Harry Potter and the Night Moaning Myrtle Came Back to Life

Part III

Harry returned to the bathroom as promised two hours later. Myrtle was waiting for him. Her exuberance from earlier had faded. She sat perched on a toilet, quietly sobbing.

"Myrtle! What's wrong!" Harry asked worriedly.

"Oh Harry, I'm afraid it won't work. What if…what if I can never…." She let out a loud sob.

"Don't worry, Myrtle. Everything will work out," Harry said soothingly.

He reached under his cloak and revealed the potion Slughorn had given him. Its contents were turquoise and sparkly, giving of an alluring glow. Myrtle let out a hiccup.

"Ready, darling?" Harry asked her.

She nodded.

"You know what to do."

Myrtle's eyes grew wide but she didn't chicken out. Closing her mouth and pinching her nose shut, she dove straight into the top of the flask.

Harry watched with fascination as she swam through it. He checked his watch. The second hand ticked toward the 12. "Three, two, one," he said under his breath. "Now!"

Myrtle burst out of the potion. For a moment she just stood there, glancing at her newfound skin with obvious pleasure. For once, there were no tears behind her glasses. "Harry," she said wonderingly, "I'm alive!"

Harry stepped closer. "I can see that." He touched one finger to her cheek and to his surprise found that Myrtle was indeed flesh and bone, not just a mirage.

Myrtle giggled like a school girl, but was quickly cut off by the noise of the bathroom door opening.

"Shh!" said a boy's voice.

"Draco!" squealed Ginny, stumbling into the bathroom.

"Come, my red-haired Florence nightingale, I think I see an empty stall ahead," slurred Malfoy.

They passed Harry and Myrtle without noticing them.

"Ginny!" Harry called. "Ginny, do you hear me?"

The only answer was another giggle and the sound of a large object falling in the toilet.

"Oh hahaha, I'm all wet now!" Ginny said, pushing open the stall door to reveal her soaking wet hair and a half-dressed Malfoy.

"Hey, what up, scarhead?" Malfoy said, stepping out behind Ginny.

"Are you all right?" Harry asked Ginny, ignoring Malfoy.

"Couldn't be better," Ginny said dizzily, swaying.

"Yeah, we're fine," Malfoy said in a loud voice.

"Okay," Harry said uncertainly.

"Bye, Harry!" Ginny said, leaving the bathroom with Malfoy.

Harry turned back to Myrtle. "So what do you want to do now?"

Myrtle's eyes were wide as she touched the bathroom's walls and sinks. She looked at him like a starving woman staring at a seven-course feast.

"Well, if that's what you want," said Harry, unbuttoning his shirt.

"Where's the food?" Myrtle said suddenly, grabbing Harry's arm.

He paused. Food? What was she talking about?

"Harry, don't you realize that I haven't eaten anything for over fifty years?" said Myrtle, her eyes filling with tears again.

"Yes, but…" Harry started, falling silent at the enthralled look on Myrtle's face.

"Cookies, cakes, and pies, oh my!" Myrtle said, dancing around in a circle.

"We can go to the kitchens," Harry suggested hopefully.

"The kitchens! The kitchens!" Myrtle sang, following Harry into the corridor and skipping along.

Harry led them towards the portrait of the fruit bowl and tickled the green pear. The painting swung open, allowing them to climb through.

"Harry Potter! Harry Potter!" came Dobby's squeaky voice.

"Oh look, it's master, and he's brought another mudblood…" muttered Kreacher from behind Dobby.

Myrtle burst into tears. "How dare you call me… I've been waiting for years to come… Stop…"

"Kreacher," Harry said in a dangerous voice. "Do not upset her. That's an order."

"Oh yes, master orders Kreacher around, but master himself is not of pure blood…" Kreacher said.

"Can Dobby do anything for Harry Potter, sir?" asked Dobby, bowing.

"Yes, can we have some food?" Harry asked. "Myrtle? What do you want to eat?"

"Anything!" Myrtle said hungrily. "Pudding, potatoes, chicken, steak, hurry up and bake, bake, bake!"

Dobby scurried off, enlisting the help of several other house elves. They came back a few minutes later, carrying huge platters of every food imaginable and setting them down in front of Myrtle.

Myrtle stared at the food for a second before stuffing a little of everything into her mouth, going back for seconds, thirds, and even fourths…

Ginny and Malfoy ran down the hall, giggling hysterically. They passed McLaggen, bumping into him without an apology.

McLaggen chuckled to himself. So his plan had worked… That would be the last time Ginny forgot about their appointment in the broomshed…

Now all he needed to make her remember was just a little bit of Ogden's Ultimate Intense Firewhiskey in her pumpkin juice…

Harry watched Myrtle eat. This wasn't exactly his idea of a perfect night, but this might be Myrtle's only chance to live…

"Harry!" Myrtle said through a mouthful of steak and kidney pie. "This is wonderful!"

"Great, Myrtle," muttered Harry, checking his watch. They'd been in the kitchen for three hours, and the potion would wear off at sunrise…

The house elves continuously refilled the platters as Myrtle consumed them. At this rate, Harry was sure she'd already eaten his body weight in food, if not double that.

With another long sigh, Harry settled back down to watch Myrtle eat. Strange as it might seem, he was actually looking forward to the rising of the sun.

Two hours and forty-five minutes later…

Myrtle let out a loud belch. Harry woke up with a start. "Huh! Oh, it's just you." He fell back over with a loud snore.

Finally satisfied, Myrtle pushed away the numerous platters and kicked Harry. "Wake UP, heartthrob! We don't have much time left!"

Harry rubbed his eyes, and checked his watch for what seemed like the millionth time. "We still have…oh! Myrtle, we only have 15 minutes left before you change back!"

Myrtle gasped. "Well then let's get this started!" With no warning whatsoever, she jumped on top of Harry and jammed her tongue down his throat.

Harry started choking and Myrtle hastily extracted her tongue. "Did I do something wrong, heartthrob?" Harry grimaced but shook his head. "Good," Myrtle said, diving in again. Harry put up with it for roughly 30 seconds before pushing her away.

"Um, Myrtle, why don't we go up to your bathroom?" Harry said, wiping the slobber off his face with his shirt sleeve.

"Oh, Harry, why not right here?" she whined.

Harry stepped backwards, nearly tripping over a house elf carrying a large plate of pastries. "Er, because…"

He didn't get to finish his sentence, however, because at that exact moment the sun's rays broke through the window.

"Oh no," Myrtle cried. Her solid skin slowly turned transparent again, and she rose slightly off the ground.

Bursting into tears, she whooshed threw the ceiling and presumably towards the girls' bathroom. Harry looked bewildered for a moment but then shrugged. Myrtle had been getting annoying anyway.

After all, there was always Ginny…

THE END