Chap. 16

Disclaimer on opening note

"I don't know," said a familiar voice. "She just fell. How am I to know? Maybe she rolled off while she was reading."

"Why anyone would read up there is beyond me," said McGonagall.

"It's a great place to clear your head and think," exclaimed the voice.

"Well," Dumbledore said, "we will find out when Ruby wakes up. We are very lucky you were there, Oliver, or she would have died."

"Oliver saved me?" Ruby asked from the bed. Everyone turned to her.

"Yes," answered McGonagall. "And a good thing too."

"Ruby, dear," Dumbledore said, "can you tell us what happened?"

"I must have fallen asleep while I was reading."

"Are you sure?"

Ruby looked as Dumbledore's eyes boring into her. He knows, she thought, so why am I going to lie to him? "Yes," she answered.

"Fine, then. Oliver, you are to be commended for saving Ruby. You are truly a good friend."

"I must ask you all to leave," Madam Pomfrey finally said.

"Of course, Pompy."

They all retreated except Oliver who briefly bent to her ear and whispered he'd visit later.

Ruby was visited by Oliver, Fred, and George, who told her of the Chamber being closed and that all the students were now safe. She received more information from Ron and Harry, who told her about Voldemort using Ginny through his old journal and that was how he was visible.

Once she was strong enough, Ruby returned to her room, but not without a visit to the dungeon.

"Come in," she heard from inside the office before she even knocked. She entered Snape's office and found him bent over his desk full of papers. "What do you need, Miss Kennedy?"

"I wanted to know my marks."

"You'll get them in the morning," he said with out looking up. "Now go, I'm busy." She was hurt by how he said this, the first time she felt weak against the words of Snape. She turned to walk out.

"No cunning comeback?"

"Have a good summer, Professor."

*** The final dinner was amazing and all the gang was back together. The excitement grew as Gryffindor was awarded the house cup. Red and Gold covered the hall, to the obvious displeasure of the Slytherins.

Oliver, Fred, and George sat around Ruby. Oliver would occasionally touch her hand and smile at her. He wanted to know what had really happened the night she jumped from the tallest tower. She still wasn't sure if she would ever tell him, or anyone else for that matter.

As they started to walk back to their tower Ruby started to lag behind. It was easy to lose the group, but not so easy to lose Oliver.

"Ummm, I have to go to the bathroom," she said.

"I'll come with you," he answered immediately.

"No, I'll be fine."

"I don't want to leave you alone."

"It's just the bathroom."

"But.I don't know what happened to you that night. All I know is that it must have been pretty bad to make you feel jumping from that tower was the only thing to do. I just don't want you to try something like that again. I want you to know you're safe."

She smiled at him. Oliver was the best, always wanting to protect her, but she need to stand on her own two feet. "I know, but I won't do anything like that again. I promise."

He looked at her and said, "If you are not in the common room in thirty minutes, I'm coming to find you."

"Fair enough." She turned and walked down the hallway alone.

She entered the same bathroom she had been in that night. Moaning Myrtle was sitting on top of the sink.

"Oh," she said, then gave a dismal look. "Oh, I thought you were Harry."

"Sorry to disappoint you." She went over to the sink, looking for how he had opened it.

"It's not there anymore. Dumbledore has hidden it."

"Oh."

"You should leave, or I'll tell your ghost and he'll tell your head of house."

"Get real," she said as she turned away.

"And to think," Ruby turned to hear what Myrtle had to say, "you thought you loved him."

Ruby walked out of the bathroom and slowly down the corridor. I thought he loved me, didn't I. I loved him and he loved me, right? "What's wrong with me," she yelled.

"Well," her answer came from down the hall, "yelling at nothing might be a problem."

Ruby looked at Snape and wanted to tell him everything, but instead she yelled.

"You're just like the rest of the Slytherins! 'Nasty little mud blood has no right to be here. She's crazy and odd and can't do anything right.'" She looked at Snape with his smug look on his face. "Well, say it!"

"Just because you are a muggle doesn't mean you can't be a wizard. And if this was during the normal year I would have taken at least fifty points from Gryffindor for your mouth. Get back to your common room!"

She looked at him and then to the floor. What an idiot I am. She walked to the wall and slumped to the floor, crying. The emotion she couldn't let out before came out in liquid form now. She heard Snape say under his breath "Oh you've got to be kidding me."

"Severus? What is going on here?"

"Well, headmaster, she is crying." Ruby looked up at both Snape and Dumbledore.

"Ruby, what's the matter?"

"Why am I so stupid?" she blubbered. "What's wrong with me?"

"What are you talking about?" snapped Snape causing Ruby to whimper. "I do not believe you are dumb, Ruby. Your grades say otherwise," Dumbledore added kindly. "Wouldn't you agree, Professor?"

"A rival to Miss Granger," he spouted. "Now if you'd excuse me."

"No you are not excused." Dumbledore turned his attention back to Ruby. "Now, what were you doing here tonight?"

"I was," she sniffled, "I went into the bathroom." That wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either.

"To see if you could enter that room again," Dumbledore finished for her.

"Yes, sir."

"And what did Myrtle say to you?"

"She said to leave or she would tell."

"Ahh," he laughed a little. "You know I think this is the first time she has done her job. Is that all she said?"

Ruby nodded.

"Are you going to be ok? I know this week has been. unusual."

"I'll be fine."

"Well, if you need to talk, you can find me. I think it would be best to go to your common room now."

Ruby got up to leave. Dumbledore smiled at her, Snape just looked really confused.

*** The trunks were packed, beds made, and all the students ate their last breakfast.

"I can't believe the year is over," said Hermione.

I can," Ron replied. Harry nodded in agreement as that grades sheets were passed out.

"So full marks, Hermione," asked Ron.

"Almost, except Potions."

"Wow," exclaimed Fred. "You must have the highest grades for Gryffindor."

Ruby saw Hermione beam as she looked over her own sheet and smiled. "A rival to Miss Granger," he had said. So she had left an impression on the Potion's Master after all. "What did you get," George asked her.

"Full marks."

"Even in Potions? Amazing!"

"Wow, that's...that's great," said an astonished Hermione.

"Oh no, academic rivalry!" Fred and George laughed.

As she boarded the train, Ruby thought of all that had happened. Everything that had been bad had something good to counter it. She had no regrets, even about Tom. She was wiser then when she came in and she had the grades to prove it.

Once at King's Cross, she watched her friends go off their separate ways and wondered what the next year held in store for them.

* IT'S FINISHED!!! Sort of.on to the next part of Ruby's adventure at Hogwarts. Hope the ending was ok. I didn't want it to end like the video game Harry potter and the chamber of secrets. I mean that ending sucked. I think this is at least better then that..so I'm happy! Until next time.STUDY YOUR POTIONS!