Chapter 5 – Bathroom Visits
A tattered wooden door decorated with the sign "OUT OF ORDER" creaked open when Hermione won the struggle against the doorknob. In front of her was the same isolated and ancient-looking bathroom as Hermione had remembered it to be four years ago; the only difference was the condition of it had worsened, if that was even possible. The tiles on the hard floor were cracked and torn apart, as if an earthquake had occurred and destroyed the floor. The stalls on the right of her were battered up, with some folding at the top and others were unscrewed completely. Hermione held her nose for a minute; she couldn't stand the disgusting, moldy smell that hovered in the bathroom.
"Ha." Ron declared, following her cautiously, "This bathroom just keeps on getting better and better every year."
Hermione couldn't agree more. There were distinguishing black marks on the dusty sinks that looked like burns on crumpled up skin. Even the stale air of the abandoned bathroom felt negative, keeping her on alert by looking from her left to her right constantly, as if something unusual was about to jump at her.
"Nobody's here yet." She whispered.
"I am." Someone spoke. Hermione gasped and jumped on her feet simultaneously. One of the stalls opened and out came a gaunt-faced girl with pearly eyeglasses and black hair.
Hermione's heart cooled down a bit, "Oh, it's only you."
The ghost of Moaning Myrtle swiveled around them a few times and came to a sudden stop. Hermione never thought that she would be back in there; it felt quite weird to see Myrtle glaring at both of them. She spoke, "Oooo…You're back!"
"Uh…yeah." Ron mumbled.
"But where's Harry?" She asked with anticipation, with her eyes fluttering.
"He's-"
The door opened and as if on cue, Harry stepped into the bathroom reluctantly and caught Moaning Myrtle, Ron, and Hermione standing (or floating) in the middle.
Moaning Myrtle gave an oh of surprise and held her hands to her cheek.
Harry backed up a step when he saw Moaning Myrtle gliding to him. Hermione could sense some heavy duty attraction occurring between them. She heard Ron cough playfully.
"Myrtle, could you leave us alone?" Ron told her annoyingly.
The gray ghost of Moaning Myrtle glared at Ron for a moment, and then burst into sudden tears.
"Nobody wants me!" She whimpered and sobbed, but there was no sign of tears.
Ron glanced at Hermione desperately, and she said, "Fine, you can stay, but if you say a word to anyone about this, you're-you're…"
Myrtle's eyes widened, "What…dead?" And with that, she cried some more.
Harry, who had placed himself on the floor at a corner, rolled his eyes.
"All right! Stay!" Hermione fumigated. She caught Harry's gaze. He was taking a look at the circular-shaped sink tower with sinks on each side. Something peculiar was coming out of one of the sinks; a forest-green colored plant that seemed to be increasing in size every second. It was coming out of the broken tap.
"What is that?" Hermione whispered.
Ron and Harry exchanged looks.
"Wasn't that the entrance to…?" Said Ron
"The Chamber of Secrets?" Harry finished for him, "yeah, that was what I figured."
"Reducio!" Hermione yelled out, pointing her wand at the plant.
At that moment, the door opened once again and Neville trotted in, "McGonagall spotted me coming this way." He said, with a bizarre look on his face.
All three laughed. Hermione could just picture the surprised face of McGonagall as she saw Neville head in the girl's bathroom.
"It's not funny," Neville said, "She started questioning me, asking me why I was going in the girl's bathroom. She got suspicious, but then I said I was going to Professor Sprout's office for help."
"I doubt if she bought that." Harry snorted.
"She didn't. I had to walk all the way to Sprout's office and then walk back here."
A feeling of worry came upon Hermione. McGonagall wasn't dense. She probably knew that they were up to something, since she had seen Neville coming this way, and Neville wasn't exactly the best liar. If she did suspect something, she would probably tell Dumbledore. But that's a good thing, isn't it?
"She probably knows you're in here anyways, Neville." Hermione said.
"Does it really matter?" Ron spoke in a nonchalant tone, "Even if she does catch us in here, we'll just say that we came to visit Myrtle or something like that…Or at least that Harry came here to visit her and made us tag along."
Hermione giggled, along with Neville and Ron while Moaning Myrtle blushed a surprising crimson red and gave Harry a surreptitious look. Harry, on the other hand, rolled his eyes for a second time and said, "Very funny."
"I thought we were here to talk about Harry." Hermione directed, bringing her hair up into a messy ponytail.
"All right, what's your plan?" Ron asked.
Harry sighed, "Okay," he observed Ron and Hermione, "I'll tell you, but you both have to promise not to go babble this to everyone."
Hermione glanced at Ron. Even though she wanted to say yes, she couldn't. The gut feeling in her stomach told her that whatever Harry's plan was, it was going to have dangerous consequences.
"We will-" Ron started, but she interrupted, "No. We're not promising to keep your plans a secret until you promise us that you won't do anything reckless without informing us first."
Harry raised his eyebrows, "If you're talking about what happened at the end of last year-"
"That is exactly what I'm talking about, Harry. When you were missing, we were so worried that we had to go to Dumbledore and tell him what was going on."
Ron nodded in agreement, "Only then, we found out about that prophecy. Couldn't believe my ears, I tell you. Couldn't believe that you didn't tell us, mate."
"I didn't want you to worry." Harry looked away from them to Moaning Myrtle, or through her.
Emotion swept over Hermione. She sighed deeply, "We're your friends, are we not? You used to tell me and Ron everything. You used tell me and Ron everything, and lately, you barely talk to us about school and Quidditch, let alone Voldemort or the prophecy."
Harry's face flared up like a torch, "So what are you saying? That I'm not a good enough friend? Maybe I don't want to tell you. You have no IDEA what it is to be me. YOU-"
"Hey, hey!" Ron broke in, "that's not what she meant. I think she's just hurt about the fact that our friendship isn't as strong as it was before."
Hermione felt a surge of gratitude at Ron's words. She had never heard Ron say something like that. He was usually the annoying boy who would say out-of-place things and act in an insensitive pattern.
In a long time, Neville spoke, "I think I know where you're coming from. Maybe it would help if they knew about what was going on."
"We're here to help you, Harry. We can help you get through this. So, promise us that you'll keep us updated, and we won't tell anyone what you're planning unless it's completely unreasonable." Hermione observed Harry curiously. She had a pretty good idea about what was going on in his head.
"All right. I'm planning to go to the Department of Mysteries, get through that door of unknown magic that Dumbledore was talking about, get that power and then ambush one of Voldemort's followers and when they lead me to him, I'll…umm…kill him." As Harry said that, Ron and Neville's faces reached a height of graveness, but Hermione snorted.
"You think it's easy to kill? Even if it is Voldemort, do you think you can commit murder?"
"But he has to do it…one time or another." Said Neville, scared at the thought that he could have been the one that the prophecy was referring to.
"He has plenty of time!" Ron said with fury, "Harry, you should wait until you've learned enough about magic and had experience."
"Experience, eh? I think whatever I've been going up against for the past 6 years or so is enough experience for anyone. And time…do you think I'm going to wait around while innocent people are getting killed?"
"But, Harry…" Hermione was at a loss of words. He was right, it had to be done, but Harry wasn't prepared for it. With every single encounter Harry had had with Voldemort, he had come out of it barely alive. "Even if you do decide to get to the Ministry, you never will." Hermione said, causing Harry's face to contort in confusion. "I mean, that you're guarded and watched everywhere you go. Dumbledore is going to know when you run off, and he's going to stop you, whatever the prophecy might contain. You're too young to be going up against him."
"Look, Hermione," started Harry, "I know you're saying all of this out of concern, but I have to do this."
Hermione was so frustrated. When is he going to get some sense?
"Jus don't do anything without telling us first." Ron articulated.
"I won't." Harry replied, looking down at the dirty floor.
All of the stench around Hermione was starting to make her feel a bit woozy. She got on her feet and began to wipe her robes clean, "As much as I would love to continue this chat, I think I'm going to head to the Common Room. A pile of homework is waiting for me."
…
Hermione took a seat on a chair by the window and opened her Herbology homework first. She couldn't believe the amount of homework she had to catch up to. She had five hands-on projects, approximately three essays in each of Herbology, Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, and Arithmancy. Just thinking about it made her head swirl. If I fail any of the subjects, I swear I will kill Malfoy…
As she was writing an essay on Pixie Dust, Harry and Neville came in.
"We're both going to bed." Harry said, with Neville behind him.
"At 9:00?"
"Yeah." Both spoke at the same time and they looked at each other, smirking.
"And where's Ron?"
"Oh…he went to the library." Oddly, Neville laughed at this comment, and both of them headed upstairs to the bus dormitory.
"Good night!"
Men. She just hoped that they weren't planning anything. Lupin's letter suddenly came to mind, in which he had written 'keep a watch on him'. How am I supposed to keep a watch on him between piles of homework, being Head Girl, and dealing with Draco Malfoy every single day?
About a half an hour passed by until Ron made his entry in the Common Room, with a pile of books in his hands.
"What are all those for?" Hermione asked in as Ron put all the books down and sat next to her.
"They'll come in handy for all those essays you have left to do. I thought I'd help you…since I don't have anything to do…"
For a moment, she just stared at him. She didn't know for how long, but something in his bright eyes was captivating her like no one else had before.
"If you don't want me to, it's okay." He said with insecurity.
"Huh? No, of course I want help." She spoke. She was still amazed at how much Ron had changed. It was like he was a whole new person, one that did their homework, study, take visits to the hospital wing every single day…
A tattered wooden door decorated with the sign "OUT OF ORDER" creaked open when Hermione won the struggle against the doorknob. In front of her was the same isolated and ancient-looking bathroom as Hermione had remembered it to be four years ago; the only difference was the condition of it had worsened, if that was even possible. The tiles on the hard floor were cracked and torn apart, as if an earthquake had occurred and destroyed the floor. The stalls on the right of her were battered up, with some folding at the top and others were unscrewed completely. Hermione held her nose for a minute; she couldn't stand the disgusting, moldy smell that hovered in the bathroom.
"Ha." Ron declared, following her cautiously, "This bathroom just keeps on getting better and better every year."
Hermione couldn't agree more. There were distinguishing black marks on the dusty sinks that looked like burns on crumpled up skin. Even the stale air of the abandoned bathroom felt negative, keeping her on alert by looking from her left to her right constantly, as if something unusual was about to jump at her.
"Nobody's here yet." She whispered.
"I am." Someone spoke. Hermione gasped and jumped on her feet simultaneously. One of the stalls opened and out came a gaunt-faced girl with pearly eyeglasses and black hair.
Hermione's heart cooled down a bit, "Oh, it's only you."
The ghost of Moaning Myrtle swiveled around them a few times and came to a sudden stop. Hermione never thought that she would be back in there; it felt quite weird to see Myrtle glaring at both of them. She spoke, "Oooo…You're back!"
"Uh…yeah." Ron mumbled.
"But where's Harry?" She asked with anticipation, with her eyes fluttering.
"He's-"
The door opened and as if on cue, Harry stepped into the bathroom reluctantly and caught Moaning Myrtle, Ron, and Hermione standing (or floating) in the middle.
Moaning Myrtle gave an oh of surprise and held her hands to her cheek.
Harry backed up a step when he saw Moaning Myrtle gliding to him. Hermione could sense some heavy duty attraction occurring between them. She heard Ron cough playfully.
"Myrtle, could you leave us alone?" Ron told her annoyingly.
The gray ghost of Moaning Myrtle glared at Ron for a moment, and then burst into sudden tears.
"Nobody wants me!" She whimpered and sobbed, but there was no sign of tears.
Ron glanced at Hermione desperately, and she said, "Fine, you can stay, but if you say a word to anyone about this, you're-you're…"
Myrtle's eyes widened, "What…dead?" And with that, she cried some more.
Harry, who had placed himself on the floor at a corner, rolled his eyes.
"All right! Stay!" Hermione fumigated. She caught Harry's gaze. He was taking a look at the circular-shaped sink tower with sinks on each side. Something peculiar was coming out of one of the sinks; a forest-green colored plant that seemed to be increasing in size every second. It was coming out of the broken tap.
"What is that?" Hermione whispered.
Ron and Harry exchanged looks.
"Wasn't that the entrance to…?" Said Ron
"The Chamber of Secrets?" Harry finished for him, "yeah, that was what I figured."
"Reducio!" Hermione yelled out, pointing her wand at the plant.
At that moment, the door opened once again and Neville trotted in, "McGonagall spotted me coming this way." He said, with a bizarre look on his face.
All three laughed. Hermione could just picture the surprised face of McGonagall as she saw Neville head in the girl's bathroom.
"It's not funny," Neville said, "She started questioning me, asking me why I was going in the girl's bathroom. She got suspicious, but then I said I was going to Professor Sprout's office for help."
"I doubt if she bought that." Harry snorted.
"She didn't. I had to walk all the way to Sprout's office and then walk back here."
A feeling of worry came upon Hermione. McGonagall wasn't dense. She probably knew that they were up to something, since she had seen Neville coming this way, and Neville wasn't exactly the best liar. If she did suspect something, she would probably tell Dumbledore. But that's a good thing, isn't it?
"She probably knows you're in here anyways, Neville." Hermione said.
"Does it really matter?" Ron spoke in a nonchalant tone, "Even if she does catch us in here, we'll just say that we came to visit Myrtle or something like that…Or at least that Harry came here to visit her and made us tag along."
Hermione giggled, along with Neville and Ron while Moaning Myrtle blushed a surprising crimson red and gave Harry a surreptitious look. Harry, on the other hand, rolled his eyes for a second time and said, "Very funny."
"I thought we were here to talk about Harry." Hermione directed, bringing her hair up into a messy ponytail.
"All right, what's your plan?" Ron asked.
Harry sighed, "Okay," he observed Ron and Hermione, "I'll tell you, but you both have to promise not to go babble this to everyone."
Hermione glanced at Ron. Even though she wanted to say yes, she couldn't. The gut feeling in her stomach told her that whatever Harry's plan was, it was going to have dangerous consequences.
"We will-" Ron started, but she interrupted, "No. We're not promising to keep your plans a secret until you promise us that you won't do anything reckless without informing us first."
Harry raised his eyebrows, "If you're talking about what happened at the end of last year-"
"That is exactly what I'm talking about, Harry. When you were missing, we were so worried that we had to go to Dumbledore and tell him what was going on."
Ron nodded in agreement, "Only then, we found out about that prophecy. Couldn't believe my ears, I tell you. Couldn't believe that you didn't tell us, mate."
"I didn't want you to worry." Harry looked away from them to Moaning Myrtle, or through her.
Emotion swept over Hermione. She sighed deeply, "We're your friends, are we not? You used to tell me and Ron everything. You used tell me and Ron everything, and lately, you barely talk to us about school and Quidditch, let alone Voldemort or the prophecy."
Harry's face flared up like a torch, "So what are you saying? That I'm not a good enough friend? Maybe I don't want to tell you. You have no IDEA what it is to be me. YOU-"
"Hey, hey!" Ron broke in, "that's not what she meant. I think she's just hurt about the fact that our friendship isn't as strong as it was before."
Hermione felt a surge of gratitude at Ron's words. She had never heard Ron say something like that. He was usually the annoying boy who would say out-of-place things and act in an insensitive pattern.
In a long time, Neville spoke, "I think I know where you're coming from. Maybe it would help if they knew about what was going on."
"We're here to help you, Harry. We can help you get through this. So, promise us that you'll keep us updated, and we won't tell anyone what you're planning unless it's completely unreasonable." Hermione observed Harry curiously. She had a pretty good idea about what was going on in his head.
"All right. I'm planning to go to the Department of Mysteries, get through that door of unknown magic that Dumbledore was talking about, get that power and then ambush one of Voldemort's followers and when they lead me to him, I'll…umm…kill him." As Harry said that, Ron and Neville's faces reached a height of graveness, but Hermione snorted.
"You think it's easy to kill? Even if it is Voldemort, do you think you can commit murder?"
"But he has to do it…one time or another." Said Neville, scared at the thought that he could have been the one that the prophecy was referring to.
"He has plenty of time!" Ron said with fury, "Harry, you should wait until you've learned enough about magic and had experience."
"Experience, eh? I think whatever I've been going up against for the past 6 years or so is enough experience for anyone. And time…do you think I'm going to wait around while innocent people are getting killed?"
"But, Harry…" Hermione was at a loss of words. He was right, it had to be done, but Harry wasn't prepared for it. With every single encounter Harry had had with Voldemort, he had come out of it barely alive. "Even if you do decide to get to the Ministry, you never will." Hermione said, causing Harry's face to contort in confusion. "I mean, that you're guarded and watched everywhere you go. Dumbledore is going to know when you run off, and he's going to stop you, whatever the prophecy might contain. You're too young to be going up against him."
"Look, Hermione," started Harry, "I know you're saying all of this out of concern, but I have to do this."
Hermione was so frustrated. When is he going to get some sense?
"Jus don't do anything without telling us first." Ron articulated.
"I won't." Harry replied, looking down at the dirty floor.
All of the stench around Hermione was starting to make her feel a bit woozy. She got on her feet and began to wipe her robes clean, "As much as I would love to continue this chat, I think I'm going to head to the Common Room. A pile of homework is waiting for me."
…
Hermione took a seat on a chair by the window and opened her Herbology homework first. She couldn't believe the amount of homework she had to catch up to. She had five hands-on projects, approximately three essays in each of Herbology, Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, and Arithmancy. Just thinking about it made her head swirl. If I fail any of the subjects, I swear I will kill Malfoy…
As she was writing an essay on Pixie Dust, Harry and Neville came in.
"We're both going to bed." Harry said, with Neville behind him.
"At 9:00?"
"Yeah." Both spoke at the same time and they looked at each other, smirking.
"And where's Ron?"
"Oh…he went to the library." Oddly, Neville laughed at this comment, and both of them headed upstairs to the bus dormitory.
"Good night!"
Men. She just hoped that they weren't planning anything. Lupin's letter suddenly came to mind, in which he had written 'keep a watch on him'. How am I supposed to keep a watch on him between piles of homework, being Head Girl, and dealing with Draco Malfoy every single day?
About a half an hour passed by until Ron made his entry in the Common Room, with a pile of books in his hands.
"What are all those for?" Hermione asked in as Ron put all the books down and sat next to her.
"They'll come in handy for all those essays you have left to do. I thought I'd help you…since I don't have anything to do…"
For a moment, she just stared at him. She didn't know for how long, but something in his bright eyes was captivating her like no one else had before.
"If you don't want me to, it's okay." He said with insecurity.
"Huh? No, of course I want help." She spoke. She was still amazed at how much Ron had changed. It was like he was a whole new person, one that did their homework, study, take visits to the hospital wing every single day…