She whispered

by Lucas Chesterton

  ‘Yeah?’ She shook off the sudden sleepiness. The school year moved on as the sudden hit of snow, the dueling club carried on with a few teachers that switch in.

  ‘Oh Hector,’ she smiled as she ran into the man who was in his moleskin coat with a light dusting of snow. He pulled the cover over his face.

  ‘Hey, Holly you okay you looked like you spaced out there a bit.’ He commented,

  ‘Yeah what’s with, the dead rooster?’ She asked a bit concerned.

  ‘Probably foxes, or blood-sucking bugbears.’ He frowned, ‘ the second one this year need to ask Sally for permission to put up a charm.

  ‘Rooster crows, kill a Basilisk, it’s probably the heir not an animal keep an eye,’ Holly remembered as the big man smiled.

  ‘That you are right I’ll make sure to keep the next one close at hand. Forgot about that, the good news is Remus made a breakthrough I should be getting me wand rights back before the end of the year.’ He smiled as Holly grinned back.

  ‘That’s good to hear,’ she smiled as she gave him a hug. The man walked away as suddenly she hears a voice a friendly voice.

  ‘You want to open the chamber,’ it whispered and it sounded like such a lovely idea.

  ‘Holly? Holly, Holly!’ Shouted Her dad as she was shaken back to reality confused as her Dad’s Horrified and concerned eyes met hers. She the next thing she noticed she was in the middle of the girl’s bathroom with a mass of stalls and toilets shattered around her with a vet battered looking father.

  Holly glanced at the destruction, more confused than ever. ‘What is going on?’ She asked, as her dad gave a sigh as she realized she had her wand in her hand which added to her confusion. Then the exhaustion hit her as her body dropped and every muscle felt like it was on fire.

  ‘Easy,’ Her dad all but shout as he grabbed hold to help steady her body. We need to get you to the medical wing.’ He bent his knees as he hefted her bridal style.

  ‘What happened?’ She groaned as her dad moved at his fastest while carrying her, as she noticed a female ghost she was sure it was the grey lady.

  ‘You opened the chamber or at least tried to, I put a few charms to prevent someone from being able to.’ He admitted.

  ‘I don’t remember.’ Holly fumbled as she tried to recall she remembered a voice telling her to. ‘I remember a voice it compelled me, but I didn’t want to.’ She recalled standing in front of the sink, a fight she was doing things she knew she couldn’t do, spells that knocked her dad around. ‘Oh no dad, are you okay?’ She looked at him in concern as he smiled back.

  ‘Just fine.’ He smiled but Holly was not convinced, as he moved into the wing as Madam Pomfrey got up from her desk.

  ‘What this time?’ She rushed,

  ‘Imperious curse, check her out Holly was using some crazy spells and I want to make sure she didn’t damage her core.’

  ‘Core?’ She asked, still trying to keep up.

  ‘Medical term overuse of magic can or forcing too much to quickly can physically exhaust a person, or create breaks making spell craft harder or unreliable. It’s not a physical thing, we can’t pull a core out, and replace it. But if your not careful you can damage it, which would require a week off of using magic or longer.’ She explained as her dad crashed into the bed as she was looked over. ‘And if you don’t?’

  ‘Well it breaks, then no more magic you become a squib more or less.’ She explained, ‘but you would have to be incredibly irresponsible.’ She eyed her dad for a second.

  ‘Oh, how often does that happen?’ Holly asked,

  ‘Once, when we tested the limits of magic, it was a volunteer. But it’s easier for a child to do it since the core grows with age and use.’ She explained, ‘huh, no strain that’s odd from the shape of your dad I expected at least some strain.’ Holly shot a look at her dad as he grinned, but it dropped just as quickly.

  ‘Here this will perk you up,’ she gave her a potion she felt some steam escape her noise as she felt like she finished a long run rather than a marathon.

  ‘What happened,’ boomed Sally as he moved in as he strode in.

  ‘Imperious curse, whoever opened it is crafty they sent Holly rather than go themselves.’ He admitted as Sally frowned but seemed to relax a bit.

  ‘An unforgivable curse.’ He grumbled, ‘this isn’t good, something is very wrong no student should be capable of such a spell.’ He stroked his beard

  ‘No someone is in this school that we don’t know about,’ David agreed, ‘I will deal with our blind spots on the matter.’ He forced himself up.

  ‘David you need to rest.’ Sally put a hand on his shoulder. Her dad brushed it off,

  ‘My daughter is at risk, nothing will hold me back from that.’ He straightened as he looked the headmaster in there as Sally stepped back her dad gave a nod and headed out as she noticed his robes had blood on them, and he had a slight limp.

  ‘Oh no, you don’t.’ Pomfrey tore after him as Sally gave her a wink as she watched her dad get a stern talking to.

  ‘There has been another attack!’ McGonagall cried out as Holly sat up to see a new student join poor Colin. ‘Justin Finch-Fletchly, he as well as poor Nicholas, his head was also removed from his body somehow.’ The deputy headmistress looked as lost and confused, as her dad tried to slip away only for Pomfrey to point him out as McGonagall rounded on him.

  ‘And where do you think you are going, Potter?’ She giggled as her father froze mid-stride. ‘You are a mess don’t even think about, I warned you. You already took on far to much as it now gets back in that bed so we can fix you up properly or so help me I’ll put you in that bed by force.’ As he was threatened by the slight shorter witch.

  ‘Yes Professor,’ he replied weakly as he sat back down he gave Holly a sullen look as she giggled at her dad’s misfortune but it seemed the act had given everyone their heads back.

  ‘A trap it seems that they knew of our defenses.’ Sally commented, ‘things should calm down for now but this isn’t good, our attacker’s crafty.’

  ‘I think we should have Tom Riddle invested, see if he had any children that may be students here.’ David brought up as Sally looked at him.

  ‘As far as I am aware Voldemort has had no children.’ Sally waved off as David looked at him with shock. Holly watched her dad clamp his mouth as he went silent.

  ‘I am certain that Voldemort is not in the area himself so I fear that option is out, Lucius also lacks the ability Parselmouth, so Whatever his connection it loses enough for him to deny it.’ He continued.

  ‘This kills a lot of possibilities.’ David frowned, ‘we are out of options and suspects.’ He slapped his hands down. ‘Unless you are withholding information, that may be relevant.’ Holly eyed her dad in shock as even McGonagall and Pomfrey both seemed surprised at such a blatant equation.

  ‘And what would that be, what could I possibly know that would be the end all explanation that would bring all this around?’ Sally asked her dad as the room went silent.

  ‘Horcruxes,’ Her dad replied,

  ‘A, how would a Horcrux be relevant?’ Sally frowned,

  ‘Possession, if a Horcrux is fondly taken care off a slow and a more permanent host, we could have a student who isn’t even aware they are being used.’ David considered,

  ‘That’s possible?’ McGonagall blinked as the headmaster seemed to ponder.

  ‘I don’t think there was ever a recorded event but it is possible, theoretically.’ Sally amended, ‘unless you have found such a document.’ He eyed her dad.

  ‘It’s the only thing that is possible we know he has something holding his soul to the mortal realm,’ David argued,

  ‘I’ll put up a post for students to report any long-term

  memory loss, in the meantime, get some rest, Professor.’ Sally said and walked away as McGonagall sighed as she frowned.

  ‘Men,’ she frowned as she stormed out.

  ‘She may not like men in general but women always
have a soft spot for at least one guy.’ David winked,

  ‘Like me and Ron?’ Holly asked as her father coughed,

  ‘Say what,’ He asked,

  ‘Well he’s the only guy I hang out with, but I think Hermione like him, I don’t think they no it yet.’ Holly shook her head, ‘Why?’ She asked as her dad smiled and shook his head.

  ‘Well, you should be good to head out, just be careful and try not to wander off alone.’ She warned,

  ‘I sent a letter to the ministry to train up the students to fight off the spell, I would appreciate any advice, medical or physiological I should know.’

  ‘Hmm,’ Pomfrey frowned at the idea but glanced at Holly, ‘it may be for the best, I’ll look and see if nothing else, I’ll send in a letter of support.’ She agreed.

  ‘So what’s going to happen to Hogwarts?’ Holly asked as the two frowned,

  ‘Hogwarts is a building, an amazing and old castle, but what makes it amazing what makes it stand apart is the teachers, the people who come here. If it comes to it we can close the school down, and set up shop someplace else for you to learn.’ David nodded, as Holly frowned at the idea, ‘but we will do everything in our power, can you imagine trying to get Professor Sprot to move all her plants, or Hector away from those woods?’ He joked, ‘this place means a lot, to people but if so much as one child dies that the end, so we already stacked in our favor.’

  ‘So don’t go off alone.’ Holly nodded, as he nodded as well.

  She sat down in her dad’s class it felt like a while as her new protector in Ron keeping a constant lookout, Percy could also be seen occasionally checking on her. She peeled opened her book and turned to the page as she found some leftover ink, for her crash with Dobby. She took out her wand to clean it up, only to be surprised that before the ink vanished there was a note,

  ‘Hermione, do you have a spell to reveal old writings?’ She whispered, as her dad started up talking about household pests and more common creatures and spells to remove them.

  Hermione whispered as the letters reappeared, Holly expected some list or a special spell her dad created only to blink in surprise.

  Board, ugh Padfoot, think we can liven this place up, I think Lilly is the only one still awake.

  The book it seems was used, as a means of conversion, he would write, to Sirius with. She found the book was filled with letters, they even talked about a set of mirrors as well as their need for a map.

  ‘Mrs. Potter, basic disarming spell?’

  ‘Experiamus,’ she answers as he carried on with the lesson.

  As homework was passed out she spent the day looking over the book. Her dad at her age had some ideas as she noticed Fred and George had similarities. The twins had taken to scaring Ginny to help her get over the monster, Sirius and David had similar ideas only dealing with the worry off also suspected Lucius was in on something and their desire to catch him.

  ‘Wow sounds familiar, sadly your dad was on the right track.’ Ron laughed as they spent time in the common room. They had apparently started a prank war with suspected Voldemort sympathizers and to save face made a habit to mess with other students to gain the reputation as bullies.

  ‘Sounds like my brothers, the pair of them,’ Ron commented,

  ‘They sound like they deleted themselves as well,’ Hermione added as Holly felt torn on the comment,

  ‘True but they grew out of it, for the most part. Snape, on the other hand, seems to enjoy it all the more.’ Ron pointed out, as Holly dug in to do her Homework, as she didn’t see how this was relevant.

  ‘Ah,’ she noticed Ron’s work was out, she flipped over the book, when she stopped, ‘spells I noticed are easy to replicate, most motions and even words can seem to be shortened or in some cases not even needed, I intend to look into this Snivelus is getting creative and been getting lippy’ she frowned.

  ‘I am not saying they are bad people but their actions should speak for themselves.’ Hermione returned,

  ‘So intent is meaningless? Ron frowned, ‘if they intended good things from somewhat harsh behavior.’ Ron defended as Holly mused ignoring the debate.

  ‘Well obviously, Snape is a bit harsh, I am just saying the pair were bullies.’ Hermione defended Holly decided to turn in as she folded her books and left the pair to it.

  The winter break snuck up the sign-out list for winter break was long leaving only a few people including Malfoy and his goons, which was surprising. Even still the extra precautions helped calm people down knowing what the monster was as well as the mass of mirrors, made sure the fear of death was lessened, still nobody wanted to be petrified. Malfoy seemed to be both sour and gleefully at the state of affairs, happy that everyone was still scared as he strutted around the castle much to Holly’s annoyance.

  When Christmas finally rolled, around as the Christmas feast rolled around, as she watched her dad and Snape passive aggressive messing with each other as they elbowed each other spilling things as Draco and Holly silently egged the other on anytime Sally turned his head, it was like a flashback as McGonagall glared at the pair properly scolded David couldn’t help but laugh at the series of events which only seemed to anger the potions master even more.

  ‘Too bad Colin isn’t here I would love a picture of this,’ Ron whispered as Holly giggled as her dad swayed from glee to frustration.

  The holiday break was pleasant, as it winded down only for a grim reminder of the chamber. ‘I think Myrtle flooded her bathroom again.’ She sighed, as she walked in with Hermione, Holly moved back as she grabbed Ron and pulled him in.

  There she was sobbing as the three walked in as the grey lady frowned at them, and singled out Ron. ‘Not by choice,’ Ron put his hands up.

  ‘You, best be careful, you,’ She watched Holly as she was still aware of her, Holly shivered not wanting to dwell on it.

  ‘Right what happened this time?’ She looked at the Grey Lady.

  ‘It was horrible!’ Myrtle cried out, ‘don’t tell me you have to throw a book at me as well.’ She accused as the grey lady rolled her eyes and looked thoroughly annoyed at the younger looking ghost.

  ‘Really but you can’t feel it.’ Ron scratched his head in confusion. Holly sighed as the screech hit her ears.

  ‘Yes, 10 points if you can get it through her body, fifty if you can get it through her head! It’s no big deal it can’t hurt her!’ She shouted at Ron. Holly would rather have dealt with the grey lady she had a better head on her shoulders.

  ‘I take it this is it?’ Holly asked as she picked up what looked like a diary, Rom hissed, as she looked at him.

  ‘Be careful you shouldn’t go around nabbed strange books, you should see some of the dangerous my dad finds one book burned the eyes out as f your head.’ He warned as Holly reconsider her actions she looked it over the date stamped was, nineteen forty-three.

  ‘That would be about fifty years ago.’ She mused as she flipped it open after a quick scan she found nothing, ‘Not a single letter,’ she frowned as she waved it around.

  ‘Fifty points if you can get it through Myrtle’s head.’ Ron joked in a low whisper. Holly shoved him playfully as she slipped the book under her arm.

  They headed back to the common room, Holly glanced over the book, that was already dry as she looked over the book. ‘Something about this book does not sit right with me,’. She admitted, she sat it down, as she stacked up Her history book to finish up on her work, but she kept thinking about the item. It bagged at her as she picked it up, it was like repeating a trip to the fridge, always hoping for something new but being let down despite knowing better. She eventually turned in, with Hermione sleeping soundly as she glanced at her dad’s book, with a slight hunch she took ou some ink and dabbed it on a random page.

  ‘Oh,’ she watched as the ink was absorbed, she flipped a page and found nothing not so much as a stain. ‘Hi my name is Holly Potter,’ she wrote out,

  ‘Hello my name is Tom Riddle,’ ink came back as Holly paused i
n surprise. ‘May I ask how you came to acquire my diary?’ Tom continued on,

  ‘Someone tried to flush it down the loo.’ She wrote back, ‘they were unsuccessful.’ She finished, as more lettering bleed out.

  ‘That is unfortunate but thankfully true, this book holds many secrets and it’s not too surprising someone would wish to destroy it.’ It wrote on,

  ‘The Chamber of Secrets, do you know who tried to destroy you, your Diary?’ She continued on.

  ‘Not sure I only know what is written in me,’ it responded as Holly frowned at the book, if the book couldn’t inform her of who tried to destroy it, then it wasn’t much help, she thought for a second if we are going by blood.

  ‘Do you know who opened the Chamber if secrets fifty years ago?’ She wrote down in hopes of getting a clue on who opened it this time.

  ‘Yes,’ was the diary’s blunt answer,

  ‘Can you tell me?’ She was already felling testy with this guy.

  ‘No,’ he answered as Holly rolled her eyes at another dead end. ‘But I can show you,’ he wrote back as Holly frowned in confusion, the pages suddenly flipped to a seemingly random page a frame slowly grows as she suddenly found herself dropped into a room she was familiar with The Headmasters office she hadn’t been since the end of last year.

  It looked different gone were all the odd devices and oddities it looked more plan, she glanced around more as the man behind the desk didn’t seem to notice, a quick look at the portraits showed no sign of Sally. ‘The past?’ She wondered a faint hope that her words would prove her wrong. Nothing happened she leaned up against the wall as a rather good-looking boy with a perfect badge on his robe walked in.

  Holly watched as the two chatted over a girls death which Holly was sure was Myrtle. The slight hope of a capture as Tom headed out, Holly adjusted herself as she remainders stone-faced as the story wrapped up with a wand at Hector she was suddenly dropped into her bed, she grabbed the diary and ignoring the letters wrote out. ‘Bullshit.’

  The End