Author's Note: I don't know if I said this in my last note, but I now have a regular update schedule! New chapters are going to be posted on Fridays until further notice. This one is the exception because my Friday is going to be swamped so you all get it a little bit early! :)
Special thanks to my new Beta, TigerAndDaisy! Give them all the love!
The trio stood there in shock. Their jaws dropped open at the revelation that Tom Marvolo Riddle was the origin of the most famous dark wizard of all time. Not only that, but he was the true Heir of Slytherin.
"You're… Voldemort," Harry whispered.
"Surely you didn't think I was going to keep my filthy muggle father's name after I discovered who I truly was. No, I fashioned myself a new name. One that was worthy of being known as the greatest sorcerer in the world!"
"Albus Dumbledore is the greatest sorcerer in the world!" Harry yelled back.
"Dumbledore has been driven out of this castle by the mere memory of me!" Tom defended.
"He'll never be gone. Not as long as those who remain are loyal to him," Harry pointed out vehemently.
As if Harry's words called upon the advice that Dumbledore slipped to them in Hagrid's hut, help came in the form of a phoenix descending into the Chamber. The magical bird's trilling echoed through the room as the creature majestically flew down and dropped something made of tattered leather into Harry's hands. The boy-who-lived quickly unwrapped it to reveal that it was the Sorting Hat.
Riddle laughed, "So this is what Dumbledore sends his great defender? A songbird and an old hat."
"Alright, enough! Harry, let's get Ginny and get out of here! Now!" Ron cried out.
Not wanting the boys to escape, Tom held up his hand and shouted a command in Parseltongue. The room began to lightly quake as the mouth on the Salazar Slytherin monument opened.
"Let's match the power of Lord Voldemort, Heir of Salazar Slytherin, against the famous Harry Potter and his blood traitors."
The tip of the Basilisk's mouth was barely visible in the newly formed entrance when all three boys immediately turned around and ran.
"What about my sister?" Ron yelled while Riddle was giving the giant snake commands.
"Kill the snake first. Get Ginny after," Harry panted.
"We need to split up," Draco suggested, "It can't kill all of us if we split up."
Draco could hear the Basilisk growling behind him, quickly gaining speed. His adrenaline was pumping, and his survival senses heightened as he quickly looked for an escape route. He was about to turn down a series of tunnels when he saw that Harry tripped, trying to change directions.
"Harry!" he shouted, jumping in front of the Basilisk with his eyes closed. There was no time to think. No time to plan or process. He just hoped that the snake would recognize his blood, distracting the Basilisk long enough for Harry to escape. Draco braced himself for his inevitable doom, but it never came. Instead, the Phoenix swooped down and attacked the monster, saving both him and Harry. Draco turned around and opened his eyes, helping Harry up off the ground. The two boys looked up at the ceiling and watched through the animals' shadows as the Phoenix gouged out the snake's eyes.
"No!" Tom shouted, "Your bird may have blinded the Basilisk, but it can still hear you!"
Harry and Draco split off into different directions when the Basilisk lunged toward the sound of their wet feet running on the stone, missing and making a massive hole in the pathway. Draco watched from behind one of the viper statues as the monster went after Harry through a different tunnel. When the snake left the Chamber, Draco found Ron hiding behind a pillar on the other side. The two made eye contact, coming to a nonverbal conclusion to run back for Ginny while Harry was diverting the Basilisk.
"How do we get her out?" Draco asked.
"Can you help me lift her?" Ron suggested, trying to keep his voice from cracking, "You grab her legs, and I'll grab her arms."
Tom shook his head at the boys, "You are too late. The process is nearly complete. Soon, Ginny Weasley will be dead, and I will cease to be a memory. Lord Voldemort will return very much alive."
"Ignore him. Let's go…while the Basilisk is distracted," Harry panted, running out from a tunnel behind them.
As soon as the words left Harry's mouth, the snake emerged from the pool of water in front of the monument, filling the Chamber with unnerving shrieking sounds. Startled, Harry took a step back. The noise was enough for the Basilisk to pick up, centering its' body in Harry's direction. The boy-who-lived dashed for the edges of Salazar's head and started to climb.
Draco turned to Ron, "I'm going to help him. You get Ginny out of here."
The redhead did not argue as he hooked his arms under his sister's armpits and started to drag her out of the Chamber. Ron didn't get far, for Riddle blocked his path, still holding Harry's wand. Draco panicked for a second at the thought of Ron having to use his broken Ashwood to defend himself when he realized that he was still carrying Lockhart's wand! Draco yelled to get his friend's attention before tossing the Cherrywood for Ron to catch. Momentarily relieved that Ron was now on better footing to face Riddle, Draco turned from the duel to see Harry still climbing away from the Basilisk, the snake striking at the stone in the monument and just missing his friend. Out of the corner of his eye, something sparkled, catching Draco's attention. The once empty hat now held the handle of a sword. Draco pulled the weapon out, raising it to inspect the blade in the low light for a moment. It was a beautiful metal that was completely free of rust and adorned with rubies along the hilt.
Looking for where Harry had went, Draco found him standing completely defenseless on top of Salazar's head. Not hesitating, Draco stabbed the sword into whatever flesh of the snake was accessible. He managed to get two strikes in before the Basilisk targeted its attack onto the blond wizard. Running to the other side, Draco climbed the stone head as fast as possible until he could almost reach Harry. He called out to the dark-haired wizard and threw the sword to him just before the Basilisk lunged. The force of the blow destroyed the small landing that Draco was standing on, sending him crashing down the side and into the small pool of water below.
Harry yelled for Draco as he watched his comrade fall, worried for his safety. The Basilisk was confused about which noise to follow. The monster's head moved back and forth between the splashing water or the shouting from off to the side. Eventually, the Basilisk made a decision and raised itself to be eye level with Harry, who took the sword and thrust it through the roof of the snake's open mouth. The monster shrieked in pain while violently shaking its head back and forth in distress before falling over backward. Dead.
Ron and Tom Riddle stopped their duel and watched the demise of Slytherin's monster. Riddle's face contorted in pure fury as Draco swam out of the pool, around the body, while Harry carefully climbed down the monument. The boy-who-lived was limping, dragging the bloody weapon behind him. Draco and Ron immediately came to his aid and gasped when they saw his right forearm bleeding from one of the Basilisk's fangs stuck in the skin. Ron held Harry steady while Draco quickly pulled the tooth out. Harry was panting and clutching his arm, trying to keep from screaming. The wound was burning, and he felt so sleepy. In a few seconds, Harry lost his balance and could no longer stand. Draco and Ron caught their friend before he could collapse and slowly lowered him to the ground next to Ginny. Harry was starting to lose his eyesight, but he could make out the shape of the discarded diary that laid open in front of him.
"Remarkable how quickly the venom of the Basilisk penetrates the body. I'd guess you have little more than a minute to live," Riddle taunted, ignoring Draco and Ron's pleas for Harry to be alright, "You'll be with your dear mudblood mother soon."
Harry just glared at Tom Riddle. He leaned across Draco and picked up the fang.
"What are you doing?" Riddle questioned.
"Taking you with me," Harry said under his breath before stabbing the tooth into one of the pages. Ink seeped out the new hole the fang had made, coating Harry's hand. Tom screamed in pain as his lifeforce started to drain which was evident by the white light that had emerged from his chest.
"That's it, Harry! It's working!" Ron shouted, encouraging him.
Harry picked the fang up again and stabbed the other side. More ink leaked from the pages. Tom's fading essence was almost gone, the evil presence crying out in agony with each blow. Draco flipped the book close to the back cover with the embroidered name. Harry's strength was quickly fading. He was struggling to raise the fang and stab the diary one more time. Ron and Draco each took a hand and grasped Harry's, helping him deliver the final blow. Tom's essence exploded, the burning ash of his noncorporal image disintegrated right before the boys' eyes. After a few seconds, Ginny began to stir.
"Ginny? Oh, Ginny! You're awake!" Ron cried, hugging his sister tight. Harry used some of his remaining energy to smile at the sight before him. They stopped the Heir of Slytherin and saved Ginny Weasley. That was all that mattered.
"Ron! Something is wrong with Harry. The Basilisk poisoned him! How do we stop it?" Draco asked frantically. Once again, the Phoenix appeared and landed in front of the young Gryffindors. The bird tilted its head as if analyzing the wound.
"You were… brilliant," Harry whispered to the creature.
Bristling its feathers in gratitude, the Phoenix lowered its' head to be directly over Harry's forearm and began to cry thick translucent tears. They slid off the tip of its beak and directly into Harry's wound. Draco watched wide-eyed as the tears magically healed and closed the cut as if it never happened. With his strength returned, Harry sat up and thanked the bird.
"Of course!" Draco realized, "Phoenix tears have healing powers! They are extremely rare and can even save a person on the brink of death."
"But… all the horrible things I did…." Ginny whispered, tears pooling in her eyes.
"You didn't do those things, Gin. Riddle made you," Ron reassured her.
"It was like I was going mad. I didn't trust my own mind. Luna… oh, Merlin, Luna! She knew something was wrong and tried to help me. And I was just… so awful to her. She will never forgive me!" She sobbed.
"It's going to be alright, Ginny," Harry tried to calm her.
"I'm going to be expelled," she whispered, the realization frightening her.
"No, you won't," Draco said firmly, causing everyone to stare at him, "My father is responsible for all of this. He couldn't give me the diary, so he gave it to the most vulnerable person present. There also might have been a… personal vendetta when he chose Ginny as his target. Ginny, Ron, I promise to do everything I can to make sure he pays for this."
"Don't do anything that's going to get you in trouble, or expelled, or transferred," Ron warned him, handing Draco the cherrywood wand back, "Just make sure that Ginny is labeled completely innocent in all this."
Draco nodded, "That I'm confident I can do."
"Well, we can't do anything until we get out of here," Harry pointed out, reaching down to pick up his wand that Tom dropped.
The Phoenix cawed at the boys as if it was trying to get their attention. Without warning, the bird flew into the air and grabbed Draco's robe, pinching the fabric between his shoulder blades.
"Whoa!" Draco gasped as the Phoenix lifted him in the air.
"This might be mad, but I think the Phoenix wants to carry us out?" Ron guessed.
"Right, Ron, you grab Draco's leg, I'll grab Ron's leg, and then Ginny you and hold onto mine," Harry commanded, putting the diary in Draco's robe pocket and then picking up the Sword.
"Right, weight distribution," Ron muttered, pocketing the sorting hat and doing as instructed. When everyone was secured to each other the Phoenix took off and up into the air. Flapping its' wings a few times to get them started, the Phoenix easily navigated the four young students out of the underground tunnels. Draco sighed in relief as they soared through a narrow hole in the ceiling and came out out near the Black Lake. The magical creature then glided over the grounds and up into the castle, landing just outside Professor McGonagall's office. After they detached from one another and the Phoenix in turn, Harry called upon his Gryffindor courage and opened the door.
At first, there was silence in the room as Professor McGonagall, a recently returned Professor Dumbledore, and Molly and Arthur Weasley stared at the grimy children. They really looked quite frightful with Ron coated in slime, Harry covered in blood, and Draco soaking wet. Before Harry could explain what happened, there was a shriek.
"Ginny! Is that you, darling?" Molly Weasley ran over to embrace her only daughter, crying hysterically and peppering the top of her head with kisses. Arthur Weasley then pulled his son to the women and eloped his family in a grizzly type hug.
Draco looked past the lovely reunion to see the Phoenix had landed next to Dumbledore, who was currently petting the bird.
"Good work, Fawkes," the Headmaster praised the animal quietly. If Draco was honest, he wasn't that surprised to learn that the helpful bird belonged to… what did Harry call him? The greatest sorcerer of all time.
"Boys…" Mr. Weasley addressed Draco and Harry, pulling the blond wizard's attention to the other adult, "Thank you. Thank you so much! I have no words to express the gratitude that Molly and I feel for saving Ginny's life. You three were all so brave. True Gryffindors."
"How did you save her?!" Molly asked, her tone high-pitched from crying.
"I believe we all would like to know that explanation," Lucius Malfoy sneered, barging into the office with Dobby behind him. His hateful gaze landed on Dumbledore, "I see you've returned despite being suspended."
"Yes," Dumbledore said matter-of-factly, "I received several owls from the other governors when they heard that Arthur Weasley's daughter was killed. They believed me to be the best man for the job and immediately reinstated me. Now, if you don't mind, Lucius, I believe young Harry here was just about to tell us an intriguing tale."
And so, Harry told them everything. He started with Hermione brewing the Polyjuice Potion and Draco's research into the pureblood lines in an attempt to track down the heir. He omitted the part about Daphne Greengrass helping them out and using the invisibility cloak to spy on the night Hagrid was taken to Azkaban but did go into detail about sneaking into the Forbidden Forrest and meeting Aragog. He praised Ron for figuring out what monster was attacking the muggleborns and how it was the information from Aragog that lead them to figure out that Mrytle was killed by the Basilisk 50 years ago because of the entrance to the Chamber was in the girl's bathroom. Harry still hid the fact that he could speak Parseltongue and skimmed most of the conversation with Tom, only to reveal that he was 16-year-old Voldemort who had the goal to murder him. Draco gave his father a sideways look that did not go unnoticed by Lucius.
Harry concluded the tale with the battle between the boys and the Basilisk, informing them that killing the beast and destroying the diary broke the curse and brought Ginny back to life. The boy-who-lived held up the bloody sword he was still carrying and set it on McGonagall's desk. Ron followed suit and placed the Sorting Hat next to it. Lastly, Draco came forward and put the torn diary in the center of the desk. When Harry finished, everyone was silent, processing the information. It was Molly who broke it with a strangled sob.
"But why Ginny? Why did… HE… go after her?"
"Because I had the diary. Tom would talk to me, and I would write back. He… was very persuasive," Ginny started crying, which caused her parents to envelope her in another hug.
"You can't expel her!" Draco yelled, getting everyone's attention. He lowered his head, embarrassed by his outburst. Ron stepped in to continue Draco's thought, "Professor Dumbledore. Ginny wasn't in her right mind. The diary is…was a dark artifact. It possessed her and forced her to act against her will and left her with no memory!"
"Ah yes… there is the matter of expulsion. If I remember correctly, Mr. Weasley, I warned you and Mr. Potter after the flying car incident that if you broke any more school rules that I would have no choice but to expel you as well," the Headmaster stated. Ron's face turned white as a ghost until Dumbledore continued, "Therefore, it is only fitting that you, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Malfoy should receive special awards for services to the school."
The boys beamed in delight at the announcement when McGonagall chimed in, "I believe we should take Miss Weasley to the hospital wing for treatment."
"Ah, yes, and Arthur, if you wouldn't mind having an owl mail these release papers, I would be much obliged," Dumbledore handed the letters to Mr. Weasley as the family of three made their exit.
"There is one more matter I would like to ask you three before you go," McGonagall said sternly to the boys, "What in Godric's name did you do to Professor Lockhart?"
The three boys snickered as they silently recalled the curses Draco shot at the farce waste of magic. They immediately stopped when they saw McGonagall's disapproving look.
"And, what exactly did happen to this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor," Lucius asked disinterestedly.
McGonagall eyed him, "He was found bound to his office chair, silenced, and with all his hair removed from his head. He's currently in the hospital ward recovering from… 'emotional distress.'"
"Professor! You can't let him get away! That man is a liar and a twat! He has been stealing other wizard's accomplishments and passing them off as his own. He obliviates them so they can't fight Lockhart's claim. Plus, he wasn't going to help Ginny! He was packing his bags and running away when we found him in his office," Draco explained before he pulled out Lockhart's wand and set it on the desk, "I'm the one who cast the jinxes on him. If you have to expel me, I understand. But Lockhart should be in Azkaban! Harry, Ron, and I can provide you memories of the confession to help in his conviction."
Lucius's mouth was in a thin line of disgust at hearing what his son did. Dobby accidentally let out a giggle of delight at hearing Draco's tale, which earned him a brutal hit to the head from his master's cane. Draco clenched his fists and bit his tongue when he saw his father punishing the elf. Hermione had been helping Draco come up with ways to free Dobby, but they had been entirely unsuccessful. He was so focused on the elf that he didn't notice Harry mouthing for Ron to take his sock off, passing the cloth to Harry.
The silence that followed Draco's admission felt like it dragged on until McGonagall finally spoke, "Not today, Mr. Malfoy."
Draco sighed in relief when his father interjected, "You cannot be serious! These boys should be punished! Not only did they violate school conduct, but they…."
"Saved a girl's life," Dumbledore cut him off, "I can't help but to wonder, Lucius, what would have happened if the heir succeeded. The Weasleys are, after all, one of the most prominent pureblood families in Britain. Imagine the effect on Arthur Weasley and his Muggle Protection Act if his daughter was discovered attacking muggleborns. Very fortunate the diary was uncovered and that Harry had been able to pull the Sword of Godric Gryffindor from the hat thus abolishing Riddle's memory."
Draco gasped at the revelation that the sword HE, in fact, pulled from the Sorting Hat was the relic of his house's founder. According to Hogwarts, A History, he knew that the weapon was very rare, having been crafted with goblin silver. The legend stated that the sword would appear to any true Gryffindor in need as long as noble actors of valor undertake it. Reflecting on his actions in the Chamber, Draco concluded it must have shown up when he jumped in front of the Basilisk to save Harry.
Lucius formed a condescending smirk, "How fortunate that Mr. Potter was around to save the day."
"But, Sir! I didn't pull the sword from the hat. Draco did," Harry acknowledged his friend, walking over to pick up the diary, "In fact, I believe that this belongs to you."
Harry took the former cursed object and thrust it into Mr. Malfoy's arms.
"Mine?" Lucius asked, raising an eyebrow at the boy.
Harry nodded, "I think you slipped it into Ginny's cauldron that day in Flourish and Blotts."
"You do, do you?" Lucius sneered, tossing the diary to Dobby to catch, "Then why don't you prove it."
The two stared at one another, tension building in the room until Lucius dramatically flared his robe, "Come, Dobby. We are leaving. Draco," the man addressed his son, "I will see you when the term ends."
Mr. Malfoy turned to leave the room, but the house-elf was lingering behind when he saw Harry mouthing at him to open the diary. Dobby quickly flipped through the pages and found a sock stuck in the crease of its spine. Draco's jaw dropped at the same time Dobby squeaked in delight, and his ears flapped excitedly.
"Master has given Dobby a sock!" Dobby cried.
"What? I didn't give you…." Lucius turned back around to see Dobby holding up the dirty, black sock in one hand and the tattered diary in the other. The man was fuming with rage as he watched his former servant dance with joy.
"Master has presented Dobby with clothes! Dobby is free!"
Lucius glared at Harry when Ron cleared his throat. The redhead smirked at the unpleasant wizard and cheekily raised his pant leg to show his bare ankle. Draco laughed at the scheme his best friends had pulled off, relieved and delighted that they had accomplished what Draco felt was an impossible task.
"You…" Lucius started to growl.
"Father," Draco interrupted what indeed would have been an epic dressing down that would have caused a first-year to wet themselves. His outburst halted Lucius's tantrum and stopped his hand from reaching for his wand to curse the boy.
"I believe you were leaving, Lucius. Professor McGonagall can escort you off the grounds to an apparition point," Dumbledore said diplomatically.
With a final sneer, Lucius left the office with McGonagall. Smiling, Draco kneeled in front of Dobby, "I'm so happy for you!"
"Master Draco's friends have freed Dobby! How can Dobby ever repay them?"
"Just… never try to save my life again," Harry chuckled.
"Same, except… maybe don't try to save mine unless asked," Ron clarified. The elf's large eyes beamed up at them before he looked at Draco with concern.
"Will Master Draco be alright?"
"You should be more worried about yourself, Dobby. Where will you go?" Draco asked.
The elf had a contemplative look on his face when Dumbledore cleared his throat, "The kitchens at Hogwarts are always hiring. Should you ever be interested."
"Dobby would work for wages! And still see Master Draco and friends! But first, Dobby wants to travel."
Draco chuckled, "You could! But you're going to have to stop calling me master. That's not my title anymore."
Dobby leaped up into Draco's arms and hugged his first true friend goodbye. With a final snap of Dobby's fingers, the elf disappeared to embark on what would no doubt be a miraculous journey.
Dumbledore released them after that. They gratefully made their way back to the Gryffindor common room, where they were able to discard their dirty clothing and bathe. Word got around that the Headmaster canceled classes for the day, so the boys spent most of it getting some much-needed sleep after the near-death adventure. Had there not been a celebratory feast that night, the young Gryffindors would have most likely slept well into the next day. Refreshed in casual clothing, they made their way down to the Great Hall.
The room was abuzz with happy chattering as the news worked its way through the houses that Harry Potter and his friends, once again, saved the school, and Hogwarts was no longer closing. Draco noticed that some of the students who were petrified, like Justin and Penelope, were already reunited with their friends and classmates. He stood on his tiptoes looking for Hermione when he heard Ginny chuckle.
"She's not down yet. Give her a minute," the young Weasley said. It did not escape his notice that Luna was looking over at the Gryffindor table, trying to catch a glimpse of the friend she was worried about.
"You should just go talk to Luna," Draco whispered to Ginny.
"What if she doesn't want to see me? After everything I've done… I wouldn't forgive me either," she replied.
A part of Draco broke at her vulnerability. He knew that Luna grew up close to the Weasleys and was friends with Ginny prior to coming to the school. From what he understood, Ginny and Luna were as close as he and Theo once were. Being sorted into separate houses and, ultimately, sharing different beliefs crumbled whatever relationship he and Theo had as children. But Ginny and Luna remained friends until the diary took over. He knew his cousin. It would take more than house rivalries or an attack from the Dark Lord for Luna to stop being friends with someone she held in high regard.
"She won't hold it against you. I promise," Draco reassured sincerely.
His tone gave Ginny enough courage to stand up from her spot and walk around to the Ravenclaw table. Draco smiled when he saw that as soon as Ginny sat down, Luna engulfed her in a huge hug. The two girls began chatting, resuming their normal behavior and acting as if everything was right in the world.
"Hey, Draco! Look! It's Hermione!" Neville pointed. Harry and Ron perked up as well to look towards the Great Hall entrance to see Hermione standing there proudly. She was grinning from ear to ear at the sight of her friends. A giggle bubbled out of her mouth as she took off in a run towards the Gryffindor table. Immediately after, Draco sprinted to meet her halfway resulting in the two colliding in an embrace. His arms encircled her midsection while hers instantly wrapped around his neck as they held one another. Not able to contain his elation, Draco gently picked her up off her feet. Spinning on his heels, Draco swung Hermione around in a circle a few times. By the time Draco set her back on the ground, laughter still flowed around them as she slowly unwound her arms from his neck.
There were no words to describe the pure joy and relief that Draco felt in being able to hold her again, let alone see her! Her hair was shiny and bounced with each step she took towards him. Her eyes were wide and bright with the intelligent glint that told you she was constantly analyzing something. Her lips were smooth and more natural than the corpse-like color they had been in December. Everything about her was alive. At that moment, Draco secretly vowed to protect her from ever experiencing that petrified state again.
"It's so good to see you, Hermione. I missed you," Draco whispered to her, enticing the blush high on her cheeks that he dreamed about seeing again.
Before she could say anything back, Harry came up behind her and patted her on the shoulder, "Welcome back, Hermione."
The two broke apart so Hermione could hug Harry and Ron. When she spoke, the four formed their usual group square, "I can't believe you three solved it! I want to hear everything that happened!"
Before the Gryffindors could regale her with the past four months, McGonagall clinked her glass and called the room to order, the action a subtle command for the four to take their seats. Draco couldn't help but feel satisfied that everything felt normal when he quickly glanced around and saw everyone in their usual spots at the Gryffindor table. Draco and Hermione together with Ron and Harry across from them.
Dumbledore rose to address the room, "Before we begin this special feast, let us have a round of applause for Professor Sprout, Madam Pomfrey… whose Mandrake juice has been successfully administered to all who had been petrified."
The room erupted in applause. The two professors looked slightly embarrassed by the praise but graciously accepted it nonetheless. Draco looked over his shoulder to see that hardly anyone at the Slytherin table was clapping. He couldn't make out Theo's face but did manage to make eye contact with Daphne, who gave the boys a quick wink and a slight toast in acknowledgment. The gesture did not go unnoticed by Hermione, who whispered in Draco's ear, "What was that all about?"
Draco chuckled as the applause died down, "We'll tell you later."
"Also, in light of recent events… all end-of-year exams have been canceled!" Dumbledore announced, the news causing much more celebration and whistles about the room as students were relieved. They could continue their final month of school in peace. Hermione seemed to be the only one upset.
"Really? You spend four months under a curse, and you are mad about not having to take a test? I will never understand you, Hermione…." Ron shook his head at her.
Draco playfully nudged her, "It's alright, love. You probably already know all the material anyway."
"I know a fair bit, yes… but I'm going to be so far behind for next year! I'll just have to find a way to catch up," she stated.
Later that night, the four Gryffindors stayed up well into the early morning hours, telling Hermione how they solved the mystery. She was equally proud and impressed with all three of them for their bravery, intelligence, and ingenuity. Ron and Harry were about to head to bed when Hermione noticed something off with Harry's expression.
"What's wrong, Harry," she politely inquired.
"It's just… I can't help but notice similarities between Tom and myself when we were talking in the Chamber. If you think about it… we're both orphans, we both speak Parseltongue, and… I don't think I've ever told you guys this, but the Sorting Hat initially wanted to put me in Slytherin. If I had listened to it…."
Draco cut off Harry's train of thought, "But the hat didn't! Just like it didn't with me."
Harry smiled at Draco, "I remember… when the hat was talking to me… it kept telling me that I would do well in Slytherin. Did it say anything similar to you?"
"No, it didn't say anything, but I felt something. Like… the hat poked around in my mind for a second, and I remember feeling the moment the hat had made its decision, but then… it saw something else and quickly changed its mind," Draco explained.
"I remember it laughing at you and said something about 'the Black line' repeating itself?" Ron added.
Draco nodded, "My mother's maiden name is Black. Everyone in her family, except for one person, was sorted into Slytherin."
"Who was it?" Harry asked curiously.
"Sirius Black," Draco said.
Ron gasped and shuddered at the name, "Blimey! I didn't know you were related to him!"
"I don't know much. According to my mother, he was disowned and blasted off the Black Family Tapestry," Draco explained, "My father doesn't… let's just say, 'encourage' talking about those who are a disgrace to the family name."
"But he was a mass murderer!" Ron raised his voice in disbelief.
"I think being a mass murderer is a good reason to not talk about why someone was disowned," Hermione admonished Ron before addressing Draco and Harry, "Regardless whether you asked the hat or the hat came to its own conclusion of where to put you… I believe it is not the abilities you possess but the decisions you make that guide the Sorting Hat."
"Why do you think that, Hermione?" Ron asked.
"Otherwise, the Sorting Hat would have placed me in Ravenclaw. It went back and forth for a while, but I think it chose Gryffindor because it ultimately saw that I valued friendship and courage over books and knowledge," she contemplated.
"Am I the only one the hat didn't have to think about? Did it just sense the red hair, and…" Ron rudely gestured. He appeared to be a little jealous that everyone had a sorting moment, and he didn't have that experience.
"Ron!" Hermione chastised him.
Draco laughed before consoling his friend, "Honestly, Ron? If what Hermione hypothesized is true… then you have the strongest character out of all of us. You're loyal and choose to fight, even when it's in the face of your greatest fear. I mean... how many 12-year-olds can say they dueled the ghost of teenage Voldemort… and won!? That's what makes you a true Gryffindor."
Draco's sentiment genuinely touched Ron. If you asked him later, Ron would deny that he almost cried at hearing his friend's praise. Swiftly composing himself, he muttered out a quiet, "Thanks, mate."
"If it's still bothering you, Harry, then maybe you should go talk to Dumbledore sometime before the semester ends," Hermione suggested.
Harry and Ron went to bed shortly after that, leaving Draco and Hermione alone on the couch. The two were huddled close together in front of the fireplace, her head resting on his shoulder. In the stillness of the night with the low crackling of the fire, Hermione's mind easily brought her back to thinking about the unlikely allyship with Daphne Greengrass. Like Ron, she, too, was a bit skeptical and would have objected to the decision to bring Daphne into the fold. At the present moment, she was more concerned about what this would mean going forward. If the rest of Slytherin found out that one of their own betrayed the house, then there would undoubtedly be consequences all around. Draco assured Hermione could trust Daphne, but it did little to sway the clever witch.
If Hermione was completely honest with herself, part of her distrust towards the Slytherin had to do with insecurity. Daphne was beautiful, bright, and… dare she think it… a pureblood. Simply put, the witch was attractive, confident, and she knew Draco prior to starting Hogwarts. Knowing a bit about the type of world Draco came from, it was difficult to believe that Daphne helped the boys solely because it was the right thing to do. What if she had a crush on Draco, and that was her motivation? Her display in the Great Hall, though subtle, was certainly friendly enough. But an even more dangerous thought, what if Draco liked her back?
Over the summer, Hermione talked a lot with her parents about her first year at the magical boarding school. She described her classes in extensive detail and tried to articulate how it felt to practice magic, but with almost every sentence, she also mentioned Draco. While Hermione spoke briefly about Harry and Ron, Draco was the subject that monopolized her discussions. One night as she was getting ready to sleep, Hermione heard a conversation in the kitchen between her parents she was not meant to be privy to. Her father, Richard Granger, was testy about the fact that Hermione had only managed to make friends with three boys and thought she was too close with Draco. Her mother, Helen Granger, laughed off his worry and placated the man's fear that Hermione would fancy one of her new friends. She didn't understand the meaning, so naturally, Hermione used her remaining free time to research more about what her mother was referring to. By the time Hermione boarded the Hogwarts Express, she didn't completely understand if her feelings for Draco were a "crush," but none the less she was determined to discuss the subject with him and ascertain his feelings on the topic. As she was working out exactly what to say to Draco so there would be no miscommunication or misunderstanding when the whistle blew. Signaling their impending arrival, Hermione lost her nerve and didn't have a chance to revisit the topic until after everything else happened, which only complicated Hermione's feelings even more. The only positive thing that came out of being petrified for four months was that it forced her to face the truth and admit that she, indeed, liked Draco even more than a friend. Outside the fact that the wizard was just… absolutely dashing, Draco was intelligent, kind, and everything else that made the butterflies in Hermione's stomach flutter. After an indeterminable amount of time, Draco finally decided it was time to have a long-overdue conversation and break the silence.
"This year wasn't the same without you. Don't get me wrong, Harry and Ron are great mates, but they could never replace you as my best friend."
There it was. The confession Hermione had been searching for. Draco only thought of her as his best friend and nothing more. Hermione's inner voice started to get louder as each new thought popped to the forefront of her mind.
Why did you think you could be more than friends? He doesn't want you. Your hair is too unruly, and your teeth are too large. He is more than you deserve. You are never going to be together. He doesn't want to hold your hand or…
"Hermione? Are you alright? Don't spiral, love. Did I say something wrong?" Draco asked in concern. He gently wrapped his hand around her wrist. The touch pulled her out of the negative self-talk that plagued her mind.
"I'm…" she went to apologize but stopped when Draco took his free hand to hover over her mouth.
"What did I tell you? Never apologize for that, Hermione. Do you want to tell me what it was about?" Draco asked her.
She shook her head.
Sighing, Draco lowered his hand and started to rub soothing circles on the inside of her wrist. After a few moments of silence, Hermione finally got up the courage to ask, "How do you know… how did you know how to stop the panic attacks. When you touch my wrist and press on my pulse point, how did you know that would work?"
"Because it's what my father does for my mother," he admitted.
"Your mother?" Hermione opened her mouth as if to pry further but stopped when she recognized the look Draco had in his eyes that told her he wouldn't elaborate.
"Not tonight, Hermione." He paused for a moment, thinking of how to change the topic. After a few minutes of silence, he finally spoke, "This year has been a lot. I mean… so much happened! We still don't definitively know why Harry can speak Parseltongue. You spent most of the year petrified. Ginny has to come to terms with the things she'd done while possessed. And I… I have to confront my father in less than a month."
"I can't believe he would be so cruel. To sacrifice you in the name of blood purity!" Hermione agreed with him, outraged. Her temper settled after a moment before she looked into his worried grey eyes with concern, "Will you be alright? You're not doubting you belong in Gryffindor, too?"
Not wanting to lie to her, Draco admitted, "I honestly don't know."
"First off, if you want proof you belong in this house, then all you need to remember is that you pulled the Sword of Godric Gryffindor from the hat. Not Harry. Not Ron. You. And second," Hermione leaned forward and hugged Draco fiercely, "I will always help you, Draco. Whatever you need."
"Thanks, love," Draco replied sleepily. They didn't stay like that for long, the two coming to the same conclusion that it had been a long enough night and it was time for bed.
The last month of school flew by in no time at all. Hagrid returned the day after the celebratory feast; his record cleared thanks to Draco, Ron, and Harry. Draco found out in a letter from his mother that his father did lose his position on the Board of Governors, which meant that any control the man had over changes to Hogwarts in retaliation of recent events would not happen. However, what was probably the most rewarding was seeing Hermione's expression of disbelief when Lockhart's mugshot splayed across the front page of every magical newspaper in print. The former Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was sentenced to life in Azkaban for unauthorized use of memory charms, threatening underage wizards, and forgery.
The closer the term's end came, the more melancholy Draco felt about boarding the Hogwarts Express home. Two days before the train's departure, Draco was lying peacefully asleep before being awoken by a loud, disruptive whistling noise.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Hermione shouted, startling Draco enough that he rolled off the side of his bed. Hermione winced when she heard him thump onto the wooden floor.
"Bloody hell, 'Mione!" Ron shouted at her, "It's barely sunrise!"
"Get up, you two! It's our best friend's birthday, and the last day we get to spend together before going home. You have 20 minutes to get dressed and meet me down in the common room," she commanded.
"What in Merlin's great hairy ball sack did you use to wake us up?" Draco asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"It's a muggle device called a 'noisemaker.' They are used at parties and celebrations to make all kinds of fun commotion," She explained excitedly.
Draco smiled at her enthusiasm, "Can I try it?"
Hermione handed him the noisemaker and instructed him to place the plastic between his lips and blow. Draco did just that and made a very long, obnoxious noise. When he finished, he and Hermione were laughing hysterically while Harry and Ron were covering their ears.
"Hermione! Get out! This is the boy's dormitory!" Dean Thomas yelled at her, angry to be woken up so early.
The clever witch rolled her eyes before pointing at the boys to reiterate, "20 minutes. I have a full day planned with many fun activities like Exploding Snaps and an afternoon quidditch friendly, which you three will be participating in, and I will happily be cheering from the stands. After that there will be cake and, of course, presents!"
Draco stared at his best friend in amazement as she skipped out of the dorm room. She thoughtfully organized a wonderful day for Draco with all of his favorite things. Plus, he was surrounded by all the people he cared about and wanted in his life. He was so incandescently happy by the time night rolled around. It was truly, an absolutely perfect day, and there was nothing more magical than that.
End of Year Two