The Lonely Protector
The crowing of a rooster would be fatal to a basilisk, and perhaps McGonagall (or even Harry, the Transfiguration master himself) could transfigure something into a rooster if all the roosters are being killed. However, remember that it doesn't matter if the Basilisk can't hear the crowing in the first place. The Basilisk is being controlled, so if the person knows there are roosters on the grounds, they wouldn't send the Basilisk out until the roosters are killed first. The only reason the roosters were killed was so that the Basilisk can do things uninterrupted – they weren't killed so that the Basilisk can stay alive – the Basilisk can't hear anything down in the Chamber or else it would've died centuries ago with all the roosters on the grounds.
As for Harry drowning in self-pity at the moment, I personally think he's entitled to some in light of the situation. Can you imagine him at that point in time? Muggleborn rights was his dream, and now, he realized the extent that he had to fight. Just in his second year, he discovered first-hand – a Basilisk and a corrupted Board of Governors. It's very different when he was just reading about muggle persecution from a book.
Anyway, I would like to thank people's patience with this story. I know there are people who are dying to get to the romance parts of this story. Me, too, actually, but I have to play this story out nicely. The timing, the plot… Anyway, there will be a lot of it to come. That is a promise. Um, as a little foreshadowing, so that my readers don't read too far into the story and be disappointed later on with the plot, feeling like their time has been wasted because they haven't exactly gotten what they wanted…
Harry will be facing many types of societal issues that somewhat corresponds to today's issues, sometimes even the ones that society very rarely thinks about. They range from prejudice to corrupt politicians to poverty to even the more delicate issues to touch on – human slavery and self-harm, for example. As the plot move on, it will get darker…
Also, for Malfoy-haters out there, continue to read at your own risk…
"Hermione, I don't want to learn how to duel from Lockhart!" Harry protested as Hermione dragged him towards the Dueling Club.
"You need the experience!" she said firmly. "After all, with a Basilisk going around the school, everyone should learn how to at least defend themselves, even if they have to close their eyes while doing so."
"And you think Lockhart can duel?" Harry asked sarcastically.
"Well, if you're so disinclined towards Professor Lockhart," Hermione said slyly, "I'll have you know that Professor Snape is co-teacher."
Harry immediately stopped his struggling. "Professor Snape?" Perhaps it wouldn't be too bad. After all, Harry had a feeling that Snape was a very formidable, competent wizard…unlike Lockhart.
"Gather 'round, gather 'round! Can everyone see me? Can everyone hear me?" Lockhart's voice carried through the room.
"I wish I can't," Harry muttered. If he was learning how to defend himself from a Basilisk by listening to this guy…well, he would've had more luck with trying to punch the snake in the eye. Besides he was quite stressed right now, and listening to Lockhart would just increase his stress level. On the same day he heard Dumbledore resigned, he heard the school gamekeeper Hagrid was sent to Azkaban. Apparently, he was assumed to be opening the Chamber of Secrets because he was expelled for that same crime many years ago. However, Harry was doubtful. The pieces didn't match up.
When he was in the hospital wing, listening to the conversation between Dumbledore and McGonagall, Harry could tell that Dumbledore knew who opened the Chamber of Secrets. If Hagrid did open the Chamber, wouldn't Dumbledore have stopped him by now? Stress was building up inside Harry because the thought of an innocent man inside the inhumane wizard prison gave him nightmares and reminded him that his innocent godfather was also still in jail. Harry never felt worse. Two people in prison for a crime they didn't commit.
A loud noise shook him out of his thoughts. Snape had just blasted Lockhart backwards with a Disarming spell. With no ounce of shame reflected in his body language, Lockhart suggested they paired students up to duel.
"I suggest Malfoy and…" Snape began.
"Potter!" Lockhart interrupted cheerfully, causing Snape's jaw to tighten.
Hermione pushed Harry onto the floor, and the duel began. They followed the formal procedure before turning their wands on each other.
"On a count of three, cast your spells to disarm only! 3…2...!"
"Tarantallegra!" Malfoy yelled.
On reflex, Harry threw up the shield charm nonverbally. After so much practice at home (his parents would never have approved him going to Knockturn Alley without superb mastery of the shield charm), the shield charm was second nature to Harry. Everyone stared, including Malfoy, until he got over his shock and cried, "Serpensortia!" A thick cobra shot out of his wand, hissing menacingly. It was nothing like Sasha.
Harry lowered his wand. Shield charms don't work against solid objects like a snake. However, there was a Transfiguration spell that could Vanish it… "Vipera…"
"Allow me to get rid of it for you, Harry!" Lockhart said, striding forward before Harry could finish the spell. "Alarte Ascendare!"
The hissing snake flew into the air before landing right in front of a Hufflepuff boy. Angry, it was about to strike when Harry yelled out without thinking, "Stop!" The snake froze before turning towards him, its tongue flicking in and out in curiosity. Letting out a sigh in relief, Harry flicked his wand and Vanished the snake.
"What the hell, Potter?"
Harry's relief disappeared. Of course…with Slytherin's monster running around…how idiotic can he be? Murmurs ran throughout the student body. Those whom he knew were muggleborns shied from the dueling platform.
Draco was sneering. "So, Potter the Mudblood-lover is actually a pretender." His cold eyes were shining with malice.
As the whispers increased, Harry closed his eyes, trying to calm himself. He was isolated once more. Suddenly, a hand was on his shoulder. Harry looked up into Snape's beetle black eyes.
"Follow me, Potter," Snape said without emotion and pulled the distressed boy off the platform towards the direction of his office.
Harry noticed Hermione pulling away from the crowds and following them, uncomfortable around Snape's cold demeanor and yet determined to stay by Harry's side.
"Sit," Snape said, motioning towards a chair in front of his desk.
Harry obeyed. It was cold in Snape's office, but he was comfortable at the moment, shielded from the fearful gazes of his classmates. Although their paranoia was understandable, it still hurt. He had never hurt any of them.
"Drink," Snape ordered, handing him a cup of some potion.
Harry drained the cup, not even bothering to try and recognize the potion, and felt his body and mind relax. "Thank you, Sir."
Snape nodded curtly. "You may stay here until you are ready to face your classmates," he muttered coldly, standing up and about to leave. His cheeks were slightly darker as if he was embarrassed to be seen being nice to a student outside of Slytherin.
"Wait, Sir," Harry began. "You don't think I am the heir of Slytherin, do you?"
Snape frowned. There was a silence before he replied, "Whether you are a descendent of his, I do not know. However, you are definitely not his heir." With that, he swept away past Hermione without a second look back.
"Harry!" she said, the minute Snape left. "Why didn't you tell me?" Seeing his look, Hermione asked exasperatedly, "You didn't think I'd think you are Slytherin's heir, did you?"
"Hermione, I'm not even sure myself if I am," Harry replied, feeling guilty. "I mean, I can speak Parseltongue – his most famous ability. Maybe I have a dual spirit or something, and the other side of me is like possessing my body or something and terrorizing the muggleborns in the school without me knowing!"
"But you heard Snape. You can be a descendent, but you're not his heir!"
"And how would he know?" Harry persisted.
"You can be really thick sometimes, you know that?" she said, her voice firm. "Even if your body was possessed, don't you think you would've noticed something is going on by now? Like maybe your hands covered in blood from killing roosters?"
Harry was quiet.
She grabbed his hand. "Harry, believe me."
"I can hear the Basilisk, you know," he replied quietly. "I can hear it wandering the school, as if through the walls. That was why I didn't concentrate on one of Snape's potions lesson earlier on in the school year. I was distracted because of that thing."
"You heard it wandering the school?" she asked, horrified. "But why didn't anyone notice it?"
"I don't know," Harry said, uncertainly.
"You say you can hear it as if it was going through the walls?" she said, calming herself down into her thinking mode. Her brows were knitted together in concentration.
Harry nodded. "Wait, where are you going?" he asked, panicking slightly when she turned to leave. Didn't she know it was dangerous to wander the school alone at this time?
"Don't worry. I'll be back in a bit. I have to go to the bathroom. Rest a bit, Harry. You need it after what happened," Hermione assured him. "Besides, I have the mirror. The worst that could happen is that I'm petrified." Seeing him about to protest, she hugged him. "I'll be fine. Stop worrying so much!" With that, she left.
Every second that passed, Harry became more concerned. Why was she taking so long? Going to the bathroom shouldn't be taking her fifteen minutes. Suddenly, McGonagall's voice rang through the school, "All students must return to their common rooms immediately! I repeat, all students must return to their common rooms immediately!"
Dread filled Harry. Where was Hermione? He ran out of Snape's office towards the Gryffindor common rooms. Ignoring the suspicious looks, he searched for his friend. When he didn't see her, he never felt more panicked in his life. Pacing back and forth, he tried to let out his agitation. He only stopped when McGonagall came and told them all that from then on, all students must be taken to class by a teacher. When he asked her where Hermione was, she only motioned for him to come to the hospital wing. There, Harry was horrified. Three more students, including Hermione, had been petrified. With Dumbledore gone, apparently the attacks increased. It was amazing that no one died yet.
"She was found in the girl's bathroom on the second floor," McGonagall said, sniffing slightly. "She was holding a small hand-held mirror. Perhaps you know what she was doing in a bathroom that was out of order?"
Harry shook his head. He touched her hand gently. It was stiff and cold, and her eyes were wide open in shock. Despite the situation, however, McGonagall's question did strike him as odd. What was she doing in a bathroom all the way up on the second floor? There was one in the dungeons nearer to Snape's office.
After McGonagall escorted him back to the dormitories that night, Harry took his invisibility cloak and snuck through the portrait hole. He went down to the second floor, only opening his eyes when he needed to see where he was going – just in case the Basilisk wanders around at this time. He went into the girl's bathroom and looked around. Nothing seemed out of place.
"Who's there?"
Harry turned around, slipping his cloak off his head. A ghost was floating towards him. "Oh, I'm Harry Potter," Harry said awkwardly, trying to be polite. "And you are?"
"I'm Moaning Myrtle. Of course, you wouldn't care really," she sniveled.
"Well, if I didn't, I wouldn't be asking," Harry replied. "Anyway, is this your bathroom?"
"Well, yes…"
"Did you happen to have any visitors today?" he asked immediately, interrupting her.
Myrtle sniffed, miffed. "Well, there was a girl coming in here a few hours ago. She was oddly interested in studying the toilets and sinks over there. So much that she didn't even utter a greeting."
"Oh, well, thank you, Myrtle," Harry said, backing away. "I have some work to do, so I'll talk to you later, 'kay?"
She sniffled. "Fine. I know when someone doesn't want me around." With that, she floated away.
Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes and pulled his cloak over his head again. Then he approached the sinks, keeping his ears open for the sounds of slithering or Parseltongue. As he studied the sinks, he noticed that one of them had a snake winding around its faucet. "I can't believe it," he whispered. "Hermione found the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets." He assumed all he had to do was speak Parseltongue to open the entrance like a password. And all she needed to know was that I was hearing the Basilisk through the walls – Hogwarts's pipe system…how could I not realize that? No wonder no one has found the Chamber for centuries despite the searches – it's because the entrance to the Chamber was in a bathroom that was out of order and you need to be able to speak Parseltongue in order to get in…he thought.
He ran towards the staff room, certain that the teachers would be there at this time, trying to decide what to do to minimize the attacks. He didn't bother to knock. He burst inside and said loudly, "Professors, the Chamber of Secrets…I found the entrance to it…"
However, all of them were stone-faced. Finally, McGonagall said, "Potter, it is the end of Hogwarts."
"What? No, you don't understand, Professor. I've found the entrance…"
"We heard!" Snape snapped. "Now, listen to your elders for once! Especially when you're out at this time of night with a monster on the loose! Did we not tell you to not wander the halls without a teacher?"
Harry fell silent.
McGonagall continued on as if she hadn't been interrupted. "The school will be closing, and all students will be sent home. A student has been taken down into the Chamber; the Board of Governors consented."
Harry felt his blood ran cold. Someone was taken down into the Chamber. "But, Professor, I know where the Chamber is! We should go down and get her," he said weakly. The moment the words came out of his mouth, he realized how foolish they sounded. Even the teachers can't face a Basilisk. One look at it, and they would all die. However, this was another human life they're talking about.
"Potter, we all wish to save her life, but chances are, she's dead," Snape said. His hands were white, having been clenched so tightly during the announcement. "Not only that, but we do not know what is down in the Chamber, even if we know where it is."
"It's a Basilisk, Sir!" Harry said promptly, desperately.
"How did-?"
"It's a long story, but please…!" Harry pleaded.
All the teachers were white. Then finally Snape asked quietly, "Potter, do you honestly think all of us, even together, could defeat a Basilisk? Such creatures have very spell-repellent skin. Their eyes give instant death and even indirect gaze can petrify. Their venom kills within seconds. They are also very physically powerful. It would be similar to fighting a mountain lion with your hands tied behind your back. You can't look at the Basilisk. You can't hit it."
"But maybe you could transfigure something into a rooster…?"
"And then what?" Snape snapped. "Roosters are not immune to the gaze of the Basilisk, Potter! It would die before it lets out a sound if we go all the way down into the Chamber! And have you given any thought to the Heir of Slytherin himself? Roosters wouldn't be a problem for him!"
McGonagall added sorrowfully, "Potter, there are some things to be brave in, but you must distinguish between foolish recklessness and such bravery. Consider the possibility of us surviving if we all go down there. It is better to minimize deaths rather than going on a quest that would almost certainly mean our deaths. Think it through carefully. I will take you back to your common room."
Harry knew there was no arguing. When McGonagall was about to leave him in the common room, Harry asked, "Professor, who was taken down into the Chamber?"
"Ginny. Ginny Weasley," she replied softly before going through the portrait hole.
Harry paced the common room. He didn't feel right, leaving Ginny down there in the Chamber. He just didn't. And yet, never has his fear been so great. He knew the chance of him saving Ginny or defeating the Basilisk was close to zero. A millennium-old Basilisk must be huge…and very dangerous.
Dudley grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt and threw him into the wall, laughing as his glasses broke. "Hey, Piers, grab him, will you?" he said.
Harry felt himself lifted up by his arms. He was turned around to face Dudley's fists. He forced his head up to see some of his classmates watching from afar. Although they had disapproving looks on their faces, fear was also evident. They wouldn't stand up for him for fear of being bullied themselves. No matter how much he wished for their help, they won't give it…
Fear shone in his eyes as Vernon looked as if he was about to kill him. Couldn't someone help him? ANYONE! He was rammed against the wall…
Harry shut his eyes tight, trying to push away the memories. His mind had a way of making connections. Right now, he could almost feel how Ginny might be feeling, if she was still alive. He knew how it felt to hope for help desperately – and never receive it. With that, Harry knew he couldn't leave her down there without being certain that she was dead. He steeled himself and decided to go down to the Chamber himself under the invisibility cloak. She could be killed in any minute. He didn't have much time.
As he walked into Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, he never felt more alone. When he went after the Sorcerer's Stone, he had Hermione by his side. Now, he was alone in his mission. As he looked at the entrance to the Chamber, he felt himself shaking with so much fear that he felt his legs were about to give into his weight. This was only short of outright suicide. Maybe he should just give up his foolish heroic thoughts. But if this terror was allowed to happen, not only would Ginny certainly die, how could he possibly expect muggleborns to ever be treated better? …it is not in human nature to act in value of morality over self-preservation. Not only will you face external opposition to your cause, but you will also be fighting your own nature as well. Sometimes, you will feel like giving up. But…live your life out with no regrets, my boy. It will be hard…but in the end, it will be worth it. I promise you.
Nicolas's words seemed so foreign to him now. His words had much impact on him. Harry wanted to fight for muggleborns. He couldn't just give up now. He couldn't let them be bullied about in such a way. And…Ginny, she was such a sweet girl, even if she did have a fan girl's crush on him. She stood up for him against Malfoy at Flourish and Blotts, putting herself in verbal harm's way. Such an action never fails to earn his respect. Deciding to continue on before he could reconsider his rash decision, he hissed, "Open!"
The faucet burst into light and began to twirl around. The sink sank into the ground out of sight, revealing a large pipe – big enough for a full-grown man to go down easily. Harry took a deep breath. He had to think positively, or else, he'll most definitely die. He had to think he was going to survive this. Without another consideration, he jumped into the entrance and went on a roller coaster's ride through dozens of pipes. After he dropped onto a pile of bones, he grimaced and picked himself up. He then rushed through the tunnels…he didn't want to give himself time to think about how foolish this decision was.
Harry froze. In front of him was a giant snake skin – sixty feet long at the very least. The Basilisk who shed this must be thicker than an oak tree. What was he getting himself into? Spell-repellent skin…potent venom…fatal gaze…Harry shook his head. He couldn't stop now. "In the end, it will be worth it. I promise you," Harry whispered Nicolas's words to himself like a mantra. It was actually calming, hearing his own voice repeating his mentor's words.
He reached another door further down into the tunnel and hissed, "Open!" It parted open, and Harry entered the Chamber. On either side of him were snake entwined pillars. Harry saw at the other end of the Chamber a huge statue of whom he recognized to be Salazar Slytherin. Keeping his senses peeled for any sign of movement, Harry approached the end of the Chamber. There he saw the lifeless form of Ginny, and he rushed towards her body. Reaching for her wrist, he whispered to himself, "Please don't be dead…please…" Relief washed over him when he realized that she wasn't dead.
"Well, if it isn't Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived…"
Harry jumped to his feet, his wand in his hand, and pointed it at who seemed to be a handsome, young Hogwarts student. However, the boy didn't even blink. "Who are you?" Harry asked, his voice shaking. It didn't take him long to realize that this was the Heir Slytherin. Who else could it be?
The boy lifted his hand and Harry's wand flew out of his hand before he could react. "Could you not guess, Harry?"
Harry, despite his fear, was confused. "No…I don't think we've ever met…"
The boy sneered, "I know you have done your research on Hogwarts. You know when the last time the Chamber was opened. Who was the person who won special awards for stopping the attacks by catching Hagrid?"
"Tom Marvolo Riddle," Harry replied promptly. He had done so much research on what happened then, determined to find clues about the Chamber of Secrets, that he knew all the details by heart.
"I am he," the boy said haughtily. "However, perhaps you know me by a different name…" With that, he wrote his name in letters of fire before rearranging them. "You didn't really think I was going to keep my Mudblood father's name, did you?" he taunted.
"Lord Voldemort…" Harry breathed, too shocked to hear his taunt. "You framed Hagrid."
"It was my word against his. Dumbledore was the only one who suspected me, and it was no longer safe for me to open the Chamber while in school. So, I decided to preserve a memory of myself into the pages of the diary that dear Ginny has in her hand right now. By doing so, I could come back again to purify this school of disgusting Mudblood filth."
"SHUT UP!" Harry shouted, his voice ringing throughout the Chamber.
Tom smirked nastily. "Yes, I have heard of you being a passionate Mudblood-lover. Apparently that was one of the things that the stupid Weasley loved most about you. It was always you this, you that. How brave you were, how smart you were, how nice you were…She poured out her soul to me, and it allowed me to eventually take possession of her. It was through her that I opened the Chamber of Secrets, through her that I terrorized the school, through her that I wrote those frightening words on the corridor walls, through her that I chased Dumbledore out of this school…and she was indeed a very good pawn. Of course, however, it's my life over hers. She may be alive, but only just. Soon, she will die, and I will cease to be merely a memory. Lord Voldemort will return, very much alive."
Harry was horrified at his cruel words. He couldn't expect less from Voldemort, but the words still shocked him. "You cruel murderer," Harry whispered under his breath.
Tom laughed, sending chills down Harry's spine. "Say what you like, but Hogwarts will be rid of Mudbloods." Seeing Harry's expression, he taunted, "Mudblood-lover…just like that fool Dumbledore…"
"Dumbledore is the greatest wizard in the world!" Harry said loudly.
"Dumbledore has been driven out of this school by the mere memory of me…"
"He will never be gone!" Harry said fiercely. "Never! Not while those who are loyal to him are still here!"
Tom sneered, "Enough of this talk. Whatever you believe will not save you now from the wrath of the heir of Slytherin himself – the true greatest wizard of all ages!" He turned to the statue of Slytherin. "Speak to me, Salazar Slytherin, greatest of Hogwarts four!"
Hearing hissing voices from within the statue, Harry shook with fear, his dissolve melting away like an ice cube in the heat of summer. He was going to face a Basilisk without either a wand or vision. It was even worse than the scenario that Snape came up with. Closing his eyes, he tried to run away. He could hear Riddle ordering the great snake after him. The Basilisk was slithering closer and closer…he was going to die…he was going to die…
Suddenly a bright red bird flew through the entrance of the Chamber and dropped something on him. Then it began to attack the Basilisk's eyes, blinding it. Harry was amazed. It was a phoenix, but it wasn't Ferlin. So…now he could look at the Basilisk without dying or being petrified. But what's the use if he had nothing to fight it back with? Unrolling the object given to him, he realized that it was the Sorting Hat. Desperate, he placed it on his head, pleading mentally for help. The next thing he knew, he was nearly knocked unconscious by some hard object from within the hat.
It was a sword – a gleaming silver sword with rubies embedded in the handle. He grabbed it, just as the phoenix was finishing blinding the Basilisk. Harry stepped backwards, keeping the sword between himself and the Basilisk. Compared to the sixty foot Basilisk, the three-foot blade seemed like a child's toy. However, he had a chance of survival now…Adrenaline rushed through him as he stopped retreating and held his ground. This was it. The Basilisk was going to attack. He was going to have only one chance. If he missed…Harry shook his head. No, he couldn't miss. This wasn't him that he was fighting for. This was for Ginny, for Hogwarts, for muggleborns…
The Basilisk reared back and, after flicking its forked tongue out once, struck. It was a direct battle between Slytherin and Gryffindor – Slytherin's Basilisk vs. Gryffindor's sword.
Harry prepared to strike. The Basilisk's mouth was its weak point…At the right moment, he drove the sword right through the roof of the snake's mouth, letting out a gasp of pain as one of the snake's fangs drove into his arm. He yanked the sword out of the snake's mouth and the Basilisk shrieked in agony, thrashing about in pain before falling with a thump onto the Chamber floor. He had done it; he had killed the terror that had been roaming the school for the last few months. Harry stumbled his way towards Ginny's body before falling onto his knees. He could feel the Basilisk venom spreading through his veins. Snape was right about the Basilisk's potent, quickly spreading venom… "F-Fer-" Harry tried but his tongue choked on him and his voice failed him in summoning his phoenix.
"Don't worry, Harry. You'll be with your dear Mudblood mother soon enough," Riddle said coldly. "Know this before you die though. Remember this battle in your afterlife. Fate chooses that the Mudbloods' champion die. Whatever dream you have about such filthy creatures learning magic will never come true."
Harry felt his vision fading and struggled to keep conscious. Hearing Riddle degrading his mother and those he had been fighting for like so hurt him to the core. No doubt that that was his aim. Although if this was dying, it wasn't too bad. The red phoenix who aided him in battle flew over to him. Harry's eyes widened. Of course…could he dare to hope? He was going to survive this…The phoenix bent its head over the wound in his arm and cried hot tears onto it. Harry felt the wound sealing up and the venom clearing his body. His vision returned.
"Of course…phoenix tears…" Riddle hissed. "How could I have forgotten? Oh, well, no matter. If you are not to die by the venom of Slytherin's Basilisk, then you will die by my hand!" He raised Harry's wand at him and was about to utter the Killing Curse. Once again, the unknown phoenix swooped in front of Harry, dropping Riddle's diary onto his lap. "Avada Kedavra!" Riddle cried.
As the green spell rushed towards Harry, the phoenix flew in front of him and took in the Killing Curse, bursting into ashes and resurrecting. Using the sword in his hand, Harry drove it straight into Riddle's diary.
"NO!" Riddle screamed.
Ink was spurting from the diary in torrents. Riddle fell to the ground, writhing in agony, and then…he was gone. Harry's wand rolled to him, and Harry gingerly picked it up. He smiled. He had never felt so tired in his life, but he was happy. He survived, and the muggleborns in the school were safe. And Ginny…
"Harry?" came a familiar voice behind him, sounding disoriented and slightly afraid.
Harry turned to her. "Yes?" he asked kindly.
Looking guilty, Ginny seemed as if she was about to burst into tears. "Oh, Harry, it was me. But I swear I didn't mean to. Riddle made me…" She gasped as her eyes landed on the slain Basilisk. "Did you kill that thing?"
Harry nodded.
"I'm so sorry!" she said, as if desperate for his forgiveness, seeing him weakly stumbling to his feet.
"It's okay," Harry said wearily. He scooped up the baby phoenix on the Chamber floor and placed it into his robes. "Riddle's just a memory now."
"But what will Mom and Dad think? And I'll be expelled for sure! I've always wanted to go to Hogwarts, and now…" Ginny was hysterical. However, she stopped, her eyes wide in surprise, when Harry pulled her into a firm, one-hand hug, his other hand using Gryffindor's sword as a support.
"Riddle was Voldemort, and he has deceived many other, more experienced wizards and witches than you. I'm sure you'll be fine," Harry said comfortingly, smiling. His tired eyes shone. "Although I think we can learn from all this not to trust an object that works like that diary."
Ginny only muttered thickly, "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…"
They stayed in that position for a while until Ginny calmed down. Then Harry stumbled forward towards the Basilisk corpse as Ginny looked on, still cautious of the snake. "Its eyes are no longer a danger," he explained, as if he was talking to himself. "However, the other parts of its body are useful. Milly!"
There was a snap and his house elf appeared next to him. "Milly," he said to her, "could you do me a favor?"
"Of course, young master!" she squeaked, shifting uncomfortably at the sight of the Basilisk. However, Harry never asked her to do much more than the usual chores around the Manor, and she was eager to help him more in any way she can.
"Could you take this Basilisk to the Manor and leave it in the chamber under the basement?" he asked. Seeing her flinch at his request, he said quickly, "Of course, if you don't want to do it, I could just come back later and take it apart. But I'll need a special knife and some other equipment…"
"No, no, no! Milly will do it, Sir! Young master Harry needs rest! He looks as if he is about to collapse!" Milly said forcefully, almost sternly.
"Thank you," he said gratefully. He walked back to Ginny. "Alright, let's go back." Seeing her questioning look, he said lightheartedly, "It's not every day you have a sixty-foot, millennium-old Basilisk at your disposal. Its parts could be very prized potion ingredients." Even with everything that just happened, Harry was a scholar through and through, and he was determined to study the King of Serpents. "Ferlin!"
In a flash of bright light, his phoenix appeared on his raised arm. "Take us back, Ferlin," he said softly. Nothing sounded better to him at that moment than returning to his soft, comfortable bed. However, he had to stay awake a bit more to close the case down. Despite his exhaustion, though, he was content. He felt accomplished. His first serious attempt at fighting for muggleborns was successful, and he saved someone's life! He laid a hand on Ginny's shoulder as flames engulfed both of them.
"Thank you, Harry," Ginny said quietly.
"You're welcome," Harry said and thought happily, Nicolas was right. It was worth it to go down into the Chamber and face a Basilisk if this is what I'm getting out of it.
If there are any loose ends in the plot so far or if there are any plot holes that people have spot, do send me a review.
At this point in time, I would like to draw attention to one of the main things emphasized in this chapter - Harry's humanity. His fear was very great in this chapter - imagine facing a Basilisk with nothing but a three foot sword. However, he overcame his fear through only his compassion and his determination to do what is right.
Also emphasized was how Harry's past continued to influence his decisions. He knew fear and hope and allowed his heart to guide him as well as his head. In Harry is a nearly almost perfect balance of heart and mind.