Chapter 54 – Moaning No More
Harry's return to Hogwarts after the New Year was uneventful. There was no Malfoy on the train for a change to harass him or his friends. Luna and Susan made a fuss over Crookshanks and asked for a complete accounting of the time Hermione spent with Harry. Harry blushed at that but luckily Hermione didn't tell them or Ron and Neville all the things they had done together. The three couples had a good time talking and laughing all the way back to the Hogwarts station.
Once classes actually resumed, everyone had had about a month to mostly forget about the incidents surrounding one Harry Potter. Harry and Hermione returned to their normal school classes while they got on with searching for clues to the Heir of Slytherin or the location of the Chamber of Secrets.
Harry got back to his work at Zemdelza's twice a week and began learning more about the way goblins applied specific spells and charms to gemstones. It was interesting to find out that a cloaking charm for example couldn't be placed on sunstone at all but the same charm would work very well on a just a sliver of rose quartz. Harry finally felt he was getting some knowledge that would be useful when he ever got around to constructing his own staff.
The additional work with goblin Charms led Harry into a better relationship with Professor Flitwick. After getting an explanation about a particularly difficult weather type charm, Harry told the professor that he was working with the goblins with the end aim of constructing another staff of his own. They spent a whole afternoon discussing the various protections Harry thought about putting on a new staff. That discussion along with a few others led to the last Charms class for Gryffindor on January 29th to having a special visitor. Moaning Myrtle sat nervously between Harry and Hermione as they all listened to Professor Flitwick explain the use and casting of the Flame-Freezing Charm.
Myrtle had been very reluctant to leave the safety of her loo once everyone had returned from the holidays but Harry and Hermione had started taking her on longer and longer walks and she had gotten over a little of her nervousness and self-consciousness. She had been amazed as a few of the castle ghosts they saw actually stopped and greeted her. She was absolutely overjoyed that Professor Flitwick had extended a personal invitation for her to come to one of his classes.
Myrtle had listened raptly to the lecture and whispered to Harry that this was a lesson she thought she remembered from when she was alive. Harry smiled at her interest and hoped she would like to continue to attend. Professor Flitwick didn't object as long as she wasn't a disruptive factor and most of his fellow Gryffindors didn't mind as long as Moaning Myrtle wasn't actually … moaning. She had actually remembered her classroom etiquette and didn't let any of the looks and mutterings distract or upset her.
When Seamus made his first attempt at casting the flame-freezing charm, Myrtle joined in with everyone else's giggles when it failed. Seamus had waved his wand so vigorously in trying to cast the spell that he had actually transferred the flame to his own wand. He tried shaking the partially frozen flame off his wand but only made the situation worse and spread it around the classroom. Professor Flitwick finally seized the wand from Seamus' hand and cancelled the spell – an obvious fix that Seamus hadn't thought of.
Harry tried the spell on the flame that sat in front of him and was pleased when it suddenly stopped waving about. Knowing it was safe to touch it, Harry passed his hand through the fire without feeling any heat at all. Myrtle seemed enthralled by the magic and clapped her hands when Hermione did it to her little fire on her other side. "That's very good, isn't it, getting it right on the first try?"
"Hermione is a very smart and strong witch" Harry said.
Hermione replied "So's Harry."
"I wish I could do magic again. Harry could I touch yours?"
Hermione grinned and leaned in so that only Myrtle could hear her whisper. "Are you trying to proposition my boyfriend right here in class Myrtle?"
Myrtle blushed which actually brought a bit of color to her chalky face and she pushed Hermione on the shoulder in fun. Well, she tried to push but her hand and part of her arm went through Hermione. Hermione shivered at the pass through and Myrtle apologized sincerely. Harry cast a warming charm on Hermione and she smiled as she regained normal feeling again.
Harry told Myrtle to try touching the flame but she was reluctant as she had dealt with existing solely in and near water for so long. "I'm a little scared of it; it'll burn me."
"You're a ghost now Myrtle and the flame is frozen; it's only partially there."
Myrtle looked to see that Harry was serious and then reluctantly moved her hand to the flame. Harry and Hermione were surprised to see that Myrtle's hand lost most of its whiteness as she touched where the flame was; in fact the hand looked almost human colored again.
"That tickles some" Myrtle said. She pulled her hand out and watched as it slowly turned back to its ghastly color.
"Try that again Myrtle and then try touching me" Hermione asked.
Myrtle was puzzled but did as Hermione asked. She left her hand in for a few seconds and then reached over to put her hand on top of Hermione's. "That's warm now Myrtle!"
'Harry we might be able to make Myrtle appear more like the other ghosts or sort of human again.'
'Let's ask her and Professor Flitwick after class.'
Harry cancelled the spell to Myrtle's disappointment but performed it again when Professor Flitwick made his rounds around the classroom. Hermione told him the effect that the frozen flame had on Myrtle and the professor asked her if she would like to try a further experiment or two after class. Myrtle was pleased at the positive attention and nodded her head.
A few of their friends said goodbye to Harry, Hermione and Myrtle after the class was finished. Harry noted that Ginny was staring at the three of them again with a confused look on her face like she was trying to remember something important. She finally shook her head left the classroom. Hermione noticed where Harry was staring. "She looks so confused or mad some days."
"It's like she totally frustrated at not putting the pieces together somehow. And her hair."
"What do you mean Harry?"
"It's sort of losing its glow and…personality. I'll apologize for noticing her and something that's not my business anymore."
"It really is ok Harry. I still worry about her myself."
Professor Flitwick cleared a space in the center of his classroom. Harry and the others were impressed how quickly how quickly the professor conjured up a three foot wide circular fire pit; Hermione was asked to perform a fire spell and she placed a giant flame in the pit. It would continue to burn until the spell was cancelled.
Professor Flitwick thanked Myrtle for volunteering and assured her that she wouldn't be harmed by whatever happened. He said there would be a couple of different attempts to see how she reacted to the fire, frozen or not. She was nervous but nodded when Harry reassured her that he and Hermione would be right there.
Flitwick asked her to pass her arm through the flame first. Myrtle did the first pass very quickly as if she feared really being burned; when she found out that she had no ill effects she tried it a few more times and laughed at how silly she had been. "She still just doesn't remember that she's a ghost sometimes even after all these years" Hermione whispered to Harry.
"Any bad feelings there Miss Beechwood?" Professor Flitwick asked. Myrtle replied that her arm felt a little warm but other than that she was okay. Professor Flitwick said the next step would involve stepping into or through the flame itself. Myrtle looked at it a long time before she stepped up and stayed in the flames for five seconds before floating back out. Hermione could see that the experience had flustered the ghost a little bit; it had to be scary with the flames bouncing around her. But again she said it only made her a little warm.
The next step Professor Flitwick said was to redo the efforts with the frozen flames. He cast the spell to freeze the flames and Myrtle waved her arm through the half-illusion. Her giggles at the tickling feeling disappeared as she saw the color of her arm change. It became a light, light pink but then faded back to her pasty off-white color. She seemed very disappointed when it went to her 'normal' color.
Hermione had an idea and conjured up a mirror. She went over and showed it to Myrtle and said she could at least take a look at herself it she went through the frozen flame. Myrtle nodded enthusiastically at the idea and stepped right back into the magical light. After waiting for about five seconds she stepped out when she couldn't stand the tickling sensation anymore. Myrtle had a hard time focusing on her image but smiled when she finally saw it in the mirror. Her face fell when her washed out appearance slowly reappeared. She almost started crying again.
Harry had a sudden idea and stopped the former Ravenclaw from leaving in tears. He explained his idea to her and Hermione and Myrtle got a hopeful look on her face. Harry told Professor Flitwick that he had an idea of placing a fixing charm on Myrtle while she was standing in the frozen flame. The professor said that he wasn't sure it would work but then again nobody had ever tried it before.
Harry went back over and stood by Hermione and Myrtle. "I think it's going to take both of us to get this to permanently work, Myrtle. Are you sure you want to try?"
Myrtle nodded and stepped into the flame when Harry nodded. Harry grasped Hermione's hand and called up the bond magic. He waved his wand at the figure starting to giggle in the frozen flame and called out the spell. "Commaturesco Spirituosos Astructus!"
The frozen flame was surrounded by a number of blue and gold winking stars that appeared to sink into the semi-hidden figure inside. Myrtle gave one last laugh and floated out to stand before the three others in the room. All of whom had opened their mouths in shock.
"It didn't work did it?" said Myrtle as she started working herself up into a right proper sulk and cry session.
"Miss Beechwood" Professor Flitwick interrupted, "perhaps you ought to take a look for yourself." The small professor climbed up on a chair and held the mirror up for Myrtle to take a look at herself. The ghost peered into the mirror and sank down to her knees and would have disappeared through the floor if Harry and Hermione had not shouted at her.
Where the Myrtle who had stepped into the flame had been a greenish-white pimply faced girl with lank and stringy hair, the one that had emerged was vastly different. Myrtle now had a slight pinkish tinge that made her look a lot healthier and all the pimples and other facial blemishes had disappeared; her hair had been given some body and structure and now hung down around her face in little waves and an occasional ringlet. She was pretty, as ghosts generally go; transparent but definitely not the same old Myrtle.
Myrtle asked Hermione to hold up the mirror again so she could look at herself again. Professor Flitwick asked Harry to write down the spell so he could study it for a bit. They were both staring at Myrtle while having this discussion to see if the effects would start to disappear.
After about five minutes, Myrtle didn't change at all and rushed over to give Harry a bit hug. Harry braced himself for the cold but the feeling was totally different with the new and improved ghost. Harry felt only a little bit of warmth and had the slightly weird experience of the ghost's breasts passing into him; literally into him.
"How are you feeling now Myrtle?" came from Hermione as she came up to try free Harry from the ghost's clutches.
Myrtle turned around with a huge smile on her face. "I feel dry for the first time in about fifty years and I haven't thought about death once in the last five minutes. I feel wonderful. If I didn't think Hermione would try to hex me, I would try to snog the daylights out of you, you great big wonderful wizard!"
Hermione and Professor Flitwick smiled while Harry blushed down to his toes. "I'm glad it worked out for you Myrtle. Does this mean you'll keep going on walks with us and coming to class?"
Myrtle nodded and kept on talking. "And I'll tell everyone I see how great a wizard you are Harry."
Hermione rescued her embarrassed boyfriend. "That part isn't necessary Myrtle; Harry doesn't want any more attention for stuff like this. He only did this to help out a friend. But you know what? I bet Fred and George would really like to see the new you."
"You think so? Okay, I'll go give them a big surprise." Myrtle floated out through the door but came back and blew Harry a kiss. "Thanks again Harry."
"And Hermione too!" Harry called out as the ghost disappeared again. "Oh boy!"
Hermione giggled and gave Harry a hug. "And another convert to the Harry Potter fan club is born. Launched? Created?"
"Enough already Hermione. I got it."
Professor Flitwick came up and congratulated both Harry and Hermione. He had seen the display that did the transformation of the ghost and was impressed. "The spell you cast seemed to be a little bit more than a fixing charm Mr. Potter. It also contained some cleansing and maybe an aging agent as well. You have apparently given Miss Beechwood the appearance she might have achieved naturally after the ravages of adolescence passed by her. Very good work indeed."
Harry and Hermione bid their Charms professor good day and exited the classroom. They were talking about the way the bond magic had worked on the ghost and wondered if Dumbledore would have a more thorough explanation of how the ghosts dealt with their magic and being magic.
Harry wasn't paying attention much where they were walking but suddenly found himself in a narrow corridor by himself. "Hermione?"
Hearing a rustling from a nearby hanging tapestry Harry pulled back a corner to peer in back of it. He was quickly hauled into the darkness by his belt. Before he could yell out his alarm, his lips were quickly covered. "Whdgnhngn" loosely translates as "What's going on?" Harry's lips were uncovered for a split second. "Your reward for just being a great big wonderful wizard" said Hermione quickly before she covered his mouth again.
Xxxx xxxx
Neither Harry nor Hermione could coach Myrtle to come back out to top of the Astronomy tower later that evening. She had ventured out at sunset with Neville and Hermione and Lavender and commented on the lovely view. Myrtle had seen other sunsets from around the lake or peering out a window that was close to her bathroom but this was a special one for her.
Unfortunately as it got darker and darker Myrtle got more nervous. When Harry appeared a half hour before class was to formally start, Myrtle came running over to him and begged him to be excused from the class even though she had been invited.
"What's the problem then Myrtle?" Harry asked.
"It's so big, bigger than I remember. I feel like I could just lose myself staring up into the sky. I'm scared I'll float way and be lost again. Could you walk me back down Harry? I'm scared."
Harry turned to look over at Hermione who had heard the last part of the ghost's speech. She nodded at Harry and Harry knew that Myrtle wouldn't try attending this class again. He held out his arm with a smile and told Hermione he would be escorting one of the nicest ghosts in the castle on a walk for a bit. Hermione nodded and was surprised when Myrtle literally flew over and engulfed her in a big hug.
"Thank you ever so much for letting me borrow your future husband from time to time Hermione; you're the best friend I never had when I was living. I'll try not to keep him long."
Hermione realized that she was crying as she watched Harry walk down the stairway with the ghost. Neville came over and asked Hermione if Harry had said or done something wrong and hurt her. "No Neville. It's nothing like that; I just feel overcome with love for Harry every once in a while and realize how lucky I really am. And a little bit sad that everyone doesn't have someone that special."
Neville patted Hermione on the shoulder. "I'm sure Harry will be right back."
Harry and Myrtle were walking through one of the corridors on the fifth floor when they heard a number of voices coming from around the next bend ahead. Harry was going to look around the corner to see who it was but was informed with a giggling whisper that his companion was a little better suited for spying. Harry turned a disbelieving eye toward Myrtle but she said she was confident that Harry would protect her. Harry watched as Myrtle floated into the wall and came back a few seconds later.
"It's that Draco Malfoy and his two "boyfriends". They are trying to break into the prefect's bathroom. That doesn't seem right."
"That's Malfoy to a tee; trying to be something and get something he's not entitled to. Merlin knows why he's trying to get into the prefect's bathroom."
"He probably thinks he might get lucky if he could bring one of his real girlfriends up here."
"Eeeewww! Now I have to go wash my brain to get that image out of it. Let's go the other way then."
"I really think you should wait a minute or two Harry. The castle doesn't usually like it when people try to break in where they're not supposed to be. I do believe it will be worth your wait."
Harry didn't question Myrtle's statement but found a little alcove where they were hidden out of a casual look. About two minutes later there was a series of screams and the trio of Slytherins second years went hurrying by. It was hard to tell exactly who the three might be because they were totally covered in what appeared to be a noxious smelling ink. A bunch of quills were stuck on them in various places and there was a small fleet of flying quills following them down the corridor.
Harry laughed so hard he fell out of the space he had been hiding in. He and Myrtle both bowed to Peeves who was following Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle and directing the flying quills.
"This is ever so much fun for me! Horrid little ponces they be!" Peeves waved back at the pair and hurried away down the corridor chasing the smelly trio. Harry tried to stand upright but was still bent over laughing. "I can't believe that Malfoy got himself in trouble again."
"He does seem to find trouble more than average, doesn't he?"
"Yes, but Myrtle as much as I enjoy your company I need to get back to the Astronomy tower and my class. Will you be all right from here on?"
"I think so Harry. I'm sorry I took you away from there."
"It's okay Myrtle. Would you like me to ask some of the other professors if you come to class with me and Hermione?"
"That would be nice but not in Potions please. That Snape gives me goosebumps; he's scarier than I ever could be."
Harry agreed with that laughingly. He told Myrtle that he would see her soon and turned away to head back to the stairway leading to the Astronomy tower. He turned back to see if Myrtle had disappeared into one of the walls but was surprised to see that she had been joined by another ghost! The Grey Lady, Helena Ravenclaw, appeared to be having a serious talk with Myrtle and Harry watched as they turned and headed down the hallway together. 'Curious.' Harry hurried to get back to his class before it started. He wondered what Hermione would think of that particular meeting.
Xxxx xxxx
It was another two days before Hermione caught up with Myrtle again. Hermione saw her outside her loo on the second floor when she went to do one of her infrequent checks on that pass around journal. It was kind of frustrating that neither Harry nor she had been able to take a look at it closely since school had begun back in September. It was almost as if Ginny or one of the others was hoarding it and trying to keep it hidden.
"Hi Myrtle." Hermione was slightly surprised at the change that had happened; with Myrtle's appearance and attitude and Hermione's opinion of the ghost. Originally she had gone along with Harry in befriending the apparation because she had felt sorry for her. That had turned around in the intervening months and Hermione now regarded Myrtle as one of her friends. A little unusual friend perhaps, as Luna was, but still a friend.
"Hermione, it's nice to see you. Have you loss Harry again? He's not hiding in there."
Hermione smiled at the good natured joke. It was nice that it wasn't 'Moaning' Myrtle anymore. Since Harry had brought her out of her shell, and especially since the 'makeover', Myrtle was downright friendly most of the time. A few of the older boys occasionally whistled at her and she had almost got the hang of flirting back. It was very surprising and nice to watch.
"Harry's gone down to the Quidditch pitch with Ron to fly for a bit since the weather's clear. I thought I'd take a break from the library and see how you were doing. Harry told me he saw you taking a walk with Helena Hufflepuff the other night. That must have been a surprise for you."
"Yes, she's a legend, even when I was alive. To have such an interesting but tragic life and then she's been dead for literally hundreds and hundreds of years. I was surprised when she came and sought me out for a talk."
"So, can I ask what you talked about or was it a private matter?"
"No I don't mind telling you Hermione. She had heard that I had done some changing and I was becoming a little more sociable and leaving my sanctuary a lot more often. She wanted to see how I was doing with all the newness of everything and wondered if I needed any advice or a female ghost just to talk to once in a while."
"That was nice of her to offer that. She's usually a very private person… ghost."
"I know. I'll try to never bother her but it was nice that other evening. We wandered the halls for an hour or two and I really can't remember the specific topics we talked about. She really is a very nice lady."
"That's wonderful Myrtle; I'll tell Harry – I'm sure he'll be thrilled you found another friend. Have you seen Ginny Weasley or any of the other writing girls lately?"
"Not really, I took a look last evening and the journal wasn't there."
"That's ok; I've begun to think that it's just not going to ever turn up so we'll never find out who this mysterious Tom is. We've got bigger worries anyway."
"I'm still trying to recall what happened to me Hermione. I'm sorry I'm so ditzy."
"It was a serious and deadly trauma Myrtle. It's no wonder you can't remember; we're not mad at you because you can't tell us about who or what killed you."
"I know but I'd still like to help you and Harry find out what the monster is so you can get rid of it. Let me pop in and take a look for the journal then." Myrtle walked through the wall to go into the loo; Hermione thought it was easier to watch the ghost go into solid objects than to suddenly appear out of them.
Myrtle suddenly came back out and almost yelled at Hermione. "The journal is inside but somebody tried flushing it down the loo!"
'Harry!'
