follow the spiders. Yep, That would lead them right. That's all I have to say. Oh, and someone will need to feed Fang while I'm away." Fudge said to Fang, as he escorts Hagrid out of his hut, "Good boy."
Now they were alone in Hagrid's hut. They remove the cloak as Ron said, "Hagrid's right. With Dumbledore gone, there'll be an attack a day." Harry spots spiders moving in a line as they scurry out of the window. Harry grabs Hagrid's lantern and Fang and said, "Come on." They leave the hut to see where the spiders were going. The spiders were going into the forbidden forest. Harry said, "Come on. You heard what Hagrid said, follow the spiders." Ron said, "They're heading to the forbidden forest! Why spiders? Why couldn't it be, follow the butterflies." They walk into the forbidden forest following the spiders. After following the spiders for several minutes, they heard a rumbling sound. As they got closer, a sound of an engine revving caught their attention. Harry said, "There's something moving over there. Listen. It sounds like something big." Ron said, "Big?" Suddenly headlights blinded them. It was the Ford Anglia they rode to Hogwarts on. Ron said, "Harry! Harry, it's our car! It must've been here all this time. Look, the forest has turned it wild." The car turns off its headlights after recognizing them. Harry said, "Come on. We don't want to lose the trail." They resume following the spiders until the reached a clearing. The clearing was covered in spider webs. Ron said, "Harry, I don't like this. I don't like this at all." Harry said, "Shush!" Ron said, sounded terrified, "Can we go back now?" Harry said, "Come on." There were spiders of all sizes scurrying everywhere! Harry looks around the clearing. Suddenly a voice was heard as it said, "Who is it?" Harry whispers to Ron, "Don't panic." The voice said again, "Hagrid? Is that you?" Harry said, "We're friends of Hagrid's." Out came the biggest spider they have ever seen! It was the size of a house! The spider had 8 hairy legs with huge pincers. It also had 8 white eyes. The spider was blind. Ron and Harry move back as they look up at the spider. Harry said, "You're Aragog aren't you?" Aragog said, "Yes. Hagrid has never sent men into our hollow before." Harry said, "He's in trouble. Up at the school. There have been attacks. They think it's Hagrid. They think he opened the Chamber of Secrets. Like before." Aragog said, "That's a lie! Hagrid never opened the Chamber of Secrets." Harry said, "Then you're not the monster." Aragog said, "No. The monster was born in the castle. I came to Hagrid from a distant land, in the pocket of a traveler." Ron said, "Harry." Harry said, "Shush!" Harry looks back at Aragog and said, "But if you're not the monster, then what did kill that girl 50 years ago?" Aragog said, "We do not speak of it. It is an ancient creature, we spiders fear above all others." Harry thought that what the spider said, reminded him an awful lot like Voldemort. Since witches and wizards were afraid to say his name. Harry said, "But have you seen it?" Aragog said, "I never saw any part of the castle, but the box in which Hagrid kept me. The girl was discovered in a bathroom. When I was accused, Hagrid brought me here." Ron said, "Harry." Harry said, "What?!" Ron, who was looking terrified, points up. Harry looks up to see spiders surrounding them, as if they were cornering their prey. Harry looks back at Aragog and said, "Well, thank you. We'll just go." Aragog said, "Go? I think not. My sons and daughters do not harm Hagrid on my command, but I cannot deny them fresh meat when it wanders so willingly into our midst. Good bye, friend of Hagrid." Aragog leaves as the spiders continue to surround them, gradually moving closer to them. Ron said, "Can we panic now?" A spider about their size lands in front of them. They pull their wands out. Ron said, "Know any spells?" Harry said, "One, but it's not powerful enough for all of them." Ron said, "Where's Hermione when you need her?" As the spiders close in on them, headlights turn on and blinds the spiders. An engine roars as the car bowls several spiders over as it rode over to them. It opens its doors as if beckoning them to get inside. Harry said, "Let's go!" Ron and Fang quickly get into the car. Harry said, "Arania Exumai!" Blasting a spider away from him. Harry gets into the car and shuts the door. The spiders immediately jump on the car. Harry said, "GO!" The car immediately starts driving away from the clearing. After several minutes, the car stops outside of the clearing. Ron said, "Glad we're out of there." Out of nowhere, a spider grabs Ron through the window. Ron screams in fear as Harry points his wand at the spider and said, "Arania Exumai!" The spider flies off of Ron and flies out of the window by the spell. Ron said, "Thanks for that." Harry said, "Don't mention it." They suddenly see a line of spiders gradually moving closer to them. Harry said, "Get us out of here. Now!" The car goes in reverse and spins around. The car starts driving forward, away from the spiders. Harry said, "Get us into the air!" Ron slams the flying gear and sends the car into the air and out of the forest. The car lands in front of Hagrid's hut and slows to a stop. It's doors open as they climb out of the car with Fang. Fang runs into the hut as Ron said, "Follow the spiders. Follow the spiders. If Hagrid ever gets out of Azkaban, I'll kill him!" The car starts up again and shut its doors. Then, it drives back into the forest. Ron continues his rant, "I mean what was the point of sending us in there? What have we found out?" Harry said, "We know one thing: Hagrid never opened the Chamber of Secrets. He was innocent." They head back to the common room and wash up, wondering who it was that opened the chamber. Ron changes into his pajamas and falls straight to sleep. Harry lays in bed and thinks of all the attacks and of Hermione. Will they ever figure out who's behind the attacks and what the monster is that lives within the chamber? He thinks of Hermione once more as he finally falls asleep.