Chapter 11
A year ends
…
Alex´s point of view.
For a moment there was silence, as Alex, Harry, Ron, Ginny and Lockhart stepped into the room , covered muck and slime, Harry was also covered in blood and Alex were bruised. Alex could only image how they looked and smelled.
"Ginny", somebody screamed from the fireplace. It was Mrs Weasley; she had been sitting crying at the fire, probably thinking that her only daughter was gone forever.
She leapt to her feet, followed by her husband, both of them hugged Ginny softly, Alex smiled at them; yeah it had been worth it.
Alex noticed they were not the only persons in the room, McGonagall was there not surprising since it was her office, the professor looked at them in shock, but the surprise was that standing beside the professor, was Professor Dumbledore. Fawkes flew from Alex´s shoulder and flew over to the professor´s.
Then Mrs Weasley moved to hug Ron, Harry and then Alex, who whined in pain, was he were hugged.
"You all saved her, thank you, thank you, but how did you do it?" she asked.
"Yes, I think we all want to know how." McGonagall asked, she didn´t sound angry, she sounded proud.
As Harry handed Mrs Weasley the sorting hat and his sword and told her to give them to Dumbledore. He and Alex began explaining what had happen. Harry told them how told them his side of the story and how he and Ron had flowed the spiders into the Forbidden Forrest and met the creature Aragog and how Myrtle had died in front of the entrance of the chamber and how they had learned of it. Alex stayed silent only adding some information about how he leaned that the monster was a basilisk.
"Very well" McGonagall said, "You leaned where the entrance was and breaking about a hundred school rules I might add. But how did you all get of there alive.
Harry seamed hoarse from all the talking so Alex took over, him told them about how Fawkes had arrived with the sorting hat, and that Harry had gotten a sword from it. Alex told them how he had tried to stop Riddle, and how he failed. Then he stopped how could he explain the thing about the dairy, without Ginny being expelled, it wasn´t her fault, but his teachers might not see it that way. A quick look with Harry, Alex knew he was thinking the same.
Dumbledore however seamed to read their minds, "What interest me the most is how Voldemort was able enchant young Ginny, when my sources tell me that he is hiding in Albania." Harry signed in relief, at this comment.
"What do you mean" Mrs Weasley cried You-Know-Who had my Ginny enchanted, but how?"
"It was the diary, "Alex explained, "Voldemort or Riddle I don´t what he called himself when he did it, but he somehow preserved his sixteen year old self in it, so he one day could finish what he started fifty years ago. He used Ginny though the diary."
Harry handed Dumbledore they holed diary, who took and looked, "Brilliant, of course he was probably one of the most Hogwarts had ever seen at that time."
Dumbledore paused, "Very few people know that Lord Voldemort was once known as Tom Riddle. I taught him myself fifty years ago. After he had finished, he travelled far and wide, he sank so deeply in to the dark acts, consorted with our worst kind, he transformed himself, into Lord Voldemort. So when he returned nobody knew it was the same boy who had left Hogwarts, they only knew him as the monster Lord Voldemort."
"That hypocrite, hating half-bloods when, he is one himself," Alex said.
Dumbledore smiled, "Voldemort´s muggle father is his most guarded secret, it unlikely even his closest followers knows or would believe it."
"But what have your Ginny to do with it, how did You-know-who control her?" Mrs Weasley asked.
Alex looked at Ginny giving her a chance to explain, "His d-diary", she sobbed, I ha-have been writing i-in it all y-year.
"Ginny!" Mr Weasley said flabbergasted, "haven´t I told taught you anything? What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can´t see where its brain. Why didn´t you show it to mum or me. An object like that clearly have dark magic."
"I am so sorry daddy" Ginny broke down in tears, Mr Weasley hugged his daughter as he softly comforted her, "I just found it in one of the books mum got me, I thought someone had forgotten it."
Alex could feel the anger inside him; he knew who had put it in there Mr Malfoy that monster was behind this. He also felt anger towards Voldemort how could he just use an innocent girl like that.
"Miss Weasley should go up to the Hospital Wing right away," Dumbledore said in a firm voice. "This has been a terrible ordeal for her. There will be no punishment. Older and wiser wizards than she have been hoodwinked by Lord Voldemort." He strode over to the door and opened it. "Bed rest and perhaps a large, streaming mug of hot chocolate. I always find that cheers me up," he added, twinkling kindly down at her. "You'll find that Madam Pomfrey is still awake. She's just giving out Mandrake juice - I daresay the basilisk's victims will be waking up at any moment."
"So Hermione will be okay" both Harry and Ron said making Alex smile.
"There has been no lasting harm done, Ginny," said Dumbledore. Mrs. Weasley led Ginny out, and Mr. Weasley followed, still looking deeply shaken. "You know, Minerva," Professor Dumbledore said thoughtfully to McGonagall. "I think this all merits a good feast. Might I ask you to go and alert the kitchens? And then call all the students together, and tell them we are having a night feast"
McGonagall nodded, "Yes, I trust you will deal with Potter, Weasley and Bonteri"
Dumbledore nodded, Alex smiled a bit as his saw the panic on his friends' faces, Alex had noticed McGonagall´s amused look as she had said it, so he wasn´t worried, he could also see the twinkle in Dumbledore´s eyes.
"I remember telling you two Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, that I would expel you if you broke any more school rules."
"But sir," Ron began.
"That is why," Dumbledore interrupted sternly, I now must," he paused clearly enjoying himself," now, eat my own words. There will be no punishment. You all three will be given the highest award the school can give. And yes let me see 200 point to Gryffindor each."
Alex busted out laughing, "you should have seen your faces, priceless."
"Yes, may I ask how you know Alexander?" Dumbledore asked smiling.
"Well I could see it in your eyes sir."
Dumbledore winked at Alex who smiled back, "But I notice one of you is oddly quit, why so modest Gilderoy?"
Alex looked back; he had completely forgotten about Lockhart, the professor was standing in the comer, with vague smile. When Dumbledore addressed him, he looked over his shoulder.
"Professor Dumbledore, something happened in the chamber, Professor Lockhart here." Harry began.
"I am a Professor, oh my I must had been useless." Lockhart said.
"Well now that you mentions it," Alex said.
"He tried to a memory charm on it on us, but it backfired." Ron explained.
"Dear me" said the old Professor shaking his head, his long silver moustache quivering" impaled by you own sword Gilderoy?"
"Sword, I don´t have a sword, this boy have a sword, he lent you one." Lockhart said and pointed at Harry.
"There are more Professor Sir. " Harry said, "He wanted to kill Alex, he said he wanted to be the one who killed the heir, so he would get more fame, and he said Alex would be prefect since some believed him to be the heir already."
Dumbledore looked shocked at this information, "I never – It seems you get to decide Professor Lockhart fate then. Alexander do you want him punished? I will respect your answer, but I beg you to think it though. And remember all our choices have a consequence. "
Alex thought as he looked at Lockhart, he hatred that man and Lockhart had tried to kill him. His first thought was that yes he should be punished, but as he look at Lockhart he felt some pity, it wasn´t the same man, the old Lockhart had died. "No, Sir, he killed himself with that spell, the new Lockhart didn´t wanted to kill me. He had enough punishment. There have been enough pain this year."
Dumbledore smiled, "good Mr, Weasley will you please take Professor Lockhart to the hospital wing. I have a few things to discus with you friends."
Lockhart ambled out. Ron cast a curious look back at Dumbledore, Harry, and Alex as he closed the door. Dumbledore crossed to one of the chairs by the fire across from Alex.
"Please sit down, Harry, Alexander" Dumbledore said, and Alex sat, trying to ignore the pain that bust through his body, feeling so nervous at the same time, he had never really talked with the headmaster before.
"First of all I wanted to thank you both, you must have shown me real loyalty down in the chamber. Nothing but could have called Fawkes to you."
Alex flushed, "I-it was m-mostly Harry sir!" he said thinking about that Harry had said that Dumbledore was the greatest sorcerer in the world,"
"No, I mean you too young Alexander. You have shown me great loyalty as well."
Alex didn´t knew what to say so he simply nodded.
"And also you met Tom Riddle," Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "I imagine he was most interested you Harry, and in you too Alexander."
"Professor...Riddle said that I'm like him. Strange likenesses, he said..." Harry spoke up.
"Did he, now?" said Dumbledore, looking thoughtfully at Harry from under his thick silver eyebrows. "And what do you think, Harry?"
Alex looked at his friend as he answered, "Oh Harry if you want me to leave is okay."
"No, you can stay Alex please," Harry looked at Dumbledore who nodded, and then he continued.
"I don't think I'm like him!" said Harry, more loudly than Alex expected. "I mean, I'm - I'm in Gryffindor, I'm" Harry paused," Professor, the Sorting Hat told me I'd - I'd have done well in Slytherin. Everyone thought I was Slytherin's Heir for a while...because I can speak Parseltongue..."
"You can speak Parseltongue because Voldemort, who is a descendant of Salazar Slytherin, who also could speak it. I believe that Voldemort unwillingly transferred some of his own powers to you, the night he gave you the scar. "
Alex looked down, then how could he speak it, unless he was a descendant too, not that he minded being related to Slytherin, but.
"Voldemort put a bit of himself in me," Harry asked.
"I certainly think so"
"So, I should have been in Slytherin," Harry said looking desperately into Dumbledore´s face. "The sorting hat could see the Slytherin power in me and it –"
"Put you in Gryffindor" said Dumbledore calmly, "but would Slytherin have been so bad? Your friend Alexander has many friends in that house. You have to understand this Harry; the Slytherins aren´t all evil, Slytherins can prove good allies; they show resourcefulness, determination and a certain disregard for the rules" Alex smiled a bit at the last part, fitted Daphne well, actually it was a trait shared by Gryffindor and Slytherins, but Slytherins probably got more away with it.
Harry nodded, "I know, but still the only reason I was placed in Gryffindor was because I begged the Sorting Hat, I wanted to go there because my parents had been there. I don´t belong in that house does I?"
"Harry look at this sword please," Harry rose and walked over to Dumbledore, then he smiled, "You see Harry only a true Gryffindor could have pulled this out the hat." Dumbledore said simply.
There was a silence for a minute. "Now, what you two need, is some food and sleep, I suggest you go down to the feast, while I write to Azkaban - we need out gamekeeper back. And I must draft an advertisement for the Daily Prophet, too," he added thoughtfully. "We'll need a new Defence teacher...Dear me, we do seem to run through them, don't we?"
Harry walked over to the door, but before he could open it, it bust open so violently that it bounced back off the wall, "Dumbledore", Lucius Malfoy hissed as he walked inside the room.
"Good evening Lucius." Dumbledore said, Alex wonder how he could sound so friendly, with Malfoy was also a little house-elf, who Harry seamed to recognized as Dobby as Harry whispered that name. So that was the elf that had tried to safe Harry.
Alex felt disgusted as he saw how Lucius treated the poor elf, almost stepping on him
"So" Lucius hissed, "You came back, need I remind you that governors suspended you."
"Well you see Lucius; the other eleven governors contacted me today. It had something to do with Ginny Weasley had been taken, they wanted her to be saved and thought I was the best man for the job – but I must have misunderstood something they believed you had threatened to curse their families if they didn´t suspend me."
Malfoy paled, "So – have you stopped the attacks yet, have you caught the culprit?"
"We have."
Malfoy smiled, "and who was it?"
"The same person who did it the last time Lucius, but this time Lord Voldemort was acting through somebody else." Dumbledore showed Malfoy the diary. "It was a clever plan; it might have worked, if Harry, Alex and their friend Ron hadn´t discovered the truth. Ginny would have taken all the blame. Imagine what would had happened to Arthur Weasley, if his daughter was discovered as the attacker, all his laws would fail."
"But that was you plan all along wasn´t?" Alex asked, "When you gave Ginny the diary." Alex said as he stood up breathing heavily due to the pain.
"The nerve of you, there a no proof."
"No I saw it as well," Harry spoke up, "You placed the diary in Ginny´s transfiguration book."
"It be you two words against mine, you won't win."
"Yes sadly, there is no poof, now that Riddle, has left the diary on the other hand; Lucius, I would advise you not to give any of Lord Voldemort old school things away or Mr. Weasley might made sure it can be traced back to you."
Malfoy looked like he would bust in anger, and his hand was as his wand, as he seemed to consider attack out of spite, but he must had guessed, that action would result in a permanent injury, "We are leaving Dobby."
As Malfoy left, Harry walked up to Dumbledore, "Sir could I give the diary back to Mr. Malfoy."
Dumbledore nodded and Harry hurried away, after he had left Dumbledore looked at Alexander, "I assume you want to know how you can speak Parseltongue as well?"
Alex nodded, "Yes Sir, I can´t have gotten it the same way Harry did." as he sat down again, still in pain, why did that curse still hurt.
"Well" Dumbledore said slowly, "when I was away, I went to an old friend your grandfather Frederik Ambrosius"
"My grandpa? What did you learn?" he asked, although he already knew the answer the headmaster would give.
"We learned that you are very much related to Slytherin though grandfather. You see your great-grandfather married you great-grandmother, who was related to Slytherin."
Alex looked at the ground that meant Voldemort was a part of his family too; the same blood flowed in their veins. "Now Alexander, there is nothing to be sad of."
"No it is not that sir, but this also means that I am related too Voldemort."
Dumbledore smiled, "you are only distant related. You see Salazar Slytherin, had two sons the oldest Bellus that was Voldemort´s ancestor and the youngest Seleucus, who was your ancestor. The two brothers were the opposites of each other, and according to history; Seleucus left his family due to their views on muggle-borns."
"So how can I speak Parseltongue, to my knowledge nobody in my family can speak it."
"Yes that is a mystery, the only explanation I can think of is that Bellus´ family was very selective about who they married, always pure-bloods – where Seleucus´ were more open minded marring pure-bloods, half-bloods, muggle-borns, even muggles. Seleucus also believed it was important to from alliances though marriage with other families from across the world, as a result the ability to speak Parseltongue vanished. On the other hand Bellus´ family eventually lost it wealth."
"But still why was I the one to get this ability?" Alex asked.
"That I am afraid I don´t know, this ability have been given to you for reason Alexander, it is up to you how you will use it."
"What if I end up like Voldemort, all evil and all?"
"You are a good wizard Alex, why else would you have sparred Professor Lockhart?"
"Because he already had gotten his punishment, and I am glad he had lost his mind, so how I am different? How do you know, I won´t end up being like Voldemort?"
"Do you believe that you will?" Dumbledore asked calmly. Alex looked up at the headmaster and shook his head. He was nothing like Tom he hated his views. "Good. It is our choices Alexander that show who we truly are, far more than our abilities." Alex nodded and turned to leave, but stopped when Dumbledore spoke again. "And I believe you are and will be a great and powerful wizard much like Harry, use your gift to redeem Slytherin´s honor, as Slytherin´s true heir."
Alex nodded at the headmaster, getting up "thanks you sir."
"You are welcome, now go to the Hospital Wing and get your arm fixed, and get a pain reliving potion, you look very pale and you are shaking with pain, you were hit by the Cruciatus Curse weren´t you?"
Alex nodded, "Yes, do you know why it still hurt?"
"The curse is designed to cause the victim great pain, it effect stays in the body for a while, since you have been so active, the pain gets worse. Madam Pomfrey will make it better."
…
Daphne´s point of view.
Daphne were rushing towards Professor McGonagall office, she had heard Ronald Weasley talk about how he, Potter, and Alex had been at the chamber. Daphne wanted to see if her friend was all right. As she got closer to the office she heard some commotion, as she turned a corner she saw that Lucius Malfoy was blasted down some stairs, by a house elf, it looked funny. As Lucius Malfoy left, the elf hugged Potter before it despaired.
"Hey Harry. What was that about?"
Harry turned "Oh Daphne oh well Mr, Malfoy didn´t like I freed his house-elf", he said awkwardly.
"Oh it looked so hilarious" Harry blushed a bit.
"Thanks" he mumbled.
"Oh listen, do you know where Alex is, and if he is okay."
Harry nodded, "He is going to be fine, he just talking with professor Dumbledore."
"Thanks" Daphne said, smiling to Harry, and then she headed towards McGonagall office. She was just about to knock on the door as Alex opened the it, "Daphne?"
Daphne immediately hugged her friend, but she let go as she heard him gasp in pain. As Daphne let go of Alex, she noticed that his arm was broken, and he was twitching in pain. "Alex what have happened to you?"
Alex gave her a soft smile, Daphne smiled back, his smile always had that effect on her, "I am fine Daph," he said softly "it takes more than a broken arm and the Cruciatus Curse to take me down."
Daphne was horrified; Alex had been tortured "the Cruciatus Curse are you serious?"
"Yes, oh it was used on me two times."
"Oh no!"
"Ah miss Greengrass!" Daphne looked over Alex´s shoulder at looked at the headmaster, who was smiling at them, "would you be so kind to escort Mr Bonteri to the Hospital Wing." Daphne nodded.
…
Alex´s point of view.
"You know it as pretty Gryffindor thing just to burst down into an unknown chamber where a monster is hibernating." Daphne said.
"Well, I am a Gryffindor", said as he pushed the door to the Hospital Wing.
The Hospital Wing was strangely empty, all the petrified were gone the only ones who were in there now was Professor Lockhart who was now reading his books and Ginny and her parents who were talking softly.
"Mr Bonteri, Miss Greengrass, what can I help you-" Madam Pomfrey said as she exited her office she paused as she looked at Alex, "Mr Bonteri what have happened to you?"
"Broken arm and I was hit by the Cruciatus," Alex explained.
The nurse told Alex to sit as she began walked around gathering vials
"You need pain reliving potion, strengthen potion and a pep-me-op potion when we are at it." She said, then she waved her wand over Alex´s broken arm, "and am afraid I need to use skele-gro potion in order to heal you bones Mr Bonteri."
"What?" Alex said, not wanting to try skele-gro again, he had tried once, when he was ten. "Can´t you just mend them by magic?"
"No the facture is to complex, I am afraid. Don´t worry, after a day in here you be fine."
"A day? But what about the feast, I mean everybody will be there, even the petrified and I-"
"Won´t be there. It is only a feast." Madam Pomfrey said sternly.
"No, it not it a chance to show the victims of the basilisk it wasn´t me, please Madam Pomfrey can´t I go? I promise I get back straight after the feast."
"I made sure, he keep his promise," Daphne cut in; "I mean beside, some food will do him good right?"
Slowly Madam Pomfrey nodded, "Fine, I would like to go there myself, okay but I trust you to return here straight after, no hanging out with friends."
Alex nodded and after, his bruises and cuts were healed and he had gotten the various potions minus the skele-gro. He and Daphne were heading to the Great Hall, they both smiled at each other, as they parted each heading towards different tables.
Alex had never been at a stranger feast, everybody were in his or her pyjamas, and the party lasted all night. Alex sat beside Harry and Hermione, Alex didn´t know what was the best part was that everybody was back to normal, that many who have thought him to be the heir came over and apologised or that Hagrid returned. At first, Alex was a bit reluctant to run over and hug him as Harry, Ron and Hermione did, but then Hagrid came over to him and thanked Alex for defending him, then Alex couldn´t help but hug the gamekeeper.
Yep, it was an amazing party; Alex did think it would get any better when McGonagall announced that exams would be cancelled and when Dumbledore said that Lockhart wouldn't be returning to teach, the last information resulted in a massive applauded.
After the feast Alex returned to the Hospital Wing as promised and somehow the skele-gro wasn´t as bad this time.
…
After Alex had gotten out of the Hospital Wing, the rest of the final term passed in a haze of blazing sunshine. Hogwarts was back to normal with only a few, small differences - Defense classes were canceled and Ron seemed to think that he, Harry, and Alex had enough practice anyways. Then there was Lucius Malfoy who had been kicked out as governor from the school. The only person in Hogwarts who didn´t seem happy with that was Draco who sulked around. Otherwise, Alex used his free time to hang out with his friends, sometimes the Gryffindors, the other time the Slytherins. They did louds of stuff like practicing magic, flying or some just hanging.
Therefor ended the term too quickly to Alex´s liking. On the journey home Harry, Alex, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and Ginny got a compartment to themselves. They made the most of the last few hours in which they were allowed to do magic for the holidays. Everybody expect Harry and Alex played exploring snap, the two boys were instead practicing the disarming charm, which both of them had gotten extremely good at.
They had almost reached King´s Cross when Harry asked, "Hey Ginny, what did you see Percy do, that he didn´t want you to tell?"
"Oh that" Ginny said giggling, "Well-Percy got a girlfriend."
Alex smiled as Fred dropped a stack of books on his twin´s head, "what?"
"It is that Ravenclaw prefect Penelope Clearwater", said Ginny, "I walked in on them kissing in a empty classroom", "You won´t tease him about" she added a bit more serious.
"We wouldn´t dream of it" Fred and George said in unison.
The Hogwarts Express slowed and finally stopped.
Harry pulled out a quill and a bit of parchment and turned to Alex, Ron and Hermione.
"This is called a telephone number," Harry told Ron, scribbling it three times, tearing it into three pieces, and handing it to them. "I told your dad how to use a telephone last summer - he'll know. Call me at the Dursleys', okay? I can't stand another two months with only Dudley to talk to..."
"Your Aunt and Uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" Hermione said as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging towards the enchanted barrier. "When they hear what you did this year?"
"Proud?" said Harry. "Are you crazy? All those time I could have died and I did not manage it. The'll be furious..." Hermione cut off Harry by hugging him goodbye. Alex and Ron got a hug too, but Alex noticed it wasn´t as long as the one, she had given Harry. Alex didn´t mind as he just was thinking if Hermione had gotten a crush on Harry, and hoped that if he was right, they could get happy.
"Hey Harry" Alex said as they had said goodbye to Ron and Hermione, "I want you have this," he said as he handed Harry a piece of paper, "it is my number and address, in case you want to visit, it would be fun."
"Thanks, I might. I love to see where you lives" Harry said while pocketed the paper.
"Oh and if I aren´t home, just ask for Pixy, he will let you inside."
Harry nodded and he and Alex parted ways.
Alex walked a bit around looking for his other friends; he quickly found Neville and asked him to have a good summer.
Then he felt some hug him from behind. "Hey Daphne"
"Tell me how you know it was me," Daphne said as she walked to Alex´s front.
"The same way, I can tell the Weasley twins apart, magic"
"Show-off"
Alex smiled, "Yeah, it been a weird year huh?"
"Yeah it has, I will miss you, it was actually pretty fun to be a part of your little adventure," she said.
"Yeah, I feel the same:"
The two of them hugged one more time, but this time however Daphne did something unexpected she kissed Alex on the cheek.
Both of them blushed madly as they split.
"Sorry" Daphne said.
Alex´s heart was beating fast, face still feeling warm and he torched the place where Daphne had kissed him, "Oh yeah it´s okay."
"I have to go," Daphne said. "Write me?"
"Of course," Alex said. "Bye."
After Alex had watched Daphne go, he looked around a bit confused, trying to find his mother, she wasn´t there, but his grandfather was. He was tall had green eyes and grey hair, "Grandpa" Alex said as he hugged him."
"If it isn't the True Slytherin Heir!" said his Grandfather as he hugged back
"Where's mum?" Alex asked letting go.
"She thought it would be a great surprise for me to get you," Fredrick said with a smile.
"It was," Alex replied, and the two began walking off.
"Heard you had a great and adventurous year,' Fredrick said.
"You have no idea," Alex replied and took a glance at the barrier. "Hopefully next year is just as great!"
…
That was the end of year 2
So Alex is the heir of Slytherin too along with Voldemort, and he must now deal with this, as he prepare for the future and face his inner darkness. The next book The Alexander chronicles and the guards of Azkaban.
Alex must deal with dementors, strange memories, inner darkness and a shocking truth that will change his life forever.
