Athena Potter 🎞

Chapter 25: Missing

The next day, Athena and Ron are visiting Hermione in the Hospital Wing again; Athena takes the old dried up flowers out of the vase next to Hermione's bed, puts in some new white flowers (most likely roses), then sits on the bed.

Athena: [sadly] Wish you were here, Hermione. We need you. Now more than ever.

Hermione smiles at Athena who hugs her.

Hermione just lays there with her glossy facial expression as Ron sighs sadly. Athena rubs Hermione's left hand; feeling something in it, she looks down and removes her hand to discover a crumpled up piece of paper, a library book page, which she carefully removes and straightens out.

"How did we not see that?" "Omg she ripped a page out of a book!" "The horror!" "James. Sirius. I will ground you both" Said Remus causing many to laugh.

Ron: [glancing at the page] What's that?
Athena: [examining the page] Ron, this is why Hermione was in the library the day she was attacked. [glances at the page and then back at Ron as she gets up] Come on! [Athena and Ron walk through the corridor as Athena reads from the page] "Of the many fearsome beasts that roam our land, none is more deadly than the Basilisk. Capable of living for hundreds of years, instant death awaits any who meet this giant serpent's eye. Spiders flee before it..." [looking up at Ron] Ron, this is it. The monster in the Chamber of Secrets is a Basilisk. That's why I can hear it speak. It's a snake.

"Holy shit!" "So you're saying that the basilisk is beneath us right now?" Athena nods "but it's sleeping" this caused many to look at the floor scared.

Ron: [processing the information they just read] But if it kills by looking people in the eye, why is it no one's dead?
Athena: [thinking for a few seconds then looking at the window] Because no one did look it in the eye. Not directly, at least. [they walk along as they go over how each of the victims were petrified] Colin saw it through his camera. Justin... Justin must've seen the Basilisk through Nearly Headless Nick. Nick got the full blast of it, but he's a ghost. He couldn't die again. And Hermione... had the mirror. I bet you anything she was using it to look around corners in case it came along.
Ron: And Mrs. Norris? I'm pretty sure she didn't have a camera or a mirror, Athena.
Athena: [thinking about how Mrs. Norris got petrified, then remembering] The water... There was water on the floor that night. She only saw the Basilisk's reflection.
[Ron nods; Athena takes another look at the page, then walks to a nearby torch to more easily read the page, running her finger along it as she reads] "Spiders flee before it." It all fits.

Mad-eye starts to think on how good of an auror she would be. How all 3 of them will be.

Ron: But how's the Basilisk been getting around? A dirty great snake, someone would've seen it.

"Fuck" Frank said "Congratulations you jinxed it....how do you feel?" Neville sarcastically said, causing Alice to laugh at her son.

Athena: [as she and Ron glance at the bottom of the page where the word "Pipes" is written] Hermione's answered that, too.
Ron: Pipes? It's using the plumbing! [he looks around nervously]

Some laugh.

Athena: Remember what Aragog said about that girl fifty years ago, she died in a bathroom? What if she never left?
Ron: Moaning Myrtle. [Athena nods]

Many students look shocked whilst the teachers looked surprised. "Good thinking Ms. Potter you'll be a great auror, in fact all 3 of you will be" smiled Amelia Bones all of the great hall nodded in agreement. "Thank you Ms. Bones" "We are aurors too" Hermione continued many of the younger students stare in awe whilst their parents and friends smile proudly at them.

Professor McGonagall: [on the speakers] All students are to return to their house dormitories at once. [Ron glances at Athena in surprise, wondering what could be going on now] All teachers to the second floor corridor immediately.

"Oh what's happened now" "this can't be good" "really what's made you think that padfoot?" "I'm just special Prongs" "oh we know that uncle Siri" Athena smirked many laughed at her comment whilst Sirius pouted and glared at her.

Athena and Ron hurry to the second floor corridor. In the section where the bloody message is, Professors McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, Madam Pomfrey, and Filch run up to the wall, where Professor McGonagall directs their attention to a newly written message.

Professor McGonagall: As you can see, the Heir of Slytherin has left another message. [Athena and Ron walk into the corridor behind them] Our worst fear has been realized, a student has been taken by the monster, into the Chamber itself. [sadly looks at the others] The students must be sent home. I'm afraid this is the end of Hogwarts.

"The end!" "No way" "But Hogwarts is supposed to be safe" "news flash, it's not" "Athena!" "What Hermione? It's true....hey put that book down! Oi I mean it otherwise I'll ban you from the library....that's what I thought"

Lockhart: [happily walking up to the group] So sorry. Dozed off. What have I missed? [grins at Snape and McGonagall]

"Why couldn't he be taken instead" Monty rolled his eyes. Mia went to slap him but shrugged her shoulders.

Snape: A girl has been snatched by the monster, Lockhart. Your moment has come at last.
Lockhart: [slightly stunned] My... moment?
Snape: Weren't you saying just last night you've known all along where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is? [Lockhart looks bewildered]
Professor McGonagall: That's settled. We'll leave you to deal with the monster, Gilderoy. Your skills, after all, are legend.

"Yes Minnie" shouted the trouble makers, many teachers smirk at her whilst she sits there proud.

Lockhart: Very well. I'll just be in my office, getting, uh... getting ready. [turns and walks away; Filch watches him, then glances at Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall]
Madam Pomfrey: Who is it that the monster's taken, Minerva?
Professor McGonagall: [glances at her] Ginny Weasley. [Athena and Ron straighten up in shock; Ron quavers slightly]

"NO" Molly screams, hugging her daughter tightly, Fred, George and Ron all tense remembering the pain they felt. Ginny tears up, whilst many send her pity looks. Athena hugs her boyfriend whilst Hermione rubs her hand up and down Ron's back, George sits closer to Ginny. Charlie and Bill knew something was wrong so they cuddled up to Ginny.

Professor McGonagall sadly walks away, along with the other staff; a second later, Snape follows them, revealing the newly written message, which reads "Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever".

Everyone gasps.

Ron: [reads the message with dread in his voice] "Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever." [Athena looks at Ron and hugs him as he's becoming all the more devastated by his sister's abduction] Ginny...
Athena: [determined] it'll be okay Ron, we will save her!

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A/N:
Hello my loves!
How was this chapter?
I felt so bad for Ron and Ginny😔
Have a good day/night
Make sure you stay hydrated and take your medication🤍
I love you!

⚡️Mischief Managed⚡️