Lily in the Shadows

Chapter 22: 'Her Skeleton Will Lie In the Chamber Forever'

Walking out of the restroom, Lily wipes her hands on her robes, irritated. Why can they not just put some toilet tissue in the restroom? She is making her way to class when a voice speaks out to her, reverberating about the halls. "All students return to their dormitories at once. All teachers please meet in the staff room, immediately." Looking around the hall she runs back to Flitwick's classroom, hopeing to meet back up with the rest of her class. Entering the room she sees that it is empty, she grabs her bag and books and starts running back to her dorm when she is suddenly grabbed from behind.

------- Harry's POV -------

Harry and Ron hide in the cupboard in the staff room, waiting as all the teachers file in, talking in hushed tones.

"It has happened," Professor McGonagall told the now silent staff room. "A student has been taken by the monster. Right into the Chamber itself." Professor Flitwick lets out a squeal, Professor Sprout claps her hands over her mouth. Snape grips the back of a chair very hard. Snape's voice rises amongst the chatter. "How can you be sure?"

"The Heir of Slytherin," said Professor McGonagall, who is very pale, "left another message. Right underneath the first one. 'Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever.'"

Professor Flitwick bursts into tears.

"Who is it?" said Madam Hooch, who had sunk, weak-kneed, into a chair. "Which student?" "We don't know," Professor McGonagall says. "All that was found at the wall was this." Minerva holds up five or six fiery red hairs. A knock on the door has them all swiveling towards it. In walks, one prefect from each house enters the room. "Everyone accounted for?" Professor McGonagall inquires.

Two prefects step forward. "Professor Ginny Weasley did not come back to the common room." Ron almost faints on the spot.

Another steps forward next. "Kathryn Potter didn't come back either." Harry grips Ron's arm, suddenly feeling lightheaded.

Snape rushes from the room, ignoring the calls of his fellow teachers.

------- Lily's POV -------

Screeching, Lily-Kathryn whirls around to see Myrtle the Ghost floating behind her. "You scared me." She gasps.

"You have to get out of here," Myrtle whispers. "The Heir of Slytherin has been around here recently and I don't want her to snatch you up too."

Lily's mind is reeling. "You've seen her, who is she?" She rushes out quietly.

Myrtle grips her forearms, "I cannot tell you. It isn't safe, quickly, you must get to your common room now. The teachers are checking for all the students. You don't want to get lost."

"Alright, thank you, Myrtle. You're a good friend." She hugs the transparent girl, rushing down to the dungeons, faster than before.

------- Snape's POV -------

Severus flies down the stairs to the dungeon, down the hall, and into the common room. He looks around, unable to see a flaming head of red hair. Going over to her friends he inquires about her whereabouts. No one has seen her or knows where she is. Feeling light-headed, Severus rushes from the room.

------- Lily's POV -------

She finally arrives at her dorm so late. Walking through the door Draco runs up to her, rushing he wraps her in his arms.

"Oh my Merlin, where have you been?" Draco exclaims, he feels the weight of his worry float off of his shoulders. "Snape's been looking all over for you."