𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 (𝟐) || HARRY POTTER LOVE STORY

40

Hermione left the hospital wing, de-whiskered, tail-less and fur-free, at the beginning of February. On her first evening back in Gryffindor Tower, they showed her T. M. Riddle's diary and told her the story of how they had found it.

"Oooh, it might have hidden powers" said Hermione enthusiastically, taking the diary and looking at it closely.

"If it has, it's hiding them very well" said Ron.
"Maybe it's shy. I don't know why you don't chuck it, Harry!"

"I wish I knew why someone did try to chuck it." said Harry. "I wouldn't mind knowing how Riddle got an award for special services to Hogwarts, either!"

"Could've been anything" Julie said thoughtfully

"Maybe he got twelve O.W.L.s" suggested Ron. "or saved a teacher from the giant squid. Maybe he murdered Myrtle, that would've done everyone a favour..."

Suddenly Julie realised something. Hermione probably did as well. She had this arrested look on her face.

"What?" said Ron, looking from Hermione to me.

"Well, the Chamber of Secrets was opened fifty years ago" Julie started.

"Yeah..." said Ron slowly.

"And this diary is fifty years old." Julie continued. tapping it excitedly.

"So?" Ron said confused.

"Oh, wake up, Ronald!" Hermione snapped. "We know the person who opened the Chamber last time was expelled fifty years ago. We know T. M. Riddle got an award for special services to the school fifty years ago. Well, what if Riddle got his special award for catching the heir of Slytherin?"

"His diary would probably tell us everything: where the Chamber is, and how to open it, and what sort of creature lives in it. The person who's behind the attacks this time wouldn't want that lying around, would they?" Julie added.

"That's a brilliant theory, girls.." said Ron "with just one tiny little flaw. There's nothing written in his diary!"

But Julie was already pulling her wand out of her bag.

"It might be invisible ink!" she whispered as she tapped the diary three times and said, "Aparecium!"

Nothing happened. Undaunted, Hermione shoved her hand into her bag and pulled out what appeared to be a bright red eraser.

"It's a Revealer, I got it in Diagon Alley" she said She rubbed hard on 'January the first'. Nothing happened.

"I'm telling you, there's nothing to find in there." said Ron. "Riddle just got a diary for Christmas and couldn't be bothered filling it in!"

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

The next day at break, Julie found herself heading for the trophy room to examine Riddles special award, accompanied by a determined Harry, an interested Hermione and a thoroughly unconvinced Ron, who told them he'd seen enough of the trophy room to last him a lifetime.

Riddle's burnished gold shield was tucked away in a corner cabinet. It didn't carry details of why it had been given to him ("Good thing, too, or it'd be even bigger and I'd still be polishing it!" said Ron).

However, we did find Riddle's name on an old Medal for Magical Merit, and on a list of old Head Boys.

"He sounds like Percy.." said Ron, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "Prefect, Head Boy - probably top of every class!"

"You say that like it's a bad thing..." said Hermione, in a slightly hurt voice.