For the next few days, Fanny didn't say a single word to Anne. Whether in class or at meals, she made sure to sit on the opposite side of Pansy. Several times, Anne tried to approach and explain or apologize, but Fanny would either walk away or ignore her.
God, how was she supposed to explain anything to a stubborn, angry kid? And the worst part, Anne couldn't even explain herself clearly. She couldn't just say, "I know the plot. Ginny is the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets. Stay away from her." She couldn't say, "The main trio has plot armor. Nothing will happen to them. Dumbledore will be back soon." And what would she even apologize for? That she wouldn't call Ginny dangerous anymore? In the end, Anne realized Fanny's accusations had all been true, based solely on Anne's actions. She had no excuse.
It felt like she was trapped in a deadlock, one that couldn't be easily undone. Thankfully, during Transfiguration class, Professor McGonagall announced that final exams would proceed as scheduled.
Anne seized the opportunity. Every chance she got, she gave Fanny pitiful looks, partly to ease the tension, and partly because Anne really did need help with the Transfiguration final. The only other top student who could help was still lying Petrified in the hospital wing.
That evening in the Slytherin dormitory, Anne clutched her Transfiguration notes and stood beside Fanny, who was doing her homework. She didn't speak, just kept looking at her with a pitiful expression.
At first, Fanny ignored her. But after half an hour, she sighed and put down her quill. Anne had been doing this for days, and to be fair, she really did look pitiful, at least in Transfiguration. Fanny softened a little, though she wasn't ready to forgive her. She turned to Anne and, in a cool and businesslike tone, said, "Give me your notes. I'll help you review."
Anne instantly smiled and handed the notes over with both hands. In her heart, she made a V sign. It was a start. But she knew the misunderstanding wasn't resolved yet. So she stuck to her self-imposed rule: don't say anything except what's needed for Transfiguration.
Three days before the first exam, Professor McGonagall made another announcement at breakfast.
"I have good news for you all," she said.
Instead of quieting down, the Great Hall burst into noise.
"Dumbledore's coming back!" someone shouted.
"You caught the Heir of Slytherin!" a Ravenclaw girl shrieked.
"Quidditch is back!" Oliver Wood hollered.
Once the clamor died down, Professor McGonagall continued, "Professor Sprout has informed me that the Mandrakes are finally ready for harvesting. Tonight, we'll be able to revive those who have been Petrified. I must point out that one of them might be able to tell us who or what attacked them. I sincerely hope this dreadful year ends with the culprit in custody."
Cheers erupted. Anne noticed that, for the first time in days, Fanny smiled. Anne made a mental note to talk to her more over the summer and hoped this incident would soon pass.
By the time Anne finished eating, Fanny had already left. It had been like this lately, and Anne didn't complain. She wiped her mouth and was about to leave when Professor Snape appeared.
"Reeve," he said in his usual low and unchanging tone. "The Mandrakes are ready. Professor Sprout wants you to assist. Be back before curfew."
"Yes, Professor. I'll go right away."
In the greenhouse, wearing earmuffs, Anne helped Professor Sprout and a senior Hufflepuff extract juice from the Mandrakes. Professor Sprout was in high spirits. Before Anne left, she said warmly, "Anne, I know you have a friend who was Petrified. Don't worry, they'll be fine tonight."
Anne felt truly happy. Not just the joy of working with high-level magical plants, but something else. Hermione would wake up tonight. She told herself it was just because she missed Hermione's Transfiguration notes.
After the extraction, Anne's robes were covered in dirt. Since it wasn't yet dinner time, she headed straight to the Slytherin dormitory to take a shower first.
But as soon as she entered, she knew something was wrong. Only three girls were there. Fanny was missing. The rest were silently packing their trunks.
A bad feeling spread through Anne. "Pansy!" she asked, walking over. "What's going on? Why are you all packing?"
Pansy glanced at her, her hands never stopping. Her voice lacked its usual arrogant flair and was instead tinged with sadness. "Professor McGonagall told everyone to return to their dorms. Then Snape came and said we're all going home tomorrow. Someone was attacked again, and taken by the monster. He also said..."
Her voice faltered. "He said Hogwarts might be closed."
Anne latched onto a single word. Her voice rose in panic. "Pansy, did you say they were taken? Who do you mean?" She glanced around. "And where's Fanny?"
"Snape said the monster took Gryffindor's Ginny Weasley and... and Fanny."
"Damn it!" Anne swore under her breath.
The image of the library flashed in her mind. Fanny must have been talking to Ginny about the Mimosa Pudica when she got caught by Tom Riddle in the diary. What now? Harry and Ron would definitely go to save Ginny, Anne knew that much. Ginny would be fine. But Fanny?
Fanny didn't know them well. Would she be okay? Anne couldn't be sure.
If she gets hurt, it's your fault! a voice screamed in her head. You gave her the plant. That's why Ginny came to find her.
A storm of thoughts raged in Anne's mind. In the end, she made up her mind: she had to go into the Chamber of Secrets. If something happened to Fanny, Anne would never forgive herself. But first, she needed to prepare. And find the main characters.
She dashed to her desk, opened a chest underneath, and quickly grabbed a cloth pouch and a small box. She stuffed them into her robe pockets and ran out, ignoring Pansy's questions.
Where would the trio be? Anne thought as she ran. In the story, Harry, Ron, and Lockhart went to the girls' bathroom to enter the Chamber. The fastest way was to check Lockhart's office first.
Outside the office, Anne arrived just in time to see Harry and Ron pointing their wands at Professor Lockhart.
"Miss Reeve!" Lockhart exclaimed with forced cheer. "Thank heavens, I was just telling the boys, "
Anne drew her wand and pointed it at him. "Don't talk."
She turned to Harry. "You know where the Chamber is?"
He nodded quickly. "Hermione solved it. It's a Basilisk. We think the entrance is in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, "
"Is Fanny really taken?" Anne interrupted.
Ron replied, nearly in tears. "The Basilisk took Ginny and Fanny both..."
"Then let's go. No time to explain." Anne joined their group.
At the bathroom, after a few words with Myrtle, Anne found the snake symbol on a tap. "Here it is. Harry, speak Parseltongue."
"Open," Harry said, in English.
Ron shook his head. "Nope. That's not Parseltongue."
"Think of it like you're talking to a real snake," Anne advised.
Harry took a breath. This time, a strange hissing sound came from his mouth. The tap glowed, spun rapidly, and the sink sank away to reveal a wide pipe.
Ron gasped. Harry peered into the darkness and said firmly, "I'm going in."
"Me too," Ron said.
"Wait," Anne said, pointing her wand at Lockhart. "Surely the powerful professor should go first."
Lockhart turned pale. "Kids, really, what's the point? Maybe they're already..."
He didn't finish. Ron jabbed him in the back. "Anne's right. You go first."
Lockhart hesitated, then slowly lowered himself in, clinging to the edge. "Listen, kids, "
Harry pried his hands off and Ron gave him a shove. Down he went.
"Nice one," Anne said, giving them a thumbs-up.
"Let's go too," Harry said, then slid down.
After Ron followed, Anne tucked her wand into her robe, patted her pocket to check the two items, took a deep breath, and muttered in Chinese, "Heaven help us."
The slide was long, wet, and twisting. Pipes branched out in all directions, but none as wide as the one they traveled through. It curved sharply and dropped steeply.
They were deep underground now, even deeper than the Slytherin dormitory. Anne couldn't help but think, Hogwarts has a great sewer system. No wonder it never floods.
Then she hit the ground.
The pipe leveled out, and she slid out onto a damp stone floor. It was a huge, dark tunnel, tall enough to stand in.
Nearby, Lockhart stood dripping with muck, pale as ever. Harry and Ron stood with wands drawn.
Anne got up and looked down at her robes. Muddy before, they were now drenched in foul-smelling sewage. Adventuring is clearly a boy's job, she thought.
"We must be miles under the school," Harry said. His voice echoed. "Maybe even beneath the lake," Ron added.
"Lumos," Anne said, lighting her wand. She stared into the dark. "Let's find them."
Their footsteps echoed wetly. The tunnel was too dark to see far. Their shadows danced like monsters on the glistening walls.
"Remember," Harry whispered, "the monster is a Basilisk. One look into its eyes and you die. If we hear anything, shut your eyes."
But the tunnel was deathly silent.
Then, crack. Ron had stepped on a rat skull.
Anne lowered her wand. "There are bones everywhere," she said, glancing at the floor.
Ron and Lockhart gulped audibly.
They said nothing more and continued walking, turning into a dark bend.
"Harry, what is that…" Ron croaked, grabbing his shoulder.
Ahead lay the outline of something enormous, coiled and unmoving, a massive serpent, lying in wait.
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