Ginny wasn't in potions like Elanor said she would. Hestia was becoming worried. It didn't help that were supposed to be focusing on potions. Not that the potion they were making was hard thought. She'd made the cure for boils plenty of times before with her father. Why, she didn't know.
POOF. The cauldron in front of her exploded sending a messy goo all over the workstation. "10 points from Gryffindor. Hestia Weasley detention." Snape said from somewhere behind Hestia.
"Stupid snape and his stupid detentions." Hestia mumbled quietly to herself.
"Another 10 points from Gryffindor." Snape said while walking past Hestia's workspace.
"How the hell did he hear you?" Daisy whispered to Hestia from across the aisle.
"I have no idea." Hestia replied while cleaning up the goo that was now spreading onto the floor.
Suddenly the bell rings for the end of class. "Thank Eru that's over." Hestia said to herself as she walked out of class.
"Hestia Weasley where do you think you're going? Professor Snape said coldly.
"Back to my dorm sir?" Hestia said warily.
"No you have your detention now. You will stay and clean up my storeroom." Snape said gesturing to a large door behind him "And will continue to do so every evening until the task is done. You must stay for at least 2 hours tonight."
"But sir. It's the Halloween feast tonight." Daisy said.
"Miss Took unless you want to join Miss Weasley I suggest you leave now. I do not care for the feast." Snape gave Daisy a horrid glare motioning for the door.
"Catch up later" Hestia mouthed before opening the door to the enormous storeroom. It was filled to the brim with bottle and jars of all sorts of ingredients from Toad eyes to Doxy eggs. "Wow." Hestia said to herself before rolling up her sleeves and pulling the nearest jar out.
By the time Hestia had done 7 of the 20 shelves of the storeroom it was almost 8 o'clock. Professor Snape let her go and get some food from the great hall telling her to rest. "You have done plenty thank you."
Hestia's muscles ached all over. She'd lifted 60 bottles and jars of different ingredients. While Snape wasn't looking she snuck small vials of different things into her bag. Ingredients that she would use if she ever needed it.
As Hestia raced down the hallway she stopped for a minute "Did Professor Snape just say thank you." She thought to herself. She shook off the thought hoping there was still some food at the feast. Suddenly she heard a manly high pitched scream. It sounded like Filch. She ran towards the sound to where she saw Harry, Ron and a fellow Gryffindor girl Hermione. Beside them stood Filch who looked like he was dying. The halls became flooded with people. Hestia moved closer to get a better view.
Then she saw it. The words, written in blood, still dripping, still fresh. Filch's cat Mrs Norris petrified. Filch crying. Screaming abuse at Harry.
"The chamber of secrets has been opened, enemies of the heir beware." Hestia whispered to herself.
"Enemies of the Heir Beware. You'll be next, mudbloods. A boy with slick blonde hair said loudly. He looked a year older than Hestia.
"Who's that?" Hestia asked Katie Bell who was standing next to her in the crowd.
"Just the biggest git ever." Katie said "Draco Malfoy. He thinks he's so great cause his dads some ministry worker."
"Did you say Malfoy? As in Nero Malfoy? That's his brother?" Hestia replied gobsmacked.
"Yeah. Hey is Nero as much as a big headed egotistical git as his brother? With a side of look at me I'm a pureblood." Katie asked
"Yeah pretty much. Pureblood and bigheaded sums it up pretty well." Hestia replied warily.
Quite a large crowd had now gathered. All of the teaching staff were there as well. Percy was trying to shoo the Gryffindor's back to their dorms.
The Defence against the Dark Arts teacher Mr Gilderoy Lockhart stood their pale as a ghost, practically crying. The teacher's murmured to each other before sending all the students back to their dorms.
Having the whole House in the common room was squishy but nice. Hestia managed to get acquainted with a lot of the students who she'd never met before including that Hermione girl that Ron was friends with. Fred and George appeared out of nowhere with mountains of food and soon Hestia found herself standing in the middle of a circle doing an impression of Professor Lockhart.
"Look at me I'm Gilderoy Lockhart, I've battled dragons and walked with werewolves." Hestia said mockingly. "My favourite colour is lilac. Would you like an autograph? I'm famous, Make sure you get my good side."
The whole room suddenly went quiet. "Hestia Weasley…" A stern voice said from the entrance of the common room. "That was the best impression of Professor Lockhart yet. Much better than Professor Flitwick's" Hestia turned to find Professor McGonagall, standing with a small smile on her face and a large piece of parchment in her hand.
"Thank you… I guess." Hestia replied meekly.
"Everyone gather around there is an urgent message from Dumbledore and some new rules." Professor McGonagall said as students gathered around her.
While Hestia listened as rules were said about no leaving without an escort and the like her mind wondered where Ginny was. It had been hours since she'd last seen her and Hestia was worried for her cousin's safety.
"The Chamber of secrets… What is that?" Hestia thought to herself. "Why was Ginny so frisky?"
"Thank you all for you attention." Professor McGonagall said while pinning the new rules to the pin-board and walking out.
Hestia stumbled up the stairs to her dorm to find Ginny asleep… on her bed. "Ginny wake up." Hestia whispered in Elvish nudging Ginny's shoulder gently. Nothing. No movement. Ginny stayed fast asleep.
"Come on." Hestia said giving Ginny one last nudge. Giving up Hestia gently grabbed her pyjamas from under her pillow, got changed and hauled herself into Ginny's bed.
