Updated: June 16th, 2017

Chapter 20: Scary News

At dinnertime the next night, I was in the Hospital Wing with Harry and Ron. The two weren't hungry so they decided to go up and visit Hermione. I went over to the Gryffindor table, grabbed some sandwiches and headed up to join them. Harry was sitting on Hermione's left, back to the door. Ron sat in a chair on her other side. They were both talking to her in soft tones.

"Hey," I greeted them, giving each a sandwich. Harry took his but Ron refused. I gave him a sad smile. I had never seen him refuse food before. I sat down on the bed next to Ron, placing my hand on Hermione's cold, raised one, "Things here aren't the same without you. Harry and Ron's grades aren't the same without you…"

"There's no point in talking to a petrified person," Madam Pomfrey told us as she walked by. "She won't hear a word you're saying."

Ron shifted uncomfortably, "We know that, Madam Pomfrey. It's just, well, you see, we thought, maybe, we could…"

"Maybe we could be with her for a bit," I finished for him. Ron looked grateful. "She's our friend and…even if she can't hear us… I mean, it can't hurt, can it?"

I saw a glint of sympathy flicker in the older woman's eyes, "Very well then, but be quick about it."

She left us and went into her office. Absently, I picked up my circular mirror that was on the nightstand. I sighed. Ron leaned over and picked up a get well card from Lockhart. "Don't think that Lockhart could be the Heir of Slytherin, do you," Harry gave him a 'you-gotta-be-kidding-me' look. "Right…forget I said it…"

Harry's attention went back to Hermione's stony face. He stroked her cold hand, "Wish you were here, Hermione. We need you. Now more than ever…"

Harry frowned and cocked his head to the side. He reached down and pried something from our friend's hand. It was a piece of ripped parchment. He quickly got up and headed for the door. Ron and I shared a confused glance and followed him. We caught up with Harry as he slowed down in the corridor. We took his opposite sides and peered down at the paper Harry had un-crinkled. It had numerous splotches on it and I had guessed it was torn out of a library book.

"It says, 'Of the many fearsome beasts that roam our land, none is more deadly than the Basilisk. Capable of living for hundreds of years, instant death awaits any who meet this giant serpent's eye. Spiders flee before it and only the crowing of the rooster can kill it.'"

Harry's head shot up. I gasped, finally getting it, "Oh my Wizard God!"

"This is it," he exclaimed. "The monster in the Chamber of Secrets is a Basilisk. That's why I can hear it speak! It's a snake!"

Ron still had a confused look on his face, "But it kills by looking people in the eye. Why is it no one's dead?" I frowned. That was an interesting question. I turned to look out the window. It was dark outside and the torchlight reflected our reflections in the glass.

"…no one did look it in the eye. Not directly at least…" Harry told Ron softly. His eyes widened as he hurried down the corridor again. "Colin saw it through his camera. Justin – Justin must've seen it through Nearly Headless Nick…"

"…who got full blast of it, but he's a ghost. He couldn't die again," I cut in, smiling at my brilliance.

"Right! And Hermione…she had your mirror," He exclaimed to me. Ron's eyes lit up. "I bet you anything she was using it to look around corners, in case it came along."

The corner of my lips rose. We are so smart! "And Mrs. Norris," Ron asked, catching up to me and Harry. "I'm pretty sure she didn't have a camera or a mirror."

As we rounded a corner there was a loud splash. I groaned. I was standing in ankle deep in a puddle of water. "The water…" Harry contemplated. "…there was water on the floor that night. She only saw the Basilisk's reflection!"

I grabbed the book page out of my friend's hand and moved over to a torch. I scanned the paper for a few moments. "That's it! 'Only the crowing of a rooster can kill it.' Hagrid's roosters were killed! And – and spiders flee before it…it all fits!"

"But how's a Basilisk getting around? A dirty great snake…someone would have seen it…" Ron thought.

"Hermione answered that too," Harry told him he took the paper from me. He showed it to Ron. Scribbled in Hermione's handwriting was the word 'pipes'.

"Pipes…," Ron gasped. "It's using the plumbing!"

"Do you guys remember what Aragog said? About that girl fifty years ago," Harry asked. "She died in a bathroom. What if she never left?"

"Moaning Myrtle," Ron exclaimed.

Harry nodded while I groaned. "I really don't like her…we're gonna have to ask her about what happened, aren't we?"

Before either of the two could answer, McGonagall's voice echoed throughout the castle walls, magically magnified, "All students are to return to their house dormitories at once. All teachers to the second floor corridor immediately."

We all shared a look (we seemed to be doing that a lot lately). We're on the second floor… Harry and Ron ran off with me tagging along behind. Moments later the three of us stuck our heads around the corner and saw McGonagall standing in front of the wall surrounded by the rest of the staff.

"As you can see, the Heir of Slytherin has left another message. Our worst fear has been realized, a student has been taken into the Chamber itself," along with the teachers' reactions, my eyes widened. I said a silent prayer for the poor soul. "I'm afraid we shall have to send the students home. I'm afraid…this is the end of Hogwarts."

I gasped silently, "No..."

Suddenly, Professor Lockhart strode up to the other teachers in a cheerful manner, "So sorry. Dozed off. What have I missed?"

"Ah, just the man," Snape smirked unrepentantly. "A girl has been snatched by the monster, Lockhart. Your moment has come at last."

Lockhart's smile fell, "My m – moment?"

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

McGonagall said something about leaving Lockhart to deal with the monster. She also added, with a hint of sarcasm, that his skills were legendary. Lockhart stuttered as he backed up, his hands clamped together, his face growing pale. He told the teachers he'd be in his office and dashed down the hall.

When that was settled Madame Pomfrey walked up to McGonagall with a terrified expression, "Who has the monster taken, Minerva?"

"Ginny Weasley."

I felt myself being pulled down as Ron's legs gave out from under him. Harry quickly caught him before he brought me down. As the teachers scattered we stayed hidden behind the torches. I stepped out in the open when the coast was clear. I felt a wave of tears wash over me as I stared at the wall. The message was written in blood: HER SKELETON WILL LIE IN THE CHAMBER FOREVER.

"Ginny…" Ron whispered. I knew he was terrified for his sister. Harry placed a comforting hand on our friend's shoulder.

"Come on. If Lockhart knows something we have to go ask."

Ron nodded weakly. As Harry and I began to walk down the hall without Ron. He was still standing in front of the wall, staring at the bloody message. I hoped to God and Merlin it wasn't Ginny's blood. Walking back to him, I grabbed his hand, "Let's go, Ron."

And he followed, a single tear falling down his cheek.