Out of the Shadow – Year 2

Harry's POV

I sat on my knees holding my arm tightly but keeping my eyes on Ginny who was starting to stir. In front of me sat Tom Riddles diary and the fang from the basilisk that I used to stab it. Ginny turned and looked at me. "Ginny." I said quietly as she sat up. "Harry? It was me. I swear I didn't mean too. Riddle made me. And…Harry. You're hurt!"

"Don't worry. Ginny… you need to get yourself out. Follow the chamber, and you'll find Ron."

Just then Fawkes returned. He landed beside me. "You were brilliant Fawkes, I just wanted quick enough." Just then the bird leaned over and dropped two tears onto the opening on my arm. I watched in amazement as the wound healed itself. Ginny gasped too. "Of course! Phoenix tears have healing powers." I felt a little silly for forgetting that. "It's alright Ginny. It's over. It's just a memory."

As Ginny stood to get to her feet I looked around. "What is it Harry?" Ginny asked looking confused. "Holly. I don't know what happened to her." I couldn't see her anywhere. I felt a soft touch on my arm and looked over at Ginny. She was pointing down towards the entrance. I ran and skidded to her side. She was laying in a pool of blood and wasn't responding to me.

"Holly! What were you thinking? You could have gotten yourself killed." I choked out. I didn't know how I was going to get her out of the chamber. I knew that Fawkes could carry her, but with the rest of us. I sighed heavily. "I'll come right back." I whispered to Holly before taking Ginny's hand and pulling her along the tunnels. Once we reached Ron, he pulled her though the gap he had managed to create and hugged her.

"How are we getting out of here?" Ron asked. I turned to look at the bird. "Fawkes." I said simply. "Hang on." Ron started, looking around. "Where's Holly?" I shared a look with Ginny. "I couldn't carry her. I have to come back for her." Ron blinked. "Is she?" He didn't finish the sentence. "I don't know, I don't think so." We all gathered, holding hands and Fawkes carried us out of the chamber. We landed in the bathroom, much to Myrtle's shock.

We followed Fawkes to Professor McGonagall's office. We burst though the door to find Mr. and Mrs. Weasley in there. Mrs. Weasley screamed. "GINNY!" She wrapped her arms around her daughter and cried. Harry looked up to find Professor Dumbledore standing with Professor McGonagall. "Professor. I have to go back." I said without waiting. "Holly is still down there, and I don't know." Dumbledore gave a small nod and Fawkes was back.

Mrs. Weasley pulled me and Ron into a hug. "You saved her! How did you do it?" Mrs. Weasley asked. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat. "I think we would all like to know." Once I was released fully from Mrs. Weasley's grasp I walked over to the desk and put down the diary, sorting hat and sword before explaining to everyone what had happened. It helped to keep my mind focused when it kept wondering towards Holly.

Professor McGonagall's door opened again, and Percy, Fred and George walked in. "Ginny!" They all exclaimed. "Harry." Dumbledore's voice came through to me. "What happened to your sister?" I swallowed hard, very aware that it looked like I abandoned her. "She protected me from the basilisk. It was odd, golden shields burst from her and wrapped around me, but then Tom noticed her and threw her. When I finally got to her she was laying in a pool of her own blood, and…" I trailed off. She didn't answer me. Did this mean she was dead now?

There was a noise at the door and Ron reached over to open it since he was the closest. Laying on the floor was Holly, Fawkes standing beside her. Professor McGonagall rushed to her side; I was already there even though I didn't even remember moving towards her. "She's barely holding on, Albus." She said quietly. I took a sharp intake of breath. Professor McGonagall picked her up and took her towards the hospital wing.

I looked around the room everyone was looking at me; Mrs. Weasley was crying again holding on to Ginny for dear life, Percy and Mr. Weasley looked pale and Ron was giving me a sympathetic look because he understood, that was his sister two seconds ago, but it was George's looks that I shared. He both stared at the small pool of blood that had collected there since Fawkes dropped her.

His expression was blank; like he couldn't believe the horror he had just seen. One of his best friends, barely holding on to her own life, covered in dirt and blood. Fred clapped him on the shoulder and gave it a small squeeze bringing George back to reality, myself as well.

Eventually Dumbledore sent everyone away. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley took Ginny to the hospital wing, Percy, Fred and George went back to the common room. Ron and I remained. Dumbledore turned to Lockhart. "You've been awfully quiet about your little adventure Professor Lockhart." He said. Lockhart looked at him confused. "Am I a professor?" Ron's cheeks burned.

"Sir. There was an accident. Professor Lockhart tried a memory spell but the wand backfired and it took his memories instead."

"Ah! Stabbed with your own sword Gildory?"

"I don't have a sword. That boy does though. You should ask him, maybe you can barrow one!"

I looked at the Professor still amazed at his transformation. Everything he had worked towards gone in a split second. I shook my head and turned back to Dumbledore. "Could you please accompany him to the hospital wing as well, Mr. Weasley? I'd like a word with Harry." Ron agreed and helped Lockhart towards the door.

Once it was closed behind them Dumbledore turned to me. "Harry, sit down." I tried though I was feeling restless. I wanted answers, but I also wanted to go make sure Holly was going to be okay. "First I want to thank you. You must have shown me great loyalty. That was the only reason Fawkes would have been called to you." Dumbledore gave the bird a quick pat.

"So you've also met Tom Riddle. I'm sure he was very interested in you."

"Sir, Tom Riddle said that I was like him. Strange likeness, he said."

"And what do you think Harry?"

"I'm not like him. I mean, I'm in Gryffindor!" I left my sentence there not sure where I wanted to go with it from there. I sighed. "Sir, the sorting hat said I would have done well in Slytherin, and everyone thought I was the heir for a while because I can speak parseltounge…"

"You can speak parseltounge because Voldemort could speak it. He is the last, true heir of Slytherin. It seems that night when he tried to kill you, some of his talents to you. Nothing he intended to do, I'm sure."

"He put some of his powers in me?"

"It seems so."

"So, I should be in Slytherin?"

"Listen to me Harry. You have many talents that Slytherin prized in his students. Yet, the sorting hat put you in Gryffindor. Think Harry. You know why."

"Because I asked it too."

"Exactly. That is what makes you different from Voldemort. It's our choices that show us who we truly are, far more then our abilities. If you need proof, look at this."

Dumbledore gestured to the sword on the table. On it read GODRIC GRYFFINDOR. I stood there stunned. "Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled that out of the hat." I nodded and gazed down at the sword again. Dumbledore smiled and pulled out some paper and a quill. "What you need Harry is some rest and food. Why don't you…"

Dumbledore was cut off by the sudden arrival of Mr. Malfoy. "So, it's true then. You have returned." He said looking furious. As he stepped into the room, I noticed Dobby standing behind him. "Dobby! So, this is your master? The family you serve is the Malfoys?" Mr. Malfoy looked down at the house elf and sneered. "I'll deal with you later." He added before walking up towards Dumbledore.

I listened to him discuss with Dumbledore about his reinstatement as Dobby lingered between us. "Well, let us hope that Mr. Potter will always be around to save the day." I heard Mr. Malfoy say with a sneer directed at me. "Don't worry. I will be." I added just for spite. Mr. Malfoy let out a low hiss before turning and kicking Dobby out of the office. I winced, but then got an idea.

"Can I barrow that sir?" I asked pointing to the diary. I grabbed it and rushed after Mr. Malfoy. I slipped off my sock and put it in the book praying he'd give it to Dobby. "Mr. Malfoy!" I yelled as I caught up to him. "I believe this is yours." I shoved the book back at him. "I saw you put it in Ginny's cauldron that day in Diagon Alley."

"You can prove nothing." He spat back before shoving the book back at Dobby. I smiled. "Open it." I whispered to the house elf. He opened the diary and picked up the sock. "Master as presented Dobby with clothes. Dobby is a free elf!" Mr. Malfoy turned, his face like thunder. "You lost me my house elf!" He yelled whipping out his wand. I swallowed hard as Dobby stepped between us.

"You will not harm Harry Potter!"

Dobby blasted back Mr. Malfoy, throwing him down the hallway. Mr. Malfoy picked himself up and glared at us before storming out of sight. I thanked Dobby, who thanked me in return and with a final snap he was gone. I walked back towards the common room, desperate for a shower before the feast that evening.

It was a feast like no other. Everyone was celebrating and eating. It helped that everyone that was petrified as returned to us. Hermione ran up to us so excited that we had solved it, as she put it. It wasn't until about halfway though the dinner that I was approached by Holly's friends; Rhea and Ashley. Ashley had also been petrified. "Harry." Rhea said shyly.

Rhea and Ashley looked sadly at each other before turning back to me. Something inside me sank, and I looked over to see all the Weasley's listening in. "What?" I asked them. My voice shaky. "Holly. They've had to transfer her. I'm so sorry." Rhea said as a silent tear rolled down her cheek. "What?" I said again not sure I could say anything else.

"Madame Pumpfrey's exact words were; She has internal bleeding and she can't fix it on her own. They've sent her to St. Mungo's. She asked me to tell you." Ashley finished, her own tears running down her face. The noise all around me disappeared. I couldn't see past the two Ravenclaw girls standing before me. Eventually the girls walked away, I thought I heard Hermione's voice talking to them. I couldn't stop thinking about Holly, dying. She loved watching Muggle shows, she knew internal bleeding was almost always fatal.

I was pulled back to reality when someone touched me. Ginny had patted my hand from across the table. I turned to look at her and found all the Weasley's looking at me. None of them knew what to do, or what to say. "It'll be okay Harry. Holly is strong. She wouldn't leave now." Hermione said trying to be supportive. "I know, its just. She's alone, Hermione. We don't know where our parents are, and I'm stuck here." Hermione gave me a weak smile. "I'm sure they'll let you go to her the minute we leave."

The next morning, I received a letter from my Mum stating that they were with Holly at St. Mungo's, which helped me relax and enjoy the rest of the term, which was easy to do with no Defense against the dark arts classes, exams and no longer having to worry about anyone being petrified within the school walls.