Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

67

After making their way out of the Chamber with the help of Fawkes, they made their way quickly to McGonagall's office. They had barely gotten into the room when they were frozen from Mrs. Weasley's sudden shout of Ginny's name before she came leaping from her chair (followed by Mr. Weasley) and flung themselves onto Ginny. 

Hermione stood as she looked at Professor Dumbledore, who was standing at the mantelpiece, beaming, with McGonagall, who looked stunned and face frozen in disbelief as she made her way over to them. They began asking them how they were able to do what they had done and McGonagall wasn't letting them go till she got the whole story. They told them the whole story except for leaving parts out about Ginny's involvement and Riddle's diary. However, Dumbledore seemed to sense it as he spoke. 

"What interests me most is how Lord Voldemort managed to enchant Ginny, when my sources tell me he is currently in hiding in the forests of Albania." 

"What's this?" Mr. Weasley said stunned, "You-Know-Who? Enchant Ginny? But Ginny..." 

"It was this diary," Harry said picking it up  and showing it to them, "Riddle wrote it when he was sixteen..." 

"Very few people know that Lord Voldemort was once called Tom Riddle. I taught him myself, fifty years ago, at Hogwarts. He sank deeply into the Dark Arts, consorted with the very worst of our kind and underwent many dangerous transformations. No one could possibly connected Lord Voldemort with the once handsome boy who was once a Head Boy here." 

"But how did he enchant Ginny?" Mrs. Weasley asked. 

"I've been writing in the diary--" Ginny whimpered before Mr. Weasley cut in. 

"Ginny! Haven't I taught you anything? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain? Why didn't you show the diary to me or your mother?" Mr. Weasley asked her. 

"I found it with my books Mum bought me. I didn't know..." 

"Miss Weasley should go up to the hospital wing right away. 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 stated, "bed rest and perhaps a large, steaming mug of hot chocolate. I always find that cheers me up." 

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley didn't waste a moment in taking Ginny out of the room. Dumbledore then proceeded to inform McGonagall to alert the kitchen to form a great feast. Soon it was just the three of them. 

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

Hermione nearly jumped up into the air as she, Harry and Ron shared looks of joy with each other. 

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

Hermione gasped as she, Harry and Ron turned around, remembering about Lockhart who was standing in the the corner of the room with a dumbfounded face, looking around in search of who Dumbledore was talking to. 

"Professor Dumbledore, there was an accident down in the Chamber of Secrets. Professor Lockhart..." 

"I'm a professor?" Lockhart stated in surprise, "Goodness. I expect I was hopeless..." 

"He tried a Memory Charm and the wand backfired." Ron explained. 

"Impaled upon your own sword, Gilderoy?" Dumbledore asked.