CHAPTER TWO

As the crowds dispersed, three solitary figures stayed by the lake's edge after Dumbledore's funeral. They were looking at the castle they have called home for the last six years. "Ethelburga" a female voice whispered.

"What!" the boys replied.

"I said Ethelburga. Honestly, you guys! For the past six years you two are here, you haven't even touched the Hogwarts, A History! I can't believe you two!" Hermione exasperatingly replied. The two boys shrugged then Harry said "Well, we have 'mione here to tell us what we're missing in life, right Ron?"

"Right you are, Harry! So Hermione, what's Ethel- what was that again?" Ron interjected.

"Ethelburga was Gryffindor's castle. He was born here. When his parents passed away, he transformed it into this school, with the rest of the founders. It was originally a fortress. "

"Then why is it called Ethelburga, not Gryffindoria, or whatever?" Ron asked.

"Poor Ron, you really don't know anything about the founders aside from establishing a school!" Hermione gave the two a very Hermione-ish look then started. "Godric wasn't really Gryffindor."

"Now, now. Godric is Gryffindor! And you are in his house. Harry, I think we better bring Hermione at the hospital wing. She's a bit confused. What d'you reckon, Harry?"

At that, she gave him a slap on his arm. "You idiot, I wasn't finished yet. I mean, Godric's real name isn't Gryffindor. He just happened to have an affinity with Griffins. His name is Godric Coeur de Lion. And as for Ethelburga, it means noble fortress in Old English. Even Slytherin wasn't really Slytherin." She gave Ron a pointed look. "Salazar wasn't a Saxon, a Welsh, nor a Norman for that matter. He wasn't from around here. But enough of history right now. We better head back to the castle. I believe you two haven't packed yet. And so you know, I have packed my things already. You two go on with your packing while I look for the headmistress." The three separated at the stairs since the way to their house isn't the same with the Headmistress' office. That night's dinner was the most solemn thing they ever experienced in Hogwarts. Grief was felt to the bones in the Great Hall. Their numbers diminished to less than half of Hogwarts' population.

Numbed by sadness, Harry watched several of his housemates crying at the common room. He just watched, but never joined in. "I wish I could've asked all the things I wanted to know. I should have learned my lesson. First, my parents, then Sirius, and now, Dumbledore. Why does it have to be me?" these thoughts cycled repeatedly in his mind. Exhausted by his grief, he went to his room and slept.

Ginny woke him up at the crack of dawn.

"What the – Ginny? What's wrong? And what are you doing here?" Harry muttered sleepily.

"Harry, let's go back to the Chamber of Secrets." She replied grimly. "Keep your voice down, you might wake Ron and the others."

"But, but, but… Why?" he answered as he got up and put on his cloak. "Why should we go back there?"

"You'll understand Harry.", Was all she said while dragging him out to the stairs and into the common room. Only the dying fire showed life in Gryffindor common room as they passed it and made way out of their house. After a couple of minutes, without any interference, they made it to the girls' bathroom. Even Myrtle who was always moaning in the bathroom was not around.

"This feels weird." Harry thought.

"It always is, Harry." Ginny said as she stopped in front of the secret passage. It was already open. She started to go down the steps when Harry stopped her.

"Why is it open already? Is He here? Is Voldemort here? Why should we go down there? What are you up to Ginevra Weasley? He roared. Ginny just took his hand calmly, then hugged him. "You have to trust me" she whispered in his ear.

"Do I have a choice?" he answered weakly, looking at Ginny's eyes. She shook her head and started going down. Harry followed her until they reached the chamber.

"Look Harry, this is why I brought you here. You have to understand." She finally spoke.

Harry was awestruck at the raging battle. It was between a Basilisk and a Griffin. They were both wounded and bleeding. The griffin was attacking the Basilisk from the air. When Harry looked at the Basilisk, he saw it was guarding something. It was a cube. It was about a feet high, with runes and jewels decorating it. Only then did he realize that the ground was covered with sand. But the Chamber, as he remembered it, wasn't covered with sand. "This can't be real." He said out loud. And when he looked back on Ginny, he was stunned. He wasn't with Ginny anymore. "Mum?" he whispered?

"Yes, my son. Never forget this dream. It is important. It will help you stay alive." Then the ground under them crumbled. They were falling into nothing.

"HARRY! Wake up!" it was Ron. He was shaking him for a couple of minutes now. But Harry won't wake up. Neville, Seamus, and Dean were crowding around Harry's bed. "Dean, Seamus, go get Hermione and Ginny! Hurry!" he barked desperately. "Neville, go get a glass of water. Go!" he croaked.

"Harry, c'mon mate. Wake up." He kept on shaking the perspiring, unconscious Harry. After a few precious minutes, Dean and Seamus arrived with the two girls on tow. They ran towards his bed, both pale.

"What happened here Ron?" Ginny asked.

"He won't wake up. He was shouting and shaking in his sleep. It's been going on for almost fifteen minutes!"

"Somebody go get McGonagall!" Hermione said. "Ron, you go get her. You know what happened and you can explain it better." She told him as Ginny was wiping Harry's face. The girls sat on either side of Harry's bed while the other boys made themselves useful by stopping anyone who tried to enter their room. Finally, Professor McGonagall arrived, running, with Ron and Madam Pomfrey. "Move, move." She kept on muttering as she passed the Gryffindors on the stairs.

"Let's bring him to the Infirmary, Ms. Granger, and Ms. Weasley." Professor McGonagall said when he saw Harry's condition. Madam Pomfrey was about to perform a mobilocorpus when Harry stopped shaking. They gave a gasp when Harry opened an eye and grabbed Ginny's arm and cried. "There you are! We must find Valpurgis, quick!" then settled down again.

"Who's Valpurgis?" Hermione asked spontaneously.

"What?" Harry replied blinking his eyes. "Who's that? Was that another trivia? Like your Ethelburga the other day? Hermione, let me sleep for a while. We have the whole train ride to discuss that." He moaned, then turned, grabbed his pillow, then was about to go back to sleep again when he said. " You know, I had a weird dream. But all I can remember was falling. Wait a minute." He was shocked when he opened his eyes again. Professor McGonagall, Madam Pomfrey, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville, Dean, and Seamus were all staring down at him. "What are you all doing here?" he asked.

They told him the story while Madam Pomfrey was checking him up. "I don't think there's anything wrong with him. It was just a nightmare." She finally concluded.

"Well, you heard her. You may all go down for breakfast." Professor McGonagall said. As they all went out of the room, she stopped Harry. "You gave us quite a scare, Harry." She said tenderly as she was holding Harry's shoulder. "If you need anything, just write to me Harry." She looked at him, as if memorizing him, and then she let him go. The Gryffindors who were still at Hogwarts stayed at the common room, waiting for news. There were rumors that Harry Potter was dead on his bed that's why they were told to stay away. And the rumors were reinforced when their Head of the House and Madam Pomfrey came running to Harry's room, pale as ghosts. They all gave a sigh of relief when he stepped out of his room, dressed, and apparently alive.

The day they left Hogwarts was uneventful, save the stricken Madam Rosmerta who was forcing her way to Harry. Several Order members closed in to prevent her from reaching him. Ever since Dumbledore died, the members took it as a duty to guard Harry and never let him get out of sight. Molly even tried talking them into adopting Harry, or at least let him stay at the Burrow. But Remus stood firm, "Dumbledore wanted him to stay at the Dursley's".

And so it was back to the Dursley's for Harry, for maybe the last time.