Percy Jackson and the Heir of Slytherin [Book 2]

53) Explanations

Everything was silent for a moment as we stood in the doorway. It was probably quite the sight. We were covered in slime and dust. Harry was covered in blood, and I was still drenched in monster dust. Then there was a a scream.

"Ginny!"

Mrs. Weasley wrapped herself around her daughter, and Mr. Weasley was fast to follow.

I smiled softly at the sight, then noticed Dumbledore standing by the fireplace. Fawkes flew and landed on his shoulder, and I smiled at him.

Suddenly, I was pulled into Mrs. Weasley's warm hug with the others.

"You saved her! You saved her! How did you do it?"

"I think we'd all like to know that," McGonagall said shakily.

Mrs. Weasley let go of us (still holding on to Ginny), and we watched Harry place the sorting hat, sword, and the remains of Riddle's diary on the desk.

He explained everything to us, and I was happy to hear that everyone turned out okay. Harry would have a cool scar from the snake bite, but that was all. Everyone listened intently as Harry talked about the voice, Hermione's realization, meeting Aragog, and about the guess of where the Chamber of Secrets was.

"Very well," McGonagall prompted when Harry didn't say anything about what happened in the Chamber, "so you found out where the entrance was — breaking a hundred school rules into pieces along the way, I might add — but how on earth did you get out of there alive, Potter?"

Harry continued. He told us about Fawkes coming with the hat, and then getting the sword. Harry then hesitated for a moment, glancing at the diary and Ginny.

"What interests me most," Dumbledore said, "is how Lord Voldemort managed to enchant Ginny, when my sources tell me he is currently in hiding in the forests of Albania."

I froze for a moment, staring at Dumbledore, then at Ginny. She caught my eye, looking panicked. I smiled softly at her, and she looked a little relieved.

"W-what's that?" Mr. Weasley was stunned. "You know who? En-enchant Ginny? But Ginny's not... Ginny hasn't been... has she?"

"It was this diary," Harry said, holding up the remains of Riddle's book to show Dumbledore. "Riddle wrote it when he was sixteen."

Dumbledore took the book from Harry, examining it closely. I saw a hint of worry in his eyes.

"Brilliant," he said gently. "Of course, he was probably the most brilliant student Hogwarts has ever seen." He turned to the flabbergasted Weasleys.

"Very few people know that Lord Voldemort was once called Tom Riddle. I taught him myself, fifty years ago, at Hogwarts. He disappeared after leaving the school... travelled far and wide... sank so deeply into the Dark Arts, consorted with the very worst of our kind, underwent so many dangerous, magical transformations, that when he resurfaced as Lord Voldemort, he was barely recognizable. Hardly anyone connected Lord Voldemort with the clever, handsome boy who was once Head Boy here."

"But Ginny," Mrs. Weasley said, "what's our Ginny got to do with — with — him?"

"His d-diary!" Ginny sobbed suddenly. "I've b-been writing in it, and he's been w-writing back all year—"

"Ginny!" Mr. Weasley exclaimed, baffled. "Haven't I taught you anything? What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain. Why didn't you show the diary to me, or your mother? A suspicious object like that, it was clearly full of Dark Magic!"

"I d-didn't know," Ginny sobbed. "I found it inside one of the books Mum got me. I th-thought someone had just left it in there and forgotten about it..."

"Mrs. Weasley should go up to the hospital wing straight away," Dumbledore sternly interrupted. "This has been a terrible ordeal for her. There will be no punishment. Older and wiser wizards than she have been hoodwinked by Lord Voldemort." He walked over to the door and pulled it open. "Bed rest and perhaps a large, steaming mug of hot chocolate. I always find that cheers me up. You will find that Madam Pomfrey is still awake. She's just given out Mandrake juice — I dare say the basilisk's victims will be waking up any moment."

"So Hermione's okay!" Ron beamed. I grinned. Haley and Justin would also wake up.

"There has been no lasting harm done," Dumbledore said.

The Weasleys, save for Ron, left the room.

Dumbledore pointed me to a chair, and rolled my sleeve back, wincing at the cut on my arm. Next thing I know, Del is walking through the door, string and needle already in his hands. He grinned at me, and got to work.

"You know, Minerva," Dumbledore said, turning to McGonagall, "I think all this merits a good feast. Might I ask you to go alert the kitchens?"

"Right," McGonagall moved to the door. "I'll leave you to deal with Potter, Weasley, and Jackson, shall I?"

"Certainly," Dumbledore said. He looked at us, "I seem to remember telling you that I would have to expel you if you broke any more school rules."

I couldn't remember what he was talking about, but was horrified nonetheless.

"Which goes to show that the best of us must sometimes eat our words," Dumbledore smiled. "You will all receive Special Awards for Services to the School and — let me see — yes, I think two hundred points apiece for Gryffindor. Percy, you've now earned right to enter every room in Hogwarts. She will let you in anywhere now."

I gaped. Not even Dumbledore had the right to enter every room of Hogwarts. I could go into all of the secret, most magical rooms. I saw Hogwarts create a smiley face with her magic.

"But one of us seems to be keeping mightily quiet about his part in this dangerous adventure," Dumbledore said. "Why so modest, Gilderoy?"

Lockhart still wore a vague smile.

"Professor Dumbledore," Ron said hastily, "there was an accident down in the Chamber of Secrets. Professor Lockhart—"

"Am I a Professor?" Lockhart looked a little surprised. "Goodness. I expect I was hopeless, was I?"

"He tried to do a Memory Charm and the wand backfired," Ron explained quietly.

"Dear me," Dumbledore said, shaking his head. "Impaled upon your own sword Gilderoy."

"Sword?" Lockhart said dimly. "Haven't got a sword. That boy has, though. He'll lend you one."

"Would you mind taking Professor Lockhart up to the hospital wing, too? And Percy, Draco and your family must be worried sick," Dumbledore said. "I'd like to have a few more words with Harry..."

We nodded, and left the room.

So I mentioned I'd like to write an eighth book for this series, yeah? It would have Percy, Draco, and Hermione as the main trio (I'm pretty sure I accidentally said Annabeth instead of Hermione when I last talked about it.). But Percy being permitted to travel to any room, and the room where he fought Alecto, have something to do with it. I've got a very, very basic idea of what's to go down.

Also, Wednesday will be the last day I post for this book (other than the whole 'the next book is up' thing). The end of this book came as a surprise, but like last time, I will be posting the last chapter and the epilogue together. I will update again a week later with the first five chapters of the third book, which is called The Hound of Hogwarts. I hope you guys have enjoyed this book as much as I have. I love you all, and I will see you Wednesday.