Moaning Myrtle and the Chamber of Secrets

[VancouverWriter]

Something has occurred to me re: Myrtle, Ginny and the Chamber of Secrets.

First, it's been established that Myrtle lives in the bathroom where the entrance to the chamber exists.

Second, it's also been established that Riddle/LV was manipulating Ginny through the diary and that as a result, Ginny opened the chamber of secrets.

That means that Ginny would have been in Myrtle's bathroom at least a few times. How is it that Myrtle didn't know or didn't see Ginny manipulating the chamber? And, if she did see Ginny doing these things why didn't she mention it to anyone? Now I'm sure she didn't know who Ginny was but given the fact that few people came in that bathroom, I find it highly unlikely that Myrtle wouldn't have spoken to Ginny at some point. After all, she takes offense at everyone!

So, why didn't Myrtle tell anyone? I doubt she could be cursed, since she's a ghost. And it's unlikely that she wasn't there. And it's also unlikely she didn't see something at some point.

Finally, how did that huge snake manipulate its way into the library to petrify Hermione? I mean a huge snake like that has got to be noticed. What do people think?

[emily105]

Well, I'm not too sure about why Myrtle didn't tell anybody about Ginny opening the Chamber of Secrets. When it comes to Hermione being petrified, didn't she have a mirror with her so she could look around the corners to make sure the snake wasn't on the other side? I mean, that is how I remember her and Penelope Clearwater getting petrified, because Hermione had the mirror with her, looked in it and saw the snake, and Penelope must have been coming out of the library the same time Hermione was looking at the snake in the mirror. That is what I remember from the book anyways.

[poppy rebecca]

have u actually seen the film? the snake was using the pipes to get around. and murtle is mostly in her toilet and anyway ginny only had to be in there once to open it.

[TaraBrady]

She did mention someone (Ginny) throwing the diary at her.

The first time Hermione takes Harry and Ron into Myrtle's bathroom, she says she wasn't paying attention because Peeves had been teasing her. Myrtle's very wrapped up in herself, and probably doesn't take much notice of people who don't bother to engage her.

[VancouverWriter]

Yes I did see the film. Certainly she's self-absorbed but she also takes great interest in anyone who comes into the bathroom. As to her not noticing Ginny opening the chamber, it still doesn't make sense to me. I'm sure that's something Myrtle would have taken notice of.

And yes, I know that Hermione had a mirror and the snake was using the pipes. But at some point it had to rear its head out of the pipes and how did no one notice such a huge thing appearing in the library?

[TaraBrady]

I'm not sure this is something that Myrtle would keep to herself, if she knew something. She seems to like to gossip.

Edit: more accurately, she seem to like it when she can tell people things. She likes to be asked about things.

Well, the chamber only had to be opened once to let the Basilisk out, and it happened on Halloween, right? Myrtle was at Nick's deathday party. Ginny probably opened it while she was gone; in fact, that could be the reason she opened it that night.

[RemusLupinFan]

So, why didn't Myrtle tell anyone? I doubt she could be cursed, since she's a ghost. And it's unlikely that she wasn't there. And it's also unlikely she didn't see something at some point.That's a good question. :tu: Let's look at each of the times someone was Petrified:

1) Mrs. Norris: Myrtle attends Nick's Deathday party and is teased by Peeves. When the trio returns from the party, they find a large puddle of water near the door of Myrtle's bathroom, and then they notice Mrs. Norris (who saw the Basilisk's reflection in the water). In this instance, I would imagine Myrtle was far too upset to notice anything. She must have locked herself in a stall and wailing loudly enough not to notice any noise. Being extremely upset, I don't think she would have cared about anything out of the ordinary.

2)Colin Creevey: Harry sees McGonagall and Dumbledore bring him into the hospital wing- he was found on the stairs, and he saw the Basilisk through his camera. In this case, we have no indication of where Myrtle was or what she was doing at the time of the attack, but she doesn't make an appearance the next day when Harry goes to her bathroom to meet Hermione and Ron.

3) Nick and Justin: Harry sees them as he's on his way to Transfiguration. No mention of Myrtle. In this instance, perhaps she was hiding out in the u-bend. :angel:

4) Hermione and Penelope: McGonagall takes Ron and Harry to see her. They are found holding mirrors near the library. Again, no mention of Myrtle.

From looking at each of these attacks, it would seem that Myrtle had more of an excuse not to notice anything for the first one. But for the other three, it does seem a bit odd that she doesn't see Ginny controlling the Basilisk. If I had to guess, I'd say that she was too consumed by her own misery to notice anything. :shrug:

As for why nobody would see the Basilisk, I'd imagine Riddle would have tried to time the attacks so that nobody was around. It is clear that in each attack, nobody was there to witness it. If they had been, then someone would have said something (or else they'd be dead if they'd looked into the Basilisk's eyes.

[HedwigOwl]

Yes I did see the film. Certainly she's self-absorbed but she also takes great interest in anyone who comes into the bathroom. As to her not noticing Ginny opening the chamber, it still doesn't make sense to me. I'm sure that's something Myrtle would have taken notice of.

And yes, I know that Hermione had a mirror and the snake was using the pipes. But at some point it had to rear its head out of the pipes and how did no one notice such a huge thing appearing in the library?

Hermione was found near the library, not in it. And as far as no one noticing....nearly everyone else was already in the stands or on their way for the quidditch game. Probably Hermione & Penelope were the only people coming out of the library.

[Barbara Kennedy]

Perhaps this thread could help?

Moaning Myrtle’s role (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=10900)

[VancouverWriter]

Too consumed to notice a giant snake? I just don't buy it although I recognize that others see it as reasonable. Also, I think the chamber had to be opened more than once or the snake would be out all the time.

[Bonta Kun]

Myrtle couldn't have seen it or she would have suffered in the same way Nearly Headless Nick did. She didn't even notice Ginny entering the room to flush the diary down the toilet, she only noticed when it went through her, so I agree that she's too self absorbed.

Myrtle also does leave the toilet, we already know she sometimes gets flushed into the lake (ew! People swim in that lake, with raw sewege!) and also goes to spy at the prefects in the bathroom, so I guess she travels about other places too. So I guess she had nothing to tell. But that said, why didn't the tri think about asking ghosts earlier? I always think to myself when a mystery pops up 'go and ask Nick, 500 years of haunting Hogwarts probably means he knows a hell of a lot about it!' I wonder if ghosts could have got into the chamber, what with being able to pass through walls, or if it was protected by magic? Magic I guess, if no one could eveer find it before.

Regarding the basilisk, I also wondered about this. I seem to rememebr the book says the shed skin is 10 feet long, and don't remember any other size guidlines (I would have to check) but I hated the film version, I thought it was much too big to travel through piping (how would the water flow through such huge pipes? Wouldn't it just sit in puddles? And the walls would have to be enormous to fit them in!) The basilisk is dangerous enough without being the size of a dragon. I also hated the way the film version had Harry cornered in a tunnel, and even though it was blinded it should have known he was there, since snakes hunt using the smells they pick up with their tongues. That's just a small gripe of mine! The book's battle was nice and quick and not too drawn out :)

[ArtemisiaDax]

I do wonder about the basilisk, as well. So the school was founded c.1000 AD, at a time when plumbing wasn't common. Did the wizarding world retain knowledge of indoor plumbing (Romans had it, but people of late antiquity/early middle ages didn't retain the knowledge) when muggles didn't? Otherwise, how did Slytherin plan for the basilisk to get around?

There isn't a problem with the size of the pipes (I'm no expert on physics, but I'm pretty sure you can create very large piping systems with no problem with flow, as long as you keep pressure sufficient. Someone with a better background in fluid dynamics than me want to pipe up on the matter? :P)

Yeah, though, the walls do seem rather small for pipes big enough for the basilisk. And it is strange that Myrtle's never around for any of this.

[Barbara Kennedy]

I do wonder about the basilisk, as well. So the school was founded c.1000 AD, at a time when plumbing wasn't common. Did the wizarding world retain knowledge of indoor plumbing (Romans had it, but people of late antiquity/early middle ages didn't retain the knowledge) when muggles didn't? Otherwise, how did Slytherin plan for the basilisk to get around?

There isn't a problem with the size of the pipes (I'm no expert on physics, but I'm pretty sure you can create very large piping systems with no problem with flow, as long as you keep pressure sufficient. Someone with a better background in fluid dynamics than me want to pipe up on the matter? :P)

Yeah, though, the walls do seem rather small for pipes big enough for the basilisk. And it is strange that Myrtle's never around for any of this.
This thread discusses how the plumbing and the Chamber entrance got there.....

Chamber of Secrets Entrance: how did it get there? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=28215)

[VancouverWriter]

Certainly I think the notion of that enormous snake fitting into the castle's plumbing just doesn't make sense. At least not to me. And if Myrtle isn't around then it's highly convenient. And how would Ginny know if Myrtle was going to be around or not?

[Cheri]

She seems pretty clueless.....

[asrivathsan]

So, why didn't Myrtle tell anyone?

Put it this way.... why would she tell it to anyone. She was no friends of ron or hermione or harry.Only when they pressed her did she say something about her past. She spent most of her time moaning:).

Plus to develop the plot:)

[VancouverWriter]

Of all the plots, I think CoS is the weakest. Still fun though.

[hotharry]

What???????? :wow: :wow: :wow: I loved the CoS and I think the plot is great. First of all Slytherin was a very powerful wizard, he would have magicked the pipes so that it would expand for the snake to go through. Second, at the time that Hermione got petrified, she was not in the library she was near the library, that means anything within a fourty foot radius. hogwarts is large and there are many people guarentted, but not always is somebody going to be down every hall at every minut. Especially before a quidditch match. Thirdly, Moaning Myrtle is very selfish and could only care what happens to herself. She does not care about other people therefore ignroing the rest of the world. She can only see herself therefore blocking her vision of other people. When you are really depressed, you really don't care what is going on around you, only what happens to you. Since Ginny didn't bother Moaning Myrtle, I'm sure she over looked Ginny. Besides we see that Moaning Myrtle does not always stay in the bathroom. She was at Nicks deathday party, and she visits Harry in GoF in the Prefects bathing room. So it is possible that Moaning Myrtle was not even in the bathroom when ginny went in to open the CoS!

[HesHPfan]

I think that Myrtle would have told about Ginny, if only they would have asked her. She likes Harry, so she could have told him before.

[Padfoot212]

maybe myrtle was hoping that she'd have someone to share her toilet with

[bookworm_97123]

It was never said that there was only the one enterance into the Chamber of Secrets. Personally I have a hard time picturing proud and (in my mind) snooty Slytherian sliding down a slimy pipe. If there is another enterance then that would solve the problem quite nicely.

[HesHPfan]

Yeah, that is possible, remember when Harry and Ron etc. return from the Chamber. Myrtle was disapointed.

[hotharry]

I think that Myrtle would have told about Ginny, if only they would have asked her. She likes Harry, so she could have told him before.
I also think that is a good point. Myrtle does not tell them anything until they ask her questions. They didn't ask her the right questions. Harry didn't know to ask her whether or not Ginny opened the CoS. Harry didn't know to ask her if the CoS was in that bathroom. And so therefore Myrtle did not answer any of those questions cause they didn't bother to ask her. She likes to feel important, so maybe she just held it over their heads because she wanted to. Or she didn't know about it. She never said anything when they opened the CoS. Myrtle didn't say "I've known about that all the time!" Or something like that. We can only assume that Myrtle did not know the answers at all.

[mizz_malfoy]

well, you see Myrrle did mention someone comming into the bathroom and trying to flush down the diary, but it didnt work, and myrtle was saying how peeves was bugging her, so she probably didnt pay n e attention to who it was the tried to flush down the diary

[hotharry]

It was never said that there was only the one enterance into the Chamber of Secrets. Personally I have a hard time picturing proud and (in my mind) snooty Slytherian sliding down a slimy pipe. If there is another enterance then that would solve the problem quite nicely.

That would makes sense, I bet that Slytherin put more than one way to get down to the CoS and hid them all as well as the one entrance through the girls bathroom. Bravo! Great idea!

[kingwidgit]

Well, Myrtle does leave her bathroom on occasion.
Examples: She gets washed down to the lake when someone accidentally flushes her toilet (when she's sitting in the U-bend (girls bathroom). She gave Harry directions to the Merpeople in the Second Task (in the Lake). She left for Nick's deathday party (Dungeons). She spied on the bath-time of prefects, in the Prefects bathroom (7th floor?).
Even when she's in her bathroom, she sometimes avoids people, just moaning and crying in her toilet, like she did when the trio were making the polyjuice potion. Most of the time though, I get the feeling that she's inside the plumbing, rather than just in a cubicle. Being so unhappy all the time, she avoids people because they make fun of her. She has actually taking a liking to Harry, though. I'm not sure she saw Ginny at all, or would attribute anything to her.

[hotharry]

Well, Myrtle does leave her bathroom on occasion.
Examples: She gets washed down to the lake when someone accidentally flushes her toilet (when she's sitting in the U-bend (girls bathroom). She gave Harry directions to the Merpeople in the Second Task (in the Lake). She left for Nick's deathday party (Dungeons). She spied on the bath-time of prefects, in the Prefects bathroom (7th floor?).
Even when she's in her bathroom, she sometimes avoids people, just moaning and crying in her toilet, like she did when the trio were making the polyjuice potion. Most of the time though, I get the feeling that she's inside the plumbing, rather than just in a cubicle. Being so unhappy all the time, she avoids people because they make fun of her. She has actually taking a liking to Harry, though. I'm not sure she saw Ginny at all, or would attribute anything to her.

Yes excatly! Thank you! *Kisses kingwidgit's feet*

[kingwidgit]

Yes excatly! Thank you! *Kisses kingwidgit's feet*
Ah, shucks! :blush:

[tarachristwen]

i guess she was too busy crying and moaning about her misfortune..

[hotharry]

Ah, shucks! :blush:

lol! :rotfl: Any time! :eyebrows:

[asrivathsan]

She was slightly suspicious of harry and co. i guess. And i don't think she ever took part in what they were doing. So i guess, it is not a big deal, if she didn't say.

[hotharry]

Myrtle is the kind of person who really doesn't like to help other people. She is only caught up in her own little world. She's a geek, to put it nicely and therefore not really willing to help the cool kids, (Harry, Ron, and Hermione). She also likes to feel important and wants people to look to her and therefore she likes to answer questions but since she was never asked, she never told.

[asrivathsan]

Not a myrtle fan, are you? But yes, i agree with you. She would help only if someone begs or threatens her.

[hotharry]

Not a myrtle fan, are you? But yes, i agree with you. She would help only if someone begs or threatens her.

Nah, I really don't like Myrtle at all. she kind of drives me nuts. But I love the CoS. It my favorite book and movie so far. We'll see with the next book coming out and the next movie coming out. ButI understand her charcter well. I have a friend just like Myrtle. Drives me nuts sometimes.

[asrivathsan]

:D. Well, I agree with you. Not that i love her though. She would never take the trouble of telling harry.

[Bunny]

Maybe it is part of the Ghost thing, can't tell anything unless they are asked specific questions.
Nick said to Harry that he was expecting him at the end of OotP.

So, why didn't Myrtle tell anyone? I doubt she could be cursed, since she's a ghost. And it's unlikely that she wasn't there. And it's also unlikely she didn't see something at some point. Why was it unlikely she wasn't there?
Tom Riddle is (was) extremely cunning, so he probably would have been trying to make sure that Ginny is not seen so as to cause more panic.
He would have had her looking around to see who is there, and waiting till the coast is clear.
Myrtle isn't going to remark on one girl going in to the toilets.
Then as his grip on Ginny grows his emphasis changes from Muggleborns to Harry. In this case he definitely didn't want Ginny caught just yet because he wanted to get at Harry.
Besides Myrtle does seem to spend an awful lot of time in the U-Bend thinking about death. As for why nobody would see the Basilisk, I'd imagine Riddle would have tried to time the attacks so that nobody was around. It is clear that in each attack, nobody was there to witness it. If they had been, then someone would have said something (or else they'd be dead if they'd looked into the Basilisk's eyes. Yep, agreed.

[crystal_joy]

I think Myrtle was probably so wrapped up in her depression and "me, me, me" attitude that maybe she didn't notice little Ginny walking into the bathroom, maybe she thought is was Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Then of course Myrtle does seem like the selfish type, anything anyone says or does offends her... because it's all about her. Maybe Ginny walked into the bathroom and said "Hey Myrtle, you're fat" and then Myrtle went off into her toilet? Myrtle has so many other things to cry about - maybe she forgot? Tom Riddle is smart, I doubt he would let someone like Myrtle get in the way.

[SnapeLova]

if myrtle knew that it was ginny i think she would have said so whe n she was hit with the book...but she never saw ginny throw it...but we also know that myrtle can leave the bathroom through the pipes (gof when harry is in the prefects bathroom and in the lake)so maybe she wasnt there during the times ginny was in there.

[Bunny]

Maybe Ginny walked into the bathroom and said "Hey Myrtle, you're fat" and then Myrtle went off into her toilet? I don't think that Ginny is this unkind, however, maybe Tom said it through Ginny.
Certainly one way of making the bathroom empty.
I still think that (S)he was keeping an eye out.
I still don't think that Tom wanted to draw too much attention to her.

[hotharry]

I don't think that Ginny is this unkind, however, maybe Tom said it through Ginny.
Certainly one way of making the bathroom empty.
I still think that (S)he was keeping an eye out.
I still don't think that Tom wanted to draw too much attention to her.

I agree Ginny isn't that mean, and Voldermort had control over her. so I bet that he made sure that no one saw her do it or otherwise they would have gotten rid of Ginny and then his hope of coming back would be over.

[crystal_joy]

I don't think that Ginny is this unkind, however, maybe Tom said it through Ginny.
Certainly one way of making the bathroom empty.
I still think that (S)he was keeping an eye out.
I still don't think that Tom wanted to draw too much attention to her.

Well obviously Ginny would have been under the control of Tom Riddle at the time if she was going into the bathroom to open the Chamber of Secrets... and I doubt that Riddle would really care much about Myrtle's feelings, he's the one that set the Basillisk after her in the first place.

I should have made it clear what I meant, sorry, my bad. :blush:

[Bunny]

I should have made it clear what I meant, sorry, my bad. Don't worry, it was interesting point. :)

[hotharry]

Oh, that makes sense. I understand now!

[hotharry]

Just glad y'all realise I'm not trashing Ginny. :sigh: :angel:
lol! I didn't think that you were trashing Ginny, it just didn't make sense to me! oh well. But yeah, I think that Moaning Myrtle is just wrapped up in herself.

[asrivathsan]

I wonder how she manages to stay like this, isolated from every one. Moaning always and all, but why not go and moan in front of the others rather than moaning alone. Whats the real point in moaning all alone, after all nobody will notice you. Really, not even a ghost can bear that kind of seclusion!

[gryffin_hauz_88]

I guess, Ginny went there only twice: when she threw the diary and when she opened the Chamber and was kidnapped by Riddle. I guess, Myrtle has no idea that Ginny was the one to open the Chamber...

[hotharry]

I wonder how she manages to stay like this, isolated from every one. Moaning always and all, but why not go and moan in front of the others rather than moaning alone. Whats the real point in moaning all alone, after all nobody will notice you. Really, not even a ghost can bear that kind of seclusion!

That's a good point. If you think about somebody like Moaning Myrtle loves attention. And wants attention, and yet she does not care about the people around her. She is selfish and wants attention. But she could leave and bother the students. I guess she does bother the girls that try and go to the bathroom in there. But most girls stay away cause they know she is there. We know she does leave. But she never haunts people in the hallways. I bet that she use to bother the students, and then probably the head master made a rule that she could not moan and bother students outside of the bathroom she died in. It's just a guess, what do ya think?

[tarachristwen]

moaning myrtle is too busy crying and moaning and she's not that friendly to other girls...

[hotharry]

moaning myrtle is too busy crying and moaning and she's not that friendly to other girls...

She could probably careless about other girls she likes boys obviously and pays more attention to Ron and Harry more than she does Hermione. But Moaning Myrtle may just moan and not try and haunt people. She's miserable, although she was revengeful about the girl that made fun of her glasses. And maybe after Moaning Myrtle died she tried to Haunt that girl and was rebuked by the headmaster at the time.

[Nickoli]

I agree it would be easy to enter the bathroom without Myrtle noticing. As had been stated above. She spends most of her time in the U-bend, and moaning. I honestly don't think she pays much attention to the "going ons" around her.

As far as the chambers entrance, There must be some magic involved with the snakes movements. When Mrs Norris gets attacked, its eveident that the snake used the entrance in the bathroom. Since the floor was flooded. But if the snake was using the pipes to move around the school, and exiting at differnet locations, it would have to have some way to exit in other areas. After all. It travels through the drainage pipes. (much larger then thoose that carry fresh water) So in order to exit at different locations, the walls, sinks etc, must expand to let it pass. After all, I'm sure the smell would be quite bad in alot of areas of the castle if they had large opeings to the sewage system throughout the castle.

[asrivathsan]

I bet that she use to bother the students, and then probably the head master made a rule that she could not moan and bother students outside of the bathroom she died in. It's just a guess, what do ya think?


That is a good idea. But i wonder if the headmaster would do it. I mean, dumbedore has not said anything to peeves yet ( i think he is more of a nuisance that myrtle. My thought though), then why to moaning myrtle?

Probably even DD got irritated by such people/ghosts. He would prefer someone mischevious, I guess.

[hotharry]

That is a good idea. But i wonder if the headmaster would do it. I mean, dumbedore has not said anything to peeves yet ( i think he is more of a nuisance that myrtle. My thought though), then why to moaning myrtle?

Probably even DD got irritated by such people/ghosts. He would prefer someone mischevious, I guess.

That's a good point. Maybe the Bloody Baron is over all the ghost/poltergist. And then the headmaster doesn't have to keep them in line. I guess that Dumbledore leave Peeves around because he's entertaining. He must have some agreement with Peeves too, cause Peeves never bothers him. But I do think that Maybe the Bloody Baron would put restriction on the ghosts when he see fit. :shrug:

[asrivathsan]

He must have some agreement with Peeves too, cause Peeves never bothers him.

You make him sound like a selfish person :D. but yes, what you said is possible.

[hotharry]

You make him sound like a selfish person :D. but yes, what you said is possible.

AH! I didn't mean that I was just trying to figure out why Dumbledore would let peeves have almost free rein in Hogwarts, that is except with the Bloody Baron. Why is peeves afraid of the Bloody Baron? It's not like the Baron can do anything to Peeves anyways. But back on course again( and noticed totally off the main subject) Dumbledore never gets bothered by Peeves ever. So I was trying to figure out how the situtaion between the Headmasters and the ghost. See I figure that Moaning Myrtle would be the type that would have haunted that girl that made fun of her glasses. And how the headmaster would have to stop that. But anyways it is all off the main topic anyways. Moaning Myrtle would have never noticed Ginny anyways.

[asrivathsan]

Or was ginny being cautious in the bathroom , as perhaps she knew a ghost was there?

[Kruml]

She opened the room only 4 times...so Riddle probably planned everything before he send her. Besides Moaning Myrtle doesn't care about much except her own misery.

[hotharry]

Or was ginny being cautious in the bathroom , as perhaps she knew a ghost was there?

thats a good point. Ginny would know that myrtle was there. And therefore make sure that she was not around or otherwise distracted.

[Bunny]

Or was ginny being cautious in the bathroom , as perhaps she knew a ghost was there? thats a good point. Ginny would know that myrtle was there. And therefore make sure that she was not around or otherwise distracted. Tom was/is a devious person. Almost everyone knows that there is a ghost in the girls bathroom so if Ginny was herself she would be on the look out.
As Tom is possessing her, he may know all that she knows, but that might not be.
It appears that everything he has learnt from her seems to be from what she has written in the diary. Would she write about Moaning Myrtle?
Tom may only be looking for other students - he is going to be careful. He manages to avoid Ginny being seen.
The only time she is seen is when she throws the diary away.

[kingwidgit]

=Bunny]Tom may only be looking for other students - he is going to be careful. He manages to avoid Ginny being seen. The only time she is seen is when she throws the diary away.When was Ginny ever seen? CoS, US Ed., The Very Secret Diary, pgs. 329-330:
Moaning Myrtle was crying, if possible, louder and harder than ever before. She seemed to be hiding down her usual toilet. It was dark in the bathroom because the candles had been extenguished in the great rush of water that had left both walls and floor soaking wet.
"What's up, Myrtle?" said Harry.
"Who's that?" glugged Myrtle miserably. "Come to throw something else at me?"
Harry waded across to her stall and said, "Why would I throw something at you?"
"Don't ask me," Myrtle shouted, emerging with a wave of yet more water, which splashed onto the already sopping floor. "Here I am, minding my own business, and someone thinks it's funny to throw a book at me..."
----
"Who threw it at you anyway?" asked Harry.
"I don't know....I was just sitting in the U-bend, thinking about death, and it fell through the top of my head," said Myrtle, glaring at them. "It's over there, it got washed out..."Obviously no one saw Ginny discard that diary.
As to why Myrtle may have not seen Ginny opening the Chamber of Secrets on various occasions, there could be many reasons. Here's a post I made a while ago regarding the subject:
Myrtle does leave her bathroom on occasion.
Examples: She gets washed down to the lake when someone accidentally flushes her toilet (when she's sitting in the U-bend (girls bathroom). She gave Harry directions to the Merpeople in the Second Task (in the Lake). She left for Nick's deathday party (Dungeons). She spied on the bath-time of prefects, in the Prefects bathroom (7th floor?).
Even when she's in her bathroom, she sometimes avoids people, just moaning and crying in her toilet, like she did when the trio were making the polyjuice potion. Most of the time though, I get the feeling that she's inside the plumbing, rather than just in a cubicle. Being so unhappy all the time, she avoids people because they make fun of her. She has actually taking a liking to Harry, though. I'm not sure she saw Ginny at all, or would attribute anything to her.

[crystal_joy]

It appears that everything he has learnt from her seems to be from what she has written in the diary. Would she write about Moaning Myrtle?

Well, Riddle sent the Basilisk after Myrtle, she died, and became a ghost; all of that happened when Riddle was in his fifth year. Since Myrtle wasn't just any ghost, she was the ghost of the student killed by the Basilisk, I'm sure rumors about Myrtle's haunting the bathroom spread through Hogwarts like fire.

[Elaya]

It appears that everything he has learnt from her seems to be from what she has written in the diary. Would she write about Moaning Myrtle?
Tom may only be looking for other students - he is going to be careful. He manages to avoid Ginny being seen.
The only time she is seen is when she throws the diary away.

Well Riddle actually knows Moaning Myrtle, being the one responsible for her death in the first place. He knew how she would react (or that she would fail to react) if someone was to wander around her bathroom and open the Chamber. On a side note, we also learn in CoS that Myrtle does know that her bathroom is the entrance of the Chamber: she can't tell who is the boy who spoke before her death, nor what actually caused her death.

Tom probably knew also that upon dying, Myrtle became a ghost: Riddle was a prefect at the time of her death, so he was probably in his fifth year, and therefore, he would have seen her come back haunting Olive Hornby (??) who had teased her before her death.

Having this piece of information, it would have been easy for him to question Ginny through the diary about Myrtle (after all, he made Ginny kill the roosters and do all sort of things), and somehow make Ginny act so that she would not be seen by Myrtle (maybe force her through the pipes by flushing the toilets? we learn in GoF that it sometimes happen to her...).

Also, Myrtle didn't even know who threw the diary at her (or flushed it in her toilet actually).

[asrivathsan]

ya, we all tend to think riddle as a story character. he IS voldemort, though not in exact shape and form. he was not 'made' because of ginny.

[hotharry]

Well Riddle actually knows Moaning Myrtle, being the one responsible for her death in the first place. He knew how she would react (or that she would fail to react) if someone was to wander around her bathroom and open the Chamber. On a side note, we also learn in CoS that Myrtle does know that her bathroom is the entrance of the Chamber: she can't tell who is the boy who spoke before her death, nor what actually caused her death.

Tom probably knew also that upon dying, Myrtle became a ghost: Riddle was a prefect at the time of her death, so he was probably in his fifth year, and therefore, he would have seen her come back haunting Olive Hornby (??) who had teased her before her death.

Having this piece of information, it would have been easy for him to question Ginny through the diary about Myrtle (after all, he made Ginny kill the roosters and do all sort of things), and somehow make Ginny act so that she would not be seen by Myrtle (maybe force her through the pipes by flushing the toilets? we learn in GoF that it sometimes happen to her...).

Also, Myrtle didn't even know who threw the diary at her (or flushed it in her toilet actually).

I would have to agree. I bet that Moaning Myrtle is the first person Voldermort had ever killed. It would be the turning point in his life. I doubt if he really wanted to kill her. He might have and it might have been an accident. But most likely her death is more significant to him than any others, even more so than Harry, because it was the first person he killed. Moaning Myrtle would not be someone Voldermort, or Tom would ever forget. It will be always there in him, the memories, the way he felt, and how it maybe even turned him to evil and killing more people.