Chương 31: Confrontation
"Something is wrong. We should check." Ron said, running towards Harry on the field.
Chris and Luna looked at each other and followed.
"Do you think it's Creole flowers?" Luna said. "They make the grounds.."
"Not now Luna." Chris replied hurriedly. She always hears about Luna's creative things but not now.
As Professor McGonagall hurried out the field with Harry, she glanced at Ron, Chris and Luna.
"Yeah perhaps you all can come..." she said.
Some of the students swarming around them were grumbling about the match being canceled; others looked worried. Chris, Luna, Harry and Ron followed Professor McGonagall back into the school and up the marble staircase. But they weren't taken to anybody's office this time.
"This will be a bit of a shock," said Professor McGonagall in a surprisingly gentle voice as they approached the infirmary. "There has been another attack . . . another double attack."
Chris's heart sank.
This is terrible.
Professor McGonagall pushed the door open and they all entered after her.
Madam Pomfrey was bending over a sixth-year girl with long, curly hair. Chris recognized her as the Ravenclaw Prefect, she had met before. And on the bed next to her was —
"Hermione!"
Harry and Ron ran towards her.
Hermione lay utterly still, her eyes open and glassy.
"They were found near the library," said Professor McGonagall. "I don't suppose either of you can explain this? It was on the floor next to them. . . ."
She was holding up a small, circular mirror.
Chris felt something around her wasn't making sense anymore. The Diary was in her room then how did this thing happened?
Chris ran towards the Gryffindor tower without thinking. Professor McGonagall and Luna called after her but she didn't stop.
She hurried through the crowded common room and finally stopped in front of her room. She took a deep breath and opened the cabinet. The Diary wasn't there.
Damn it, Ginny.
Just then Leon came in with a note. Chris took the note and read:
"Alright. Collect it from my house tomorrow morning."
She ran back to the common room and saw Ginny was standing next to Percy. But before she can reach her Professor McGonagall came in with Harry and Ron, both looking devastated. Professor McGonagall gave a pointed look towards Chris and started reading a parchment.
"All students will return to their House common rooms by six o'clock in the evening. No student is to leave the dormitories after that time. You will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No student is to use the bathroom unaccompanied by a teacher. All further Quidditch training and matches are to be postponed. There will be no more evening activities."
She rolled up the parchment and said in a somewhat choked voice, "I need hardly add that I have rarely been so distressed. It is likely that the school will be closed unless the culprit behind these attacks is caught. I would urge anyone who thinks they might know anything about them to come forward."
Chris almost screamed but then she thought, 'First, It's important to talk to Ginny.'
Professor McGonagall climbed somewhat awkwardly out of the portrait hole, and the Gryffindors began talking immediately.
"That's two Gryffindors down, not counting a Gryffindor ghost, one Ravenclaw, and one Hufflepuff," said the Weasley twins' friend Lee Jordan, counting on his fingers.
"Haven't any of the teachers noticed that the Slytherins are all safe? Isn't it obvious all this stuff's coming from Slytherin? The Heir of Slytherin, the monster of Slytherin ... why don't they just chuck all the Slytherins out?" he roared, to nods and scattered applause.
Chris made her way towards Ginny and grabbed her hand.
"Ginny! We need to talk."
A shocked Ginny looked at her.
"Right. Now." Chris said before she can open her mouth.
Chris dragged Ginny to their room and closed the door.
"Chris, What are you..?" Ginny panicked. "Where's the diary, Ginny?" Chris asked looking straight into her eyes.
Ginny almost choked.
"I know You had the diary, Ginny. Now give it to me. I've to give it to Professor Dumbledore." Chris said in one breath.
"I don't know what are... you... talking about. " Ginny said with a unsteady voice.
Chris pulled out a picture from her desk, then, grabbed a notebook from Ginny's desk, and hold it in front of Ginny.
"Now, do you know?"
It was the picture Colin took of that wall where Mrs. Norris was attacked. The handwriting in Ginny's notebook was same with the writing on the wall.
"Nooo.... Please... the Diary and me has nothing to with the attacks." Ginny said getting pale.
"You know, Ginny, that's not true. Same handwriting. Roosters' feathers. Paint on your robes. Not to mention, no one saw you during all the attacks." Chris said calming her voice a little.
Ginny was about to cry, "Please.. Please Chris... They will expel me... I don't.. I didn't..."
"Ginny, calm down and think. The dairy is making you do horrible things. Don't you understand?" Chris's voice was perfectly calm, now.
"But no one knows it's me. Please don't tell them. If you don't then they'll never know. Ginny said stubbornly.
"Do you think Ginny, that the teachers can't put two and two together?" Chris said. "If yes, then tell me, where were you this morning before the Quidditch match when Hermione was attacked?"
Ginny looked down.
"I.. Don't.. know.. I can't remember..." she mumbled.
Chris sighed.
"Now, will you give me the diary?" Chris said patiently.
"I will. But..." Ginny hesitated. "Have you wrote in this diary?"
"Yes."
"You did?" Ginny looked too much shocked.
"Yes Ginny. Now just give me the diary. I'll give it Dumbledore. Hogwarts won't be closed."
Ginny looked at Chris for few moments then said, "Ok... Tomorrow..... tomorrow morning. I'll go with you.... and tell Professor Dumbledore everything..... But you'll not tell anyone else."
"Why tomorrow?"
"Please.. Hermione... was just attacked.... Please..." Ginny was crying.
"Alright then just give me the diary, we'll go tomorrow."
"I'll do it... I promise..."
"But you'll not write in it, will you?"
Ginny shook her head, still crying.
"We'll do this first thing in the morning." Chris said, a little reluctantly. "Got it?"
Ginny nodded, while sobbing.
That night was sleepless. Chris didn't sleep and decided to talk to Harry and Ron. She couldn't hide everything from them anymore.
It was almost past midnight, Ginny was sleeping on her bed.
Chris sneaked into Ron and Harry's room. Harry wasn't in very deep sleep so it was easy to wake him up.
"Harry! It's me. Chris. Wake Ron up and come to the common room. I need to tell you both something. Please. Fast. It's important." She whispered.
"Ok" Harry replied and Chris left their room.
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