DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER!
Pairing: GinxTom
Summary: Itss a secretttt!
Previously...
"Thank you, Olive." Ginny replied, feeling genuinely grateful. Now with one person to accompany her, the Dark Lord's threat seemed to dissipate.
Now, to the Library, time to study a bit about the spell. Boy, if Hermione knew, she would certainly be proud.
Chapter 4-Dead Dumb Library
To be honest, Ginny wasn't the library-type. During her past six years in Hogwarts, she could proudly declare that she hadn't once stepped into the library. Hermione had praised the Hogwarts library more than once, but then, that was Hermione for you.
There's no need for me to pretend I'm new to the library, Ginny thought sheepishly as Olive gently pushed open the door and invited her in.
"It's a nice library," Ginny said lamely. She twisted her neck to survey the rows and rows of bookshelves which were lined neatly against the seemingly newly painted walls.
"A complete collection too," Olive nodded mildly in agreement. "Tens of thousands of… Well, just books."
"Oh, so I can just take any book I require?"
She smiled lightly and wearily at the same time. "Pretty much… You got to get permission from Madam Zelda first. She's the librarian. She's as protective of her scope as the Matron. Best you be careful. Though she's usually pretty busy, hardly ever in, but has this thing with books. You know, she refuses downright to give up her position. Says that no one else deserves to be guardian of the library other than her"
If the librarian was like the Matron... An image of the Matron cursing Dippet came to mind, and Ginny grinned at this. Yep, I really wouldn't want to be in her black books.
"She's left it open… Isn't she scared that someone might just snag a book and zip off?" Ginny wondered aloud, somehow feeling happier that Olive looked more revived.
"Oh, her!" Olive exclaimed, her eyes shining with amusement. "She has this belief you know, that books are like the world and all that muggle-junk! Thinks that 'young witches and wizards should nourish their mind at all times of day'! Hey I'm quoting her you know! I remember once Professor Dippet and her got into an epic quarrel over shutting down the library when she was out, and well, of course she won! She practically screamed the school down, and Dippet went all red faced and quickly slipped off!"Then as though realizing that she had spoken too much, her shy demeanor crept back, and she began to fidget with her fingers. "Well… Err… Yeah… That's why it's open…" And then slipped into complete silence.
Ginny laughed at that, she actually laughed! She had grinned, smiled, but this was the first time she had actually laughed!
I'm returning to the good old Ginny, she noted happily. Not the cynical skeptical scary Ginny.
After all she did begin to realize that her gaze generally freaked people out for some unknown reason. She would just look in one direction to simply check-something-out, and those people actually faltered under her innocent stare… Even the sorting hat, no matter how annoying, had pointed out she had changed drastically.
Do I really portray myself to be worse than a slippery sneaky snake?
She shivered as Voldermort's cold, guarded, and calculative eyes came into her mind. Certainly no one can beat him, right?
Olive brightened at her comfortingly chiming laughter, and gained some confidence to continue. "There're… you know, um… many sections, there're just err… fantasy books, and then the potions, herbology, divination, you get the idea – the boring stuff, yeah, also…" Olive waved to the far end of the library, "There's the Restricted Section… Year 1-5, not allowed… Year 6 onwards, for school work purposes… Basically, some of the books are chained to the, um, bookshelf. One jumped on me and tried to bite my ear off earlier this year, and no, I don't intend to go in it again."
After that, Olive had settled in one of the chairs near the fantasy section and said she'd try to get some rest. Though Ginny wondered how it was possible, for the books are pretty intimidating…
Or its just me.
"Really, you should go back to your dorm and rest!" Ginny had advised her earlier, but Olive had waved it away and muttered something about 'showing her the way back' before drifting off into rhythmic snoring.
I didn't know Slytherins were so genial, Ginny thought as she crept away, in hopes of not disturbing Olive.
Nah, it's just that she's just the nicer type.
It was pretty disturbing to admit that Slytherins' were rather genial after all.
Both Ron and Hermione had provided her on some advice on how to scout about for information somewhere in her third year.
Hermione's ingenius method was to classify the type of information under a certain category/subject, then from there, just pull out some books out related to it. Well, and Ron's outrageously stupid method was to randomnly choose two bookshelves and flip a knut.
I guess the Weasleys just aren't library-people, Ginny sighed. I'll… um… better proceed with Hermione's way.
So, Harry's spell… What type might it be?
Ginny hit the Defence Against Dark Arts Section first, before proceeding to the Charms Section, and then growing more and more desperate, she flusteredly plopped herself in the Divination section though it was simply not possible. And Divination lesson basically consisted of Trelawney talking crap. How would that ever come in useful?
Oooh, that was the snake in her talking. She shuddered, and tiredly began prodding some random books which looked nice.
I'm not going to get anywhere like this, oh, Hermione, good thing you aren't watching me at the moment...
Then, Hermione's evil-world-domination look slammed into Ginny's head, hard. Hermione only appeared like that when… When…
"I've been right through the Restricted Section! Rather useful, really!" Hermione's know-it-all voice echoed into her head.
THE RESTRICTION SECTION OF COURSE!
That spell overran time. It had to be somewhat powerful and dangerous, right?
She was heading towards that section when the sound of conversation between two girls caught her attention. It was barely audible and muffled, but it was highly unusual for anyone to come to the library this late.
Besides, apparently the early Hogwarts attenders weren't library-people either, or what Ron had bluntly called 'nerds'. There barely were any visitors to the library during her mulling-about-period, and even if there were, it was just a couple of quiet Ravenclaws, and occasionally a Hufflepuff.
Honestly, how does Hermione survive here? It's more-than boring.
Ginny climbed to her feet with the help of a bookshelf and stretched to relinquish the pins and needles from her legs. Ouch-oww, must be the darn book-disease taking effect.
Then she pulled out her wand, and tapped her leg, and did it with style, yeahhh! "Enervate."
As Ginny drew nearer the sounds, she began to recognize Olive's pleading voice. "Myrtle… I've told you already, I'm really sorry… I really didn't mean…"
Myrtle? No kidding. Moaning Myrtle?
Ginny ran. She ran and ran and ran. If not for Olive's voice to indicate her, she'd probably have gotten lost in that endless maze of books.
Ginny reached the Fantasy Section Shelf where she'd last left Olive, only to find Olive communicating in a defeated and remorseful tone to a… ghost.
It had to be a ghost. I mean, what else was translucent, floated in air, and could talk?
The ghost was of a teenage girl in a Hogwarts uniform. She was rather short and storky, with thick elbony glasses and dark brown hair - almost similar to that of Olive, but tied neatly into a ponytail. Myrtle!
The moment the ghost spotted Ginny running towards them, she vanished with a stricken look on her features.
"Olive!" Ginny called, replacing the space which once belonged to the ghost-girl. "Myrtle! Her! What, what's she doing here?"
"You… know her?" Olive's reply was sluggish, slurred and weary.
But she didn't need Olive to confirm what she'd already knew. From her conversations with Myrtle in her era, Myrtle had been gleeful enough to share about her success in never letting Olive forget her death, and her vengeance was to stalk Olive around for eternity.
But it wasn't all Olive's fault! And Olive wasn't even bad to begin with! Or maybe she had changed! But that wasn't the case!
Ginny did some calculations, cross matching and sticking pieces of random information together.
Now all she needed was the last piece, even if it made her sound stupid and outdated.
"Olive," Ginny whispered calmly, putting her arms around the girl whose head was buried in her hands. "What… What's the year…?"
Olive must have thought her mad, but simply replied without a question, "ninety-three."
1943, of course.
Everything fell into place.
Remember what Dumbledore said? So earlier this year, the chamber of secrets had been opened by the sixteen-year-old Voldermort, and under his orders, Myrtle had been finished by his pet snake. Then Voldermort was bored, so he went on to frame poor Hagrid.
Oh, so this all boils down to that stupid creepy Riddle… It's him again, it's always him who starts every single trouble… And then pushes it to others, Ginny interjected into her train of thoughts, concluding it all.
"Oooh, so defending Obnoxious Olly now?" A high-pitched haunting voice rang out in her right ear.
Ginny spun to her right, coming face to face with Myrtle, only to realize the ghost had sauntered right back.
"Myrtle," Ginny said, her voice shaking softly, but she felt that she had to put this across for the sake of Olive. "I think you should leave Olive alone… I think-"
The ghost sneered at Olive instead. "Ooh really? She's a horried teaser! I'd hidden in the girls toilet cubicle because Obnoxious Olly was there teasing me about my glasses. That Horrid girl! "
"Myrtle… Do tell me, what happened next?" Ginny questioned, curiosity suddenly getting the better of her. She'd heard this story quite many times from Myrtle, but still… Maybe she had more to share since her death was rather fresh.
The ghost blinked, then a joyful expression clouded her face, as though mirthful that someone was willing to listen.
Never thought a ghost would take sadistic joy in talking about her own death…
"Yes yes, I was crying, and then I heard someone come in. I was in the stalls, and then- there was a voice- a boy's voice, then hissing from the outside… I was mad, he hadn't asked my permission to enter my favourite toilet. Besides, it was a girl's toilet. So I stomped on out and screamed at him to go away-"
There were voices from the library door, and the ghost, out of panic, glanced around, and immediately disappeared from human (no, witch) vision, though Ginny had the feeling she was still lurking around prying.
Olive jerked upwards, "It's past curfew…"
Neither Ginny, nor Olive, was lucky enough to be a ghost in these sort of situations. Time to save ourselves.
She grasped Olive's hands and pulled her down behind the nearest bookshelf. "Alright Olive, um, are you okay?"
Olive smiled, and Ginny noticed that she looked pretty much like the Panda with those really big eyebags. "I'm alright, really, I do feel fine…"
The voices from the door did remind Ginny her sole aim for coming to the library in the first place. Just so like her to get carried away. The library clock showed it to be around midnight, and she wanted to make some progress today by maybe, like, at least identifying the book.
"You should go on to bed now," Ginny whispered to Olive. "I need to do something important."
The voices began to fade, and both Olive, Ginny and… Myrtle heaved a sigh of relief – well, if a ghost could.
"Then I'll… go with you," Olive's voice sounded very unlike her, rather firm in a sense.
It was probably her way of thanking me for defending her I guess… Must be Slytherin's way of repaying each other. They probably don't understand what friends are for.
"No. If someone catches us…-"
"I'll… Go with you."
"Olive! I'm going to the Restriction Section! You should know better not- to go in there."
Olive paled, and Myrtle just looked downright gleeful once more, "Ooooh! Interesting! I might just stalk along! Being dead ain't interesting at all!"
Olive ignored Myrtle, tried to live down her dinner and her fear, nodded her head tautly, and emphasized, "Let's go."
Breaking two school rules before my first day! Amazing, I beat Harry's record already.
The Restricted Section was the darkest section in the library – as in, literally.
Olive casted a "Alohomora" spell on the locked door, causing it to unbolt itself with a click. Ginny surveyed the kiddy-side of the library behind her once more, before pushing the glass door opened gingerly and whispering, "Lumos", with Olive following suit. And as for Myrtle, she had it easy. She just floated right in, singing.
"Myrtle, do quiet down!" Ginny snapped, adjusting to the dim glowing light of their wands, sweeping her eyes down the aisles and aisles of thick and intimidating books, some chained to the rack, others looking rather dangerously normal.
You can't trust a book much more than a Slytherin. Ginny cautioned herself, shamefully aware that her live companion was a Slytherin.
Ginny spent some time sweeping down the rows of books, relying on the words on its binder to outline its usefulness. She dared not pull them out in case one flew at her.
Then she found one that particularly caught her attention. Dark Arts: Prohibited Time Spells and Memory Charms.
It was chained by an unnervingly thick chain to the rack. And as she drew the light at the tip of her wand nearer to it, she realized the chain was shiny. Shiny meant many spells (more than one) had been put into place to encore it to where it was. Shiny meant danger.
Take a chance Ginny. The sorting hat said you're distrusting. Nope, show em' that you're a true and brave GRIFFINDOR!
She pulled the bulky book off the shelf, yelping, releasing it, and letting it dangle from the chain. Nothing happened.
Ginny inched forward and read its summary at the back of its book.
"Spells related to Time Travel and Restoration of Memories. Banned by the Ministry of Magic. Meddling with-"
Ginny gradually became aware that Myrtle's long snuffling nose was peering over her shoulders and Olive, from the side.
"Oh naughty naughty, Dark Arts? Prohibited Time Spells and Restoration of Memories? Isn't someone trying to be naughty?" Myrtle giggled with a high pitch laughter.
As for Olive, she looked spooked. She had held-in all suspicion ever since stepping into the library, but she could barely take it anymore. "Ginny- What, what exactly are you looking for?"
"I'm not dabbling in Dark Arts, I swear Olive!" Ginny engrossed with the strange mahogany coloured book. Gently, she twisted the book over, careful not to break the chains.
There was hesitation, and a certain mistrust in Olive's voice. "Okay, but make it quick."
"What I need to do now is to remove the binds of the book."
"What? The chain is an inch thick! Goodness knows what it'll do! But… if you must… Then…"
Myrtle giggled again gleefully. "When you're dead, you're free to join me!"
Ginny shot a poisonous glare at Myrtle. The prospect of dying because of a darn book wasn't comforting. Books suck.
"Are you guys ready? Ginny questioned. "Wands trained Olive. As for you Myrtle, don't sing or giggle. Here goes nothing."
Ginny unwrapped the binds of the book slowly.
Nothing happened.
Is it just me or does the book looks like its yawning?
Well, nothing happened for one second. And the next, was an awful lot of struggling.
The gigantic- book-monster plunged at them with crazed fiery, its mouth – a simple arch made from the pages of the book, wide open. It would have gorged out Ginny's arm out, if not for the chain which anchored it firmly into place. Then it went into thrashing mode, its grosteque mouth opening and closing violently, shaking the entire bookshelf left and right, left and right.
It seemed that either the shelves would come crumbling down first, or the chain might just severe first from its impact.
Myrtle vanished. What loyalty.
Thank Merlin Olive had been wise enough not to scream, just a couple of muffled squeals.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" Ginny's spell came out in between a squeal of terror and a leveled calmness. The monster-book was levitated in mid-air, still throwing its mouth open recklessly, but no longer shaking the bookshelves or straining its chain.
Thanks to moi the awesome.
Olive heaved a sigh of relief and plastered herself against the wall, closing her eyes and forcing herself to take deep breaths…
And, Myrtle reappeared again. Reeeeal-ly? After the threat was pretty much over? Myrtle's eyes were wide-eyed and large with shock, even for a ghost. "Anything I can… errr.. do as a ghost?"
In times of crisis, Ginny realised, Myrtle seemed rather meek.
"Go on out and keep watch for us," Ginny panted.
Myrtle surprisingly did as she was told, probably to get as far away as from the book as possible.
Ginny turned her thoughts back on the flapping book.
"I can't read anything like this," Ginny brought the struggling-gobbling-book-monster nearer to herself for closer inspection. "Need to break the chain, and pin it to a table or something… Oh, bloody hell, it has teeth!"
"What?" Olive's eyes flew open, only hearing the first sentence. "Break the chain? Ginny, that's just… that's just insane! We nearly, nearly- died even with the chain on!"
Myrtle reappeared once more before Ginny could reply, and Ginny began to get annoyed at her constant unnecessary in and out appearances. But the haunted look in her eye caused a painful fluttering in Ginny's stomach. "He's here… He-"
"Who?" Olive cut her off in a flurry.
Myrtle didn't even argue, or taunt Olive in that sense.
"That… that Riddle boy…"
Out of intense shock, the charm broke, and the book lunged at Ginny, Olive, and right through Myrtle.
Now we're trapped between a gigantic-monster-book and the Dark Lord himself...
So dead.
A/N: Yawwwnnn, I'm tiredd... I shall go and take an afternoon nap now... :D