"And so, it brings me great pleasure to announce that the cause of the petrifications has been dealt with," Amelia exclaimed with a smile. Her voice amplified slightly to be heard in the crowded Great Hall, which was the fullest it had been in years. The Professor's table had been extended to fit not only the Board of Governors and the team of Aurors. But all of the parents of the seven Slytherin's were being honoured.
The entirety of the Hall burst into cheers and applause at Amelia's announcement. Dumbledore, McGonagall and the two Potter's were the exceptions, all looking angry and sullen. Even Severus had a rare smile as he clapped from between Lucius and Dion, their wives on their other sides. Unfortunately, the table was one long rectangle, making it difficult to talk to any of their friends without sitting directly next to them. But when all the children were back home, Dion and Cassiopeia had planned a massive party for all their friends and family to celebrate.
Only one more night before the students were sent home, and five days after the events of the Chamber of Secrets. Thankfully everyone was out of the Hospital Wing as of today. Harry, Hermione and their friends had been released the day after being admitted, which had coincided with the Mandrakes maturing. The petrified students had received the Mandrake Restorative Draught two days later with no side effects. Colin Creevey had made a miraculous recovery, getting out of the Hospital Wing in time for that day's breakfast. Although he would be monitored by a St Mungos nurse for another few days once home. He had only been allowed to attend the feast as long as he sat at the front of the Gryffindor table, where Madam Pomfrey could keep an eye on him.
"I am sure many rumours are going around as to what truly happened this year," Amelia spoke when the cheering subsided. "So I want to squash the rumours and make sure everyone has the facts. Letters have also gone out to your parents to explain everything." Dumbledore scowled deeper, muttering unhappily to Minerva and Lily who sat on either side of the Headmaster. He had fought against alerting the families about what had happened. Muggle's just didn't understand the magical world, and parents wouldn't listen to the greater good when it came to their children. It's why he only had a few confidants and none of them knew everything. But as it was officially a DMLE case, Amelia overruled him. Backed shockingly by all the Death Eater parents and disappointedly the Aurors, who once upon a time looked to him.
"To begin with, you are in no danger. The threat has been dealt with." Amelia stressed carefully, making sure the students understood. "But it has been discovered that the petrifications were the result of an old cursed item that once belonged to Lord Voldemort." She paused as the students gasped, a few fell out of their seats, there was even a startled scream at the name.
"We are still investigating how this object entered Hogwarts," Amelia continued when she had everyone's attention back on her, "However, with the apparent suicide of Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, and the contents of the letter he left behind. It does appear that he was behind the cursed item entering Hogwarts, and he also admitted that all of his achievements have not been his own." Amelia paused as the students and professors gasped and shared looks of shock. Sirius leaning over to whisper to Remus, both eyeing Dumbledore suspiciously.
"He was a fraud, whose only true skill was in the obliviate spell. And when someone achieved something of notice, he would learn everything he could and then remove their memories. Publishing books, pretending to have done everything himself." Amelia explained, keeping it to the point. Although she was suspicious about his death and the letter he left behind. She had spoken to Sirius, Kingsley, Remus, Severus, Dion and Lucius. Together they agreed to investigate further after the year was wrapped up. There was no logical reason for him to use the Killing Curse on himself. None of the Aurors involved had suspected Lockhart of being behind Colin Creevey getting the diary, and she was still unsure. And even with the memories of his classroom teaching and exams, they hadn't had any reason to believe he had been obliviating people and taking credit. So why had he revealed any of it in a letter before killing himself? Nothing about it made sense.
"Now, what we have discovered was that the item in question was in an attempt to revive the Dark Lord Voldemort. This was not successful!" She shouted just before panic took over the students. "We do not believe this was even possible, to begin with. Just a deluded follower using Voldemort's dark artefacts on a fool's errand." Dion smirked into his cup, impressed with Severus' poker face, Lucius himself had to place his napkin in front of his silent chuckles. Hermione elbowed Harry hard in the ribs when the boy had to shove his face into his arms while he laughed. Rolling her eyes with a snort seeing Draco struggling to keep a straight face, attempting to keep his eyes on a Slytherin banner as if looking at Harry would break him.
"Honestly." she sighed, turning her back to them both. Looking back at Madam Bones as she kept talking, explaining the way a shade of Voldemort's memories released a Basilisk. Students were listening intently, scared of the danger they hadn't even known had been there. The Board of Governors had agreed to not reveal the possession of Colin Creevey to the students, wanting to protect him from being harassed by those who didn't understand it wasn't his fault or even being bombarded with questions about what it was like. As far as anyone was concerned, he had been the last victim.
"The Basilisk has been contained while the school year ends. The Aurors all helped to erect runes and shields to keep you safe." Amelia said, smiling at the relief on the faces before her, many shooting thankful looks at her team. "After everyone has left the castle tomorrow morning, a team of Magical Creature Experts will be coming in and she will be removed from the castle permanently. She will find a new home with others of her kind on the protected Avon Reserve." Dion hadn't been overly happy with the removal of Aziza, but he had to admit now, it wasn't fair or kind to leave such a large creature stuck in the bowels of a castle. It was cold and damp, and she had been unable to mate or do any of the things her species did naturally.
"Of course, none of this would have been discovered if not for a group of determined students," Amelia said smiling over at the eight students in green. "Wanting to help a fellow student, they found themselves in a deadly situation. But they worked together, not only destroying the shade and its vessel but saving the lives of those inside the castle." Many heads were turning to look at Potter and Weasley at the Gryffindor table, just expecting the hero to be the boy who lived.
"To these students, I want to thank you. You should never have been put in the position, to begin with, but you have done your house and families proud. As the Head of the Department of Magical Law and a member of the Board of Governors, I wish to not only gift each student's house with fifty points, but it is a pleasure and honour to present them with the Special Award for Services to the School." She paused long enough to let the whispers of excitement settle again. Sirius stepped forward to stand beside Amelia with a small table appearing next to him with the awards. Each student would get one small version to take home, a larger copy would stand on display proudly in the school's trophy room.
"I call forth, Blaise Zabini" Amelia called out, the school staring in shock as the Slytherin second year pranced his way up to where Amelia and Sirius were standing, shaking both their hands. Waving as if greeting fans as he walked back to the Slytherin table, Caterina watching and laughing at her son's antics. The only student table clapping was Slytherin with the Quidditch team hooting loudly for their beater, joined by three first-year Ravenclaws.
"Luna Lovegood," She added the Slytherins clapping and cheering loudly as the petite blonde stood gracefully, floating over to receive her award. Xeno stood up to clap wildly for his only daughter. Luna waved at her hand excitedly and grinned at Ginny, Astoria and Rose before sitting back down. Many students in shock at not only second years, but second-year SLYTHERIN'S were being awarded the prestigious shield-shaped trophy.
"Pansy Parkinson," Amelia called, unable to stop grinning as each of the Slytherins made their way up. Finally, Hufflepuff and the majority of Gryffindor had joined in the clapping. Fred and George, ignoring the odd looks from the friends unaware of their connection to the Slytherins, clapped and loudly whooped. Memphis and Marigold clapping, sharing proud and loving looks.
"Theodore Nott," Amelia called, Theo stood, blushing brightly when Hermione kissed his cheek. He rushed to meet Amelia and Sirius, shaking their hands. Theodore Senior and Samantha Nott were both clapping, Theodore grinning proudly of his only son. He quickly returned to sitting beside Hermione, relieved to be out of the immediate spotlight.
"Daphne Greengrass." Amelia smiled, she felt privileged. This was the first time in Hogwarts history for the award to be given to so many recipients at one time. There had been a few grumbles from some of the Board members about only awarding them to the Riddle twins as they did the most according to everyone involved stories. But she had pushed for it, they showed such courage and loyalty to stand by their friend's side, just because it was the right thing to do. They all deserved it.
"Draco Malfoy" Lucius whooped at his son's name, uncaring of decorum. Draco grinned, flicking the one loose strand out of his eye. Walking with a straight back to Amelia and Sirius. He wasn't surprised to be called right before his cousins. The Wizarding World had specific ways of doing things. When giving multiple awards, the ones who gave the biggest contribution were always last, therefore Hermione and Hartford would be called last. Any that were equal, like Draco and the others were arranged in order of magical bloodline importance. The Zabini's being a French line had the least pull in England so Blaise was called first. Draco grinned as he was handed the trophy, he waved to his parents before heading back.
"And finally," Amelia spoke, "The two who stared down what most grown witches or wizards couldn't. Saving a life and preventing more petrifications or deaths." Harry and Hermione shared a grin.
"Hartford and Hermione Riddle!" The Slytherin's erupted into clapping and cheering again. Fred, George and Lee hooting and hollering. Rose, Ginny and Astoria getting to their feet, ignoring the dirty looks from Ronald, Henry, James, Lily, Dumbledore and McGonagall. The Slytherin table all on their feet, it wasn't often a Slytherin managed to get such rewards of standing with Dumbledore in Hogwarts and his lackeys in the Ministry.
"Thank you Madam Bones and Auror Black." Hermione smiled, shaking their hands.
"This is a huge honour," Harry added smoothly. Seeing Fred hooting out of the corner of his eye had him biting back a laugh. Of course, his soulmate would be one of the loudest in the crowd.
"Congratulations." Sirius grinned, handing them the trophies "You deserve it,"
"Absolutely," Amelia agreed. "The casualties could have been unthinkable without you." She couldn't even imagine how they had felt destroying the shade of their biological father. But she would be forever grateful they did.
Hermione waved happily to their parents, blushing at their clapping and cheering. Harry turned to face the houses and without a second thought and a large grin he lifted the trophy over his head making the Slytherin table stand to stamp their feet, led by their Acting King.
"Oh, Merlin." Hermione groaned when she saw what he was doing. With a shake and eye roll at her mother, she dragged Harry across the floor back to the Slytherin table. Cassiopeia turned to face her husband.
"Don't look at me." Tom laughed, "That was pure Black." Severus nodded sagely, having seen a similar attitude from Sirius back in their time at Hogwarts. Thankfully, Harry hadn't the same heightened arrogance and didn't bully someone simply for being. Although, he had received apologies from both Black and Lupin back when they joined the board and the Hogwarts staff. They were not the same teenagers and had grown up. But they would still never be friends or family.
"You are the one who got the same award for the same reason." Cassiopeia snickered quietly.
"Yeah, and I didn't do that when I got it." Tom shot back with a loving smile, kissing her on the cheek quickly.
"We got lucky with our two," Cassi smiled, looking over to see her children laughing and cheering with the rest of their friends and housemates. Hermione was sitting with Theo's arms around her shoulders, Harry with Draco laughing and arguing playfully while shooting happy grins at his Gryffindor soulmate.
"That we did my love." Tom agreed. "I got lucky with all three of you."
Hey everyone! This is the last chapter of The Darkness: Returns!
I hope to see you all return with book three which although has chapter one started, and is mostly plotted out, does not have a title yet.
Once Chapter One is posted, I will add another chapter here to act as an alert for Year Three.
I hope you all enjoyed the journey with this fanfiction.
Mermaid.