▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 ━︎━︎  𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 Juniper wrote a quick letter to her mother before meeting Harry and Ron in the common room. They made their way to the hospital wing, not before Juniper stopped to get Hermione some fresh flowers because she was sure that the ones that were in there now would be dead. The trio entered the hospital wing, making their way over to Hermione. Ron sat in the chair beside of her bed whilst Harry sat on the edge of the bed. Juniper walked over to the side table, taking out the old decayed flowers and replacing them with the fresh new ones she'd gotten.

     "Wish you were here, Hermione." Harry said with a frown. "We need you. Now more than ever." Harry placed a hand over Hermione's, a sad sigh falling from his lips. His eyes furrowed when he noticed something in Hermione's hand. He quickly grabbed it, revealing a scrunched up piece of paper.

     Juniper looked at the paper with a frown, moving to stand beside of Harry. "What's that?" Ron asked. Juniper's eyes widened as she exchanged a look with Harry.

     "Ron, this is why Hermione was in the library the day she was attacked." Harry folded the piece of paper, stuffing it in his pocket. Juniper took a step back as he stood up quickly, he nodded for the two to follow him. "Come on!" They followed after Harry who was reading the paper. "Of the many fearsome beasts that roam our land, none is more deadly than the basilisk. Capable of living for hundreds of years, instant death awaits any who meet the giant serpent's eye. Spiders flee before it. . . this is it." Harry looked away from the paper and looked between Ron and Juniper. "The monster in the Chamber of Secrets is a basilisk. That's why I can hear it speak. It's a snake."

     Ron's shoulder's slumped. "But if it kills by looking people in the eye, why is it no one's dead?"

     Harry went silent as he thought about it. Juniper thought back to every crime scene before she looked at the two in realization. "Because no one has actually looked it in the eye." The two looked at her and they started walking. "Think about it. Collin saw it through his camera, not directly at it. Justin. . . you said Nearly Headless Nick was there, so therefore he probably saw the basilisk through Nearly Headless Nick. And then of course Hermione had the mirror so she saw it through the reflection of the mirror."

     "And Mrs. Norris?" Ron questioned her. "I'm pretty sure she didn't have a camera or a mirror, Juniper."

     Harry thought about it for a moment before saying, "The water. There was water on the floor that night. She only saw the basilisk's reflection." Harry walked towards a flame, using the light to read more of the paper. "Spiders flee before it. It all fits."

     "But how's the basilisk been getting around?" Ron asked with a frown. "A dirty, great snake, someone would have seen it."

     "Hermione's answered that too." Harry said, showing Ron the parchment where the word 'pipes' was written.

     "Pipes? It's using the plumbing?"

     "Remember what Aragog said about that girl 50 years ago? She died in a bathroom?" Harry paused for a moment before saying, "What if she never left?"

     Juniper's eyes widened in realization. "Moaning Myrtle."

     Suddenly the sound of Professor McGonagall came on overhead. "All students are to return to their house dormitories at once. All teachers to the second floor corridor immediately." The three exchanged looks with each other before making it to the second floor.

     They quickly ran down the hall, coming to a silent stop as they hid behind the wall, listening to McGonagall. "Our worst fear has been realized. A student has been taken by the monster into the chamber itself. The students must be sent home. I'm afraid this is the end of Hogwarts."

     The sound of approaching footsteps could be heard and then Professor Lockheart's voice. "So sorry. Dozed off. What have I missed?"

     Snape answered, "A girl has been snatched by the monster, Lockheart. Your moment has come at last."

     Lockheart raised his eyebrows. "My. . . moment?"

     "Weren't you saying just last night that you've known all along where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is?"

     "That's settled," McGonagall said. "We'll leave you to deal with the monster, Gilderoy. Your skills, after all, are legend."

     "Very well," Lockheart smiled. "Uh, I'll just be in my office getting, um, getting ready." He turned and walked away.

     Madame Pomfrey turned to look at McGonagall. "Who is it that the monster's taken, Minerva?"

     "Ginny Weasley." The teachers all walked away from the scene.

     Juniper turned her head to look at Ron who was standing there with wide eyes and his mouth agape. His little sister had been taken. He read the message written in blood on the wall. "Her skeleton will lie in the chamber forever." Ron swallowed thickly, his face completely taken over with fear. "Ginny. . ."

     Juniper placed a hand on his shoulder, offering Ron the best smile she could muster. "It's alright, Ron. We'll find her, don't worry."

     "Come on, we need to get to Lockheart's class." Harry started running the other way and Ron and Juniper quickly followed after him. They ran into the classroom. "Lockheart may be useless, but he's going to try and get into the Chamber. At least we can tell him what we know." They ran up the steps that led to Lockheart's office, not even bothering to knock, they burst into the office. "Professor, we have some information for you."

     A frown pulled at Juniper's lips when she saw Lockheart frantically collecting his things. "What are you. . . wait, are you leaving?"

     Lockheart looked at them. "Uh, yes, urgent call. Unavoidable. Got to go."

     "What about my sister!" Ron snapped.

     "Well, um, as to that, most unfortunate. No one regrets more than I."

     "Most unfor―︎" Juniper cut herself off with a scoff, looking at the man in disbelief.

     "You're the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. You can't go now." Ron was angry as he looked at the professor. His desperation to find his sister alive was pushing him. Juniper couldn't blame him, she'd be pissed to. In fact, she was. She'd said from the beginning how much of an idiot he was, and now that everything's gone to shit, they were finally listening to her.

     "Well, I must say, when I took the job, there was nothing in the job description about―︎"

     "You're running away?" Harry cut him off, moving to stand in front of him, blocking his path. "After all that stuff you did in your books?"

     "Books can be misleading." Gilderoy straightened his shoulders as he said this, almost like he was becoming defensive.

     "You wrote them!" Harry argued.

     "My dear boy, do use your common sense! My books wouldn't have sold half as well if people didn't think I'd done all those things!"

     "You're a fraud." Now Harry was angry. "You've just been taking credit for what other wizards have done."

     "Is there anything you can do?" Ron asked.

     "Yes. Now you mention it. I'm rather gifted with memory charms. Otherwise, you see, all those wizards would have gone blabbing, and I'd never have sold another book." He looked at the three. "In fact, uh. . . I'm going to have to do the same to you." He walked over to his things and grabbed his wand.

     Juniper was the first to pull out her wand, Ron and Harry following. When Lockheart turned around, the three were pointing their wands at him, daring him to attempt and cast the spell. Harry looked at the man sternly. "Don't even think about it."

     "I don't know Harry, I say let him try. That'll be fun for me." Juniper smirked. "Come on, put the wand down. No one has to get hurt." Lockheart did so and she smiled with satisfaction. "Now, you're going to show us how to open the Chamber of Secrets so that we can get Ginny back." She stepped aside, keeping her wand pointed at him, nodding for him to go.

     The three followed Lockheart closely, keeping their wands raised. He lead them into the girls bathroom, the one where Moaning Myrtle resided. As usual, the ghosts was crying. The ghost stopped at the sound of footsteps. "Oh, who's there?" Myrtle turned towards them. "Oh! Hello, Harry. What do you want?"

     "To ask you how you died," Harry truthfully asked.

     "Oh, it was dreadful." Myrtle answered. "It happened right here in this very cubicle. I'd hidden because Olive Hornby was teasing me about my glasses. I was crying and then I heard somebody come in."

     "Who was it, Myrtle?"

     She looked at Harry, angry. "I don't know. I was distraught!" She began to grow closer to them. "But they said something funny, a kind of made-up language, and I realized it was a boy speaking, so I unlocked the door to tell him to go away, and. . . I died."

     "Just like that?" Harry asked. "How?"

     "I just remember seeing a pair of great, big, yellow eyes. . . over there by that sink." She nodded her head towards the sink before pointing to the specific one she was talking about. Myrtle turned away from them and floated away, going back to crying.

     Harry approached the sink, looking at it for a moment and trying to feel for a way in. He turned on the sink, but no water came out. His eyes narrowed on a snake that was on the side of the faucet. "This is it. This is it, Ron, Juniper. I think this is the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets."

     Ron looked at Lockheart before looking at Harry. "Say something." Harry looked at him confused. "Harry, say something in parseltongue." Harry paused for a moment before he started speaking the different language and just like that the top of the sinks came open, going up into the air. The sinks separated from each other causing the four to take a few steps back and then there was an opening in the middle of the floor.

     Lockheart let out a breath, looking at Harry with a smile. "Excellent, Harry. Ah, good work. Well, then, I'll just be. . . there's no need for me to stay." He quickly tried to run out but the three grabbed him, stopping him from going anywhere.

     "Oh, yes there is!" Harry pushed him back. Lockheart let out a yell and they pointed his wand at him again. "You first."

     "Now, what good will it do?" Lockheart asked.

     "Better you than us," Ron answered.

     "Um, but. . . obviously. Yes." Lockheart turned, looking down at the hole. He turned to look at them. "Sure you don't want to test it first?" Juniper groaned before stepping forwards and pushing him. Lockheart let out a yell and went flying down the hole. A crash could be heard and then Lockheart's voice followed. "It's really quite filthy down here."

     Harry and Ron turned to look at her and she shrugged her shoulders. "What? You can't say that you didn't enjoy watching me do that." They said nothing and Juniper nodded. "That's what I thought."

     Harry swallowed before nodding his head. "Alright, let's go."

     "Oh, Harry." Myrtle's voice grabbed their attention. "If you die down there, you're welcome to share my toilet." She let out a giggle and Juniper had to stop herself from gagging.

     "Uh. . . thanks, Myrtle."

     Juniper looked at him. "You first?" Harry quickly nodded and then jumped. Ron went next and then Juniper went last. It was like a giant slide and when they landed at the bottom, Juniper had to catch her breath. Harry stood up, holding out a hand for Juniper to grab. She gladly took it, letting him pull her up. She dusted off her robes, glancing around the place with disgust. Lockheart was right, this place was filthy.

     "Now, remember, any sign of movement, close your eyes straight away." Harry reminded them. Juniper nodded but her face was scrunched in disgust, bones of animals were crunching under her feet. She wasn't one to get queasy easy, but this made her stomach churn. Harry climbed into one of the tunnels first, Juniper and Ron looked at Lockheart expectantly and the man sighed before following after Harry with Ron and Juniper following behind him.

     They followed Harry, coming to a slow stop when there was a giant snake skin littered on the ground. Juniper's eyes widened in horror and suddenly she remembered how much she hated snakes. Ron looked at the snake skin with a deep frown. "What's this?"

     "It looks like a snake." Lockheart answered him.

     "It's a snakeskin," Harry told them.

     "Bloody hell," Ron whispered. "Whatever shed this must be 60 feet long. Or more." All of sudden Lockheart passed out, falling to the ground. Juniper took a step back so he wouldn't fall on her. Ron looked down at him before looking at Harry. "Heart of a lion, this one."

     Suddenly Lockheart stood up, snatching Ron's wand and pointing it at them. "The adventure ends here, boys, and girl." He gave Juniper a slight glare and Juniper just rose her eyebrows at him in amusement. "But don't fret. The world will know our story. How I was too late to save the girl, how you three tragically lost your minds at the sight of her mangled body." He moved Ron's wand to point it at Harry. "So, you first, Mr. Potter. Say goodbye to your memories."

     Juniper watched him with her arms crossed over her chest, a smile starting to pull up on her lips. She met eyes with Harry and they shared a silent conversation before they looked back towards Lockheart. "Obliviate!" And just as Juniper assumed it would happen, the spell backfired and hit Lockheart instead. She stepped out of the way when he was sent flying back and she couldn't help the amused chuckle that fell from her lips.

     "That was amusing," Juniper told the two boys. "That made my entire year."

Suddenly the cave started to shake. Juniper didn't know if it was from Lockheart being thrown against the wall and knocked unconscious or if they just had really bad timing, which always seemed to be the case. Juniper looked up, Ron standing right beside of her and then suddenly it all came down. Ron and Juniper were standing on one side with a knocked out Gilderoy Lockheart, and Harry was standing on the other side with a missing Ginny Weasley and a giant snake.

Juniper had grabbed Ron, pulling him back and holding up her wand in preparation to blast one of the fallen rocks to hell. Luckily they were both unscathed. When the rocks stopped falling, Juniper slowly lowered her wand. She looked forwards and with wide eyed realized that the rocks were piled up and there was no way for her to get to Harry.

Immediately she yelled for him. "Harry!" For a moment, Harry said nothing.

Ron joined her side and this time he called for his best friend. "Harry!"

"Harry, are you alright?" Juniper called, trying to hide the desperation in her voice.

"Ron, Juniper! Are you okay?" Harry yelled for them.

"We're fine!" Ron yelled back.

"What about you, Harry?" Juniper asked. "Are you alright?"

"I'm alright," Harry confirmed.

The sound of movement made Juniper turn her head. Lockheart was sitting up, a dopey smile on his face as he looked at Ron and Juniper. "Hello. Who are you?"

"Oh, great." Juniper let out a groan, rolling her eyes as she walked away from the man.

Ron decided to answer him. "Um. . . Ron Weasley."

"Really?" Lockheart asked. "And who is she?"

"Juniper Black," Juniper muttered.

"Really?" He asked again. He then looked back at Ron. "And, uh, who-who am I?"

Juniper smirked. "I knew it would backfire."

"Lockheart's memory charm backfired!" Ron informed Harry. "He hasn't got a clue who he is!"

"It's an odd sort of place, this, isn't it?" Lockheart picked up a small rock, tossing it in his hand and then catching it before looking at Ron. "Do you live here?"

"No." Ron shook his head before looking at Juniper.

"Really?"

Juniper took the rock from Lockheart's hand and looked at Ron. "May I?"

Ron nodded, "Please." Juniper nodded before taking the rock and hitting Lockheart over the head, knocking him out again. She smiled in satisfaction, tossing the rock to the side before turning around and focusing her attention back on Harry. Ron asked, "What do we do now?"

"You two wait here and try and shift some of this rock so that we can get back through. I'll go on and find Ginny," Harry said.

"Okay."

"Harry, be careful!" Juniper yelled but all she could hear was Harry's footsteps growing father and farther away.