May came around and for the first time in ages Harry felt like all was not lost. He knew the next five years would be hell if he didn't address the elephant in the room. He had something growing behind his scar and he was going to get it investigated during the summer, whatever the cost. He had already written home to tell Aunt Petunia about his fears and had received a lovely letter telling him that she would support him throughout the entire process of healing.
He knew he could face the challenges before him and come out stronger for it. In two short years he had turned himself from an orphan to a confident wizard who knew where he stood and who his friends were. He knew he would be more open with friend choices as some of the most insane ideas for friends had turned out well.
In the spirit of that last point Harry was currently making his way back down to the Chamber of Secrets, at full strength and ready to flee at a moment's notice, and called the Basilisk to him.
"Come, noble King, a Speaker has come who wishes you no harm. I ask not to dominate you, but to know you, truly know you."
When it slithered up to him, it was substantially larger than Harry thought it would be.
"You may gaze upon me, my eyes are covered, look me in the eyes that we may converse as equals."
Taking a leap of faith Harry looked up towards the Basilisk and upon seeing that its eyes were in fact covered, he stood up straight and they held eye contact for what appeared to be a century before the snake hissed out.
"I approve of you, not as a Master, but as an equal."
Harry then knew he had made a powerful friend indeed, and maybe the most unique friend one could have.
"Harry my boy, you've been through so much, but I wondered if maybe you would allow this old man to answer some questions you may have and ask some of my own," Dumbledore asked Harry, early on May day, as he entered the Headmaster's office.
"I fear I have allowed myself to become too bogged down with the day to day hassles of running a school during the midst of a crisis." He paused here and sighed, looking older than he ever had before. "I feared the reveal of your Parseltongue abilities would have caused you to become ostracised. It turns out that all of my fears have been unfounded, you have managed feats beyond your age and have done much to help unify the houses, attacks on Muggle-born students from your house have decreased to zero among your year mates. However, I do have an apology to make, at the end of last year I feared that you had been possessed by Voldemort during your fight to save the Stone. I worried that one day I would look into your eyes and see Tom's. Someone who would rush down into danger to save their friends knows a power Lord Voldemort does not." At Harry's confused look Dumbledore smiled and continued. "Love, Harry. Love is a thing Voldemort could never understand. I feel it around you. Your love for your family and friends is admirable for one so young and who has gone through so much. I should have checked on you, after your parents were killed and you were left with your Aunt and Uncle, you should never have ended up in an Orphanage, let alone Wool's."
"It's okay, Professor, I have my family back and I won't let anything tear them away from me. No matter what happens, be it a fight or something like that, I will always go back to them," Harry said after a moment, his voice filled with passion and determination.
Harry was awake now, after a pain in his head had caused him to jump, and was experiencing something he had never felt before. He could hear Tom Riddle, even see him, and yet he wasn't physically there, as a stunner going right through him indicated.
"Hello Harry, you have covered my tracks perfectly, don't worry one day soon you will know what you don't already. Your Occlumency shields are impressive, however they only protect from the outside, Harry. You are me in more ways than one, take your home of ten years, you lived at Wool's Orphanage in London, I can see your room right here in your head. My room."
"I'm not you, I would never do the evil things you've done throughout your life," Harry shouted at the spectral form of Tom before him, which made his face stretch into a smirk and laugh.
"Oh, but you will, you have so much to learn, and I'll be there to help you along the path." He vanished after a final laugh, leaving Harry staring at the space he had previously occupied.
He was too alert to return to sleep now.
"Hey Harry, you got a second?" Theo asked him as he was leaving breakfast.
"Sure, but we have to walk and talk, I'm in a rush," he answered without pausing to look at his friend.
"What was it like? The Chamber, I mean. I've heard stories about it, but I imagine nothing could compare to the real thing," he asked as they descended the stairs leading to the Dungeons.
"It's… indescribable. I can't really tell you much about it." When Harry paused to think, Theo's face fell. He was just about to accept that answer when Harry stopped dead in his tracks to look at him. "How would you like to see it later?" The look that appeared on Theo's face made Harry smile as he scrambled out a reply.
"That would be amazing, thanks. I'll let you get on with your day now and meet you in the common room later." He said all of that in one breath as he turned to leave. Now that he was alone Harry slipped into a secret passageway leading to the Hallway outside the Ravenclaw Common room and saw Hermione.
"You took your time," she immediately accused.
"Theo wanted to talk, what was I supposed to do," he argued back and they glared at each other, before bursting into laughter and hugging each other.
"This year has been crazy, but I think I can control my anger now. Thanks for helping me throughout the year, your Patronus lessons will begin next year." Harry smiled and they went to study unusual magical concepts.
June was here and with it came a lot of cleaning under the school. Harry, Dudley, Draco, Ron, Neville, Theo, and Hermione were in the Chamber of Secrets, searching for secrets, and cleaning the place up. Lessons had been cancelled during the last month of the year as a special treat, and so with their massively increased free time they were doing what they could to improve the habitability of the giant chamber.
They were resting at the Orchard outside the Chamber when the Basilisk slithered over to them with Rigor. The sight of the giant snake caused a bit of panic in all there except Harry, he simply started talking to them.
"Master Harry, I am very happy you introduced me to the King of Serpents, my status in the snake world has continued to rise ever since you removed me from that cage," Rigor boasted, being a prideful snake.
"Don't let your new friendship go to your head, Rigor, I'm sure your king here wouldn't want a boastful friend," Harry hissed back, causing the Basilisk to laugh and Rigor to sulk and slither away, the Basilisk following behind, making jokes about Rigor.
"No offence, mate, but I don't think I'll ever get used to a Basilisk hanging around," Ron joked and that set the mood back to normal.
The group of Slytherins returned to their common room and talked about the year they had just had.
