"Here we go," Zari said.
"I suppose we should jump right into this one," Lily said.
"The sooner, the better," Astra agreed.
"Chapter sixteen," Gideon read. "The Chamber of Secrets."
"And here we go," Mia said.
"We'd get here eventually, I guess," Lena said.
"So, it all boils down to this," Sirius said.
"I really wish that you didn't have to risk your neck for these people," Astra said.
"Especially considering I'm not entirely sure they deserve it," Kate said.
"It's not about whether or not be people deserve it, it's about doing the right thing," Harry said. "No matter how thankless it is."
"Or in other words, being a hero can suck," Sara said.
"Yeah, sometimes, but it can be rewarding," Kara agreed.
Ron bemoans they were so close to Myrtle and never thought to ask her.
"And neither did any of the teachers," Alex said. "Especially the Headmaster who was there when she died."
"I just have a feeling Dumbledore already knew," Nora said
"Well, it's still weird that no one asked her," Mick said.
"Well, that would require you to want to talk to Myrtle for more than a few seconds," Bellatrix said.
"You search far and wide for these answers, and here they are, right under your nose," Nyssa said. "Many warriors older and wiser miss the obvious and get burned for it."
"Moody always tells us to watch our back, but we shouldn't miss what's in front of our nose either," Tonks said.
"Hindsight though," Lita said.
"We've said it before during this reading, it's a bitch," Zari said.
McGonagall announces there are still exams. Dumbledore's orders. And trusts they are studying hard.
"Almost seems like Dumbledore's still running the school, doesn't it?" John asked. "He's not really gone."
"Yeah, now that I think about it, it's likely," Narcissa remarked. "Not sure why Lucius thought he could be rid of him."
"Lucius's arrogance burned him and it won't be the last time either," Ginny said.
Harry nodded and they moved on.
Ron wonders about taking exams with his damaged wand.
"If only someone noticed that a student was struggling with a broken wand," Charlotte said.
"Ron should have…" Hermione said. "You know what, forget it."
"Thank you," Malfoy said. "Still, that really should have been on his head of house."
"I wouldn't have allowed a student in my house to go with a broken wand for that long," Snape said. "In fact, I would have not allowed him to use the second hand wand from his brother, which was already damaged."
"Let me guess, you spoke to Dumbledore about this, and he said he was looking into it," Kara said while slowly rolling her eyes.
"We should really have a drinking game based on how many times that excuse gets used for inaction," Thea said.
"No," Sara said. "I don't want anyone to die of alcohol poisoning."
"Fair enough," Thea said.
A few days before exams, McGonagall announces that the Mandrakes are finally ready. And tonight, they will be able to revive the people and maybe find out who is the culprit.
"The problem is, none of us saw the person who attacked us," Daphne said.
"Just the eyes reflected and then nothing," Hermione said.
"So, that would have been a bust," Astra said.
"Well, I was being hopeful," McGonagall said.
"Which isn't necessarily wrong," Hermione said.
"The attacker was very crafty," Ginny said quietly.
"So, how are the Mandrakes used?" Lita asked. "Because they seem pretty…sapient is a good word, isn't it?"
"It's one way to describe it," Astoria said. "And they just cut the leaves."
"Although after cutting the leaves, they age quickly, die, and then are reborn back into seedlings," Daphne said. "It's kind of like the phoenix cycle in a sense."
Ron is jubilant although he thinks that they should wait to wake Hermione up after the exams. Although maybe they don't have a need to talk to Myrtle.
"Oh, you're going to have to talk to Myrtle," Bellatrix said knowingly.
"And that didn't matter in the end, whenever you woke the students up," Astoria reminded them. "None of them saw the attacker."
Ginny arrives at the Gryffindor table and looks really nervous about something.
Astra looked forward and gave Ginny an encouraging smile.
"She's…she's not well, is she?" Mia asked.
"She's got the look of someone who is fighting possession," Bellatrix said. "Which means…."
"Exactly what you think it means," Regulus said.
Those who did not know came to the same realization at the same time.
"I just wish I had put those pieces together," Harry said.
"Don't feel bad, I didn't either," Ron responded.
"Again, hindsight," Lita said.
"You can't expect a pair of the second years to figure this out," Nora said. "Especially when all of the adults missed the signs."
"Yeah, the teachers really dropped the ball," Daphne said.
"Won't be the first time, nor it would be the last time," Harry said.
Ginny is reminding Harry of Dobby, when he is about ready to say something that he shouldn't.
"That comparison is very apt," Nora said.
"Yeah, it is," Ginny said. "I'll talk about how this felt in a moment."
"Terrifying, I'm guessing," Sirius said.
"I can only imagine," Bellatrix said.
After Ginny can't speak, Harry asks her if it's about the Chamber of Secrets.
"Harry's getting there," Lena said. "He's putting the pieces together."
"But, he's missing one huge smoking gun to really put it all together," Alex added.
"Everything was there, I should have guessed," Harry said.
"No one expected an eleven year old girl to know anything," Lily said.
"And you didn't connect the obvious to her," Sara said.
"Don't be hard on yourself," Kara said. "It's easy to anguish about what could have been after the fact."
"And I had every opportunity to say," Ginny said. "But, I didn't. Because…well you know."
"I do," Harry agreed.
Percy interrupts Ginny and takes her seat.
"Percy's time was impeccable," George said. "As usual."
"Not like I would have had to said what I needed to say," Ginny said. "I was tongue-tied."
Looking back now, Riddle was toying with her. Likely baiting Harry a little bit. He was sick like that.
When Ron calls out Percy on interrupting Ginny, he tells her it wasn't for the Chamber of Secrets.
"Love how he just dismisses any possibility," Mia said.
"Oh, it's Percy, always in his own little bubble where he matters," Fred said bitingly. "Never once gives a damn about anyone."
"And he thinks it was…well we know what he thought it was," Zari said.
"Which I don't need to think about, thank you," Lita said.
Ginny walked in on something that Percy's a bit embarrassed of. And he evades the subject when asked.
"Well, good thing we weren't there," George said.
"We would have kept pushing and pushing," Fred said.
"Likely given him an earful for brushing off Ginny," George said.
"Guys, it's fine," Ginny said. "I wouldn't be allowed to say anything."
"I have to ask, what's that diary," Bellatrix chimed in.
"Nothing good," Narcissa darkly replied.
"The worst kind of dark magic," Malfoy agreed.
"But the worst type of dark magic is…."
Bellatrix trailed off for a second and her mouth came open. Oh, if Riddle made one of those, he was a complete idiot. Even Bellatrix would never have made one, and she was open minded about magic. But she had a limit.
And Horcruxes were her limit. That type of magic means that there is no hope for anyone that made them.
Harry still wants to speak to Myrtle. And fortunately, Lockhart might be able to help him.
"Yes, because you can play to his ego and get you to do what you want," Remus said
"I'm ashamed on behalf of Ravenclaw for this idiot," Junior said.
"I'm ashamed on behalf of Hogwarts for this idiot," Sirius said.
"I'm ashamed on the behalf of humanity for this idiot," Sara chimed in.
"And I'm ashamed on the behalf of all organic species for this idiot," Kara added. "Didn't we say this already?"
"It bares repeating," Harry said.
"Well, at least he does have some uses," Lily said. "Even if he's…."
"Got the ego the size of a small planet?" Natalie asked.
"Oh, I think Lockhart's ego needs its own solar system," Alex said dryly.
"At least," Lily said.
Lockhart is still adamant it was Hagrid. And thinks the extra security is silly.
"Wrong and wrong," Fred said.
"To be fair, and I can't believe I'm being fair with him, the extra security really doesn't help," Astoria said.
"Yes, there really should be Aurors there investigating," Tonks said. "But, I suppose there's no use in crying over spilled potion now."
"No, not really," Astra said.
"Then again, there was a lot of dropping the ball on the entire investigation thing, a lot," Lita murmured.
"Yes, Spitfire, there was," Harry said.
Harry and Ron trick Lockhart to let them go on their own.
"He loves being told he's right," Junior said.
"I can't believe you tricked him again," Malfoy said.
"Can you?" Ron asked. "Can you really, Malfoy?"
"Granger, I can understand, but you two at this point in time…actually I'm pretty sure Crabbe and Goyle might be able to do it with the right motivation," Malfoy said. "So, never mind. Lockhart is a special kind of…special."
"I wouldn't go that far," Zari said.
"I guess I wouldn't either," Malfoy said. "But, Lockhart's still so thick."
"Vanity is his sin," John said.
"And he indulges in it so well," Natalie added.
Lockhart goes off to prepare for his class. Or curl his hair.
"The latter," Kara said. "It's the latter."
"Oh, yes, it is," Junior said.
Unfortunately, Harry and Ron are caught on their way to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom by McGonagall.
"Speaking of impeccable timing," Fred said.
"Minnie McG, always there at the worst possible time," Sirius said.
"It's a skill I honed over seven years of dealing with you and your friends, Mr. Black," McGonagall said
"I believe it," Peter said. "Minnie's got a sixth sense for these things."
"The real question is how is Dad going to get out of this one?" Ruby asked.
"Through deception and cunning, I'd imagine," Nyssa said.
They manage to spin a story they want to see Hermione.
"Right about that one,' Thea said. "Oooh, playing on her emotions."
"I'd like to say I'm disappointed," McGonagall said. "But, desperate times called for desperate measures."
"And you can't see just how desperate I am," Harry said.
"I can't believe you used me to get out of trouble," Hermione said.
"Believe it," Kara said with a small grin.
"It was pretty clever," Daphne said.
"That's my dad," Kate said.
"And mine too," Ruby said. "That was amazing."
McGonagall gives them permission to go see Hermione.
"Oh, Minnie's an old softie," Peter said.
"We couldn't get away with that," Sirius said.
"Well, you would have overdone it and flown too close to the sun," Remus said.
"It's true, Padfoot," James said. "Well played, you two."
"She does owe you one for first year," Kate said. "For not believing you about the Stone."
"More than one, I'd imagine," Astra said darkly.
Madam Pomfrey allows them in, even if she says no point talking to a petrified person.
"Maybe," Bellatrix said.
"Although, you had to secure your alibi," Sara said.
"Yeah, no point in having one if you don't follow through, Mick added in agreement.
"Still can't believe you got away with it," Sirius said.
"So, we're getting to something that astonished me," Nora said.
"Just hold that thought for a second," Daphne said.
"She's right, you know."
Harry and Ron turned around to see Beatrice standing in the hospital wing. She was looking from one petrified person to the other. Her eyes falling onto Nearly Headless Nick.
"There wasn't supposed to be a fifth curse," Beatrice murmured. "But, there is. Again, another problem in Hogwarts."
"We…might know what's going on," Harry told her.
"What?" Beatrice asked.
Harry and Ron told Beatrice quickly about Riddle's diary, their adventures with Aragog on Hagrid's permission and how they figured Moaning Myrtle was killed fifty years ago.
"So, Hagrid should be in Azkaban…legally speaking, because he bred Acromantula and caused a colony to be in a forest close to a school," Beatrice said. "Damn it, what are Acromantula afraid of?"
That question stumped all three of them.
"That's what I want to know," Ron said. "Those things are creepy."
"Sorry, you had to go through that," Beatrice said. "Hagrid really should have more sense than that, but maybe he wouldn't have gotten expelled in the first place if he did. And there's this Riddle guy. I'm not sure if I trust him. And you said the diary wrote back."
"It did," Harry said.
"You idiot, it could be a cursed object," Beatrice hissed.
"Hey, that's out of line," Ron said. "And Pomfrey's going to come back at any minute."
"You think it was cursed?" Harry asked.
"I don't know," Beatrice said. "I'm not the Cursebreaker. Although, I know someone who is."
"Yes, my brother, Bill, he works at Gringotts," Ron said.
"Well, yes, but there's also…Cassie and..well that doesn't matter because she's rotting because of her own greed now," Beatrice said.
"CJ?" Ron asked.
"Cassie apprenticed under her, before she showed her true colors," Beatrice said. "She might be able to figure it out. If you still had the diary."
"Someone stole it," Harry said. "So, who was the other curse…"
"Harry, look at this," Ron hissed.
There was a piece of paper clutched in Hermione's hand.
"Bit harsh, but you were reckless writing in that diary," Lily said.
"Yes, thanks, I know," Harry remarked. "Beatrice really could be blunt when she needed to be."
"I like her," Astra said. "What happened?"
"Yeah, what happened, Harry?" Kara asked.
"We'll talk about it later," Harry said. "Year four."
"Ooh no," Lita said. "She's not…"
"We'll get to it later," Harry repeated himself.
"And she's still alive," Lena said. "Although…I'm curious about this as well."
"Missing that piece of parchment was careless," Severus said. "How could the teachers miss it?"
Neither of the teachers in the room had an answer.
"I've been asking myself that question for a long time," Nora said.
After a moment, they got the ripped piece of paper out of Hermione's hand and find out it's a Basilisk.
"Oooh, fuck," Regulus said.
"They normally kill, though," Bellatrix said.
"Well, its master didn't want the Basilisk to kill," Ginny said.
"In fact, I'm pretty sure that Myrtle's death was an accident," Tonks said quietly.
"Rookie mistake which he no doubt corrected and learned from," John said.
"All though a diary," Astra said.
"Yes," Ava said. "All though that diary."
That damn diary. Exactly what it was still was unsettling. Riddle had been similar to Harry in many ways, doing so many things which others thought to be impossible. And creating a Horcrux which acted in this way, on top of several more defied the impossible.
Especially considering most people ended up having their soul slowly drained into their object over time. Horcruxes were not a toy overall.
"Everything fits," Harry said. "What are we going to do?"
"Well, I'm going to see if I can find a rooster," Beatrice said.
"Someone was killing Hagrid's roosters," Ron reminded her.
"Damn," Beatrice said.
"The entrance is in a bathroom," Harry said. "Myrtle's…I'm going to…"
"I'll go and see what I can find out from her," Beatrice said. "I'll be less conspicuous than you two."
"We'll tell the teachers what we found out," Ron said.
"Good," Beatrice said. "I wish we had time to send her an owl. We could use help. Badly."
"Help will always be provided at Hogwarts for those who asked it," Harry said. "Dumbledore said that before he was kicked out."
"Before Dumbledore let himself get kicked out," Beatrice said.
Neither Harry nor Ron had any desire to argue this.
"Bill and Charlie would skin me alive if anything happened to you," Beatrice told Ron. "And Percy and your twin brothers, and I don't fancy dealing with your mother either. So, don't do anything reckless."
"What about me?" Harry asked.
"Just be careful," Beatrice said.
"Oh, she puts too much pressure on herself," George said with a sigh. "Try and follow in her sister's shoes, and Cassie's and….M…well other people."
"Procuring a rooster would be the smart option," Snape said.
"Time wasn't on our side," Ron said.
"If a teacher would have noticed the paper, we might have had more time," Hermione said. "I guess it was overlooked in all of the stress everyone was undergoing."
"I can overlook it, I guess," Charlotte said.
"No, we should have noticed," McGonagall said.
"Riddle would have just sped up his plan," Sara said.
"And maybe made a stupid mistake," Alex said.
"He seems like the type who would be a cornered animal," Mick said. "And you don't want to fuck with one of those."
"Words to live by," Sirius said.
Before this could go any further, there was an announcement that there has been another attack. And all student should return to their dormitories and staff should head to the staff room.
The Weasleys all sighed, knowing what was coming.
"This is the worst that Hogwarts has ever been," Tonks said.
"Darkest hour," Lita agreed.
"I can only imagine what's going through Harry's mind now," Astra said.
"Not happy thoughts, I can tell you that," Harry agreed.
"And speaking of cornered animals, I present to you Harry Potter, "Sara said.
"A cornered dragon with nothing left to lose," Zari said.
"Oooh, I don't like this," Lily groaned.
Ron and Harry sneak into the Staff Room to overhear the staff talking.
"I shouldn't be surprised," McGonagall said.
"Well, how the hell else are we supposed to learn anything?" Ron asked.
McGonagall did not have an answer.
There has been a student taken by the monster.
"Damn," Lena swore.
"Just keeps getting worse," Sirius said.
The Heir of Slytherin left another message stating that the victim's skeleton will lie in the Chamber.
"And that's even more foreboding," Alex said.
"Oh my God," Ruby said. "How could you keep it together?"
"It wasn't easy," Ron said.
"I would have lost my mind in there," Thea said. "You are way too composed."
"That's really unsettling," Natalie said.
Harry and Ron find out it's Ginny. And Ron is rightfully in shock.
"The fact you didn't scream is really something," Nora said.
"Good thing I was too terrified to move," Ron said.
"Ron," Ginny murmured.
"That's not the way I would have wanted you to find out," McGonagall said.
"You don't say," Sirius said.
"And we learn so much news by overhearing adults," Harry said.
"And how," Ron murmured.
They would be getting to next year and there were a few people who were anxious with what was about to happen. Naturally, they had to get through this year first.
McGonagall says Hogwarts will have to close.
"And even through my shock, I can hear the air deflate through Harry's lungs," Ron said.
"It's most certainly the closest we've ever come to shutting down," McGonagall said.
"Which says a lot," Tonks said. "With what happened during my sixth year."
Here, McGonagall winced at that reminder, that a student did die in the Forbidden Forest.
"Harry's going to do something reckless,' Thea said. "Just because he would rather be dead than go back to the Dursleys."
Astra bit down on her tongue so hard she almost yelped.
"That's a bit extreme," Charlotte offered.
"Oh, it's not," Harry said. "I was thinking that I would do anything to avoid going back there at this point."
"Although what say would Dumbledore have if he was no longer your Headmaster," Lita said.
"Dumbledore still has an annoying amount of clout just being Dumbledore," Narcissa said. "Harry wouldn't have been sent there in the first place otherwise."
"No man should have that much power," Bellatrix said.
"Way too many mistakes made," Lena said. "And that never put Harry in a proper state of mind."
"And it's not good," Alex said. "How haven't you cracked?"
Harry honestly had no answer.
Lockhart arrives. And Snape decides to volunteer him to be the one to go into the Chamber of Secrets to take on the monster.
"Oh, I'm cheering for Snape?' Sirius questioned.
"I'm scared too," Peter said.
"Lockhart really is responsible for unity," Zari said. "Guess he did something right."
"Well, either he was everything he claims to be," Regulus said.
"Doubtful,' Junior scoffed.
"Or he gets mangled by the monster," Severus said.
"Win-win," John said.
The teachers all agree with it and send Lockhart down in the Chamber of Secrets.
"Wow," Lita said.
"Well, we didn't want him around while we were handling more serious business," McGonagall said.
"But, I wasn't in the school," Sirius said. "I'm either dead or in jail."
"Meh," Remus said. "Three out of ten."
"That's practically a troll," Sirius said.
"Fitting for your, dear cousin," Bellatrix said.
Lockhart is trembling and goes off to his office to prepare.
"And his true colors are finally shining through," Remus said.
"Figures, spineless," John said. "Can walk the walk, but can't talk the talk."
"Just another mind blowing Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher choice," Bellatrix said while shaking her head.
"There have been many,"Tonks said.
McGonagall declares that the Hogwarts Express will take them home first thing in the morning.
"You're not fine," Kara said.
"I'm the complete opposite," Harry told her.
"Oh, Harry, you shouldn't have to do what I think you're about to do,"Lily said.
"Death or the Dursleys," Harry said curtly.
"The fact Death is the more appealing option really reminds me why I hate them," Astra said.
"Join the club," Sara grumbled.
Harry and Ron walk out of the staff room.
"Ron, go and be with your brothers," Harry said. "I need to do something."
"Harry, you can't…you can't be serious," Ron said.
"I'm deadly serious, Ron," Harry hissed. "I'm not kidding. You have to be with your family."
"But, you're family," Ron said.
Harry almost blinked at this.
"Go with them, Ron," Harry said. "I don't have the time to argue."
"Harry, you…"
"You know where I'm going if Hogwarts is closing," Harry said. "You know what I have to do now."
"Harry, you'll die," Ron said. "I'm not letting you do this on your own."
"Ron, you have a broken wand," Harry said. "You'll get yourself hurt. Go to Fred and George and Percy. I'm going to send an owl and meet Beatrice in Myrtle's bathroom."
Ron nodded, although there was much reluctance.
"As much as I hate to say this, Harry does have a point," Tonks said.
"Yeah, but I wasn't going to let him face it alone," Ron said.
"Oh, the old Weasley adage of not listening to a damn word anyone says," Fred said.
"To be fair, the Weasley stubbornness is right up there with the Weasley temper," George said.
"And both combined can make a dangerous mix," Fred concluded.
Harry moved over to the owlery and found Hedwig. He scrawled out a note.
Monster is a Basilisk. I'm going into the Chamber.
If you get this message, I'll gladly accept any help I can get.
Harry.
Harry looked at Hedwig.
"Cassandra Jacobs," Harry told her. "Or Dumbledore. Whatever one you can find easiest."
Hedwig's reproachful eyes fell onto him.
"Take care of yourself, Hedwig," Harry said.
Hedwig nipped Hedwig affectionately.
"I can see it in her eyes," Nora said.
"You mean she understands what Harry has to do, even though she doesn't like it," Astra said.
"That's pretty much the same look you have there," Kara said.
"Half of the room has that look," Remus said.
"Gryffindor, to the end," Bellatrix said.
"Not sure if compliment or insult," Harry said.
"Take it anyway you wish," Narcissa said.
"Surprised you asked for help," Hermione said.
"I wasn't that cynical yet," Harry said. "That was to come."
"Oh boy is it ever," Daphne murmured.
Harry left and ran into Ron.
"I'm going to see what Lockhart's going to do," Ron said. "I know he's a pompous git, but he might be good for something."
"Bait," Harry said curtly
"About all he's useful for," John said.
"Are we sure Harry's not cynical yet?" Kara asked.
"Not cynical," Lily said. "Just fed up with Lockhart."
"He's not alone," Nora said.
"We're all to that point," Zari said.
Harry sighed and walked off with Ron.
"Do you think there's any chance Ginny might be…alive?" Ron asked.
"I don't know," Harry said.
"Harry's got his mind on stopping the heir," Ron said.
"To be fair, the message didn't look too promising," Astoria said.
"It was one of the darkest days in Hogwarts history," McGonagall said. "Which yes, says a lot."
"It's always darkest before the dawn," Kara said.
"Especially when a foolishly noble Gryffindor sticks his neck out," Bellatrix said. "Of course, he's the only one that can when the side of the light is running around like chickens with their head's cut off."
Harry and Ron catch Lockhart in his office. And they say he has information for Lockhart.
"Well, I can't fault you for trying," Nyssa said. "Although, he's an obvious charlatan."
"You caught him at a bad time," Sirius said. "When he's leaving the school."
"Yes, that's our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Ron said bitingly.
They catch Lockhart on the verge of packing and leaving.
"I really can't believe I ever stuck up for this guy," Hermione said in disgust.
"People are easily blinded," Kara said. "They want to believe there's good in people. And Lockhart put himself out there as an authority. And you respected him for that."
It all comes out that Lockhart fabricated his books.
"Well, you don't say," Kate said.
"Nothing made sense," Astoria said. "His fan club was there to shut you down when you tried to point out the problems."
"Lying bastard," Mick said.
"Dumbledore either bought it, which is bad, or set up Lockhart to fail, which is worse," Nora said. "Neither reason makes Dumbledore look particularly good."
"Nothing I'm learning over the past two books makes Dumbledore look particularly good," Astra said.
"Brace yourself then," Harry said.
"Oh, what?" Astra asked.
"It's coming," Kara said.
"Yes, it's not pretty," Ava said.
Astra winced. She had a bad feeling about what they were saying.
Lockhart mentions how it was through a liberal use of a memory charm that he fabricated his books.
"Mmmm," Charlotte said.
Hermione looked rather anxious, given her sordid past with memory erasure spells.
"He didn't do anything to any of the students, did he?" Zari asked.
"Better not," Mick growled.
"Lockhart's wand was checked, when the information came out,' Tonks said. "He didn't do that to the students. I can understand why people see his inappropriate behavior around Harry and others. But, he didn't perform any memory charms on students."
"And all students were evaluated for any memory charms," Snape said.
"I wasn't," Harry said.
"Dumbledore told us…yes, Potter, I know," Snape grumbled.
"Unless he did it personally, made sure there were no charms other than what he covered up, and modified your memory accordingly," Sara offered darkly.
"That spell, it should be up there with those Unforgiveable curses," Charlotte said.
"I agree," Sirius said.
"Dumbledore modified Harry's memory?" Lily asked suddenly. "Why?"
"I saw something very traumatic as a child, and he wanted to spare me of the trauma," Harry said. "I've got those memories back. I wish I would have known then."
"Is that the full story?" Natalie asked.
"We'll tell you the full story, after this year's done," Astra said.
"Are you sure about this?" John asked Astra in undertone.
"Done hiding it," Astra said. "They're going to know other bad things about the future anyway."
"Fine, after the year's done," Harry said.
"I'll remember that," Lily said.
Lily and Natalie looked at each other. A mother always knew when their children was hiding something from them.
"Sorry," Sara muttered. "I slipped."
"Don't be," Astra said.
"It would have come out eventually," Harry said.
Naturally Lockhart has to modify Harry and Ron's memories.
"Oh no you don't!" Hermione yelled.
"Yeah, it's not pleasant when people have their memories modified with their consent," Malfoy said. "Is it Granger?'
"You can shut up!" Hermione yelled.
"Touched a nerve, didn't I?" Malfoy asked.
"What is he talking about?" Astra asked.
"Later," Harry told her.
Harry disarms Lockhart and Ron throws Lockhart's wand out the window.
"Well done," Nyssa said.
"That was wicked," Peter said.
"It was pretty sweet," Mia said.
"We had to retrieve the wand later, but no big deal," Tonks said.
Harry and Ron force Lockhart along after informing him they know exactly what is in the Chamber of Secrets.
"And I know that look," Kara said.
"I do too," Sara said.
"Harry's about to lose his patience," Zari said.
"Yeah, that's the look, right there,' Mick said.
"Not just Harry," Lily said.
"He gets that from you though," Natalie said. "You don't suffer fools that well."
"You made it," Beatrice said.
"Naturally," Harry said. "I sent an owl."
"Good luck," Beatrice said. "She might be halfway across the world."
"Well, then it's Dumbledore who will have to get it," Harry said. "Because, I'm going into the Chamber of Secrets. But it's a good thing my Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher will give me a hand!"
"Harry, please, can't we talk about this?" Lockhart asked. "My next book, I'll give you a thirty percent cut of all of the profits."
"Can you believe this guy?" Ron asked. "Memory charmed a bunch of people and stole their stories to write his books."
"Well, that makes sense," Beatrice said.
"Keep walking, Professor," Harry told him.
"Sixty-forty?"
Harry was not swayed by Lockhart's negotiating.
"Any luck with Myrtle?" Harry asked.
"She doesn't like me," Beatrice said. "Maybe because I had a habit of throwing things at her when I was a moody second year."
"Oh, she doesn't like that at all," Ron said.
"He tried to bribe you?" Lena asked.
"I really wish this would have made the book," Lita said. "Because, this just shows how pathetic it is."
"And Myrtle doesn't like anyone," Natalie said.
"I'm shocked and appalled," Bellatrix said.
Harry goes up to Myrtle and asks her how she died. And she's only too happy to tell him everything.
"Myrtle happy?" Lily asked.
"Myrtle happy," Natalie confirmed.
"I'm scared," Lily said.
"She must be fond of you," James said.
"Oh, bugger me, a ghost stalker, especially that one," Sirius said.
"And they could be anywhere," Nora said.
"She could be," Harry agreed.
She was teased by Olive Hornby, and then she heard a boy come in. And he was making a funny hissing sound. And when Myrtle opened up the door to confront him, she died.
"Well, life sucks one minute, and then it's over," Astra said. "Can't help and feel a little sorry for her."
"A little," Daphne offered.
"But, she acts…ugh," Lily said.
"And Dumbledore never once asked her, did he?" Junior asked.
"Dumbledore sure doesn't ask a lot of logical questions," John said.
"Beginning to understand that, yes," Junior said.
Myrtle mentions she saw a pair of yellow eyes. And she also haunted Olive Hornby.
"Myrtle startled her," Ginny murmured.
"The Basilisk?" Harry asked
"Yes."
"The Basilisk is a her?" Nora asked in shock.
"Well, the female of the species is bigger," Junior supplied
"Close to a hundred feet, and the older, the more resilient the skin," Sirius said.
"Still want to know how they keep the toad still," Bellatrix said.
"You would," Narcissa murmured.
Myrtle points out that she saw the eyes somewhere by the sink.
"The girl's bathroom would be the last place anyone would look," Mia commented.
"But, Hogwarts wasn't like this during the time of the founders, was it?" Kate asked.
"No, but it changes and the will of the founders is still present even a thousand years in the future," Malfoy said. "And yes Granger, you're not the only one who reads Hogwarts the history?"
"So about what Rowling said about how wizards went to the bathroom before indoor plumbing." Lita said.
"There's a really funny story about that," Harry said.
"Dad never expected she would take that seriously," Nora said while throwing hands up in the air. "Or not vet it was you."
"So, Damien Darhk is responsible for getting Rowling to believe that wizards shit in the hallways before toilets and vanish their own shit?" Lita asked.
"Yes," Nora said.
"And she actually posted it," Mick said.
"She posts a lot of stuff," Kara said. "And that's about as far as I'm going to dive down than that rabbit hole."
"For the best," a tense Ava said.
Ron suggests Harry say something in Parseltongue to a tiny snake carved on one of the taps.
"It was so hard to turn it on and off back then," Harry said.
"Well, you've mastered it quite nicely," Sara said.
Several of the women in the room flashed knowing smiles.
Harry can't say anything the first time, it comes out in English.
"Just got to trial and error it," Lena said.
"Unfortunately, we don't have that much time," Ron said.
"Talk about the pressure being on," Ruby said. "Still don't know how you do it."
"At this point, we're all asking that question," Astra said.
After some maneuvering, Harry wills the sink to open.
"There we go," Kara said with a smile. "No sweat."
"Trust me, plenty of sweat," Harry said.
"To be fair, most of it was Lockhart's," Ron said.
"Lovely," Tonks said.
Harry gazes down a pipe which is large enough for a man to slide down. He knew what he had to do.
"I'm going down there," Harry said.
"And you're the only one who can open the entrance," Beatrice said. "And if something happens to you, there's no way for us to get out of it."
"This is mental," Ron murmured.
"Which means, there's no way to talk him out of doing anything this insane," Beatrice said.
"She's got you pegged," Sara said with a grin.
"Cassie was the same way," Tonks said. "Drove us mad."
"I'm not letting a pair of second years go down there alone," Beatrice said.
"Well, if Miss Haywood has this in hand, you don't need my help…" Lockhart managed.
"You're going first," Harry said.
"But…"
"NOW!" Harry snapped.
Lockhart had been flooded with terror.
"What if I break something?" Lockhart asked.
"Well, you better hope I don't accidentally vanish all of your bones then," Harry hissed angrily.
"Savage," Zari said.
"And warranted," Lily said.
"My name is Harry Potter….AND I'M DONE WITH YOUR SHIT!" Nora yelled.
"Harry said calmly," Zari added.
"Based Dragon is based," Lita said.
"You still haven't forgiven Lockhart for the de-boning," Bellatrix said.
"Rightfully so," Narcissa said. "And I wouldn't either."
So this was how it happened. Narcissa prepared herself for the end.
Without another word, Ron shoved Lockhart down the pipe. Then Beatrice went. And then Ron, And Harry went down last.
"Just everyone take a moment and breathe," Ava said.
"The tension is so thick right now," Lena said.
"Twelve years old," Alex said.
"We'd even lose our nerve at this point," Sirius said. "Damn, kid, you've got a set on you."
"Lily and James together would do that," Peter said.
"Must be underneath the school," Ron murmured. "At least underneath the lake."
Beatrice flinched but straightened up.
"What's the deal there?" Astra asked.
"She had a bad experience with the lake," Tonks said quietly.
"Oh," Astra said.
Harry warns the group to close their eyes at the first sign of movement.
"Harry's taking control of the situation quite nicely," Thea said with a smile.
"Naturally,' Nyssa said.
"Even in those early years, you could see it there, building up," Zari said.
"I think I wouldn't mind having you on my side if I decided to go recklessly into danger," Regulus said.
"Now, let's actually kick Riddle's stupid arse," Bellatrix said.
"Harry, how were you not scared?" Ginny asked.
"And who says I wasn't?" Harry asked.
"True courage is not the absence of fear," Kara said. "It's doing what is necessary in the face of fear."
"Hit in on the nail, sis," Alex said.
"And pretty much described Harry in a nutshell," Hermione said somberly.
The group comes across a giant Basilisk carcass.
"Oooh, that's a big one," Nora grumbled.
"Bigger than I remembered it," Harry said.
"And these things look so much bigger when you're twelve," Ron added.
Lockhart collapses to the ground.
"The pressure got to the bastard," Sirius said.
"No, he's goldbricking," Mick said. "Fucking faker."
"Watch out," Nyssa warned them.
When Ron tries to get Lockhart up, Lockhart overpowers Ron and takes his wand.
"Ron's wand?" Lena asked.
"Yes, Ron's wand," Harry confirmed.
"I'd say Lockhart just grabbed the idiot ball, but he's been running with it the entire year," Lita said.
Ron's wand backfires spectacularly when Lockhart tries to memory charm them. Harry throws himself out of the way.
"So, Dobby saved the day," Sirius said.
"What?" James asked.
"I understand," Lily said. "If Dobby didn't seal the barrier, Harry and Ron would not have taken the flying car. And they would not have crashed into the Whomping Willow. And if they did not crash into the Whomping Willow, Ron's wand would have never broken."
"And we would all be screwed," Harry said.
"Well, Lockhart would have as well," John said. "That idiot would have wiped the memory of the only person who could let him out of the Chamber of Secrets."
"Can we all agree that Potter has the most inconceivable luck possible?"Snape asked.
"Can't disagree, no matter how much I want to," Astra conceded.
"I've had enough experience with it," Sara said.
"Me too," Kara said.
"Potter luck doesn't make any sense," Zari concluded.
"It doesn't, Kate agreed.
"Ron?" Harry asked. "Beatrice? Are you okay?"
A long pause followed before Harry heard a muffled voice.
"We're fine," Beatrice said. "I stopped the rocks before they crushed us."
'This git's not fine, the wand blew up in his face," Ron said.
"The lights are on, but no one's home," Beatrice said.
Not a big loss. Although Harry could not be concerned about that. The rocks looked unsteady and one wrong move could cause them to cave in.
"There's not a way back through?" Harry asked.
"No,and it would take at least twenty minutes to shift this rock aside," Beatrice said. "And I'm the only one with a wand."
"Mine's ash now," Ron said.
"Think you might be due a new wand," Kate said.
"I figured as much," Ron said dryly.
With time of the essence, Harry decides to go up and forward. On the off chance that Ginny might be alive.
"Another few minutes," Ginny murmured.
"I know," Harry said.
"Well, Harry stands alone," Astra said.
"That happens a lot," Harry said grimly.
"Second year in a row at least," Lena said.
Harry makes his way to a pair of stone snakes, and hisses at them to open.
Everyone remained fixated on the screen, unable to move or speak at all.
And with determination in his eyes, Harry presses on deeper into the Chamber.
"And we end that chapter," Ava said.
"Seriously, now?" Bellatrix asked. "Leave us hanging in suspense, why don't you?"
"My nerves are almost shot," Lily said.
"Oh, Potter's going to kick Riddle's stupid arse," Bellatrix said. 'Who does he think he is anyway? Glad the Dark Lord killed him when he was alive."
Harry caught Kara's eye, who smiled. Well, the next chapter should be interesting.
To Be Continued