One Is The Loneliest Number Keeperoliver Chapter 4
A/N: Sorry for being so long for this update. My brother has returned home, and I was sorry to see him go, but he had to return for reasons he had to attend to. In order to make up for this long departure from my writing I will continue with a second story that fans have been asking me to continue, and I finally agreed to do so, after talking with a colleague. I hope you all like what is to come. In the mean time, enjoy this chapter of One. As always, Ollie the Keeper.
OITLN:
Ron was still angry with Harry for putting Hermione in danger, and would not have talked to him at all if he hadn't heard that Ginny was also being put in danger. This put Ron over the edge. He went looking for Harry to either put him in his place or hurt him.
It didn't take much to find Harry. He was sitting by the fire in the common room. It looked like he was talking to the flames, and Ron could swear he heard the flames talking back. The voice was low, and sounded tired.
"Harry, what you are planning with Albus is not a sound venture. It is too risky to attempt. I think Pads and I should join you. It would make the odds more in our favor. It would also be better to leave behind the girl. She doesn't need to there. She has gone through enough already."
"I know Moony, but she is the key to the whole matter. I do agree with your idea of both you and Pads coming along though, and also Phil. If what we fear the monster to be is in fact just that, then we will need all the help we can get. Perhaps you should talk to Albus and see what he says. You must do it soon, as I don't like the idea of the students being in danger. I also want Hermione back. She is so brilliant, and is one hell of an investigator. But the real reason I want her back is for Ron. He misses her, and he blames me for her current situation. He doesn't realize that if she hadn't been carrying that mirror, she and Miss Clearwater would be dead. So in fact it was he who saved her life. Him and his brothers that is."
Moony was looking beyond Harry and saw the very same person that Harry was talking about. "Harry, I believe he does know what he has done. He may not have before, but he does now, as he is right behind you."
Harry turned to see the lost look of Ron's face. Tears were forming in his eyes. Ron didn't know what he had done, and he felt shame for his earlier thoughts about Harry. He now knew what Harry was doing was for the entire school, and that to include him, Hermione, Neville and Luna in this was something new to him. He had done everything alone in the past, and now he had friends to help him. Friends he could rely on. Ron started to apologize to Harry, but was stopped by a flick of the hand. "Ron I needed help from all of you, and you did it with out question. What happened to Hermione I regret deeply, but because of your's and the twins help, we have avoided a catastrophe. Hermione and the rest are safe because of the mirrors you provided. Now I must ask you of another favor. Please do not let anyone know of what you heard here ntonight. It is of upmost importance that we keep this between our selves. I am going to tell you something that will hurt but you must know so that you will not get in the way. Your sister Ginny was controlled by dark magic and it was she who released the monster that has made itself known through out the school. She had no knowledge of doing it. The magic that controlled her blanked her memory of the acts. Or at least it thought it did. Your sister is much stronger than you could possibly know as she fought off this magic and was able to cast it from her. With out this control the magic cannot work by itself. It needs a body to perform the spells."
Ron asked the one question Harry dreaded. "Why Ginny? Why not someone else? How did this magic gain control of her?"
Moony had been listening to the talk between the two and saw that Harry was at a loss for an answer. "Mr. Weasley, please sit down so that we can explain what has happened to cause all this. Thank you. Now somehow your sister came into possession of a dark object that gained her trust and gradually took control of her. How she got it, we do not know. What we do know is that it made her do these things without her knowledge. She was able to fight off this magic which no one else has ever done. Like Harry said she is much stronger than people realize. This dark magic is still present but without a body so it can no longer harm the students. With this being the case we have to find this magic and put an end to it. We need you to trust us and let us do our job without interference. It is the only way. Do we have that trust Ron?"
Ron was quiet for a minute as he thought about what this person said. "I really don't have much of a choice. If Ginny and Hermione have any chance of surviving this mess I have to trust you, and will help in any manner i can."
Harry took Ron's hand in friendship, "Thanks Ron. We will do everything in our power to end this threat to the school. In order to do this, Ginny has to be a part of it. I know this hurts, but it is the only way. Can you think of how Ginny might have got control of this dark magic?"
Again Ron thought for a minute, when a memory of the past summer came to him. "I think I might. During our trip to Diagon Alley, we had an encounter with the Malfoys while we were purchasing our books for this year. My dad and Mr. Malfoy got into an arguement when he started to insult our family. Hagrid was there to break it up, and Malfoy picked up Ginny's books and put them back in her cauldron. It could have been there where he placed this magic in her belongings."
"That is what we needed to know. Thanks Ron, this answers a few questions we had. Now I think we need to break this up and go to bed. I think tomorrow may be a long day."
Moony said goodnight after promising to talk to the Headmaster in the morning. Ron and Harry made their way to the dorm and their beds.
OITLN-
Moony and Pads floo called Filius in the morning, asking to come through. He granted access and together they went to Albus' office to talk to him.
Albus listened to the three, and he was pleased that they were willing to help. It also gave him the answer to where Harry was living the past 11 years. Hw would need to talk to Filius later, when everything had settled down. He agreed with their request to join them, and the adventure would take place that evening. He looked to the schedule for Harry and Ginny, and contacted Professor Snape for Harry's presence, and Professor Sprout for Ginny's.
They were soon joined by the two, and the plans were made. The rest of the school day flew by for the two students.
Dinner was a meal neither of them took much part in. They ate very little as the butterflies were playing havoc in their systems. Both of them pushed their plates away after a few bites and looked up to the Professor's table and saw the Headmaster nod his head. They both stood up and made their way to the Headmaster's office where they were joined by Professor Flitwick.
As they entered thye office, they saw Pads and Moony already there, just finishing their meals.
Soon they were joined by Albus, and they went over the final preperations for their encounter. Albus had shrunk the cage containing the roosters, and as final thought, he had Harry do something very odd. "Harry, I want you to do something for me. I want you to take the sorting hat and wish for something to help in your cause for defeating the monster in the chamber."
"The sorting hat sir? Why would the sorting hat have the power to grant this wish? And what could it possibly provide me with?" Harry asked.
"Harry, you know who originated the hat? Godric Gryffindor. It is my belief that if a true Gryffindor were to ask for help from the hat, it would provide it. I don't see where you asking it for help would hurt any. Please just give it a try."
Harry went across the room and took the hat from it's resting place on the mantle of the fireplace. He put the hat on and thought for the help to defeat the monster in the chamber. What he got was headache, as something heavy hit him on the head. He pulled the hat off and found the Sword of Gryffindor resting in its folds. He also felt the weight of Fawkes land on his shoulder. He looked at Fawkes, and the Phoenix sang a song of assurance to the youth. Harry looked back to the Headmaster, and saw a bright twinkle in the eyes of the man. Harry was indeed a true Gryffindor. Fawkes was the final proof. He was not Albus' familiar, he belonged to the school's headmaster position, not the individual. This was another gift from Godric Gryffindor.
Fawkes had the group take hold of his tail feathers and flashed them to the the bathroom where the entry was. Harry opened the entry and they took the slide down into the tunnel that led them to the chamber's entrance.
Once in the chamber, Phil, Moony and Pads took up positions along the walls to insure there were no surprise attacks from outside sources. Albus, Harry, Ginny and Fawkes walked down the main path to the bust of the founder. Once there, Albus performed a spell that would uncover any dark magic that was there. Soon the form of a young man was formed and Albus was taken back as he saw the form of the student he knew as Tom Riddle. "It has been many years Tom. You have done some very strong magic in that time. You do know why we are here I suppose?"
"Oh yes Albus, I know why you are here. You are here to die, just as I had planned it. Thanks to this pathetic girl and her insecurities, I was able to make sure you would be here. Still, I did enjoy the time I had her under my spell. Do you think I could still control her Albus? I think I could. Why don't we see." And with that the form of Tom disappeared, and Ginny suddenly went rigid. The next voice heard was that of Tom's in Ginny's voice. "Ah yes, it is good to be back. Harry you should try this. So warm and cozy. Stop fighting my dear, it is useless. Good. Now I think it is time to have a talk, don't you agree Albus? I have many questions, like how is it that I don't feel ther presence of my living self?"
"Ah yes, that would be because he is no longer with us." Albus replied.
"Impossible. I took steps to insure that would never happen."
Although not able to respond to what she was hearing, Ginny was viewing the memories of Tom's as he talked with the Headmaster. This was the plan that He had made concerning her part. She was to look for thoughts that would show something of how he insured his longevity. She saw a ring, a locket, a cup, a crown, and the diary. These were somehow connected to this insurance. Now she hoped that what the Headmaster planned came about. She hated this control Tom had over her. She felt violated, used and abused.
Tom continued to ask questions and Albus continued to answer them honestly, yet not giving him the full truth. Finally Tom had enough. "I think it is time you meet the reason you are here. I ALL UPON THE SPIRIT OF THE GREATEST OF ALL THE FOUNDERS SALAZAR SLYTHERIN TO BRING FORTH HIS GREATEST WEAPON. HEAR ME O GREAT ONE. RELEASE THAT WHICH WILL BRING ABOUT THE FALL OF THE LARGEST THREAT AGAINST YOUR HEIR."
The mouth of the bust began to open, and Fawkes who had been perched on Harry's shoulder took off into the opening. Soon there were loud screeches coming from the exit, and Tom began to shout, "What is happening? Stop this you bloody fowl. What are you doing?"
Soon the bloody face of a huge Basilisk appeared. It's eyes had been ripped to shreds. It's face was filled with deep cuts put there by Fawkes. "Use your other senses to find your pray. You have to destroy them you dumb animal."
The Basilisk began to flick it's forked tongue to sense the heat coming from Harry and Albus. Harry pulled the sword given to him by the Hat, and took a defensive stance protecting those with him. Even if she was being controlled by Tom, it was still her in body.
Filius, Remus and Sirius joined Harry and Albus. Filius took the time to battle Tom as the rest fought the Basilisk. He and Tom waged a battle that none thought Filius could win. Tom was using life threatening curses while Filius was using curses that would only disable the body of Ginny.
Harry had used the sword to ward off any strikes made by the Basilisk, further hurting the creature and making it much more angry. This caused the snake to react without using it's natural instincts. Remus and Sirius would distract it making the creature confused and striking at empty air. Albus removed the shrinking charm he had on the roosters cage, and was about to remove them from their confinement when the Basilisk thrashed it's tail into Albus and sent the cage crashing to the wall of the chamber killing the two roosters. Now they had to rely on Harry to kill the thing. It was not looking good for the team of friends.
Filius had received many cuts from his duel, and had not managed to inflict any on Tom/Ginny. He was tiring and had to end it soon. He finally got his break when Ginny decided it was also time to fight back and gain control of her body. Tom was taken back by this, as he was not used to people fighting off his control. With the distraction, Filius was able to hit his oppenent with an immobulous charm rendering Tom useless.
The fight with the Basilisk was also taking it's toll on the heroes. Albus was already out of the fight, and soon Remus joined him as the snake had dislodged loose rocks from the ceiling which hit Remus knocking him unconscious. Sirius also was knocked unconscious when the thrashing snake hit him sending him to the wall. Filius was also out of it because of his fight with Tom. Harry was the lone figure going against the Basilisk.
He was able to move the injured allies to side and put a protectice spell over them to prevent further injury. Fawkes was with them and provided further protection.
The Basilisk was fighting for it's life as he continued to strike at Harry. Harry was covered in blood, both his and the snakes. He was getting weary, and his body ached. If it didn't end soon, it wouldn't end good.
The basilisk could sense the tried form of his opponent and decided to stike for the kill. Harry saw it coming and prepared himself. The strike came, and Harry thrust the sword forward into the gaping maw of the creature driving the sword into the top of the mouth and into it's brain. The basilisk gave one violent jerk that almost ripped the sword out of Harry's hands. However it did twist Harry's arms, and a fang of the snake became lodged in his arm. Harry pulled the sword out of the mouth and moved away from the Basilisk as it went through it's death throes. Harry pulled the fang out of his arm and picked up the diary. He looked to Tom/Ginny, and saw fear in the face of the young girl. He raised the fang up and stabbed the diary causing Ginny to scream. He hated to hear her like that, but knew it wasn't her in pain, it was Tom. He stabbed once more, and he saw Ginny collapse to the floor where Filius took care of her. The spirit of Tom left her body and Harry stabbed the Diary one more time and the form of Tom left the world in a shower of lights. The threast was gone. Harry dropped the diary and the fang and went to the shelter of his friends. He took one last look, and passed out. Fawkes flew to him and proceeded to cry into his wounds in an attempt to heal them. He knew the speed in which Basilisk venom killed it's victim. The wound was purged of the venom and then the wound was healed, but it left a scar on Harry's arm.
Fawkes got Filius to join everyones hands and then took hold of his tail feather and transported them to the hospital wing. What they failed to see was the red head that was hidden behind a pillar in the chamber. Ron had seen the whole fight scene. He could not believe the courage and bravery of the six people that went down there for the fight. He went over to the snake that was lying there and had to look up to see the eyes that were torn out by the Phoenix. He walked over to the diary and picked it and the fang up and walked out with them in his possession. He brought them up to the hospital wing. As he left the entry, he heard the sink close the entry point so that no one else could enter.
Ron walked in to see that Remus. Sirius and albus were all awake and gathered around the one individual that was not. Ginny and Filius were sitting beside Harry holding his hands in theirs. Ginny was crying and praying. "Please let Harry be alright. He doesn't deserve to die like this. He can't die like this, not for me."
Ron walked to the Headmaster, "Professor Dumbledore sir, I believe you should have these."
Albus looked over to Ron and saw the diary and fang in Ron's hands. He looked up into Ron's face, "You saw the whole thing Mr. Weasley?"
"Yes sir. I followed you all down the chute and into the chamber. I don't know how you all did it, but it was the most brilliant act I could ever hope to see. It hurt me to watch as Professor Flitwick dueled my sister but I saw how that spirit took control of her. I couldn't believe he defeated him or her like he did without hurting her or him. But that was nothing compared to what Harry did to the Basilisk. I will always remember how he stood up to the thing and let it attack him in order to kill it."
"I imagine you are going to have many admirers Mr. Weasley when you start to tell this tale. But I must warn you Harry and Ginny may not take to kindly to it. They don't wish to bring shame to Ginny for her being controlled by Tom. There are also certain things that must not be passed on to the wrong people. Things that could be used against the side of the light. I hope you understand what I am saying Mr. Weasley?"
"Sir, I didn't hear any of the conversation between you and Tom, or anything else that was said. I only witnessed the battle. I will not tell what I saw to anyone that Harry and Ginny do not wish to know. Harry saved my sister's life, and for that I will always be in debt to him. I'm afraid I had some ill feelings toward him because of him involving Hermione in this adventure, but I see now that it was necessary for the ending that took place. Do you know how long it will be before the petrified students will be cured?"
"Very soon now Mr. Weasley. I have learned that Professor Sprout has harvested the Mandrake root and Professor Snape is brewing the potion as we speak."
Ron looked over to the bed where Harry laid and saw the tears in his sister's eyes. He wanted to go to her and comfort her, but decided against it. He thanked the Headmaster, and turned and left the wing.
As soon as he was in the corridor he was assaulted by Neville and Luna asking if every one was alright. He assured them that they were being taken care of, but that Harry was still unconscious.
They walked back to the Gryffindor common room and Luna was allowed to enter so that they could console each other.
The adventure was complete, and now was the time for healing. The wounds inflicted by Tom and the Basilisk may take a long while to heal, especially to Harry and Ginny.