Chapter 33: The Memory Remains
Harry sprinted toward McGonagall's office, skidding around every corridor until he reached her door. Hammering on the door, Harry was confronted with the irate visage of the Deputy Headmistress.
"Mr. Potter!" She scolded him. "You are supposed to be in your dormitory! What are you doing up! You know how dangerous it is to be out alone right now."
"Professor McGonagall," Harry wasn't in the mood to be admonished. "I have been visiting Hermione every night, using my cloak to not be seen. When I did just now, I discovered this."
Harry handed her the page Hermione tore out.
"The Basilisk, known as the King of all Snakes, is among the most dangerous of Magical Creatures," Harry read aloud. "Spiders run from it while the crow of a rooster is lethal. It can kill with a single look and its venom is lethal with no known antidote."
"This is it!" Harry said. "This is the creature who is behind the attacks."
"While a lot of this does fit, our roosters were all killed in September, Basilisks are rare, Mr. Potter," McGonagall tried to quell him before his story ran amok. "Someone would have seen it moving around."
"Hermione has figured that out too," Harry pointed the bottom of the page. "Pipes, she wrote. That's how it is moving around. She must have heard the Basilisk in the pipes on Halloween. I heard it talking but she heard it hissing. She never put it together until she heard me talking to a snake before the match.
"The culprit must have heard her talking and knew she figured it out," Harry said. "That's why the restorative was also destroyed.
"Oh no!" Harry gasped, suddenly. "How safe are the Mandrakes?"
"Only Professor Sprout can open the greenhouses," McGonagall said. "They are safe."
"We need to contact Madam Bones," Harry said. "Hagrid's been arrested and Dumbledore suspended. We'll need to give her to clear Hagrid's name."
"Alright," McGonagall was convinced. "I will reach out to her. One moment."
McGonagall walked to the first place, threw some powder to make the fire turn green. She stuck her head in and called out "Bones Manor."
"Yes, can you fetch Madam Bones? It's urgent," Harry heard McGonagall say before she pulled her head out.
"Minerva?" Harry started as Amelia Bones' head appeared in the flames. "What's so important you needed to speak to me at this time of night?"
"I assume Susan has kept you apprised of the Chamber business?" Amelia nodded. "Our most recent victim, Hermione Granger, has figured out what is behind it. We were hoping you could come. They've thrown Hagrid into Azkaban."
"Who?" Amelia asked with a tone that was both resigned and enraged.
"Cornelius Fudge," Harry said. "He, and I quote 'wanted to be seen as doing something.'"
"First time for everything," Amelia shook her head. "I will grab an Auror detachment and be up at the school tomorrow morning."
"Thank you, Amelia. We will see you tomorrow."
Amelia's head vanished from the flames and the fire turned back to its usual orange.
That night, Harry didn't sleep a wink. He kept replaying the moments from the night over in his head. Hagrid arrested and sent to prison- without a trial, no less- Dumbledore ousted and Hermione figuring out what was attacking the students. Above all, he wished he could talk about this with Hermione. She always quelled his inner doubts and got him to think things through. At long last, his alarm sounded and he bounced out of bed. It didn't matter the day, he still got up at the same time. Harry finished his routine and walked down the stairs to the common room. As a matter of habit, he still scanned the room for Hermione. Even a week later, he still expected his best friend to be waiting for him.
Has it really only been a week? Harry thought. This week felt like an entire month. He had reached out to Helen and Richard to update them and confirm that Hermione was going to be fine. He kept up on his classes, took the usual notes but he was living I real lead on what was doing this.
He threw the portrait open to move toward McGonagall's office only come face-to-face with the professor in question.
"Good morning, Mr. Potter," McGonagall greeted him. "I assumed you would already be up. Shall we go meet Madam Bones?"
"Let's do it," Harry said, a hard glint in his eyes.
McGonagall turned and led him down the hallway. Harry followed her down to the front door where Amelia was waiting with Tonks and an auror Harry never recognized.
"Mr. Potter," Amelia gave him a small smile. "You said you had evidence to the culprit behind these attacks? Behind me are Aurors Tonks and Dawlish."
Harry nodded at them and was about to show Amelia the page Hermione tore out when Luna rounded the corner at a dead run.
"Harry!" Luna skidded to a stop into Harry's side, clutching a stitch at her side. "Have you seen Ginny?"
"Luna?" Harry winced as she slammed into him. "Slow down, catch your breath. Tell me what happened."
"Ginny got up early, early even for her," Luna explained. "I was curious; she hasn't been herself for a while. She came around for a while this term but she hasn't been paying attention in classes, sleeps very little.
"I followed her down the stairs and she followed you out the portrait hole. I followed her but I lost sight of her on the second floor. That's when I sprinted, hoping to catch up and just ran into you."
"Luna," Harry looked her in the eye. "Was she carrying a small book?"
"You mean her diary?" Luna volunteered and Harry groaned.
Everything clicked together. Only a Gryffindor could have taken that diary back; the floral scent that he smelled on Halloween and Colin noticed the night he was attacked.
"She's behind it," Harry said, turning to Amelia. "But I would bet she isn't consciously doing it. There was book I came across that was a diary of Tom Riddle who was a student here the last time. When I had it, I felt compelled to write in it. After I did, it showed me a memory of Hagrid being expelled.
"Then there's this," Harry handed Amelia the page from the book. "Hermione figured out the creature that is behind the attacks. It all lines up."
Harry didn't want to broadcast his ability to talk to snakes so he kept that quiet.
"If the Basilisk kills with a look," Amelia pondered aloud. "Why has nobody been killed?"
"Because nobody has actually seen it directly," Harry said. "There was a puddle on the floor the night Mrs. Norris was attacked, Colin saw it through his camera, Cho through her compact mirror and Justin through Nick who-as a ghost- cannot die.
"And Miss Granger and was found holding a mirror when she and Professor Snape were attacked," McGonagall added.
Madam Bones pursed her lips in thought, stroking her chin with her hand.
"Alright I am sold," Bones said. "First, we have to find Miss Weasley. Any ideas?"
Harry then smacked his head and screamed "of course!"
Turning to Luna, he asked her "Can you take me to the point where you last saw her?"
Luna led them to the third floor landing. Harry looked around and finally spotted a portrait of a knight and donkey.
"Excuse me good sire," Harry spoke the portrait.
"What's this? A challenger?" The knight drew his sword only find it overly long, causing him to fall over backward.
"No, good knight," Harry said. "We are looking for a young girl and hope you might have seen her."
"The one with hair the color of a dragon's breath?" Harry nodded. "Indeed I did see her. She went down another level to the toilet of the sad wench's toilet."
"The sad wench?" Amelia asked, confusedly.
"Moaning Myrtle," Harry groaned. "That must be where the entrance to the Chamber is. Come on!"
Harry started to sprint down before two hands held him back.
"Mr. Potter," McGonagall got down on one knee to look him in the eye, just now noticing that she had to look up. He certainly is growing, she thought. "You have done well but as your guardian, I am afraid I can't let you accompany us any further. This is going to be very, very dangerous. I can't let you continue."
"But…" Harry wanted to see this through.
"Basilisks are dangerous creatures," Amelia said, tapping her badge twice. "I'm even calling for backup, once we know the location of the creature."
"What if you need a parselmouth to open the Chamber?" Harry asked. "I promise I won't get in the way but I think if I was Salazar Slytherin, that's what I would do."
McGonagall let out an exasperated sigh and rubbed her temples.
"Fine," she relented. "Any movement and you shut your eyes and you are to follow my every last order to the letter, am I clear?"
Harry nodded.
"Miss Lovegood," McGonagall turned to the small blonde. "Thank you for alerting us to Miss Weasley's absence. At this point, I must request you to return to your dormitory."
"Tippy," McGonagall called out and a house elf wearing a uniform with the Hogwarts logo on it appeared. "Can you please pass a message to Professors Flitwick and Sprout. Tell them to see that every student is safely ensconced within their common rooms until I say so. Pomona can pass the message to Slytherin while Filius can do the same for Gryffindors. The prefects shall be in charge."
"Yes, Deputy Headmistress," the elf bowed and then left.
"There's house elves here?" Harry wondered aloud.
"Of course," McGonagall said, as if it were obvious. "Who do you think cooks the meals, cleans common rooms, does your laundry?"
"I hadn't thought of that," Harry said in a small voice. "Are they bound to a person? Are they paid?"
"They are bound to the castle and they are paid in magic."
"Hmm… well are they free to leave if they want? Tippy seemed to speak rather well, better than Dobby."
"One of the last signs of abuse comes in speech patterns," Amelia said. "Dobby probably doesn't have much longer to live if his speech is…"
She broke off as she read the message smeared along the walls:
Her Skelton will Lie
In the Chamber forever
"Good lord," McGonagall gasped. Before she could react, Harry pushed past her, into the bathroom.
"Ah Harry," Myrtle floated out toward him. "Have you come to say hello? It's been too long, you know."
Like that, the last piece fell into place.
"Myrtle," Harry asked slowly, as the other adults entered the room behind him, the last being Tonks who seemed to have a little issue closing the door. "How did you die?"
"Oh it was awful," Myrtle said with excitement. "I was in this very bathroom, crying. Olive Hornby was so cruel. Next thing I know there's a male voice in the bathroom. I could tell by his shoes. He hissed something. I came out to tell him to get out and then… I died."
"Do you remember anything from that moment?" Amelia asked.
"Just a pair of big yellow eyes," Myrtle said and then pointed. "Coming from that direction."
"Thank you, Myrtle," Harry said as he moved toward the sinks. "Look at this!"
Carved into one of the faucets was one very ornate snake.
"I've never noticed that," Tonks said. "Then again, I didn't come in here unless I really had to and even then, it was a race to leave- no offense, Myrtle."
"That has to be it," Harry said. "Remember how Hermione said pipes?"
Looking at the faucet and believing it to be a snake, Harry hissed "~Open~."
"Dear lord," Dawlish freaked out. "He is a parselmouth!"
"And your point?" McGonagall gave him a scathing look to which he withered.
Harry headed toward the open grate, making to jump down before once again being held back by McGonagall.
"Tergio maxima," she cast and the walls cleaned themselves all the way down. "Follow me once we say it is clear. No sooner, you hear?"
Harry nodded and watched McGonagall drop through the pipe, shouting "clear" at the bottom. Amelia followed, then Dawlish and finally Tonks. Harry heard her shout clear and jumped in.
Shooting out of the tunnel, Harry was caught by McGonagall before he hit the ground. Harry could swear he heard something land beside him but disregarded it as he took in his surroundings. The walls were dark and dingy with a strong smell of excrement and mold with rodent skeletons littering the floor.
"Boy boss," Tonks wrinkled her nose in disgust before casting a charm on herself. A bubble appeared over her head. "You sure do give the best assignments. 'Come up to Hogwarts, we'll investigate a lead, it'll be fun.'"
"Enough Auror Tonks," Amelia admonished. "Be careful where you step. Wands out, everyone."
"Take these," McGonagall handed everyone a hand held mirror she conjured. "Peek around every corner with one of these first."
"I'll take the lead with Minerva, Harry you stay in the center," Amelia started barking orders. "Tonks, Dawlish flanking procedures. Everyone move now."
The group walked for a while before reaching a corner. McGonagall peeked around with her mirror before nodding to the others.
"Clear!" Amelia called out and Harry turned the corner to see a snake skin big enough to be belt for several Hagrids with plenty left over.
"That's an old skin," Harry said what everyone was thinking. "Just how huge is this snake?"
Bones crushed underneath his feet as he approached the skin. McGonagall and Amelia kept pace with him until they heard a quiet grunt, followed by a scream of pain. Turning, the three saw Gilderoy Lockhart remove an invisibility cloak, stepping by the now unconscious Tonks and Dawlish.
"Well what have we here," Lockhart said but his voice wasn't normal, it was high-pitched and squeaky.
"What's wrong with your voice?" McGonagall asked.
"Those fucking kids!" Lockhart screamed in rage. "All year they have been attacking me but I would not leave. No I knew this Chamber business would be good for, well, business."
"But you haven't done anything," Harry said.
"Oh I've done what I always do," Lockhart squeaked. "Listen and observe others as they chase a story. Then, I take their memories and share their stories. It's much better when it comes from someone who looks like me."
"So you really are a fraud," Harry said. "I thought you were incompetent but I didn't think you'd go this far."
"I was cunning enough to watch you, Potter," Lockhart tried to sound venomous but it's hard when you sound like a chipmunk. "I watched you and your friend, Granger. You think you're so clever but you never realized I was watching."
"Nothing left to do but to expose you, I guess," Harry spat as McGonagall and Amelia moved to flank.
"See that's where you're wrong," Lockhart said. "In a half hour, I will be telling everyone how you all lost your minds at the Basilisk- thank you for finding that detail out, by the way- and I stepped in. I vanquished the foe and rescued you all but I wasn't able to save the girl, nor will I be able to save your minds. See you again never, Boy Who Lived."
He raised his wand and shouted "Obliviate!" but what he didn't factor was the amount of damage his wand had taken this year. Suddenly, every chip and crack in the wood was essential as his overpowered memory charm blew his wand up in his hand, causing a feedback explosion. Harry looked up and saw cracks beginning to form on the walls.
Oh shit was all he could think as the ceiling started to cave in. Running backward, Harry dove as the walls crumbled in right where he was standing.
"Professor! Madam Bones!," Harry coughed through the debris. "Are you okay!?"
"We are fine," McGonagall said. "Madam Bones and I are both clear. Lockhart is in bad shape and so is Dawlish. Some of the debris hit him hard."
"What about Tonks?" Harry asked.
"She is unhurt," McGonagall replied. "Stay there. We have to sort through this and we will be able to make our way to you."
"How long will that take you?"
"At least a half hour, I would guess," McGonagall said.
"Ginny might not have that long," Harry said. "I will move onward and see if I can stall and keep her alive."
"Harry Potter!" McGonagall screamed. "You promised me you would do as I said."
"I can't just let her die," Harry shouted back. "I'm sorry. You can punish me if I survive this!"
Harry turned and sprinted away, ending at an enormous circular door. "~Open~" he hissed and before he knew it, he in the entrance of a huge chamber. Pillars made of emerald lined the walls, leading to a statue of Salazar Slytherin's head. At the base of it lay…
"Ginny!" Harry rushed toward her. He noticed the death grip she had on the book "Ginny, wake up!"
"She won't wake," a voice sounded behind Harry. Harry turned and saw a face he had only seen in a memory.
"Tom Riddle," Harry said. He pointed toward Ginny. "This must be your doing."
"Oh this is all Ginny," he smiled. "She filled my diary with stories of her pitiful life. 'Oh Tom, I get to meet Harry Potter,' 'Oh Tom, why is he already in love with that muggleborn?' 'Tom, how do I make my mother happy if I can't marry Harry?'
"It was all so droll… but informative," Tom gazed at Ginny like a predator waiting to consume its prey. "As she poured her soul into me, I poured my soul into her. Got her to do certain things. She could have done so well but she fought, my oh my how she fought.
"The plan was to have the mudbloods out of this place by February but she persevered," Tom smiled condescendingly at Ginny. "But for months, since we first spoke, in fact, my target has not been mudbloods or even blood traitors; my target has been you."
"Ginny told me all about you," Tom turned and gave Harry his full attention. "How is it possible that a baby was able to defeat the greatest Dark Lord of our times?"
"Why do you care?" Harry had a feeling he knew the answer to this but wanted desperately to be wrong. "Voldemort was after your time."
"Voldemort is my past, my present and, in a matter of minutes, my future," Riddle raised Ginny's wand, making Harry raise his in response. Riddle swiped it through the air spelling out 'Tom Marvolo Riddle.'
"So you are related to the Gaunt family and, by extension, Slytherin," Harry said.
"What an insightful little whelp you are, Potter," Riddle then swished his wand and the letters reformed to spell 'I am Lord Voldemort.'
"Neat trick," Harry said. "You must be a hit at parties."
"You'll soon learn what it means to be great and powerful," Tom sneered. "You are here, your classmate is losing her battle minute-by-minute. You have no help: you are alone."
"Help will be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it," Harry parroted Dumbledore's parting words back to him. At that moment, a burst of flame filled the room as Harry heard a majestic screech from a bird.
"Fawkes…" Harry stared at the bird as it flew through the chamber. He flew a few more circles before landing on Harry's shoulder. That was when Harry noticed he was holding the sorting hat.
"Tom Riddle," the hat spoke aloud. "Never has there been a student I wanted to kick out more. Such evil thoughts I sensed within you."
"A bird and a hat," Riddle scoffed. "That is what Hogwarts sends to help Harry Potter fight the Heir of Slytherin."
"~Speak to me Salazar, greatest of the founders,~" Harry heard Tom hiss. The statue's mouth opened and Harry saw something moving within. Harry turned and sprinted toward the back of the chamber, slamming his eyes shut as he did. He felt Fawkes leave his shoulder.
"Come back!" He pleaded the bird. The bird's departure made him feel very alone.
"Enough of that," the hat said. "Throw me on already."
What do I have to lose, Harry thought. It sounded crazy but then again, he was being hunted by a gargantuan snake: Harry was well past crazy. That was almost the last thought he had as a weight fell on his head as he put the hat on.
Whipping the hat off, Harry felt a longsword fall out. Harry looked at the handle, covered in gold and rubies. Guess it's time to go duel a snake, I guess. Harry turned to judge just where the snake was only to have it be on the opposite side of the pillar.
I'm dead, Harry thought. Hermione is going to kill me when she finds out I'm dead.
That would have been true, had the Basilisk still had eyes. Harry saw Fawkes flying away, blood on his talons. The snake sniffed the air with its tongue and brought its tail around to swipe at the bird. Fawkes took a glancing blow but continued to fly. Harry took that opportunity to run at the snake, thrusting the sword forward as he did. However, the blade simply glanced off the snakes armor-like skin. That tail of the snake lashed out again and Harry was thrown backward.
Alright, new plan. Harry tried to find a weakness of the snake. He conjured three blue flames. In his adrenalin fueled state, he never noticed that he failed to do the incantation. Shouting "Kamehamha," he shot them at the Basilisk. One glanced off the snakes hide, another burned into its eye socket but the third was the one that really did the damage.
Caught just as the snake opened its mouth to snap at Fawkes, the flame burned the roof of the snakes mouth, making the creature howl in rage.
"~No! No!~" Tom tried to rally the snake. "~Forget the bloody bird and attack the boy!~"
Once again the snake thrust its tongue out to smell the air, turning to find Harry. Letting out another long hiss, the snake charged at Harry. Nothing Fawkes did knocked it off course.
Harry furrowed his brow in concentration. Remembering some of his lessons with Flitwick, he did the water charm, followed by the ice charm. A little bit of transfiguration later and he was levitating an ice spear in front just as the snake struck. Harry pushed it forward into the snakes' open mouth, halting its pursuit. Next, Harry conjured two tables, destroyed them. Transfiguring the debris into stone spikes, Harry shot those at the snake.
By now, the snake was bleeding from its mouth but altogether undeterred. All I did was piss it off, Harry thought as exhaustion started to take him. Looking down to his left hand, he saw the sword.
"I was really hoping I wouldn't have to do this," Harry scolded himself. "Well then next time have a better plan then, Potter."
Just as the snake reared back to strike, Harry thrust the sword forward. With exceptional luck, Harry intercepted the snake and the sword thrust cleanly through the roof of the snake's mouth. The snake gave one final roar and then died. Harry removed the sword, only to find one small issue: a fang lodged in his arm.
His mind slowed to a crawl as he could feel the venom work its way through his system.
"Amazing isn't it?" Tom said from across the room. "How quickly the Basilisk venom works? I used to watch as it would bite creatures. I'd watch them writhe in agony before keeling over and dying. Even if the Basilisk wasn't hungry, I'd have her hunt in the forest. Too bad she won't be snacking on you, Potter. It won't be long now."
Slowly, Harry limped toward Tom and the now ghostly pale Ginny. He didn't know how long he had but he knew he had to finish the job. Stumbling to Ginny's side, he put a hand on hers, using it to prise the diary from her. Reaching for the sword, Harry found he couldn't lift it. Rolling over, Harry spasmed as the venom worked its way through him.
As he lay there dying, he pictured his best friend and wished at that very moment he could have seen her smile one last time. Moving his hand to his pocket, he grasped the needle and waited for death to take him, ignoring Tom's faint screams. That's when he noticed his vision clear. Blinking, he picked up his head and saw Fawkes crying tears into his wound.
"Of course," Tom's voice was clear once again. "Fucking Phoenix tears, they heal most ailments. No worries. Guess I just have to do this myself."
Tom raised Ginny's wand and pointed it at Harry. Harry scrambled, picked up the sword and thrust it through the center of the diary.
"What have you done!" Tom wailed as his essence faded further and further. Harry looked down and saw the wails now coming from the diary in question. Black sludge was poring out of it, onto the Chamber floor.
"Goodbye, Tom," Harry said as he looked over Ginny. He quickly tried to find her pulse and found it to be strengthening. As he did, he saw her eyes open.
(A/N: Sometimes a song title just fits and I couldn't be more overjoyed at how the Memory Remains applied to both Lockhart failing to remove their memories and Tom Riddle's memory remaining.
