Chapter Twelve: A Diary Riddle

Hermione stayed in the hospital for several weeks. Her disappearance from classes had sparked an inquiry by students who believed that she was attacked. Gohan faced incessant questioning from his fellow peers. But to his credit, he said nothing more than the fact that she was fine.

Gohan was sitting in a chair, peering absently out a window, when Ron had snatched something from beneath Hermione's pillow. He read what was apparently an autographed get-well card signed by Gulderoy Lockhart. They were bickering about his competency as a wizard.

Ron turned to Gohan. "Tell Hermione what you think of him, Gohan."

Gohan shrugged as he reiterated,"He reminds me of Mr. Satan." Harry and Ron found this so funny that Madam Pomfrey chased them out for being too noisy.

They were walking the corridor discussing Lockhart further. Suddenly, an angry outburst from the floor above caught their attention.

"That was Filch," Harry said. Fearing another possible attack, they snuck up the stairs and listened while out of sight. Filch was hysterically shrieking about having to mop. When he left, the three boys turned the corner.

Water was seeping beneath Moaning Myrtle's bathroom door into the hallway. They could hear her eerie wails echoing off the walls inside.

"Come to throw something else at me?" she rambled desolately.

Harry made his way over to her. "Why would I throw something at you?"

She scoffed. "Don't ask me! I was minding my own business when someone throws a book at me."

Harry shook his head. "What's the big deal? It can't hurt you."

Myrtle glared and stood to her full height. "That's a fine point! Let's all throw books at Myrtle because she can't feel it! And let's make a game of it, hmm? Fifty points if it goes through her head!"

"Well, who threw it-"

She snorted. "I don't know…I was sitting in the U-Bend…and it fell through my head. It's over there," she wailed, gesturing to a small, thin book lying under a sink.

Harry tried to pick it, but Ron stopped him. While the two bickered over how safe the book was, Gohan bent over and poked it with his wand. His wand lurched unpleasantly. He suddenly felt the sensation that he had felt on the train when he was examining the wand. But this time, it felt as though his wand had reproached him. Gohan stared at the book; there was something repulsively familiar about the book. He tried to remember what it was, but found his mind unfocused. Harry ducked under Ron's arm and picked it up.

Gohan stood on the opposite side of the diary as Harry opened the book. Gohan sensed a strange energy coming from it. His wand lurched again. Gohan shivered.

"T.M. Riddle?" Ron said, "I've seen that name. He got an award for special services to the school fifty years ago."

Harry looked impressed. "How did you know that?"

Ron laughed bitterly. "Because I cleaned that shield fifty times during detention. Filch made me after I belched slugs on it. I looked on that name long enough to ever forget it."

"He never wrote in it," Harry said in disappointment after flipping through the pages. He closed it and flipped to its back. "He must have been Muggle-born…to have bought it from Vauxhall Road…"

Ron smirked and said something, Gohan only hearing "Myrtle" and "fifty". Harry put it in his pocket.

Harry handed Hermione the diary. After examining it closely, she turned to Gohan.

"Do you feel that?"

"Yes. I don't like it." Gohan shifted uncomfortably.

"What?" Harry asked.

Hermione frowned. "This book has a ki. But that's impossible, isn't it?"

"If it was impossible, then it wouldn't be sparking like that…it definitely has energy."

Sighing, Hermione pulled out her wand and began tapping it. "It also feels kind of familiar for some reason," she said softly. "It reminds me of a dream."

"A dream?" Harry asked interestedly.

"Yes. Whenever I have a dream, it's always the same one. I'm all alone in the darkness…all except for this gilded silver-and-gold box. Something about this diary reminds me of that box."

"Do you know what's in the box?" Gohan asked.

Hermione's jaw twitched. "The box is somewhat clear. There's some sort of wispy fluid-like strands inside the box. Sometimes it contorts into grotesque shapes. It echoes somewhat, but when I wake up, I can never remember what I heard. For some reason the dream is scary to me."

Ron laughed. "Now we know why you're so scary."

Hermione stiffened. "Everyone has their quirks, Ronald," she snapped.

"I'd like to know why someone tried to get rid of it. I'd also like to know why Riddle got that award."

"Could be anything…" Ron trailed off.

Harry and Hermione was giving each other knowing looks.

"What?" Ron said.

"Malfoy said that the Chamber was opened fifty years ago," Harry said quietly.

"Yeah…"

"The diary is fifty years old…" Hermione added.

Ron and Gohan both spoke at the same time; Ron said, "So?" but Gohan said, "Oh!"

Hermione nodded at Gohan. "The person who opened the Chamber last time was expelled fifty years ago…and T.M. Riddle got Special Awards for Services to the school fifty years ago…well, what if Riddle caught the Heir of Slytherin? His diary could tell us everything: where the chamber is, what's in it, how to open it? The Heir wouldn't want this lying around."

"Just one problem, Hermione, there's nothing in the diary." Ron said smugly.

"We'll see about that," she said, performing a spell to reveal invisible ink, which failed.

"Even so," Gohan said. "I still don't think we should trust it completely. The book's energy doesn't feel right."

She pulled out an eraser. "I agree. We can explore this and still be cautious." She erased the page. Nothing happened. Sighing, she handed the book back to Harry.

Over the next several days, Gohan, Harry, and Hermione continued to discuss the book. Gohan noticed that Hermione seemed a little tired.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

She sighed. "Yes. I've started having the old nightmare again. This book thing and all." But her fear of the dreams didn't deter her. Finally, the four of them agreed to visit the trophy room. They discovered that Riddle had also procured a medal for Magical Merit as well as head boyship.

Ron mumbled that Riddle reminded him of Percy.

As the days passed, Gohan was getting antsy. Not only was he failing to find the Heir of Slytherin, but he had also failed to find the person who was being used. It all seemed so confusing to him. By placing himself in the middle of things with Harry, he had hoped that things would fall into place. But as time ticked by, Gohan was getting desperate.

The monster hadn't attacked anyone for a long while. Gohan hoped it would stay gone for good, but he knew better than assuming it would. He had too much experience with evil doers to know: this wasn't over.

The spirit of anxiety had lifted somewhat. Half of the school had returned to normal lifes. But Gohan was filled with dread and an overwhelming feeling of helplessness. He hadn't felt this terrible since Frieza.

To make things worse, Lockhart was telling people that he had frightened the Heir from acting. Although most of the students were too smart for this, some had actually adopted a false sense of security. Gohan was angry. He felt that Lockhart was almost as potentially dangerous as the monster for giving everyone false hopes.

So on February fourteenth, a weary and frustrated Gohan walked into the Grand Hall. He jumped back. Everything was pink, red, and white. Flowers and hearts were everywhere…and the one responsible…who else? He was sitting at the teacher's table with pink robes.

After notifying them of the sickly sweet horrors that awaited them that day, he rose from the table. He stopped right in front of Harry and said something with a wink. Seething, Gohan stood away from the table.

"YOU ARE COMPLETELY CLUELESS!" Gohan bellowed, his voice echoing off of the walls and ceiling. Suddenly, all eyes were on Gohan and Lockhart. Growling, Gohan grabbed his book bag and stalked from the table.

Lockhart, noticing all of the stares, chuckled and announced, "Stress from the upcoming exams…poor fellow."

Harry and Ron rose and left, Hermione following reluctantly. They found Gohan sitting in his first class, glaring angrily.

He vented. "What's the matter with him? People are in danger, and he has the nerve to tell them they're safe?"

"Gohan," Hermione began softly. "Maybe he thinks-"

"No! He's just playing to the crowd…just like Hercule. He's no different." Hermione went to her desk, resignedly. She had never heard him so angry before. She never pegged Gohan as being a jealous type; she decided it was his overzealous concern for the people that caused him to flare so angrily.

...

Gohan kept to himself for most of the day. Severely agitated, he decided it wasn't safe to interact with anyone. He even ignored the teachers; he sat at his desk all day with his eyes closed in meditation. For some reason, maybe because their lessons were being constantly interrupted by valentine-bearing, cupid-dressed dwarfs anyways, the teachers didn't disturb him.

He only came out of his preoccupation when he came across a scene in the corridors. Harry was fighting a dwarf who was sitting on his ankles, singing a valentine. People burst into riotous laughter as Harry stumbled to gather his belongings, his bag being seemingly ripped. Malfoy picked up something with a sneer. Gohan immediately recognised it as Riddle's diary. He heard a gasp; he looked over at Ginny, who wore a horror-struck expression. He refocused on Harry. While Harry demanded it back several times, Malfoy held it up tauntingly. Using his flash speed, Gohan raced behind Malfoy and yanked the diary from his hand. Then he flash sped back to his original position ten feet behind Harry.

Malfoy and Harry looked at his empty hand in bewilderment. Gohan tapped Harry on the shoulder and nodded knowingly. Understanding the message, Harry and Gohan turned away, Ron following, and walked toward their next class. Gohan handed him the diary.

"I didn't even see you get it…that was fast!"

Gohan chuckled. "Thanks. Just try not to lose it again. I hate touching it."

Just then, they heard Malfoy,"I don't think Potter liked your valentine." Harry and Gohan whipped around to see Ginny run with her hands over her face. Ron angrily pulled out his wand, but Harry and Gohan drug him to class. Once in Charms class, however, Gohan resumed his aloof behavior. Strangely enough, Professor Flitwick allowed it.

"Gohan…are you awake?"

Gohan pulled his curtain back. "Yeah…what's up, Harry?"

"The diary…I've figured it out."

Gohan sat up. "Really?"

"Yeah. Come see."

Gohan stepped off his bed and onto Harry's.

Harry wrote, "Someone tried to flush it down a toilet."

The words slowly sank into the page and disappeared. Other words took their place. "How fortuante I recorded my memories in something more lasting than ink. I always knew that someone wouldn't want this diary read."

Harry wrote, "What do you mean?"

"I've witnessed horrible things…things that were kept hidden…things that happened at Hogwarts."

"That's where I am. Terrible things are happening now…do you know anything about the Chamber of Secrets?"

"Of course. We were told it was only a legend, but in my fifth year, the Chamber was opened. The monster attacked several students, killing one. But I caught the person. He was expelled. They gave me an award and forbade me to speak of it. But I knew it would happen again. The guilty one was not imprisoned."

"It's happening again," Harry wrote. "Can you tell me who did it?"

"Better…I can show you. Don't take my word for it…you can see it yourself."

Harry and Gohan looked at each other. New words formed. "Let me show you."

"I don't like this, Harry…"

Harry nodded. "But what choice do we have?"

Gohan sighed.

"I'll go. You wait here. If anything bad happens, you can get a teacher or something."

Gohan shook his head stubbornly. "No way I'm letting you go alone! I'm coming, too!"

Harry wrote, "Can I bring a friend?"

The words disappeared. After an extended pause, the words formed. "Certainly."

Gohan and Harry looked at each other before Harry wrote, "Okay."

Without warning, the pages flipped as though being struck by wind, stopping on June thirteenth. A small picture appeared on the page. Grasping Gohan by the arm, he leaned forward to get a closer look. With his eye less than an inch away from the tiny picture, Gohan felt Harry's body give a nasty lurch as he was being sucked into the book. Gohan allowed himself to be dragged along. Soon, both boys felt themselves falling.

Gohan noticed it when he used his energy to slow the fall; they both managed to hit the floor feet first. Gohan looked at Harry. "We need to be careful. Something here is disrupting my power flow."

They looked around and started with a gasp. They were in Dumbledore's office, but the man behind the desk wasn't Dumbledore.

"How strange," Gohan said quietly. "Everything here has the same energy as the book."

But Harry was addressing the man. "Sorry. I didn't mean to butt in…er, I'll just go…" The man, however, completely ignored him.

"Uh, Harry? This is a memory, isn't it?"

"Yeah?"

"So it stands to reason that no one is going to see us…you know, because we aren't part of the memory."

"Oh…right."

There was a knock on the door. "Enter."

A handsome boy of around sixteen stepped past the threshold, removing his pointed hat. He was tall, had black hair, and a silver prefect badge.

"Riddle," the old man motioned for him.

"You wanted to see me, Headmaster Dippet?" asked Riddle nervously.

"Have a seat. I have been reading the letter you sent."

"I see." He sad down, clasping his hands together tightly.

"I am sorry, dear boy. I cannot possibly allow you to stay over the summer. Don't you want to go home?"

"No, sir. I'd much rather stay here than to go back to that-that-"

"You live in a Muggle orphanage, is that correct?"

Riddle blushed, "Yes, sir."

"Muggle-born?"

"Half-blood, sir. Muggle father, witch mother."

"And your parents?"

"Mother lived only long enough to name me, sir. Tom after my father, and Marvolo after her father."

Dippet looked on sadly. "I could have made special arrangements, Tom, but I'm afraid it's out of the question now-"

"Because of the attacks?" Harry and Gohan looked at each other.

"Precisely. I would be a fool to allow you to remain over the summer, especially after the death of that poor girl. You'll be much safer at the orphanage by far. As a matter of fact, the governors are considering to close the school-"

Riddle's eyes widened. "No! What if the attacks stopped…what if the culprit is captured?"

"What do you mean? Do you know something?"

"No, sir." Riddle said way too quickly, but Dippet didn't notice.

Sighing, he said disappointedly, "You may go,Tom…"

Riddle slipped off the chair and left, Harry and Gohan in pursuit. He stopped mid-hallway, deeply frowning in thought. Finally, he took off toward the dungeons. He entered the same room where Snape had potions and closed the door to a small crack. Harry and Gohan could see him peeking out the narrow slit. It seemed like forever they waited. Suddenly, they could hear someone sneaking toward them. Whoever it was passed the door Riddle was hiding behind without a second thought. After a few seconds, Riddle emerged from the classroom quietly and followed.

"Come on," somebody whispered. "I've got the get yer out of here." Harry glanced back at Gohan with a fearful, knowing look.

Riddle whipped around the corner. "Evening, Rubeus."

The giant boy slammed a lid shut and spun around. "Tom, what yer doin' here?"

"It's over, Rubeus. I'm afraid I have to turn you in. If the attacks don't stop, they're going to close the school-"

"It..it never killed anyone," the boy stammered helplessly.

"I don't think you meant it to hurt anyone, but monsters don't make good pets-"

"IT WASN'T HIM!" The boy roared. "He wouldn't…never-"

Sighing, Riddle took out his wand. "Stand aside, Rubeus."

Riddle twirled his wand. The force of the spell illuminated the room with a bright explosion that knocked the door with such a force that the giant boy hit the opposite wall. Harry shrieked as a huge monster with multiple legs came out, bowled over Riddle, and made its escape.

Riddle attempted a pursuit, but the huge boy jumped him and wrestled his wand away as he screamed, "NOOOOOOOOO!"

The scene began spinning; Harry and Gohan felt themselves falling up,and both landed on Harry's four poster bed, back in the present. The diary lay open on Harry's stomach.

Gohan was the first to stir. "Woah…that was crazy. I feel sorta drained…I need some food." He walked over to his dresser and pulled out a capsule. The capsule became a large refrigerator.

"Mind if I join you?" Harry asked weakly.

"Shor,"Gohan said with a mouth full of a cheese brick. "Hewp yasewp." Harry clumsily staggered to the fridge as Ron burst through the door.

"There you are! Woah…look at the food! It's a wonder you don't get fat, Gohan. You're always eating."

Gohan chucked sheepishly while munching a drumstick. Harry shakily took another drink of soda.

Ron stared at him. "What happened to you?"

"Hagrid. Hagrid opened the Chamber of Secrets."

Gohan choked. Swallowing his food, Gohan looked at Harry. "No way," he said firmly.

Harry stared. "But Gohan, you saw it, too."

Gohan shook his head."That isn't the monster, Harry. Something else is going on. It has to be."

Harry frowned. "You've seen it?"

Gohan's jaw dropped. "Ahhhhh!" He gasped loudly.

Harry glared. "Out with it!"

"I…I can't. Not yet."

Harry growled in frustration. "GOHAN!"

"I'm…sorry."

Harry scowled at Gohan. "Fine." He spat angrily and turned away.

"Spi-spiders-" Gohan stammered.

Harry whipped around. "What?"

"The spiders…I think they're afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"T-the monster."

Harry approached Gohan and glared at him. Somewhat annoyed at being ignored, Ron said loudly, "Would someone tell what the hell this is all about?"

Harry and Gohan jumped. Harry smiled a little, and Gohan gave a quiet chuckle. They sat on the edge of the bed and began their story.