Through the night

Harry was disappointed to say the least. He had gone to the library to study a bit more Apparition as he realised that being able to teleport through a few meters wouldn't help him is he wanted to travel England. And he had discovered two things. The first one was that the ability to Apparate wasn't enough. The traveller needed the precise picture of the place he was going to. And Harry only had the name of the village he was looking for, Little Hangleton. Also, wizards and witches needed a license to practise this magic. Harry could have this disregarded this rule if it didn't prevent those who didn't have the license to use the Magic. The only good news was that the Chamber of Secrets was therefore a place were the rules of Hogwarts and the Wizarding World didn't seem to apply. But Harry would have to find another way to travel.

He was thinking about potential solutions when he knocked on the door leading to Dumbledore's office. The Headmaster greeted his with his usual twinkling eyes. He seemed genuinely happy to see him. Harry felt the monster point his nose but quickly tamed it. His knowledge about the connection was still uncomplete but he was now able to control it enough to not suffer from it.

'It seems you have good predisposition in Occlumency,' started Dumbledore. 'The Professor Snape told me about your achievement in his office last night.'

'Thank you, Sir,' replied Harry. 'However, I am having a hard time believing he used the term "achievement"'

'Indeed, he didn't,' chuckled the Headmaster. 'I am using it. I also noticed your proficiency in wandless nonverbal magic.'

Harry glanced at Dumbledore, withstanding the piercing blue eyes. There was no animosity or judgment. It had been a sincere remark about his skill. However, what he said next froze Harry.

'Is this why you've been visiting the Chamber so often?' Asked Dumbledore in a peaceful voice.

'I…' No, there would be no excuses. 'How do you know about this?' He asked with an inquisitive tone.

'You should take more precautions during your night excursions, my boy,' said Dumbledore with his usual appeasing voice. 'I took the liberty of adding a few wards around its entrance when I noticed your getaways. I hope you will forgive me for taking those precautions on your behalf, but I was worried a certain Professor would notice them too.' He lowered his gaze on Harry's hand and his voice grew softer. 'My idleness in this area already caused more sorrow than I can bear.'

'Worried?' repeated Harry surprised. 'So… you're not angry I went there on my own?'

'Why would I be angry, Harry?' Replied Dumbledore in a low voice. 'I have let you down at a time you needed me the most.' He paused a few seconds. 'Once again you surprise me with your resourcefulness. If anything, I only feel remorse for having pushed you away.'

The tightness Harry had felt in his chest at the Chamber's mention loosened up. Dumbledore was truly on his side. But he too had an excuse to make.

'There is something I wanted to tell you, Sir,' said Harry after a few seconds of silence. He hesitated a bit remembering the savagery that had seized him that night. 'I wanted to apologise for attacking you the night I told you about the vision. I knew there was something up with scar, but I disregarded the warnings.'

'I deserved that,' replied Dumbledore before Harry could add anything. 'It should never have been your responsibility to deal with this alone. I should have been present, Harry. Everything that happened is my fault and I can only consider myself lucky my mismanagement didn't lead to more serious events.'

'Tell him,' said a voice inside Harry's head. 'Tell him about the Horcruxes!'

'So, what are we going to do now?' Asked Harry eventually, ignoring his urge to share his latest discoveries with Dumbledore.

Dumbledore scrutinized him above his glasses and turned toward a shelf covered with tiny bottles. They all had a tag where was written a title, a date and names.

'Those,' explained Dumbledore while raising his arm toward the shelf, 'are memories I collected during my travels. They are all about a single character whose life I have tried to understand during most of mine.'

Harry didn't need to ask to know he was talking about Tom Riddle.

'I am going to share with you the most pertinents of them,' continued Dumbledore. 'To find someone's weaknesses, you need to understand the kind of person they are. Besides, I am curious to know the opinion you'll have on some of them.'

Dumbledore glanced briefly at Harry and grabbed the bottle that was located on top of the shelf.

'Let's start with the beginning,' he whispered while pulling his Pensieve from is cupboard. 'I am going to show you my first encounter with him.'

'You seem troubled,' said the snake while watching Harry pace in front the white statue.

Harry stopped and considered his basilisk for a while. He hadn't heard him get out of his lair.

'I saw a memory of Tom Riddle while he was still at the orphanage,' he replied absently. 'I didn't know he had been harassed too by Muggles during his childhood.' He paused. 'He has never known his parents...'

'You are worried about the similitude between him and you,' hissed the basilisk. 'Are you afraid you might become like him?'

The brutality of the snake startled Harry. But those were questions he was asking himself everyday since he had seen Mr. Weasley being attacked. He shrugged.

'There is something else,' he added to change the subject.

He proceeded to explain everything he had learned about Apparition. Unless he found a way to remove the bounding spell, he wouldn't be able to use it on England soil.

'Do you know where Little Hangleton is?' Asked the snake.

'A few hundreds of miles away from Little Whinging, Surrey,' he answered with a bitter smile. 'Why, do you have an idea?'

'If I didn't want so much to see what it's like out there,' replied the snake mischievously, 'I wouldn't have offered you this solution so easily. But I just wanted to point out that you have me… And a wand.'

Harry looked at his basilisk thinking about his proposition. It was quite clever in fact. Harry knew how to Transfigure living creature and the basilisk still had a manageable size. Only remained the question of leaving Hogwarts grounds without being noticed. But Harry already had a solution.

He took the Marauder's Map he was always keeping with him during his little getaways in the Chamber of Secrets and unfolded it on the ground. The basilisk approached him with a curious look.

'Do you think you could reach this passageway?' Asked Harry while pointing toward the passage behind the mirror on the fourth floor. 'There are a lot of pipes running behind those walls. Perhaps you could find a way?'

'I think so,' answered the snake excitedly. 'When do you want to leave?'

'I don't know if I'll stay at Hogwarts during all the holidays,' replied Harry. 'A Slytherin never hesitates,' he smiled while glancing at his basilisk. 'So, I suggest we go tonight. What do you think?'

'Race you there!'