What was Snape thinking? It would have been better if students went home instead. Professor Dumbledore was not happy with them as they came into the room, "First I would like to talk to Severus about this matter?"

Harry realizes that his professor could be in trouble over this. Looking over at him, "Wait…Professor Dumbledore?" he says, "don't be mad at Snape sir, I was the one who wanted to go down there and get Ginny."

Dumbledore raises his hand, "Relax, dear boy, he is not in any serious trouble here," he gave Ron a letter, "We want our gatekeeper back," he smiled over, telling him to go on and get Hagrid back. As he continued to talk to Harry, "it will be alright, you will still have your Potion Teacher back."

"Just go, Potter," Snape looked away from him, not happy with him currently. "I am a grown man who can pick his own battles."

Harry nodded understanding, leaving the office, closing the door, and deciding to listen through the wood.

"Severus, I am very disappointed with you. You are a teacher, that is your role in this school. This means you can't put them in grave danger like that," Severus was about to open his mouth, "I am not finished; Harry is not just a student of yours, he is Lily's special boy. How would she feel if you let her son fight a giant snake controlled by Voldemort? Not to mention you will have your cover blown if he realizes what side you are fighting for."

"Headmaster, I will assure you it won't happen again."

He opened the door; Harry was sitting next to it. Snape realizes what he was doing, raising an eyebrow, "Five points from Gryffindor for eavesdropping," Harry gets up from the ground, "I assume you heard everything?"

Harry nodded, "I was worried, Professor…I will talk to you later about this."

"Harry, I need to speak with you now?" Dumbledore says in the background; Harry goes inside, "You realize that in the past few hours…you have broken perhaps a dozen school rules!" he shouts at the golden boy, "you and Ron."

Harry nodded, "Yes, sir."

"And there is sufficient evidence to have you both expelled!"

"Yes, sir."

"Therefore, it is only fitting…" Harry closed his eyes, thinking the worst is to come, "that you both receive special awards for services to this school." Harry was pleased with that, planning to tell Ron later. 'Why was Snape the only one treated badly then?'

"Harry?" he looked up at the elderly wizard, "I first want to thank you, Harry; you must have shown me and Snape…a great deal of loyalty down in the chamber. Nothing, but that could have called Fawkes to you." Harry looked over at the bird, "and um second…I sense that something has been troubling you…am I right, Harry?" Harry wanted to mention Snape's name, that he should get awards too, but to do that, he would have to reveal that he was eavesdropping on one of Snape's deepest secrets. Harry thought better of it and decided to change his thoughts, "Sir…I can't help but…notice similarities between Tom Riddle and me?"

"I see…well, you can speak parseltongue Harry. Why? Because Lord Voldemort can speak parseltongue. If I am not mistaken, Harry. He transferred some of his powers to you. The night he gave you that scar?"

Harry gapped, "Voldemort transferred some of his powers to me?"

Dumbledore nodded, "Not intentionally, but yes."

"So, the sorting hat was right…I should be in Slytherin?"

"It's true, Harry. You possess many of the qualities that Voldemort himself prizes, determination, resourcefulness, and if I may say so…a certain disregard for the rules," Harry looks down at the floor. "Why then…did the sorting hat place you in Gryffindor?"

"Because I asked it to?"

"Exactly Harry," the headmaster exclaimed, "exactly. Which makes you different from Voldemort. It is not our abilities that show what you truly are. It is our choices. If you want proof on why you belong in Gryffindor. Then I suggest you look more closely at this?" Dumbledore handed him the sword that was on his desk.

Harry looked down at the sword's handle, it had a name on it, "Godric Gryffindor."

"It would take a true Gryffindor to pull that out of the hat." Harry looked over at him, relieved.

The door suddenly opened and in popped Draco's father. Lucius Malfoy with Dobby by his side. The little elf looks at Harry then gives Mr. Malfoy.

"Dobby?" Harry realizes, "so this is your master? The family you serve is the Malfoy's." Dobby quickly nods, before looking up at Lucius, fear behind his eyes.

"I will deal with you later," his master says through clenched teeth; he looks up at the headmaster, holding his walking stick out, moving Harry aside, "out of my way Potter," he spat, "so it's true…you have returned?"

"When the governors learned that Arthur Weasley's daughter was taken into the chamber. They selfishly summoned me back."

"Ridiculous!" Lucius says, not believing this, putting his hand on his hip in dismay.

"Curiously, Lucius. There are several of them under the impression that you would cast a family. If they did not suspend me in the first place."

"How dare you!"

"Beg your pardon?"

"My sole concern has been and always will be the welfare of this school. And of course…" Mr. Malfoy looked over at Harry, "its, students." Dobby smiled over at Harry. The golden boy did not believe that, not one bit. "The culprit has been identified, I presume?"

"Oh yes."

"And…who was it?"

Dumbledore looked over at Harry before answering, "Voldemort."

"Ah," Lucius says.

"Oh, hey. And this time, he chose to act through somebody else using this?" the headmaster showed the diary to him.

Harry could see right through Lucius, keeping a watch on his eyes the whole time. Lucius bit down on his lip, "I see," he said. Dobby yanks on Harry's clothes, signaling to him with his eyes on who gave Ginny that diary that it was Mr. Malfoy himself, but Harry already knew that.

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Leaving out the rest of that scene since you already know what happens and everything after that.

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Snape heard a knock at his door; he looked over at the clock, knowing who it was, "Enter."

Harry walks into his office, closes the door behind him, walking over to Snape's desk, where his teacher is sitting at. "Um...I know what I did was inexcusable, and I don't expect you to forgive me." His teacher kept his eyes on his students' exam papers, marking them. Harry examined his face; there were hints of small traces of emotions coming from his eyes, "Professor?" His student got the other desk chair, scooting it over, which made Snape grinch while it scratched on the floor. "Sorry about that," Harry sat next to the dungeon bat, examining his fingers while grading. 'That reminds me-' "How is your mark?" Snape glared over. The young wizard grabbed his teacher's left arm, pulling up his sleeve, and making the dark wizard gasp in surprise. Harry looked at the dark secret, kissing it. This made sent a chill down Snape's body. "You do realize I had to save Ginny, only Lockhart knew where the chamber was, so if I weren't there seeing what was going on in the second-floor corridor, she probably wouldn't be here. Since Lockhart was planning on leaving, and you guys were planning on letting him deal with getting her back."

"Enough Potter...I understand you need to be a hero and save the day."

Harry was shocked hearing those words, 'I must have really frightened him?' "That's not why I did it, professor; for one thing, I have done it for Ginny and Ron. Then another reason is for you."

Snape stopped grading papers, giving Harry a death glare, "For me? You did this for me. Going down in the chamber, saving Ginny, while you were close to dying in front of my eyes."

"Snape...I am here, aren't I?" His teacher looked at his desk, studying it. Harry inwardly sighed, embracing his professor, tightly holding him, "I am sorry...I didn't know you would worry this much," 'So used to him being made of stone, keeping his feelings hidden behind a mask.' "You must understand, though, that I had to get Ginny back. I would never have abandoned her to save myself." He kissed his forehead, "I don't want you to experience that pain again, so I will try to do better at not putting myself in danger like that. Especially in front of you." Harry lets go of him, "so are we all good now?"

Snape nodded in return, "You seem sincere with your apologies, so I will let this one slide. If it happens again, though, I will not forgive you so easily. You're the last thing your mother left behind, so I-"

"I understand, professor. You treasure me; what about the kiss I gave you?" He decided to bring it up.

His teacher thought about this, "It is highly inappropriate for you to kiss a professor, not to mention you're just a child, but I suppose I am willing to consider this outcome one of these days," he said through clenched teeth.

Harry smiled at that answer, nodding, "So making that promise to you last year is taking effect then?"

The dungeon bat examined his desk, thinking about this, realizing that this year he was thinking about Potter more than Lily, "I suppose it is possible."

Harry surprised his professor by going in for another hug, "I was worried that I was failing you. So when you say one of these days?"

"Let's see what next year holds?" his student went in for another kiss, letting go after a second.

"You got cold lips. Is it from living in the dungeon?"

"Good guess, Potter. I need to get back to creating the exam papers."

His student got up before leaving; he said one thing, "Sorry for eavesdropping earlier; I was just thinking it was unfair for Dumbledore to get so mad at you. While rewarding Ron and me."

Snape nodded in agreement.

"Also, from eavesdropping, you probably realize I know your secret?" His teacher looked up from the paper he was grading and nearly tipped the chair in shock. "Oh...guess you didn't realize?" the potion master put his head in his hands, hyperventilating. Harry went to his side, "It's ok, professor, your secret is safe with me, and who knows, it might come quite in handy one day," the boy thought about this, "This is for my mom, isn't it?" He put a hand on his back to calm him. "Calm yourself. Do you think I will betray you?" he lets go.

"It is not that I am worried about you; if you think of it, other people can see by just entering your mind, especially the Slytherins and death eaters."

"Death eaters?" Snape told him he would tell the boy about that another time. Harry nodded, "Is there a spell you know on blocking people from entering?"

His teacher thought of this. He does indeed, "I do have one I can show you." Harry told him they could start in the third year since this year is close to being over; he also told him he would not think about what he discovered while his mind is still fresh for picking.

"I will let you get back to creating the exams," Snape watched his student, "can I write to you again this summer?"

"If you were able to last year, you can do it this year."

Harry was happy with that. "Night, professor." He walked out and closed the door behind him, feeling good inside. His teacher is considering being with him one day, 'Might as well start doing things to get ready then.' For one thing, he has no idea about romance or being intimate with someone. 'Time to head to the library and study. When I return next year.' He needs to do something about Colin once he wakes up as well.

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The next day Harry and Ron, with a few other Gryffindors' went to the Great Hall for the end of the year feast. Entering, he looked over to the staff table where Snape was already sitting. Turning to the young wizard, the potion master gave a small nod. Harry nodded back. Seeing the other professors, he nodded to them as well. There was a tab on his shoulder; turning around to see Colin, "Colin," he said in an almost breathless voice. The blond went in for a hug, Harry hugged him back, "welcome back."

Colin looked in his savior's eyes, "Thank you, I am happy to be back. I was starving when I woke up," he let go. It made Harry laugh as they sat together at their table.

"Welcome back, Sir Nicholas," someone yells across their table.

"Thank you."

"Good evening, Mr. Sir Nicholas," another classmate yells.

"Good evening!"

"Good to see you, Sir Nicholas."

"Thank you. Hello," he says to students filing in. Then a figure stood at the door, with wavy brown hair and a Gryffindor uniform on, "Hermione! Welcome back."

"Thanks, Sir Nicholas," the girl says back, looking at her table.

Neville looked her way, realizing, "Harry! It's Hermione!" Ron and Harry look at her with big smiles. She runs over to them, jumping into her best friend's arms. Something triggered Severus, seeing a girl hugging the boy, but it has been a while since Harry last saw Hermione, so he understands why he is doing it.

Hermione kissed Harry on the cheek, letting go, about to hug Ron, but stopped. It would feel weird to embrace him, so she decided just to shake his hand instead, "Welcome back, Hermione."

"It's good to be back; congratulations; I can't believe you solved it!"

"Well, we had loads of help from you." Ron nods in agreement. "We couldn't have done it without you," Harry explained, so relieved that this whole mess was over.

"Thanks," Hermione says back with a huge grin.

A glass chimed from the Tall Table, "Could I have your attention, please?" McGonagall says. The three took their seats.

"Before we begin the feast, let us have a round of applause for Professor Sprout, Madam Pomfrey, whose Mandrake juice has been so successfully administered to all who have been Petrified," Albus says, relieved that everyone is back to their normal self.

Everyone started applauding around the room, including the rest of the teachers.

Snape clapped while looking at Harry. The Gryffindor looked over at him, smiling.

"Also, in the light of recent events, as a school treat, all exams have been canceled!" Dumbledore announced. This got everyone to clap, but Hermione and Snape. Harry looked over at the potion teacher, who worked so hard last night to organize the tests for potions.

The big doors suddenly opened, and in stepped Hagrid, "Sorry I am late. The owl that delivered my release papers got all lost and confused. Some ruddy bird named Errol."

Ron realized it was his bird who sent it, slowly turning to Albus with a sheepish grin. Dumbledore looked back over with a smile.

Hagrid went over to Harry's side of the table, "And I just like to say that if it hadn't been for you, Harry...and Ron and Hermione of course. I would...I'd still be you-know-where...so I'd like to say thanks," he was close to tears.

Harry gets up, "There's no Hogwarts without you, Hagrid." That touched the half-giant as the young wizard went to hug him, tightly. Ron was smiling at them, and Hermione was in tears.

Professor Dumbledore stands up and applauds, which makes everyone else at the staff table clap. Then Harry started clapping, getting the rest of his classmates to clap around him. To show Hagrid how much he is appreciated. Colin stood next to Harry, applauding. Except some of the Slytherins weren't clapping, including Malfoy and his friends. Crabbe was about to go for it, but Draco stopped him. Hagrid was wiping away tears as he shook his students' hands, one by one. Hermione was shedding her own tears, clapping alongside them at her table, still a bit weak to stand completely yet.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Harry heard a commotion in the dungeon in the early afternoon while exploring the area, hoping to run into someone down there. It was in Snape's office. His student opened the door to find the potion master ripping papers, "I am sorry we couldn't do your exams; I know you were working hard on these."

Snape keeps on ripping them. Harry grabbed his wrist to stop him, "Professor, stop; if it helps, I could take it still, and so can Hermione?"

"It wouldn't matter since it was canceled, so it doesn't count as points anymore," he looked down at the ripped pages.

Harry saw two papers still not ripped, taking them, "Then how about this, I bring mine back to the muggle world with me for the summer, and I give Hermoine's, hers. Then I will hand it to you next semester. After all, it is you that wrote it. It would be a waste if I didn't at least fill it out," he smiled at his teacher.

"Very well, if you pass, I will give you a reward," Snape was pleased with this, wanting to see how well Potter can impress him.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Harry thought about what reward he would get while packing his things in the common room. Hermione was happy to fill out hers as well. 'He will reward me; I will have to work extra hard then.' Putting the paper in his chest.

It was time to head back to the rotten Dursleys, where anger would probably await him after everything that happened there. Getting on the train with his friends, they looked for an empty corridor, finding one in the middle. They started talking about everything that went down this year. Harry filled them in on the snake and Fawkes, how he nearly died from being bitten by the basilisks. He even told them how Snape went into the chamber with him, rescuing Ginny. That's all he said, though. Keeping everything else a secret. He looked out the window to see his teachers and Professor Dumbledore standing outside the cart, waving at them. Including Snape, who didn't wave but nodded at Harry before leaving.

The train took off, and so began the summer break and Harry's depressing life in the muggle world once again.

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This year has come to an end and I will start preparing for year 3. Although this time it will be a bit challenging since I am a student, and when August hits, I will have a full semester; I will do my best and make time for this fanfiction. And do what I can during summer break and see how far I get.