Child Of Grace: Chapter 22 - Riddle in the Dark (part 2)
ZeldaQueen: Well, Link is still gone and we're still in infuriation territory. I got meself a bottle of milk, and I shall be taking shots whenever the suethor uses a very stupid way to describe anything
Projection Room Voices: Starting Media in 3...2...1...
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Chapter 22: Riddle in the Dark (part 2)
Holly refused to take the diary back the next morning, and it was still lying in Blaise's bedside table. She was too upset to deal with Tom at the moment, so upset that she needed the kind of comfort that he usually offered her. However, since she wasn't talking to him yet, she instead conjured Saladin, hiding him under her robe.
ZeldaQueen: I'm so glad we're being treated to the personal dramas of the Sue. I mean, it's not like there's any serious problems going on, like a monster threatening the students
They were late heading down to breakfast, but it was just in time to hear the good news from Professor McGonagall.
"Professor Sprout has informed me that the Mandrakes are ready for cutting at last," the acting-headmistress announced over the now silenced student body.
ZeldaQueen: The Mandrakes are emo?
"Tonight, we will be able to revive those people who have been Petrified. I need hardly remind you all that one of them may well be able to tell us who, or what, attacked them. I'm hopeful that this dreadful year will end with our catching the culprit."
The Great Hall practically exploded with cheering. Holly and her three friends from the previous night let out identical sighs of relief.
ZeldaQueen: (Sue) "Great! Now we're off the hook! We can just let someone else solve this mess and take credit for it ourselves!"
"Well, I guess that means the mystery will be solved without us," Milli stated dejectedly from beside Draco after it had quieted. She scowled down at her eggs.
ZeldaQueen: THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING?!? Oh, my head...
Theo aggressively speared his tomato. "Probably, but it's good that they are getting better. Even creepy Creevey, I guess," he added in with an unhappy expression.
ZeldaQueen: Oh, that's nice. He guesses that it's a good thing that an innocent eleven-year-old won't spend the rest of who-knows-how-long as a statue. What a great hero!
"And Granger, too," Draco inserted himself, looking equally miserable with the thought. He glanced at Holly, who wasn't even paying any attention to her own Housemates.
ZeldaQueen: So she's conveniently ignoring the fact that her friends are sad at the thought of people turning back from stone. How charming
Instead, her attention was focused on the Gryffindor table. Holly cocked her head to the side, trying to get a mental feel of a trembling Ginny Weasley. However, with so many other minds around it was impossible, especially since the Slytherin was not well acquainted with the girl. So she merely settled for watching as the redhead sat down next to a relieved Ron and Neville. The first-year fidgeted nervously and leaned forward to tell them something, looking over her shoulder anxiously and making sure no one else was listening.
ZeldaQueen: Okay, what's the point of this besides furthering the plot? Holly has shown no interest in Ginny thus far, besides to belittle her. Why would she suddenly start mind-probing her? In canon, Ginny actually went over to Harry and tried to confess what was going on.
Oh, and notice, dear viewers, that this scene shows that Ginny is going to Ron and Neville to try to tell them what's going on. Please keep this in mind for later.
Lastly, *takes a drink for "the Slytherin" comment*
She opened her mouth to speak, only to jolt out of her seat as Percy moved in next to her. Ginny scampered away, Holly's eyes following in her wake.
"What do you see?" a voice whispered in her ear, and the telepath jumped.
ZeldaQueen: "The telepath" has a name, you know. *takes a drink*
"What… Blaise," she stated, trying to still her rapidly beating heart. "Nothing much. Just Ginny acting strangely… well, more strangely than usual," Holly corrected, narrowing her eyes. "I think that she might know something."
ZeldaQueen: Yes, and how dare she hide anything from the Almighty Holly?
Luna idly chewed on her very burnt toast. "Really? Do you think that she knows who did it?"
"Maybe. I'm not sure." Holly tapped her fingers on the tabletop.
ZeldaQueen: (Suethor) "NO REALLY! I DIDN'T READ AHEAD AT ALL!!!"
Seriously, why would they think that? Why? They don't know Ginny at all. They see her acting nervous, so what? How would that make one think "Maybe she knows something"? Why not, "Oh, the stress of this all is getting to her"?
"I've been thinking," she started, gaining the attention of everyone around her.
ZeldaQueen: Like she doesn't have that all of the time
"I think that we should tell Professor Flitwick what we know. About everything we know," she finished, giving Blaise a subtle but significant look.
"Why Professor Flitwick?" Gavin asked, leaning in. He had seen the look, filing it away with the dozen other strange things Holly Potter did daily.
ZeldaQueen: Yes, thank you Gavin, who apparently is just that enamored of the Sue that he keeps track of her quirks
Pansy chimed in, buttering her bread, "Why Flitwick and not Professor Snape?" She paused as she realised that her butter was oddly purple, having been hexed by Theo when she wasn't looking.
ZeldaQueen: Ha ha, isn't this charming? Just like those little asides that Rowling does! Only she doesn't do them when the situation is serious
"Why not McGonagall?" Cynthia asked, adding in her three Knuts worth. "She's in charge right now."
Blaise answered for Holly, "He's the most likely to believe us. Plus, McGonagall would put the blame on us, and Professor Snape... well, his loyalties are still in question." He shrugged. "We don't really know Professor Sprout very well."
ZeldaQueen: No, no McGonagall would not! Stop treating her like she's biased! And also, stop using it as an excuse for these idiots not doing a damned thing to help out!
Theo nodded emphatically. "I agree. We need to tell someone. Too bad Dumbledore is gone."
ZeldaQueen: Yes, too bad Dumbledore was gone and you didn't go to him with information while you had the chance
He took a sip of juice, immediately choking, Pansy having charmed it into vinegar.
ZeldaQueen: For fuck's sake, knock it off!!!
"Who will tell him?" Milli questioned.
"I'll do it," Holly volunteered quickly. "I can use my cloak."
"And me," Blaise inserted.
Draco added in, "Me, too."
ZeldaQueen: And you shall be the Fellowship of the Sue
The other second-years exchanged glances.
"Why not Luna or Gavin?" Autumn asked from Milli's other side.
The dark-skinned boy answered, "We won't see him until tonight when he does the head count. Holly, Blaise, and Draco will be able to use the cloak to sneak away and talk to him before then."
ZeldaQueen: "The dark-skinned boy". *drinks*
"Plus, we have McGonagall today, and Lockhart escorts all her classes around since she's too busy," Theo contributed with a smirk, now drinking from Gavin's glass. "He'll be dead easy to get away from." He winked at them.
ZeldaQueen: Yes, the castle and all who are in it are in peril, but we still have enough time to laugh at Lockhart! Good lord, I'm not looking foward to when they visit him in the fifth year
Sure enough, Theo was right. It was, in fact, very easy to get away from Lockhart. Just as they had done before to visit Myrtle, they lingered near the back of the group, whipping on the Invisibility Cloak at an opportune moment and heading into the staff room.
ZeldaQueen: So nice of how she condensed Rowling's lovely canon, which showed some of Harry and Ron being clever, and reduced it to three sentences. Doubly so when one considers how the suethor has devoted paragraphs upon paragraphs to the Sue's emotional neediness
However, they never got the chance to talk to the teachers. They had barely been waiting inside for five minutes when McGonagall ordered everyone back to their Common Rooms. Worried, the trio darted into the wardrobe, listening as the teachers filled in.
"It has happened," McGonagall announced in a tired and very shaky voice.
ZeldaQueen: (McGonagall) "Another Sue got into Hogwarts and warped canon! We need to find and burn her immediately!"
"A student has been taken by the monster. Right into the Chamber itself."
Professor Flitwick let out a little shriek, exchanging horrified glances with Sprout.
Professor Snape asked thickly, "How can you be sure?" He gripped the arms of his chair so tightly that his knuckles were now white.
ZeldaQueen: Given all of that, I can only assume that he's having his bi-annual dentist check-up during this meeting and is getting a cavity filled
"The Heir of Slytherin left another message, right underneath the first one." The Transfiguration teacher breathed in heavily, her face very pale. "'Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever.'"
Holly heard the sound of muffled weeping, but she didn't need to hear McGonagall answer the next question. She already knew who it was.
Ginny Weasley.
ZeldaQueen: And I swear to all things holy, if the Sue even thinks of pretending to feel sorry for Ginny, after all of the shit she put the poor girl through, I'm going to pitch a nice little fit. I mean it
They sat dazedly in the boys' dorm that night, blankly staring at one another. Virtually the entire House was in the Common Room, though some were in the study rooms or the dorms, so the second-years had taken refuge there as well.
ZeldaQueen: There aren't study rooms! Stop bringing those up!
Gavin and Luna were currently absent, having been forced back to Ravenclaw Tower by a livid and obviously frightened McGonagall.
ZeldaQueen: And still, there is time to make this "stay in your own house" rule sound unreasonable
"Blimey," Theo mumbled from his spot on his bed after an incalculable amount of time had passed. "I feel horrible."
ZeldaQueen: (Theo) "I think that milk I drank was two years past the expiration date"
Milli squeezed his shoulder, eyes very moist. "Me, too. Sure, the Weaslette was weird and annoying, but that doesn't mean she deserves to rot away in the Chamber forever."
"No, she doesn't," Holly said weakly from Blaise's bed with her head bowed. "If only we had said something sooner." She quietly stroked the sleeve of her robe.
ZeldaQueen: Right. She did it. Here I go.
FUCK YOU, YOU SMUG, SELF-RIGHTEOUS BITCH! YOUR "FRIEND" JUST HAD THE GALL TO CONTINUE TO CALL GINNY NAMES AND MOCK HER WHILE THE POOR GIRL IS IN A DUNGEON, DEAD FOR ALL YOU KNOW, AND YOU STILL AREN'T CALLING HER OUT ON IT? CAN'T BE ARSED TO TELL YOUR BUDDY OFF? AND OH YEAH - "IF ONLY WE HAD SAID SOMETHING SOONER", YOU THINK, YOU UGLY LITTLE DOG TURD? I SWEAR TO FUCK, YOU ARE THE MOST ARROGANT, AIR-HEADED, DIP-FUC OF A BULLY TO EVER GRACE THE FANDOM! AT LEAST ROSE POTTER DIDN'T TRY TO PASS HERSELF OFF AS A PURITY SUE! YOU JUST SIT AROUND WEEPING AND SOBBING ABOUT OH HOW HARD YOUR LIFE IS, PLEASE PITY, WHILE DOING FUCK ALL TO STAND UP FOR OTHER PEOPLE WITH HARD LIVES BEING PICKED ON. FOR SOMEONE WHO CLAIMS TO KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO GROW UP POOR, WITH SHODDY POSSESSIONS AND LITTLE SELF-ESTEEM, YOU CERTAINLY HAVE A HORRIBLE TIME EMPATHIZING WITH PEOPLE IN THE SAME BOAT! I COULD GO BACK AND COUNT AT LEAST THREE FUCKING TIMES WHEN YOU COULD HAVE GONE TO A TEACHER WITH INFORMATION - THREE FUCKING TIMES, YOU HAD IT IN YOUR POWER TO STOP THE BAD GUY AND PROTECT YOUR FELLOW CLASSMATES! AND I'M CERTAIN THAT YOU WON'T BE CALLED OUT ON THIS IN THE LEAST! OH NO, I KNOW WHAT COMES UP! YOU JUST ARE TREATED LIKE GOOD LITTLE HEROES AND HAVE THE GALL TO BLAME GINNY FOR THIS, EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T LIFT A FUCKING FINGER TO SAVE ANYONE BEFORE HAND! AND THE HELL OF IT? BY CANON, THIS IS WHEN THE TEACHERS DECIDE TO SEND THE STUDENTS HOME AND CLOSE HOGWARTS. SO, OH NO, LITTLE MISS HOLLY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT SAVING GINNY, OH NO. SHE JUST DOESN'T WANT TO BE SENT BACK TO THE DURSLEYS! HOW THE HELL IS THAT BETTER THAN TOM RIDDLE, WHO LET AN INNOCENT BOY'S LIFE GET RUINED TWICE, JUST TO COVER HIS OWN ASS? HMM? HOW IS IT? MAY YOUR VAGINA FALL OUT AND YOU GET EATTEN AND SHAT OUT BY THE BASILISK, YOU FUCKING WHORE!!!!
...
Right then. Carry on
Saladin, who was hidden underneath, rubbed his little head on her wrist.
Blaise bit his lip, putting a hand on her shoulder. "We can still say something now."
ZeldaQueen: Yes, now that one of the students is almost certainly dead, this seems like a good time to finally come clean!
Holly glanced up at him.
"To who? How?" Draco questioned, running a hand through his hair.
The caramel-skinned looked back at his best friend with resolve. "Lockhart. He did say that he knows where the Chamber is and will try to rescue her. And we can use the cloak and the passages Holly found."
ZeldaQueen: I'm sorry, hold on a minute, back it up, what? When did Lockhart say that? In canon, he boasts that he knows where the Chamber is during the staff meeting, which is when he's told to go down there and rescue Ginny! That never happened in this fic! The suethor skipped over it! And why would the passages that the Sue found be of any use? They never explored them enough to figure out where they went!
Also, "the caramel-skinned" what? Am I the only one getting a little offended that she keeps identifying Blaise by his skin color? *drinks, heavily*
"Lockhart… that fraud! He can barely hold his wand half the time," Draco stated, waving his hands in the air. He rose and began to pace. "What about Professor Flitwick? We could go to him."
ZeldaQueen: I'm going to have to agree with gehayi here. Draco and Blaise are the ones making all of the sensible decisions. The Sue is just weeping and being all dramatic. Why am I supposed to like her?
Holly exhaled slowly, knowing that they had to try. "I know the Lockhart is useless, but it's the best we've got.
ZeldaQueen: For fuck's sake, why? You've done nothing this entire fic but laugh at him and go on about how useless he is. Why are you placing all of your hopes on him now?
Oh yeah, that's what Harry and Ron did in canon and the suethor is too dumb to do anything so radically different. Proceed
We could go to Professor Flitwick, but I'm not sure how much help he'll be. Remember, he's with Sprout, Snape, and Madam Pomfrey working on the necessary charms for the Petrification cure."
ZeldaQueen: Um, no. The Petrification cure is a potion. Madam Pomfrey, Snape, and Sprout, sure. Flitwick? Erm, no. And for heaven's sake, why are you still refusing to go to McGonagall? Are you so determined to keep up this idiotic "she'll blame us" charade that you'll go to a dude who is essentially a con artist? GOD!
She shrugged helplessly. "We definitely know that Lockhart is going to make a go of it, even if it's only to prove that he isn't a completely worthless ponce."
ZeldaQueen: Again, why? You've done absolutely nothing but say how he's useless, worthless, etc, and now, when someone's going to die, you decide to go to him and try to see if you can redeem him? WHY?
And "ponce". Time to drink! *does so*
The girl gestured for emphasis. "Besides, with Professor Snape in the Hospital Wing, the dandy is closer than anyone else. And if not him, we can try to get her ourselves."
ZeldaQueen: This is just so stupid, I really don't know what to say. How in the name of hell did the suethor take Rowling's lovely, lovely canon, which gave off such a great atmosphere of fear and despair, and turn it into this twisted abomination? I felt sorry for Harry and Ron, determined to do their best to save Ginny! I just hate these assclowns!
And looky there, "dandy"! *drinks*
"Go for her themselves?" Theo mouthed to Milli and Gavin with wide eyes.
"That's what it sounded like to me," the heavy-set girl whispered back, "but how do they know where to go?"
ZeldaQueen: THE NOTE SAID GINNY WAS IN THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS! GEE, I HAVE NO CLUE WHERE SHE'D BE! AND HEY, IT'S NOT LIKE THEY HAVE A CONVENIENTLY REFORMED HEIR OF SLYTHERIN TO TELL THEM EXACTLY WHERE TO GO!
However, the other trio continued with noticing their conversation.
"And what are we going to tell him?" Draco questioned, his voice quieting. "Are we going to him about the…" The blond stopped his pacing.
The smallest Slytherin nodded and stood.
ZeldaQueen: Bottoms up! *drinks*
Draco watched her for a moment, running his hand through his hair again. "Fine. We'll go," he murmured, now looking at Blaise.
"Tell him about what?" Milli interrupted fiercely. She like the rest of the second-years had been watching the three-way exchange like they were three Chasers with the Quaffle. "What are you telling him about?"
However, they didn't answer. Instead, Blaise rose, too. The three of them heading for the door, but not before Holly removed a book from Blaise's bedside table and pocketed it.
It was her diary, Milli noted.
"You know something," Theo accused, also standing and moving to intercept them. "You know something that you aren't telling us."
Holly gazed up at him. "Yes, we do, but there isn't time. We have to go, but I promise to tell you when we get back." She gave him a pleading expression. "Please."
"Not until you tell us," Milli inserted, also moving in their path.
ZeldaQueen: Oh my God, is someone actually defying the Sue?
In that moment, Holly realised just how much larger the other girl was.
ZeldaQueen: And in a brief, glorious moment of canon, Millicent punched Holly in the face. "Serves you right for being so soft", she laughed
Blaise urged, "We will, but there isn't any time." His face was pleading with them to understand.
"Then. we're going with you," Gavin joined in. "You can tell us on the way."
ZeldaQueen: Oh fuck you, Blaise! They were just breaking free of the Sue's control!
"We won't all fit under the cloak. It can only cover three of us at a time," Draco objected, shivering with agitation. "If you go, they'll stop us and send us back before we can even explain."
ZeldaQueen: Somehow, I think shouting "we know where the Chamber of Secrets" is would get a teacher's attention
"We need you to do something else for us instead," Holly stated suddenly. "You should go to Professor Flitwick; you'll probably have to take one of the Prefects with you. Please tell him that we figured out where the Chamber is; that we're going to tell Lockhart." She blinked up at them hopefully. "This way, they'll know what's going on.
ZeldaQueen: And they all can't just go to Flitwick, why again?
Theo blinked, indecision written on his face as he glanced between them. However, he nodded and moved away, not saying anything. Milli and Gavin did the same, standing to the side and silently watching as the others donned the cloak and slipped out the door. Afterwards, they exchanged a look before going to do as Holly had asked.
ZeldaQueen: Boring!
Meanwhile, Holly and the two boys exited the Slytherin passageways two corridors down from Lockhart's office, hurrying to it. The dark-haired girl fingered
ZeldaQueen: Gack!
the diary in her pocket as they went.
They paused just outside the door, and Holly hesitantly opened the diary to talk to Tom and question him more on the Chamber. However, she was distracted by the thoughts of the man inside, and her face hardened, expression darkening considerably, quite an accomplishment given the already angry look on it.
Green eyes blazed.
ZeldaQueen: Oh, this is gorgeous! We get to watch the Sue try to take the higher moral ground on something! Ha ha, good luck with that
Blaise opened his mouth to ask her what was the matter, but she beat him to it.
"That bastard is leaving!" She snarled, nostrils flaring in a very terrifying manner, "He's running away. He isn't even going to try."
"What!" the other two exclaimed together.
ZeldaQueen: Wah, wah, what? Someone acting like a coward to protect their own asses? What sort of person would do such a horrible thing?
And again suethor, I must remind you, you never included that scene! As far as this fic is concerned, Lockhart never promised to go search for Ginny in the Chamber! So all we have here is that Lockhart apparently saw someone actually die and deciding to get the hell out of Dodge. Not the noblest thing, but then the school's supposed to be closing the next day. Fail!
"He's leaving… he's leaving Ginny to die!" Holly looked well and truly enraged as she forgetfully shoved the book into her pocket, not noticing that it was still partially opened. She fingered her wand, the other two looking at her with wild eyes.
ZeldaQueen: Dear Miss Sue, did you forget my rant already? You are in absolutely no position to take the higher ground in regards to Ginny. Suck it and die, thank you
Blaise and Draco exchanged a look over her head, their shock being replaced by anger. A moment of understanding passed between them, and both smirked, also going for their wands.
"Well, we can't have that now, can we?" the brunet questioned rhetorically.
"No, we can't," the blond responded with false sweetness.
Holly stared up at them, noting their expressions. "We'll just have to take him to the Chamber with us then, won't we?"
"Yes."
"Of course."
ZeldaQueen: Okay, this is just sick. I'm pretty sure the suethor is trying to make it look like Holly, Blaise, and Draco are in some righteous fury, giving Lockhart his just reward. Except for a few problems here.
First of all, as I said several times before, the suethor never wrote Lockhart as promising to go to the Chamber! In other words, he's under no obligation to rescue Ginny! So their going on about how he has to be taught a lesson and whatnot is completely uncalled for. This leads us to the second point...
They're being totally evil about this. In canon, Harry and Ron only attacked Lockhart after he threatened them. In other words, self defense. These guys are going in with the expressed intent to attack him in some way. They are smirking. They are planning to drag a guy who they know is not a skilled wizard into a place which has a large monster and some sort of a ghost in it (just...wait and see). They are deliberately endangering his life and just for their sick sense of revenge. Which brings us to the last point...
They want to save Ginny, my Aunt Fanny. They know she's in the Chamber of Secrets. They know that there's a Basilisk down there, with no one to control it. They know that something dangerous has been going around the school and has kidnapped Ginny. And what are they putting all of their efforts into? Humiliating Lockhart. Instead of dismissing him as a lost cause and finding someone who could help them, they're going to take who-knows-how-long to teach him a lesson. They're going to drag a guy who is essentially dead weight with them on a rescue mission, a guy who will surely slow them down and cause trouble. In other words, they care more about causing trouble for a worthless person than saving an innocent, eleven-year-old girl.
And before anyone says "Harry and Ron took Lockhart with them in canon", let's think about this. In canon, Harry and Ron weren't so powerful when they were second years. They went to Lockhart in the vain hope that he at least could help them out. The had to take him along when he began threatening to mind wipe them. They did not hover outside of the door, plotting to drag him along just because.
Anymore you'd like me to add, suethor?
The girl smiled as she sent a spell at the door. The dandy's back was to them as they entered, and he was packing a trunk. All of his belongs were scattered nearby, not even his portraits remained on the wall.
ZeldaQueen: Hm, "dandy" again. *drinks* Doesn't the suethor have access to a thesaurus?
Lockhart heard his door open with a slam and whirled around.
"Going somewhere, Professor?" Draco asked dangerously, his wand pointed unerringly at the man.
ZeldaQueen: "Dangerously". He's threatening a professor. That's nice. Who wants to bet no one ever calls him out on this?
Holly circled him from the side. "Leaving are we, sir?" she asked, and he twirled to look at her.
Blaise went around the other side. "More like running away."
Lockhart turned to face the other boy.
"Ah… well, you see," the dandy stuttered, staring at the tips of three separate wands.
ZeldaQueen: *drinks* I'm still not impressed with these guys, suethor. All I see are three bullies who would rather gang up on a pathetic person than rescue a little girl
"Yes, we do see," the lone girl carried on. "You have been lying all this time about your exploits. But now, that there is a real test of your courage… you are fleeing, running away in the middle of the night like some frightened dog."
ZeldaQueen: *cough* Um, suethor? How the hell do they know he's a liar? He tells Harry and Ron that in canon. Did Holly read his mind? Because I don't recall us being told that, so I can only assume it came out of your anus.
And Holly, dearest, please shut up. Like, right now. You hid like a frightened dog instead of let anyone know about your abilities, when you could have put an end to this far sooner. So shut up, or I will rip out your pretty, black hair
Lockhart began to sweat. "Er… you see… What d'you want me to do?" he whined suddenly. "I don't know where the Chamber is. There's nothing I can do," he defended in a petulant voice.
ZeldaQueen: And yet again with the compression. Jeez.
Oh, and suethor? Lockhart has a point. He doesn't know where the Chamber is. There isn't anything he could do. That was the point - the teachers knew he was lying and knew he would run away if he was forced to show his hand. Now, he's got three maniacs threatening him, and you expect me to believe that he's being "petulant" while he's being held at wandpoint over something he doesn't know?
"You are in luck then, Professor," Holly said evenly. "We have discovered where the Chamber is, and what's inside."
Blaise's smirk widened. "And we're going to show it to you, so now, you can help us rescue Ginny Weasley. After all, it is the least you can do after teaching us nothing but rubbish all year!" He dark brown eyes glinted dangerously.
ZeldaQueen: Yep, these guys value revenge over saving Ginny. In canon, Ron and Harry were pissed off because he was abandoning Ron's little sister. These guys are just looking for an excuse to torment the guy
The dandy blinked, looking for all the world like he was about to cry. His eyes darted from one student to the next, and Holly could hear exactly where his thoughts were going. The professor brushed a bead of sweat from his forehead, nervously flexed his hands, and then made a fatal mistake; he went for his wand.
ZeldaQueen: This is stupid. Really stupid. I swear, this is like how Gethesme kept mixing and matching song lyrics in Salvation
"Expelliarmus!" the three Slytherins shouted at the same time, sending the professor flying through the air and into his trunk.
His things scattered on the impact. Draco nimbly caught the man's wand, snapping it in half before flinging the remains out a conveniently open window.
ZeldaQueen: *evenly* Just had to add that last little bit, didn't we? Determined to outdo canon, hmm?
"Tut, tut," he stated with condescension
ZeldaQueen: Condescending asshat, is more like it
"You shouldn't have let Professor Snape teach us that one," Holly said in a deceptively calm voice.
Blaise laughed. "Too true." He turned back to the fallen teacher. "Now up!"
He forced the man to his feet and out the door, marching him all the way to Myrtle's loo. They had no need of the cloak; after all, they had a teacher with them. But just the same, Blaise pocketed it.
ZeldaQueen: They're basically kidnapping a teacher. I know it won't happen, but I seriously hope that McGonagall comes across them, sees they're holding Lockhart at wandpoint, and Stuns the living daylights out of them all
They rounded a corner, the loo visible at the end. Lockhart froze outside the door, and Holly shoved him inside with her free hand. He landed unceremoniously in a large puddle by one of the sinks.
ZeldaQueen: Just stop it! Stop it, you frigging bully!
"Hello, Myrtle," the girl called out, accidentally trodding on the ponce's protruding fingers as she went by.
ZeldaQueen: "Accidentally", my butt. *drinks* Suethor, why are these guys likable? Why?
The ghost stuck her head through one of the stall doors. "Oh, it's you again." She glanced at Holly before sweeping her gaze over the rest of them, halting as she noticed Draco.
ZeldaQueen: Oh great, please tell me the suethor isn't going to transfer Myrtle's canon crush for Harry over to Malfoy
"Yes, it is, my fine lady," the blond intoned with a winning smile.
Myrtle blinked at him stupidly.
"We came to ask you again about the day you died."
Blaise nodded forcefully from the back of the group. "More specifically about how. You said you saw a pair of eyes," he prompted, watching Lockhart like a hawk out of the corner of his eye.
Myrtle finally looked away from the blond Slytherin. "Oh, yes, I did. They were somewhere over there," she said, pointing near the sink in front of her stall door. "I heard someone come in just before, and I was going to tell him to go away - at least, I think it was a boy. He spoke in a funny language, so I can't really be sure."
ZeldaQueen: Didn't we already have this conversation?
"Thank you," Holly responded, moving over to the tap and examining it.
Draco joined her, while the other Slytherin watched Lockhart, who was trembling like a frightened child.
"But it sounded fuzzy," Myrtle went on absentmindedly. "Almost like he was far away… or a recording." She floated to the side to get a better look at what Holly and Draco were doing.
ZeldaQueen: You just had to add that, didn't you? "Oh, it's a recording! Couldn't possibly have been Riddle!"
The boy nudged his friend, indicating a tiny serpent etched on one of the pipes. "Just like Tom said," he whispered. "Say something in Parseltongue," Draco added, moving back to distract Myrtle from what she was about to do.
ZeldaQueen: Why would Myrtle care?
Holly eyed the craving, feeling Saladin coil tighter around her wrist. "Open," she hissed, moving back as the wall did just that. There was now a blackened hole where the sink had once been, and only incredibly large pipes were visible.
ZeldaQueen: And Holly gets it right the first time! Unlike that loser Harry! Hooray!
The three males stepped up behind her, awestruck.
The dandy momentarily forgot his fear. "Amazing," he muttered, regretfully drawing attention to himself.
ZeldaQueen: *drinks* How the hell is the suethor managing to make me feel sorry for Lockhart?
Draco smirked evilly and took a step back. "You can go first," he stated, shoving Lockhart forward.
ZeldaQueen: "Evilly" how nice. You know, in canon, Lockhart was shoved down after he tried to leave. Y'all saw fit to kick him in there after he shows interest in it
The man wheeled his arms through the air for a second before unceremoniously falling in face first, sliding down the pipe. The three Slytherins merely looked over the edge after him. Blaise moved forward first, lowering himself onto the pipe and sliding out of sight. Holly went next with Draco bringing up the rear.
She slid down the slimy surface at an impossible angle for several moments before the pipe levelled off. The girl could feel the rapid approach of Blaise's mind, so she was prepared when she shot of the end, landing on a soft cushion. It took Holly a second to realise her cushion was none other than her professor when she rolled to her feet, moving out of Draco's way just in time.
ZeldaQueen: JESUS FUCKING CHRIST, STOP PICKING ON LOCKHART!!!!
He also landed on the dandy,
ZeldaQueen: *drinks*
causing the man to groan in pain. The boy climbed to his feet with a slight sneer, prodding the professor with his foot.
ZeldaQueen: Nostalgia Critic? Please?
ZeldaQueen: Thank you! Might have to call upon those words of wisdom again
"We must be miles under the school," Holly whispered to Blaise as the boy came up to her right, crunching as he walked. She didn't even want to think about what caused him to make that sound, but she had a sneaking suspicion that it was rat skeletons.
ZeldaQueen: Well thank you for that! The suethor clearly graduated from the Rose Potter School For Ruining Atmosphere
"We're probably under the lake." He turned the already lighted tip of his wand toward a darkened tunnel.
Holly glanced to the side as Draco forced Lockhart by her. The boy stepped back, leaving the ponce
ZeldaQueen: *drinks*
in front where they could easily keep an eye on him. Holly watched him with disdain, feeling Draco drift back to her other side. She automatically reached out for his right hand, slipping hers into it and squeezing. Luckily, this wasn't a problem since he left was his wand-hand.
ZeldaQueen: Good lord, can't the Sue go for two seconds without reminding us of her emotional neediness?
The boy turned to gaze at her, his eyes unreadable in the dim lighting. He looked as though he wanted desperately to say something but seemed to think the better of it, and he glanced forward again. The cowering professor took his momentary distraction to move away from the boy and to the other side of Blaise where he hopped to have at least some protection.
ZeldaQueen: And in the midst of a rescue mission, we get time for shoehorned romance and dissing Lockhart. Just what I wanted!
Holly looked at Draco for a second before glancing to Blaise, who simply shrugged before shooting Lockhart a scathing look. The girl turned back to the darkness in front of them, filling with apprehension. She knew that just down the tunnel lay the Chamber of Secrets.
ZeldaQueen: I hope the Basilisk eats her. I know it won't, but I can still dream
De nada, amorcita: You're welcome, little love.
ZeldaQueen: Okay, I'm going to quote shaolina here. There was a conversation in last recording's posts about the accuracy of that phrase (feel free to go have a look for the entire thing). Shaolina had this to say.
"Actually, you're welcome in Spanish is "De nada". I should know. XD
Still, amorcita is wrong in Spanish. It's amorcito for both genders and I have only heard it in Mexico (and just a couple of times). The more common expression is "mi amor" or something like "cariño""
ZeldaQueen: Seeing as Spanish is her first language, she's the one we'll be listening to on the subject. Of course, there's also the odd fact that the twelve-year-old Blaise is talking to the same-aged Holly like he's her grandmother
To everyone who reviewed: Thanks
ZeldaQueen: - for being ignorant morons who can't realize what a horrible Mary Sue this "heroine" is
Chapter Twenty-Three: Enemies of the Heir
ZeldaQueen: In which I lose my mind
Ever Hopeful,
Azar
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Onward to: Chapter 23: Enemies Of The Heir (Part 1)
Back to: Chapter 22: Riddle in the Dark (part 1)
Return to: Table of Contents
Projection Room Voices: Starting Media in 3...2...1...
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Chapter 22: Riddle in the Dark (part 2)
Holly refused to take the diary back the next morning, and it was still lying in Blaise's bedside table. She was too upset to deal with Tom at the moment, so upset that she needed the kind of comfort that he usually offered her. However, since she wasn't talking to him yet, she instead conjured Saladin, hiding him under her robe.
ZeldaQueen: I'm so glad we're being treated to the personal dramas of the Sue. I mean, it's not like there's any serious problems going on, like a monster threatening the students
They were late heading down to breakfast, but it was just in time to hear the good news from Professor McGonagall.
"Professor Sprout has informed me that the Mandrakes are ready for cutting at last," the acting-headmistress announced over the now silenced student body.
ZeldaQueen: The Mandrakes are emo?
"Tonight, we will be able to revive those people who have been Petrified. I need hardly remind you all that one of them may well be able to tell us who, or what, attacked them. I'm hopeful that this dreadful year will end with our catching the culprit."
The Great Hall practically exploded with cheering. Holly and her three friends from the previous night let out identical sighs of relief.
ZeldaQueen: (Sue) "Great! Now we're off the hook! We can just let someone else solve this mess and take credit for it ourselves!"
"Well, I guess that means the mystery will be solved without us," Milli stated dejectedly from beside Draco after it had quieted. She scowled down at her eggs.
ZeldaQueen: THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING?!? Oh, my head...
Theo aggressively speared his tomato. "Probably, but it's good that they are getting better. Even creepy Creevey, I guess," he added in with an unhappy expression.
ZeldaQueen: Oh, that's nice. He guesses that it's a good thing that an innocent eleven-year-old won't spend the rest of who-knows-how-long as a statue. What a great hero!
"And Granger, too," Draco inserted himself, looking equally miserable with the thought. He glanced at Holly, who wasn't even paying any attention to her own Housemates.
ZeldaQueen: So she's conveniently ignoring the fact that her friends are sad at the thought of people turning back from stone. How charming
Instead, her attention was focused on the Gryffindor table. Holly cocked her head to the side, trying to get a mental feel of a trembling Ginny Weasley. However, with so many other minds around it was impossible, especially since the Slytherin was not well acquainted with the girl. So she merely settled for watching as the redhead sat down next to a relieved Ron and Neville. The first-year fidgeted nervously and leaned forward to tell them something, looking over her shoulder anxiously and making sure no one else was listening.
ZeldaQueen: Okay, what's the point of this besides furthering the plot? Holly has shown no interest in Ginny thus far, besides to belittle her. Why would she suddenly start mind-probing her? In canon, Ginny actually went over to Harry and tried to confess what was going on.
Oh, and notice, dear viewers, that this scene shows that Ginny is going to Ron and Neville to try to tell them what's going on. Please keep this in mind for later.
Lastly, *takes a drink for "the Slytherin" comment*
She opened her mouth to speak, only to jolt out of her seat as Percy moved in next to her. Ginny scampered away, Holly's eyes following in her wake.
"What do you see?" a voice whispered in her ear, and the telepath jumped.
ZeldaQueen: "The telepath" has a name, you know. *takes a drink*
"What… Blaise," she stated, trying to still her rapidly beating heart. "Nothing much. Just Ginny acting strangely… well, more strangely than usual," Holly corrected, narrowing her eyes. "I think that she might know something."
ZeldaQueen: Yes, and how dare she hide anything from the Almighty Holly?
Luna idly chewed on her very burnt toast. "Really? Do you think that she knows who did it?"
"Maybe. I'm not sure." Holly tapped her fingers on the tabletop.
ZeldaQueen: (Suethor) "NO REALLY! I DIDN'T READ AHEAD AT ALL!!!"
Seriously, why would they think that? Why? They don't know Ginny at all. They see her acting nervous, so what? How would that make one think "Maybe she knows something"? Why not, "Oh, the stress of this all is getting to her"?
"I've been thinking," she started, gaining the attention of everyone around her.
ZeldaQueen: Like she doesn't have that all of the time
"I think that we should tell Professor Flitwick what we know. About everything we know," she finished, giving Blaise a subtle but significant look.
"Why Professor Flitwick?" Gavin asked, leaning in. He had seen the look, filing it away with the dozen other strange things Holly Potter did daily.
ZeldaQueen: Yes, thank you Gavin, who apparently is just that enamored of the Sue that he keeps track of her quirks
Pansy chimed in, buttering her bread, "Why Flitwick and not Professor Snape?" She paused as she realised that her butter was oddly purple, having been hexed by Theo when she wasn't looking.
ZeldaQueen: Ha ha, isn't this charming? Just like those little asides that Rowling does! Only she doesn't do them when the situation is serious
"Why not McGonagall?" Cynthia asked, adding in her three Knuts worth. "She's in charge right now."
Blaise answered for Holly, "He's the most likely to believe us. Plus, McGonagall would put the blame on us, and Professor Snape... well, his loyalties are still in question." He shrugged. "We don't really know Professor Sprout very well."
ZeldaQueen: No, no McGonagall would not! Stop treating her like she's biased! And also, stop using it as an excuse for these idiots not doing a damned thing to help out!
Theo nodded emphatically. "I agree. We need to tell someone. Too bad Dumbledore is gone."
ZeldaQueen: Yes, too bad Dumbledore was gone and you didn't go to him with information while you had the chance
He took a sip of juice, immediately choking, Pansy having charmed it into vinegar.
ZeldaQueen: For fuck's sake, knock it off!!!
"Who will tell him?" Milli questioned.
"I'll do it," Holly volunteered quickly. "I can use my cloak."
"And me," Blaise inserted.
Draco added in, "Me, too."
ZeldaQueen: And you shall be the Fellowship of the Sue
The other second-years exchanged glances.
"Why not Luna or Gavin?" Autumn asked from Milli's other side.
The dark-skinned boy answered, "We won't see him until tonight when he does the head count. Holly, Blaise, and Draco will be able to use the cloak to sneak away and talk to him before then."
ZeldaQueen: "The dark-skinned boy". *drinks*
"Plus, we have McGonagall today, and Lockhart escorts all her classes around since she's too busy," Theo contributed with a smirk, now drinking from Gavin's glass. "He'll be dead easy to get away from." He winked at them.
ZeldaQueen: Yes, the castle and all who are in it are in peril, but we still have enough time to laugh at Lockhart! Good lord, I'm not looking foward to when they visit him in the fifth year
Sure enough, Theo was right. It was, in fact, very easy to get away from Lockhart. Just as they had done before to visit Myrtle, they lingered near the back of the group, whipping on the Invisibility Cloak at an opportune moment and heading into the staff room.
ZeldaQueen: So nice of how she condensed Rowling's lovely canon, which showed some of Harry and Ron being clever, and reduced it to three sentences. Doubly so when one considers how the suethor has devoted paragraphs upon paragraphs to the Sue's emotional neediness
However, they never got the chance to talk to the teachers. They had barely been waiting inside for five minutes when McGonagall ordered everyone back to their Common Rooms. Worried, the trio darted into the wardrobe, listening as the teachers filled in.
"It has happened," McGonagall announced in a tired and very shaky voice.
ZeldaQueen: (McGonagall) "Another Sue got into Hogwarts and warped canon! We need to find and burn her immediately!"
"A student has been taken by the monster. Right into the Chamber itself."
Professor Flitwick let out a little shriek, exchanging horrified glances with Sprout.
Professor Snape asked thickly, "How can you be sure?" He gripped the arms of his chair so tightly that his knuckles were now white.
ZeldaQueen: Given all of that, I can only assume that he's having his bi-annual dentist check-up during this meeting and is getting a cavity filled
"The Heir of Slytherin left another message, right underneath the first one." The Transfiguration teacher breathed in heavily, her face very pale. "'Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever.'"
Holly heard the sound of muffled weeping, but she didn't need to hear McGonagall answer the next question. She already knew who it was.
Ginny Weasley.
ZeldaQueen: And I swear to all things holy, if the Sue even thinks of pretending to feel sorry for Ginny, after all of the shit she put the poor girl through, I'm going to pitch a nice little fit. I mean it
They sat dazedly in the boys' dorm that night, blankly staring at one another. Virtually the entire House was in the Common Room, though some were in the study rooms or the dorms, so the second-years had taken refuge there as well.
ZeldaQueen: There aren't study rooms! Stop bringing those up!
Gavin and Luna were currently absent, having been forced back to Ravenclaw Tower by a livid and obviously frightened McGonagall.
ZeldaQueen: And still, there is time to make this "stay in your own house" rule sound unreasonable
"Blimey," Theo mumbled from his spot on his bed after an incalculable amount of time had passed. "I feel horrible."
ZeldaQueen: (Theo) "I think that milk I drank was two years past the expiration date"
Milli squeezed his shoulder, eyes very moist. "Me, too. Sure, the Weaslette was weird and annoying, but that doesn't mean she deserves to rot away in the Chamber forever."
"No, she doesn't," Holly said weakly from Blaise's bed with her head bowed. "If only we had said something sooner." She quietly stroked the sleeve of her robe.
ZeldaQueen: Right. She did it. Here I go.
FUCK YOU, YOU SMUG, SELF-RIGHTEOUS BITCH! YOUR "FRIEND" JUST HAD THE GALL TO CONTINUE TO CALL GINNY NAMES AND MOCK HER WHILE THE POOR GIRL IS IN A DUNGEON, DEAD FOR ALL YOU KNOW, AND YOU STILL AREN'T CALLING HER OUT ON IT? CAN'T BE ARSED TO TELL YOUR BUDDY OFF? AND OH YEAH - "IF ONLY WE HAD SAID SOMETHING SOONER", YOU THINK, YOU UGLY LITTLE DOG TURD? I SWEAR TO FUCK, YOU ARE THE MOST ARROGANT, AIR-HEADED, DIP-FUC OF A BULLY TO EVER GRACE THE FANDOM! AT LEAST ROSE POTTER DIDN'T TRY TO PASS HERSELF OFF AS A PURITY SUE! YOU JUST SIT AROUND WEEPING AND SOBBING ABOUT OH HOW HARD YOUR LIFE IS, PLEASE PITY, WHILE DOING FUCK ALL TO STAND UP FOR OTHER PEOPLE WITH HARD LIVES BEING PICKED ON. FOR SOMEONE WHO CLAIMS TO KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO GROW UP POOR, WITH SHODDY POSSESSIONS AND LITTLE SELF-ESTEEM, YOU CERTAINLY HAVE A HORRIBLE TIME EMPATHIZING WITH PEOPLE IN THE SAME BOAT! I COULD GO BACK AND COUNT AT LEAST THREE FUCKING TIMES WHEN YOU COULD HAVE GONE TO A TEACHER WITH INFORMATION - THREE FUCKING TIMES, YOU HAD IT IN YOUR POWER TO STOP THE BAD GUY AND PROTECT YOUR FELLOW CLASSMATES! AND I'M CERTAIN THAT YOU WON'T BE CALLED OUT ON THIS IN THE LEAST! OH NO, I KNOW WHAT COMES UP! YOU JUST ARE TREATED LIKE GOOD LITTLE HEROES AND HAVE THE GALL TO BLAME GINNY FOR THIS, EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T LIFT A FUCKING FINGER TO SAVE ANYONE BEFORE HAND! AND THE HELL OF IT? BY CANON, THIS IS WHEN THE TEACHERS DECIDE TO SEND THE STUDENTS HOME AND CLOSE HOGWARTS. SO, OH NO, LITTLE MISS HOLLY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT SAVING GINNY, OH NO. SHE JUST DOESN'T WANT TO BE SENT BACK TO THE DURSLEYS! HOW THE HELL IS THAT BETTER THAN TOM RIDDLE, WHO LET AN INNOCENT BOY'S LIFE GET RUINED TWICE, JUST TO COVER HIS OWN ASS? HMM? HOW IS IT? MAY YOUR VAGINA FALL OUT AND YOU GET EATTEN AND SHAT OUT BY THE BASILISK, YOU FUCKING WHORE!!!!
...
Right then. Carry on
Saladin, who was hidden underneath, rubbed his little head on her wrist.
Blaise bit his lip, putting a hand on her shoulder. "We can still say something now."
ZeldaQueen: Yes, now that one of the students is almost certainly dead, this seems like a good time to finally come clean!
Holly glanced up at him.
"To who? How?" Draco questioned, running a hand through his hair.
The caramel-skinned looked back at his best friend with resolve. "Lockhart. He did say that he knows where the Chamber is and will try to rescue her. And we can use the cloak and the passages Holly found."
ZeldaQueen: I'm sorry, hold on a minute, back it up, what? When did Lockhart say that? In canon, he boasts that he knows where the Chamber is during the staff meeting, which is when he's told to go down there and rescue Ginny! That never happened in this fic! The suethor skipped over it! And why would the passages that the Sue found be of any use? They never explored them enough to figure out where they went!
Also, "the caramel-skinned" what? Am I the only one getting a little offended that she keeps identifying Blaise by his skin color? *drinks, heavily*
"Lockhart… that fraud! He can barely hold his wand half the time," Draco stated, waving his hands in the air. He rose and began to pace. "What about Professor Flitwick? We could go to him."
ZeldaQueen: I'm going to have to agree with gehayi here. Draco and Blaise are the ones making all of the sensible decisions. The Sue is just weeping and being all dramatic. Why am I supposed to like her?
Holly exhaled slowly, knowing that they had to try. "I know the Lockhart is useless, but it's the best we've got.
ZeldaQueen: For fuck's sake, why? You've done nothing this entire fic but laugh at him and go on about how useless he is. Why are you placing all of your hopes on him now?
Oh yeah, that's what Harry and Ron did in canon and the suethor is too dumb to do anything so radically different. Proceed
We could go to Professor Flitwick, but I'm not sure how much help he'll be. Remember, he's with Sprout, Snape, and Madam Pomfrey working on the necessary charms for the Petrification cure."
ZeldaQueen: Um, no. The Petrification cure is a potion. Madam Pomfrey, Snape, and Sprout, sure. Flitwick? Erm, no. And for heaven's sake, why are you still refusing to go to McGonagall? Are you so determined to keep up this idiotic "she'll blame us" charade that you'll go to a dude who is essentially a con artist? GOD!
She shrugged helplessly. "We definitely know that Lockhart is going to make a go of it, even if it's only to prove that he isn't a completely worthless ponce."
ZeldaQueen: Again, why? You've done absolutely nothing but say how he's useless, worthless, etc, and now, when someone's going to die, you decide to go to him and try to see if you can redeem him? WHY?
And "ponce". Time to drink! *does so*
The girl gestured for emphasis. "Besides, with Professor Snape in the Hospital Wing, the dandy is closer than anyone else. And if not him, we can try to get her ourselves."
ZeldaQueen: This is just so stupid, I really don't know what to say. How in the name of hell did the suethor take Rowling's lovely, lovely canon, which gave off such a great atmosphere of fear and despair, and turn it into this twisted abomination? I felt sorry for Harry and Ron, determined to do their best to save Ginny! I just hate these assclowns!
And looky there, "dandy"! *drinks*
"Go for her themselves?" Theo mouthed to Milli and Gavin with wide eyes.
"That's what it sounded like to me," the heavy-set girl whispered back, "but how do they know where to go?"
ZeldaQueen: THE NOTE SAID GINNY WAS IN THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS! GEE, I HAVE NO CLUE WHERE SHE'D BE! AND HEY, IT'S NOT LIKE THEY HAVE A CONVENIENTLY REFORMED HEIR OF SLYTHERIN TO TELL THEM EXACTLY WHERE TO GO!
However, the other trio continued with noticing their conversation.
"And what are we going to tell him?" Draco questioned, his voice quieting. "Are we going to him about the…" The blond stopped his pacing.
The smallest Slytherin nodded and stood.
ZeldaQueen: Bottoms up! *drinks*
Draco watched her for a moment, running his hand through his hair again. "Fine. We'll go," he murmured, now looking at Blaise.
"Tell him about what?" Milli interrupted fiercely. She like the rest of the second-years had been watching the three-way exchange like they were three Chasers with the Quaffle. "What are you telling him about?"
However, they didn't answer. Instead, Blaise rose, too. The three of them heading for the door, but not before Holly removed a book from Blaise's bedside table and pocketed it.
It was her diary, Milli noted.
"You know something," Theo accused, also standing and moving to intercept them. "You know something that you aren't telling us."
Holly gazed up at him. "Yes, we do, but there isn't time. We have to go, but I promise to tell you when we get back." She gave him a pleading expression. "Please."
"Not until you tell us," Milli inserted, also moving in their path.
ZeldaQueen: Oh my God, is someone actually defying the Sue?
In that moment, Holly realised just how much larger the other girl was.
ZeldaQueen: And in a brief, glorious moment of canon, Millicent punched Holly in the face. "Serves you right for being so soft", she laughed
Blaise urged, "We will, but there isn't any time." His face was pleading with them to understand.
"Then. we're going with you," Gavin joined in. "You can tell us on the way."
ZeldaQueen: Oh fuck you, Blaise! They were just breaking free of the Sue's control!
"We won't all fit under the cloak. It can only cover three of us at a time," Draco objected, shivering with agitation. "If you go, they'll stop us and send us back before we can even explain."
ZeldaQueen: Somehow, I think shouting "we know where the Chamber of Secrets" is would get a teacher's attention
"We need you to do something else for us instead," Holly stated suddenly. "You should go to Professor Flitwick; you'll probably have to take one of the Prefects with you. Please tell him that we figured out where the Chamber is; that we're going to tell Lockhart." She blinked up at them hopefully. "This way, they'll know what's going on.
ZeldaQueen: And they all can't just go to Flitwick, why again?
Theo blinked, indecision written on his face as he glanced between them. However, he nodded and moved away, not saying anything. Milli and Gavin did the same, standing to the side and silently watching as the others donned the cloak and slipped out the door. Afterwards, they exchanged a look before going to do as Holly had asked.
ZeldaQueen: Boring!
Meanwhile, Holly and the two boys exited the Slytherin passageways two corridors down from Lockhart's office, hurrying to it. The dark-haired girl fingered
ZeldaQueen: Gack!
the diary in her pocket as they went.
They paused just outside the door, and Holly hesitantly opened the diary to talk to Tom and question him more on the Chamber. However, she was distracted by the thoughts of the man inside, and her face hardened, expression darkening considerably, quite an accomplishment given the already angry look on it.
Green eyes blazed.
ZeldaQueen: Oh, this is gorgeous! We get to watch the Sue try to take the higher moral ground on something! Ha ha, good luck with that
Blaise opened his mouth to ask her what was the matter, but she beat him to it.
"That bastard is leaving!" She snarled, nostrils flaring in a very terrifying manner, "He's running away. He isn't even going to try."
"What!" the other two exclaimed together.
ZeldaQueen: Wah, wah, what? Someone acting like a coward to protect their own asses? What sort of person would do such a horrible thing?
And again suethor, I must remind you, you never included that scene! As far as this fic is concerned, Lockhart never promised to go search for Ginny in the Chamber! So all we have here is that Lockhart apparently saw someone actually die and deciding to get the hell out of Dodge. Not the noblest thing, but then the school's supposed to be closing the next day. Fail!
"He's leaving… he's leaving Ginny to die!" Holly looked well and truly enraged as she forgetfully shoved the book into her pocket, not noticing that it was still partially opened. She fingered her wand, the other two looking at her with wild eyes.
ZeldaQueen: Dear Miss Sue, did you forget my rant already? You are in absolutely no position to take the higher ground in regards to Ginny. Suck it and die, thank you
Blaise and Draco exchanged a look over her head, their shock being replaced by anger. A moment of understanding passed between them, and both smirked, also going for their wands.
"Well, we can't have that now, can we?" the brunet questioned rhetorically.
"No, we can't," the blond responded with false sweetness.
Holly stared up at them, noting their expressions. "We'll just have to take him to the Chamber with us then, won't we?"
"Yes."
"Of course."
ZeldaQueen: Okay, this is just sick. I'm pretty sure the suethor is trying to make it look like Holly, Blaise, and Draco are in some righteous fury, giving Lockhart his just reward. Except for a few problems here.
First of all, as I said several times before, the suethor never wrote Lockhart as promising to go to the Chamber! In other words, he's under no obligation to rescue Ginny! So their going on about how he has to be taught a lesson and whatnot is completely uncalled for. This leads us to the second point...
They're being totally evil about this. In canon, Harry and Ron only attacked Lockhart after he threatened them. In other words, self defense. These guys are going in with the expressed intent to attack him in some way. They are smirking. They are planning to drag a guy who they know is not a skilled wizard into a place which has a large monster and some sort of a ghost in it (just...wait and see). They are deliberately endangering his life and just for their sick sense of revenge. Which brings us to the last point...
They want to save Ginny, my Aunt Fanny. They know she's in the Chamber of Secrets. They know that there's a Basilisk down there, with no one to control it. They know that something dangerous has been going around the school and has kidnapped Ginny. And what are they putting all of their efforts into? Humiliating Lockhart. Instead of dismissing him as a lost cause and finding someone who could help them, they're going to take who-knows-how-long to teach him a lesson. They're going to drag a guy who is essentially dead weight with them on a rescue mission, a guy who will surely slow them down and cause trouble. In other words, they care more about causing trouble for a worthless person than saving an innocent, eleven-year-old girl.
And before anyone says "Harry and Ron took Lockhart with them in canon", let's think about this. In canon, Harry and Ron weren't so powerful when they were second years. They went to Lockhart in the vain hope that he at least could help them out. The had to take him along when he began threatening to mind wipe them. They did not hover outside of the door, plotting to drag him along just because.
Anymore you'd like me to add, suethor?
The girl smiled as she sent a spell at the door. The dandy's back was to them as they entered, and he was packing a trunk. All of his belongs were scattered nearby, not even his portraits remained on the wall.
ZeldaQueen: Hm, "dandy" again. *drinks* Doesn't the suethor have access to a thesaurus?
Lockhart heard his door open with a slam and whirled around.
"Going somewhere, Professor?" Draco asked dangerously, his wand pointed unerringly at the man.
ZeldaQueen: "Dangerously". He's threatening a professor. That's nice. Who wants to bet no one ever calls him out on this?
Holly circled him from the side. "Leaving are we, sir?" she asked, and he twirled to look at her.
Blaise went around the other side. "More like running away."
Lockhart turned to face the other boy.
"Ah… well, you see," the dandy stuttered, staring at the tips of three separate wands.
ZeldaQueen: *drinks* I'm still not impressed with these guys, suethor. All I see are three bullies who would rather gang up on a pathetic person than rescue a little girl
"Yes, we do see," the lone girl carried on. "You have been lying all this time about your exploits. But now, that there is a real test of your courage… you are fleeing, running away in the middle of the night like some frightened dog."
ZeldaQueen: *cough* Um, suethor? How the hell do they know he's a liar? He tells Harry and Ron that in canon. Did Holly read his mind? Because I don't recall us being told that, so I can only assume it came out of your anus.
And Holly, dearest, please shut up. Like, right now. You hid like a frightened dog instead of let anyone know about your abilities, when you could have put an end to this far sooner. So shut up, or I will rip out your pretty, black hair
Lockhart began to sweat. "Er… you see… What d'you want me to do?" he whined suddenly. "I don't know where the Chamber is. There's nothing I can do," he defended in a petulant voice.
ZeldaQueen: And yet again with the compression. Jeez.
Oh, and suethor? Lockhart has a point. He doesn't know where the Chamber is. There isn't anything he could do. That was the point - the teachers knew he was lying and knew he would run away if he was forced to show his hand. Now, he's got three maniacs threatening him, and you expect me to believe that he's being "petulant" while he's being held at wandpoint over something he doesn't know?
"You are in luck then, Professor," Holly said evenly. "We have discovered where the Chamber is, and what's inside."
Blaise's smirk widened. "And we're going to show it to you, so now, you can help us rescue Ginny Weasley. After all, it is the least you can do after teaching us nothing but rubbish all year!" He dark brown eyes glinted dangerously.
ZeldaQueen: Yep, these guys value revenge over saving Ginny. In canon, Ron and Harry were pissed off because he was abandoning Ron's little sister. These guys are just looking for an excuse to torment the guy
The dandy blinked, looking for all the world like he was about to cry. His eyes darted from one student to the next, and Holly could hear exactly where his thoughts were going. The professor brushed a bead of sweat from his forehead, nervously flexed his hands, and then made a fatal mistake; he went for his wand.
ZeldaQueen: This is stupid. Really stupid. I swear, this is like how Gethesme kept mixing and matching song lyrics in Salvation
"Expelliarmus!" the three Slytherins shouted at the same time, sending the professor flying through the air and into his trunk.
His things scattered on the impact. Draco nimbly caught the man's wand, snapping it in half before flinging the remains out a conveniently open window.
ZeldaQueen: *evenly* Just had to add that last little bit, didn't we? Determined to outdo canon, hmm?
"Tut, tut," he stated with condescension
ZeldaQueen: Condescending asshat, is more like it
"You shouldn't have let Professor Snape teach us that one," Holly said in a deceptively calm voice.
Blaise laughed. "Too true." He turned back to the fallen teacher. "Now up!"
He forced the man to his feet and out the door, marching him all the way to Myrtle's loo. They had no need of the cloak; after all, they had a teacher with them. But just the same, Blaise pocketed it.
ZeldaQueen: They're basically kidnapping a teacher. I know it won't happen, but I seriously hope that McGonagall comes across them, sees they're holding Lockhart at wandpoint, and Stuns the living daylights out of them all
They rounded a corner, the loo visible at the end. Lockhart froze outside the door, and Holly shoved him inside with her free hand. He landed unceremoniously in a large puddle by one of the sinks.
ZeldaQueen: Just stop it! Stop it, you frigging bully!
"Hello, Myrtle," the girl called out, accidentally trodding on the ponce's protruding fingers as she went by.
ZeldaQueen: "Accidentally", my butt. *drinks* Suethor, why are these guys likable? Why?
The ghost stuck her head through one of the stall doors. "Oh, it's you again." She glanced at Holly before sweeping her gaze over the rest of them, halting as she noticed Draco.
ZeldaQueen: Oh great, please tell me the suethor isn't going to transfer Myrtle's canon crush for Harry over to Malfoy
"Yes, it is, my fine lady," the blond intoned with a winning smile.
Myrtle blinked at him stupidly.
"We came to ask you again about the day you died."
Blaise nodded forcefully from the back of the group. "More specifically about how. You said you saw a pair of eyes," he prompted, watching Lockhart like a hawk out of the corner of his eye.
Myrtle finally looked away from the blond Slytherin. "Oh, yes, I did. They were somewhere over there," she said, pointing near the sink in front of her stall door. "I heard someone come in just before, and I was going to tell him to go away - at least, I think it was a boy. He spoke in a funny language, so I can't really be sure."
ZeldaQueen: Didn't we already have this conversation?
"Thank you," Holly responded, moving over to the tap and examining it.
Draco joined her, while the other Slytherin watched Lockhart, who was trembling like a frightened child.
"But it sounded fuzzy," Myrtle went on absentmindedly. "Almost like he was far away… or a recording." She floated to the side to get a better look at what Holly and Draco were doing.
ZeldaQueen: You just had to add that, didn't you? "Oh, it's a recording! Couldn't possibly have been Riddle!"
The boy nudged his friend, indicating a tiny serpent etched on one of the pipes. "Just like Tom said," he whispered. "Say something in Parseltongue," Draco added, moving back to distract Myrtle from what she was about to do.
ZeldaQueen: Why would Myrtle care?
Holly eyed the craving, feeling Saladin coil tighter around her wrist. "Open," she hissed, moving back as the wall did just that. There was now a blackened hole where the sink had once been, and only incredibly large pipes were visible.
ZeldaQueen: And Holly gets it right the first time! Unlike that loser Harry! Hooray!
The three males stepped up behind her, awestruck.
The dandy momentarily forgot his fear. "Amazing," he muttered, regretfully drawing attention to himself.
ZeldaQueen: *drinks* How the hell is the suethor managing to make me feel sorry for Lockhart?
Draco smirked evilly and took a step back. "You can go first," he stated, shoving Lockhart forward.
ZeldaQueen: "Evilly" how nice. You know, in canon, Lockhart was shoved down after he tried to leave. Y'all saw fit to kick him in there after he shows interest in it
The man wheeled his arms through the air for a second before unceremoniously falling in face first, sliding down the pipe. The three Slytherins merely looked over the edge after him. Blaise moved forward first, lowering himself onto the pipe and sliding out of sight. Holly went next with Draco bringing up the rear.
She slid down the slimy surface at an impossible angle for several moments before the pipe levelled off. The girl could feel the rapid approach of Blaise's mind, so she was prepared when she shot of the end, landing on a soft cushion. It took Holly a second to realise her cushion was none other than her professor when she rolled to her feet, moving out of Draco's way just in time.
ZeldaQueen: JESUS FUCKING CHRIST, STOP PICKING ON LOCKHART!!!!
He also landed on the dandy,
ZeldaQueen: *drinks*
causing the man to groan in pain. The boy climbed to his feet with a slight sneer, prodding the professor with his foot.
ZeldaQueen: Nostalgia Critic? Please?
Click to viewZeldaQueen: Thank you! Might have to call upon those words of wisdom again
"We must be miles under the school," Holly whispered to Blaise as the boy came up to her right, crunching as he walked. She didn't even want to think about what caused him to make that sound, but she had a sneaking suspicion that it was rat skeletons.
ZeldaQueen: Well thank you for that! The suethor clearly graduated from the Rose Potter School For Ruining Atmosphere
"We're probably under the lake." He turned the already lighted tip of his wand toward a darkened tunnel.
Holly glanced to the side as Draco forced Lockhart by her. The boy stepped back, leaving the ponce
ZeldaQueen: *drinks*
in front where they could easily keep an eye on him. Holly watched him with disdain, feeling Draco drift back to her other side. She automatically reached out for his right hand, slipping hers into it and squeezing. Luckily, this wasn't a problem since he left was his wand-hand.
ZeldaQueen: Good lord, can't the Sue go for two seconds without reminding us of her emotional neediness?
The boy turned to gaze at her, his eyes unreadable in the dim lighting. He looked as though he wanted desperately to say something but seemed to think the better of it, and he glanced forward again. The cowering professor took his momentary distraction to move away from the boy and to the other side of Blaise where he hopped to have at least some protection.
ZeldaQueen: And in the midst of a rescue mission, we get time for shoehorned romance and dissing Lockhart. Just what I wanted!
Holly looked at Draco for a second before glancing to Blaise, who simply shrugged before shooting Lockhart a scathing look. The girl turned back to the darkness in front of them, filling with apprehension. She knew that just down the tunnel lay the Chamber of Secrets.
ZeldaQueen: I hope the Basilisk eats her. I know it won't, but I can still dream
De nada, amorcita: You're welcome, little love.
ZeldaQueen: Okay, I'm going to quote shaolina here. There was a conversation in last recording's posts about the accuracy of that phrase (feel free to go have a look for the entire thing). Shaolina had this to say.
"Actually, you're welcome in Spanish is "De nada". I should know. XD
Still, amorcita is wrong in Spanish. It's amorcito for both genders and I have only heard it in Mexico (and just a couple of times). The more common expression is "mi amor" or something like "cariño""
ZeldaQueen: Seeing as Spanish is her first language, she's the one we'll be listening to on the subject. Of course, there's also the odd fact that the twelve-year-old Blaise is talking to the same-aged Holly like he's her grandmother
To everyone who reviewed: Thanks
ZeldaQueen: - for being ignorant morons who can't realize what a horrible Mary Sue this "heroine" is
Chapter Twenty-Three: Enemies of the Heir
ZeldaQueen: In which I lose my mind
Ever Hopeful,
Azar
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Onward to: Chapter 23: Enemies Of The Heir (Part 1)
Back to: Chapter 22: Riddle in the Dark (part 1)
Return to: Table of Contents