Throughout January Darla noticed a very pleasing change in Ginny. She was no longer withdrawing to the dorms for hours and she was looking less pale. She had always gotten good marks in her classes but it seemed that her marks improved even more as she was concentrating more. She seemed to get frightened even more when someone mentioned the Chamber of Secrets or the attacks though. If Julie, Patty and Sheila began talking about it when the five of them were sitting together, Ginny would get up and leave but she wouldn't go to the dorms she would leave the Common Room.
What displeased Darla was the fact that Ron and Harry grew even more secretive and Hermione was still in the hospital wing. One evening Darla discovered Harry going through a little black book that looked familiar while Ron was reading through one of his essays. Harry looked as though he wanted to hide it from her when she came over but she spoke to soon.
"What is that?" She asked pointing at a book reading the cover, it looked like a diary and it was dated fifty years ago. She wasn't sure why it looked familiar unless she had seen it at home with Harry. Maybe he kept a diary. "Is that your diary?"
"No, I found it in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom." Harry answered reluctantly. "Just trying to see if there is any clues."
"I still think it's just an empty book." Ron muttered. "There is nothing written in it at all."
"I think you should stop trying to solve it." Darla said. "You already have a strike against you for flying that car to school. The teachers who find out, but if they catch you do anything else dangerous you could be expelled. You already had a warning in the summer. I also know that whatever is wrong with Hermione it has to do with you trying to solve the mystery over Christmas. Don't you think that after she got hurt, you should stop?"
"Madame Pomfrey will be able to fix her up just fine, she'll be out soon." Harry answered defiantly. "But I'm not going to sit back while muggleborns are being attacked, I want to stop it. You and Hermione are muggleborn."
Darla couldn't say anything to that she felt suddenly light headed at the thought of Harry wanting to protect her. She was worried he would go too far though. She found herself gripping the crystal again as she stared at the book. She knew she had seen it before but she wasn't sure where. A voice in her head was telling her that she had seen it just recently and had seen it several times before that. The book appeared to be blank though as Harry kept flipping through it.
"Who is Moaning Myrtle?" Darla asked.
"You don't know her? She haunts a toilet on the first floor. You know, near the attack?" Harry answered.
"Oh." Darla said knowing where now, it was a girls toilet out of order because it was always flooded. "I know where you are talking about. It's out of order, isn't it? What were you doing in there anyway? It's a girls bathroom."
"Hermione had told us about her." Harry answered very quickly. "We noticed she had flooded the bathroom again so we went to see why. I found this book on the floor that someone had thrown at her. She's a very depressed ghost."
"So she floods the bathroom? But maybe someone got a diary for Christmas and didn't want it so they threw it at Myrtle. Maybe people pick on her." Darla said. "Although, I know I have seen that diary before. Or perhaps one like it."
"Maybe you are right." Harry said finally agreeing with her. "But where have you seen it?"
"That's what I am trying to find out." Darla said. "I'll have to get back to you when I've thought of it some more."
--
"Try to read the instructions once or twice." Ginny told Darla in Potions class.
They were making a potion that was suppose to help prevent scarring. Professor Snape had just assigned it was now walking around the class collecting their last essay, and insulting people. Darla wondered why he didn't like students, but she was sure that insulting students wasn't allowed. She knew Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster to be the greatest Headmaster at Hogwarts so she didn't understand why he kept Snape on.
"I was never good at baking." Darla told Ginny. "So I'm not surprised that I'm not good at Potion's."
"It's because you try to do it too fast." Ginny answered. "I was never good at Potions either, but Percy has always been a good teacher. Every summer since his first year he would come home and brew potions with mum's help. He wasn't allowed to do magic of course but he wanted to keep up with his school work. So mum always let him make potions as long as she was in the room when he did it. I liked anything that had to do with Hogwarts so I would watch. When I was nine he started letting me help out too but I could never do it right, so he spent the summer teaching me."
Darla nodded and followed Ginny's instructions. She thought Ginny was lucky to have had six brothers before her to do magic, they could show her everything they knew. Her parents would also be able to help as well. All she had was Harry which of course wasn't a bad thing, but all their lives they hadn't known they were magical. When Harry did find out, he couldn't do magic because they couldn't do magic outside of school.
Snape stopped at their essays to collect their essays. "I hope this essay is better than the one you wrote over the Holiday's Ms. Dursley." He sneered. "I don't understand it, you had weeks to do and it was a very poor quality. I hope your potion today will be up to standards as well. Although I wouldn't expect more from Potter's cousin."
Darla felt herself go red as Snape took Ginny's essay next without saying a word. It was the first time he had ever said anything to her about Harry. Normally he insulted her work and continued. She was determined to do better that day just to prove to Snape that she wasn't a dunderhead as he had said he hoped the class wouldn't be on their first day of school. Ginny seemed to understand because she helped her out throughout the class.
"What is this Ms. Timmins?" She heard Snape say at the end of class.
Darla looked over to where Julie and Sheila were at the table beside them. Julie was blushing as Snape stared into her cauldron that was letting off red bubbles. She looked as though she couldn't say a word, Snape waved his wand lazily and the potion disappeared.
"Homework tonight, you'll write why your potion went wrong. Two rolls of Parchment." He told her.
He moved to Ginny's and Darla's table next and peered into Darla's cauldron. He looked angry when he saw that for once she had gotten it right. She wondered if he would get angry at Ginny for helping her but he didn't say a word. He glanced into Ginny's cauldron next before moving on. Ginny and Darla began cleaning up quickly. Before the bell rang Professor Snape called out:
"For next class, I want you to write me two rolls of parchment about the properties of this potion. Why does it work on some scarring and why it doesn't work on others."
Julie let out a squeak and looked as though she would burst into tears as the bell rang. She would have to essays to write now. Sheila and Patty were comforting her, and telling her that Snape was very unfair. Darla was glad to have had Ginny's help or she might have been in Julie's situation as well.
"He seems really foul lately, doesn't he?" Darla asked Ginny as they left the classroom. "I mean more than usual anyway."
"I noticed that." Ginny said. "I guess he made a Hufflepuff second year cry yesterday in class. I heard Ron telling Harry that."
"Those two are still up to something. They're now trying to find clues from a book." Darla said. "They should just let the teachers figure it out."
"Yes I know, if they get in anymore trouble they could be expelled. People already think Harry is, well you know." Ginny said going very white. "I suppose Hermione sends them to the library to find clues from books all the time though. Wonder when she's going to get out of the Hospital wing anyway."
--
Hermione left the Hospital Wing early February looking very pleased. Darla had hoped once she was out of the Hospital Wing they would see more or Ron, Hermione and Harry but if it was possible they grew more secretive and were always pouring through the book. Darla kept wanting to mention it to Ginny but she didn't want to upset her. She had finally stopped hiding out in the dormitory all the time.
Hermione loved Calicalpurnia too. She seemed to love her name as well while Ron still said it was a mental name. Calicalpurnia was bigger now and attacked everything even more than she had before. Darla had once caught her near the fireplace and had quickly run over to get her away from it. Percy did a clever charm for her one evening that prevented Calicalpurnia from going near the fire anymore when he caught her doing it. Every time she would go near it now she would get distracted and attack something else.
"I don't expect she would go right in the fire." Hermione told her. "Once she got close enough to it she would realize it's dangerous. I have a cousin who had a kitten years ago that sniffed a candle. It singed her whiskers and she never went hear one again. I think the heat would scare her off."
"Maybe." Darla said. "But it's better to be safe than sorry. She's very curious about everything. I'm glad Percy did the Charm because it works on all the pets I think, not just her."
Everyone seemed to be in good moods, especially Professor Lockhart. He was telling everyone that the attacks were finished now because the culprit knew he would catch them. Darla hoped he was right All they had to do was wait for the Mandrakes to be ready so they could revive the victims. She knew that some people still believed it was Harry who was doing the attacks but had decided to stop. She heard the whispers in the corridors.
On Valentine's day Darla and Ginny entered the Great Hall together and froze to see it wasn't the normal Great Hall they saw everyday. There walls were completely covered in large pink flowers while heart shaped confetti fell from the ceiling. Darla and Ginny gaped at each other before continuing to walk over to the Gryffindor table. She realized how much she loved magic and Hogwarts. She knew that while there would likely be a Ball at Frances they wouldn't go as far as they did at Hogwarts.
"Wow." Darla said as they joined the three other girls. "It's so nice in here isn't it?"
"Yes I know." Patty said in a dreamy voice. "And it was all Lockhart's doing. Isn't he just amazing?"
Darla nodded an agreement and looked up at the teachers table. To her surprise she saw that they didn't look pleased at all. Lockhart looked very pleased with himself, he was wearing pink robes. She looked around the Great Hall to find that a lot of the students, mostly the boys weren't too happy at all. The Students at the Slytherin table in particular were looking very angry and disgusted.
"Look at Ron." Ginny said giggling pointing down the table.
Ron's face was very red as he stared at Lockhart in disgust. He looked as though he had just tasted something very funny and was about to throw up. Hermione was giggling and Harry wasn't there yet. Darla knew he wouldn't be happy with the decorations either. Darla thought it was nice of Lockhart to go through all this trouble to cheer people up with all that was happening at the school. She didn't understand why the students weren't a lot more happier about it.
A few moments later Lockhart waved for quiet and shouted: "Happy Valentine's Day! And may I thank the forty-six people who have so far sent me cards! Yes, I have taken the liberty of arranging this little surprise for you all - and it doesn't end here!"
"I hope he has read mine." Patty whispered. "I think he will like it a lot. I spent almost a week working on it."
Darla hadn't thought to send him or anyone a Valentine's card. She wondered if she should later, she had always done it back at her old school. There weren't any boys that she liked at the moment and while she agreed that Lockhart was handsome she didn't fancy him like a lot of the girls did. She thought his teaching was strange too, she wasn't learning anything about defensive spells or how to stay away from dark creatures.
Lockhart clapped his hands and through the doors to the Entrance Hall marched a dozen surly-looking dwarfs. Not just any dwarfs, however. Lockhart had them wearing golden wings and carrying harps. "My friendly, card-carrying cupids!" beamed Lockhart. "They will be roving around the school today delivering your Valentines! And the fun doesn't stop here! I'm sure my colleagues will want to enter into the spirit of the occasion! Why not ask Professor Snape to show you how to whip up a Love Potion! And while you're at it, Professor Flitwick knows more about Entrancing Enchantments than any wizard I've ever met, the sly old dog!"
Darla was sure that it would be safer not to ask Snape to brew a love Potion. She had heard they were banned from Hogwarts anyway, so she didn't know why Lockhart had suggested it. Everyone got up to leave the Great Hall, a lot of people were muttering disgustedly under their breath. Darla looked at Ginny who had a very determined look on her face.
"I'll meet you in Herbology ok?" Ginny said to Darla and turned away quickly.
Darla wondered what it was that she was up to but Ginny wouldn't say when she went to class later. It wasn't until late afternoon when Darla figured it out. All day the dwarfs had been going to their classes and delivering Valentine's and it seemed that Ginny decided to send one to Harry. Darla felt jealous when she saw Patty and Sheila get a lot throughout the day. She wasn't the only one, Julie like her didn't receive one and she was angry. She stopped talking to Patty and Sheila who didn't seem to notice or care.
As they were going into Transfiguration they passed the Gryffindor second years, which of course included Harry. A dwarf called out for Harry who looked around and had a look of horror on his face as it made it's way to him, kicking at people to get to him. Ginny's face suddenly went red as she stared at Harry and the dwarf. "I've got a musical message to deliver to 'Arry Potter in person," he said
Harry seemed to make a run for it but the Dwarf stopped him by grabbing him by his bag and pulling him back. Darla felt sorry for Harry and Ginny who were both very red. The bad split and all of Harry's stuff fell onto the floor, Darla tried to make her way through the large crowd to try and help him but too many people were in the way now, watching. She wished they would go as Draco Malfoy made his way through the crowd to see what was going on.
Percy Weasley showed up next as Harry tried to get everything in his bag then tried to run but the Dwarf grabbed him around the ankles and made him fall before starting to sing:
"His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad,
His hair is as dark as a blackboard.
I wish he was mine, he's really divine,
The hero who conquered the Dark Lord"
Darla laughed, she couldn't help it but then she saw the terrified look on Ginny's face and didn't understand why. Harry wouldn't get upset with her for it, he would pretend it hadn't happened. Although Darla supposed it was a bit insensitive of him to try and run from it. It had just made it worse for everyone. Darla followed Ginny's eyes to where Harry's old diary lay and realized that it was the diary that was upsetting her more than the singing Valentine. Draco Malfoy was picking it up now.
Darla suddenly realized where it was that she had seen the diary, it had been Ginny's. She didn't know why she hadn't thought of it before. Why had Ginny thrown it at Moaning Myrtle then? Darla remembered too that it had been blank and yet Darla had seen Ginny writing in it constantly. Ginny must have known a good charm to keep it blank or the diary just came like that. Ginny was probably worried that Harry would figure out how to work the diary and discover her secrets. She thought it was a bit stupid of Ginny to throw away the diary in case someone other than Harry had found it. Darla knew the Slytherin girls would really enjoy reading and telling everyone Ginny's secrets. Darla guessed it was a bit lucky that Harry had found the diary and Ginny saw so she could get it back.
Darla hadn't been paying attention but she saw Ginny cover her face with her hands and run into the classroom so she chased after her. Ginny had taken a seat in the back of the classroom and was still covering her face when Darla reached her.
"Was-was it you that sent the Valentine?" Darla asked Ginny.
Ginny said something muffled in her hands that Darla couldn't catch.
"Harry won't say anything you know, he'll pretend it never happened." Darla said.
Professor McGonagall entered the classroom a few moments later and shouted for silence since everyone was still talking about what had happened in the corridors. They were doing a test that day so they had to put all their books away while she handed out the test papers.
"And I do not want to catch anyone cheating this time." She said, "Or you'll fail the whole test. I can tell the difference between a first year's answer and an answer written by an Auto answer quill. You may begin."
--
"Ginny." Darla said later that night.
Ginny looked up still really upset about what had happened earlier that day. "That diary Malfoy found of Harry's, it's yours isn't it?"
Ginny avoided Darla's eyes as she looked away. "Well, I'm sure if you told Harry you accidently left it in the bathroom he'll give it back. The only reason he is carrying it around is because he thinks it might have a clue to the Chamber of Secrets. He hasn't figured out how to work it yet though, so you are safe still."
Instead of this cheering Ginny up like Darla had hoped it made her go pale. She burst into tears in front of Darla and ran up to the dormitories. Darla looked around for Harry wondering if she should tell Harry that it wasn't a clue to the Chamber of Secrets but Ginny's lost diary. Darla still wondered why Ginny had thrown it away in the first place. Darla decided she would let Ginny tell Harry, she might get angry if Darla did it.
She got up and went over to where Fred and George Weasley were playing chess and sat down to watch them. George glanced up at her.
"Ever play chess before?" he asked her.
She shook her head. "I've watched but I haven't played no."
He nodded and the twins continued to play until George beat Fred. George let out a loud whoop which caused a lot of people to look over at them. Fred then stood up and offered Darla his chair so that George could teach her how to play. She knew it was far more exciting than muggles chess, wizards chess moved on their own. They didn't show mercy either when they knocked an opponent off the board. Darla was white and Fred stood behind her to give her hints on to play. She lost quickly but enjoyed the game.
She stayed with them until Ron, Harry and Hermione entered the Common Room deep in conversation about something. She said goodbye to the twins and went over to where they had sat down in a secluded area of the Common Room. They stopped talking at once when she took a seat with them weighing the idea of telling Harry that the diaries owner was Ginny's. She was hoping Harry would bring it up but he didn't. Calicalpurnia leapt into Darla's lap and she stroked her behind the ear as she told Harry what had happened in her lastest Potion's class with Snape. She had told him what had happened before.
"Just ignore him." Hermione said before Harry could answered. "Don't give him reason to pick on you more than he does."
Darla went up to the dormitory shortly after to find Ginny laying on her bed doing the latest Transfiguration essay. They were quiet for a few moments before Ginny spoke, sounding as if she had a head cold.
"Don't say anything to Harry please. I will tell him myself."
"Ok." Darla said. "And I am sorry that I upset you, I wasn't trying to. I just thought if you told Harry he would give it back, then you wouldn't have to worry about him finding anything out. But why did you throw it at Moaning Myrtle anyway?"
"I didn't throw it at her. I was angry about- about something someone had said. So I through my books around the-the bathroom." Ginny said not looking at her. "I-I forgot the diary I guess. I meant to get it but it was gone."
Darla knew this was a lie but she didn't say anything to Ginny. She could usually come up with better excuses for things but this time she must have been really upset. Darla just nodded and promised that she would let Ginny tell Harry before getting ready for bed. Once she was under the covers and had the curtain around her bed she let herself cry quietly. Why was it that no one could trust her? Why did they make up excuses and lies? Darla turned over angrily and buried her face in her pillow. Someday she would have a secret and she wouldn't tell anyone. She hoped they would all feel the way she did at the moment then. She thought she had proved herself to be trustworthy but still no one would tell her anything.
In fact she knew a secret that she had been holding back for months that she hadn't told Ginny or Harry. Something that would help Harry solve another mystery he had been trying to solve. Someone had been killing Hagrid's roosters and Darla had found several rooster feathers in the dormitory. She felt bad for not telling Hagrid but she wanted to be sure of who it had been first before telling anyone. It was Patty, Julie or Sheila. Darla believed it was Julie since she didn't seem to like Hagrid at all. Her only problem was that she had no proof that it was Julie. Darla decided at that moment it would be her mystery to solve. She would not tell Harry or Ginny what she had found until later. The only proof she had anyway was that most of the feathers were near Julie's bed. But they could have come from some where else.
But then? Darla asked herself. Why did the feathers suddenly turn up in the dormitory when Harry had mentioned that Hagrid was worried about some animal killing his roosters? Didn't Julie tell Darla and Ginny that it was strange for them to want to visit a scary hairy ugly giant? Hadn't she said that she wished something could drive him out of school so she didn't have to see him while they ate in the Great Hall? Darla grinned to herself now, Harry and his friends weren't the only ones who could solve mysteries.