22: The Whole Truth
I was in the common room a few days later, with a pad of parchment and a quill, trying to find a connection the attacks, who was behind it, and what the monster was. I just had to clear my name. Since Macmillan called me out in the Great Hall I've been called "Miss Slytherin.". The very thought made me shiver.
I was getting increasingly annoyed. Nothing seemed to make sense to me! I was almost glad to see Crystal walk through the door of the common room and sat next to me.
"Hey, Harley!" Crystal said cheerfully, sitting next to me on the couch "How are you?"
I shook my head "Not so well." I said, tossing yet another piece of parchment into the fire "I've been trying to figure out what the connections between the attacks were for ages, and I keep drawing blanks!" I explained, starting my investigation over by writing the names of the attacked again.
"Don't worry about it. I think you will." Ivy said, smiling as she took the pad out of my hands "So, is Percy still with Penelope?"
nodded "Yes." I said coldly. I had forgiven Crystal for most things, I just have yet to forgive her for setting Penelope on Percy.
"Well, don't give up!" Crystal said, almost…too cheerfully.
I cocked my head to the side and looked at my best friend. She was acting odd. I was suspicious.
"Do you know something I don't?" I asked, squinting my eyes as I looked at Crystal "You seem a little too happy today."
"No." Crystal drawled suspiciously "Say, why don't we go to Nightshade's?"
I smirked, but my suspicious look remained "Sure." I said accusingly, taking my wand and standing up.
"All right, let's go!" Crystal said, following me up to my dorm "We can spend the afternoon hanging out and we can sleep in here." she added, way too cheerfully.
I stopped right in my tracks and turned around "You…want to sleep…in here?" I asked, now certain she was up to something.
"Sure, why not?" Crystal said, grinning as I pulled on my cloak "I mean, we could have a sleepover."
I stood up straighter and started to think. That wasn't the Crystal I knew. The Crystal I knew was never this happy What was she up to? I thought
"What's going on?" I asked finally, turning toward my best friend.
"Nothing." Crystal said, obviously trying to sound convincing.
Seriously, what's going on?" I asked, staring at Crystal like a cop trying to get an answer out of a suspect.
"Look, Harls, nothing's wrong." Crystal said handing me my wand "I-I just wanted to spend some time with you."
"I'm going to go see Harry." I said, starting for the common room door. Harry was in the Library for some reason.
"No!" Crystal yelled, blocking my way.
"Crystal!" I gasped, shocked "You never tried to stop me from seeing Harry before. Now I want to know. What the Hell is going on!" I demanded, putting my hands on my hips.
"He-He's just busy ok!" Crystal said quickly, tensing as I started to try to go around her.
"With what? I could help him." I asked, trying to get through the door.
"Just stuff." Crystal said, still blocking my way "It's not that important." she added, a little tense.
Crystal was lying to me. I knew it. She lied that way before she showed me that shiner over the summer.
"I will read your mind, so help me, I will!" I threatened, staring Ivy down.
"Try me." Crystal said, lowering her arms and crossing them.
So I did. And…nothing.
"What the heck!" I shouted, gaping.
"Look, all Harry told me was that I should hang out with you all day." Crystal explained, sounding as if she was hiding something. Something…secretive.
"Does this have anything to do with the Chamber of Secrets?" I demanded, getting annoyed at this point and trying not to let it show.
"I-I, look I can't say anything, please just-" Crystal started, stammering out a see through explanation.
"Crystal, I know when you're lying to me." I said, crossing my arms "And we aren't going anywhere until I know what in the name of Cam Morrison is going on."
"Ok, it does!" Crystal shouted, admitting defeat "But I have to keep you in here!"
I started putting two and two together. Crystal wanted me in here, Harry was busy and it had something to do with the Chamber of Secrets.
"What's Harry up to?" I demanded, glaring at Crystal unintentionally.
"Will it keep you here?" Crystal asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Yes." I lied, nodding. If Harry was in trouble, he'd need my help.
Crystal looked at me suspiciously and sighed "The monster attacking the students is a Basilisk. It took Ginny and Harry, Ron and Lockhart went to save her in the Chamber of Secrets."
I shot up off the sofa and started to run, cursing Harry as I went.
Why the hell did he not want me to help him? Why didn't he tell me this stuff? I deserved to know, damn it!
I stopped running when someone grabbed my arm.
Crystal.
"Look, only Harry, Ron and I know where it is and only Harry can get in anyways so you can't help him." Crystal said gravely, tightening her grip on my arm.
I wrenched my arm out of Crystal's grip and looked up into her eyes, pleading "Please, Cryssie." I said "I got to know. Where is it and how can I get in?"
"I can't tell you, Harley. I have to keep you away from there." Crystal said, looking down on me.
"Why?" I asked, annoyed.
"Because it's too dangerous." Crystal said gravely "If you look into the Basilisk's eyes, it kills you. And the students attacked saw them through something."
"So?" I snapped, letting Crystal go and turning around "Harry gets to go in! Why can't I?"
"Because he can speak Parsletongue, snake language. That's why he can get in, you can't. And he has Ron and they're getting Ginny."
"HE'S TWELVE YEARS OLD! Why didn't he ask me to go?" I demanded "I could've helped!"
"Because Harry worries and Moaning Myrtle isn't the nicest person to be around." Crystal explained, then stopping to swear under her breath.
"Harry worries about what?" I asked raising my eyebrows in confusion "And who's Moaning Myrtle?"
"No one." Crystal said quickly "Harry's just afraid you'll get hurt."
"So that gives him the right to go into the Chamber of Secrets, with a Basilisk, and Skinner knows what else, and risk his own ass? I'm going to help him, Crystal, whether you and him want me to or not!"
"There is no way…" Crystal starts, but she stops, closing her eyes for a second "Follow me." she said when she opened them again, starting down the hall.
I smirked triumphantly and followed her.
"You can wipe that bloody smirk off your face, because I'm only bringing you because something went wrong." Crystal said as we entered a bathroom with the ghost of a girl picking a spot on her chin at one of the mirrors "Hello, Myrtle." Crystal greeted the ghost before we stopped at a sink.
I looked down, frowning "This is the Chamber of Secrets?" I asked, peering into the drain hole "What went wrong? Did Harry get stuck in the drainpipe?" I asked, snickering "I'm funny." I remarked, smirking.
Crystal flashed me a "Honestly, is this the proper time to be saying that?" look before closing her eyes. The next thing I heard was a lot of hissing and the sink opened up to reveal a slide.
"Stay here." Crystal said starting to position herself to go down.
"No way!" I said, pulling her out of the way and sliding down myself.
"HARLEY POTTER!" Ivy yelled as I slid down "Don't be haunting me if you die down there! Percy's gonna kill you!"
I pulled out my wand when I reached the foot of the slide.
"Lumos Maxima." I whispered as I walked, the light of my wand leading my path.
I heard a whimper and I shut my eyes tightly. If that was the Basilisk, I didn't want to die or be Petrified right when I entered the Chamber.
"Harley?" a voice called out.
I risked opening my eyes and saw Ron with Lockhart.
"Ron!" I called out, relieved "What's up with him?" I asked, jerking a thumb at Lockhart, who was humming some stupid song.
"He tried to blank our memories." Ron explained, giving Lockhart a kick. I smirked when Lockhart said "OW!"
"More importantly, what are you doing in here!" Ron shouted, pointing at me "Didn't Crystal try to keep you away from here?"
I nodded "Yeah, she tried. But least you forget I'm a Gryffindor. And I'm brave and courageous. Now if you'll excuse me."
I brushed past Ron and through a small gap in a rock cave in. I smirked again when I got to the other side.
Being the runt twin has its advantages! I thought as I walked past two pillars into the main Chamber.
I saw Ginny lying at the foot of a statue of Salazar Slytherin, beneath her a pool of blood. I looked around for Harry, and found him with a large snake cornering him.
I gasped as some handsome dark haired older teen looked at me and grinned evilly. He laughed a high, cold laugh.
My scar burned.
