Summers at The Burrow - Fred Weasley

Chapter Thirty-eight - Now it's Ron and Ginny

"Miss Black the students are to be in their house common rooms until further notice." Professor Snape said as i arrived at the group.

"I'm afraid she will not be leaving us quite yet, Severus." Dumbledore said and i smirked at the oily haired professor before turning to the rest of the group.

"peeves dumped water on me incase you were wondering." i said as everyone stared at my soaked appearance.

McGonagall used a quick charm and dried me with warm hair so i was no longer shivering in the dank halls of the castle. each of the staff members took turns looking at me and then Professor Dumbledore and then back at me but i didn't dare speak out with all the staff here. i needed to wait until Dumbledore spoke first.

"it is quite clear that the attacks are growing and as professor McGonagall has informed me, before you arrived in my office, Chloe, that a student has been taken down into the chamber of secrets."

at that moment Lockhart rushed in clearly looking flustered as if he had rushed here from doing something else. he bent over his knees to catch his breath for a moment before he returned to his full stature with a blinding smile as he swooped his golden curls out of his eyes.

"and who might this student be, if you don't mind me asking?" he questioned in an annoyingly happy mood that made both McGonagall and i roll our eyes.

"Ginny Weasley."

my face dropped as i heard the name of the girl i had spent countless summers sharing a room with. i knew so much about her and was so close with her despite not really hanging out with her that it hurt my heart to hear that she was the one being controlled. as i thought, it all came to light. i had seen her so little in the time she had been here. it didn't make sense but now it did.

i heard two small gasps and turned swiftly to see two sets of feet hurrying to hide behind a wall. i turned back as if what i had seen was nothing at all but i knew that Harry and Ron had heard every word we had just spoken.

"we have to save her. ill do it myself if i have to." i said. many of the teachers grew somber looks on their faces as they read the anguish spread across my face. i felt a heavy, hot tear roll from the corner of my eye and i didn't know why i had begun to cry. it could have been stress because if i felt anything right now it was not a feeling that would bring me to tears.

"Miss Black, i am afraid it will not be safe for a student to go down and save Miss Weasley. perhaps if we picked a selection of staff to go-"

"what a perfect opportunity for my area of expertise to shine through. you don't even have to ask Professor i would be happy to stand up and save this... this girl." he stuttered slightly at the end and i could tell he was vibrating with fear on the inside.

"thank you, Gilderoy." Dumbledore said. i could almost hear a sigh as he said it and if it weren't for the predicament i would have been laughing right now.

"ill be off then. don't want to waste any time!" he said hopping off down the hall in the direction of his classroom and office.

i knew Harry and Ron would be following the Professor shortly behind and that only meant one thing. they were going to go into the chamber themselves. i had no doubt that they would be fine but the most difficult part was now to keep the staff from asking me questions if i pulled any faces. i also had to wait till everyone dispersed or i was sent off or else at least half of the staff would accuse me of following Lockhart to get my own look at the chamber which, ill be honest, doesn't really appeal to me all that much.

"Chloe, you seem distressed. why don't you go up to your common room and turn in for the night." Dumbledore dismissed me as if on queue.

"and make sure you eat something." McGonagall added and i nodded before turning and walking the direct path to Gryffindor tower. that should give them even less of a reason to suspect my allegiance.