AN: I want to take a moment to thank all of you for being so absolutely, wonderfully patient with me! You are all amazing, every single one of you! I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Much Love
Ariel
xoxox

The start of the last weekend before the Christmas holiday break saw Harry sitting in the Room of Requirement having breakfast with all of his friends. The Gryffindor boys from his year were there and Ginny had come with them. Daphne and Tracey had spent the night behind the wolf poster as they were increasingly wont to do. Pansy had apparently been lamenting lately that Draco would never be hers and as she refused to share details and whined over her loss constantly, Daphne and Tracey had made it clear to the brunette that they wouldn't be around much until she 'got over it'. Greg and Theo had managed to get away from Draco that morning as well. Even Susan and Hannah had made their way up from the Hufflepuff dorms.

Luna, Harry and Blaise were, of course, full-time residents of the Room of Requirement so the only person missing was Astoria. But, Harry had seen her just the night before, they had spent quite a bit of time going over the final write up of the method for the Dragon Pox Cure. As it was made of two separate mixtures, they wrote two separate papers and methods. Harry was secretly hoping that the newly named Penicillin Draught would prove to have further uses against other diseases. The Dragon Pox Elixir gave them a little trouble in the write up, as two of the potions Harry had concocted actually worked equally effectively against the disease, once the Penicillin Draught was applied. After much debate, they had chosen to go with the version that was cheaper to produce for now.
Myrick had placed a small, inconspicuous ad in the paper advertising for a couple of potion makers and had forwarded all the responses to John Davis. John had been busy going through the candidates and drawing up contracts for Harry to go over with him later that day.

"So, Harry," Susan asked after finishing her toast, "what are the plans for today? Anything we can do?"

Harry shared a quick look with Blaise before putting down his fork, "well, I'm meeting Tracey's dad and Myrick in Hogsmeade today. Then afterwards, er, I'm going to try and see if we can find any information on Salazar Slytherin."

The conversations around the table stopped when the Founders name dropped from Harry's lips and Ron narrowed his eyes at his best friend. Neville turned away from his conversation with Greg about the healing properties of some plant for infections on scaled animals and asked, "what kind of information, Harry?"

Harry gave him a meaningful look, "well, I heard this rumour once, that maybe Salazar's ideals have become a little twisted over time. I would like to see if that has any truth to it. I figured if we could find something he wrote, correspondence or a diary. We could publish it. Show people the real Founder and maybe dissolve a few prejudices."

Shocked faces looked back at him from around the table, Blaise just squeezed his knee under the table. Ron spoke next, his tone giving away nothing, "you're talking about going back into the Chamber."

Harry looked at his best mate, "yeah, there's so much there to explore. There might be hidden rooms or safes. Who knows what else?"

"Oh, I dunno," Ron replied, his voice starting to get waspish, though Harry could hear the underlying worry in it. "How about the corpse of a bloody basilisk?"

Harry held Ron's gaze for a moment as the redhead searched his eyes for something. He must have seen Harry's resolve though as finally, Ron sighed heavily, "I still don't like it." he muttered as he turned back to his breakfast, moodily shoving a mushroom into his mouth.

"Back into the Chamber? What Chamber?" Tracey asked, her eyes wide, "you don't mean the Chamber of Secrets do you?"

Harry shrugged and gave her a small grin, "I'm not sure how many other Chambers there are that might contain the lost belongings of Salazar Slytherin."

"But that was all rumour! Gossip!" Daphne cried, "are you saying the stories are true?"

"I dunno what you heard," Harry said with a quick look at Ginny, she was sitting near the end of the table between Luna and Dean and her face had lost a lot of colour, but she met Harry's eyes with steely resolve. "But, yes, the Chamber is real and I fought and killed a Basilisk there. Riddle was trying to regain his form by taking over a student. He had been possessing someone on and off all year. That's who was killing the Hagrid's roosters and setting the Basilisk loose in the school, petrifying the students. Riddle used this person to write those messages on the wall all the while he was draining the life from them and growing stronger." He pointed to the Horcrux board hanging on the wall, "the diary, he was using that to do it.

"Aye, but it's got a line through it now, you destroyed it then?" Seamus asked when he looked at the board.

Harry bobbed his head, "yeah, drove a basilisk fang through it. That part of Riddle's soul died and it broke the connection between him and the student."

"Who was it?" Theo asked once people remained silent after Harry's quick retelling.

Harry started to shake his head before Ginny interrupted face hard and eyes daring anyone to judge her, "it was me, I found the diary in one of my text books, I thought it was just a clever bit of magic that wrote back to you when you wrote in it. Little did I know, the more I told it, him, the more it stole my soul. I thought I was going crazy, missing all this time, waking up in strange places covered in blood and muck." Her face grew haunted and Luna took her hand. "He used me, used my knowledge of the students to try and kill them. Some of them were my friends." She looked down then.

"I'm sorry, Weasley," Theo said, his voice kinder than anyone had ever heard it before. "I didn't mean."

She held up her hand, "it's fine, it's not easy, but it's fine." She took a breath and raised her head to look at Harry. "I'm coming with you, I need to see."

Harry nodded having had expected this response from her, but Ron stood up hands on the table, "no, Ginny, you STILL have nightmares about that place." Turning to Harry he continued, "so do you before you try to deny it," his attention turned back to his little sister, "Ginny, this isn't a good idea, there are plenty of people to go and look. You don't need to go as well."

Ginny stood, anger brightening her face, hands fisting at her sides, "oh, so you'll go, and let Harry go, but not me is that it?"

"Dammit, Ginny! Harry has Blaise!" Ron yelled as his fist thumped the table Hary stiffened at Ron's slip, not everyone at the table knew what Blaise was after all, "and he's the only one who can get us in there safely!" His voice decreased in volume slightly, "I could probably do a fair enough imitation to get us through the door, but what if there's another basilisk? Or we need more than the standard password to get into something? If we do this, Harry has to go, you don't."

Ginny glared at her brother, "you're right, I don't have to go." her voice softened and shook slightly, her chin pushing out stubbornly as she continued, "but, Ron, I need to go, I need to see it again, see it for myself, properly. Replace some of these memories in my head." Her voice quavered as her hands clenched and unclenched, Ron seeing her distress quickly strode around the table to wrap her in his arms. Her head tucked under his chin as she buried her face in his shoulder.

Blaise leant into Harry, "was it really that bad?" He asked softly so that no-one else could hear.

Harry turned his head so that his lips were close to Blaise's ear, "for her, yes."

"And for you?" Blaise asked his eyes searching Harry's. Harry didn't reply and Blaise knew that he had his answer.

Ginny cleared her throat and stepped back from Ron's embrace wiping her eyes. Everyone pretended not to notice, "when?" she asked.

"I was thinking around one," Harry replied, "almost everyone above third year will be in Hogsmeade, and nearly everyone else will be in the Great Hall for lunch. we should be able to get into the bathroom without anyone seeing us."

"Bathroom?" Greg grunted.

"Yeah, Moaning Myrtle's bathroom," Ron answered as he retook his seat his seat between Harry and Tracey.

"The girls bathroom?" Dean asked surprised.

"That's the one," Harry informed him as he took a sip of his juice, "so, who wants to come?"

There was a sudden clamouring of noise as everyone started talking at once. Harry bit his lip to keep himself from laughing and his gaze was drawn to the small oval window that had been added to the room when someone had asked about owl post. Hedwig had just come soaring through, she glided down towards him softly and held out the letters tied to her leg. Harry untied them and fed Hedwig some bacon. She drank briefly from his goblet before butting her head against his and taking off, no doubt, for the owlery.

Harry looked down at the letters and seeing the top one was from Remus, quickly slipped his finger underneath the seal.

Hey Cub,

You certainly have been busy haven't you? Good job on the articles, I looked up this Myrick Carneirus, he seems like a good sort. You did well to pick him.

I ran into a few furry friends of mine, ones that would be willing to do as I did.

Harry groaned audibly and summoned a calendar. "Shit," he said.

"What is it?" Blaise asked.

"I forgot the November moon, I missed it," Harry told him as he confirmed the moon's cycle.

Blaise squeezed his forearm in sympathy whilst Ron made a noise to attract Harry's attention, he swallowed around his mouthful before he spoke, "I got the twins to meet with Remus, they told him what was going on here and what you were upto. I'm sure he understood." Harry gave Ron a small smile as he returned his gaze to the letter,

Don't feel bad about losing track of the moon, Harry. I was not in the country at the time as it was, and your mind was clearly elsewhere. I am sorry about your friends, I know how hard it is to lose those you care about, especially when you feel that you could have done something about it.

Harry's eyes pricked slightly and he quickly excused himself from the table to read the rest of the letter in privacy.

I'm here for you Cub, if you need someone to talk to. I want to see you over the Christmas holidays if that's possible? Perhaps you will be able to stay with your dormmate? Let me know where you are and I will come to you.

Love always,

Moony

Harry stared down at the letter once he had finished reading. He heard the portrait open and Blaise's familiar footsteps approaching. He thought it a little strange that he could tell Blaise apart from anyone else so easily, perhaps it was something to do with their bond. Perhaps it was something else together. He leaned into the darker boy when he sat down and put his arm around Harry, "Remus said he understood what it felt like to feel like you couldn't save people. He was talking about my parents." Harry offered before the other teen could ask. Blaise's arm squeezed tighter and Harry felt Blaise's lips in his hair, "he wants to see me over Christmas."

"Have you decided what we're doing for the break yet?" Blaise asked.

Harry pulled back to look at him a little puzzled, "me? decided? We haven't really spoken about it with everything that's going on. I know you said your mother wanted me to come for Christmas.." he trailed off, suddenly unsure about what was going to happen. He'd been concentrating so hard on all the things he needed to accomplish over the holidays, he hadn't given any thought to the fact that he might not be spending them with Blaise.

"What is it?" Blaise asked, shifting to face Harry better.

Harry reddened, "well, I guess, your mum will want you at home for the break and even if I come and stay with you for a few days. I just, well it'll be weird not seeing you all the time." Not sleeping with you every night, he finished in his head.

"Harry," Blaise began, grasping Harry's chin and tipping his face up, "I have no intention of being parted from your side. Yes, I will need to spend some time with Mother. Yes, she wants to spend time with you too. But she knows, that as my mate, you are the most important person in my life. That I would move heaven and earth to remain at your side. She won't mind if I don't spend all of the holidays with her. Similarly, she won't mind if you stayed for the entire holidays."

"Oh," Harry said softly, his mind stuck on Blaise's statement that Harry was the most important thing in his life. Blaise smiled at Harry and leant towards him, planting a soft chaste kiss on his lips.

"So," he said after he pulled away, "what are you thinking?"

"Hmm?" asked Harry, blinking away the clouds the kiss had left him with. "Oh, um, well I need to get Theo settled somewhere, there was that place in the books that Barnuk gave me, called Olympic View? It didn't say much except that it's got a really extensive ward structure and I don't think it will take me too much to power it up. Plus, it's out of the country. It didn't say where exactly as it's unplottable, but it's not in Britain. I'm going to put it under a fidelius too. If the place is big enough, I kind of thought I might stay there for a little while? Maybe Remus could move in as well?" He questioned out loud looking to see what Blaise thought.

Blaise was nodding, "that sounds like a good idea, somewhere to start at least. Why not have Dobby go and check the place out? He can make sure it's ready for us as well."

Harry was already nodding before Blaise finished, "yeah that's a good idea." Calling the elf, he asked Dobby to go to Olympic View and let him know if there was at least three bedrooms. He asked Dobby to make sure it was clean and tidy enough that they would be able to move in when the holidays commenced. Dobby was excited by the prospect of the work and popped away quickly. "I hope the place has a floo, it would make getting around much easier. Dobby will be able to take us there from the train station though at least."

"I would be very surprised if it didn't have at least one fireplace for flooing," Blaise said confidently. "Now, are you okay? We probably need to head to Hogsmeade soon."

Harry took a breath and nodded, "yeah, that letter, it just, took me by surprise."

Blaise made a soft noise of acknowledgement before kissing Harry softly on the temple, "who are the other letters from?" He asked.

Harry shuffled the envelopes in his hand, "er, one's from Fleur, the other is from Viktor."

"You've mentioned Viktor a few times before," Blaise commented, "do you mean Viktor Krum?"

Harry looked at Blaise, wondering at the tightness in his voice, "yeah, we've been trying to stay in touch since the tournament. The mail wards interfered a lot, though I didn't know it then. We used to send them through Fleur, but even that was sketchy unless they came with Errol or Hedwig." At Blaise's raised eyebrow he elaborated, "the Weasley's family owl."

"Ah," replied Blaise, he was quiet for a moment, "are you, are you close to Krum?"

Harry cocked his head to the side, trying to work out what Blaise was really asking, "are you.. jealous?" he asked in wonder. Blaise shifted uncomfortably and didn't answer, "you are." Harry said in awe, a light bubble of laughter escaping his lips.

"Yes, well, he's quite a catch and he would be one of the few people not intimidated by your fame." Blaise retorted defensively.

Harry sobered at Blaise's expression, he stood up so that he was standing in front of his Slytherin. Blaise's arms automatically moved to hold his waist. Harry allowed himself to be pulled onto Blaise's lap straddling him now, as the letters lay forgotten on the bed. "Blaise, you've got no reason to be jealous of Viktor. We're friends, the tournament made sure of that." Harry bit his lip, he didn't really want to go into specifics about the tournament just then, but he wanted Blaise to understand, "the tournament was really bad, for all of us. The only good thing that came out of it was that Fleur met Bill for the first time and realised he was her mate. I mean, Fleur almost lost her sister. Cedric, Cedric died, Viktor was imperiused for a lot of it. We were under so much pressure all the time and it's hard to find someone who understands. Who knows what you went through, because they went through it too."

Blaise sighed and buried his head on Harry's shoulder, "I'm sorry, I'm just, a little possessive I guess. It doesn't help that we can't be public about our relationship." he mumbled.

Harry smiled down at Blaise having caught the the muttered words, "I guess I can understand that, but just so you know. There isn't anyone that could steal me away from you." Blaise lifted his head to meet Harry's eyes, his violet gaze intent on Harry's next words, as the Gryffindor fidgeted nervously, "this soulmate business, well, it works both ways. You're the most important person in my life as well. I would have to be dragged cursing and screaming from your side too, you know." Blaise's face split into a grin and he tugged Harry closer to kiss him thoroughly.

Blaise kept a hand on Harry's face as they drew apart, his thumb rubbing back and forth across Harry's cheek as he spoke, " I haven't even taken you on a proper date. I just, well, it's hard not to stake my claim on you in front of the world. To make sure that everyone knows you're mine, and that I am yours. I'm just struggling with that I think."

Harry squeezed his arms tighter where he had them wrapped around Blaise, "is that the Rukar in you? Or you?" he asked interested. Blaise's mum had written to Blaise during the quarantine to say whilst she was happy for Harry to have and read the family diaries, she wanted to give them to him in person, so he hadn't been able to find out much more other than what Blaise had already told him. The Dragon Pox had driven most other thoughts from his mind, and as Blaise had said, they hadn't had a lot of time for just each other.

"Mmm, a little of both," Blaise told him, "though really it's all just me. It's just instinctive. I want to be near you all the time, when I see people giving you a hard time. I just want to be there, glaring them away. I want to be able to walk with you to class, hold your hand. All that dumb coupley stuff that leaves people with no doubt that we're together."

"I'd like that too," Harry replied a little green eyed monster leaking into his on voice. Blaise raised an eyebrow in surprise, Harry wrinkled his nose, "I've seen the way people look at you, guys and girls alike," he informed the dark-skinned Slytherin.

Both of Blaise's eyebrows rose this time, "I wasn't aware you'd been paying attention, you know that no-one's approached me, right?" To Blaise's ever rising surprise Harry reddened, Blaise narrowed his eyes in thoughtful humour at the Gryffindor in his lap. "What did you do?"

"Nothing!" Harry squeaked, moving to get off Blaise's lap, "come one, we're going to be late."

Blaise stood, lifting Harry before throwing him onto the bed, "what did you do?" he asked again, as he caged Harry in. "I didn't do anything," he replied, trying to wriggle out from under Blaise.

Blaise caught Harry's hands and held them above his head, "Harry, please," he said softly, looking at him with earnest wide eyes.

Harry huffed and looked upwards, "I may have asked Susan to gossip to Hannah and to make sure they were overheard by Parvati and Lavender."

Blaise chuckled, "and what, Merlin tell, did they talk about?" Harry muttered something very quietly under his breath. "You know I didn't hear you, Harry."

Harry sighed heavily, "FINE! They may have been gossiping about the fact that you are courting Tracey to raise her prospects in the wizarding world, considering she's only a half-blood, and that Lord Greengrass has asked you for a Line Continuation Agreement for Daphne."

Blaise's eyebrows shot into his hairline, and Harry smirked, it seemed he had his answer to how high Blaise's eyebrows could go. "I'm sorry, I think I need you to run that past me again." Harry had, in one move, protected all three of them from romantic pressure and the removed the chance of them offending the wrong family should they be approached with an offer.

"Well, I've been reading those books Daphne gave me," Harry told him, "and, well, it just seemed like a good idea."

Blaise just shook his head incredulously, "Harry, it's a wonderful idea." Blaise breathed before connecting their lips together. Pulling back he said, "it's an incredibly devious and Slytherin idea." Harry blinked innocently up at him, "is it? but I'm just a Gryffindor."

"My arse," Blaise growled, crushing their lips together again.

Harry wasn't given a chance to reply in the affirmative as he was kissed ferociously. Instead he flexed his hips upwards and felt just how much Blaise approved of his idea. They didn't break apart until Luna knocked on the door, interrupting at a crucial point in time. "Harry!" she sing-songed, "we really need to get going, I'm sure it's hard, but we are running out of time!"

Harry groaned, knowing that just somehow, Luna knew exactly what was going on that moment. "Bloody informative, Nargles," he grumbled as Blaise tugged him off the bed with a laugh. They quickly smoothed each other's clothes and left the bedroom.

Luna was beaming brightly at Harry, "it wasn't the Nargles," she informed him and Harry looked at her sharply. She grinned widely and skipped away, "you forgot a silencing charm."

Harry looked at her in horror as he realised what they must have heard, his face flaming as he turned to look at the others in the room. Ron was staring at the ceiling, cheeks and ears red as Tracey giggled in her seat next to him, Seamus gave him a lusty wink. Dean was looking thoroughly amused whilst Daphne was trying hard to maintain her composure. Ginny looked torn between amusement and shock. Susan and Hannah both gave him a thumbs up. Greg was the only one who looked unfazed, while Theo was giving Harry and Blaise a thoughtful look. "Er, right, um, er. Merlin's balls. Let's just get on with it shall we?"

"Sounds like you did, mate," Seamus crowed. Harry flipped him off and set about gathering what he would need for the day.

Harry was walking to Hogsmeade with his Gryffindor friends and Luna, hands shoved in his pockets to ward against the cold. They were walking amongst the other students and Harry could sense that Blaise wasn't far behind him. That knowledge warming him inside, even though it made him wonder how else the bond between them would grow when they actually went through with it.

A familiar jeering voice pulled him from his thoughts and he felt his friends tighten around him. Wands falling into hands subtly. Harry's brow creased slightly at their actions but he brushed it aside for now, instead sighing loudly, as Ron snapped out a harsh, "what do you want, Malfoy?"

"What? Potter too good to talk to me himself?" Draco sneered at Ron, turning to Harry, his face ugly as he continued, "is that it, Potter? You got your name on the Dragon Pox Cure somehow and now your weasel does your talking for you?"

Harry shrugged, "at least my friends can talk," Harry replied with a pointed look at Crabbe. A few chuckles escaped the crowd that had gathered when they realised that Malfoy had confronted Harry. Crabbe's knuckles cracked audibly as they clenched.

"Come on then, Potter. Tell us the truth now, everyone knows you're shit at potions." Malfoy jabbed.

Harry shrugged, "everyone knows I was shit at Potions when I had a shit teacher. Turns out, I just needed someone who actually knows how to teach. One who knows how to keep other students from throwing random ingredients into people's potions helps as well."

Malfoy stiffened a little at the subtle accusation but before he could retort Harry said in a bored tone, "look, just fuck off would you? I have more important things to do than trade insults with you."

"You can't speak to me like that," Malfoy said, outrage in his voice.

"Pretty sure I just did," Harry replied mildly.

"You just wait until my,"

"Until what, Malfoy? Your father hears about this? Doubt there's much he can do from his prison cell." Harry narrowed his gaze at the blond, "or do you serve another master now?" Harry lifted one shoulder after giving Malfoy a considering look, "doesn't really matter if you do though, he already wants to kill me. You whining to him about me hurting your feelings is only going to put you on his shit list. Your threats are pathetic, Malfoy. Time to grow up." With that Harry continued walking, his gaze travelling over Blaise as a proud sort of feeling rose in his chest.

Harry and his friends eventually reached the small, bustling town and headed straight for the Three Broomsticks, they were very nearly late for meeting Myrick. Though considering the scoops Harry was about to give the man, he didn't think he would mind too much.

The meeting with Myrick had been exhausting, the man had listened to everything Harry had to say about Voldemort and his past and then had asked Harry many, many questions. Harry had to recount some of his adventures to the man to give him a clear picture and he was feeling very emotionally wrought by the end of it.
They had spoken at length about Harry's grievances against the Headmaster and though Myrick promised not to write anything on that front yet, he was going to go looking for other stories to support this view of Dumbledore. Harry had also given Myrick all the facts about Sirius's innocence and the fact that he had never received a trial. Myrick was going to stay in close contact with John Davis so he knew exactly when to release the article. John was similarly ensuring that Myrick had the details he would need to report factually on the upcoming court cases John was preparing against the Ministry, the Prophet, Rita Skeeter and Dolores Umbridge.

Myrick had left to go to other appointments and Seamus, Dean, Ginny, Neville and Luna had left as well to enjoy some time in the village before going to meet them in by the Chamber entrance. Harry and Ron were waiting for the Slytherins and John to arrive talking about the upcoming plans for Christmas. Harry was wanted at the Burrow for the day and his absence from Hogwarts or Grimmauld Place would be quickly noticed. They were devising ways of making sure he couldn't be ambushed or tracked when he tried to leave again. "I still reckon the best time for you to leave would be right after the food, when everyone's sitting around having eggnog just get up and go through the floo without saying goodbye." Ron was saying as the door to their room opened. They both grabbed their wands, only to put them away as they saw Tracey peek her head around the door.

"This one's empty Daddy," she called out stepping into the room, giving Harry a smile and throwing Ron a wink. Harry watched as his friends ears reddened and grinned to himself. His smile widened when Blaise stepped through the door and came to sit next to him, twining their fingers together automatically. Blaise leaned in and asked Harry softly.

"Are you okay? I could feel your distress before."

Harry shrugged and looked down at their joined hands, "just talking to Myrick about the Chamber, a little about first year, some stuff from the tournament."

Blaise hummed in sympathy and shifted so that he pressed more firmly against Harry's side, he threw his other arm over the back of the couch and around Harry's shoulders. "Hello again, Harry," John said as he moved into the room behind Daphne.

"Hello," Harry replied looking up at his solicitor. "Er, I don't think you've met my best mate Ron? Ron Weasley?"

Ron immediately stood up to shake the man's hand, "H-Hello, sir, it's nice to meet you." His ears grew redder as he stuttered over the beginning of his sentence.

John took Ron's hand and gave it a shake as he looked him over, nodding once he returned the greeting and then took a seat on the couch. "Now, Harry, we have quite a lot to talk about, is it okay to speak freely in front of everyone here?"

"Er, yeah, of course," Harry replied a little confused, but he assumed it must have been a formality and shrugged it off.

"Okay, well, first things first. I've managed to build the case to clear Sirius. I've had the pensieve memories you sent verified by an independent professional, I've looked into all the trial records and found no evidence to support the fact that he had one. All I've got is a arrest report and a transfer slip to Azkaban. I have an associate, he was able to help me get access to Sirius's wand. After performing Priori Incantatem, we found the last spell Sirius actually cast was a healing spell."

"A healing spell?" Harry asked confused.

John nodded as he checked his notes, "yes, one to heal small cuts. Why ever he cast it, it is clearly not something that would have caused the explosion. Now, the best thing would be to have Sirius retried, instead of 'posthumously' seeing as though he's not actually dead. Are you any closer to getting him out?"

"We think so," Harry replied, "he has found the way out, but we need to get to the Department of Mysteries first. We have someone who we hope will help us, but we won't know until the holidays."

"Okay, well the next step in this would be to present my case to the Head of the DMLE, that would be Madame Amelia Bones. She is a fair woman, I've dealt with her on previous occasions." John informed them.

"Right, er, so you're going to tell her about SIrius?" Harry clarified.

John nodded, "I will, but I will wait for you to contact me and tell me you got him out. I think it would be best if we approached her right away. Give people less of a chance to find out what's happened." At Harry's affirmative motion he continued, "Next, the lawsuits, the class action suit against Dolores Umbridge and the Ministry is well underway. From the list of students you provided me with I was able to get into contact with their parents. Once the situation was explained to them, by myself and the members of my team, they were very eager for us to contact their children. We sent out envelopes with letters explaining what was happening, as well as Veritas Parchment, which is parchment soaked in Veritaserum. Only the truth may be written on it. We have received back hundreds of sworn statements and testimonials from students within the three affected houses and of all ages." Harry nodded, he had expected that, the student body as a whole had not been happy about what happened.

"Your emancipation," John began cautiously, as he shuffled some papers.

"Oh! The goblins!" Harry quickly showed John his Lord ring and told him what had happened with the goblins.

"That was quick thinking on your part, Daphne," John praised the blonde girl. Who blushed prettily at the praise. Turning back to Harry he said, "this will certainly help. I've managed to pin down which Wizengamot members will be willing to take on your case. They just need to be approached, with what I have so far and now with magic backing us up in the form of your Lord ring, this should be an easy thing to accomplish." Harry heard the unsaid word at the end.

"But?" he prompted.

"How willing would you be to discuss your life living with your muggle relatives?"

Harry stiffened as if he'd slapped, what John just asked him? "I'm sure I don't know what you mean," his voice coming out in a hiss as his eyes narrowed in angry thought. How could John know about that? The only people who did were Theo, McGonagall and Flitwick but they were all sworn to keep his secrets. They only other people who knew were Ron and, and Blaise.

Harry suddenly felt sick, Blaise wouldn't have? Would he? Harry turned to Blaise but he looked as surprised as Harry did at John's question. Blaise met Harry's gaze and his eyes went wide when he saw the hurt in Harry's eyes. "No, Harry, I," he started to say.

John interrupted quickly, bringing Harry's gaze back to him, "it was something you said the last time we met, Harry. I didn't catch it in your rant, but my quill did. You said the Dursleys were awful and that you asked Dumbledore if you had to stay with them. No-one asks that unless."

"Unless what," Harry asked icily, daring him to continue, ignoring the wide-eyed gazes from Daphne and Tracey. "Sure the Dursleys don't like magic and ignored me as much as possible, but that doesn't mean I'm going to go boohoo about it to a bunch of stuffy-robed wankers on the Wizengamot. You said my emancipation would be an easy win, if that's true you don't need to sell it with a sob story."

Everyone was silent for a few moments at Harry's outburst, Harry's posture was still as tight as a bowstring. Blaise was tense at his side too, Harry knew Blaise wanted to hold him but was unsure if Harry would allow it right now. John held his hands up in a placating gesture, "okay, you're correct, we don't need to do anything else. This will be enough." Harry relaxed minutely, leaning lightly against Blaise again. He felt the tension leave Blaise's body as he wrapped his arm back around Harry's shoulders.

John cleared his throat and changed the subject, "as for the slander from the Daily Prophet and other media sources, well, Harry, you and I are about to become very wealthy." John gave him a shark like grin and Harry was suddenly glad this man was on his side.

"What about Rita Skeeter?" Ron asked.

"Well, as it turns out, being an unregistered animagus who is responsible for writing fiction as fact is not a very good thing." John replied, his mild tone off set by his still grinning mouth.

"She wrote the Harry Potter Adventure books?" came Harry's questioning voice.

John nodded, "she did, and on top of that, she's still liable for everything she wrote against you in the Prophet. I have dozens of minor suits drawn up against other less prominent reporters too." John said pulling them out of his case and setting them on the table.

Everyone leaned forward and began to look at the names, "Do we really need to sue all of these people?" he wondered aloud and he watched as Blaise frowned at a few in particular. "What is it?" Harry eventually asked him.

"Nothing, just I remember some of things these people have written about you. It wasn't very nice."

Harry put a hand on Blaise's knee, "I never really read the papers, I always knew they were full of rubbish. Hermi-, well, someone always read them for me and told me what was going on. It all seemed to really stem from Skeeter anyway."

Ron cleared his throat, "you're right, Harry, Skeeter did start a lot of it, but the media is a Hydra. You cut one head off then these all grow back in her place. if we don't do something about it."

"What can we do? If that's true, then more will just replace these guys," Harry sighed as he fell back against the couch.

"I think I have a solution for that," John said and when Harry looked at him, John was smirking. The smirk only grew wider as he divulged his plan and the teens jaws all dropped.

Harry was stunned, blinking he turned to Tracey, "I see how you got into Slytherin now." Tracey just straightened up and looked proudly at her father.

Harry was staring at the sink in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Everyone had gathered slowly over the last fifteen minutes and they were finally all here. Ginny had a large hessian bag slung over one shoulder and though no-one had yet asked her what was in it, they were all wondering. "Okay, Gin, time to fess up," Dean said as Greg and Theo finally joined them. "What's in the bag?"

"A rooster," Ginny replied glibly.

"A rooster," Dean deadpanned.

"Yup,"

"And why have ye got a rooster?" asked Seamus.

Harry muttered his response as he peered at the taps, steeling himself to open them, "because I don't fancy sticking a bloody sword through another bloody basilisk skull if I can help it." This drew a few gasps from those around him but Harry ignored them. Blaise was holding his hand and giving him subtle strength for which Harry was immensely grateful. He straightened up and squared his shoulders, he looked over at Ginny to see her face was white and Ron was holding her hand. "You sure you want to come down here, Ginny?" Harry asked. "No-one's been down here since.."

"I'm sure," she interrupted, her freckles standing out against the loss of colour on her cheeks, "I didn't go and chase bloody chickens only to become one now. I need to see, I need to.." she trailed off and looked at Harry who just nodded in return.

"Okay, let's go then." He stepped forward and after locating the little serpent hissed, "grant me entrance."

The marble sinks started to move, Dean, Neville and Greg hurriedly threw up silencing spells so that no-one would overhear. They had already bared the doorway as an extra precaution. Harry's lips twitched as the sinks opened wider than they had previously, forming a grand staircase. Torches sprung to life on the walls though it led deep enough that they could not see the bottom. "That's different," Ron acknowledged looking at Harry.

Harry shrugged, "well, it is Slytherin we're talking about here, thought I'd try something a little more pompous than just 'open' this time." He said with a grin at the five Slytherin's who had accompanied him, each of them wearing a look of varying displeasure, though Harry could see the amusement in their eyes too.

"What's different?" Susan asked curiously as she peered down the flight of stairs.

"It was just a bloody massive hole in the ground last time, we had to slide down this huge pipe," Ron replied.

Harry wrinkled his nose, "yeah and we got covered in slime, I think this way is going to be better." He moved forward, tugging Blaise with him as he set foot on the first stair, leading them down into the bowels of the school.

"This is much more preferable to being covered in slime," Daphne's voice rang out against the stone after a few minutes of awed silence.

"It was kinda fun though, the slide," Ron replied, "I mean, once you forgot about the basilisk and the danger and everything." Harry let out a laugh, amused despite his trepidation about being back down here. He shot a grin at Ron and they both laughed some more, Seamus and Dean joining in as well. Neville just shook his head and grinned, even Luna was giggling.

"Bloody Gryffindors,' Theo muttered dryly, which set smiles on everyone's faces. The mood was lighter now as they made their way down, conversation filling the corridor as they went. Soon they came to the bottom and entered a hallway, torches springing to life as they set foot on the stone floor. Harry looked around, as did the others, there were several sleeping portraits hung on the walls and they walked past them slowly.

"They're all of snakes," Hannah stated as they moved further down the corridor.

"Familiars," Goyle grunted.

"How do ye know that?" Seamus asked, he'd been trying to make an effort this week in getting to know the Slytherins and Harry shot him a quick approving look.

Goyle pointed at the plaques underneath the frames, "the plaques, they are written to signify the relationship they had with their owner. If they were just a pet it would be their name only, in saying in remembrance or remembered by, it shows the familiar bond." At the looks he received, he shrugged, "animals are my thing."

Everyone paused to look at the next plaque, situated under the portrait of a vivid green cobra, it read,

'Uksho, remembered by Ida Slytherin'

"IDA Slytherin?" Tracey squeaked, "who was she?"

"No idea," Harry murmured as he stepped closer to the portrait. Letting go of Blaise's hand, he trailed his fingers over the portrait, the snake hissed awake. Startling the others into taking a step back, though Harry stood his ground. "who was your Mistress? Ida Slytherin, who was she?"

The snake coiled tightly and looked at Harry appraisingly, "she was my Mistress, she was powerful, she had a hatchling named Aleyn, who hatched the one who brought us here to hang in his Chambers. Who built his home in this castle. It has been long since I have been awake. Where is my Mistresses hatchling's hatchling? I can feel his magic has faded from these walls. How long have I been asleep, Slytherin's heir?"

"I'm not Slytherin's Heir," Harry replied, "I had some of someone else's powers transferred to me as a baby, they were, are, Slytherin's Heir. Not me and it's been centuries since Salazar walked these halls."

Uksho tilted his head to the side, "you have much to learn young Slytherin, Magic does not pass from one soul to another. One's magic cannot be used by another." Harry frowned and was about to argue with snake when it hissed again, "I am old and have deserved my rest, I raised one speaker already. I will not raise another. Go inside and find your answers." Harry scowled at the portrait as it settled back into its coil. "Bring back my Mistresses magic to these halls, I would like to roam again." and with that Uksho shut his eyes and went back to sleep.

"Bloody uppity, arrogant, unhelpful, SNAKE!" Harry yelled at him, getting only a flicker of a forked tongue in reply.

Harry turned around disgruntled and suddenly remembered his audience, "er, so Ida Slytherin was Salazar's grandmother." He told them.

"Right," Blaise drawled, "and what was the rest of your conversation about?"

Harry scowled back at Uksho, "I don't know, because apparently, Uksho here has already raised one Speaker and refuses to tell me anything."

"Speaker?" asked Daphne as they all began walking again.

Harry shrugged, "it's what snakes call Parselmouths, you speak their language, you're a speaker."

"Are they simple then?" asked Theo, "I always wondered what it would be like to talk to a snake."

Harry shrugged again, "I can't exactly speak from experience, I've really only spoken to two. Though both of them were intelligent enough."

"How come you haven't spoken to them much?" Tracey asked, "I mean, if I could, I think I would. In fact why don't you have a pet snake? You're own familiar? I often wondered."

Harry was just silent for a minute, he didn't really want to answer. The truth was he had thought about it, often. The lonely boy, who spent summers alone and was up all night with nightmares had often thought about what it would be like to have a companion who only he could talk to. The fact that it would have scared the pants off the Dursleys was an added bonus. "Can't exactly be 'Gryffindor's Golden Boy' with a pet snake can I?" asked Harry instead, not realising the bitterness that seeped into his tone. He looked up into Blaise's eyes when he felt the taller boy press against his side.

"You mean you want one?" asked Ron in surprise.

Harry looked back at his friend who was looking at him a little surprised. "Well, yeah, I mean. It would have been nice to have someone to talk to over the holidays." Harry told him.

Ron's face instantly filled with understanding and Blaise's hand wrapped around his tightly. Harry squeezed back to let him know he was okay. "You should get one then, Harry." Neville replied, everyone chorusing in agreement. "I mean, it's not the snake or parselmagic that's evil is it? It's the person."

"He's right," Hannah said thoughtfully, "you could change the image of parselmagic, show people that it isn't evil."

Harry stopped at looked at them all in a little shock, "so what you're all okay with me getting a pet snake? I mean, I know how creepy it must sound to all of you, well, I don't completely because it sounds like English to me but," he glanced at Ron.

Ron shrugged, that was back in second year mate. The first time I ever heard it. I'm used to it now. We all are," he said gesturing to Neville, Seamus and Dean.

"What do you mean you all are?" Harry demanded, "I never talk in parseltongue!"

"Aye, right, so the hissing that's mixed with English that comes from behind your curtains at night when you're studying is my imagination yeah?" Seamus said with a grin.

Harry blinked at Seamus, but before he could speak Dean broke in, "and why none of us ever borrow your notes."

"What's wrong with my notes?!" Harry exclaimed.

"Well," replied Ginny, "there's the fact the handwriting is atrocious to start with, but the other thing is you write in these weird squiggly lines sometimes that make no sense whatsoever. We used to joke that it was in parseltongue, until we figured out it probably was."

Harry scrunched his face, "but all my notes about the Dragon Pox weren't like that."

"And none of your assignments either," Ron supplied, "er, Hermione, she had a theory that it was because subconsciously you knew your notes were just for you, whereas your assignments needed to be understood by others."

Harry just stood there completely dumbfounded by what his friends were telling him. "Oh come on, Harry," Theo interrupted, "existential crisis later, I want to know what's behind that door."

Harry turned back around, they had indeed reached the end of the Hallway and there standing in front of them was a large, ornately carved, wooden door. Snakes were depicted across the entire face and along the top was written, "croeso, croen neidr."

AN: I'm so excited to know what you think!

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