Aria, Ron, Harry, multiple Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws waited anxiously outside the infirmary. Inside the closed infirmary, Madam Pomfrey was administering the petrification antidote with Professor Snape.
Finally Professor Snape appeared.
"All of your friends have been restored," he told them. Aria whooped along with the other students. Professor Snape grimaced, as if the loud noise made his head hurt.
"Yes, yes," he muttered, "do keep your voices to an indoor level of volume. Thank you. Now, Madam Pomfrey will still be at least another half hour with your little friends. She has to make sure their muscles are all in working order and such so I suggest you all leave and do something else. Your friends will be back for lunch."
Groaning the students dispersed under their Potion professor's watchful eye. Aria, Ron, and Harry wandered outside, stopping short when Ron gasped and pointed towards Hagrid's hut.
"Is that smoke coming out of the chimney?" he asked.
"Hagrid must be back!" Harry cried. The three raced towards Hagrid's hut, slowing down to peer into the window to see if anyone was home besides Hagrid. When they didn't see anyone inside they knocked on the door. No one answered.
"Perhaps he's around back?" Aria suggested. They circled the hut but didn't find Hagrid.
"Maybe he's sleeping," Ron said. "Let's come back later with Hermione."
The three turned to trudge back up to the school when the door to the hut opened and Hagrid appeared.
"I thought I heard the door!" he boomed, grinning at them. Aria looked the man up and down. His hair was wet, had he taken a bath? He also appeared thinner than the last time she had seen him, but he was still broader than anyone else she knew.
"We saw the smoke coming out of the chimney," Ron said as they entered the hut. Fang barely looked at them from where he had parked himself on the hearth. "When did you get back?"
"A few hours ago," Hagrid replied. "Fell asleep first thing. Just finished cleaning Azkaban off o' meself. Where's Hermione?"
"She got petrified," Aria said. "But they're administering the antidote right now and they should all be out of the hospital wing in a few hours."
"Aria battled a basilisk," Harry added.
"A basilisk?" Hagrid's eyes widened and Aria wasn't sure if he was horrified or in awe. "How are you still alive? Even I wouldn't mess with a creature like that."
"I had a little help from Fawkes," Aria replied. And perhaps the castle, she added to herself. She needed to do a little more research. "It was terrifying. I really don't want to talk about it. But I'm sure you'll still want to see the monster, Hagrid. It's up in the library corridor. Professor Snape's getting the goblins to come and harvest it."
"Aria's gonna be rich!" Ron cried. She rolled her eyes. She doubted it'd be that much money. Hagrid poured them tea.
"Tell me what I've missed," the giant-man said.
After tea with Hagrid the friends walked with him to the library corridor. It took some time to reach the corridor as any student they passed stopped to greet Hagrid and Hagrid insisted on chatting with everyone. Finally though they reached the corridor, heavily warded against students, so they could only gaze upon the dead creature like it was some sort of museum exhibit.
When it wasn't moving it almost appeared smaller, Aria thought, though Professor Snape said it was almost seventy feet long!
"My, what a beauty!" Hagrid cried. "Glad no one got any more injured than petrified. These things are illegal to breed. I wouldn't even attempt it."
Aria, Ron, and Harry glanced at each other. What illegal creatures would Hagrid attempt to breed?
"You're gonna be very taken care of after this beasty is harvested," Hagrid continued. "If I remember right, the last going price for a flask of basilisk venom was 400 galleons."
"400 galleons?" Ron cried. "You're definitely going to be loaded, Aria."
"That's only a few flasks," Aria replied. "Several hundred galleons is hardly a fortune, Ron." Though it would help pay for school supplies, and next year, she could use some of that money for Hogsmeade trips!
"The last basilisk to be harvested was back in the 70s," Hagrid said. "At least, that I'm aware of. I remember there was an article in one of them magazines. Professor Slughorn shared it with all o' us. That was only 20 feet long and there was at least five flasks from that beast. This creature's almost double! Not to mention you'll get money for the fangs, the skin, the mean, and probably the skeleton too."
"Well the goblins will take care of it, and I'm sure they're not going to cheat me," Aria said.
"Indeed we won't!"
The group turned, surprised to find a group of goblins with Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor Snape, Lockhart, and McGonagall.
"It would be the highest of dishonor," the goblin that had spoken continued.
"I didn't mean anything by it," Aria said. "I . . . am just having a hard time believing this is going to make me rich." The goblins chuckled, a rather frightening sound like the rumbling of rocks against each other.
"I assure you, Miss Bourne, you will be well off," Professor Snape replied. "The price of basilisk venom has risen to 550 galleons a flask, fangs are 100 galleons an inch, scales go for 400 galleons a piece. And each bone of a skeleton is 200 galleons a piece and, based off the few other harvests of basilisks, there are at least 1,800 total bones within a basilisk. If you did the math . . . ."
"That's 360,000 galleons on the bones alone," Harry said. He gave Aria a pointed look even as she gave him a wide eyed, surprised look.
"Oh," was all she could say.
"I am so glad you were not harmed," Lockhart told Aria as Dumbledore took down the warding to allow the goblin harvesters access to the basilisk. "Though if I had been with you, you would not have had to fight off such a beast!"
"Smiling wouldn't have killed it," Ron muttered. Aria and Harry giggled, even as Snape and McGonagall sent them disapproving looks. Lockhart had not seemed to hear. In fact, he now seemed determined to give the goblins advise on how to harvest the basilisk. The goblins did not look pleased by his presence.
"Why don't we leave them to it?" Snape suggested. "The goblins will give you an inventory once they are done, and you can decide how much gets sold and how much you'll keep."
"What if I want to sell all of it?" Aria asked.
"The wisest thing would be to keep a few pieces," Snape answered. "To . . . sell at other dates or to use for trade. One never knows when one will need priceless potions ingredients. They can be put in stasis and be kept fresh for 100 years, though I doubt any part of the basilisk actually needs such a charm."
"Too bad we don't know where the actual chamber is," Harry said. "I read that the molted skin of snakes can be used in potions."
"Yes," Snape said with a sigh. "It is a bit unfortunate. I can think of several uses of such an ingredient. But none of you are going to go look for the chamber. Correct?"
The three nodded their heads. Aria was in no hurry to find the chamber.
"Good. Now, I believe if you run off now you may be in time to meet Miss Granger as she leaves the infirmary."
Aria and her two friends prepared to scamper off, only to stop as screaming echoed down the corridor. Snape drew his wand, rushing back the way they had come. Aria glanced at Ron and Harry before the three ran after Snape, only to stop as Hagrid came lumbering down the corridor.
"Professor! Professor!" Hagrid shouted. "It's Professor Lockhart!"
Back in the library corridor Aria, Ron, and Harry skidded to a halt seeing their DADA professor writhing on the floor surrounded by the goblins, each with their own look of surprise and horror.
"What happened?" Snape demanded, even as Hagrid attempted to shield the three second years from the sight and the three attempted to peer around him.
"The fool attempted to teach us how to properly extract the venom of the basilisk," one of the goblins snarled. "He just ripped a tooth out! No proper gear on or anything. Now look at him! He's luck it's not in his body else he'd be dead!"
Snape began muttering, waving his wand over the man. Lockhart's screams disappeared. Snape lifting his wand and with another soft mutter a ghostly doe came out of the tip of his wand, coming to stand near Snape. It nudged the professor's head.
"Poppy, bring your strongest burn paste, pain potion, and dittany to the library corridor," Snape said to the doe. "And alert St. Mungos that we will be transferring a patient to them."
The doe raced off through the wall of the castle.
"What was that?" Ron cried. Snape whirled back on the children.
"Leave!" he hissed. "You don't need to see this." Hagrid, at that moment, managed to push the three further away and so they lost their chance to see the damage done to Lockhart.
"Hagrid, what happened?" Ron asked.
"Professor Lockhart got splashed with basilisk venom," Hagrid said. "Nasty stuff. It'll kill ya in minutes if it gets inside ya, but it burns somethin' fierce otherwise. That's why the goblins had protective gear. Professor Lockhart shouldn't've tried to show off like he had."
Pomfrey rushed by them.
Aria, Ron, and Harry eventually made it back to the infirmary where Hermione was just leaving with Justin and Colin.
"I'm so glad you're all right!" Aria cried as she and Hermione threw their arms around each other. All the boys looked uncomfortable.
"Glad you're well, Hermione," Harry settled on saying, though he looked like he was ready to defend himself in case Hermione decided to hug him too. "You too, Justin and Colin."
Colin's face went bright red before he scampered off.
"Poor kid," Hermione muttered. The Hufflepuff second years appeared at that moment, though the Slytherins eyed Zacharias Smith with suspicion as he tried to hide behind Hannah.
"What did we miss?" Justin asked.
"A lot," Susan replied. "But I think we have time before dinner to fill you all in on things." Ron glared at Zacharias but did not say anything as the students made their way outside and found a nice sunny spot to lounge while filling in Justin and Hermione on the things they had missed.
"What classes do you think we should take?"
It was a few days later and the deadline for registering for electives was looming over the third years. The second years had gathered a group together in the Great Hall during study time before dinner to discuss their options.
"I think I'm going to sign up for everything," Hermione announced.
"Why?" Aria asked. "You don't need Muggle Studies."
"But it'd be interesting to take it from the wizarding perspective!"
"Hermione, you can't all the classes," Seamus argued. "They're bound to be overlapping timetables if you do that. Besides, if you take all the classes then you're going to have to take all the OWLs and you've seen how the fifth and seventh years are this time of year!"
"I think Seamus' is right," Theo said, "loathe as I am to admit such a thing." Seamus stuck his tongue out.
"Well, Aunt Amelia said that I should sign up for classes that'll interest me," Susan said. "And even if I don't like a class I can always drop it later. And Professor Sprout said it's better to drop an elective later than add one." The mixed group stared at their options.
"Are you guys looking over the electives?" Draco asked, appearing behind Theo. Pansy sulked behind him. "Can we join?" Theo and Blaise made room for Draco while Pansy was forced to sit beside Hannah and Lisa Turpine from Ravenclaw.
"Do you know what you're taking?" Aria asked. Draco pulled out a completed class sign up sheet.
"I'll be taking Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and Care of Magical Creatures," Draco said. "Thought my mother suggested looking into doing one of the extracurriculars."
"You mean like the clubs?" Aria asked, remembering the Astronomy Club.
"No," Draco replied. "They're non-graded extra classes. Apparently, mother said, they're good supplements . . . I think that's the word she used . . . and they can always turn into NEWT level classes later if enough students ask for it. Depending on the subject and job prospects."
"I'm too young to think about jobs!" Dean cried dramatically. Lavender and Pavarti giggled. Padma nudged her sister with a roll of her eyes.
"What extracurriculars are offered?" Aria asked.
"They get announced each year," Draco said. "They're in that corner of the announcement board. Mother took Art and Music when she was here. Got a NEWT in both. I think too Frog Choir falls under Extra Curricular. We'll be able to try out." Aria did not feel as excited about that as Lisa, Terry, and Hannah all looked.
"Supplement yourself that way," Justin told Hermione. "Don't take all the classes." Hermione looked rebellious for a minute before Professors McGonagall and Snape approached them.
"I hope that is your electives you are looking at," McGonagall said sternly. "I hear the second years this year are cutting it very close to turning in their choices."
"There are just so many!" Aria cried. "And Draco was just filling us in on extracurriculars that are different than some of the clubs!"
"Ah," McGonagall said. "Yes. Those are different since they can become NEWT level subjects with enough interest, unlike clubs which are meant to be relaxing and fun."
"But we don't get graded in the extracurriculars?" Hermione questioned.
"No," Snape replied. "They are there for exploration. Long ago the teachers of this school realized that no student could take all their desired electives, and so some classes from third to fifth year were made extracurricular subjects in order to prepare students for NEWT level work without overloading them at a younger age."
"Can we sign up for those now?" Hermione asked. Her friends snickered at her enthusiasm.
"No," McGonagall replied. "We will have a list prepared during the first week of classes next term." Hermione frowned but scribbled away at her schedule. Aria peered over Hermione's shoulder and saw her write Ancient Runes, Care of Magical Creatures, and Arithmancy. She quickly put those down too and handed her schedule to Professor Snape."
"Don't forget," McGonagall said as she took the now completed forms from the Gryffindors, "there is an add-drop period during the first week of classes, but you must be taking at least two electives."
Oliver climbed the stairs to the sixth-year boy's dormitory. He had just come from doing a final inspection of the locker rooms with Madam Hooch and the other Quidditch Captains. Every year Madam Hooch went through and made sure all lockers were emptied and that there was no garbage left behind, she was very strict about the teams leaving their locker rooms cleaned.
Now he just needed to finish his own packing. It wouldn't take long. Percy had taught him a handy packing spell in third year after getting tired of seeing Oliver rush about to pack.
Stepping into the dormitory he stopped short, seeing Percy sitting on his own packed trunk, staring at his lap. Oliver quietly shut the door, recognizing that Percy was in one of his low moods.
"Can I sit?" he asked. Percy scooted over and Oliver lowered himself onto the trunk. Percy, after a moment, leaned his head against Oliver's shoulder and the Quidditch captain could not help but kiss Percy's head. Percy slid a hand into Oliver's intertwining their fingers.
"You should come visit this summer," Oliver said. "I could ask Mum and Dad if you and I can have the beach house for a week or something."
"That . . . sounds nice," Percy whispered.
"It's in a wizarding village," Oliver continued, "it's very small, very secluded. A Muggle village is a twenty minute walk away and they think we're a bunch of rich . . . I think they said New Age . . . people. They don't bother us. 'course, the anti-Muggle wards help with that."
"Oliver, you are kinda rich," Percy murmured.
"We're well off," Oliver corrected.
"You don't have to worry about whether or not bills will get paid or if there will be enough to put food on the table," Percy said. Oliver tightened his grip on Percy's hand. He knew Percy worried for his family, even though Mr. and Mrs. Weasley always seemed able to provide and neither of them ever seemed overly worried.
"I'll ask my parents and then write," Oliver said. "Imagine, just a whole week of the ocean just the two of us. Maybe we can invite some our classmates over? Penny and Fiona Twinge from Hufflepuff . . . oh! We could invite Marcus Flint!"
Percy laughed, lifting his head, grinning and Oliver felt his heart sore seeing Percy pull himself out of the low mood.
"Nothing too crazy," Percy said.
"Nothing too crazy," Oliver promised.
The Hogwarts Expressed was as prompt as ever dropping the students off. Aria, Ron, Hermione, and Harry lugged their trunks through the barrier, Aria carrying Hedwig's cage as she was once again relegated to keeping care of the bird.
Kenneth swooped in, hugging Aria tightly.
"Do you think I will ever be able to get a letter from Hogwarts about how outstanding of a student you are?" Kenneth demanded. "Instead of reports of bullies attacking you and you battling wild animals?"
"I don't go looking for trouble," Aria insisted. Kenneth yanked her into another hug.
"Well I'm going to spend the summer writing what I remember from being petrified," Hermione told Kenneth. "For scientific purposes." Hermione's parents looked torn between being thrilled at Hermione's ambition and worried all at the same time.
"Well, it's certainly never a boring year at Hogwarts," Arthur declared, running a hand through Ginny's hair. "Look at my two Slytherins! Your Aunt Muriel almost had a stroke when she heard another Weasley was in Slytherin. And your grandfather was quite amused."
Aria waved to Harry as he trudged over to his family, leaving with them.
"They are not very friendly people," Kenneth commented. "We tried talking to them, but they just glared. Though his uncle's face turned a fascinating red color."
"Yeah, Harry says they don't get along," Aria murmured, her restored memories flashing across her mind. She would have to figure something out about it. Maybe another trip to Surry was in order?
Kenneth led her out to the truck.
"Wait until we get home," Kenneth said. "I can't wait for you to meet Remus."
And that's a wrap for Muggleborn Slytherin II! A bit hurried, I know, but this whole global situation has been a bit stressful. Anyhoo . . . be on the lookout for Muggleborn Slytherin III!