Author's note. With thanks to Snapegirlkmf who inspired me to write this chapter which continues from the last one.
This has quite a bit of Snape/Harry mentor in it which I hope everyone enjoys. Snape may be a little OC and I apologise if anyone finds him like this. I can only blame the fact he was really shocked by what had happened, lol.
I have a question for people, Has anyone read a story called 'A little light reading'? It's a really brilliant fic that's set during Harry's first year and involves Snape reading the Philosophers Stone. I really loved it but I can't find it in my Favourites any more nor does anything come up when I search for it.
Does anyone know the Author's name and where I can find this story, I really want to read it again. Thank you.
Suggestions are welcome.
Enjoy and please review.
"It's a long story sir, a very long story."
Severus Snape raised an eyebrow as Potter uttered these words.
"Really?" he drawled, eyeing all four of them.
"Care to give me a quick account of just what you've been up to?"
They shifted nervously under his gaze.
"Well we've sort of...being trying to find out who the Heir of Slytherin is," Potter said hesitantly.
Snape's black eyes flashed.
"What?" he said very slowly.
"Yeah, we thought it was Malfoy, sir," Weasley began before quickly mumbling.
"But um, it wasn't him."
"We had to find out sir," Potter said urgently.
"They attacked Hermione and Hagrid said to follow the spiders..."
"Spiders?" Snape asked in disbelief as Weasley shuddered.
"Yeah, these really massive ones that live in the Forbidden Forest," Potter answered as Snape nearly gaped at him.
"And would this be by any chance the time I caught you two?" he demanded and they nodded sheepishly.
"We were a bit late," Potter admitted.
"But we found out loads of important stuff like Hagrid was innocent and that the girl had died in a bathroom."
"What girl?" Snape demanded again, getting annoyed that he had to ask all these questions.
"Moaning Mrytle, Professor," Granger said quietly.
"The Basilisk killed her when the Chamber was opened last time."
Snape felt the blood drain from his face as she said these words. Slytherin's monster was a Basilisk? A terrifying monster of a snake had been roaming these halls? He literally could not speak for several moment, he was that shocked. But Potter's next few words snapped him out of it.
"But she's really not that bad sir, I talked to her."
"You...talked to her?" Snape began in a cold whisper.
"You went into the Chamber of Secrets and talked with the Basilisk?"
Potter looked uncertainly at his two sidekicks before slowly nodding.
"Yes sir, we did."
Snape took a deep, steadying breath. And then he let rip with an almighty roar.
"What the hell were you thinking Potter, jumping straight into a Basilisk's lair, have you no sense? You could have been killed, you foolish, foolish child."
The four children gaped at him, none of them had ever seen him this incensed. But he wasn't finished yet, no, he was just getting started.
"Of all the stupid, arrogant things I have seen over the years, and trust me Potter, I knew your father, this one takes the cake. I had hoped you wouldn't be as utterly reckless or as disregarding to rules as he was but it seems I was very much mistaken."
He continued in this rant for another few moments, going on about how much of an idiot James Potter had been and while he'd have been delighted by Harry's actions, Snape definitely wasn't.
"Potter, do you even begin to comprehend the danger you put yourself and your little friends into? No, like a little idiot, you rush in where even fools dread to walk. How could you risk yourself like that?"
"I did it to save my friends," Potter burst out, both angry and upset.
"We didn't mean to go into the Chamber, we had to save Ron. And Riddle attacked Hermione, I wasn't going to let that lie. And I'm not just like my father, I think I'm like my mum, she put my life before hers and that's what I did with my friends."
Snape breathed very heavily as the boy glared defiantly up at him. Once he was in control of himself, he said in a very cold voice.
"If Lily were here right now, hero or no hero, she would blister your behind for such an insane stunt. Maybe THAT would cure you of your urge to continually put yourself in harm's way. Maybe that's what you need . . ."
And he began to advance on the children, a glint in his eyes that was scarier than his usual mean stare. The two Weasleys and Granger were definitely looking terrified. But Potter was backing away slightly, looking very alarmed.
"W-what are you doing?" the boy asked, trembling.
"I'm going to do what I should have done a long time ago," Snape said grimly, reaching for him with a slowly rising hand.
This was the moment that Harry Potter did what he'd never in his life done before. He turned, dropped the sword and ran for his life, as fast as his short legs could carry him. For a single moment, Snape was stunned but then he burst into action.
"Potter, come back here now!"
But Harry didn't listen, just kept on running. He had a slight head start on his angry teacher but it wouldn't last. Snape was much bigger and stronger than him, so it wouldn't take him long to catch up. And Harry fully believed that Snape was going to do actually as he said and blister his bum.
And Harry didn't relish that thought at all.
He had no idea where he was going, all he wanted to do was put as much distance between him and the angry Professor. So it was with some surprise that he found himself running along the corridor that contained Myrtle's bathroom. A mad thought suddenly came into his head, maybe Ethelinda would protect him.
"What are you doing here again?" Myrtle said in complete surprise as he skidded into her bathroom.
"Trying to escape form Professor Snape," he said hurriedly as he came to a halt next to the special sink and hissed at it.
"Open up now."
As soon as the hole was revealed, Harry leapt straight into it, just as Snape came charging in.
"Potter!"
Harry slid at top speed down the slide, going even faster since he wasn't hanging onto anyone. He was sent soaring out of the slide, flying through the air, only to be caught by something in mind air. Slightly dazed, he hung in the grasp of who knew who until he heard an amused hiss.
"Back so soon, little one?"
"Ethelinda," Harry said with a gasp as he was brought face to face with the massive serpent.
She had apparently caught him in her coils before he could fly smack into a stone wall. He was very grateful for this but was starting to wonder if coming down here had been a good idea.
"I'm sorry to barge in like this," he began apologetically.
"But I had to get away from him."
"From who?" Ethelinda asked, before raising her head as she sensed the approach of another being.
"Professor Snape," Harry said with a slight tremble before he too heard the sound of someone coming down the slide.
"Oh, he's coming."
"Do you want me to bite him?" Ethelinda asked causally and Harry yelped.
"No, please, don't hurt him,"
"Very well," she replied just as Snape came sliding out of the slide.
Snape was on his feet in a moment, his face bright red with fury. He stopped in shock at the sight of Ethelinda though so now his face was a mixture of anger and fear. Ethelinda regarded him before asking Harry.
"Why were you running from him?"
"He uh...," Harry said, now very embarrassed.
"Potter," Snape now said in a surprisingly calm voice as he watched the two hiss back and forth.
"What are you saying?"
"Oh, Ethelinda wants to know why I was running away Professor," Harry answered shyly as Ethelinda set him back on the floor.
"But I told her your my teacher and...not to bite you."
"How thoughtful," Snape said with only a slight sneer.
"And does she realise just what a naughty child you are?"
"Um, no," Harry said sheepishly as Ethelinda looked at both of them curiously.
"She wants to know why I was running from you."
Snape looked down his hooked nose at Harry, in full stern teacher mode.
"Then why don't you tell her, mister Potter."
Harry bit his lip before turning to Ethelinda.
"Professor Snape was angry at me because...I've put myself into danger a few times this year."
"Like coming to see me?" she said knowingly and Harry nodded.
"He thinks I'm reckless and he was going to spank me."
"And you ran away from this? Little one, that was very foolish," Ethelinda said disapprovingly.
"He is your teacher and you should not run away if he wished to punish you so."
"But he's not meant to," Harry protested.
"Teachers don't hit kids any more, our headmaster doesn't like it."
Ethelinda frowned.
"How extraordinary," she murmured. "Things have changed a lot."
"Yeah," Harry said softly, eyeing Snape out of the corner of his eye.
"What is she saying, Mister Potter?" Snape now demanded and Harry automatically.
"She thinks its weird teacher can't hit kids anymore."
"Really," Snape said dryly.
"Well, I suppose things were much different a thousand years ago."
"I think so, sir," Harry agreed with a nod.
"Hmm," Snape mumbled, before suddenly beckoning Harry over.
Very reluctantly, Harry approached him till he was only a metre or two away. Snape regarded him for a moment before saying softly.
"Do you know why I was going to punish you with a spanking?"
"Umm...,"Harry mumbled nervously.
There was an honest answer and then the answer that wouldn't get him spanked. But Snape somehow knew what he was thinking and sighed heavily. Taking a step forward, he dropped down on one knee, grasping Harry's shoulder.
"Do you really think I was going to do it because I'm an evil bat who enjoys torturing children?"
"Err," Harry said, not looking at him.
Snape sighed heavily, he supposed it was no wonder the boy thought that was the reason. But that didn't mean he liked it.
"Potter," he began heavily.
"That is not the reason at all. I was going to give that punishment to you because you don't seem to have any regard towards your own safety."
"I do," Harry protested, causing Snape to raise an eyebrow.
"Oh really," he said evenly.
"So when you're about to do some crazy stunt, such as jumping into the Chamber of Secrets, did you stop and think 'Wait, I could die if I do this'? Did you?"
"Um, no," Harry said very sheepishly.
"I just thought I had to help Ron, he fell down, by accident," he hastily assured his dour teacher.
Snape sighed heavily again.
"Despite the fact you are your father son," he began as Harry grimaced.
"Even he placed a higher value on his own life than you seem to. Do you think you're life is worthless?"
Harry shrugged, not really knowing what to say.
"A verbal answer, if you please," Snape said but not harshly.
"I...I don't want to die sir," Harry mumbled, having difficulty raising his head.
"But you still don't place much value on your life," Snape said softly. "Don't you think your family would miss grieve if you died?"
Harry wrinkled his nose.
"The Dursleys will be disappointed I didn't die, sir."
"Come now, you must be exaggerating, Mister Potter," Snape responded and Harry said.
"I suppose. But they don't really care what I do sir, as long as it doesn't affect them."
Snape regarded him thoughtfully for a moment before saying.
"So, you've never had proper boundaries before coming here?"
"Probably not, sir," Harry said softly.
"Well, I suppose this explains a few things. And since the headmaster tends to indulge you when you've done something ridiculous, perhaps it's no wonder you acted so foolishly this year."
Harry at this point felt the need to defend himself.
"We did try to tell someone about the Stone, sir," he said seriously.
"But Professor McGonagall didn't believe us, Professor Dumbledore was gone and we thought..."
He broke off at this point, embarrassed by the fact he'd suspected his Potions teacher.
"You believed I was after the Stone?" Snape said, sounding amused.
"Well, yeah," Harry said with a shrug. "Um, Professor Quirell said you seemed more the type."
"I am," Snape said and Harry stared at him.
Had he just...poked fun at himself?
"But regardless, Mister Potter, I think you need this. The punishment that is."
Harry didn't look very happy at this prospect so Snape quickly said.
"Did you know your friend Mister Weasley still gets it at home? As do the other Weasley children who still resides at their parents' house."
"Really?" Harry said in amazement.
"Indeed," Snape said with a small smile.
"In some cases, Mrs Weasley has actually Flooed over to deliver a well earned punishment to the twins. When they've gone a bit far and Professor McGonagall felt they were in need of it."
"I didn't know that," Harry said in awe.
"No, and I trust you not to go spreading it around," Snape said sternly but as Harry nodded earnestly, he knew he wouldn't.
"And incidentally, some other parents reserve the right to be called to deliver punishment. Sometimes at the students bequest, if they don't want to lose a huge amount of points or something equally damaging."
Harry's eyes were now huge with wonder as he digested this new information. He suppose it made sense for kids to have that option, after all, if he had parents, he'd probably take that option rather than losing his House loads of points.
"Do you understand why those parents spank their children?" Snape now asked quietly as Ethelinda coiled herself up.
She recognised they were having a serious discussion, she could sense the young boy needed his mentor's reassurance.
"Because they've been naughty?" Harry tried, hoping it was the right answer.
"In part yes Harry, but it's mainly to show just how worried they were," Snape explained patiently.
"They do it because they love their children and don't want them to make the same mistakes again. They want their children to think about the consequences of their actions."
"But no one loves me, Professor," Harry said in a matter of fact tone that raised hairs on the back of Snape's neck.
"Foolish child," he scolded. "Of course there are people who love you. Namely your friends, Miss Granger and Mister Weasley, not to mention his whole family. And what about the likes of Hagrid or your Head of House? Don't you think they'd be devastated if something were to happen to you?"
"Really?" Harry said in amazement.
He remembered how Hagrid had cried when he was in the Hospital Wing and how worried Ron and Hermione had been. Mrs Weasley had despaired over his lack of weight and had insisted on feeding him as much as possible. And though Professor McGonagall was very strict, she was also very kind. Hadn't she bought him that broom and made him the Seeker for the Gryffindor team.
"I guess they do," he said very slowly as though this was a completely novel idea.
Snape sighed heavily before saying.
"Of course they do, haven't you seen the adoring looks they bestow on you?"
As he'd hope, this snarky comment snapped Harry out of the gloom he was about to descend into.
"They do not," he said indignantly.
Snape chuckled at the fierce look on Harry's face.
"Well no matter, we'd better wrap things up here, Mister Potter."
"Oh, okay," Harry said, relaxing again before looking a bit nervous.
"Um, are you going to spank me sir?"
"I think I should," Snape said softly.
"You need to understand you can't take on the world's problems by yourself. And also the fact that your life means a lot, more than you can imagine."
"So, you're doing this because you...care?" Harry asked shyly.
Snape smiled wryly.
"I care about all my students Mister Potter, no matter how dunderheaded they are. That's a big part of being a teacher, after all."
Harry's eyes were as wide as saucers but he looked much happier.
"Have you resolved things with your master?" Ethelinda now asked.
"Yeah," Harry replied. "Professor Snape's explained why it's a good idea to spank me, to show he cares about me."
Ethelinda looked pleased about this.
"I'm pleased you understand, he must be a very good teacher."
"He's a bit stern and grumpy but he's very clever," Harry said honestly as Snape moved to a broken slab of stone and sat down.
"He's also saved my life a couple of times."
"Very worthy, you should give him some of my venom that your friend collected," Ethelinda advised.
"Um, that got broken," Harry admitted as he slowly moved to where his Professor was.
"We got into a fight with Riddle and it smashed on my sword. I'm sorry."
"It was only excess, it didn't affect me," Ethelinda assured him.
"But I can provide more, I know it is prized my Potioneers."
"That would be great," Harry said excitedly as he reached Professor Snape.
"Sir, Ethelinda wants to give you some of her venom as a gift."
"I would deeply appreciate that," Snape said calmly even as his eyes widened in surprise.
"Can she spare some?"
"Yep, she says it's not a problem," Harry said, sounding very chirper for someone about to be spanked.
"Thank her for me Mister Potter and then you'd better prepare yourself," Snape said briskly.
He watched as the boy hissed a response to the Basilisk who seemed to nod in return. The child honestly didn't realise just how creepy it looked to see him conversing with a giant snake. But he wasn't going to tell him that.
"Come Mister Potter, let's get this over with," Snape commanded and Harry moved obediently.
"Professor," Harry suddenly asked as he draped himself over Snape's knee.
"Could I ask a favour?"
"What is it, Mister Potter," Snape asked as he steadied the boy.
"I promised Ethelinda we'd feed her but I'm not sure how to get her a nice big meal," Harry explained.
"Would...would you be able to do that?"
Snape was taken aback by this but also pleased. It was about time Potter started asking adults to help, especially for reasonable requests like this. He nodded at the boy with the huge green eyes before waving his wand in the air.
A misty Patronus formed in the air and he spoke very clearly into it.
"Please bring a large amount of fresh, uncooked meat to the bathroom on the fourth floor. Leave it with the three children who are there, they will know what to do with it. It is needed now, we will sort out how to replace it later."
With that the misty form became a glowing ball of light which sped away.
"Cool, sir," Harry exclaimed.
"But how do you know there'll be kids up there?"
"I have no doubt you're little friends are up there right now," Snape answered sardonically.
"I ensured they would not be able to jump in after us, so they are no doubt waiting."
"That makes sense," Harry said as he gripped Snape's robes.
He squeezed his eyes shut as he sensed, rather than saw Snape raise his hand.
"Prepare yourself, Mister Potter," Snape advised and once he was sure the boy was ready, brought his hand down.
It was over in a remarkably short amount of time though to Harry it felt like a very long time. He'd never been spanked before, the Dursleys had preferred not to touch him, except to maybe swat at him or slap him.
It wasn't as hard as he was expecting but that didn't mean it was easy. He was gripping his teacher's robes in a death grip, biting his lip to keep himself from crying out. Half way through, Snape informed him he didn't need to stay silent, he could make some noise if he wanted.
With Snape's permission, Harry allowed a few yelps to escape his mouth though he was still trying hard not to cry. It would be mortifying to cry in front of his teacher and besides, he hadn't cried in years. There was no point to it, it wasn't as though he'd be comforted.
But as the burning sting being formed on his backside grew, he found it was difficult to stop a few tears from falling. Soon, they were falling fast and furious, but luckily for his dignity, he hadn't started to sob yet.
"I'm finished, Mister Potter," Snape finally announced after bringing his hand down smartly for the last time.
Harry slid off his lap, rubbing at his eyes as his lip trembled. His rear was very sore and he was rubbing at it frantically. He was surprised to find a hanky being pressed into his hands so he could wipe his face properly.
As he was doing this, a cow carcass suddenly came floating down into the Chamber. It seemed the children upstairs had explained what the meat was being used for, for whichever Elf had brought it had levitated it down.
"This is for you, Noble Snake," Snape announced as Ethelinda uncoiled with interest.
"It's for you," Harry translated and she hissed with satisfaction.
"Mmm, deliciousssss," she hissed softly, heading for it.
But then she paused and said.
"You'd better leave before I consume this, some humans find it distasteful."
As Harry repeated this to Snape, she revealed her long fangs and Harry realised what she was going to do. Harry quickly said to Snape.
"Sir, do you have any vials?"
"Several," he replied, producing them as Ethelinda lowered her great head.
He skilfully caught the dripping venom in several vials, until they were all full. Snape was looking very pleased and Harry was happy that it wasn't because he'd gotten into trouble. He hated it when adults enjoyed seeing that.
"Come, Mister Potter, we'd better go," the Potions Master now said as he bowed to Ethelinda.
"Thank you Ethelinda, I hope we can meet again soon."
"So do I," she replied after Harry had told her what he'd said.
"How are we going to get up there, sir?" Harry asked before gasping as Snape lifted him up in his arms.
"Like this," he said and with a final nod at the advancing Basilisk. Snape called out a word Harry didn't understand.
A moment later, there was a flash of light as a Phoenix landed on his Professor's shoulder.
"Fawkes," Harry cried before yelping as he and Snape were lifted into the air.
He suddenly remembered that Professor Dumbledore had explained how Phoenixes could carry heavy loads. This was how the fiery coloured bird was lifting them up and through the tunnel. They were going pretty fast and in no time at all, had emerged into the bright light of the bathroom.
"Harry," Hermione exclaimed as they landed, she was clutching the sword that still had the dairy impaled on its tip.
"Are you okay, we were so worried."
"Yeah mate," Ron said who was still holding Ginny in his arms.
"Sorry guys," Harry said sheepishly as he was let down by Snape.
"I...um..."
"Got a little scared," Hermione said knowingly as she handed Harry the sword.
"Yeah," Harry said with a smile
"Come along, we're going to the Hospital Wing," Snape announced, eyeing Ginny with open worry.
"I can carry her," Ron said gruffly before Snape could try to take her.
Snape raised an eyebrow, he'd really been doing that a lot lately. But he simply flicked his wand and suddenly Ginny was a lot lighter in her brother's arms. Ron looked shocked but grateful to the Professor.
Snape chivvied them out of the bathroom as the Chamber once again sealed it's self. Harry kept rubbing his rear absentmindedly as Hermione shot him a concerned look. But he just smiled, letting her know it was okay.
He wasn't sure what he felt about the whole punishment. On the one hand it had been painful and embarrassing. But on the other hand it somehow made him feel more...normal. After all, other kids got it and it was because their parents cared, in most cases anyway. It felt good to know that someone out there cared about him, they wanted him to know that he was worth something.
And...it was nice to be punished because he'd done something stupid, rather than something his cousin had made up.
As soon as they entered the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey predictably, swooped on them. In a matter of moments, they were dressed in hospital gowns and tucked up in bed while she examined them.
"Bruises and cuts mostly," she declared of the trio.
"But...my goodness," she exclaimed as she scanned Ginny with her wand.
"Her magical core is nearly depleted, she's malnourished and has been manhandled by the looks of it."
"Get Minerva in here, now," Snape said grimly.
"And we'd better contact her parents too."
Ginny started to tremble and whimper causing Harry to quickly say.
"It'll be okay, Ginny, we'll tell them it wasn't your fault."
"Yeah, we saw that scummy no good Sly...slithering guy," Ron finished hastily as Snape turned his gaze on him.
"We shall wait until everyone is here before you go into details," Snape said as Madam Pomfrey bustled about.
"I'll be back," Snape said to her before sweeping from the room.
For the next hour or so, the kids were tended to by the Mediwitch. Though the trio were healed up pretty quickly, she still insisted they'd need to spend the night there to recover from their ordeal. But they didn't really want to go, they wanted to be there for Ginny who was getting paler and paler despite the care she was receiving.
But then the doors banged open and Mr and Mrs Weasley came charging in, followed closely by Professors Snape and McGonagall. By to Harry's surprise, Dumbledore was also among the group, but looking very serious.
"Ginny," Mrs Weasley cried as she made it to her daughter's bed and swept her up into a hug.
Mr Weasley looked very pale as he came to stand behind his wife.
"Oh Ginny, we were told you'd been attacked," Mrs Weasley sobbed, hugging Ginny tightly.
Ginny burst into tears at this, hugging her mother back. But between sobs, she told them that Ron, Harry and Hermione had saved her and without them, she wouldn't be here.
"Oh Ronny,"Mrs Weasley wailed, he gotten out of bed to nervously hover nearby meaning he got grabbed.
"Saving your baby sister, oh my darling boy," she wailed, hugging her
"Mum," Ron groaned but it was clear to all he was enjoying the attention.
Mrs Weasley finally let both of her children go so her husband could now hug them. She then pounced on Harry and Hermione so hard they gasped from the force of her hug. She started crying about how they'd saved her little girl and whatever could she do to repay them.
They mumbled that they didn't want anything, very aware of the teachers' stares. But then Professor McGonagall spoke.
"Would someone be able to tell me just what has been going on here?"
And so they told her the whole story. It wasn't easy talking about the giant spiders or other stuff like that but somehow they managed it. When they got to the bit about Ethelinda, Mrs Weasley nearly had a fit and Professor McGonagall looked like she wasn't far behind.
"A Basilisk?" You faced a Basilisk?"
"It's okay mum," Ron said quickly.
"She wasn't that bad, for a big snake. And we can talk to her now."
"Talk to her," Snape said with high brows.
"How did you accomplish that?"
"She dripped venom onto our tongues," Hermione answered. "And...that gave us the ability to understand her and her to understand us."
"Yeah, it was really weird," Ron added.
The adults were all gaping at them so Harry quickly said.
"We asked her not to attack anyone, we explained the school wasn't in danger anymore."
"Extraordinary," Dumbledore said softly.
"I don't think such a feat has been accomplished in a thousand years."
"Yeah, well," Ron said embarrassed. "It was kind of strange having Harry translate everything."
This brought a smile to everyone's faces and the mood relaxed a bit. However, when the trio explained about Riddle, the temperature literally dropped several degrees.
"He wanted Hermione to give up her life force or something," Ron was saying hotly.
"Said he didn't want to kill a PureBlood."
"He wanted to use me to...to produce more PureBloods," Ginny bit out, even more tears running down her face.
"I-I can't believe I was so stupid."
"You were not stupid, Miss Weasley," Dumbledore said gently but firmly.
"Tom was always good at manipulation, do not blame yourself."
Mrs Weasley wrapped her into a tighter hug as the trio finished explained what had happened.
"Fawkes appeared, with the Sorting Hat," Harry said softly. "At first we had no idea why but I...I tried on the hat and asked for help and I got that sword."
He pointed to it where it lay stained with black ink on a table. Dumbledore glanced at it, a smile appearing on face as he examined the ruby encrusted sword.
"Ginny was pointing at that diary," Harry continued. "And that's when we knew what to do."
"My vial got smashed on the sword," Hermione said sadly.
"Ah, Miss Granger, but I think that made all the difference," Dumbledore said with a wide smile.
"For this sword was made by Goblins and it takes in that which only makes it stronger."
"The Basilisk venom made it more powerful?" Hermione questioned, her eyes shining.
"Indeed, that venom is very potent and the only cure is with Phoenix tears."
The golden red bird trilled at this, it had followed them to the Hospital Wing. But now they got back to the story.
"It was really cool," Ron now said with gusto.
"That idiot Riddle disarmed me but he didn't realise I had a bad wand. And then Harry dared him to disarm himself so he tried but it backfired."
He grinned as he remembered.
"Hermione levitated the diary and Harry stabbed it and Riddle exploded."
"My word," Professor McGonagall exclaimed, her hand over her heart.
"You all did very well," Dumbledore now said as Snape rolled his eyes.
"And I think the three of you deserve two hundred points apiece as well as twenty for Miss Weasley's bravery. I also think Special Awards to the School is in order as well."
"They broke about a hundred rules," Snape muttered but no one was paying attention.
Mrs Weasley was hugging her children again as Mr Weasley rubbed his daughter's back. Madam Pomfrey now declared that Ginny would need loads of rest and potions but with some loving care, she'd recover. She requested that the young girl be allowed to settle down now with a Sleeping Potion.
Ginny took it gladly, falling asleep in her mother's arms.
Harry now voiced his concerns about being similar to Tom Riddle which Dumbledore assured him he wasn't.
"It doesn't make you a bad person because the Sorting Hat wanted to put you in Slytherin," Dumbledore said gently.
"Many great wizards have come from that House," he added with a nod to Snape.
"It is rare you find a student who only has one House's qualities."
"That's what we told Ethelinda," Hermione said quietly.
Dumbeldore beamed before saying.
"You may have done well in Slytherin Harry but you are very different from Tom Riddle in all the important ways. You chose a different path from him and in the end, it is out choices that define us."
As Harry digested this, Dumbledore gestured at the sword.
"If you're still unsure about being in Gryffindor, take a look at this sword."
As Harry saw the name Godric Gryffindor emblazoned on the sword, Dumbledore said quietly.
"Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled that sword from the Hat."
To be continued
Author's note. The next chapter will continue with this story, which includes Mr Malfoy and Dobby. Find out how that goes next time, until then.
