Chapter Thirty-Seven - Reunions
In the end, Dumbledore granted Harry an award for "Special Services to the School." A silver trophy, inscribed with his name, quietly replaced one that bore the name of Tom Riddle. It was done without ceremony, and the gesture was lost on Harry, who found himself more pleased by Dumbledore's announcement the morning after his adventure.
Dumbledore's first act has newly reinstated headmaster was to cancel the final exams. The student body, already overjoyed to see his familiar face at the staff table, burst into cheers. They had been plagued with anxiety all year, and no one had known how they were expected to pass their tests.
With the exams canceled, Millie's parents offered to take her home early, where she would be free to spend the rest of term in calm seclusion. But Millie insisted that she wanted to stay, and privately Harry was grateful to her. It would be lonely without either of his friends for company.
Harry drafted a long letter to Blaise, informing him of everything that had happened, and sent it by Hedwig at the first opportunity. He hoped that when Mrs. Zabini learned that the school was free of danger, she would allow her son to return for his third year.
It wasn't until Harry left the owlery and entered his dorm that he realized he was still wearing the locket. He must have slept in it the night before, but he was surprised it had escaped his notice. It was heavy, and still cold to the touch. Wanting to inspect it more closely, he lifted the long chain over his head, and felt curiously reluctant to part with the necklace. He puzzled over the clasp, wondering why he couldn't pry it open with his fingernail. It was as if the locket was glued shut.
Looking over the surface again, Harry noticed that the intricate S inlaid with emeralds strongly resembled a tiny, glittering serpent. It occurred to him that the locket may open with parseltongue, just as the entrance to the Chamber had.
Before the first whisper of a hiss could escape his lips, Millie burst into his room.
"He's back," she said breathlessly, as if she'd run all the way up the stairs, "Hagrid's back from Azkaban."
Harry wanted to see Hagrid as soon as possible, and he knew they were late for the evening feast already. He pulled the chain back over his head, dropping the locket down the front of his shirt for safekeeping. Millie watched him perform the action with a frown of disapproval, though she deferred commenting on Harry's accessory for the time being.
Harry quickly followed Millie out the door, only to rush back for a pair of shoes he'd forgotten in his haste. Millie waited impatiently in the common room, holding an irritable but thankfully restored Mamon in her arms. The rest of Slytherin House had already left for the feast, but Harry and Millie preferred to hang behind. They were uncharacteristically popular now, as everyone wanted to know what had happened in the Chamber. But Millie had never been the type to court attention, and Harry wanted to put the whole experience behind him.
Their intentions had been good, but as they entered the Great Hall, Harry found himself wishing they'd allowed themselves to be lost in the crowd. Their entrance caused quite a stir. Slytherin House greeted him with enthusiasm, with some even breaking out in spontaneous applause. Harry's exploits in the Chamber were now widely known, and the points he had earned would secure Slytherin the House Cup that year by a wide margin. Many of the students in his own house considered him a hero.
The reception from the other three houses, however, was considerably more subdued. To some, Harry's knowledge of the Chamber entrance and his ability to escape alive only served as proof that he had been the Heir of Slytherin all along. Harry had no doubt that Ron Weasley was behind the rumor that Millie's kidnapping and rescue were all a plot to conceal Harry's crimes - a set-up between the two friends to clear his name and prevent the school from closing for good.
In spite of the suspicion that seemed to follow him no matter what he did, there were a select few who were genuinely happy to see him. The first was Hermione Granger, who called to Harry as she made her way over from the Gryffindor table. She smiled wide, showing off her two large front teeth, and dragging Neville along behind her. Harry accepted her hug when she drew near, and was somewhat surprised by how glad he was to see her again.
"You did it, Harry!" she exclaimed, "I just knew you would! Oh, but I wish I hadn't been petrified! I would have liked to help. What was it like in the Chamber? Was it dreadful? Is it true what they're saying? That it was you-know-who?"
Harry didn't know what question to answer first, so he settled for flattery instead.
"I couldn't have done it without you, Hermione," he said, "It was your clue about the pipes that helped us. And you're the one who figured out that the beast was a basilisk."
"That's nothing but a little research," Hermione replied, but Harry could tell that she was pleased with the compliment.
"Not only that," added Harry, "But Neville helped, too. If he hadn't found your note, and figured out how the basilisk was petrifying everyone, Millie and I might not be here now."
"Neville did that?" Hermione asked, unable to hide her surprise, "Why didn't you say anything, Neville?"
Harry turned to the silent Gryffindor, standing meekly to the side. "You mean you didn't tell Hermione about how you went into the Forbidden Forest with me, and we fought off about a hundred giant spiders?"
Hermione continued to stare at Neville in astonishment, for once at a loss for words, while Neville stammered out a few embarrassed excuses for his previous silence on the subject. Fortunately, he was spared a lecture from Hermione on the dangers of breaking school rules by the approach of Ned Willowby, who seemed to be seeking Harry's permission before addressing him.
"H-Hello, Harry," he said nervously upon catching Harry's eye.
Perhaps seeing Hermione and Neville approach Harry first emboldened him to take this step, but he still needed reassurance. Harry smiled at him and offered his hand, which Ned accepted thankfully.
"Good to see you, Ned," Harry said, and even Millie nodded her head in agreement.
"I wanted to thank you. For everything you've done," Ned replied, as shy as he'd been the day he first met Harry.
"Don't mention it," said Harry. And he meant it. He didn't think he'd done anything he needed to be thanked for. It was Snape and Professor Sprout who had brewed the mandrake potion that restored Hermione and Ned, not him.
"Also, I need to apologize," Ned added, "I accused Zabini of being the Heir. Now everyone is saying it was somebody named Riddle?"
Harry didn't now what to say. He wasn't sure how much information he could reveal. Dumbledore had already given the school a vague and completely unconvincing explanation of how Millie was restored to them - an explanation that raised far more questions than it answered.
Things grew more complicated with the arrival of Colin Creevy, who inserted himself into the conversation with a joyful shout, causing Ned to flinch in alarm.
"Harry Potter! Hero of Hogwarts!" he shouted for all in their immediate vicinity to hear. He lifted his camera to his face, and Harry instinctively moved his hands to shield his own. But Colin didn't take the shot. Laughing, he lowered the camera and said, "Only joking! Do you like it? Some of the guys ordered a new one for me since the last was broken."
"Your camera was broken?" Harry asked, glancing at Colin's new device. The first had been a bit on the cheap side, but the new camera had clearly been purchased by a group of wizards who knew nothing about muggle technology. It was ancient. But Colin was oblivious to its inferiority over his last model, and was merely pleased by the gift.
"Broken!" He repeated in a tone of surprise, "It got completely destroyed when I tried to take a picture of that snake! Didn't you know? Blimey, I thought you knew everything, after what everyone has been saying."
"And what have they been saying? About me?" Harry asked, chancing a cautious glance at Ned, who still lingered, clearly waiting to hear an answer to his earlier question.
Colin's eyes grew wide, a glimmer of his former admiration for Harry apparently restored as he recited, "That you-know-who put a curse on the school, and that it opened the Chamber of Secrets and caused a whole bunch of people, like me, to get petrified. But then you used parseltongue to charm the serpent that was doing you-know-who's bidding, so it destroyed itself instead and broke the curse, and now Hogwarts is safe again, and basically you've defeated you-know-who for a third time."
"That's... Basically right," Harry said. The details were all wrong, but it seemed the rumor mill of Hogwarts did impressive work once again.
Harry turned back to Ned, Hermione, and Neville.
"Well, there you have it. It was all Lord... Er, you-know-who's doing. That thing about Riddle was just... It was the password. Into the Chamber. I had to answer a riddle."
Ned looked skeptical.
"That's just like the Ravenclaw tower," he said, "What was the riddle you had to answer, Harry?"
"Anyway, Colin," Harry said, turning back toward his fellow Slytherin as if he hadn't heard Ned's question, "I wanted to thank you, too. You put yourself in danger to stand up for me, and it got you petrified. I haven't forgotten."
He offered his hand to Colin. At the beginning of the year, this simple gesture of acknowledgment from the Boy Who Lived might have sent Colin into spasms of joy. But now, Colin simply grinned and accepted the handshake, as he jokingly offered to give Harry an autograph sometime, if he would like.
Herbivorous Pandey began to call for Colin from the end of the table. He seemed irritated, but Harry took it as a good sign that he wanted Colin's attention. Laughing at his impatience, Colin waved goodbye to Harry and made for the group of first-year boys, likely the same who had pitched in to buy his camera.
"That's us as well," said Hermione, deciding for both herself and Neville that it was time to return to their place among the Gryffindors. "You really did amazing, Harry. But don't get too comfortable. I'll see to it that Gryffindor wins the House Cup next year."
"We'll see about that," Harry said, accepting a final hug before Hermione and Neville both departed. Ned took the opportunity slip quietly back to the Ravenclaw table, though not without giving Harry a nod and a look that plainly expressed his curiosity to know more about the Chamber. Harry would have to think of a better story next time.
"You could have backed me up," Harry commented to Millie as they found empty seats among the Slytherins.
"And expose myself as the one who was possessed by you-know-who all year?" she asked, "I don't think so."
Harry wanted to press the issue, but their conversation was put on hold. Many of the Slytherin students were eager to have Harry at their side, and there was a lot of shuffling seats during the meal in an attempt to get closer to him.
Curiously, only Draco Malfoy preferred to keep aloof. Harry suspected that his father had spoken to him about Dobby's change in circumstances. It was the only explanation for Draco's sour mood. But since Harry could only benefit from Draco keeping his distance, he wasn't complaining. If he was lucky, Lucius Malfoy would have put an end to Draco's efforts to befriend Harry indefinitely.
Meanwhile, Harry kept his eyes open for Hagrid. He'd expected to see him in the Great Hall when they first arrived, but his seat at the staff table had been conspicuously empty. Millie had said he'd returned, but perhaps he did not plan to join the feast?
Harry was beginning to despair of seeing Hagrid at dinner, and was already making plans to sneak out to his cabin that night when Hagrid finally made his appearance. He tried to do so as unobtrusively as possible, but his size prevented him from escaping notice. Harry rose from his place immediately and rushed to greet him, finding quickly that Hagrid was just as thrilled to see him again.
"You did it, Harry! I knew yeh could!" he said happily, his bear hug pulling Harry clear off the floor before settling him down again, "I just knew yeh'd figure out my message!"
"Yeah, I found Aragog," Harry said once he had his wind back, "And we need to have a little talk about your choice of friends, Hagrid. But first, I need to ask you for a favor."
They waited until the feast was over, long after everyone else had gone to bed. By prearrangement, Harry met Hagrid at the entrance to the school. He wore his father's cloak, leading the way by occasional whispers to the gamekeeper. Hagrid was too large to hide under the cloak himself, but Harry figured as a staff member, no one would question him for being in the corridors after hours.
"Are yeh sure abou' this, Harry?" Hagrid asked in a nervous whisper as they made their way toward Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
But Harry merely shushed him, and pushed the door open to usher him inside.
Harry had worried that the tunnel would be too small for Hagrid's large frame, but they were in luck. Hagrid slipped easily down the passage, landing at the bottom safely before Harry followed suit.
Hagrid began to voice his concerns again as they made their way toward the Chamber entrance, but Harry played off his emotions.
"It's hurt, Hagrid. It needs caring for."
"But it's too dangerous, Harry! What if it doesn' listen to you this time?"
"It will," said Harry confidently. He could feel the cold touch of the locket under his shirt. With Salazar Slytherin's help, and no Tom Riddle to interfere this time, Harry was not worried about this meeting with the basilisk.
He found the serpent in nearly the same position as he'd left it. The poor beast had coiled around itself, hiding its wounded face in misery. Harry made plenty of noise to signal their approach, then hissed in greeting. The basilisk lifted its head at the sound, and Hagrid gasped. Harry was worried he might scream, but Hagrid was not alarmed. He was overcome by pity rather than fear.
"Oh, the poor creature! Jus' look a' his face!"
"He was blinded by Fawkes," Harry explained, "He won't be able to hurt anyone just by looking at them anymore. Do you think you can help him?"
"I dunno, Harry," Hagrid said cautiously, "Basilisks are... Well, they aren't the kindest o' beasts. An' this one... This one has killed before."
"He had a bad master before, but I don't think he's really evil," Harry argued, "He's just... misunderstood."
He used Hagrid's old excuse on purpose, and it seemed to do just the trick. Hagrid's heart melted for the poor, abused animal, and his next question was if he were allowed to pet it.
"This is Hagrid, a friend," Harry explained to the snake in parseltongue, "You must never hurt him, alright? And he'll bring you plenty of food, and take care of you."
The serpent flickered its tongue, memorizing Hagrid's scent, and agreed to Harry's commands. Hagrid fell to caressing its scales and tending to its ruined eyes immediately, using some of the supplies Harry had warned him he might need.
"I'll do it, Harry," Hagrid said while he worked, "I'll take care o' him. But on one condition. He's got ter be moved out o' the castle. This is a school fer children, after all!"
"Of course," said Harry, "But I have a condition for you as well. You can't tell Dumbledore about him."
He knew Hagrid was fiercely loyal to the headmaster, and also notoriously terrible at keeping secrets. He was worried Hagrid would make the promise, but be unable to keep it. Instead, Hagrid surprised him with a deep laugh.
"Blimey, Harry! Tell Dumbledore? I haven't even told him about Aragog!"
The end of term finally arrived. Harry, viewed as a hero by some, and a sinister villain in the making by others, was actually ready for a break, though he dreaded returning home to the Dursleys.
"You have to promise to write me," Harry said as he and Millie prepared to board the Hogwarts Express.
"Only if you actually write back, this time." Millie said jokingly.
"I already told you, that was Dobby!"
They had grown closer as friends during the last week of school. Millie opened up to Harry about the things she had shared with Riddle, and she now spent more time talking to him than scribbling on spare bits of parchment. They didn't talk about the Chamber, but the shared experience would always bind them together.
"Listen to this," Millie said as the train began to pull away from the platform. She was holding a copy of the Daily Prophet in her hands, and began to read, "Gilderoy Lockhart, adored by fans for such works as Gadding with Ghouls, is on the run from Ministry Officials. An inquiry into Lockhart's works began when some started to question his overnight rise to stardom. Lockhart claims to have personally intervened in several high-profile cases, which are now said to be resolved by witches and wizards previously unheard of. The inquiry suggests that even events in Lockhart's autobiography, Magical Me, have been fabricated. This reporter sought out Mr. Lockhart during his tenure at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he taught Defense Against the Dark Arts, but was informed by Deputy Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall, that he has left the school indefinitely. His whereabouts are currently unknown."
"Guess he won't be coming back," Harry commented as Millie reached the end of the article.
Millie folded up the paper, saying, "I hope not. Who do you suppose they'll get to replace him?"
"No idea," mused Harry. He pitied the next person to come along. After Quirrell and Lockhart, Harry was starting to believe the rumor that the job was cursed.
"I wish you'd put that thing away," Millie suddenly snapped.
Harry looked at her in surprise before realizing that he'd been fiddling with Salazar's locket. He hadn't even realized it was in his hand.
"Sorry, Millie," Harry said, trying not to sound defensive, though he didn't understand why she was angry. "Does it bother you?"
"It just gives me a creepy feeling," Millie said, glaring at the pendant, "I wish you'd put it away."
Harry still believed it was his by right, having been given to him by the Sorting Hat. But Millie had just gone through a terrible experience thanks to an enchanted object, and Harry could understand her superstitious attitude toward the locket. He agreed to stow it away for now, and slipped it into his trunk among his other possessions, where it was promptly forgotten.
The train arrived safety at Platform 9 ¾, and Harry immediately resumed his previous request.
"You have to write. If you don't, then you have to invite me to stay with you," Harry insisted, dreading the possibility of spending an entire summer with his relatives, "Ask your parents if they'll have me."
"Harry, you know they won't refuse you anything."
"I know, but it's more polite coming from you."
"Why don't you just ask Blaise? He's standing right over there."
"What?" Harry practically shouted, spinning around to stare into the faces of the waiting crowd. Sure enough, he saw Blaise standing on the platform, his mother at his side. Harry looked back at Millie, who returned his expression of surprise with a smirk. Obviously, Harry hadn't been the only one exchanging letters with Blaise.
Harry decided to berate Millie for breaking their promise about secrets later, and rushed to greet his friend. The two embraced, laughing ecstatically at being reunited again, while Millie rolled her eyes and muttered about them under her breath.
"You didn't tell me you'd be here!" Harry said happily. "It's good to see you! Both of you!"
"Harry, we're glad to see you, too. And to know you're safe," Mrs. Zabini said, wrapping her arms around both boys, "And we're here because I have an important question to ask you."
She pulled away from him so she could look Harry in the eyes, gripping both of his shoulders in her hands.
"Harry, would you like to come live with me and Blaise?"
At first, Harry was incapable of understanding the question. He began to look around the platform, expecting to see the Dursleys any minute, scowling as Harry dragged Hedwig to their car. But he was still on the magical side of the platform barrier, and no muggles were permitted on this side.
"But... My aunt and uncle?" Harry asked.
"You'd never have to see them again, if you didn't wish it," said Mrs. Zabini, "It's all been arraigned. All you have to do is say yes, Harry, and my home becomes yours as well."
"Do it, Harry!" Blaise urged, "You can have your own room, if you want. But hear me out, because mum's already said we could get bunk beds!"
Harry considered the offer.. His Aunt Petunia was his mother's sister. She and his cousin Dudley were the last of his living relatives. Could Harry, who'd always wanted a family, leave them forever without a second thought?
The answer was simple. Of course he could.
"Yes!" Harry said without hesitation, "Yes, I'll come live with you!"
Mrs. Zabini hugged him again, then turned and ordered Blaise to help fetch his trunk. Harry said his goodbyes to Millie, then gathered up Hedwig's cage and returned to his newfound family. They passed through the platform barrier together, not to return to the muggle world, but exchanging one magical place for another.
Author's Note: And so ends Harry's second year at Hogwarts. But fear not! This story is far from over. Harry will return for his third year in due course.
I want to thank everyone who has commented thus far. The feedback has been very encouraging, and I honestly don't know if I would have continued Harry's story beyond his first year if it hadn't been for you all.
That said, I have been looking forward to Harry's third year for a long time, and I can't wait to get started on it! Follow this story to get future updates, and in the meantime, happy reading!