"So Moaning Myrtle had more going on in her life than she ever let anyone know about," Ron paused and added on a second thought, "except Dumbledore of course."
"Everyone has a right to their own personal life Ron," said Hermione. "She didn't have to say anything she didn't want people to know; she had a right to her privacy." Feeling better once she had finished telling the boys about her latest experiences, Hermione remembered the surprised looks on their faces after she'd told them about how the memory vials worked; and she was ultimately relieved to share with them the intimate details of Myrtle's memories as well.
"I never thought of Myrtle's past before now," said Harry with a bit of regret they could hear clearly in his tone. "I didn't know she had such a rough time not only at school but at home."
"It's alright Harry," said Hermione sympathetically. "There was no way you could know about Myrtle's challenges."
"She's not exactly a chatterbox," said Ron nodding with Hermione in agreement on this one for once.
"Are you going to tell us your next step then Hermione?" asked Ron turning to look directly at his friend.
"Well at first all I wanted was to figure out why Myrtle had flooded all the restrooms and I was looking into helping Harry with his little shadow following him around everywhere…" Hermione heard Ron snicker at the last remark regarding Myrtle and Harry rolled his eyes at them both.
"But now what do you want to do?"
"I think I found out why Myrtle's been following you around all the time Harry."
"Yeah, she wants to get in a little snogging Hermione that's why she's following him around." Ron heaved a breath of impatience and said, "The question is how to get rid of her?"
"The question," said Hermione with some force behind her voice as she glared at Ron, "is in my answer if you will take a minute and hear me out Ron."
"Tell us what you found Hermione." Harry played the mediator and gave Hermione a speaking glance.
Ron rolled his eyes and Hermione gave him a glare before she turned back to Harry and said, "Do you remember in the beginning when Myrtle was being bullied by Olive and her pesky friends?"
"Yes," said Harry. "That was Myrtle's second memory."
Hermione nodded and added, "In this memory I found out why she's been following you around Harry." She made an annoyed motion over at Ron adding, "And it's not because she wants to get in a little snogging time with Harry."
Harry quickly interjected before Ron could respond with a sarcastic retort. Ron sputtered for a moment but he let Harry ask his question. "Why has she been following me?"
"It's because of your grandfather Harry; Charlus Potter." Hermione paused before she said, "Your grandfather reached out to Moaning Myrtle and as far as I can tell he was one of the first to pay any mind to her. When he intervened during the bullying scene with Olive and her two pesky friends he unintentionally started something with Moaning Myrtle; He showed her he cared by helping her, and she took his kindness to heart."
"Let me see if I get this, you're saying the reason why Moaning Myrtle has been hanging over my shoulder is because she's secretly in love with my grandfather?" When Hermione nodded Harry asked, "But my grandfather has long since passed on, and as far as I've heard I am nothing like him. Why would she compare the two of us?"
"Don't discount your grandfather too quickly Harry," said Hermione with a smile of fondness for her friend she nodded pointedly at him. "You might be more alike than you think. You, for instance, are the exact replica of your grandfather in appearance and when he defended Myrtle he reminded me of how caring you can be when your friends need you."
"That's a nice compliment Hermione and a theory worth thinking about but I have another question you might want to check up on next."
Harry frowned while he made quick work to speak his thoughts out loud but before he could voice his follow-up question, Ron said it for him. "How are we going to make Myrtle forget about her crush on Harry's grandfather so she can leave us-I mean, Harry, alone?"
Hermione sighed with impatience over the thought and said, "Haven't figured that one out yet but I'm working on it."
"Here's an idea you might want to try," said Harry with a nod in Hermione's direction. "Maybe you should talk to Myrtle about it."
"And tell her what exactly?" Hermione shook her head as she said, "By the way, I poked around in your memories and found out why you have a crush on my best friend, maybe you want to talk about it?"
"Um well, maybe not in those exact words…" hedged Ron slowly.
"Yeah Sherlock," Hermione shook her head and said, "sort of thought I wouldn't say it like that but I think I have an idea on how to smooth things over when I approach her later. I'll make sure to talk to her about why she's flooded all of the bathrooms as well; somehow I'll work that in there."
"Thanks Hermione, make sure to keep us updated."
When Ron nodded agreeably Hermione turned from the boys and said, "Alright but I'm not that used to girl talk and I doubt that Myrtle is either, so don't be surprised if it takes some time for her to warm up to the idea. You know how she feels about me."
"Yeah you're her most favorite person at Hogwarts," Ron grinned when Hermione gave him a cold look that spoke volumes.
"She's not that fond of you either Ronald since she shouts at you all the time," Hermione shot back.
"Is this the face of a guy who looks like he cares?" Ron showed her his most casual look of indifference and Hermione rolled her eyes. They bickered all the way to their next class but a nagging thought kept Hermione from throwing better pot shots back at him like she normally did.
She was worried about what Myrtle would think about the fact that she had already entered Myrtle's memories and knew some private moments that belonged to the girl. How was Myrtle going to react once she discovered that Hermione had already dug into her three most private memories?