Sapphire Witch - Under Editing to make it easier to read

Finding Ginny

~GIRLS' BATHROOM~

Lockhart walks ahead of Harry and Ron, their wands pointed at him. Moaning Myrtle floats above the cistern. Myrtle: "Who's there? Oh... (smiles, flirty) Hello, Harry. What do you want?" Harry: "To ask you how you died." Myrtle: (flattered) "Oooooh, it was dreadful. It happened right here. In this very cubicle. I'd hidden because Olive Hornby was teasing me about my glasses. I was crying, and then I heard somebody come in." Harry: "Who was it, Myrtle?" Myrtle: " I don't know! I was distraught! But they said something funny. A kind of made-up language. And I realized it was a boy speaking. So I unlocked the door, to tell him to go away, and... I died." Harry: "Just like that? How?" Myrtle: "No idea. I just remember seeing a pair of great big yellow eyes. Over there..." Myrtle points to the bank of sinks. Harry and Ron hurry over, examining the pipes below, the tile above, then... Harry sees it: etched on one of the copper taps is a tiny snake. Harry: "This is it, Ron. This is the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets." Ron: "Say something, Harry. Say something in Parseltongue." Harry stares off self-consciously at the tiny snake. Harry: "Open up." Ron shakes his head. Harry's spoken in his regular voice. Ron: "English." Y/n: "Allow me." *In parseltongue* "Open." The circular group of sinks opens and a large, open pipe is exposed. Lockhart: "Excellent, Harry. Good work. Well then. I'll just be going. There's no need for me..." Harry: "Oh, yes there is. You first." Harry points his wand at Lockhart, then the opening. Lockhart: " Now, boys. What good will it do?" Ron: "A bloody lot of good if it's a two-hundred-foot drop onto jagged rocks." Lockhart steps grimly to the dark, gaping hole. Y/n gives him a shove and he topples headfirst and out of sight. They wait. Finally... Lockhart: (O.S.) "It's really quite filthy down here." Harry: "All right. Let's go." Myrtle: "Oh, Harry... if you die down there, you're welcome to share my toilet." Harry: "Thanks, Myrtle." Harry turns. Jumps. Seconds later, Ron follows.

~Pipe~

Y/n, Harry, and Ron slide wicked fast, in a hair-raising vertical plummet, catching glimpses of other, smaller pipes branching off in all directions, twisting and turning until the pipe levels off, dumps them onto the damp floor of a stone tunnel. Lockhart stares miserably at the muck dripping from his robes. Harry takes a torch from the wall and poises his wand. Harry: "Lumos!" The torch blooms with a bright orange flame. Harry: "Remember. Any sign of movement, close your eyes straight away." Harry leads the way down the tunnel. CRUNCH! They look down: at a rat's skull. All around them, the ground is littered with tiny skeletons. Ron squints and sees something huge and curved lying ahead. When he speaks, his voice is hollow with dread. Ron: "What's that? Up ahead?" Lockhart: "That looks like a... snake." Terrified, Lockhart quickly hides his eyes. Y/n: "Dumbass." Harry: "Maybe it's asleep." Y/n: "More of a dumbass. It's skin. It obviously isn't breathing." Ron draws his wand as they approach, squinting. Harry shines his light, revealing... a gigantic coil of empty skin. Ron: "Bloody hell. Whatever shed this must be twenty feet long. Or more." Thud! They turn. Lockhart has passed out. Ron: "Heart of a lion, this one." Ron kneels by him, when... Lockhart's eyes open and, quick as a fox... he snatches Ron's wand and scrambles to his feet. Lockhart: "The adventure ends here, children! But don't fret. The world will know our story. How I was too late to save the girl. How you three tragically lost your minds at the sight of her mangled body. I'll even bind a limited edition in this snake skin. Say goodbye to your memories. (raising Ron's wand) Obliviate!" Y/n makes a shield in front of them. Ron's wand explodes like a small bomb, blasting Lockhart off his feet and spitting great jets of fire into the rock above. As rumble rains, Ron and Y/n leap one way and Harry the other. Harry sits up and squints through the settling dust. A solid wall of broken up seals the tunnel between him and Ron & Y/n. Harry: "Y/n? Ron? Are you okay?" Ron: I'm okay. Y/n fainted. This git's not, though. He got blasted by my wand." Lockhart sits up, dazed. Ron picks up a rock and conks him on the head. Lockhart passes out. Ron calls to Harry. Ron: "What now?" Harry: "Wait here. I'll go on. I'll go on and... find Ginny. If I'm not back in an hour..." He leaves it there. Ron: "I'll try and shift some of this rock. So you can get back through. And, Harry --" Harry: "See you in a bit. Harry glances at the snake skin at his feet and moves off. He steps carefully through the shadows until he reaches a towering stone wall, carved with twin serpents. Harry: (Parseltongue) "Open." The serpents part and the giant wall slides open. Harry removes his wand and enters.

~Later~

Ginny stirs, color blooming in her cheeks. As she sees Harry, she sobs. Ginny: "Harry. It was me! But I swear, I didn't mean to... Riddle made me. He wrote to me... took me over... I didn't even know whose diary it was. I found it inside my cauldron. The day we all went to Diagon Alley and... Harry. You're hurt..." Harry: "Ginny. You need to get yourself out... Follow the chamber...You'll find Ron...and Y/n." There is a rush of wings and Fawkes circles down and lays his head onto Harry's arm. Harry: "You were brilliant, Fawkes. I just... wasn't quick enough." Then Harry blinks and looks down. Thick pearly tears are trickling down Fawkes' face and onto his arm. Almost instantly, his wound... begins to heal itself. Harry: "Of course. Albus told me. Phoenix tears have healing powers. (looking up at Ginny) It's all right, Ginny. It's over. It's just a memory..."

~Tunnel~

With Fawkes gliding gracefully ahead of them, Harry and Ginny make their way back. Up ahead, a blue light is seen as Y/n finishes opening the tunnel. Ron: "Ginny!" Ron wriggles through, rushes forward, and hugs Ginny. Ron: "You're alive. I can't believe it." Ginny: "I'm going to be expelled, I just know it!" Ron: (to Harry) "Remind you of anyone?" Y/n: "'Mione." Harry: "Where's Lockhart?" Harry eyes Lockhart, sitting by himself, humming placidly. Ron: "His Memory Charm backfired. Hasn't got a clue who he is. I keep having to stop him from wandering off. He's a danger to himself." Harry: "When did you wake up, Y/n?" Y/n: "A few minutes ago." Harry: "Are you bleeding?" Y/n: "A few rocks hit me." Lockhart: "Hello. Odd sort of place, this, isn't it? Do you live here?" Ron: "No." Ron turns and raises his eyebrows at Harry. Harry looks upward. There is an opening, hundreds of feet up. Just then, Fawkes circles back, fluttering in front of Harry. Y/n uses her magic to launch herself up the opening. Ron: "What's with the bird?" Harry: "I think... I think he's telling me he can take us out of here."

~Rocket tunnel~

A curious, gliding shadow ripples across the cavernous wall, and then Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Lockhart soar out of the darkness, linked hand in hand. Fawkes is flying them home. Lockhart: "Amazing! This is just like magic!"