Chapter 36: Time Runs Out

Remus Lupin couldn't help but smile as he walked around the new and growing magical community of the Rust District. It was still small, but there were already a good few here. The protections were easily agreed to by the others and some even knew of interesting ways to enhance them.

There had been a big surprise for Lupin after word started to spread carefully. He had not expected to see a couple who had made it work somehow. It was difficult for werewolves to have lasting relationships with people who didn't also have the condition. That was however exactly what Mr. and Mrs. Timmins had done though.

The husband actually made a good living, but he used most of his finances in aiding research into Lycanthropy. In fact, it was a big thanks to Mr. Timmins the Wolfsbane potion even existed. He was the finical force behind Damocles Belby's research in creating the potion and getting it approved by the Ministry.

His wife, Mrs. Timmins, was a werewolf. It seemed they heard about the growing community through a contact who knew they were well suited for joining it. They also had two daughters, both of which weren't werewolves. It was seen as a gamble to have children if you were a werewolf.

All that was known for sure regarding such matters was if two werewolves mated while transformed, the female would get pregnant with wolf cubs. The wolf cubs would be very beautiful wolves and have near human intellect. Remus remembered hearing rumors such wolves formed a pack in the Forbidden Forest. The place was too large and the wolves too smart to know for sure though. They easily could have kept out of sight.

The Timmins had been a huge boon when building the community, especially to these early stages of the project. Mr. Timmins was helping make it so some of the members with experience in brewing could open up shop in producing Wolfsbane potion to sell at more or less cost to the community. Seeing him and his family also helped morale in the area. It gave Werewolves hope, something very essential at times to all humans.

There were a couple of families who had children that were turned, but hadn't thrown them out. Remus was relieved about this. He knew he was one of the few who were lucky enough to have parents that cared for their child after they were infected.

Too many would 'misplace' or send their child off somewhere they wouldn't be seen by others. That was how strong the stigma against werewolves was. It was only slightly better nowadays.

There were also others who came as well. Mostly muggle-borns who had really bad luck after Hogwarts. They knew how stigmas worked in the wizarding world, even if theirs wasn't anywhere near to the level of a werewolf. They had no problem living in the area with the appropriate precautions in place. They were a huge boon when it came to relations with the muggles of the Rust District and the Street Knights in particular.

Another thing that had gone well, is they already had a couple of full moons. Nothing bad happened during those nights. It was strong evidence werewolves in this community would not engage in what so many feared would happen.

Wolfsbane was a great tool. It was not the only one they had available and their plans for better access to the potion were still too early. There were other ways werewolves could keep from being a problem when transformed.

One of these other ways was a special ward a couple of muggle-borns helped create. It essentially stunned werewolves who got too close to it. There were plans to see about placing an array of them close to the edges of the community just in case.

At the moment, most of the werewolves volunteered to have them placed close to their homes. The special stunning wards only worked on full moon nights. What many wizards who disliked werewolves failed to realize is most didn't want to infect others. Fenrir Greyback was an exception and far from the rule. Most didn't even want to infect their worst enemies.

Remus was really happy to see how Harry's project was already going strong. He was proud to be a part of it. He just knew he was helping build something that would last and change the wizarding world for the better.

"I get a feeling this is still far from being complete. I can't wait to see what it becomes," he thought to himself as he continued his stroll. He gave a friendly wave to group of children playing together in a front yard.

[-] [-] [-]

"I really hate this…" Hannah complained and blanched as she placed a book down. Magical Spiders were truly terrifying. She wouldn't be surprised if the beast was a magical spider of some kind. Maybe not the one Hagrid had, but a different one.

Hermione frowned deeply at her book. "I really hope it isn't what I think it is," she said.

"It seems more and more likely it is…" Harry said.

Susan sighed, "It does seem like the type of beast Hagrid would raise as a pet."

Luna was looking away as she held Harry's sleeve. The magical spider from the diary was most likely an Acromantula. The things were huge and dangerous. One of the few things that scared them was a dragon, but only if they were alone or outnumbered. They did eat their own, but Harry and Co. couldn't find anything that determined if this was only after death by natural causes, out of anger, or from hunger.

The giant spiders were able to grow up to 15 feet in length with females possibly growing larger. They also had near human intelligence and could use human speech. The things formed large colonies composed of up to hundreds of the nightmarish beasts. If things weren't already bad enough, they saw almost everything as prey, especially humans young and old alike.

"What the hell was able to scare one of these things? Even if they were young?" Harry thought to himself. The one in the diary was apparently a baby. It was still large enough to defeat Tom Riddle, if it wasn't intent on escaping from something.

"I just had a terrible thought… Okay maybe two," Hermione said to everyone.

"What are they? Can you start with the least terrible one?" Hannah asked in a pleading voice.

Hermione took in a steeling breath. "What if the one Hagrid had in the memory started a colony in the Forbidden Forest?" she asked the others.

All of them shivered at the thought. Luna made a muffled sound as she attempted to bury herself further into Harry's sleeve.

"What could possibly be worse than that?!" Hannah almost shrieked.

Harry's eyes widened and he looked to Hermione. "Are you thinking what I was thinking?" he asked.

Hermione looked to him question.

"The one we saw in the diary was terrified of something… Hagrid kept saying that along with him still being a baby," Harry said.

"Yet he was still big enough he could have probably eaten Tom Riddle if he wanted. Instead, he ran away as quickly as possible in fear of something," Hermione said.

Their friends were frozen in shock. That was more terrifying.

"Let's take a break from this… maybe for a week or two?" Harry suggested as he saw how pale the others were. He felt about the same they did. He also didn't want to subject Luna to more of this. She may love magical creatures others doubted existed, but she clearly wasn't a fan of such monsters.

"Thank Merlin's beard," Hannah said in relief as the others relaxed feeling the same way.

[-] [-] [-]

The second half of the year marched onward. Harry and the others took a much longer break from looking into magical spiders. People were also growing a lot laxer as well. There hadn't been an attack since before holiday break. Many were starting to think maybe it had been some really terrible prank and after what happened to Nearly-Headless-Nick, they decided it was too much.

Lockhart was quick to try and take at least part of the credit, if not all of it. "Like I told you all," he started in DADA one day. "They knew I was on the case and close to bringing them in. They decided to cut all ties and cover their tracks," he said to them.

"In fact," he paused for a moment to build suspense. "I wouldn't be surprised if they hired a professional to hide their tracks for them," he said with a chortle at the end.

"Wouldn't they just run if that was the case?" Seamus asked.

Lockhart tapped a finger to his temple and said, "Think about it… If they ran, that would be the same as admitting guilt. We would notice if a student suddenly turned up missing. They could then be found and brought in."

Seamus thought it over and nodded in agreement. It was so obvious that was the case, now that he thought about it.

"I'm more than sure the attacks are over and done with," Professor Lockhart said. "Now then… open your books to page 347…" With that, the class resumed.

[-] [-] [-]

Ginny gave a mighty stretch as she sat up in her bed. Things had been great! The diary was gone! There weren't any more attacks! She was able to attend classes without falling asleep.

She even started to actually return more to her old self again. She proved she was doing much better a couple nights ago before dinner. She got back at the twins for a less than nice joke using her infamous Bat-bogey Hex.

It was disgusting but got a lot of people laughing at them. The twins quickly ran for their lives. They spent the rest of the night hiding somewhere in the castle. They even apologized to her the next day in secret. Now if only Gryffindor stood a chance in Quidditch this year, things would be more or less perfect.

Though… she hadn't returned to Luna yet. Ginny felt too unclean for her best friend. She did attempt to be nice to her in classes but kept her distance.

Luna didn't seem to understand the real reason Ginny was acting this way. Her best friend made the horrible conclusion she was avoiding her. Ginny wanted to try and sort things out with Luna in any way she could. It was rather difficult though. Luna now spent most of her free time with Harry Potter and the other Hufflepuffs.

Ginny heard what happened when it came to Luna earlier in the year. She had completely and utterly failed her best friend because of some dumb diary. "What do I do about this…" Ginny thought with a deep frown and even sniffed a little.

"Are you okay?" one of her roommates asked. It was Samantha, Ginny remembered. Her memory was still a bit of an issue, but just with the stuff during her time with the diary.

Ginny sighed. "I just realized I really messed up a lot this year. I'm hoping I haven't done any permanent damage," she said.

Samantha sat next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "We don't know what's been going on with you this year, but it seems whatever it was has passed," she said. She gave the girl a smile and added, "We're all more than willing to give a second chance."

Bianca gave a giggle. "Especially with the way you got back at the twins! So good to see them get a taste of their own medicine for once," she said with a smile as the other girls laughed.

Ginny grinned to that. "Fred and George are alright, but they do need to be reminded you will stand up for yourself from time to time," she said.

Other than the thing with Luna, Ginny felt so very light after all of that time with the diary. She was glad to have flushed it away. This is almost how Hogwarts should have been from the start. Sadly, Luna was a big part of what Hogwarts was supposed to be in Ginny's heart. She should have been the one to help out Luna instead of Harry.

It was wonderful Harry Potter helped Luna out, but it should have been her. After Luna's mother died, Ginny promised herself she would be there for Luna by her side. The sorting hat actually teased her about belonging in Hufflepuff because of how much she cared about Luna. Ginny wouldn't have minded that, since The-Boy-Who-Lived went there. She was even tempted to defy the supposed Weasley tradition of going to Gryffindor.

The hat then smugly said, "With such courage to defy expectations going back generations... you belong in GRYFFINDOR!" Ginny hated how smug the hat sounded about that. It was infuriating. How dare it tease her like that! If it was always going to put her in Gryffindor, it should have done so right from the start.

"Whatever happened to that diary you were always writing in?" one of the roommates asked.

Ginny shrugged her shoulders. "I lost it somewhere. I sort of felt I was getting a little too attached to it, so I just left it lost. No one would be able to read inside it anyways, and if they somehow did. It wouldn't be that interesting to them," she said.

"You were spending a lot of time with it," Samantha admitted.

"It was the first time I ever had something like that. I might get a new one next year, but I'll know to limit how much time I spend with it," Ginny said.

"Well… Whatever the case… How do you think the game against Hufflepuff will go? It is coming up soon," Bianca asked excitedly.

Ginny gave a forlorn sigh. "I think we'll lose. We need a better Seeker! If I had a broom and was in my second year, I might be tempted to try out for Seeker, even though I'd much rather play Chaser. Unless Oliver can sort out a good Seeker for next year, I'm afraid he won't win the cup in his last year here," she said.

"That's a pity… He really is very good at Quidditch. He really knows his stuff. It's his biggest passion," Samantha said.

Ginny nodded. "On the bright side… I do think he'll be able to go Pro. The Seeker may be our biggest problem, but it is mostly the only problem the team has. Oliver's really good as a Keeper and a team captain. The only reason teams usually beat us is because they get the Snitch first. He's done an amazing job keeping the score low," she said.

The other girls were eagerly paying attention to her words. They saw her as their resident Quidditch expert.

Ginny gave a frown. "Sadly, while our Chasers are obviously the best in Hogwarts. They aren't to the level they can out score a team enough to force them to catch snitch and end the game while losing," she said.

"Only Ireland's that good," Samantha said with a nod.

"They just need a little more experience with their team. I wouldn't be surprised if they were in the next Quidditch World Cup," Ginny said with a grin.

Ron may be bonkers for the Chudley "always in a rebuilding year" Cannons, but she actually liked Ireland and the Hollyhead Harpies the most. The Harpies she liked because they were an all-female team and the second oldest team in the league. They weren't usually World Cup material. Their games were loads of fun listening to on the Wireless tough.

Ireland was her other favorite team that actually stood a chance of making it to the World Cup. They did so frequently and many times made it close to the final match.

"Don't let Seamus hear you say that," Bianca said with a giggle.

"Why not?" Ginny asked.

"Because he's liable to ask you to marry him for actually 'getting it right' about Ireland," Samantha said with a giggle.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "I'm pretty sure Seamus is liable to ask you to marry him if you just give him a pretty smile enough times," she said. The girls laughed out loud to that.

They really hoped Ginny didn't go back to how she was. When she wasn't all obsessive with that diary, she was actually fun. When she was obsessive with the diary, she was a mix between creepy and scary… when she wasn't sickly. They would end it and just move on if she did get that way again. It was too much for them after this whole year.

[-] [-] [-]

Harry sighed. Hermione sighed as well. They were going to meet with Hagrid regarding the beast he had in the diary's memory. They weren't looking forward to it. They liked visiting Hagrid socially, but not like this.

They had to know though. Depending on his answer they might pick up looking into Acromantulas more. Something they really didn't want to do, but would if needed.

Harry knocked on the door to the hut.

"Coming!" Hagrid said as soon as Fang's barks subsided. "Ahh! Great ta see ye! Only you two this time?" he asked with a bright and friendly smile.

"I'm afraid so," Hermione said in a friendly enough manner.

"Well, come on in then," he said letting them inside and offering them tea. They gladly took him up on it. This wasn't going to be easy.

"Can't believe ye both are gonna be in third year come September," he said shaking his head in disbelief as he sat down across from them.

He turned to Harry and grinned as he said, "It feels like yesterday I was just bringing you to your aunt and uncle. I'm very glad ya got away from them. I feel it's for tha best you ended up in the Rust District. Only wish yer parents never died in the first place." He gave a sniff.

Harry and Hermione looked to each other with sorrow. They really didn't want to talk about this heir business with Hagrid. They'd much prefer just talking to Hagrid like usual.

"So… What electives are ye taking next year?" Hagrid asked.

"Hermione's taking all of them," Harry said with a snicker.

Hermione gave a playful frown and lightly swatted him on his arm. Hagrid gave a chuckle to that. "If anyone can pull that off… It be you, Hermione," he said with a grin.

"At least someone has faith in me," Hermione said with a playful scoff.

"Never said you couldn't do it. Just think it might be a little too time consuming," Harry said.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"What will you be taking, Harry?" Hagrid asked.

"I'll be taking Care of Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes," Harry said.

"That will leave ye an open period," Hagrid said.

Harry nodded and said, "I'll be using that time for independent study. I figured I might as well do something extra productive during that time. I just didn't find the other electives interesting."

"I keep telling him they will all be very interesting," Hermione said.

Harry looked to her with a raised eyebrow. "The only way Muggle Studies will be interesting is to see how outdated and ridiculous Wizard knowledge is on the topic. That novelty would wear off before the first week is over," he said.

Hermione blushed a little as she looked to the side. "I'm sure it won't be that bad… Or at least it will be interesting for the whole year," she said.

She had been given a bit of a hard time for choosing that class. Everyone was in agreement she should be the one teaching the class. She should not be taking it as a student. She hated to admit it, but part of her agreed they might be right.

It was the principle of the matter by this point though. She probably wasn't going to continue it after the first year. It would have to be very interesting for her to continue a second year.

Hagrid shook his head in amusement. He then took a sip and said, "So… Is there anything else ye wish to ask? I get the feeling there is a reason it is just tha two of ye."

Harry and Hermione sighed in almost perfect sync. Harry seemed to figure he was the one to first broach the subject. "First of all… Realize we don't think it was your fault," he started.

Hagrid gave them a serious look. This was looking to be really important.

"We don't think you had anything to do with it," Hermione further emphasized.

"But we do think you could give us a very important clue," Harry said.

Hagrid sighed. "Ye mind if I add a little extra something ta my tea first?" he asked.

They nodded to him. Hagrid did just that and took a sip.

"We know why you were expelled," Harry said.

Hagrid almost spit out his tea in shock to that. He didn't think it would be about that. "How do ye know that?" he asked.

"We found something that was hidden away which revealed it," Harry said.

"We also thought something was off about it all," Hermione added.

Hagrid took a long sip and poured himself some more. "I don't like talking about it," he said.

"As we said, we don't think you were in any way at fault. We think you were an unintended scapegoat," Harry said.

Hagrid was in thought for a moment. He then gave a nod to them.

"I've always been fascinated by magical creatures, as you two very well know," Hagrid said to them. "I got in trouble a good bit for my many pets during me years as a student."

He then took a long sip on his tea again. "But tha year I was expelled was for complete Hogwash," Hagrid said.

Hermione and Harry nodded, even though both secretly think having a pet acromantula was a worthy reason for being expelled. That was actually getting off lightly in their opinion. They did think the reason he was actually expelled was, as Hagrid put it, complete Hogwash.

"Ye see I uhhhh… had a pet acromantula…" Hagrid said uneasily.

Harry and Hermione knew this but still stared in shock as he admitted to it. They knew the most obvious answer, but having him confirm it made it real.

"I know what ye're thinking. It wasn't like that though. Ye see Acromantulas are dead smart and they are very capable of forming bonds with others if ye raise them right." He took another sip.

"Aragog… That's his name. I found him in a right panic that year. Things were happening. A lot like this year. That Prefect found me though. Claimed I was the one behind the attacks. He saw Aragog make an escape and figured he were the one attacking students," Hagrid said.

"Why did he run?" Hermione asked.

"He was right terrified. Few things scare an acromantula, even when they're small. Don't know what it was in particular. I actually spoke ta him about it, they can speak our language ye see," he explained.

"He was so terrified he wouldn't even say what it was that had him so worked up. I was then turned in by that Prefect and the attacks stopped. Poor girl that was… She died in tha restroom. Pity that. Really a pity," Hagrid said.

"And when the attacks stopped, you were expelled?" Harry asked.

"More than that…" Hagrid said with a haunted look. "I ain't talking about that though. Not enough of the good stuff to get talking about that," he said.

"We understand. We just wanted to learn more about what actually happened from you," Hermione said and Harry nodded.

"Ye might be able ta get more outta old Aragog if ye go and talk ta him. Just need ta follow them spiders to do that," Hagrid said.

"I don't much like the idea of doing that. We actually read a little about them. While they can form a bond, as you said, that bond is very tenuous," Harry said.

Hagrid shook his head to that. Acromantula were just misunderstood. "Probably bad idea for a buncha second years going there anyways," he said with a sigh. He gave stretch and asked, "Will that be all?"

Harry and Hermione looked to each other. "Yeah. That will be all. Thanks, Hagrid. Sorry to have asked to relive all of that," Harry said.

Hagrid gave a small smile. "Aint nothing wrong with it. It were tough though. Have a good evening," he said.

"Good Evening to you as well, Hagrid," the two said as they got up to leave as Hagrid helped himself to another cup of tea with extra of the strong stuff.

[-] [-] [-]

"Well… We didn't learn too much more," Hermione said.

"We learned a girl died in the bathroom. Do you think?" Harry asked.

Hermione shook her head. "That has to be a coincidence. Besides, if Myrtle did know anything about what was happening. Surely, she would tell Professor Dumbledore, even if she is a ghost," she said.

"Or at least Luna. The two spend a decent about of time together," Harry said.

"Guess we're back to the looking up Acromantulas…" Hermione said looking pale.

"Seems so," Harry said with a sigh. He reached out and put an arm around Hermione and pulled her close. She seemed to feel a lot better with him holding her like that.

[-] [-] [-]

Diary Tom was growing impatient. This was not how it was supposed to go. Harry Potter had made contact with him. Tom figured Harry would be more and more curious about the memory he shared of his time at Hogwarts. The annoying boy had only watched the memory that one time and put the diary in the bottom of his trunk.

Tom was still patient for a good while. He knew how important it was to take your time before striking. He had first hidden his influence from the Weasley girl before she went home for the holidays.

He even humored the foolish girl when she stayed away from the diary. He was curious how it would play out. He pretty much already had the influence he needed over her for his plans and could call upon her at his leisure.

When she tossed the diary into that toilet, he found it interesting a first year from Ravenclaw happened to be there and picked up the diary. He also found it rather amusing his previous victim was present as well. It was far too hilarious she was so pathetic she chose to spend her afterlife crying in the same toilet she wailed in during her last moments of life.

However, Diary Riddle realized the first year was actually friends to Harry Potter. He had been observant when using the Weasley girl as his vessel. He used his magic to subtly push the small Ravenclaw in the right direction. She was wary of the darkness in the diary. He merely assured her Harry would know what to do. That Harry could resist the darkness.

He hadn't counted on the boy doing so well at exactly that in actuality. Harry had not at all been swayed by his influence. Tom could have gone with a brute force attempt, but he wasn't so foolish. That annoying mudblood was with him almost constantly. He knew she would do something foolish and possibly ruin everything if he was too overt in his actions.

Perhaps he could have taken her on as a new vessel, but he wasn't about to dirty himself in such a way. It didn't matter she was rather attractive and using her as he pleased would really get to Harry Potter. It didn't matter there was a certain delicious irony to using a mudblood to cull the other mudbloods from the school. He had high standards and wouldn't sink to such a level.

The diary finally decided it had no other choice. It would tug on that link it had to the Weasley girl. He was ready to make his move. It was time. She would be the first sacrifice for his greatness, but there was something else he wanted to do first.

The diary concentrated on the link and its power.

[-] [-] [-]

Ginny groaned as she sat up in her bed with her brain feeling fuzzy. It was almost like when... She panicked! "What was I doing?!" she thought in horror.

Her brown eyes went oddly blank. She almost mechanically opened her trunk. Tom was there and waiting for her. She was so lucky he forgave her for abandoning him! How foolish she was!

She deserved the fate he had planned for her. It was the least she could do. In fact, she was honored to be chosen for such greatness after how she had failed him. This would all be for Tom's sake.

Ginny left Gryffindor and ignored her roommates' questions. They felt insulted by her blatant disregard of them. As they had kind of agreed to earlier, this was the last straw. "And here I thought we were making progress…" one of them said with a huff.

"Too true," another said in agreement as the others huffed as well.

Whatever happened to Ginny was no longer a concern of theirs. She was acting strange again, except this time they actually felt extra creeped out for some reason. She passed by them serenely, but something was off about her. Really off. Best to just cut ties at this point. That's what the wise voice in their heads told them at least. They saw no reason to argue.

[-] [-] [-]

It was almost time for the match that would decide who was second this year. Everyone was pretty sure it would be Hufflepuff. Gryffindor's lack of a Seeker really hurt them in this match up. It wasn't due to an unfair advantage like the brooms the Slytherins had this time either.

Cedric was good as a Seeker. He was really good.

His athletic build and speed were a strong combination. He was the largest Seeker at Hogwarts, so none of the others could dare knock him about much. If they didn't seem to more or less bounce off of him, he would remain steady and solid on his broom after their failed attempt.

Flint tried size in the past, but even he would begrudgingly admit Cedric was an exception that couldn't be replicated. Slytherin would pretend otherwise, but the truth was last year the only reason they won the cup is because Gryffindor was their last opponent. The Lions' Seeker was so abysmal, Slytherin was able to score all of the points they needed to win the cup instead of Hufflepuff.

Harry, Hermione, Hannah, Susan and Luna were trying one last time before the game to put pieces together. They still didn't have much. Luna confirmed Myrtle never told her about her death. The small blonde didn't pry because she felt that would be rude. The others agreed they didn't have enough evidence or reason to bother the ghost girl about it.

At the moment, Luna was balancing the magic marker they used for the board between her nose and top lip. She even looked at it cross-eyed for a bit hoping maybe that would give inspiration. It was just giving her a headache though. The others were looking through books again.

Luna looked to the board again and the marker fell to her lap. She looked at the board with narrowed eyes and asked, "Harry?"

"Yeah?" he replied.

"Can you describe the voice again?" she asked.

Harry let out a sigh and nodded. He wasn't sure what good it would do, but he might as well humor her. "It seemed to be coming from the walls. It was inhumane and very bloodthirsty," he said.

Luna was humming in thought. She wrote on the board "In walls. Not human. Bloodthirsty." She tilted her head a little in thought.

"How would you describe the way it spoke? How did it pronounce words?" Luna asked.

The others were looking to Harry with keen interest. Harry rubbed his chin in thought. "Hissy," he decided as the best answer.

Luna added that to the board and stared at it wide-eyed. Hermione gave a gasp. She looked to Luna who seemed to almost nod in agreement.

"Library! Go! Now! Bye!" Hermione said quickly as she grabbed Luna and dragged her off with her.

The three remaining Hufflepuffs looked to each other in shock. "Should we go with them?" Harry asked.

"I don't think we should. Did you see the way she acted?" Hannah asked.

Harry nodded.

Susan gave a giggle. "I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up forcing Madam Pence out for being too loud and in the way," she said.

Harry and Hannah laughed after they mentally pictured that. That was almost a good reason to join them. Almost…

"It is getting close to the game," Hannah pointed out.

"Might as well go and cheer Hufflepuff on," Harry said with a nod as he led the way.

[-] [-] [-]

Everyone was excited for the game, even if it was just to see who got second. The excitement was so palpable you could taste it. The players were all lined up facing each other and ready for the tip off. The crowd was cheering and people were stomping their feet in the stands.

Harry, Hannah, and Susan were sitting with the rest of Hufflepuff just as excited as everyone else. The Slytherins watching the match were even excited about it. They knew they had the cup in the bag this year.

Draco was probably one of the best Seekers when it came to flying and he had a broom to accent his skills. They still wanted to watch the game. It was still exciting. It was still Quidditch!

However…

Some people pointed in the distance next to the castle. They could all see someone was quickly making their way to the pitch with purpose. Just when everyone could make out the figure was Professor McGonagall, she pulled out what looked like a megaphone.

"This game has been cancelled! Everyone is to report back to their dorms immediately. Prefects! Gather your house and lead them back. Feel free to use the emergency routes if you so desire," Professor McGonagall said through the megaphone.

The students were abuzz with curiosity and disappointment the game was cancelled. They also seemed to make a point of following her directions, even if they did so while complaining. Harry, Hannah and Susan were surprised when Professor McGonagall came straight to them.

"If you three would follow me," she said gently.

"What happened?" Hannah asked.

"There's…" her voice faltered for a moment. "There's been another double attack," she said.

"Luna and Hermione?" Susan asked louder than she meant to speak.

Professor McGonagall gave a nod. "Follow me," she said again.

Already whispers could be heard. It was a double attack! Another one!

This time though…

A pure blood was also a victim…

[-] [-] [-]

Harry looked again at the figures of Luna and Hermione. They were both petrified. Harry took in deep breath and let it out. It was odd how they were found. Both had hand mirrors with them. He had no idea what it meant. Hannah and Susan didn't either.

After this attack, everything was different. No one felt safe. Not even the Slytherins felt they were untouchable. Luna may have been seen as on the crazy side, but her family had been pure blood for a long time. It was soon after the attack Draco mentioned to everyone Nearly-Headless-Nick was actually a pure blood in life.

Not even Theodore Nott felt like he was the big man in Slytherin anymore. He was actually rather scared. He talked big, but many knew his family, while pure blood, didn't reach as far back as the Lovegoods in that regard. The Lovegoods weren't some rich and influential pure-blood family, but they were old.

Everyone, including the Slytherins, were now realizing this meant one of two things. Either the phrase "Enemies of the Heir" had a much broader definition, or they didn't care if anyone got in the way by accident. It was obvious now Dumbledore couldn't keep it under wraps any longer. The Ministry finally took action.

Their choice of action only made things worse though. "Honestly… I almost think Dumbledore deserves it for his poor handling of the situation," Harry thought to himself. The headmaster was dismissed and Lord Malfoy delivered the message on the behalf of Board of Governors in person. It was still a bad idea though.

Harry especially didn't agree with what happened to Hagrid. He was arrested and taken to Azkaban, just so the ministry looked like they were doing something about the attacks. Harry heard about that place, and he could tell it was terrible.

It was obvious this was the second time Hagrid was sent there. The first time was after he was expelled and that was what he wouldn't talk about no matter what when they visited him.

Harry looked at the two girls a little longer. "I should probably go," he thought to himself. The school was now under a very strict curfew. You weren't even allowed to go to the bathroom outside of your house unsupervised. He was currently in the Hospital Wing well past curfew. He used his skills from the Knights to sneak in unnoticed. He had to see them again.

There had been some good news just that morning. The mandrakes were more or less ready, but the brewing would still take some time. Harry couldn't look at this bright side though. He saw a new message on the wall on his way here.

This one said, "Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever."

Harry was pretty sure the staff would be making an announcement about it soon enough. He was planning to go and find this chamber. He now had a couple of good ideas on where to start. He wasn't planning to speak to a professor either. He wouldn't put it past them to try and cover this up even now.

This was why he wanted to see the two girls one last time.

Before he was about to leave, Harry noticed something in Hermione's hand. It was a piece of paper. He took it from her hand, how he wished it was warm like usual. He read the piece of paper.

The most fearsome of beasts is by far the Basilisk. The King of Serpents! They can live for many hundreds of years and grow to gigantic sizes. The basilisk is hatched from a chicken's egg beneath a toad.

It is the deadliest of any creature. Not only does it have deadly venomous fangs, it can instantly kill by just looking you in the eye. If you see it indirectly, the snake will petrify the victim instead. Spiders flee before this mighty serpent. It is their mortal enemy. The only thing the Basilisk fears is the cry of a rooster, for it is fatal to The King of Serpents.

Now, Harry understood why the two reacted to him describing the voice as hissy. He didn't even need to see Hermione's note about it getting around the school using the pipes to know why he heard it in the walls.

Harry quickly left. He needed to get some supplies. His time was short though. He was on the clock. Whoever was taken into the chamber probably didn't have much time left.

[-] [-] [-]

Harry planned to get some supplies really quick and leave, but he was cut off by Hannah and Susan who were wearing their school uniforms. "I need to get going," he said to them.

"What's in the bag?" Hannah asked.

"Supplies," Harry said.

"Why?" Susan asked.

Harry sighed. "I don't know what all I will find, but I am going to the chamber. Myrtle won't be able to escape this time. I'm pretty sure she's the one who died last time. No evidence, but I have to do something. I overheard a couple of portraits complaining about her bathroom flooding again," he said.

"We're coming with you," Susan said.

Harry raised an eyebrow at her. He handed her the torn piece of paper. "That's what's down there," he said.

Susan was stunned. Hannah curiously looked on as well. She was wide eyed and stunned after seeing the scrap of paper too. Harry was almost to the door. He used their shock to his advantage.

"More reason we're coming too!" Hannah called to him.

Harry sighed and shook his head. "Hufflepuff Loyalty…" he muttered. "Keep up then," he said to them as he left. He had no time to argue. "Someone's been taken down there," he added before picking up pace.

[-] [-] [-]

Harry made his way to his destination with Hannah and Susan barely able to keep him in sight. He was not in a good mood. He hated how Hermione and Luna didn't share their thoughts on the matter with them.

He mostly blamed himself though. He shouldn't have let them go to the library together like that. He was foolish to think things were more or less in the clear. There hadn't been any actual evidence to suggest so. He also felt stupid for not putting the pieces together himself! It all seemed so obvious now.

Harry heard the familiar wailing of a girl ghost. He wouldn't let her continue. She had been missing earlier when he looked for her right after the attack. It seemed she was always in the bathroom, except for when it was convenient and you actually wanted to find her.

Harry felt angry now. Myrtle had the answer this whole time! But she just wallowed pathetically in her own self-pity. She died 50 years ago. It was time to get over it.

Harry barged into the second-floor girls' bathroom on his own. Hannah and Susan hadn't caught up yet.

"What are you doing in here? Boys aren't allowed!" Myrtle shouted in surprise.

"How did you die," Harry said bluntly.

"Hmph! What is it to you?" Myrtle asked as she turned her ghostly nose up into the air.

"How did you die? You've had the answer this whole time to the chamber and told no one!" Harry said angrily.

"What does it matter to me? I'm just a ghost! I don't feel anything! I'm just dead! People just make fun of me. Myrtle's always crying! She's so ugly. No one ever liked her," Myrtle whined in a high-pitched voice.

She was about to continue her wailing again. How dare this second-year boy make demands of her?! Good looking people always felt they were owed something by everyone else and they were the only ones who mattered. They never think of people like her. They are always so selfish!

Harry didn't let up on his gaze. "Luna was attacked," he said lowly, just as Hannah and Susan entered behind him catching their breath.

"Ohhh…" Myrtle said as she deflated. "Oh no…" she said again in worry.

"She's only petrified. But whoever did this, has to be stopped," Harry said.

"I agree…" Myrtle said looking to him in full sincerity. She had been guilty of exactly what she accused him of doing. She was wrong to be that way, even in her death. She needed to make up her bad behavior, especially since Luna was hurt. She decided then to fully cooperate with them. She knew how important Luna was to them as well.

Harry got ready to finally hear her tale and at last get the answer to the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets.

A/N: In case anyone is upset by how Myrtle first behaved, realize she only encountered them a little at the party in this story apart from Luna. She's also on the selfish side, even in canon. We know she is always feeling pity for herself, and she pervs on the male students at Hogwarts when she isn't crying in the bathroom. She never even tried to tell anyone what happened to her.

I'm pretty sure given how ghosts are in Harry Potter, someone would have asked her what happened hoping to solve the mystery of her death. I'm not saying it isn't sad what happened to her. Also, in this story, she will redeem herself greatly in the next chapter.