Chapter Five
It was nearing the end of Harry Potter's 2nd year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was grateful for his maturity growth spurt this year, however, he wanted to have some fun. Harry couldn't have been more relieved and satisfied with how much he changed and grown up this year. After reading about the Sacred 28 it appeared that Daphne, her sister, and other young pureblood witches and wizards were taught these lessons as well.
Harry performed a quick tempus charm with his holly wand. It was a bit after 8'oclock on a Monday, time to head down for breakfast. Freshening up and grabbing his knapsack with what he needed for the day, Harry headed down for breakfast with Dean and Seamus Finnigan. Harry knew he grew up fast, with his abusive Aunt and Uncle, anyone would have. He kept reminding himself to relax and enjoy his time at Hogwarts now that he had a handle on his grades.
So after conversing with his roomates over breakfast they were keen on his idea of starting a chess club. They would begin the chess tournament in house and with permission of their Professors, branch out to other houses for anyone wishing to sign up for future tournaments. Harry asked Ron if he wanted to lead the club and he was thrilled with the idea, but only if he could participate as well. Harry readily agreed and would ask their House Head, if she would make their club formal.
Harry's idea of the club only came from when the professors' banned Quidditch matches due to the increasing attacks from within the school. He figured it would be away for the students to keep themselves busy outside of regular classes. Harry knew Hermione and Ron were trying to wrangle him into figuring out the Chamber of Secrets mystery after their house mate, Collin Creevy was attacked by the monster. After he had enough of their bickering he finally agreed to help them, since it might heal his reputation within the student body.
Harry and Ron were at dinner with their friends when their Head of House came up to them and asked her to accompany them to the Hospital Wing. They both scrambled off the bench and followed her with worried thoughts. Harry had a dreaded feeling growing in his gut. Before opening the door to the wing, she turned and sadly told them that Hermione was in the library and became a new victim of the monster from the Chamber of Secrets. They walked in hesitantly, not wanting to see their dear friend in an unresponsive, petrified state of existance. Gasping, Ron and and Harry slowly moved toward her bed. One arm was upright in an awkward angle while her other was clenched by her side. Madam Pompfrey asked them the last time they saw her Ron blurted out that it was just after lunch.
Harry paled at the sight of his dear Hermione lying cold on the hospital bed. Yes, he wanted to do something about it but he was conflicted for a couple of selfish reasons, he thought bitterly. If he stopped 'the monster' that was causing students to be petrified then he would once again be back in Dumbledore's pocket and be hailed as the school's saviour again, two years in a row. On the other hand, that path might be okay for a while. Granted he was turning thirteen soon and could keep this saviour persona alive for alittle while longer to keep up appearances. Harry shook his head to clear his thoughts, Daphne was really beginning to draw out his slytherthin side. After Ron left the wing, Harry was still holding Hermione's clenched fist. Eyes widening a fraction he felt a piece of parchment that she was clutching desparately. Unfurling quietly so not to alert Madam Pomphrey, Harry all but gasped at the word, Pipes!. Harry stood up and kissed Hermione on her cold forehead and whispered, 'you are so brilliant, Hermione! I'll stop this madness I promise you.' Harry then walked quickly from the hospital wing with one destination in mind. Whatever was haunting this school must end tonight.
Rushing to Professor Snape's office, Harry decided it would be best to alert him since he might have a better idea as to where the location of the chamber may be within the castle. Trying but failing to form a half-assed lie, knowing it was pointless anyway, Harry rushed into Professor Snape's office not even bother to knock. His dark haired Professor growled at the sight of him, but Harry could care less, he had to save Hermione.
"Professor Snape, sir!" Harry gasped rushing in front of his desk. Professor Snape stood up and crossed his arms waiting for him to continue. "I'm sorry sir, but I think you're the only person who can help. You already know that the monster got Hermione, but when I visited her I found this note in her hand." Harry handed over the scrap piece of parchment and his stern Professor glared at him and read it. Not waisting a minute, Harry then blurted out, "Do you know where the Chamber of Secrets is, Sir?" Still thinking rapidly, Professor Snape muttered, "It must be on the second floor, this could all connect back to Moaning Mertel." Harry gasped and then ran out before Professor Snape could whip out his wand to stop him. "Blasted Potter!" He growled and went to alert the Headmaster.
Harry kept running until he reached the 2nd floor, he stopped, mid hallway and noticed the writing on the wall. His eyes widened, now even more concerned for his fellow classmates as the words echoed in his mind, "Her body will lie in the Chamber Forever…" So it appeared the monster struck again.
Finally, gasping for air, Harry called out Myrtel's name in a desparate attempt to locate the Chamber's entrance. After trying to seduce him and failing miserably, she pointed to the sink that was the only one not running water on the tile floor. Harry gulped and cleared his mind, then whispered in parseltongue, "I command you to open!" Opening his eyes he stood back in awe as the sinks began to split apart. After their transformation, Harry glanced forward, not finding anything other than a deep dark hole. Gulping Harry cast 'Lumos' and realized the giant pipe was covered in slime. He shredded a piece of his pant leg and transfigured it into a sturdy rope. Harry learned early on this year that transfiguration was one of his better skills. He tied it to one of the faucets and eased down the dark passage.
Finally reaching the bottom Harry jumped and winced as heard a loud crunch below his feet. Casting 'Lumos' again, Harry gasped at what he found, an entire floor made up of skulls, animals and human alike. Shuddering, Harry pressed on continuing through the pipe system until he reached a giant vault like door with miniature snakes as lock mechanics. He used Parseltongue again to open the vault door. It hissed as it opened and he cautiously stepped through. Casting 'Lumos' again the Chamber seemed bigger than he imagined it would, it had high ceilings with smaller pipe outlays leading to more pipes. It seemed that Salazar Slytherthin was very fond of snakes Harry mused. Every archway had snake obelsces and then – Harry stopped – there on the cold floor under the giant statue of a snake man's ugly head lay little Ginny Weasley. Shock coursed through his body wondering how they all fucked this one up. What horrors she must have witnessed this year just because her brothers ignored her time and time again.
Reaching down he tried to shake her to wake her up, at first Harry thought she was sleeping, but that wasn't the case. Harry felt her pulse, breathing a sigh of relief. He almost jumped and gripped his wand when he heard a male's voice, "She won't wake" Harry held his wand firmly in two hands at the wizard walking toward him, "Who are you?" He asked in a commanding voice.
"Ah, Harry Potter, It has been quite some time, I have been so longing to meet you!" The pale man in Hogwarts robes hissed back at him. Harry's wand started to shake and continued his interrogation, "I asked you what your name is, and how is it that you know mine?" He growled out. The young man chuckled and shook his head holding onto Ginny's wand. "My name, Mr. Potter, is Tom Riddle maybe you have heard of me?" Harry shook his head although the man seemed somewhat familiar but he couldn't quite place it.
"Did the old Headmaster Dippet send you to rescue the poor girl?" Harry shook his head and then realized this man might not be completely alive, he appeared almost ghostlike. "Ah, then the crackpot old fool, Albus Dumbledore, well, with the way he runs the school now I wouldn't be surprised. Letting mud-bloods learning magic, such a tragedy." Tom tutted sneering slightly.
Playing the hero role again, Harry took the bait, "Headmaster Dumbledore is the greatest wizard and the most powerful!" Tom Riddle chuckled and flicked Ginny's wand in the air which drew his name in flames and then with another flick they rearranged themselves and read, "I am Lord Voldemort".
Harry gasped and his mind began turning rapidly, so that's how Ginny got sucked down here. The diary in her hands must be a horcrux! He learned the terrifying term from the Goblins after they cleared out the 'dark soul' that binded onto his scar. Harry was dealing with a horcrux, a soul fragment of the murderer who killed his parents and changed his life forever. "Now you see Mr. Potter, you are the very person I've been waiting to meet!"
Harry was to slow to realize that Tom Riddle now turned away from him and spoke rapidly in parseltongue to the giant ugly stone face on the wall to the right of him. Then he turned around and with a red glint in his eyes, Tom spoke, "Let us match Dumbledore's greatest hero with the power of Salazar Slytherthin!" Harry gulped and heard a long hiss as the vault opened. He turned around and began running as fast as he could.
He scrambled to an inlay and hid from the beast. The giant snake really was massive! Harry had no idea how Ginny managed to survive Tom's reign of terror and get that beast through the school. Wincing as his heel hit the metal bars the snake stopped and cocked his head. 'so it listens to sound'. Harry threw a small rock in the opposite direction and ran back to Ginny. Just then he heard a soft 'caw' overhead, it was Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix! The phoenix dropped a black bundle at his feet and flew straight to the beast and cut at the eyes with his talons so the beast was rendered blind. Infuriated, Tom Riddle hissed in parseltongue again and the beast was back on his tail. Hurriedly, he unwrapped the package, and found the old sorting hat. Curious, but now more desperate he cried, "Help me save Ginny!" to the hat. For a moment, Harry felt foolish, talking to the hat. But then, Harry grabbed the hat again and saw something heavy poke out of it.
Harry grabbed, it was a sword! He pulled the sword out and faced the beast. Then he grabbed the diary from Ginny's cold figure with his left. That made Tom nervous. Harry gripped the sword and began his assault on the beast. After being whipped around by the snake's giant tale Harry finally figured out the best angle. He wasn't going to defeat the beast straight on in a fight. So, after distracting it in parseltongue, he jumped on the snake's back and hooked it with his legs. It was almost like riding a mechanical bull at this point. Gripping the sword in two hands, the diary safely in his robes, Harry lifted the sword up and plunged it down straight through its neck. The beast screamed and opened his mouth, Harry fumbled and tossed the diary into the mouth where the beast snapped it down with his huge teeth. It was then Tom Riddle's turn to scream. The soul fragment screamed for a minute or two and then with Harry's astonishment he began to break apart and vanished in thin air.
Harry slid off the monster and went over to Ginny. Harry shook Miss. Weasley awake and she finally stirred and began to open her eyes. Blinking rapidly the girl took in gulps of air and tried to get her barings straight. She then noticed Harry kneeling next to her and she gasped as she saw the diary in his hands. "It's okay Ginny, you're going to be fine. Take deep breaths for me, okay?" Harry asked as he noticed the girl beginning to panic as Ginny realized she was in the Chamber again.
Finding her voice, Ginny whispered, "I didn't mean to! Please belive me." She curled her arms around her legs and started whimpering. Harry squeezed her shoulder gently and tried to comfort her the best he could. After a couple of minutes he got Ginny to stand and on shaking legs she did when holding on to him. Fawkes then came and swooped down to their level and offered out his tail as if to say, "Hold on!" Harry looked at Ginny who wrapped her arms around his torso and he held on tight. The phoenix flew them through the Chamber and back to the entrance, and up the pipe entrance leading to the 2nd floor girl's bathroom.
After collapsing in an undignified heap, Harry and Ginny stood up only to find Professor Snape glaring at them. "Well, Mr. Potter what do you have to say for yourself after breaking at least 50 school rules?" The stern potions master spit out then eyeing the Weasley girl to see if she was okay. Harry sighed and replied, "With all due respect Sir, I just fought a giant monster and rescued my best friend's sister. I think that should count for something." Harry said in a tired voice. Snape raised an eyebrow at him and told them to follow him to the hospital wing.
From there, Harry hardly noticed the chaos surrounding himself and Ginny. Madam Pompfrey immediately took over and ran health scans over Ginny. Whereas Harry waved her off not wanting to alert the Headmaster of his recent discoveries at Gringotts. He took some healing potions from her and told her he was fine. The Weasley matriarch and Mr. Weasley burst in the doors after being held up by Professor McGonagall. Ginny hugged them and began crying in her mum's arms. Harry tried to scoot away not wanting to interfere, he almost made until, "Mr. Potter, if I could have a word…" the Headmaster asked. Harry tried not to look him in the eyes after learning about the mind magicks this man was capable of, he nodded and followed him out the door.
The Headmaster led him the main hall that leads into the Great Hall. Then his not-so-legal-guardian turned around and smiled genially at him. "Harry, I must first thank you for figuring out Miss. Granger's clue and rescuing Miss. Weasley. The Weasley family is very thankful for your heroic act tonight. In that respect I would like to honor you with the Services for the School Award for this term." Harry gaped at the man, he really must be losing it! Harry then stilled his mind, looked up at him briefly and thanked him for the award. Just as he was leaving, they turned around when a third man entered the vacinity.
Harry Potter glanced warily at the man, once he started to move towards him he noticed a small house elf quivering behind him. Wracking his brain, and then Harry remembered the book shop and the fight between this man and Mr. Weasley. Harry Potter put on his best glare and stood behind the Headmaster. "Mr. Malfoy, what can I do for you?" The Headmaster asked formally. "Ah, I was hoping to spare some of your time Albus, but it seems that you are busy…" Lord Malfoy said stiffly while narrowing his eyes in Harry's direction.
"Nonsense, Mr. Potter was just leaving, I think he might need a good night's sleep after his heroic act tonight." Harry nodded, turned and walked slowly down the hall. He didn't want to leave just yet.
Harry caught some of their conversation as he dawdled in the hall. "I can assure you Mr. Dumbledore, that I did not know that the book was a dark object." Mr. Malfoy tried with the Headmaster. The Headmaster said a few words abut protecting the school and the next generation. Once they were finished Harry turned around and saw Mr. Malfoy using his cane on his house elf. The tiny elf gasped and made to follow his master. Harry Potter winced as he could almost feel the cane himself. Then he realized he still had the diary on his person. He pulled it out and then took off one of his socks.
Harry ran back to catch Mr. Malfoy on his way out and panted, "Sir, I think this is yours, I forgot to give it to Headmaster Dumbledore." Lord Malfoy stilled and turned around, glaring at Potter, the infamous Boy who Lived, holding out the Dark Lord's now brutalized possession. Mr. Malfoy grabbed the book and thrust it to his house elf. "Well, I do hope that you will still be alive the next time someone is in danger…" Harry puffed up his chest and replied, "Don't worry, I will be." Mr. Malfoy walked back and made his way to the exit. Harry looked quickly at his elf and told him to open the book.
Mr. Malfoy's house elf opened it and gasped. "Master gave Dobby a sock! Master gave Dobby clothes, Dobby is free!" Mr. Malfoy snarled turned around and whipped out his wand. "You will pay for that Potter! You lost me my servant!" Dobby then stepped in front of him and blasted Lord Malfoy's curse back at him. Harry grinned silly at the sight of Lord Malfoy flying back to the hallway's entrance.
Fuming the man exited the castle and his previous house elf turned around and looked at Harry in awe. "How can Dobby ever thank you kind sir!?" Dobby spoke reverantly. Harry just smiled and said, "Well Dobby, for now you can ask the Headmaster for a job here at Hogwarts. If I need a house elf in the future, I won't hesitate to call you." Dobby sobbed and hugged Harry's pant leg. Harry chuckled and told Dobby where the Headmaster's office is and left for Gryffindor Tower.
The last two weeks at Hogwarts passed quickly, most of the students, including Hermione were put back to full health. Daphne did fuss over him after he told her the story of fighting the baskalisk. He did ask the Headmaster not to be sent back to the Dursley's for the summer, but as expected he refused giving his previous excuses. Harry sighed accepted it and boarded the train. He sat with Ron and Hermione. They had a fun time playing gobstones and chess. Prior to boarding the train, he made plans with Daphne about leaving the Dursley's after three weeks.
Author's Note: Thank you for following & favoriting this story! The next chapter will diverge a bit from the main plot. Head's up I probably won't post the next chapter until early May.