It was a few hours later when Dumbledore finally returned. During that time, McGonagall had cast a charm which removed all of the slime and dirt from their robes and had conjured up a plate of sandwiches and some mugs of tea which they devoured hungrily.

When Dumbledore finally did arrive he was accompanied by both Professor Snape and a now-clean and immaculate looking Professor Lockhart. Following behind was Hermione Granger.

"How's Ginny and Luna?" Ron asked immediately.

"Madame Pomfrey is preparing the mandrake drafts as we speak. I expect Miss Weasley will be back among us tomorrow. As for Miss Lovegood – she is recovering. She went through quite an ordeal."

The three nodded. Dudley could scarcely believe it had been Luna all along. She was also so quirky and weird. He had found her a mixture of amusing and annoying. It felt strange to imagine that she had been possessed by Lord Voldemort.

"Now, I wish to know what happened tonight. Start at the beginning."

Between them, Dudley, Ron and Dean told Dumbledore about their adventures. Dudley told how he had first found the diary and tossed it aside. Ron speculated that Luna must have picked it up when visiting Ginny. They then told how they suspected it was Malfoy.

Hermione interrupted to tell her side of the story here. She told how she and Neville both also suspected Malfoy, and that she started investigating when the chamber had been opened last.

When she mentioned her idea to use polyjuice potion, Professor Snapegave a start and looked angry, but Dumbledore silenced him with a look.

"And of course, the potion went wrong and I ended up in the hospital wing for weeks."

Dudle then told about finding the diary in Myrtle's bathroom and then realising it was Voldemorts. "I recognised the name, Professor," Dudley said. "Tom Riddle—I knew it had to be his diary."

"And you didn't think to bring this to our attention?" McGonagall asked.

Dudley shook his head. "I thought just get rid of it. I threw it on the fire."

"And then?" Dumbledore prompted.

"I dunno, I thought that was it."

Dumbledore nodded slowly. "I can only assume that Miss Lovegood retrieved the diary again and continued using it. Very unfortunate."

"Yes Professor," Dudley said, feeling sheepish. He then told how Luna had approached them and told them to follow.

"And Gilderoy came with you?" Dumbledore looked up.

"Yes, Professor," Dudley said. "He leapt down the pipe first."

"Really, Gilderoy?" Dumbledore said, raising his eyebrows.

"Of course," Gilderoy said, a little awkwardly. "I was't going to let a group of children go headfirst into danger."

Dumbledore looked a little impressed.

Dudley, Ron and Dean continued with their story.

"Ron was terrific," Dean said. "Fired a bunch of hexes and curses at Riddle."

"Yeah, well, he hurt my sister." Ron's ears were pink.

"Which got Riddle angry," Dudley continued. "Then he summoned the snake."

At this, Dumbledore sat upright a little and Snape and McGonagall both leant forward to listen.

"Ron shouted to cast conjunctivitus," said Dudley.

"Which we all did," Lockhart inputted. "Stereo conjunctivitus curses, hit it right in the eyes—blinding it you see. It was a good call by Ron, one I was just about to suggest myself. It's the correct thing to do when facing ..."

"Thank you, Gilderoy," Dumbledore said.

"Then, we ran," Dudley said. "I grabbed Luna and we ran for it. Gild ... Professor Lockhart tripped, and I tripped over him and that ... thing was going to get us. But Professor Lockhart did something to make it stop."

Gilderoy stepped forward again, looking pleased at the chance to talk about his exploits. "Obliviate," he said proudly. "Turned the wretched thing into a vegetable. I'm the best in the world at memory charms. Of course I could habe just killed the serpent—I know a variety of curses and hexes that would have done it. But with Dudley and Luna nearby, I didn't want to risk them getting hit."

"And that stopped the snake?" Dumbledore said.

"Removed all of its memories," Lockhart said, proudly. "Didn't know where it was, who it was, what it was doing or even what it was when I was through with it."

"And you remember this quite clearly, Dudley?" Dumbledore asked, fixing Dudley with a stare. "No blank patches. Nothing missing. You rememeber the events correct?"

"Yes, Professor," Dudley asked, feeling a little confused. "I remember falling, scrambling for my wand and then Professor Lockhart yelling we both ran for it."

Dumbledore looked at Lockhart for a few seconds and then gave a small nod of his head. "Very commendable, Gilderoy. Very commendable. It seems your quick thinking has saved two lives from a very cruel fate."

Gilderoy beamed a toothy smile.

"We came to the second locked door," Ron continued the story. "Me and Dean did. We couldn't speak parseltongue but then Dean cast a bludgeoning hex. Smashed it to pieces."

"Most excellent, Mr. Thomas."

Dean grinned. "It was nothing. It was Hermione who helped us practice that one."

"And conjunctivitus," Ron said. "No way would we have been able to cast that without her."

Hermione looked embarassed at the praise.

Ron picked up the story. "Then we kept running. I was helping Dud with Luna. Professor Lockhart cast another spell," Ron said, sounding grudgingly admiring. "Filled the tunnel up with smoke. I mean, we couldn't see where we were going, but I guess that giant snake wouldn't have been able to either."

"Quite right," Lockhart said. "Take away the serpent's eyes and you take away its biggest weapon."

"Quick thinking, Gilderoy," Dumbledore said. He was looking at Lockhart with a newfound respect.

"Then, we bumped into you, Professor," Dudley finished.

"The snake is dead?" Dean asked.

Dumbledore nodded. "Quite dead, Severus saw to that."

"Snape?" Dudley almost shouted.

"Professor Snape," Dumbledore corrected. "I contributed of course, but it was Severus who dealt the finishing blow."

Snape gave a small smile.

"What happened to the diary, Professor?" Dudley asked. "Riddle... the one who appeared. He said it contained his memories. But how could it do all of that?"

Dumbledore looked thoughtful. "I can not say," he said, finally. "It appears to me that Voldemort left his memories in the diary to unlock the Chamber of Secrets in the future. Very dark magic."

"Will he return?" Dean asked.

"No, Severus saw to that."

They all looked at Snape again who didn't elaborate.

"It is destroyed," Dumbledore explained. "Severus destroyed the diary using fiendfyre. Upon which the memory fo Tom Riddle disappeared. It was very close—if you didn't get Miss Lovegood out of there when you did, he would likely have fully materialised and she would have died."

"As it is, through your actions, you have helped a great many people. So I believe points are in order. Hermione Granger—for tutoring your fellow students in some very powerful magic far beyond their current level, I grant you 20 points. Dean Thomas for showing bravery in accompanying your friends into danger I award you 10 points and for demonstrating excellent use of the bludgeoning hex—a spell even many 3rd and 3th years struggle with—I award 20 points. Mr Dursley—for making sure to rescue Luna Lovegood at great risk to yourself, I award 50 points. Finally, Mr. Weasley ..."

Ron blushed.

"You dared to raise your wand in anger against Lord Voldemort. You duelled him. Many wizards and witches mcuh more your age and with much more experience would have failed to do so. But you didnt hesitate. You fought back and if he had his full corporeal form, I have no doubt you would have been able to subdue him. That was an act of bravery worthy of any Gryffindor. I award you 60 points."

Dudley clapped Ron on the back. Ron's face was as red as his hair.

"I also believe I will award all four of you with an award for services to the school. I will have Argus create a plaque."

Dudley grinned. An award. That sounded cool.

Dumbledore then turned to Lockhart.

"Gilderoy, I have had my doubts about you all term, but when push came to shove, there is no doubt that you acted quickly, decisively and cleverly and in doing so managed to save Mr. Dursley and Miss Lovegood's charm. A memory charm—quite unorthodox, but there is no doubt it worked."

He held out his hand and Lockhart shook it.