Harry Potter's : Fantastic Beasts Guide

After about ten minutes, Hermione returned with a small, red-haired witch trailing behind her. Ginny Weasley, though sharing the same fiery hair as her brother Ron, looked far more disheveled. Her eyes were red and swollen, her hair a mess, and her overall demeanor was listless. When she noticed the group of people staring at her, especially Harry, her cheeks flushed, and she quickly hid behind Hermione.

David gestured for Harry and the others to stay where they were while he led Hermione and Ginny to a quieter corner of the common room. He sat down and spoke softly, "Hello, I'm David Scamander, Ron's good friend."

Ginny kept her head down, her body tense with anxiety. She didn't respond, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of her robes.

David continued in a gentle tone, "It's okay, don't be nervous. I just want to talk to you."

Ginny remained silent, her head still bowed. Hermione, sensing the tension, began to comfort her, speaking in a soothing voice. Gradually, Ginny's shoulders relaxed, and she finally looked up, her eyes filled with fear and guilt.

David leaned in slightly, his voice calm and reassuring. "I know what's been happening. You've been carrying a heavy burden, but it's not your fault. You were manipulated, and I promise, no one will get hurt again."

Ginny's eyes widened in shock. David's words had struck a chord, breaking through the wall of secrecy she had built around herself. Her hands trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Trust me," David said softly. "I'll help you fix this. You're not alone."

Ginny stared at him, her lower lip quivering. Then, without warning, she burst into tears. David reached out, using his wand to gently dry her tears and smooth her messy hair. "Go get some rest. When you wake up, everything will be better. I promise."

Ginny nodded, her gratitude evident in her eyes. She turned to leave but hesitated, glancing back at David one last time. He gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me."

With that, Ginny hurried off to her dormitory, her emotions finally released. Hermione watched her go, then turned to David with a puzzled expression. "What just happened? What did you say to her?"

David shook his head. "I can't tell you. It's her secret, and I promised to keep it safe."

Hermione frowned but didn't press further. Ron and the others, who had been watching from a distance, approached, their faces filled with confusion.

"Did you bully her?" Ron asked, his tone defensive.

"No," David replied firmly. "I just helped her with something. She'll be okay."

Ron looked skeptical but didn't argue. Instead, he changed the subject. "Did you find anything in the corridor earlier?"

Hermione shook her head. "We saw the spiders coming from the girls' bathroom, but Percy caught us and made us leave before we could investigate further."

David's eyes narrowed. "Did you see a black notebook in there?"

Hermione thought for a moment. "No, we didn't see anything like that. Why?"

David hesitated. "It's important. I think someone might have taken it."

---

Later, David and Hermione made their way to the abandoned girls' bathroom on the second floor. The door creaked as they pushed it open, revealing a damp, musty room. The cracked mirror on the wall reflected their distorted images, and the stalls were in various states of disrepair.

As they stepped inside, a voice called out from one of the stalls. "You're back again?"

Hermione whispered to David, "That's Myrtle. Be careful not to upset her."

A ghostly figure emerged from the stall, her translucent form floating above the ground. Myrtle had long, straight hair and thick glasses, her expression perpetually sad. She eyed David curiously. "Are you here to visit the girls' bathroom too?"

David smiled politely. "No, I'm here to see you."

Myrtle's eyes widened in surprise. "Me? Really?"

"Yes," David said sincerely. "I heard about you from Hermione. I wanted to see if you needed any help."

Myrtle floated closer, her ghostly form hovering just inches from David's face. "You're the first person to visit me in years. Can we talk?"

"Of course," David replied, though he could feel Hermione's grip tightening on his arm. "What would you like to talk about?"

Myrtle's face lit up with excitement. "Anything! No one ever talks to me."

David nodded, keeping his tone gentle. "Why do you stay here all the time? Why not explore the castle like the other ghosts?"

Myrtle's expression darkened. "The other ghosts bully me. They're not as kind as you. Besides, this is where I died. It's like my home."

David's eyes softened. "How did you die?"

Myrtle's face twisted with anger. "Oliver Hornby made fun of me for wearing glasses. He called me a four-eyed dog! I couldn't take it, so I came here to cry. Then I heard a boy's voice in the bathroom. I opened the door to yell at him, but... I saw a pair of big yellow eyes. And then I died."

David exchanged a glance with Hermione. "Do you remember where you saw those eyes?"

Myrtle pointed to a sink in the corner. "Right there. I'll never forget it."

David examined the sink, noticing a small snake engraved on one of the faucets. "This must be the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets", he thought.

"Have you seen anyone else here recently?" David asked.

Myrtle nodded. "A red-haired girl has been here a few times. She looked... strange. Like she wasn't herself. I stayed away from her."

David's heart sank. Ginny had been under the notebook's influence, and now it was missing. "Did she leave anything behind? A black notebook, perhaps?"

Myrtle frowned. "Yes, she threw it into the sink. But when I went to check just now, it was gone. Someone must have taken it."

David sighed. "Thank you, Myrtle. You've been a great help."

Myrtle's ghostly face lit up with a rare smile. "Does this mean you'll come visit me again?"

"Of course," David said warmly. "We're friends now, aren't we?"

Myrtle's eyes widened in disbelief. "Friends? Really?"

"Yes," David said firmly. "You're not alone anymore."

Myrtle beamed, her translucent form glowing with happiness. "Thank you, David. You're the first friend I've had in years."

As David and Hermione left the bathroom, Hermione turned to him. "You really mean it? Being friends with Myrtle?"

David nodded. "She's been alone for too long. Everyone deserves a friend."

Hermione smiled softly. "You're a good person, David. I'll try to be friends with her too."

David grinned. "That's the spirit. Now, let's figure out who took that notebook."

As they walked back to the common room, David couldn't shake the feeling that the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets was far from over. But with friends like Hermione and Myrtle by his side, he felt ready to face whatever came next.