May 29th, 1993
The second-year was coming to an end quickly but he could not feel elated in any way. While all his fellow second years now ran out of common room for Lockhart's class the young man along with his two companions were assured by the ministry tester herself that they all would receive an O towards their record, him scoring an O+. His cousin with the help of Vega even received an O for his third year testing on Defense.
Looking over from his spot at the fireplace he had to chuckle seeing an equally free Neville now pacing back and forth going over the transfiguration spells along with the motions. Turning back towards the fireplace he took the notebook out of his pocket and turned towards the end where Lexi weeks back had sketched him and his two godbrothers.
Flipping through the book knowing Lexi would chastise him had she known he was moping around his eyes settled three pages later to a sketch he had never stopped to study from the beautiful blond Slytherin. Rather than the exaggeration of her sketches to him, these seemed to be rougher etched, the etchings of a girl who was researching.
Lexi drew a door that wore a rough sketch of the Slytherin House sigil. There were notes written below but what caught his eye was the words basilisk and the name Hestia. It went on to describe strange behavior by this girl and the danger of pursuing this venture further.
Placing his marker in the book he put it aside and from his pocket pulled a list of the rankings of every year at Hogwarts currently. Having sodded off Lockhart's class he had fallen to 7th in their year but he now scanned through his year for the name Hestia. The only one that showed up was Hestia Jones of Ravenclaw who Harry remembered having a deep hatred for the house of snakes since her Death Eater uncle had joined their cause. He quickly disregarded her remembering that her moods had not changed since the first week of the first year.
Digging deeper into the rest of the years he found three more females with the name Hestia but one was the sixth year in Hufflepuff and the other a hold over graduate from his own house. Looking at the first year's last the name jumped out to him immediately. Hestia Carrow who usually sat top five in her class had dropped down to twenty. He even recalled in a rare outburst of emotion from his godbrother of House Black that she ignored him choosing to walk away when he pressed her in the halls.
Putting the list away he opened back to the marker and from her notes, his guess had seemed to match up.
"I am sure she will be just fine Har'. Tell me how is my Reparifarge." Neville now pointed his wand over towards a book that had four cat legs and a long amber tail. Trying to return the cat to the original state there only now seemed to be a feline's head adorning the front of the book.
"You rush your spells and never follow through Nev, slow down a dash. I will be right back." Harry now said and walked up to his dorm room. Neville shrugged and went back to his spellcasting until he jumped feeling a tap on his shoulder. Damning the invisibility cloak as he heard his godbrother snickering away from him he looked around and noticed all the seventh years were too busy studying to notice his flinch or the laughter that came from nowhere.
Neville had finally got the spell perfect when a screech sent the cat that he was testing on running away. Looking over Melissa Turpin, the eldest sister of Lisa quickly patted her skirt and some steam seemed to emit from the material. The source of her agony seemed to be an overturned teacup. Her friends tried to soothe her pain by putting cold water on the spot but this only turned the girl angry.
"You dufus' first dump tea on me then try to drown me." She exclaimed and now stomped towards the female dorms. Neville could never prove it but he knew his godbrother was up to something. Twenty minutes later Melissa came down and Harry came down from the male dorms. The timid godbrother just shook his head knowing Harry backtracked to his dorm to make it look like he was resting up there.
"History of Magic or do you want to solve a mystery with me?" Harry asked, holding out the first year's schedule.
"I choose History of Magic, at least I can sleep and not get expelled. I am nervous enough that they are taking so long to send me my results for defense."
Harry shrugged and started to pack up his bag. "Those lot at the ministry will no doubt see you deserved an O. Plus you told me Bart taught you, Tracey, and Ron pretty well. I will prod no more about adventures." Harry conceded and started walking towards the exit.
Neville tried to look back at his book but the fading shape of Harry made his damn growing close with his godbrother. Harry seemed to have a knowing smirk when Neville quickly threw his books in the bag and ran after Harry. "Smug bastard." Neville swore under his breath loud enough for Harry to hear.
They now walked down the steps towards the third floor passing by Ron who walked with Sheamus and Lee Jordan. Disengaging himself from the quidditch conversation Ron now followed the two godrothers. "Trouble eh?"
Harry simply raised an eyebrow towards Ron not missing a step going down the staircase. Ron eyed Neville who had a nervous look upon his face and nearly ate the stone below by almost missing a step. "Neville gave you up mate. I mean that is the same face he gave on our spider trip and whenever he skips class. If it gets me out of Binns, count me in." Ron told Harry. Harry seemed to ponder this as they waited on the fourth floor for the staircase to take them to the third. "Fine, we take the lead on casting, Merlin knows we want to see Poppy tonight because of that defective wand of yours."
Ron quickly agreed and soon they were met up by a large group of firsties leaving the Charms room. Ron lit up seeing his sister walk between Astoria and Flora. Marius annoyed seemed to follow behind his betrothed picking up the papers she seemed to drop with every step.
"Hey Gin." Ron said waving to his sister but Harry seemed to step forward and look around at the others not spotting the girl in question. Her twin had a look of most concern and failed to try and hide it.
"Where is Hestia?" He asked bluntly to the group and this seemed to trigger Flora. "Like you care, it seems you just want to make fun of her some more." Harry was left speechless and confused along with the group as they saw their friend stomp away. Astoria quickly ran up to Harry handing the books off to the already loaded hands of her betrothed. Marius simply rolled his eyes and readjusted his arms.
"She is just worried about her sister Harry, please don't take umbrage with her, we all are worried about Hestia." Astoria told him and now ran off after Flora.
"Honestly, we have no idea where she went this morning. She has been disappearing all term which is not like her. Lord Black even flooed over to his manor to find his security to scour the castle." Ginny now looked towards her brother in annoyance seeing him grimace. "Do not give that look Ron, she is my friend and it is about time you accept it." Ginny now huffed past her brother and the group followed the redhead who took a de facto leadership role in their group as of late.
"Weasleys for centuries are rolling in their graves at one of us lot in Slytherin." Ron said offhand and looked back towards his friends. "If I can help Gin get her friend back I will do it, snake or not." Ron committed and Neville even patted the shoulder of Ron.
"A friend of mine mentioned a basilisk and the chamber, I will go get a few books real quick and meet me in our dorm. Madam Pince will not catch me if I am alone." Harry assured them and not wanting to deal with the vulture-like nose of the librarian they quickly agreed and went their separate ways. Taking his cloak he placed it over him in a dark corner and looked down at his watch. Allotting himself twenty minutes he walked quickly towards the library.
Along the way Harry danced with ideas in his head about ways to distract Madam Pince. He now flirted with the idea of taking down a shelf on the opposite side until he entered the library. There were a few scattered students with free time finishing the last of their reports but it seemed a distraction was not needed.
Standing and leaning by her desk was a large handsome man near 40 wearing the raven of House Black upon suit coat. The guard who his godbrother brought over to check the library seemed much more interested in the librarian than his lord's Carrow cousin. It was quite humorous to see the strict Madam Irma Pince now laughing louder than she normally did in her conversations with McGonagall and even snorted a few times.
"You are too kind James, it is a shame you are busy this weekend. A few of us go to Rosies every Saturday like clockwork at eight." She hinted like she was a teenage schoolgirl again. Even resorting to looking away avoiding his eyes.
"I play bodyguard for Regent Andi that night but I am sure I can find someone to take my shift at seven. Of course, that is if the lovely Irma would have a… how did you put it? Ah yes, a rogue like me." Irma now blushed and Harry tore himself away from the scene and went to the creatures section in the restricted section.
It took a few minutes but with three books in hand Harry now placed the tomes into a magically sealed container he kept in his pocket. Turning the small chest like container miniature once again he put it in his pocket just in time for the lovely Jessica Poole walking with a defense tome in hand. Realizing he had taken his cloak off he now stood staring at her and her face was showing no emotion to her thoughts.
Eventually, she cracked with a smile upon her lip. "It is good that I like you Potter, had you been that lazy twat Marietta," Jessica now scoffed at her own pupil in dueling class, "I would have happily taken Madam Pince away from the handsome James." She now walked up to him and even placed a kiss on his cheek.
"I only had the chance to work with you a few times in dueling class and in the dorms but from what I saw there are only great things before you." Without him being allowed to say a single word she departed down the aisle. Gathering his wits he realized he was following her swaying hips as she now walked away.
Getting refocused he now put the cloak back over him and entered the seating area where Irma now laughed as this James now traced her palm trying to read her future. Her laugh even reached a disciple to the point where she would have been reprimanding the student.
Making his way back to the dorm both Ron and Neville were digging through their two years of defense books for even a mention of the snake creature. Ron was shocked to see the floating head of Harry.
"Blimey Harry, that is how you do not get caught."
"Yes, Ron. I am trusting you with this secret and it must never leave your lips I have this even if it is to your sister, mother, or priest. Promise me."
Ron now looked into the serious face of Harry and agreed and shook his hand. The three boys now took a tome each and dove into the chapters and scanned through it. It was Ron though that came across what they were looking for and now spoke out loud from Most Macabre Monstrosities.
"Of the many fearsome beasts and monsters that roam our land, there is none more curious or more deadly than the Basilisk, known also as the King of Serpents. This snake, which may reach a gigantic size, and live many hundreds of years, is born from a chicken's egg, hatched beneath a toad. Its methods of killing are most wondrous, for aside from its deadly and venomous fangs, the Basilisk has a murderous stare, and all who are fixed with the beam of its eye shall suffer instant death. Spiders flee before the Basilisk, for it is their mortal enemy, and the Basilisk flees only from the crowing of the rooster, which is fatal to it."
"Brilliant Ron." Harry said now taking the tome and reading further. They went to dive into the other books when the stomach of Ron now distracted the three boys. Looking down at his watch it was just about time that the bell would ring for mid-day meal. In hushed discussions, they now left their dorm and made it to the Great Hall where once again wizards bearing the sigil of Black now roamed around in pairs. The James of before now seemed to escort the librarian upon his arm and she looked like a little schoolgirl all over again.
"I'll be right back, go find a seat and wave down Daph, Henry, and Su when you see them. We will not keep this from them." Harry informed them and left the two boys to find a seat while he now walked his way up towards the front where Flitwick was now finding his seat. Ron and Neville watched in confusion as excitement grew on the small teacher as Harry most likely asked for more knowledge on something. The half-goblin teacher spoke with excited tones and seemed to write something and hand it to Harry.
By the time Harry made it to the table after going through some wand motions with the professor, Henry was already making his plate and even attempted to make one for Daphne but she just scoffed and made her own. "I will not eat that much damn pudding Hank." Daphne chastised him causing his brow to lower in annoyance at the nickname he detested so.
Su like normal sat quietly eating half the scoop of mushy peas she took for herself. Harry looking at her noted how she could look like such a frail girl by mere appearance, how woeful the assailant would be to find out the truth. They talked amongst themselves regarding the information found and even saw a worried and annoyed Alphard walk in with his cousins at his heels.
Neville seeing Bart walk in waved him over. The elder Longbottom slowly made his way over avoiding some of the crowds and found a seat next to Su who blushed looking over at the handsome boy… man.
"What is it Nev? M'lord is ready to crucio all of us if we do not find Hestia." Bart said, stealing a piece of Neville's sausage from his plate. "Oh, Nadia said yes. Nan is going to invite all the Longbottoms to Black Manor for the wedding so your Nan better not rip up that invitation. That goes for cousin Jaime as well." Bart informed Neville and looked towards Su. "You should take Ms. Li here as your date, I would say Greengrass over here but she already has an invite coming."
"I was just curious if those thugs of Black found her yet, apparently not."
"That is where you are wrong Neville, they are loyal men of Hastings. When the Death Eaters rise once again it will be them who hunts down the branded cattle and protect the small villages that get ignored by the aurors and hit wizards." He now turned serious looking at Neville. "I enjoyed repairing our relationship Neville, be safe out there so we can happily call each other cousins once again." He now patted his cousin's shoulder and left for the table of snakes giving them an answer with his lack of one.
Vega who had filled in yet again for Lockhart even with special permission to miss a few classes now looked annoyed as James reported to her. It was only a few moments later that the doors opened up and Aurora Sinistra stood there with a most concerned look upon her face. She quickly walked up to the long table and whispered into the ears of Albus who now matched her look. He stood up and spoke.
"It seems Ms. Carrow has been taken to the Chamber of Secrets. For the safety of the students, I would ask that the prefects escort the children back to the common rooms and provide your head of house with a headcount."
The head girl and boy now took the lead and waved all the prefects towards them to discuss the strategy while there was a loud murmured conversation amongst the children. Eyes occasionally traveled toward Alphard who in a rage flipped his untouched food and stormed out. A prefect and even Snape tried to stop him but he had passed through the large Great Hall doors before they could secure it.
"Ms. Lestrange, Mr. Longbottom. Find Lord Black and watch over him." Albus said now opening the secured doors and the two adults nodded to the headmaster and chased after their lord.
"Whoever opened it must have taken Hestia and somehow got Goyle, Penelope and Hermione petrified." Ron surmised.
"Agreed, but what is our next step?" Henry asked, looking towards his cousin.
Harry seemed to tap his chin in thought. "Henry, I need you to prod for some information in Ravenclaw to see if there is any more information to be gathered. Follow the students back to your dorm and write in that journal I gave you, Daphne and Su."
"Fine, you better not go out and get yourself killed though cousin. Lord Henry Potter does sound bloody nice but I would not want it at the expense of your death." Henry said and went back to his table.
"Daphne, go back to the dungeon and press your sister and anyone close to Black. It seems Ginny has become their leader so press her for information."
Daphne now laughed at this though. "I will try, my sister already thinks I used her precious Lord Black to get ahead. Not sure how helpful I will be. Be safe Harry." She said with concern and then left for her table.
"Su, I need you to…" Harry started but was interrupted by the quiet girl. "I will not leave your side." She spoke just above a whisper and held up her wand.
"Same goes for me brother, I finally have a sibling and will not lose him to a stupid plan. I assume you are also in Ron?" Neville asked, looking towards the redhead who shrugged and held up his broken wand much like Su had prior.
Su faking going with her Ravenclaws now met up with the three lions, not noticing the Slytherin who eyed them with a look of interest. Making their way down the hall towards their Transfiguration teacher's office they now heard a loud argument taking place. Harry pushing them into a dark closet placed his cloak over his body and crept closer. Placing his ears to the cracked door he listened.
"We live in a militant state, we cannot let a lord dictate our next motions Albus. A student at that." Snape said with an angry drawl to his voice. "I say the first thing we do is remove these witches and wizards of Hastings, damn the board and House Black, then we concentrate on the girl and this damn chamber."
"We could file an injunction Severus but that would take a week. Like it or not we are stuck with the assistance of Black. I do agree though we must not let them dictate the terms of the search. What do you think Albus?" Minerva iterated and then sipped her tea.
"I most agree with Minerva, we shall have Severus lead…"
"A most gracious offer headmaster, I assure you it would be an honor." Snape interrupted him and curved his lip up towards Gildroy who seemed to play with a child's toy left behind on the desk after a transfiguration lesson. "Is it not the responsibility of our Defense teacher to teach the children and keep the castle safe from the dark arts? Especially one as accomplished as Lockhart here?"
Gilderoy went to dismiss the man but turned that look of doubt into one of confidence that could have moved armies. "It is most unfortunate that I will not be able to stay the night. You see…"
"Just think of the headlines. "Lockhart saves Hogwarts." Sinistra said looking out the window and the peacock seemed to preen under the attention the Daily Prophet would give him. Successfully manipulated Lockhart now left the office with confidence in every step and the door was shut behind him. Harry could partially hear that they were still placing Snape in charge of the actual investigation.
Gathering his mates and lass they followed the peacock into his office only to see him cleaning up his possessions.
"Ah, children. Come to see off your favorite professor? It seems my time at Hogwarts has come to an end." He stated now casting an organization spell that sent all his clothes into his wardrobe.
"What about Carrow? Are you gonna leave her to die?" Neville asked, stepping forward. Lockhart now gauged the lad before him and sadly shrugged his shoulders. "It seems there is not much I can do to save the poor girl at this moment. I shall seek out help from dear friends of mine who owe me favors in Wales."
His motions to advance though was stopped by the wand of Harry being pointed at him. "You will not cower out of this Lockhart. Where do you think she could be?" Harry now pressed. The Defense teacher went to draw his wand but saw the other children aim theirs at him.
"I… uh… think I am gonna be sick. What say we work out how we both can be the heroes of 1993? I have a wonderful publicist that will make sure all four of you get your own radio show based around you, I have five you know, all hugely successful?" He said puffing out his chest. He tried to blind them with his smile but they had not budged. "You bloody are a fraud." Ron surmised and the look of offense on Lockhart's face was one that Harry would not soon forget.
"Spinner of the truth… sometimes, faud, never. Now children I must use the loo, I think I am gonna be sick." Lockhart now said holding his stomach but Harry seemed to have struck gold in his mind.
"What is it Har'?" Neville asked, taking the wand of Lockhart from his pocket and throwing it into his own.
"The loo, Moaning Myrtle died nearly five decades ago, she must have been killed by the snake when the chamber was opened previously. The entrance is in the women's loo."
It took some forceful negotiating but eventually leading the pack with three wands to his back Lockhart came to the second-floor woman's bathroom. Pushing him into the bathroom they were greeted by the sight of the ghost emerging from the toilet.
"The handsome Harry Potter come to see lonely Myrtle again." She said floating over to them as Ron now shut the door. "Come to poke fun Ronald? I am an easy target." She now said with sadness in her voice.
"Ah, it seems we made it here. I shall be off." Lockhart said and went to walk off but with a shoe tying spell by Harry he ended up on the ground holding his nose.
"We are not here to make fun of you Myrtle. I was curious, what killed you? We have a student in trouble and we think it may be connected." Harry asked in a soft voice and she seemed to consider his question before relenting and telling the last moments of her living life.
"It must be here Harry, you and Ron look for the entrance while Su and I keep our professor from running away." Neville now said and much to their surprise it was Ron that found a small snake near a faucet. It was Su that suggested using parsletongue and Harry went through twenty phrases before just saying Open causing the seek to open up and expand showing a large pipe that went into the darkness.
"Most wonderful children, I say since Mr. Potter opened it, Mr. Potter inspected it first." Lockhart now suggested eyeing the cracked open door. For a moment he thought he saw a set of eyes on him from the crack but turned his attention back to Neville feeling the poke of his wand to his ribs.
"He is right, I will go down first and then send him down. The last thing we need is this con artist to ambush us." Harry told them and without a second thought lept down the pipe that was impossibly smooth and quite entertaining. At the bottom, he now fell on his behind and landed what was the bones of a thousand chickens.
Looking around he now saw strange carvings of the large serpent from his book and what looked like a man who must have been Salazar Slytherin himself. Tracing his hands over the century-old designs he now came to a door that was a gold hue with the patterns of snakes over it. "Send him down." Harry yelled and while Harry came down like a child going down a slide, Lockhart seemed to come down like a goat falling off a mountain.
Looking back with half concern it seemed that the fool had hit his head on one of the passing statues. "Slide down careful, the twit bumped his head." Harry told them and concentrated his wand at the unconscious form of the defense professor. Both Ron and Neville seemed to come down just as smooth as Harry and seemed as concerned with the skeleton problem much like Harry.
"Bloody hell, there must be thousands of the things." Neville commented now poking Lockhart with a leg bone. Harry simply shrugged and now turned to check on the ancient door that seemed to be the next riddle. Hearing an oof sound towards the slide he saw that Lockhart had played them for the fool and now held onto the wand of Neville and a bright smile.
"Some are gifted in bravery lads, others like I possess the gift of cunning. It will be a shame to report the unfortunate ending of Harry Potter to the beast in the chamber." He now tapped his chin while keeping an eye on Harry who he dared pull his wand. Ron had pulled his but seeing the broken state of it Lockhart disregarded the boy as a threat. "What shall I say that ended the life of the Potter and Longbottom heir? I would say giant but I have already slayed one of those. Have no worries chaps, your memories will be gone but you shall live on in the mental ward."
Lockhart now went to send a memory charm at the drawing Harry when a spell being launched behind the group of three shocked them all. From the bottom of the slide, Draco had now launched a stunning spell of his own into the back of Lockhart sending him to the ground. Not quite unconscious Neville picked up his wand and sent his own at the downed form of Lockhart at close range.
Harry went to approach Draco when Ron's wand seemed to act on its own and cast a blasting spell in all the commotion. Harry had to dive back towards the unopened door and the other three now dove towards the slide as rocks now began to fall between them. Thankful to hear coughing coming from the otherside Harry coughed himself and ran to the rockpile.
"You are a nitwit Weasley." Draco yelled. "I would've killed you had that killed me."
"How can you kill me if you are already dead?" Ron retorted and Harry pictured them standing nose to nose.
"Enough you two. We are all fine Harry, even the con artist. I would say do not do anything stupid Harry but my short time living alongside you I know to not waste my breath. Just be safe over there and we will get help." Neville told him through a small opening of debris.
"No problem Nev and Malfoy."
"What Potter?"
"Thanks."
There seemed to be a long pause before a response. "You played hero last time, couldn't let you get all the glory this time. Come one Longbottom, let's move this twit before a rock falls on him and we are in Azkaban for murder."
While the three now secured Lockhart using his own belt as restraints and Ron's wand now buried under the rocks… somewhere, Harry now looked towards the door to solve this new puzzle. Taking the lazy path he tried the same password that got him and was surprised to see three snakes now come from the center and travel through a maze going to the edges of the door.
On deep breaths and wand drawn he now walked into the hallways and passed through what looked like pathways for the plumbing of older eras. Following the main path he now passed by stone statues of seven snakes on each side of him. Coming to the end the space opened up showing a large room surrounded by a stream of water which must have been from Hogwarts itself.
Soon though his eyes were drawn to the end of the courtyard like space where a giant stone face now stared at him with a stone beard that went down to the floor. His attention soon was stolen away as he now saw on the ground the limp unconscious form of a little girl with black hair and plain features. Running over to her Harry rested her head in his lap and saw the unconscious form of Hestia Carrow.
Feeling her pulse like they did on the cop dramas on the tellie he could tell she was still at least alive for the moment. "It is ashamed of what happened to poor Hestia, although she would not stop writing about how much she was a failure to her cousin." A voice said and emerged from behind a pillar. The boy was a couple years older than Harry and seemed to wear the Hogwarts robes from those old photos in the trophy room. "He cast such a large shadow, a most wonderful ally he will make."
His very walk was elegant and whether by training since Hogwarts or his youth his posture was that of the pureblood lords walking the halls of the ministry. Hate grew in the green eyes when Harry could only see the arrogant form of his godbrother when looking at this very boy.
"How are you here Tom?" Harry asked the form who showed him the night Hagrid got expelled. Hestia was still alive but it seemed her pulse was fading fast.
"That is thanks to young Carrow here, she will also be the reason that I can be reborn into your world. Now step away and let her die in peace." Tom told him and Harry saw most of his body was in the spectral form much like Headless Nick but slowly starting at the leg he became whole.
Harry held out his wand pointing it at the boy. "I will not let you do this to innocents. First Hagrid paid for your plot, then Myrtle died. Hestia will not follow her route. Just tell me why Tom?"
Harry stood up and put his body between the downed form of Hestia and the spectral form of Tom Riddle. Tom just smirked and pulled out his wand casting a spell into the air. In stark red lines read "Tom Marvolo Riddle". With another wave of his wand the words rearranged them into "I am Lord Voldemort".
"Now you die Harry Potter." Tom uttered and spoke parseltongue. Harry had little time to comprehend that his parent's killer was before him since the mouth of Salazar Slytherin now opened up. Slithering out down a tube was a massive 50-foot snake. Harry, remembering the text quickly diverted his and ran into the side passageway that looped back into the main atrium.
"Kill him." Tom screamed in the strange language and the snake obeyed. Tom slowly starting to get his corporal form back slowly actually found the scene quite humorous as Harry ran away from his monster and blindly sent blasting spells back. A few connected but seemed to do no harm.
Harry was in the middle of devising a plan when a screech alerted all them up towards the ceiling. Flying into the atrium was none other than Fawkes who carried a hat in his talons. Dropping the Sorting Hat at the feet of Harry the phoenix now launched itself towards the snake.
"Grab the damn sword boy." The Sorting Hat screamed and Harry confused, reached into the bottom and felt something hard. Gripping it he pulled it out and it was none other than a strange massive sword that housed the sigil of Gryffindor on its hilt.
Looking up, the snake kept trying to lunge at the bird but Fawkes was much too quick and finally with his talons grabbed onto the eyes of the snake and flew away leaving it blind.
"You damn bird, kill the boy." Tom now screamed having almost one full leg complete. The snake tried to obey and listen to the footsteps of Harry. Unfortunately for her Harry had applied the quiet footsteps spell his father taught him in the spell book.
Running towards the statue of Salazar Slytherin he now started to climb up while the snake using it's senses attempted to find her target. Almost to the top of the forehead of Slytherin, Harry now felt his footing slip which caused a loose piece of stone to fall to the ground below. Harry had to hold onto the stone tight as the snake now launched herself at the stone form of her home.
The basilisk now tried to find him using her tongue but only needed to listen as he now cast five spells. Fear rang through the snake as the spell Flitwick taught him had been executed perfectly. While there no roosters standing behind the snake, stones scattered behind the beast now erupted in a mighty bellow of crowing that even hurt the ears of the caster.
The nearing corporal form of Riddle now screamed at the snake in anger trying to tell her there was no rooster but the beast in a fury would not listen.
The snake thrashed violently around not sure where her enemy stood and Harry took his moment to strike. Finding his footing onto the forehead of Slytherin, Harry now thrusted up into the passing mouth of the snake and Tom now screamed in anger seeing his monster with a sword out the back of her head.
Harry had so much adrenaline running through him that he hardly noticed taking out the Sword of Gryffindor the right fang had impaled itself onto his forearm. The nerves in his arms started to tingle, first subtly but soon became painful. Ignoring the pain for now he looked below and the full corporal form of Tom was nearing and it appeared the living form of Hestia soon faded.
Taking a quick painful climb down the statue as the monster collapsed onto the hard stone below. Finally making it to the ground he ran around the dead monster and fell to the form of the dying Hestia. Checking her pulse it now started to wane in and out, more out.
"I shall live once again Harry Potter. Join me and the wizarding world shall kneel before our feet." Tom now said forgetting about his monster looking at the almost developed form of himself.
Harry panicked now though and felt the source of the evil coming from five feet away. The diary that he ventured through to see the framing of Hagrid and Hestia seemed to be controlled by just pulsed dark magic. Gathering it to him he opened up the book and saw it was still blank but now saw magic visibly being sent towards the teenage Dark Lord.
"Leave that be Potter." Tom screamed but Harry tried the first thing that came to his mind, he drove the sword of Gryffindor into the pages and once in Tom now screamed in pain and the pages seemed to bleed. Looking over Tom had only needed his arm before coming corporal but this seemed to halt the process.
Pulling the blade once more out he dove into the other pages and much of the same happened. Finally closing the book he now plunged the sword into the cover and the scream from Tom was one that shook him to his core but soon the form of Tom started to fade from their world.
Swearing revenge Tom disappeared and Harry now fell back alongside Hestia. His arm started to twitch in pain and it was now Hestia who sprung up to a sitting position as she had just awoken from a nap. Looking around she was confused about where they were but gasped seeing Harry Potter beside her starting to lose consciousness.
"Harry, what happened?" She now asked in a panic seeing his arm start to turn a strange purple.
"Get out of here Hestia, go find help." He now said between grunts of pain. Hestia did not have the chance to dispute this though because from the rafters above Fawkes now flew down to and gracefully landed next to her savior.
"Fawkes." Harry now said and the bird seemed to inspect the point of contact with the fang. He gave a shrill that sounded full of melody and lowered his head over the gash. Both children now looked at the phoenix with confusion but saw the bird produce three tears that dropped into the wound.
At first nothing seemed to happen but a few seconds later the twitching of the hands now halted and the ugly purple color was replaced by the pale skin once again. The wound seemed to heal itself on the spot and within seconds the only thing that remained was a large scar over his forearm.
The only after-effect was that exhaustion seemed to fight Harry who was now wondering how they were going to get out of here. "Put the damn sword and book into my bottom, boy. You have earned the sigil upon your robe a hundred times more." The Sorting Hat instructed and Harry confused and both things seemed to fit in.
Both children did not have time to think of their path out though as Fawkes gave another shrill and took off and circled around back grabbing both with a talon each. Hestia seemed to enjoy the ride until the adrenaline had passed and she soon passed out from exhaustion. Harry trying to fight it himself soon lost the fight.
(Perspective Change)
As Harry Potter was facing a millennium-old serpent a very tired man was just arriving home dreading to report his lack of findings to his lord. Deciding to delay his entrance home the redhead now watched the children of William's Landing play with a muggle football. His own son Jack Jr. seemed to have been born with two left feet but seemed to enjoy the games in the street.
With one last look towards his son Jack entered the comfortable home expecting to see his wife greeting him at the door. Rather than the sight of his love there was the sight of Big Betty. The woman who had known the regent since they were both knee-high seemed to travel everywhere with the regent as her personal head of security. It was said she had a personality so sparse to those not named Andromeda that if you could get her to laugh Andrue would pay for your drinks that night.
Giving her a curt nod he walked past her and entered into her living room where the regent in a beautiful red dress now held onto his two year old and threw her into the air. Amelia laughed like crazy and begged for more. Andi seeing Jack caught Amelia once more and then carefully put her onto the ground. The little girl wanted to play some more but Liz quickly collected her daughter.
"It has been a long night Andi, is this urgent?" Jack asked, walking over to his liquor cabinet and pouring two glasses. He went to offer his wife a glass of wine but saw she already had a half filled glass on the table.
"If it was for a matter that I needed you would find your bed within the hour Jack. Lord Black has called upon you and after the fiasco at Hogwarts along with Lady Black not allowing him to their bedroom, it would be unwise to keep him waiting. I raised my nephew since he was three, when he is this focused you can only weather the storm."
He went to plead once more but surprisingly it was his wife who rose now and spoke. "Go ahead Jack, I shall put the children down. You will only be at the manor."
"Liz, Jack here is headed with me to Greece. We lack the empty rooms tonight but on the morrow you and your children will floo over to meet with your husband."
Annoyed but excited for a trip out of Hastings for once Liz kissed her husband and soon they were off to his private floos after they finished their drinks. Taking an international portkey they landed in a balcony that looked like it was taken out of a Homer epic. The columns were perfect in condition and the smell of ocean now hit him in the nose.
Across the back wall was a strange mural painted of a ship and it depicted men who had been turned to pigs by strange women. It all of a sudden struck him and he now turned towards the balcony and looked over and saw they were on a small island that seemed to have three villages scattered around. They were upon the highest of the peaks so even in the dark the view was majestic.
"The papers said it was Rome, not Aeaea." Jack said amazed and saw the other murals were dedicated to the greek witch Circe. "It seems we must have left out the detail that Aeaea was a small island off Rome. The last owners seemed to never cover their taxes so with the generous donation of a university and other needed infrastructure in Rome they were more than happy to sell to House Black. Now come."
She waved him down the hallway and there looked to be strange little goblins who finished up the day on the repairs. With the wall fully repaired after an all-day process, a female goblin now worked to restore the original mural that graced it.
Passing by the pristine murals still, it seemed that Circe truly was the queen of this island as it showed the many feats she had accomplished while ruling. Farther down came some other men and women who must have been her magical descendants. The murals wrapped down another hall but the twosome now walked through a grand archway that looked to be in disrepair. Passing through the room opened up to a large dining area that housed a large balcony and an open view of the sea.
Ten of his best men who had been taken out of Hogwarts a couple of hours before he left himself now sat at a long table looking exhausted. His best caster Catherine had some damage done to the leather that tightly wrapped her chest. The beautiful blond hair that was pristine and elegant even on duty now looked in disarray and she tore into a pig without any sense of manners.
"There you are love." A voice said coming from the side and Andi lit up seeing her husband now approach her with the first smile he wore in nearly 24 hours. "You've just missed Tsar Peter and a very sound demonstration of our forces compared to his." From the tone of Ted, Jack assumed those from Hastings had not put on a suitable performance. Ted gave his wife a lovingly kiss before turning towards Jack. "Lord Black is in the solar and needs to speak to you right away." He informed Jack and with Andi grabbing the hand of Ted like she had when they were in Hogwarts still now the threesome walked down the hall that had the mural continue only moments prior.
The door opened and the smell of a cigar hit him first as the grand solar showed itself to him. Some of the stones were missing on the columns but again he saw an open balcony that now overlooked the town. Looking to his left on a couch sat Vega who took the middle seat looking over requirements to get a teaching certificate. To the left of her, the grandmother who had seemed to embrace her kin all the more since her husband's death now helped Vega navigate the papers.
While Druella sat on one side he was confused to see that one young man from the Russian team at the dueling tournament. Prince Andrew still looking like a lovesick puppy also seemed to review the forms of his own along with dual magical citizenship forms as well. Looking back towards his right Ted now walked towards his own smaller desk in the corner that had stacks of papers still to be sorted by his paralegal.
Footsteps of two people came around the corner and even before he saw the beautiful Lady Black, Jack felt the pull of her allure first. She did not have the smile though that usually graced her face. Behind her with his hand gently placed at the small of her back was Lord Black who looked more annoyed by their fight than angry.
"Fine 'uzband, zame bed tonight but andz to yourself." She said and kissed him on his cheek and stormed off towards the apartments. Lord Black could only rub his head in annoyance watching her close the door behind her.
"Still angry I see, it seems she did not appreciate you pulling her out of school like you did. She will calm nephew, you may even get laid tonight." Andi said looking over her husband's shoulder at some of the forms he was cleaning up.
"Damn woman, someone get Isla already, I called her a half an hour ago. If she wants her damn date with Weasley then she can have it tomorrow." He called out to someone in the room. Pollux who sat alongside his wife rose from the side of Megan and went to go search for his daughter.
Jack wandered over to Megan and he had a wonderful conversation with the muggle about her adventures the past six hours throughout the palace and nearby village. Every once in a while he would look back at his lord who seemed to busy himself with Noir Clothing business to keep his mind from wandering.
The door finally opened and the first through was Isla who looked flustered and was soon followed by Bill and Pollux. "I am most sorry m'lord, lost track of time and it will not happen again." She apologized quickly falling into a curtsy. He did not even acknowledge her at first though finishing up the paragraph before him.
"Uncle Ted, work with Mary to find out why we would pay the printing fees for our magazine when we print the damn thing our own damn selves with our own workers. Have a seat Isla, oh, you forgot a button." He said in passing and Isla looked down and noticed that she did in fact have one less button done on her blouse showing her cleavage. "Tomorrow I will be back at Hogwarts and Bill can feel you up and down all he wants then, tonight we work."
Megan looked annoyed with her daughter while Isla doing the button now tried to compose herself attempting to hide a blush. Bill found a seat of his own apart from Isla as there were only single-seaters left.
"I have reports that those from Hastings have found nothing at Hogwarts. I also have a wizard more interested in the panties of the librarian than finding my cousin. It is no wonder why those ten failed so miserably the test put before them." Lord Black stated and Jack was handed two results for drills conducted.
The one headlined as Hastings showed those men who trained under him were half as effective as the forces of Tsar Peter. It even wrote Catherine had stumbled on the heel of her own teammate when they breached the door to clear it. "M'lord I…"
"I do not wish to hear excuses Mr. Monroe. I also do not look to indict you with the horrible excuse of results before you. I have no doubt while you may not have matched the Russians the results would be passable, an Acceptable if you will." He now turned towards Isla who sat ready with a notepad and quill. "Tomorrow arrange me an interview on The Witching Hour. We will report to the people the status of the missing heir of House Carrow, better or worse. The last thing we need is Nott to gain control of this story and take the house back."
Druella shifted uncomfortably in her chair though which seemed to attract the attention of her teenage lord. "What is it Lady Druella? I have you in my inner circle, I expect you to speak your mind, not make me read it." The more annoyed he grew the more the room grew tense.
Druella pursed her lips and seemed to take a long moment to think of the content of her words before speaking. "It is only that I recall Wizarding Wireless Network, more specifically Glenda Chittock herself was the one who seemed to throw the most questions towards your innocence regarding the death of your lordly great grandfather and heirly cousin. Perhaps it is time to give another radio personality a boost at WWN with an exclusive, someone young and overwhelmed who will let you guide the discussion."
Isla quickly agreed with the new strategy and even Prince Andrew seemed to join in on the conversation. While they narrowed the two interviewers to Madison Graves and Richard Hopart, Bill having grown up away from the plotting of proper noble houses seemed to get more lost after each passing word.
"Then it is decided, Madison Graves will interview you m'lord. I shall contact her supervisor right away, I am sure he will break his slumber for something like this." Isla now stood up and straightened out her skirt. Giving Lord Black a curtsy and her parents a kiss on the cheek she dragged Bill out of the room to get things arranged.
"I am happy to be apart of this m'lord, I only ask why am I here?" The forgotten Jack now spoke up from his spot on the couch. Lord Black now casted a cleaning spell and all the papers on his desk now sorted themselves out and the quills even flew to their proper storage.
"It seems that who I wanted to be the Mistress of Defense for House Black and Hastings has decided to take another path for her future, one I fully support." The young lord said, looking towards his cousin Vega who, feeling like she betrayed the family looked away. "There is to be some unsavory task in the future of this position and someone with aspirations of teaching at Hogwarts must not be tangled up in such… complicated matters."
Jack's heart now started to beat a little faster as Lord Black let out a yawn and looked at the clock on the wall before looking back at the redhead. "I will not speak on the matters but you were there when I was a young abused boy being tortured by my great grandfather just to teach me a lesson. You were also there when some difficult matters had to be attended to. I wish to promote you to Lord Jack Monroe, Lord of William's Landing and Master of Defense for Hastings."
Andi chuckled to herself seeing Jack try and compose words. "What… why… what shall my duties be?" Was all he got out.
Lord Black now rose and even though he was still a teen his eyes spoke of a soul that had ordered the deaths of many and carried the burden of life and death on his decisions. His face became hard and he now took out eight glass from a side cabinet and poured them all fire whiskey. Andi with a flick of her wand now passed the glasses to each person.
"The Dark Lord is out there somewhere and the Death Eaters will rise once more, the rest of England may ignore the signs but much like my ancestors before, House Black will defend these lands to the last witch and wizard. When the time comes we shall be the wand of England, putting her under a militant state if need be. Even if the journey ends with me meeting my mother at a young age."
The teen now drank the liquid and just enjoyed the burn as it passed through his throat. Grabbing the only loose paper on his desk he now picked up eleven international portkey passes and handed it to Jack. Looking down at the names it was him and the ten who were exhausted in the dining area.
"Tsar Peter and Russia faced the same Death Eater plague as mother England last war and he is with me on getting ahead of this. You eleven shall travel to Moscow in three days and train with his elite forces for four months. There you will learn the techniques that will then be passed onto those witches and wizards in Hastings." With one last gulp Lord Black now finished his whiskey. "We have a couple years to prepare for war in secret, as far as anyone knows your trip is to secure some business to finalize the marriage arrangements between my cousin Vega and Prince Andrew."
Jack now looked over at the couch towards the soon to be married couple and saw Andrew was over the moon while Vega seemed content with the pairing. Looking back towards his lord he now spoke. "That is why my wife and children are headed here tomorrow, last couple days to see them before departing." Jack now realized.
Lord Black now smiled and from the edge of his desk picked up the picture of Fleur's ultrasound. He felt his heart three times larger seeing the little developing baby move around in the small photo. "There is nothing more important than family Jack, you may not carry the last name Black, remember though all those who reside in Hastings are a part of the Black family." Lord Black now spoke solemnly and looked towards the British flag he had put on the wall over the balcony doorway. He then rose his glass high towards her. "To England, she who we will give our last breath defending."
With those words spoken he now left the solar to try and make up his transgression to his wife. Jack looked up when Druella now clinked her glass against his and had a wry smile upon her face. "Welcome to the inner circle Jack, a dangerous road we walk."
A/N:
If you are wondering if Alphard is acting too business-like about the disappearance of his cousin, that is how he copes, planning. I sped past some of the canon events but hope you enjoyed the battle with the snake and see how much Al is taking his war preparations seriously. Harry is finally starting to use his brain to win some of these battles.
Conjuration is not till 5th year so when you cannot conjure make it sound like you can. Also I have not used her much but Druella is the mother of Andi, Bella and Cissa. With her granddaughter Vega soon to be a bride and a close relationship with her daughters (even Bella) it is no doubt she would remain loyal to Black even over her birth Rosiers.
Finally got to use Draco! Moving forward into the third year he is going to be used so much more, maybe not as the inner circle of Nev or Harry, but possibly as an ally. I am still writing Year 3 as we speak but still able to add writers suggestions at this point.
One more chapter this year and I thank you guys for being patient with me. Any comments, concerns or errors I need to fix please message me and I will get back to you right away.
"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening my axe."
Abraham Lincoln
OC
Prince Andrew Romanov-Fourth in line to royal Russian throne and bethrothed of Vega