Riddle's Diary and Aragog

So, we took Hermione away to the hospital wing and for the next six weeks, there were no attacks and nor did I hear the voice again, but this still left the identity of Slytherin's Heir unrevealed, which bothered me. But that was least of my concerns. Cedric had been acting strange and I was concerned. He seemed quieter and less of the vigorous boy who'd become my first friend.

One night, Ron and I were walking back to the common room after dinner when Ron noticed I wasn't speaking and only listening.

"Helena, you've barely said anything for the last hour. Are you okay?" he asked.

"No. I'm worried about Cedric," I admitted. "He's having more blackouts; he looks scared and half-dead these days."

"Has he seen Madame Pomfrey?"

"I don't know. He's been a little distant and quieter lately."

"I wouldn't worry about it. He'll be fine and—yuck!"

We stepped back as we saw that there was water all over. Moaning Myrtle had flooded the bathroom. We went in her bathroom and found her crying.

"Come to throw something else at me?" she said, from her place in the window.

"Why would we do that?" I asked.

"Don't ask me, here I am minding my own business and someone thinks it's funny to throw a book at me," she sniffled.

"But it can't hurt if a book hits you, can it?" said Ron. "It'd just go right through you."

Myrtle was furious and plunged her hand through Ron. "Oh sure! Let's all throw books at Myrtle because she can't feel it! Ten points if you get it through her stomach! Fifty points if it goes through her head!" she screeched.

"Myrtle, calm down, please," I said. "Who threw at it you, anyway?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "I didn't see them. I was just sitting in the U-bend thinking about death and it fell through the top of my head." She pointed to a soggy wet book with gold binding. "It's over there. It just got washed out."

I picked up the wet book and frowned when I saw the name. "Tom Marvolo Riddle," I murmured. "Ron, does that name mean anything to you?"

"Yeah, it does. I kept polishing Tom Riddle's trophy in detention. He got an Award for Special Services to the School fifty years ago and was Head Boy."

We both exchanged excited glances at the words fifty years ago. If Tom Riddle had been here when the Chamber was first opened, then maybe he knew about it. Maybe he'd known who opened it and about the monster. After drying it off with a spell, we quickly glanced through it but there wasn't one single entry.

Ron was disappointed and after telling Hermione and Cedric about it, he went off to bed, but I stayed up for a while. Something about the diary seemed worth looking into. It was interesting. The name seemed familiar, but I didn't know why. I opened it and then dropped a bit of ink on it on accident and then the ink vanished.

I swallowed in shock as I began writing. My name is Helena Lily Potter.

Writing appeared. Hello, Helena Potter. My name is Tom Riddle.

Do you know anything about the Chamber of Secrets? It's been opened again. I wrote.

Yes. I know all about it. I even caught the Heir myself and he was expelled.

Can you tell me who it was and anything else about the Chamber?

No, Riddle replied. But I can show you. Let me take you back fifty years ago.

I was puzzled but then bright white light burst through the binding of the diary and I felt myself plunging forward and arrived in the entry of the school. Before me was a handsome fifth-year boy.

"Hello, can you hear me?" I said, but he took notice of me. "Okay, apparently not." This must've been Riddle's memory from fifty years ago. He couldn't see me because I didn't exist yet.

My eyes widened as I saw several teachers carry out a covered child's body. Then a familiar voice said, "Riddle! Come!" It was Professor Dumbledore quite a bit younger. "It is not wise to be wandering at this late hour, Tom."

"I know, Professor, but I had to see for myself if the rumors were true."

"I'm afraid they are, Tom."

"About the school as well? I don't have a home to go to. They wouldn't really close Hogwarts, would they?"

"I'm afraid that Headmaster Dippet may have no choice."

"Sir, if it was all stopped. If the culprit behind the attacks was caught…?"

"What're you saying, Tom? Is there something you wish to tell me?" he asked.

"No, sir." It sounded like the same 'no' I'd given him before. Riddle turned and walked down a corridor and burst into a room where thirteen-year-old Hagrid was talking to something before closing a trunk lid. "Evening, Hagrid," said Riddle. "I'm afraid I have to turn you in. I don't think you meant it to kill anyone, but…"

"No! You don't understand!" said Hagrid. "Aragog never hurt no one, never!"

"The dead girl's parents will be here tomorrow, the least Hogwarts can do is make sure the thing that killed their daughter is slaughtered!" said Riddle. "Monsters don't make good pets, Hagrid. Now, step aside!"

"No!"

"Step aside, Hagrid!"

"No!"

"Cestam Appario!" said Riddle, and the box flew open and a huge spider came running out of it. "Arania Excumai!" But the spider just dodged it. And Riddle turned to Hagrid who tried to leave. "It's over, Hagrid. You'll be expelled."

I couldn't believe it as the memory ended and I wounded up back in the common room. Hagrid had opened the Chamber of Secrets fifty years ago? It didn't seem possible and yet if Riddle had been wrong, why he given his Award and Hagrid his expulsion?

When morning came, I couldn't find Cedric, but I found Ron and Hermione and told what had happened. I didn't have a lot of time as the Quidditch match of Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff was today, and they were as shocked as I was.

"Hagrid opened the Chamber?" said Hermione. "But he couldn't have! He wouldn't!"

"We don't even know this Tom Riddle!" said Ron. "He sounds like a dirty rotten snitch to me!"

"I don't know what to think," I said, shaking my head. "But the monster had killed a girl and the school would've closed. What would any of us had done? And if Riddle was wrong, then why was Hagrid expelled and he given an Award? Should we talk to Hagrid about this?"

"I don't think we should, not until if or when there's another attack," said Hermione. "Helena, you haven't seen Cedric today, have you? He was supposed to meet us, but never showed up."

"No, I haven't." This worried me further. What was wrong with Cedric? Just then, Ginny came running to me. "Helena, someone's broken into your stuff! Come and see!"

We followed her and found that all of my belongings were out on my bed and strewn across the room. Nothing was damaged, but everything was out of place and askew. I didn't know who'd done this or why as I quickly picked up my things.

"It only could've been a Gryffindor girl. Boys aren't allowed up here," said Hermione. "And no one else knows our password, unless it wasn't a student. What were they looking for, anyway?"

"Tom Riddle's diary," I said. "It's gone. But why would anyone take that? It was just full of memories or something."

"I don't know," she admitted.

I froze as I heard the voice again. The time has come…come to me…I shuddered. "I heard it, just now. That voice!"

"Just now?" she repeated. "But Helena…" Her eyes widened. "I'll see you later. I've got to check something. Good luck the match!"

Before I could question her, she'd disappeared and I had to hurry down to the pitch. I wasn't expecting playing against Cedric's team to be easy, but I certainly didn't expect Professor McGonagall coming down and informing us that the match was cancelled. She had Cedric, Ron and myself taken to the hospital wing where we saw the new victim. It was Hermione. Ron looked like he was ill.

"She was found near the library, along with this," said Professor McGonagall, holding up a mirror. "Does it mean anything to you?"

We shook our heads and then taken back to our common rooms where we were informed that security would be tightened and if the culprit wasn't caught soon, then the school would closed.

"I know that look," said Ron, gazing at me. "We're sneaking out, aren't we?"

"We have to," I said. "We need to talk to Hagrid."

We got out my father's Cloak and found Cedric outside his common room waiting for us, looking worried. "Helena, I need to talk to you."

"What is it?" I asked. "Have you had another blackout?"

"It's not important," he said. "But something else is. I—"

"Snape!" Ron hissed, as we dove under the Invisibility Cloak and narrowly missed being caught. We walked down to Hagrid's hut and when he opened the door, he had a crossbow aimed at us, which he lowered when he saw our faces.

"Oh, it's just you. Come in, I just made a pot of tea. Sorry to hear about Hermione."

He looked as pale as Cedric. "Hagrid, what's wrong?" asked Ron.

"Nothing, I'm fine," he said.

"Hagrid, there's something we need to ask you," I said, slowly. "Do you know who's opened the Chamber of Secrets?"

Before he could answer, there was a knock on the door and we went under the Cloak again as a man I didn't recognize came in and was accompanied by Professor Dumbledore. "That's my dad's boss!" said Cedric. "Cornelius Fudge, the Minster of Magic!"

"Hagrid, this has gone far enough. Three attacks on Muggle-borns, the Ministry's got to act," said Fudge. "Dumbledore's given you his full confidence, but your record's against you. I've got to take you."

"Take me? Take me where? Not Azkaban prison!" said Hagrid.

There was another knock on the door and Mr. Malfoy came in. "Already here, Fudge? Good," he said.

"Get out of my house!" said Hagrid.

"I take no pleasure in being in this…you call this a house?" said Mr. Malfoy. "No, I simply called up at the school and was told the headmaster was here."

"And what is it that you want with me?" asked Professor Dumbledore.

"The other governors and I feel that it's time for you to step aside. This is an Order of Suspension. You'll find all twelve signatures on it. I'm afraid we rather feel that you've lost your touch."

"But you can't take Dumbledore away!" Hagrid protested. "Without him the Muggle-borns won't stand a chance!"

"Calm yourself, Hagrid," said Professor Dumbledore. "But understand, Lucius, that help at Hogwarts will always be given to those who ask for it." He then followed Mr. Malfoy out of the hut.

"Come, Hagrid," said Fudge.

"I'd just like to say that someone will need to feed Fang will I'm away and if anyone was looking for some stuff, then all they'd need to do would be to follow the spiders. Follow the spiders," said Hagrid, as he left.

When they were gone, we got out from the Cloak. "Hagrid's right, with Dumbledore gone, there'll be an attack a day!" said Ron.

"We need to go," I said, as I grabbed a lantern.

"Go where?" asked Cedric.

"You heard Hagrid, 'follow the spiders.'"

"They're headed to the Dark Forest!" Ron protested. "Besides, we almost got killed last time we were in there!"

"Got any better ideas?" I demanded. "I don't like this anymore than you do, but there's no choice! Come on!"

"Why spiders?" Ron moaned. "Why couldn't it be 'follow the butterflies'?"

We took Fang with us as we followed the spiders deep into the Forest where there were some so big, I couldn't believe it. We eventually came into a hollow filled with webbing and then a musty voice said, "Who is it? Hagrid, is that you?"

"Oh, my," Cedric gasped, as a spider the size of the Great Hall came out and stood before it. This was Aragog. "We're friends of Hagrid's."

"Hagrid has never sent men and women into our hollow before," said Aragog. "Why have you come here?"

"Hagrid's in trouble," I explained. "Up at the school, there've been attacks. They think Hagrid opened the Chamber of Secrets like before."

"That's a lie!" Aragog hissed. "Hagrid never opened the Chamber of Secrets!"

"So, you're not the monster?" said Ron, turning purple with fear.

"No, the monster was bred in the castle. I came to Hagrid in the pocket of a traveler."

"So, what did kill that girl fifty years ago?" I asked.

"We do not speak of it. It is an ancient creature we spider fear above all others. The girl was discovered in a bathroom. When I was accused, Hagrid brought me here," said Aragog.

"Helena, look!" Cedric hissed.

I looked up and saw that countless spiders were headed towards us.

"Well, thank you. We'll just be going now," I said, backing up.

"Go? I think not. My sons and daughters do not harm Hagrid on my command but I cannot deny them fresh meat when it wanders so willingly into our midst. Good-bye, friends of Hagrid's."

"Dang it!" I muttered as we drew our wands. "Cedric, know any spells?"

"Two, but they're not powerful enough for all of them," said Cedric.

"Where's Hermione when you need her?" Ron moaned.

Just then, the flying car roared into view and the doors opened as it scared off the spiders. We ran for the car and got in as Ron started driving as fast as the car was able. The Flying Gear was jammed, preventing us from getting free of the Forest. We kept driving, but three times a spider tried to strangle us and nearly succeeded before we used a spell or two to drive them off. Eventually, the gear got un-jammed and then we landed outside of Hagrid's hut.

"'Follow the spiders.' 'Follow the spiders.' If Hagrid ever gets out Azkaban, I'll kill him!" said Ron, as we got out and the car drove off. "What was the point of sending us in there? What've we found out?"

"We know one thing," said Cedric. "Hagrid never opened the Chamber of Secrets. He was innocent."

"Which means the true Heir was never caught," I said. "But then why did the attacks stop after Hagrid was expelled?"

"I don't know," said Ron.

"Come on, we need to get back before we're missed," said Cedric. "If I never go back into that forest, it'll be too soon."

Ron and I agreed with him and snuck back up to the castle.