Chapter Three - To Hogwarts
Hermione Weasley sat in her office. Hermione was the Transfiguration professor at Hogwarts, and reminded many of Professor McGonagall.
She had just received an owl from her sister-in-law, Ginny. Ginny was coming to visit her, which was slightly strange, especially as she was coming without Harry. Could something possibly be wrong with Ginny and Harry's marriage?
That couldn't be, Hermione thought to herself. After all these years, Hermione couldn't imagine anything getting in the way of their love. They had always been the perfect couple, even though no one had realized it at first.
Hermione loved her job. She loved teaching the children, even the Slytherins. She loved being at Hogwarts, where she had such wonderful memories of herself, Harry, and Ron, growing up together. She remembered how the two boys had fought for her love during their 6th year, and how she fell in love with Ron. She remembered how Ginny had always been pining for Harry, and how Harry did not realize until it was almost too late.
Why was Ginny coming back to Hogwarts without Harry?
* * *
Sam sat in the Slytherin common-room, playing Exploding Snap with Robert and a few other guys. It was late, and the common-room empty, except for Sam and his friends.
"Guys, I have to tell you something."
"What?" Robert replied.
"Remember when I told you that I was visiting my grandfather over vacation?"
"Yeah," they replied.
"Well, I found out how to get into the Chamber of Secrets. And I plan on doing it. Tomorrow night. Who's with me?"
Robert and the others looked on in shock. "I'm in." Robert replied, breathing heavily.
The two other boys nodded.
* * *
Ginny arrived at Hogwarts early the next morning. It was too early to go see Hermione, so she walked around the grounds, remembering everything that happened to her when she was a student. The castle hadn't changed much, though the staff had. The old generation had died out, including Dumbledore, Hagrid, McGonagall, and Snape. They were gone, and new teachers had come in their stead. Professor Greene was the headmaster, and Hermione, who would soon replace him, was the Transfiguration professor.
Ginny remembered her first year at Hogwarts very well. She remembered how scared she was, and how excited she was. She remembered how she had taken the boat across the lake that first day. She remembered how she prayed to be in Gryffindor, and that the hat almost put her in Ravenclaw. The hat said she would have done well there. Then she remembered how Harry and Ron came in by her father's flying car. Ginny laughed, in memory of the event.
But her happiness the first year did not last long, soon she was in the clutches of Tom Riddle, who forced her to open the Chamber of Secrets, and to kill Mudbloods. Luckily, it had failed, and the students she tried to kill, including her friends Hermione and Colin, were only petrified. And luckily, Harry had saved her before she was killed.
Ginny shuddered, remembering the Chamber of Secrets. How Tom had pushed her down the pipe and dragged her into the Chamber. And Ginny shuddered even more, remembering what she had seen there, what Sam might unknowingly let out.
* * *
Harry woke up early that morning. It was around 5:00. He usually did not wake up that early unless something was wrong.
Harry opened his eyes. He could barely see but immediately he knew what was missing.
Ginny.
Harry reached for his glasses and put them on his face. He wondered where Ginny had gone at 5:00 in the morning. Then he noticed a note, lying on the night table.
Dear Harry,
I went to visit Hermione at Hogwarts. I'll be back soon.
Love, Ginny
Harry reread the note, not sure that he had gotten it right the first time. Why would Ginny go to see Hermione in the middle of the night. Why couldn't she just wait until morning?
Harry tried to think of a reason that Ginny would leave. What had Ginny been saying the other day? Something was worrying her.
Then Harry remembered. It was Sam, their grandson. Ginny was worried about him. He was worried that he would try to open the Chamber of Secrets.
That was ridiculous. He couldn't do it, he wasn't a Parselmouth.
Or was he?
It was possible, Harry thought. Like grandfather, like grandson.
But it certainly wasn't worth worrying about. After all, Ginny knew as well as he did that the basilisk was destroyed, and there was no danger in the chamber anymore.
Harry sighed. There was nothing to worry about. Ginny was just getting paranoid in her old age. She would be back soon, realizing that she needn't have gone.
But, as Harry fell asleep, he had a sudden momentary feeling that perhaps Ginny was in more danger than he realized.
Hermione Weasley sat in her office. Hermione was the Transfiguration professor at Hogwarts, and reminded many of Professor McGonagall.
She had just received an owl from her sister-in-law, Ginny. Ginny was coming to visit her, which was slightly strange, especially as she was coming without Harry. Could something possibly be wrong with Ginny and Harry's marriage?
That couldn't be, Hermione thought to herself. After all these years, Hermione couldn't imagine anything getting in the way of their love. They had always been the perfect couple, even though no one had realized it at first.
Hermione loved her job. She loved teaching the children, even the Slytherins. She loved being at Hogwarts, where she had such wonderful memories of herself, Harry, and Ron, growing up together. She remembered how the two boys had fought for her love during their 6th year, and how she fell in love with Ron. She remembered how Ginny had always been pining for Harry, and how Harry did not realize until it was almost too late.
Why was Ginny coming back to Hogwarts without Harry?
* * *
Sam sat in the Slytherin common-room, playing Exploding Snap with Robert and a few other guys. It was late, and the common-room empty, except for Sam and his friends.
"Guys, I have to tell you something."
"What?" Robert replied.
"Remember when I told you that I was visiting my grandfather over vacation?"
"Yeah," they replied.
"Well, I found out how to get into the Chamber of Secrets. And I plan on doing it. Tomorrow night. Who's with me?"
Robert and the others looked on in shock. "I'm in." Robert replied, breathing heavily.
The two other boys nodded.
* * *
Ginny arrived at Hogwarts early the next morning. It was too early to go see Hermione, so she walked around the grounds, remembering everything that happened to her when she was a student. The castle hadn't changed much, though the staff had. The old generation had died out, including Dumbledore, Hagrid, McGonagall, and Snape. They were gone, and new teachers had come in their stead. Professor Greene was the headmaster, and Hermione, who would soon replace him, was the Transfiguration professor.
Ginny remembered her first year at Hogwarts very well. She remembered how scared she was, and how excited she was. She remembered how she had taken the boat across the lake that first day. She remembered how she prayed to be in Gryffindor, and that the hat almost put her in Ravenclaw. The hat said she would have done well there. Then she remembered how Harry and Ron came in by her father's flying car. Ginny laughed, in memory of the event.
But her happiness the first year did not last long, soon she was in the clutches of Tom Riddle, who forced her to open the Chamber of Secrets, and to kill Mudbloods. Luckily, it had failed, and the students she tried to kill, including her friends Hermione and Colin, were only petrified. And luckily, Harry had saved her before she was killed.
Ginny shuddered, remembering the Chamber of Secrets. How Tom had pushed her down the pipe and dragged her into the Chamber. And Ginny shuddered even more, remembering what she had seen there, what Sam might unknowingly let out.
* * *
Harry woke up early that morning. It was around 5:00. He usually did not wake up that early unless something was wrong.
Harry opened his eyes. He could barely see but immediately he knew what was missing.
Ginny.
Harry reached for his glasses and put them on his face. He wondered where Ginny had gone at 5:00 in the morning. Then he noticed a note, lying on the night table.
Dear Harry,
I went to visit Hermione at Hogwarts. I'll be back soon.
Love, Ginny
Harry reread the note, not sure that he had gotten it right the first time. Why would Ginny go to see Hermione in the middle of the night. Why couldn't she just wait until morning?
Harry tried to think of a reason that Ginny would leave. What had Ginny been saying the other day? Something was worrying her.
Then Harry remembered. It was Sam, their grandson. Ginny was worried about him. He was worried that he would try to open the Chamber of Secrets.
That was ridiculous. He couldn't do it, he wasn't a Parselmouth.
Or was he?
It was possible, Harry thought. Like grandfather, like grandson.
But it certainly wasn't worth worrying about. After all, Ginny knew as well as he did that the basilisk was destroyed, and there was no danger in the chamber anymore.
Harry sighed. There was nothing to worry about. Ginny was just getting paranoid in her old age. She would be back soon, realizing that she needn't have gone.
But, as Harry fell asleep, he had a sudden momentary feeling that perhaps Ginny was in more danger than he realized.