Secrets Only Trouble Knows - George Weasley

45 - Into the Chamber Itself

The day after mine, George, Harry, and Ron's adventurous trip into the Forbidden Forest, we didn't speak to anyone else about what had happened. We collectively agreed we weren't going to inform our friends of our near-death experience. Most of them would scold us for carelessly risking our lives and a few others would probably be stupid enough to claim they wanted to take a look at the massive spiders themselves. So we didn't mention anything.

When the evening came, we attempted to sneak out yet another time in hopes of speaking with Moaning Myrtle. We wanted to see if my theory was correct and determine if she was the first Chamber of Secrets victim. But our journey was short lived. There was no shot of us talking to Myrtle or even entering her bathroom in the first place because the site of Mrs. Norris's attack was being guarded just down the corridor. Professor Flitwick and a couple of prefects were lingering around, eyes kept peeled for any signs of something curious. Even with the Invisibility Cloak, and even if we'd tried to create a diversion, our chances of being discovered were too high. There were just too many watchdogs patrolling nearby. With no other choice, we'd had to settle for returning to Gryffindor Tower empty-handed.

We were defeated. Our one and only lead was essentially unattainable. With nothing else to do, I spent that night lying awake in bed again combing through every little puzzle piece we'd been given. I went over details about each attack and the discussion we had with Aragog repeatedly. I felt like if I just kept thinking about it, sifting through it all in my head, eventually I'd realize I'd missed a big clue that would completely change the game and would allow us to end the terror being unleashed on Hogwarts.

This trend continued into the following morning, but it wasn't doing me any good. I wasn't coming to any new revelations, no matter how hard I tried. As the day went on, all thinking about the Chamber of Secrets did for me was make me distracted in each one of my lessons.

Until Transfiguration rolled around.

Professor McGonagall informed our class of fourth-years that exams were still going to be held despite the current state of Hogwarts. They were to begin on the first of June, which was exactly one week away. Suddenly every obsessive thought about the Chamber of Secrets was pushed right out of my head.

The minute she'd finished her announcement, the entire class burst into a fit of disappointed groans and angry complaints.

"Exams?!" Kol spluttered incredulously, his mouth gaping open. "There's no way we're still being given those—"

"Professor, you've got to be joking," Lee added.

A frown etched onto McGonagall's lips. She was definitely not joking.

"The school has remained open thus far simply so that you may still receive your education," she replied sternly. "That has been the whole point of keeping you here. Therefore, Mr. Maddox and Mr. Jordan, the exams will take place as usual, and I trust every single one of you are studying hard for them."

Studying hard?!

Far from it. I'd attempted to achieve the best grades I possibly could this year, but I hadn't gone above and beyond like I normally would. With the exceptional confounding circumstances, especially recently, my mind had been a little preoccupied to say the least. I was sure every other student agreed.

"Professor Dumbledore's instructions were to keep the school running as normally as possible," McGonagall continued, addressing the great deal of discontent. "And that includes finding out how much you all have learned this year."

"Not fucking much," Jasper muttered from the table behind me, and it sounded like several other people murmured their agreement.

If she'd overheard him, she didn't comment. Instead, our professor began lecturing about Transfiguration again as if everything was completely normal and we all weren't still freaking out about her announcement.