her skeleton will lie...

May 16th, 1993

DAISY ENDED UP limping slowly towards the Burrow later that afternoon, clutching her swollen arm.

This is nothing, she thought, though her jaw still clenched every time she took a painful step. I've had worse.

When she knocked, however, Mrs. Weasley opened the door with a very disturbed look.

"Oh, hi, dear... Errol flew in with letters from the children. Come in, come in."

Daisy... She was a no-nonsense, polite but upfront girl, especially to the Weasleys. She could cry the second somebody opened the door and lifted her dress slightly to show them her newest set of bruise, be it any of the boys, girl, or the parents. Especially Fred.

That day was the first time she thought of hiding her hand behind her back and not say anything.

But then she remembered one of Mrs. Weasley's messages: It won't do anyone any good to leave a wound untreated, mental or physical.

"Mrs. Weasley?"

Daisy showed the older woman her arm and the latter immediately shrieked, cursing Mr. Allen with unintelligible murmurs as she bolted to grab her supply of herbal medicine. As she dabbed the little girl's hand with some greenish ointment, she rumbled with a very deep frown, "Goodness gracious, that *censored* man! *censored*! My poor Daisy! I wish I could just take your custody and keep you here as mine! And at this bad time, too!"

"What is it, Mrs. Weasley?" Daisy asked, "Is anything the matter?"

"There's, uh, a letter from Ronald. And from the others, too."

Mrs. Weasley picked up the closest parchment scattered on the table, signed by Ron, and gave it to Daisy.

—the loose beast got Hermione. She's in the Hospital Wings now, and Madame Pomfrey aren't letting anyone in—

"Oh my— Hermione Granger?" Daisy asked in disbelief, "Is she going to be okay? She is okay, right?"

—Hagrid's been caught to Azkaban. Can you imagine that? Hagrid and Azkaban? And Professor Dumbledore's been sacked, Mum. Mr. Malfoy was about to take him to Azkaban but he disappeared. This is so messed up—

"She would be," Mrs. Weasley nodded, "Oh, but I don't know! We can only hope so, my dear. They say Ginny's very shaken up by this whole ordeal. She's been having a real hard time... Should I write to Minerva? She's the stand in headmistress."

"I don't know... but I don't think that will do anyone any good."

"You're right, you're right. Ah, here's a letter from the twins. Down here, there's a section for you."

The two ladies stay glued to each other and were immersed in deep conversation all afternoon, especially regarding the tale of the Chamber of Secrets, until the sky had turned purplish pink and Daisy must return unless she wished for another set of wounds or bruises to accompany her current ones. But not before the two women wrote a letter for Errol to send in the morning.

✿ ❀ ✿ ❀ ✿

May 17th, 1993

"HEY, RON! HARRY! Come here, you two!"

George waved for the two distraught boys to come over and claim the space beside a visibly pale Ginny, clutching a black book she claimed to be her diary as if her life depended on it.

"What is it?" Ron asked, "You okay, Gin?"

"Yeah," Ginny squeaked in a tone more like a question than a statement.

"Hey... You don't look so good," Harry said, frowning.

Percy, who looked nearly as pale and distraught as Ginny herself, wordlessly pushed a plate of sweet dessert towards his youngest sister and handed her a spoon. Ginny took it despite having no appetite at all.

"There's a letter from Mum and our neighbor for all of us, very brief," Fred said, raising the paper he had in his hand for everyone to see. He cleared his throat before reading out loud.

Mrs. Weasley insists for this letter to be read by everyone bearing the surname Weasley and Potter

Dear everyone,

How are you all? We're very sad to hear about what happened to Hermione. And we're sorry that we can't do anything to help you, not even to encourage or stay by your side in person. If there is anything that we can do to help, though, do let us know.

Fred snorted, "This can't be Mum."

"Hear, hear," George added, "Daze's been reading some old, romantic books by Jane Austen. I think her brain's been affected."

"Has to be her," Fred agreed.

In the mean time, we think it's best for all of you to look out for each other. Walk two-by-two, Harry and Ron, Fred and George. Percy, Ginny, make sure you have a classmate you can stick to.

Don't stay out late and wander forbidden or empty halls. Stay in the crowd. Especially YOU TWO TROUBLEMAKERS.

Please, it's all for your own good. Stay safe. We love you!

Keep us updated.

Sincerely,
Mum & DJA

"Yes, especially you two troublemakers," Ron quoted teasingly at his twin brothers.

George snorted, "Please. I think they meant you two. Hogwarts was peaceful before you arrived here, Ron."

"And why do you look so blue?" Fred elbowed Percy. The latter merely replied with a warning hiss (thinking, my girlfriend has been petrified, you git).

"Ginny."

Ginny literally jolted in her seat and looked up at her brothers with wide, wavering eyes, "W— What?"

"Hey, don't be so scared!" George exclaimed, patting her hair affectionately, "We're gonna be safe, alright? Just follow what Mum and Daisy said."

Fred joined in by throwing his arm around her neck and pulling her close to his chest playfully, "We'll try to distract the monster ourselves. You have a friend in your class you can count on?"

"Yeah..." Ginny murmured, "I do."

"And what about you, brother?"

Percy replied with another hiss and a stab of a fork through his untouched cheesecake.

✿ ❀ ✿ ❀ ✿

May 29th, 1993

"ALL STUDENTS TO return to their House dormitories at once. All teachers return to the staffroom. Immediately, please."

Fred frowned, placing his wand on his Transfiguration desk, "Not another attack? Not now?"

"Who could it be?" George wondered aloud.

The other Fourth-year students around them began to stand up, pick up their stuffs, and run out of the classroom as fast as they could. Rumbling sounds of hundreds of people moving echoed throughout the vicinity.

Fred threw his bag over his shoulders and filed in behind George and Lee. The latter said, "This is ridiculous. If we're not killed by whatever creature that's roaming loose, we'll die as a victim of this stampede."

"I know, right?" Two Ravenclaw girls bumped onto his chest and Fred hopped back, gluing his back onto the wall. "Godric—"

"Come on, Freddie!" George hollered. Slowly but surely, they paved their way up the castle's steps and joined the incredibly loud, crowded line of panicking students. The Fat Lady angrily exclaimed "Watch it! Ow! Be careful there, it hurts, you know!" every time a student accidentally pushed the frame wider open, causing her to bump onto the stony wall.

"Please don't go into your room yet!" The Prefects were yelling, "Professor McGonagall has an important announcement! Please don't go into your room yet, everyone! Pick a spot in the common room!"

Fred, George, and Lee let out a heavy, relieved sigh when they finally had both of their feet securely planted on the common room. They decided to settle in an empty space by the fireplace.

"Do you think someone's found Petrified again?" Lee asked.

"Maybe," Fred shrugged, "But the Mandrakes are about to be done, aren't they?"

George nodded in agreement, "Yeah. They'll be revived in no time. I don't know what the fuss is all about."

Harry and Ron came in last with wide, fearful eyes and super pale skin.

"Where have you been, slowpokes?" Fred asked jokingly.

The two younger boys didn't have the time to answer before Professor McGonagall captured their attention with a clear of her throat, "Students! I'm afraid I come bearing terrible, terrible news. A student has been taken by the monster, right into the Chamber itself."

A thick, thick silence enveloped the whole house of Gryffindor for a few seconds.

"The Heir of Slytherin has left another message," she continued. Her face radiated pure exhaustion and... and hopeless surrender. "'Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever,' it says. Which is why, the Hogwarts Express will take all of you home first thing tomorrow."

Panic chatters immediately filled the room.

"What will happen to Hogwarts?"

"Who's the student? Do we know them?"

"When will we return?"

"Are we going back next year?"

"Is Hogwarts no longer safe?"

Professor McGonagall pointed her wand towards her throat, muttering 'Sonorus', and said in an amplified voice, "Silence, please! Please head back to your respective rooms and pack your things immediately!"

"Professor!" someone shouted, "Who's the student?"

Fred saw the woman's head turned towards him in a slow motion and dread filled his chest within seconds. He felt his heart plummeting down to the bottom pit of his stomach when their eyes met. Why was Minnie looking his way?

No.

Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever.

"Ginny Weasley."

Her skeleton.

It took a few seconds for him to absorb the fact that... it was Ginny. Ginny. His baby sister was gone. He tried to recall the last interactions he had with Ginny. How pale and jumpy she looked, how dark her eyebags were, how visible the tear streaks were on her plump cheeks, and how he didn't do much to gave her comfort.

Vaguely, he felt numerous hands placed on his shoulders. Empty mutters of 'I'm sorry' and 'stay strong' fleeted through his ears.

George asking Ron and Harry if they knew about it beforehand, and Ron telling them that they overheard the professors talking.

Percy coming over with tearful eyes. Percy. Tearful. Telling them that he would send an owl to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley then shut himself up in his dormitory.

The four boys sat together in a corner of the Gryffindor common room, unable to say anything to each other. No afternoon ever lasted as long as that one, nor had Gryffindor tower ever been so crowded, yet so quiet. Gosh, he felt sick. He felt so sick.

It was probably the worst day of his life.

Near sunset, George couldn't stand the suffocating vibe anymore and stood up, "I'm going up to bed."

Fred followed.

Then BANG!!

George —the calmer, more composed and logical twin— slammed the door to their room in such a force that the tower actually shook, the door almost fell off its hinges.

"WE'RE PUREBLOOD— SHE'S A PUREBLOOD!" He screamed painfully. Those who stayed in the Great Hall probably could hear him loud and clear.

Fred plopped down onto his bed, burying his face in his hands.

"Fred— Fred, it's Ginny." George's voice cracked, "She's only eleven."

They spent what felt like hours laying in painful silence. None of their roommates dared to enter the grieving space.

"Do you reckon there's a chance that she's..." Fred began.

George stayed silent, stifling a sob.

Then, half an hour later: "Is there anything we can do?"

"I don't think so," George murmured sluggishly.

Then, half an hour later, Fred stood up. "We should— we should write home, too. Bill, Charlie, Daisy. Gosh, what're they going to say?"

Before George could neither agree nor object, the door to their room was slammed open and, speak of the devil, their older brother appeared. For one second there, Fred's heart leaped hopefully. But from the crooked position of Percy's Prefect badge, his tousled hair, and his mellow tone, no, it wasn't good news.

"Come on, you two. Mum and Dad are in the Headmistress' office."