The Disappointment

Chapter 5 - Myrtle

I spent that whole week in detention cleaning and organizing Uncle Sev's potions and ingredients. At least I knew how he liked things done so it made it go by faster. Once that was all done it was cleaning the classroom and things other students used in classes. If it was all done I would help grade the younger students' papers. I recognized the way he graded things a long time ago so it made helping grade papers easier. I copied his handwriting in case someone says otherwise but he always looks it over to double-check my grading. Though a fourth-year shouldn't be grading papers, he trusted me to do them.

When I wasn't in detention people questioned the teachers about the Chamber of Secrets, but I knew everything they already said. But since it was becoming a problem now, I was keeping a close eye on things to see if anything clued to where it lay. Nothing yet. I even snuck into out-of-bounds areas to check. Nothing. Yet.

None of the books that vaguely mention it, gave any clue to where it was. None of the ghosts knew anything either. I went into the bathroom that no one liked to go into, because of Moaning Myrtle. I walked in when I didn't have to worry about anything.

"Hey, Myrtle," I called out.

There wasn't any other living thing in here. Myrtle was the last ghost I haven't talked to about it yet.

"Yes? Who's there?" she said loud enough. She popped her head above the cubicle door.

"Vega Malfoy, Ravenclaw," I said.

"And what do you want? Want to throw things and make fun of me like the others?" she said getting defensive.

"Never. I know how it feels to be treated like that."

She floated to me. She went around me before stopping in front of me.

"What do you want?" she said a little more calmly this time.

"I had a few questions if that's alright."

"Go on."

"Do you have any knowledge of the Chamber of Secrets?"

"No."

"Have you heard anything about it?"

"A little but I don't remember much. The year I died was when it was last opened."

"Did you hear about anything after the fact?"

"No."

"Do you remember how you died?"

She took a moment to answer. She seemed to get more sad at reliving it. "...it was dreadful. It happened right here in this very cubicle," she said hovering over the one she usually hides in. "I'd hidden because Olive Hornby was teasing me about my glasses. I was crying, and then... I heard somebody come in..."

I listen intently. "Do you remember anything else?" I asked quietly. I knew this was a sensitive topic so I didn't want to press too much.

"I don't remember exactly. 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.  The last thing I remember is seeing a pair of great big yellow eyes, over there, by that sink," she said pointing towards one of them in particular.

"Thank you, Myrtle," I said. "I'm sorry that happened, and that you were being bullied."

I walked over to the sink she pointed out in particular and observed it. I turned it on and nothing came out. Interesting. I looked it over to see if anything else was off about it. She hovered over me and watched what I was doing.

"You said he said something, right?" I asked her.

"Yes. It sounded made up. Like what kids do."

"Mhm."