Chapter 7
There are books everywhere, fulling the space so drastically she can’t even move. In this research session with her brothers Estelle has been half reading about family lineage and have reading the book she got from the restricted section of the library.
The ancient text is so full of information about dark magic that it will defiantly help them in the future when they actually have to fight the mysterious dark lord.
This is the first time that she has seen Sirius pick up a book and focus so she defiantly does not what to break his new found concentration. Regulus on the other hand has been reading so fast she is not sure how much of the information he has actually absorbed.
In all honesty Estelle does not really know what they are looking for as how do you look for the secrets of someone if you don’t even know their last name? Seeming to make the same conclusion Sirius shuts his book with a sigh rubbing at his eyes in frustration.
‘We are getting nowhere!’
‘It takes time Sirius just be patient’ Regulus states also closing his book which looks shockingly similar to the book she is reading. Maybe she isn’t the only one reading off topic.
‘We do not have time to be patient, we need to figure this out now!’
‘maybe if I asked my friends for help...’
‘No’ They respond in unison
‘No, Sirius we agreed not to tell anyone’ Sirius seems frustrated by her response but picks up another book anyways, letting his idea go.
‘I don’t think we are going to get anywhere, we have been here for hours’ Regulus sighs
‘What if we do our own research and if anything, interesting comes out we organise an emergency meeting.’
‘Yeah ok, well if no one finds anything we will see you next week Sirius’ She says levitating the books she brought while starting to walk down to the dungeons Regulus in tow.
As usual they walk in silence but surprisingly Regulus breaks their routine.
‘James told me about your little interrogation’ smirking she looks at her brother who seems a mixture of angry and tired by the topic.
‘It was a necessary precaution’
‘Necessary?’
‘Yes, necessary he needs to know the consequences of hurting a Black’
‘James wouldn’t hurt a fly’
‘you never know’ She murmurs wanting to move on
‘Do you like him?’ surprised by the question she takes a second to think about it. Sensing the importance in her answer.
‘I don’t know him well enough to fully determine that, but he seems nice enough.’
Regulus nods in understanding seeming content with her answer. Moving forward they stay in silence until they wish each other a good night.
……
Estelle is incredibly nervous and the only thing keeping her from running back to her dorm is the fact the Pandora is a seer so surely; she would know if anything bad is going to happen tonight.
Apparently, there is a clearing in the forbidden forest where most of the animals pass through and apparently Estelle must meet said animals. Although Estelle is scared -she isn’t in Gryffindor for a reason - and this seems like a disaster’s idea.
Estelle is just thankful they’re not doing this on a full moon because she doesn’t want to get mauled by a werewolf anytime soon.
Pandora seems totally relaxed though practically skipping through the dense forest, not even looking down at the ginormous roots sticking out of the ground that she could easily trip over.
Finally, they make it to the clearing and the sight is defiantly worth the walk. Looking up Estelle sees hundreds of fairies within the trees singing a tune she cannot understand lighting up the space. They all fly around not giving the two witches any attention as the talk in their own language. Pandora starts picking random flowers around the edge of the clearing humming the same tune the fairies are singing like she can understand the mysterious language.
Slowly walking to the centre, she notices the perfect circular shape the trees have created forming a natural fence of flowers and shrubs at the edge of the circle like the plants want to protect whatever is inside. The brightness of the space seems weirdly magical when comparing it to the natural state of darkness the forest is usually in.
Skipping back over Pandora hands Estelle a flower crown filled with purple and red flowers beautifully braided together.
‘Oh, thank you, your too sweet’ Pandora just smiles as Estelle puts the crown on.
‘I knew your aura would like this place its already starting to relax’ Not really knowing how to respond Estelle just smiles back.
The two for a while just stand in silence looking up at the miniscule fairies in awe of the elegance and lovely tune. Until all of a sudden, a massive Hippogriff gracefully flies into the circle. Pandora acting like she knew the animal was coming immediately bows down to the animal, Estelle following suit.
Estelle knows about hippogriffs, and she knows that they are very proud animals that expect the utmost respect. Although past the whole bowing thing she doesn’t really know how to act or when they are allowed to stand like normal.
The animal huffs and stamps on the ground once making Estelle nervous but looking to her left she notices Pandora start to stand probably. Copying the girl, she stands tall but doesn’t look at the animal just in case.
‘What do we do?’ is whispered
‘Don’t fret Dashquill is a gentle sole’ she reassures bowing once more before she goes up to the animal at starts placing flowers in its feathers. Estelle takes that as an allowance to actually look at the animal. Dashquill holds her head up high showing off her large and surely powerful wings. Her entire body is in grey tones except for her beak and claws that are yellow.
The animal seeming tired starts walking to the edge of the circle and lies down which worries Estelle slightly.
‘Don’t worry Dashquill is pregnant, so she is just saving her energy.’ Pandora says moving back to Estelle side ‘That’s why she came here she needed a rest’.
‘Can she not rest anywhere else?’
“it’s safer here the fairies decide who is allowed in the clearing if you do not have their permission, you will be stuck in the forest.’
This explains why the clearing seems so magical outside of the obvious Estelle thinks. The news also makes her a bit more relaxed without the threat of danger.
‘We should probably let her sleep, let’s go’ The girls starts walking back and whatever calmness Estelle had previously attained is now gone as they walk through the pitch-black forest.
Finally existing the forest, they come face to face with an odd-looking shack that she has never noticed before.
‘Who lives there?’
‘Oh, that’s Hagrid’s hut, he’s the ground keeper’
‘Is he a wizard?’
‘Was a wizard apparently he killed a student when he went here and got his wand broken.’
‘And he is allowed on the school grounds!’
‘I guess Dumbledore doesn’t have a problem with it.’
Dumbledore of course, that man’s moral don’t exist at this point. But still, this seems very odd for even him. Shouldn’t Hagrid be in Azkaban she thinks while walking through the castle to the dungeons after saying goodnight to Pandora.
She understands why Dumbledore did it of course as now Hagrid will be in the man’s debt but publicly it is not a smart move. So, why would he risk tarnishing his reputation for this random ex-wizard. Therefore, there must be more to the story.
Maybe Hagrid didn’t mean to do the murder, or Dumbledore new Hagrid’s parents and felt bad.
Deciding to indulge her need to find out more she heads to the library to find out more about him when he was a student.
Placing a disillusionment and silencing spell on her feet she sneaks into the library. Be lining straight to the school records she regrets not asking for Hagrid’s age. Assuming he is an adult by now she goes back to 1945 flipping through the book to try and find the man’s name. Sadly, not finding anything she continues her search until she reaches the school record for 1943. Gasping quietly, she reads the old article dedicated towards the now grounds keeper at the back of the record.
Myrtle Warren Murdered At Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
This author is sad to announce the tragic murder of one Myrtle Warren a muggleborn student who was in Ravenclaw house. Who killed this innocent student well readers you will be shocked to know it was one of her fellow students!
Rubeus Hagrid, who is surprisingly a Gryffindor, killed the girl by realising a rabid Acromantula into the school. For those readers who do not know Acromantula’s they are giant spiders that have no place anywhere near a school. The poor girl was found petrified with claw marks along her body. This murderous student has now been expelled and has had their wand snapped, rightfully so.
Although do not fret readers as there is a hero in this story as a young student named Tom Riddle an academically bright half-blood witnessed the murder and bravely told the headmaster. Without this brave student who is in fact a Slytherin the terrifying murderer Hagrid would still be on the loose. We are all in debt to this amazing young wizard.
The article continues but Estelle has lost interest now moving on to figuring out who this Tom Riddle is as she has never heard of the name. She moves on to the family tree books at the back of library to see if she can find his name and put this late-night search to bed.
While she is looking though, she still thinks she is missing half the story as how did Tom witness the murder and not get murdered himself? If this creature was so scary how did Hagrid even obtain it and if the story is so black and white, then once again why is he the grounds keeper!
Finally, she finds his family tree and how tragic is her first thought when she reads of his parents’ death. Although she quickly notices his mother’s maiden name is Gaunt which she immediately recognises as a well-known pure-blood family. Well no longer well known she supposes as they are all supposed to be dead.
The house of Gaunt if she remembers correctly from her many lessons on family lineage was one of the last remaining families connected to Salazar Slytherin. So why this boy would use his muggleborn fathers last name to represent himself she does not know. As, if this is correct, he would be the only person that is directly related to Salazar Slytherin. This boy must be a parsletounge she assumes as Salazar was known to be one.
This side thought makes her nearly drop the book in shock as the last puzzle piece clicks into place. As, now she has a clear memory of her Grandmother mentioning that the reason why people fear pasrletounge’s is because they can open the chamber of secrets. A very known legend that was rumoured to be opened in 1943 the same year that a student dies and found petrified with the heir to the Gaunt family involved!
She needs to make an emergency meeting because Estelle thinks she might now know the true nature of the Dark Lord.
……
Estelle has been waiting for much too long in the small confines of the kitchens that she didn’t even know existed until Regulus told them to meet her via bewitched origami notes. She must say she did not like having to tickle a pear to get inside but the elf’s made it up by their amazing hospitality.
After what seems like a lifetime the two teens shuffle in sitting next to her around the makeshift table the elves set up.
‘Well?’ Sirius asks his knee bouncing in anticipation
‘I did it’ she says excited to finally discuss her findings ‘Voldemort is a half blood, and his real name is Tom Riddle!’
The two boys gasp is shock and start reading through the records and article that allowed her to come to the news breaking conclusion. Although as she looks at Regulus, he seems less excited than her and Sirius which makes her worried.
‘What Regulus what did I miss?’
‘He is a Gaunt’ he mutters starting to pick at his nails ‘Therefore even though he is a half-blood he is the last person who is directly related to Salazar himself and probably one of the last parsletounges.’
‘Well, that’s not true there are many parsletounges.’ She asserts without thinking
Regulus scrunches his eyebrows in question ‘How do you know that?’ Suddenly feeling a bit cornered she copies her brother’s habit of picking at her nails wondering if she should reveal the truth.
‘uhm well because I am a parsletounge’ she mutters
The boys share a look that she doesn’t understand making her more worried about their reactions but before she goes on a rant about how being a parsletounge does not mean you’re inherently evil Sirius speaks up.
‘Well, I’m an Animagus so I guess we all have secrets.’ His statement makes her smile as he is obviously trying to make her less stressed.
‘I am also an animagus’ Regulus says, ‘I am a Black cat’ This makes Sirius whip his head up and grin almost manically ‘no way you’re a black cat I’m a black dog that’s hilarious.’
Estelle stays quite not disturbing the brother’s moment that she seems to be intruding. As, she knows what her animagus will be and how it does not fit with her brothers’ animals. The idea makes the mandrake leaf sitting in her mouth feel 10 pounds heavier than usual. Estelle is once again reminded how even if they are blood related Regulus and Sirius will always have a sibling bond which she craves but cannot obtain.
Noticing her silence Regulus shifts back to reading the article focusing back on the reason for the meeting. ‘This is amazing news Estelle, but I don’t know if it will be enough because of his ancestry.’ Nodding in understanding Estelle decides to move onto her other theory.
‘There is one more thing’ the boys look up in anticipation ‘Our grandmother is also a parsletounge and she taught me the history of why people think we are all evil.’
‘The chamber of secrets’ Regulus mutters seeming to be also piecing the clues together.
‘The chamber of secrets isn’t that a myth?’
‘To some sure but assuming it is real Tom is a blood relative to the person who made the chamber of secrets and a parsletounge therefore would be able to open it….
‘and he can therefore control the basilisk in the chamber that would have petrified the girl’ Regulus continues
Nodding in understanding Sirius stands up dramatically ‘Well why don’t we just go ask the victim herself.’ ‘You’re a genius brother’ Regulus says also standing leaving Estelle utterly confused but she follows anyways.
‘How are we going to talk to a dead person?’
‘Oh, come on Estelle surely by now you have heard her moaning’ annoyed by her brother’s allusive answer Estelle tries to put the pieces together barking a short laugh when she does.
‘Moaning myrtle is the victim’ Her brothers just smile in response as they quietly shuffle to the abandoned girl’s bathroom.
As soon as they enter, they are attached by the ghosts wailing and blubbering watching uncomfortably as she floats in-between the bathroom stalls. Estelle also notices the massive bathtub in the centre of the bathroom that she has never seen in any of the other bathrooms. Of course, the ghost had to haunt the fanciest bathroom in the school.
Trying to get the ghosts attention Sirius coughs slightly. Luckily it has done the trick as the ghost studies the three teens in front of her in surprise and aw before she floats towards them.
Fluttering her eyelashes at her brothers the Ravenclaw tries to smile sweetly ‘Well hello boys.’ Ignoring Estelle’s presence entirely ‘It is such an honour to have you visit my bathroom.’
Looking slightly uncomfortable by her aggressive flirting as the ghost giggles throughout the silence and continues to aggressively bat her lashes Regulus looks to Estelle for some help.
‘We were wondering if you could tell us about your death.’ Her question pulls Myrtle out of her love sick trance as she glares at Estelle ‘Why would I tell you!’ she screams floating back into one of the cubicles.
Exasperated by the ghost’s tantrum she elbows Sirius to make him take over.
‘Myrtle please come back out I miss your beautiful smile.’ Immediately the girl starts giggling and twirling one of her long pigtails in delight as she leaves the cubicle once again. ‘We are just so in aw about you and how you became one of the youngest ghosts ever that we are truly desperate to know how you died.’ Sirius laminates with a sickeningly sweet smile on his face that makes Myrtle swoon even more.
‘Well, if you must know’ She giggles ‘I was having an awful day because this boy in my year called my ponytails ugly!’ she wails ‘So I came to the bathroom to cry but then I hear this boy whispering odd sounds so I turn around about to yell at him for being in the girl’s bathroom and then it all just goes blank. And then I was dead.’
That doesn’t explain the scratches, though Tom could have purposely placed those there to make it seem more like an animal attach. Although it defiantly conforms her suspicion about Tom opening the chamber of secrets. Estelle slowly turns to face the obnoxious bath in the centre of the room and realises if Myrtle got killed in this bathroom and the basilisk was in this bathroom that must mean….
She jumps in shock realising that they are quite literally standing next to the entrance to the chamber of secrets and therefore standing above a bloody basilisk. Looking to her left she notices that her brothers have also come to the same conclusion by Sirius’s shocked face and Regulus’s pale demeanour.
The trio bid Myrtle a good bye and silently leave the bathroom heading back to their dorms all still in shock. This breakthrough means everything and also nothing to help them destroy Tom’s reputation and person in general. I mean what is killing a Basilisk really going to do? And why did Tom kill Myrtle other than her being a Muggleborn? And why did he use the chamber to do so? It seems like every answer they get just opens up a plethora of new questions creating an endless loop of confusion. She decides writing to her grandmother is a must, yearning for the witch’s advice.