Treacherous | Hermione Granger Book II

|63| Chapter Sixty-Three

S I X T Y  T H R E E

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"What'll we do?" muttered Ron fearfully. "Go back to the dormitory?"

"No," said Harry in response, looking around the room cautiously. He gestured towards a wooden wardrobe opposite them. "In here. Let's hear what it's all about. Then we can tell them what we've found out."

"I don't like this Harry," muttered Saffron apprehsnviely. She would have rathered just wait in the staff room to tell the teacher what they knew. But upon hearing a flurry of footsteps coming in their direction, she succumbed to Harry's request and jammed herself into the wardrobe.

Saffron kept her hand over her mouth as teachers made it into the room. When Professor McGonagall arrived, they got the answer to precisely what happened.

"It has happened, a student has been taken by the monster. Right into the Chamber itself."

"How can you be sure?" asked Professor Snape as the staff let out varying horrified reactions.

"The Heir of Slytherin," Professor McGonagall informed him and the other teachers." left another message. Right underneath the first one. Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever."

"Who is it?" said Madam Hooch, as Professor Flitwick burst into tears. "Which student?"

"Ginny Weasley," said Professor McGonagall.

Saffron's eyes widened in horror as she could hear Ron sliding down to the floor of the wardrobe from beside Harry. Harry had been right. Ginny must have known something. But now they were too late to act on it, as Ginny was gone for good. Saffron didn't even have time to process her mourning as Professor McGonagall was still speaking sorrowfully.

"We shall have to send all the students home tomorrow," Professor McGonagall said."This is the end of Hogwarts. Dumbledore always said..."

Saffron was glad she had her hand over her mouth as the door burst open loudly. For a moment, Saffron's hear fluttered hopefully, that perhaps someone was going to say they had rescued Ginny. But, of course, she should have known that the only reason she hadn't heard Professor Lockhart's voice was that he was absent.

"So sorry - dozed off - what have I missed?"

"Just the man," uttered Snape slowly. "The very man. A girl has been snatched by the monster, Lockhart. Taken into the Chamber of Secrets itself. Your moment has come at last."

"That's right, Gilderoy," added Professor Sprout. "Weren't you saying just last night that you've known all along where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is?"

"I - well, I -"

"Yes, didn't you tell me you were sure you knew what was inside it?" squeaked Professor Flitwick.

"D-did I? I don't recall--"

"I certainly remember you saying you were sorry you hadn't had a crack at the monster before Hagrid was arrested," said Snape. "Didn't you say that the whole affair had been bungled and that you should have been given a free rein from the first?"

"I - I really never - you may have misunderstood--"

"We'll leave it to you, then, Gilderoy," said Professor McGonagall. "Tonight will be an excellent time to do it. We'll make sure everyone's out of your way. You'll be able to tackle the monster all by yourself. A free rein at last."