Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with HP
A/N: Hi Everyone! Sorry I haven't updated in ages, but I am still in Antarctica, and the internet is super-slow. So I hope you all like this one. Thanks for all of the reviews :)
SilentWolf: I totally appreciate your comments. I'm amazed that I never noticed the fact that they don't refer to a spell ever by the incantation. (May be dorky of me, but I'm excited for when I re-read them to notice). Also, I am trying to be cannon, so I like these things being pointed out. I guess, perhaps, I should have used the cruciatus instead of the killing curse, but your comment made me think a lot actually. Any spell they use seems to have "degrees". For example, Tonks, who is highly trained, still can't do much of a simple cleaning spell. Or when they say "up" with the broomsticks. So although you are definitely right about Moody's comments, it does make me wonder if perhaps there are "degrees" to every spell, including the killing curse, even if it isn't explicitly mentioned.
MudbloodPotter5: Now, again, I can't answer those questions! Although, to admit the truth, I still honestly can't decide (in real, JKR life) whether I think Snape is good or not. She just did too darn good of a job messing with our heads straight from book 1.
Chapter 9: Visit to Hogwarts
Harry had been a mess after nearly killing Snape. He still couldn't decide if he was happy he lived, or disgusted with himself for being too softhearted. Regardless of his emotional confusion, it was nothing compared to the confusion they faced over Snape's last words he whispered to Harry, "Maybe you're ready to face him after all, Potter."
It wasn't so much the words, but how he said them. Snape had been barely breathing at the time. The son of the man he'd hated so much had just performed the unforgivable killing curse, intending to kill him. And yet Snape spoke with conviction. His voice had been soft, and slightly hoarse, but almost…well, if Harry didn't know any better, he would have said that Snape had spoken it with pride. But Harry did know better, and decided he must have been mistaken. But his mind still whispered to him, "Dumbledore said to trust him".
He had, of course, told the story to Hermione and Ron. They, as always, were great listeners, gasping in all the right places, and Ron even applauded when Harry first caught Snape with a spell. But when he reached the point in the story where he performed the killing curse, he halted.
He clearly remembered his argument with Hermione up in Regulus' room. He wasn't sure if he was proud that he had performed it, even under pressure, or ashamed. Sensing his indecision, he looked his friends in the face. They both stared at him, eyes full of empathy. Ron chucked at his bewildered face and just said, "Come on then, out with it, mate. We'll forgive you!"
And so, Harry continued with the entire story, without looking at them in their faces. When he finished, he took a deep breath, and looked into their eyes. Hermione's were clearly shining with pride for him. And Ron? Well, he just scratched his ear and asked, "What is this crazy muggle CPR where you have to kiss Snape?" A huge grin broke over Harry's face. One look at Hermione and they were both laughing. The weight was lifted off of Harry's shoulders.
Although confiding in them lessened Harry's burden, it did not solve the riddle of Snape's confusing speech. Ron swore Snape must have confounded him, but Hermione didn't say anything, and had just looked thoughtful when pressed for her opinion, "maybe there is more going on than what we know."
Regardless, they decided they would not be mentioning Snape's "visit" to Number 12, Grimmauld Place until after the meeting with McGonagall, which would be held in less than a week. If they were lucky, they hoped they could talk with Dumbledore's portrait, and he could give them a clue to Snape's behavior. Well, okay, Harry admitted, it was Hermione's idea to talk to Dumbledore about Snape; Harry and Ron thought Dumbledore had obviously been mistaken on Snape's behavior. But as they had nothing better to go on, Harry was settling for a discussion with Dumbledore, regardless of the fact that he now had a slight doubt in his heart about Dumbledore's beliefs regarding Severus Snape.
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Much to Ron's horror, much of the next week was spent in the library. "But we figured out who R.A.B. is!" he complained, to which Hermione answered, "yeah, and we need to know more about him! And figure out who the woman in the picture is." Harry personally was sick of the library, but agreed with Hermione. And so, the week slowly slipped by.
In desperation one day, Harry finally asked, "Hermione- don't they have yearbooks or something at Hogwarts?" She shook her head sadly. "Nothing of the sort that I know of." Ron suggested, "How about a list of Hogwarts students?" Hermione perked up a bit, "Good idea, Ron! Maybe when we meet Professor McGonagall she'll have old lists in her office." She paused. "I wonder what she wants to talk to us about?"
The day before they were set to meet Professor- well, Headmistress McGonagall for the mysterious meeting she had called, there was another Order meeting. As she walked through the door, she gave them a look that quite clearly said not to discuss their scheduled meeting at Hogwarts.
As the Order met in the kitchen, the trio met in the drawing room, and discussed the photograph of Regulus Black and the unknown woman. Harry was seriously considering showing it to Lupin, at least. Lupin had known Regulus at Hogwarts; perhaps he'd know who the woman was as well. But Harry felt as though it would be dishonoring Dumbledore's word. Finally, he decided to take a chance. He wouldn't tell him anything about the picture- just claim to have found it in the house.
The Order had decided to stay for dinner, and so Harry took a seat next to Lupin. He muttered, "Can I have a word with you after dinner?" Lupin looked him in the eyes curiously, but simply said "yes." Harry's eagerness for the conversation seemed to make dinner stretch on forever. Even Tonks' story about her catastrophic trip to the wedding-robe makers, in which she single-handedly managed to tear three gowns, didn't make time flow any faster, although it certainly seemed to work for Ron, who, by the end of the story, was curled up on the floor howling with laughter.
After dinner, members of the Order slowly trickled out the door. Eventually, it was just Lupin and Tonks left. When Tonks finally got up to visit the toilets, Harry pulled out the picture. He tried to remain calm, but still could detect a hint of urgency in his voice when he asked Lupin, "Do you know who this is?" Lupin looked at the photo carefully. "Well, this is Sirius's brother-" Harry interrupted, "No, the woman." Lupin looked at him more curiously. "Where did you get his picture?" Harry said hastily, "Oh, just found it around." Lupin looked suspicious, but finally said, "No, I don't know who this is. Perhaps she was a classmate of Regulus'." Harry looked at him closely. He seemed to be telling the truth. Harry thanked him, and put the picture away as casually as he could. "So," he said to fill the awkward pause, "set the date yet?"
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The next day they apparated to Hogsmeade. They were a bit nervous, seeing as it was the farthest any of them had apparated before. But all of their body parts made it safely to the end of the road near the small cave that Sirius had stayed at years ago.
They had run into a tiny problem- no longer did they all fit under the invisibility cloak. Finally, it was decided that Harry and Hermione would first proceed to Honeydukes, and get Harry through the trap door. Hermione would go back out and retrieve Ron from outside of the cave. It took some time, but Hogsmeade wasn't too busy, so the plan worked. An hour later, they were standing outside the hump-backed witch and checking the Marauder's Map (of which, thanks to their excursion to Godric's Hollow, they had multiple copies of). They carefully checked their path to the Head Office. "No one in the way," Harry whispered, "mischief managed."
Ron rolled his eyes and asked, "Who would be here during the summer?" Harry paused. "Just what do the instructors do during their summer breaks?" he wondered aloud. Hermione looked thoughtful, and Ron snorted at the expression and cracked, "She's probably trying to think through all the pages of Hogwarts, A History." Hermione huffed and replied, "Probably taking a well-deserved break from you two." "More like Malfoy," Ron retorted.
They walked the rest of the trip to the office in silence, and stood outside the gargoyle. "Er…do either of you know what the password is?" But just then, McGonagall stepped out from around the corner. "Glad to see you arrived in a discrete manner," she said. "Acid Pops" she muttered. "You haven't changed the password yet?" Harry asked in surprise. McGonagall rolled her eyes. "Dumbledore's portrait refused to tell me how to change it until you arrived." But Harry could see a small smile flash across her face, as only Dumbledore could make her do. "I reminded, him, of course, that it was his duty as a former headmaster to assist the current headmistress in all ways, but…" she sighed deeply at this point, "he seemed to think it would be of great help for me to spend a few weeks frustrated with him. I assure you, he seemed quite amused."" Her lips were thin, but there was a small sparkle in her eyes.
"Well, Potter," McGonagall said, "Get up there. I'll be waiting outside, with Granger and Weasley."
Harry nodded and headed up to the office. He opened the door, and faced the portrait. Dumbledore was in there, slowly unwrapping a sherbet lemon and eyeing him over his half-moon glasses. He popped the candy into his mouth. "Well, glad to see you arrived finally." He chucked. "I knew Minerva would see things my way eventually." Harry grinned in spite of himself. It was just like the real Dumbledore. Almost.
"Harry, Dumbledore started, "thank you for sacrificing your childhood to serve a batty old man, well, picture, like me. I know you'd rather be off studying, --" Harry gave a snide cough at this- "or chasing love," Dumbledore continued, smiling slyly, "but I appreciate what you are doing. I just wanted you to know that."
Harry looked at him curiously. Surely there was more than that that Dumbledore wanted to say?
Dumbledore was looking at him just as curiously. Well, as curiously as a portrait can look, Harry thought. "I'm glad to see you are still capable of love, Harry. I know I have told you many times, but I'd like to say it again. Your love is what will save everyone." Harry resisted an urge to roll his eyes. Yes, he can love. Big whoop. Love was doing nothing but hurting him at the moment.
He was about to say just that, when Dumbledore, spotting trouble, said, "I also wanted to give you something, in case, as an old man, I overlooked anything- please, take the pensieve."
"Are you sure, sir?" Harry asked. "Most certainly. Well, that will be all. I'm off to a lovely party with the Fat Lady and Violet," Dumbledore said jauntily.
"That's all?" Harry asked, incredulous, and feeling anger rising. "Don't you want to discuss…oh, I don't know…SNAPE!" Dumbledore continued with his curious look. Harry was suddenly panting in silent rage. Dumbledore continued to stare, taking the time to eat another sherbet lemon. Finally, he spoke.
"Harry," he said, the tone in his voice more serious than he'd ever heard it, "you gave me your word once that you would do everything I asked you to do. I asked you to trust Professor Snape. Nothing has changed."
"HE ATTACKED ME! He showed up at Grimmauld Place yesterday and attacked us! HE KILLED YOU! HE TRIED TO HELP DRACO KILL YOU!" Harry screamed, in rage. "ARE YOU A FOOL?" He stopped for a breath, and then continued, "I tried to KILL HIM---" Dumbledore interrupted at this point, "You performed the killing curse?" He looked mildly surprised. "What happened?" His expression remained calm. Harry had seen Dumbledore more worked up over the flavor of a Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean that he was now.
Harry was filled with anger. "Where are your emotions?" he screamed. "You don't even care-Why don't you trust me to know the truth about Snape?" He paused, took a breath, and screamed, "I nearly KILLED him! Are you happy? I thought I was doing you a favor!" Harry was relentless and throwing words out without even knowing exactly what he was speaking about or whether or not he even meant it. And he knew it. And didn't care.
Dumbledore calmly set his bag of candy down and interrupted him, "Harry!" he said, voice loud. "I cannot impress upon you how important it is to trust and believe in my word for everything! Please, do not stop believing in me, or," he added softly, "love. Without that, all will be lost. This is the most serious matter of all. If you do not trust me, all will be lost."
"What, is that some kind of a prophesy?" Harry screamed sarcastically.
Dumbledore peered at him again. "Perhaps you remember our discussion on prophesy-" his voice finally rose in excitement and agitation, as it had last year, "Voldemort MADE you the threat you are by acting on a prophecy. Use your strengths you gained and take it as you please, just don't stop using your greatest strength!"
Rage was still building in Harry. He knocked over the desk. "Mr. Potter," Dumbledore admonished, "Those are no longer my items. Please do not destroy them without the current Headmistress's permission." Harry muttered, not meaning it at all, "Sorry, sir."
"I'm sorry I have not given you the conversation you have wanted," Dumbledore said, truly looking sorry. "But I hope you consider it. Everyone is looking to you. Please, take your pensieve; think about what I've said, about trust, and most of all, love. Love may be the same as forgiveness, you know. Certainly I have forgiven Severus for killing me. Certainly, you should be in his debt- for he saved you in your first year. Have you forgotten that? If I have heart enough to forgive him, you should have it in your heart to do the same-, as your father was able to do. Come back to see me at anytime." And with that, he jumped to the next photo and was soon gone.
Nigellus looked at him, and made a snide remark that Harry ignored. Slowly, Harry turned around and walked down the stairs. "Done, Potter?" McGonagall asked briskly. "Well, then, how about some biscuits?" Harry looked at her in disbelief, but silently followed her back up the stairs. He quickly exchanged looks with Ron and Hermione that clearly said he would tell them about his conversation with Dumbledore later, not in McGonagall's presence.
She stopped short when she found her desk tipped over, and peered curiously at Harry over her square spectacles. Harry refused to look her in the eyes, so McGonagall simply sighed, waved her wand to set the desk upright, and reluctantly seated herself behind it- they could tell she still preferred the idea of Dumbledore being there. "Well, I've heard from Molly that you three are no longer attending Hogwarts," she said with her lips thin. "Although, naturally, I do not approve, I also know you have made a decision you are sticking with. Might I suggest tutoring?"
"Professor, I really appreciate that. But, we don't have time. I'm sorry." McGonagall's lips stretched even thinner. She looked at Hermione closely. Hermione looked her straight in the eyes and nodded affirmatively.
McGonagall sighed. "I know you three refuse to discuss your mission that Dumbledore set you on- but you are barely legal!" Her voice began to tremble, "If something happens-".
Harry interrupted, "Professor McGonagall, I've got that taken care of." He reached into his pocket and handed her a blank sheet of parchment. "What's this?" she asked suspiciously. Ron and Hermione looked at him suspiciously as well. "If something- well, happens, it will reveal our mission to you."
"Oh," Hermione said, with a look of recognition, realizing Harry had employed the same charm as his father. McGonagall registered the interaction between Hermione and Harry, but ignored it. "Thank you, Potter," she said simply. "Have another biscuit."
"Now, there is one other reason I invited you here," she said, as they finished up their snacking. "Although you are not members of the Order of the Phoenix" Ron and Harry gave her angry glares which she ignored, and continued smoothly, "I would like you to be able to communicate with us in times of trouble. I therefore will be teaching you how to send messages via your patronus charm."
"Really?" Harry asked, excited. He had seen Tonks do that on the first day of Hogwarts last year.
"Yes, really, Potter," McGonagall said, giving him another rare smile. They walked to an empty classroom, and she proceeded to teach them. Although they had all previously perfected the charm in the DA course two years before and Harry back in his third year, it was still difficult to learn to attach the message. Hours later, they had finally perfected it.
McGonagall had arranged with the kitchens to have food sent up to the classroom. Harry nearly fell off of his chair when he heard, "Harry Potter, Sir! How wonderful it is to see you again!" Dobby hastily set a plate of food on a nearby desk and ran to hug Harry's leg.
A second house elf carry pumpkin juice appeared embarrassed. "Please forgive Dobby, sir!" he squeaked. But they simply smiled. "Dobby, how have you been?" Ron asked eagerly, as he noticed Dobby was wearing his Weasley sweater, regardless of the heat of summer. "Oh, very well, Wheezy, Sir." Dobby beamed.
"And how is Winky?" Hermione asked softly. "Oh, well, please do not speak to me about poor Winky," Dobby said, shaking his head sadly. "She still pines for her former master and is up to 12 bottles of butterbeer a day." He looked up at them, silently pleading them to change the subject.
"Er…How about Kreacher? Is he causing you any trouble?" Harry asked, grinning a bit. Dobby shook his head. "No, no trouble, Harry Potter, sir. But…" he paused here dramatically, looking around at McGonagall before lowering his voice to a whisper, "he has stopped doing your task you is giving us!" His eyes were wide-open in disbelief that Kreacher would dare stop obeying someone as great at Harry Potter.
Harry said, without thinking, "What, follow Malfoy? I mean, there isn't much he could do now, is there? He's been missing since…" his voice trailed off, too angry with Dumbledore to mention him. But Dobby said, insistently, "I would never stop following him for you, Harry Potter, sir! It is a great honor to serve you in such a way!"
Harry mumbled his thanks to Dobby, who beamed, and rolled his eyes at Ron and Hermione. Hermione, he noticed, had once again pulled out those SPEW badges and had pinned one prominently to her chest.
Harry thought back to his first night at Number 12, Grimmauld Place. He'd been wishing for Dobby's company then, and now was the perfect chance to ask Dobby to join them. "Hey, Dobby?" Harry asked, "Would you like to come and join us at my home?" Dobby promptly fell over in excitement. Hermione shot him a dirty look, Ron a grin, and Dobby, once he had stood up, began crying noisily. He jumped up and wrapped his little arms around Harry's leg once again, crying, "Thank you, Harry Potter, Sir! It would be the greatest honor a house-elf like Dobby could ever imagine!"
"Er…you're welcome…" Harry muttered, trying to get Dobby off of his leg. "Why don't you pop up and ask Dumbledore's portrait the secret to get there…Do house elves need the secret?" Dobby finally let go of Harry's leg and peered up at him. "It is done, Sir!" Dobby paused, and looked bashful. "It is bad of Dobby to ask, but-" He picked up a plate and banged his head against it repeatedly until Harry ripped the plate out of Dobby's hands and asked "What?"
Dobby looked embarrassed. "Well, you see, Sir, I'm the only one who will care for Winky…" Hermione interjected this time, "Well, of course you can bring her along!" Harry and Ron shot her quick looks of disagreement, but she simply continued, "And we'll give you a pay raise!" Harry rolled his eyes at her, but simply said, "yeah." There was absolutely no reason to argue with Hermione when her face was set like that!
Dobby finally left (the other elf had left as soon as was politely possible) in search of Dumbledore's portrait, and the trio and McGonagall had a merry dinner. They spent the remainder of their visit discussing the new transfiguration and DADA teachers- McGonagall, as was usual, had yet to find a DADA teacher. She wasn't worry yet, although there were only three weeks before the term started.
Just before leaving, Hermione asked whether she had lists of the past students. She looked at them suspiciously, but answered yes. She promised to make copies and owl them later.
The only thing Harry regretted was his conversation with Dumbledore. But Dumbledore never reappeared for Harry to ask for an apology or explanation.
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Once they walked back Harry muttered, "I'll tell you about Dumbledore's conversation when we get back, kay?" He just couldn't think about so much at once.
As they reached the statue of the humped witch, Harry said wistfully, "I wish we could go visit Hagrid. I wonder when we'll see him again. He smiled, remembering how it was Hagrid who first introduced him to the wizarding world. Harry laughed. "Remember how he'd try so hard to keep Fluffy and the stone a secret?" Ron added, smiling, "Yeah, but a bit of mead- and he'd always end up telling us."
"Seems like ages ago, doesn't?" Hermione said. "Seems easy, compared to what we have to do now." Ron snorted. "I remember you turning into a cat to sneak up on Malfoy. You sure haven't done anything so drastic yet." He joked, "What makes you think this is harder now?"
Harry hadn't been paying attention, but the thought of the Chamber of Secrets made him eager to try out the pensieve. He reflected on the memories he'd seen in it. Snape and his father. A young Tom Riddle. Riddle applying for a job at Hogwarts. Suddenly, Hermione and Ron's conversation snapped him back to attention. "Do now…WHY didn't we think of that before?" Harry said excitedly, clutching his new pensieve in remembrance. "Think of what, exactly?" Ron asked.
Harry rushed, "Voldemort came back to Hogwarts- he was looking for a teaching job- but what if he was also looking for a place to hid a horcrux? Hagrid said it is the safest place to keep something!"
Hermione looked doubtful. "But Harry, you-know-who- I mean, Voldemort was always afraid of Dumbledore. It doesn't make sense to put it here, right under his nose."
But Ron had perked up. "Yes it does! This place is monstrously huge! Dumbledore would never find it! And it explains why he wanted to be here."
"Well, you might be right," Hermione admitted, "but this place is huge. How are we to find it?"
Harry's heart sunk. He remembered when he had hidden the Half-Blood Prince's textbook in the Room of Requirements- there were literally thousands of items hidden in there. But Voldemort wouldn't leave it lying around, would he?
Suddenly, his heart jumped. "THE CHAMBER! Voldemort was the last living heir of Slytherin. No one, not even Dumbledore, could get in! It must be there!" Ron and Hermione jumped up in excitement. They all sped to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
"Hi, Myrtle," Harry said in a rush. "How are ya doing?" She eyed him gloomily. "What are you doing here? It isn't the school year yet. You never visit me anymore, anyway." She added, "Only when you need something."
"Yeah," Ron said, "and we need you to-" "RON!" Hermione hissed. "Oh, sorry, Myrtle," Ron said unconvincingly. Myrtle gave a huge sob and dove into theU-bend, splashing them.
"Right," Harry said. "Let's do this." He stared at the serpent carved into the broken tap, willing it to appear real. "Open up," Harry hissed. It obliged.
Hermione, who had been petrified when Ron and Harry had gone down the chamber the last time, gave a surprised squeak as the sink fell to the floor and opened up to a slimy long pipe.
A sense of trepidation settled in the hearts of Ron and Harry, whose last experiences in the Chamber had given them both less than optimistic ideas about the chamber. Fortunately, this time around, there was much less danger: the basilisk was gone, Ginny was at home in The Burrow (as safely as she could be, considering the family clock was always pointing to 'mortal peril'), and Lockhart was safely tucked away at St. Mungo's.
Hermione's eyes were wide open as she saw the passageway for the first time. She muttered "lumos" and peered down the pipe curiously. Ron and Harry looked at her anxiously, almost as if awaiting her approval of their adventure. She just grinned and asked, "How do we get back up?"
Myrtle, reappearing from the U-bend, said rather unhelpfully, "Last time a great bird brought you up. Last time you paid more attention to me! Last time was fun! I thought you were going to die and share my stall with me!"
Harry shuddered involuntarily and Ron waved his hand as if to dismiss Myrtle, which she took as a cue to dive head-first back into the toilet, crying, "I'll find a friend to talk to. Someone who shares my pains!"
Ignoring her, Hermione cleverly transfigured toilet paper into a strong rope. She claimed it would be like a ski-tow rope. Harry gave her a look- he'd gone on a class trip skiing once, and had spent an awfully large amount of his time grasping the rope and sliding backwards on his behind. Ron simply looked confused, but neither felt like describing the finer points of skiing to him, as they had both attempted it before over Christmas Holidays.
They tied one end firmly around multiple sinks and another end around Harry, who volunteered to go first. He sincerely hoped the rope would be long enough. The tunnel seemed to last for miles last time. Taking a deep breath, Harry jumped down and slid into the slimy pipe. Once again, eventually it leveled out, and he landed in the large stone tunnel. Harry remembered the tunnel seemed much larger last time around. He had been though a growth-spurt. He turned to watch Ron and Hermione come whizzing down the pipe. All three of them were covered in slime and muck, but were grinning- if they were right, they were about to find a horcrux!
He took the transfigured toilet paper rope and untied it from his waist. He let it dangle at the end of the pipe.
They walked through the tunnel slowly. Hermione's eyes were scanning quickly, trying to absorb everything. Harry remembered vaguely, "Wasn't there a snake skin around here last time?"
Ron muttered, "It was over four years ago. I'm sure it has decomposed by now." Hermione gave Ron another dazzling smile for the answer. Harry just shook his head. He wasn't sure if he could get used to all these smiles. The fights seemed somehow much more normal.
Regardless, with Harry leading, they shortly came across the rock pile that had fallen when Lockhart had performed the memory charm that had backfired with Ron's faulty wand. The small hole Ron had sifted out for Harry and Ginny's return was still intact. They climbed through awkwardly; once again aware that they were much bigger than they had been as second years. The three continued walking. Presently, Hermione asked, "How do you know this is the correct passage?"
Harry looked at her, surprised. He remembered then that he spent a large portion of his time with his eyes closed or squinting last time, and she brought up a good point. However, he knew there were those doors up ahead, and so he said confidently, "You'll see."
Very shortly, they came up to the massive wall with emerald-eyed serpents gazing down at them. Ron and Hermione were both staring in awe. Harry simply walked forward and hissed, "Open up." The doors slowly slid apart.
The trio walked inside the chamber. Harry took much more in during his second visit to the chamber. The stone pillars were made of a dark stone, somehow absorbing the light from their wands. The serpents carved on the pillars glared, bright, bejeweled eyes flickering in the wandlight. Yet Harry was much more confident- the basilisk was dead. In fact, as his eyes adjusted to the dim light and he heard a crunch below his feet, he realized he was standing on what remained of the once formidable basilisk. Straight ahead was the monkey-faced stone statue of Salazar Slytherin where Ginny had once lain. He shook off thoughts of Ginny.
As much as he wanted to daydream about her, that would be reserved for later, laying in pain in his bed wishing she could be by his side. But now, now was about searching for a horcrux. Last time he was here he destroyed one. He hoped he'd be so lucky this time.
Harry wondered where Voldemort would have hidden the horcrux. Something Ravenclaw/Gryffindor or the Hufflepuff cup, he reminded himself. The three gazed around the spacious chamber in despair. All of a sudden, despite the growth spurt, it was much larger than Harry remembered it being.
Hermione magicked several large, blue fires. They made the jeweled-eyed serpents carved on the columns flicker most realistically, but certainly, the light aided them in their search.
They searched the stone pillars, the statue of Slytherin, everything…But no horcrux. Harry didn't want to admit defeat, and, raising his wand high, he shouted, "accio school broom" and focused his mind on a broom. Shortly, they heard a whizzing sound and an old shooting star came to a rest in Harry's hand.
Ron whistled appreciatively, and even Hermione grinned, although she simply said, "I hope Professor McGonagall didn't see that." Ron just grinned and muttered, "Spoilsport…I wonder why she was here anyway. Doesn't she go home for the holidays like the rest of 'em?" Hermione said sensibly, "Probably a lot of responsibility on her shoulders now, being the new headmistress and all…. and with extra responsibilities with the Order."
Harry, as they discussed McGonagall's life, took off on the broom to search the high ceilings of the chamber. Ron called out, "Who'd win in a quidditch match, Harry? You or Krum?" Hermione answered for him this time, "Harry would win, of course!" Harry grinned appreciatively. "Thanks, Hermione!" he called from 30 feet above their heads. But Ron's grin was even bigger.
Bored, an hour or so later, Ron shouted, "How's the weather up there?" Hermione groaned at the overused joke, but Harry answered back, "Foggy! This is about as easy as seeing through Trelawney's crystal balls!" Ron and Hermione gave amused laughs. "Any grims up there, Harry?" Ron called back. Harry didn't answer as he flew back down and landed next to the pair.
He wasn't quite ready to admit defeat, but there was absolutely no sign of a horcrux that he could see. Shrugging his shoulders and sighing, Harry said, "Guess I was wrong about a horcrux down here."
Hermione gave him a sympathetic look. "But it was a brilliant idea, Harry. No one but Voldemort could get down here! Not even Dumbledore could! Even if they forced themselves through the sinks, they still had to be Parselmouths to open the chamber walls!" Ron cut in, in excitement, "Or open a third door?"
Harry just stared at Ron in amazement. "Bloody Brilliant, Mate." Harry ran back up the statue of Salazar Slytherin and shouted impatiently, "open up!"
Nothing happened.
"Wrong language, mate," Ron offered helpfully.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Gee, thanks." Closing his eyes, he imagined a snake and tried again. "OPEN UP."
Nothing happened. Well, except for Ron swearing and Hermione admonishing him.
Harry wasn't giving up, and started shouting randomly in Parseltongue.
"Pure Blood!" nothing
"Horcrux!" nothing
"Salazar Slytherin, greatest founder of Hogwarts!" nothing
"Chamber of Secrets" nothing
"Lord Voldemort Rules!" nothing
"Immortality!" nothing…oh wait…
The base of the massive statue of Slytherin slowly opened. It revealed the largest drawer any of them had seen. And there, nestled inside of the drawer was…
"The Hufflepuff Cup!" Hermione screamed in excitement. She jumped up and did some sort of jig of excitement with Ron. "We found one!" Ron positively sang. Grinning, Harry jumped up and joined them in their impromptu song and dance.
As the excitement wore off and they calmed down, they gazed upon the cup. Was it safe to touch it? Harry remembered Dumbledore's withered hand only too well. Finally, he ripped off a section of his shirt, muttered, "engorgio" several times until the piece of shirt swelled to the size of a quilt and he folded it over. Gingerly, he picked up the cup with the shirt and wrapped it up. And then he saw what the cup was sitting on.
Piles of text and private notebooks. It looked like many years of work on Tom Riddle's part. Book after book on horcruxes. Hermione quickly dived her head into the drawer, pulling them out. Harry said slowly, "He opened the chamber in his fifth year. So, I wonder if he'd come back later to store all of these? Do you think he has any record of his other horcruxes?" Hermione dived back into the drawer with even more enthusiasm, if it were possible, although she shook her head doubtfully at the idea.
Now that they had found it, it seemed almost anticlimactic. Harry expressed these thoughts out loud. Hermione looked at him as if he were crazy. "Harry!" she exclaimed, "look at what you've done! Not even Dumbledore could have opened this drawer. Voldemort was the last living heir of Slytherin. He was the only person that should have been able to open this drawer! Just how many parselmouths do you think this school has had?"
Harry blushed. "Well, still, it didn't take any skill." "And a good thing, too," Ron added "if Dumbledore could barely take that last one, then you have some skill." Harry just continued to blush.
"Well," he said, "let's get all of these books and the horcrux out of here." Very carefully, they bewitched the books to be feather-light and wrapped them up in another engorged piece of Harry's shirt. With a jaunty step in their walk, they headed back to the pipe get out of the chamber. They'd tackle actually destroying the horcrux later, in the relative safety of Number 12, Grimmauld Place.
They squeezed through the fallen rocks and came to a stop at the base of the slimy pipe. Harry grinned and grabbed the transfigured toilet paper rope and started, rather awkwardly due to the cup in one hand, up the rope. Ron followed clutching the broomstick, and was closely followed behind by Hermione with the bag of books slung over her shoulder.
After climbing for twenty or so seconds, Harry felt the rope twitch and then snap suddenly. Harry tumbled backward, smacking into Ron, who promptly fell into Hermione. The trio tumbled back to the bottom of the pipe. Hermione landed on the ground first, with Harry and Ron piled on top, Ron smacking her on the head with the broom as they fell.
"Urgh," she groaned as she felt her forehead where a throbbing red lump had appeared. "Lucky these books were bewitched to be light!" But she looked worried. Ron gently touched her bump and declared that she would be all right, albeit the worried tone of his voice implied otherwise. But Hermione brushed his concerns aside and said impatiently, "not that! I put an unbreakable charm on the rope. Someone must have been up there!"
Harry looked at her in shock, but quickly recovered and pulled out his copy of the Marauder's Map. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," he said as quickly as possible. His eyes scanned the map, "Well, here's Myrtle…McGonagall is outside her office—" He blinked quickly, and then exclaimed, "Malfoy is right outside the door!"
Hermione looked shocked. "He's been hiding here the whole time? I was sure Voldemort had him…"
He looked at them both, calculating. "Look, we don't have much time to catch him." He looked at the pipe and added, "I'll fly up with Hermione and then leave the broom for you Ron. You take it up on the second trip with the books and cup, okay? Just give us five minutes to get up the pipe." He'd have to fly slowly to make it up- it was narrow for flying on a broomstick at high speeds.
Harry realized Hermione and Ron probably would love a romantic ride on a broomstick- but he needed to be up there now, with backup. Understanding completely, Hermione had already jumped up on the broomstick and was waiting expectantly. She smiled and said, "Let's go." There was no sense of apprehension in her voice; very different from the last few times Harry had flown with her, which, admittedly, had been on the backs of some of Hagrid's more unusual creatures.
Harry flew up the pipe as fast as he dared, but, true to Fred and George's word back in his first year, the school brooms did indeed have a drag to the left. As they reached Myrtle's bathroom, Harry was reminded of his conversation last year with Myrtle, who had apparently befriended Malfoy. And Dobby had said he hadn't stopped following him! How could he have been so stupid?
As they jumped off the broom, Harry shouted in Myrtle's general direction, sounding remarkably like Ron, "Couldn't keep your fat mouth shut, huh?"
Myrtle flopped out of her stall as they consulted the Marauder's Map to Malfoy's location and said moodily, "At least he talks to me like I'm a person!"
Harry was extremely doubtfully, but didn't have the time to dispute Myrtle's claims that Malfoy was decent. He and Hermione left the broom and Ron behind and raced after Draco.
They weren't sure where exactly he was heading, but as they ran past the Head Office they slowed to a stop. Headmistress McGonagall was lying on the floor unconscious.
Hermione's mouth opened in horror, and Harry just said grimly, "stay here, take care of her. I'll go after Malfoy."
Consulting the map again, Harry ran in Malfoy's direction, toward the great front doors. A minute later, he heard Ron calling, from the air. Pausing and panting, Harry jumped up on the broomstick behind Ron. They reached the front door just as Malfoy was- according to the map. But they saw him nowhere.
Ron pulled out his wand but couldn't find a target. Suddenly, they heard Malfoy bellow, "Petrificus Totalus" He hit Ron directly, causing the broom, and Ron, to crash to the floor. Malfoy must be wearing an invisibility cloak.
As Malfoy ran for another shot, to hit Harry, something loud fell with a clunk on the ground. It was long and wrapped in a cloak. Harry, catching the suddenly visible object, shouted, "Stupefy" but apparently missed, as Malfoy taunted, "You'll never catch me, Potter. I'm about to make the Dark Lord proud of me!" His voice held longing and desperation.
Harry shouted back, to keep Malfoy in the building, "Looks to me like you've been hiding from him! How come your mommy keeps putting ads out for your return?"
Malfoy just laughed and said, "I'm a little too busy for her now, Potter. I'm doing business the Dark Lord requested especially! And I'm doing it all by myself, without that interfering git." Harry was shocked. Since when did Malfoy call Snape a git? Harry was suddenly knocked to his feet with the jelly-legs jinx and the mysterious object was picked up by Malfoy, went invisible, and the front door opened and closed.
Harry wobbled over to Ron and muttered the counter-curse to unbind him. Ron smiled, said thanks, and did the same for Harry. They looked at each other, but Malfoy was already off of the map. Then, remembering the unconscious McGonagall, they ran back to the head office.