Disclaimer – Everything you recognise belongs to JKR. All the rest is simply me playing in her sandbox.
-oOoOo-
Hermione's Book Nook
Chapter 36
"Don't even think about it, Mister Potter!" Madam Pomfrey warned. "You are not leaving that bed for at least another two days. Yesterdays' shenanigans were more than enough."
Harry's attempt at a protest was quickly cut off.
"If I even think that you're going to get off that bed, I'll perform a permanent sticking charm between you and the bed," she threatened.
After a last long look to make sure that he wasn't going anywhere, the healer strode back to her office, muttering something inaudible under her breath.
"A fierce warrior, that one. Definitely not one to be crossed."
Harry looked across at Slipshard before giving an exasperated sigh. "You've got no idea."
"So, Mister Potter, to business," Slipshard said, pulling out a wad of parchment from his briefcase. "Would I be correct in thinking that you have something in mind to do with your own warrior exploits?"
Harry nodded, "yes, the basilisk."
At a gesture from the goblin, Harry paused. Then, with elaborate hand movements, Slipshard erected a series of privacy wards around the bed.
"What did you have in mind, Mister Potter?" Slipshard asked.
"I've been told that I can have the basilisk harvested. That people will pay quite a bit of money for it," Harry stated.
"Indeed," Slipshard replied. "Basilisk skin is even more prized than that of a dragon for use in armour; its internal organs, eyes and venom can be used in potions; the meat is considered quite a delicacy by some; and even the skeleton and fangs will be highly sought after. I take it you'd like a goblin team to harvest it for you?"
"Yes, if you can arrange it," Harry replied.
"For the right price, anything can be arranged," Slipshard replied with a predatory grin.
"How's five percent of the proceeds from the sale of the skin, meat and skeleton sound?" Harry asked.
"A good start," Slipshard replied. "Ten percent would be much better."
"I'm sure that it would," Harry replied, having been warned that he'd need to bargain for the goblin's services. "But considering the size of the thing – sixty feet or so – everyone's going to make a huge amount of money from it. Seven percent."
"Sixty feet, you say? I had heard that it was large. Eight percent," Slipshard countered.
"Of course, if you wanted to display the skeleton in Gringotts for a month or so before you sell it I wouldn't object. Seven and a half percent," Harry replied, desperately trying to keep a grin off of his face.
"You drive a hard bargain, Mister Potter," Slipshard stated, his eyes gleaming. "Deal. May we both find our vaults overflowing from such a venture."
After clasping hands to seal the deal, Slipshard began drawing up the contract.
"There's a few things that I'd like to do with parts of the basilisk," Harry stated. At Slipshard's gesture, he continued. "Can you open a new vault for whatever money I get from it, please? Also, those parts that are useful for potions, I'd like them split into three. One part to sell, one part to be given to Professor Snape for use at Hogwarts and the last part sealed in preservation jars and placed in the same vault for me. I'd also like a half a dozen of the fangs placed in my vault as souvenirs. You said that the skin can be made into armour? I'd like enough of it to make half a dozen suits placed in my vault as well. Lastly, I'd like to set up a trust fund for those that the basilisk affected."
"All of that can be done quite easily, Mister Potter," Slipshard replied, his quill scratching away. "What did you have in mind for the trust funds?"
"I'm not sure how much I'll get from the sale of the basilisk, so I'll need you to tell me if what I have in mind will actually work," Harry began. "There were seven people petrified by the basilisk. I was thinking of setting a trust vault for each of them that they can access when they are of age to the value of ten thousand galleons each. The two people who had Lord Voldemort possessing them with that diary also get ten thousand galleons. And I'll add an extra five hundred galleons for Mister Filch as his familiar was also petrified."
Slipshard stared at him. "That is incredibly generous, Mister Potter. And what you have proposed will only be a fraction of the proceeds you will receive."
Harry let out a sigh of relief even as his eyes suddenly grew huge as he realised the amount of gold he was about to come into.
"What are the names of recipients of the trust funds?" Slipshard asked.
"Argus Filch, Lil Moon, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Luna Lovegood, Colin Creevey and Damien O'Hara were all petrified," Harry replied. "Argus Filch's familiar was also petrified. And Luna Lovegood and Lisa Turpin were possessed by the diary. Oh, and I'd like a new top of the line wizards' camera bought for both Colin and Damien to replace the ones that the basilisk's gaze destroyed."
Slipshard nodded. "It shall all be as you have requested. If you'll give me a few moments more, I'll have the contract drawn up before I leave. I suspect that it'll take a couple of days to gather the goblin team to harvest the beast."
"That's alright," Harry replied. "You'll need me to take you down there since you need a parselmouth to open the passageways. And you heard Madam Pomfrey before. I won't be going anywhere for a while yet."
-oOoOo-
"Come in, Mister Potter."
Hearing the call, Harry tentatively opened the door to the Headmaster's study and did as he'd been bade. The office looked much like it did the last time that Harry was there just prior to Christmas, without all of the extra bodies. Today it was just he and the Headmaster.
"Sit down, my boy," Professor Dumbledore indicated one of the chairs in front of his desk before holding out a small crystal bowl towards him. "Lemon drop?"
"No thank you, Sir," Harry managed.
Harry watched as Professor Dumbledore sat back in his chair, his hands steepled in front of him and his clear blue eyes twinkling away over the top of his half-moon spectacles.
"Before we begin, Mister Potter, I am afraid that I must convey my disappointment in your recent actions."
Harry tried hard not to react to the sad, disapproving tone of voice.
"What do you mean, Sir?" he asked.
"You expressly disobeyed my wishes that you return to the Hospital Wing last week when you were clearly still in poor health from your little adventure," Dumbledore began. "Then, also against my wishes, you addressed not only the school but also a group of journalists, giving them information that it would have been wiser to keep protected."
"I'm sorry that you feel that way, Sir, but I knew that if I didn't say something, that everyone would still think that I was responsible for getting Lil, Colin and the others petrified," Harry replied.
Dumbledore gave a slow shake of his head. "While I understand your reasoning, Harry, you must also understand that wizards much older and wiser than you often see things more clearly and know what is best for you."
Harry gave a small nod of understanding.
"It is my understanding that you led a team of goblins down to the Chamber yesterday as well?" Dumbledore asked. At Harry's nod, he continued. "I would have very much liked to have been a part of such an undertaking. As I'm sure that you are aware, the opportunity to learn about one of the Founders from what they have left behind is an incredibly rare opportunity. I'm sure you can understand my eagerness to study such relics?"
"Yes, of course, Sir," Harry replied. "But we were only down there for the basilisk. No one had a chance to look for anything else."
"Perhaps the two of us could take an excursion down to the Chamber over the holidays, then?" Dumbledore suggested, his eyes twinkling away.
Harry shrugged, not sure how to answer that.
"And until then, I was wondering if you might consent to letting me borrow that amazing staff that you found. Wizard staffs are so rare these days and the chance to learn from such a magical relic is not to be passed up," Dumbledore asked.
"I'll have to think about it, Sir," Harry replied, beginning to wonder how he could escape the office.
The Headmaster nodded his head slowly. "Of course, Harry, of course. In the meantime, as the summer holidays are almost upon us, I thought that it was high time that I elaborated upon a few facts that I'm sure you are unaware of."
"Is this about what happened to Mister Malfoy for giving Luna that Diary?" Harry asked, his interest piqued.
"No, no, it wasn't," Dumbledore replied. "But since you ask, I'm afraid that he was let off with a fine. A rather hefty fine, but a fine nonetheless."
"How's that possible?" Harry spluttered. "He used that diary to set a basilisk loose on the castle."
"Ah, but you see, he claimed not to realise that the diary once belonged to Lord Voldemort or that he could control someone through it or of the misdeeds that would result from such an unfortunate happenstance."
Harry shook his head at the absurdity of the situation. He made a mental note to ask Madam Bones about it the next time that he saw her.
"Now, as I was saying, there is something that I needed to speak to you about. I have spoken to both your Aunt and Uncle in regards to the unfortunate events of last summer," Dumbledore told him, "and, while they were a trifle upset …"
Harry snorted at that. That was like saying that a nesting mother dragon was as placid as a goldfish.
"… they understand that these things happen with teenage boys," Dumbledore continued. "As such, all has been forgiven and you are free to return to your relative's home the day after tomorrow."
Harry's voice failed him. His mind flashed back to that day at the end of August when he'd had to go to the Ministry for doing underage magic. Dumbledore was there when he'd explained the magical oath. Nothing was ever going to make him go back to Privet Drive again. Besides, he'd already arranged to spend his holidays with Sirius and Remus.
Obviously misunderstanding Harry's silence, Dumbledore continued with a smile. "I have also arranged a small treat for you. After your birthday at the end of July, I shall come and collect you and you can spend the remainder of your holiday with your friend Ron at his house."
"Ron?" Harry spluttered. "Ron Weasley? We're not friends! He thought I was a nutter and the one petrifying people! He kept calling me the 'Heir of Slytherin'!"
"Come, come, my boy, friends often have misunderstandings. I'm certain that this is one such case," Dumbledore waved his protests away.
Harry clamped down on his retort, figuring that yelling at the Headmaster was never a good thing to do.
"Is that all, Sir?" he managed through clenched teeth.
"Yes, of course, my boy," Dumbledore replied. "Have a good summer."
Harry was up out of the chair and across the room as fast as his feet would take him without running. Once the door behind him had closed though, he bolted for the Transfiguration classroom.
-oOoOo-
Having sought and gained Madam Pomfrey's permission, Harry made sure to make his way to the hospital wing straight after relaying to Professor McGonagall everything that Dumbledore had just told him.
Sidling in through the double doors, Harry slid along the wall until he could see the beds that he was most interested in. There were eight of them altogether, one for each of the basilisk's victims, including Mrs Norris.
Madam Pomfrey gave him a nod as she passed him by, a tray full of vials in her hand. Scattered around the room were a handful of witches and wizards, the families of those affected. Well, Harry noted, not all of them. There was no one there for Mister Filch or for Colin. But then, he knew that Colin's parents were muggles, a housewife and a milkman if he remembered correctly.
That made Harry's decision easy. Picking up the box that he'd brought by earlier, he made his way across to stand by Colin's bed.
He watched as Madam Pomfrey moved from bed to bed, pouring the vial of potion into each person's mouth before using magic to move it down their throat. Within minutes of the potion being injected, Colin started to regain his colour. His skin changed from an off-white to a healthy pinkish tinge. A minute or so after that, Harry saw his fingers start to flex. The next movement that he noticed was a flick of his eye-lids.
"Hey, Colin," Harry said gently.
"H…Har…Harry," Colin managed through a voice that sounded incredibly disused.
Harry smiled down into the younger boy's blinking brown eyes.
"Where am I?" Colin asked.
"You're in the hospital. You were petrified," Harry told him.
Suddenly, Colin's eyes widened. "Harry! There was this snake! It was huge!"
Harry laid a hand on the excitable boy's shoulder. "Take it easy, Colin. We know all about it. It was a basilisk."
"Is it …is it still around?" Colin asked in a shaky voice.
"You don't need to worry. It's dead," Harry replied.
"Who killed it?" the boy asked.
Harry rubbed the back of his neck. "Actually, I did."
"Cool, Harry!" Colin beamed before starting to look around. "I thought I had my camera with me."
"You did, but when you looked at the basilisk through your camera, it got fried," Harry replied. Then, after reaching into the box that he'd laid on the nearby table, Harry pulled out something that made Colin's eyes bug out. "This is for you, to make up for it."
"Is that …?" Colin's voice trailed off.
"Yep, the latest in wizarding cameras. The EyeWiz42," Harry replied. "It's got all the attachments – wide angle lenses, zoom function, colour and black and white plates, a built in tripod and a bunch of others that I haven't figured out yet."
Movement on the next bed over caught Harry's attention and he moved across to the older boy looking hungrily at Colin's new toy.
"Here you go, Damien. There's one here for you, too," Harry said, handing over a second camera.
"Thanks, Harry," Damien grinned.
Noticing that everyone in the hospital wing was now looking at him, Harry decided that now was as good a time as any to make the announcement.
"Um, I'm sure that you'll all hear the story later, but the quick version is that you were all petrified by a basilisk," he began, pausing slightly for the gasps that sprang up. "As it turns out, I ended up killing it and because of what it did to you all, a trust fund has been set up for each of you for ten thousand galleons for when you are of age. Mister Filch, there's an extra five hundred galleons in your fund for Mrs Norris."
For a moment, he was sure that Mister Filch was going to cry so overwhelmed was he. In the end, the crotchety old man simply mouthed a 'thank you' at Harry, before collapsing back onto his bed, Mrs Norris clutched tightly in his hands.
Seeing that Colin was happily occupied with his new camera, Harry made his way across the ward and up between two particular beds.
"Harry!" Lil Moon exclaimed as she reached out and pulled him into a bone-crushing hug. Noticing him wince, she quickly let go and held him at arm's length. "Are you alright?"
"I got a little hurt," Harry shrugged. "Madam Pomfrey says that my shoulder's going to be a bit stiff and sore for a few weeks at least."
With a nod and a squeeze of her hand, Harry excused himself and turned to the opposite bed.
"Mister Potter. Xenophillius Lovegood. It's an honour to meet you," a tall, thin man said, reaching out to shake his hand.
Harry looked into the large unfocussed eyes and flyaway grey hair and immediately knew that this man was Luna's father. They both seemed to ooze an air of not actually being on the same plane of existence as everyone else.
"Hello, Harry Potter."
"Hi, Luna," Harry smiled and then, "it's nice to meet you, Sir."
"It was very brave of you to face a basilisk, Harry," Luna stated.
Harry shrugged. "I guess. But it wasn't like I was given much choice."
"No, I don't suppose Tom would have wanted you to live, would he?" Luna mused.
"You really managed to get under Riddle's skin, Luna," Harry told her. "He was extremely confused about everything that you told him and incredibly annoyed that you tried to kill him."
"He didn't exactly seem a happy sort of person. But then, living inside a book is bound to make anyone unhappy, I suppose," Luna replied.
Harry shook his head. "Do you know who Tom is, Luna?"
"Oh, yes, of course. You-Know-Who. I hope that you were able to destroy the diary, Harry, I think that it's of the utmost importance that you do," she told him.
"Don't worry, Luna, I've taken care of it," Harry reassured her. "Uh, I hope you don't mind me asking, but what are nargles and wrackspurts? It's just that Riddle mentioned them and he seemed a bit distracted by it."
Luna's large grey eyes stared into his green ones, her head cocked to the side slightly. "They're both incredibly shy creatures. Not many people believe in them, I'm sad to say. Daddy and I have been trying to get a photo of them for years. People write to us in our magazine, The Quibbler, telling us where they've seen them."
"You own The Quibbler?" Harry asked Mister Lovegood.
Mister Lovegood smiled absently at him. "We do. We'll have to send you a subscription for what you've done for Luna."
"Thank you, Sir, that's very kind," Harry replied before turning back to Luna. "Actually, Luna, that trust vault that I mentioned, it's going to have a bit more than ten thousand galleons in yours."
"Why would that be, Harry Potter?" Luna asked.
"Well, I decided that, as both you and Lisa Turpin, who had the diary after you, were possessed by Riddle, I've made sure that you get an extra ten thousand galleons for what he put you through," Harry explained.
"You didn't have to do that, Harry," Luna said.
"I know, but I wanted to. I can't imagine that it was very nice having him in your head like that and I wanted to do something nice for you both to make up for it," he explained.
Luna's eyes misted over at his words. "That's incredibly kind of you, Harry. It's almost like having a friend."
Harry stared at the small girl in front of him, as he remembered a strange comment that she'd made months ago about something he'd said being the nicest thing that had ever been said to her before. After all of the years of having Dudley chase away potential friends, he knew what it was like to be friendless and there was no way that he was ever going to turn down a potential friend.
"I'd be happy to be your friend, Luna," he smiled.
Suddenly, his arms were filled with a small blonde girl as she cried tears of joy into his shoulder. A large hand landed on his other shoulder and Harry looked up into the face of Mister Lovegood, a large smile beaming down at him from the man's face.