Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Chapter 24 – The Chamber of Secrets No More
News that they were returning to the Chamber of Secrets did not sit well with any of the Weasley brothers, nor Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. All of them tried to convince Ginny to stay here with them and not go down there but she merely shook her head at them and clung tighter to Harry's arm. Knowing they wouldn't convince her otherwise, Bill had then declared that he was going down with her, a declaration quickly repeated by all her other brothers. Even Charlie, who hadn't been able to get time off work this last month, told his boss he was going to be there for his sister that day. Luckily his boss didn't put up a fight, though that was largely because Charlie would be able to bring back a first-hand account of this highly anticipated event. Four days after the meeting in the Headmaster's office, a crowd gathered in the corridor outside Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Given the large interest, only one official from each Ministry of Magic that had sent envoys were allowed, while two ICW officials, not including Dumbledore, were permitted.
The entire Weasley family along with Harry and Hermione, several British Ministry officials, Hogwarts professors and several members of both the domestic and foreign press were also present, making their group quite large already, though there were two others that Harry insisted on joining them. Myrtle had lost her life to the basilisk, thankfully the only one to have done so, and Harry wanted to give her a chance to see the beast if she wanted. Myrtle seemed quite shocked that she would be included when Harry offered, having entered the girl's bathroom before everyone else, but she declined saying the yellow eyes she remembered haunted her enough and though she knew now that it was a basilisk that killed her, she didn't need the image in her head for eternity.
The final delegates Harry insisted on joining them were from Gringotts. Harry had learned quickly on arriving in the wizarding world at the age of seven the importance of not only toeing the line where the goblins were concerned, but of actually getting them on your side. Gringotts was the only wizarding bank in the entire world and as such controlled every galleon, sickle and knut there was. Established in Britain in 1474 by the goblin Gringott, word had quickly spread to the other goblin nations throughout the world that Britain's wizarding community had entrusted the goblins with all their gold. Goblins were universally hated by wizards, who were just as hated in return, and just like their British counterparts, the other goblins thought it amusing that wizards didn't think twice of giving them their gold and so Gringotts quickly became international. Aside from a few attempts throughout the centuries by various wizarding governments to gain control of the bank even against the law, and in which the goblins would lock the bank down, stopping anyone from accessing their money, things ran smoothly. This was almost entirely because goblins were among the loyalist, and most honourable creatures on Earth. While they took great delight in vexing wizards, being as obstinate and obstructive as possible during transactions, and would not hesitate to exploit a loophole, they took seriously the contract that had been agreed upon when each new vault was opened, as well as the various treaties signed since Gringotts' inception. As such, wizards had never had to worry about the goblins stealing their gold or doing anything nefarious with it as the goblins' honour wouldn't let them. Even so, the goblins still controlled the world's current supply of gold and the minting of new coins and so had great influence over every single wizarding economy, making them one of the most powerful institutions there were.
It astounded Harry that most wizards didn't see that and continued to belittle the goblins and think themselves better than them. Harry had done everything he could to befriend the goblins since his arrival in the wizarding world, and even though friend would not be the correct term, he had definitely earned the goblins' respect, as demonstrated every time he walked into the bank in Diagon Alley. There was no waiting in line for Harry, to deal with a goblin that barely look up from whatever it was doing and who spoke with great disdain. He was greeted courteously the moment he walked in and shown directly to the Potter accounts manager's office. That manager, Griphook, was here today along with, to everyone's shock, Ragnok, the Director of Gringotts and Leader of the Glorious Goblin Nation. Harry had sent the invitation to Ragnok, as was proper given his status, but never had he thought Ragnok would actually show up. The goblin leader rarely left the bank and for him to mingle with wizards was an even rarer sight.
Finally, they were all ready to descend into the Chamber. Their group was too large to all fit into the girl's lavatory so those whom Cornelius deemed most important, which included himself and his wife – Aldora having insisted on coming as well – were crowded around to see Harry open the Chamber. The hiss of Parseltongue brought a shiver to most people but Harry ignored it, once again ordering stairs to appear, before beginning the descent down into the darkness. Upon reaching the bottom, Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, the twins and Percy were all ushered unto a protective circle of their parents, older siblings, guardians, professors, as well as a few aurors Cornelius had brought along as well. With the basilisk dead it was believed any threat the Chamber posed was gone, but since no one had ever actually explored the Chamber they weren't taking any chances. The bright flashes of multiple cameras going off began when they reached the snakeskin, as did the gasps of shock and horror. No one could quite believe just how big this basilisk had been. Another hiss from Harry opened the circular door into the Chamber proper where the flash of cameras and gasps grew. Harry wasn't paying attention to them though, his sole focus being on Ginny, who was grasping his hand so tightly he feared she might break a finger or two. Harry squeezed her hand back and offered a small smile when she looked up at him, indicating he would follow her lead. With a shaky breath Ginny began to more forwards towards the statue of Slytherin, its mouth gaping open and the dead basilisk there beside it, mostly submerged in the pool of water at the statue's base. She slowed as they reach the end, her gaze focused on a black stain still visible on the ground, where Harry had stabbed the diary. The fang he'd used was still there, left where he'd dropped it a month ago. Ginny fell to her knees beside the black stain and released Harry's hand, picking up the fang and holding it in both hands in front of her.
"Ginny…" Harry murmured, wanting to comfort her, but she merely shook her head as tears began to fall. Harry looked to the others, unsure what to do, and only then became aware that the Chamber was dead silent. The group appeared frozen, most eyes being trained on the dead serpent, varying looks of shock and horror visible on their faces, though some were on him and Ginny. Aldora was the first to break the silence as with a sob she ran forwards and pulled Harry to her.
"My dear boy!" She sobbed. "To have faced such a creature…I can't imagine…" She couldn't form more of a coherent thought, but she didn't need to. Harry returned her embrace and murmured that he was alright. He even hugged Cornelius when the Minister joined them, wrapping an arm around his wife and ward. Harry was vaguely aware of a flash going off, but this time he didn't care that someone took his picture; he knew that neither of the Fudges had initiated this moment for publicity, but out of genuine concern for him. The camera flash seemed to unfreeze the crowd as people began talking, and more cameras began to flash. When Aldora released him, Harry quickly found himself wrapped in another embrace, this time being squished between the twins.
"You saved our sister from that?" One of them said, sounding choked up.
"If you ever, ever, need anything, you come to us, Harry." Said the other.
"No, he comes to me." The rest of the Weasley siblings had joined them, along with Hermione, and it was Bill who had spoken. Harry couldn't quite make out the look on his face, but it was intense, as Bill's eyes bore into his. "We owe you our sister's life, Harry, and if anyone is going to repay that life debt, then as the oldest Weasley it's going to be me." He didn't include his parents, who were both kneeling beside Ginny, trying unsuccessfully to engage her as she continued to just stare at the fang in her hands.
"No, Bill, I-"
"Shut up, Harry." Ron said, punching him in the arm. Harry looked between them, each of the Weasley brothers staring at him with determination. Finally he sighed.
"Just…don't go overboard, alright?" Harry knew that he'd never convince them that they didn't owe him anything, and given the looks on their faces he counted himself lucky that none of them had tried to invoke a magical life debt. Or rather, that Bill and Charlie hadn't. As the only two Weasley brothers of age only they would be able enact the old magic that would see them have to literally give their life for Harry, either to save him from death, or simply if he should ask for it. Such old magic was rarely used now, but Harry knew that the old pureblood families still adhered to it sometimes. For purebloods like the Malfoys they considered it quite the coup if they managed to wrangle either a life debt or wizard's oath from someone, two old pieces of magic that would see the one who had given it unable to say no when the Malfoys called in a favour at the most opportune time for them. For purebloods like the Weasleys, however, such magic was only used in the direst of circumstances, when their honour as wizards, and the honour of their family, demanded it. Although he'd never agree with it, Harry could see why they would deem this situation as requiring a life debt. Even if they hadn't enacted the old magic, and so weren't magically obliged to give their lives for him, they could still take this to extremes. Harry was sure he knew Ron enough, and even the twins, to know they wouldn't go too far, but the older Weasley brothers he wasn't sure about, and didn't want to spend the rest of his days with an entourage of Weasley bodyguards.
Bill offered a small smile and stepped aside allowing room for the next person to attack Harry, which happened to be Hermione. She threw her arms around him and held him close for a few moments, muttering in his ear about how brave he was, and if he ever did something like this again without her she'd hex him into next year. Her moment was brief before she released him and went to stand beside Ron, grasping his hand reassuringly when she noticed he was shaking as he looked towards the basilisk. Both blushed when they realized they were holding hands, but didn't let go, as Ron squeezed her hand back. Harry sighed as he saw that Hermione hadn't been the end of the line of people wanting to talk to him. Luckily, however, Cornelius took charge.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Harry will not be speaking to anyone individually, or I fear we will never get out of here, but we shall take some questions now. If that's alright with you, Harry?" Cornelius looked to him and Harry nodded vigorously, just glad not to have been left to fend for himself.
"Is it true you killed that thing with a sword?" The first question was shouted out.
"Yes." He said simply and if they were waiting for more they were sorely disappointed. Harry had never been good at interviews and certainly didn't like people prying into his life, so anytime he was forced to answer the press' questions he did just that, and nothing more.
"And that that sword was the Sword of Godric Gryffindor?"
"Yes."
"How did you get it?" The British press, at least, was used to how Harry was in interviews and so were quick with the follow up questions.
"The Sorting Hat gave it to me. I don't know where it originally came from though." While Harry wouldn't elaborate by his own volition, there was a difference between giving them details they really didn't need to know, and heading off questions he knew were coming. This continued for several minutes, where Harry practically had to recount the entire incident, until one of them crossed the line.
"Is it true, Mr. Potter, that that little girl is responsible for all this?" Harry stiffened and his eyes flashed with anger as he turned to face Rita Skeeter. The woman was always sticking her nose where it didn't belong and writing inflammatory articles for The Daily Prophet, some of which were pure fabrications. He had heard Cornelius say one time that no one at the Prophet even really liked Skeeter, but they kept her around because of her ability to get the scoops no one else could, though how she did it no one knew.
"That girl has a name." He replied coldly. "It is Miss Ginny Weasley, and no, she is not responsible for any of this."
"Come now, Harry," Skeeter coaxed. "Everyone knows that Arthur Weasley's daughter was involved. It was her that brought you down here in the first place wasn't it? Because she was petrifying our children?"
"Ginny didn't petrify anyone!" Harry's anger turned to rage. "She was possessed by Voldemort, and it's because of Voldemort that she was involved at all." Neary everyone winced at the name, but Harry didn't care. "I can name several people in this room that fell to the imperious of Voldemort's underlings and yet you're trying to say that a first-year should have been able to fend off against Voldemort himself?" Skeeter had the decency to flush in embarrassment when it was put that way. She looked to her fellow reporters but received no aid, the foreign press looking particularly disgusted that she would try to place such blame on a child. "Ginny is as much a victim here as those that were petrified, if not more so." Harry continued. While he wouldn't offer more words than absolutely necessary to the press, he would speak all day if he had to to protect his friends. "Not only was her life in danger just like the others, but she had direct contact with the basilisk and had Voldemort himself trying to kill her so he could return. But what's more, Ginny has to live with the memories of what happened, of what that monster made her do. She is in no way to blame for any of this, and anyone who says otherwise will answer to me…just as it did." He nodded towards the basilisk's corpse and was quite satisfied when many people paled. Though they knew that he hadn't defeated the basilisk by possessing any extraordinary magical talent, the fact remained that he had defeated a basilisk, a feat that no one within the last five centuries could claim. Add that to the fact that he was the Boy Who Lived, and many were suitably weary. Turning towards Ginny, Harry muttered darkly, "This interview is over."
"Quite right." Cornelius quickly agreed and began ushering the press away from Harry,though he himself continued to answer questions. It wasn't just the press that had gathered to hear Harry speak, but the entire group that had come down to the Chamber, and they too dispersed now, except for two who remained.
"Nicely done, Mr. Potter." Ragnok said approvingly. "Protecting one's…friend, as thoroughly as you have is a move worthy of a goblin."
"Thank you, Director." He replied, knowing to be compared to a goblin, by a goblin, was an honour, though he did find it odd the way Ragnok had said the word friend.
"I also must thank you for your invitation to be here today. The Goblin Nation has never been included in anything so important to wizards." Ragnok continued. "Admittedly we would normally not give two shits about something of wizarding interest, but with the historical, and monetary, significance of this event, I am glad to have seen it first-hand." Harry nodded but was suddenly confused.
"Monetary?"
"Of course. Gringotts prepared a proposal for you the moment we knew that the rumours of a slain basilisk were more than just rumours." He said as if it were obvious. "Of course, seeing the beast we will have to revise the proposal. It is much larger than we thought, and of course we did not anticipate there being a snakeskin as well, especially one that looks to be almost complete."
"I…I'm sorry, I'm still not following you, Director." His confusion was written plainly on his face and both goblins chuckled.
"Did I not tell you, Director, that Mr. Potter here is a unicorn among wizards?" Griphook said. "He does not think like others of his kind and I honestly doubt if he has a deceitful bone in his body." It sounded like a compliment, so Harry took it as such with a muttered thank you.
"The basilisk is worth a great deal of money, Harry." Bill spoke up, looking at him from where he sat at his sister's side. Beside him Charlie nodded.
"The snakeskin we saw in the cave alone is worth a fortune. Basilisk hide, even shed basilisk hide, is very spell resistant, more so than most species of dragons." Harry started blankly for a moment as the reality of what that meant sunk in.
"Bloody hell!"
A/N - Sorry for the long wait, it's been a weird few weeks.
Review please!
