After that last chapter, more than a few people were breathing a sigh of relief.
"Well, that's over," Sirius said.
"Good, I'm not sure if I could have taken much more of that," Lily said.
"You're not the only one," Astra said.
"Watching it happen really is unsettling even if I know the story by heart," Kara said.
"So, final chapter?" Ava asked.
"Final chapter," Sara agreed.
"Chapter Eighteen," Gideon narrated. "Dobby's Reward."
Astra's eyes narrowed at that elf being mentioned. And she was not the only one.
"Well this should prove to be enlightening," Narcissa commented.
"Why on Earth would Dobby be rewarded after everything he put Harry through?" Lily asked.
"We'll find out soon," Lena suggested.
Our group enters McGonagall's office, dripping in muck. And Harry is covered in blood.
"Most of it was the Basilisk's," Harry said.
"Right, of course it was," Sara said.
"I have to say I hadn't quite grown used to having you in these situations," McGonagall said. "At a certain point, it would be even more unsettling if you hadn't been. And before anyone says anything, you never should have been put in that situation."
"And yet, Dad was," Kate said. "Constantly."
"Yes," McGonagall agreed. "Constantly."
"Another failure on the part of the staff at Hogwarts," Ava said.
"Which is becoming a trend," Nora remarked.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley perk up that their daughter is alive. And they turned to Harry.
"You saved her?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "But how?"
"Well, if it's anything like me, it's usually by sheer luck and determination."
Cassie stepped into the light and was careful to pull Lockhart back where they could keep an eye on him before he wandered up.
"Cassandra, it's good to see you dear," Mrs. Weasley said.
"Were you a part of this, Miss Jacobs?" McGonagall asked.
"Well, I've been interested in the exploits of my successor," Cassie said with an impish grin. "But, Harry asked for help. And I was here. Although, he did pretty much all of the legwork himself."
"So how did you do it?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"Yes, we all want to know that," McGonagall said.
"Cassie's disappointed she didn't get a chance to put her life in mortal peril," Tonks said. "Guess that's just how Hogwarts heroes are. Adrenaline junkies."
"I can't argue," Harry said.
"You two really do have a lot in common," Daphne said.
"Not arguing about that," Harry said.
Harry explains how everything transpired.
"Oooh, that must have been awful to relive," Ruby said.
"You have no idea," Harry said. "And I was trying not to implicate Ginny in everything."
"Appreciated, loads," Ginny said. "But, Dumbledore knew. You know he knows."
"And we're going to find out exactly how much he knows," Harry said darkly.
"Oh that sounds worse than usual," Astra grumbled.
"Oh bloody hell," John grumbled.
McGonagall makes a comment about Harry broke a hundred school rules in the process. Cassie coughs and murmurs "amateur" and Beatrice is highly amused. McGonagall asks how Harry got out alive.
"The dumbest luck possible," Lita suggested.
"It's true," Harry agreed.
"Oh, I think that the fact he could think quickly and take advantage of a situation helped a lot," Sara said.
"Although there was a lot of luck involved," Sirius suggested.
"Yes, just a bit," Kara said. "But, Harry still managed to make the most out of this extremely weird situation."
Harry explains more. But he's worried about what's going to happen to Ginny. And how he's going to explain it wasn't her, with the diary destroyed.
"Well, that's a tough one," Lena said.
"Harry's not as good in explaining these things yet," Thea said.
"He gets better, mostly," Ron said.
"A whole lot better," Harry said.
"Dumbledore's about to just casually drop what he knows, isn't he?" John asked.
"Unfortunately," Harry said.
Harry remembered this day well. It was one of the worst "hindsight is a bitch" moments.
Dumbledore makes a comment where he wonders how Voldemort managed to enchant Ginny due to being weak and powerless in Albania.
"He knows where Voldemort is?" Lily asked.
"The general area," Harry said.
"He knows where Voldemort is, and didn't take steps to contain him?" Astra asked.
"Of course not," Ron said bitingly. "That would interfere with the plan."
"Dumbledore knows, he just wants Harry to tell him," John said.
"Keep telling you he's a magnificent bastard," Mick said.
"Oh, you just wait," Harry said.
"I'm really beginning to hate when you do that," Astra said.
"Get used to it, because he'll be doing it a lot during these books," Kara said.
Astra just groaned.
Mr. Weasley is aghast and wonders how Ginny got mixed up in all of this. Harry explains it was the diary and that Riddle wrote in it.
"Bad, awful, wretched," Bellatrix whispered harshly.
"Well, you had to tell them," Ginny said.
"I know," Harry said.
"Anyone would have been drawn in by such a wretched object, anyone," John protested.
"Even Harry was entranced by it, and he is one of the strongest willed people I know," Kara said.
"I didn't understand what it was at the time," Ginny said. "And after learning how Tom created it, I really wish I didn't."
"Me too,' Nora agreed with a shudder.
Dumbledore explains how few people knew that Tom Riddle was Lord Voldemort. As Dumbledore explains how he taught Riddle at Hogwarts, Harry could not help and notice Cassie's eyes narrowing and her lips growing more thinner by the second.
"Oooh, boy," Tonks said. "She's holding her tongue. That's not good."
"I can tell she just wanted to give it to Dumbledore with both ends," Astra said. "Can't blame her."
"I'm not certain she didn't when I was out of earshot," Harry said with a shrug.
"And Dumbledore knew this all of this time?" Lily asked.
"Well, it's not like anyone who would believe that handsome prefect would become the most terrifying dark wizard of all of time," Hermione said.
"She's got a point, as much as I hate to admit it," Bellatrix said.
"And I offer you Ted Bundy," Ava said. "A lot of serial killers don't look like serial killers. It's guys who you would never expect. That makes them so dangerous."
"Although, Voldemort twisted himself into something very hideous," Harry said.
"The outside matched the inside," Sara agreed.
Ginny explains she's been writing in that diary. Mr. Weasley scolds her and says she should not trust anything where she can't see where it keeps its brain.
"Words to live by," Sirius said. "Although perhaps the lecture could have waited until everything calmed down."
"I've never seen Dad so mad since…." Fred said.
"Well, it's been a while," George said.
"If only we hadn't gone back for that diary, "Ginny said.
"You're going to go mad if you think about what might have been," Junior suggested.
"And it's not a guarantee that they would have figured out what it was," Harry said. "The compulsion on that thing was strong."
"Damn," Malfoy said.
Malfoy was thinking how lucky he was because that thing was underneath his nose for years. If he had just happened to come across it by disobeying his father's orders one time…well it was a good thing he did not.
Ginny sobs that she didn't know. She found it among her school things and thought someone left it there by mistake.
"Mistake my arse," John said. "That wanker Malfoy."
"You figured that out, didn't you?" Narcissa asked.
"Hindsight's a funny thing," Lena said.
"And we keep running into it constantly during these books," Zari said.
"And the damn book wouldn't have allowed Ginny to show her parents it anyway," Bellatrix said. "It wanted a victim to leech off of and she was there."
"True," Harry agreed. "It's insidious when you think about it."
"And just shows the kind of monster Riddle is," Ava added.
"Don't be too hard on her, Mr. Weasley," Cassie said. "That diary is no ordinary diary. There will be strong compulsions on it, because Riddle would want someone to write in it. I can't put my finger on what it is, but whatever he did to create that diary, it just proves how dangerous it is."
"So, you don't know?" Harry asked.
"I've never seen anything like this," Cassie said. "A memory should not act like this. And it's a dangerous dark magical artifact."
"Destroyed, thankfully," Harry said.
"Good," Beatrice said. "And I wouldn't worry, because Harry wrote it in as well when he came across it."
"Harry!" Mr. Weasley snapped. "What your relatives say about that?"
"Well, off hand, they would be a bit disappointed that Riddle didn't kill me," Harry said.
The two Weasley parents looked rather disturbed about what Harry said. Beatrice's curious gaze snapped at Harry.
"Harry, you can't mean that," Mrs. Weasley said.
"Mrs. Weasley, I do mean that," Harry said.
"And, you shouldn't be too hard on Ginny," Dumbledore said. "There are witches and wizards far older and far wiser that have been hoodwinked by Voldemort."
"So, we're just going to let that go?" Astra asked. "The oh so casual mention that Harry just mentioned that his relatives would want to see him dead."
"Dumbledore will take care of it, Astra," Kate said. "You should see him walk on water."
"Hopefully he sinks," Astra said.
"Well, if he weighs the same as a duck, then he's made of wood," Kara said.
Most of the group chuckled.
"I don't get it," Peter murmured.
"Muggle thing," Lily said.
Dumbledore assures that everyone will be okay. And Ron tries to perk up Ginny by saying that means Hermione would be okay.
"I'm glad," Charlotte said. "Never knew she was in danger."
"I assumed they told you," Hermione said. "About that."
"Well, you know what they say about people who assume, sis," Kate said.
"I was happy that everyone got out of that okay," Ginny said.
"We all were," Astoria said. "Those were some scary times."
"Being petrified was a trip," Daphne admitted.
"Weird didn't really begin to describe it," Hermione said. "It was like I was there…but not really."
"Words really can't explain something like that," Daphne concluded.
"But, I'm sure Hermione tried when she wanted to write an essay about it," George said with a joking smile.
Dumbledore suggests that McGonagall that this merits a feast.
"What at Hogwarts doesn't?" Remus asked.
"Oh, yeah, it's a fine way to distract from the fact that a twelve-year-old child had to pick up the slack from the adults," Nora said while rolling her eyes. "Again."
"Dumbledore should have never put Potter in this situation," Snape said. "But, he has to play his game."
"I'm seeing a lot of that," Lily said.
"Way too much of that," James said.
"It's a really disturbing trend," Lita added with a soft sigh.
"I find that bed rest and a good cup of hot chocolate always helps," Dumbledore added to Ginny.
"I'll agree with you on that, Professor," Cassie said. "And I don't mean to brag, but I make a mean cup of hot chocolate."
"She really does," Beatrice said.
"I still haven't been able to get the recipe from her," Dumbledore said.
"Nor will you," Cassie said. "Come on, Ginny, Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley."
The group walked which left Ron and Harry in the office alone with Dumbledore and Lockhart.
"Her hot chocolate really is the best," Tonks said.
"It is," Harry agreed.
"Goes well with Freezytreats, "Daphne said.
"Had to shill the product, didn't you, sis?" Astoria asked.
"She's a businesswoman," Thea remarked with a chuckle.
"You've got to admire the hustle," Zari said with a fond smile.
Dumbledore remarks he said earlier this year he would expel Ron and Harry if they broke any more school rules.
"And he reminds you that your freedom hinges upon his decision," Lily said.
"Under that kindly grandfatherly demeanor," Astra said.
"Dumbledore knew you would be involved," Alex said. "How couldn't he?"
"I'm beginning to think all powerful wizards in this world are corrupt and awful," Bellatrix said before she looked at Harry. "Not you. You seem okay."
Bellatrix looked at Harry for a moment.
"For now."
"Oh, Trixie's got her eye on you," Regulus said. "Good luck, Potter."
"Thanks," Harry said.
"You're going to need it," Sirius added.
However, Dumbledore freely admits that he has to eat those words. He tells Harry and Ron that they get two hundred points to Gryffindor and a Special Award of Services to the School.
"What about Beatrice?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, if it wasn't for her, I would have been buried alive down in that tunnel," Ron said.
Dumbledore chuckled.
"Of course, forgive me if I overlook something in my old age," Dumbledore said. "Two hundred points to Hufflepuff as well and a Special Award of Services to the School."
"Well, at least he didn't wait until the Leaving Feast this time," Malfoy said.
"On behalf of Hufflepuff, I have to thank you for speaking up on my behalf," Tonks said.
"Given two hundred points to an imaginary house, unbelievable," Bellatrix said.
"She really doesn't believe in Hufflepuff?" Daphne asked, amused.
"I keep telling people it's a false flag operation to make Gryffindors look better," Bellatrix said.
"I can't believe people ever take the house points seriously," Kate said.
"Given how Dumbledore can just spam them on a whim, yes I agree," Astoria said.
"They lose their luster very easily," Fred said.
"Good thing we never took it that seriously, "George said.
"Other than Harry's first year, you mean," Astra said curtly.
Fred and George winced at the memory of that. Not their finest moment.
Dumbledore asks why Lockhart is being so quiet and so modest.
"Oh," Lily said. "Him."
"Don't sound too heart-broken, Lils," Natalie said.
"Hey, he tried to erase Harry's mind, he deserves everything he gets," Lily said.
"And yet, he doesn't get everything he deserves," Junior said. "Not being able to remember anything, including his favorite person, that's a bitter pill to swallow. But he should have gotten worse."
Ron explains that Lockhart's memory has been erased.
"Well, way to ease in there, bro," George said.
"Thanks to my broken backfiring wand, which helped save the day," Ron said.
"You really can't be serious," Hermione grumbled.
"No, Sirius is that guy," Ron said.
Ginny smacked Ron across the back of the head.
"Don't," Ginny said. "Just don't."
"I deserved it," Ron said.
"Worth?" Lita asked.
"Most definitely worth," Ron said.
Dumbledore remarks that Lockhart has been impaled by his own sword.
"So, I'm going to take this is as an admission that he did know about Lockhart's memory charming habits," Nora said.
"I'm getting close to the point where I shouldn't be shocked," Astra said.
"Maybe we should bring Dumbledore here," Kate suggested.
"I'm not budging on this," Harry said.
"And we thank you for that, Potter," Snape said.
Dumbledore asks Ron to bring Lockhart to the Hospital Wing. He wants to have a chat with Harry.
"Ah, the yearly Dumbledore talk," Kara said. "These used to be so wholesome until you really saw the darker undercurrent between them."
"I wouldn't want to be left alone with him," Mia said. "Just a funny feeling."
"He has modified Harry's memory once when it was convenient," Astra said.
"Really, when?" Natalie asked.
"When has Dumbledore modified my son's memory?" James asked.
"I'll tell you later, I swear," Astra said.
"How bad is this thing you have to tell us?" Natalie asked.
"Really, bad," John said. "You're going to hate me for what happened."
"Wonderful, it's something stupid you did," Lily said. "There are some days where I regret saving you from drowning."
"And there are somedays where I regret you saved me," John said.
Dumbledore remarks that Harry must have shown him great loyalty down there in the Chamber. Because nothing else would have called Fawkes to him.
"Sure, let's go with that, why not," Tonks said.
"He wants to reinforce that," Nyssa said.
"Gaslighting again," Zari said. "Classic Albus Dumbledore."
"We're not even bothering to give him the benefit of the doubt anymore, are we?" Ava asked.
"Oh, in about a minute….you won't," Harry said. "Only the most hardened of zealots can handwave what he tells me in this office away."
"It can't be that bad," Hermione said.
"Oh Rao, I know what he's talking about," Kara said.
"I do too," Sara said.
"Fuck," Alex murmured. "That."
Dumbledore suggests that Riddle was interested in Harry. Harry says Riddle remarked they were quite alike.
"On the surface, maybe," Ron said. "And the fact you were orphaned at a young age. But nothing beyond that."
"Don't let it get into your head," Ruby said.
"He's good at that," Ginny said.
Harry decides to tell Dumbledore that the Sorting Hat wanted to put him into Slytherin.
"And you only said you didn't want to, because Malfoy soured the entire experience for you," Daphne said.
"Good one, Draco, really good," Astoria said.
"I didn't know he was Harry Potter," Malfoy said.
"Manners are not just for people who you don't know," Bellatrix said. "You never know if the person you smite today is the insidious dark wizard after your blood tomorrow."
"Thanks for the moral," Kara said.
"No problem," Bellatrix said with a cheeky grin.
Dumbledore suggests that Harry can speak Parseltongue because Voldemort, as the last remaining heir of Salazar Slytherin can speak Parseltongue.
"I don't quite follow," Lily said.
"Wait for it,"Sara said.
"And there were Parseltongues on the Potter line as well," James said. "Although, I didn't get the gift, my great-uncle did. Although we didn't publicize it. Not everyone."
"I didn't get Parseltongue from Voldemort, I figured that out a long time ago," Harry said.
Dumbledore oh so casually stated that Voldemort transferred some of his essence into Harry when Voldemort gave him that scar.
Hermione's eyes widened suddenly. She breathed in and out several times, replaying the moment in her head.
"Honey? "Charlotte asked.
Hermione sat in numb disbelief.
"He told you, without telling you, Potter?" Snape asked in a low voice.
"Yes," Harry said.
"The sheer arrogance of that man," Astra fumed.
"What's wrong?" Peter asked.
"EVERYTHING IS WRONG!"
Hermione jumped out of her seat. She had no idea that Dumbledore told Harry this, and dropped it so casually, as if it was not a big deal, not something that Harry would be concerned about. And it was dropped so casually.
Was she wrong?
"Hermione?" Kate asked.
Hermione ran out of the room as quickly as possible.
"Give her some space," Mick said.
"It appears the pedestal she put Dumbledore on might have been broken," Kara said.
"About bloody time," Daphne, Ginny, and Astoria all mumbled at the same time.
"Damn," Sara said.
"I know," Zari said.
"Damn," Lita said. "It's so overlooked."
"I know," Nora agreed.
"How do we even overlook something that big dropped so casually?" Alex asked.
"You're one, aren't you?" Bellatrix asked. "Or you were?"
Harry nodded.
"How…did…you…survive?" Bellatrix asked.
"Later," Harry said.
"Son of a bitch," John grumbled.
"We should keep reading," Tonks said.
"We have to," Harry said. "Book's almost done."
"Damn it, Dumbledore," McGonagall almost fumed.
Despite all the similarities that Harry and Voldemort have, along with Salazar Slytherin, he was put in Gryffindor because he asked.
"The hat does take your choices into account," Sirius agreed.
Everyone nodded, still recovering from what Dumbledore just said.
Dumbledore suggests that a true Gryffindor could have pulled that sword out of the hat. Because, it's the sword of Gryffindor.
"Drive that point in, just a little bit more," Astra said. "You know what, Dumbledore can't come back for me on this. Everything he's done is shifty and underhanded."
"This is far worse than we thought," Kara said.
"It was," Harry said. "I'm not going to pretend that Dumbledore did the right thing."
"Good, because he didn't," Lily said.
"He thought it would all work out in the end, and that was his justification," Harry said.
"And what if it didn't?" Ginny asked. "What if he was wrong?"
"I don't think he could have fathomed that," Zari said.
"He wanted it, the Spirit of Gryffindor slaying the Heir of Slytherin," Junior said. "It's almost poetic."
"He's like a kid, pitting his toys against each other," Zari said. "Playing with his two favorite dolls."
"Action figures," Ron said, but he was smiling.
Dumbledore suggests that he has to write to Azkaban to get his Gamekeeper back. And also he needs a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. They do seem to be going through them very quickly.
"Oh, hopefully it's someone better," Bellatrix said.
"Can't be any worse," Lily said.
"You'd think that, wouldn't you?" Remus asked.
"How many times have we thought that?" Peter asked.
"Better than Lockhart, trust me," Harry said.
"That's faint praise," Lena said.
"Can't go anywhere but up from him," John said.
"Could you really be sure of that though?" Sirius asked.
"It will be fine," Lita said.
Before Harry can leave, Lucius Malfoy storms into Dumbledore's office, with Dobby in toe
"So, here we go," Narcissa said.
"I've got a feeling your husband told you a bullshit story about what happened," Sara said.
"Pretty much," Narcissa said.
Lucius is angry that Dumbledore saw fit to return to Hogwarts.
"You really thought you could win the game against Dumbledore?" Nora asked.
"He was going to be back, when the time was right," Sara said. "He just allowed you that one victory over him."
"And it's time for Lucius Malfoy to come crashing back down to reality," Tonks said.
"Crafty bastard," John said.
Dumbledore pretty much lays out the fact that Lucius blackmailed the Board of Governors to get him out of Hogwarts.
"They are fickle bastards," Regulus said. "They caved into Lucius and when Dumbledore pressured them, they caved into him."
"They go where the wind blows," Sirius said.
Dumbledore shares with Lucius that Voldemort is the culprit.
"Which the bastard knew," Ginny grumbled.
"Of course he did," Sara said.
"And we figured out he was behind the entire damn thing," Lily said.
While this conversation is going on, Dobby is miming something to a very confused Harry.
"House elves," Junior said. "He's undermining his master."
"Which is evidence that he doesn't live in a happy home," Astra said.
"How could you be happy with a swine like Lucius Malfoy?" Bellatrix asked.
"Not easily," Narcissa said. "But, pureblood politics are a bitch."
"Truer words have never been spoken," Nora agreed.
Dumbledore remarks that it would be a shame if Ginny had to take all of the blame. And poor Arthur Weasley's credibility would have been tanked. And Malfoy remarks it's a pity.
"Father really would have liked nothing better than that to happen," Malfoy said. "And damn anyone who was put in the line of fire. And that includes his own son."
"What would have happened if Dad didn't find out about the diary?" Ruby asked.
"I wouldn't put it past the Ministry to put an eleven year old girl in Azkaban," Bellatrix said.
"Given that it's Fudge's Ministry, I wouldn't doubt it," Junior said. "He has to be seen doing something."
Dobby keeps miming. And then Harry understands.
"Finally," Astra said.
"Well, it was a long day," Harry said.
"At least you got there in the end," Nyssa said. "He was trying to tell you without breaking his master's orders."
"It takes guts to do that," Lena said.
"Yes, given what house elves swear to do, he could be harming his master by alerting Dad to the situation," Kate said. "Because, we all know he's much more powerful than Malfoy."
"Just don't get too overconfident, please," Charlotte said.
Harry asks Lucius how he thinks Ginny got the diary. And when Lucius responds with a snide remark, Harry says it is because Lucius gave it to her. During the fight at Flourish and Blotts.
"It's all coming together quite nicely, now," Sara said. "He did sneak it in. And to give the devil his due, it was impressive slight of hand."
"High praise coming from you," Ava said.
"Lucius is a slippery git," Sirius said. "Is now, apparently still is."
"And very fortunate to be able to wiggle out of tight spots," Ginny said. "Well, for a while at least."
Lucius demands Harry prove it.
"Going to be hard with that vile thing destroyed," John said. "And Lucius would just grease the right palms to make the charges disappear."
"You've got a point," Natalie agreed.
"Bastard has the resources to paly the game," Bellatrix remarked.
Dumbledore remarks that Mr. Weasley will personally find that if Lucius gives away any more of Voldemort's old school things, they will be traced back to Lucius.
"Dad would like the opportunity, I'm sure," Fred said.
"Although, not sure how much he would accomplish," George said.
"Making that bastard's life uncomfortable is good enough," Ginny said. "Make him look over his shoulder."
Harry prepares to give the diary back to Lucius, after stuffing a dirty sock into it.
"Oooh, that must reek," Ruby said. "Wait, that's brilliant."
"Yes, it is," Lena said.
"Oh, Lucius, you moron," Narcissa said through gritted teeth.
"I'm guessing he gave you a different story about this," Astra said.
"Dobby mishandled a dark magical artifact and was addled because of it," Narcissa said. "Obviously not the case."
Harry hands Lucius the diary, and Lucius tosses it casually in disgust.
"Poor choice," Sara said.
"Father didn't have the sense to see the obvious trap," Malfoy said.
"Your father has no sense," Ginny reminded him.
Given some of the poor choices his father made, Malfoy could hardly disagree.
Lucius makes a comment about Harry will meet the same sticky end as his parents.
"That's a bit ballsy to say," Zari said.
"Sounds a lot like a threat to me," Mick said.
"He better not be," Lily warned them.
"Oh, he'll regret it," Harry said.
"Yes, he really will," Ron said.
Lucius demands Dobby comes. But Dobby won't.
"That's because you threw a sock to a house elf who wanted to be freed," Junior said. "And is crazy enough to find a loophole to go against the inner nature of a house elf."
"Or desperate," Regulus said
"I'd be desperate to get away from Lucius too," Bellatrix said.
"Anyone would," Mick agreed.
Dobby is pleased because Lucius has tossed a sock and Dobby caught it.
"Suck it, blondie!" Mick cheered.
"Yeah, fuck off you twat," Peter said.
"Couldn't have happened to a better piece of shit," Astoria said.
Dobby is free.
"I know," Kate said.
"It's not normally that easy," Junior said. "But, maybe it's proof that the enslavement of house elves are not entirely unwilling."
"That's an interesting discussion to have," Nora said.
Lucius goes to attack Harry. And Dobby knocks him on his arse.
Everyone cheered. Ginny the loudest of all.
"I wish I was there to see it," Ginny said.
"You saw it now," Ruby said.
"I know, but it's not the same," Ginny said.
"Just let that soak in," Mia said. "It was extremely beautiful."
"I know," Bellatrix said giddily. "I shed a tear."
Lucius scrambles with his tail between his legs. And this time, Dobby is the one who dismisses him.
"The perfect ending to the perfect day," Astra said.
"Not the slightest bit of how Lucius told you, was it?" Harry asked Narcissa.
"He conveniently omitted the part that our old house elf humbled him," Narcissa said.
"Imagine that," Kara said dryly.
"You mean Dobby made blondie his bitch," Mick said
"If you must say that, then that's accurate, Mr. Rory," Narcissa said.
Dobby is happy. And Harry hopes Dobby will never try and save his life again.
"Well, that's not too much to ask for," Ruby said.
"Why do I have a feeling you're going to need his help down the road?" Astra asked.
"How else would these things go?" Alex asked.
"Well, his methods weren't my favorite when they maimed Harry,' Astra said.
"On the bright side, seeing him knock Lucius on his arse was satisfying," Bellatrix said.
"It was," Astra conceded.
Dobby remarks he was trying to tell Harry about the time before Voldemort could be freely named, before he actually was Voldemort. Trying to give Harry a clue.
"It was a very obtuse one," Junior admitted.
"But, given the nature of house elves and what Dobby had to work with, that was the best he hoped for," Sirius said.
"So, Lucius knew," Nora said. "Knew who Voldemort is."
"Lucius really thought he used The Dark Lord at times," Narcissa said. "That delusion came crashing down after one of his most bumbling failures."
"Bet he wasn't too pleased that Lucius used such a cherished object to settle a petty vendetta," John said.
"To put it bluntly, he was not," Narcissa said.
Harry remarks that Hermione should be awake. And Dobby greets him farewell.
"Well, good on you,Dobby," Astra said. "I could learn to like you."
"Which is progress for you, Honey Badger," Harry said.
Astra just grinned.
"Still haven't forgiven Hagrid just yet,' Astra said.
"We're all a bit sore with him," Lily said.
"No more than Ron," Tonks said.
"Never really got over Aragog," Ron said darkly. "Follow the spiders…honestly, Hagrid."
"Can't say I blame you," Peter said.
Before Hermione woke up, Harry had one person that he had to talk to. He made his way but Cassie met him halfway. And she put a cup in his hand.
"You looked like you could use this," Cassie said.
Harry drank the hot chocolate and it did taste good.
"You're right, it is the best," Harry said.
"I was a bit late," Cassie said. "Your owl found me. She's a damn good one Harry, you better take care of her."
"She was," Harry said.
Kara wrapped her arm around Harry. Tonks just gritted her teeth.
"Her hot chocolate is awesome," Daphne said defusing the potential sad situation.
"I want some," Sara said.
"I have never been able to completely replicate the recipe," Harry said. "But, I've gotten close. She wouldn't give it to me or anyone."
"She would take that secret with her to the abyss," Tonks said.
"Hedwig's the best," Harry said. "And don't worry about it."
"I do worry about it," Cassie said. "You shouldn't have to deal with saving this school. And yet you saved the Philosopher's Stone from Voldemort. And you stopped young Voldemort. Because the teachers didn't do their job."
Harry said nothing, but just drank the hot chocolate.
"It's a problem," Cassie said. "The teachers in this school don't act. They react."
"What did you do?" Harry asked.
"Loads," Cassie said. "More than I can tell you here. More than Dumbledore wants anyone to know I think. Oh, don't get me wrong, he discouraged me. Told me the adults should take care of it. But, they never did. And it hasn't changed after I left."
"You don't like him?" Harry asked.
Cassie appeared to be choosing her words very carefully.
"I think Dumbledore has too many titles, too many responsibilities, and he leaves Hogwarts at the mercy of others," Cassie said. "He's a brilliant wizard. But, he likes to hold his cards close. And that doesn't work when he has a thousand children he's responsible for at any given time."
Cassie sipped on her hot chocolate.
"I can respect Dumbledore's accomplishments. But, I disagree with many of the actions he's taken. And I think you do too."
Harry said nothing.
"She's got the measure of Dumbledore," Lily said.
"She had to deal with him for seven years," Tonks said. "She's gotten a good idea how the man thinks."
"Although none of us will ever be for sure," Regulus said.
"No, even those who worked close to him," McGonagall said.
"And those he expected great sacrifice from," Snape said.
"I wish I could take you with me," Cassie said. "But, I can't risk it."
"Why not?" Harry asked.
"Because, I've got some really bad people who are still after me," Cassie said. "And I'm not the most popular person in the Ministry. I just got out of trouble with them. If I took off with you, then I'd be legally kidnapping you. And they want an excuse to throw me into Azkaban."
"It's awful there," Harry said.
"You have no idea," Cassie murmured. "Thanks for reaching out. If you need anything, I'm sure Hedwig could find me. And stay safe."
Cassie moved out when she almost ran into Dumbledore.
"I thought you weren't coming back, Miss Jacobs," Dumbledore said.
"Not for you, Albus," Cassie said. "Don't make the same mistakes again. The truth is not poison."
And with that, Cassie left and Harry moved off, not quite meeting Dumbledore's gaze as he did.
How much did Dumbledore know?
"The ultimate question," Astra said.
"I don't know if any of us want the answer to it," Nora said.
"It's really bad," Ron said. "Dumbledore has an idea of pretty much everything that's going on. He just waits to react. Sometimes until it is too late."
"And that's not exactly good with the kind of people we deal with," Tonks said. "And that warning from Cassie went from one ear and out the other."
"Oh, well, she tried," Daphne said.
"Sometimes that's enough, but with Dumbledore you got to beat him over the head with a brick," Ron said.
Ron looked to the door where Hermione had not returned. For Hermione's sake, Ron really hoped that this was her breaking point of her faith with Dumbledore. Harry never mentioned that conversation and it was dropped so casually, that Harry must have forgotten it in the chaos of the day.
To be fair, Dumbledore was crafty enough to make sure it was overlooked.
The leaving Feast happens. Hermione is back, Hagrid is back, and Lockhart is gone.
"Good riddance," Severus said.
"I concur," Snape said.
"We have to do better next year, right?" Ruby asked.
"Oh, the teacher's an improvement," Harry said.
"I just feel sorry for the poor bastard who ends up getting saddled with cleaning up Lockhart's mess," Remus said.
It took everything that those who knew not to smile.
"Maybe it's you, Moony?" Peter asked.
"Never, in a million years," Remus said.
"You can finally use that briefcase we got you for your seventeenth," Sirius said.
"That was a gag gift," Remus said.
"Or maybe it's a premonition," Lily said.
Remus shook his head. Dumbledore would never be that desperate to hire him. Hell, he was likely dead to begin with. Because, why else had he not looked Harry up?
From the Slytherin table, Daphne returned. She caught Harry's eye and smiled before moving over to join Astoria and Tracey. Harry was glad to see she was alright.
"Glad to be back," Daphne said. "Petrification was weird."
"How?" Astra asked.
"Well, it was like I was both awake and asleep at the same time, all of my senses were in some kind of limbo state," Daphne said. "Not fun."
"I can only imagine," Thea said with a small smile.
Exams were cancelled on account of everything that happened.
"Hermione was thrilled," Ron said.
"How did the students make up for the time they missed?" Charlotte asked.
"Tutors and extra sessions with students," McGonagall said. "Miss Granger recused herself during the remaining week before Hogwarts let out and caught up on everything."
"Typical Hermione," Kate said.
"Colin had it the worst," Ginny said. "Still feel bad about that one."
"He bounced back easily enough," Ron said. "I think he was excited to be part of something like that."
"Typical Colin," Astoria said.
Harry had been called into Professor McGonagall's office the morning before he was supposed to leave.
"Is there a problem, Professor?" Harry asked.
"Well, there's a slight problem with your chosen classes for your third year," McGonagall said. "As in, there has been an extraordinarily high amount of students who have chosen to take Arithmancy and Study of Ancient Runes. I will assure you that we did everything in our power to accommodate everyone. But, we had to drop five students at random from both classes."
"Which one did I drop?" Harry asked.
"Both, unfortunately," McGonagall said. "It is still possible for you to do self study and if you get an Outstanding on your OWLs, you will be allowed a chance to enter the NEWT courses."
Harry was upset. He thought those classes would be interesting and useful.
"Unfortunately, Professor Babbling and Professor Vector have taken all of the students they could, and they both regret this," McGonagall said. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to sign you up for Divination."
"Well, at least Ron and Hermione will be there," Harry said. "Is Hermione still taking all of the courses? Or was she dropped?"
"Oh, no, Potter, she's still intent on taking all five classes," McGonagall said.
"How's that going to work?" Harry asked.
"Well, not well, but I'm hoping there's still time to convince Miss Granger that it's not in her best interests to burden herself with such a load," McGonagall said. "Especially given she will have to do extra work over the summer to make up for the extra work she lost."
Harry nodded in response.
"I'm sorry about everything, Mr. Potter."
Harry was disappointed. Divination sounded like the least interesting of the five, even over Muggle Studies.
"Professor, you did everything you could."
"There is literally no time," Remus said. "To take all of those classes."
"No, there isn't," James said.
"It's insane," Junior said. "I sat all of the OWLs and I'm going to sit all of the NEWTs, but taking every class is insane."
"Didn't you beg your father for permission to use...one of those things," Bellatrix murmured.
"Father said he wouldn't bend the rules just so I could take a couple of extra classes," Junior whispered. "And given how those require specialized training to operate properly, he was right."
One of the few things Junior agreed with his father on was using a time turner to take a couple extra classes was reckless. Although, if his father said yes, than Junior might have overlooked that nagging voice that this was not such a good idea. But no one in their right mind would authorize a dangerous time travel device for a third-year Hogwarts student. For a couple of extra classes.
"That story about not getting to take those classes, something stinks about it," Ruby said.
"You figured that out too?" Daphne asked. "Because, those classes were not packed."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Potter," McGonagall said.
"Someone decided it was in my best interests to take Divination," Harry said.
"That trash class is in no one's best interest to take," Lily said.
"Well, other than a piss off class," Sirius said.
"It's useless unless you have the gift," Natalie added.
On the train, Harry shares a compartment with Ron, George, Fred, and Ginny. And Ginny says she walked in on Percy kissing his girlfriend, Penelope Clearwater.
"She deserved better," Ginny murmured.
"Nice to see you were in a bit better spirits," Astra said. "Or have you gotten better at hiding it?"
"The later," Ginny said.
"The fact you could wear a mask that young's a bit concerning," Thea said.
"Some people have to, to avoid facing harsh realities," Nyssa said.
Needless to say, Fred and George are amused by this. Although Ginny hopes they would not tease him over it.
"Right," Mia said. "Like that's going to work."
"Well, can't blame a girl for being hopeful," Ginny said.
"We didn't…too much," Fred said.
"The Head Boy thing gave us plenty of ammunition otherwise," George said.
"Why am I not surprised he got Head Boy?" Astra asked.
"Nothing wrong with being Head Boy," Junior said.
"Please, you're only trying to get attention from your father," Bellatrix said.
Junior said nothing to refute this point.
Harry gives Ron and Hermione his telephone number and tells them to call him over the summer.
Ron face-palmed himself.
"Could have gone better?" Lena asked.
"A little bit," Ron said.
"Oh, I'm sure it's not that bad," Mia said.
"Kind of spoilers, but it is that bad," Thea said.
"Not sure how you thought that Petunia and Vernon would entertain you getting friends on the telephone," Astra said. "Unless you expected to camp out on the phone and answer every call."
"Didn't quite pan out that way," Harry said.
"You promised me that nothing worse than bars on the window happened," Astra said.
"It didn't," Harry said. "That's the worst that Vernon and Petunia ever treated me."
"There's still Dudley," Astra said.
"Not Dudley," Harry said.
Astra realized who it could be.
"Her," Astra hissed.
"Who is her?" Ruby asked.
"HER!" Astra yelled.
"Oh, I know who she's talking about," Natalie said.
"Third year, let's not jump ahead," Sara said.
"I'm going to need more ice cream," Astra said.
"Got you covered," Daphne said.
"You're a real gem," Astra said. "Her."
"Yes, Astra. Her."
"Oh bloody hell," Ron said. "Her."
But, Ron knew how that one ended and he hoped that Astra would be happy about it.
Hermione suggests that Harry's aunt and uncle would be proud.
"Oooh, my sweet summer child," Sara said.
'She's still clinging onto the fact they would treat Harry normally," Kate said.
"It took her this long to come to the conclusion that Dumbledore might be mistaken," Alex said.
"Unfortunately, my daughter has some blind spots," Charlotte said. "One of them is an unshakable belief in authority."
Harry states that they'll be upset he was not killed.
"I hate, I hate, I hate, how you just bring that up casually," Alex said.
"You're not the only one, sis," Kara said.
"I think that's a consensus around the room," Lily said. "And you're going back there, after what they pulled last summer."
"Well, obviously," Harry said.
"Next year won't be that bad, though," Sirius said.
"Unless it's something worse than a Basilisk," Peter said.
"Thanks, Peter, really making us feel good," Sirius said.
"Come on, what's the worst that could happen?" Regulus asked.
James and Lily looked at Harry and Harry responded with a non-commital shrug. And Ron, Daphne, Astoria, Malfoy, Ginny, Fred, and George all looked away, knowing what visited Hogwarts next year.
Third year was going to be something. And Harry had an inkling that their guests from the past would have to stick around for at least that one.
And with that, Harry returns to the Muggle World, another year of magic and wonder over.
"And that's Book Two," Sara said. "I can't believe Dumbledore."
"He's unbelievable," Snape agreed.
"Not going to defend the man, not even for a second," Nora said.
"Thought we could give him the benefit of the doubt, but I guess not," Zari said.
"So, what's the deal with us?" Bellatrix asked. "When can we go home?"
"Hot date, Trixie?" Regulus asked.
"The more we know, the less problems we'll have," Bellatrix said. "Although, I kind of want to see how many more pedestals Harry and his friends can break with this book."
"Hermione's obsession with Dumbledore and your worship of Voldemort all in a couple of chapters," Lita concluded. "That's something."
"Thank you for having me," Narcissa said.
"Come back any time," Harry said.
"I'll be back to Book Five," Ginny said. "And I'll bring a friend."
"And I'm sure this friend will keep us all on our toes with her quirkiness," Sara said.
"I think we should check to ensure that everything is in order as well," Nyssa agreed. "This has been enlightening."
"I'll come with you," Thea said. "How about you, Mia?"
"Sticking around for a little bit," Mia said. "But, let me know if you need anything."
"Tonks?" Nyssa asked.
"Oh, what the hell, I'll stay for a little bit," Tonks said.
Tonks figured they might need a bit of extra help given the revelations coming out in Harry's third year.
"Got some work to get done at the DEO," Alex said. "I might be back later."
"Thanks for stopping by," Harry said.
"And let me know if James has any complications," Alex said.
"So far, so good," James said.
"It's time for a really long break," Sara said.
"I'll show everyone out," Ava said.
"After last year, we're going to need it," Sara said. "So, one more until we take the really long break?"
"Kara and Harry's vacation is long overdue," Lena said.
"And we have to take a trip to Argo," Harry said. "But,not yet. Book Three and then we'll break for about a week and return."
"Just hope nothing goes wrong," Kara said. "Fingers crossed."
"With the modifications we made to Sirius's old bike, you should be able to cross the universe no problem," Tonks said. "I took it for a spin and it runs like a charm. Even was able to win a drag race in space with some Czarnian bloke."
"Wait, there's only one Czarian," Kara said.
"Oh, yes, he mentioned that, blew up his entire world for a science project," Tonks said.
Alex, Thea, Nyssa, Narcissa, and Ginny left and made the reading room a bit quieter.
"Going to be tense when certain things come out," Kara said.
"Oh, I know," Harry said. "We'll deal with it."
"We'll be ready to keep certain parties separated if necessary," Sara said. "And I have a feeling it will be."
It was time for Harry to check on a couple of things.
"Your eccentric alternate self has successfully stopped the Cloaks and reset his timeline, which is now separate from your own," Gideon said. "I have interfaced with my alternate counterpart and it will be safe to return our guests after some time. Of course, a third splinter timeline will be created from it."
"What about our guest?"
"Still raving like a madman," Gideon said.
Harry stepped into the room and looked at the guests.
"You lost," Harry said.
"Minor setback," the time assassin said. "We will succeed. The Cloaks were merely just a means. You can't stop a Talon of the Court of Owls."
"So, it's just layer after layer of different groups pulling the strings," Harry said. "I doubt even you know who the top man is. I doubt you even know who you are anymore."
"I'm one of many, Potter," the time assassin said. "There's more like me."
"We'll see," Harry said.
"I've bypassed the security on his mask," Gideon said. "Shall we see who is underneath it?"
"What will that prove?"
"That you can't hide from me," Harry said. "Let's see who you really are."
Harry unmasked the mysterious Talon/Time Assassin. His eyes widened when he peered into a familiar face.
"You!"
To Be Continued in Book Three in 2023.