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Author: Sovran Story: Meaning of One, Part Two: Chambers and Secrets Rating: Teens Setting: AU Status: Completed Reviews: 9 Words: 353,960
“It’s almost dawn,” he whispered. “Go on back to your dormitory, and meet us in the common room in an hour.” She stared at her brother in confusion until she remembered why she was in his room. Hermione had been Petrified. It was her fault. She was in the boys’ dormitory because she had been unable to face her own. Ginny froze for a few moments, straining to keep herself from collapsing again. She could not forgive herself for what had happened to Hermione, and she could not imagine how she was going to survive until June. Her own voice echoed in her mind again. It’s your fault! No, it isn’t. “Come on, Ginny,” George said again, nudging her slightly. “You shouldn’t get caught up here.” She blinked at him, unsure what he wanted from her. Just go back... to your dormitory, and then... Come down... in an hour. Ginny nodded to George, picked up her towel, and crept out of the room without looking back. She reached the common room without paying attention to her surroundings, her mind numb with the enormity of what she had done and what she had lost. As she climbed the girls’ stairs, she realised that she could cast a Cheering Charm on herself, and no-one would know. No, Ginny. Hermione didn’t... want that for you... and neither do I. She paused between the first and second floors, thinking of the two wands in her room above. Please don’t. It won’t make... you feel better, it... will just make you... jumpy. Ginny felt as though she had to clear her throat before she could form words in her own mind. It might help me not feel anything at all. That’s better than this. No, it’s not. If you can’t... feel it, then you... can pretend it’s not... reality. But it is. I... She leaned against the wall of the stairwell and closed her eyes. I don’t want it to be real. It is, Ginny. I’m sorry. She squeezed her eyes closed and wiped away the tears that leaked out between her lashes. I don’t want it to be my fault. It isn’t. You didn’t... Petrify her. You didn’t tell... the monster... to do it. It isn’t... your fault. But if I had told her where I was going, it wouldn’t have happened. You can’t deny that. Harry did not have an answer. Biting her lip to keep from sobbing, Ginny climbed a few more steps and slipped into her dormitory. Lavender and Parvati were both sound asleep. Hermione’s curtains were wide open, and her bed was neatly made. Ginny sat on her own bed and stared at the place where Hermione should have been, cataloguing all of the moments when she should have been grateful to her friend. It won’t... be long, Ginny. Just a few... weeks, at most. I barely survived that long with her help. What am I going to do without it? I can... help, too. I’ll tell you... what I... say and what she... would say. Both. Ginny sighed. Harry never seemed to realise how hollow he was, and she did not have the heart to tell him. She feared that he was becoming more separate, more distant, because he could no longer automatically understand what was so obvious to her. I’ll try, she said. That’s all I can do. It will be... enough. When she guessed that an hour had passed, Ginny pulled on a pair of jeans and one of Harry’s jumpers. Then she went back to the common room and tucked herself into the end of a sofa near the fire. While she did not particularly care whether she sat in her dormitory or in the common room, her brothers expected to find her downstairs, and she did not want them to think she had left the tower again. The twins were among the first of the other students to emerge from the staircases. They did not speak to Ginny, but they urged her to slide across the sofa so that they could sit on either side of her. She scowled at them, but she was grateful for their presence. Percy entered the room with a textbook and sat in a chair near Ginny and the twins. A few minutes later, they all looked up at the sound of a pop from one corner of the common room. A new table had appeared there, forcing the usual tables to slide out of its way. As Ginny watched, platters of toast and eggs and bacon appeared on the table, and various plates and utensils appeared in stacks nearby. Large pewter flagons materialised on one of the smaller tables. After a few moments, Percy stood up. “Please form an orderly line along that wall and serve yourselves,” he said loudly, pointing across the room. “Do not take food up to your dormitories, and mind you don’t make a mess of the common room.” Quiet conversation broke out amongst the other students as they realised that, once again, they would not be eating in the Great Hall. In groups and pairs, they lined up for breakfast. Fred got up, waited in line under Percy’s watchful eye, and returned with two plates piled with toast and bacon. He picked up Ginny’s arm and placed a slice of toast in her hand, but she did not eat it. Hermione would... tell you to eat. Not long ago, Ginny remembered, Hermione had been telling her what Harry would say. She sighed at the irony. I’m not hungry. You should be. A few minutes later, when the common room was full of the smells of breakfast, Ron emerged from the boys’ dormitory with Dean and Neville. After filling his plate, Ron crossed the room and dropped to the floor in front of Ginny and the twins. Neville followed him, looking nervous, and stood awkwardly next to the sofa. “It’s Hermione, isn’t it?” Neville asked in a quiet voice. Fred looked up and raised an eyebrow. “What makes you say that?” “She’s not with Ginny.” “Damn,” George said. “Can’t argue with that,” Fred muttered. “Is she… is she dead?” “No.” Fred lowered his voice. “Look, Neville… just wait for McGonagall to get here, all right?” Neville nodded, his eyes fixed on his plate. “Yeah, all right.” Almost all of the Gryffindors were in the common room eating or talking when the portrait hole finally opened. Professor McGonagall stepped into the room, and the students fell quiet almost immediately. “As you may have guessed, there has been another attack at Hogwarts,” she said. “Hermione Granger has been Petrified.” Chatter broke out all around the room, and the professor waited a few moments for it to subside. “Gryffindor has been targeted once again, and I’m sure you are all wondering why. I believe it is because the house of Godric Gryffindor is first and foremost renowned for its courage. We do not cower in the face of danger. We do not flee from the choice between right and wrong. “Colin Creevey, Harry Potter, and Hermione Granger did not succumb to fear. Each of them remained true to themselves. Each of them continued to live their lives and to do the things they loved to do. They were not reckless; they did not go out to fight an enemy they could not see and did not understand. Instead they simply went about their business, bearing the burden of fear with dignity and strength.” Ginny bent double on the sofa and bit her knuckle to keep from howling in grief and remorse. She had told Colin where to find Harry. She had been with Harry, mere yards away, when he was attacked. Hermione had been looking for her, Ginny, and trying to help her. No, they had not succumbed to fear. They had done everything right except for knowing her. Ginny, that’s... Nonsense. Knowing you... did not get them... in trouble. “And that is what I ask of each of you,” McGonagall continued. “I ask you to live your lives with courage and wisdom. Be safe, but do not give in to fear. Respect the danger, but do not let it overwhelm you. And when Colin Creevey, Harry Potter, and Hermione Granger rejoin us — as they most assuredly will — you will know that you all lived up to Godric Gryffindor’s legacy.” Professor McGonagall paused for a moment and then spoke crisply, her voice business-like once again. “Until further notice, you will not be allowed to leave Gryffindor Tower except to addend your classes. Meals will be served in this room, and library books will be delivered here upon request. You will not be allowed on the grounds for any reason. Any student caught violating these rules faces immediate suspension for the remainder of the term. There will be no exceptions. Aurors will be posted outside of this room during the evenings and at night to ensure your safety.” Ginny heard a chair scrape loudly, and she looked up. Oliver Wood was standing near the breakfast table, his fork clenched in one fist. “What about Quidditch, Professor?” “I am sorry to say that the Quidditch season has been cancelled. We cannot ensure everyone’s safety at practices or games.” She tilted her head meaningfully. “I’m sure you understand, Mr. Wood, that there can be no Quidditch without Quidditch players, and so their safety must be our first priority.” Wood stared at her for a moment, his face tight. Then he nodded and sat back down. “Very well,” McGonagall said. “Enjoy your weekend. I will be here each morning during breakfast to make any announcements we may have.” She stepped further into the room, signalling the end of her speech, and spoke to Percy in a more normal voice. “Mr. Weasley, you and your siblings will come with me, please.” Ginny wiped her face hurriedly, and then George helped her to her feet. With his arm draped across her shoulders, she and her brothers crossed to the portrait hole. She could feel the rest of the Gryffindors staring at her, and she was sure they had guessed the truth. They don’t... know anything. Why else would we have to leave? As far as any of them knows, none of us has been attacked. McGonagall led them out of the common room. As soon as the portrait closed behind them all, Ginny heard a familiar voice. “Ah! Finally!” Ginny looked up and saw her mother rushing towards them from a few yards away with her father close behind. Further down the corridor, Jason and Helen Granger waited with Professor Dumbledore and two men in scarlet robes. Ginny stared at her parents as her mother hugged each of the boys. Her father stood back a little, smiling at them all and watching Ginny closely. When she caught his eye, he raised an eyebrow. She bit her lip, not knowing how to respond. “Ginny!” her mother cried, leaning down to hug her. She let go almost immediately, however, and fixed Ginny with a penetrating glare. “What on earth…?” She grabbed Ginny’s jumper and gathered the material in her hands until it stretched tightly across Ginny’s ribs and stomach. Then her eyes travelled up Ginny’s arms to her face and hair. “Oh, my poor dear,” she whispered. “What have you done to yourself?” “She only eats about once a day, Mum, and even then it’s only a couple of mouthfuls,” George said, very quietly. “The only person who could get her to do that much was Hermione.” Ginny scowled at her brother, her fists clenching at her sides, but George’s face was set. “It’s the truth, Gin,” he said. Your mum... needs to know. She can... help. “Once a day?” her mother said. She ran one hand across Ginny’s head and down to her cheek. “And hardly showering either, I’d say.” Ginny’s father knelt down at her side and squeezed her thin arm in his large hand. “Why don’t you eat, Firefly?” “I’m not hungry,” she said to the floor. “And why haven’t you been showering?” She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.” “It matters to me,” her father said, tilting her chin up towards him. “You can tell me.” “No,” George said. “She means she can’t see any point to it.” “I can talk for myself,” Ginny said. “You could. But you won’t.” “Molly?” Helen Granger called. “Can we go on to the hospital, please?” Mrs. Weasley straightened and took Ginny’s hand firmly. “Yes, of course. I know you’re eager to see Hermione.” Leaning down towards Ginny, she whispered, “We’re not finished with this conversation.” “This way, then,” Dumbledore said. He waved towards the staircase, and Ginny noticed that his wand was in his hand. The Weasleys and the Grangers moved through the castle with the two professors in the lead and the two red-robed men bringing up the rear. Occasionally, one of Hermione’s parents would stare at a talking portrait or a moving staircase, but they never slowed their purposeful strides. Mrs. Weasley held Ginny’s hand and pulled her along, tutting softly under her breath. Behind them, Mr. Weasley and George were deep in conversation, but Ginny could not hear what they were saying. “Why are you here, Mum?” Ron asked, coming up on Mrs. Weasley’s other side. “The Ministry was more willing to let Helen and Jason into the castle to see Hermione if someone agreed to escort them and keep them away from things they don’t understand. They asked us to be with them right now.” Ron lowered his voice. “I didn’t know Muggles could come into the castle at all.” “Ordinarily, they can’t,” Mrs. Weasley said. “The Headmaster had to do a good bit of magic to make it possible.” “Who are those blokes in red?” Ron asked, darting a glance over his shoulder. “Aurors,” Mrs. Weasley whispered. “They wear those robes when they’re meant to be noticed.” When the group reached the hospital wing, the Grangers came to a complete stop, their eyes wide. Two large trolls stood outside the doors to the ward, each carrying a club that was nearly as long as Ginny was tall. They were not quite as enormous as the troll that Ginny and Harry had fought in their first year, but they looked more intelligent and somehow more vicious. “Do not worry,” Dumbledore said. “They are here to prevent unauthorised entry, but they are harmless to us.” The Headmaster opened the doors, and the Grangers hurried into the hospital wing. The Weasleys followed them, but the Aurors took up station in the corridor opposite the two trolls. The doors closed with a loud thud. Ginny shook off her mother’s hand, pushed between the adults, and darted towards the end of the ward. She pushed the curtains apart and saw Hermione lying on her side in the bed beyond Harry’s. She was facing away from the rest of the ward, but Ginny could see that she was strangely hunched over. Her hands were open and raised as though pushing something away from her. Do you think... she was that close to... the monster? Ginny swallowed rapidly, staring at the back of Hermione’s head, and edged into the gap between Hermione’s bed and Harry’s. Several chairs had been placed there, but Ginny ignored them and leaned back against Harry’s mattress. Her hand automatically found his thumb, and the faint whisper of belonging from that touch helped her to finally pull her gaze away from Hermione. The Grangers rounded Hermione’s bed to stand on the other side, and they both recoiled slightly from whatever they saw on her face. Then, slowly, Mrs. Granger reached out and stroked Hermione’s hair. “You’re absolutely certain that she’s still alive?” Mr. Granger said, looking sharply at Dumbledore as the old wizard stopped at the foot of Hermione’s bed. “Absolutely. She is in a form of stasis, but she is definitely alive. They all are.” He waved his hand around the ward at Harry, Colin, and Penelope. “And they will all be perfectly well once we can administer the restorative.” “I suppose I’ll have to take your word for that,” Hermione’s father said sharply. “But I still don’t understand how this happened in the first place. Why hasn’t this… this monster been found and killed? Why wasn’t the school closed after the first attack, the one with the cat? The students should have all been sent home months ago!” “I am inclined to agree with you,” Dumbledore said, “but that decision was not mine to make.” “You’re the Headmaster, aren’t you? And some sort of judge? Surely you could convince the Governors to see sense.” Mrs. Weasley moved to stand in front of Ginny, blocking her view and pulling her attention away from the Grangers’ conversation. “Ginny, go and shower,” she said, pointing across the ward at the bathroom door. “Right here and right now. I’ll send for some clean clothes. And then, young lady, you’re going to eat something, even if I have to pour it down your throat.” “But —” Ginny watched her mother’s expression shift from determined to completely adamant. Please, Ginny. Let her... help. “Fine.” “Good. And wash your hair properly, or else I’ll come in there and do it for you.” Avoiding the looks the rest of her family were giving her, Ginny went into the bathroom and closed the door. Beyond the toilet there was an opaque door leading to an oversized shower, and on shelves nearby were a few towels and a collection of basic toiletries. She picked up a towel and a bottle of shampoo, and then she went into the shower, locking the door behind her. When she had finished, she dressed in one of her school uniforms, which she found outside the shower. Ginny emerged from the bathroom with her comb in hand. Percy was sitting next to Penelope, and the rest of her brothers were gathered around Harry’s bed, talking in low voices. At the end of the ward, beyond Hermione’s bed, Ginny’s parents and the Grangers were deep in conversation with Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall. Her mother spotted Ginny immediately and hurried over, a weak smile on her face. “Now, that’s a bit better, isn’t it?” Ginny felt cleaner, but she did not find any pleasure in that. “I suppose.” “Are you going to comb your hair, or would you like me to do it for you?” “I can do it,” Ginny said, scowling up at her mother. Why does she have to treat me like a baby? She just... cares. “All right. Eat first, though. There’s a nice bowl of stew waiting for you next to Harry. Eat the whole thing, and then you can comb your hair.” Mrs. Weasley took Ginny’s arm and guided her over to her brothers. One of the chairs was empty, and next to it was a small table containing a bowl, a spoon, and a glass of pumpkin juice. Ginny stared at the bowl in dismay as she dropped into the chair. It’s only... half full. You can eat... that much. Why should I eat it if I’m not hungry? Ginny... She watched her own memory of getting dressed a few minutes earlier. You shouldn’t be able to... count all your... ribs... in the mirror, and you shouldn’t have to... cinch your clothes... all the way to... make them stay on. You need to eat. Please. She considered arguing, and she felt certain that no one could make her eat if she did not want to. Going along with Harry and her mother was easier than fighting with them, though, so she picked up the spoon and began to eat. Ron and the twins had stopped talking, so she was able to hear the adults’ conversation from across Hermione’s bed. “It’s ridiculous, Dumbledore,” Jason Granger said. “I see that you’re in a difficult position here, but I simply can’t understand how the Governors could keep the school open in this condition. If you ask me, this petrification effect looks like a way for a predator to subdue its prey. I expect that whatever it is might try to get in here so it can eat what it’s caught.” Dumbledore sighed. “I cannot refute that theory, Mr. Granger, especially since the monster returned here last night. We had already speculated that it might have hoped to reach its previous victims.” “Exactly. And given that, I think it might be best if we took Hermione back home with us. It’s not doing any good for her to be here, and she’ll be safer at home. We’d be happy to take Harry, too, and I’d encourage the others’ parents to do the same.” From the corner of her eye, Ginny saw Ron straighten and cock his head. Then he subsided, looking thoughtful. “Mr. Granger,” the matron said, “while I agree with your intentions, I am not sure that would be a good idea.” “Madam Pomfrey, I don’t mean to offend you, but I don’t quite understand magical terminology. You’re a Healer? Is that the equivalent of a doctor, a nurse, or something else?” “A doctor, Mr. Granger,” Pomfrey said. Dumbledore cleared his throat. “Madam Pomfrey is far too modest. She is one of the finest Healers in Britain. Hogwarts takes no chances with our students’ health.” Mr. Granger glared at the headmaster, and Dumbledore nodded in concession. “As a general policy, that is.” “He’s right,” Ginny’s father said. “Madam Pomfrey could handle any normal injury or illness without any difficulty, and she’s qualified to treat most serious conditions, too. This petrification business is simply something we’ve never seen before.” “Fine. Maybe that’s one thing right,” Mr. Granger said. “Why don’t you think we should take Hermione home, Madam Pomfrey?” “I am not fully conversant with Muggle medicine, but I have a general understanding of what you can and cannot do. To the best of my knowledge, you have no sure way of excluding dust and other particles from her eyes, mouth, ears, and so forth. Nor do you have any way of monitoring the condition of her internal organs without taking her to Muggle doctors, who will question her condition. Once she is revived, you do not have the capacity to treat the after-effects of the stasis, at least not as quickly as we can.” Mr. Granger huffed in frustration. “Couldn’t we hire another Healer to do those things at our house?” “I would do them myself if I could, at no charge,” Madam Pomfrey replied. “But no fully qualified Healer will have time to give your daughter the constant attention that she can receive here. If I were to leave this castle to tend her, then neither she nor the other students would receive the quality of care that they are receiving now.” “If I understand that properly,” Mrs. Granger said, “you’re saying that the best possible treatment is here. We could treat her at home, but not with the same degree of expertise. Is that right? Then, as I see it, we have to weigh that against the chances of her being killed here in the castle. I hope you’ll agree that the risk seems much higher here.” Ginny put down her spoon, intent on the conversation. George picked it up and mimed feeding her himself, however, so she continued eating. “Your point is well taken,” Dumbledore said. “However, we intend to secure this ward very carefully. I assure you that nothing will reach Miss Granger here.” “How?” Mr. Granger asked, his voice harsh. “How will you do that? Aside from those things outside the door, you’ve yet to show me anything concrete to convince me that Hermione will be safe in this castle.” “If I may interrupt, Mr. Granger,” McGonagall said. “You’re quite right. Some of the protections for this room are invisible, but I can certainly demonstrate what I will do to protect these students.” Professor McGonagall stepped into the middle of the room and raised her wand. She flicked her wrist at each of the windows in turn, and the stone sills began to grow. The windows themselves shrank until they vanished, leaving solid blocks of stone in their place. McGonagall then turned and performed the same magic on the door to the corridor. Once the door had also vanished, she tapped the floor where the base of the door had been. The stones there began to grow, also, rising up to the ceiling to form a second wall in front of the first. When McGonagall lowered her wand, the room had no exterior openings at all, and the only light came from a few candles in Madam Pomfrey’s office. Dumbledore waved his wand, and the torches mounted on the walls sprang to life. “Yes, perhaps we should have started with that.” “Well… that’s pretty impressive, I admit,” Mr. Granger said. “But can’t someone or something else just reverse it in the same way?” “Yes and no,” McGonagall said. “In theory, the transformation can indeed be reversed as readily as it was created. In practice, however, there are very few people in this castle who are capable of doing so. Most of those people are in this room with us. Another is our Charms teacher. I consider him to be completely trustworthy, and I’m sure he’d be pleased to talk with you if you’d like to meet him.” “There are also the trolls, as you mentioned,” Dumbledore added. “The mountain trolls you saw will guard the door during the day, and at night they will be replaced by cave trolls, which are uniquely suited to working in the dark. I also intend to add protections myself such that if anyone or anything does penetrate those defences, it will be met with a very powerful magical response. Alas, I cannot demonstrate that without endangering us.” McGonagall moved around the room restoring the doors and windows, which took a bit longer than removing them. Once the doors reappeared, they opened slowly, and Hagrid ducked his head into the room. “Ever’thin’ all righ’ in here?” “Yes, Hagrid, everything’s fine. Do come in,” Dumbledore said. Hagrid bent at the waist as he entered the ward. “Jus’ came to visit… oh, ‘ello.” He straightened and looked down at the Grangers. Mr. and Mrs. Granger did not respond for a moment, and Ginny thought she understood their stunned expressions. Hagrid always looked even larger indoors, even though she had known him for nearly two years. “Ah… nice to see you again, Hagrid,” Mr. Granger said. He bounced on his feet as he shook Hagrid’s hand. “Thank you for your help with our owls.” “Glad t’ do it, especially fer ‘Ermione,” Hagrid said. “I came t’ visit ’er and ‘Arry, but I can come back later, if yeh like. I’m sure yeh want to spend time with ‘er.” “Oh, no, you’re welcome to stay,” Mrs. Granger said. “Please do.” Hagrid smiled, his black eyes alight. “Ta very much.” He stepped sideways amongst Ginny and her brothers to lean against the infirmary wall between the two beds. “Don’ worry too much abou’ this whole mess. It’s no fun, tha’s the truth, but Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey will have this lot back on their feet in no time. There’s no better folks to be lookin’ after ‘em righ’ now.” “So it seems,” Mr. Granger said bitterly. He turned back to the two professors. “Would you excuse us for just a moment?” At their nods, he and Mrs. Granger walked to the other end of the ward and began whispering earnestly. “Good ter see yeh eatin’, Ginny. Yeh been lookin’ a bit peaky to me.” “Yes, she has,” Mrs. Weasley said, moving to stand at Ginny’s shoulder. “Have you finished your stew, dear?” Ginny looked down and was surprised to find that she had indeed eaten everything in the bowl. See? I knew you could... Finish it. “All right. Now start on your hair. You can’t just leave it wet like that all day.” Ginny’s mother put her comb in her hand. I know that, Ginny said, scowling at her comb for a moment. Hasn’t she told me that a hundred times? She’s trying to... make sure you... do it, that’s all. “Boys,” Mrs. Weasley said, “go and sit next to Hermione for a bit.” Ginny’s brothers stood and circled to the other side of Hermione’s bed. After a moment, Hagrid cleared his throat loudly and shuffled away as well. Ginny looked to her father, hoping to escape the conversation she knew was coming, but he simply nodded towards her mother and guided the other professors to the far side of the ward, drawing Percy into their conversation. “Ginny…” her mother began, settling into the chair next to her. “I don’t want to talk about it.” “I know. But you’re going to anyway, I’m afraid.” Why can’t she leave well enough alone? Because you’re... not well, and she loves you. Ginny tightened her jaw and stared at the wall of the infirmary. Mrs. Weasley covered Ginny’s hand with her own. “You’re like this because of what happened to Harry, right? It’s not anything else?” Tell her... the truth. “Harry…” Ginny had to pause to swallow, her stomach leaden with unwanted food. “Harry says yes.” “Can you tell me what it feels like? Or… or what it doesn’t feel like? Or anything at all?” Tell her. What can I say? “Start on your hair, dear. That might help you to talk.” Say... say that we... we can’t... Ginny felt him want to shake his head in frustration, and she felt her own head turn a bit in sympathy. I don’t... have the... words. Tell her... what I would... Tell her. Ginny began pulling her comb through her damp hair. She closed her eyes, fighting an impulse to remain silent, and concentrated on Harry. She knew that what he felt was a mere shadow of something that he would feel if he could, and she knew him well enough to recognise that something. What would... I say? Ginny imagined that it was Harry standing behind her and combing her hair as he so often had. She pictured him relaxed and happy, speaking quietly to someone he trusted. “It’s… hopeless,” she said at last. “Normally, we remember… we know everything. We don’t have to think about what we want or what we feel, it’s just… there. But now… now it’s not there anymore. Part of us is… gone. We only know enough to know what’s missing. We know how we should be, but we can’t be that way. We can’t fix it.” Ginny took a deep, steadying breath as Harry pushed a memory into her mind. She stood in the doorway of the kitchen at The Burrow, watching Harry prepare breakfast for them all with a skill she had never before experienced. Tell her... that. “It’s like…” She opened her eyes and saw the moisture on her mother’s cheeks. “How would you feel if you woke up one day and… and you didn’t know how to cook anymore? If you knew you should be able to cook, and you’d been able to cook the day before, but now you had no idea where to start. And everyone was expecting you to cook, only you couldn’t. It was gone. And you couldn’t get it back.” Mrs. Weasley wiped her face and nodded. “That would be awful. So you don’t know how to do the things Harry can do?” “No. That’s just… similar. It’s not things he can do, it’s the way we are. I don’t know how to explain it better than that.” “All right,” her mother said gently. “Why haven’t you been eating, then? You know how to do that.” Ginny hesitated, but the pressure of Harry’s feelings in her mind did not relent. She closed her eyes and resumed combing her hair. “I’m just not hungry,” she said. “I don’t… I don’t remember how to be hungry. When I eat, it just… it reminds me of what eating should be like. Everything tastes… wrong.” She felt tears begin to form in her eyes, and she tried to blink them away. “Everything reminds me of how we should be, and I hate it. I hate it all.” She started to cry against her will, and she opened her eyes as she wrapped her arms around herself. “I don’t want to do it anymore, Mum. I just want it to stop. How can I make it stop?” Her mother leaned over and pulled Ginny into a hug. “I don’t know, darling,” she whispered into Ginny’s hair. “I don’t know. But you have to eat, Ginny. You have to eat so that you can be healthy and strong when Harry comes back to you. You have to be ready to swim in the pond and fly in the paddock and eat second helpings of treacle tart. Can you do that? Can you stay healthy for Harry?” Ginny pulled out of her mother’s embrace and took a deep, shaky breath. “It’s hard, Mum. I want to, but it’s so hard.” “I know. You only have a little longer, though. Just —” “Molly?” Dumbledore’s voice interrupted her mother, and Ginny looked over in time to see the headmaster consulting his pocket-watch. “Mr. and Mrs. Granger, if you’re amenable, perhaps you, Molly, and Arthur could all go to Minerva’s office for a quiet cup of tea. I’m afraid I have an appointment with one of the Governors to discuss the school’s security, and I would very much like to add the protections to this room before that meeting. I am confident that Minerva can answer any questions you might have, and of course you are welcome to return here when you’ve finished.” “I’d rather stay and continue talking to Ginny for a bit, Professor,” Mrs. Weasley replied, the implacable stiffness back in her face. Dumbledore gave Ginny a sad half-smile before looking back at her mother. “I’m sorry, Molly, but you remember the Ministry’s terms. You can only be here so long as you’re with the Grangers.” Hermione’s parents glanced at the Weasley children and then at each other. “I suspect we could all use a bit of a break,” Mr. Granger said. “If we can square this away, we’ll be back shortly and you can continue talking to your family.” Mrs. Weasley squeezed Ginny’s shoulder almost painfully and sighed. “Very well.” She lowered her voice as she stood up to join the other adults. “This conversation still isn’t over, Ginny.” Ginny sighed herself, relieved that Harry and her mother had stopped pushing her to talk. For now. “Follow me, please,” McGonagall said. “It’s not far.” “Boys, Ginny,” Mr. Weasley said, “we’ll see you again before we leave.” They all nodded, and the two sets of parents followed Professor McGonagall out the door. “Poppy?” Dumbledore called. She appeared in her office doorway. “I’m going to be making preparations in the corridor first, so don’t be alarmed if you hear anything odd.” “Very well,” Pomfrey said. When they had both left the room again, Ginny’s brothers returned to Harry’s bedside. Ron leaned forward and spoke in a quiet voice. “Did you hear what Dumbledore said about the monster? How it might have been coming back here to finish someone off?” Fred nodded. “Yeah. I wondered about that.” “Seems to me that if it was going to do that, it would have tried before.” Ron lowered his voice even further. “Unless it was after Harry in particular.” Ginny froze, her skin tingling with sudden alertness. “What do you mean?” “If it just wanted to finish off someone it had Petrified,” Ron said, “it could have tried with Penelope or Colin. But it didn’t until Harry was in here. So I think the monster was after him.” “Well done, Ron,” Fred said. “I’m shocked.” “Flabbergasted,” George added. “But it makes sense.” Ginny felt as though her brain had not worked properly for weeks, and she strained to catch up with her brothers’ reasoning. If something was after Harry, she absolutely had to know everything about it that she could. “Wait, why does it make sense?” “Because the monster is supposed to be controlled by the Heir of Slytherin, remember?” George asked. “Most of You-Know-Who’s supporters were Slytherins, everybody knows that. So it makes sense that this Heir would want to get rid of Harry.” “Who’s the Heir, then?” Ginny asked. Ron shrugged. “No idea. All we know for sure is that it isn’t Malfoy.” Squeezing her eyes closed, Ginny tried to remember exactly what Draco Malfoy had said at Christmas. They had worked so hard on the Polyjuice Potion to make that conversation possible, but in retrospect the entire adventure seemed completely trivial. Her life had been so easy then that Ginny could hardly imagine that it had happened to the same person. Wait, Malfoy said... something, didn’t he? Yeah... what was it... “Hang on. We also know the Chamber of Secrets was opened fifty years ago, so there was an Heir here then, too. I’m not sure how that helps, though.” “Where’d yeh hear ‘bout tha’?” Hagrid asked, leaning down into their conversation. Ginny was amazed that she had not noticed when he joined them. “Err… just a rumour, really,” Ron said, glancing at Ginny. “Pretty reliable source, though.” George glanced shrewdly at Ron and Ginny, but then he turned to Hagrid. “Why, Hagrid? Do you know anything about it?” “Weren’t you here fifty years ago?” Ron asked. “You said you were.” He’s right. We... Remember that. “Yeah, I was,” Hagrid said. “But I don’ know nothin’ ‘bout tha’. Not a thing. Best yeh jus’ leave it to th’ professors.” Ginny looked up at him pleadingly. “Hagrid, if we can find out anything about the Heir, we might be able to stop them. And…” She swallowed the surge of desperation in her chest. “And they might know how to fix Harry and Hermione without waiting for the potion. Please, if you know anything at all, please tell us.” Hagrid sighed, meeting her gaze with sad eyes. He ran his fingers through his beard, glanced around the room, and then sighed again. “I don’t…” The hospital wing doors swung open, and Dumbledore strode back into the room, his expression firmly neutral. Behind him came Lucius Malfoy, Cornelius Fudge, and four more red-robed Aurors. What’s the…. Minister for Magic… doing here? No idea. I’ve only ever seen him at the Ministry. “Ah, Hagrid,” Fudge said. “There you are.” “Me?” Hagrid said, straightening. “What d’yeh want me for?” “Well, you see… parents are getting quite concerned, you know, about… about everything. They look to the Ministry to do something about it. Take steps, you know, take precautions. Therefore I think it might be wise if we removed the, ahh… the last known source of trouble.” Hagrid scowled. “What’s that supposed ter mean?” “I’m afraid… well, I’m afraid we’ll be taking you along with us, Hagrid. Just as a precaution, as I said.” What? Hagrid? What does he have to do with this… mess? Hagrid strode away from the Weasley siblings to face the Minister directly. “Take me? Take me where? You can’t—” Dumbledore raised a hand, and Hagrid fell silent. “Minister, as we have discussed several times, I am certain that Hagrid had nothing to do with what happened fifty years ago. Removing him from the castle makes it less secure, not more so.” Fudge took a few steps back, moving closer to the Aurors and away from Hagrid and the Headmaster. “Yes, yes, you’ve said that before. But something must be done, Dumbledore. Action must be taken. Once the crisis has been resolved, if he’s innocent of the charges, we will of course release Hagrid with our thanks.” “Release me? Yer sendin’ me to Azkaban Prison, you mean?” “Only temporarily,” Fudge said, inching backwards again. “Just a precaution, as I said.” “Well, you’ll get no thanks for that!” Hagrid bellowed. “Hagrid.” The huge man fell silent, and Dumbledore moved his gaze to Lucius Malfoy. “Well, this is convenient, isn’t it, Lucius? Hagrid and I will be able to leave together.” “Leave?” Pomfrey said. “Whatever do you mean, Headmaster?” Dumbledore smiled, his eyes never leaving Lucius Malfoy. “Apparently, the Board of Governors has decided that I am no longer competent, and they have voted to suspend me for the foreseeable future.” Malfoy nodded, his grey eyes flat. “We have. The decision, though distasteful, was unanimous.” “Was it? That’s also most convenient, don’t you think?” “Convenience has nothing to do with it,” Malfoy said. “Indeed, I’m sure it’s quite inconvenient for all of us. Still, the Governors have voted according to their consciences, and their decision is quite clear.” “Bollocks!” Hagrid shouted. “Yeh bribed or threatened ever’ one of those Governors, and I’ll bet yeh—” Dumbledore’s voice carried easily over Hagrid’s. “Enough, Hagrid. We must obey the authority of the Board and the Ministry.” He turned back to Lucius. “I hope that you know, and indeed that everyone knows, that the safety of this castle and its students has always been my first priority. If anyone at Hogwarts requires my assistance, from the smallest of students to the grandest of Governors, they need only ask for it.” Lucius smiled falsely again. “We’ll bear that in mind, Dumbledore. For now, however, I’m afraid I must once again ask you to leave.” “And you as well, Hagrid,” Fudge said. “Just come along with us.” “We’ll all go together, then, shall we?” Dumbledore asked, waving towards the doors. “Come along, Hagrid.” Ron sprang to his feet as Hagrid moved towards the door. “Hang on!” Ron said. “You can’t take Dumbledore. He’s the best thing we’ve got against the H—” “Fear not, Mr. Weasley,” Dumbledore said loudly, cutting Ron off as well. “You will be in hands every bit as able as mine. Minister, in these troubled times, I don’t believe it would be wise to leave these students here unprotected. Could you, perhaps, ask two of these fine Aurors to escort them back to their dormitory? I believe that is the rule the Governors implemented last night.” “Ah, yes… yes, it is.” Fudge’s eyes darted to the infirmary doors. “These Aurors are assigned to me for the day, however, in addition to the many others assigned to the school.” “Don’t worry, Minister,” Dumbledore said, smiling. “If we should encounter a monster on our way out of the castle, Hagrid and I will be most eager to do battle with it. The children’s safety must be the Aurors’ first priority. Wouldn’t you agree, Lucius?” “Of course,” Malfoy said. “We wouldn’t want any more of them attacked, would we? Four is quite enough.” “Yes, indeed,” Fudge said, jamming his hat onto his head. He pointed at two of the Aurors. “You two, see these students safely back to their dormitories.” “And when you’ve finished that,” Mr. Malfoy said, “see that there are no unwelcome guests inside the school. From this point forward, no one is allowed to enter Hogwarts without the advance approval of the Governors. That is the safest way.” Hagrid lumbered around to face Ginny and her brothers. “Don’ worry, yeh’ll be fine. An’ if yeh get… err… sad about it, jus’… err… find a spider and follow it around for a while. Tha’ always cheers me righ’ up.” He raised his eyebrows, nodded once, and then turned back towards the door. “What a delightfully pedestrian suggestion,” Mr. Malfoy said. Dumbledore looked across the room at Madam Pomfrey, who was standing in the doorway to her office with her mouth set and her nostrils flared. “Poppy, if you would, please inform Minerva that she is in charge for the time being. I’m sure the Governors will be in touch soon.” “Yes, Headmaster,” Pomfrey said. Dumbledore opened the doors and gestured into the corridor. “Shall we go, then?” Fudge, two of the Aurors, Hagrid, and Lucius Malfoy all left the ward, and Dumbledore followed them. As he pulled the double doors closed, he turned to face into the room. He winked at Ginny just before the doors met, leaving the students and two Aurors alone in the infirmary. What was that about? “How polite,” one of the remaining Aurors said. “Forgot about us, did he?” The other shrugged. “D’you want to tell Albus Dumbledore he’s been rude? I don’t.” He stepped forward and addressed the Weasley siblings. “You’re all in Gryffindor, right? Come on, then.” Ginny blinked, realising that she had hardly breathed since Mr. Malfoy and Fudge had entered the room. She felt a twinge of disappointment in herself. Surely she should have objected, as Ron had. At the same time, she could not help feeling relieved to have escaped her mother, at least temporarily. You know why... she was... doing that. It was... good for you. That doesn’t mean I have to like it. George helped her up from her chair, and Percy joined them from Penelope’s bed. Just as they reached the door, however, Madam Pomfrey came out of her office again. “Miss Weasley?” she said. Ginny turned, puzzled, and saw the matron holding a neat pile of clothes and a book. “I would be grateful if you would take Miss Granger’s things back to your room, since you’re going. I’m a bit short-handed today.” “Okay,” Ginny said, accepting the pile. “Thank you.” The Weasleys walked back to Gryffindor Tower in silence, flanked by the two Aurors. When they arrived, they found another pair of Aurors stationed next to the Fat Lady, but they still had to give the password to get into the common room. “Hermione’s parents are going to be dead chuffed, eh?” Fred said quietly after the portrait had closed behind them. “Old Malfoy’s just had them kicked out.” “Mum and Dad aren’t going to like it much, either,” George said. “Dad’ll know it’s Malfoy in a heartbeat.” A few of the Gryffindors looked up as the group entered, but none of them looked particularly curious or concerned. Ginny was certain that Professor McGonagall would tell them what had happened soon enough. “I’m going to go put these away,” Ginny said, hefting the stack of Hermione’s belongings. “Come back down when you’re done,” George said. “Maybe we can work out what Hagrid was trying to tell us.” Ginny shrugged and then went up the stairs to the second-year girls’ dormitory. Inside, she paused for a moment, unsure what to do. Hermione kept all of her things in precise order, and Ginny had no idea where to put the clothes in her hands. Best to just... leave them. I suppose so. Ginny put the entire pile on top of Hermione’s trunk. When she released it, the robes and book at the top of the stack slipped sideways, and Ginny saw Harry’s Invisibility Cloak shimmering amidst the rest of the clothes. She pulled it out and re-stacked Hermione’s things. She must have been... wearing it when - With a gasp, Ginny dropped onto her own bed. For a while, as she had listened to Dumbledore and Mr. Malfoy in the hospital wing, she had almost forgotten what had happened to Hermione. She had even almost forgotten that it was her fault. Now, however, sitting in the dormitory and staring at Hermione’s empty bed, Ginny could not avoid her own guilt, regardless of Harry’s protestations. Ginny heard a knock, and she looked up expecting to find one of the older or younger girls at the door. Instead, she saw something outside the dormitory window. Putting the Cloak under her pillow and moving closer, Ginny realised that Dobby the house-elf was standing outside on the sill. “Dobby?” she said, opening the window. “What are you doing here?” “Dobby comes to talk to Ginny Potter!” the elf said quickly. “He has wanted to talk to her before, but he cannot enter Hogwarts anymore.” Indeed, Dobby stood on the ledge with his hands raised, as though he were pressing against something that was not there. All eight of his fingers were heavily bandaged. “Why did you want to talk to me?” Ginny asked. “At first, to say that Dobby is sorry. Dobby did not want anything bad to happen to Harry Potter. Dobby tried to warn them.” Maybe we... should have... taken him seriously. Ginny nodded. “Yeah, you did. And you were right. I wish we’d believed you.” “Dobby does also, Ginny Potter. Dobby does not like to see Ginny Potter so sad and tired.” “That’s me, all right,” Ginny said, sighing. “Sad and tired.” The elf pushed his head forward, flattening the tip of his nose against the invisible barrier. “But now Dobby has something else to say! Something important!” “Important? What is it?” “Dobby listens outside the hospital today. Dobby hears. And now, Dobby says listen to Hagrid to help Harry Potter.” He turned and bashed his forehead against the stone wall of the castle. “Does Ginny Potter understand? Listen to Hagrid.” He bashed his head again. “What do you mean? Why do you keep doing that?” Dobby kicked the wall, his toes cracking against the stone. “Dobby cannot say. Hagrid knows something Ginny Potter wants to know, but Dobby does not know what Hagrid knows. Only that Hagrid knows! So Ginny Potter must listen to Hagrid!” He keened softly and slammed his head against the wall three times. “All right, all right!” Ginny said. “I won’t ask any more questions. Just please stop doing that, okay?” “Thank you, Ginny Potter. Dobby must go very soon, or Dobby will be missed. But Dobby would ask…” “What is it?” “House-elves does not ask wizards and witches for favours. Dobby considers… Dobby wonders…” He pulled back his head and turned towards the wall again. “Wait!” Ginny said, reaching out and putting her hand on the wall in front of the elf’s head. Whatever barrier was blocking Dobby did not impede her at all. “You don’t have to ask for anything. Just… well, why don’t you tell me what you would ask me if you weren’t a house-elf?” Dobby paused. “Ginny Potter is asking Dobby a question, then?” “Yes, that’s it.” “Then Dobby must answer. If Dobby were not a house-elf, Dobby would ask Ginny Potter to apologise to the boys Dobby preserved. Dobby would never, ever do such things if not for the danger to Harry Potter. Dobby is very sorry! Dobby slept in the icebox for two weeks after that.” “Oh. Well… if I get the chance, I’ll tell them.” I doubt it’s going to... come up in conversation. “Thank you, Ginny Potter! Dobby must go!” He leapt off the windowsill and vanished. He’s mad, but he was right the first time. But what are we... supposed to listen to... Hagrid about? I’m not sure. You should... go back downstairs. The twins will... wonder where you are. Ginny did not really want to spend the day surrounded by people in the common room. She wanted to puzzle out Hagrid’s behaviour, however, and the twins did, also. She could not deny that working on the mystery of the Heir and the Chamber gave her a faint sense of focus, which she had been utterly lacking for much too long. For the time she had been hearing and thinking about it all, she had not only set aside her own guilt, but she had also felt almost… Alive, Harry said, finishing her thought. You should go. It’s good for you to... have something to... work on. Oh, yes, she said. Here I am at school with nothing to ‘work on.’ Right. You know what I mean. Something you... care about. She sighed. Sorry. Yes, I know what you mean. Merlin, Harry... I just want you to come back to me. I’m terribly sorry about Hermione, and I do miss her, but I just want you. Soon, Ginny. Steeling herself, Ginny left the dormitory and went back down to the common room. Ron and the twins were huddled around a table in a corner, as far from other students as they could get in the crowded room. Ginny joined them, but she decided not to tell them about Dobby’s visit. None of them had ever seen the elf before, and she worried that they would simply dismiss his advice. The four of them spent the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon discussing everything they had heard in the hospital wing. Each of them proposed several bizarre theories about how it all fit together, but none of them could come up with any explanation that actually made sense. The only things they could agree on were that Hagrid wanted them to follow a spider around — though Ron shuddered at the idea — and that he knew more than the was letting on. The Ministry seemed convinced that Hagrid had been involved the last time the Chamber had been opened. Dumbledore clearly knew something about that, but he disagreed with the Ministry’s position, so the students could not rely on that information one way or the other. “D’you really think they’ve taken Hagrid to Azkaban, though?” Ron asked in a hushed voice. “Dunno,” Fred said, his expression grim. “If they think he’s involved with this mess, they probably have.” George shuddered against Ginny’s shoulder. “I hope he’s all right. Remember what Dad was like when he came back from a meeting there?” “Yeah. Took him two days to smile again. And he was only there about an hour.” After their dinner in the common room, the twins spent the evening with their fourth-year friends. The whole group of them stayed within a few yards of Ginny, however, and she caught George watching her from the corner of his eye. Ron sat with Ginny for a while, but before long he joined a group of other boys lamenting the cancellation of the Quidditch season. Ginny did not mind. Alone, she scoured her memory for every detail she had learned about the Heir of Slytherin, the monster, and the Chamber of Secrets. She felt that she was missing something, and she was determined to remember it. If nothing else, she did not want to stop focusing on the puzzle. A resolution built in her mind as curfew approached, but she did not voice it until after she had climbed into bed and her roommates had fallen asleep. Maybe I should just do what Hagrid said. Follow the spiders and see what happens. Are you mad? Harry said. We know very well... what can happen if you go... wandering around. I don’t care about being suspended. Neither do I! I care about... getting attacked. I don’t want... you to be... Petrified. Or... worse, if the monster is... really getting hungry. But think of what I could learn! Maybe I could find out who the Heir is, or how to kill the monster, or... Or how to... Wake me up... early? Yes! I’d do anything for that. It’s too... risky, Ginny. You might not find... anything at all, and you could get... killed. I can be careful. I may not be able to Shift, but I still have the Invisibility Cloak. How did that... help Hermione, exactly? She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I won’t go anywhere near the hospital wing. Come on, Ginny! We don’t know... that the monster was... trying to get at me... or anyone there. It could have been... coincidence. And that means you... are in danger anywhere. I don’t think so. I think this is the best chance I’ve got. Fine. Fine! Then just... Tell someone about it. He showed her their conversation with her parents after they had escaped from Quirrell. “You should have told a prefect. You should have... have run up and down the halls screaming until someone listened to you. Anything but try to stop him yourself.” Who am I going to tell? Dad can’t get into the castle, and I can’t just Shift home to talk to him anymore. Professor McGonagall is probably dealing with Lucius Malfoy on top of everything else. Nobody else would listen at all. She’ll make time... for this. Just call her on... your pendant. Ginny toyed with the strap of her bracelet, but she did not touch the pendant. I don’t think she’d take me seriously. The whole idea is a long shot. Which is exactly why... you shouldn’t do it. I won’t... let you do it. I’m sorry, Harry, but I’m not sure you’re thinking clearly. Oh yes, I am. I think you just want... to be doing something, and you... don’t really care what. I’m trying to help you! You don’t have to. Just wait... a couple more weeks, and I’ll be... fine. I may not have a couple more weeks! Harry fell silent for a moment. You can... make it, Ginny. I know you can. No, you don’t. Ginny climbed out of bed and began to get dressed as quietly as she could. And how do you... intend to get past... those Aurors? I have the Cloak. I’ll think of something. Ginny pulled on a thick jumper against the night’s chill, picked up the Invisibility Cloak, and started towards the door. Please, no! The force of Harry’s thought made Ginny stop. Shaking her head, she opened the door and began climbing down the stairs. I have to do this, Harry. I have to try. Then... then take someone with you. Ask McGonagall to... go. Be serious. She’d never go along with it. You’re just trying to get her to stop me. What about Ron, then? He went with us for... the Philosopher’s Stone. You want me to take Ron to chase after spiders? He’s... Ginny stopped just inside the common room, her mind racing. That’s it! Ron’s afraid of spiders! Remember when we told Hermione about that? Yes, but... We saw all those spiders trying to get out of the castle, and we thought it was odd. That has to be what Hagrid was talking about. Which means... Nodding to herself, Ginny put on the Invisibility Cloak and hurried towards the portrait hole. Wait! Again, Harry’s voice stopped her. Please, take... someone with you. Anyone. What about... the twins? The twins? Yes. They said they... wanted an adventure, right? And they’ve been... in the forest before. They’ve also spent the whole day watching me like hawks. They’re not going to let me go anywhere. They might if you... explain it. Hmm. Maybe. And I bet I can go anyway if they try to stop me. Ahh... right. Probably. Please, Ginny, ask them. Do this one thing... for me. Ginny weighed her options for a moment. Then she pulled off the Cloak, tucked it into the cushions of a nearby chair, and made sure that both her and Harry’s wands were easily accessible in her back pockets. All right, Harry. I’ll try it.
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