I figure I'd post this chapter before Thanksgiving tomorrow. :) <3 Since I'll be busy helping dad with the cooking on that day. :) <3 To those who celebrate Thanksgiving: Happy Thanksgiving! ^_^ <3 Enjoy the chapter! ^_^ <3 Next chapter will be posted on December 1st. :) <3
Hermione remained in the hospital wing for several weeks. As students returned from their holiday break, rumors began to spread about Hermione. They, of course, thought that she was attacked. So many students filed passed the hospital wing to get a glimpse of her, that Madam Pomfrey had to put curtains around Hermione's bed. Harry and Ron went to visit her every evening and brought her, her homework daily. One day, Harry and Ron visit Hermione, bringing her, her homework. Ron said, as he puts her homework on her bed, "If I had sprouted whiskers, I'd take a break from work." Hermione said, "Don't be silly, Ron, I've got to keep up." Hermione's spirits have improved, now that all of the hair on her face were gone and her eyes were slowly going back to normal. She whispers, so that Madam Pomfrey didn't hear her, "I don't suppose you've got any new leads?" Harry shakes his head, "Nothing." They chat for awhile then said good night to Hermione. They leave as Madam Pomfrey comes over to give Hermione a dose of a potion she had to take. They head up to the stairs to Gryffindor Tower. They suddenly hear an angry outburst coming from the floor above them. Harry said, "That's Filch, come on." They hurry upstairs and quickly stay out of sight as they listen in on Filch. Filch shouts, "Now, I have even more work to do! Mopping all night! Like I haven't got enough to do! No, this is the final straw! I'm going to Dumbledore!" Filch's footsteps recede along the corridor, away from where they were hidden. The slam of a distant door told them that Filch was gone. They come out of their hiding spot and walk into the very corridor where Filch's cat was found. They saw why Filch was shouting. There was water stretching over half the corridor. From what they could see, it was seeping from under the door of Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. They could hear her wailing. Ron said, "Now what's up with her?" Harry said, "Let's go and see." They hold their robes up and walk through the water towards Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. They enter the bathroom and look around. The walls and floors were soaking wet. Her wails were coming from the toilet she was hiding in. Harry said, "What's wrong Myrtle?" Moaning Myrtle pokes her head out, looks over at them and said, "Come to throw something else at me?" Harry said, "Why would we throw something at you?" Moaning Myrtle said, "Don't ask me. Here I am, minding my own business.... When someone thought it was funny to throw a book at me." Ron said, "But, it can't hurt if someone throws something at you, I mean, it'll go right through you." Suddenly, Moaning Myrtle flies out of the toilet and right up to Ron's face looking angry. She said, "Sure! Let's all throw books at Myrtle, because she can't feel it! Ten points if you get it through her stomach!" She thrusts her transparent fist into Ron's chest. She said, "50 points if it goes through her head!" She thrusts her transparent fist through Ron's startled face. Harry said, "Who threw it at you, anyways?" Moaning Myrtle said, "I don't know. I didn't see them. I was just sitting in the U-bend, thinking about death, when it fell through top of my head." Moaning Myrtle floats away wailing once more. Harry spots a soaked black book outside of Myrtle's stall. He goes over and picks it up. It looks as if it was a diary. He looks at the front of the book, then looks at the back. There on the back of the diary was a name. The name on the diary was: Tom Marvolo Riddle.
Harry and Ron take it to Hermione after lessons the next day. They told her the name on the diary and where they found it. Hermione looks at the diary. She uses an eraser to no affect. Then she pulls out her wand and points it at the diary, "Aparecium!" Nothing happened. Ron's eyes lit up as if he suddenly remembered something. He said, "Hang on a minute, I know that name. Remember the trophy that Filch made me clean in detention?" Harry and Hermione nod in response. Ron said, "That name was on the trophy. I remember since Filch made me clean it after I burped slugs all over it. It was awarded to Tom Riddle 50 years ago, for special services to the school." Hermione said, "50 years ago? Are you sure?" Ron said, "Yeah, why?" Hermione said, "Don't you remember what Malfoy told you? The last time the Chamber was open was...." Harry finishes for her, "50 years ago! That means...." Hermione finishes for him, "Tom Riddle was here at Hogwarts when it happened! What if he wrote about what he saw? It's possible he knew where the Chamber was. How to open it. Even what sort of creature lives in it. If so, whoever is behind these attacks, wouldn't want this diary lying around, would they?" Harry said, "That's a brilliant plan, Hermione, but there's just one flaw. There's nothing written in the diary." Hermione sighs, knowing that Harry was right. Since she's tried everything she could think of to get the diary to reveal its secrets. After they said good night to Hermione, they leave the hospital wing and head up to Gryffindor Tower. Later that night, while everyone was asleep, Harry tiptoes downstairs with the diary, a quill and some ink. He sits at the table and sets his quill and ink bottle down He looks through the diary front to back and vice versa. He sets the diary down and opens it. He picks up his quill and dips it in the ink bottle. Then holds the quill above the book. A drop of ink falls onto a page in the diary. For a moment, nothing happens. Then the ink disappears into the page. An idea pops into Harry's mind as he dips his quill again and writes: My name is Harry Potter. The sentence disappears and a minute later, another sentence appears: Hello Harry Potter, my name is Tom Riddle. The writing disappears into the page just has the drop of ink did. Harry writes again: Do you know anything about the Chamber of Secrets? The words disappear, only for more words to appear moments later as it answers him: Yes. Harry writes: Can you tell me? It replies with: No. Harry looks at the book in defeat, until more writing appeared: But I can show you. Let me take you back 50 years ago. The diary flips through the pages until it suddenly stops on a page. On the top right corner of the page, the words 13th of June appeared. Suddenly, Harry felt himself get pulled right into the diary itself! Harry lands on his feet moments later. He looks around to see himself in a corridor at Hogwarts. He walks to a set of stairs. On the first landing was a 5th year boy, who wore a prefect's badge on his robes. He was looking up at something. Harry walks up the stairs to him and said, "Excuse me. Could you tell me what's going on here?" The boy didn't hear him as he continues to look up. Harry said, "Are you Tom Riddle?" Once again the boy said nothing. Harry said, "Hello, can you hear me?" Harry looks up to see what the boy was looking at. There, coming down the stairs, were wizards carrying a body away on a gurney. The body was covered completely, save for an arm hanging over the gurney. He watches as the body was taken away. Suddenly a familiar voice said, "Riddle come." The 5th year boy was indeed Tom Riddle. Tom turns to see Dumbledore at the top of the landing. He goes up to Dumbledore as Harry follows. Tom said, "Professor Dumbledore." Harry said, "Dumbledore?"
Dumbledore's hair and beard was shorter and was auburn, instead of white. He looked younger too. Dumbledore said, "It's not wise to be wondering around this late hour, Tom." Tom said, "Yes Professor, I suppose I...." Tom pauses before continuing, "I had to see for myself if the rumors were true." Dumbledore said, "I'm afraid they are Tom. They are true." Tom said, " About the school as well? I don't have a home to go to. They wouldn't really close Hogwarts, would they, Professor?" Dumbledore said, "I understand, Tom, but I'm afraid Headmaster Dippet may have no choice." Tom said, "Sir, if it all stopped, if the person responsible was caught...." Dumbledore asked Tom the very question he had asked Harry. He said, "Is there something you wish to tell me?" Tom said, "No sir, nothing." He said it the same way Harry did. Dumbledore looks at him the same way he looked at Harry, then said, "Very well, then. Off you go." Tom said, "Good night, sir." Dumbledore watches Tom go. Harry follows Tom to an unused classroom. Inside was a 13 year old boy who looked to be half giant, closing a small crate. The boy said, "Let's get you out of here." Tom said, "Evening, Hagrid. Harry looks on in shock to realize that the 13 year old boy was Hagrid! Tom said as he pulls out a wand and points it at Hagrid. He said, "I'm going to have to turn you in. I don't think you meant it to kill anyone." Hagrid said, "You can't You don't understand." Tom said, "The dead girl's parents will be here tomorrow. The least Hogwarts can do is make sure that the thing that killed their daughter is slaughtered." Hagrid said, "It wasn't him. Aragog never killed no one. Never!" Tom said, "Monsters don't make good pets, Hagrid. Now stand aside." Hagrid said, "No!" Tom said, "Stand aside, Hagrid!" Hagrid once again said, "No!" Tom waves the wand at the crate and said, "Cistem Aperio!" The crate blasts open and a spider the size of Harry's head, climbs out of the crate and scurries out of the classroom. Tom points his wand at it and said, "Arania Exumai!" He misses as the spider scurries away. Hagrid said, "Aragog! Aragog!" Tom quickly points his wand at Hagrid to prevent him from going after the spider. He said, "I can't let you go. They'll have your wand for this, Hagrid. You'll be expelled." Hagrid looks defeated as he looks down at Tom. Suddenly, Harry feels something pull him away from the scene before him. Harry shouts, "HAGRID!" The next thing he knew, he falls out of the diary and lands in his seat. He was back to the present day, in the common room. Harry gets out of his seat and runs up to his dorm, where Ron was sleeping. He whispers, "Ron! Ron wake up!" Ron said, sleepily, "What? What happened?" Harry whispers, "It was Hagrid. Hagrid opened the Chamber of Secrets 50 years ago!" Ron looks at Harry in shock. After they talked about it for a few minutes. Ron goes back to sleep as Harry gets into bed. They agreed to tell Hermione once she was out of the hospital wing.
Hermione was finally released from the hospital wing towards the end of the first week of February. They were walking towards their next class. Harry said, "It was Hagrid." Hermione said, "It can't be Hagrid. It just can't be." Ron said, "We don't even know this Tom Ridddle. He sounds like a dirty rotten snitch to me." Harry said, "The monster killed somebody, Ron. What would any of us have done?" Hermione said, "Look, Hagrid's our friend. Why don't we just go and ask him about it?" Ron said sarcastically, "That would be a cheerful visit. 'Hello Hagrid. Tell us, have you been setting anything mad and hairy loose in the castle lately?'" Hagrid, who heard the last part, said from behind them, "Mad and Hairy? You wouldn't be talking about me, now would you?" All 3 said in unison, "No." After an awkward silence, Harry said, "What's that you got there, Hagrid?" Hagrid shows them what he was holding in his hand. He said, "Oh It's flesh-eating slug repellent. For the mandrakes you know." Hagrid adds, "Now, according to Professor Sprout, they've still got a bit of growing up to do. Once their acne's clear up, we'll chop them up and stew them. Then we'll get those people down at the hospital wing un-petrified. In the meantime, you 3 had best be looking after yourselves. Alright?" They nod at him in reply, which satisfied him. He leaves them to help Madam Sprout put slug repellent around the mandrakes. Neville comes running to them and stops before them. He said, "Harry! I don't know who did it, but you better come! Come on!" They run after Neville up to the common room. They enter the dorm to find it a mess by his bed. pieces of parchment everywhere and things thrown about from his trunk. Hermione said, "It has to be a gryffindor. Nobody else knows our password. Unless it wasn't a student." Ron said, "Whoever it was, they must have been looking for something." Harry said, after looking around, "They found it. Tom Riddle's diary is gone." They head off to their next lesson, wondering who in their house, took the diary. They noticed that there hasn't been any attack since before Christmas. Lockhart seemed to think that he himself had made the attacks stop. Harry overheard him telling Professor McGonagall so, as they were leaving the Transfiguration classroom one day. He said to McGonagall, "I don't think there'll be any more trouble, Minerva. I think the Chamber has been locked for good this time. The culprit must have known it was only a matter of time before I caught him. Rather sensible to stop now, before I came down hard on him." He looks thoughtful, then said, "You know, what the school needs now is a morale-booster. To wash away the memories of last term! I won't say any more just now, but I think I know just the thing." Lockhart's idea of a morale-booster became clear at breakfast on Valentine's Day. Harry entered the great hall late, due to oversleeping. For a moment he thought he had walked into the wrong doors. The walls were covered in large pink flowers. What was worse, was the heart-shaped confetti falling from the pale blue ceiling.
Harry looked utterly perplexed as he sat down at the gryffindor table, where Ron and Hermione were sitting. Harry said, "What is going on?" Ron, who was looking sick, points to the staff table. Harry looks at the staff table to find Lockhart wearing pink robes that matched the decorations. Lockhart was waving for silence. The teachers on either side of him were all stony-faced. Harry could see a muscle going in McGonagall's cheek. Snape looked as if he had tasted something nasty. Lockhart said, "Happy Valentine's Day! I have taken the liberty of arranging this little surprise for you all! It doesn't end here!" He claps his hands. Through the doors of the great hall, came 12 dwarfs dressed as cupid! Complete with wings and harps! Lockhart grins, "My friendly, card-carrying cupids! They will be moving around the school today delivering your valentines! The fun doesn't stop here! I'm sure my colleagues will want to enter into the spirit of the occasion! Why not ask Professor Snape to show you how to whip up a Love Potion! While you're at it, Professor Flitwick knows more about Entrancing Enchantments than any wizard I've ever met, the sly old dog!" Flitwick buries his face in his hands in embarrassment. Snape was looking as if the first person to ask him for Love Potion would have poison forced down their throats! Harry, Ron and Hermione finish their breakfast and leave the great hall. All day long, the dwarfs kept bursting into their classes to deliver valentines, to the annoyance of the teachers. Later that afternoon as the Gryffindors were walking upstairs to Charms, one of the dwarfs caught up with Harry. The dwarf said, "Oy, you! 'Arry Potter!" Harry went red with embarrassment as the dwarf made it to him. The dwarf said, "I've got a musical message to deliver to 'Arry Potter in person." Harry tries to escape, but the dwarf grabs his bag and pulls back. Harry said, "Let me go!" Harry tries to make a run for it, only for the dwarf to knock him to the floor and pin him there. He sits on Harry's back and said, "Right. Here is your singing Valentine." The dwarf sang:
"His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad,
His hair is as dark as a blackboard.
I wish he was mine, he's really divine,
The hero who conquered the Dark Lord."
The dwarf got off of him and left. Harry gets up as the crowd disperse, his face red. Harry spots the Riddle's diary on the floor. It looks as if someone dropped it. He quickly picks it up and puts it in his bag before anyone saw it. After lessons, they had dinner, then went up to the common room and did their homework. He was glad that the day was over. He went to bed early, exhausted after what happened today with the dwarf. He puts the book away and gets ready for bed. He pulls the covers up to his chin and falls asleep within minutes.