The Key to a Riddle's Heart (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 24 - The Chamber of Secrets is Closed

For quite some time now, I've been having reoccurring dreams of finding Myrtle's body. Some dreams were different, however, they started in a holy scenario but suddenly something would happen and I would find myself standing over Myrtle and proceeding to kill her.

These dreams, were more like nightmares. Multiple times, Dorea has shaken me awake because I began screaming. Headmaster Dippet told me that it was a way of mourning for Myrtle but it didn't seem like I was still mourning her. It felt as if I were being haunted.

The only advice he had given me was to visit Professor Slughorn and retrieve a calming potion from him. I knew fairly well how to create one, seeing as I've done so before, but I'd been unable to with my lack of a good night's sleep.

My friends and dorm mates would exchange sympathetic looks when they saw me. I hated it, I hated the sympathy and the way that they made me feel weak and vulnerable. They were just some silly dreams!

I had repeatedly tried convincing them that I was fine but they brushed me off and told me I should get help. Fran, being a helpless romantic, asked me to talk to Tom about it. She knew that he made me happy and thought talking out my problems with him would make them all go away. Dorea scoffed at the idea and forbid me to do anything of the sort, not that I was going to anyway. I couldn't let Tom see me in such a weak state, he would surely laugh in my face.

When I pointed that out to Fran, she rolled her eyes, "He already knows your weak, the entire school does!"

Looking to Dorea for help, she surprised me by agreeing, "You do look like you've been to hell and back, Dahl."

This angered me but I couldn't help but admit the fact that I did look that way. My skin had paled, I lost a few too many pounds to be considered healthy, and I had dark purple bags under my eyes. My reflection in the mirror seemed like a stranger and I couldn't bother to put makeup on every morning.

At the moment, I had just finished the class of the day and was heading to Slughorn's office to retrieve the potion. When I arrived, he already was accompanied by someone else.

"Ah, Dahlia, come in, come in." He said cheerily, his smile dropped as he recalled what I had been there for.

"Hello, Professor." I kept my eyes away from Tom, not wanting to meet his curious gaze. Hopefully Professor Slughorn wouldn't say anything about it. Of course, he hadn't done what I had wished.

"I was just talking to Tom about my next SlugClub meeting, let me grab you your calming potion and you'll be on your way. Keep each other company while I go to my stores." Slughorn didn't abide by wish and left me alone with Tom.

There was a moment of silence, I was hoping that it would stay that way. But, of course, nothing ever went the way I wanted.

"Why do you need a calming potion? I know your perfectly capable of brewing your own." Tom spoke up, complimenting me in a nonchalant way.

I didn't answer right away, debating if I should tell him the truth or not. Since it didn't really matter and I'd rather have him know the truth then listen to the petty rumors that we're going around.

"I'm having trouble sleeping." My voice was barely above a whisper and it almost cracked in the middle of it. Why is Slughorn taking so long? It's just a potion!

"Nightmares?" Tom asked, guessing correctly. My nod was a sufficient answer and I was thankful when the silence returned. Finally, Slughorn reappeared with multiple vials of the draught.

"Here you are, Miss Key." He handed them to me with a bright smile on his face, "Hopefully you won't need these for much longer."

I gave him a weak smile before turning to leave the room. When I reached the door, I was about to open it but someone beat me to it.