Disclaimer: I do not assume to own Harry Potter. I only assume rights to the order of the words and to any new ideas I add and create.
A/N: The first introductory portion of my story will be from the works of J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, pgs. 304 – 305. I will continue to follow the general direction of the cannon, however, in the sense that the larger events that happen will also occur in my works (Sirius Black escape, Tri-Wizard Cup, etc. until the end of the Order of the Phoenix). As I have not read the books in many years (apart from the Chamber of Secrets right now– chapter sixteen only), any similarities in wording with her works are unintentional. The dialogue for the first part of my story will be borrowed from what I remember of the movie, as I find it to work well with the setup. This is a blanket disclaimer for the rest of the fiction; only the normal disclaimer will appear in my following works.
A/N: This is just an idea that I got one morning after a particularly good pot of tea. I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it. Also, while I am an accomplished beta and therefore do not send my works out for spelling of grammar, I would appreciate any "Brit-pickers" who feel they are up to fixing my Americanized work. For example, I always used to think "levelled" and "defence" were mis-spellings of "leveled" and "defense," but when if you think of it, the reverse is true. I digress, however; for any interested in aiding me with Brit-picking, please message me through the PM system or through my email on the site, or review with the suggestions. All help in this area would be appreciated.
Finally, to my readers of "The Golden Truth," I have been a bit out of sorts with the Golden Sun realm for a while and have decided to try my hand at another favored series.
A/N: This story has been updated and is now congruent with my writing style as of June 2011. Small parts have been edited, and little sections have been added upon or re-written as setup for later chapters. Also, formatting is now up to date with my current standards.
And now, I leave you to the story:
"Wait there" Harry called to Ron. "Wait with Lockhart. I'll go on. . . . If I'm not back in an hour . . ."
There was a very pregnant pause.
"I'll try and shift some of this rock," said Ron, who seemed to be trying to keep his voice steady. "So you can – can get back through. And, Harry –"
"See you in a bit," said Harry, trying to inject some confidence into his voice.
And he set off alone past the giant snakeskin.
Soon the distant noise of Ron straining to shift the rocks was gone. The tunnel turned and turned again. Every nerve in Harry's body was tingling unpleasantly. He wanted the tunnel to end, yet dreaded what he'd find when it did. And then, at last, as he crept around another bend, he saw a solid wall ahead on which two entwined serpents were carved, their eyes set with great, glinting emeralds.
Harry approached, his throat very dry. There was no need to pretend these stone snakes were real; their eyes looked very alive.
He could guess what he had to do. He cleared his throat, and the emerald eyes seemed to flicker.
"Open," said Harry, in a low, faint hiss.
The serpents parted as the wall cracked open, the halves slid smoothly out of sight, and Harry, shaking from head to foot, walked inside.
Harry Potter and the Flight of the Phoenix
Book Two, Chapter One – The Secret Chamber
Harry stepped past the archway and into darkness. As he took another step forward, dim torches sprang to life, lighting the walls from where he entered to the end of the chamber. Looking around quickly, he saw giant statues of snakeheads, mouths open and fangs protruding on both sides of the chamber, following the long, wet stone path to a wider area at the end. As he slowly approached walked forward, he kept looking around and listening in case he ran into the basilisk. About a third of the way up to the chamber proper, Harry saw the far wall come into focus, noticing there was a head of a man carved into the rock. On the ground in front of the head was pool of standing water, and in front of that,
"Ginny…" Harry breathed, seeing the girl lying prone, her red hair sharply contrasting with the dark colors of her robes and the chamber itself. Taking all of one second to decide, he ran the rest of the way down the stone walkway, splashing water as he carelessly sprinted through the smaller puddles of water littering the ground. "Ginny, wake up. Please, wake up…" Harry said, kneeling down on the damp floor besides her and turning her face up, shaking her shoulder gently. As she continued to lay lifeless, he began to feel a slight panic building inside of himself. He placed his wand down and reached out to touch her hand, shocked to find it ice cold. Just as his eyes landed on Riddle's diary, he heard a voice behind him.
"She won't wake." Turning, Harry saw the same person that he saw in the diary standing before him now, not a day older. Pushing aside his confusion on how the boy did not age, Harry quickly glanced back to Ginny, trying to think of a plan to get them all out of there.
"What do you mean she won't wake up? She's not…" Harry trailed off, turning back to the girl, his throat tightening as he refused to finish the sentence, even though the word hung clearly in the now stifling air, dead.
"No, she is still alive…" Tom said, walking slowly closer to Harry and Ginny. Harry could hardly believe it, but relief and hope coursed through him.
"Tom! You have to help me move Ginny. There's a basilisk—" Harry started, turning to the boy who was now standing next to Harry and had picked up Harry's wand.
"It won't come until it is called." Tom said evenly, taking a small step back.
"What are you talking about? We have to get out of here, we have to save her!" Harry said, getting a bit impatient with the other boy. 'We may still be able to save Ginny if we can get her help soon.'
"I can't let you do that, Harry," Tom said, turning to face the head of stone. Turning his head back, Tom grinned at Harry, "It was Ginny who opened the Chamber of Secrets, Ginny who set the Basilisk on the mudbloods and wrote the threatening messages on the walls."
"No, she couldn't… She wouldn't…" Harry said, slowly standing and looking at Ron's sister. "Why?"
Tom smirked at this, "Because I told her to. I think you will find that I can be very… persuasive." The more Tom talked, the wider his smile grew. "Not that she knew what she was doing… she was, shall we say, in a kind of trance?"
"So you are the Heir of Slytherin," Harry said more than asked, the beginnings of anger building inside of him. "You opened the Chamber of Secrets before…"
"Indeed, but after opening the chamber and framing Hargrid for the mudblood's death, Dumbledore kept an annoyingly close watch on me. I knew it wouldn't be safe to open the Chamber again while I was at Hogwarts, so I left behind a diary, preserving my 16-year old self in its pages so that one day, someone could finish Salazar Slytherin's noble work. But killing mudbloods doesn't matter to me, anymore. No, for a while now, my new target," Tom paused, drawing it out, "Has been you."
"Me? Why me?" Tom only grinned at Harry once more, savoring his confusion before turning around and, using Harry's wand, Wrote his name. Tom Marvolo Riddle. Swiping his wand, the letters scrambled and formed new words. I Am Lord Voldemort.
"You…" Harry said, feeling his anger increase as he looked at the boy who would one day kill his parents.
"Yes. I fashioned myself a new name, a name I knew would one day make all wizards tremble in fear, when I became the greatest sorcerer in the world!"
"Albus Dumbledore is the greatest sorcerer in the world!" Harry said, glaring at Riddle.
Tom only smiled again at Harry's outburst, "Dumbledore has been driven out of this castle by the mere memory of me."
"Dumbledore will never be gone. Not as long as those who remain are loyal to him!" Harry said, just as the cry of a phoenix was heard. Looking over, they both watched as Fawkes dropped the sorting hat into Harry's hands and took off again.
"So this is what Dumbledore gives his great champion, a songbird and an old hat. Let's see how you fare against Slytherin's might." Turning to the statue, Tom raised his wand-free hand, "Speak to me, Salazar, Greatest of the Hogwarts Four!"
The statue rumbled to life as its mouth slowly opened. Seconds later, the largest serpent Harry had ever seen slithered out. 'At least its eyes are closed…' Harry dimly thought as he turned and ran.
"Kill him! Only obey my voice!" Thinking quickly, he turned sharply to run into one of the tunnels, but slipped on a puddle of water. As he heard the snake approach again, Harry heard a phoenix cry again and saw Fawkes swoop down past him and to where the basilisk was. In the shadows cast by torchlight, Harry saw Fawkes attack the serpent as he scrambled to his feet.
"No!" Tom cried as Harry heard the basilisk hiss in pain, "Your bird may have blinded the basilisk, but he can still hear you!"
Harry saw Fawkes vanish into flames as he ran into the adjoining tunnels, followed closely by the basilisk. Seeing a tunnel branch off to the main chamber again, Harry ran to it, only to find it grated off by steel. Turning quickly, Harry saw the basilisk pause, beginning to peer into the tunnel branch. Looking around him for a weapon, Harry saw a rock and quickly thought of a plan. Quietly grabbing it, he threw it past the basilisk and to the tunnel. The basilisk heard the noise and turned, slithering past Harry and taking a branch in the tunnel that lead away from the main chamber.
Sighing in relief for now, Harry ran out to Ginny again. This time, she looked even paler than before.
"In a few minutes the process will be complete, Ginny Weasley will be dead… And I will cease to be a memory." Tom said, an evil smile growing rapidly on his face, "Lord Voldemort will return, very much alive."
As he finished saying that, the basilisk burst up from the pool in front of Slytherin's head and Harry quickly threw on the sorting hat thinking, 'Help! Help! I need to fight this thing so I can save Ginny!' As he thought that, he felt a weight rest gently on his head. Taking off the sorting hat, he saw something silver in the folds. Grabbing it and pulling it out, Harry was amazed to see a ruby-encrusted sword. Harry stood quickly and ran away from Ginny, hoping to fight the snake without hurting her.
As he reached the side of the chamber, he scrambled up Salazar's head. The basilisk followed, rearing up as it heard Harry climb. It struck, but Harry managed to dodge, swinging the sword and hitting a glancing blow off of the snake's nose. Again the snake struck with Harry dodging and hitting another glancing blow, 'This isn't working! I need to find a spot where this will get through…' Harry thought, looking down at the redhead, the sight of her seeming to fill him with strength and determination. Looking over the snake, Harry tried to think of a place as he dodged the snake and flailed the sword, missing it and causing him to stumble. Regaining his footing, Harry looked to see the snake strike again. Its mouth open wide, Harry watched as it flew towards him. Reacting more than thinking, he struck, stabbing the sword up though the basilisk's mouth and through its head. Pulling it out, the snake roared as it flailed its head before falling with a great thud that shook the chamber.
Adrenalin still pumping, Harry was surprised at the pressure and twinge he felt on his arm. Looking down, he pulled out the fang that was stuck in his sword arm. Climbing down Slytherin's head quickly, he kneeled down by Ginny again, dropping the sword and fang nearby. All he could think was 'No…' as he felt the wound begin to burn white-hot.
"Remarkable, isn't it? How quickly the venom of the basilisk penetrates the body. I guess you have little more than a minute to live. You'll be with your dear mudblood mother soon, Harry." Riddle said, looking down at the boy who killed the basilisk. Harry merely looked down at Ginny, reaching out and holding her ice cold hand. 'I failed her… And Ron…' Harry thought as his vision began to get a little cloudy. "Funny, the damage a silly little book can do, especially in the hands of a silly little girl."
Releasing Ginny's hand, Harry pulled the diary from her and placed it on the floor of the chamber. 'If nothing more, I can try to stop him…' Harry thought as he grabbed the basilisk fang and faced Riddle.
"What are you doing? No!" Riddle cried as Harry stabbed the book with the fang. Ink poured out from the book as he pressed down. The Tom before him began cracking apart, bleeding white light through from the centre. Tom screamed as the venom burned through the diary. He began to glow brighter and brighter and then his entire body blew apart, silence once again returning to the chamber.
Letting go of the fang, Harry slumped, elbows on his crossed legs. His vision was deteriorating quickly and he felt himself begin breathing heavier as he noticed movement in front of him as Ginny sat up.
"Ginny…" He said weakly and the girl turned quickly to face him.
"Harry! It was me… I-I opened the chamber, but I didn't mean to. Riddle made me…" She trailed off as she took in his haggard appearance. "Harry you're hurt…" She said as her eyes locked onto the basilisk wound on his arm. 'I set the basilisk on the school and now I got Harry hurt while he was trying to rescue me…'
"Don't worry about me. Ginny, you need to get yourself out. Follow the chamber and you'll find Ron." Harry said as his vision became completely murky. 'At least I know Ginny will be alright… I'm glad I could help her, even if this is the end…' he thought, imagining her smiling face brightening up the day what seemed like so long ago.
"Harry, I can't…" Harry heard her voice, sounding like it came from farther and farther away as blackness overcame his vision, white-hot pain now the only thing he was conscious of as he slumped forward.
Ginny's eyes filled with tears as she reached out and touched his face, gasping since it was ice cold. 'I won't leave him… I'll drag him to Ron, maybe we can still save him!' Ginny thought, even though she didn't believe it. She went behind him and grabbed his shoulders, beginning to drag him, but after straining herself, she barely moved him a foot. Gently placing him down, she glanced at him through tear-filled eyes, deciding she'd come back for him with help. Holding her sobs in as she bent over Harry, Ginny kissed his forehead lightly, whispering "I'll come back for you, Harry."
Then, gathering her strength, she stood and walked from the room, her sobs finally breaking free and echoing throughout the chamber. When she finally reached the end of the chamber, she walked through the snake archway and walked straight back like Harry instructed her. Thinking of the boy brought even more tears to her eyes, making her cry all the harder. She passed a giant snakeskin and heard shifting rocks up ahead, where it looked like there was a cave in.
"Ron..?" she tried to call, but her throat was too tight, and her voice came out as barely a whisper. As she continued slowly forward she cleared her throat to try again.
"Harry?" she heard the hopeful voice of her brother call. As he poked his head over the rocks to the hole he cleared away, his eyes widened, "Ginny?" he asked, his smile disappearing as he saw his sister's state, "Where's Harry?"
That was all it took, and Ginny finally collapsed, her whole body shaking as she cried. Ron Ran over and hesitantly patted her back, "Ginny?"
"H-he… he d-died…" Ginny managed to choke out as she grabbed one of Ron's arms and hung on tightly, needing something solid to hold onto.
Ron stared at her in shock as he digested what she said, finally, weakly, he asked, "How..?"
Ginny didn't answer as she broke down completely, the realization that "The Boy Who Lived," Harry Potter, the only person who survived the killing curse, died to save her.
Bright golden light filled the room as he lay down, not wanting to get up. He couldn't remember what happened or how much time passed, but he didn't want to think about it; it was peaceful here now, and he felt very tired. He decided that if this was death, it wasn't too bad. Gently, from somewhere above him, he heard a phoenix song gently begin. 'Fawkes?' he wondered groggily as he felt a pleasant warmth surround his body, the song warming him from the inside out, seemingly calling him back to consciousness. Blearily opening his eyes, memories came flooding back to the boy. He quickly grabbed his right arm, surprised to find no pain. Sitting up, Harry looked around the chamber.
The chamber was lit up by the torches and by a golden glow that was coming from somewhere near him. Looking down at his arm, Harry gasped as he realized that the wound was gone and that the glow was coming from himself. Glancing up at the ceiling, Harry saw a phoenix flying in lazy circles directly above him, also glowing gold.
"Wha..?" Harry asked, voice cracking. Seemingly upon hearing him, the phoenix began circling lower until it landed directly in front of him, the beautiful song ending. Upon seeing the bird closer, Harry realized something, "You're not Fawkes…"
The beautiful scarlet and golden bird crooned softly, as if in agreement, before looking deep inside Harry's eyes. Harry felt as if the bird was staring into his very soul, and felt like he couldn't look away, but, he also didn't want to. Harry sat there for a few moments before the bird jumped unto his knee and called softly, as if to say 'let's go' before jumping deftly onto Harry's shoulder.
"Okay, girl," Harry said, knowing it was a she, but not knowing how as he softly stroked the phoenix, who again crooned lowly. Harry first walked back and picked up the sorting hat, fang and diary and pocketed them before sliding the sword down his belt on his left side and picked up his wand from where it fell when Tom died. As they made their way up the chamber, Harry felt that he had a strange connection to the beautiful bird, even though they had only just been together for a few minutes. Turning to the phoenix, Harry asked, "What should I call you, girl?" The phoenix called softly again, this time seeming do say 'I don't care.' Harry smiled as he seemed to understand exactly what the bird was saying. Thinking deeply, Harry wondered what a good name for her would be. Glancing back at the bird and still seeing the golden aura burning gently around them both, Harry smiled as the thought of a perfect name came to him. "How about I call you Aura?"
The phoenix trilled in agreement and took off, flying around Harry again, singing a song that caused joy to well up inside of Harry. Still smiling widely, he watched as Aura flew through the smaller passageway at the end of the chamber and he followed her out quickly before looking back.
"Close," Harry hissed as he turned back and began walking forward again. Aura landed on his shoulder as her song drew to a close. "That was beautiful, girl," Harry praised as he felt the warm weight of the phoenix on his shoulder. Continuing forward, Harry saw the snake husk ahead. "Almost there."
After what seemed like hours, Ginny finally calmed down some. She was still sad, but she used Ron's strength to get up and move. Seeing Ron's state, she was again reminded of Harry and felt a burning in her eyes, but had cried herself dry long ago as Ron stood with her.
"L-let's go, we have to g-get h-help for…" Ginny struggled to get out, but she couldn't say his name; it was still too painful to even think about.
Ron nodded solemnly, his face dry, but there were unmistakable tear tracks, small semi-clean rivulets, running down his grimy and dusty face. Ginny held her brother's hand as he helped her up and over the unstable rocks and to the other side of the cave-in. Upon reaching the other side, the two saw Professor Lockhart on the ground. Shaking him, the man's eyes sprung open.
"Oh, hello. Who are you?" He asked as he sat up, "And who am I?"
"I'm Ron, and this is my sister Ginny." Ron said blandly, giving Ginny a look as if to say later, "Come on, get up."
Ron led Ginny over to the tunnel where they slid down. Looking back up it, Ron frowned, "It looks too steep and slippery to climb up… I wonder how anything got back up again…" Ron looked next to him and noticed Ginny shuffling uncomfortably, "Do you know?"
"N-no…" Ginny whispered. She hadn't told Ron anything yet and she didn't want to tell him or anyone else what really happened. All the same, she tried to recall how she left the chamber, but couldn't.
Ginny watched as Ron turned fully around towards Lockhart, "I don't suppose you know a way to get up?" Turning herself, Ginny saw Lockhart pause.
"Up from where?" He asked, looking around. Ron shook his head.
"He's hopeless. But what are we going to do now?" Ron wondered out loud.
"Hopeless?" Lockhart seemed to ask himself, but was ignored by the other two.
"We can try yelling up?" Ginny asked, looking up the tunnel in the wall.
"Ginny? Do you have your wand?" Ron asked as she climbed in a bit more to get a batter look.
"No, why?" she asked turning around to look at her brother.
"Something's coming, look! Ron said, pulling out his spellotaped wand and pointing it at the hole in the cave he made, hoping that it wouldn't backfire if he used it. Ginny and Lockhart both looked at the hole, tensing as the golden light got brighter.
"Who's there?" Ron called, trying to keep his voice steady.
After a moment of silence, they heard a familiar voice call out, "Harry." At that, Ginny again began sobbing, thinking he had turned into a ghost because of the light. Seconds later, a familiar face with black unruly hair popped out from behind the rocks.
"Ron? Ginny?"
Ginny forced herself to look up, her heart jumping as she saw him real and alive, not dead and ghostly silver as she was expecting. 'Harry!'
"Ron? Ginny?" Harry asked as he began climbing to the other side, Aura following shortly after and perching on his shoulder again. When he reached the ground, he looked up only to be knocked over by Ginny running into him and hugging him, crying in relief. Harry fell back as Aura flew off, making an indignant cry at the red-headed girl. Ron followed shortly after, staring at Harry.
"Ginny said you d-died!" Ron said, gaping at him, "Hey, what's with the glow, mate?"
"I don't know… And I think Ginny was right," Harry said as he returned the hug, but his words only caused the girl to hug him tighter and cry harder, "I… I remember telling her to go and find you, then darkness… but I woke up healed, with Aura flying around me."
"Aura?" Ron asked.
"Here girl!" Harry called and Aura landed on his shoulder again moments later. "This is Aura."
"Whoa! Where'd you get a phoenix?" Ron asked, gaping at the bird who began singing a soothing melody to calm down Ginny, right as Harry wished he could calm her himself, gently rubbing her back.
"I don't know… I just woke up and she was there." Harry said, unconsciously raising a hand from around Ginny to stroke Aura as she sung. Ginny finally calmed down and looked at Harry though tear-filled eyes.
"Thank you… for saving me," Ginny said, hugging Harry tightly again before letting go. Harry stood and offered a hand to Ginny who gratefully took it, "And sorry for knocking you down."
Harry smiled his forgiveness and turned to Ron, "Find a way up?"
"No mate, the tunnel's too steep and slick to climb."
Harry turned to Aura, "Do you think you can fly up there with us?" Aura cried a soft 'no,' after looking at the tunnel. Harry was about to tell them that when Aura called softly again.
"Aura says to hold onto me," Harry said. Ginny grabbed a fistful of clothes nervously, but Harry pulled her to him, making her encircle her arms around him. "C'mon, Ron, Lockhart."
"So I'm Lockhart?" the professor asked as Ron grabbed the front of his robes and pulled him to the group. 'I thought I was Hopeless.'
Ron grabbed around Harry and Ginny then Lockhart around the Weasley's and Harry looked at Aura expectantly. Trilling in excitement, Aura hovered above Harry and lowered her tail. Suddenly, just knowing what to do, Harry raised both hands and clapped them around Aura's tail feathers. In a burst of fire, they were standing above the chamber entrance in the girl's lavatory. Harry let go and Aura trilled happily again before flying back down onto his shoulder. The others broke off and Harry turned to face the entrance, looking at a snake carved into the side of the washbasin and hissed "Close," sealing the Chamber of Secrets, hopefully for good. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ginny's eyes open wide as she shuddered.
"Ginny?" Harry asked, but she merely shook her head. "Alright then, let's go," he said, turning and leading the others away.
As they walked to the hospital wing, Harry noticed that the golden aura surrounding him and Aura was slowly dissipating. Shortly after it was gone entirely, Aura gave a soft cry, saying that she was going. Harry nodded, and Aura took flight before disappearing in flames. After finally reaching the hospital wing and explaining what happened to a gobsmacked Madam Pomfrey, the healer quickly placed Harry and Ginny in clean hospital beds after casting a quick cleansing charm and giving them fresh hospital gowns. She then told Ron to run to get Professor McGonagall after discovering Lockhart lost his memory.
While waiting for the professor, Harry turned to Ginny, who seemed to be crying again. "Ginny? What's wrong?" Harry asked, even though he knew it was a stupid question after all that happened. Harry couldn't help it though; he wanted to help comfort her. Ginny just shook her head again and sunk deeper into the pillows. Getting up, Harry walked across the small space in between their beds and sat on the side of hers, "Ginny?"
The girl opened her eyes and looked at Harry for a moment before sitting up and hugging him again. Harry rubbed her back uncertainly as she cried silently into his shoulder. As she calmed down, she took a deep breath as if to speak when the hospital doors flew open and Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Ron burst into the room. Releasing each other quickly, Harry stood as they finally spotted the two. Walking over, Harry saw Dumbledore's eyes twinkling.
"Mr. Weasley has informed us that you have found Miss Weasley?" looking down, he spotted Ginny lying down in bed. "Then I believe that we have much to discuss. Poppy?" Dumbledore turned to the healer, "Can they..?" he asked, gesturing back to the beds.
Madam Pomfrey nodded as she fussed about, picking up two potions, "After they drink these."
After getting changed into new school robes brought to them by house elves and downing the potions, they all walked to Dumbledore's office where Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were waiting.
"Ginny!" Mrs. Weasley cried when her daughter walked in, and a second later she was engulfed in a hug by both her parents. As they settled down, Harry told the story of what happened in the chamber, and Ginny continued after he said that he blacked out and died.
"Died? No spell can bring people back to life. Albus? How is this possible?" Professor McGonagall asked, interrupting Ginny. Dumbledore simply gazed at Harry questioningly.
"I-I'm not entirely sure, sir." Harry responded slowly, everyone's eyes on him, "But I think I was saved from death more than brought back to life."
"How?" Dumbledore asked calmly, still looking Harry in the eyes.
"Aura?" Harry called softly, looking to his right. Seconds later he was greeted by a flash of fire as Aura appeared and landed on Harry's shoulder, crooning softly as Harry began stroking her head. Fawkes called out and moved over on her perch and Aura flew over to join the other phoenix. With them standing side by side, Harry was surprised he had ever mixed the two of them up. While both phoenixes, Aura's feathers were larger and looked softer, and the golden feathers on her tail were more numerous than Fawkes's. Looking over, he found everyone but Ginny and Ron staring at him like he grew a second head, even Dumbledore looked astounded. Getting nervous, Harry asked, "What?"
Dumbledore recovered first, a large, genuine smile growing on his face as his eyes twinkled madly. "Harry, phoenixes are very rare and special birds. One must show great strength, moral fiber and be pure of heart, above and beyond what is considered normal to attract one. I myself had lived for over 100 years before Fawkes joined me. To attract one so early in life is unheard of. Miss Weasley is very lucky to have been championed by you, if your thoughts were pure enough to attract a phoenix." Dumbledore bowed his head to Harry before continuing, "Phoenixes are also immensely loyal to their owner, and for that I must thank you, Harry, for you must have shown me real loyalty down there, to have called Fawkes to you as well."
At the end of this speech, Mrs. Weasley was in tears and hugging Harry tightly while Mr. Weasley beamed at him. Ginny looked down at her hands which rested in her lap. 'I don't deserve him or his kindness, after what I've done…' she thought sadly, forcing herself to hold in her tears. As the meeting moved on, Ginny forced herself to keep a neutral face as Harry described his "resurrection" and how they all escaped the Chamber of Secrets.
"If that is all," Professor Dumbledore said, standing, just as the door to the office burst open.
"So it's true. You have returned to Hogwarts." Lucius Malfoy said striding into the headmaster's office…
"Good one Harry!" Ron laughed as Harry told them about freeing Dobby the next day. Harry had left the others quickly after Lucius left, while Mrs. Weasley and the others stayed to talk to Ginny. Since it was already dark when Harry and the others left the chamber, Harry decided to go to bed after waiting up for over an hour, explaining what happened in the chamber to his housemates. "Alright, let's go down to breakfast."
"Sorry Ron, I already went. You go ahead, I have some things to catch up on," Harry said.
"Alright mate, suit yourself," they both grinned before Ron walked off, leaving the semi-crowded common room for breakfast. After the portrait closed, Harry stood up and walked over to the figure working solitarily in the corner.
Pulling up a seat, Harry sat next to her, causing the girl to start in surprise. "H-Harry?"
"Hey Ginny. I just wanted to ask if you are alright," Harry said, looking into the girl's eyes.
"Y-Yeah… W-why wouldn't I be okay?" Ginny asked, shifting slightly in her seat.
"Well, there are plenty of people in the common room… Why don't you join someone?" Harry asked with a smile.
"Th-that's okay… I'm kind of busy doing charms homework…" She trailed off and looked down, but didn't continue working.
"Ginny?" Harry asked. When she didn't look up, he prompted her again, leaning his head down a bit, "Ginny?" Finally looking up at him, Harry continued, "Do you want to talk?"
At that, Ginny's eyes began watering as she began to cry quietly again. Scooting over, Harry awkwardly wrapped an arm around her shoulder like he saw Mr. Weasley do the night before, and she turned, clinging to him like a lifeline. Confused as to why she was acting this way, Harry asked, "Ginny?"
"I-it's just… when I came here I was scared… I sat with Fred and George at the opening feast and never really talked to the other girls my age… I guess that's one of the problems with only having brothers," Ginny hiccupped as tears continued to fall. "The other girls kind of clicked and I was left out, and they teased me because of my clothes and hair… These used to be some of my brother's and mother's old things…" At that she broke down again and Harry rubbed her back gently. Ginny gripped tighter and continued to cry. When she calmed down a bit, she pulled back slightly to look in his eyes, still in his arms, before she looked down again and spoke. "I-I'm sorry, Harry… I didn't mean to bother you… it's just…" she shook her head in its place against his chest as he pulled her back to look at her.
"I don't mind Ginny. I'm glad that you talked to me… I'm sorry about what happened with the others. Why don't you hang out with me, Ron and Hermione? I don't mind, I'm sure the others won't," Harry suggested with a slight smile.
Ginny turned to Harry, a look of shock on her face "Y-you wouldn't mind?" she asked softly. "Really?"
"No," Harry said, grin widening as she pulled back to him and hugged him. Harry returned the gesture before dragging her to a table to help her with charms homework. Even though they had canceled exams, most teachers have still assigned homework to the students instead. As they worked together on her homework, they also talked about other things. By the time Ron came back two hours later after having eaten half the hall's worth or food, Ginny was totally relaxed and openly laughing at jokes, something Ron hadn't seen her do since the start of school. Smiling at his best mate, Ron left to visit Hermione and see how much longer it will take to make the revival potion.
The last day of class, Harry got up out of bed late. Even though he usually got up earlier than the others, he decided to sleep in since Ginny usually didn't get up quite as early since her classes started later than his. Today though, there were no classes except for those taking the mandatory O.W.L.'s and N.E.W.T.'s.
Getting ready, Harry waited in the common room for Ginny, Ron and Hermione. They had taken to going to meals together whenever able. Hermione, the early riser had gotten up first. As they talked by the fire about school and the classes for next year, Ginny came down to join them, followed almost an hour later by Ron. Walking down to breakfast together, they sat at their usual spots, Harry and Ron on one side, Hermione and Ginny on the other, when something unusual happened. As Harry glanced up at the head table, he noticed Dumbledore eyeing him. When he turned around fully, Dumbledore waved him up.
Walking to the head table, Harry was relieved that there were not many people in the hall. Those that were in the hall, however, stared at him as he made his way to the back of the hall. Upon reaching the head table, Harry walked up to Dumbledore.
"Ahh, Harry. I wanted to speak to you about this summer," Dumbledore said.
Immediately Harry felt excited, 'Maybe he'll say I can stay at the Weasley's this summer instead of Privet Drive!'
Dumbledore smiled ruefully at the look on Harry's face, "No, I'm sorry, but you must return to your own home. I just wanted to warn you about Aura. While use of her teleportation by you will not be seen as breaking the rules on the decree against underage wizardry, I must advise against such travel. While muggles cannot see phoenixes, they can still hear them and see them fire travel. To use it recklessly is to invite disaster, and should you be caught by a muggle, the consequences, most severe."
Harry nodded, showing that he heard. In a forced neutral voice, Harry said, "If that is all, sir?" At Dumbledore's nod, Harry turned and walked back to his friends.
"What was that all about?" Hermione asked when he sat down.
"Dumbledore wanted to warn me about Aura," Harry explained. Since the chamber of secrets, Aura has taken to standing on Harry's bedpost or in the rafters of whatever class he is in. Aura even stood guard on Harry's desk in History of Magic class, not that Professor Binns ever noticed. "He said that I would have to be careful about fire traveling and phoenix songs."
"How are you going to do that? You're going to live in the muggle world for months!" Ron said, looking above to see Aura perched up inside the enchanted sky of the Great Hall.
"Well, me and Aura can sort of communicate with each other, like I can understand what's she's saying sometimes," Harry said, "So I'm going to have to try to ask her to hide away or be quiet around the Dursley's this summer."
By the end of the term, Harry and Ginny had become good friends. Ron didn't particularly like her hanging around but Hermione didn't seem mind. Even so, she didn't take to her as easily as Harry because she was a younger year. It's not that that mattered, but she couldn't seem to connect as readily as Harry did, though she did enjoy the girl talk they had on occasion. Ron, thankfully, kept his opposition to Ginny quiet for the most part, probably figuring once classes started next year, they wouldn't see much of her.
At the end of the year feast, Dumbledore congratulated Gryffindor on winning the house cup for a second year. 'Not that we needed all the extra points we received for defeating the basilisk,' Harry thought wryly as he boarded the train.
They all headed back to the end of the train where Harry and Ron sat facing Ginny and Hermione. Halfway through the ride, they were enjoying a game of exploding snap when the compartment door burst open.
"Malfoy!" Ron breathed, standing and drawing his spellotaped wand as the others tensed and reached for their own wands. Malfoy, along with the ever-present Crabbe and Goyle, merely leered and looked at Harry.
"You'd better watch yourself, Potter," was all he said before looking to the far corner for a few seconds before slamming the compartment door.
"That was weird," Ron said, pocketing his wand. He turned around, "Why did he look at you, though?" he asked his sister. Ginny shrugged, though she looked slightly troubled. Harry filed it away as a reminder of Slytherin and what had happened at the chamber.
The train ride was relatively peaceful the rest of the way, and all too soon, they felt the train stopping as they reached Platform Nine and Three Quarters. As they exited the station, the friends turned to each other. After saying his goodbyes to Ron and hugging Hermione, Harry turned to Ginny.
"I guess this is it until next year," Harry said with a slight frown.
"Yeah," Ginny agreed. "We'll invite you over as soon as we can though!" she promised. They didn't really know what to say after that, though. Since that day after saving her, they had become good friends and never really thought of how break would turn out.
"Owl me?" Harry asked, giving Ginny a half-smile as they heard Mrs. Weasley shouting in the distance.
"Definitely," Ginny grinned back before stepping forward and giving Harry a quick hug. "See you next year!"
Harry waved as he watched the Weasleys walked out of the station before turning to see his uncle waiting for him.
'Welcome home, Harry…'
A/N: A bit shorter than I wanted, but I covered what I planned. The end seems a bit rushed, but there's really nothing that happens after exams in the second book, and I wanted to mostly stick with the cannon. Next chapter ought to be interesting; drop a review if you have any ideas you'd like to see. If they fit and I like them, they might even be added to my story. Also, reviews, like copious amounts of tea, are beneficial to my writing.