– CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE –

Now it's time to see if we can Dance...

It took Hermione exactly twenty-eight seconds to come up with an alternative. She reached into her robes quickly, searching for... "Aha!" She near-screamed. "Harry Potter!" In her hands, the communication mirror flashed for a moment as the call went through.

After a moment, the mirror flashed. "Well... whaddya know?" Harry's voice came over the mirror. "Guess we can communicate down here. Oh, shit..."

"Harry!" Hermione shouted into the mirror.

"Hang on, Hermione... my god, that's absolutely vile..." There was a moment of pause. "Would you believe me if I told you that there's a huge collection of bones down here? Good god, it's a rodent Ossuary."

Several students looked around. Susan Bones gave off an absent smirk. "It's a word for bone yard. Dates back to the late Middle Ages. Ask us later. Harry?"

"Hey, Suse."

"Harry, do you know where you are?" Susan called out.

There was a pause for a few moments, until Harry answered, "I think... yes... indeed, I'm in a dark room. If I had to hazard a guess, I'm about half a mile under the lake. The ceiling's dripping, and there's algae on it. Stalactites all over the place. Whoa..."

Hermione was pale with fear. "Harry?"

"Oh, yeah... it's a basilisk all right. There's some shed skin here. It's huge." Hedwig snuffled over the mirror. "How do you know that?"

"Know what?" Hermione asked.

"Somehow, and don't ask me how, Hedwig says this thing's very old. I'm having a horrible feeling."

"Slytherin's personal basilisk." Blaise muttered with horror. "Harry, if that's true, this thing may be far too powerful for anyone to deal with. It's skin could deflect the most powerful spells with ease."

"Thank you, Blaise." Harry said neutrally. "I was trying not to think of that."

There was silence for almost a minute; an eternity in this kind of situation. Finally, Harry spoke again. "Okay, I'm at a circular door... looks to be... is this an airlock?"

"Doubtful." Hermione said. "Vacuum-sealing wasn't possible a thousand years ago. The best they could do would be seal with wax."

"True." Harry agreed. "But, according to records, the chamber was last opened a mere fifty years ago. Vacuum-sealing was around then. This is different..."

In the antechamber, Harry looked at the door. It was different that the first time round. I knew I shouldn't have been dicking about with history. With a sigh, he focussed on one of the snakes. §Open!§

The door remained closed. "Okay... that's curious... who the hell would password protect a door only a Parselmouth could open?" He pondered for a moment. Is this because I took the diary from her? That'd make sense. "Hey, Weasleys?"

He could hear faint sounds of scrabbling, as presumably, the four Weasleys gathered round the mirror. "Hey, Harry." Two voices said in unison.

"Quick question, Tweedles: what would you sister pick as a password, if she was going to lock something up?" Harry asked.

There was silence for a moment, before Percy's voice, none of it's usual bluster in place, replied. "Er... you might want to try your name, Harry, or your title. She's always been very fond of the story of the 'Boy-Who-Lived'."

Harry sighed. "Fine." §Harry James Potter. Harry Potter. Harry. Potter. James. Pureblood. Boy-Who-Lived. Horcrux. Ginevra. Ginny. Weasley. Voldemort.§ The snakes in the door began to retract. "Arrogant tossers, all of them..."

"Harry?" Hermione's voice came from his pocket. "What's wrong?"

"The password was 'Voldemort'. Whoever came up with that one should get a commendation for original thinking." He replied sarcastically. "Honestly... The door's opening. And, of course! It's dark inside. Hedwig, you see anything?"

She snuffled in his ear.

"No, I can't either... I really don't like this." He sighed again, before stepping forward. §Lights!§ Camera... action... It's like the plot in some really bad story. Once inside the main Chamber, the door slowly began to close behind him. "Okay... that's not creepy at all, is it?"

"You okay down there, Harry?" Hermione asked again.

"Well, the lights have come on." Harry said, trying to make his voice sound cheerful. "But I can still barely see. This place is depressing as hell though... and it smells like a stagnant canal." Harry passed the main entry arch, heading down towards the far end of the Chamber. "This'd be a great place to shoot a horror movie. It's dank, cold, stinks and it's creepy. You couldn't ask for a better set."

"Where's my sister, Potter?" Ron's voice snapped over the mirror. "Concentrate on the important things!"

"I am." Harry muttered under his breath. "I'm concentrating on not crapping myself in terror." He cleared his throat. "Okay... enough of this darkness shit." He flicked his wand, sending out magical light bulbs to float about him, in the corners of the Chamber, and on each support pillar. The lighting in the Chamber grew until he could see everything.

"Hello, Ginny." Harry said softly. "Okay, I've found Ginny Weasley. She's lying on the ground at the far end of the Chamber. She appears to be either unconscious or asleep. There's a large pool of water just beyond her, and a huge statue just beyond that. Good lord, Slytherin was ugly."

"Don't just stand there!" Ron screamed through the mirror. "Check if she's all right!"

"Give me a minute." Harry replied. "I can't see or hear anyone else. How the hell did she get down here? Where the person that took her? And more to the point, where the bloody hell's the Basilisk?"

"It won't come until it's called." A voice from the far end of the Chamber called out, stepping out from behind one of the pillars.

"Hello." Harry said, a gleam of malice in his voice. "And who are you, and what are you doing in the Chamber of Secrets?"

"I? That's not important." He glanced down at Ginny. "Tis a shame about the girl."

Harry made no attempt to move forward. "She's not dead yet. And you... wait a minute... Slytherin robes, prefect badge, annoying sneer that I've seen before... Oh, I know who you are!"

"Harry?"

"In a minute." Harry replied absently. "It's been a while since I've seen you. Care to tell me how you're standing here?"

"Me? I'm just a memory, preserved in a diary for fifty years." The other boy said.

Harry looked down at Ginny for a moment. "I'm curious... how exactly did Ginny Weasley get like this?"

The stranger smiled evilly. "Well, that's actually a rather fascinating tale. Why don't you come over and sit with me, and I'll share it with you?"

"Probably because I believe you're on a clock." Harry replied. "I think you're trying to distract me. It won't work."

"Fine." The other boy shrugged. "Foolish little Ginny poured her heart and soul into a diary, which contained-"

"You." Harry replied, finally taking a step closer. In his ear, Hedwig snuffled. "You're not quite all here yet, though... Hedwig says that you're human, yet you're not."

"If I knew or cared what a Hedwig was, I might be bothered." The other boy replied.

"You still haven't told me your name." Harry pointed out.

"You may call me... Tom."

In the mirror, Harry heard Dumbledore's gasp of shock. He ignored it, for the moment. "Well, good manners should be returned, I suppose, Tom. I'm Harry Potter."

"Yes... I've heard of you, of course. The 'Boy-Who-Lived', I believe they call you." Tom replied, looking even more smug and sure.

"Some call me that." Harry agreed. "However, others call me," §The Destroyer of Voldemort.§

Tom leaned back slightly. "Interesting... but futile."

Harry took a few steps closer, making sure to keep his wand out of sight, just in case the teenage Voldemort decided he'd want to use that instead. "So... you've been controlling Ginny somehow?"

"Oh, yes." Tom replied, entirely too smugly. "It was easy. She started writing in me. Do you have any idea just how deathly dull it is to listen to an eleven year old girl?"

"No." Harry replied. "The only eleven year old girls I knew were all fascinating." He grinned. "You must have picked the short straw on that one, Tom."

The other boy shrugged. "Well, perhaps. Still, I was patient. I was kind. I entertained her little fantasies and dilemmas. Then, she finally got more interesting. She started telling me about the 'Boy-Who-Lived'. How he was so brave, handsome and powerful. A living legend."

Harry mock-preened for a moment. "Well... I'd argue with you, but it's true."

Tom sniggered. Like any good intellectual, he enjoyed a verbal joust. "As I gained more and more control over her, I was able to influence her."

"'Influence her'?" Harry repeated. "By 'influence her', I assume you mean possession of some sort."

"Of course." Tom said happily. "Even though I was driving, it was Ginny Weasley who killed all the school roosters. It was Ginny Weasley who attacked the Squib's cat, and petrified all those Muggleborns." He smirked malevolently. "Of course, she didn't remember doing this. The diary entries after each attack were delicious."

"And I'm sure that you enjoyed each one." Harry pointed out. "Like any truly deranged individual, you only feel joy from another's pain."

"True." Tom agreed amiably.

"I'm curious." Harry said. "Everything up until now has required Parseltongue. I know that's not a gift inherent in the Weasley or Prewett lines. How exactly did little Ginny Weasley manage to control a Basilisk?"

"I have the gift." Tom said, looking at Harry intently. "Even though I'm not... myself, I still have control over what I can do. By using Ginny Weasley, I gifted her with some of my abilities."

Harry nodded. "So... it was you that stabbed me in the chest before Christmas."

"It was." Tom replied, smirking again. "I must admit, I was rather upset you didn't die from that. I was hoping..."

"Ah, Tom, Tom, Tom..." Harry said sagely. "My mother died for me, Tom. She gifted me with protection. I will say, it hurt when I was stabbed, but my friends helped me survive."

"'Friends'?" Tom repeated, looking both amused and sickened. "You have 'friends'? You truly are a fool. Friends only get in the way. Friends cannot be trusted. There are only two types of people in the world... the people you can use, and the people who should die."

"You have a sad view of the world, Tom." Harry said. "Let me guess, the next thing you're going to tell me is 'there's no such thing as good and evil. Only power, and those too weak to take it.'"

Tom nodded. "Yes... that is my philosophy."

"Yeah... you're wrong." Harry gave a light shrug, well aware that Hedwig was still on his shoulder. "Evil must be faced, fought, conquered and destroyed."

"A noble goal, Harry Potter." Tom said patronisingly.

"So, you used Ginny to stage the attacks on the first-generation students and Mrs. Norris. Why? What was the point of those attacks?"

"Entertainment." Tom replied nonchalantly. "But then, I grew bored with the child. I switched my attentions to someone far more worthy."

"Oh... me?" Harry asked. "Well, I'm flattered, Tom, really, but I should probably tell you; I don't bat for that team. I prefer girls."

§Foolish boy!§ Tom hissed angrily. "When I heard about what you'd done, I knew I simply had to meet you."

"Really?" Harry managed to blush on command. "I'm honoured. It's always nice to meet a fan. I haven't got a pen on me, but if you'd like, I could probably get you an autograph."

"I am not a fan!" Tom roared.

"No? Oh... hang on a minute... if you were here all that time ago, that means that it wasn't Rubeus Hagrid who opened the Chamber of Secrets in 1943, was it?"

"Hagrid? That foolish oaf? He couldn't use his brains to get out of a paper bag!"

"Oi!" An indignant voice shouted over the mirror.

Tom's face lit up. "The great oaf's still here? Oh, how marvellous!"

"Tom Riddle, you evil bastard!" Hagrid's booming voice roared. "It's all your fault! You killed Myrtle, and you blamed Aragog! You blamed me!"

"Yes, yes I did." Tom agreed happily. "And it was so delicious, too. All those people who just fell over to believe me." He smirked evilly. "It's unsurprising, really. Me, the poor but noble prefect, an orphan who fought against injustice and intolerance... against a half-breed oaf, who generally set fire to things and got in fights. Is it any wonder that Headmaster Dippet chose to believe me instead of... that? Of course I was believed. By blaming the oaf, I kept myself safe." He shook his head, clearing the happy memories to one side. "As pleasurable as it is to taunt the oaf, I really must get down to business. And that business is... you."

Harry just stood still. "Elucidate."

"For many months now, my new target has been you. How is it the half-breed son of a blood traitor and a Mudblood, with no extraordinary talent, managed to defeat the greatest wizard in the world?"

"Hey!" Harry interrupted angrily. "I'll have you know I have many extraordinary talents! I can sing, dance and I'm a hell of a snappy dresser!" He smirked at Tom. "You really don't know how I defeated Voldemort? Why should you care?"

"Oh, I care." Tom plucked Ginny's wand from the ground, writing flaming letters in the air.

Harry quietly read them. §Tom Marvolo Riddle... hang on, that's an anagram... Voldemort... Lord Voldemort... I am Lord Voldemort? Utterly pathetic. If you know French, it proves you a coward.§

§I am no coward!§ Tom hissed back. §I am the Greatest Sorcerer who ever lived!§

§You're really not.§ Harry corrected. §If it's anyone, it's me. I have the powers of Voldemort, and the control and abilities of Dumbledore. You could never hope to defeat me, Thomas.§

"We shall see." Tom said. "Harry Potter... you come to me with a post owl and nothing else? How do you expect to win against the greatest wizard in the world?"

"Just a post owl? Oh, Thomas... What do you think, Hedwig?" Hedwig snuffled indignantly, making Harry crack a smile. "He can't, Hed'. Male anatomy doesn't work that way. You just can't bend it that far back."

His familiar snuffled again. "Well, yeah, he could, but how would he reattach it after he was done?" He looked over at Tom. "Here's an idea, Tommy." §Let's match the powers of Lord Voldemort, coward extraordinaire, against the might of the 'Boy-Who-Lived', hmm? Wanna see just how good I am?§

"Indeed." Tom smirked, turning to the statue of Slytherin. §Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts Four!§

"He really wasn't, you know. Everyone knows Helga was by far the best in a brawl." Harry replied, not moving from his spot. He watched the mouth of the statue open, quickly putting on his own sunglasses, and sticking them in place. "Oh, fuck me..."

"Harry?" Hermione's voice came through the mirror.

Harry still hadn't moved. "You would not believe just how big this basilisk is." He said quietly. "And it's one ugly motherfucker."

"Harry!" Hermione said, then realised exactly who she was correcting. "What can we do to help?"

Harry sighed. §Blink the Basilisk! I speak to you in the name of Salazar Slytherin! I order you to stand down! You have been perverted from your role as protection!§

The basilisk stopped, looking over at Harry. §You speak the tongue... you know my name. Identify yourself, little ape-creature.§

§I am Harry James Potter, the last Heir of Godric Gryffindor and Rowena Ravenclaw. I speak on behalf of Hogwarts, the founders four. Stand down.§

§No!§ Tom hissed angrily. §I am the Heir of Slytherin, and you will do my bidding!§

The basilisk looked at Harry. §W hat is your request, Heir of Gryffindor?§

§Stand down, Blink. You were put here to protect Hogwarts, not to attack her students. I beg of you, harm no-one. I have no wish to hurt you.§

§Attack!§ Tom commanded. §Kill him!§

The basilisk blinked, before sighing. §I must obey the Heir of Slytherin, Heir of Gryffindor. For what I must do... I am sorry.§

"So am I..." Harry whispered. "So am I." He reached up to the owl perched on his shoulders. "Start the ball, Hedwig." The owl leapt from his shoulder like an organic cruise missile, racing towards the basilisk, who snapped her jaws as Hedwig flung herself past. While Hedwig was engaged in distraction manoeuvres, Harry drew his wand and the dagger. "Hedwig, left eye, attack pattern omega!"

The owl barked in response. "What do you mean, 'what's attack pattern omega?'? Dive, hard." She answered with a 'woof' as she flung herself up to the ceiling, before beginning a spiralling bombing run. While Blink was occupied with Hedwig, Harry enlarged the dagger to twice its normal size, before hurling it with all his might at the basilisk, a banishing charm speeding it up.

Blink shrieked as the dagger smashed right through her right eye, obliterating her all-killing gaze. Harry looked up at the magnificent creature with sadness. §I'm sorry... but I must. I cannot allow you to harm any more in this school. Stand down and live. Fight... and I will kill you.§

§You will fight!§ Tom roared. §You will fight, and you will win, you foolish creature! Kill him!§

Blink roared as Hedwig's attack finally connected, destroying her left eye. The Basilisk was blinded, a less-than-effective measure, considering both Harry and Hedwig had on protective eyewear. It did, however, give them a little time to come up with a more effective plan than 'stick the pointy object through the basilisk's mouth' while Blink was trying to recover from being rather brutally blinded.

"Hermione, you have any clues for taking out a Basilisk?" Harry asked, as he ducked behind and leaned against a support pillar, Hedwig still swooping round, distracting Blink.

"Not a clue!" Hermione wailed.

"Okay..." Harry pondered for a moment. "We're about two thousand feet above sea level here, aren't we?"

"Closer to three thousand." Hermione replied instantly, tears in her voice. "Why?"

"I was just pondering using a sonic attack." Harry replied, flinching slightly as Blink roared angrily. "Then again, there's an excellent chance the ceiling will collapse, and I don't fancy drowning in this depressing shit hole." He thought for a moment. "Dumbledore, you there?"

Dumbledore's clearly worried voice came through. "I'm here, Harry. What do you need?"

"What's the Ministry policy on using Unforgiveable curses on a Basilisk?"

There wasn't even a pause. "There isn't one." He said instantly. "The Unforgiveable curses are so named when used on human beings. But I would strongly suggest-"

"Later." Harry replied. He poked his head round the corner, watching Hedwig begin another strafing run, but even her razor-sharp talons weren't enough to penetrate the tough hide of the Basilisk. "Hedwig, evasive pattern Delta!" He ducked back, before sticking his head out again. "That means get the hell out of there!"

The owl immediately changed directions, heading up to the roof of the cavern, where she flew in random circles, making it near-impossible for the deadly basilisk or Tom to bring her down.

"Okay... enough of this cowering shit." He reached into his pocket, pulling out the communication mirror. "Hermione, I need to go off-line for a few minutes, okay?"

"Wait, Harry!" Hermione shouted.

"Speak to you soon." Harry said, cutting off the communication. Once the channel was closed, Harry stepped out from behind the pillar. "As the Heir of Gryffindor, I call upon the blade of my ancestor!" He held up his hand, concentrating a good potion of his magic onto summoning the sword from the space-time recess inside the Sorting Hat.

The sword appeared in his hand, no longer short and light, but a true bastard sword, long, heavy and extremely deadly. He gave a couple of practice swings, noting that the sword seemed to move exactly how he wanted it to.

§Blink, I implore you... stand down. That is not Tom Marvolo Riddle. It's just a memory. A Horcrux. He doesn't deserve your loyalty or your power.§

Blink roared angrily. §He is the master. I have no choice, Heir of Gryffindor. I do what I must.§

§Please don't make me kill you.§ Harry pleaded. §You are here to protect Hogwarts, not attack her.§

"Pathetic..." Tom sneered. "No will to fight, Potter?"

"No desire to kill, Tom." Harry corrected. "But, just because I don't want to kill her doesn't mean I won't."

§Attack, beast!§ Tom shouted. §Let the world feel the power of the Heir of Slytherin!§

"Fuck it." Harry rolled to his left, sending out a blast of pure magic. It wouldn't do much more than annoy Blink, but it was enough to give him a few moments to get into position. Okay... time to see if we can do something a little different. He drew his wand, pressing it against the pommel of the Sword of Gryffindor, smiling to himself as the sword absorbed his wand.

"Avada Kedavra!" He shouted, infusing the ancient blade with the power of a Killing Curse. He decided to attack the source of the problem, the blasted diary, but a tail strike from Blink made him change his mind. He slammed the far wall of the chamber heavily, slumping to the ground.

Ribs aching, Harry shook his head, trying to clear the cobwebs. "Fuck..." He groaned, trying to pull himself to his feet. "That hurt..." He saw Blink thrashing about, reaching up to the ceiling. Hedwig... Throwing a wandless banishing charm at Blink, enough to distract the beast, really, he slowly hauled himself to his feet. Oh, bugger, this hurts...

He extended his left hand, summoning the fallen sword, the spell he'd charged the blade with dissipating when the sword was knocked out of his hand. He took a deep breath, wincing as his battered ribs protested. Okay... thousand year old Terminator, or the cause of the problem first?

Hobbling forward, Harry sent another banishing curse at Blink, knocking her back again. Oh, I hope I don't crush Ginny... too badly, anyway. Another banishing charm... another...

§Fight, you foolish beast!§ Tom hissed furiously, waving impotently at Harry.

Blink roared angrily, slithering back at the next banishing charm, desperately trying to bite the person who was slowly killing her. Her jaws clamped down on... nothing. She inhaled deeply, trying to find her attacker. Harry, seeing the immense mouth closing on him, had dived backwards, aggravating the injury to his ribs. Jesus, I didn't hurt this badly the first time... It's my own bloody fault for being so cocky. He stood up, rolling to one side as Blink's tail flailed about.

"Can't you fight on your own, Tom?" Harry asked, ducking under another tail swipe. "Let's try something a little different, shall we?" Pointing the combined wand/sword at Ginny, he focussed all his power. "Accio Horcrux!"

Tom's eyes widened as he sent his own summoning spell at the diary, prompting it to hover in mid-air, a battle of wills and magic.

"Stop this, Potter!" Tom hissed angrily. "Leave that which you cannot understand!" §Basilisk, destroy Potter now!§

Harry swore as Blink grew closer. "Hedwig, I need you!"

The avian barked angrily as she dived from the ceiling. Snowy owls are not famous for their impressive diving speed, but with the magic infused in Hedwig, she managed a very respectable 136 miles per hour, her talons wrapping round the diary as she swooped past, neatly pulling the book out of each of the summoning charms.

§Blink, stop now!§ Harry hissed. §Please don't make me kill you!§

§I must!§ Blink replied. §I am sorry.§

"So mote it be." Harry said as he lurched forward, the glowing green blade swooping directly at the Basilisk. He leaped into the air, the magic infusing his legs, somersaulting neatly over Blink's snapping jaws, driving the Sword of Gryffindor straight into the King of Serpent's brain.

She died, instantly. Her body stopped moving, simply slumping down. Harry landed on Blink's back, performing another somersault, landing next to the fresh corpse. He glared at Tom. §You fucking idiot! She didn't have to die!§

"It doesn't matter, Potter." Tom replied smugly. "Foolish little Ginny will be dead soon, and I shall have my revenge upon you."

"Yeah, right." Harry said dismissively. "Hedwig, my dear?" The sword began to glow again as Harry re-infused the blade with another killing curse, his familiar began a strafing run, releasing the diary. The sword flashed, cutting the Horcrux neatly in two. It instantly began to spray blood-coloured ink, the manifestation of Tom bisected in a flash of light. The death of the Horcrux caused a magical backlash that simply washed over Harry, making him take a small step backwards.

Not wanting to discuss the situation with Ginny, he cast a Somnus charm at the girl, keeping her asleep. With a sigh, he slumped against the basilisk. "I'm sorry, Blink..." He said softly. "I'm so sorry."

Hedwig fluttered down, landing on his shoulder. She snuffled softly. "I know, Hedwig. It was a pointless death." Another snuffle. "I wish she had. She'd have lived..." A thought crossed Harry's mind. "Oh, bollocks."

In the Great Hall, Hermione clutched onto her mirror so tightly, her knuckles were white. She'd not tried to call Harry again, since he was clearly in the middle of a fight.

"Potter to Granger." Her mirror spoke.

"Harry?" She shrieked. "Are you okay?"

There was a pause for a moment. "I'm fine. Mission accomplished. The Basilisk's dead. Tom's gone. Ginny's safe and asleep."

A chorus of ragged cheers erupted in the Great Hall. "What about you, Harry?" Hermione asked softly. "Are you okay?"

"I feel like shit." Harry's voice was blunt. "She didn't have to die, Hermione."

"The basilisk?"

"She was doing her job. She was a protector. She had no choice but to follow Tom's orders. It was all... pointless."

"Is Hedwig okay?" Hermione asked. A snuffle answered her. "I'm glad, Hedwig."

She watched as the image in the mirror shifted, revealing Harry's face. He looked old... tired... worn out. "It was pointless." He repeated softly.

Hermione scrutinised the image for a moment. "Harry, what's that behind you?"

"That's... that was Blink." He replied.

"But... it's just a green wall... oh my god!"

"Blink's a bit bigger than you might think." Harry replied dryly. "When I get back topside, do me a favour?"

"Anything, Harry."

In the mirror, Harry's eyebrow shot up. "One day, I might hold you to that. But, remind me to build a remote control for the Box. I don't particularly fancy the climb back out." Harry looked away for a second. "I wonder... Fawkes!"

There was a sound that could only be described as ripping fabric, before a cheerful burst of phoenix song erupted over the mirror. Hermione quickly looked up, seeing several people in Slytherin green flinching at the sound, while she felt lighter, freer... more alive than ever before. Hmm... that means something, I know it does.

"Fawkes... hate to impose on you, old friend, but any chance of a lift out?" Hermione heard Harry ask.

The phoenix song again filled the air, making Hermione's heart near-glow with happiness.

"Really? Are you sure?" Harry asked.

"Harry?" Hermione looked into the mirror.

"In a minute." He replied absently. "Fawkes, I need you to be absolutely certain. If you're wrong..." Another blast of phoenix song. "But... why?"

Hermione glanced up to see Dumbledore's jaw hanging open. "Sir?"

"He... he can understand a phoenix." Dumbledore replied. "It's... it's unheard of. Only those truly in tune with magic, and those that are pure of heart can understand the song of a phoenix."

"But... he speaks to Hedwig all the time." Hermione pointed out. "They have conversations... she reads books. I didn't know it was anything special. Just another language."

Dumbledore shook his head. "No, not at all. It's extremely rare."

In the mirror, Hermione heard Harry hiss with pain. "Harry! Are you okay?"

"Fine." Harry replied, his voice weak and trembling. "I might, just might, have busted a couple of ribs fighting the basilisk."

"Any other injuries?" Hermione asked.

"Well..."

"Harry."

"There might have been teeth involved." He replied. "Big bloody fangs, too."

Hermione slumped down. "You've... you've been bitten?"

"Just a little." Harry replied. "Can I just point out that Basilisk venom stings like a bitch?"

Harry yanked his arm down from Blink's mouth, wincing as Fawkes cried his tears onto the wound. Harry pressed the mirror into his pocket for a few moments, muffling the sound. "Please tell me why I needed to be bitten by the bloody thing? Really, I was fine without it."

Fawkes sang for a moment, keeping his eyes just above the wound.

"But, I can already do wandless magic. Why would Basilisk venom help me with that?"

Another blast of song.

"Really? That's why I could do it in the first... oh, of course!" Harry felt like slapping his head. "The Basilisk venom, a highly potent magical substance, acted as a focus, just like your tail feather in my wand, right?" Fawkes nodded. It was a very odd sight to see an immortal firebird nodding at you. "How do you know, anyway? I mean... you're from this time, so how would you-"

Fawkes interrupted with another burst of his lyrical words.

"I didn't know that... are all phoenixes temporally omniscient?" Fawkes nodded again. "So... you exist at all points in the space-time continuum?" Harry pondered for a moment. "Doesn't that get confusing?" He thought for another moment. "That's how you knew to come to me the first time, isn't it? You knew that I'd need help, so you came down."

Again, Fawkes nodded, pulling up his head to reveal a galleon-sized scar on Harry's arm.

"All that bollocks Dumbledore said about loyalty to him calling you down... daft old git." He sighed, standing up. "Any chance of a lift out, old friend?"

Fawkes sang, before lifting himself into the air.

"Hang on. Wanna shrink Blink down before I go. Lot of useful ingredients here..."

It only took a few moments for Harry to reduce the size and weight of the basilisk, although even his most powerful spells would only work for a short time, thanks to the innate magic of the ancient basilisk, but hopefully long enough to put the corpse into the Box under security containment. He slipped the small serpent into a pocket, before ambling over to Ginny, picking up the sleeping girl, before whistling for Hedwig.

Once his familiar was perched on his right shoulder, Fawkes hovered over his left. The Sword of Gryffindor had faded away, waiting to be called upon again. Shit... still need to get my wand out of it. Ah, hell... I'll do it later. "Fawkes!"

With a flash of other-worldly flame, the Chamber of Secrets was once again empty.

Poppy Pomfrey was normally calm, collected, and very rational. When a column of flame began to form in the hospital wing, she was less than her normal self. She stifled a shriek, which slowly turned into a disgusted moan.

"What have you been doing now, Harry?" She asked, recoiling from the stench coming from the young man in front of her.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Harry said tiredly. He staggered forward, placing the girl in his arms gently onto the bed. "And right now, I've got a higher priority... I stink. I really need a shower."

Poppy nodded unconsciously. "Yes, you do." She muttered absently, as she rushed over to the girl, flicking her wand in a diagnostic spell.

"Will she be okay?" Harry asked after a moment.

"She's magically exhausted." Poppy replied. "She'll be physically weak for a few days, but it'll take weeks for her magic to come back. What happened to her?"

Harry just shook his head. "That... is a question I think Dumbledore should answer. I don't have all the answers, Poppy. I have some, but not all of them." Like why the hell didn't Hogwarts wards register someone bringing in a bloody Horcrux? They should have been screaming at Dumbledore for the last nine months.

They have been. A cool, calm and collected voice said in Harry's mind. Every time the girl used the vile thing, I have notified the Headmaster.

He knew? Harry demanded angrily. How do you notify him?

There is a collection of instruments in the Headmaster's office.The castle informed him. They monitor the defences of the school. Each time I have detected-

Hang on. Harry interrupted. A collection of shiny silver instruments, sitting on a shelf opposite his desk? Make little puffs of smoke and whirly noises?

Yes.

Son of a bitch... Harry mused. Dumbledore reconfigured them to monitor me while I was away from Hogwarts. They also monitored the wards at Privet Drive. Does this mean that he hasn't been watching over the school wards?

There was a pause while Hogwarts ran her own version of diagnostics. The school wards are as strong as ever. They draw their energy from the excess magic in the air. However, if he has removed the devices that monitor the wards, he would not know.

Harry fumed for a moment, before remembering that he had nearly a ton and a half of snake in his pocket under spells that wouldn't hold for much longer. Can you release the lockdown? Need to put Blink away. The doors to the hospital wing made an odd 'squelch' sound, that Harry could only describe as an 'unsquelch', before he walked through. The sound was like pulling a boot out of a mud patch, but not. All this time... he was so busy watching me, he forgot the hundreds of students who've passed through this school... Jesus, that's negligent as hell!

I am unable to change these instruments. It will be necessary for you to get him to repair them.

I'll do what I can. Harry promised, heading up the stairs to the fifth floor. While he was walking, he pulled the communication mirror from his pocket. "Hermione, are you still there?"

She replied in a heartbeat. "I'm still here, Harry!"

He could hear the tears in her voice. "I'm okay, Hermione. I'm back topside now. Just heading to the box. I need a shower. The lockdown's released. You might wanna tell the Weasleys that their sister's in the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey's tending to her now."

"Are you okay? You said you were... bitten."

"Fawkes fixed me right up, Hermione." Harry stopped outside the portrait to the Ravenclaw common room. "Oh, just open up. You know who I am."

The portrait scowled at him, before swinging outwards.

"Anyway, I'm back in the dorm. I presume the Headmaster would like a word." He quickly headed up the stairs, bypassing the showers and heading straight into his Portkey Box. Hedwig alighted from his shoulder, heading over to the perch that had been set up in Harry's bedroom, and promptly fell asleep. She'd eat and clean herself later, but sleep was becoming a priority.

"That's... putting it mildly, Harry. The Weasleys have just rushed out. Presumably to check on Ginny."

"She'll be okay." Harry said casually, moving to the console and flicking a few buttons. Once the runic changes had been made, he headed to the new storage area, where he dropped Blink off. With a sigh, he headed for his bedroom, flopping onto the bed. After a moment, he pulled off his boots. "Jesus, my feet stink... all that running around in pools of stagnant water... I've probably ruined my boots."

Hermione's voice, when she next spoke, sounded oddly different. "I'm coming up to the dorms now, Harry. I need to make sure you're okay."

With a grin, Harry told her, "Well, I'll probably be in the shower, Hermione... you're welcome to join me."

"Put on some trunks and I will." She offered. "Give me a few moments to transfigure a bathing suit, though."

Harry closed the mirror, transfiguring his boxer shorts into a pair of swim shorts, before heading to the back of the box. He quickly clambered into the shower, grabbing a bar of soap and viciously attacking his feet.

Less than five minutes later, Hermione, clad in a black one-piece swimsuit that looked gorgeous, was looking Harry over for injuries. "You don't seem too bad. What about your ribs?"

Harry shrugged. "I'll tape 'em up later. They don't seem to be broken, thank god." He looked at her. "You know... you look really nice in that suit."

She blushed prettily. "T-Thank you, Harry."

"Don't thank me for telling the truth, Hermione." Harry said softly, as he handed her a bar of soap. "And now, I have an overwhelming urge to wash your hair..." He trailed off. "I don't know why."

Hermione smiled at him, moving to stand in front, and grabbed Harry's bottle of shampoo. "I don't mind..."

Smiling warmly, Harry lathered up his hands before proceeding to turn the smartest witch of her generation into a pile of boneless goo.

After a shower that lasted nearly an hour, Harry helped Hermione to the common room, where she collapsed onto one of the chairs in front of the fire and promptly fell asleep. Harry knew that she was feeling a massive letdown as her adrenaline flushed away, making her tired. The relaxing head massage would have helped, almost forcing her into sleep.

Suppose I'd better go and see what's happening round here. I wonder if everyone's still in the Great Hall. With a sigh, he left the common room.

Once he passed through the doors into the Great Hall, pretty much the whole school began to cheer him. With a snarl, Harry waved the applause away. One of the foolish Hufflepuff fifth years made a mistake; "Speech!"

Harry turned, glaring at the idiot. "Why should I? You all thought I was the Heir of Slytherin, even when I told you I wasn't. I'm still the same person I was last week, when you all thought I was a murderous lunatic. Piss off and leave me alone." He turned slowly, before turning back. "How was that for a speech, numbnuts?"

"Mr. Potter." McGonagall said, striding down from the Head Table. "I'd like a brief word, if possible."

"Epigrammatic." McGonagall's eyebrow rose dangerously, so Harry decided to abandon a course of action that was more dangerous than Blink. "Of course, Professor. Here, or in your office?"

McGonagall eyed him warily. "Is there anything you need to say which is classified?"

Harry shrugged. "Not really, ma'am. I went down into the Chamber, passed through the outer areas before entering the main chamber. I saw Ginny lying in a puddle underneath a statue of Slytherin, and there was someone standing over her. We chatted briefly, before he called the basilisk over. We fought. I won. I destroyed the enchanted object that was controlling Ginny before Fawkes brought us back out. Ginny's now in the hospital wing. Job done."

McGonagall nodded, a small, private smile on her face. "You kept your word."

"I always keep my word." Harry said, mock-offended. "I told you I'd take care of it, and I did." He winked, feeling the spirit of the Marauders rear up in him. "Anything for you, Minnie."

With a sigh of exasperation, she shook her head. "Because of what you've just done, I'll allow that... this time."

"Noted." Harry said. "So, every time I save the school, I can call you by that hated nickname?"

"I suppose." McGonagall groused playfully. "But only then. Where is Miss Granger?"

"Asleep in the Ravenclaw common room, ma'am. I'm guessing all that worrying tired her out. I'm sure she'll be okay."

"Good. And what of the beast?"

"The basilisk, ma'am? Since I was the one who slew it, I claimed it. Lot of useful ingredients there."

At that moment, a hated voice spoke up. "As property of the school, Potter, it should be delivered to me."

Harry shook his head. "No, Snivellus. Standard Ministry law is that anyone who slays a creature like this is entitled to the remains."

"It is school property, Potter. As the potions master of Hogwarts, it's my responsibility. You will take me down to the Chamber so I can rend it down."

"No, I won't." Harry said, turning back to McGonagall and ignoring Snape. "Is there anything else, ma'am?"

McGonagall shifted slightly so her back was facing Snape. "One other thing, Mr. Potter; I assume since you're walking around, you're not injured?"

"Not too badly, ma'am. My ribs got a bit hurt, but they'll be fine in a day or two. The bite... well, Fawkes cleared that right up for me. On the plus side, I have yet another funky new scar for the collection."

"Do not ignore me, Potter. You will take me down into the Chamber, or I will see you expelled."

"You are dismissed, Severus." McGonagall said archly. "I am speaking with Lord Potter and your presence is not required."

Snape stalked away, heading back up to the Staff table. "Any bets he's gonna go crying to Dumbledore?" Harry asked in a conspiratorial whisper.

"Harry, I'm a teacher. I don't get paid enough to throw it away that easily." McGonagall whispered back.

Indeed, based on the wild gesticulating, Snape was indeed crying to Dumbledore about Harry's refusal to deliver an almost priceless source of potions ingredients. Or maybe land a light aircraft. Who knows? After a moment, Dumbledore nodded, stepping down from the staff table.

"Brace yourself." McGonagall whispered, before straightening up. "Is there something I can help you with, Albus?"

"Not at all, Minerva. I need to speak to Mr. Potter about his recent actions."

McGonagall arched an eyebrow. "Considering that the last time you spoke properly with Harry, he told you in no uncertain terms to never speak to him again, I think that would be a very short conversation."

"This is important, Minerva. I need to know what happened down in the Chamber. Harry, if you'd come with me to my office, it shouldn't take too long."

Harry didn't even blink as he carried on looking at McGonagall. "Is there anything else, ma'am?"

"Harry, I said to come to my office. We have things to discuss." Dumbledore said firmly.

"Albus, Mr. Potter told you that he wouldn't be dealing with you. He has already reported on the actions that happened in the Chamber of Secrets. I will brief you on that information."

Dumbledore ignored McGonagall. "Harry, stop being childish. All you are doing is proving that you do not have the maturity to be an adult. An adult would not let petty, childish grievances come in between a working relationship."

Harry sighed. "Professor McGonagall, we'll continue our conversation later." He turned and began walking away.

"Mr. Potter!" Dumbledore snapped angrily.

"Is this concerning my schooling, Headmaster?" Harry asked, not bothering to turn.

"You are perfectly well aware of what this concerns!"

"Which is why I'm ignoring you." Harry said, stopping at the Ravenclaw table where the rest of his friends were sitting. "You guys wanna go and talk?" His friends quickly stood up and fell into formation around him. They began walking away.

Dumbledore shook his head, looking at McGonagall. "You disappoint me, Minerva."

McGonagall's head span so sharply, it was a wonder she didn't get whiplash. "Oh?" She asked frostily. "And how do I do that, Albus?"

"If the 'Tom' down in the Chamber of Secrets is who I believe it was, then Mr. Potter has had his third encounter with Voldemort. Don't you think it's curious that he cut off the communication in the Chamber, just as he was speaking?"

McGonagall shook her head. "No. I believe that he was busy fighting for his life, and didn't really have the time to talk. I know what you're doing, Albus, and I won't stand for it. Leave him alone." McGonagall turned and walked out of the hall, intent on finding Harry so they could finish their conversation.

As Harry passed through the portrait hole into the Ravenclaw common room, he spotted a dazed-looking Hermione sitting in front of the fire. "Harry?"

"Hey, beautiful." He said, going over to her and pressing a kiss against her forehead. "You okay?"

She nodded slowly. "Yeah... I'm shattered, but I'm okay. Are you?"

"Picture of health and harmony." Harry replied, smiling slightly. "Wanna go and see something scary?" He held out his hand.

"Would my parents approve?" Hermione asked with a cheeky grin, as she took his hand and hauled herself to her feet.

Harry couldn't let that kind of comment go. "If size matters, then it's a very large snake, my dear. I'll let you read into that statement what you will."

Behind Harry, the others, turned bright red as various 'trouser snake' comments came to mind. Ignoring their filthy minds, Harry led them to the stairs. Just before his foot touched the first one, the portrait hole opened up again, revealing McGonagall and Flitwick.

"Ah, Harry." Flitwick said cheerily. "We were just coming to speak with you."

"Shall we retire to somewhere there's a little less chance of being overheard?" Harry asked, pointing to the stairs.

Once inside the Portkey box, Harry quickly closed the doors, sealing them. "So, Professors, what would you like to talk about?"

"The basilisk." McGonagall said dryly.

"Ah, yes... let's go and see her, shall we?" Harry led the group of nine towards the newly-created storeroom, opening the door and stepping back. Muttered curses and one soft scream were his responses as people took in the sight of a sixty-three foot snake.

"Good lord..." Flitwick muttered. "You fought that?"

"Yep." Harry replied nonchalantly. "Hard as nails, too."

"Well, this raises the legend of the 'Boy-Who-Lived'..." Susan muttered. "Not only does he defeat a Mountain Troll barehanded, now he slays basilisks. What's next?"

Harry shrugged. "Werewolf? Giant? Vampire? Acromantulas? Inland Revenue Inspector? I dunno. I'm sure something will come along."

"How did you kill it?" McGonagall asked, walking round the front of the snake, looking for injuries.

"Stabbed it." Harry replied, rubbing his arm unconsciously.

"What with?"

"Sword of Gryffindor."

That comment got everyone's attention. "The... the sword of Gryffindor?" McGonagall breathed. "But... that's been missing for centuries! No-one knows where it is!"

With a shrug, Harry raised his hand, mentally calling the blade. It appeared in a flash of ruby light. Discretely, Harry pulled his wand from the hilt, slipping it back into his robes. "Since I'm of the Gryffindor line, the blade recognises me as the rightful wielder, so it came to me when I needed it." He held the blade, extending it pommel-first to McGonagall, who took it tentatively.

"Good lord... you could use this?" McGonagall asked as her arm sagged, completely unprepared for the weight of the sword.

"Hey, when you're in danger, you can do almost anything." Harry replied with another shrug. "Besides, I think because it's mine by right, it helped me to use it. I wasn't really thinking about it at the time."

Flitwick coughed, bringing attention back to the huge snake. "What'll you do with it?"

Harry ran his hands along the scaly hide. "Well, I was thinking that all this hide could be used to make armour. There's enough here for quite a few suits. Since the basilisk was Slytherin's personal basilisk, that makes it ten centuries old. Should be exceptionally good at blocking spells and curses. All those ingredients, bone, blood, venom... can be used for loads of different potions and rituals. Good stuff. And normally horrifically expensive, too. This cuts that down completely."

McGonagall nodded. "I understand. And you're correct about Ministry policy regarding the slaying of such a creature. However, I don't believe that Albus or Severus will let this go. Normally, basilisk hide would go for almost a thousand galleons per square foot. The venom for substantially more. Potentially, you have hundreds of thousands of galleons in potions supplies here. I'd make certain that it's secure."

Harry smirked. "If anyone can penetrate the security on this thing, they've earned it, Professor. I doubt they can, though."

With a nod, McGonagall brought the conversation back to the important issues. "Can you provide any more information about what happened in the chamber, Harry?"

Harry just shrugged. "There's not a lot, Professor. Really. We bickered for a few minutes, slipping into and out of Parseltongue, he called the basilisk, I fought it, killed it by stabbing it with a sword and then destroyed that charmed diary. The corporeal Tom vanished the instant the diary ended. I didn't want to deal with Ginny, so I can a sleeping spell on her. Fawkes came down and brought me back up to the Hospital Wing. I released the lockdown, and came back to my dorm for a shower, because frankly, I stank. Then I came to see you."

McGonagall nodded. "Very well. As the Deputy Headmistress, I would like to ask a favour of you, Mr. Potter."

"Shoot."

"Would you seal the Chamber of Secrets, so that it can never be entered again?"

"Already planning on it." Harry admitted. "I was gonna put a password on it so even if Hogwarts fell to a Parselmouth, they wouldn't be able to open it."

McGonagall's eyebrow shot up. "Do you believe Hogwarts falling is a possibility?"

Harry shrugged. "No-one knows the future, Professor. Not even seers. It could happen. I'd just do it out of general principle."

"Good enough, Mr. Potter." McGonagall said. "However, I believe that Albus will not settle until he has spoken to you at length."

"Well, he's gonna be very unsettled for quite a while. I have no intention of speaking to him... about anything. Well, I suppose academics, but all he's gonna do is tell me to take Divination again." His tone reflected his disgust at that thought.

McGonagall shared his distaste. "I understand. He has spoken to both myself and Professor Flitwick about it, stating that you need to be in Divination class and says that he has a valid reason for the request, but he hasn't told us what the reason is."

Harry snorted. "Unsurprising. It's probably something that I should be told, but the old man thinks I'm too young and childish to know. Is it any wonder that I'm not following him like a good little sheep?"

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Do you know why he wants you in that class?" She asked slyly.

"Yes." Harry admitted.

"Can you tell us?"

"Not yet. Even Dumbledore doesn't know that I know and he if did know that I know, I know he'd be all pissy and try to make sure that I don't know that I know, and I'm fairly certain that statement can get confusing." Harry replied with a grin.

"Mr. Potter," McGonagall began, "I am aware that your knowledge seems far more complete that any normal second year, even with your prodigious reading speed. Could you answer some questions?"

"Some, Professor, yes. But not everything. I truly wish I could explain... but I can't yet. It's still too early."

Luna cleared her throat, her eyes lighting up. "We must be patient. The day of truth comes closer, but there are still trials before it arrives."

"Luna..." Hermione looked at the odd little blonde, "do you know any of Harry's secrets?"

"Yes. I know of one." Luna replied, slowly turning her lit-up gaze towards Hermione. "I know the biggest." She could see Hermione building up for another question. "However, he has not told me any more than he's told you. In fact, he's told me less. But, because of who and what I am, I know."

"Can you share?"

Luna tilted her head as she pondered, Seeing the ramifications of that action. "If I told you now, it would result in the destruction of Wizarding Britain by 1997. Muggle Britain would fall within eight months. Your parents would be tortured for almost three years before being allowed to die. The rest of us would be exterminated as blood-traitors within the first purge."

"O-Oh..." Hermione looked sick. "Do you know when we can be told everything?"

Again, Luna was Seeing. "I believe July 1995 will be the time."

Harry's eyebrow shot up. "Is that definite?"

"Nothing is set in stone, Warrior." Luna replied, her voice falling into the frankly terrifying temporal aspect. "The future is not set. There is no fate but what we make."

With a nod and a sigh, Harry turned back to Hermione. "Well, there you go. At a rough guess, another two years before I can tell you."

Hermione pouted outrageously for a moment, before nodding. He still hadn't lied to them. And now she had a date for when the answers would be forthcoming. So far, Harry had kept his word. She'd wait. For now.

Things quickly settled down for the remainder of the term. The exams came and went, Harry and his friends scoring perfect marks across the board. (Of course, Snivellus tried to accuse them all, even one of his beloved Slytherins, of cheating, but McGonagall quickly put a stop to it.) Two of the Ravenclaw seventh years asked for a quiet word with Professor Lockhart about his book, after a quiet prompt from Harry, and reported that they'd been attacked. A brief investigation by Professors Sprout, Flitwick and McGonagall revealed a pair of failed memory charms. The truth quickly followed.

Harry had been involved with some pretty serious correspondence over the last week. It had bugged Hermione when all he'd told her was 'it's just clearing up some loose ends'. She accepted it, though, knowing that she'd have more luck getting blood from a stone than information from Harry.

It was only a few days later that she found out what he was doing, when he took her for a walk to see his first ever friend, who'd been fortunate enough to avoid going to Azkaban this time around. They quickly found him outside his hut, a huge pipe in one hand with a large tankard of tea in the other.

"Hagrid." Harry said, stood proud and tall, looking every inch the proud head of an Ancient family.

"Harry?" The huge man asked, lowering his pipe. "Is everything all right?"

Harry nodded slowly. "As your head of house, Hagrid, I have orders for you."

Hagrid cocked his head. "Oh?"

"Yes. On Monday, 5th July, 1993, you will go to the Ministry of Magic, where you will sit your Care of Magical Creatures OWL examination." Harry said, prompting Hagrid to grin.

"I'm a bit past taking exams, Harry."

"No, you're not." Harry said. "And as a protectorate of my family, I must insist."

Hagrid nodded slowly. "O-Okay, Harry. So, Monday the 5th, I've got my OWL?"

"Correct. On Tuesday, 6th July, you have your Care of Magical Creatures NEWT examination."

Hagrid's grin vanished. "Two exams? Harry, I'm not exactly-"

"On Wednesday, 7th July, you have your Care of Magical Creatures Mastery examination." He grinned at Hagrid. "You'll be an expert, Hagrid. You never know when that sort of thing may come in handy. Besides, you know so much about all these strange beasties, you can piss all over your Mastery."

With a confused blink, Hagrid shook his head. "I don't think so, Harry. I can barely string-"

"Hagrid." Harry interrupted kindly. "Stop it. We both know that you're one of the foremost Creatures experts in the country. Good lord, the Minister of Magic himself was consulting with you about the various beasties. You can do this. You will do this. Besides, I hear on the grapevine that Professor Kettleburn's retiring, something about wanting to spend more time with his remaining body parts. At the moment, you are the most qualified person to teach Creatures, but how much better will that be if you have a Mastery in the subject, too?"

Hagrid nodded slowly. "I wonder how you know about that, Harry."

"It'll give you a nice little mental puzzle while you're studying, because I'll never tell." Harry smirked.

"But, you're right... Professor Dumbledore was saying about me taking over... A Mastery would certainly help."

"Excellent." Harry nodded and extended his hand. Hagrid took it carefully, not wanting to crush Harry. "I expect to hear from you when you've passed them. And in the summer, we'll go shopping for a new wand for you."

"O-Okay." Hagrid dropped Harry's hand, then turned and went back into his house, muttering about 'finding that damned quill'.

Harry held out his hand to Hermione, leading her away from Hagrid's hut. "Harry?"

"Hmm?"

"How did you know that Professor Kettleburn's retiring?"

"I overheard Professor Burbage in the corridor last week."

Hermione nodded. "So, you're making Hagrid take exams?"

Harry slowed and looked at her. "I'm making him live up to his potential, Hermione. He has the knowledge to pass his exams. If it hadn't been for Voldemort, he'd have been doing this for decades. Besides, the money from being a certified Creatures Master is way more than being a Groundskeeper. It'll let him get wankered even more."

Rolling her eyes, Hermione nodded. "Fair enough. Anyway, I need to go and see Professor Sprout about the summer homework."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"Do you have any questions about it?"

"Not really."

"I'll be fine, Harry." She reached up and gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek, before scurrying, her face burning, towards the greenhouses.

Harry reached up and pressed his cheek, feeling his own face burn. "Women..." He muttered, shaking his head before carrying on into the school. On the way, he was accosted by tall, dark and smelly.

"Potter! What did the teenage Dark Lord say to you?"

"Piss off, Snape." Harry tried to push past him, but Snape backhanded him with all of his strength, watching Harry spin away from him. Snape quickly grabbed Harry's chin, and pointed his wand at him.

"Legilimens!"

Snape found himself floating in the darkness. Harry's mindscape was corrupted; the starship in front of him had no shields, and was leaking plasma from its nacelles. Snape drifted forward, floating through the open door, seeing bodies lying on the ground. He strode on to what he assumed was the ship's command centre, and saw a figure in bright pink, leaning over a console, crying heavily. Consoles rained down sparks, the lights were dimmed, and smoke soiled the air.

The main chair turned around, revealing Harry Potter, sat regally, dressed in black.

"Well well, Snivellus. You were told. You were warned what would happen if you tried this again. Computer, restore ship to standard specifications." A beep echoed throughout the ship's hull, and the bridge was suddenly pristine. "You know, for someone who's supposed to be a master at this, you're pretty shite." He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "You believe that you should have unfettered access to my thoughts at any time. Everyone's thoughts, even. Well, let's see how you like it."

Snape suddenly flinched as he felt a mental assault completely bypass his Occlumency shields. He felt a stinging pain behind his eyes for a moment, before suddenly, his vision greyed out.

He woke up in the hospital wing, the itchy bed and bright lights doing nothing for his composure. He saw Dumbledore and Potter standing next to his bed, and he sneered.

"Attacking a teacher, Potter? I'll see you expelled for this." He looked at Harry, directly in to his eyes, but felt nothing.

"Oh, Professor? I'm afraid that won't work any more. That stinging pain you felt? That was me placing a barrier inside your brain, powered by your own magic, preventing you from using Occlumency or Legilimency. As of right now, you're an open book to the Professor here. The barrier can only be unlocked by a Parseltongue password uttered by me and a code phrase from Professor Dumbledore. Neither of us knows the other's password. If your abilities are needed for any duties, we'll unlock them. For teaching, though, you'll just have to make sure you're doing your job properly."

"Albus, you can't be serious. Surely you'll not let a student dictate terms."

Dumbledore looked down at the 'reformed' Death Eater sadly. "Severus, I have warned you on several occasions that Mr. Potter is not his father. I asked you, I ordered you, and advised you to avoid Mister Potter. You decided to ignore those warnings. This is entirely your own fault. Your Mind Arts abilities will remain bound until I am convinced that you can be trusted not to abuse them." Albus looked at him with a harsh warning on your face. "If you approach Mister Potter in any way that is not vitally essential to a Hogwarts education, you will find the reprisals I extract will be most dire."

Albus left the Hospital Wing, leaving behind a fuming Snape and a smirking Potter.

"You know the best bit, Snivellus?" Harry asked in a conspiratorial manner. "He thinks that he's working to get back on my good side. He doesn't know that I don't have one. But you... when the time comes, dear friend, I will kill you. Your life will end at my hands. I promise on the blood of my line that you will die, Snivellus Snape." As Potter was walking out, he started singing a song. "You think he's an open book, but you don't know which page to turn to, do you?" Malicious laughter was heard down the corridor, leaving Snape to gnash his teeth in pure rage.

The evening before the last day, Harry entered the Great Hall, vaguely amused and highly offended at seeing a good portion of the school body waiting for him. "Ah, Mr. Potter." Dumbledore called from the Head Table. "The school has gathered because they would like to honour you for your defeat of the basilisk and the saving of the school."

Harry's eyes narrowed instantly as he took in the sheepish looks on the faces of the vast majority of people. "Really." He stated icily. "This is the same group of people that said I was a murdering psychopathic trainee Dark Lord, isn't it?"

Dumbledore frowned. "Yes... but they have come to realise their folly."

Harry just snorted and made his way to the Ravenclaw table, where Hermione and his friends waited.

"Harry?" Dumbledore called out.

"You know not to call me that." Harry said as he climbed onto the bench.

"My apologies, Mr. Potter... but are you not going to accept the gratitude of your friends and peers?"

"Well, my friends never accused me in the first place, and my peers are mindless cretins who, even when I told them the truth, decided to ignore me, so no, I won't be accepting their platitudes. Maybe this incident will prompt them to think about things before making wild accusations, and that even rash, foolish, impulsive actions have lasting consequences." He leaned forward and grabbed a tray of sandwiches.

"But... you have to forgive us!" Ernie McMillan stated woodenly.

"No, I don't. You can work towards redemption, McMillan, but I don't give forgiveness."

Dumbledore's frown increased. This is not good... in order to become the saviour the world needs, he must be meek and humble. This kind of defiance could cost the Wizarding world everything. "Mr. Potter-"

"No." Harry interrupted, not even bothering to look up at the Head table. "I have no desire to go to your office and listen to you lecture me about forgiveness being divine. In case you didn't notice, I'm not divine. And I have no desire to continue this conversation." Harry continued to eat his sandwich, making almost every other student in the Great Hall feel like fifth wheels; they didn't know what to do.

Dumbledore gestured at the benches. "Very well, Harry. I can see you're not yet ready to talk about this like an adult. However, we shall be continuing this conversation in the future, when you're a bit more mature."

Hermione was leaning closer and closer to Harry as the conversation continued, and felt a rush of anger towards the old man for belittling Harry so thoroughly in front of the entire student body. Even more unfortunately, for the sheep of the Wizarding world, every word that came out of Dumbledore's mouth was practically law; by declaring Harry as childish, that image of him would be plastered across the whole of Britain by the time the children got off the train.

"Harry..." She whispered.

"Not a problem." He whispered back, not looking up. "Trust me, I know. It'll get worse before it gets better, Hermione."

She yelped as she felt a hand squeeze her thigh comfortingly.

"Damn... school robes really do ruin things." Harry muttered, a cheeky smirk on his face.

Damn you, Harry Potter... Hermione thought as she plotted her revenge.