So this chapter doesn't start off too cheery, in fact, I'd say this is perhaps my most serious chapter in the series, but I feel it does end up back at its roots near the end.
I feel like this is the weakest year in the series so I'm rushing through it. I'll be posting the next part of this series in about two days or so.
Thanks a lot for all of you people that have been leaving comments :)

"OF ALL THE IDIOTIC, FOOLISH, SELF-CENTERED, PREPOSTEROUS THINGS YOU COULD HAVE DONE!", Severus Snape was ready to strangle the stupid child cowering in front of him.

When he's first told Severus he'd done nothing after finally strolling into his dorm room after disappearing for hours Severus had known that there was more behind the story. But this?

When Albus made the announcement that morning that the castle was to be put into lockdown until somebody from the Ministry could come look at their newest problem Severus hadn't quite understood yet the ramifications of what had happened. Only at breakfast had Albus told the whole story. Of the consequences of an imbecilic child playing around with power he neither understood nor deserved.

"YOU THINK BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE POWER SOME PEOPLE ONLY DREAM ABOUT THAT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHERE TO PUT DANGEROUS CREATURES?!"

The first red flag had been his obsession with the dragon, really, Severus should have seen it. It was more than obvious that Potter had some hand in the dragon appearing in the Forest, but Severus had never been able to make him confess the whole story, only that he knew how to control it.

That had to have been the second red flag. And instead of doing something, of demanding the truth of the matter he'd simply gawked like an idiot and put into the box of 'things Potter just can do' and called it a day.

"YOU ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAWS OF NATURE! YOU ARE NOT ABOVE THE LIVES OF OTHER PEOPLE!"

Potter wasn't even looking at him. But neither was he contesting what Severus was saying so at least there was that.

"TELL ME POTTER, IS THAT WHAT YOU THINK?! THAT YOU'RE ABOVE ALL OF US?! ABOVE THE REST OF ALL WIZARDKIND?!"

Damn Severus if any student of his was going to become the next Dark Lord.

He put in uncountable hours of work into ensuring that Potter would not mess his life up, that he would a normal life, friends and maybe even someday a family. Severus himself had insisted to Potter that he give in the Draco's constant pestering. That he needed a social life with his peers. And that no, Severus himself didn't count as enough of a friend.

He even felt flattered when Potter had said that, but still. Nobody knew like Severus how dangerous it was to grow up with no friends. It let to falling in with the wrong crowd in later years, which led to making mistakes. Horrible mistakes that would haunt you the rest of your life.

Seems like he was too late for that last one.

"ANSWER ME POTTER!"

"No, Sir, I don't think that", said Potter in a small quavering voice.

Severus instantly felt his shoulder deflate under that quavering tone. He exhaled harshly and collapsed on his chair.

"Potter, what were you thinking?", he asked, this time just sounding exhausted.

"I-", Potter looked dangerously close to sobbing, "I don't know, Sir."

Severus had half a mind to start ranting at him again, but the sight of the first tears falling made him stop.

It comforted him that the boy was at least feeling sorry about what he did. It gave him some hope for him yet.

"Come", said Severus and stood up with a sigh. He opened the door that led to his private quarters and went directly for his kitchen without checking if Potter was following him.

Severus made two cups of Earl Grey and when he turned around he found Potter already sitting at his customary spot at the kitchen table. Potter had been there enough times during all of his lessons that he already had a fixed place at his table.

"Here", he set the tea in front of Potter and got out a handkerchief for as well.

"Thanks Sir", sniffed the boy pitifully.

Severus waited till he had calmed down considerably before he asked his next question, "Potter, how on earth did you get your hands on a Basilisk?"

Potter stared steadfastly at his cup of tea.

"Potter", he said in a warning tone.

Still, Potter wouldn't answer. The nerve of this brat.

"Finish your tea and get out", Severus said, fearing he might blow up again at the boy.

Potter was out in less than a minute, leaving behind a very exacerbated Severus. His next lesson better focus on the consequences of one's actions or something in that line, this was not going to be a repeated experience if Severus had a say in the subject.

For the next week various experts of all kinds came to have a look at the lake and all declared that it would be virtually impossible to get the Basilisk out of there so instead some plans for a wall around the lake were drafted and supervised trips to the school grounds were allowed.

Potter was still taking the whole ordeal hard and kept moping around the castle and didn't seem to be any happier in Severus' classes, where he usually at least enjoyed himself playing with his overpowered magical abilities.

Then one day he was approached by Draco after a Potions class.

"Um, Sir, there's something you need to know", said his godson, looking more than a little nervous.

Severus closed his eyes in resignation, "What has he done now?"

"Nothing yet, but, um, he's been saying he's going to take a dive into the lake. I told him not to and surprisingly even Lovegood told him not to, but-"

He needed a drink. A very strong drink.

"Thank you for bringing this to my attention Draco, I'll talk with him about it tomorrow during our lessons."

Draco looked a little relieved, "Thank you, Sir."

Severus was still trying to figure out the next morning if this new idea of Potter's was some sort of suicidal ideation, or if he simply thought himself stronger than a Basilisk. Was he stronger than a Basilisk? Severus was stumped by that last question, but he also wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answer.

"Professor Snape!", Draco shouted as he raced into the Great Hall, several of the other second year Slytherins at his tail.

Merlin, no.

"Since when is he gone?", asked Severus as he sprang up from his chair and ran to meet Draco.

"He was gone when I woke up this morning! I just know he's gone and done it, Sir!", wailed Draco in distress.

"Severus, what is it?", demanded Minerva.

"Potter has gone to dive in the lake!", shouted Severus and ran for Albus' office. He was their only hope now.

"Merlin!", gasped Minerva.

Within the hour the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures officials were on the school grounds and gazing into the lake while shaking their heads.

Lily and James Potter arrived roughly the same time the Aurors did. Alastor 'Mad Eye' Moody was in charge of the whole operation and had terrorized one of his underlings enough within half an hour to prefer going into a lake with a Basilisk rather than staying by Moody's side. Severus had to admire the man that was able to provoke more fear than a man-eating monster.

The trembling Auror was just about to wade into the lake when Potter was sighted swimming towards them in the distance.

Severus almost collapsed from relief. Instead he went to help scoop the drenched child out of the lake.

"I'm sorry for worrying you all", Potter began, "But when I heard the terrible news about the Merfolk I just knew I had to talk to them about their rights! But I couldn't find anybody at their village!"

It was such a terrible lie that Severus was just waiting for somebody to call him out on it when Albus began chortling.

"Don't worry my dear Harry, your intentions were born from the right place. Here, let me write down to you their new address so you can write them."

Merlin help him, he was surrounded by idiots!

Potter happily takes the slip of paper handed to him and now Severus had the dreadful certainty that he would include the Merfolk in his activist agenda.

Lily and James gushed over him for a little while and the Aurors all celebrated that they wouldn't have to go looking for Potter's corpse or fight a Basilisk for him.

All in all Severus had to admit that it could have gone a lot worse.

By that evening everybody had left and even if most students were still perstering Potter and his gaggle of friends about how Potter survived diving into a Basilisk infested lake things were finally calmed down enough that Severus could take Potter to his office to question him.

"Potter, while I understand your unreasonable need to keep certain secrets for yourself I must insist that tell me what in Merlin, Morgana and Salazar's name were you thinking?!"

Severus was doing a herculean effort to not blow up again at the boy. He'd learned from his errors and would not go down that path again, even if there was nothing more he wished to do at the moment.

Potter looked down at his lap and fidgeted with his robes.

Patience already running thin Severus leaned over the boy like a vengeful spirit and let out a barely contained growl.

Potter looked up at Severus and he saw apprehension in those green eyes.

"Please don't get mad – well, even madder", pleaded the boy pitifully.

Sighing, Severus went and sat at his desk, "Fine", he snapped, "But only if you get to it quick."

"I'm a Parselmouth", Potter blurted out.

Severus closed his eyes tightly. Of course he's a Parselmouth. Why wouldn't he be?

"Of course you are", he mumbled.

"When we saw that writing on the wall, you know, the one about the Chamber of Secrets, we-I mean, I knew immediately what it was about and that the whole thing smelled fishy. See, only a Parselmouth can find the Chamber of Secret and only a Parselmouth can open it."

Severus looked up from where his palms had been digging into his eyes and looked at Potter sharply, "You found it?"

"Um, some time ago", Potter was once again looking at his lap, "I never really looked into it you know, cause-well, um, cause it, uh, grimy", Potter looked back at Severus, "Its unbelievably grimy and slimy and I mean, if you consider where the entrance is, well, I don't think even Salazar Slytherin himself would have wanted to go back in there. I certainly didn't want to."

"Where is the entrance?", asked Severus, still feeling unbelieving that he was about to learn of the whereabouts of a mythical Chamber within Hogwarts.

Potter looked at his lap again, "Please don't get mad."

Merlin. Was the entrance on the roof? Underneath the lake?

"Potter, just spit it out", he couldn't handle the uncertainty of where this child had gone gallivanting.

"In the girl's bathroom at the second floor", mumbled Potter.

Severus blinked.

He knew, of course, like most people in Hogwarts that Potter had gone to all the bathrooms in the castle to pester people when he was protesting about the dragon. He'd even given him detention for it and had a long talk about privacy which he has felt Potter had somewhat taken to heart, if only enough to not end in detention with him again. So taking into count all the terrible places he could have been frolicking about this was one of the least terrible place.

"Oh", said Severus and almost relaxed into his chair, but then he remembered that he was there to educate Potter, "Ten points from Slytherin. Do it again and I'll have you scrubbing cauldrons for the rest of the week."

Potter nodded furiously, "Yes, Sir!"

Severus gave a self-satisfied nod, "Now, continue."

"Okay, so, um, I immediately knew something was wrong with the whole thing. As soon as Draco and the others were asleep I snuck out and went to check what was up. Once I got down there I discovered Spike – that's Basilisk Sir, he didn't have a name so I gave him one."

"Of course you did."

"Spike was really hungry and cranky so I guided him to the lake, but I swear Sir I didn't know about the Merpeople, I swear!"

"I believe you Potter, you may continue", said Severus as he massaged his temples.

"After I was sure he'd be okay in his new home I went back to the Chamber, but Spike had told me that there was some person coming in at odd hours to tell him stuff and to let him out into the castle-"

"What?!"

"Yeah, real messed up. I told Spike not to come again into the castle and he agreed, mostly I suspect cause he never got to eat anybody."

"Merlin."

"So knowing that I hid away in the Chamber and waited for the real culprit to come in-"

"POTTER! Are you insane?", shouted Severus, "You should have come for me right away!"

"I'm sorry Professor! But it all turned out okay!"

"Who was it?", demanded Severus and when Potter looked like he was debating what to tell him he demanded again, "Who was it Potter!?"

"They were being controlled! Please Professor! She didn't even know what was being done to her until I broke the connection!"

"Broke the-", Severus shook his head, this sounded beyond bad, "If what you say is true then I won't go after her at all, but you must tell me the truth Potter!"

"It was Ginny Weasley, Sir", Potter mumbled, "But please! Believe me when I say she's innocent! She had a cursed diary in her pockets. She said it had been writing back to her since the beginning of the year and that she was scared. I told her not to tell anybody and took the diary off her."

"Where is the diary now Potter?"

"Threw it into the lake, Sir."

Severus groaned, "Potter you should definitely have come straight to me. Or told me the moment I caught you in your dorm room."

"I'm sorry Sir", Potter looked at least a little chastised so Severus was going to count this as a win on his part.

"Good", he nodded, "Now tell me why exactly did you go into the lake today?"

"Um, to talk with Spike, Sir", Potter mumbled nervously, "See, after he killed all those Merpeople I knew I needed to stop something like from happening again so I went to talk to him about that. He was way more agreeable than last time and he also gets preserving the life in the lake since he plans to live there forever now. I told him to not harm the Giant Squid and he agreed."

Severus was silent as he processed this, "Fine", he said at last and stood up, "Now you'll show me where the Chamber of Secrets is and swear to never go back in without telling somebody beforehand."

Harry was in the middle of having teatime with Professor Lockhart and Luna when the Professor breached the subject.

"Harry, dear, you really ought to tell us how you managed to get out of that lake without getting killed by the Basilisk. I mean, I understand that we all must have our secrets, but I ask this as your fellow Wizard and future fellow colleague. You know I travel the globe and rescue the unfortunate from terrible situations, so I'm asking for them my dear Harry. How do you keep a rampaging Basilisk at bay?"

He gave Harry the brightest smile Harry had ever seen.

'His teeth are so white', said Voldemort in a daze.

"I'm, uh, I guess I can tell you. But it's a secret."

Both Luna and Professor Lockhart nodded solemnly.

"I'm a Parselmouth", confessed Harry and they both gasped.

"But how?", asked Professor Lockhart, leaning forward.

Harry shrugged, "I just am."

Professor Lockhart looked pensive for a second, "So, say I conjured a snake, right now and right here, could you talk to it as a demonstration?"

'Where's he going with this?'

"Sure", said Harry.

Professor Lockhart conjured some type of rattlesnake and soon Harry was talking to her.

She was a very nice chat and accepted one of the pieces of raw meat that Luna always carried with her for the Thestrals.

"Magnificent", said Professor Lockhart,

"And it's not like you're using some magical vocal chords either", mused Luna, "It sounds very human, but yet not."

Harry was suddenly struck by an idea.

"Hey, what if I tried to teach you?", he said out loud.

'That can't be done, you need to be a Parselmouth like us to understand it.'

Professor Lockhart and Luna looked more than intrigued by the idea however.

They started with a few simple words that Harry taught them to see if the effect could be replicated and if the rattlesnake would understand them and by the end of the hour they knew how to give simple commands like 'come', 'go' and 'stay'.

They both obviously wanted to continue afterwards, so Harry put a price on his classes.

He wasn't a Slytherin for no reason.

By Christmas time Harry had gathered enough savings that he started to make plans with Voldemort on how to invest them in small businesses.

'Unfortunately we don't have much money to properly invest in anybody yet', mused Voldemort as they rode the Express for the Christmas vacations.

Draco was still prattling on about their recent game against Gryffindor that they'd won, just like he'd been doing for the last couple weeks, so Harry tuned him out.

'What we need are more students then, but that would draw too much attention', thought Harry.

The only sound in the compartment for a while was Pansy telling Draco to shut the hell up.

'We could write a book', said Voldemort and Harry's eyes widened.

'Vol, you're a genius!'

'Of course I am.'

That Christmas break, while James fussed over everybody, Lily drank martinis and Jimmy played with Milly, Harry started to write down the first drafts of his book.

The next week he presented the idea to Professor Lockhart who immediately promised to sponsor it.

"While that is great Professor, I have an idea that you might find even more beneficial", said Harry and smiled, trying to show all his teeth the way Lockhart did.

Lockhart immediately accepted Harry's proposition.

When Harry told Professor Snape his plan all he said was, "I am caught between feeling proud and angry", he then poured some Firewhiskey into his tea and gulped the whole cup down faster than Harry had ever seen him.

At the end of Harry second year at Hogwarts Professor Lockhart stood up at the year-end feast.

"I would like to make an announcement!", he said and beamed as everybody turned to look at him, "First of all I'd like to address the rumours that I won't be coming back next year and I must admit that they're true."

Several of the girls in the Great Hall gasped and looked ready to start crying.

"The reason for this is I have written a new book!", here he took out the book Harry and Voldemort had written, "Practicing Parseltongue is a book that I have wished for many years to write, but never had the fortitude to do so! But becoming a teacher in this wonderful institution has filled me with the courage to say yes, I am a born Parselmouth! Long years have I maintained this as a secret, but you, yes! All of you my beautiful students and co-workers have given me the courage to reveal myself for what I truly am! To make this reveal public I have decided to publish this guide to learning Parseltongue, so that all my fellow Witches and Wizards can learn this wonderful language and, perhaps, with time the terrible stigma that this language has can be cleared!"

Several students started to clap, including Harry and after he gave him a kick Draco joined in as well and stopped gaping. Most people were still gaping, including all the teachers. Professor Snape was nursing a cup of tea that Harry suspected may have more in it than just tea.

"I must say I am as surprise by this news as the rest of us!", said Dumbledore as he also stood up, "And I applaud you, for this decision had to have taken great amounts of courage! And so, for your pure act of pure courage I-"

"Albus no", started Professor McGonagall.

"-I give Gryffindor ten points!"

"ALBUS!"

Gryffindor, who had coincidentally only needed nine points to win, started cheering madly.

Professor Snape was giving Dumbledore a look filled with pure hatred.

"But I was from Ravenclaw", said Professor Lockhart, looking more than a little confused.

"Oh? Sixty points to Ravenclaw!"

Ravenclaw clapped loudly, since this put them in second place, right after Slytherin.

"NOOOOO!", Draco wailed and buried his head in his arms as he dissolved into sobs.

Harry patted Draco's back as he sobbed, "There, there Draco, there's always next year."

Please leave a comment before you leave, they give me life.
Also, I'm writing as fast as I can, which leaves me with little to no time to edit and reread this, so if you spot any errors please tell me.