Chapter 7—Wee Minnie

September 19 was a Friday, meaning Hermione's party was delayed until after dinner. In the three weeks since the start of term, Hermione had managed to make a few friends. Perhaps her closest female friend was Marina Abbott, due to the fact that they both frequently were found in the company of Harry and Neville. This of course, also made her friends, if only peripherally with Marina's friend Kathleen Hall and her boyfriend John King, who was also friendly with Harry and Neville. In her own dorm, Hermione had also managed to strike up a friendship with another studious Gryffindor girl, Margaret Droope, who she'd befriended in the library.

It was this perhaps unlikely assortment of people who found themselves standing in the seventh floor corridor across from the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, while Harry paced back and forth before a blank stretch of wall, which suddenly wasn't blank any more.

"Blimey, what's that door?" John asked.

"Room of Requirement," Harry replied.

"Never heard of it," Marina said.

"It's long been rumoured to exist," Margaret said, brushing a loose strand of blonde hair out of her face. "It can turn into anything you want. I never knew it was here, though."

"It's not well publicized," Harry allowed, opening the door, and ushering everyone inside. Hermione entered last and ground to a halt in the doorway. Harry grinned as she took in the room.

It was a near copy of the Gryffindor common room, but there was a huge banner draped across the back of the room that said 'Happy Birthday Hermione!' The room was slightly smaller than the common room, and there were no stairs to the dorms, but the comfortable chairs and couches were there, and there was a table nearby with plates, cups, and flatware. Neville was standing at the table, removing items from his bag and unshrinking them. Harry noted that he'd brought the cake, as they'd discussed, as well as drinks and other refreshments. Marina was fiddling with a Wizarding wireless in the corner. The others were taking seats and pulling out presents, stacking them on the coffee table between them.

"Well, are you going to stand there, or are you going to join your party?" Harry asked with a grin. Hermione responded by playfully slapping him on the shoulder and moving into the room. Harry followed, pulling his own gift for her out of his pocket and unshrinking it. The entire group broke into a chorus of 'For She's a Jolly Good Fellow,' which was louder than one might have expected from such a gathering. When the last refrain finally died, Harry turned to Hermione. "What's first? Cake, or presents?"

"Cake!" the room chorused.

"Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Cake," she decided. "Gotta go with the room."

"Cake it is. Neville?" Neville floated plate after plate of cake to the guests, starting with Hermione. Marina put on the wireless, and soon the room was filled with the warblings of Celestina Warbeck.

"Oh Merlin, this is delicious," she said after she'd taken a bite.

"It's just a cake from the kitchens," Neville said, blushing.

"I did ask the elves to make you something special," Harry said with a shrug after he'd taken a bite of his own. "It would seem they've out done themselves again."

"You're not kidding," Hermione said after another bite. After that, silence descended upon the room as everyone tucked in. Finally, they were all done and the plates and cups pushed aside. Margaret placed the first present in front of Hermione, who began to enthusiastically unwrap it.

In the space of ten minutes, a small stack of presents ranging from socks to books to quills and ink lay before the birthday girl, with only one present remaining. She accepted it graciously from Harry and unwrapped a small polished box with light and dark woods inlaid in delicate patterns. Harry held up a hand to pause her.

"Marina, can you cut off the wireless?" he asked. When the room was quite, he continued. "Open it." When she did, she heard a mournful bell toll, followed by another, and another. Looking down, she saw the interior looked like a standard music box, except the spinning ballerina was replaced by a prancing Freddie Mercury in a harlequin spandex outfit, grasping a microphone. Eventually, a guitar started playing. A huge grin burst onto Hermione's face. Finally, the unmistakeable sound of Brian Johnson's voice burst into the room belting out, "I'm a rolling thunder, a pourin' rain…"

"What IS that?" John asked, staring at the music box.

"'Hell's Bells,' by AC/DC," Hermione said. "They're… a muggle band almost no one's heard of."

"It certainly is… spirited," Marina said, unsure of what to make of the music.

"I like it!" John proclaimed.

"Close it, and open it again," Harry instructed. Hermione did, and when the box opened again, it was to the crooning voice of Freddie Mercury singing the opening lines of Bohemian Rhapsody. Hermione stared at Harry in wonder.

"How?"

"It'll play a new song as soon as the last one's done. When you close the lid, it automatically loads a new song. It's got about a hundred songs, mostly AC/DC and Queen, but there's a lot of other stuff in there too."

"How?"

"Pensieve memories," Harry said, grinning. "I slipped memories of myself listening to the songs into Lord Henry's pensieve. Then, when dad took me out to get me my Cleansweep, we met up with Lord Henry, who took us to the Wizarding Wireless Network studio in Hogsmeade. We were able to pull the music out of the pensieve, isolate the audio of the songs from the other noise in the memories, and put the songs into this music box I bought. Freddie there is a runic transfiguration of the original ballerina based on some photos also placed into a pensieve."

"I can't believe you figured out a way to make me a magical mix tape!" Hermione gushed, closing the box and opening it again. "I love it!" she cried as 'You Shook Me All Night Long' began to play. Still gripping the box, she sprang to her feet, and wrapped Harry up in a tight hug, kissing his cheek.

"What's a mix tape?" Margaret asked, as Hermione finally let Harry go.

"Canadian slang for a jukebox," Harry said quickly, deflecting the question as Hermione sat back down and made the music box play another song.

"What's a jukebox?" Marina asked.

"It's a muggle device that plays songs off records," Margaret supplied. "It allows someone to choose a song from a set list on the records stored in the jukebox." This explanation satisfied everyone, and the conversation broke up into smaller groups as everyone continued to enjoy the party.

Eventually, Kathleen said she had to get back to Hufflepuff. Marina said she did too. John and Neville offered to walk them back to their dorm. Margaret said she had to get to the library to get some books before it closed, and left as well. Harry and Hermione were left alone.

"Not much point in cleaning up, I suppose," Harry said offhandedly. "The room will take care of it all. Just got to pack up your presents." He pulled out his book bag, and began loading it with her various gifts.

"I'm keeping this one out," she said, holding up the music box, which was playing Aerosmith's 'Sweet Emotion.' "I really do love it."

"I can see that," Harry said, placing the full bag on the ground next to the couch. "You haven't put it down since you opened it.

"How did you even come up with it?"

"I remembered when you said you'd miss the music the most, and that you really liked AC/DC and Queen. I figured it couldn't hurt to throw in some other classic rock as well to round out the selection. I asked dad if it was possible to do something like it, and he said it was."

"How did I get so lucky?" Hermione asked with a sweet smile.

"I'm the lucky one," Harry said. After a brief pause he asked. "Do you remember our conversation on the Express?"

"Of course."

"These past few months have made me realize how good of a friend you are. Being in the past has led me to think about the future a lot, and if I'm honest, I can't see a future without you in it. I… I love you, and…" And he didn't get to finish that sentence, as Hermione jumped out of her seat and kissed him soundly. Harry wrapped her up in his arms awkwardly from his spot on the couch and relaxed into the kiss. He couldn't say later just how long that kiss lasted, but by the time they came up for air both were panting heavily. "So does this mean you'll go out with me?"

"You don't even have to ask," Hermione whispered before she kissed him again.

ooOOOOoo

It was much later when Harry and Hermione finally made their way back to the common room. It was late, past curfew, and the two were using Harry's invisibility cloak to avoid detection. They were almost to the portrait, when the entrance opened, and tiny Minerva McGonagall appeared. Hermione grabbed Harry to stop him, and together they watched as she shut the door.

Harry wondered what she was doing, sneaking out near midnight. She started down the hall, and Harry noticed she appeared to be walking with difficulty, like she hadn't really done it before. From their vantage point, Harry couldn't really see her face very well, especially as she was moving away from them. He looked at Hermione and motioned with his head, silently asking if they should follow her. Hermione nodded in reply, and the two set off.

They followed Minerva down several corridors and stairs, watching as she avoided prefects and Mr. Pringle. Harry had a very bad feeling about this. They seemed to be heading for… Harry watched as Minerva pulled open the door to the second floor girls' loo. When the door closed, Harry and Hermione rushed over, pressing their ears against the door.

From within the lavatory, Harry heard Minerva speaking in parseltongue, and the sound of the sink scraping across the floor.

"She's opened the Chamber of Secrets," Harry whispered. Hermione rolled her eyes and nodded. They heard the sink scraping again. Deciding the coast was clear, Harry left the security of the cloak, yanked the door open, and raced for the sink. It was firmly back in place.

"What do you suppose our little Minerva was given a certain diary?" Harry asked rhetorically, staring at the sink.

"It would seem to be a fair bet," Hermione agreed, joining him while folding the cloak and handing it back to Harry, who pocketed it.

"Oi! Myrtle!"

"Hello again," Myrtle said, passing through the stall door.

"Hi Myrtle. Don't know if you remember us. I'm Harry, and this is my girlfriend, Hermione."

"I remember. Girlfriend, you say…"

"Yes. I have an important question to ask. Did you see Minerva McGonagall go into the Chamber of Secrets tonight?"

"Yes."

"Has she gone into the Chamber of Secrets before?"

"I don't think so," Myrtle said thoughtfully, hovering next to the sinks. "I'm not here all the time… The prefects' bath is so entertaining…"

"Focus, please. It's important."

"I haven't seen her go in there before. The only people I've seen go in there are you and Tom Riddle."

"Great! Thanks." He turned to the sink. "Open."

"Harry! What are you doing?" Hermione asked.

"You know my saving people thing?" Harry asked rhetorically. "That." Without further ado, he leapt into the hole and slid down the pipe to the base. When he landed, he could hear Hermione following, and waited for her to arrive. Then he motioned for her to be quiet, and to follow him. He walked right up to the door to the Chamber, which was already opened. Harry peered around the edge, and saw Minerva standing in the middle of the Chamber. The floor was otherwise clear. The goblins had finished their harvesting on Saturday, the thirteenth.

"Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts four!" she hissed. The jaw of the great statue opened, but nothing appeared. Harry moved from around the edge of the door and entered the Chamber, careful to remain quiet. Hermione followed. Minerva got impatient waiting. "Come out my pet! I have returned. It is time to repay the Muggleborns for their intransigence."

"It won't come, you know," Harry said, parroting Tom from second year. Minerva jumped, startled, and whipped around. Harry continued to approach. "It's not here."

"Who are you?" Minerva asked. Harry finally got a good look at her. She was dressed in her bedclothes, with a housecoat around her, grasping her wand in her hand as she had no pockets large enough to hide it. Her hair was down, ready for bed, and slightly mussed. Harry assumed she'd been sleeping when Tom had come calling. Then he looked at her face. The torchlight flicked shadows across her features, but he could see her eyes easily. Her eyes were red like fire. Tom was in there.

He'd known that intellectually, but to see it was… disconcerting. It was like reliving his worst memories. Harry decided it was payback time. In a flash, his wand was in his hand from a wand holster in his sleeve, a gift from Neville for his birthday. "Expelliarmus!" Minerva's wand flew from her hand before she could react, and she was thrown to the floor. "My name is Harry Potter, Tom," he said as he pocketed her wand. "And I know all about you."

"How!?" Minerva asked, struggling to her feet. Harry could see the look of fear wash across her face. Then she calmed. "It is of no moment. The basilisk will deal with you."

"I told you, it's not coming," Harry said casually, walking around her. Hermione remained where she was, keeping Harry covered. He hadn't asked her to, she simply did it. Keeping Harry out of trouble was sort of her thing.

"It will," Minerva said confidently. "It's probably out hunting."

"Actually, it's dead. I killed it almost three months ago." Harry said, walking over to where the basilisk fang lay at the base of the statue. He picked it up, holding it carefully as he inspected it. He was enjoying playing with Tom. He could almost understand why Tom did it, though Harry knew he was in a much more secure position now that Tom had been the times they'd fought in the past. "Made a pretty penny selling it to the goblins, too."

"No! It's not possible!" Minerva shouted.

"Did it in with the Sword of Gryffindor," Harry explained, studying her. It was then that he saw it. The top of the diary was poking out of the hip pocket of her housecoat. "We all have our favourite tools, don't we Tom?" he asked as he set the fang down on the base of the statue.

"What do you mean?" Minerva shot back cautiously as he turned back to her.

"Accio Tom's diary," Harry cast, the book flying from the pocket and into Harry's outstretched hand. He examined it for a moment before continuing. "Well, you won't be needing yours any longer, but, it is your favourite in any case."

"Give that back!" Minerva shouted.

"I think not," Harry replied, pocketing his own wand and picking up the basilisk fang again. He placed the book against the pedestal and prepared to strike. Minerva lunged.

"Stupefy!" Minerva's body fell to the floor, revealing Hermione standing behind her, wand tracking the falling girl.

Without another word, Harry stabbed the diary with the basilisk fang. The diary screamed and poured black ichor over the base of the statute. It shuddered in his hand before falling still.

"I think you can bring her round now," Harry said, wiping the diary off on a clean part of the statue to get as much of the goo off as he could.

"Ennervate."

On the floor, Minerva stirred, looking up at Harry. He sighed in relief as he placed the diary and the fang on the pedestal, and went to help her up. Her eyes were green. He took her hand and gently pulled her up.

"You gave us quite a scare, Minnie," he said with a grin. With a finger he wiped some muck off her face.

"Where… where am Ah?" she asked, looking around, frightened. Hermione moved up and put a comforting arm around her as she pocketed her wand.

"You're in the Chamber of Secrets," Harry revealed. "May I introduce Hogwarts founder, Salazar Slytherin?" He pointed to the massive statue.

"Ah… How did Ah get here?" It was funny, when she'd been possessed by Tom, she'd been speaking the King's English with a London accent. Now, her Edinburgh brogue was back with a vengeance.

Harry retrieved the diary from the pedestal and showed it to her.

"You received this sometime over the summer, I believe?" Harry asked. She nodded. "How?"

"Ah dinnae ken," Minerva said softly, looking down. "It was in my bag when Ah came out o' Flourish and Blotts. Ah… Ah dinnae ken where it'd come from. Ah saw it was a diary but it'd nae been used…"

"So you started writing in it, and it wrote back, right?"

"How…"

"I've run across this particular diary before," Harry explained. "Tom Riddle is perhaps my oldest adversary. He's been trying to kill me since I was born."

"He dinnae say tha'!" Minerva gasped.

"I'm willing to bet he didn't say anything about me at all," Harry observed. "This was made before he knew about me, and therefore the diary had no knowledge of me."

"But…" she stuttered, trying to piece together the conflicting information in her head. "He said he was a student here just a wee bit ago."

"That's right," Harry allowed, resigned to the fact that he'd have to tell her everything.

"So if tha's true, and the him in the diary disnae ken anythin' about yeh, he could nae have been tryin' tae kill yeh since you were a wee baby."

"Ah, but you're discounting the one thing you shouldn't," Harry warned.

"Wha's tha'?"

"Magic!" Harry smiled at her. "I'm going to tell you a secret, because you deserve to know. After writing in the diary enough, you were possessed by a soul fragment of Tom Riddle, who in another world would grow up to become a very bad, very powerful dark wizard. That Tom Riddle would kill my parents, and try to kill me. But I stopped him for a time. I couldn't stop him permanently, though, because he had this stopping his full death." Harry held up the diary.

"This is… was, a horcrux, a soul container. He murdered Myrtle Warren, the ghost in the second floor girl's lavatory, in order to make it in 1943. Horcruxes are very bad dark magic, but because they store a part of a person's soul, so long as they exist, that person's soul can't go on to the afterlife, and the rest of their soul floats around like a ghost. If they have friends, the soul can be put into another body."

"Like possayssion?"

"Sometimes," Harry allowed. "Or a magically constructed body without another soul in it already. Anyway, Tom from the diary was going to possess you and drain your life force and magic in an attempt to reconstitute himself."

"He said he was trying tae find himself, in order tae return the diary tae his possayssion," Minerva explained. "He said he'd run off… disappeared. His boss found the diary and his other things after he'd left."

"Interesting," Harry mused. Burke thought he'd run off. It was probably Burke who'd written in the diary, and then passed it off to Minerva.

"But that still disnae explain how Tom dinnae ken yeh but had been trying tae kill yeh since you were a wee baby!"

"Minnie, I was born in 1980," Harry revealed, enjoying watching her gasp in surprise. "Last spring Hermione, Neville and I were all in the year 1996. We'd gotten into a fight with some of Tom's followers, called Death Eaters, in the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic. There was an explosion in a room with a bunch of time magic, and we found ourselves in 1947. Tom didn't find out about me until a few months before I was born, so he didn't know about me in 1943.

"So yeh're from the future?" she asked, looking from Harry to Hermione. Hermione nodded.

"That's right," Harry said. "But you can't tell anyone."

"Ah won't," she replied fervently.

"No, I mean, you can't. The secret of us being from the future is guarded by a Fidelius Charm. I'm the secret keeper. You can only talk about it to people who already know the secret."

"So yeh, Hermione, and Neville?"

"Here at school, yes," Harry acknowledged. "Though Professor Dumbledore and Headmaster Dippet are also aware."

"So… yeh ken wha' happens in the future?" Minerva asked.

"I know what happened between 1947 and 1996 in my past, but what will happen, I have no idea."

"Did… Did yeh ken abou' me?"

"Yes," Harry said, grinning. "I knew you very well."

"Oh?"

"You were my Transfiguration professor, head of house, and the deputy headmistress."

"Ah was…"

"Are you sure it's a good idea to tell her that?" Hermione cautioned.

"I don't see the harm," Harry said, pocketing the diary. "I mean, it hasn't happened yet, and now it might not happen. For all we know, she'll meet the love of her life, get married, have babies, and be a housewife. Her course isn't pre-ordained. I just told her what might happen."

"But, Ah became the Transfiguration profayssor here?"

"Yep," Harry said freely. "You were an animagus, too. A cat."

"Tha's braw!" she squealed with delight.

"I have no idea what that means," Harry laughed. "But I'm assuming it's good."

"Aye. Ah'm richt pleased with meself," Minerva said. "Ah hope Ah do as weel this time 'round."

"I'm sure you will," Hermione reassured her.

"That said, it's late, and we need to get back to bed," Harry announced.

"What are we going to do about… Minerva?" Hermione asked. "We can't all fit under the cloak."

"True," Harry mused. "But I've got an ace in my pocket," he said patting the diary. "Let's go." He turned, and let the girls over to the access stairs. They exited a few minutes later onto the fifth floor corridor, right into a pair of patrolling prefects.

"Well, well, if it isn't some Gryffindors out for a late night stroll." Harry moaned internally. They were Slythirin sixth years: Bernard Rosier and Mavis Chapman. Rosier was good friends with noted asshole Leslie Mulciber. Harry did have to give them credit, they were far more Slytherin about their harassment than Draco Malfoy had ever been. If it wasn't for the fact that he wasn't harassed by anyone else, it would've been a hard slog to determine that Rosier and Mulciber were the culprits. Unfortunately for them, the Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, and even the rest of the Slytherins left Harry alone. Only Mulciber, and by extension his friend Rosier, had any sort of beef with the new kid.

"Alright, you've caught us," Harry allowed. "What's your move?" Behind him he heard the door to the passageway click shut. They'd never get in.

"Where were you?" Rosier asked, pointing an accusing finger into Harry's chest.

"I'll answer to Professor Dumbledore or Headmaster Dippet, but not to you," Harry said. "We can go visit either of them if you like, or you can dock house points and escort us back to our common room, which is it to be?"

"Oh, no, Potter, you'll not get off that easy," Rosier crowed. "Pringle'll get to use the whip for sure. Dippet hates you."

"So it's to him then? Alright."

"After you've told me where you were." Rosier loomed over Harry. He was physically large, perhaps six feet tall, and fourteen or fifteen stone. Where Crabbe and Goyle had been fat, Rosier was muscle. Harry had learned that he and Mulciber played as beaters on the Slytherin quidditch team.

"Timbuktu," Harry replied silkily, not letting Rosier intimidate him.

"Where?"

"Not up on your World geography are you?" Hermione asked from behind him. "Timbuktu is a city in French Sudan in West Africa. But then again, I wouldn't expect an inbred bumpkin like yourself to know something like that."

"Shut your gob, Granger" Rosier snapped.

"Now that you've shown the girls how small your willy is, can we get on with this?" Harry goaded.

"I swear to Merlin that I'll…"

"What's going on here?" Harry sighed in relief as he turned to see Professor Silver approaching. Professor Silver was the middle-aged Defence professor, and head of Ravenclaw. He was fairly well liked, and competent, in contrast to what Harry was used to. He wasn't physically intimidating, of average height and weight, with salt and pepper hair and a neatly trimmed moustache that wouldn't've looked out of place on an RAF pilot. He was very proper, and wore immaculately turned out robes in subdued colours. Tonight he was wearing charcoal grey with pinstripes and a solid black necktie.

"Caught some Gryffindors out after hours, Professor," Rosier explained.

"They were just about to take us to the Headmaster's office," Harry interjected.

"Quiet, you!" Rosier said, cuffing Harry.

"And you found them here?" Silver asked, ignoring Harry.

"They were coming out of a hidden door in the wall," Rosier informed him.

"Hidden?" Silver repeated. "Hmm." He cast a revealing charm that illuminated the door. "How do you access it?" he asked Harry.

"From the other side, sir," Harry said. "So far as I know it's a one-way door."

"Where were you?" Silver asked.

"I'm sorry sir, but I can't say. I can only tell Professor Dumbledore or the Headmaster." That was not true. Harry could've told anyone he chose, but he preferred to let the secret of the Chamber be restricted to as few people as possible.

"Tell me boy!" Silver growled. Professor Silver was very different from Flitwick, though he was not as single-minded as Snape, he didn't have the affections of the students that Flitwick did. That said, he was a very talented Defence professor, and Harry generally received praise from him in class. This was their first interaction outside of class, and it wasn't going exactly as Harry wished.

"Magic compels me not to, sir," Harry said. "There's a Fidelius protecting the information." Harry hoped that would deflect further inquiry, and he was right.

"Very well," Silver said. "Rosier, Chapman, I'll take charge of them from here, and see that they're taken before the Headmaster. "You may continue on your rounds."

"Yes, sir," the two chorused. Rosier looked livid that he wouldn't be there to see the three of them get their due. Harry smiled at him.

As the two Slytherins disappeared, Silver turned to the three Gryffindors.

"I suppose you'd like me to swing by Professor Dumbledore's office to collect him, so that you might have some friendly council during your inquisition?"

"Yes, please, sir," Harry replied.

"I hope that you can provide the Headmaster with more information than you did me. I don't think he'd shed any tears over your expulsion, Mr. Potter."

"I can, sir." With a grunt, Professor Silver led them to Dumbledore's office. A quick knock opened the door revealing the professor in his usual attire.

"Ah, Professor Silver, what a surprise! Oh, and Mr. Potter, and Misses Granger and McGonagall. I assume this isn't a purely social visit, then?"

"I'm simply here to allow you the courtesy of accompanying us to the Headmaster's office as their head of house."

"Actually," Harry cut in. "I'd prefer to get your opinion here, professor. I will happily go to Headmaster Dippet's office, however, I think you would like to see what I have here first."

"Why don't we step into my office, then?" Dumbledore held the door open and they all entered. When Dumbledore had shut the door, Harry began without taking a seat. The others remained standing as well, eager to get their story out.

"Professor Dumbledore, do you remember when I told you about the first time I went into the Chamber of Secrets?" Professor Silver's eyebrows went right up. Minerva looked extremely frightened. As far as Harry knew, she'd never been in trouble before. For Harry, of course, this was old hat, and this Dumbledore was far less imposing than the older version had been, though decidedly less grandfatherly.

"I do," Dumbledore said hesitantly.

"A girl had been possessed by a soul fragment of Tom Riddle," Harry clarified. Professor Silver's mouth dropped open. "While possessed she opened the chamber, releasing the basilisk. Finally, the soul fragment began taking her essence and trying to become corporeal, yes?" Dumbledore nodded. Harry pulled out the diary and threw it on the desk. "That's the diary that Ginny Weasley wrote in. I kick myself that I didn't see the signs earlier…"

"You were only twelve," Hermione countered quickly.

"Still… I saw the signs this time."

"And we got a little lucky," Hermione added.

"Minnie, tell Professor Dumbledore how you got this diary," Harry instructed.

"Ah… Ah dinnae remember getting it, Profayssor," McGonagall stammered. "Ah was in Flourish and Blotts and when Ah walked oot, it was in me bag along wit' me other books. Ah'd always wanted a diary, so Ah started writin' in it, but it wrote back, ye ken?"

"I do," Dumbledore replied. "And what did it say?"

"It said it belonged to Tom Riddle, and asked if Ah'd help look fer him," McGonagall said, gaining confidence. "It said Tom'd run off, that it'd been found by his boss, and that it'd gotten his boss to slip it in the bag of a Hogwarts student."

"Did he choose you on purpose?" Dumbledore wanted to know.

"Ah dinnae think so," McGonagall replied. "It jes' needed to get back here, so it could open the Chamber. It thought that'd brin' Tom back to the school, where he could find his book and reclaim it." She stopped, finished with her tale, or so she thought.

"Hermione and I were coming back from her birthday party, and saw Minnie leaving the common room. She was walking funny, like she hadn't ever walked before, so we followed her. When she opened the Chamber I knew what'd happened. When I saw her eyes, they confirmed it. Her eyes were red. And when she spoke, she'd lost her accent; she spoke like a Londoner. Plus, she said things she couldn't have known."

"Such as?"

"Well, first, she spoke parseltonge." Professor Silver lowered himself into one of the chairs, unable to physically stand any more, so overwhelmed was he at the revelations pouring out of the young man. "She knew the passwords to both the chamber and the basilisk's lair. Then, she knew the monster was a basilisk. Once I'd done the diary with a basilisk fang, she woke up and her accent was back. She had no idea where she was or why she was there. It was just like Ginny Weasley. She couldn't've faked it and been that spot on."

"Yes. You're right," Dumbledore agreed. He looked at the book on the desk and pulled out his wand. He began waving it over the book, reciting a spell Harry had never heard before. Professor Silver obviously had though, as he sucked in his breath, eyes wider than ever. The diary glowed blue. "Alas, my fears have been realized. This was, indeed a horcrux."

"In that case, I'd like to contact the Aurors," Harry said. While in his own time, he knew the Aurors would've done little or nothing to help him, in this time Tom Riddle was a nobody, and Magical Britain was untainted by years of virtual civil war. If there was one thing they could be counted on doing, it would be tracking down and destroying other horcruxes, should they exist.

"Why, Mr. Potter? This horcrux has already been destroyed," Dumbledore asked, attempting to retain some control over the matter. Harry didn't know whether Dumbledore had followed through on his spring promise to talk to Tom, and he didn't really care.

"Because Tom Riddle's done a runner, and he's left behind at least one horcrux…"

"I'd think one would be the limit," Professor Silver interjected breathlessly. He was slowly regaining his wits after the mental gymnastics he'd just performed upon hearing what Harry and Minerva had said, but he wasn't quite put together yet. Harry pressed on.

"My point is, he left it behind, meaning it doesn't appear to be important to him. Why would that be?"

"One would tend to protect a horcrux, I'd imagine," Professor Silver agreed.

"Besides, they could at least investigate Borgin and Burke's," Harry reasoned. "Burke did pass the horcrux off to Minnie, which should be a crime."

"It is," Professor Silver agreed. Dumbledore sighed. He seemed resigned to the fact that the authorities would be brought in.

"Very well," he said picking up the book. "Since some of this information cannot become public, we'll restrict it to what Miss McGonagall knew before talking to Mr. Potter, and…"

"We saw her possessed, were concerned, and followed her, discovering the whole thing," Hermione added.

"Excellent," Professor Dumbledore agreed. "That's settled, shall we adjourn to the Headmaster's office to call the authorities?"