Silver Hourglass

The Chamber of Secrets Chapter 18

Harry and Ron made their way to the third floor, worried about what happened at the third floor. Draco followed, his mind more preoccupied about keeping his boy safe. The trio stopped at the corner of the corridor that lead to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. The teachers were running down the corridor. "As you can see, the Heir has left another message." Professor McGonagall said. As the teachers slowed down. "Our worse fear had happened, a student had been taken by the monster into the Chamber of Secrets."

Professor Flitwick burst into tears as they stared at the message. "Who was it?" Madam Hooch asked.

"Ginny Weasley." Professor McGonagall said.

"Oh no..." Ron breathed, Harry needed to cover his mouth with his hand.

"We shall all have to send the students back home tomorrow." McGonagall said, "I'm afraid this is the end of Hogwarts."

There was a sound of footsteps, and Lockhart walked towards them, beaming as always. "So sorry, dozed off, what have I missed?"

He didn't seem to notice the other teachers were looking at him with hatred, Snape staring at him as if he was worth less than dirt. "Just the man." Snape said, a smirk growing on his face. "A girl has been snatched by the monster, Lockhart. Taken into the Chamber of Secrets itself. Your moment has come at last."

"My—my—my moment?" Lockhart sputtered.

"Yes, didn't you say last night that you knew all along where the entrance to the Chamber is?" Snape asked.

"Then it's settled." Professor McGonagall said, "We'll leave you to deal with the monster, Gilderoy. After all, for a man with your...legendary talent, it should be easy."

Lockhart gazed desperately around him, but no one came to his rescue. His lips were trembling as he said "V-very well. I'll—I'll be in my office, getting—getting ready."

He left them and McGonagall's nostrils flared when she said "Right, that got rid of him. The Heads of Houses should go and inform their students what has happened. Tell them the Hogwarts Express will take them home first thing tomorrow. The rest of you will make sure that no students have been left outside their dormitories."

The teachers ran off and the three boys turned their attention to the wall. Underneath the original message, a new was a written in fresh blood. "HER SKELETON WILL LIE IN THE CHAMBER FOREVER"

"No...Ginny." Ron cried. He looked at the Slytherins and said "We have to go to Lockhart. He's going to try and go into the Chamber, right? We can tell him where we think it is and tell him it's a basilisk in there!"

Ron was already running before Draco or Harry could respond. Harry frowned and started to follow Ron, Draco easily catching up and surpassing him. The boys ran into Lockhart's classroom, and up the stone staircase that led to his office. Lockhart was busy stripping away his office, the walls already bare of his pictures. Several large trunks were on his desk, all opened and in several stages of being filled.

"Oh, err hello boys." Lockhart said, his voice filled with fear as his hair was in disarray. "I'm dreadfully busy now, have an urgent call, unavoidable—got to go—"

"What about my sister!?" Ron almost yelled.

"Well, as to that—most unfortunate—" Lockhart said, avoiding their eyes as he packed. "No one regrets it more than I—"

"Look at you." Draco sneered, "You're our supposed Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and you're running away? What? At the first sign of dark arts you run away?"

"Well—I must say—when I first took the job," Lockhart muttered, avoiding Draco's glare, "nothing in the job description said that—"

'You mean you really are running away!?" Harry said, angry at Lockhart. "After all those things you did in your books!"