Chapter 16: Harry's Story
"Ok." Harry said as class started back up. "Today, we will be talking about Basilisks. Can anyone tell me what that is?"
Most of the class raised their hand.
"Mr. Gray."
"A Basilisk is a giant, venomous snake. The glare is also murderous." Polaris answered.
"Correct. 10 points to Gryffindor." Harry said.
Closer to the end of class,
"If anyone wants to know more about the glare, all they have to do is ask Moaning Myrtle."
"Was that how she was killed?" Vega asked.
"Yes." Harry answered.
"Do we want to know how you know that?" Megan asked.
"Not really. And, if the off chance occurs that you actually come across one, make sure you have a phoenix with you and don't look at the serpent until the phoenix rips the eyes out." Harry said remembering the Chamber of Secrets.
He noticed everyone looking at him as if there was a story.
"Don't ask. The night I killed a basilisk was horrible."
"You actually killed a basilisk?" Adam asked.
"Yes. When I was about your age actually." Harry said.
The whole class's mouths dropped.
"Well, class is over. Class dismissed."
Nobody moved.
"What? One of my fellow students had been taken down to the Chamber of Secrets which is in Moaning Mrytle's bathroom. The Defense Teacher at the time decided to cast a memory charm on me and Ron because he was a fraud and we had found him out. But it backfired because he was using Ron's broken wand. Ron stayed with him and I went in. I killed the snake with the help of Dumbledore's phoenix and save my classmate. End of Story."
The class got up and left.
0000
"Ok. He left out a lot of detail." Hermione told the class.
"Where were you?" Jeremy asked her.
"I had been petrified. I saw the basilisk, but through a mirror. If I didn't use it, I would have been killed instantly." Hermione finished the lecture. "But we are here to talk about Potions. Not Slytherin's mascot."
0000
A few months later in History,
"Today, we will steer off course due to Dumbledore's request, and talk about L-Lord V-Voldemort." Binns hesitantly said.
Megan lifted her head off her desk
"Before he became the darkest wizard, his name was Tom Riddle. Very few people knew this at the time. In school, he was very bright. As time went on, he got more powerful. When he left school, he disappeared. When he came back, he was no longer Tom Riddle. He gathered a group of followers known as Death Eaters."
Binns continued talking about how Voldemort and the Death Eaters killed muggles and any wizards who opposed him
"Finally, in 1981, he was defeated by a one-year old child. Our very own, Professor Potter."
Megan noticed a few classmates and even Binns look her way.
"For 13 years, the wizarding world lived in peace." Binns continued. "Finally, in June of 1995, with Professor Potter as a witness, you-know-who returned. According to Professor Potter, it was an ancient ritual that had to do with blood of the enemy, flesh of the servant, and bone of the father. However, in order to pull that off, they needed you-know-who. Which, they had."
Megan paled.
"About a year later, You-know-who attacked the school. Just as he was about to finish off Professor Dumbledore, Professor Potter threw a Portkey at him and followed. When he returned, You-know-who was gone forever. He's never talked about it."
0000
After class, Megan decided to make a completely rash decision.
"Peppermint imps."
Nothing
"Bertie Botts"
Megan was standing in front of the gargoyle that led to Dumbledore's office.
"Why didn't I bring the map?" she asked herself after she was starting to run out of wizard candy.
"Hagrid's Treacle Tarts?"
The gargoyle jumped.
"Hagrid's Treacle Tarts? Yuck."
When she got to the door, she knocked.
"Enter." A voice said.
She obeyed and saw the elderly headmaster and a dull colored phoenix. Just then, the phoenix bursted into flames.
"Ah. Miss. Potter. I was wondering when I would see you."
"Um Professor? You're bird just…"
"Ah. A pity you had to see him on a burning day."
Just then, a baby phoenix rose from the ashes.
"So, what did you do?" he asked her.
"Nothing sir." She said. "During the History lesson today, Professor Binns mentioned the final battle. I was wondering how anybody really knows Voldemort's gone."
"A very valid question." Dumbledore said. "Professor Potter never spoke of it. Instead he gave me this to keep safe."
Dumbledore pulled a small vial out of his desk that was filled with silver smoke.
"What is that?" Megan asked.
"The memory of that night. I would show it to you, but I need his permission."
Megan was torn. She wanted to know the huge secret of that night, but she also wanted to respect Harry's privacy.
As she thought about this, she didn't notice Dumbledore heading over to the fireplace and fire-calling Harry.
"Yes Professor?" Harry asked.
"Your sister is in my office."
"What did she do?" Harry laughed
"Professor Binns had just given the lecture about Voldemort and she wanted to know about the last battle. I was not going to show it to her without your permission."
Harry's end was silent for a few minutes. "Do you think she can handle it?" he finally asked.
"I believe she can." Dumbledore truthfully told his former student.
"Alright. Tell her to stop by my office when you're done with her."
"Very well."
Harry hung up, went to his desk, placed his head in his hands, and waited.
"Miss. Potter?" Dumbledore asked the second year girl.
Megan snapped out of her thinking.
"I received permission from your brother." Dumbledore said as he poured the memory into his pensieve. "Do you know what this is?"
"Yes sir. It's a pensieve."
"Mr. Potter has asked me to keep this memory safe. Now, do you know how it works?"
"Yes sir." She said as she and Professor Dumbledore went into it.
0000
Megan found herself in the Great Hall. There was a huge battle going on. A man with dark red hair and a pregnant woman with blond hair were battling masked witches and wizards. Death Eaters. She also saw John and Sirius battling other Death Eaters. Remus was dueling a man who looked like he needed to wash his hair BADLY. Dumbledore was battling a tall, thin man with scarlet eyes and a nose that looked more like two slits on the face.
"Those two people," Dumbledore told her pointing to the red haired man and the blond woman, "Are your parents."
"So, that's me?" she asked referring to the baby still in the womb.
Dumbledore nodded.
Behind the staff table, she heard, "Be careful guys"
She looked and saw a bat and a robin fly out from the table. The robin flew over to the Death Eater fighting Sirius and the bat flew over to the greasy-haired man. Both animals grabbed the wands of the Death Eater and dropped the wands into Sirius' and Remus' hands.
"No fair. Animal intervention." The female Death Eater fighting Sirius said.
"AVADA…" another Death Eater started pointing his wand at the bat.
"Expelliarmus" a female voice called from the entrance.
"It's impossible." The greasy haired bad guy gasped.
"Next time, think before you lock us in Dumbledore's office Professor." A 17 year old version of Fred told him as he and his twin came up from behind a 16 year old version of Hermione, who had her wand still raised.
"You locked them in?" Remus said.
"Petrificus Totalus" Sirius said at the Death Eater he was fighting
She went ridged.
"Jim! Do you want to do the honors?" Remus asked as he looked towards James
"Gladly. Levicorpus"
Slimeball rose in the air feet first.
"Just like 5th year." Sirius said wiping an imaginary tear.
"AVADA…" Voldemort started pointing his wand at Dumbledore.
"HEY TOM! CATCH!" a 15 year old Harry yelled throwing a goblet towards Voldemort.
Before Voldemort could do anything, out of reflex, he caught the goblet and disappeared.
At that point, the staff had overtaken the Death Eaters so everyone cheered. Except Harry.
"This ends tonight." He said grinding his teeth as he made himself a Portkey.
0000
The memory faded.
"Who was the man Uncle Remus was fighting?" Megan asked the headmaster.
"That was Severus Snape. He was the Potions Master at the time."
Just then, the scenery changed to a place that looked like a house that had blown up and was never repaired.
"Well, well. Potter. Fancy seeing you here. And I was thinking you just sent me away to save Hogwarts." Voldemort said to Harry
"I did. I just wanted to finish this once and for all."
"So, you want to join your parents?"
"I can do that when I get back to the castle." Harry said grinning.
"What are you talking about boy? Your parents are dead. Your mudblood mother died trying to save you."
Harry whipped out his wand. "Never insult my mother."
"CRUCIO!" Voldemort shot one of the Unforgivables at Harry
Harry dodged behind what looked to be once a chimney and sent the disarming curse at his opponent. It missed and Voldemort reacted with the Imperious. Harry fought it off and decided it was time.
"I must admit, you've gotten better." Voldemort said.
"Well, I have you to thank. If you hadn't killed my parents and marked me as your equal, I wouldn't have practiced as much."
"So that was the other part of the prophesy." He said as he sent another Crucio that hit it's mark.
"How come you're not trying to kill me yet?" Harry managed to ask.
"Have you forgotten already about what happened at the Triwizard Tournament, Potter?" referring to the connection.
"No. Amor Caritas!" Harry said.
"AGGGHHHH!" Voldemort screamed in agony.
"Wow. You do have a lot of evil in you." Harry said.
"What was that?"
"A Gryffindor spell. It won't work for you. If anything, it will heal me."
The duel continued with Voldemort attempting Unforgivables and Harry dodging.
(A/N: This next spell happened when James, Lily, and Dumbledore found out Harry switched wands in the Original)
"DEBILITATLEO!" Harry cried.
A gold light came out of his wand like a patronus and took the form of a lion. The attack went towards Voldemort and engulfed him. When the light faded, Voldemort was left gasping for breath.
"AVADA…" Voldemort started not fully recovered.
"LAPIS GORGONIS!"
The green spell hit Voldemort and he started to go ridged and gray. Voldemort was now a stone statue. Megan starred open mouthed
Harry took some deep breaths as he regained his composer.
"And just so you know," he told the statue, "my parents are alive again."
He went behind the place where he dodged the first curse and said, "Dirumpus"
The statue exploded into millions of tiny pieces.
"I guess I better get Dad's wand back to him."
Harry stood up and grabbed a stuffed stag doll.
"Portus."
With that, he disappeared.
0000
Megan found herself back in the Headmaster's office.
"That was it?" she asked.
Dumbledore nodded as he pulled that memory out of the pensieve. "If you like, you can see the memory of your parents' reaction when they found out that he had switched the wands."
Megan thought. "Can I also see what happened when he got back?"
"Of course."
"Alright."
Dumbledore pulled out three of his memories and they went in.
Megan looked around and saw that she was in the Great Hall again.
"Where's Harry?" Megan's mother asked frantically.
"I'm sure he's alright." James attempted to calm her down while trying to calm himself.
"How can you be so sure?" Lily asked.
"It's alright." Dumbledore made an attempt. "His wand and Voldemort's are brothers. They can't harm each other.
"What type of wand is Harry's?" Lily asked curious.
"If I recall correctly, an eleven inch Holly and phoenix feather." Dumbledore told her.
Megan noticed her father looking at his wand. When he saw it, he turned pale
"Professor. I think we might have a problem." James said as he showed them the Holly wand.
"James. I thought your wand was Mahogany." Lily told her husband.
"It is." He said. "Harry must have switched the last time we spoke together."
The memory faded.
Megan was at a loss for words.
The Great Hall reappeared
"Harry James Potter!" Lily yelled at him when he reappeared. "Where in Merlin's name have you been?"
"It's alright. He's gone." Harry told her.
"What do you mean?" she asked him.
"I'd rather not talk about it." Harry said.
"Come with me Harry." Dumbledore said to him. "You 13 may join us if you'd like." He added to Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, George, Sara, Spica, Melissa, Remus, Sirius, John, Lily, and James.
They all looked at Harry before agreeing.
When they got to the office,
"Now Harry, I'm going to ask you to think about the battle you just had with Voldemort."
"Alright." Harry said reliving the terrible hours.
Dumbledore touched his wand to Harry's head and pulled out the memory. After that, he placed it in Harry's Pensieve.
"When did that get up here?" Harry asked.
"Sorry mate. Dumbledore asked for it while you were gone." Ron told him.
"Do you mind if we look? It is your memory." Dumbledore asked.
"Sure Professor. It's probably better that way." Harry said as the others plunged in.
The memory faded.
"What happened?" Megan asked.
"You have already seen the memory." Dumbledore explained.
Another memory came up. The scenery hadn't changed.
When they came out, Lily wrapped her son in a very tight hug.
"Where did you learn those spells Harry?" Hermione asked.
"The book Dad gave me." Harry answered.
"Why did You-know-who scream at that one spell?" Ron asked.
"Because that is a spell that lets the victim feels what it is like to be loved." Dumbledore answered. "Voldemort had so much evil in him, it caused him pain."
"That's new." Sirius said.
"Actually, it's old." Melissa corrected. "It's one of the Lost Spells"
"I have a question though." Lily said. "Why did you choose that location dear?"
"And why are you still holding that Portkey?" George added.
Harry gave George a look, "I just feel like it." He answered the twin. "As for why I chose that place, well, it felt right. I mean, Godric Hollow was where Voldemort's first downfall was."
"Hopefully, for the last time." Spica said.
"What are we going to do with Snivellus?" Sirius asked.
Megan looked at the Headmaster.
"You father and Mr. Black's nickname for Severus Snape." Dumbledore told her.
"I believe I will leave that to the Minister." The memory Dumbledore answered. "Sara, would you do Hogwarts the honor of being the new Potion's Master?"
"It would be my pleasure."
"Oh. Here's your wand back Dad." Harry said giving the wand to his father. "Sorry I took it."
"It's alright. You only did that so you can get rid of Voldemort."
"At least it's over." Lily sighed.
"Actually, it's only beginning." James told her.
"What do you mean Prongs?" Sirius asked.
"Well, with Voldemort gone, we are able to go back into the open. The press and many others will constantly be on our tails wanting the story." James told him.
"Since when did that bother you?" Melissa asked.
"Since I had a family of my own." James answered.
"What about Potter Manor?" Sirius asked.
"Yes. If I recall correctly, Potter Manor has many wards on it." Remus added
"I've read about it." Hermione said, "There are so many wards, that not even the best of wizards can get in."
"So much for visiting." Ron said
"Ron, how big do you think the Manor is?" James asked.
"There's enough room for both of your families and the Marauders/Maraudettes." Remus told Ron.
"With plenty of room to spare." Sirius added.
"We would love to have your family over." Lily put in her say.
"Yeah Ron. C'mon." Harry said to his friend.
"There's a Quidditch field" James told him.
"In that case, when does the Express leave?"
"Not for another month Mr. Weasley." Dumbledore answered.
"A month?"
The memory faded and Megan found herself back in her own time.
"Wow." She said.
"I'm sure if you have any questions, Harry will answer them. And, he wants you to stop by his office after you leave here."
TBC
Megan quickly raised her hand.
"Miss. Potter?"
"Do you have to show it to us?" she asked. "You don't have to if you don't want to."
Harry smiled at his sister's consideration. "Sorry Miss. Potter. I have to so that you know what you're up against if the time ever comes. I've done this lesson before. You don't have to stay if you don't want to."
"No. I want to. I want to see the killing curse." She said determined as she grabbed on to her chair.