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"Albus, you really don't believe the things Lockhart wrote in those books of his?" Professor Sprout shrieked when he had mentioned the absent new professor.

"I have my reasons for hiring Gilderoy and apart from that, it was very hard to find someone who wanted the position. After last year, people were afraid that Voldemort might trap them. He should be here at the opening feast as he has a press conference to attend to." Albus smiled at the angry teachers.

"That's another thing." McGonagall spluttered. "Wont his fame and reputation stop him from working as a school teacher one hundred percent? I mean did you see him at Diagon Ally last week? I know it was hard to find someone, but Lockhart, Albus?"

"My dear, Minerva, if you can nominate someone else who is free for the year, please tell me and I will send for them straight away." McGonagall scowled, as she knew he was right.

"Well this year should be a more calmer one than last year so I hope all of you here will enjoy it immensely. Quidditch will start again and I take it that Slytherin needs a new seeker and Hufflepuff needs a beater and a chaser?" Professor's Snape and Sprout nodded. "Well you have a month to update to your team, though I hear that you have found a new seeker Severus?"

Snape gave an evil grin. "Draco Malfoy will be our new seeker. And his father has generously given the Slytherin Quidditch team all new brooms, in fact they're all Nimbus 2001's unlike your cherished Gryffindor seeker, Minerva, who has a slower version."

"Well at least Harry Potter got into the team with skill not with money, though he has plenty of it." Minerva retorted.

"Now, now professors, Mr Potter, we all know has had a lot to deal with last year and he really enjoys Quidditch like his father, so lets not ruin it with your constant bickering." Madame Hooch urged.

"That is right. We should all try to be a little nicer to eachother this year. After all anything can happen during the year."

********************************

The Flying Ford

"Albus, Minerva they have arrived." Severus couldn't help but surpress an evil grin.

"Minerva you go on ahead, I'll be there in a minute." Albus turned back to Professor Sinistra and resumed his conversation with the Astronomy teacher.

"So they were the one's in the car than?" Minerva's lips thinned.

"Oh yes. And they ran into the whomping willow as well. Did a lot of damage to that valuable tree. And they broke the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry."

If Snape was hoping for the deputy headmistress to agree with him, all he got was pure silence and it made his happiness waver just a bit.

She entered first and watched the boys flinch as she drew a fire in the empty fireplace.

"Sit," Minerva did not know where to begin. Severus couldn't keep the grin off his face, "Explain." As she listened, she just wanted to suspend them both but thought better of it.

"Why didn't you send us a letter by owl? I believe you have an owl?" Minerva stared at Harry coldly. How he could be that stupid of not thinking of that was beyond her. The door knocked as Harry tried to explain. Severus let out a full-fledged grin and felt very happy opened the door to reveal the headmaster himself.

Everyone stayed silent and Severus was so sure his dreams came true. Dumbledore finally spoke. "Please explain why you did this."

Minerva couldn't help but soften at the sound in Harry's voice. She could tell he was sorry, but she was still angry with him nevertheless.

"We'll go and get our stuff," said Ron in a hopeless sort of voice.

"What are you talking about, Weasley?" Minerva had no idea what he was leading to.

"Well, you're expelling us, aren't you?" said Ron. Snape thought he looked a bit to calm for him to enjoy the moment. But it was Harry who made him the happiest as he wouldn't bring himself to look directly at the headmaster.

All three Professors saw as Harry went even paler as he did quickly looked at the old headmaster. Minerva knew the answer, but Severus was holding his breath in hope.

"Not today, Mr Weasley, but I must impose upon both of you the seriousness of what you have done. I will be writing to both your families tonight. I must also warn you that you do anything like this again, I will have no choice but to expel you."

All the happiness that Severus had pouring out of him got blocked up and a boulder stopped the hole. "Professor Dumbledore, these boys have flouted the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry, caused serious damage to an old and valuable tree. surely acts of this nature."

"It will be for Professor McGonagall to decide on these boys' punishments, Severus,' said Dumbledore. He knew how far the hatred between the name Potter and Severus went and the best way to deal with it was simply to ignore it. Severus never forgives or forgets.

" They are in her house and are therefore her responsibility. I must go back to feast, Minerva; I've got to give out a few notices. Come, Severus, there's a delicious-looking custard tart I want to sample.'

As they both exited, Severus couldn't help but whine. "But Professor, they broke not just school rules but the law itself. We have a reputation to uphold here. And just because he is a Potter doesn't mean he should get special treatment, even though he's famous."

"Severus, I have been more lenient to students who have done much worse than almost killing themselves by crashing into the Whomping Willow." Severus knew Albus was talking about him. But he couldn't speak as they had reached the great hall in the midst of whispers trying to find their beloved Potter and his sidekick, Weasley.

*************************************

Mrs. Norris the Frozen Kitty

The crowd had stopped and Filch couldn't explain why. But he had seen the damage done. He was positive that Harry had petrified his cat, but the headmaster had firmly said it was not he. And all he could do was watch the three murderers walk out freely.

"So what is going to happen now?" Asked Lockhart as they watched a very angry and tear fallen Argus Filch and petrified Mrs Norris leave the office.

"Wait for the Mandrakes to mature. Until then we can only pray that what ever petrified Mrs Norris, will not attack again." Dumbledore was rubbing his temples and had his eyes closed.

"But what was it? And you still have to consider the fact that Potter, Weasley and Granger were not at the Halloween feast. With Grangers brains and the help of the other two, they could have done it. And you heard what Argus said. Potter got into trouble. We all know what Potter is capable. The prophecy said it all." Snape sneered. That was twice in two months that Potter could have been expelled and he didn't. It broke his heart to watch the chance slip by.

"Severus, will you get over your grudge for his father and move on? I know it is so hard for you to forgive and forget, but for our sake can't you try? Everyone knows who Harry was before he knew himself and had a hard life living with those muggles. He's famous, really famous. And if you were to go anywhere in the world and ask someone who he is, they would know." Minerva was leaning against the desk as she spoke.

"I don't think he's that famous yet. All right some people know him from the business with you-know-who and all, but that's about it. Not like he won the Witch's Weekly best smile of the year award five times straight."

"Maybe because he doesn't need it to be famous." Muttered Minerva darkly.

"He's more famous than you will ever be." Snape added.

Lockhart's smile never wavered as they made the comments. But he heard the clock chime midnight. "Oh dear, it's midnight. I must get my rest. Don't want to get any wrinkles over a lack of sleep, like you have." He looked at Snape, who was looking furious, but said nothing as the headmaster gave him a stern look and they all departed to their own rooms.

************************************* It All Comes Out "So tell me again, how you managed to free Harry Potter of his limbs?" Minerva was so angry; Snape imagined steam coming out of her ears as she yelled at Lockhart.

"As I said before I simply miscalculated the spell and it reversed the effects that I was trying to achieve. You as a Transfiguration teacher should be fully aware of that." Lockhart looked very relaxed, almost enjoying his colleague's fury.

"A student, yes, but not a fully grown wizard. Especially one which has braved vampires and dragons." Snape added with such sarcasm, even Lockhart noticed.

"It was a simple mistake. I don't know what you're worrying about. Harry Potter is going to make a full recovery. It's me you should be worried about. I have a reputation to uphold a smile to keep. So now if you excuse me, I have to get ready for dinner. I would say you better go, but you guys never dress differently. Don't worry, your old anyway." And before they could retaliate, he walked out of the staff room.

************************************* Shadows in the Night Albus closed the infirmery door and started to walk with Minerva back up to his office.

"But Tom Riddle caught the culprit. It was Hagrid, wasn't it? I was always told that. But I never believed it. He wouldn't do it again, would he?"

"No it wasn't Hagrid, Minerva. It was Tom Riddle. Don't forget Riddle is Voldemort. I just could never prove it. But he couldn't have done it. He has no way of getting in, and I know no one has come in without me knowing it." His eyebrows folded in frustration.

"Do you think it is one of the students?" Minerva looked at him in shock.

"I am not sure yet. But I believe if it is it is against their will. But it is, I can say the work of Voldemort." The two climbed up another set of stairs and down a deserted corridor.

"This will look bad for Harry Potter. First caught with Mrs Norris and no alibi and now Colin Creevy, who has been annoying him immensely since he has arrived? Students will start to get nervous." Minerva shook her head with pity for the lightning scared boy.

"He is a strong boy, he will get through it. Takes after both his parents in that category."

"But look where that got them." Snape had bumped into them in front of the gargoyle leading to the headmaster's office. "My house elf has informed me what happened. I insist that Mr Potter be suspended until this matter has been dealt with."

The headmaster said the password, the gargoyle swung open and they went up the stairs. "You know it's not Harry's fault Severus. You just want an excuse to get rid of him. Minerva rolled her eyes.

"Do you have any other suspects? I presume not. My reason is for the safety of the students." Snape said with a smirk behind Dumbledore's back as they entered his office.

"No your reason is your hatred for anyone ending with Potter." Minerva retaliated.

"Now you two, quiet." Albus said in a calm but firm tone. "I will not suspend him. As I said before no second year cannot perform magic like that. Not even Harry Potter." He said that as Snape opened his mouth to speak. "All we can hope is that the culprit is caught or it will be the end of Hogwarts. The minister will not tolerate if a student goes missing or worse killed. Myrtle was killed and if Riddle didn't frame Hagrid, than we wouldn't be here talking about it now."

*************************************

Slytherin's Heir? Snape and Lockhart strode into the staff room where most of the staff was, including the headmaster and headmistress.

"Severus, Gilderoy, how was the club? Successful I hope?" Dumbledore smiled as he stopped talking to the astronomy teacher.

"It was wonderful. They learnt a lot from me, I-"

Snape looked at him in disgust. "Shut up. Headmaster, Potter speaks Parseltongue. I must again request that he be suspended-"

"I know you're smarter and wiser than to let judgement get in the way of your hatred for the Potter family. Mr Potter speaks Parseltongue because Lord Voldemort speaks it. Harry has powers which Voldemort passed onto him through the curse."

"But Harry tried to attack a Hufflepuff boy after this blonde bimbo threw it up in the air. And Potter just grinned like he was enjoying it."

"Maybe he stopped the snake and grinned because he knew the snake wouldn't harm the boy." Minerva interjected. "Face it Snape, we're not ever going to expel the Harry Potter."

There was a crack and a house elf appeared. "Headmaster Dumbledore, The honorable Minister Fudge is here to speak to you sir." The house elf bowed again as Dumbledore said he would be there soon and with another crack it was gone.

"Severus, you know it is an outrageous thought to suspend a student for speaking another language, even if it might be a dark language. But if he could speak Avis Lingua would you want to expel him then? Now I must leave one stubborn man to attend to another. I'll see you at dinner."

Third Times a Warning

"So, what did he have to say?" Minerva asked, coming in after she escorted Harry out into the hall.

"There is nothing. He had nothing to say. He is innocent until proven guilty. No second year can achieve petrifying a ghost. The monster has been released once again, but how and who by, I do not know."

"But why is Harry always there?" Minerva asked still sounding confused.

"I have researched on the legend of the chamber and have come to believe it is a snake, a basilisk I would say that is petrifying the students. Harry is always there as we have just learnt, because he can speak Parseltongue. The Basilisk must be crawling through the plumbing. That is how Harry ends up at the scene of the crime. But hopefully we can stop this monster before anyone else is hurt or someone is killed, because that will be the end of Hogwarts." Dumbledore took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"You don't mean.." McGonagall asked in horror, covering her mouth in disbelief.

"Yes Minerva, Hogwarts will be closed forever."

The Chamber of Secrets

"Professors, Harry and Ron aren't in the Common Room." Percy had sent a note to the headmaster. Professor McGonagall had read it to the headmaster. "Where are they? You don't think Potter has heard the Basilisk again, now do you?"

"I fear he has. Sir Cadogan has informed me he saw them enter Miss Myrtle's Bathroom with Gilderoy this evening. I believe Harry has found the entrance to the chamber of secrets. Have the Weasleys been informed?"

"Yes, Albus. They are on their way. They insisted on comin-" the afore mentioned people came in, Molly was crying and Arthur was holding her. "What happened?" Was all he could ask.

For an hour and a half, the headmaster told them everything they need to know, including the recent information about the best friends risking their lives. That made Molly cry even more. Fawkes had left 45 minutes into the conversation and Dumbledore smiled to himself as he continued to speak. For another hour, they remained silent before there was a knock on the door. Professor McGonagall opened the door and there in mud, bloods and grime, stood Harry, Ron and Ginny. The parents rushed over to Ginny as Fawkes flew to Dumbledore. Harry and the headmaster looked at eachother. Harry knew the headmaster was proud of him.

Another Year Ends At Hogwarts As the teachers rolled in, they couldn't help but smile. They had made it once again through another year at Hogwarts.

"Well, another year ends. You will have time to rest until September 1 comes rolling by once again. It's the end of the year. And once again Harry Potter did prove to be a handful. Harry and his friends managed to discover what we have been trying to find for years."

"And I am pretty sure that Malfoy won't try that little antic again." Added McGonagall. The other professors agreed.

"So Voldemorts return to power has been slowed once more. If he does come back he will be one very angry person at very one young and brave boy." Flitwick said.

Dumbledore smiled at him. "You are right Filius. But hopefully we won't have to wait for that day to come. Hopefully Voldemort will never regain his full power." All the teachers shivered at the sound of that name. "Seriously, must I continue to repeat myself. Fear in a name only increases fear in itself. Now, now. Let's all have a drink before we go."

A drink appeared in front of all the teachers. They took them and raised their glasses." Let next year be quieter, that this year. For Hogwarts!"

"FOR HOGWARTS!" The teachers chorused and drank from their cups.

" I hope you all have a safe and wonderful holiday. Please be prompt in returning and enjoy your holiday while it lasts. I will have to interview the very few candidates who seem to be applying for this job. I seems to get harder every year to find a new teacher. Just remind Mr Potter to leave the new teacher alone so we won't lose another one." They all laughed, got up heading for their own destinations.