Chapter 25: Chamber of Secrets
Hey everyone, here it is the end of Book 2. All of you were super excited for this so I decided to give it to you guys as quick as I could. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
As Hagrid predicted with Dumbledore gone the school was struggling to keep it together. Needless to say the teacher escorts every time a student needed to so much as go to the bathroom made it difficult to go talk to Myrtle and Duncan.
And to make things worse, they still had to take final exams.
In the Great Hall, Sam, Harry, Ron, Barnaby and Penny were talking.
"I can't believe with all this McGonagall is still making us take exams." Ron groans.
"She's just trying to keep the school going like normal." Penny said.
"Yeah except it's not normal. Without Hermione how are we gonna find out what the creature is?" Barnaby asks.
"Shame none of us know magical creatures." Harry said.
"Well that's not entirely true." Sam said getting their attention.
"What do you mean?" Harry asks.
"After our little "incident" with Aragog I might have sent out a letter to help. I just hope Noctis gets back here soon with it." Sam said.
"Wait what? Who did you send it to?" Ron asks.
"Uh would you guys believe me if I said Newt Scamander?" Sam asks shocking them.
"Newt Scamander? The author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them?" Penny gasps.
"I love that book." Barnaby said.
"Sam how do you know him?" Ron asks.
"Me and my orphanage friends helped him out of a jam and he's been giving them lessons on Magical Creatures." Sam admits.
"Why didn't you tell us this sooner?" Ron asks.
"I didn't have enough to go on yet. All I knew was that it petrified people, you know how broad that area is?" Sam asks.
"How broad?" Harry asks.
"Very." Sam said.
"Well I hope for our sakes Newt and your bird pull through." Barnaby said when Ginny walked over.
"Uh Harry." Ginny said nervously getting their attention. "I-I have to tell you something."
"What is it?" Harry asks.
Muttering Ginny was having trouble trying to find the right words.
"Is it about the Chamber of Secrets?" Barnaby asks.
"Did you notice anyone acting weird?" Sam asks.
"Uh…well." Ginny said when Penny steps up.
"How about I handle this one boys?" Penny asks confusing them.
"Huh?" They said confused.
"I think Ginny is just a little nervous. When Bea's like this talking to another girl is easier." Penny said.
"Well then, you better meet up with us later." Sam said.
"Sure thing. You fine talking to me, Ginny?" Penny asks as Ginny nods.
As both girls walked out the guys slowly got up.
"Hoo!" An owl hoots. Looking up Sam saw Noctis fly in with a letter tied around his waist.
"Noctis." Sam smiles as he runs to the owl as he drops down. "Oh please tell me you got something.
"Hoo hoo." Noctis said holding up a letter on his leg.
"Oh you're the best buddy." Sam smiles petting the owl and taking the letter.
"Come on." Harry said.
Using this chance, they snuck off up the stairs to try and get to Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom.
"What are you four up to?" Jumping startled they looked to see Prof. McGonagall walking over to them. "What are you doing here in the hall?"
"Uh…well you see." Harry said.
"We're going to see Hermione." Barnaby said quickly.
"Y-Yeah, with all this going on we thought we thought we would go see Hermione and tell her the Mandrakes are almost ready and not to worry." Sam said.
Almost instantly McGonagall calms down and walks over.
"Of course, I realize this must be hard seeing your friends hurt. I'll inform Madam Pomfrey that you're going there." She said.
"Thank you." All of them said before making their way up.
"Wow way to think on your feet guys." Ron said.
"Ain't you glad you have a few sneaky Slytherin as friends?" Barnaby chuckles.
"I'll admit having you guys around comes in handy." Harry said.
Seeing they had no choice now, they made their way to the Hospital Wing to see Madam Pomfrey who led them to Hermione.
"I don't see the point in doing this, you boys have 5 minutes then Chiara and I need to get back to work." Madam Pomfrey said leaving them alone.
As they looked down at their petrified friend all they could do was sigh and wish she was here helping them.
"I wish there was some way she could tell us about the creature." Barnaby said.
"Same." Harry said when he noticed something small clumped up in her hand. "Hold on."
Reaching over he struggles to pry it from her grip and ends up seeing a small piece of paper on it.
"Pipes." Ron read. "What good does that do?"
"Hang on second." Sam said taking out his letter from Newt. "Guys cross your fingers."
Opening the letter, he read it.
"Sam! This is bad, this is really bad. From the descriptions you've sent me it all comes down to one creature. The Basilisk, otherwise known as the King of Serpents. They are one of the fiercest and deadliest creatures in the Magical World. This Snake is able to live for many hundreds of years and can grow to be giant in size. It's venom is incredibly deadly and its stare can kill anyone who looks it directly in the eyes. The only thing it fears are roosters. If you are dealing with one of these. I warn you do whatever it takes to not look directly at it." Sam read aloud.
"That's it. That's the answer. The reason Salazar the second could control it because he was a parseltongue." Harry realized.
"But then how come no one here is dead?" Ron asks.
"Because no one has looked at it directly. Colin looked through his camera, Justin looked through Nearly Headless Nick, and Hermione used the mirror." Barnaby realized.
"What about Filch's cat?" Ron asks.
"Remember? The whole floor was flooded. It must have seen the basilisk in the water's reflection." Harry realized.
"But how has a such a big snake gone through this school unnoticed?" Ron asks when Sam and Harry looked at the note Hermione left.
"The pipes." They realized.
"Guys, if this thing is traveling through pipes what if the entrance to the Chamber is in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom?" Ron realized.
Eyes widening all of them ran out.
"What should we do? Do we go straight to McGonagall?" Sam asks.
"Let's go to the staffroom. She'll be there soon." Harry said as the four boys ran as fast as they could when suddenly they heard an echoing throughout the school.
"All students please return to your dormitories immediately. All teachers to the second floor corridor immediately!" McGonagall's voice echoes.
"Oh no, not another attack." Harry said.
"Not now." Sam said equally annoyed.
Running to the corridor the four of them stop just short to see all the staff but Lockhart looking at another message on the wall.
"As you can see the Heir of Slytherin has taken two students. Right into the chamber itself." McGonagall said.
"Their skeletons will lie in the Chamber forever." Snape read aloud.
"We'll have to send the students home tomorrow. Hogwarts is no longer safe." McGonagall said.
"Which students were taken?" Madam Hooch asks.
"Ginny Weasley and Penny Haywood." McGonagall said causing Ron and Sam to look in horror.
Running in they see Lockhart joining the staff.
"Sorry dosed off. What did I miss?" Lockhart asks.
"Two girls have been snatched by the monster, Lockhart. Your moment has come at last." Snape said.
"I'm sorry?" Lockhart asks.
"Yes, didn't you say last night that you've known where the entrance to the chamber is all along?" Prof. Sprout recalls.
"Oh uh well I—" Lockhart said.
"And you also said you had a pretty good idea of what was inside it as well." Prof. Flitwick said.
"I don't recall." Lockhart said nervously.
"I certainly recall you saying you're sorry you never got a crack at taking on the monster before Hagrid was arrested." Snape adds.
"Well that's settled. Tonight, we will give you free rein Lockhart. All the students will be in their dorms and you will be able to tackle the monster yourself." McGonagall said.
"Ah well I'll just go prepare myself then." Lockhart said walking away.
As all the staff left, Sam, Harry, Ron, Barnaby stepped out.
"Ginny." Ron said in horror.
"She must've known about the chamber." Harry said.
"So when the Heir saw her talking to Penny they knew they had to grab them both." Barnaby said.
"Well…then he's going down." Sam declares with a driven look on his face.
That night, Sam ran out with the Viper Fangs on his belt and Barnaby right behind him while Harry and Ron caught up with them as they ran to Lockhart's office.
"Lockhart may be useless but he's going to try and get into the chamber. At least we can tell him what we know." Harry said.
"And with his skills, we were probably gonna have to do all the work anyway." Sam said as they open the door.
"Professor! We have some information for you." Barnaby said as they looked to see Lockhart packing away his things.
"What the heck is this?" Sam asks.
"Are you going somewhere?" Harry asks.
"Ur well yes. Urgent call unavoidable." Lockhart said taking down the giant picture of him.
"What about Penny and my sister?" Ron asks.
"I'm sorry boys I really am. No one regrets this more than I—" Lockhart stutters.
"You're the Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher! You can't go when all this dark stuff is happening." Barnaby said.
"Well when I took the job nothing in the description said anything about this." Lockhart said.
"So you're running away?" Sam asks wanting to punch him so much.
"What about all that stuff you did in your books?" Harry asks.
"Books can be misleading." Lockhart said.
"You wrote them!" Harry said.
"Boys use your common sense! My books wouldn't have sold half as well if people didn't think I did those things. No one wants to read about an ugly old Armenian Warlock even if he did save a village from werewolves or the witch who defeated the Bandon Banshee, she had a hair on her chin. Disgusting." Lockhart said.
"Oh my god! I knew it! You are a fraud! You've been taking credit for things other people have done!" Sam snaps.
"Is there anything you can do?" Ron mocks.
"Why yes actually. I'm quite gifted in Memory Charms. Otherwise all the witches and wizards would have gone blabby and I would never sell another book. Which I'm afraid I'll have to use on you now." Lockhart reaches for his wand but Sam and Harry take out their wands.
"Expelliarmus!" Both said blasting the wand and Lockhart to the ground while Ron grabs Lockhart's wand and throws it out the window.
"You really shouldn't make your moves so obvious." Sam glares.
"What do you boys want? I don't know where the Chamber is." Lockhart said.
"Well lucky for you we do." Barnaby said.
"And what's inside it." Ron said as they forced Lockhart up.
"And you're coming with us." Harry said having him at wandpoint.
As they forced Lockhart out, Ron looks to Sam.
"By the way Sam how'd you get so fast at dueling?" Ron asks.
"After the Cornish Pixie fiasco I realized there was no way Lockhart was gonna teach me anything worthwhile about this class." Sam said.
"I'm right here you know." Lockhart said.
"Shut up and keep walking." Barnaby said.
"So I did a little research of my own and found a Dueling tutor who taught me a few tricks." Sam said.
"Good to see you found a good teacher." Harry said.
"The best." Sam smiles.
Entering the bathroom they see Duncan and Myrtle by the sink.
"What are you doing here?" Duncan asks when Myrtle noticed Harry.
"Oh hello Harry. What do you want this time?" She asks.
"How did you two die?" Harry asks.
"Oh it was dreadful. It happened right here in this very stall." Myrtle said floating above it. "I hid here because Olive Hornby was teasing me about my glasses. I was crying, but then I heard someone walk in. They said something funny, a kind of made up language and I released it was a boy speaking so when I opened the door to tell him to leave, I died." Myrtle said.
"Just like that?" Harry asks.
"I just remember seeing a great big pair of yellow eyes." Myrtle said.
"I saw it." Duncan said flying it. "It was the biggest snake I ever saw."
"Excuse me?" Barnaby asks.
"I heard a noise coming from this bathroom and then a loud thud hit the ground. I didn't see any girls when I walked in and when I did I saw this giant snake turn to look right at me and then bam I died as well."
"You knew what the creature was this whole time and never told anyone?" Barnaby asks.
"Nobody asked." Duncan chuckles.
"It's a good thing you're dead because I wanna kill you right now." Sam said.
"Where did you see these eyes?" Harry asks.
"Over there by that sink." Myrtle points.
Slowly walking over to it, Harry examines it for any clue when he noticed a snake carved into the side of spigot.
"This is it. The entrance to the Chamber." Harry said.
"Try saying something in Parstletongue." Ron suggests.
Taking a deep breath, Harry slowly hissed in parseltongue causing the entire sink to separate and move revealing a large opening under it.
"So that's how nobody found it." Sam realized.
"Well excellent work boys. I'll just be on my way." Lockhart said trying to leave only to see four wands pointed at him.
"You can go first." Barnaby said.
"Oh boys I really don't know if that's—" Before Lockhart could finish Sam kicks him in making him slide down the tunnel causing him to scream before they heard a thud. "Really quite filthy down here."
"I've been wanting to do that since the first class." Sam said.
"Is it wrong I enjoyed that?" Harry chuckles.
"No, no it isn't." Ron smiles.
"Alright, our turn." Barnaby said.
"Oh Harry. If you die down there, you're welcome to share my toilet." Myrtle giggles causing Ron and Barnaby to cringe.
"I think that ghost has the hots for you." Sam whispers.
"Thanks Myrtle." Harry said as they all leaped in and slide down the opening before coming out in a large tunnel filled with small bones where they landed.
"Ugh gross." Ron said as they all took out their wands for battle or in case Lockhart tried anything.
"We must be miles under the school." Barnaby said looking around.
"Remember, if you see the slightest hint of movement close your eyes." Harry said as he and Sam took the lead with Ron and Barnaby forcing Lockhart to walk ahead of them as they took up the rear.
"I can't believe Slytherin's kid spent 7 years building this." Sam said looking around.
"There's something up ahead." Harry said as they saw something on the ground but it wasn't moving.
Slowly they walked to it only to see it was just a very big snakeskin.
"Look at this size of this." Barnaby said.
"It must be 60 feet long or more." Ron said and Lockhart gets weak in the knees before falling to the ground.
"What a wimp." Barnaby cringed.
"Hey guys help us out over here." Ron calls out.
As Sam and Harry walked back to them Lockhart grabs Ron's wand and leaps up.
"The adventure ends here, boys but don't fret. The world will know our story. I'll take a piece of that snakeskin and tell everyone how I was too late to save the girls and that you four tragically lost your minds at the sight of their mangled bodies. Say goodbye to your memories. Oblivate!" Lockhart swings the wand but it rebounds and hits him sending him crashing into the wall.
From the impact the ceiling started to collapse separating Sam and Harry from the others with a giant wall of broken rocks.
"Ron! Barnaby!" Harry calls out as he and Sam get up.
"Are you guys okay?" Sam calls out.
"We're fine." Ron said as Lockhart got up.
"Hello there. Who are you two?" Lockhart asks.
"Ron Weasley."
"Barnaby Lee."
"Really? And uh who am I?" Lockhart asks.
"The memory charm must have backfired on him." Barnaby realized.
"Guys Lockhart doesn't have a clue who he is." Ron said.
"This is an odd sort of place isn't it?" Lockhart asks grabbing a rock. "Do you guys live here?"
"No." Ron and Barnaby said as Lockhart started to ramble.
Pausing Ron and Barnaby look to each other before Ron grabs a rock and hits Lockhart on the head knocking him out.
"It's for the best." Barnaby mutters.
"What do we do?" Ron calls out.
"You guys try and clear some of these rocks away. Harry and I will go find Ginny and Penny." Sam calls out.
"Good luck guys." Ron and Barnaby call out.
Looking to each other Sam and Harry take a deep breath.
"Looks like it's just you and me again Sam." Harry said.
"I got your back buddy." Sam said.
"And I got yours." Harry said as they kept walking until they found a sealed entrance.
Stopping both knew the basilisk had to be on the other side of the door.
Telling the door to open in parseltongue the seal slowly unlocks itself before the door swings open.
Slowly walking into the dimly lit chamber, both were on the lookout for the basilisk.
Walking through it they see the walls were lined with carvings of stone snakes with a huge statue as large as the chamber in the far back.
Looking up at the statue they see it to be the face of Salazar Slytherin.
Directly below it, they saw Ginny and Penny laying on the ground.
"Ginny!/ Penny!" Both of them gasp as they ran as fast as they could.
Upon reaching them both put down their wands and approach the girls.
"Come on Penny, wake up." Sam said.
"Ginny, please don't be dead." Harry said but neither of them woke.
"They won't wake." A voice said.
Turning around they saw Tom Riddle walk over to them.
"Tom? Tom Riddle?" Harry said surprised.
"From the diary?" Sam asks equally surprised before putting that aside. "What do you mean they won't wake? They're not…"
"They're still alive. Only just." Tom said.
"Are you a ghost?" Harry asks.
"A memory, preserved in a diary for 50 years." Tom said pointing to the ground.
Looking at Penny's side they saw the diary Harry found in the bathroom lying there.
"Look Tom is it? We don't have much time there's a basilisk in here." Sam said.
"We've got to get them out of here." Harry said as he and Sam tried to help the girls up.
While they were distracted Tom grabbed both their wands.
"It won't come until it's called." Tom said.
Pausing both look up to see Tom with their wands.
"Give us our wands Tom." Harry orders.
"You two won't be needing them." Tom smiles.
"What do you mean?" Sam asks.
"I've waited a long time for this moment. To speak with you face to face Harry." Tom said.
"We can talk later." Harry said wanting to get out.
"We'll talk now." Tom said refusing to budge.
"What's going on? How did Ginny and Penny end up like this?" Sam asks seeing something funny was going on.
"Well I guess you can say it all started with Ginny. How Ginny Weasley opened her heart and spilled all her secrets to a complete stranger." Tom said confusing them.
"What do you mean?" Harry asks.
"My diary. Ginny's been writing in it for months. Telling me all her worries and woes. How her brothers tease her, how she came to Hogwarts with secondhand robes and books, how she was scared the famous Harry Potter would never even notice her." Tom laughs causing chills to go down their spines. "But I was patient. You see it was Ginny who opened the Chamber of Secrets. It was Ginny who sent the Basilisk after all the Mudbloods and Filtch's cat and it was Ginny who wrote the messages for me."
"Why would she do such a thing?" Harry asks shocked.
"Because I asked her to. You see I can be very convincing." Tom smirks. "Not that she knew what I was telling her to do, she was in a sort of trance. Eventually, the power of the diary began to scare her and she tried to dispose of it in the girl's bathroom. And that's where you came in Harry, the person I wanted to meet more than anything. So I decided to show you my capture of that brainless oaf Hagrid to gain your trust."
"Hagrid's my friend. You framed him didn't you?" Harry asks.
"It was my word against his. On one hand, Tom Riddle. The poor but brilliant, orphaned but so brave, prefect and on the other hand big, blundering Hagrid who gets in trouble every week. It took me 5 years to find out about the Chamber and everyone seemed to buy it, all except Dumbledore. He thought Hagrid was innocent." Tom said.
"I bet Dumbledore saw right through you." Harry smirks.
"Wouldn't let you open the Chamber again, huh?" Sam smirks.
"He certainly kept an annoyingly close watch over me after that." Tom said.
"But you haven't said why you came after Penny too." Sam points out.
"Yes, well even though Ginny didn't have the diary anymore I could sense she was scared and afraid that I would come back for her. Ginny ran to you seeking safety but because of her feelings, she couldn't work up the courage to tell you. Then the Hufflepuff stepped in. I knew if Ginny told her everything I would be done. So I took them both with me." Tom explains.
"You snake." Sam growls.
"Thank you." Tom said taking it as a compliment. "I knew I couldn't open the chamber while I was a student so I left behind a diary preserving my 16-year-old self so that I could one day finish Salazar Slytherin's noble work." Tom declares when suddenly Sam started to laugh softly.
"Oh this is too perfect." Sam chuckles.
"I fail to see what's so funny." Tom said.
"What's funny is you. You may Salazar Slytherin's heir, but not the one you're thinking of. Sam did some investigating of his own." Harry smiles.
"You see this Chamber wasn't made by one of the founders it was made by Salazar Slytherin's spoiled, entitled and disgraceful son Salazar Slytherin the second who was banished from Hogwarts and disowned by his own father because his father saw more potential in a muggleborn than he ever did in his son." Sam declares shocking Tom.
"You're lying." Tom accuses.
Reaching to his hips, Sam pulls out the Viper Fangs for Tom to see. "Am I?" Sam smirks.
"The Viper Fangs. Where did you find those?" Tom gasps.
"None of your business." Sam said.
"It's over Tom, by tomorrow morning the Mandrake solution will be ready and every victim will say what happened. You're done." Harry said.
"I don't care about Mudbloods. My last target is right in front of me. How is it that a baby with no extraordinary magical abilities managed to defeat the greatest wizard of all time? How did you manage to escape with nothing but a scar while Lord Voldemort was destroyed?" Tom asks looking right at Harry.
"Why do you care? Voldemort was after your time." Harry asks.
"He has nothing to do with you." Sam said.
"Voldemort has everything to do with me. He is my past, present and future." Tom said before using Sam and Harry's wands to make his full name appear TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE before flicking them again causing them to spell out, I AM LORD VOLDEMORT.
"No way, you're the Heir of Slytherin?" Sam gasps.
"Voldemort." Harry gasps.
"Surely you didn't think I would keep my filthy muggle father's name? I fashioned myself a new name. A name I knew that one day all witches and wizards would come to fear when I became the greatest sorcerer in the world!" Tom declares.
"Albus Dumbledore is the greatest. He was the one wizard you always feared. Even at your strongest you never risked coming here because you know he could beat you." Harry snaps.
"Face it Tom, you're no great wizard. You're a just scared spoiled brat." Sam points.
"Dumbledore has been driven out by the memory of me." Tom said.
"He's never gone. Not as long as those are still loyal to him." Harry declares.
"As Slytherin's Champion, I am taking you down." Sam declares when they heard a familiar call.
Looking up they see Fawkes fly into the chamber.
"Fawkes?" Sam said surprised as Fawkes drops something in Harry's hands.
Looking at it, they see it was the Sorting Hat.
"This is what Dumbledore sends his defenders? A songbird and an old hat?" Tom mocks before looking to the giant statue and starts talking in parseltongue causing the bottom of it to open. "Let's test this, shall we? Who is stronger? Lord Voldemort, Heir of Salazar Slytherin or the Famous Harry Potter and his friend who calls himself Slytherin's Champion?" Tom asks as from the opening the basilisk emerged.
"Harry you're a parseltongue! Try telling it to leave us alone!" Sam said as they both turned around and ran.
Making a hissing noise Harry tries ordering it to stop but the basilisk still chased them.
"Parsletongue won't save you two! It only obeys me!" Tom declares as Sam grabbed the daggers and disappeared into the shadows.
Looking to the ground, Harry sees a shadow rush towards the basilisk.
Hissing the basilisk goes after Harry when Sam comes out behind it and stabs it in the back causing it to cry out.
Acting quickly Sam disappears again just as it turns around avoiding its eyes.
Appearing behind it, Sam grabs onto the tail and stabs it multiple times.
Crying out in pain the basilisk swings Sam around and throws him off its tail across the room crashing into Harry.
As both boys tumble to the ground the basilisk approached them when Fawkes flies in.
Looking at the shadows they see Fawkes land right on the basilisk's head and digs his claws into the giant snake causing it cry out in agony as it could no longer see.
"Your bird may have blinded my serpent but it can still hear you." Tom said.
As the basilisk flailed Fawkes around wildly trying to get him off it knocks the Sorting Hat towards Harry.
"Sam are you okay?" Harry asks.
"Yeah, I am not dying here. We promised Ron and Barnaby we'd come back with Ginny and Penny. And sure as hell am not gonna let him win." Sam declares gripping the Viper Fangs tight.
As determination filled Harry he suddenly feels something heavy in the Sorting Hat. Looking inside it he sees a handle. Reaching in Harry pulls it out revealing it to be the Sword of Gryffindor.
"Nice sword." Sam grins.
"You ready Sam?" Harry asks gripping the sword tight.
Pausing Tom sees Godric and Salazar in Harry and Sam's place for a second.
"Let's get him!" Sam said as both boys charged in.
Hearing them the basilisk turns in their direction before swinging its tail.
Grabbing Harry, both boys disappear into the shadows dodging the attack before reappearing in front of it.
Moving in both boys slash the serpent with sword and dagger causing it to roar in pain.
"No! Come on! Fight back!" Tom roars.
Hissing at them the basiliks lunges at them but both dodged before swinging at it trying to kill it but they only did small injuries.
"Sam! Shadows!" Harry said as Sam grabs him and they disappear.
Reappearing from the left Sam drops Harry off before coming in from the right as both leaped in and impale the basilisk from both sides causing it to bleed.
Grinning both think they had this when it swings around knocking them near the statue.
"These small attacks aren't doing enough. We need to get to high ground." Harry said as they both ran to the statue and started climbing it.
Shaking off the injuries the basilisk follows them and attacks lunging its head at them.
Pushing away at the last second Sam swings a dagger stabbing it in the cheek causing it to fall back allowing him and Harry to reach a stable ground to stand on.
"Sam I got an idea, but I need one of your daggers." Harry said.
"Will it kill this thing?" Sam asks.
"If it works." Harry said.
"Go for it." Sam said handing Harry a Viper Fang.
"Give me an opening." Harry said.
Using his last dagger, Sam climbs up higher before leaping off and crashing onto the basilisk's head stabbing it again and again in the face before it threw him off sending him crashing down next to Harry.
As the basilisk lunges towards them with its mouth wide open its fang pierced Harry but before it could pull back he stabs the Viper Fang threw it preventing it from getting away and allowing him to impale it through the head with the sword causing the serpent to crash to the ground dead.
Groaning in pain, Harry pulls the fang out of him.
Panting heavily, Sam was helping Harry back towards Ginny and Penny before putting him down as Tom looked at him and chuckles.
"It's amazing how fast the venom of the Basilisk works. I reckon Potter won't last a minute." Tom said.
As Tom approached Harry he looks to see Sam step in and block his path.
"You won't take another step towards him." Sam said.
"You don't scare. You call yourself Slytherin's Champion but you're not good enough. Do you hear me? There is no magic you can do that I can't do better." Tom declares.
"Not true." Sam said reaching into his pocket and takes out his deck of cards. "Pick a card or maybe you would rather pick a fang." Sam said holding up his other hand to reveal the basilisk fang in between his Viper Fangs.
"Hmph, you can't hurt me with those." Tom smirks.
"Oh yeah? Abra kadabra alazakam." Sam pushes his hands together and when he opened his hands the basilisk fang was gone surprising Tom.
"What? How did you…show me your hands again." Tom orders.
"Check your robes." Sam smirks showing his hands.
"No, it's not possible. That's not real magic." Tom said looking through his robes.
While he was distracted Harry looks to see the basilisk fang roll towards him.
Grabbing the dagger, Harry opens the diary and stabs it causing Tom to scream.
"Gotcha." Sam said as Tom sees Sam tricked him while Harry finished him off.
"NO!" Tom screams as Harry stabs the diary multiple times causing Tom Riddle to be destroyed and causing Penny and Ginny to wake up.
"Hey Sleeping Beauty." Sam said as Penny looks to see him picking up his and Harry's wand.
"Sam?" Penny gasps.
"H-Harry?" Ginny said looking to him. "I-I tried to tell you at lunch but I-I." She stutters.
"It's okay Ginny it's not your fault." Harry said when they noticed his wound.
"Harry you're hurt." Ginny said.
"Are you okay?" Penny asks.
As Sam turns to Harry he tries to help him up.
"How'd you do that?" Harry smiles weakly.
"A magician never reveals his secrets." Sam smiles. "Hang tight buddy, I'm gonna make sure you're all better."
"Sam, I need you to get the girls out of here and meet up with Ron and Barnaby." Harry said.
"I'm not leaving you buddy." Sam said when Fawkes flies in and lands in between them. "Hey little guy."
"You were brilliant Fawkes. You saved us." Harry smiles as Fawkes walks towards him. "You and Sam were amazing…I just wasn't quick enough."
Slowly tears formed in Fawkes's eyes and dropped down on Harry's wound causing the pain to stop and the poison to go away.
"Of course, how I could I forget?" Harry smiles.
"Phoenix tears have healing powers." Sam smiles.
"Let's get out of here." Harry said taking Sam's hand as they got up.
"You read my mind buddy." Sam said.
"Sam, thank you for saving my life." Penny smiles.
"Of course, I wasn't gonna let anything bad happen to you." Sam smiles.
A soft blush appeared on her face. "T-Thank you." Penny leans in to kiss him on the cheek but at the last second Sam turns to look her in the eyes.
"Your wel—" Before Sam could finish her lips ended up touching his causing both their eyes to widen in shock before they pulled away bright red. "Uh…"
"Well…" Penny said.
"The exit?" Sam points.
"Good idea." Penny said as they got out as quickly as they could.
After getting Ron, Barnaby and Lockhart out of the wreckage they made their way out of the Chamber to see Dumbledore had been called back when news that Arthur Weasley's kid was kidnapped.
In Dumbledore's office, Sam puts his family pensive down in front of him as both he, Barnaby, Ron and Harry explained everything to him about what they've done including Sam's deeds throughout the whole year.
"You four have broken perhaps nearly a dozen rules in a few hours and I'm not even counting Mr. Snape's other actions for the whole year." Dumbledore scolds.
"Yes sir." They cringed ready for the worst.
"I could have you all expelled for such deeds. Which is why it's only right that I give you all…special awards for services to the school." Dumbledore said surprising them.
"Thank you sir." Ron smiles.
"Now Mr. Weasley, Mr. Lee please get an owl and send this to Azkaban I believe we need our Gatekeeper back." Dumbledore said handing them a letter.
"Yes sir." Barnaby smiles as they ran out.
"Well Mr. Snape, the evidence that you've provided is very detailed and thorough. It appears History owes Salazar Slytherin an apology. You deserve something very special for this." Dumbledore said looking to him.
"Thank you sir, but I don't need anything." Sam smiles.
"I think I have just the thing." Dumbledore said handing Slytherin's Journal and the Viper Fangs back to him.
"You're giving them back to me?" Sam asks surprised.
"Slytherin left them for his Champion and that my young man is you. However, I do ask that you keep these artifacts for emergencies only. We don't need any accidents with these." Dumbledore said.
"Yes sir." Sam nods.
"But I warn you, this is not like last year where you saved the stone. Sam, I daresay this deed will make you almost as famous as Harry." Dumbledore said.
"Wait what?" Sam gulps.
"Looks like we're both celebrities now. The Boy who Lived and Slytherin's Champion." Harry said.
"Oh boy." Sam gulps not sure if he'll be able to handle this.
"Fame is a dangerous power. I hope you plan to use yours well." Dumbledore said before walking up to them. "You two must have shown great loyalty to me down there in the Chamber only that would have called Fawkes to you. But I sense something that has you both rattled."
"We met Tom Riddle." Sam admits.
"I see. I bet he was very interested in you both when he saw Sam holding the Viper Fangs." Dumbledore assumes.
"Sir, Riddle said I'm like him. But…I'm a Gryffindor. The Sorting Hat told me I would do well in Slytherin. Everyone thought I was the Heir because I could speak Parsletongue." Harry confesses.
"Harry, you speak Parsletongue because Voldemort who is the Heir transferred some of his powers to you the night he gave you that scar. Not something he intended to do I bet." Dumbledore said.
"Part of Voldemort is in me?" Harry asks. "But then shouldn't I be in Slytherin like Sam?"
"Yes, but you're in Gryffindor. In fact, I believe Sam had the option of being in Gryffindor but he chose Slytherin. Why is that?" Dumbledore asks.
"Well because I asked it to." Harry said.
"Same." Sam said.
"Exactly, which makes you very different from Voldemort and Sam different from most Slytherin. It's not our abilities that show us who we are but rather our choices. If Sam hadn't asked to go to Slytherin he wouldn't have chosen to find these answers to clear Slytherin's name, but Harry if you need more convincing, I would suggest you look at this sword." Dumbledore said showing Harry the sword.
On the blade, Harry saw the name Godric Gryffindor engraved on it.
"Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled that sword from the Sorting Hat. If you ask me, you two belong right where you are." Dumbledore smiles when the door opens to reveal Lucius Malfoy and Dobby.
Acting quickly Sam hid the Viper Fangs in his robes so he wouldn't see.
"Dobby? Wait, this is your master? You serve the Malfoys?" Harry said surprised.
"Now it makes sense." Sam cringed.
"I'll deal with you later." Lucius growls looking at Dobby before Dumbledore. "So you're back. The governors suspended you but you still returned."
"Yes, when Arthur Weasley's daughter was kidnapped the other 11 contacted me at once asking me to return. In fact some even said that you threatened to curse their families if they didn't agree to suspend me in the first place."
"Is that so?" Sam and Harry said looking at Lucius.
"My sole concern has always been the wellbeing of this school and its students." Lucius said looking at Harry and Sam. "The culprit has been identified I presume?" Lucius asks.
"Yes." Dumbledore nods.
"Well, who is it?" Lucius asks.
"The same culprit as last time, Voldemort." Dumbledore declares. "Only this time, he acted through someone else by means of this." Dumbledore said holding up the destroyed diary.
"I see." Lucius said.
Reaching Dobby pulls Harry's robes getting his attention. As he looked down he saw Dobby gesture with his head towards Lucius.
"Our young Mr. Potter and Mr. Snape discovered it. If they hadn't Ginny might have gotten all the blame. Imagine how bad that would be for her family. A pure-blood family like the Weasleys, whose father is in the Muggle Protection Act has a child who attacked Muggleborns. Very fortunate that didn't happen." Dumbledore said.
"Yes, quite so." Lucius said glaring at them. "Let us hope Potter and Snape will be around to save the day."
"Don't worry we will." Harry said.
"Always." Sam nods.
"Come Dobby." Lucius said kicking Dobby down the steps before walking out.
"I hate him so much." Sam growls.
"Me too." Harry said before getting an idea. "Sir, may I have that?" Harry asks looking to the diary.
Down the stairs, Lucius and Dobby were walking out when Harry ran after them.
"Mr. Malfoy!" Harry calls out getting his attention. "I have something of yours." Harry said handing him the diary.
"Mine? I don't know what you're talking about." Lucius denies.
"I think you do, I think you slipped this into Ginny's Cauldron that day in Diagon Alley. You wanted to ruin the Weasleys." Harry accuses.
"Do you? Why don't you prove it?" Lucius asks handing Dobby the diary before looking Harry in the eyes.
"I hope you do alright. Now that Sam's told the truth about Slytherin I don't know how many of Voldemort's old followers will still be loyal to him." Harry smirks.
"Come Dobby." Lucius hisses backing away.
"Open it." Harry whispers.
As Dobby slowly opens the diary he sees a sock was stuck in between the pages causing him to gasp.
"Dobby!" Lucius calls out but got no answer.
"Master has given Dobby a sock." Dobby said confusing him.
"What? No I didn't—" Lucius turns to see Dobby holding it.
"Master has presented Dobby with clothes. Dobby is free." Dobby smiles.
Looking to Harry he saw Harry had one of his socks missing.
"You cost me my servant!" Lucius snaps taking the snakehead off his cane revealing his wand.
"You shall not harm Harry Potter!" Flicking his hands Dobby sent Lucius flying backward before crashing to the ground.
Picking himself up, Lucius glares at Harry.
"Your parents were just as meddlesome. Mark my words Potter you and your friend will meet the same fate." Lucius snaps before storming off.
"Harry Potter has freed Dobby." Dobby smiles.
"Least I could do." Harry smiles.
As Lucius was walking along the railing he was beyond furious. His plan to ruin the Weasleys failed and Harry cheated him out of his house-elf.
"Wow this is not your day huh?" Lucius looks to see Sam by the railing waiting for him. "I didn't think there was anyone I could hate as much as your son but here you are."
"How did you find out this information?" Lucius demands.
"Something you clearly don't know. It's called Hard Work. I guess I'm not just a dreamer anymore, am I?" Sam asks when Lucius notices something metal on his hip.
Walking up Lucius grabs Sam by the collar with one hand and grabbed the metal with his other.
"You listen well boy, one day you will lose everything and then you'll be right back at square one. Pathetic and worthless, with nothing but your dumb dreams wishing you minded your own business." Lucius said.
"Maybe but…not today." Sam said as a snapping noise went around Lucius' arm.
Confused Lucius looks to see he had a pair of handcuffs around his arm and it was linked to the railing. "How did you?"
"Took me all year to figure out that trick. That's a Harry Houdini classic right there." Sam said.
"Release me at once." Lucius growls reaching for his cane but Sam kicks it a small distance away.
"I think maybe a little breather will help you clear your head. Maybe reflect on your life a little bit. Hope you can get used to those handcuffs I have a feeling you'll be wearing those a lot in your future if you keep making dumb moves like that." Sam chuckles walking away causing him to roar at him enraged as he struggled to reach for his cane.
At the feast, everyone was inside having a blast when Dumbledore stepped up. With Hermione, Justin, Colin all better the school was feeling much safer.
"Before the feast, I would like to thank Prof. Sprout and Madam Pomfrey whose Mandrake juice has managed to save all that have been petrified." Dumbledore said as everyone cheered for them. "And finally the House Cup. Many of you did amazing, but one student truly went above and beyond. He not only helped slay the monster in the Chamber of Secrets he also uncovered the truth about Salazar Slytherin revealing him to be a true founder who cared about Hogwarts and all the students who inhabited it. A round of applause to Slytherin's Champion, Mr. Samuel Snape."
As silver and green banners dropped down everyone cheered and applauded Sam as he slowly stood up in thanks.
"That's my best friend!" Harry said as he and all of Sam's other friends cheered the loudest.
"Wow Penny, Sam's pretty amazing." Bea smiles.
"Yeah…he really is." Penny sighs.
Little did Penny know quite a few other girls were now checking him out.
As the whole school cheered for Sam he couldn't help but smile when at the back of the hall his eyes widen.
Standing against the door he sees the spirits of Salazar Slytherin and William looking right at him.
Slowly both William and Salazar smile and nod their heads in thanks and acknowledgment before both walked out as if both were finally able to rest in peace.
In the Slytherin Common room, Sam was packing up his things when several Slytherins walked by him and congratulated him on his deed and some even apologized to him.
Picking up the Viper Fangs, Sam smiled admiring them.
"Quite an accomplishment." Sam turns to see Prof. Snape walk in. "Samuel Snape, the Champion of Slytherin."
"Yeah, didn't expect this." Sam said.
"Once that article hits the Daily Prophet, you'll be famous. You better not let it go to your head." Snape said standing across from him. "How do I know this fame won't turn you into Lockhart?"
"I'm not gonna lie, it's tempting. I mean fame like this. It could get me out of that orphanage and into a family in seconds. People would line up around the block to adopt me. With my fame, I could literally get anything I want easily." Sam admits. "And if you were asking me this two years ago I might've gone for it but uh...something happened."
"What?" Snape asks curiously.
"I met this Cranky Potions Master and he told me that nothing in this world worth having comes easy. I took that to heart. I'm gonna keep working hard and when I finally have what I want it's gonna be because I worked for it, not because I took the easy way to get it." Sam smiles.
Hearing this Snape moves in and raising his arm.
Flinching Sam thought it was because of the cranky comment but instead Snape puts a hand on his shoulder surprising him. "A wise choice. I'll admit I enjoyed our lessons this year. Maybe we can do this again next year. I heard Dumbledore has to find a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"Yeah, Lockhart kinda lost all his memories." Sam admits.
"Either way, I'm proud of you. You did good son." Snape said as both paused realizing what he just said.
"Did you just call me—"
"Sam. I said Sam, your name." Snape corrects before fixing himself. "Now pack up your things and get going."
"Yes sir." Sam said loading everything up before walking out.
As he did, both Sam and Snape smiled softly.
This year was even crazier than his first year, and now everyone was on the Hogwarts Express heading home for the summer hoping for a little break from all this.