Chapter 185 Ginny's Request for Help
Knowing the final clue, the trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione immediately decided to investigate the girls' lavatory where Myrtle often cried.
However, due to the school lockdown, many people were patrolling various areas daily, and with Dumbledore's new rule that students could only use lavatories with a teacher present—especially since that particular lavatory was next to the scene of the first attack and heavily guarded—their investigation was undoubtedly made much more difficult.
All these reasons combined meant they couldn't find an opportunity to act for a long time.
A few weeks later, Professor McGonagall made two announcements in the Great Hall.
First, the final exams would not be canceled and would proceed as scheduled on June 1st.
This news hit every student like a bolt from the blue; everyone had spent the school year on edge because of the Chamber of Secrets incident and had no mood to study properly.
Many academic slackers had even assumed there would be no exams, but they hadn't expected reality to be so cruel.
Professor McGonagall looked at the students below, their faces long, and her expression darkened.
"Under the current unusual circumstances, the school has not closed, the purpose of which is for you to receive an education, so assessing the knowledge you've gained this year is inevitable."
"Besides that, I have some good news to share with everyone," Professor McGonagall said with some excitement.
"The Mandrakes can now be harvested.
Tonight, the petrified students, the ghost, and Filch's cat will all return to normal.
Some of them might tell us who attacked them, and we might be able to catch the culprit this way."
As her words fell, a strong cheer erupted in the Great Hall.
After being so tense for so long, the school could finally lift the lockdown; it seemed they just needed to get through tonight.
However, Aaron and the others, who knew the true situation, were not so optimistic.
While it was certainly good news that the petrified victims could be un-petrified, it was clear that they had only seen the Basilisk, and the Heir had definitely not appeared in their sight.
Just knowing what the culprit looked like was clearly not enough; they also needed to know the culprit's hiding place.
Moreover, all of Hagrid's roosters had been killed, and apart from the two roosters Aaron had secretly captured, the Basilisk no longer had any natural predators at Hogwarts.
Most importantly, Dumbledore, who usually presided over Hogwarts, was absent, and the Heir of Slytherin now had the confidence to escalate the situation.
Once the opponent was pushed too far, even if the Professors could stop the Basilisk, there would certainly be significant casualties.
Just then, a figure suddenly appeared opposite Aaron.
He slowly looked up, surprised to find that the person was Ginny Weasley.
"Ginny, what can I do for you?"
Ginny nodded nervously.
"There's something I need to tell you.
Only you can help me now."
"Me?"
Aaron paused slightly.
Although he had stayed at The Burrow for two days, his relationship with the young girl wasn't that close; at most, they were just ordinary friends.
Furthermore, Ginny had several older brothers looking out for her at Hogwarts, one of whom was even a GryffindorPrefect.
Even if she had trouble, she shouldn't need help from him, a Slytherin!
"Well, this is interesting.
Tell me what it is first, then I'll decide whether to help."
"It's about the Chamber of Secrets," Ginny whispered, constantly glancing around as she spoke, looking very nervous and exhausted.
Upon hearing this, Aaron immediately brightened up, skillfully pulled an orange from Abey's pocket, and placed it on Ginny's tray.
"Don't rush, take your time."
"I, I..." Ginny stammered out two words, her eyes welling up with tears, and her voice choked with sobs.
"I'm sorry, I don't know if those things were done by me, but it definitely has something to do with me."
"What exactly is it?" Aaron tried to keep his tone as calm as possible, as Ginny's current state clearly couldn't handle any more stress.
"The diary, Tom Riddle's diary," Ginny said in a panic, her body trembling uncontrollably.
"Everything was fine, but ever since I got that diary, everything has become strange."
"Alright, don't speak for now," Aaron immediately interrupted her.
"You're very scared, and you might faint before you even finish speaking.
Now, I'll ask you questions.
If you don't want to answer, you just need to nod or shake your head, understood?"
Ginny took a deep breath, then nodded.
"Don't be nervous, be strong.
First, do you know the location of the Chamber of Secrets?"
Ginny shook her head.
"What about the Heir's identity?"
Ginny still shook her head, but this time she clutched her head in pain.
"I don't know, but I feel like I do.
I even feel like I am the Heir of the Chamber of Secrets, but then I think it can't be me; I don't even know basic Parseltongue."
"Imperio?" Aaron frowned deeply.
"Or similar methods, no doubt, you've been controlled and have done things you don't even know about."
Ginny nodded frantically.
"Yes, that must be it."
"Alright! Last question." Aaron looked directly into her eyes and asked softly, "Is Riddle's diary currently in your possession?"
Ginny nodded.
She had indeed stolen it from Harry's dormitory.
Upon hearing this, Aaron fell into deep thought.
Riddle's diary, Ginny Weasley, and multiple attacks were all tightly bound together in his mind with countless invisible threads.
Half a minute later, he suddenly opened his eyes wide, but his expression became extremely solemn.
"I always thought the Heir of Slytherin was a current student, but I didn't expect them to be much more twisted than I imagined."
"What do you mean?"
"The Heir of Slytherin from fifty years ago never left.
He preserved himself as a memory and found opportunities to guide others to continue Salazar Slytherin's great work.
Ginny, that diary is very dangerous.
Tom Riddle is very likely the mastermind behind all of this."
Upon hearing this, Ginny's face instantly turned ashen.
Before, she only thought Riddle's diary was problematic, but she never imagined the problem was so huge, even connecting to the Chamber of Secrets incident from fifty years ago.
"Help me," Ginny sobbed, grabbing Aaron's hand as if clutching a last straw of hope.
"Please."
"I know, I'll help you, but can you please stop crying first?" Aaron said with an awkward smile.
"In public like this, people might think I've done something to you!"
Ginny broke into a smile through her tears, slowly releasing his hands.
"What should I do?"
"It's simple, give me Riddle's diary."
"But..."
"No buts, I know what you want to say.
The diary is difficult to destroy, but not impossible, as long as the right method is found.
However, before that, I need to keep it safe and prevent it from falling into anyone else's hands.
Also, you must be careful not to open it."
Ginny nodded seriously.
"I understand, I'll go now."
"Wait, don't rush.
Today's classes aren't over yet; if you disappear, Professor McGonagall will probably consider you missing.
Give it to me during dinner tonight!
Put it in a bag, just make sure no one else sees it."
"You really think of everything."
"Keep it low-key, low-key." Aaron waved his hand awkwardly.
"Oh, by the way, if I may be so bold as to ask, why did you come to me?
Percy, Fred, George, Ron, and Harry Potter, aren't they more trustworthy than me, a Slytherin?"
Ginny lowered her head, bit her lip, and after a moment of hesitation, timidly said, "I don't want them to know, especially Harry Potter."
"I see." Aaron suddenly understood, then gave Ginny a smile.
"Don't worry, I'll keep your secret."
"Thank you."
Ginny took a deep breath and was about to leave when Percysuddenly walked over.
His gaze lingered on the tear streaks at Ginny's eyes for a few seconds, then he turned to Aaron with an angry expression.
"Gaius, I think I need an explanation."
"Huh? Are you mistaken?"
"No mistake, Ginny has clearly been crying, and my sister..."
"Percy," Ginny said, looking at him angrily.
"You've misunderstood, he didn't bully me."
"It's alright, Ginny," Percy said, patting her shoulder with concern.
"Mum and Dad have written to me more than once, telling me to take good care of you.
If you're ever upset, just tell me.
I'm still the Gryffindor Prefect, I still have that much authority."
"I'm telling you again, you really misunderstood." Ginny was so anxious she was almost in tears.
What if Aaron got angry and refused to help her?
But her reaction only made Percy more certain of his judgment.
Ginny had definitely been bullied, and she was too scared to even tell the truth.
How could he tolerate this?
His sister was being bullied, so as her brother, he naturally had to step forward.
He adjusted his Prefect badge and said to Aaron with a serious face, "Apologize to my sister."
Aaron stared at Percy in bewilderment, his mouth twitching, a million expletives running through his mind.
He wasn't sure if Ginny was upset, but he was very sure that he was terribly wronged.
He was the one taking a huge risk to deal with a magical artifact, but he hadn't expected to first endure a wave of psychological attack.
"Percy, are you even listening to me?
I told you it's a misunderstanding, why won't you believe me?"
Percy saw Ginny's flustered expression and calmed down slightly.
"Then tell me, why were you crying?"
"I..." Ginny opened her mouth, hesitating, unable to utter a single word.
How could she tell him? She couldn't possibly tell Percyabout Riddle's diary!
Although she wasn't the culprit, she was involved in this series of attacks, and if that got out, she might be expelled from school.
"Alright, no need to say more." Aaron saw Ginny's difficulty and stood up directly.
"It's just an apology, it's no big deal."
"No," Ginny shook her head repeatedly.
"You don't have to, you can't, and there's no need for you to do that."
"But the problem is, right now, I have no choice but to do this.
Consider it protection for a certain little girl!" Aaron shrugged helplessly, then said sorry to Ginny.
"Satisfied, Gryffindor Prefect?"
"You're smart to know your place, but ten points from Slytherin."
"Enough!" Ginny angrily pulled away from Percy's arm and glared at him fiercely.
"I really hate you!"
After saying that, she gave Aaron an apologetic look and quickly ran off.