We had to return to the Gryffindor common room by six o’clock in the evening, we were escorted everywhere, even the toilet. I remember Professor McGonagall making her speech to the Gryffindor House. The words “I would urge anyone who thinks they might know anything about them to come forward” still ring in by ears, along with the cold look she managed so well to give.

I know that Quidditch was postponed due to Fred, George, Harry and Oliver moaning about it ALL the time.
It wasn’t long before I found out that Dumbledore and Hagrid had been taken away either. I’d never been given the full explanation but Ron and Harry had mentioned the Minister of Magic and Azkaban. It was terrible. If you consider I had been working closely with a recently petrified Hermione Granger, you can understand why my uncle was getting nervous and why I knew much more than people realised about what happened 50years ago in the Chamber of Secrets.

It was usually at least midnight when people went to bed, simply because of all the gossip. This meant I lost out a lot on my usual spot by the fire in the common room. One night, Ron and Harry went out under the invisibility cloak. I decided that I would become… something small… and follow them. They went into the Forbidden Forest. I watched, I waited. I didn’t bother going further than I needed to. I knew Ron and Harry were able to cause enough trouble and they had Fang with them.

It was Ginny that had been setting the basilisk on people. Ginny that had spoken to Tom. Ginny that had nearly died and needed saving and Lockhart that actually caused a lot of problems. It turns out that if you take the time and ask someone. Someone as seemingly insignificant as Moaning Myrtle you can learn a lot. Mostly about what is petrifying students. But that it is a snake and not a spider. One thing to be certain. Next time LISTEN.