I woke up the next morning with these same questions still in my head, and yet no answers came. I met Anthony in the Common room. Both of us looked extremely tired, but given we'd both had trouble sleeping since the attack on Lisa and the others, no one made any comment on it. Soon enough the Prefects escorted the entire hall down to the Great Hall for breakfast.
We arrived and began to eat, and like yesterday Harry sent me a letter, which caused Anthony to visibly flinch at the thought of another idea that Harry had come up with, and the potential for death that followed.
I sighed and unfolded the parchment, pat Uric on the head, then read.
What if Moaning Myrtle was the girl killed by the monster? Aragog did say the it was a girl killed in a bathroom. And Myrtle perfectly fits the description.
I looked over at Harry and Ron at the Gryffindor table, both of whom seemed to want our opinion.
I read the letter over again, then showed it to Anthony.
"I..I guess that's possible. But seeing as where being escorted to every class, and that bathroom is out of order, I doubt anyone could get inside to ask her." Anthony replied.
I nodded, then wrote a reply.
Maybe she is. But unless someone is able to slip away from the teachers and ask her, there's no way to know.
I wrote a reply and sent it. I looked over at Harry as he read my reply, he then turned to me and sighed while gritting his teeth. Clearly he wanted to ask Myrtle. But unless she somehow came our of her bathroom, which she never did, then that would be impossible.
Before we could dwell any more on the idea of Myrtle being the student killed fifty years ago, breakfast ended and us second year Ravenclaw's were herded to Professor Flitwick's class.
"Now second years. I know all of you have been under a lot of stress these past few weeks." Professor Flitwick begins, giving me and Anthony a particular gentle glance. "But I wanted to simply put a bug in your ears and remind you that exams start a week from today, on the first of June."
There was a lot of surprised looks.
"Exams Professor? In...In this environment." Michael asked after swallowing a few times.
"Yes. After all, if we cancelled exams what would be the point of having all you students remain at school? From what Professor McGonagall told me, Professor Dumbledore had instructed her to keep the school running as smoothly and as normally as possible. So yes, there will be exams." Professor Flitwick explained.
With that Professor Flitwick began class. Though all any of us could think about was the upcoming exams. Of course I'd tried to pay attention during classes throughout all this but with all that had happened recently, I had totally forgotten exams were even a thing.
Still, nothing to do but dig down, study hard, and try and get as good of grades as possible.
Due to all of this the question of Moaning Myrtle was pushed to the back of my mind, as me, Anthony, and the rest of our fellow Ravenclaw's did what our house was known for, and that was study thoroughly.
Four days later, during the middle of this intense cramming session at breakfast, Professor McGonagall stood before the hall and spoke.
"I have good news," Professor McGonagall began, though instead of being quiet all anyone could do was erupt in excitement.
"Dumbledore's coming back!" Several students shout back in joy and relief.
"You've caught the heir of Slytherin!" Mandy squeal in excitement beside me.
"Quidditch matches are back on!" Oliver Wood yelled in excitement from the Gryffindor table.
Professor McGonagall waited for everyone to calm down, then when the entire student body was looking at her she continued.
"Professor Sprout has informed me that the Mandrakes are ready for cutting at last. Tonight, we will be able to revive those people who have been Petrified. I need hardly remind you all that one of them may well be able to tell us who, or what, attacked them. I am hopeful that this dreadful year will end with our catching the culprit."
There was a massive cheer from the crowd. I turned to Anthony in absolute excitement.
"Lisa will be back! And Hermione, Penelope, and everyone!" I said in delight.
"And one of them will have to have seen the Heir, and the monster." Anthony replied with a smile.
"Thank merlin." Michael said. "We won't have to be herded everywhere we go."
"Yeah, we can finally sneak down to the kitchens again and..." Terry paused as both boys looked sheepish. "I...uh mean..."
"What do you mean you two sneak down to the kitchens?" Padma asked, as if she was a disappointed mother.
We all laughed as Padma began to scold the boys like she always did. I looked over at Harry, and Ron seeing that Ginny had come up to the pair for some reason, except she didn't look happy, she looked...scared.
"What's up with Ginny?" I asked Anthony confused.
He looked over at her, she clearly wanted to tell Harry and Ron something but before she could Percy Weasley came over and took her seat, Ginny scurrying off looking nervous and worried about something.
"I don't know." I replied. In truth this year, I hadn't seen much of Ginny Weasley. After spending a good amount of time with her over the summer at the Burrow, I'd only seen her on a handful of occasions. Given that not only were we in different houses, but years, it made sense. "She's always been nervous around Harry, but I don't know why'd she'd just run off like that."
After watching the Gryffindor table for a few more minutes, and and Anthony shared another look and shrugged.
"I'll ask her if she's okay if we run into her, though I doubt we will." I eventually say.
Anthony simply nodded, then smiled again. "I'm just happy that Lisa and the others will be back."
"Me too, soon enough this will hopefully all be over." I say.
Anthony nodded. "Indeed."
And with that breakfast ended and we were herded off to our next class.
Later that morning...
Gilderoy Lockhart on the outside was confidently smiling as always as he led the 2nd year Gryffindor's down the corridor to there next class.
However on the inside he was nervous and annoyed. He hadn't expected Professor Sprout to already be ready to cure the petrified students, this was not good. If the students had seen the Weasley girl commanding the basilisk all the plans that had been arranged would be ruined.
Lockhart turned and glanced at the second years following behind him. Longbottom walking as close as he could, clearly terrified, Seamus and Dean talking to each other, Ron walking and talking next to him stood Harry Potter, the focus on all his despair.
Darn it, why did the boy have to be so dense. Why hadn't he found where the Chamber was yet? That was the last phase of there plan...
Maybe the boy needed a little push?
So subtly Gilderoy Lockhart used the power of Legilimency on Harry, who of course had no idea. And Lockhart's eyes widened in delight. Moaning Myrtle! The boy wanted to go talk with her.
This was great, the boy was on the right track. All he needed was the opportunity to speak with the dead girl. And now Lockhart would provide it...
"Mr. Potter. Mr. Weasley. Both of you look...dare I say distressed." Lockhart said. Causing both boys to turn to him, frowns on there faces.
"What do you mean Professor?" Ron asked, clearly annoyed.
"Ah boys, I can tell, you two miss your friend Miss Granger. You long to see her again." Lockhart said with a sympathetic look.
"Uh...yes sir...we do. Where glad she'll be back soon." Harry replied rather awkwardly.
"Still, why wait? How about you two go off and visit her in the hospital wing? After all neither of you is Muggle Born. You'll be safe." Lockhart replied with a wink.
Both Harry and Ron stood a gasp, not expecting Lockhart to just let them leave the group like that. But then Harry had to hold back a smirk. He'd been wanting to sneak off to see Moaning Myrtle all morning, and now Lockhart was just letting them go unattended. This was great!
"R...really Professor? We can go see her right now? Without any Professor?" Harry asked, having to hold back his excitement.
"Of course. As I said, neither of you are Muggle Born. And given the culprit will be caught soon I'd think they were more worried about planning a escape than attacking again. And if any other Professor's see you, tell them Professor Lockhart gave you permission and I'll vouch for you." Lockhart smiled, his white teeth shining brightly.
"Why...thank you Professor." Harry said smiling.
"Of course boys. And give Miss Granger my best." Lockhart said as Ron and Harry began to stroll off.
"We will Professor." Ron said as the pair disappeared around the corner. Lockhart smiled brightly and turned to the remaining Gryffindor second years under his charge.
"Come now students. Let's get the rest you to your next class." Lockhart said, and without waiting for a reply turned and began to lead the students towards the History of Magic Classroom.
And the whole time Lockhart was beaming, soon enough all would be going as the plan dictated.
Harry and Ron looked at each never, having not expected for something to break there way like that.
"Can you believe it? Lockhart just let us go." Ron said with a chuckle.
"Yeah, it's like the scales of luck our finally turning in our favor for once." Harry replied.
The two had just begun heading down the corridor, hoping to get to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom and ask her if she was the student killed fifty years ago by the monster that lurked in the Chamber of Secrets when they heard a stern voice...
"Potter! Weasley! What are you doing?" Professor McGonagall called sternly as she was walking over to them. They'd never seen her look as stern as she did right now.
"We were – we were –" Ron replied stammering badly. "We were going to – to go and see –"
"Hermione," Harry answered, using the built in excuse that Professor Lockhart had given them. "We haven't seen her for ages, Professor, and Professor Lockhart noticed us looking down and gave us permission to go and visit her and, you know, and tell her the Mandrakes are nearly ready and, er, not to worry."
For a good moment Professor McGonagall just looked at them. They thought she may explode, but instead she blinked several times. Seemingly touched at the boys gesture.
"Of course," McGonagall said in a croaky voice. And to both Harry, and Ron's shock, they saw Professor McGonagall shed some silent tears. "Of course, I realize this has all been hardest on the friends of those who have been … I quite understand. Yes, Potter, of course you may visit Miss Granger. I will inform Professor Binns where you've gone. Tell Madam Pomfrey I, as well as Professor Lockhart, have given our permissions."
"Thank you Professor." Harry said quickly as he and Ron turned and began walking towards the hospital wing, now having no choise. The last they heard of Professor McGonagall was her blowing her nose.
"Thank Merlin." Ron said softly as the pair approached the doors of the hospital wing. "Professor Lockhart gave us this excuse."
Harry simply nodded and knocked on the door to the hospital wing.
Madam Pomfrey cracked the door. "I said no victors." She said firmly.
"Professor's McGonagall and Lockhart both said we could...you can ask them." Harry replied softly.
Madam Pomfrey studied both intensely, and seeing they were telling the truth sighed.
"Fine." She replied, and reluctantly opened the doors into the hospital wing, motioned them inside, and then instantly closed it behind them and led them over to the petrified Hermione. "I still don't see why you boys want to visit so much." Madam Pomfrey continued. "There's just no point talking to a Petrified person," She finished, walking away to tend to another of the victims.
It was clear that Madam Pomfrey was right about that. Clearly Hermione had no clue they were there. She just stared blankly ahead as if there was nothing in front of her, and all Harry and Ron could do was sigh sadly.
"Wonder if she did see the attacker, though?" Ron said as he looked at Hermione frozen face. "Because if he sneaked up on them all, no one'll ever know …"
But Harry wasn't so much focused on her face, but on her right hand. Which was clenched in a fist, but as Harry took a closer look he could see that Hermione had been holding something when she had been attacked. A piece of paper which was crushed inside of her closed fist.
Harry looked around to make sure that Madam Pomfrey wasn't watching, then pointed at her fist to show Ron.
"Try and get it out," Ron whispered as he positioned himself and his chair to shield Harry from Madam Pomfrey's view.
So Harry did. For the next few minutes he slowly and carefully pried the paper from Hermione's closed fist, the whole time being careful not to alert Madam Pomfrey and finally the paper came free. It happened to be a page Hermione had torn from a very old book from the library.
Of the many fearsome beasts and monsters that roam our land, there is none more curious or more deadly than the Basilisk, known also as the King of Serpents. This snake, which may reach gigantic size, and live many hundreds of years, is born from a chicken's egg, hatched beneath a toad. Its methods of killing are most wondrous, for aside from its deadly and venomous fangs, the Basilisk has a murderous stare, and all who are fixed with the beam of its eye shall suffer instant death. Spiders flee before the Basilisk, for it is their mortal enemy, and the Basilisk flees only from the crowing of the rooster, which is fatal to it.
And beneath this block of text was one word written in Hermione's handwriting.
Pipes
And just like that it all began to click for Harry. All the attacks, how it all happened, what the monster was...and he began to tell Ron.
"Ron," Harry said as if he was almost out of breath. "this is it. This is the answer. The monster in the Chamber's a Basilisk – a giant serpent! That's why I've been hearing that voice all over the place, and nobody else has heard it. It's because I understand Parseltongue …"
Harry then looked around at all the students who had been frozen.
'The Basilisk kills people by looking at them. But no one's died – because no one looked it straight in the eye. Colin saw it through his camera. The Basilisk burned up all the film inside it, but Colin just got Petrified. Justin … Justin must've seen the Basilisk through Nearly Headless Nick! Nick got the full blast of it, but he couldn't die again … and Hermione, Lisa and that Ravenclaw Prefect...what did Sarah call her Penelope... they were found with a mirror next to them. Hermione had just realized the monster was a Basilisk. I bet you anything she warned the first person she met to look round corners with a mirror first! And that girl pulled out her mirror – and –"
Ron's jaw dropped in shock as he took all this. "And Mrs. Norris?" He finally asked.
Harry thought long and hard back to that Halloween night when the first attack had happened, and Harry eyes widened again.
"The water …" Harry slowly replied "the flood from Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. I bet you Mrs. Norris only saw the reflection ..."
Harry once again scanned the page, the more he read about the Basilisk, the more it made sense.
"The Basilisk flees only from the crowing of the rooster, which is fatal to it!' Harry read aloud. "Hagrid's roosters were killed! The heir of Slytherin didn't want one anywhere near the castle once the Chamber was opened! Spiders flee before the Basilisk! It all fits!"
"But how's the Basilisk been getting around the place?" Ron asked "A dirty great snake … Someone would've seen …"
At this Harry simply pointed to the word that Hermione had wrote at the bottom of the page.
"Pipes," Harry replied. "Pipes … Ron, it's been using the plumbing. I've been hearing that voice inside the walls …"
Ron suddenly grabbed Harry's arm in realization.
"The entrance to the Chamber of Secrets!" Ron replied roughly. "What if it's a bathroom? What if it's in –"
"– Moaning Myrtle's bathroom," Harry finished his thought for him.
Both Harry and Ron sat there for a moment, excitement and relief flowing though there veins as they realized that they had figured it out.
"This means," Harry added. "I can't be the only Parselmouth in the school. The heir of Slytherin's one, too. That's how they've been controlling the Basilisk."
"What're we going to do?" Ron asked, his eyes lit with excitement "Shall we go straight to McGonagall?"
"Let's go to the staff room," Harry said as he leapt up from his seat. "She'll be there in ten minutes, it's nearly break."
With that Harry and Ron raced to the staff room through the forbidden corridors, they arrived and began to wait the long ten minutes until break...
"For Merlin's sake, this class can't end soon enough." Anthony muttered under his breath as he, I, and the other second year Ravenclaw's were forced to sit through another of Professor Binns boring History of Magic lectures.
"At least it's almost time for break." I added in a whisper.
Indeed, only five more minutes until this dreadful class ended and we'd be free...well as free as we could be in this high security environment would allow us.
As Binns continued to rattle on, and on about another goblin rebellion I glanced at Anthony.
"How are you feeling about Exams?" I asked.
"I'm pretty confident. Even with all that's happened I've still had a good year in terms of studying and homework. How about you?" Anthony asked.
"Well, outside of my usual ineptitude in Transfiguration I feel good." I replied. "I do hope McGonagall at least goes a little easy on our essays given the circumstances."
Anthony chuckled. "We both know that will never happen."
I sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I doubt McGonagall would do that."
Professor Binns continues to rattle on and on about the Goblins some more, I felt like I'd heard this story a thousand times by now...
"I've always wondered why Binns always tells the same stories...and nothing interesting." I sigh.
"Well ghosts can only really understand things from before they died. So anything before 1888 he cant' understand." Anthony replies.
"So what you're saying is he doesn't know about my boy Grindelwald?" I ask in a sarcastic chuckle.
"You make Grindelwald seem like your mate who you meet up with for tea, and not a Dark Wizard who terrorized North America and mainland Europe for decades on end." Anthony snorted with a amused expression.
"Well you never know...I may have broken him out and hidden him under my bed."
We both have to hold back laughs at the absurdity of the statement as the class is nearly over.
"I can't wait for Lisa to be back in our lives." Anthony says more seriously. "It'll be good for her to tell us off for being idiots."
"Yes, it will." I reply smiling at the thought. "She'd have smacked us both multiple times by now." I chuckle.
"Yeah, she would have." Anthony added.
Before either of us could continue, class finally ended. However instead of the usual bell that would dismiss us there was the voice of Professor McGonagall that sounded through the castle.
"All students to return to their house dormitories at once. All teachers return to the staff room. Immediately, please."
Instantly our cheerful mood was gone, everyone in the room looked at each other.
"You...you don't think?" Morag asked as she propped her head up having just been asleep.
"There was another attack." I said in a resigned voice, as a Prefect barged into our classroom, rounded us up, immediately began herding us towards Ravenclaw tower.
Harry and Ron jumped at the sound of Professor McGonagall's magically enhanced voice ordering all students back to there common rooms, and all the Professor's to the staff room the pair currently stood in. They both shared a concerned look.
"Not another attack? Not now?" Harry said with dread.
"What'll we do?" Ron asked in horror. "Go back to the dormitory?"
"No," Harry replied firmly as he began to glance around the staff room until his eyes found a old, run down wardrobe that housed Professor's extra cloaks. "In here. Let's hear what it's all about. Then we can tell them what we've found out."
The pair squeezed into the wardrobe and waited. At first they heard the sound of thousands of footsteps as the rest of the students made there way back to there respective common rooms. Then the Professor's began to arrive. Flitwick, then Snape, and so on. Lockhart was oddly absent, Some looked puzzled, some looked concerned, others resigned. As finally Professor McGonagall arrived and all eyes turned to her.
"It has happened," Professor McGonagall began with dread and despair in her voice "A student has been taken by the monster. Right into the Chamber itself."
Professor Flitwick gasped, Professor Sprout put her hands over her mouth in horror, while Professor Snape gripped the back of a chair he was standing behind.
"How can you be sure?" Snape asked, his face even more pale than usual.
"The heir of Slytherin," Professor McGonagall replied, almost as pale white as Snape. "left another message. Right underneath the first one. Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever."
Professor Flitwick just broke down sobbing, as Madam Hooch sank into a nearby chair.
"Who is it?" Madam Hooch asked as she tried to collect herself. "Which student?"
"Ginny Weasley," Professor McGonagall replied, and next to Harry Ron slid down the back wall of the wardrobe, absolute despair on his face.
"We shall have to send all the students home tomorrow," Professor McGonagall said in a broken voice. "This is the end of Hogwarts. Dumbledore always said …"
Before McGonagall could finish the door to the staff room flew open. For one brief second Harry thought it was Dumbledore having arrived back at the perfect time to save the day, but he could only sigh in annoyance as it was simply Professor Lockhart, whom despite the mood of the room still wore the same old confident grin.
"So sorry – was out patrolling the grounds – what have I missed?" Lockhart asked, his white teeth shining.
The other Professor's all stared at Lockhart with pure hatred. Seemingly, like Harry and Ron, his apparent skills in defense had done little to make the rest of the staff forget his overbearing, cocky, full of himself attitude.
"Just the man," Snape said, stepping forward. "The very man. A girl has been snatched by the monster, Lockhart. Taken into the Chamber of Secrets itself. Your moment has come at last."
Lockhart's grin faded replaced by concern.
"That's right, Gilderoy," Professor Sprout interjected. "Weren't you saying just last night that you've known all along where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is?"
"Well I did say I was getting close..." Lockhart replied.
'Yes, didn't you tell me you were sure you knew what was inside it?' Flitwick asked.
"Well I have my theories..." Lockhart again replied.
"Didn't you say that the whole affair had been bungled, and that you should have been given a free rein from the first?" Snape asked.
"I feel the results of so many of our students laying in the hospital wing speak to that." Lockhart replied.
"We'll leave it to you, then, Gilderoy," Professor McGonagall finished "Tonight will be an excellent time to do it. We'll make sure everyone's out of your way. You'll be able to tackle the monster all by yourself. A free rein at last."
Lockhart smiled. "If that's what the staff wishes of course!" Lockhart said, clearly the words not having the intended effects the other Professor's had hoped for. I'll be in my office, getting ready!" And with that Lockhart bounded from the room.
"That annoying show off." McGonagall muttered under her breath before sighing, then took a deep breath, and continued. "The Heads of Houses should go and inform their students what has happened. Tell them the Hogwarts Express will take them home first thing tomorrow. Will the rest of you please make sure no students have been left outside their dormitories."
With that the Professor's left the room one by one, Harry and Ron finally stepped our of the wardrobe, looking at each other in horror. Harry helping the clearly devastated Ron walk as they slowly made there way back to the Gryffindor common room.
We all gathered around as Professor Flitwick, whom appeared to have been recently crying, appeared in the entry way of the common room. The entire house was silent. Clearly something horrible had happened...
"My student's. I regret to inform you that the worst possible scenario has happened. The heir of Slytherin has taken a student into the Chamber of Secrets itself." Professor Flitwick began.
You could hear a pin drop.
"Indeed. Because of this horrid event, the school will be closing. Tomorrow the Hogwarts Express shall take all of you home. I...I wish to thank you all for your understanding, patience, and concern for your fellow student during these horrible times. I'm sure all of you will be given passing marks, and that the Ministry of Magic will inform you all how your magical educations shall be continued. It has been an honor to be your head of house."
With that, the tearful head of house turned and exited the common room.
"Oh my...s...someone's been taken." I said in horror.
"I...it's the worse possible outcome." Anthony swallowed.
All around us our housemates had similar reactions. Cho was crying with Marietta and her other friends. Roger was pacing back and forth shaking his head and muttering. Sandra and the other first year followers were all balling. Luna's usual dreamy look was gone, replaced by her biting her bottom lip and clearly trying to process this. Mandy and Morag were silently holding each other on the couch. Michael and Terry were furiously trying to take matters into there own hands, saying we should just launch an attack on the Slytherin's in there common room.
"We don't even know where the Slytherin common room is you two." Padma said softly. "And even then that's a horrible idea."
"The heir to there house has most likely killed someone!" Michael shouted.
"Yeah! If we clean the school of Slytherin house as a whole, then surely we'll get rid of the heir." Terry added.
As Michael and Terry went back and forth with Padma on there insane idea, me and Anthony just found a empty spot in the corner.
"I...I guess this is it." I say softly. "I guess this is goodbye."
"No." Anthony replies firmly, taking me by the shoulders and making me look at him. "Sarah, what has happened in horrible, and we'll all miss Hogwarts. But...think logically about it. The worst case scenario Hogwarts is closed, and someone died. It's horrible and sad..."
"What are you getting at?" I ask softly.
"The Ministry is going to have to come up with something...a new school, sending us to another magical school. Be it Durmstrang, or Beauxbatons..."
I swallow and slowly nod. Of course I'd heard of Durmstrang, given my multiple readings on Grindelwald. "I've heard of Durmstrang, and I'm guessing Beauxbatons is..."
"Another magical school as well." Anthony confirmed with a nod. "But in any case...this isn't the end. You're not going to have to go back and sit at your Aunt and Uncle's house and suffer like you used to before Hogwarts. I promise you, I...I wouldn't let that happen. I'd have my parent's do something to save you and Harry if I had to."
I took a deep breath, curling up into a ball and looking at Anthony.
"Y...you'd do that for me and Harry?" I asked softly.
"Absolutely. You're my friend, and though not as close so is Harry. And don't forget Lisa and Hermione will still be cured soon. Everything...well...everything outside of one horrid death...will work out in the end. And it will be sad whomever it is, and all we can hope for now is a miracle...but even if there is a death...we have to keep our sprits up." Anthony finished his passionate plea.
I took all that he said end, swallowed, and blinked back tears.
"I...I hope you're right...I...I just hope that someone, anyone, can find the Chamber and save whomever was dragged down there." I say, starting to choke up.
Anthony sighed and placed a hand on my shoulder. "I do to Sarah. I do to." Anthony said as the two of us stared out at the setting sun. Me wondering if this is really going to be the last sunset I see from the school I'd come to see as my true home over the last two years.
In the Gryffindor Common room. Harry and Ron were sitting in shock that Ginny had been taken. The other Weasley's weren't taking it any easier. Percy had sent a letter to Molly and Arthur telling them what had happened, and then sealed himself in his dorm. Just a few minutes ago Fred and George had also recently gone to bed, not speaking a word. Leaving just Harry and Ron.
"She knew something, Harry," Ron said in a broken voice. Speaking for the first time since he'd overheard Professor McGonagall say Ginny had been taken. "That's why she was taken. It wasn't some stupid thing about Percy at all. She'd found out something about the Chamber of Secrets. That must be why she was –" Ron rubbed his eyes, doing his best to not break down completely. "I mean, she was a pure-blood. There can't be any other reason."
Harry and Ron both saw the sun setting over the horizon, time was running out, soon they'd be on the train home...
"Harry," Ron said softly "d'you think there's any chance at all she's not – you know –"
Dead...Harry very much doubted it. She'd been down in the Chamber for hours and was most likely gone. But he didn't have it in his heart to tell Ron that, so Harry said nothing.
"D'you know what?" Ron said standing. "I think we should go and see Lockhart. Tell him what we know. He's going to try and get into the Chamber. We can tell him where we think it is, and tell him it's a Basilisk in there."
Harry couldn't think of anything better to do. After all, despite being pompous, full of himself, git, neither Harry or Ron could deny that Lockhart had proved himself as a very skilled wizard this year. So Harry nodded and stood up alongside Ron.
Seeing as everyone felt nothing but sorrow for the Weasley's no one stopped Harry or Ron as they left the common room and begun the walk down to Professor Lockhart's office.
Professor Gilderoy Lockhart was sitting calmly in the chair in his office, holding his wand between his palms as he waited. He'd of course sensed Harry and Ron in that wardrobe back in the staff room, he knew they overheard Professor McGonagall say Ginny Weasley had been taken into the the Chamber. Everything was perfect.
All he needed was Harry to come to him. To reveal what he knew, hopefully Myrtle had told him what he needed to know...
There was a knock on his office door.
"Come in." Lockhart called as he worse his usual grin. As the door opened and in stepped Harry Potter, and Ron Weasley.
Perfect timing.
"Ah boys. What brings you here?" Professor Lockhart asks.
"Professor, we've got some information for you," said Harry. "We think it'll help you."
"Help me? Ah you must mean my incoming battle with the monster in the Chamber of Secrets?" Professor Lockhart said.
"Yeah..." Harry replied, clearly holding back a eye roll. "We know what the monster is. It's a Basilisk."
"And we think the entrance to the Chamber is in the bathroom that Moaning Myrtle uses." Ron adds.
"Ah. Thought so." Lockhart replied. "The Basilisk, dreadful beast. And I'd thought the entrance could be in that bathroom. Alas Nothing I've tried has revealed a hidden entrance..."
"We suspect the Heir is a Parselmouth like me." Harry replies. "And that Parseltongue is needed to access the Chamber."
"That makes sense." Lockhart says rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Unfortunately I don't know Parseltongue and can't learn it fast enough." Lockhart turned to Harry with a frown. "I would hate to ask this of you Mr. Potter, but I may require your skills to gain access the chamber."
Both Harry and Ron shared a look. Though they'd rather not go down into the Chamber, they did understand there wasn't much of a choise. Harry was the only one who knew Parseltongue, and was the only one outside of the Heir who could possibly open the entrance into the Chamber.
"We...of course we'll go." Ron replied. "For Ginny."
Lockhart frowned for just a moment. He just needed Harry to go down with him into the Chamber. Still, he knew Ron's wand was broken and that he wouldn't be much of the threat when the time came. So Lockhart smiled.
"Of course Mr. Weasley. The three of us will go down, save your little sister, and who knows. Maybe the two of you will get a mention in my next best seller?" Lockhart asked with a wink, and both Harry and Ron had to avoid visible groans as Lockhart stood.
"You think the entrance to the Chamber is in the bathroom of Moaning Myrtle?" Lockhart confirmed.
"Yes, we do." Harry replied.
"Then lets go boys!" Lockhart exclaimed as he opened the doors out of his office. "Another adventure of Gilderoy Lockhart's awaits!"
With that the flamboyant as ever Lockhart, and the annoyed Harry and Ron began the walk to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. They passed the messages he heir had left, Ron shivered when he saw the new writing about Ginny's skeleton lying in the Chamber forever. Once they arrived Lockhart entered first, seeing Myrtle sitting on the edge of the farthest away toilet.
"Greetings Miss Myrtle." Lockhart winked, causing the Ghost to blush as Harry and Ron rolled there eyes.
"Always the charmer Professor." Myrtle said to Lockhart with a giggle, then turned to Harry and Ron with a frown. "And you two." she added when she noticed the pair. "What do you want this time?"
"To ask you how you died," Harry replied calmly.
With that Myrtle's frown disappeared, and was replaced by what seemed like flattery. As if asking how she died was the sweetest question in the world.
"Ooooh, it was dreadful" Myrtle replied, clearly enjoying telling the tale. "It happened right in here. I died in this very cubicle. I remember it so well. I'd hidden because Olive Hornby was teasing me about my glasses. The door was locked, and I was crying, and then I heard somebody come in. They said something funny. A different language, I think it must have been. Anyway, what really got me was that it was a boy speaking. So I unlocked the door, to tell him to go and use his own toilet, and then –" Myrtle emphasized the next part. "I died."
"How?" Harry asked.
"No idea," Myrtle replied in a soft tone. "I just remember seeing a pair of great big yellow eyes. My whole body sort of seized up, and then I was floating away …" Myrtle replied, looking at Harry as if the thought was pleasant to her. "And then I came back again. I was determined to haunt Olive Hornby, you see. Oh, she was sorry she'd ever laughed at my glasses."
"Where exactly did you see the eyes?" Harry asked.
"Somewhere there, "Myrtle replied, lazily pointing in the direction of a sink that sat right in front of her toilet.
Harry and Ron turned to the sink Myrtle was talking about. Lockhart had already began to examine it.
"Here boys!" Lockhart said, pointing to the side of one of the copper taps. When Harry and Ron looked there eyes widened as they say a tiny carving of a snake.
"That tap's never worked," Myrtle informed them as Harry tried to turn it on.
"Harry," Ron said. "say something. Something in Parseltongue."
"But –" Harry replied, not knowing how to activate his Parseltongue.
"Focus on the snake Harry." Lockhart suggested with a wide grin.
Harry looked back and forth between Ron and Professor Lockhart, then nodded. Staring at the tiny carving of a snake and concentrating.
"Open up," Harry said. Looking at both Ron and Lockhart.
"English," Ron replied, shaking his head.
"You can do it Harry! Once more." Lockhart added, giving him a flash of his bright white teeth.
Harry took a deep breath and concentrated on the carving of the snake. Trying to will himself to think of it as alive. He moved his head so the light from the candles made the snake look like it was moving.
"Open up," Harry repeated.
This time however it wasn't English that slipped from Harry's mouth, but the hissing of a snake. The tap of the sink began to glow brightly, spinning. The sink began to sink into the ground, and within moments had totally disappeared into the floor of the bathroom, revealing a pipe that was large enough to crawl down.
Ron gasped, and Lockhart was extremely pleased.
"Well done Harry! Well done! This pipe must lead to the Chamber." Lockhart said flashing him bright grin.
"I'm going down there," Harry declared firmly.
"Me too," Ron added just as firmly.
This was perfect, both boys wanted to continue on, and had turned to Lockhart who smiled brightly and nodded.
"Of course boys, of course. For as long as the both of you stay close to me, Gilderoy Lockhart, heroes of heroes, you will be fine! Shall I go first?" Lockhart asked the pair with a bright grin.
Harry and Ron both took deep breaths. While they were glad to have a adult with Lockhart's skill with them, it didn't make any of his narcissism any easier to deal with.
"Of course Professor." Harry replied.
Lockhart smiled brightly. "Well then boys! Let's go!" Lockhart declared boldly, and slid down the pipe with ease.
Harry and Ron both shot each other annoyed glances, then followed Lockhart down the pipe.
The pipe was slimy, dark, and disgusting. They slid for a good minute or so. On the way down they saw other pipes branching off, but none were big enough to fit a human. The pair just kept sliding, hearing Lockhart just up ahead of them. Finally the pipe leveled out, and spit them out into a damp dark tunnel.
Lockhart had landed confidently on his feet, wiping his robes clean, and turning as both Harry and Ron made it down the pipe.
"Well done boys! Well done! We must be closing in on the Chamber." Lockhart said while Harry and Ron wiped themselves off.
"We must be miles under the school," Harry muttered as he dusted himself off.
"Under the lake, probably," Ron added, looking around at the darkness and the slimy walks that surrounded the group.
"Indeed Mr. Weasley. We are deeper than even the dungeons I suspect." Lockhart said, looking around at the darkness with excitement as he pulled out his wand. "Lumos." Lockhart said as his wand lit up.
"Lumos!" Harry also said as his wand lit up as well, turning to both Lockhart and Ron. "C'mon,"
"Indeed! To to Chamber!" Lockhart said, a extra pep in his step. Both shared looks, it didn't seem Lockhart was scared or concerned at all, but excited.
"Probably excited he gets to write another book." Ron told Harry in a whisper with a eye roll. And all Harry could do was nod.
"Yeah, probably." Harry muttered as the pair followed Lockhart down the dark, wet, tunnel.
And it was dark, even with both Lockhart and Harry casting Lumos, the trio could barely see more than a couple of feet in front of them, while the small amount of light from the wands cast large shadows on the wall.
"Remember," Harry reminded the group softly, "any sign of movement, close your eyes straight away …"
"Don't worry boys. I'm here, when the monster shows itself just close your eyes and let your hero Professor Lockhart deal with it!" Lockhart said, seemingly not fazed by any of this.
"Uh, sure, Professor." Ron replied awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.
How? How could Lockhart not at all be scared, worried, or even a little nervous. He seemed almost joyful, like he'd been waiting for this moment for a long time...
Still, there wasn't any noise or movement in the tunnel, and there wasn't any until Ron jumped after he stepped on the skull of a Rat. Both Lockhart and Harry pointed there wands at the floor, and revealing a sea of small animal bones littering the floor ahead. Both Harry's and Ron felt sick...did Ginny look like that now? While Lockhart just smiled.
"Ah, we must be getting close! This must be some past meals for the basilisk ." Lockhart said as if they were simply discussing the weather.
The trio continued further down the tunnel until they turned a corner.
"Harry, Professor, there's something up there …" Ron said shakily, grabbing Harry's shoulder in terror.
Harry and Ron breathing both quickened? Was it the monster?
"Maybe it's asleep," Harry suggested softy.
Lockhart then strode confidently forward, his grin not dimming at all.
"It's just snake's skin boys. The Basilisk must have recently shed." Lockhart smiled.
Both Harry and Ron let out a sigh of relief and took a closer look. It was dark green, and massive. Both shared a look, the basilisk was this big?
"Don't worry boys, you're with me remember! No where is safer." Lockhart said when he noticed the worry in there eyes, giving them a wink. "Now lets keep going! Miss Weasley needs us, and we should be getting closer."
Harry and Ron both rolled there eyes the moment Professor Lockhart turned away, but followed the defense Professor past the large snake skin. The tunnel went on for a while more, turning, swerving, and going for what felt like forever.
Both Harry and Ron both wanted the tunnel to simply end, but also dreaded what could be at the end of it. While Lockhart seemed to get more giddy the further they went. Finally the trio turned a final corner and came face to face with a solid wall, which carved into was two serpents with emeralds for eyes.
"The entrance! This is it!" Lockhart said joyfully, skipping ahead and urging Harry and Ron to follow. "Come Harry. Speak some more Parseltongue and open the Chamber for us!" Lockhart said eagerly.
Harry and Ron shared another nervous look, while also pushing down another surge of annoyance at Lockhart. Harry took a deep breath and stepped forward, gazing at the snake carvings. And focused on the emeralds eyes.
"Open," Harry said as another hiss came out,
With that the snake carvings parted, the wall opened as Lockhart looked on in excitement and awe.
"This is it boys! The Chamber of Secrets itself. Lets go!" Lockhart said beaming as he almost skipped ahead, as the annoyed, terrified, yet determined Harry and Ron took deep breaths and stepped forward into the Chamber of Secrets.