Myrtle!

"Yes?" The ghost asked politely as it looked at Loki.

"I'm Loki, a reporter from the Hogwarts Honest Mill Newspaper."

"Ha! It is you! I knew you'd come out looking for information on the Chamber of Secrets! Am I right or am I right?"

"Well…" Trying not to let the sudden over-enthusiasm of the ghost get to him, Loki continued, "You aren't wrong. I wanted to know more about the Chamber of Secrets and since you've been around the longest apart from the Grey Lady I wondered if you'd be able to answer a few questions for me."

Friar frowned and Loki looked at Friar and in a moment of haste decided to use his Beyonder abilities to get him to have a nicer impression of him.

He used his spirituality to shift a vague thought of trust and openness onto Friar's Body of Heart and Mind but-.

"I'm sorry but Professor Dumbledore has informed the ghosts not to answer any questions regarding the Chamber of Secrets." The ghost explained mid-way through Loki's mental manipulation.

' #&@* he used 'His' name. The best I can do is cover up my manipulation by trying light emotional blackmail.'

"Friar, could you please help me out? Isn't it your responsibility as a ghost loved by the students to make sure that all of the students know the truth about whatever is going on? Why not tell me the truth so that I can convey it to them without revealing the crux of the matter?"

There was a slight pause and just as Loki worried he might have to do something rather unplanned and harsh the ghost spoke.

"Worry not! I shall help you to the best of my ability." Friar said with a wide smile on his face as he patted his chest which bulged with confidence.

"Thank you. Then here is my first question, What do you know about the Chamber of Secrets?" Loki asked pulling out his Jedi-ballpoint pen and a notebook to record the conversation automagically.

"Bet you didn't know the Chamber of Secrets was opened in recent History did you?" Friar said with a calm smile.

"It was?" Loki asked with raised eyebrows.

"Yes, it was. Fifty years ago. They even gave an Award for Special Services to the boy who helped close it. Tom Marvolo Riddle, he was called at that time." Fat Friar said with a happy but sad smile.

"What happened then? Who opened it? Who was the boy?" Loki asked calmly trying to comprehend the information Friar had revealed.

The ghost adopted a forlorn look when Loki asked the particular question and spoke with a soft sigh, "The chamber was suspected to have been opened by Hagrid when he was a student. He even spent time in Azkaban for it until Dumbledore who was just a teacher did his best to get him free."

"Hagrid? As in the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts?" Loki asked with a slightly angry expression as he felt he was being fed dragon dung.

"No! You must believe me! In exchange for getting out of Azkaban Hagrid gave up the ability to do magic since his wand was broken and he was expelled from school."

"Are you lying?" Loki asked straightforwardly.

"No! You can ask Hagrid if you want to! Though I suspect he will want to avoid the topic since it is a bit sensitive for him."

"I see. What about the boy who helped catch Hagrid then? Who was this Tom fella?"

Friar took on a scared expression as he explained, "He was just a boy back then, one that was in everyone's good books. Now he's more popularly known as You-know-Who."

Loki let out a sharp *gasp* but Friar continued as if he hadn't heard him.

"When a girl died and Hogwarts was in danger of closing, he stepped forward and caught Hagrid saving the school from closure."

"You-Know-Who? He studied here at Hogwarts!?"

'Did 'Adam' train his ultimate villain from such a young age?'

"He did, but no one then would've thought he'd become such a feared figure in the world of Magic. He was an exceptional student who excelled at everything he did."

"And the girl that died? Did she die here at Hogwarts!?"

"Yes. Her name was Myrtle Elizabeth Warren, or more popularly known as Moaning Myrtle today. Haunts the second-floor girl's bathroom, right where she died." Friar said with a sad expression on his face.

Loki looked up at him with wide eyes since this meant he could talk to the direct victim of the incident and gain first-hand knowledge about the Chamber of Secrets. 

'But shouldn't 'Adam' and the other teachers already know what's in the chamber and where it is? Why were they so worried about it?'

'I guess we're going to be selling our next copies like hotcakes after I talk to her?'

'Would 'Adam' mind wipe me if I learnt where the chamber was and what was in it?'

"They treat her quite poorly I tell you. She was a victim of being bullied for her appearance when she was alive and even after her death people bully her appearance by throwing books or other random things at her." Friar explained feeling pity for the young girl.

"I see." Loki nodded feeling some pity for the girl.

'Maybe the article would do good to her and make others stop bullying her? Or just bring more attention to her if the students behave like the internet. But she should have a thick skin after being a ghost for so long should she not?'

"Do you have any idea how the Chamber of Secrets has been opened again? Or what lies inside it that has caused everyone to fear it so much?"

"I'm sorry, I will not be of much help there. And I don't think anyone knows what could be inside the chamber, all we know is it is something that can kill people as easily as breathing. It must be frightening whatever it is."

"I see. Thank you, Friar! Let me know if I can do something for you in exchange for this interview." Loki said politely concluding his questioning.

"I would love to see people stop bullying Myrtle, the poor girl cries about it ever so often.", Friar said with a sad expression.

"I was going to help her regardless.", Loki said nodding.

"All good then. I will look forward to your attempt."

Parting ways with the ghost Loki thought about the incident on his way back.

'Now all that remains is to interview Myrtle to see what she can say about her death, perhaps that can shine light on the situation.'

'But if the matter concerns you-know-who, is it truly wise to print it in the newspaper?'

'Is this why 'Adam' doesn't want anyone learning about this?'

Walking down the halls and corridors Loki finally arrived in front of the second-floor girl's lavatory.

"Oh! I should probably get Daphne or Hermione before entering myself." Loki wondered out loud but then had to stop because a ghost poked its head out of the door and began to speak to him.

"What are you doing here? Are you going to enter the girl's washroom? Are the boys going to throw things at me now too? I wouldn't mind if it was from someone like you though."

Loki shivered. "....Myrtle?" and asked with confusion since he hadn't seen her till today and came to a conclusion about her identity by trying to piece together the slight contextual clues.

"Ooh~! You know my name! Can I know yours?" The ghost asked with a giggle.

"Sure. My name's Loki."

"Loki? That is a nice name. Is that your full name? My full name is Myrtle Elizabeth Warren." The ghost said popping its hand out the door to try and shake Loki's hand.

"Hello, Miss Myrtle. My full name is Loki. I grew up an orphan and never even heard my mother call me by her maiden name."

Loki grabbed Myrtle's floaty hand and felt a cold shiver pass down his spine and felt as if something depressing had just occurred, even then he kept up his immaculate posture and with a slightly forced smile shook his hand which Myrtle tried to copy.

"Miss Myrtle, I have a few questions for you, if you could help me out?", Loki asked politely.

"Help you out? Hmm…does that mean I get something out of it?"

"How about I drop by once every while to talk to you in exchange?"

"Ooh~ talking to a pretty boy like you feels good. But how will I know you'll come back? What if you're lying to Myrtle? Are you lying to Myrtle?"

"No. You can always find me in room 2-21 during the evenings. It's where I work with my colleagues to print the Hogwarts Honest Mill newspaper."

"Ooh~! Do you print the newspaper!? I was wondering who did, I quite like watching students play the game that comes with it! But the students always chase me away! Are you going to chase me away?" Myrtle said with tears in her eyes and a frown on her face.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

A/N : We crossed a hundred powerstones! There will be an extra chapter tomorrow! Let goo!!

Join my Patreon (p@treon.com/hooin_kyoma_au) to read 20 chapters ahead for just $3.