Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.
A/N: Thanks to PenguinLord0029 and Gazaran, who beta this story.
Chapter Forty-Six
The Chamber of Secrets
It was not until the next morning that Harry realized what he had missed the other night. That the girl that had been killed by Slytherin's monster had been found in the bathroom and both Harry and Ron realized that there was a good chance that that girl was Moaning Myrtle. Again hopeful that they had a lead only led to disappointment when they realize that they weren't going to be able to get anywhere near that bathroom.
However, this wasn't the only thing that was on Harry's mind as he thought about everything that Aragog had said to him. He was starting to feel more and more wary, like he was missing something. The memory that he was shown had to be true … that incident must have really happened, but the question was, was it what it appeared to be?
Obviously, Hagrid had never been the one that opened the Chamber of Secrets, which meant that T.M. Riddle had to have been wrong. Did Riddle just believe that the monster spider of Hagrid's had to be the monster from the Chamber, or was it something else … something a lot more sinister? The more he thought about this, the more he was inclining to believe the latter. There was just something that was wrong about Riddle.
First of all, Harry was sure that the diary he had found had to be linked somehow to the Chamber; that could be the only reason why it was at the school now, fifty years after the first attacks happened. Then there was the fact that there was no Tom Riddle at the school right now, though he had seen the name on the map the previous year, he was nowhere to be found now. So how did T.M. Riddle's diary get here in the first place?
"What are you thinking about?" Ron asked Harry, it had been a few days since the spider incident and they were walking away from their Herbology class. Ernie had just apologized for accusing him of being the Heir and attacking the others and though he was still upset about it, Harry accepted the apology. He had more important things to worry about than the Hufflepuff.
"The diary and Tom Riddle," Harry answered in a whisper.
"What about them?" Ron asked.
"Something just isn't right there, but I can't put my fingers on it." Harry said.
"I know what you mean," Ron frowned. "That whole thing with Hagrid … the git should have just left him alone …"
"Actually that's not really what I'm talking about," Harry said. "I can understand trying to get to the bottom of a problem like that … trying to find out who was responsible for those attacks. I was thinking about the fact that Hagrid wasn't really the one that was doing them …"
"Like I said, he's a git for turning Hagrid in," Ron said.
"And I'm still wondering where the hell that other Tom Riddle is?" Harry muttered, almost to himself. "Where did he disappear to?"
"I don't know," Ron frowned. "We only saw his name that one time when he was with Quirrell … for all we know, he was actually trying to help that bastard get the stone …"
Harry stopped walking and stared at his friend in wonder. "What did you just say?"
"Er … that Riddle might have been helping Quirrell." Ron said uncertainly. "I know it's ridiculous …"
"No!" Harry said his eyes wide as he held his hand over his mouth as a crazy idea filled his mind. "It can't be …"
"What?" Ron asked.
"Ron … we only saw Tom Riddle's name with Quirrell the one time, right?" Harry said. "Neville said he was there the whole time … and it was the day that he was going to steal the stone."
"Yeah …" Ron said slowly.
"This is going to sound crazy … but … I think Tom Riddle … I think he might be Voldemort!"
Ron just looked at his friend in complete disbelieve.
"I know … it's crazy," Harry repeated, feeling ridiculous saying that, but at the same time feeling that he was right. "Think about it Ron. We know that Voldemort was possessing Quirrell … or at least sticking out of the back off his head … He had to have been close to Quirrell the whole time!"
"No!" Ron said gasping this time, because what Harry said made sense. "It can't be!"
"Now that I think about it, who in their right mind would name their child Voldemort … he had to be known as something else before …" Harry kept mumbling to himself. "Argh … and I believe that stupid memory just because I knew it couldn't be forged. The bastard set Hagrid up and I effing believed him."
"Harry, he must have fooled everyone," Ron said reassuringly.
"Whatever," Harry groaned.
Ron was looking thoughtful now. "Harry … I still don't see how the diary is connected to this."
Harry looked at his friend gravely and said uncertainly, "It must be able to tell whoever has the diary how to get into the Chamber … I bet he's the real Heir of Slytherin."
"That would make sense," Ron grimaced. "What do we do now?"
"I don't know," Harry frowned.
O
The rest of the term Harry felt completely useless. He didn't know what to do about either the Moaning Myrtle or diary problems. He longed more than ever to talk to Hermione, knowing that she would have come up with some kind of plan by now that would have solved all their problems. At the same time, it was painful to think about Hermione, he had let her down; he had fail her in the worst way possible and he couldn't get over that. Ron wasn't much better than him, moping around the halls all the time.
Harry was so out of it he didn't think about calling Remus and Sirius and telling them about what he had learned. It didn't even cross his mind, as he left the two-way mirror in his truck at night. Really, he just didn't want them telling him that it wasn't his fault that Hermione was petrified, because he knew they would be wrong.
It wasn't until the day before they were supposed to get tested for their final exams that year (Ron grumbled only once about how they should just cancel the exams because of everything that has happened this year), that something happened. The first thing was Ginny had sat next to him for the first time he could ever remember. There was a determine look on her face as she tried to talk to him, but there was also something odd about her expression.
"Harry …" she said, shifting in her seat uncomfortably. "I have to tell you …"
He waited but she didn't seem to be able to say anything.
"What is it Gin?" Ron asked, looking at his sister with concern.
"I …" she started, but again she wasn't able to talk.
"Does this have something to do with the Chamber?" Harry asked, getting the feeling that Ginny had something important to say.
She looked up at him, opened her mouth and then …
Percy sat down next to her, causing Ginny to jump up and leave the table.
Harry stared after her, not sure what to make of what just happened. Percy insisted that it wasn't anything seriously, all the time blushing, but Harry couldn't shake the feeling that she had something important to say.
"Harry?" Luna said once he got to the door of the Great Hall.
"What's up Luna?" Harry gave her his best smile, which wasn't very happy because of everything that was going on.
"There's something wrong with Ginny," Luna said.
"What do you mean?" Ron asked immediately.
"There seems to be a dark aura around her," Luna said. "I don't know what it is, but it has been growing darker all year …"
"And this is the first time you're mentioning this?" Harry asked as Ron rolled his eyes, obviously not taking Luna's warning seriously.
"I thought it was just Dumberries," Luna said gravely, her eyes were filled with guilt. "They make you shy you know … they attack you when you're not sure off yourself … that's why I thought she was acting so strangely this year …"
"Strangely," Ron muttered, wondering how Luna could call anyone else strange, but she didn't pay him any attention.
"Harry it's not Dumberries!" Luna said. "It something really dark … I don't know what to do!"
"I'll try and find her," Harry said, knowing that Luna truly believes that there was something wrong with Ginny. He didn't want anything else to happen to any of his friends so he was going to make sure that Ginny was all right.
However, before he could go anywhere, he was force to go to his class by Snape. He couldn't concentrate at all in class today, but seeing as he was in Lockhart's class, he wasn't really missing anything. He came up with a brilliant idea to finally get away from the watchful eyes of his professors so he could both check out Moan Myrtle's bathroom and try to find Ginny.
He played up to Lockhart's vanity, telling him that they didn't really need Lockhart to walk them to class (which has been a new rule at Hogwarts since Dumbledore had left) and Lockhart, wanting to use his time to curl his hair (or something to that effect) did as he suggested.
Feeling rather good about his idea, he and Ron headed towards the bathroom, only to be stopped by McGonagall. Harry must really be having a lucky day, because he managed to masterfully get himself out of detention and even got special permission to be allowed to go to the hospital wing (which no one was allowed to go to until the people that had been petrified had been cured). Of course he didn't want to go to the hospital, but after he nearly made McGonagall cry when he told her that he wanted to visit Hermione, he had no other choice.
He almost wished he had just taken the detention as he looked down at Hermione, her features the same as they had been the last time he saw her. Guilt washed over him again as he stared at her. He grabbed her hand hoping to find some sign of life in it, but it was cold.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered to the statue that couldn't hear him and he was about to turn away when he realize there was something in Hermione's hand. "What's this?"
"Huh?" Ron said; he was trying to avoid looking at Hermione.
"There's something in her hand," Harry said, trying to get it out. He didn't know why, but he was sure it had to be important. It was difficult, but eventually he was able to get the piece of paper out of her hand and realized that it was a page from a textbook. He read the following aloud:
Of the many fearsome beasts and monsters that roam our land, there is none more curious or more deadly than the Basilisk, known also as the King of Serpents. This snake, which may reach gigantic size and live many hundreds of years, is born from a chicken's egg, hatched beneath a toad. Its methods of killing are most wondrous, for aside from its deadly and venomous fangs, the Basilisk has a murderous stare, and all who are fixed with the beam of its eye shall suffer instant death. Spiders flee before the Basilisk, for it is their mortal enemy, and the Basilisk flees only from the crowing of the rooster, which is fatal to it.
"Ron! This is it!" Harry exclaimed.
"What?"
"The monster that's been attacking everyone! It's a Basilisk!"
O
Harry could not believe that even when petrified Hermione had found a way to help him. This thought brought a smile to his face as he and Ron walked to the staff room so they could tell the Professors all they had learn.
However, just as they got there his heart was filled with dread as he heard an announcement, telling everyone to go to their common rooms and the professor to meet in the staff room. He decided to wait in staff closet to hear what they had to say.
Another message had been left on the wall where the last one was written. This sent a chill down his spine as McGonagall repeated it.
"Her Skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever."
That chill was nothing to what he felt when McGonagall said who had been taken.
"Ginny Weasley."
O
Ron had no idea how they got back to the common room, but that was where he was hours after hearing about his sister being taken. He couldn't seem to be able to catch his breath as McGonagall's words replayed in his head. 'Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever.' He almost felt envious of his brother's because they hadn't hear that … they just knew she was gone … He rubbed his eyes as he felt tears form in them … his sister was gone …
He felt numb; those words made him feel numb. Until he started at Hogwarts, Ginny had always been there. He couldn't remember a time when he and Ginny weren't playing around or doing something. In a very real sense she had been his best friend … she had always been his favorite sibling. He remembered the time that she had fallen out of the tree they were climbing when he was seven. She had broken her arm and he had carried her all the back to the Burrow so their mum could fix her right away. He felt awful … hating himself for letting her gets hurt … He felt worse now. Still, the words his dad said to him that night came back to him:
"I know you want to protect you sister, Ron, but that doesn't mean that every time that she falls down it's your fault. You're upset because she was hurt this time, but getting hurt … falling down, that is a part of life that you cannot protect anyone else from experiencing. All you can do is be there for her when she does fall down, so you can help pick her up … or in this case, carry her home so she can get help."
As he remembered these words he realized part of the reason why he felt so terrible was there were things that he could have done to help his sister … things he can still do if only she was … NO! She is alive! he thought to himself firmly, and he wouldn't let himself think differently.
He got up and walked over to Harry, he need his best mate to help him with this, even though Harry looked almost as devastated about this as he himself was feeling. "Harry?"
Harry looked at him and Ron could see guilt in his friend's eyes, which of course Ron thought was ridiculous. Harry was no guiltier than he was. He had no idea where his next question came from … he didn't even want to think it, let alone say it, but when he looked at his friend he found himself asking, "do you think she could still …?"
Harry gulped, and Ron could read the answer on his face though he would never say it out loud. His resolve crumbled for a second … fear that his sister might truly be gone filled him …. Then he shook his head and reminded himself that he had to do something … anything, to try and help pick up his sister.
"We should tell someone what we know," Ron said firmly.
Harry frowned, and there was a slight apprehension in his demeanor before he stood up and seemed to steel himself for what was to come. Ron was not sure if Harry was just coming with him because he wanted to support him, or if Harry was starting to hope like he was that they might be able to help his sister, but he was just glad that Harry was there.
O
Harry couldn't see how Ginny could be alive, not after what they heard McGonagall say but he desperately wanted her to be, so he went with Ron hoping against hope that they would find her somehow. He felt terrible for the Weasleys, especially Ron, but it was more than just that. He felt like he had let another of his friends down … so far down that their life was in danger. He kept thinking about what Luna had said, about a darkness being around Ginny all year … about it getting worse today and his stomach clinched in pain. He knew he was missing something … something that would make this all make sense, but he couldn't think clearly right now.
He was surprise when he looked up that they were at Lockhart's office, he wasn't sure why Ron would take them there. He reasoned it was because McGonagall had put him in charge of the search for Ginny, but he still thought Ron would have had more sense than going to this fool for help.
Harry's anger started to boil immediately when he noticed that all of Lockhart's things seemed to be in bags, and he knew that Lockhart was planning on leaving. Lockhart was a complete coward, and he didn't seem to care about anyone. He even admitted that he wasn't the one that did all the things that he wrote about, that other people did them and he erased their memories afterward so he could take the credit for their actions. Lockhart really was foolish to actually believe that after mentioning that to them that they wouldn't defend themselves, but he and Ron had both pulled out their wands before Lockhart could and Harry even managed to disarm him.
After they had dealt with Lockhart, they had decided to go to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom so they could question the ghost about her death and they brought Lockhart along with him. Harry didn't want to let the git have a chance to run away like he knew the coward would have. They didn't run into anyone as they made their way to the bathroom, where they found Myrtle crying as usually.
However, the ghost seemed strangely happy, at least happier than Harry had ever seen her, when they asked her how she died. She explained about hearing a boy speaking in a language that she couldn't understand, and that she looked out of the stall that she was in only to be meet by a pair of eyes and dying instantly. It was a chilling story but it had given him one new important clue. The entrance to the Chamber of Secrets had to be here, in this bathroom.
He walked over to the sinks, knowing that was where Myrtle heard the boy speaking from, and examined them closely until he found one with a snake on it. He gulped as he looked at it, knowing what he was going to have to do to open this. He had to speak to it in Parseltongue. When he looked at Ron the other boy nodded at him encouragingly and told him to speak to it.
It took a few times for him to say the words in the language he never knew he spoke, but after he imagined the snake as being real he finally managed it. It was odd seeing the entrance form right there in front of their eyes.
"I'm going," Harry said as soon as the sink stopped transforming, there seemed to be no other choice for him at this point, if he could do anything to help Ginny he had to go.
Ron nodded his head and Harry could see his friend had come to the same conclusion. Lockhart, on the other hand, seemed to be fine with the idea that two boys jump down a dark hole without him, and tried to back out. Harry was having none of that; again he didn't want Lockhart to sneak off somewhere, never having to pay for the horrible crimes he had committed against the people whose memories he had erased.
The ride down to the Chamber was dirty and slimy but at least that part of it wasn't dangerous. However, the fact that a Basilisk could be at any corner did make things nerve-wracking, especially when they ran into the skin that the beast had shed. Harry looked at the skin in fear; only know realizing just how big the monstrous snake was going to be.
"Ha!" Lockhart suddenly exclaimed, grabbing Ron's arm and trying to take his wand. However, Ron didn't give it up without a struggle, trying to push the older man off him. Harry wanted to help his friend, but he couldn't find an opening on Lockhart because the two were moving too much. He heard a sickening snap and he feared what that meant as Ron was pushed away.
"Say goodbye to your memories," Lockhart said smugly and Harry felt hopeless because Ron was standing in between him and Lockhart and he didn't know what to do to help. "Obliviate!"
Harry could see a flash before Lockhart was thrown backwards crashing into the back wall. The whole cavern seemed to shake at that as rocks started to fall around them. Harry had to roll out of the way to avoid getting hit by them and by the time the dust settled he realized that he couldn't see Ron anywhere.
"RON!" he shouted.
"Harry!" he heard the respond. He was sure his friend was shouting too, but it was still hard for him to hear his friend through all rock between them.
"WHAT HAPPENED?" Harry asked.
"The git broke my wand!" Ron said and Harry could hear the anger in his voice.
"Hello," Harry was barely able to hear a second voice that had to be Lockhart's. "Do I know you?"
"I think the spell backfired on him," Ron added.
Harry felt this was nothing more than Lockhart deserved and didn't give his professor a second thought. "RON, I'VE GOT TO GO ON!"
"I'll try to clear a passageway for you," Ron's grim voice came minutes later and Harry was sure that his friend wished that he could have been with him. As he moved to walk away he heard the sounds of rocks being moved.
