Through All the Pain // N. Longbottom

Second Year // Chapter 12

It was the next day and I watched as Pansy Parkinson was escorted into the hospital wing by the Head Girl of Slytherin. Fred and George gave me small high-fives and Ron just sighed.

***

It was now a week into the new term. Harry, Ron, and I were carrying books and homework to the hospital wing for Hermione. As we walked in we saw Pansy talking to her best friend Daphne Greengrass.

"I don't know WHO put that powder in MY bed, but once I do ... they'll wish they never had!" I overheard her say. I smirked.

"I'll never regret it," I said so only Ron could hear. He bit his lip to hold back laughter as we got to Hermione's bed. I set a stack of books on the table while Ron did the same on the bed. 

"Madame Pince asked that we relay a message to you, Hermione," Ron spoke. "She said that she'd appreciate it if you'd leave a few books for the rest of the school." Hermione shrugged and replied.

"I've got to keep up, though. Haven't I?" I couldn't help but chuckle as her tail and ear twitched. 

"Are those ever going away?" Harry asked.

"Any day now, according to Madame Pomfrey. I'm just thankful I've stopped coughing up fur balls." I chuckled as Ron spoke up.

"We all are, believe me." We all shared a small laugh before Hermione clapped her hands and asked a question she has probably been dying to ask since we got there.

"Now, what about the Chamber of Secrets? Any leads?" We all shook our heads. She sighed and looked over to Harry. "And has it gotten any better? I mean ... is anyone speaking to you?" Harry shrugged. 

"Neville asked to borrow a tubeworm in Potions yesterday." He said. 

"Yeah, but I had to basically promise him you wouldn't hurt him for him to do so," I said. He just turned and gave me a look of annoyance. "Well, it's true." 

Suddenly Ron leaped forward and yanked a card out from under Hermione's pillow. He read it to himself before reading it out loud.

"To Miss Granger. Wishing you a speedy recovery from your concerned teacher Gilderoy Lockhart." I reached over and grabbed it from his hands. 

"You sleep with this under your bloody pillow?" I said looking at Hermione like she was crazy. Hermione blushed while brushing some hair behind her regular ears.

"Of course not. I don't know how that got there." She reached up and yanked the card back. "Now go. I still have six hundred pages to read in Transfiguration Through the Ages."

I sighed at her as she pulled out the thick book and flopped it in front of her. We waved her as we left. As we walked out Harry bumped into Pansy's bed which set her off on a yelling spree, so we ran out and down the stairs. 

"I know Hermione's mental, but can you believe she falls for that smarmy nonsense of Lockharts?" Ron spoke irritably. He would never admit it, but I could tell he was kind of crushing on her. 

"I agree. She was so close to seeing past Lockhart's looks ... and focus on his works ... but sadly, she has fallen back into the rabbit hole called Gilderoy Lockhart." I said as we continued to walk. 

Harry and Ron nodded their heads in agreement. Harry turned to speak but was stopped when we all heard a splash and running water. We looked down and saw a huge puddle running out of the girl's lavatory. 

"Looks like Myrtle's flooded the bathroom," Harry said as we walked closer.

"I wonder what's got her so upset today?" I mumbled as we entered the bathroom. Ron let out a small chuckle as we entered the bathroom. Although his mood quickly changed as his pant legs started to get wet. 

"YUCK!" I couldn't help but laugh as for once I was wearing a skirt and not pants so it was only my shoes and socks getting wet. I was about to call out to Myrtle when she suddenly came into view and screeched towards Ron and Harry.

"Come to throw something else at me?" 

"Why would I throw something at you?" Harry asked as she flew around us. 

"Don't ask me. Here I am, minding my own business, and someone thinks it's funny to throw a book at me!" I frowned at the thought of someone wanting to taunt her like that. I mean she was quite emotional and wasn't always the best ghost but at least she wasn't like Peeves the Poltergeist was. 

"But it can't hurt if someone throws something at you. I mean, it'd just go right through you, wouldn't it?" Ron scoffed. I reached over and slapped the back of his head. Before I could yell at him Myrtle zoomed over and floated in front of Ron.

"Oh, sure! Let's all throw books at Myrtle because she can't feel it! Ten points if you get it through her stomach! Fifty Points if it goes through her head!" She punched through Ron while speaking. 

"Who threw it at you, then?" Harry asked.

"I don't know. I didn't see them. I was just sitting in the U-bend, thinking about death and it fell through the top of my head!" I looked around on the floor and noticed a small black diary on the floor. I pointed it out to Harry as he grabbed it. 

"A hundred points if you get it through her thigh," Ron muttered. I at first wanted to laugh but once it clicked what he said, I turned to slap him. As I did Myrtle shouted.

"I HEARD THAT!" 

We all rushed out of the bathroom and ran down the corridor to get as far away as we could. Once we were far enough away, I grabbed the small diary out of Harry's hands. I examine it before trying to open it. Ron saw this and yanked it back out of my hands.

"Are you mad?! That could be cursed!" He shouted. "Remember that Dad told us about that one book the Ministry confiscated the burned the eyes out of anyone who tried to read it?" My eyes widened as I remembered Dad explaining the troubles with that book. Ron tossed it over to Harry.

"I'll take my chances," Harry spoke with a small shrug. He opened the book and immediately slammed the book shut, dropped it, and covered his eyes. He screamed out. "AHHHH! MY EYES! MY EYES!"

I started to laugh for a few moments, knowing he was just joking. However, once I caught a look up the corridor and saw Ginny standing there. She looked from the diary in Harry's hand, to Harry, to Ron and I, before she ran off.

"Ginny, He was only joking!" I called out trying to run after her but Ron just grabbed my arm and shook his head. I sighed as Harry leaned against the wall and spoke.

"Brilliant. Even your sister thinks I'm the monster now." Harry dropped his head and I walked over and rubbed his back. Ron being the genius with emotions he is, spoke.

"Who doesn't." I reach over and slapped Ron on the shoulder (I was really the physical twin) and gave him a look. He bit his lip and looked at the book which was now on the floor in front of Harry. It was opened to the first page. Written on the page was a name.

Tom Marvolo Riddle

"Tom Marvolo Riddle? Hang on, I know that name." Ron said. He paced for a few moments before exclaiming with urgency. "Of course! The night I had detention ... My job was to polish the silver in the trophy room. I remember because I kept burping slugs all over Tom Riddle's trophy. I must have wiped slime off his name for an hour." 

Harry reached down and picked it back up and fanned through all the pages. I cocked my head as we both noticed the pages were completely and utterly blank.

"That's odd. He never wrote in it."

"Odd? I would say it is mysterious." 

After we stood there for a few moments, we decided we had to go back and disturbed Hermione. For none of us knew what this Diary could mean.