Disclaimer: I own none of the things you already know of.
Harry Potter and the Smallest Change.
Chapter 08. Hogwarts, Second Year. 1992.
Harry sat on the Hogwarts Express with Holly and Susan on either side of him. Across from them sat Hannah and Daphne.
The cabin door opened to reveal a red-haired girl and a blonde girl with radish earrings. The blonde girl stared out of the window with a blank expression while the red-haired girl wore a scowl which she hid with a struggle.
'Can we join your compartment? We promise we won't be a bother.' The red-haired girl asked.
'My brothers told us to leave them alone and some Slytherin students have already picked on us.' The redhead continued, looking like she might either attack someone or burst into tears at any moment.
Holly got up from beside Harry and made her way to the two girls.
'Of course, you can join us. Come in, please.' Holly said and turned her gaze to Harry, who smiled.
He stood to put the two girls' trunks in the racks above them.
'My name is Holly Potter, it's a pleasure to meet you.' Holly said and held out a hand, which the redhead took with a smile.
'I'm Ginny Weasley, and this is Luna Lovegood.' Ginny grinned and sat down in the corner seat, furthest from the second-year students.
Holly sat next to her while Luna sat opposite them.
Harry moved over to the window seat and Susan shifted to give Holly and Ginny more room.
Holly leaned forward in her seat.
'So, do you two know each other already?' she asked, and Ginny looked at Luna.
Luna gave a dreamy smile.
'We were good friends when we were younger, but we drifted apart after my mother died.' Luna said. Her voice lacked any emotion.
Harry blinked, staring at the small blonde girl.
'I'm so sorry to hear that, Luna.' Holly gasped as Ginny looked down at the floor.
'Oh, it's not your fault. Unless you're secretly a Primping Hartfang.' Luna said, her wide eyes on Holly before she slow blinked.
'No, I don't think you are. They have small bristles along their forearms, you know?' she continued, oblivious to the stares she received from the others in the cabin with her.
Harry cleared his throat.
'I've never heard of Primping Hartfangs before. But I suppose I'm not an expert on magical creatures.' Harry admitted and Luna turned her blue-almost-grey eyes on him, and he withheld a shiver that went down his spine.
'Nobody knows about them, only Daddy does. But even he hasn't seen them before.' Luna explained, her face blank as she spoke.
Luna pulled a magazine out of a shoulder bag and started reading.
Harry watched the girl read for a moment until he saw the title of the magazine, 'The Quibbler.'.
Ginny sighed.
'I'm sorry, I said we wouldn't be a bother.' She muttered, and Holly placed a hand on the redhead's shoulder.
'And you're not.' Holly assured and looked around the cabin.
Harry held back a laugh as Daphne and Hannah sent Holly baffled looks. Susan reached out to pat Holly's shoulder.
Harry leant forward.
'So, Ginny, tell us about yourself? What house do you think you'll be in?' Harry asked, and Ginny beamed at him.
'Oh, Gryffindor for sure. All my brothers were sorted there, and Neville Longbottom is there too.' She said and Daphne groaned opposite Harry, her face falling into her hands.
Harry laughed.
'Neville? You know him then?' he asked, and Ginny flushed as red as her hair.
'W-well, n-not really. But he came over to our house over the holidays. He and Ron were telling me about how they saved their friend Hermione and some guy from a Troll last year.' She gushed, and the cabin fell silent as the girls turned their gazes toward Harry.
'Oh? That sounds like a great story. But maybe we should leave that until later, we've heard that one before.' Harry said, struggling to hold back his grin.
'Really? But it was a great story. Oh, well, did you hear how he defeated You-Know-Who at the end of his first year?' Ginny asked, and Harry laughed.
Susan shook her head and Daphne looked like she was struggling to hold on to her temper. She shook with repressed rage and clenched her jaw.
'Um, maybe you can tell us that one later, Ginny.' Holly said, before clicking her fingers.
'You said all your brothers were in Gryffindor. How many do you have?' Holly asked, and Hannah let out a breath.
Ginny blinked and looked like her favourite toy had disappeared.
'Oh, I have six brothers. Bill and Charlie finished Hogwarts and moved away; Percy is in his sixth year.' She paused, tapping her fingers on her cheek.
'Fred and George, they're twins by the way, they're in their fourth year now.' She sighed.
'Then there is Ron. We used to be really close, but then he left for Hogwarts and now he wants nothing to do with me.' She explained.
'Wow, that's a lot of brothers. How did you put up with them all? I have two and this one's enough to worry about.' Holly said, winking at Harry.
Ginny blinked, then looked between Holly and Harry.
'Wait, you two are siblings?' Ginny asked, and Harry nodded.
'Yeah, the resemblance is pretty close, considering.' Harry shrugged, and Ginny gaped at him.
'But, you're not being mean to her?' Ginny said, turning to Holly.
'Why isn't he mean to you? That's what brothers do.' Ginny whispered, and Holly patted her leg.
'Not all brothers are mean. Mine's the best.' Holly grinned and Susan laughed.
In the corner of the cabin, Daphne groaned.
'Please don't tell me you two Potter's are going to tell each other how great you are? We had enough of that last year with Harry telling us how amazing his little sister was.' Daphne growled.
Hannah laughed beside her, and Harry turned to Holly.
'I didn't think I was that bad.' Harry muttered, then turned to Hannah.
'I wasn't, was I?' he asked, and Hannah covered her mouth as she continued laughing.
'It sounds like you were, judging by that reaction.' Luna deadpanned and Harry sighed.
'Why am I friends with girls?' he groaned, and Susan patted his head.
'Because you don't get along with guys.' She chirped, a bright smile on her face.
'Okay, okay, that's enough.' Hannah said, not hiding her grin at Harry's predicament.
'Susan, how was your holiday?' she continued, and Susan turned away from Harry.
'Well, we spent most of the time at Black Manor. Normally we spend a lot of time at the Potter's over the holidays, but Harry was busy for most of the time.' Susan explained and turned to Holly.
'What was happening at your place, anyway?' Susan asked Holly, who grinned.
'Well, Harry and I went to France each weekend to spend time with Fleur and her family.' Holly started, Daphne's jaw tightened, and her eyes flashed but made no other sign of what she thought about the news.
'But apart from that, Harry showed me how to exercise properly and was teaching me Runes and Arithmancy.' Holly grinned.
Hannah gaped at Harry.
'How were you teaching her Runes and Arithmancy? We don't even have those as classes yet?' she asked, incredulous.
'Well, I've had a bit of time to do some self-study. They interested me so I borrowed some of my mum's books, she's an enchanter.' Harry replied, and Daphne groaned.
'Really? So not only are you better than all of us in classes, but you've got enough time to study classes we don't even take?' Daphne asked and ran her fingers through her long hair, then blew a stray strand out of her face.
Harry cringed and rubbed the back of his head.
'Well, yeah, I suppose it sounds crazy when you put it like that.' He admitted, and Daphne groaned.
'I don't think it's crazy at all, Harry Potter. My mother taught me some Arithmancy before she died, but she always told me to be careful when using it to create new spells, otherwise the Primping Hartfangs will get me.' Luna interrupted without looking up from her magazine.
'Wait, creating new spells?' Harry asked, his eyes wide.
Holly and Susan groaned.
'No creating spells Harry.' Both girls snapped and Harry jerked back against the wall.
'I wasn't going to, I swear.' Harry held up his hands in surrender.
The sorting sent Holly and Luna to Ravenclaw while Ginny was sorted into Gryffindor.
The next night, after dinner, Harry sat in the library with his friends, including Holly, Luna, and Ginny.
'Thanks again for helping us you guys.' Holly said as she looked around the table, smiling at the older students.
'You won't be thanking us once we make you study every night.' Hannah grinned before she turned to Ginny.
'Are there any subjects that you're having trouble with?' she asked, and Ginny blinked.
'No, I don't think so, we've only had one day of classes after all.' Ginny said, and Susan smiled.
'You're right, what about classes you're interested in?' Susan asked, and Ginny held her chin in thought.
'Do you know what classes Neville Longbottom likes? Maybe if I like those too?' Ginny asked and Daphne groaned, drawing the gaze of the youngest red head.
'Maybe we should just touch on the different classes and prepare these three for everything until they really get started in their classes?' Harry suggested, which earned relieved sighs from Hannah and Susan.
Each night, the group met up in the library after dinner and worked together on homework or helped the three new girls.
On Friday night, Harry led Holly to the Room of Requirement and, as they stood by the portrait of the dancing Trolls, Harry turned to Holly.
'Do you think you can remember how to get here by yourself?' He asked, and she frowned for a moment before she nodded.
'Yeah, I think I'll be able to do that. Where is this fancy room?' she asked, and Harry grinned.
'Watch closely.' He grinned and walked back and forth three times, thinking of his training room.
On the third pass, the door opened in the wall.
Harry took Holly's hand and led her into the room. It was about the size of the Great Hall, with a running track around the outside. Inside the running track stood a dozen muggle exercise machines and an elaborate desk. On the far side of the room stood training dummies that looked pristine, like they hadn't been destroyed hundreds of times by Harry's spell practice.
'Oh my god, Harry, this is amazing.' Holly gushed.
'I-I don't know where to start.' She breathed and Harry grinned and pressed the large red button beside the door.
'For four hours that we spend in here, an hour goes by outside. So, take your time to explore. I can show you anything you like.' He grinned and walked over to sit at the desk, he pulled out his notebook from his robes.
For the next half an hour, Harry watched out of the corner of his eye as Holly moved around the room, peering at the exercise machines and the dummies. Then she made her way back to him, looking lost for words.
Harry thought of a couch, like one from home, and one appeared behind Holly.
'Did you just conjure that?' she asked, eyes wide.
'No, I just asked the room for it.' He laughed.
She blinked and rubbed her eyes.
'How is this possible?' she asked, and Harry smirked.
'Magic.'
Holly groaned.
'Harry, this room is amazing. It's no wonder why you've gotten so good that you could do all that training over the summer with Fleur's and our dad.' she breathed, looking around the room.
'Hey, if you ever need me on a weekend, Friday night to Monday morning. This is where I'll be. I'll drop whatever I'm doing and help you.' Harry said, and she turned to him, a wide smile on her face.
'Oh Harry, you're the best big brother ever.' She said, and he laughed.
'I don't know about that. But if you like, you can join me?' he offered, and she shook her head.
'No, I'll only slow you down. I'll try to keep the others from getting curious and finding out.' She said before frowning.
'I'm actually kind of surprised that they haven't already.' She said, and Harry rubbed the back of his head.
'Yeah, about that. Susan and Hannah almost sent out a search party that first weekend, but they agreed to leave me be on weekends after that. Though it was a close thing I think.' He admitted, and Holly scoffed.
'Yeah, that sounds about right.' She smiled before she stood and stretched.
Harry joined her, and she led them toward the door.
'Okay brother, I'll leave you to it. Now I know where you are if anything goes wrong. Be safe.' She whispered and pulled him into a hug.
She released him and left the room, leaving Harry free to return to his research.
The second week of classes began, and the group continued to meet in the library to study together. After the session, Holly, and Luna stayed behind with Harry, who waved the other girls off with a smile.
'What's up, you two?' Harry asked, and Holly clenched her jaw.
'Luna and I are being bullied by the students in Ravenclaw.' Holly began, and Harry's eyes narrowed to slits in an instant.
'Even some Prefects are in on it. We've gone to Professor Flitwick about it a few days ago, but it changed nothing.' Holly explained, and Harry took a calming breath.
'Luna is different from the others, but that's what makes her special, it's no reason to bully her.' Holly continued.
Harry remembered what Fleur told him about the other students bullying her and his blood boiled. He looked at Holly and then at Luna, who stared off into space.
'It's the Nargles that take my things.' The blonde girl said, and Harry blinked, only just noticing that she only wore one radish earring and none of the hair clips she'd worn during the first week of school.
'Nargles, you say? These Nargles wouldn't happen to wear Ravenclaw robes, would they?' Harry asked, his voice low, and Luna nodded.
Harry turned to Holly.
'I want a word with the Ravenclaws.' He said, and she blinked.
'Are you sure, Harry?' Holly asked. He nodded.
'You are my sister and Luna is a friend, and friends are like family.' He explained, and she smiled, before nodding and she turned around.
'Follow me then.' Holly said and moved away from the library, Harry, and Luna close behind.
Ten minutes later, after walking up a spiral staircase to the fifth floor, the three stood in front of a door with no handle. The door had a knocker in the shape of an eagle.
Holly stepped forward and knocked twice on the door. A soft voice echoed around them, with no obvious source.
'Which came first, the Phoenix, or the Flame?' the voice asked.
'A circle has no beginning.' Luna spoke up and Harry blinked as the door opened to reveal a wide, circular room, airier than any other room he'd seen in Hogwarts, though he supposed he could make the Room of Requirement airier if he wanted.
Graceful arched windows punctuated the walls, which were hung with blue and bronze silks. It was dark outside, but if it were day Harry was sure it would provide a stunning view of the surrounding mountains. The ceiling was domed, and stars twinkled in it. The carpet echoed the ceiling, in a midnight blue with stars twinkling underfoot. Bookshelves lined the walls, while tables and chairs littered the centre of the common room. In a niche on the opposite side of the room stood a tall statue of a woman, made of white marble.
Harry stepped into the Ravenclaw common room, Holly, and Luna flanking him.
As he entered, the inhabitants of the room turned to see a non-Ravenclaw in their midst. A group of older students moved toward them like a thunderstorm. Harry saw the anger in their eyes, and it was not entirely directed at him, the intruder.
'You two girls will regret sharing the noble house of Ravenclaw's secrets with an outsider. Even if it is a 'Puff.' Said one of the boys. The boy wore the Head Boy badge pinned to his chest, and he towered over Harry.
Harry glared at the Head Boy, almost twice his height, and stood between the boy and the girls behind Harry.
'The bullying of these two stops now.' Harry commanded and whispers spread through the common room like wildfire.
The Head Boy laughed.
'How are you going to stop it, kid?' he sneered, and Harry's eyes narrowed to slits.
'The bullying will stop.' Harry repeated.
His heart pounded in his chest and his legs shook, making him glad he wore robes.
The Head Boy stopped laughing and leant down, so he was face to face with Harry.
'Or what?' he snarled.
'Or I will make you stop.' Harry declared, his eyes never leaving the older boy's.
Laughter echoed through the common room. The Head Boy stood up straight and chuckled.
'Tell you what kid, if you can beat me, I'll make the bullying stop.'
'Agreed, shall we start now?' Harry asked, and the room fell silent.
Behind him, Holly stared at him in shock and Luna blinked at him with wide eyes.
'Sure kid, we can start now.' The Head Boy said as he stepped away.
He moved ten metres away while the other students in the common room backed away to form a circle around the two.
Harry held his wand and took deep breaths to slow his racing heart.
'This kid thinks he can beat a seventh-year in a duel?' one student in the crowd called amid laughter.
Nobody noticed a younger Ravenclaw sneak out of the common room.
'Begin.' The Head Boy called, and Harry leapt into action.
'Stupify.' Harry called, shooting a bright red jet of light at the other boy whose eyes widened before he put up a shield, wordlessly.
Harry narrowed his eyes, making a mental note to learn to cast soundlessly.
'Flippendo.' He called, only for it to be shielded by the other boy.
Harry's spells picked up, but he saw within the first few seconds of the duel that, in terms of spell repertoire, he was outclassed. He dodged the other boys' spells, which the Head Boy sent without uttering a word.
Thanks to his training with Holly and their father over the summer, dodging was second nature to him. Avoiding the other boys' unknown spells was easy, and a Protego shield protected him from the ones he couldn't dodge. But he couldn't win a duel by defending.
Harry took a deep breath and figured he'd try something he had been playing with in the Room of Requirement.
'Aguamenti.' Harry shouted, overpowering the Water Making Charm and a thick jet of water shot out of his wand like a firehose.
The blast of water pushed the Head Boy to the ground under the pressure of the overcharged spell, along with a dozen spectators, when the recoil of the spell pushed Harry's aim off course.
'Glacius.' Harry shouted a moment later, overpowering the Freezing Charm to freeze the pooling water, trapping the Head Boy in ice, but also hitting those in the crowd whose wet robes from the previous spell froze solid, trapping them too.
Harry fell to his knees, gasping for air as he reeled from casting two overpowered spells so close to one another. Sweat poured from him and he stared at the effects of his spells.
He had encased his opponent in a chunk of ice, along with a half dozen of the crowd who stood behind him. Harry shook his head as his eyes grew heavy.
A loud bang echoed through the room and drew everyone's attention to the diminutive Professor Flitwick, whose face looked like a thundercloud.
'What is going on here?' he squeaked.
Harry only saw the Professor from the corner of his eyes, but even he could tell the man was enraged.
Holly stepped forward before any of the older students could.
'Luna and I have been bullied since we started here, sir. We saw you about it a few days ago.' Holly started, and Flitwick turned to meet her fiery gaze.
'Nothing changed, so I told my brother. He took it upon himself to have words with the people bullying us. These words became a duel, that if Harry won, the Head Boy said that he would stop the house from bullying the two of us.' Holly explained, her words came out in a rush.
Flitwick's gaze roamed around the room, and he gave a heavy sigh. He turned to Harry, who was still on his knees.
'Return to your house Mister Potter, I wish to have a few words with my Eagles.' The Professor instructed and Harry nodded and struggled to his feet.
Holly and Luna rushed to his side and helped him to the door.
'I'll be okay, you two. Standing up was the hard part. You should be here for this and tell me about it tomorrow, okay?' he muttered, and Holly nodded.
'Thank you, Harry.' Holly whispered, kissing his cheek.
'Thank you, Harry Potter. I hope the Nargles leave us alone now.' Luna said, and kissed his other cheek.
'Anytime girls.' Harry grinned and stepped out of the Ravenclaw common room.
It took him half an hour to return to the Hufflepuff common room and he only barely made it before curfew, walking in with a minute to spare. His usual brisk pace slowed to a shuffle, often supported by the stone walls of the school.
Susan and Hannah rushed to his side and helped him to a couch.
'Harry, are you okay? What happened?' Susan asked.
Harry took a deep breath and told the two what happened and once he finished, he sighed.
'I only won because he underestimated me. He didn't think I could overpower my spells or cast anything more than a Lumos for that matter.' Harry begun.
'But, how can you do any of those things?' Hannah asked and Harry turned heavy eyes on her.
'I practice on the weekends.' Harry grinned before falling to his side, fast asleep on Susan's lap.
The next morning, as he sat down for breakfast with Susan and Hannah, Hannah tapped his shoulder.
'Harry, look at the points jars.' She said and Harry turned his head to see the Ravenclaw house points total was empty.
Harry blinked and glanced toward the Ravenclaw table and saw the Head Boy, who he still didn't know the name of, wore no badge, nor did the other Prefects.
Holly and Luna came and sat with them, under the collective gaze of the Ravenclaw table, and Harry narrowed his eyes at the other students. Harry slung an arm over Holly's shoulder.
'Are you okay?' he asked, and Holly nodded.
'Nobody has said anything. But I can feel how much they resent me.' She muttered, and Harry squeezed her in his one-armed embrace.
'I can remind them not to bother you?' He whispered, and Holly glared at him.
'Harry, you were good in that duel. But you only won because he underestimated you. You wouldn't be able to do it again and they all know it.' She hissed and Harry's face fell.
'I just wanted to help.' Harry muttered, and she smiled at him.
'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you.' Holly said and Luna leaned forward, looking at Harry.
'The Nargles are afraid of you now, Harry Potter.' The blonde girl said in a dreamy voice.
'I hope they are. Please let me know if the Nargles keep bothering either of you.' Harry said and Holly rolled her eyes, muttering to herself something that sounded suspiciously like overprotective older brothers.
The Great Hall quietened as Professor Flitwick stood on the head table, drawing snickers from a few first-year students, while the rest of the students stared at something they'd never seen before. A Professor other than Dumbledore, or McGonagall, addressing them at a meal.
'It is to my great shame that I stand before you all this morning. Last night, most of the Ravenclaw house was caught bullying two of their own. Bullying is not tolerated at Hogwarts.' Flitwick started, his gaze moving along his house's table.
'As you may have noticed, what little points my house had earned since the start of the year are gone and the Prefects and Head Boy have lost their badges. They did not deserve the respect that comes with those badges.' Flitwick continued and Harry stared at the small man as his magic seemed to coalesce around him. It was subtle, but there.
'Further to this, every member of my house that was caught bullying has had their families informed and will have two months of detention. Professors Snape, McGonagall, and Mister Filch have volunteered to assist with these detentions, seeing as there are so many culprits.' Flitwick almost vibrated with magic and Harry wondered why more students weren't quaking at the small man's wrath.
Flitwick hopped off the head table and strode toward Harry, who watched with wide eyes as the man drew closer, his roiling magic receding with each step until it disappeared.
'Mister Potter, after you finish your classes today, would you come to my office?' Flitwick asked, no trace of his contained rage present in his tone.
'Of course, sir. I'll see you as soon as I finish Potions, sir.' Harry nodded and Flitwick smiled, moving away past the Ravenclaw table, who ducked their heads as he passed.
Harry looked back at the girls and saw Daphne slide into a seat beside Luna.
'What did I miss?' Daphne asked.
After Harry finished his classes that night, he went straight to Professor Flitwick's office and, after being let in, he stared at the veritable library that the small man called his quarters. No wonder he was the Head of Ravenclaw house.
Flitwick chuckled as he flicked his wand toward a bench on the other side of the room.
'Tea, Mister Potter?' he asked, and Harry nodded, still staring at all the books.
Flitwick chuckled again and a moment later levitated a steaming cup of tea into Harry's hand.
'I'm not sure how you like your tea, so its black with two sugars. Statistically, that is the most common combination of my students to date.' Flitwick chuckled and took a seat on a round table, one of many in the room and the only one not covered in dusty tomes.
'Come, sit down Mister Potter.' The small man directed, and Harry shook himself.
'Oh, I'm sorry for spacing out, sir. This is a wonderful room, sir.' Harry said, taking a seat and sipping his tea.
Flitwick chuckled.
'Not at all. Until last night, I wasn't sure why you weren't in my house. Now I know.' Flitwick grinned before placing his tea on the table.
'Mister Potter, I asked you here to apologise. This whole situation should never have happened. Your sister came to me to report the bullying, and I did nothing, considering it a normal part of children establishing a pecking order, so to speak.' He said, staring down into his tea.
Harry cocked his head as he considered the short man sitting across from him.
'But you did act, sir. When you acted, it was decisive and harsh enough to deter those responsible from doing it again any time soon. You sent a powerful message this morning, sir. Bullying should not be tolerated at Hogwarts.' Harry said, nodding.
'You have created a, what's the word?' Harry muttered to himself, frowning.
Flitwick smiled.
'A precedent?' the Charms Professor supplied, and Harry nodded.
'Yes, you created a precedent, so that now other Professors will be forced to follow if similar situations occur.' Harry said and Flitwick nodded.
'Well considered Mister Potter. You are indeed correct.' The small man agreed before he took another sip of his tea.
'On a slightly different note, Mister Potter, I would like to help you develop your skill in Duelling. From all accounts, you performed admirably and used your limited repertoire of spells in creative ways.' Flitwick took another sip and Harry stared at the man.
'Train me in Duelling, sir? Are you certain?' Harry asked, struggling to wrap his head around the concept.
Flitwick chuckled.
'I don't think you quite understand how impressive your performance was, Mister Potter. You, a second-year, defeated a seventh year, the Head Boy no less in a duel, using overpowered spells.' Flitwick took another sip.
'Yes, admittedly, he underestimated you and seemed to be focussed more on humiliating you than defeating you. Nevertheless, you have shown that you put considerable effort into your studies as the Freezing Charm is a third-year spell.' Flitwick put the cup down and his dark-eyed gaze locked onto Harry.
'I won't be able to help you with Duelling until after Christmas at least, but if you are interested, I will ensure I make time to assist you.' The man said and Harry nodded.
'Yes sir, that would be great. Would we be able to make it a weeknight when the time comes?' Harry asked and Flitwick smirked.
'Yes, Mister Potter, I think that can be arranged.' He said and finished his tea.
'Now finish your tea and I will see you tomorrow in class. I will give you more advanced work from now on to challenge you.' Flitwick nodded and smiled as Harry finished his tea and left the Professor's office.
Harry's routine fell back to normal and before he knew it, it was the Monday morning after Halloween and Harry sat down at the Hufflepuff table alone. Within minutes, students came into the Great Hall, murmuring between themselves and Harry wondered what happened.
He groaned as he realised it was Halloween over the weekend and dreaded hearing what happened after the last Halloween and the Troll incident.
Susan and Hannah slid into seats on either side of him and frowned at him.
'I assume you don't know what happened over the weekend?' Susan whispered, and Harry shook his head.
'Please don't tell me that something like the Troll happened.' Harry muttered and Susan rolled her eyes.
'The Chamber of Secrets has been opened.' gushed Hannah, with a conspiratorial whisper, which was naturally loud enough for anyone nearby to hear.
'The what?' Harry asked, looking between the two girls.
'Really? It's all anyone has been talking about since we saw the message after the feast.' Hannah stared.
'You really do hide away from everyone for the weekend, don't you?' she asked before shrugging.
'Anyway, nobody knows what the Chamber is, or where. The library has no more copies of Hogwarts: A History either, they've all been borrowed.' Susan added, glaring at Hannah.
'Okay, what's this about a message?' Harry asked.
Daphne slid into a seat across from them.
'The message was seen outside Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.' She said, giving a nod toward Holly and Luna, who sat down on either side of her.
'The message said The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir beware. How spooky is that?' Daphne finished and Ginny shuddered next to her.
'Ginny? Are you okay?' Harry asked, and she nodded.
'Yeah, just a little spooked, like most of the school. I even had a scary dream about it last night.' Ginny admitted, and the other girls nodded.
'Is there anything we can do?' Harry asked the group and Susan shook her head.
'No, I don't think so. Filch's cat was petrified, too. No idea how that happened.' Susan said, frowning at her plate of food.
'I don't think I'm hungry anymore.' Susan muttered, and the others muttered their assent.
That night in the library, the group sat at one of the larger tables, books strewn across it as they worked on their assignments.
Harry watched Ginny, who hadn't turned a page of her book for twenty minutes, and looked like she was on the verge of tears.
'Ginny? Are you okay?' Harry asked, pulling everyone's attention and Ginny's face crumbled, falling into her hands.
'Neville doesn't even know I exist and this whole thing with the Chamber of Secrets is really scary.' She cried.
Harry blinked, and Holly put a hand on his shoulder.
'Harry, you should leave. This is girl talk and it won't be able to happen if you're here.' Holly shooed him away.
'But-' he started before Susan turned in her seat and made shooing motions with her hands.
'Go, it'll be alright.' Susan said, and Harry sighed.
'Fine, but I hope someone tells me why I'm being sent away later.' he muttered and collected his things, and left the table as they whispered to the distraught red head.
Harry left the library and made his way back to the Hufflepuff dorms. He figured that he hadn't written to his parents in a few weeks.
Harry's routine returned to normal for the next few days. Hermione returned to sitting with him in classes, though he knew she would still support the two boys if he said anything bad about them.
A week later, Harry entered the Great Hall on Monday morning to hear whispers filling the room again and moved to sit beside Holly and Susan.
'What did I miss this time?' Harry asked, and Holly stared at him before shaking her head.
'A first-year in Gryffindor was petrified on the weekend. His name is Colin Creevey. He's that kid who was always running around taking photos of people.' Susan said and Harry nodded.
'That's horrible. Do the Professors have any ideas regarding who is responsible?' Harry asked and Susan shook her head.
'I heard a first-year saying it was Neville, apparently he yelled at Colin for taking his picture the other day without permission.' Holly said and Harry groaned.
'I don't like the guy, but how could anyone suspect it was him?' Harry asked and the two girls shrugged.
A few weeks before Christmas, Harry stood in the Great Hall beside Susan and Holly. A Duelling platform stood in the middle of the room and the tables and seating was nowhere to be seen.
Hogwarts had organised a Duelling Club and Harry was excited to see Flitwick in action.
But, much to his surprise, Professor's Lockhart and Snape stood on the platform.
Harry groaned and watched as his dreams of a proper Duelling Club faded away. As the session continued, he stood at the back of the room and watched as Neville Longbottom was outed in front of most of the school as a Parselmouth when he hissed at a snake about to bite Justin Finch-Fletchley.
Whispers filled the Great Hall as Neville fled the room, with Hermione and Ron at his side. Harry turned to Holly and Susan, with the other girls.
'He speaks Parseltongue.' Said one nearby student.
'He must be the Heir of Slytherin.' Screamed another student on the other side of the room.
As Professor's Lockhart and Snape worked to quiet the room Harry turned to the girls.
'Really? They think Longbottom is the Heir of Slytherin? Can you guys honestly believe that Neville is capable of hurting anyone? He's too busy telling everyone that he's their hero.' Harry scoffed, and the girls shrugged.
'The circumstantial evidence does point toward Neville.' Luna said in her dreamy voice.
'Though, I admit that the Boy-Who-Lived loved getting his photos taken by Colin, if he was first given the opportunity to pose.' Luna added, a small frown on her face.
Harry groaned.
'Let's just go to bed. All this stupidity is making me tired.'
The next morning whispers filled the Great Hall again as Harry sat down with Holly and Susan, across from Luna, Daphne, and Ginny.
Susan leant forward.
'Harry, did you see Justin this morning?' she asked, and Harry blinked.
'No, why? Though I admit I am outside exercising when they get up, so I rarely see them outside of classes.' Harry said he frowned and rubbed his chin in thought.
Susan sighed.
'Harry, I heard a rumour that Justin was petrified last night.' She said and Harry groaned.
'So, you think people are going to believe that he was attacked by Longbottom because of what Justin said at the Duelling Club?' Harry asked, his fingers rubbing his eyes.
'Yeah, pretty much.' Susan said and Hannah nodded beside her.
'I see your point about Longbottom not being capable of hurting anyone. But the evidence against him is growing.' Hannah added and Harry sighed.
'Well, if everyone wants to turn on him it doesn't bother me. But it is pretty obvious to me that it's not him.' Harry shrugged and returned to his breakfast.
'Harry, Justin is our housemate. Don't you care?' Hannah asked, cocking her head to the side.
Harry sighed.
'Sorry Hannah, I don't really know the guy. I've never really gotten along with guys all that well and I'm sure the Professors are on it.' Harry said and Hannah huffed.
'I bet you'd care more if it were Susan or Holly who was petrified.' Hannah grumbled and froze as the others around them stared at her.
Harry tightened his jaw and took a breath.
'Yes Hannah, it would be different. If that happened, I would stop at nothing to save them, or you for that matter. But at the moment, I'm not sure what the problem is, let alone how to fix it.' Harry growled before he stood and left the Great Hall.
The Christmas holidays came and went. Harry and Holly went home and spent the break with the extended family. The Christmas Ball was held at the Abbotts home and Harry enjoyed spending the evening with Fleur and his friends. Then, the holidays were finished, and they were back at Hogwarts.
It was May before another attack occurred. Hermione and Ron, along with a Ravenclaw, Penelope Clearwater, were all petrified. The attack convinced the students that Neville was not the culprit, but it left him alone in the school.
Finals drew near, and the Mandrakes were almost ready to harvest in the greenhouses when Harry's routine was broken as Holly burst into the Room of Requirement.
Harry stood, wand out as he muttered under his breath.
'Diffindo.'
A light green bolt of light shot out of the wand and struck a dummy, creating a gouge across the dummy's chest.
Harry stood up straight and turned toward Holly.
'What's wrong?' he asked and ran across the room to wrap Holly up in his arms where she squeezed him close.
'I-its Ginny.' She whispered and Harry pulled away to look into her eyes.
'What about Ginny? What happened?' he asked.
Holly took a deep breath before releasing it.
'She has been taken, there was a message near the first one that said that her skeleton would remain in the Chamber forever.' Holly cried and Harry focussed hard on a couch.
A couch popped into existence behind him, and he sat her down. He knelt in front of her.
'Okay, Holly listen to me closely. We're going to save her.' Harry said, his eyes locked on hers.
She blinked at him, her eyes red.
'Since Hermione was petrified, whatever is doing this crossed a line. Give me a second to get ready.' Harry said and walked over to the desk covered in stacks of books and a half dozen notebooks.
Harry reached out and tossed the notebooks, bar one into a battered trunk, which he then shrunk and dropped in a pocket. He plucked the single remaining notebook from the desk and tucked it into his robes. He turned and made his way back to Holly.
'Okay, take me to this message and let's solve this before Ginny is hurt.' Harry said and Holly nodded, wiping her eyes.
'What are the Professors doing?' Harry asked and Holly sniffed.
'They are taking students back to the dorms and doing a roll call. Dumbledore said he was going to search for the Chamber of Secrets.' Holly said and Harry groaned.
'So, I would have been caught out of the dorm, anyway.' Harry mused before shrugging.
'Is there anything else that you think could be important?' he asked, and she shook her head.
A few minutes later, Holly led them around a corner and Harry saw Neville pacing back and forth in front of the message written on the wall. He was pale and looked like he hadn't slept in weeks.
'Potter! You need to help me find her.' Neville called and Harry sighed.
'Be quiet, none of us are supposed to be here.' Harry hissed, and Neville's eyes widened.
'Harry, these are the two messages.' Holly said and pointed at the red writing on the wall.
Harry narrowed his gaze as he took in the two messages, he drew his notebook out of his robes and flipped through its pages. Each page was full of his scribbled handwriting and many held diagrams of his various projects. He stopped about half way through the notebook, which held a sketched picture of the Slytherin snake emblem.
'Neville, I have some questions. I don't know the answer, but I know if we pool our information, we'll get it.' Harry declared and Neville nodded.
'What do you know about this monster? Any details at all will be enough.' Harry demanded and Neville paced back and forth, whispering to himself.
'Neville, dammit, answer me.' Harry snarled and Neville froze, staring at Harry.
'Whatever it is, Spiders, or more accurately, Acromantula are terrified of it.' Neville said.
Harry's eyes grew wide.
'Acromantula? What do they have to do with-' Harry started, then released a sigh.
'You know what? I don't want to know just now. What do you know about the Chamber?' Harry asked.
Neville blinked and dragged his fingers down his face.
'Malfoy said his dad said that somebody died the last time someone opened the Chamber.' Neville replied and Harry groaned.
'Hagrid was about to be arrested by the Minister to be seen doing something, but Dumbledore stopped it. He was arrested the last time the Chamber opened as well, that was around fifty years ago.' Neville continued and Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
'Okay, things are starting to fit together now, you had the missing pieces I needed.' Harry said and Neville stared at him.
'What?' asked Neville.
Harry closed his eyes for a moment then opened them and looked at Holly for a moment before he turned back to Neville.
'I think the creature is a Basilisk.' He announced and Neville gaped at him.
'Why?' Holly asked.
'Neville is a Parselmouth, Hermione mentioned he'd heard a voice they couldn't before the first message was discovered.' Harry said, and the two nodded at him.
'The Chamber of Secrets is Salazar Slytherin's special room, he was a Parselmouth, his houses sigil is a snake. What other monster would you put in your special room than one only you could communicate with and control?' Harry asked, and the colour drained out of Neville's face.
Harry looked down at the notebook in his hand and skimmed through it to one of the final pages.
'No snake can petrify, but Basilisks can kill with their eyes, what would happen if that sight were diluted or reflected?' Harry asked and looked up from his notebook.
'Neville, how were the petrified people found?' Harry asked.
'Uh, Filch's cat was strung up on that torch sconce there.' Neville started, pointing at a nearby torch.
'Was there anything reflective nearby?' Harry asked and Neville jerked back in surprise.
'There was water all over the ground, Moaning Myrtle's bathroom flooded that night.' Neville gasped.
'Okay, next victim.' Harry said, motioning for the other boy to hurry up.
'Okay, Hermione, Ron, and Penelope had mirrors in their hands. Colin had a camera in front of his face and Justin and Sir Nick were petrified together.' Neville said in a rush.
'Hmm, so of those, Justin is the only one who doesn't fit my theory, unless he saw the Basilisk through the ghost?' Harry mused before shaking his head.
Harry looked at Holly who was as pale as a sheet and he sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
'My theory isn't fool proof, but it's good enough with the information we have.' Harry said and Neville stared at him.
'It always helps to have fresh eyes on a problem brother.' Harry said, taking pity on the boy.
Neville clicked his fingers, a grin on his face.
'Moaning Myrtle wears robes and glasses that looked like they were from fifty years ago.' Neville crowed and Harry cocked his head at the boy for a moment before he noticed the significance.
'Good thinking Neville.' Harry said before reaching out and taking Holly's hand.
'Where is this Moaning Myrtle?' Harry asked and Holly pointed at the girl's bathroom behind them.
'Right in there.' She said and Harry blinked.
'Surely it can't be that simple.' Harry breathed and dragged Holly with him into the bathroom.
The bathroom was the gloomiest, most depressing bathroom he had ever seen. Under a large, cracked, and spotted mirror were a row of chipped sinks. The floor was damp and reflected the dull light given off from a few candles, burning low in their holders; the wooden doors to the stalls were flaking and scratched and one of them was dangling off its hinges.
On the far side of the bathroom floated a ghost, she looked like a student, probably a fourth year when she died.
Harry stepped toward the ghost.
'Hello, have you seen anything odd recently?' Harry asked, and the ghost scowled at him, her translucent body carried an air of misery.
Harry cocked his head to the side.
'How did you die if you don't mind me asking?' Harry asked, and it was as if a switch had been flicked with the girl.
Myrtle beamed at Harry.
'Oh, it was horrible. There was a boy's voice in the bathroom. I was in here crying after Olive Hornby was mean to me, so I opened the stall door to tell him to use his own bathroom. Then I died.' The ghost explained, her floating form looked more corporeal than a few moments earlier.
'Really? A boy's voice. Anything else strange?' Harry asked and Myrtle's beaming smile grew wider.
'Oh yes, and the boy was hissing, can you believe it? Over there by the sinks.' She pointed at the sinks in front of the door, arranged in a circle.
Harry turned toward the sinks, then to Neville.
'Neville, go look at the sinks. That's our way into the Chamber. You're the only one who can speak Parselmouth.' Harry ordered before he turned back to Myrtle.
'Have you heard hissing this year as well? Maybe around the same place?' Harry asked and Myrtle nodded.
'Oh yes I have. It was a small red-haired girl, hissing at one of those sinks.' She nodded, her enthusiasm creating a strong contrast to the miserable ghost she'd been when they entered.
'Thank you for your help, Myrtle. Is there anything else you can think of that we might need to know?' Harry asked, and the ghost smiled at him and shook her head.
Harry smiled at the ghost, and he swore she blushed.
'If you die, you can join me here. We'll haunt the place together.' The ghost offered before letting out an odd 'Squee' and she leapt into a nearby toilet.
Harry blinked and turned around, to see Holly smirking at him.
'What?' he asked.
'You have the uncanny ability to make girls happy.' She explained, and he shrugged.
'Dad says it's the Potter Charm.' He said and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
Neville let out a whoop and pointed at one of the sinks.
'There's a snake symbol on this sink, it must be the entrance.' Neville cheered.
'Then hiss at the sink.' Harry ordered.
Neville stared at him for a moment before Harry sighed.
'I don't care about you being a Parselmouth. We have more important things to worry about.' Harry snapped and Neville blushed.
Holly covered a giggle with her hands.
Harry turned to her, and she grinned.
'Obviously, the Potter Charm doesn't extend to guys.' She smirked; Harry shook his head as he watched Neville mutter at the snake.
'Dammit, just tell the thing to open, it can't be that hard.' Harry snapped.
Neville turned back to the sink, leaning close to the snake symbol, and hissed.
Neville jumped back as the sinks moved to create an opening that resembled a wide pipe.
Harry moved to the pipe and peered down into its depths before he stepped away and he turned to Holly.
'Okay, you need to go tell as many Professors as possible. Ignore Lockhart, he's an idiot.' Harry said and Holly nodded.
'Tell them that Ginny is down in the Chamber and will need help sooner rather than later. We're going to need the cavalry to arrive.' Harry explained and her eyes widened.
'Yeah, I know, probably not the best idea. But that's why we need the Professors as soon as possible.' Harry repeated and Holly nodded.
'Okay, Harry but be careful. I love you.' She whispered, hugging him.
'Love you too Holly. Now go.' Harry whispered, kissing her brow.
Holly rushed out of the bathroom and Harry turned to a nearby sink.
'Reducto.' He muttered, and the sink exploded into debris.
Neville watched in silence as Harry transfigured the debris into logs, levitating them into place to stop the opening from closing after they entered the pipe.
'What are you doing?' Neville asked, Harry shrugged.
'Things in Hogwarts have a habit of opening and closing by themselves. I'd rather keep this open so the Professors can follow us in.' Harry explained.
'Fair enough.' Neville shrugged before turning to look at the pipe.
Harry stepped beside Neville and tapped the boys head with his wand.
Neville shrieked.
'What are you doing? Why can't I see myself?' Neville cried and Harry sighed.
'Disillusionment Charm, it took me weeks to get it working.' Harry explained, as he cast it on himself.
'Why do we need these?' Neville asked.
'Because there's a Basilisk down there that's been around for a thousand years? I'd rather not get eaten or killed.' Harry explained.
'Odorcorium.' Harry muttered, pointing at Neville. Then repeated the spell on himself.
'What was that?' Neville asked.
'Scent Masking Charm, snakes can taste their prey in the air with their tongues. I assume Basilisks do the same thing.' Harry answered before leaning over to look down the pipe again.
'You're making a lot of assumptions here Potter.' Neville grumbled and Harry rolled his eyes.
'Ready to go?' Harry asked the almost invisible Neville.
Harry waited for a few seconds.
'Well?' Harry asked.
'Oh sorry, I nodded, but I forgot you couldn't see me.' Neville apologised and Harry sighed.
'Okay, I'm going down now, wait ten seconds before following.' Harry said and jumped into the pipe.
Harry slid down the filthy pipe for what felt like ages before shooting out the bottom into a pile of debris. He pushed himself to his feet and flicked his wand in front of himself.
'Lumos.' He muttered, shining a light onto the floor to find it was covered with rodent bones.
A shiver ran down his spine.
'Neville?' Harry asked as something unseen shot out of the pipe and flung tiny bones throughout the room.
Harry channelled more magic into his spell and stared at the room, or rather cave, they were in. This section wasn't built to be a part of the school, it was likely natural caves beneath the school that the Slytherin Founder made use of when constructing his secret Chamber.
'Harry? Are you making the light?' Neville called and Harry sighed.
'No, you are. Of course, I am.' Harry snapped before sighing again.
'Come on follow me, though I'm turning off the light the moment something weird happens.' Harry warned but led the way out of the cave of rodent bones.
A few minutes later, after a close encounter with a shed Basilisk skin, the two boys found their path blocked by a massive black metal door. The circular door bore embossed snakes upon its surface and no visible handle.
'What do we do now?' Neville asked and Harry turned a glare on the boy that he couldn't see.
'There are snakes on the door and no handle. Tell them to open like you did in the bathroom before.' Harry said and flicked his wand.
'Nox.' He muttered, dispelling the light of his wand.
Neville took a deep breath and hissed at the door, which opened with a loud squeal common to unoiled doors everywhere.
Harry cringed, all sense of stealth fading.
'Be careful, if you see the Basilisk, close your eyes and hide.' Harry muttered, and he hoped Neville heard him.
Harry stepped into the room as the door opened wide to reveal a long passage. To Harry, it looked like a subway tunnel, with a rounded ceiling and a single path to take. Though this would be the subway tunnel for a snake cult.
Great stone snake heads lined the walls, each twice the size of Harry, their mouths agape, and stone fangs bared.
The two disillusioned boys followed the path between the snake heads until the path opened into a wide circular room.
In front of them stood a massive bust of a man's face, a long beard flowed down into a shallow pool of water. The pool was about ten metres in diameter and was ringed by a stone floor, raised a few centimetres above the water. The pool was fed from a channel carved into the stone floor which led to an opening that left the Chamber into a shrouded tunnel.
Harry glanced around the room; it was about the size of the Great Hall. The snake head statues stopped when the path opened into the room. The walls of the room were bare apart from thick stone pillars that ringed the pool, leaving a few metres between them and the walls.
In the middle of the shallow pool, Ginny lay half submerged and unconscious. Beside her, standing tall was a boy. He looked like a sixth-year.
Harry narrowed his eyes as he noticed Ginny's wand in the hands of the boy.
'Neville, you get Ginny, I'll take the guy.' Harry whispered, not knowing if Neville heard him.
Harry took a few steps toward the boy in the middle of the Chamber before he froze when he heard Neville speak.
'Tom? What are you doing here? Weren't you a teenager when Hagrid was?' Neville asked, still mostly invisible.
The boy, Tom, spun to face where Neville's voice came from and flicked his wand and, silently, dispelled the Disillusionment Charm on Neville. Harry grimaced and his mind raced, trying to piece together this newest clue.
Tom smiled at Neville, his mouth just a little too wide to be real.
Harry's hackles raised as he watched the slightly transparent boy and his too-wide smile.
Tom blinked for a moment before he flicked his wand toward Harry. Harry saw his wand first, then his hand holding it became visible and a moment later his Disillusionment Charm was completely gone.
Harry clenched his jaw, preparing to attack but Tom simply cocked his head to the side.
'You are unexpected.' The boy said, his tone cautious.
'Neville was obvious, but another boy? Who are you?' Tom asked before his eyes widened.
'No, wait don't tell me. I recognise something in your face. I once knew a man named Charlus Potter, is he any relation?' Tom asked, Ginny's wand held loose in his hand.
Harry watched the boy, his body taught like a spring.
'He was my grandfather, he died in the war.' Harry replied.
'Aha, so a Potter standing beside a Longbottom, nothing new there.' Tom said, the very image of civility.
'So, what brings you into this situation young Potter?' Tom asked, curiosity shone in his eyes.
Harry narrowed his eyes at the boy, there was something strange about him, but Harry couldn't put his finger on it.
'My friend was petrified by the Basilisk, while another lays at your feet. That I can't abide.' Harry said and Tom's dark gaze trailed up and down Harry's clothes; jeans and a black singlet, his usual training attire.
'You're older than Neville here, aren't you?' Tom asked and Harry laughed, it was hollow, and Harry took a few steps to the right.
'Actually, Neville is a day older than me. I just had a growth spurt I suppose.' Harry replied.
Tom scoffed.
'Nonsense, you're obviously a fourth year by the look of you, not a mere second like Neville over there.' Tom growled and Harry smirked.
'And what are you doing in this secret lair?' Harry asked.
Tom showed his too-wide smile again.
'I am being reborn as we speak. With every moment you and Neville Longbottom waste, I am one step closer to no longer being a mere memory.' Tom declared and Harry blinked.
'After this day, Lord Voldemort will never be a memory again.' Tom announced.
'But why would you be being reborn…' Harry trailed off, he paled as his mind made the connection.
'You're about the right age to be the mysterious Dark Lord that haunted England until Neville here blew him up.' Harry said as Tom's eye twitched.
Harry grinned in triumph, then his mouth dried up and his hands shook at the reality of the situation.
'Oh, crap.'
Footsteps echoed behind him, and Harry turned to see the Professor's arrive. Flitwick, Snape, McGonagall, Sprout, and Hagrid rushed into the Chamber; wands drawn. Harry frowned at the pink umbrella in Hagrid's massive hand.
But Hagrid froze as he saw Tom.
Tom cackled, an evil, cruel laugh.
'Rubeus Hagrid? How are you a Professor, weren't you expelled?' Tom sneered.
McGonagall glanced between Hagrid and Tom before the slightly transparent boy smirked and turned around, raising his arms.
A spell fired from Professor Snape's wand tore through the boy, detonating on the stone wall behind him.
Tom hissed, loud and clear and Harry noticed Neville pale.
A great rumbling filled the Chamber as the statue of the bearded man opened its mouth. Out from the statue's maw slithered a biggest animal Harry had ever seen.
An instant later, Harry turned to the Professors and scowled. They were all staring at the monster.
'Avert your eyes, don't look at the giant snake.' Harry shouted.
It was enough to break the proverbial spell and the Professors, along with Neville, broke and ran. They hid behind the stone pillars that ringed the pool. Harry followed their lead and struggled to lower his heart rate as he listened to the rumbling caused by the monstrous snake in the room. From what he could see, the monster was at least twenty metres long and suddenly the thought of coming down to the Chamber didn't seem too smart.
Harry looked to his side and saw McGonagall catching her breath, her cheeks flushed.
'Professor McGonagall, conjure a rooster.' Harry shouted and the Transfiguration Professor nodded, conjuring one and coaxing it to crow.
To no effect.
Harry swore and figured only a real Rooster's crow would be fatal to the Basilisk. He turned to look at Neville cowering behind another pillar.
'Neville, tell it to go back into its hole.' Harry shouted, and Neville obeyed, hissing at the snake.
The Basilisk dove toward Neville's pillar and crashed into it, splintering the stone. It caused the Chamber to shake like an earthquake before it reared back to do it again.
Harry swore and rolled out from behind his pillar.
'Percutio.' He roared, sending a Piercing Hex at the monster, only for it to bounce off the creature's magic resistant scales.
The Basilisk turned toward him and hissed, Harry averted his eyes, looking down to the floor.
'Percutio.' Harry fired another Piercing Hex into where he thought the Basilisks open mouth would be.
The monster released a shriek and lunged at Harry who saw the movement from the corner of his eyes and leapt to the side. He rolled behind a pillar which shook under the impact of the massive snake.
'Mister Potter, stay hidden.' Professor Sprout shrieked and Harry met her gaze, then shook his head.
Harry looked off to the tunnel that led out of the Chamber, following the channel in the floor that fed the pool of water. He took a deep breath and rolled out from behind his cracked stone pillar.
'Percutio.' He fired another Piercing Hex at the creature and ran, he heard the floor beneath him rumble as the monster drew near.
Harry reached the tunnel and his foot slipped into the ice-cold water of the channel.
'Deal with Tom.' Harry shouted before he ducked around a corner in the tunnel, now separated from the Professors and Neville.
He ran hard, hearing the creature behind him draw closer, its scales scraped the stone walls of the tunnel. Harry fired spells behind him, uncaring whether he hit the Basilisk or the walls around it.
The tunnel continued on, and Harry hoped there would be a nook he could hide in or a corner he could turn, the Basilisk sounded as though it was right behind him, but he couldn't risk turning to look.
Finally, the straight tunnel became an intersection. The tunnel continued straight, or he could turn left, Harry ducked left into the new tunnel and saw a small opening to his immediate left.
'Reducto.' He murmured and a jet of red shot out of his wand and tore through the air further down the tunnel as Harry ducked into the opening.
The opening was barely large enough to fit, and he hid behind some rusted pipes. Harry held his breath as his spell crashed into something further down in the tunnel and a moment later, he watched the massive bulk of the Basilisk slither past the opening he cowered in.
After the Basilisk passed, he counted to ten in his head, still holding his breath before he let it out and breathed again.
He poked his head out past the rusted pipes and saw the tail of the snake in the dim light of the tunnel.
He blinked, where was the light coming from? There was no way it was natural light all the way down there and he couldn't see any light sources.
Harry shrugged and figured that magic did all sorts of crazy things.
He crawled out of the opening and noted the rusted pipes he'd hid behind had a valve, rusted shut and for a moment he wondered what would happen if he turned the valve, or blew it up. Harry shook his head and turned back the way he'd come. He had to return to the others before the Basilisk returned.
Harry ran back through the tunnel and re-entered the Chamber of Secrets, and his blood ran cold. The Professors and Neville all lay unconscious in the pool of freezing cold water, the pool turning crimson as blood mixed with the water of the pool.
Tom dropped an unmoving Hagrid in the pool at his feet, a fan of crimson water spread out around the massive man.
Tom turned to Harry; his too-wide grin looked unnatural on his face. The boy still held some traces of transparency as he looked past Harry, whose eyes widened for a moment as he realised what Tom must have been looking at.
He leapt to his right.
Too late.
The tip of the Basilisk's tail caught him and sent him through the air toward the wall beside the giant stone face the Basilisk had emerged from.
'Protego.' Harry screamed, overcharging the Shield Charm which formed a bubble around him.
Such was the force of the speeding bubble, that Harry crashed through the wall into a once hidden room.
Dust exploded out, filling the Chamber.
Tom's furious hissing filled the air and Harry stifled a groan as he struggled to his feet. He slipped on a dislodged a piece of rubble, then fell on his rear, his arms shot out to steady him.
Harry felt something cold and metal in his left hand and gripped it, moving it close to his eyes as the dust in the air thinned.
In his hand he held a shining silver sword, a metre long and encrusted with emeralds. Belatedly he noticed a calm settle in him, no longer did he feel the terror of the last few minutes or the horror of seeing the beaten and battered bodies of people he knew.
He stood and with a sense of calm he'd never known, strode out into the Chamber as the dust settled. Harry moved toward Tom who still stood in the middle of the pool, surrounded by bodies.
Time seemed to slow and an overwhelming need to move took over him and he rolled to the left, just in time to avoid the lunge of the Basilisk. A moment later, his body moved on its own and he rolled forward, keeping pace with the Basilisk's head as it finished its failed lunge. Harry stood and with a grace he didn't have, pirouetted, and stabbed the sword through the monster's eye and into its brain, killing it instantly.
The snake twitched for a moment, then lay still.
Harry tore the sword from the snake's brain and turned to face Tom.
'You will pay for killing my pet, Potter.' Tom snarled.
Spell after spell left Tom's wand, all silent and coming too fast for Harry to even consider what they were. But his body reacted without conscious thought.
Harry dropped his wand in the pool and slashed the sword, two handed, at the first spell. He deflected it up into the ceiling of the Chamber. He strode toward the enraged Tom whose spells came faster and crackled with power Harry couldn't match.
But the sense of calm filled Harry, he deflected the torrent of spells and dodged the ones he couldn't deflect. Interestingly he noticed that his body ignored the spells that would miss him, even if only by centimetres.
'You can never defeat me Potter.' Tom spat, his face red with rage.
'Poor Ginny Weasley poured her soul into my Diary, and in return my Diary used that to create my new, perfect body.' Tom crowed.
Harry narrowed his gaze on the book that lay beside Ginny in the pool, gripped in her hands.
Harry moved toward Tom and Ginny, still avoiding Tom's spells with uncanny ability. He darted forward, but not toward Tom.
Harry slid through the pool on his knees toward Ginny and once beside her, Tom's eyes widened.
Harry thrust the silver sword down through the Diary which gave off a powerful sense of malevolence. The sword pierced the Diary, spurting ink as if it were blood.
Tom screamed above him as though he were the one stabbed, his almost corporeal body fading.
Harry leapt back, away from the bleeding diary. The sword in his hands deflected the spells Tom fired his way in desperation. With every spell, Tom grew more and more insubstantial until with a soul tearing shriek Tom fired his last spell.
'Avada Kedavra.'
The sickly green curse sped toward him, the sound of onrushing death filled his ears and the calm that had filled him since grasping the sword, faded. His body, of its own volition, tossed the sword at the Killing Curse and two metres away from Harry, struck it.
A deafening boom filled the Chamber of Secrets and a shock-wave erupted from the colliding sword and Killing Curse.
The shock-wave tossed Harry like a rag-doll, and he crashed into an undamaged pillar. He slid down to the ground and let out a groan, his head throbbing. Harry touched a hand to the back of his head and looked at it to see his fingertips covered in blood.
Harry leaned back against the pillar and let out a breath. He looked out at the ruin caused by the detonation of the Killing Curse. Where the shock-wave originated, he saw the twisted remains of the sword that had saved his life.
Harry struggled to his feet, he felt woozy and unsteady on his feet. But he pushed forward, reaching the twisted sword, he knelt and picked it up.
No sense of calm, or strange urges filled his body. The sword was dead.
For the first time, he noticed the word 'Slytherin' engraved into the base of the silver blade.
Sword in hand, Harry stood and moved toward the closest Professor, it was Snape, and he rolled the man over onto his back.
'Professor, wake up.' Harry urged, he slapped the man's cheeks a few times before he stopped and dragged the man out of the freezing body of water.
Harry spent the next few minutes dragging everyone out of the freezing cold pool after finding them alive but unconscious. He stood and examined the beaten and bloody face of Hagrid; the large man was too heavy to move by hand, so Harry had wandlessly levitated the huge man.
He made a mental note to learn healing spells before he remembered the hidden room where he'd found the sword.
With a last look at the unconscious people, he hobbled across the Chamber, skirting the pool and the diary which floated in its centre. He scooped his wand out of the shallow pool, wiped it on his filthy robes and tucked it into a pocket.
Harry stumbled over the rubble and marvelled how he'd moved almost without effort through it while holding the sword before. It took a few minutes to navigate the rubble of the ruined wall, but he stepped into the room and saw a thin bookshelf, holding a dozen books.
He made his way to the books and plucked one at random. He opened it to reveal a language he couldn't read. It looked like chicken scratches, and like no language he'd ever seen. He returned the book to the shelf and figured the rest would be in the same strange language.
What would have once been an attractive table lay under the rubble, but Harry saw a book, covered in dust, both from age and the ruined wall.
Kneeling beside it, Harry opened the book and grinned as he saw it was written in English. Ye Olde English, but he could at least make out most of it.
He shrunk the book and tucked it in his pocket before he moved back to Ginny and the others.
Harry sat with Ginny in his lap to keep her warm. He scribbled in his notebook, making notes to work on healing magic, Warming Charms and anything else that came to mind.
Neville stirred nearby and Harry turned to watch as the Boy-Who-Lived opened his eyes and let out a groan.
Neville rolled over onto his side and his eyes widened as he noticed Harry sitting nearby.
'Potter, Tom Riddle is Voldemort.' Neville groaned.
Harry nodded.
'I know, Tom is gone. When I destroyed the Diary, Tom faded away. I figure he died, or whatever happens to memories.' Harry explained and Neville let out a breath and collapsed onto his back.
'Thank Merlin.' Neville whispered and Harry smiled.
A few minutes later, the Professors started to wake and within an hour they were all in the Hospital Wing. Hagrid lay in two beds pushed together, still unconscious while the other Professors occupied their own beds.
Harry, Ginny, and Neville each lay in a bed, leaving the Hospital Wing rather full, including the petrified students.
Once they were all in the Hospital Wing, Dumbledore strode in and whispered with the other Professors.
Harry watched as Dumbledore's old face paled as he spoke in whispers to Professors McGonagall and Flitwick who lay in beds beside each other.
Dumbledore turned toward Harry while he listened to the other Professors' words. The old man's piercing blue eyes locked on Harry's for a moment, then with a short nod to McGonagall and Flitwick, Dumbledore walked over to stand beside Harry's bed.
With a flick of his knobbly wand, Dumbledore conjured a small, yet comfortable looking lounge chair.
'Mister Potter, I have many questions for you.' the Headmaster began.
'I will answer what I can, sir.' Harry said.
'Why is it that two years in a row, you have assisted young Mister Longbottom in his adventures? By all accounts, the two of you don't get along.' Dumbledore asked over his half-moon glasses.
Harry sighed and ran a hand down his face.
'My friends were attacked by a thousand-year-old Basilisk in a school where we are supposed to be safe, and you ask why I helped Neville, sir?' Harry asked, incredulous.
Dumbledore nodded and stroked his beard.
Harry blinked. He hadn't expected that answer.
'Because it was the right thing to do. My friends were petrified or abducted, what else could I have done?' Harry asked.
The Headmaster nodded and his blue eyes twinkled as he looked down at Harry.
'You are an interesting young man, Mister Potter. From all accounts, you did an exceptional job down in the Chamber. Once you are released from the Hospital Wing, please come to my office and we will discuss this adventure in more detail. The password is Caramello Koala.' Dumbledore asked.
Harry cocked his head to the side.
'The muggle sweet?' Harry asked and the ancient wizard nodded.
'The very same. Now, until later Mister Potter.' Dumbledore smiled down at Harry, then turned and left the Hospital Wing.
Harry frowned.
The Headmaster was a strange man.
An hour later, the peace of the Hospital Wing was shattered by a red-haired woman, shouting at Dumbledore as he continued to speak to the Professors. The plump red-haired woman rushed over to Ginny and Neville, hugging them both in their beds to within an inch of their lives.
Harry let out a breath in relief as the woman ignored his presence in the bed next to Ginny's.
A moment later, his parents rushed into the room and sat on either side of his bed.
'Oh Harry, we just heard what happened. Why did you leave the safety of the common room? Why find and enter the Chamber of Secrets of all places?' Lily asked, kissing Harry's hand that she squeezed in her own.
'Whoa, what's this kiddo?' James asked, his hand reached out toward the sword Harry had on his bed.
Harry sighed.
'It's a long story guys, and the sword is a big part of it. But long story short, this sword somehow guided my body to kill the Basilisk and somehow deflected Tom's spells.' Harry explained and his parents stared at him.
'Killed a Basilisk?' asked James.
'Who is Tom?' asked Lily.
Harry groaned.
'Okay, I'll try to explain everything. Dad, can you make this private?' Harry asked and James nodded, he flicked his wand before turning back to Harry.
With a smile, Harry explained everything to his parents from when Holly found him to their arrival.
It took an hour.
'I think we should keep the sword somewhere hidden in the Manor, I want to study it sometime in the future.' Harry suggested and Lily's eyes lit up.
'I'm not so sure about that. Look at the name written on the blade. Nothing good can come of something made by that Founder.' James disagreed; Lily rolled her eyes.
'James, someday you're going to have to get over this whole Slytherin is evil thing. Harry said he has a Slytherin friend, the Greengrass Heiress.' Lily said, her eyes raised at her husband, and he sighed.
'Fine, we'll hide the sword away and you guys can study it later.' James sighed.
Lily gave her husband a smug grin before she turned to Harry.
'I'm so proud of you honey, though I do worry about you. This kind of thing has happened each year you've been here. It's becoming a pattern.' Lily said and James nodded across from her.
'She's right Harry. We worry about you, but at least you kept Holly out of most of the danger.' James said and Harry smiled.
'So, who told you about what happened?' Harry asked.
'Holly.' Lily said.
'Sirius, through Susan.' James said and Harry laughed.
James and Lily took the sword with them when they left the Hospital Wing.
Harry gathered his group of friends and family at Hogwarts in an abandoned classroom near the Great Hall once he and Ginny were released from the Hospital Wing. He'd explained to everybody what happened, stressing that Ginny was not to blame for any of it.
Holly gathered Ginny in a hug, which soon became a group hug as everybody else in the room joined in.
'I'm so sorry that none of us noticed that you were being possessed through the year. Especially by You-Know-Who.' Holly whispered and Harry noticed the group hug collectively shiver at the thought.
'B-but I did all those things. I let out the Basilisk. Don't you hate me?' Ginny murmured and Holly squeezed her tighter.
'No, we don't Ginny.' Harry said.
'You weren't in control; you did none of those things. Nothing like that will happen again, not if we have anything to do with it.' Harry declared, smiling as the others in the room nodded, determined expressions on their faces.
'You are our friend Ginny; friends are as good as family.' Harry grinned and felt his heart grow a little lighter as Ginny returned it.
The next week went by in a haze as Professor Snape finished the mandrake draught and healed the petrified students. Harry was surprised when he heard that Nearly Headless Nick returned to normal when somebody splashed the potion over his body.
Harry spent a few hours of his weekend reading through the book taken from the Chamber of Secrets to find it was a diary written by Salazar Slytherin. In it, the man explained that he and Godric had once been the closest of friends. Then Salazar's family was killed by muggles and the man went mad in his grief, the final entry had told of his plan to unleash an army of Basilisk's on the muggles of Britain, starting with London, or Londinium, as it was known in that time.
In the book, Salazar had explained that he created his sword at the same time as Godric's, but Salazar had enchanted it himself rather than purchase it from the Goblins. Salazar's sword was made of Goblin steel and heavily enchanted so that when used, it would guide its user, allowing even a novice swordsman to compete with masters of the art. The sword allowed Salazar to duel on an even footing with Godric who was known as one of the greatest swordsmen in the world at the time. He'd even infused Basilisk venom into the Goblin steel so that even a scratch from the sword would kill almost instantly.
Finally, it was time to leave Hogwarts, the summer holidays drew near, and Harry grinned, excited to see Fleur again.
(A/N: Thank you to SKFF who pointed out Harry didn't get interrogated after the events in the Chamber. I had mistakenly updated a slightly older version of the chapter that didn't have that scene in it. Oops. That is now amended. We can assume that Harry went to the Headmasters office and it was a standard retelling of events, like with James and Lily.)
(A/N: Thank you to Aelin Fireheart 1 who pointed out that Holly said she only had one brother on the train [poor Charlus]. That has now been fixed. I appreciate the pick ups!)
(A/N: A guest reviewer pointed out that my maths was wrong for the time dilation in the Room of Requirement. I have since gone back and changed it so 4 hours inside the room is 1 hour outside, so it's 4x rather than 2x like I described earlier in the story. This has now been fixed.)