Chapter 24

Ghost

The transparent figure of a glum young girl bobbed in front of them.

"Moaning Myrtle?" Hermione said in a horrified sort of way. "What are you doing here-"

"I wanted to see what you were doing. You could act more pleased to see me."

"Why would we-" Hermione began, then shut her mouth, remembering how easily upset Myrtle was. She couldn't deal with the ghost's tears right now. "Well, this is what we're doing."

"It looks like you're in trouble," Myrtle noted unsympathetically.

"Yeah, kind of," Harry said. "Hermione, let's get the hell to the next obstacle. You carry Ginny."

Hermione carefully scooped up the now very light girl, ignoring her cries of "I can walk!" as Harry hauled up a semi-conscious Ron.

They carefully made their way out of the room, Myrtle floating uselessly behind them. "Have you been stalking us this whole time?"

Myrtle crossed her transparent arms. "I haven't been stalking you! There's no need to be so-"

"Have you?"

"…Yes."

"Brilliant," Harry muttered. "Well-

"Look!" Hermione interrupted him, adjusting Ginny in her arms. Before them on a high pedestal was a glittering golden cup with a badger on it.

Harry's eyes widened. "That's the cup of Hufflepuff! I saw it when Dumbledore took me inside his memories, remember? We've reached the Horcrux!"

"But I doubt we'll be able to just go up and take it," Hermione reminded him, kneeling to the ground to deposit a very sulky Ginny there.

"Well, yeah, but we're almost there," Harry said, letting Ron sit down too, as Myrtle bobbed above him.

"Just don't do anything stupid this time," Hermione said primly, crossing her arms. Ginny snorted. "Ginny, you'll be all right here, right?"

"Yeah."

"Ron's okay too?" Hermione knelt down with Harry beside him.

"He seems to be. If you're right, and apparently that's a given, he and Ginny will just need to be in the hospital wing. The sooner we get the Horcrux, the sooner we get help." Harry stood up and pulled out his wand. "We'd better be on our guard."

Hermione nodded and raised hers up. They creeped stealthily toward the Horcrux, jabbing their wands in the air like jousts. About five feet away from the Horcrux, Hermione's wand bent as it met something solid. All she could see was air, but as she pushed her hand forward, met a sort of force field, which she could not, try as she might get through.

"Great," Harry said. "Any idea what spell this is?"

"I haven't a clue," Hermione shook her head. "It's certainly not a simple, or even advanced shield spell. It has to be broken down by something other than magic, but I have no idea what."

"Blood, maybe?" Harry held out his wrist and raised his wand. Hermione grabbed it.

"You did it last time, I'll do it."

"It's FINE, Hermione. It's just a cut."

"Exactly. So I'll do it this time."

"Stop making such a big deal about this!"

"I'm not, you are. I said I'd do it, just let me!"

"I said I'd do it first!"

"Do you honestly think I can't handle a little pain, Harry?"

"We're wasting time!"

"Yes we are, so-

"Is that cup what you two want?" Myrtle said behind them, sounding gloomy, but vaguely interested.

Harry sighed. "YES, Myrtle."

"Why don't you go get it?"

"BECAUSE Myrtle, there's a-HEY!" Harry screamed as Myrtle floated through him and the force field. Suddenly the earth ripped a part and several pillars toppled, raising dust everywhere. Hermione raised her hands and backed away in shock. When the dust settled however, she saw Myrtle floating near the cup and walked a few steps forward, only to find the invisible barrier was gone.

"Whoa," Harry said as he sidled up beside Hermione. "What just happened?"

Hermione kneeled down excitedly, looking at the rubble and dust around her. "I think I know what just happened! Voldemort used a very rare spell-the only way to get through this forcefeild was a human sacrifice!"

"A…human sacrifice?"

"You had to kill somebody. Their spirit leaving their body would trigger the barriers downfall. Voldemort thought that more than one person wouldn't make it this far, so the barrier would be impossible to break down, unless you wanted to kill yourself, in which case, you wouldn't get the Horcrux scenario. Or say more than one person did get through- you would have to be truly callous to sacrifice a friend. That's something to count on. BUT, when Myrtle went through the barrier, it had the same reaction that it would if someone was sacrificed, because she's dead."

"Wow. Myrtle-" Harry turned around to face the ghost, who was sobbing. "Uh, why is she crying?"

"Oh. Probably because I mentioned she's dead," Hermione bit her lip. Myrtle gave a howl of sadness.

"But Myrtle, we're glad you're dead, otherwise-

"GLAD I'm dead? Oh course you are, everybody is!" Myrtle sobbed harder.

"Oh, er that came out wrong…what I meant was…" Harry muttered as the ghosts sobbing increased. "Er…forget it. Thanks Myrtle."

Hermione put a hand over her mouth to hide her smile as she and Harry went and carefully pried the cup from its stand.

-Because I could not stop for Death

He kindly stopped for me

The carriage held but just ourselves

And Immortality.

-The Chariot, By Emily Dickinson