The Untold Reborn

Chapter-10 : The Price of Mystery

Aurelia sat by the fireplace in the Slytherin common room, absentmindedly flipping through one of her textbooks while keeping an eye on Ron—disguised as Crabbe—and Harry—posing as Goyle who talked to Draco Malfoy. Despite the crackling warmth, a sense of unease lingered. After a while, Ron—disguised as Crabbe—and Harry—posing as Goyle—slipped quietly out of the common room, their faces serious. They were supposed to be maintaining their cover, blending in among the Slytherins, but something was amiss. Curiosity tugged at Aurelia, and without hesitation, she got up and followed them into the dimly lit corridors of the dungeons.

Keeping her distance so as to not arise suspicions from onlookers, she watched them head toward Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Slipping through the door behind them, she found them whispering anxiously in front of Hermione, who was slumped against the wall, pale and visibly distraught.

"It's gone all wrong," Hermione said in a hoarse voice. Her usual confidence was shattered.

"What happened?" Aurelia's voice cut through the tension in the room, startling Harry and Ron.

Hermione glanced up, her eyes wide with shame. "It was Millicent Bulstrode's hair. Only... it wasn't her hair. It was her cat's."

Aurelia's breath caught in her throat. "You mean the Polyjuice Potion didn't—"

"I'm stuck like this!" Hermione interrupted, her voice a mixture of panic and embarrassment. She raised a hand to her face, her fingers brushing against the fur with a look of despair. "I didn't know it was from a cat. This is a disaster."

Ron, looking both concerned and slightly queasy, glanced at Harry. "We've got to get her to Madam Pomfrey, mate. She can't stay like this."

Aurelia nodded, her mind racing. "Right, we need to get her out of here before anyone sees her like this."

With the three of them supporting Hermione, they made their way as quickly as possible through the hallways, keeping their heads down. The hospital wing was thankfully empty when they arrived, but Madam Pomfrey took one look at Hermione and gasped.

"What in Merlin's name happened to you, Miss Granger?"

Hermione could only groan in response as the nurse hurried them inside and began her work. Aurelia and the others watched nervously from the doorway as Madam Pomfrey muttered incantations under her breath, shaking her head disapprovingly.

"Polyjuice Potion, no doubt," Pomfrey muttered. "Fools, the lot of you. This could've been worse."

"Will she be alright?" Harry asked, his voice tight with concern.

Madam Pomfrey nodded curtly. "She'll be fine, but it'll take time. Best you lot go now, and let her rest."

Over the next few days, Aurelia, Harry, and Ron visited Hermione in the hospital wing every evening. The Christmas holidays passed, and Hogwarts slowly filled back up as the new term began. Each time they visited, Hermione's transformation improved, but she remained confined to her bed, leaving the trio to navigate the ever-growing mystery of the Chamber of Secrets without her insight.

One evening, during one of their visits, Harry and Ron seemed particularly excited about something. As soon as they were alone with Hermione, who was now sitting up and looking more like herself again, they glanced at each other before Harry pulled out a worn journal from his robe pocket.

"Look at this," Harry said, holding the journal up for them to see. "We found it in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. It belonged to someone named T.M. Riddle."

Aurelia leaned forward, narrowing her eyes at the name on the cover. "T.M. Riddle? Why does that sound familiar?"

"He got some award here fifty years ago," Ron added, flipping through the first few pages, which were completely blank. "Dunno why anyone would want to steal an empty diary though."