Ron's head was still between his legs as Bella sat in the arm chair beside him, rubbing circles on his back. The five of them were still trying to comprehend what had just occurred in the forest. "Are you okay?" Bella whispered quietly in her brothers ear and he nodded his head slowly.
"Why would Hagrid send us into the forest if he knew Aragog was a massive blood-thirsty spider?" Freya asked. "I don't think he knew Aragog would do that, I bet he thought he wouldn't attack us because we're friends of Hagrid's." Harry replied.
"That's just Hagrid's problem!" Ron yelled, jumping up from the arm chair. "He thinks all creatures are lovable, no matter how dangerous and look where that's gotten him, a cell in Azkaban!" Ron was now shaking uncontrollably. "What was even the point in that? What did we find out that we didn't already know?" Bella asked.
"That Hagrid didn't open the chamber fifty years ago." Harry said slowly. "He's innocent." Ron let out a loud snort at Harry's answer. Clearly Ron would take a while to forgive Hagrid for sending them into the forest. Harry draped the cloak over the five of them and they checked Fang was alright before making their way to the castle.
Ron was still shaking slightly and Bella took his hand in hers just as they reached the castle doors. Emily pushed the creaking front door open and they crossed the Entrance Hall as quietly as they could. They tiptoed up the marble staircase and held their breath as they passed corridors of watchful eyes. At last they reached the Gryffindor common room with its fire now turning to ash. Harry pulled off the cloak and they silently climbed the winding staircase to the dormitories. Freya, Emily and Harry entered their dorms without a word and Bella checked Ron over, fussing like their mother. "Are you sure you're okay?" She whispered. "I'll be fine." He replied.
The three girls didn't say a word as they got ready for bed and climbed under the covers. Bella lay on her back staring at the ceiling, turning over in her head the events of the night. They were extremely lucky to be alive and they had her fathers beat-up Ford Anglia to thank for that.
"Guys! Guys I think I've figured it out!" Harry had come bounding the stairs the following morning, full of more energy than Bella could muster. "Figured what out?" Freya asked drowsily. "Who died last time the chamber was opened." Harry replied quieter now.
Ron dropped down beside Bella in the arm chair she occupied, rubbing his eyes while he yawned. "Well, who do you think it is?" Bella asked. "Moaning Myrtle." Harry replied. "Surely not?" Emily added. "Aragog said the girl died in a bathroom." Ron said through a yawn.
"To think that after all this time we could have just asked her." Ron was grumbling as they reached the Great Hall for breakfast. They knew that sneaking away from the teachers long enough to get to the girls bathroom, the bathroom at the scene of the first attack especially, was going to be downright impossible. As they sat in Transfiguration that morning all thoughts of the Chamber of Secrets were drawn from their minds as Professor McGonagall delivered the news they were dreading; their exams would begin on June first, one week from now. "Exams?" Seamus groaned. "We're still getting exams?" "Of course, Mr Finnegan." McGonagall snapped. "The reason for keeping the school open during this dreadful time is for you all to receive your education. Exams will take place as they always have done and I expect you are all revising hard!"
Revising hard! As if! How were they supposed to be revising when the school was in such a state? Bella thought the teachers would be too concerned with the attacks to consider their exams, apparently not. "Professor Dumbledore's instructions stated the school must be run as normal." Professor McGonagall's sharp stare silence all mutterings around the classroom. "And as you are well aware, that means finding out how much you have learned thus year."
Bella stared around at the shocked faces of her friends. She didn't think she had learned enough this year to get her through her exams. Ron looked as though McGonagall had just sent him to live in Aragog's lair. "How am I supposed to pass my exams with this thing?" Ron groaned, holding up his broken wand emitting green puffs of smoke.
Three days before their exams were due to begin, Professor McGonagall made another announcement. "I have good news!" She called cheerily. The Great Hall became filled with voices all talking over one another. The loudest voice came from further down the Gryffindor table. "Quidditch is back on?!" Wood yelled desperately. Professor McGonagall held her hands up for silence.
"Professor Sprout has informed me that the Mandrakes are ready for cutting at last. Tonight we shall be able to revive those who have been petrified. I am hopeful that at least one may be able to tell us who or what attacked them and we can end this dreadful year with the apprehension of the culprit.
The Great Hall erupted in cheers at the news. The Slytherin seemed to be the least excited, to no surprise of everyone else, and Draco was outright refusing to even crack a smile. Ron was bouncing up and down in his seat and Freya was shaking Emily by her arms violently. "No need to speak to Myrtle now!" Ron beamed. "Hermione will most likely have all the answers when she wakes up! Though she won't be happy we've got exams in three days, it might just be kinder to leave her where she is until they're over."
Ginny appeared behind Ron as if from thin air and sat in the seat next to him, wringing her hands in her lap. She looked tense and nervous and her eyes kept darting around the room. "What's up?" Bella asked. Ginny didn't answer. She looked up and down the Gryffindor table with a scared look on her face, as though avoiding someone. "Spit it out." Ron said, watching her odd behaviour. "I've got to tell you something." She muttered quietly, staring at the table in front of her as if it was the most fascinating thing she had ever seen. "What is it?" Harry asked. Ginny looked conflicted. "What?" Ron asked.
Ginny opened her mouth to speak but closed it again. Harry leaned across the table, speaking quietly so only those around him could hear. "Is it something to do with the Chamber? Have you seen something strange?" Ginny opened her mouth again and, at that exact moment, Percy appeared behind her looking worse for wear. "If you've finished Ginny, I'll have that seat. I've just come off patrol duty." Ginny jumped from the seat as though it was on fire and, with a terrified look in Percy's direction, she shot off out of the Great Hall. Percy took Ginny's empty seat and poured himself a cup of tea.
"Percy!" Bella said angrily. "Ginny was just about to tell us something important!" Ron huffed equally as angry. Just as he took a sip, Percy choked. "What kind of thing?" He asked through coughs. "I just asked her if she'd seen anything strange-" "Oh - that's nothing to do with the Chamber of Secrets." Percy stammered, completely cutting Harry off. "How do you know?" Bella asked with raised eyebrows.
"Well, if you must know, Ginny, er, walked in on me last week when I - well it's no matter - anyway, she walked in on me when I was doing something and I, er, asked her to not tell anyone. I did reckon she would keep it a secret. It's not a big deal, I'd just rather -" Percy had never look as worried as he did now. "What were you doing Percy?" Ron asked with a grin. "Go on, tell us. We won't laugh." Percy, however, didn't find this funny. "Would you pass me those rolls, Harry. I'm starving."
