* I think I'm doing pretty well with my schedule, don't you think? Anyway, enjoy!

It had been four days since John had exploded in front of Clara. He had been so scary. And for one moment, Clara saw a boy who was not John Smith, but someone much more powerful, and sad.

She hadn't spoken to him in those few days. She kept her head low, feeling that she might erupt on him. Clara felt like screaming her guts out, crying, repeatedly harming harming something or someone.

Then, McGonagall made the announcement of her the mandrakes being mature enough to be cut and made into the potion to heal Hermione and the others. Happiness was another feeling added to Clara's emotion volcano. She really was going to burst.

Harry and Ron had told her what happened when they met the arachnid, Aragog. They suspected Myrtle was the one who had been killed fifty years ago. Clara just nodded along.

John now didn't sit with Clara during meals. Instead, he would it at the end, claiming he had to study since exams were starting. Though, Clara knew that John hated to study for his tests. He just read books for fun.

Harry and Ron must've noticed her stiffness, because that morning they asked her, "What did John do?"

To which Clara replied, " He was being a complete dumba-"

She was interrupted by Ginny, who had just joined in. Ginny looked on edge. "Um, um," she squeaked.

Ron sighed. "What is it Ginny?"

"I have something important to tell you," Ginny whispered. She rocked back and forth in her seat, and she played with the hem of her robes.

Harry must've noticed this as well. "Is it something about the Chamber? Did something happen to you? What did you see?"

Clara wanted to punch the clueless boy in the face. Obviously, there was something up with Ginny, but that was not how you would go about with the situation.

Her friends opened her mouth, but closed it immediately when she saw Percy coming. She ran off, whimpering.

Percy sat down, and grabbed a cup from the table. He gave a smug look in Ron's direction.

Ron hissed. "She was about to tell us something important!"

Percy choked on his drink. "Oh yeah, and what'd she tell you?'"

"Nothing, since you came! She probably knew something on the Chamber of Secrets!"

Percy spluttered. "I-no. Sh-she saw me and um, in the hallway… You know what? Nevermind."

Clara nearly laughed at Percy's expense. She could see the he was very uncomfortable. "Three guesses what he was doing in the hallway to get him this jumpy," Clara murmured in Ron's ear.

Ron laughed, and passed the bun which Percy had asked for.

For the rest of the day, Clara attended her classes as usual. She would notice John sometimes, rushing to his classes with his uniform all messed up. Clara decided that they would need to have a serious chat sooner or later.

Clara sighed as she was walking to the common room. Professor Sprout was leading the Gryffindors there, and everybody seemed very miffed that they didn't have their usual private time outdoors or in the hallways.

Students grumbled about not being able to play Quidditch or chase each other around outdoors. Though, Clara had to admit, even she was getting antsy. Suddenly, an announcement blared.

"All students are to return to their dormitories immediately. All teachers to the staffroom," Said McGonagall's voice.

Professor Sprout gave a nervous chuckle. "Well, we're here! I'd best be off. Remember, behave!" And she left.

Clara made her way into common room, which was filled with bored students. She found John, a little further away from the other people. She sat next to him.

John let out a scoff. "I didn't think you wanted to talk to me anymore."

"I don't, but we kind of have to. There's too much going on for us to be angry with each other." Clara noticed John gazing into nowhere. He shook his head.

"What did you mean the other day?" Clara asked.

"What?"

"You said that you've experienced the unimaginable. Tell me."

"No."

"Why not?"

John let out a snort. "Because I think you'd get scared."

"How?"

"I don't know. I just know that you will."

Clara pursed her lips. "I'll respect your privacy, but John," she gave a stern look, "It'd be best if you told me."

"That's just it. There's nothing to tell."

"What do you mean?"

"I was just being an egomaniacal prat, like you think I am," John answered.

Clara rolled her eyes. "No, there's more. There is something you're not telling me."

"Really? And how would you know?" John asked sarcastically, but Clara ignored it.

"It's in your eyes. I see it every time I look at you, they're big and sad. Too old for you, I think. It's like something's hidden," Clara said without realization. It suddenly hit her that she was describing herself.

John gave Clara a quizzical look, then asked, "Where's Ginger?"

Clara was surprised by what John said. "Ginger?"

"Ginny."

"I-I don't know. Loo, perhaps?"

John shook his head. "No. Remember, we're stuck here. I think we would've seen Ginger in the past twenty minutes or so."

"Maybe she's hiding, she was awfully stressed about Hermione."

"We'd better find her. There's probably a reason everybody was sent to their dorms."

"Ok..."

At that moment, Ron and Harry burst through the portrait hole. They looked stressed, especially Ron. The two boys caught Clara's eye, and they hurried toward her.

"Have you seen Ginny?" Ron panted.

"No, we were just wondering-"

Ron paled. "That-that mean that… It's true!"

Clara shout out of her seat. "What happened? Is Ginny alright?"

Harry shook his head. "We, we were just about to tell the professors what we knew-"

"Never tell a teacher what you've been doing," John grumbled.

Harry shot him a look. "Anyway, we went to the staffroom…"

"GINNY'S BEEN KIDNAPPED!" Ron shrieked. John straightened his back immediately.

"What?" Clara cried.

"There was this writing on the wall, saying that she was taken to the chamber," Harry panted. "We overheard the teachers talking about it-"

Clara collapsed. She buried her face in her hands. But something was wrong. "Sh-She's a pureblood though. Wh-why?"

Ron stiffened. "Remember breakfast? I think she had something to tell us. If only Percy hadn't-"

Percy strolled in beside them. "Don't disrespect your superiors like that, Ronald!"

"Shut up!" Ron spat. "Ginny wouldn't be in this position had you just let us be!"

Percy stumbled back. "What do you mean? What happened to Ginny?" Percy asked with such force, Ron was at a loss of words..

"Prissy," John said.

"It's Percy, and would you mind telling me what is going on?" Percy asked enraged.

"Well Prissy," John continued, "Your sister has been kidnapped and taken to the Chamber for her to rot away and die. Any questions?"

Percy paled and his mouth hung open. "No."

"Denial much?" John asked. Clara couldn't resist elbowing him.

"This is what he's like. Ignore him." Clara said, though her words were laced with venom. "What matters is that we get Ginny out of there and-" She was interrupted by Percy storming out, and leaving for the boys' dormitories.

Clara looked at her shoes. "We have to tell the rest of your family, Ron."

Ron nodded, and left to tell his twin brothers and to owl his parents. Clara sat in silence with Harry and John until he came back. Fred and George looked awful. Their playful smiled gone.

"We should tell Lockhart what we know," Harry said firmly.

"Why?" John asked.

"He's been put in charge of resolving the whole issue."

John coughed and crossed his arms. "I can't believe-"

"Me neither," Harry said.

The four students made their way to Lockhart's office. Harry carefully pushed open the door, just a crack, to find a very flustered looking professor. The professor peeked through the door and opened it just enough for Claar to be able to see his face clearly. His hair wasn't as immaculate, and his robes were wrinkled. Even his face seemed more solemn, yet desperate.

"Ah, Mr. Potter, Weasley, and uh-"

"Clara Oswald and John Smith," Clara answered.

"Yes, you two, what are you doing here? I must admit this isn't the best time. I am quite busy…"

"Yes, we know professor. But, we have some information to tell you."

Lockhart clenched his jaw. "Er-um, alright." He opened the door all the way. Clara walked in, and immediately noticed the change.

There were trunks filled with utter nonsense (mainly his books). The walls were now bare as all the paintings had been removed. Clara didn't know if this was a good or bad sign.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

"Somewhere-er- important. Got to go…" Lockhart replied.

"What about my sister?" Ron snapped.

"Ah, yes, that really was unfortunate. I so regret that I wasn't there-"

Clara felt her blood boil. "You aren't a real defense against the dark arts teacher. You're just some model with a few books that weren't even written by him!"

"I am sorry," Lockhart said, though he avoided her eyes. "I didn't know- didn't think that something like this could happen…" He looked up to grab a pair of gloves. "As for the books… I did write them, I just didn't do what they said I did."

"So, you're a fraud!" Ron snarled.

"In a way… But, I am good at one thing. You see, some people do notice and- well I can't have that," Lockhart said. "I am quite knowledgeable in the area of memory charms." He closed his trunks.

"I am very sorry," he said. Lockhart pulled out his wand, and Clara knew what he was going to do, but John had better reflexes.

"Expelliarmus!" John roared. Lockhart's wand flew out of his hand, and Ron caught it.

John walked up to their dazed professor. "If there's one thing you should know, if you value your very life and existance, you should never, ever let professor Snape teach a defense against the dark arts lesson."