Chapter 49 - 50

Evan kept the diary with him at all times since there was still the threat that Tom Riddle would control the other person to take it back but he never opened it.

Thanks to Evan being cautious, there was not any attacks in the castle.

It has been four months since Justin was petrified.

Almost everyone seems to think the attacker has given up.

One day when Evan was at breakfast Evan heard Professor Sprout and several students talk about the nearly matured mandrakes.

This made people extremely happy.

Hufflepuff isn't hiding from them anymore and Peeves has gotten bored of singing. The sales of the newspaper were picking up and people were turning their attention to the upcoming Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff Quidditch match which will determine who wins the Quidditch cup this year.

Evan saw all the third years sitting in the public lounge depressed on Easter Sunday.

"The school has asked us to choose a class for next year."

Harry and Colin, walked in with a list of curriculums, "It looks like we have to add more lessons."

"Professor McGonagall told us to take it seriously," said Hermione as she looked at Harry and Ron with a deadly stare, "This will affect our future."

"I don't want to, but I want to give up potions," said Harry.

"Impossible!" said Ron in a depressed tone, "If we could ditch the core classes I would have quit defence against the dark arts,"

"But that course is extremely important!" said Hermione in a surprised tone.

"With Lockhart, I haven't learned anything," said Ron

The students who are from wizarding families received owls from their families which told them what to choose. This made it more difficult for some students such as Neville who couldn't decide.

As for Harry who grew up in a Muggle family, there wasn't any advice.

In the end, he closed his eyes and pointed randomly with his wand to choose a course.

"You can't do that, Harry!" said Hermione as she hurriedly stopped him.

"Do you have any good ideas?" asked Harry with a frown.

"We can choose everything, the school didn't say it's not allowed, right?" said Hermione, unsure.

"Yes, but I don't want to do that," said Harry as he hurriedly shook his head.

"The divination class looks interesting, you should choose that," said Evan as he went over and looked at Harry's list, "I'm interested in it and I'd like to go over the material if you have the chance."

"Evan's advice is excellent since divination can help you see the future." said Percy, after knowing that the Mandrakes will mature soon, he seemed to be back to his usual self, "What course you choose depends on what you want to do in the future."

"People always say that it's stupid to choose Muggle studies but I personally think wizards should have a thorough understanding of muggle society especially if they want to work closely with Muggles. For example, my father took it and he deals with Muggle related stuff. My brother Charlie likes the outdoors so he chose care of magical creatures and he now works with dragons. So, take classes that will help you in what you want to do."

Percy's advice didn't make much of a difference since beyond Quidditch Harry didn't know what he wanted to do.

"Professor McGonagall wants us to turn in our choices tomorrow, so think about it Harry," said Hermione as she checked all the subjects, "You to Ron"

"You sound like my mother!" said Ron as he wrinkled his nose.

That night, Evan, Harry, and Ron sat in front of the fire and discussed each class.

Finally, Harry and Ron chose the same classes. They thought even if the lesson is boring, they will pull through if they are together.

When they had just written down their course, they saw Hermione running in.

"I found out who was expelled from the school fifty years ago."

Hermione then lowered her voice and said, "It was Hagrid, Hagrid opened the Chamber fifty years ago."

"That is impossible!" said Harry hastily as he stood up.

"I wish it wasn't him to but the evidence I found was concrete." said Hermione, "Because I couldn't find anything in the library I wrote to the editor of the Daily Prophet and asked for his help."

"What did he say?"

"He sent me a newspaper from fifty years ago," said Hermione as she took a newspaper out, "Look here, it says Hagrid was expelled from the school after a serious accident."

"We already knew Hagrid was expelled!" said Harry unwilling to accept the truth.

"Look when it was reported, Harry," said Hermione, "There was the article that reported Myrtle's death and shortly after comes this article about Hagrid being expelled."

"Maybe there isn't a connection between the two," said Harry distressed.

"But after Hagrid was expelled the attacks stopped!" sighed Hermione, "What would be serious enough to expel a student from school? Think about it, the last time we met Hagrid in Knockturn alley"

"He was just buying potions to get rid of slugs," said Harry while raising his voice, "Hermione, Hagrid would never intentionally kill anyone!"

"He certainly would not but what about the creatures he keeps" hesitated Hermione, "Hagrid likes to keep dangerous creatures and he thinks they're all marvellous. Think about the three-headed dog and the dragon. We should go ask Hagrid about these things?"

"That would be a pleasant visit. Hello, Hagrid, have you recently put any horrifying thing in the castle?"

"That's not funny, Ron, I think..."

"No, Hermione! Hagrid must be innocent, I believe in him," said Harry stubbornly.

The four people were silent, the atmosphere tense and for a while, no one spoke.

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Late that night only Evan was left in the common room.

He looked at the diary in front of him and realized he couldn't keep distrusting every one or he would not get anywhere. Although there haven't been any more attacks, his business with the chamber of secrets has yet to be finished.

Maybe I should give it to Dumbledore!

He must be able to recognize this is a Horcrux and he should know exactly how to deal with it.

Before Evan made up his mind on what to do, he saw Harry come in.

"Evan why haven't you gone to bed yet?" said Harry, surprised.

"I should be asking you that"

"I can't sleep because I'm thinking about the things dealing with Hagrid. He is certainly innocent, but I have to go to him to confirm it." Harry looked at Evan with expectant eyes, "You think so to, right?"

"Yes!" nodded Evan.

"Then let's go!" whispered Harry.

"Go where?"

Harry took Evan's hand and said, "I was going to go alone but I didn't expect to see you."

Evan wanted to cry since he knew he should have gone to bed.

He didn't want to sneak out of the castle to find out what he already knew, but Harry didn't give him the opportunity to refuse, Harry pulled him out of the Gryffindor common room.

Before they walked out, they saw Hermione standing beside them looking at them with a serious expression.

"Hermione!" said Harry, surprised.

"Don't look at me like that, Harry, did you think I would let you go alone?" said Hermione, "I said we had to talk with Hagrid but I don't believe he did it, he must know something though."

"Well since everyone is going," said Harry as he put the cloak over them.

The castle that night was exceptionally grim as they walked down the empty corridors.

It was clear that Harry had wandered the castle countless times at night as he guided Evan and Hermione out the castle gate.

The three people hurried to Hagrid's house, they went to his door and took off the cloak. And a few seconds later they knocked, Hagrid flung the door open and the hound barked loudly behind him.

"Oh, it's you!" said Hagrid as he stared at them, "Why are you three coming here so late?"

"We have something to ask you," said Harry as he walked into the hut but he hesitated, "Can you tell us about…."

"About what?" asked Hagrid as he took a kettle and poured each of them a large glass of boiling water, "Can't this wait until tomorrow, you three should hurry back and go to bed now, it can't be so important that you must sneak out of the castle."

"But, Hagrid…."

"We'd like to ask you about the chamber of secrets," said Evan

"The chamber of secrets?" said Hagrid as he accidentally hit a teapot dropping it to the floor.

"Hagrid you know someone was attacked by a monster around fifty years ago," said Harry quickly.

"What do you want to ask?" said Hagrid as his face turned pale and began to sweat.

"Fifty years ago, when the chamber was opened you were expelled from the school for something," said Hermione as she took out the newspaper, "Hagrid it isn't that we don't believe you but you must know something?"

"I don't know anything!" shouted Hagrid, he seemed to be uneasy and he nearly caused the kettle to put out the fire.

Harry and Hermione thought this was suspicious.

"We need your help, Hagrid! When the Chamber was last opened the monster killed a student and if we don't take action, the monster will probably…"

"No, Aragog didn't attack anyone," said Hagrid

"Who is Aragog?" said Harry hastily.

"He is an Acromantula, a traveller gave him to me when he was just an egg, it was terrified when the chamber was opened, it only told me that it was an ancient creature that all spiders were afraid of," said Hagrid as he wiped his tears with a large handkerchief.

"An ancient creature, what is it?"

"I don't know, even though I asked countless times, Aragog never told me. And after a Ravenclaw girl was killed, the one who must not be named blamed it all on Aragog."

"Hagrid you don't mean Voldemort?" said Harry as he stood up, he was pale.

Hagrid was visibly shaken, and he seemed to have awakened from his thoughts.

"What have I said, it's not something you should know about," said Hagrid ruefully, "you should go back to bed immediately, don't ask any more questions, I won't tell you anything."

They were then driven out by Hagrid, Harry and Hermione whispered as they walked.

"Hagrid said Voldemort blamed it all on his spider, but I think it must have been Voldemort that opened the chamber of secrets fifty years ago and killed Myrtle, so then Hagrid was wronged." said Harry angrily, "I knew it wasn't him but who opened it this time, it can't be Voldemort?"

Harry suddenly thought of what happened last year, Voldemort snuck into school to steal the Philosophers stone but thanks to him and his friends he stopped Voldemort.

"I don't know!" said Hermine with a trembling voice and shaking her head, "Maybe, like last year, Voldemort snuck in on someone's head. Remember the curse that was on Ron, he must have been the one to do it."

"Where is he hiding and what is the monster hidden in the Chamber of secrets?" said Harry

"Hagrid said it was an ancient creature that spiders are afraid of, I seem to have seen similar creatures somewhere." said Hermione as she tried to remember what it was, she then turned to Evan and asked, "Evan do you know anything?"

"That is simple, the creature that hides in the Chamber of Secrets is a basilisk, it's a spider mortal enemy," said Evan.

Evan had decided to give the diary to Dumbledore, it was time to end it.

As for the person, Tom Riddle was controlling, no matter who it was, as long as there is no Horcrux, they should return to normal sooner or later.