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((continued from Halls))

When Ginny entered the Common Room, she was relieved to find that Hermione wasn't waiting to see where she went. She headed up the stairs to her room, not planning on sleeping, but rather telling Tom what had just happened. She took out the diary again and wrote into it from the light of her wand:

Ginny,
Well, Tom, I think Hermione might be getting close to finding out that I was behind the attack. I did what you said and followed her out there. I don't think she knew I was there, but she went directly to the 2nd floor. I ended up gasping and she ran terrified. I think she was expecting some creepy Slytherin Heir or something. What if she does find out it was me? She would turn me in, I know it!!!
Ginny

The writing disappeared and Tom wrote:

Ginny,
If you're so afraid that she may be getting close to finding out that it could possibly have been you to have opened the Chamber of Secrets, then just make sure she doesn't go down there anymore. Be sure to let me know what's going on. I rather enjoy reading some cat fights, and I'm sure something along those lines will begin if Hermione does find out.
Tom

The writing disappeared and Ginny sighed. That didn't help her at all. If anything, it might have made things worse. She wanted to mention that to Tom, but suddenly she was consumed by this tiredness, so she extinguished her wand, set the diary on her bedside table underneath her wand, and went to bed.

((skipping to morning))

Come morning, Ginny woke up slightly early and headed downstairs to the Common Room, wanting to find out if Hermione knew who had gasped. She wouldn't, of course, tell Hermione that she knew that someone gasped. She would simply ask: "So, anything happen while at the Library?" since she knew that Hermione had said she was going to go down to the Library.

Ginny smiled and sat down on the arm rest of the couch they were sitting on. "Hey. Hermione, what's wrong?" Ginny said. She hoped it was a very convincing tone, for she didn't want Hermione knowing that she followed her out.

Ginny sighed, and quickly came up with a behind story to get Hermione's mind off of it. "Hermione, I followed you," she said. "I figured that it probably wasn't safe to go wandering the halls alone, and figured someone should come with you. But I didn't hear any evil noises."

Ginny sighed and said, "Well, you were kind of skulking like you didn't want to be seen, so I figured I'd follow at a distance. And, if the noise you were talking about was a gasp, I only gasped because I thought you of all people wouldn't go near the second floor again... at least anywhere near where Filch is guarding." She massaged where Hermione had hit her.

"Hermione, you didn't have to hit her," Harry said. "She was just trying to help."

Ginny sighed, and said, "Point taken. Won't happen again."

Harry sighed, finally able to relax now that Hermione had calmed down a little. He had been worried that Hermione might have been a few seconds away from being the next target.

Ginny and Harry both sighed. They stood up and followed Hermione down the stairs and to the grand staircase.

((continued in the Grand Staircase))