WOW! You people left way more reviews than the other chapters… (Raise an eyebrow accusingly) You've all been waiting for the juicy part, haven't you? HAVEN'T YOU???

Anyway (lol), don't be too frustrated at the end of this chapter; it's a MAJOR cliffy. You'll see why in the note after this chapter.

Enjoy!

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Within the Chamber she Lies

Chapter 20: Hesitation

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Harry immediately regretted waking up. Waking up meant facing the unfair reality of the world of the living, and he was filled with a sense of dread ten times worse than if he faced Voldemort alone.

Because now, the heir of Slytherin was acting through Umbridge and the minister himself and he had freed his Death Eaters and recruited new ones from Azkaban to tag along. And it was today that Umbridge was going to announce to the whole population of Hogwarts that she was going to be the new owner of the school.

The Boy-Who-Lived turned on his side and brought the bed sheets over his head to cover the sounds the other boys were making, without success; Ron almost jumped on his bed and nearly ripped the sheets away from him with a big grin. "Rise and shine Harry! You better hurry or you'll be late for breakfast!"

Harry growled lowly but Ron, Seamus and Neville were already out of the large bedroom when he set foot on the carpeted floor to give a piece of his mind to the redhead boy.

The green eyed boy sighed and ruffled his hair angrily. "What will I do?" he asked himself desperately. "I don't hold any power over Umbridge and Serena's still way too uncomfortable about going out of the Chamber."

Harry didn't know what to think; he was partly angry that she wasn't ready to fight for what already belonged to her, and the other perfectly understood how she felt and why she was so adamant about getting out.

You don't live sixteen years in near solitude and as a supposed danger for society and just come out in plain daylight in front of hundreds of people just to say hi.

Serenity was brought to this world in a most unusual, and not to mention very illegal, way and not everyone would understand the things she could do to make this world better.

Harry was sure that if he showed up with her and told the people her story, more than half of the population of the school would think that he would want to overthrow Voldemort and become the next Dark Lord.

Harry didn't dare think about the rest of the Wizarding World. They would surely kill the both of them in the old fashioned way: a good ol' hanging, or even worse, at the stake with all the fireworks necessary.

The Gryffindor rolled his eyes and got up, preparing for what would probably be the worst day of his life, while thinking about his over-active imagination. "If Hogwarts is doomed to be in the hands of Umbridge, and subsequently Voldemort, I'll make bloody damn sure that they won't win without a fight!"

With this new boost of determination, Harry set off towards the Great Hall for breakfast, and possibly one hell of a wrangle.

………

Fortunately, everyone was eating peacefully when Harry showed up for breakfast, so it meant that Umbridge was still waiting for the false contract from the ministry. Maybe something had gone wrong and their plan had failed?

Harry buttered himself a toast and dared a glance towards the teachers' table; Snape was eyeing Umbridge most distrustfully but with a bit of apprehension, and he had a right to be worried.

The viper was making everyone edgy at the head table; she looked more impatient and bossier than ever, and really on the edge of making a blunder and telling Dumbledore that he was sacked right here and then.

Then, Snape looked at him and Harry sent him a glance that could be described as understanding, as far as understanding could go between them anyway.

The Potions Master narrowed his obsidian eyes; the boy knew something about Umbridge that he obviously didn't, and if he was as uneasy as him it meant trouble.

But what could the boy know? Obviously, he had proven his aptitude with both Occlumency and Legilimency, because of who was still a mystery, so maybe he had probed the woman's mind without her detecting it? But that was nearly impossible: Occlumency meant total invasion and assault in the other's mind, so how could the boy slip his way through without being noticed?

Anyhow, maybe he knew that she was a Death Eater without its 'branding mark', and Potter was trying to tell him that he knew with the look he sent him? But Potter seemed darker today, nervous but at the same time aggressive, like he was waiting for something really bad to happen. And by the looks he sent to Umbridge, that 'something really bad' was connected with her.

But the Dark Lord hadn't said a thing to his servants, and he was too busy nowadays with forming his new army and giving them the 'honor' of sporting his Dark Mark. Blegh.

Severus let out a frustrated sigh and nearly broke the cup of coffee he was drinking by slamming it down on the table.

The infuriating woman kept talking and blabbing and- 'When did she become such a supercilious boss all of a sudden? Where has her fear of Firenze and Dumbledore gone?' Severus asked himself.

He vaguely heard his name being called, but by which professor or auror he did not know, because he was all too busy massaging his throbbing temples. He muttered and excuse along the lines of 'potions needed to be done' and walked away by the side entrance with a flurry of dark robes.

Harry was sure of it now: Snape obviously knew that Umbridge was a Death Eater, but he didn't know what was going on. What made Harry come to that conclusion? Simple: Snape tended to get very disagreeable when he was left in the dark about certain things.

Voldemort certainly didn't tell him of his plan; probably too busy playing with his new 'toys' freshly out of Azkaban prison.

He got up himself, ignoring his friends' inquisitive expressions, and set off towards the first class of the day: History of Magic.

Harry sighed and felt himself grow lightheaded, as if caring too much for the world was suddenly taking its toll on him and making him indifferent. He felt oddly empty as he sat in his chair and stared at nothing in particular, waiting for the class to begin.

He heard more than saw the students fill in the class and professor Binns starting the usual boring lecture.

'I don't know why I'm even here right now!' Harry thought with a dull face.

'I'm half-listening to a lecture about something that happened way back in the past and is over when I could be somewhere else thinking about what I should do about Umbridge…or I could be in her office right now using the Avada Kedavra on her, which would lend me to Azkaban and the Dementor's kiss or possibly Voldemort to receive the killing curse, dying because I killed someone but the people being ignorant that Umbridge was a Death Eater and would have killed them if they had the chance-…

Harry snorted and shook his head, earning himself quite a few raised eyebrows and curious stares from his classmates, and a glare from Binns. 'Merlin, I'm not making any sense. My thoughts are so jumbled inside my head that I can't seem to be able to use Occlumency correctly. This is by far the worst day of-'

Harry stopped his inner mumbling. This was only ONE of the worst days of his life. Number one was his parents' death, and after that it all piled up.

Living with the Dursleys, the Philosopher's Stone, Tom Riddle junior version (and the corrupted Basilisk), the discovery of Peter Pettigrew, the Tri-Wizard tournament and subsequently Cedric's death, Umbridge, her damn squad and Sirius' death, and now even more Umbridge with a pinch of minister, a spoonful of Death Eaters, a dash of Dementors and the load of shit that is Voldemort: that was no recipe to make a cute and cream filled little cupcake…more like a botched one filled with Arsenic.

Hermione accosted him when he walked out of the class at the end of the lesson. "Harry? What's wrong with you? You've been in your own little world all hour long! I know that Binns is boring, and a ghost, but you practically ignored everyone around you. Ron and I don't know what to do with you anymore!"

But the pleading and imploring look was unnoticed by Harry, who just continued his way towards the next class. "You'll know what's wrong with me soon enough; I don't need to tell you squat. Please excuse me, I'd like to get to Transfiguration class in time to avoid being ogled and questioned by McGonagall," he muttered darkly.

Hermione stopped and gave his retreating back a desperate look mixed with a curious and foreboding one. Harry wasn't behaving normally, even in the way he had been acting all semester long that behavior just wasn't ordinary.

He seemed aloof and very edgy and seemed to carry now more than ever the weight of the world over his shoulders, as if he had a burdening secret he just couldn't carry alone. Yet still, he preferred to keep this secret and deal with it alone instead of telling someone, even if it would destroy him in the end.

Hermione suspected that Harry had another friend, somebody maybe she didn't know, it was a high possibility, and this person was showing or forcing Harry to learn new magic. After all, after the stunt he pulled with the snake in a previous DADA class and all those unidentified spells he used against Umbridge that were more powerful than normal level spells…

That unknown person had to be stopped! Maybe Harry was in danger of loosing his mind to the Dark side! She blinked when she remembered where she was and where she should presently be: in class, and she dashed towards the Transfiguration classroom, trying to think about a suitable excuse that wouldn't land her in detention. Too bad for the House points, though.

As the second class of the day ended, Harry found himself stomping his way out and into a very sour mood over his Head of House.

McGonagall wasn't Binns, unfortunately, and she had found insulting that he wasn't paying attention to what she said. So she set herself against him and asked him more questions than the others and made him read in the book they had this year.

Harry did as she asked with an unrecognizable expression that made the students gulp in fear and worried Minerva, though she didn't show it. Harry had certainly not been in the mood to talk, but he simply couldn't ignore his studies like that. So she pushed him anyway against his will.

When Harry walked in the Great Hall for lunch, the dread he had been feeling came back full force: Umbridge wasn't at the teachers' table and there was no sign of her anywhere in the immense room.

His heart started to beat wildly and his throat went dry; he already felt the adrenaline rush and the conflict hadn't even begun yet. He fiddled with the wand hidden in his pocket, ready to curse anyone who would stand in his way.

'This is going to be Hell', he thought solemnly, while getting onto his seat. He glanced at Dumbledore and the other teachers and aurors, and of course Remus Lupin. They wouldn't even know what hit them.

Midway through lunch, Umbridge walked swiftly in the Great Hall with a smile so big it could be qualified as being sinister. Everyone's eyes turned to her, and then at the minister and his cloaked aurors who followed dutifully behind. One of the aurors stopped momentarily to close and lock the doors of the Great Hall and re-joined the group.

Harry narrowed his green eyes considerably; they were trapped. At least, HE felt trapped. When the viper and her little "court" walked by him he bristled silently.

Dumbledore and the other teachers, however, were another matter entirely. The Headmaster got up and did his best to look imposing; there was no twinkle in his eyes as Umbridge stopped right in front of the head table with a smirk that almost reached her ears.

"Minister Fudge? Ms Umbridge? What is going on here? Why are aurors here?" Albus asked tensely.

Cornelius Fudge took a step towards him. "They are here because I wanted them to be here, Dumbledore."

The old man's eyes narrowed slightly. "This is my school, minister, and as long as I am Headmaster here I am in control."

Umbridge scoffed disrespectfully and slapped a piece of paper in front of Albus. "Not anymore, old man!" she said with emphasis, and Albus' eyes widened as he took the paper.

The students were whispering amongst themselves but most of the Slytherins looked at the scene unfazed.

A few minutes later, it was Albus who slammed the paper on the table, surprising most of the teachers and the students, and making Fudge squeak; an angry Albus Dumbledore was a dangerous Albus Dumbledore.

"THIS IS PREPOSTEROUS! THIS DOCUMENT IS FALSE! HOW DARE YOU TRY TO-"

Umbridge sniffed at him disdainfully, making him eye her with repressed fury. "This document is perfectly legal! Look at the Hogwarts seal! Don't even think about trying to destroy it, because it's indestructible," she mocked him.

Albus tried nonetheless: "INCENDIO!" But the fire surrounded the parchment and the flame died without touching it.

"Albus! What's going on???" Minerva and the other teachers and aurors on their side looked panicked and at a complete loss about what was happening; Albus had never looked so murderous!

The old man turned towards them. "This parchment says that Hogwarts now belongs to Dolores Jane Umbridge! That's ludicrous!"

At this information, the teachers stated their absolute indignation but the students remained silent, too shocked to even think about placing a comment.

Umbridge sneered. "What's ludicrous is that they've kept you as Headmaster for so long!" She smiled like a Cheshire cat. "That's why my first order, as new Headmistress AND owner of Hogwarts, is to tell you to pack your belongings! You're fired!"

Albus' and the others' eyes widened and they started to open their mouths to retaliate but Umbridge shut them up with a vicious glare. "If one of you opens your mouth to object I will also have you sacked!"

She then turned towards the scared and shocked student population and eyed the Gryffindor table and Harry Potter, to be more precise. Harry sneered at her and fisted his wand tightly.

"Now, my second deed will be to rid this school of a dangerous little troublemaker. Harry Potter, you are EXPELLED from Hogwarts…ad infinitum!" Umbridge laughed when the students suddenly seemed to wake up from this nightmare and they all started to respond none too favorably to this demand.

Ron, Hermione and the other seventh years cried out their anger at her but she stayed unfazed and smirked in triumph at the power she now held over the populace of the castle.

Harry got up silently and walked until he was in the middle of the two tables; he was perfectly calm, and only his eyes betrayed the pure disgust and odium he felt for her and Fudge.

The students shut up and the teachers gazed at him guardedly. Fudge frowned. "Didn't you hear, Potter? You are expelled!"

Harry lifted his head and looked at them as if they were the filthiest scumbags of the Earth, Voldemort not included. "Oh, I heard. But since I am expelled, it won't really matter anymore if I disobey an order, and in consequence attack you. And anyway, I've been trained for this, haven't I? To get rid of Voldemort and his followers?" Harry grinned darkly at their quickly covered shocked expressions.

But they didn't deny it right away, which made Albus move to get his wand. He wasn't fast enough, though, and several wands were pointed towards him and the enraged teachers who felt betrayed by Cornelius Fudge; the man hadn't been an angel, but a Death Eater? Who would've thought?!

One of the cloaked aurors who currently had his wand pointed at Albus lowered his hood and everyone gasped in fright; it was Lucius Malfoy disguised as an auror! So that meant that every other "aurors" here with Fudge were Death Eaters!

"Since the plan has been changed by Potter over there," Lucius drawled while motioning towards Harry with his head, "maybe it would be good to announce that the school now officially belongs to our master, yes? I also believe that it is time to give Potter what he always deserved!"

In a burst of speed his wand was now pointed towards Harry. "CRUCIO!"

Everyone gasped at the suddenness of this and Harry grunted as he barely had the time to erect a shield around him with one of Serena's ancient incantations: "CLIPEO!"

But since he barely had the time to wave his wand in the right manner, the shield wavered and the Cruciatus wound its way through it and engulfed Harry. The students screamed as Harry's eyes closed tightly in pain and as his body contracted and went rigid under the assault.

But Harry refused to scream; he refused to give this satisfaction to Umbridge, Malfoy and the Fudge.

The teachers were helpless and looked on with horror as Lucius kept the Cruciatus going with a smirk. They couldn't move, or else one of the Death Eaters could very well decide to end someone's life.

Umbridge grinned madly. "He's very stubborn, isn't he?" she addressed the older Malfoy while getting her wand.

Lucius scoffed.

"But the Dark Lord said to bring the boy alive. However, he never mentioned sane or not. CRUCIO!" When the second jet of magic was sent at him by Umbridge, Harry's eyes snapped open and he screamed in pure pain; he felt as if his insides were being crushed and reduced to powder and his scar was burning like Hell.

His wand clattered on the floor as he was held upright against his will even if his legs couldn't hold on his weight anymore.

………

The suddenly hesitant silver haired girl walked in one of the passageways that led to the Great Hall, followed by Salazar who was now barely able to fit in the tunnel anymore without scraping the top of the ceiling; he was now between one and two meters tall and on his way to be nine meters long.

"I do not think it iss ssuch a good idea anymore, Ssalazar…"

The Basilisk's long tongue slithered out of his immense jaw and gave her a little push to go on. "You made me sso proud, my misstresss, by finally deciding to take the matterss into your own handss ass it sshould be. Do not back away now! Not when you are finally going to have your revenge againsst thosse imposstorss of the ministry!" Salazar hissed with conviction.

Serena gulped and nodded, albeit still a little uncertainly. Going to Diagon Alley incognito was one thing, but showing up in a room full of students and teachers to tell them who she is was another thing. "Hm, if you are ssure…"

She continued to trek towards her destination and finally they arrived at the end of the tunnel. She opened the indentation in the wall and glanced outside; there wasn't anyone in sight, and the doors of the Great Hall were closed, preventing her from seeing what was going on inside.

" Curiouss…Ssalazar, sstay here and keep your eyess clossed."

The Basilisk hissed in affirmative and stayed put in the passageway while she got out and left the opening half-closed. She walked cautiously towards the huge doors and leaned an ear on it, frowning a little all she heard was the voice of a woman saying that the Headmaster was sacked, and gasping when she heard her say that Harry Potter was expelled.

The voice of a man called forth the Cruciatus curse and Serena heard the people inside cry out in fright; but since Harry's voice called forth the shielding spell Clipeo, the silver haired girl concluded that Harry had been successfully able to fend off the attack.

Still, people were crying out inside, making her more nervous, and when a second Cruciatus was sent, this time by a woman's voice, she startled when she heard Harry's distinctive voice scream in pure agony.

"Harry? Harry! HARRY! HARRY!"

Taken by a sudden burst of fear for the Gryffindor and of rage against those who dared to torture whom she loved, she started to pound her fists madly onto the locked doors. But nobody heard her on the other side with all the screaming and shouting that went on inside.

"Why aren't the teachers helping him?! What's going on?! Harry!"

She suddenly stopped pounding and took a few steps backwards, her eyes glowing with repressed fury. Her body straightened and tensed, and a silver aura briefly surrounded her, making her long hair sway around her.

She had never felt like this before! Her heart pounded so strongly she thought it would escape her ribcage, and a nostalgic feeling of long forgotten power invaded her. Every one of her senses focused on the huge doors and on the screams coming from Harry's mouth.

The spell that flew out of her mouth left the impression of a ruthless being left loose and ready to act without restraint.

"PRAEPOTENS APERIO!!!"

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To be continued…

Rhaaa! I know: Me EVIL. Yeah, cliffhanger but I had no choice. If I didn't stop there the next update would only have been next week. I may have finished school for the Hols, but I am now working.

AT LEAST I UPDATED! DON'T HATE ME FOR IT!

Plus, I have another story to update…

You should check out "The World Without Me". There are 3 chapters out already. You'd be surprised if you normally don't really read HP fics. Really. Check it out!

REVIEW!!!

Love ya all!

Eternal Cosmos