After escorting the students back to the castle, Tver let them go on their own.
"You can head back," Tver called out.
"Remember, no wandering around. Go straight to your house common rooms, or you'll lose your chance to roam the castle forever!"
In the past, these bold, reckless students might not have listened so obediently. But after Colin's attack, none of them dared linger in the corridors anymore, especially on a night this eerie.
Watching them form four lines and trudge off toward their common rooms like four obedient caterpillars, Tver felt pleasantly at ease and prepared to return to his office to keep reading. Tonight's class had been a combined session for all four houses, which meant he'd already finished two second-year lessons. Getting two lessons done in the time of one? A delightful success.
But at the office door, Tver unexpectedly saw a small figure waiting.
Ginny Weasley—head down, clutching a tiny satchel. Her messy hair was stuck with feathers, her robes spattered with bright red blood. Standing in the shadows, she looked even more unsettling than Snape.
Tver's heart nearly stopped. He hurriedly looked her over, finally letting out a relieved breath.
The feathers in her hair were probably chicken feathers, and the blood on her robes chicken blood. She looked a little shaken and pale, but otherwise healthy.
What stood out most were the five badges at her waist. After a moment of checking, Tver recognized them: Ginny's own, Percy's, the Weasley twins', and Ron's. But the magic in them was nearly gone—especially Ginny's. The reinforcement spell he'd placed on hers had even been completely dispelled.
Just then, Ginny suddenly raised her head. The moment she saw Tver in front of her, her previously dull eyes lit up.
"Professor, I… I have something to tell you!"
A flush spread across her face, too vivid to be normal.
"Don't worry," Tver said as he opened the office door. "Come inside first and settle yourself. We'll talk once you're calm."
Ginny murmured a barely audible reply. She let Tver clean her clothes—"Scourgify"—and then he guided her into a soft chair.
"Would you like some pumpkin juice?"
"I—"
Before she could answer, Tver had already placed a cup of Pumpkin juice in front of her, leaving no room to refuse.
For some reason, watching the professor move so calmly made Ginny feel much safer. After she took a small sip of Pumpkin juice, warmth spread through her entire body. It was so soothing she couldn't hold back a tiny yawn.
"Burp~"
She immediately lowered her head, cheeks burning.
The Pumpkin juice tasted so good that she kept drinking until she finished the whole cup. She snuck a glance upward just in time to see the professor smiling as he refilled it to the brim.
This time, Ginny only held the cup and took a small sip. Wrapped in this gentle atmosphere, color returned to her cheeks, and the month-long knot of worry in her chest finally loosened.
"Now, mind if I ask why you came to see me so late? Is there something you need?" Tver crossed his arms over his chest and asked gently but firmly. He had his suspicions, but he still wanted to hear the answer from Ginny's own mouth.
"Yes... yes." Ginny bit her lower lip, hesitating for a moment. "It's because I discovered I'm the killer—the one who attacked Mrs. Norris and Colin!"
"With all due respect, you don't seem capable of such a thing, do you?"
Ginny snapped her head up, locking eyes with Tver, desperate to explain.
"It wasn't me, no, it was me! I have a diary. Since summer break, I've been writing in it..."
"And tonight I discovered this diary can control me, making me do things I don't even know about!"
"On Halloween night, I inexplicably forgot what I'd done, but my robes were stained with red paint—the exact same color I saw at the scene of Mrs. Norris's murder."
"And tonight, I found myself inexplicably standing at the lounge door. If my brothers' badges hadn't suddenly flashed gold, I'd still be completely dazed."
"But I still don't know why my robes were covered in chicken feathers and blood."
"I heard my brother Percy mention it, and I think it might be the effect of the Imperius Curse, so I rushed over to find you."
"Professor, I don't know why." Ginny sobbed, covering her face with her hands. "I really didn't mean to. I didn't want to hurt Mrs. Norris or Colin."
"I know you didn't mean to," Tver offered comfortingly.
"But Colin's still lying in the Hospital Wing. When I snuck in to see him, he looked awful."
"Don't worry. Both he and Mrs Norris will be fine."
"They should... lock me... up in... Azkaban," she said in gasps, her face streaked with tears.
"Listen!"
Tver's suddenly raised voice startled Ginny, making her forget to sniffle away the crystal-clear snot dangling precariously beneath her nose.
Tver waved his wand, restoring the five badges on her uniform, then placed a piece of chocolate into her small, outstretched hand.
"This isn't your fault. The diary is entirely to blame. All you need to do is eat this chocolate and go get some rest."
Ginny stared blankly at the chocolate for a moment before lifting her small head in realization, meeting Tver's gentle eyes.
"It really has nothing to do with me?"
"Absolutely nothing."
Tver nodded firmly.
Though Ginny had broken free from the diary's control sooner than Tver had anticipated, at least there was still Colin to use as a victim. If need be, they could simply advance their plans a bit—it would just mean a busier Christmas. Seeing Ginny now, tear-streaked and consumed with self-blame, he couldn't bring himself to be harsh.
She was still just an eleven-year-old child. She shouldn't have to endure this pain for his goals. Otherwise, how would he be any different from Voldemort?
"But where is that diary? It can't stay with you any longer."
Ginny blinked blankly.
"That's exactly what I thought, so I threw it away."
"Threw... it away?"
A huge question mark appeared above Tver's head.
"Yep!" Ginny lifted her little head proudly, her face begging for praise. "I realized something was off in the evening, so I tossed that diary!"
Tver: …