Chapter 32: Speak to Me/Breathe

"Harry!" Ginny gasped as she sat up. "It was me! I was the one attacking the students!"

"Ginny," Harry placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her. "I talked to Tom; I know he was controlling you. He also said you fought him along the way. He wanted to kill every First Gen Witch and Wizard by February. He seemed quite perturbed by how you fought him."

"But it was me," Ginny started to cry. "I wrote in the damn diary. Father always says not to talk with something that you can't see where it keeps its brain.

"I was so worried when I saw you had the book," Ginny said. "I thought Tom would tell you everything I told him."

"Speaking of that," Harry sat down next to her. "We need to talk: Ginny I don't know where this fascination and fixation on me comes from but it has to stop. I don't know who I'll end up dating-"

"-I do," Ginny interjected, sadly.

"-But I know that the girl I date will be strong, smart and will complement me. And I have to say, no offense to this, but they probably won't look like my mother. I'm not Oedipus"

Ginny was wondering who Oedipus was as Harry continued to speak.

"I don't know you, Ginny," Harry kept his voice even.

"I'm sorry," Ginny openly wept. "Growing up, my mother would tell me stories before bedtime. Every night, it would be a different one and in every story, the hero was Harry Potter. 'Harry Potter fights a dragon,' 'Harry Potter destroys a Dementor,' and on they went. Ironically, one of the stories Harry Potter saved me from a giant snake.

"My mother told me one day I would meet a prince and he would sweep my off my feet. That I should remain 'virtuous and true' until that day. She's… a bit much to take, honestly. There's a reason Bill is in Egypt and Charlie in Romania. I love her but sometimes there's a limit to how much I can take.

"Then last year, letters arrived from Ron," Ginny pulled out a set of crinkled letters. "'Harry's incredible! He befriends everyone, is the best in the school. I can see his training with Dumbledore is paying off. Only the Know-It-All, Granger, keeps up with him.' 'Harry Potter played his first Quidditch match today and I think he could start for England right now.'

"These are all letters from Ron," Ginny said. "They all mention you and how you're best friends."

"Ginny," Harry consoled. "I'm sure you've seen by now that these are all at least partly false, if not entirely. I have a passing acquaintance with Ron but he's nowhere near my best friend. He only talks Quidditch and Chess. I can't build a relationship based off that. I doubt he even knows what I do and don't like. Even Colin is a closer friend than Ron because Colin actually connects with me.

"As I said before, I don't know you. But maybe we could start over? We'll never be a couple but I would like to try to be friends."

"I think I'd like that," Ginny said.

Harry looked up as he spotted movement at the mouth of the chamber as Amelia and McGonagall sprinted into the chamber, wands drawn. Amelia checked the corners of the room while McGonagall bustled up to the kids, stopping briefly to gawk and the corpse of the Basilisk.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley," she gasped out as she ran up. "Are you both okay?"

"Ginny is probably worse off that I am," Harry said as Amelia joined them. "She was being magically drained by that book there. As she did that, it made another man, Tom Riddle, become corporeal. How are the others?"

"Tonks is fine," Amelia updated Harry. "She is currently with Dawlish who will need to be sent to St. Mungo's. Dawlish took some debris to the head."

"And Lockhart?"

"His spell backfired on him," Amelia shook her head. "He has removed all memories, including his own name. How did you kill the basilisk?"

Harry gave them a quick recap of his conversation with Tom, him revealing that he was actually a younger version of Voldemort, Fawkes arriving with the Sorting Hat which gave Harry a sword.

"Wait, a sword?" McGonagall, finally noticing the one plunged through the diary. "Merlin, Potter! Do you know what sword that is?"

Harry shook his head.

"That's the Sword of Gryffindor," McGonagall said. "It's been lost for ages. I know the Goblins have been searching for it for some time. Quite impressive that you would find it."

"Find it?" The Sorting Hat piped up. "The sword is his. Just as Tom Riddle was the Heir of Slytherin, Harry Potter is the most direct descendant of the Gryffindor line with Mr. Longbottom the next closest candidate."

"Gryffindor? Me?" Harry had fought a giant snake, stabbed a diary to kill a man and this was what threw him.

"Yes," the hat said. "My how Godric would be proud of you too."

"Fighting this creature alone?" Amelia still gazed at the Basilisk. "I am impressed, Mr. Potter. Most Aurors would not have survived."

"Well one, I had no other choice," Harry replied. "Voldemort wanted to face me and hell or high water, he was going to have it face me. Second, I wasn't alone. If Fawkes didn't blind it, fighting it would have been impossible. If the Sorting Hat hadn't given me the sword, I wouldn't have been able to kill it."

"If you talked to Professor Flitwick," McGonagall interjected. "He would tell you that it doesn't matter who you are facing, it matters that you face them. You're never alone in your battles but you are the one who has to choose to fight. You have done well.

"But I'm still furious. You told me you'd stay out of harm's way. You were just the key to the door, you were never meant to walk through it."

"Well as I said, Tom wanted to face me above all others. I'm sorry for worrying you but I couldn't just stand by and allow someone to be killed."

"Much as I hate to admit it," McGonagall sighed. "I understand and probably would do the same. You're just as brash as James and as fiercely loyal as Lily; I should have known you'd be in the thick of the battle."

"Thank you, professor," Harry finally accepted.

"Let's head back to the others," Amelia said. "Dawlish will need to be transported, Madam Pomfrey will need to have a good look at the both of you. You know, Harry, just once I'd like to see you under normal circumstances."

"Good luck with that," came Harry's sardonic reply as they walked out of the chamber. "I don't think I do normal."

"Who wants to be normal?" said the pink-haired Tonks. "If you ask me, you could stand to be a little more like your favorite cousin."

Tonks pointed to herself with a rakish smile.

"Please don't encourage him," McGonagall groaned. "He gets into enough trouble as is. I don't want another generation of Marauders running around."

Wondering who or what the Marauders wore but too tired to truly ponder it. Amelia conjured stretchers for both Lockhart and Dawlish and Fawkes landed on Harry's shoulder while Ginny carried the hat. They arrived back at the pipe they used to get down and looked up.

"Any suggestions?" Harry asked the adults. "Should we go ask someone to find Rapunzel and let down her hair?"

It was a stupid joke, Harry knew that but it make Fawkes chortle followed by Tonks snorting in humor. Before anyone knew what was happening, the group was doubled over, laughing at how ridiculous this whole thing was while the stress of their ordeal bled off.

"Okay," Amelia was the first to regain her exposure. She wiped off her monocle and turned to Harry. "Maybe ask for some steps?"

"~Stairs~" nothing happened. "~Steps~"

Still nothing until Harry got frustrated and just said "~Up~" and Amelia was sucked up the pipe and deposited back on the bathroom. One-by-one Harry gave the command and everyone was transported up the pipe. When Ginny had called up that everyone was clear, Harry hissed on last time. A weird sensation went through Harry's body, as if he was sucked through a hose that was also spinning him like a drier. Before Harry shot out of the pipe, slid on the slick floor and crashed into the row of stalls.

"10 points for form but 3 for the landing," Tonks commented dryly. To add insult to injury, Fawkes just flew over head and landed next to him, bumping Harry with his head. "I thought you were an athlete."

"Not meant for the Luge event, I guess," Harry groaned as he did a quick inventory of all his pieces and parts.

"Can't wait to see you travel by Floo then," Tonk chortled. Harry just shook his head, terrified of whatever Floo travel was supposed to be.

"Everyone here?" Amelia led the group up to the Wing. Pomfrey gave her usual greeting as she started running her scans on Ginny, Tonks moved to take Dawlish to St. Mungo's but had to step back as the doors to the ward were flung open and Dumbledore stepped in. Everything stopped at the look of pure rage on Dumbledore's face. Upon seeing Ginny and Harry safe in beds in the wing, his gaze softened. Before anyone could say anything, two heads of flaming red hair breezed past the headmaster.

"Ginny!" Mr. Weasley cried as he embraced his daughter. "When we heard the news, we feared the worst."

"So glad you are safe," Mrs. Weasley wrapped her arms around the both of them and the family enjoyed a group hug. Harry watched the reunion with a sad, small smile until Mrs. Weasley turned.

"You saved my daughter!" Mrs. Weasley howled, tears in her eyes. Oxygen became tough as she gave him a suffocating hug. "What a hero you were, saving my daughter. Oh your parents would be so proud."

Harry locked eyes with Ginny who rolled her eyes as if to say "see? I told you so."

"If you don't mind," Dumbledore interrupted. "I would love to hear the story of what happened for myself."

Harry began his tale, talking first about the page he discovered in Hermione's hand which he brought to Professor McGonagall who in turn contacted Amelia Bones. That lead into Luna telling them about Ginny going missing. Harry told Dumbledore of his using his Parselmouth ability to open the chamber.

"Really," Dumbledore interrupted for the first time. "Fascinating. Continue, Harry."

Harry continued the story talking about Lockhart revealing his true self to which he swore Dumbledore smiled a little. He moved on to entering the Chamber, meeting Tom Riddle and learning about the diary. He just about told them about his fight with the Basilisk when the door to the Wing slammed open.

"Merlin's sake!" Pomfrey threw her hands up. "This is a hospital!"

In the doorway stood Lucius Malfoy.

"What are you doing here!?" Mr. Weasley shouted from the doorway.

"I seem to recall saying that you were suspended, Dumbledore," Malfoy ignored Weasley. Dumbledore stood from his chair and faced the blonde prick.

"When Miss Weasley here was taken," Dumbledore gestured to the girl. Harry noticed Malfoy startle. You weren't expecting to find her, Harry thought with narrowed eyes. "Several of the governors contacted me and beseeched I return at once. A few of them even intimated that they felt pressured or even threatened should they not sign the edict to suspend me."

Harry felt a gentle tug on his elbow. He looked down and Dobby was there, bouncing on the balls of his feet. Apparently, he used the door opening to mask his appearing in the room. Dobby pointed to the diary and then to Malfoy. Cottoning on, Harry scrambled to grab the book.

"Well am I to assume the culprit has been caught?" Lucius' cool mask was back in place.

"The culprit was caught," Amelia interjected. "Luckily Mr. Potter here intervened before anyone lost their life."

"And who might the culprit have been?" Lucius prodded.

"That is a matter for the DMLE," Amelia said. "I cannot comment further."

"As head of the board of governors," Malfoy's pale cheeks took on a red hue.

"-Former head," Dumbledore interrupted. "After the board asked me to return, they voted to oust you. You have no jurisdiction nor reason to be here so I must ask you to leave."

"If you need," Harry threw the diary at him. "Perhaps you can write it in that. It was yours wasn't it? You must have dropped it by accident when we met in Diagon."

Lucius dropped the diary without looking at it.

"You're a meddlesome child, Potter," Lucius' eyes tightened. "Your parents, your mother in particular, didn't know when to stop and be quiet. Be a shame if you went the same way."

Harry wasn't even looking, he instead looked down and smiled. The diary never hit the floor; Dobby was holding the book open to see one of Harry's socks.

"Free!" Dobby squealed in joy. "Dobby caught master's book for him. Master has given Dobby a sock. Dobby is free!"

Lucius was enraged. Looking up to see Harry smiling from ear-to-ear. He snapped and started to reach for his wand. In his fixation on Harry, he forgot who else was in the room.

"Don't move another inch," Dumbledore stepped forward, his wand drawn. Harry couldn't see his eyes but he could feel the heat coming off him. McGonagall and Amelia stood as well, their wands drawn. "You are in my school and are threatening my student. Leave. Now."

Lucius spun on his heel and moved toward the door.

"Oh and the next time one of Lord Voldemort's effects finds its way into this school," Dumbledore growled. "I will hold you personally responsible."

"Good luck proving it," Lucius said. "Same goes for you Director Bones, before you say anything."

Malfoy stormed out of the wing, allowing Harry to exhale before having the rest of his breath expelled by a small missile.

"Great Harry Potter has freed Dobby!" The small creature squealed. "Dobby is forever grateful."

"Well I am glad you to help you, Dobby," Harry said. "I was hoping you could help me out. Potter Manor is going to be fixed before too long. I will need help to maintain it."

"The Great and Powerful Harry Potter wants Dobby?" Dobby's eyes grew wide.

"Yes," Harry said. "But not as a servant. I don't believe in slave labor. But I could use another friend. What would you want for pay."

"Dobby not wanting pay," Dobby said. "If Dobby is getting paid, he cannot receive master's magic. Tis part of the contract. But perhaps Dobby could be paid in clothes? Dobby has always wanted clothes."

"Well then, I know just what to do," Harry straightened up and called "Tippy."

The same elf he had seen earlier popped in.

"Tippy," Harry smiled as he knew what to do. "I had a set of robes that were shrunk earlier this year. Could you please grab it from my trunk for me?"

A moment later, the elf popped back with the robes in question.

"I thought these might fit you, should I ever free you," Harry said. Dobby snatched the robe and put it on. "Glad to see fits. Now Dobby: I want you to take some time and get healthy before you get to work, okay?"

"If you need anything," Amelia added. "Please go see Lucy at Bones Manor. She will help you."

"Thank you Madam Boneses," Dobby bowed and popped out.

"You really don't do normal," McGonagall said to Harry. "Do you, Mr. Potter?"

"What's the fun of that?" Harry asked with a smirk.

Harry finished the story with Fawkes arriving to help, culminating in using the sword to stab the Basilisk and, subsequently the diary. Once he was finished, he looked at Dumbledore.

"You knew I was in Hagrid's, didn't you?" Harry asked. "That's why you said what you did."

"Harry," Dumbledore smiled congenially. "An invisibility cloak does not make it impossible to hear you. Yes I knew you were there and I also knew you and Miss Granger were the ones most likely to solve this. I surmised that Tom Riddle AKA Voldemort was the one behind the attacks but I could not put the final pieces into the place. I didn't discover Tom being a Parselmouth until much later when he used it during a duel. I didn't even consider that it was a snake that he was using to attack students. Now that I think of it, it all seems rather obvious."

"But why am I a Parselmouth?" Harry asked. "I read my family grimoire and nobody in the Potter line has had that ability."

"There are two options," Dumbledore said. "One, it comes from you mother's side or two, on the night you survived Voldemort's attack, he transferred some of his power and abilities to you.

"Now, Harry, I do have one question for you," Dumbledore leaned forward. "About how big would you say that snake was?"

"I'd estimate about 23 meters (75 feet) long and maybe 2 meters (7 feet) high," Harry said.

"Fascinating," Dumbledore said. "By all rights, you can claim that kill. If you talk to the Goblins, they would probably be able to render it down to its usable parts. It would be worth a fair bit of profit. If you decide to do that, please just let Professor McGonagall know so we can let them in to do their work."

"Th-thank you, sir," Harry said, his eyes wide. "If it is indeed worth a lot, I would like to set up compensation for all those who were victims: Hermione, Colin, Professor Snape, Marietta, Justin and Ginny- oh and if Moaning Myrtle has any living family members, her too. I'd also like some to go to Tonks and Dawlish, especially since Auror Dawlish was severely hurt."

"Me?" Ginny said. "But I was the culprit, not a victim."

"You were as much a victim as the others, worse even," Harry said before looking at Ginny's parents. "Tom told me one thing while he was busy monologuing. He said that he wanted to kill all the First Gens in the school by January. He would have too except for there was one person fighting him: Ginny."

"Many before you have fallen under the sway of Lord Voldemort," Dumbledore added. "He could be charming, when he wanted to. That you held him at bay for as long as you did says something."

"Thank you, headmaster," Mrs. Weasley said as Mr. Weasley nodded alongside her.

"Now as that is taken care of," Dumbledore stood again. "I have to go reopen my office and get settled. I leave you in the tender care of Madam Pomfrey."

"What's going to happen to me?" Ginny asked Madam Bones. "I killed a cat. I helped attack a number of students."

"As far as I am concerned," Madam Bones said. "The culprit was Tom Riddle and, seeing as Tom Riddle is dead, there is no one to prosecute. For everything you've done, I'll need you to complete a counseling course. If you complete that, we'll consider it time served. Unfortunate, as I'd love to try and get Lucius Malfoy on something-

"-Me too," Mr. Weasley said, bitterly.

"-But he is too close to the minister for anything to stick," Amelia said, angrily. "I would need to catch him red-handed."

"If I can help in any ways, I will," Harry added. "At least we kicked his arrogant ass out of the school."

At the moment, the man in question apparated home, storming through the halls of his manor, shaking in rage. He drew his wand and conjured a bust in the form of Harry's head. With a feral scream, he reduced the bust to dust.

"I take it your trip didn't go as planned?" Lucius turned to see his wife leaning on the door frame.

"That jumped up little bastard!" Lucius shouted. "He cleared Dumbledore, solved the riddle of the Chamber and cost me Dobby! The brat must pay!"

"Wait, you lost Dobby?" Narcissa was actually shocked.

"The brat tricked me into giving him clothes," Lucius spat. "I was so hoping to mount him on the wall like all the others."

In the main hall was a number of house elf heads on plaques, mounted to the wall.

"He would have looked nice next to his parents."

"You're disgusting," Narcissa snarled.

"Didn't the black family home have something similar?"

"Yes but they all died of natural causes. They were our family members and we loved them. We didn't abuse them into insanity."

"Like a pureblood family would love such inferior creatures," Lucius scoffed.

"You forget yourself," Narcissa folded her arms under her bust. "The Black family has a longer history than the Malfoy one. I'll remind you that you're living off the Black fortune as the Malfoy one dried up years ago, thanks to your supporting the Dark Lord."

"Once he won, he would have rewarded me beyond anything I could have imagined," Lucius said.

"You're an idiot," Narcissa scoffed. "Like the Dark Lord was going to give anyone anything. What's worse is you've raised our son to be just like you."

"Our lord-"

"-Your lord," Narcissa retorted. "I am a proud daughter of the Black legacy. We bow to nobody, my crazy sister notwithstanding."

"-Will return one day. On that day, you will kneel and apologize. I am his right hand man, his top lieutenant. He'll reward me beyond even your greatest dreams."

"That'll be the day." Narcissa rolled her eyes and walked away. If he's going to go down this path again, she thought then I need to start making my own contingencies. Start an escape fund and an escape plan. What I really need is someone to emerge as Lord Black.

Lucius stormed into his office and slammed his fists on the desk hard enough to crack the wood. That was when he noticed something on his desk: a thin folder holding sheets of an even thinner piece of parchment. Ah, Goyle finally came through. There was a note from Goyle about needing to hunt through muggle cabinets in multiple locations to find this, telling Lucius he owed him.

Petunia Dursley, née Evans. Married June 6, 1978 to Vernon Dursley. One child, Dudley, born June 23, 1980.

In it, it listed Vernon's occupation, and place of business, his contact information, health records. Everything about Petunia Dursley was there on the pages, including, most importantly, her address: Number 4, Privet Drive, Surrey.

"Out-fucking-standing," Lucius smiled for the first time since he left Hogwarts. "You'll be mine soon enough, Harry Potter."

(A/N: I know some of you have been wanting me to kill Ginny but instead my plan all along has been to kill the fangirl and level the field so she can be given more dimensionality. All these characters belong to J.K. but that doesn't mean she did a great job with them, particularly Ginny. She did so very little with Ginny that the romance between Harry and her feels forced and falls flat. She could have just kept building the connection between Harry and Hermione into a relationship that has more emotional payoff but I guess that's why fan fiction is a thing.

My point is killing Ginny is easy. Fleshing her out into a more three-dimensional character is hard. You're also starting to see Dumbledore's redemption arc begin in earnest. In the books, Dumbledore only gets angry when his students are in danger. It happened when he saved Harry from the fake Moody and when Harry insinuated that the castle wasn't safe with Dumbledore leaving.

Thank you for all the comments. I've hit a little bit of writer's block which I am trying to write my way out of so the comments help with that. I'll try to keep two updates a week but at the very least, I'll be able to do one a week. I have most of fourth and fifth year planned out but third year is coming along slower.)