A Wonder

In all fairness she had looked for her for nearly an hour before it was time for her to leave. The quidditch game was due to begin soon and so she figured that Ginny had simply gone early. 

As she rounded the corner she froze in her stride. Standing completely frozen before her was Hermione Grander, her eyes wide and eyebrows raised, in her fist a mirror. Ryleigh didn’t realize it at the time but she’d screamed at the sight, and loudly too apparently as she could hear footsteps running toward her but she couldn’t take her eyes off the poor girl. 

From the same corner that Ryleigh had come from Snape and McGonagall ran at top speed toward her. Snape stopped at her and spun around, his cape whooshing behind him as he checked her over for injuries. McGonagall ran to Hermione’s side and did the same to her. 

“Ms. Walsh?” Snape asked, he could tell she was not petrified but shocked. “Ms. Walsh?” 

Snape looked back at McGonagall who shook her head sadly. “She’s been petrified.” She explained. 

“Ryleigh?” McGonagall said as she joined Snape in front of her. Ryleighs eyes looked between them. 

“Is she dead?” She asked quietly.

“No, no dear she’s just been petrified. She’ll be okay once the mandrakes mature.” McGonagall explained and Ryleigh took a shaky breath. 

“Why are you out here all alone? Did you see what happened?” The woman asked and Ryleigh shook her head.

“Ms. Walsh was on her way to meet with me Minerva.” Snape supplied. 

“We’ll need to take Ms. Granger to the hospital wing. I’ll need to inform Albus and see what he’s like to do about this…” McGonagall said, her worry etched clearly in her face. 

McGonagall showing her concern only caused the fear and worry in Ryleigh to jump up higher and she could feel her hand start to shake and Snape seemed to notice. 

“I will collect the girl. You go and speak to albus. I will return Ms. Walsh to her common room.” Snape said and McGonagall agreed, taking her leave. 

Snape took Ryleigh by the arm and led her away. When they were further from the scene he stopped and lent down and met her eyes.

“Can you hear me?” He asked, she nodded. 

“Can you speak to me?” 

“I.. I’m fine.. you should help Hermione…” she stuttered out.

“You are far from fine but we will help Ms. Granger as well.” He said and turned his back to her, facing Hermione, he took out his wand a carefully spoke ‘Mobilicorpus’ on the girl. Her stone still body lifted off the ground and Snape carefully took hold of her.

“Lead us the way to hospital Ms Walsh.” He instructed and she did as she was asked, keeping a few feet ahead to warn of any wondering students. They made it to the hospital wing and Ryleigh ran ahead, opened the doors for them and then went to find madam pomfrey.

“Madam?” She called as she searched the wing, then the office. The woman was seated at a desk examining some potions.

“Ah Ms. Walsh. Is everything okay?” She asked and Ryleigh shook her head.

“It’s Hermione. She — she needs a bed.” Ryleigh explained and the woman got up quickly following her back out of the office. Snape was standing next to a bed that now held the body of Hermione, stuck as stone in her position.

“Oh merlin…” Pomfrey whispered as she examined the girl. 

“This is getting quite out of hand don’t you agree Severus.” She said, though her tone was hushed Ryleigh heard it clearly. 

“Quite.” Was his simple response. 

He walked over to Hermiones other side and carefully took the mirror from her clutched hand, examining it.

As he did Dumbledore and McGonagall entered, whispering together. 

“Dear girl…” Dumbledore whispered as he approached her side. Then he looked to Snape and McGonagall.

“New rules are in effect as of now, the match will be canceled, the students are to remain in their common rooms apart from classes. Teachers will gather the students from there common rooms and accompany them to classes.”  Then he looked specifically to McGonagall, “I will be removed from my post this evening I’m sure of it. You know how to handle the situation I’m sure.” 

Dumbledore and Snape seemed to share a heavy glance but neither said a word as Dumbledore turned to leave.

“Severus, I’m going to end the Quidditch match, would you bring Ms. Walsh back to Gryffindor tower?” 

Snape nodded and without a snarky comment began to lead her back out of the hospital wing. 

As they walked in silence Ryleigh was hyper aware. 

“You needn’t worry Ms Walsh.” He said suddenly and she looked at him.

“I think i do…” she whispered, “everyone that’s been attacked thus far has been muggleborn.” 

“I’m aware, but you are not muggleborn.” He stated.

“My mam is a squib professor and I don’t know anything about my father. So, yes, I think it counts.” She said sarcastically. 

“You father is not of questionable lineage. Your mother might be a squib but your grandparents were both very talented.”

She was silent for a moment.

“You knew them?” She asked.

“I knew your grandmother, some time before she passed away.” He stated and didn’t elaborate.

“What that’s it? You not going to say how you knew her?” She asked, “I mean Professor you look my mothers age not my grandmothers…” she said and thought she saw an uptick in the corner of his mouth.

“Here we are.” He said and she looked to see that they were in fact standing at the portrait of the fat lady. 

“Thank you, for walking me back.” She said and spoke the password to the painting. 

Snape just nodded and walked away without another word. 

She walked into the common room where many students were already waiting including Ginny. She tried to walk over and talk to her but the girl got up from her spot on the steps and walked over to an empty chair. Ryleigh would have followed her if it hadn’t been for the crowd of quidditch players who entered and blocked her view. 

“Does anyone know what’s going on?” Someone asked. 

“She was with Snape, did you see what happened Ryleigh?” Dean asked and she looked over to see the whole room staring at her. 

“I—“ she started, “Hermione was petrified. I found her in the hall.” Students gasped and whispered to each other. 

“Couldn’ta been Harry then, he was at quidditch with us.” Said Fred, “not that we thought it was him at all.” Said George.

Then Harry and Ron entered and they all looked at them sadly, but the boys just ignored them, moving to the back to stand on the stairs.

A few minutes later McGonagall entered the common room with a rolled piece of parchment. 

“Can I have your attention please?” She called and they all quieted down.

“Because of recent events these new rules will be put into effect immediately:” she unrolled the paper and began to read. “All students will return to their house common rooms by 6 o’clock every evening. All student will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No exceptions.” She said and then lowered the paper. Looking up at them she said, “I should tell you this… unless the culprit behind these attacks is caught it is likely the school will be closed.” Then she turned and left as they whispered to each other. 

Xx

Ryleigh had been looking for Ginny all day long. Immediately following the attack against Hermione the teachers had been very strict about to new policies, especially with Dumbledore being removed and Hagrid having been arrested. But when two weeks past without incident they seemed to relax them, the students were free to walk about the castle to classes but still had to be back to their common rooms by six. That Saturday Ryleigh and Luna had been up and down the castle halls looking for their friend. It had been a while since they’d hung out due to Ginny still being upset by the way their last conversation went but Ryleigh was worried. With monsters on the loose and kids being petrified left and right she’d been making sure to at least keep track of her friend, seeing as none of her brothers seemed to notice when the girl would disappear.

Ryleigh and Luna were resigned to ask for help when the clock struck 4 and they still hadn’t found Ginny. 

She knocked rapidly on Snapes office door and he opened it with an irritated huff. 

“It is Saturday and I am busy.” He snapped without looking.

“Professor we can’t find Ginny anywhere.” Ryleigh said and he looked down at them with a raised brow.

“Feels familiar.” He said, “I’m sure she’ll turn up around a corner.” 

“Professor please, it’s been hours…” Ryleigh said and he sighed. 

“Fine.” He said and then exited the room to join them. 

“If you searched already I suggest we start floor by floor.” He said and they agreed, starting with the dungeons they searched over floors at a time for another hour. They’d nearly searched the whole castle when they heard professor McGonagalls voice loud all throughout the castle. 

“All students are to return to their house dormitories at once. All teachers to the second floor corridor immediately.”

Ryleigh and Luna both looked at each other then to Snape. “Come with me.” He said, presumably because they were much closer to the second floor than the tower. 

They ran after him, almost struggling to keep up. Just before they reached the other teachers he stopped and turned around, putting a hand on each girls shoulder he moved them into a small alcove.

“Do not move from this spot, I will come back and take you to your common rooms after I see what is going on.” They nodded at him wide eyed then he turned and rushed back down the halls. They stood quietly and listened as the footsteps came to a stop just around the corner. 

She could hear whispered words being exchanged between Snape and McGonagall before the latter spoke out to the whole group.

“As you can see, the heir of Slytherin has left another message… our worse 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.”

Ryleigh and Luna looked at each other, eyes wide and worried. Slow footsteps approached and they watched as Lockhart passed by them to to teachers. 

“So sorry, dozed off, what’ve I missed?” Came his arrogant comment and Ryleigh rolled her eyes. 

“A girl has been snatched by the monster Lockhart. Your moment has come at last.” Snape said, voice even as ever. 

“My… moment?” Lockhart stuttered.

“Weren’t you saying just last night that you’ve known all alone where the entrance to the chamber of secrets is?” The potions master said and Ryleigh could tell without seeing him his eyebrows were raised skeptically. 

Silence.

“That’s settled, we’ll leave you to deal with the monster Gilderoy. Your skills, after all, are legend.” McGonagall said, voice coated with sarcasm. 

“Very well, uh, I’ll just be in my office… getting… getting ready…” then they heard the footsteps getting closer as he walked passed them again. 

“Who is it that the monster has taken Minerva?” Pomfrey asked.

McGonagall hesitated for a moment before she said, “Ginny Weasley.” 

Ryleigh and Luna both gasped. 

A moment later the teachers walked past them and then Snape came back to their alcove.

“Ginny!” Ryleigh said probably too loud. And Snape shushed her. 

“I want you both to listen very carefully. You will go back to Gryffindor tower, both of you. Ms Lovegood I will contact Professor Flitwick and let him know your whereabouts. I want no argument, I want you both not to sneak about looking for the girl yourself. Leave Prof-“ 

“You’re going to let that buffoon look for our friend!?” 

“Ms. Walsh I suggest you refrain from speaking to me with that tone. No. I will not be allowing the buffoon as you referred to him to look for Ms. Weasley, Minerva and I will look for the girl ourselves. Now. You will go back to Gryffindor tower.”

The girls nodded and grabbed hands with each other, heading back toward Gryffindor tower. 

Xx

When they entered everyone looked at them and waited, apparently expecting her to have information like the last time she entered. 

“What’s going on?” Percy asked and Ryleigh looked to Luna who looked back to Ryleigh.

“The… the monster…” Ryleigh started.

“It took Ginny into the chamber.” Luna said and everyone gasped. Fred and George stood quickly and rushed forward, followed by Percy.

“What?!” They yelled and the two girls jumped back.

“How do you know?” Percy asked. 

“We heard the teachers talking about it, it left a message on the walls.” Ryleigh explained.

“We’re going to look for her.” Fred said and started out the door but Ryleigh yelled after him.

“No! You can’t. They told us to stay here. McGonagall and Snape are searching for her.

You won’t do anyone any good going out there.” 

“They’re right guys.” Percy said and Ryleigh looked at him, honestly hoping he would have put up more of a fight for his sister.

“We’ll just have to wait.” Luna said and then took Ryleigh’s hand and drug her off to an empty corner of the common room.

Xx

Ryleigh, Luna and the Weasley brothers stayed awake late into the night waiting for news. When Harry and Ron didn’t come back to the common room they figured the boys had gone after Ginny and waited nervously for someone to come. Luna was seated on the bench against the slanted stone wall leading to the window. She had thrown a blanket down behind her so she could lay back and then Ryleigh had crawled up next to her, eventually letting her head rest in Lunas lap as she fell asleep. The twins had taken to the couch, opposite each other and Percy was in the arm chair. Sometime in the middle of the night the door opened and Professor McGonagall walked in, waking each sleeping student up with a shake of the shoulder. Percy first, then the twins, all of whom rushed out of the room. Then she walked carefully over to the girls and shook them awake. 

“Girls, wake up.” The Professor said and Ryleigh snapped up from her place on Lunas lap, the blonde haired girl rubbing her eyes and waking more slowly. 

“Where’s Ginny?? Is she okay?” Ryleigh asked and McGonagall nodded. 

“Ms Weasley has been recovered, she’s in the hospital wing, I’ve just sent her brothers down to see her. She’s unhurt. If you girls would care to join us you’re welcome to.” 

Both girls stood and pulled there robes straight as they followed the Professor out of the common room and down to the hospital wing.

Ginny was seated in the bed rolling her eyes at the crowd of boys surrounding her, fussing about. 

When Ryleigh and Luna approached she smiled at them. 

“We we’re so worried…” Ryleigh said softly. The Weasley’s moved over and made room for the girls to come in closer to the bed.

“I’m really sorry… I… for all year long really. It was that stupid diary…” 

“Don’t apologize, we’re just glad you’re okay.” Ryleigh and Luna nodded. 

Xx

The next morning at the feast Ginny and Ryleigh we’re seated together, they watched as Hermione returned, ran and hugged Harry, they listened to Dumbledore’s speech, and cheered when Hagrid returned. 

Xx

On her final day of potions class she stayed late, walking up to Snapes desk she waited for him to finish was he was doing before she spoke. 

“I wanted to say thank you Professor, for believing Luna and I when we were looking for Ginny, and for looking for you yourself after… and, and for how much you’ve taught me this year.” 

“Yes well I expect a more detailed ingredients list upon your return next term and we will bring brewing trials.” Was his response. 

She beamed at him again and nodded, “thank you sir.” 

He didn’t say anything else, just nodded toward the door. She took the hint and made her leave. 

Ginny and Luna were both waiting outside the door for her. 

“Such a teachers pet.” Ginny said with a mischievous smile.