Chapter 24

Thanks to Fawkes, Harry, Neville, Seamus, and Ginny managed to safely make their way back out of the Chamber of Secrets, and they quickly found themselves standing in the doorway of Professor Dumbledore's office. There was silence as the occupants of the office stared in shock at the four students, all of whom were covered in dirt, slime, and blood.

Harry and Neville took a step forward together, Neville handing Ginny, who he'd carried bridal-style up to the office, to Seamus as they approached Professor Dumbledore's desk. Almost in unison, Harry placed the sword and the remains of the diary onto the desk as Neville set down the Sorting Hat.

Dumbledore smiled very faintly, stood up and addressed the two members of staff who were in his office. "Charity, I see no reason why Severus must remain confined to the Slytherin common room; you may collect him, but please be sure that he is calm. Pomona, would you mind informing Molly and Arthur of the return of their daughter, you will find them either in Minerva's office or in the hospital wing with young Mr. Weasley."

The two adults nodded as Dumbledore gave his orders, Charity pulling Harry into a quick hug before making her way to the door.

As the teachers left, Dumbledore turned to the four students. "Please, sit." He gestured to the four seats in front of the desk. Nodding, Harry pulled out a chair and sat down, not looking around as he heard the scraping of the three other seats being pulled out. "Start from the beginning, I cannot stress how important it is that you tell me everything that has happened."

Harry and Neville both launched into the story of what had happened, each filling in gaps when the other forgot something. Dumbledore watched the boys intently as Harry described meeting Dobby the house elf, and how he, Hermione, and Cedric found out about the basilisk. He didn't speak as Neville described how the Bloody Baron had told them about Ron and Ginny, and how they'd found the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.

As Neville described the events in the chamber, Harry felt his heart sink. He'd promised that he'd think of a story to tell everyone about Ginny, there was no way that anyone would believe the truth; they'd destroyed the diary, and in doing so had removed all evidence of Ginny's innocence.

Neville stopped talking and looked at Harry as he finished describing how he'd killed the basilisk with the sword that the Sorting Hat had given him. "The diary." Harry blurted out quickly, sliding it towards Professor Dumbledore. "It belonged to Tom Riddle; he was the one who opened the chamber, that's why he took Ginny." Harry paused and backtracked slightly, trying to get everything out before Dumbledore jumped to a conclusion about Ginny. "He opened the chamber but that wasn't his plan, he wanted to kill me and come back to power- he was stealing Ginny's life and magic."

"Of course," Dumbledore said softly, picking up the diary and inspecting it. "I've seen Tom manipulate far older and more experienced wizards and witches than Miss Weasley." He turned to Ginny and smiled reassuringly. "You, of course, had no idea what was going on; tell me, Ginny, how did this diary come to be in your possession?"

"I-I-I don't know." Ginny said, still sobbing as Seamus tried to comfort her by rubbing her back. "I f-found it inside one of the b-books Mum got me. I th-thought someone had just left it in there and f-forgotten about it."

Seamus looked up at Professor Dumbledore, sternly meeting his gaze. "It wasn't her fault, Professor." He said in a firm voice. "Riddle manipulated her, when I touched the book it- I don't exactly know what it did, all I can remember is pain all over and he forced memories and pictures into my head. Professor, I saw him telling Ginny that the basilisk had killed Penelope Clearwater and that she had to go down into the chamber." He shook his head, his eyes looking almost pleading. "She didn't know, sir, she didn't want to go, and when she found out about the other girl she wanted to turn herself in but the diary wouldn't let her. It wasn't just Riddle's school memories in that diary, there's a bigger part of him in there; it's like the diary almost contains You-Know-Who's essence."

Dumbledore nodded and laced his fingers together. "Miss Weasley, I will need you to go down to the hospital wing for a full check up; though you will not be punished for Lord Voldemort's actions, I ask you not to tell anyone the true details of what occurred this year, I do not believe that many people will be quite as understanding as I have been. You may, of course, tell your parents, and Miss Clearwater's family will be informed of your possession by Lord Voldemort. You do understand, Miss Weasley, that Tom Riddle gained partial control of your mind? I believe it will take some time for you to recover from your ordeal"

Harry felt a small amount of relief; thankfully, Ginny wouldn't get in trouble for what had happened, but he couldn't help but think about the Clearwater girl. She had, after all, been killed by the basilisk and someone would have to be held responsible for it.

Dumbledore turned to address Harry, Neville, and Seamus when the office door burst open so violently that it slammed against the wall and bounced back. A blonde man, who looked disturbingly like Draco Malfoy, stood in the doorway with Dobby the house elf cowering at his feet.

"Good evening, Lucius, what can I do for you?" asked Dumbledore pleasantly.

The man swept across the room and pulled a sheet of parchment from inside his robes. "We, the governors and I, have decided these attacks have gone too far- a half-blood killed and blood traitor taken into the chamber. As you have not done anything to stop these attacks we have decided that it is time you stepped down as Headmaster." With a flourish, he unrolled the parchment and set it on Dumbledore's desk. "This is an order of suspension; you'll find all twelve governor's signatures on it. Terrible really, two deaths in one night; at this rate, half the Muggle borns in the school will have been killed before anyone takes action."

"Ah, well, it seems that you have arrived at the perfect time, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore said pleasantly, standing up and conjuring another chair for Mr. Malfoy. "As you may have noticed, I have several guests," he gestured to Harry, Neville, Seamus, and Ginny. "Did you know that it was a basilisk attacking my students?" Dumbledore asked, a hard edge to his voice.

Mr. Malfoy sat in the offered seat but didn't look at all happy about it. "Are you suggesting that I had something to do with these attacks?" Mr. Malfoy spluttered, his face pale and eyes narrowed furiously.

"Of course not, Lucius, such accusations would be completely unfounded." Dumbledore said, sitting back down behind his desk.

"And the culprit had been apprehended?" He glanced at Harry and a small smirk curled the corner of his lips. "A Parselmouth, perhaps?"

"Of course, no one else would be able to control such a creature." Dumbledore nodded.

Malfoy's smile grew. "And have you informed the Ministry? They'll want to take him into custody; he may even get The Kiss."

Though Harry wasn't entirely sure what 'the kiss' was, he was fairly certain that Malfoy was trying to blame Harry for the Chamber of Secrets being opened.

"That would be quite impossible, Lucius; he is far from the school- hiding in Albania I believe." Dumbledore said levelly.

"I'm sorry?" Mr. Malfoy asked.

"Lord Voldemort," Dumbledore said, and Seamus, Ginny, and Malfoy flinched. "My sources tell me he is currently in Albania."

"The Dark Lord? Perhaps your suspension is still on the agenda, Dumbledore, as usual, you are making absolutely no sense what so ever." Malfoy said sharply, his eyes narrowing further.

"You misunderstand me, Lucius." Dumbledore said, his voice still pleasant, as though he'd not heard Malfoy's insult. "Lord Voldemort did not enter this castle at any point in this year; instead, he used a rather ingenious method. Using this diary, he acted through one of my students."

Dumbledore held up the small black book and watched Malfoy intently. A movement in the corner of the room caught Harry's eye and he looked around, seeing Dobby behaving very strangely, the elf had his great eyes fixed meaningfully on Harry, he kept pointing at the diary, then at Mr. Malfoy, and then hitting himself hard on the head with his fist.

"I see…" Mr. Malfoy said slowly, looking from Dumbledore to the diary and back again.

"A clever plan," said Dumbledore in a level voice, still staring Mr. Malfoy straight in the eye. "Because if Harry here —" Mr. Malfoy shot Harry a swift, sharp look. "and his friends hadn't discovered this book, why — Ginny Weasley might have taken all the blame. No one would ever have been able to prove she hadn't acted of her own free will…"

Mr. Malfoy said nothing. His face was suddenly masklike.

"And imagine," Dumbledore went on, "what might have happened then… The Weasleys are one of our most prominent pureblood families. Imagine the effect on Arthur Weasley and his Muggle Protection Act, if his own daughter was discovered attacking and — killing Muggle-borns… Very fortunate the diary was discovered, and Riddle's memories wiped from it. Who knows what the consequences might have been otherwise…"

Harry watched Dobby, still pointing from Malfoy, to the diary and then to himself, and felt realization suddenly hit him.

"Mr. Malfoy, do you know where Ginny got that diary?" Harry asked slowly.

Lucius Malfoy rounded on him.

"How should I know how the stupid little girl got hold of it?" he said.

"Well," Harry said, shrugging and pretending to think. "I'm fairly certain that you're the one who gave it to her; we all saw you pick up Ginny's transfiguration book in Flourish and Blotts, how difficult was it for you to slip the diary inside unnoticed." Harry narrowed his eyes, smiling politely, just has Dumbledore had done. "I doubt it was difficult, after all, you're rather skilled in the art of espionage, sneakiness kind of goes hand in hand with that doesn't it?"

"And what do you mean by that?" Malfoy demanded.

"I think you know what I mean." Harry said coolly. "And when Voldemort returns I doubt he'll be impressed at how you got his diary destroyed, I think you'll find that he can be rather unforgiving."

"You have no proof of that, Potter, and if I was you, I'd keep your nose out of my business."

"Is that a threat?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow. A pink flush rose on Malfoy's cheekbones and Harry smiled in satisfaction. "Because, Mr. Malfoy, I think you'll find that the Daily Prophet does not look at all kindly upon those who threaten the Boy-Who-Lived, I think you'll do well to remember that."

The look on Malfoy's face made Harry's smile widen, he couldn't remember ever speaking to an adult in such away but it certainly felt good, as though he'd somehow won a small victory over the ex-Death Eater. He was responsible for the death of a girl and he needed to be punished; the taunting was definitely satisfying, but Harry promised that he would make sure was caught.

"Now, Mr. Malfoy, I ask you to leave this castle." Dumbledore's eyes glowed with a strange light, and for the first time, Harry realized just how powerful the headmaster was. "I will not have my students put in any danger; your son is still a student here, but you are no longer welcome within the walls of this castle. Although the appointment of school governors does not lie with me, I advise you to leave the board, lest I involve the Ministry of Magic."

Lucius Malfoy stood for a moment, and Harry distinctly saw his right hand twitch as though he was longing to reach for his wand. Instead, he turned to his house-elf. "We're going, Dobby!"

He wrenched open the door and as the elf came hurrying up to him, he kicked him right through it. They could hear Dobby squealing with pain all the way along the corridor.

Harry stood for a moment, thinking hard. Then it came to him —

"Professor Dumbledore," he said hurriedly. "Can I give that diary back to Mr. Malfoy, please?"

"Certainly, Harry," said Dumbledore calmly. "But hurry. The feast, remember…" Harry grabbed the diary and dashed out of the office. He could hear Dobby's squeals of pain receding around the corner. Quickly, wondering if this plan could possibly work, Harry took off one of his shoes, pulled off his slimy, filthy sock, and stuffed the diary into it. Then he ran down the dark corridor.

He caught up with them at the top of the stairs.

"Mr. Malfoy," he gasped, skidding to a halt, "I've got something for you —"

And he forced the smelly sock into Lucius Malfoy's hand.

"What the —?"

Mr. Malfoy ripped the sock off the diary, threw it aside, then looked furiously from the ruined book to Harry. "It may be advisable for you to keep your meddlesome nose out of the affairs of my family, Harry Potter. Your parents crossed the Dark Lord and look where they are now. When he learns that it was you who destroyed his diary, how long do you think you'll last?" Malfoy hissed. "I'd watch my back if I were you."

Harry smiled. "You seem a bit... wound up, Mr. Malfoy." Harry said pleasantly. "If I were you I'd watch what I was saying, murders tend to let things slip when they get flustered- perhaps you should work on that temper of yours."

Malfoy glowered down at Harry. "Oh, yes, Potter, you're one to talk of keeping my temper in check, I have not yet forgotten your attack on my son."

"And now you're getting into an argument with a twelve year old child, you really are a shining example of what Wizards should aspire to be." Harry said coldly, feeling as though he could get hours of amusement from taunting Mr. Malfoy.

Malfoy's fingers twitched towards his wand and Harry slid his hand into his pocket, wrapping his hand around his wand and wondering if he would even be able to block whatever curse Malfoy was planning to throw at him. "How dare you." Malfoy spat in a manner that reminded Harry of Tom Riddle when he'd insulted him down in the chamber.

"Attack me then, sir. I wonder how much damage you'll be able to do before you're thrown into Azkaban." Harry said, bracing himself and hoping that Malfoy would be punished. Perhaps if the Ministry arrested him for attacking Harry, then they'd investigate other things such as his involvement with the opening of the Chamber of Secrets. At least then Penelope Clearwater's parents would get to see their daughter's killer locked up.

Malfoy's turned to leave, his body visibly shaking in repressed rage. "Come, Dobby. I said, come."

But Dobby didn't move. He was holding up Harry's disgusting, slimy sock, and looking at it as though it were a priceless treasure.

"Master has given a sock," said the elf in wonderment. "Master gave it to Dobby."

"What's that?" spat Mr. Malfoy. "What did you say?"

"Got a sock," said Dobby in disbelief. "Master threw it, and Dobby caught it, and Dobby — Dobby is free."

Lucius Malfoy stood frozen, staring at the elf then he lunged at Harry.

"You've lost me my servant, boy!"

But Dobby shouted, "You shall not harm Harry Potter!"

There was a loud bang, and Mr. Malfoy was thrown backward. He crashed down the stairs, three at a time, landing in a crumpled heap on the landing below.

Malfoy stood up, his face livid. "You've made a big mistake, Potter, and you will pay for it. I may not be able to harm you now but I assure you I will have my revenge, what my sister in-law did to your friend's parents will seem tame in comparison." He then turned on his heel, wrapping his cloak around his body and strode around the corner and out of sight.

"Harry Potter freed Dobby!" said the elf shrilly, gazing up at Harry, moonlight from the nearest window reflected in his orb-like eyes. "Harry Potter set Dobby free!"

"Yeah, congratulations." Harry said, smiling at the little elf, suddenly remembering something Hermione had been talking about after meeting the elves in the school kitchens. "Listen, what're you going to do now?"

Dobby's forehead creased and he stroked one of his long, bat-like ears. "Dobby is not sure, Harry Potter. Dobby likes his work but not his master."

"Well, do you have anywhere to stay?" Harry asked.

"Dobby is a disgraced house elf, sir, Dobby had been freed, most wizards do not want a freed elf, sir."

"Right, well I have an idea." Harry said, thinking of Hermione's ideas about campaigning for elf rights. "How would you feel if I offered you a job with my family, I'll pay you good wages and you can have holidays and stuff."

"Dobby would be honoured to work for such a great wizard as Harry Potter."

"Okay, you'll have to go see my friend. There's a girl in Gryffindor tower called Hermione Granger, the girl who was with me the first time we met. Tell her what happened and that I've offered you a job with us, you can come to an agreement with her about wages and holidays and stuff. Don't tell her I said this, but she's very clever and understands this stuff better than me."

Dobby threw his arms around Harry's middle and hugged him.

"Harry Potter is greater by far than Dobby knew!" he sobbed, and with a loud crack disappeared.

OOOOO

As the Hogwarts Express pulled out of Hogsmeade station, Harry looked down at the copy of the Daily Prophet on the seat next to him. The first page was mostly dominated by a full colour, moving photograph of Penelope Clearwater walking across the Hogwarts grounds holding hands with none other than Percy Weasley.

Harry sighed, this year really had been terrible for the Weasleys; Ginny had been possessed by Lord Voldemort, Ron had been petrified, and Percy's girlfriend had been killed. Gritting his teeth, Harry thought of Lucius Malfoy, there really weren't words to describe how much Harry hated that man. He had been responsible for Ginny's possession, all of the petrifactions, and Percy's girlfriend's death, all because he'd wanted to disgrace the Weasley family.

After Penelope Clearwater's memorial service, the Hogwarts students had trouped down the hill from the castle to the Hogwarts Express, the school had been closed a whole two months early due to what had happened. The only students who had not left the castle were the ones who had been petrified, as Severus didn't think the potion would be ready for several more weeks.

Thinking of his uncle, Harry felt his heart sink. After Malfoy had left, Severus had appeared and embarrassed Harry by fussing over him like a mother hen, making him sit down whilst he cleaned the blood off of his face with a damp napkin as though he was a small child instead of a twelve - almost thirteen - year old boy.

The thought of his family made Harry sigh again. "What'll Aunt Petunia say when I get back?" Harry asked Hermione, resting his head against the cool glass of the carriage's window.

"You mean she won't be proud of you?" Neville asked.

"Proud? You're kidding, right?" Harry said. "She'll be furious, how many times have I 'needlessly endangered my life' this year?"

Neville laughed. "I don't think Gran could be more proud, I killed a basilisk!"

Harry grinned and shook his head. "Yeah, well, in Dud's words you're 'a badass'. Malfoy's dad might be planning my bloody and violent murder, but I doubt he'll go anywhere near you."

"You shouldn't joke about things like that." Seamus said with a shudder.

Harry looked up at his friend. "Sorry, mate." Harry didn't think Seamus had had a single wink of sleep since they'd gone down into the Chamber of Secrets, his face was pale and he had massive bags under his eyes. He's seen terrible things in Riddle's diary and Harry was fairly certain that one of them was of Voldemort and his Death Eaters; he'd been acting particularly strange around Severus, and shuddered every time anyone mentioned Lucius Malfoy. "Have you told your mum what happened?"

Seamus shook his head. "No, she's got enough to worry about."

"You really should." Hermione said, sitting up straight in her chair and fixing Seamus with a piercing stare.

"I'll be fine." Seamus shrugged. "She'll just fuss over me."

"You need to be fussed over. Look at Ginny, Percy's just lost his girlfriend, and yet he's over in the next compartment letting her talk about it and trying to help her." Harry pointed out.

"I don't need to be fussed over." Seamus said. "You just need to leave it, okay. I'll get over it over the summer holidays."

Harry raised an eyebrow dubiously but said nothing, instead turning to Dean and beginning a game of Exploding Snap.

OOOOO

Cub,

What on earth were you thinking, talking to Lucius Malfoy in such a way? Malfoy told Severus everything that you said to him and I must say, I'm shocked; not even your father would have had the guts to do that.You're becoming more and more like... an old friend of mine. This is both impressive and worrying, I don't think you realize what a formidable enemy Lucius Malfoy will prove to be, he has a lot of power within the Ministry of Magic. I advise you to start learning some more defensive charms and hexes, if you research the theory in the holidays then when you get back to Hogwarts you can practice properly.

On another note, I'm very impressed by your escapade in the Chamber of Secrets. I think your father would feel the same way, and needless to say that your mother would have been horrified but proud. Well done.

Be careful and watch your back.

From Moony.

AN: Thank you to everyone for reading. And thanks to my beta and everyone who reviewed.

-beksta