Secrets Only Trouble Knows - George Weasley

46 - Goodbye, Year Four

He then turned around to face the rest of us who were all looking utterly bewildered.

"Very few people know that Lord Voldemort was once called Tom Riddle." Dumbledore continued. "I taught him myself, fifty years ago, at Hogwarts. He disappeared after leaving the school... traveled far and wide... sank so deeply into the Dark Arts, consorted with the very worst of our kind, underwent so many dangerous, magical transformations that when he resurfaced as Lord Voldemort, he was barely recognizable. Hardly anyone connected Lord Voldemort with the clever, handsome boy who was once Head Boy here."

"B-but, Ginny," said Mrs. Weasley. "What's our Ginny got to do with— with— him?"

"H-his diary!" Ginny sobbed. "I've b-been writing in it and he's been writing back all year—"

"Ginny!" Mr. Weasley scolded, flabbergasted. "Haven't I taught you anything? What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain? A suspicious object like that, it was clearly full of Dark Magic—"

"I didn't know!" Ginny cried, clearly overwhelmed. "I found it inside one of the books Mum got me. I-I thought someone had just left it in there and forgotten about it—"

"Miss Weasley should go up to the hospital wing right away," Dumbledore interrupted firmly. "This has been a terrible ordeal for her. There will be no punishment. Older and wiser wizards than she have been hoodwinked by Lord Voldemort."

He then strode over to the door and opened it. "Bed rest and perhaps a large, steaming mug of hot chocolate. I always find that cheers me up. Now, you will find Madam Pomfrey is still awake. She's just giving out Mandrake juice— I daresay the basilisk's victims will be waking up any moment."

"So Hermione's okay!" Ron beamed and Dumbledore nodded before turning to Ginny.

"There has been no lasting harm done, Ginny." Dumbledore said, assuring the still distraught-looking girl.

Ginny, Mrs. Weasley, and Mr. Weasley left the room, all still appearing to be deeply shaken. Dumbledore then suggested to McGonagall that a feast ought to be had to celebrate tonight's victory, so she too exited swiftly to go alert the kitchens. Jasper and George stepped out into the hallway as well, sensing Dumbledore still had things he wanted to say to Ron, Harry, and I.

"I seem to remember telling you that I would have to expel you if you broke any more school rules." Dumbledore said, and we all gaped. "Which goes to show that the best of us must sometimes eat our words. You three will each receive Special Awards for Services to the School and— let me see— yes, I think two hundred points apiece for Gryffindor."

All of our cheeks turned a rosy pink as we gasped at Dumbledore's words and generosity. We weren't going to be expelled and we'd definitely just won Gryffindor the House Cup.

"But one of us seems to be keeping mightily quiet about his part in this dangerous adventure," Dumbledore added. "Why so modest, Gilderoy?"

All of us had forgotten Lockhart had even been standing in the room with us because he'd been so quiet, probably extremely confused. We quickly explained to our Headmaster about his situation, telling him all about how Ron's wand had backfired and ruined Lockhart's Memory Charm. Dumbledore found it quite amusing.

"Dear me," he shook his head. "Well, Mr. Weasley, would you mind taking Professor Lockhart up to the infirmary, too? And Miss Pierce, I sense you have two boys waiting in the hall to speak with you. I'd like to have a few more words here with Harry, if you don't mind."