A/N: Sorry it's taken me so long to post, I hope you all understand I've been very busy dealing with school and other personal matters in my life. I will warn you, I can't promise this won't happen again. I will, however, try my best to post a new chapter at least once a week. I currently have none written so…it might be a little while before I can uphold that promise. Please read and review! Until next time, bye, loves!
Disclaimer: I own nothing from the Harry Potter universe, besides my OC, Skylar Wolf
Word Count: 2,892
After slipping on the grey sweater, Skylar proceeded to sneak out of the dormitories and carried herself to the Hospital Wing. When she entered, it was almost midnight. Madam Pomfrey didn't seem to care, for the redhead visited her friend at least three times a day. She was silent as Skylar sat beside the petrified brunette and clasped her hand.
"So...uh...not much happened today...well...I went to see Luna again...she's getting less and less shy by the days…" Skylar attempted to force the oncoming tears back as she continued speaking to herself, "The boys are off on some wild adventure, again, I heard them sneaking out. Harry's going to get himself in trouble, even with that cloak." She shook her head, just like Hermione would. "Oh! I'm beginning to sound just like you," She giggled, squeezing her friend's hand tighter. "Anyway, I've decided it's time for me to do something. I need to be brave," She gnawed on her bottom lip, "I am in Gryffindor, after all." She sat there in silence, the darkness beginning to lull her into sleep, when the footsteps awakened her. She could barely make out Madam Pomfrey, speaking in a hushed voice to the visitors. Skylar sat up in her chair as the two visitors were revealed by the lamplight beside Hermione.
"Ron? Harry?" She looked at them in surprise.
"What, we aren't allowed to visit?" Ron replied snarkily, although Skylar knew it was all in good fun. He picked up the circular mirror and twirled it between his nimble fingers while glaring daggers at the Get Well card from Professor Lockhart. "You don't think-"
"No." Skylar stopped him, not even looking up from Hermione's frozen features.
"But you didn't even-"
"Lockhart is not the Heir of Slytherin." She deadpanned, facing the Weasley with a bemused expression.
"Right," Ron hung his head sheepishly, "Forget I said it."
"Wish you were here, Hermione," Harry stared longingly at his friend, "We need you. Now more than ever…" His eyes widened as they swept across the bed, landing on the bit of paper clutched in her outstretched hand. He slipped it out, and tucked it in his robes, gesturing for his friends to follow.
Harry unfolded the crumpled paper, revealing a torn page from a library book.
"Wow," Ron raised his eyebrows, looking impressed, "Didn't think she had it in her." Skylar half-heartedly smacked his arm.
"Of the many fearsome beasts that roam our land, none is more deadly than the Basilisk," Harry read, "Capable of living for hundreds of years, instant death awaits any who meet this giant serpent's eye. Spiders flee before it and only the crowing of the rooster can kill it." Harry looked up from the paper and gaped at Skylar and Ron, "Guys, this is it! The monster in the Chamber of Secrets is a Basilisk. That's why I can hear it speak. It's a snake."
"But it kills by looking people in the eye," Ron relayed, "So, why is it that no one's dead?"
"Because no one looked it in the eye directly." Skylar murmured.
"Colin saw it through his camera," Harry started, Justin through Nearly Headless Nick. Nick got the full blast of it, but he's a ghost - he couldn't die again…" He trailed off in thought, "And Hermione had the mirror…"
"Guys, stop." Skylar interrupted. The two frantic boys looked up at her.
"Um, can it wait?" Harry asked, "This is kind of important."
"I know," Skylar sighed, "That's why I need to confess something." The boys looked at each other with worry before looking back at the redhead. "It's my fault Hermione was petrified. If it hadn't been for me, she wouldn't have even been in the library that night."
"What are you talking about?" Ron looked at her with confusion.
"I had discovered that the monster was the Basilisk, and I accidently let it slip while we were going to the Quidditch game…"
"So Hermione heard you and decided to investigate on her own." Harry finished. "But, why didn't you tell us about the Basilisk sooner?"
"I was going to, but then you two," Skylar pointed at Ron and Harry, "Kept sneaking out without me and refusing to tell me anything you did. I felt angry and left out, so I couldn't bring myself to confront you." Skylar covered her face with her hands and bent her head over, willing the tears to vanish. "I'm sorry, it's all my fault." Skylar cried silently into her hands, expecting the boys to shout at her or leave. To her surprise, they wrapped their arms around her and squeezed her in a tight embrace. "God, I'm being such a girl." Skylar laughed, flinging the tears of her hands. The boys chuckled nervously until she spoke again. "Enough of that, how is the Basilisk getting around?" The three regarded the book page with curiosity.
"Hermione answered that," Harry pointed out the word 'Pipes' scrawled hastily in Hermione's handwriting in the corner of the page.
"Pipes?" Ron grimaced, looking absolutely disgusted, "It's using the plumbing."
"Remember what Aragog said?" Harry looked to Ron, "About that girl fifty years ago? She died in a bathroom. What if she never left?"
"Moaning Myrtle!" Ron gasped. The two boys looked to Skylar for affirmation, who nodded her head solemnly. Before they could utter another word, Professor McGonagall's voice was projected throughout the school.
"All students are to return to their house dormitories at once. All teachers to the second floor corridor. Immediately." Skylar shivered as the Professor's words washed over her.
"That isn't good." She grabbed Ron and Harry by their wrists and ran out of the library, dragging them along with her.
They arrived on the stairwell of the second floor corridor, the three Gryffindors hiding behind the wall while eavesdropping on the teacher's conversation.
"As you can see, the Heir of Slytherin has left another message," Professor McGonagall relayed in a solemn tone, "Our worst fear has been realized. A student has been taken by the monster. Into the Chamber itself." The teachers broke out into protest and worried whispers. "I'm afraid we shall have to send the students home," McGonagall continued somberly, "I'm afraid… this is the end of Hogwarts." Skylar's jaw dropped, her mouth hanging open in shock. Hogwarts couldn't end! This was her home, her safe haven. Without it, she was just the broken girl, the orphan with abusive caretakers, the girl with no friends. Before she could do or say anything, however, a certain blonde professor stumbled upon the group of teachers.
"So sorry!" Gilderoy Lockhart bursted in the room giddily, "Dozed off. What have I missed?" Had Skylar not been so upset and scared, she would have laughed at Professor Flitwick's slack jawed expression.
"Just the man," Snape drawled monotonically, "A girl has been snatched by the monster, Lockhart. Your moment has come at last." Skylar reveled in the paleness that spread over Lockhart's impeccable features. He was being revealed as the fraud he truly was. How ironic.
"My m-moment?" The blonde professor stammered out, visibly gulping down a lump in his throat.
"Weren't you saying just last night that you've known all along where the entrance to the Chamber of secrets is?" Snape deadpanned, causing the other teachers to stare at Gilderoy expectantly.
"D-Did I?" Gilderoy smiled nervously, "I don't recall…"
"That settles it," Professor McGonagall adjusted her spectacles once more before continuing, "We'll leave it to you with the monster, Gilderoy. Your skills, after all, are legendary." Skylar could have sworn she saw the older professor's green eyes twinkling with humor. But she wouldn't make a joke over this matter, would she?
"V-very well," Gilderoy stammered, not at all convincingly, "I-l'll be in my office, getting - getting ready." He shuffled off in the direction he'd come, purple robes swishing dramatically around his figure.
"The rest of us should go and inform the students what has happened." Professor McGonagall stated.
"Who is it the monster's taken, Minerva?" Professor Sprout asked, concern laced in her question.
"Ginny Weasley." At this, Ron dropped to his knees, quickly comforted by Harry and Skylar. Once the teachers had filed out, they emerged to see the message left on the wall.
Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever.
"She knew something, Harry," Ron insisted as they snuck through the corridors with deliberance, "She'd found out something about the Chamber of Secrets. That's why she was - is -" He took a sharp intake of breath, "A pure-blood. There can't be any other reason."
"C'mon," Harry tugged at his wrist, "Let's go see Lockhart. He may be a brainless git, but he's going to try and get into the Chamber. We can tell him what we know…"
"Harry," Ron stopped in the middle of the hallway, "D'you think there's any chance at all she's not, you know -"
"We'll find her, Ron. Ginny's going to be fine." Harry falsely reassured him.
"Not going to be," Skylar piped up, "She is fine. She's still alive, Ron, I just know it."
"And how can you be sure?" Ron looked at her with watery eyes.
"I know it sounds stupid," Skylar explained, "But I can just...feel it. I know we'll save her. The same way I know Lockhart won't get anywhere without us alongside him." That brought a shaky smile to Ron's face, and the three friends interlocked hands before continuing on.
The door to Gilderoy Lockhart's office was already wide open when the second years arrived, and they quickly rushed in, only to witness Lockhart in the midst of packing his things.
"Professor, we've got some information for you-" Harry trailed off as he took in the scene around him, "Going somewhere?"
"Um, well, yes," Lockhart replied nervously, "Urgent call. Unavoidable. Got to go…" He couldn't seem to speak in more than a few syllables at a time.
"What about my sister?" Ron asked accusingly.
"Well, as to that - most unfortunate," The blonde professor scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, "No one regrets more than i-"
"You're the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher!" Ron interrupted the babbling professor, "You can't go now!"
"Yes, what kind of message would that send to all your friends?" Skylar cocked her head with mock innocence.
"I must say," Gilderoy stuttered, "When I took the job, nothing in the job description-"
"You're running away?" Harry had finally figured it out, "After all the stuff you did in your books?"
"He said he did." Skylar murmured.
"What was that, child? Speak up." Gilderoy demanded.
"I said, you've lied in every single one of your books," She raised her chin in the air in defiance, "All those things happened, but he was never the hero." She pointed an accusing finger at the culprit.
"Do use your common sense," Lockhart seemed to have shaken himself from his nervous spell, "No one wants to read about some ugly, old Armenian warlock, even if he did save a village from werewolves. He'd look dreadful on the front cover…"
"You're a fraud!" Harry shouted, "You've been taking credit for what other wizards have done!"
"He's a self-proclaimed figure head." Skylar added.
"So, is there anything you can do?" Ron asked snarkily, still upset over the endangerment of his sister.
Yes, now that you mention it. I'm rather gifted with Memory Charms," Lockhart boasted, "Otherwise, you see, all those wizards would've gone blabbing and I'd never have sold another book. I'm afraid I'll have to do the same to you both, lest you do the same." At that, he raised his wand, but unfortunately for him, Harry was prepared.
"Expelliarmus!" He shouted, disarming the cocky professor. Lockhart blasted backwards, landing on his bum, while Skylar collected the wand he had dropped.
"Looks like those Dueling Lessons came in handy after all, Professor."
The three friends escorted Lockhart into the girl's bathroom - well, more like threatened him - their wands pointed at his cloaked figure. As soon as they entered the all-too-familiar setting, Moaning Myrtle approached them with a flirtatious smile.
"Hello, Harry. What do you want?" She batted her translucent eyelashes at him.
"To ask how you died." He replied stoically.
"Took you long enough!" Myrtle shrieked before calming down, "She asked me weeks ago." She said, pointing to a red-faced Skylar. Ron and Harry gaped at her until she opened her mouth.
"I'm sorry, with everything else going on...I...I completely forgot!" She apologized sincerely.
"Yes, I told her about the strange yellow eyes, right...over...there…" Myrtle cooed, pointing to the sinks along the wall. As Skylar inspected the sinks, she spotted a small etching of a serpent carved into one of the sink handles.
"Harry, Ron, I think I found it!" She called them over.
"How do we we open it?" Ron looked to Skylar for an answer. She was silent for a moment before her cerulean blue eyes widened in understanding.
"Parseltongue." She breathed.
"Go on, say something, Harry," Ron coaxed his best friend, "Say something in Parseltongue." Harry looked to Skylar first, almost as if for her approval, who simply nodded in encouragement.
"Open up." Harry attempted, staring at the snake carving. Nothing happened, and he looked to Skylar for an answer.
"Focus on the snake." She suggested. Harry stared intensely at the carving until he opened his mouth, releasing a smooth hiss. The snake appeared to move as he uttered the single word in Parseltongue, and the sinks began moving until a large, circular entrance was revealed in the wall.
"It's a pipe." Skylar whispered.
"Excellent, Harry. Good work," Gilderoy Lockhart nervously complimented the second year as he attempted to back away, "Well then. I'll just be going, no need for me…"
"Oh yes there is," Harry interrupted, stopping the professor - or rather, ex-professor - in his tracks, "You first." He pointed the tip of his wand dangerously close to the blonde man's nose, blue eyes widening in fear.
"Now, boys," Gilderoy pleaded with the two, completely ignoring Skylar, "What good will it do?"
"A bloody lot if it's a two-hundred-foot drop onto jagged rocks." Ron scoffed. Gilderoy sighed and took a step forward into the dark tunnel before tripping and tumbling. There was a silent pause before he called up to them.
"It's really quite filthy down here." The trio sighed in relief and Harry turned to face the two redheads.
"All right. Let's go." Ron follows without protest, but Skylar stays put. "Skylar? Aren't you coming?" Skylar gnawed at her bottom lip and slowly shook her head. Harry looked at her in surprise, "What is it?"
"Something doesn't quite feel right to me…" She warily took a step back, "I'll be right back Harry, I swear it!" She said, heading towards the bathroom exit.
"But where are you going?" Harry called out to her, just as confused as Ron.
"Just trust me, alright?" Skylar turned back around to face them. Harry slowly nodded, bringing a small smile to Skylar's face.
"We trust you." Ron confirmed, nodding as well. Skylar nodded back before dashing off into the corridor.
Skylar had realized something once they had opened the Chamber of Secrets. The only thing that could defeat the Basilisk, besides roosters, were Phoenixes. And while all the roosters in Hogwarts were slaughtered, a Phoenix remained in its halls. Fawkes. Dumbledore's treasured phoenix. She clenched her teeth as she ran in the direction of the Headmaster's office. And even though Dumbledore wasn't here, Fawkes could still help them out. Skylar just hoped she could make it in time. As she rounded the corner, she hastily slowed down. The redhead had approached the gargoyles that guarded Dumbledore's office.
"Lemons!" She shouted out between heavy breathing, tapping her foot impatiently as the stone gargoyle slid to the side at an agonizingly slow rate. Once it had opened enough, Skylar slipped into the office and ran to the phoenix cage. Her fingers trembled as she struggled to unlatch the seeming-simple bird cage. Once the door was opened, the magnificent red and gold bird stared at her. "I need your help!" Skylar told the phoenix, "Harry's in trouble! He's in the Chamber of Secrets, with the Basilisk!" At the word "Basilisk", Fawkes had perked up, exiting the cage and climbing swiftly onto the redhead's shoulder. "Oh, thank you!" Skylar cried, "Now, quickly, follow me!" She shouted, Fawkes hopping off and landing in the air with his wings spread out.
Skylar ran back in the direction she'd come from, the magnificent phoenix trailing behind in the corridors. She burst through the bathroom door, holding it open for Fawkes, before entering the murky pipe that served as the Chamber's entrance. "Oh, I do hope we aren't too late!" Skylar cried, red hair swishing around her as she scrambled down the path. She was met by double doors decorated with snake carvings and an odd sight: Ron sitting on the ground along an unconscious Lockhart.
"Skylar?" Ron looked from her to the phoenix incredulously.
"What happ-" Skylar shook her head of her question and addressed her friend with haste, "I don't have time. How do I get in?" She waved in the direction of the doors.
"Parseltongue." Ron replied. Skylar nodded and quickly switched to snake dialect, a hissing noise emitting from her mouth. The doors slid open with ease, and she dashed in, closely followed by Fawkes.